Elf Girl in the City

S. Brenda Elfgirl - I was told I am an elf in a parallel life, and I live in the Arizona desert exploring what this means. I've had this blog for a while and I write about the things that interest me. My spiritual teacher told me that my journey in life is about balancing "the perfect oneness of a sweetness heart and the effulgent soul". My inner and outer lives are like parallel lines that will one day meet, but only when there is a new way of thinking. Read on as I try to find the balance.

Monday, January 12, 2026

Day 10 Bible Readings - Genesis 32:24-28 (NLT)

Genesis 32-34, Psalm 10

Genesis 32:24-28 (NLT)

“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ ‘What is your name?’ the man asked. He replied, ‘Jacob.’ ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob,’ the man told him. ‘From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.’”

In Genesis 32:24–28, we read about Jacob wrestling with a man who is later revealed to be a divine being—an angel of the Lord. Jacob wrestled with him until daybreak, and when the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he touched Jacob’s hip and dislocated it. Even then, Jacob refused to let him go until he received a blessing. The man then revealed Jacob’s new name—Israel—explaining that Jacob had struggled with God and with men and had prevailed. Jacob’s former name meant “supplanter,” one who grasps or overtakes.

I love this encounter because it marks Jacob’s deeply personal moment with the Lord. The wrestling was not merely physical—it symbolized Jacob’s lifelong struggle with Father-God. Jacob did not give up easily; he wrestled through the night and refused to let go. Biblical scholars often point out that when the angel struck Jacob’s hip, it demonstrated Father-God’s power and authority over him. Jacob’s strength was touched, and yet he still clung to the Lord. In that moment, Jacob received both a blessing and a new identity.

While I have not had a physical encounter with the Lord like Jacob, I recognize my own seasons of wrestling with Father-God. I have spent sleepless nights turning over things the Lord asked me to do—because, like Jacob, obedience required a change in how I saw myself. Over the past few years, the Holy Spirit has been drawing me into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, encouraging me to trust more fully in the promises Father-God has given believers in Scripture.

This has been a struggle for me because the Lord gave me a capable mind, and I have always been someone who could figure things out on my own. I rarely relied on others to accomplish what I needed to do. But as I began to depend more on the Lord and develop a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit, I realized that trusting Father-God does not mean abandoning wisdom or intelligence. It means recognizing that true wisdom includes relying on the Lord’s promises and guidance. I am no longer carrying things alone.

As I’ve learned to trust Father-God more deeply, doors have opened that I never could have anticipated on my own. I now have confidence—not in myself alone—but in knowing that I will be successful in doing what the Lord asks of me because I am guided by His Spirit.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One you can trust to guide and sustain you—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Being part of a Holy Spirit–led church community has deeply shaped my faith. If you’re searching for a place to grow, worship, and encounter God, you can explore my church and its affiliated campuses here: https://revivaltoday.com/

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Day 9 Bible Readings - Genesis 31:10-12 (NLT)

Genesis 29-31, Psalm 9

Genesis 31:10-12 (NLT)

“One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’ The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you.’”

In Genesis 31:10–12, we read about how the Lord can provide for believers in unexpected ways. Jacob had a dream in which the Lord revealed how his flocks would increase through divine intervention. An angel explained that Father-God had seen the injustice of Laban’s treatment toward Jacob and would intervene on Jacob’s behalf. Despite Laban’s repeated attempts to cheat him, the Lord remained faithful to His word, and Jacob became prosperous.

I have always been drawn to this story because it shows the supernatural way the Lord increased Jacob’s flocks. It reminds us that we can trust in Father-God’s power to fulfill His promises, regardless of our circumstances. Jacob trusted the Lord’s revelation in the dream and obeyed it; he did not try to manipulate the outcome through his own efforts. He believed what the Lord had shown him, and God brought about the increase.

When the Holy Spirit prompted me to move to a different state, I tried to secure a job in the city before relocating. I spent six months job hunting but received no offers. During that time, as I prayed, the Holy Spirit kept assuring me that I would receive a job in six months and not to worry. I moved forward with that assurance, and exactly six months later, I received a job offer for a position I would not normally have pursued.

That job turned out to be a blessing in unexpected ways. I was able to enjoy experiences I had always hoped for, including attending a nighttime Christmas office party at a hotel—something I had always wanted to experience—where I even won a $100 Visa gift card. Within six months of being hired, I also attended a work conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one I had long heard about but never imagined attending. Looking back, I see how the Lord led me into that job not only for provision, but also for experiences He knew would bring me joy.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One you can trust to fulfill His promises—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Being part of a Holy Spirit–led church community has deeply shaped my faith. If you’re searching for a place to grow, worship, and encounter God, you can explore my church and its affiliated campuses here: https://revivaltoday.com/

Day 8 Bible Readings for January 10 - Genesis 25:30-33 (NLT)

Genesis 25-28, Psalm 8

Genesis 25:30-33 (NLT)

“Esau said to Jacob, ‘I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!’ (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means ‘red.’) ‘All right,’ Jacob replied, ‘but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.’ ‘Look, I’m dying of starvation!’ said Esau. ‘What good is my birthright to me now?’ But Jacob said, ‘First you must swear that your birthright is mine.’ So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.”

In Genesis 25:30–33, we read a story that illustrates what happens when material desires are valued above spiritual inheritance. Esau returned from hunting exhausted and hungry. Biblical scholars often note that Esau had an impulsive nature and tended to prioritize immediate physical satisfaction over long-term responsibility. In that moment, he disregarded both his spiritual inheritance and his family role. When Jacob asked Esau to trade his birthright for food, Esau agreed. He chose immediate gratification over self-control and valued temporary relief more than the lasting spiritual blessing that was his by birth.

When I read these verses, I am reminded of the many times in my past when I valued material security over doing what the Lord was calling me to do. From a very young age, I knew that writing was something Father-God created me to do. Yet I continually postponed it because I didn’t know anyone who made a living as a writer. I didn’t grow up in a household—or a church—that emphasized fully trusting Father-God for provision and blessing. Instead, I absorbed the belief that money only comes from relentless hard work or marrying well.

So I worked hard, but the Holy Spirit continually reminded me that writing was part of my calling. It wasn’t until I was saved and joined a full-gospel church—one that emphasizes developing a relationship with Jesus Christ—that I began to see how many blessings Father-God had already given me. I am now pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ and listening daily for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as I step into what Father-God created me to do: write.

Since making that decision last year, my life has been filled with joy—not because everything is easy, but because I finally know I am living in alignment with what the Lord planned for me.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who has a plan for your life and desires to fill you with joy—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Friday, January 09, 2026

Day 7 Bible Readings - Genesis 22:2-3 (NLT)

Genesis 22-24, Psalm 7

Genesis 22:2-3 (NLT)

“‘Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.’ The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.”

In Genesis 22:2–3, we read another powerful example of Abraham’s faith. The Lord instructed Abraham to take Isaac, the son he loved, and offer him as a burnt offering. Father-God was testing Abraham’s faith, for a burnt offering required Abraham to first take Isaac’s life and then burn his body completely. The following verse tells us that Abraham did not hesitate. He rose early the next morning and set out to do exactly as the Lord had commanded.

When I reflect on Father-God’s test of Abraham’s faith, I honestly do not know if I would be able to do what Abraham did. Even today, I struggle to imagine having enough trust in the Lord to sacrifice my own child if He asked. I have made sacrifices for Father-God that were difficult, but never a sacrifice of that magnitude. The hardest sacrifice I made, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, was quitting my job three years ago to pursue writing full time.

I had wanted to be a writer since the early 2000s. I joined writing groups, attended many seminars, and practiced writing daily. Yet nothing I wrote truly satisfied me. I never gave up on writing entirely, but my commitment to it waxed and waned depending on the stress I experienced at work.

It wasn’t until I was born again, recommitted my life to Christ, and joined my current church—one that emphasizes cultivating a relationship with Jesus Christ—that writing began to feel different. I now pray and ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration, and as a result, I am working on a novel I truly love and hope to publish. I know I could not be where I am today in my writing if I had not joined a church that encourages a deeper relationship with Father-God.

I now understand that the Lord created me to write stories. People had told me my whole life that I was a talented writer, but I never realized that this gift came from God. Now that I recognize this, I wake up each day with the assurance that I am pleasing the Lord by doing what He has asked of me. Knowing that Father-God is pleased with me fills me with an indescribable joy—one I will never willingly give up.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who has a plan for your life—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.