Greetings!

We are right at the cusp of a new day….a new year…a new season, and I am so grateful…not for the end—but, for the new beginning…

This is actually my last scheduled blog post for 2014. That means that I have been writing this blog for five years. That is crazy to me. I remember writing my first blog post in 2009 after the publication of my book, “Let My Life Be A Testimony.”  I was so excited and amazed at how God had held my hand through that whole process. He gave me each word, and then held my hand when I set those words free. I was so afraid of rejection that it was almost paralyzing—but God. He never left me…not once. That act of faithfulness changed my life, because now I know that no matter what happens…He will always be by my side. He did not have to prove Himself to me, but He did, and He did for no other reason than His love for me.  

Through the last five years I have been stretched in ways I never thought possible, and I am still here. Praise God! I have made mistakes, and because of God’s grace, I know that those mistakes do not define me…instead...they empower me.  Through these “lessons,” I have learned that the only enemy that can stop me from pursuing all that God has for me is…me.

If you are struggling to be all that God is calling you to be…stop struggling. Nothing is going to stop what God has started. Believe in the power of His might, and know that God loves you beyond anything you can imagine. 

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:18-20).

Until next time...

Be blessed

Greetings!

In my last blog post,  I spoke about the season that I have been going through…and I emphasize “going through,” because I feel that God is about to bring me out. He has promised us abundant life, and I am just crazy enough to believe Him.

The “seasons” in our lives are very similar to the seasons in the earth. There is a cycle to everything. Just as spring follows winter, we will have good days, and bad days. The thing is that we need to hold on to the good days. We tend to lean to the negative. I don’t know why…maybe it has something to do with our sinful nature, but we remember that thing that hurt us way faster than we do that thing that blessed us.

For me, this season has been like a boxing match. I have never been in an actual boxing match, but I imagine that it must feel a lot like this. Some days I am so strong, I feel like I could take on the world. Then, there are days when I feel like I would rather quit than keep on fighting. I feel so tired sometimes, but I know that the enemy wants to kill us…literally, and I’m determined that he will not get his way. The word says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10). But, I love what it says next, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is the great "I AM," and what He says is all that matters.

The enemy is always warring against us. The Bible tells us that. We just have to know who wins the battle. We have to keep reminding ourselves that our “battle” is not with flesh and blood. Fighting one another just puts us at a disadvantage. God is pure…undefiled…uncompromising and all-encompassing love, and when we really get that—there is nothing the enemy can do to us. That’s abundant living.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

I cannot believe this Thursday is Thanksgiving. In some ways, it seems like this year has gone by so quickly, and in other ways, it seems like the end of this year cannot come quickly enough. I just want to take a few minutes to give a little testimony.

This has been a year of trials, and testing, like I have never known before. I have to be honest, there were a few times I didn't think I was going to make it. My body and my mind were so tired of struggling and fighting that I wanted to give up. I have been through a lot, but I have never had a season like this. I have always been able to praise my way through any situation. God has always given me a song to get me through...but this time I couldn't seem to hear my song. It was as if I had crossed over to this dark place and I couldn't see my way out. But praise be to God! He saw that I was sinking fast, and He reached down and held on to me until I could get my footing. The word says He will never leave us nor forsake us...He will always stand by His word. He is so awesome, and He loves us so much. 

So, in this season of ups and downs, ins and outs...I wanted to take time to publicly thank Him for being so good, and so kind, and so loving. I thank God for being my help in time of trouble. I thank Him for giving me a test so that I could have a testimony. I thank Him for sending people who spoke life into my life. Some days, I would be so low that I couldn’t even pray, and He would have someone send me a text or an email that would give me enough strength to make it one more day, and I thank Him.

I thank Him for giving me my song back. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth... (Psalm 34:1).

Until next time...

Be blessed 

Greetings!

A new life!

That is what God has promised. It does not matter what you have done or where you have been, God’s promise is that if you give your life to Christ, He will make your life brand new. For just a moment, I lost sight of that promise. Now, don’t get it twisted. I am not talking about my salvation. I know that is sure. What I’m talking about is, every now and then when life gets a little rough…my focus tends to stay on my problem—and not my God.

I believe we are in a season of strengthening faith. I love God, and I know He loves me. I do not doubt for a minute that He will deliver me out of all my troubles. The thing is...we have to go through to get to the other side, and it’s that going through that can sometimes take us to a place.  The awesome thing about God is that He knows the plan. Even when we can’t understand it we can trust that first, there is a purpose for everything, and second…God is in control.

First Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Wow! That is so awesome. This scripture is saying that our faith is stronger than gold. Refining by fire is the process used to produce gold. Before the refiner applies pressure, gold is simply a lump of ore. The refiner stirs and skims the gold to remove any impurities, and when it is just right, he lets it cool before sending it out into the world. That is what God does for us. He is the refiner. Our trials are what He uses to purify and strengthen us.

We will go through times of testing, but just know that God has promised to be there…right in the midst of whatever we are going through—good or bad. He never takes His eyes off of us, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

Our God is a mighty God. That is all I want to talk about today.

Our God never leaves anything undone. He is in the smallest detail. There is nothing that He will not do for us. He loves us in a way that is hard to put into words, and when you feel like you cannot go any further, He sends someone or something to let you know you can.

I volunteer to pray, and encourage the patients at one of the local rehab hospitals in my area. It never fails that when you do that, someone will always bless you. This time, was no exception. When I arrived, the two young women I had come to see were busy. One young woman was not in her room, and the other was having her bed changed. When I finally went in, the first woman said that she was so upset that God had not heard her prayers. She had been praying, but things were not getting any better, and that they actually appeared to be getting worse. God allowed me to say some things to her that prayerfully encouraged her. He seems to do that. When you are at your lowest…He gives you a reason to take your mind off yourself, and be a blessing to someone else.  I left her a Bible and went in to see the next woman. This woman was in a wheelchair because of a stroke. When I asked her how she was doing, she said, “Blessed and highly favored.” That just made my day. If she could feel like that in the midst of her current situation, so could I.

Know that whatever situation you are facing today…whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual, our God is able. He knows everything that is going on, and either He is allowing it to purify your faith, or He needs you to be an example for someone else. Either way, there is a purpose for everything.

We can trust that at the right time He will make it all better.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

We are officially moving into the winter months…at least that’s what it feels like. In many parts of the country, they are already seeing snow. The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting colder. It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas…

I love, love, love, the Christmas season. I even love the tired and frustrated cashiers…because, I know that at the end of the day…they are trying to get it done just like everybody else. As followers of Christ, we have to be able to re-present Him wherever we go…even when we are standing in long lines!

In my last post, I spoke about what it felt like for me to feel like I was letting God down. That has been on my mind a lot lately. My prayer is that I remain available to God. That He can call on me at any time, and that I will respond. I am not so sure, that is always the case, but I am trying.

I had a conversation with one of my sisters recently about being, “out of the box.” Meaning…God has been calling us to do things that are so far out of our comfort zone that we no longer have a comfort zone. That is both comforting and disturbing at the same time. Comforting, because I know God is always with me, guiding me and protecting me. Showing me things about myself that still amaze me, and disturbing because I no longer know what being comfortable feels like.

In Acts 20:24 the Apostle Paul said, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” That is my goal...to glorify my Father, and to run my race--no matter what.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Greetings!

September and October have been hectic for me. I have definitely come to the realization that I am not superwoman. I have so much to share with you that I hardly know where to begin. First, I want to let you know that I have not forgotten about you. I love writing this blog, and sharing the things, that God has placed on my heart. My plan is to update my posts on a weekly basis. However, as we all know, life has a way of changing our plans. I am in the last year of Bible school, and for reasons I cannot begin to explain, I decided to take six classes. I know…crazy, right? All I can say is that it made sense at the time. It has been difficult getting a rhythm going, but I think with God’s help, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lately, God has been speaking to me about finishing well. Take my classes for instance. In the beginning, my focus was on getting closer to God, and learning more about what He expected of me.  Then, somewhere along the line, I began to get anxious about finishing. That had never been my focus before, so I began to look at what had changed. Why was it so important to finish this year, and not next year when I had planned to finish? What God showed me was that my priority had shifted, and He was no longer my focus….finishing was.

Ouch! That hurt. I love the Lord with all of my heart, and pleasing Him is why I do anything. So…finding out that He was no longer my focus hit me deep.  I do not like feeling as if I have let God down. So, I have had to re-prioritize my goals. I know that it is not about finishing…it is about finishing well.  It is knowing that no matter what, when I put God, first…everything else just falls into place.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

Part of going deeper in God is realizing that God didn’t give us a mediocre life. He gave His Son, Jesus Christ so that we could have life and have it more abundantly. He didn’t let His One and Only Son go to the cross so that we could live defeated and depressed. God loves us and when we accept Him as our Savior, and ask Him to come into our lives…He comes.

Sometimes, we will not understand what God is doing in our lives. That is when we have to trust Him. Trust that God’s word is truth…and we have to know His word for ourselves. We cannot rely on someone else to teach us. We have to seek that truth as if our lives depends on it…because it does. Only in God do we live, move, and have our being. He is all and in all. 

Work on your relationship with Him like you would anyone that you care for. Spend time alone with Him…and be honest with Him. With God, we don’t have to pretend. We can talk to Him about anything. He is the one person who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Our God is so awesome. He loves, loves, loves us. But I don’t care how many times we hear that, we won’t get it until we open our hearts to Him, and we really can’t do that until we learn Who He is. God is saying trust in Him with all of our hearts, and don't try to understand everything. If we can do that, He promises to make our crooked way straight. 

Until next time...

Be blessed

Greetings!

I am finding that the deeper I go in the Lord, the more He is allowing me to see. I think for the first time I am really seeing that I can. You know how it is when you know God is calling you to something, but you just cannot seem to get out of your own way. Well, I am realizing that I have been stifling my own creativity by not believing in the dream for myself…to understand that the vision is for doing…not just for seeing.

Even though I have read what the Bible says about me, I was still finding it hard to walk in it. I could say the words, but I could not feel it in my spirit. I know we have to be careful about our “feelings,” because they can be deceiving, but I also know that everything has to be in harmony. My mind should be in agreement with my heart, and my heart needs to be in agreement with my spirit and it should all work together to the glory of God. If any one of those things begins to act independently of the other, it all becomes unbalanced, and out of order. That’s when we have to be in sync with the Holy Spirit, because He will lead the way out.

It is like being made over…like the scales falling from my eyes. Right now is the time to step it up…to do and believe big things for God. To dig into His word like never before, and to introduce others to the God who has been so good to us. Let yourself believe in the dream God has given you. Believe that you really can do all things through Christ.

God has so much for us…if we just let Him.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

This week, God has been speaking to me about being a good steward. It’s not that I am frivolous in my spending, or purposely wasteful, but by not consciously thinking about the things I spend my money on I am being careless with the things God is trusting me with. I have to keep reminding myself that everything belongs to God, and that we are just managing it for Him.When I think about it that way, it makes me sad that I may be letting God down.  

When I started looking at how I was “managing” it…I saw how incompetent I was being, but I know enough not to dwell on that. Statistics show that it takes at least three weeks to make or break a habit, and we have never really even talked about our spending…we just spent. So, I know it is not going to be easy, but God knows everything about us, even the things we don’t yet know about ourselves, and He has given us grace to make it through. I am confident that I have the victory…I just have to keep trying. I will not give up, because God has never given up on me. The desire is there, and the Bible says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart, and I believe that.

Now that God has me on board, I have been working to get my house in order. That means getting my husband to see it the way God does.  For the first time we are working together, and I am confident that God did not lead us down this path to a dead end.  We have had to look not only at our spending, but also at the time we spend with Him, and how we represent Him. This whole experience has brought us closer to God, and I am sure that was His purpose all along.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

Ok, right now, I am in the midst of planning a women’s event at my church, and being tested in every direction. I mean I knew that I would meet some opposition, because whenever you are doing anything for God the enemy is going to be busy. So, I thought I was ready for it…but he has really been stepping up his game. Although the team of women I am working with is going above and beyond in assisting me, he still finds a way to insert his presence.

I was speaking to a friend… telling her about all of the things that were going on, and right in the middle of our conversation she stopped me and prayed for me. I thank God for the power of prayer. Sometimes, we will tell people to pray for us not really knowing if they will or not. I thank God for placing me with some powerful prayer warriors. I know that even when I do not have sense enough to pray for myself…they will pray for me.

I have been extremely blessed…not because of material things, but because He has given me more than I even imagined. He has given me joy in the midst of my sorrow, peace in times of a storm, and friends that will be my BFFs forever. I do not take that lightly. I am so grateful.

I don’t think my friend realized that what she did shifted the atmosphere…maybe she did.  For a moment, I was so caught up in the perceived obstacles that I forgot WHO owns the way. The Book of Proverbs says that when we trust and acknowledge God, He will direct our path. Our Father does not give vision without giving provision. We just have to keep our focus on moving forward and allow Him to clear a path.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

God has really been working on my spirit about service…especially in the Kingdom of God. There are times when I simply do not want to do the things God is calling me to do. Not because I don’t love Him or want to serve Him…because I do. He is the only reason that I do anything. It’s just that every now and then, my flesh fails me, and I begin to struggle with believing what the word says about me. Whenever I get into that place of confusion or my mind starts to wander too far from Him, God always leads me to the book of Joshua. I think that is mostly, because the Book of Joshua is about fighting. Sometimes we have to fight through those things that threaten to bind us to things like fear or pride or anger. Even though the scriptures tell us that fear is not of God, somebody forgot to tell my flesh that, because there are times when I want to run and hide.

One of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Joshua says, "And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these 45 years ... and now, lo, I am this day 85 years old. As yet I am as strong this day ...as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in..." (Joshua 14:10)

This scripture proves that it is never too late. What an awesome God we serve. Joshua was a warrior, but he had some fears. The thing is that he would not let those fears keep him from moving forward. I love knowing that about him. It gives me hope, because if a warrior like Joshua could overcome his fears…I know that I can do it too. So, even when we don’t think we are where we should be…we can know that God will always give us the strength we need to pursue our purpose.

Until next time…

Be blessed

 

Greetings!

This past weekend I celebrated the Lord with my sisters at the Women of Excellence Summit. The Summit was at the Saint Paul Baptist Church here in Baltimore, Maryland. I had never been to this church before, but I can tell you that it will not be my last time.  The sisters at the registration table set the tone for the day…they were very welcoming and friendly.  I felt a spirit of hospitality from the moment I came through the door until the time I left.  What stood out to me was the fact that the women at the table did not have the attendees list, but instead of placing blame, and getting an attitude about it…they just wrote down our names, gave us a packet. That may seem like a small thing to most people, but kindness speaks volumes and it makes a huge statement about our witness.

We had an awesome time in the Lord.  It was a treat to hear dynamic preaching from five powerful women of God. The momentum of each speaker seemed to build on the last one. You could feel the power of God’s word in that place. Each woman had a topic that centered on the theme, “Arise Daughters of Zion Prepare for your God-Given Destiny.” I am not sure about anyone else, but I know I left there with a deeper appreciation for the woman God has made me to be.

I am a worshipper. I have never doubted that, but this weekend took my worship to another level. I read something recently that said that when we walk into a room God arrives, because we carry Him in our hearts. I like knowing that. I love God with a love that can only be expressed through worship. Our God is so awesome, and I am determined to use everything God has given me to glorify and magnify Him.

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations." --Psalm 89:1

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

I want to first apologize for falling off the grid for a few weeks. But, lately I have been in this time of transition. It seems like all of a sudden my life is in fast-forward. God is not moving me…He is propelling me!

Actually, I shouldn’t be surprised. God planted a dream in my spirit when I was a little girl, and although I have tried to “be realistic” and find work that pays the bills, He never let me forget that dream. The word says, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV).  There are things that God has been showing me for some time, and now is the time to stop dragging my feet and get to work.

It is a powerful time of awakening. Everything just seems to be clicking into place. Even though it seems like it is all happening suddenly… it has really been happening all along. We were born with a destiny, and it has been waiting for us.

How amazing it is to look back over your life and see the path God has been preparing for you. How He has held your hand while you rode for a while with the “training wheels” on. Then, how He slowly let go…just enough to let you feel your way before allowing you to soar.

Our God is so awesome and He loves us so much. He never forces us…when we are ready…He just gently guides us into our purpose. Whatever you have been holding inside your heart...now is the time. Know that you can reach for the stars, because your Father owns them…

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” –Psalm 84:11

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

Today, I just want to talk about how amazing it is to be loved by God. How totally and perfectly He loves us. For no reason other than His love for us, He wrapped Himself in flesh, came down from His place in heaven and died on an old rugged cross. If you never get anything else…get that you are loved by the Master.  

Lately, I have been meditating a lot on how much God loves us and what that really means. We get so used to doing stuff that we forget that we don’t have to. All we really have to do is rest in God…trust that nothing can happen to us before it is time, and believe in the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. That’s it. We don’t need to do anything else. When we received Jesus Christ as our Savior, our place in heaven was reserved. We were sealed. We became co-heirs with Christ, and all that He has…we have. We can’t do anything to deserve it, or anything to keep it. It is our gift. What a love. It is hard to understand that kind of love. It is the kind of love that doesn’t see faults, or mistakes, or fear, or anger, or shame, or guilt. It just sees the possibilities of a life that was created in love.

We owe it to God to live like we believe we can do anything. God has given each one of us at least one dream, and it is our assignment to walk it out. If God gave it to you…He will make it happen for you. It doesn’t matter if no one else sees the vision…God does. Just do it. God’s word says, “Do not fear, for I am with you” (Isa 41:10 NIV). That statement brings me comfort. It tells me that I can step out on faith, and it tells me that I won't be alone when I do. We never have to feel alone, or left out, or forsaken…God’s promise is that He is there…always and I believe it.

Today, begin to live boldly and confidently in God’s love.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

This weekend was a perfect ending to a perfect vacation. Well, not perfect…but, pretty close.

My friend had purchased a ticket for me to a luncheon at her church before I went on vacation. It was called, “Lunch with the Lord,” and they served my favorite dish…spaghetti. Then, my sister-in-law treated us to some delicious Maryland Crabs. What an awesome way to end a vacation!

I had such a great time with my family last week. It has become more and more important to me to spend as much time with my family as possible. Being with my family this past week helped me to put things into perspective. Sometimes, we can get so focused on our daily living that we forget about taking care of us. We spend so much time on trying to make sure everyone else is taken care of that what we need often takes a backseat.

I love going home. Although, I wasn’t born in the south…that’s what I call the place my parents were born. I have spent time there every summer for as long as I can remember. It’s something about crossing that state line that instantly relaxes me. I know that when I’m there I don’t have to be accountable to anyone for anything. I can totally and completely shut down…at least temporarily.

This time was no different. I slept, and ate, and read…without guilt. I didn’t have to feel bad because I needed to be someplace doing something. I stayed with my cousin…who is more like a sister to me. She is also a recent empty-nester, so we had the whole house to ourselves. We talked into the wee hours of the morning, slept late, and did absolutely whatever we felt like doing. Having that kind of freedom is empowering, and I can’t wait to do it again!

Until next time…

Be blessed

 

Greetings!

I know I have been MIA for a couple of weeks…I apologize for that. I just needed to get away and regroup. This has been my season for stress. I think that is what caused my earlier reflection post, so I just needed to take some “me time.”

Every Memorial Day, my family goes down south to visit my mother’s grave. My siblings and I get together and take turns planting flowers on her grave, as well as, on some of my other relative’s graves. It has begun to be tradition that after we plant the flowers, we gather together for prayer and then go to get ice cream. I know it sounds weird, but if you have ever been down south with 90 degree heat…you would definitely understand. It also gives us an opportunity to find a little happiness after having to relive the truth of our loss.

This holiday was especially hard. Last year this time we were burying my oldest sister, so we were not able to visit my mother’s grave. It was on everyone’s mind, but without even saying it…we all purposed not to dwell on the fact that she wasn’t there. She was missed like crazy. Her way of looking at things was unique. She always looked at the bright side (a lot like I do). She never met a stranger, and she had a great sense of humor. That’s why it is so hard to mourn her…she loved life. She loved being with her family, and I think the best way to honor her memory is to live life fully.

My prayer today is that everyone will begin to walk in the purpose for which they have been called. God has given each one of us at least one gift. How will you use yours?

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

Today seems to be my day for reflection. All day I’ve been looking at my life, and not just at what I am doing or not doing…more of what is God teaching me. I feel like I’m on the verge of something that I never thought possible, but there are some things I need to do before God can take me there.

I was having a talk with my best bestie today, and in her conversation…without her even knowing it, God began to speak. What He said through her is that all of those little irritations we keep having are just His way of taking us deeper. It’s hard to recognize that at first because we are so agitated about the situation that we are not even looking for the lesson. All we know is that it is getting on our nerves, and we wish it would go away, or God would just make it stop. But, that’s not how God works. For instance, a supervisor will do something that is so far out in left field that you begin to wonder if maybe they are on something, or you feel yourself being embarrassed by someone’s behavior when it has absolutely no reflection at all on you.

What we discovered was that it was not those people or those situations that was the problem…it was us. I remember a long time ago a friend told me that it is always about us…meaning that how something affects us speaks to what is inside of us. So, if that situation or that person is bugging me to no end…I need to ask God why. What is that thing tapping into that’s inside of me? Why does it bother me? I believe God is trying to get us to that place like Paul…where we are content no matter what. In Philippians 4:11 he says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Paul got it…and I am determined to get it. What about you?

Until next time…

Be blessed

 

 

Greetings!

What a powerful weekend. This past Sunday is what many Christians call “Resurrection Sunday.” It is observed as the day Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and seated on the right-hand side of the Father.

We also celebrate Good Friday, which is typically reserved for services commemorating the last seven words spoken by Jesus Christ from the cross. This time of year serves to remind us of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us. He was crucified for our sins. There is, and never will be another love like that. God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Begotten Son to the cross to reconcile us back to Himself. God’s love for us is unsearchable. There is no way that we will ever understand it with our heads….it is hard to even comprehend it with our hearts.

At my church, we are moving into another level of prayer, and praise. My pastor has asked our congregation to join him in a 50 day fast, which will culminate with a service on Pentecost Sunday. I believe God is going to do some great things during this fast. We need a fresh wind to blow through our churches, and through our communities.  It’s time to stop playing church, and get serious about the things of God.

He deserves our respect…our reverence, and our loyalty. We have to stop believing the lies of the enemy, and begin to walk in the truth of God’s Word. I believe that miracles will occur in this season. I believe this fast is going to help people be freed from things that have kept them bound for a long time. I believe that chains will be broken; people will be delivered, and there will be a new sense of freedom in the house of God. I am excited about this time of renewal, and refreshing.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

April is my birthday month. So, yesterday two of my sister-friends took me to lunch to celebrate. Whenever we get together it is guaranteed that we are going to laugh uncontrollably about absolutely nothing. We have a way of letting go with each other that is so relaxing. At least it is for me…lol.

These sisters are my closest pals. I truly believe that God connected us way back before the beginning of time. It’s amazing how one of us will be going through something, and God will send one of us to speak a word without even knowing it. I love these women as if we had been born to the same parents. I have shared so much of my life with them that it’s almost hard to remember a time when they were not a part of my life. And, the other amazing thing is that all of us are friends independently of one another. That may not be so amazing to some people, but for me it is HUGE. I have never had that before.

Usually, your friends are your friends, and you are the glue that holds the whole thing together. That’s not the case with us. My friends are friends…how awesome is that? They are actually planning to go on a trip without me…and how about this…I am great with that. In 1 Corinthians 13:4 it says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy.” Amazing.

I can see God’s hand in each one of our lives. I just hear the spirit saying, “Greater things.” I know that God has things for us that we have yet to see. I thank God for the favor He has shown in our friendship, and I thank God that He has made us strong, loving, faithful, uncompromising women of God.

I pray God’s blessings over them and their families; I pray that He blesses every dream He has placed in their hearts, and I pray that they continue to stand boldly for Him.

Until next time…

Be blessed

 

Greetings!

Today, I met with a few of my coworkers for a surprise baby shower luncheon. We all used to work together on the same team, and have each gone our separate ways. Some of us still work for the same company, but in different departments. It was nice to clear an afternoon to just reminisce and catch up on what has been happening with one another. What I found interesting was that when we came together, it was almost like we had never been apart. There were no awkward moments of silence…actually, there were several conversations going on at once…just like family. The surprising thing is that we have all made a conscious effort to come together every so often so that we don’t lose that connection. Someone in the group will send an email, and anyone that can make it does…no pressure.

I am noticing that happening a lot lately. I have family members that get together every month or so to just eat a meal together. Some of my nieces have a cousins day, and some have sister weekends. I even have one friend that texts me every day just to say good morning…I love you…have a blessed day, and another that calls me every few days, and when I pick up the phone, she starts singing….too funny. I don’t take any of that for granted. Life is so fleeting, and time goes so quickly that if you don’t grab those moments…they soon disappear.

So, my goal for the rest of this year is to stay connected. To let people I care about know it. To not think about why they are in my life, and just enjoy the fact that they are there.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).  

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

It has been a long winter, but I feel a new season beginning to “spring” forth.

That is definitely a metaphor for life. We will go through these seasons that sometime feel like we have just been sucker punched. And, here's the thing...because our Father never takes His eyes off of us, He knows exactly what we stand in need of...and He will love us through it all. Our God is faithful, and He will never go back on His word, and His word says He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Our God can be a bridge during those times. Those times when we feel like we are about to go under. During those moments when we can't see Him, or feel Him...He sends us a lifeline...something to let us know that we are not alone. I love that. We can count on that. No matter how many times the enemy tries to set traps for us, the Lord is our Jehovah Nissi...our banner. He goes before us to lead the way to victory. We just have to remember to let Him lead, and to never take our eyes off Him.

The amazing thing about seasons is that they happen like clockwork. The Bible says, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22 KJV) We will always have seasons…and praise God…we will always have the Lord. He is our anchor, our strength, our promise, and our King. We can be assured that God will always show up. The word says that joy comes in the morning....if we keep looking up...we can be assured that our help is never far away.

There is healing, and deliverance in the word of God. Whatever we stand in need of can be found in His word. Keep believing, keep praying, keep worshipping, and keep praising.

Until next time…

Be blessed.

Greetings!

This past weekend, I went to a women’s conference with one of my sisters. The theme for the conference was, “Sisters Imagining Greater.” The title alone pulled me in, because right now, I need to believe God for greater. I need to believe…and we need to believe that even though things may sometimes seem too hard to bear…our God is still “greater” than any situation we may face.

The speakers at this event were two powerful women of God. They were both dynamic speakers with a gift for commanding your attention. They spoke on topics that mirrored the theme of the conference, and it left me wanting to believe that God’s plan is just that…His plan. We can’t change it, fix it, or make it happen any faster.

Many times, we short-change our destiny because we can’t “see” the vision God has in place. We need to begin seeing through God’s eyes. Our impact is tied directly to our belief that we are who God says we are, and that we can be who God says we can be.

The thing that really impressed me about this church was not the pastor, or the history of the church, which were both pretty great. No…it was this sweet spirit of fellowship. You could tell that it was genuine. They were not just putting on their game face for company…they really were glad you came. It showed in how they treated one another, and it showed in the way they treated each woman who came through that door. They made you feel like it wouldn’t have been the same without you. I love when women work together. We are so much more powerful when we celebrate one another. I left that conference inspired. And that helped me believe God for something greater.

Until next time…

Be blessed.

Greetings!

Yesterday, our group ministered at a local rehabilitation center. The preacher who spoke gave a demonstration using a heavy backpack to illustrate how we walk around weighted down by all of our burdens when Jesus is walking right beside us trying to “lift” those burdens from our shoulders.

We get so used to trying to handle things ourselves, that we don’t know how to rest in God. Resting in God doesn’t mean that we will never be anxious, or nervous, or afraid. It means that when we do begin to feel those things we can “cast our cares” on Him, and allow Him to carry our burdens. But, a lot of us feel that we are not being good stewards when we do that. Surely, we must not be managing our lives well, because we shouldn’t still have so many burdens. And besides that…it’s just rude to put your problems on someone else. But, it’s not being rude when you place your burdens on God…it’s being real.

We can’t go through this life alone, and we shouldn’t feel we have to. That’s a trick of the enemy. Sometimes, as Christians, we make these man-made rules that we can’t even maintain, and that keeps us in a place of defeat. We keep trying to relegate God to the same category that we place man. We believe that putting all our cares on God is like “copping out,” or getting God to do the things that we could actually do ourselves. That is not truth. God expects us to bring our burdens to Him. He is not like man. He knows that we need Him, and He loves us enough to wait for us to figure it out.

In Psalm 34:19 it says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” So, why are we struggling through trying to do something we were never made to do? Our job is to let God be God in our lives, and to trust Him with all of our “stuff.”  Then all we have to do is remember that He who holds the plan…holds our hand and that nothing we have done or may do will ever change that.

Until next time…

Be blessed.

Greetings!

Today, it feels like spring is definitely on its way. We have struggled through another season of winter, and I can finally feel that newness in the air…like life about to burst forth. It’s like that in life too. We go through these seasons of change periodically. It helps us to move forward in faith knowing that downs will come up, sadness will become joy, and trials will become triumphs.  If we didn’t go through all of those seasons…there would be no growth. Believe me…I know trials are not pleasant.  But, they are necessary. God uses all of those trials to show us that depending on Him will always lead us to victory.

I have noticed that in my own life the seasons are not lasting as long as they used to. I believe that I have learned to expect the seasons of life, because I know a new beginning is on the way. And with that new beginning will come a deeper level of faith in the God who never fails. Knowing that makes it so much easier to let go. I know that what God has for me is so much better than anything I could ever come up with.

So, now I listen for His voice, because He is always near…and He always has the answer. I don’t have to waste time trying to figure things out on my own. I don’t need to know the why of things…I just need to know who. The Bible says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore (Psalm 125:1-2).This says that if I put my trust fully in God…He will cover me.

I pray that if you are going through a season of change, that you will keep your hand in the hand of the One who knows you better than you know yourself. There is a gift in your trial…one that you may not be able to see, but know that it is there. God is working it all out for your good. Trust Him. Our Father is a loving, caring, and faithful God, and He loves you. Period.

Until next time…

Be blessed!

 

 

Greetings!

Winter is deinitely not giving up without a fight…

I have a new appreciation for those workers who have to keep our streets, and parking lots clear. I have shoveled snow until I’m starting to see it in my sleep. But, even with all of the snow we are having, and as tired as my body is feeling right now…I am still so grateful for every single day God allows me to be on the face of this earth.

I woke up this morning feeling God’s hand holding me. I don’t know why…but, I just felt secure…safe. I know that He ministers to my spirit as I sleep (that’s probably the only time my mind is at rest). That’s one of the things I love about Him. He will never stop trying to reach us. So, I have to believe that whatever was on my mind when I went to bed last night is being taken care of by the Master. I have been striving to be as Paul says in Philippians 4:11, “… content whatever the circumstances.” (NIV) There is a beauty in being content. It says that I trust the providence of God.

When we believe that everything is in God’s hands it makes it easier to let go. I believe that as long as we hold on to “things” it blocks the flow of God’s plan in our lives. He wants to do big things through us. But, we oftentimes get in the way. In our little finite minds we still think we have control over certain situations…and I guess in a way we do. We control our destinies in that we have the power of choice… and we can choose to believe or not believe—to follow Him, or not follow Him. I want to follow Him. I want my life to reflect the love of Jesus Christ in everything I do, and I pray the same for you.

I pray that each of us continues to walk in the newness that comes from a life that is sold out to God. I pray that His strength will help carry us through those times of trial…those times when we want to quit. And I pray that we all begin to appreciate the gift that is Jesus Christ.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

This week, I am being stretched out of my comfort zone once again. I don’t know why I keep calling it a “comfort zone,” I haven’t had one in a long time. I guess it just makes me feel good to think that I do.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to volunteer for an event at my church—not to help out—but, to lead it. Thank God, they did give me a co-chair (I guess they must have seen the look of terror in my eyes). The funny thing is…I knew it was coming. Not this particular event, but some event…somewhere. God has been preparing me for it for a long time.

He had been using the director of our Women’s Ministry group to stretch me to do things I normally never would have done. I remember dragging my feet whenever she would ask me to speak in front of a group, or teach a class. I tried to look self-assured, and in control, but I really felt exposed. Like, everyone could see my thoughts, and knew how terrified I really felt.

At first, I was so afraid that I would physically shake. I used to hold the mic against my chest so that no one would see my hand shake.  Then, as I became more comfortable with holding it, I would use it like a pointer. It was awful. But, I grew to trust God during those times. He made His presence real to me. God had to show me what I was capable of when I would let “self” get out of the way.

I think 1 Chronicles 16:11 sums it up nicely, “Depend on the Lord and his strength; always go to him for help” (NCV). Whenever I am afraid, or unsure about anything, I go to Him. I know that He holds my future in His hands, and He will give me the strength, and courage I need to do whatever it is He has called me to do. That’s His promise…and I believe Him.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”   –Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Until next time…

Be blessed!

Greetings!

In my last post I talked about understanding my issue with procrastination. I hesitate to use the term “my” procrastination, because that spirit does not belong to me. I am not claiming that over my life. I am learning that the words we speak are powerful. The Bible says that, “our tongues have the power of life, and death.” (Prov. 18:21) So, we have to speak life into our lives, and into the lives of others.

I am so glad that God loves us enough to never loosen His grip on us. And, even though that revelation anchors me I often struggle with knowing my place in Him. I mean…I know His word, and I believe His promises. Yet, I still find myself sometimes doubting what I know. How is that possible? It’s possible because we are human, and our physical (carnal) bodies are in constant conflict with our spirit. So, how do we fight? “We put on the Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:14)

God has given us the Holy Spirit to help guide us. He helps us to stay on the narrow road. When we begin to wander too far, He calls us back. He brings to our remembrance those things that are already within us, and I am so grateful. I know that procrastination, or fear, or doubt, or whatever we choose to call it, has no place in our lives. For a moment, I forgot who I was…or, should I say, “Whose I was.”

I know that I am a woman of faith….and, my faith is strong. I know that my life…just as it is—has a purpose. I know that God loves me, and I know that there is no good thing that He will withhold from me. That’s what His word says, and He has no reason to lie to me.  The word says that, “In Him, we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:18)

So, when we are going through those times of uncertainty…we just have to remind ourselves of that.

Until next time…

Be blessed!

Greetings!

I’m not sure if you noticed, or even if I should point it out, but I have changed the name of my blog back to the original name. I originally started this blog because of my book, “Let My Life Be A Testimony,” and then somewhere along the line I started to feel like something was wrong with that. It was almost like I was shamelessly plugging my book every time someone came onto my site. Ok…I know that doesn’t make any sense at all, but just bear with me. I feel like all of a sudden I have been awakened to this revelation that has been there all the time, and didn’t see. God has blessed me more than I can even tell you. When I wrote my book, God not only gave me every word to write, but He also gave me the strength to let it go.

I have always felt that there was something wrong with selling something so personal. “Let My Life Be A Testimony” was like my baby. God allowed me to give birth to a dream I had held in my heart as far back as I can remember. But, what I was seeing is not what God was trying to show me. God was showing me who I could be in Him when I let myself go, and I was seeing someone who wasn’t worthy enough to even tell anyone I had written a book.

But, here’s the thing…God knew even that. He knew that I would drag my feet not wanting to be noticed. He knew that I would stand in the background… watching other people live out their dreams wishing I could do the same. So, He has been slow-walking me into my purpose… teaching me how to appreciate all of those things about myself that drive me crazy in other people. He has been showing me “me,” and it hasn’t been easy. What I have been seeing as procrastination is really not procrastination at all…it’s fear.

Knowing that gives me hope, because now I know how to fight.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings!

Today, I went to the funeral of a 28-year-old man, and it was heart-wrenching. I watched his friends and family file past his casket, and it took me back to the funeral of my own nephews. They both died way too young.  I looked at him lying there, and I felt this anger deep down in my soul. I am so tired of losing our young people to these senseless acts of violence, especially our young men. The enemy has a target on the backs of our young boys. He does not want them to be the spiritual warriors that God is calling them to be. They keep fighting one another when they should be fighting him.

He wants to keep them distracted on things like territory, and respect, and control…when none of that really matters. When you think about that it sounds kind of silly. They are fighting over something that none of them can ever really fully possess. Everything in creation belongs to God.  Every corner, every block, every street…none of it belongs to us…and guess what? We can’t take it with us even if it did. Our young men are dying in alarming numbers over nothing.

Funerals have a way of making you take stock of your life…especially when it is the death of someone who was so young, and I think that’s a good thing. We need to re-evaluate our lives from time to time…to make sure that we are still on the path…pursuing the purpose. We have to make sure that we are still striving to make a difference in the world. We have to find a way to reach out to those who are lost…not just the young folks, but all the folks…young and old. The Apostle Paul says, “So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29). We have to be willing to leave our comfort zones, and talk to someone about the saving grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ. That...is why we’re here.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Greetings and Happy New Year!

I just want to let you know that I stuck to my promise…I did not make any New Year resolutions, and it felt great. I am determined that this year will be the beginning of a new more adventurous me. I have always been a worrier…although I like the word cautious. I try to plan out everything. A good friend once told me that I needed to be more spontaneous, but I tried to even plan that. But, this year I am not going to feel guilty for making a mistake, or falling asleep when I stay up reading too late, or for staying in bed a little later some mornings. I am giving myself permission to rest in who God has made me to be. I know that it won’t be easy, but I trust in the promises of God. His word says that I am more than a conqueror, and I believe that. I want to love deeper this year, and not try so hard to make people love me back. I want to enjoy every day…even the ones that cause me to say scriptures out loud…lol.

I love the Lord, and I know that everything He does is good—whether I think so at the time or not. I know that God hears my prayers, and that He has put in me everything that I need to be the woman of God that He has called me to be. I know that I have the power of the Lord within me, and that gives me strength for the journey. I trust Him in a way I never have before. He is opening up new ways for me, and little by little, I am beginning to see the vision.

I know that everything I went through last year is bringing me to a new place in Him. He is my Comforter, my Hero, my Friend…and although His teaching is sometimes hard, I know that He is working it out for my good.

Lord, I pray for the person who is reading this message today. I pray that you reveal to them a new way of seeing…that they begin to see with their hearts—and not their eyes. I pray that they will see the manifestation of whatever dream you have given to them. I pray that they will hold on to Your promises, and that whenever they feel weak they will remember that they have an Advocate who is standing by waiting...

Until next time…

Be blessed!