Being Consistent

Greetings!

I know I have been missing in action for a while...

I am not going to bore you with all of the reasons why I haven't written anything lately. Let's just say I am back and I will try not to do it too often. This year has been difficult for a lot of folks...for many reasons. But, for me, my struggle was because I allowed myself to drift too far from my source of strength. Instead of letting God lead, many times, I not only got in His way...I got in my own way. I allowed my life to be filled with things that really didn't even make sense, and when I look back over this past year, I can't blame it on anyone but me.

I love God with all of my heart, and yet I found it difficult to spend real time with Him. I mean, I pray...a lot. But, I couldn't seem to get alone with Him the way I wanted. Maybe I put to much pressure on myself to do it the way I think it should have been done (Now, that kind of thinking is definitely the work of the enemy), his job is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), and he does it well. I know that about him and I still let him get away with it every now and then. I am still a work in progress, and at least he doesn't get away with it as much as he used to. Praise God!

One of the things that I do want to do is to be more consistent...in every area of my life. I want people to know that when I say something...they can count on it. It is important to God, and throughout the Bible, great emphasis is placed on keeping your word. Our word shapes our character, and our character shapes our lives and our lives are our testimony. So, we not only have to consider what our lives say, we also have to consider how we represent our Father.

My word lately has been sketchy and that is not like me. I started out this year waiting for God to speak to me, then somewhere along the way I began to do what I thought He said. I made so many mistakes because I heard Him, but I didn't LISTEN to Him. Thank God, He loves me enough to give me a second chance. He loves all of us that way...even the ones that don't want to acknowledge Him.

This year, I am going to try to work on being more consistent. To move when God says to move, and to wait until He speaks. I have a lot of ideas, but they may not be God ideas...and those are the only ones that count.

Until next time...

Be blessed

It's all about love...

Greetings!

The Christmas season is upon us...

I love this time of year. There is something about the air around Christmas time. Not the physical air, but the spiritual air. I know there are a lot of folks who want to be politically correct, but to me Christmas is all about the birth of Christ. You can believe in anything you want it doesn't change the fact that December 25th is the day we celebrate Jesus...

Christmas always makes me think of all my family, and friends. I love getting together and reminiscing about old times or enjoying the company of new acquaintances. We always want it to last forever, and then once the Christmas season is over we go back to the way things were before. What if we really worked on living all year the way we do at Christmas. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to smile for no reason or maybe help someone and not expect anything in return. Isn't that what God commands us to do? The word says we are to love God with all of our hearts and then love one another. What if we did that? What do you think the world would be like?

I know we can't change everything, but I do think we can change some things. In this new year, I am going to work on my relationships. I don't want to go into another year not letting the people I care about know how much I love them, and sharing that same love with the people I meet along the way.

I pray that no matter what situation you may be in today that you know how much God loves you and how much you mean to the body of Christ. Let's begin to love like Christ loves...and watch the difference it makes in the lives of the people around us.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Christ...the solid Rock

Greetings!

Today, I am feeling the old hymns. There is something about singing those old songs that is so comforting. I think for me it's because they remind me of my parents. We always had music or singing in our home. My mother sang when she was happy and she sang when she was sad. My father was on the men's choir at church, so I always heard him singing. I think that's why it's my "go to" when I'm going through. I get comfort from hearing those words. One of my favorite hymns is Christ the Solid Rock. The hymn says, "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." That is what I love about those old hymns...they speak truth. This song says that if you are hoping on anything other than God you are wasting your time.

Rock in the Bible is a symbol of strength. That is so fitting for our God. He is our strength. We can lean on Him and know that He can take the weight. He is not like man. He is not going to get tired. We can go to Him as many times as we need to and He will always be there. The Bible says in Psalms 27:5, "For in the day of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. No matter what is going on...God will cover us and make sure that we are victorious.

We can't make it in this world without God. Whether we accept Him or not. The word says that He made the world and everything in it. That means that even if we never accept Him as Lord, He is still the One who wakes us up each day. That's how awesome God is...He will never force us to love Him and will keep loving us anyway.

Until next time...
Be blessed

The Place Where Hope Lives...

Greetings!

This morning the message is hope...

We can rest assured that nothing happens without God allowing it to happen, and if He allows it....we have everything we need to get through it. God doesn't wait until a calamity happens to begin working. No....He has already worked it out in our favor. Our job is to keep trusting Him.

The crazy thing is that when we are going through our issue, circumstance, problem...we forget how many times God has worked it out for us before. It can be hard to hold onto hope when everything seems to being going wrong, but God has promised us and He never goes back on His word. I trust Him because I know His record. He has been there through every trial, and every test. He has been there when things were good and when things were not so good. I KNOW Him and I KNOW He loves His children.

The thing I think we forget most of the time is that God does not punish us for the wrongs we have done. We are forgiven, and the word says that He remembers our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). Jesus died to free us from our sins (1 Peter 2:24), but God does chasten those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). That's different. Correction is not the same as punishment. Chastening is to get us to a place where we are more like His Son, Jesus Christ...a place of holiness, love, joy and peace.

That place is where God is. The place where hope lives. It is where we receive His goodness and His grace. It is where mercy is brand new every morning. It is where we can rest from all of our struggles. We can't get through this life without having some hurts and disappointments, times of struggle and pain. That's how we grow in faith. But we can know that whatever happens our hope can rest in the One who holds the world in His hands.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Standing...

Greetings!

No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

Singing that in my Fred Hammond voice. That is my theme song for this season. The enemy is stepping up his game, and so am I. God's word says that I am more than a conqueror and I am determined to live like I believe that. I feel like God is on the verge of doing something great in my life and I am not going to be timid or afraid. The enemy knows it too that's why he is coming so hard after me. I know it because...one, he is attacking me and my family, and two, he is trying to make me doubt what God has shown me.

I know that God has given me a purpose, and the enemy is doing everything possible to make me think that it will never happen. But I know him to be a liar, so I'm not listening. I know that I need to step up my prayer life and dig deeper into God's word because that is where my power comes from...that is where my victory comes from, and that is where my healing comes from.

Right now, is one of the scariest times of my life, but I know my God is with me, so fear has no place in my life. The Bible says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and nothing can come against me without God's permission. I also know that if God allows it...He knows I can take it, and in the end, He will work it all out for my good. I am standing on His word. I am standing on His name. And I am standing on His promise.

Because I trust Him, and I know He loves me.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Faith listens...

Greetings!

If I never thought God heard me, this morning was proof that He does, and not only does He hear me...He moves. He knew that I was going to need a word that was going to strengthen me through the days and months ahead. Because He loves me...He came for me...

I am relying on God right now like never before. If I didn't have God in my life, I know I wouldn't make it. Today I needed to know that I am not alone in this thing. I know that He is right there with me, and nothing is greater, nothing is bigger, nothing is more powerful than our God. I just needed to be reminded that faith is more than believing...it's hearing, seeing, knowing, because when all the chatter around you stops...faith listens.

This morning, my pastor preached from Isaiah 43:1-3, and it blessed me so much I thought I was going to explode. He pulled six words from those three verses that will stay with me always. Those six words were life changing for me, and they were...

But God.
Fear Not.
I AM

I wanted those six words to stand out on the page. Say them out loud. Meditate on them. Let your heart hear them. Make them a part of your daily affirmations. Our God is all-powerful, and nothing can come against us because this scripture says that we belong to Him...He has redeemed us and called us by name. We belong to Him. That is comforting because I know that no matter what...He is in the midst right along with me. I am never alone. I belong to Him, and everything that concerns me concerns Him and the word says that He hears me when I call.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Teachable Spirit...

Greetings!

On Friday night, I spoke at my friend's church. It was an excellent service. And I am under the belief that you just don't come out on a Friday night and not come expecting God to do something awesome. Our theme was being a "true servant" for God. The theme was perfect for this season, because typically around this time, we start to get a little tired. It's toward the end of the year, we are getting ready for the holidays, and looking forward to a new year. The problem is...the enemy knows we're tired too (Mostly because we keep speaking it out of our mouths), and he finds every opportunity to make our lives miserable, and we're so tired we leave ourselves open to all kinds of foolishness.

What I realized on Friday was that we are not perfect, and our expectation shouldn't be to try to do everything perfectly but to do everything with a teachable spirit. I was the first speaker, and I don't know why, but I wasn't ready to be first, and because I didn't prepare for that I was so off. I forgot to thank the pastor and his wife...I even forgot to thank the person who had asked me to speak. Of course, I beat myself up for a while, but then I got over it. I decided to chalk it up and use it as a learning experience. That's growth for me. I remember a time I would have been messed up for months.

The thing is that God uses us in whatever way He chooses. When  He wants something to happen, you better believe it is going to happen. Even though I felt that I had messed up all over the place, after I spoke, one of the other speakers said that I really blessed her, because I made her look at herself differently. Our God is so awesome. When we stay close to Him, He will teach us those things we will need to be a blessing to His people.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Spirit of Excellence

Greetings!

The word today is excellence...

God has really been working on me to have a spirit of excellence. He is calling me to be more than I have ever been. What I mean is...sometimes we do things out of habit, because that's the way we have always done it. But, we can't afford to be haphazard about anything we do...not with our work on the job, and not with our families at home or at church. There is too much at stake. We are in a time of great turmoil and unrest. Our families are being attacked, and our country is being attacked. The enemy has really stepped up his game, and he is out to make our lives miserable, and we can't let him.It doesn't matter what is happening in the world. The Bible says, "If God be for us, who can stand against us" (Rom. 8:31).We have to keep looking to the One who has all power in His hands...

We are going to have good times and bad times, that's how life is, but we can't let the seasons of our lives dictate our future. God has put us here in this time and space for a specific purpose. We have something that the world needs. If we didn't...we wouldn't be here. That means that whatever God has called us to do, we need to do it with excellence.

God doesn't make mistakes. He knows exactly who we are and what we are capable of achieving. He knows, because He gave it to us. He set our destiny in motion at the beginning of time. He knew we would be exactly who we are. What we may see as a burden is really God's opportunity to show off.

So, whatever God has placed in our hands...do it with a spirit of excellence. That's the least we can do for Him...

Until next time,

Be blessed

Live Abundantly

Greetings!

I have been in an evangelism class since the beginning of the year, and now we are working towards doing a presentation. Although I'm not looking forward to that, I am enjoying the class. Yesterday, we reviewed the information that we would need to present, and then we had a discussion afterward. The class was good, but the discussion afterward was life-changing...

The director of our ministry spoke about the things we consider sins and challenged us to look at it differently. God has definitely given him a teaching anointing. He has a way of presenting things that stay with you for months....even years afterward. For some reason, God has connected me to him and He constantly speaks to me through him. He never fails to give me a message that is both timely and relevant.

Whenever I am in one of his teachings I leave wanting to be better. And I think that's what we all want. We want to make an impact on the world for God. We want God to use us to be a blessing to His people...at least I hope we do. I know that I do. I want my life to reflect the goodness and grace that God has shown me. I want to live a life with no limits. I want to live abundantly, and I want to help others live that way too.

What I learned yesterday is that we are so focused on not messing up, that we miss the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Our teacher showed us how the enemy can't take our salvation, but he can keep us so focused on not being a sinner, that we miss living. That was such a revelation for me. I try so hard not to do anything wrong that I forget about all the things that I do right. I forget to celebrate those little victories, and I don't think that I'm alone. There are many people who are out there not living for fear of messing up, and that's not living all.

Let's begin today to live the life God created us to live. We are not going to live looking over our shoulder. We are going to stay focused on God, and keep looking ahead to the things God has already lined up for us to do. We are going to live that abundant life knowing that making a mistake doesn't make us a failure...it makes us human.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Divine Connections

Greetings!

I want to talk to you today about divine connections. God's plan is so perfect...we all know that. But, sometimes He has to remind us that He is in control and that everything He has set in place will happen...in due time.

I went to an event in Washington, DC yesterday, and there was a speaker that had a powerful message about how all of our lives matter...especially to God. That phrase has become pretty familiar to many folks these days, because of the Black Lives Matter movement. I have my own feelings about that issue...but that is for another post. Yesterday, at the event I attended, I met some women that I felt I had known all my life. You could tell that they all traveled in the same circles, but I didn't feel like an outsider. They were all from the DC area, and I was the only one from Baltimore, but it was like we had been traveling together for years.

That's because God knows what He is doing. This is how God works. I have been working with this gentleman for a few years now, and for some reason, this year I decided to ask him if his wife was a part of a women's ministry. Why I did that now had to be because of God's prompting. It was like he had been waiting for me to ask. He didn't even hesitate. He gave me her contact information, and by the time I got home he had already told her about me, so she was expecting my call.

God did that. The thing is...God has led me down this path before, and I sabotaged my own destiny. I was too afraid of the path ahead of me. But, God didn't give up on me. That's the awesome thing about our God. He keeps pursuing us and setting us up to win. This time, I don't want to disappoint Him. I am keeping my focus on Him, and allowing Him to order my steps. I can't wait to see what He is going to do next.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Encourage the one out front...

Greetings!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...what a mighty God we serve.

My friend invited me to her pastor's anniversary celebration today, and we had such an awesome time in the Lord. The amazing thing about this church is its ability to bring out those God-given gifts in you. I have done things at this church that I have never done anywhere else, and I think it's because they don't expect perfection. They encourage you to do your best, and they clap, shout, and love you the whole way. I actually feel empowered when I leave there...like I could do anything, and we need that every now and then. 

My pastor's message was on point today too. He came from John 10:10, and the title of his message was, "Flock Support." I love the way he delivers a powerful and life-sustaining message using everyday things. God has really anointed him as a gifted storyteller. This morning he used geese formation to address the issue of supporting and encouraging one another. The thing that really stayed with me was when he said that the geese that are honking at the end of the formation are encouraging the ones up front. 

What he was saying is that when it's your time to move into position everything will be lined up to happen naturally. Just because you are at the end of the line right now, doesn't mean you are going to remain at the end of the line. If you just hold on...your time will come. In the meantime, you have to pray for and encourage the one in the lead position, because one day that could be you.

I love days like this...when God confirms His word to you. It is a reminder that God hears our prayers. He knows exactly what we need, and at the right time—He provides.

Until next time...

Be blessed 

Watch God Provide...

Greetings!

This morning on my way to church I heard this song by Tamela Mann, and it just blessed me so much. At first, I wasn't really paying attention. My mind was focused on getting into that place of worship. When I go to the house of God, I want to go expecting God to move. I believe that miracles will happen, and I believe that we will receive exactly what we ask for. We may not get it in the way we wanted, but He responds because His word says we will...and I believe His word. So, I'm riding along, and at first, it's just noise in the background. Then the Holy Spirit made this line stand our for me, and it said, "Watch God provide."

At that point, it was no longer just words to a song. The Holy Spirit began to minister to me. I felt like that song was written for me. Like she was speaking those words directly to me. We will all go through times in our lives when we can't see God's hand, and it feels like we are all alone, but our God never fails. Everything God allows is not always going to feel good and we are not going to understand everything, but we can trust that He will provide. It may not seem like it, it may not look like it, and it may not feel like it, but He is always working on our behalf. It may not be good to us, but God promises that in the end, it will be good for us.

Know that whatever you are going through, God has given you the victory. Don't trust what you feel, trust what you know about Him. Wait on Him, and watch God provide...He always has, and He always will.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Staying the course...

Greetings!

Today, the preacher spoke from the theme, "You will not get under my skin." That message really stayed with me. One, because I know there have been times in my life when I have let people do just that, and two because doing that means that you have control over me...

What he was saying is that when we allow others to make us angry, we are allowing them to be our idol. I know, right? We don't usually think of it that way, but that is exactly what that means. And, here's the thing...that anger can cause us to delay our blessing, it can cause us to abort our assignment, and it can cause us to live a life beneath the abundant life God has promised us. We cannot allow people to make us so mad that we destroy the assignment God has placed on our lives. When he said those words I understood it in a way that I hadn't thought of before.

My pastor said recently that the enemy does not give up. He is not going to stop because we have had victory in a few areas. No, he just increases or intensifies his attacks. He's not going to stop, not as long as we are followers of Christ. He wants us to stay focused on anything but what God is calling us to do. Our problem is that we keep letting him.

Not anymore...from now on, we are going to stay the course. We are going to stay focused on the One who has put us in position, because if God be for us, who can stand against us. Our God is bigger than anything the enemy can throw at us. The Bible says that greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. We already have the victory, we just have to start walking it out...

Until next time...

Be blessed

Appreciating God's Glory

Greetings!

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. I love simple things, and I don't like a lot of drama. I can sit by the water for hours...not thinking about anything in particular. Just enjoying the beauty of God's handiwork. How the green trees look against the blue sky. How the ocean knows to stop at the shoreline (most of the time). How a weed can look like flowers, and how sometimes listening to children play makes you think back to when you were young. I am so amazed by God. He is in the smallest details.

My husband is one of those people that enjoys nature. He is always taking pictures of trees, or clouds or water...he has actually given me a new appreciation for the beauty God has created for us. I used to ride to work reading a book or looking at my phone. Now, we try to spot deer near my job. It can be hard this time of year because of all the trees...the deer tend to blend in, and that makes it hard to see them. The crazy thing is that when we do see them it makes us so happy. I don't know how many pictures he has taken of those deer...even the deer probably think we are crazy. But, I love the way he sees things.

Today, I just wanted to take some time to just thank God for the little things. I thank Him for allowing me to have eyes to see, and a heart to appreciate His beauty. The last line of Psalm 8 says, "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" His glory fills the earth, and it is amazing to see. I am so grateful that He loves us so much...

Until next time...

Be blessed

Don't wait for Sunday...

Greetings!

I have mixed feelings about Sundays. On the one hand...I love Sundays, and I love that it is the one day of the week that you are not expected to do anything...and you don't have to feel guilty about it. On the other hand, Monday always follows. Although I am grateful to have a job that pays the bills. I also want a position that makes my soul happy. I may be naive, but I still think it's possible to have both...

Recently, I had a conversation with someone about our parents and how they were able to stay on their jobs for 40-45 years. They persevered through some rough times, and  they never let us see it. Our parents were not rich by a long shot. But none of us ever saw them struggling. Not really. What we did see though was how our parents prayed about everything. They trusted God in the good times and the bad times. They didn't fall apart at the slightest problem. They didn't quit their jobs because the boss didn't give them the promotion. They didn't whine and complain because life was hard. They just did whatever needed to be done. 

I'm just going to be honest...I didn't get that gene. I wish I had, because most days I get on my own nerves. And, unfortunately, I am not alone. For some reason, many of us think that we are supposed to have this carefree, pain free, guilt free life, and that the world owes us something. I'm not sure where that attitude came from, but I do know that it has got to go.

I am on a mission. I am going to look forward to Monday through Saturday the same way I do Sunday. I am not going to live for the weekend anymore. I am going to thank God for every day, I am going to be grateful for every day, and I am going to praise God for every day...no matter what. 

Until next time...

Be blessed

The God who never fails...

Greetings!

At our church, during the summer months, we take a short break from many of our church activities, and we take some time to rest and just enjoy our families. It's also a time when we have our "hour of power" where we do everything in one hour or less. That means that my pastor has to deliver his messages differently, because everyone is basically in vacation mode. This month, he has been on fire, and his messages are all coming from the same theme. All this month, he will be coming from the Book of 2 Peter 1:1-9, and the theme is "Faith that keeps on ticking."

What he has been saying is that we need to add something to our faith for it work. For instance, today he spoke on adding endurance or perseverance to our faith. As believers, we don't have the option of quitting or giving up. Our faith is in the God who never fails. Whatever happens in our lives, our God can handle it. Actually, He has already provided everything we need in His word. All we have to do is pick up the book.

I am loving this series. It is a good reminder of who our God is. We keep trying to understand God with our minds, and He is so much bigger than our minds can comprehend. He is not like man, and we can't keep thinking of Him that way. God doesn't count all the things we have done wrong against us. If He did, there would have been no need for His Son, Jesus Christ to go to the cross. When Jesus went to the cross, every mix-up, mess-up or mistake was erased from our past and from our future.

The Bible says that He has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). That's why we can have faith that keeps on ticking. Because that faith is not based on us or anything we have done, it's based on the God who never fails.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Trust the plan...

Greetings!

It is definitely August...

August is typically the hottest month of the year...at least to me. This year it seems like everywhere we look, there are reports of extreme conditions. The weather is either extremely hot, or extremely cold. And it seems like there is always a report of an extreme storm or fire somewhere. There was flooding in one neighborhood, at least two people lost their lives, and right up the street, it was barely touched.

It is amazing how God works. I used to try to figure everything out. That was just my nature. I wanted to know why things worked the way they did, why people acted the way they acted, why some people were rich, while others were barely making it. I questioned God...a lot. This is the amazing thing about our Father; He is so patient with us. He loves that we trust Him enough to come to Him when we don't understand some things. But here's the thing...we have to be able to accept that He may not give us the answers we want. Sometimes we have to just trust the plan. 

I have learned that when there is no ready answer to my questions, I just need to be patient. God's time is not like our time. What we think is taking forever is just a blink of an eye for Him, and I know that whatever He allows, He has a purpose and a plan for it. Trusting in Him has been a journey for me though because I always had to see it. What God taught me was that I had to let down all my defenses and open my life totally to Him. When I did that, He began to show me who I really was in Him, and many of the things that had troubled me for years began to lose its power over me. Trusting God, and trusting that He knows what is best for me has been the best decision I ever made.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Just hit delete...

Greetings!

What an awesome day...

Today, my ministry team spent the morning at one of the local rehabilitation facilities. Our church service was so inspired. We always pray that Holy Spirit will run the show, and He did just that. There is nothing like being in a place where everyone is on one accord. Those people came to hear a word from the Lord today, and the preacher did not disappoint...

Her message was from Matthew 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." It really resonated in my spirit, because that's what my post was about last week. It takes faith to believe. It's not easy to hold on when everything around you is going bananas.

We are in a time where easy is the word of the day. But everything is not going to be easy, and it wasn't meant to be. If we never have a trial...if we never have troubles...we would never know what we are made of. God uses those times to grow us. Those times when all we want to do is run and hide...give us our testimonies. We learn more about our character during our times of trouble than we would any other way.

What really stuck with me about today's message though was when the preacher said we have no control over what comes into our minds, but we have the ability to hit the "delete" button. We do not have to meditate on everything that comes into our minds. When issues with jealousy, envy, anger, low self-esteem, or unforgiveness come...hit delete. God has given us the power to trample over the enemy...we just have to believe it.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Lord, help my unbelief...

Greetings!

We are about to enter into the month of August. It's amazing that we are over halfway through the year already. I am excited about that and a little sad at the same time. I'm excited because we have come this far, and we are still here. That means that we still have time to finish strong. What I mean by that is, some of us make New Year’s resolutions or we have expectations for the new year, and if they haven't happened, yet...we still have time. I'm also a little sad because another year is about to be over. It just feels like time is rushing by,  and I won't have time to do all the things I want to do. I know that whatever God has destined for me is for me, and nothing or no one can keep me from it. I know that neither time nor circumstance will change that, and yet sometimes I still feel like I'm not doing enough...

Even though we are heavenly beings, we still have to operate in this flesh, and sometimes our flesh is weak. We will sometimes suffer through periods of doubt, fear, and as much as we hate to admit it...unbelief. That's why the child's father in Mark 9:24 said, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief." The word also goes on to say, “…he who comes to God must first believe.” We have to believe in the power of the name Jesus. The enemy will lead us to believe that there is no hope, but he is the father of all lies. God has secured our victory over the things of this world. When Jesus went to the cross, He secured our freedom...forever.

Jesus came to give us hope. He came that we might have life more abundantly. He came to strengthen our faith. He came to show us that there is power in His name. We can trust the One who gave His life for us. Don't let the tricks of the enemy. He wants us to believe that God doesn't love us and want to heal us. God loves us with an everlasting love, and nothing will ever change that.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Season to let go...

Greetings!

I don't know what part of the world you may be from, but here in Maryland, it is HOT. I am working really hard not to complain because I definitely did not enjoy having to shovel snow. And let me tell you, it wasn't any cooler at church today.

My pastor was on fire. He put it all out there, and I felt the heat. One of the things he preached about today was trying to hold onto people past the time we need to let them go. Not because they are bad for us, but because your season with them is over...for now. Some things only you and God can go through. When you need someone else...He will send them. My pastor said it is a lot harder for us to let go of those people who are actually good to us and for us because it doesn't make sense to us, and he is right. Someone who is a bad influence is a no-brainer, but when the person is someone we love, it feels wrong somehow.

I know God is trying to tell me something because I just had a conversation with one of my sisters about that very thing yesterday. My mother passed away when I was a teenager, and I have always found it hard to let go of people. I know that I hold on way too long. I have learned that some people can't handle that kind of loyalty. I want everyone to stay and be happy, but sometimes that is just not part of God's plan for us.

The word says that God's plan is to prosper us and not to harm us, so I am all in with Him. I know He will be with me wherever I go, and for me...that is all I need to know.

Until next time...

Be blessed

Unafraid

Greetings!

Wow! What a day. For the last few years, I have gone to the Women of Excellence Summit, and every year it gets better and better. I must say…I am never disappointed. The theme was Holy Women of God Warring in a Worthy Fight: Unafraid.

From the time we entered the door to the time we left, everyone was pleasant and accommodating. We need that kind of spirit in the world today. We had five dynamic speakers, and it was as if each speaker caught the fire of the one before her, and it made her message even that much more powerful. It was awesome. There was no competition…just worshipping the Lord.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the fellowship...even for the woman that cut in the line in front of me…I forgive her. There was this moment between speakers when this one woman sang a song solo that is typically sung by a choir, and the whole church sang the background. It was so spontaneous and unexpected…and so anointed. The spirit of the Lord filled the room, and it changed the atmosphere. I love that kind of worship. It was so pure and honest. I believe God honors that kind of worship. No one was looking at anyone else. Everyone was just open to the Lord, and you could tell He was pleased.

I love leaving a conference wishing I could come back the next day. That means it did the job it set out to do. I think every conference should motivate and inspire you to want something…do something…change something. This one made me want to do them all.

I am already looking forward to next year.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Family

Greetings!

This weekend was our family's annual cookout, and we had a great time. I think more people came this year than has come in a long time. I have a big family, and we get together at least 3-4 times a year to just stay connected. It was important for us to do that for our Dad, and it's important for us to do it for the generations to come...

We are in some perilous times, and we have to find ways to celebrate and appreciate one another—not only in our family, but also around the world. We have to begin to do random acts of kindness. To show God's love to everyone we meet. To actively pursue people to bless. Do I think that will solve all of our problems...no, but it is a step in the right direction.

We can't afford to sit idly by and wait for someone else to do it. WE are the "someone else." It begins and ends with us. I think part of it is that we have not learned from our mistakes, which means we are destined to repeat them. But, it’s not too late to make a change.

We can still talk to our children and grandchildren about having respect for themselves, and for others. We can talk to them about dreaming big dreams, and working hard to achieve them. We can talk to them about making a difference in the world by getting involved in politics so that they can help create policy. We can talk to them about God, and the power of His word.

I looked around at my family this weekend, and I was so humble and grateful to have a family that loves one another. I don’t take that for granted. Does it mean that we get along all the time…no, but it does mean that I wouldn’t be who I am without them.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Going through...

Greetings!

Every Sunday my church shares at one of the local rehab facilities. This week, it was my turn to bring a message. The scripture that God gave me came from the Book of James, and I just want to share with you what God shared with me. The funny thing is, what I am going to share with you is not the message God gave me to share at the rehab center. It is something another minister said to me afterward that gave me pause. This is the Message version of James 1:2-4, and it says “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

The part I want to highlight is the line that says, "So don't try to get out of anything prematurely." That thing resonated in my spirit because we so often try to hurry past those times when things don't go our way. I mean, if there is any way we can get out of having to endure pain, or hurt, or trauma, why wouldn't we, right? The thing is, when we do that we never really get the lesson God may be trying to show us.

God will never allow anything that He is not going to work out for our good. When our parents, our family, or our friends try to "cushion" our fall, what they are really doing is stunting our growth. As Joyce Meyer says, "Sometimes you have to go through to get through."

Know that when you are a follower of Christ, you are going to go through some "stuff" every now and then. All of our situations, burdens, and problems...whatever that thing is for you...know that God is aware, and He knows exactly what He is doing. Trust Him

Until next time...

Be blessed

Long Season...

Greetings!

It seems like this has been a long season of difficulties.  Some days, I know exactly where I should be and why I am there. Then, there are those days when I want to leave everything behind, get in my car, and ride until the gas runs out.

I think that it may be like that for a lot of us. We go through seasons of trials, as well as, seasons of triumphs. That is life. What seems like a tragedy to me would be a blessing to someone else. For instance, I think I have been on a life-long diet. My closet is ridiculous. I have clothes in there from a size 8 to a size 16. Ok, so I whine and complain about how I cannot lose weight, when there are people out there with illnesses who would love to be able to gain weight. I look in my closet, and complain that I cannot fit anything, when there is someone out there who would love to have a closet.

I know those examples may seem petty, but they are real for many people. My point in bringing this up is that we have to be able to rise above our situations. We cannot let “things” control us. When we focus on our problems, it robs us of our joy, and that is exactly what the enemy wants. We have to keep our focus on looking up to God, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He will always bring us through. His promise is that He will always be with us. He strengthens us so that we can take those things the enemy tries to use against us.

I thank God for being my keeper, and for always being there whenever I call. I pray that you also have a personal relationship with the Lord, because without Him…we would be nothing.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Bring back those yesterdays...

Greetings!

I had a ball with my family yesterday. We make a point of getting together a few times a year...just to stay connected. I especially love hanging out with my brothers and sisters. It always makes me think about when we were young, and at home cutting up. 

Watching them yesterday just made my soul happy. When I look at us…I don't see the gray hair, and expanding waistlines. I see us sitting on the steps in the summertime, playing outside until the street lights came on, and riding our bikes all over the place. I see my parents having Sunday dinner, and going out to get ice cream afterward. I see us sleeping under the dining room table until the thunderstorm passed through. I see us getting together for big family gatherings, with laughter, and good times, and lots of love.

My family didn’t have a lot, but we never knew it. Our neighborhood was clean and safe. Everybody looked out for everybody else. My friend’s mom could yell at me for doing something I shouldn’t, and my mom would back her up. We respected our elders…all of them. Even the ones who we felt were just plain mean…lol. I miss that. I miss seeing children playing outside. I miss hearing moms calling their children to come in and wash their hands for dinner. Now, some things definitely needed to go, but right now, in this world, everything that is right seems wrong, and everything that is wrong seems right.

We need to bring back those yesterdays when we cared about one another. We need to continue to hold up that standard our parents had. A standard that says having respect is not being weak. That says helping your neighbor is not a bad thing. That says we are family...no matter what.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Let my faith speak for me

Greetings!

There comes a time in everyone’s life that you come to a fork in the road and you have to decide which way to go. You have to decide whether to go left or right and should you do the right thing or the wrong thing. That’s when you have to know who God is in your life. We all have made mistakes and most likely will do it again. The thing is not to kick ourselves for making a mistake. 

We have a way of having compassion for others, but not for ourselves. We can make one little mistake and still think about it for months—sometimes even years. We should let our mistakes activate our faith. Faith is having complete confidence in the God who is more than enough. It's not about having faith in our ability...it's having faith in the One who gave us our ability. 

To activate our faith I believe we first have to believe that God is. Faith will do us no good if we don’t believe that God is who He says He is. Next, we have to know His word or at least know where to go to find it, right? Finally, we have to be able to speak God's word back to Him. We gain strength from speaking God’s word, especially out loud. It changes the atmosphere.

Until next time...

Be blessed

I won't let go...

Greetings!

It is something in the air, and I am loving it...

There is a scripture in Genesis 32 that says, "But he said, I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (v.26b) This scripture reminded me of an event a few years back when I attended my first all-night shut-in at church. I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t sure I would even be able to stay up all night. I arrived to find women there with blankets, pillows, change of clothes, and snacks. I almost wanted to turn around, but I had come this far. I felt so unprepared…here I was standing there with nothing but my Bible. I had come that night with nothing but my expectation of deliverance from strongholds that were trying to take over my life. All I knew was that God was going to do something big…I felt it in the pit of my stomach, and I did not want to miss it.

This scripture spoke to me, because that struggle…that night…was with me. My spirit fought with my flesh all night long. I felt like Jacob because I was determined that I was not going to leave the same. I wanted to be healed…I wanted to know what it was like to feel whole. I wanted it…and I was not going to let go—not until God blessed me…and He did. In ways I never even imagined. That night was the beginning of a journey in Him that I never expected, and it has brought me to a new level of faith—in Him.

I think at some point all of us question our faith, but we all have it. Maybe at different levels, but it’s there. I am feeling that same rush right now. Like there is something going on in the spirit that is taking shape in the natural. 

God is doing something, and we can't afford to miss it...

Until next time...

Be blessed

Seeking Balance...

Greetings!

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  –Psalm 63:1

This scripture sums up my feelings perfectly…

I think I am still in worship from the Holy Spirit Conference. I feel like I can’t catch my breath. It’s almost like if I breathe in too deep, I am going to explode from the weight of His presence. And I am loving it. I don’t ever want to come down from this place. But, since that is probably not going to be possible, I'm going to have to figure out how to hold on to at least some of that feeling.

Lately, the word balance has been the buzzword. Everywhere I go, people are talking about having balance, creating balance, or trying to find balance. Although, it is important…I believe everything we need can be found in the Father. The word says that if we commit our plans to the Lord, He will establish them (Prov. 16:3). That means that if we “surrender” not only our plan but also our lives to God, He will prosper us in ways that we can’t even comprehend.  But, here’s the thing…prosper doesn’t always mean money. Having prosperity can mean having an abundance of joy, or peace, or love. It can also be the ability to prioritize your life.

I am seeking hard after God. I want to be so in tune with Him that even before He speaks…I am already in position. God is looking for a remnant. He is looking for a people that will stand on the frontlines for Him. That will move when He says move. Speak when He says speak. Stand when He says stand. I want to be in that number. 

I want God to know that the sacrifice He made for me was not in vain…

Until next time…

Be blessed

Holy Spirit Refreshing...

Greetings!

This weekend I attended the "Holy Spirit Fix My Life" Conference, and I am telling you…I am totally and completely refreshed. This refreshing goes all the way from the top of head to the soles of my feet. I feel renewed. I think that’s how it should be when you come away from being in the presence of the Lord. You should feel refreshed…brand-new.

I really needed to let go….for real. I have said it many times, but I have this bad habit of thinking I can fix what is wrong in my life by trying harder, reading more, eating less…something—when what I really needed was to spend more time with my Father. Praise be to God for always knowing exactly what we need. He knows we have a hard time letting go of the things in our lives, and He allows us to go as far as we can, then He sends us a lifeline. This weekend...was my lifeline.

Have you ever attended a conference, a retreat, or a church service, and the preacher will say that if you leave out like you came in, it’s your own fault. Well, this weekend I know what that means, and something definitely broke in the spirit world. I feel a new sense of purpose.  I feel stronger…like I can take on the world.

All throughout that conference I could hear God speaking. Preacher after preacher confirmed what God had spoken to me. At one point, the host said that God had orchestrated that whole weekend for somebody in the room. I don’t know who else it may have been for, but I know it was for me...

My prayer today is that if there is anything in your life that is keeping you bound that you will let it go, and be free...maybe for the first time. In the name of Jesus.

Until next time…

Be blessed

A Praying Mother...

Greetings!

Today, we celebrate mothers all over the world, and there is no one more deserving, right? This is the person that wiped our noses, kissed our boo boos, and listened to us complain when our friends didn’t treat us right. The one who will fight for you, cry with you and even give you that extra push when we need it. My mother is deceased, but the one thing I remember most about my mama more than anything else is…I remember my mama praying over me…

And she didn’t play with it either. She would put a prayer down. She prayed as if she believed God heard her prayers. I’m not even sure she knew that she was an intercessor… it was just natural for her. And because of the prayers, I heard her pray when I was growing up, I have a heart for prayer today.

We need those mothers of yesterday…the ones that looked out for the neighbor’s children as if they were her own. The ones who could speak a word of correction and the parents backed her up. The ones that believed in standing on the word of God, and believed that God’s word had power. I just believe that God has always had a special place in His heart for women… especially mothers. God made mothers unique…different from any other creation.  

I wonder what it would be like if women understood the power of their prayers. Matthew 21:22 says, "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” When we pray believing God…He moves. John 14:13-14 also says, “And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” What if we held God to His word? What if we actually believed that our prayers would make a difference?  What if we banded together all across the nation to pray for our children, for our communities, for our families? The Bible says the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much (Jam. 5:16). Just thinking about that is powerful. God is looking for a remnant…a people who believe. You and I…we are that people. Will you answer the call…

Until next time...

Be blessed

Pray Believing

Greetings!

I am in a season of believing. I can feel it. I can feel God strengthening my faith in ways that I never thought possible. Not because there is anything dramatic happening in my life, it is just the wonder of God’s love toward us. I posted last week about putting God back in His proper place—in the center of everything.

When we put God at the center—He responds.  You know how people say that sometimes God will answer with a “yes,” a “no,” or a “maybe?” I believe that when you pray according to scripture…according to His promise...He will always say “YES!”

The Bible says, “You ask and receive not because you pray amiss.”  That is from the Book of James 4:3. Some things can hinder our prayers. Things like…

Doubting that Jesus went to the cross

Doubting that He now sits on the right hand of The Father

Doubting that God loves us with an everlasting love

Doubting that His desire is to bless us

If we doubt those things, then our prayers will not be answered.  But, when we believe…the word says that nothing will be impossible for us…that is having a mustard seed kind of faith (Matthew 17:20). The thing is that God may not answer the way we want. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). His love for us is so amazing that our minds cannot comprehend it. Sometimes His love is so all consuming that it overwhelms us. We are not used to letting someone else lead—even God. We will not understand everything God allows, but we can trust that He is working it out for our good, and we can trust that our lives will bring God glory.  

Until next time...

Be blessed

Put God in the Center...

Greetings!

This week, I have had some challenges. Actually, I guess every week we all have challenges. But, sometimes I am just going to be honest…I really do not want to deal with them. Even with that, I have decided that I am going to try as hard as I can to live in the moment. I do not want to pray for Friday anymore. I want to live every moment as it happens without looking back over what should have been or looking ahead to what it is going to be.

I know that our heartaches and trials just help us learn how strong we are in God. He is our source of strength, and He gives us exactly what we need to make it through every moment of every day. Nothing is out of His hand. I wrote about that in my last post. If God brings you to it…He will bring you through it. We have to learn to praise Him in spite of what we are going through. If you do not learn to praise God in the hard times, you really will not know how to praise Him in those good times.

We are in a time when we have to pray like never before people. We have to pray for one another, for our children, for our families, for our leaders, for our communities, and we have to pray for churches. We have to put God back in the center of our lives. He controls the universe, and everything in it. When we try to take Him out of it…chaos ensues.

For me, I am turning it all over to God…my Father…my Daddy. He knows what I need even before I do. If anyone can help us, get back to where we are supposed to be…it is Him.

Until next time…

Be blessed

God is ordering your steps...

Greetings!

God’s timing is so perfect. Everything He does is intentional.  Every issue, every setback, every blessing is God’s way of growing us. Adversities…believe it or not, teach us. We learn, through adversity that we can stand in the midst of our problems. And…not only stand, but also overcome. We are victorious through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.  NOTHING can come against us when we walk with the Lord.

Oh...I am not saying that the enemy will not try to send different things to slow us down. We may even fall…but he does not have the power to keep us down.  Here’s the thing…every rough patch is not of the enemy.  Stop thinking that. Stop giving him credit he does not deserve. Some things were predestined for such a time as this. Because we serve a purposeful God…believe that He knows everything, and if He allowed it, then He has a purpose for it. 

In this season, the people of God have to begin to take back territory. We have an obligation to carry the word of God forward in a way that we haven't been able to before. What I mean by that is that God has given us boldness for this season. The Bible says in Isaiah 50:4, “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” And I pray that every time you open your mouth to speak for Him…His words in your mouth will be powerful. 

Know that God is ordering your steps, and He that began a good work in you will carry it on to completion….” (Phil. 1:6)

Until next time…

Be blessed

Appointed Time...

Greetings!

I am still in worship this week. I cannot help it…it is as if God opened the floodgates, and just like a mighty rushing wind…I can’t stop the flow of it. Praise God! It is awesome. I am so open to Him right now. I feel His move not only in my life, but also in the atmosphere around me. He is present, and His presence is healing. Let me tell you how I know…

I went to a prayer breakfast yesterday, and the theme was, “It’s Our Time.” The crazy thing is…the person who sold me the ticket never talked about the theme, and although I had a ticket, I never even looked at it, so I had no idea what the theme was going to be. I am telling you…God was working in this whole thing. We found out that the scheduled speaker had become ill, and had to leave to go to the hospital. So, the pastor of the church brought the word. I just believe that was God’s plan all along, because He spoke an on-time word, and every woman at that breakfast received a blessing. His message was all about God’s “the appointed” time.

There is an appointed time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). This…is the appointed time. It almost echoes what I posted last week about this being the season when we will see a manifestation of God’s presence in the earth like never before. This is the time to reach for that dream. Don’t back up on God. Don’t let go of Him. You are so close…

God, we need Your spirit to fill us to overflowing.  We need more of You, God. Help us to hold on when we feel like giving up. Help us to hear Your voice over everything else. Thank you in advance for the work You are about to do.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Happy Birthday to me!

Greetings!

Today is my birthday, and I am so grateful. Not only because God blessed me with another day, but also because I know that He watches over me. I know He sees me…exactly as I am AND He loves me anyway. The best part though (as if salvation isn’t enough) is that He chose me before I was even born. That means that He knew who I would be and He waited for me…wow! To know that the Creator of the world had me on His mind is too amazing…

I guess you can tell, “I am feeling some kinda way today.” Well, it is my birthday…lol.

I woke up this morning in worship, and I have been in worship ever since. I feel God’s grace more than ever today. I know that His plan for me is real, and He is showing me things that I am both terrified and excited about all at the same time.  Psalm 20:4 says, “May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” I claim that in the name of Jesus.

I know that every dream, every plan, and every promise belongs to me. I know that the only way that it will not happen is if I don’t go after it…if I don’t believe. This is the season for dreams to come true. This is the season for breakthrough. This is the season where strongholds will be broken. This is the season….to believe.

I pray that God blesses your socks off, and that He blows your mind like never before. I pray that you will open your life to God and let Him show you things you never even thought possible. I pray that if you do not have a relationship with the Lord that you don’t waste another moment getting to know Him.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Use Your Gift

Greetings!

Today, I wanted to go back and give you a follow-up on the day of celebration that I spoke about on my last post. It was awesome! There was knitting demonstrations, artists, interior designers, jewelry, and even someone demonstrating technology used to transcribe information for the hearing impaired.  The body of Christ is so gifted. I am so glad we were able to share our gifts and talents. We see each other several times a week, and never really get to know one another. I salute the people who made this event happen. Getting that many people to work together was no easy feat I’m sure!

I also shared my book, “Let My Life Be A Testimony,” and I was able to speak with several people who have agreed to share their testimonies in my next book. The first book was powerful because people opened up about things they had been holding onto for a long time, and sharing their testimony allowed them to not only let it go, but to also be a blessing to someone else who may be going through the same thing. But, I believe this book is going to change lives. There is an anointing on this project that was not there the first time, and I believe people are going to be healed—physically and spiritually. Praise God!

I believe that God brought this whole thing about just for me. I know that probably is not the case, but it seemed to come at a time when He was moving in my spirit to pick up pen and paper again. I have been on a long hiatus from serious writing. What I mean is…I have written things, but not for viewing by others…mostly journal writing. Now I know for sure that it is time. My prayer is that if you have been letting your gift lay dormant, that you too will join me by sharing your gifts with the world. Don't wait for the perfect time...just do it!

I am so excited about what God is doing in this season!

Until next time…

Be blessed 

Celebrating our Gifts

Greetings!

At the beginning of the year, I shared with you guys that this is the year of celebration for my church. Tomorrow we will highlight all forms of creative arts. Actually, we are celebrating everything. Today we went to the church to setup and everyone was so excited about sharing their talents. All of that is so awesome. I celebrate our pastor for having the vision to allow the people of the church to celebrate one another. We don’t do that enough.

What really blew my mind was the number of people who were participating because they had a strong desire to share information about their cause. They didn’t get hung up on the nature of their “gift” the way most people see gifts. God gave them a mission to help others…and they don’t question it. They realize that after the dancing and singing is over…we are going to need help with just living. That’s their gift.

I am looking forward to seeing what the body of Christ has to offer. My pastor always says that everything we need is in the house.  I just believe that as we celebrate one another we celebrate God. He is pleased when we work together when we encourage one another and help each other succeed. In 1 Peter 4:10-11 it says, "Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace. Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ."

I love that. Knowing who you are in Christ is powerful. Your gift may not be like anything you have ever seen, or it could be something that you see all the time. God has just given you an anointing for it. When God blesses your efforts, it doesn’t matter how many people are doing it…yours will prosper and succeed.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Sacrifice...

Greetings!

Today marks two weeks before Resurrection Sunday. This is the time when Christians honor the sacrifice the Lord, Jesus Christ, made for us. The awesome thing about that is He not only gave His life for those who loved Him—He also did it for those who didn’t….

I am in such awe of Him. He makes me want to be a better person. Even though there is nothing we have to do to earn His love…I want to be the best me I can possibly be…just because He loves me. I want my life to reflect His goodness and His grace. I want to be available to do whatever He needs me to do.

This year I promised myself that I would not go into the New Year dragging old baggage. I was not going to wear myself out doing work that didn’t add up to anything. I remember looking back over my day and not knowing what I did. I don’t want that for my life. But, I’ll just be honest, I found myself drifting right back into that same old pattern…work, home, TV, bed. The crazy thing is…I didn’t even realize it at first. That’s how I know God is in control because He started showing me what was happening. God’s grace is sufficient. He gives us free will, but He continues to cover us until we get back in His will.

This time of year is extra special for me…not so much because of what God has done, but just for being who He is. He loves us beyond what words or time can express, and although we will never have enough time on this earth to express the gratitude we owe Him…putting ourselves aside to do what He wants is a good start.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Think on these things...

Greetings!

Everything means something. I don’t think we should live our lives looking over our shoulders, but we should be aware of the tricks the enemy sometimes plays with us.

First, he wants us to believe that we are not saved.

That is the first lie. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior…you are saved and nothing can un-save you. The Bible says that we cannot even come to God unless He first draws us. That means that He saw you and sent Jesus…just for you. He knows everything about you and He still felt that you were worth it. You are special in God’s eyes, and He would move heaven and earth for you.

Then, he wants us to believe that our ministry is not effective.

God has given each one of us something that He uses to bless the people of God. It can be something as simple as smiling. You don’t know how many people you encourage with that smile, or it could be that people find you easy to talk to…when God gets the glory…you are operating in your gift. We get so caught up in what we think success should look like that we miss God’s blessing.

Don’t let the enemy mess with your mind…

I think sometimes we forget who we are, and I just wanted to take a few moments to remind you that you are God's masterpiece. He has called you, and how about this...He not only knows every hair on your head...He knows your name. He has made you to be powerful not pitiful...a victor and not a victim...a warrior and not a worrier. Praise God!

Philippiams 4:8 says, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

Until next time…

Be blessed

Stay Alert

Greetings!

Yesterday, I took part in a service at my church for ministry workers. It is just something about being in the house of the Lord that just does it for me. I love worship. I love to praise. I love God’s word…I just love the atmosphere. But, yesterday…I was not looking forward to going back to church. Not because I didn’t think the service was going to be good, but because I was just tired from too much day, and not enough sleep the night before.

I find myself doing that a lot lately. I stay up way too late, and then get up way too early. My pastor tried to warn us at the beginning of the year to rest up, because we were going to be busy. You would think that common sense would tell me to go to bed earlier, right…NOT. I tried to blame it on the enemy…because his mission is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), but I couldn’t even blame it on him. Oh, I tried…believe me, but THIS—is all me. 

God gave me a good brain, but I am not using it the way He intended. The enemy takes advantage of our weaknesses. We have to make sure that we are diligent about staying in God’s word, getting enough rest, and surrounding ourselves with people who speak life into our lives.  I am so glad that we serve a God of second chances. He keeps me (us) through all of our “craziness.” Not only does He keep us through all of our stuff…He works it all out for our good.

Ok…got to go. I’m already past my bedtime.

Pray for me…sigh.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Designed

Greetings!

I am feeling so overwhelmed by the love of the Lord today. I know what the prophet Jeremiah meant when he said, “It’s like fire shut up in my bones.” (Jeremiah 20:9).  I just know that what I am feeling on the inside has to be showing up on the outside. There is no explaining worship. It just is. And, here’s the thing…It is in our walk, it is in our talk, it is in our work, and it is in our living. It is even in those things that cause us the most grief. The Apostle Paul called it a thorn. Worship shouldn't have to wait until we are in church with other saints…worship is an everyday act of honoring God.  

Worship is knowing that everything we go through has a purpose, and even though we are hurting...we can still praise Him. Sometimes, our "thorns" are designed by God for God…to bring out in us what God needs in order for us to be used by Him. I heard a preacher say recently that our trials/burdens don’t always come from the enemy. Sometimes, we are praying that God removes this thing when God designed it to keep us in a place of humbleness. Maybe we have the tendency to stray too far to the left, and God needs us to stay right smack dab in the center.

I believe that thing or thorn is there to remind us that no matter how successful we become or how talented we may be…we can do nothing without Him. He is the Creator and the Sustainer. He is our Rock and our Fortress. He is the One and Only True and Living God. He is our Provider, our Healer, and the lifter of our souls. He is…all these things and so much more.

And, every now and then, we should stop and just tell Him so.

Until next time…

Be blessed