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