Give your all.

​

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

(1 Peter 5:7, NLT)

Many of us in the northeast have family throughout the path of Irma. I know we do. We have family in PR, DR, St Martin, St Croix And Florida. We all have family in some of the other islands. Where am I going?

We have been praying for days now for all whom have been affected by the hurricane from when Harvey first popped up. This passed Sunday, before Irma really entered Florida many congregations throughout the nation prayed that it wouldn’t totally destroy Florida.

Our church prayed.

Your church probably prayed.

Many prayed.

What we did is we put our trust in the lord.

What is even more amazing is how this category 5 hurricane suddenly turned into a category 2 in the midst of its path towards destruction.

My friends are safe.

My family members are safe.

I trust and pray that many are safe today.

I trust and pray that the Lord has provided for the residents of Florida.

This is what the power of prayer does.

A call for prayer can block whatever the enemy has planned.

The meteorologists couldn’t even explain the drastic change in category, they couldn’t even begin to explain the sudden shift in the course it was headed.

My answer is plain and simple.

Faith. Trust. Love. God is in control.

We all have our worries to him. What could’ve been a catastrophe he made into a minor destruction.

You may ask why didn’t he get rid of the hurricane all together?

With everything we are to learn from this experience.

With everything God needed to remind us he is here and that we must always confide in him, trust in him and have faith in him.

Know that prayers still get answered.

He still listens to his children.

He protect those whom believe and profess his love.

Know that all things are possible in God.

If recent events haven’t made you realize that the end of times are near, my friend I pray for you.

Thank God for your blessings.

Thank God for your freedom.

Thank God for the simple things in life.

Father God we humbly come before you and Thank you for your amazing works. Thank you for being just. Thank you for being loving. Thank you for all that you provide. I humbly ask that we are able to help and provide for the many afflicted in these areas that were hit by the hurricane. May they find peace, may they be shown love. May they find compassion. May the see the humanitarian efforts being sent their way. May they get food, clothing, water and all the basic necessities to continue to move on. I pray for this nation, our leaders and the constituents as well. I pray that we can all provide for our country folk, I pray that you will be able to show your love and provide for them. Amen.

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His gift for me.

​

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8 – 9 ESV

Our faith in Christ, by his grace is what saves us.

God grants us many gifts in our lives.

I can easily look upon my home and see the marvels he has done in my life.

Can you see the marvels god has given you?

As soon as I open my eyes in the morning and draw my first breath, I have life, I was able to awaken to spend another day in this world with my loved ones.

First blessing of the day. Given to me, allowed by God to be awake.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

As I get up, and begin my daily routines, I am mobile, I am not ill, I am not disabled, I can manage, maneuver and tend to my morning duties.

Second Blessing of the day, I am not crippled nor lame. God allowed me to be mobile and function.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

As I prep my kids for their days, and wake them up from their sleeps to begin our morning madness as I call it, My kids wake up, they hug me, they kiss me, yes they fight for they yearn for just a few more minutes of sleep.

Third Blessing of the day, My children are well, they are not ill, they are alive, they are able to spend another day with me in this world.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

As I continue on with my morning dash, I wake up my husband, so he can begin his morning routine. My husband wakes up, he is groggy, he also yearns for a few more minutes of sleep.

Fourth Blessing of the day, My husband is well, he is not ill, his is very much alive, he is able to spend another day with me and our children in this world.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

Clinks, Clatter, door open, door slam, into the refrigerator I go to get breakfast and lunch ready before we make our rapid dash across town to being our day.

Fifth blessing of the day, we have food in our home, we are able to nourish the flesh. My kids can get a quick bite before daycare/school to satisfy them until we get to our destinations for the day.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

Door closes, car door unlocks, engine revs, We warm up the car, the car which will take us to and fro during the course of the day. The gas tank is full, the battery works.

Sixth blessing of the day, we have a fully functioning vehicle with Gas that will take us to and for.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

While in the car, we pray, we pray together before we leave the driveway, pray for a blessed day, pray for safe travels, pray for health and that we may return in one peace together, united.

Seventh Blessing of the day, praying with our family for the 6 blessings we have received thus far, anticipating the day to come.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

We arrive our destinations, work, school, daycare….go through an eventful or uneventful day, blessed in the end to survive it so that we can reach our family.

Eight blessing of the day, We survived, we made it, god provided and took care of us. WE are all in one piece. on our way to meet with our family.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

We unite with our family, after a long day, we are able to share stories of how the day unfolded. Blessed to be able to share this moment with our family.

Ninth blessing of the day, we survived a long day, we were able to share, now to commute back home.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

We arrive our home, glad the day is over, to unwind, tidy up, eat, and prepare for the next day.

Tenth Blessing of the day, we arrived home safe and sound, though many other things happened during the day, so this tenth blessing might really be the 20th or the 100th, but none the less we made it home. we are eternally grateful.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

Off to bed we go again, washed up, tired, and pray. Praying for peace, praying for loved ones, praying for humanity, praying to do it all again and enjoy the precious gifts God has given us.

eleventh Blessing of the day….or the 1000ths, but thankful for the day the lord has given me.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

These blessings may seem minor to you, you may have been anticipating something greater, like winning the lotto, but these minor blessings are grand in my eyes. My family (immediate and distant relatives alike) are all loved, well, healthy, alive, and in one way, shape or form throughout hte day we have heard from some, one or all. I cannot complain. Even when things do not go my way, or as I have anticipated them, I am grateful. Even when things shift, I am thankful.

The gifts from God comes in many forms, from the talents he gives us to the simple blessings of day to day activities, to our family and our health. They are blessings nonetheless and are gifts. his gifts to me.

It was not my own doing but his. His gift for me.

Thank you Father for the multitude of blessings you provide from the moment we open our eyes, to the moment we shut them at night. Many of us take for granted the simplest blessings you give us, with great oversight that they are blessings from you. I know sometimes I may take for granted the simple blessings you give me and for that I apologize. You are the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, your grace has allowed all my blessings to unravel, regardless of how big or how small. They are all meaningful to me nonetheless. I thank you with all my heart and love you with every fiber of my being. Thank you. Amen

Amazing events.

​Yesterday while the whole nation was in awe at natures amazing events (Eclipse) I was in awe of How Mysterious is God’s works.

So I was reading my book , as I am reading I am told to look up, the first person you see smile. So I look up. Make eye contact with the woman across from me and I smile. The woman smiles back and lit up. I then nodded and I looked down and continue to read. Just so happens we get off at the same train station. She asks me are you reading the a bible? I said not really, I am reading a book about women in the Bible. She said while watching you read you looked so peaceful. She introduces herself, tells me she’s Christian also Pentecostal, she goes to church in dean street. I to share in my sisterly upbringings, yes I too am Christian and Pentecostal.

She begins to open up to me and tell me that she needs prayers, she is on her way to see her pastor, then says she’s tired and she knows that it’s the enemy. She was back and forth on whether to go see the pastor or not for that one stop as we crossed the bridge. As she tells me her story, I tell her follow your instincts. It’s telling you to see your pastor for a reason. The Holy Spirit didn’t nudge you for no reason, this encounter was not by chance. I was told to smile not knowing what your needs were. Now i know I was supposed to smile st you to remind you that you need to make it to see your pastor. We then started talking about my book, about the many women in the Bible and how significant they are in church history. I kind of felt like I was being quizzed in what I was reading. Yet I was grateful nonetheless knowing that I was retaining the knowledge I was reading.

My stop came in for my transfer and before I got out the train I said god bless you, again follow your gut, you need to see your pastor. I got off the train and started transcribing this encounter on my phone. After I finished transcribing I said a little prayer for her.

Father in heaven, thank you for using me to have Claudette vent her worries and her fears. I sense she needed an extra push to seek your house today, I hope I did my job. Dutifully. I am thankful to have been listening to you and that I did not ignore you. For only you know how bad she needed to release her worries. God you know her circumstances, you know her story, you know the bit of her story she shared with me. I ask that you wash away that feeling of fear. I ask that she finds the strength she needs to face her battles. I could tell she’s new in the faith and that she’s hungry, wanting more of you. I’m glad she took a picture of this book. Help her find this book so she can be empowered by the women in the gospels whom have contributed to Christianity as we know it. May Claudette and her family be protected and blessed always. In the name of the father, the son and Holy Spirit Amen.

wake up

​

“Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭ASV‬‬

The Bible says An unbeliever cannot understand spiritual things. To understand spiritual truths we need to understand them i the spirit not in the flesh.

We need to understand that we are subjected to sin. We are surrounded by sin. We always look at things in the flesh.

When we are told to open our eyes, we think, hey, my eyes are open. Those are not the eyes we are told to open. When we are asked to open one’s ears to listen. Some respond um I am listening. No you are not. Your Spiritual senses need to be on alert. We will never receive messages or blessings from the spirit if we are not spiritually intune with our spiritual senses. This is the only way one can understand spiritual truths.

The blind shall see.

Those that are blind, will only see, when they are spiritually awaken.

Many of us are spiritually blind. You will never see unless you open your eyes.

You too shall see.

The times we are living in are difficult ones indeed.

Leaders are corrupt.

Sin is considered good.

We are living the days of Sodom and Gomorrah again.

Yet I feel worse.

To be religious is subject to scrutiny.

Many are being wrongfully criminalized.

We need to wake up, and see things from a spiritual perspective.

We will all face judgement one day.

The supreme court will not decide our fate.

The Lord will.

Father God I ask you to anoint me with your spirit. To wash over me so that I can see, Hear, feel, smell, your presence. I was once blind, but through my trials and tribulations I see. I was once deaf, but now I hear. I pray dear lord for an awakening in our communities. May our people see, and hear your greatness. May the understand they need to be ready for the spiritual warfare when we are under attack. May we be able to discern your voice and be able to follow through. Amen.

Melchisedec

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Melchisedec: A Character Study Robert W. Dallmann

I recently read this book and decided to share with my Pastor.

This book is an interesting comparison of Melchisedec and Jesus Christ.

The author sheds light on this mysterious character in the Bible,

Melchisedec is only mentioned a mere handful of times in the Bible, 2x

in the OT and in one entire chapter In Hebrews in the NT.

I would recommend all to read this.

Many times we remember the stories of the Biblical historical figures that

are constantly spoken of (Abraham, Lot, Noah, Moses, Jesus, John, Luke,

Mark, Mary, Samaritan woman, etc ) yet we forget the roles of other

individuals whom were of significance.

I ended up sharing this book with my Pastor, because I know he would read the study, enjoy the study and probably give a sermon or even a bible study lesson on this character which many are unfamiliar with. When I gave my Pastor this book, he as excited and said, wow, Not many people do studies on Melchisedec, I can’t wait to read this.

I gave him my insight, told him the synopsis of the story as well as my own take.

I gave him a list of questions concerning the Theophany and the Christophany discussed in the book.

From the book: here is a synopsis of Melchisedec.

Melchisedec – king of righteousness king of peace. Priest if the most high God.

It is believed he is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.

Some feel he is Jesus

Some feel he is Michael the arc angel

Some feel he is Shem son of Noah

Some feel he’s just an ordinary human.

Mentioned in:

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭14:18-20‬ ‭ASV‬‬

http://bible.com/12/gen.14.18-20.asv

“Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭110:4‬ ‭ASV‬‬

http://bible.com/12/psa.110.4.asv

“as he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:6, 10‬ ‭ASV‬‬

http://bible.com/12/heb.5.6,10.asv

“whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭ASV‬‬

http://bible.com/12/heb.6.20.asv

Psalms 110, Hebrew 5&6 speak of Jesus as being a priest after the order of melchisedec.

A whole chapter in a book dedicated to him:

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils. And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham: but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises. But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests. And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life: for it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever); by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant. And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing: but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable. Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself. For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:1-28‬ ‭ASV‬‬

http://bible.com/12/heb.7.1-28.asv

I will not delve too deep in the contents of the book because it can be controversial. I recommend you read it, draw your conclusions, seek your pastoral leadership for guidance and confirmations as I did. When I hear back from my pastor, after he gets a chance to read it I will give a follow up on this. Hopefully he does a sermon on it, then I could rally do a follow up.

Father God Thank you for this opportunity to further study your word. To further engage in conversation on your word and to be enlightened by your teachings. Thank you for instilling in my heart the notion of sharing the knowledge I just aquired. You are worthy of all praise, You are worthy of all study. If this study could be of a blessing to someone else, to be able to provide insight, answers, by them reading this book, dear lord I encourage them to do so. I was blessed by seeing these perspective and topic at hand. I thank you dear lord again. Amen.

Coat of Arms

​

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And

don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

(Romans 13:14)

I recently began reading a book that has been so enlightening. Mind you I haven’t even fully delved deep into the book and have already found this to be so transforming, so riveting so inspiring and life changing. I will write about the book once I finish reading the full book while making biblical references and completing the self reflection pieces within the book.  This may take some time for these reflection pieces are not only for spiritual understanding but spiritual growth as well.

The book is called:

Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study

By Ann Spangler, Jean E. Syswerda

(https://books.google.com/books?id=mr9vBQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=women+in+the+bible&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyvqqb0d7VAhVh6YMKHZQzD9wQ6AEIRDAF#v=onepage&q=women%20in%20the%20bible&f=false)

Today as I read this verse, I can not help but think about the passage I read just this morning during my commute from this book.

The Passage states the following:

“This week take some time fora wardrobe check – make sure you aren’t missing anything vital, without which you will be more vulnerable to attack. Here’s a quick checklist for the well-dressed spiritual warrior:

The Belt of Truth – have any small dishonesties crept into your life?

The Breastplate of Righteousness – Are you cooperating with grace to become more Christlike?

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace – The gospel reconciles us to God and others. Are you willing to receive it, live by it and share it?

The Shield of Faith – Are you responding to life with faith or in a way that shows you really don’t think God is quite as loving or as powerful as he says he is?

The Helmet of Salvation – Salvation is a gift. But like any gift, it has to be received.

The Sword of the Spirit – God’s Word wounds the enemy and thwart his purposes. Reading and praying through Scripture helps us take the offensive.”

The author included a prayer which i will share at the very end of this piece (before my closing prayer).

In Roman’s we are told to clothe ourselves in the Lord’s presence. We are reminded to stay away from evil desires. Our goal is to be Warriors of Christ.

How else are we to do so without knowing how to dress like these spiritual warriors. I love the description that Spangler provides in her Book on how to do a wardrobe check. What both Paul (the author of the book of Romans ) and Spangler are saying is that we need to be better equipped.  This recipe that she gives us is provided in Ephesians 6, where we see how we are to arm up.  We need to be always ready. We need to check ourselves and our evil desires and put on our coats of arm. We are spiritual warriors of the most high God. Our war is not a carnal war but a spiritual war. The only way we do not become vulnerable in an attack is if we are properly equipped.  The bible provides everything we need to be fully equipped for battle.  We need to just pay attention and listen.

Check one selves.

Dress accordingly. (Spiritually).

Make sure you not indulging in Sin.

Put on your “Belt of Truth”.

Put on your “Breastplate of Righteousness”

Put on and shine your “Shoes of the Gospel of Peace “

Grab and shine your “The Shield of Faith”

Secure your “The Helmet of Salvation “.

Sharpen and carry “The Sword of the Spirit”.

Spangler’s Prayer:

“Lord, help me to be ready so that any moment I can stand against the enemy and even deal a decisive blow in the battle. Give me courage, discernment, and wisdom and help me to stay close to you in the midst of the fray. Amen.”

My prayer:

Father God your timing is precise. Thank you for being amazing in all that you do and all that you provide. Your timing for this passage in the scriptures and this passage in the Book is purposeful and not of a coincidence. I ask you to help me be ready, I ask you to help me thwart evil desires and sins. I ask or redemption and forgiveness If i have failed you. I want to be ready for battle and not be vulnerable for attack. Help me to help you in the battle field with fellow warriors. I want to stand firm against the enemy and be of use in your ministry. Give me courage, strength and wisdom to carry on your works and to not loose sight of your greatness. I will dress accordingly, arming my self as your spiritual warrior. I will Put on my “Belt of Truth”. Put on my “Breastplate of Righteousness”. Put on and shine my “Shoes of the Gospel of Peace “. Grab and shine my “The Shield of Faith”. Secure my “The Helmet of Salvation “. Sharpen and carry my “The Sword of the Spirit”. In the Name of the father, the son and the holy spirit Amen.

Sluggard or Diligent

​

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

(Proverbs 13:4, ESV)

Sluggard or Diligent

Are you a sluggard?

Are you diligent?

That will determine how we will be rewarded in the after life.

Those whom are diligent reap rewards for their favors, for their love, faith, work, compassion and behavior.

God wants to bless us, god wants to give us his favor.

The thing is though we have to be diligent.

We must diligently seek him, diligently follow his commands.

We have to be diligent in our tasks.

We have to be diligent with our time.

We have to be diligent with our resources.

We have to be diligent with every circumstances that arise and opportunities that come before us.

We must always be diligent.

What does it mean to be diligent at all times?

Matthew 25:14-30New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Three Servants

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver[a] to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together![b]’

22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What do we see here? Jesus tells this parable about three men who were

entrusted them with some money. Of these three men, two invested the money handed to them. One hid the money. The two men who invested the money given to them were diligent. They invested and received returns on their investments. The other man who was afraid, buried the money that he was given. This man was a sluggard. All three men were tested, two reaped the benefits on their diligent actions, on was basically fired, he was left without.

What do we learn from this?

Follow the examples of the two men whom invested, they were diligent in what was presented before them. Do the same.

Be diligent in all your endeavors, in everything that you touch, in all that you come across. Whatever it is that you do, do it with the utmost of excellence. It will not go unnoticed. We bless others with our diligent actions, and we become blessed ourselves in doing so Even when you think people do not notice, they do, even when they don’t notice you working diligently at your tasks, God notices.

Do not be a sluggard.

Do not be afraid, do not hide.

Thank you father for blessing me, thank you for the wonderful blessings you have provided me and my family. I choose to be diligent in you and your ways . I chose not to be a sluggard my dear lord. I will work hard, work efficiently, work smart all in your Glory. Amen.

Hide and Seek

​

In the day of trouble he will keep

me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred

tent and set me high upon a rock.”

(Psalm 27:5, NIV)

Have you ever played hide and seek?

Fun isn’t it?

You go around, you find a nice snug place where you can hide, all in the hopes that the seeker will not find you. The key to winning is to find a place where the seeker will not find you.

As an adult I used to play hide and seek from my troubles, my fears and my problems. The bars were my hiding spot, the liquor would wash away my problems, my husband, whom at the time was my boyfriend, would be my seeker to ensure I wouldn’t come home drunk.

Liquor was my refuge.

The bars were my safe haven…. or so I thought.

God is our safe haven. God is our refuge: god is our comfort. God will provide the best hiding spot for you when you need it.

To find his shelter all we need to do is call on his name.

All our worries, all our fears and all our struggles disappears when you call out on the lord. He guides you to take the appropriate steps to get you where you need to go.

Now when I need to hide from my worries, my fears or problems I seek in the comfort of gods words. I hide in the Bible and seek the way. I indulge in his words to wash away my problems the way I once used alcohol to wash them away. I use his words to give me the strength I need when I am feeling weak.

I could be in a crowded train car, but when I submerge myself in his grace, in his words, in his thoughts it is just god and I alone traveling on this train. He is my refuge, my safe haven, my shelter, i can rest assured knowing I can hide in his embrace.

Father I thank you for your comfort. I thank you for your shelter, I thank you for hiding me, I thank you for submersing yourself and your words in me. I thank you for the extra love and care you provide. I know I need not to play child games to hide, when I have you by my side. Once again I love and thank you. Amen.

Be strong and of good courage

​

“And David said to his son Solomon,

‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed,

for the LORD God–my God–will be with you. He will not leave you nor

forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD’.”

(1 Chronicles 28:20, NKJV)

One if the many problems and challenges we can face as Christians is our doubt and fears. Our doubts and fears puts limitations on what we have planned to do but also in what God has planned for us as well.

Many times I have doubt not only in myself but those around me based on circumstances. We need to stop doubting and do exactly as David told his son Solomon ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed,

for the LORD God–my God–will be with you.’

Be strong.

Of good courage.

Do it’

Do not fear.

Do not be dismayed.

For the lord god will be with you!

What he has planned for you it will be completed, we need to combat the doubts and fears that come forth in order to move on with Gods will.

It is natural to be scared, it is natural to doubt, it is naturally to worry…. it is also natural to trust in God.

Sometimes our fears is what holds us back from the things we set to accomplish. Put your trust in God so that we can proceed, with his help he will full-fill what needs to be accomplished. He will complete the tasks at hand. He will guide you. We just need to trust.

Never let circumstances which may arrive deter you from accomplishing anything.

Don’t let anyone who maybe spewing negativity your way deter you from your accomplishments.

It all starts with you.

I’ve wanted to go back to school for a career change for quite some time. My fear is my children, not being able to spend much time with them. My fear of not being around has deterred that. The same advice I am giving to you is the same one I need to take myself. It’s the same one I plan on taking myself. I have looked into programs o am interested in. I need to get over my fears, my worries and the obstacles and trust ind God that he will deliver.

I am taking my first steps in faith to pursue another degree. I want to be of service to my lord, my family and my community. I do not have any doubt in him. I know he will provide. It’s with this declaration and act of faith that I will take my next steps. My friends I ask that you too take that leap of faith.

I am going to repeat this not just for my sake but yours as well so:

Be strong.

Of good courage.

Do it.

Do not fear.

Do not be dismayed.

For the lord god will be with you!

Father God I want to start off by thanking you for always being with me. I want to thank You for completing every good work that You have started in my life. I choose to believe Your Word, to trust in you, even when things look impossible. I choose to believe that You are working behind the scenes and that You will bring victory and breakthrough to every area of my life. I will lean on you for guidance, I will Be strong. I will be Of good courage.

I will go ahead and Do it. I will not fear.

I will l not be dismayed.For lord god I know that will be with me!

in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Days Numbered

​

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

(Psalm 90:12, NIV)

I don’t know if you noticed but every passing moment of our lives are systematically calculated in some way shape or form.

Think about it.

I wake up everyday between 4&430 am local time.

I begin my daily routine : i thank god for another day, I wash up and I get ready for my work day.

Around 5-15am I begin to wake my kids and do the same routine with them

At 530 I wake up my husband so he can start his daily routine

615 my kids are cleaned, dressed and breakfast ready, I also begin to prep their bags for their daycare provider.

At 630 the 4 of us are in the car exiting the driveway.

7 am we reach the other side of town and I head on the train to the city, while my husband drops the kids off and goes to work.

730 I arrive my job

745 I eat breakfast

8am my shift begins

4pm my shift ends

445-515 I pick up my kids

Etc

You get the idea.

Our days are calculated.

What do we get out of this?

How does this makes us wiser as indicated in the scriptures.

God knows the exact minute and hour to when our journey here on earth ends. He knows your story, he has seen your future, he knows your destiny, it is up to us to want it to ensure we reach it.

So let’s take a look, our days are numbered, just as this verse described.They are numbered to make us wise the scriptures state. There are 60 seconds in a minute. There are 60 minutes in an hour, there are 24 hours in a day. There are 365 days in a year (except for leap year where we have 366days) nonetheless we see how we have systematically and scientifically numbered our days. Every moment is accounted for.

How will systematically numbering them make us wiser?

To answer this I am going to mention to you bits and pieces of lyrics from one of my favorite Broadway plays. I hope to save myself embarrassment so that I do not end up singing it aloud, but as mentioned I will be extracting pieces of this:

Seasons of Love – Rent

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Moments so dear

How do you measure – measure a year?

In daylights – in sunsets

In midnights – in cups of coffee

In inches – in miles

In laughter – in strife

In – five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure

A year in the life

Measure in love
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan

How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?
Measure, measure your life in love

Seasons of love

This song breaks down a whole year in minutes. We are so caught up in ourselves, so caught up in life, so caught up in our responsibilities, that we tend to over look the simple things. We tend to over look the fact that yes our days are numbered. #Yolo – you only live once.

We tend to forget how precious and

fragile our time on earth really is.

We tend to forget in those moments we make memories, with those memories we learn lessons, in those lessons we learn in life makes us wiser.

It is so easy for us to allow things to take up our time. It is so easy for us to loose sight of many things. It is so easy for us to sleep the day away, so easy for us to let things fester up and bother us. We need to pick our battles wisely. Something’s are worth fighting for. Something’s are best left as water under the bridge.

The point I’m trying to make is our lives are gifts. We can’t let things that are trivial to our lives consume us.

Each day is a gift.

Each day is an opportunity to start anew.

Each day is an opportunity to make memories and treasure the finer things in life.

Each day our actions, our memories and our experiences make us wiser.

If we focus on the less meaningful things we will loose sight and miss the beauty each day god had granted us.

So let’s think about the five hundred twenty-five thousand Six hundred minutes, let’s think about the moments we waste our time with which could be used glorifying the lord, moments that can be used to edify ourselves and others, moments that can be used spending time with our loved ones, moments that can be used preaching, singing, in fellowship, with those we love and care for.

I encourage you today. Don’t let the precious moments of our lives pass away. Don’t let any moments drift away. Be wiser, use your time wisely. Don’t wait until it’s too late to say I love you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make a memory. Don’t let life pass you by, #YOLO. Make every moment count in your life. Make those experiences make you wiser.

Father God I thank you for this day, this day you not only have given me an opportunity to start a new, but you’ve given me another opportunity to do your good deeds. You’ve given me another opportunity to create memories and love out experiences which will make me wiser by the end of the day. I want to focus on the many blessings you have thus provided and not the trivial things in life. I want to focus my time on my loved ones and your deeds m.i want to keep you always close at heart with every action I do and every moment of this day. Amen

Volver a empezar

​

Volver a empezar.

The link to the original post will be found near the end. This post was not written by me nor will I take any of the credit, but I was moved and wanted to share. My only addition is this disclaimer and the prayer at the end.

Si tuvieses la oportunidad de volver al pasado  ¿Qué cambiarías?

Muchos al oír esta pregunta pensamos rápidamente en aquello que hicimos

mal o en lo que nos causó dolor y en las consecuencias de una mala

decisión que hasta hoy vivimos. Dios nos dio la suficiente inteligencia

para lograr cosas impresionantes pero como seres humanos tenemos

límites, no podemos arreglar una telaraña destrozada y tampoco podemos

devolverle a una mariposa una de sus alas rotas.

Lamentablemente no tenemos la posibilidad de volver en el tiempo, como

seres humanos no podemos borrar nada de lo que hicimos y nos causó

sufrimiento, vergüenza o dolor y mucho menos borrar el daño que les

hicimos a otras personas, pero cuánto anhela el hombre arrepentido poder

reparar lo que hizo.

Dios es soberano y logra aquello que para el hombre es imposible; Él

puede borrar nuestros errores y con ello nos da una oportunidad para

volver a empezar “Pero yo, por ser tu Dios, borro tus crímenes y no me acordaré más de tus pecados” Isaías 43:25 (DHH).

Las palabras “No tiene solución” no valen nada cuando Dios interviene,

quizás no se pueda volver a vivir el momento en que te equivocaste pero

sí puede perdonarte y ayudarte a hacer mejor tu presente y futuro,

 puede restaurar a quien lastimaste y darte la oportunidad de pedir

perdón y ser perdonado.

Si te equivocaste y has tomado muchas malas decisiones, Dios puede

ayudarte y darte esa oportunidad que necesitas para volver a comenzar,

solamente debes estar dispuesto a aceptarlo en tu corazón, “Esto

significa que todo el que pertenece a Cristo se ha convertido en una

persona nueva. La vida antigua ha pasado; ¡una nueva vida ha comenzado!” 2 Corintios 5:17 (NTV).

Cristo puede marcar en tu vida personal un antes y un después, no te

quedes quieto viviendo sumido en el pasado y en el pecado, si sabes que

necesitas una oportunidad para volver a comenzar, búscala en Dios porque

solamente Él puede darte lo que necesitas para resurgir.

Dios puede hacer nuevas las cosas “Y el que estaba sentado en el

trono dijo: «¡Miren, hago nuevas todas las cosas!». Entonces me dijo:

«Escribe esto, porque lo que te digo es verdadero y digno de confianza” Apocalipsis 21:5 (NTV).

¿Quieres tener un nuevo comienzo?

http://cvclavoz.com/zonas/te-ayudamos/devocionales/

Padre celestial dios de amor y misericordia. Padre te pido gracias por esta preciosas palabras que recibí atraves del correo electrónico. Padre tu sabe nuestras necesidades, tú sabes nuestro dolores y nuestros angustia, tú sabes y tienes la solución de nuestros pensamientos. Bendiga al escritor de este devoción. Y sin embargó si hay alguien que necesitas escuchar esta palabras as si como yo lo tenía que oir, bendiga esa persona y que ellos podrás verlas. Amen

​ Bless others with your light

​

Bless others with your light.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

There is this trend where many gather to sip some wine and paint with friends. It’s actually a pretty cool way to DE-stress from a crazy week by painting your worries away in good company….. in some cases with a good glass of wine.

I like this concept of hanging out yet doing something therapeutic. One evening my friends and I decided to take a much needed mommy break and the 3 of us decided to join one of these sip and paint classes. We painted, we fellow shipped and we drank soda lol. So we technically “sipped” and painted.

After our fun evening we all felt this is something we could do with our fellow parishioners and friends. We approached our pastoral leadership, once we got the approval, we asked our members and when we got enough interests we decided to go ahead and plan the event…. but in our church’s basement, as a fellowship/ fundraiser.

On the day of the event I opened up the church to begin getting things in order. A few members began cooking so we can have additional food for the potluck. The instructors for the class arrived, we went to help them unload, we helped them arrange the furniture to ensure not only the instructors were comfortable and had space but that when the painters arrive there’s space for mobility, space for them to view painting and of course comfort.

We helped them set up and prep. The instructor kept saying sit, relax, our agreement is we do all the work. He obviously doesn’t know me I can’t sit idle …. ever, and our parishioners are the same, always helping, always of service.

Our initial agreement was we pay for 20 painters up front. Minimum for a mobile event is 20.

I paid for the 20, but knew X amount of people where going to come. The Instructor said in the event of cancellations individuals 21& on will pay day of. I agreed and we proceeded to set up for the x amount of people whom stated were coming.  Though I just wanted to pay for everyone up front.

As people arrived, we started feeding them fruit salad on this hot summer day. We also fed our instructors. When all the participants arrived I asked the instructor hey let me give you the money for those participants. He stated don’t worry about that now we will discuss that later on. So the class began.

We painted, sang songs while painting, we cracked jokes that even the instructors partook in our fellowship. Mid way we took a break. We ate, fed our instructors and again I approached him about the remainder of the money, he told me don’t worry about the money we can talk about that later.

We went back to painting. After we painted and when it was time for clean up, we helped him dismount and put away the materials. As the members were gathering their tip, I again approached the lead instructor regarding the money. He said ma’am, we’ve done several of these types of events, there are times that we don’t even get offered a glass of water, our agreement was that you sit back, worry about your painters and we will set up and clean up. Yourself and many of your guests have not sat back, from the moment we arrived up until now you have taken really good care of us. You’ve embraced us, you’ve fed us, you’ve hydrated us, you’ve included us. We were supposed to take care of you, and instead you took care of us. Call us even. Give the money for those individuals to the church with whatever was raised for today. We thank you for your hospitality and love.

I will not disclose the amount of painters he did not charge me for. But that amount will be of a blessing to the church. We raised all together a good amount. Double what I had anticipated. God is good!

Lesson here:

Your actions, how you treat others are a testimony of who we are. Your actions, how you treat others are a blessings to others. You actions, how you treat others can bring back blessings to you, even when least expected. I wish the business we partnered with for the event much blessings, love and success. They blessed us more than they could even imagine. I am glad at the end of the day it was a mutual blessing. For them, for the church and myself, who was touched and moved by his words and his generosity. He didn’t have to donate money for those individuals to the church, yet he did. To God be all the Glory! Once again I humbly thank them.

I shared this testimony with the church the Sunday following the event, not to gloat at how much we raised, not my good deeds, for it wasn’t just myself who helped it was many others who rolled up their sleeves and helped. He didn’t see one person doing all the work, he saw a team of people working together for one same cause, to God all the Glory. It was our actions, our love, our kindness not my love, not my actions nor my kindness, but all of our actions that led him to his decision.

Father God I humbly thank you for your Constance guidance and love. I thank you for my church and the light of love, the light of compassion and the light of your grace overflowed that Saturday. We were able to touch this mans heart for him to bless us in your name. Lord we thank you for allowing our gestures to minister to his heart. We thank you for using all of us, despite our age differences, we all showed the same love and compassion. We all ministered…. even this man ministered back to us, with his actions, with his love and his emotions. Thank you Lord, for we will continue to give you all the glory. AMEN.

By my Spirit

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By my Spirit

“…’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

(Zechariah 4:6, NASB)

We all have places we want to go.

Places we want to see.

Problems we want to clear.

Debt we want to eliminate.

Goals we wish to achieve and aspire to fulfill.

How will you go to the places?

How will you see the sights?

How will you clear your problems?

How will you eliminate debt?

How will you achieve the goals you are aspiring, whether long term or short term?

Sometimes we are in a hole or a problem due to self infliction?

What? You ask? Me? Hurt myself? I would never?

Yeah… you would.

We all do someway some how whether we like to admit it or not.

The other day I #Yolo in my post. Not in referencing in we only live once so live it up, I did so reminding you that You Only Live Once, meaning what we do here affects us in our after life. The decisions we make affects our outcomes here and there.

So yes YOLO References will be made again in this post, why? Well it’s our Yolo attitude that leads us in to our problems. (Self inflicted, societal derivatives ).

That YOLO attitude may get you to places you want to get, places you want to see, even achieve some of your short term goals. The down side is, how’d you get there? You need funding? How much debt are you in living the YOLO life? Are you happy or are you trying to find things to fill that void?

A few days ago I posted about using vices and other means to fill the voids where I did not need anything to fill. What I wanted, what I needed was in front of me, beside me, around me and in me this whole time. Living the YOLO life can temporarily fill that void, but what about long term?

What about your future?

Your salvation?

Your after life?

Your retirement?

In our bible studies we ended our discussion about using our professional backgrounds and talents to be used in churches.

When we are guided by the Holy Spirit we can accomplish great things. He will let our talents grow and mature, he will provide, he will take us to places we never even dreamed of adding to our bucket list. It’s not by our strength, nor our power or our might. When guided by the Holy Spirit, Yolo will take a whole other meaning. You only live once, for Salvation…… Key word… Salvation.

Yes I only Live Once.

I want to make the best of it so I can reach the pearly gates and find my name in that book.

So my point here: The solution to all our problems rest in God.

How will you go to the places? – Declare it in the name of the Holy Spirit. If you are meant to go there, not only will he take you, he will show you how you will get there, Oh the so many places you shall go, is not just my favorite Dr. Seuss quote for life, but for my spiritual Life. Guided by the Holy spirit, oh the many places you shall go…both spiritual and in the flesh.

How will you see the sights? – Declare it in the name of God, the Holy Spirit will show you some great marvels of the world, as well as in the spirits.

How will you clear your problems? – Declare yourself problem free in his name. The Holy spirit will provide you the rubric to solving that problem.

How will you eliminate debt? Declare yourself debt free in his name. The Holy spirit will guide your spending, guide your thoughts, guide your actions, guide your game-plan to eliminate your debt.

How will you achieve the goals you are aspiring, whether long term or short term?

simple “…’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Thank you father for my dreams, aspirations, desires and goals you have placed in me. Thank you for creating the rubric, the building blocks and the steps necessary to make these dreams, aspirations, desires and goals come to pass. I know that you will guide me, to not only to see, not only to go, not only to save, not only to solve my problems, here in the flesh, but to allow me to see, to go places I never even dreamed of and be problem free spiritually. When I am weak, you make me strong father, when I am blind, you let me see, when I can’t hear, you open my ears to listen. Today I declare that in your name our goals will be achieved, in your name I bring forth healing. In your name, I eliminate debt, In your name I will travel and see. In your name I will be guided by your spirit, not by might, not by power but your spirit. I love you. Amen.

#YOLO

​

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and

rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth

nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19 – 21 ESV

Many of us are constantly working long hours, trying to save money, trying to buy that big house, fancy car, updated I phone etc.

For what though?

#YOLO.

You Only Live Once.

All of the materialistic items….they are going to rot away.

They are going to be useless.

We can’t take them with us.

We love our trinkets, our chachkis’ our money…but that’s not going with us.

We will have greater joys, greater things to look forward to when we join our rightful place.

When we arrive the new Jerusalem, everything will be pristine, shiny, new. We will not need anything we are striving to get here. The streets will be as pure as gold, the waters as clear as diamonds. Gems and rainbows, what a sight it will be. At least that what John wrote when god allowed him a preview of what the new Jerusalem will look like.

We will not need the i Phones or the galaxies, we will not need the laptops and tablets, the game consoles or tvs, we will not need the benz nor the jaguar of our dreams. We will only need salvation. We will only need to believe in Christ and live a just life. We will not win a golden ticket. We will not be able to buy our way or bribe our way in.

Yes it is good to live a good and comfortable life while we are here in earth, but when we are gone, none of that will matter.

Work hard on your relationship with Christ and growing spiritually vs gaining materialistic things. Work hard on studying the scriptures vs studying music lyrics and sports. Know your creator, love your creator, live for your creator.

All the riches, all the material items, none of them are joining you in he afterlife. Do not waste away your life on materialistic satisfaction when the true reward is in the after life. I am not saying have fun, what I am saying is do not let these materialistic things preoccupy your life. They should not be what you are solely working hard for.

Yes we are to live out our lives, in the best way we can, while also strengthening our relationship with Christ so that when our time comes, we can join him. I will gladly claim my treasure in heaven.

Father I thank you for another day, for another opportunity to praise you, for another opportunities to spread your word. Father I thank you for my blessings you have alloyed me here on earth, I know these are temporary for where I’m going I can’t take them with me. Father as I live out the years you have allotted for me I want to live it out growing with you. I want to live it out doing your deeds. I will live it out knowing that nothing here on earth will compare to what’s awaiting us when we join you. For that, for your sacrifice, for your love and mercy I thank you. Amen.

​ How to Keep Our New Heart Pure, Loving, and Soft toward the Lord

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How to Keep Our New Heart Pure, Loving, and Soft toward the Lord

The link below is for an article i read with the title of this post. I want to give this organization all the credit hence why their link is below. As i read this scripture and article I knew I had to share what they wrote.

http://biblesforamerica.org/how-to-keep-our-new-heart-pure-loving-soft/?utm_source=The+Bibles+for+America+blog&utm_campaign=2e85da5bb7-BfA_Blog&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b01b533dcb-2e85da5bb7-272874985

July 09 2017 (I know today’s not the 9th, but this is when I saw this post and I saved it to further analyze it, reflect and savior the message before sharing).  My commentary will be in bold.

 

Ezekiel 36:26New International Version (NIV)

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

My husband once told me I was heartless, I was cold I was stubborn. My response to him was, man had made me heartless, man had made me cold…. I was born stubborn. My past experiences made me put up my guards with a fortified fence. I used to wear my heart on my sleeve. I was used, abused and ignored, only to be called upon when in need of something.

 

The article I referenced stated(which hit home in so many ways):

Before we were saved our heart was hard and cold toward God. We wanted many

things, even sinful things, but not God. We felt little affection for Him and had no interest in the things of God.

This first intro paragraph hit home, hard. Got me thinking of the times my husband said I was cold and heartless. He didn’t know the girl I once was, he met the family oriented girl who put her families needs above her own, he met the girl who’s been through betrayal, by friends and what at the time I felt by God. He met a girl who believed in charities but no longer had the will to fight or help. He met a girl who always believed in God but had gone silent and stopped praying. He had met a girl who has become stone cold, upset and turned her back on everyone whom has offended her, used her and showed they didn’t care. If they ever read this, they may not even realize it’s them I’m talking about. These people are so self absorbed that nothing matters but me. I can’t live like that, or associate with self absorbed individuals …. so I walked away…. a lot of things combined led to me going cold. My flame, that fire I once had was no longer igniting. I can resonate with this post…. let me continue with what the author says.

But God wants to have an affectionate relationship with us. So when we were born again, God not only forgave us and cleansed us of our sins, He also did something in our heart. Ezekiel 36:26 says,

“I will also give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”

God renewed our heart of stone and made it soft, “a heart of flesh.” Now

our new heart loves God and is inclined toward Him and responsive to

Him. With this new heart, God wants us to enjoy all He is in a

relationship of love.

Since we all received a new heart when we were saved, why is this loving

heart evident in the lives of some but barely detectable in others? How

can some of our hearts seem to have become cold and hard, like they were

before? How can we keep our heart in its new soft and loving condition?

Yes this is a question I constantly face and struggle with. How can we keep our heart in its new soft and loving condition? Why is my loving heart detectable with some and not others? Why am i cold and hard to some, yet warm and bubbly with others. Why no matter how hard I try, I always kee my guards up?

 

 

 

The article continues:

Medical science tells us that for our physical heart to be healthy, we need to

exercise, even vigorously. But exercise doesn’t come naturally or easily

to most of us. Consider what it takes just to put on our athletic shoes

and go for a run. Even while we’re running, we have to exert ourselves

to keep going and not quit. And exercise isn’t a once for all matter; we

have to do it over and over again. But working out regularly isn’t

optional if we want a healthy heart.

Similarly, if we want our new heart to be kept in newness, that is, to be kept

loving, soft, and responsive toward the Lord, then regular, continued

spiritual exercise is needed. This is what makes the difference between

whether our new heart remains in newness or goes back to its old

condition.

Ha! if we are basing this on how health our heart is, then here her goes my answer, the most exercise I get is walking from my house to train, and from the train back.

 

 

 

The article continues with some very good suggestions:

 

So what is this regular exercise for our new heart? Since our heart is composed of our conscience, mind, emotion, and will, the “workout” our heart needs involves four parts.

1. Exercising our mind to turn our heart back to the Lord

Second Corinthians 3:16 says, “Whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the

veil is taken away.” Everything begins with turning our heart to the

Lord. When we were saved, we first repented and received Christ to begin

our Christian life. To repent means to turn, to have a change of mind

and direction. We realized we were sinful, and we turned to God.

But even after we’re saved, we still need to keep turning. Our minds are

easily distracted and can cause our hearts to turn away from the Lord.

Whatever turns us away from the Lord becomes a “veil” to us, keeping us

from seeing Him. Similarly, Matthew 5:8 says,

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

To be pure means to be unmixed with anything else. When we’re turned away from the

Lord, our heart is impure toward Him. Our focus is split between the

Lord and something else. We have two goals in mind, two aims

our heart longs after, and we can no longer see clearly. Our future, our

career, even our work for the Lord can begin to compete with God in our

heart and occupy our mind.

So we need to exercise our heart by praying, “Lord, I turn to you right

now.” In fact, in the course of a single day we need to turn repeatedly

to the Lord. For instance, we might be thinking about a certain thing

and suddenly find we’re away from the Lord, so we need to turn. Later,

we might see a billboard that sticks in our head, and we have to turn

again. Then we begin to have negative thoughts about someone close to

us, and we have to turn yet again.

Again and again, when we realize we’re turned away from the Lord, we need to

turn our heart back to Him. It takes regular exercise. When we turn our

heart from all other things back to the Lord, we’re made single and pure

again, and the veils are taken away. This is a daily workout we all

need.

2. Exercising our emotion to love the Lord

For us to have an affectionate relationship with the Lord, we need to

exercise the emotions of our heart to love Him. We may not think we’re

that capable of loving the Lord, but we can remember, He gave us a new

heart specifically to love Him! And according to Romans 5:5, His love

has been poured out in our hearts. He even told us in John 15:9, “Abide in My love.” Our heart is ready to love the Lord; we just need to start exercising it.

One way we can daily give our heart a “love workout” is by telling the Lord out loud

that we love Him. What an enjoyable workout! Just as a spouses want to

hear these words from each other, the Lord wants us to tell Him, “I love

You”—the more often, the better. How wonderful it would be if we were

to begin and end each day with, “Lord Jesus, I love you!” We can even

say it all throughout the day.

Telling the Lord we love Him not only makes Him happy, it also helps to nurture

our own love for Him. Exercising our heart this way keeps us in the

sweetness of His love and refreshes our love for Him. We enjoy Him and

sense His nearness.

We can also exercise our heart to love the Lord by singing to Him. As we

sing to Him, our heart warms and we love Him afresh. For example, we can

try singing a song like this. (You can hear the tune here.)

Give yourself to love the Lord.

No other way is so prevailing

And no other way, no other way is so safe.

Give yourself to love the Lord.

No other way is so rich,

And so full, oh so full, of enjoyment.

Each morning we must rise up and say to Him,

“Lord Jesus, I love You.”

Give yourself to love the Lord.

Do not care for anything else;

Just love Him! Do not care!

Give yourself to love the Lord!

We are not our own, Lord;

All we have we give to You.

Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, we love You!

3. Exercising our will to obey the Lord

We also keep our heart new by exercising our will to be obedient and

submissive to the Lord. We do this by saying “Yes” and “Amen” to the

Lord when He speaks to us in our daily life.

Perhaps the Lord speaks to us, “Don’t go to that place.” If we ignore His

speaking and go anyway, we disobey Him. Repeatedly disobeying God

hardens our heart toward Him. But if we go along with Him and say, “Yes,

Lord, I won’t go there,” we obey Him. This may be difficult, but when

we obey Him, our heart is kept soft and submissive. We enjoy Him and He

becomes so real to us, not in theory, but in our actual experience.

4. Exercising our conscience by confessing our sins

We exercise our conscience by confessing our sins to the Lord. Confessing isn’t saying, “Lord, I won’t do that again.” It’s saying, “Lord, I agree with you, that was a

sin. I sinned. I was wrong. Forgive me.” Confessing is simply agreeing with God when His light shines on something.

We shouldn’t be afraid to confess, nor should we try to hide our sinful

selves from the Lord. A strong believer is a confessing believer. We may

have years of unconfessed sins on our conscience, clogging our

spiritual blood vessels and resulting in poor circulation; we’re

“sickly,” that is, spiritually weak and lacking in God’s life.

Accumulated sins on our conscience can make us insensitive to our

conscience, causing us to lose the proper feeling toward sin. Our heart

becomes hardened, callous toward sin and unfeeling toward the Lord.

But confessing clears everything away; God forgives us and the blood of

Jesus cleanses us. We’re restored to fellowship and enjoy the flow of

God’s life in us again. Because our conscience is clear, our heart is

untroubled and peaceful, and we can have unhindered fellowship with the

Lord. We desperately need this regular exercise of confessing our

offenses to the Lord.

Paying a price to exercise

The thought that we can live any way we like, do whatever we want, and

still experience Christ as our life is harmful to our Christian life.

The experience of Christ is something precious; it has a price. In

Revelation 3:18, the Lord counseled the church in Laodicea, “Buy from

Me.”

To buy something means to pay a price for it. It’s a spiritual reality

that to gain the precious experiences of Christ, a price must be paid.

Our own wishes, desires, and decisions are the price we pay when we

exercise our heart to keep it in newness. But by daily exercise, our new

heart is kept pure, loving, right, and submissive. When our heart is in

this condition, all the riches of Christ are ours to experience. And

the more we go on, the more we realize the price we pay is actually a

bargain for the unsearchable Christ we enjoy in return!

If you want to learn more about our heart, take a look at these additional posts: What Is the Heart in the Bible? and What Does It Mean to Love God with All Your Heart?

Father God I thank you for sending this message. As usual the timing was perfect. I feel love for some, and loved by some. I am warm and fuzzy to some and cold and hard to others. I need your help to keep turning, to keep your veil, to keep my heart warm and soft at all times, regardless. Lord I thank you yet again for this message which reached my inbox. I know I needed to share this, I know i needed to read this. Help me utilize the tools you have presented before me to be a better person. Amen.

God Got this.

​

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

5 [a] Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 [b] Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.6 Let not your mouth lead you[c] into sin, and do not say before the messenger[d] that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;[e] but[f] God is the one you must fear.

I am not going to lie, I went to church doubtful with the upcoming event for next week.

When the idea for the event came up, everyone was litt, everyone was down.

When push came to shove, the people whom insisted we needed to do this backed down….they were not upfront….

I am not going to lie, I was upset with the news that someone dared suggest we reschedule after the event was planned and booked for and many were already making plans to pay on this specific day.

I am not going to lie I was upset that you wait until this day to tell me under the veil of someone else.

I am not going to lie I was upset.

Then the pastor read this verse to start the service.

Then that’s when it all changed for me.

Yes I was bothered, but no I was no longer upset.

God answered me.

God calmed me.

He said They are listening to this same message as you and this message is to be heard by all of you.

Then end of service, the pastors wife approached me about one of the individuals.

Honestly, I don’t trust that the person would be true to their word.

I will trust you until you flake, that’s just how I am.

What I did learn was God is in control.

I do not have to trust you.

I just have to trust in God.

What was interesting about this opening scripture as well is what happened to me when I went to bed the same night..

verse 7 says “For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;[e] but[f] God is the one you must fear.”.

I woke up this morning with a dream about the venue.

My dream kept reiterating to trust in teh Lord.

That He will provide.

I dreamnt of the venue.

I dreamnt of the turnout.

It was better than anticipated.

God Provided.

I TRUST IN YOU!

I have nothing to worry about.

You got this.

Father God, I am sorry for worrying. It was only natural for me to do so. You know the intentions behind this event and it is for all your Glory. Thank you for reminding me to trust you! Thank you for reminding me that You got this handled. I am just playing a role for your great deed.

I am grateful for being able to listen when you speak. I am grateful for you teaching me to listen when you show me a vision or a dream. I am able to forgive the trespasses for I know you have spoken to their hearts, just as you have spoken to mine. I thank you Amen.

TRUST

​

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

5 [a] Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 [b] Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.6 Let not your mouth lead you[c] into sin, and do not say before the messenger[d] that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;[e] but[f] God is the one you must fear.

I am not going to lie, I went to church doubtful with the upcoming event for next week.

When the idea for the event came up, everyone was litt, everyone was down.

When push came to shove, the people whom insisted we needed to do this backed down….they were not upfront….

I am not going to lie, I was upset with the news that someone dared suggest we reschedule after the event was planned and booked for and many were already making plans to pay on this specific day.

I am not going to lie I was upset that you wait until this day to tell me under the veil of someone else.

I am not going to lie I was upset.

Then the pastor read this verse to start the service.

Then that’s when it all changed for me.

Yes I was bothered, but no I was no longer upset.

God answered me.

God calmed me.

He said They are listening to this same message as you and this message is to be heard by all of you.

Then end of service, the pastors wife approached me about one of the individuals.

Honestly, I don’t trust that the person would be true to their word.

I will trust you until you flake, that’s just how I am.

What I did learn was God is in control.

I do not have to trust you.

I just have to trust in God.

What was inter sting about this opening scripture as well is what happened to me when I went to bed the same night..

verse 7 says “For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;[e] but[f] God is the one you must fear.”.

I woke up this morning with a dream about the venue.

My dream kept reiterating to trust in the Lord.

That He will provide.

I dreamed of the venue.

I dreamed of the turnout.

It was better than anticipated.

God Provided.

I TRUST IN YOU!

I have nothing to worry about.

You got this.

Father God, I am sorry for worrying. It was only natural for me to do so. You know the intentions behind this event and it is for all your Glory. Thank you for reminding me to trust you! Thank you for reminding me that You got this handled. I am just playing a role for your great deed.

I am grateful for being able to listen when you speak. I am grateful for you teaching me to listen when you show me a vision or a dream. I am able to forgive the trespasses for I know you have spoken to their hearts, just as you have spoken to mine. I thank you Amen.

Emanuel

​

Emmanuel—God with Us

We are so blessed because of Emmanuel (God is with us).

Emmanuel, Imanuel, Emanuel, Manuel in hebrew means God is with us. Immanuel not only says that God is with us but it expresses the wonder of the incarnation, that God “became flesh and made his dwelling among us”.

God is among us.

his presence is always with us all the time.

What an amazing blessing to know that God is with us.

Matthew 1:23 “’Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel’ (which is translated, God with us).”

The bible refers to Jesus with 5 different names:

5 Names of Jesus in the New Testament and What They Mean; can be found in the link below.

http://biblesforamerica.org/5-names-of-jesus/?utm_source=The+Bibles+for+America+blog&utm_campaign=f4d67daeeb-BfA_Blog&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b01b533dcb-f4d67daeeb-272874985

Of these five names of Jesus in the new testament, one specifically is Emmanuel, which means God with us.

Isaiah 7:14. speaks of the naming of the naming of the virgin child as Emmanuel “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

In the Recovery Version of the Bible, note 2 for Emmanuel explains its meaning:

“Jesus was the name given by God, whereas Emmanuel, meaning God with us, was the name by which man called Him. Jesus the Savior is God with us. He is God, and He is also God incarnated to dwell among us (John 1:14). He is not only God but God with us.”

Jesus is our God incarnated. The blessings of him being our Emanuel is not only for the Jews but the gentiles, the Samaritans and all whom believe in him. He died to accomplish eternal redemption for all. WE all have opportunity to join him in heaven. Best yet, he shows how he is with us.

We are blessed to have him always be with us.

We are blessed to never walk alone.

We are blessed for he knows what it feels to be in the flesh.

We are blessed because he loves us.

No matter where you go, no matter what you do, no matter what people say, no matter what life throws at you….God is always with us.

Thank you Father for being with us. Thank you father for fulfilling the prophesies. Thank you father for your love and always taking care of me. Thank our father for being merciful. Love you always. Amen.

​ if you have faith ….

​

if you have faith ….

“And Jesus answered them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not

only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this

mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will be done.””

(Matthew 21:21, AMPC)

Faith and staying true to one’s faith is a constant conversation.

IN the midst of any trials it is easy to loose faith.

I should know.

Mine took an extended leave of absence.

We must have faith and be firm in our faith.

We cannot doubt, as I once doubted.

We will never overcome our obstacles if we let fear over come us.

We all go through it.

We all have moments where our problems are overwhelming.

we all have moments where we want to throw in the towel and give up.

It’s during these times that we need to maintain a close relationship with God.

It is those moments that our faith needs to remain firm, so that we can cast out our problems.

Whatever you do, do not get discouraged.

Ask for him.

A brother, a sister, a friend, pastoral leadership, etc…. do not go through your struggles alone.

Every situation is different but god can make this situation turn in your favor.

Thank you father for the lessons you’ve taught me.

thank you for my strength, thank you for your guidance.

I have full faith that you have all the control in all the circumstances.

I may have been stubborn and mad, and weak at times, but you showed me that you got this.

Thank you for your favors, for turning around situations that seemed bleak. Thank you for the amazing work you do in my life. Amen

Strength, from weakness.

​

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’…”

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Strength, from weakness.

You know, Paul said it is when we are weak, he makes us strong. Here we are reminded that no matter what we are facing in our lives, when we feel we are at a point of no return, when we feel weak, if we confide in him, his strength will be enough to make it all worthwhile.

God can handle any challenge we face.

I know I constantly talk about hardships, its because we all go through them.

Its in our hardship that we need to trust in him, but not only that, when things are going great; praise him, glorify him, so he can always provide the strength you need when feeling weak.

One of the my most weakest moments in my life was child birth.

My oldest son was enroute.

We were in the delivery room.

I pushed, pushed and pushed.

He kept going back up.

It was like he did not want to come out in to this world (I kind of don’t blame him).

After about an hour of pushing, I felt weak.

My mom said a little prayer.

I found some strength.

Together my mom and my husband grabbed my legs, as I pushed, they pushed inward.

Poof the baby arrived.

I felt so drained, so weak, physically, emotionally, mentally weak.

This is a natural process that millions of women did before me and millions more will continue to do so after me.

I felt weak, it was through that weakness, with my mothers comforting words, God provided not only the physical strength from within, but exterior strength using my mom and spouse.

We need to always trust that God will handle all our circumstances and he will find a solution.

We also have to do our part in faith, with trust, to get towards that victory.

We have to pray, we have to believe,

and we have to press through to victory.

No matter what you are facing know his grace is sufficent to provide the strength.

Have faith, because when you are weak, he will provide the strength you need to cary on.

Father I thank you for the strength you continously provide. There are times I feel down and out. There are times I feel I will not make it. My faith in you has shown me that you have been able to provide, when I thought I would never. In my weakness, your provided strength. Your grace, your love, and you have always been sufficient for me. Thank you. Amen.

God’s Satisfaction and Rest

​

God’s Satisfaction and Rest

“After God has what He desires, He rests. What then brought rest to God? What

was it that gave Him such satisfaction? During the six days of creation

there were light, air, grass, herbs, and trees; there were the sun, the

moon, and the stars; there were fish, birds, cattle, creeping things,

and beasts. But in all these God did not find rest. Finally there was

man, and God rested from all His work.”

http://biblesforamerica.org/gods-satisfaction-and-rest/?utm_source=The+Bibles+for+America+blog&utm_campaign=3b469d3009-BfA_Blog&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b01b533dcb-3b469d3009-272874985

The excerpt from above can be found at the link above. I saw this post and I was intrigued by it. It took God 6 days to create the heavens and the earth. It wasn’t until the seventh day that he rested.

Why?

Days 1-5 he made light, the heavens, the earth, the oceans, the animals, vegetation and I am sure he must’ve been tired after all that, but he looked, he still didn’t feel satisfied. He spoke everything from creation into existence. Then he decided to take a seat and handcraft man. He hand craft man. He did not say let there be man and there was man, he didn’t say let there be a woman and proof eve showed up. Everything else from this point of the 5 days of creation were created by mouth. Light boom 🌞there comes the son, boom the moon 🌕🌖🌗🌘🌚🌔🌓🌒🌛🌜there goes the moon, I need earth :🌎🌍🌏, I need heavens ☁️☁️☁️🌈 I need plant life and vegetarians 🌻🌼🌸🌺🌹🌱🌿🌴🌲🌾🍄🍁 animals: 🐎🐫🐘🐩🐾🐲🐋🐬🐟🐠🦈🦀🦑🐢🕷🦋🐛🐞🐴🦆just like that everything appeared.

With man he sat down, he thought specifically how he would design us.

He molded us with his very own hands. He breathed life into us. He took his time: it was a lot of work to make man. Yet he did. I see why he rested on the 7th day. He designed us in his image. Even when he made Eve, he performed surgery, extracted Adams rib and created Eve.

He was satisfied with his creation and then he rested.

He rested after completing us.

I am very grateful for our lord and savior. I thank him everyday.

Everyday that I wake up is a blessing.

Everyday I see my children are a blessing. Every moment I spend with my children are blessings.

My family immediate and relatives are my blessings.

Waking up, standing up, breathing, loving, living, all that sounds simple but is a blessing.. be thankful, be grateful and praise him.

​ Light in the Darkness

​

Light in the Darkness

“When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in…”

(Psalm 112:4, TLB)

God is light.

In our darkest hours, many of turn to Christ fo help, why?

We seek his light to help us during our difficult times.

his light, when we allow him to pierces through all darkness and brightens it all.

When we go through difficult times it is important to lean on one another for support. It is important that we do not find ourselves in darkness. It is important we do not let the trials and tribulations take over us. It’s easy for that to happen, easy to get lost within the darkness.

I know first hand.

Everyone goes through difficult times, even the dutiful and the faithful. We were forewarned that following his way will come with persecution and hardships. It’s during these difficult and dark times that we need to remember we are not alone. God will forevermore be with us.

When I was just 18, about to begin my life, about to start school, still innocent, still pure, though I was aware of my carnal surroundings and a bit open minded, in many ways I was still very naive and in the dark to worldly affairs. It was easy to get lured despite being forewarned. It was easy to spiral in to a dark abyss, it wasn’t because of my lack of faith, it was because of my lack of trust.

Despite growing up in a church where everyone was pretty much family some way shape or form (the pastors are my brothers godparents….which makes us all family), I had trust issues. I had trust issues in church (I rarely opened up about my personal life). I had trust issues at home (tell a relative what’s going on and the whole family knows, even relatives you haven’t seen since you were in diapers….typical Latin household eh). I had trust issues outside in the world. I had that stone cold Steve Austin philosophy D.T.A. (Don’t trust anybody).

My biggest regret that I can openly discuss today, because looking back I was foolish, is that I should’ve opened up and discussed my issues. I never told my pastoral leadership, whom could’ve counseled me, prayed with me (though I do not doubt for a split second that my pastor has ever ceased to pray for me), I never told my fellow peers in church, whom could’ve helped me via their fellowship, words and prayers before I began to spiral, I never told my parents whom could’ve held my hands during this painful time. I never told my best friend…that is until she confessed she had a similar issue (five years later).

When I sat in that exam room and was told nope sorry, your chances of starting a family is like picking a needle in a haystack, my whole life was turned upside down.

I wasn’t sexually actively.

I was aware of my sensuality And sexuality.

I wasn’t engaging in anything.

I was just starting life.

I was just beginning to “find myself”

I was already being told my future would be without any off springs.

I was dating someone at the time…. who I had no idea where we were headed.

We weren’t even intimate.

We flirted.

We talked.

Sure we kissed.

We held hands.

We would see the sunset together.

We had a great time just being friends getting to know each other.

After my appointment I started pleading why God?

Instead of reaching out to loved ones and those who would genuinely be there for me, I turned to the arms of this older man I was dating and getting to know.

We drank, he smoked, while I inhaled his contact high.

We drank, we fornicated.

I drowned my worries.

He had no idea why I gave myself to him.

He had no idea I stopped caring.

He had no idea I was spiraling and internally in a very dark place.

I needed a burst of light in my life.

That burst came.

He sent me my husband who taught me to trust.

I then wanted To be a new.

I asked god for forgiveness.

I also had to forgive myself for my thinking and my behavior.

His light did burst through.

I received my blessings.

Now I talk about it.

You may notice ever so often I’ll continue to talk about it.

My past, my story, my pain, can be of help to someone else.

Maybe my mistake will be used to help someone else spiral down like i did.

It is easy to let the flesh win.

It’s a constant battle we have when facing trials.

Don’t let darkness overcome you.

Remember he is the light, the only light you need to illuminate your path.

It may be difficult.

You may need to surround yourself with different people.

You may need to open up to the right people.

You may need to refocus on your relationship with Christ.

If your in a dark spot, know your light will shed.

His light will pour upon you.

Just open up a bit.

Father God I thank you for your timing. I thank you for the people you’ve put in my life. I thank you for illuminating me in my tribulations. I am eternally thankful for you. You have shown me that you will always be with me, even when I feel alone. I ask that your light remain in me, with me and around me, so I may never end up in that dark place again. Amen

He Will finish

​

He Will Finish

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 1:6, NIV)

Two years ago my husband decided he was going to redo the back yard. Two weeks before my sons 4th birthday he decided to break apart some of the cement with anticipation of getting it finished.

::insert Spongebob narrator voice here::  Two years later……

Weeds now grow where the cement once stood…. the back yard looks like a jungle no matter how often we prune and clean up. The discussion of the backyard being completed still comes up. Then again being home owners, other things come up as well. I know we will eventually redo the back yard to make it a comfortable usable livable space. I just have to trust and be confident that we will get to it. Sometimes there are other things in the House that need immediate attention (the roof needed to be done, since we sprung a leak, windows and doors need to be redone to further insulate the house, the foundation needs work, we need to ensure our foundation is sturdy… that takes precedence over the yard, and the list goes on and on… and on).

::insert Spongebob narrator voice here::

Two years later…… still figuring out what next we need to tackle before completing what we stared.

So what does this have to do with this verse? With God?

God works.

God is the architect of our lives.

So you’ve been praying for something, a miracle, a loved one, a new job, a promotion, or whatever. Maybe you see other blessings and god answering some prayers but not the one your really want.

Do not fret nor be discouraged, he has started working on your from conception. He has the blueprints of your future.

Things just come up.

Sometimes our foundation gets a crack, and we need to fix it.

He will get to your blessing or answer that prayer, there’s just other works in you that he needs to accomplish first.

Without a strong foundation your house will collapse right?

Well just like without a strong foundation in God, you can spiritually collapse.

He will get there, let’s let him work on the bigger issues in your lives that have cracks, need some patchwork, and then he can answer your prayers.

Trust and believe what he has in store for us is bigger and better than what we could ever imagine.

God is always good to us.

Always loving.

Always there.

He has the blueprint.

We need to trust and have faith that he will get the job done.

He will finish what he has started with you.

Nothing is too much for our lord. There is nothing he can’t handle. Keep counting your blessings. Keep praising him. Keep walking in your walk with him. Keep praying. Keep faith and let him work on what needs to get taken cared of and let him work at his pace.

Father God I thank you for the works you’ve done in my life. You know my prayers and my petitions. I know I may have some cracks that need to be repaired before some of my prayers and petitions can be answered. I know I too need to do my part, pick up my slack and labor along with you. I thank you for being loving, patient and kind. I know you are working behind the scenes to ensure I become the product of your likeness. I trust fully in you that you will finish your work with me. I will try to be as patient as humanly possibly knowing full well there’s a lot of work to be done. I stand strong and form in your word, knowing that my victory, is your victory, and you will continue to get all the praise and glory. Amen

Firmly planted like a tree

​

He will be like a tree firmly planted by

streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does

not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”

Psalms 1:3

Tree’s usually represent life, mystic majesty, power, strength and stability. When we look at trees, where they are plated and rooted makes a difference as to the fruits it will bear. Will the plant survive, will any fruits come out of it? Planting a tree by the water you have a source where the tree can not only be nourished, but the the soil will be nourished. Usually trees planted near the water are healthier, bear more fruits, strong, filled with life, etc.

We are like trees.

We are planted with word of God.

Our spirit is fed.

We grow stronger.

our source of Water is the Word of God.

it is what nourishes our soul.

it provides the essential vitamins and nourishment for the tree to bear fruits.

We are the trees.

The word, and our relationship with the spirit is what determines if we grow and proposer.

PROSPER in everything you do.

What does it mean to be a tree? What is

Father God I want to thank you for planting the seed of life in me. I want to thank you for not uprooting me. I want to thank you for your nourishment and sustenance to help me yield my fruits in your season. Thank you for not letting me wither, for being in me and with me in all I do so that through you I can prosper. Amen.

side notes:

Tree references in the bible

1.

Jeremiah 17:8 ESV

He

is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and

does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious

in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

2.

Psalm 1:3 ESV

He

is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

3.

Job 14:7 ESV

“For

there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and

that its shoots will not cease.

4.

1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV

Then

shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to

judge the earth.

5.

Matthew 7:17 ESV

So,

every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

6.

Daniel 4:10-12 ESV

The

visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the

midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong,

and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole

earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for

all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens

lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

7.

Revelation 22:14 ESV

Blessed

are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of

life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

8.

Genesis 2:9 ESV

And

out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to

the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden,

and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

9.

Proverbs 13:12 ESV

Hope

deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

10. Revelation 22:2 ESV

Through

the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the

tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The

leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

11. Psalm 52:8 ESV

But

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love

of God forever and ever.

12. 1 Kings 19:5 ESV

And

he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and

said to him, “Arise and eat.”

13. Genesis 3:17 ESV

And

to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have

eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed

is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your

life;

14. Genesis 3:3-6 ESV

But

God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of

the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to

the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your

eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when

the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the

eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its

fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he

ate.

15. Romans 11:16-27 ESV

If

the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root

is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and

you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now

share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the

branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root

that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might

be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief,

but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. …

16. Proverbs 3:18 ESV

She

is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are

called blessed.

17. Isaiah 65:22 ESV

They

shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for

like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall

long enjoy the work of their hands.

18. Genesis 2:17 ESV

But

of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day

that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

19. Luke 6:43-45 ESV

“For

no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for

each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from

thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of

the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his

evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth

speaks.

20. Genesis 3:22 ESV

Then

the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good

and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and

eat, and live forever—”

21. Luke 13:6-9 ESV

And

he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he

came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look,

for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find

none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir,

let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if

it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it

down.’”

22. Proverbs 11:30 ESV

The

fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

23. Genesis 3:12 ESV

The

man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the

tree, and I ate.”

24. Ezekiel 17:24 ESV

And

all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high

tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree

flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

25. Judges 9:8 ESV

The

trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive

tree, ‘Reign over us.’

26. Deuteronomy 20:19 ESV

“When

you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it,

you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat

from them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field human,

that they should be besieged by you?

27. Genesis 18:4 ESV

Let

a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the

tree,

28. Genesis 3:24 ESV

He

drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim

and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

29. Genesis 3:11 ESV

He

said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I

commanded you not to eat?”

30. Isaiah 55:12-13 ESV

“For

you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills

before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall

clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of

the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an

everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

The Pruning Process

​

The Pruning Process

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no

fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will

be even more fruitful.”

(John 15:2, NIV)

At home, I have a Garden that my mother in law began.

When she moved out of our home and went to Florida she asked that I take care of her babies (not my husband and kids, but her plants).

So I told her I would give it a try.

I have always wanted to have a garden.

I have always wanted to grow crops on my own.

I figured how hard could it be.

Then I remembered I inherited my mother’s Black thumb, and not my grandmother’s green thumb.

Ay Chi chi!!!!

Her babies are OK, I just attempted several times ( I still do, because I have faith one day my thumb will be green) to add to her garden.

Well, one thing I have gotten good at has been pruning the rose bush and tending to the weeds (note to self, check the garden for weeds).

I carefully take my pruning scissors and clip of the extra long thorny stems, cut it short so the bush could only grow but so high.

Trimming just enough to get rid of whats not needed, while still keeping the branches that will bring bulbs which in turn will beautify the yard with Roses.

That’s what God does with us.

He prunes every asepct of our life.

He is the Gardener and we are the Rose Bush.

We have periods in our lives, like plants where we begin this whole pruning process.

You start pruning right before it is time to harvest your fruits.

Everything has a timing when you start pruning.

You never begin pruning a plant late in the season.

You never let the plant or Bush grow too high.

That’s what God does with us.

Everything in his timing.

His timing is precise.

He begins his pruning process.

so you may ask what does God prune in my life?

Well…Lets just say he prunes anything he needs to so that you may bear spiritual fruitfulness.

The Term prune means:

Trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth.

‘now is the time to prune roses’

no object ‘to limit growth, prune in summer’

1.1 Cut away (a branch or stem) from a tree, shrub, etc.

‘prune back the branches’

1.2 Reduce the extent of (something) by removing superfluous or unwanted parts.

‘the workforce was pruned’

1.3 Remove (superfluous or unwanted parts) from something.

‘Eliot deliberately pruned away details’

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/prune

So god Cuts or removes things in our lives that can prevent us from bearing fruit of his blessings and anointing.

He moves people out of your lives strategically.

He gets rid of things that will give you temptation.

He ends relationships, which may potentially drive you astray.

A new job may show up.

A promotion.

A lateral move in a company.

Your boss may assign you to a different office or cubicle.

Your barber / hair dresser may not be available today.

Everything is for a reason.

There is no need to question it.

God knows what we need to grow with him spiritually.

We need to not understand why or what.

We just have to be faithful and trust in his timing.

His timing is always perfect.

When things change in your life.

When friendships end.

When transitions in general happen in your life.

Do not question it, accept it for what it is.

God is pruning the weeds, getting rid of the thorns so that you and I can bear fruit and blossom.

Thank you Lord for your perfect timing. thank you for holding the clippers, thank you for being my gardener.

Thank you for pruning my life so i can be filled with your blessings and grow spiritually.

Thank you for pruning my life so I can be a blessing for others.

I thank your for your gentle love and care with me.

I thank you for always trimming the right amount, even when i begin to wonder why.

I know you have the definitive answer and that you are only doing what is necessary for me to blossom.

I trust you father with my past, my present and my future.

Amen.

Be Proud for your people.

​

I am very proud of my mentor.

I formally gave her a shout out on social media a few weeks back but I wanted to share this major accomplishment here. This is someone whom I have nothing but love for, respect and admire.

The only way I can think of showing how proud of her I am was by doing so the Brooklyn Way. WHOOP, WHOOP.

I have admired her since the first day I met her.

I remember, many, many years ago when I sat in her classroom as an undergrad. A new transfer student, sitting in a class of a Lawyer, her strong bold presence, she was welcoming and intimidating.

I was in awe of her aura.

Positive, vibes always poured out of her.

I was in awe of her fluidity in combining colloquialism with academia to make a point.

She kept it real.

She kept it positive.

I was in awe each time she spoke.

Hung on to every syllable.

I was in awe of her character.

I was in awe of her writing and teaching.

Even her Book, In Search of Bliss, (ya’ll need to read this https://www.amazon.com/Search-Bliss-J-L-Rainey/dp/0979805201/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1496256490&sr=8-6&keywords=J.+L+Rainey), I can’t even tell you how many times I have read and re-read this book.

Reverand, Congratulations on your Ordination.

I have been so moved, so inspired and so proud of you.

I have been watching the clips of the ordination on the cyber lounge, I have been overwhelmed with emotions.

I keep wiping the tears of Joy.

I felt the Lords Presence with watching the clips.

You are beyond blessed Jah.

I knew then, while sitting as an undergrad that you were destined for greateness.

Now here we are, 2017, and you are being used by God, By the Son, By the Holy spirit to continue to spread your positive vibes.

You have been called, you have been chosen to lead.

You have been chosen to inspire others to seek his will.

This is only the begining of the greatness you are going to do in doing the Lord’s work.

You are going to lead an amazing ministry Reverand Jah.

I can’t wait to see where her ministry goes.

Much love and blessings to her on this new chapter in your life.

I will continue to pray over her.

N’sync with God

​

N’sync with God

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

(Proverbs 16:9, NIV)

We can make all the plans we want.

It is the lord whom decides what will come to light.

sometimes our plans, or the pathways we want to take to fulfill our plans are not aligned with God’s plans nor the path he has already deemed for us.

Every wanted something, you accomplish it, you get the results you wanted, then knowing how you achieved your goal, you went ahead and tried it again and the results were, well not as we planned.

This happened to Moses. In Exodus 17 v 1-7

Water From the Rock

1The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

2So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

3But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against

Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and

our children and livestock die of thirst?”

4Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

5The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of

the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you

struck the Nile, and go.

6I

will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and

water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in

the sight of the elders of Israel.

7And he called the place Massaha

and Meribahb

because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

When they Hebrews needed water God specifically told him, strike the rock. He struck the rock, and water flowed. God told him to Strike the rock. There was another time where they needed water again. Moses knew he had already done so before…. his out come was slightly different.

The Water of Meribah Numbers 20 vs 8- 13

      8“Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and

speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You

shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the

congregation and their beasts drink.”

9So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him;

10He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

13 These were the waters of Meribah,[a] where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

This time, he said speak to the rock, not strike the rock. That was not God’s way, nor path to the water. “Because you did not trust me enough”. Moses and AAron did not trust enough for that given moment.

We do that all the time. We are a very pessimistic bunch. We question and second guess everything. We barely trust ourselves. Lack of trust in God is what deters outcomes to repeat.

He is very specific with every detail in everything we do.

God had a different plan to show how he can bring water from the Rocks.

The Goal may have been the same, the steps to achieve this was different.

The lesson we have here is that we need to stay awake, or be “woke”. We need to be open and be willing to receive our instructions. We need to be In Sync with God’s plan. A small tweak to the instruction, a small tweak to the performance, an extra little minor step, you may not view it as a minor step, but there is a reason for that extra step. That is what makes the difference in achieving the outcome.

As you go by your day, as you go by your routines, make sure you are in sync with God, make sure you are not doing things out of habit, because this is just how you have done it before. Listen to God, The Holy spirit will guide you. Follow his lead. Keep focus, remain in prayer. Stay in sync with the plans he has for you. Remember we all have goals, plans and dreams, these goals, plans and dreams may not be what God has in store, and if they are, achieving them may not be the way you expected to achieving them.

God I want to thank you for always leading me. I want to submit my mind, heart and soul to you. I want to stay connected to you to be able to see, hear and understand what you want me to do. I want to remain close to you, I want to be in sync with you in every step, action, breath I take. I want to achieve the goals you have in mind for me. Never living in the past, never taking the same steps, looking towards the new path with you. Looking forward to what you have planned for me. Amen.

Seed for me….

“…For God has appointed another seed for me…”

(Genesis 4:25, NKJV)

What does If mean he has another seed for me?

Are we planting a garden?

Will these seeds bear fruit to edible vegetation?

He said he has another seed for you.

In these chapter of Genesis, Cain killed Abel. Cain killed his brother. Could you imagine how tragic that must’ve been for Adam and Eve to know that their son killed their other son. They had faith and with that faith God planted a new seed, Seth.

What we see here is simple. We have times where things are in a disarray. Nothing is where it should. We feel like all is crumbling. Trial and tribulation after heartache and more trial and tribulations. It’s here when our faith and trust in God is fully tested. He planted a new seed in Eve. In Eve’s case her seed was a new offspring. A new life to bear fruit. To be of glory to God.

Sometimes when we are going through rough patches it’s Not the enemy tempting us. Sometimes God allows things to happens to test our faith in him, our trust in him. Sometimes our rough patches are self inflicted. Cains jealousy towards Abel caused his own depression and was the reason his bitterness got to him. He didn’t put it in Gods hand. He took actions on in his owns hands. Had Cain repented, admitted his wrong doings instead of denying them he too could’ve received a new seed.

His lack of faith caused his banishment.

Eve though trusted, her trust allowed her despite her heart break to be able to start a new with her new seed (Seth).

When we pass through obstacles we are given opportunities by God to seek him, to trust him. It will always go one of two ways. He will provide you the seeds you need, or you will continue down that spiral until you come to him trusting in him proving your faith in him.

Dear reader, when life gives your hurdles you can’t jump over, when you go through things you do not understand, when no matter how hard you try you feel that nothing is going right, know it is not the end. Know this is only the beginning. Get down, pray, trust in him, he will give you a new seed. Not only will he provide the seed, but he will provide the space where to plant, the soil and fertilizer to nourish the ground, the hoe, hose, shears, watering can and all the spiritual gardening tools you need to plant the seed and bear fruits.

You my dear are that seed.

I am that seed.

Let’s open our hearts, mind, eyes, ears and soul.

Let’s trust in God.

Have faith in God.

Your future is dependent on that seed.

Your blessings are the fruits of your labor.

Your gifts from God are the fruits of your labor.

Your past will remain where it is at.

Do not resonate in the should have, could have, would have’ instead focus on how God can use you for his glory.

Keep praying, keep believing, keep hoping because God is for you. Trust Him, have faith in him and embrace the good things He has in store for your future!

Thank you father for allowing me to see that you will always provide the seed I need to bear fruit. Thank you for allowing me the lessons to grow closer with you. Thank you for providing me the tools and resources needed to tend the seed so that we can bear fruit in your glory. I pray for you person reading this, may this provide you the tools needed to begin sowing the seed God has just given you. Amen.

​ Importance of testimony

​

Importance of testimony

“Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.”

(Psalm 105:5, ESV)

We are instructed in this psalm to testify. We are to remember the works, the miracles and judgments God has done. How best to do that than to testify on the blessings, miracles and wonders he has provided in your life.

We are to remember what he has done.

We are to share these memories so other can learn from them.

We are to remember and share so others can be inspired.

We are to remember and share so that others’ faith can grow.

We are to remember and share so that our faith can grow, sometimes we need that reminder.

Remember What He Has Done.

When I had lost all hope, I was in my own personal despair.

I had threw in the towel.

I had decided that its over.

He said no!

I have just begun.

At first I wasn’t sure he was talking to me.

He kept talking.

Kept showing signs and my miracle happened.

Ever so often I talk about it.

I’m doing so it reignites that fire within me.

Reignites my faith.

I give him praise and glorify his good deeds each time I remember.

Lord I thank you for the blessings you’ve given me. I thank you for allowing me to witness your works. Today as I remember the marvels you have blessed me with I glorify your holy name. It was you who made it all possible. You are good, mercifully and loving. Thank You for

loving me. Thanking you for your mercy, though I do not deserve it. Thank you for your. Blessings. Thank You for setting me free. Love you always. Grateful always, and always I will life your name in praise, love, admiration and gratitude. Amen

Immeasurable and unlimited greatness.

​

“And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe…”

(Ephesians 1:19, AMPC)

Immeasurable and unlimited greatness.

Paul in his epistles to the Ephesians writes about in the days to come, with our faith and love to Christ we will see and receive blessings that are Immeasurable and unlimited. These gifts, miracles, blessings will surpass in greatness any blessing you received thus far.

You think you’ve been redeemed and have benefited from Gods anointing and blessings. Well my fellow brother, sister and reader let me tell you that we ain’t seen nothing yet.

To me my children were the greatest gift I have ever received. I know I have shared in previous posts about my struggles and my blessings, but for you whom just so happen to be visiting for the first time, let me fill you in. This word may in fact be for you.

I was told I couldn’t ever conceive, cancer cells were found, I was treated, defeated the cancer, despite the blessings of not having any more signs of any cancer cells in over 13 years…..(thank God for that blessing)… I was told I would never have kids. Scientific evidence were statistically against me. My own biology was against me. My tilted uterus did not help.

God told me it will happen.

My children were both prophesied to me.

So yea I feel my children is my greatest blessing.

I battled years of depression.

Battled fears of what if the cells regenerate.

Battled fears of what if I caught something else…. I was careless prior to getting married, using my depression as an excuse to be promiscuous and drown my worries away.

My promiscuity led to many miscarriages.

God said he loved me.

God said to trust him.

God said have faith.

At the time my faith, well it was on a hiatus.

I am not proud of the Hiatus.

Yet I turned back to God.

I rekindled our relationship.

I found my faith, again.

I always loved God.

I was angry.

I asked for forgiveness knowing he already forgave me.

I had to forgive myself for being a bratty stubborn child.

So yes at this moment my children are my greatest blessing.

Yet Paul says, in the days to come we will be able to understand… “what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe”.

We will be able do more.

More what?

We will be able to heal.

We will be able to bless others.

We will be able to cast our demons with a force unlike any other.

We will be able to anoint.

We will be able to fully embrace our true potential that God had intended for us prior to sin entering our lives.

We will be whole.

We will be anew.

We will receive this special gifts and blessings.

We will be living the way God had wanted us to.

I can’t even begin to imagine the greatness that will be accomplished in his great and holy name.

You feel your at the epicenter of your blessings….. well we ain’t seen nothing yet.

I ask you to keep faith fellow brother, fellow sister, fellow reader. I ask you to open your heart, mind, souls, ears, be willing to receive what God had planned. Today’s blessing may have been top 10, top 5 or top 3, but the best is yet to come.

Father God I thank you for my blessings and gifts that are immeasurable. The mere fact that I am able to write at this moment is a blessing in itself. It is for you which we love. I believe you created us with greatness to fulfill your works. We are eager and and willing to do your will. By faith, by my trust in you, by my love for you, I look forward to the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of your power in and for us. I am ready when you are ready to use me. Amen.

Marital lessons

​

My husband and i were having a disagreement the other day. He began pressing my buttons. I was getting frustrated. I would come back day what I needed to say, educate him, and he would come back with a sarcastic remark. He does this from time to time to get a reaction out of me. He finds it funny. He knows I have a short fuse.

But I love my husband.

So this time around I decided I will not spazz out. I will be the bigger person. As much as he almost brought me to the point of wanting to give him some sweet chin music, and

put him in a sharp shooter. ( wrestling reference).

He continued.

So i decided to be quiet.

End the war of words. (No one was cussing, if that’s what your thinking).

The war of words is that battle to see who gets the last word in.

So I stay quiet.

Cross my arms in front of me.

I pouted. Yes I pouted like my two year old would.

As in pouting he keeps going, as he keeps going all I’m thinking, “i so want to give him the mandible claw. (Google mankind mandible claw WWE; Mick Foley mandible claw, mr socko wwe).

Again wrestling reference. ( let me explain I grew up watching wrestling).

As I’m enjoying the view of me presumptuously giving my husband whom I love dearly the mandible claw to shut him up, I hear my six year old giggling.

He found the whole thing amusing.

We all started laughing.

How ridiculous we must have looked.

We forgave one another as nothing ever happened.

Lesson:

Some things are not worth being mad about. Laughter is usually they medicine to offset anger. Sometimes what we are angry about are petty.

Sometimes the best solution really is to laugh it out.

We had our difference of opinions, we had our little Tiff, yet at the end of the whole 15 minutes of the whole situation, we spent 10 of them laughing.

God diffused the situation.

We both realized how foolish we were.

We went home.

We enjoyed our time as a family.

To be quiet honest, I don’t even remember what got us there. That shows me that subject was not even worthy, we had no reason to fuss, the mere fact that we both suddenly have a case of amnesia is merely reason enough for me to say, God it wasn’t worn it. It wasn’t even worth remembering. An insignificant moment disagreement, where the only thing we can remember is the laughing.

Love each other, live with one another in peace, Laugh more. Fight less.

His Thoughts

​

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a

future and a hope.”

(Jeremiah 29 11)

No matter what anyone thinks of you.

No matter what anyone says about you.

No matter if people claim you are destined for failure.

Have faith in knowing that none of that matters.

His thoughts of you is what matters.

All he wants is for us to have peaceful lives, he has plans to give us a future filled with hope not despair.

We have all been in situations where we were brought down emotionally by those we sought out council because in their eyes we were not worthy.

We didn’t meet a specific standard in their eyes.

Our abilities or talents were not up to par to their views of things.

We also judge ourseleves the way other’s judge us.

Man, I messed up pretty bad.

Man I regret what I did.

Many thre is no getting out of that.

Man there is no hope for me.

Geez, why? what now?

You begin to think your future is bleak.

You begin to live with that seed of doubt.

You begin to live with that seed of depression.

You begin to live with that sed of failure.

You proceed to live with that seed of self conviction.

What we need to realize is that our short comings, our mistakes are not powerful.

How others define you is not powerful.

These internal and external attributes we focus on does not define you for who you are.

God is up there, looking down at us wanting to give us a cocotaso (knock some sense in to you, in laymans term) and say, child listen.

I have plans for you which are greater than you can comprehend.

I need you to uproot those seeds of doubt, depression, failure and convitions.

I need you to let go of what was said to you.

All that is nothing, compared to the mighty things I can do with you.

All that is petty and Mediocre compared to what I see in you.

Your plans may have been ruined.

Your plans may have hit a snag or bump in the road.

God already has the answer with a back up plan, an alternative route, the gps is re-calculation, you just have to listen.

Open your eyes, humble your heart, open your ears so you can move forward with what God has instore for you.

What he see’s no one else can see.

What he has planned no one else has planned.

When you hear his voice, don’t be scared.

Listen.

Follow.

Tust in his guidance.

He will give you peace, love and hope for your future.

Father God I thank you for viewing me as your loving child. Thank you for accepting me and loving me despites my mistakes, despite my failures, despite my downfall. I ask, as I always do, to allow me to always hear your guidance and direction. To always be able to discern your vioce so I can follow your command. To allow me to uproot an seeds of negativity so that your will can be done. To be able to rebuke negativity entering my life. To not allow anyone’s opinion of their views of my personality to take away what you have instore for me. I am looking for peace, which only you can provide, with love, that only you can provide, with hope for the future you have promised me. I trust your holy name. Amen

Words

 

​

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

ESV

Our Words, Our heart, Our Thoughts should be aligned with what is acceptable in Christ.

Our words are powerful.

Our words can build up nations.

Our words can lead to riot and wars.

Our words can hurt harm and cripple someone who looks up to you.

Our words can build bridges.

Our words can provide comfort.

Our words can bring healing.

Our words can bring salvation.

Our words are not merely just words.

Our words can proclaim and prophesize your future and those you speak to.

Our word can bear seeds.

Our words can bring fruit positivity.

One has to meditate and ask for guidance from God for the words we speak.

Let our words, Our Thoughts and our hearts be acceptable to God.

GOD I pray for guidance, wisdom, knowledge and the ability to filter what come out of my mouth. I want to meditate in your word, so that your words can filter out of my mouth vs. my words. I want to have a pure heart, so that my heart, can be acceptable to you. Amen.

Recipe for Spiritual Growth

​
2 Peter 1:5-9 ESV
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

 

When Peter wrote his letters to the followers of Christ he wanted to show them support, encouragement and provide direction. A mentor so to speak.
New follows of Christ need that kind of assistance to guide and reassure them so they do not get distracted. He states “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

 

This right here was Peterson way of showing exactly what you need to spiritually grow and supplement ones faith.
One needs:

• Virtue
• Knowledge
• Self control.
• Steadfastness
• godliness
• Brotherly affection
• And love.

 

Here is a historical backdrop as to what was going on at the time and why Peter felt the need to provide the recipe to grow in faith.

 

The churches of Asia Minor were struggling with the persecution and suffering, this is s addressed in the letters in first Peter. The churches also had strife and dissension within each other and ranks. He wanted to steer the church away from false teachings. He wanted to show the importance in learning the word. He wanted to show them the importance in proper knowledge of God.

 

He emphasizes spiritual growth. Growth in ones faith, growth in ones understanding. Growth in knowledge.

 

Peter wants the church to have spiritual maturity through the Word of God, to avert from false teaching and a right response to heretics in light of Christ’s promised second coming.

 

He addresses his readers to encourage them so they can follow his lead with the recipe he provided. He encouraged the seeking and acquiring true knowledge of God. He encouraged diligently living our lives in faith. He encouraged living in peace and being as pure as possible so when we face jesus upon his return to be judged for our actions and deeds, we can be viewed spotless, clean, blameless and without sin.

 

Look we all go through difficult times. We also see that at the foundation of the church and the ministries of Jesus’ followers, they too had trials and tribulations. They too faced hardships and persecutions. Peter hands us the encouragement and the recipe needed to grow spiritually.

So let’s take a close look at the meaning to this recipe he provided:

 

• Virtue – Oxford dictionary defines this as – Behaviour showing high moral standards.
  (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/virtue)
• Knowledge- Oxford dictionary defines this as – Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
  ‘a thirst for knowledge’. (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/knowledge)
• Self control. – Oxford dictionary defines this as – The ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult situations.
  ‘Lucy silently struggled for self-control’
  (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/self-control)
• Steadfastness – Oxford dictionary defines this as – Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
  ‘steadfast loyalty’
  (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/steadfast)
• godliness – Oxford dictionary defines this as – The quality of being devoutly religious; piety.
  ‘a man of great godliness’
  (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/godliness)
• Brotherly affection – (two parts)
  • – Brotherly – Oxford dictionary defines this as -Characteristic of or appropriate for a brother or brothers; fraternal.
    ‘he and I had such a brotherly bond’
    (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/brotherly)
  • Affections – Oxford dictionary defines this as -A gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
    (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/affection)
• And love. – Oxford dictionary defines this as – A strong feeling of affection.
  (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/love)
  So now what? What do we do with this reciepe provided by Peter for spiritual growth?

 
You get a spoonful of Virtue, a cup of Knowledge, two cups of Self control, 2 tablespoons of Steadfastness, a liter of godliness, a quart of Brotherly affection and a gallon of love. **With all recipe you tweak the measurements to taste.
Mix these ingredients well.
Let it set.
Viola! You have begun taking those first few steps to grow spiritually with God.

Father God I thank you for instructing the writers of the Bible. Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. You have left us with the Basic Instructions for us to utilize, live a hearty, whole and pure life to your stading, before we perish earth and join you. I thank you for allowing prophet to provide the buidling blocks of our spiritual walk with you. I thank you for this recipe, for allowing this to be a a guide as to what characteristics we need, how we should behave, how we should be with one another, how to grow, how to not loose sight of the truth, how to not be misguided nor misled. I thank you for the blueprints. The hardest job of any instructional manual is paying attention and following along. I ask for the strength needed, especially during trouble times so that I can grow closer to you. Amen.

Let it go

​

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'”

(Matthew 11:28, NLT)

God wants to carry on our burdens. He wants us to rest, in order to rest, be assured you have to let it go and give God your burdens.

“Let it GO, Let it go,

can’t hold me back anymore.”

Once you let go of your burdens, you suddenly feel anew, you feel refreshed, you can now rest assured that things will get better.

IT is easy to get caught up in the midst of your troubles, but when you let it go those sleepless nights you stressing are done with now with God taking over your burdens.

In order for this to happen you need trust, trust in him.

You need faith, faith that he will take control and that you will rest. You need faith that he will address your troubles so that you can be liberated and free.

God wants you to enjoy your life, he wants to take care of all your problems and concerns. Let it go, let it go to him. Don’t let fear hold you back anymore.

Today, I ask you to Let it go. Release your trouble to the Lord. Let him take charge and fill you with the peace and joy you so rightfully deserve. Receive his blessings. Receive his promises.

Rest.

Father God today I humbly come before you to ask that you take away my pain, take away my worries, take away my burdens. I choose to let it go so I can be free.

I want to freely live in the walk of your way. I want to be able to rest in the way you see fit. I have total faith and trust in you my lord.

Thank You for Your goodness, grace, love, compassion, guidance and freeing me of my worldly troubles. Help me find ways to share Your goodness with those around me today, tomorrow and always. In the name of the father, in the name of the son and in the name of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tourist Dance

As a native New Yorker I am used to the crowds, used to the sites, used to the visitors.  What I could never get used to is the sudden stops, the not paying attention, the collisions that almost happen.  We operate here on a whole other time schedule than the rest of the world it seems.  New Yorkers we are always on the go. So to help prevent the collisions with the tourists whom are not paying attention to their surroundings in awe and mesmerized by our beautiful city, we have a dance just for you.

Tourist Dance
The city that never sleeps.

Oh how I love thee.

The thought of leaving you makes me weep.

Your gentle and embracing vibes.

There’s so much to do here and so much to see.

From all over the word many come with their tribes.
Our streets are packed,

People everywhere.

And when they are here we are sure to act.

They are here and they are there.

Lord there’s people everywhere.
Us natives have this special dance.

So that walking we do not clash.

As soon as we see it within that first glance.

We get it started in a flash.

We zig,

We zag,

We do a little jig.

We zag,

We zig,

We do a so with some swag.
We dab left.

Sharp right.

We do it with so much zest.

We dab right.

We swing left.

We avoid you with all our might.
Our dance for you is one of a kind.

Our dance for your well being.

It’s because dear tourist you quickly become so blind.

You get absorbed in the sights you are no longer seeing.
We have families to get to.

We can’t wait on you.

The fast paced lives is our thing.

It is ingrained within

We have places to be,

People to see.

A bus, train, ferry or cab to catch.

We can’t sit back while you light a match.

We can’t sit back while your taking a glance.

It’s for you we have this dance.

So when we have to get to where we have to go,

In our fast past walks,

You do not get hot with a blow,

For your sudden stops.

Pulse

​

Dedicated to those whom were taken too soon at Pulse and to the survivors whom were fortunate enough make it out alive.

PULSE.

Thud, Thump, thud.

My hearts song live.

Thud, thump, Thud.

My heart finds its beat.

Thud, thump, thud.

Love is all I have to give.

Thud, Thump, Thud.

The rhythm which pulsates through me is so sweet.

Thud, Thump, thud, bang.

A year ago today, many lives were taken.

Thud, Thump, bang, bang.

A year ago today, many fears were awaken.

Thud, Thump, bang, bang.

A year ago today many lives where shaken.

smash, crash, thud thump.

A year ago today, many hearts were broken.

Today survivors replay that horrible night.

Knowing full well that what was done was not right.

Lives destroyed.

Families in pain.

Many keep busy, they just want to avoid.

The memories of the stains.

Regardless of one’s belief.

Difference of opinions should not make it right.

To take someone Else’s life.

Purple, Pink, Orange, yellow, Green Blue.

Because of the Pride in their flag.

It is not up to you.

Purple, Pink, Orange, yellow, Green Blue.

To them, they are more true than you.

They are open and honest of whom they are.

accepted or not, they are people too.

Sine bright, shed love, shed peace for all.

Families of Pulse, my heart and prayers goes out to all of you.

RIP.

​ The Beloved Proverbial Women.

Proverbs 31:10-31King James Version (KJV)
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

The Beloved Proverbial Women.

Proverbs 31 describes what many consider the perfect dutiful women.
Sometimes we as women try to aspire to be this symbol of perfection and do as much as we can to fit the description.
Sometimes we as modern women try to aspire to be everything this proverbial woman is not.

What many fail to realize is being a proverbial woman does not mean being this perfect being.

It is about living life with purpose, diligence, forgiveness, and repentance.
There are attributes of this proverbial woman that we modern woman can apply to our lives to become this virtuous woman.

Many Modern women are like wait no way, I will never submit myself to become a submissive wife, I know this because I have said that myself.
Though I have been raised to be an independent woman, I know that I can submit my will to God and be blessed abundantly, for he will provide.

Here are a few examples as to how this Virtuous Woman’s characteristics can be aligned to the modern woman, where we too can be like this as possible.

A Virtuous Woman is faithful, she serves God with all her might, with all her heart, with all her mind, and her soul.
She has faith in her creator.
She seeks the will of God for her life and follows His ways.
example: Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 31: 29 – 31,
Matthew 22: 37 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
John 14: 15 If you love me, keep my commands.
Psalm 119: 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

A Virtuous Woman will respect her spouse, her marriage and her Union.
She will care for her husband.
She will be trust worthy and helpful in their union.
example: Proverbs 31: 11- 12, Proverbs 31: 23, Proverbs 31: 28,
1 Peter 3, Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
Ephesians 5, Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Genesis2: 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

A Virtuous Woman nurtures and teaches her children.
a virtuous woman will teach all children, and love them, even if they are not her own.
She nurtures, with Christs love, wisdom, care and discipline.
she trains the children in the way.
example: Proverbs 31: 28, Proverbs 31: 26,
Proverbs 22: 6, Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Deuteronomy 6:2,so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
Luke 18: 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

A Virtuous Woman will care for her health.
She will care for the health of her husband.
She will care for the health of her children and family.
she will provide meals to promote healthy living and nourishment.
example: Proverbs 31: 14 – 15, Proverbs 31: 17,
1 Corinthians 6:19, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Genesis 1: 29, Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the
whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be
yours for food.
Daniel 1, – Daniel’s Training in Babylon
Leviticus 11 -Clean and Unclean Food

A Virtuous Woman serves.
She serves and loves her husband.
she serves and loves her family.
she serves and loves her community.
she serves with a warm loving spirit.
She has no problem doing charity work.
example: Proverbs 31: 12, Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20,
1 Corinthians 13: 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

A Virtuous Woman knows how to budget herself and for the home ensuring the finances are in order.
She purchase the food, clothing for her family.
She makes sure bills are promptly paid.
example:Proverbs 31: 14, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 18,
1 Timothy 6: 10, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Ephesians 5: 23, For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Deuteronomy 14: 22, Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
Numbers 18: 26 Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering

A Virtuous Woman is handy.
She works, can provide, can fix, repair.
She sings praises to God and does not complain.
example: Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 24, Proverbs 31:31,
Philippians 2: 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

A Virtuous Woman is a homemaker.
She creates love and warmth in her home for her family.
She brings peace and love when she hosts company, ministering to those with her
example: Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20 – 22, Proverbs 31: 27,
Titus 2: 5, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to
be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of
God.
1 Peter 4: 9, 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Hebrews 13: 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

A Virtuous Woman knows how to use her time wisely.
Works hard and diligently to complete daily tasks (whether as a working woman or as a stay at home wife/mom.
She does not spend time doing things and sulking on those things that do not please the Lord.
Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 19, Proverbs 31: 27,
Ecclesiastes 3, A Time for Everything
Proverbs 16: 9, A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

A Virtuous Woman is beautiful (not speaking of the carnal term).
She has beauty that comes from Christ, her inner beauty outshines the natural.
She is creative and uses this beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones.
example: Proverbs 31: 10 Proverbs 31: 21 – 22, Proverbs 31: 24 -25,
Isaiah 61: 10, I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
1 Timothy 2: 9, I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety,
adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or
expensive clothes,
1 Peter 3: 1 – 6 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your
beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate
hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

We do not have to meet every single description, but we can see where we can apply some of her characteristic in to our own lives.

We can be that Proverbial Woman.
We do not have to fear the perfection which she is described as.
We do not have to fully aspire to be her, nor aspire not to be her.
We can learn from her, and apply whatever attribute one see’s fit for ones life.

Father God I thank you today for my loving family. For helping me manage my responsibilities as a wife and mother as well as daughter. Father I know I am not perfect, my imperfections are evident. I once detested to be compared to this Proverbial woman, I never wanted to submit to any man. What I failed to realize is how strong and Independent she really was. Despite my own imperfections, despite my own modern beliefs, I see some of her in me. I ask you lord to help me be my own virtuous woman as you deem fit. May all that I do be for your Glory. May all that I do for my family, be for your glory. May all that I do for my community be all for your Glory. I will submit myself to you and my roles as wife, to become my families own Proverbial Virtuous woman in your Glory.
Amen.

Prestigious yet no prestige

Prestigious yet no prestige
I work for a prestigious organization which shall remain nameless. This organization is well known. This organization has great aspects to it. This organization I always aspired to some day join. There were expectations as an organization that have yet to be fulfilled. When I got hired there …. at first it was everything I had ever imagined it to be then….
The grass is not always greener on the other side.
Lies… lies…reneged promises. They dangle that carrot then they yank it away….. such a tease.
This organizations leadership needs guidance. They need prayers, they need education and understanding. Quick to find someone to blame in situations, quick not to investigate and research, quick to cross that ethical line of need be.
As an establishment I like the place. As an employee I’m starting to feel it’s time to go. My conscience, my moral beliefs and ethics are always on the line. My family are always up for discussion. I should not have to choose from being a good employee and being a good mom.
My right to privacy should be respected. Confidentiality had been breeched more than once. Loyalty is a myth. Bosses who defend their staff is a legend of days pasts.
I’ve been reflecting on whether to move on for quiet some time. To get back to my grassroots initiatives despite the drop in pay. To do something more meaningful to me. What I do at my “prestigious” organization is meaningful to the lives affected, the lives I help. However, I need something more rooted with a cause that aligns my heart where I can feel pure joy, despite the stress in what I do.
I once loved my job, I currently just tolerate it, passing time, waiting for when God says now is the time to go.
We as people buy into the hype of the name thinking due to its reputation it has to be worthwhile. Turns out it’s a big disappointment. My colleagues have similar feelings.
Why don’t you just leave?
Can we?
In this economy that we are living in?
A single income household cannot suffice with the demands of time for a family of 4.
Benefits, healthcare is what one needs to think about when you have children. Protect ones family and have their best interest.
Finding employment when the competition pool just keeps increasing. It’s hard finding work. You can apply, apply, apply and apply but that doesn’t guarantee a call from a prospective employee. This modern world is so digitized.
We have to teach our children the importance of networking so that they can increase their prospects of future employment. We have to teach our kids to do their best to ensure their resume and cover letters are superb, so that they can increase their chances of a call back, to be knowledgeable, personable and straight to the point during interviews so the interviewee can remember them among the candidate pool. We have to talk about our experiences so they can learn from them.
Oh this prestigious organization. Look where you left me.

Reflecting.

Left me hopeless in ever believing that you were better.

Left me anxious to leave, no jet at the end of my shift.

This is like a pending bad break up from a relationship you had hoped and aspirations.

I once loved you.

Now I long to be free from your bondage.
Your name is prestigious, but there’s no prestige in working for you.
I no longer want to be in a relationship with you, counting on the days to be free from your oppression.

Shackles & Chains

Ever felt like you were trapped in a cell like Paul an Silas?Locked, trapped, shackled, surrounded by four walls?

We’ve all experienced moments where we felt at a loss. Trapped. Suffocated. Isolated.
We all face trials and tribulations, some are bigger than others, some can even leave you in a situation of imprisonment. (Please for your own sake don’t let it get to that point).
So how do we get out of it?

How do we face our trials? Our moments of isolation and imprisonment?
Do exactly what Paul and Silas did.

Have you not heard what happened?
While imprisoned they started praying and praising.

What good did that do you ask?

They were freed.

The earth shook, the doors opened, the walls crumbled and they were freed. The romans weren’t too pleased but that was the least of their concern.
During their imprisonment do you know what Paul and Silas did?

They prayed, they praised, they prayed, they praised and then they did it all again.

Then they were taken out of prison.

God got them out…. broke them free…. a biblical Prison Break.

The full story of the events mentioned can be found in Acts 16:16-40; verses 16-24 discuss the events that unfolded that got Paul and Silas in Jail.

Verse 25-About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
Prayers and praising God during the good and the bad God can release the shackles that bound you, he can break those chains. In the case of Paul and Silas it was literal, he literally broke the chains and shackled and freed them from their bondage.
This shows that their is power in calling on the name of Jesus. There is power in praising God. There is power in keeping faith even when the odds are against you. There is power in the grand I am.
Father today I ask you to free me from this bondage. To break away the shackles and chains. God I ask you to shake the earth so your presence is felt. I am grateful for you dear lord. Grateful for the air I breathe, the life you’ve given me, the people in my life. I’m grateful and thankful for all the life lessons you’ve taught me along the way. Even when the odds it seemed were stacked against me, you showed me that no matter what I am here, with you, and you will surpass this. I Pray for you reading this. That God provides you with what you need to break the chains, break those shackles and free you from your bondage. Amen.

Love

Sometimes I start rambling, writing, reflecting and then I forget about them.

Here is something I wrote a few months back.
Love.

A four letter word used without meaning.

Love.

A four letter word that encompasses so many feelings.

Love.

Where did it go?

Love.

Is it under my toes?

Love.

So quick to say but is it even real?

Love.

Is that really how you feel?

Love.

How did it fade away?

Love.

Was it ever here to stay?

Love.

How can you love and not love?

Love.

It was sent from high above

Love

We are meant to love each other

Not let it drift away.

But here we are

Loveless

Emotionless

Love

Come back…. you’ve drifted too far.

Sacrificial Love

Sacrificial LoveJohn 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Define friends? Someone you love and care for, have things in common with, enjoy company.
Would you lay your life for your friend?
3/15/15 was a very sad day for our family. My husband lost his best friend. His best friend died saving the life of Mans best friend, his dog.
“A Brooklyn man lost his life fighting to save his best friend.”
Several news outlets featured articles / segments with this caption and story.
Our lives were crushed.

Our hearts were crushed.

Our God son lost a Father.

Our children lost their God Father.

My sister lost her husband.

My husband and their friends lost their brother.

His mom and dad lost their son.
Despite our grief, despite our hearts Ruben as we celebrate his two year death anniversary, I know his act, his sacrificial act of love, will lead him to paradise with God.
My compai was always selfless.

He wore his heart in his sleeve.

He loved wholeheartedly.

He loved his family.

Loved his pets.

Loved his close friends.

Loved his son.

Loved his God children.

Loved his aunts and uncles.

Loved his cousins.

Loved his parents.

Loved to live life.

He loved above all.
Two years later it’s so hard.

It’s hard knowing your not seeing your son grow up.

It’s hard knowing that my husbands brother is no longer with us.

Sometimes I get mad, mad that your not here, mad at the choice you made, mad at the fact that you were just starting to settle down and truly live your life as a new parent, mad that the four of us were supposed to grow old together while our kids grow up as siblings.
As quickly as I get mad I know God had his reasoning.

God knew what he was doing.

Who am I to be mad.

You saved a life.

Many thought your foolish because the life you saved was a dogs.

Many considered you a hero because the life of a dog is just as valuable as yours.

Rudy Lives.

Your dog Rudy, whom you saved lives.

Rudy and Hailey live.

Both your dogs are doing well.

Both are filled with love.

Both are living life, happy, just as you would’ve wanted.

Your death was not in vain.
You are missed.

You are loved.

You proved that your love is greater than anyone has ever anticipated.

Sacrificial Love.

Your death was not in vain.
GAB, 6/12/80-3/15/15 sleep in peace.

‘Til the day we meet again.

Forward All Issues To Heaven

Psalms 46:10 NIV – He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth.”
When you let God in everything falls into place.
When you let God take control, everything falls into place.
When you let God take the wheel, you end up at the destination you were meant and called to be.
When you let God take control over your thoughts, heart and word, everything you say will be worth a blessing unto and even someone else.
When you let God take over your pen and fingers (if typing), god takes control of your words.
Where am I going with this?

What am I talking about?
When something bothers you…

When something offends you…

When things are not going as intended for you….

When you feel like your drowning….

Stop and praise him.

Give him all the control.

Give him all the glory.

Take a step back and let him take over.
Let him take over your thoughts, words, actions, soul and mind.

Submit yourself to him.

He will get you through it, no matter how big or small the issue.

He will get you through.

He will even provide the appropriate scriptures for what you need.
There’s been times I get upset and want to lash out.

I open up a notepad and I start writing.

In my writing God reveals to me scenarios, actions and reactions, in my writing he reveals consequences.

In my writing I reflect and seek his word.

In my writing I go back edit my venting and next thing you know I have something that inspires me.

So I share it here and who knows, maybe it can help and inspire others.
As I write God refers me to the Bible.
Remember we are to praise both in good times and in bad.
We can’t leave the prayers, praise and worship only when times are bad.
We must look to him, seek him, submit to him, open your heart to him, when you do he will take control and bless you.
1 Peter 2:1-5 NIV “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[D] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”

Father God I want to be filled with your presence. I want to walk my walk filled with you. I want to talk my talk glorifying you. I want to sing my songs and lamentations in honor of you. I want my words, my thoughts and actions to be filled with you. I want to open my heart so that you can inhabit it. I want to be fully dependent on you the way a newborn child depends on his mother for milk. I need your spiritual milk, your daily bread, drink from living water and hunger no more. I put my faith and trust in you and only you. Amen.

Guilt

1 John 1:5-9New American Standard Bible (NASB)This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

What is guilt?

Guilt is the stain of sins on your conscience.

Do you have guilt?

Are you living off of a fear of past mistakes?

Trust in the lord and Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit can not only tell us when we did a wrong, but can guide us to a path towards redemption and a better walk.

Confess your sins to God, for he has forgiven you.

Psalm 32:5New American Standard Bible (NASB)

I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Our biggest problem is that we are our own critics. We critique everything we do. We know we are flawed and look into each flaw. Profess you sins to God, he has forgiven you. He is the judges of all judges.
If your guilt is for a wrong doing, ask for forgiveness and forgive oneself. Forgive the offended, ask them for forgiveness. Ask God for forgiveness though he has already granted you forgiveness. Do not let guilt weigh you down and steal your blessing.
Father God, I pray for anyone reading this. Father God I know we are flawed, we are imperfect and impure. We are sinners. I ask for forgiveness for any wrong doings I may have committed. Release me from any guilt. Release anyone reading this from any guilt that is blocking your blessings to manifests in our lives. Thank you for forgiving us. Thank you for sacrifice. Thank you for liberating us. Amen.

Selective Listening and your Relationship.

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” (NLT) ( Luke 6:46 )
Do you know many of us have selective hearing.

Many among  us are unable to determine when God is speaking.

Many among us are confused.

Many among us listen, yet are selective.

Many among us call upon the Lord in times of need, but not in the good times.

Many call upon the Lord, but does not follow through with his directions.

Yet call upon him for help, expecting him to always answer, always find a solution without us ever doing our part.

Yer when prayers are not answered you question why? Why aren’t you helping me? Why me?  Well answer his question, ‘Why are you calling me….when you don’t do what I say…’

Ever had moments when you feel God is asking you to do something?

That is called conviction.

There are times he is picking up the phone, sending you a text, shooting you an email or knocking on that door so that you can do something that will not only glorify him, but help you in your situation, to give you a blessing, or for you to be a blessing on someone else.

Instead what do we do when he calls?

We run.

Ignore.

Hide.

Miss that call.

Not open that door.

We run away.

What does running away do for you?

You probably just compromised yourself in that situation your trying to get out.

That help you needed is now gone.

That blessing you were going to receive   gone.

That blessing you could’ve been for someone else….. also gone.

We want the benefits of having a relationship with God, yet not obey when he extends a hand or calls. We want to have our cake and eat it too.

There are many whom  want the storms to pass, without doing our share.

We have to do some work. His works.

We have to pray.

We have to listen.

We have to do.

We can not conform to the times and be selective listeners when God calls.

When he reaches out, answer his call.

Answer his text.

Open that email.

Open that door.

Let him in.

Get to work.

It will all be worthwhile once you see the fruits of labor come to pass.

We need to maintain and build a relationship with God just like any other relationship in your life.

It’s not a give and take relationship it’s a give, help, listen, pray, do, praise, listen, glorify, pray, give, take, help, pray, read, listen, praise, do, glorify, do, act, listen, kneel, follow, lead, bless and be blessed kind of relationship. (I know I was repetitive in my word) my point is, sometimes you got start from the beginning, continue, repeat some things before you get what the Lord deems you need to get out of a situation.

Father God I thank you for always being there, you are my Emanuel for you are always with me. I ask you dear Lord to help me continue to keep the channels of communication open with you, so that I may always answer your call and do your will. I ask for guidance to always be able to know when it is you calling me. I ask for the ability to have the knowledge and understanding for any task you present before me so your will can be done. I pray that I can do my part, to maintain this relationship with you. To be close with you. To do your will. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

#BFF

#BFF
Tween’s, Teens and Millennial’s (myself included) are constantly using Hashtags (#) for everything.

#Iwokeup

#Iate

#IhashtagforNoReason
We tend to post pictures of our loved ones and besties.
#bff #MyBestFriendIsBetterThanYours #MyBestie

Spaces between words no longer exists with the hastag movement.

#IJumbleMyWordsTooLazyToUseTheSpaceBar.

What I often see a lot is the #BFF #BestFriends.

Now I don’t find that offensive in any way. I too have best friends, friends I love dearly, and occasionally when I post a picture on social media i also #bff to these pictures. (such a millennial lol – oh there I go LoL vs Laughing Out Loud).
I married a wonderful man, whom I consider my best friend. He is just truly amazing. Amazing Individual, Amazing Father, Amazing Husband, Amazing Son, Amazing son in law, Amazing member of our Church, Amazing brother in Christ and an Amazing Best Friend.
I also have my best friends whom I have had since child hood, best friends that no matter how many days go without us speaking, no matter how long we go without seeing each other, no matter where in the country they live (none of my best friends live near me…They have all continued their lives in other states, that is ok, because distance does not kill friendships, they are my besties despite distance). Yet I feel we are just close as we were when we lived near each other. Love friendships like this that can last the tests of times and distances.

My siblings are my best friends…we fight, we bicker, we get along…just like your average siblings. I love them and I consider them my best friends.

However my #BestFriendForever has been by my side from conception.
God the father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. The Divine Trinity has been by my side since day one, while undergoing mitosis and meiosis in the womb, when I was just a single cell, before becoming a full fetus/embryo.

The Holy Spirit has been with us from day one. The Holy Spirit is your true best friend forever. The trinity has been with us from the very beginning, while are cells are developing into bodies, God was apart of that process, ensuring that every aspect of you and I came to be as it is today. What kind of best friend would be with your during these early developments? A divine one. #HolySpiritBFF!!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 New International Version (NIV) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies
From day one. the Holy Spirit is within us, the Holy Spirit, who is God, is within us, guiding us. Divine, holy, eternal, true, omnipresent, omnipotent, always and forever with us. #HolySpiritIsMyBFFemphasisOnForever.
John 14: 6 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
The Holy Spirit guides and Helps us. The Holy Spirit teaches us. Our worldly best friends can help us, but none in the way God can. #HolySpiritIsMyBFF
Romans 5:5 “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
When we are Weak, the Holy spirit lifts us, guides us, intercedes for us, searches our hearts, knows our thoughts, encourages us, for God’s will. The Holy Spirit has done for you and I more than any one of our Best friends in the flesh has.

#MyBestFriendTheHolySpiritIsBetterThanYours. (ok, maybe that was a bit much…we do not want to gloat…father forgive me, but you get the idea.)
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Spirit counsels us with Wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Currently at my church we are in the midst of studying the Trinity, but particularly the role of the Holy Spirit. These classes of the Holy Spirit has inspired this post. If you didn’t know you will now know that the Holy Spirit is God. He is apart of the trinity. We do not have Gods, but a God.
The Holy Spirit is a divine aspect where you can feel God. A mediator. The trinity Is God our father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit. One God, three variations of God, yet the same one true God.
In these lessons, from where we have gotten to thus far we learned the personality of the Holy Spirit, we’ve learned the various names the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit (OT & NT). We learned the role the Holy Spirit places in our lives.
The main emphasis given throughout the lesson is building a relationship with God using the Holy Spirit. Just like in your friendships and relationships here, you have to build a relationship. You need to be open, honest, show love and affection, be close with the Holy Spirit. Treat God as your best friend… share with him. Have God be your #bff. That is possible. The Holy Spirit makes it possible.
Remember as mentioned before the Holy Spirit was there with you from day one. Don’t hold out, God knows you better than you do, but still maintain a relationship. The same way your closest friend knows with just one glance what you are thinking…. you still tell your friend everything.
God I thank you, I thank you for sending a piece of you to me. I thank the Holy Spirit for being that direct connection to you. For being my best friend from day one. For guiding me, enlightening me, pushing me, embracing me, toughening me, teaching me and loving me. Thank you for the outpouring love, for the miracles you have given in my life, and the miracles that have yet to come. I trust in you my lord, my true Best Friend forever. Amen.

#GodAlmightyIsMyBestFriend

Spiritual Crossroads

Sometimes in life we reach a crossroad. We have to decide whether or not to go left, go right, go straight or go back and find another way. Personally I don’t like to go back. Regardless of what is going on, we should always move ahead. Move forward. Never backward. We want to progress not regress.
There are times where we come to a crossroads with relationships (friendships and romantic respectively). There are times where we come to a crossroads professionally, personally and even spiritually.
When you get to the crossroads, do you travel the road less traveled? Do you go on that freeway?

What you choose is very personal in your walk.

Just make sure that it is God centered.

Don’t make a rash decision.

Don’t rush.

Stop.

Reflect.

Right now on how far you have come.

Reflect on where you want to go.

Stop.

Yes!

Stop!

Now pray.

Meditate.

Let that sink in.

Stop!

Now pray.

Meditate again.

Open your heart.

Take a deep breath.

Open your ears.

Listen.

Hear.

Open your eyes.

Open wide to be able to see.

Wait for his signal.

Watch for it.

If your not paying attention you are surely going to miss it.
Now your not going to get an answer right away. (Well who knows maybe you are… that’s all on God’s call).
While your waiting reflect.

Reflect on his word.

Reflect on his sustenance.

Reflect on how he is guiding you.

Pay close attention.
Before you know it your going to have to take a step towards the direction he wants you to take.
Be careful.

Don’t be mislead.

Don’t be dismayed.

Don’t get frustrated.

Patience is a virtue.

Own that virtue.

One wrong move and that road your going to traverse is the wrong one.

We don’t want that.

You don’t want that.

He doesn’t want that.
In order to either take this path you need to be ready.
Sometimes this path you have to wait for someone to arrive and take this step together.
Whether accompanied or not, you need to make sure he gave you the signs to move onward.
We need to take ownership of our actions and confess to God.

Sometimes we need to forgive offenses done to u , sometimes you need to ask for forgiveness.

Sometimes we just have to wait.

Always choose God, first.

Then decide where you will go (whether or not it’s together) and take that path.
Sometimes when your on your journey you may cross paths you’ve crossed before, you may even encounter people walking along their paths, and it merges to the same path your on, sometimes it’s for a short period sometimes it’s longer.
Sometimes you or that other person need each other to get through to the next crossroad.
In waiting your answer arrives.

In waiting the support you needed arrives.
Patience is a virtue.
God I thank you. I thank you for the paths I have taken to get to where I am today. The path was not the plateau I envisioned in following you. There were valleys I needed to walk, deserts I need to cross, mountains I needed to climb, there were times I fell, times I fell in a mudslide, felt that the earth shook from under my feet, yet listening to you via the Holy Spirit, we kept on walking. You showed me the way, you guided me to this point. There were times I needed an extra push, times I needed a hand to hold, times I needed a shepherd to lead the way, there were times you carried me. You carried me, and shower me I needed to walk that path. Thank you for guiding me as sojourned and approached my crossroads….spiritual cross roads…..I pray for your continued strength, I pray for your continued guidance, I pray for ears to open so that we can hear you, I pray for eyes to be able to see. To see the signs you put forth before me as I embark on this path towards the next crosswords. I pray for whoever is reading this, who is wondering about their journey, who is seeking guidance, who is at their crossroads waiting for you to direct them. I pray that the Holy Spirit manifests upon the reader so that they can stand up and take that next step towards the destination you have set forth. Lord I know for every decision we make there is a consequence, same as for every path we walk there are unknown variables to is mere mortals. Yet you oh lord, knows what to come and I pray that we trust in you, to prepare us for that next journey, regardless of the fact if we are just beginning our spiritual walk, or if we have travelled so long, that the path behind us now looks like a maze. In Jesus name, Amen.

Faithful and Ungrateful

I was thinking about how the times are now and how much things have changed. Then I happened to see this image floating around social media.

Here is a modern day depiction of Jesus feeding the 5000 in 2017.
When Jesus fed the 5000, there were only two baskets with bread and fish. Two baskets to feed 5000 whom followed Jesus. Jesus prayed, he blessed the baskets and suddenly there was enough to feed 5000. Everyone at the time was beyond grateful. They were fed, were happy for this miracle for all were fed.

In the 2000+ years since this miracle you can see in this cartoon how much distrust we have in humanity, in one another, and even in ones faith.

How the enemy has infiltrated many of our thoughts. How we nitpick at everything.
Read the captions in the image and you see the following:

“I can’t eat that I’m vegan.”

“Has that fish been tested for mercury?”

“Is that bread gluten-free?”
This caption shows that in the midst of our struggles, while pleading for a miracle, we are being selective to the blessing we are to receive. It’s our way or the high way? Eat the fish or starve? Was there an expectation for a specific miracle?

Yes! That’s it! There’s usually an expectation.

Many of us accepts the miracles and answers we get from God when we are facing obstacles, struggles, trials and tribulations. Many of us see the struggle we are in and ask for a specific form of “miracle” or reprieve from the obstacle we are in. In doing so what we fail to realize is that, sometimes the answer we are looking for is not always the answer we want.

Sometimes to get through that obstacle we have to hear or do something we didn’t think or want to do.
If God were to be selective of our salvation the way we are selective in how we receive his blessings and answers, many of us wouldn’t be saved.
Picture God throwing tantrums like we do and saying:

“You didn’t kneel to pray, there goes your salvation”

“You didn’t pray enough, there goes your salvation”

“You didn’t fast enough, there goes your salvation”

God isn’t doing that.
Yes he wants us to pray.

Yes he wants us to kneel before his presence.

Yes he wants us to fast and make sacrifices for him.

He wants us to praise him

He wants us to Love him
Abide by his laws

Be kind to one another

Love one another

Help one another

But all in his glory.

Second guessing a miracle or a good act in faith, second guessing or being specific with an answer to help you face an obstacle is a problem.
How do we fix this problem?
We have to kneel down and pray. We need to realize that your way is not his way, and you need to accept that.
He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, the creator of all things, the king of kings, one divine true Living God.
He knows your future.

He knows when your time on earth ends.

He had counted every hair on your body.

He is the answer to your obstacle.

He can give you the answer, take you out of that situation.

You need to trust in him.

Abide in him.
We are living scary times.

Times of xenophobia.

Times of homophobia.

Times of racism.

Times of discrimination.

Times of hatred.

Times of fear.

Times where to proclaim god is perceived as sin.
These times we are in can affect how we deal with our trials and tribulations. In order to overcome these trials in the midsts of the times we have things we need to do.
We need to listen to God.

We need to obey.

We need to hear.

We need to pray.

We need to fast.

We need to praise.

We need to trust.

We need to have faith.
In the midst of our struggles, obstacles, trials and tribulations we need to sometimes cross the valley of death, we need to face those challenges we do not want to face.

The ultimate reward will be worthwhile when we follow what God wants us to do and heed his advice vs being specific on how we want things. We can’t ask for a miracle and then want to omit certain aspects of the miracles.
Father I thank you. I thank you for allowing the obstacles, the trials and tribulations. Father these paths which include these hurdles I know are meant to teach me, to have my faith grow, to bring me closer to you. Father help me to listen more to you, so when you provide an answer, or when you bring forth a miracle that I accept all that you allow to answer the petition, to solve that obstacle. I ask for guidance during my tribulations my lord, for you to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest and guide me when I travel down roads not traveled, while I face challenges I do not want to face, while I have to do things I may not want to do. I know it takes work. I know I have to do my part. I do not want to nitpick my way to salvation dear Lord, nor do I want the easy way out. I do not want to be selective of my blessings. I want to learn, I want to grow and I want to be able to accept all that you provide me.

Amen.

Knowing how to forgive. Saber Perdonar.

Knowing how to forgive.
We are always taught the concept of forgiveness since we are young.

Do something wrong, and we are taught to apologize and ask for forgiveness. Then we are taught to forgive and move on.

“Turn the other cheek” (Luke 6:29) sort of speak.
I find myself teaching my kids the same concept. Child 1 hits child 2, mommy intervenes. Go apologize to your sibling.

Child 1 goes apologizes, hugs then kisses child 2.

Child 2 usually says, it’s ok, I forgive you.

Then they continue on playing as if absolutely nothing ever happened.

As a parent it’s kind of a double edge sword like… phew you kissed, made up and went about your business but then at the same token dude, that’s it? (Yet grateful that, that’s it).
Why can’t we be as forgiving as children.

Why can’t we be as forgetful to the issues and carry on.
We have all been in predicaments where someone offends someone, or offends you, and person 1 apologizes, person 2 accepts the apology but someone doesn’t let go…. someone doesn’t move on.

How can one accept an apology, and let go the way kids do. Move on, continue life.
Why still be bitter?

Many times, people take things way too personal.
People can be way too toxic. People do not admit their wrong doings nor apologizes for them. Everything is so one sided. Everything is so “OmG when you did this and remember the time for that, ugh I was there for you, where you there for me?”
We all have that one friend that conveniently forgets how many times you’ve been there for them and not one time threw it back.

They conveniently forget the offenses they did to you, how they spoke to you, how you were disrespected as well, and only remember that one time you didn’t call.

I’m not all about dishing exactly what happened, Who it happened with, nor who did what for whom, I am not crossing that line, because then I would not have truly forgiven. This though is about forgiveness- knowing how to forgive.
I write this for two reasons.

I know someone who God had recently blessed. The nature of the blessing is not up for discussion since I’m just using this as an example. I congratulated that person, despite us not speaking for a while over a disagreement. I apologized for any transgressions i may have attributed and I have also forgiven. Whether or not the person forgave me, I have no idea, did the person feel the need to distance themselves, maybe. I hope I was forgiven. I forgave that person too.

Nonetheless, this person received an amazing blessing. Instead of being gracious about it the person simply ignores the fact I congratulated them, ignored the fact I spoke to them. [insert Jim Carey voice now] All-righty then.

I will not succumb to that. I will forgive, be proud of you and keep it going.
I am not going to be bitter and say oh I retract my statement, that’s very, eh not me. I want you to be blessed, and abundantly at that.

We haven’t spoken in weeks, well that’s a two way street, I reached out, the individual never reached back, so I’ll give that person space.

Sometimes we need space as part of the forgiveness process. Friend I forgive you. I will my keep distance, I don’t need toxicity in my life, the toxicity is not the friendship but the negative thoughts. I will not open those gates as I don’t want you to have toxicity in your life. Sometimes as part of forgiveness we need to accept that sometimes we are toxic to others even if we may or may not see it.

Some people are meant to be in our lives, some people are meant to be a lesson, some people are meant to take you to the next level, some are not meant to be in your life. I am not saying that is the case with said example. I am only saying it is OK to let go. It’s OK if certain individuals are just chapters in ones life.
I pray for this person daily, I get happy when social media reveals progress and success, I’m not going to be bitter, the success is much deserved. I am just wondering where the concept of forgiveness truly lies. Not just for myself, in general. Can we really truly forgive like Christ?

I am surely trying. Not just with this example but every aspect of my life. [work, family, friends, relationship]
Jesus forgave everyone involved in his crucifixion, he forgave those who made fun of him, he forgave those whom hurt him, he gave them all salvation. He loves them all, even if they don’t love him. Luke 23:34

There’s a song in Spanish that states: (to translate /para phrase):

“My mind doesn’t understand, I don’t think anyone understands how you were able to forgive those who killed you on the cross, they humiliated you, they made fun of you, yet you still told your father to forgive them, you died and resurrected showing me that with you death doesn’t exist only life. You showed me the secret of forgiveness so that today we can see the light , well today we forgive one another so that we can one day rise with you”
The title of the song translates knowing how to forgive (saber perdonar). This is only the chorus, it just hits me like wow. It’s true, many of us forgive and don’t let go, forgive and don’t love, forgive and don’t move on (together), forgive and still be bitter. Why can’t we forgive like Jesus, why can’t we forgive like a kid?

I only wrote this not to discredit anyone or friendship, not to vent about being ignored, but to think about forgiveness and how we sometimes don’t truly act upon it wholeheartedly.

I wrote this more of a self reflection of how I want to forgive, the way he forgave.  Wholeheartedly, without looking back, without taking it back, without holding back, without any negativity despite the obstacles, hurdles and temptations.

How children can forgive in the same manner that Jesus has forgiven yet even believers have a hard time forgiving.
Father God I ask you to forgive me if I have offended you. I forgive those whom have offended me. I am more than willing to move on, with them if they allow, or without them if they don’t allow it. I ask for forgiveness in return for anyone whom I may have offended. Sometimes we offend and do not even realize that we have offended. God I ask to have faith like children, to trust in you wholeheartedly to forgive and move on as if nothing ever happened. To love unconditionally like Jesus has loved. I pray for my friend, you know who that person is. May this friend have an abundance of blessings bestowed their way. May that person prosper, soar, succeed, may they continue to seek you to receive your blessings. May we someday speak again, Without bringing up the past. I forgive you dear friend for offending me. I hope you can also forgive me as well. May we all forgive one another, may we all be given the guidance by the Holy Spirit to show us how to forgive. Amen.

God is great, God is Love

God is Love.

All I could do is cry yesterday and give thanks to God.

My son has a story of his journey.

A story where God shows love and mercy.

A story where faith is tested.

A story where God says I Am Emanuel (here with you).

A story that in today’s chapter God says, I love you. Now relax my children, your worries are GONE!

God is great, merciful, kind, loving, a healer, and with us.

From day one he has shown he is with us. I named my son Emanuel because of Gods faithfulness to us despite our sins, despite our behavior.

My son is strong and loving, though we have had complications, scares, worries, stress, concern for his well being. God told us, hey I told you I got you, keep faith.

Faith we do have.

Faith is all I need.

Love for our father is all I have to give back to him.

Thankful for God, thankful even for the trials and tribulations. Thankful for the tears shed, every headache and worry, for they made me stronger and got me closer to God.

Today I rejoice.

Today I exalt his name.

Today we proclaim victory.

I am thankful for our support at our church. My church family and leadership are some amazing prayer warriors, I am not sure what I would have done without  their support, prayers and words of encouragement.

God I thank you for this journey. This journey has taught me many lessons, this journey has tested my faith. This journey has recentered you as the primary focus of our lives. Thank you dear lord, for not giving up. Thank you for this lesson. Thank you father for our church. May you continue to bless our leadership and our church family.  Thank you lord for an amazing team. We are a team at IPJ.  Amen

T shirts

I made some custom Ts.

More like custom onesies.

I’m currently making something special for our pastors for Pastors day.

Those will be posted after Pastors day.

In the mean time this is what I made for my niece and the little prince whom was also born 4hours later.

Few seconds of dread

I don’t know about you, but every time my child’s school calls me, My heart sinks, I start to shake, my heart begins to palpitate.  I dread that number when it pops up on the caller ID.

 

No my child is not a problem child.

I am very active in the school, despite being a working mom.

I always react the same way.

It was only once they legitimately called me because he was not feeling well and needed to be picked up early.

 

Aside from that all the calls have been school related for a prosperous event at the school.

 

I don’t know about you but i always get relieved when the caller states; My name and then after, your son is alright…..

 

I quickly calm down and become the bubbly self i usually am and continue my day.

 

I thank God everyday that he has covered my son with his blood and protection. I thank God and pray for him daily for my children’s well being, and all the children.  My children aren’t  inclusive only in that prayer.  We have to pray for all of our children in this day an age.

We are living during times where Schools, which once were known as being safe havens for children, are now possible dangerous territory.  Kids bringing in weapons to school, kids harming others.  People looking to seek vengeance over a love triangle, or whatever vendetta that has stirred up so much hate in their hearts.

 

We do need to bring the message of love, prosperity and God back to schools.  I know the subject is touchy with vast religions out there, but at least the essential message of love, respect, prosperity, peace, helping one another should be taught again.

Today I ask dear Lord that you continue to bless and protect my children academically, physically, mentally, socially and overall.  May you continue to provide comfort, love, shelter and a safe haven every place they step foot in.  May these desires I ask of for my children be extended to all children, across the globe.  May we as parents trust in you to continue to protect our children.  Amen

 

 

Gone and never forgotten

As a native New Yorker, today is always a hard day for me. As someone who lost friends this day….. today is always a hard one for me.

As a native New Yorker, I actually visited the towers often, prior to 9-11-01.

I would go straight to the observation deck.

The views were beyond amazing. The company with me were very special indeed. On the evening of 9/11 I cried oh so hard. We were going to go that morning to the observation deck, before classes were to begin and take in the amazing views during the day vs the night which we often did. My friend decided this as we were on the observation deck on the evening Sunday 9/9/01. He said let’s come back Tuesday. Early. That way we have enough time to head out to our classes in the afternoon.

It was Election Day that Tuesday. Primaries in New York. My first time voting as I had just turned 18. I got up early, went to vote. Excited to partake in my civil duties. Came back home, took a nap, while my siblings got ready for their school days. Knowing in a few hours, I will pack my school bag for college classes, meet up with my dear friend, continue celebrating his birthday with this special request, then head across on the ferry to go to St Johns so I can take my afternoon classes. It was going to be a perfect day.

Instead I was awoken by the news of this catastrophe. My siblings were already in school. I ran to the roof of the house and was freaking out. I saw the second plane crash. I ran down from the roof. Saw one of my neighbors, he drove me to pick up my brothers. My mom was on her way to a meeting with my sisters school that day in manhattan. I knew my sister and mom were together. My brothers though…. they needed me.

I knew many whom worked there.

None made it out.

The weeks afterwards were horrific to say the least as it was confirmed of the passing of several friends and family of friends:

16 years later.

My heart still palpitate with that pain I had.

I still cry.

I have yet go to the new freedom tower.

I have yet gone to see the new museum .

I have yet been able to pick up the courage.

One day I’ll go.

To those lost this day. May you Rest In Peace.

WTC you were a staple and icon to the NY skyline, always missed.

LETS HELP TEXAS

How we can Help Texas.

Look our fellow Americans need our help.

There are many ways we can help.
If you reading this know of any way to help not mentioned below please share.
I want to help Texas anyway I can. If you are like me and yearn to do more than just give a few dollars then continue to read.
If you know anyone who may find this information useful SHARE.

If you are an individual, an organization, religious church or organization whom have additional information on where and how to help LOCALLY in NYC for Texas, please let me know so i can update this listing.

Financial Aid: monetary donations can help organizations purchase resources needed like food/ water/ medicine / pampers etc.

Here are places and links affiliated:

American Red Cross. Red Cross.org. Or call 855-999-GIVE; text the word HARVEY to 90999 for a $10 donation

Global Giving https://www.globalgiving.org/…/hurricane-harvey-relief-fund/
Operation USA. http://www.opusa.org

Save The Children https://secure.savethechildren.org/…/…/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp…

Greater Houston community https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/
Unite away of Greater Houston – https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/

Health: Emergency medical and supplies:
AMERICARES – https://www.americares.org/

DIRECT RELIEF https://www.directrelief.org/…

MAP INTERNATIONAL (ALSO FAITH BASED) https://www.map.org/

FOOD:
HOUSTON FOOD BANK – http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/

FOOD BANK NYC http://www.foodbanknyc.org/…

cws global – https://cwsglobal.org/

FOOD BANK CC http://www.foodbankcc.com/

FEEDING TEXAS https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/feeding-texas

ANIMALS/ PETS
HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY – http://www.houstonhumane.org/

Humane Society of the United States https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2…

Faith Based:
church World Wild

Islamic Relief Usa http://irusa.org/…

Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

United Methodist Committee on Relief http://www.umcor.org/…/2017/august/0825umcorrespondstoharvey

United way of Greater Houston – https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/flood…

CATHOLIC CHARITIES https://catholiccharities.org/donate-now-and-help-our-neig…/

MATTHEW 23 MINISTRIES – http://m25m.org/disaster/harvey17/

SAMARITANS PURSE – https://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/hurricane-harvey/

NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD https://missionaries.namb.net/…/f…/hurricane-harvey-response

LGBT RELIEF – https://my.reason2race.com/…/HurricaneHarveyLGBTQDisasterRe…

https://www.nvoad.org/hurrica…/hurricane-harvey-how-to-help/

DONATE SUPPLIES
If you don’t have much cash but have some extra supplies on
hand, you may be able to help. The following places in New York City are
accepting donations of items like nonperishable food, water, flash
lights and toiletries.

Texas Diapers –http://www.texasdiaperbank.org/

Hamilton Beach Civic Association in Queens
Drop-off location: Labor Day Weekend Family Day Parade & BBQ at Hamilton Beach Park from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Drop-off location: Civic association meeting at the Howard
Beach Motorboat Club, located at 59 Russell St. in Howard Beach, at 7
p.m. on Sept. 7.
For more information and a list of items to donate, head to https://www.facebook.com/groups/NewHamiltonBeachCivic.

U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan’s office on Staten Island
Drop-off location: 265 New Dorp Ln., second floor, Staten Island

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s office in Queens
Drop-off location: 250-02 Northern Blvd., Little Neck, Queens

Open: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
For a list of suggested donations, head to https://www.facebook.com/RepTomSuozzi/.

DONATE BLOOD
Regardless of your money situation, there is one item that nearly all New Yorkers can give to help Harvey victims: Blood.

New York Blood Center – http://nybloodcenter.org/donate-blo…/donor-center-locations/

American Blood Centers: http://www.americasblood.org/donate-blood.aspx

SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD DONATION CENTERS https://southtexasblood.org/harvey

CARTER BLOOD CARE http://www.carterbloodcare.org/

DONATION DROP OFF SITES IN TEXAShttp://www.houstonemergency.org/donations-drop-off/

Armed Services Blood Program: www.militaryblood.dod.mil; +1.703.681.8024

https://www.texastribune.org/…/hurricane-harvey-relief-eff…/

http://www.npr.org/…/looking-to-help-those-affected-by-harv…

https://mobile.nytimes.com/…/donate-harvey-charities-scams.…
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/us/harvey-find-help-
resources.html?action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

Singing to the LORD

How I Enjoy Singing to the Lord

http://blog.biblesforamerica.org/singing-to-the-lord-testimony/?utm_source=The+Bibles+for+America+blog&utm_campaign=b1398e3aad-BfA_Blog&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b01b533dcb-b1398e3aad-272874985#disqus_thread

This Past Sunday I had to sing for church.

This article I read a day after.

I must say the timing was perfect.

Though my voice isn’t the greatest, I do enjoy singing for the Lord.

The song I chose was a song which meant alot to me.

It was a spanish Song entitled Adonai.

In Hebrew Adonai means Lord.

the Song Roughly Translates,

Oh ADONAI, Oh ADONAI,

God of the Universe, Lord of allcreations.

The heavens, shout out the lords Glory, the people today shall adore you, for all the marvels that you have done in our lives, Oh Adonai

Its a short song, very powerful, meaningful and straight to the Point.

I know I have much to be grateful for the marvels God has done in my life, so why not sing a song that says just that. I wasn’t nervous like I usually am when I get to the pulpit. I knew god was in total control. I love my lord and savior and am eternally grateful beyond words or songs could ever describe.

The artilce i read is below: it discusses the authors joy in singing to the lord. It describes that bond and connection one gets when singing to the lord. The link is above incase you would like to go to their site, but this was a good read. Worth sharing.

August 21 2017

A BfA staff member shares his experience of singing to the Lord.

In my everyday Christian life I really enjoy praying to the Lord, calling

on His name, and speaking about Him to others. All these things give me a

way to contact the Lord Jesus throughout my day and enjoy His presence.

But one of my favorite ways to touch the Lord is by singing to Him with

my spirit. The apostle Paul wrote about singing in 1 Corinthians 14:15:

“I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing also with the mind.”

I of course need to use my mind when singing to the Lord, but this verse shows that I can sing to the Lord with my spirit also. Since my spirit is my deepest part

and the means for me to contact and worship Christ, exercising my

spirit to sing really brings me into the enjoyment of the Lord.

Singing in the morning

I particularly enjoy singing to the Lord in the morning. Sometimes as I’m

getting ready, a song pops into my head, and I start singing it to

touch the Lord as I go about my routine. Recently, I’ve sung one song in

particular quite often (hear the music at hymnal.net):

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water

Out of the wells of salvation.

And in that day shall ye say,

Praise the Lord.

Call upon His name,

Declare His doings among the people,

Make mention that His name is exalted.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion

For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

At first it seemed a little awkward to sing aloud like this, especially if

other people could possibly hear me. But I’ve found it’s such a great

way to contact the Lord that now I can’t stop!

Singing to the Lord in the morning is so enjoyable because it’s one of the six ways we can drink Christ as the living water

revealed in Isaiah 12. By singing to the Lord in the mornings I “draw

water with rejoicing from the springs of salvation” (v. 3)! And verse 5

says,

“Sing psalms to Jehovah, for He has done something majestic!”

For me, the mornings are a critical time to draw water from the wells of

salvation. Whether I take a drink or not impacts how the rest of my day

goes. I rarely jump out of bed the minute I wake up, and I’m usually

groggy and spiritually dry first thing in the morning. Because I haven’t

called on the Lord or prayed all night long, I need to contact Him in the morning to be

spiritually revived for the day. The easiest way I’ve found to do this

when I’m still struggling with just being awake is to open my mouth to

sing to Him.

What Isaiah 12 talks about is really true. When I sing to the Lord at the

very beginning of my day, I draw from the wells of salvation and take a

good, refreshing drink of the living water. I’m revived and strengthened

to live in my spirit throughout the rest of the day.

Singing and psalming to the Lord anytime, anywhere

While I love to sing to the Lord in the mornings, I’m so glad I can turn my

heart to the Lord by singing to Him at any time. I’ve found that singing

to the Lord during the day helps me maintain the flow of the divine

life within. In various circumstances throughout the day, I might begin

to feel dry, down, or empty. When that happens, though, I often just

sing to the Lord to touch Him in a fresh way. I can testify that the

Lord has been so real to me at those times.

One particular place I like to sing is in my car. Sometimes instead of

turning on the radio, I take the time to sing some songs or hymns to the

Lord. These are such sweet, personal times with the Lord, and every

time I get refreshed and revived. Sometimes the Lord also leads me to

call on Him or to pray. I might end up praying for someone I know, or I

might confess something I sense the Lord is speaking to me about.

Instead of wasting the time in my car, I’m enlivened when I take

advantage of the privacy to turn my heart back to the Lord.

Try it and see

The psalmists knew firsthand how enjoyable it is to sing to the Lord, as we can see in Psalms 104:33:

“I will sing to Jehovah while I live; I will sing psalms to my God while I yet have being.”

If you haven’t experienced singing to the Lord this way, I hope you’ll

give it a try! While it’s wonderful to sing psalms and hymns in groups

with other believers, it’s also so personal, sweet, and refreshing to

sing to the Lord with your spirit at other times during your day. Once

you experience how sweet it is to touch the Lord by singing to Him,

you’ll find yourself doing it more and more. May we all sing to Jehovah

while we live, and sing psalms to Him while we still have breath!

For more on the benefits of singing to the Lord, you can read this post on 5 Marvelous Benefits of Singing to the Lord in Our Daily Life.

We’d love to hear about your experience of singing to the Lord. If this is

something you personally enjoy, please leave a comment to share your

experience and to encourage anyone who’s thinking about trying it for

themselves.

God what a wonderful article you have sent for me to read.

Father God I thank you for your marvels. Shall we continue to praise you in song and worship, for you ar worthy. God I thank you for all that you do. I am not worthy of your kindness for I sin daily. I rebuke my sins and repent. I am grateful to sing your praises for all that you do for me.

What Does the Blood and Water That Came out of Jesus’ Pierced Side Mean?

​

What Does the Blood and Water That Came out of Jesus’ Pierced Side Mean?

 This article was sent to me awhile back….wanted to share.  I do not remember the source…but I will not take any of the credit for this work other than sharing it.

John 19:32-34 includes details about Jesus’ crucifixion not recorded in the other three Gospels:

“The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man and of the

other man who had been crucified with Him. But coming to Jesus, when

they saw that He had already died, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.”

Hours after the Lord Jesus was crucified, the soldiers broke the legs of the

two criminals who were crucified with Him. The Romans routinely broke

the legs of crucified prisoners to hasten their deaths, but since Jesus

had already died, they left His legs unbroken. One of them, though,

pierced His side with a spear, and out came blood and water.

Whatis the meaning of these details found uniquely in John? Why did he

include them? Some think it was simply to prove Jesus had died. But John

already established the fact that Jesus had died by writing that the

soldiers saw He had died and therefore didn’t break His legs. So why did

John include this word about blood and water? What does it mean?

The emphasis of the Gospel of John

To answer this question, we first need to see the emphasis of John’s

Gospel. The four Gospels form a complete biography of our Lord Jesus. In

Matthew we see Jesus as the King with His kingdom; in Mark we see Jesus

as the slave of God who came to serve God and man faithfully; in Luke

we see Jesus as the unique man who expressed God through His fine

humanity; and in John we see Jesus as the Son of God, that is, God

Himself, coming to bring divine life to mankind. The emphasis of the

Gospel of John is life.

Pictures in John

The

things of divine life are deep and mysterious, so John uses pictures

throughout His Gospel to reveal them. For instance, John 1:29 records

John the Baptist saying of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” We know the

Lord Jesus isn’t a literal lamb with four legs and fluffy coat, but the

picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God shows us something beyond words

alone. In it we immediately recognize the meekness, gentleness, and

guiltlessness of the Lord who sacrificed Himself for us, even without

any explanation.

Some

other pictures in John include the heavenly ladder, the serpent on a

pole, the living bread, the living water, and the vine with the

branches. These pictures help communicate deep spiritual realities more

adequately than a thousand words alone could. What spiritual reality,

then, does the blood and water from the Lord’s pierced side convey?

The picture of blood and water

The note on blood and water

in the New Testament Recovery Version is tremendously helpful in

understanding this picture. (We’ll focus on just some of it in this

post, but you can read the note in its entirely here.)

“Two substances came out of the Lord’s pierced side: blood and water. Blood is for redemption, to deal with sins (1:29; Heb. 9:22) for the purchasing of the church (Acts 20:28). Water is for imparting life, to deal with death (12:24; 3:14-15) for the producing of the church (Eph. 5:29-30).

The Lord’s death, on the negative side, takes away our sins, and on the

positive side, imparts life into us. Hence, it has two aspects: the

redemptive aspect and the life-imparting aspect. The redemptive aspect

is for the life-imparting aspect.”

This

note helps us see that the blood and water signify two important

matters: redemption (blood) and the imparting of life (water). In

another post, we discussed the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God

who shed His own blood on the cross for us. Christ’s redeeming death

accomplished a marvelous redemption for us, giving us the forgiveness

and washing away of our sins. We can never praise and thank Him enough

for His redemption! This is the significance of the blood.

But God doesn’t simply want us to be clean. He wants us to be living. Sin brought in death,

making us dead in our offenses and sins. So while an unsaved person

needs forgiveness for his sins, forgiveness only solves part of his

problem. A sinner needs forgiveness, but a dead person needs life. We

need life. Christ’s death absolutely takes away our sins, but it also

imparts life into us to make us living. This is the significance of the

water.

Jesus’ death released the divine life

Jesus’

death made it possible for us to have divine life imparted into us.

Let’s read another section of the note mentioned above:

“…the flowing water and the unbroken bone mentioned by John in vv. 34 and 36 are signs that relate to the life-imparting aspect of the Lord’s death (see note 261). This death that imparts life released the Lord’s divine life from within Him for the producing of the church, which is composed of all His believers, into whom His divine life has been imparted.”

In

John 12, Jesus referred to Himself as the grain of wheat that would

fall into the ground and die. A grain of wheat is a seed. Within the

shell of a seed is a life force, a life element; but as long as the seed

remains whole, the life within stays confined to that one seed. For the

life to be released, the seed must fall into the ground and “die.” That

falling into the ground may seem wholly negative, but actually this is

the only way the life confined within the seed can come forth and bear

much fruit.

In

the same way, the Lord Jesus is the Son of God who became a man in time

and space. Within this wonderful God-man was the divine life, confined

within a human shell. From the beginning, God’s desire was that we would

receive His divine life as our life. But to get into us, the divine

life in Christ had to first be released from within the shell of His

humanity. So Jesus’ fell into the ground and died, and through His

death, life was released!

The

water that issued out of the Lord’s pierced side is a picture of the

released divine life that can now be imparted into us. Praise God, life

was released in Jesus’ death!

Two fountains

Today,

as the Lord’s beloved church purchased with His blood and produced with

His life, we have the blood and the water to enjoy forever. Let’s read

the last paragraph of the note:

“The Lord’s pierced side was prefigured by Adam’s opened side, out from which Eve was produced (Gen. 2:21-23). The blood was typified by the blood of the Passover lamb (Exo. 12:7, 22; Rev. 12:11), and the water was typified by the water that flowed out of the smitten rock (Exo. 17:6; 1 Cor. 10:4). The blood formed a fountain for the washing away of sin (Zech. 13:1), and the water became the fountain of life (Psa. 36:9; Rev. 21:6).”

Praise

the Lord for His redeeming and life-imparting death, for the blood and

the water. His death opened two fountains to meet all our needs:

Zechariah

13:1: “In that day there will be an opened fountain for the house of

David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.”

Psalm 36:9: “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”

At the fountain for sin we can continue to be washed from our sins by Jesus’ precious blood by confessing anything that comes between us and God. As we’re cleansed by His blood, we can receive more of the divine life by drinking of Him, the fountain of life. Thank the Lord for His wonderful death for us!

Revelation 21:6: “I will give to him who thirsts from the spring of the water of life freely.”

All

verses and quoted footnotes in this post are from the Holy Bible

Recovery Version, published by Living Stream Ministry. Bibles for

America gives away free copies of the New Testament Recovery Version.

You can order yours here.