​ Importance of testimony

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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.

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“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

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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

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“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

 

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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

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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

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“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

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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.

A New Day

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Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the

name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive

the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 Acts 2:38

I grew up going to church.

I knew growing up what paths I needed to take that would lead me to the waters and receive the Holy Spirits’ blessing.

It was almost as if it was second nature.

We go to church, we study the Bible, at age 12 we get baptized.

I have been baptized now for about 22 years. (shoot my age was given away).

There are points in my life where I have honestly felt I should be re-baptized for the sins I committed. That Old life that I no longer have where I constantly did things I knew I shouldn’t have are long gone. I repented for those actions.

I am grateful that my upbringings did bring me to where I am today.

Despite going off course, despite battling depression, battling illness, battling my greatest fears I knew that the solution would come as soon as I got back down on my knees, asked for forgiveness and repented. I knew my life would change the moment I put Christ back in my life.

The Holy Spirit manifests in us in several different ways. I know because after baptism the Spirit flowed and the blessings came.

As i got older and strayed away, so did my blessings.

I knew God knew that i still believed in him, I just didn’t practice.

I stopped praying, but still relied heavily on God.

He has gotten me out of so many obstacles that it was hard to ignore that he still had my back even though I was angry, I was hurt, I felt cursed, I was ungrateful really.

I went through what I went through to learn from it.

I went through what I went through to rekindle my relationship.

I went through what i went through to be able to talk about it.

I written about this before; but my children, according to science I wasn’t’ supposed to have them.

God said, I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end I will decide what my child will have.

So said, so done, both my pregnancies were prophetic to me, both of them were also revealed to me while I was pregnant (and unknowingly pregnant) by reading the Bible.

God Is good.

I repented.

I wish I could re-baptize but I know I have been forgiven and have received the blessings of the Holy spirit.

Another thing that has changed in my life is my husband. (no I am still married to the same man, or am I?).

My husband recently baptized.

My husband has grown spiritually.

My husband is a man I am proud to call my own.

His selfless heart.

His giving nature.

His gentle kindness.

His reasoning to finally joining me to church.

His personal decision on baptism.

I am proud of him.

He is not the same man I met 14 years ago.

He is though a better man, because we can now grow together as husband and wife and in our spiritual journey as God had intended it to be.

We are both different.

My faith is not the same as it was when I met him .

We are not the same as we were yesterday.

Today is a new day, and God allowed this new day to come to pass.

Today is a new day and the Holy Spirit guides our every move.

We have been baptized in water, Baptized in Spirit and have repented for our sins.

God is in control.

Father God I thank you for another day. I thank you for this opportunity to live my life in your walk. I thank you for your forgiveness, for your mercy, for your love and your blessings. Thank you for your sustenance and your guidance. Thank you. I want to continue each day as a new clean slate to do your marvels. I ask that you continue to guide me, to continue to show love and compassion. Dear Lord I love you and will continue to give you praise and glorify your name. Thank you for today, for today I am a different person that I was yesterday. Amen

Be full in HIM

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Be full in him

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

(John 15:11, KJV)

Jesus was sent here to be our sacrificial lamb. We was the offering for our sins to be forgiven.

He left us with Joy, he wanted us to be filled in his joy. He wants his joy to remain in us, to be filled in us so we can not only be filled with his joy but in him.

His joy is meant to radiate through our pores. IT should be visible. As believers we should be overflowing with this love and joy he has left within us with every step we take. We are to be kind, humble, friendly, eager to serve, help one another. We should be full with his love and joy. We should want to do our best to walk his walk. We should be filled in his joy, being filled in his joy is being filled in him.

Do not allow circumstances to bring you to torment, pain and depression. That is not what being filled in him does. Do not let your circumstances take away your joy. Your circumstance should not define you. Being filled with God, should. Recenter your thinking, recenter your directions, recenter your focus, change your circumstances so that you can one again be filled with the joy of Jesus which he left with us.

You do not want sips of his joy, you want to quench your thirst, you want to be filled with his joy.

Take a step in faith. Trust in God with your circumstances, with your future, with your life. Once you do so you will see internal changes, your feelings will change, your thinking will change, your behavior will change and you will reap from what he has spoken. you will have his joy and be filled with it.

Father God I thank you for your Joy. I thank you for filling me with your Joy. In doing so I know your presence is within me. You are here, within me. Father God I ask that we do everything our power to never let this joy leave. This gift you provided, I want to savor it forever. Thank you for your loving grace. Thank you for your mercy and generosity. Thank you for your strength and power. Thank you for the Joy that over flows my heart. Thank you for your blessings.

Amen.

Believe & Declare

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“It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.”

(2 Corinthians 4:13, NIV)

Believe and Declare in your heart that He will provide for you.

Believe and Declare that you will overcome the obstacles before you.

Believe and Declare that you will be healed.

Believe and Declare that the storm shall soon pass.

Believe and Declare it, with faith and trust in your creator for he has spoken these words to us, not just to say them to reassure us that when we truly believe, when we truly rely on him, when we believe and declare with faith, passion and the fire of the love of Christ, everything we declared will come to pass in his timing.

Despite my obstacles in my past.

Despite being told I would never be able to conceive and birth a child.

I believed and Declared that the sciences were wrong.

I believed and declared healing.

I believed and declared God would provide for my barren womb in his time, which he did.

I ask you today, to believe, with all your heart, declare it with every fiber in your being. If it is God’s will it shall be done.

Father God I thank you today for reminding me to always believe and declare victory in your name. Even when things are not going the way I want or expect, I declare and believe in your name that things will turn around. Father in the midst of difficult times I declare and believe we shall over come them. I pray for you reading this today. I do not know your circumstances nor yoru hardship, but with you together I believe and declare that you shall come through this. The time will pass and you will be rejoicing with God your victory. I pray that you can believe, so you can declare it in faith. Amen

I AM

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I Am

“God replied to Moses, ‘I Am Who I Am…’”

(Exodus 3:14, NLT)

I Am, God replied to Moses he is I am. He is. He is everything you need.

In the midst of your sorry I AM your refuge.

In the midst of Joy, I AM the one who brought this blessing.

I am all you need. I am The alpha and the Omega.

I am the beginning and the End.

I am your salvation.

I am your hope.

I am your joy.

I am peace brought to you.

I am love.

I am in every breath you take.

I am your refuge.

I am your strength.

I am…. all you need and more.

Today, God wants you to know that he is the I AM in your life.

What do you need or want out of life? He is the great I AM and can provide you what you need and soo much more.

Dear Lord, Today I call upon you. I know you are the great I AM. I know you are my provider, I know you sustain me, I know you bring me peace, joy, love and so much more which I am incapable of understanding. I give myself to you. TO submit myself to do your will. To trust in you who is my all, to do your works and favors. I know have provided for me in the good times and especially in the bad. I will continue to rely on you and your guidance to move on my daily tasks in your glory.

Amen.

​ 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

Gracias Seńor

Te amoTe exalto su nombre .

Te pido las gracias,

Por su amor,

Por protegernos,

Por nuestro salud,

Por nuestros finanzas,

Por nuestro hogar,

Por nuestro alimentos,

Por un día más,

Por una oportunidad más,

Por su misericordia,

Por su perdón,

Por su sacrificio.

Por sus bendiciones.

Por refrescar mi alma.
Y luego de pedirte las gracias, me siento mal.

Como puedo recompensarte por ser tan bueno con nosotros.

Oro, pero no como debo de orar.

Ayuno, pero no como debo ayunar.

Testificó, pero no como debo de testificar los grandeza que has hecho en mi vida.

Aveces me quedo atrapado al pecado.

Aveces me olvido pedirte perdón.
Soy humano, nací bajo el pecado.

Y con todo eso, todavía me ama.

Se que sin ti,

Nada puedo hacer.

No importas cuanto planificación hago.

Tu tienes la ultima palabra.

Tu me diste todo.

Todo mi entero de ser,

Mi vida

Mi respirar,

Mi familia

Mis hijos

Mi hogar,

Mis alimentos

Mi salvación

No quiero nada que intentes de separarte de mi vida.

Quiero tu gracia disfrutar eternamente

Y dedicarme solo a ti.

Se que no merezco su amor.

Pero trabajaré a ser su voluntad para nunca estar sin ti.

What to expect when your expecting…

Many expectant mothers have purchased this book, myself included. This book was amazing. Detailed. Helpful with the changes ones body goes through.

What about for special needs adults?

What to expect when your an expecting special needs adult. Not a catchy title, but nonetheless, needed.

Expectant mothers of the special needs population undergo extra testing, need extra emotional and mental support, need extra guidance, extra education.

Being pregnant is fun, hard, scary all at the same time, imagine how it may be for someone from the special needs population. My heart aches that my sister had to endure all these extra testings.  Of course the well being of the baby is of the upmost importance.

While we’ve been reading the what to expect books, it dawned on me, I haven’t seen any books that may disclose what she may be going through that I didn’t experience.  As soon as I thought that, she asked me.

I tried researching to see if such books exist. Nope. Nada. What I did find were blogs about special needs families.  Though are bodies are the same, going through the same things, more emotional support, education, resources, testings and patience are needed with caring for an expectant special needs mom…. and dad to be.

We really need to advocate more for special needs adults. More resources are needed.  I am thankful that my sister has the support system she needs.  I am thankful that we can help her emotionally. Thanlful she has is. Crying for those whom don’t have that support.

God I pray for the strength and guidance needed during this process. I pray for families across the globe going through similar circumstances we are.  I know dear lord we are not the first, nor will be the last. Please lord let us use this moment, this time to help those for the future. Amen.

RIP Compadre.

My sons God father passed away 3/15/15. Not too long after his death I was taking a class that required an obituary. So I wrote one for him.

My compadre was born on the 12th of June 1981 to his wonderful parents. He was taken away in a heroic attempt to save his dog on the 15th of March 2015. He is adored and cherished by his parents, his fiancé , his son  , his brothers,  his God children, his many aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends and acquaintances. My compadre grew up in a God fearing home. His mother kept him active in various recreational activities while also preaching to him the word of God.
Growing up his mother ensured that he always read, always studied, always loving, always caring, always be kind, help the less fortunate, help those in need, grow educationally. She taught him the basic principals of humanity. She taught him to accept all for who they are, not to judge. She taught him to have the endearing heart he had. The foundations that his parents laid out as he grew up is what we all came to love and know.

In junior high school he met his best friend who had recently moved around the corner from him. The duo would play endless hours with the kids in the neighborhood and have bonded like brothers. As a matter a fact they became brothers. The duo were inseparable.
My compadre, as he was known by many was kind, genuine, helpful, an adventurer, smart, loyal, loved and cared for animals. Helped anyone who needed help whether a furry animal or another person who was being victimized by bullying or injustices of the world. He Would intervene in any circumstances to help a fellow brother out of harms way. Protected those he cared for.
He loved fellowship. He loved being surrounded in a good ambiance with friends and music. He loved music. Music was what fueled his soul. Music was his passion, his hobby, his love, his side gig, music was his breath of fresh air. Soca though is what pumped the blood to his heart.
His love for music came at a very young age. He had an eclectic taste in music. A great ear for mixing tunes. His passion drove him in to his hobby as a DJ, more famously known as the Mad Architect in many circles of the music / radio industry for his creativity in mixing beats for upcoming soca artists and talent in mixing music across various of genres. His name also combined his love for his profession as an architect.

He was talented in his field. Blessed to have been able to partake in amazing projects that to this date his plans are still under construction on the West Side. He was well respected and well loved in the architectural industry as well.

My compadre studied and worked hard for while teaching his fellow brothers, working at an established architectural firm, producing beats for his artists, being a husband to his fiancé, father to his child, child to his parents, brother to his friend, uncle to his God children, and care taker to his dogs whom he adored as children, both of which he rescued from shelters.

He was a busy man, but never did he stop showing those he loved, that he loved them. He was a smart man. He was a humble man. He was a caring man, he was a blessed man, he was a spiritual man, he had strength and endurance which came from the faith he had. Despite the circumstances and challenges life threw at him, he overcame it with pride, with dignity, with class, with faith and understanding.

Every curveball life threw came with a lesson. He understood that, he spoke of it often.,The politics and bureaucracies of societies. The discrimination and racial profiling of young black men. How disgusting the legal and judicial system is. How it is a trap for failure, imprisonment and slavery. He understood the psychology of it all and never let any of it let him fall. It made him stronger.

He urged to educate his peers on this subject, determined to teach the next generation to educate themselves to not be victims of the trend. To not be another number to the stereotype. To be above that, to rise above these stereotypes and social expectations of men of color. To be smarter. To be wiser, to learn the legal system and their language, to know when to use their lingo to not fall into the trap. To be educated amongst the educated and even more so amongst the ignorant…. Not just of educated in knowledge but in the spirit. See tony had a respect and an affinity for others of different beliefs. He was knowledgable of various spiritual relationships, customs and traditions. He respected them all equally as he would hope any one would respect his.

His experiences made him stronger. Made him more faithful. Made him realize that in his most difficult moments, he knew who stood by his side, his families side and who never turned their backs, regardless of the circumstance. He understood who were his brothers to the end.

In John 16:33 It says “These things I have spoken to you, so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you will have difficulties. But have confidence: I have overcome the world.” From my understanding Tony lived this quote. No matter the difficulties he over came them. He was confident. He was determined not to let his difficulties make him nor break him. He found strength during his challenges and overcame them. Regardless the obstacle. Personal, professionally, socially, etc, he over came them, and which each obstacle he willingly guided others so that they wouldn’t fall within the same trap. Leading by example.
Now as life threw him another curve ball. He chose to follow his heart and love for another being, he saved his dog, paid a sacrifice and lost his life. He knows who is still by his side, despite the tears, despite grief, despite the heartache, despite the anger, despite the acceptance, despite the unacceptable. He knows his parents will be watched over, his fiancé will be taken cared and loved, his son will be protected, by the same people whom always remained true to him as he was true to them.

Our pain with his loss is God’s megaphone. As in The book of job, Job learned that God gives and God takes away. We have also learned that no matter how good you are, how faithful you strive to be God gives and he takes away. We may even want to question, why me? Why take him away? What have I done to suffer this way? Job asked some of these same questions his meld. He asked if God can be placed to trial for his actions and questioned. God spoke to him. He reminded him that he is the architect of the world. Job learned that despite his suffering God delivers. “But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction” job 36:15. Though we are all mourning, grieving and suffering the loss of our beloved Tony, God will deliver us all from this pain.

Remember that God has his reasons. God has a plan. God is the architect which created this world. He designed you and I in his image. He designed it all. He delivers amongst your pain, afflictions and sufferings. Also know that when you overcome your trials and tribulations you come out stronger. Learn from the trials educate others based off of your testimonies from your trials just like my compadre would have.

I know this is a somber moment. Saying goodbye to the flesh is very hard. The memories shared will live on. Compadre will not want you moping around his loss.
He would want you to share your wonderful stories of the moments you’ve shared. The funny stories, the silly stories, the I can’t believe we did that stories, the personal stories, the private stories, his memory shall live within you. How you’ve grown together in your friendship and how that’s made you grow as an individual. He would want you to be rejoicing. He would want you to celebrate. To bring a toast. To dance. To laugh. To love. To féte. To watch out for one Another. Most importantly to Live.

He would not want you to stop living at his loss. He would not want you sad, depressed or in pain at his expense. He spent his whole life trying to bring joy to others, regardless of the circumstances.

He would say stop preaching, stop talking, turn on the music, someone man the turntables, get the vibes right, have that fête, celebrate your lives, take care of one another.

That’s what he would have wanted . Remember to share your experiences. Educate one another, provide strength and refuge to each other, lend a hand, lend an ear, share moments, create memories, make music, share laughs, enjoy fellowship, we are a framily.

God gave him brothers and sisters via friendships. He found love when least expecting to. He would be celebrating your life in your honor had roles been reversed.

Celebrate life. Live like it’s your last. Teach each other for knowledge is a good tool for empowering one another. Guide each other, care for one another, remember the less fortunate, remember the four legged animals,

Remember each other, support each other during this time of grief, for we all know that’s exactly what he would be doing.

God bless you.

Job, Faith, Blessings

I really like the story of Job in the Bible.

In my personal life I reference it a lot.

Why did those troubles come before Job? (spoiler alert if you have not read the book of the bible).

Satan was traveling the land, he asked God Permission to trouble Job, he wanted to prove to God that Job would turn his back on his creator.

Job lost it all, his children, his properties, his livestock.  He was ill.  He was taunted by the enemy.

God allowed it though. He allowed Job to be taunted and tested.  What he mandated was that his life be spared in this trial of faith.

It was a trial of faith.

His faith was tested.

Though he questioned God,  Why me? Why this?  God quickly put him in his place upon their confrontation.  He questioned job (and rightfully so) “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:4).

God continued, “Who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?” (Job 38:6–7). “Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb” (Job 38:8). “Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes its nest on high?” (Job 39:26–27).

At the end of this interaction, their relationship deepened.  The end result was Job was abundantly blessed, double with what he had before all was taken away.

What is my point with this?

We all go through struggles, trials and tribulations.

We have moments where we ask God why? Why me? What’s the justification for this?

It is not our place to ask why nor the justification.  We are to build from it.

When I was pregnant with my younger son many things happened to complicate this Joyful moment in my life.

My developing son (fetus) was not fully developing his heart.  I underwent various specialists, various scenarios were presented before me, some catastrophic which took a toll on me emotionally.  I would never want to see not even an enemy endure the pain, heartbreak, emotional distress I went through.

The entire time I did question God, Why? Why me? Why my son? What is the justification for this?  My son, the one you allowed me to have, my rainbow  baby, my second miracle. (I was once told I could not hold a full pregnancy to term, here I am with two, God is Good).

I let that fester, and prayed more, confided in God more, I still questioned more. Then I reread Job.  I cried, I apologized to God, I submit myself to him.  I named My son after Him.  Emanuel (God is with us). God surely is with us.

When it was time to deliver, I went through a scare. My son was  born purple, no breath, no pulse, (i had no idea what was going on until after). CPR was given, chest compression was started, he was intubated and i was again in a pool of tears when all was explained that he was in the NICU.

He was born at 5:03pm with no pulse, not breathing, purple.  He finally took his first breath and time of birth re-announced at 5:05pm.  My miracle baby. His name was perfect.  God is with us, Always! Every time we sat my son is name, we are proclaiming God is with us.

Despite my trial, my blessing came twofold.  Mother of two miracle babies.

Despite my stubbornness and questioning, once I submit myself to him and apologize, my blessings came.

Thank you Father, for the opportunity you gave me to become a mother, not once, but twice.  Science said it would not be possible, Science said it would be painful.  You told Science I am the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the End, without me you are nothing. I pray for those experiencing problems within their lives, I pray for those facing problematic pregnancies, I pray for those lost within their trials and tribulations.  May they stop asking you why and instead proclaim your name and renew their faith.  Our Trials are lessons that make us stronger, they are also our testimonies to share, to renew the faith of others.  Amen.

 

…A wise man holds it back…

This morning I was reading my many daily devotions.
I start my mornings the same, I rise, I thank the lord, i pray,I start getting ready to start my daily routines, for work and get the children ready for school. Before I wake them up I give myself 20mins or so to read and reflect the devotions.
This proverb 29:11, struck a cord in my soul. As soon as I read the proverb I said thank you God for being my council. Had I not given myself to you, or reopened our Channels of communication I would not have handled last nights situation as calm, collective or civil as I did. Thank you for reminding me why I had to maintain my composure.
So about last night…. I am a mother of two amazing young men (ages five and two respectively). I am the eldest of four siblings, my siblings I treat and look out for them as if they were are also my babies. I helped raised them.
My sister (#2 in line) is currently expecting her first child. She’s been having issues with her child’s father and family regarding the pregnancy and decisions that she needs to make pertaining to her care and the care of the unborn child. They’ve been highly demanding, not catering to the needs of mother and infant, the father feels he should be catered to, he feels he should have a say with things concerning her body. (Subject of amniocentesis came up- he was for it she was against it).
Both adults are functioning adults with some disabilities. Some concepts are hard to understand, this is all new to them both, this is a change that is affecting both emotionally. Lots of educating needs to be done to both parties. Not singling neither side out. There are differences in opinions due to differences in upbringings which have taken a toll for both. Not excluding neither parties here. Both are of concern to me.
Regardless of who is my family(blood) and who isn’t all three, mom, baby and dad are important and we are concerned for. At this moment in time this union and natural act of love conceived a child which has sanctified this bond and united both families. The main concern and focus is not only the well being of mother and growing baby, but the father during the pregnancy. We just need to fully get them both to understand the changes both are undergoing and what the process is.
Last night was a rocky path. The father called my sister, details of the conversation I will leave out, the end result was: she was extra emotional. Her blood pressure sky rocketed, she had a near panic attack with whatever was discussed between the two.

I had to reach out to the family And explain hey, not sure the full details that happened, however this was the aftermath that was left.
The well being at this precise moment is of the mother and child. Please explain to the father to be that what he does, say, act can affect her emotions, hormones, health which put together is not good for the child. I am not sugarcoating or condoning what my sister may or may it have said, but both need to understand the risks for both parties. I Kept my tone calm, collective despite my fears and worry. Kept it civil despite my wanting to yell and say a few choice unchristian not ladylike words.
Waking up to this verse is my confirmation from God, do not go there. Be the bigger person. Turn the other cheek (though i can hesitate on turning my cheek and would prefer to throw in a fist instead). As Former First Lady Michelle said “when they go low, we stand high.”
Mother and baby in the belly are fine at the moment. She was in great care, surrounded by family whom work in healthcare and understand how these situations work. Her healthcare providers were quick in responding to address last nights episode for her to ensure her well being.
Sometimes in some situations we can’t loose our temper, doing so is not only foolish, but could make any situation worse. We will have moments where we will need to bite our tongues, turn both cheeks, stay quiet and resist every natural carnal impulse that we have to defend what we love.
The devil is a liar. He tries to attack you when your climbing that spiritual ladder. He is there trying to saw at the steps so you can go falling down. Don’t succumb to these trickery of the enemy.
Father God I ask you to protect my sister and her expectant child, I ask everyone reading this to pray for her. God I pray for the family of the father, give them understanding, compassion and the strength needed for this next chapter in all our lives. I pray that you give my sister strength, compassion and understanding. I pray for other expectant mothers in similar situations. It is rough, it is emotional, pregnancy involves changes in every aspect of an expectant mother and fathers lives. I pray that despite the words which have been exchanged between the two, though hurtful, that they can forgive one another and move on. I pray that you guide our families in this complex situation. I pray you guide families in similar situations world wide. May we all in your name be advocates for our disabled adults. I pray for the physicians involved during this prenatal transition, the team in place is beyond amazing, lord bless and protect these amazing physicians. In your name we pray. Amen.

In God we must Trust

I am going to post about something I have already posted on, with a current day feel. I will not be separating church and state.
It is Day number two since the inauguration of President Trump. I will put my personal biases aside against President Trump because I respect our political process and country. I respect the voters that went out to vote despite our choices for the Presidency.
I am proud of the organizers of the women’s march and the thousands of thousands of women whom participated. They have expressed their American rights.

To those whom protested that didn’t vote, you should have. This post will not be fully on politics but on a combination of church and state.
I feel aside from our electoral process, God wanted President Trump to win. Now I will not say he is not my president, for that is very disrespectful. We can agree to disagree on the issues. However, back to why I feel God chose this path.
America has forgotten its roots, the reasons the founding fathers came here and revolutionized. One of the many reasons they came here was to freely worship God and have the right to do so without fear, punishment from  government / the crown dictating what they can or cannot do. There were other reasons, but today, for this piece we are talking of the religious aspect.
How many of you feel qualified enough at your given trade / profession? How many of you feel qualified enough to give a sermon? To speak about the word of God? How many of you feel qualified enough to run for office or be President?
President Trump had his reasons why he ran, society (myself included) has even felt he is unqualified to lead a nation. However, despite our afflictions, many felt he was qualified, God included for he wouldn’t have let the man win. GOD Qualified him to be President.
Maybe the country needs him, to humble our thoughts and bring us back down to our knees to pray for one another, to help and love one another, to support one another and protect one another.
Where am I going with this?

How many biblical figures can you think of were deemed by society as unqualified? Can you name just one? Think about it.
Below is an excerpt from a previous post I wrote:
“Here are a few Biblical examples, of people whom society deemed unqualified but God qualified them to their destined callings that have shaped Christianity as we know it today. We know there are many more but here are just a few whom have been qualified despite being unqualified:

Jacob – cheater/ deceiver

Isaac – day dreamer

Moses – stuttered

Noah – got drunk

Jonah – ran from god

David – had affairs

Simon (Peter – Petros- in Greek means rock…go figure he became the rock of Christianity) – had a temper

Paul – murderer

Gideon – insecure,

Miriam – a gossiper,

Martha – a worrier,

Thomas – a doubter,

Sara – impatient,

Elijah – moody,

Rehab – a prostitute,

Samson – he liked prostitutes.

Isaiah – preached naked for three years,

Jeremiah – way too emotional,

Abraham – old

Lazarus – dead.

I – am human, I un-qualify myself daily and I am subject to sin

You? – (you don’t have to answer this to me, maybe here is a good point to stop for a few seconds for self-reflection…I know I have)”
Cheaters, deceivers, prostitutes and murderers, to name a few, were qualified by God. They have set examples, been redeemed for a specific purpose. They helped mold Christianity as we know of it today.
God may have qualified President Trump to bring us back to God. To bring this country running back to God. To have everyone on their knees praying to God. To remind every one that he is the Great I AM!
I am going to bring up more excerpts from my previous blog post. For I see they are fitting more so now than ever.
“God doesn’t call those, whom we think are qualified, He qualifies those whom are called!”

 

“He qualified a deceiver, a drunk, a prostitute, a womanizer, the uneducated…. ”

Why wouldn’t he be able to qualify President Trump they way he qualified many from the Bible and many of us in all our faults and lack thereof to be a blessing upon someone else in the name of God.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he told them in 1 Corinthians 1:26 (ESV) “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”
President Trump was chosen, unfortunately not by the electoral college, not just by his supporters, but by God. By worldly standards he is unqualified, God allowed him to win. God sees something we can’t yet fathom.
He was chosen despite many of us (myself included) whom felt that he had lack of education, lack of understanding the political process, beside the lack of experience in politics, besides the lack of knowledge in political theories, ideologies and rules of though, the societal norms of politics have changed with this elections. Why? Not because the people spoke, God spoke.
Don’t let society’s standards take you back. God wants his people to come back to him, remember him, love him, he also wants his people to love one another, care for one another, pray for one another, protect one another.
We do need to bring God back in America, not just as a Christian, but for those with other religious sentiments. All of our rights need to be protected. Let’s unite as one in the issues that matter.

Yesterday’s woman’s march was symbolic to say the least.

Why?

Me being a woman, I should matter.

I should be respected as equally as men are respected

My reproductive system I should decide what happens not man.

Pro choice or pro life? That should be up to me to decide not mandated by anyone else. If I make the wrong choice I should face my judgement at the thrown of God not of man.

To take away my right to healthcare due to pre existing conditions is just as barbaric.

My wages should match that of a man dollar to dollar, not 50 cents to the dollar, not 75 cents to the dollar, but dollar to dollar.

My rights matter.

I am a Christian, a woman, a mother, a provider and I am here. I matter.

My life matters.

Women’s lives matters.

Black lives matters.

Christian lives matters.

Muslim lives matters.

Buddhist lives matters.

Hindu lives matters.

Jewish lives matter.

Asian lives matter

Latino lives matters.

Indian lives matter.

White lives matter.

Government official lives matter.

Officers lives matter.

Firefighter lives matters.

President Trumps life matters.

All lives matter.
God loves us all.

We all have the ability to do our part to enter the gates of Heaven.
Politically we can all agree to disagree. In regards to religion we can agree to disagree.

Respect one another, love one another, protect one another, guide one another. We must respect the leader of the “free world”. Set our differences aside. Let’s see what he will do and stand up to defend our people when we have to.
Today I will pray for President Trump, for First Lady Trump, for VP Pence, for their families, for the many activists fighting for America and for All of America. God I ask you protect everyone. That you guide us all for the next four years. May you take charge and manifest everyone’s minds and hearts. I am not asking for acceptance, but for guidance. Guide us lord towards prosperity. Not just for the 1% but the 99% as well. Guide this country to seek you and do your will. Guide us lord, for I know you have qualified Trump the way you have qualified Jacob, Moses, Rahab and others. God you are in total control. I ask that you protect our leaders on government. I ask that you guide their hearts to make the right choices for their constituents. I ask that you protect us, we the people, regardless of race, class, preference, religious affiliations and so forth. I pray that America comes back to you. God give us the strength needed to carry on your work, using all of our talents in the various areas of specialty so that your will be done. Whether civically or spiritually, guide us all to fulfill your will Amen.

Ironmen

I am surrounded by strong iron men.

IronMen. Not the Marvel version, but my very own army of IronMen. Men whom are the embodiment of this scripture.

I am so blessed to have married a man whom has such amazing friends. I love their friendship. I love their honesty, I love the way they are frank, I love the multiple conversations that unfold around them, I love the way they love each other. Despite what one another is facing, they lift each other up. In the midst of their darkness, when facing their storms, they come together to find a solution to help each other out. That’s exactly living this proverb. My Iron Men.

They sharpen each other, they guide one another, they help one another, they grow with one another and these commodities are hard to find these days. They are Iron Men.

Fellowship is important. Laughter is good for the souls. Food is good for the belly.

One of the wives of my husbands and I were talking. (Well to be honest out of the 6 fellas it’s really only us 2 lol) throughout the years we have bonded and become sisters. We have become IronWoMen for one another.

She’s the godmother to one of my sons…. not something you give to just anyone. She is my family as is her husband to my husband. Last night we were talking about how much our men need one another, how much they need this fellowship as an outlet to be free. How when we both married our husband, in part we married all of them …. for they are all a packaged deal.

We know our men, the needs of our husbands and their brothers. We have come to step up to make sure that we are there for them despite the obstacles. To always support not just our husbands but the tribe. Our very own Ohana, family.

People from various backgrounds united by love. Everyone brings something to the table in their bond. Such s beautiful thing to witness.
I know many do not have that support system. I am very grateful my husband has his. His inner circle is a lot bigger than mine. Each person knows what they need.

Always be that friend to help the other grow and vice versa.

It is important to be with like minded people who can lift you up, who together you can make each other stronger. We need more of this in this world. We need more people uplifting one another in this world. We need more unity.
Father God, I thank you for the company of great friends. I thank you for making them family. I thank you for allowing us all to grow together and lift each other up. I know not everyone has these types of relationships, father I pray for those whom feel lonely. I pray they find someone to lift them. I am truly grateful for all your love, compassion and knowledge. I am Grateful Dear lord for th Iron Men and Iron WoMen in our lives. In your name we pray amen.

Trust in the Lord always

Proverbs 16New Living Translation (NLT)16

We can make our own plans,
    but the Lord gives the right answer.

2

People may be pure in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their motives.

3

Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

4

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5

The Lord detests the proud;
    they will surely be punished.

6

Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
    By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

7

When people’s lives please the Lord,
    even their enemies are at peace with them.

8

Better to have little, with godliness,
    than to be rich and dishonest.

9

We can make our plans,
    but the Lord determines our steps.

10

The king speaks with divine wisdom;
    he must never judge unfairly.

11

The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;
    he sets the standards for fairness.

12

A king detests wrongdoing,
    for his rule is built on justice.

13

The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;
    he loves those who speak honestly.

14

The anger of the king is a deadly threat;
    the wise will try to appease it.

15

When the king smiles, there is life;
    his favor refreshes like a spring rain.

16

How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    and good judgment than silver!

17

The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
    whoever follows that path is safe.

18

Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.

19

Better to live humbly with the poor
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20

Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
    those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

21

The wise are known for their understanding,
    and pleasant words are persuasive.

22

Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
    but discipline is wasted on fools.

23

From a wise mind comes wise speech;
    the words of the wise are persuasive.

24

Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

25

There is a path before each person that seems right,
    but it ends in death.

26

It is good for workers to have an appetite;
    an empty stomach drives them on.

27

Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

28

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends.

29

Violent people mislead their companions,
    leading them down a harmful path.

30

With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;
    with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

31

Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained by living a godly life.

32

Better to be patient than powerful;
    better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

33

We may throw the dice,[a]
    but the Lord determines how they fall.
I was going through a bad couple of days. In the midst of the stress I have been praying to God asking for guidance.

So at work the other day I was feeling down and needed a boast.

I opened my bible and read this passage which was a reminder of what I needed. God told me to calm down, step back, leave it in his hands. I got this, I got you and all will work out. Though in the midst of our struggles we know to rely and trust in God, a gentle reminder is always a humbling experience

In the midst of the storm, in the most unexpected place he calmed my soul, my anxieties and was able to provide for me. I am beyond grateful what God has been able to provide. I feel like a weight was lifted. Now I can enjoy the changes that was presented before us without the extra unneeded anxiety. God never falters, he always provides.

Father God I thank you for guiding me. I thank you for reminding me, that you have all control. I trust in you dear Lord… in the midst of the storm, always and forever. Amen!

Mommy chronicles….

“Ugh grown ups…” -my son

I have an amazing five year old son.

I actually have two Amazing sons.

Right now I will talk about my five year old.
After school we did our usual homework, homework check, put school stuff away, some mommy and children time, play time, etc.

So in the midst of our routine I ask him to put away his homework and school books.

He looks at me and with frustration proclaims “ugh grown ups don’t do anything, you have us do everything and you do nothing!”
Honestly I wanted to say “excuse me who you think your talking to, possible take something away”.

Instead I asked him what he was talking about.

He asked why couldn’t I put away his books.

Valid question.

So I answer to teach responsibility, your books from school are your responsibility. You read them and you are to return them.

He says ugh all adults are lazy!

I asked him a series of questions as to what I do to make his life easier and ask him, does that make mommy lazy?

He responds no.

My son: Why are our teachers lazy ?

Me: what do you mean?

My son: they have all the kids doing all their work so they don’t have to do anything.

Me: no sweetie (holding a laugh) they are teaching you to be independent and responsible

My son: i could learn all that without having to do their work for them.

I like how he processes information, analyzes things, more importantly what he says.
I may not be a perfect mom.

I focus on their education.

I encourage their ability to express their free thinking.

I always ask follow up questions just to get an insight in their minds.

He’s reading and comprehending at a end of year first grader in both English and Spanish.

He always has something to say.
There are times his inquisitive nature can be annoying (I won’t lie), there are others which intrigue me.

Today’s rant about doing other people’s work by my son intrigued me.
Kids I tell you.

We make the plans, God gives the answers

Proverbs 16New Living Translation (NLT)16

We can make our own plans,
    but the Lord gives the right answer.

2

People may be pure in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their motives.

3

Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

4

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5

The Lord detests the proud;
    they will surely be punished.

6

Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
    By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

7

When people’s lives please the Lord,
    even their enemies are at peace with them.

8

Better to have little, with godliness,
    than to be rich and dishonest.

9

We can make our plans,
    but the Lord determines our steps.

10

The king speaks with divine wisdom;
    he must never judge unfairly.

11

The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;
    he sets the standards for fairness.

12

A king detests wrongdoing,
    for his rule is built on justice.

13

The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;
    he loves those who speak honestly.

14

The anger of the king is a deadly threat;
    the wise will try to appease it.

15

When the king smiles, there is life;
    his favor refreshes like a spring rain.

16

How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    and good judgment than silver!

17

The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
    whoever follows that path is safe.

18

Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.

19

Better to live humbly with the poor
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20

Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
    those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

21

The wise are known for their understanding,
    and pleasant words are persuasive.

22

Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
    but discipline is wasted on fools.

23

From a wise mind comes wise speech;
    the words of the wise are persuasive.

24

Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

25

There is a path before each person that seems right,
    but it ends in death.

26

It is good for workers to have an appetite;
    an empty stomach drives them on.

27

Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

28

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends.

29

Violent people mislead their companions,
    leading them down a harmful path.

30

With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;
    with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

31

Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained by living a godly life.

32

Better to be patient than powerful;
    better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

33

We may throw the dice,[a]
    but the Lord determines how they fall.
I was going through a bad couple of days. In the midst of the stress I have been praying to God asking for guidance.

So today at work I was feeling down and needed a boast.

I opened my bible and read the this passage which was a reminder of what I needed. God told me to calm down, step back, leave it in his hands. I got this, I got you and all will work out. Though in the midst of our struggles we know to rely and trust in God, a gentle reminder is always a humbling experience.
Father God I thank you for guiding me. I thank you for reminding me, that you have all control. I trust in you dear Lord… in the midst of the storm, always and forever. Amen!

Potter and the clay

Who is the Potter?

Who is the Clay?

No I’m not referring to Harry Potter,

God is the Potter.

We are the clay,

He formed us.

He molded us.

He made us.

He decorated us.

He provides life for us.

Have you seen how pottery is made?

My mom used to make ceramic pots and the likes. She’s very talented. It takes a lot of work. Lots of patience, discipline, dedication and passion.

You take the clay and while it spins you begin to mold. The shapes of your desired pottery begin to take form.

You need patience.

One wrong turn and of you go too fast you end up with mush.

Last thing you want is a glob of mush, or clay splattered all over.

When you take delicate care in guiding the mass, you begin to shape your desired object.

After a while your object begins to take form.

You keep spinning.

You keep guiding.

You want a perfect creation.

Once you get to the right consistency or shape… you can then begin to get technical with some of the details.

Again patience is needed.

This exactly how God creates us.

When he created Adam and Eve, he embodies these traits. We are images of him.

Prior to succumbing to sin mankind was the grand jewel, the perfect creation, made by his very hand.

When we succumbed to sin the perfect pottery gained cracks, in some instances had gaping holes and others, well ever felt completely shattered.

Sometimes we feel spiritually cracked, shattered or even feel like we have a great hole spiritually. God loves us, he sent his only son for us. To show that despite the cracks and holes, we are perfect in his eyes.

God was precise when he created us, he was patient, dedicated, focused, determined and loving. He created the perfect being.

He could just have said…”let there be man” and man would’ve appeared, in the way he said “let there be light” and then there was light.

He formed us, molded us, decorated us to his very own masterpiece.

When growing spiritually we should tread the way out Potter (God) has with us.

We should use delicate care.

Be focused.

Be determined.

Be patient.

Be loving.

Be willing.

God was and is all the above with us.

Our spiritual growth includes many things.

Pray, often.

Fast, often.

Read the word, study it, analyze it and apply the word in your life.

Share, preach… share the word.

Practice. Practice what your preaching.

Lead by example.

Love, love all, love with all your might.

Take delicate care not to malnourish your soul.

We need to lead by Gods example.

He set the bar many, centuries ago.

Over 2000 years ago his son Jesus set the bar as to how to achieve spiritual growth with our father.

The blueprint to spiritual growth is found in your Bible.

Trust in the Lord, be confident and patient until the arrival of Christ.

Philippians 1:6, NKJV. “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

Jesus is the source of that growth continue to trust in him.

Colossians 2:6-7, TLB. “And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done.”

Persevere, love and be good to one another.

2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Remember he is our source, without him we cannot flourish.

John 15:4-5, NKJV. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Stay connected, how do you stay connected? Read the Bible. John 5:39, NKJV. “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

Learn, learn from our histories take refuge in his word to guide you as you move forward.

Romans 15:4, NKJV. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
Submit to the lord, so he can guide your heart, mind and soul with understanding.
Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Father I thank you for being the Potter of mankind. Creating us on your image. Thank you that despite the cracks in my soul for loving me. I ask you to continue to guide me so I can have spiritual growth with you. Continue to be the Potter to my spiritual growth. Mold me, guide me direct me.

Amen.

If you have ears, listen!

If you have ears, listen. Matthew 11:15. It’s a sermon I heard many, many years ago…. But still resonates 20 years later.

I was a teenager when my pastor stood at the alter and said those words… Preached that sermon…. That have impacted me my whole life.  Every aspect of my life, every decision I make…. I always go back to that sermon.

So I want to ask… Not my pastor but the person sitting next to me.

How do you have ears, but cannot hear?

How do you have eyes, yet can not see.

Love, but not show that you love.

I must admit sometimes I hear and don’t listen.

God is communicating with us and at times we don’t listen. We can be out of touch sometimes that we can’t even hear when he speaks to us.

We must get rid of the things blocking out our communication with God.

Father God I ask you to help me make use of my ears. So that I can not only hear but listen when you communicate with me. To follow your path, to aide me to do your works. To have ears and listen so that you can use me to fulfill your goals. In them name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit Amen.

Soar like an eagle.

Isaiah 40:31 – but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Many have said throughout life that we should soar like an eagle to succeed. In the Bible there’s reference as noted in this verse hope in the lord …and you shall soar like an eagle.

Why like an eagle?

What’s so special about an eagle?

Why not like a chicken? Why not like a Lion? Or an Ox? Or Bear? Why an eagle?

Could it be the limitless power the eagle has when it flies? They can fly to great heights. Highly respected and valued. Fierce predators.  They are known as birds of prey, eagles have very large, hooked beaks for ripping flesh from their prey, strong, muscular legs, keen eyesight and powerful talons. The beak is typically heavier than that of other birds of prey.

Now comparing these traits of an eagle and how having hope in the lord can give you strength to soar like an eagle…. makes you wonder.

Should we be spiritually strong like an eagle. Be spiritually fierce, spiritually strong, spiritually keen eyesight, spiritually powerful talons and be able to spiritually rip apart the prey (being spiritually grounded to defeat the enemy.

Wow. After looking at it this way… I have a higher respect for eagles. I want my relationship with god to be as strong as my description above. To be able to fly limitless across the sky and soar. To be able to soar spiritually. To grow limitlessly with god.
Father God I ask you to be strong and fierce (spiritually) like an eagle. To fly new heights and have this limitless relationship with you.  Father I ask for you to guide me as I reach new heights. To grow closer with you. To soar like an eagle. Amen.

To my husband…. and our Diverse Family

I loved you since the day I met you.

Though I didn’t want to admit it.

Love at first sight.

I never really believed in it until I met you.

Prior to you I’ve loved, I’ve lusted, I’ve been infatuated with many.

None of them from first sight.

Through you I’ve gained a family whom I love as much as I love you.

You had your inner circle.

You came with baggage.

To love you meant loving and accepting them.

Your brothers…. bonds of friendship built from a young age…. friendships which converted to family.

Marrying you I felt like I married them as well.

I love your circle as much as I love you. (Well I love you more…. but I have a special place in my heart for your circle).

That circle is your family.

They are my family.

No matter the storm, no matter the trials and tribulation, no matter what I will love them unconditionally as I have vowed to love you.

Though we still grieve the loss of one of those in our circle(yes. Your circle is our circle).

I stand by you as many a times you’ve stood by me. I will sacrifice for you as many times you have done for me.

You are my rock. I am your fortress.

You and your circle have refuge with me.

It’s been a rough two years for the circle was hit hard with heartache and grief. We ride these storms together.

One family.

Of many nations.

We are as diverse culturally speaking as the UN.

But we are one family.

I love you hubbie and your circle.

Goals/ Resolutions

Happy New Year fellow bloggers and readers.

I was meditating on this scripture from the in touch devotion for today.

Dr. Charles Stanley is right. This is why I rarely make any “resolutions”. Our resolutions are usually selfish personal goals and desires. Usually they are unrealistic. Hence why many break their resolutions quickly.

I am going to highlight or bold some key points of his devotion then end with a personal prayer.

Dr Charles Stanley’s devotion states as follows:
KEEPING OUR EYES ON HIS GOALS

January 01, 2017
Philippians 3:13-15

Have you ever attempted to walk in a straight line while looking at your feet? Try this on the beach sometime so you can look back at your footprints. You’ll probably be surprised at how crooked the path is. But fix your eyes upon something far away, and each step will point in the desired direction—toward that distant focal point.

Our lives are like this. If we set goals, then our decisions and thoughts will lead toward the desired end. On the other hand, if we bumble along without specific aims, we will wander and waste much precious time and energy.

Goals are crucial to the well-lived life. Why, then, do so many people fail to formulate purposeful aims? Some simply do not see the importance of a plan, while others are too lazy to devise one or don’t know how to go about it. Then there are those who lack faith in God’s ability to help them achieve their aspirations.

Think about the many goals Jesus had—they drove all that He did. His daily aims involved such things as serving others and teaching those who sought righteousness. But more than that, our Savior centered everything on a primary purpose set even before time began: to lay down His life on the cross in order to save mankind from sin and glorify the Father.

We were created to glorify the Lord and be fruitful in His service. Imagine the impact our lives could have if we asked God to guide our goals. Pray, “What do You want to change about my life? What do You want to accomplish through me?” Let Him determine on what and on whom you focus.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 1-3

Wow. Isn’t this devotional spot on?

Let me end with this prayer.

Father God thank you for these words provided by Dr. Stanley of in touch ministries. Bless his ministry dear lord as you bless our ministries. Father God I ask you, for guidance, to be able to provide the changes in me and my life which will not only help nourish our relationship but help to reach your goals with me. Guide me dear Lord in not only showing me but in accomplishing these goals. Guide me dear lord to focus on the ways you want to use me to spread your love, your word, your message and fulfill my role in your goals. In the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Wearing ones heart on your sleeve.

I saw this piece of art work online (I googledheart on sleeve, and found this image though you’ll find it herehttp://narakafurin.deviantart.com/art/Painted-Heart-on-sleeve-154036631 ) and it got me thinking.

Sometimes this is exactly how I feel. I don’t know what the artist wanted to deliver in their art work…. but with my first reaction all I can say is “I can relate with you sister”.

I feel your pain, your torment, your scars, and the markings that across your body.

Loving is something, strange, yet pure.

One day many years ago, my late aunt told me. “You and I are more alike than you realize. We both have a lot of love to give, sometimes we don’t get that love back. Though at times it bothers us, though at times we are pained, though we can think of many reasons to give up on others, we don’t, do you want to know why? We have both a blessing and a curse, for we wear our hearts on our sleeve.” I was baffled.

Didn’t realize she understood without uttering a single word how I felt (and at times continue to feel).

We love…. wholeheartedly.  Even if we arent loved back.

We will give you the shirt off our backs if need be…. even if you would never reciprocate that offer.

Not eat, so you can eat.

Give you my last couple of dollars, if your in need.

Help you in the midst of your crisis…. though in our storms we’ve carried that burden solo.

This is an ode to my aunt.

Someone who understood me…. despite how often we fought (both of us were stubborn…. passionate in what we believe in… despite the similarities and differences)…. one thing is for certain….. she knew how to love the way I do.

She knew….as I know…. that our hearts were always used and strung along.

Many have taken advantage.

Many have scarred us.

Many have broken us.

Many have hurt us.

Many have abandoned us.

One thing is for certain…. none of that stopped us from continuing to love and help… despite the scars, the wounds, and coverups…

It’s both a blessing and a curse wearing your heart on your sleeve,

Mary, Did you know?

MARY did you know?
So I’m listening to the Pentatonix version of Mary did you know (insert fan girl coos here) and I’m thinking wait… let me open up my bible.
The Bible says

Matthew 1:18-25New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Conception and Birth of Jesus

18 Now the birth of Jesus [a]Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been [b]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned [c]to send her away secretly.20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for [d]the Child who has been [e]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for [f]He will save His people from their sins.”22 Now all this [g]took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name [h]Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”24 And Joseph [i]awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 [j]but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Luke 1:26-38New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabrielto Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
So now that we got the biblical accounts… let’s delve to the lyrics.
Here are the lyrics….
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little baby you kiss the face of god
Chorus

Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?

Mary, did you know? Did you know?

Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?

Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?

Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear

The dead will live again

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak

The praises of the lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?

That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am
Chorus
All she knew at that point of conception was that she was going to birth the son of God. Conception by the Divine. She was favored by God and blessed. What an honor to be his chosen vessel to fulfill his prophesy.
Now back to the song with womanly, motherly, Christian and carnal feedback. (Don’t get me wrong I heart PTX- I love God more…)
This song got me thinking. What would I have done. Would I have been able to endure…. then I thought….
MARY, how much did you know?

Did you know the impact at that given moment?
When he was older and the disciples reported news of his miracles… did you believe? Did you know? Did you doubt?

Would I have doubted?

Would I have believed?

I do think she did believe, accounts of her role have always been supportive to her son and his role.

Did Jesus tell his mother “Ma, guess what our father had me walking on water”.
I would’ve responded like “Our fathers gonna give me a heart attack, he’s lucky he’s our creator because had Joseph sent you to walk on water, i would’ve knocked him out… putting my son out there in harms way.”

Or

It would’ve been “Jesus sweetheart, did someone lace your brownies?”
Let’s be honest….
Skeptism is second nature. (Carnal reaction)
Did she doubt some of the accounts?
Did she for that one second when she was told any of the accounts of what he had done, the miracles, the healing, raising of the dead?
When she would see her son preaching in the temples, seeing him speak in the square…. was she happy, proud of her son, was she scared for her son?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did she have a moment of motherly carnal instinct “please take me not my son?”

How many of us would’ve said that?
::insert raised hand here::

I probably would’ve pleaded…

I probably wouldn’t have.
Would you or I have been as strong as her to endure his suffering?

I’m sure she was suffering with him.

But again

MARY how much did you know?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.

He will not only save all mankind but the child i birthed… save me? Dear lord how? (Did you ponder that?…. or did you know)?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand?

I could imagine my look someone retelling me this…. “ok fellas how many Jugs of water did he turn in to wine? And how many did y’all consume?…. like I know he’s the son of God… but could he? Did he? God? ”

That would’ve been a natural reaction no?

Did MARY have a bond with God where he foretold her some of Jesus accounts so she wouldn’t be shocked? Did she have that much faith?

Where is your faith?

How would you fare in her shoes?
I love this part of the lyrics:

When you kiss your little baby you kiss the face of God.

I’m sure she knew …. knew that when she kissed her baby….this is the son of God…. here is the son of our living God… in my arms, in the flesh. Does he look like me? Or our father?
MARY did I you know:

The blind will see, the deaf will hear

The dead will live again

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
Holding him in that manger, cradling him in your arms, nourishing him…. did you know all the wonders he was going to do?

I know you knew he was special. I don’t doubt it.

As a mom holding my sons, I know they are special gifts from God. Though your son, wasn’t naturally conceived as mine were. There is no doubt to how special he is.

 

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is lord of all creation?
Did it dawn on you that he was the king, the messiah that had been prophesied in the ancient scrolls (book of Isaiah and Zechariah ).

 

That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am.

When did it set in? Your son… the great I am. Did you know? Did it take for that to settle? The son you hold, you birthed, sent by God, is the I am.

I love this song… and even in thinking of each piece of that song … I wonder how would I have reacted? Would my faith in God have been strong enough to endure the witnessing of the fulfillment of the prophesy without fighting back? Without fully displaying my grief….. at the role chosen for our son. Did MARY have nights where she probably sat in a corner kneeling, praying to God… pleading for her son?
Did she have that open Chanel of communication with God? I am most certain MARY was chosen because she was spiritually strong enough to endure what was to come.

Would I have been strong enough?

You got to admire that about Mary.

Would you have been able to?
I am most certain God prepared her along the way. Some way, some how. Prepared her for what was to come. Prepared her to set the example to have faith despite what her son was physically going through.

It must’ve hurt.

It hurts me thinking about the emotions I probably would’ve been juggling in her shoes.

It hurts me re reading the accounts that unfolded during the crucifixion…. watching the brutal reenactments of what he went through .

It hurts me knowing what my savior underwent for me… for you…. reading this…. for our salvation.
Mary may have known, Mary may have not known. It’s a pity we don’t have her gospel…. it would’ve been nice to read her point of view.
Regardless of whether she knew or not…. one thing is sure. She is a lot stronger than me. Maybe stronger than all of us….but maybe just maybe…. I can be just a little stronger…. if faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains…imagine what faith the side of a grape can do…. faith the size of a lemon….. faith the size of an elephant. Faith the size of the Rockerfeller Christmas tree.
Father today we will be gathering with our families. Today we begin to celebrate the birth of Christ. Though we know that today/ tomorrow is not his actual birthday, but have observed it to honor the birth of the Messiah, the birth of our savior, the birth of the Son of God. To give you all the Glory. To thank you for all your blessings. To thank you for our salvation. Father many of us would’ve probably not been able to handle the role Mary had, to be the vessel whom you used to birth Christ. Many of us wouldn’t have had her strength nor faith in you to stand back and witness her son be laughed at, disrespected, spit on, beat, persecuted and crucified. Many of us would have begged and proclaimed for you to instead place us is in his place. Mary understood. Mary knew, Mary loved you, Mary had faith in you. Mary had strength…. which you provided. Father I ask for the strength you have MARY, for faith like hers to trust in you wholeheartedly. I thank you. I love you. Amen

When God is silent

When God is silent.
What does one do when we make a plea to God and he is silent?
Psalm 83:1

O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still.
Do you fret and wonder if he is answering your prayer? Does doubt set in? Nerves? Do you Trust in your creator?
There are times that the reason we can’t hear isn’t because he is silent, but because we are not paying attention. some times he does answer the prayers. He is just silent.
So what are you going to do about it?

You want to hear your creator? Feel his presence? Know he is with you? Be able to get direction and solace in the midst of the silence.
Take a step back.

Take a look at your reflection.

Stare at the man and / or woman in the mirror.

Could you see your imperfections the way your creator can?

No.

We can try, first thing focus.

Recenter your priority.

Recenter your focus.

Recenter yourself with him in the center of your universe.

Have you confessed your sin to your creator?
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened” (New Living Translation).
We need to dig deep, no deeper in oneself.

Ask yourself:

Is my plea wrong? Is it favorable to you?

Is there something I did wrong?

Something I need to do?

(Yes sometimes we have to do a little work).

Are my motives pure?

Have I shown my love and faithfulness to my creator?

Our God is a jealous God, did I proclaim love for someone else more than God?

Should I repent?

Isn’t it wrong?

It’s ok let’s repent.

Accept that sometimes his silence can lead to the answer you are looking for…. or the answer he would rather give you.

Pray.

Praise him.

Submit.

Be patient.

Be silent.

Listen.
Silence can be a sign of intimacy and trust. He gave you the answer without saying so. Trusting in you, for the faith you have in him. Already providing the remedy before you even realized it, because you were sulking in not being able to hear him or get a direct answer.
Odd?

No of course not.

Ever had such an intimate bond with someone that just by looking at each other, you knew what the other was thinking.

A mere glance….silent in the same room yet being able to grasp a whole conversation. To be on the same wave length with another being.

Understanding every thought in that persons head without uttering a single word.

This is how our relationship with God ought to be. In the midst of the silence to be able to say thank you lord – I got the message.

I will heed your silent response. For in the midst of that silence more was done than you could ever realize.
Father I ask you today, in the midst of the silence, help me become more intimate with you. Help me become one with you. Help me understand my purpose in your plan in the midst of the silence. Help me hear you, in the midst of the silence. Help me connect with you, be on the same wave length as you. To be able to be in a silent room and know exactly what you have intended me to do. Amen

Questioning Authority

How many times have you questioned your creator today?
We have moments where we ask our creator why?

When things don’t turn out as you planned…. why God? Why is that one of the first things we ask?
We need to try to remember that it’s his will that needs to be done.

We need to remember it may not turn out the way you wanted, but this is exactly as God intended it to be.
When we question our creator we forget our mere place. We were created in our creators image not equal to our creator.
I have found myself questioning certain circumstances, but when I take a step back and see it in a different critical lens, I see where I was wrong. I bow my head, I ask God for forgiveness and thank God for directing my path.
How many times are we to be reminded of our place, of our roles, to be patient and listen.

God questioned Job when Job asked God of his circumstances. God asked Job, were you there when I created the oceans and the world, the sky and the animals… etc. where you there?

No we were not.

We were created by ash, by dirt by the infinite power of God who gave us life with one breath. We are children of ashes, children of dust, children of Adam and Eve whom were hand made by our creator.
Let’s take a step back.

Let’s meditate and focus on what is Gods will.
Father God I ask you to forgive me for anytime I have questioned my circumstances. Forgive me if I have questioned your motives. I ask for guidance, for strength, for motivation and to be able to fulfill your works with the path you have chosen for me. I ask that my ears are open so that I can follow your command. I ask that my mind is clear so I can no longer question your decision. I thank you father. In your holy name. Amen

It needs to end… We need justice

My brothers and sisters of color;My brothers and sisters in uniform;

My brothers and sisters in office;

My brothers and sisters in clergy;

My brothers and sisters in the military;

My brothers and sisters not of color;

We all need to have a civil discourse in humanity. We have lost our humanity. There is nothing humane in taking a life. There’s nothing new civil in retaliation. “An eye for an eye” only creates more chaos, more pain, more distrust, more hate, more divide.

People remember that because BLM movement denounces police killings of black people doesn’t mean members of the movement don’t care about the unjust death of police. You can (and should) care about black lives and care about cops at the same time. We should care about all life. Every life is valuable to God. Jesus paid that ultimate price for us.

The focus though is that BLM, black lives do matter…. Unequivocally the same as every person in uniform. Not less. Black lives matter Unequivocally the same as a white person…. Not less.

Society and the media is enslaving is in fear and isolation because some people are getting away with murder even with all the cameras and proof.

The problem is we are not being heard, our cries right now are in vain. No one is listening…. That’s frustrating …: but we can’t let that frustration lead to retaliation.

Love, God, Peace, growth, education and sadly power is what we need.

Peaceful non violent protests can send messages that we stand united as a people to end the violence…. On every spectrum…..civil rights are being violated and white America has turned their backs on us.
What we need to do is step up to the plate…. Get acquainted in the political course. Take these offices of the “leadership” that are under representing us. Seek to not only learn about your true history, but of the true histories of others… Do not conformed to the westernized white washed politically correct censored versions. The truth is out there, seek it.

Unfortunately to gain respect and power we need wealth…. Seek that power To make POSITIVE CHANGE. Don’t allow greed, temptation, and hate motivate you.
Life is too short, we have to make it right. We only have one life. We all need to get our humanity back and end the vicious cycle that has been bred for hundreds of years. We can not be enslaved in fear.
We have to put on our spiritual costs of arms for there are forces indulging in this manifestations of hate. Yes Prayers are needed, unity is needed, we all need to love one another and live as one…. Humans…. Racism and discrimination needs to cease, anger and resentment needs to go.
Look I have family in EVERY branch of law enforcement and military. So when a shooting to that group happens I worry more than you know. I also am a wife of a black man, a mother of two black men…. I am a person of color despite the lack of pigmentation I have inherited due to colonization, imperialism, slave trade, and Europeans profiting.

My ancestry can be traced back to indigenous Indians of the Caribbean. My ancestry can be traced to several European nations (Italian, French, England and Spain…. I’ve checked).

My ancestry can also be traced back to Africa.

My curls didn’t come from my Taino ancestors…. They came from the moors and African slaves that were brought forth to provide my European ancestors and the royal crown profits. I to am of color again despite my fair skin.

I stand and face the day wondering what else will my people endure.

How many more tears will shed.

I pray for my children.

I pray for my husband

I pray for our families during these difficult times.

I pray that blood shed will end overall.

I pray for change.

But we can’t sit idle waiting for change. Yes we pray and ask God for directions but we have to pull our weight… We have to do our part so God can answer our prayers.

We have to be change we want to see.

We want to violence to end need to continue to set the example.

​ Catcalling while with Children.

​

Catcalling while with Children.

I boycotted a Barber I used to take my son to get his hair cut because of catcalls by the other Barbers at the facility.

So I know the owner and have addressed my concerns with him.

I felt uncomfortable taking my son there.

I felt (and still feel uncomfortable) when I walk pass by.

Don’t get me wrong the owner of is amazing, nice and humble.

I can’t say the same for the other guys.

During the summer months a group of young men who hang out in front of the property.

They cat call any female, regardless of age.

They tried this with me while on my way to the barber to get his hair cut.

I entered, told the owner, he claimed he would talk to them, and I told him I would seek services elsewhere.

A few weeks later I witnessed them catcalling other females whom were passing by, again I was with my son walking home. They made lewd comments as women passed by, if a female would ignore them they would insult them. Call them derogatory names. So again, I reported it to the owner, again he claimed he would address them.

These employees went from cat calling women and girls to harassing city workers.

One evening, not too long after the Eric Garner situation, a Traffic agent was walking buy giving tickets to vehicles double parked. One of the individuals from the Barber had the vehicle double parked out side the establishment. When they saw that the Traffic Agent was writing up the ticket, They came out, yelled derogatory remarks, dis respected him, ripped up the ticket, and threatened him. They amp’ed up people whom were walking by whom also joined this parade of slander. I quickly reported the establishment to the Management of the Building, The precinct and the Owner.

I am all for the supporting the BLM, because black lives do matter, as a mother of two black boys, I fear for their future and hope that change can be made where their lives will be looked as valuable as one of a white person, or even an officer.

These men, are not activists, they were not stepping up to the agent in defense to any injustice.  They were illegally double parked, were upset, threw in some slurs, slang, and got those riled up as if that agent started.  I can honestly say that agent was doing his job.  This wasn’t about a movement it was about some idiot being just that, an idiot.

As of today 2 of the 4 troublemakers are no longer working there.

The 2 that remain continue to cat call.

the 2 that remain continue to be disrespectful.

I’ve confronted them when they try cat calling me.

I am a mother of two, a wife, a respectable woman, a church going woman, I do not condone disrespect in any fashion. whether it is disrespecting me, or another person.

In general, when confronted with Cat calling, sometimes I ignore it, sometimes I say something. Sometimes I remind them I am with child and this is not the attention I seek nor a behavior i condone my child to witness. when I am with my children I grill them.

When I am alone I say something and give my two cents.

People should just learn to respect others, look if you think someone is attractive, look, observe, keep your comments to yourself.  There is no need to make anyone uncomfortable.  I get it your have your right to free speech.  I have a right to file a sexual harassment complaint for making me feel uncomfortable, for being disrespectful.

Gone are the days of empathy, class and respect.

😦

WOKE.

​

Woke.

Revelation 3:2-3 ESV / 39 helpful votes Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember,

then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not

wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I

will come against you.

Stay woke.

Stay awake.

Be alert.

Woke.

We need to be woke.

Is this a new trendy word being use because of Netflix’s new mini series?

No, stay woke has been used for quite some time.

We need to open up our eyes, see what is going on, we need to all stay woke.

We as a people have been awake from some time.

Many have led efforts towards equality.

Many have led efforts to end discrimination.

Many have led peace efforts.

Many have led efforts to education others on cultural sensitivies.

Many have their eyes wide shut.

Many do not understand this concept of “Woke”, “staying Woke” living a life “woke.

To many this is all brand new.

The Oxford Dictionary Defines woke as:

adjective

US informal

Alert to injustice in society, especially racism.

‘we need to stay angry, and stay woke’

‘does being woke mean I have to agree with what all other woke folks say should be done about issues in the black community?’

‘the West Coast has the wokest dudes’

So to make this a bit more interesting, I went to Urban dictionary and pulled some of the many samples they have in the event anyone is interested in reading.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=woke

Woke

Being Woke means being aware.. Knowing whats going on in the community

(Relating to Racism and Social Injustice)

Person 1: Stop bringing racism into everything

Person 2 : Your clearly not woke

Woke

Although an incorrect tense of awake, a reference to how people should be aware in current affairs.

example:

“While you are obsessing with the Kardashians, there are millions of homeless in the world. STAY WOKE”

Woke

Getting woke is like being in the Matrix and taking the red pill. You

get a sudden understanding of what’s really going on and find out you

were wrong about much of what you understood to be truth.

woke

being aware of the social. and political environments regarding all demographics and socio-economic standings.

After seeing that someone is completely clueless to the latest political mess:

Me: I can’t believe she doesn’t know what’s going on, or why it’s a problem. She is so not woke.

Woke

Being awake and actually living. Not being a sleepwalker and going thru

life like a zombie. Actually chasing your dreams and living your life

how you want by being enlightened and awake to opportunity

We are living in times where things are getting worse by the day.

Racism and racial tensions are at an alltime high.

WE are living in times of fear.

The media mass produces fear.

We are also living in times where people are tired of nothing getting done.

Nothing solving the problems.

No realistic solutions to re-stabilize the nation.

Loss of hope for real equality for all regardless of race, skin, heritage etc.

Now to my passage in Romans. The same way I am asking all to be civicially woke.

We need to be spiritually “woke”.

We need to open our eyes, education ourselves, spiritually arm oneselves and be “woke”.

We need to be ready.

Armour’s up.

Knowledge up.

Filled with Faith.

Believing.

We need to be spiritually woke.

#racism

#injustice

#black lives matter

#woke

#stay woke

#been woke

#microaggression

#99%

Father God, we are living in some very trying times. Political Correctness is at an all time high and an all time low. There is no respect for authority, no respect for humanity, people are numb to the going so f the world. Many are accepting things that are not approved by you. I myself have fallen victim of being numb, accepting things I ought not accept. I ask for forgiveness. I ask for mercy. I ask that this numb feeling go away. Dear Lord I pray that the world and the going so f the world improves. I pray that we are not only socially, culturally woke, but spiritually woke as well.

Amen.

A Levitical-kind-of-love

As Kingfishers Catch FireDay 3  •  1 of 2
This is Day3 of a three part series for a devotional that I read. It was deep it was amazing. I do not remember where I got this whether it was online or via email I copied and pasted it because i wanted to re read it. Above is the details of the author so that they may get full credit for this.

I posted the other two parts of this devotional yesterday and the previous day. I will though add a prayer at the end of the devotional and word from this amazing series. Enjoy.
Devotional

Love, Love, Love

If we’re honest, most of us consider Leviticus dry reading, the kind of reading to do if you’re having trouble falling asleep or you’re doing some kind of forced penance. But not so fast. There’s something going on in those pages, something stirring.
“No single word in Leviticus has been quoted more often or in so many different contexts than this imperative verb in Leviticus 19:18: love. The word is threaded all through the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures and embedded on nearly every page of the New Testament. Love as a verb is personal, relational, comprehensive. Love is the primary verb in our Scriptures as a whole and in our language still.”
The uber-popular phrase these days is “Love wins.” But the question must be posed, “What kind of love?” And that question must be asked because there is the love we have for our trucks and cars, the love we have for musicians and their ballads, the love for sports teams, movies, pets, tacos, and the list goes on, doesn’t it? So if love does indeed win, and let’s believe it does, then again, what kind?
A Levitical-kind-of-love, that’s what kind. The kind that is straightforward without pages and pages of qualifications and loopholes. The kind that is direct and to-the-point and unconcerned with what’s uber-popular or not these days. The kind that loves a neighbor like we love ourselves, period, end of discussion, whether we feel like it or not. That’s the kind of love that not only wins, but conquers all, forever and ever, amen.

And to think we thought Leviticus was boring.

Just do it. Love your neighbor as yourself.
After day 3 I found where I got this devotional from: Thanks for reading through Eugene’s YouVersion Reading Plan! 

Leviticus 19:18 KJV

KJV Listener’s Bible

    

                

18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Father God thank you for loving us. I ask you for guidance in embracing the “A Levitical-kind-of-love”. To be able to fully love everyone and embrace that ability. I pray for you to open my heart to love with all my might, so that love wins, so that love may conquer. Amen.

I am a friend of God

As Kingfishers Catch FireDay 2  •  1 of 2
This is Day 2 of a three part series for a devotional that I read. It was deep it was amazing. I do not remember where I got this whether it was online or via email I copied and pasted it because i wanted to re read it. Above is the details of the author so that they may get full credit for this.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow I will post this 3 day devotional. I will though add a prayer at the end of the devotional and word from this amazing series. Enjoy.

Devotional

God’s Friend

We find ourselves living in a time when the common question is not “Who are your friends?” but “How many friends do you have?” The focus is on numbers, not names. This makes sense in our social media obsessed world twhere it is possible to have hundreds, even thousands of friends. Or at least that’s the word we use when describing these people although many we’ve never met in person and some we could possibly pass by in a crowd and not recognize. But they are our friends. Right?
Maybe not. 
Maybe we’ve gutted that potent word of its force, and now it is so 

common as to mean everything, or, in other words, nothing. We’ve rendered it impotent. It is interesting that of all the words that could have been used to describe this man’s relationship with God, the one chosen was friend. And the man was a particular man with a name – Abraham.

“Being a friend is the opposite of being an enemy. That simple contrast stands out above all else in Abraham. Abraham was on such terms with his God that he responded without suspicion and without fear. Abraham somehow knew that God was on his side, that God was for him and with him, a friend…To be a friend of God does not mean everything is cozy between you and the Almighty.

 To be a friend to someone does not mean you pamper or indulge him or her. Friendship also involves struggle and loss, tension and turbulence…A friend, if honest and true, will tell you things you don’t want to hear. A friend, if deeply serious about you, will do things that feel painful. Friends do that because they respect our dignity and honor our uniqueness.”
So instead of wasting time focusing on numbers, how about bringing to mind some names that fit the above description of a friend? Could one of those friends be God? What would it mean for you to call yourself a friend of God? What could it mean for you to live like that?

Friend is totally about a relationship, not a function.

James 2:23 KJV

23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Father God I thank you for being a friend to me. I thank you for allowing me to be your friend. Thank you the relationships I have built whom are all friends of yours. I want to build more relationships with like minded folks. I want to be surrounded by positive relationships that strengthen one another vs building one another down or using one another. I thank you for your love and your kindness. I thank you for allowing our relationship, our friendship dear lord to grow. I pray for you reading this looking for growth in your relationship with God, I pray for you to have faith and patience. Know I am a friend of God, he calls me friend, but you too are a friend of God, and he calls you friend too. Keep looking, keep searching, keep praying. The road is not easy, but he got this. Trust in him. Amen

A Life of Congruence

 AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE by Eugene PetersonDay 1  •  
This is a three part series for a devotional that I read. It was deep it was amazing. I do not remember where I got this whether it was online or via email I copied and pasted it because i wanted to re read it. Above is the details of the author so that they may get full credit for this.

Today, tomorrow and the following day I will post this 3 day devotional. I will though add a prayer at the end of the devotional and word from this amazing series. Enjoy.
Devotional

A Life of Congruence

Congruence.

 Basically the word means “in harmony” or that “the outside matches the inside.” A life of congruence is one lived where your words and actions truck with the things you believe in your head. This is not an easy way to live by any means. But the alternative is living a life that’s divided against itself; in other words, a lie. So the effort is worth it.

It is entirely possible that you cannot recall ever hearing the word congruence. But there was a phrase people used to use to describe the same thing: practice what you preach. Does that one ring a bell? People who don’t practice what they preach are called “hypocrites,” which is another way of saying a pretender or an actor (and not in a positive sense). Do your words and actions match up with the thoughts that roll around inside your head? Or do you find yourself playing a role, saying or doing things that run cross-grain to what you think you believe?

The preface to As Kingfishers Catch Fire, says: “The Christian life is the lifelong practice of attending to the details of congruence – congruence between ends and means, congruence between what we do and the way we do it, congruence between what is written in Scripture and our living out what is written, congruence between preaching and living, congruence between the sermon and what is lived in both preacher and congregation, the congruence of the Word made flesh in Jesus with what is lived in our flesh.”
The opposite of congruence is some variation on the theme of compartmentalization that probably looks like “I’ve got my Christian life over here, my social life over there, my family life off over there, and my work life is back there.” Yes, that’s a house divided against itself. A house that in time will not stand.No dissonance between word and spirit, no pretense.

Ephesians 4:14 KJV

 

KJV Listener’s Bible            

14That

 we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Father God I thank you for another day. I would want nothing more than a life of congruence. To have a life filled in harmony with you. To have a life filled in harmony with my loved ones. To be able have a balance between my life as your child, my life with my families and every other aspect in it. Thank you for sending this powerful devotional series. Please bless the author, please bless any one reading who may be seeking peace and harmony. Amen.