Walking on Purpose, with Purpose

Have you ever been bored and decided go to Wal-mart or Target and just walk around, probably going down the same aisles again and again, with no purpose? I have. I went in the store on purpose, but without any purpose. Normally, if a store has “good customer service," someone would approach me and ask, “Can I help you find something?” My guess is because the look on my face says “help me” and probably because I’ve been walking very slow like I’ve never been here before. I would smile and politely say, “No thank you, just looking” and carry on looking around like a lost puppy and end up buying something that I really didn’t need.

That can be dangerous, wouldn’t you agree? Walking around on purpose with no purpose, what’s wrong with me?

I’ve been working for the same company for years, doing the same ol’ thing; it’s okay, I’m getting the bills paid and besides moving up within the company is too much work, all the politics and mess in between I rather not entertain it…. so I’ll just stay… where I’m safe, I know this place. Why do I stay, I sometimes ask myself. Because…. I’m working on purpose; not with a purpose…I really can’t explain.

I’ve been seeing someone for a short time now, its cool, drama free… we hang out together, share our time watching movies, and jokes whatever happens… happens, it really doesn’t matter to me. However, we have two different ideas of what a relationship is and I know inside it will never be, why do I stay? Oh that’s simple, because….I’m walking on purpose; without a purpose…. just doing me.

I have to get it together, I MUST focus on what’s important. It’s so easy to teach it, but doing it… can be difficult. I'm walking with purpose on purpose….just wait and see. I’m working at this job with a purpose, not just to pay the bills. I’m not going to allow fear to enter my heart and come out of my mouth, by listening to someone else’s bad experiences or my own limitations, which I have created in my mind to come to pass. I’m on a mission, I have a vision, and I have a purpose.

GOT to be more careful…. Maybe I do have a purpose on dating this person. Am I selfish for enjoying the company of another person? But again I ask myself, what is the purpose? And to be honest, it’s all about me and that’s not a good enough answer, because nothing good ever comes out of being selfish. I have to let it go, I have be happy with me, balance and whole by myself. There’s nothing to fear, I’m not going to feel lonely. There is a difference being between alone and lonely. And if I search for that balance in my life through God, I can never be lonely. People can always leave you, misunderstand your intentions, have wrong motivates and so on, there is no perfect love like God’s love. How can I be lonely with that?

I decided to walk out the rest of my life on and with purpose. I don’t want to look like I'm walking around God’s earth lost in Wal-mart, looking for help. I may end up with something that I really don’t need, wasted my time, money and gas. Instead, I’ve decided to focus on the only truth I know, GOD. And if someone else doesn’t understand it; it’s okay because they have there own purpose to walk in…. just don’t interfere with mine.

"Beware of the Lion"

Going into a new year can be so exciting, we can sometimes make the mistake of sharing our visions and dreams with everyone. What’s meant for you is for you; it's not always for your friends and family. A lot of people will give you advice on what they personally experienced, and unknowingly, totally destroy the passion and zeal you have for your own vision. Be careful, and stay alert.

The enemy is waiting for you to leave the pack of people who are positive and live based on their belief in the unseen world. Allow me to share with you, how I see the enemy and compare his tactics with the patience, skill and talent of a Lion, who waits to kill it’s prey.

The lion has the ability to hide and intently observe it’s prey, as it slinks its way closer to a kill. The grasslands and brush provide excellent cover for lions as they sneak up on their prey. Lions utilize the cover of night to increase their foraging success by hunting when the moon is either down or covered by clouds. [Ever notice the devil does a lot of his dirt during the night, or when your heart is in a dark place?]

When stalking its prey, the lion changes its posture by lowering its head and body staying low to the ground, keeping a visual lock on the target prey. [People will sit and watch you, waiting for the perfect time to put their two cents into your situation, calculating how to end your dreams with each little negative word] Whenever the prey looks away or looks down to eat, the lion creeps closer, and if the prey is to look in the direction of the lion, the lion will cease its movement and remain still, [Smooth operator isn't he, just when you think maybe this person isn't good for me, you’ll say the right words just keeping me on the line, not allowing me to go to far away from you] this “red light-green light” type of interplay continues until the lion gets within striking distance. After the lion has entered the striking distance, it pounces and ends the chase rather abruptly [and before you know it, you have allowed the enemy into your heart and your dreams are now pushed to the back of the closet,... full of “what ifs” and “excuses”]

1Peter 5:8

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

All the goals and plans you have written down for yourself, trust and know, they will come to pass. If they line up with the word of God, require faith to make it happen, these are great signs that God is in it. Pray that God send you people without hidden motivates who you can share and develop your ideas with you.

Next year isn’t just another year, its harvest time for many; there is a season and time for everything (Ecclesiastes3:1). I believe, 2012 is a year of harvest and I make it a point not to cast my pearls upon pigs (Matthew 7:6). I believe in what God has told me and I will walk expecting to see it all come to past. I challenge you to do the same, stay encourage.

Don’t put your issues off on me!

Perhaps it’s just me, but why do people often put there hang ups off on others. I was sharing with my co - workers about my daughter getting braces in the next few months, and they immediately started talking about the negative experiences they encountered. They started to speak death on my child, not life! They referred to it as “just letting you know” but in fact, they were speaking their own life failures on me and my child. I must admit I did get frustrated, to be honest it pissed me off. So in that moment, I came against that spirit, rebuked it and spoke the truth. "My child will not go through those experiences" and left my office.

But after receiving revelation, I realized that it had nothing to do with me and was reminded that my fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness.

For some reason I wasn’t over it. I was still pissed off. Why? Because I didn’t resolve the issue within my spirit, yes I came against that thought and “checked” the person or persons with the truth, but my spirit needed more. I was being developed.

It’s the spirit in me that’s being challenged. The word says that when you resist the devil he must flee and I believe that spirit did flee from that person, however unfortunately after the fact; I realized that the likely hood of it returning back to that person was high. It all started to make sense. Daily I was coming against spirits around me, but I was still missing it. I was praying wrong, it was never about me, my prayers were a temporary fix, because the spirits always returned and sometimes worse.

That person or persons needed a word. They needed to be delivered, not rebuked. You can’t be delivered from something unless you first, repent from the behavior, turn away from it, and replace it with a healthy behavior. And once that same initial issue comes back (and it will) you’re be able to turn away from it. That’s a true sign of being delivered. The replacing of the old behavior is very crucial, because if you don’t replace it, the same spirit will return seven times worse than before.

Matthew 12: 43-45
But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through dry [arid] places in search of rest, but it does not find any.
44Then it says, I will go back to my house from which I came out. And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, put in order, and decorated.
45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be with this wicked generation.

That’s what was happening all around me, I was coming against evil spirits, forcing them to flee because I have that authority to do so. However, because that person wasn’t delivered the spirits returned the next time they were tested. As a Christian I want to see deliverance, it’s not just about me. I learned a valuable lesson; instead of coming against that spirit, I prayed for that person’s spirit to gain wisdom and understanding of the truth. For God to immediately send people of positive influence into their lives so they can be led from thier evil ways and walk towards things that will bring them life. I now start to speak life and blessing on people instead of judging them, because when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, he the judge, are doing the very same things. Romans 2:1

Which Way Do I Go

So you’re trying to hear from God? Maybe about moving to a new city, a new job, buying land or maybe you’re wondering if this person is the one for you. Whatever your question is, God has the answer and He’s not keeping it from you. The word says tells us

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

God is always talking. We just can’t always hear, due to static.

Yes static, for a moment think of the communication between you and God as a radio wave. If something or someone interferes with the feed between the two waves it will cause static. Therefore the message will continue to go forth, but you would have miss part of the message due to the static.

Okay, so what can cause static; unforgiveness, bitterness, pride, lust, a lying tongue, and list can go on and on. I think you know where I’m going with this, if you have sin in your life it’s difficult to hear from God. Now I know some of you “know it all's” are going to say, “We all have sin” and this is true, but willfully sinning and falling short are two different things and I think we all know that. HOWEVER, He forgives that which is dealt with; through confession and accountability, thereby is NO STATIC.

Psalm 32:5

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]--then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Another way to have static is asking too many people for their opinion or advice. God is trying to lead you in the right direction, but you just have to ask your Auntie and your closest friends for their two cents. Yes, God does say to seek Godly counsel, but he also says in Colossians 3:15 to let the peace from Christ rule as an umpire in your hearts.

Whenever I’m making a decision and I feel confusion, that’s my sign to step back; not confusing this feeling with being uncomfortable, but feeling stressful or unbalance. I allow the peace of God to decide and settle all the questions in my mind. I find wisdom in making choices that I will be happy with today and tomorrow and day after tomorrow.

God is the only one who knows what I need and when I will need it. We must remember we are spiritual being having a natural experience. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Trusting God can be “scare-fully beautiful”; its “scary” to let go after controlling your life for so long, but so “beautiful” to have the most loving being control it. Not you’re friends, family or even your spouse knows what the future has in store for you, but God does. Yes, they all love you, but at the end of the day, it’s about your personal relationship with God, not the worlds.

So I challenge you to start getting the static out of you life and allow a clear frequency to develop between and the Most High. There are 66 stations available you just have to tune in.

Presume Nothing, Instead Give Thanks

Cheryl and Michael have been married for 5 years and have a ten old son named Devin. For Christmas Devin wants a Four- Wheeler. Devin first came to his mother, “Mom, I wanna four -wheeler for Christmas!” with so much excitement in his voice. Cheryl had a look of concern and said, “Hmmm go tell your Dad about that request.”

“Dad, I wanna Four- Wheeler for Christmas and Mom didn’t say no, all my friends are getting one and you told me that you had one when you were my age….” Michael interrupted Devin, “Son, close down…..and I need to think about this, that’s a lot of responsiblilty.” Devin whined, “Pleasssssse, Dad.” His Dad said again, “Let me think about it.”

For a month, all Devin would talk about was the Four – Wheeler. He even did extra cleaning and asked to help his Mom out in the kitchen. Before He knew it, Christmas was here. He woke up, ran down stairs like a jack rabbit, passed all the other gifts under the tree, open the back door circle around the house, but their was no four- wheeler. He walked back in the house, with tears in his eyes full of disappointment. He didn’t even care to open his gifts under the tree; in silence he went back up to his room.

Soon after his parents came up stairs, “Son, I know you're upset about not getting the four-wheeler, but I just don’t feel in my heart that you're ready for this, I’m not telling you no, just not right now” his Dad said. Devin was so hurt, he didn’t understand. All the whining got to his Mom and Dad. The next day, Devin was surprised to wake up with his Four-Wheeler in the drive way.

The next morning, Devin was so excited, drove the Four- Wheeler right into traffic and thank god for His grace, Devin wasn’t killed. His parents allowed Devin’s pouting changed their good judgment. Michael and Cheryl missed God. Needless to say, they took the Four- Wheeler away from Devin and he got back a year later, but the lesson that was learned could have killed their son. God is always talking, but are you listening? A better question is, do you want to hear what He has to say?

I’ve learned to not allow other people’s unhappiness and whining change what God has already told me. I presume nothing, but instead give thanks for everything. I don’t have to understand why someone says no, and I don’t have try and figured it out. Instead I give thanks for everything else and know that God is in control.

Life isn’t fair, and my circumstances don’t always add up the way I see fit. But as a Christians, I’m not moved by others or my own emotions, I’m guided by the voice of God; the Holy Spirit that dwells in me. If I lead with my emotions that’s subject to change like the wind. Instead my confidence is placed in the Lord, and that will never change.

So I thank you God for daily covering me, and getting me out the mess I sometimes create with my own thinking, and like clock work you always guide me right back to my target; never letting me miss a beat. I know the cost of not being obedient, and not having your favor. Thank you for always, being there even when I wasn’t.

Ride the Current

Have you ever wondered why birds fly in circles before flying south? They are waiting for the right current that will take them all the way to the south for the whether. Just as there are currents in the seas, there are currents in the air. And the birds just hop right on for the ride, guiding them right to their destination.

How amazing is that? There are regular routes that the birds take every year in the AIR, just waiting for them, like trains or the bus line. They have enough faith in their natural born senses to trust the same routes year after year. God is amazing! I couldn’t help but to think about Matthew 6:25 -26

25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

I just wanna dance and jump around like a child on a playground when I think about how much He must love me. To care enough to have routes in the air for His birds, how much more does He have waiting for me, that I can't even see?!

Just as the birds have currents in the sky; we have a current in our heart called the Holy Spirit. The key is to believe there are routes designed for your life, created to guide you until you reach your goal. And if you just wait long enough for the right current, at the right time, you can jump on it and it will carry you right into your destiny.

GOD, you're not incredible, you are so credible, in every way.

Growings Pains

Have you ever prayed for God to move something or someone out of your life? I know I have, in fact I notice the closer I get to God the more circumstances around me get more intense. What’s that about? This morning a light bulb came on; that during those moments of tension are actually times of development.

God is more interested in changing you, than the circumstances around you. If you pray for a stronger love walk, then your going to encounter situations to test your love walk. How else are you going to develop and grow in that area of your life, than to experience it?

I started to call it, a life course. In order to get a passing grade, I must measure it by the way I react to the circumstances around me, this will determine my success.

I realize that in order for me to become successful in any area in my life I have to able to endure the times of development. So instead of praying for God to remove me from the fire, I ask for Him to give me strength to endure these trials of development, so that I can overcome these challenges and use it as a testimony. I pray to comprehend where I am at spiritually during those times of emotional challenges and give thanks for God preparing me for the next level.

I know that my own development is greater than the gift. The promises are going to come; the concern is being able to keep the gift once it comes. If you can’t manage $100.00 you can’t manage $100,000.00.

I have to be open to acknowledge the areas in my life that need improvement. So when God starts to develop and grow me in those areas I don’t run from the pain, instead I learn to embrace the growing pains and look forward to the results. By faith, I know that God will never leave me, He is faithful and by the love of Christ that lives in me and surpasses all knowledge and understanding, I know I will survive and pass every life course that I encounter.

Ephesians 3:16-21
16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Fight for your life

Before you go into any fight three major keys must go into action. You must be spiritually, mentally, and physically fit. I know a lot of Christians who are fit in one or two of the three mentioned. But unfortunately I do see plenty of Christians who are not physically fit. It hurts my heart to see people with great gifts and talents from God, but can’t fully walk in there calling do to health problems. To see someone who can’t stand for all of the praise and worship due to exhaustion. To see powerful men and women of God pass away from Heart Disease or compilations from diabetes all from not living a healthy lifestyle. It’s a trick of the enemy and it’s time for the children of God to know the truth. God wants you whole spiritually, mentally, and physically.

It’s imperative that you realize just how important it is to maintain physical health, as it is for you’re spiritual and mental health. You can’t just read and study about it. You must put your knowledge and understanding into action and learn to discipline your body by your thinking.

In the beginning your flesh will reject what’s pure; mainly because it’s unfamiliar. Your body craves whatever you put into it, spiritually, mentally and physically. We have to break down those old bad habits and build them up with new healthy habits. During any type of self development training the tearing down process is painful, but the building up process can be even more of a challenge. It takes discipline, you must get your mind determine on what your about to accomplish. Your thinking is navigated by your discipline. Your discipline is in alignment with your willingness to change. Limitations are set by your own discipline, which reflects your thinking. Fight for your health by making a decision to live a balance lifestyle.

Proverbs 10:17
The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.

Proverbs 12:1
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Proverbs 23:12
Give yourselves to disciplined instruction; open your ears to tested knowledge.

Just to be with you

Dear Friend

I don’t want a zeal for you, without the knowledge and understating of you. My zeal comes from your wisdom and joy now rooted in me, formed from our personal relationship. I see you all around me….it’s so overwhelming at times to know that someone as large as you craves to have a relationship in me. You’re my first love, my best friend, my every thing, humbling I walk into your glory worshiping your presence. I seek you daily, awaiting our next encounter. It’s such a privilege to have an intimate relationship with you, and don’t take it for granted. Knowing you has become like the air I breathe. I can’t live without you.

Psalm 27:4

4 I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet.

What are you talking about?

Larry grew up in an environment that was far from God. His mother was so upset with her past choices she expressed her anger and unhappiness towards Larry. Because Larry’s mother was abused as a child, always made to feel inadequate and told over and over again how much she was a mistake. She repeated the same type of behavior towards her own child. Larry grew up hearing the same familiar rage his mother heard as a child.

Unfortunately, a family curse was planted in this generation years ago; today Larry is married with a baby of the way; Larry battles with depression, and anger issues. He needs daily encouragement from his wife and questions why someone as lovely as her would want to stay with him and all his issues. These feeling were formulated by the words his mother planted in his mind as a child. Larry has to make a NOW decision to create the future God desires for his life, not what the enemy desires.

Does he continue to feel sorry for his self, and blame his unloving childhood for his current situation? Does he have a right to stay angry with his mother for the mistakes she made? We all have generational curses, but that isn’t an excuse to repeat the behavior, nor to carry unforgiveness. You have every right to stay in your mess, but thank God for Jesus who has shown us away out. You can break that curse! You say, “Starting today I am a different person, this curse ends with me and will not continue in my family.” You have a choice. You don’t have to believe to lies the devil has tried to put on you.

Larry didn’t realize that what the devil meant for bad God turned it around for his glory. Larry’s wife is believer in Jesus Christ and prayed for him to be delivered and released from the strongholds on his life. Thanks to God, Larry realized who he really was, and everything that his mother said to and about him was a lie. He forgave his mother, and understands that it was never personal; she just didn’t know any better. The great part now is because Larry has forgiven his mother, God can work on her in Larry’s behalf.

Words are very powerful, so powerful that God created the earth and everything in it by speaking it into exist.

We kill people everyday with the words that come out of our month. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me….WHATEVER!! Why do you think that man picked up that stick and hit you with it? Someone said something to him. You can make or break someone by your words.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Family, please take time to watch who you’re killing today by your words, you never know when someone can be right on the edge of jumping; your words can save them or push them off the bridge. Words have the power to kill your dreams, goals, self esteem, and even someone’s life. Instead use this power to uplift, encourage, grow, guide and lead someone into their destiny.

Obedience is better than a Sacrifice

Unlike us silly humans, our God is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow. There’s power in going back into God’s read and remembering who he is and what he’s done for us and what’s still come…. it’s a privilege. I love it.

As I read Jeremiah today 7:13-28 and got reminded to listen to the voice of God and to obey it. Obedience is better then a sacrifice. YES, thank God that today we live by His mercy and grace, but the message remains the same. You’re not hurting God by your disobedience or only hurting yourself.

No one else could tell todays blog better than Jeremiah himself, as God told him, in chapter 7:13-28 (The Message Translation)

13-15"'So now, because of the way you have lived and failed to listen, even though time and again I took you aside and talked seriously with you, and because you refused to change when I called you to repent, I'm going to do to this Temple, set aside for my worship, this place you think is going to keep you safe no matter what, this place I gave as a gift to your ancestors and you, the same as I did to Shiloh. And as for you, I'm going to get rid of you, the same as I got rid of those old relatives of yours around Shiloh, your fellow Israelites in that former kingdom to the north.'

16-18"And you, Jeremiah, don't waste your time praying for this people. Don't offer to make petitions or intercessions. Don't bother me with them. I'm not listening. Can't you see what they're doing in all the villages of Judah and in the Jerusalem streets? Why, they've got the children gathering wood while the fathers build fires and the mothers make bread to be offered to 'the Queen of Heaven'! And as if that weren't bad enough, they go around pouring out libations to any other gods they come across, just to hurt me.

19"But is it me they're hurting?" God's Decree! "Aren't they just hurting themselves? Exposing themselves shamefully? Making themselves ridiculous?

20"Here's what the Master God has to say: 'My white-hot anger is about to descend on this country and everything in it—people and animals, trees in the field and vegetables in the garden—a raging wildfire that no one can put out.'

21-23"The Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God: 'Go ahead! Put your burnt offerings with all your other sacrificial offerings and make a good meal for yourselves. I sure don't want them! When I delivered your ancestors out of Egypt, I never said anything to them about wanting burnt offerings and sacrifices as such. But I did say this, commanded this: "Obey me. Do what I say and I will be your God and you will be my people. Live the way I tell you. Do what I command so that your lives will go well."

24-26"'But do you think they listened? Not a word of it. They did just what they wanted to do, indulged any and every evil whim and got worse day by day. From the time your ancestors left the land of Egypt until now, I've supplied a steady stream of my servants the prophets, but do you think the people listened? Not once. Stubborn as mules and worse than their ancestors!'

27-28"Tell them all this, but don't expect them to listen. Call out to them, but don't expect an answer. Tell them, 'You are the nation that wouldn't obey God, that refused all discipline. Truth has disappeared. There's not a trace of it left in your mouths.

Wow, what a powerful lesson to be taught.....thank you for your mercy and grace. And thank you for your holy spirit that leads and guides me daily.
Don’t refuse discipline; go after the truth, not your own lustful desires.

~Obedience is better than a sacrifice.

Moving Forward!!

“You don’t think I know that I fail at school ten years ago, I know that much. Do you really need to remind me that my first marriage failed or I wasn’t a good parent? I mean really… you don’t think I thought about that? I think I know I’m over weight, I look in mirror everyday. Must you continue to remind me of my debt, I'm doing the best I can?”

Your friends and family can keep you in your past, never allowing you to move forward. Believe it not, they aren’t always doing it to hurt you, they think their just advising you, or showing their concern, or pointing out the possible dangers by recalling past events.
What they really are doing is opening doors for fear to come in. You can’t move forward if you’re dwelling on events in the past.

Your past DOES NOT create your future. Your past creates your NOW, and you’re now choices create your FUTURE. The world has convinced you that your past mistakes will make your future. Let’s say this again, your PAST creates your NOW not your future. If you don’t like where you are now, make better choices today and create a future.

For the past five years of your life you ate junk food daily, working out was the last thing on your mind. You’re NOW over weight; this is what you have created, by your bad habits in your PAST. Does that mean your always going to be over weight? No, you can change your FUTURE by changing your NOW decisions.

For years you have cheated, lied and step on people to get whatever you wanted out of life. You have learned to influence every situations for your own good, never caring who may get hurt during the process. That was your PAST decisions; that NOW makes you feel this current anxiety in your life. But that doesn’t mean that has to be your FUTURE. You can change your mind, your thinking and your behavior, by your NOW decisions.

I don’t need to know about my past in order to move forward. What I need to know is that, because I recognized and acknowledge my past mistakes, came to the Father and repented, God has forgiven me for all your past sins. If God doesn’t need to bring it up, then why should I? I need to know that no matter what I did in my past or today; God’s love for me will never change. I need to know that my focus needs to be on my future, what God has for me and that I’m moving forward and NEVER going back to my PAST.

Paul says it best in the message translation Philippians 3:13

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back.

What's your Motivation

What’s your motivation for praying? Are you afraid that if you don’t pray, you’re going to hell? Do you pray to be successful because you don’t want to lack anymore? Do you pray for relationships, because you’re afraid of being alone? Do you pray for healing because you’re afraid someone is going to die? There is a common denominator in all of this FEAR. Your prayer can not be base off of fear, God works by faith. What is your motive behind the prayer? Whatever you start with is what you'll end with.

Fear is not a good thing. If you start to lose weight because you're afraid of being fat, or getting sick. That will be your base throughout your entire life; if someone were to ask you, “Let’s go and get ice cream” your response will be in fear. “Oh, no I can’t because I don’t want to eat that; I may start getting fat again.” Now you’re not eating because of the fear of getting fat again. The same principle stands for money. “I’m afraid to spend this money because what if something happens, yes I have extra, but you just never know.” Fear is ruling your life.

God operates by faith, the devil operates by fear. Sometimes, it may be hard to understand the difference between being wise and being in fear. This was a challenge for me. I had to get serious and look at myself. I turned to the word of God.

James 4:2-3
1-2Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

I wanted my way, and I would pray out of fear of not getting it, or living without it. I had to turn my prayers into FAITH prayers, by taking myself out of it. Whatever God has in store for me will be, and I'm ready to receive it. I had to use common sense, God does not want me to lack in any area, (Philippians 4:19) so why am I tripin’? FEAR that’s why, not trusting God to provide all my needs, thinking that I’m missing out on something; the only thing that I was missing out on.... was TRUST. If I can’t trust God, I can’t have the faith to see everything come to pass.

If a close friend came to you and requested that you do them a favor, and you were so excited that they thought enough of you to allow you to help them out. But as you were getting everything together and working on their behalf; you notice that they were working on the same thing they asked you for help with. How would that make you feel? Maybe you would think that they don’t trust you? Maybe you would just stop everything all together and let them do it, considering their doing it anyway. Stop trying to figure out stuff that you have turned over to God. Let God be God. Why would you ask for help and not let Him help you? Maybe because you’re afraid that it won’t happen on your time or your way?

Get FEAR out of your prayer life. And watch God work. As Christians we pray by FAITH not by FEAR.

It's Only Temporary

When things start to get overbearing for me in my life; such as the pain I endure from spin class, the drama at work with my co – workers, or even a stressful moment in my personal life at home; I always say, it’s temporary. I have to remind myself; that this season that I’m in, right now, is temporary. So why give it anymore attention than what’s needed.

Moments of frustration, is where you’re able to see your level of faith. Who do you run too? What keeps your attention, the truth or the lies the devil is working on daily trying to plant in your mind. You do know that the devil can’t do anything without your help? He lives in your secrets, in those dark closets where you pushed your insecurities into, hoping that no one will ever find out. If you don’t entertain those thoughts, the devil has no power. If you’re transparent about your mistakes, no one can throw them back at you, if you try your best to walk in truth; the lies said about you will never prevail. Don’t allow the enemy to dictate what’s already written for your life. This moment in time is temporary, but God’s word is permanent.

Numbers 23:19-20
God is not a man, that he should lie,

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?

20 I have received a command to bless;

he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Let’s work on focusing on what’s permanent, not temporary such as God’s love, which will never change! Aren’t we excited about that…. No matter what you say or do He will never stop loving you. Remember, when you were out there acting like a wild animal, stealing, fighting, lying, and cheating. God loved you with his mercy and grace. PRAISE GOD.

What a privilege it is to know Jesus, what a privilege it is to know who you are in Christ. And by Christ I am, the righteousness of God. What a privilege it is to know, that my past is behind me, and I am not that person anymore and no one can tell me different. What a privilege to have daily favor. Thank you Jesus! What a privilege it is to know that this season is temporary and I ONLY focus on what's permanent. Which is my GOD, my savor, my father, my healer, my provider, my deliverer, and my KING.

Controlling Your Envirnoment

It’s very interesting that the world has manipulated words such as authority, control, dominant, and superior to be conveyed as an aggressive, forceful, overbearing, or someone arrogant. In fact, contrary to popular belief, God’s word tells us to be conquers, and that we have dominion over all things, including your personal environment.

There is power in having the ability to control your environment. It’s actually kinda fun, you should try it. Let me share an example, I was at a popular store and the check out clerk was very rude to the person in front of me, she created a unpleasant work environment for herself. I wasn’t about to allow her to do the same to me. So when I reach the counter, she didn’t speak, so I did. I read her name tag and notice she had a very pretty ring on, I said, “Hi Lisa, beautiful ring you’re wearing.” She looked up at me for the first time after ringing up five or six items and noticed me smiling at her. For a short second, she smiled and put her head back down replying, “hello, and thank you.” About half way through my pail of goodies, I made another honest comment followed by a question, “wow, your pretty fast at this, I’m glad I choose your lane. Is you’re day just beginning or ending?” Lisa looked up and smile saying, “It’s just starting….” After a $150 later, I had Lisa talking about her mother who gave her the ring and we laughed about my daughter in the basket. As I said thank you for the great service, and push the basket away, I heard Lisa greet the next customer with a smile. I had changed her environment.

I have dominion over everything on earth. God’s word in Genesis 1:26 says

… Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth

Understanding the truth that is written in Genesis 1:26, I can't turn around and be submissive to some demonic spirit, I think not, I have every right to not agree with someone’s thoughts or values, but instead of arguing and creating an unpleasant environment for everyone, I've learned to control my thoughts, and not letting the environment control me. I could have allowed Lisa’s nasty attitude to feed right into me; instead I feed my positive attitude into her. Yes, every situation varies and some are more complicated than others, but the principle remains the same. You have the ability to control your environment by how you response to what's presented in you.

God doesn’t control us, He allows us to create our destiny by the choices we make. The great thing about God is that He teaches us, through His word. He shows us the outcomes of our choices, rather we choose life or death. You’re in a powerful place when you learn to control your environment and not let it control you. What’s controlling you? Is it the truth or a lie? If you don’t know the truth; you can’t be ruled by it. Control isn’t a bad thing; it’s who’s doing the controlling that you have to be concerned about.

You just know everything, don't you?

You know everything when you’re doing all the talking. I have an associate that knows everything about nothing. If you try to educate them on anything, they already know. How can you learn anything new if you already know everything? If you’re doing all the talking, all the time, you’re always right. When I run across people like that, I just say, “Okay”. What else can you say? They are right 100% of the time. Explain to me how a person with this type of personality as an opportunity to grow and mature? In order to mature, you have to see yourself and identify the areas of improvement. I love the way the bible puts it:

Proverbs 15:2
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

Ecclesiates 5:3

Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool.

Ecclesiates 10:14

Fools talk way too much, Chattering stuff they know nothing about

The sad thing about this type of personality is that they don’t think they have a problem, because they know it all. But they can point out someone else's issues. I can speak on it because that was me (I still have my moments). In my late teens and early 20’s I knew everything. I look back and analyze why, the answer is simple, Selfish. I wanted to do everything my way, how I wanted to do it. And if I listen to your point of view, then it wouldn’t be my thought or idea (So stupid). Plus, being selfish comes from FEAR, afraid that someone may give you the wrong advice, or let you down. No one likes to be disappointed, so you depend on your own thinking. I believe the bible refers to you as a fool (I know I was one).

Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions

So what changed me? I woke up one morning and made a decision to be better than yesterday. To be a better mother, friend, sister, and to have a better future. I realized; I couldn’t change anyone but myself. The current place that I was in, was base off of the decisions I made. I started to work on me, from the inside out.

Yes, looking in the mirror hurts, but a lot things need to be broken down before they can built back up. I couldn’t do it alone, and because of my “know it all” personality, I wanted to know the truth, so I went to God. He is the truth and by His light, I was able to lift my hands, with tears in my eyes, and allowing Him to take the lead. That same passion I had when doing “my own thing” turned into a passion for people. I turned from being selfish, to selfless.

As Christians we are growing daily, if you’re still talking about what you did yesterday, then you’re missing it. Yesterday is there to learn from and to make a better tomorrow. Not to complain about or talk about what someone else did wrong, look at your part in the situation and better YOU. You don’t know everything, and you never will. Let go of your pride and allow God’s wisdom to lead you, not your own understanding.

It's Never to Late

I wrote in “The Conductor” (in the September blog) - “I have a great advantage in my life; I can recognize God’s voice. It was strange at first because I wasn’t sure what I was hearing, but it was God’s voice all along. I just didn’t know how to recognize it. I do now… and it’s like falling in love with your best friend after 10 years of dating unqualified candidates. Finally, one day you wake up, knowing… without a single doubt in your mind, “this is the one for me” and you don’t want to go another day to past without this person beside you. Then reflecting back on those 10 years of my life acknowledging that they were there the whole time; supporting and loving me for who I was, not trying to change me, only wanting the best for me. I was just too blind to see it, or should I say, distracted by all the birds.”

When I first wrote this I was showing how God was there all along, loving me with all my mess and how God orchestrated events in my life for my favor. I wanted to bring this up again for someone, who is battling between living there life for Christ or living for the world.

If you don’t mind I’m going to share with you for a minute, it was so easy to stay in the world because I felt safe. It was familiar and change is uncomfortable, it’s mentally and physically stressful. I was used to operating a certain way for more then half of my life and all of sudden I was push to change. So I pushed back and ran as fast as I could away from my calling, that caused tension. Honestly, it hurt trying to live right, I was used to “doing me” I didn’t want to change. But the wonderful thing about God was, through it all, he keep loving me, protecting me, he saw me cry at night and would hug me. He didn’t allow me to kill myself or get to far away into the darkness that I loss my mind or forget who I was. Slowing, but surely he begin to work on me; pulling people out of my life and pulling at my heart, getting me closer to home, awe I love you Jesus.

No matter where you are today, what you did yesterday; it’s never too late to come home. God never left you; you just walked away from him. Unlike our friends and family who may bring up your past, and make you feel like you have to prove yourself to be “worthy” of their friendship. There is absolutely nothing you can do to make God stop loving you. He wants nothing but the best for you, but He can’t do it without your help. Don’t allow FEAR to cause you to stay away from home, to stay in what’s familiar, to stay away from the truth, and stay away from what God has for you.

Isaiah 54:4

4Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and you shall not [seriously] remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.

How do you know?

Is the Word first in your life? It’s easy to know the answer to that, when a crisis comes where do you turn to first? Do you turn to your family, friends, your own reasoning, and then after all your resources have been exhausted, you turn to God?

Let’s say you do turn to God first, how do you turn to him? Do you pray out of your own thinking requesting what you want and need? Do you move and as you’re moving ask God for help along the way? I’m not knocking this person; I just want you to see yourself. How do you prioritize God in your daily life? None of us are perfect, (I know I’m not) but what impacted my life was UNDERSTANDING, why I wasn’t getting results. I realized that I wasn’t getting answered prayers, but why? I needed WISDOM in order to change my situation.

The word of God is knowledge, I refer to it as SEED, the key is to find the type of seed you need, first you have identify what the problem is. Anger, pride, lack of money, healing, etc. and locate the SEED in the word of God, the SCRIPTURE for your need and plant it in your heart.

The understanding, I describe as the act of maintaining your heart; it’s the up keep, (to maintain a thing). During this process you’re keeping your heart pure, protecting your ear and eye gate from the enemy and most important mediating on those scripture until it becomes apart of you.

In a natural garden you’re plowing the soil, watering, and protecting your seed from weeds and so on. (For more detail on this read “Maintaining your Garden”) Your HAVERST of the seed is the voice of God. What you're waiting for, the answer that will lead you into your need. Maybe someone will tell you about a job interview, maybe an idea will pop in your mind and give you millions. His voice is the HAVERST not the seeing of the thing. The money isn’t the miracle; it’s what brought the money to you.

Okay, you’re not ready yet….the answer is in you. The HOLY SPIRIT knows the answer, and where does he dwell? In you, so the key is learning how to tap into the spirit so it can lead you into your need, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET THE WISDOM…this is why you need to understand the importance of the word.

We don’t just think positive thoughts, we don’t just say God loves me and god will heal me, we don’t just say God’s has my back. And yes all these things are TRUE. But how do you know? If I told you that we are going to Jamaica in the spring, how do you know? You want to see some tickets, I know I do. If I told you I brought you a new car, how do you know? I want to see some paper work, that may be your momma car. I’m just sayin’.

How do you know?! That my God will supply all your needs according to his riches and Glory. How do you know?! That no weapon form against me shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against me will show to be wrong…How do you know?! That every knee will bow down and every tongue shall confess that he is GOD!

How do you know….that God loves you so much that he gave up His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish…..how do you know? Because it’s in the word of God and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself,… but how do I know?

Get into your Word; find your seed, gain understanding and wisdom for your situation.

Gain experience through someone else’s pain

I’m sure many of you have heard that experience is the best teacher, and I don’t disagree. In fact, I agree 110%. However some may disagree in my thinking behind what I consider experience.

I have a very close friend who was raised in what the world would call a “dysfunctional” home. Honestly, I haven’t met a person yet who has been raised n a “functional” home, we’ll save that discussion for another time. Anyway, for the discussion, I'll call my friend “Tim”. Tim lost his father when he was an infant, his mother wasn’t able to care for him or his sisters, and forced to be raised by his grandmother. He jokes now, saying that he never really had a conversation with his Grandma, about life in general, until he was about 16 years old. It was more of a “just do what I say” type of relationship. And he respected that, still does. His uncles lived with them also (his Grandma’s sons) and when I asked him about what type of an example they were in his life, he answered, “They showed me what NOT to be.” I thought that was very profound. He watched grown men living off there mother, and knew that wasn’t the life he wanted. He watched them become alcoholics and add more problems then solutions. He watched his sister’s get on drugs and watched them make multiple wrong choices that created a painful life and never allowing them to step into there vision.

When I questioned him, what do you think made the difference between you and your other siblings? He really couldn’t answer it. He just said “…there was something inside me saying this life wasn’t it, and I made a choice to be better then what I saw in my daily life.” I say; He gained experience through someone else’s pain.

Experience can be gained by your environment. Life is a cluster of choices. Our environment creates events around us, which causes us to make choices. Those choices are life changing. You decide what type of future you want by the current decisions you make. “Your now choices, create your future state.” Choose wisely

Understanding that we don’t know what the future holds; what life changing event will pop up, such as losing a job or a family member passing a way. Staying in God’s will for your life is vital. God loves us so much, that he left us a comforter, the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us through these trying times. To help us with our decision making, now remember, in order for you recognize his voice you have to spend time with him, or your miss it every time.

I try to learn from other peoples mistakes and YES, I have made my share of bad choices, and still do, but I try my best to follow the greatness example given to man, Jesus, which is LOVE. When the environment around me isn’t what I want, I make a decision to choose wisely, not fall into the lies of the world, that has tried to plant this image in my mind and heart that “you will never change” or “this is the way it will always be”. As believers, we have ample supply to support our needs, we lack in nothing. All things will be given to us according to his will. We are not of this world, we are chosen by God. Don’t let your environment tell you different. GET BOLD!!

Romans 8:32-34
32He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]
34Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?

You don’t have to experience struggle and pain in order to learn how to live a successful life. Jesus did it already for you. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he can teach, guide, and lead you right into your destiny. Just as “Tim” learned from us surrounding and made a choice to be more, and gain experience through someone else’s pain.

I'm Free!!

“Hello…who is this? Oh hey…long time. Yeah I’m good. …Dinner? You miss me? Naw, I won't be able to do that. What? No… I’m not seeing anybody. Yeah I am different, very different. Look I’m over it….over you…. You know what? You can just stop talking now, because your words don’t hold the same weight. You take care okay. Bye”

Your words used to make my day, if our morning talks went great, so did my day. If you were in a nasty mood, I couldn’t focus right until we made it right. I couldn’t wait to hear your opinion, because I valued it above my own. If something went wrong, I knew I could depend on you and you were the first person I called on, without hesitation. You were my better half. (So I thought) I planned my day around you, what you liked, where you wanted to go. Not like I don't have my own opinion, but I wanted to spend my time with you, so if we did what you liked….I knew you would be there. At least I thought you would be there….What did I do wrong? What did I say? I gave you space, I know I did, because I arrange my schedule around yours. When you needed me to do anything for you, I did the best I could….maybe it wasn’t good enough. Apparently, I wasn’t good enough….

But look at me now…I’m not even tripin’ over you. The funny thing is; I didn’t think I could function right without you in my life and you ain’t even all that! The best part of all of this is, I didn’t replace you with another person. You know how some people jump from relationship to relationship, trying to get over there ex. I took time out to fix me, get me together and I came out of my darkness. I NOW understand what Paul wrote in 1Corinthians, about putting away childish things. I was a child when I dealt with you, that’s why I put you away.

I’m not even mad at you; I’ll take all the blame. I was looking to fill a void that you or anybody else couldn’t fill. I put all my hope in a relationship, how silly was I? I realize that I didn’t know how to receive love, because I didn’t love myself. I couldn’t love myself, because I didn’t love God, my understanding of His love was so small; I put His love in a box, with limitations of this world. Thinking that God was mad at me, and I didn’t deserve to receive love, but instead He was madly in love with me, with all my mess.

But now…I know I am loved. I know who I am. All those empty parts in my life are now filled, not by the things of the world, but by the love of God, a never ending agape kind of love. I stopped trying to figure it out and just allowed myself to be loved by God. And by His love I am transformed, renew, not by what I've done, but by what He has done for me. I’m FREE , my past is OVER and I’m moving FORWARD!!

Ephesians 2:3-5
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved ;)

I Trust You

We discussed in “All Around me” that there is an enemy working to destroy you. Remember that point. Now if God operates by faith, and I want to stop God from moving in your life, what do I have to do to get rid of your faith? I have to cause fear, and doubt to enter your mind; which will do what? Cause you not to have faith in your current situation. Therefore, God can’t move, simple. That’s what Satan does daily.

Understanding this fact, the ACT of breaking down your FAITH, which is your CONFIDENCE, was life changing for me. What I’m about to say may shock you, but think about it before you jump. Faith can sometimes fail you. Yes I said it. I didn’t say God can fail you. God is love that can never fail. I said Faith can fail you, this is how God moves.

Listen, faith is the confidence of the unseen. Faith says God can do all things, God can heal my mother, and God can supply the money for this bill. God can renew my marriage. You have confidence in God making it happen, Right? Okay, what if, your mother didn’t get healed, what if you didn’t get the money for that bill. What if your spouse left you with two kids? Is it possible, that your confidence can decrease over time, because of the events happening around? Okay, I know you’re perfect, but I don’t’ have a problem being transparent. I know for a fact, there were times in my life, where my confidence (faith) started to decrease, almost to the point of depression.

Jesus said to Peter, in Luke 22:32, “….But I pray especially for you, that your faith may not fail…” why did Jesus say that, because he knew that Peter could loss his confidence (faith). Sure enough, three times Peter denies that he knew Jesus. At the time, when Jesus is telling him what will happen, Peter refused to believe that he would ever do such a thing, but he did. Read it for yourself Luke chapter 22.

Let me tell you what gets you through the pain, the tears, the times of lack, TRUST. Trust is a commitment. It’s not based on what you DO. It says I am committed no matter what happens. I trust you, when I can’t see the good out of this situation, when I can’t see my future being greater then my present. I trust that God is causing GREAT things to happen on my behalf. I will not be moved.

Oh YES, I will not move! Even if my mother isn’t healed, I trust you Lord! Even if I’m still without a job, I trust you God! Even if the money didn’t come in on time, I trust you! Even if they left me with nothing, guess what…I trust you Jesus.

Now we know that, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) When your faith is low, and you can’t see a way out, just say, “I trust you.” And know that he is GOD, and when you can’t trust in what tomorrow holds, trust in something GREATER then tomorrow….GOD.

Greater Desire

Until your pain is greater than your desire, you will never overcome it.

It’s sad for me to see someone struggle with the same issues over and over again. Running back to the same dead relationship, trying to breathe life in a relationship that was never ordained by God to begin with. The person who refuses to put God as the priority of there life, but doesn’t understand why there is so much confusion around them. The person addicted to drugs, sex, alcohol, money, or their job, the list can go on and on. The bottom line is, you’re not going to stop until your pain is greater than your desire.

When you get sick of being in the same situation and decide to change your life; you have to start with your thinking. True repentance is change, change in your heart; and remember the battle field is in your mind. You must renew your thoughts, by controlling what goes into your ear gate, and eye gate. This is how you protect your heart.

Act 3:19 AMP
19 So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Living for God can’t be a part time job. It’s a lifestyle. On a personal note, I got tired of doing the same thing, expecting a different result. –CRAZY- I woke up one morning and decided to try God. You know what? It was the best decision I ever made. Now I focus on things that are pure and true. It’s not hard, because it’s a lifestyle. What you feed your body, you will crave, and the same goes for your spirit. You can change your life by changing your thinking.

Philippians 4:8
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

The question is; are you ready to change? You may not be tired of your current lifestyle. It’s okay, but don’t be surprise when you hear someone knocking at your door, and when you decide to open it, the person on the other side of the door isn’t who you thought it would be. Because of you’re unwillingness to change, you won’t get what you’re expecting. Thank God for his mercy and grace. Protect your heart.

All Around Me

When I look around all I see is God’s mercy and grace.

Living in a world of darkness, full of confusion, destruction, and lack, can make you sometimes question, “Where is God.” Let’s not forget that there is an evil spirit that dwells on this earth who works diligently, to kill and destroy you, not just to give you a hard time, but to KILL you, spiritually, mentally and physically. I can’t speak for you but I know I live today because of His mercy and grace.

When I see that person homeless on the side of the road, I see God’s mercy and grace.
When I see that young lady looking for love in all the wrong places, I see God’s mercy and grace.
When I see that man refusing to follow God’s will and only his own desires, I see God’s mercy and grace.
The unmarried couple living together, refusing to do the right thing out of there own fear, I see God’s mercy and grace.

Living in darkness can camouflage the goodness of God. We get so focused on our issues and the stress of the world that we forget, it’s because of God that we’re alive today. Yes, you may not have the best job, but you have one. Yes, you were in a car accident, but it didn't kill you. Take a second and think back on what God has saved you from you didn’t deserve it. It was by his LOVE, His MERCY and GRACE that allowed you to make it another day.

So when you question, “Where is God, in all of this hell on earth? Look at your own life, and ask that question again. The life you have today is only by God’s grace.

**If you don’t like your life…read “No excuses” not sure how to walk into your vision, read “The Blue Print”. These are just keys, but above all else, get into your bible for yourself. **

No Excuses

“I wanna live a healthy life, but everyone in my family has high blood pressure and diabetes.” “I wanna lost weight, but haven’t you seen my momma? “I wanna stop drinking, but I can’t turn down free drinks.” “I wanna go back to school, but I just don’t have the time.” Okay, maybe you have never said these things out loud, but have you thought about it? Maybe you thought… “I want to forgive them, but you don’t understand what they did to me”. Or “I wanna get closer to God…. but then I’ll have to give up my lifestyle.”

All of these common statements can be defined in one word, EXCUSES. Let me tell you what I think about excuses; it’s a reason to repeat the same behavior. Stop using them! What is your vision and why aren’t you walking in it? Don’t blame anyone, but yourself. God has equipped us with all the resources and skills we need to manifest our vision. What you’re probably missing is the wisdom and knowledge of God, to move you into your vision.

Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified Bible)
18Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.

Is your vision really yours? Or did you see your neighbor do it, and you jumped on the bandwagon? If you’re not sure, think about how easy everything is flowing for that other person, as far as their VISION is concern and consider if it's moving the same way for you?

Think about how you're spending your time, you can’t get time back, so use it wisely. Who's dream are you chasing? Just because you like something, that someone else is doing doesn’t mean it’s meant for you. Instead, support the other person, encourage them and ask God to show you, what your skills and natural talents are. (A true sign of growth is helping someone reach there destiny with pure motives, asking for nothing in return, and God will honor that)

Some people are great with numbers, writing, speaking, dancing, oe even problem solving, all sorts of things. Whatever your natural talents are, learn to tap into it. God is the one who gives them to you, so ask Him to tell you what your talents are, but are you ready to listen to him?

Now, once you know what your natural gifts are.... request God to give you revelation on what steps to take towards reaching your destiny. I know what you’re thinking, “It’s not that easy.” But I’m here to tell you; it is that easy.

Let me ask you a question? How would you know if it’s easy or not? Have you asked God for revelation in your situation? Maybe he didn’t answer you on “your” time frame or the answer wasn’t what “you” wanted to hear; so you stopped praying and started doing your own thing. Okay, if that’s the case how’s it's working for you?

Now let me back up.... I'm not saying by any means that you won’t have to hard work and trials will never come your way, but when your in the will of God for your life; He will lead you over or though those mountains and you will have peace during those trials.

For those who have had enough of dealing with the same issues for the past 40 years, this is for you. The one who has decided to stop making excuses about why you aren’t walking in your vision, this is for you. Please believe me... God is here. He never left you and waits ready to assist and help you tap into your vision. (READ the BLUE PRINT) There is no way He would give you all these talents for you not to use them.

It’s YOUR responsibily to come to God and YOUR responsibilty to develop your talents. PREPARATION plus OPPORTUNITY equals SUCCESS. NO MORE EXCUSES.

I DARE YOU!!

Sometimes you will have to cry, wait let me rephrase that. Sometimes you WILL have to cry. But just trust God, there is an expiration date for every struggle in your life.

It’s easy to focus on your current situation and forget, God already knew, before you got up this morning, before you were even born, before you married, dated, had a baby by, or laid up with that fool...God already knew what you needed, and prepared a way out for you; just for this very moment in time. I promise you, you will survive.

When life throws it’s ups and downs and gets the best of you, just know that God has ordain it to bless you. Nothing will last forever, instead of letting the world tell you when this struggle will end. Get with God and put an expiration date on it. As Christians we don’t pray to HOPE for results. We pray requesting, and knowing with all FAITH that it's done, based not on our own understanding, but what the word of God says, God's promises, his words can not go back unto him void.

Romans 4:13-18
13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

I dare you to put an expiration date on those tears, not by your own abilities, but by the righteousness of God that lives in you. I dare you to read your bible and get a verse for every situation in your life. Meditate on those verses until you hear the voice of God, that voice will lead you into the right direction for your life.

**side note** You can't hear God with the TV on, your ipod in your ear, and everyone telling you what to do (ur BFF-best friend), while shopping or in the club. Shut your mouth and learn to hear from God~

Spend some alone time with God. Learn what he sounds like, he’s always talking, but are you always listening? Who do you belong to? God or the world? Okay, then who do you listen to? Who do you trust? Yourself or the Word of God?

John 10:26-28
26But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine]. 27The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

Oh, how we forget...

It's so easy to get caught up in living day to day, we forgot where we came from. The struggles we encountered that made us who we are today. We can become so self – centered, so caught up in our own existence, we forget about you. We forget, you’re GOD. How when we were sick and thought it was over, you were there to heal. When times were hard and no one answered the phone; you were there to provide. It's easy to forget, when you’re living in the sunshine and the flowers are blooming. We forget, that it took a lot of rain and plowing to get that soil just right for those flowers to blossom.

We forget, but I'm thankful for the daily reminders around me. The people I see on the level I used to be at, and mature enough to not judge them, and instead able to share my story of how you bought me out of darkness and you can do the same for them. This is what it's about, not being afraid of the rain and instead using it as an opportunity for development. Not being afraid of your thorns and sharing your story to heal others. Knowing, it’s not about me; it’s about what’s in me. Think about it, when you see a ROSE, you don’t talk about the thorns, you just see the beauty of the ROSE. Show off the beauty in you, by wearing your thorns as a crown.

You have been Deceived

If you're not in a happy place in your life. There is a strong possibly, you have been deceived. Deceived, that this way of life that you’re living today, is the best it's going to get, and you should just stop trying to be a better person, because you’re never going to change. Look at your current friends and family around you, you like this lifestyle, don’t you? Yes you do! If you didn’t like it, then why haven’t you done anything about it? You’re so lazy…. All you do is complain about everyone and everything! Just stop trying! School, you go back to school what a joke! Oh, now you want to go to the gym, have you looked at your family? You are never going to be small! It is.. what it is,...you can’t change it...trust me I know. You were dealt this deck of cards, so just play them the best you can. Everybody gotta die one day, live it up, who cares? You’re such a procrastinator, your never going to become everything out of life. You just like your sorry ass______.

Wow….have any of those thoughts ever ran in your mind? Has anyone ever planted those seeds in your garden? He has deceive you for years and created this false image of yourself and it has manifest. You may call it, just being realistic, or going off your personal experience. I call it, delusional.

Delusion is define as a persistent false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary.
Read that definition again…..despite indisputable evidence to the contrary.

My personal experience tells me this:

Ephesians 3:19-20 (AMP)
That you may really come to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

20Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think, beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams

That's my reality....if you don't feel this way about yourself....NEWS ALERT!! You don’t know who are you, you don’t know who God is, you don’t know who you are really fighting, and you don’t know you who residents in you!

The devil tried to deceived my mother before I was born with false evidence from the doctors, telling her, she couldn’t have another child. She refused to listen to that report, and was healed from cancer. Praise God, months later I was conceived with no complications. She could have taken that report and agreed with it, she already had four kids, I’m sure people around her would have agreed to not try and just be happy with what God given her. But she knew what God told her and shut the devil down. THAT’S FAITH!! And I stand here today. (Thank you mommy, you ARE my living example of faith.)

Get in the WORD and find out who you are!! Man only if you knew…! You are the righteousness of God! You have authority over ALL things! You will not allow those thought of your past tell you who are today, and control your destiny. The Devil is a liar! That’s his job, to deceive us, from the beginning of time, by planting negative thoughts in your mind and create strongholds.

I break down every stronghold in the name Jesus for every person who reads this message of encouragement today, by the power and name of Jesus. Devil, you are a liar and your time of running my life is over. I refused to live in the past, I prophesy, that I am awesome woman (man) of God and everything that God created and called me to be, will be. I am a winner. I am a leader, not a follower. Everything I put my hands on and mind to...I will complete. Why, because I know who I serve. I’m DONE allowing the Devil to have control over my life. I am healed, my thoughts are renewed. I am forgiven, my past is over and you have NO RIGHT to remind me of that event again! In the name of Jesus! That stronghold is breaking down and I WILL operate in love. It's DONE...I can see the truth; I am no longer deceived. PRAISE GOD!!

No She didn't!!

Every morning I drop my 1st grader off at school, normally I’m so early, I can stop right in front of the gym to let her out. At a certain time the traffic monitors come out and wave traffic to the end of the school drive way, because of the busy morning drop off traffic.

So this morning, as I pulled up, I stopped in front of the gym like always, the traffic monitors just started to wave the cars to the end of the drive way. I had already stopped at the gym entrance, as I looked up, I saw a heavy set lady waving her right hand and pointing with her left for me to move forward, as my daughter was getting out of the car. My baby jumped out the car very quickly. As I drove forward I looked in my rear view mirror and that same woman pointing at my daughter, not smiling, and telling her something. I immediately stopped my car, jumped out and begin walking in her direction, pointing at her and saying, “What did you just tell my daughter?” At first, she still had that nasty look on her face, but as I got closer she said, “I just told her to tell Mommy to drive forward.” Her facial expression soon changed from nasty to a “please don’t jump on me” look. I replied, in a low tone, but looking right into her eyes; about 5 feet away and still pointing, “Don’t take that up with her, she’s sensitive. You take that up with me”. Turned my back and sache’ myself back to the car.

At first I didn’t think I did anything wrong. I was protecting my child. As a Mother bear is with her cubs. I can justify this behavior, right? I have to do this, she’s my baby and if I don’t protect her and keep her from the wolves, who will? She had no right pointing at my daughter.

You guessed it, as soon as I shut the door to my car, the spirit of God said to me in a loving voice, “No, sweet heart”.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.

For the next 20 minutes driving to work all I could think about was that woman. I felt bad. I could have handled it different. What I said, no matter how right I thought I was, it affected someone else’s day. I didn’t want this person to take her frustration out on another child or co – worker, because of my emotional reaction. At the end of the day, we must recognize that our words are real and manifest good and bad reactions. When God is in you, it’s hard to stay mad at anyone. He’s in me, love is in me.

I had to fix it, my sister told me one night ministering to each other, “It’s easy to teach it and preach, but can you do it?” That’s the question, and if God is in you… (You know the rest)…who can be against me?

As soon as I got to work, I called the school, I didn’t even know the lady’s name, but there was another woman out there I did know, so I requested to go to her voice mail, and left a detail message of the event and asked for her to forward the message to this woman, the message went some what like this. “I’m sorry for my reaction this morning, and there was no excuse. I hope that I didn’t plant any negative seeds or affected your day with bad energy. Please make today a great day.”

I pray this one positive action will do so much more then a negative action. Some may say, whatever, I didn’t see anything wrong with it, but the closer you are to God, the more you start to operate in love, his love. I know God is in me. I pray that just as people can see me physically and say, “She’s in shape”, that they will say, “She’s in God”, by seeing it by my fruit, not just my words.

John 15 :7-8
If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

Let It Go!!

“I was doing my own thang, just walking down the hall, and out of the blue, hear comes loud mouth Tommy. He just had to put me on blast about not having any lotion on my legs. I know I ain’t got no lotion on my legs, I was rushin’ this morning, shoot! I have some at my desk; in fact, I was on my way to do it before he said something. Besides, look at him with his big nose having self, always got something to say……”

We all have been guilty of being offended and acting this way. Come on, be honest. Let’s talk about what really happened in this example, your feelings got hurt. So, you got offended and justified why you went off, about what Tommy said to you, because he embarrassed you!

Question, does it really matter? Is what they did or said really valid? Maybe, it's just my opinion? Lets hear what the Word has to say about it, the truth.

Philippians 1:10
So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].

What are “Haters”? Haters are people who hate on your success; because they don’t believe they can have success themselves. So when they talk about you, and “offend” you, hurt your feeling, discourage you, tell you that you will never become a millionaire, or your always going to be trouble just like _____.

You have the right to NOT get offended. And use that “offence” as fuel for your destiny. The enemy uses offences to plant negative thoughts your in mind, to get you off focus of reaching your dream. It doesn’t matter! Shake it off! Don’t entertain it! Keep it movin’!

Offences stop your love walk. Remember God is love. There is power in LOVE. So if the enemy can detract you with offences, it also causes temptations to come into your mind that are not of God, which causes a multitude of negative reactions, unforgiveness, bitterness, anxiety, stress, and list goes on and on.

Matthew 18:7
“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

Don’t allow the birds to detract you from the vision. Don’t allow it from stopping you from forgiving. The level of your FAITH is the level of your Forgiveness. If you’re choosing to hold on to pain, that someone has caused you. You’re choosing to say, I don’t believe God can fill this void of pain. Or I don’t believe this person deserves to be forgiven.

Sweetie, “News Alert” that other person doesn’t care! If they cared about you they would have came and fixed it a long time about! Or maybe, they don't even realize they hurt you. Please hear me when I say this, it’s not about the other person, it’s about YOU and YOUR relationship with God. The Word says that he forgives you, as you forgive others. Let it go…stay grounded in the Word, so that when offence comes your way, and it will. You can keep your love walk, which is the power of God, the power of LOVE.

Mark 11:25(AMP)
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

The Blue Print

“The poorest person in the world isn’t the one without a nickel, but the one without a dream” Jesse Dulicpaints.

Why do you think God give us imagination? Let’s go to the beginning, Genesis 1:26-28 In Genesis 1:26-28: Then God said “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” ....“Us”, this is God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus discussing a vision.

The “act” takes place in verse 27. "So God created humankind in his image, in the image God he created them; male and female he created them."

And last, he prophesies over his vision and act in verse 28. "God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Look at the blue print God has given us.

First we SEE our vision by using our imagination

---Imagination- the act or power of forming mental image of something not present to the senses.

Second we act toward the VISION

---Act - a state of real existence rather than possibility

Third we SPEAK life into the vision, expecting it to manifest

---Manifestation- a perceptible outward, visible expression, or materialization and (my favorite) a public demonstration of power and purpose

Now, understand our imagination is very powerful; you can create negative outcomes into your life, just as strong as positive ones. Think about it, everything you do first starts out in a thought. Before you picked up the phone, you THOUGHT about who you were going to call. Before you got dressed today, you THOUGHT about what to put on. Everything starts with a thought, a vision. You can control your actions and your destiny by controlling your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome

Tap into the thoughts of God. Allow him to show you his THOUHTS for your life, by using your imagination. Ask God to show you his will, get into the Word for your self. See the vision, act on it, and begin to prophesy over the manifestation.

We have the keys to success by God who is in us; we just have to be able to recognize it and put it in our basket.

Balance

I started this journey about three years ago, of living my life stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. Making all three a priority in my life, for year’s one out of the three, has always been absent. In 2006 preparing for my first figure completion, Heart of Texas, I discovered my passion, living a healthy life and encouraging others to do the same. At first it was just thought; “Let’s see what my body will look like, if you really pushed it to the limit.” It was suppose to be only a physical challenge, but it turned out to be much greater then that. It changed me physically, but more mentally and spiritually.

Some may be thinking, “Mentally and spiritually, how so? Throughout this reading, please understand that when you’re trying to accomplish everything in life; it can be something as small as cleaning up your house or as large as trying to lose 100 pounds, maybe getting that promotion at your job; distractions and obstacles are always going to be present, the key is knowing how to conquer, those obstacles.

I heard once, that you can’t control the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest on your head. I look at these birds, as the distractions we all encounter in our everyday lives. Have you ever notice a group of birds dancing in the sky? It’s so beautiful; it can draw your full attention; you find yourself getting lost in time as they gracefully move in sequence in the sky to an unknown tone. Distractions do this; they amuse us or cause us to loss focus on what’s truly important. They camouflage themselves as the priority; don’t be fooled.

Throughout life we all have heard so many stories of dreams never coming to pass. Life passions never pursued due to unexplained obstacles out of their control. These stories bring tears to my soul, knowing, this person hit a barrier and just didn’t know or have the tools to get around it, which prevented them from accomplishing their dreams or maybe not becoming all they were sent here to be.

In life, I realize, with success you learn very little, but with each failure, you learn a lot more. This is where the warriors are made, in the battle.

I used to be afraid to discuss my past war wounds. Now I wear them as a crown. If I had a jewel for every battle I won, the Queen of England would envy me. I’m sure hundreds maybe even thousands of people can say that they have been lied on, beaten, betrayed, or felt alone, maybe let down, and unloved. How many can say that they have conquered all of this and stand here today, not bitter, with no scars, forgiving everyone who every came against them, with open arms ready to love again; I can.

Oh no, it wasn’t easy; in fact, I still work on it daily. But you see; I’m a solider in this war in deed. But I’ve learned to become the Lieutenant General in my army and only God is my Major. What I mean is that, I control my feelings and only I can control who comes in my life. If for some reason, an uncontrolled event takes place that I have no control over. It’s okay; I can still control my reactions. Understand, you can’t control everyone or everything, but you can choose whatever action you take during that crisis in your life. You can’t always foresee the outcome or the circumstances of your actions, so choose them wisely.

I couldn’t control who my father married after my mother’s passing. I was only six when he remarried. I couldn’t even control my feelings or reactions to any events in my life at that young of an age. Unfortunately, at the age of six is where my war begins; this fight was physical, mental, and thank God spiritual.

In order for me to go any further it’s imperative that you understand what spiritual battle is. You have to know that the spiritual world is more real then you reading these pages before you, I look forward to explaining it in detail very soon, but until then please keep the birds out of your head and your eyes in the Word, so you can recognize his voice.

Maintaining Your Garden

When spring comes around you can’t miss the state flower of Texas, the Blue Bonnet, there everywhere, the side of the road, in your yard, they can even pop up in your personal garden. I’m not originally from Texas, so I asked a dumb question, “Are these Blue bonnets weeds?” The answer is yes, they are weeds, but because they look so pretty and bloom during a certain season, a lot people don’t look at them as “weeds”. Isn’t that odd? They choose a weed as a state “flower”. I did some research on gardening, I don’t have a “green tomb” in the natural, but I do now, in the spiritually realm.

I learned that weeds are so tough and fast – growing, they can easily, out- grow desirable plants, if you don’t take control. There is nothing good about weeds, their purpose is to come in and take over your healthy plants in the garden.

Weeds are buried several inches deep, there isn’t enough light for germination, but as soon as you dig up the soil, their seeds come to the surface and sprout. Because grass and perennial weeds can re- grow from small pieces of root to stem left in the ground, as well as seeds. It’s best to remove sod and then turn the soil over with a digging fork, breaking up the colds of soil and removing all the roots you find.

I’m going to be totally transparent right now, for years I had people walking in my garden planting weeds and I had no idea. Every time I started to grow spiritually a blue bonnet would come to the surface and sprout. Just as in the natural, it looked so attractive; I couldn’t see it for what it really was a weed in disguise. Looking back, at all of my relationships in the past, I had a lot of blue bonnets in my garden.

The relationships would be great, so I thought, until I decided to put God first in my life and live by His word, not my flesh. I had to make a decision, follow my flesh (keep my man) or God. This decision wasn’t easy at the time, or even now, (ask someone who’s trying to stop smoking...) more than once I was in love with someone and had to make this decision to leave or to stay. Emotionally, it was to hard handle and I would choose my flesh every time.

The weeds took over my life and I didn’t understand why I was going through so much pain, emotionally, mentally, and even financially. I would get so caught up in my relationship and living in the world, I forgot God. It didn’t matter that I was going to church every Sunday, or prayed when I needed something from God. (Come on; don’t get righteous on me, you know what I’m saying) I wasn’t happy and honestly blind from the truth. I know the truth now, because God wasn’t running my life back then, I was.(So I thought) I did, what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, and had enough nerve to ask God to help me get out of the mess, I created. (Thank you for your mercy and grace)

I wasn’t living my life for God. I only dealt with Him when it was convenient for me. I never fully turned away from my sins, I camouflaged it well, but God knows the truth. When I would get tired of sin, I tried to plant a healthy seed in the same soil that wasn’t turned over and the weeds were taking over my garden immediately.


The relationships wouldn’t last long, after a few months; I would ask God for forgiveness, 6 to 8 months later, the cycle would happen again. Why couldn’t I recognize it? Why was it so hard to choose God over my flesh? I loved God, but apparently my actions showed different. What was I doing wrong?

I got it, it was because I wasn’t killing the weeds at the roots, just like controlling weeds in the natural, never just only cut the top of the weedy or grassy area off, because the weeds can grow back and multiply.

I’ve learned. I have to plow my garden daily, to maintain healthy soil; otherwise good seed can’t mature and grow. Where do you get good seeds, I’m glad you asked; from the word of God, reading it, listening to it, watching it, being around positive people with something good to say. This is the same way weeds enter into your garden. Pay attention to your surrounding and people you entertain, they are walking in your garden planting seeds, whether you realize it or not.