LOVE IS....

For some odd reason relationships have been on my mind strong lately! Not just boyfriend and girlfriend, but husband/wife, sister/brother, stranger/servant/friend, etc! Every form of relationship you can name, I've thought about in this past week! The great part about it all is It happened while I was on my 21day Daniel fast so not only did it cross my mind but God opened my eyes! He brought back truth and the order to things! Most people enter into relationships(of any kind) without much thought. It usually is lead by our emotions and desires! We call people friends without seeing if they actually fit into where we are trying to go! Do they have my best interest at heart! Are they there to benefit or sow? True love benefits someone else at the expense of self! Where as lust benefits self at the expense of another! So before you allow people into your life do some research! Ask questions, and follow the order! Every relationship should start out as a stranger, then servant, then if they qualify they may be called a friend! But it definitely does not stop there! What about relationships? How many of us have entered into a relationship simply because the other person looked good! Most relationships no-a-days start out from a lustful place! What can you do for me? What can you add to my life? How you can look good on my arm! When in reality we got it twisted. 1 Cor. 13 defines love as:  "Love never gives up.  Love cares more for others than for self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others,  Isn't always "me first,"  Doesn't fly off the handle,  Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,  Doesn't revel when others grovel,  Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,  Puts up with anything,  Trusts God always,  Always looks for the best,  Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies!" The word also says God is love and love is God! So in reality without God there is no love! If you don't love this way, really what are you doing besides lusting? What do your relationships really look like? Do they line up with the word of God! Or do they line up with the ways of the world! Maybe its time to re-evaluate your relationships! Are you benefiting another at the expense of yourself or is it all about whats in it for you! What can you gain? There is so much I can say on relationships, and so many different places I can go with this topic but seeing that's the topic of my next book I think I'll end today with a quote from a very wise man of God Donovan O'Neil "Fake relationships exist when the talk behind your back differs from the talk in your face...." Are your relationships fake?

FREEDOM!!! I found my place...

Living in a world that is constantly on the go, I have come to realize that many people are just doing the movements of life without actually living! Most people either go to school, work or both...maybe church, maybe find time to go out throughout the week, but for the most part majority of people's life is a habit-repeated action! Everyday is very similar to yesterday, every detail of your day down to the way you take your shower is a repeat of the day before! What is the purpose of living like a robot? What is the purpose of living each new day the same? What is the purpose of going through life existing but not really living? What is the purpose in living without a purpose? Each one of those questions are questions I have asked myself at one time or another.

Up until this past week, I would say I was one of those robot people. Everyday for me was the same, a bunch of unproductive mess! I would wake up, go to work(not really do anything while there because all that was ever on my mind was ME-wrong way to live), come home maybe watch a little TV and go to bed. I did that Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but on Wednesdays and Sundays I would go to church. I would play the roles that everyone expected me to play. I would handle my responsibilities all the while so far from God in my "outside of church life" that it was basically a slap in the face to God. Never spending time with Him, rarely praying, can't even remember the last time I picked up my bible outside of Sunday and Wednesday services! And to be honest my life reflected it, I was more miserable than ever!

To be honest, Monday of this past week 10/10/2011 I almost walked away from everything. My church home, my walk and God! I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and worst than that I felt I was incapable of handling it! I felt I was and will never be anything more than a disappointment in God's eyes and the eyes of the ones closest to me! Today all I can say is BUT God!!!!! I allowed false words to be spoken and over take the truth God already revealed to me. I am and always will be loved! I am and always will be needed and of value! And more importantly the day I took ME off of my mind is the day I found freedom!! Freedom to be who God called me to be! Freedom to go places in my walk I thought I would never go! Freedom to actually live life!

I've had a particular song on repeat for the past week, it is a song that brought truth back to the forefronts of my mind! It brought me back to reality! Between this song and a video I watched it put things back in perspective! I encourage everyone to find their freedom and find their place in this lost world! The only place for me is at God's feet! It is the greatest, free-est, most peaceful place I could ever be. It is the place where you can find the answers to all your questions. It is the place where you can find rest and peace of mind. It is the place where you are genuinely loved unconditionally. It is the place where you will find strength! It is the place where you can find your true self, the one He created you to be! "I finally found my place, and its on my knees, at your feet!"-At Your Feet by Valencia Lacy and Unquenchable Worshippers

FIND YOUR PLACE!!! FIND YOUR FREEDOM!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q507eUrLOuc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowB5wNPvWQ

My joy

Joy-the deeply rooted confidence that God is in control! These past two weeks I've allowed events and people to steal my joy. I've allowed my joy to be taken away because I couldn't seem to take my focus off of the things going on around me. I couldn't help but focus on what I see, instead of what I know to be true. I know God will never put more on me than I can bare. I know all things happen for a reason and a greater purpose than I'll every know. I know He has my whole life planned out already, and in the end I win. So, how is it that things can happen and all of a sudden my "I knows" disappear! And now all I'm left with is why's? Why would He allow this to happen? Why is everyone leaving me? Why, why, why? And then it hits, all along I've been asking the wrong questions! When I was so concerned with how I felt, I didn't even take the time out to ask how others felt. I didn't take time out to ask God what I'm suppose to learn in the midst of my pain. I forgot to ask Him what I need to do or change. How I'm suppose to grow from this! If joy is the deeply rooted confidence that God is in control, and you allow things or people to steal your joy, then in reality what does that really mean? What does it really show about your beliefs? Your confidence in God cant be all that great if your joy can leave with the slightest hurt, pain, event, word, etc. I learned throughout my pain this week that my confidence in God was lacking and that's why i was in such a depressed state! Me and my best friend have something were we send each other truths of the day...and although I've been slacking on my end, the truth she sent me yesterday put everything in perspective. She said "......BUT GOD! Doesn't matter what comes before those two words, all that matters is that they change my perspective!" That's the truth we have to remind ourselves each and every day....BUT GOD! No matter what is going on, what is going wrong, what is trying to hold us down, we must remember those two words can change it all! So what ever is going on in your life, whatever is hurting you, whatever has stolen your joy remind yourself of those two words...BUT GOD! He can and will turn it all around, you just have to stand strong in the midst of your storm!

Removing the 'shades' to uncover truth...

These past couple weeks God has really been dealing with me and my thoughts towards dating, marriage, my husband, and ultimately my future. I know I'm not the only one that, at one point or another, had their entire future planned out. From the number of children you would have, their names, what your wedding would be like, what you would do for a living, what your husband would be like, etc. I could go on and on with our ideas of our future but in reality what does it really matter? I suggest an alternative, let all your plans go! That's right, forget about what you think you want, what you think is best, what you think you deserve! In 2 Cor 5:17 it says "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" There are also several other places throughout the bible where it says something about 'The old life is gong'. I believe if we spent more time with God we would realize that the old life isn't only things you use to do; i.e. smoking, drinking, fornicating, hustling, running the streets, etc. When God says "your old life is gone" He is referring to your old habits, your old way of thinking, you old desires, your old wants, everything about your old life is done with. Now don't get me wrong I still want things from my old life...I still want to be married one day, I still want to have children, I still have things I want to accomplish. The difference now is, God comes first. I no longer think about or worry about what my husband will be like because I know He will be God's best for ME!!! I'd much rather trust in God than lean on my own image of a "what could be." Do i wanna get married one day, yes!! But not to the point where I'l go chasing after a man, not to the point where i'll let MY idea's of what my future should look like consume my thinking. I will not turn my back on God, while running after a what if. After all everything happens in God's timing and when its my turn NOBODY will be able to stop it because God is in control. So in the mean time i choose to chase after God! I choose to surrender all my thinking and all my life to Him! I choose to have the 'for you I live, for you I die' mentality consume me! I choose to put my wants and thoughts of whats best for me on the back burner because now I have someone who KNOWS whats best for me! Who knows what I want, but loves me enough to ignore what I want and give me what I NEED! Take time out of your day to thank God for giving you what you need! Take time out to switch your focus from what you think is best to doing what God tells you to do and know that He will take care of what you need! God has our best interest at heart, He knows what is best for us! Take off the shades that dim the truth in your life and realize all you need to figure out is your place in God's kingdom. Let Him figure out the rest!

Hidden Behind Lies and False Hopes....

Ever heard the famous excuse "But i can change him?" I'm sure you have because i firmly believe we've all believed it at one point or another. He has all the great qualities but i just don't like...and whatever that don't like is its usually the biggest and most important thing. He's not saved! For some odd reason we believe we can change this mans thinking. We believe if we just spend enough time with him, he'll convert over on his own because he see's the way we live our lives. When in reality its just the opposite, he will convert us before we EVER convert him! Plan and simply: You CAN'T pick and choose which parts of the bible you follow...and if you can you're not in like you thought you were. God's word says in 1 Cor. 15:33 "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.' " Okay, I know what you might be thinking...but he's really a good guy. He's there for me and loves me...he has all the qualities of a husband I've been looking for, he's just church hurt. It'll take him some time to get past that. But in reality "church hurt" has nothing to do with being saved or not. Does he pray, does he read and meditate on The word. Does he have any type of relationship with God? If the answer is no, you really have no business as a woman and child of God spending time with him. In 2 Cor. 6:14-17 it warns us against spending time or yoking up with the unbeliever. "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with a unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people'. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the LORD. And do not touch what is unclean; And i will welcome you." All over the bible you can find warnings against us yoking up with the unbeliever yet we ignore it. We play the as long as i do my part and live my life right I'll be okay but God's word doesn't give warnings just for the heck of it. Ever stop to realize that you aren't strong enough to fight off temptation. And I'll be willing to bet that any relationship you've ever had with a unsaved man you have compromised in one way or another. Which in return, without him ever saying it, proves to that man his thinking was right all along. There is no need to get saved because you've fallen into his, what i call, "word trap." His words sounded so good and he was so convincing that you ignored what you know all along: No matter what you say, I have no business in relationship with you. And if that man can get you to compromise on what he knows you shouldn't, everything else will be easy. So how about we as woman take a stand and realize the truth behind all of this: You will NOT change that man!! Stop wishing and a hoping and live your life the way you should! God's word also says "when a man findeth a wife, he findeth a good thing." So when you are found...make sure that man aligns himself with God and his word. If he doesn't he simply isn't there to find a wife, he's there to find a quick fix to his lust!! Don't fall for it! 

"The missing pieces"

Puzzles are one of my favorite things to do when i have enough free time! I believe i get it from my grandma, in fact I remember having "puzzle parties" at her house. Everyone comes together for a common purpose; to, with one piece at a time, put the puzzle together. We always got the challenging ones where all colors are relatively the same, and when finished it covers the dinner table. If you take the time to sit back and think about it, puzzles can be related to our lives in many ways!

If your good at puzzles and know what your doing you'll do the edges first. It gives you a better view as to where everything else goes. It is the boarder and what holds everything else together. And without it the puzzle would be incomplete and always lack something. Even worse it would fall apart. In the same sense, we must have a boarder set up, something that brings clarity to everything else. Something that holds the rest together and if it ever falls apart, you must fix it in order to continue. Our "boarder" is also known as our foundation. Your life must be set on the right foundation or everything can come tumbling down.

Another reason i love puzzles is because they remind me of the church. If you've ever had a puzzle that once you found the last piece and put it in its spot you look around and realize there is one more piece missing. No matter how small that piece is, your mind becomes completely consumed with finding that one missing piece. You don't care about the rest of the puzzle anymore because after all they are all in there place. I am grateful to God for revelation. I thank God for creating puzzles because for even the slightest amount of time i feel like i understand His thinking. For a moment, i feel more connected to God then ever.

You see God created puzzles for us to understand His word at another level. I don't understand our mindset. When God doesn't answer us right away, or do what we want we get all needy and selfish. We demand Him to answer and at times if He doesn't we say forget it and go back to our old ways. But God is saying "look at the puzzle, your in your place. What about them? What about the lost? I have to find them!" We must remember "the whole don't need a physician." We are already whole, and its time for us to take our mind and focus off of ourselves and place it where God's is...on the lost! The puzzle can not be completed by us thinking of ourselves.  God is calling us to come together with one purpose; getting the puzzle(the church) together one "piece" at a time. Focus on Him and His will and you'll never have to worry about your life again.

FIND THE MISSING PIECES!!!

"Gimme That"-Chasing things when we've been given all we need

I believe every human has been brought into this world with what i call the "gimme that" spirit. Probably know to you as the "i need" spirit. I need a new car, I need a house, I need more money, I need a better job, etc. It seems we as humans are never satisfied. Eventually we get that house, more money, or better job but then later down the road we find ourselves no longer happy. We start the "i need" process all over again. The "gimme that" spirit is a never ending cycle whose purpose is to keep us chasing things instead of the Creator! It is a spirit that's focus is to obtain our time by causing us to focus on what we don't have, the things we think we need. When in reality those things are what i call "here today, gone tomorrow" things. The cars, houses, money, job, etc. are all things created by man.

Man made things are only meant to give a temporary satisfaction and in the end leave you wanting more. So once you get whatever you were chasing your only happy until the the next "opportunity" presents itself. Its like giving an alcoholic a sip of his favorite drink. Like giving a needy person only 5 minutes of attention. Chasing things will NEVER keep you satisfied! I challenge everyone today to spend one full day taking your attention off things. Take your attention off that money, off the house, off the car, off every man made or man created thing! Spend one day focusing on what you have, and all the people around the world that lack the things you posses! Your health, ability to see, ability to hear, and most importantly the fact that you woke up this morning! I believe we've gotten so use to being able to see, so use to waking up every morning that now we just assume it will happen! When in reality no one knows when their last day will be. I can guarantee that if you take your attention off things and place it on the Creator of the world you will see change.

In God we have all we need. Our healer, protector, provider, source of love, ear to listen, carry me when i cant go on; God is it all! Wrap yourself in Him and watch as your "needs" begin to disappear. The things you use to focus on will become insignificant. What you use to worry about will no longer bother you!


"Even people that are chasing money are not doing something they enjoy, they are doing something to make a buck."
"Are you not ashamed of caring so much for the making of money and for fame and prestige, when you neither think nor care about wisdom and truth and the improvement of your soul?"

Overcoming your environment!

Your neighborhood, background, upbringing, circumstances, conditions, friends and family are all a part of your environment. EVERYTHING that goes on in your life from day to day plays a part in who you are! Lets use a chained up dog who has never been released from that chain for example. That chain is all he's known for his whole life. One day someone comes along and releases the dog and sets him free. What do you believe that dog will do? More than likely he will stay in that same place he's been his whole life because he does not know anything else. Its the same with us! One of the definitions for environment is: surrounding influences: all the external factors influencing the life and activities of people. We grew up one way, all of us in some type of bondage created through our environment. Whether it be lack of love, abuse(physical or emotional), low self-esteem, built up anger, fear of success....i could go on forever. We all have things we deal with but the choice is ours if we want to stay in that unhappiness from our bondage. We have a choice to continue to allow our bad environments to bring us down and shape us into someone we never wanted to be, or simply change our environment. To continue to do the same thing and expect a different result is simply stupid on our part. If something is not working it becomes impossible to change that situation without changing your solution! The first step to change is stepping out of the environment that created what you desire to change. If its anger you wish to change, surround yourself with people that love. If it is fear of success surround yourself with successful people that came from a "you'll never be anything" environment! Whatever you desire to change surround yourself with people who already have become who you desire to be. Take a moment today to take a deep look into your environment! Whatever is not good, whatever is holding you down or stopping you from becoming what you were destine to be, CHANGE IT! I pray everyone has a blessed and purpose filled week!



 “Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.” -W. Clement Stone