There is Beauty in the Storm

Across town the snow is falling and the roads are getting slick, Mary begins to look out the window and worry.  Over the last hour the snow started to really come down and the newscaster is predicting over 4 inches in the new few hours.  Mary said to no one in particular, "storms come for no reason but to bring trouble". She starts hoping and praying her boss tells everyone to pack it up.  She can just see the traffic at a stand still.  Mary wants to get home to the kids, the school already said they would be dismissing early.  Soon the announcement comes that everyone can go, and to get home as soon as possible, it going to be a blizzard.  Mary becomes worried and fearful, the last time she drove in the snow someone almost hit her car and she knows today will probably be no better.  Curse this snow, Mary thought.

 

Now the snow begins to fall in the neighborhood and Alex and Hailey can't wait to get off of the school bus.  They hurry into the house and their Dad, Michael has just arrived home too.  They greet their Dad and inquire as to when Mary, their Mom will be home.  Michael reports that he just spoke with her and that she's on her way.  The kids get giddy with excitement and run toward the garage.  Michael continues into the living room.

 

Mary makes it home after a grueling bout with traffic. She walks in the house as the wind picks up and again curses the snow under her breath.  As she walks in the house she's greeted with warmth from the fire place and immediately feels warmth all the way down to her toes.  She come to the living room where she sees the window covering spread and open to reveal the shovels in the back yard and all the fixings to sled and make snow men. The snow is falling and its a beautiful sight! She also find Michael, Alex and Hailey gathered around the fire with mugs of hot chocolate. One is sitting to the side for her. Hailey exclaims they've been waiting for her to get home!  Alex explains how they were super excited to get out of school early and how they got everything ready to play in the snow later!  Michael holds his arms out so that she can come get comfortable with them and enjoy the rest of the day.  As she sits down he whispers into her ear "thank God for blizzards".

Mary considered her earlier feelings regarding the snow, about how it was such a hassle and just made for a miserable time.  As she thought to herself, she looked at her family and considered their outlook on the snow, she quickly realized that perception is everything.  That though snow and blizzards can bring about some ugly conditions in some circumstances,  they can also bring some awesome moments too. She realized there is beauty in the storm.

I pray this touched your heart today and that you will consider every side of  the situations you find yourself in.  Look for the beauty, if you happen to not be able to find it, look directly to God because He has purpose in everything.

~God Bless U

God is FAITHFUL

Let me encourage you today that God is faithful!  He will not fail you, nor leave you, nor forsake you. Some of us are struggling with life; whether it be home, relationships, work, finances, spiritual health, physical health, mental health, or a combination thereof, God will see you through.  The scripture says:

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  1Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

So how do we make it?  When does it get better?  When will the pain stop?  When will the drought leave?  I believe these answers are not external but internal.  Things change when we decide to change our mindset about them.  Instead of feelings of despair encourage yourself in the Lord.  Proclaim victory over those issues and start doing things in your daily life to move past them.  There are some things that no matter how we try to out think them we need the Hand of God to come in and change  them.  God knows this too, and a can do mindset tells God you are still in the fight and you are not giving up.  That you are waiting on Him for your help. Our faith moves God into action.  He is there ready willing, able and waiting, to move on your behalf.  Ask Him and watch and see how He transforms your life right before your eyes. 

I had to ask God for help recently and I knew God was waiting on me to have the mindset needed to overcome the obstacle. One of my struggles is with being very tired after work, but still needing to come home and be a parent, cook a meal, and not spend my evenings trying to get rest that truly never comes because everybody still needs me.  There is no point in laying down to take a nap if your six year old will be on your side tapping you for a snack, or your seven year old wants to tell you about something funny that happened at school. Then its the middle child's turn, and then when you think you've gotten that out of the way here come the oldest to tell you about something he needs for school tomorrow.  Then an hour has passed, everyone has said what they had to say and they leave you to said nap, but you still don't get it because now your husband has made it home an you need to be mentally present to hear about his day.  In the end, it's like "what nap??? 

So I needed God's help to overcome the fatigue I felt after work and be productive for my household. One thing I decided to do is not go into my bedroom when I get home.  I stop at the table and take any questions from the kids, ask about homework, have snack, heat the over, etc.  Whatever I can do to break the monotony and keep going.  I'm training my mind that off of work does not mean off of life.  This has helped me so much that I now can go in the house, help with homework, start dinner, then run downstairs and hop on the treadmill for a few.  What has not changed is that I'm tired and that I would still rather be in my bed sleeping by 7pm.  But with God's help and a change in my mindset I am learning to do what is better and more profitable for me. 

With God nothing is impossible!  Now I do have some more pressing things that I need God's help with than my evening routine, but I wanted to give you an example of how God is faithful over the everyday things of your life.  Trust Him warriors. Try Him at His word and watch your mindset change and your circumstances improve!

God Bless U

Trust God

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. 

I was up early this morning working on a chapter of my book and this is one of the scriptures God gave me.  At a time like this I find it to be great comfort and encouragement that He has my life in His hands and that He's just as concerned about what I'm concerned about.  Thank you Jesus, for covering me, for strengthening me, and for loving me. 

I want to remind you all the there is no better place to be than in the Will of God.  You can be sure that He has mapped out ever contingency, ever turn, and every road for you.  He wants us to believe in Him and know that He has the best plan. Don't waste your days worrying and questioning God about your life.  Just trust Him to lead and guide you to greener and more fruitful pastures.  Remember the wilderness experience with the children of Israel?  Joshua 5:6 and Numbers 32:13 tells us they moved about in the wilderness for 40 years  because of their murmuring and complaining, and their unbelief which caused God's anger. Don't be like them! Trust that God will lead you, and trust Him to prosper you, and trust Him to strengthen you and to be with you always. 

I encourage you today in this,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. 
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

God Bless U

Too Important to Wait!

I want to apologize.  I apologize because I have not kept my commitment to this blog.  Which really means I haven't kept my commitment to God.  I got so busy in the beginning of the year and I started telling myself that I would get back to blogging as soon as I could clear some things up, as soon as I got some things out of the way, as soon as my life settled down, etc.  Then I was listening to a sermon by Bishop TD. Jakes and something he said came to convict me and push me into action.  He said "you will die waiting on the right time/the right conditions to do sometthing"!  He used the Apostle Paul as an example. Bishop Jakes spoke of how he (Paul) was being punched in the face while he was making a difference in the churches and cities he went to.  He didn't get to wait for things to calm down or for the optimum conditions, he worked to the glory of God in whatever state he found himself in.  And that's what got me back on the street called Straight!   I was so busy thinking if I could just make it through one thing I could get to another.  Soon a week became two weeks, two weeks four, and so on.  

So now that I have received my deliverance, I want you to receive yours!  Don't miss the blessing in the messing!  God blesses us through our experiences, labors, and deeds.  Just think of the rich lessons I could have shared if I would have been writing for these last couple of weeks. Imagine what would have happened if Jesus would have put off going through Samaria for a more favorable time.  Or Jerusalem for that matter!  When God has ordained you to do something, when it's the season, do it without delay.  It is the enemy's plan to keep you from your destiny and I'm here to tell you that one of the biggest tricks is to get you so busy that you start putting God's business on the back burner!

Proverbs 10:4 says "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich".  We should be found doing.  Doin what?  Doing all that God has called us to do.  What have you dreamed about, what are you believing for God to bring to pass in your life?  Did you know it starts with you???  God is ready, willing, and able to act on your behalf, but you have to be ready to move.  The Word says in Phillipians,  " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  The first word is the key-word; I.  If I (YOU) will do it (actively get up; get ready, start moving) God will provide the strength (grace, favor, and mercy) to bring it to pass in your life.

So be encouraged my sisters and brothers, God has a plan for us.  He wants you to try new things, experience what's out there, and take on new challenges.  Never let the busyness of life keep you from the life God intended you to live. Go be bold, tell the Lord yes, and start running! I promise nothing can stop you with God on your side.  The thins God has for you to do is too important to wait!!!


~God Bless You

Pray about Everything, All the time!

Prayer is always right. Some people look at prayer like some big colossal thing that people who are religious do. That's not true. Prayer on its most basic level is communication with God. So in essence communicating with God is always right!

The Word says through prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God. The Word also says we should always pray. I believe that's because God wants us to stay in constant communication with him. No matter what we do, no matter what we try, even when we miss the mark, as long as we communicate with God we can't go wrong.

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
    ~Luke 18:1

Jesus is always and forever will be our greatest example. He told the disciples we should always pray. We also see that He stayed in constant prayer (communication) with God. I know everyone is probably familiar with WWJD, What Would Jesus Do. I know it sounds corny, but really and truly if you just ask yourself, you'll probably come up with the answer... Jesus would most likely pray before doing anything else. 

So I encourage you to be like Jesus,  Pray Always!

~God Bless

Are You Living an Acceptable Life?

Are you living an acceptable life? I ask this question because I was reading Romans the 12th chapter and started to think about me. I asked myself; do you fit the bill?  Romans 12:1-2 says:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  ~NKJV

I said to myself, are you performing your reasonable service?  After thinking for just a moment, I realized there is room for improvement.  I want to be sure I am acceptable unto God.  The life we live today can be so contrary to what God wants for us.  It is so easy for the cares of this world to overtake us and weigh us down that we no longer consider what God has to say about our daily performance.  The Apostle Paul never lost sight that everyday belonged to God, and as he wrote to the Roman people and encouraged them to see themselves the way God did and still does.

A bit further in chapter 12, Paul gives what I like to call "life bites".  Little pieces of words to live by that can help you live a better life.  In verse 9 he admonishes us to live in love, and in verse 17 he says not to repay evil for evil.  Those two things alone can help many of us in a multitude of situations.  But will we take his advice?  No matter what your answer to that question, the truth is...you should!  Why, because it is acceptable to God.  These life bites are what brings us closer to Him. 

We are accountable for the way we live and the choices we make.  If you have decided to live for Jesus, or want to make that decision today, read the book of Romans and be sure that your life reflects your belief.  Most times the only view of God people get is when they look upon the life of a believer.

May God Bless U and Keep U

Run on...

I have been battling with myself about continuing this blog. Like all things that God has entrusted to us, it's important that we keep His vision and not our own.  I want so badly not to mess up the things of God. I want people to be encouraged and I want everybody to come to this blog and receive the information they are searching for.

After taking some time off I feel not only compelled to continue, but encouraged to run on with the vision God gave me.  

I pray my own strength and ask that you continually make mention of me in your prayers that I stay and WORK in my calling.

God Bless U & Keep U in All Things

Two is Better than One!

Last night for bible study Minister Maxie spoke about two being better than one. I found it so thought provoking and encouraging. When you make the choice to serve God with all your heart, the road can seem long and hard. We experience feelings of loneliness and pressure and find ourselves unsure. But those feelings are meant to draw us closer to God.

It brings you to a place where you depend on Him for the most simple things, like friendship, companionship, love, happiness, and all those things that we look for in the wrong places and  in the wrong people.

God sends people in our lives to encourage us and to help us along the way.  In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 4:9-12 reads:

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~

Thank God that He will send another to bear you up in your time of need or moments of weakness. The Word also tells us to "forsake not ourselves the assembling..." Hebrews 10:25
We are meant to be there for one another,  praying and interceeding for each other, we are meant to uphold each other, and encourage each other. That's why so many scriptures in the bible speak to us ministering one to another and spreading the Gospel together.

Lets be found in the right place with the right people. We can make our trials and tribulations a bit easier if there is a friendly face to encourage us to hold on to promises of the Lord.

I just want to encourage you to get together with your brother or sister in Christ, exalt Him, pray together, worship together, and study together. It is for your strength and encouragement in the faith, that you can grow and be a help to someone else.

~Tell Him thank you! :)