trust...REGARDLESS!

Okay, so....I know that we're going to struggle in our lives sometimes and have difficult times. I even know that everything won't be smooth sailing. But, for some reason, i like to think that it just shouldn't be ;) No, but seriously, how many of you would sign on the dotted line for stress, frustration, pain, and hurt. Shoot, "Not I" says the cat:)

So, let me tell u a lil of my business without telling you my business, heehee. A couple of months ago, i was laid off from my job (another one of those things I thought would never happen to me) But, it showed me that no matter how talented, seemingly invaluable, and successful you are, you can still be shown the door. Long story, short - Upon being laid off, the Lord made it clear to me that it was time to make a move. He opened door after door after door. I knew it was Him and, not even three weeks later, I was on the road - excited and ready for a new adventure. Conversely, once I moved, it almost seemed like a dead end. The road that He had made so clear before looked hazy and blurred.

But, in the midst of all that, this is what's been rolling around inside of me the past couple of days...

It is vital that we understand that when God opens doors for us, we must walk through IN FAITH and keep believing! So many times, we allow ourselves to believe that just because God told us to go, do, or become, that the coast will be completely clear and we can expect everything to be peachy. NOT!!! We must, however, change our positions (change positions - nu position, nu position, oops...maybe shoulda kept that song to myself, HA!)

Anyhoo, truthfully speaking, I'm still not in my new place yet. I'm actually in my FOURTH stopping place since moving here. Thank God for caring people who have opened their doors along the way. Imagine how weird, and sometimes saddening it must feel to be semi-homeless and quasi-squatter (lol-that probably doesn't even make sense). And since I'm sure you're not reading this blog to become depressed, let me move on... I'm still not where I thought I'd be, but my position has changed. Now understand, chaning positions is NOT Just a paradigm-shift, its a complete life alteration!

I TRUST GOD! You can't allow circumstances to dictate your faith level. And you certainly can't allow the enemy to make your mind an incubator for fear and doubt. And for GOD'S SAKE, don't let people determine your rise and fall. Uh-oh, I think tonite's blog is turning into my faith wall. I'm believing Him for-

*my relationships - RESTORED, RIGHT, and PROMISING
*my family - WELL, WEALTHY, and REFRESHED
*my life - PURPOSEFUL, JOYOUS, and FULL

I hope you all jumped right in on that confession--make it your own. C'mon brothers and sisters - BE ENCOURAGED! No matter your age, situation, or circumstance, if God said it, He'll do it! If He told you to go, Go! If He's called you to be, Be! Let's do it together; LET'S TRUST GOD!

deep, but not profound (*private joke*)

*BIG SIGH* this has been a crazy week! Things are STILL not where they need to be; but, I won't complain! I'm allowing the dust to settle slowly but truly though, and God is MOS DEF keeping me! (I love my DADDY!) After the life changing occurrences of this past week, I began asking God questions that I hadn't asked in a long time - Why? What is this about? Why now? What in the world is this? Has your life ever been so topsy-turvy that your discussions with God go beyond questions and extend into a series of incomplete phrases like - "You mean to tell me_______" or "So, after all of that, ________"

Well, that was me almost 144 hours ago- (but, who's counting;)) -Out of house, home, friendship and feeling like I was close to being outta my mind. So many events stemmed from just those - tears, headaches, loss of appetite (which i'm sure helped me lose some pounds worth shedding, heehee). BUT, I refuse to harp any further on the negative.

Now, about 2 months ago, the Lord started dealing with me about the Biblical story of Jonah. We all know the story, but here's a quik run down:

*God called Jonah to preach to the people in Ninevah
*Jonah didn't wanna go
*Jonah hopped on a boat to another place, away from Ninevah
*A storm came and began damaging the boat all because Jonah wasn't supposed to be there. He should've been on his way to Ninevah
*Jonah knew it was his fault that the storm was destroying the boat and told the sailors they had to throw him overboard.
*They did.
*"God prepared a big fish" to swallow Jonah up.
*After learning his lesson, the big fish (some refer to it as a whale) threw him up on the shore of Ninevah, the place he should've been going the whole time.

This week, He reminded me of this story and said this to help me get through:

"Ypu're Jonah!" (if you've been kicked out, tossed aside, pushed away, denied, or shelved, all so quickly or for apparently no reason, You might be a Jonah too!) WELCOME. :)

Jonah could not do the things God assigned him to do, reach the people he was destined to reach, or become the person he was born to become, unless he got off that boat! However, it was his choosing that got him on the boat in the first place. Sometimes, God allows certain foundation-shakers to transpire in our lives because He knows we wouldn't make the necessary changes on our own. So, what happens? We have no other choice, then, but to be "thrown overboard"!

Now, be sure you understand me clearly - I'm not saying that in EVERY circumstance, God is tryna tell you something, because it really could just be your fault (lol - u kno how we get ourselves all wrapped up in stupid stuff...pi-tuh-fuhl, lol) But, trust and believe, the Lord will make it very clear to you which category you're in - Jonah or Non-Jonah (lol @ "Non-Jonah" - i'm just crackin myself up 2nyt). Just ask Him. And if He says "You're Jonah", do this:

*Embrace where you are.

*Understand that you've been given another chance to fulfill your assignment - reach the people you were destined to reach and become the person you were born to become! Your season is not over, it is only the beginning.

~And if He ever allows you back on that boat, be wise, stay tuned to His leading, and help keep the boat afloat!~

Get It All

Tonight, I was speaking to a dear friend of mine. As we spoke about my moving out of town, she said these words, "Let me tell you how I feel. I feel as though I haven't maximized our friendship and our time together." And while she had genuine excuses - marriage, family, work, etc. - she reminded me of an ideal that we often let slip.

Sometimes, we have to make the time. Now I'm not talking about letting people use you and drain you for all your time (that's anotha post...maybe tomorrow, heehee.) So often, though, we get so familiar with the people around us. We talk on the phone everyday, see one another at work, in class, at Church, and the gym. But, still our conversations are filled with surface gossip and the dealings of the day. When do we take time to ask "How are you doing?", WAIT for an answer, and Care about that answer? When do we call our friends just to say "I'm thinking about you" or "You crossed my mind today and I just had to call" or "Let me take you to lunch" or even "I just got paid. Need some gas?" I'm talking about a REAL friendship!

Friendship, per the Lewis Dictionary:), is a relationship based on mutual care and appreciation, where two or more individuals can feel comfortable sharing some of their commonalities, hobbies, and feelings. I feel as though when any of these parts are missing or out of sync, the friendship loses a part of its very essence. But, expressing care and exhibiting appreciation takes time.

Time is invaluable! The moment that I'm taking to type this line will never come again! I can't get that time back. So, the way I spent it has great significance.

I urge you! take time today for a friend. Don't give them a reason to feel that you don't care. Don't give them any room for feeling unappreciated. Let them vent if they need to. Don't make every conversation a fight or about yourself. In order for friendships to last, one can't be selfish. Keep your intentions pure. Do something together - swim, bowl, skate, or just talk - whatever you like.

Maximize your friendship NOW! Get everything you can out of it - Get it All! You'll reget it later if you don't. Take time to develop solid relationships that will stand the test of time - friends that are there and friends that care.

~Friendship...Priceless!~

Expect Crisis

Everyone is so quick to discuss the blessings of God that are promised to us. But, they fail to realize that crisis (trials and tribulations) are promised also. Scripture clearly states "...you shall have tribulation." Good thing though, God has the final say!

~He makes your struggle work for you and

gives you grace to stand firm as you go through.~

You ask for patience? Well, patience only grows in an atmosphere of adversity. We often pray for things to happen immediately; but, we have no intentions on going through a process. When you want strength, expect to be stretched. When you want wisdom, expect problems that must be solved. When you want prosperity, expect to work hard. When you want favor, expect responsiblity.

So, in the middle of whatever crisis you may find yourself in today, go THROUGH it! Stay where God has you! Learn what He wants to teach you where you are. You'll be glad you did!

~Expect crisis. But Cheer Up because With Crisis, you can Expect Grace!~

True Love

~We all have our own views of love & they certainly can't all be listed on any 1 list, written in any 1 book, voiced at any 1 venue or felt in any 1 way; but, here are a few things that love is, in some form or another~

Love is the truest reflection of the heart's complexity

It's the one thing that can race, beat, and remain.

It

runs after

heals

and remembers

Love desires, pants, calls

beyond the sensual to a place so private, so exceptional, so intimate

so free from flaws

in its originality

yet given character by one's individuality.

It

wants

comes

and forgives

Love understands the importance of friendship,

to create, cover, and care

It

changes

amends

and does what it takes

True Love is of God.

Everyone that loveth is born of God

and knoweth God.

He that loveth not,

knoweth not God

for God is love

Beloved, let us love one another

(I John 4:7,8)

Just when the tide of love's perfection

reaches the shore and leaves again

No tears

for without delay...

Love

starts over and goes the distance,

calming storms and raging tempests

of the heart -

the heart that

can race, beat, and remain

The dichotomy of which

is formulated and developed by

the nervousness of first greetings,

the excitement of first seedlings,

and the togetherness of first evenings.

Go the distance in love.

Try beyond ability.

Believe in love.

Hear your heart.

The same heart that can race, beat, and remain

is sturdy, stable, and strong.

So, fall in - head over heels

With all of its emotions, you'd begin to wonder-

Could it be

that love has a name, a personality, a character essentially free,

yet transitioning, transforming, and revolutionizing til eternity?

Yes

Love is you and

Love is me.

(This is an excerpt from the blogger's already copywritten material)

Fillin' and Flowin'

~This is a throwback from a previous blog, but appropriate for today's feeling~

from John 2: 1- 10, NKJV.

Problem: The wine had run out! Picture it: Every one sitting around waiting to get drunk and Jesus chillin'! (too cool, heehee.) Anyhoo, in those days, having wine at a wedding showed wealth. It would have been humiliating to the bride and groom's family if they didn't have enough wine.

Well, after being shut down by his parents before when he wandered off and started preaching in the temple and had to pull that "I'm about my Father's business" line, He was not even thinking about doing another miracle. But, this is why Moms rule the world -- His mother came to Him about the 'wine issue'. Jesus responded like "Why are you coming to me to handle it? It's not my time!" However, we all know that "if Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy". So, she looked right passed Jesus and told the servants in the back, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (Jn 2:5)

Solution: Jesus immediately instructed them to fill six vessels with water to the brim. They did and started scooping the 'water' out. By the time that 'water' got to the "master of the feast," it was wine. (Jn.2:8) The master was so impressed that he called the groom over and said, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the [best] wine until now!" (Jn.2:10)

~Now let's apply this to our lives~

The #6 (as in "the SIX vessels") means the season of man, mankind, men or women of God. That's us. But, how many of us can say that we are allowing God to do the fillin'.

The Word of God is often time compared to water (seen as "the Water of the word" or "Living Water") The Word of God is our Source. Every answer, every solution - everything we need is in Him.

So, let Him do the fillin' and you do the flowin'! Allow yourself/ Commit yourself to be filled with the Word of God to CAPACITY so that you can be poured out and used for His glory! And "Oh, taste and see"....heehee. God is good. He won't let you down or put you in an embarrasing place. Trust Him, trust His Word, and flow in all that He has for you!

Blog Back, two

HAPPY AUGUST!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems like the summer is just flying by! What have been your most exciting moments in June-July???