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!~

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!

N.O.W, I

Nuggets Of Wisdom, one

You can't be yourself with EVERYONE!

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for being real, transparent, and authentic (in the words of a close friend of mine). But, it has been my experience that everybody can't handle it. So many times people only allow you to be the person that they expect you to be and nothing more. Other times, in an genuine attempt to be yourself, people make it so uncomfortable to do so. Unless Jesus Himself tells you otherwise, it's okay to keep some things to yourself. And think about it - Do you really want to have to go through all that explaining when they find out what you really used to do?? :)

Self-esteem, Self-help, Self-motivation, Self-improvement -

first word-----SELF!

Aside from Christ, self-esteem, self-help, self-motivation, and self-improvement involves SELF. Stop comparing yourself to others to heighten your esteem level. You can't wait on someone else to hand over help on a silver platter, there might be times that you just have to help yourSELF. Unfortunately, you can't depend on someone else to always ask how you're doing or check in on you. Trust ME, there will be days that you have to motivate yourSELF. And understand that no one can just make you do something. Change, outside of Christ, is self-induced. Improving and making yourself better is important as we revolutionize into the person God has called us to be.