So............ this weekend was awesome! My sister and her two girls came to visit me and we had the best time! I got to do some tourist-y stuff that I would have never done had they not been here!
Beyond the silliness of the weekend, the trip was capped with an powerful trip to church. My sister and I both got a word that was on time and motivating. We took different things from the message.
The word I received is that Praise Provides Provision. It's easy to be envious in life... Green is a color many of us wear well. However, you can't be envious of people because you don't know what God took them through to get to the position that they are in. Not many of us would want to encounter the "battle" some people face when God is moving them along in their journey.
For many of us, we see the fruit of what God is doing. God's great at that... showing others the reward of the season that we've been in. However, he doesn't always allow others to see the trials, tribulations, and tests that we endured to get the the end result - the tangible reward others covet.
Today's message was so profound because I recently saw a picture of one of my ex's and his new chick (or so I think... I don't talk to him... so I'm not sure). But, although I'm over that... it stung to see the picture. It's so easy to get green with envy when you see these things... or even to watch a friend get married who at this same time last year had no desire to marry... Enviable opportunities avail themselves to us. But it's up to us to take an attitude of gratitude in the season where God has us and not get swayed by what we see. That being said... Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things NOT seen (Heb 11:1)!
You never know what God has in store for other people and you never know what he's doing in their lives that you can't see. Yet... you have to keep an attitude of gratitude for where you are at this very minute. That's why the bible instructs us to give thanks is all things!(1 Thes 5:16-18)
So... when you're feeling green with envy... Praise God. Bless and extol His name no matter what the situation looks like! In fact, when things get tough... PUT A PRAISE ON IT! Praise is the buffer between you and your situation that God responds to!
Use your praise... and use it often! I will bless the Lord at all times... and his praise with continuously be in my mouth (Ps. 34)!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Life Changing Sermon!
Man... this sermon shook me to my core! Praise Produces Provision .... among other things... but there's a reason why the scriptures declare, "Let everything thing that has breath PRAISE THE LORD!"
Watch and enjoy!!
Watch and enjoy!!
The Voice of Judah pt 2 from Place for Life on Vimeo.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
She still got it......
Good Sunday Evening!!
I was talking to my friend from college the other day and somehow we got on the topic of "if I still have it." Now, this came up for the obvious reasons... he knows that I haven't been in a relationship for the past two years.
If you're wondering what "it" is... It is the ability to pull... get a guys attention... or something along those lines... we all know what "it" is... but I can't adequately describe it or maybe I just did! LOL!
Anywho... I laughed his question off after he assured himself that I probably do still have "IT." As the week went on... my mind never strayed too far away from our conversation. I started to ask myself, "Do I still have it?" To be quite honest... this relationship hiatus has caused me to ponder this question. I know a portion of my internal answer stems from the value I place on my natural hair. I think, sadly, my hair has had some effect on my dating habits. Yet, my perception of "the hair factor" wavers from day-to-day. If I love my hair... I radiate confidence! If I'm not as enthused about my hair... it probably shows. All-in-all, I like me... actually... if not too cocky... I LOVE ME!!!
Yet... none of these factors are here nor there... the real "it" factor for me rests in the fact that I know that God has someone special for me. That man - I won't be able to shake - he'll chase me until I run out of breath... I take comfort in knowing that I won't have to worry about if I still have "it" with my God intended mate!
I like that I've passed on some people and, frankly, that I've been passed on... I recognize that all things are working together for my good (Rom 8:28). I appreciate when God intercepts for me and blocks me from make relationship mistakes and failures. God is doing something great in my life... and I know and HE knows i don't have have time to squander. When God is done working on me in this single season, my mate will help me propel to the next level in my destiny. And I'll happily the return the favor for him!
But... if you're thinking I got off the question... the answer is YEAH... your girl still has IT!! One of my clients hit on me last week... so I guess that goes to show the kid is still in the game! Besides... if I get to 30 unmarried, God and I have already discussed our backup plan! Wink, wink! :-)
Do you every wonder if you still have "it"? Comment and check out the jam below!
I was talking to my friend from college the other day and somehow we got on the topic of "if I still have it." Now, this came up for the obvious reasons... he knows that I haven't been in a relationship for the past two years.
If you're wondering what "it" is... It is the ability to pull... get a guys attention... or something along those lines... we all know what "it" is... but I can't adequately describe it or maybe I just did! LOL!
Anywho... I laughed his question off after he assured himself that I probably do still have "IT." As the week went on... my mind never strayed too far away from our conversation. I started to ask myself, "Do I still have it?" To be quite honest... this relationship hiatus has caused me to ponder this question. I know a portion of my internal answer stems from the value I place on my natural hair. I think, sadly, my hair has had some effect on my dating habits. Yet, my perception of "the hair factor" wavers from day-to-day. If I love my hair... I radiate confidence! If I'm not as enthused about my hair... it probably shows. All-in-all, I like me... actually... if not too cocky... I LOVE ME!!!
Yet... none of these factors are here nor there... the real "it" factor for me rests in the fact that I know that God has someone special for me. That man - I won't be able to shake - he'll chase me until I run out of breath... I take comfort in knowing that I won't have to worry about if I still have "it" with my God intended mate!
I like that I've passed on some people and, frankly, that I've been passed on... I recognize that all things are working together for my good (Rom 8:28). I appreciate when God intercepts for me and blocks me from make relationship mistakes and failures. God is doing something great in my life... and I know and HE knows i don't have have time to squander. When God is done working on me in this single season, my mate will help me propel to the next level in my destiny. And I'll happily the return the favor for him!
But... if you're thinking I got off the question... the answer is YEAH... your girl still has IT!! One of my clients hit on me last week... so I guess that goes to show the kid is still in the game! Besides... if I get to 30 unmarried, God and I have already discussed our backup plan! Wink, wink! :-)
Do you every wonder if you still have "it"? Comment and check out the jam below!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Praying for THE Partner..........
This is an early morning post... It's 3:45 am on Sunday morning and for some reason I can't sleep. The urge to write has overtaken me to the point that I actually got out of bed to get my dad's laptop.
In case you're wondering... i didn't miss posting last week. I actually wrote a post... but I didn't feel released to publish it. If any of you know how the Holy Spirit can deal with you on certain things... then you know what I mean.... For all others... consider me "dealt with!"
This post easily displays the dichotomy that is my life. Yes... my last post was all about independence... but this one is quite the opposite! LOL... no I'm not crazy... as I've told you before, I'm just going through changes! LOL
This mind change thing, that the female species has gracefully mastered, is probably half of the reason I'm single! Hehe!
However, as I was tossing and turning in bed... I started doing something that has become part of my prayer life - I was praying for my future husband. Now, you might think this is weird, but for me it's like praying for a job interview you really want, or praying for God to touch your finances... it's just one of those things on my prayer list! :-)
I believe in faith and the concept of speaking things that be not as though they are or were (Ro. 4:17). Psalms teaches us that if we commit our ways to (please) God, He'll give us the desires of our heart (Ps. 37:4). I don't always do everything right... but I can say that in the past few years I've made a concerted effort to ensure the things I do are pleasing to God. I earnestly desire to please God with the way I live my life in public and private. Understanding this... I also know that it's possible to pray our desires into existence by praying in accordance with The Word. That doesn't mean I'll get them right away... our timeline is definitely not God's timeline. Yet, I believe praying in the flow of the will of God for your life is a method of showing sincerity to God. It also sends the message that you trust the promise he declares in Isaiah 55:11.
I know God has a plan and purpose for my life (Jer. 29:11). I know that it's His will that I prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). I pray in those "streams." Thus, this concept of prayer isn't unseemly when you consider that I know God didn't create man to be alone... he created a helper for man (Gen 2:18).... namely... ME (for a particular person, that is!)
Seriously though... imagination and the ability to conceive ideas and desires are a gift from God. That's how many of us figure out the "passions" we have in life. Likewise... the ability to one day be a wife is a desire that I believe God has given me. Despite wedding season... I'm not in a rush... I know that God is taking his time on cultivating the skills, ideas, and capacity for me to deal with one man for the rest of my life and similarly He's developing the necessary tools it will take for that special gentleman to deal with me!
So back to the topic... I PRAY FOR MY FUTURE HUSBAND! And, I hope he prays for me! What do those prayers sound like??? Well... God knows the details of what I desire in my mate... so the gist is:
I know that my future husband is going to be a great man of God! He will be relevant and influential in his generation and time! I speak that and claim it for his life. In the meantime, I often wonder what's holding me back from meeting him. What is God trying to teach me or cultivate in my life that I'm missing? Is there something I'm supposed to learn, master or accomplish before I meet my husband? I believe that there's obviously a strategy in place. There's something that God is doing in me.
Knowing this, I'm committed to letting God work out whatever it is in me. When it's time for me to meet Mr. Right, I won't lag behind God's plan or sprint ahead of it. I want to be precisely in line with where God wants me to be! I'm certain of one thing however, He that has begun a good work in me, is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6)!
Bring on the process. Whomever he is, I'll be ready whenever he arrives!
I've shared... now you join in! Do you pray for your mate? What things do you pray for in a mate?
In case you're wondering... i didn't miss posting last week. I actually wrote a post... but I didn't feel released to publish it. If any of you know how the Holy Spirit can deal with you on certain things... then you know what I mean.... For all others... consider me "dealt with!"
This post easily displays the dichotomy that is my life. Yes... my last post was all about independence... but this one is quite the opposite! LOL... no I'm not crazy... as I've told you before, I'm just going through changes! LOL
This mind change thing, that the female species has gracefully mastered, is probably half of the reason I'm single! Hehe!
However, as I was tossing and turning in bed... I started doing something that has become part of my prayer life - I was praying for my future husband. Now, you might think this is weird, but for me it's like praying for a job interview you really want, or praying for God to touch your finances... it's just one of those things on my prayer list! :-)
I believe in faith and the concept of speaking things that be not as though they are or were (Ro. 4:17). Psalms teaches us that if we commit our ways to (please) God, He'll give us the desires of our heart (Ps. 37:4). I don't always do everything right... but I can say that in the past few years I've made a concerted effort to ensure the things I do are pleasing to God. I earnestly desire to please God with the way I live my life in public and private. Understanding this... I also know that it's possible to pray our desires into existence by praying in accordance with The Word. That doesn't mean I'll get them right away... our timeline is definitely not God's timeline. Yet, I believe praying in the flow of the will of God for your life is a method of showing sincerity to God. It also sends the message that you trust the promise he declares in Isaiah 55:11.
I know God has a plan and purpose for my life (Jer. 29:11). I know that it's His will that I prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). I pray in those "streams." Thus, this concept of prayer isn't unseemly when you consider that I know God didn't create man to be alone... he created a helper for man (Gen 2:18).... namely... ME (for a particular person, that is!)
Seriously though... imagination and the ability to conceive ideas and desires are a gift from God. That's how many of us figure out the "passions" we have in life. Likewise... the ability to one day be a wife is a desire that I believe God has given me. Despite wedding season... I'm not in a rush... I know that God is taking his time on cultivating the skills, ideas, and capacity for me to deal with one man for the rest of my life and similarly He's developing the necessary tools it will take for that special gentleman to deal with me!
So back to the topic... I PRAY FOR MY FUTURE HUSBAND! And, I hope he prays for me! What do those prayers sound like??? Well... God knows the details of what I desire in my mate... so the gist is:
- that my husband is walking in the plan and purpose that God has for his life;
- that he seeks God with all of his heart and leans not on his own understanding;
- give him a desire for "more out of life"... to help him to be content with where God has him at the moment, but not settle for less than where God wants to take him;
- when I meet him, he appeals to me (physically, educationally, career-wise);
- help us finish the purpose that He's placed each of us on earth to complete. I want God to use each of us to help push and promote each other into the divine destiny He's called us to achieve!
I know that my future husband is going to be a great man of God! He will be relevant and influential in his generation and time! I speak that and claim it for his life. In the meantime, I often wonder what's holding me back from meeting him. What is God trying to teach me or cultivate in my life that I'm missing? Is there something I'm supposed to learn, master or accomplish before I meet my husband? I believe that there's obviously a strategy in place. There's something that God is doing in me.
Knowing this, I'm committed to letting God work out whatever it is in me. When it's time for me to meet Mr. Right, I won't lag behind God's plan or sprint ahead of it. I want to be precisely in line with where God wants me to be! I'm certain of one thing however, He that has begun a good work in me, is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6)!
Bring on the process. Whomever he is, I'll be ready whenever he arrives!
I've shared... now you join in! Do you pray for your mate? What things do you pray for in a mate?
Monday, July 4, 2011
I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E...
Do you know what that means?!?!!? LOL... throwback! HAPPY 4th of JULY, folks!!!
Well... this was a great Independence Weekend for me: my brother turned "21" again for the sixteenth time, my good friend married the love of her life, and the Ole McDonald's got together for our family reunion.
Finally, I'm in some of my other siblings birthday photos! Hehehe... and my cousins are a mess!!! A lovely mess... I had a great time laughing, gossiping, and talking to them until the wee hours of the morning! The wedding I went to this weekend was absolutely gorgeous! It was perfectly fit for Kim and a day I know she'll never forget or regret.
This time of the year reminds me of a page from the old Destiny's Child hymn book. The ladies sang... "Ain't no feeling like being FREEEEEEEEEEEEE"... "I'm like an eagle set free..."
This was a great weekend because despite the emotions that wedding season brings, I felt free this weekend. I wasn't thinking about a guy or the lack there of... I was just FREE!!! I had a terrific time with my girls and my family. There energy was more than enough to satisfy my weekend agenda!
The word says... Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed (Jn 8:36). This weekend I truly had a sense of freedom that I don't think I've felt in a couple months --- and it feels great, Thank God!
Sometimes I sit back and think of all the FREEDOM I've gained while living the single life: I don't answer to anyone (except the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside... LOL), I don't have any kids, I can go and come when I please, and I make instantaneous decisions without considering any ones feelings besides MINE, and I plan trips and travel at my leisure! It's great to be this selfish!!!
I know this phase will only last for a season... so while I'm in it... I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest!!
May I now propose a toast to all the single ladies doing it His way!!!
Cheers!
Well... this was a great Independence Weekend for me: my brother turned "21" again for the sixteenth time, my good friend married the love of her life, and the Ole McDonald's got together for our family reunion.
Finally, I'm in some of my other siblings birthday photos! Hehehe... and my cousins are a mess!!! A lovely mess... I had a great time laughing, gossiping, and talking to them until the wee hours of the morning! The wedding I went to this weekend was absolutely gorgeous! It was perfectly fit for Kim and a day I know she'll never forget or regret.
This time of the year reminds me of a page from the old Destiny's Child hymn book. The ladies sang... "Ain't no feeling like being FREEEEEEEEEEEEE"... "I'm like an eagle set free..."
This was a great weekend because despite the emotions that wedding season brings, I felt free this weekend. I wasn't thinking about a guy or the lack there of... I was just FREE!!! I had a terrific time with my girls and my family. There energy was more than enough to satisfy my weekend agenda!
The word says... Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed (Jn 8:36). This weekend I truly had a sense of freedom that I don't think I've felt in a couple months --- and it feels great, Thank God!
Sometimes I sit back and think of all the FREEDOM I've gained while living the single life: I don't answer to anyone (except the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside... LOL), I don't have any kids, I can go and come when I please, and I make instantaneous decisions without considering any ones feelings besides MINE, and I plan trips and travel at my leisure! It's great to be this selfish!!!
I know this phase will only last for a season... so while I'm in it... I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest!!
May I now propose a toast to all the single ladies doing it His way!!!
Cheers!
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