Back 2 School: Not Just for Kids............. Study the Word!!!

Hey All!!!

It's been too long and I feel like I've left my blog unattended! It's like my little baby!!!

Anywho....... although I haven't been writing, God's been dealing with me in many ways! Wow... this has been a turbulent time, however God is guiding this ship and I am certain that he will bring me out on the other side. The turbulence might cause scars, but every scar will be a testament to God's faithfulness and revelational for my growth!

Over these past few weeks, God has shown me how to be more compassionate (recent test that I will have to retake), patient, how to trust him, and most of all to be thankful when he's guiding my life - especially when he takes me through a hard NO!

I've started reciting Psalms 34: 1-10 every morning. Boy, when I started quoting this, I had no idea how God was getting ready to lead me through. I am certain he gave me that passage in scripture at the perfect time because certain verses started applying after I memorized them. At first they were just words to memorize. Now, the entire passage has come to make perfect sense and comfort my soul. "Blessed is the man who trusts in him" (Ps. 34.8).

The Holy Spirit revealed to me why it's so important to hid God's word in your heart (Ps. 119:11). When you study the word, it pleases God! Not only is it an opportunity for God to approve you as his workman (2Tim 2:15), but the word of God (in concert with the Holy Spirit) is a sustainer, comforter, guider, ALL OF THAT! LOL. The word of God will spring forth in you and the Holy Spirit will send you back to passages that you've studied during your time of need to help soothe your soul and remind you that God still cares, He's still on the throne, and He has a purpose for everything concerning you!

I'm slowly but surely learning to be faithful in giving thanks in all things (1 Thes 5:18) because God is decided! He knows my beginning from my end. And even when things don't go my way or work out how I want them too, God still has his hand in the situation (if I'm doing what's right and upholding his standards - no compromising!). Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." That's a KJV/ NIV combo version! LOL But... we forget that God is still (and even more so) directing your path when he says NO... not now, wait be patient, trust me... all of those things. Because things don't go our way, we get discouraged. And that's not how we're supposed to live. We have to stop letting no's frustrate us... and certainly don't let it frustrate your purpose!

The Lord spoke through my dad today. He called and told me that whenever something doesn't go my way, I should pray and say Lord, thank you for directing my path!

WORD IN PRACTICE: If things had gone my way... who knows what would have happened... who knows what God blocked me from. Sometimes... you have to thank God for blocking you from yourself! HALLELUJAH!!!! I might shout by myself! WHEW! My pastor said the other day... we were made in God's image... not with God's mind! Our ways are not his ways, our thoughts are not his thoughts (Is. 55:8). So even when we think we know what's best or have a desired end in mind - God still knows best!!!! And his plan, alternate route, and expected end or better than anything we can dream, desire or imagine!!!

I'm getting a little excited over here... God's showing me the true meaning of his sovereignty. He's in control at all times!

Well... I'm back! Get ready... I guess I needed this break to renew my strength so I can continue being about my Father's business even through this blog! I hope y'all are ready... cuz it's about to be fire!!!

Here's two titles you can look forward to:

• The Sermon that Changed My Life...
• Posturing VS. Positioning...

Put A Praise On It!

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)!