Thoughts after MONTHS of nothing on my blog LOL

I haven't done a blog in MONTHS!! The year is almost up and I figured I should get back on my blogging game. This blog isn't going to catch you up necessarily on my life or anything just sharing some thoughts.

Right now, I am in a waiting period. In a book I'm re-reading called "Lady in Waiting" there's a chapter entitled 'Lady of Patience.' There's a part that stuck out to me in this chapter and it reads:
"If God is faithful, why is it so easy to lose patience? Why is it so hard to wait? Why is it easier to settle for less than God's best? Fear is a huge hindrance to waiting......Fear is an internal pressure."


I'm re-reading this book because of a message my pastor preached on Sunday. He titled it "God's delay is not God's denial." The book ("Lady in Waiting") is subtitled 'becoming God's best while waiting for Mr. Right' but the contents of the chapter aren't just about how to deal with being a single woman waiting on a man, but more so about being a single, COMPLETE woman in God and the attributes of that woman. As I am re-reading the book, I'm reading the chapters out of order (got that from my bestie, shout outs to Mon Ami!). I'm reading the sections that pertain to what I'm facing at the moment.

The portion that I mentioned in the patience chapter spoke volumes to me because I realized that I still had fear within me. And it's not just about being single, but about all the different things that I know God has in store for me, things that will reflect my relationship with Him that I have yet to see manifest. And I realized that my impatience was due to fear; fear of not seeing these things come to pass and also a fear of not knowing what exactly was to come or how and when it would come. But as I read through the chapter (specifically the portion I quoted) I was reminded that God IS faithful and He's never failed me, so why should I start getting restless now?

What helped me really get pass the different fears was the Word. And it wasn't the 2 Timothy 1:7 scripture that everyone quotes when they are fearful ("For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" NKJV). The scripture that encouraged me was a psalm (my fave book of the Bible, by the way). Psalm 131 was the passage and it states:
"Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mothers milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord - now and always." (NLT)
In The Message it reads like this:
"God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!"

I'm the type of person who likes to know things before I get into it and I get impatient when I don't know what's going on. But I don't need to struggle with not knowing because I'm not a baby in Christ anymore. I know my DADDY, I know what He can do and I trust that He is and will do what's best for me. And if it means that sometimes I'm not to know all the details, then I will quiet myself and just bask in His presence.

And so I took the psalmists exhort, "wait with hope" and the author's exhort, "wait patiently and win triumphantly the future your Father has planned for you."

Blessings til next time!!

The importance of relationships

No this is not a blog about having a man. This is about the importance of maintaining valuable relationships with your sisters (speaking from my perspective as a woman) and with your brothers (for the men). There is nothing wrong with building a friendship, a sibling type relationship if you will, with those of your gender. They are vital and help to grow you as a person. Last night (into today) I had the opportunity to fellowship with my sisters and they were all such a blessing to me. From the moment I met these particular ladies I had thanked God for them(check out a previous blog lol) because our spirits and mindsets were alike. They all flow in the flow of the Holy Spirit. You probably wouldn't believe it if you saw us all last night, but not all of us has known each other that long. I particularly was one who has only known everyone for less than a year. But I feel like I've known them all my life.

The Lord was in our midst last night. And I don't say that in the way people understand it, the "churchified" way. We were playing games and you knew based on how we interacted and conducted ourselves that the Lord was present; that His Holy Spirit is truly alive and functioning in each of our lives. We shared and opened up with each other (and to God) and God moved in that room! He's taking us higher and deeper.......yyyyeeeeeaaaahhhhh.....think about that! That sounds oxymoronic but meditate on that;-)

Don't neglect those kinds of relationships with your brothers and sisters in Chirst. Talk with each other. Be transparent with each other. Read the Word together. Pray with and for one another. This will cause you to be in agreement with each other. Amos speaks to two not being able to walk together unless they agree. So build the relationships so that all are in agreement so that the promise in the Word can be made manifest, where two are agreeing on earth concerning anything you ask, the Father in heaven will do it (Matt 18:19). But that promise can't be established unless there is agreement, honesty, transparency, realness with each other.

Men and women alike, foster these relationships and learn from each other. Watch God work in the friendships that are established and use it to manifest His glory.

Blessings til next time!!

Christian swag?? - read and please leave comments

My homie Dre had a status up addressing whether "Christian swag" makes sense. This is what I was lead to write.

This is my take based on the origin of the word "swag." In the Webster's dictionary the 1st definition is sway...sway means fluctuating, oscillating, i.e. going back and forth. In James chapter 1 it speaks about asking for wisdom and having faith when you ask and not doubt for then you are double-minded, unstable in all your ways. It goes on further to speak of God as unchanging, that He is not like shifting shadows. If the 1st definition of swag speaks to fluctuating, going back and forth how can we as Christians say that we have "swag?"

The 2nd defition speaks to a decoration that hangs between two points, one that droops, is curved. But we're not called to be curved or crooked. Prov 10:9 says "People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall."

The 3rd definition speaks to loot, goods acquired by unlawful means. We are commanded in Exodus 20 to not steal.

The 4th defnition says "a depression in the earth." Depression is a state of being sad, lowering of functional activity, loss of quality...we are the salt of the earth. We are to bring flavor, life, enhance the earth not lower its value or quality.

The 5th definition states it as a pack of personal belongings as understood to Australians or to travel about carrying one's bundle of personal belongings. This sounds like a weight, a burden. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The psalmist in Ps 68:19 says "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

With all that said we as Christians DO NOT have swag. We are NOT to sway, we are NOT to be crooked, we DO NOT steal, we are NOT sad or depreciating the earth's value and we DEFINITELY DO NOT carry a burden. So having "Christian swag" or "Jesus swag" is a scheme of the enemy, a means for him to infiltrate and influence the minds of Christians, especially young people so that they do not function as God intended for them to function.

We have the Holy Spirit abiding in us. The power that's available there is infinite; it's abounding! Saying as Christians I got "swag" or my "Swag speaks for me" is a ploy of the enemy to replace the Holy Spirit, to not truly acknowledge the power and strength God promised from so long ago. You're speaking into your life something that is not the Word, something that is not TRUTH. And Jesus said "then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). But if you aren't speaking truth into your life then you are wrapping yourself in bondage. Jesus prayed in John 17 "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth." The only way for us to be holy is to know the truth. SWAG is NOT truth.

Now "swagger" as defined by the Webster's dictionary is "to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner ; especially : to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence." Superciliously is defined as "coolly and patronizingly haughty." All in all "swagger" is pride, it is being boastful. Ps 10:4 states " In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." Proverbs speaks to pride in more than one verse.

Prov 11:12 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humilty comes wisdom.
Prov 13:10 - Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Prov 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

We are called to be humble. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 2 to have the mind or attitude of Christ. Phil 2:7 "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." If Jesus who is God could humble himself to become lower than the angels didn't walk around in arrogance or pride then who are we to be walking around haughtily? Jesus humbled himself and washed his disciples' feet in John 13. He led by example to show us what it means to be humble. Swagger is not humility. Swagger is not biblical.

Both words (swag and swagger) have different meanings. But both meanings are contrary to the Word of God, contrary to the truth. As 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 states "But let him who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." Let God approve and commend you. Don't do it yourself; only boast in the Lord.

Quick FYI

So this is just to let the masses know.....I am the salt of the earth and will add my flavor to it. I am the light of the world, a city set on a hill that CANNOT be hidden!! Therefore, I WILL let my light shine so that men may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven. I will operate with boldness through the power that lies within me, the power of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, my heart belongs solely to God and NO ONE else!!!! To everyone, in order to get close to me, to be my friend, brother, sister, companion, husband...you MUST dwell ad belong to God also. If you want to find me, if you want to find my heart, if you want to have any part in my life then you have to go through my DADDY!!!

Blessings til next time!

update.....

Hey there!! So I have not written in a while......I'm a graduate....and I'm currently spending a week at home in JA....the most beautiful place on earth!!! My brother just got married.....I'm so happy and proud of him. I love my new sister. She is the funnest (no its not a word) and coolest bride EVER!!!!!!!! I'm aiming to top her at my wedding lol. (don't know when it is, but when I do best believe that the world will probably know also lol!!)

Right now in my life, I have many questions but I'm learning that at times I just need to open my eyes and ears and the answers will be there. I need not question EVERYTHING in my life. So my observant side is kicking in again. I am excited for what comes next in my life. I'm in a spirit of expectancy and daily giving myself away to the Lord and His plans.

I have been learning a lot from Him particularly since the start of this year. It feels like it just started the other day actually. At other times it feels like January was so long ago. But I'm glad for what I've learnt, look forward to what else I will learn and I'm doing my best to put these lessons into practice. Some of them are for future though; can't quite put them into effect just yet lol.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, love Him with all you have and watch Him be made manifest in your life!

Blessings til next time!!!

for really tho?? LOL

This is one of those semi-venting blogs lol. I'm kind of in a weird place right now....a good place, but a weird place. I'm really just trying to understand something that's going on in my life right now that is a little hard to wrap my head around. I know it's beneficial at this time in my life but it's hard and because I don't fully understand it I'm at the point of almost being mad. But since I kind of understand it, it's more like what I call a "cry-tear" moment. I just want to pout.....so I'm slightly pouting...:-( :-(

PLEASE LORD!!!! help me to grasp this or at least get through this even if I don't fully understand it. Sigh!!!!!! The things you gotta go through to get to the other side.....God's peace is enough though, His love and His joy is enough to carry me through. Keep holding me in your arms Lord and walking with me each step of the way.

Always take God's peace with you......even when you don't understand what exactly is going on around you or even within you, God's peace that passes ALL understanding will guard your heart and mind when it's stayed on Him, when you continually praise Him and when you focus on the things of Him.

Shalom!!!

I command my soul, my flesh, my spirit....to WORSHIP!!!

I truly thank God for the people He has placed in my life who remind me that no matter what, I have the authority through Christ to have wonderful, prosperous, purpose-filled days. As I look on this year I realize that God has brought me through so much that even if I don't celebrate my birthday how I would like to or with the people I would like to celebrate with, He is still worthy of my worship and praise.

I am one step closer to fulfilling the purpose for which God created me.
I am wonderfully complex, his workmanship is marvelous! (Ps 139:14 NLT)
I am thrilled by the Lord and I sing for joy because of what He has done for me!(Ps. 92:4)
I am planted in the Lord's house, I flourish in the courts of my God! (Ps. 92:13)
Even in old age I will produce fruit!(Ps. 92:14) LOL - this might be my new favorite verse!!

My song for today (which is a song I truly enjoy and really mean when I sing it) is "I Worship You" by Mary Mary. This is my prayer and my offering to my wonderful Lord, my Daddy! (the song is on the page, listen and enjoy!)

P.S. Thanks Mon Ami!!

I was lost, but you came and found me
You left your throne thinking about me
You bled and died to show me mercy
You gave Your all because You saw my need

I was empty, but You came and filled me
I was blinded, but You helped me to see
I was broken, but You made me whole again
I felt like nothing, but you gave me confidence

And I'm filled with so much gratitude that words are not enough
To explain the magnitude, the passion of my love

You took everything I was, and made me what I am
And with all I am, I worship You

You were life, when I was dying
You were strength, when I was crying
You were right and I was so wrong
A melody, when I had no song

And I'm filled with so much gratitude that words are not enough
To explain the magnitude the passion of my love

You took everything I was, and made me what I am
And with all I am, I worship You