Many are my plans during the week. Yet, lately, I've had more plans than action. Every time I cross something off my list, two more things get added. How does that work? And, I'm not even going to venture on the subject of "fair." But nevertheless, I still feel tied to the list of things to do, places to be, people to see. And it's then that I know that I need to regroup.

Time for some alone time with God.

Time to ask for help. And that's what I've done. I'm listening now to what God would have me to do and be about. I'm waiting for Him to "okay" my "list" of things to do before I add things to it of my own accord. And, so far, everything is going smoother.

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and like your list of things to do is growing as tall as you are, then I encourage you to take your list to the Lord and listen for His voice. He'll tell you what to do and what to let someone else handle.

Have a great weekend!

The wonderful thing about God is that He sees all. And He knows all. He is Sovereign and not one thing escapes His attention. Not one car horn tooted too long and too loudly by a frustrated, road-ragy driver. Not one negative thought that marinates on our membranes but never escapes our lips. Not one rumor spread like wildfire. Not one iota. Nothing escapes His attention. 


Don't get nervous. God created us and He knows that none of us are perfect. None of us are righteous. No. Not. One. We all mess up. And we will all face judgement. 


That's why it's peculiar to me that we like to judge one another. We love to roast each other (not in the fun way that you do at birthday parties). No, we like to toss somebody on the flame and see how much we can cook up about them. That's disturbing in light of Romans 2. 

From my trusty KJV, Romans 2:1 reads "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O Man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." 

Back in March, I was featured on Lysa Terkeurst's blog. Lysa is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. It was, in my eyes, a big deal, simply because I wrote what I felt upon reading her book, Becoming More Than Just A Good Bible Study Girl. I just spoke from my heart. It's like getting rewarded for something that you get great pleasure out of. 


On that day, when Lysa announced that I was going to be featured, she mentioned that she would send me a prize. That was like a cherry on top of an already delicious dessert. So, I waited to see what the mailman would bring. Well, I'm happy to report that last week, the mailman did indeed deliver. 

Don’t you just love it when you make a call about one thing and find out about something else? I do. It’s like getting an extra prize in your cereal box or doing a two-for-the-price-of one deal. Exciting!


Well, come to find out that one of my family members through marriage is getting promoted. He’s in the military. I’m so excited for him. I remember when one of my good school mates was promoted to the rank of Major and invited me to his ceremony (he’s in the Army – I wrote about him in my Army Strong post). His ceremony was sooooo very nice. I really enjoyed myself. I’ll never forget it – even though I had to drive to what seemed like the end of the world to get there!


It’s always good to advance in something that you love to do. Oh yea, Chunk's mom is getting promoted too. She'll change ranks right before she deploys.


It’s such a blessing to see tangibly how God moves in the lives of my family and friends. And that, I guess, is in some ways, yet another extra prize. I’ve got prizes flowing from every corner. Isn’t that just fantastic? And guess what? You do too!


We can choose to look at each opportunity we face as a hindrance, obstacle or something equally unpleasant. Or, we can make a decision to look at every aspect of our lives and choose to see God working in them. Maturity, though hard-won, has taught me to choose the latter.


I hope you will join me in viewing every situation with the right perspective. I hope you will see that it is so much better, and peaceful, to look at each situation with an eye towards God – looking for the extra prize, and seeing His hand in it.


Happy Thursday Y’all!

The society we live in says we can do what we want, when we want. We have that "Burger King" mentality where we think we can have everything our way. And, while that may be true for some things, it is definately not true regarding the Kingdom of God. You cannot do any and everything that you want to do and still expect to get into Heaven.

This is how I know, I read Galatians 5 with particular emphasis on verses 14-21. Pasted below is the New Living Translation version of the passage. I chose this translation because it makes things very plain. The King James Version is good too, but I didn't want you to get tripped up on some words if you are not familiar with the verbage from that time. In other words, I just want to make sure you can see this text as clearly as possible - and if you have another translation that's even clearer, feel free to paste the reference in the comments section below.

If you can see yourself in this passage then you know you’ve got some work to do. In fact, if we are all honest with ourselves, we have visited these areas in our past even if we aren’t there now. 


So, as I’ve said, you cannot do anything you (your flesh) wants to do and still think you’re going to kick your feet up in Heaven. Don't be deceived. You cannot live according to the flesh and reap the reward of the those who live according to the Spirit. No, your flesh (and mine, and everybody else's that plans to go to Heaven) will have to come into submission to the Spirit.

Read the following Scripture and know that: (1) it’s time for a change; time to get right with God or (2) thank God that you have been changed and these are no longer your activities. Then finally, PRAY for your family, friends and our nation because these items ensnarl them in ways in which they do not realize.


The passage reads:

    "For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."


But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.


So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.

But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

So now the real question becomes, "where do you want to spend eternity?" You cannot have it both ways.

I was telling a good friend about some things that I am facing. I love talking to her because she always views my situations through the lens of the Bible. 


When I told her how I was feeling and my new determination, she listened. And, then she affirmed me by showing me an even deeper way of looking at my circumstance. She told me that God loved me so much that He saw fit to keep that situation from me. Here I was thinking that maybe I'd done something wrong and was being "punished" in some way and she  showed me the protective hand of God by removing me from that situation. 


When I took a minute to look at everything, I could hardly speak. God loves me that much...it's amazing, for surely I don't know why He does. But I rest in the assurance that He does.


So, as you make your way through this coming week, know that no matter the circumstances you may face, God loves you. He has always loved you, and He only wants what is the absolute best for you. So trust Him. 

I woke up with a heavy heart today. Not because it's tax day. I get a refund! Oooooooo yeah! But, instead because of the status of our country. So much divisiveness. So much political gamesmanship to advance a party or a person instead of a people.

Last I checked, we were supposed to be about "We the people." Instead, we've got camps of folks, pointing fingers at other folks. We've got people dedicating themselves to talk about and demean other folks. Some even make a career out of it. I don't want to hear any talk about freedom of speech. I want to hear talk about mutual respect and being able to talk about the issues without attacking the person. What happened to that? 

What happened to our moral compass. America used to have one. There used to be a time when you didn't have to legislative being your brother's keeper. But now, in times where my fellow countrymen are more concerned about money and their own families and futures that they don't have time to consider anybody else's. That's not the way it was awhile back. It seems like we are no longer in anything together. We are always against one another. That's troubling to me. We need to pray. 

Consider this from Matthew 12:25 -Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Let's get intentional about learning how to be inclusive, not exclusive; bi-partisan, not my way or no way; loving, not hateful, so that we can really stand up and say "We the people..."  

It's not hard to get offended. In fact, it's easy. The flesh indulges in the "right" to get back at someone for what they've done toward you. It's easy to let our minds traipse down the road of "I'm gonna get you sucka." The flesh wants to feel gratified - satisfied - glorified. And, therefore, if left to its own means, it will do everything to achieve these things. 


It's easy. 


But there is another way of handling a situation that is not so easy. There is a way that will bring about peace and joy; a way that will comfort your heart, even as you may feel offended. It's called prayer.


Sometimes, it's not so easy to lift up a sincere prayer for the person that called you out of your name. Why? Because your flesh wants to call them a name back. 


Sometimes, it's not so easy to smile when you know that person just lied to your face, or lied on you to someone else. No, the flesh wants to let that person know that you know. You might as well say "amen." The flesh wants to read that person the "right" act. But, that's when we must remember that there is another way. 


Sometimes, it's not so easy to encourage somebody when all that person wants to do is to discourage you. Your flesh may want to tear them down, while they are down. But, oh my Christian sibling, there is another way. 


What other way? Prayer.


Prayer can make the difference. Prayer can change things. Prayer makes us forget about ourselves and concentrate on God. And, when we are fully focused on God, there is no need to focus on revenge, or telling somebody off etc etc. Keep the piece of your mind that you were willing to give away. Pray for that person instead. 


A funny thing happens when we pray too. We leave better than when we came. We are refreshed because we know that it is because of the Lord that we are able to see things with such a fresh perspective. We leave knowing that there is no need to worry about the ill deeds of the other person - God says vengeance is His and He will repay. And, I don't know about you, but just knowing that my God has gotten everything under control makes me feel "A. Okay." 


So, don't be so easily offended. Shake it off and if you find yourself in trouble, go to the only One that can help you. Take your issue to the Lord in prayer. He is faithful enough to meet you, help and assist you. Don't give in to the flesh, submit yourself to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.


God bless you. Have a great weekend! 

When God tells you "no", praise Him. 


I know that's probably the last thing you wanted to hear. But, that's the best thing that I can tell you. When we really want something that is outside of God's will for us, it truly is best to obey the Lord. Do not, let me go ahead and repeat that, do not, under any circumstances, go outside of the will of God. 


If you know the Lord has told you "no", accept His "no" as the final answer. There is no need to waste time petitioning the Lord, and going after Him with different angles. You know how kids approach their parents with the same question phrased differently? Kingdom kids do that too. Although earthly parents may compromise and change their minds because their kids are so cute and cleaver, God is not wishy-washy. If He said "no", He means it. 


So, how do you move forward after accepting the "no" from the Lord? 


I admit that sometimes I get stuck here. I hear "no", I accept "no" and then I ask, "now what?" 


The answer is to praise God. If you're praising, depression, sadness, joylessness and doubt can't wear your down. They can't even catch up to you!  


Praise in the midst of a disappointing "no" is easy when you believe in your heart that God knows what's best for you. You can praise God in the midst of His "no" when you accept that His plan for your life is much better and thorough than your own plan for your life. "No" is easier to swallow when you have faith and trust in God. 


You may not understand why God said "no." Sometimes, it really is not for us to understand, just to obey. So, don't get hung up on that. Accept that God's ways are not our own ways. If we could figure out what was best for us, then why would we need a Savior? We don't always know - but God does. 


So, the next time God tells you know, don't get mad, upset, depressed or dejected. Don't worry or obsess. Just praise God! Say to yourself: "While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being!" (Psalm 146:2)