Be Careful For...NOTHING

Hello Loves!  I know, I haven’t blogged in awhile.  Focus has not come easy to me this year.  There has been so many things rising up, and my Spiritual energy has been drained.  Despite my strengths, despite my gifts, even the strong needs to feed and glean.  I was at a point where I had nothing to give anyone.  I was too busy fighting to maintain my own faith in the midst of my many attacks.  It’s not by chance that our battles are ENORMOUS this year, at the start of year. 

This is 2014, haven’t you noticed?  Take the time to add the digits, they will add up to be 7.  There is Biblical significance in the number 7.  The number 7 is God’s number of completion.  This year will be the year that so many of us will receive what we have been praying and waiting for.  This will not come without a battle.  In battle, out of battle, before battle, and after battle, it is imperative that we remember that the battle was already won before we were even thought of.  The fear factor, the intimidation factor, and the idea of being rejected while standing firm on our beliefs, has caused so many of us to be hesitant in our words and actions.  We are the good, we are the one’s that should be able to make a difference.  We are not the enemy, nor are we a part of his militia. 

While so much of the world has been consumed with evildoers, spirits, the whole nine yards, the believers, I mean the TRUE believers, have got to be consumed with God’s work.  God’s will.  Sometimes it seems as though the righteous are the minority, and the self-righteous and the un-righteous are the majority.  We have gotten to a place where we fret over the things that are evident, and we fear the things that are not so evident.  Why are we worrying about things that are out of our control?  Why are we afraid to deal with the things that are in our control?  Has the people of God gotten to a place where we have been silenced because of the backlash that we will suffer for God’s namesake?  What’s happening different from what we SHOULD have expected when we decided to walk this walk?          

Were we brainwashed into thinking that things would be easier when we become followers of Christ?  Our vision has been tainted by the prosperity preachers that are teaching us, well some of us, that everything will be peaches and cream once we join the army of the Lord.  I’m here to serve notice that the closer you get to Christ, the greater the attacks will be.  The more Spiritual you become, the harder the natural man will fight!  The main focus of ALL living things is to survive.  When that survival is threatened, any and all organisms when fight to stay alive by any means necessary.  Our curiosities have made us weak.  Our love for others has made us gullible.  Our compromised faith has put us in a place where we may fall prey to the enemies at hand. 

There's a difference between being paranoid, being cautious, and being careful.  Paranoia is associated with a lack of trust.  Caution is fueled by fear.  The word says, "Be CAREFUL for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."(Philippians 4:6).  Simply put, it means to have no distressing anxiety about anything.  God has already made a covenant with us.  As long as we follow the “IF”, God will surely follow the “THEN”.  He is not a man that he should lie.  His word will not return void, it will do what it was set out to do.  WE must be mindful of this and draw strength just from KNOWING this.  While we’re in battle, while we’re going through, while we’re praying for clarity, we MUST continue to Praise.  Deliverance is in your Praise.  Confuse the enemy, Praise Him in advance.  Be careful for nothing.  Remember that God’s got it.  It’s already done.   carry on

Choose your Father...CONSCIOUSLY

Hello Loves!  Let me be the first to say, I have been slipping when it comes to blogging.  It's not that I haven't thought about it.  It's not that I have nothing to say.  It's definitely not that God has stopped speaking to me.  It's just because, I honestly thought no one was reading my blog.  So, why even blog?  Well, I have been contacted by several someone's, curious as to why I stopped blogging.  I think I need to get back to doing what I enjoy so much.  Touching someone's life in a positive way.  My mind has been going a million miles a minute, as usual.  It was a little difficult trying to decide what to blog about.  Family structure and our ability to choose our family members, is a topic that most people never think about.  Here's my take on family.  Specifically, Father's.

Life is a beautiful thing.  Life is something that so many people take for granted.  Even the one's who claim to appreciate life, are not making a sincere effort to LIVE.  God decides who is born, who their parent's are, who their siblings are, and who their family is.  For the most part, our blood line is set in stone.  There's not a lot we can do about that.  So we think.

Naturally, we are born into sin.  We are all created by the same process, and enter the world the same way.  We know that it takes a woman and a MAN to conceive a child.  We have no idea when we are being conceived or who the two people are that will contribute to our conception.  Yes, our parent's are just contributors, God is the creator.  As children, we behave as children.  Most, not all of our decisions, are based on what we are taught, and what our parent's allow us to do.  We never consider the fact that someday we will have to make a choice.  We will have to choose who our eternal father will be.

Regardless to what, God is our Father.  Whether we acknowledge Him or not.  But, the way we live our lives dictate who WE believe to be our father.  The life we lead, the decisions we make, good or bad, are a reflection of our father.  Children are representatives of their parent's.  Adults are representatives of themselves and their Father.  One God, one Father.  Yes, in a perfect world, this is true.  But, considering that we live an imperfect existence, there must be an opposite of perfection.  That imperfection is the Devil. 

When we choose to serve God, we openly accept Him as our Father.  But, when we choose otherwise, then that choice becomes our father.  We can not openly choose our natural parents.  But, God has given us the right to choose our Spiritual father.  We can't just speak, and acknowledge the fact the we have chosen God as our Father.  We must live according to our own words.  We must live according to God's words.  When we do ANYTHING less, we are glorifying that which should not be glorified.  We are choosing that which should not be a choice.  So many people claim to be a follower of Christ.  So many people claim God as their Father.  But, the way we treat other's, the way we treat ourselves, the way we treat our children, our total lack of respect for God, all of these things are indicators that we do not truly choose God as our Spiritual Father.  Of all the choices we can make in life, there is just ONE choice that should be automatic.  This choice should never be argued.  But, we live in a world where people are looking for something, anything, to discredit God.

Give credit where credit is due.  A theory is a theory, we all know this.  But, theories are meant to be disproved.  Considering that we are not in a place to PROVE God's power, we're also not in a place to DISPROVE God's power.  It is our responsibility to KNOW God for ourselves.  It is our duty to live a life that compliments what our Father has taught us.  Our individual walk can give the world some personalized insight as to the power of God.  Every choice that we are presented with should not be a choice.  There's no comparison.  Choosing God as our Father should not consist of a thought process.  There's nothing to think about.  But, we do need to think about our words, our actions, and most importantly, our thoughts.  This is proof as to who we choose as our Father.

There should be no doubt in the minds of anyone who interacts with us as to who our Father is.  Our  loyalty should be obvious, and not able to be challenged.  No one should wonder who we are, whose we are, what we are, or who we choose to serve.  Our lives should be evidence of our undying choice.  Bringing ourselves under subjection is an individual check and balance that we should frequently practice.  We should look at ourselves, our lives, several times a day.  I am who I am, I choose God as my Father.  My desire is that people can CLEARLY see Him in me, each and every day.   Anything else will require clarity.  I love you.    carry on

^{Joshua 24:15}

¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Through the Eyes of A...STRANGER

Hello Loves!  My transitions have been phenomenal, but tiring.  This entire year has been a year of clarification, revelation, and manifestation.  My faith is great, I feel Spiritually empowered!  But, in the midst of all of the wonderful things that God has shown ME, I have come to the recollection that people do not KNOW me.

It's an eye opening experience when the people that you thought knew you, really don't KNOW you.  To know me is to know God.  He is my everything.  Your specific prayers to Him will reveal everything you need to know about me.  Key word, "NEED".  It is not necessary for everyone to know everything about you.  When you look at me, what do you see?

Beneath all of the polish, class, and beauty, there is an inner me.  The inner me is the most important part of me.  It defines who I am, and it proves that I am who I say I am!  Not that I live for the approval or acceptance of others.  But, I LIVE for the approval and acceptance of others.  The reason being is this.  God made me who I am for a reason.   He has given me the mind, and put me in a place of leadership.  The fact that I claim to be His, I must live as if I am His.  The Jesus in me, is what I want others to see.  But, it's kind of hard to see that, relate to that, or accept that, if you are not a true believer.  If you do not have a personal relationship with Christ, there is no possible way that you can have the Spiritual eye that it takes to see "ME".

"ME", yes "ME", who am I?  What do others see?  I had to put myself in a place of a strange and unknown person.  I had to look at myself as if I had not been with myself my entire life.  I had to view myself as a person that has never been introduced to Christ.  That was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  From my perspective, I was successful in this endeavor.  As I looked at myself through the eyes of a stranger, I noticed some things that did not set me apart from others.

My greatest desire is to be what God desires me to be.  To be this, I need to be set apart from others.  To sum it up.  I must seem strange and peculiar to the believers and to the non believers.  The fact that I had become very impatient with people, and God, did not set me apart from others.  I love people because I love people, so I thought.  The fact that I would pick and choose who to openly love, did not set me apart from others.  Most importantly, my moments of boredom, anxiety, anger, agitation, lust, irritation, and above all, my moments of feeling unfulfilled!  These things made me look just like everyone else.  Through the eyes of a stranger, this can make me seem unapproachable, unhappy, selfish, self absorbed.  All of these perceptions are perceptions that are not of God.  I need to be seen as a Woman of God.  I need to be seen as strange and peculiar.  I need to be seen as LOVE!  Love is the greatest gift of all.  If these things can not be seen through the eyes of a stranger, then I have defeated myself.

Self defeat is not an option.  God has already made provisions so that we can be undefeated.  We, yes WE, put ourselves in a place of self destruction!  If we have gotten to the point that we no longer find it necessary to look at ourselves through the eyes of a stranger, we need to accept the fact the we have sabotaged our own salvation.  The devil doesn't have to do anything.  We are unintentionally tearing down the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are supposed to be Kingdom Builders.  We are not perfect.  We are in the flawed flesh.  Knowing God, having a personal relationship with Him, and being Spiritually empowered does not make us perfect.  It makes us perfect for GROWTH.

Go with God.  Grow with God.  Never forget where you came from.  Never forget who you used to be.  Never forget that when much is known, much is required.  Never forget to look at your OWN self, through the eyes of a stranger.  I love you!    carry on

A Man's Love

Hello Loves!  It's been too long, much too long since I have blogged.  The direction of my life has changed, abruptly.  I honestly think I went into Spiritual shock there for awhile.  I am coming back into my own, and the blurriness in my vision is clearing up.  Today, this morning to be exact, began as a day of clarity and reminiscing.  I feel Blessed for that.  My life is not my own, I know this, but sometimes I can remember times when I felt like I OWNED my life.  In my remembering, I often think of my Daddy.  He is the most AWESOME man I have ever known.

My Daddy was a very hard working man, he is retired now. His family was a priority, and his God was an even greater priority.  If my Daddy wasn't at work, he was at church.  My Mommy would take advantage of every opportunity available for us to spend time with him.  Quality time.  One of my fondest memories of these moments, was my Daddy's lunch breaks at his job.

My Daddy retired from Pepsi Cola, he worked there for over 30 years.  My Mommy used to regularly take us to his job to have lunch with him.  I used to be so anxious to see my Daddy.  To this day, my Daddy's favorite meal is breakfast, and I still get excited when I see him.  My Mommy would make breakfast for my Daddy's lunch.  She would cook pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs for our picnic brunch.  My Daddy's face would light up when he saw us.  That was the greatest feeling in the world.  After lunch, he would take me into the plant.  The bottling plant had these monstrous machines that were just loud and scary to me.  I hated walking past them, but being with my Daddy made me feel safe.  He would take me to the cooler where the pop was.  In that day, employees were allowed to have as much free pop as they wanted.  Needless to say, people abused that privilege, but my Daddy didn't.  He would remind me, "Tanny, you can only have one pop, we won't be greedy, this is a Blessing."  He would proceed to dig in the cooler, all the way to the bottom, to find the coldest can of Pepsi he could.  Just for me.  Sometimes, he would pull the pop out, touch it with his other hand, and put it back in the cooler because it wasn't cold enough.  That made me feel special, very special.  It made me understand how big the smallest things are.  Throughout my life, I learned to appreciate the smallest things.  I embrace life on a level unlike most, because of this appreciation.

In my appreciation of everything my Daddy has taught me, I have to say, I know he is ready to pass the torch.  He is longing for the day when the man that God has for me, steps up and claims me...and my sister.  I am very picky when it comes to my husband, and he knows this.  He once said to me, "I blame myself for you and your sisters standards being so high, you want someone just like your Daddy."  I assured him that we do not blame him, we thank him.  Because of my Daddy, I KNOW what a good man is, and have that same requirement for my husband.  The whole point of everything I've mentioned is to say this.  I desire a man that will dig into the bottom of the cooler to get me the coldest pop he can find.  If all you have to give me is a pop, give me the best pop you have to give.  My requirements are not big, but my expectations are great.  I expect my future husband to love me with a father's love, protect me with the love of a warrior, and guide me with the Spirituality of God.  The right man's love will complete me.  I was created for HIM!  That was the sole purpose as to why God gave birth to woman.

As a woman, an unclaimed woman, I feel my loneliest when I am in a room filled with people.  I have people in my life who love me, unconditionally.  I have people in my life who would do anything for me.  For this, I am ever so grateful.  But, until the day I am able to find comfort in a man's love, my man's love, my husband's love, my feeling of emptiness will remain.  That's not a bad thing, it just is.  I am ready to accept and receive whatever God desires for me.  He only desires that I have that best.  I will not settle for anything less.  Settling is not an option for me, and should not be an option for you.

carry on

Choices...

Hello Loves!  Needless to say, my focus has not been where it used to be.  Since my last blog, I have had so many things going on in my life.  Some things were a distraction, others were a reaction.  None the less, I have been overwhelmed.  I may have been focused on things that served no purpose.  I may have been focused on things that were not designed to strengthen me.  All and all, I was focused on something.  Ultimately, my focus has changed.  I am still striving for clarity and confirmation.  Clarity has come, in some instances.  But, in others,  I am just as cloudy as I was a month ago.  I find comfort in knowing that God is not a God of confusion.  So, my lack of clarity is not of Him.  It is of ME.  I will not give the devil credit for anything.  

Everything is not of the devil.  I will take responsibility for my own thoughts, my own actions, and my own lack of following God's lead.  Even though I may not understand where God is leading me, or why He is leading me in the direction I am going.  I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that His lead is the only one that will guide me to victory.  He will show me the way, and ensure that my path is well lit.  The shadows that come to bring darkness and gloom will be non existent.  The straight and narrow is where I desire to be.  Challenges, many challenges, are evident and designed to tempt me to stray.  

Straying is not always a bad thing, but straying too far can be catastrophic. In the midst of all of my madness, I have not, and will not meet my demise.  Despite my brief moments of misguided movements, I remind myself that I am the ruler of my own destiny.  No one else's.  The destiny that I choose, is the one that God has planned out for me.  

His plan is perfect.  I have no complaints.  It is not by my own understanding.  I had to bring myself back to the place where I FIRST believed.   That moment when the Spirt of God gave me a joy that nothing can compare to.  I received it then, and I receive it now!  I had to find the power to invoke something that had faded, but was never lost.  When I finally connected with that magnificent joy, my storms were calmed.  My storms dissipated.  My Spiritual empowerment was again MY  rock!  

I still can't identify exactly what happened that caused my Spirt to be weakened, but I am stronger because of it.  At no point should we allow the cares of this world to put us in a place of forgetfulness.  Remembering to be grateful for what God has done, what He's doing, and what He's going to do, is thought provoking enough to deter any and all attacks we are experiencing.  It needs to be said, most of our attacks are self inflicted.  

Most of what we go through is caused by our own choices.  Our own decisions.  Not mistakes, choices.  We choose to do what we do.  Especially when we are totally aware of the potential consequences.  We appease ourselves by calling what we do "mistakes."  Mistakes are only evident when we are not aware of the potential consequences.  When we KNOW what can happen because of our actions, or lack there of, then we are making a choice.  Choose wisely.  

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.                                                

                                                                                                                  - Joshua 24:15

carry on

MY Zone...

Please understand my zone, I am not one to condone.

The negative chit chatter, and words that don’t matter.

My glory, my grace, my time, my place.

My happiness, my joy, my love will destroy

EVERY angel of death, trying to steal my last breath.

No time to rehearse, God has written the verse.

The rules, the plan, the outcome will span

From you to me, for ALL to see.

Knowledge you will earn, if your ready to learn.

Have you been told, all that glitters ain’t gold?

If not, here’s a clue, from THE Beautiful One to you.

Shhh…Can you hear me now?  

Please take time to listen.

The Jesus in me is what makes me glisten!

I am the Queen, I am not a pawn.

I vow to be GREAT!

That is all…..carry on

Growth or...Distraction

Hello Loves.  I have not blogged in quite a while.  Life has required my attention, for many different reasons.  I have had some ups , some downs, some good days and some not so good days.  I am not one to have bad days.  Every day is a good day when God allows you to experience it.  Despite all of the turmoil I have faced, and the storms that have been raging, I am grateful.  I know that I am Blessed and Highly Favored.  My life has presented me with new opportunities, new friends, and I am sure, new foes.  But, above all things, I have spent a great deal of time thinking and connecting with God.  God has allowed me to cross paths with many new and interesting people.  I have been given the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives I have become a part of.  Sowing seeds has become an unintentional part of my life.  It just happened, by no effort of my own.

When we are Blessed to be good people, and to have a Spiritually empowered soul, others can be drawn to us.  They are drawn to our strengths, and most importantly, our POWERFUL Spirit.  When we are in need, God will have us cross paths of someone that is in the seed sowing business.  But, the giver in us will still desire to contribute to the growth of their seeds.  We will take on the role of the seed fertilizer and the seed waterer.  Even though that person is attempting to help us, we will still attempt to reciprocate in any way possible.  One thing we must remember is, in our unselfish effort to fertilize the seeds; we have to be careful that we are not watering weeds.  I have said this before, and I will say it again, every goodly deed is not a Godly deed.  We have to know when we are supposed to become the gardener and give fertilizer and water to someone else’s seeds.  If we are not sure, very sure, our nurturing can fall on stony ground.  We have a tendency to view every positive thing we do as growth.  This is not always so.  Some things that we think is growth can actually be a distraction.

Distractions can come in many forms.  The strong must carry the weak.  As strong people, we desire to help someone, every opportunity we get.  We do not want to pass up the chance to make someone smile, or to make their life easier.  We need to remind ourselves, that every battle is not ours.  We are not supposed to react to every cry for help that is brought before us.  The help that we may be giving someone, could actually be a distraction from what God really wants us to do.  Delayed obedience, is still disobedience.  If God is not telling us to get involved, we need to heed His voice.  There are many situations that we can fix, instantaneously, but God may require that we just pray about that particular situation.  Everyone’s tests can eventually be their testimonies.  My tests are not your tests; your testimonies are not my testimonies.  What God has for you is for you, and no one else.  Walk in your calling and follow God’s lead.  Know when to sow, when to reap, when to fertilize, when to water, and when to pray.  God wants our harvest to be bountiful.  But, our bounty can become wilted if we are nurturing the wrong seeds.

Living, loving, and loving some more.            carry on