Another Chapter, Another Assignment

Dear Readers, it's that time of the year again. P.S. if you are reading this,  I'm glad you didn't get caught up in the rapture. (Yes, it was a joke. No man knows the day or the hour. Not even the one that died for us to have access to the father.)

Back to our regularly  scheduled program. 

So, as I use these last couple of hours (yes I'm writing  this blog at night) to say my final goodbyes to this chapter. I stand in tip toe anticipation to welcome the next. This chapter ends with me moving from Ms. To Mrs., having my dream job, and increased faith and gratitude. It also, ends with hard and heart decisions and goodbyes, grieving moments, and accepted consequences. 

This next chapter starts  the journey  of seeing the manifestation of what I have been praying  and preparing  for, including the next assignment.  

This week I had the privilege to reconnect with a friend  I deem as a brother and one of big sisters finally answered the phone. In catching  up with the both of them the theme of their lives parallel.  The theme grieving life changing moments. Moments were only Daddy's intervention is needed and wanted. As they shared what was going on, I started having mixed emotions... they  were grief and joy. The grief  of hearing the pain they had and are facing and enduring. The grief of their loss, disappointments, and frustrations. I know you asking, how can you have joy hearing this.  Simple, in this current chapter I learned the life application  of Nehemiah 8:10 "the joy of the LORD is my strength." It means that the formula that they are experiencing will yield space and capacity for the joy of the LORD to become their strength. This means they will become weak and the strength of GOD will manifest as they build their testimony.  How do you know, you may ask? Because I've been there before on numerous occasions.  

Now, don't allow my excitement for their victorious end,  fool you into thinking I'm not praying for them and surrounding them with love. Because I am doing that and more. But their current  moment forces me to increase my faith. The faith to know that Daddy will do the absolute most on their  behalf, including  performing a miracle in their lives, keeps me from thinking about my own storm.

As excited as I am about this next chapter,  I'm somewhat in doubtful spaces. To get through I need  a win for my brother and sister.  I need the reminder that , the timing of GOD is perfect, even in midst of chaos.  I need to know I'm not forgotten in other areas I've been praying for. 

So, as I say good bye to chapter  42. I say yes to the assignments,  storms, faith building,  GOD moving, and life changing moments of chapter 43.

Prayer: Daddy thank you for this next chapter and the assignments that come with it. Thank you for the faith adventures, the peaceful moments, the increase,  provision, and mind blowing miracles,  signs, and wonders. Thank you for never failing me, in the midst of me giving up. Thank you for being a dependable GOD! In Jesus Name.  AMEN 

I'm Tired of Church

 This is not a Gentel Readers blog, this is a let's talk about it and process it.

Now that you have my requirements for this blog let's dive into this conversation, shall we.

So,  I'm scrolling  through  IG and I see this Prophetic influencer talking about what another well known Christian influencer has said about her. She goes into a deep monologue about her issues with this Christian influencer. She shares her hurt, she speaks from a place of brokenness, and then she intentionally shares her "Prophetic Judgment ". Use starts off by saying... (The famous words) "GOD told me"...or "I heard the spirit of the Lord say", Now, let me preference that this is not the first this person has done this.  Lately, this has been her M.O. and reading the comments is what really brought me to today's topic... "I'm tired of Church".

For the past year and a month I have been without a church home. I've visit several  churches, went back to some old ones, did online, and even just not thought  about it. In this space I realize how much tired I am of church.

Please, don't get me wrong I love the biblical concept  of church. I love fellowship, worshipping, exchanging amens, prayers, revelations and insight from the word  we just heard; however, this feeling and capacity to do that in churches today is hard. 

I know you want to know what happened with me and my last church. Well, pastor  got burned out,  due to the pandemic the church lost a lot of their congregation which caused higher debt, that lead to us losing the church. 

Now, you got the background let's dive into my process. So, I grew up in church.  I have always had some form of intentional fellowship in every  church  I went to.  This fellowship  can be the traditional  kind, breaking bread and just talking. The spiritual kind, which usually included a small group. Or the flexibility kind, which  is a combination of the two. Lately, this lack of intentional fellowship  has led me to the mindset of being tired of church  along with the misuse of the influence,  the lack of leadership  accountability (see the beginning of blog), loss of church  purposes, and the devaluing of gifts and titles. 

I want the church that seeks to move in a community  centered fashion, while building bridges and tearing down walls. I want the church looking for sick people,  not the one judging those healed,  healing, or in the process of moving towards healing. I don't want the church that is quick to judge, I want the one quick to love.  I want a church  that doesn't  push their personal agenda and convictions on others or use it as a measurement  of what righteousness looks like. I want a church  that reflects  the description of "the bride of Christ".

Prayer: Daddy help us to not get tired of the place you call your bride. Help us with our church burnout,  church  frustrations, and church hurt. Remind us that the church  building is not our place of negativity,  but the people  in it can be.  Help us process our ability to  forgive, heal, let go, move forward,  learn, and hold on to your word, call, and purpose. In Jesus Name.  Amen

They Watching

 Great Day Gentel Readers! 

So,  today's blog is brought you by the words "they are watching you".

Over the the 4th of July holiday  I ran into a person I went to college  with.  In our conversations I learned so much about him that I did not know. I was honored that he shared a personal testimony  with me. During our exchange I told him about my own testimony.  When I told him, his response was.... "Man, girl you spoke that thing into existence ". Now, I'm trying not to look shock as he hug me to congratulate me on the manifestation  of the testimony. 

I know you wondering, why were you shocked? Well, it is because I never knew he was watching me.  I never knew he saw my struggles,  the tears, the faith,  and my desperation to trust the GOD process. It really blew my mind! I hold him in  high regards.  (I do not think he knows that). He was so sweet to me as a freshman and always made an effort to speak to me on campus  no matter how big he got or who was around him. 

As we part ways he asked me to keep him in my prayers (which I do) and told me how excited he was. 

Meditating on that moment made me realize that their are people  watching me. They are encouraged by the process of my testimony and truly will root for me when I share my wins.

I wonder how times how you missed the opportunity to encourage  someone  else because you think your testimony  has no purpose, power, or value beyond you.  

Today, I encourage you to consult with the Holy Spirit,  and ask him to reveal to you who you need to share you testimony with. 

Prayer: Daddy thank you for reminding us that the process and finish work of our testimony  is not only for us, but for those watching us. Daddy continues to work in favor of those wondering  is the process worth the work. Encourage  those losing hope, desiring to give up, and overwhelmed by the discomfort of blind obedience. In Jesus' Name.  Amen!

The Power of Connection

 Great Day Readers!

This post may be different because the revelation that I have is based on something I have talked about in the past, or maybe I  have not. This weekend I got to spend time with my sisters. Last year, we took time to plan a time and location for us to gather intentionally to be present with each other, catch up on life, exchange wisdom, laugh, and just be. In this moment, I found out that my sisters became vulnerable with places, emotions, and insecurities that I had not heard them express.  As we laughed, ate ( I cooked dinner for them as a joy of our sisterhood),  and reflected, this scripture came to me as I had a moment with Daddy in the midst of our moment. 

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her." ~Ruth 1:16-18

I know you are like, how does that scripture fit your moment? Well, let me paint the picture and give you some background. Naomi had just lost everyone that she knew and loved. Her husband and two sons were gone, and though she had two daughters-in-love, she was still in this foreign land where her GOD was not exalted, and honestly, she no longer felt safe. So, she made the decision to leave the place of her grief and go back home to grieve. She realized, though she had these two daughters, they were not enough to help with the process of the anguish and grief she was feeling. She gathered her daughters, told them her plan, and gave them permission to move forward with their lives. Well, as they were saying goodbyes, Ruth got a revelation that goodbye was not an option. She had a revelation of who Naomi was and the favor she had over her life. Though it was not spoken, I believe that Ruth had been convinced that Naomi's GOD was the one who possessed what she had been looking for, and Naomi had introduced her to a love and experience she could not walk away from, thus these verses. 

Now, back to my revelation. My sisters are the Naomis of my life. They have introduced me to various parts of Daddy that I did not know were there. In the midst of grieving moments and loss, their strength, trust in GOD, and outlook about life created moments where I gained the capacity to allow Daddy to be GOD and rest in his truth for my life as they supported me in grieving moments. I have also been their Naomi, but this weekend I was Ruth. I was the one reminding them of the greatness in them. Uplifting them in insecure moments, and helping them to realize their victory in this situation, but saying..."Let's do this thing called life together". This is what Ruth was saying to Naomi in these verses. She was telling Naomi  I know life has been lifeing, but I got you and I will not allow you to take this journey by yourself, nor will I allow you to settle in your depression, grief, become isolated, die, or think that this is how your story ends.  Naomi realized in the midst of her grief that she needed someone, and Ruth was it. As a result, she was blessed and never had to worry for anything, and Ruth became part of the bloodline of Jesus.

OOOOO I just got another revelation... Your ability to say yes to the rejection others try to give you in the midst of your obedience will make room for the unexpected blessings. Ruth never imagined that her yes would lead her to a connection with the Savior. She left what she knew to gain access to what she did not know, which led her to the connection to the one who had access to eternal life!!! (Meditate on that!!!)

Prayer: Daddy, we thank you for the Naomi's and Ruths in our lives. We thank you for being the Naomis and Ruths in the lives of others. We thank you for the reminders that you give us through others of the great GOD you are and how much you love us. In Jesus Name. AMEN

The Good Work of Faith

 Great Day Reader! 

Today, while reading my Bible plan in the Bible app, a scripture that I have heard several times in multiple translations stuck out to me.  

"Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works". James 2:26 NLT 

The part that stuck out the most was, "faith is dead without good works." So, many people think the work of faith is an action of productivity, and this may be due to the word work. As humans, we see work as a productivity,  measurable action that is calculated by time,  talent,  and in this case, obedience. Yet, the revelation I got this more is not the work Daddy is talking about.  The word work (Holy Spirit insight) means to pause and make capacity for interruptions.  In other words, Daddy is calling us to do something that's outside our routine, checklist, or even scope of practice.  He is calling us to do the most uncomfortable thing so the prayers of others may be answered. 

When was the last time you heard someone you love call you in the middle of your busyness, and you took the time not only to listen, but provide the solution without them asking? This is your faith at work. It's being ok the inconvenience interruption from the Father to restore or establish someone else's faith. 

Prayer: Daddy, help us make room for faith work during our busyness. May we not see the moment of a pause and interruption as an inconvenience, but as a moment for your light to shine through us.  May we never forget that the true work of faith is found in your interruptions and our obedience. 

In Jesus' Name. AMEN 

Yellow Brick Road

 Great Day Readers!!!

I wanted to share this video with you of a word I received while talking with a client about her process of freedom.

If you have ever watched any version of The Wizard of Oz, this message will hit you like a ton of yellow bricks. Get your notebook out because you are about to be blessed as we break down Dorothy's journey and her ability to get back home.

The GOD of Through

 Great Day Reader!

Look at me posting three posts in one month!!! LOL This is going to be a good year. The other morning during my quiet time I got a revelation about GOD. The revelation didn't make sense until I started thinking about one particular scripture...Psalms 23:4 "Even when I walk THROUGH the darkest valley, I will not be afraid (NLT). That word THROUGH stuck out to me like a sore thumb. It rang in my spirit and I to do more research on scriptures with the word THROUGH. Now these are just a few but they hold true to the revelation that I got.

• When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk THROUGH the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)
• For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.(Phi 4:13) The verse most people know

Do you see the revelation? Ok, Maybe not. The Through of GOD is the power of His resiliency, the grace of His peace, the unconditional actions of his love, the limitlessness of His Mercy, and the reminder of your purpose. The Through of GOD creates a space of stillness. It reminds us that we have to be in a place where we make space for GOD to do His job. The Through of GOD allows you to be in a place to see His hand at work in real time. 

This revelation of the Through of GOD is deep and it really has allowed me to realize how to apply the THROUGH of GOD in real-time, especially during these difficult times and unknown spaces. Today, I challenge us to active  the Through of GOD so we can be beyond the space of survival to the place of victory and live in the blessings of GOD found in John 10: 10 "I came that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." This scripture emphasizes the abundant life that can be found THROUGH Jesus Christ.

Prayer: GOD right now let us work the power of your Through by letting good of our expectations of what we want things to look like for our lives. Help us to take hold of your stillness, bask in your peace, walk in the purpose of your will and love, and expose our struggles to you. We trust your GOD and we thank you that in your Through we can do the mind-blowing things you called us to. In Jesus Name! Ament

Rainbow Year

Great Day Reader!

The other day I was talking to my big sister and she was asking me about what I would be celebrating this year, especially when it comes to me. I told her that I did not think there was anything to celebrate; however, I was grateful for the things that I had overcome during the past couple of years. She then began to tell me that this is your rainbow year. I was like rainbow year? See I always associated a rainbow with the promises of GOD, but also with miscarriages. I am sure you have seen mothers say this is our "rainbow baby." My sister immediately told me no, your rainbow year is about you recognizing the fact that you overcame your trials, tribulations, difficulties, cycles, and you have conquered your fears and built up your faith in areas where you struggled to trust GOD!

Listen!!!!! That blessed me!!! Maybe we have lost our ability to celebrate the wins and the victories in our lives, because we are so busy trying to get to the next blessing, goal, dream, happiness, or survival tactics for each year. But, can I challenge us to do five things 1) slow down. 2) rest. 3) be still. 4) reflect. 5) create the capacity to celebrate. Let me say it for the people that still may be processing... IT'S TIME TO MAKE THE CAPACITY TO CELEBRATE YOU!! 

I know you may be asking now how do I make the capacity to celebrate me. How do I enjoy my Rainbow Year. I am so glad that you asked because this is going to be the simplest thing you do, but the hardest thing as well, because change has to be a lifestyle not just a decision. So here are five things I am challenging us to do as we celebrate our rainbow year. 

1. Forgive others and yourself daily. GOD gives us new grace and mercy daily. Let's stop trying to store the grace and mercy from yesterday as a backup or just in case GOD doesn't come through today. 
   
   
2. Allow yourself to enjoy grace. Grace is a gift we did not earn; so there is no need for us to try to figure out how to keep it or gain more of it.
   
   
3. Give yourself permission to heal. I know it hurts and that this space of healing can be uncomfortable, but you need to in order to create the capacity to celebrate.
   
   
4. Breathe. You do not have to rush. This is a marathon, not a rat race. You are in the world but do not have to conform to it. Slow down it's ok to breathe and rest.
   
   
5. Surrender and boundaries. Know your capacity when it comes to being around people and allowing people in your space. You have to know how to say No, stick with the No, and realize the power of your No. You also must under the power of yes as well. Yes to surrendering your all to GOD. Yes to surrendering the difficult stuff as well as the easy things. Yes to surrendering daily and being ok with the process, plan, and purpose GOD has for you. 

This year we will stick to these five things and ask the Holy Spirit to bring them back to our memory when we need to do to enjoy the Rainbow Year GOD has given us. 

Prayer: Daddy, thank you for this rainbow year. We do not take this moment and year for granted. We understand it is a reminder of your promise to us, your word of truth, and your ability to come through. We are reminded that if we trust you with all things at all times we have nothing to worry about. We appreciate and honor who you are. We are grateful fo your plan, even when we do not understand it. In Jesus Name. AMEN

 

2025 is Among Us!!!

 Dear Readers,

You hear me say it every year... "I am going to do better". Well, I have too many accountability partners to fail this year!

If you are new to this blog, welcome! If you are a faithful reader, thank you for being with me through the journey. Disclaimer, this is an imperfect blog. Yep, I have grammatical errors, properly misspelled words, and some thoughts that may seem unGODly. But what's the trend..."WE Listen (read) and DON'T Judge"! (LOL)

Ok, now that the preliminaries are out way let's talk about this year of 2025. So, I want to first say that this is going to be a year of "mind your business and drink your water". If you didn't know, now you do. This is a year of true focus not from a selfish standpoint, but one from where is GOD calling you. I think a lot of times we are minding our business, without action, without purpose, and without listening. We find ourselves so caught up in what we should be doing based on our own will that we forget about the will of GOD. Been there and done that so many times, I should be tired, but unfortunately, I find myself going back into the cycle.

 This year we will learn. We will take from the years past and apply the lessons, not the responses. We will do the uncomfortable things, with boldness, with grace, with joy, sometimes with tears in our eyes, and hesitation in our hearts. We will do the obedient things, trusting the plan and process of GOD. I am calling this year, the year of #outthebox. We will not do what we feel like we should be doing, or what fits the agenda of who we see ourselves to be. We will do things that make us grow with frustration, yet it births patience and peace. We will sow seeds of faith in the midst of doubt. We will meditate on joy in the midst of grief. I know these all sound like contradictions, but they aren't. They are moments of training and reality. The reality is you will have doubt when you don't know the outcome of the situation. You will grieve the feeling of no and rejection while finding joy in getting a bigger blessing. I mean who wants to let go of something that makes them feel good, to gain access to something they barely know if it will work. 2025 is about to be the year of "GOD you said you would, so I will too." Listen, and read this out loud, IT WILL WORK if I COMPLETE MY PART. 

You praying to GOD to do something when maybe GOD is waiting on you to move something, do something, sit somewhere, and be still. "Faith without works", is not about the action of faith, it's about the obedience of your stillness sometimes. You think the work is action when the work could be surrender. As a matter of fact, the work is ALWAYS the action of surrender. GOD can't get you what you need and ask for if you are filled and full of what you want, and won't let go of it. You asking for healing when GOD needs your action of forgiveness. You can't ask for wealth when you not sowing something... Maybe you are not at the place where your faith will allow you to sow 10%, but sowing something is better than sowing nothing. Let's move beyond that maybe you struggle to say no, so GOD can trust you with his yes. The list can go on and on, but the point is you have to let GO of something to gain access to what you want to possess. 

In 2025 do me and yourself a favor, make room, let go, trust GOD, build community, sit still, become uncomfortable, surrender even if you go it handled, and tell your truth to DADDY before you do man. 

Prayer: Daddy this year is about to be different, not only because we speak and believe it, but because we understand that we must be different to get to the next level you have in store for us. We realize that surrendering is uncomfortable and out of our control. We realize that we are control freaks, and it hinders You from taking control of our lives and the situations we are praying about. Help us! Help us be still, help us be obedient not by force, but by choice, and help us see your will, purpose, and plan working for our good in the tough moments.  

In Jesus Name!

AMEN

Welcome to 2025