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.

HeartBroken

Hey Readers,

I know it's been a while, but I have been in an unmotivated funk. No reason on the why, but just have. But this past weekend a statement was made that blew my funk out the water. "GOD will break your heart to blow your mind."

What do you do when Daddy breaks your heart to blow your mind? Well, with a heart of thanksgiving you tell Him thank you. I am sure that the statement alone has some of you all confused. Why would Daddy break my heart, when He told me that He would give me my heart desires? (Ps 37:4) Well, can we quickly (and I do mean quickly) examine that scripture? When Daddy talks about giving you your heart desires here, we must examine the three verses prior. It says that we must delight ourselves in Daddy. When we delight ourselves in Him then, He will give us the desires of our heart. But we get the desires of our heart because they are actually His heart desires for us. Which brings me back to the statement that I said at the beginning of the blog that shook my world. "Daddy will break your heart to blow your mind."

I know you wondering why did this statement shake you so much? Well, it's because a lot of times we see Daddy's no as a punishment, as an indication that we are not doing something right or we did something wrong. But, in reality, His no, is His way of telling us what you are asking for is not big enough for me to give you. That I need to break your heart, so your mind can be blown by the thoughts I have towards you. That you need to realize that you aren't thinking my heart desires for you. That you are not connected to me like I need you to be. This what this statement is saying. Daddy is telling us to be bold enough and have so much faith that we are willing to trust Him to break our hearts so, I can blow our minds. WHEW!!! That was a lot to tell and take in, but it was worth it.

We must shift our hearts and minds when it comes to Daddy. We can't be content in our thinking, or even our heart desires that we miss Him. Daddy wants the best for us, and though we are thinking best, bigger, and greater for ourselves, Daddy feels as though we can go deeper and bigger.  Today, do me a favor... Let Daddy break your heart so, he can blow your mind!!

Prayer: Daddy, break our hearts, that our minds can be blown by your grace, favor, love, joy, and peace. Break us so we can be in a position to desire more of you and last of us. Break us, that we may be a testimony of your love towards us. Break us that we may enjoy life more abundantly here on earth. Break us, so we can see you. In JESUS Name! AMEN!!!

Selfish Heart

What a transparent moment this blog will be as I had a come to Jesus meeting with myself. Over the past couple of months during this transition of moving out the secular world of working into ministry, I have really been examining me. How I talk...Think.. See others... Respond to others... Just my heart. I prayed the dangerous prayer found in Psalm 139:23 "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." That prayer alone has revealed my selfish heart. A heart that did not realize how brokenhearted I was... that I had projected it onto others. A heart that was willing to judge others before look at self. A heart that desired what she wanted when she wanted it, without asking Daddy what He wanted for me.

This has been a tough pill to swallow. Because this whole time I have made it my goal to pursue Daddy in a way I never pursue Him before. I feel so defeated and disappointed in myself. I feel like what is the use of the Christian journey if this is going to be the end result of my efforts of getting close to Daddy. But, here is the thing this is where the enemy wants me.  Question have you ever felt like where I am? Have you ever felt doubtful, hopeless, and discourage in your pursuit to seek Daddy? Have you ever felt like it wasn't worth it? Can I tell you something that has really saved me from feeling guilty and unworthy of Daddy's presence and love (because those are the emotions that I felt when I realize this was my heart), His grace and mercy is new daily!!! I know that seems so simple but not good enough. I know it seems like there should be more to help with a selfish heart. But after realizing how selfish I was.  I heard the Holy Spirit say " His grace is sufficient." ( 2 Corinthians 12:9).

How awesome is our Daddy, that He knew that one day we would make time to pray the prayer, asking him to search our hearts and finding out the selfishness that was in it... that He put a clause in place that would cover us. His grace covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

In all of this, I never thought that I would feel free as I feel now. I am in a place where I know there are some root issues that I need to deal with. That I need to learn how to apply the fruits of the spirit in a life applicable way. That I have to love in spite of how I feel or what they did. Because Daddy first love me (1 John 4:19), and there is nothing greater than love. (1 Peter 4:8). That His joy is my strength (Psalms 28:8) and in Him can I only find peace. (2 Thessalonians 3:16). That long-suffering create perseverance (Matthew 24:13) and gentleness creates a place of forgiveness (Philippians 4:5).

Goodness creates confidence (Psalms 27:13), faith ties the fruits of the Spirit together creating boldness in you (2 Peter 1:5-7). Meekness creates the opportunity for you to gain an inheritance (Matthew 5:5) and self-control keeps you out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23).

Today I challenge us to not meditate on the selfishness of our hearts, but the fact that they can become selfless if we just apply the word of God to our lives.

Prayer:  Daddy, we come to say thank you that your grace is sufficient enough to cover the multitude of sins that our heart creates. Thank you for taking out the time to examine our hearts and not allow us to remain selfish. Thank you that you have allowed the fruits of the Spirit to come in and take over that we may be better sons and daughters. Helps us to remain in a place of faith and examination. That we will not get settled where we are, but we will grow in your light and remain selfless and not selfish. In JESUS  name! Amen

Dangerous Prayer Part:2

Last week I talked about the dangerous prayer that I prayed concerning being a demand in the earth. This week I am going to talk about the most dangerous prayer that I have prayed. It has caused me to be all in my emotions and respond to life differently. Last week sometime I prayed this simple prayer found in Psalms 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts".

Yep, that's the prayer that I prayed. Dangerous I know...but, I am sure some are wondering why it is so dangerous prayers? Well, it is dangerous for 5 reasons.

1. It tells Daddy that you are ready for Him to have total control of the thing that you function from... your heart.
2. You recognize that He knows, even the things that don't line up with His word, will, and way.
3. You ask Him to test you... Let me say that again... You are asking Daddy to test you. That means you are telling Him... Daddy, I may not be ready for the test, but because I trust you, test me.
4. You are telling Daddy to help you identify the things that have caused you to become unfocused, doubtful, and fearful.
5. You are asking Daddy to be a mind regulator for you and do surgery on your heart. 

If those things aren't dangerous, I don't know what is.  But, today can I encourage, motivate, and push you to make this a prayer that you pray. Not just once but daily. Because let's be honest... When we remove things from our heart, we can add things back in it that aren't good and line up in accordance to Daddy's will for our lives. The prayer may be dangerous but it is effective and one that will cause you to grow.

Let's pray...

Prayer:  Daddy, today we come to you praying this simple and effective prayer. Search us! Search our hearts. That all the brokenness in it is revealed to us, and we may come to a place of forgiveness for ourselves and others. Search our minds. That every thought that has caused us to not trust You fully is destroyed and uprooted, so we can have the mind of Christ. We thank you, Daddy, that we fully surrender all of us to you. In JESUS name...AMEN!!!

The Transistion

I know it's been a while and I do apologize. I am realizing that in order for this thing to really work you all need to hear from me.  So today you, my readers are my accountability partners. That's right I have given you the task to email me at: shawndrikaLcook@gmail.com if you aren't getting a blog once a week. See we must realize that we are meant to do life alone, and sometimes strangers, people we don't know are for us will hold us accountable. So welcome ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS!

With that being said let's talk about transition! So for the past 4 months, I have been in a place of total transition. I went from working a full 8-5 in my field, to leaving there and doing ministry full time!! Yep, ministry FULL TIME!!!  Now I know you are wondering what causes me to make this move. I mean I just passed my licensure examine only a year ago, I have not been a private practice therapist at all, and now I am in ministry. To answer the question of why, is simple, obedience. But, in my obedience, the walk and the focus of my next has been hard.  I find myself feeling lost, confused, out of place, ill-prepared,  hopeless, distraught, and discourage. Any negative feelings that a human being can express... This girl expressed them and more. I know you are wondering why did you experience all these negative emotions. I mean you were being obedient right? Well, here is the thing with obedience comes sacrifice, thought 1 Samuel 15:22  states, "Obedience is better than sacrifice".  There is a sacrifice that comes with obedience. Maybe I shouldn't say a sacrifice, there is a surrendering that comes with it. To some that surrendering position can feel like a sacrifice. I mean give up everything you know just to be submerged into something you know nothing about. 

So, here I am in the 5th month of the transition and I am stuck! Yep, stuck like a truck in the mud. I am not writing this blog from a place of overcoming this time. This time I am writing to you while the process is still going. While I am still in the place of getting to the prize or the next that GOD has called me to. I am in that,  "I have to more trust GOD moments", rather than "I will figure something out moments". I'm at a place where I need the manifestation whether than being on ok with waiting for the manifestation.

I know someone who is reading this is wondering why am I telling the story as it is happening? Well. it's because you need to know the process of transitioning. When you are in a place where the transition is not by choice, but assignment there are certain things you can't control or deal with because you truly trust Daddy to guide your every step. For instance, I can't control the demands that my assignment has on my life. I took a $2500 pay cut, yet I have not wanted for anything for real. I have tried to apply for a second job with the conviction that I couldn't because of the demands of this assignment.

Why tell you the now of my transition for real?!? Because you need to know that transition is worth it!!! It's worth leaving something that you do know for something you don't know. It's worth moving beyond you to get to Daddy. It's worth the process... OOOOOO!!! That's a word PROCESS!!! The process will be the foundation of your transition. How you see your process will determine how long you will stay in your transition. If you see your process as a burden, then your transition will last longer, because you are not able to receive the benefits of the process. But, if you see the process as a purpose, that it pushes you to your next, stretches you to another level in GOD, and betters your faith and trust in Daddy. Then the transition will be short and one that you can talk about as part of your testimony. Let me say this I don't care what kind of transition you experience good or bad, no one likes the discomfort that comes with it. No one likes being in limbo where you aren't sure what's going on, but you know where you are going. No one likes looking at the preview of their promise and wondering when they will get there. These are the feelings of transition.

Today, I want to encourage someone to keep pressing in their transition!!! Keep enjoying the process no matter how uncomfortable it gets. Remember this transition is not about you, but about those who are looking at you. You are the only manifestation of GOD they may see! This is about your legacy, your future, your next...DON'T FORFEIT IT!!!

Prayer: Daddy transition is not easy. It can be uncomfortable and stressful if we don't allow You to guide us. Today we say guide us!!! Open our ears to your instructions. Open our minds to the thoughts that you have towards us. Remind us that your thoughts towards us are good and they have the outcome of your perfection. Open our eyes that we don't see things in the natural but in the spirit. Let us see the manifestation of the prayer that the Prophet Elisha prayed for his servant in 2 Kings 6:17, where he said: "LORD open his eyes so he can see". Daddy open our eyes so we can see. Let us see your hand of protection and provision on us. Let us see your wisdom, knowledge, and understand. Let us see that your plan is great than our process. Daddy, help us with our words. Help us speak the words that line up with your will, word, and way. Let us not get so frustrated in this transition that we forget the power of our tongue. That we speak life when we feel like death is trying to overtake us. We respond to situations and people with a soft answer. Daddy, be our Jehovah Shalom and let us experience your peace like never before. Be Jehovah Jierha so we can know that you will provide and meet our needs and wants. Daddy, we thank you that we will be the examples we need to be during this time of transition. In JESUS name AMEN!!!

Soul Passion

Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my GOD.

It's amazes me every time I read that verse how it bring about fresh revelation. As soul commanders we must realize that the true pursuit of seeking GOD, is seeking him beyond our own strength. The word pant in this verse means to breath with short, quick breaths.  So let me put this definition to use with this verse. As a deer that breathes with short, quick breaths for streams of water, so my soul will press with short, quick steps towards you GOD. Hum that is really deep.  This scripture is telling us that we have to command our souls to go beyond its strength to press towards the presence of GOD. WOW that means we cannot give up even when we feel like life is taking our breath away.

Life Application: Ask yourself this question: am I to a place or point where I am willing to press towards GOD, even when life seems to be taking my breath away? If you are not in a place where you can see yourself pressing towards GOD, to the point you are fighting for your last breath, then there are three things you need command your soul to do: 1. Trust GOD. 2. Let go of doubt and fear. 3. Let go of your own strength.

Prayer: Father we thank you that in you we have breath, because you are the creator of all things. Father we just ask as we press towards you out of breath, feeling like our oxygen is low, and life is sucking us dry, remind us that you breathe breath of life back into us. Father up us to surrender our strength that yours can make us strong. Father we command our souls to submit to you and your will and we command it to obey your plan for the pressing you called us to, just to be in your presence. In Jesus Name! AMEN

Soul Salvation

Psalms 35:9: Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
I love David, because despite his mood swings he always came back to the place of salvation, the LORD. He always found a way to remind himself of the great things that can be found in  the LORD which was salvation. The same salvation we have access to through Christ Jesus. The same salvation that sets us apart from the words and gives us the eternal promise of everlasting life. The same salvation that allows us the ability to gain new grace and mercy every day. SALVATION, what a powerful word, but most importantly a powerful action. When one thinks about salvation we immediately think the cross, which is truly the access to all the promise of GOD, but David knew nothing about the cross, yet he commanded his soul to rejoice, due to his salvation, found in who...the LORD. Wow!!! David got the revelation of the promise before the promise was even born. What a mighty GOD we serve. That the LORD can give revelation to the ancestor of the one who would save the world, before he was even born.

Life Application: Ask yourself these questions when was the last time I rejoice about being saved? Have I allowed salvation to be limited to words, or have I allowed salvation to become an action that fuels my trust in GOD? Remember salvation is free, the price has been paid, but the things that fuel the action of salvation to remain active in your life, is your ability to rejoice in what Christ did on the cross for you over 2,000 years ago. Never allow your ability to be save by grace, through faith, be something you take for granted. Do like David did and command your Soul to rejoice in the LORD, because he has given you access to salvation with eternal promises.

Prayer: Father, we thank you that through Christ we have access to salvation, which gives us direct access to you. We thank you that in you  we do rejoice, because it's in you that we find everlasting life, blessings, and the promises of yes and amen. In JESUS name. Amen

Soul Detox

Daddy, I realize I'm going backward and not forward.  My flesh is out ruling my spirit because I've given into it daily. I've allowed myself to be overcome with thoughts of what my flesh wants and not what you want for me. My heart is heavy and filled with emotions I can't bare to carry or talk about. I feel so alone that I have reduced myself to the now fix, than the GOD fix. I've open doors you have shut and shut doors you have open; I've tainted them with my sinful nature just to numb the pain of the process. I 've lost hope, faith, and trust in you because it seems as though you keep working in my later when I need you in my now. I've kept silent far too long Daddy, trying to have the faith of your word. I feel lost and confused and you are the only one I can turn to. The world and country I live in is more divided as ever, and it feels like your victory is but a distant memory. What can I say or do to get you to move on my behalf? My tongues feel traditional, my heart empty, and my prayers muffled. My soul is in need of a dexto from You. I find myself screaming Your name, pleading for the blood to cover every guilty stain. I try to stay under the umbrella of your mercy and grace, but then I find myself being out of place. I want you Daddy and all you called me to be. But right now this assignment of being me seems too heavy for me. To be your standard, daughter, and bride. To be the one that never gets caught up in her pride. To be strong in your strength, operate in your gifts, and yield to your will; is not a stroll in the park. Daddy my soul needs the reminder of your love manifested in my now and interrupting my later. My soul needs the reminder of Your why. Why do you want me, why do you need me, and why don't you move in my timing? My soul needs your detox. The detox that clears my vision, restores my heart, guides me through the ups and downs, and shows me how to put me to the side. My soul needs the dexto of your joy, for you said in your word " I can find strength in it." You said it will be an exchange for my weakness. My soul needs your peace, for in it Your understanding will be released. I can see clearly now when your peace over takes me. Detox me Daddy for my soul is filled with thoughts of failure, fear, destruction, negativity, and hidden secrets. Remind me that your thoughts towards me are good, and so are the plans for my life. Remind me of the victorious victory of this fixed fight. DADDY DETOX ME!!! That my spirit man can be free in your liberty and my heart can show your love alone. DADDY DETOX ME!! So I won't become intoxicated with the instant gratification of this world, caught up in the politics of this nation, and overwhelmed by the words of men that state you can't and don't exist. DADDY DETOX ME!! That others connected to me can remember they are joint heirs of Christ, there is no lack in their lives, and you are the supplier of all their needs. DADDY DETOX ME!! That my husband can find me working for your kingdom, and serving your people. DADDY DETOX ME!! So I can have the faith to speak life to dead situations, see miracles, signs, and wonders. DADDY DETOX ME!! that my heart never feels the weight of disappointment. DADDY DETOX ME so I can be and look like your daughter again because right now I feel alone and abandoned. DADDY DETOX ME!! DADDY DETOX ME, so I can feel your presence every morning and every day. DADDY DETOX ME!! DADDY DETOX ME, because I don't know how much more my soul can take. DADDY DETOX ME so the enemy has no case against me. DADDY DETOX ME!! DADDY DETOX ME!! DADDY DETOX ME!!

In Jesus Name,

AMEN

A Daughter's Prayer

I wrote this four years ago I hope it blesses you like it blessed  me on today.

Lord teach me how to love the ones that hurt me, to forgive the ones that offend me, to pursue peace when I’m pissed; to move beyond the moment into the lifetime. Help me father to remember it’s not about me, but your kingdom. Help me to stop making temporary permanent, and please help me find words of wisdom, compassion, and understanding to give to the ones that refuse to hear my heart. Father create the atmosphere to rebuild the relationships I destroyed and rebuild me from relationships that destroyed me. Open my eyes to what you are showing me and let me not take this assignment in vain. Give me your presence that I may move at your pace, and father when I become impatient with the present task can you remind me of the future promises you have for me. Cover me father from my own ignorance and allow me to not be blinded by my own thoughts. Let me focus on your voice, walk in your faith, trust you at your word, and hold fast to your presence with the power of your love. Father I’m an available vessel waiting on your instructions and though I have a couple of cracks and there are places that I still don’t want to explore about me, hold my hand and remind me that you can use anything and anyone all we have to do is surrender to your will. In Jesus Name Amen! #teamlostforwords

Passover

Do you know what today is?!? It's  a great day to catch up on the things of GOD and what he is speaking into the earth. So this weekend is really special for the simple fact that today starts the celebration of the Passover. Now let me be honest I never thought I was worthy to celebrate Passover, I really thought it was for the chose people…The Jews, then the Holy Spirit convicted me by reminding me that I was part of the chosen people. Because of the Jesus died on the cross I have been adopted and chosen… Wow! I think sometimes (me especially) we forget that we get to reap the rewards and benefits of the original chosen people. It’s crazy that I have been surrounded by a Jewish family my whole life, thanks to my mom, but I never thought that I was worthy enough to really take part in what they were chosen to do. But thank GOD that his thoughts are not like mine and I have received the insight on the value of what being chosen brings. With all that being said let me just give you the great benefits of the Passover. First know that it starts today at sun down. During this time the Jews would say a blessing and feast together giving thanks for the death angel passing over them because of their obedience of putting the lamb’s blood over their door post. The crazy thing is that this celebration continues until Sunday! Three days of giving thanks and feasting together to celebrate GOD sparing the lives of those that were obedient. Now that you got the background let me get to the benefits. 1. It will cause humbleness to take place in your heart that will open the gates for GOD to move and answer your prayers. 2. Unity will take place. This will cause a movement to really seek after GOD for who he is, not what he has. 3. Healing will take place. So if you having issues in your body or believing GOD for healing for someone else know that this weekend, the manifestation of what you been praying for will happen before your very eyes. 4. You will be overtaken with joy. Yes, the Joy of the LORD will be your strength from this point forward and grow throughout the year. 5. There will be a shifting in the atmosphere. This will open the door to that unmeasurable favor and supernatural things happen for you. In other words, those “But GOD” moments.  6. You will increase in the authority and effectiveness of your prayer time. 6. Revival will spread in your home and destroy any hindrances that may be present. 7. Many people will find their calling and serve in their proper position. So if you are part of the group that feel like they still figuring out their calling or don’t know what it is… Guess what it’s about to be revealed on this weekend. 7. The nations will start to shift. This will start to take effect in the world and we will see the glory of GOD in the nations. 8.You start to live in abundance. That means that the lack in your life will turn into overflow and more than enough. 8. You will find yourself seeking GOD in unique and new ways. In other words, you will be out your comfort zone and “GOD limits.” Now let me be honest I don’t know if I can do a whole weekend of celebration… But I do know that on Sunday I am making an effort to get together as many people I can to break bread together and celebrate this great day. I want to make sure that I and those that are in my Circle of Influence are in a place that we are connected to the benefits of the Passover. To celebrate Passover to me is the best way to tell GOD I am ready to do all the things that come with being an adopted daughter and move in the things you have called your chosen people to do. To read more about the Passover please read 2 Chronicles Chapters 30-31.

Prayer: Daddy as we come to you today to celebrate the benefits of Passover as well as being adopted into your family we first want to thank you. Thank you that no matter what we have done you have a plan for us and that you have called us chosen. Thank you that you give us the opportunity to celebrate you and all you have done for us. Thank you that in you we have our being and that there is nothing that can separate us from your love but our ability to deny it. Thank you that the benefits of being part of your family is not just the ability to talk to you and seek your face, but also to unite with our other family members and break bread together to celebrate the great things you have done for us. Thank you Daddy that on this weekend we get to experience you in a new way and that we will take advantage of the timing and season you have place us in. We love you and thank you for every moment we get to experience you on another level. In Jesus Name! AMEN!!!

The Art of Fighting

This has been a week. It has been a week of constant fighting and constant trust in the word of GOD. For the last two years FEAR has been my biggest fight. The FEAR of failure, FEAR of rejection, FEAR of sacrifice, FEAR of not being loved or being able to love again, FEAR of not completing goals, FEAR of losing more than I can handle, FEAR of grieving, FEAR of the enemy, FEAR of me and ability to be successful, FEAR of the unknown, FEAR of losing, and most importantly FEAR of not being good enough. That's a lot of FEAR I know and as I type this I feel the weight of FEAR being revealed and release off my life so let me keep typing. F.E.A.R. False Evidence Appearing Real. The word of GOD clearly states that GOD has not given us the spirit of FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) but has given the power, love, and sound mind (2Tim1:7 ) So why is the fight so great when it comes to FEAR? Why is it so great to the point it that it can manifest as  a spirit that can over take your mind even in your dream. That even in the places you see as your safety the spirit of FEAR continues to be ever present. For me it has manifested in my dreams. I can have pleasant dream and then the natural manifestation of FEAR comes in and I wake up to the enemy standing over me trying to over take me. But today I take on the art of fighting. The first thing we must due when facing fear is we must learn how to trust Daddy. So many times we cause our own fear by losing focus on what Daddy has told us to do. Disobedience will cause the door of FEAR to creep open. We must meditate on the word  that gives us simple instructions on how to focus: Fear not for I am with you. (Isa. 41:10) How can we take this instruction and apply it to our life? Well if Daddy told us that he is with us then we have nothing to lose. He also states that nothing can separate us from his love, (Romans 8:38) NOTHING. So when FEAR makes you feel like you have been separated from GOD know that this is just the trick of the enemy, because the only thing that separates you from Daddy is you. Now that you know that GOD is always with you, you have to trust the presence of his love. Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. You have to trust the song that GOD sings over you know that it is one with great plans and it will restore your joy, give you peace, and allow you to know that he will always save you no matter what.  After you have trust him, dwell in his love, you next must operate an take your position of authority. First power you possess is your faith. Hebrew 11:1 For Faith is the confidence... We are going to stop right there. Faith is your confidence with it your can conquer everything! It causes you to speak with boldness and assurance that whatever you tell Daddy he will do, but also it allows you to cast down, destroy, and cancel the assignments, ambushes, and attacks of the enemy. Second remember your place, title, and position. Psalms 8:4-6 discusses our position and power:  "what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God  and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority." Let me encourage you some more about your power. Romans 8:11 states that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that lives inside of us. Wait so you mean to tell me that the same power that rolled the stone away, took off Jesus's dead clothes, and clothed him with clothing of life lives in me?!?! Yep that's what I am saying. So what power does FEAR really have but what you give it. So today let's conquer this False Evidence Appearing Real that we  have given power to. Let's stand in our true authority and rest in FAITH know that GOD will always make a way out of no way and he will do beyond what he said he would do. 

Prayer: Daddy thank you for always giving us the answers to our issues, situations, circumstances, and reminding us of our power, authority, and position in you. Daddy we thank you with that all we need is in you and that FEAR has no power over your love, joy, peace, and presence. We thank you that in our thanksgiving you take hold to our FEAR and create a yearning to have faith in your word, promises, will, and perfect timing. Daddy we thank you that on today that every thing that we labled or connected to FEAR is being destroyed and we relinquished the power of the enemy out and off our life. We will no longer feed the spirit of FEAR by submitting to it's authority. We take the spirit of FEAR under our authority that we have due to our position of being the sons and daughters of the Most High, and we cast it to the pit of hell in which it was formed and we release the power of your love and trust in you GOD In JESUS NAME. We thank you Daddy that we shut down the gates of the enemy and we cancel every plan that has been formed to destroy us through the use of FEAR. We thank you DADDY that we declare victory and freedom from FEAR and we no longer yield to the authority of FEAR or the plans to FEAR. We sit, we taken in, and we continue to speak FAITH in our life. When things are unknown we speak FAITH that you will give us the wisdom and guidance that we need through your Holy Spirit to get to the destination that you called us to. When things seem uneased we speak your love, knowing that in your love you soothe all our issues and calm us with your peace.  Daddy we laugh at FEAR knowing that the reality of it's manifestation is not real and that it can only have the power we allow it to have in our life. We thank you that all is well and FEAR is not some we submit to but something we have defeated in the art of fighting it with FAITH. In JESUS NAME. AMEN 

A Morning

Dear Future Husband:

If my heart could express what I was feeling today I think you would understand the unexplained emotions that I demonstrated on this morning. First let me apologize for taking my sealed and covered heart out on you. I forget that there is another part of me that I can talk to, be free with, and cry on. I forget that I am no longer this single woman seeking to be found by the one that GOD tailored made me for. I forget that you are my rock, you know things even before I express them, because you and the father have conversations about me daily. I forget that you know how I function. You know what is really wrong with me though I try to keep my mask in tack, you quickly slip it off and see my nakedness. I forget that you love me.. not the me that I reveal to you, but the me that I keep hidden. I forget that you know me! You know the heart of who I am.. You know that at night I cry because I can't meet the world's demands. That I want to save nations but struggle to save me. That there are times that I wish to be free but have created a bubble so big to protect me that I forgot to let you in or better yet pop it.. Future I forgot!!! I truly did!!! But I am so glad that in my outburst you took me tears and all.. and you held me. And as you held me, you spoke to the father about me. You spoke life to me, you spoke love into me, you declared and decreed things that I couldn't see. As I cried in your arms not knowing what to do today. You took on the light of the father, and shined on me. You became my strength and though your day was busy with appointments and meetings, You cancelled them all just to be with me. To comfort me.. Take care of me. You became my superhero though I told you I didn't need to be rescued. You became my all when I felt like I had nothing. You became everything I needed you to be and completed the assignment of the father to me. For this my heart screams thank you.. but my tears say I appreciate you. I never thought you could truly be my all in all in one breath, but you took on the assignment with a heart of GOD courage and said father give me strength, and he did that a more. Thank you for never allowing me to forget that you and I are one, and the purpose of our union is not about a person but a purpose.

With a heart of relief,

Your Grateful Wife

The Perfect Covering

Dear Future Husband:
There are no words in the world that can express my thank you. Thank you for the many times you filled up my car because I forgot to put gas in it on the was home. Thank you for making sure that dinner was ready after a long night at the office, even though you had a long day. Thank you for holding me when my friend came to visit me those cramps can be a pain....LOL! Thank you  for holding my hand when I gave birth to our children and the midnight runs you made when I was craving crazy things. Thank you for making me laugh when all I wanted to do is cry, because my efforts to save the world today failed. Thank you for speaking life when things seem dead and making sure I remember the promises of GOD. Thank you for being a great father to our children, providing stability, love, laughter, and memories to our home. But most importantly thank you for praying over me and watching over me when I am sleep. There are times that I wake up and it seems that your eyes are close, but then in a quite still voice I hear you praying for me. Asking the father to guide and cover me. I hear you thanking him for our marriage, family, and legacy. I hear you asking him to guide you in new way to love me and fall in love with me over and over again. It's during these moments that my heart becomes full and I realize how great of a covering you are to me. I try not to cry... But tears start to form in my eyes and I too begin to speak to Daddy about us. I start crying out for your heart, asking Daddy to guide you to the next level in him in peace, while restoring your joy. I ask Daddy to heal all the broken pieces that you never speak of. That he pours out vision and goals beyond your hearts desire and that he guide you to love me and how I should love you in all areas of our marriage. Future  your covering means more to me next to GOD himself. Without you I feel so incomplete, but with you I am covered. You are the heart of GOD for me and to me in flesh. For than I am grateful.
With A Heart of Yes,
Your Heartbeat

Holiday Grief

Wow what a year right? I never thought that in my years in the mental health profession that I would be experiencing so much holiday grief. I am always educating my clients on how to deal with their grief in a healthy way and ways to get through their grief without being in a place of isolation, depression, and most importantly silence. Today I have come to share some encouragement as I am able to identify with being a griever and  a person that helps with grief. It's amazing how all the things that you learned about the area of grief is hard to apply when you are in the process of grief. Now before I go into my encouragement let me just educate you on grief. Grief happens everyday in your life. If you lose your keys and they are not where you thought you put them when you are ready for them you go through the stages of grief which are: Denial, Barging, Anger,Depression, Acceptance. This is not a step by step process you can go from denial straight into acceptance skipping the others then back to barging.  But how does losing keys even come close to grief. Well let me explain... Say you were looking for your keys and they are not where you put them, because you are convince that they should be there you are in denial that they could be any where else. After you realize they are not where you put them you go searching in different places analyzing where they could be this is your barging stage. After looking and searching for what seems to be hours you start entering into your anger state.  Once you get over your anger you now start to be in a depression moment thinking you will never find your keys again, then it happens either you stumble upon them or someone finds them for you and when this happen you enter your acceptance stage. Get it?!? Good now let's apply that same concept to the lost of a love one or thing (i.e. job, relationship, self-confidence, etc.) Say you had a love one that was sick and you knew their was no bouncing back. Well it seems to you that they are getting better and show signs of improvement,  then they become sick again and this time worst,  because you have been here before and they have gotten better you become in Denial about them being too sick to come back. After this  the medical staff tells you that they only have a certain time to live you then start to bargain. Now this can be within yourself, family, or  Daddy. After this you go into the anger state because you see that Daddy is not healing the way you think he should and death is the result of their illness. After realizing the death of your love one you then become depressed from their absence. After time in depression you realize that there are things that you can do to preserve their legacy and life and you do those things, which pushes you into acceptance. But a year after their death you find yourself depressed on their death date, and you now feel the steps of grief beginning.  So here is my encouragement to you when you feel the steps of grief coming through:

1. Speak up... Silence will manifest itself physically if you do not deal with it. You find yourself sick with something the doctor can't cure or figure out what's wrong.
2. Laugh... This is easier said than done, but is necessary to your healing process, The Bible says that laughter does the heart good like medicine. So take you a dose
3. Connect with people that know your heart. Their are people in your circle that know that the holidays are hard for you and they are willing and ready to be their for you.
4. Be open. It goes with one, but this goes a little deeper, this means that you have to want the help that is being offered to you. You are not a burden, or even getting on their nerves they know what you need, they are just waiting on you to ask for it.
5. Have a memorial... This can be done with or without family. You can light a candle, decorate a tree or wreath, do a particular act that the person was known for, share pictures of great moments, or you can go celebrate that persons. But whatever you do, do not isolate yourself.
6. Ask for help... this can be the only time you don't have it together and that is fine, but know there are people willing to help you through this tough time, but they don't want to push the help, they just waiting on your cue to move.

I hope these things help and I hope you understand that holiday grief is ok, if you handle it in a healthy way.

Daddy's Song

He will take great delight in you in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah3:17b)

For the last couple of days I really have been hearing this verse echo in my spirit and heart as I deal with the thoughts, ideas, and frustrations of life and the changes that comes with it. If you know anything about this verse you know that before Daddy got to a point to create a song for his chosen people he was in a place of anger. He was at a point where he was about to remove himself from their presence until they got it together by following the instructions of the prophet. Isn't it like Daddy to give you another change even when he has probably made up in his thoughts towards you; that he will allow you to have the free will that you desire? Daddy's song is one that will not only give you the peace you need in the mist of hardship and difficulty, it's the same song that will heal you and the land that you live in. It's the same song that will rebuke the enemy and call forth the blood of Jesus. Daddy's Song will restore you back to your right purpose, it will cause you to desire to draw near to him. Daddy's song will help you make dreams into visions  and visions into reality. It will cause you to do what you feel you can't do. So sit still and get in your quiet place, Daddy is about to sing his song and when he is finish you will be asking for an encore. Don't take his song for granted because it produces the things you need as well as what you want. It can speed up time or slow it down. It can cause what man said was impossible into a possible turn around. Don't turn a deaf hear to the song of Daddy for in it are the instructions to your next step towards the manifestation of our destiny.

Prayer: Daddy thank you that you take the time out to sing your song over us. You speak life in your song, you breath your spirit in your song, instructions come with your song, the lifting of burdens come with the lyrics that you sing. Daddy help us to hear your song, accepting every note that you sing as a confirmation to the promises that you have spoke in you word. Daddy open our hearts that your song shall rest in us and not just in our ears. Daddy let us hum the melody of your song during the days of despair, disappointment, and distress.Daddy allow the melody of your song manifest what we couldn't see with our eyes but trust in faith for you to manifest. Daddy sing over us daily the song of your heart towards us personally that we may be reminded that we are your children individually and corporately. In Jesus Name AMEN!

I Got The Help

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth (Ps121: 1-2NIV)

It amazes me that there are so many times in my life where I am like I need help. Whether it's getting my life together, making life changing decisions, or just dealing with other people I always scream HELP!! And if you are like me, Daddy is the last person you go to when you need help. You may call a friend, sibling, parent, mentor, co-worker... Anybody but Daddy and why is this? The Psalmist ask the question where does my help come from then he answers:"It comes  from the LORD the maker of the heaven and earth." Well that makes sense... Why are we asking for help from people who didn't even create the situation or solution to what we need help with. Why are we on goggle or bing look for the answer or solution to the situation, when we can easily access the Father? Here is my answer to that question, because Daddy will give us an answer we don't want to hear. When we ask for help many times we are in desperate need to get an answer or a resolution to the situation. We don't want to deal with a process or a waiting period, waiting may be the thing we need help with so why give me the lesson on waiting? But that's Daddy, he want's us to learn the process of his help and this may mean waiting, or going through various steps. It may mean do something out of our comfort zone or even something we know nothing about. It may simple mean trusting him knowing that wherever he leads or tells us to do will get us to a place of being rescued. We must realize that when we seek help from anything or any one other than Daddy we are setting ourselves up for failure, because we are depending on something or someone that can't create help. The are giving us help based on experience or due to the experience of other sources that have dealt with similar or same situations, but is is not accurate help.  Daddy supplies help that he may have to create or help that may not be visible to the the nature eye.

Prayer:  Daddy right now we need your help! We know that many times when we ask for help we seek the help of others or things, but today Daddy we seek your help. We lift our heads and eyes to heaven looking up to you, seeking your presence and ready to receive your wisdom. We surrender our cry for help to you. Daddy help us to wait, help us through the steps, help us through the process, give us the confidence to hold our heads up when we are feeling down. Help us to trust you more, increase our faith, open our hearts to receive your instructions, and help us to lean and depend on you and you alone.  Help us to hear your voice, help us to recognize your presence in difficult and chaotic times. Daddy today we scream HELP US DADDY!!! In Jesus Name. AMEN

Give Thanks

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus  (1Thess 5:16-18). It's amazing how we go through everyday life wanting nothing but happiness in a world that glamorized death, destruction, and disappointment. But Daddy tells us in his word that no matter what issues the world presents that we should always be happy, never leaving our prayer post, and most importantly being thankful no matter what the circumstances. Now the last part of this scripture is hard for me. Because there are times in my life where I am looking for the strength to say thank you beyond the gratitude of life and breathe. I know what you are saying... "That is good in itself, and it is, but Daddy's word says be THANKFUL in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.... Whew!!! That's deep that means even if you are in the hospital with tubes all in your body to the point you can't talk or breathe on your own without the assistance of machines, but you are aware of your surrounds, be thankful. Even if you are in the mist of a divorce and your house is tore up from the floor up and you feel like you are about to loose your mind.. Be THANKFUL! If you just lost a love one, or your heart has been broken, or you just in a place that don't know you are of value any more.... Guess what Be Thankful! Now Daddy is so awesome that he will take our thanksgiving and turns it into his glory, which will produce his promises, and manifest our blessings. Just one of his many formulas for us to live by. So here's  how the formula of Thanksgiving goes: Joy+ Never Stop praying+Thanksgiving in ALL things  and circumstances =GOD's glory which translates to your peace, your blessings, your answers, your healing, your forgiveness, and so forth. Seems pretty simple to me ! It's hard to give thanks when your flesh is the loudest voice you hear in the mist of "the circumstance," but when you are reminded of Daddy's track record in your life I am assured that a heart of gratitude can silent your flesh.

Prayer: Daddy this world reflects only on the things that say you are not real or the issues of destructions, depression, and disappointment, but as your children we will not meditate on what the world shows but what you have  and are telling us, and that's to have a heart of thanksgiving. Today daddy we lay down everything at your feet. We lay down the circumstances that say that giving you thanks will not change anything, we lay down the things that keep us from our joy in you, telling us that it's not worth praying about, and we say Daddy thank you! Thank you for breathe in our body, for the ability to know you as our Daddy and not just our GOD, for you drawing near to us as we draw near to you. Daddy thank you for being beyond what we need into what we couldn't even think of. We thank you in all circumstances, not yielding to our flesh, but the guidance, voice, and heart of you through your Holy Spirit.  We thank you for the formula of thanksgiving that you have given us and we will use it to remind us that telling you thank you will only yield greatness for and in our lives. In JESUS Name! AMEN

The Conqueror

Romans 8:37 (ERV) But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us.

Daddy today I take the time to speak to you because this scripture spoke to me. I know lately I have tried and continue to try to drown myself in your word. To gather understanding to move beyond just reading it into putting it into action and it seems the more I try the less I conquer. The more I look at my  life the more I feel victory-less. The more I try to push forward the weight I feel pulling me back. Daddy what do I do? Where do I go? How do I become MORE Than A Conqueror?
Daughter ask yourself three questions: What holds you hostage? What has you in these chains when I called you free? What have you allowed to take away your GOD-given victory? I don't know Daddy fear, worry, stress, anxiety, disappointment, waiting, people... Daddy I don't know!! Well daughter I do. You have forgotten your authority. You forgot that you don't have to fight the battle just show up and call on me and I, your Daddy will show up and fight for you. I  have overcome the world just for you! I have you in my right hand. I am... I am and with that I have the authority to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it, however I want to do it.  I have given you power to trample over the enemy and to call things that are not as though they were. Daughter how could you allow anything but me to effect how you live your life and dwell in your victory. Even during life changing moments that seem  to break you down, you are more than a Conqueror to think anything less would not be in my will. Daddy I really don't know what to say.. Say what I called you... More Than A Conqueror and stop worrying about tomorrow or even the events of today when I am the the supplier of all your needs. Ok Daddy I will speak what you called me to be and nothing more. Daughter that's all I asked and know that I love you more than you could ever know. Love you too Daddy.

~Daddy and I

All I Need

2Corinthians 12:9 ⁹ But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. To me this is a powerful scripture. If I could sum it up in my own words I will simply stay "ALL I NEED." In this scripture Paul speaking to the church of Corinth to give them encouragement as he encourages himself. He reminds him, them, and us that Daddy's grace is all need though we may be in our weakness, Daddy's strength becomes stronger in that moment. Isn't it like Daddy to take what we have label weak, insufficient, lack, unequipped, and dysfunctional and turn it to a place of blessings and favor? Daddy allows himself to be our incompleteness so that we my be complete in him. He tells us that  HIS GRACE IS ALL WE NEED! So we are searching for a need when we have everything we need in is grace and to know that his grace is renewed daily with is makes it even better.

Prayer: Daddy right now thank you for being all that we need. Thank you for being our weakness that we may be strong. Thank you for giving us your grace that is renewed daily. Daddy we know that our weaknesses are just opportunities for you to come in and draw near to us, and for this we say thank you. With a heart of gratitude we say thank you for your every moment that we fall short. Though we pursue to be in a place of true completeness we know we can't obtain it in ourselves, that you alone can make us complete. You are the only one that can take or lack and make it an overflow, our unequipped to equipped, our dysfunction to order, and our inabilities and make us able. Today we declare that you are ALL WE NEED. In JESUS Name!

I Will Take

You are my defender and protector; I put my hope in your promise. Psalms 119:114 (GNT)

What argument against you have you been trying to defend? What have you been protecting? So many times we find ourselves doing what GOD is suppose to do. We are defending the wrong things and creating arguments that aren't for us. We are trying to explain, compromise, simplify, and defend what GOD is doing in our lives when others question our actions and motives of obedience to Daddy, because it doesn't make sense to them. But can I give you a little wisdom and/or reminder? Daddy never needs our defense he can do that on his own. He is the creator of all things and he can handle his own weight as well as ours, so there is no need for us to defend ourselves in anything that Daddy has called us to do or be. The question is will you take his defense and protection or are you so mindful of your flesh  that you are willing to tell it yes that you will tell you spirit no? (Sidebar: that was deep to me) Will you say to Daddy, I can't be silent because I need to make sure "they understand!" Who are they? They have no power or place to put you in, that Daddy can't deliver you from. Stop trying to do Daddy's job, and start trying to put your hope on the promise that Daddy will even when we don't know how he will or where he will. 

Prayer: Daddy we realize that we have been arguing out of order. That we should never be in the position to argue on your behalf or even get to a place to argue about who you are to us. Today we  lay every argument of our heart at your feet. We take rest in your defense and protection and we place our hope in your promise. We know that there is nothing that we can do that outweighs the greatness found in, and for that we say THANK YOU. In Jesus Name. AMEN!!