Empty Thyself

The subject matter I'm going to talk about will start out a little gross but stick with me. I'm going somewhere with it.

Empty Thyself

It was a regular Sunday morning. I woke up and went about doing the things I usually do to get ready for church. Then a "calling"👂 hit my belly which caused me to run and yield to that porcelain god! As I "ministered" the Lord began to open up His revelation. He said two words to me, "empty thyself." Hmmm...what a topic and a way for God to reveal a revelation. (Don't be laughing too hard now!)

It was a little weird 👻😕 but the revelation is powerful. He began to show me about how we physically empty ourselves on a daily basis, maybe two or three times a day if needed. If our bodies are designed to do that everyday how much more should we do this spiritually? He said, "Your body has to get rid of waste everyday. It's not designed to carry waste. Have you noticed when your body doesn't get rid of it that you cannot function well because your stomach is upset? That is because waste has collected and built up which stops the flow of everything else. I constructed your body to release waste. You have to do the same thing spiritually. You need to empty yourself on a daily basis and sometimes more than once a day. Your day is compiled of all sorts of victories and trials and the waste of it has to be released from your spirit everyday. Do not hold onto waste (hurt, pain, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, etc.) Your spirit isn't designed to carry that neither is it the function of the gift of the Holy Spirit I left with you to dwell with your waste. In order for the Holy Spirit to flow freely, you must keep your spirit cleansed (your heart, your mind and your soul). When you choose to hold on to the waste, you choose to be bound. I didn't call you to that. I called you to freedom. This is the reason you feel down and out, depressed, angry and in chains. You haven't released the waste. This isn't waste just over a few days. This is waste built up over years time. It's time for you to release the waste. It's time for you to be truly free. Don't hold in the waste. When you feel a certain way about something that is the time to release it. There is no need for you to hold onto it for long periods of time. There's no need for you to hold on to it until you get to Bible Study or church on Sunday. It's not like you're out for the day and have to wait to get home to use your own facilities. No! I'm am at home in you. My Spirit dwells in you. Therefore, you can release it as soon as the urge hits you. Give it to Me. I can take it. That is my design...to deal with your waste. I'm the one who brings the victory into your life. I am the one who makes you victorious. I AM...so let Me be I AM."

I told you the revelation was awesome. God sure knows how to minister to us. There is truth to what He spoke. One of my children had a really bad bowel issue for years (we have it maintained now). It would hurt them badly to go to the restroom. Then when they would refuse to go because of the pain it would build up and cause more pain. It is at this point where we would have to take them to the emergency room (happened quite a bit). The doctor would give them medicine to break up the waste so it would be easier to go to the restroom. After that they were better. Then we took them to the physician and he taught us how to maintain their issue so it won't be as bad. We haven't had that problem in a long time. It leads me to this; Don't wait until it's too painful that you don't want to go to Abba in prayer. Don't wait until an "emergency room" visit (which will cost you a lot more plus time) before going to Abba in prayer. Don't think on it long; pray on it long and release. You will feel much better. Give it to Abba. Don't just take it to your God; take it to your Father.

Blessings!

20 Year Marriage Celebration!!!

20 Year Celebration!

This is the month and year Doug and I will be married for 20 years. We want to celebrate differently and to share what we've learned on our 20 year journey so from Dec 1st to the 20th we will post each day. We were supposed to renew our vows this year but due to so much transition it wasn't a good time. However, we will renew our vows within a couple of years. We look to God for many, many, many more blessed and joyful years together.

Day 1

Doug and Keisha...sitting in a tree; K I S S I N G. First came love, then came 'Shon then our marriage so we didn't have to wait for the baby carriage.

What we've learned

The first year was ROUGH. I cannot tell a lie. We went through it. It was a time of laying foundational work, seeing what we would put up with, learning what respect was and deciding what was important. Our marriage began with our son already in tow though we did not plan it that way so not only did we have to learn each other on a continual basis but how to be parents as well.

I remember a huge fight we had one day. We didn't speak to each other for hours. He stayed in one room and I stayed in another. I wrote a note (as a writer does) in a tablet that said, "I wish he would deploy somewhere," and he found it. He said, "Oh, is this what you want?" It just led to another argument and deeper hurt. I really didn't want him to go to the field or deploy but I was mad. First lesson, don't say something you really don't mean because once it's out there it can't be taken back. Later on that night, still in separate rooms, a fire broke out in the apartments right across from us. We could see everything vividly...even the dead bodies being carried out in body bags . We weren't in Christ at the time but we both knew we messed up big time, especially me. I could promise God spoke to us at the same time asking "What's important?" We learned that our marriage and our love was important. We hugged each other and apologized. After that we were good. We learned what was important and it was US.

How Will You Lead?

Angry, disappointed, confused and in total awe (not in a good way) are some of the ways I feel at this moment. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't want to even look at the television. The outcome of the election was more than just a wake up call. It was a call to leadership. I kept silent for days because when I wrote to you, I wanted to come from a place of peace, solitude and wisdom. At first I felt like I had been "Grabbed by the BLEEP!" I mean...totally violated and disgusted. I couldn't fathom having someone being chosen who thinks even less of me than the "forefathers" who came before him, a person who is misinformed but obviously well-liked in his views amongst the people.

I am appalled by the words, "It's time to heal and come together." You cannot ask for something that you did not give. We cannot expect for people to just turn from the words he uttered over television and expect for them to hear what he has to say. We cannot expect for people to come around a campfire and sing "Kumbaya" as if some of the most hurtful words were not said. He "apologized" but never turned away his thoughts concerning certain people. It's like a husband I hear many wives cry about...they say..."He said he was sorry but he keeps doing the same thing. How can he love me when he won't stop doing what he's doing?" How can the healing begin when he was the one who caused the divide? If you want us as a people to come together than the healing starts when you stand up for the people who were attacked by words OUT OF HIS OWN MOUTH. No one is going to join you arm in arm when they can't trust you.

Personally, I've seen Christians of a different race than my own not stand up for anything that concerned another race because they feel like it's "their own fault" and are "animals". However, I have seen them talk bad about our current president. They want us to pray for our elect but they didn't drop down on neither of their knees to pray for our current president. Do you know how I know? Because you can't rise up from prayer with a pure heart and spew hate words about him when you get up off your knees. Any Christian with any real foundation knows that will totally undo your prayer. They didn't pray for him but they complained about him. I never once saw them stand up for him and his family when they were called EVERYTHING from ni**er to monkeys and totally degraded his wife and talked trash about their young girls. CHILDREN!!! They talked about CHILDREN!!! They never said that was wrong. They never said "This isn't the way." They never said anything! Yet, we are supposed to heal and come together when they never stood up for ANYTHING and was apart of the division in our country. They talked about him and came against him every chance they got. That's what they stood for. They stood for division. They stood for racism. They stood for lack of justice. Then had the nerve to tell me at times, "Don't let them divide us." No! It is YOU that stood for division when you decided to keep your mouth closed, to not stand up for what is right and not to care about a fellow American's life! It's a privilege not to have to fight everyday because of who you are...well we don't know that life. Lucky you.
I had someone I considered a friend once who has now been downgraded to "yeah, I know her." At every opportunity she'd inbox me or comment on my post when I posted something she didn't like. Now mind you, I never did that to her but then again I never had to because she never had to...until the election. I was floored! This is what she decided to stand for and never once did I inbox her or comment on her post about her opinion, her choice. Hey, to each his own. I can't tell someone else how to feel or what to think. That is not who we are as Americans however when you finally come out of the closet to stand for something this is what you stand for? During the election campaign, we've had major cases where men have been found guilty of rape but still got off. On top of that saying that jail time will ruin their lives. How about the lives of the woman they ruined? But you don't stand for that!?! Oooh...uhhh...sigh...I digress. As a woman, I cannot stand with someone who thinks women are nothing but trophies to be conquered and won. I cannot consciously stand with a man who degrades women and has no respect for them. Hey, but if his wife likes it, I love it. In the words of Tupac, "I Ain't Mad at Cha."

I guess by now you assume that I'm a Hillary Clinton supporter. NOPE! I didn't care for nor like either candidate. November 8, 2016 at the polls was the saddest day ever when it came to elections but I had the birthday of my baby girl to lift my spirits. I remember vividly finishing up voting and walking away with a sadness in my heart, so much so that tears filled my eyes. I sat at that booth for what seemed like a life time on the first page. I battled with walking away and forsaking it all. I went back and forth for minutes in my head. I just stared at the page not knowing what to do but one thing for certain I knew what I couldn't do. Many walked away from the polls rejoicing but my spirit wouldn't allow me to do so. I don't know how so many walked away with joy. It befuddles me. How can one thing bring someone else so much joy while a deep sorrow affects another? I guess we will never know.


We all handle disappointment in different ways. When the new elect-President was announced there was a lot of disappointed people. Some took to social media to display their feelings, some took to the streets in protest, some burned the American flag, some made plans to move elsewhere, some graciously accepted defeat and some took to Jesus sayings. I'm not against protesting but I am against violent protesting and the burning of the flag. If you don't want to stand for the National Anthem that's one thing but to burn the flag is another. I'm not against people speaking their mind but I am against people speaking hate-filled words. Again, we can't tell people how to feel but we can suggest doing it the right way. Let your voice be heard where it will make a difference. Let your actions be done in a way that is heard around the world and honored for how it was done.

Staying silent, not speaking up for injustice speaks very loudly and shows where your allegiance lies. I don't bite my tongue on wrong doings but where I bit is sequential. We have to use wisdom in all that we do but it's only right to be heard. I've decided, not to take it to Facebook and not to let it end here on this blog but to let my voice be heard on Capitol Hill, within the Senate, at the table of the House of Representatives, within my own community and teaching my children about who they are in depth (not just what they want them to know).

I will honor the Spirit of God that is within me and do as I am instructed concerning the upcoming president. My ears are to heaven and my knees are to the ground and my hands are lifted in praise. I will live at peace with all men but it doesn't mean I trust you or desire to build a friendship with you. I will help where needed and with a pure heart. I will commit my works to the Lord and serve Him gladly, wherever that may lead.

What is your call to action? Will you just be mad and rant and rave for a few days or will you use that anger in a greater way and lead your community in victory? Words are fleeting but actions are solid and builds ground for generations to come. Take your money from the ones who care nothing about you and put it in your community and bring it to life. God will sustain and cause us to thrive as He does other cultures but we have to lead the way. Give our Lord and Savior something to work with instead of lip service.

Happy Prophet

When we read about the prophets in the Bible, they are not these "happy" prophets we see today. Sadly, I'm reminded of this every time God shows me a vision, dream or gives me a prophecy. I used to wonder why the prophets wept, were sad all the time, fearful in some instances and depressed. Well...I don't have wonder that anymore.

People think it is good to receive a prophecy and it can be but most of the time when a word is spoken in a one on one session it's usually a word of knowledge or conformation. Prophecy is edification of the church, yes but it's also about warning. There aren't many that talk about that. We as prophets have led a many astray because we prophecy out of our own being. We give the people a word but do not break down the severity of what it all means and what you will go through to receive that prophecy.

As a prophetess myself, I get wrapped up in the carnality of the words said to me in a prophecy, word of knowledge and or conformation because of what I longed to hear. However, I am quickly snatched back into the reality of being a seer and mouthpiece of God while going through the path on the way to the prophecy.

When a prophecy is given, consider the cost of it. Someone was sent to you to give a word, that cost them. Most prophecies doesn't come overnight 90% of the time. There are very few prophecies that are a quick turnaround. There isn't a rhyme or reason to it; it's just what it is. Some prophecies takes a few months and a lot of the time years. We have to be prepared and condition for most prophecies. We don't know what it's going to take to get there.

I've had a few in my time and every time without fail I have went through some hard times just to attain the blessing. By the time I got it, in some instances I was ecstatic and other times I was to weary to enjoy it.

A prophet/prophetess isn't normally "happy". I'm not saying we should be running around with a frown and our lip dragging on the ground. Whether we are giving or receiving a prophecy it doesn't always bring a smile to our faces. We endure a lot sometimes when it comes to giving someone a word because it's not always favorable. I have to tell you, sometimes I'm not at all pleased with the gift of prophecy; to be honest, it's a hard thing sometimes and I just want to walk away. Then I remember who I belong to and how much He loves us all so I endure it anyway. Majority of the time the people were very receptive and accepted it which far outweighed the ones that didn't and looked at me crazy. It can be depressing at times and even a little fearful but that's when we have to trust in God just a little bit more.

Study the prophets of the Bible and watch their lives (when they are alone or with God), a lot of the times their tone changes. I know I understand by being on both sides of the fence. No matter if we are giving the prophecy or receiving one, be ready to count the cost.

Internet Sensation

I had an interesting morning. Out of the blue God began speaking with me about sensations and substance. I don't know where the thought came from as I wasn't even thinking along those lines. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for the shared thoughts my Father had with me. 

Substance: the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence.

Sensation: a physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body. 2 a widespread reaction of interest and excitement.

Keep these definitions in mind as we go on this journey together. Abba simply said, "Everyone is striving to be an internet sensation verses being a person of substance." I thought to myself, "Hmmm...go on." Then He began to break it all the way down for me. He said, "Sensation is nothing but a feeling and is short lived. It eventually fizzes out but substance is something tangible, solid and is matter which is something we can hold on to." 

In the world we live in today, many people here and abroad are humiliating themselves, performing crazy challenges, demeaning themselves just to be an overnight sensation. They don't care how they look because all they see is the attention they are getting. In turn they continue to over and beyond to top the last big thing they did...but at what cost? Is money really worth it your dignity? All an internet sensation will be known as what they did to get there, nothing more and nothing less. A sensation is just that, a feeling and feelings are fleeting. What then?

I tell you what then, SUBSTANCE. Sensationalism will bow down to substance EVERY time. There's no way around it. Substance is lasting and is a particle within the nucleus to make a thing exactly what it is, a solid presence. It's going to mean more. It's going to lift someone up verses tickling their fancy. In the end, it will help them and you won't have to degrade yourself and lose your dignity to get it accomplished.
Substance is everything. Sensations are only for a moment. Both feel good but only one has a lasting effect. 

Heart 2 Heart Blessings!

Counterfeits

God says...
"This is a very crucial time for My people. Things they have prayed for are coming but there will be a counterfeit first. The enemy wants to distort the blessings I have for My people so he’s bringing distractions at a greater rate and counterfeits to confuse them; but just know that My blessings adds and brings no sorrow with it. My blessings are sure and exact. Don’t rush into anything or what “seems” to be a blessing! Pray about every encounter, every move, every person that is introduced to you. What may seem like Me isn’t. My connections are divine. My appointments are sure. My timing is perfect. You will be unsettled in your Spirit when this counterfeit comes but it will be subtle as it would try to disguise itself as confusion, fear, doubt or even joy (yes joy -  meaning you’re so happy your season is finally here/that your storm is over). None of that is from Me. When I bless you there will be a peace in your Spirit. Don’t let the false joy or happiness overcloud your peace. Taking this counterfeit blessing without acknowledging Me will set you back or make you miss it completely. Don’t wait for another opportunity when you could have the blessing and movement I have coming your way.”

Eyes HAVE Seen

Morning Dew

Scripture: 1 Cor 2:9-10

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yeah, the deep things of God.”

It is heavily quoted, “eyes have not seen nor ears heard neither entered into the heart of man the things God has for him,” and we stop there when in the next verse there is a “but”. When we continue to read further down, rightly dividing God’s word, we find that HE HAS revealed it to us. 

See, verse nine refers to those who does not have a relationship in Christ. Things are revealed to us by his Spirit which indicates relationship. Then if we continue to read further verse twelve says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 

Isn't it good to know we have received! Being in Christ means we do not have to misinterpret the scripture any longer because we have seen and heard because God has revealed it to us by his Spirit due to our relationship with Him. Isn’t that great news! God wants us to know what He has freely given to us. I’m excited about it. He has revealed it! He has shown us by His Spirit. Therefore, you do know, your eyes have seen and your ears have heard and it has entered into your heart the things in which God has prepared for you because you love Him. 

Rejoice in the fact that verse nine no longer applies to you because HE HAS REVEALED IT TO YOU! HALLELUJAH!

Techless Dateology

In the early part of last week, my husband asked me out on another date. I have to tell you, I love the fact that he still asks me out on dates so many years later. I appreciate that and makes me feel loved.

On Saturday, we prepared to head out for our date. Both of our phones were close to death (lol). It didn't matter though. The charger in his car couldn't charge fast enough but we didn't focus on it. At first, Doug seemed a little distraught because he was awaiting a call from our son concerning his transportation after work. Nevertheless, we parked (and found a great parking spot at that) and set out for a fun evening.

This date was "techless" and old fashioned. We had absolutely no technology on us. We could not take pictures. We could not receive any phone calls. We could not make any phone calls. We could not text or be texted. We could not look up anything on Google at all; neither were there any notifications from the apps on our phones. At first, after seeing and encountering beautiful things on our date, immediately I wanted to take pictures because I'm definitely a picture girl and it was hard. I kept looking for my phone only to realize I left it in the car. Then it became normal not to have it. Back in the day, before cell phones, our dates were intimate and strictly between us. Nowadays, EVERYTHING is shared and seems as if nothing is sacred between husband and wife anymore.

In the past, when we've gone on dates, we'd have one or both of our phones on us. We'd be interrupted with phone calls, texts and even rudely playing games on the phone during the date. It became frustrating and irritating. This should not be so. Our night was great without our phones. And you know what? We didn't miss any calls or texts! Just when we thought we needed to keep our phones close, we found that it is alright during intimate times to keep it far away.


Our (husbands & wives) time together should be holy, not dating as the world would choose to and respectful. Technology has changed the very way we live our lives but only because we CHOOSE to allow it. It's time to bring back the beauty of dating and keeping technology in its place. I even tell our children to leave their phones when we're eating dinner together, turning them off while in church and put up when we're having family night. It's time to restore marriages and families the way God intended. There's nothing wrong with taking pictures on dates and with our families but it is a problem when it's a constant interruption in a time that is supposed to be dedicated to one another.

This is just a little "Dateology" to turn your date night from technology to "Techless".  Have a wonderful "techless" date!

Lonely Graves

Doug and I have been married for 18 plus years with 3 children and I have NEVER missed a Resurrection Sunday with my family...EVER...until today. I had to leave out of town for a family emergency and it happened to fall on Resurrection weekend. My second oldest asked me before I left, "Mama, are you coming back for Easter?" I told him that I didn't know but most likely I would not be. Then last night I talked to Doug and he said the same child said, "It doesn't feel like Easter without mama." I went to bed thinking that it does feel strange because as I stated before, I've never been absent without my family on Resurrection day. Nevertheless, God had different plans for me.

This weekend has been very heavy but God has been kept my mind, my soul, my body and my Spirit. I wanted to be sure that I mentioned how heavy this weekend is because I want to make sure to portray that my family emergency isn't the reason I am feeling the way I'm feeling. It's Jesus! It's all Him! He is the reason for my worship. He is the reason for my tears.

I woke up this morning to my auntie moving around the house getting ready to go to Sunrise Service. We were set to leave at 5:30am but didn't head out until about 6am. When we entered the church house, it took me back to when I would go to this same church with my grandma, brother, cousins and aunties'. It always feels that way. The praise team set the atmosphere. Worship was in the air and I so needed that because of everything I was going through.

As the pastor got up to speak, it was already evident that God had a word and His presence was definitely there. He began to speak about all that Jesus had done and went on to the cross. While he was preaching (a good word at that), he mentioned about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and paralleling it to us individually; it was then God began to speak a revelation to me.

Abba, began to show me that whenever you go through a resurrection it's always a lonely place. When something/someone is actually dead and placed in a tomb no one else is buried with it or you. It is You, Yourself, By Yourself. It's a lonely grave for the dead things in our lives and sometimes we feel like we are in a grave by ourselves.

As I mentioned beforehand, I have never spent time away from my family on Resurrection day. Even though I was feeling some type of way about it; God had something special in store for me. He let me know that sometimes, when you need to be resurrected, He has to get you by yourself, alone. I love my family and I like the church we attend but it was wonderful getting back to my roots. I hadn't felt resurrected in quite some time. It's been such a dry spell for me. I've endured a lot and didn't know how to get back up though I tried it all. Although I had people around me who loved me, in some instances, I still felt alone. I didn't understand my relationship with the Christ, the Anointed One.

The grave is a dark place, cold, hollow, deep, scary and most of all lonesome. Where is the comfort in the grave? Where is the love? Where is the understanding? We have to know that all of that is there in spite of what's going on around us. I had really been down...for a long time. I'd been searching for the One they called Jesus to come a save me from all that I was going through. Today, I ran into Him and talked with Him as He healed my mind, my heart. He met me at the same "tomb" Lazarus was buried in and called me forth. I couldn't stop crying. I couldn't stop worshiping. I couldn't stop lifting up my hands in awe of Him. It wasn't what I was going through that had me in tears. It was the gratefulness of the resurrection in me. He loves me enough to call me out of that dark place. Now I can walk around in
total victory in Christ Jesus.

I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying right now, "Don't worry about the grave you're in because Jesus is coming to RESURRECT you. He's going to call you forth and you shall walk around others with the victory as proof Jesus is real and He is powerful enough to call you from the grave."

Our God is Awesome! Our God is Great! There is no one like Him! None on this earth! Give Him praise and yell Hallelujah!

Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior in the highest! Have a beautiful resurrection!

Infirmity, Healing and Grace

On my way to one of my favorite places to write and drink a latte, I ended up behind this vehicle that had a license plate number on it and it reminded me of a scripture. God has mysterious ways to reach out to me. I love it! I'm sure this guy had not one thought that his license plate was in form of a scripture. After I sat down, I looked up the scripture before I began writing. The scripture didn't speak to me and I was like, "Okay God, I know you wanted me to go here. What's going on?" He then spoke and said, "I want you to read the whole chapter." Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Got it! I started writing and said to myself that I would read it later because I really had to get some work done. Well, it's two days later and I'm just now reading the scripture.

As I start from the beginning of John chapter 5, it begins to speak to me immediately and God follows up after every scripture speaking to my heart. The beginning of John chapter 5 talks about the pool of Bethesda and the impotent man who had the infirmity for 38 years.

Jesus approached the man and asked him will he be made whole and the guy came up with all kinds of excuses, which were valid (especially to him) of why he isn't whole. He had avoided Jesus' question. Why? Did he not believe? Did he feel like he deserved his condition? I ask that because Jesus told him later in the temple to go and sin no more unless a worse thing comes upon him. Had he become comfortable in the condition? Did he become familiar with the infirmity? There are a lot of questions that arises as to why he avoided Jesus' question. Nevertheless, no matter how he felt about any of it, Jesus could have cared less. All he wanted to know is if the man wanted to be healed.

Jesus never responded to his excuses. He just said, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." He took away ALL of the man's excuses.

What excuses are you making for staying in the state that you're in that you're not even sure if you still want to be in? Jesus doesn't care how you got here; He wants you healed and to sin no more. All of us who has been addicted to something at one time or another can attest to wanting to stay in the sin and yet feeling enough disgrace to want to get out of it. We know it's not good for us but we keep going after it. Why? It's a force stronger than ourselves that is pulling us. We've admitted to it, ask for help for it and really try to come out of it and yet find ourselves back in it. Part of us enjoy it because of the temporal pleasures of it and what it takes us away from while the other half desperately wants to let it go. Something has to break. Something has to give. Will it be the infirmity we break or give ourselves over to it?

Choices, we all have choices to make. When we make a choice to do something or have a made up mind, we put things in place to keep us from the addiction. If we do not choose to break the addiction it will manifest into an infirmity. We have to choose to break the addiction. We have to choose a better way for ourselves. We have to choose to take responsibility. We have to choose not to find a cowardly medical way out of it...
Side Note: We always want to look for a name for something we're dealing with and attach it to us. A name to attach itself is very dangerous. Once we give it a name it becomes a living organism, whether physical or metaphorically and anything that is living contains power to do exactly what it's designed and named to do. Also, in naming something or finding a name for it is nothing more than a scapegoat. The scapegoat takes the blame and all of the responsibility which leaves the recipient free from anything they've done and or will do in the future. Back to the message...
Once we decide to choose to let the addiction go, it is then we are free. It's not saying we won't make another mistake but it is saying that we've decided to bring Jesus into our lives, our mess and help us out of the situation. It all starts with a choice.

When we have made the choice to invite Jesus in and allow him to heal us, we move from God's mercy to the Father's grace. When Jesus says for us to Rise, Take Up our Bed and Walk then we need to choose to do just that and walk out our healing. There are those who believe that we shouldn't walk around proclaiming that we are blessed because of what we've done and the kind of life we lived. They will fight our healing, our deliverance. It will be the ones closest to us because they're the ones we hurt the most and felt majority of the impact. It will also be the ones who have preached healing to us and then still hang our past over our heads. It will also be us because we will condemn ourselves for being happy but we don't have to because Jesus has set us free! We have the right to be happy and the grace to live it.

Rise! Take up your bed and Walk!

High School Love

Church service was good today and spoke to my heart. Pastor talked about loving our enemies coming from the book of Luke. He also addressed making a choice, a decision to choose the way of the Lord or continue in your own way.

The sermon lead to me mentioning to my husband something that happened earlier this week that blew my mind (and not in a good way). All I could say to the matter was, "Lawd, take the wheel because I can't." Doug had to take our oldest to work and I took myself and the other two to church and he was going to meet up with us later on. Needless to say, we drove two separate vehicles. I just wanted to be sure I was clear to go into the subject that I want to share with you today.

When service was over, my husband and I walked together to the truck and I gave the keys to my second oldest to drive us home (since he asked before walking into church). He walked ahead of me and Doug which gave us a chance to talk and to share with him what was on my mind. When I told him what happened, he just laughed and gave his insight on what he thought about the situation.

As we were approaching the truck, he informed me that he was parked at the other parking lot and he was just walking me to my truck. Outside I didn't make a facial expression but inside I was like a gitty school girl whose boyfriend walked her to class even if it made him late to his and was out of his way. I thought to myself, "I still have a high school love." I just gleamed on the inside.

God knows how to make us smile and knows the right person to use to bring that smile upon our faces. I just thought I'd share this story because it meant a lot to me and maybe just maybe a husband will read this and make his wife feel like a gitty school girl too :).

The Importance of Listening

My prayer concerning my marriage is always, "Lord, show me how to minister to my husband." The prayer is always the same but how to minister changes day by day. It is so important to pray that prayer. Let me share a story with you...

Last week and part of the week before was very stressful for my husband which made things stressful in the home and it didn't help that I've been stressed out myself. I was trying to make him laugh, lure him with my feminine whiles (lol) and or just to let him be but none of it was working. I wanted to do something for him and knew something had to be done but didn't know quite what I should do.

Like I mentioned in the above statement what my prayer is always, it was on my heart more and more. God didn't speak to me like he did Moses with the burning bush or by a donkey speaking in the middle of the road; He showed me through a Facebook feed. One of the marriage ministries I'm following said, "Pack up some things and take your spouse away for the weekend!" It was that simple and I almost missed it but said to myself, "Ah, ha!" I knew what God was doing (after it dawned on me). The next day we received in the mail a coupon for 15% off a hotel room. It was then I sprung into action like Elasta-Girl (in the Incredibles Disney movie)! I began thinking of plans of where we could go and checking out the travel agent's itinerary. They had nothing (that we could do at the time). Next on my list was to check the weather and it was supposed to rain all weekend but I said, "God, I'm going to trust you with the weather" and proceeded to put my focus on a beach. I made a phone call to my sister to watch after the children and it worked out. I let our kids know what was going on and they were not to say anything due to this being a surprise. My oldest was a little bothered that I had someone staying with them because he is 18 years old. I told him to get over it (because we all know how that goes...18...alone...over the weekend...yeah right!). I am not that slow (lol).

Any who, Saturday morning came and it was perfect how I set it up to leave the house. Mind you, this is a surprise and the brotha messed it up. He got up to take our second oldest son to his school for a track meet and then he came back home and got in the bed. I was laughing to myself because this was not the plan. He said he was going to run to the store and get started on prep for the weekend dinner. Now I had to come up with some kind of way to get him out of the bed. Well, the only thing I could do was to tell him that I needed to talk to him about something important and take him out to breakfast. Relunctantly, he got up and rolled slowly out of the bed (which was messing up my time table). In the midst of everything, I managed to sneak the suitcase in the car and set everything in motion with the children.

Finally, we made it to the car and we're rolling. He asked me what I wanted to talk about and I told him that I noticed he's on edge and I wanted him to be able to talk to me and just to get it all off his chest. What in the world did I say that for!?! Because he went in (lol). As he shared what was on his mind, in his heart and on his chest I had to bite my tongue because I wasn't ready (lol)...whew...I wasn't ready but do you know what the Lord said to me? He said, "Let him vent. Let him be himself. This is ministry." I was like wow so I continued to listen and even tried to make him smile through it. After he finished we pulled up to Huddle House (even the Lord spoke to me then to go there). He orchestrated every single move, every single moment. We sat down and it was then I told him what my plans were for the weekend. He gave a smirk, placed his head in his hands and sat back. I told him he didn't have to worry about anything because I have everything taken cared of. He was so relaxed. We talked in general about things, ate then left. I told him to take a nap while I finished driving us to Jacksonville, FL. He laid his seat back, listened to MadDog Radio and went to sleep (even snored a little).

We arrived to the hotel (not the one with the percentage off but still received a discount). It was a newly opened establishment and it was nice and the customer service was good. We got up to the room and took a nap then got up and headed towards the beach. The weather was great, hot and sunny. God worked it out!

Needless to say, we had a wonderful weekend. He called me from work on the following Monday and told me to take him back to Jacksonville (lol). His whole attitude changed. The entire atmosphere changed. The temperment of the home changed. His outlook changed. His focused changed.

This is what I desire for you to understand; it's very important to listen to your spouse and God, also  to pay attention to the atmosphere of your home. It's not up to circumstances and situations to dictate our atmosphere, our marriages, our homes or family. It's up to us by listening to God and opening up a dialogue in prayer asking the Father, "Please show me how to minister to my spouse."

Words of Worship

Words of Worship

Scriptures: Psalm 91 and 89

S.O.S. (Stand Out Scriptures): Psalm 89:6

“For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?”     

Revelation

This scripture puts me in the atmosphere of worship. Who can be compared unto the LORD? Absolutely no one! Who among the sons of men can be likened unto Him? Absolutely no one! Who is like our God? Absolutely no one! Who or what can we call on besides the LORD to save us? Absolutely no one!

The LORD is so amazing! How is it that His design is perfect?! He made us perfect. What we consider our flaws (in our looks), He considers us as His image. Why would we tamper with that?  Why is it that He allows flaws (in our character)? He wants to show us that we are not perfect so with our own imperfections we ought not judge anothers. Before He planted us in our mother’s womb He created us in the way we should be here on earth. He placed in us gifts, a calling, love and a yearning for Him always but He also knew that once we were birthed (out of the womb) we would enter into a falling world, full of sin. We left a place of perfection being made by a perfect God to be birthed into a less than perfect world. Just like Jesus, we have a job to do and he did the hardest part for us. All we have to do is look for the perfected gifts and calling that God placed in us and bring it out, causing it to manifest by allowing love to be the core value of it. I love the people who have taken their (what we call) imperfections or abnormal and didn’t allow it to limit them. They didn’t go to plastic surgery or use magic or spells to try and change it because of what society says isn’t acceptable, instead they use it to glorify God and to let people know that it’s okay and that God made you just the way he wanted you to be. How amazing is our God! Who is like Him! No one! Can His love be compared! Absolutely not!

Marriage: One on One

One on One

Ephesians 5:22-33

Building a relationship with our husbands is mirrored by the relationship we build with our Father. Where is your relationship with the Father? Where is your relationship with your husband? Can your God and your husband trust you with the intimate things or the things close to their heart? This isn’t to say that things are going this way due to it being your fault; it’s just to put things in alignment or perspective. 

As we read Eph 5:22-23, we see how the bride (the church) and the bridegroom (Christ) are supposed to be and Paul relates it to how our marriages are supposed to be. There are guidelines on how the husband is to behave and how the wife is supposed to behave. A lot of marriages are failing in this area; either the husband isn’t loving his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her or the wife is not submitting and reverencing her husband. 

There are some husbands loving every other female (who’s looking for commitment and don’t care how or who she hurts to get it) instead of the woman he married, treating them like they’re back in the cavemen days, or being mama’s boy. Then in the same lump you have some women who do not submit to their husbands at all because they don’t feel like they should have to because they aren’t saved, talking to them any kind of way in front of other people and in public, thinking they are his momma instead of his wife or running around on their husbands with other men (who don’t want the commitment by the way, just a screw). How does any marriage expect to make it if this is the gist of it? How are couples supposed to build their relationship with these actions (which I only listed a few)? 

It’s time to build our relationships with God FIRST then with our husbands. It’s time to deal with the dysfunction(s) in our marriages in a tasteful, respectful and orderly way. This is not the time to throw stones. It is a time to tell each other how we feel about the treatment we’ve been receiving. Time is out for throwing things under the rug. It’s time to deal with the skeletons in the closet so we can change the way our marriages are functioning. My husband and I often have these talks. We ask each other questions like these from time to time: 1) How are we doing (in our marriage)? 2) Is there anything I can be doing better? 3) Have I offended you or caused you offense? 4) How is our sex life? 5) What are some things I do that gets on your nerves?

After we ask these questions, it opens up a great dialogue. Sometimes it’s great and sometimes it hurts but in the end it’s better for the both of us. We apologize to each other (if and when it’s needed), we laugh about things we said and we handle it in a serious matter. We also have the discussions about our relationship with God. Just like we have to “get it right” with our husbands, we have to “get it right” with our Father. We can’t treat our husbands better than we treat God and they can’t treat us better than they treat God. IT DOES NOT WORK! Build your relationship with God and in turn He will tell you how to build a SUCCESSFUL relationship with your husband. I’ve seen Him to do it. Be blessed and ever increasing in your marriages through Christ.

-         - Keisha Lapsley