No New Year’s Resolutions

Post by Deborrah Green

I vowed a few years ago to never do New Year’s resolutions. When people talk about New Year’s resolutions, I ask them, what is the point in starting something, you already know you are not going to complete, despite good intentions. I am not being negative; I am keeping it real! Be realistic! I decided to set goals instead, pray on each one and work towards the completion of each one. I create a list of goals in a book and go back and check each one off of the list as I accomplish each goal. I do not check my list often, but I reward myself for the difficult to achieve goals. Sometimes motivating myself or keeping my momentum can be challenging; therefore, when I do not reach my goals within the same year, then I see to it to make changes and strive for it again! 

“WHEN I WAS STRESSED OR FELT WEAK, THIS SCRIPTURE COMES TO MY MIND:
PHILIPPIANS 4:13 NLT”

This year I will speak into existence the things I desire, I will pray and trust God, thanking Him each day and rejoicing when I achieve it! As it is written, I will commit to memory: Job 42:2 NLT, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” I especially like this scripture and wish I had it every time someone asked me to put off completing my education. Some would say take a break, wait a year, focus on work. Focus on a job I did not like and I was not going anywhere. I know had I stopped for any reason, I was not going to return because I was going through so much, so I pressed on. When I was stressed or felt weak, this scripture comes to my mind: Philippians 4:13 NLT, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Psalm 28:7 NLT, “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”

I pray that the New Year will bring us all what we desire in our hearts, our minds and our souls. I will continually pray for peace, love, financial freedom, good health, jobs/careers for the unemployed, homes for the homeless, and that GOD meet every need of every believer and non-believer. I pray that one day soon, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! To know and accept Him, not just in a time of need, but all of the time, because He died for us and is here for us! AMEN!

He Didn't Do All That!

Post by Carla Nelson

There is a joke that talks about how the devil was sitting a long side the road crying. One of his demons approached him and asked, “Satan why are you crying? What has you so upset?” Satan slobbering all over himself answered between moments of catching his breath, “Yes, yes I have done a lot of wrong and enjoyed doing it, but some of this they blamed me for I didn't do."

Funny, I looked this morning on my Facebook feed and low and behold someone posts a pic of a boot on their car saying the devil tried to stop them. Stop it!!! You didn’t pay them dog gone tickets and trying to blame the devil! Now ain’t that something and I know in my life I’ve done the same thing tons of times. There are a variety of reasons for things we endure, for now let’s explore reaping and sowing. 

We reap what we have sown or didn’t sow and often times what has been sown for us. Know your family history, you may have to be the cleanup man or woman and let the buck stop with you. 

“Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children
for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Exodus 34:7 NIV

Examples:
Sowing lack (not giving tithes) well you might reap lack. If you get money and it’s like your pockets have holes because something else goes wrong as soon as you get it, well what have you been sowing? Been there done that so I can talk about it. Tithing works trust me on that. No more lack!

“MY LIFE TRULY BEGAN TO EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING AMAZING WHEN I ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE THINGS AND STARTED BECOMING THE CHANGE
I WANTED TO SEE.”

Let’s take our bodies (health), if we sow junk into our bodies and sow no exercise, no preventative maintenance, overwhelm it with excess weight then what type of performance are we going to reap out of our bodies? Poor health. Trust me on that one too. I was over burdening my body with surplus weight and after losing that weight I can walk better, get up better from seated positions, dress better and even my feet are smaller so I’m better all-around and I’m not as tired climbing stairs.

Unforgiveness, hmmm… yep trust me on this one too. I previously shared my testimony about the allergy I had for what about 15 years because of resentment in my heart. Got the resentment out of my heart and the allergy went too. I was sowing corruption into my soul like poison and it was overflowing to my body. No more hives breakouts and no more money for medication; oops even got to keep more money because of decreased expenses.

My life truly began to evolve into something amazing when I accepted responsibility for these things and started becoming the change I wanted to see. I was always taught to make sure you go into a new year with a clean house. “How you end the year is how you'll start it out” they would say “don’t have no dirty clothes in your house”, etc. (superstition another problem from my family). Granted there is some truth in everything. The thing is, as I heard someone say the other day, “Your house isn't clean unless the closet is clean.” Just remember if you want things to end up right, you have to start out right. Have an awesome 20-16, clean your closets and your house too, to reap much continued success.

Our Wealth Transfer Problem Is Regressive

Post by Carla Nelson

As I was thinking this morning, a previous revelation re-entered my mind.  Some years ago, during my 7-year crisis, hum it’s funny how things come to you during a storm.  But that’s the purpose of the storm so you can learn from it (at least that’s my belief).  I remember a conversation with my Mother.  I was sharing with her that I realized it was my responsibility to setup shop to take care of her, my Grandmother and my Grandfather.  Financially they were not prepared to take care of themselves in accordance with a lifestyle they were accustomed to and had the mindset to rely on Social Security.  Social Security is supposed to be a stipend; we aren’t supposed to survive on that little bit; that’s play money.  Documentation from the government even states this factor.  Unfortunately they didn’t and still don’t have that mindset.  But by God’s grace I have it.  To God be the Glory!  So I shared with her that I realized I had to setup not to just take care of them, but that I had to setup in a way so that taking care of them ­­would not be a burden to my family while doing so.  A reality many of us face, some unknowingly so.

There it is, a part of the root problem to our wealth transfer problems.  Our parents didn’t set up their barns appropriately for various reasons.  The main one being lack of knowledge oftentimes because there is no desire to seek it out.

“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”

Hosea 4:6 NIV

In my lifetime I’ve seen people take the scripture about honoring thy Mother and Father and use it as weapon aimed toward their children (unintended manipulation) versus a strategy for long life.   And yes, we do have a responsibility to coordinate the care of our parents, how could we even fathom not doing so.  Yet oftentimes what happens is being financially responsible for the care of our loved ones and simultaneously our own family becomes a burden and the cycle continues, we keep digging ourselves deeper into an already huge hole.  When does it end?  From my perspective, it stops when a generation decides to educate themselves and employ their gifts and talents to want more, seek more and thus do more, to produce a surplus to fill that void and setup their own barns appropriately.

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”

Proverbs 13:22 NIV

You see the parable in Matthew 25:14 -30 talks about the talents God has given us and how some of us have hidden them and not produced more than what was given.  Those talents equate to money.  God says he has given us the power to get wealth.  But the question is what are we doing with that power? 

“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”

Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV

Our wealth transfer problems reach back way before our existence (the regressive state) and so we have been working with what we’ve been given, inadequacy.  So for me, I have realized the ditch is big enough and to stop digging.  So yes, many of us have to fill in the ditch left for us.  But let’s not just fill it, but make it overflow.  Let’s be the change we so needed and can be for our future generations by leaving a legacy of wealth and not lack.

“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”

2 Corinthians 12:14 NIV

God Is Relaxing on a Beautiful Beach, Today!

Post by Darlene Aiken

Matthew 10:30 KJV says, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Placing emphasis on the word “all” is one of many indications that our God is beyond AWESOME in every imaginable and non-imaginable manner. For we do not even know how many hairs we have upon our own head. Should we ever decide to take on the feat of counting our individual hairs on our head, we'd have to begin over every second, as according to Dr. Oz, the average person sheds approximately 50 to 100 hairs everyday. So, without knowing what part of the day the hair sheds, does it all shed at once, more in the day or night, etc. how do we begin to count. Who is even interested or have that kind of time?

Since His Word also states, in Romans 2:11 (NIV) for God does not show favoritism, this would include all people. If you notice above, I spoke about Dr. Oz who stated the average person, however God possesses knowledge about ALL people, creation, and things already created and not yet created.

Now, given what I have spoken about the above, I'd like to ask each person reading this to really take a moment to meditate on what I'm about to say.

Since our God is ALL knowing and He's known what He knows before we were even thought about. He knows what He's known before our parent's parent's Parent's and so on were thought about, that means He knows the path that He designed for us to take and He knows the path that we will actually take. He knows some of us are super hardheaded (I admit that this would be my category - insert me kneeling for repentance prayer here), some of us are hearers, some of us are doers, it took some of us a long time to become believers, some are not yet believers, and so on. The beauty is He already knows our path and He has already made provision.

God has already allowed Satan to do whatever he is doing with a limited time in which to operate. Everything that Satan and his cohorts indulge in, plan to do, are planning to plan, is with God's permission. This includes those who have not even been born as of yet.

God knows who He is going to use and in what capacity. He already knows His plan for whatever situation we are facing right now. He already knows the outcome. In fact, He already knows that based upon our actions, lack of actions, words, lack of words, obedience, lack of obedience, praise, lack of praise, who we will effect and affect. What type of testimony we'll have and the timing of it.

God is waiting on all (there's that big little word again) of us to recognize and fall in line exactly where He already knows we're going to end up. God is bored because He is just waiting, I imagine on a beautiful beach today waiting for us to catch up to what He already knows. We just have to not only read His Word and implement it, but do so with complete FAITH. Then and only then can we begin to live according to God's plan for us without worry nor fear.

Reposition

Post by Darlene Aiken

I searched a couple of dictionaries and found the meaning of the word reposition. The first dictionary definition of reposition - place in a different position; adjust or alter the position of;

The second dictionary states the following: 1. to put in a new or different position; shift: to reposition the artwork on the advertising layout;

2. to change the image, marketing strategy, etc., of (a product) so as to appeal to a wider or different audience or market: to reposition a diet drink to appeal to teenagers; &

3. Medicine/Medical, Surgery. to place (an organ or bone) in its original position.

Not once does it mention the pain that will be associated with the process. One might assume that with the third dictionary definition, where it uses the medicine/medical surgery as an example, it might be safe to imagine that the patient might be put to sleep before the operation. This would even include a wild animal that is having the surgery.  However, in real life, when we are in need of repositioning ourselves, it would not be wise to put ourselves to sleep. In fact, the process of repositioning would be rendered useless if we did. We must be fully aware of our surroundings and actions in order for the repositioning process to work. In fact, it is our awareness that made us recognize the signs that constantly said that we need to reposition ourselves in the first place.

Repositioning might include a job, friendships, and/or relationships with family members. It does not mean you no longer love the people that need to be repositioned, it means that the road that they've traveled with you to this point, now comes to an end. This is where they get off or we get off - bottom line: someone needs to get off! What does that mean? It may mean that they no longer need to know everything about you any longer. It may mean that you have to reduce the amount of time you spend in their company, reduce the amount of phone conversations, or in some cases, you may have to totally cease interaction with them all together. They no longer are afforded the right/reservation to have court side seats in your life.

The dictionary makes it seem so simple, but in real life, it is not simple in many cases. Repositioning takes place when important people in our lives die, when a new president, mayor, church official, etc. takes over. While it is a constant process, as change is the only constant, repositioning usually brings on fear of the unknown. However, when we revert back to our biblical teachings, we should never indulge in fear anyway (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus).

Let us reposition our method of thinking for a moment: since we are not supposed to indulge in fear, per God's Word and we are not seeking to be disobedient, we will go forward viewing the repositioning process with open arms. Repositioning also, allows room for elevation. When we separate ourselves from things, actions, and people that weigh us down is when we are able to soar.

10 Ways to Help You Reposition

1 - Increase your prayer time - rather we need to reposition ourselves to see it God's way.

2 - Increase your bible reading time.

3 - Write down your goals - once you accomplish each goal, acknowledge your achievement and identify a new goal in its place.

4 - Identify anything or anyone that attempts to take away your happiness, attempts take God’s place in your life - 1 John 5:21 NLT - Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your lives.

5 -  Focus on your positive attributes.

6 - Alter your schedule so that you're not coming into contact with the same people and places that are not positive forces within your life.

7- Stop complaining about where you are and bloom there until God sees fit to promote you. In fact, think of the repositioning process as a form of promotion.

8 - Forgive yourself for allowing people to hurt you.

9 - Forgive those who have hurt you. This may require a lot of time so make certain that you revert back to numbers 1 & 2 on this list.

10 - Remember to be thankful for the gift of repositioning. The flip side is, had you not acknowledged the fact that it was time to move on, you'd still be stuck in misery. That in and of itself should make you a little bit happier every day.

BONUS: When you see what God will allow your replacement to be, you're going to be upset that you didn't take action sooner....I know it is as if you were told the ending of the movie. In this case, that's an awesome thing to empower you to not give up or revert back to what you knew. Forward movement!

Words are Prayers - Part 2

Post by Darlene Aiken

PART 2

For so long I have meditated on these few verses with regard to faith:
(1) Romans 10:17 ESV - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ,
(2) Hebrews 11:6 ESV - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him,
(3) James 2:19 ESV - You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
(4) Mark 11:22-24 ESV -  And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,
(5) Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast, and
(6) Luke 1:37 ESV - For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 21:22 ESV - And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” The last part of this verse, ".... if you have faith".

Faith is what we cannot see, but what we hope for.  I found that those things that I spoke about but left with God are the things that manifested. Those concerns that I was desperate about are the things that took longer to receive answers or received no answers at all because those are the things that I didn't fully or consistently trust God with.

Those "serious to me" concerns I would give them to Him, but then take them back, give them to Him and then take them back. He was not able to fulfill my requests because I didn't exercise faith that He would. However, those areas of concern that didn't really matter and those things that I thought I casually mentioned were things that I trusted Him with.

How dare I elevate myself above Him!  I was giving Him my "light work" to handle and questioning His ability and His love for me all while holding Him responsible for my actions of hindrance.

Since words are prayers, we ought to be more strategic in what we say because the universe supports what we ask for, whether we understand, acknowledge, misunderstand, operate in ignorance, etc. The universe does not need our permission to operate. As its already been given its assignments by God. If the universe respects God enough to just follow His orders, who are we to act contrarily?  

What are you saying and is it hindering your progress?  Do you REALLY have faith that God can handle your most serious concerns? Are you really watching your words? Or do you think it okay to say that something is "killing" you? Oh!  Is it also okay to say that something is "making me sick" and then you wonder why you're sick all of the time!  Re-examine your thought and word pattern when you speak. Then align it with God's Word. Speaking is serious business for in the beginning God said...

No One Knows the Cost of This Oil

Post by Nicole Hall

No one can comprehend the cost of the oil that I pour out for Jesus.  He died so that I may live.  But I pour it out because He came to save me.  He came to refresh me.  He came to give me new life.  He came to renew my mind.  He came so that I may live and be free.  He came so that I could lift my hands to the one true and living God; the Almighty Father who loved me from the beginning even though I couldn’t and didn’t love myself.  

He showed me who I was and told me that He had plans for me to live and not die. That He had plans to prosper me; to prosper the works of my hands if I followed Him, was obedient to Him, sacrificing what I wanted for what He wanted for me. He refreshed my soul with living water so for Him, I pour out this oil. No one knows the cost. No one understands that I paid in raw, jagged, torturous pain that everyone but I could see. They didn’t understand that I had to walk through it to get to the other side. I was mocked, I was talked about, I was laughed at, I was scorned, I was hated, I was betrayed and I was wrecked by the stares, glares, thoughts and works against me. They told me I was stupid, that I was over spiritualizing when we are spiritual beings living in a human body and when we are supposed to have the mind of Christ, who told us to think of things in the Spirit. Oh and by the way, God is Spirit. They don’t know the cost of the oil.

Sometimes we are born into situations that cause us to flounder in life. Until we connect with the source that gave us life, we cannot comprehend the love that would sustain us in the worst situations ever. That same love is what God called us to walk in, so other people who have known our struggle will see God in us. So like the woman with the alabaster box of oil, I pour out my devotion to the one who I call on when I am in pain. (Matthew 26:6-7 LEB)
No one truly understands the relationship you have with a God who lives. No one understands a God who says “Go” and you go. It’s not for them to understand, but for His glory. It’s for the redemption of humanity as a whole and He will move in the most granular of events. Even you’re little, old business. That’s where you are supposed to “get it.” You may not see it in someone else but when we live the life that God wants us to live, on this path He leads us down that has valleys in the shadow of death, that has still waters and whose rod and staff comfort us, we understand. (Psalm 23:4 KJV)  Our walk may meet at a midpoint, our paths may even cross. You ask, “Which way do I go?”

Your situation may hurt and the pain may be uncompromising. But the woman who brought the alabaster jar with expensive perfume to Jesus, only to break it open allowing it to flow down his head, knew the cost. Luke 7:37 NIV says that the woman lived a sinful life and she came to see Jesus. She wept and wet his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and poured perfume on them. Jesus spoke to Simon the Pharisee when he noticed that Jesus allowed this “sinful” woman to touch him. Jesus told him that her sins were forgiven, because she showed how great her love was for God.

I don’t know what your “sins” are but I knew what mine were. Jesus carried the weight of our sins with Him. I can imagine how Jesus felt, stooped over with the weight of a thick, wooden cross on my back that I had to carry. Why did I have to feel this way and why did I have to trudge uphill with this heavy cross to go through the pain. When will there be an end to my personal struggle. Where was God?

Know that God is right there with us on our journey. Don’t stop pouring out your oil to the one who loved you first. God doesn’t miss what you are doing, what you are giving up; sin for forgiveness and choosing to love Him back. 

"Nobody knows the cost of the oil!"

YOU MUST SETTLE IT

Post by Gene Redd (Marriage Ministry)

Whenever a sin or breach has been committed against a marriage, whether it's a breach of trust, a breach of confidentiality, or breach of respect, you must allow a period of "settling." Settling is the process of re-establishment and re-adjustment to life after the breach. There was a life that existed before the breach in your marriage; and now there’s a new life that will exist after that breach. But in order to enter that new life, you must be willing to go through the settling process.

Settling takes time. That’s why I'm incredibly perplexed whenever I hear about couples ready to end their marriage after one year. Even after five years of marriage, you haven’t even begun scratching the surface of oneness. My wife and I have been married over 18 years, and we’re just now feeling like we’re starting to tap into the awesome power of oneness at a very surface level. The trials and failings that we've experienced over the past 18 years have brought us closer together. Our disappointments, frustrations and even our disagreements that we've experienced over the past 18 years have brought us closer together. This is all part of the settling process.

Settling does not happen just because you say “I do.” You don’t become one after saying I do any more than you renew your mind by accepting Christ. When you say “I do” to Christ, you begin a process of conforming into his image and becoming one with Him. When you say “I do” to your spouse, you likewise begin a process of conformity and oneness with the individual that you're marrying. It begins with a change in name, and progressively transitions into a new way of living and thinking as a collective entity.

In Old Testament times, if a man got married while serving in the military, he was required to stay home for that first year of marriage in order to “bring joy” to his wife (Deuteronomy 24:5). By spending quality time with his wife so early on in the marriage, it helped to advance the settling process. This is critical to process of becoming one.

If you find yourself struggling within your marriage, don’t spend all of your efforts and energies trying to get out of it. Allow the process of settling to take root within your relationship. Confront the truth head-on, no matter what it is. Then ask yourself what you can do to help settle things down so that progress may continue. The journey of two individuals "becoming one" is one of the greatest mysteries in all humanity. But the time that it takes to become one isn't a mystery at all. Oneness demands a period of settling, and settling takes time.

Words are Prayers - Part 1

Post by Darlene Aiken

PART 1

For so long I have meditated on these few verses with regard to faith:
(1) Romans 10:17 ESV - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ,
(2) Hebrews 11:6 ESV - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him,
(3) James 2:19 ESV - You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
(4) Mark 11:22-24 ESV -  And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,
(5) Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast, and
(6) Luke 1:37 ESV - For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Finally, I began to examine which of my prayers were being answered and which were not. I realized that most of what was being answered were not the prayers that I have been earnestly praying about, but rather just things I stated and didn't necessarily care about.

To be clearer, words that I thought I was "just speaking" - those things were coming to pass. I began to see a pattern and I asked God, why would He answer those things and seem to be s-l-o-w to answer some things and the areas of prayer that I REALLY wanted and needed Him to answer, well, those things seemed like He just totally ignored.

I began to question why would He do something like that to His child, knowing how I'm suffering!!! Just then it occurred to me to re-examine why this pattern existed all while keeping in mind, that He is sovereign all by Himself, so it must be something I'm not doing right.

Just then, the re-revealed verse…

Friction: Indicator of Great Blessing(s)

Post by Carla Nelson

In my life I’ve learned that oftentimes friction is an indicator of great blessing(s).  I remember when President Obama was running for office the first time.  His relationship with his Pastor became strained and then a day before the election his Grandmother died.  He won not one, but two elections.  I remember when then Mayor Cory Booker was running for Senator, a week before the election his father died.  He is now Senator Booker.  Wow!  Not that’s not to say that someone has to die or your challenge has to be that shattering.  These are just two instances that I thought of when the title (subject matter) came to my mind for this excerpt.

So let me use something a little less morbid, well a whole lot less morbid.  Okay not morbid at all.  I volunteered for a startup organization with my employer.  Upon being appointed as one of the selectees I was notified that I would be, along with others across the nation, traveling to Chicago for training.  Upon arrival for training I checked into my hotel room and went to dinner with colleagues.  While at dinner I checked my voice mail and had received a message from the hotel staff informing me that I had been locked out of my room because a credit card had not been presented for my room.  WHAT!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!  Oh Lord, I was blind sided and just thrown for a loop.  The company is paying for my room, what do you mean?  Ooh Lord, help me stay calm and not flip out.  So as the enemy would have it I finished dinner with a plethora of crazy thoughts dancing through my head.  Which was the purpose of the whole situation, an attempt to distract me and get me off course.   By the grace of God I handled the situation professionally.  I shared the incident with management and upon returning to the hotel needless to say I had with me a member of our Human Resources team who wasn’t my skin tone.  Having past experience in the hotel industry I had an idea of what was taking place.  Unfortunately and I am ashamed to say, hotels often experience quite a bit of damage to the rooms from people in our race (African American).  With a credit card being placed on file the hotel management has a way of assessing those charges or linking them to your credit card for reimbursement.  Well maybe not reimbursement but definitely get you entangled in some sort of legal battle for any damages sustained to the room.  When I checked into the hotel the guest services representative did not ask me for a credit card for incidentals.  I thought about mentioning it, because of my experience, but knew I had no plans to make any charges to the room.  Didn’t need to purchase all of my food, beverage and lodging were being taken care of by my employer.  Yet it’s the representatives’ responsibility to ask you for this card, so I checked in, kept quiet and kept going (always go with your first mind).  So because they did not have a credit card on file for incidentals they took the drastic measure of locking me out of my room (shaking my head).  Totally uncalled for, needless to say I kept calm.  Upon returning to the room I sent a nice nasty professional message to the hotel organizer and my company organizer.   The next day upon re-entering my room, I was pleasantly surprised by a nice tray with a handwritten apology note and lots of upscale treats to tickle my palette.  Thanks, but I won’t ever stay at any of your hotel chains again (I’ll keep the name to myself).

A few months later I became the lead person in this network and have been greatly recognized for my efforts.  I’ve become known by many for my input and received an exceptional review (with a nice raise) as a result.  Taking advantage of the opportunity and not allowing that stealth moment of the enemy to derail me has aided in setting me up for my next blessing.

Dr. Bernard has taught us that the enemy works within the realm of human emotion and human experience and emotional impulsive behavior is dangerous.  I could have been really, really stupid but I wasn’t and not doing so has been beneficial to my career reputation.  So whatever experiences you may be facing or will face, know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   What the devil means for bad, God will use for your good.  A set back is a setup for a comeback, oftentimes greater than before.   And remember, friction is often an indicator of great blessing(s).

“You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good to accomplish
what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Genesis 50:20 NIV

Unanswered Prayers - Part 2

Post by Darlene Aiken

Part 2
You may begin to re-examine your walk, begin to feel despondent. You may begin to question your faith. Especially when you see people who are not believers being blessed right and left. You try to tell yourself not to covet. You try to convince yourself not to hate or feel jealous, but you're questioning yourself AND God.

It is at that moment, you must drop to your knees, give God the biggest praise and thank Him! Thank Him that you're able to drop to your knees by just a command. Thank Him that you have all of your faculties. Thank Him that you have the ability to feel all of these emotions simultaneously, read your Word, ask, seek, pray, etc. for there are those who are unable to read, unable to walk, talk, work, and take for granted many of things that you're complaining about.

God knew you'd be in this situation well before you and I were thought about. So, in ALL of His perfection, He knew there'd be a way out.

Faith (Hebrews 11) is NOT easy, but worth it. The tiniest of all seeds, the mustard seed becomes magnified when we're going through. We have to remember that there's no testimony without a test. Let God use us for His glory. Let’s always strive to do our best, all the while remembering that God is always in control whether we worry or not. Since His Word says to not worry Philippians 4:6 (NIV) – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Anything other, is disobedience. Disobedience is a hindrance to our blessings, so get out of your own way and just let God do what He does best, for if He didn't want to take care of us and use us for His good, He could have made sure we didn't exist at all.

Unanswered Prayers - Part 1

Post by Darlene Aiken

Part 1
How many times have you asked God for something and felt as if He not only did not give you what you wanted, but He didn't even acknowledge the fact that you asked? You just were 100% sure that you were requesting a good thing. In fact, you were so certain that you continuously meditated on specific verses such as John 14:14 (NIV) – “You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” At some point you began to ask what happened because you're mature enough to know that God will not bless mess. You're mature enough to know that your request has to be in line with who He is and what He stands for. Still nothing!

We can get so caught up in our so-called level of maturity and the length of our walk that we forget that what we are asking for may be good, but our timing is off. We are taught that we serve a perfect God. So, if we truly believe that we serve a perfect God then we must believe that His perfection is not specific to certain things, certain times, or certain requests. However, He is perfect at ALL times for ALL things.

You might be thinking, Yeah but His Word encourages us to pray fervently - James 5:16 (KJV) – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” What about when His Word encourages us to continue to ask, seek, and knock - Matthew 7:7 - (NLT) – “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” You might also add that His Word also says that we should “pray without ceasing” (ESV) - 1 Thessalonians 5:13.

Why would The Lord say all of this in so many ways if He did not want us to keep asking for what we want; yet He still will not respond? In addition to not responding He's not giving any hint on whether I'm on the right track or not. Then I begin believing that maybe I'm on the wrong track. I begin to really become convinced that I'm on the wrong track because my situation seems to get worse. My kids begin acting up. My husband is doing new and unfavorable things. My wife, well she's acting brand new and mysterious. My boss is hinting toward layoffs, which might possibly include me, and this is NOT the right time as I do not have any money in the bank and my best friend is not returning my phone calls. If that's not enough, the IRS just wrote me to say that I owe them a bunch of money. Lord!!! Where are you?

So what do you do next? Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog posting.

What Is Going On?

Post by Deborrah Green

For so long I waited for an opportunity such as this, only to fail to meet my objective and fall short of the expectation. It has been tough rounding up my thoughts and getting motivated to do the things I want to accomplish and I am not sure why. My spirit is challenged daily with wrong thinking, multiple distractions; feelings of despair, anger, letting silly things that do not matter annoy me, and staying in the will of God. Why? What is going on with me? God has been wonderful to me and here I am falling short again. God help me, please. I do not understand what is going on. I am tired; I do not want to do anything, except sleep and rest. Is it mental? Emotional? I know one thing; I cannot give up even though that is what I want to do. I fight with myself everyday all day to get it together. I am so thankful I have a relationship with God that I can talk to Him and share with Him what I am feeling and get a regular gut check. Now if I can only get myself in gear, I can finish all that I have started and need to finish. (Philippians 4:13 NLT – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.)

When I feel I have failed God after He has richly blessed me, I hurt. I hurt so badly one time that I repented many times during the day and night, fasted, cried and grieved. I never want to feel like that again. Falling short of the glory of God is not a good feeling, although it says in (Romans 3:23-25 NLT – 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,)
I often feel that no matter how hard I work, no matter how hard I try to be good, even perfect, one step in the wrong direction, my slip and I can get off track. I generally do not have any fears, because I know with God is always with me, (Proverbs 3:23 NLT – They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble.)(Psalms 23:4 NLT – Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.), (Psalms 34:4 NLT – I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears), (Isaiah 54:17 NLT - But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!..), but I fear slipping and straying away from God. When I think about it sometimes, I remember that I am rooted and I can only strengthen my roots through the word. However, I become disappointed when I am seen in a negative way, then I have to remember that because I have God in my life, I am better than whom they think or say I am. I am blessed. I am blessed to have people in my life to love and accept me for me. No one can change me but God. When I forget, God reminds me of His everlasting goodness. I should not let anyone take that from me, show me or tell me different!

When it gets tough, I no longer pick up the phone and call a friend, I call God. I no longer seek to destroy myself, I seek God. When I need help, I ask God and He answers. Talking to God makes me smile and brings me joy. I do not try to handle things on my own; I leave it in His hands. (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NLT – 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.) and (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT – 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 

This time things are not tough, it is not hard, it is overwhelming and I want to rest. (Deuteronomy 2:7 NLT – For the LORD your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the LORD your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.) I do not want to be angry anymore. When I heard Pastor A. R. Bernard say one Sunday, “angry people are hurt people”, I identified completely. My past hurts have left me with an enormous amount of anger. I hide this anger because public displays get me in trouble, but when I am home alone, it comes from small occurrences of disappointments and failures. I thought I was dealing with it, but I am avoiding it because I pray about it, I ask for deliverance, but I have yet to deal with it. I want God to take it away so I do not have to deal with it. (Psalm 9:10 NLT– Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.) I know that when the time comes God will prepare me to face the hurts and will heal me after, so I want to be ready, but I want to rest first. (Psalm 119:28 NLT – Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.) No matter what I have gone through and will go through, I am thankful to know God and to know that His word keeps me encouraged and strong. (Romans 12:12 NLT – Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.), and (Psalms 34:1 - A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises). Thank you Lord for always being with me.

God's Beautiful Flowers

Post by Nicole Hall

Have you ever asked God to show you who you were? During a period of high stress, personal loss and deep soul searching I asked God to show me who I was. I happened to be on the Nature Walk on the Christian Cultural Center campus and walked slowly down the path looking from side to side. As I asked God to show me who I was so I could understand why I was going through such turbulence, I saw flowers, lush greenery, bushes, trees, and fish. 

I saw a bunch of daisies that had sprouted from the same root; one daisy was pointing in the other direction. When I moved closer, I noticed that it was a bit weathered. A few of the petals were missing. I heard the Lord say, “Sometimes you are the only one, set apart. The others are beautiful but so are you.” When I looked, the other flowers looked nearly in the same condition of the daisy that was pointing in another direction. No matter what our condition, God still shows us love. While reading scripture, I found a text that displayed God’s concern for our condition. “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” John 5:6 NIV

I saw a beautiful bed of pink flowers amid lush green leaves. Oddly enough, there was one white daisy sitting on the outskirts of the green leaves. But in God’s kingdom, it isn’t odd at all. Even though God had said that I was set apart, He also said that I was as beautiful as the others. The little pink flowers and the daisy were all flora from God’s unique garden. That sole white daisy was thriving amongst the green leaves and pink flowers despite being a different variety of plant. God was helping me to thrive. “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice.” Proverbs 29:2, NIV

I noticed one; tall Black-eyed Susan set back deep in a sea of lush green leaves. It seemed so far away from the rest of the Black-eyed Susans. But it was protected by the bushes and surrounded by the other green plants. Its beauty was highlighted and the first thing I saw because it was a splash of color against all green. I also saw one beautiful lavender hydrangea peeking up from a bush but set back behind rocks. In order to reach the hydrangea, I’d have to climb over the rock and reach into the bushes to get it. The flower was protected and I realized that God was protecting me when He set me apart. “You are my hiding place, you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”Psalms 32:7 NIV

The fish pond had several goldfish moving about. But of course, there was one little fish that swam past the others at a quicker pace and disappeared for a few minutes. Suddenly, the same little fish appeared and swam past the others once again. He seemed like he had someplace to go and something to do that couldn’t wait for the others to catch up. God will give us an assignment that He expects us to complete out of obedience. The little fish showed me that being obedient would cause me to move in haste, to do the will of the Father. Jesus taught us, “Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 NIV

Despite the turbulence I was experiencing, the Nature Walk gave me peace and confirmed that no matter what was happening around me, God was with me, set me apart and had protected me despite the circumstances. Be encouraged.

Who Waited on Who?

Post by Darlene Aiken

One Saturday I was leisurely talking to a longtime friend on the phone. We laughed and talked about some of everything under the sun. As we were about to get off the phone she asked me about the outcome of an event that my son was scheduled to attend the night before. I told her that the event did not occur because of a mix up in communication. I also explained how upset my son was because he, who usually does not get hyped about things, had in fact, gotten hyped about this particular event. My heart went out to him, however I reminded him about the importance of waiting on the Lord, while continuing to work hard to defend his dream.

At that time, my friend stated that in her religion they believe that Christ is a title and not specific to Jesus. So, in other words Christ is in all of us. I assured her that Christianity done right, believes the same thing. I then went on to state that once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, is when we reap the guaranteed benefits, as membership has its privileges.

She hesitated and stated that that's the difference with her church and religion that they do not have to wait to accept their Christ to reap his benefits. It was at that point we agreed to end the discussion and hang up the phone. No one was upset, but it was time to get on with our day. I also had already made up in my mind that I know what I believe and that's not going to alter so there's no need for this discussion. I also had made up in my mind that my actions are to speak louder than my words...even more so now than ever, so I was good with terminating the call.

Later as I was in the shower, which usually serves as one of my prayer closets, I heard God's voice speak to me. He reminded me that we never wait on Him either. He waits on us. He waits on us because love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 NIV. God is love and love is God and to try to separate the two is like trying to separate a wave from water. So, I felt so good in being reminded of who waited on who!

Never Alone!

Post by Carla Nelson

Years ago I sang in the choir at church and I remember one of the songs having a chorus that went something like this. . . I don't have to worry cuuuuz, I'm never alone.

Song by Walter Hawkins I think. I don't know the rest of the words I just remember that main line and sometimes sing just that part to myself. Because it reminds me of the goodness of my Father and that He is always with me. He is right here just waiting for me to seek Him and His guidance for even the smallest endeavors. Ok, no I’m not fanatical, I don’t bother God for stuff I can do. After all we are supposed to be able to walk on our own, but we are supposed to be dependent upon Him for which way to walk, how and why; for the purpose in all things and launch out with His guidance. Yet there are times when I might have misplaced something in my house and am unable to see just where it is. Yes I call on my Father and “say, ok God please show me where those keys are” or whatever it may be and He does. Say what ya want, I know He knows where the item is and sure nuff, because I depend on and seek Him for it, He guides me to what I’m looking for. That’s my God!

So it is for something so small, so it should be for my everyday life. So this is what I aim to do. Do I mess up along this journey of life, of course I’m human. But the point is, if I just slow down and rely on Him for His ultimate guidance I alleviate so much stress and pain and most definitely save time. And we know time cannot be recouped. Simply put, if I rely on Him more I won't mess up so much! I mess up when I don’t listen or seek Him and allow my flesh to lead.

Then when I read Psalm 139 that brings it all home for me.

“I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.”

Psalm 139: 7 – 10 NLT

Right now this particularly resonates with me as I begin to focus on projects that are so much bigger than me and I have no idea how I’m going to pull them off but by His guidance. As Dr. Bernard teaches us about capacity it is such perfect timing. Because my mind has to be able to embrace what God is pouring into me and the fact that I am a conduit by which what He pours must flow through. I need my Father to pull these things off and it starts with my belief in Him and what He can do through me. So I am then reminded of His word where He tells me that He won’t leave me nor forsake me.

“So be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.
For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you.
He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

So when I read or meditate upon this scripture I embrace the reality that twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days (366 days in leap year) a year God Almighty!, My Father!, Our Father!, has got my back and guess what! What applies for me, applies for YOU! Be encouraged my friend! In whatever stage of life you are in, He is right there with you, ready to assist you in any and every way.

I Asked for This, Got This and That!

Post by Carla Nelson

For many years I had an allergy that I used allergy medication to control.  It's amazing how when you pray for one thing, so many other things are revealed to accomplish the original desire in your heart.

Knowing that I would have children one day, I began asking God to help me prepare my body so I'd be ready when that time comes.  One of the things to be done was to be delivered from the allergy.  As a result, there would be no need to require any foreign subject in my body during or after the gestation period.  This way my babies would not be exposed to a substance that could possibly harm them.  Not only that, but so my body would not be damaged by this medication.  After you take something for such a long period, there is the potential for damage to your organs.

Hum, all I can do is laugh.  God is so awesome!  He knows just how to stir you and help you grow.  Several things happened.  One thing being the occurrence of an uncomfortable situation that resulted in me seeking my Father through a drastic fast.  Actually a detox/fast combo; I shut my whole body down with several days of not eating.  Yep, I did it!  Somebody is saying you are crazy, no food at all.  (I wouldn't recommend this to anyone without talking to your doctor; it is draaaaasssssstic.)  This was the best thing for me though at that time in my life.  Will I do it again?  Uuum, I don't know.  But what I can say is, afterwards I felt as though someone had stepped inside my body and washed all the walls (so to speak) down.  It was a huge spring cleaning for my soul and my body.

The greatest thing is that I realized when the symptoms of this allergy first occurred.  Many years before, a major burden arose in my life that caused me to harbour resentment in my heart.  At least I saw it as a burden then.  Coincidentally that is the same time the allergy symptoms occurred.  Uuuum huuum, Bingo!  The root cause of the problem was now revealed. The funny thing is, I remember upon visiting the allergy specialist at the time, him stating to me, "We don't want to treat something for a long period of time and mask something else."  I didn't understand that statement at the time, but now some 18 years later, I get it.

So without a doubt, repentance and forgiveness were necessary and repent and forgive I did!  As a result my healing was manifested.  To God be the Glory!  Shucks here I am seeking God about one thing and was delivered from something else.  Dear God, you are nothing but THE ABSOLUTE BEST!  Thank you for my healing and may someone else receive the same!

“28 That is why you should examine yourself
before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup
without honoring the body of Christ,
you are eating and drinking God’s
judgment upon yourself.
30 That is why many of you are
weak and sick and some have even died.
31 But if we would examine ourselves,
we would not be judged by God in this way.
32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord,
we are being disciplined so that we will not
be condemned along with the world.”

I Corinthians 11:28-32 NLT

Everyone Benefits From Prayer: Believers and Non-Believers

Post by Darlene Aiken

Christians are taught to pray for everyone. Therefore when we plead the blood of Jesus over someone who may not be saved, they still benefit from those prayers. Since they benefit from our prayers they've unknowingly entered into a realm where they'll become exposed to the presence of God thus providing them with an opportunity to know about God, Romans 14:11 - As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.

Those who claim to not believe in God rarely if ever turn down the blessings that He bestows upon them. Do we know of anyone who does not like when good things and/or people come our way, believers or not? That came by way of prayer. There may be some who say, "I don't pray!" well, if you speak, you pray. Words are prayers that are placed into the atmosphere, which command the universe to obey the prayers that we send out. This is why it is so important that we watch our words. We need to watch what we say to ourselves as well as to others, Psalm 38:12 - Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.

This is why we're told to speak it into the atmosphere. For those who are still not convinced, just keep in mind that God does not function according to our belief system. Nor does He operate based on our limited capacity. For if that were true, we'd not have the moon, stars, dirt, oceans, the sky, the earth, other planets, animals, or other things that were not nor cannot be created by man.

Which leads into the thought of evolution. Let's go with the thought that humans evolved from animals, for a minute...God had to have made the first animal. God will not be not be mocked, Galatians 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

His word will not return to Him void but will do what He has sent it to do whether we subscribe, refuse to believe, waiting for a sign, waiting until "we are ready", or just simply being, God is sovereign all by Himself. The sooner we realize that and operate in that fashion, the better off we'll become.

Walking By Faith - 10 Tips for Activating Your Faith - Tip #10

By Darlene Aiken

What is faith? Refer to Hebrews 11

When we lack faith, we subscribe to a mentality that believes in scarcity. Scarcity is totally the opposite of who God is and what He's about.  In addition, when God talks about abundance, His abundance is not like our abundance. Just for starters, let’s think about whatever we imagine abundance being and multiply it by 100 trillion just for starters. That may seem overwhelming, but we should be overwhelmed with comfort and joy.  Can you imagine having 100 trillion choices every time you need to make a decision? In addition to having to make the decision amongst 100 trillion choices, whichever one you select will turn out to be righteous and awesome! I can see that you’re smiling already!!! Well, we have that and more at the bending of our knees.  All we have to do is ask and have faith that it will be done. I’ve had people ask me, “Why would God grant you anything that you want?” My response was because when we become in tune with God, we only want those things that He wants for us.  Since we have faith that He only wants what’s best for us, when His answer is no, then we become content with that response, “so if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11 NLT

When we operate from the standpoint of abundance then we do not fear that there isn't enough for equal distribution, rather everyone will have an opportunity and perhaps have leftovers as well. Since we are having a discussion with regard to abundance, please keep in mind the story in the book of John (6:1-14) when Jesus fed about five thousand men with the little boy’s five loaves and two fish.

How do we consistently activate our faith? I have prepared 10 tips to assist you with your faith walk.

Tip #10: Do something for others. Volunteer your time at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, teen center for runaways, a suicide hotline, sign up with a local hospital to hold abandoned babies on the maternity ward, or something else to assist the less fortunate. You might be reading this thinking, "I am the less fortunate!" Regardless of how bad you think you may have it, please keep in mind that there is always someone who has it worse than you. For starters you're on this website reading this blog...you're already a step ahead. When you do for others it makes you thankful for what you do have. You even become more appreciative of who you are and the hand that you have been dealt. You also become revitalized to realize that you are more than a conqueror “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NIV). We must realize that we were all designed to endure our own life’s journeys, not the life journeys of others.

God Was With Me When. . .

Post by Carla Nelson

When we decided to share this series, I had to stop for a minute and say, wow which time do I share? Do I talk about the time as a kid, when a salesman came to our door and by God's guidance, I placed my what 4 year old hand on the door knob, gently pushed it in and locked the door. Not knowing that a few moments later this man would reach to open the door to enter our home against our will, but consequently find it locked. Oh yeah, God was with me and my Mother then.

Do I share the experience of being bullied while in the seventh grade, and having my lunch money taken. How I was afraid to tell anyone, but by God's grace my Mother found out and resolved the situation. Yep God was with me then. I was scared to go to school.

Then I thought about the time during college when I was working two jobs, living off campus, exhausted from going to school, work and back to school. I went to sleep with a pot of cabbage on the stove and woke up to a house filled with smoke. Oh yeah, He was with me then. My house was filled with smoke and the pot was brunt so badly the cabbage was embedded into the fibers of the pot. Yeah, God was with me then.

Or do I share an excruciating time in my life, when I had to legally authorize having a dear loved one mentally institutionalized, in order to ensure proper care so they could stop roaming the streets. Definitely God was with me then. That was a horrendous moment in both of our lives.

Okay so then I said, let's talk about the 7-year stretch in my life that was a roller coaster of highs and lows. Truly I know that God was with me then, because I didn't know how I was going to survive. There were times when all I could do was sit on my couch and just hold my Bible. I remember one particular incident, facing foreclosure and repossession, health challenges, family trouble and going from job to job. Pure misery! But He would always provide a way. I had mailed a payment to my mortgage company, then the bank told me that I had to turn my car in. The bank representative had mercy and said ok you can turn it in Monday, it was a Friday evening. I had kept in touch with the banker so she allowed me to keep the car over the weekend. Uum huum, God on the scene! So I decided that ok I'll file bankruptcy, this is the only way. Doing so, I can protect my assets until I can get back on top and clear all this mess up. Well low and behold, the mortgage company wouldn't accept the payment because they wanted all back payments at once, so they returned the mortgage payment. That returned mortgage payment was enough to make a car payment and keep my car without filing bankruptcy and hold the bank off until I could do better. Dear Jesus! Later I was able to sell my condo before foreclosure with a gain from the equity. Hum, you and nobody else can't tell me God wasn't with me then. 

I was going to stop there. But then, something occurred that I had to share as well. For years I have worn contacts and have only gotten the annual contact lens exam to adjust my prescription. You know run in, run out and keep it moving. This year I knew I needed to have a full eye exam with dilation conducted. For some reason there was a challenge at the optometrist office and I was unable to have the exam conducted the day of my initial visit. So I as normal got the contact lens exam, but I by God's grace continued to pursue the full exam and returned at a later date. My God, my doctor discovered a, well, yeah a small tumor so to speak inside of my eye area. Immediately the look on her face told me what she thought, cancer. Throughout this time of waiting to see other doctors, and the poking and prodding in my eyes, the dizziness, eye discomfort and nausea as a result, He kept me calm. He kept me going. He helped me even make new strides in my life by stepping even more so out of my shell. He kept me sane and did not allow me to panic. When I called my insurance carrier to discuss my coverage, I was informed that I had been referred to a top rated doctor who was in our network. The doctor I was referred to, advised me that she did not even know how the referring physician, located this object being in such and inconspicuous place. I see God all over this situation, He is here with me and I know it. I know it because having hands put in my eyes in the way I experienced in these past few days; um He had to be here, that's all I can say. To God be the Glory, the third doctor, again a top rated doctor, delivered the confirmation that I did not have cancer and that he did not (as he said with assured confidence in his voice from the depths of his bowels) expect that it would turn into anything more. Then he proceeded to share the factual evidence of why it would not. My God is with me! Hallelujah!

I could share many more testimonial situations, but we would be here all day. Just know that God is with you, at all times. Be encouraged my friend!

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

As I shared with others the day of my diagnosis, I would like to share with you this prayer, because I realize someone else did not receive the same message.

My prayer for you is that you have the right doctors providing you or your loved one with care, and that complete healing be manifested with no return of the disease to you or anyone in your blood line in Jesus' name. 
Amen!