TRUST

Trust is a HUGE (5) five letter word. It is defined as firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith; reliance

In many trust building exercises, the instructor tells one person to stand in front of another. The person in the front is to fall back into the arms of the person behind them without looking and with careless abandon. It’s a true test.

I’ve always been one to trust 100% unless my trust is broken. Then the walls go up. It takes a long time for me to allow the trust to be rebuilt. Some of this comes from watching someone very close to me being repeatedly cheated on. As soon as it would appear that all was well, their spouse would cheat again.

In my reflection, I thought of my trust in God. As a born again believer, I trust HIM completely. I have been tested more than I personally thought I could ever survive. After being shaped and molded into this new creation, I know to FALL BACK into HIS arms whenever I am doubtful. He is always there to catch me although in my humanness I am not always faithful to HIM. I try to be but I am human and imperfect. I make mistakes yet HE forgives me. Suppose HE put up walls and said, “My child, you have broken my trust, therefore, I will turn my back on you! “ My God, My God! Where would I be, where would we be?

So, today is a day of forgiveness. A time to let go of past hurts, tear down old walls that were built so long ago that I can’t remember why they were built. A day to stop looking for reasons not to trust and seek reasons to believe! Are you with me! Let’s do it together. Through HIS love and Faith we can do it! We can do all thing in HIM!

Psalms 13:5 NIVBut I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

Celebrate A Strong Woman by TD JAkes

If a woman feels like a lady and is able to celebrate herself, she will attract into her life people who reflect her own opinion of herself.

There are moments when even the strongest woman can appreciate the reinforcement of a man who is comfortable with who he is and who can be an anchor in the storms of life.

He will be the warm hand touching the small of her back, giving her the stability to go forward.He will give her the feeling of uncompromising love as she faces the various stages and ages of life.

He gives her body release, her mind a melody, and her spirit a gust of Wind that makes her able to soar.

But in the stillness of the night, when he has gone to sleep and there are pending issues on her mind, it is her Lord who works the night shift and wathces over her in the dark.

He is the one whom she can talk to when her words can't explain what she is feeling. Her man may understand what she says, but the LORD understands what she feels.

Thank you Lord! Through you I can Endure ALL Things!

As I drive, I think! Anybody else out there do that?

As I was driving yesterday, I asked the question "Why do we have to endure so much pain? Why do we have to go through trials and tribulations?" God quickly said, "They are growing pains! As you grow, you become stronger and wiser!" Wiser so that we can share our testimonies with others. Encourage others and lift them up when they need it. Stronger so that we can endure the next storm. Preparation.

My praying husband reminded me that these tribulations are of this world. The enemy is so busy trying to destroy God's followers. That is why HE places praying warriors in our lives to intercede for us when we can't find the words ourselves.

It is amazing how much we can bear when we lean on God and we have praying friends. A friend of mine lost her mother and father in the same week. Another friend lost her mother one day and her grandmother the very next day. God has kept them. They are strong and continue to endure. Living testimonies! They are praisers! Living examples of how much HE loves us and comforts us when we think we are going to absolutely lose our minds.

Yesterday I was the one pondering and questioning why. Today a friend of mine shared some difficulties that she is going through. I praise GOD for giving me the "word" yesterday so that I could share with her today. I praise him for the storms that I have endured so that I could be an encourager for her as HE was for me yesterday. He is such an awesome God. Who am I to question HIM when HE knows all things!

I stop to say THANK YOU tonight. Thank you first to God for His Grace and Mercy! Where would I be without Him?? He who knows all things! He who is there to lean on when I feel like I can't go on. He who whispers, Get up my child, I am within you! You can do ALL things. You are a warrior, a conqueror!

Thank you to my praying husband. A man after God's own heart!

and...

Thank you for praying friends. People God has placed in my life to intercede and lift me up!

Thank you! Call on me if you need me.. as the song says, "I need you to survive.. I pray for you and you pray for me.. I love you..

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12: 9

Pursue versus Follow..Dare to Dream

When I woke up this morning, rainbows were on my mind. I heard it whispered, "If you are not pursuing the rainbows end, are you really living?" hmmm..I pondred. Then I heard, "Are you living or existing? There is a difference!"



People say, "Follow your dreams." To me, it sounds likeyou are lagging behind or trying to catch up with it. It's passive. One of the definitions of follow is "to proceed without plan or action." Now that just won't do. If I have written the vision, put it in front of me so that I can move toward it, why would I simply want to follow it. There is more to it than that.



Pursue means to follow, but with a different connotation. It means to follow with urgency. It's defined as "to quest for, go in search of or hunt for!" Doesn't that make you WANT to take action? It makes me want to make a strenuous effort to soar and strive!



I am reminded of the song, "Dare to Dream". It is the closing song of the movie Pride, the true story of Jim Ellis, a teach who formed an African American swim team in the projects of Philadelphia in the 1970's. Against what seemed like insurmountable odds, they competed for the state Championship.



The lyrics are:



See the rainbows around us all

Hear the angels when they call

Find a wahy to reach inside

Just dare to dream and walk with pride!



I challenge you today. Live - do more than exist. Pursue versus follow. Dream, Strive & Walk with Pride.



And as Always....Push Forward!

Above all things....LOVE

I’ve been quiet! In deep thought….Still …Listening for HIS voice!!

1st of all, Last week my girls were so sick. I haven’t seen them that sick in a long time. Their fevers were so high. They were so pitiful. Of course all of their symptoms fit the H1N1 flu but God prevailed. Just another reminder of how precious life is.

Secondly, Michael Jackson’s sudden death hit me hard. I didn’t know him personally. He wasn’t my friend. I don’t even know anyone that knew him. I was struck by the suddenness of it all. Another reminder of how fragile life is. It is only a breath. One last exhale and it’s over.

I watched the Memorial service! I listened intently to the songs that he wrote. I never paid that much attention to the words before. “Man in the Mirror, Gone too soon, Heal the World…..make it a better place” Deep, thought provoking words. It was also a peek into his world, reminding us that he was indeed human. He wasn’t just an icon or a pop star. His daughter “Paris’ comments about her “DADDY” ….wow is all I can say! She wanted everyone to know that she loved him. Despite the opinions of the world, she loved HIM.... HER DADDY!

That's how our FATHER feels about us!! Despite the opinions of the world, HE loves us. Despite the way we may feel about ourselves, HE still loves us. My pastor always says that there is nothing that we can do to make God START loving us and there is nothing that we can do to make God STOP loving us. HE is LOVE!

So I leave you with this......Above all things-Love God! Love yourself freely so that you may love others! Receive love! Please don’t lose your today worrying about tomorrow! Tomorrow is never promised! And as always….push forward. Push forward in love!

Romans 8:39 NIV
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. http://tinyurl.com/nhk5vy

Mommy Moment - RED LIGHT RED HAIR!!

I am having a Mommy moment. My daughter has red hair. Not red all over. Just the tips!. The tips are "red-light" red!

I am sort of conservative (NOW--SMILE). My daughter and I have a constant battle about her hair choices. (I exhale). She has the ability to change her hair at a moment’s notice. She can weave, bond, braid her own hair as she sees fit. As I type this, my middle child is begging me to stop. She said, “PLEASE DON’T TALK ABOUT MY SISTER..she giggles!” She doesn’t know what else I plan to say…. So, I continue to type!

After I looked at my oldest daughter’s newest hair creation, it hit me. I thought about all of the outfits that I used to wear while singing in an R & B band back in the day. Some of those outfits would surely have made my mother gasp had she seen them. Some of them she did see and she would only shake her head. My mother always says. “I’m going to tell you how I feel! If you choose to go ahead and jump off of the bridge, then at least I can say I told you not to” So, that’s all I can do. Ask her NOT to wear the hairstyles!

I stopped to think of all the other things she could be doing besides putting in red tips, so I am letting it go. I AM proud of her! She is doing well in college. She is healthy, bright, gifted and anointed. I am truly blessed.

I am entitled to Mommy Moments though because I am a MOMMY!! Right??... I thought so!

And as Always.. I am pushing forward!!

Is There Oil in your Lamp?

I am feeling empowered! I woke up with a really sore throat. Swollen glands. Just another trick to keep me home and keep me from singing God's praises. I turned the table though. I took the quiet as an opportunity to be still and listen to what the Master wants me to hear. He told me that sometimes foundations are shaken to wake you up. Not quite an earthquake, but a rumbling. Like the sound of thunder in the distance. It's an alert to let you know a storm is coming. It causes us to sit up, pay attention and prepare. Just because you hear the thunder, doesn't mean that the storm will actually reach your side of town but it still heightens your awareness. It says "Get Ready"

I sense a change. A change in outlook. An opening of the eyes to see what is available. To see all of the endless opportunities that He has provided for us. We have to be able to see, be alert. Just like the women with the oil. All of them slept but only 5 were prepared. Are you asleep today? If so, it's time to wake up. Prepare yourself for the good that is to come. Prepare to receive your blessings. They are on the way!

"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'" {Matt 25:1-6 RSV}

Don't Let the Ivy Strangle You!

English ivy, or Hedera helix, is "an aggressive invader that threatens all vegetation levels of forested and open areas" according to the National Park Service. It is a serious threat.
I have such Ivy in my yard. It has taken over the trees. Whenever I pull in the driveway, I sometimes stare at it and wonder how much life it is strangling out of the pine tree that it covers. The pine tree is tall and stately. It is obvious by its height that it has been living a very long time. It has withstood hurricanes, storms and floods, but now, the life is being slowly drained from it by what appears to be a harmless plant.-IVY!

How many of us have IVY strangling our lives? The enemy is cunning. He crawls into our lives or our existence any way that he can. He is like Ivy. Ivy in the form of negative people. People that come and attach themselves to our lives and try to strangle our hopes, dreams and growth. At first their presence is small so the actions go unnoticed. They seem harmless. Then it starts. Negative energy. Negative statements. Every dream or vision that you mention is shot don’t down. You are told that it can’t be done or you can’t achieve that. Your day and thoughts are filled with their problems and issues. It is a one sided relationship. It is their goal to strangle you. To pull all of the God given joy out of your life.

Thank God for the victory. Open your eyes to who has attached themselves to your life. It might be time to do some weeding. The experts say pull through, cut and then pull up the roots. Pull apart from those that do not have your best interest at heart. Cut off completely those that deceitfully use you and most importantly uproot the ones that are strangling you, tearing you down. It might be arduous work but praise God, you will stand victorious. Standing strong and tall like that pine tree!! Ready to withstand the storms that may be yet to come. Remember that HE is always with you, watching over you!! So as Always ...Push Forward!

Jerimiah 31:28.
Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the Lord.