What do you have time for?

The Season is changing. Can you feel it? We are having cooler days than warm ones in the great state of NC. There is crispness in the air. When I was little, my grandmother would tell me that it is now time to put on a t-shirt and that I was to wear it every day until May! (Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven.)

TIME! What is it? It is defined as “nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.” That’s a mouth full. Whatever it is, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it. I read somewhere that only man could think that if we cut the top of the blanket off and sewed it to the bottom, that the blanket would now be longer. So as it goes with time. Day light savings time. Let’ just change the hours and now we have more time. Time for whom? Time for what! Why do we need more time?

A friend of mine prides himself in announcing exactly how many minutes it takes to get places. When riding he will say, we can get there in 8.5 minutes. That was before the GPS system tracked it for you. Telling you that you will get there at an exact time and exactly how many miles it will take.

We are forgetting who is in control. What about the car accident ahead
of you that delayed you. Now you are late but are you? Did the delay save you from another accident? The stories of people who were late to work on 9/11 astounded me. So many people spoke of how they were delayed and were upset because they didn’t get to work on time so they were not in the towers. Were they late? I think not. They were on time for it was not their time to die. As a result of that, I have been trying to take a new approach to time. I am learning not to get upset if I am delayed in traffic or if I don’t leave the house at the time that I wanted to. Some people say if you are supposed to be in a meeting at 3 pm, then you are late if you arrive at 3pm. In order to be on time, you have to be there before 3. Based on whose idea of time?

God is the only one in control of time. He knows how much time we have left here on earth. Isn’t that what we are really measuring? How much time we have here? Once we get to Heaven, time won’t matter. It will be an eternity. We won’t be rushing to get somewhere or speeding to save time.

Since our time is spent or exhausted here on earth, let’s use it for the good while we are here. Don’t use it for backbiting and tearing each other down. Let’s LOVE! Spend time loving one another, encouraging, motivating, mentoring, caring and serving. Let’s worship, praise and adore our God! I’m counting on you! Let’s push forward in LOVE!

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Step Back and to the Side

I watched a man preaching the other night on TV, (didn't get his name..sorry) and the Word that he gave has been in my spirit for a few days. I have been sharing with others and wanted to share it with you because it rules true.

The story he told goes:

He was in an airport with his son. His son had to go to the bathroom so he told him that he would wait outside of the bathroom for him. Well he waited and waited and his son didn't come out. He went in to check on his son and when he approached the stall, he asked him what was wrong. His son said, "It won't go down!!" He said, 'What do you mean?" His son said." It won't go down!" He said, "Let me see what is going on." He opened the stall and sure enough, it wouldn't flush. Then he looked again. It was one of the new self flushing toilets. He told his son, " You have to step back and to the side in order for it to work!!"

Can you hear your spirit talking to you yet?? Hallelujah! In order for God to work things out in your life....you have to listen to what he says and STEP BACK and to the SIDE!! Let HIM work it out!! *SMH* shaking my head! That was good to me! SO, fast forward to yesterday. I ran into a problem. I started trying to work it out and thought about what that preacher said. I stopped and said, " Okay God! It's yours. I am going to STEP BACK and to the SIDE and let you handle it! I'm taking my hands off of it!" YOU KNOW WHAT!!! HE did just what he said he would do. He worked it out for my good!

Praise Break!! Come on.... Let's Push Forward!!

Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to them that love him and are called according to His purpose”.

WIll + Power = Will Power HIS Will!! HIS POWER!!

I have been athletic my entire life. Always running and jumping and cheerleading and dancing. Even at what most would consider a great size (8), the world and the health charts still said "too large"! The charts at that time didn't take into consideration muscle and body type. My last child was born in 1999. It was at that time that I stopped being athletic. I turned my focus to work, work and work. Work equaled stress, stress and stress. Stress + work for me equaled eat! My body of course said "Are you kidding!!" You HAVE to work out or I will turn against you! That is exactly what it did. Thus I have issues as I call them with weight. Praise God, I don't have health issues, just weight issues! I am far from that size 8 :)Don't get me wrong! I am proud of who I am! I love me! I am God's child and he doesn't make any junk. He CAN'T for He is God! It's just time for me to get back to what HE would have me to be. A better healthier me! Amen!

I have been talking with a few of my friends recently. Two in particular, Donna & Isabella. Donna is a trainer and Bella is preparing to run a 5K! They have been encouraging me and I am feeling incredibly motivated. As soon as I started feeling this way, of course the enemy got busy. He started whispering as he normally does, " You can't do this! You will fail! You don't have any will power and on and on! " I am here to publically declare him the liar that he is! God immediately countered with, "My child, you have beein trying to accomplish this feat in your own will! Now move out of the way and let me do this!! You do have the will power for MY power is within you! It is with MY WILL + MY POWER and MIGHT, that you too can do all things!! What a word!! Hallelujah!!

So people, if you are struggling with ANYTHING, move out of the way and let GOD handle it for you! You have the victory..... HIS WILL + POWER = WILLPOWER!! Amen

Paul's prayer - Colossians 1:9-12
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of HIS WILL through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with ALL POWER according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (NIV)

In Icu for Months & Months - BUT GOD

It hurts me to see my friends hurting. A few of them are going through a storm right now. Some are facing sicknesses in their bodies and some are facing sicknesses of loved ones. God is their rock and salvation. I started blogging last night but came across this very encouraging word in a blog that I follow called Brittney’s Journey. Brittney is a child that I do not know. She went into ICU in June of this year with a sudden infection that attacked her body. She stayed in ICU for months and months. She is not supposed to be here, but by the grace of Almighty God, she finally came home last week. She still has a long way to go but she is a miracle. Her family posted the following evidence of God’s handiwork. It blessed me and I pray it blesses you. It stated:

Oct 9, 2009

All throughout Brittney's ICU/hospital stay, mom and aunt have always encouraged her to think about Jesus... to say His name in her mind and to say the name "Jesus" whenever she could. We'd encourage her in and out of consciousness. We'd say, "Brittney, even though you can't speak right now, say the name of Jesus over and over in your mind. One day you will be able to say the name of Jesus and when you do, say it over and over again." Even with her being home, we'd remind her to think and say the name of Jesus because there is healing in the name of Jesus.

Today, mom heard Brittney whispering and she walked over to her bed only to clearly hear her whispering, "Thank You Jesus" over and over again! Hallelujah, Lord God! We are rejoicing & thanking Jesus with Brittney! What an awesome thing to witness the miracle that is Brittney!

http://brittneymonyse.blogspot.com/2009/10/more-of-brittney.html

I pray this blog helped today. They also posted a powerful prayer confession that I will post in a note! Although it is not my story, it is the story of so many. I pray God’s blessings over you all today! And as always…push forward!

2nd Corinthians 12:9….And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

You don't know my Story!

I posted a status today that said, “Some people look at what you have and think that they want it, not realizing ALL that they would have to go through in order to get it!” We have so many testimonies; multiple stories of tests and trials that we have been through.

The person on the outside looking in hasn’t thought of that though. They may look at your life and think, “Wow!!” I want to live like, look like, and act like so and so! Some people have even gone so far as to try and imitate it. It’s because they don’t see the scars that are now healed. They no longer see the tear tracks that are now dried. The only see your smiling face and a life that they wish they could have.

Ahh but be careful! Our choir ministers a song called “My Worship is For Real” by Bishop Trotter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRrAsZneTGo

In it they say… “You don’t know my story! You don’t know what I had to go through to get here!”

I encourage you to share your stories while living your own lives! Enjoy what you are blessed with. Share in the joys of others and celebrate with them. Remember to continue to be the representative of Christ that lives within you. Just be careful not to covet what someone else has! It would be a shame to miss your life while looking at someone else’s goes by!
My worship is for real!!

"Thou shalt not covet …" (Exodus 20:17 KJV)

Peace! Be Still

I was in Guam many, many years ago singing as a part of the Department of Defense Tours. Guam is only 4 miles wide/ 12 miles at its widest and 30 miles long. I remember standing outside basking in the sunshine and all of a sudden out of nowhere; a torrent of rain came up. We began to run for cover. I noticed that our guide didn’t budge. I found that odd but before I could ask him why, the sun came back out and there was barely any evidence of rain. WOW!! To a visitor this was astonishing. He later explained that the storms pass quickly over the island since it is so small. There is no need to run for cover.

I was reminded of this as I sat here tonight because sometimes the storm can appear SO SUDDENLY! Out of the blue! Unexpected with no warning! BUT… BUT …..Why run? Your covering is right there with you. STAND STILL! Just when you THINK the darkness has overwhelmed you, the sun comes out! You can feel the rays== the Love of Jesus, the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the Guidance of our Heavenly Father EVEN before you can SEE your way! It is already done! He is handling your storm for you!

Exodus 14:13 says ..”And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The LORD shall FIGHT for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

So when you feel overwhelmed by sudden darkness, relax and bask in HIM. No need to fight, HE is fighting the battle for you!! Peace !!! Be Still!!

"And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm"(Mark 4:39)


I praise you God for you are my source, my strength and my peace!

It could be worse!!

Facebook | Gigi Andrews Slade: It could be worse!!: "Life is not perfect. When things do happen, in our flesh we react. We are sad, distraught or confused. We ask why. We seek understanding. We ponder. We doubt. All in all, we are human. There are things we will never understand. HIS ways are not our ways.

I have to remind myself of this often. Whenever I get down, the Holy Spirit quickly nudges me. He says, 'It could be worse!' Look at so and so's situation. How do you think they are feeling right??' I then examine myself to see if I have veered off of HIS path. Did my FREE will get in HIS way!

My prayer: I declare Lord that I will keep my eyes on the mark! On the prize that awaits me. I know you want me to live an abundant happy life down here as I prepare for what is to come. We are purposed to worship! I do worship and adore you! I praise your Holy name! I thank you for what you are doing and for what you are yet to do! In Jesus' most precious and magnificent name! Amen

I challenge you today. If you are going through a storm..Praise Him! If you are coming out of storm...Praise Him! Even if you are in the eye of the storm and its calm and quiet... Praise HIM! He is worthy regardless of the situation. We just have to remember to keep our arms lifted and our hands open to HIM! He will reach down and pick you up just when you think you can't make it any further! HE's just that good! ~ Note to self!

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."