Admit it

The first step to success.... admit you failed. Why are we so scared of failure???? It is not something to aspire to nor even like but admittedly, the fear of failure is one of the most powerful cords of bondage that can keep us from making the first baby steps to success. Talk about baby steps. What would happen if a baby falls after his/her first step and decide that they are too ashamed to try again? Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? It seems to me that one thing babies have over many adults is their ability to fall and get back up again. Their ability to keep trying to get the one object mommy said not to touch (at least they try). Their ability to find that one item that had been missing for months.... o.k. I think you get my point. When it comes to failure we need to adopt the "get up and try again" attitude of babies learning to walk. Today, if you have failed, cry for ten minutes if you have to. Then dry your eyes admit defeat, see what needs to change and get up again. May be that was not your calling. Don't let it hinder you from attempting something else.

'Up from the grave He arose. With a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose the victor of the dark domain and He lives forever with His Saints to reign. He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose'

Yes, I will arise.

Sidetracked

Have you ever set out to accomplish a task and find that your life suddenly zip into busy mode with things that pull you away from your original task. Sidetracked with the 'urgent unimportant'. I have been going through this with my fledgling business. Unfortunately I'm being sidetracked with too much drama spurred on by others who think they should be the directors of my life. Solution... I am recommitting this whole business to God and so far I've felt led to seriously pursue learning the art of time management. The verse that I am thinking of right now is Proverbs 22:19 "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men."

Let's be diligent. Identify what might be sidetracking you from rising in some area of your life and diligently set about to refocus and keep your eyes on your goals.

Your time to shine

Genesis 39: 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (KJV)

What is stopping you from shining? Today I thought about the story of Joseph as I read a quote from Marianne Williamson regarding 'our deepest fears'. Sometimes we are afraid to shine even when life is good but I thought of Joseph because he obviously was shining even when the odds seemed to be stacked against him. He was a slave in Genesis 39 yet the verse said 'he was a prosperous man'. His secret.... the Lord was with him. Sometimes we are taken through wilderness periods and we may not know the purpose until God transitions us to a better place but there is always a purpose. Joseph never seemed to come across as the 'woe is me' type and reflecting on how God dislikes murmuring and complaining (check 1Corinthians 10:10 if you don't believe me) reminds me of how much this attitude can hinder prosperity and actually worsen adversity. I have been a complainer and a murmurer. It's an easy trap to fall into when you are being treated unfairly but what God disapproves of has no place in our life if we want the blessings we crave. Are you ready to shine today? Check yourself and see if you too have been murmuring and complaining, griping and groaning. Repent and work at changing your speech and watch how God prospers you even if others have put you in an unfair position. I can testify God lifts those who honors Him.

Guard the tender bud

I heard something yesterday that resonated with me. A Pastor was mentioning the fact that usually the enemy attacks dreams or divert our purpose most when it is in the infancy stage. He was comparing the fact that Satan tried to kill Moses and Jesus in their infancy stage. The stage where they couldn't help themselves. The Devil knew what they would become and he knows our potential and that of our dreams and often launches a violent attack just when we step out to begin our journey. The message spoke to me. I have just begun a new business and the attacks against me are such that I have been terribly sidetracked just dealing with personal issues. No more. Like Mary and Moses' mother I am listening to God's instruction and following through no matter who would try to rip my dreams out of my hand. I'm thankful that I did somewhat guard it in its infancy. Now it's time to rise.

What about you? Any dreams that seem to be fading? Many things seem to be coming at you all at once? Many people seem to be turning against you and putting you down? Just go to God and make sure your relationship with Him is where it needs to be. Ask Him if you are not sure, listen and obey His instructions and leave the enemy's pawns (those allowing Satan to use them to hurt you) in the dust. But remember, please remember still pray for those who make themselves your enemies and love them even if it has to be from a distance. Don't let their action hinder you from being pleasing to God. You may not feel like it but 'obedience is better than sacrifice'

Haiti

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. My many thoughts are shut up within me though. I pray for my Haitian friends (I have several) and their families.

My island have been having much ashing from it's volcano and people had been complaining. Now everyone is reminding anyone they meet that we have nothing to complain about. The power of comparison. I can truly say I was actually accepting the fact that it was probably the ash that had my fruit trees sending fruit off season. I ate pomegranate the whole Christmas season and there are 2 more on the tree and its still blossoming. Don't let me start on my golden apple (june plum) tree and my mango tree is already blossoming. All that to say, the very thing we grumble about could be the very thing that brings us blessings in due season. Wait on the Lord, force yourself to be still and know He is in control.

Lord I thank you for what I'm going through, for I know you have orchestrated it for my good. I pray for those in Haiti and their families around the world at this time, have mercy Lord. In Jesus name, Amen

God never forgets you

Thank God for the Spirit of truth. Thank God for His Holy Word. Thank God that your name is written in the Book of life.

I have been through so much warfare over these past weeks. Starting this blog seemed to make it worst. That's alright, I know who fights for me. I choose to trust even when I don't understand. I pray you do too. I hope this song blesses you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD7d3usw&safe_search=on

New Year

Wow, 2009 is about to pass away. HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL. Remember even if you don't keep your resolutions every day is a new day and God's mercies are renewed every morning. So you can begin again every day.

I pray that God's blessings and favor be with you throughout this year.

Christ is Lord

I hope you had a blessed and Christ filled Christmas. I keep thinking on the reasons I know Christ is real and in my life on a personal level. When I think about how far I have come and the changes I see in me, I know Christ has come. When I think about the temptation to retaliate in the worst ways to those who have hurt me and yet I resist, I know Christ has come. When I consider the mistakes I have made and the opportunities that show up to get me back on the right road again, I know that Christ has come. In one of my favorite verses there is a line that says that 'the goodness of God leads men to repentance'. I appreciate that goodness so much, because it can be hard to admit sometimes that God is sending messages to show me when I'm wrong, but His goodness has helped get to the place where I'm quick to say I'm sorry. This past year have made me acutely aware of the danger of allowing anything to compromise my relationship with God. Christ has come and I have no excuse not to rise in His ressurection power.

Let me share with you my question for today and however long I feel like meditating on it...If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things??.....Romans 8:31-32.

Get up, Christ has come.

New Day

In my mind I am singing, "Great is your mercy towards meeee". It's a new day. Last night I praised God inspite of and today I must praise Him for His tender mercies and compassion that never fail. Truly I'm alive and in my right mind and joyful because God kept me. I want to remind you that the righteous are as bold as a lion. If that portion of scripture bothers you because you know that it is written that our righteousness is like filthy rags, I want you to remember that is why Jesus was made sin for us and as it is written it was done "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" Check it out for yourself in 2 Chorinthians 5:21. Is there something you konw you should be doing, someone you know you must talk to, an attitude you know you must change, mindsets you know you must challenge????? Know who you are in Christ and get to it. You don't have to feel confident in yourself but draw from the confidence of being in Christ Jesus. Pray, get you sword out (the bible of course) read the instructions and get to it. It's a new day and change has come. Will you receive it?

Never would have made it

Aaahhh, as I listen to Marvin Sapp, "I Never would have made it without You" I can testify. My life has been plagued with storms this year. It seems like on too many people in my life want me in the gutter messed up, put down, dragged down and discouraged. But GOD I never could have made it, never could have held up, never could have forgiven, let go, move on without YOU. Would somebody say Amen. Praise the Lord, God is good.

I'm typing this as I'm going through for I truly belive God is about to show up for me in ways that far supercedes what He has already done for me. (God You are God)

Are you going through a storm right now, then just reign in all your emotions and this very minute start praising God, just because you believe He is. Go on let it out, be it a whisper, be it a shout, PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY. Remember "For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty , and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. Deuteronomy 10:17 KJV"