Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in ourself and all the things we are trying to accomplish that we forget that people are watching us. Sometimes after experiencing so much rejection from people you work hard to befriend, it's easy to forget that there are others wanting your friendship. I was reminded of this from a dream I had this morning. I didn't think much of it but then I said a little prayer, asking God if it had meaning. The only thought that came to my mind is that "you are being watched." Judging from the nature of the dream I understood it to mean others are observing my walk as a Christian.

However, I think more important than others taking note of the way I live my life as a Christian, is the fact that God, the Almighty, is watching His child. I want to walk like my Saviour, talk like my Saviour, shine like He instructed me to. As a confirmation to that, I wandered into a blog (The Fitness Beauty) that reminded me to let my light shine.

What about you? Are you letting your light shine or are you letting people, circumstances or stagnation dim your light? It's your choice really.

Today I choose to shine. Will you join me?

Be blessed!

Grateful I'm still here

I almost forgot about this blog. Couldn't even remember my password when I tried to log in today.

It's so good to look back and see the goodness of the Lord. he has been taking me through some interesting times to say the least. I feel like I have been wandering though the wilderness like the children of Israel. My biggest hurdle is sometimes falling into the 'poor me' mentality and wanting to sit and stir my pity pot. Truth be told I have been going through some trying times and I guess I have a right to pause and lick my wounds but...I always come to the point when I remember how God has revealed Himself to me in those situations. Yes, I serve the living God who cannot be bribed, cannot fail, and loves me so deeply it leaves me in awe when I think about it. God loves me and I love Him. This year I want to let Him show His abundance in my life.

I'm working on a new website BiblicalBlessings.net. I have some ways to go at this point but my vision is to expose the things I have been learning about true Biblical Blessings. Not a 'name it claim it' blessing. Not a bless me and I'll bless you back blessing but the answer to 'What are those blessings of Abraham promised to us in Christ?' I have so much to learn and have certainly been sidetracked, held back, or just plain set back by so many things. I'm throwing out excuses, for God has proven time and time again that He wants me to seek Him for the answers and share what I learn with anyone who wants to hear.

I'm so excited today I'm going to shout GOD BE PRAISED.

Come on get up, lets get going forward. Life is worth the living with God on your side.

It's Resurrection Day

I'm sure sure glad Jesus didn't call ten thousand angels on the day of His crucifixion. Happy Resurrection Day. His resurrection means so much more than we often hear or even speak about.

Today I'm reminded that dead things can rise again through Christ. We have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in us. It's time to believe that no matter what we may face in life we must let God have the final say in what the outcome should be. Remember nothing is impossible with God and we must trust Him in all things and cling to His hope.

I love You Lord. Thank You for the Cross, thank You for dying, thank You for rising again, Thank you for all You have given to us at salvation. I praise You Lord. Thank You Jesus.

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL. May this year bring unexpected blessings and favor. May you find the joy that is soo deep that no trial can disturb it and a peace that even you can't understand.

I love New Years, new beginnings, yet just enough reflections on the old that keeps you reminded of just how great God is. Last year 2010 was one for the books. I have learned so much about myself and about the people I allowed to influence my life in ways that were robbing me of being all God wants me to be. I had to just let so much things and relationships go. I still have after shocks but I use them as a reason to celebrate the goodness of God in my life. I find myself stopping in the middle of my usual rush and melting into thankfulness. I am alive and in my right mind. Left up to the adversary of our souls, it wouldn't have been so.

Sometimes we walk through strange circumstances and we wish for a way quick and easy out, for someone who would understand and hold our hand through it all, for someone to truly and genuinely take your side but those wishes may remain just wishes. We are left with no other options but to either look up our give in to raw emotions that are far more dangerous than our enemies themselves. Sad to say I've fallen for option number 2 far too many times but even in those "oops I can't believe I did that again" times, I've proven that GOD IS.

Last year I've certainly learnt how important it is to sometimes shut your mouth unless you are talking to God. I've learnt the importance of praising Him even when I wanted to rant, rave, murmur and complain. Thing is praising God through the mucky times always resulted in good things, the complaining times just left me feeling worse. So trust me when I say no matter what it is your are going through...Praise God. When tears are flowing and you don't know what to do...Praise God. When your best friend turn and stab you in the back..Praise God and forgive, but move on, its a waste of time trying to play friends with those who truly hate you anyway and you don't have time to waste. Love them from a distance and ask God to help them see their ways. If you keep praising in spite of you will find that the right persons will show up in your life at the right time with the right word and the right attitudes and ...you get the picture.

Keep your head up, you are on the rise. I'll just leave you with a passage that sums up 2010 or me:

Psalms 124

1 If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say—
2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

All things bright and beautiful

I like the way my 2 year old says the word beautiful. He just says be-u. I think he is a genius, for one of the most effective way for beauty to be expressed is to be you. The Bible warns against covetousness, but I find so many of us can become driven by our desire to have what someone else has or look like someone else. Improving yourself is a good thing. Work to better some aspect of your life continuoually but if your effort is to just be like such and such you'll slowly erode one of your most valuable assets, you. I like when the Psalmist declares 'I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well' Psalms 139:14.

Do you believe that you are God's workmanship? Then you know you were created by the expert Himself. He has given you the ability to learn and grow and primp and preen, but do it for the right reasons, or one day you'll wake to find you don't know the person staring back at you in the mirror. Don't forget even then you can begin again. Tonight I'm set for a 'review me' session. Just me and my Maker will be going through a check list of life defining questions. Tell me are you due for one of those sessions yourself??

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"

Mindful

Have you ever stopped to notice the power of your thoughts. Check yourself. Ever so often stop and check your mood, attitude, atmosphere and then try and recall your mindset for the moments before the check. Whatever you set your mind on will significantly affect your emotions and attitude. I'm in the process of learning to be mindful. For me that entails purposefully concidering what I'm thinking about ever so often throughout the day. I've already proven that negative thoughts attract negativity and tend to sour even positive moments. On the other hand positive thoughts can keep you stable even in negative situations. Its good to prove it for yourself. That provides a bigger incentive for change.

Will you join me..... Let's be mindful. Have you looked up today?

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15.

Flattery

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5

Last night I was watching the movie version of Pilgrim's Progress with my husband. One small part stuck with me after. It was when Christian and Hopeful met Flatterer. What left an impression on me in the allegory was that this character was not some smooth talking turkey. Oh no, that would have been easy to spot. The character actually looked similar to the "Shining one" (another character in the movie) and seem to give the 2 pilgrims 'information' they needed, seemingly leading their tired souls to an easier path. Believe me if you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you have those days when you need some good, encouraging words and it seems like the devil knows just the right 'brother' or 'sister' to send to you despite the warnings God sends, and just before the true refresher. If you are weary enough you may fall for flattery and inevitably be caught in a net. I can recall going through a terrible lonely period in my life years ago and I mentioned my feelings to my husband on a Friday. Come Monday morning I had a visitor in my office, saying the things I needed to hear someone say. Fortunately for me after speaking to my husband I had taken my complaint to the One, the only One who could truly understand what was going on inside of me. (Let's face it, unless our husbands, boyfriends, wives, best friends, pet rabbit etc. are psychiatrists, they may not have the answers we need all the time especially when the issue stems from something going on inside). So anyway, I had one of my break down, I'm undone prayer sessions and then listened for some word. The answer was simply 'eagles fly alone, God was trying to teach me something and I had to go through that time of what felt like isolation'. I can't recall how it came. Sometimes I hear a message by someone or recall something or happen to hear a song and within the words I get the notion that it's the answer to my prayer.

Back to the Monday morning. I sat there just listening wondering if maybe this person was the "friend" God was sending me, in spite of the answer I thought I got. I admit I was desperate and wavering, thank God for grace. However, as the conversation continued the Holy Spirit started putting up red flags. I wish every Christian could come to that place that their discernment is so exercised that even when they are weary and prone to fall, the Spirit can still grab their attention.
Have you ever been flattered in a way that you just wanted to soak it all in, just for a moment? Life had hit a rough spot and you know, it just seemed like a word in due season???? Then here is something for you to chew on till I get back.....A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruing Proverbs 26: 28

By the way the illustration in the movie led to the pilgrims being caught in a net. It was timely for me because on that same Sunday I was almost blindsided by another flatterer....

Before honor comes humility

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

I saw a sad sight today and my heart is so heavy I must write about it. I was driving along with my mom and kids and we passed a man walking at the side of the road. I thought to myself, "he looks vaguely familliar". As if reading my thoughts (or realising that I didn't wave to the individual) my mom informed me of who it was and proceeded to tell me a shocking sad story. Indeed I didn't recognise him fully because he was a shell of himself. He had a congenial personality, rather cocky and bold. When he entered a room he had a presence. The person I saw was bent, distraught, distinct opposite from what I knew not so long ago. He was riding high but life pulled the rug out. I came home and rendered a heartfelt prayer for this man. I wish I could tell Him to lift up his head. Look to the creator. Turn over the hurt, the pain, the anger and recieve what no man could give.

On Sunday evening my family's bible study was based on King Nebuccadnezzar's downfall that God sent because of his pride (Daniel 4). For this week we were to remember to give God thanks for every accomplishment and ascribe the glory to Him instead of taking credit. It sure helped me remember who is truly in control. Our own pride can bring us down. Unfortunately it's hard for us to acknowlledge muchless see that we are prideful in anyway. God is so good that even if we are brought down by pride, the reverse is also true,  humility could lead to honor.
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12

Father, please help your children to hate pride and walk in true humility. Not self debasement that is based on pretense or just trying to prove to other people that we are humble, but the acknowledgment that although we are children of the Most High, you are the one in total control and any great thing we accomplish is for your glory. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Rise above the hypocrites

The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous would be delivered.  Proverbs 11:9 NIV

Have you ever met a hypocrite????? Too much to count huh? Even in the church? Sad but true and they usually command a position of notariety. Think I've cross the line in saying that, weeeell check out this verse where Jesus himself was addressing religious leaders of his day. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2015:7-%209&version=NIV and check this long passage on Jesus calling the leaders hypocrites to their faces over and over again http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023:13-33&version=NIV Now please don't go trying to call people hypocites, we must be wise to know when to confront and when not to. The point I'm trying to make is that hypocrisy is alive and well in our churches and it has hurt many of the sheep. I know it has hurt me. It's a horrible thing when someone flatters you to your face and then verbally eats you raw behind your back. The lesson I've learnt.....forgive, yes confront if you feel God leading you to that, but forgive. Guess what God hates hypocrisy and He will avenge you. Also get it in your head that 'flattering lips work ruin'. Know when someone is just buttering you up and don't make them your confidant because they fan your ego. Don't become buddy, buddy with an hypocrite 'lest you learn their ways' or people start assuming you are two peas in a pod.......you know what I mean.

Up and down kind of day

Well it seems like my words are being tested, but I'm thankful for that. You cannot expect promotion without being tested. So I've been having some days that left up to my old ways, would leave me down and disgruntled. I just keep fighting against going under. You see, I have come to realise that even my attitude in the midst of a painful ordeal, is a choice. I sure have had some days of pain lately. I'm not sure what was happening to my body but I was going through some unexplainable excrutiating pain. They have been washed out through prayer. I say washed out because after praying about the pains, I felt the urge to start drinking 4 cups of water before breakfast in the morning (I could only manage 3 though and I mean the average sized glass). It worked!!!! It worked well, for not only has the pains all but disappear (I still sometimes get a dull sensation) but the water has been behaving like a laxative (nuff said).

It reminds me of the washing of the 'water of the word'. Feeling spiritual pains anyone. Try drinking in an increased amount of the word. Get yourself all cleaned out.