Category: jesus

Prayers For Our Children (week #5)

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Have a great week!!!

Father in the Name of Jesus, I pray that our children accept You as their Lord and Savior and be baptized and filled w/Your precious Holy Spirit. God, let them have an intimate, life changing relationship w/you. A relationship that invades every area of their life, that causes them to stand for truth even when their back is against the wall. Give them a Spirit to lead others to Christ w/compassion and love. In Jesus’ holy Name, Amen.

Father I pray that our children always have the right motives, let love and wisdom be the deciding factors in all that they do, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Father, I pray that my children be confident in themselves, because of their confidence in You. In Jesus Name, I thank You.

Father, we speak purity over our children right now. Father let them honor their bodies and have godly boundaries when it comes to the opposite sex, dating and relationships. God, I pray that
they stand strong on your standards when it comes to their bodies, sex and marriage. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Father, we speak life giving thoughts and words over our children’s minds right now. God let them think on things that are pure and lovely, let them think on You and Your Word…For this we thank You Father.

Today Was One of Those Days…

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My day started out a little rough! An unknown car in my driveway at 5am, 3 kids that insisted on arguing and playing “karate kid” while they were supposed to be getting dressed, the irritation that comes w/seeing that the help you tried to give someone just isn’t helping…
Then you add to that the police coming to my house b/c of our home alarm going off and getting my oldest to school 30 seconds before her arrival time….and you can probably understand why at any moment I could have screamed!

However my saving grace was me continuing to tell myself that “great things are happening for me today and all things are working together for my good”. And the fact that today was also the first day of “BSF”; a weekly women’s bible study. We meet once a week for the school year; there’s a time that we all pray and worship together and then we break up into small groups and go over our weekly lessons that are focused on the book of Matthew. Afterwards we come back together worship and have a time of teaching and encouragement.
I was so glad to be a part of this bible study because of the diverse, authentic women that are involved. Just to hear people voice that they have been so busy w/life that they need time to get re-grounded in the Word and w/God is refreshing. It’s just so heartwarming for me to see women w/o the masks on say what’s in their hearts and just seek to be more intimate w/the One who loves them like no other…
So if everything that happened this morning was all so that I could press and be in the presence of some great women and a grace giving God, then I consider it all worth it! The enemy’s plan was to get me so frazzled that I would miss being in a place that my steps were ordered to be…I won b/c I didn’t give in and give up. So for that I’m thankful that Today Was One of Those Days…a great day, a grace day.

Prayers For our Children(week#3)

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Father in the name Jesus, I pray that you equip my child to be a light in the world. I pray that she never be afraid to share her faith in You and that the way that she lives and carries herself point ppl to You, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Father, I lift up every teacher and staff member at our children’s school(s). God fill them w/your love and your light. Let them display the fruit of the spirit towards all they come in contact with and meet. Lord let every teacher be renewed in their mind and spirit. Let their be a godly respect between every teacher, parent and student, In Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Have a great week everyone!!

I’m Thankful…

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To make a long story short, we had to take my car back to the dealership for some repairs and the loaner they gave me is an older version of what I already have.
Today I had some errands to run and by they time I got home I was exhausted and my hands were full b/c I had groceries and a baby to carry into the house. A few hours later I came back to the car to get water and I noticed that I had left a ton of stuff in the front seat and honestly it was a mess!!

My first thought was to leave it b/c heck, I didn’t feel like cleaning it out and it wasn’t MY car. Then I pricked by the Holy Spirit to be thankful. Be thankful not b/c I was having car issues but b/c even in that, God still provided transportation that was adequate for my family. So needless to say, I cleaned out the loaner vehicle and from here on out I’m going to keep it like I keep my own car and continue to be grateful through the process!

Having thankfulness at the forefront of my mind and heart has completely changed my perspective…what about you? What are you thankful for?

BE YOU!

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One of the best ways for me to quiet myself and get alone w/God is to clean.  And that’s what I was doing for awhile today…cleaning!  Maybe it’s the nesting kicking in full gear or just me craving more organization in our home, either way I got some things accomplished domestically on this day all while be able to reflect and thank God for where He has brought me too!

While I was cleaning, I was just thinking.  Thinking about the person that I am and strive to be as a 32 year old child of God, wife, and soon to be mother of 4.  And I can honestly say that a lot has changed over the years.

I can remember back when I first made a commitment to give my all in my relationship w/God.  A lot of things changed.  The way I talked, where I went, who I hung out with and even the way that I viewed people.  And most of this was for the better~I made a lot of changes b/c I felt a certain conviction and I no longer wanted to just please me, ultimately I wanted to please God.

And with the good changes and transitions, there were some not so good things too.  One of the biggest things that I struggled w/for most of my life was highlighted and even heightened in a sense…insecurity.  From as far back as I can remember I had always felt that I wasn’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, popular enough…and the list could go on and on.

And w/me being a new Christian, I felt this all over again and my list of insecurities grew.  I didn’t know enough, I wasn’t social enough, I was too quiet, my testimony wasn’t big enough, I wasn’t important enough to hear from God like others, I didn’t look saved enough, I couldn’t pray like the others…

And w/my list of “I AM NOT ENOUGH’S’ growing, so did Operation “Be Someone Else”.  I attempted to do, be, and conform to what I saw around me.  Everything that I envied in other people I tried to take on for myself.  In no way  am I saying that a person cant admire or even aspire to take on a personal quality that they love about someone else, I’m just saying that I tried to BE someone else other than who God created me to be.

And w/this trying to be someone that I wasn’t came even more unhappiness.  I was very unsure of myself, my gifts and even who God had called me to be.  I was a people-pleaser. I looked to other people to validate me and when they didn’t, I was broken.  I was constantly  afraid of disappointing others.  I couldn’t make decisions without checking w/others.  I was always offended.  Lastly, I put more into the words and opinions of others than I did into my relationship w/God.

I am so glad to say that all that has changed.  I can remember one day when the Holy Spirit told me to “eat the meat and spit out the bones”.  For me this meant that I was to take only what I needed to help me grow, the edifying things from those around me.  This one phrase caused the light bulb to go off in my heart!  I was no longer in bondage to the words and thoughts of others!

Slowly, I came to realize that God didn’t make a mistake when He created me.  I am an introvert and I am okay w/that.  For a long time I thought that since mostly all the people around me were extroverts, I was defective.  But soon, I realized I wasn’t.  I have a quiet spirit.  I love to spend time by myself.   I like to watch people and how they respond to others.  I don’t like to respond too quickly.  I am who God made me.

However, I realized that God can work through my personality if I let Him.  There have been many times when God just opens me up and gives me the opportunity to have some very meaningful conversations with people, and in those moments I know it is Him at work.  And in these times, I am so thankful b/c more than anything I know that I have made a genuine connection w/someone…even if it was for just a moment in time.

The point  of this whole post is this~Be YOU.  Be the you who God created you to be from the beginning of time!!!  Yes, being You may take you taking some w/God and totally renewing your thinking, but it is so worth it!  Having a true, authentic relationship w/God and to know yourself and love who He created you to be is the best gift that you could possibly give to others and yourself!  BE YOU!!!!!  The true you.  The God centered and created You…just BE YOU:-)

I Have Peace…

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I have PEACE.  Not because I received something that I have prayed and believed God for.  Not because I got an extra thousand dollars in the mail.  Not because my kids have been on their absolute best behavior.  And not because my hubby gave me the bag, new phone and mini Ipad that I have been wanting~believe me all these things would be great for me to have and I can even see myself doing my happy dance, big belly and all, if I were to receive any one of these things…

But these aren’t the things that have brought me peace, a peace that I have never felt before.  What/Who has brought me peace is God and His presence.  Not the type of presence that is overwhelming and makes me jump and run but the type of presence that is subtle yet strong.  The type of presence that is assuring and that keeps you in a calm place even when there might be a thunderstorm going on all around you.  That’s the type of peace that I have been experiencing…This is the peace that I hope that you can experience too, all the time, everyday.

The peace that tells you that all is well even when the physical doesn’t match up.  The type of peace that will cause you to pray a silent prayer that is from so deep within that it’s even difficult to speak it into words.  The kind of peace that reminds you to confess your desired results instead of confessing the current.  This is the type of peace that I have been experiencing.  I pray that you experience God’s peace too…

Hebrews 13:20, 21~Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philipians 4:7~And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33~I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In these world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Which Will You Choose???

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is external life in Christ jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23

This specific verse came to mind the other day when I was praying for a friend…I used to think that this verse was so simple.  Yes sin does lead to death.  But that death isnt always physical…

Sin can kill your spirit, healthy self-esteem, success, growth, dreams, aspirations, standards, values and your relationships!  In essence when we choose sin over what we know is right, we are settling for less than God’s very best for us…

Choose life today…choose God

 

>Have you mended your net today?????

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>I just finished talking to my oh so wise Pastor (s/o to Pastor Eula Greer!!!) and as usual I was given a nugget that blessed me and of course I wanted to bless someone else…..you! When our conversation was coming to a close, she said that she was about to go “mend her net”. Hmmmmm I thought. And then she went on to tell me that she was about to read her Bi ble and cry out to God ie, “mend her net”.
Pastor told me that if she wanted to catch”fish” and be a blessing she had to make sure that her net was able to hold what God was going to put in it……. .
I looked up the word mend and it means “to repair, improve, or to heal” . So, if the net is our life, the fish are God’s blessings whether they be revelation, souls 4 Christ, or the fruit of the spirit…..we have to be prepared to receive. And what better way can we prepare for God to pour out on us but by strengthening our relationship w/Him through His word and talking to Him personally. So my question to you is…….have you mended you net today????

>Life is……..precious

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>Hello all!!
Today is “Sanctity of Human Life” Sunday….and I just so happen to have a little bit to share with all on this subject.
And here’s my testimony…..
When I was 14 yrs old, I gave my virginity away (I started to say lost but honestly I willingly gave it away). I was a freshman in high school, naive, and to be honest my knowledge on sexuality and how precious my body is was close to none. My mom didn’t relaxingly the “bird and the bees” to me so to speak. She simply said “keep your panties up and dress down”. In no way do I fault her for anything that took place….she was doing what she knew to do and until you know better you can’t do better. A few months after I started having sex, I found out that I was pregnant. And I was beyond scared!!! I didn’t tell anyone except the boyfriend and a cousin of mine that lived in Georgia. So being 14 and pretty simple, I must add, I decided that I was going to hide it. My logic was that the longer I hid it, the farther along I would be, and hopefully by the time my mama found out I’d be near nine months.
Well, that plan didn’t work. One night my mama woke up saying she had a dream about fish and asked me if I was pregnant and of course I said no. She didn’t mention it for a couple of days and then bam!! I came home from school and she was waiting with a pregnancy test and she told me to “pee on the stick”. I dipped the stick in toilet water and it came out negative and for a second, only a second, I thought that I was in the clear. But the next day, Mama was waiting with another test and this time she put on her gloves (my Mama was a caregiver and one of the best I might add) and held the stick as I used the bathroom.
And the inevitable happened…..the truth came to light. Her daughter, 14 yeas old, was indeed pregnant and completely clueless. For a few days it was very tense. My Mama wa upset and as we all know we can.
say and do somethings in the heat of the moment that aren’t right.
So, she told me to call the boyfriend and his parents. We all met, the verdict was given and my Mom gave the final say LIm not raising nobody’s baby and I’ll make the appointment”. With that said I really didn’t know what was going to happen besides I wouldn’t be pregnant anymore due to me getting an “A/B” (short for abortion,we never said the word). Long story short, I had the abortion when I was almost 5 months. I remeber having an ultrasound, finding out I was carrying a boy, crying my eyes out b/c in that moment there was absoluely nothing that I could do.
For a really long time, I was ashamed and felt horrible. I just remeber how alone I felt afterwards and being told that I was “going to hell”
As the years went by, having an abortion was my dirty little secret and when I was 20 I got pregnant again. Without thinking too much about I got another abortion. My reasoning was that the guy I was w/wasn’t daddy material and after my first pregnany I vowed to never have kids.
Then when I was 23, I got pregnant yet again…….this time it bwas different. I made up my mind that I was going to have this baby and do everything on my own ,if I had too. I went to th dr. and found out I was 6wks. A couple of nights later while I was at work I started bleeding really bad. Long story short, I miscarried and my dr. told me that due to my 2 prior abortions my cervix was really weakand it would be a miracle if I evr carried a child to full term.
I was completely devestated b/c I made these choices and it was all my fault. A friend of mine called me not too long after I heard the news and invite me to church(thanks friend). I went. Repeneted, rededicated my life to Christ,joined my church, was filled with the Holy Spirit , and strted working in the children’s ministry. By no means was forgiving kmyself and others an easy process. It took a lot of time, tears, prayer, and surrender. But eventually I was able to forgive myself and accept God’s forgiveness and unconditional love.
When I was 25,God blessed me with a saved, sanctified, and Holy Spirit filled husband(very handsome I might add:-)). And on our one month anniversary, I found out we were expecting!! To wrap of of this up, at 30 years young we have a beautiful 4 yr old daughter and 19 month old twins. I went full term with Maddie and delievered her at exactly 40 wks. And with the twins,I carried them 39wks and 1day…….
The point of all this is that life is precious and God is a God of restoration. The mistakes that I made, the hurt and guilt that I felt were all covered in the blood of Jesus. If He did it for me, He can definately do it for you! Trust Him, Nothingos is impossible 4 God……..
PS*My Mama lived to see God bless me w/my hubby and Maddie. I can honestly say that she was the bestest “MawMaw” ever and our relationship was better than it had ever been……(my God is awesome!!!!)

>Merry Christmas…almost

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>Merry Christmas Eve!! On the eve of Jesus’ birthday I must say that I am very excited! I am excited about our family and the chance that we have to start new family traditions. Later today (much later lol), we will be baking cookies and having some family time while our kiddies put on their new pajamas. And Christmas Day, we will be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus with plenty of love, songs, prayers and thanksgiving, and fajitas! Instead of the traditional menu we are going lighter and away from the norm.
Above all I want my kids to know that Christmas is about Christ and all that He has done and is doing for us. I can’t really say that I remember hearing too much about Jesus and why He was born when I was growing up. I just remember so much focus being placed on the gifts. So, instead of “sticking to what I knew” with my family,my hubby and I are going to add Jesus’ birth and His life and His death into all that we do. So, Christmas for us is about so much more than gifts, trees, and decorations. It’s about God and Him loving us so much that He gave His only Son Jesus to be born for a very specific reason: us. Let’s take the time to celebrate the reason for the season….Jesus Christ.