"Spring"-ing Forward!!

I am truly excited about several things that God is doing in my life:

1) My new book that I released this week, "Choosing the Road Less Traveled," which chronicles my journey towards Grace and redemption in the midst of trials and an unplanned pregnancy
2) I was admitted to three Universities, and have a few choices to make about the direction that we will be going this summer. I'm still seeking God on that one.
3) The new BLOGTalk Live! Talk show which has caused me to connect with some powerful women in an open format, and blessing me so much with the relationships that are being formed.

and 4) The Heartwood Project is finally DONE! Which, if you read my previous posts, is a 16 hour life empowerment workshop that is followed up with a 40 day journal that will change generations~!

Do you Really Want to Get Well?

John 5:5-9:

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

 

..This man had been ill a long time, over 38 years. Jesus came along and didn’t ask him ‘Awwww…What happened?” nor listen to his story of hardship. Instead, Jesus immediately asked him, “Do you WANT to become well?”

Why did Jesus ask that question? Wouldn’t that be obvious? Well, not really, when you think about it. Because many of us say that we want to become well, we ask others to ‘pray for us” and we have a long story of issues/problems that we feel come against us. But when others ask us to go to church, or give us steps to take to get out of the situations that we are in, we make every excuse that we can…’Well my car won’t work’, ‘I’m too tired to get up and pray.’ ‘I can’t afford to go where God said.’ Etc. The man in the story gave an excuse first thing:  I can’t get down the steps, and when I try…others get in my way.”  Jesus didn’t listen to the excuse, instead He simply asked: “Do you really WANT to get well?”

It's HERE!!~My First Book ;)*

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”~ Jeremiah 29:11

When God creates us, he has a Vision in mind. As Jeremiah 29:11 states, he has PLANS for us. He sees in us what we fail to see in ourselves. He sees what we are going to be, not what we are. And everything He does during our upbringing is for the purpose of growing us into what we are meant to be. The end result is what God sees from the time he placed us in our mother’s womb. And all of the talents, gifts and abilities that he placed in us are there to help accomplish the Purpose that He has for our lives. Eventually, it is intended to prosper us, give us hope, and a future!

This book is my own unique journey of a road less traveled—but perhaps, one that is not so uncommon as I at one time believed. I share how I survived a teenage pregnancy, and overcame generational dysfunction, to raise a more stable next generation.

What Prevents You from Reaching Your ‘Promised Land”?

 

Many of you have all at one time had high aspirations, and dreams of becoming a ‘successful’ person in life. You take classes, attend seminars and read countless ‘self help’ books that tell you how to ‘get rich quick’, create a business that will earn 6 figures in a matter of months. You search desperately for a great partner, and find yourselves drawn into the same types of toxic relationships, dealing with the same issues and drama in each new relationship.  You try to find creative ways to get out of debt, and can’t seem to get rise above a certain income level no matter how hard you work. You soon become tired of being in the same place year after year, with seemingly no way out of what seems like a ‘dead end’ life. You wonder why you seem to be wandering in circles, seemingly on an endless quest to have a prosperous future, but it always seems to elude you…frustratingly always just right beyond your grasp.

Moving Forward…and Leaving Condemnation Behind

"I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes- it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'Well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all."-Maya Angelou

The definition of Sin is “Missing the Mark.” Whether intentional or unintentional, sin in our lives separates us from God and makes it difficult to obtain (blocks) the full blessings that He has waiting for us. The bible consistently mentions the importance of scrutinizing and examining our own (not everyone else’s) conduct and works, and checking for any areas that may not be under subjection to the spirit. In today’s times, sin seems to be a dirty word, but realistically, if we want to be healed, we are to recognize it exists, and constantly evaluate whether or not we have sinful behavior lingering in our lives…areas that we are missing God’s mark in.

After the Storm...

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase."~ 1 Corinthians 3: 6

When seeds are planted, they first need to be watered, and then the planted must wait during several seasons, giving the young seedling a chance to take root, and grow. Usually a harsh winter precedes spring, and once the snow has melted, the young sprouts make their way through the dirt. Although sometimes we withstand storms in our own life, eventually the result will be fruit that is born to impact the next generation...if we allow it to.

Two years ago, our business failed, we lost our home in a fire, had our cars repossessed, and got stranded in a foreign land (Memphis, Tennessee) with no help from anyone, having been taken advantage of by a family member, who was also a pastor...

New Years Resolution: A Revival~!

Flashback: This year has truly been eye opening! A year of both triumphs, heartache, joys and pain. A few of the highs: We were blessed with our second grandchild, and reminded that we are creating a legacy and the daily things that we do are making an impact for the next generation. BLOG Magazine closed out its first year with an awesome team of beautiful women that have learned how to respect and love one another despite our differences, and I successfully completed another semester of college towards my degree. On the other side; we were also challenged in the area of our marriage, one of our children straying and going wayward, and endured deceitful attacks through extended family. The enemy knows the power we have as a family, and again sought through our challenges to 'divide and conquer'...one of the oldest tricks in the book.

Announcement: We were again not moved! When the enemy attacks us, we simply dig our heels in and discover New Ways to use the experience to minister to others. With every obstacle in life, you can either cave in, cry and whine "why me' or you can counterattack the enemy and use the experience as a lesson learned, grow with it, and make it into a testimony to share with others going through something similar!!

HAPPY LEAP YEAR 2012!!

Leap (lep)v.

 1) An abrupt or precipitous passage, shift, or transition

2) to come into prominence rapidly

3) a change from one place or state or subject or stage to another

As I prepare to launch B.L.O.G. Magazine tonight at midnight, I realize that this is a LEAP year! And like the definition states, I’m feeling an abrupt shift, a rapid transition, a change in state and place that is occurring this very day. Not only because it’s a year different than other years in that there is an extra day thrown in for the purpose of keeping the Calendar consistent, but this Leap year has special meaning for me. The past four years (since the economic crash of 2007-2008) have brought discomfort, pain and grief into my life on so many levels. We lost businesses, homes, cars, and family members lost their health and fell away.  Although still involved in ministry, I inwardly felt as though God had abandoned me. I thought things were looking up and we had an opportunity to do great things and move to Tennessee, that plan fell through and we were left even worse off than before. It seems that like the Israelites, we were doomed to wander in the Wilderness. 

In God we Trust?...

"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America. 

and to the republic, for which it stands...One Nation, Under GOD, 

Indivisible...with Liberty and Justice for all."~ Francis Bellamy, 1892

We teach every child these words: but do we live by them? 
In America, it seems that we no longer desire to Stand as One nation...under God. 
Over the past 50 years, we have made a conscious decision to slowly turn away from God. We forcibly and systematically have fought to push God out of school, government, courts, politics, etc., in the name of 'Separation of Church and State.' We have even considered no longer calling America a 'Christian Nation,' recommended removing 'In God we Trust' from dollar bills, and contemplated forming alliances with those who worship other gods..in the name of 'peace' (and oil/money). If we look throughout biblical history, we must know that embracing these behaviors eventually result in the destruction of the people who do it...Yet we still look for His blessings on this Nation! 


I do find it interesting, though, that when tragedies occur, we are surprised, and look to God as if He has abandoned/forsaken us. For example, after September 11th Trade Center Attacks, you couldn't FIND a seat in the church, and people who had never prayed before were rushing to thier knees. I also noticed that there were people who cursed God as thier loved ones perished, questioning Him, and asking him 'Where were you when  ----  died? All those innocent people who had to suffer. Where was GOD through this tragedy?"  

A New Thing....Pregnant!!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."~ Jeremiah 29:11

SO...I finished all of my Summer college classes!! *CHEER*

I excelled in all four subjects and ended the semester with Straight 'A's~ 4.0 GPA Baby!! *Cabbage Patch*
*Running Man*  *Butterfly* ...(Yeah, Yeah I'm old school.. lol)

I have been on a slight high, and motivated to do more. What I recently decided was that I am going to go for my Masters and get a heavier load for fall...15 units instead of 12 so that I can finish more quickly. I am even shooting for Honors Classes so that I can get the best scholarships available. Shouldn't be hard with my GPA. *pops collar* suddenly, I am understanding what God means by "Hope for the Future". He desires us to overcome, excel and have faith that He will work it all out in the end. And He makes the plans, not us. He already knows what he has in mind for us the moment we enter this earth, and places within us the means to succeed in it.