Dont Judge!

Taking a look at my first picture you will notice an orange. Yeah an orange, I know it may not look like one but trust me, it is. I had a whole bag of them sitting in my house just like that. The outsides were bruised, scared, discolored and just ..ugly looking! Not like those pretty oranges on the commercial for the Florida Orange Juice..No! These oranges I had looked like they had seen better days and just needed to be thrown away at this point. Looking at the oranges I was lead to cut them open just to see what was inside and how it looked. So that's what I did, and wouldn't you know these were the juiciest oranges that had so much life and fruit inside! If you take a look at this example of my oranges you will see that this is often how many of us go about life. We often are quick to judge someone's outside; what they drive, they way they talk or there appearance, before ever knowing them. But see Christ teaches us that we should learn to accept everyone in there differences, flaws and all because he created us that way. That is how we display and walk in the love of Christ! In Genesis he let's us know that EVERYTHING he created is good! Not to mention he also tells us we were ALL created in his own image! And i don't know about you, but my God is BEAUTIFUL! So that means everything and everybody must be beautiful too! So next time before you are quick to write someone off or throw them away (myself included) just because they don't fit the box in your head, except them in LOVE just as Christ continues to except you with all your failures,drama and your MESS! After all you never know what beautiful fruit they may hold inside!

P.s. Let me mention my oranges made some of the BEST fresh squeezed orange juice I ever tasted! : ) Be blessed!

Supernatural Favor...

Today I got up feeling just off ,like a heaviness on me. I had so many different thoughts and emotions runnining through my mind. I was feeling misunderstood, pressure, self doubt, scared, annoyed and just plain had a lot going on! Yet and still you have to handle the days duties and task so off to work I went. While at work I began to pay some bills since we were slow in the store. I made a call to pay my car note ( which has been behind 2 payments for the past couple of months not including what I was just paying) Basically I would pay one bill but still have one payment due and another about to be due. Yet another stress I have been dealing with but God has continued to display his grace in this situation. I  do take total responsibility for it being past due, just some other things had come up that needed immediate attention. But what can you say a learning experience because we all make mistakes. Anyway I call to make the payment and I do, the lady on the phone then goes to ask me, "Have you every asked for a skip payment or extension?" I say "No what is that?" She goes on very sweetly to explain a skip payment is where they will skip one months payment. An extension is where they will skip two payments and then break up the two payments for the duration of your loan. Well because I have 41 months still left on my loan that would only increase each payment about $15, which I mentioned and she said probably a little less (which is always a plus!) We then continue to talk and I explain to her that in trying to get caught back up these last few months, she has been the only one kind enough to give me these other options to help out. She was so shocked to have learned this news then she continued on to tell me instructions on what to do. We talked for a few more minutes and she gave me her name and work number in case of any other questions. I then thanked her and ended the call. Let me just tell you how good my God is!!!! After the call I needed a moment and just had to go into the bathroom at work and just thank/praise God!!I am just so overjoyed and thankful at the amount of FAVOR I have been shown within this last two weeks.(to much right now to go into, but trust me ..what a way maker HE is!) God has opened up doors and has truly been breathing his super on my natural! Words can not described how I feel right now. Its times and moments such as these that God just lets me know that no matter how I feel or what I may be experiencing that he has my back no matter what! Don't get it twisted I don't just praise him for what he does but for who he is and that fact that he desires to do it for me, even though I am so not worthy!!! So let me encourage you, you may be going through rough patches and stresses but give them to the Lord. You may not see how it can work out and you may feel a little helpless at times but God has a way to handle EVERY situation! The bible tells us that his thoughts are not our thoughts and he ways not our ways (Isaiah 55: 8). Just trust him and know he has you.You may be waiting and wondering when will it change but stay patient because God has to position the right people just for you! He will open up doors and opportunities if you let him. It may come through a person, a tv show, a book, monetary gift, a dog I mean AYTHING! Lol. Just let HIM work it out, but first you must give it over to him and be open to which ever way he decides to handle it. Stop trying to box God in, he is too BIG for that. Stay blessed!

The Struggle hunay...

So for the last few months money has been quit tight in my house. About two days ago when I looked into my freezer needless to say it was looking like "the Struggle!" I thought about the years I had been in my apartment and how my freezer use to always stay stacked and piled with food. This had not been the case for about a month. I thought about how I needed to go grocery shopping especially for some meat (chicken,chops ect.) but I just did not have the money. To be honest I didn't know when I would be able to, seeing as though some bills are behind and I'm trying to catch up while not knowing how some others are going to get paid. Yet and still in my heart and head I knew God would continue to make a way. So today is pay day and I had some money left after paying some bills *praise break....Thank you Jesus for something left!!!!*.. (ok im back) so I decided to get a loaf of bread and a couple canned goods that were on sale at my local Farm Fresh. I go into the store and were disappointed that the canned goods I came for are no longer on sale. I continue to walk around the store and go over to the meat department (which I wasn't going to at first figuring that I already knew meat was going to be too expensive) As I come to the meat department I notice that some packs of chicken thighs have $4off coupons on them so I take a closer look. After looking at the packs I notice that the prices are about $7-8 per pack. I quickly do the math in my head and realize that makes them only about $3-$4 for the jumbo family packs. I quickly grab the three that had the coupons on them and place them in my cart! Not to mention as I walked around the store I found two $1off coupons for sandwich wraps that I can use next week when coupons double and that would make those two items FREE! My God is awesome!!! If you haven't figured it out yet, the moral of this story is that GOD WILL PROVIDE!! In Matthew 6 God tells us not to worry about what we will eat nor drink. Matthew 6:26 God uses the example of him providing even to the birds. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable then they? See God values us dearly and as a father he will always make sure we are taken care of long as we do our part. You may ask, what exactly is our part? Let me tell you from experience the most important thing you can do is to PAY YOUR TITHES and OFFERINGS!! Yes that right PAY YOUR TITHES and OFFERINGS! Tithe being the most important because it shows our reverence to God! Now, don't get me wrong the other important things to go along with that would be to also be obedient and do not worry but believe God will provide. But God tells us in Malachi 3:10-11 exactly why we should tithe, it reads: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, "says the Lord Almighty," and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. God is basically saying to us show me how important I am and how much you respect me by giving me the first portion of what you have and I will bless everything else that you have left. I mean yes guys, its just that simple! Then when you add giving an offering (which is you sowing a seed) to that ,it further gives more assurance that God will provide a way for you. Just look what God tells us will happen when we sow seeds generously with a cheerful heart 2 Corinth 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work.  Notice God never says sometimes or in something's but he tells us in ALL things big or little, bills or food, clothes or cars. Either way we will be taking care of when we do our part. I hope that someone out there who is reading this that may have never tithed, will start today. Its the best decision you could make take it from someone who has constantly not known how I was going to make it through at a times( and im not just taking about money but with the stresses of life) and God still opened a door and made a way. I know for a fact that my faith and tithe was the only reason I made it through. And to that I say THANK YOU GOD!! It may not have been much to some people but when I was blessed with thosecgroceries in the store it just further showed me that God hears me loves me and loves me and will always have my back in everything. He has yours too! The struggle may be real out her but so is my GOD!! Be blessed yall!

Why hate though???

Morning everyone! Quick story: So I walk into work looking fly as usual and feeling quit good (not tooting my own horn but just confident). I'm mean I'm telling the truth I've had a pretty good morning. I had a great prayer/time with the father, face done, outfit on and got to work on time(getting my act together) back to the story so I walk in a say "Good morning!", As I usually do. And these jokas are looking right at me and don't say anything back. I mean nothing all I heard was crickets! I just smiled and kept walking to put my things away. Moral of the story remember that you are a THERMOSTAT not a THERMOMETER, you change the atmosphere don't not allow the atmosphere to change you! God said we have to be a light in this world, so i must be doing my job! The favor of God is all over me and you and people see it!  Unfortunately some people don't like you because of it. Matthew 10:22 says You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Jesus then goes further in John 15:18-19 and says “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. [19]If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. So what I say to them is just keep on HATIN! They can not stop what God is doing in your life or who he created you to be. Walk in the light you have been given with courage, confidence and strength because you have the Lord God on your side!! Be blessed

Im back... time to get FOCUSED!!!

Been away for a little while but i'm back now!! I'm sure you may be wondering why, so let me tell you. First, I have just been busy with the many things going on in my everyday life (work, choir, relationship ect.) but also I have been spiritually going through. See when God is working on you and maturing you sometimes it can be very hard. To be honest not all of your days are going to be peachy. There are going to be days that are smooth and some days you may feel frustrated. In my case God has been showing me things about myself that he is illuminating and developing and also things that are not so grand that he wants to remove. Let me be the first to say it is not easy having to not acknowledge some of your issues and deal with them, But in order to make a change we must first change ourselves. There have been days that I have had to fight being depressed and I have cried many tears but even in my tears I know that everything thing that im going through or being caused to deal with is for my benefit and it is only going to make me stronger in my ministry and my position in advancing the kingdom of God. Even knowing that, some days are just harder then others. That's why our relationship with Christ is so important because in those times that you are weak the bible says "God is Strong" and we need that strength to keep us going. But we must make sure to continually keep developing that relationship with God if not it can be very easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed and exhausted. Not to mention when you take your eyes off of God and put them on everything else you lose your focus you start looking at the right now instead of the future. Take me for example, the past couple weeks I had been going here and there and my mind too. I was dealing with choir, trying to advance my makeup business and also the stress of finances. To top it all off my boyfriends mother passed which added a little more stress for everyone. During this time I just felt as though I had been running around and around. I mean im trying to be here emotionally for him, get everyday day task finished, be at this practice or make it to this meeting. Though I had continued reading my word daily it started to be rushed and even when I would read I would be thinking about the next thing that had to be done and not really meditating on the word. I started to feel drained, even when I would sleep I didn't wake up feeling completely rejuvenated. Until last week, after being down out how my finances are I  heard the Holy Spirit tell me I needed a spiritual refueling and also to FOCUS. You see slowly but surely I was getting distracted. I started to let other things come before my relationship with God. As a result I was drained mentally and emotionally not to mention I had started to look at my situation instead of with the eyes of my faith. When you do that I believe it allows the enemy to have a brief advantage over you because that's when he will come with the doubt, fear and depression. To make a long story short after repenting to my Father, this week I just had to take a break and get back on track, which is what I did. I stated to give God his proper time deserved, meditating on my word, praying and I even fasted. Let me say that after doing that have been able to get back focused and hear clearly from the spirit. I was able to re evaluate some things and get new ideas for my business ventures and revisit previous interest that I had got off track with(like this blog. Lol). Just like the loving Father he is, he welcomed me with open arms and reminded me that all when have to do when we may go off track is to turn our hearts back to him. What a loving and awesome God he is that all he wants from us is a RELATIONSHIP. So I say to you, whatever has come to try and distract you IT WILL NOT PROSPER! Get up, dust yourself off, make sure you are in the right position with God and keep walking. Trials and tribulations will come and growing pains do hurt but it will be all the more worth it in the end! Stay blessed!!!

Do You!

Trying to incorporate exercise into my life I decided to start back my morning routine ,which consist of walking. I woke up around 5:45a.m. and walked from my house to an empty shopping center across the street, then proceeded to walk its perimeter and then back home. This normally takes about 20 minutes to complete. Today I was hoping to complete this a couple minutes ahead of time (not keeping in mind that I have not exercised in a couple months). To my surprise I actually finished it 1 minute behind the usual time of 20 minutes. As I looked at the extra minute it seemed like such a HUGE increase, I began to get a little bummed. Not only did I not reduce my walking time, I INCREASED it by one whole minute. My expectation for reducing my time was so high that when it did not happen, the thoughts of negativity began. I started to think about others I know that are on this health kick. Getting back into the gym, lifting weights, doing cardio and going really going hard at it too! Here you have me, all im doing is this raggedy 20 minute walk in the morning. To top it off " You didn't even finish in 20mins it took you 21mins!" said the negativity. But at that same moment a voice(holy spirit) reminded me " You don't have to be like everyone else!" I instantly overcame those negative thoughts remembering YES! I don't have to be like everyone else, I AM ME! I replaced those thoughts with positive ones like "Good job for even walking today!" and "that minute is going to be a breeze to undo!" See, we all have to start somewhere. The main thing is to focus on doing the best you can and progress at your own rate. Don't let the negativity creep in and cause you to get disappointed in yourself. Just because it may seem like others are in a more advanced position then you are, one thing is for sure; they had to start somewhere too! If we would just stop trying to compare ourselves to others, we would see the growth, development and progress in our own lives. But as long as your focusing on others you will always feel a sense of disappointment or lacking to measure up. DO YOU! You are wonderfully and beautifully made! We have all been created differently with different purposes for a reason. Individuality is a blessing and the world is looking for a "YOU",  so don't make it hard for them to find it! Be blessed yall..