TYPED-OUT!!!!

Okay putting more of my cards on the blogtable! I saw a post this morning that made me think of the relationship I share with a few select people. I love the variety of levels each of these lifelong connections have been in the building of my character. 

I’ve had some desired bumps and some not so desirable bumps in my journey, yet all are developmental bumps. Well, I found myself waking up in a struggle with doubt trying to smother my faith, oooooweeeee Holy Ghost reaffirmation is P-R-I-C-E-L-E-S-S!!!!! I have to tell like it comes! The mention of going to a hospital or a Doctor makes the hair on my skin crawl back inside.

It’s not that I don’t admit the aging process is harsher on my physical than my mental acuity (excuse me as I take a moment to exhale some gratitude!). My recent knee flare up had my mind stumbling and collapsing like trying to walk on a floor full of marbles. No sense of direction and every step seems uncertain. Thoughts of the former tried get me to lower my hands.
When the orchestra of God begins to invade your ears, all you can do is lean back and savor the exquisite notes!! The only way to explain it would be to say I was not just feeling the breeze of the heavenly window being opened; I couldn't control the flow!!! Truly Thank – FULL Thursday. Smooches~~

All I know is I cry Abba Father!!

For years from many pulpits I’ve heard God is and should be everything. I’ve learned the many names of God and the role he wants to assume in our lives. As a single woman I was taught to let God by my husband, but as I began to share and study with a friend I realized there is only one reference to God being like a husband and that is in Isaiah 54:4-5. These verses are in reference to a widow who was concerned in how she was going to be receive and perceived. It was a word of comfort offered to her in her widowhood.

Then I began to search more and in each instance (KJV-175 times) of the word husband(man). It made me wonder how the idea of a single woman accepting God as a husband got started and why. This only made me search more. Because to my natural mind this really wasn’t making sense. In the natural the roles of a husband are set and I know some men in romantic relationship want the woman to call them “Daddy” at certain times and it is accepted. I’ll admit I’ve done it myself, but there was always a part of me that felt weird about it.

Now in my head the thoughts towards my father are very different than those I would have about a man in my life. It showed me how distorted some of the old teachings have been and how important it is to read the word, chapters in their entirety, and not just selecting a verse and tailor it to suit a point being conveyed.

Then it occurred to me somewhere the dissemination of the word, Matthew 25 and the parable of the ten virgins was distorted to try to keep young single women chaste until marriage. Ha, see how that worked out! This again was an example of why it is important to read and get an understanding for yourself. It is great to be under a good shepherd, but they are not infallible. After many years I’ve found that a good message doesn’t always mean the whole truth has been spoken.

My desire is to know the truth and one I can live with. Not to be self-righteous or to prove a point, just to have a better relationship with God, I needed to have a clear delineation of what this relationship should be like. I think a lot of women may have the same problem I had, but I hope to help someone today. One thing I know for a fact if you don’t know your place or position in a relationship it’s easy to move away from it or destroy it.

A few things I think about when I think about my earthly father are: he disciplined me, he provided for me, he loves me, he was an example of what I should be and sometimes not be, and he usually gives me sound advice. I love my father, trust him and depend on him, just as I do God, to always be there.

To settle my mind I found 1 Peter 3:6 which began to settle what my real position is and should be. “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” Then to further confirm my belief Ephesians 1:5 -6 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” The confirmations don’t stop there, Galatians 4:6-7 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”

Now, because I have never been married, I can’t really express what a husband should be. I have a list of qualities I’ve asked the Lord for in a husband and funny thing is there are only two things I get from my father I would want in a husband. The rest I would want are all biblical. 1Peter 3:7-11 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

Then I remembered one of my favorite scriptures, Ephesians 3:22-33, clearly gives me a pattern of what I should be and expect as a wife. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

So I stand before God as a devoted and loving daughter waiting on Him to remove the veil for the right Godly man to find me!! Waiting, waiting, waiting Wednesday!! Smooches~~

Moveo~~to~~Action!!!!

In my mind I was ready to share the things I learned about the numbers of “r” words, but I feel led to go in another direction this morning. The thing that was running through my mind all night was motivation. I know there are certain things that can motivate a person and one of the largest motivators in today’s society is money. My favorite thing about God is when he speaks it is always in a still quiet and loving manner.

Well, I don’t have much materially, yet I have a lot of words. In listening to Bishop Jakes it sparked me to try to do better about the one thing I know I have a wonderful God given gift to do. I know that I have a talent and a mind to share with words, but was I really ready to do all that was necessary to do; even when is not a means of income?

When I think about when my boys were young, they were my entire motivation to get up and go to jobs I really didn’t enjoy, but they were a means of providing for my family. It was because I devoted so much of my time to excelling at my jobs, I set my desires and dreams aside to do what I deemed necessary. The one thing I found to be constant during that time is I was totally committed to my employers. I didn’t allow anything, not even pain or illness stop me from doing what I had to do to get that paycheck. Don’t get me wrong even during that time I had a love for God, but I was still trying to do what He promised to do for me. I never allowed him to be my all and all.

So, I had to ask myself what was so different now? Especially now that my sons are no longer dependent on me, what was the thing to motive me to get out of bed each morning? It’s not my current job, it’s not because there is potential for me to make a lot of money at the job, it’s not a romantic relationship and it’s not because my children needed me.

So being alone and single, what is my motivation? Why do I feel it is time for me to take this step of faith and write more? So as I usually do I turned to the dictionary. I looked up motivation - the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior. Etymology - motive, from the Latin verb moveō (“(I) move”), + -ation

Then as I began my morning study I was led to Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Then 1 Corinthians 7:35 “Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.”

Both of these scriptures were a resounding confirmation of the teaching I had heard on Sunday. Sadly, it took me to be in extreme pain and losing a day’s pay to see that I was still allowing outside factors to keep me from doing what I feel strongly in my heart is for me to do. As I was reading 1 Corinthians I was directed to read the verses 32-34 and it was at that moment I knew without a doubt, I was missing it all in such a large way.

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 “I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord — how he may please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the things of the world — how he may please his wife — and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world — how she may please her husband.”

I have to proceed because the purpose of the Word/Christ is so that none will perish due to lack of knowledge. Knowing God has blessed me, beyond what I could have ever thought or imagined, in the area of wisdom and knowledge. So the fact I have remained single to this point is so at this appointed time I must be devoted to my relationship with God. To follow his instruction and do what is the one thing leading my heart, writing and share with anyone willing to read the knowledge given to me.

In order to be devoted to God I need to learn more of him and from him. This means less Facebook, less Netflix and less just being plain distracted. What better psychological factor than being loved by a gracious and merciful God to be motivated. A God who chose me despite my many flaws and wants to use me, even when I feel not worthy. A God who sees fit to wake me each morning refreshed and ready to praise him.

See, I get it - my purpose is clear and now I have to work on keeping my helmet of salvation on as I strive to be pleasing to God. Not running myself ragged because I feel a need to spread His word, but to run patiently the course He has given me. To know He is in complete control no matter what it looks like. To know that I will soon reach His desired end for me. To spend my “free” time learning more of him and share all I glean! Taught a huge lesson Tuesday! Smooches~~

R's For all!

I love when wake up to the voice of the Lord all in my head. Before I even open my eyes His voice sets the tone for the rest of my day!  One thing I’ve learned came from my bestest friend, “Quiet Time” and it has been such a great benefit for my relationship with God.  I spend my first waking hour giving Him praise and then I pray for those I love, don’t know and this country I call home.

I love this time more so on weekends.  Then I get to go into my own, as Fred Hammond new song says, festival of praise. Thankful that I’m doing it solo because sometimes I have to even laugh at myself when I start dancing. Yet, that doesn’t stop me from doing it. I made myself a promise to be more like Paul, Philippians 4:10-13 “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

This morning the voice kept telling me to rejoice. As I glanced back over some of the Prophetic proclamations for 2015 and a pattern emerged; restoration and Redemption. SEEMS LIKE I was back in school, but instead of R’s of academia, I found the R’s of 2015. The one thing I’ve seen to be true in this walk is you can’t trust everything you hear.  But I still kept hearing “Rejoice”.  It was after I looked up rejoice –feel happiness or joy, I realized what the Lord was telling me.

Because of my past brokenness I had become stagnate and was settling for just being “content”, but God wanted me to expand my feelings. I have no idea where God is leading me in 2015, but I do know there has been a shuffling in my spirit. It’s not just about giving him praise, but the directive for me was to rejoice. This wasn’t something that was going to be easy because, although I’m grateful and thankful, I wasn't feeling happiness or joy nor could I see in my present circumstances a reason to rejoice.

One thing resonated in my spirit was hope of being redeemed and for restoration. Then when I thought about what I was hearing ten days into this year; Rejoice makes so much sense. It was as if positive “R” words were buzzing around in my head; repent; reverence; refresh; renewal, revival, rest, and rejoice! Wow was all I could think of at that moment.

When certain things fall into my spirit like this I always begin to dig. In my digging I found the word rejoice can be found (KJV) two hundred fifty-eight times, that is just one hundred and seven short of the days in a calendar year. Then I searched repent and found one hundred seventeen times. Refresh – seventeen, renew – sixteen, revival – fourteen times, rest – three hundred sixty-nine, reverence – fourteen.

My study took me deeper and my background leads me to always look for definitions just to make sure I’m on the right track. Well what I found just made open my heart and mind. I’m not into numerology, but I know there is more to this and will require more study. So now I’m working on finding my joy and working walking this walk as I speak about it. Searching Sunday! Smooches~~.

Note “Quiet Time” by Shari L. Pettiford can be purchased on Amazon.