Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year God Knows!

God knows



Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) "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."

Today will mark the last day of 2009. All I can say is what a year! This year, for many, has had its highs and lows. It has been a rough year for some and for others a year of progression and personal successes. Today we will reflect on all that has happened and wish 2009 away quickly. We will look to tomorrow for a new year and new things in 2010. We will write resolutions and make promises to ourselves as to what we will accomplish in the new year. We will live in the now and excitedly look forward to our new year with our family and friends.

As you sit and reflect with your family and friends, do not focus on your failures, but if you must remember that the failure created a success of learning in you. Try to reflect on your successes as they will build a bridge for you to move forward and give to another.

Many have said "I can't wait for 2009 to end." Please remember those who were unable to take the journey into 2010. Although you may have had a difficult year there is someone that has not seen the end of the year with you. Take the focus off of the negatives of 2009 and look to God for your plans in 2010. The plans we make for ourselves may or may not come to fruition, but God knows the plans he has for each of us. As we go into this new year remember no matter what you went through in 2009, 2010 is already set for you. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "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." The Lord sees you as you are and He also sees you as what you can become. He has written out the plans for you to progress and prosper. If you give it all to Him, your mind, body and spirit He will be able to work His plans for you.

Joyce Meyer said it best in this excerpt from The Everyday Bible, "God has a plan for each of us, a plan that should give us great hope for our future. It is our destiny. But that plan is a possibility, not a positively. This is because it cannot and will not come to pass if we choose to refuse to cooperate with God or to stray away from His will.

God does have a plan for our lives, but we have to participate in that plan for it to come true. God is not likely to do anything in our lives without our cooperation.

We need to cooperate with God every single day of our lives in order for our potential to be developed. Every day we ought to learn something. Every day we ought to grow. Every day we ought to discover something. Every day we ought to be a bit further along than we were the day before. We should be "lifetime learners."

We must understand that no other human being on the face of the earth can develop our potential for us. We must each discover our own God-given gifts and talents, what we are truly capable of, and then put ourselves to the task of developing those gifts, talents, and capabilities to their fullest extent.

God has a plan for each of us. It is a good plan, an uncommon plan, a great plan; it is not an average, mediocre plan. I encourage you to seek that plan and cooperate with God so that it will be wonderfully fulfilled in your life." (Joyce Meyer- The Everyday Bible pg. 1193)

Today make the commitment to be cooperative in God. Allow God to work through you in this new year. Don't allow your own personal issues or situations to remove you from the spirit of God in 2010. Remove the defeatist attitude for 2010 and realize and channel into the power that God has in store for you. God knows the plans He has for you. Now all you need to do is walk in His plan!

Happy New Year, God has great things in store for each of you if you walk in His plan!


Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing
Racquel

Monday, October 12, 2009

Lupus & Me


So, I hosted a lupus chat tonight on my network site for women who are lupus survivors. You know each day carries such a battle for the lupus survivor. It can really wreak havoc in the lives of people from young to old.

Sometimes I feel like I am the only person around that suffers and then I talk with other lupus survivors and realize I am not alone. What a blessing it is to be able to speak with men and women all over the country in the comfort of my home about things that many do not understand.



Since being diagnosed with Systemic Lupus I have found that life is too short to believe in fairies and good luck charms. I have come to realize that each life is precious and should be lived to the fullest extent. Just when you think your story is the story to beat all stories, there is someone that humbles you to realize that your battle is not lost. It makes you realize that you have a lot more work to do to get the word about this horrid & sometimes deadly invisible disease. It makes you realize that you have a civic duty to do all that you can to make sure you and your fellow lupus survivors are represented properly in the health fields with proper drug production faster than 50 years.

I take time today to say thank you to all of my fellow lupus survivors. We must be sure to always pick each other up when we are down. To be the listening ear when no one else around us has offered their ear to hear. We have to be sure to be that shoulder to cry on when times in our lives we are riddled with pain. Although Lupus has been a thorn in my side, I must say it is a blessing because I am able to get to know some of the strongest individuals I know. I get to communicate with them on a constant basis. I get to be a part of their lives and help pick them up when they are down and laugh with them when they are happy. What a true blessing it is to be able to do this through a venue that was only a dream in a person's mind.

Today I take time to salute each lupus survivor and I say to you all "You have lupus, lupus does NOT have you!" This disease will not run and ruin your life, you will ruin it and run it out of your life.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged and Be a Blessing

Thursday, October 8, 2009

All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride

Over the summer, I visited an amusement park with my son and had a great time. We rode the biggest, craziest and fastest rides in the park. Each time, we boarded the ride, strapped ourselves in, was checked by a worker and given the thumbs up to launch. Right before each ride the ride operator would say "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride." Each ride was a new adventure and each time the operator stated "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride."

When you sit back and think, our lives are like an amusement park. We have so many rides and so many different aspects of our park. We have the roller coasters, when our lives are a bit topsy turvy, curvy and bumpy. We have our Ferris wheels when we feel like we are moving in slow motion in circles and jumping off at the right time. We also have our 4D movie theater rides when we feel like everything is shooting directly at us and moving us all about. Sometimes we even have the times in our amusement park life when we simply stand still and just watch all of the rides from the sidelines.

The difference between our amusement park life and a traditional amusement park is that before each and every ride of life we don't say the powerful words "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride." Think about it, no matter how crazy the ride is, the ride operator always states, "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride." Providing the thumbs up for a successful fun ride.

I look at those words as power for our lives. If we were to state to ourselves "All Clear" that gives us power to know that no matter what it's all good. The path is clear to face all issues all trials, all twists and turns that may come our way. We are all clear, why? Because we know who is for us so we are cleared to realize that nothing can be against us. At the point of us realizing that we are All Clear we can then "Enjoy Your Ride." If you have the go from the beginning the best part of the amusement park is to enjoy the ride. If I am clearing myself, giving myself permission to move forward in life, then I can do nothing else but enjoy the ride.

What an awesome amount of power we would possess day to day if each day we faced it with "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride" attitude. Just as a roller coaster shoots out on a track and returns to its original point safely, we can do the same in our life. Imagine walking out of your door and before stepping out into your life's amusement park you screamed, "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride!" Yes your neighbors may look at you a little crazy, but you will release any and all stressed areas of the day before they even begin. That scream of positive and permissive words to move ahead in your day through every spin, every fall, every movement with the thoughts that it will be a great day and that you are going to enjoy the ride and return to your destination in one piece. WOW!

How do you usually feel when you return from a ride in an amusement park? I feel excited, adrenaline running ready to get on the next ride. I know on the next ride I am going to hear "All Clear, Enjoy Your Ride." I look forward to the next ride because I have enjoyed the last. Take this attitude in life. Be excited for the Amusement Park of Life. It is the best amusement park there is. There are so many rides to get on and as the operator of your park make sure you say daily to yourself.....

"ALL CLEAR, ENJOY YOUR RIDE!"


Thought of the day: I will say to myself that my day will be "All Clear" No matter what roller coasters may come my way, no matter what twists and turns I will face them each with excitement and "Enjoy My Ride". I will look to the next ride as an adventure and be sure to give myself the thumbs up to enjoy it!

Monday, September 14, 2009

A Good Kind of Reckless

I get devotions daily sent to my mailbox. This one is so on point. It is so important for us to be "Reckless" with our faith and not confine ourselves a comfort zone. I can't add anything else.


Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing

Racquel


A Good Kind of Reckless


September 14, 2009

A Good Kind of Reckless
Tracie Miles

"'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" Matthew 14:29-30 (NIV)

Devotion:
A while back, I opened my daily devotion and the theme verse was the passage above. When I first began reading I thought, "Oh, I know this passage backwards and forwards: Peter stepping out onto the stormy waves. A great story of faith and keeping focused on Christ." But in this particular devotion, there was a different focus. The key word used was "reckless." It explained we are to be reckless in our faith - not habitual, not routine, not guarded. Reckless.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the definition of reckless: Utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution. If you ask me, reckless doesn't sound like a good thing! When it comes to acting without caution, usually the consequences are negative, resulting in pain and problems that could have been avoided had common sense been used.

But when it comes to our faith, acting without caution is an awesome quality. Reckless faith is...

Living out loud for God, regardless of the consequences.

Opening ourselves up to be Christ's hands and feet in situations where most people close themselves off.

Reaching people others have deemed unreachable.

Loving those who are not very lovable and do not return our love.

Forgiving when forgiveness is not justifiable by the world's standards and making others wonder if we have our head on straight.

Changing direction in life because God called us to even if it doesn't make sense.

Reckless faith is being abandoned for Christ, completely surrendered to Him without restraint, and at peace with the consequences of what might happen.

Peter was reckless in earthly terms. He jumped onto the sea during a raging storm without a flotation device, into waves big enough to capsize his boat. However, if you think about it, it really wasn't Peter's earthly actions that were reckless; it was Peter's spiritual faith.

He had reckless faith: Without thinking, without distress over consequences, without anxiety over what might happen, and without concern for what his friends might think, Peter had faith.
Peter had reckless faith. And we can too! Reckless faith means doing what God has called us to do, commanded us to do, and prompted us to do - because it brings Him glory. Those who witnessed Peter's reckless faith didn't ooh and aah over Peter. Instead, like Peter, they fixed their eyes on Jesus. "Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God'" (Matthew 14:33, NIV).

There are a few times in my life when I've exhibited reckless faith, and found God blessed me immensely as a result. Unfortunately, there are many more times I've chosen to remain safely in my boat. It is so much easier to stay afloat in the safety of our comfort zone than to step out into stormy waters, putting all of our trust in Christ.

Reckless faith requires a vibrant and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. When we climb from the safety boat and exhibit that, we spur those still in their boats to fix their own eyes on Him, and worship the Son of God.

How is God calling you to be reckless for Him today?

Dear Lord, truly You are the Son of God. I know You have called me to reckless faith, but it is hard to step out. Infuse me with courage to climb out of my boat in whatever way You have called me to. Please help me hear You and give me bravery to move beyond my comfort zone. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Power in the Tongue

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" Proverbs 18:21 (NIV).

How do you use this incredible gift from God? Do you use words to bring life or death? Encouragement or discouragement? Let's pay particular attention to the words we speak and use our words to speak life into the people in our little part of the world today.

A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.
(Author Unknown)


I pray today that we use our words to bless and not curse. We use them to fully show God through them. In today's world where everyone is losing their jobs, losing loved ones, being put down at work, school, home. Sometimes our words that we speak to them may be the only soothing word from God they hear.

Today take the time to use your words to speak with the tenderness and love that God gives us. It is easier to say a mean word or a smart remark. It is so much harder to stop and think how will what I say affect the person(s) I am stating my words to. It takes God to intervene in our daily walk and talk and we need to call on him to be sure that the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in His sight....

If you plan on speaking today speak life not death, edify not destroy and think how what you say will make the person feel. Will it make their day or destroy their way?

I make a promise to speak love, life, power into each person I meet today.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged and Be a Blessing

Racquel

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Are you really walking or just talking



This video got me to thinking are we just talking the talk and not walking the walk? Do we just say things so that people will look at us a certain way, yet we mean something totally different?

Many times in life we simply talk it but have the highest degree of difficulty walking in the true spirit of Christ. I know I have said things and didn't even believe what I said, I have said to someone have faith and didn't have it for myself. We all have done it.

On a daily basis we must attempt to really walk the walk and not just talk the talk. We can't say we love God and demean. We can't say we love God and negatively see every situation. We can't say we trust God and never relinquish "our" hangups and problems over to him. We can't just talk the talk and never even attempt to walk the walk.

There comes a time when we become mature spiritual creatures and begin to follow the word of God. Not follow a particular religion or a particular organization or a particular church. But, the true word of God. Following the word of God requires us to remove our own self fulfilling acts and take on the acts that God has instructed us to follow. It requires faith, it requires patience, it requires right talking and right walking.

I am making a commitment to Talk the talk but to really walk the walk in the full spirit of God.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

How will you live today?

Who will you encourage today? Will you smile when you don't feel like smiling? Will you speak positive when your emotions try to dictate you to speak negative? Will you see the day as partly cloudy or partly sunny? This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Take yourself out of routine and see today for what it really is, an opportunity. Some will not see tomorrow so how will you live today?

Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised and today is the present specially wrapped in great opportunity to encourage, edify, love and live without constraints. Will you choose to live today in that present?

When your day seems to take a turn for the worst, will you continue to live in that negativity or will you see the opportunity in the situation? Take a moment today to really make a conscious effort to see the positive out of a situation and focus on deliberately pointing out that positive piece to others around you. See how this will change what the present situation is.

It amazes me the opportunity that rises out of all situations be they good or bad. We just have to see them and share them.

Today, I will walk in opportunity and ask others to walk confidently with me. I believe today is the present given to me by God and I will live today sharing His word of love & life.

Will you join me?

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Do what is RIGHT not POPULAR

Do What is Right Not Popular

Dedicate your mind and your spirit to what is right. Don't follow what is not right with your morals and values. Take a moment to step back and realize that you deserve better and you deserve what is right for YOU. It may not be popular and people will say all types of things, but if God has told you something is wrong and provided the right path then follow it! -R. Dozier


Have you ever felt deep down in your spirit that something just isn't right with something you were doing? Have you felt burdened when discussing that something and like your life has been upturned with the wrong within it? I know I have. Most times I would ignore it and just go with the flow. Other times I would try to work through it and other times I would just walk away.

What I have learned is that you must know when to do all three. In all situations you go through a series of emotions and actions that come from those emotions. What you must do is remove the emotional train and look at the hard cold facts. Ask yourself is what you are doing helping you or hurting you? Is doing what you are doing in line with your morals and values? Is doing what you are doing bringing joy and peace to your life? I ask all these questions before just walking away. When I ask myself these questions and pray for God's guidance I usually follow the guidance given.

Most times when I decided to walk away be it for a moment or for a lifetime it is usually the correct decision for me. It has never turned out to be the wrong thing to do because I truly have left my decision up to God and asked for his complete direction. I relinquish it to Him and allow him to show me what to do. Many people talk about me and say this and say that, but honestly I don't really care, because in the end I have to do what is right for me and not for others.

See we don't live to please others. What another person's agenda is is not our own. We must take the time to ask God what it is he wants out of us in all situations. When the result is something that others can't see, we shouldn't worry about how they see it. God has a plan for each and every one of us and sometimes we are so stuck in the rut of what others think and see or trying to please or help others in a worn and torn situation that we miss the opportunity to follow the RIGHT path instead of the POPULAR path or the path that is good for someone else.

You remember that country song the Gambler..."You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, Know when to walk away and know when to run..." The same is true in life situations.

Take the time today to really look at all situations in your life. Make a concerted effort to relinquish it over to God and allow Him to make the decision for you. When that decision is evident and clear don't keep putting it off because it will put you at risk for passing the path that has been placed right in front of you, FOR YOU.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged & Be a Blessing
Racquel

Sunday, August 16, 2009

A Blossom That Eternally Blooms

A Blossom That Eternally Blooms
Pastor Paula White

A good way to determine how steadfast your faith in Christ is, and how completely you have given your life over to the leading of God's Holy Spirit, is to consider the joyous message we are given in Galatians 5:22 - 25:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 - 25

These verses offer an awesome, inspiring, and deeply comforting revelation of how the Christian believer's life, spirit, and actions should transform and manifest when truly "spirit-filled" and "delivered." I can find no better description in the Bible of what a believer experiences, shares and expresses, when listening to, acting out of, and sharing the Spirit of God.

In other words: our lives should "bloom" with the fruit - the "blossom" -- or living proof, of the Holy Spirit within us! And people should be able to see our fruit - in our actions, our words, our lives...as clearly as we might see a juicy, ripe orange hanging from a branch as we pass by...or smell the delicious fragrance of beautiful tulip in spring.

In the verses from Galatians, the words "love," "joy," "peace," "gentleness," and "goodness," immediately fill us with a gratitude to the Creator for His deep and abiding devotion to us. He is GOOD...and His Spirit fills us with His goodness, wraps us in His love, comforts us with His peace, and calms us with His gentleness - and define what true, lasting, and eternally accessible "joy of the Lord" is made up of.

"Longsuffering," "meekness," "faith" and "temperance," are words that describe the characteristics we should display to the world as mature, Spirit-filled Christian believers. Hard won, steadily nurtured, carefully tended virtues - these are the sometimes painfully cultivated fruits of a harvest that the Spirit reveals through our patient, passionate, and persistent commitment to getting the best of what God has to offer!

There is another vital reason for nurturing the Holy Spirit within: it is only through the guidance of that "small, still voice" that we will be able to reap the sustenance of God's grace, power, strength and fortitude during the darkest and most difficult seasons of our lives. His fruits within us are nourishing, empowering, and life-transforming characteristics that will show the world God's omnipotence - as in our weakness, but through His strength, even while shaken, we stand...when everything around us tumbles.

So seek to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit that God reveals in Galatians...and in every season of life, you will be a walking testimony of God's glory on our earth today - truly "a blossom in eternal bloom!"

My personal take....

What a great word. We come across people who are at different levels in their walk with Christ. As Pastor White points out we must be mature Christians walking in "meekness", "temperance" & "faith". When we remove ourselves from the word of God we remove all that is of Him. We begin to speak work that do not uplift, but tear down. We begin to act as if we don't even know Him instead of acting so that God shines through us. There comes a time when we must relinquish our full body, mind & spirit to God so that others can smell the beautiful fragrance of God. This word was right on point.

The time has come for us to take heed and follow the word of God. It is not time to be a play play christian, the time is now to grow and mature in Christ. No longer can we walk in what the world has given us to walk in. we don't have to talk like those that are not of Christ. Let us not be disruptive to those around us with negative talk and hurtful words and actions. We must practice what the word has taught us. We must use that meekness, that temperance and that faith to help another. It is not about us but about God. What we do here on earth should be to edify Him. Our actions, reactions, words, thoughts she be on Him. When we remove self, we allow the Holy Spirit to usher in. The time is NOW for tomorrow is not promised. Relinquish your self and grow in him and come to full blossom.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged and Be a Blessing!

Friday, August 14, 2009

You Reap what you Sow

I was speaking with someone the other day and as the story was being told I thought wow people have issues with communication in relationships. I was always raised to listen more than I talk. As a matter of fact I remember my mother saying to me at 8 years old that God gave me two ears and one mouth so I could listen twice as much as I talked. This will allow you to hear what the person is saying and allow yourself to take it in and process it appropriately.

Some people love to hear themselves talk and they know that their tongue is a mighty sword and use it as one. They cut people down and try and call it tough love. They say every negative thing to the person and say I am doing it to help them. Anything negative is not really helpful. If you treat someone poorly it is true you will get that treatment back.

I believe and the bible tells you, you reap what you sow! Whatever you give out to others, God will eventually give back to you. If you are feeding others negativity that is what you will harvest. You have to treat others the way you want to be treated. At ALL times, No mattter how you may feel, remove the emotions and take a moment to stop and think, if I were the other person how would I want to be treated.

We must begin to really treat others the way we want to be treated. We can't continue to always throw negativity out and expect positive results back. At some point and time we have to look at a situation and see how we are contributing to it and it's negativity. It isn't always one person the street runs both ways.

Take the time today to really put yourself in another person's shoes that you may have had an issue with. Walk with them instead of in front of them or behind them. Treat them with love and kindness and check out your results. I've heard it said that you get more bees with honey than with vinegar. Try bringing on the honey and see what a beautiful result you receive.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged and Be a Blessing

Racquel

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A Great Union

Today I have been married to the most wonderful man for 15 years. It has been such a blessing to be able to find my soul-mate. To be able to say that this man is not only my husband, not only the father of the greatest son in the world, but he is my lover & my friend.

When we were married we had a marvelous wedding. Full of love that was felt through every person that attended. We were ecstatic to begin our lives as man and wife together.

We have had our ups and downs and our scares of not ever being able to see one another again. We were originally supposed to get married in November, but due to a very scary airplane ride from Texas to New York we decided to push it up. As the years have gone by we have had many changes in our relationship, all for the better. Our first change was the commitment we made to one another before God and all of our closest friends and family. This changed our relationship dramatically because it was no more me it became "WE". The next major change was the birth of my son. Again for the better, making us realize the importance of being as one in order to raise a strong young man in this cold cruel world. At that time we had to put "us" in a bigger perspective to include my son into the "WE". Now this was a challenge but we became good parents and even better spouses with this change in our lives.

A few years passed and another change in our lives occurred, the decision to move out of New York to Richmond, VA. Whew now that was a divine act of God. You see had we not been moving on a whim as we did, my husband would have been employed at the Twin Towers, what most know as the World Trade Center. He would have been working in the lower level of those buildings had we stayed in NYC. What is absolutely amazing about this part of our story is that for about a month my husband traveled back and forth from NYC to Richmond preparing to move with his family. His scheduled date to leave NYC was September 11, 2001. God has a sure plan for us as a family. On the day he was to leave as I was talking to him I saw the first plane hit a building that I have seen and visited all of my life. Mind you my husband had the rest of his belongings on his person as he was serving his last day at his job in NYC. Well as I was talking to him on the phone about the first plane, the second plane hit and the phone went dead. Can you imagine my fear? Can you imagine his fear? We lost contact for a couple of hours, as I watched the tv screen at the city I was born and raised in go under attack all sorts of images rushed through my head. God moved me to go and get my son from school where he had been crying since I dropped him off. Sometimes I wonder if he had some feeling as to what was going on in his home town. Well I finally heard from my husband who was walking with a co-worker from midtown to 135th street in Harlem where his father resided. They walked and walked and walked and as I and my sister in law fervently prayed for sign from God that he was ok and there safely the phone rung on the other end. Isn't it amazing what God does when you are faithful and truly depend on Him? My husband, my friend was fine and would be leaving the city on September 12, 2001. When he came in on the train there were armed soldiers and FBI on top of the amtrak train. What a joy it was to see him walk out of that train safe and unharmed. I am crying as I type. What a mighty God we serve. That one event changed not only our lives but it so affirmed the faith that God has placed in us to be so true to Him in in our words, thoughts and actions.

Well, if your bored with this story it only gets better. In 2003 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and in 2004 our life had another upheaval. I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Of course we couldn't believe it and knew that this had to be a mistake. But through all the pain, the bouts of not being able to walk, the crying, the hospital stays this man stood by my side with a praying heart and a strong will for me to recover and live a normal life. He didn't tuck his tail and run. He took his vows seriously and stayed and is still staying through sickness and health. What a difference this made in our relationship. He has had to put up with some craziness with me but has always made it a point to say I love, to plant a kiss on my cheeck, my forehead my lips. Never complaining about anything he has been that strong tree in the storm.

On this day I can truly say that my decision to marry this man was really bound by God. He has truly kept his hand on our marriage and our family. I know he has so much more in store for us as we grow old together. I told my husband divorce is not an option you are stuck with me. Through thick and thin, through trials and tribulations, through ups and downs, through fat and skinny we are in it for the long run.

At our wedding we had the song Flesh of my Flesh playing while we were lighting the unity candle. It goes like this...

You are flesh of my flesh
Bone of my bone
There's no one closer
You are flesh of my flesh
Bone of my bone
We are one

I do pledge my life to you
Forever and always
I will take good care of you
And shower you with praise

Others try and separate us
But they don't have a chance
No one else can take your place
No not even one

I do give my life to you
Today and everyday
I will stand right by your side
Whatever comes our way

I have searched and searched for someone
Who'd make my dreams come true
Nowhere else on this earth
Is there anyone like you

The storms of life can blow and blow
But they won't knock me down
We'll stand the test
The test of time
Cause we stand on Holy ground.

That song has surely depicted our story and was the most appropriate song for our union. I have to say I love my husband and I wouldn't change a thing through out our lives. I am so happy and blessed to have him in my life and look forward to many more years laughing, crying, praying with him.

Matthew 19:6 "So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1 A Time for Everything

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:"

Often we think that things happen by "mistake." In accordance to God's word there is a time for everything. Things are in our life in the season that it is needed. It is never by mistake nor is it something that is not already known by our Father.

Today you may be feeling that you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. You may feel that what is going on with you is not what is supposed to happen to you. Know that everything that you have gone through and are going through is happening for a specific reason in this season in your life. Don't meditate on what is happening, rather look to God to really provide you vision as to what will come out of it. Most of the time it will be revealed if you simply open your heart and submit to His Will.

There is a Time for everything. Your time is now, submit to the will of God so He can work through you in this season of your life.