IN THE DARK

Satan, our enemy, is always working. He seeks, He roams, He accuses, he attacks, he lies, and fear is his prized vehicle. It didn't take long for the enemy to attack my husband and I in the midst of our newest blessing. Darius and I moved in with no problems and were already in love with our spacious and homey surroundings. After having a wonderful weekend in the house, We realized Monday evening that our electricity was turned off? It took a while for me to catch on because it was still day light outside, but after the oven wouldn't turn on I thought wait a minute its awful still in this house? I called my husband and of course he was baffled because he'd taken care of this a month in advance with the electric company to make sure something like this would not happen. Upon contacting them, we found out they needed a large deposit(which wasn't told to us when we set it up)but my Husband thought whatever, we want our electricity back on so he paid it immediately over the phone, only to find out that it didn't matter! It was going to take them 3 days to have our electricity turned back on. We tried everything to get them to move on that policy but nothing worked and when the dust settled we had to go through. What a damper the enemy was trying to place on our blessing. The sun had gone down and it was growing dark quickly. The food in our fridge was starting to get warm, we had to pack it all up and drive it down our friends house. I could see the frustration and disappointment all over my husband. He had been looking forward to and so excited about moving in. He had been elated all weekend. He's a definite home body and this definitely had him in bad mood. I figured I wouldn't make it worse by continuing to accuse him of not handling things right. That night one of our close friends offered for us to stay with them for 3 days so we wouldn't have to be in the Dark, and we were taking him up on his offer. (It felt good to have options.) But as we waited for his wife to answer the door bell and her phone we realized, We should be in our home lights or no lights! What were we doing, I thought as we waited? We were letting Satan chase us out of our new house and running from the dark. We both are Ministers and we're suppose to be leaders in the Church and it just didn't feel right to be running from something like this. We'd only have to do without lights, central heat, and cold drinks(smile) I told my husband that we should leave and he quickly agreed. We both got back in our cars and started back to our new home. As we approached our street and turn the corner the house looked Darker than ever! But we sucked it up and walked in. Everything was still, and kind of cold we lit candles immediately and began to smile. This isn't that bad, I thought, however it was little inconvenient(our smoke doctors went crazy because we had so many candles lit) this world is filled with inconveniences and this one wasn't going to kill us. I began to see so much in the Dark, Satan had convinced us for a brief moment that we weren't going to be able to enjoy our blessing without lights and tried to rain on our entire move in experience, this had even delayed the unpacking of our things! But I'm happy to report that by the second day My husband and I were laughing and cracking jokes and it felt good just being together and in our new home, even in the dark it was still beautiful. Thank God we have a great relationship. We talked more, look through sales papers, talked with our friend & business partner who was still trying to unpack our things by candle light.(we love him he's so dedicated) We also went to bed earlier! And Every morning we woke up early praising and glorifying God "in the Dark." In the Dark he taught us that some trials aren't always as bad as the fear we may have of them. So while I was in the dark I learned that I didn't have anything and that with God nothing is as bad as it could be and that I don't have to be sad. I learned that being in the right attitude makes everything better! This is going to sound strange but I thank God that he allowed us to be in the Dark because without that experience we would not know, what we know now!

A SECOND CHANCE
OH MY GOSH SO MUCH HAS TAKEN PLACE! MY SPOUSE AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN AWESOME TRANSITION. FINALLY AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS HE'S BLESSED US TO GET BACK INTO A HOME. LIFE THREW US, AS DID MANY AT THAT TIME, SOME PRETTY BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS. AFTER PURCHASING A 220,000 HOME AND PURCHASING TWO UTILITY VEHICLES MY HUSBAND'S EMPLOYER OF 9 YEARS WENT BANKRUPT AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS! (And I had put in a 2 week notice that was coming swiftly to a close). My husband was convinced he'd find work making the same amount of money soon, so he told me it was okay to leave my notice in place. But what we both thought and were so confident would happen did not. He was out of work for about a year. We lost our first home one of our utility vehicles and maybe a little bit of faith. We were so confused and wasn't sure why God allowed us to lose so much when we were confident he'd let us keep it because of the way we'd gone through and believed. Our credit at this point was pulverised! And we didn't know if we'd even qualify for an apartment at this point. But God stepped up immediately and gave us favor with a Towne home owner that could relate to our situation and didn't care about our credit. Praise the Lord it was a great new start and this would give us a chance to work on our credit. We lived their a year and 1/2 not knowing when we'd build up enough interest and whatever else we needed to try and get another house. But the time did finally come and GOD, yes in spite of credit he blessed us again to get into A $200,000 home that we absolutely adore! WOW, GOD WILL NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!

I'VE GOTTA BE...


WHAT HE SAYS I AM AND WILL BE. IN THE PAST I'VE WONDERED, WHAT DOES HE SEE IN ME. I DON'T CRAVE THE SPOT LIGHT, NEITHER DO I HAVE TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE. I JUST WANT TO ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB AND MAKE HIM PROUD ME, I REFUSE TO BE THAT TREE. YOU KNOW THE ONE, THAT'S GIVEN A PERFECT HEAD START..TALENT, A GREAT FOUNDATION, RESOURCES, SUPPORT..EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO MAKE IT AND BECOME EVERYTHING IT WAS CREATED TO BECOME, BUT STILL REFUSE TO BLOSSOM FOR GOD. HOW DISAPPOINTING, HOW USELESS! I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW GOD MUST FEEL ABOUT US SOMETIMES. BUT OH NO, THAT WON'T BE ME. I'VE GOTTA BE WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO BE! SOMETIMES IT GETS HARD BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER COMES EASY. I MUST WORK HARD, I MUST STAY FOCUS I MUST BE DILIGENT.

TIS SO SWEET!


Ahhhhhh, these past two days I've enjoyed some of most delicious and unique deserts that has been a blessing to my soul.Yes, that's right something as simple as cake was a blessing. I think sometimes we can get so busy that we forget to enjoy the simple things that God put in this world for us to have. For the first time in my life I tasted a chocolate Kahlua cake. Oh my Goodness! One of my friends wanted to be nice and bought me the cake because I'd been at work by myself all morning (its a small office and can get kind of boring if no one is there)When he presented it to me I thought oh my God this cake looks great! But I was a little reluctant because it had Kahlua in it.(I thought this cake looks soooo good, and I hope it hasn't been ruined by Kahlua(which I've always known to be a type of alcohol) It was chocolate with white cream cheese icing drizzled in caramel and chocolate syrup,Kahlua sauce and sprinkled with Chocolate toffee chips! And on top of that it was a little Warm Ummmmm-um! This cake smelled absolutely divine and the taste, indescribable all I can say is it was ON! I hadn't ate lunch yet, and those who know me, know I won't eat an entire desert before I eat lunch. Well let me tell you that cake was so good, I didn't contemplate long on what I was going to do, that cake was gone in minutes(I had a little help, but still I ate the majority). As my friend and I devoured the cake we thought WOW! God is so awesome to bless us to have taste buds that could taste so many different flavors simeoutaneously! It was a wonderful experience ALLVI could think toward the end of that desert is, "I can't believe I shunned Kahlua cake all this time, I can't wait to enjoy another piece, and I will take my own "sweet time" eating it!!!!!!!

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS.....

Being misunderstood for most of us is one of the biggest fears we can face. Think about it. How did you feel the last time someone took something you spoke as straight foward as you could, and turn it into the complete opposite? If you're anything like me you were probably shocked or baffled. Usually my thoughts are, what other way could I have said this to make them understand? Am I the one crazy? So in future conversations we try our best to be clear in what we're saying while explaining and elaborating the heck out of a simple situation. We don't want one sentence to be taken out of context so what should've bee 2 minute conversation easily turns into 10(and God forbids if they show they aren't receiving what we're saying well)! We could all use more discernment and wisdom when talking to some people. There's only so much we can control. The bottom line is we can't control what people think. You may be able to get through to some,but with most people they're going to think what they want no matter how much explaining you do. So why do we continue to try and hedge every sentence?

Why can't we just come right out and say whatever it is we want to say and leave it at that. One of the reasons is because we don't want to give the other person a chance to form a negative thought or comment about it. It's some what of a defense mechanism. We try to figure out what the person may be thinking or about to say , and we'll try to head them off with adding a tag line. I am so guilty of this! And I REALIZE... I WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY! I use to say what I meant and however they wanted to take it, was on them? I didn't let it bother me. But that begin to cost me so much headache and frustration. Things would come back to me the complete opposite of what I said or meant. And I must admit most of the misunderstandings could've been from the tone of my voice or a crazy facial expression.

Those things communicate more to people than the actual words that are coming out of our mouths. I know I have this problem I'm very expressive and most things show up on my face, but does not always tell the entire story. So over the years its just been easier for me to try over explain what I really mean so people won't be hurt or get the wrong impression. But I've realized lately that this is not necessary, I could be sending an even deeper message to the listener by over explaining and giving reasons for everything. And quite frankly I'm growing tired of doing this.

From now on I will practice saying what I mean as straight forward as possible with love and wisdom. And let the other person do with it what they will because no matter how much I say, I can't fully control how they receive the words that are coming out of my mouth.

TODAY, I CHOOSE!
Today, I choose to be who God made me, and not what everyone else expects or would prefer I be. I choose to be content with the life God gave me and to make the best of the choices that I've made for myself. We all choose a certain path for our lives and after sometime has passed we wonder if we've made the wrong choice because things aren't going the way we'd prefer them to go. Some choices we make aren't always that easy to back out of our turn around & we just have to learn to deal. Now, there's nothing wrong with striving for greatness and wanting to go higher. But when that thing consumes your mind and makes you disgusted, and depressed over what you currently are? That just isn't healthy. We are what we are? And as long as we know we're living each day to the fullest and doing all we know to do to make live a honest and Godly life, we should be content with ourselves and happy with our lives.
Many of us are poor, some very rich, a handful of us are well off or comfortable, and plenty are barely making it. Its just the way the world is.
ButI thank God it's not our final resting place! I thank God that he's preparing an eternal home in heaven for all of us to live,(that choose him) one that is so beautiful and regal we could not dream up a better place!
Here on earth every one wants to be rich and successful as the world views wealth and success. But everyone wont be? That's just the bottom line. We all need to be happy with what our lots are in this life and strive everyday to live it to the fullest and praise God for all the surprises and blessings he does send our way.
Today, I choose to live and be happy!

Welcome!
Today we received into the world our newest family member. Our Brother and Sister had to wait 7 long years before they were able to conceive and bring forth their first child and he was definitely worth the wait. He is just adorable, and we love him so much already. God is so faithful. He promised the parents 4 years ago that their little boy would be here, and too look upon his face was just like wow. It's really encouraging to see promises being fulfilled in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters because it gives the rest of us that are waiting so much hope.

What brings me Joy???
I know the things that makes me feel fulfilled. So,If I know what those things are? why am I not as consistent as I should be in pursuing those things? Everyday I plan to do things I know I'm responsible for, but sometimes(for a lot reasons) I don't always get to them. There is so much to do and so little time to do it in. But if I could just prioritize and make the time to atleast start working on a thing, I know I will have a productive day. And for the most part today, was one of those days! Yes! It makes me feel so good when I study the word of God and get out it what I know I should get from it. Things that I never fully understood become so clearer and more intriguing so much so, that its hard to tare myself away!
If we want to be successful in God, we're gonna have to ask for a deeper love. For everything that he loves! The Love of God's word, his people, and his Ministry must be our treasur. Because whatever we deem as treasure will be closest to our hearts and whatever is closest to our hearts we give the most attention to.
Today, I asked God for his help in another ministry project and he exceeded what even I expected. I thought boy I am on a role, thank you God! And all because I sat down and got started, and was diligent. I know what brings me Joy, its being a good stewart over what God gave me, making good use of my time and talents, being responsible for whatever projects God has trusted me with. I love Learning new things that will benefit the ministry and my personal growth & fulfillment. All it takes for me to get this on a daily basis is to get up and get started??
Now, don't misunderstand me. I have a lot of productive days; not a day goes by when I'm not doing something ministry wise, I'd be in constant disobedience and neglect if I were not. But I know it could be so much greater, there is so much to do so much to learn, and so little time to do it in. I thank God for every new day that I get because every new day is one more opportunity for me. Time is moving so fast and sometimes I feel so behind, I can't afford to have very much idle time. The enemy,(Satan) knows if he could get me distracted I'm not going finish what I started.
Distractions are actually a problme for most of us. It is the biggest trick in the book! Satan will get you all wrapped up in other things that really could wait, things that don't matter and before you know anything your day is gone!Procrastination and Piddling will Kill our day,we must be consiouis of the time in our day. Time is not ours to waste we're all required to give account of ourselves to God. I didn't accomplish everything I planned to do today, but I did knock out a big chunk of it, because I got started. And that is all any of us have to do, We must get moving and especially when we don't feel like it! All God is asking, is for us to take the first step out of idleness or carnality, and if we trust what he's trying to do for us, we will have sweet success!

Life reveals something new to us everyday. We never really arrive, we're constantly learning and that's one of the things that keeps life interesting for me. I remember when I turned 18 years old, and 19 and then 20, and I'd say hey, I'm grown. "I know a thing or two about life" But looking back, now at the age of 31, I realize I didn't know much of nothing! There's so much cockiness and ignorance that comes with youth that its funny; and the thing, is the only way you'll walk into the some sort of light is through the experiences that life brings you. Remember when you were growing up? Your parents or other grown ups in your life would try and talk to you about "the road they've already traveled" and you just wouldn't listen? We just had to try things for ourselves , do it our way. Foolishness will tell us, just because its happend to them doesn't mean it will happen to me! Youth tells us we are strong enough to avoid "life" and the things that we must go through to be made. But King Solomon stated well in The book of Eccleasties: there's nothing new under the sun? Meaning, there's nothing happening now, that didn't happen from the beginning of time? Oh, I agree that things in this 21st century may have a few twists to them but the way in which they should be approached is still the same. People are People no matter how old the world gets. And none of us have a monoply on a trials. No condition or situation is that unique. There's always going to be someone in this world that has gone through what you're about to face, so much so, they could write a book about it. Experience and aging are defintitely the best teacher and I'm learning so much. I am only 31 years old and it scares me when I look at people in their fifties and sixites that are still learning hard lessons. Some unprovoked and some they bring on themselves, but however it came about they had to learn from them if they wanted to continue growing, and if they want to make it in this world.

You should never come a time when we say,"that's it." I'm too old to learn anything else! If you're alive, you're going to be taught whether you want it or not!
I use to hear the older people say all the time when I was growing up: You think you've gone through something? You think you've seen it all? Baby... Just keep living. And you know what, I'm just beginning to understand what they meant.

Lord. I would like to think that if God bless me to reach my golden years that I would have learned a whole lot about life and people, what a wasted oppourtunity that would be. We are put on this earth to do God's work, his will and to be a help to one another. But if we refuse to learn and turn, we can't help anybody.

I've learned a lot and recently I've learned that it's important to never assume anything, or jump to conclusions. I've learned that its not smart to judge or speak in depth about a matter unless you know the whole story. And even if you know the whole story, you must decide if what you're saying is necessary to who you're saying it to.

I've learned recently to take the time and listen instead of always having to have an opinion and speaking it. (that part is the hardest) those who know me, know I love to talk and I always got something to express. Whether it be one of my many animated facial expressions or one of my fiesty comments! ( It's made me one of the most misunderstood people I know, but I am still learning). I'm learning there's nothing wrong with being me. God made me the way I am, so instead of trying to snuff that out, I'll just use my fiestiness and boldness to preach his word, to witness, and anywhere else it'll fit into his plan.
My lesson for today was, my comments and opinions are not always necessary. Sometimes people want to know what you have to say and other times they just want to talk. They want to be given the chance to be heard and not have a the hearer always anaylzying everything they say. I've learned that all people want is to be loved, heard and respected. If you can offer them this on a regular basis then you will earn the trust, admiration, and respect of even, your worst enemy!