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Welcome! I'm really excited that you have stopped by. I'm sure that you're just as busy as I am but still want to find enjoyable ways to fill your life with God-centered things. Well, you've come to the right place. Whether you have 5 minutes or 35 minutes, there is something here for you. Through each post, I hope to guide you towards the one source for which we can depend on. Subscribe and invite your friends so that we can all grow closer to God together!

Monday, August 13, 2012

A Pause to Say Thanks


Hey Lord,

It took a really good friend to knock some sense into me yesterday. "You really need to stop and thank the Lord." It is true. I need to stop and say thanks. So, here I am, pausing from FB and other social medias, work, clubs and other leadership duties, and all other distractions, to talk to you; the one who I should spend more of my time with.

While catching up on my childhood cartoon on Sunday, you spoke to me. I was shocked at first, because I don't really expect to get anything from moving pictures, but nonetheless I got more than I bargained for.

From the Adventures from the Book of Virtues:

"When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seen WORST that you mustn't quit."

Lord, I when I needed you the most, you reached your strong arms around me and pulled me close. It was at that moment that I recalled that you were already at my side; sharing my personal space, but I'm glad you are. Continue to share the same air as me, to walk with me, to read what I read, and to watch me as I sleep. I feel safe with you around and lost when I think that you are not near. 

Tomorrow commeth soon, so I'm going to take your hand today.

~Shana

Thursday, July 26, 2012

God Works in Mysterious Ways

Sometimes the phrase "God works in mysterious ways" is an understatement. But nonetheless, it is true. God truly works in mysterious ways. We, as humans, spend a lot of time trying to understand ourselves; who we are and what we are made for. Half the time we don't fully trust God because we don't understand our inner workings. But the.... but then God comes around the corner. He is armed with answered prayer and peace. But, we are confused, because we don't grasp how the answers relate to us. We hesitate to accept the peace. Next thing you know, emotions are rising up from the crevices of your heart, challenging God's answers....

What if........
              But how about......
                                Remember feeling........

Then I remember that all the old things Satan (Snap, it was him all along) tries to drudge up and that indeed- old. Man, Satan can make the past seem like yesterday; sometimes it is, but most of the time it was weeks, months or years ago.

Somewhere along the line, I gave those insecurities, frustrations, worries to God. So, Satan, you actually have no power over me. If I did not give them to God in the past, then I can now and Satan still loses.

God is truly mysterious. He answers prayers when he wants to. Show's up when he wants to while simultaneously never leaving your side. And now that Satan is out of the way, we see that the answers to our questions also reveal and explain more of who God made us to be. Then before we know it we have taken the peace that He was offering. We win.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Compared to Forever

"We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever."
~2 Cor 4:17-18

I woke up this morning from a very troubling dream. It happens at times, but is no fun none the less. I just looked at Jesus and asked, "Why?" Just like a child looks at his parent with the eyes filled with pain and confusion, I looked to my Father. But God the Father took my eyes without hesitation and directed they to 2 Corinthians.

The words began to fill me with energy and hope. confusion began to leave and my mind once again understood that, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Cor 3:17) You can't argue with freedom. That is what we all desire. Freedom from the pain and afflictions from life and Satan.

If you have ever been in pain, welcome to humanity. If you have never been freed from pain while it is happening, let me introduce you to my God. Pain comes, stirring everything within you up, and often leaves scares. But, God is in the business of healing. He does not have to take the situation away to heal you. He does not have to remove all the emotions to heal you. He only needs access to your heart.

We literally have a whole lotta troubles going on in our lives, no doubt. Without them, though, we would be in a pretty sad state in life. So, how does God begin the healing process? By asking us to look beyond the few inches in front of us. Look beyond the few feet in front of us. Look beyond the few miles in front of us. Look beyond a few years in the future. Look to eternity. There will not be financial problems in eternity. You will not have awkward situations in eternity. You will not have to choose between food and gas in eternity. You will not be hit or abused; ignored or exalted; made to feel insecure or cocky.

The situation you are in will only last a short time. Whether it be a few days or a few decades, it is only a passing moment compared to forever.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Stress


"15 Then Nathan went home. And the Lord caused the son of David and Bathsheba, Uriah's widow, to be very sick. 16 David fasted and went into his house and stayed there, lying on the ground all night. 17 The elders of David's family came to him and tried to pull him up from the ground, but he refused to get up or to eat food with them.
18 On the seventh day the baby died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said, 'Look, we tried to talk to David while the baby was alive, but he refused to listen to us. If we tell him the baby is dead, he may do something awful.'
19 When David saw his servants whispering, he knew that the baby was dead. So he asked the, 'Is the baby dead?' They answered, 'Yes, he is dead.'
20 Then David got up from the floor, washed himself. put lotions on, and changed his clothes. Then he went into the Lord's house of worship...."
     ~2 Samuel 12:15-20

Having had a tough day, and hearing council from a good friend about letting go of stress, I knew that I wanted to return to my hommie David and recall his many stressful situations. How did he deal?

I carefully and prayerfully opened my eyes to this chapter. Although David's situation isn't similar in any way to my situation, stress is stress. There were a couple things that jumped out at me. It is all that human nature shinning through.

1) The struggle.
After hearing from Nathan that his baby was going to die, David shut down. Nathan spoke all that God asked him to speak. It was all very clear what the consequences of David's actions were and why they were going to occur. But, after hearing these things, David shut down. Not easy things to grasp, yes that is true, but the deeper struggle is acceptance.
How easy is it to accept the hurricanes that come our way. It's a whole lot easier to curl into a ball or to lose momentum. The emotions that desire to linger during these times are dangerous. They are so borderline. You desire to give God all in the situation, but.... There is the 'but'. That's why I use the term struggle.

2) The Hearing Impaired
When you are at the point of deciding whether or not to give all to the Lord, we often times become like the hearing impaired- temporarily at least. Everyone tried to talk to David. It got to the point where they were not sure how emotionally stable he was. When the baby actually died, everyone was walking on eggshells, unsure of what would happen at any second.
At that moment when the flesh is weak but oh so strong and you hear Jesus speaking, do you listen to him. It's like when we are in class. You hear your boring-redundant professor speaking, but are you intently listening? Internalizing the words leaving his/her mouth?

"21 David's servants said to him, 'Why are you doing this? When the baby was still alive, you fasted and you cried. Now that the baby is dead, you get up and eat food.'
22 David said, 'While the baby was still alive, I fasted, and I cried. I thought, 'Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.' But now that the baby is dead, why should I fast? I can't bring him back to life. Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me.'"
     verses 21-22

Breakthrough. Choosing not to stress about things that are not in your control (or in your control). David was able to make that choice in regard to losing his child. His child.... How much more should I be able to dedicate all of my emotions to God? How much more should I let things go. I have not experienced the pain in losing a child. But, it's not the amount of pain that makes the difference, it's amount of peace that you really want. Either you desire to be at rest or you desire to hold onto the unrest.

I am no longer stressed.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Focus.... or A.D.D.??

Ha! Focus. What are you?

So, I may joke, but focus is not a strength of mine. Determination suuure, I've got plenty of that. Focus, however... not so much.

Often times I wonder why I have to be so A.D.D. Like, why can't I just be beast and have mad focus skills? I guess it is that proverbial thorn in my side or it just is what it is. One thing I know for sure is that I have it. =)

What I ask of you Lord, right now, at this very moment, is for you to grant me the honor of having my mind think about only one thing right now. SCHOOL! Two tests tomorrow and I need the peace of knowing that time is not flying away from me without there being anything I could do about it. So, I come to you in prayer. I open my heart and my mind to you. Enter in and cleanse. Take away the urges to be distracted by this and that. Take me through this night, because honestly only you can at this point.

So, since I know that you are the bomb dezzy and can do all things, I ask this in Your son's name Jesus. He is awesomely cool and powerful, and I trust Him with all that I am.

I love you even though there are a lot of things in my life that I don't understand right now.... :-)

Stay fly :-)

Amen.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Have You Met My God??

Lord,

It's been a hard scary week.
Not sure why all this has gone down.
But, I don't need to understand to trust you.

Satan thinks he can squash my purpose.
He has not met my God!

My body thinks that it will not recover.
It has not met my God!

My mind thinks it is not capable of understanding.
Who is wonderfully made by God again?

I may loose faith in who I am.
Have I forgotten that I'm besties with God??

The pain that is in my heart.
Skipping from vein to vein.
Will not consume me much longer.
Has it not met my God??

I am sure
   I am sure
      I am sure

as there is air in my lungs

     I serve a RISEN Savior!!

        So, Satan, if you thought you won this week....

                                                          HA!

Monday, March 12, 2012

2 Kings 11

     I always loved the story of Joash, "The Boy King," when I was growing up. What was not to love? He was a jit, yet he was ruling a country. Not only that, but his entrance was so grand. :-) That's pretty awesome for a boy who was only seven years old. As I read the story now I have noticed a few new things that remind me of how experience may not always seem to work in your favor, but on God's side, they always do.
     After Athaliah, Joash's grandmother, went on killing spree of all her family, Joash's aunt stole him and hid him. Now of all the words that you could insert there, stole is an interesting one to use. Strong. For Joash, that was not fun, good thing he was a baby. But, they took him to a safe place, the temple. Irony: Judah was so far from God that Athaliah never thought of checking the church for her family. Deep.
     Finally, I admired the strong stand that Jehodiah, the priest took. He orchestrated the crowing of Joash. Commanded the special palace guards on what to do and made sure everything was planned out to the 't' and organized.
     There is soo much to be taken from this one chapter. For one, experiences in life are what help to shape who you are. Some times those experiences can be crazy. Athaliah was just crazy, she done lost her marbles. Being taken from your family as a baby, never to know them. Whether or not your family is crazy or sane, it's a blessing to know them. Then you have to prepare to take the throne at seven years old. There are spears and shields all around you as if your life may be taken at any moment, but you have to be a big boy-- a man. This is no normal llife. How many of us could handle such a call. So many people can barely handle the call that God has given them in their families or careers, let alone leading a country. The crazy thing is that each individuals call is great in the eyes of the Lord, which makes them great. Wow.... we must all answer God's call without comparing it to that of the person next to us. When we do that, we run the risk of convincing ourselves not to answer.
     In this story it was imparative for each person to play their part. Joash had to say yes, Jehoiada had to say yes to the Lord, the temple guards had to risk their lives by betraying the queen, Jehosheba, Joash's aunt, had to answer God's calling and take the child. Crazy, what would the story been like had one of the main characters said no to God? Why was it so organized. What was God doing? What was the end of the story to look like? Well, the end is yet to come. We are all still apart of the story. Because all of the these people obeyed God, God was finally able to put Judah back on the right track. King after king had disobeyed God. It seemed as though God was no longer good enough. But, after Joash becomes king, it is time to destroy all of Baal's temple and followers. This time however, "all the people of the land," took that temple down. All. In past chapters, it would say that the a king would order for Baal temples to be done away, but not this time. This time the story points out a change in the people. They took the reigns and were ready to go wherever God called. That is what this whole story is about! God wanted to show his people hat it is possible to follow Me. Look at all of these people who have been following me for years. Look at how faithful they are to me. You can be faithful too. God wants to use our lives to bring others to His side! There is not a person out there who has no influence in someone else's life. It could be a stranger or someone you know. We just need to say yes to the Lord and be used so that we can finally go HOME!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

King Jehu

     I just finished reading a few chapters in 2 Kings- 8,9, and10. Usually I will only read just a chapter or a portion of a chapter so that I can really dig into that chapter. But this morning, I read more. I went from story to story, learning a lot, but also gaining a nice sized picture of the events of that time. Then arrived at the story of Jeru. Very interesting story.
     Jeru was a commander of Jerhoram, King of Judah. One day a young prophet comes to him to anoint him and let him know that he would be the new king of Judah. The prophet also gave specific instructions for Jeru that entailed eradicating the entire family of Ahab- just as Elijah had prophesied. If you read the story, you see that Jeru did a mighty fine job. But, what gets me is how his story ends. He was clearly skills at what he did. Wise and also influential. He rid of any trace of Baal worship from the land.Woot!! Right? Yea, that's some good stuff, but then he remained a worshiper of golden calves. What?!
     God does this thing in Exodus where He took His finger and wrote ten wonderful commands onto stone tablets. The first two say that we should not have any gods other than God and that we should not make any idols to worship. Jeru was on fire for the Lord, mostly. But does mostly even count?
Can we be mostly Christian? Can we be mostly driving in one lane? Can we mostly clean a dirty dish and it be considered clean?  
Joshua 24:15 challenges us to choose who we are going to serve. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus counsels that no man can serve both God and Satan, he will always pick a side.
     It's a sad ending to such a great beginning. Reminds me of the story of Judas, such a sad ending to such a great beginning. Morale of the story? We have to go all the way, man! We can't only give a portion of our life to God and think that that is good enough. We all know the verse,
"For what shall it profit a man, if should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" ~Mark 8:36. 
So, what shall it profit a man if he thinks that giving most to God is good enough, and is used by the Lord, but looses his soul in the end?
     "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive our demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly,'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'"

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Amazing Sabbath!!

God, you are more than amazing! Sometimes, slash most of the time, I just can't put you into words. Today, I would say, has been an affirming day. The word that was spoken by your manservant was.... the fire that consumed much of the mess in my heart. The word was fierce and bold, reminding me that God is not looking for followers who will watch Jesus carry His cross. He wants followers who will take up their own cross and walk with the Lord. Accepting whatever consequences that come about because of that decision. Keep me eyes focused on Christ and we will not fall into the traps that Satan will set up.

Affirmation.

More than just a beautiful thing, it is needed in the lives of all men. There is not a person on this plant who can go without the affirmation the Lord provides. Also, today He showed me how we, people, can affirm each other. It isn't always about sharing something a person has never heard before, so many times it is saying what they have heard. Speaking those familiar and comforting words at the right time pertaining to the right circumstances. Thanks Lord!

There is so much beauty to be seen in the works of the Lord. Besides the beautiful weather that kept me smiling as I took a walk, I took in the scents of the love of God. I took in the sights of miracles. I felt the presence of my one true love. For me, that calls to entitling today an Amazing Sabbath!! :-D

Friday, March 2, 2012

For What Reason?

So, God is not so subtly showing me that His reasons are not always my reasons. So, why would you put me in that situation? That question for some reason tends to appear it's pretty little head into my life. Why? Why? Why? It is true that God does not have to answer that question, but because of love He sometimes does. He has definitely been doing that for me there past few weeks. Why has He been doing that? Preparation.

Preparation: The action of making ready or being made ready for use.

It is a series of actions. The simple everyday events that he has allowed to take place in my life has been to prepare me for the future that He is taking me to. I think that we have grown up in an evironment where we think that we have to be set up in a certain type of environment or relationship to learn what is needed. What about God? Does He not poses the ability to teach and educate on anything that He has created or that you need to know about? We ought not to limit God to a very small classroom. He can set you up in a situation or teach you one on one. 

Ultimately he wants us to be prepared to what is to come. There are so many lessons in the Bible that educate us and prepare us for an unknown future. There are even some books that are prophetic so that we are prepared for situations that will be so far out off our conception. The future may be unknown, but it does not have to be foreign.

I love the thought that God puts me in the know when I think I know not. When He gives me peace in place of worry when I feel like I am still filled with fear. When He gives me glimpses of a future that is unlike my past. When I learn about x from situation y.

God retaught me that He has no limits.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Whose Plans Should Have the Stage

     I took a moment today to reflect on how God uses our testimony to bless others. I was reminded of that when I spoke with my brother a few days ago. What was supposed to be a conversation where a sister was supporting her older brother, it became a conversation where God was supporting His son.
     It was intense. Hearing the words come out of my mouth that I knew were not my own. I felt as if I was sharing my experience and the experience was transforming into so much more. After the call, I was exhausted, but I felt great.
     Today God reminded me of an important message, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you...." I spent so much time recently trying to create my own miracle. I possess no such power. Whereas, I possess the power to give it all to God. Do my part and let God handle the rest. 
     God also revealed that he allowed the recent events to get worse right before He answered my prayers, because He wanted me to forever remember that it was He who worked it all out. Not me and my own works. I will always remember who was the author and finisher of that chapter.
     Allow God's plan to do more than take center stage, allow them to have the stage!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Time to Go Home!!

I know that I said my next post would be in conjunction to my last, but I going to step away for a second and write about something else.

     So, it's Friday evening and I am walking into the Collegedale Church sanctuary very determined to find a seat and fast. The place is filled more than usual. Why is that? Then it dawns on me. Mother-daughter weekend. Oh crap.... Then the one thing that I had been avoiding all week was directly in my face. My mother was not beside me. I received the dreadful news on Monday during my eight o'clock class and had chosen not to think about it. Now, as I sat in a pew by myself, I knew I wanted the friends that I cared about the most right next to me. I knew I needed to feel the warmth and love of those that I loved. I thought about who was going to actually be in attendance for vespers and then sent out the texts: calling all loved ones!!
    Knowing that I know longer sat alone, it gave me some peace; the peace that does not pass all understanding. But I quickly began to realize that there was more to this situation. That I felt more inside than I had originally wanted to see. My eyes began to wander into a different world. Seeing things from a different angle. My eyes lost interest in the songs being sung. My body became tense as I folded my arms. Then one of my friends reached out to me. Reminding me of who had never left me side.... The peace that passes understanding began to mist about me.
     The senses that the good Lord gave me, began to work once more. I felt my heart opening up to the songs that those around me were singing. The peace that passes understanding began to rain upon me.
     Then after vespers I loose my phone. Really? Was this was I needed? Where had the peace gone? Was I sensing a drought coming on? But, when it comes to God, does silence equate distance? I sat on the bleachers of Spalding, before making my way to my room, crying out to the Lord! Why?? I just wanted to be home. Home in my bed! Home with my family! ... Does silence equate distance?
     When I stopped wanting to know it all and just figuratively sat motionless in my room, all I heard was my air conditioner. I sat longer and I heard a knock on my door. I sat longer and heard the word of the Lord spoken through my friend. I sat.... and finally ..... the silence was broken.
     "Do you long for an earthly permanent address that does not exist more than you long for your everlasting home?" Thus saith the Lord.
     Such words struck a cord in my heart. I am but a single woman, one of many, on this plant, but for one woman Jesus would have died. His all was consumed by this world and spit out. Why? Home. My Father did all that He had to do to make sure I would come home to him.  How insane it is that I will shed a tear for Miami, Fl, but not for HEAVEN, state unknown (for city or country can claim it)!
     It seems as those who saw heaven didn't want to come back to earth, so is it going to be that those who have never seen heaven will only yearn to stay on earth? Shucks, it won't even be for long....

Thursday, February 16, 2012

More Than a Simple Concept

Well, this being my first blog, I will just dive into my thoughts. Woot!

     Balance. So much more than an instrument used in a science lab, it is the essence of life. Look at the weather that we have been encountering these past few years, it has been very inconsistent. One year it is snowing a lot in a region that hardly ever gets snow, and the next year that same region is back to normal. People of various backgrounds and geographical locations will deliberate on what could be causing such an unbalance. Ultimately, they come to no single conclusion, instead they agree to disagree.
     So, what else could balance entail? We are all familiar with the concept of living a balanced life. Yes. That is no new concept. But, is it more than a concept? What does a balanced life entail? Eating right, getting an appropriate amount of sleep each night, exercising and spending quality time with the Lord. But, if I attempt to do each of these things, does that automatically mean that I am now living a balanced life? My answer is no.
     Devotions are critical to my sanity. Each day I seek to spend quality time with the Lord to ensure that I am equip for the day. This past week, God has been defining balance slowly but surely. So, what has He been sharing? One, it all starts in the mind. Two, patience is the forgotten ingredient. And, more to come when He reveals the other components.
     In this blog, I'll dive into numero uno. Why does it all start in the mind? Well, who makes you pick the red shirt over the green one? Who makes you choose what to cook for dinner? You make these decisions yourself. You talk yourself into or out of anything! Man, that is so true. Why I sometimes start to get ready for the gym, but never exactly get my sneakers on.... Fail! I have noticed how little times during the day do we make calculated decisions. Instead we just go with whatever works for the moment. Imagine, though, if we would see life more in the big picture. What a difference that would make. Instead of taking a nap, we could do something to get our mind going again. Then we would stay productive and ultimately not feel the pressure to stay up late. Just an example.
    So, nothing new, it all begins in the mind. What does that have to do with balance? Who has the power to help you make better decisions? Decisions that, when you put them altogether, reveal a beautiful picture of balance. The author of our faith should also be the author of our decisions. It is so hard for us to make all the right decisions to keep a balanced lifestyle, that most of us give up after a day or two of trying. We need to open our tired eyes, and see that the God who we spend time wants to step in and lead our minds. When you are frustrated, which will affect your decisions making ability, He can take control of every nerve. When you are overwhelmed by the tasks of life, He can relax every nerve. Then He moves beyond your mind and to your body. You become filled with peace and assurance. Suddenly you have a sense of clarity and hope. The sleep you thought you would never get, you realize you have had for two days straight now. The concept of drinking 8 glasses of water becomes easy as pie. The walk to gym shrinks from 30 minutes to 5 minutes. 3 hours of study time for 2 classes, turns into 5 hours for 4 classes. Reality is what you make it. So, when God takes reign over your mind, true balance becomes your reality.