"Thinking and Thanking God"

Matthew 25:23, "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

Happy Harvest Month!! It's time we all THINK and THANK God for all the valleys, storms and hardships He has brought us to and through:) 2012 has been the YEAR of ELECTION not just in the White House, but also in OUR HOUSE. We have to continue our personal campaigns and do so in a way that is pleasing to God and our families. There has been much destruction over the land, but God is good and God is God. We have so much to be thankful for and we should take every opportunity to thank God for keeping us safe, healthy and in our right mind. Some people would love to have somewhere to lay their head and others would give the world to be able to simply stand up and move their legs. My grandmother says, "We will understand it better by and by" and I believe it is safe to say that the "by and by" is here and we have to be ever so careful of treating folks right and being good stewards. November is the Month of Thanksgiving and most of us spend that special day declaring how thankful we are for what we have, but wake up the following morning to spend money and fight people over items we truly don't need. 12 is a very special number, it is the order of government and the number Jesus had in mind when He chose his disciples and the number of completion for the woman with the issue of blood. 2012 is shortly coming to an end and it's not too late to work on being the NEW YOU that you said you would be this NEW YEAR:) Above all, be faithful and respectful over what you have and in due season God will make you in authority over things you want:)

"Fall Into Favor"

As we enter into the Harvest Season, let's take time to reflect on the goodness of our God and
the seasons we have endured patiently while waiting for our blessings. September is the month of transition that leads to our last trimester of the year.  Fall is the season where
we look forward to adjusting the climatic atmosphere in our homes and a time where we enjoy

the beautiful landscapes of nature, walks in the park, and enjoy the sweet smell of cinnamon, apples, and pumpkin. I encourage you to spiritually shift your atmosphere by examining the friendships, relationships, your marriage, career, family life, etc...to discern what God would have you to do or not do in each capacity. What I love about Fall is how nature QUIETLY rids itself of things that are not necessary for it to survive, such as leaves and the dying of grass.  Jesus made it very clear to His Disciples that there is plenty of GOODIES for them to receive, but a conscious effort had to be made to receive His GOODNESS. As with anything in life, we receive the fruits of the seeds we have planted whether they be good or bad. Let's walk forth in the Spirit of Excellency as Jesus commands and pray that we are able to partake in the Fullness of God and the overflowing of our cups:) Always remember, God is always near to CATCH you in your FALL seasons:)

Collards and Cornbread

Acts 2:46, "Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple and courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."

Traditions are the hallmark of every family and we have to be ever so careful of ensuring that we pass them down in a healthy manner to our children and families. Tradition is a deep southern way of life and we have to be mindful of recognizing that all traditions aren't healthy and should be aborted if they don't bring peace and joy to the recipients involved. My family has a tradition of eating collards and cornbread and although I haven't MASTERED the art of cooking collards, I understand the CONCEPT! In today's society, the passing along of recipes, books, Sunday worship, having fellowship, and Bible Study are becoming ENDANGERED JOYS and the value of these traditions aren't seen as invaluable as they were to our grandparent's generation. We live in a microwave society where if things don't happen quickly, we don't want them. The beauty in tradition is that they are developed over time and with love. I encourage young couples with young families to meditate on some of the traditions you desire to pass along to your children and start creating ones of your own. They don't have to be all "deep and spiritual," it can be as simple as taking a nap after church or going to the park to walk on a designated day of the week. I look forward to my afternoon chats with my husband about my goals and dreams while we eat ice-cream:) Always remember, fellowship is good for the soul and it's not about the activity that matters, it's about coming together in a good place with a glad heart. Be blessed and encouraged:)

"To Have And to Hold"

August is the month of new beginnings and this month will mark my 7th year wedding anniversary on August 15th and my husband's birthday on August 16th. I treasure each day, moment, and season with the love of my life because I realize in this society, marriages are microwavable and aren't taken as sacred nor serious as former generations considered them. I reflect on the vows I made to my husband at the tender age of 20 daily, however during the month of celebration I carefully examine them and determine where I stand in fulfilling our agreement. This year as I read over the vows, "To Have And To Hold" struck a cord in my heart. Many desire to HAVE a spouse, but to HOLD on to one is work that most are unwilling to fulfill. As I reflect on the times we have endured as best-friends, lovers, and parents, it amazes me how we have grown over the years and the strength we have allowed each other to gather in the times of storms. I treasure my marriage and it has truly sharpened me into the woman I am today. To those who are waiting on God to send your other half, I encourage you to become the better half that you seek.  Always remember, Love is a beautiful feeling when it is first felt towards the person that desires to be the recipient of it.

Prayer, Pennies, Peanut Butter

Philippians 4:12, "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

We live in a society where people feel they are entitled to have the "best" of everything without having to suffer anything. Those who have the most usually are those who have lived off the least. Along our journey, we have to embrace our life lessons and find the blessing in each lesson we encounter. Paul stated in Philippians 4:12 that he knew both how to be abased and how to abound in every situation and circumstance he had to endure. Being abased comes through a process where God humbles us to the core to show us WHO we are and WHOSE we are. We should appreciate the times where we only have prayer, pennies and peanut butter to live on. These are teaching times and we can and will make it once we realize that God-not man is the source of our strength. No matter how far you go in life, always remember the 3 P's (Prayer, Pennies, and Peanut Butter)

Prayer is essential in every season of your life, even Jesus had to pray to make Satan flee and He teaches us that we have to pray without ceasing. You can never have enough prayer for your spiritual intake.

Pennies-We can't abound until we have been abased. Always count your pennies and respect the value of a dollar. Money isn't easy to come by nor is it hard to spend. Find a good balance and spend wisely.

Peanut Butter-Peanut butter represents the staple of our households. Focus on the basic necessities in this season of your life. You may not have everything you want, but God will ensure you have everything you need. Peanut butter and jelly ain't never killed nobody:)

Spring (Spiritual) Cleaning

It's Spring Cleaning Time!!! We often associate spring cleaning with tidying up and removing items that we don't need nor desire to carry into the next season of our lives. I encourage you to do a thorough SPIRITUAL CLEANSING in this season of your life. Take inventory of relationships, friendships, careers, family members, and circumstances that you encounter on a daily basis and determine are they needs or wants and if their time of access has run its course. Label each person in your life according to the position  and purpose they serve and name them honestly.  Genesis 2:20 says, "So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him." Every person that you have allowed to have access into your life should serve a purpose and position. Who are the cattle, birds, and the beasts in your life? 
(Cattle) friends don't require much from you, they give of themselves freely, easy to maintain relationship with and they are willing to go to the chopping block with or for you. 
(Bird) friends are meek and humble people who don't mind being in the background of your success. They are willing to help you build privately and they are preservers.
(Beast) friends are all about themselves and what you can do to further their agenda. They take from you and are busy bodies who seek to feast off of your work and worth.


As you go forth in your spiritual cleansing, don't take short cuts and do it from a professional-not personal perspective. Good luck to you and remember the secret ingredient to ensuring that you don't miss any spots is prayer-it works every time!!!  

"How Are You....Really???"

We often go through our seasons and days without analyzing our physical and well-being. When people ask us how we are doing, some say "Blessed and Highly Favored," others say "I'm good and you"-if the truth were told, we often don't feel blessed nor highly favored nor are "we good." Not only are we at fault, those who ask are as well because they naturally assume that we are going to say all is well. What do you say when things aren't good and you don't feel well....meditate on this notion and see what you come up with:) We have to always be prepared to have a word for the words of others. As Sons and Daughters of the King, we have a spiritual obligation to encourage ourselves and others in the Lord. We should always have a word hidden in our hearts for those we may encounter. The reality is, we are all going through one thing or another and stability is a non-renewable resource for most, however we have to stay focused, keep moving, and encouraging ourselves in the Lord. God didn't promise us that things would always come together, but He did assure us that all things will work together (Romans 8:28). Whatever situation or circumstance you may find yourself in or leaving, know that the impossible is possible and God will test you to show you how He uses impossible situations to prove to us that He is a possible God! The next time someone asks you how you are, feel and deal with your emotions and be honest:) You can't go forth until you feel and deal with your inner being:) Be blessed and encouraged!!