Tag Archives: purpose

Something Higher Than I

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Photo by Adam Kontor on Pexels.com

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

As a result of COVID-19 we are now working from home, and as the Adminstrative Assistant, I am on call for our Human Resources Department for the City of Asheville. I am having to triage calls that come in from all over the City, as well as other local governments from other City’s who are calling for advice or to see what we are doing in this situation. Though some of these calls had nothing to do with local government I tried to give as much assistance as I could and directing people to the correct place.

Currently our phones had been rolled to my phone because we weren’t able to get my City phone up and working in time. We were finally able to get it up today, so that means that I will have to go back into work to roll the phones over to my City phone.

For work we have been doing virtual stand up meetings. Some how trying to keep things as normal as possible in light of what is going on. Yesterday was a bit overwhelming to say the least, but it pushed me out of the house to take a much needed walk. I walked for an 1 hour and 45 minutes. Some much needed time to just be and be able to breathe some fresh air.

A couple of days ago I had a Pastors wife calling to see what was the status for churches. I could hear it in her voice, her over all concern and worry. Though we don’t have all the answers, I gave her the information that was known at this time and then I tried to offer some other options for her church. More than anything to give her hope.

This morning we were in the middle of a virtual stand up meeting and my work phone started ringing, and I felt the need to answer it. I turned away from the virtual call and answered. It was the Pastors wife calling back from the other day. By that time we were ending our stand up meeting, so I disconnected from it. She said do you remember me and smiling I said yes ma’am. She said, I was praying that you would answer again. She was wanting an update and then God showed up. In most cases I wouldn’t, but I was led to give her my number, so if she needed any further assistance and to stay connected. I really felt like it was a God connection. She was very grateful and before getting off the phone she expressed her hoping to meet me someday.

This is uncharted territory for us all and we are all trying to navigate our way through this. Even as ministers of the gospel and people of faith, we are human first. Yet, we still have to be the source of light and encouragement that is needed for such a time as this. Sometimes that means lifting each other, even at the moment you might need some encouragement too.

This is an opportunity for the body of Christ to rise up. Don’t get it twisted God is still working.

I see now more than ever the scripture from Mark 16:15 which says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. It is being manifested through this COVID-19.

People don’t need more fear, but hope in someone greater than themselves. Offer them Jesus!

Song List

Shana Wilson “Give Me You” https://youtu.be/uC0UHJagWNE

The Bump In The Road

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Read

Galatians 5:7

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth“

Thought For The Day

Friday Night I was traveling to Richmond, V.A. and we had just passed the state sign saying, “Welcome to Virginia”. I had yelled out, “Yes” because I knew we were almost to our destination.

Maybe 30 minutes or so after that Pastor Lacy said, what is that and as I looked all I saw was the tail end of something as it hit the front of the car and heard the bumps as it went underneath the car. I looked back in my rear view mirror, but I didn’t see anything.

It all happened so fast. It was as if someone literally threw something at the car. We were trying to figure out what in the world did we just hit. It had to have been a deer or something. It threw me for a loop because I wasn’t expecting that at all.

When we finally got to the hotel we got out and looked at the car and we saw the evidence of what had to be a deer. The front of the car was damaged. I was grateful to God that he spared our lives, because had we not been in a bigger car it would have been a little different. But yet, my heart was sad.

Needless to say I didn’t sleep well that night. I started thinking about the what if’s. I also wondered if the deer made it out ok. I had never hit a deer before, so I was a little traumatized. I prayed that it was ok.

When I woke up the next morning I was still trying to analyze what had happened and I heard the Lord say,

Don’t panic, it’s just a bump in the road

One of the things I dislike most about speed bumps is that I feel they are so unnecessary. Especially if I am in a hurry to get somewhere. Sometimes there are just too many in the same location. I even sometimes forget they are there until I run up on them. However, I do realize that those speed bumps were created in areas where we need to slow down.

Even though the speed bumps are permanent fixtures within the road, they only cause you to temporarily slow down. The only things that becomes permenent in our lives are the ones that we choose to.

Have you ever had anything happen in your life that caused a slight delay. It caused you to stop, pause, think and reflect. Maybe it even has caused you some discomfort, some pain, some heartache, some scars and some bruises. There are some things that can happen to us in life that will totally catch us off gaurd and if we aren’t careful it will keep us from moving forward.

God simply reminded me that the bumps I am experiencing in my life are only temporary and he’s using them to create a greater purpose in my life. As hard and as challenging as the process can sometimes be, we must remain focused and keep going.

Reflection

What are some of your bumps in the road? Have some of those bumps hindered you from moving forward? Are there areas in your life where you might need to slow down?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for who you are in all of your glory. I am grateful that in spite of the detours, delays and mishaps they didn’t cause me to check out before my time. Thank you that you have a purpose for everything that happens in my life and that you are causing them all to work together for my good.

Song List

“It Is Well” by Tori Kelly

It’s Your Season To Live

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READ

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT

At the age of 17, I stood in my parent’s bedroom with a gun to my head, contemplating whether to live or to die. It was then I heard God’s still small voice say, “I have better for you.” I debated with God, and of course, I did not win because I am still here. It was at that moment I decided to trust Him and to choose life.

There is nothing in this world that you could ever do that would stop God from loving you or remove the purpose He’s placed on your life. He died on the cross just to prove how much He loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you. The enemy will try to rob you of your future by reminding you of your past, but God wants to use you in spite of it. Jesus Christ died and rose so you can now live, so let’s choose life.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for being such a merciful God, that in spite me You still love me. I pray that as I grow more in You, I will show the same love and mercy to others. In Jesus Christ Name, I pray. Amen

REFLECT

When you think about the decisions you are making are you choosing life by believing God’s truth and walking in His ways?

Song List

“Live” by Marvin Sapp

Fulfill Your Purpose

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” The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands” Psalms 138:38

Today’s words

FULFILL (ful-fill)

  • bring to completion or reality; achieve or realize
  • gain happiness or satisfaction by fully developing one’s abilities or character
  • complete (a period of time or piece of work)
  • carry out (a task, duty, or role) as required, pledged, or expected

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of traveling with some young people who were here for a conference from the Bahama’s. In our 30 minute trip we talked about the things that we are currently doing and the things that we wanted to do.  As I was able to share some of my story with them growing up, the young girl couldn’t believe how similar our story was. We got on the subject about purpose and how so many people die not fulfilling their call.She expressed how she was afraid of dyeing without fulfilling her purpose. 

I asked how old they were and as they told me their age, I started laughing and told them how they were young enough to be my children. God then opened a small window for me to be able to pour into them and give them a little bit of encouragement and hope. One of the young men said not all children get that type of encouragement from their parents. They thanked me as a mother for giving them that encouragement.

I am grateful for where God has brought me from, but I am even more grateful and excited for where he is taking me to.  Greater things are ahead of me because I believe.

No matter how we got here, we were all created for a purpose. Some of us are called to be a preacher, a teacher, a writer, a singer, a doctor, a nurse, etc. Whatever our gifts and talents maybe, they were given to us to share them with the world.  We were created to impact the life of someone else for the up building of Gods kingdom.

Scriptures on Purpose

Matthew 6:33 ” But seek ye first the kingdom of God and, his righteousness; and all of these things shall be added unto you”

A lot of times we are looking for someone else to show us or tell us our purpose or even who we are.  It is when we seek God, that we will we find who we are and who we are called to be.  I do believe that God brings other people into our lives to help guide us, push us and take us to that next level in God, but not to replace who God should be in our lives.  He still comes first.

Do you know your purpose?  Do you know what you were put on this earth to do? What are you waiting on. Go for it, push against all odds.

Don’t die without fulfilling your purpose!

What’s Your Purpose? Greatest Motivation ft. Les Brown & Eric Thomas

The Closed Door

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It so easy to thank and praise God for the open doors. As we consider those doors favor or an opportunity that we know only he could have done.

BUT……….

What about the doors that God  chooses to close?

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

Aleander Graham Bell

 

We confess it with out our mouth, but do we really and truely believe that? If we sincerely believed that, why is to so hard to move forward?

Sometimes we can’t even see the opened door because we are so focused on the door that has closed. Normally it happens suddenly, out of no where and in most cases at the time that it can’t be explained.  When we become emotionally attached, phsycially bond, spiritually connected to certain things and or people when that season has ended it is hard to close that door because we are still attached.

Times will pass and seasons will come and go

Roy Bean

Reason for closed doors:

  • Season Ends
  • God has something better
  • We won’t do it
  • We opened the wrong door
  • Not recognizing the reason for the opened door (misused the purpose)
  • Protection

Through life experiences I have realized that their were a lot of doors that needed to be closed, because it would have caused destruction in my life. There were some doors I should have left closed and because I failed to listen to God it wreaked havoc in my life. Some doors are also seasonal, but because of our attachment to the season we miss it or in most cases ignore the signs that the seasons have passed. Some doors God has to physically close for us because we won’t do it.  Those are normally the ones that close in what seems unexpectedly.

When you know the signifigance of a closed door, you wouldn’t be so distraught over the ones that do. protection + purpose = better

It makes me appreciate the open doors, but I have even more appreciation for the closed ones. It is in those that I know God is looking out for me. As painful as it can sometimes be, it was a blessing in disguise. What turns out to initally look like a bad thing, actually turned out to be good one.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

Romans 8:28

“For I am persuaded” Romans 8

I am so grateful for all of the open doors and continued doors that he allows in my life. Favor and opportunities that had he not granted them to me I would have not made it this far.  I would diffently not be where I am today.  But, when I begin to think about all the doors God closed on my behalf I get happy.  Just think about all the doors that have been closed on your behalf that you know nothing about. I am thankful for his grace, but I am also grateful for his mercy.

SONG LIST:

“For Every Mountain” Amber Bullock

It happened, NOW WHAT?

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A lot of times we become stuck at the experience, unable to move forward because we can’t see past what has happened.
We continue to play and rehearse the scenes over and over again in our head. With the same questions: why did this happen, why did this happen to me, etc. Unable to heal because we continue to open up the wounds.

ACKNOWLEGEMENT

  1. It happened
  2. It was painful, it hurt
  3. It was life changing
  4. It wasn’t fair
  5. I didn’t deserve it

At some point we have to pull the needle off of the broken record. We have to stop playing the movie of our favorite scene or maybe the worse scene in our life. At some point we have to pull our own selves out of the tar.

It has happened, NOW WHAT?

I realized there was a decision I had to make. And that was to either to LIVE or DIE. I wasn’t physically dieing, but slowly of a spiritual death. Walking, but dead on the inside. No hope or desire to go on. Breathing, but not functiong. I was a dead man walking.

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he

What kind of vision do I have for myself?

TRUTH is I had to come to terms with it.

  1. I had to look at the man in the mirror
  2. Examine myself
  3. Where did I go wrong
  4. OWN IT

Don’t get me wrong, I know that there are somethings that have happened to us that stole our innocence as a child. There were somethings that happened to us that was beyond our control.  But at what point do we stop allowing it to have control over our life.

You will never be able heal from the things you refuse to confront

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It wasn’t until I could look beyond what I could see in the natural, that I was able to move forward.

DISCOVERY 

  1. Finding out who I am through Christ Jesus
  2. Believing in who He has created me to be
  3. Learning to Love me
  4. Putting me first

Through everything I have experienced there was something that I had to learn and I take them with me through life’s journey.

So, NOW WHAT?

  1. Allow yourself time to heal
  2. Take it step by step
  3. Trust God’s leading
  4. Keep Moving Forward

It isn’t what happens to us that keeps us from moving forward, but how we respond to the things that have happened.

Take your negative situations and turn them around for your good.

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Give Thanks

https://youtu.be/zE-4DsUf_Uo

Lyrics


Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son


And now let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the poor say, “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Give thanks 




Small Beginnings 

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The other day me and my girls had gone to visit my sister and her family. As we were looking at the gifts my nephews had received for Christmas my sister was holding one in her hand that she was getting ready to put away. She said that her mother had gotten them for the boys, but when she looked at all it entailed she said there was no way she was going to even attempt with putting it together. I looked at the box and then took out the contents and said, “Let me try it.” They thought that I was crazy, but I didn’t have any doubt I couldn’t do it. It was a very long an strenuous process. It was a roller coaster that had a million tiny pieces. And looking at the picture there was a big hill and at least four loops with curves. You had to follow directions which caused you to be able to pay attention to details. Now that is one of my strong points. As I would progress they stood in amazement and were surprised that I hadn’t given up yet. My sister told my I had the patience of Job. She said, “You have been steady, diligent and focused.” I was almost finished with it, but there was a part at the bottom that wasn’t working properly which was causing me to get frustrated. It had already been at least three hours that I had been working on it and I was a little tired. I couldn’t understand what was going on because I had followed the directions. I had  to improvise in order for it to work. When I looked at the back of the instruction manual I realized it operated on batteries. You have got to be kidding me, right. I had not noticed it said anything about batteries until I looked at the front of the manual and there it was. I’m not sure how I missed that. Either way I was able to get it operating, but the cart wasn’t gaining enough speed to make all the transitions. I couldn’t figure it out to save my life. Frustrated, I decided to pull myself away from it. Deep breath. In the back of my mind I was still trying to figure it out because I wasn’t willing to give up on it. I had come to far and had put too  much work into it to just let it go. Something said, “Start the cart from the bottom of the hill and reverse the direction  it was pulling up the hill.”  With excitement I screamed, “I did it, it works” Everyone came in to see it. There were two areas within the loops that it wouldn’t complete the flip, but with a little push it completed the loops and started over. We were all happy with that. My nephew was ready  to try it for himself. 

Zechariah 4:10 ” Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand”

Sometimes we can become discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed and want to give up because we think what we are doing isn’t working. But the same process it takes for a seed to become a plant, a flower or even a tree or a caterpillar to become a butterfly, is the same process it will take for our visions, hopes and our dreams to come into fruition. We have to keeping working at it and watering it. Before we know it the very thing that started off small has turned into something much bigger than we had even expected.  What was once a dream has become a reality. My encouragement to you is, “Don’t give up on it just yet.”

Truth Is…

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Integrity is having the courage in spite of how comfortable it might feel to do what is right over what we think might seem to be fun, fast or even easy. Making the choice to practice our values and not just what we say out of our mouths . Practice what you preach.
As I was going through divorce I submitted myself back to God  and asked him to keep me until he decides to bless me with a husband. I have been celibate for 6 1/2 yrs.  Yes, we still exist. I told someone that awhile back and they were floored. Their response was, “It is 2016”. I believe it scared the mess out of them. I haven’t really talked to them since. I guess it not as common or the “norm”, when in fact it should be. There is more of us than you think. I even know someone who is still a virgin.

You might say how in the world do you manage to do that. Truth is: there are times I become weak, times I become vulnerable. There are even times when I want to obey the thirst and the desires of this Olde flesh of mine. There are days when I want to do wrong vs. wanting to do what’s right. Just like you, there is this constant tuggawar going on between my spirit man and my flesh. But yet and still there is this constant reminder when I look at my girls knowing the example I want to set for them or when Iook back at how far I have come. Now that I know who I am and have found my purpose. I know own my worth and I refuse to settle for anything less than that. I now have a vision for my life and can see where I am trying to go that causes somethings not to be worth loosing all that I have at stake. 

For someone who had been sexually active since the age of 13 and then was married for 9 1/2 years you might ask the question, “Why now.” Well I am so glad you asked.  Throughout my life I have experienced a whole lot and I guess you can say that I have finally grown up. The things that use to be as important then just aren’t as important to me now. Don’t get me wrong that doesn’t  mean  I don’t have desires, needs or wants, trust me I DO.  But when I told the Lord yes, I turned over my will and submitted to His. So everyday I have to crucify this flesh. Holiness is still right.

The thing that has helped me most next to my faith is that I stay away from those places that will cause me to fall. They say if you play with fire your liable to get burnt. Well some fires just ain’t worth getting burnt. I have the scars to prove it.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL out here in these streets, but I’m gonna keep pressing forward. It’s not by my own might, nor by any powers that I possess, but by his spirit.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

Keep Growing

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The other day my girls and I were at the mall doing a little Christmas shopping and we happened to run into one of their friends from school. As they were talking about their grades he mentioned that he was a straight “A” student and thought about skipping school on Monday. Of course the mother in me steps in and says your going to skip school on Monday because of what?  He said, I am a straight “A” student.  Ok so that means what? He then replied, I thought that I would take a break. That is not an excuse for  you to become comfortable and to take it  easy. Nor should you stop trying. That is more of a reason why you should press harder so that you can maintain your status. Besides skipping school can also cause you to get into trouble. He smiled and said,  ok we will see. I said, ok so I’m going to be your mother at this moment.  Let me find out  you skipped school. We all started laughing, but they knew I was serious. I had to pick my daughter up from basketball practice on Monday and I happened to see him outside. I said I see you came to school today and we started laughing. It’s so easy to become comfortable in a good place, but it can also cause us to become lazy or get off track. We should never stop learning to the point where we think that we have arrived. If we stop learning, we stop growing and if we stop growing our life comes to a halt. Don’t let life just pass you by, keep growing. 

Change Is Necessary And IT Begins With Me

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I was reflecting back to when I was working in Home Care as an Administrator about 5 years ago and thanking God for where he has brought me from. Although I know that I have a lot more growing to do what a difference a couple of years can make.  You never realize how far you’ve come until you look back. That was a time in my life  I hated change so much that it would literally make me cringe. I had what you would probably call “a tunnel vision” There was only one way which was mine and I was comfortable with where I was. If it didn’t make sense to me or if I didn’t feel it in my spirit I wasn’t ok with changing and didn’t really care who knew it. Even though I was good at what I did because I was so blinded by the truth of what was really going on inside of me I was not only hurting others around me, but I was slowly over all killing me. “A Mess”  Though not everyone saw me in that light and even when I tell others of my experiences they doubt my stories because of who they know me to be now. I started not to like the person that I was becoming and began to do some soul searching. As the Lord dealt with me I realized that up until that point I had gone through so many changes and transitions in my life I began to resist any type of change. Overtime I began to build up walls of anger that became resentment, that turned into bitterness and unforgiveness. Most of the things that I had experienced in my life weren’t all goo

d. Matter of fact they were very painful. In most cases I wasn’t given an option nor much of a way out.  The greatest thing that happened to me though was the moment when I learned the power of forgiveness. As the Lord began to change the process of my thoughts than my perspective began to change.  It changed my life forever.  Then as I began to see the fruits of it, that even when things happen that are beyond my control or they don’t turn out the way that I had planned because my perspective has changed I am able to get through it. I know that whatever God allows to happen in my life is all working together for a greater purpose and for his glory.  God sometimes allows things to happen in our lives because he knows what it will take to get us to make the necessary changes that he needs for us to make and sometimes it’s just to save our lives. Everything that has happened in my life no matter how painful it has been, it pushed me to become better and because I made and continue to make the necessary changes within my life I am able to move forward.  Change is inevitable.  Change your mindset and your posture will follow.