Yes, We Feel Your Pain

This is a dedication to the survivors of the earthquakes in Haiti from BET SOS...

Trusting God When You Don't Understand Why Pt 3

A few months ago I posted a blog about Trusting God When You Don't Understand Why. In that blog post I referenced a chapter in Isaiah that compared the Spirit of God to a river. As the river gets deeper, we can't walk in it or see thru to the bottom--we just have to let go, float, and trust God to carry us. That's basically what faith is---trusting God, when you can't see His hand when you look at your life or the lives of others. I know when tragedies like the earthquakes in Haiti occur, it can be a difficult challenge to keep the faith. I ran across these videos on YouTube today and just thought I'd share them with ya'll. We are blessed even when we don't SEE the blessing in our lives.


John 20:26-29 (NLT)
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

How Do You Please God?

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Heb 11:6 (NLT)


When I read the verse above today it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve heard my Mom say it time and time again growing up, but when I read it today it just really hit me hard. I try so hard to please God, but sometimes my faith wavers and I find myself trying to do for myself what only God can do for me. But today I was reminded, that without faith it is impossible to please God. Impossible.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Heb 11:1 (NLT) Personally, my faith wavers when I can't see what God has promised me. When things look bleak, I sometimes forget the promises that God has made to me. But I am remembering that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 11:1 KJV and that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Pain Don't Last Always

God spoke these words to me today "Pain doesn't last always." I didn't audibly hear the voice of God, but He spoke those words to my spirit today in His own way. I used to wonder how to hear from God but I learned that through prayer and through paying attention we can hear God speak to us every day. One way God speaks to us is through coincidences. Like today, on two seperate occassions (within about an hour) I heard two seperate people say "pain doesn't last always." And I believe that was God's message to me today.

Pain doesn't last always.
In my personal life I've experienced a lot of pain, just like I'm sure you have as well. I went thru a divorce last year, and the pain of breaking that bond, and now being alone, has been difficult for me to deal with. Sometimes I feel fine, and like I don't need anyone. And other times I feel like I just can't take being alone anymore. The following verses capture my sentiments at times...

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.
I will never forget this awful time,as I grieve over my loss
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him,to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:
Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands.
Let them lie face down in the dust,for there may be hope at last.
Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies.
For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.
Lam 3:19-33 (NLT)

Pain doesn't last always because of the hope Jesus Christ gives us. No situation is beyond the reach of God's Love.

I've Moved!!

Hello!
I have not posted much in the last few weeks because I have been super busy MOVING!! God blessed me again and I am so thankful for my NEW JOB and my new home and roommate.
I had been working at a job that I was completely overqualified and totally underpaid for, for a long time. God said it had been long enough =) and gave me the desire of my heart. I relocated about 2 hours north of where I was living and so far everything has worked out perfectly. I really like the company I work for and I really like my apartment. God also blessed me with a really sweet roommate who I am so BLESSED to have found. Remember...
Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out yet, it isn't the end.

When It Feels Like You're Drowning...

There have been times when people have wanted to hurt me (physically, emotionally, and on the job) and they just weren't able to. It was like God himself stepped down from heaven and stopped it....
God loves us more than we know, and God cares more for us than we could ever imagine. He loves us enough to untie the ropes of sickness when they threaten our lives. He loves us enough to reach down from heaven and rescue us when we're drowning. And when people literally plot against us, He loves us enough to stop them. NO ONE can love us like He does.

God is not just watching us from Heaven. He is here with us and will step in right on time.

Psalm 18
1 I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
8 Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
9 He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
10 Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
11 He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
12 Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
and rained down hail and burning coals.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
his lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused.
15 Then at your command, O Lord,
at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.
19 He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.
Psalms 18:1-19 (NLT)

Just a Little Parental Advice

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.

Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Prov 3:1-12 (NLT)

Whoa Tiger!

As a woman, how do you handle having a FOOL for a husband???

The Bible answers this question thru the story of Abigail and Nabal in 1 Samuel 25. Abigail was married to a man named Nabal (which actually means 'fool'), who was rich and powerful just like Tiger. Nabal's ego was out of control and when David (yes, King David) asked him for help, he refused. David and his soldiers had been camping near Nabal's land and their presence had protected Nabal and his land from enemies. But when David asked Nabal for food in exchange for their protection Nabal refused.

“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
12 So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said.13 “Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own.
1 Sam 25:10-13 (NLT)

David vowed to kill Nabal and the only thing that stopped him was Nabal's wife Abigail.

Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. She packed them on donkeys19 and said to her servants, “Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him.24 She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say.25 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent.
26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is.27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men.28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.
1 Sam 25:18-19 ,23-28 (NLT)
David decided NOT to kill Nabal because of Abigail's intercession. When Nabal heard that David was prepared to kill him he actually had a stroke! Nabal died and David actually married Abigail after that.

So what do you do when you have a FOOL for a husband? Take your cue from Abigail and pray, do the RIGHT thing, and let God handle the rest. God will protect and provide for you just like He protected and provided for Abigail.

I Just Wanna Be Successful

I have been talking on my YouTube channel about celebrities worshipping the gifts of God (money, power, success, etc) instead of the giver of those gifts (God.) And my friend sent me this devotion today that gives a biblical example of that.

Sometimes the very blessings God has showered on us make us forget him (Nehemiah 9:28). We often tempted to rely on wealth for security rather than on God. As you read what happened to the Israelites below, look at your own life. Do your blessings make you thankful to God, and draw you closer to him, or do they make you feel self-sufficient and forgetful to God?

“But despite all this, [the Israelites] were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.
28 “But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!
29 “You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.30 In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them.31 But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
32 “And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.33 Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved.34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws.35 Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.
Neh 9:26-35 (NLT)

Recognizing the Tricks of the Devil

The playlist above emphasis that things that we have to deal with in life are 'not for nothing'. There is a reason behind everything: God has a plan for our lives, but so does Satan. And Satan has studied us and taken meticulous notes on what it takes to distract us, to make us feel "less than", and to keep us from knowing God's plan for our lives. And he uses those same tricks (guilt, shame, etc.) over and over again to keep Christians from what God has for us. A lot of Christians don't even go to church because they feel so guilty about things they have done. Satan uses that guilt to keep them away from God. And once Satan finds out what it takes to keep you away from God, he will use that against you.

But I think one of the first steps in overcoming Satan is recognizingthe tricks he is throwing at you. For me, once I realized that I was falling for the same tricks each and every time it gave me more of a reason to resist the devil. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (NLT) But you can't resist him, until you first recognize him.

Wives Submit to your Husbands?!?!

My thoughts on the Biblical command of submission in marriage.

see also Colossians 3:18-20, 1 Timothy 3:11, 1 Peter 3:1-6

Bishop Noel Jones Preaching on How to be Successfully Single

This series of sermons touched on so many things that I've gone thru as a single Christian. He talks about the different roles of men and women in relationships and the position each should be in when they get married. He especially focuses on the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, and how their sin was a result of Adam putting the gift of God [Eve] ahead of God. He also talks about sex in marriage and how men and women view it so differently.

Thank You to my Blog Subscribers

I can't figure out how to comment on your pages, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU =)

It Ain't Over Yet!

Just a reminder to myself mostly, that it's not over until God says it's over... keep fighting, keep praying, keep reading, keep believing...there is hope in Jesus Christ for EVERY situation.

Becoming A Better Lover

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.
1 John 4:16-17 (NLT)

I was reading the Bible today and those verses caught my attention. I want to be able to love others, especially those close to me, as much as I can. And the Bible actually teaches us how to become better lovers. As we live in God, our love for God grows more perfect. That means the closer we are to God, the better we will be able to love Him. And it stands to reason that the better we are able to love God, the better we will be able to love others.

Single Sex and the 80/20 Rule pt 1

"Saved from the Waist Up" w/Bishop Noel Jones

*WARNING* Long, but great, video ahead*


Men and women definately do think differently and are raised differently. That fact is apparent even in church where single men and women are instructed to abstain, but men seem to struggle so much more with it. I've met more than a few brothers that seemed to be "saved from the waist up." Enjoy this interview with "Lady A" from Living Wisely and Bishop Noel Jones on love, relationships and Biblical law.

What Happens when You Trust God? pt 2

*Please read yesterday's post below this prior to reading this post. I am extending the message I began yesterday.*
After being shown the depths of the Spirit of God Ezekial was guided back down the flowing river. This time he saw the results of the river of life. It had purified areas that were impure, and brought life to areas that were dead.
I am trusting God to make areas in my relationships that were unclean, clean. And bring to life areas that I thought were dead.

6 [The angel] asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank.
7 When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river.
8 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure.
9 There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.
10 Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean.
11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty.
12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”
Ezek 47:6-12 (NLT)

Trusting God When You Don't Understand Why pt 1

Sometimes it's easy for me to trust God in my relationships, especially when I can see cleary what God is doing. But other times it's not so easy for me to trust God. When I cannot understand what is going on in my life and why, it's very difficult for me to just trust God. I came across the Scripture below today and it speaks to my specific situation.

In the Scripture Ezekial has a vision from God. In the vision the flowing river represents the Spirit of God in our lives. The flowing river gets progressively deeper as Ezekial follows it. At times the Spirit is flowing around our ankles, and we can see clearly thru to the bottom, we know exactly what is going on. Other times the Spirit is at our knees or up to our waists. At those times we can walk in it, eventhough we can't see clearly to the bottom, we can still handle what is going on. But at other times, the Spirit is too deep for us to walk in. We have no idea what is going on. And at those times all we can do is trust God to lift us up as we swim in it.

Ezek 47:1-5 (NLT)

1 In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side.
2 The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.
3 Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles.
4 He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist.
5 Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across.It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.

My Testimony Video - The Woman Who Was a Sinner

Can We Forgive J. Moss Already?

I originally made this post because I was excited that J. Moss was having his CD 'Just James' release party at my church. I googled him to find a little bit more about his background and that's when I came across a number of blogs about him cheating on his wife. On his own website he admits to infidelity and has since moved on. He and his wife are still together, for anyone that's curious.

I am just curious why people are SO interested in knowing if he cheated on his wife??? I would hope that people don't judge Christianity based on the actions of Christians because OBVIOUSLY we are not perfect. It's our Saviour who is.


“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matt 7:1-5

God is Near

I just wanted to share something that I feel God spoke to me yesterday. When I pray I often think of God as being far off. Sometimes I look up into the sky and pray, picturing God in Heaven. And sometimes I close my eyes and look down, picturing myself alone sending a prayer to God. And I felt like God asked me yesterday, why do I pray as if God is not right here with me???
God has given us part of Himself. He first gave us Jesus, our lifeline to Him. And Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, which dwells within us. The Holy Spirit is right here WITH us.
God the Father is watching us closely and lovingly, like a mother watching her child. And Jesus is seated next to Him praying on our behalf. But the Holy Spirit is right here =) Be blessed...

Daily Devotion - Listen Before Speaking

One of my friends emails daily devotions. This was his devotion for August 22, 2009. Another friend of mine had just showed me this passage a few days before, so it was really a coincidence that he was talking about it too...Be blessed...

"Key Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13 The LORD said, “go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah knew that the sound of gentle whisper was God’s voice. He realized that God doesn’t’ reveal himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for God only in something big (rallies, churches, conferences, highly visible leaders) may be to miss him because he is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart. Are you listening for God’? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for his guidance. It may come when you least expect."

My Testimony: Why I LOVE Him Like I Do

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
Luke 7:47 (NLT)

John 12:3-8 (NLT)- Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Breaking the box of precious ointment over Jesus Christ is kinda representative of Him breaking His body for us. When she broke the box of ointment the beautiful smell filled the room. When Jesus broke His body, grace filled the Earth.