Would you believe me?

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Would you you believe me:

If I told you I was born to drug addicted parents?

If I told you, my parents did not graduate high school and were unmarried teenagers when they had me?

If I told you my life was set up to fail?

If I told you the dysfunction I was born into?

If I told you, I repeated the cycle and had my son at 17?

If I told you, I use to wear hand me downs until I was old enough to get my own job?

If told you, I grew up in the roughest neighborhoods in Boston?

If I told you, I ran with friends that sold drugs, carried weapons and destroyed people’s lives?

If I told you, I lost friends, some really close friends, to gang violence and jail?

If I told you there was a period in life, I was going to a funeral every month?

If I told you, one of those funerals had an infant casket?

If I told you, I would never wear skirts and my favorite clothes was timberland boots, baggy jeans and oversized shirts?

If I told you, I never liked attention or how I looked?

If I told you, for a short time living with one of my parents, I use to hide my money and jewelry?

If I told you, I didn’t celebrate graduating high school but was glad to not be a victim of the street?

If I told you, I  ran the streets with a group of girls fighting rivals?

If I told you, I had anger issues?

If I told you, I almost went to jail (posted on the wall while they searched my car)?

If I told you, college didn’t seem like a possibility?  I was just glad to survive.

If I told you, I ran into a crack house to ‘rescue’ one of my closest friends?  Her mom called me – scared for her daughter’s life and I went straight to the projects (by myself) to find her.

If I told you, I never had my own room until I moved on my own?

If I told you, that son I had was never suppose to walk?

If I told you, I lived in the hospital for two months while that son recovered?

If I told you, I moved away (as soon as I could) out of concern for my son being caught in crossfire?

If I told you, I was so depressed I went from a size 6 to size 0 in three months?

If I told you, I could not even get out of bed for almost a year?

If I told you, they prescribed me tons of medication?

If I told you, the doctors said I would never recover but to hope for some sense of function?

What if I told you, I not only recovered but I prospered beyond anyone’s expectation in every area of my life? Exceedingly, Abundantly, Beyond what I could ask or think.

Babe and I

Would you believe if I told you that was the woman you see?

One word from God – shift my entire world and none of what happened could change the trajectory He would send me to.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

This is not just something I do, my life is Ministry.   You can’t tell me Nothing!!

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

 

My testimony – ‘Reckless Love’ by Steffany Gretzinger | Bethel Music

My confession – ‘Bless Up’ by Koryn Hawthorne

 

 

 

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Don’t Go Back!!

Do you want to be made whole?  Do you desire the things of God, even if it requires you to let things go that have been apart of your life for so long?

We sometimes say, this is who I am…..But is it really?

“Do you want to get well?” – John 5:6b 

Inspiration (Listen below):

 


Meditate on the words of this song:

Song: Light the Way by Phil Thompson

Scripture references:

John 5

John 9:2-3 NIV

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Romans 10:17 in the NKJV and NIV

Phillipians 4:9

Lamentations 3:24 NIV

1 Peter 5:9 NIV

They just keep testing me….

It is important that you are not deceived.  You must know God’s Word and what He says and know His instructions to YOU.

“Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” – Luke 8:48 NIV

Inspiration (Listen below):


***Movies referenced are listed here below (after the scriptures) – select the link***


Meditate on the words of this song:

Song: You Know My Name ft. Jimi Cravity by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Scripture references:

Proverbs 4:23 NIV       Galatians 5:1

2 Peter 1:3                      Luke 8:43-48

Romans 8:11                 Hebrews 12:2 NKJV  

Luke 10:19                      John 16:33

1 Thessalonians 1:5           Philippians 4:8b NLT

Jeremiah 1:5                     James 1:12 ESV

Genesis 3:1                         Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV

2 Corinthians 2:9-11         Psalm 1:1-2 GNT

Revelation 12:9

John 8:44b NLT

Matthew 4:1-11

John 8:36


Movie Reference:

God’s Not Dead

God’s Not Dead 2

The Shack

How do I encourage myself?

Are you waiting for some things to break through in your life?  Are you becoming weary or discouraged? This is your confirmation.  God has more for you!  Do not give up, God is with you!

Inspiration (Listen below):

Meditate on the words of this song:

‘Oceans’ by Hillsong

 

Scripture references:

1 Samuel 16

Romans 8:28

Deuteronomy 28:9-14

1 Peter 5:9

 

Relationship is Key!

“I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” – John 10:10b GNT


In this walk with Christ, in this journey to transform to who your were destined to be,  relationship with Him is crucial.

It will make all the difference.  Imagine going on a road trip with no map or directions.  It would not be fun or enjoyable at all.

At least if you get lost along the way or hit roadblocks, the trip is not as draining or devastating if you have someone or something that can tell you the way.

In this journey, YOU WILL HAVE tests (with or without Christ’s help).  Your relationship will make the difference.

When you are challenged, whether from the outside or within yourself, in what God thinks of you – relationship with Him will overcome any doubt.

Think of your (REAL) friends/family that you can really count on.  Even if they are not always there or you don’t understand what they are doing, you trust their judgement because you have relationship, a history with them.  So even if you hit a snag in the relationship or you don’t agree on something they did, you won’t just throw away your relationship over what you thought they should have done.  Or vice versa.

When YOU have TRUE relationship with someone,  no one can tell you what that person thinks of you.   They may be able to confirm it or give you their perspective but YOU know.   Better yet, if they write you a letter – YOU can interpret what they meant and what their intentions were behind that letter.  You won’t need to confirm with someone else on what YOUR friend was saying to you.

I hope this message blesses you and reminds you of what you already have or should strive for in Christ.

 

Do you want to be clean?

“Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, “Master, if you want to, you can heal my body.” – Matthew 8:1-2 MSG
“Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. Jesus said, “Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” – Matthew 8:3-4 MSG
Do you live with guilt from your past? Ashamed of a sexual assault that was done to you. Fighting with the images or words of an abusive life. You may have made some choices yesterday that does not reflect the woman you are today.

The guilt and the shame must end today!
 
Wise women of God, we must remember Jesus wants us clean.  He responded to the leper “I Want To [responding the the lepers statement].  Be Clean.”
Our Lord wants us to be clean.  He wants us to be whole.  He wants us to be free of diseases.  Our lives need to be cleansed.  Just as the leper, we need to present ourselves to Jesus and say, “Master, if you want to, you can heal my body.”
There are some deep areas of our lives that may need to be healed. Some things are so deep, we have not recognized it. The Lord has provided resources or counselors who can help us get to the root of these issues. Please look into it if it is needed.
Just as the leper – our issues will come to the surface.  We may take it out on our husband if we are married.  Quickly raising our voice or emasculating him when we feel trapped and cornered.  Our children may feel the blunt of our anger towards a situation they didn’t cause.  Making them feel unwanted because of our past hurts.
Have faith “Wise Women” and trust Jesus as the leper did.  Go to him knowing that Jesus wants you to be healed.  Have the faith he will lead you to your healing.  Have faith that Jesus will heal you.
Don’t worry ladies, the healing will be visible.  Those whom we love will see it in how we live.  We will live with a grateful life.  The cleansing will be reflected in our actions.  Our husbands, children, and people we love will see change.  Hopefully our cleansed changed lives will be the catalyst for another to want Jesus to clean them.
MGD