Category Archives: Encouragement

September 30, 2018

Unprecedented

By Christina

Unprecedented:  never done or known before.

Synonyms: unheard of, unknown, new, novel, groundbreaking, revolutionary, pioneering, epoch-making; unparalleled, unequaled, unmatched, unrivaled, without parallel, without equal, out of the ordinary, unusual, exceptional, singular, unique; and lastly I would like to say impossible situations made possible.

Things that take years to build –years to achieve now come unraveling right before you because God is showing up and showing off.

If I were to explain what is happening in this moment most would say “This is highly unusual!” “This is just not normal!” “Stuff like this just doesn’t happen!”

But God…

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

It’s been nice, real nice to be in these days. In the sacrifice I can see God’s supernatural. I had been through such a series of downfall after downfall. In the professional area, in ministry, relationships, emotions, my health and any attempt at trying to progress.

I can see today why this occurred. It’s one thing to preach and another to live through that preaching. So many sleepless nights have passed, tears unseen and cries unheard. God kept His eyes on me the whole time.

God never sends the promise while we are strong. He sends them when we have been weakened like CRAZY! So that way when we come to see the impossible we have no doubt but to declare how He does things in unprecedented ways!

Eternal One: My intentions are not always yours, and I do not go about things as you do. My thoughts and My ways are above and beyond you, just as heaven is far from your reach here on earth. Isaiah 55:8-9 (VOICE)

He did it in unprecedented ways!

I didn’t realize when this moment would happen. I cannot say when I want the curtain to be moved and for me to finally be effective when many have surpassed me in one form or another. Especially the ones nearby…the ones close to home. The ones close to the heart.

I said to God–“What about me?”

Okay I can say I screamed so much– “BUT WHAT ABOUT ME!”

When all the doors are closed and you don’t ever see a way for it to happen. Things don’t happen when we want. When we kick and scream. On our timeline or schedule. They never happen how we expect but in ways we could have never known and at times we could never pinpoint.

Then God says NOW! Now I will do it.

When I was put down to nothing. Again. And again. And again and again. I tried everything I could and still –nothing happened.

What I learned is this:

When I became powerless! God has shown, He is all-powerful!

NOW He moved. He made a way. He called me. I responded. He answered me above and beyond what I could imagine. He blessed and blessed and blessed and blessed and blessed! When He saw it fit for me.

In every empty moment, He kept providing. In every gap, He filled it. In every thing that couldn’t move, He REMOVED it. And when I came down to none, He kept showing He was the ONE and only that could ever do it.

He did it in unprecedented ways–again and again.

I am thankful.

I am fully grateful.

My heart is filled because I allowed it to be emptied of everything I knew to make room for the things He has always known. As we approach a new month, I am entering in victoriously no matter what. God is working on my behalf in those unprecedented ways. ♥️ It’s lovely.

~Christina

Leave a comment | posted in Celebration, Emerging, Encouragement, Inspiration, Transition

September 18, 2018

Emerge

By Christina

There was a story about a pig that was thrown into a pit.

To top it off not only was he thrown in the pit but he was having dirt thrown at him as well to bury him.

As each shovel of dirt was thrown at him, the pig began to vigorously shake it off.

He kept doing that with each shovel of dirt.

Because he continued to shake it off by the time he came to realize he made it to the top.

He emerged.

If the pig did not shake it off, he would have been buried in all the dirt thrown at him.

So what was actually meant to bury the pig only lifted him up and OUT of the pit because he SHOOK IT OFF!

I am that pig. You are that pig. When life throws you in a pit just as Jeremiah was thrown in a cistern –eventually you will be lifted out when you have such purpose destined for you.

You see I can only speak for myself. I can only speak from a transparent place.

But the evangelist shared some things on Saturday morning that MOVED IN MY HEART!

Because dirt represents hurt. And we know that dirt is always going to be thrown at us in one form or another. It could be very painful. Especially when things happen repeatedly.

I am sure the pig felt the pain and felt the weight of the dirt–blow after blow.

But it strengthened him as he kept shaking it off. He emerged from a dark place and right into the light. That is how we have to be. We have to shake it off–repeatedly. By now we should be EXPERTS of this.

The bible says in Isaiah 40:29 that He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak!

And again in 2 Corinthians 12:10:
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When dirt is thrown at us, it can weakens us in ways we can’t easily express but we have the power necessary to shake it off. When we are weak the bible says—not IF we are weak but WHEN we are weak He gives strength! He increases power! That is supernatural.

“What do we have now?” You may be considering.

We have GOD!

We have His word!

We have a voice –to pray and express to Him.

We have other positive people that we can connect with.

We have encouraging books, amazing worship music and the ability to create an environment that will help us to move AHEAD!

Evangelist Hector Ciares shared with us this verse:

So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it. But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him. “My lord the king,” he said, “these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone.” So the king told Ebed-melech, “Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope. Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.” Then when Jeremiah was ready, they pulled him out. So Jeremiah was returned to the courtyard of the guard—the palace prison—where he remained.
Jeremiah 38:6-13

What a powerful story! Because they lowered this man in the pit! And that is what it feels like with life’s disappointments, discouragements, rejections, conditions, complications, obligations and all the other challenges that come storming our way!  So many things that are beyond our control. It makes us feel lower and lower and lower! BUT GOD! He used this situation to lift him up and out! He even used rags to protect him from the things that lowered him in to begin with.

Here we are now. Trying to press through even after we have received. In the moments of pain, we know that God will emerge us. He will reveal things to us. He will bring us into the light of His love and in His truth.

The greatest pain that was meant to lower you –is the very thing that God will use to empower you. Shake it off! Believe and trust God. Just using this simple analogy –the pig never sank. He was only thrown in to be lifted right back up.  The Bible shows us that Jeremiah was thrown in the pit only to be lifted back up.

Stay strong! Make the world wonder why you are smiling. 

Stay positive! If you can stay positive in a negative situation you WIN!

Allow God to use the pains and disappointments of life to elevate you. These He will use to enlighten you and others. These He will use so that you can share your own story.

It is time to rise above the adversity!

It is time to — E M E R G E.

With Love,
Christina! ❤

2 Comments | posted in Celebration, Emerging, Encouragement, Inspiration, Rise

September 5, 2018

BE STRONG

By Christina

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV

We are predictable–be unpredictable.
The enemy is strategic–be MORE strategic.
He comes at us in one direction & fierce, so come at him in seven!

Attack him!!! Instead of him attacking you. Declare war!

He keeps catching us off guard because we are unprepared.
Be prepared!

Our victory is in Jesus Name!
Come up with a plan!
This is how we fight our battles!

Perspective changes when you bring yourself higher… we don’t forget what it’s like during the low times of life. It’s bad… horrible… gruesome at times when you see and hear of all the madness going on. Our world is changing everyday.

We need to get stronger. We need to go higher. How can we get there?
We put on the armor! The whole armor of God! By all the elements to help quicken and prepare us.

With Prayer
By Study
With Fellowship
With Worship
By Giving
By Serving
By Leading

We must be prepared! And we can with all those things. That is exactly how God’s work takes us there as it says in Ephesians 6. We don’t just put on the armor, we put on the WHOLE armor so that we can be strong. We need all the arsenal! Every tactic! Every tool.

My Spirit Filled Study Bible by Jack Hayford emphasizes: “Withstand, anthistemi [anth-is-tay-mee].” Paul alerts believers to the fact that they need to withstand the powers of darkness with the “whole armor of God.” Anti means “against” and histemi means “to cause to stand.” The verb suggests vigorously opposing, bravely resisting standing face-to-face against an adversary standing your ground.  Anthistemi tells us that with the authority and spiritual weapons granted to us, we can withstand evil forces.  The believer cannot ever “kick back” and take it easy, because there is a real Adversary who seeks to undermine and destroy the believer’s testimony. The shield of faith must always be up and the believer must actively withstand the Adversary’s assaults.

It also emphasizes on prayer and spiritual warfare.  Beyond the natural realm, in which we see there is another realm of invisible forces all around us waging a powerful warfare.  Although we may not sense it, we are part of this battle scene, Paul admonishes us to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the forces of hell. This armor is not just defensive, it is also to be used in taking the offensive against these satanic forces.  The key part of this divine armor, prayer is the primary means by which we engage in the battle itself, the purpose for which we are armed!

We must stay sharp–especially because we know a huge breakthrough is around the corner for what is to come! The enemy will always try to fight us and get us on some failure or defeat from what God has assigned for us.  BUT IF WE FIGHT BACK.

IF WE PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!

IF WE PRAY WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION!

IF WE PRESS IN WITH PRAISE, WORSHIP AND ALL THAT WE GOT!

IF WE STAND NO MATTER WHAT!

WE WILL WIN THE BATTLE!!!! WE WILL WIN THE WAR!

Stay sharp saints…. don’t fall off.  As you may have heard, if you are already in pain –get an award from it! Don’t quit now. Don’t fall back. Move stronger than ever before.

Praise and Pray your way through it all! Here are some songs to help you through.

BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

September 3, 2018

Rejoice Again

By Christina

Hey! This is my bestie and this is her daughter!

Cristina Elizabeth and Ezrabella Arianna ♥️

They are beautiful indeed!

I love them so.

They come with more.

2 beautiful boys named Ezekiel and Isaiah.

They are my bestie’s sons. They are all so precious.

Animated. Happy. Loving and just flipping hilarious.

It was so nice to be around them.

I love how passionate they ALL are for life despite any absence, void, tragedy, disappointment or things simply out of our control.

What a grace this family carries.

I watched this woman wake, correct, usher, feed, clothe, clean, teach, entertain and prepare them effortlessly day after day!

Flawless in the eyes of God.

What a WOW woman and a WOW fam of 5! Always and forever. For the One that went to meet first with our maker left such a remnant of vibrant life here with us!

That’s a GIFT!!!! Do you get it? A PURE GIFT!

Of time. Love. Laughter. Faith. Family.

NEVER! GIVE! UP!

Don’t! Ever! Stop!

Pursue!

Take!

Go get it!

It’s yours!

It’s ours!!

I’m just amazed.

But at what?

How much God lives in us, no matter what!

We can do it. We can overcome! We can laugh again, love again, smile again, rejoice AGAIN!

It’s a COMMAND! Yes we can!

What a living epistle. Thank you for reminding me how much grace is extended and how I should never give up, especially when I am so nearby THIS MUCH!

You know what I mean…….

A thousand THOUSAND thanks!!!

With Love,

Christina

#pb&j4life

#nomoreEnglishMuffins

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:4-9 NKJV

1 Comment | posted in Encouragement, Hope, Inspiration