Category Archives: Inspiration

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

September 2, 2018

What If I Told

By Christina

“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV

What if I told you as a publishing author of two amazing collections, I am afraid to share?

What If I told you that I am afraid to speak?

What if I told you that I think of myself as so insignificant?

That even after having 27 years of professional experience, Bachelors degree, awards and other accomplishments that I felt like I still have nothing going for me?

What if I told you that I felt so much less every single time I try to take a step forward in the right direction?

What if I told you I felt sad these days?

What if I told you I felt so alone these days?

What if I told you I felt like no one really cared?

What If I told you I felt like I had no support?

What if I told you I felt like the man at the pool of Bethesda?

Or the woman at the well?

Or the man with leprosy?

How about the woman with the issue if blood?

What if I told you most days I just felt so numb?

I don’t want to feel that way anymore when I know that those things are primarily lies in my head!

I know that! But the feelings, the moments, the opposition, the challenges, the fear, the fight… the cost… it really is too great. I also know that most of this will be like a moment.

43 years later, I can tell you these moments are a lifetime. It is such a journey for me. And if it had not been but the Lord, just as the psalmist declared, I just don’t know where I’d really be.

Through everything He is with me.

Through valleys.

Through darkness.

Through loss.

Through defeat.

Through rejection.

Through failure…. ah He is with me in this place.

Reminding me of the very opposite of my war within. That war in my soul. How great that war is when I walk through what I walk through. That even after releasing, “Rise Above Adversity” that I would find myself caught in another whirlwind of great adversity.

What can I do?

What will I do?

What if I also told you, that no matter how low I go or how deep the valleys get that I will STILL do what I know He has called me to do!

“But there are so many authors!!!!”

“Yeah but none that I know like you!”

“But I am at a loss!”

Yeah but you can try this now!”

This is an opportunity for other things to work. I am not gonna quit! Not now! Not ever! My no right now is only a PAUSE! Another push to rest in the very presence of God! To know that even through this, He is with me.

“No doesn’t mean that you stop; it simply means that you change course in order to make it to your destination.” Rachel Hollis (Girl, Wash Your Face)

Things are going to work in my favor. I am more than a conqueror and will have everlasting victory!

What if I told the real authentic story

If I just be who God called me to be.

If you just be all that you are in Christ.

What if I told you and I….

That we just gotta keep trusting the Lord!

Because He is always on our side. ♥️

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 NIV

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:1-8 NIV

““If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.” Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 124:1-8 NKJV

Leave a comment | posted in Emerging, Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Trust

August 27, 2018

I AM Focused!

By Christina

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Hebrews 12:1-2

I am focused! I am fixed.  I am going to finish the race.  With a clear purpose. With precision. With detail. With excellence. With skill. With methodical thinking. With strategy. With everything that is given by and with the Spirit of the Living God!

He dwells in me!

I have an assignment.

I have a kingdom agenda.

I have a specific task to carry out because I am capable.

I am able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that I can ask or think according to the power that works in me–through Christ.

I can do all things.

I am called for this purpose.

I am prepared.

I am focused.

I am fervent.

I am fierce.

I am an over comer.

I am victorious.

I am steadfast.

I am steady.

I am successful.

I am significant.

I am sticking with what I know.

I am persuaded.

I am fully convinced.

I am gifted.

I am talented.

I am blessed.

I am strategic.

I am wise.

I am knowledgeable.

I am confident.

I have been given authority–through Jesus Christ.

I can know all things, obtain all things.

I am excelling.

I am a giver.

I am effective.

I am a worker.

I am built for market place and success.

I am an ambassador.

I am an executive.

I am an executor.

I am a doer of the Word.

I am a witness.

I am a teacher.

I am a leader.

I am more than a conqueror.

I am going to get things done.

Because I am focused on the One who is the Author and Perfecter of my faith. He knows my story. He has written my story. He has ordained and ordered my steps!

Focused!

 

 

1 Comment | posted in Inspiration