November 26, 2019

Can’t Take It With You

By Christina

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

God reminds us here “lay aside every weight, everything that ensnares us, everything that could possibly hinder us.”

Flying Biscuit Jam…. sheesh. I was going through customs at ATL this morning ready for my redeye flight back to NYC and my travel bag was moved to the side. Ugh!!! When I had purchased it a few days before it was discussed that I probably would not be able to take it with me as a standby flyer. I have carry on only. It’s a risk.

How many things that we know are a risk for us that are unnecessary. For many times in life we have to make steps or leaps of faith but other times we take risks that are not the best for us no matter how much we may desire those things.

So simple right?!?

Cranberry Apple Butter… had to leave behind. Just a small jam that I totally loved in Atlanta lol.

I could have done anything in that moment when she told me I could not take it with me on the plane back home.

Could have stalled.

Could have fought.

Could have complained.

I could have even stayed because of it…

Yeah ok! We all have decisions to make in life. We need to make them well and make them fast especially when they have potential harm or hazard.

All I knew is that I wanted to get HOME!

WHERE I BELONG.

WHERE MY LIFE IS.

WHERE MY PURPOSE IS.

Delta all the way…. now with that in mind to get here first, God treated me with the gift of first class seating. I was flabbergasted. Even as I had struggled a bit with that inner worry of flying standby during the nations biggest holiday week of travel. Thanksgiving week.

We have to trust and know that if God needs us to leave things behind for a better what’s next, then gladly do it. We have frowned enough, complained enough and certainly cried enough. So if it’s not meant to be or not part of our next, we got to just keep it moving and keep going forward.

There really is a better way and a better day before us. That is why I sit here now, ready for take off and ready for God to do what He always does best. He arranges the details, arranges the flight, departure, arranges the arrival and arranges our steps.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” Psalms 37:23 NKJV

What was meant to be a quick, purposeful and necessary getaway happened smoothly because I was able to let the things go that held me back.

What do you need to let go of?

Maybe it is fear, maybe it is doubt, maybe it is a job, maybe it is a relationship or relationships…. maybe it is an attitude or perhaps unforgiveness. We harbor on the things that are very hazardous for us. It is time to let it all go because we simply CANNOT take it with us! Just because!

So I look back and think of that simple moment and it may not be as significant but we acknowledge more important things in our life. I smiled at her, let her take it. Took my real important stuff and kept it moving to the gate.

Let’s get to the gate of His goodness and just obey the gentle nudges He sends along the way so that we follow the trail that leads us back home. Be grateful. Be thankful. God is truly in control because the moment we try to control the situation is the moment we lose control of what needs to be!

We can’t take everything with us. But what we can take is an obedient heart and soul that says, “Yes God, now lead me to first class!” Now I can go in the highest and favored way possible, when you do things the right way.

Be blessed.

And Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 week

With love,

Christina

Comments Off on Can’t Take It With You | posted in Inspiration, Rest, Transition, Trust

November 1, 2019

Three Week Journey

By Christina

It’s November! And I can already sense so many of the blessings ready to be released.  I am thankful for what God is doing in our midst! I see the blade.

“And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest as come.”
Mark 4:26-29

A M E N to that! I woke in the morning very early! Precisely 2am! I said in my mind as always, “God are You serious?!?”

Yes–He was very serious!

So I prayed… Lord may it be Your will. May it hit that sweet spot. You are my Defender, my Negotiator and the One that worked it up. Sealed the deal over my life. I feel like I am wrestling in the night watches like Jacob did with the angel, saying “I’m not going to leave until You bless me!” I can only keep praying the way I know how. Silently but deeply; contemplative, earnest and in great anticipation. I have my hope anchored in You, remove all doubt and distractions. Make it happen.

Amen … amen…. amen.

I see this late night tweet pop on my phone from Reverend Victor Adeyemi:

“This month, I pray that the hand of the Lord will rest upon you for GREAT EXPLOITS. You will walk in supernatural wisdom, strength and favor for your life and purpose!” Amen!!

Then I go back to sleep. Easy. Keep my peace.

I am waking up to breakfast now in another state away from home, work, church, hustle and bustle. And as hard as it was for us to get down here and drive through the storm, I’m so glad that I’m spending a four day weekend in this beautiful place called Charlottesville, Virginia. It’s sunny, cool and beautiful out here.

My heart is happy. I came off a three week journey in preparation for what’s next. More to come on that.

It’s November!!!! ♥️ Be blessed all!

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October 24, 2019

Prayers of Faith

By Christina

The Prayer of Faith…

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
James 5:13-18 ESV

I find this packed Word that mentions prayer seven times in the book of James to be so cathartic in every way! It is what we need especially when we get stuck in that sluggish realm. We fall in these slumps where we don’t want to do the things that are the BEST for our soul.  We don’t want to eat right, we don’t always want to exercise, we don’t want to go to church, we don’t want to talk, we don’t want to read, we don’t want to pray, we don’t want to grow… the sluggish slumps where we NEED those prayers of faith!

I found myself so sluggish this week –women ya’ll just know why! I mean c’mon –it’s life –it’s what women have ta go through!

So I had to literally drag myself up and out of bed, drag myself to work, drag myself to the gym only twice this week :-/ and drag myself all around.  All I wanted to do was crawl up in a ball on the couch with my pup and blankie! But I have responsibilities.

And then I got there. The place that I was really supposed to be. At prayer! That is the most important thing that my soul needs. Those dynamic, heartfelt prayers of faith.  I laid on the ground. I felt myself slumping even further and then I heard the soft prayer for us. It was amazing. It was necessary. It was touching. It was real and it was just right.

I thanked God in that moment that I even got there by dragging myself.  As long as I just get there then everything will just fall into place, because it is not by these temporary and fleeting feelings.  What I need is… to do.  I need to ACT. I need to go. I need to keep moving ahead. I need those prayers because it changes EVERYTHING!

I laid there –thankful. ❤ Grateful that God is always making a way for me to get deeper into this faith walk even if I feel like I am drifting at times and not the bestest fiery soul.  I still love God.  I still love where I am at now.  Most importantly — I really REALLY love my church.

My Prayer of Faith:
Thank you God for calling me to be where I am in this season of my life. You have it all God.  You are with me in every step that I take. I know that I am surrounded by good things. I know that I am kept by Your saving strength. I am upheld by Your Word. Thank you for all those prayers of faith that are going straight to Your throne and back down to earth to move the mountains that need shifting. Especially the shifting that needs to happen in me! In Jesus Name…Amen!!! And AMEN!

3 Comments | posted in Faith, Fellowship, Health, Hope, Inspiration, Peace, Prayer

October 21, 2019

Study Nights

By Christina

Study nights for me are like….

I am thinking…

  • Create
  • Innovate
  • Collaborate

It’s more than this! It is studying like never before and diving into strategy, planning, productivity and growing my mind. I can’t keep thinking the same way.

Create… innovate… collaborate. This is a perpetual reminder for me that is running through my mind along with ideas.

The bible tells us:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can’t limit our thinking.

Here is how The Message translation reads:
“Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you wont be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.”

Same verse, more depth and insight. This tells me, focus one’s attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity. This tells me to study, application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge. Dictionary.com is elaborating on key practices for us to grow.

I heard Bishop TD Jakes say, “The day you stop reading is the day you stop growing!” As we educate ourselves with bible study and productivity books we expand our thinking. We acquire knowledge to create, innovate and collaborate. We must study.

I absolutely love paper books. I love the texture, the different prints and the variety of information at your fingertips. I am surrounded by books at home. I have an extensive library and I have dedicated myself to concentrate on my personal studies.

I even carry a couple with me daily in my bag. I know its so habitual but at the same time this habit causes me to redeem precious time so that I can be a better writer, worker, wife, mother, mentor and so much more.

I wont be able to invest in others if I don’t see the value to invest in myself first. To study is an absolute, non-negotiable PRIORITY for me. Then I can do other things. This is how I function properly.

This is how we can do better at life and love. We can concentrate and focus on doing our best…. our very best for God… one more step to excellence.

So I encourage you to take some time out for you to study! You are a priority!

With Love,

Christina

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