A New Year’s Prayer

Dear Reader,

It has been a LONG while since I have posted, but I would be remiss in not saying a final word before the year is out. Perhaps this year has been difficult for you and with 2017 moments ahead of us, you feel glad to have 2016 lay in the dust of the past. Yet, your strength has been sucked out of you and your hope depleted and you don’t have much anticipation or enthusiasm in stock for the New Year. Well, my friend, I get it. Here’s a New Year’s pray for you that I hope helps you keep on keeping on and not let the struggle we call life, get the best of you. Happy New Year!

A New Year’s Prayer

Precious Lord, I call out to you. Hear my humble cry! Lord, I am worn and tattered from the experiences of this past year. I thank you God for your keeping grace, which has allowed me to come this far. I thank you for allowing me to be refined, but not destroyed. I thank you that you have answered prayers this year. I thank you for prayers where I have yet to receive a resolution that you have kept me in my waiting. I thank you for lessons and character you have revealed to me this year in those around me and myself. I thank you for this year that has shaped me and for your presence, which is steadfast and that guides me. In the midst of a world full of darkness, doubt, unbelief and apathy, Lord help me to forge ahead. Lord help me to not grow weary in doing good and let my hope and faith rise and not succumb to apathy or complacency. Lord let me grow in wisdom and discernment. Lord let this New Year be a year where I give you all the glory and all I do be guided by your hand and your love. I pray that my friends and family be kept in good health and that my body is strengthened to do the work you called me to do. Let every place where I step my foot be reclaimed territory for the kingdom and let the walls of your cities be rebuilt. Let me be an ambassador for your love, oh God, and an instrument of your peace. Let me fulfill each day’s purpose and each assignment you give me this year. Lord because I am your child, I will lack nothing I need this year. I rise above any situation that intends to defeat me because I am more than a conqueror. I can do all things this year with your power, which strengthens me. Lord your peace will anchor me and keep me still. I pray that I catch each moment of beauty and grace that you give me. I pray that all that was lost to me in this past year, including my hope, be restored. Lord let me focus and seek after you with my whole heart and operate out of a Christ like mind. Lord because it pleases you, show me mercy this year and favor. And most of all Lord, I ask that you abide in me and open my heart to know all the love you have for me and in turn I will show your love and light to the world wherever I go. I thank you for every day you give me this year.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope Was Born in a Barn

A short thought for my dear readers! Enjoy!

Hope was born in a barn!  Not that long ago we celebrated Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  There seems to be a season that we celebrate this special gift and then we stop.  However, such a special gift like Jesus should not be celebrated just on one day.  One of my favorite rappers, K-Drama, has a song called All Year Long about celebrating Christmas all year long.  So with that in mind, I continue reflecting on the Christmas story.

I think about such a small baby boy who could fit in your arms and how his presence changed the world.  I think about his humble beginnings.  I think about the words my pastor said Christmas day about keeping vigil (keep watch, keep awake) for joy and hope in the world and to see Christ in our midst.  My pastor said that Christ brought joy and hope that BREAKS the darkness. I remember that his name Emmanuel means God among us!  My favorite online pastor Steven Furtick at Elevation Church shared in his Christmas message that the Holy family never gave up, even in dark times. Pastor Steven shared that when we have hope that hope leads to trust.

This January as everyone is pushing to realize old and new dreams, I encourage you, as I encourage myself to feed your hope.  Keep your dreams alive! Keep praying, keep hoping, keep learning, keep growing and keep moving forward.  Even Jesus had humble beginnings. He was born in a stable with other animals, nothing fancy, nothing worth stopping at for a city tour.  And yet, from this small seed, grew new life, grew a boy, who became a man that saved the world!  Your dream may be small, they may be “nothing fancy”, but let it grow.  Letting your small seed grow may inspire others. But most importantly it will delight your heavenly Father as you move toward His plans for you.  Let us all be on the come up this year and let our little light become a fire that all can see!

The Truth About “The Promise”

Reflection on God’s Promise

His Love is Better Than Wine

I’m in a prayer group for women who are standing on the Lord’s promise to bring them the man He has chosen for them. Wow, just typing that first sentence makes me feel super vulnerable! I never want people to think I’m “thirsty” or “weak” in this area, but I’m finding the balance with being transparent about my own struggles. I’ve been super encouraged by this group, which consists of women over 30 who are married, divorced and single (never married). The married individuals are requesting prayer for their marriages, because, well, marriage is hard. Whether married or single, we are all brought together with this one desire: to receive God’s promises for our lives.

There are so many scriptures in the Bible that speak on this topic. God wants to bless His children. He LOVES to give them good gifts. And whatever our status in life is, whatever lot…

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The Best Seats in the House

God is crazy ridiculous good!!! I have great expectations and his Hope does NOT disappoint us!!!

His Love is Better Than Wine

So yesterdayMyfriend Hope and I went to see Tony Evans preach in a local church. We got there and it was packed. The main room was full and the overflow room was filling up. We were offered the overflow room but declined b/c it only showedthe service ontv’sand we would have to watch Dr. Evans on a screen. Hope didn’t come all this way from Cincinnati to watch him on a screen like she could have done onYoutube, so we decided to wait. We decided we would even stand along the wall if need be.

“Is it ok if we just stand to the side and wait here for any available seats?” we asked the usher. “Sure”, he said. And people were coming back and forth, in and out, and we were there for a good 10 min. Then we started getting antsy…

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My Muslim Friend

My friends are amazing! I really enjoyed reading this post and wanted to share it with others. God bless!

His Love is Better Than Wine

I made my way to my seat on the flight from Boston. I had just experienced 3 days with my friends who spoiled me with time, love and money.

Now I was headed home and looking forward to unwinding in preparation for work the next day. I was disappointed my airplane seat was a middle seat. We all know middle seats are the hardest to take a nap in which is what I felt in desperate need of. But God consistently has divine assignments for me when flying and so even though I was annoyed by the seating I was keeping my eyes peered for the assignment.

I ended up between an overweight,talkative Caucasian woman and a quiet,tall and lanky brown-skinned man. They couldn’t have been more different. When the woman kept talking to me I figured she was probably my assignment. But I was wrong…

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