Tag Archives: Women

Happy New You

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Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thessalonians 5:23)

     This is the time at the beginning of a new year that we tend to start thinking about things that we want to change or reorder in our personal lives. Some of us may want to lose thirty-five pounds, take better care of our health, spend more time with the family, or travel to a place that we have never visited. These are all things that will help us to develop a new perspective of our lives. It creates in our mind, a “happy new you.”

    As we explore what it means to create a happy new you, it is comforting to know that God wants the same for our lives. God wants our mind, body and spirit to be kept pure until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, with all the issues that we faced from 2020 to this point — a world pandemic, viral mutations, food and supply shortages, political unrest, police brutality, racial tensions, mass unemployment, mass shootings, unprecedented home foreclosures, and increased domestic disputes — these kinds of issues can make it challenging to think about a new you.  Yet even in the midst of these world and personal challenges, we can make ourselves over; with the help and grace of God, “All things are still possible with God.” (Matthew 19:26) 

     To do so, it will be important for us to examine ways to look closely at how we manage our mind, body and spirit. The mind is a crucial component of our being that we have to learn to manage with care. It is the gateway that will inform our entire system. What we think is critical to how we develop a new way of living and being. Proverbs, chapter twenty-three and verse seven says, “For as he thinks in his heart so is he…”  How we think determines if we will be sick or well, happy or sad, prosperous or poor.  

     Our mind, which houses the seat of our emotions, is connected to every major organ in our bodies. This is the reason that it is so important what we think. Our minds have to be fed good and wholesome things in order to be healthy. If we sit around daily complaining about our lives, feeling sorry for ourselves, taking in negative news all day, telling ourselves that we will never have the life that we imagine, and that nothing ever works out for us, we can be sure that our mind will give us what we ask for. It will communicate with every system in our body to tell it to respond to our language. So meditate on wholesome readings, autobiographies, poems, self help materials, and music that are in line with our faith. Seek ways to enjoy life daily through fun activities with the family, spending an evening out with like-minded friends sharing intimate conversation and ideas. 

    The human body, which is made up of eleven systems, is a complex and intricate creation. As I have been engaged in the study of Anatomy and Physiology, I really have come to realize how our bodies function that we  live in daily not being fully aware of just how intricate we are made. We are masterpieces of the great wisdom of God. Whatever we mess up in one system of the body affects every other system in the body. These bodies are not robotic machines: they are delicate, which means that what we put in them to become a “new you” is critical. In this country, we have gotten away from food as medicine; but through the present day natural health movement, we are seeing a resurgence of the original intention of God. From the beginning of creation God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” (Genesis 1:29)  

     God planned from the beginning that our food choices would be medicine for the body. The leaves of the tree were meant for healing. (Revelations 22:2) Many of the known diseases and illness in this county are directly connected to lifestyle and food choices. We have to take steps to add more fresh organic fruits and vegetables to our diet. Practice drinking half of our body weight in water daily. Yes, I really did say, “half of our body weight in water daily.” Water flushes toxins out of the body before they have a chance to affect the system negatively, and it transports valuable chemicals, nutrients and minerals to the cells. It helps to eliminate waste, regulates the body temperature, protects tissues, organs and joints, moisturizes the skin, aids in the digestion of food, and nourishes the heart and the brain. Water: it just does the body good! 

     Stop making excuses for not getting enough sleep. Let’s stop bragging about only getting three hours of sleep per day like it is a badge of honor. Sleep is a mysterious experience created by God that is used to help repair and heal during the resting moments; even our sleep has rhythms. Sleep is the pathway for dreams and visions that God uses to show us new opportunities and new ways of life. Sleep deprivation is another precursor to illness and disease in the body.  

     Get at least thirty minutes of exercise daily. Movement of the body moves chemicals in the body system that are necessary for them to function properly. Even when we can’t get outside on a regular basis, we can walk around in the house. Sit on the floor or in a chair and do some light stretching of the body to move the muscles. Take good care of the skin as it is the largest organ of the body system. What we put on the skin does matter. Toxic things that are put on the skin can have an adverse effect on our internal organs once absorbed by the skin. Read labels. Just because it is a dollar and on sale does not mean it is going to be good for us. Invest that dollar in the use of more natural products for external and internal use, such as coconut and olive oil. 

To nourish our spirit, there is nowhere else to go, but to the Creator of  our being. We are the expressed image of God in the earth. (Genesis 1:26-27)  The moment that we move away from the source of our creation we will malfunction.(Genesis 3) From our creation, when God blew the breath of life into our being, we became a living spirit.(Genesis 2:7) Relying on anyone or anything other than God, we will surely abandon our life source. To develop our spirit, we need the Holy Spirit and the word of God. The Holy Spirit and the word bring life. (Luke 11:13; John 6:35; Romans 8:1-2) The word and Holy Spirit are like the air that we breathe. It is important to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to develop times to read the word daily. I appreciate the age of technology and the use of electronic Bibles, but I believe that due to the crucial times that we are living in, we have to make sure that we have a Bible in our homes so that when things get shut down in our world, we don’t have to shut down because we can’t get the word of God. Purchase Bibles for our children and grandchildren and teach them the reason that it is important for them to have one, and get back to BRING IT TO CHURCH when coming to worship. Let’s start a movement of getting back to bringing the Bible to church!  

    Prayer is the way that we draw close and commune with God. The Bible tells us that it was Jesus’ custom to seek God early in the morning. (Mark 1:25) Early morning is a good practice because it gives us the opportunity to connect with God before we interact with our family and the rest of the world. Early morning opens us to center our being so that we clean our souls and get clear instructions on hearing from God throughout the day. Prayer is the key to building our relationship with God. It helps us to see the world with new eyes and brings us to conscious awareness of our state of being, surroundings, and reactions when dealing with others. Prayer even has a direct correlation on our brain and nervous system. 

     As we move forward into a new year, we can all have a “happy new you,” but we have to be willing to make changes in our mind, body and spirit, knowing that all heaven is helping us and cheering us forward. Have A Happy New You!~Peace 

The Call for Conscious Peacemakers

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 NKJV

For those of us here who remember the height of the Civil Rights Movement, often we can recall the struggles that we endured as Black people to gain equal liberties. Our movement hit the national stage, and everyone could see the tactics employed by the Jim Crow system and the violence that was inflicted upon a people who wanted to be recognized and acknowledged as human beings who deserved equal rights in this great country called “America.”

There are numerous accounts of the stories told about how the early civil rights workers and protesters had to learn to practice conscious peaceful resistance tactics that would help them to overcome evil with good when they were traveling in dangerous territory. As we have been able to look back on some of these scenes when we see the clips of our historical past, they are riveting and heart wrenching to watch; but, we see the benefits and the victories of what can be accomplished when we are willing to live and practice a lifestyle of conscious peacemaking. 

Often our ancestors would sing songs such as “We Shall Overcome” and “This Little Light of Mine.” They had internalized Jesus’s message and were walking as Jesus did when he faced the cross of Calvary. Many in our community knew that they were bearing a cross for another generation. Many of our ancestors knew that they would not make it into the promised land of victory, but they stood in the face of violence and hatred as peacemakers. 

Jesus has been our model of peace. He lived his life on the earth in calmness and quiet contentment about the mission that was set before him. When we read the scriptures, we cannot miss his examples of overcoming evil with good and sleeping calmly in the midst of storms. 

Even in this Twenty-first Century amid a Covid-19 ladened world, God is calling us to a lifestyle of peacemaking. Not only are we being called to peacemaking, we are called to pursue peace with everything within us; and, as much as it is in our power, we are encouraged to live at peace with everyone.

Peacemaking is creating a world that recognizes all human beings as equals and deserving of mutual respect that we each want for ourselves. It is giving the same treatment that we want. To be a peacemaker means to be at rest, quiet, silent, serene, and content within ourselves and our situation, without resorting to violence or rage to solve our problems and disagreements. It is an agreement to end hostilities and to live free from quarrels and unrest.

However, we are living in a world where violence and rage have become the norm for handling disputes and disagreements to the point that when we become so uncomfortable with someone else’s choices, decisions or position of authority, we act out in violence with our thoughts, words, attitudes, and our actions. When we live out of a life filled with internal insecurity personally and corporately, we want to control everything and everyone around us in order to feel secure. It is possible to live in a world that is peaceful, if and when we make the decision to become a peacemaking individual, family, school, business, organization, city, church or nation.

God has called us to go into the world and be peacemakers, but not pursuing the temporary peace that the world has to offer. The world’s message says, “As long as everything is going well and it is going the way that we want, we will have peace. As long as we get entitlements that we feel that we deserve based on our ethnicity, class, status, and income, we have peace.” However, as soon as these things are threatened, we engage in internal and physical war.

Even if we don’t get peacemaking right every day, we have to keep trying to walk in peace until we find ourselves not being rattled by every situation or the things that people say or do. To be a real peacemaker, it will be imperative for us to go within and examine ourselves to make the changes necessary to bring ourselves under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit and end the war within.

Now let’s set the record straight: Being a conscious peacemaker does not mean that we do not speak out against injustice and inhumanity. It does not mean that we become doormats for everyone to step on. On the contrary, it means that we speak out with love, assertiveness, and conviction in our hearts that every human being has been placed on this planet to enjoy certain benefits and rights without the use of war, violence, intimidation, bullying, oppression, force or control. It means that we do not destroy lives because we cannot get our way, or by forcing others into conditions and behaviors that will break the human spirit. 

Peacemakers are careful how we think, speak and act. Daily we make a conscious decision to practice peacemaking, privately and publicly. We cannot hide the ugliness of the internal war in our souls, and the planning and plotting of human demise, and it not radiate in the physical realm. The energy of hatred and violence can never be hidden. Today, we are being called to be conscious peacemakers!

  • To be conscious peacemakers, we have to watch our frame of mind when we are faced with situations and challenges that are beyond our control.
  • Stop and think before we speak.
  • Listen for what our body and mind are telling us. It will alert us when we are in internal war.
  • Don’t fret over things that we cannot control. God never meant for human beings to control each other.
  • Get rid of any sin or failure through confession and prayer.
  • Settle disputes and misunderstandings calmly. 
  • Watch our tone of voice.
  • Take the time to speak the truth in love.
  • Look for opportunities to be a peacemaker in our homes, work environments, schools, communities, governments, cities and world.

    For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5 NKJV)

Disrupters of Peacemaking

  • Misalignment and harmony with God
  • Unhealthy need to oppress and control people and situations
  • Unhealthy pride and arrogance
  • Broken expectations
  • Disagreements that become disagreeable
  • Continuous trials and test
  • Overworking
  • Sin
  • Failure
  • Fear
  • Hearing the word “no”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Search our hearts for war and give us the willingness to bring a ceasefire to the internal wars that are destroying the fabric of our world. Give us the mind and heart of a peacemaker. In Jesus mighty name~Amen 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 NKJV).

Women Who Lead Other Women In Darkness

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“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” I John 1:5-6 NKJV

On October 27, 2020, I read the story about one of the most modern-day cult leaders of an organization called “NXIVM” who was sentenced to 120 years in prison. As a graduate in sociology, and psychology, I have for years been interested in group and cult behavior. There was a time that I thought I strictly wanted to be a researcher, and teacher to help bring awareness and strategy on how to bring group change that would create better individuals and stronger communities. As I have read the story and history of the cult NXIUM, I am illuminated yet again on the power of mind control and the danger of blind loyalty. 

The leader of this cult had a powerful mind-controlling influence over the women in this organization. Many of these women were brilliant intellectually in their own right — successful, influential, and some had amassed and used great financial wealth to help numerous ventures of this leader.

When women, the mothers of life, can be used to lead other women in darkness, this is a sad state of affairs. The power of darkness is real. The women in this organization were brainwashed by a powerful, charismatic leader who engaged in dark psychology for years to control their minds. 

Mind control is real; but, when we as women do not deal well with our vulnerabilities and with the strong need for male leadership or intimacy in our lives, mind control becomes easy and detrimental. Following and partnering with male leadership, and visions that connect with our spirit and aspirations, is a noble endeavor because God created male and female to be one creation to expand the universe with goodness and blessings. (Genesis 1:28 ) We were created to work together in harmony to bring love and peace to the world, but our power ought never to turn into corruption.

To walk in power as women, it is not necessary for us to castrate and belittle men to prove how powerful we are, though we have suffered much in a male dominated society. We don’t have to be agents of dark practices. It is time for women to wake up to our power and become wiser about being in tune with our vulnerabilities and needs. When we are aware of our vulnerabilities, we make stronger emotional and ethical decisions because we recognize what we are being led to do, and how we are being programmed to think, especially when we are being led to compromise our ethical living.

There are always red flags; sometimes we may not see them right away because the power of deception and delusion is real and strong.  But in time, and with prayer, our internal discernment will help us to make right decisions that will not lead us down the road of darkness, nor to influence other women in a life of darkness.

It is time for women to wake up to our power. It is time to expose leadership that operates in corruption in any organization or system. There are many lives that have been broken, and trust that may not be easily restored. It is time to have the conversations that are necessary to bring real, genuine women empowerment and healing in the lives of women.  We can no longer be silent in the face of mass abuse of the life givers of our world.

I want to list these ideas for the purpose of increasing awareness and empowering women to think about when we feel strongly that we are under a mind controlling leader, system or organization:

  1. Be aware of our vulnerabilities ( esteem, identity, losses, successes, failures, relationships, career desires, human needs)
  2. Listen and don’t ignore our intuition. It is a candle of the Holy Spirit in our soul.
  3. Connect with woman who are going to connect us to living in light, not to darkness.
  4. Never compromise our integrity and ethics; they are too valuable.
  5. Give no human being the power to control our lives and decisions. Watch for controlling behaviors no matter how innocent they may seem.
  6. Avoid secret societies and groups that make us offer some form of collateral ( lies, favors, sex, theft, drugs, blood covenants, murder, marriage swapping, branding), to hold secrets that demean our humanity.
  7. Never allow ourselves to be isolated from trusted family, and friends with whom we can be open and share our vulnerable thoughts and feelings. 

Heavenly Father,

Bring healing and renewal to the mind, heart, and life of any woman who has been under the power and persuasion of mind control. Remind her of her power and purpose in You. Give her new direction for her life that will be a manifestation of Your love, grace, mercy and goodness. Amen! 

Breaking The Spirit of Jealousy

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Jealousy is an internal emotion that is projected onto another person by a person or individuals who are challenged by a level of deep insecurity. It comes from an internal wounding of the soul. Jealousy does not want to see someone have, accomplish, or be successful at something. Persons who operate with a spirit of jealousy will go to great lengths to try to hinder or sabotage the object of their jealousy. It can manifest in our marriages, families, communities, jobs, churches, and even among co-workers and ministry colleagues. The cousin to jealousy is envy. Envy is wanting what another person has.  Both of these are emotional states that the enemy will utilize to operate through us as an unclean spirit that must be cast out. 

Jealousy comes out of a lack of trust towards God and oneself. It is not having confidence in oneself enough to celebrate the success and achievements of others. It demonstrates that one does not feel that he or she is enough or has enough to bring to the process of life. Lack of trust will manifest in our relationships with family, marriage, friends, and even in our churches or faith communities. 

The spirit of jealousy is a dangerous and unclean spirit in our temple that will stifle our work — even in the house of God. This spirit, like all unclean spirits, seeks to kill, steal and destroy. It will keep us from using fully the gifts that God has given to each of us to use for the common good of all. If the object of our jealousy is at the helm of leading a task, we will do all that we can to undermine that person’s influence, even to the point of trying to murder the person’s character. (I Corinthians 12:7) This spirit must be called out into the open before it continues to wreak havoc in our lives and communities. 

When we operate in this spirit, we abort the fullness of what God wants to do through us individually and collectively. The spirit of jealousy will lead us to even not work fully to accomplish a collective goal with a team because we have these uncontrollable feelings against the person or persons that are being used to help accomplish an assignment, or usher in a change for the benefit of all. Jealousy will move us toward becoming competitive instead of working in cooperative communion with others to accomplish a goal. It wants full control within us; that is why it does not mind destroying others to get its way. It must be broken out of our minds and hearts. We have to destroy it within before it destroys without in our marriage, relationships and ministry!

Steps to Break the Spirit of Jealousy

  1. Admit that it is in your heart.
  2. Confess and forsake the sin.
  3. Ask God to help you forgive anyone who opened up this door in you and forgive yourself for operating this way.
  4. Renounce this spirit out of your heart. Say, “I renounce the spirit of jealousy in the name of Jesus.”
  5. Ask God to fill that place in you with his love and Holy Spirit, and show you your place in the work of the Kingdom.
  6. Affirm within yourself that you are more than enough and complete in every way in Jesus.

Prayer of Deliverance:

In the name of Jesus Christ, and on the basis of the authority of His power, His Word, His blood, and the Holy Spirit, I bind the activity of unclean spirits and command the spirit of (Name the spirit ) _________________________________________________________  

to come out of my heart and mind in the name of Jesus. You no longer have a place in my life. I am covered by the blood of Jesus. I seal this prayer by faith in the name of Jesus, Amen!

Mark 11: 22-24, Matthew 18: 18-19, Luke 10:19, 1John 5:14-15

Combating The Spirit of Hatred

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“Ask of me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalms 2:8-9

There are times when it is difficult to walk in the gifts of God. When I was a child, I found it difficult to share what I was experiencing in the Spirit; but that is not the case today. In June 2017, there was a major transition in my life. I took on an assignment in the Western Region. It was one of the hardest decisions of my entire life, but I knew God was calling me to an assignment of spiritual warfare. Along with several co-laborers who operate in the prophetic calling, I engaged in extensive counseling and research of the Western Region before I made my journey to the West.

We understood that the warfare would be intense because the cosmic influence over the region was heavy and the demonic darkness has worked for years to control the West. This darkness has not only taken a firm hold of the region, but it has also impacted the spirit of local churches across denominational and non-denominational lines. The spirit of hatred is operating in the churches and seeking to destroy. In some instances, I encountered the demonic spirit of hatred just because I showed up for the assignment here in the West. God made it clear to me that I had encountered this spirit. Hatred is a nasty spirit that aims to destroy everything God desires to accomplish through His servants. It is a subtle and dangerous spirit that masquerades as an angel of light – for a while – then it unleashes its venom. The kindred spirit that accompanies the demon of hatred is the lying spirit. It speaks calculated lies with intention. Its aim is to gratify its fleshly desires and to discredit the prophetic voice of God. But the alarming thing is that any individual, clergy or laity, can be open to this hateful spirit; it simply needs a body to operate through. It nestles itself in the broken and insecure places in the soul of those who are unguarded against it or leave themselves accessible to it.

The spirit of hatred can hide temporarily, but not for long because of its agenda to dishonor and sabotage its target. The only thing that closes the door on the spirit of hatred is repentance, renouncing sin, and filling the empty place in the soul with the Spirit of Love. To the pastors, leaders, and laity in the western region, we have to search our hearts and attend to our daily walk moment by moment. When we are hurt by any matter or we face challenges with others, harboring hatred will not solve the problem. Hatred unchecked will take anyone deeper into bondage and will keep us in the hands of the enemy by carrying out his will instead of the will of God. We have to evaluate ourselves and close the gap because this spirit has a strong presence in the western region of the country, and many of the churches are being taken hostage by it. Even children and youth are affected by it.

Abba Father is not pleased because we have the power within us to close the door on this spirit by walking in unified prayer, forgiveness, and love with everyone. Love is God’s command. (John 13:34) This is God’s way of being. There are consequences for maintaining a spirit of hatred. The Word of God says, “Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.” (Proverbs 17:13 NIV) Here is the warning: The anger of the Father is being poured out, but we can repent and turn back His hand. (Isaiah 42:25)

This is the question; why would we want our entire house destroyed as a result of harboring and practicing hatred? Wherever we see hatred, it is time to confront and expose it for what it really is. If we cast hatred out of those who have been carriers of that spirit and replace it with God’s radical love, I believe we will see God do an amazing work in our midst.

Let us do our part to start this revival by examining our own hearts. If we find that hatred is operating through us, we must acknowledge that spirit, confront it, and repent in Jesus’ mighty name. God is calling us to a higher place of praise and to transform The Church ~ Love!

Get Up With A New Determination

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At the opening of 2019, I was flooded with thoughts about my life, my friendship with God, motherhood, marriage, ministry, and my relationships with others – in that order amazingly. I came to realize how my life was impacted by all of these roles. My ministry assignment in San Francisco, which has taken me away from extended family and close friends, has been one of the most difficult and yet rewarding endeavors of my life. It has opened and stretched me to a new determination. I do understand now why God allowed and opened this door of opportunity for His glory and insight.

I am going to new levels. There have been some painful moments on this journey; aloneness, but not lonely, rejection in unexpected ways, and misunderstood intentions. However, some things have been made clear to me. I have gained insight into obscure matters that blindsided me. I can see clearly now. What I love about friendship with God is that it never changes and God will never allow me to walk in the dark. God is consistent in His love and care for me as a human being created in His image. There are no contradictions in His character. His love endures forever.

I have all of this stuff inside me to fulfill and I know I have to work with a new determination to complete it. I have never been jealous or envious of the dreams and goals of others. I have been a cheerleader for other people’s dreams and have sacrificed much of my time and energy to see their dreams happen. I will continue to help others and encourage them to go after God’s best for their lives; but I woke up recently with a new determination to fulfill my dreams.

    I don’t ever want to stop dreaming. I don’t believe it is God’s will that I pour all of my life into someone else’s dream while my dream dies on the vine. God said in His Word, “be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:28) That means I should be increasing in whatever God has planted in me to advance His Kingdom.

Reader, on this journey of life, you are going to meet people in the world who are takers. They have unrealistic expectations of your pouring all of yourself into their dreams and goals, but they can never celebrate yours. You have to know when it is time to wake up or you could die asleep.  Don’t die with your dreams unfulfilled. You might have to take a season away from environments and people who are killing you. Get up with a new determination to start working on something. Even if it seems small, just do it! Help others, yes, but don’t get so absorbed that you can’t see clearly what God wants to do in and through your life. Decide today that, with a new determination, you will fulfill your dreams for God’s glory and honor!

Peace,

 

Desperate for Healing

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Recently I read a story in the Bible about a woman whose daughter was seriously ill. As I reflected on this story, it offered no real details about the nature of the illness that this little girl was suffering. So, I did not know if it was physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional.  All I could glean from this story is that this mother was desperate for a healing for her daughter.

You see, the interesting thing about this story is that she was a Gentile woman seeking out Jesus, a Jew, for healing.  It is revealed in the story that she heard about the healing power of Jesus. A Gentile woman in the first century could risk great suffering by approaching any man in public, particularly a Jewish man, but her little daughter was deathly ill and she just wanted her to be well.

Her faith for her daughter to be healed was powerful! She continued to believe for her daughter’s healing and for an opportunity to get to Jesus to present her request. Upon arriving at the place where Jesus was, she sought him in great humility only to hear from Jesus himself that he had to get healing to his Jewish community first before he could offer it to the Gentiles. Wow, how discouraging that could have been; but this woman was so desperate for a healing that she was not affected personally by Jesus’ words, not sulking,  feeling dejected, or leaving the scene with her head hung low.

This message from Jesus did not deter this woman, but made her even more relentless in her pursuit; she was desperate for a healing for her little daughter. Her persistent faith in Jesus’ ability so impressed him that he celebrated and honored this woman’s faith. He declared her little daughter healed and sent the woman back home in peace. When this mother arrived at home, her daughter was resting peacefully. You can read the entire story in the Bible in the book of Mark, chapter seven, verses twenty-four through thirty.

I can so identify with this woman whose pain and struggle I understand. In 2013, my own daughter, at the age of twenty- three was abruptly challenged by a mental illness. As a professional having worked with many families over the years, encouraging them and compassionately walking them through their dilemmas, I found myself confronted with a faith crisis. It became a lonely and difficult journey to see my child in torment daily, trying desperately to understand the change in her life and struggling to get back to the normalcy she remembered without doctors, counselors, and medication.

Mental illness is real and it happens across cultures, regardless of economic status, to real human beings who want to be loved and treated with understanding, dignity, and respect. Even my family has had to struggle for understanding, services, support, and committed advocacy for my daughter. As a mother and a Mental Health Professional, I had to step up and be all of these things for my daughter. At times, my road has been met with challenges and we are still facing challenges.

It has been my unrelenting faith in God and my commitment not to give up on my daughter as she makes her way back to wholeness that has gotten us through.  I, too, am a mother who is desperate for a healing for my daughter, and I believe God has heard and will answer my prayers and the prayers of so many other mothers and fathers who are on this journey. My faith in God has grown even stronger, and I have not wavered in my commitment to be a voice for the mentally ill. I am even more committed to help them share their stories of pain and struggle.

I still believe Jesus is the answer. My daughter and I, along with many other daughters in the world who are suffering, wait like this woman who took her daughter’s needs to Jesus and heard him say, “Go home, your daughter is well.” I don’t mind waiting to hear those words!

To mothers everywhere who have a daughter or a son affected by mental illness, I am desperately seeking in faith for Jesus to grant their healing. Be encouraged; reach out in the community for support. There are still good people who are advocating for the mentally ill.

I am on the journey with you! ~ Peace

Getting Rid of the Old and Bringing In the New

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As we have entered into 2017, many are making plans to change something. It could be a lifestyle, a hairstyle, a relationship, weight, buying a house, or moving to another state or county. The New Year always opens with people wanting to make some kind of change – getting rid of the old to bring in the new.

Getting rid of the old and bringing in the new is a good thing to do. Taking away or adding to our lives is much like the pruning of a garden that has been overrun with weeds. At times, we need to cut the weeds away to make for a better and healthier garden. Even in our personal lives, taking away the old to bring in the new requires that we have a plan of action that is manageable so that we will remain on the path of change to reach our goals. Stay away from lofty plans that will not bring about the changes you desire. Keep your change goals simple and reachable.

Make 2017 a great year for your life as you get rid of the old to bring in the new. Bringing in the new will fill your heart with joy when you accomplish the desires of your heart. Never forget that the God of the Universe is cheering you on and believing for your success. Go ahead, bring on the new!~SSC

Relationship Not Religion

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When we think about Christ Jesus and look at the way “JESUS” has been portrayed in the world, it can at times cause great confusion. When we examine various faiths and religious expressions, it can leave us perplexed about who JESUS really is. Because of the way “JESUS” is characterized, we sometimes misconceive Jesus, The Christ and what HE came to do in the hearts and minds of people. There are many instances where JESUS’ mission and purpose have been misrepresented and rejected. JESUS was quite clear about what He was commissioned to do on behalf of people around the world.

Whenever God anoints someone by filling them with the Holy Spirit, it is always for a special reason, purpose, or intention. God will never waste the anointing; He directs His anointing toward a specific mission. JESUS announced what He would do with the anointing on His life; He would save people, heal them, deliver them, and set them free. Luke 4:17-19

This announcement was not a religious message. It was about building relationships – with God and with people. God’s healing power restores us to a right relationship with Him and with one another. All we have to do is believe, receive, and practice being a relationship builder in JESUS’ name. Only believe! You can do it. It’s about relationship, not religion. ~ Peace!

Trail Blazer

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There are times that we find ourselves faced with decisions that can make or break us. Destiny requires that we make critical decisions that will lead us down the path that God has planned for our lives. God’s plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11) However, we have to make sure that we are not making decisions that are not in our best interest.

There must be a willingness on our part to prepare ourselves for opportunities and doors to come open that will lead us to adventures of a lifetime by blazing some new trails. To blaze a trail we have to be risk takers. We cannot be afraid to travel on uncharted paths.

We cannot sit around waiting for others to give us an opportunity at destiny. To do so would mean that we have turned over the power of our lives into the hands of feeble human beings, which could lead to manipulation and control. We have to ask God to create opportunities for us to fulfill our purpose in life and make our paths clear for new adventure. There will be so many things that we will discover about ourselves and the impact that we will have on the world when we blaze new trails. Start walking~ PEACE!

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