VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE!!!

Humbled

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:28:53 GMT

God used a "funny" situation to quickly humble me. I didn't know!

Happy Sunday! On the heels of my Aunt's and a former church member's funeral this weekend, God gave me an opportunity to chuckle today with this one. Thought I'd write about it. Here it goes!

I am doing a devotional with a few ladies and read the following in a section of today's reading which really helped put something into perspective for me that I didn't think about before in terms of our unique and special calling...

"Having a relationship with the Lord and developing His character in your life form an essential foundation that will strengthen and sustain you in all your activities and accomplishments. With continual refreshing from the Lord, you can purposefully engage in your many responsibilities and fulfill the exciting purposes God has for you."***

True story: a member of an organization who I don't know very well called me twice in one week, but I kept missing the call. When I called them back, the individual said, "Can I ask you a question? I know we don't know each other very well, but I feel close to ask you this in my mind..." IN MY MIND, I'm hearing alarms ringing and ABORT! ABORT! �� Anyway, the individual asked me to borrow some money "just until next month" because they needed money to pay the rent that was due in a few days, but somehow next month, they were going to be able to pay me back this not-small-amount-of-money.

I was feeling generous that day and actually almost believed that they were going to pay me back...at some point. So I say, yes, and within minutes, the money is sent followed by a profuse "thank you." The next month comes and I get a text message requesting to pay the money back in 2 more months instead of paying me back that month. Again, I say yes and the borrower is happy, again. Payment month rolls around and the individual actually calls to invite me to some event with the organization. I'm not interested in going, but I am interested in eventually getting my money back so I ask the individual if they have my payment information so they can pay me back this month to which they respond yes and that they will pay it back that month. The last day of the month comes and the individual sends me a message asking for my payment information AND if they can pay installments.

GOODNESS...are you serious?!? �� NEVER AGAIN!!!

I immediately send the QR Code of my payment information and say yes.

<SpongeBob Squarepants announcer voice> TWO DAYS LATER (so this is now technically the next month, right???), the person sends me FIFTEEN PERCENT (1-5!!!) of what they received from me 5 months prior within 3 minutes of asking me on our initial phone call. Now, keep in mind, in the last phone conversation where I asked the individual if they had my payment info, they tell me that their birthday is coming up AND THEY WENT SHOPPING TO BUY THEMSELVES SOMETHING 'CUZ THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING NICE FOR THEMSELVES IN A LONG TIME.

Why? Why are you telling me this when you know you owe me money? �� When you are working 2 jobs and you know I am working no jobs and have NO income coming in. �� My "gast is flabbered" and I have been moved to speechlessness. So l do the only proper thing I could do and text them thank you for sending the 15% of the needed total non-gift repayment and happy birthday.

I could have asked when the next and final payments would be expected, but I am patient since I am not hard pressed for it and she just about knows that any future request for assistance will be met with a no. But I actually wouldn't say no...I would say yes...and I would tell them I will lend you the money in the same time frame and manner that you paid me back. Call you next month! Bye!!! ��

Funny part over...now where God uses this very tangibly fresh-in-my-mind and relatable story was to show how good He is and how He challenged me with the devotional today.

So from the above scenario to now thinking about YOU giving something to somebody to do something very specific that YOU need for THEM to do FOR YOU.

Stay with me here...God is so good.

It is something that is important and YOU have given it to THEM to execute that IMPORTANT SOMETHING ON YOUR BEHALF.

Now, they not only NOT do the important thing you needed for them to do for you, they go around with what YOU'VE given them for A VERY SPECIFIC TASK or PURPOSE, and use it to do something else! Now, you can imagine how upsetting it is when a person owes you something after asking for assistance and they take forever to pay you back and then share with you that they bought these nice expensive clothes on sale because they needed to treat themselves instead of essentially paying you back first, right? It's upsetting.

So, imagine, how it feels to ENTRUST giving you--my friend, not my enemy/acquaintance/or even somebody who doesn't even know me, but someone I love AND someone who says they love me--something so precious to me, with full expectancy of you completing doing something on my behalf, and you go and squander it. And use it for other people. And other things. I would be very upset, and the shift in my mind is thinking, WAIT, THAT'S WHAT WE DO TO GOD. Because He has given us talents. He has given us gifts. He has given us a beautiful mind. He has given us the know-how in putting it all together. And we squander all of these things on other people and not His Kingdom work! So, I can see how God could be very upset with us, but--PRAISE THE GOOD LORD--God is NOT like people. And He doesn't love like how people love. It's not conditional, it's unconditional! But today's devotional just helped me realize that and put it into perspective. The only reason--the only way--we are who we are and how we are is because God has created us this way! He has allowed us to go through experiences that we are able to see His goodness in all things. And so the very talents, gifts, experiences, understandings, and learned lessons that we have, have come from Him. And He wants us to use all of that to expand His Kingdom; to do work for Him, to leave an impression of His love on others. And yet, we squander that on the things that we want to do, and on people we want to spend it on, and bless--not so much to bless because we're blessing them with the love of Jesus Christ--we just want to bless to try to impress folk because we got it in our hands. But the reality is the only reason we have ANYTHING is because God has given it to us.

So we have to be great--not even good--but great stewards of what He has given us, and that includes our talents, our time, our resources, our gifts, our lives, our families, even our futures...we need to give all of that to Him! And we owe ALL OF THAT to Him. And He OWNS ALL OF THAT, ANYWAY, so this was just a really good devotional to humble me and remind me of that today. ��✝️��

What have you squandered that God has given you? What are you called to do and what steps are you taking to be a good steward of what God has for you to do?

Speaking of "squandered", lemme go call that individual to see about their next payment... JOKINGGG ! ��✝️��

#missshanspreads

#WhereAreYouInTheStory

#GlorytoGod

#Missions

#Calledforapurpose

#itsHisAnyway

#Jesus

#jesuschrist

***If you want to read the full devotional from that day or all 5-days...

Join me in reading A Woman Of Purpose And Power ( By Dr. Myles Munroe )

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/15179-a-woman-of-purpose-and-power

Follow Whitaker House on YouVersion, a free Bible app helping millions seek God daily.

https://www.bible.com/organizations/32a8159e-34ef-4224-9623-26867dc5cdaf?utm_source=yvapp&utm_medium=share&utm_content=partner-profile

Grateful -- My Aunt Beverly

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 12:21:33 GMT

The Sermon on the Mount - Be Attitudes

Yesterday, my Aunt passed away.

She was in hospice and lived in New Mexico. I was waiting to hear from others about her status because I was trying to go see her. I tried to execute this trip as cost-effectively as possible, considering that I have not had full-time income since November of 2023, and mentally prepare knowing that I have my dogs that I would need to travel with because boarding them for the potential week was going be more expensive than just getting a pet-friendly hotel, and in traveling with them, meant flying was out-of-the question, and I would need to rent a car and drive, which from my house was going to be over a 10-hour drive one-way…and I was going to have to do all that by myself. The trip had a lot of moving parts. I was encouraged that my Aunt had slept through the night having received the call 48 hours earlier that her health was declining. I went through signs of enduring trauma: sadness, anger, disbelief, full optimism, and then, full-on determination to see her. Unfortunately, overstimulated with everything going on in my mind, I stayed up well until after 3 AM the day I was going to drive and woke up at 6:15 AM to be ready for my 7:40 AM Uber pick-up planning to get to the car rental place right before 8 AM. I get ready knowing I have had very little sleep and am about to embark on a very long journey to pay my final respects. I wanted to hold my Aunt's hand, kiss her face, and read her favorite passage of Scripture – “The Sermon on the Mount.” All of these things were playing in my mind while standing outside early in the morning waiting for my Uber. I even called the hospice location to see how well my aunt had slept during the night...and if she was still yet in "the land of the living." The night nurse confirmed she slept through the night (Hallelujah! Praise God!), but she did say my aunt was declining quickly and if I was coming--come now. In tears, I thanked her and hung up as I saw an “UBER CANCEL” message flash on my screen. WHAT!? This can't be! Two...TWO minutes before I was supposed to be picked up...10 minutes after I stood outside waiting for my Uber…THEY CANCELED ME! My hands were shaking. I couldn't believe it! I NEEDED TO GET TO THE CAR RENTAL ASAP, AND NOW THE UBER CANCELED ME 2 MINUTES BEFORE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LEAVING TO GO!!! I managed to get back in the app and order ANOTHER Uber and after "securing it”, ON TOP OF CANCELING MY INITIAL UBER, I realized that Uber actually CHARGED *ME* A CANCELATION FEE FOR AN UBER I DIDN'T CANCEL!!! OHHHHHHH, I was LIVID! EVERY SECOND MATTERED!! The new Uber came...10 minutes later, and as soon as I got in the car, I broke down crying as my frustrations with Uber just was enough for my flood gates to open and told her about my Aunt. She was very understanding and was driving erratically fast to try to make up for the sins of her company, but she really couldn't drive too fast (thankfully ��) because traffic was horrible by then. What should have taken 10-12 minutes in bad traffic was now a 20-30 minute drive in the horrible traffic we had. When we got there, she turned to me and said that she was sorry about what happened and to PRAY. �� Amen, sis. �� I get the rent-a-car, the process taking far-longer than I would have liked--having to deal with its own set of issues-- and get back home a whole hour later. �� I am tired, slightly woozy & delirious from being sleep-deprived, hungry, and know I need to load up the car quickly. I even warm up some food just to coat my stomach because I feel like I am about to pass out. My mind is moving in a whirlwind with all of the reasons why making this trip would NOT be a good idea...BUT the image of my Aunt flashed in my mind and that was enough motivation for me to go. Thirty-five minutes later, the dogs and I are all packed up ready to go and I call the hospice location once more. The next shift of nurses had started and this nurse was not going to tell me anything except that I really needed to call my Aunt's approved family members to get her medical update from them *BEFORE* starting my trip. EVERY SECOND MATTERED.

I text everyone...it is an hour or 2 earlier for my Aunt's family, so I try to wait to call so as not to wake them, but I can't wait to hear from them to start my drive. Their eventual response about her health is not very helpful anyway, but I am clear that I am committed to trying to see my Aunt one last time. I tell my family my plans as I am executing them, and they each listen in shock, silently and begrudgingly accepting what they know I am going to try to do, understanding that trying to convince me otherwise is futile.

Until, 3 hours and 30 minutes into my drive, I get a call, "Can you pull over?”

Me: It’s about Aunt?

“Yes…”

After battling Stage 3 lymph node cancer in her throat for a while, my Aunt passed away on her own terms. I stayed at that gas station for 40 minutes crying and just unloading the last 2.5 days of events. The juxtaposition of the emotion of grief overlaid with relief of my Aunt's pain, suffering, and just overall hard life was coming in waves over me like a see-saw: up…down…up…down. I made calls to my family, to my Aunt's family, to her Pastor. In fact, it was in the conversation with her Pastor--he is such a great man--that I spoke out loud the decision that I am going back home. I was coming to see my Aunt, but now, she sees me. The drive to get to her was going to be another 7.5 hours so I was going to go back home. My aunt did not want a ceremony or a big event or any fuss, and knowing her immediate family had not thought that far in advance to address the next steps, I thought it best to go back home. Everyone probably thought I was crazy for yesterday, but I was at peace because I know my Aunt knows I love her and would do anything for her and I really tried. And now, I didn't have to try anymore and could breathe again and smile at the thought of having no regrets.

As I was finishing my last hour driving back home, being behind on my daily YouVersion Bible in a Year devotional, I listened to it, and as God would have it, the reading that day was THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! ��✝️�� The very reading I had read my Aunt years ago after learning it was her favorite set of Scriptures. The very set of Scriptures I was going to read to my Aunt today. And my heart was immediately filled with joy that God would bless me and honor my Aunt that way and I knew and *felt* my Aunt was with me at that very moment. I felt her. I felt God. ��✝️

I thank God for my Aunt and the time I had with her, what she meant to me, and what love I have for her. I am at peace. God's Word is healing and gave me a precious moment to share with my Aunt in real time. My Aunt was a Believer in Christ, and even in her passing today, she still lives eternally, and shall never die (from John 11:25-26 ). God blessed me with tangibly knowing and feeling that gift today. ��✝️��♥️�� God is good.

I made this song for my Aunt on her birthday a couple of weeks ago…Listening to it now brings tears to my eyes. Wow…God is so, so good. ��

https://suno.com/s/WGOWqPGW0lWoBaFn

SERMON ON THE MOUNT - The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12 NASB1995

[1] When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. [2] He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [5] “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. [6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. [7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. [8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [10] “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Great Commission

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:41:22 GMT

We are ALL called to be Missionaries

Did you see Friday's YouVersion Bible app "Verse of the Day" & full Daily Refresh post backing my Thursday LinkedIn post with "The Great Commission" verse from Matthew 28:19? ( Bold and underlining added by me for emphasis in the below scriptures).

Matthew 28:19 AMP
[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

I'll let you in on a little secret...YouVersion and I have a partnership. In fact, ALL Christians have this partnership.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 NASB1995
[2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, [4] and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. [5] But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1 Peter 3:15 NASB1995
[15] but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts , always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence ;

Sharing the Gospel is ALWAYS a timely message!

*THIS* was your "sign" to GO do missions. Note, you don't have to cross the sea in order for others to see the Cross? Dr. Tony Evans said something akin to "ministry" is what we do with other believers; "missions" is what we do to reach those who are not yet believers. In the "go" of "The Great Commission", God *may* be calling you to change your vocation and/or location, but that's certainly NOT required. As everyone's journey & contribution is different, every Christian is STILL called to be a full-time missionary MAKING disciples as we GO throughout our daily lives.

With that clarification, answer honestly. What are you doing to
• extend your personal relationship with God?
• extend the relationship of God in others?
• participate in "The Great Commission"?

My church (currently in an AMAZING series about the Mission of God ) had a sermon years ago called Pray, Pay, or Pack summarizing 3 ways that our identification in Christ calls for us to participate in the extension of the Kingdom of God.

1) You can FREELY PRAY and/or encourage already established missionaries or soon-to-be missionaries.

How?
--> Praying God's promises over them.
--> Connect with/write to them.
--> Express your appreciation for the courage & boldness they exhibited to dedicate their time, life, and sometimes, yes, even death to the cause.
--> Share what God has done for you with others (you don't need training to share your testimony)!
--> Share the Gospel anywhere you go.

2) PACK to GO! Connect with reputable churches executing mission ministries both home and abroad. ***Especially, if you/your group/your family are serious about overseas missions & need help starting the process, please, feel free to contact me.***

3) PAY for someone who wants to go or is already missioned-focused. It's a beautiful thing to align your time, donations, & funds to support local initiatives (i.e., school supplies drive, adopting-a-family, supporting people fallen on hard times, & countless other opportunities). In addition to supporting locally, consider faithfully supporting overseas missionaries called to share Christ both in and out of season.

This is not to encourage comparison or bring about braggadocious behavior to highlight what's been done.

Matthew 6:3-4 AMP
[3] But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], [4] so that your charitable acts will be done in secret ; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you .

It's Biblical...

Galatians 6:10 AMP
[10] So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

Even Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples who literally was in the presence of the 200% God-man and STILL betrayed Him. He played his role.

Whatever role you choose to play, Jesus lets us know that He will be with us every step of the way, saying:

[20] teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

So, that begs the question -- #WhereAreYouInTheStory

#missshanspreads
#missions
#shareyourtestimony
#praypaypack
#makedisciples

Filled with Righteous Indignation today

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:44:24 GMT

From a simple prayer

This prayer was from January 20, 2024.

I had just resigned from my cush Engineering job and 20+ year Petrochemical & Refinery industry career months prior. I didn't know much about the future, but I had asked God that if it aligned with His will, to please allow me to travel around the world to see as many people as I could to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I wanted to be the hands, feet, and mouth of God. I didn't know what that would look like or the details of what would unfold to be the best year of my adult life, but found myself on the first of 19-international flights 3 days after this prayer popped in my Bible app feed. I witnessed modern-day miracles EVERYDAY; things I could NEVER imagine happening that solidified my faith that a higher power existed. So many stories told in Spanish, Twi, Thai, Swahili, Creole, Portuguese, Luganda, Makhuwa, English, and more ALL pointing to Jesus. No amount of coincidences could deny His existence. No matter the country, He was there.

I prayed for a young pregnant lady in Uganda after telling her about "a man named Jesus." She accepted Him as her Savior and immediately, the darkness and heaviness that followed her into the room were gone. The pain she had complained about having was no more. Even though I was talking to her for ~40 minutes prior to the prayer, she never looked at me, never made eye contact with me, never talked to me directly, never even changed her bland facial expression. But after that prayer, I immediately felt the heaviness gone, I felt lighter and quickly asked the interpreter to ask the young lady how she felt...if she felt lighter...if she felt different. I knew she did, because I did. I knew the young lady had encountered the power of the Holy Spirit and it changed something. Before the interpreter could finishing asking her my questions, the young mother-to-be turned her whole face to me and smiled. She even chuckled and felt around were her previous back pain was and said it is gone. Wow...wow God...Just wow. I was so broken by God showing up like that.

Chains were broken daily in the name of Jesus like that and in so many other ways! It was just amazing to see, to hear, to bear witness to it occurring. It changes you after having these types of experiences. This is why I stress the importance of supporting Missionaries with prayers, donations, words of encouragement, but even going and seeing for yourself! Go & GROW on a mission trip! Get the exposure! See the things you learn about, read about, hear about FOR YOURSELF! Stop making excuses. Your children are not too young. You have enough PTO. Do it. DO IT! The time is NOW. The state of our world is in desperate need. Put action on your faith. Put your ego aside. You don't know what to say? God will give you the words. You don't know scripture? Start by exchanging 10 minutes of your scroll time to reading Bible verses to learn and understand it and increase the time spent with Him. Where are you in The Story?

Obedience is Better than Sacrifice

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:05:17 GMT

Do we really know better than God?

Talking to a fellow beliver in Christ today gave us an opportunity to revisit the below Scriptures (1 Samuel 15:1-3, 8-33 NASB1995 & 1 Samuel 16:1, 12-14 NASB1995) and apply it to our lives.

En route to becoming king over Isreal, God told Saul to "utterly destroy all" things pertaining to the Amalekites. However, Saul & his soldiers thought "better" than God and spared the life of the Amalekite king, Agag, AND the "best" of the animals and all that they deemed as good in the land. They were not willing to utterly destroy some of the things God had told them to destroy. Add insult to injury, Saul and the people wanted to sacrifice "the best" animals to God.

Has God told us to "utterly destroy" an interaction, a relationship, a career, a habit, or a cycle, just for us to "know better" and exercise grace all of the sudden? Are we such great judges of character that we can now determine who and what needs sparing? And, the laughable thing--we do it in the name of Christian love and offer it as a sacrifice of praise!

Imagine going to your all-time favorite restaurant and ordering your most dreamed-about dish. You take it home and let it sit out for days on your counter. Without implementing proper food storage practices, the dish will start to stink and resemble a science project more than the delicious entree you previously brought home. Further, imagine that the person you most respect walks in to sit at your dinner table waiting to eat. Would you then present the putrid dish to your cherished guest? May it never be! Yet, that is what Saul had the audacity to suggest to do & that is what we actually do to God!

God has so much greater and more in store for us, but, like Saul, we become wiser than God and know better that we end up insulting the very One we are trying to impress. And because of our DISOBEDIENCE, we are striped of the very grand blessing God bestows upon us and become tormented by God Himself...all in the name of knowing better than God.

You may not have to think long or hard today about l

what God has called you to be obedient in doing. Do, however, think long about the future consequences of doing things YOUR way instead of YAHWEH's. The ending results can have everlasting negative impacts.

��

1 Samuel 15:1-3, 8-33 NASB1995

[1] Then Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the words of the Lord. [2] Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. [3] Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”

[8] He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. [9] But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. [10] Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, [11] “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night. [12] Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.” [13] Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.” [14] But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” [15] Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.” [16] Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!” [17] Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel, [18] and the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’ [19] Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” [20] Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the Lord, and went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. [21] But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” [22] Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” [24] Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. [25] Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” [26] But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” [27] As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. [28] So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. [29] Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” [30] Then he said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” [31] So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord. [32] Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” [33] But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.15.1-33.NASB1995

��

1 Samuel 16:1, 12-14 NASB1995

[1] Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”

[12] So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” [13] Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. [14] Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.

https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.16.1-14.NASB1995

��

#WhereAreYouInTheStory

Copy of A LIL' FREAKED OUT

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:18:20 GMT

I heard what God was trying to tell me LOUD and CLEAR!

God created me to be a FROG - Fully Rely On Him

TRIFLING

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:37:25 GMT

Are YOU trifling, too?

You have a "friend" or family member that you only see or hear from them WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING? Yes, THAT trifling person. Well, I was today years old when I found out I. AM. SHE. TRIFLING.

Just so we are all on the same page, here...

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "trifling" as ": lacking in significance or solid worth: such as. a. : frivolous. trifling talk. : trivial."

All my life, whenever we used the word "trifling", it was to define when someone wasn't doing what they were really supposed to be doing, for no really good particular reason. And that said TRIFLING person wanted to get something good from YOU that they did not deserve. So, my definition wins out this day. Sorry, Merriam-Webster.

Anyway, back to my story. This experience took place during the "Time of Noah" -- that is what I will call it. I will have to go back and share more blog posts on what that means, but just understand that God woke me up EARLY September 20, 2023 yet, again, to lovingly and gently tell me about myself. He said I was trifling. Well, not really in those words...lemme explain.

Holy Spirit woke me up at like 4:03 AM BEFORE my multiple alarms went off (I really like to sleep and need the extra alarms for motivation to get up). Not that day, though. I get up and begin to pray after my daily devotional, but in the middle of the prayer as I am asking our....

TO BE CONTINUED...

BROKEN

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 11:38:31 GMT

A Divine appointment in revisiting the story of Emmett Till

This is what I wrote after the experience that fateful morning of September 15, 2023...

I'm up...GM...my heart is broken.

How good God is, is the deep depths of evil that man can go.

I woke up and thought about Emmett Till and just realizing as I type this, he went to a "foreign land"-- the Mississippi South -- and came back in a box from the actions of evil man who felt justified by their grotesque act to brutally murder an innocent young man.

The showcasing of the act was the catalyst for the civil rights movements.

Racial injustice could not be ignored by anyone.

One of the comments mentioned Exodus 34:6-7.

I expanded the reading to verses 5-10 and realized, this is on the hill of Moses breaking the first tablets in anger at the sight of the people acting a nut, depraved, ungrateful, engaging in sinful decadence AFTER God split the Red Sea (THE RED SEA!!! The max depth is 9974 ft, 40% has places shallower than 330 ft (100 meters) with 25% places less than 164 ft (50 meters) deep!!!) to save them from Egypt's slavery and captivity.

My gosh, it broke my heart 'cuz God, IN SPITE of the unrepentant and defiant ways of the people (just like the evil Emmett Till murderers), God descended in the clouds to stand with Moses and proclaimed His own Name (verse 5) and tells us His loving-kindness is for 1000's and he forgives iniquity, transgressions, and sin, but does not leave the guilty unpunished, even revisiting the iniquity to generations (v. 6-7).

Moses gets on the good foot knowing how unworthy he is and the trifling people partying like hooligans and he bows and worships God. I see him in my mind laying down with his nose touching the ground waving His arms around to worship to get as low as he could to show how lowly he is in God's presence! That had to be a long worship session...he had to feel compelled to have a long praise party after God just broke down Who He is and what He was going to do. Ain't no way God dropped the mic and Moses give a 5-minute praise. It had to be a while of worshiping 'cuz Moses asks if God NOW finds favor in him, to please forgive the stiff-neck and their iniquity AND take them/claim them as His possession/inheritance. Wow...that is pretty bold of a request to ask on behalf of some gold-melting-calf-graven-imaging-molding folk. Who would want these people to represent anyone, let alone our God and who would want to leave ANYTHING to them???

And then, v. 10. God said He would make a covenant with them. �� Huh?!?! WHAT???? God says He would perform miracles that have never been seen on the earth nor among the nations*. That struck me 'cuz I am like (1) God forgives just like that, (2) NOT only does God forgive GROTESQUE sin (just like the evil men that murder Emmett Till), but will accept these same obstinate people AS HIS POSSESSION, (3) Wow, even back then, God let's us know about the concept of Earth and presumably the solar system AND even different nations existing on the earth! (4) God is going to display what He can do to even the people who know us so they undoubtedly know it is God doing it, (5) These things are going to be so Big, so fearfully done, so terrible of a shake-up, so unheard of, so majestic, so we all will know it was God who did these things, & (6) God will perform these things with us. Lowly you and I will get to bare witness and assist with the High things God is doing. Again, the picture flashed before me in my mind of all of the people wrapped around the block to attend and see Emmett Till at his funeral. The world had never seen hatred manifested so immensely and certainly not on a 14 year old boy.

It was here I broke down because the intermingling of the imagery of those smug white Southern callused murders sitting in the court room, mixed with an unrecognizable Emmett Till swollen to the size of the Hulk in his casket, mixed with a party scenarios and women and man indulging in self-gratification and lasciviousness after the parting of the Red Sea, and then images of MY sin and the utter disgust and nasty taste i had in my mouth and scrunched up nose and frowned face you make at the sight or smell of vomit. I was like--- man, we are horrible. Humankind is horrible. And then, a picture of a blank, clean slate appeared. That was God saying I love you THAT much that I wiped it away. [I WAS BROKEN] And then He says the level of degenerate acts that you see and how moved to tears you were for the injustice that was carried out...that is heartbreaking.

But guess what, My Son went through that AND so much more...FOR YOU. THAT is how you get to the clean slate.

[i was broken]

Civil injustice causes a deep stir-up of pain and has us cry out and pull together to work together for a greater good. Emmett Till's mom said that if he dies a hero affecting dramatic change - not just in the South - but all over the world, to know how bad it was and that things need to get better, than what he went though was worth it.

Praise God...He said where is the same fire of change from My people for Jesus? [BROKEN] My Son went through that and more...are you tearing up? Are you crying out? Are you showing up in bands upon bands of people ready to march, to take a stand, to proclaim MY name, what is right? Does Jesus get the same fanfare and parade?

Where are MY people?

[Broken]

God loves us sooo much, that in our filth, He sent His Son to clean us up, save us from ourselves, our sin, and get spared the indignant wrath of His we rightfully deserve.

[BROKEN]

He did that for you. He did that for me. He did that for every human being--even the evil ones. And FYI--WE--you, me, every person--evil. Because, at one point, WE were enemies of the cross--against God. And in the game of life...you are either GOOD or EVIL.

[BROKEN]

Romans 5:8 -- the ultimate Valentine Day message.

Christ Loves us so much that He was obedient, to the Cross understanding the undertaking He was to face...the sin of the world placed upon Him....separation from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, AND YET, HE DID IT FOR US ALL.

[BROKEN]

No...our chains are broken through Jesus Christ.

So, that is what I went through, processed, saw this morning.

And as I was writing this to you (real time, by-the-way), I hear the question, is that why Alisa and I are being sent to China? For the broken people to know of a Savior Who breaks chains?

Oh, and the best parts of Exodus 34--I almost forgot--God is very clear to Moses about what the renewed covenant outlines. Holy Spirit has me notice that God shares a lot of "do's", not so much in the "don't's". The "dont's" are implied with the observations of what others may try to do to entice you, but God again shares what we are to do. That spoke to me about God's character in how He instructs us on what to DO and obviously gave us the example of how to live with Jesus Christ. This is a stark contract of what some non-believers may think Christianity is--in that it is a list of things you can't do and don't do, when this is a clear example of God telling us what to do in the renewed covenant.

God tells Moses all of this and in v. 27, He tells him to write it down because in accordance with these words that He just shared with him, that was going to be the terms of the covenant, for His people, His possession, His inheritance with these saved sinners (just like you and me). And I am thinking...God gives him these instructions THEN tells him to write it down. Moses didn't have a physical tape recorder and this is before Jesus came and ascended and shared that God was going to send The Helper (Holy Spirit). God tells him all this stuff AND THEN tells him to write it down. I am thinking this is one of the difference of the Old Testament saints vs New Testament saints in that Old Testament had pockets of time being filled with the Spirit and New Testament Saints have the Holy Spirit live in us.

So that makes sense that in v. 29 til the end of the chapter, Moses would grow after talking with God (I guess it would fade away the more time away from God he was which metaphorically speaks to how brightly our light shines when we walk with Him and the more we stay away or distance ourselves, the dimmer our light is). So without saying a word, the world--just like the people back then--could SEE something different about you because the Light shines through you and you do not even have to try. God shines through you.

Which further makes sense that since the Holy Spirit had not come, that in v. 28, Moses for 40 days and 40 nights rewrites what God said, with the temporary help from God, and with no food and no water being sustained by God.

From that, I got that He will protect us, sustain us, and should something happen, the people who know us, will also know it was God that performs whatever world-wide miracles from the nations of China to the United States of America and the acts of our worship to our AWESOME God, will enact a new covenant to His people to turn to Him or turn back to Him, through the precious name of Jesus! AMEN!!

WHEW!!!

And if not China and if not now...whenever that time of place is...local or far...He said on earth. That includes Houston, TX, too. Be ready, Sister! ❤️��

Very happy to be here!!!

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:40:28 GMT

This site (even this blog) has been a long time coming. Dream deferred returned.

Waiting for so long to get to where you dreamed you would be can be exhilarating!