Change

When President Obama was running for office his slogan was CHANGE. Obama had a dream or a vision to CHANGE the United States of America. Today some will argue that they haven't seen President Obama make any change & if he did it was for the worse. Some would argue the exact opposite because President Obama being a man of African decent is change enough. Now I am definitely not one to talk politics so please take this lightly, because my subject is not about President Obama but PEOPLE in general! 

I agree with the fact that it was time for a change then just like it's time for a change now. We are used to doing, being, seeing, & believing things one certain way all of our lives that once any little change occurs (even minor ones) we are frustrated, uncomfortable, & most often times afraid! But why? Change is apart of life. Nothing should stay the same forever. There should always be a desire for more & improvement. & within ourselves. 

Each & everyday we are given life and breath there's an opportunity for us to change & grow. Maturity doesn't come with age that's why it's necessary for change. You should not be 25 thinking, doing, & saying the same things you were doing at the age of 18! You need to CHANGE! It amazes me, each & everyday how we claim to be grown & to be adults but still behave very much like our younger peers. & what's worse is seeing a child act more mature than some adults. Let me say change is a PROCESS! It's not something that comes overnight. But as the songwriter wrote, "Change will come." & I'd like to add...when you are ready! 

So often you hear people talking about how they want to change, they want to stop doing this or that but where's the action behind the talking! Talk is cheap! Very cheap..2 for a dollar..Dollar Tree cheap! So how about less talking & more doing! First of all, CHANGE STARTS ON THE INSIDE! Change begins in your heart & mind before it turns physical. There is something within that is triggered to say okay "Enough is Enough, I'm tired of this, & I want more!" At that moment when you are sincere & God hears you, He's ready! He's been ready to step in. But if you've been playing about changing & not really sure then He just sits back & waits for you. See God is a gentlemen & He's patient. Even tho He's been ready for you to change, He's not going to pressure you or force you into anything that you don't want to do. (Isn't that sweet..guys take notes :)) But as soon as that inner bulb comes on to awaken you God gets ready to spring into action. Now are you ready? 

Like I said before, change is a process. Just like when you bake a cake there is a certain process that you go thru. When you are applying for a job, there is a process. God is a God of process. So everything under the sun is in some way a process. God isn't into confusion & disorder so He created us & this world that way so there would be a divine order & that in Him, we could learn to understand it. The process to change does not have an expiration date that says, "Change before...whatever date." Should there be changes made in your life before you die...ABSOLUTELY! But is God saying, "If they don't change before this day that I'll throw them away" like we throw old bread & food away. NO! God is loving & caring. No matter what we do or don't do His love for us remains the same. 

So don't try to compare & compete with someone else's process. If you just started working on yourself for yourself, don't look at the person who's been doing the same thing 3 years earlier & expect to be where he/she is & doing what he/she is doing. Every process is different! Just like 2 people from 2 different cultures baking the same cake with the same ingredients, their own personal process for baking the cake is more than likely gonna be different. God didn't create us the same for a reason. Just like our process to become who we are created to be are different for a reason. The calling & anointing over your life may be different from mines & because of it we each have our very own process to go thru to fulfill our purpose & to walk in our destiny. "You just do you & I'ma do me!"

Does change ever stop? Do you ever stop growing? Those are questions that are easily answered by observing the world & things around us. Nothing should stay the same forever. The only unchanging thing that I know of is God's unchanging hand. So because we know that we have a loving, patient, caring, Father who's hand we can hold on to we should never be afraid of change. Especially for the better! & even if it seems like the change in front of us is for the worse we have to keep in mind Romans 8:28. 

There is nothing under the sun that God isn't willing & ready to handle. He just needs your changing hand to fit into His unchanging hand. 

Define me...

"Define me by my heart & not what the eyes see."

This is a FB status & a caption that I used under a picture on Instagram. & as I thought about what my next post would be about this kept coming to mind. 

So often, we are defined by society, our appearance, our friends, family, & so many other things that do not honestly determine & define exactly who we are. When I think about myself, I can definitely say that I've been defined as almost everything perhaps what I am which is, "A Child of God." Now some of these definitions/labels I made for myself. Being promiscuous & having sex at a young age, some would say I "earned" the title of being called a "whore." Because that's what society & media calls young, promiscuous women right? They were defining me by my actions! Who was looking at the "why" behind the "what?" Who was willing to ask questions & try to find out why I was behaving the way I was? NO ONE! & that's just like so many of us today. We will try to be Dr.Phil & diagnose someones situation but we won't be Oprah & sit down with you to ask a couple of questions. Why is that? Why are we so quick & I mean "Speedy Gonzalez" quick to call names & place labels on individuals we don't know from Adam or Eve. It happens everyday. We have to be mindful of these actions because you never know the "why" behind the "what" until you sit down & ask. 

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2 KJV)

This scripture is one that has always pricked my heart because it's amazing how God thinks of us. He never wants anyone to miss treat, hurt, or disrespect us in any way. So He tells us to always be mindful of others because you never know who you are speaking with. This is why it's so important to not judge others! No one likes to be pre-judged, no matter who you are. When people make assumptions about you before they know you, it does something to you. Either it affects you in a negative or positive way. Some people start to become the labels/titles that have been placed upon them. Especially if they aren't secure in who they are. We don't realize that words do hurt us! This is why it's important to know WHO's word you are listening to! It's a MUST that we are listening to the one & only, true & living word which is the word of God! 
God clearly has defined us as FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY made! In Peter 2:9, He says,

^[9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,^[a] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. NLT] God hand picked & hand designed us each specifically according to His will & our purpose. So we never have to ponder who we are if we first know, who's we are! We are ALL God's special chosen children! No matter what we've done in the past or even what we have done a couple of minutes of go. We have a loving, caring, gentle, & forgiving Father who gives us grace & new mercies everyday. Lamentions 3:22-23 states, [²² It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. KJV] God gives each & everyone of us a brand new chance each & everyday to get it right with Him & come to know the fullness of His great love for us! His love story is like NO OTHER!

John 3:16 [¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.KJV]

"Can't NOBODY do me or you like JESUS!" His love for us surpasses our very own 
understanding. We sometimes can't seem to understand how God can love us when we have done so much wrong & we've hurt people. But He never asks us to understand but to just BELIEVE in His word. It's important for us to get into the word of God & let His word tell us who we are & not people of this world! God has never & will never place some of the names that society has called us on us because He loves us too much & condemning is not apart of His character. We don't have to be defined by society. We don't have to be defined by this world. Remember we are set apart!  Chosen & Royalty. NO TITLE can destroy the calling & purpose that God has placed over our lives unless we let it! We have to be transformed & not conformed to this world! Romans 12:2 [² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV] We do not have to believe & accept some of the titles & names that society has given us because of our past mistakes or even some of the little mistakes we make now. We are still in human flesh so we are going to make mistakes daily! It's apart of our nature & apart of our Christian walk. What really defines us & sets us apart is knowing who to go to & call on in the time of our need. & hopefully we fall on our knees to pray & repent! Then, turn to the Word of God & let Him speak over our lives. 

Be defined by your heart! Especially if you have GOD & His word there. Don't let anything/anyone make you forget WHO YOU TRULY ARE which is a child of The MOST HIGH GOD!

New New

Welcome to year 2014!

The year of NEW NEW.

New beginnings, New endings.

New blessings, New lessons.

New friends, New foes.

New opportunities, New chances.

New money, New finances!

All new EVERYTHING!!!

Isaiah 43:19 states, (Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19 KJV) Now this is what the word says! 

Up until the new year, I've been hearing people around me keep saying, "God is getting ready to do a new thing!" "He's getting ready to do a new thing in the body of Christ." & it really stuck with me. Particularly because, I had watched Him do so much in just the last 3 months of 2013..that I knew it was quite possible & I know He's able. So as January 1,2014 rolled around I kept seeing Isaiah 43:19 all over social media! Everybody on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & probably even MySpace was quoting this scripture! It blew my mind. Because as the new year approached, we're constantly thinking about our goals, dreams, resolutions, & just all of the things that we have our minds set on doing when the clock strikes 11:59 p.m on December 31,2013. So to already have been hearing this word from multiple people & then for 2014 to be here & to keep seeing this word, I knew that God was giving me confirmation & letting me know...it's true! That He would be doing a new thing in 2014! 

Okay, I hear you Lord but what does that mean? What does it mean for me? Should I begin to do new things? Or should I keep doing what I've been doing? & I received my answer for that, when I went to church New Year's Eve! Bishop preached about MOVING ON! & Missionary Cherry spoke about CHOICES! Wow! I mean I was blown away by God! Now mind you in Bishop's sermon she said the same thing, "God is getting ready to do a new thing in 2014." So here I am on cloud 10! I didn't need any alcohol or drugs to get me turned up for the holidays! I was high off of Jesus! A Holy Ghost high! & let me tell you, it doesn't get any better than that! God was speaking to me! Telling me to get myself prepared, because He was about to do a new thing! 

A new thing like what tho?! Now I can only speak for myself & from my OWN heart's desires but this "New Thing" I honestly believe is not only what God wants to do but also what you would like for Him to do! Let me explain, I started this blog in December of 2013! I was doing a "New thing." Now here in 2014 my confession is for God to use me in every area of my life in every way everyday! God is getting ready to do a new thing! It's only the 3rd day of January & He's beginning His "New Thing" within me already! & because I have delighted myself in Him, He's giving me the desires of my heart, while completing His "new thing."  

As I talked to my friend about an upcoming venture of mines, she told me that she feels God puts these desires in our heart to want & achieve different things. Now Psalms 37:4 says,( ⁴ In the same manner delight thyself in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart. KJV) While Psalms 20:4 says, (⁴ May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,And fulfill all your purpose. NKJV) Yes, I wanted to start to this blog but it was because of my PURPOSE that God gave me this desire! & because I was delighting myself in Him, He made it come to pass & gave me the desire's of my heart. This "NEW THING" that God is getting ready to do is bigger than me tho. This is PURPOSE-DRIVEN & GOD ORDAINED!

As we all know, we are truly living in our last days. If you step into the book of Revelations, you will truly see that these things that God spoke about are surely coming to pass. People are leaving this Earth young & old, sick & healthy. Now is truly not the time to be playing about your salvation. This is why God is rising up His people & expecting us to prepare ourselves for this "New Thing" that He is beginning to do within the body of Christ. As I talk to my friends & look at my own life, scriptures are coming to life. Acts 2:17 states (¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: KJV) My friends are having visions & I'm having dreams! These are the types of "New Things" that God is doing with His people. Don't take it lightly that you have vivid dreams that stir something up in your spirit..it is a move of God! WRITE IT DOWN! Get you a notebook & start writing down your dreams & visions. God is getting ready to show Himself to you.

My focus is preparing for this "New Thing." If I don't prepare & get myself ready for change, "I will miss out on a big move of God!" -words from Bishop. I know at this point I surely do not want that to happen. I am so ready & excited for all the things that God has for me but I know it's going to require work, faithfulness, sacrifice, & dedication. I am determined to receive DOUBLE for all my trouble & to become the woman that God wants me to be. In this season, I believe it's time for us to truly seek God like never before. We need to be in constant communication with Him so He can speak into our lives & let us know what it is that He would have us to do. I'm now beginning to instead of waking up & getting on Twitter/Facebook, I'm waking up & getting down on my knees to pray & invite the Holy Spirit in my life & my day. After I get dressed, I'm getting back in my bed & reading the word. Once I get in my car, I'm blasting praise & worship music throughout the day & just talking with God. In just 3 days, I am seeing a difference. I truly want God to have His way in my life this season! But I know that I have to do my part! & I don't know about you but I have already declared, "That this is MY YEAR!" I'm getting ready to get EVERYTHING that God has in store for me. I suggest you do the same! So make the decision TODAY to begin to work with GOD so He can show YOU this NEW THING & for YOU to SEE the MANIFESTATION present in your own LIFE!