Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

            I believe that today, Halloween, is the most appropriate day for this blog. I am not a superstitious person. If I concerned myself with the repercussions of walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, or stepping on a crack, I would worry myself sick. However, if you believe bad things will happen to you if something like a black cat walks in your path, I believe something bad will definitely happen. Be it unto you as you believe (Matt. 8:13. 9:29, Mark 11:23).

            Jim Jones was a charismatic preacher during the 1970’s. With his powerful preaching and astounding healing tactics, his congregation grew in massive numbers. They fully believed in his power. People gave large amounts of money to his church in order to be healed of a variety of illnesses. He would tell them, according to the illness, that he was going to perform “surgery” on them without anesthesia. He would put his hands in the area of the affliction, and miraculously he would be holding the illness in his hand. 

            Jones later purchased some land on the island of Guyana for himself and his followers. He named this area Jonestown. Shortly after arriving, he would have suicide drills because he was paranoid about the disloyalty of his followers. He required them to drink a red liquid that he said had poison in it. After 45 minutes he would tell everyone they would not die, and that they had passed a loyalty test. In 1978, after finding out Jonestown was being investigated, Jim Jones had over 900 people drink a punch that was laced with cyanide--276 were children. They all died. Jones reportedly either killed himself or was shot by someone who was still alive. Reports later showed that Jones used chicken livers and other animal parts to make people believe that he had removed diseases from their bodies. They also found that he pocketed the majority of the money that the church received from his believers.

            We have to be so mindful in what we choose to believe in. The mind is so powerful that we have the ability to create the things we believe. Many people have psychosomatic symptoms of an illness. Psychosomatic is when a physical illness of some condition is caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as conflict or stress. A person can believe that they have a condition so much, that they can manifest physical symptoms of this illness. Studies have shown that in these cases people can be given a placebo (usually a sugar pill), and the symptoms disappear. I have also seen where a person is diagnosed with an actual illness, but they believe so strongly in their healing that the illness goes away. Our thoughts have power!

            Matthew 7:18-20 tells us that, “a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” It is important that when we are making important decisions, be it friends, a mate, or a church, we pay attention to the fruit they bear. This can mean waiting for a season or two to pass by in order to be sure what the best decision will be. Leaping into things because it looks and sounds good at the beginning can later cause tremendous strife.

            There are times when a person has the ability to consistently show that they are a very good person, so we go forward entering into a personal relationship with them. However, you later find out that they really are off of their rockers, but it seems like it is too late to get out. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE. The moment you see that they are not capable of bearing good fruit, but really good at frontin’, it is your opportunity to run! You do not have to be sentenced to a life of hell.

            Don’t drink the kool-aid. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t rush. Watch for fruit, and don’t fall for everything someone tells you. The thought of sitting on Santa’s lap, leaving out cookies and milk, and reindeer running across the roof filled us with anticipation and excitement until we found out Santa was not real. It is understandable that you want to connect with a person, a church, or a belief system. But take precautions to guard your mind and your heart so that you won’t fall for any and everything.

            This post continues to preach the notion of, “as a man thinketh so is he”. I do believe evil, the enemy, the devil, exists. But I choose to not dwell in the power it is supposed to have. This is coming from someone who has experienced multiple tragedies throughout her lifetime. Things do happen, but I choose not to linger in the pain and hurt of the incident. It’s a battle because the pain is so real (just like the joy of having a healer like Jim Jones was real).Yet, I’ve chosen to rejoice in the glory of God that will be shown through it all. The result is that I have been blessed to experience the miracles of God, and did not have to be manipulated to give money to see it happen. Believe strongly in the good, and you will most certainly see goodness.

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.

            

I Am Beautiful

I believe that loving ourselves is another important component in our faith walk. Quite often we diminish our abilities or speak badly about ourselves because we aren’t happy with who we are or how we look. My goal in this particular post is to encourage you to love the beautifully made you.

Genesis 1:26 tells us that God created us in his own image. To be even more specific, it says, “Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." He actually said let US make mankind in OUR image! The words “us” and "our" refer to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We have been made in the image of all three! You are a triple threat!

And as that scripture continues, God made us so wonderfully, that he gave us dominion over EVERYTHING. We were birthed equipped with everything we need in order to fulfill our purpose in this lifetime. Clearly God sees us worthy, so why don’t we see ourselves that way?

We live in a society that has set a measure of beauty. If you don’t have enough of something or too much of something else, you are not considered beautiful. Our society has also set standards of who is intelligent and who is not. We are left feeling like we lack something, so there is no way we can pursue some of the things we want in life. My view of beauty changed one day when I saw someone without her make-up who usually wore it, and I heard someone comment about her lack of beauty. How can the very same person be beautiful one day and ugly the next?

Not only does beauty change according to what an individual looks like, but different people have differing opinions about whether or not the exact same person is beautiful. One person thinks you are drop dead gorgeous while another can pick you completely apart. So now you have to work hard trying to make everyone think you are attractive. Seems like too much work to me.

(In no way, shape, or form am I saying that people shouldn't do things like wear make-up, go to the gym, or wear expensive clothing, if that is something they enjoy. However, you should be happy with who you are with or without these things.) 

Accepting who you are gives you the freedom and peace to walk throughout your life with confidence. Knowing we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) tells us that everything we are, nothing added and nothing taken away, is perfect for God’s purpose. This should give us faith in knowing that everything we need to pursue our passions and dreams is already inside of us. You do not have to become someone else in order to do what God has for YOU and only YOU.

Another important reason to love yourself is because we are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). If you have the capacity to put yourself down, not take care of yourself, and think the worse about your ability, you are definitely going to do the same when it comes to your neighbor. Neither way is that love.

I am on a continuous journey to loving myself. Some days are easier than others. The other day I asked my significant other if he thought that I was pretty. His response was, “Of course I think you are beautiful, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t think that you are. I love when you are confident about yourself because it shows. You just seem happier when you are confident about yourself.” And he was correct. When I am accepting myself, I hold my head a little higher, I walk a little bit taller, and I can tell that I am exuding confidence. This is what many call “swag”. I have seen some people who aren’t what society has deemed as “attractive”, but the way they carry themselves makes them absolutely beautiful! Self-confidence goes a long way.

Believing that you are smart, beautiful, handsome, or a strong person sets the stage for what you can accomplish. You can boldly walk into a room and change the minds of people who may not initially think you have what it takes to get things done. Having self-confidence also will give you peace when a door is shut in your face. It wasn’t that you aren’t enough. It just wasn’t the right door to go through….IT WAS NOT YOU.

Now there is a difference between being conceited and being confident. Being conceited says that you created every bit of who you are and everyone should love it; but, being confident says that you were created in the image of God, so you know He didn’t make a mistake and, if anyone else doesn't like it, it is okay. Keep in mind, there is always room for self-improvement, because this journey is about becoming better. But, you are to love the before AND after you.

Start telling yourself that who you are is enough. Find different adjectives to describe yourself in a positive manner. Pay close attention to the things you say you don’t like about yourself. If you can do something about it, accept it, then change it. If not, accept it, then love on it. And please don’t allow what people say about you diminish who you are. And don't let the standards that have been set out there convince you that you aren't enough. People will be criticizing you at your best and at your worst. Love who you are.

And if all else fails, take a note from the maid on the movie, "The Help", when she is encouraging the little girl she was taking care of: 

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.

Give in to Your Passion

                   

We live in a hustle and bustle society. We get up, we go to work, we come home, and do it all again. This doesn’t include all of the menial tasks in between in order to keep our household running like a well-oiled machine. Oft times, we forget that God has a greater purpose in all that we do. We just want him to bless the plans we have for ourselves.

I worked in dialysis for about 14 years. It was just a job. It was a job that I was extremely good at doing, but just a job. I was always very concerned about my patients and took care of them as if they were my own family members. However, I was extremely unfulfilled. I knew I had greater purpose, and I began to seek my calling.

The story of Saul is an extreme, yet relevant, example of following your calling. Saul was known for persecuting believers in Christ during the early days of Christianity. He would go in and out of houses, dragging out men and women, and he imprisoned them because they worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:3). One day, on the road to Damascus, a light from heaven flashed all around Saul. He then heard a voice that said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what to do.” (9:3-6). Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus (v.8). Saul encountered a man named Ananias who was directed by God to lay hands on Saul to give him sight. And he did. After being baptized, Saul, later renamed Paul, became one of the biggest crusaders for Christ.

I believe that quite often we walk around with scales on our eyes. We are so consumed with the things of this world that we forget that God wants to use us for His glory. We have children, get married, and do all of the other things that we want, but we sometimes have a passion for other things. Things like mentoring, growing a garden, teaching Sunday school, etc. Saul chose to use his life for persecuting Christians, but God wanted to use him for his glory. 

Our passions and desires have been planted within us by God! It is by no mistake that you enjoy working with children. Circumstances sometimes have it where you have to get the first job that comes along to make ends meet, and that is okay. But don’t let go of your deepest dreams. Find time to volunteer with a mentorship program, go to the school that your children attend on your off days, or even get a group of kids together on the weekend and do community clean-up with them. There are more opportunities to do the things you love than you can imagine!

And here’s the beautiful thing about our passions- they are most likely your gift! The Bible says that your gifts will make room for you (Proverbs 18:16). The New Living Translation of this scripture says that “giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people.” There are many of us who haven’t sought out our purpose simply because we are afraid: afraid of the unknown, afraid of closed doors, afraid of failure. But the Word tells us that when we give our gift, doors will open to us. You will soon find that the time and resources you need will be made available to you. You just have to take the first step.

Please understand, I am also telling myself these things as well. Something I have learned while following people like Oprah, Tyler Perry, and others that went from nothing to something is that we are all allotted the same amount of time- 24 hours a day-in poverty or in wealth. However, they have learned to use their time wisely. If we want to see our dreams manifest, we have to first, not doubt that the things we desire the most can come to fruition, then, use our time wisely in order to pursue these things. Once I paid attention to where I was putting my time, I began to utilize those moments for things that will assist in making my dreams possible (such as this blog).

You got this. Your deepest desires are possible. Have faith in God and yourself. Start taking time to do the things you love the most and watch and see how your gifts make room for you.

Peace.

I’m Not Ready to be Saved

I must admit, although I was raised in the church, I did not have a full understanding of what it meant to be saved. Does it mean that I cannot do anything wrong again? If I do something wrong again, will I immediately be banished to hell? If I sin after accepting salvation, does that make me a horrible sinner? How many times do I need to get baptized in order to feel saved? Do I need to go in front of the church and repent every time I do wrong? I was so lost so I decided to read the Bible for myself, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to gain understanding. I expect some backlash about my stance, but that’s okay. Be it unto you as you believe.

I have heard on several occasions people saying, “I’m not ready to be saved”. They feel like they will be giving up their lives’. They believe that in order to be saved, they must be finished doing whatever behavior they believe will keep them from them from the love of God. Once this behavior is complete, then they can receive salvation and operate in whatever behavior they have deemed as saved behavior. I don’t believe this is the case.

Romans 10:9 tells us how to be saved. It says, “If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”(NIV).  Period. I’m oversimplifying a smidge, but bear with me.

           

Once you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, that is all you need to be saved. Here is where wisdom comes in. Anything that you believe in your heart begins to manifest into actions. Think of the time when you fell in love. That man or woman you fell in love with, and even said “I love you” to, now is a witness to your love. You no longer pursue other relationships, you provide them with safety and other needs, and you feel like you don’t want to live without them.

This is the same result as accepting Christ into your heart. Once you truly accept Jesus into your heart, you begin to bear fruit of His existence. You read more to find out who He is, you want to do your best to please God, and you no longer want to live without Him covering your life.

Just as in a relationship when you may encounter a new beautiful woman or man and are tempted to cheat, there are times when you may step away from Christ. You may entertain text messages from another person, go out on a date with them, or even sleep with them. If true love was there, you will begin to feel guilt because you really did not want to hurt them. You realize what you did wrong, you tell the other person that you can no longer pursue the relationship with them, and you return to your love, hoping they will forgive your transgressions.

Recall the story of the prodigal son. The youngest son of two decided to ask his father for his share of the estate. He left his family and travelled to a distant country. There, he partied hard and wasted all of his money on wild living. After finding himself longing for the feed for swine, he decided to return home to his father. Much to his surprise, and the surprise of his older brother, his father was there running to meet him with open arms. (Please read Luke 15:11-32 for the full story).

For many years I struggled with my walk with God. I knew that I loved Him, but I still did things that I knew was not pleasing to Him. I would only end up feeling guilty and I believed that He no longer loved me. Thankfully, I learned the difference in condemnation and conviction. Condemnation comes from the enemy. Its intention is to break you down and make you believe that you cannot ever be in the grace of God. Conviction is the Holy Spirit’s way of giving us a gentle nudge back in the right direction. However, when we reject the gentle nudge, the intensity of it increases until God gets our undivided attention.

Do not be afraid of receiving salvation. God sent us Christ because He knew that we could not live righteously on our own. John 3:16 says, “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). God loves you. Any behavior that is requested by God is for YOUR favor.

God loves you at your best AND in your mess. Don’t allow your current behaviors to keep you away from salvation. As I have said before, this is a journey. Our ultimate perfection comes after we cross over to heaven. We will always make mistakes, bad judgments, and even intentionally decide to do things that take us from the presence of God. God’s arms are always open waiting for you to come back. As God prunes away all of the unneeded behaviors and thoughts, you will see how much impact your life will have on others.

If you would like to receive salvation today, please read this prayer of salvation aloud:

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Wikipedia defines karma as an “action, work or deed; it also refers to the principle of causality where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual. Good intent and good deed contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering.” The Bible says: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7. NIV). Proverbs 26:27 also says, “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.” (ESV). So why do we do the things we do?

I believe we are living in a “dog eat dog” society. Many people believe that causing someone else’s demise will be their gain. I’ve seen so many institutions, including churches, profit from someone’s plight. But is this the true way in which we should live?

A dear, close friend of mine described his experience with karma in his lifetime. He said that when he was a young boy, he hung with a crowd that would steal cars. They would steal the cars and strip them of their parts in order to put them on their vehicles. They would also sell the parts to someone who had an identical vehicle of the one they stole. Once he gave his life to Christ and realized that this was not honorable behavior, he stopped doing these things and began to lead a legal life. Years later, on the path of doing what was right, people began to steal his cars. He said that he lost at least 3-4 vehicles. It was then that he realized that this was a result of the things he had done in his past. He says that, “it came back at me in such a way I knew God was showing me what I did wrong”. He repented and took responsibility for the things he brought unto himself.

          The parable of the unforgiving servant is also an excellent example of "what goes around comes around". Matthew 18:21-35 reads:

Then Peter came up and asked him, “Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? Seven times?”

Jesus told him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but 77 times! “That is why the kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he had begun to settle the accounts, a person who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him. Because he couldn’t pay, his master ordered him, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned to be sold so that payment could be made. Then the servant fell down and bowed low before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything!’ The master of that servant had compassion and released him, canceling his debt.

But when that servant went away, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, seized him by the throat, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ Then his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me and I will repay you!’ But he refused and had him thrown into prison until he could repay the debt.

When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very disturbed and went and reported to their master everything that had occurred. Then his master sent for him and told him, ‘You evil servant! I canceled that entire debt for you because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers until he could repay the entire debt. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each one of you unless you forgive your brother from your hearts.” (ISV).

We desire forgiveness, but refuse to forgive. We desire mercy, but give no mercy. We desire for people to help us in our time of need, but refuse to give to others. How does one expect what they are not willing to give out?

We have to be ever-so mindful about what we do to others. Especially because most of us do not want to experience the same pain we inflict. If we plant corn seeds, we expect to reap corn. Planting seeds of hatred will only allow us to harvest hate. Planting seeds of love will only allow us to harvest love.

There are reasons why I am able to forgive the woman who abused my son - 1. I stand in need of forgiveness. 2. She will reap what she has sown. I have been told that during her stay in the county jail, she was assaulted on several occasions. I know this to be true because when I saw her in court, she had a very large gash that had healed on the side of her face that wasn’t present before she was arrested. And because it has been found that there may be many other children that suffered her abuse, including one that possibly died in her care (which continues to devastate my heart). If this is the case, I believe her punishment will continue until death.

(There are times that unimaginable things come into our lives'. But if you know you haven't sown the seeds of these events, know that it is a test. Our faith is strengthened in times of weakness. Sowing your unwavering faith will allow you to reap the harvest of God's faithfulness to you.)

Ultimately, if we walk in love, we will receive love. We always want to have faith that God is going to bring us the best. In order to receive His best, let’s give Him our best. We shall reap what we sow.

Peace.

Watch Your Mouth

I began to read a book that I have had for quite some time- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I was very hesitant about reading it because I wasn’t certain if this book was going to discredit the principles of the Bible. It actually has acknowledged the significance of religion on this principle, so I began to read for my edification, and hopefully for yours, too.

One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is, "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he." (Proverbs 23:7a. KJV). (I like to modify it by saying as a woman thinketh...). Understanding this scripture has allowed me to consider my thought-life. What are the things that I am thinking? Are they positive or negative thoughts? Am I thinking about something so much that is it now a meditation? This scripture also taught me that whatever you think is what you will become. How powerful is that?!

***Spoiler Alert*** The Secret is based off of the principle of the law of attraction. It says that everything that is going on in your life is what you have attracted. Take a minute to consider what you think about the most. Have you said, “I won’t ever amount to anything. I will never get that job. I will never find a husband. I’m always broke.”  Is it possible that some of your current circumstances are a direct result of something you previously thought and spoke about?

I remember a very close family member saying to me many years ago, “If it weren’t for bad luck you wouldn’t have any luck at all.” I have to wonder whether or not I began to believe this and meditate on it over the years.

This book also discusses how saying what we DON’T want can manifest into the opposite action. It says, “The law of attraction doesn’t compute “don’t” or “not” or “no”, or any other words of negation. As you speak words of negation, this is what the law of attraction is receiving: ‘I don’t want to spill something on this outfit’ = ‘I want to spill something on this outfit and I want to spill more things.’” I thought this idea was kind of outlandish until I thought about my most recent experience.

One morning when I awoke I felt very heavy. It was like sadness, anxiety, and frustration all balled up into one emotion. I was frustrated because for the fourth time since Myles came home from the hospital, our one and only vehicle had become inoperable. After talking and praying with a friend, I decided to take a bath while the baby was napping so I could read and meditate. I was trying to figure out, “What could I have said that would bring all of this craziness?” Then I remembered. While Myles was in the hospital I told my girlfriend, “When we leave here, I do not want to struggle financially.” Just as the law of attraction said, we have experienced tremendous financial distress ever since. Based on this principle I should have said, “I thank God that we are going to be abundantly blessed and be able to take care of all things that come our way.”

Thankfully, the things we are seeing manifest in our lives’ can be reversed, positively or negatively, by changing our thoughts and the things we say out aloud. The Secret speaks of the person who is wealthy that loses everything, then eventually regains all that was lost. At some point this person began to have fear of losing everything they had, and they did. But because they already had the mindset of a wealthy person, they were able to regain it all.

Let’s find some positive affirmations that we can begin to speak over our lives’, and mean it-  I am the righteousness of God. I am receiving the abundance of God. I will get that job. I will have a baby. I will be a millionaire- I believe that the more you begin to believe it, the more you will begin to receive it. Sit down and write some positive affirmations about what you DO want in your life.

The beautiful part of meditating on positive things is that you will begin to have the motivation to do the things you want most out of life. I remember when I returned to college to get my Bachelor’s degree. I attempted to do it many times, but I was not truly motivated nor did I speak positively about returning to school. When I entered into college this final time, I said, “I am going to receive this degree no matter what.” I received my B.S. in Counseling and Human Services in December 2011 with high honors. It was not easy, and all kinds of things stepped in to shake my faith, but it happened.

This is not the easiest concept to grasp a hold of when you have experienced many disappointments in your life. It becomes difficult to convince yourself that anything good could ever happen. However, as you enter into your next thought, speak positively about what you want in your life. No matter how things seemingly appear, keep those positive affirmations coming. Yes, some people are going to think you are out of your mind, which is why you should be careful with whom you share your deepest desires. You don’t need anyone feeding you negative thoughts. (Isn’t it funny how people will say “Amen” when you sit around complaining, but have everything negative to say when you are trying to create a better life?)

Watch your mouth. Guard your thoughts. Take the, “I can’t” and the “I don’t have” out of your conversation. Do the hard work. Use your faith to keep focused, and wait for the bountiful blessings of your faith to arrive. I sure am!

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.

Pressing Towards the Mark

Today, I’ve decided to approach my blog in a different fashion. Today, I want to encourage. As I look at my timeline, and talk to people who are close to me, I realize there are so many who are discouraged and are in need of different things in their lives’. These are the times when we need the most encouragement. Difficulties arise from time to time and can sometimes have the ability to cause us to become depressed, have anxiety, and even make decisions that go against the Will of God. I want to encourage you to press towards the mark. Here are some scriptures I stand on during these times:

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NIV) - “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This scripture truly empowers me when I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing that God’s power is made perfect in my weakness allows me to fully trust that God is helping me get through.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you mate mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I like to believe that any of us that cry out to the Lord have a strong desire to become better people. This scripture lets us know that there will be trials, but with each trial we will become stronger, and ultimately perfected.

Isaiah 61:3 (NLT) - “To all men in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise in instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” During the times we hurt the most, we must know that God is going to restore everything.

Psalm 121:1-8 – “I lift up my eyes toward the mountains—from where will my help come? My help is from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. He will never let your foot slip, nor will your guardian become drowsy. Look! The one who is guarding Israel never sleeps and does not take naps. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right side. The sun will not ravage you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil, preserving your life. The Lord will guard your goings and comings, from this time on and forever.” This psalm is full of goodies. God promises that He will always know what is going on with us. He will never let us fail. He will always guard our path. He will never sleep. So during your toughest times, don’t allow thoughts to creep in that want to convince you that you are doing it alone. You’re not. God does not promise that we will never go through things, because we live in a world that is full of hurt. But rest assured that you will come out victorious in the end.

And finally, Philippians 3:13-14 - “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Forget about what has happened, who has hurt you, and what you do not have. Continue to press forward in your journey with Christ. So often we want to give up. At that very moment God is turning things around.

Keep pressing towards the mark. Life has a funny, funny (extreme sarcasm) way of throwing in the unexpected. We are sometimes broken down so harshly that we even wonder if God is there. Is He even listening? He is. We have to find scriptures, prayer partners, or sometimes a book to encourage us through our toughest times. While I don’t like to give the enemy much credit, I do believe he has the power of suggestion. And when just a slight suggestion enters in- you’re going to fail, you’ll never get well, you will never find love- it will completely take us away from the mark.

As Dorothy and her companions pressed toward seeing the wizard of Oz in order to receive their greatest desires in spite of all of the obstacles they encountered, I encourage you to keep going. Pray, fast, cry, hug…do whatever you need to do to purge, but remain focused on the ultimate goal- being pleasing to God in order to be used for His glory.

Keep the faith.

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.

I’m Not Afraid to Touch Myself

First, get your head out of the gutter. (LOL). This post is about self-healing or laying hands on ourselves. It is very important that we understand that God has given us the power to heal ourselves through our faith. I am not saying that doctors are not necessary; however, God has performed miracles that even doctors have not had the ability to explain. I believe that there are natural and supernatural ways to be healed, and I want to share them with you.

When I decided I was ready to have a child, I was aware that I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is “a common endocrine system disorder among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain small collections of fluid — called follicles — located in each ovary as seen during an ultrasound exam. Infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity can all occur in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. In adolescents, infrequent or absent menstruation may raise suspicion for the condition.”

So after consulting with my OB/GYN, I began a series of fertility treatments, (pills, basal temping, ovulation predictor kits, etc.) in order to conceive a baby. Nothing worked. I prayed and cried, and cried and prayed, but nothing seemed to happen. It seemed like just because I wanted to be pregnant, I would see pregnant women EVERYWHERE. I was so very happy for them, but I so wanted to be pregnant also.

Eventually, we were unable to continue treatments because of costs, and I reconciled with myself that it was possible it wasn’t going to happen. I also knew that if it did happen, it was God’s will.

So I began natural healing. I decided to change my lifestyle. I changed my diet, I let go of sodas, I exercised, and more. I purged all negative thoughts and things that were in my life and I chose to consider positive thinking. I was not thinking about being pregnant at all! Then one day, I WAS PREGNANT! It didn't happen quite the way I wanted, or in the timing I wanted. Still, it was the happiest moment in my life.

The condition I was diagnosed with also causes women with this syndrome to have low progesterone levels. Progesterone, in pregnancy, is used to nurture the fetus. “A supply of progesterone to the endometrium continues to be important during pregnancy. Following a successful implantation, progesterone helps maintain a supportive environment for the developing fetus. After 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta takes over progesterone production from the ovaries and substantially increases progesterone production.”

When women with PCOS become pregnant, they usually have to take supplements for their first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, while being monitored, to reduce the risk of miscarriage. Here is where God stepped in supernaturally. When I became pregnant, my body formed a cyst in my ovary that emitted progesterone for 8-10 weeks. I did not need the supplements! My doctors were very shocked by this because they were very familiar with my condition, and assumed I would need supplements. I KNOW that Myles was meant to be here.

When understanding how to self-heal, we have to activate our faith. This is what happened with the woman in the Bible with the issue of blood. Matthew 9:20-21 says, “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour.”

This woman believed that she would be healed. Not by begging. Not by fasting. Not by giving money. She didn’t even need him to notice that she was there. She just had faith.

I am aware that there are times people are overcome with illness and they die. I will NEVER be the one to say that they did not have enough faith, because I believe God has a reason for everything. But this does not dismiss our personal responsibility for each of our individual lives’. Every situation does not have the same outcome. I am here to encourage you to take charge of YOUR outcome.

Don’t be afraid to touch yourself. Your hands have the power to heal. God has granted us the power to do so. If he said that we could move mountains with faith as small as a mustard seed, wouldn’t this include self-healing? I do believe that there are times we have to go to our prayer partners, because sometimes our flesh gets so weak that we need some intercessors. But the stronger we become, the more we have the power to pray over ourselves.

Do some natural healing- take care of yourself. Do some supernatural healing- believe that God can and God will. Move that mountain. Activate your faith. And stand in great expectation of your testimony.

Peace.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/basics/definition/con-20028841

http://www.resolve.org/about-infertility/understanding-my-body/progesterone-and-pregnancy-a-vital-connection.html