When U Pray

It's not how you Pray, it's When U Pray

  • How can I reconcile your vision of me to what’s inside of me?
    As I forcefully reject the vision you have painted of me I embrace the beauty of who I am.
    I violently refuse to become the bad guy in your drama as I embrace love, peace and truth. The truth of my intentions, not your interpretation.

    I know that your understanding of who I am must first be filtered through who you are and what you believe, I also understand your inability to understand me, because I am free!

    I am free of the guilt of my past. I am free of the stigmas and restrictions that society would apply to the way I think, to what I believe and how I love. I am free from your expectations; but that freedom enslaved me to the truth.

    I am unapologetically ME!

  • Just the other day I was washing my car and I noticed all the imperfections in the paint, the scratches, the dents, the rust spots and the vinyl top that needs a few stitches.
    I began to get discouraged thinking “This car is a mess” but I kept washing it. Then I remembered
    Almost every time I’m out driving with the top down people stop me and say “I love your car” or “That’s a nice car” because they look at the overall beauty of the car without picking it apart flaw by flaw. They do not look too closely nor do they care about all the stuff I was thinking.

    I started to see the comparison to my own life, I see all of my own flaws, I see how I’ve been hurt, the people I have hurt, my bad decisions and my insecurities, wow “I am a mess”. I looked for people to show appreciation for who I am as a person but they only see the dents and dings in my personality. I looked for things to buy to cover up those dents and dings , like pretty dresses, beautiful handbags and cute shoes but the dings are still there. I looked in the refrigerator for things to eat that would allow me to cover up the dents and dings but nothing changed I was still exposed. I kept waiting for someone to say “You’re a good person” or some indication that they could look past my flaws and see the overall person I was, not just the sum of my errors and the things I had been through; none of that happened until Jesus found me sitting on a pew, tired, lonely, hurting and in despair.

    Once I developed a relationship with the Lord he led me to these words, over and over to remind me ..
    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
    ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/1jn.1.9.niv

    “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

    For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:1, 13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/psa.139.1,13-14.niv

    “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/rom.8.38-39.niv

    And once I allowed these words to minister to me I realized. I AM OK!

  • “Then God said, “Let there be light!” And light began to shine. He saw the light, and he knew that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.”
    ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/gen.1.3-4.erv

    When God formed the world he spoke life into a void of darkness! He said LET THERE BE LIGHT…


    What an amazing concept to speak to what you want and it becomes reality, not just for the speaker but for everyone forevermore. Yeah LET THERE BE LIGHT.

    It’s so amazing that he didn’t stop with light, he went on to separate the day from night, he spoke to oceans and mountains and filled the sea with animals made just for the sea, then he spoke and created land and filled it with trees, flowers and grass that procreate after its own kind, then he created animals large and small, wild and tame and ordered them to procreate after their own kind and then that same God found the need for me. Hallelujah that same God found the need to create me.


    “So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female.”
    ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/gen.1.27.erv

    Here is where God showed out, he spoke the animals, the trees and the earth into existence but he created Me, in his own image. He created us in his image. He created us to be like him. A shout goes right there. Yes it does. I’m thinking that because we are created in his image to be like him we can speak to the void of darkness we face in our own lives by saying, LET THERE BE LIGHT!

    LET THERE BE LIGHT over my marriage, God I speak to my marriage and call it blessed. I speak life over my marriage and I say that we will be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. I speak wealth over my marriage, we will not know any lack but will create generational wealth and generational faith for our descendants. I speak life over our health Father, I say our bodies will be renewed and restored by the blood of the lamb.

    LET THERE BE LIGHT in my daughters life, shine the light of love, health, wealth and compassion over her and her seed. Let there be light in her finances and her health and she will be made whole by the blood of the Lamb.

    LET THER BE LIGHT for my grandchildren, they will be raised up in the fear of the Lord but also in the love that he exhibits. They will know every mathematical equation necessary to be successful, they will know sentence structure, how to conjugate a verb and how to understand complex scientific theories. These young people will understand everything necessary for them to build up the kingdom of God.

    LET THER BE LIGHT on my job. Any work I do will be as if it is unto the Lord. I will be excellent in my leadership because Jesus taught us how to lead. I will be excellent in my communication because my lips will be blessed with praise and my words will speak life and wholeness.

    LET THERE BE LIGHT, I will allow my light to shine whereever I go and whatever I do will be done for my love of the kingdom of God.

  • “When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you.”
    ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/eph.4.29.erv

    You call them your friend, sis, Bestie, BFF, homegirl or my man, my homie, my big bruh.. what do they say to say? What kind of words do they use when speaking to you? Do they encourage you to make smart choices and to be responsible or do they sponsor your foolishness? Do these people speak life over your problems or do they co-sign your negativity? Do they offer to pray with you and believe God with you over your situations or are y’all both lost in despair and messiness?

    I often wonder what criteria do we as people use to pick friends? In the past I picked people who liked what I liked; when I was roller skating 2-3 times a week I hung with skaters. When I was on the dance team, I hung with dancers. When I started drinking and smoking weed I hung with people who drink and smoke weed. But I was a child, I talked like a child and acted like a child but in the words of Jesus best friend Paul, but now I’m grown and my words and actions should reflect my growth.

    “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/1co.13.11.erv

    We have a responsibility to the people we call friends, we should be encouraging them in life, speaking words that bring life to their situation. We are not like other people, we are Gods children and should be able and willing to share his heart and thoughts toward his people.

    “Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.”
    ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:20‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/pro.13.20.erv

    Tell them these things when they come to you tired, hurt, beat down, in despair

    “The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.”
    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:13‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/psa.103.13.erv

    When they feel weak and afraid, tell them this:

    “Be strong and brave, all of you who are waiting for the Lord’s help.”
    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31:24‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/psa.31.24.erv

    When their spirit is low remind them of this:

    “God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.”
    ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/isa.26.3.erv

    When they feel defeated remind them to keep going:
    “We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up.”
    ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/gal.6.9.erv

    I have learned to trust my friends based on their faith not my foolishness.

  • “I am waiting for the Lord to help me. My soul waits for him. I trust what he says.”
    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130:5‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/psa.130.5.erv

    Man, I haven’t written one word in a few weeks. I must admit that I have been moping, yes moping and waiting on my grief to let up. Y’all know that I love God and I trust and believe him but grief is a process that you must go through. I won’t let anybody convince me that I don’t trust God because I am experiencing grief.

    Even Jesus knew we would experience grief when he uttered these words;
    “The truth is, you will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but then your sadness will change to happiness.”
    ‭‭John‬ ‭16:20‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/jhn.16.20.erv

    The one thing I know for sure, if I give my feelings and emotion to God he will use special care in healing me and wiping my tears. I know if I allow the process to happen and heal responsibly I will be healed in truth. Yeah, it kinda sucks feeling sad because I am a joyful person but I tried to speed up the grief of my dads passing by making a proclamation that I wasn’t going to wallow in grief and destroy his memory because my dad loved life.. I thought saying that would make it so. Yeah, that was not true and my brothers death 2 short years later made it all hurt again. So I will get back to what I love ❤️ when it’s time.

    In the meantime do this.. remember that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly over what we can see or believe.. yeah that’s a lot for me because I dream big and boldly IN COLOR; God can top that. So I ask that you would dream your best dream and imagine the best thing you can for you and your family and then watch God top that.

    “God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord YAH you have a place of safety forever.”
    ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/isa.26.3-4.erv

  • It’s still May, the month set aside to honor our Mother’s

    You ever notice when athletes, singers, actors and others get to the podium the first thing they say is I want to recognize my momma, or I did this for my momma or I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my mama!

    Proverbs speaks of her like this
    “She speaks with wisdom and teaches others to be loving and kind. She oversees the care of her house. She is never lazy. Her children say good things about her. Her husband brags about her and says, “There are many good women, but you are the best.””
    ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:26-29‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/pro.31.26-29.erv

    And Tupac penned an anthem that resonates in us all
    I can always depend on my mama
    And when it seems that I’m hopeless
    You say the words that can get me back in focus
    When I was sick as a little kid
    To keep me happy there’s no limit to the things you did
    And all my childhood memories
    Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
    And even though I act crazy
    I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
    There are no words that can express how I feel
    You never kept a secret, always stayed real
    And I appreciate, how you raised me
    And all the extra love that you gave me
    I wish I could take the pain away
    If you can make it through the night there’s a brighter day
    Everything will be alright if ya hold on
    It’s a struggle everyday, gotta roll on
    And there’s no way I can pay you back
    But my plan is to show you that I understand
    You are appreciated

    We love our momma’s, not just the month of May but every day.

  • Who doesn’t feel the challenges of motherhood in 2020? Who ever knew you would have to be the teacher in multiple grades, the counselor, the gym and art teacher as well as the principle?
    “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
    ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/1/php.4.13.kjv

    How many times have your quoted the above scripture in that last two months, probably more than all of last year. The reason it comes to mind so easily and is a mantra in your mind is because it rings with the sound of truth and faith. You can do all things in Christ, YES even this. God is able to help us in all the ways that man can’t so rest in the peace of God.

    “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
    ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/php.4.7.niv

    Mother’s I encourage you to keep looking toward the hills from where your hope comes from. You and the kids will be ok because God cannot lie and he has told you that he is your help, he is your shield and your protection. These times are different from any times in our lives but we can learn so much. Learn to trust God in new ways, learn to depend on him not just for bills but also for mental stability. Start trusting that God is able to stir up your gifts and provide for you with the gifts he placed in you.. trust that he will cause your children to rise up and called you blessed. Believe that God is a way maker, a miracle worker and your ever present help in your time of need.
    Never forget that God’s word cannot return to him void, it must go out and do what he commanded it. Trust that God will make sure your kids do not lose the knowledge necessary to be successful in the next grade. God created mathematics and mathematical concepts and he won’t hold that from your children. God created the ability to form words and understand and articulate them and he won’t hold that back from your children. God created scientific concepts and ideas and he won’t hold that from your children either. Trust God with everything and see what he does.

    “God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.”
    ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/isa.26.3.erv

    “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
    ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/1/1jn.5.14.kjv

    “I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/rom.15.13.erv

  • May is for Mother’s and this guest blog is from Jennifer Hopwood, sharing her story of becoming Gretchen’s mom

    A mother to Gretchen:
    A little over 8 years ago, I got the pleasure of becoming Gretchen’s mom. It wasn’t as easy as others told me it would be. After almost 2 years and fertility treatments, I was finally able to get pregnant. It was a bundle of happiness and fear that I had a little life to grow and protect.

    The delivery, another thing people told me would be painful but amazing afterwards, wasn’t that way for me. Gretchen was born via unscheduled c-section. After two days of labor, there wasn’t enough progress and the doctors thought she may be too big to birth. All my life I had been told motherhood comes naturally and I was not experiencing that in the confines of the hospital. The two days in the hospital grew my fears at every turn, there was something I didn’t know about taking care of my baby, much less keep her alive. On the third day, we went home, that is when it all started to fit for me. I was back in my comfort zone and no longer feeling the effects of the drugs from the c-section and was able to dedicate my attention to her and making sure I prepared the best life for her.


    I didn’t know then, but I become a brand-new person. I soon learned that by teaching her to live her best life, I would have to live my best life as an example. I struggled with this for many years as I was raised that you did what pleased people and stayed quiet. On this journey to living my best life there have been hills and valleys, straight and crazy curved roads. Each of these lessons taught me about the person I was becoming and showing Gretchen real life is not like what you see on TV or what others tell you how life is. Each person has their own life and their purpose in life is to live it to the way God has placed in their soul.

    Gretchen has taught me what unconditional love is, the way God’s love is. She loves me no matter what. I was raised love is conditional. You behave a certain way or give something and then maybe you can earn that love. I love her no matter what and there are days I catch myself living the conditional terms. I then apologize to her and explain what I will do differently. She always responds, “it’s ok” and it tears my heart that she is so quick to forgive my actions. I am then reminded forgiveness is a key to unconditional love, her default response. She is a gift from God that continues to give every day. I seek God to lead her on the path he designed for her. I get to witness her learning new things, overcoming obstacles, and cheering her on when she is ready to give up.

    We are only 8 years in, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of her life will teach us.

  • It’s May and that’s for Mother’s, here is the story of Natasha Jones, life without a mother on Mother’s day.

    Mother’s Day Without A Mom 
    Some know or will eventually know what its like to spend Mother’s Day without your mom. For those who haven’t experienced this yet, let me give you a little insight. 

    Losing a mother in my opinion is one of the worst pains for anyone to know. It took me years to say “Mama such and such” to any of my friends’ mothers who had adopted me as their own because I felt like it was disrespectful to my own mother. For me, living without the person that knew me the best shattered my world. My mom was my bestfriend, my confidant, my cheerleader, my motivation, and most importantly my hero. I never thought the day would come that she would leave me, but it happened in an unexpected way. 

    We had talked the entire week before she was to come visit me in college for homecoming. We laughed, joked and I planned to introduce her to all my friends that I had made and that she had heard so much about. Then on that Friday when I called her, she didn’t answer. I thought it was weird but nothing to worry about. I continued preparing my house, excited for her visit.

    That Saturday came, no mom. She didn’t answer the phone, I was calling like crazy. Still no answer. My dad and his spouse had also come up for homecoming as well. I wanted to go back with them, but he convinced me to stay at school. So before he left I gave him my house keys to go check on my mom just in case she was in the hospital or something and no one had noticed me yet. I was now worried and praying that she was okay. I went to dinner with my friends for a few hours and we were now back at our house. When we were going into the house we noticed headlights pulling up behind up. I go in the house to try to call my mom again. Still no answer. My roommate called me from my room and said my dad was back. When he walked through our front door he had tears in his eyes and he said “baby she’s gone.”

    Now I had lost my granny (my mom’s mother) four years prior to this, and I knew my mom was sick from Lupus. Nothing could’ve prepared me for those words my dad said to me. I remember letting out a scream & falling to the floor sobbing. As I’m writing this now through tears, it’s like reliving a nightmare. My whole heart was crushed with three words, “baby’s she’s gone.” All our conversation from the past week ran through my mind. Was God giving us one last time to talk to each other? Were we creating final memories together? But the biggest questions of them all was, “Why is this happening to me? Why did I have to lose my mommy?”

    That saying that “God won’t give you more than you can bare”, well I would like to think that God thinks I can bare mountains, hurricanes, and avalanches. Losing my mom was by fare the worst day of my life. I don’t wish that kind of pain on anyone because it hurts you to your soul. 

    My first Mother’s Day without my mom I cried the entire day. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, or be bothered. It hurt my feelings to see others be able to be with their moms. I was still asking the questions, why my mom of all moms? Why was this is happening to me? What did I do wrong do deserve this kind of pain? 

    For three and half years I was in a severe depression. Many nights I prayed that God would take me so the pain would stop. I was angry, hurt, confused, lost, and still asking why me? Why my mom? Why can’t you bring her back to me God? Or send me to her! It was a hard road of denial, bad decisions, and darkness.

    What made me finally start to come out my depression, my mom came to me in a dream. She had visited me before in my dreams, but this night was different. I was now home from school, and had been out with friends and was super drunk and barely made it home. I stumbled up the stairs and instead of going into my room I went in my mom’s room. I was again, laying in the bed praying and asking God to take me so I could get rid of the pain. I eventually passed out and went to sleep. 

    My mom came to me in my dream and she was extremely upset with me. I remember this dream like it happened yesterday and it still gets me through when I’m feeling sad. She said, “I didn’t raise you be like this. And I didn’t raise you to waste your life away either. I need you to get yourself together and remember who I raised you to be. You are stronger than this.” 

    I was crying trying to explain to her that I was lost without her, that the pain was too much. She hugged me and told me, ” I know how much you love me and I love you too, but you will get through this. You just remember to be the woman that I raised you to me.” 

    I woke up from the dream in tears. I still wasn’t ready to let her go, and my heart was hurting from her absence. After I calmed myself down, I understood what she was saying to me. For once I realized that she wasn’t suffering anymore. In my dream she looked amazing and healthy. It hit me like a tone of bricks. She wasn’t sick anymore, no more doctors appointments, no more not feeling like herself, and no more hiding from me when she would be in the hospital. 

    Yes, the selfish part of me wanted her here, and I still feel that way most days, but I had to remember what she said. She raised me be a woman of God and to represent what she’s instilled in me. I had to get myself together, and not only make her proud, but know that she was watching over me. From that day forward I have done everything in my power to make my mom proud. Even though I have had 21 Mother’s Days without my mom, the memories of our last conversations get me through the rough times. Remembering the strong woman that she was makes me proud to have had her as “my mother”.

    God knew what he was doing when he placed us together. In losing her, I found a strength I never knew existed. Do I cry when I miss her? Yes! Do I think about her all the time? Yes! Do I wish I had one more day with her? Absolutely!!! But, I had understand that God’s plan wasn’t my plan and he took her for a reason, which was no more suffering. I can look back now and understand it, but in those three and half years of depression there was no rationale. 

    Over the years as Mother’s Days have come and gone, I rely on pictures and memories to reminiscence on my time with my mother. Sometimes I’m happy, and I’ve been sad, but importantly I’ve been grateful to have experienced a love that still reaches me beyond the grave. So I encourage everyone to treasure your mother while you have her here because you only get one!

    God bless you all! 💜

  • Our first mother featured in a May is a new mother, I asked her to tell me about her reflections this first year. Here is Jordyn’s story

    Being Kyrie’s mom
    I’m Jordyn Anese and in 2019 God chose me to be a mother. I’m sure a lot of you are thinking “Unt unt you and that man did the necessary to have a baby” and okay. But the truth is you just don’t know my story and I’m content with that.
    From the day I found out I was going to be a mom I knew my life would be different. The first thing I thought was “I always want my baby to look better than me”.. So I started making plans to water down my wardrobe something serious. I felt so blessed to be able to carry a little bundle of joy.
    When I found out my baby was a boy my heart melted. THATS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED FIRST. I always wanted two kids. Boy first then a girl, like my mom and dad. I always thought that if I have a boy first and then a girl she will have a protector. And if I just have a boy I’ll have a valid excuse to get and stay I shape so I can be hands on with his active nature.
    Kyrie Chase was born October 31, 2019. And from that point on I have NOT been the same. Nurturing him has been a blessing. Watching him grow and feeling me open up has been such a life changing experience. On our hard days I cry and he slobber kisses my tears to make me feel better. I remember that God equipped me for this very moment for this very little human. My journey has just started and I can think of is our future. Motherhood has so far shown me more of me and a whole lot more of God. ♥️

    Jordyn Anese
    Founding and Managing member of T.Y.A.S. Initiative LLC
    AhersEyeView.Wordpress.com

  • Raise your hand 🙋🏽‍♀️ if you have had some days when you just hung your head and thought “How can I keep doing this?” Do you ever just get frustrated and try to figure out “where is God in this?” Do you keep trying to figure it out and coming up short?

    Yeah me too

    I have watched my area become devastated by Covid 19. One week our community lost 7 pastors😩 , I was like Goooooood where are you in this? I have days when I can’t even go on Facebook because 2-3 people are reporting having Covid, or have people who have gone on. But more importantly I watched my own brother die during this time.. rough! Then I’m screaming in my own head Goooooooood where are you?

    I wake up and pray to God, thanking him for another day and by noon I’m frustrated and ready to cry. I’m all over the place some days between happy, grateful, sad, angry and frustrated but then the spirit rises up in me and I am reminded how I already survived so much. I survived the death of my daughter, my mom and my dad, my grandparents as well as a different brother along with various aunts uncles and cousins. Death has been ever present in my life just as life has and when I forget that God is still in control the Holy Spirit reminds me. So when I don’t how what to pray or how to get relief I go to a quiet place and wait on the Holy Spirit… yeah I am reminded that if you put the word in there… it comes out just when you need it.

    I may not always understand how this works out for my favor but I do know who controls the future, and in that I will have hope.

    “Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words. God already knows our deepest thoughts. And he understands what the Spirit is saying, because the Spirit speaks for his people in the way that agrees with what God wants. We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-28‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/rom.8.26-28.erv

  • “But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.”
    ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/2co.12.9.erv

    Man this time in my life is creating an even greater need in me to trust God, to depend on him to keep my mind and my heart close to his word.

    Death after death is being reported almost to the point where my mind can’t grasp it. It’s starting to feel unreal and I’m becoming unaffected because it’s too much.

    Then my good common sense kicks in and the Holy Spirit begins to refresh my mind and send some confirmation that God does not lie. Scripture after scripture to help me

    “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
    ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/php.4.7.niv

    “Praise the Lord! Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. Selah”
    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:19‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/psa.68.19.erv

    “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
    ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/1th.4.13-17.niv

    “I say this because our hope of being right with God comes through faith. And the Spirit helps us feel sure as we wait for that hope.”
    ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/gal.5.5.erv

  • “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers threw dice to divide Jesus’ clothes between them.”
    ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:34‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/luk.23.34.erv

    Jesus said the people didn’t know what they were doing, I said the crowd may have not known but the church people knew, they even wrote it out for the world to see.

    “They put a sign above his head with the charge against him written on it: “ THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.””
    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:37‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/mat.27.37.erv

    They knew who he was, but they didn’t realize the implication of their actions; they forgot the power of Yahweh. God sent his only begotten son to save the world 🌎 and their actions ushered in the saving grace and mercy of a risen savior.

    I often thank God for the actions of the ignorant because he had to die to be resurrected, and I’m glad about what that means for me and for you. Because Jesus got up, I can. When my circumstances look dire I remember that Jesus survived the cross so that I could survive the world and anything it threw at me. When I feel sick in my body I am reminded that he was bruised for me and by his stripes I am healed. When I feel as if I’m in a dark and lonely place I remember that the stone will roll away and I will see the marvelous light. Hallelujah

    So yeah I guess they didn’t know what they were doing. I’ve been corrected 🙏🏽

  • “Praise the Lord! Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. Selah”
    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:19‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/psa.68.19.erv

    “God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.”
    ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/isa.26.3.erv

    During this time of uncertainty and isolation it is imperative that we remember what we know to be true and good. The word of the Lord can withstand the test of time, his peace can transcend terror and dismay. I know it’s hard as more and more people we know are diagnosed with Covid 19 to stay encouraged but urge you to try.

    Continue to pray and trust and believe. The one thing I will caution you to remember is that God’s plan and our plans are not always the same. If we pray his will be done, know that the outcome is in the will of God. He may heal some of our loves ones on the other side 😢

    “We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say.”
    ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/1jn.5.14.erv

  • As we are all facing increasing pressure to stay in the house and stay positive how are you holding up?

    I’ve not been in this situation before and I bet many of you have not either, but guess what? We will survive, nothing good lasts forever and nothing bad does either. In the meantime we need to practice peace and remember Gods word.

    “God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.”
    ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/406/isa.26.3.erv

    That’s all, that’s all I got. Be ok, rest in the peace of God and remember this too shall pass.

    Love on somebody today on purpose, call and or text to check on your people. Forgive everybody today, even yourself so your peace can be compete.