When U Pray

This is a reprint for October 2016

I was face timing with my daughter, my love.. All I could think was “She is so beautiful”. She said mama, is it like looking in a mirror when you see me? I said no, you are beautiful. My husband gave me the Ted bear look and asked “you think you are ugly?” He then went on to say “nobody who takes as many selfie as you could think they were ugly.”

I had to think about that, I don’t think I’m ugly, that’s for sure but when I look at my daughter I see a beautiful person, not just the way her features line up on her face but her spirit and her heart shining through making her beautiful to me.

When I look in the mirror I often see what I have been through. I see the pain, the disappointment, the molestation, the despair, the heartbreak and my destructive actions. I know God has healed those places in me but there are still ruts and scars where the unholiness of the world met my Godly form. It’s like getting stitches, when they remove the thread, there is a noticeable scar to remind you of that thing.

I think of the woman with the issue of blood, in my mind it’s not just that she is bleeding from her women parts, it seems she is bleeding from her soul. She has given everything to this THING. This thing drained her of her ambition, her pride, her joy and her hope. This THING left her broken and down to her last coherent thought. Has that ever been you? Have you had that THING that happened to you or THING that you caused become bigger than you? It could be so many things, that man/woman who was all bad and you knew it, but nobody made you its, feel like that. It could be drugs, alcohol, depression, suicidal thoughts, molestation, physical abuse, shoplifting, sexual devience, that THING, you know what it is or was. Let’s be real

You are not the only person in your life affected by that THING. Everyone you encounter after that THING, is processed through what you have been through. You don’t love the same anymore, you don’t trust people or things anymore. You may lose some of your shine or you smile is not as wide. Everything you see is filtered through that THING.

But that’s not the end of the story, praise God.

This passage is used repeatedly by everyone because it is so appropriate. If you will allow your soul to speak for you it will tell you to give in to Jesus, it will remind you that there is enough healing in the hem of his garment to heal you. If you can get to Jesus it’s gone be alright.

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/mat.9.22.kjv

Your healing in Jesus is immediate, he said from that hour and it was so. So I challenge you today, if you gave your life to Jesus, or you want to, let go. Let go of the THING that he forgave you for but you won’t forgive yourself. Forgive your abusers for they are not worth the rest your life. Let it go, if you are anything like me, I need forgiveness so I’m giving it out in bunches.

“But if you don’t forgive others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrongs you do.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:15‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/mat.6.15.erv

Friends, family and faithful followers I apologize. I have really struggled this past year with grief and blogging and so I have been slacking in posting. I would ask that you keep me in your prayers and that you will continue to read past blogs as I find them to be more meaningful later. I am looking at another medium for sharing inspiration so stay tuned.

In the meantime remember that I love you and I appreciate all of your support over the years. Whenupray is still in business but I’ve just been stuck. To God be the glory I am finding my way.

Love you, on purpose.

I have seen several posts on Facebook asking nonbelievers why they are so angry at believers? The comments were staggering and sometimes eerily accurate. Many people questioned the inconsistencies found in the bible🙋🏽‍♀️ I have too. Whenever I see inconsistency I attribute it to interpretation and move on because one of the biggest tenements of Faith is believing what you can’t see. “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/mat.9.29.kjv

But one of the biggest reasons people turned from God is people. The hipocracy found in people who claim to love God. The unforgiveness, constant judgement and lack of love between supposed Christians and toward people they consider unsaved. I challenge each of us today to accept one another as is. I challenge all of us to realize we are more alike than we are different and if we show love and compassion to one another we can create a world of peace.

I choose to love God but that does not prevent you from believing what you do. I won’t assume you are wrong if you don’t assume I am. One thing I know for sure, it is impossible for all of us to be right. But we could all be wrong.

Today, I choose love!

Reposted

I truly don’t care if you never go to church. That is not what this is about. You never have to join a church, attend a service or even give one dollar to accept Jesus as your personal savior.

If you openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved.

Romans 10:9-10 ERV

http://bible.com/406/rom.10.9-10.ERV

Yup , it’s that simple. Now comes the hard part. You must allow Jesus to be your savior, let him love you, let him forgive you, let him in your life. Talk to him daily, there is no special way, just open your heart and mind and let him in.

Here is the beautiful part, it’s forever. You won’t get it right the first few times. You will slip up, make mistakes, revert to your old life, yup you will still be a mess. But eventually, little by little you will be changed. God will keep providing for you, loving you and working on you. He will heal the broken places. He will strengthen the areas where you are weak and he will love you through it all.

Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 ERV

http://bible.com/406/rom.8.38-39.ERV

So don’t take this to mean you should never go to church because there is something wonderful about being with a body of believers that are all trusting God. When the Holy Spirit shows up lives are changed and chains are broken but that’s for later. For now, just get down on your knees, shut the world out and let your heart hear from God.

We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.

Hebrews 10:25 ERV

http://bible.com/406/heb.10.25.ERV

This is really about you getting to know Jesus.😇

I used to think I was unable to bring about change through prayer because I couldn’t pray like the saints of old. I couldn’t quote scripture chapter and verse so I believed that God couldn’t hear from me. I got that all wrong.

“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.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/rom.8.26.erv

I thank God for the Holy Spirit that intercedes for me and helps me when I don’t have the words to say, the Holy Spirit that builds me up where I am torn down. The Holy Spirit that moves and lives in me.

I may not be able to pray the house down or sing 🎶 like an angel 👼 but I can trust and believe like the saints of old. I started thinking, if I believed the things my mind I was telling me it would mean that God couldn’t hear the prayers of the children, the prayers of the blind or deaf, the prayers of the mentally afflicted and that’s a lie.

“Anyone can come to you, and you will listen to their prayers.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65:2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.65. 2.erv

I’m done feeling guilty for not memorizing the Bible or not knowing every single thing in it, that’s not a requirement for salvation. Jesus died for me and I will honor his sacrifice by believing in him and living my life filled with ❤️ love. I’ll keep praying 🙏🏽 with a sincere heart knowing he will hear me.

“Anyone can come to you, and you will listen to their prayers.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65:2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.65.2.erv

I challenge you to get to know the love of Jesus for your self, it doesn’t take a lot, just a little.

“But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭MSG‬‬

https://www.bible.com/97/luk.17.6.msg

“Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/heb.10.22.erv

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39 NKJV)

Father there is nothing greater than your Love! I am standing here Lord humbled by the depth of your love for us. Your word says Nothing can separate us from you, hallelujah to your name. How great is our God! I commit myself to your word and know that nothing can separate me from you! I don’t always understand the plan but I know you do! I thank you for doing what’s best for me even when I can’t see it. I praise you because even when I mess up you work it out for my good. I’m standing on this word today and loving you with my heart, mind, soul and body. in Jesus name, Amen.

My loves, one of the first promises in the Bible is in relationship to our parents. I find it comforting to repeat that promise with Mother’s Day this week and Father’s Day coming soon.

It’s a commandment with a promise!

““You must honor and respect your father and your mother. Do this so that you will have a full life in the land that the Lord your God gives you.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/exo.20.12.erv

Who doesn’t want to have full life? Who doesn’t want God to be pleased with them?

I know that some of our parents have failed us in our eyes. Some of our parents have been abusive both physically and mentally Some of our parents gave us up to our grand parents, aunts, uncles and cousins and even for adoption and those actions created terrible issues between us. In my case I was very disrespectful to my mom, I felt that her choices ruined my life. My mom was addicted to drugs and alcohol and because of that she did not make good choices. I was hurt deeply by her actions and I wanted the world to feel my pain. I was mean, disrespectful and hateful. It is true that hurt people, hurt people. I lashed out at family, friends and I made enemies when there was no need. Hurt people do hurt people.

I challenge you to look past your pain, look past your hurt and forgive. Ask God to heal you so you can live free. Ask God to heal you so you can show your parents and grandparents the respect that is due them. Yes, they made mistakes and didn’t always get it right, but you only get one mom and one dad. Yes you get people who step up for you but at the end of the day, you only get one set of parents, good, bad or indifferent.

I know my ask can seem impossible based on what they have put you through, but count it all Joy as you don’t have to do it alone.

“So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen.”

‭‭James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/jas.5.16.erv

“Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/eph.4.32.erv

“Yes, if you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, then your Father in heaven will also forgive your wrongs.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/mat.6.14.erv

Never forget; you already survived your past!

“The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross. But he is not here. He has risen from death, as he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was. And go quickly and tell his followers, ‘Jesus has risen from death. He is going into Galilee and will be there before you. You will see him there.’” Then the angel said, “Now I have told you.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:5-7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/mat.28.5-7.erv

Shout hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah because Jesus got up.

Today I would encourage you to get up too, anything that would keep you dead in your grave, shake it off and get up. If drugs have become a crutch for you, put it on the cross. If a broken relationship has you down, put it on the cross, if anger and depression is holding you back, put it on the cross. If lying and cheating is holding you back, put it on the cross. Whatever would have you believe you are unworthy of love, put it on the cross. Jesus grabbed that cross, carried it up a hill and climbed up there for you and me, they did not take his life, he gave it up so that we could be free. Free from condemnation, free from anything that would hold you down.

Live free

He left it all on the cross

Women who’s faith broke the rules.

29 When she saw the angel, she was troubled at his words. She thought about what had been said. 30 The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you! Don’t force me to go back to my own people. Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you sleep, I will sleep. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. (Ruth 1:16 ERV)

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14, NIV)Esther urged all of the Jews to fast and pray for deliverance. Then risking her own life, brave young Esther approached the king with a plan of her own.

I keep finding example after example of women who had faith strong enough to overcome any obstacle. Mary heard from the angel and believed what he said. Anyone can imagine that being engaged to be married and coming up pregnant had to be shameful for this young girl, imagine having to marry and leave everything you know and love. Having a child without your mama to show you what to do, how to handle colic and thrash. I could never have made it without the matriarchs in our family.

Imagine your Ruth and everything you know has been changed. Your husband died and your support system is falling apart.

Imagine you are Esther, your husband has been led to believe it was best to kill everyone in your lineage. Not just kill one person but everyone who believed in your God.

These women had one thing in common, one thing that separated them from the crowd, their Faith. Each of these women trusted God beyond their own comprehension. Sarah packed her stuff and followed her husband and trusted that God would do what he said he would. Ruth followed her mother in law and vowed she would accept her God as her own. Esther trusted the process, Esther urged all of the Jews to fast and pray for deliverance.

Let me deviate for one moment..what kind of faith did Naomi exhibit that Ruth was willing to change Gods to be with her? We talk about the faith Ruth showed but in my sanctified mind Naomi trusted God so completely that it activated Ruth’s faith. That is the faith I claim for myself. Soul saving, life changing, steadfast unmovable faith.

“The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and all its people belong to him.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24:1‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.24.1.erv

I sit here on the beach looking at God’s glory, looking at the rolling waves, hearing the sound of them crashing together and it calms me. I am looking at the sand and wondering what did God intend for us to do with it? What is it’s purpose? I also ask that same question about me! What is my purpose? Why did the God who created oceans and seas, sky and sand, lizards and bumblebees see a need for Me?

As I was thinking of this Queen Ester came to mind. I think about her story and how she was a young lady sent to serve the king and ended up saving her people. There was line given to her by uncle and it speaks volumes to my purpose. (I took out the word Jews and added your family because this is personal)

“If you keep quiet now, help and freedom for your family will come from another place. But you and your father’s family will all die. And who knows, maybe you have been chosen to be the queen for such a time as this.””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/est.4.14.erv

As a wife, mother, friend, coworker I believe my purpose is to love. To love people as they are. To love myself, to understand that God created me and I am not an accident or a mistake. Every inch of me was created for his glory and I will praise him always and tell people of his greatness.

I think I answered my own question.

Meet EVE!

Eve is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 2:21-25.

Eve was a solution to the very first problem of creation.

“Then the Lord God said, “I see that it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make the companion he needs, one just right for him.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.2.18.erv

Eve’s relationship to Adam was so important that God did not create her from dust as he did Adam, no he used Adam to create his helpmeet. He used the very bones of man to create his woman so that nothing could separate them. In my spiritual eye God knew that a man needed someone who would love him as he oved himself.

“The Lord God used the rib from the man to make a woman. Then he brought the woman to the man. And the man said, “Finally! One like me, with bones from my bones and a body from my body. She was taken out of a man, so I will call her ‘woman.’””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:22-23‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.2.22-23.erv

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife. In this way two people become one.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.2.24.erv

Eve is the mother of every human being.

“Adam named his wife Eve. He gave her this name because Eve would be the mother of everyone who ever lived.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.3.20.erv

Eve created the next problem in creation:

“The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat. She also liked the idea that it would make her wise. So she took some of the fruit from the tree and ate it. Her husband was there with her, so she gave him some of the fruit, and he ate it.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.3.6.erv

We know that was a problem because the Lord had told them they could eat everything in the garden except fruit from that tree. I see a few problems here:

0. Willful disobedience- Eve knew that she was not to eat of that tree, she even told the serpent when he suggested it. He may have been able to eat of the tree but she couldn’t and she knew it. She willfully disobeyed God.

0. Lack of trust- Eve did not trust that God knew what was best for her. Eve walked and talked with God on a daily basis and was still able to be tricked into believing a lie. She had the ultimate relationship with God.

0. Mans carelessness, Adam left his woman uncovered and allowed another to get into her ear and cause trouble, and when confronted with the evilness, the Bible did not indicate that he tried to convince her to trust God but was a willing participant.

What we know: Eve was created to solve the problem of man being alone but she also created a problem by not trusting God. We know Eve is the mother of all.

But how can we be mad at Eve?

We know that because of Eve women were cursed in child birth but because of Eve we are here and we have our children and Grandchildren.

Eve was the first woman and because of her we are here. Don’t judge Eve to harshly because how often have you been Eve? Willfully disobedient? Lacking trust? How many of us have been in a great relationship with God yet still made a mistake? I dare say that Eve is both the best of us and the worst of us.

Start your day with joy in your heart ❤️ and watch and see how it goes.

Start your day off in prayer and watch how God works things out for your good.

Start your day off with your mind on the problem solver and not the problem and watch how things line up.

Don’t forget, 99% of the problem is how you think about it!

I love you, on purpose.

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/1/mat.6.16.kjv

People keep asking me what am I giving up for lent? Does every religion recognize lent and a 40 day sacrifice? I was looking in the Bible for a reference for lent and was unsuccessful in finding it. This is not to say I don’t believe in it, but is it religious or pagan?

Hmmm what if I give up giving up? What if I don’t give up anything but ask God to increase my faith in areas of my life? If you fast and tell the whole world about it, who are you honoring? Just a question, not a judgement or a criticism but a real question. Are you giving up these things only to pick them back up in 40 days? Are you giving these things up to improve your life, your prayer life, your relationship with Christ or just to participate in lent?

I would ask that you search your heart for why you are doing what you are doing. Should whatever you give up represent a lasting change in you or is 40 days good enough?

What are you giving up? Would you be willing to make this a permanent change? Would you trust God with this THING in faith?

“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭MSG‬‬

https://www.bible.com/97/col.3.1-2.msg

“We pray that your kingdom will come— that what you want will be done here on earth, the same as in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/mat.6.10.erv

What are you beleiving God for? Are you willing to do the work of his Kingdom so your life on earth can be as it is in Heaven?

If you lift up the name of Jesus he said he would then draw all men into him. He said he would give you according to his riches and glory, that he would satisfy all your needs, that he would give you more than you can even imagine. Hmmm more than I can imagine? I dream big so imagine that his plans for me are even bigger, what a concept.

Kingdom work may look like you being blessing to someone else. Kingdom work could look like forgiving someone who hurt you. Kingdom work could look like allowing someone to be heard instead of you being right. Kingdom work could be serving in the community in a way that uses your gifts. Kingdom work could look like you speaking to someone even if they didn’t speak first. Kingdom work could be showing kindness to people even when you feel they have nothing to offer you.

Be Gods hands and feet and watch Gods will be done on earth as it is in heaven.. not just for you but for your entire family. Let’s remember that forgiveness for us is necessary, it opens the door for our own forgiveness.

“I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be good to you and give you peace.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/gal.1.3.erv