When U Pray

They say time heals all wounds! What about grief? Does it ever get better? Do you ever stop missing your mom, your dad, loved ones? Do you want to?

I ask do you want to get over it because I believe people won’t let go of the grief for fear of letting go of the person. I say let the grief go, allow yourself to be healed by love and forgiveness. The person you are grieving would hate for you to be in pain constantly, my mind tells me they would want you to remember the good times, to laugh and smile at the memories. To make new memories to replace the old ones, to LIVE!

Grief is ok for a time but don’t hold on to it forever.

They say a tree is known by the fruit it produces right? So if you pull an apple off of a tree you would assume it’s an apple tree, pears? pecans? etc. I bet you are wondering how this applies to you? Well in my wretched mind I believe it means that if you are a positive person you will have positive results, if you are a happy person you create happiness, if you are mean you get negative results but I could be wrong.

What I do know is the fruits of the spirit bring life and allow you to have joy..

“This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; that you will see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important; that you will be pure and blameless for the coming of Christ;”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/php.1.9-10.erv

Sometimes it seems that all I talk about is love and forgiveness because it is so important to me. I think about human interactions and how multidimensional we are. I look at how much “stuff” we hold onto from when we were kids, from our parents, from our faith, when we first got hurt, when we, when we, when we. These old hurts and pains create a wall that challenges communication and our ability to love freely and openly, these old hurts prevent us from having open communication and honest feedback. If we could find a way to forgive everyone who hurt us, including our parents and ourselves we could see some serious change in our lives.

I often ask myself if people would still love me if they knew the things I had done, the things I had said and more importantly the things that “happened” to me? I look at my life and I am amazed that I didn’t die of shame, of guilt, of regret, of pain, of fear, of dejection and rejection. I am amazed that I am healed, restored and renewed but I shouldn’t be, Jesus said it,

“He said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace. You will not suffer anymore.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:34‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/mrk.5.34.erv

Lord I WAS a mess, until your Love captured me. Until I believed that you could and you would heal me. I was a mess until I accepted that I was a daughter of a king, a joint heir in the kingdom, God’s daughter. Now that I believe, I pray the same thing for you. I pray that you would allow the balm in Gillead to heal your soul.

So I broke my first promise( hangs head in shame). I said no shopping for 6 months and then boom I bought clothes. I felt so shame I almost took them back as if that would change the fact that I broke a promise. I didn’t fast and give it up for God, I gave it up for my financial well being but I did ask God to help me in my finances so basically I fell down. The world would have me believe that I have sinned and God no longer loves me. Well thank God I have a bible that tells me different.

I was considering should I tell everyone that I messed up? That I fell short? That I couldn’t do it? Should I admit that I have a problem? The enemy was in my ear saying, no one will know! Why bother saying anything they can’t fix it! What would you gain by admitting you shopped? Who even cares?

I was thinking it’s not a big deal and then I remembered it’s not a big deal yet, but if I sneak and hide and try to cover it up the devil will beat me with it forever and constantly remind me that I am not worthy of God’s loving kindness. I was reminded that sneaking and hiding is what cost us Eden and yes I messes up but I’m not going to compound it by lying. If I make excuses for myself now I will continue to do wrong and make excuses forever and give the devil power of me that he does not deserve. So I am saying I messed up, I did something I said I wouldn’t. I didn’t sin, I didn’t commit some unforgivable act but I didn’t do what I said I would do. I have to forgive myself, ask God to continue working on me and keep it moving.

If you have not kept every promise to yourself, forgive yourself and let’s get started from here.

“But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/1jn.1.9.erv

Then I pray this for you and me:

“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

We can learn so much from the mouths of babes. My daughter and I were laughing 😂 so hard at my granddaughter who was enjoying herself playing dress up. I mean for real dress up in her Halloween gown portraying Princess Belle with the full wig and accessories. She was having a great time twirling and laughing and being the belle of the ball when her wig fell off. My daughter between whoops of laughter pointed out that her wig had fallen off. My granddaughter stood up to her full height and informed my daughter “ But I am STILL Belle”. Hmmm

That statement right there called to my very soul as one of the truest statements ever. Her 5 year old mind was able to quickly comprehend that even though her wig fell off, she was still who she was! Her personal worth was not tied to an object, it’s falling off did not change who she was!

If I could get 10 women to agree with me that we are not tied to the things in our life we could change the world. Imagine if you gained 10 pounds, you are still you. If you lost 10 pounds, got a new car, had a car repossessed, if you lost your way with drugs or a man, if you filed bankruptcy or hit the lotto, you are still you and that is still enough. You are still loved!

We as people of God have to let go of what the world 🌎 tells us about ourselves. We have to start believing that our salvation covers all those things that the enemy would have you believe keeps you in bondage. You are still loved!

“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8:32, 36‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/jhn.8.32,36.erv

Man, imagine if we truly lived free from the pain of our past, the doubts of our youth, the pain of rejection, the guilt of our shame and the lost of loved ones. What if we believed what God said about us? You are still loved!

“You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:13-14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.139.13-14.erv

I’m still Sheveze.. In Spite of the things that have happened to me and the things I have done. I am still loved!

2019 is my year but it’s not acting like it. I won’t bore you with the details but I have been under attack for weeks now and I realize the enemy is trying to distract me. I realize that some of these attacks are not attacks but God strengthening me. You are probably wondering how to tell the difference? I wish I knew 🤦🏽‍♀️

But what I do know is that all things work together for my good. I know that this thing that I’m going through won’t last forever, nothing good lasts forever and nothing bad does either.

I don’t know why I’m being attacked but I do know that I am not alone, that Jesus said he would never leave me nor forsake me and if I need to be calmed I need only ask.

I don’t know why everything around me is in turmoil but I do know that God is not the author of confusion so this is not him, the enemy can act up all he wants but I know that my God is able to to do exceeding and abundantly above all that I can believe. I know that my finances are blessed, I know that I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor it’s seed begging bread. That reminds me that I am blessed and covered and so is my family. I’m not righteous because of me, but because of who I gave my life too.

I don’t know why my emotions are all over the place but I know that Jesus is a mind regulator and I need only speak his name to bring peace.

So yeah, 2019 is my year!

You ever tried to ask Siri something and you’re not connected to the Internet? She will hit you with ” Sorry, I’m having trouble connecting to the network”.

That’s like trying to get a prayer through when you have no connection to the Lord.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jhn.14.6.NKJV

Jesus is our Internet connection to God. Without Jesus all you get is nonessential information and misdirection. It’s like trying to iron without electricity, you can move the iron over the clothes but they are still wrinkled. You can go through the motions but without a connection, you are wasting time.

Get to know Jesus for yourself. Spend time with him, read the word so your faith can be activated. Reading the word is like plugging your phone in to keep the battery charged. Not reading and hearing the word is like running your battery down. You search everywhere and no one has a plug that fits your phone. You keep checking the battery indicator to see if the battery strength has been used up, waiting for it to shut itself off. You know once that phone dies you feel disconnected, helpless and frustrated. Yup the same thing happens when we allow ourselves to be disconnected from the Lord.

Get your strength up.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rom.10.17.NKJV

The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety. He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection. He is my shield; by his power I am saved.  He is my hiding place high in the hills.
Psalms 18:2 ERV
http://bible.com/406/psa.18.2.ERV

Who do you run to when life gets crazy? Do you run to your best friend in the hope that telling them your troubles will cause them to lessen? Do you run to the bottle hoping that when you get to the bottom all your problems are resolved? Do you run to recreational drugs believing if you get high enough you won’t care? Do you run to your partner for sexual healing believing that any release is better than none?

I would challenge you to run to the Lord, get down on your knees and pray. He has promised to hear you.
“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
John 16:33 ERV
http://bible.com/406/jhn.16.33.ERV

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
John 16:33 ERV
http://bible.com/406/jhn.16.33.ERV

What these scriptures tell me is to trust Jesus,  pray and believe. Know it in your soul that God’s word cannot return void. If he said it, it is done. He can restore your failing health, your peace and your joy.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalms 51:10-12 KJV
http://bible.com/1/psa.51.10-12.KJV

Be blessed, in spite of what you are going through. Know that nothing is impossible with God and as bad as it looks, it’s covered.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:13-14 KJV
http://bible.com/1/exo.14.13-14.KJV

I am not depressed, I’m sad

I am not depressed, I’m grieving

I am not depressed, I’m figuring it out

I am not depressed, I’m learning my new reality.

I am trying to learn how to live in this world with you in it. You were the sun that I gravitated around, the moon that lit my path in the dark. You were my rock and my voice of reason. You were my friend and my confidante. You were my Daddy!

Daddy, you taught me so much, how to live, how to love, how to be thankful in all things, you taught me to forgive and how to enjoy my life. You showed me love unlimited, you taught me how a man should treat me. You took me to my first champagne brunch, bought me my first designer bag and shoes because you didn’t want a man buying my virtue with things That I wasn’t used to. You taught me to pay my bills and keep my credit right. You told me to love my mom despite our differences. You taught me how to do everything but live without you!

Yeah, I’m grieving you dad but not in despair, not like there is no hope. I believe I will see you again..

“Then Jesus said, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.””

‭‭John‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/jhn.5.8.erv

Jesus did not heal anyone who was unwilling to participate. He told this man to pick up hit mat and walk. This man had been paralyzed for 38 years and every day he would go to this healing pool and try to to get in, people would go around him and enter i to the pool. The man believed that of got in the pool he would be healed but no one was willing to help him. When Jesus saw him he asked him if he wanted to be healed, he said YES! Jesus told him to pick up his mat and walk. Now use your imagination and answer this, would you have trusted Jesus enough to try and stand knowing your situation?

“A large crowd gathered to hear him speak. The house was so full that there was no place to stand, not even outside the door. While Jesus was teaching, some people brought a paralyzed man to see him. He was being carried by four of them. But they could not get the man inside to Jesus because the house was so full of people. So they went to the roof above Jesus and made a hole in it. Then they lowered the mat with the paralyzed man on it. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:2-5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/mrk.2.2-5.erv

Here was a woman who had lost everything, she had spent every dollar she had trying to be healed from a bleeding disease. She was at her wits end when she heard Jesus was coming, she put everything in her belief that if she could only touch a piece of his garment that she would be healed.. now that is belief and I claim that same belief for myself.

“There among the people was a woman who had been bleeding for the past twelve years. She had suffered very much. Many doctors had tried to help her, and all the money she had was spent, but she was not improving. In fact, her sickness was getting worse. The woman heard about Jesus, so she followed him with the other people and touched his coat. She thought, “If I can just touch his clothes, that will be enough to heal me.” As soon as she touched his coat, her bleeding stopped. She felt that her body was healed from all the suffering. Jesus immediately felt power go out from him, so he stopped and turned around. “Who touched my clothes?” he asked. The followers said to Jesus, “There are so many people pushing against you. But you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

The woman knew that she was healed, so she came and bowed at Jesus’ feet. She was shaking with fear. She told Jesus the whole story. He said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace. You will not suffer anymore.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:25-31, 33-34‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/mrk.5.25-31,33-34.erv

This is two people who’s willingness to do something changed their life and I know God is asking me and you the same thing; Are you ready to be changed? What are you willing to be believe God for?

“Lord, I am so weak. I cried to you all night. My pillow is soaked; my bed is dripping wet from my tears. My enemies have caused me such sorrow that my eyes are worn out from crying.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭6:6-7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.6.6-7.erv

“We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don’t know what to do, but we don’t give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/2co.4.8-9.erv

“He heals their broken hearts and bandages their wounds.

Our Lord is great and powerful. There is no limit to what he knows.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:3, 5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.147.3,5.erv

“I can lie down to rest and know that I will wake up, because the Lord covers and protects me. So I will not be afraid of my enemies, even if thousands of them surround me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.3.5-6.erv

“You can be sure that anyone who serves the Lord faithfully is special to him. The Lord listens when I pray to him.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.4.3.erv

“Every morning, Lord, I lay my gifts before you and look to you for help. And every morning you hear my prayers.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.5.3.erv

“But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name. Lord, when you bless good people, you surround them with your love, like a large shield that protects them.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:11-12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.5.11-12.erv

“I praise the Lord because he is good. I praise the name of the Lord Most High.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭7:17‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.7.17.erv

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about the wonderful things you have done. You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you. God Most High, I praise your name.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/psa.9.1-2.erv

Sticks and stones may break your bones but words break your heart.

“Foolish words cause you trouble; wise words protect you.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/pro.14.3.erv

People say words can’t hurt you but that’s a lie. The words out of your mouth should speak life to the person you are speaking to. If you are not speaking life you could be or probably are or maybe speaking death.

I know people get mad and frustrated but you can’t use that as a reason to verbally abuse someone. Is that a reason to speak death over someone’s ideas? Dreams? Emotions? I think not.. we have to be kind to one another because you can’t see the damage your words create.

Imagine you told someone they were fat and ugly (yes I’ve heard those words) and then they develop a complex about themself and their bodies? They begin to stop eating and develop all kinds of mental and medical problems years down the road. I know you are thinking they should have more confidence right, they probably did, but after hearing those words over and over it eroded their confidence and now they can’t see the beauty in what God created. All this pain because someone had no control over their emotions. What about the girl you called stuck up? Maybe she was being molested and dealing with all kinds of pressure; she didn’t talk much because of shame. Your insensitive words have added to all the things she had to deal with. Maybe you told a guy he was too nice, like that’s a thing, and he became a mental and physical abuser and now every woman his life touches is changed.

Be careful with people, we are fragile beings and since we are made in God’s image I imagine he is too.

Be kind, it takes the same energy!

“Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person. The Spirit gives this to each one to help others. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. And the same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7-8‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/1co.12.7-8.erv

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/jhn.10.10.kjv

The thief, the enemy, the devil, satan, prince of darkness or whatever you call him is busy. The enemy instigates foolishness, pettiness and confusion whenever he can, it’s tiring trying to fight him day after day. You pray and cry and pray and believe then you pray and stand and it appears that you are still losing the fight you could begin to think, “I should let him win”?

Sometimes when you hear tragedy after tragedy, death upon death, marriages failing, suicide, mental health issues and more tragedy you feel like he is already winning. I ask myself, who gave up already because this joker seems to be winning the battle.

What do you do when you feel like this? So you call on your friends? Do you call on your family? Do you write it out? Do you search the Bible looking for answers? Do you call on The deacons, or ministers? Maybe you do a mixture of these things? What is the right thing?

I don’t know either but what I do know is that even feeling like giving up allows the enemy entrance to your mind and your heart. It’s not hard to get distracted by all of the negativity in the world and in our families but we can overcome that feeling by the word of the Lord.

“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

http://bible.com/406/2co.12.9.erv

“He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:29-31‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/isa.40.29-31.erv

“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/isa.41.10.erv

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/pro.3.5.erv

““But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what he says.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/jer.17.7.erv

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gal.5.22.erv

Once I am reminded of these words from the Lord I realize I can’t give up, I already won!

“I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/jhn.15.11.erv

“Be willing to accept those who still have doubts about what believers can do. And don’t argue with them about their different ideas.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/rom.14.1.erv

You ever meet a person who loves Jesus so much that even a simple how are you turns into “ I’m blessed and highly favored of the Lord, the true and loving God who raised Jesus from the dead is smiling down on me!” ? Yeah me too (lol)

You ever meet the person who if you mention Adam or Eve they want to remind you that there was Lilith and other people and how stupid you are for not researching and knowing the real truth? (Me too)

What about the people who want to debate that the sabbath is Saturday and everyone else is going to hell because they go to church on Sunday? Yea

What about the people who think God is real but Jesus was a prophet and not the Son? I’ve met them too

I’ve even met people who only believe in a higher power that has no name but is benevolent and groovy!

The one thing I know to be true is, there is no way we could all be right, but, we could all be wrong!

To that point I say this, love your neighbor as you would yourself. Treat people The way THEY want to be treated, not how you want to be treated, there is a difference. Love people past their pain and bad experiences. Remember we all are human and need some understanding. Forgive easily and always assume good intent. Never assume someone is mean just because they have nothing else to do.

There is no need to debate who’s belief is right or who’s is wrong because at the end of the day, it’s according to what you believe. If someone wants to know more about your choice, share your story with them and help them in any way you can, it can’t be forced nor should you try to scare them into believing what you believe. I don’t believe God wants anyone who doesn’t want him, not my God or yours.

Let’s be tolerant of what each other believes. Diversity brings so much to the table and allows us to be stronger together. I’m amazing by myself but I’m a force when we are together. I need you and you need me!

❤️

mul·ti·tude

/ˈməltəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

1.

a large number.

“a multitude of medical conditions are due to being overweight”

If love covers a multitude of sins does that mean all? If you ask me the answer is oh yeah! If you ask God I bet his answer is would be “if the multitude doesn’t cover it, I bet the blood does”! Oh yeas I know the blood still works , oh yes I know the blood still works. It will never, ever, lose its

Power! ( did y’all sing that part? Me too😂😂😂)

Really all I am trying to say is, love each other. Love past the hurt and the blame, love past the guilt and the shame. Forgive each other easily, assume good intent, don’t jump to conclusions, that just makes you tired and usually wrong. If someone offends you, ask them to explain what they meant because let’s face it, we misunderstand people a lot. And even if they meant it, maybe they didn’t mean to offend.

Give people the opportunity to explain, you may be surprised and learn something new about them or you.

I’m not hear to preach today just to remind you that I love you! To remind you to be intentional about your life, don’t let emotion sway you, you’ll be out here lost and alone but not unloved, because I love you.