When U Pray

“Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those who have died. We don’t want you to be sad like other people—those who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died, but we also believe that he rose again. So we believe that God will raise to life through Jesus any who have died and bring them together with him when he comes.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13-14‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/1th.4.13-14.ERV

I added this scripture because it’s what I know to be true, we as Christian’s will experience death and destruction like everyone else on this earth but we cannot put our faith in what we see. Yes, it is true our loved ones, our friends and church members are dying away from this earth. It is very painful to be separated from our loved ones, it’s like a piece of you has died. Death is so final on this side of heaven but there is hope.

According to the word of the Lord, Jesus already made a place for us when we leave this earth.

“Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:1, 3-6‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.14.1-6.ERV

I can tell you from experience that even knowing all of this, the death of a loved one changes you. I’m not going to say things I don’t mean just for readership because I have to be true to myself. Losing my loved ones have changed me, I often feel lost and alone, like an orphan. I lost both of my parents and my eldest brother and there are days when I just feel so alone.
After saying all that, , there is good news. My bad days don’t last long because I still have my faith. When I am reminded of my loved ones I try to remember the laughter, the joys and the good times because bad times happen to us all but it’s the memory of the good things that allows us to hold on.
I remind myself to be good to people, to be kind, humble, gracious and forgiving. Life is short and we have no promise of time on this side of heaven. Love your people, forgive them.. please

Be encouraged my brothers and sister that even in death, there is good news.

“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 people who have died and were in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive at that time will be gathered up with those who have died. We will be taken up in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/1th.4.16-18.ERV

For me and my family Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the Christmas Holiday season. Trees are put up and decorated, stockings are hung and the glow from the tree is the backdrop for the next few weeks.

Many people use words like Happy Holidays to avoid offending people who do not celebrate the birth of Christ and that’s ok for them. I don’t believe all of us can be right when it comes to religion, but we could all be wrong. With that being said, I believe in the birth, the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus but I have mad respect for anyone who chooses different. I believe in my heart of hearts that if I walk right, if I’m open and honest about my faults, my life, my experiences and I give credit to our Lord, people will see and ask what it takes for them to be saved.
Jesus told us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, which indicated he wants us to love ourselves first so we can love our neighbors. This time of the year our friends, families, co-workers and strangers all have things they are dealing with so be kind. Be humble. Be useful. Be the light …
As we usher in a new season of love, let your light shine ..

“God, with his mercy, gave us this work to do, so we don’t give up. But we have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We don’t use trickery, and we don’t change the teaching of God. We teach the truth plainly. This is how we show people who we are. And this is how they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are before God. The Good News that we tell people may be hidden, but it is hidden only to those who are lost. The ruler of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News—the message about the divine greatness of Christ. Christ is the one who is exactly like God. We don’t tell people about ourselves. But we tell people that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we tell them that we are your servants for Jesus. God once said, “Let light shine out of the darkness!” And this is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts to let us know that his own divine greatness is seen in the face of Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:1-6‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/2co.4.1-6.ERV

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:24-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1/jud.1.24-25.KJV

Do you have that one scripture that just calls out to you; when you hear it your entire soul, says, YES? Me too, and Jude 1 24-25 does that for me.

Let me go back a little and show you how it started.. I use the easy to read version for that because it speaks to me in my language. Jude was reminding the people that when you do wrong, there is a price to pay. The Bible is the good news, so even in his warning ,hallelujah, he shared some good news.
“Greetings from Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. To those who have been chosen and are loved by God the Father and have been kept safe in Jesus Christ. Mercy, peace, and love be yours more and more.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jud.1.1-2.ERV

But he goes on on to remind you of what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah , what happened to the angels who chose darkness and the people who lived in sin. He reminds us that there is a price to pay but, and I don’t like to use that word, however it’s appropriate here, but, this is not the future for those that believe.
“They told you, “In the last times there will be people who laugh at God and do only what they want to do—things that are against God.” These are the people who divide you. They are not spiritual, because they don’t have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up even stronger. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves safe in God’s love, as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:18-21‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jud.1.18-21.ERV

That’s some good news right there… God is able to keep you from falling .. he is able to bring you faultless before him. I am over here shouting with joy while writing this.. he is able to allow the blood of the lamb to cover your sins, and all you have to do is BELIEVE!

Y’all, I am Over here shouting as I’m reading to prepare for this word. Think about this, if you believe you receive another helper.. yes Lord
““If you love me, you will do what I command. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever. The Helper is the Spirit of truth. The people of the world cannot accept him, because they don’t see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-17‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.14.15-17.ERV

Ok, I think you get it.. there is good news for those that believe .. what do you believe? I will make my declaration clear.

““But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.””
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jos.24.15.ERV
“God is strong and can keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:24-25‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jud.1.24-25.ERV

“Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream— a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.1.1-3.ERV

I had been slacking so I said self, get to work. I put my head down and began to work hard, I was feeling very accomplished with my outcomes and then I heard a ding .. and received this message:

Of course I began to panic, where is the cord? Did I remember to put it in the bag? I was thinking I would hate to lose all my hard work. The entire time I was trying to desperately reconnect to the power source. Hmmmm

If you know me I started thinking, what are the dings or messages I get when I am not close to God? I know one for sure, I start looking at my situation and not my savior. I start depending on myself thinking I can help God, then I laugh because he created the heavens and the earth and never once asked me for help. Another ding for me is when I find myself not reading, writing and praising, I can’t do this stuff alone, I need a word in me. The next ding is when the enemy gets in my head, tells me I’m worthless and God could not love me, or he tells me I’m never gone be anything because of sin and shame. Then I start to hear all the people who spoke ignorance into my life as kid telling me I could never overcome the shame of my childhood, that my parents sin made me less valuable to God. The enemy tries to get at me at work, at home and at play. Those dings don’t come as a warning like my PC, it comes from the Holy Spirit and it reminds me that I am beloved. It reminds me of what’s good and true and productive. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you if you let it. So the next time you hear a ding, stop and listen, it’s telling you something important.

“Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.15.4.ERV

Our savior wants you to stay connected to him because with him, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Have you ever walked past a penny on the ground? Me too, then I heard a man say “Pennie’s make dollars”! From that day on I don’t pass by any money on the ground without picking it up. You are probably wondering where I am going with this?

If you take a penny, toss it on the ground, it’s still a penny. If it becomes green with oxidation, it’s still a penny. If it has paper glued to one side , it’s still a penny. If it’s shiny and brand new, well it’s a new penny but still worth its original value. Some people treat Pennie’s as what’s left over, they often set them aside and many leave them behind for someone else to use as needed, these actions do not reduce the value of that penny.

I would bet there are days when you feel like a penny, overlooked, left behind, stepped over, stepped on and undervalued, but I am here to tell you that You were created in purpose, just like that penny. The US Mint created Pennie’s because there was a need in the monetary system for them. People use Pennie’s because they are a factor in our society that has a monetary value. Just like that penny, you were created because there was need for you on the earth.

No two Pennie’s are the same and no two people are the same but the value is unchanged.

Never let anyone make you feel as if you do not matter, GOD created you in his likeness and in his image so you are valuable and worth more than gold. It does not matter what people do or say, it matters how you view yourself.

Let me remind you of this:
“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://bible.com/bible/406/psa.139.13-14.ERV

“My darling, you are beautiful all over. Every part of you is perfect.”
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/sng.4.7.ERV

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/eph.2.10.ERV

Today I looked at my hands and saw an old lady. I was so shocked I picked up the phone and called my daughter and told her “My hands look so old “. I should comment that I don’t feel old and I’ve been told I don’t look my age. 58 is really not that old .. no for real it’s not. These hands are well used.

If you know me even a little you should know that even in this God spoke to me and reminded me that these hands may look old but these are the hands that I have used to navigate through life.
These are the hands my mother held as the doctor presented me to her after I was born. These are the hands that I used to pull myself up to stand as a toddler. These are the same hands I used to catch myself when I fell. These are the same hands I used to learn to ride a bike, the same hands I had to use to catch myself when I fell skating, biking, hiking and some times just walking. These are the same hands I used to pick up my daughter, the hands I used to rub her back and comfort her. These are the same hands I use hug my husband and show affection. I have used these hands to wash, cook, clean and praise. These hands have been on many continents and in many kitchens and they have been used for good and evil, these are my hands.

But today Lord, I lift my hands in total
Praise to you. I lift my hands in joy and supplication to your will and to your way. I lift my hands and I praise your name on high because with your hand, you have lifted me.

“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
https://bible.com/bible/406/isa.41.10.ERV

“By my life, I will praise you. In your name, I lift my hands in prayer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63:4‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.63.4.ERV

You ever find yourself in the middle of your mess singing the gospel song by Kirk Franklin:
I’ve gone through the fire
And I’ve been through the flood
I’ve been broken into pieces
Seen lightnin’ flashin’ from above
But through it all I remember
That He loves me
And He cares
And He’ll never put more on me
Than I can bear

It’s a great idea but I think he always puts more on us than we can bare alone to remind us that we are not alone. To remind us that we must cast our cares on him. Jesus reminds us in Mathew that he is our burden bearer and if we would just come to him, he will bare it.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.11.28.NKJV

In my mind that means :
Stop worrying about how things are going to turn out, just know that if you love and trust God, it’s going to turn out right. It means Stop worrying about things that you have to God. It also means you have to continue to build your relationship with him so it gets easier to trust him.

There may be times when it feels as if there is more on you than you can bare, but have no fear, God is with you.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46:1, 5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.46.1-5.NKJV

“Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/eph.4.32.ERV

Assume good intent is a phrase that I have heard over and over, it’s used at work, at home, at church and at play. It’s good advice. Assume good intent, I like that phrase , yes I do.
When you assume good intent, you are not so easily hurt and damaged. You don’t take offense and feel the need to defend yourself. It’s giving people the benefit of the doubt. It’s like giving people the same grace you would expect.

example of this at work:
My daughter and I went on a retreat with several women. Some of the women we knew well and others causally. My daughter suffers from generalized anxiety disorder and anything can send her into panic attacks. During the days we were at the conference her anxiety was heightened and she spent a lot of time in the room trying to be ok. When we returned one of the women let her know she thought my daughter was being snooty and standoffish. My daughter then reminded her about her illness, because my daughter is very open about it and has become an advocate even as she still suffers, she let the woman know that she enjoyed what she could but anxiety is not easily managed especially in large groups due to the fight or flight nature of the disorder. The woman then felt bad because she had forgotten and she didn’t ask if my daughter was ok she just assumed she was standoffish and snooty. They moved on from that because each person was ready to see the others point and continue to build on the relationship. If my daughter had not assumed good intent she could have ruined a budding relationship.

I said all that to say this: we don’t know what other people are going through, we may know some but never all because all of us have those things we cannot discuss. So in a world where you get to choose, choose to be KIND.

“You must be made new in your hearts and in your thinking. Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:23-24‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/eph.4.23-24.ERV

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/heb.13.8.ERV

Riding along the highway in Michigan this fall afternoon seeing the changes that have started to take place with Mother Nature as the leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees I am reminded that life’s cycles continues whether you are ready or not.
Life has cycles, everything has a time and a place.
“People live and people die, but the earth continues forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and then it hurries to rise again in the same place. The wind blows to the south, and the wind blows to the north. The wind blows around and around. Then it turns and blows back to the place it began.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1:4-6‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/ecc.1.4-6.ERV

I was reminded that there some things that are for sure, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. The tide rolls in and back to the sea. The moon follows the sun across the sky. There is always a rainbow after the storm and nothing bad lasts forever. Another thing you can remember is you can count on the Lord, he will be with you in all ways, he will be your strength and your guide. He will be your light in the darkness and your protector. These things you know and can believe.

““But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what he says.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jer.17.7.ERV

I would challenge you to always trust God, to believe that although his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts, his thoughts toward us is to give us a future and a hope.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:24-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1/jud.1.24-25.KJV

“I will stand like a guard and watch. I will wait to see what the Lord will say to me. I will wait and learn how he answers my questions. The Lord answered me, “Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read. This message is about a special time in the future. This message is about the end, and it will come true. Just be patient and wait for it. That time will come; it will not be late. This message cannot help those who refuse to listen to it, but those who are good will live because they believe it.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/hab.2.1-4.ERV, me too. Sometimes I get frustrated and want to start moving based on what I think is right, that’s a known mistake yet we often make it because we believe God no longer cares, we act as if he just dropped us. I would challenge you that if you start to feeling this way, pray harder, believe more and rejoice. I bet you think I’m going crazy huh? Well I’m not, I’ve discovered a few things about God while walking this thing out.
He will never leave us not forsake us
He is with us always
His word is his word and it cannot return without doing what he intends it to do.
You know all of this, I’m not telling you anything new.
The other thing I’ll remind you is that he already gave you a word. I know it was a while ago but is it finished? If not, stand on that word. If God told you something , be still and know he is God, Lean not to your own understanding, TRUST HIM, It shall be done.
“In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/isa.55.11.ERV

And one more thing.. do like Habakkuk, write your vision, write it down and be specific about what you want and need knowing that God will make it happen when it is time, and probably not how you expect but it will be worked out if you believe.
“I will stand like a guard and watch. I will wait to see what the Lord will say to me. I will wait and learn how he answers my questions. The Lord answered me, “Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read. This message is about a special time in the future. This message is about the end, and it will come true. Just be patient and wait for it. That time will come; it will not be late. This message cannot help those who refuse to listen to it, but those who are good will live because they believe it.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/hab.2.1-4.ERV

So I said all that to say God may be quiet but he is still working. I saw it on social
Media this way “the teacher is always quiet during the test”.. that helped me.

Oh how I love meeting people and experiencing God in new ways. I was checking out of a hotel (who will remain nameless, not because it was not fantastic but because this post is not about them) and the front desk staff was friendly, conversational and inspiring. My husband had on a shirt from the son of my heart that reads God First and Family Second, that started the conversation about waking up and thanking our Heavenly Father for big and small items.
We moved on to one of the young women talking about discovering her gift. If you know anything about me that conversation got me going. I was so excited to hear her talking about discovering her love of the Word and building her relationship with God. She wants to understand her role in Christ and all the things that comes with it. It was a refreshing conversation , especially so because I recently saw several young people on one of those apps talking about how stupid people are to serve God. I was broken-hearted to hear those words but this young lady showed me that God is not dismayed and there is still light in the world.
I was reminded of a few things:
“Gifts can open many doors and help you meet important people.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:16‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/pro.18.16.ERV

“Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/rom.12.12.ERV

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.16.11.ERV

I am always better after meeting the people of God, the anointing can be seen in and around them and it refreshes my soul. I pray this for you.

“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://bible.com/bible/406/rom.15.13.ERV

My first thought was “I’m not going to church, I don’t have nothing to wear”. Ooooh the enemy tried it, but immediately the spirit of God rose up and sent me the thought “what does what you wear have to do with anything”? Ok ok ok ok I get it.
I searched for a scripture to help me and this was brought to my remembrance:

“We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised. We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. 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 ‭10:23-25‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/heb.10.24.ERV

I can’t encourage my brothers and sisters if I choose to allow something like what to wear to church stop me from attending. Realistically I have too many clothes which is why I get frustrated, not because I have too little. I’m worried about the wrong thing and the very second an outfit takes more focus than my soul I am out of order.
I repented immediately because God has been too good to me, he has carried when I couldn’t walk, he has fed me when there was no food, he has held me while I cried and changed my sad days to gladness. I would be an entire fool if I didn’t wake up ready to serve him in any way I could.

This is about me today, the enemy really tried it.

Imagine if I didn’t have any word in me to rebuke that spirit that tried to make me stay home; I would have climbed right back in my bed and watched tv or read a book. I would have forsaken a mighty word that could sustain me when the enemy attacks. If I had stayed in bed I would have allowed the enemy a way into my heart. But God!

The Holy Spirit will do what no other power can do.:
“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.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-27‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/rom.8.26-27.ERV

Think about this, how has the enemy held you back? What lie did he tell you? Did he tell you nobody on the usher board speaks to you. Did he tell you the choir members are snooty or stuck up. Did he tell you that you are not in the cliche and will not be accepted? Maybe he told you that you were not good enough to serve the Lord, maybe he told you that your sins are bigger than Gods forgiveness? I rebuke every lie he has told you and I pray that you will agree with me so the next time he lies, you will know it for a lie and the Holy Spirit will raise up a standard against it.

Be blessed my loves.. yeah he tried it but God!

I was thinking about why we struggle so in this world and I realize we have normalized our dysfunction. Think about how many bad habits we picked up from our family members and brought them into adulthood and passed them on from generation to generation?

As women our mothers, aunties and granny’s pain became our own. We started to be taught not to depend on anybody because they would walk out on you. They taught us to be strong and trust in ourselves, not God, but our own selves. They taught us to believe that we could have it all, a kid, a nice home, and a great job but not to need a man for anything.
We were taught to hide money and other assets from our spouses/significant others and to ration out our womanly favors to get more from the same man that they told us we didn’t need . We were told we didn’t need to get married we could just live with them until they left us, always assuming the relationship would not work. This is dysfunction at its best.

What’s even crazier is we started to treat God the same way. We gave him the characteristics of the people who hurt us or who hurt our family member. We stopped trusting and believing in the power of the blood. We stopped trusting in Faith.. the substance of the things hoped for but yet unseen. We stopped believing that God was our Father, the one who worked things out for our good. We stopped believing the good news. We stopped doing the very things that would allow us to have the success we chased.

I’m here to tell you to stop right now, re-evaluate what you are thinking and believe with me:
“Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream— a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.1.1-3.ERV

Trust in these things:
“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
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.18.2.ERV

“Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you whatever you ask for. Depend on the Lord. Trust in him, and he will help you. He will make it as clear as day that you are right. Everyone will see that you are being fair. Trust in the Lord and wait quietly for his help. Don’t be angry when people make evil plans and succeed. Don’t become so angry and upset that you, too, want to do evil. The wicked will be destroyed, but those who call to the Lord for help will get the land he promised.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:4-9‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.37.4-9.ERV

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46:1, 5‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.46.1-5.KJV

I once heard a man I consider to be one of the greatest teacher/preachers tell the congregation “Don’t follow me, I may lead you astray because I’m human but if you follow the Word of God, your life will be changed” and those words created in me a hunger to know the word of the Lord for myself.
I wanted to understand how I could get peace when the world around me was crazy so I found this:
“Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/php.4.6.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
https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.16.33.ERV

When I was struggling with my marriage and wondering if I could survive mentally and financially I found this word:
““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25, 27‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.25-27.ESV

““Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.34.ESV

When I get worried and frustrated and I’m not sure what to do, I look to the word and there is this:
“Lord, I come to you for protection. Don’t let me be disappointed. You always do what is right, so save me. Listen to me. Come quickly and save me. Be my Rock, my place of safety. Be my fortress and protect me!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31:1-2‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.31.1-2.ERV

“Lord, help me learn your ways. Show me how you want me to live. Guide me and teach me your truths. You are my God, my Savior. You are the one I have been waiting for. Remember to be kind to me, Lord. Show me the tender love that you have always had.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:4-6‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.25.4-6.ERV

I found that when I looked to man I was often disappointed or frustrated. I looked at man and found more flaws than I had, I found judgement and often disgrace. But when I search the word I find scripture after scripture that helps me through whatever I find myself facing. It took a while to stop looking to man for validation and sometimes I still slip and fail but I’m never lost when I use the word of God. This word sustains me and fills me with hope.

“When people choose to follow the Lord, he shows them the best way to live. They will enjoy good things, and their children will get the land God promised. I always look to the Lord for help. Only he can free me from my troubles.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:12-13, 15‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.25.12-15.ERV

If you must choose this day who you would serve I would offer you Jesus Christ. For me and my house we serve the Lord and I would offer him to you because in him I have found all the things I looked for in the world.
I looked for love in bedrooms, backseats of a car and dark corners but all I found was shame, self hatred and low self esteem.
I looked for love in a bottle of liquid fun and all I ever found was fake happiness, sour stomach and a headache ..
I looked for love in a cigarette and found smoke damage, high blood pressure and smoke covered clothing.
I could tell you even more places where I looked for love but I think you get the point.
Everywhere I looked I found emptiness, self doubt, destructive and evilness. This is a cruel world and I can promise you the enemy makes promises he can’t keep. He makes all the evil things look good, he makes it appear as if people love you and accept you but mess up.. speak out of turn or disagree, take a wrong step and you’ll find people don’t love you any more. People give up on you, write you off and share your shame and regret to show the world that you are unworthy. But not God, he loves us as is, he practices what he preaches by offering grace and more grace, love and more love, forgiveness and hope. The enemy would have you believe everything negative and destructive is what you deserve, he would be right but still wrong. I would suggest that you already know this because the enemy cannot give you what he doesn’t have. But I know about a man… whew who can do all things well. A man who speaks of love like this: “Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/1co.13.7.ERV

“Stay away from the evil things a young person like you typically wants to do. Do your best to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with others who trust in the Lord with pure hearts.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/2ti.2.22.ERV

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

“Guide me and teach me your truths. You are my God, my Savior. You are the one I have been waiting for. Remember to be kind to me, Lord. Show me the tender love that you have always had. Don’t remember the sinful things I did when I was young. Because you are good, Lord, remember me with your faithful love.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:5-7‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.25.5-7.ERV