Living and not existing during the journey!

Each day in our life’s journey can be a challenge. Every one of us has been dealt different cards and our journeys are not the same. No two people are the same. We are all unique. Our tests and trials are not the same, that’s because we are all unique and GOD has unique plans and purposes for each one of us in the kingdom.

Some of us probably feel or have felt at some point in time that we have been dealt the worst hand of cards ever! The ones that really sucks! A lot of times, I have felt like that. For a lot of time, it seemed as if I have a lightening bolt directly over my head waiting to strike, just like you see in cartoon images!

It is extremely hard to smile and be happy all the time when you face challenges. What most of us fail to see is the joy and experiences of our individual journeys. We don’t tend to see or ask GOD for the purpose of our specific journey. What are we meant to be seeing, learning. Is there someone we are meant to meet? Our GOD is amazing. He will take us on repeated tests, until we get it!

We need to train ourselves to live in the moment and not exist in order to be happy and not focus on the should have, could have, would have. We should not run ahead in high anxiety or anticipation, looking for the end of the experience or journey. We need to learn to live now as we are not guaranteed tomorrow James 4:14. we often find ourselves asking questions about how do we go ahead and live and enjoy our lives in the midst of all the trials, disappointments and heartaches.

What we need to understand is that joy and happiness lies in the heart. It is a choice to be happy and to make the most of our circumstances. No matter what is going on, we don’t need to give in to what the enemy is telling us! Pastor Ronald of LHCC usually tells us that we don’t need no one to make us happy or take us out. He says, that even getting yourself something from MacDonalds can make you happy! You don’t need a million bucks before you start enjoying life.

Years ago, one of my university professors told me that when one experiences stress or high anxiety moments, we should take our minds back to a moment in a time when we had a great time, such as a wonderful holiday, seeing the smile on your child’s face when they are happy. It’s these special moments of fun and reflections that should give us a minute taste of the life that Jesus Christ has in store for us.

There are a lot of people that have made significant impacts on my life’s journey; they have used their trials to make significant impacts on the lives of others but there have been two people who encouraged me to write. My daughter is one of them and I thank GOD for that every day. The other one is this  awesome young woman who I have seen push past obstacles to be heard and to highlight so many social issues.

I am learning to live again. It’s not an easy process, but it is doable. But most of all, I am letting GOD lead, when i feel overwhelmed, i turn to the healer and live, because i know he has me in his hands! My journey is for a purpose it will not be in vain! Now I leave you with this song by Mercy me. Stay Blessed and start living!!!

Remembering and holding on to GOD's Promises

I used to go to a Catholic church, so when I started going to Living Hope Christian Center in Pennsauken NJ, it was at a time when my whole world was falling apart. I was desperate to hear what I wanted to hear from GOD. It was at the early stages of me developing a true, deeper and meaningful relationship with GOD. Till this day, I am thanking GOD for the awesome anointing and ministry that he allowed his prophets Pastor Ronald King Sr and Pastor Angela King to start the ministry at LHCC. My healing started the day I walked in.

Everything the pastors said when bringing the word somehow either applied to my life, either what was currently going on, or what happened in the recent past. So when it was time for altar call for prayers, I was usually among the first five there, desperate for a personal word from GOD. After prayers and laying of hands and the healing and comforting hugs, being so new in my renewed faith and relationship with GOD, I assumed that the promises and words spoken over me by the pastors was going to be instantaneous!

Don’t get me wrong, sometimes the prayers are answered in a heartbeat, but trust me when I say that my needs were way beyond what man could do, and the words spoken can be prep for what’s to come. It all really depends on you the individual receiving the word and believing that GOD is going to do it.

Throughout the Bible, GOD made a lot of promises to his children and he kept them. Look at Noah and the great flood, Abraham and Sarah having a child at their age, the children of Israel freed from the Egyptians and getting to Canaan their promised land, giving victory to David against the odds. This is just naming a few. He has made these promises either directly to individuals or through his anointed prophets, psalmists, anointed singers and intercessors.

One thing is for sure, GOD’s word is always true. He said in Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returns neither, but waters the earth, so shall my words be, that goeth out of my mouth. It shall not return void to me, but it shall accomplish that which I please”. Dancing right now!!

So children of GOD, after GOD has spoken and declared his words and promises to you, wait on him!!

When you feel weak after all the enemy attacks, don’t give up. Remember Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”!

When you are attacked maliciously for no reason and you feel powerless and helpless, remember that GOD said in Romans 12: 19 “Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith GOD”. He’s got you, don’t worry!

When you are lonely and you feel you have no one to turn to and you feel unloved and that you don’t belong, remember those words that our Lord said in Deuteronomy 31:6-8 “I will neither leave you nor forsake you” and Mathew 28:20 “Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world”!

When you are desperate and you feel your back is against the wall, don’t forget that GOD said in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call upon me and I will answer you”!

This is just a few of GOD’s promises. There are so many throughout the Bible, especially in the book of Psalms. Three of my best ones that I use daily to remind me that GOD is with me always are Psalms 23, 46 and 91.

So in the midst of the tears, tests and trials, I remind myself of these promises. I am now stronger and am able to handle things better. I see things from a different perspective. Yes, I get shaken and troubled sometimes and at times I wonder silently- when? But I refuse to dwell on the issues. I am still human, but I know GOD’s word is true!! I Believe GOD and I Trust GOD. He is the Great “I AM”! Glory!

Fear came knocking!!

There are a lot of things that scare me and that I am genuinely afraid of, but I do my best to avoid putting myself in certain environments and avoid putting myself intentionally in harms way.

Fear affects lots of people in various ways and at times when someone tells you what they are afraid of, even though you might find it ridiculous or downright humorous; it is nothing to laugh about. At times what frightens our loved ones can have the same impact on us and our lives, as we often feel helpless because we can’t protect them like we want to.

GOD created all creatures, and somehow we co-exist, but there are some that I don’t understand why they were made in the first place, as I regard them as pests and they can be harmful and scary. My daughter and I are petrified  of the small rodents (I cant even call their name), and our nightmare materialized a few weeks ago, when we discovered that due to the fact the lady who lived in our place was careless with food and food storage and a host of other stuff, a couple of them had made their way from the downstairs apartment through heating pipes and vents, and also through pipes behind the sink and were somehow beneath the floorboards between both apartments.

Since then I have called pest control, and our landlord has also called out their own pest control, and both companies have laid down baits, traps and poisons. Right now, they don’t seem to be working like they should, but I have been told that it takes a couple of weeks for it to work. I have also made arrangements with our landlord, and he has arranged for workmen to come in and remove the cupboards and seal all entry points, so that there will not be a re-occurrence of the issue. This will be done at the end of the month. In the mean time I am walking on eggshells, scared of even a shadow!!

I have to bang on the kitchen door every time I have to go in there and for every tie I see it, it leaves me shaky and edgy. I became anxious and paranoid, to the point that I can’t even do the stuff that I usually love doing. It got to the point that I even threw out our sofa and armchairs, fearing that one might be hiding in there. We now close the doors to every room and I even leave the hall lights on day and night!

It got to the point that I was so anxious, fearful and paranoid, feelings that I have not had in a long tie, that I had to ask Pastor Ronald to pray for me for strength, as I was now believing that this was beyond an ordinary occurrence. Enough is enough! Something has to be done.

I know that everyone feel afraid at some point, whether it is a slight gnawing anxious feeling or a phobia, and this feeling can be prompted by several different things.

The word of GOD offers powerful solutions to these voices we sometimes hear and these negative feelings. Throughout the Bible, GOD reminds us not to live in fear. In 2^nd Timothy 1:7 

“ For GOD has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind”. Sometimes the spirit of fear overcomes us and to overcome it, we have to trust GOD completely. The word of GOD says in Isaiah 54:17 “no weapon formed against you shall prosper”. I trust GOD and I believe that GOD is protecting me and my daughter at all times and that’s why I did not understand this unnatural fear. In Psalm 23:4 “yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff  they comfort me”!  In Isaiah 41:10

GOD reminds us throughout the bible that his perfect love drives out fear. A lot of people tell others not to be afraid, easier said than done. What I can say is that when fear comes knocking, remind yourself of the word of GOD! Remind yourself that our Lord Jesus Christ has already fought all your battles and one every one of them, and that this is just a test, a phase that will soon pass. Pray for strength and if you are not strong enough to pray, call on your Pastor and other saints and intercessors to pray! Remember that though it might not look like it, you have got the victory!

For us, we have done everything that we possibly can do and we now wait on GOD to do the rest! We know he will! Hallelujah Lord Jesus!!! Hallelujah GOD!!  Thank you GOD for every thing!