In Due Season

Leviticus 26:4

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

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I read something today that I thought I'd share. I read of a man that was asking God for a wife. He prayed this in thinking that maybe God's will might be for him to marry a woman in his church. When he realized that his feelings for these woman did not change, the man then changed his prayer and began to pray for preparation of his wife. This man never stopped asking for what he desired, but he understood that in time God would provide him with the desires of his heart. Until that time was to come, he would prepare for what God was going to provide.

I am single and a mother of one. My desire is for Anthony to have a wonderful father that loves him as if he were in fact his own blood, a husband who will love me as Christ commanded and a man that I would greatly respect, love and cherish for all of my days. I have not found this man as yet, but there is nothing stopping me from preparing for his arrival.

All this cooking (and I am getting good at it) is a form of preparation. Regardless, I have to cook for Anthony, but he could care less that he had to eat cereal because I burned the fried chicken. I must practice in preparation for the day that I must liberally exercise my skills in the culinary arts. (A note to my future husband, don't worry. By the time you come along I will be good at frying chicken)

Any ways, the point I am trying to say is that the blessing has not arrived, yet. But there is no reason why you cannot prepare for when it finally comes. Get your umbrella ready. Hang the rain coat up by the front door. Get that rain slicker if you want to. When the rain finally comes, get yo' stuff, go outside and enjoy your due season in the rain.

Seasons of Sowing

I received this via email today.

Seasons of Sowing

Today's Scripture
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalm 126:5).

The Scripture talks about seasons of sowing and reaping in your life. In Psalms, it talks about sowing in tears and reaping in joy.

That verse is saying that the sowing seasons are usually the most difficult. It’s hard to keep a good attitude when all your friends are being blessed, but you’re not.

You may feel like they don’t work as hard as you do. You may feel like they don’t give like you do or don’t deserve the blessing. That’s a time of testing. It’s hard to go through disappointments and stay positive and hopeful. These are seasons of sowing.

If you’ll do the right thing even when it’s hard—when you sow in tears—you will always reap in joy!

I’m asking you to have a new attitude toward what God has placed in your heart. It may be taking a long time, but God still has a plan to bring it to pass.

Don’t give up. Your time is coming. It’s never too late!

God is saying, "This is your season. Keep your faith stirred up." Keep sowing because in due season, you will reap the bountiful harvest with a song of joy in your heart!

Hold Fast

Hebrews 10:35-36

(KJV)
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

(Amplified)
Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.

(NIV)
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Sister, you are Beautiful

I was in the market tonight after an awesome revival service and overheard some women talking about me. I am not one to eavesdrop so I didn't tune in until I heard the word "tall" and realized it was me, when in my peripheral view, I noticed them staring my way. They were saying that I was pretty, tall and there was something about me that just makes me beautiful. I am not sharing this to brag, but I am saying this because I instantly knew what they were saying was beautiful. It was the Holy Ghost! They were attracted to the Holy Ghost that was shining through. I feel like I could sing, It was the Holy Ghost! The Holy Ghost!

Ladies, we are beautiful. Physical beauty is not enough to be beautiful. It is was comes from within. And with the Spirit living within us, beauty permeates off of us. I don't think we hear it enough, but we are beautiful. We shine, shine, shine and should be proud of the name we carry. As it was heard tonight, we are bad!

Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Anthony’s Teacher made me cry

Anthony’s teacher made me cry this morning. She told me that Anthony was a great student, loving, respectful and disciplined. Do not take this the wrong way, but I was dumbfounded. Seconds passed by before I could even respond. After I left the classroom, I cried joyful tears. You see, this was a change from all that I had heard in Pre-K and K. Kindergarten was a nightmare and many tears were shed by the both of us. So, to hear this was a great big blessing. Yes, I know school has just begun, and there may be times that I will have to hold onto these words. But prayerfully, I am petitioning God to help Anthony maintain this status in his class and in the many years to come. I want God’s light to shine in Anthony so that he can be a Godly example and a testimony/witness to his schoolmates. I want Anthony to let the lil' light shine. Thank you Jesus for sending me this blessing!

My Family Cruisin' the Caribbean

Here is a picture of my wonderful family on their cruise to the Caribbean. From left to right, nephew Cardie (15), nephew Quentin (20), sister-in-law Melinda and nephew Andre (15). As you can see, we are a family of giants. My brother, who was taking the picture, stands at 6'4". My nephews are all taller than me and I am 5'11". Us women are the short ones in the family. =)

Anthony's First Day of School

Well, we made it through the first day with ease. I was more nervous than Anthony. He is comfortable in new environments. With his sociable personality and desire to meet new people, he got along just fine. I was impressed by his teacher. She is very organized and disciplined. Just what Anthony needs. From what I have come to learn, our most valuable weapon as parents (outside of God) is our consistency. Anthony knows I love him when I discipline him because I am consistent and kept to my word. If I act out of anger and punish him, he tends to fear me instead of respect me. Anthony needs to know which way the ball is going to fall, whether he is going to be reprimanded or loved. To have a disciplined teacher, is an answer to prayer, because God knew just what my son needed.

Praise '07 at the Park

On Oct. 6th, we are scheduled to have Praise ‘07 at the Park. We are taking our church services to the park in an effort to reach out to the community. If they are unable to come to us, then we will come to them.

Here is a glimpse of what God can do with our efforts. It doesn’t have to just be another service, but it could be a day that all the angels in heaven rejoice!

http://inhistime.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/god-blew-our-minds/

Back to School

Today is Anthony's first day back to school. Until Sunday, I was not ready for him to go back to school. I truly enjoyed our summer time together and wasn't ready to end. Come Monday, he practically talked my ear off. That's when I realized, even if I am not ready, he definitely is.

So, today we are off to meet his first grade teacher, Mrs. Jennings. As every mother probably is when their kids go off, I have a mix of emotions. Anxiousness, nervousness, excitement are all rolled up into me right now. A part of me wants the time to stop and the other part wants to jump until the end of the day so that I can find out how school went for him.

MY BABY IS GROWING UP! & FAST!

Googled

Today, I found the nerve to Google myself. I hear people everywhere talking about they are going to Google someone or they've been Googled, but I never had the urge to check on myself. It was kind of eerie to see my name pop up. Eerie and exciting at the same time. I found people with my first name and one person with my same exact first and middle name. Who would have thought! My name is no where near common. Fortunately, there weren't too many people who shared my name. I take pleasure in having a unique name. Especially since I was named after my dad, or at least he said I was named after him. Something to think about, hmmm!

P.R.I.D.E.

Last night we had some Back-2-School teachings from Bro Art and Bro Frank. It was great. Bro Frank read over some startling statistics that was quite compelling. Bro Art said that teaching is when knowledge and tools are provided. Preaching is when we are inspired. Well, there was some preaching last night!

We were taught some information on presenting ourselves to those of the world and how our light shines brightly to all, teachers, fellow students, other parents, etc. How we act outside of church directly represents our God. We also were provided some startling statistics that would make you squirm. These statistics alone are a very good reason why we must pray for our children. As parents, we must teach and practice prayer in the home. It’s not just a church thing!

“YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD…” (Matthew 5:14)

How we act, directly shows our PRIDE or lack of it. We can PRIDEfully be a bright shining light set on top of a hill or through our embarrassment we can hide our light so that no man can see. When we are embarrassed of our lifestyle, living for God becomes more of a chore than a privilege.

Do you have PRIDE? What does PRIDE mean to you?

P.R.I.D.E.
Prayer Raises It’s Demands Everywhere
Prayerfully Releasing the Inflicted with Daily Expectancy
Providing Restoration In Daily Expectancy
Prayerfully Restoring Individuals with Daily Expectancy
Power Restoration Infilling Deliverance Expectancy (through the Power of the Holy Ghost, there is restoration through the infilling and deliverance through our expectancy.)

I am sure there are many more things I could put together, but I would love to see what you could come up with.

Riding a Bike

Anthony learned how to ride his bike today without the training wheels. We went out early this morning before the scorching heat and got him started. I was so excited. Even the people at the park we cheering him on. It feels so good to see my child accomplish something new.

Funny Story

Now that I have been unblocked, I thought it would be fun for us to create a story like we did in our elementary days. I will begin and then you can add your sentence (or two). Remember, this is a family blog. The rating is a "Christian G" not the "G" rating that would be put on shows today. Ha! Ha! Ha!

TITLE: The Island of Pentecost

Once upon a time in Pentecostal Island, there was a young man who...

Writers Block

I don’t know what to write about. Where does the time go. Why can’t I just think about something to write? What do I write about. I can’t stop because then I will stop thinking and I won’t have anything to blog. Blog? What is in a blog? Remember in the old days when we were instructed to write without picking up a pencil. Then creative thinking would come. What are we instructed to do today? Are we to write on our laptops and computers without adding spaces? Are we to write nonstop until something comes to mind? I would assume so. Writers block. What an awful thing. Actually this is kind of funny to me. I haven’t sat down to do creative writing in a long time and this is getting to be kind of fun. Fun, what is fun? How do we have fun? I certainly wouldn’t have thought about doing this for fun. But it actually is. I can’t stop asking myself questions. What do I do with this writers block? I may never shut up. What do you do when you have writers block? This is what you get from a woman who loves numbers and not words. I guess I should have paid better attention in English and grammar. I probably would have more to say. LOL. Now I can’t stop laughing while I am sitting here on my living room floor. Do you have writers block? Maybe communication block. Maybe artist block or readers block. What do you do when you are all blocked and can’t seem to get unblocked? I can tell you what to do. Just do it. LOL. See, now I had a whole lot to say. =)

Have FAITH

Mark 11:22

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Out with the Old. In with the New.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Presence of the Lord

How can you deny God when you see something like this?

There is Always a Blessing on the Other Side of Obedience

Recently, I have received a few offers to work elsewhere and make more money with more desirable perks and benefits. But my spirit was ill at ease with the thought of pursuing those options. I knew it was not the will of God and I would be disobedient to even explore such options. I wanted it bad, real bad. And although my flesh was saying that I wouldn’t hurt to just see what they have to offer, my spirit whipped out the red light and siren, and screamed out “Holt. Do not go there!”

I must admit, it has been hard for me to sit back and wait out this wave. Things have not been good and there have been times that I am shattered in my heart from the constant lashing that seems to go on. My flesh is bruised, beaten and stripped. Pride, what pride? Humbleness has come out of humility and oh how that hurts. IT DOESN’T FEEL GOOD!

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…“ (1 Samuel 15:22). To sacrifice means the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim (dictionary.com). To obey means to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.) (dictionary.com). My flesh was not happy because I had to surrender or give up something. I had to surrender a higher salary. I had to surrender some of my pride. I had to surrender prized and desirable things, which my mind calculated out to “defeat”. Although my spirit was obeying or following the will of God, my flesh was feeling defeated. I had to surrender my desire in order to follow (another icky word in our vocabulary) Another’s desire. This goes against the grain of our (humanly) well being. After all, it is the “It’s all about me” era.

But oh, what a friend we have in Jesus! Now this is where Jesus is so good. In all of my surrendering, it never occurred to me that I have been accumulating towards God’s blessings. There is always a blessing on the other side of obedience! God will not punish us for our obedience, but He may punish us for our sacrifice (Check out the story of Cain and Abel). YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WHEN YOU OBEY GOD. God is not going to turn His back on us and say “You shouldn’t have listened to me, stupid”. He does not play games. There are blessings in obedience, multiple blessings! When we obey God, he is happy with us; when He is happy with us, we are happy. When we obey God, we receive His favor; we are directly dialed into The Blessing Line. When we obey God, we are protected and secured; no weapon formed against us can prevail. Plus when we obey God, we are helping others; “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 KJV)

Wow! I can’t even put into words what this makes me feel. I couldn’t do this feeling justice. What I will say is this, I surrender! There is something better waiting for me behind door #2, OBEDIENCE. Where there is obedience, there is favor. Where there is favor, there is God. Where God is, is where I want to be. Where I want to be is in heaven. There is a higher claim and a higher name! His name is JESUS.

Out-of-Shape

Wow! Signs From Above had practice tonight. I am not ashamed to say that I practice on a regular basis but still take more breaks than these young ladies. I have a decade (whoa! that makes me sound old) or more over them, but I am holding my ground. At least until Sgt. Ariel got to me. She showed me this exercise called "36" and I began to feel 36 after I did only half of one of those.

I don't understand. Ladies, how is it that we can work all day and be so out of shape? I mean, I go to work, I come home, make dinner (this is a random affair in my household), go to the store, go home, clean here, clean there, do dishes, help kids with homework, get ready for the next day, go go go. We are always going, but our bodies haven't caught up with the lingo yet. All the stuff we do, should at least be considered extra credit! LOL!