Testing! Testing! Testimony!!!

It has been a while since I have posted a blog. That's because the devil has been busy. It never fails though. That cotton-picken devil is a persistent one. The good thing about it, is that I am here to show you that he has No new tricks. That he will come for you in wools covering to destroy. You see, the devils goal is to remove the Christian of love, life and trust in Jesus as our life source and His plans for us.

I need for you to ask yourself one question though... Who sustains you? Who? Who sustains YOU? Your being, your blessings, your everyday issues and situations? Who? If a first thought comes to your mind, and it is not our loving Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, then I will certifiably tell you that you have a problem. You see, He (God that is) said in his word, "By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This means that there will be Tests, Tests and more Tests. Gods everlasting grace and love will not be made easy by the devil. But don't fret, be grateful. You know that when you are receiving Tests upon Tests that you are headed in the right direction!

Know that all the while God is giving you a choice! A choice to endure trials & tribulations and TESTS!!! To not take the easy way out. His kingdom is worth going through TESTS. He will NOT leave you though! He too said in His word, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." (Revelation 3:20).

I have said all of this to say that God loves you. But that if Jesus can endure such cruelty for us and our sins, then we can forgo a Test here and there!!! For every TESTimony entails that it will call for a TEST.

Be blessed and loved.

-Shelita

High Demand!!

For a while, I have been going through. I have been trying to understand, realize, listen and learn what it is God is trying to tell me. When a wise woman told me that half the time we tend to ask God questions and demand an answer. Not really understanding, realizing, listening and/or learning that it is all in front of us.

Therefore I have to ask you... Is God your 'High Demand'?!

By that, I mean... Is that who you go to first for your answers? Do you seek His word? Fellowship with others? Meditate on listening for the sound of His voice? OR are you trying to handle all things on your own, and disarray the plan He has for you?!

Romans 8:31 says, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

When I read this I have to break... it... down.!

"What then shall we say to these things?" ~ Why do allow for worldly things and issues to cloud our vision. The older generation of men and woman use to say; "I have heaven in my view", meaning that they will NOT be deviated from their walk. Not by misunderstandings, lack of realizing or the inability of not knowing.

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" ~ If you keep God in 'High Demand' in your life and in all the things that you do, then you can't go wrong. If you keep heaven in your view, then the Favor of God will follow you.

Keep God in High Demand. He needs to be your air = Breath in His word and embody the Holy Spirit. Your food = Let Him feed your hungry soul with The Word. And Love = Keep Him in such High Demand that you long for the love He has for you. Enough that He gave His Son for you & I!!!

So when you are not sure, remember to keep God... "In High Demand" in your life.

With High Demand, comes His FAVOR.

Let HIM be in control!

Time and time again we try to handle situations on our own.

So with that being said... We have to STOP this cycle and let Him take control!!

Brother's & Sister's in Christ have you ever been at a point in your life where you have sleepless nights? Do you try to focus on living your life but all you can think about is what your next move must be in order to stay afloat? Or do you even try to find gimmicks to help in financial situations in your life and it always falls through or is not pleasing in God's eyes? I know I have, on more than one occassion.

We must stay in Prayer. We must continue to Meditate. We must show praise through Song.

When going through all of lifes ups and downs, God said - But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33). This means that when you seek Him... You allow Him to take control. Remember, He wants you to want Him to take control. Trust me! You can't go wrong by doing this.

In 2010 I challange you to let God take control!!!

>>Allow for God to do His will in your life.
>>>Allow God to guide you in the right direction.
>>>>Allow for God to enlarge your territory.

ALLOW GOD TO TAKE CONTROL!!!!!

When you let God take control of things in your life, you will see individuals remove themselves from your life. You will see God change the light that you exude. You will notice that God places blessings so eloquently in your way.

So again... I challenge you to.... ...Let God Take Control of You!

Be blessed!

Stick to YOUR Faith!!!

In life you will be placed in unwanted situations. Situations that you didn't ask to be in. You will wonder:

• 'Why me'?
• 'When will it be MY turn'?
• 'Will I be loved'?
• 'Will I get that...(job, pay increase or opportunity)'?

In all of this we find ourselves wanting more. Grasping for more. But what are we doing in return?

You see... God wants more for us as well. Remember that He is a jealous God. ONE who seeks all the praise and glorifying. Yet we want more. But why? Why do we want more?:

• Is it because we deserve it? =====> Maybe.
• Is it because we prayed for it? =====> Possibly.
• Or is it because we worked for it? =====> Could be!
  

If this is what you think... that's wrong. We should never do anything with the want or desire for a blessing to follow. We should constantly do His work and have FAITH that He's got our back. Do everything in His name without a tangible want attached.

You have to have FAITH that in your doing His work... He will guide you in the right direction. Even if it doesn't make complete sense to you. Even if you don't understand it even a little bit. You have to trust (thus have FAITH) that He will take care of the rest. He said it in His word... "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16). That means believing without fully understanding sometimes.


Another thing we do that prolongs our 'victories' is not letting God do God. He got this! He got you! He don't need you to help Him be God. He needs you to have everlasting FAITH that you will be okay! AS LONG AS you do His work. Walk in his path. And help everyone along the way.


So if you don't retain anything out of this message... Just have genuine FAITH. With that comes all of your heart needs, wants & desires.

You'll Understand... One Day!!!!

As of late, I have realized that your life may never coiencide with anyone elses life around you. I have come to also realize that you must always keep your focus. You may never really understand and that is perfectly fine. There comes a time when you must praise your way through every situation, keep your strength and recognize your God, despite how hard things may be or feel!!!

We as humans will make many mistakes. We as humans will not understand what is going on.

That too is fine. All we have to do is Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean NOT unto our own understandings. In all our ways acknowledge Him... & He shall direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

God is not expecting us to understand why he may get us so close to a situation and then take us far away. He is not expecting for us to not wonder why He presents us with opportunities... Then with a snap of a finger, completely redirect our path. But... What he is expecting:

>Is for us to completely trust in Him.

>Is for us to set back and let God be God (He needs no help being God).

>Is for us to praise our way through every situation.

>Is for us to seek Him at all times.

>And then He wants us to show appreciation.

Now don't get me wrong... It is so hard to do this, and it is easier said then done.

But for God to see that we as humans are trying... He smiles upon that.

In God's word, He says; The LORD gives strength to his people. The LORD blesses his people with peace (Psalms 29:11). His word also says in Psalms 28:7; The LORD is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

So... Understand too that God owes you nothing... Yet we owe Him so much!

If you keep that in perspective you will notice that things will become more bearable.

Why Not?!?!

Have you ever gone through something in your life? Lost a job... Money isn't right... Relationships on the downfall... Or people just not understanding you and your situation? Whatever the reason... If you have, then you have probably asked yourself 'why me'? But why not? Jesus endured far more then we did. And through it all... He sent up ALL the praise to God.

Why Not - pray for others rather than yourself?

Why Not - share a testimony and/or blessing?

Why Not - thank God everyday for something as small as breath?

Why Not - have conversations with YOUR Father?

Why Not - smile through your storm?

WHY NOT!!!!

God wants to give us our desires. He said in his word (Jeremiah 29: 11-12); 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

He also said in Matthew 11:28-30; 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

So Why Not? Why not make it easy on ourselves. Too often we try to take things into our own hands. It is in the above scriptures that you see that if you just seek Him (JUST SEEK HIM... that's all you have to do), He can give you what you need and what you want.

The other night, I had a dream that I was standing in a crowd and a man out of no where, glowing, blessed me with $111 dollars. I was so grateful. But then moments later another man, bigger and brighter walked through the crowed to me, this time around I was then blessed with $1 Million dollars. All I could do is praise him. Upon my asking someone what that dream could have meant... I was told that is God showing me just how easy He could give me that money. How it is nothing for Him to give us what we want when we ask for it as the drop of a dime... But that He wants us to draw near to Him. Drawing near is what shows our worthiness, commitment, love, faith & how much we truly deserve His 'ultimate' blessings.

So Why Not.?!?!

What have you got to loose?!?!

TRUST!!!

At one point in time in my life... I didn't believe that I could trust in man... that is when I realized that you couldn't trust anyone other than God. That he would be the only real person that you could always count on.

It wasn't until recently that I realized that God plants people in our lives that we can trust!! That we can actually trust in a human/physical rehlm while we are on this earth. There comes a time when we have to trust and believe that God actually put a more physical person for us to commune with, love, talk to, pray with and most of all Trust.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that you should put all of your trust into man, but what I am saying is that God puts comforters in your life, individuals that you can trust to talk to. What you must remember is that no one is perfect, but that there are a few =) good Godly individuals on this earth that wont do harm to you. That your feelings are actually important to them. These people are what you can call REAL friends. Everyone else is just an associate.

If you cannot... tell someone your real feelings without them putting you down,
If you cannot... trust that someone will always have your feelings in their best interest,
If you cannot... feel ensured that a person will always have your back no matter how far or near,
If you cannot... share your goals/dreams with someone and they not encourage you to push forward... yet hate on you!

**Then you know that that person was not intended for your life in a Godly way.**

The bible says that “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
—Jeremiah 17:5-8
These are the types of individuals you should keep close in your life. People whom are God fearing, love Him, praise Him, talk with Him and exude Him!

Now know this... All types of people, even the ones you CANNOT trust are needed in your life. Good thing they are only there for a season. They are to teach you lessons in your life.

So you don't have to think that you can't trust anyone. You can, just as long as you are putting God first, and in your inner circle, keep close the real God fearing individuals... The ones that pray for you... and with you!

Trust That!!!