Grace of God!!

Good Late Evening all...

It's been a trying past few days and yet, through all the difficulty...God's Grace has kept me!! 

This song is an amazing confirmation , sung by Ms. Sherri Jones-Moffett this morning during church service for our annual Women's Conference. I don't feel the need to share my recent trials because I have made the decision that it will no longer bring me down, no longer steal my joy and will not have authority of the dreams and visions god has placed in my life. Though we may face difficulties, God always brings us through. Thanks to his grace, we can have hope that we will OVERCOME!!!

I/WE can conquer ANYTHING! 

Romans 8:37-39 (New King James Version)

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Grace is God's love freely offered to us. We do not do anything to "earn" it. 

What a wonderful feeling when you can open your mouth and speak God's word into your own life. Life has many seasons which include times of difficulty and isolation, but these can serve to stretch us in a positive way and not crush us with discouragement when we make the most of them.  God wants us to be encouraged. He has given us the means to encourage ourselves in Him.

Psalm 103:2-5 (New King James Version)

  ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

God is on our side, and has come with answers to any issues you may have. Encourage yourself and know... God's grace will keep you. 

Blessings! :)

HOLY SHNIKES BATMAN... it's a Pumpkin!

Every October, people can’t resist the pull of the pumpkin. Carvers go to work on their hand-picked gourds, eager to transform them into something spectacularly scary, or just plain spectacular.

Of course... there are pumpkin carvers, but then...there are PUMPKIN CARVERS!!!

Ray Villafane is an amazing artist. He’s twice trounced competing carvers on TV on “Food Network Challenge: Outrageous Pumpkins.” Not bad for a guy who's allergic to pumpkin. Check out his website (here).

SN: I think he may have a slight obsession with tongues... what do you think?!

Amazing, right?!?! I'm no PUMPKIN CARVER.. but i've done my share. 

 

I have no special remarks or inspirational quotes to say this evening. 

Enjoy your night and don't forget to SMiLE!

Count it all joy...

James 1:2-4 (New International Version)

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

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I have nothing....

:) Nighty-night!

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

Today, October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day! Hispanics have a ratio of 25.0 per 100,000 population. In the United States, every 9 and a half minutes, someone is infected with HIV.

As a sister to a brother living with this disease, I urge you...DON'T be another statistic. GET TESTED! KNOW YOUR STATUS! Find a testing site near you at http://www.nlaad.org/

Going to The Chapel...

And they're gonna get married!!

What a busy weekend I have ahead of me. 

First off... Dad is home and doing well. We brought him home from the hospital Tuesday evening. He's on a strict diet and exercise program and had his follow up Dr. appt today. The Dr said everything should work out as planned and Dad will be able to start taking the medication to help with his cirrhosis. I can't hardly wait to be able to get my dad's health back in order so he can enjoy the simple things. :)

Onto all the lovey dovey stuff... 

I have a wedding for my cousin to attend tomorrow evening. Following that, a bachelorette party for a very long time friend . And Saturday evening... her wedding. I still haven't decided what to wear to either wedding and the hours are only counting down. I NEED SOME HELP!!!!!! I just cleaned out my drawers, closets and bins and donated all the things I don't use to charity. Now.. i'm stuck with a closet full of clothing with tags still attached and i can't make up my mind...

I need to be up in less than 6 hours and I need my beauty rest (*laughs)... Buenos Noches to All!!! Wish me luck...

*I AM SUPERWOMAN*

So....its been a long 4 days. Dad got admitted into the hospital after coming to the ER Thursday evening. [*SiGH...] I wish there was something I could do for him. I'm a Daddy's girl... and i'll gladly proclaim it.

I hate that he's sick...
I wish I could take away the pain, the sickness and everything that is involved in it.

Alicia Keys has a song titled "Super Woman" ...



There are days I wish I had super powers...and I truly believe we all have SUPER abilities, but there are those days, the days when your spirit feels defeated. Where even the slightest emotion of crying seems too hard to handle. People think I'm rude and mean. Along with any other word you can conceive in your mind. In all reality...I'm too busy taking care of my family, that it gives no time to  give in to the influence of back-biting, backstabbing, gossip, etc. My life consists of assisting with the health of my Father and my brother, all while trying to keep mom sane. In no way am I  trying to gain sympathy...I love that I am able to take care of the people who mean the most to me. I have an amazing family and I wouldn't change it for the world.

When I feel that life has got it's best of me, I simply remind myself that...

I AM SUPERWOMAN!!!!!

We are not Losers...We are Lasers!

I was so excited...i just had to share!

No more petitions, stop the protests... we finally have a release date. March 8, 2011...Lupe Fiasco's oft-awaited 3rd album will finally be ours!! First single to be released, Tuesday, October 26, 2010 via www.lupefiasco.com!

If you havent experienced the lyricism of the Chicago born Rapper...you're missing out.

As stated by Lupe himself:
"Lasers are the opposite of losers. Lasers are shining beams of light that burn through the darkness of ignorance. Lasers shed light on injustice and inequality. Losers stand by and let things happen. Lasers act and shape their own destinies. Lasers find meaning and direction in the mysteries all around them. Lasers stand for love and compassion. Lasers stand for peace. Lasers stand for progression. Lasers are revolutionary. Lasers Are The Future. We are Not losers...We Are LASERS!!!" -L.F.

I can't control the excitement. :)

Blessings to a Lasers filled day! FNF-UP!

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The Colors of Change

We all enjoy the colors of autumn leaves. The changing fall foilage never fails to surprise and delight us. Do you ever wonder why and how a fall leaf changes color? Where do the yellow and orange colors come from? WHY DO LEAVES CHANGE COLOR?

I began to imagine our lives as those of leaves. We (humans) have the same sort of changing process and in it is a beautiful scientific reasoning. Change is needed to become better. And God made us for better.

We live in a culture bent toward self-improvement. We spend a lot of time analyzing ourselves and trying to figure out how to make the bad, better. From time to time, we all notice areas in our lives that we struggle with; Areas we wish could be different.

We fear people knowing the "bad" part of us... because in all reality, who wants to be known as the "mean, angry, snobby" woman/man? However, if we try to hide the unacceptable parts of our personalities, we can rapidly lose touch with who we truly are. 

Occasionally, I struggle with my thoughts as previously read. I dont confide much in others and I rarely shed a tear. We often have little choice regarding the people and circumstances God brings into our lives, but I have come to learn (slowly) that I am becoming the person God wants me to be. Not who my coworker, church folk, family, friends, or acquaintances want me to be. But, that in which God created me to be. 

The leaves flow with the process that God designed. The only limit to change in our lives, is the degree in which we don't reveal ourselves. 

John Powell said this:

"We think we have to change, grow and be good in order to be loved. But rather we are loved and we receive His grace so we can change, grow and be good."

I hope you are all in good spirits. Enjoy this beautiful Autumn evening... :)    

Devotions...in a sense...are MAGICAL!

As you've read, I've been struggling with the fact that I worry too much, And am allowing myself to become confused with this whole "life" thing as we know it.

I've always known that God created me for a purpose. The dreams he implanted in my spirit are to be flourished. The strength he has instilled in my body is needed to overcome. And the trust he has placed in my heart comes to my rescue in times of perseverance.

I was reading my daily devotion this a.m. and it truly spoke to my situation. Here's an excerpt:

"...you may be frustrated because you feel God's plan isn't working in your life. But never fear, God is arranging all the pieces to come together to work out his plan for your life. Don't grow impatient. Don't try and make things work in your own strength. When its God's timing, all the forces of darkness can't stop him. In due season, God will bring it to pass."

Adversities and hardships are opportunities for us to go higher. What an amazing confirmation.

I may not have all the money, beauty, or brains in the world...but the comfort in knowing my God will NEVER forsake me is enough to fill any void.

.b.

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