Happy Birthday 🎊🎉🎁🎂🎈

Newnlivingway, the baby that GOD birthed from me turns 1 year old Today! So Thankful and Grateful for the work that HE placed my hands to! Thankful for every word, idea and influence that lead to a post. Thankful to God for everyone to whom HE has been able to encourage through this channel. Have a Blessed EVERYTHING!! 🤗😘

A word of Encouragement!

Can I be really transparent with you guys? I sometimes struggle in this walk. Yes, it can be difficult (in the beginning) to abstain but that’s not the walk I’m referring to. I struggle to live a “poured out life”. It’s much harder than it looks! I SO ADMIRE the “Hinton’s, Hornes and Hannah’s” of this world who give me hope for the next level! That’s what I’m striving for. Not with those persons as my focus but to be pleasing in GOD’s eyesight!

What HE desires the most is for us to die on the altar that HE may give us life in Him! His Word declares, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25-26).  HE desires that we be a willing sacrifice, yielded as a vessel for HIS use.  GOD wants us to lay our lives down as a burnt offering. Not mere words or pledges; no promises. Not another statement of repentance but rather a broken heart and contrite spirit that provokes us to change; to be the example!

This is the thing; a poured out life will not look the same for everyone. Mary Magdalene poured out her life’s savings (alabaster flask of expensive perfume) onto the feet of Jesus. Paul lived a life of celibacy to avail himself to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus. Who are you leading by example? To whom are you that light of encouragement your brother or sister needs to stay in this race? Only you know if you’re living a life poured out; giving Christ your ALL. In the book of Ruth, following the burial of her husband and sons, Naomi decides to leave Moab and journey back to Judah. She tells her daughters-in-law, “Return to your parents’ homes. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. “See”, Naomi says to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your GOD will be my God” (Ruth 1:6-16 paraphrased).

Some of us may not realize we have anything to offer. For years, I was bitter at GOD for not giving me a gift. I mean, I’ve always been a giver and love to sow financially (Glory to GOD alone) but I wasn’t satisfied with that. In 1^st Corinthians 12:7-11, He says we ALL have received a gift. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”  For anyone struggling in this area, continue to seek GOD. Man cannot tell you what your gift is but Holy Spirit anxiously wants to reveal it to you! For some, it may happen overnight. For others like myself, it may take a prolonged period of “asking, seeking and knocking”. I’ve always enjoyed  reading but it NEVER crossed my mind to write anything other than a journal entry. In retrospect, I see that I had a part to play. Had I never said “Yes” to this journey, I wouldn’t have had any oil to pour out in the form of encouragement. The same goes for you! You have a part to play in possessing the Promise! Abram had to be willing to move and get from among his people (family, friends and loved ones) to journey to a land GOD hadn’t yet revealed. Many of us (myself especially) want to know how GOD is going to do it when all HE wants is your Yes. If He did give us everything at once, there would be no need for faith nor the Cross.

How many of us will go to our grave FULL of the gifts and talent that we’ve allowed to waste away dormant? “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s talent” (Matthew 25:14-30). I heard someone say the “Cemetery” is the RICHEST place on Earth. Why? Because of all the buried potential and promises! Think of the medical cures, ideas and inventions, literature and music that die prematurely.  Some of us have been pregnant with many talents. Yet, because you continue in your own way, you repeatedly abort what GOD is attempting to Birth. Whether it’s one or a few, are you being a good steward over what HE has called you to? I don’t know about you all but I want to meet my Father on Empty, that HE might say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.

To any who may need a jump start of encouragement, put this into your spirit:

As always, Thank You for your support, I love you for a lifetime!!

~Meki

GET OUT !!

Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” the angels asked. “Get them out of this place—sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. For we will destroy the city completely. The stench of the place has reached the LORD, and He has sent us to destroy it. So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés’, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is going to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking. At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out of here right now, or you will be caught in the destruction of the city. Run for your lives! Do not stop anywhere in the valley. And don’t look back! Escape to the mountains, or you will die.” (Genesis 19:12-17)

GET OUT (2016) grossed $33.7 MILLION the week of debut and $111 million by its 3rd week of release at the box office! The plot is about an interracial couple (Chris and Rose) who take a weekend trip to meet her family. Typical beginning where they have the “race” discussion  about whether her parents will be accepting of her decision to date an African-American man. Overall, I loved it! BUT, how many signs does a person need? Even a male relative recognizes the signs while having a phone conversation with Chris and tells him to “Get Out”. Besides the strange behavior of the groundskeeper and housemaid, I DEFINITELY would have made my EXIT right after meeting Roses’ deranged brother Jeremy and the 1^st/First/FIRST time Missy (Rose’s mother) places me under involuntary hypnosis??? Hmph, I’m just saying; Chris lost his black card!!

One minute, they’re sitting having a discussion about cigarettes and the next, he is paralyzed to his seat! He can see, he can hear but HE CANNOT MOVE; he has no defense. But look what happens NEXT! Missy drops him down into the “Sunken” place. Literally, he is underwater; in a black pit of darkness. He can only see what’s taking place as he is steadily falling deeper and deeper into the abyss. Wow!! What just happened? He was caught off guard. Not because he didn’t recognize the signs but because he chose to discredit his intuition and place his life into the hands of someone who professed to love him; his girlfriend Rose.

What is the Sunken place? The place where a spirit has overtaken your existence. You may look the same, but you sound different, act different and are unidentifiable to those who know you best. Where is the sunken place? The place where you are deaf, dumb and mute to the abuse and neglect happening to you and those whom you love.

There’s a guy that I was close to in high school who I referred to as my brother. He was one of the sweetest and most talented guys that I know (even today). He was the eldest of 2 younger brothers. All of them lived in the home with their mother and father. Though not the typical father/son relationship I’d expect, it appeared his father was always very supportive of him and that they had a pretty good relationship. To the outside world, it would seem they were the picture perfect family. What everyone didn’t know was that his mother and father slept in separate bedrooms and had not been intimate in double digits years though they claimed “married” to the outside world. The truth is that his father was a closet homosexual who had molested him since a child. I dare say his mom, living under the same roof, didn’t know. What mother (if in her right mind) would KNOWINGLY turn a blind eye to such a vile and repulsive act being committed against her child? The sad reality is that these circumstances are not as unheard of as one would hope! Movies like Precious (2009) are real life for some children. Ladies, I love you! However, far too many of us are so desperate for a man that we enter into relationship with people who never should have gotten past, “Hello”. Then, we ignore ALL the warning signs and we settle there; ending up in the Sunken place.

The movie was very entertaining but to anyone who can see beyond the natural; it serves as an illustration to the nature of many “situationships” prevalent today.  Because the scripture says in Ecclesiates 1:9 “And there is nothing new under the sun”, let’s go Bible: Lot had chosen to settle in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah amongst the morally blind where coarse sexual immorality and homosexuality amongst the men was rampant. The Bible says, “Now two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” But Lot insisted strongly (knowing the evil intent of the townsmen); so they turned in to him and entered his house. “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, from every quarter, surrounded the house.” And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.” The Bible says the men of Sodom were aggressive homosexuals, bent on raping innocent travelers. So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, “Please my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish, only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. But the men reached out and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.” (Genesis 19:1-5)

In the end, as Lot and his family flee, his wife disobeys the command and looks back; instantly she is consumed into a pillar of salt. I asked the Lord why did she look back and He said, “her heart was there; she looked back in longing”. Wow!… Women, how many more children have to lose their innocence and identity due to sodomy, rape, molestation, incest, physical abuse, verbal abuse, starvation and neglect before we STOP? JUST STOP!!!

This post was difficult to write but it’s what God gave me to say.  If we truly believe GOD to be the God of the Bible that we read and the One who has given us salvation, why do we not trust Him? And if trust is gauged by action, why does our actions sometimes contradict our confession?

 

 

Sleeping with the Enemy; Married to the Soultie.

Song of Solomon 8:4 forewarns, “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases”. Plain and simple, love premature is birthed as lust; growing violently fast overnight; only to leave death and destruction by the morning. Now all that’s left is dignity lost, with the confusion and frustration of what you thought was real. What resembled “fruit of the spirit” were only weeds, suffocating and disrupting the garden planted.  If only he had seen it coming……

Monoah’s wife (name anonymous) is barren (an ideal situation for God to do the Miraculous!). She receives a visit from the angel of God (same as Abraham did) who promises that God is going to give her a child. He gave very specific details regarding the child and instructions for the mother as this child was called and chosen from conception. GOD set him apart from birth as a Nazarite; usually a vow that one willingly enters in to remain set apart unto GOD (for more on Nazariteship, see Numbers 6:2).

You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink or eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. He will rescue Israel from the Philistines”.

Monoah and his wife willingly accept the strict instructions to not partake of any fruit from the vine, nor any forbidden food, strong drink or anything unclean. They birth their son and name him Samson. He grows mighty and strong, staying faithful to follow the instruction of the Lord and lives Happily Ever After, The END!

Do we not live in a fallen world? So we know that’s not how the story unfolds. Samson grows into a strong and courageous young man. However, Samson was a spoiled brat! He had a sense of entitlement and would go into wild fits of rage when he didn’t get his way (toddler tantrums). Nevertheless, his anger issue was the least of his problems. The one thing that he couldn’t control which ultimately got the best of him, was his love or lust for women.

One day, while in the neighboring town of Timnah, Samson sees a woman he describes as pleasing to him. “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore, get her for me as a wife; for she pleases me well” he tells his mother and father. Basically, she aroused his flame of lust and he wanted to lay with her. Don’t believe me? Remember, this is a time in history when marriages were arranged by parents. Even in the event a man found a wife on his own (ex. Jacob), arrangements were still made with the parents. Marital covenants were taken for the good of the entire family, tribe, village and nation; in order to join together for power, wealth and protection. Samson, being led by his flesh, chooses a woman from a rival tribe who bows to a pagan god. Long story short, she betrays him by telling the secret of his riddle to which he loses a bet. Samson, in his anger, murders 30 men for the 30 garments he was to pay for losing the bet. (Thinking out loud. Was murder necessary? He couldn’t just steal (lesser of the two evils) the clothing?)….Because he lost the bet and because he was in his feelings, he returns home with his parents to sulk. Later, he returns only to discover the betraying bride has been given to his best man as wife. What does he do? He rips his garments and spreads ashes on his forehead in mourning. NO, he doesn’t! He ties the tails of 300 foxes in pairs and sets them ablaze into the grain fields, vineyards, and olive groves.

Sometime later, after he has become judge in Israel, he goes to the Philistine city of Gaza and spends the night with a harlot. That didn’t last long. He left at midnight and that was the end of that flame.

I guess the 3^rd time was a charm because next he met Delilah and felt the flame of lust for her. At least he thought it was love. For Delilah, it was all about what she could get. After being approached by the lords of the Philistines, she agreed to persuade Samson into revealing the secret of his strength; to which she would receive a lofty payment. Three different times she pleaded with him, “Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely.” Each time, Samson gives her a different answer and each time, as he slept, she attempts to bind him and expose him to the enemy. After several tries, Delilah realizes that her charm isn’t working so she begins to nag him. “How can you say you love me when you don’t confide in me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong?” Day in and day out. Nag nag Nag nag Nag! Finally, Samson had enough and he tells her the secret to his strength. “My hair has never been cut. SIDEBAR: His dread locs had grown since birth? Hmmm.. he was either

real real fine like Lenny   YES!

or ……………. George   Why?

Let’s just move on…

I was dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me and I would become as weak as anyone else.” You know what happens in the end, they capture him, shave his head, gauge his eyes out and throw him in prison. His final victory is when GOD gave him strength to collapse the entire temple killing himself and over 3,000 people all at once.

MORAL OF THE STORY; It was never LOVE that was leading him. It was Lust that got the best of him.

One of my previous mentors gave me a nugget of wisdom that her father would always ask her when she was dealing with a guy who wasn’t into her the same as she was into him. Her father would say, “Why do you keep running back to a man who isn’t chasing you?” Ouch! That stings a bit huh?  I’m sure all of us both male and female at some point in time have been involved with someone with whom you were in a one-sided relationship. Question is, why did Samson continuously run into the arms of women with ill-intent?

Won’t lust *disguised as love* make you do some of the strangest things? Y’all know I like to always include a little of my real life story right? I don’t just write wisdom that I haven’t had to learn either through my own life or the lives of those close to me. So, do you remember *Andre* from the post “Along came temptation”? Well, like I stated in that read, I was pretty much infatuated over this young man. I thought I was in Love. NO ONE could tell me at the time that we weren’t going to be together. In the end, that “situationship” cost me! Just like Samson with Delilah, I went after this man because he pleased my flesh. PERIOD. Can you handle my truth? It seemed all fun and exciting for a while. But when I realized it wasn’t producing any fruit and I wanted to break free; that’s when it turned on me. Because I had made the conscious decision to follow my flesh, I forfeited the covering of GOD; inviting the attacks of the enemy and I was left unprotected.

What used to bring a smile to my face; the sweet nothings when I thought of him turned into mental torture. When I decided it was time to move forward; it wasn’t him, it wasn’t me, nor was it the bed that was holding me hostage. It was 2013 and we hadn’t dealt since 2012. My mind had turned on me and I couldn’t break free. Remember the spirit of lust I talked about? Well, I heard another person describe it as an STD/Spiritually Transmitted Disease. Now all of a sudden, all I could think about was him and sex; ALL. THE. TIME. Even when I tried to think of other things, I couldn’t. I was losing control and there was nothing funny or fond about it! This was the plan of the enemy the entire time.  See, we think we are in control but when we are walking in the flesh, but we are never in control. The enemy had planted seeds in my mind disguised as fond memories that began eating away at my mental stability. No one understood. I don’t know if it was shame or ignorance of how to explain what I was going through so I only asked people to pray for me while suffering in silence. Yes, I told a few people here and there that the enemy was attacking my mind but for the most part, I was fighting a silent war. One of my friends from church at the time prayed for me on a Wednesday night after bible study. When she stopped praying, she was in tears and she said, “OMG, I don’t know what you’re going through but I just felt it while praying”. It felt like my mind would split down the middle; literally and physically. I don’t share this story because I’m proud of it and I don’t share it because I survived without a breakdown. I share it as a wake-up call that someone will think twice before taking that call, making that trip or whatever other offer is on the table. You’ll lose. Sin ALWAYS takes you further than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay and costs you more than you were willing to pay.

Contrary to the world that we live in, the standards of God have not changed. “There have been no revisions to His original requirements for sexual purity and no amendments to His principles. Sexual sin is still sin to GOD whether you’re fifteen or fifty-five” (Choosing God’s Best; Ron Raunikar). And as always, sin comes with consequences. Does that mean that GOD cannot take a bad marriage and make it good or a marriage that started wrong and make it right? Yes HE can, He’s GOD!! Does that mean that everyone who abstains until marriage will have an indestructible marriage and a perfect life? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Nonetheless, doing it His way may save some of the heartache, pain and disappointments that are sure to occur when our flesh leads.

Abstaining from premarital sex is not merely about a relationship (with man). It is GOD’s divine protection. It’s about submitting to the leadership of GOD as He unfolds his plan for your life. You know that dead-end job you hate? According to Jeremiah 29:11, GOD has a plan to prosper you. You know that “situationship” you continuously find yourself in; even though he/she has never made you a priority nor given you a real commitment? 1^st Corinthians 7:2 promises you a husband (wife) of your own. Walking with God as LORD means to relinquish your freewill as God reveals the gifts buried deep inside while yet in your mother’s womb. Not only will your gifts make room for you in attracting wealth, but your gifts will also attract your mate.

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Hey Lovelies!! Thank you for taking the time to support this Blog! I love you guys and I’m praying for you. Until next time, Stay Faithful!! 🙂

Ishmael will Never be Isaac; the promises of GOD

“And Abraham believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith” (Genesis 15:6).

Many women as I myself, wonder how they will recognize their Adam, Boaz, Beau (b.k.a. Husband) when he comes. GOD spoke to me one day and said, “You will know him by his fruit.” What does that mean (some of us say)? That means that you will be introduced while in the will of God. What does that mean? That means that if you have to step outside the will of GOD or compromise the will of God in order to be with this man (woman for the men), he is NOT the one whom GOD has sent.

The problem is that many singles aren’t interested in GOD choosing their mate; for fear there will be NO attraction which will lead to a marital prison sentence. Not realizing that a relationship or any other endeavor outside of GOD; has a limited life expectancy. We continue to miss it. We don’t see the importance of trusting GOD to bring the right person. We chalk it up as no big deal when this very decision will change the trajectory of your life as well as your future posterity.

In Genesis 15, Abram is having a conversation with GOD concerning who will inherit all of the possessions and great wealth that the Lord GOD had given to him. He was perplexed at how God would fulfill the promise to make him a great nation when his wife, Sarai, is barren. “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus (a servant)?” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” The bible says that because of Abram’s faith to believe, he was declared righteous!

Sarai was elated to hear the report of the Lord that she would birth a child!  It was truly her heart’s desire to be a mother. The excitement of this news relieved much of the tension between her and Abram as well restored her joy for life! She began to make baby garments and prepare the nursery. They went back and forth to the physician; taking herbal supplements, sowing faith seeds and standing in prayer that “this is the year!” Year after year they tried to conceive. But year after year, the result was the same; no baby! As Father Time continued counting and Mother Nature kept subtracting, their faith began to wane and the arguments grew.  (My portrayal of a heated argument): 

Sarai: Are you sure you heard from God just as He spoke it? You know how men can be; you have selective hearing. Abram: I told you, “He said he would make me Great!” Sarai: Last time, you said that He said, “I will make you a Great NATION.” Which one was it? Abram: Same thing. Sarai: Lies! Great and Great Nation are two completely different things. “Great; used in the singular form is an informal adjective….(blah blah blah).” Abram: Woman, will you HUSH! Don’t you think that if I could produce a baby any faster that I would have done it by now? Sarai: Enough of this, I have a plan!!

Sarai, Abram’s wife said to him, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maiden Hagar; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. So he went in to Hagar and she conceived.

In a nutshell, once Hagar became pregnant, she no longer wanted Sarai around. Like some women today, she probably thought Abram would leave his wife for her once a baby entered the picture. This caused Sarai to resent her plan to manipulate the circumstances by using Hagar as a surrogate. The fact that Hagar had given Abram something that she herself couldn’t caused her to loathe Hagar and she began treating her harshly. As the situation escalated, both the women begin to blame Abram. Sarai, for him fulfilling the proposition and Hagar for him allowing Sarai to mistreat her. Does not the bible say there is nothing new under the sun? (Uhh! Where are my manners?) Allow me to introduce: Baby Mama Drama! 

So, the child is born and they name him Ishmael meaning “GOD hears.” Sarai still can’t stand Hagar but she tolerates her in order to keep the child around. This is all they’ve ever wanted; but at times, she questions why it had to come at such a lofty price to her happiness and peace of mind? Why was she having to live and experience motherhood vicariously through a bondservant?

(fast forward 13 years)

Then one day while out in the field, napping by the terebinth trees, the angel of the Lord appeared and began speaking with Abram, reminding him of the promise that GOD made to bless him with an heir.

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart (Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?) And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant; and with his descendants after him.

Rest assured that when God makes you a promise, it is His responsibility to fulfill it. God is not going to Bless our manipulation. Abram wanted God to bless their manipulation by offering Ishmael in place of the promise. It isn’t that God didn’t love Ishmael, it’s that Ishmael came from flesh. Ishmael was the byproduct of man’s decision to act outside of His will and His timing. And therefore, is disqualified for the covenant blessings of God.

As promised, the word of the LORD Prevailed!! “The Lord came to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son at the set time of which God had spoken to him–the son of Promise, “Isaac” (Genesis 21:1). After some time, the fighting between the women ensued; arguing over whose child was rightful heir, who shall receive the birthright, who will carry their father’s name, so on and so forth.

The bible says that once Isaac grew and was weaned that Abraham had a huge celebration and feast for him. This made Ishmael angry as the only big event with his father that he remembers was the pain of circumcision! He and Hagar both felt rejected and overlooked. At some point during the celebration, Sarah catches Ishmael poking fun and mocking Isaac. Sarah says to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son; namely with Isaac. And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son” (Gen 21:10-11). He loved Sarah and wanted to honor her request but he also loved his son Ishmael. “But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away” (Genesis 21:12, 14).

Some of you are wondering how this story relates to trusting God for a mate? You see, when we act from a worldly perspective, it impacts other people around us that we love and never intend to hurt. The decisions of Abram and Sarai negatively impacted not only Hagar, but Ishmael, who was an innocent victim. Ishmael was robbed of an opportunity to grow up with his father, to receive the blessing of a first-born, and of the opportunity for a loving and healthy relationship with his siblings. Some of us have insisted that God bless “this relationship”, this person that “I” decided is the one and God hasn’t moved. We get frustrated and angry with God that He isn’t answering our prayers; when in reality, we are trying to manipulate the circumstances. Even I’ve been guilty of this. There was a guy that I’d dealt with for a short period of time that I was very fond of. Even after “what never was” ended, I continued to take him to God in prayer; pleading that He would bring this person back into my life and that a relationship would materialize. Nothing ever happened. Looking back, I realize that I’d spent so much time begging GOD to accept my choice when it was never His will. It takes courage to walk away from what we think is real; what we hope will last. But if GOD isn’t in it, it’ll never be fruitful! What if God has rejected the man/woman who you’ve chosen? Your Ishmael will never be God’s Isaac.

There are several take aways from this story that if we stand on, can curtail the repetition of failed relationships and broken families that are persistent today:

1. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him (Isaiah 64:4)
2. The word of the Lord will never return void. If He said it, it shall come to pass (Isaiah 55:11)
3. The blessings of God make rich and add No sorrow (Proverbs 10:22)

All in all, Trust GOD and leave the details to Him! 🙂

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Hello to all my Faithfuls! It’s been awhile since my last post. Thank you for your support and Thank you for reading. Love you guys!!

Valley Experiences

“Not that I doubt your ability; but I’m curious to know how you’re going to take me from Here to There?  I wonder where “there” is on this Earth. What does there look like? Who will be there? Will I recognize it? I imagine there is a place where every step I take and every move that I make is ordered by You! I image there will be filled with answers to questions that have long existed even if I’ve never actually “asked”. I imagine there is the place where the  is always ON, creating a melody of “Ah-ha” moments. I imagine there will be worth all the effort, all the pain and all the toiling. I imagine there to be the place of “Blessed Assurance” that I am centered within Your perfect will; no “?” marks. Is anyone awaiting me there? Am I the missing puzzle piece? I believe there I will be able to look back and see the “seed-time-harvest” seasons of my journey”……………

This is a conversation that I was having with the Lord in my journal. Has anyone ever been in a situation so long that the hope and faith that once fueled the desire now feels more like a bad dream?  I imagine this was the very sentiments of the children of Israel each and every year they wandered aimlessly through the wilderness. It should have only been an eleven day journey to the Promised Land. Because of their idol worship, sexual immorality, disrespect and rebellion, the children of Israel circled that same mountain for 40 years. They never made it into the Promise!

While writing this, I wrestled to understand what specifically was the 1 sin that prevented GOD “in all His faithfulness” from giving them what HE had promised? I didn’t understand. I could lead you on a journey thru the bible to explain my confusion but I’ll just tell you; I’m spoiled. Maybe you are as well. See, I’m used to the GOD of Grace. But at this point in history (the Old Testament), Grace=CHRIST himself had not yet entered the picture. This was HUGE to me; HUGE!!! The children of Israel were under the law. Their disobedience and rebellion toward GOD was intolerable. He saw the wickedness of their hearts and knew that they were unchanging. Therefore, He had to kill that spirit in the wilderness.

Contrary to popular belief, the Christian life is not a continuous series of miraculous answers to prayer, pain free living and abundant overflow. There will be disappointments and many seasons of uncertainty. There are mountains to climb and most importantly, there will be growing pains.  Sometimes it’s in those places of indecision, isolation, loneliness, etc. that God pulls you away from the life you’ve known.  He has to get us to that space of nakedness, vulnerability and insecurity where we will look to HIM. Until we get there, we’ll continue to run back to the familiar things, people, places or vices that keep us bound. A lot of us (I used to be in this category) have subscribed to the lie that GOD is to worship us. Yes! It’s true. Maybe you’ll understand it this way, “we feel that because we’ve given our lives to Christ, GOD should want to give us everything that we want and desire in order for us to be happy”. Honestly, I still have to remind myself ever so often that we were created for His pleasure and not He for ours (Revelation 4:11).

 Valley [val-ee]- an extensive depression (relatively low) region between hills or mountains.

A valley in the earth realm is a place of climate extremes, diminished sunlight, sometimes arid and void of life. In the spiritual realm, the valley is a place of seclusion from the world, where the hand of God can freely move. The world annoys this process by alluring us with attractive temptations as a distraction from focusing on what GOD wants to perform. In the valley, there is clear vision; nothing or no one to obscure the view and/or direction. This also means there is nowhere to run and hide; no appointments, no obligations nor excuses.  The Greek word for “new” does not mean something more recent in time but rather having a new nature. In order to have a new nature, one must be transformed. In order to be transformed, one must go thru a refining process. The valley is where GOD will take you in order to complete the work.

First, HE has to strip us. He has to peel away the facade of the many versions of ourselves that we’ve built. The valley is where you denounce all idol worship. The idols of: money, fame, material possessions, power, status, “likes” and people pleasing.  He will uproot pride and plant humility. He will strip away greed and sow gratitude. He will destroy hatefulness in order to develop love.

In the valley, you are able to see Him face to face; to become intimate with Him. It is in this wilderness that He can have a conversation with His spirit within you. Here, He will give you plans and direction, purpose and passion. While writing this, it dawned on me. All this time, all these years, I’ve been busy taking my list of wants and needs to GOD. Never once did I ask Him, “Father, what do you want for my life? What are your plans?” Wow, I almost missed it!! In that very moment, HE showed me there is not a place. There is a decision. It is the place where “I. SURRENDER. MY. WILL” (my plans, desire, thoughts and dreams for how I want my life to go) for His. That’s what it’s all about!

The valley is the route GOD takes us in order to get from here to there. You can’t get there without traveling thru the wilderness and/or valley. Transformation takes place during the Transition:

Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. Isaiah 40:4

I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18

For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3

Some of us will trek the wilderness as long as is necessary for GOD to kill off and purge us of everything that cannot be taken into His Promise. But the Lord is faithful and He will not take anything from you without Giving you His BEST in return. Let’s trust GOD, leave the valley and walk in His New in Living Way !! 🙂

Game of Life

A page from my daily devotional read “give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life”.  Not initially, but after the response of a close friend, I pondered the statement. How many times in prayer do we beg GOD to remove problems from our life then turn around and ask to be used?  Most of us have lived long enough to recognize the pattern, “you’re either in a storm, just came thru the storm or headed toward the storms” of life.

One morning, just as I was about to head back to sleep from my prayer time with the LORD, He did something very Spontaneous and Amazing! Regrettably, I cannot recall it verbatim (a few years back) but this is what He placed within my spirit: Life is School and Earth is the classroom. Using Super Mario Brothers (Nintendo game from the late 80’s) as the analogy, He depicted this life for us as a daily battle thru traverse lands. Just as Mario did, we battle various enemies from day to day with the ultimate goal of passing to the Next Level! Mario traveled thru the Mushroom Kingdom battling toads, koopa troops, gombas, fire-breathing piranha plants, and many other enemies on his quest.  These daily battles would prepare him for the ultimate battle he would one day face with Bowser in the quest to rescue Princess Peach.  As Mario advances thru the obstacles of the land, he is presented opportunities to unlock treasures; some obvious and some hidden. The treasure would provide protection and/or an advantage against his opponents. If he consumed a mushroom, he would grow in stature, causing him to run faster, jump higher and leap further. If he consumed a fire flower, it allowed him to throw fire balls to kill the opponent. The  power allowed him to sprint at rapid speeds causing every enemy that came against  to bounce off in fatal death!! Bounce off? Hmm… Does it not make you think of God’s promise that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper”? He doesn’t promise weapons will not be formed. He doesn’t say weapons won’t appear. He PROMISES “They will NOT prosper”.

Just like Mario; We too, battle day by day thru this classroom of life. And like Mario, we have weapons of warfare at our disposal. Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with the truth (let your convictions be based solely on HIS Word), having put on the breastplate of righteousness (guard your heart lest you lean to your own understanding) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (stand on the sure foundation of GOD’s Word); above all, taking the shield of faith (protection from the lies that cause us to doubt God) with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation (guards your mind against anything that comes against the knowledge of the only true and wise GOD Jehovah), and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of GOD (double-edged sword dividing thoughts and true intentions)!! Not only that, but when we wait on Him, “we shall have renewed strength; we shall mount up with wings like eagles, we shall run and not be weary, and we shall walk and not faint” #STARpower!!

EXCITED yet? Slow down. Remember what happens if he (Mario) miscalculates an obstacle or isn’t prepared for the attack? HE IS SENT RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.. Uhhh!! Don’t you just hate when that happened? It’s not like you didn’t know there would be a toad up ahead. It’s not like you didn’t see the hammer thrower up ahead. It’s because you thought the enemy would move the exact same way as before. Satan has stealth but he has NO NEW TRICKS. He only has 3; to steal, to kill and to destroy. Maybe 1 more, because he is the Father of ALL LIES!! But because he studies us, he knows how limited our patience is. He knows what it takes before we fall back into old patterns. He knows that we like to quote scripture when everything is going good but when what we see before us doesn’t feel so good, how quickly we forget. See, we can quote the scripture to our neighbor because we aren’t in their seat. But please know that satan wants to make a mockery of GOD by highlighting the faithlessness of his children.  So, just when you think you “have it under control and you don’t really need God’s help (I’m good GOD, I got this one 🙂); he sends a distraction! And we fall for it; sometimes more than once. Another reason that we sometimes find ourselves repeating a test (whether mental, emotional, financial or relational) from year to year is not necessarily because we didn’t learn the lesson but rather because we have ABORTED the PROCESS! GOD has advised us in His word, “As long as the earth remains, there shall be seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night”(Gen 8:22). SEED (sow) + TIME (wait) = HARVEST= the PROCESS. My pastor taught us a valuable lesson. The enemy has a lot of people believing that Fear is the opposite of Faith. He has you so focused on fear that we forget fear is birthed from what we see (or don’t see) which means the Opposite of Faith is SIGHT! Does not the Bible say, “For we walk by faith, not by sight”; which means we have to focus more on what GOD said than what we see!

GOD has chosen you! He’s called you with Purpose and He DOES NOT make mistakes. Instead of rehearsing the many reasons that you aren’t qualified, SUIT UP and be counted in this Game of Life walking in His New inLivingWay!!

Not by Religion; only thru Relationship

Early on starting this blog, I posed (or rather posted) the question, “What’s your Motive?”. Now that we have identified the sincerity and clarity of our motives, let’s go a bit further. Had someone asked me this next question, it could have saved me unnecessary disappointment and frustration in my walk.

However GOD has gifted you, whatever HE has placed sacred into your heart; whether it’s to produce music, own a business, or pastor a church, “How do you see yourself getting from here to there?”

Sometimes, we get so excited about what we think GOD wants that we run on ahead of Him and fail. Other times, we know what HE’s instructed us to do but then 1 year later, we haven’t made any progress. Why is this? Many reasons, but mainly because we are so independent that we have the “I can do it myself” mentality. This keeps us from either 1) waiting on HIS instruction or 2) moving on HIS instruction. You know how toddlers want to do EVERYTHING on their own? You being wiser and more mature know that they’ll need direction in order to successfully accomplish the task.

Well, let me tell you about ME :). I somehow thought that when GOD saw how serious I was about no longer fornicating that HE would naturally and automatically be quick to send me a husband!! (Right Ladies?) As time has passed (years) since making this decision, I’ve come to realize that GOD has a purpose in and with everything and my saying “Yes” to GOD was more about Kingdom Business and Building more so than it was about me completing my “checklist”. GOD was (and is) thinking of his other children who may feel lonely and need encouragment in their decision to live for Him. Had GOD hurried in sending me a husband, “Newnlivingway” would be NON-existent and I would not be living out my purpose (in this season) even as I write this.

I’ve heard many times church goers giving the advice to “sign up for every ministry you can and just get busy working in the church”. While I agree 100% to be an active member and serve at your local church, sometimes, we (or maybe just me) can develop a silent expectation for GOD to reward our good deeds and acts of service. Not because we aren’t sincere in serving but because we operate from a worldly mindset (I go to work, I get a paycheck. I pay my bills, my lights stay on, etc.)

Me-“I know GOD sees me running to the church house all week”. I pat myself on the back (Points!! 🙂) and mentally separate myself from everyone else who ISN’T committed-only comes to Sunday service. “I’m more dedicated than you!” Before long, I was tired and weary; giving GOD the side eye like, “Ummmmm, what am I missing? You are NOT holding up your end. I serve you and You bless me. That’s how it’s supposed to work.” So serious, LOL! 🙂

I know it’s shameful; even comical, but true. I had turned my service into labor, expecting GOD to “pay me back” by answering my prayers according to MY will and MY timing. But think about it, would you receive works from someone who you knew was only doing it for what they could get (outside of an employee or your kids)? I wouldn’t! But at the time, I didn’t realize that’s what I was doing until GOD showed me my heart. Now, it didn’t START that way but if we aren’t careful, we can become mundane and repetitious in acts of service that are no longer from the heart. In hindsight, what was I doing so Awesome or Inspiring to provoke GOD to answer those prayers?  Was I doing anything to further His Kingdom? No, I was being self-serving; more concerned with pushing my personal agenda than His. Granted, the promises of GOD are “Yes and Amen” (2^nd Corinthians 1:20) but He also instructs us to “Seek ye First the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

We can accomplish NOTHING (other than weariness) by committing to a bunch of religious acts. Look to Mary and Martha for instruction (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus and his disciples stopped to visit their home on the way to Jerusalem. Martha is busy trying to host the gathering, accommodate the guests and prepare the meal while Mary is just sitting there. She isn’t helping her sister do anything!! This passage had me perplexed because I saw myself more in what Martha was doing. My mindset said, “JESUS is here! The KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords is here!! I must serve Him, I want to serve Him” Now, that mindset is precious. BUT, there were 2 different acts of service present to choose. Martha was busy serving via “works” while Mary was serving Him by sitting at His feet……… See the difference? (Just let that settle into your spirit for a while).

We cannot serve GOD while still living to fulfill our flesh (our will). Service must be birthed by a true desire to live for Him. It is a relationship like any other. If only 1 person is committed, it will soon fall apart. Whether it is a business partnership, marriage, parenting or anything else, we can never expect Biblical success when we are depending on ourselves instead of GOD’s Spirit. “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)

DAILY, The 2 Most Powerful Forces that Exists are trying to KILL You!

GOD~ invites us to die to our flesh that we may have life. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 16:25)

Satan-entices us to live for ourselves, satisfying every fleshly vice and desire that leads to spiritual  death! “The thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy” (John 10:10)

Food for the journey: What if? What if HE doesn’t answer your prayers specifically as you’ve requested? What if HE doesn’t bring the husband while you’re young enough for children? What if the marriage fails, the business bottoms out, that love one doesn’t get healthy? Is it HIS will or yours? Will you still serve Him?

Hats off!! to everyone who will begin a New Year’s Resolution today and stop Tomorrow!! 🙂 I know, I know, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak?”……………………………..       Instead of a Resolution, let’s Resolve to Trust GOD! Walking in His New in Living Way!!

Mirror Mirror on the Wall……Who’s the Fairest of us all?

I was sharing with a friend the news of my sister’s recent engagement to be married!  After the “Congratulations” came, “What about you?”  My response, “What about me? GOD has given me an assignment to perform” and that is where my focus will be. My sister (Ty) has fulfilled her assignment as a single and now she is about to embark on a new assignment for which it requires a Pair. GOD designed marriage for this reason. HIS plan for marriage is for a man and woman to come together to fulfill HIS purpose in the Earth, for His Glory. One of the reason’s (I’ve determined) that marriage isn’t successful is because we enter it for unrealistic and selfish reasons. Can I be candid? I used to think that marriage was all about Being in Love, safe sex, and cute kids! Seriously, I didn’t even consider that there would be Work to do. And for the majority of couples, there may not be. However, where there is idleness, there’s a greater probability for infidelity, addiction, neglect and abuse. But, that’s not even what this Post is about!…………Back to my Mirror on the Wall. 🙂

FairyTales-Cute little stories targeted toward the female gender about how they are to be pretty and dainty and one day a prince will come along, they’ll fall in love and live Happily Ever After. I’m not a Happiness Hater. I’m actually a Hopeless Romantic! BUT, I am also a realist. Fairytales are an offense to our value. The problem with these stories is that it depicts the woman as a damsel in distress who is clueless aside from a man. This is in direct contradiction to Genesis chapter 2. Adam was faithfully working that which the LORD called him to. It was GOD whom said, “It is not good that man should be alone” when GOD presents Eve as a helper to him. A wife is given to assist a man in fulfilling the work that GOD has placed him to perform. It was never GOD’s will for us to be mindless jewels, lovely to behold; otherwise discarded. The oxymoron is that today’s society has lost (or never known) the purpose of the supernatural (spirit) man/woman. Accepting less than what our maker spoke into us, we don’t even realize we are jewels, so we accept and shamefully compete to become any title that is placed upon us.

The fantasy of Happily Ever After plants seeds into the thinking and mindset of our daughters. Little girls who grow to eventually become women; women in competition with other women. “I (you) have to look the best, dress the best. Have the best figure, perfect smile, longest hair, no fat, smallest waist and prettiest face”. This births sins of jealousy and envy that destroy the bonds of Sisterhood we’re meant to share. Take Leah and Rachel for example (Genesis 29-30). The Bible teaches us “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under Heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Rachel was found working as a shepherdess; tending to her father’s sheep when she was presented to her husband. I’m sure you’ve read the story; Jacob, moved to tears the first time he beheld Rachel. She was said to be very beautiful “of form and appearance” while her sister Leah was said to have “delicate eyes”. None the least, she wasn’t Rachel and society didn’t let her live down the fact. Because Jacob loved Rachel in his heart, he made a covenant with her father Laban. As part of his commitment, he agreed to work for Laban 7 years in order to gain her hand in marriage. Jacob and Rachel honored one another, living Holy and undefiled, to honor both Laban and Christ until the time for marriage. Jacob was faithful to the agreement. However, at the end of the 7 years, Laban tricked Jacob by pawning off Leah instead, under the disguise of “tradition”. Because Leah was the eldest of the two and unwed she brought dishonor. Nonetheless, Jacob worked 7 additional years in order to have Rachel. Because Leah knew she was unloved, she attempted to win the affection of Jacob by bearing him children as her sister Rachel’s womb was closed. So, Leah bore 4 sons to Jacob. This made Rachel jealous toward her sister. She was in constant grief and became depressed to the point of suicide (Genesis 30:1).  Out of desperation to compete with Leah, Rachel gave her maidservant (Bilhah) as wife to Jacob in order to bear her children. After Bilhah bore Jacob two sons, Leah got jealous and also gave her maidservant (Zilpah) as wife to bear even more children. Therefore, Zilpah gave him two sons. Then Leah once again became pregnant and bore him 3 additional  children. At a predetermined time, GOD showed favor to Rachel and opened her womb. She bore a male child; Joseph.  The constant war and conflict between the two sisters’ lives on today thru our generation. (Has the light bulb come on? The 12 children represent the 12 tribes of Israel (formerly named Jacob; see post entitled “When HE calls”…).

Yes, time has passed and the world has changed but isn’t it pretty much the same? Because of the fairytale, I believe that some women become desperate in their desire for love and companionship to the point where they settle for anything; even if that means sharing with other women and/or men. GOD says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. HIS plan for us is perfect! YOU are the only person who can prevent it from coming to fruition. GOD has you in mind for a specific person, at the right time, in the right season.

Therefore, let’s Kill the comparison game and get busy in Purpose. Put away the calendar and the time clock. Stay faithful where GOD has planted you with the gifts that He has placed within you. Our light shines brightest when we orbit the course we were patterned for; walking in HIS New in Living Way.

Treasure

 No Trespassing! Do Not Enter

Hoarding the pain transformed her safe haven into her grave. She was buried underneath. Yes, she was breathing, but she was no longer living. In the end, what she treasured had killed her! Who was she? Let’s start from the beginning……………..

There was said to have been an Emerald treasure chest brimming with rare and priceless possessions. Far outweighing the value of rubies or pearls of wisdom, it overflowed with the source of her virtue. Or at least that’s what was told. One of greatest worth was the Breastplate. The Breastplate was inset with 4 rows of stones. The first row: a sardius, a topaz and an emerald. Second row: a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond. The third row: a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst. The 4^th row: a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. Each stone was enclosed in settings of gold in each mounting (Exodus 39:10-13). Her lover instructed her to wear it at all times; never to remove it. She would need it for battle. Who was her lover? His name was Christ and she was one of His Chosen! She embodied this light, a silent strength; this…presence. There was something Different about her. It was Him. Daily, He called to her. And daily, she walked with Him. Everyone loved her. She was favored among women. She carried His anointing, permeating life with the fragrance of His spirit.

Daily, she would dress for battle, reciting the instruction of her lover, “I have hidden thy word in my heart. Therefore, I will stand, having girded my waist with the truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith with which I will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. Wearing the helmet of salvation and the sword of His Spirit, which is the WORD of my GOD (Psalms 119:11, Ephesians 6:14-17)” she would tell herself. While in the field, she fought many battles, encountering various enemies of great power and strength. But, her treasure protected her. And daily; battles she WON! Her name began to precede her. She alone could put 1,000 enemies to FLIGHT! They were afraid of her and began to flee her presence.  Busy on the field, she began to neglect her lover. Though he longed for her, she was too busy. She had lost sight of the strength and power she gained from His presence; necessary for battle.

As time passed on, things changed. She began to lose battles and was found less and less on the field. The light had begun to fade. No more was that spark in her eyes, strength in her stride or honey on her lips. Buried were the days of her faith walk, bold talk or fruit of the spirit. She could no longer recognize her enemies. The battlefield had left her weak and discouraged. The embarrassment caused her to retreat into isolation. So, she turned everyone away, fearing they would see what had become of her. Nevertheless, Christ was there. He hadn’t forgotten nor had He lost faith in her ability. Each day, He appeared.  “Did you avenge me?” she would ask. “Look what they did to me!” she exclaimed. His reply, “Look what I did for you” pointing to the Cross. “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live….” (Deut 30:19-20). But, it wasn’t enough. She was blinded from the pain. So each day, she sent him away. She gambled away all of her “today’s” on tomorrow. But tomorrow never came. See, tomorrow is not reality. Tomorrow is “Today passing away”. Refusing to forgive them and refusing to forgive herself, she chose to live in yesterday. The shame and guilt of failed attempts became her treasure. It grew and spread; infecting every area of her life. The accounts of “what happened” harnessed her happiness; paralyzing her perspective. So you ask who she was? She was you. She was me. She is any of us and every one of us anytime we build a wall around our heart and turn Him away. Each time we choose NOT to forgive, the message is clear. “GOD, you haven’t done enough. JESUS isn’t enough and the Cross wasn’t enough. The pain is Greater than Your redemption”.

What’s in our hearts today? What are we hiding as treasure that is killing us? Is it the teen pregnancy and the child that was given up for adoption or raised as your sibling? It could be a divorce, affair, miscarriage, rape, secret addiction, arrest or blemished bill of health.   Whether it is the father who rejected you or the mother that neglected you, JESUS is Bigger than any battle this life can ever produce. HE came that we may have life and have it ABUNDANTLY. Abundant life is Freedom! Freedom from sin and freedom from the shame. We don’t have to walk around downcast and broken. HE stands at the door of our hearts, knocking. If anyone hears His voice and opens the door, HE will come into him/her to heal, set free, save and redeem. Give it to GOD. His Blood covers it ALL!!!!!