Tag: Obedience

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The Cost of Your Yes

Hi Faith Travelers!

Have you ever looked at a person who was successful in your eyes, or a well known speaker, pastor or entrepreneur who looked to have it all together as they thrive in their perspective position. Its so easy for us to look at the finished product and never think about the process it took to get there. Its even easier to look at that same person and never think about what it cost them to get to where they are; only to realize it cost them more than you may be willing to pay.

Everything has a cost, its a matter of if the cost is worth it and if you’re willing to pay it. When it comes to saying “Yes” to Jesus that’s definitely a worthy cost but it doesn’t always feel good to pay it. Why, you ask? Well, because saying Yes to Jesus will cost you…it may cost a little…it may cost you a lot…but it will cost you. Some of the areas of the cost include but are not limited to:

  1. Comfort: When you tell God, “Yes” and that you want to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus ( See Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23), that means you relinquish the comfort of doing what you want to do when you want to do it and how you want to do it. Your life becomes a living sacrifice ( See Romans 12:1) as a vessel for the Kingdom of God. This can look like doing something you are terrified to do like starting a business or ministry when you don’t have the strategy nor the funds to execute but all you hear from the Lord is “Trust Me” and to “Move Forward”. Easier said that done but when you give your “Yes”, moving forward is the only next step to take.
  2. Control/Your Will & Priorities: When you give God your “Yes”, you relinquish the grip on all aspects of your life by leaning not on your own understanding ( See Proverbs 3:5-6) and instead following His lead and guidance for your life. You surrender all control and allow God to move as He sees fit. A great example of this is in Luke 22:42 when Jesus knew the Father was leading Him to make the ultimate sacrifice to save all of humanity and He asked if there was any way that this assignment could pass from him but in the same breath, Jesus said, Not my will but Your Will be done.
  3. Personal Strength: When God leads you to do those unimaginable things He’s called you to, you are no longer able to do them by your natural intellect nor your own strength. The Bible says in Zechariah 4:6 “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts. That means that even when you try to do God instructed things by your own intellect and strength it just won’t work because it takes yielding to God, His strategy and ordered steps to execute or walk through what He is leading you to, even when that something is as simple as forgiving someone who hurt you deeply. It all takes God’s strength and not our own (See John 15:5). It can be painful at times to grasp that revelation.
  4. Relationships: Growing in God will often cost you friendships and land you in seasons of separation & isolation for God to heal you, spiritually grow you and align you to His purpose and plan for your life and the process through that isn’t always smooth or clean cut ( See 1Peter 5:10). Those seasons can be lonely and painful especially when you may be walking through circumstances where you need that tangible shoulder to lean on but God is showing you total dependency on Him.

Those cost may sound small to some but to those navigating through circumstances where they are in uncomfortable & uncertain seasons, having to relinquish control to do things God’s way versus their own and having to do it without familiar community it can be difficult to navigate physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

For me, it hasn’t been a walk in the park at all, as most of you have read over the years. I’ve been in several near death situations, dealt with unknown health issues, stepped out in faith to start a blog with no writing experience, changed my career after 14years doing something totally different, as directed by the Lord, with no prior experience in the new field and walked through seasons of loss, affliction and isolation; yet I still stand. I stand firm in knowing that God has beyond a great work in me and He will complete until Christ returns ( See Philippians 1:6). I may has lost comfort, control, personal strength and relationships but I’ve gained spiritual growth, peace, trust and alignment with God’s plan for my life.

My ‘Yes” to God cost me something. But my “no” would’ve cost me everything. Will you give Him your “Yes”?

Until the next Faith Message…

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God Won’t Always Do It The Same Way: My Fibroid Story

HI Faith Travelers!

July is Fibroid Awareness Month and in light of this month bringing awareness to what so many women suffer in silence with, I’d like to share my own personal story and experience with fibroids.

Over 7 years ago, I had my first major surgery. It was a myomectomy to remove 6 fibroid tumors from my uterus. After experiencing so many miracles in my health, as you’ve read, this was the experience that helped me to realize that God won’t always do it the same way. Sometimes when God doesn’t give you the miracle, He makes the miracle.

Fibroid tumors in my uterus had inflated my stomach to the size of a 6 month pregnant woman. I was only in my early 30s with no understanding as to why my hip kept dislocating out of place. Well it was because the biggest fibroid was pushing up against my spine causing my hip to painfully push out of place very often. Special shoutout to my chiropractor during those times!

About 7 years before I appeared to have a 6 month pregnant like belly, I was first educated on that fact that I had 2 very small fibroid tumors. By 2015, I’d made some natural lifestyle changes and when the fibroid discussion came up I continued to put my faith in them shrinking and disappearing on their own. God had performed so many miracles in my life, so I believed just like when He miraculously healed my eye and just like when He saved me from death on more than one occasion; surely fibroids were not too hard for Him at all.

At the beginning of 2019, I went to my annual check up and found out the fibroids had multiplied and grown significantly with the pain to match. This was partially due to an insurmountable amount of stress from work throughout 2018. I admit, I was literally distraught. They were mentioning needing surgery and that was a bad word to me at the time. As I sulked throughout the day after the unfortunate news, that same day I received an unexpected call, from someone I didn’t talk to that often. As we talked, I remained in the midst of my silent pity party, until they randomly started talking about how they had fibroids and mentioned the amazing doctor they went to for surgery. Mind you, I never said anything about what I was going through that day. In that very moment, I knew that was a divine conversation!

The next day I went to 21 days of prayer at church and told one of the ministers what I was going through and the news I’d received. I shared the discussion I had with the friend and their surgeon and they said “oh that Doctor…I just went to them yesterday”. Suddenly, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit how I sat in a seminar with this very doctor for course credit two years prior. Talk about the divine set ups! I said to the Lord, You know I don’t want this surgery but I feel like you are leading me in this direction. God told me “I won’t always do it the same way”. I had to let that marinate because I still wanted God to do it the way He’d always done it. I said aloud, “Miracle me please God”!

I met with the doctor the Lord was leading me to and I felt peace as I stepped into the waiting room. He assured me that a hysterectomy would not be my story yet sadly it has been for so many women. This doctor was known for what he does and told me he had taken out as little as one fibroid to as many as over 20; as small as a golf ball to as big as a watermelon. I was at peace with him being able to do the surgery but I still didn’t want to get cut. At my pre-op appointment I found out since the fibroids had grown too big for them to conduct the surgery laparoscopically through my navel, they would in fact have to cut me much like a cesarean. I was still expecting God to “Miracle me” even though He kept telling me He won’t always do it the same way.

Surgery Day, June 3rd, 2019

Fast forward to June 3, 2019, it was surgery day and I was a tad nervous but still expecting God to make it well and throw a miracle in there. My best friend and my boyfriend at the time (now my husband ) made sure my surgery prep area was filled with laughter and peace. The surgical team took me back and I wish I could tell you they found nothing, like I was expecting, but it was still a successful surgery removing all of the fibroid tumors and fixing other things the doctor saw in the process.

Formerly Known as the Fibroids occupying my uterus

The pain post surgery was on another level especially when I coughed and sneezed with the large incision. I even had to go physical therapy because of the impact the fibroids had on my spine and hip, but the way my loved ones and friends rallied around me and took care of me showed me my God given community in that season. My now husband, stayed on the couch to be on standby for my every need, meal prepped for me for the week, carried me to the restroom and cleaned & redressed the incision area like it was a science project. My best friend had my medicine and sitter schedule all set and my friends and family became my adult sitters during the day. God knowing that I used to be a person who always tried to do it all herself to avoid disappointment, showed me just what I needed in that moment. In a moment of physical healing, He healed something even deeper in me to show me I don’t have to do it all, I can be vulnerable and I can be the one to be taken care of instead of the other way around.

When I was finally able to be out and about again, a member of my church family asked where I’d been and I told her the backstory. She said wow she had no idea I was going through all of that. Then she looked me in the eyes and said “Thank you for wearing your Faith”. She told me the story resonated with her because she was believing God to do a miracle in an area of her life but felt Him leading her the surgery route. As the conversation ended I said to God, if all of that was just to witness to that one person, then I’m grateful to be a vessel for Your Glory.

Now years later, from then to now, I’ve had the opportunity to minister to so many women dealing with fibroids. Some told me they needed a hysterectomy but I’m grateful to have gone through what I went through to be able to connect them to the right resources and their miracle of not having to go the unfortunate route of a hysterectomy.

A few years ago, during 21 Days of Prayer, someone shared their family medical healing testimony and ended with “Sometimes when God doesn’t give you the miracle, He will make you the miracle for someone else.” Everything truly clicked for me in that moment. Even when it doesn’t happen the way you expect. Expect God to turn your situation around for your good and use your story to help others along the way.

I’d like to tell you that was the end of my journey with fibroids but unfortunately it wasn’t. At the beginning of this year, I found out that there was another fibroid in my uterus that needed to be removed immediately. Surprisingly enough because I’d already walked through this in 2019, I wasn’t moved like I was then. The surgery I had this time was performed by my primary OB and it wasn’t as invasive as the first surgery. I thought to myself, “how can this experience glorify Lord”. There was no miracle, and I don’t feel like the miracle this time around; how do I share what you healed before coming back a second time?! The Lord showed me this time it wasn’t about me being the miracle but it was about someone being the miracle for me. I’d had such an extremely hard season from the end of 2025 to the beginning of 2026, and God used my post op appointment with my OB to show me He hadn’t forgotten me. My OB ministered life into me after so much disappointment in a way that only God could get the Glory. I honestly didn’t realize it until this very moment, as I type, that I was so used to giving people what they needed from the Lord in those hard times that this time it was my turn to receive what I needed. Thank you for “Miracling Me” God!

Seven years to this day and GOD’s faithfulness is still unmatched! I’ve had the honor of helping and ministering to so many woman dealing with fibroids since this journey. It was always bigger than me and this year it was bigger than the vessels God used to be my miracle. All for God’s Glory.

Selah

Until the next Faith Testimony…

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Winds of Change: Seasons of Shift

Hi Faith Travelers,

We’ve reached the end of June; the midpoint month of the year and many of you may have noticed the peculiarity of this particular season. It hasn’t been a business as usual time for many of us. In fact, its been a season where many believers have been wondering, “What is going on ?!”; not just regarding whats going on in the world but also in our lives, on our jobs, in our churches and amongst our families. Some would say it feels like chaos but in all actuality, its a shaking. A shaking in the natural realm and in the supernatural realm.

What is a shaking, you ask? (See Hebrews 12:26-27) It is divine intervention, spiritual awakening and refining process that is set in motion to remove what does not look like God. Its goal is to remove the fallacies, falsehoods and impurities in the Body of Christ so that what remains has been purified and established by Him. Why is the shaking happening? Because God is getting ready to shift some things in ways we haven’t seen or experienced before.

The word Shift is derived from the Hebrew word “Shanah” meaning to transition, alter or change. It biblically implies to the unfolding of a new chapter or an alteration in time. This is used when God alters seasons or circumstances. In other words, this season of shift is God’s appointed time to alter, change and transition You and the circumstances surrounding you for what He is calling you to, for His Purpose and His Glory.

The foundational scripture for this, is Ecclesiates 3:1 NKJV which states, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven “. The Amplified version states, “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.” Verses 2-8, break down what those seasons can look like and what they entail.

Everything Has Its Time
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

Ecclesiates 3:1-8 NKJV

Word of the Lord: “We have entered into not just a new season but a new era in time and in the earth where things are shifting rapidly and intentionally according to God’s plan. In the coming days, months and years you will see more unprecedented shifts and changes in the earth whether it be in the weather, leadership, technology, exposure or in our economic ecosystem across the nations. As things begin to unfold we ourselves will be required to shift in order to be positioned where the Lord would have us be, at the appointed time, to carry out His will on earth as it is in heaven.”

In Daniel 2:21 AMP it states, “It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise And [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!” In other words, God is in control of our time and seasons and it is up to us (because we have free will) to follow Him in receiving direction and wisdom on our positioning for His will in that time, season and shift.

So, how do we recognize the shift? Here are a few indicators of Seasons of Shift:

  1. There are tangible changes without warning
    • Sudden changes in circumstances, surroundings, jobs, relationships, comfort, etc.
  2. The season brings restlessness and lack of comfort
    • Often includes having to do things you are uncomfortable with but it’s unavoidable, so must persevere through it
  3. Relational Shifts
    • Who you were around in previous seasons changes and sometimes you are in a season with just you and the Lord
  4. A release is required
    • You find yourself having to let go of some things (and people) so that you can pack light in the shift; sometimes not taking anything or anyone with you
  5. Your desires & priorities shift
    • Priorities shift to focusing on the God things and not just your typical routine and desires
  6. Old resources and provision no longer work for you
    • New strategy is required because what once worked won’t work in the shift
  7. There is sudden opposition that arises
    • You begin to recognize sudden conflict and closed doors in current spaces

What do we need to stand firm (1Corinthians 16:13) in the Seasons of Shift:

  1. Faith
    • To operate in a deeper sacrificial trust in the Lord when nothing makes natural sense ( See Hebrews 11:1)
  2. Humility
    • To recognize that everything you are is because of God and apart from Him you can do nothing (See John 15: 5)
  3. Trust for God’s Provision
  4. Perseverance
    • To understand that some promises require us to persevere in order to produce the character to walk in them (See Romans 5:3-4 & The Stories of David and Joseph)
  5. Identity in Christ
  6. Radical Obedience
  7. Prayer, Intercession & Fasting
  8. Intimacy with God
    • To learn to seek first the kingdom of God (See Matthew 6:33)

No matter the season you are in, remember that God is with you, and He is forever faithful. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV states, “He has made everything beautiful in its time….” As we walk through this Season of Shift, remember that seasons change but God doesn’t…. He’s always at work ensuring everything is working together for our good according to His purpose and plan.

Until the next Faith Teaching…

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Fresh Perspective

Hi Faith Travelers!

I want to start this month’s blog post off with a question to you…

Have you ever hoped, prayed, and believed for something so deeply just to end up disappointed with the outcome? The job you believed God for didn’t work out, the situation you hoped would get better got worst and the ill person you prayed total healing for ended up passing away. That level of disappointment, unmet expectation and failed hope can be enough to rattle someone’s faith to it’s core. I know personally because I’ve experienced it and I am here to tell you, don’t lose faith because GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN even when the variables surrounding you don’t make sense.

Here we are only four months into the year and I find myself a few days post op from a 2nd surgery that didn’t yield the outcome I was really hoping and praying for; unrelated to the first surgery 1 had just two months ago. In addition, I am working the corporate job that the Lord blessed me with, yet its starting to feel life draining and joy stealing. Meanwhile, I have been seeing people I know and love leave this world in high numbers and I just don’t understand. I found myself hurt, frustrated, weary and disappointed. I told myself, “this can’t be it…this can’t be apart of God’s plan.” While I recognize there is a very real enemy (satan) who comes to steal, kill and destroy (See John 10:10) at play in this fallen world, I couldn’t help but feel like this is not how it’s supposed to be.

Coming back to reality of things, I remembered this world, we as believers live in, is a battlefield not a playground, so even when we give our lives to Christ, that doesn’t mean things will get easier. Honestly speaking, it sometimes means it will get harder because when you are living out God’s purpose and plan for your life, persecution and suffering comes in attempt to delay or halt that plan because satan doesn’t want to see the Gospel shared, lives saved or the line to hell shortened.

Let’s take a look at Paul in the Bible. Once a fervent persecutor of Christians who had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (See Acts 9:1-9), one that would lead to his radical conversion to Christianity. He went from persecutor to Apostle, sharing the Gospel wherever he went. Paul did great things for the kingdom of God but it wasn’t without its trials. Paul was whipped & flogged on multiple occasions by Jews, beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked multiple times, bitten by a venomous snake, deprived of sleep, food, water & warmth, betrayed by false believers, chained, imprisoned multiple times and dealt with a mysterious affliction he called a thorn in the flesh. Paul went through all of that yet his perseverance and walk with God led to the establishment of the Christian theology foundation; emphasizing salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He also expanded the gospel to the Gentiles and wrote 13 of the 27 new testament books. Though he dealt with constant persecution, attacks and trials, God’s plan for his life prevailed.

Now let’s look at Jesus, He suffered the ultimate persecution but His sacrifice wasn’t in vain, there was purpose behind even the last moments of the crucifixion. In Matthew 27:46, while Jesus was dying on the cross, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The NLT version states “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” Shortly after, Jesus cried out again and gave up His Spirit, dying on the cross. To the onlookers, this looked like the end. It looked like the Father had abandoned/forsaken His Only Son but God already had a plan. A plan of resurrection and ascension that forever saved us so that we could continue God’s will here on earth as it is in Heaven (See Matthew 6:10).

When we choose to go after Jesus, we have to give up our own way, take up our own cross and follow Him (See Matthew 16:24). If you have been going through trials and disappointment, much like myself, you may feel like you are on that very cross that you’ve taken up, uttering the very words that Jesus cried out to the Father, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” Here’s a fresh perspective for you, if the act of Jesus dying, being resurrected and ascending to be with the Father healed the brokenness of humanity, offering a direct path to God then that means the same way God had a plan for Jesus amid persecution, He certainly has a plan for us amid our circumstances. So don’t lose faith! God’s plan won’t always look like ours, but it will always lead us where we need to be (Romans 8:28).

Selah.

Until the next Faith Message…

To be a part of the movement, share your own faith story Here!

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Starting Anew

Hi Faith Travelers!

If there is one thing that I have learned in my walk with God, it’s that you have to Keep Listening. We should never take a piece of the puzzle that God gives us and assume that is the full picture. After all, if He gave us the full picture all at once, we probably wouldn’t do it in the first place. Everything God does is always bigger than us, requiring full dependence on His strength and His ways versus our own (See Isaiah 55:9).

Take this faith blog for instance, the Lord gave me the idea back in 2015. I officially started in 2020 and there have been different rhythms of blogging based on how the Lord has led me. There was a time where it was 1-2 posts a year, a time when the posts were weekly, a time when they ceased or were very sporadic and then monthly. Transparently speaking, there was a moment when I wanted to add my own aesthetic regarding the website and the day of the week the blog was posted (good thing but not a God thing) and that worked for a good while (i.e. Faith Fridays). But now God is doing a New Thing (See Isaiah 43:19) and if I try to stick to an aesthetic, I could miss God; who He wants to reach, when He wants to reach them and How He wants to reach them through this blog. I recently realized that by only posting on a specific day, I was pigeon holding the move of God as well as adding undue pressure to myself to get something done on a day that God didn’t even directly tell me to post on. We have to be mindful of allowing our own intellect to take charge or dictate our direction in doing the God things. So here we, right smack dab in the middle of the “New Thing”, moving with God fully on how He wants to do things as you are receiving this post on a Big Ole Tuesday on the last day of March and I am ok with that.

Over this past month, I’d encountered a series of undesired events, one being surgery. This led to me being off work for a few weeks. My first thought immediately went to “now that I am off work, I can work on my God projects and get more things done before the hustle and bustle starts back”. Well God had other plans! He told me to REST! While most people would jump to that rest opportunity; given the amount of work things, business things and, most importantly, God Things on my plate, I felt I didn’t have time to rest. Who says they don’t have time to rest after surgery, you guessed it….Me! Even in my prayer time as I sat with the Lord recognizing there was chaos going on around the world, I went into intercession mode and the Lord stopped me. Yes, He literally stopped me from praying. He told me “I don’t need your prayers right now, I just want you to sit with ME.” It was in that very moment that I realized I was so used to being on the front lines as a prayer warrior, a server of my community and an overall get it done type person, that I realized I didn’t know how to just rest and be God’s daughter.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I didn’t grow up a Daddy’s girl. So not having that experience affected how I approached my relationship with the Lord in the beginning. It started out more like that of a soldier. My thoughts were, “give me my assignment Lord and I will do it”. I didn’t know any other way until God nurtured and loved on me, showing me what it was truly like to have a perfect Father. It wasn’t an overnight process and I can honestly say I am still learning but after this past month the Lord has exposed something in me that needed to not just Heal but needed to Rest (See Matthew 11:28-29).

I say all of that to say, don’t be afraid to walk in the New Thing that God is doing even when it doesn’t make natural sense. Even when it goes against all natural intellect and even when it feels wrong. We have to learn to be ok with God leading and guiding every moment of our Faith journey because being aligned with the Lord is the best and the safest place to be. So embrace the new and start anew in the God thing journey that He has in store for you.

Until the next Faith Message…

To be a part of the movement, share your own faith story Here!

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God is STILL…

Hi Faith Travelers!

Happy New Year & Happy Faith Friday!

It’s the last Friday of the first month of a new year and honestly speaking, midway through January, I felt like I was in the same very hard 2025 season, even with “the new year” having already started. It felt as if I was stuck in a new year but with old perspective, old disappointments and old trials and tribulations still weighing me down.

Have you ever been in a difficult space, season or circumstance that you felt like God wasn’t present in? You endured trial after trial, heartache after heartache, and disappointment after disappointment and yet you wondered, “Where are you God?!”…

God is Still With You

In the midst of those seasons, it can sometimes be difficult to pull your own self out of that pit. You find it hard to recall God’s promises in His Word. Promises like “…He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you (See Deuteronomy 31:8) or the promise that “…the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (See Joshua 1:9). Even one of Jesus’ names, Immanuel, means “God with us”(See Matthew 1:23). It’s right there in black and white, yet you still “feel like” God is not there.

God is Still Bigger Than Your Feelings

Notice the number of times I used the word “feel” or “felt” in the beginning of this blog, even from my own perspective. Feelings may be a current fact in that moment of toughness but it’s not the truth…Your Faith Is. Feelings can be defined as “an emotional state or reaction or an irrational belief”. Feelings are temporary and fickle emotions driven by the circumstance, yet Faith is enduring and active trust in God even when the circumstances seem contrary.

God is Still Working

There’s a message that I heard recently when I was still stuck in my “feelings” and the pastor said, “I can Trust God even when I can’t trace Him”. Think about that for a minute. I can put my reliance, my confidence and my dependence on God, His character and His promises even when there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of Him in my circumstance, based on my mere carnal understanding.

God is Still Faithful

Let’s take a look at the Book of Daniel in the Bible (See Daniel 3). In chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that whenever symphonic music played, everyone had to bow and worship the golden image of him and if they did not, they would be thrown in the fiery furnace. Well Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were Jews in service to the king, who only believed in and worshipped the true and living God, so they refused to bow and worship any other gods. The King was angered and set to throw them in the fiery furnace. He asked them “who is the God who will deliver you from my hands”. They said to the King,” If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”(See Daniel 3:17-18) Notice the “But if not“; they had full awareness of the situation they were in with no line of sight of how things would end, yet they still put full confidence and trust in the God they served even though they couldn’t trace HIM in that very moment of being sent to their death.

The story continues with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego being bound and thrown in the fiery furnace. When the King looked in the furnace he saw four men loose, walking around in the midst of the fire, not hurt and with the form of a fourth man looking like the Son of God.(See Daniel 3:23-25)

God is Still A Promise Keeper

In moments like those we sometimes expect God to save us before the trouble starts. We often come up with ways of how we think God will or should bring us out of a fire when sometimes His Way (See Isaiah 55:8-9) of doing things is bringing us through the fire not smelling like the smoke we’ve been in, so that He and He alone can get the glory.

God is Still A Deliverer

The three men walked out of the fiery furnace with no evidence having been in a fire. King Nebuchadnezzar praised the true and living God and made a decree for all the people to worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego because “there is no other God who can deliver like this”. (See Daniel 3:26-30)

God is Still God and God is Still Good

I’ll leave you with a permission to shift your perspective moment. The next time you find yourself in your own fiery furnace circumstance or situation. Shut down the Feeling surrounding the circumstance and activate the Faith that is needed for you to remember and trust that God is God and He is Good. He is everlasting, omnipresent, has infinite supply, and can do immeasurably more than we can ask, think or imagine (See Ephesians 3:20). Most importantly He loves you and His plans (See Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) for you are always good.

Until the next Faith Message…

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Don’t Give Up

Hey Faith Travelers!

Happy Faith Friday!

I pray this message finds you all well. As we prepare to close out the last month of 2025, I want to share one important sentiment I truly hope those of you who need it, will grasp…

DON’T GIVE UP!

This year has been quite the year for a lot of us. There has been SHIFTING and there has absolutely been some SIFTING!

Shifting where some of us have had to make some unprecedented and uncomfortable decisions in order to be divinely positioned for our NEXT; not fully understanding the scope of the how, when or the why.

Sifting, biblically defined as a violent shaking/intense testing of our faith by the devil; involuntarily pushing us through unbearable tests and trials, often leading us fighting for our faith, family, finances and even the function of our own bodies.

This season may have been physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually challenging to say the least, but DON’T GIVE UP! A lot of times when things seem like they are falling apart, they are actually falling into place. Don’t be distracted by what seems to be shaking your world. Put your faith and focus back on The ONE who created this world and who has already overcome it (See John 16:33).

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NKJV

Trust that the same GOD who brought you out of the difficult situations the last time, will bring you out again and again and again; not looking or smelling like the fire you’ve been through.

It’s not easy walking through the hard and dark seasons but you have to Shift your perspective to recognize that God is still moving on your behalf even in the midst of the chaos.

This year my husband and I have personally experienced the loss of loved ones; yet in the timespan of 1 week, on a mission in South Africa, we also personally witnessed 61 people choose eternal life by receiving salvation through Jesus Christ.

We experienced affliction after affliction after affliction with bad doctors’ reports and sickness in our bodies; yet even in the midst of our suffering, we can reflect on the fact that we personally witnessed the supernatural healing miracles of God with our own eyes for 52 people on that same mission in South Africa.

We experienced the effects of the US government shutdown affecting my husband’s job with no pay for a month and a half. Yet the same God that knew this was coming before it happened prepared us months in advance with instructions for emergency financial preparation for our household.

There is so much more we personally went through this year but I was reminded by 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV that “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”. The NLT translation reminds us that we are never abandoned by God.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT

Just because it’s happening to you doesn’t mean that God won’t see you through it. How do you expect to see the sunshine and rainbow on the other side of the storm if you don’t go through the storm in the first place. DON’T GIVE UP in the middle! Keep going knowing that God is with you and your breakthrough is just on the other side. We have to remember that the weapon may form but it shall never prosper (See Isaiah 54:17).

I’ll leave you all with this…

In God’s construct of time, there’s always a due season which is an appointed time to reap the harvest on what you have sown. Meaning if you have sown faith, perseverance, love, obedience and anything that is an attribute of God, you can expect a good harvest in that due season/appointed time. If you have sown disobedience, discord, hate or attributes of satan, then expecting a good harvest may be out of reach unless you choose to repent and turn that behavior around. The bible says in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Another translation states, “let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we Don’t Give Up.” I challenge you to keep going in this season, even when it’s hard, when it feels dark and even when it hurts. Know that God is with you always (See Joshua 1:9) and in due season you will see the blessing if you DON’T GIVE UP.

Until the next Faith Movement Message…

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Abide: Staying Connected to GOD in Difficult Seasons

Hi Faith Travelers!

Happy Good Friday & Holy Week!

At this point, I think I can still say Happy New Year, given you haven’t heard from me since December 2024 :-)…

It has taken me quite some time to write this particular post since the beginning of January because, honestly speaking, I have not been exempt from trials in this season. In fact, many I know have also been going through their own set of trials, almost daily, since the start of the new year. But I will say this…God’s word never said we would have a life absent of trials, it did however say that He(God) would be with us through them (See Psalms 23:4).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalms 23:4

Many think when they surrender their life to God and receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, that means life miraculously becomes problem free. (* Hits buzzer*… “Wrong!”) Well, your life does get better because you receive eternal life. However, satan, as the little “g” god of this world, will still attempt to attack (See John 10:10) believers to discourage, scare or slow them down from walking in the fullness of who God called them to be and what He has called them to do to advance the Kingdom of God. This is why it is said that this world we live in is a battlefield not a playground. We have to make a daily decision to stand for and on God’s word that gives us the instructions on how to fight back against the attacks of the enemy(satan).

Speaking of trials, let’s talk about 2025. I am sure this has been a peculiar year, so far, for most but God remains faithful through it all no matter what it looks like around us. As we stepped into this new season and era at the beginning of 2025, there is one word that the Lord God keeps reminding me that we all need to take heed to. That word is…ABIDE.

Abide means to remain, continue, obey or dwell. With that said, in 2025 and beyond, we need to remain in the Lord, keeping our connection to Him while continuing to trust and draw closer to the true and living God in every situation like never before. We need to walk in obedience, following the Lord’s instructions quickly and intentionally. And we need to dwell with the Lord just as His word says in Psalms 91:1.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:1

Why abide, you ask? Because apart from the Lord, we can do nothing. No matter how much you think you know, no matter the number of degrees you possess, how clever or talented you are or even how powerful you think you are on this earth. Apart from Jesus Christ, you can do nothing (See John 15:5). This is why it is important to stay connected and abide in the Lord. Parably speaking, if He is the vine and we are the branches and we are disconnected from Him, that means we are disconnected from the life source; the source of life filled with love, truth, purpose, faith, trust and abundance.

So how do we Abide?…

I am going to share 3 key ways to abide in the Lord…

  1. Learn God’s Ways & Character through Prayer and time in His Word
    • Know that God loves you ( 1 John 4:12-16) and is waiting to hear from you, no matter the circumstance or baggage you are coming with in the moment
      • He leaves the 99 to go after the 1 (If you are that one, He’s waiting for you with open arms- Matthew 18:10-14)
    • Set intentional Daily Prayer time
      • Prayer is just communication with God as if you are talking to a friend or a loving Father. (Matthew 6:5-15)
      • This can be as long as you want or as short as time allows; as many times a day as you like
        • Quote: “I don’t ever pray any longer than twenty minutes, but I never go twenty minutes without praying. ” -Smiths Wigglesworth
        • Your prayer life is not measured in minutes. Prayer is a lifestyle.
      • Understand and trust that the Lord hears your prayers wherever you are, even if you are in the car on the way to work (1 John 5:14-15)
    • Read & Study God’s Word
      • Pray for understanding and God given revelation before reading and studying the word of God so that your interpretation is true & sound
      • If you are new to studying the word of God, start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
  2. Grow your relationship with the Lord (See Previous Blog on Intimacy [Closeness] with God )
    • Spend time in God’s presence
      • Uninterrupted time with the Father (God)
      • This can include prayer, praise and worship or just quiet time listening to the Lord.
    • Have 2-way communication with the Lord
      • Listen twice as long as you pray
      • Write down what you believe the Lord is saying so you can refer back to it to strengthen your trust in hearing God clearly
    • Learn how God speaks to you
      • Through His Word, through dreams, visions, inward knowing, a feeling(“Something told me…”)
      • God is always speaking we just have to listen (John 14:26)
  3. Surrender to living your life for the Lord

When we abide in the Lord, He abides in us; leading, guiding, protecting, and ordering our steps to and through the purpose and plan He has for our lives. When we submit to abiding in the Lord, it doesn’t matter what is going on in the world or how bad things get because we have the God who created the universe on our side. Rest in knowing that.

Until the next faith lesson…

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Surely, I Thought…: Resisting Prideful Expectation from GOD

HI Faith Travelers!

It’s the last Faith Friday of the year and I pray you all are having a great wrap up to 2024 and are in expectation of the fullness of all that God has for you in 2025.

Today we are going to talk about resisting pride when it comes to your expectations from GOD. See, there is a difference between having faith and being in pride when it comes to what you are expecting from the Lord. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (See Hebrews 11:1). Faith also means to have strong belief or complete trust or confidence in GOD. Pride, on the other hand, can be defined as the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one’s importance; presumption; arrogance; conceitedness; egotism; self-regard; self-glorification or haughtiness.

There are several scriptures in the Bible that talk about the negative connotation and impact of pride:

“Pride goes before destruction…” (See Proverbs 16:18);

“When pride comes, then comes shame…” (See Proverbs 11:2)

“By pride comes nothing but strife…”(See Proverbs 13:10)

“A man’s pride will bring him low…” (See Proverbs 29:23)

“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord…” (See Proverbs 16:5)

The Bible also states, that “God resists [to oppose, strive against or withstand] the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (See James 4:6)

The world will make every attempt to convince you that having pride is a good thing but GOD’s word shows us in black and white just how destructive “Pride” can be.

Let’s take a look at the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-19 to show you how pride can potentially hinder GOD’s blessing. Naaman was a mighty Syrian army commander who’d brought the king of Syria much victory yet he was suffering from leprosy. His wife’s maid servant told her that one of GOD’s prophets in Samaria could heal Naaman. Naaman told this to the king of Syria and the king wrote a letter to the king of Israel to introduce Naaman and his purposes of coming to their land to be healed. GOD’s prophet, Elisha, heard about the king of Israel’s response and told him to send Naaman to him so that he would know there is a true prophet of GOD in Israel. Naaman headed to Elisha’s house with his horses and chariot and stood at Elisha’s door. Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naaman to “go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan river. Then your skin will be restored and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman, in pride, became furious and went away stating that surely he thought the prophet would come out to meet him, wave his hands and heal the leprosy. He described other rivers in Israel being better than the Jordan river and didn’t understand why he shouldn’t wash in those rivers instead. Naaman turned away in rage and pride and would have missed his blessing if it had not been for his servants reasoning with him about the instructions from Elisha. His servants stated, “if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, “Wash and be clean[cured]!” So Naaman went to the Jordan River, dipped seven times and just like the prophet of GOD said, He was completely cured from leprosy. Naaman went back to the prophet of GOD and proclaimed that now he knows there is no god except The true and living GOD (then called the God of Israel).

How many times have you missed out or nearly missed out on GOD’s blessings because the way GOD wanted to do things didn’t meet your prideful expectation? You may have been looking for the extravagant gesture or the instant result and the Lord is telling you it’s in the process and MY still small voice. (See Reference I Kings 19:11-12)

I can recall many occasions where I wanted the Lord to do something a specific way but GOD showed me that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (See Isaiah 55:8-9). There was a specific instance where I wanted GOD to heal me miraculously like He’d done so many times before. I soon found out that had I not gone the medical surgery route like GOD was leading me to, I would’ve not only missed my healing but I would have missed the opportunity to minister to so many women who were connected to my obedience to share my story. Don’t worry, I plan to share that story soon in the coming year.

There was another instance years ago, where I was expecting GOD to pay off my student loans miraculously, much like I had seen happen in the past with people I know. Well that’s not how GOD wanted to do it with me and I found that out very quickly after receiving a late fee from not making a payment that GOD didn’t tell me not to make. We all make zealous mistakes sometimes but this is why it’s important to obey GOD’s instructions and not your prideful expectations. That minor disappointment was my own fault and had nothing to do with God because He didn’t instruct me to do that. Through all of this, GOD was trying to show me how to steward my finances well and proper money management so that I would know for future purposes. Well those private student loans were paid in full in 2018 and I have been able to remain debt free from student loans even after getting a masters degree and bible college diploma because I stuck with the process of the bigger lesson that GOD wanted me to learn through all of this.

Let’s finish up the story of Naaman, Elisha and Elisha’s servant in II Kings 5:20-27, to understand what can happen when you actually give in to prideful expectations.

After Naaman spoke to Elisha sharing that he now knows the only god is the GOD of Israel, Naaman offered Elisha a gift from his servant. This gift included silver, gold and clothing. Elisha responded, “as surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” Even though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused. But Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, said to himself that his master, Elisha, should not have let Naaman leave without accepting any of his gifts. In pride, Gehazi stated, “as surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after Naaman and get something from him.” Gehazi caught up with Naaman, lied about Elisha sending him to get 2 sets of clothing and 75 pounds of silver for two visiting prophets and was offered twice as much silver from Naaman along with 2 sets of clothing. When Gehazi got back to the house, he hid the gifts. Elisha asked Gehazi where he had been and he lied again, stating he hadn’t been anywhere. Elisha asked Gehazi if he realized that his spirit was there when he met with Naaman, basically letting Gehazi know that the spiritual gift that GOD had given Elisha allowed him to spiritually see everything that happened while he wasn’t physically there. Elisha asked “Is this a time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?” Elisha proceeded to tell Gehazi, because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever. When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.

Remember those scriptures on pride. This was a clear example of how Gehazi’s prideful expectation and greed that he should get gifts from Naaman, put him right on the path to destruction. While my student loan late fee is nothing compared to Gehazi and his descendants being stricken with leprosy forever, I could have dealt with a lot worse and still been in debt had I not humbled myself and listen to the instructions GOD was actually giving me on money management versus my prideful expectation of Him just making everything go away in the blink of an eye. Don’t get me wrong, our GOD is the GOD who can do any and all things but if HE did it instantly or the same way every time then what lesson are you really learning. Are you only seeking HIS hand and what HE can do for you? Or are you seeking HIS Face and learning HIS ways intimately so that He can lead and guide you to and through the purpose HE has for your life. So resist prideful expectation from God and humble yourselves according to the Lord, knowing that He may exalt you at the appropriate time (See I Peter 5:6 AMP). The choice is yours.

Until the next faith lesson…

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God’s Promise to You

Hey Faith Travelers!

Happy Faith Friday!

I know it’s been a while but I hope you all have been remaining Faith filled. God has had me focusing on a few different things in the past several months, but I promise you will still see these blog posts as the Holy Spirit leads me to write.

I have noticed that the enemy’s (Satan) tactics in this season include planting seeds of “Doubt” in an attempt to make you forget the promises that God has already made to you in His Word. Promises regarding your health & healing; Promises regarding your peace; Promises regarding your protection; Promises regarding provision, purpose, clarity and so much more.

Recently, I found myself in the midst of a struggle with doubting that God would come through for me regarding a matter. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you have seen how God has moved in my life and the lives of others in mighty and miraculous ways.  So why was I doubting?! One reason is because I’m human and we have to choose and fight daily to keep our minds stayed on Jesus (Isaiah 26:3), while remembering the benefits (Psalms 103: 2-3) of our salvation through Jesus Christ. If or when doubt tries to creep in, there’s no time for self condemnation (Romans 8:1); so if this happens, just refocus and remind yourself of what God says about you and your situation.

In the midst of my struggle with doubt, God whispered the scripture 2Corinthians 1:20 to me. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” Immediately, my thoughts were flooded with the promises of God from His Word.

” For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

Let’s break down what this means…

The word “Yes” is a confirmation or an affirmative response.

The word “Amen” means “so be it”, meaning “certainly” or “it is so”.

Therefore when you think of any promise written in God’s word it is already Confirmed, Yes, through Jesus Christ and we therefore say “Amen” to God, as a reference that “it is so” and “certain”, for His glory.

For those of you in the midst of a storm that has you doubting God’s ability to do the impossible, here’s a reminder of His promises that are Yes and Amen.

YES, No weapon formed against you shall prosper, AMEN.

Isaiah 54:17

YES, All things work together for The good of those who love the Lord and are called to His purpose, AMEN.

Romans 8:28

YES, weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning, AMEN.

Psalm 30:5

YES, By Jesus stripes we are healed, AMEN.

Isaiah 53:5

YES, God is able to do exceedingly,abundantly above all we can ask or imagine, AMEN.

Ephesians 3:20

YES, you shall not die, but live to declare the works of the Lord, AMEN.

Psalms 118:17

YES, A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it shall NOT come near you, AMEN.

Psalms 91:7

YES, No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling, AMEN.

Psalms 91:10

YES, God has given you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy (satan) and nothing shall by any means hurt you, AMEN. 

Luke 10:19

YES, for God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards us, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope, AMEN.

Jeremiah 29:11

YES, for with God nothing will be impossible, AMEN.

Luke 1:37

Meditate on these promises, remind yourself who you are in Christ Jesus and never forget God’s promises are true.

Until the next faith message…

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