Advice to students

            My advice to students, who will be attending spiritual formation in the next semester, is to take it seriously. Listen to the professor in what they are teaching you.  When you do the discipline on the required week, do it whole heartedly so that your life can be transformed closer into God’s image.  Volunteer in class discussions do not be afraid to speak your opinion respectively on a topic that interest you.  Have compassion in what you say, because your peers will have compassion in what they say.  Your opinion on a certain topic taught is of great value.  When you speak boldly about your interest regarding a topic discussed in class, you give others confidence to raise their hands.  This then opens the doors of opportunity to create an atmosphere of unity and support for one another.  The peers will see that you are not afraid, but will see you as a person of confidence and quality, they will then began to ask you questions and get your opinion.  I share this wonderful thing that I observed in spiritual formation class this semester.  A young man in my class that I have other classes with never speaks in class, he is always quiet and observant.  Well, one particular day in spiritual formation class a topic interest him and he spoke for the first time.  I was shocked and thought it was cute, because he never says anything, maybe he was challenging himself to come out of his comfort zone to contribute to one of the spiritual disciplines that were taught.  I say this to say, you have to find a way to have fun in your classes, you must interact with the professor so that they can be able enjoy teaching you.

Give the professors something to look forward to when they come to teach you.  For example when they go home, they can tell their family, that girl Tori always makes me laugh, she is one of the reasons why I teach, because she enjoys what I do and her willingness to learn.

May I say that I enjoyed professor Maddox interaction with the class and her compassion in teaching her student’s?  I am glad that I had the privilege of her teaching us.  It was interesting that I finally got a chance to have her as my professor in my senior year.  It has been an honor.

 

Weakness in students during semester

            The student population area of weakness that I observe was a lack of motivation and procrastination.  In the beginning of the semester every body’s minds were fresh and rejuvenated.  As the semester progressed, students were given homework on top of homework; as soon as they finished one assignment another assignment had to be due the next day, or on the same day.  Depending upon how many classes each student had to take, depended upon the load of assignments. I saw some students becoming overwhelmed with finishing assignments.  Some students became bored of the same routine in classes.   I notice students get bored of having to listen to the professor talk for an hour and half with no interaction with the student.  Shall I say making it fun for the students to learn? 

(Submission) is the discipline that I would suggest to target the area of motivation and procrastination.  Submission causes you to stay (committed) even when thoughts of wanting to quit come.  When you submit, you yield or surrender yourself to the will or authority of another.  As you commit, you perform to do what is required to be successful.  Submission in humbling yourself to perform well, committed to staying in, there is no room for procrastination, because the outcome is of great success.

 

Discipline for a new believer to practice,

            I would suggest to a new believer the discipline of study.  A new believer needs to understand who they are and why God chose them for his kingdom.  God’s word is what is going to keep the new believer clean. Their minds and hearts are still of a new born baby.  They have to fight the devil with the word of God so that they can grow strong as believers.  When believers are knew their hearts and minds are very sensitive, when they pray, their prayers are heard quickly because they are fresh babies.  God wants them to build their faith so as they become stronger in God their Faith increases and God test them with patience in answering their prayers. 

            I would instruct the new believer to not rush through the bible, but to start off taken their time with studying the bible.  I would suggest that they start from the beginning of the bible reading a chapter a day and meditating on that chapter day and night.  I think that the discipline of study is suitable to a new believer, because before they gave their life to the Lord the world had their mind and heart now the word of God needs their heart and mind to be used for the kingdom of God. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distractions

            I would make up an acronym for this word, but for now I am acronym out.  (LOL)

(LAZY)& (PROCASTRINATION) are the words that I would describe as my distraction.  I was the biggest distraction.  I would set the clock to get up and pray and when it went off I would turn It off and go back to sleep.  By the time I got up it was time for me to get ready for my day.  Being lazy caused me to procrastinate in practicing my spiritual disciplines.  Some days I would practice them and some days I would not.  I did them when I felt like doing them.  (YES) I know how selfish of me.  All the while I was being lazy God kept tugging at my heart to do what was right.  Being double minded was not good and is not good.  I kept going back and forth do right be lazy do right be lazy.  I must have gotten on the Lord’s nerves with this double mindedness, but yet his grace and mercy was sufficient and new for me every morning.  God was long suffering for me.  I choose to address this struggle by asking God to forgive me daily and to give me grace and mercy to do what is right,  I love the discipline of solitude, because it is where I can go to ask God as many questions that I can to help me through life’s struggles.

 

 

Foster says spiritual disciplines are not designed to be ends in themselves, but are intended to facilitate a person’s Journey into greater freedom in living a Christ-like life.

Some of the disciplines that I would like to talk about are the disciplines of prayer, confession, and solitude.  These particular disciplines have helped me trust God more.  I would like to start with solitude it has been my discipline of escape.  Sometimes when I feel like I need to get away from clutter and rambling thoughts.  I go on the Basketball court and shoot around or I go outside on my balcony with a cup of coffee and listen to the birds chirp.  These are my place of solitude. My places of rest where I can just talk to God about decisions that was on my heart.  I would just talk to God and scream inside my inner being.  Those times I enjoyed the most this semester.  Those times of solitude has allowed me to pray and confess my fought and to seek God.  I combine these three because they have been the disciplines that I have practiced the most.  This semester has been long, fun and energy draining, but overall through solitude, confession and prayer my worries have turned into God’s favor on my behalf.  There was a point in my life I would panic, worry and get upset when things did not go the way that I thought it should go.  This beginning of this year coming into this semester, I have learned that if I take a deep breath and say okay Lord I trust you. I know that worrying does not bring you glory, it only makes problems worse; it does not find a solution to the problem.  I constantly say in my head over and over again, Lord I trust you, Lord I trust you, Lord I trust you.  Lord I ask give me the grace and mercy to trust you and not worry. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLITUDE

Silence On Learning Intimacy To Understand Divine Excess

 

            Wow! Well I wrote on Submission before Solitude.  I see that solitude and submission go together and just about all the other disciplines that I have learned so far from the Celebration of Discipline. 

Solitude is that moment alone, that quiet time spent with in silence.  I always have this saying that when God is silent that is when he is loud the most.  Sometimes you say more without saying anything at all. I like to talk about early times in the morning when I do make the chose to spend my first time of the day with God, I find peace.  It is as the angels of God are in caped around me even stronger.  I have notice that when I put God first before I start my day.  I command my whole day to be in alignment with God’s word.  I command a blessed day to go before me.  I have notice that when I am working on my job and taking care of my residents and things are not going the way that I think they should I hear God all the time saying calm down relax Fret not.  Ever since I read (John 14) it is stuck in my head.  The scripture stays in my head every day.  (NIV Do not let your hearts be troubled.) 

            My time in solitude is shooting the basketball around to clear my mind from thoughts that I have hand in my mind.  That time when I am just throwing the ball in the basket I am talking to God about decisions that I need to make.  Other times it is going walking to clear my mind and heart.  I thank God for the time he has allowed me to spend with him.  Those moments are refreshing and exuberating.  Solitude with God helps me to respond better in action and in thoughts in given situations.   Solitude to me feels like God’s warm embrace, like a fluffy pillow hugging me.  I say this to say that I would like that experience that experience over and over again each day of my life.  Sometimes when I walk through the halls to check on my geriatric residents, I feel God massaging my heart.  It is like God reaches to my heart and massages and makes it warm to the people that I take care of.  I love it.  This is another example of my moments of solitude.  Sometimes I can walk pass a person or see a person and can know that God truly loves them it is like I can see a special kind of love from God upon them.   I smile in silence at the wonders of God. 

SUBMISSION

Selfless Understandable Being More In twined Spiritually Stand In Obedience

            Let me start off by saying that submission in any given situation is not always an easy thing. Reading celebration of discipline gave me an understanding that there our acts of submission.  We as humans think that because we are in submission to one area we are committed in all.  Well that is not so true.  Our first act of submission should be to God.  You would think that if we are committed to God then all the other acts would just be easy.  The second submission is to the scriptures of God the third is to our own family, the fourth is to our neighbors in the community that we meet every day.  The fifth is to the believing community, the body of Christ, the sixth is to the broken and despised in every culture and the seventh is to the world that we live, the international community. 

            I read seven acts and was absolutely amazed.  I need to exam myself because I have to be honest and say that I have not been in submission to all seven of the acts.  I ask myself this question, is it possible to be in submission to all of the acts just named?  The answer is yes.

(Luke 1:37) says it best. ((For nothing is impossible with God (NIV)).

            I am working on just one submission at the moment and that is submission to the triune God and his scriptures.  Sometimes I am selfish with the time that I am blessed with, because I do not make time for him like I should.  I would set time to get up early, the alarm clock would ring and I would fall right back to sleep.  Shall I say laziness along with selfishness?  I spoke with a pastor from my church and their advice was simple.  They said if not an hour or thirty min a least ten min you have that to spare.  My thoughts were, how can I be so selfish with ten min.  I owe God more than ten min a day.  I use the excuse that I will make up for it by talking to him all day.  I know in my heart I have to set aside time to spend that quiet moment with him.   

            I know when I do the right thing and not be lazy and make time with God I am more refreshed and free in my heart and mind.  The aim is the freedom itself not the discipline (pg110 Foster).  I ask myself if God said Tori if every time you make times for me I would give you a million dollars.  I would not hesitate to get and spend time with him.  I have to see the importance in God with my spiritual eyes not with the natural.  I have to remind myself that submission is a benefit it establishes my life for the greater good of what will prosper me and those whom God has called me to.  I have to remind myself that submission is not just about me and how I feel, it is about other people and their desires and plans becoming important to me, to give up what I want for the rights of others.  I rejoice for their success and have compassion for their short comings.   Submission is discovering that it is far better to serve our neighbors than to way our own way Pg. 112 Foster.  I understand that submission is not always easy and it is not always hard.  I look at it is asking God to prepare my heart and mind to the calling he has put before me and to ask him to show me the benefit of it.  I shall continue to just ask God for the true benefit of each area of submission.  I prayer is Lord help me to understand and not be selfish.

 

 

 

Safe in my place, Live In Connection In The You Already (R) Divine

  

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N              SIMPLICITY

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                        When I think of the word simplicity, I think of a few words that I can combine (REST), and (PEACE).  In my mind I think of myself standing on a doc at great lakes and watching the sun slowly set.  Having this visual of the sunset in my mind reminds me that I have to allow God time to mold me and shape me.  The life that I live in God is going to take time and I have to rest in him knowing that thee God may not come when I want him to come but I know that by experience he is always on time. The Word of God tells us, "And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deut. 28:2 KJV) (Galatians 6:9) New International Version (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Matt 6:33) New International Version (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

            In my younger years, I would dress to impress and not be happy with the person that God created me to be.  As I got older I learned through teaching and mentorship that Simplicity had to become me a part of me.  I had to learn that God created me from purpose, for purpose on purpose, with purpose.  I learn that God is a gift to me and I a gift to him. 

            I look over my life from as a child that God had a purpose for me. He gave me the gift of pastors, mentors, friends, and people of wisdom that has been a great impact on my life.  Through this I have learned how to have simplicity and share simplicity with others.  I have learned to be filled with joy the way God has made me.  I have learned that I cannot please people, but only God through faith.  My simplicity also comes from looking in the mirror and reminded myself that God loves me therefore I must love myself and that I have been created with a purpose daily.  I remind myself of God’s scripture of who I am.  (John 1:12)  I am a child of God.  Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.  (Colossians 2:9-10)  I am complete in Christ.  My simplicity is looking in the mirror and saying I am beautifully and wonderfully made in and out.  My continually discipline will continue to remind myself who I am in God through scripture and thank God for what I do have.

 

STUDY

 Standing To Understand Divine Yielding

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Study to show thyself approved a workmen needed not to be a shamed rightly dividing the word of truth; 2 Timothy 2:15 said it best. 

Study to me is like meditation upon God’s Word.  I got a chance to talk to one of my pastors at church.  They told me how important it is to spend time in God’s word because it is what keeps your mind at peace; it is what protects you when life brings challenges.  When you plant God’s word in you, it will help you to respond to life in ways pleasing to God’s heart. 

 

 I began meditating on God’s word   (John 14) which says that 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  14: Believes thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelled in me, he doeth the works.  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.   He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  I write these few scriptures because they have helped me stay focus.  When I fear come upon I am reminded in John 14 to not me afraid, to not let my heart be troubled, and to defiantly keep God’s commandments.  God’s word is interesting because studying his word reminds you that when you study God’s word the Holy Spirit will bring things back to your remembrance. The Holy Spirit knows all things.  I have learned that when I study in general whether it is scriptural studying or, school studying God will bring things back to your remembrance.  Going back to speaking to my pastor at church, she reminded me that if I can’t spend thirty min with God, spend some time a least ten min.  Those ten min with God have been the best times of my life; those few moments in God’s word have changed my life.  My plan is to continue to study God’s word by meditating on a passage each day once a week.

FASTING

 
Full Access Serving The Inner Nearness (Of) God

 
When I think of fasting, I think of what I can or cannot have to eat.  Fasting from foods is most beneficial to me.  I look at fasting as putting my flesh under subjection. Fasting from food allows God to work more in my life, because my flesh is silent and my spirit man is more alert to hear what God wants me to do. I have a fasting book that shows you all about the different kinds of fasts that the people did in the biblical days.  I prayed and I asked God what kind of fast I should do. And I kid you not people it was interesting.  It was something that I had wanted to do for a while, but I just did not seek God on the type of fast that I should be doing. In God's word it says is this the type of fast that I have chosen.  (Isaiah 58:6) says it clearer.  Some things in my life needed to be broken.  I really had to seek God on the type of fast so that it could be more beneficial unto the kingdom of God.  I chose not to disclose the type of fast, but it was from food.  It is the obedience not just the sacrifice that God looks at.  If God says tori no meat or no food for this period of time, then that is what God Says. If we do a fast and it is not what God say do then we are being disobedient.  Half obedience is still disobedience.  It is best if we do what God says to do all the way not half way.  I did it for the period of time and then slacked off and had to repent and asked God to forgive me.  I then Asked God to give me another chance.  One thing that I have learned is that fasting is a life style of consecration and dedication unto the Lord.  It is setting aside time to say thank you Lord, I choose you over what I desire because I desire a closer walk with the Lord.  I am going to continue to ask God to help me fast, so that I can draw closer to him.  I would like to fast every week and dedicate a day to him.  I believe that God will receive my dedication and diligence.                                                                                                           

 

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

 

Wow!

 

Where do I start, My Spiritual Journey did not began for myself until I turned sixteen. I came to Grand Rapids twelve years ago for the sake of my mom's direction and guidance.  Her plan was to have me go to Bishop Abney church; he is a friend of the family.  Adding to the Spiritual Journey, I was adopted at the age of seven to an African American family who went to church. My mom was the one that kept me in church.  I went to church because I had no chose as a little girl. I went to church because my mom made me. I did not understand certain religious things that Apostolic pastors did like scream and holler and shout and stomp their feet. It was all confusing to me.  Every time we would go I would get tired and sleepy. 

            During my time as a youth I had the opportunity to go to a Christian Elementary School called Bethany Lutheran.  I learned God's word at the school and began to understand God for myself.  My mom saw that I liked the school and she let me go to the Lutheran church where it was much smooth and quiet and sensitive to God's spirit, I did enjoy it better. God blessed me where I did not have to pay for tuition, he blessed me with the Principle first, second and third grade teachers to all are my God parents.  They all were my mentors throughout elementary school. Two years after I was adopted my adopted father walked out on my adopted mom due to problems that they were having between them.  It was from that point that things went downhill I became rebellious at home and at school sports was more important to me instead of my education. I and my mother did not get along very well.  

             In October of the year 2000 my life took a turn. My brother whom my mother adopted died due to sickness.  It hurt me real bad because she had wished that it was somebody else in the family that had died and I assumed that it was me. Her son, my brother was her baby, almost her everything he was what she lived for. My mom’s pastor came to the house and I just broke down.  I didn't want this for my mom.  I didn't want this life for me. I told my mom's pastor that I wanted to do better for my mom and be a better daughter.  A month later after my brother died.  My mom had me already enrolled into job corps, and at the age of sixteen I was headed to the Grand Rapids Job Corp Center. For a few months I was home sick, but God knew what was best for me and me. I and a young lady crossed paths and she introduced me to Earnest Prayer International Ministries. While I was at Job Corps from 2000-2003, I had the mentoring of my church holding me accountable, teaching me the word of God, and showing me around the city of Grand Rapids. After a few months of being at Job Corps I got a chance to let my mom know how I was doing and she literally called my pastor and asked him what did you do to my daughter she sounds different and she is talking about the word of God.  She told my pastor thank you for helping my daughter to stay focus and in church. During those three years I got my high school diploma, GED, Business Clerical Skill and CNA skills and enrolled at GRCC for major studies and also was rewarded money for completion of the Job Corps program.  I say all of this to say that these experiences shaped my spiritual journey and helped me to a better young lady.

 

This is my Spiritual Journey

 

PRAYER

 
Powerful Relentless Action

You’re Ever Revived

 
I had a conversation with my Senior Pastor about prioritizing my time better. His exact words were, (PRAY) and ask God to show you how to balance your time diligently. So I listened and prayed and asked God to help me with balance. One of my church mothers said Tori you must remember First God, School, Work and B Ball. I said Lord Help me, I need your guidance and direction and I need you to help me with balance.

            Since that time that I talked to my pastor I talked to God too; I have done better, but can use some improvement in getting up early to spend time with God. My plan was to get up early every day at five am to pray. I apologize, I set my clock at the time that I am supposed to get up but hit the clock and go back to sleep. My prayer has constantly been this whole week Lord please forgive me, Lord thank you for forgiving me. I forgive myself for being lazy. I sound like a broken record over and over again. Lord help me to put you first Matt 6:33 comes to mind when I say this pray. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of things other things will be added unto you. I know that if I put God first in my time with him everything else will be balanced in my life. I always have this scenario stuck in my mind, if God said Tori, I want you to get up and pray every day at five am until I give you a new assignment and if you do I will give you a thousand dollars. I would be on it, because I would see the benefit in the natural which is temporal but what I cannot see which is the spiritual is eternally. I think other people can attest to this same scenario.

            I learned something that the currency of heaven is prayer. It is our communication to God. Just like the saying money talks and can do a lot for you to live and have a great status on the earth. Prayer is talking to God to receive his guidance, direction, benefits and next season of assignments. My goal is not to give up but to do what God says do and understand that there is a benefit in serving God.  Prayer is my currency into the gates of heaven combined with Faith. Powerful Relentless Action equals being Forever Revived. 

 

MEDITATION

More Ever Dedicated In To Answering

The Inner Omnipotent Nearness

 

AHHH YES, Meditation, Hearing myself say the word meditation, it brings calmness, to my heart.  When I think of meditation, I think of God’s word.  (Psalms 1:2) which says, But His delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on his law (the precepts, the instructions, and the teachings of God.) He habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

A week ago I had the opportunity to get up early and meditate in prayer, for me meditation in prayer is meditation on God’s word.  It was an awesome experience and a sacrifice in being obedient to his call on that week.  I had to literally drag myself out of bed.  When God said seek him early that he may be found he meant it, He knows for a lot of people that getting up early is something that people hate and dread to do.  That is not me, however when I am tired and God is saying get up early and spend time with me.  I say oh Lord gives me strength I know that you will never put more on me then I can bare.  Lord I ask that you give me super natural strength.

I think that God test us just to see where are priorities are.  He tests us just to see if we see him as important in our lives.  If he can trust us to do small things such as get up early when he knows are schedule, he can then trust us to do more for his Kingdom.  Have I always done this? No, but I am learning the importance of meditation.  In mediation I have learned the peace the calmness the sincerity and most importantly the faith that has increased in me with hearing his voice to follow only.

Going back to last week, that time that I spent with God was laying down all of my worries and fears and getting rid of the things that I know that has held me back from serving God more.  I had to take the time to meditate on his goodness in my life where he has brought me from and where he wanted to take me, to my next assignment in this journey with God.  The question is sooo! How will I continue meditation? I believe for me that it is the constant communion in my heart to the Lord that constant conversation about direction lined up to his will day and night.

One thing that is helping me to meditate more is the women of my church are holding each other accountable to pray for one another to mediate on God’s word for somebody else.

The more I mediate on God’s word the more I get his word inside of me the more I become like him. And then I have God’s peace and assurance.  I say this, keeping God at a distance is not an option if you want to draw closer to him. 

 

 

CONFESSION

COME OVER NEAR FROM EVERY SIN

SONSHIP IN OMNIPOTENT NEWNESS

Come over near to God and away from sin. Began to be leaders of unlimited authority in God, for you have been made unique and brought into being.

Here ye Here ye every one,

I have a confession to make. At a point in my life i was terrified of confessing my sins and the wrong that I committed internally. I learned that over the years of hiding sin and wrong that it only kept me bound and I had feelings of guilt, and shame that kept me in fear. Every time i had done something wrong I would come into church thinking that those who heard from God could see the sin inside of me. Some days I would not even go to church, because I thought that the pastors and leaders could see the sin inside of me. I would tell myself I am going to do better and I needed to get right before I come into the house of the Lord. I saw myself slowing dwindling away. Have you ever heard the saying tired of being tired, well that was me? One day I got tired of being tormented by FEAR False Evidence Appearing Real and I had to let FAITH take hold of me and build me up in Full Alignment In The Holy Spirit. I began to ask the Lord to prepare my heart and mind for the journey that he was going to take me on. I ask God to give me the grace and mercy to begin to walk in boldness and courage, in faith and not fear. I kept quoting 2 Timothy1:7 in the amplified version it says. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice of craven and cringing and fawning fear) He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. After I read this scripture in that version, said wowwwwww! Lord I do not want to be a coward and have craven and cringing and fawning fear, Lord I want a calm and well-balanced, and disciplined and self-controlled mind. Lord I need help.

This past week I sought out a pastor in my church for accountability and told them the struggle that I was having I wanted them to pray and hold me accountable, i had told them what God wanted me to do in the process of them holding me accountable. This week has been a good week of confession for me. God has given me the boldness to step out of my comfort zone and talk even to my senior pastor. I have gotten a lot of encouragement and support to press further into God and Obedience. I have come to the realization that when you tell on the devil he releases his hold on you there is a release in the spirit realm that Satan cannot hide anymore in your life. Why? Because you have told on him and sin can no longer hide in the dark and keep you bond which breaks its hold on your life. Sin can only bind you unless you choose to walk in it and not surrender to the Lord/ God.

1 John1:9 helped me understand that God knows already what we have done he is just waiting for us to open our mouths and be honest so that he can cleanse us from all unrighteousness and restore us and forgive us. I want confession to the Lord not to become a ritual but a lifestyle of obedience and humility. My discipline will be in choosing to live in faith and continue to have a trust worthy friend or someone in ministry to hold me accountable to stay focus in the Lord. I have already started the process and we are calling each other each week to hold each other accountable.  2 Chronicles 7:14 says it best. If my people, who are called by my name shall humble themselves, pray, seek, (crave and require of necessity) my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

 

WORSHIP!!!!!!!!!

WORSHIP

WILLFULL OBEDIENCE RECIEVED
SOUND HEARING IN PRAYER.

I share with you all, ladies and gentlemen my spiritual discipline of worship.

Fasting is something that did not come naturally. Those who know me know that I like to eat. I love food; of course you can't tell I ask myself every day where does the food go, maybe to my Butt and Legs. Lol' I don't know I guess I just have a fast metabolism. Well anyway, fasting is a discipline that puts your flesh under subjection. It causes you to put aside or sacrifice what you like or want to do, so that the time you spend eating, watching TV and doing extra activities, you can be spending with God. God honors that time, and cherishes those moments of discipline. The more you put your flesh under subjection and spend time with him the more God's word becomes real in your life and he can show himself strong on your behalf. God is looking for his word in you so he can perform it in your life. (2 Chron. 16:9)

Fasting was not easy for me. I don't know how many of you have ever fasted from food for a certain period of time or fasted from certain foods; I have. Have you ever craved for certain foods that you were disciplining yourself from, or start smelling food surrounding your nostrils, but no one is around you with food and nobody is cooking any food either. I know it may sound a little weird but it happen to me. I start smelling meat and sweet rolls and craving for carbonation drinks. Yeah anyway I am making myself hungry right now. The point I want to get across about spiritual discipline is that I, you, and we all have to choose to worship. Worshiping God is a chose a free will. Worship is an act of obedience of what God tells us to do in our spiritual walk with him. Sometimes we goof up or make mistakes in our worship in God. I did this week; I didn't do what he told me to do because I reasoned in my mind.  How many of us reason in what we know God told us to do. We try to make what God tell us to do easy for us, because we can't see what God really wants to do in us and for us. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. I told God okay I know what is required of me from you, give me the grace and mercy to do what you told me to do, because I know in my heart that it is a benefit in worshiping you. I know God that being truly obedient will cause your blessings to flow in my life. (Psalms 103:1-8) So God I surrender to what you know I can do and not what i think i can or cannot do. The first day of the week was a bummer, but I know that the rest of the week will be a blast in worship with you God.

Making Time for God, Gives you Time. (Psalms 1:1-3)

 

Who I Am

Who am I

I am first a women, a beautiful chocolate women. These are my roles and positions in life. First i am a daughter, sister, friend, Athlete, follower, and a leader. Out of all of the roles and positions that i am in,  the position that i cherish the most, is being a Daughter.  I have the ability to recieve life and give life.  The gratitude of being called the Apple of my father's eye.  I write this blog today, in hopes that those who read it will get to know me more and how each position has enhanced my life and those who have come into my life.

I write this blog to say, what do you see when you look in the mirror. What role in life defines you and what role, or position in your life do you most like and why

When i look in the mirror i see (HERSHEY LOVE)

His Ever Remained Safe Honest Eternally Yielding Life Of Vulnerability Energized. I know some of you are probilily thinking VULNERABILITY WOW! Vulnerability is not necessary bad. I am vulnerable because, i share with you the story of my life from my heart. Out of that comes courage, compassion and connection. "williness to let go of what you think you should be in order to be who you are" Breane Brown". I am courages and compassionate about connecting with people in order to share the word LOVE. This begans my journey.