Sharing a Story......Birthing A Dream.......

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is propesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

This website is all about providing encouragement so that we can become ALL that God has designed us to be. We all have been created for a specific purpose, and God has gifted us with the tools and talents that we need in order to accomplish what He set out for us to do.


I have known since I was a child that God graced me with the gift of words. I learned how to write and speak them eloquently. In school I was always complimented and scored high on writing assignments, even into my graduate school years. I have always found passion in speaking to a crowd. I knew that I was going to do something awesome with the words God had given me. I knew that He wanted me to use the gift of words that He gave me to share my testimony, motivate, encourage, and uplift others,especially women, in this journey through life. After being pregnant with possibility for so long, MendedSpirit Ministries, my official speaking and writing ministry has been born! 


I want to share my recently published book with you!!!




Get Your Copy Today
$16.95

 We are an extraordinary group of eight women who have removed our masks and stepped forward to share our stories, wisdom, and life experiences with one collective intent – to inspire women to BELIEVE that they too have the power within to overcome their past and live as an UnStoppable Woman Who Wins!


To preview this powerful collection of words and meet all of the authors, click on the book cover in the sidebar. If you would like to order this book today, just click the BuyNow button in the sidebar.


It is my hope that God will use this little taste of my testimony to open eyes and change lives! I feel so blessed to be used in this capacity. God deserves all the glory, honor, and praise!!! Happy reading! ; )

AMAZEMENT ; )

I am totally amazed by the way that God loves us so. When I attempt to think about the level of love that God has for His children, I become somewhat dumbfounded.




One of the most important tasks that Christians have been given by our Heavenly Father is to simply love one another. Sounds simple, but loving others is, in my personal opinion, the most difficult feat for any Christian to accomplish. Let us be real here; our flesh interferes with this as it is sometimes filled with malice, jealously, envy, and even rage towards others when we feel that they have wronged us. We get totally defensive and forget that what others do to us may just be a part of God's plan in teaching us how to forgive and love those that are most difficult to love. We always seem to come up with numerous reasons why we are unable to love others. (And, just being civil or nice to someone does not mean that you love them.) Who do you truly love? Only God, and hopefully you, knows because our love for others is written on our hearts for only god and us to truly see and feel.


I began to think about what God's list would look like if He began to jot down reasons why He should not love or care about us:


1. He calls: We ignore Him.


2. He tries to spend time with us: We have more important items on our agenda. No time for Him.


3. He stands beside us: We walk right past Him and pretends He is not there.


4. He give us instructions: We disobey. Afterall, we are grown and can take care of ourselves. Right?


5. He protects and blesses us daily: We are too busy with our worldly tasks to take a few minutes and say "thanks".


6. He does us favors: We don't even attempt to repay Him for them, but we are quick to repay a friend when they do us a favor.


7. He listens when we need to talk: When we find someone else to talk to, He no longer hears from us.


8. He holds us when we are afraid and covers us when we are in danger: That is the only time we allow Him to cuddle with us.


10. He provides all our needs and even some of our wants: We hold out on the worship and praises that are due to Him.


11. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins: We knowingly sin daily.


Wow! That list is a lot to swallow, and I am sure that there are loads more disappointments that could be added. I am so glad that God is exactly who He is! God could have stopped loving us at number one. But, He didn't. I can only imagine trying to love someone that does not show me that they love me back. I can only imagine not giving up on someone when they mistreat me. I am so glad that God can love in a capacity that humans can't.


I know that sometimes in our eyes it will seem that family and friends don't love us. It will feel like no one cares. My friend, God will always love us...NO MATTER WHAT!!! We will do some things that will disappoint Him. But, because He is who He says He is....He will love us anyhow!!!!! That's true love and when I think about how much God loves me even though I don't deserve it, it leaves me in total AMAZEMENT!


Father,
I want to first thank You right now for simply loving me. I know that I am unworthy of your love. I know that there is absolutely nothing that I can do to deserve the things that you do for me, and the love that you have for me. I can only pray now and ask that you help me to love others that are most difficult for me to love. Help me to use your love for me as an example of how to love others. Father, where there are things in my heart and mind that keep me from loving, please help me to remove them so that I may love You and others with all my might. Please forgive me for the times that I have not shown you love like I should have. Help me O God to always put You first and to love You with all that I have and all that I am. Thank you for your forgiveness, grace, mercy, and most importantly, Your love! Until we speak again....
Amen.

My Dearest Breakthrough,

Greetings readers. Recently, I was inspired by Mr. Kirk Franklin (whose music I absolutely love and am constantly blessed by) to write an unconventional letter. When I popped in his new CD, it did not take long for the tears to slide down my cheeks. Song number one is entitled Hello Fear. This song is simply a letter to fear, letting it know that it is no longer welcome to rob a christian of his/her abundant, purpose-filled life. I began to think about where I am at this point in my life, and decided to write a letter of my own.

Hello Breakthrough! I have been waiting here so very long for you. It feels so great to finally see and hear from you. I am pleased that you will be staying for a while. I know that you have other people that are awaiting your arrival just as I was, but I just want to bask in your presence while you are here.

Breakthough, I have cried for you so often through my period of waiting for your arrival. I have cried unto my Father from the core of my soul and the pit of my stomach. You see, before you stopped by, I was in a long period of waiting for something to happen in my life. Apparently, my Father knew that I would not be able to handle you if He sent you to me earlier, so He decided to do some work on me to prepare me for your arrival. Now that you are here, I know exactly what I must do...PRAISE!!!!! I am so grateful to my Father for sending you to me, and I am so very excited and anxious to see what He is going to do with you and I next.

I must be honest with you though Breakthrough. I feel undeserving of you. I was not always patient or obedient while waiting on you. Sometimes, I even wanted to take the faith I had in my Father and just toss it in the trash because it felt like you were not coming fast enough. I am sad to say that in the most difficult times of wait, I even doubted that you were coming at all.

But now, here you are, as lovely and beautiful as ever! I pray that I do not abuse you. I pray that I stay humble. I pray that I am able to show my Father that I am grateful for you and for how He is going to use you in my life. I know that He must trust me with you right now, or He wouldn't have sent you. I don't know what He sees in me, but I know that He loves me.

Yes,  HE LOVES ME! I am such a blessed child. Well, now that you are here, we have some mighty work to do. I must let others know how I had to wail, pray, and praise for many days and nights to get you here. You must help me testify to others about what my Father can and will do for those who have even the tiniest bit of faith in Him. Others should see you all over me. They should see you in my talk, attitude, and even my walk. Why yes Breakthough, you have absolutly changed my life! By my Father sending you to me..........................I will NEVER be the same again!

Dear Father,
I don't know why You do the things that You do. I know it is not for me to understand. I often wonder why You love me so. I know that with You all things are possible. Thank you for sending the breakthough that will forever impact what You created me for. I want to lift up all those that are waiting for thier breakthough right now. Waiting is a difficult task that You have placed upon us, but I know that You will never leave or forsake us. Please forgive me for the times when my faith was little to none.  You do exactly what You say You will do. We just must learn to wait on you. And, when you do answer our prayers and cries, thank You so very much for making it feel so sweet! I love you more and more each day! Amen.

Growing Season...

I gaze into nature and notice that many plants are beginning to sprout, bud, and even bloom. It's still cold outside, and extremely moist. Scientifically speaking, even though we have had a few seventy degree days, the season is still winter. One morning we leave the house with our winter coats, and that same afternoon, we leave our jobs and schools dragging it along after a busy day. The sun has protruded, and graced the earth with its warmth. It is days like this, as few as they are in winter, that strengthen plants enough to begin to sprout, bud, and bloom in a time when they actually should not be able to.


Think of the above situation as a metaphor about life. There are times in our life that simply feel cold. We have messy winters of pain and impatience, among other things. (I, like most people, grow very impatient waiting for seasons to change.) However, just like the sun warms the earth enough to strengthen the plants, our heavenly Father loves us so that He sends just enough of His joy to keep us strong and filled with faith in Him.


Each change a plant makes from the point of a seed to an adult plant is a stage in its growing process. Imagine what our Spring would look like if cold, messy winters stunted the growth of plants. A plant does not just pop out beautiful. It must go though several stages of growth before it is ready to stand tall in its true beauty.


We are like those plants. We must endure some tuff stuff in order to stand tall in our purpose and pure beauty that God wants to display within us. Neither pain, nor the building of patience feels good; but when we endure through it, God rewards us. Its funny, becuase most times, we can not even see the spring in our lives approaching. God simply says its time, and moves in our lives. No more waiting, no more wondering, just praising God for fulfilling His promise to us.


Spring does not mean that you are in the clear. Think about spring. Spring is known for its windy days, rainy days, and even some tornado appearances. However, in spring, at least you have some warmth. The days are not cold, the daylight lasts longer, and beauty is all around you. So, you are able to better deal with a little wind and rain.


Goodbye winter! Hello Spring! I am ready for God to move greatly in my life. And, the thing about spring is that it is always full of surprises. You may enter your yard one morning and only one flower has bloomed. It can storm all day, but you come home that afternoon, and there stands two! My heart smiles when I think about how good God can be even when it simply does not make sense; how good He can be when we know that He shouldn't be; and how good He can be when we least expect it.


Just like that seed or sprouting plant, we have to simply wait through some uncomfortable conditions at times in our lives, but just know that God has a growth plan for us, and everything that we endure, the pain and patience building, is all for our purpose and we shall reap mighty rewards! Hang in there my dear readers. God is faithful and will do everything He promised. Sometimes it just takes some growing to get there.


Dear Father,
In case I haven't told you already today, thank You for loving me! Thank you for sending just enough sunshine to get me through the winters of my life. I thank You for the times of pain and patience building because it was in those times that I grew closer to you. Lord, I realize that all of my growth comes from you and is for your purpose only. I also realize that growth feels uncomfortable sometimes. I love you once again. Please forgive me of my sins, and continue to nourish me. Until we speak again...
Amen.

Flaws and All!!!

Tonight, I want so share something with my dear readers. This is not the first time I have posted on this particular topic, and I understand that this time period is not for me to go completely through before sharing with you. I want to be somewhat transparent in this testimony.

If I could only refer to this journey of becoming the best person I can be as a set of courses, and God as my professor, I am currently enrolled in the class "Loving and Accepting Others for Who They Really Are 101. " I think this is a course that I have been enrolled in for some time now, but one in which I am just now beginning to grasp the instruction.

I have an extremely special person in my life. I know that only God could have placed this person here. I love them so very deeply. It is a love bond that only others who have this type of relationship could ever know. It is a relationship that we can not create ourselves, but one that God provides for us. It is a relationship that I strive to perfect with each opportunity that presents itself. It is a relationship that I know God gave me because He trusted me and believed that I could do the job just right. That makes me smile.

In hindsight, it is also a relationship that I have been taking for granted. It is a relationship in which I have wanted to have TOTAL control over. It is a relationship that if ever broken or lost, it could absolutely never be replaced by another. It could be repaired, but even upon repair it would never be the same. It is a relationship that I now realize that I will help shape and mold, and at the core of it, I must accept the other half, flaws and all. 

God marvelously made each and every one of us. A perfect Creator created imperfect beings. Somewhat ironic it seems. The perfect aspect of it all is that God accepts who we are, flaws and all, and loves us unconditionally. That stands to be true even though we are truly undeserving of His precious love. He created us with a plan and a purpose in mind, however through His permissive will, we are allowed to make our own decisions. Sometimes these decisions create a mess, and we have to call upon Him to rescue us from the cradle of it all. Sounds just like a parent relationship doesn't it?

My children are still young, but as my oldest child continues to grow, I am realizing how much I have been trying to MAKE him what I wanted him to be. Yes, parents must teach important values, morals, foundations, belief systems, and discipline in order to aid in our children's success. These lessons are much different than the attempt to change or alter the personality or characteristics that God has given the child. Here lies my dilemma.

I know that in all things, we are to have faith that God is in total control and will work them out for the best. At times, I feel that I am so busy "parenting" to prevent the world from grasping my child in future years, that I have not taken the time to just enjoy today with my child. There is so much in this world with our youth today. I get a sort of anxiety when I even think about the choices that my children will have to face as teenagers. I have learned to worry less and pray more. Does this mean that I do not worry at all? Absolutely not! This is a work in progress for me as a young parent.  However, God is showing me that He wants to me to see the awesome characteristics and personality traits that He placed in my child, instead of trying to create what I want in him. He is showing me that even though my child may not have the same character traits that I have, and even though he may have different personality traits and interests, he too has a purpose and God has His own plan for how his journey to his destiny will be fulfilled. After all, he is only on loan to me because in reality he belongs to God.  

Every parent has dreams and goals for their child, but what we fail to realize at times is that God does also, and his plans override ours; as genuine as they may be. As a young parent, I pray for God to teach me to parent and that He will continue to parent me. I also pray that He teaches me to love my children the exact way that each of them needs to be loved. (Each of us has a love language...great book, and that may be for another post.) I pray that God continues to teach my husband and I to love our children the way that He loves us, and to parent our children the way that He parents us. He loves and accepts us flaws and all.... and that's TRUE LOVE!!! 

Lord, tonight I want to thank you for the blessing of being a parent you have given to my husband and I. I pray that you help us to be the parents that our children need us to be. Show us your will for our children's lives. Help us in times of frustration and lack of understanding to consult you and allow you to guide us as parents. I ask that you create a lasting bond of unconditional love between ourselves, our children, and You. Lord we love you! We thank You! I praise you in advance for what you have already prepared for our family! In Jesus name I do pray...Amen!

Sweet Memories!

Today, I gazed out of my frosted living room window, and watched my husband and children engage in some quality memory making. We received a good amount of snow where I live, and being that there was no school today, we took the opportunity to do some fun activities with our children. (I was inside with our new little one ; )

As I noticed how strong the interactions were between my husband and children, an overwhelming feeling of being extremely blessed came over me. I couldn't peel my eyes away from the window, as I began to think about my childhood.

I have no memories of playing in the snow with my father. As a matter of fact, I have no memories of spending time with my father as a child, as we did not have a relationship with one another at that time. And, after many years spend hurting, God has blessed me to forgive my childhood situation and accept this fact.

The feeling of being blessed over swept me because I see how God is growing my life. I see that although I don't have memories like the ones that my children have with their father, I see our relationship slowly growing now! And, ironically, I thank God for that.

If each of us is honest with our self, we would admit that we all have something in our past that has caused us pain or hurt in some form or fashion. It is how we view these memories that is important in our spiritual growth! We can view the negative aspects of our lives, and see them the way that God does; as a tool that He intended to grow us in our purpose, and ultimately to draw us closer to Him. On the other hand, we can sulk in those memories and view them as things that negatively impacted or even ruined the course of our lives. The difference in the two is that viewing our pain with our spiritual eyes as God does allows us to see the purpose in it. We can then use it for our good.

Even if you choose to view your negative memories with spiritual eyes, it may still sting a bit physically when you think about them. You may still physically feel pain in your heart and even shed a few tears. It is my belief that God allows us to still feel the pain occasionally because He does not intend for us to ever forget the hurt or pain. Resurfacing those feelings keep us humble. It reminds us of where God has brought us from and how much He truly loves us. It reminds us that we must lean and depend on Him to rescue us from the dangers this world has that can  so easily rip apart our soul.

So, my sweet memories are not only those of feel good moments like my husband and children playing in the snow today; but also are those of hurt and pain from my past. When you can see God's presence in the moment of a memory, whether He is the cause or the effect, that is what makes a memory sweet! Thank You LORD for the sweet memories you have placed in my life and for the sweet memories to come!!!! I love you!

                                                         Spiritual Reflections

1. What are some memories that you have that you thought were negative in your life?

2. Think about how the Lord showed up in these memorable times? If you can identify His presence in either the cause, effect, or solution, pray and ask God to help you view these memorable times as sweet memories focusing on the positive aspects of them more than the negative.

3. Write a love letter, or pray to thank the Lord for your sweet memories.

What's Your Value???

Someone on my job posted this and I just knew I had to share it with you.

Twenty Dollars- Author Unknown
A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you- but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the $20 note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went up into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. the worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by...Who we are. You are special- don't ever forget it.

Of course, I read this with my spiritual eyes. I began to think about how God created us. We sin each and every day, but God refuses to turn his back to us. We mistreat Him and others, yet He still chooses to love us. We don't love ourselves at times, but God still does. Just like those people who saw the value in that bill, God sees the value in us. He created us, so He knows exactly what we are worth, even when we can't see it.
When we don't see our worth with spiritual eyes, we allow people to mistreat us. We allow ourselves to live in fear. We allow our joy to be stolen by such things as negativity and depression. We must pray and ask God to help us see our value and worth the way that He does.
Our value and our worth become apparent to us when we recognize and realize what our purpose in life is. When we know why God created us, what calling He has on our lives, and what our role is in building His kingdom, our value and worth become more visible to us.
We spend so much time focusing on all of the things that have gone wrong in our lives. Just like the author wrote, many things may happen in our lives, but we must focus on our main purpose.
It is my belief that being crumpled, stepped on, mistreated, hurt, torn, and ground into the dirt only adds more value to my life. It gives me a testimony! It enables me to help someone who is unable to help them self when going through the storm just like I did.
God takes us through things for our good. His goal is not only to teach us a lesson, but also to help us see our worth in Him. He wants to strengthen us and make us draw closer to Him. It is then that we can see what we are worth!
With a humble heart, I know that I am worth having joy, peace, and love in my life. I know that I am worthy of those things because my Father created me! And, unlike that $20 bill, whose worth is only so much, I know that my worth is priceless because of who my Father is, and because of His purpose and plans for my life. That is pure love!
So, when I am crumpled, stepped on, hurt, bruised, torn, and even have the feeling of defeat, I shall rejoice because I know that I will not depreciate my value, but I will only be strengthened me for my Father's purpose. Thank you Lord for showing me the value that you see in me.

LOVE...Unconditional!!!

I absolutely love having a newborn!!! At this phase in my new little one's life, she loves to be snuggled and cuddled up close to me. When I hold her close and we are skin to skin, I can sense that she feels the ultimate security and comfort. I am sure this is the case with most infants and their parents. I am simply loving this phase in her life. I love how close she desires to be to me. And, as I look at my somewhat independent son, who turned six yesterday, it is a vivid reminder that as Zarryn grows, she will require less of this type of interaction and more of another. If it be in God's will, one day she will be all grown up and independent.

I began to ponder upon the complexity of our relationship with God. Unlike the flesh that matures and requires less of this new infant and mother interaction, our spirits should always remain in that comforting place. We should always long to feel God's spirit in us and the comfort of His arms wrapped tightly around and holding us securely.

Spiritual growth is actually the opposite of our physical growth. As a child grows, it becomes more independent. It begins to learn to do things for itself. As we grow spiritually, we should become more dependent. We should be able to rest in God's security and covering, while allowing Him to do things for us.

An infant cries because that is the inherited behavior that they have been given to use as a form of communication. They cry because they are unable to solve the problem independently. They communicate to us that something is wrong or uncomfortable in the request that we come and fix it. They have no other choice but to trust that someone who can aid them will come and fix the uncomfortable situation.

This is exactly how we should be with God. God wants us to surrender unto Him, who has the ability and the power to fix, or help us deal with, our current situations. Sometimes, we think we are so independent and forget about our parent, God. Therefore, He has to set up situations and send circumstances our way that we do not possess the power or strength to fix. We may have walked away and He is unable to feel our closeness any longer.

I desire to feel the closeness of my child as much as she does, if not more. God is just like we are as parents. He wants us to be close to Him. He wants us to connect with Him and allow Him to "parent" us! He wants to feel our hearts when we pour out to Him.

I could not imagine, if my children became adults and at the point where they thought they were all grown up and did not need me anymore, they would only call me when they did not have the resources to problem solve on their own. I would feel so used if they only called to borrow money, but not to just say hello and to tell me how much they love me.

I can only imagine how God may feel when we neglect Him! I know in my growth as a Christian, there have been times when I have been guilty of only praying when I was broke or my feelings were hurt. Thinking about our relationships with God this way, looking at Him as a parent, should put things into perspective for us.

How often do we talk to God...sincerely...and, how often are we asking Him for something? How often do we just talk to Him to let Him know how much we love Him for who He is and for what He has done for us? How often do we disappoint Him when He lends us His ear hoping to hear praises to His name, but only receives words of complaints?

I am typing now, nearly in tears just thinking about how I have treated my wonderful and kind Father. But the best part is...He forgives me and still loves me! Oh, how sweet!!! Even though I may have used Him and treated him disrespectfully, He still loves me. That is agape love! Unconditional and never fading. I MUST love my Father the same way that He loves me!

Thank You God! I Love you!!!

The Best is Yet to Come ; )

I have always been a person who is simply intrigued by God and His works. It is amazing to me how God can work so quickly and mysteriously.... ("The Man With The Golden Voice" comes to mind as a recent example of God's quick and mysterious works). We never know what God is up to!!!! And, I absolutely love it!
While we are here on this earth attempting to figure out how all the pieces of our complex lives are going to fit perfectly into place, God already knows. He has already mapped out where each piece will fall. I am unsure what God is going to do with The Journey to Destiny, but what I do know is that obedience is a MUST when working in your God given purpose for your life.

This website has been extended to YouTube. There will be motivational and inspirational videos available for you to view. It is my prayer that you will find a Word from above, a word of encouragement, enlightenment, motivation, and/or inspiration. Who knows exactly what God is going to do? I surely do not; but what I am confident in is that I have faith that my Father knows exactly what He is doing. And, anything that happens in my life has been strategically placed there for my betterment and for my life's purpose. To all things there is a purpose!!!!

I am so excited to see what God is about to do!!! The best is yet to come!
Subscribe to The Journey to Destiny on Youtube today!

What God Doesn't Show You!

When I began the Journey to Destiny over a year ago, it completely changed my life. I realized that God was beginning to allow me to work in the gift that He had given me before I had even graced this world with my presence. I was so very dedicated and excited to write daily. I was excited to delve deep into the Word and pray that God would use me to minister to someone. I would pray that God would use me to motivate and encourage someone and hopefully that would lead to them having a better day or even a better week. I wanted to deeply for God to use me....And He did!!!

One day, I just simply became tired. I began to feel like my readers were disappearing. The testimonies were few, and I found myself sharing advice to the same family and friends that I spoke to on the telephone weekly. I would come home from work with a mind and body that was far beyond the state of fatigue. So, one day, I just stopped. "I'll write next week," I thought. When next week arrived, I decided..."Well, every two to three weeks will be just fine. I don't think many are reading now anyways." I lost a little of my passion and my eyes fell from being focused on my purpose to being focused on my position.
Later, I began to have conversations with God. Many of these conversations centered around why opportunities for me to work my gift were not coming my way. Ironic, isn't it?
You see, because we are flesh, we sometimes become unfocused on why it is that we were created. We forget what God put us on this earth for. God really spoke to me last week through a friend about the Journey to Destiny.

This friend lives out of town, and we only really see each other about once or twice a year. Weekend before last, we were together with other friends. We were all standing around chatting, when she asked me, "Vetta, what happened to the Motivational Minutes?"........ Ummmm.....Silence for a second....then words.
The words that poured from my mouth echoed through the room and simply sounded like a plethora of sorry excuses. After I finished attempting to "explain" why I had not been able to write, she simply looked at me and said... "Well I miss them because I read them everyday and they helped me out. I enjoyed reading them"

Needless to say.......my heart sank! My heart sank because I knew that God was speaking to me on why I had sat down on His purpose for my life. God was showing me how my excuses for not doing what He has called me to do affected the life of someone else. I quit doing what I knew I was supposed to be doing simply because God didn't show me what I wanted to see....progress.

This day I was reminded of why God led me to begin this site anyway. It is NOT about me, yet it is about His children who need strength through the Word to get through another day with a smile on their face even though they are torn and crying inside. It is for me to share my testimony of what God has brought me through in order to lead lost and broken souls to Him and help build His kingdom.

How dare I take the precious gift that God has given me and sit upon it!!!!

So, to my friend, who I know is reading this....I say Thank You!!! Thank you for allowing God to use you to show me that this life and this gift is not about me and what I can gain from it, but it is about women like you who are open to receive a Word from God each day to keep pressing forward with a smile on your face!

God, I give my life fully committed to you today! I will let you guide the words that are posted to this page when You see the need to post it. I will not focus on what You do not show me, as you have proven to me that many lives can be changed daily by what You don't show me. I will be humble and appreciative that You have placed such a high calling on this life You have given to me! I will let you lead and I will follow!

To any other readers that had the same thoughts or feelings that my friend did, I do so apologize. I guess sometimes God has to take you back to move you forward!

That's my testimony for today.....Now, find a way to share yours even if you never have, because what God doesn't show you could change or save someone else's life.

SEEK YE FIRST.....

Matthew 6: 33 reads, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I’m sure that if we searched though archives of Christian writings, listened to recorded Christian sermons, and even had the ability to visit numerous churches on any given Sunday morning, we would encounter this scripture being read, taught, or explained in someone’s testimony. What exactly does “Seek ye first” mean? I thought I knew exactly what this meant, and even thought that I was doing well at trying to honor this command from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s difficult to admit when you have fallen short of something that you thought we were doing so well honoring, but tonight, I must do just that.

When I gave birth to my third child in October of this year, the first thing I began to do was ask God what could I do to be a good parent to this child. (I believe that if you have multiple children, then you have to be a multiple parent because each child has a different personality and different needs that you must meet. You are more than just “a” parent.) The answer that I received hit me head on, and hurt like I had been hit with a pile of bricks. The response was “SEEK YE FIRST…” Matthew 6:33!

“Surely God knows that I am a Christian woman, wife, and mother,” I thought. Where was I going wrong to get a response like this? The answer lied within my PRIORITIES! Yes, the order in which we rank how important things are in our daily lives and routines. God revealed to me that my priorities not only affected my life, but also the lives of my children and even my husband. The priorities that God revealed before me were not merely “to do” list tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning, and errand running, but rather spiritual priorities like spending time reading scripture, meditating, and praying.

I had to think about how I will prioritize my day in order to include my daily time with God. Being a mother of two was challenging enough some days, and now I am a mother of three. I guess subconsciously, I had already decided that I would not have time in my day to read the Bible and meditate on His word. I think I had even decided that God would somehow “understand” and would not hold it against me because He already knew how jam-packed my future days would become. I had basically justified in my mind the messed up arrangement of my priorities! How shameful of me!

In the scriptures before Matthew 6:33, Jesus is speaking about how God takes care of everything, including things that are not capable of caring for themselves like plants and animals, which leads up to His statement in Matthew 6:33. What these words penetrated to my soul after spending time thinking upon them was that I needed to place God at the top of my priority list! One children, or five, God revealed to me that if I have spent time with Him each day, all of my other needs would be met for the day. This does not mean the day will not be a struggle, however, with the Word of God written upon my heart and fresh in my spirit each day, struggles will be easier to deal with, and my motherly and wifely duties can be executed with less frustration and chaos.
I head a testimony being given on television the other day, and the mother stated that changing her wording made a huge difference in her days. She changed her “have to” attitude to “get to”. For example instead of stating, “I have to cook dinner for my family,” she began to state, “I get to cook dinner for my family.” There are numerous people who want to have a family to cook for but they do not. God is using me to meet the needs of my family. What a blessing!

So, it is my plan to demolish my old way to thinking. I will demolish the thought that I would not have time to spend in the Word each day. I would not have time to minister to others through this website each week. I would not be able to fully work in the gifts He has blessed we with. I know that if I only “SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD” everything else that I need, even if it is simply a bit of patience, or a little strength, God will provide EVERYTHING I need each and every day to not only meet the needs of my family, but to also meet the needs of my soul. God I thank You in advance for meeting the needs in the days to come!!!

                                                                 Spiritual Reflections

1.    Reflect upon your current priorities. Can you honestly say that you follow what Jesus ordered us to do in Matthew 6:33? If not, examine what is keeping you from being obedient.

2.    Even if you are already spending time in the Word each day, what else can you do       to show God that you are seeking His kingdom first?

3.    Pray and ask God to help you either put Him first on your priority list, or to keep Him first on your priority list. Ask Him to help you carve out time in your day for Him each and every day.

4.    Document your plan for making God first in your life. Ask God what changes you need to make in order to keep Him first.

The Growth of A Stained Heart

Flipping through several magazines a few days ago, all centered on women, I noticed a common denominator among the articles that were presented in each. Each of these publications had at least one article about how to find true happiness, getting beyond your fears, loving your life to the fullest, etc.... However among all of these articles, one of them stood out to me. It was almost as if it was written in 3-D across the cover of the magazine. It read something along the lines of "What's Holding You Back from Really Living Your Life?"


As I opened the magazine, it features several women, all of different ages and with ethnic backgrounds as unique as they come. All of these women had discovered and dealt with the issues, and even people in their past, that was stunting their growth in faith, joy, and God confidence.


I began to think about all the women of the world, and how we are all similar in one way. We all have or have had a stained heart. We have been hurt by someone or something, and it has been written on our heart, leaving stains of the pain behind. These stains, for some of us, may have stunted our spiritual growth into becoming the women of God that He is calling us to be.

I also began to think about my own testimony of overcoming low self-esteem. Teasing and tormenting from peers at a young age, left me all too often feeling unworthy of success, incompetent of accomplishing tasks, and just plainly put, sometimes questioning why God wanted to waste His power creating something like me. There for a while, I began to think that I was created only for the amusement of others. I thank God today that I was able to pray, get close to my Father who let me know that He felt my pain, and grow past my stained heart, while allowing God to remove those blotches that were too difficult for me to remove independently.


Let's stray from my testimony for just a moment and talk about why God would allow our hearts to become stained in the first place. There are several scriptures throughout the Bible in which God speaks specifically to people whose hearts are stained or broken for whatever the reason may be. Psalm 34:18 is my absolute favorite probably because it was instrumental in my growth on the low self-esteem journey. Other scriptures are also listed below that prove that God holds a special place in his heart and has special plans for those that have been mistreated to the point that it stunts their growth in Him.


Psalm 34:18 reads, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV)


Psalm 10:17 reads, You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. (NIV)


Psalm 36: 10-11 reads, A little while, and the wicked will be no more; through you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (NIV)


Psalm 46:1 reads, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (NIV)


If you go exploring thorugh the Psalms alone, there are numerous scriptures on being out casted and having a stained heart. This is the testimony of those that had hearts full of burdens and grief, how they cried out unto God, how He rescued them, and how they praise Him after their growth beyond their stained hearts. The answer of how they overcame is in Psalm 46:1, which is stated above. There is no other way but God.


To grow past our stained hearts, we must look at those stains head on. This may mean that we have to deal with some issues from our pasts that are painful even now to think about. For example, we have to think about those people who talked about us and the things that they said. We have to ask God to help us to forgive them so that stain can be removed. We may have to look past the faults of others that have hurt us, whether we were abused by loved ones, neglected by parents, teased by peers, ______________. (You fill in the blank of what may have stained your heart.) Sometimes dealing with those stains may mean talking with that person or going to that place. We have to deal with the issues head on, not looking anyway but in the direction of growth, which is forward. One cannot grow backwards. So, take the time to look back, deal with it, and remain your focus forward on your growth.


Sometimes when we must confront those pieces of pain on our hearts from the past, much time may have passed and situations are different. Hopefully both parties involved have grown positively in some way. What those of us with stained hearts need to realize is that, as hard as it may be to deal with, each of those events were patterned in our lives to help us grow closer to our Father. In knowing this, it makes it a lot easier to forgive the things that others have done to us. Some of the things that have been done to me, I definitely didn't understand then, but now that I have grown in Christ, I know that the pain they caused me was only preparation for my destiny. So, in a sense, I feel obligated to thank them for hurting me. Funny stuff, I know, but remember we serve an unconventional God who sees and perceives things totally different than we do! Pray and ask God why you may have the stains that you do. What was His purpose?


Again, when we have dealt with the painful stains, God can begin to cleanse us. Our hearts can be rid of malice, hatred, jealously, hurtful emotions, negative thoughts, and anything else that is keeping us from reaching our ultimate relationship with and potential in Christ. I am a testimony that when God has cleansed your heart, you can even become surprised about how you feel about those people and places that may have hurt you in your past. You began to love and pray for those that cursed and despised you. You forgive those that may seem unworthy of forgiveness in your eyes. God can really shock you with what He can do through you.

I once had a person that really hurt me when I was younger, and that hurt really stuck with me. I heard of some things that she was going through, and could not help but to pray in love for her. I genuinely wanted her life to become better. I was very concerned and prayed day and night for her and her situation. The flesh in me wanted her to feel the pain that she had made me feel in the past, but the spiritual growth and Christ in me overrode my personal issues with her, allowing me to pray for her situation, growth, and deliverance. What a surprise! That is what God can do! And, I know that I grew closer to God by simply succumbing to His will for my prayers on those days. Thank you Lord, for continuing to work on me and the stains that may remain on my heart!!!

Spiritual Reflections

1. Examine your heart. Look closely....what are some of the stains that you see and feel? List them in detail below. If a person was involved, don't forget to include their name. Remember we are facing this head on.


2. Say a personal prayer about each stain one by one, or all of your stains together. You may want to write you prayer down and pray the same prayer daily until you see that God speaks to you about your stains. Ask God to help you rid yourself of the negative feelings that you may have and place forgiveness in your heart. Also, ask Him to show you what His purpose was in you experiencing these painful issues. Don't forget to ask God to cleanse these stains from your heart.
3. Search the Bible and find scriptures that help you confront the issues that you listed in number one. Use these scriptures when battling cleaning these issues. Speak them when those people or places arise in your life.

He Has His Hands on You!!!

I am sure that every Christian has had periods in their life when there are many possibilities surrounding them, and they are faced with making tough, yet necessary decisions. It is in times like this when we pray so hard about what to do, and attempt to wait diligently, patiently, and carefully to hear from our Heavenly Father. It is also in times like this that our Father may make us wait, and when He does not answer our prayers and questions, or give us guidance and directions, immediately or after a short period of time, we begin to wonder if He is even listening to our becoming calls. We begin to wonder if God is interested in our desires. We even may begin to wonder where He is, and if He has left us.
Our Father is mysterious. He does everything on His own time and does not have to answer to anyone about anything. He already has our life plan mapped out and knows exactly what it will take in order for us to grow and be prepared and presentable for the day that we will meet Him in His kingdom. God may use these waiting times to grow us up spiritually and actually make us closer to Him.
I feel like I am in one of these transitional times in my life right now, and quite honestly, things are not happening as fast as I would like for them to. As I have grown into adulthood, I have grown to actually love these periods of my spiritual growth because I am always excited because I KNOW that God is up to something and my testimony of these times in my past serve as my proof that it is always going to be something good. These are the times that I like to call transitional times or times of maybe. You know about these times:

Maybe I will get the new job or promotion....I just haven't heard back from the boss yet.
Maybe I will get the new house....I just haven't heard back from the realtor yet.
Maybe I will lose the weight....I just haven't been exercising for very long, so I don't see results yet.
Maybe I will _________________ (You fill in the blank)


It is in these "maybe" times that we pray the hardest to our Father. Why? It is very simple. We want something from Him. Some Christians think that this is wrong, but we have a Father/child relationship and children always want or need something from their parents. God uses this time to make us wait for our answer because it draws us closer to Him, as we spend more time in conversation with Him. When we recognize this concept, we needn't wonder if He is listening or if He really cares. The fact is He cares tremendously enough to know what will keep us dependent on Him and humble.


We become humble in our prayers during these maybe times more than ever because we recognize that the desires of our hearts can only be given through the power of God. We know that God can work miracles and sometimes the things that we are seeking out may take a miracle for us to receive. For example, One may know that they have poor credit and will most likely be turned away by a lender for a new home, but because of their faith in our Father, they fill out the application anyway, and wait patiently for an acceptance or rejection call. It is in this time that God may feel far because they pray and pray but feel that they have not heard or seen a "sign" that God has it all worked out. My friends, it is in this time when God really has His hands on us! It is in this time when God has us right where He needs us; humble, available, a heart to serve, in fervent conversation with Him, and ready to grow. He places His hands on us and the situation. God is always working things out for our good, even if our maybe turns into the "No" that we did not want to hear. (Romans 8:28)

                                                                  Spiritual Reflections


1. When have you been in a "maybe" time in your life? How did it work out in the end for you?


2. What are some ways that you can grow closer to God so that in your "maybe" times, you will be able to feel God in the midst of your wait?


3. I am a person of little patience. I know that anytime I am in a "maybe" time God is growing my patience which is a characteristic of Christ who I should strive to be more like. How do you see God growing you in your "maybe" times?

4. Write a short prayer to God thanking him for your "maybe" times.

The Manipulator!

Have you ever known someone who is so crafty, that they can take the values and beliefs that you have, and begin to make you second guess your feelings, thoughts, and emotions? Have you ever known someone who will stop at nothing until everything is going their way and everything is under their control? Before you know it, you are thinking and acting out of your character because of that being. And, sometimes it takes something drastic to make you see that you are being manipulated and controlled. I like to call this presence that pops up in my life the manipulator! Who is this person you ask? Well, he is also known as Lucifer, Satan, the devil, etc... Whatever you call him, he is nothing but an enemy and we must be able to recognize when his craftiness is trying to manipulate our lives.



Just this past week, I began to look all around me. I began to notice the "riches" that others have that I didn't. (Which is not something that I normally exert my energy on.) One of the aspects of my life that I am proud of and that I know God guided me through is earning my college degrees. Education was always stressed in my home, and I do have a testimony behind why I am so proud to hold my degrees. You see, my mother was unable to attend college, and me living and growing up and seeing her struggle placed the desire in my spirit to attend college. And, I did receive scholarships, but still ended up with a significant amount of loans to fund my education.


As I was getting out of my car, I received one of my monthly statements for my school loans in the mailbox. As I opened it, I sighed and that was all the manipulator needed to hear to try and wedge his way into my thoughts. I began to regret one of the plans that God had for me, which was attending college. I began to think about my schoolmates who appear to be living better than I who went to work right after high school. I began to think of the time I thought I had wasted in school when I could have been working and living well too. Oh, how crafty is he!!! I sobbed in my car for a while and then I began to pray. I confessed to God how I felt and asked Him to help me to focus on His presence in my life rather than the stuff that I didn't have that I thought I needed.


It is amazing how God will remind you who He really is. Over the past few days, I have watched numerous cities and towns in the state of Tennessee that have been ravaged with flood waters, including Clarksville, Tennessee where I teach elementary school. I watched places where parents of my students and even friends of mine work; I watched parks that my husband, children, and I have spent countless hours of family time; I watched restaurants where we have enjoyed meals and quality time together all go under water. Totally submerged! I could hear God saying, "Look at how blessed you are! I have once again covered you! Don't focus on the "stuff" that you think you need in this world, but focus on the joy that I have placed within your heart." I was lead to the book of Job.


Job is a very familiar story in the Bible. My husband preached Job in his very first sermon because he felt like he could relate to Job so very much. You must take the time to delve into this wonderful book yourself. See what God has in it for you! To make a detailed story short, Job had everything that anyone in his day could want. The manipulator came along and wanted to challenge God, so God offered Job. God stated that Job would worship and love Him no matter what and allowed the manipulator to alter Job's life in any way he wanted except for death. Of course, the manipulator began to conjure up his plan and got right to work. Job lost everything! But, he never cursed God. Job knew that everything that was happening and had happened only did so because God allowed it. He knew God had everything under control. When the manipulator saw that Job was not going to budge from his dedication to God, he finally gave up, and God blessed Job with more than he had before for just staying with him and depending upon him as he endured the tough times.


We have a lot to learn from Job. I think that everyone at some point and time in their life feels the way that I felt. (What if....) Sometimes the manipulator makes us think that if we had done things our way, then our outcome may have been better. My pastor always says, "What God has for me it is for me." That includes our paths, plans, struggles, and blessings. The manipulator wants us to focus on what others have so we take our eyes off of our Master and His Master Plan. Watch out, because he is always busy. Pray and ask God to help you recognize what form the manipulator is showing up in your life, and then use prayer to send him packing.

Spiritual Reflections

1. How is the enemy working in your life at this present time? Do you recognize his crafty ways? What is he up to, or is getting ready to do?


2. Ask God to help you gather yourself a few scriptures to speak when you feel his presence. List them below.




3. Pray a special prayer and ask God to help you recognize and defeat the enemy when he comes your way, and remember to pray this daily.

Oh the Possibilites!

Hello  My Dear Readers,

I know it has been quite some time since I have posted on the Journey to Destiny, but let me say that I extremely missed the refreshing feeling of ministering to you and doing God's work for my life. Sometimes, God has plans for us that catch us by surprise, and may alter our lives just a bit.

In March, my husband and I found out that we will be expecting another addition to our family. We will welcome our third child in October, and my first trimester was a trying, yet blessed one. :  ) During this time, I was unable to post, but I stayed in God's word and in conversation with Him. Needless to say, I am burning to begin writing again to release what God has for me to share with you.

It is my prayer that you have been motivated and in the word of God also, for there is a mighty work for us to do. Oh the possibilites for what God has for our lives!!!!! Tune in tomorrow, as new posts will begin! Until then; stay motivated, concentrated, and saturated in the work God has for you! Much love!!!

LaVetta Radford

BRUSHSTROKES

We are well into 2010 now, and I was reflecting upon everyone's positive attitude when we first entered this New Year. Many people stated that they were excited about what God had shown them that was going to change for them in this year. They were excited about working towards new goals, hopes, and dreams. Some said that they would have more faith, patience, love towards others, and a closer walk with God before this year was done. I was really in awe at how hungry people seemed to be about improving their relationships and spiritual lives.

If you are one of these people, I hope that you have been praying upon your ultimate purpose in life. Praying about what it is that God created you to do. Praying about what God's calling is on your life. I, along with a friend from my inner circle, was having a conversation about this very topic the other night. We both know exactly what it is that God has called us to do! We know for which purpose we were created, but how to get there is what we are struggling with. So, as I usually do when I am perplexed, I began to search the Bible for examples of people who had the same feelings and were in the same situation as I. And, I began reading about Miriam, which led me to a mini study about Moses.


Numbers chapter 11 is just one instance in which God spoke to Moses with a set of directions that seemed impossible through Moses' eyes.
Numbers 11:21-23 reads:
But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat for the whole month!' Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?" The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." (NIV)


In this situation, Moses is just like me and my friend. God has told Moses of a great task that he will accomplish for God's purposes. It is in His will for Moses to meet the needs of these men. You see, these men, all 600,000 of them, are traveling with Moses as their leader. They have left Egypt under Moses' leadership and are now starving and wishing they had remained there. These men are upset at their leader now because their basic needs are lacking. When things go wrong, people tend to naturally blame the leader.


God has spoken to Moses after he has cried out about the troubles in the travel. God promises Moses that the men will eat for one whole month. Moses begins to question why God wants him to make such a bold promise to these men, when he has no idea how the promise will be met. Can you imagine, standing in front of all these men who are already angry at you, making a promise to them that they know that you alone will not be able to keep? Even though Moses was unable to see how this was going to pass, he was obedient to God's instructions. How many times has God told us to do something, but because we could not see with our eyes, or think with our brain HOW it was going to happen, we brushed it off, and put our focus elsewhere?


I am not sure if this is the case with everyone that God speaks to, but when God showed me my purpose, He showed me the BIG PICTURE and not the BRUSHSTROKES. In essence, He revealed to me ultimately what it is that I am to be doing in my kingdom building work. I also think that it is awesome that what He revealed to me is also what I am so passionate about in life, and what makes me feel the best when I am doing it. I was very excited, but my excitement was somewhat overcome by fear and nervousness.


When we are working for God, it is a serious matter. Every opportunity that we have to use our spiritual gift to help build God's kingdom and change the life of another is a privilege and is extremely important in our spiritual life, and the lives of others, even when we can't see it. The fear and nervousness came because I could see what I was supposed to be doing, but the BIG PICTURE looked so much bigger than me. In my mind, it appeared that I would be incapable, just like Moses. I tried to rationalize how this would come to pass, but that is what God reveals through the process of fulfilling our purpose.


BRUSHSTROKES reveal the picture. When some artists begin to paint, they just start. They may not have a definite idea of how the final product will turn out. They paint, and each BRUSHSTROKE is a detail in the BIG PICTURE. God reveals our BRUSHSTROKES as we move along in this journey. BRUSHSTROKES bring us faith and patience. Some a big and some are small. Some BRUSHSTROKES are joyful while others may make us feel pain. Some BRUSHSTROKES may make sense to us, while others may not. Despite the type of BRUSHSTROKE and how it may look, when all of them are put together, they create the beautiful picture of our purpose!
Right now, I am working through my brushstrokes. When I get impatient and perplexed, I remind myself that my artist is my Great Father! When I don't understand, or my picture may be looking a little skewed, I ask Him for the purpose in that stroke. I ask Him to continually reveal Himself to me along with what is to come in His will for my life. And, although my painting is not finished yet, God is still stroking and I know that there is work to be done that will grow me into my ultimate purpose in life. Even when it seems scary, we must keep pressing. Remember: what God usually shows is bigger than us, that way; we will need Him to reach the goal!

Spiritual Reflections

1. Has God revealed the big picture of your life purpose to you? If not, pray about it.
2. What are some brushstrokes you have had to encounter in your growth process?
3. How have these brushstrokes prepared you for your big picture?
4. Thank God just for whom He is and that He is our artist!

Related Reading: 2 Timothy chapter 1

Are you Available????

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 (NIV)
Just about everyone knows that process of applying for a new job. First, you fill out and return all important paperwork. Then you wait ever so patiently for a telephone call in which the purpose is to set up an interview with you. After you are interviewed, and the employer makes the decision whether or not they would like to add you to the team. One of the important factors that the employer considers, along with your interview, is you availability. Can you work nights and weekends? Can you work on holidays? Or, do you have ANY availability at all? Are you going to be able to focus when on the job; or are you going to be distracted? All of these are questions that potential employers must ask themselves about you when you interview for the job. The fact of the matter is that they have an end goal in mind, and if your qualities and availability will keep them from accomplishing what needs to be accomplished, you will not be hired for the job.


Esther was a young woman that definitely made herself available so that God could work through her. Esther was a Jew whose beauty had drawn that attention of King Xerxes. King Xerxes was ignorant of Esther's nationality, and that is the way Esther was instructed by her uncle Mordecai to keep it. One day Mordecai was outside of the King's gates and overheard two men plotting to kill the king. He communicated this disturbing news to Queen Esther who immediately told King Xerxes. After this, King Xerxes decided to promote Haman, one of his nobles, to the position of the highest noble. Outside of the king's gates, everyone knelt down to show honor to Haman, but Mordecai refused. Because it had been exposed that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman issued a decree stating that all Jews in Xerxes' kingdom would be killed. Haman continued on his quest to rid the kingdom of Jews because of his deep hated for Mordecai's rebellion. Queen Esther was the final factor in this story. She was the one who went before the king, having to expose herself and her nationality in order to save all of the Jewish people in the kingdom.


This irony in this story is that Esther lasted as long as she did living in the King's quarters before having to expose herself. By the time she had to expose her nationality, the King had so much favor for her, that it was not an issue to him.


Esther could have easily said no to Mordecai's plea to help the Jews. She could have said no because her exposing the truth about herself was a risk to her very own life. Had King Xerxes not favored her so, she would have surely been put to death. Esther was available for the task that God had placed in front of her, and she began to see her purpose for being in the King's quarters. You may be in a nice position right now for kingdom building purposes only. Esther's task was far from simple and clear. Esther probably did a lot of thinking and decision making throughout this process because every step was crucial to the survival of her people.


Can you imagine God giving you a task of that magnitude? Well, my friend, He has. Whatever task God is calling you to do, it is about kingdom building and saving lost souls. You can be a life saver. The methods and materials that we use to accomplish this task may not be similar, but we are all life savers. Our goal as Christians is to spread the word of God through our actions and words. Are you available for God’s work?


My pastor often says, "What God has for you it is for you." I agree with him, but I would like to add that we must be available for what God has for us. God will not impose or force His will or His way onto us. Imagine what He sees looking down from Heaven. He can choose anyone else that is ready, willing, and available to get His tasks accomplished. We must realize that it is a privilege to serve the Lord. We are an elite group of people. Many times, we act as if God's work is more of a burden than a blessing. (That is probably because we are working outside of our purpose, but that is for another day.)


When God has a task for us, He wants us to be available to focus on what He is going to put in front of us. If we are too burdened and bogged down or to tired and tore up by the pressures of life, God will take His task to the next person who is available and accepting of His task. And, not only will they get our assignment, but they will also get our blessing for accomplishing it!

Spiritual Reflections

1. Am I available for and accepting of ANY assignment that God will send my way? If not, what is blocking my servant attitude?
2. What is it that I am assigned to at this time in my life? Am I accomplishing what God wants me to?
3. If you don't know what your assignment is right now, pray and ask God what it is. Are you ready to accept it? If not, ask God what is blocking you and ask Him to help you remove it.

Esther's entire story can be found and read in the book of Esther.

My friends, we have kingdom building work to do. Won't you accept your assignment today?

You Don't Know My Story...

One thing that I love about the Bible is that there is never a dull moment that lies between its pages. It may sound like a cliché, but there are many treasures waiting to be unlocked. In my study today, I found the story of a young woman named Tamar. Tamar's story is not one that we learned about in Sunday School, nor is it one that we hear often being bellowed from the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Tamar's story is important, however, to each and every woman and man who has a story that has gone untold.



I'm sure many people wondered about Tamar. I'm sure they were asking questions. "What happened to her, she used to be so beautiful?" "Why does she not mingle with others?" In the last account that I studied of Tamar tonight, I had the ever so popular picture from children's movies where there is a lady in the neighborhood that all the kids are afraid of because of all the myths and legends that they have been told about her, only to discover by a chance encounter that those things are not true at all. Here is the meat Tamar's story.

2 Samuel 13:7-20
David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him." So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat. "Send everyone out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister." "Don't, my brother!" she said to him. "Don't force me. Such things should not be done in Israel! Don't do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you." But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her "Get up and get out!" "No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me." But he refused to listen to her. He called his personal servant and said, "Get this woman out of here and bolt the door after her. She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went. Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, you brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister, he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman.


Can you envision Tamar standing before you, broken into a million pieces? Her body, heart, and spirit were probably throbbing in pain all because of the selfish desires of a family member. You see, Amnon desired to have Tamar so, that he became frustrated and ill. (verse 2) Tamar was a beautiful virgin with the intent to stay that way until she would be married off. Her intent was to keep her purity and to be ready for her future husband. She ended up in a situation that she had little to no control over.


In Biblical times, a woman would remain desolate, not married off, if she was "used". What this means is that she was no longer a virgin. So, there Tamar sat for years, alone and bewildered because she not only had been used, but also was unable to tell her story because she was embarrassed and knew she would be isolated. In turn, she decided to desolate herself from society, in hopes of saving herself from more shame and hurt. And, she felt as though even those that should love her and understand her story the most, didn't.


There are many Tamars walking around today. Many people's souls have been broken, battered, and abused and have been left with the bewilderment of what happened to them. Not all have been raped like Tamar was, but I'm sure they have been left with scares where they have attempted to patch up their hurting souls.


I am a Tamar.


Just like Tamar, we all have a story that other people just simply don't know about. These stories have brought us closer to Christ because they are the situations and circumstances that we have strived so hard for so long to overcome. These are the scars that God keeps hidden so that when people look at us, we don't look like what we've been through! Some of us may live more boldly than Tamar did and choose to tell our story one day. Some of us won't. So, before we judge a person's decisions or actions, let us remember that each of us has a story that someone else doesn't know. That story has been a chapter in our life that God has used to shape and mold us into who we are today, and who He wants us to be tomorrow. When you look at what a person may have, or does not have; who they are or who they aren't; please remember... YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR STORY.....

                                                              Spiritual Reflections


1. What are some things about my story that others may not know?

2. How have I dealt with the issues listed above?

3. How can I see God’s presence in my unknown story?

4. What role will these issues play in my future spiritual growth?

5. Talk to God about your unknown story. Praise Him or ask questions. If you have unresolved issues, ask God to help you with them. He is available for you!