Hello September

Wow, I cant believe how fast the much anticipated "2012" is passing by! I promise you, it seems like yesterday the year just began. So much has happened this year. I've definitely seen highs and lows, but most importantly.....growth.

I've shared a few devotionals from Joyce Meyer's book Love Out Loud this year, and I'd love to share another. Purpose and destiny have been heavy on my heart for a while now. I believe that God is trying to put things in perspective, with HIM being on the forefront. The world is in such disarray that often times, God is placed on the back-burner. When things go wrong, we often lean to our own understanding, and in turn  make matters worse.....when we can give it to God and allow him to fight our battles.

Exodus 14: 13-14

Moses answered the people, " Do not be afraid, Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will FIGHT for you; you only need to be STILL. "

There are many biblical assurances confirming that God will take care of what we cannot. It has been heavy on my heart to share with as many as I can that God is still in control. No matter what our circumstances look like, or what society says, God has the final say. Every day should be a day that we seek his will for our lives. Today in church, the Pastor talked about "Survival Instincts." He stated that our basic human instinct is to seek comfort as opposed to trials and tribulations. When a situation arises that takes us out of our comfort zones, our initial reaction is "I don't want this." While only natural to feel this way, sometimes we have to be taken out of our comfortable zones in order to move to the next level or wherever it is that we are supposed to be. The outcome will be much more impactful than the process it took to get there.

Getting back to today's devotional, Joyce Meyer discusses what she calls the "Failure Syndrome." This concept deals with something that many of us battle. Many can relate to feelings of inadequacy on some level. In order to be great, to be what God has called us to be in Christ, we must shake all feelings of doubt. It all comes down to the fact that God has equipped us all to do what he's made us to do. I can go on and on lol, here is an excerpt from the devotional that I found to be a blessing along with today's message:


      "The devil knows that someone without confidence will never step out to do anything edifying for the Kingdom of God. He does not want you to fulfill God's plan for your life. He can make you believe that you are incapable, and then you won't even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. Even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which you probably expected from the beginning because of your lack of confidence. This is what is often referred to as "The Failure Syndrome."

         God wants you to know that the devil is already a defeated foe. Jesus triumphed over him on the cross and made a public display of his disgrace in the spirit realm. Jesus' victory means that you can get rid of the failure syndrome. His ability to bring his will to pass in your life is determined by your faith in him and in his word. That is reason for confidence!"

Make up in your mind today, right now, that you will no longer be held back by doubt and fear. Be great, live a life pleasing to God by doing ALL you can, whenever you can. We are all meant to shine, as Marianne Williamson stated in her "Our Deepest Fear" quote( one of my ALL time favorites!),  "OUr deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure." Allow the gifts that God has blessed you with, and the light you have in Christ to shine as bright as possible.


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

" I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."
-Philippians 4:13



Love,

Dany



 

                   

Desperation

Today's message in church was about desperation. Many of us have felt desperate about one thing or another in life, but the one thing we should seek in desperation.....many of us stray from. If you haven't guessed yet, I'm speaking about God.  You've probably heard the saying "desperate times,calls for desperate measures" right?  If you haven't, it basically expresses the notion that a desperate individual will do anything it takes to rectify their circumstances.

Why don't we think of placing it in God's hands first? No matter how tough the situation may be, it can never stand a match with the Lord. However, we choose to beat around the bush in attempts to solve our own problems. Our efforts may work from time to time, but ultimately we come out on the losing end of us vs. our problems. Its time to get desperate and seek the face of the creator.

One of the best biblical examples of someone who got desperate before God was none other than David. If anyone has seen their fair share of tribulations, David is among them. As he faced life threatening situations, he called on the Lord in the face of his enemies. Throughout the book of Psalms, his vulnerability is on full display. We see King David begging the Lord to deliver him from the hands of those who sought to take his life. And, over and over again, we see David give praises to his almighty father as he raises his mighty hand to save him!

1 Samuel 17:37
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

Lately, I have been all too familiar with desperation....I have felt that crying out to my heavenly father is all that I can do. Even with my blessings, there are times when I feel desperate. Like David, and the many other biblical examples, God has ALWAYS come through for me. Maybe not in the way that I planned or expected, but he comes through nonetheless. 

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

It's okay to be desperate. We've all been there. Use times of desperation to call out to God and allow him to prove his power in your life. Your desperation is his opportunity to manifest his glory =)

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

July Fun

Hey everyone! I realize I have not made a post @ all for the month of July! There has been a lot going on, basically me trying to take care of business while enjoying my summer. I was blessed to be able to do some traveling this summer. So far, I've gone to Florida, Tennessee, and Maryland. I would have loved to do even more traveling since it had been a while since I had taken a trip, but I'm grateful for the going where I went. Traveling, to me, is therapeutic. Getting away from our typical,everyday scenery does wonders for our state of mind. We're often able to release stress and unwind while on vacation, even if the trip is for a short time.

Getting away from my everyday routine was awesome, but I must say I enjoyed being able to spend time with family. I was able to see my twin brother in Tennessee as well as 2 of my brothers, 2 of my cousins, and my baby niece in MD. I also was able to get in a pool after what seemed like decades of not getting in a pool. lol. It was fun....relaxing.....and much needed. I thank God for bringing us safely to and from our destinations, and for the opportunity to get away.

I don't have any trips planned for the rest of the summer, but the upcoming Month is filled with Birthdays! I hope you all have been enjoying your summer. God bless!


Even Jesus needed time to get away ;-)
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³²  And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.( Mark 6:30)

                    

                                           Pics from my trip to MD :-)


Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Congratulations! :-)

My nephew was blessed to be able to graduate this past weekend from High School! I'm so proud of him, he's isn't far from me in age, and it has been a pleasure watching him grow into such a handsome and intelligent young man. Go CJ, reach the stars!

My niece Dominique, Cedric(CJ), and I :-)

Thoughts

Life has a way of making us conjure up all kinds of thoughts. Positive, negative, thought-provoking, confusing, humorous, etc. As I sit with my niece and watch children's entertainment, many thoughts run through my mind. Lately my mood has been a bit peculiar due to recent events. I make it a point to try to remain positive.... always. As I'm merely human and will experience a variety of emotions, I've found that my positivity has been tested.

I accept these tests, as I know they will strengthen my character. I admit, it's tough having those close to you annoy or hurt you, but there's a blessing in every lesson. I always try to think of Jesus and his PERFECT character. If anyone was annoyed, hurt, or betrayed, it was him. Despite it all, he remained humble and walked in love. Wow. I'm in awe of such perseverance. On top of enduring the pain, he died for the very ones who inflicted it on him. He even went as far saying love those who are cruel or unkind to you.

<< Matthew 5 >> New International Version 1984 44But I tell you: Love your enemiesi and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Every thought I have about life comes back to the love of Christ. NO matter how happy,sad, rich,poor, high or low I am, I can never forget about the one who loves me more than anyone else. I've been blessed with family and friends, but no love can compare to God's love.

Funny. This post took an entirely different direction than I intended. I pray that whoever reads this may experience the peace in knowing Christ, and that whatever it is that you may be going through will pass. Stay strong and know that there is nothing that God can't do. Regardless of what may be going on in the world, Christ's strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Used To Be a Hypocrite

hyp·o·crite

 noun \ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit\

Definition of HYPOCRITE

1

: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

2

: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Hypocrite. Such a bold word. One that forces you to either judge others or examine yourself. No one wants to be a hypocrite, but many of us have been in some way shape or form. The good news is, once you realize the error of your ways.....you can reform!


My good friend/sis in Christ, Carla J, created an awesome poem about hypocrites that invokes many emotions while delivering truth. Hope you enjoy!

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Bold,Unique....Love for Jesus

Hey Everyone!

I'm sure you all are wondering what exactly the title of this blog post signifies....."Bold,Unique....Love for Jesus." These are just a few of the adjectives I'd use to describe my sister in Christ, Tierra, and her new album "Outta My Witts." Tierra displays a strong propensity to light the fire of many youngsters for Jesus Christ. She desires young people, as well as older people, to be able to know the Lord while having a fun,fresh message that they can relate to.

Her new album does just that. I will post a link to her album promo, as well as a brief bio and place where you can purchase the album for yourself if you'd like.

http://www.societyrevival.com/events/tete-out-of-my-witts/




Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Completion

Hey everyone!

I want to wish all Mother's a happy Mother's Day! Mothers are truly a blessing. I'm beyond blessed to have my mother. She's been my teacher, nurturer, spiritual mentor, and biggest supporter my entire life. She's prayed for me through so many trials, and I believe her love and care has been a big part of the reason that I've been so blessed. I love my mom.

I also wanted to share that by the grace of God, I graduated yesterday! It has been a long, tumultuous journey...but, my hard work has paid off. Yesterday was a beautiful day. Some relatives from out of town came to see me graduate, and I got to share the day with close friends and family after the ceremony.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to have completed my degree, although there were many rough times along the way. May God continue to mold me and lead me in the direction he wants me to go. I pray the same thing for everyone who may read this! Here are a few pics from yesterday:

        
                                                                     Tasha and I

                                                                     Amber and I

                    Me with one of the toughest Professors Ever! We nicknamed him "Dream Crusher" ha ha:-)

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Peace and Blessings, Dany

One Lovely Blog Award:-)

I am blessed and honored to reveal that I have been awarded the "One Lovely Blog" award. In the world of blogging many things occur, including the giving of awards. I find this to be quite sweet. It's always nice to know that your time and efforts are not unappreciated, although I'm sure most bloggers would agree that we'd still do what we do with our without the awards...still nice though!

I want to thank an awesome blogger/sister in Christ, SpecialK for giving me this awesome award. I believe the award requires 7 random facts about yourself, along with passing the award on to a few other bloggers. Here goes:

     1.I LOVE to sing. I've been debating on whether or not I'll virally share my gift. ha ha:)
     2.I love people....all people. I'm not only nice to those I know personally, but I love meeting people.
     3. I don't eat beef or pork. I've been toying with the notion of becoming a vegetarian.
     4.I love to exercise: including dancing and skating
     5.I don't like airplanes very much :-/
     6.I've read the entire bible.It took me about a year. I've always wanted to do it, and I feel that @ first, I did it for the sake of reading the entire word of God. Now, I read for more clarity and understanding :-)
      7.I practice abstinence. I really love the Lord, and I see that this is an area that is often neglected in this day and age,even by believers.I plan to wait until marriage to share myself with the man God has for me:-)
(P.S)If you haven't waited, it's never too late to practice celibacy, and allow God to mold you into the person he wants you to be, so that you and whoever you choose to share your life with may become one in his perfect timing.


I'd like to pass this award to:

Tiffani: The Beautiful Life,  http://tiffani-anderson.blogspot.com/

Michaeline: Divine Rebellion, http://divinerebellion.blogspot.com/

Ms. Tapootie: Ms Tapootie's Blog, http://tapootie.blogspot.com/

Jynkx: What you Talkin Bout, Jynkx?  http://msjynkx.blogspot.com/

Michelle: Pulling Empty Wagons, http://msjaymichelle.blogspot.com/

CBCLady: http://cbclady.blogspot.com/


There are many other bloggers deserving of this award(Some may have already received it), but these are some of the few who I'd like to bless with this honor:-)

Thanks again, Special K!!!(You can check out her blog here:
http://healthyhairbyspecialk.blogspot.com/

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

The Main Thing!

Hello All,

As mentioned in an earlier post, I have been reading a wonderful devotional book called Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. So many of these daily devotionals have been a blessing to me, but this is another one I thought I 'd share with you all. It emphasizes the fact that God is the single most important entity in our lives:
                                   
                                                 Seek the One Thing


One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and(insistently) require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord[in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty[the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider,and inquire in His temple.
           Psalm 27:4

If you could ask for only one thing in life, what would it be? David said there was only one thing he sought after: to dwell in God's presence. Truly, to know God is the highest calling we have.
   We can get so distracted with life that we neglect the most important thing--spending time with God, knowing Him, appreciating Him, seeking his wisdom.
   How foolish we are to spend our lives seeking those things that can not satisfy while we ignore God, the "One Thing" Who can give us great joy, peace, satisfaction, and contentment. The world is filled with empty people who are trying to satisfy the voids in their lives with a new car, a promotion, a relationship or some other thing. Their efforts to find fulfillment in those things never work. They never know the joy of seeking the "One Thing" they really need. Each of us has a God-shaped hole inside, and nothing can fill it except God Himself. No matter what else we try to fill it with, we will remain empty and frustrated.
    If God is on your list of things to seek but not at the top, I encourage you to move everything around and put it all after Him. If you will put Him first in everything you do, you will be blessed beyond measure.

Love God Today: "Lord, I will seek You as my One Thing above everything else. You are my number one priority."


-Joyce Meyer

I hope this blesses someone as much as it did myself. I can never be reminded enough to put Christ first. Each day is a new day to refresh our relationship with the father, just as we would with anyone else whom we love. I've noticed that when my focus is God-centered, things fall into place and I'm able to think more clearly. God is truly all we need, and he takes care of all of our needs if we let him. Placing him first allows us to take a backseat while he does what he does best! There's no better place to be than in the presence of God. That doesn't just mean @ church or in prayer, although those are great ways to be near him and sense his presence. But, when you build a relationship with the father, you start to feel his presence EVERYWHERE you are: work, home,school,shopping,out to eat, at the movies, wherever you are, you can take the Lord with you!

Peace and Blessings,
Dany

Hello!

Hey Everyone!

Wow, I haven't made a post since my birthday. It's been about two weeks, and God has been good....as always. I was blessed to enjoy beautiful weather that day. It started out with scattered t-storms, but before our dinner @ 3pm, the weather was as beautiful as God wanted it to be! ha ha:-)

I mentioned that I might share some pictures from our special day, so here are some pictures:

This is me and some of my closest friends/sisters in Christ! From Left: Amber,Jessica,Yours Truly, and Jennifer :)

Us again, and @ the end is my lovely older sis Dawn.Love her soooo much:)

 Daniel decided to jump in the pic! Hey, it was his birthday too! Love my brother, grateful he was able to come to town :-)

This is one of my favorites! My sister wanted to take a picture with her younger twin siblings before she and her husband had to leave. We are the youngest three of nine children! All of them couldn't make it, some live out of town,my eldest sister was there too, and my two other brothers who live here saw us later that day :-)


I'm thanking God for allowing me to see another day, another year....I will continue to try to live a life pleasing to him! I'm a work in progress, as we all are, but the keyword is....PROGRESS. Each day I learn something new, allowing God to mold me into the woman he wants me to be. My prayer is that I continue to strive to be more Christlike each day. I'm grateful for God's lOVE,all my blessings: most importantly, family and friends.




Peace and Blessings,
Dany

Birthday!

Hello All!

Today is my birthday! The Lord has blessed me to see yet another day. I'm thankful for everything he has done for me. Birthday's are a great time to reflect over your life. Coincidentally, many of my posts lately have discussed purpose and such. I am ready to receive all that is in store, and I pray that the Lord's will reigns in my life.

My twin brother was able to come to town for our birthday, so I am happy about that! I haven't seen him in about 2 years. As we grow older, we see that life's responsibilities( school and work) can consume much of our time, but we never want to get too busy for one another. I love him very much.

We will be heading out for dinner with family and friends in about an hour. I may try and post some pics up. I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday!

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Seasons

Hey Everyone!

I haven't been able to post much lately. Partly because I have such a hectic schedule, and because I want my posts to have substance( although random posts are good too). I've mentioned more than once on this blog that I am seeking the Lord in many areas in my life. We've all heard the concept of "seasons" before right? Life is full of seasons. As I grow older, I see the relevance to this spiritual theory more and more in my life.

For example, as graduation, my birthday, and other occasions approach, I can sense that I am in a transition season. I can feel the Lord tugging on my heart, trying to get me to move into the place that he wants me to be. Again, Proverbs 3:5-6 is constantly a reminder for me to surrender my all to the Lord. I know that as long as I remain focused and prayerful, I cannot go wrong.

I'm going to enjoy each season I'm in because I know that each and every one of them are meant to mold me into the woman God has called me to be. My friends and I often have conversation about what the future holds....Things like marriage and career plans always come into the conversation. I always try to remember that everything happens in Gods timing....In the right season!

I'm using this time to grow spiritually,mentally, and physically so that I'll be prepared for each season from here on out. What are you going to do in this season of your life?

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Happy Resurrection Day!

I hope everyone takes the time out, not only today, but EVERYDAY to remember the great sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross for EVERYONE. He gave up his life for our sins, and rose again. Truly an awesome testament of love.

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Happy Good Friday!

Hey everyone!

Today marks the anniversary of one of the most SIGNIFICANT days in history. As a believer in Christ, this momentous day always helps me to put my life into perspective. As sinners, where would we be has Christ not gone and died for ALL of our sins? Regardless of if we believe in him or not, he died for YOU and Me. As a kid, I grew up in church celebrating Good Friday and Easter(Resurrection Sunday) without fully realizing the magnitude of the occasions. As an adult, with a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, it's hard for me not to think of this day...EVERYDAY, and thank the LOrd for his sacrificial love. There is no "greater love for a man than to lay down his life for his friend" (John 15:13). Not only did Jesus Christ lay down his life for his friends, but for the very people that made it their life's missions to slander,hate,abuse, and eventually kill him. Some of his last words on the cross were utterances of forgiveness to the father on their behalf...."forgive them father, for they know not what they are doing"( Luke 23:34).

I can't imagine doing what Jesus did. Although I have been called the "nicest" person by many, I still could not imagine giving up my LIFE for those who despise me. That takes a special,one-of-a-kind type of love......a love like that is worth living my life for, worth laying down my desires and STRIVING to repay. I love Jesus so much, and I'm so thankful that he saw through the pain and deception, and carried out his father's will....JUST...BECAUSE.....HE LOVES US.Amen.

(Image is from the movie Passion of the Christ)

Trust

Today was kind of a rough day for me.....I mentioned in another post that I have been seeking God's divine purpose for my life. I know that the enemy does not want this to be fulfilled, so he will do whatever he can to cause confusion. Confusion can come in the form of distractions:death,sickness, sadness....Anything that the enemy can use to keep us from focusing on God.  The word of God warns us the enemy wants to destroy us.....COMPLETELY!

John 10:10
"The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full."

Knowing what I know about forces that aim to kill God-given purpose, I know that I must remain prayerful and obedient to the will of God. Today, many of the things that I have been uncertain about lately seemed to cause much discord between me and one of my loved ones. I felt sad and frustrated, but in my spirit I just wanted the Lord to give me peace about the situation.

A scripture that has always resonated in times like this is Proverbs 3:5-6 : "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight." I Trust that God has my best interest at heart. I will continue to seek him in all that I do.....You should try it, hasn't failed me yet!

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

The Golden Rule

Hello!

I have been reading a daily devotional by Joyce Meyer titled Love Out Loud. The book so far has been a tremendous blessing, daily giving wise words about Loving God, Loving Yourself, and Loving others. I would like to share one of the devotions I just read:

                                                  The Golden Rule
  So then, whatever you desire that others would to to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is(sums up) the Law and the Prophets.
                                                                                                                Matthew 7:12

Today's scripture is often called the "Golden Tule," meaning that if we follow this one principle, everything will work out much better.
    Most people treat others the way they are being treated, but God's principle is the exact opposite. We are not to treat people the way they treat us, but as we want to be treated. This is not easy to do. In order to obey God, we must move beyond feelings and what seems fair. If people mistreat us, God ells us to forgive them, pray for, and bless them. I don't think anybody "feels" like doing that, but if you have ever tried it, you know that it releases joy in your life and gives God the opportunity to deal with the person who mistreated you.
     Imagine what would happen in the world if everyone operated by the Golden Rule. Everyone would be giving instead of just taking. We would be merciful because we all want mercy. Living this way would set us free from selfish living, the root of all of our unhappiness. Jesus said that in order to follow him we must forget about ourselves. Sadly, most of us stay busy trying to take care of ourselves and make sure nobody mistreats or takes advantage of us. We need to deposit ourselves with God, retire from self-care, and obey the Golden Rule.

Love Others Today: "Father, make me aware of other people's needs and feelings, and help me treat them the way I would like to be treated."


-Joyce Meyer


I hope you all are as blessed by this as I was! It's always nice to have reminders, things that help put the focus where it should be:-)

God bless,

Dany

Clarity

For most of us, clarity is necessary. Whether it be directions on how to get from point a to point b, an understanding of a homework assignment, answers to how we feel about one another, or our faith, we like to have clarity. Lately, I've realized that clarity can be used as a crutch. For example, one may say that they CANNOT move on from a given situation until they have clarity.While this is true to an extent, I believe that we should be able to move forward in life, even if we don't have all the answers. Our desire for clarity can turn into a deep rooted worry about the future. Being overcome with these emotions does nothing to help our circumstances. We have the power to think positively and defeat our negative thoughts. In all things, clear and unclear, we should trust that the Lord is in control. He sees what we cannot, and he will work things out for our better if/when we allow him to.

Here are a few relevant scriptures to this topic:

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

1 Corinthians 13:12 
Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Romans 8:28

 ²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Blessings,

Dany

Dope!!!

Ok, so as a young Christian, I'm always excited to see members of the body of Christ representing to the world where "cool" originates. I was introduced to some amazing new music at youth service last night. This young,talented Christian rapper, "Young Chozen" has an awesome new song that is sure to be a hit among young Christians, while drawing those who don't know the Lord. Check it out:

If you enjoyed the video, you can watch him discussing his entire album, and also click a link to purchase it here:

Confirmation and Time

I'm a firm believer that God often sends us confirmation. When we pray in sincerity, seeking an answer and willing to act in faith, the Lord doesn't leave us hanging. He knows and understands that we need a sign. In one of my posts I mentioned that I'm seeking divine purpose and direction. More and more, lately, I see the Lord lining things up in my life, making my pathway clear. I've met some awesome people, been given amazing opportunities, and have truly felt the peace that the word of God tells us about(Philippians 4:7). I encourage anyone who may read this to pray and sincerely seek the Lords will to be done in your life.Again, we all have a purpose.

 At yesterday's youth service, the Pastor spoke about time. He pulled many scriptures about time, and how we shouldn't waste it. The word of God is very clear about how little time we actually have here on earth, and how we should use it wisely. This resonated with me, as it has been strongly on my spirit to do more for the Lord. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day: school, work, spending time with family and friends, shopping, eating,  movies, internet, enjoying the weather....all these things are beautiful and can be fulfilling, but without God EVERYTHING is incomplete. It is possible to do all of these things, while still placing God at the center.

I'd like to share some scriptures relating to time and purpose:

Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Psalm 39:4-5
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.

Proverbs 13:4
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

James 4:13-17
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money" Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Psalm 90:10
The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Ecclesiastes 3:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

1 Timothy 4:14-16
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Hebrews 6:11-12
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Peace and Blessings,


Dany

Beautiful Day!

The Weather has been incredibly beautiful for this time of year. Today is the official first day of spring. Spring is my favorite season! Not just because I was born in spring(wink), but the weather is gorgeous, and I like that everything comes to life and looks amazing.Flowers, green grass, cool breezes, walks in the park, relaxing outside, and beautiful sunshine are a few things that contribute to this awesome time of year. As my last semester in college winds down, I get to not only celebrate and reflect on achievements and endurance, but I'll also cross the finish line while enjoying my favorite time of year.

Blessings,

Dany

Direction

I'm at a point in my life where I am seeking divine direction. I believe we all have a purpose, and it is important for us to seek out that purpose. How does one seek direction and purpose? This would be answered in many ways by many different people. My answer is: prayer. I have faith that through prayer and obedience, the Lord will reveal his plans for us. The word of God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God is very much concerned about our future. I believe many of us only think the Lord is concerned about us giving our lives to him, living as a Christian should, but everything else is left up to us. While we all have free will to do as we please, God does have plans for us. We have to learn those plans, and again, through prayer and obedience, we have hope for the future as those plans are uncovered.

I spoke with a Pastor yesterday at church, and he prayed over my friend and I. He let us know that this period that we are in is very crucial for our spiritual,mental,physical,and emotional growth. He let us know that many things will come against us, but we have to stand boldly and confidently in the word of God. I can see that the LOrd is gradually revealing to me what he has planned for me...in the meantime, I'll be walking in prayer, obedience, and love.

Peace and Blessings,
Dany

Amazing

Greetings All,

I've come across some of her spoken word before, and I wanted to share with you all an amazing poet/lyricist, Janette. Janette works closely with P4CM( Passion 4 Christ Movement) to spread the truth of the word of God through amazing poetry. In this particular poem she discusses how to be a Proverbs 31 woman(virtuous) in today's society. She has another amazing poem "I will wait for You" that you can check out @ your own leisure. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Peace and Blessings,

Dany