Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Reflection...This was one of my favorite days of 2011. Such insight or moments of reflections causes me to be ashamed... that I'm not Thankful enough!

Life on earth is but a vapor, but life with God is eternally everlasting. Ah,h,h. I praise the Lord for Kodak moments of His Grace...His Love. And I saw a glimpse of His love and peace one day last year.  It was on a long flight from the west coast to the east coast, allowing me the privilege to speak of God's Truth, His Love... to a tender soul (who I... would discovered dying from Aids). I had boldly asked God to please give me an divine appointment with this soul. I only wanted to let them know of a place my Lord Jesus had prepared for all of us who desire to receive , A home without the pain of sickness, rejection, hate or prejudice. A home of God's love, forgiveness, restoration and redemption. Suddenly, the opportunity opened.

The dear soul allowed me to pray for them and stated they knew Jesus the Christ. My heart jump with joy. It was revealed that though they had quite an exciting life of pleasure and fun, time had fast forwarded for them to leave earlier than they had hoped... it was coming to an end. They said they had no fear for they knew Jesus and His Father (God) is waiting for him. Suddenly, I heard a song in my heart I had shared with a person I ministered to, to let them know. Daddy's (God the Father) is wide opened with love always ready to receive you. He never leave us...we leave Him. He is always ready to take our hand and lead us to safety...if we will come.  In fact, there is nothing that can keep His love from us.  He even provided Jesus the Christ to atone for the sins I... we all have committed...God Loves the tender soul on the plane, no matter what they done. God loves you, me...all. It is wonderful to know A Holy God arms is wide opened for us...even when we didn't want Him. Always calling us to come home to Daddy.


The Blessing for me in this sweet encounter is that I was able to say... 'I don't know who will go home first, but I know I will see you again. Because He has prepared a home for the whole family of God...and we are family."


Ah-h-h, that encounter did wonders for my soul and I'm so glad to know God. Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving With Love Ones, Family and Friends :-)!  Don't Forget To Count Our Blessings...Even In The Storms.  Blessings My Friends! ~Doll

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Psalms107:17-22
17) Fools suffered because of their disobedience and because of their crimes. 18)  All food was disgusting to them, and they came near death's gates. 19)  In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He saved them from their troubles.
20)  He sent his message and healed them. He rescued them from the grave. 21)  Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy. He performed his miracles for Adam's descendants. 22)  Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice. Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

God Bottles Our Tears

"A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven"~Charles R. Swindoll  
  Psalms 56:8  (You have kept a record of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. They are already in your book.)
 
What a wonderful morn, there is a low ceiling of clouds hovering over the area where we live...and though the fog is moving out, it is very apparent it is about to rain. It says in the bible how God bottles our tears... I love thinking of rain as the releasing of our tears unto the earth. Yes, I truly appreciate the rain, I use to think about all the tears through out the earth...individuals looking up to the heavens...yet, many not knowing why? Nevertheless...still looking up for relief. Then there are some who understands God cares and is monitoring the situation and that He alone has the answers for their circumstances. But, again, there are those who wonder does anyone really care...that there is no hope and they are so alone. But the truth is God does Care...He is a God of Compassion and I do believe He cries for us as well...that so many people fail to realize He is real...that He does exist...but a gentleman and will not go where He is not wanted, unless there is someone will to stand in the breach...waiting to be asked into their circumstances...their hearts... their lives. Do give you cares to the Lord, invite Him into every area of your life the painful places, uncertain areas, joyful moments...just give Him your all. Call out the Name of Jesus and be save and go to God the Father in Jesus Name and let your request be told to Him! Amen! Do have an awesome weekend! Blessings~Doll.
For it is written: John 11:35 JESUS WEPT. Even better it is written about the heart of God towards a people of unbelief in the book of Luke 19:41 " And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it",

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Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Luk 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Luk 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Luk 19:41 And when he (JESUS)was come near, he beheld the city, and WEPT OVER IT,
Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
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John 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Joh 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Joh 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Joh 11:35 JESUS WEPT.
Joh 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Joh 11:37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
Joh 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Joh 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Life Is But A Vapor...Don't Allow Your God Given Purposes To Be Buried, Without Sowing It Where God Has Called You To Sow It.

Just hanging out in the book of James today... you know one of the books in the New Testament of God's love letter to us.  In fact, in James 4:13-15 it is written:
James 4:13) "Now listen to me, you that say, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.14) You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like vapor...a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. 15) What you should say is this: "If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that."
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Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints
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Life Is But A Vapor... Yet, Her Life Was Not In Vain...She Sowed Seeds Of Love!

It was only several years ago those verses comforted my heart.  Yes, it seemed just like yesterday when my heart sank at the news of a co-worker I truly enjoyed working beside, passed away. While on travel for business in another city and state, far away from family and love ones, she apparently collapsed while running several miles. She was discovered lying unconscious on the ground. It had recently become her goal to get back in shape to run a marathon, as she once did in younger years ( she was an avid runner).

Yes, her death has left a hole in most of her workers day, including mine. And though I know the promise for those of us who believe in eternal life and present with the Lord through our belief in Christ Jesus as The Only Begotten... her absence in the body caused me to grieve. Selfishly, I wanted to see her here and not just for her daughter and immediate family either. Why? Because I wanted her to experience a rich and fulfilling life as a helpmate and wife (these were aspirations she shared with me while working together on a trip to L.A.  In fact it would be several months earlier before her departure). Yet, who do I think I am? Only God has the right to author and finish her faith... her life. In humility I repented, and accepted that God's will be done. Of course, in the death of individuals I've admired and seen the joy they've given to so many people, my finite mind tries to comprehend the question...Why God...why now? Of course, He is never obligated to answer me. Yet all the while I hope He'll enlighten my mind as to why.

I was privileged to have traveled for work to Los Angeles, CA, with her several months ago. We shared various ideas and dreams placed in our heart. She basically was focusing on the dreams she had for her little girl (a child she was blessed to adopt as a single parent, believe 8 years ago). She spoke of the challenges she had raising her as a single mother and how she never regretted her decision do so. The beautiful stories she shared with me about the child and her were so inspiring, that I look forward to doing the same in God's appointed time. And I, in my usual 'Hello Dolly' mode (she was a matchmaker), asked her to begin to petition to God for a spouse to share parenthood with.

Suddenly, I am reminded life is just a vapor. It is written in James 4:14: ' You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like vapor...a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears'.

We must purpose to make most of our moments and follow through on our God given purposes. Therefore, if the importation of our purpose,desire or idea originated with God, shouldn't we seek Him for wisdom and instructions to bringing the vision to pass?

When I think of my co-worker, and the richness of her life... a richness not expressed in monetary gain, but in saving a life... a soul. Yes, she is richer in saving this child... her child from being aborted from the hands of someone who thought her existence an inconvenience. Yes, she sowed her love, time, finances and life into a child whose biological mother stated: ' she could not afford to have another child, when she could not really afford the ones she already have'. Yes, maybe this one act alone was the divine reason for her existence... her God given purpose: ' to be available and ready to snatch her adopted daughter from the fate of being aborted. May the seeds of love in this child's life never return empty, but ignite her to seek God's divine purpose for her life as she remember the wonderful mother the Lord blessed her with.


On that note, may we also discover our God given purposes and allow God to help us bring them to pass, after all, tomorrow is not promised and it arrives sooner than we realize. May the purposes written on the tablets of our hearts never be buried with us. May we finish strong, sowing good seeds into the lives of the next generation.

Blessings my friends, it is my prayer (beginning with me)...we all recognize our purposes and JUST DO IT! LIKE A NIKE MOMENT.

Lovingly In Christ Jesus,
- Doll

Have a Fit and Fabulous Life

Monday, September 26, 2011

You Are Wonderful And Marvelously Made...Encourage And Teach Your Children To Appreciate,Celebrate And Take Care Of Their Bodies

Parents please, please, and please, don't allow another entity(television, magazines, video games, the school system or  peers,etc...) dictated how your children perceive themselves. Make it your mission to be the one and make sure you equip yourself to do it correctly.  Therefore, teach your kids to love what God has created, and that they are unique and not to look or be like very one else.  Tell them that: ' You Are Wonderful And Marvelously Made.  Encourage and teach your children (and it is never to late to teach yourself), to appreciate, celebrate and take care of the bodies God has given them.


If only my mother knew what parents are learning now.  I said this because unbeknown to herself, she did a lot of damage when it came to how her children saw themselves when they looked into the mirror.  It wasn't until I  began to clean my mind with how God viewed me... (all of us), that I was able to accept who I was designed to look like and be.


Don't get me wrong.  My mother was an awesome mother.  She was a housewife who made her whole life perfecting her children to be "SOMEBODY".  She invested a lot of her time with our studies so we would do well on our SAT, in hopes we would look good on paper to receive scholarships for school (and two us received them, my brother and I).  But remember, your goals may not be your children goals and sometimes your agenda will backfire.  Realize we all should be on God's agenda of becoming who He called  us to be, and not on someone's agenda. Instead, it would be wiser to help everyone discover their God given potential and help them push forward in that particular area.


And  by God's grace and mercy I am not angry with my mother, but love her more today.  She knew not what she was doing.  In fact, she was just as critical and  obsessed with her appearance as she was with ours.  As an adult I am now empowered to understand clearly her reasoning and freed to not own it.  I understand we  were her little trophies and represented her.  We had to be a cut above what she considered perfection.  She meant no harm, for my mother loves her children greatly.  However,  her constant comments about whatever physical attribute she thought substandard, affected us...it affected how I saw myself when I looked in the mirror.


As woman I suffered from a eating disorder, bulimia.  I hated my athletic built and wanted to have a willowy... twiggy frame like the girls my mother admired in the magazine or on the movie screen.  So I went off into adulthood, thinking I am totally unattractive, though people would ask me to model.  And no matter how many times people would speak about my attractiveness, I just could not see what they were talking about.  Why?  Because my mother's voice within my heart was louder than the compliments of strangers. By God's grace I no longer suffer from an eating disorder, nor do I think about whether or not I'm attractive.  Now I focus on obtaining and maintaining a beautiful spirit...heart and staying physically youthful, fit and healthy to be able to fulfill my God-given purpose.  How about you?


So be empowered with the wisdom to say and make the right choices for yourself and children to live not just a longer life span, but a healthier one.  Your kids look up to you and emulate your own habits. That means that whatever lifestyle you live, whether you smoke, eat healthy, watch too much TV or even complain about your appearance, your kids will likely grow up doing the same.


Body image is how a person sees herself in the mirror, or the image of herself in her own head. It deals with what she believes, remembers, assumes and feels about her appearance and body. Adults and children can have either positive or negative body images. A negative image is distorted, causing a child to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or self-conscious about how they look. These feelings can lead to more serious problems, such as depression, anxiety, isolation or even eating disorders.


Now I will share with you some very sound information I read from a Spark Article to help your children enhance their own body image by starting with your own. Your children will see how you view your own body in a positive light and learn to do the same. Here are some ideas to get you started:


  • Stop picking yourself apart. Look at your body as a whole and appreciate all the positive attributes you have instead of focusing on the negative parts that you're unhappy with.
  • Consider the marvelous functions of your body. There are millions of microscopic functions that go on in our bodies every day, and you don't even have to think about them. They just happen! How much time are you spending each day worrying about your weight, your body shape, the size of your rear? Maybe you're supposed to be the first female president, but you'll never know because you're too busy obsessing about your abs!
  • Get real. Did you know that most of the images you see on television, movies and magazines aren't even real? A model for a magazine cover goes through hours of professional hair and make-up, top photographers, and professional lighting, and that's all before the chosen photo goes to a company where they remove stray hairs, wrinkles, blemishes and "extra" curves. Find real role models who emulate the qualities you desire.
  • Change your inner dialogue. Don't speak to yourself in a negative way if you wouldn't speak to your friends, mother, or children that way. Choose to believe that you are worth taking care of and that you have the right to be respected and treated with dignity.
  • Take care of your body. Diets, pills, quick-fixes, binging, not exercising, over-exercising--all these things disrespect one of the greatest gifts you have been given--your body! You only get one per lifetime, so give it the respect it deserves. You will not only feel better, but you'll be a more positive role model for your kids.
 So I hope this wonderful information is a blessing to you. I am no longer a prison to being obsessed with my the reflection in the mirror.  I no longer want to be twiggy thin.  I want to fit and healthy... the me... God designed me to be.  Yes,  God's Truth has empowered me to take the responsibility to apply truth to my life about myself and walk in the freedom, that we all are beautiful and wonderfully made.  And on that note mothers do encourage fathers or grandfathers to tell the little ones how special and beautiful they are.  Positive male role models are very important to boys and girls alike.  Doing so contributes to a healthy esteem and protects them from being gullible or deceived by flattering lips of a charmer.


Do have a Fit and Fabulous Day!
Love ya'll,
-Doll


Remember it is written:


Psalms 139:13-17


13) For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.
 14)  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
 15)  My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the  depths of the earth,
 16)  Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
 17)  How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!