Chapter 17-Lord Protect me and All I Care About

Lord Protect me and All I Care About. This is a short but very powerful chapter. Reading this chapter made me realize that there is so much we take for granted and not necessarily praising God for. Let’s reflect for a second ladies, just think for a second about the last five years, think about everybody you came in contact with or knew, now think for another second are we here with all these people? Now for another second think about the news and think about every incident reported, whether it being wars, deaths, shooting , natural disasters and what not . Ladies do you see where am going with this? Count how many times you taught it was it and you screamed or said to your self “in the name of Jesus” or my favorite saying “it will not be my portion today God” and nothing happened? This is because God protect us and answers our prayers instantly in times of Crisis .We should consider our selves very lucky and thank the POWER and BLOOD of GOD for the protection he send his Guardian Angels to do for us.

God is great and he works in so many mysterious ways. There are many instance things could have happened to us but he protected each one of us from it. God forbid but there were times where you saw your whole life flash in front of you just like Stormie but BABA GOD came to our rescue. Guys as funny as it may sound and you have all rights to laugh because I laughed my self and like Vanessa always say Nana why does things like this always happen to you. Good question only if I knew the answer. Two Saturdays ago Chicago had a series of weather changes it snowed, it got really cold, it rained and t it got really slippery and looked like an ice ring outside. On my way to visit a good friend of mine and her children I slipped from the top of the stairs outside flew up up in the air and landed on the bottom of the stairs extra hard on my posterior ( oh it really hurts and I am still paying the price). Ladies am not exaggerating I tried to get up and something pulled me back, so I sat right back and reflected for a second and said God please help me .So I tried a second time and I got up even though it my spine and  bum was in massive pain. I put a smile on my face and said Thank you Lord and walked carefully for the rest of my journey. To cut the long story short, the next day I went to braid my hair and the braider shared a sad story with me about how a Togolese man was pronounced dead the night before from slipping from the stairs. I shared my funny but serious fall with my sister as well, she told me to consider my self lucky and how years back a friend’s mum slipped in the snow as well and lost her memory. This could have been me y’all but God with his power did not let it be my portion. We need to thank him everyday. Like the book said part of being protected by God has to do with obeying and living in his will.. I for one know am guilty and take things for granted but reading this has been an eye opener for me to Thank and walk in his will more so should all of us.

 

I will like to end my post today with the bible versus Stormie stated “The fear of LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one way from the snare of death” (Proverbs 14:26-27). And always remember, when we have our eyes on God, He keeps and eye on us.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL CHICAS AND LOVE YALL. AND PLEASE BE CAREFUL THESE LAST FEW WEEKS OF WINTER>

Chapter 16 - Lord Keep Me in the Center of Your Will

This chapter kinda ties with Chapter 14 - Lord, Move Me into the Purpose for which I was Created). Much of this chapter also reflects the revolution occurring at my church - Revolution des Amoureux de Dieu (Revolution of God's lovers ..?); my pastor has been preaching a lot about asking and inquiring God's will at all times and that the prayer of a true lover starts with 

              " Our Father in heaven,

                  hallowed be Your name.

                  Your kingdom come,

                  Your will be done  on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN"

just like Jesus has taught us to pray. As lovers, we want to please the One we love, not ourselves; we are willing to give up our own selfish desires to fulfill His will in our lives. At times, it might not be easy (point #2) & that is when we ask Him to fill us with His love and allow us to become drunk of His love (when someone is drunk, they do things out of the ordinary, now imagine being drunk of His love!!?!)

Reading this chapter also gave me another sense of peace (in my life), especially with "killing, murdering, shooting" being very popular words in the news nowadays; I know that as long as I am walking in His will (or working on it), I am safe, for "God's will is a place of safety."

The prayer at the end was simply amazing again, from asking God to fill us with His knowledge, to letting Him know that His will, not ours, be done, to asking Him to align our hearts with His, to asking Him to direct our steps. It even concludes with "now" aka lets start aligning our lives with His will. I believe in the power of a prayer and I also believe that things are aligning themselves as each of us prayed this prayer (in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!!)

BeBlessed

Chapter 15: Lord Guide Me in All My Relationships

Who is your BFF?  That has a lot to say about you and where you are headed.  My pastor always says "hang with those who have your answers and get away from those who have your problems" to highlight the importance of who we associate with.  Those who we keep near and dear truly have an affect on us, oftentimes unsubconsciously.  It's really important that we ask God who we should have as friends and also be honest with ourselves when he reveals that to us.  Early in my college career I was talking to a guy I met through a good friend of mine.  The girl knew that I wanted to keep my virginity till I got married so she would try to convince me to just engage in oral sex with him.  This advice from her was out of good intent.  She loved me as a friend and wanted "the best" for me.  However, what the world sees as "the best" is not necessarily what God has for us.  Thank God I did not take her advice.  As hard as it was, I ended that friendship... not in a rude manner but by distancing myself.  Ending relationships/friendships that you know are not good for you are not fun or enjoyable and oftentime hurts! But it's very much necessary.  For the 1st half of my college years I didn't have any friends.  Most college students were into the party/club scene and I was really trying to live a life that was pure before God.  I spent many nights alone with no friends but all the time would pray for godly friends.  Eventually God sent them to me.  And like Stormie said, it doesn't have to be a lot of friends. Just a solid few.  

Reading this chapter made me realize that:

(1) I need to pray for the health of my friendships.  When I pray for my friends it's always for the situations that they may be facing and never for the actual health of my relationship.  My attitute was always more that: Some friendships are forever and some are seasonal.  Whenever hardships came by, I always thought that maybe my time with that friend had expired but never that it could be the devil's doing.  Some friendships are indeed seasonal so it will be important for us to know which become expired.  We need wisdom from God for that.

(2) I need to build a closer relationship with my brothers and sisters-in Christ from church. This doesn't mean that I will be extra close to all of them, but more so that I will at least have a compassionate heart towards them, pray for them, and be more friendly.  It's true that you never know what the person next to you may be going through and we have been assigned to the same house of God.  Stormie says "you will never be all that God created you to be if you are not connected to a spiritual family"... that's pretty deep!

(3) I need to pray for my old friends to be transformed.  Especially those from high school who I don't communicate much with anymore (it's been 10 years since high school... yikes!)

(4) I need widom as to which friends I should add. As I enter into marriage, I realize that I will need people that can boost me up in this area and help keep me accountable.  Also people to serve as mentors.

Sorry this was so long, guys lol.. Love you all! and HBD Vanessa!!

  I just recently found this song and I absolutely loved it, thought I should share it with you ladies. I hope it touches your heart because it touched mine.

Love,

Lucia

Lord Move Me into the Purpose for Which I was created

When I first read the title of this chapter I was so chocked because it’s exactly what I am fighting with at this moment in my life. I was very happy that I was chosen to do the post on this chapter because it gave me answers to some of my questions. Stormie in this chapter talks about: THE POWER OF PRAYING, EVERYONE HAVING A PURPOSE, KNOWING WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WHE ARE GOING, SURRENDERING OUR DREAMS, AND FINDING OUR PUROPOSES.

I never knew how powerful a prayer can actually be until recently. Starting from New Year’s Eve 2012-2013 I discovered that it’s only with prayers that we can overcome so many things in life. I always pray, but I’ve never prayed the way I am praying now, and I can see the effects of my stronger prayers. I can assure you that my faith has increased and I am no longer doubtful. When I pray for something I know that God has heard the prayer and I will get the needed response to it. When Stormie describes how she always prayed for her kids, I could totally relate to her story (NO I DON’T HAVE KIDS lol).  My mother is one of the most powerful praying woman I’ve known so far and until today the woman always enters my room in the middle of the night or early in the morning and places her hands on me while I am sleeping to pray for me and my siblings. I remember when I was younger she always told me that “You should always thank God that you are growing to know the his path, and that I discovered Jesus when you are still young to direct you to his path, I never had anyone to teach me what I am teaching you, whatever it is that I can’t give you, you know how to ask God for to provide it for you.” Today I am really glad that I have a mother that prays for me, and taught me the right direction at a young age and reading what Stormie has writing gives the motivation to pray for my kids as well. Praying for them it will be like having a separate bank account to save up for the college tuitions, its’ leaving them in a secure hands of God so their path is to go straight to where the light of God is.  At times we walk around and go by a day without any troubles or any worries, we leave our homes and forget to at least say “GOD PROTECT ME” but yet we have a good day. It’s not because of us at times but because someone somewhere has taken the time to pray for us and leave our journeys in God’s hands. I Know I am guilty of leaving the house and not saying a single word to God (BAD HABIT), but the thought of knowing that my mother never fails to pray for me gives me security and assurance that nothing can go wrong.

Stormie talks about knowing our purpose, and direction, leaving our dreams into Gods Hands. Life without God is pointless, and living by our understanding is even worse. We all have purpose in this life, and until we discover what our purpose is there is no way we can put our life to good use. Leaving our dreams and plans in Gods hand and let him do things his own way is the least we can do. During the New Years’ Eve celebration at church this year, there was something the pastor said that caught my attention. Often times when is around this time of the year we write down what “WE” want God to do for us, what we want to accomplish during the year, but the pastor said before you go on and on asking God to do this and that, how about you ask God to change your ways to become his ways? Or simply tell him to “FINISH WHAT HE HAS STARTED” God’s plans are not ours, Gods’ wills are not ours, he knows us best and he knows what’s best for us. My prayer is to find out what my purpose is, and let God do his work on me, by making me become who he has designed me to be. God can utilize anything, therefore he can utilize me, but before he utilizes me I must show him that I am loyal, faithful, and confident. Stormie says “…Insecurity is a lack of faith. And lack of faith is sin, because it signifies the lack of trust in God” There was a point in my life where I thought God was punishing and has abandoned me for something that I didn’t even know. I remember calling my cousin and cry to him, asking him what have I done to deserve all the bad things that were happening to me. Week later that phone call I was in a terrible car accident that nothing was recovered from my car. I remember right after my car flipped and I was able to get out of the car I sat on the side of the road and I looked up and I said “God why? Why this now? Isn’t it enough what I am going through” and I literally heard a voice that said “It’s because I always there” After hearing that voice I couldn’t stop crying because I knew that I doubted him even when he was there. So from that day on I try my best never to doubt God, and always keep my faith strong. I am also going to make it my duty to pray for everyone one that is my life, friends and family I will make sure that I pray for them, because we never know how much difference a single word to God can make.

Enjoy the rest of the week and don’t forget that God gave us a purpose, Find it, Use it.

Love you all,

Lucia