People ask me every year whay is the 4th of july so important to you? The answer is simple and complex at the same time. When I was a little girl I can remember sitting on my Grandpa's knee and him telling me if you do not love this country then you leave this country! For me it is just that simple, how dare you stand and protest military that gives you the freedom to stand up and protest! I do not have much paitence for folks like that.
July 4th is all about family, childhood memories, cookouts, and most importantly appreciating the freedom to worship God in any way you can. So this Saturday when you are sitting around, just take a breath look around and be thankful for a God who loves us, and pray for this country as it goes through a new era. We as christains face a grave issue, It is time for us to not stand and fight but kneel in prayer. Praying God will heal our nation as He has done so many times!
You know deliverance is something as human beings we ask for a lot. It hit me the other day just how much I ask for it. Stuff like please get me out of this traffic, I need a closer parking space, please let it rain cuz I am hot, I need a new job, etc.
Here's what the Lord just shared with me, literally right now, ha I had to get it out before I forget. Do we as a people want deliverance from our situation or from the enemy causing the problem. Sure I believe asking for deliverance from certain "situations" but how many times does it take before we get the lesson, and move on? What does it need to take to wake me up?
Last Tuesday was the last time for me to be apart of the food bank at Faith. It was 100 degrees no air conditioner. We were short handed. And it was a very emotional time for all involved this whole journey that we have been down. I found myself all day long asking God to send deliverance in the form of rain. It looked like rain that morning! But the more I asked the hotter it seemed to become. What I wanted deliverance from my situation. What I needed was deliverance from the enemy causing the problem. I even mentioned in passing to Dana I guess the Lord will not send the rain today. I was wrong, see He had already sent the rain. It was time for a new season and a time to grow. You cannot grow all the time in the rain, you need sunshine too. I am so thankful that the Lord still gives us dry periods to grow even though He longs to shelter us with the rain. We must grow strong to fight the enemy! So sisters take comfort in all we do, we are not forgotten, or left behind. Our ministries were not in vain and the enemy took no victory from the kingdom! Love and Peace
Everybody has those moments in life that everything slows down around you and you get a glimpse of life and how it would be without you. My moment came about two weeks ago 30,000 feet above the ground. I would love to tell you everything about that moment or just say that I had some kind of spiritual vision in those few moments. I can not even tell you where I went but I do know this I was very lucky that I got to come back at all. I have not spoke of this moment to anyone or even said much of anything simply because it's almost too much to think about. I know some things for sure... I saw no blinding light just a sense of weightlessness. If Mel had not been there to pray I know i would not be here today, because I think some part of me wanted to keep floating. I would love to say I saw my life flash before me and it was full filling hahaha. I had only one thought and that was I hurt for my sister who was sitting beside me and I thought of him. Would he be sad? I wishing I had not been so stubborn and called him before I left. That's when I heard His voice in my head. See I have a saying that I say when things in life get too tough or exhausting or just plain stressful. I cannot die because I have not suffered enough. Thinking back on it now it is kind of a slap in the face to Jesus who bearing all my sin toted the cross to Calvary. He asked me just one question have you suffered enough are you done? The easy thing would have been to say yes I am ready, but as I thought I realized I have too much to do. He promises even though it will not be easy and I will probably suffer along this journey I will not suffer alone. See He has never left and each time I have been let down or had my heart broken. I must learn to lean on Him instead of trusting in myself or friends. So friends this is my life changing moment, pretty involved take it or leave it. I thought if someone could get just one thing out of all this it would make it worth sharing!
See this is why I will never be happy in my life. I will always want the dramatic heroic enterance where the good guy always gets his girl. The reality is that people are just people and what I need is a fairytale. So why am I defective? Who knows.
Looking out of this veranda I feel a certain home coming or kinship. Is it wrong to want something more for me or my life? I have been told that it is the sadness that draws me back to this particular house over and over again. I have been told that "I" would not have made it in this time period either. hah ha So tell what do you think draws me back? Once or twice a year you can find me surfing the net or "jonsing" to go back or just flat out going 131 miles out of my way to see this special place. It could be a number of things that draw me but tonight as I was trying to put my finger on it this came to me. As I stood on the veranda I could see the Mississippi River, feel the wind, and look at the majestic view of the trees that have lived over 300 years. The tour guide was talking about previous owners and how one man stood on the porch while close to death waiting for the return of his wife. I felt a sort of kinship with him because how many times have I found myself waiting on the one I love the most to come to the realization that they love me too. She went on talking of other things, and me in true form was only half listening till she mentioned in passing that the trees I was so admiring would only live for 300 more years. Imagine in just 300 short years someone would miss out on the beauty of what I was witnessing at that moment. (see live oaks only live around 600 years) I was praying tonight and this is maybe why I am drawn to this house with this view, Jesus has promised to go and prepare a place in His Father's house for me. I have heard since I was a little girl that we will live in mansions when we get up there. (lol for those of ya'll that just went back to the "camp meetings" we used to have about what a time we are going to have over there!) So this is my thought maybe The Lord has given me a glimpse of how my mansion will look!! Now when I picture myself on the veranda it is me awaiting anxiously for my Hero to return for me. Now I know it is not a different time or place that draws me back to this special place just a need and want to be ready for He returns for me!
Very few people get to date their best friends and fewer still get the honor of fallin in love with that person. I was one of the fortunate ones. The only downside is that things happen and you are guaranteed nothin in this life. The video that I made is called Where I stood by Missy Higgins. It's all about a girl who has lost who and what she is. She is not sure of anything anymore. She begins a journey of self discovery which is where my life is now. Discovery.
I still love my best friend although life is weird without spendin so much time without him. But I am learnin a great deal about myself in the process. We are still friends that much has not changed I can say he is still the one I want to share my darkest secrets with. LOL (Corny I know) The only reason I share this now is I miss him greatly,but for now this break is what I need. Many of you have noticed a difference and I felt that if you were going to be prayin for me, you should know a lil more.
Sunday morning was a lil different than what we are used to having. We celebrated Mel's B'day in jungle style, then we were off to church. We did not have a lesson but everyone was in high spirits. When we arrived down town they were doing road construction, so we couldn't park on the usual street. So I should have know this Sunday would not be a typical Sunday at least not for me. See I have been asking to hear the angels and I have been listening intently, problem was I was not focused. They music started, I was excited to finally become involved in worship. I love it when Thalon plays for us!!!We sang several songs but the LORD was their and as we began to sing grace like rain, I heard the angels join with us!! The lead singer started talking about how when we get to heaven we would join with the angels to sing Hallelujah, which is what I had been talking about in my last blog. I knew a secret, WE ALREADY WERE!!!! When worship is like that I never want to quit singing. Just wanted to share, Peace
Lately I have been struggling with what should I do? Where should I go? Where do I fit in? So during this time I have been kind of silent so to speak. So much of my self wants to leave Alabama far behind and never look back. I feel like I am on the edge of something huge, and I do not want to miss out. I was on the airplane coming home late Monday night, I remember thinking to my self you could go to New York the skies the limit for you. Why would I stay? All my life I have always said when things go wrong I am leaving and never coming back. lol So I assumed that this is what I was doing this time too. Now I am not so sure. I truly long to see the world, me, my camera, and my "suitcase" (we have already established I can not be without that) lol. I feel like I can not be put in a box right now. I NEED MORE!! On this note I do not necessarily want to leave my business your my friends behind, Please understand I am having growing pains now. So tonight we were praying at church and it was all about missionaries. A multitude of things started crossing my mind as to what was "relevant to me". This is what the Lord spoke back to me in several verses I will share. The first one He shared was simply this: Revelations 4:7-11
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Now I am sure this means something different to just about everyone, but here what I was told tonight. About five years ago on a Sunday night we got together and were singing to the Lord. There was only about 6 of us but you could not tell it. The Lord opened my ears and I heard the angels join with us and sing. I guess it must have been about two or three weeks later when I wanted to hear them again. I craved to hear the beauty of their voices join with ours. The door opened to the sanctuary. We all turned no one was there. This happened two or three more times each time no one was there, when finally the Lord said to me Stop looking Angela and Listen and your ears will be open to hear the angels sing!! See the angels never stopped singing I stopped hearing because I lost my focus! He spoke to me tonight and said I may not sing on this earth one more time or I may sing hundreds. But this one thing is for sure I have a place in the choir with the angels anytime I just have to listen!
One last verse and I will close I am long winded tonight but I wanted to get it all out while it was still fresh in my mind! Joshua 1:6-9
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
The Lord has already promised us the "land" all we must do is take it in Jesus name. So sisters no matter where we are or what we are doing we must not be afraid the Lord of Hosts goes before us in battle and the victory is already won. Claim it in Jesus name. Wow I just got to shout!! I am victorious because I am daughter to the KING, the enemy has no hold on me or my sisters!! I speak freedom over our lives and circumstance!
So I am flying to La today. (and no that is not lower Alabama) haha Anyway I am on the airplane watching a movie when there came this line out of no where. Saying simply this: They jest at scars that never felt the wounds. Some of you may know that saying it's from Romeo + Juliet so don't stop reading yet there is something for you. Now I felt like this was just an eye opener for me, right, because when you really start thinking about this one line context. It's pretty deep even for me. How many times have I told someone, "Suck it up. Be a man. Rub some dirt in it." When I had not felt the wounds just scoffed at the scars. So that's my thought for now. I am determined to think next time before I am so quick to give "advise". Since lately "someone" has told me quite recently that I am usually always in someones business giving some kind of advise. lol
For those of ya'll that know me, you might not want to read this. lol But I now that will not stop some. This is a short story that has no meaning or an ending for that matter. All I ask is that if you do read it, at the end pray for the tiger.....
Once upon a time, there was a tiger who lived deep in her own forest. This tiger hunted alone, fished alone, and slept alone. See this tiger needed no one. Tigers are solitaire creatures and she was no different than other tigers. One day while out hunting she came upon a lion. Now this lion was no ordinary lion. The lion began to talk to her at first. See tigers and lions do not always get along, but the lion began to tell the tiger of all the beautiful things she was missing by being alone. Lion talked of all her friends and how special each one was to her for different reasons and how much the tiger would love it all, being apart of the jungle family.
Soon the tiger wanted to see this new life that although she was nervous, She set out to follow the lion and see what the jungle was really like. "What could it hurt," thought the tiger, "I can walk away anytime. I need no one."
Sometime later the tiger found she really liked jungle life, she had finally found where she belonged. She now had friends. They where not all like her as a matter of fact she found that there was not one other tiger in the bunch, but that did not matter much to anyone. She found a dragon to talk to when needing an ear, a donkey to laugh with, an eagle to run with,
and the lion who seemed to ever be a guide. She found peace in being able to hunt with the others, and in rest they where never far apart.
Like so many tails this story has taken a turn, see an enemy had infiltrated the jungle. The snake had come at first in peace, so much so the the tiger had dropped her guard. Snake had begun to spread lies and stir up much unrest. So the jungle friends got together and tossed the snake out of the jungle, telling him never to return! The tiger will never forget the parting words, "you will never be anything with out me."
It took a long time for the jungle to recover because they had thought that the snake was there friend. As time moved on the jungle pack slowly made their way closer together and trust began to form. But you know the enemy is sneaky and wears many faces. This time I am not sure what may happen to the pack but the tiger is wounded. She longs to run free where the hurt can no longer cut so deep. See she is weak and angry, and the enemy works on her need to nurse her wound in private. Alone where no one can hurt her again. The tiger has never before warred with her spirit so much she is afraid to let go and trust that she will not be deceived again. She does not want to leave her jungle home. She found that its not so bad being with others. She can hear the lion and the dragon calling her name.......
So Romeo and Juliet huh. I hear a lot about man I wish I had that kind of love or we just romanticize that we wish some one would be willing to "die" for us. hahaha Well this has been coming for a while it has just takes me a lil time. lol I at first thought well I do not want that. I do not find it romantic that they would rather DIE than be with out the other one. Did anyone ever think that they were just not made for one another. I mean HELLO. They knew each other for a total of five minutes and they have an undying love. I am thinking had they lived a little longer they would have ended up hating each other like most kids do at their age.
But the Lord pricked my heart about something all day long (cuz I have been meaning to write this all day lol). I said earlier in the blog that "we wish someone would be willing to 'die for us' ". Jesus did that for us! So I guess you could say the Shakespeare copies the greatest love story of all times and twisted it and made it a tragedy. Not that is the tragedy right there. The biggest day for love is coming up, I never really stopped to think that maybe God would like a "Valentines" from us.
As we run around trying to find the perfect gift or the perfect date lets keep in mind who we should truly love!
There is so much I could say, So many hurtful things that could have the power to destroy someone elses journey or path that they are tryng to walk down. Is this why I became a christain? To take shots at my family in Christ? Sometimes I get so upset, thinking that if we would just stop wasting time with the "he said she said" that imagine what we could be accomplishing for the Lord. I mean that is why we are here on this earth, right? So in the long term effect, who cares if sister so in so hurt my feelings, or maybe I hurt hers? Let me tell you why we should care and why it does matter. Bear with me because the Lord has a message to share.... If I hurt sister so in so's feelings and do nothing (or maybe I do apologize and she chooses to ignore it). Lets say she is on the path to plant the seed that the Lord will save millions with or (as Landon shared with us last Wednesday) if He only is concerned with the "one" that is lost. If I destroy her with careless words and she becomes bitter and maybe choices a different path. Whose fault is it? mine? hers? the enemy? Everyone in ministry sooner or later gets hurt by someone they thought they trusted or loved them, and I believe we are allowed to grieve for them and our relationship. Here's where I fear I will ruffle some feathers (mine included). When sister so in so comes to you and confesses of her "betrayal" as humans we are forced to recognize that she has hurt us deeply. Can we forgive and not throw it in her face every time we visit our hurt in our "closet of despair". It's easy to say I forgive you and not mean it! I am the worst at saying it's okay I am fine but the minute I see that person again. I think to myself man I can not believe they would do that to me. Forgetting that she has already come to me and said she was sorry! The only way to bring healling is to truly let it go. Now this idea has plagued me for awhile. Judas. The one we hardly ever talk about because he was a "betrayer." I know right I bet we all just shivered. i went to a pastor about 6 months ago and began asking questions about if Judas was in heaven or hell. His immediate response was of course he is in hell, Angela, what could you be thinking. My thought has always been once you asked Jesus to be your Savior you could not get Him out of your heart. So this troubles me if Judas followed Jesus and betrayed Him was he forgiven. Now here's where the Lord has brought it home to me. WE ARE ALL JUDAS. We have all betrayed someone in the past. It says in Matthew 27:3-5 3. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." 5. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. What if the "elders of the church had not sent him away. He went looking for a way back to redemption and was met with overwhelming condemnation. So many times we sit as judge jury and executioner on other people, wouldn't Judas have had one amazing testimony if they had offered another solution for redemption! I wonder how the story would have gone if he could have talked to Jesus before he was overcome with his guilt. So this is my pledge I am through being the elders, I am through being thought of as being a Judas, or not a John. I am what I am and what I am aiming for is just a servant or a lowly rock. Because He can use the rocks!!! We as christains must start standing up to the enemy in battle instead of being his instruments of destruction!! If someone has done you wrong let it go. If I have done wrong to you I am asking for your true forgiveness. I refuse to let the devil have any more time on this divided destruction. Will you join me in this? Do we go forward from here victorious? I sure hope so!
This obiviuosly a pic of Donny and Marie. (who just happen to be my Mom's fav singers!) Me and Abbie going to the concert All of the girls from Louisiana and me Me Abbie Bridget and Tera
So here are some of my Vegas pics. I may add some more if I get the time. I have not posted about this for one simple reason. I did not have such a pleasant experience!! It all started okay I guess the typical hurry up and wait stuff. You know? I got to the hotel around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, starvin I waited in the line to check in for 45 min. At 9:30 I fnally get to eat supper, not a happy camper. Sunday I started to relax. Monday was great. Tuesday was great classes were good. Wednesday I packed my bag and left for the airport at 7:00 for my long flight back. Now before I go on very much further because this part is still devastating to me, just know it is NOT funny. My bag was (big surprise) over the limit by 10 pounds. The attendant made me empty it out and rearrange it so meet standards but that left my already to full carry ons 10 pounds heavier. I get through security that takes no less than an hour to sit in a chair by the gateway. My back is already hurt and getting worse by the minute. I have three coats on and I am not wearing stretchy pants which is one of my rules for flying. When they finally start to board and at this point I am almost in tears. I find my seat and my bags would not fit anywhere so I stuffed one as far as I could under the seat and hoped the attendant would not say anything about it. This when Iget the anouncement about someone losing their sunglasses in a big case. I did not bend over to see if they were mine because I thought surely mine could not have possibly have fallen out. My mistake it was not until I got home that I realized I had lost my Christmas prresent from Mel. Still I thought well I know they have them so I called mistakenly to ask for my glasses back. Boy was I a fool. Not only did they not have any record of them being found they treated me like a criminal, Contiental informed me they would not really do anything about it either. I could tell them my flight # seat # and described the attendant, I asked if they could ask her what happened to the glasses that were turnedin. They informed me that they did not have to log in lost articles, that I should have been more careful if my glasses meant so much to me. Then preceded to hang up on me! So I am heart broken that I lost my only designer pair of sunglasses I have ever gotten. I am still praying that they will do the right thing. So please pray for that also!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
All I know right now is that we will hear deliverance from the sound of rain. I seem to be in perpetual need of deliverance lately.
2 Samuel 5:24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.
I heard Thalon sing this first, if you have not had a chance to hear them. I see the Lord shine through them every time they speak! Check them out.
Here they are not a really good one of them but I love the song!
Okay so here's what happened. I was minding my own business (ha) doing hair when one of my stylists came to me and said there was an irate mom with her daughter demanding her money back. (full refund mind you). So I go to talk to the daughter who had gotten her hair done and asked what the problem was, her mother begins to attack me. Telling me how dare I put anyone one the floor how does crappy work. NOW let me say this ALL my girls are good at what they do but we are all human and mess up. I found one tiny spot in the whole head and her mom said SEE would you where YOUR hair like that! I apologized and offered to fix the spot for free. Well she said that I must not know how to do hair if I would hire people that did not know how to do hair. At this point I got a little mad because the woman was being very unreasonable, and I lost my temper completely. I ended up telling the woman she was horrible and walked off to let mom who has the much clearer head than I deal with it. I am ashamed to say! What happened next was curious for me because the Lord began to speak very soft and then He seemed to get much louder as I listened. This what He shared with me. Yes, Angela that woman should not have attacked you. (Because I told on her sure did went right to the Lord and told Him all about it!) But did you handle her with love or kindness when things got rough? I argued for a minute before I finally got what He was trying to say. He cared that she attacked me and said things that were not true about my staff. But here's my lesson, how many times have I gone out in Jesus name and messed something up or hurt someones feelings. Did those people blame me? Sometimes I am sure but mostly they say well if that is what Jesus is then why would I want to be apart of that. Because it is human nature to blame the one in charge. You can bet I will fall under the water again. I will not always be a "water walker" but it does not mean that I will not strive for that in my life. I did not enjoy being six foot under the waves, BUT I am thankful to the Father for always being patient with me while I learn.
Forgive my digression into the past, but this song has been on my hear for a while and this just seemed fitting for this situation!
Sorry about the last post apparently it was just something the Lord said was just between me and Him because after I had spent about an hour writing it. It deleted itself. (I took that as a sign. lol) The only thing left was the song He had given me for the day, so that was my dealing with disappointing circumstances.
I know I just posted a video on this song but this video I put together and it just simply "words" that the Lord has given to me and I want to share them with my sisters! I am tempted to list all the verses so you wont miss any of them but that seems a little redundant so I won't hahah. Look at me letting go and not being controlling.
Well I hope that the Lord speaks to you in mighty ways, sisters. Let me know if there is anything I can do for ya'll!
Lord, I come to You humbled by this song. What a powerful message you have put in this ony tiny chorus that has pulled me to my knees! If I only always had this attitude. I am praying for my more of this life.
If You say go, we will go
If You say wait, we will wait
If You say step out on the water
And they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on You and we will come
Your ways are higher than our ways
And the plans that You have laid
Are good and true
If You call us to the fire
You will not withdraw Your hand
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You
We have been studying Peter in Sunday school for the last couple of months and I have learned a lot about who I would like to become to the LORD. I never noticed before about sometimes Jesus after He renamed Simon to Peter how HE would call him Simon again. (I have to admit when this was first brought to my attention, I thought to myself okay so......) Well let me just tell you, Jesus doesn't do anything for nothing. What I learned is that Jesus knew Simon would fall under the temptation of denying Him after Peter's faith was shaken. See Peter, like most of us, thought we had it all under control and we could handle it on our own because Jesus named him the "Rock". The scripture goes on to say that after Jesus had called him Simon three x's. He comes back to calling him Peter one last time. Now I was about as lost as you must be UNTIL, it was explained like this. Even though Jesus knew that "Simon" would betray Him. All was not lost because "Peter" was still the rock He had named him.
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Luke 22:31-34
Here's What I Got From It: Simon was human and made mistakes. Even though he was ready to follow the Lord to prison and death the enemy still got to him. When Simon denied Jesus, Jesus never doubted Peter. In fact Jesus was very specific when He told Peter he would not only turn back, but would strengthen your brothers. Wow! I stand in awe! We as christains sometimes hold each other at a higher standard than others. (And I think to a degree we should) But sisters and brothers Please do not forget that we are human and will fall at times and other times we will be that Rock we were named for. I am going to confess right now, I have more Simon moments than Peter.
So I was at the gym this morning, minding my own business (lol) running on the treadmill. When this Bring it on home to me by Sam Cooke came on my ipod. Now herein lies the problem, Because I have headphones on. The number one rule of wearing headphones is that you CAN NOT sing along with the music. Well........ imagine that that was just to hard for me. So here was on the treadmill singing my lil heart out when I realize that I have now drawn an audience. Now you will have to keep in mind, early mornings when I am at the gym I normally have it pretty much to myself. So I thought I was alone! Talk about embarrasin I then realize it prolly does not soung good to anyone else but me. HA My decision is as follows: I intend to take off every soulful song, as it is too much for me to handle and not sing along. (lol) If it was not so funny I would prolly want to be under a paper bag hiding my face! But let it not be said I do not have a sense of humor when it comes to my own life!!!
Sunday. Since I was a lil kid Sunday's were always special or reverent. (not to be taken lightly) We were going whether we wanted to or not because it was the right thing to do! I can not remember a time my mom ever woke me up and said, "Angela, it's Sunday do you want to go to church or stay home?" Ha! So you could say my heart may have not always been in the right spot. I never thought about it, when I got back into church. I went because I wanted to learn. But I have to be honest, I was very caviler about it all. I was in the pew when the doors where open, but always took for granted that the church would always be there.
Well this was our last Sunday. The doors are not closing completely, there will be no more Sunday's though. How silly was I, to not cherish what we had built while we had it. That being said, I am looking forward to a new beginning away from mixed emotions and hurt feelings. The enemy is sneaky. He came at me in ways I was not looking for and devastated me many times through this process. As I am sure many of us are feeling the same things. Stupid devil! Man would I have done things differently.
For those of ya'll who know me, music is pretty much my life and how I communicate with others. When that was taken away, I thought to myself, Its okay. The Lord will not leave me. What I did not get was something so simple it shames me to admit it. I was okay with not singing on stage or in front of a bunch of people, but what was hard is not knowing the songs or maybe the style was not quite our own. You would have to understand that we had praying and developing our worship to Lord for a good many years. I felt I no longer had any thing to offer. If I could not worship through song, how would I hear what the Lord was saying?
The enemy was busy in the first couple of months, telling me all sorts of lies as to why I should and could leave and not be apart of what was to happen next. Let me tell you what the Lord said to me!
1. I am learning new ways to communicate. He taught me songs. (Two of which are one this one!)
2. New beginnings are not always bad. (maybe I might have been Simon instead of Peter huh)
3. It's okay to be scared because I am not alone.
4. Rhapa will heal all wounds.
5. If God is in it, I want to be there.
6. He gave me guidance through men that will soon become my pastors.
So am I sad that we will no longer be open on Sundays? Absolutely, BUT not because I do not think that I am being lead to Mosaic. Because I hurt for a ministry to reach people for the Lord in that community. I still have faith that when the time is right He will appoint someone or something there. And His full glory and power will be revealed for all to see!!!
I will leave you with one last scripture before I go.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:18
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. -Isaiah 40:26
This passage has been on my mind a lot, so when I started thinking about it this song came to mind. It makes me want to SHOUT at the goodness of our Savior. Even though many times I feel lost and abandoned> He knows my name. I am not missing. All I need to do is say His name and the powers of darkness must flee and Jesus comes to my rescue. (which is the point of having a Savior) lol
When I was thinking back on 2008, Probably not my best year. But that is not necessarily true now is it. I was not only blessed with a thriving business, but a second career that is equally successful. He has saved my from lying tongues that sought to devour! He has constanly put people in my life that have encouraged me in times of trails. There were times of uncertainty that we did not know if we would have a church to worship in. In those times God sent to the people of Faith two very special men of God. These men have taken on a load and ministerd to people who were broken and angry. They never once asked about themselves or said it was too much, but offered kindness and guidance. Just an ear to listen and not pass judgement. God gave me a sister who is constanly reminding me that my battle is not against flesh and blood. lol ( I laugh because she still has to "remind" me often) She reminds me by testimony to always look for the spiritual side and God always has a lesson for us! He has blessed me with the best Sunday school group I could ask for. These ladies have stood by me and prayed for me unfailingly. "the Dragon" "the Eagle" "the Donkey" and our fearless leader "the Lion." You know who you are!
So when the enemy says look at the bad times I have destroyed the things on this earth that you hold dear. I say You have no dominion over me. I am bought by the blood! My treasure is in heaven and you have not desroyed any of the Father's work! I now look forward to a great 2009 and am excited about the possibilities of a new work!
Welcome to my blog. I can't promise everything you read here you will always understand but I can promise that it will be honest and from the heart. God is teaching me many new things in this season of my life and though I do not understand them all. I trust His plan is greater than me and very soon He will grant His people, Triumph over adversity! Peace, Angela
About me? I have two full time jobs. I own All American Curls and I work for Redken. I travel quite a bit which I love! (cuz I am adhd) lol I love to sing and am actively in church. We are involved in watching the LORD do amazing miracle in our food bank!
