Psalms 1

 PSALMS 1

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.

1 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk 

    in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],

    Nor stand in the path of sinners,

    Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.

3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,

    Which yields its fruit in its season;

    Its leaf does not wither;

    And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

4 The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so,

    But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment,

    Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6  For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous,

     But the way of the wicked shall perish.

                                                        

       We have two ways to walk or travel in our lifetime. Depending on our choice, we are either blessed or we are not blessed by God. One way is the right way which it leads to happiness and the other way is the wrong way which leads to misery. The important thing is we have choices and a free will to decide for ourselves. Choosing the right pathway doesn't mean we won't make mistakes or sin. We aren't choosing independence from God, but we are relying on God to help us in our daily walk. (https://today.bju.edu). 

       

       Psalms 1 is saying we are given two ways to live our life, by the Word of God with His help, or by the way of the world and by man's philosophy. It is clear to us what will happen in our lives depending on the way we choose to walk. 

When to Let Go?

 When to Let Go?

Jesus said this, in Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

R.J. Thesman, a Contributing Writer for Crosswalk.com writes, "We can’t know everything that happens after death – and truthfully – we probably don’t want to know everything. Yet I believe God is so loving, he sometimes allows us to “see” or “feel” into another realm to remind us he is omnipresent and always caring.  Years ago, I read an anonymous quote that still encourages me today: “Since God is with us, and our loved ones are with Him – then they’re not very far away.

I embrace this perception that my son is with God and God is with me meaning that Austin is not far away from me and neither is your loved one very far away from you. 

I wrote this poem a few months ago in dedication to my son who passed away 3/11/21. I miss him terribly every single day. I think about him every single day. His birthday is today, February 12th. Happy Heavenly Birthday my Beloved Angel. We'll reunite again in heaven. I have to let go of the grief and loneliness I feel without you, but know that I will always love you! 

When To Let Go?

When to let go, I don't exactly know

All I know- I will have to let go,

Because holding onto this pain won't bring no change.

I keep remembering when things were all right.

I keep remembering the things I did right.

When to let go, I don't exactly know.

My mind holds on; my mind don't wanna accept that you're gone.

My heart gets numb from knowing I have to let go.

So I ask myself, when to let go, so I say to myself- I don't exactly know.

There's so much I cherish and I hold on to, 

There's so much I remember and love about you.

I tell myself it's time to let go, I tell myself this, but I don't really know.

Has the  time come for me  to let go?

As I remember the precious time gone by, 

As I remember the day you left, it makes me wanna  cry.

Some peace in my mind, I need to achieve some peace of mind depends on me.

I ask myself when to let go, I tell myself, but I don't exactly know .

But I know I don't have to fully let go-and I know the presence of your spirit brings me Joy! 

When our loved one knows Jesus and leaves this side to be with Him, their spirit lives on as we carry them in our heart. I am learning to live in my space of peace, as I feel Austin's presence around me. I don't have to let him go because I will forever carry my son inside of me. I will embrace his peaceful spirit, because from my understanding of death, God allows our loved ones to look in on us until we see again. 

Perfect Peace!

 Perfect Peace!

 Isaiah 26:3 NIV says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,   because they trust in You.

This scripture says God will keep believers in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast or firm on Him- not wavering.

Why? Because we trust in Him. I am living a blessed life! I am grateful and thankful! My soul is at rest and worries

are few. My peace of mind depends on me and what I do daily to receive it and maintain it. My mind is at peace. 

Daily, I set out to embrace rest for my soul no matter what comes my way. I choose peace, I am deliberate about it.  

At this point in life, I have to seek serenity for my life. I understand where my strength comes from.  I know and 

understand why I am not a basket case considering my life's circumstances over the past few years. 

 
The one thing I know is through it all, Jesus kept my mind at peace. He kept me sane and humble. I will mention briefly 

what the Lord has done for me and how He kept me close to His heart. Please focus on the God we serve. I am only  

sharing my testimony to let you know the heart of God towards the ones He loves. He never left me or forsaken

me. Trust that He will never leave you or ever forsake you either.

 In 2011, we moved my mother-in-law in with us to care for her, as she was stricken with Alzheimer's disease. 
 In 2016, I had a stroke in my classroom in front of my students. Moments later, as I was being checked into 

 ER; I had a second stroke. 
 In 2017, an aneurysm was discovered on the right side of my brain. Emergency surgery was scheduled within two weeks 

 to close it off. 
 In 2019, my mother-in-law got sick after dinner and passed away shortly afterwards in ER. 

 In 2019, my mother had a stroke and had surgery to remove blockage from the main artery in her neck. The next day she coded.

 She is alive and well. Look at our God! 
 In 2021, my son passed away unexpectedly after found unresponsive in my house by his brother. This was two years 

 and two days after his grandmother's death. 
 In 2022, the week of Thanksgiving, my youngest sister passed away the morning after attending Sunday's church service.                                                      

But God keeps me in perfect peace! I can honestly say, I have rest in my soul. God has always heard my prayers 

and granted me the peace and strength I needed. God is a Faithful Father, a Faithful Friend, a Comforter, a Pillar 

of Peace, a Source of Continuous Strength, 

a Strong Tower, Pure Love, All Knowing, All Good, Patient, Peaceful, Understanding, and so much more. He is

everything to me! Just trust Him to be whatever you need when you need it! 

The list of His attributes and character go on and on. It is in Him I live, I move, and I have my being. 

Isaiah 43:1 says, He is an ever present help in times of trouble (of any kind). He loves me and He cares 

about what I go through. He never left my side. He is with me to the end through thick and thin. I only 

have to keep on trusting Him.  

                                                                    

 

This promise is one I depend on; it got me through some tough times. 

Life is not easy, but having God's peace of mind is an easy choice. 

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A Fresh Start to Stay Focused!

2023 Start Fresh to Stay Focused!

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight” (NIV).

I was reading the article in the link below today after looking into Proverbs 3:5-6. The article is packed full of good practical information to help grow my trust and faith in God. I thought I would share the link and write from my personal thoughts, reflections, and meditation about Proverbs 3:5-6, which by the way, is my one of my favorite scriptures to govern my life by.

 https://deepspirituality.com/really-trust-in-god

Everyone knows life is uncertain; unexpected things happens all the time. I try to figure stuff out and make sense of things on my own, in my own mind, heart, and soul. I try to be accurate and appropriate in my responses and reactions when crazy things happens. I try to figure people out and why they act the way they do. I can’t!

For me, some things are just the right thing to do despite the feelings I feel. I don’t always like choosing the right thing over my feelings. Sometimes, my feelings feel right to me and sometimes they feel wrong. Then, I am left with a choice. Sometimes, I want to roll around in my feelings and go with my feelings. The human side of me want to be led by my flesh and not by my faith. I am being honest. I know there are consequences to every choice or decision I make. I want good consequences not bad ones. Realistically, this is why I have to fight everyday to make the right decisions and choices. I don’t know everything, so I lean and depend on Someone who does.

                                                            

                                                     A Fresh Start in 2023!

Everyday I try to trust in the Lord with all of my heart and not to lean on my own limited understanding. I am mere human with flaws and limitations. God is everything- I am not; He is Perfect and Knows things I do not know. In 2023, I want to completely govern my life by Proverbs 3:5-6. I don’t know what 2023 holds, but I do know who holds the new year.; the God I trust with all of me holds 2023!

I believe I will be blessed with a fresh start. I will push myself to stay focused on important things and important people in my life. I will stay focused on my personal and spiritual goals.  I will stay focused on gaining strength in His power. I will elevate my mind and not feel unworthy of his blessings, because His promises are for me. 

I want the new year to be a new and fresh year for us. I want it to be a season of empowerment and enablement for me and you. I want to see us progress spiritually, relationally, health-ally, and financially. I know God has so much more in store for me and you in 2023.

I look  forward to 2023 and our fresh start!  

Happy "Blessed" New Year Family & Friends!

                                      

Have You Ever?

 

Have you Ever?

Romans 8:26 (MSG) says, “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.”

Have you ever felt like you desperately needed to pray about something going on in your life and really wanted to pray, but the truth is, you could not find the words to express your truth? Have you ever felt like there were no utterance to express the hurt, pain and and disappointment you felt deep in your heart and soul? 

Have you ever felt like prayer was too formal and you just needed someone you could look at to talk to? Have you ever felt like God was much too big to care about or pay attention to someone like you? Have you ever felt like no one could possibly understand what you were going through? Have you ever wanted to understand your life better, so you could be prepared to deal with your life better? 

Have you ever wanted to surrender it all to God and not have to worry about anything or anyone? Have you ever wanted to know for certain “God’s got you?” Have you ever wanted to ask Him to reverse time so you --could have more time? Have you ever wanted a "Do Over" for many decisions made in life?

There are so many, “Have you Ever” questions running through my mind right now which can cause anxiousness. Yet, His word says in Deuteronomy 31:8 to be strong and courageous and to not be afraid and it says in I Kings 8:57, the Lord our God goes with us wherever we go. I understand that I am never alone. He said, “Never will I leave you or forsaken you.” I know this is true. I may feel lonely sometimes, but I am "never alone."

I believe God is whatever or whoever I need Him to be. He is my Counselor, my Friend and my Advisor; He is absolutely my Everything! Some years ago, I wanted a personal relationship with the Lord to know Him for myself and to feel comfortable talking to Him anytime about anything. So, I prayed more, read the Bible more, I meditated on scriptures more. and listened to godly messages more. There are so many late nights when I wake up and pray to get to a place of rest in my soul.  I pour out my heart because there are no secrets.

Because I am close to Him, I feel comfortable calling on Him for help with my life's circumstances no matter how hard things get and no matter the hour.  The “Have you Ever” questions can get real. They remind me that I am not strong on my on, but my strength comes from my connection to the Father who left the Holy Spirt to live in me. If the Holy Spirit lives in me, so does God. He is close to me and I am close to Him. He carries me and I carry Him with me- everyday of my life- all day long- we are forever connected.

I love that I can encourage myself in the Lord when I can not be consoled by anyone else. His presence reminds me that I am not forgotten. I have access to prayer and real conversation anytime I need to connect to someone who truly cares about me and who knows me and will not judge me. Honestly, life gets hard sometimes, but when I am weak- He is strong. 

I have been promised that if I ever get tired and feel I cannot go on, "God's Holy Spirit is right alongside me helping me along the way." My relationship with the Father is real, so much so that the "Holy Spirit translates my wordless sighs and groans" to the Father for me. I am comforted; I am taken care of, and my mind is secure in peace and rest from the cares of life- every time I turn my attention to the Father. I know "He knows me far better than I know myself."

Please check out my collection of inspirational poems composed be my family and me.

Together We Flow