New Year~New Foundation

Hot Coco & Teddy Grahams, breakfast of champs! Wednesday's here & January 1st marks the New Year. 2011! Tis the season for Resolutions & goals :)  

Last night at Godly Gossip Group, we talked about "behind the scenes".  The movie we star in daily, which is called "Life". GOD is the producer, executive producer, screenwriter, etc...Before our movie started though, He had a Blueprint,the dialogue & events that would take place throughout the entire process.

When GOD created us, He gave us everything we needed to live in this world.  It was & is up to us to create the inward temple to go along with the outward temple that He specifically constructed. We have the blueprint (The Bible), now we need to create a foundation that can be built upon. Just as a movie needs a script,which is the foundation of the end product, we need the blueprint. His word is the foundation of our life. The Bible is the blueprint! If we do not construct a sturdy foundation, under pressure it is liable to crack or even be destroyed. Can we rebuild? Yes! God is a forgiving God & will help us when we surrender to Him.  Sometimes our temple has to be torn down & rebuilt more times than we want, to teach us the value & meaning of a "Rock Hard Foundation."

Our Mind, Body, & Soul are the core of this foundation. If HE does not dwell in these 3 things, then our house is like the 2 houses of the pigs that the wolf blew down. Don't make your house out of straw & sticks. Take your time & construct an indestructible work of art that the devil couldn't phase with his biggest army!! "If put to the test, would your foundation crumble?"- Pastor Vera

My New Years Resolution: Create a Foundation that God would be proud of & make my life a movie that He never gets tired of watching...

Spread the Gospel not Gossip!
GOD is good today, tomorrow, & Foreverr!

Empty LOVE tank??

3 more days til Christmas! Whoohoo, how exciting?! Jesus, family, & food...What else could anyone ask for? Hmmm, Love maybe? Not just a relationship love or family but simply Love in general...

Some days I just want to throw in the towel & say, " I quit, there you go!" Ding Ding Ding, LIFE wins!! My attitude slowly starts regressing & I think, " Oh welll, at least I tried."  Fact is, we are human & these things happen occasionally. This is when we have to take time to get outside of ourselves & bond with GOD. His Love is never ending!

" Do what God wants you to do.  Find support groups, church, a place to fill your empty Love tank." -Paula White  When I was in N/A meetings, the thing I remember most was hearing those around me say, " Thanks for sharing, Keep coming back..It works if you work it." They would say this after someone shared a story, struggles, or something good in their week.  I didn't understand why they did this until after I committed to taking the steps & sharing myself.  It feels good to let out the bad & have someone or people listen & say "Thanks for sharing." It makes space for Love to come in & fill what has been let out. We all had issues, some more severe than others but none the less we were all rowing in the same boat. I shared that because now that my life has taken a turn for the better, it's still a struggle with just life itself.  We all want to feel loved or praised when we do good things. Recognized for our efforts for  trying to change or being different. Our flesh yearns for approval of others but our heart needs to know that GOD is proud of us for trying & LOVES us regardless of our flaws.

Once you initiate change or positive impact, the negative doesn't go away but comes on stronger.  People will mock you or question who you are trying to be because of who you were before.  " Judge not, that you not be judged." Mark 7:1  Our flesh is vulnerable & when people do these things to us, it is easy to retaliate.  However, we need not let ANYONE or ANYTHING hinder our relationship with GOD & the Love we are building for ourselves.  This doesn't mean that we are any better nor should we put those down because of  what they are doing but lift them up to GOD.  In GOD'S eyes we are equal.  He doesn't Love anyone of us more than the other.

" I am Free to be me , you are Free to be you, & we are Free to be us!" We must allow forgiveness to those who bring us down. Remember to think about," How am I doing?" Let's fill up our love tank today with first loving ourselves & then loving GOD.  We can't love anyone else until we love ourselves! " from the whole body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, accordingly to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 4:16

Trust in GOD & have faith that He will never let your Love tanks empty light come on.....

GOD is good today, tomorrow, & foreverr......

StUcK??

Helloo & Good day :) The week is almost over & Christmas is only 10 days away!! Good thing we are not STUCK to the wall like this guy, so we actually can enjoy the holidays. Haha However, my message today has everything to do with being stuck but not literally!

Have you ever felt like you were just like the guy on the wall? I mean, of course your not really stuck on a wall but inside you feel that way. Like the things that are going on in your everyday life have consumed you, your routine has become constant & you feel there is no space for anything extra. If today is one of those day, It's time to grab the bull by the horns & say, " Is that all you got?!" GOD has given us infinite possibilities for anything & everything.  It's the effort that we put into moving our feet & getting out of the quicksand that we may be stuck in. The other day on my Facebook page I posted, " Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you ain't willing to move ya feet!" Although we may feel stuck, we have to be willing to put that E for effort. HE never said the road would be easy. The pot holes & cracks can feel as smooth as a baby's bottom when we Let go & Let GOD take control! He promised us that he would NEVER leave us nor forsake us, He promised that he will always meet our needs & give us unending love! If God is for US than who can come against us? NO ONE & NOTHING! " Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah 41:10

Our days of fighting battles alone are over. " The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes." Deuteronomy 1:30 We are no longer stuck if we don't want to be.  The quicksand has turned to dust & the chains have been broken.  We were set free long before we ever knew.  We are not a clearance item , half price, or 75% off but FREE!!!

"Do not squander time, for it is the stuff of which life is made." -Benjamin Franklin

Put your rain boots on, get a shovel, call some friends, PRAY, & tell GOD " It's time I get unSTUCK.! Put in work & watch the positive results that come about :)

"When you are in distress, & all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God & obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God) He will not forsake you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant or your fathers which he swore them." Deuteronomy 4:30&31

GOD is good today, tomorrow & foreverr!!!

Model Material/Role Model

So...I believe I owe my readers an apology first & foremost. Today is NOT Wednesday & I'm truly sorry that I didn't get this up yesterday.  Life happens :) In addition to my apology, I want to add that today is a freestyle blog.  Like I've said before, I have wonderful notes and things that I plan to say but God's plans aren't always mine. When He moves, I get out of the way & let Him do His thing! I truly Believe He has a Diva side :) Jealous of what is HIS & needs it to be all about HIM! True Story, My God is Glamorous, Marvelous, Loving, Amazing, Merciful, ALIVE & well just EVERYTHING!

Anyhow, this morning, I was thinking about an assortment of things & this thought came into my head.  Everything that I have began to do in my life for Him, Is it Model Material??  Like, would someone else be inspired to do what I do. Am I motivational? Is any of this going to make a difference in anyone's life?  My heart knows all these things are exactly what is happening but sometimes my mind can try & say otherwise.  Does this happen to you?? To my knowledge, we are all human, So YES it does happen.  When we work for the Lord, there are thieves all around, so our shoplifting detectors need to be on High Volume!!
Before I came to the Lord, I once posted a pic on my Myspace page.  I was, honestly, half dressed & piles of makeup covered my face.  Under the picture, I posted "Model Material?" When I look back now, that is in NO way how I want to be Model Material.  My mask of insecurity was on so tight that I had no insight on what true Model Material was.  Beauty is from within, & when the Lord is on the inside...How can we be ugly on the outside?

Whether we like it or not, we are all Role Models.  We have family, friends, co-workers & even strangers that watch our every move. My sister once said, "Life ain't a rehearsal, the camera is always rollin.." That doesn't mean we have to act like something we are NOT but rather be who God has predestined you to be. We are a powerful force when He lives within.  We can do good & Model greatness for a world who so desperately needs it.  I know that everyday life can be a struggle.  Between Jobs, children, friends, family..etc  It's hard to ALWAYS be the Best Role Model or strike others as Model Material.  The great thing about this is that God  doesn't expect perfection, he wants participation.  We are human & trials will definitely come our way but our Runway of life is no match for Papa GOD! So ladies, put your imaginary stilettos on & rip the runway! Men, dress to impress & take control of the show.  " Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."  1Timothy 4:12

Today don't let anyone tell you that are not Model Material or that your not fit to be a Role Model.  We have all the key essentials in our blueprint, "The Bible" to be so!

" Join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern." Philippians 3:17

God is good...Today, Tomorrow, & foreverrr!!!!

;0) Laughter :0)

" GOD has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me." Genesis 21:6

Laughter is a gift from GOD;& just like every other gift He has provided, He intends for us to use it.  It's so easy to get bogged down with the stress of everyday life & alot of times we don't stop to just take a breather.  It's hard to have fun when you feel that nothing is going right, however, these feelings are what we allow to happen.

So how hard is to smile? Not hard at all & your working face muscles by doing so :) For some of us ladies, we can consider this a workout & just give up the gym membership that we never use anyway! Just Kidding..Really though, A smile is a crooked  line that straightens out everything. Everything??? Yes, Everything if you want it to! GOD loves beyond measurable belief & he doesn't want us sitting around looking like we were not created by the LORD MOST HIGH! In fact it tells us in Psalm 47:1 "Oh, clap your hands , all you peoples! Shout to GOD with the voice of triumph!" Our GOD is AWESOME!!

Anyhow, I googled laughter to see what would come up & it's amazing. It says, laughter is the BEST medicine. Laughter is an inward feeling of joy! You can use laughter to deal with hard times. If we can laugh, then we are RICH! Who knew??? Raymond Hitchcock says, " A man isn't poor if he can still laugh!" Don't know the guy but he sounds pretty smart. My point is, Laughter can be food for the soul if we let it & the most wasted of days is one with out laughter.

Today as we go about our daily activities, I challenge you to just Laugh or even Smile :0) By brightening your own day, you might do so for someone else as well! If Sarah can laugh about giving birth to Issac all bc Abraham was old, then Hey, we can laugh about something!

"So many tangles in our life are ultimately hopeless that we have no appropriate sword, other than to Laugh." -Gordon W. Allport

GOD is good today, tomorrow, & forever....

~Healed Without Scars~

Beautiful Wednesday it is :0) Last day of the work, then on to family time & Turkey day!! So for this column, I thought about doing " What are you Thankful for?" A little cliche considering that Thanksgiving is a couple days away & everyone in my cyber social networks have been posting, tweeting, & face booking what they are thankful for. So, I was going over some notes & came across "Healed Without Scars" & for whatever reason, I feel that someone needs this message for today :0) Just FYI, my notes stem from a variety of places. First being my bible, then christian shows, speakers that I enjoy, or just simply everyday life experiences. Learning something new can come from the most unique places. Make sure to pay attention to small detail, you never know when God has something for you!

So many of us waste time & energy on blaming & dwelling in our losses & depression. Eventually, instead of God being our best friend, Loneliness & Depression are & they linger like smoke in a bar with a stench that never goes away. However, just as the stench of smoke can be washed away by detergent & a washing machine, so can loneliness & depression. As soon as you are sick & tired of being sick & tired, give it God. In Exodus 15:26 it says, " I am the Lord who heals you." He will throw some detergent of love & pour out his blood to cleanse you from all that has made you unclean. God created our minds to be our servant, not the other way around. We have to be consistent & predictable to create balance :0) Don't let pain become your blueprint.

In one of my blogs I said, "Faith doesn't stop life from happening". I said that to say this, Negative events are on our schedule but they don't have to have a negative affect. We can survive & thrive in the midst of any situation by merely trusting God & keeping Faith, NO MATTER WHAT! How to identify? 1. Move away from Denial 2. Realize you made a decision. Nothing is going to happen until we move away from Denial! Become discerning in your life---In my Godly Gossip Group, I hold every other Tuesday, we are discussing No More Masks by Paula White. We are talking about being authentic & taking off a mask that we have been hiding behind for so long. This "Healed Without Scars" goes perfectly with that. We have to identify so that we can confront & confront so that we can conquer. None of this can happen until we take off the mask & realize that the scars that our carnal endures will not forever be there. Take off your mask in front of God & do an exchange of your heart.

Daniel, in the Bible, is such an inspiration when it comes to this topic.  He served many Kings but only one God & despite the orders & beliefs of human, he followed his faith in God. He was ordered to worship a statue made of gold but Daniel knew he was to worship no one but the Lord. He disobeyed the worldly people & though he knew there were consequences, He also knew that God would never leave him nor forsake him. Cast into a lions den & a fiery pit for "punishment", he emerged from both unharmed & with No Scars. It says not even a hair cinched on his head nor a bad smell. Daniel knew in his heart of hearts that God had his back & He has ours in that same way. The scars that we have allowed to happen, God can take those away & then prevent any others from ever making a mark again.

Today, I want us to acknowledge the power He has. He just asks us to be faithful in the midst of any trial & abide by His word. Never forget that He gave us the breath to be alive.

God is good...Today, tomorrow, & forever

(Praise God for Paula White & Bishop David Evans.  My notes & message today came from his book & her inspiring words.)

Dedication to my sister- Jennifer Michelle Pena

This Wednesday is a different kinda Gossip Girl. I want to share an intimate piece of my life, not only to let you in but as a part of my healing process.
At some point in all of our lives, we have lost someone very close to us. Whether this person was a best friend or a family member, it hurts just the same & sometimes the flesh doesn't deal well. As the process of healing is taking place, we need to know that it is OK to cry, mourn, be upset & a little confused. If we didn't take the time for these things the healing process could not take place within. God gave us emotions, & He intends for us to express them :)

4 yrs ago tomorrow, My sister Jennifer Michelle Pena went to be with Papa God. Under the circumstances that life had brought at that time, I didn't understand Why did God let this happen & I begin to fall apart. "I'm only 18, My dad is away for now & I have a 16yr old sister to look after. There is school, we don't have money, & now our sister is being taken away. WHY?" These were just a few thoughts that went through my head in the beginning & I wasn't exactly sure how I would get through this.  It wasn't until I saw her lying there looking so peaceful & in no pain that I realized, " I'm Selfish!" She was never ours to keep, God blessed us with her presence & decided it was time for her to go home. All her life she was confined to so many things & unable to do what we all take advantage of doing. Walking, talking, eating real food, & drinking from a cup. So in that moment while I was admiring her little body & beautiful face, I realized her spirit was gone. She was merely but an angel in waiting for her wings to fly from this earth :0) Now she is doing everything that she was prohibited from & even more!

Your probably thinking, 4yrs? Shouldn't you have dealt with this by now? Truth is, sometimes it can take a whole lifetime to deal with things that have happened. Do I want to take a lifetime to heal from the loss of Jenni? The answer is No. I just want to be at peace. There are so many people out there hurting for this same reason & my hope is that, maybe when they read this, it will be a little factor in their healing process. "If you've experienced a significant loss or a profound disappointment, don't bottle up everything inside. Express your feelings;talk openly to loved ones;allow tears to flow.  Even if you'd rather ignore your pain, don't do it. Reach out to the people you love & trust. By honestly expressing your grief, you will take an active role in God's plan for your recovery. And in time, you'll experience the comfort & the joy that can be yours-& that God wants you to know." ( Insert from my Hugs Bible for Women)

No matter how many years pass Jenni-flower, I will never forget you or the few memories we had. I know that you are now the angel in Heaven that we considered you on earth. Your presence is still with us & I know that you are a part of all we do. Save a place for me, I'll be home soon....

" To everything there is a season,a  time for every purpose under Heaven...a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

God is good Today, Tomorrow, & Forver

Predestined!

A few weeks or maybe about a month ago, the Pastor of my church was talking about being Predestined. At first, I wasn't exactly sure where she was going with it until I sat down and read the book of Ephesians & it just clicked...God wanted & still wants Greatness for us. It is our DESTINY! He Predestined us for this greatness before we ever knew what the word Destined was! How marvelous to have a God this caring & loving though we are undeserving. Our debt still remains but His undying Love & Forgiveness allows us to be in His good grace. So if you take anything away from this today, I pray that it's the understanding of the wonderful seed God planted before we knew He did & if we just water & be patient, He will reveal our Destiny!


In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul talks of our redemption in Christ. We have Spiritual Blessings because He chose us before He chose Him. Ephesians 1:4 "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy & without blame before Him in Love." It goes on to say,in verse 5, that we have redemption through His blood!! He died on that cross for you & me. NOT because he liked pain or wanted to be tormented but because of His Love for God & Us. He was scared & His body felt pain just as ours do today but He knew the end result was worth it. His blood shed is why we are here today. He died & was raised up again , so that we could have life!!!


Everyday I am reminded by something of how blessed I am & what my purpose in life is. Serve Him, Love Him, Love others, & proclaim to others what salvation is. It says " When we become one with God, we have access to the Father." Ephesians 2:18 God knew what He was doing, He has a purpose for everything. We have a handbook to this life we have been given & its called The Bible. In it He says we can have eternal life with Him if we seek, be obedient,& Love as He loved. These things are so easy that we take for granted the life He has offered. Don't let the fact that you/we are Destined & were Predestined for greatness slip out of reach by not focusing on how & why it is so! God is good! Today, tomorrow, & Forever...


"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:9

Doubt & Disbelief

First, let me start with saying...I apologize for not having this up Wednesday.  I have made a commitment to dedicate my Wednesday's to putting this blog up & I will not let the Devil or anything else get in the way of that.  Praise God I am healthy & my friends & family are supporting my every move in the LORD Jesus Christ! I love you all...

Man o' Man has the devil been working lately. I mean he is always on the prowl but he has been lurking around my particular circle & I don't like it!  Of course this is not something we take lightly but in no way are we in doubt or disbelief that we will not conquer his evil plans & remove his nasty paws off all our lives.  I say that to say this, the devil is real...He wants us to be in doubt & disbelief about our Maker, our Father & GOD, but the choice lies within us to make.  Do we listen to what the devil is throwin down or do we take a stand and say " You filthy mongrel, you have no business in my life & I will rebuke you with my lips & through the blood of Jesus your scent, aura, & presence will no longer be allowed here"!  Not all of us are this strong & we need the help of God & others to find the strength to get through this doubt & disbelief.  My message to day will hopefully inspire & motivate you to kick out the feelings of doubt & disbelief when trial & tribulation come your way.

"Lord, I believe; help my disbelief!" Mark 9:24  I think it's safe to say..Some days are not always better than most for us.  Whether it's that Monday at work where nothing goes right or your just having "one of them days".  Either way, on these particular days, discouragement, doubt & disbelief seem to be our best friend.  It's almost as if the harder we try , the harder things seem to get.  Frustration begins to fill us, we begin to ask "Why me?" & your Faith begins to disappear.  Only God knows "Why" but He's not telling...yet!  Just when you feel far removed from God, *Remember* God is Never far removed from you.  Genuinely seek, humble yourself, & bury your heart in His word.  Find a scripture that touches you & add it in your prayer you pray.  Ex. " Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails! DO not hide your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit." Psalm 143:7  So when in Doubt...Just Believe! 

God is Good!!! All the time...Today..tomorrow & FOREVER! 

Where is GOD?

There are so many things I'm excited to share but I know I have to pick something to start with. Let me tell ya, this isn't easy. After some thought though, I've decided to begin with the topic "Where is God?" A question that many Christian's and those who are lost often ask.

Q: Where is GOD?
A: Everywhere!

I'm happy to inform you that God is there when you don't even think He is there. Sometimes when God shows up, we don't see Him & other times we blow Him off.  Though there are many day to day trials & tribulations, God never leaves us. Some say, "Where was God when I really needed Him, I had Faith that it would all work out but it didn't?" Sorry to burst your bubble, but Faith doesn't prevent life from happening. You will never be happy when you are expecting the answers to it all. God works on His time, not ours. So now you say, "What's next?" "How do I get through all this?" Thankfully, we serve a forgiving & faithful God that let's us know that it is ok to grieve. To get through these hard times, we have to go through the grief process. Without this process we are at risk of living in the past continuously. This meaning, accept your losses, put safe people around you, replace what's lost, so you can prepare for what's next, and allow yourself to grieve (cry). Be vulnerable & receive comfort.

We humans have tendency to want to have control of life, but baby steps never hurt anyone. Let go & Let God!!

Once our grieving process(or whatever it is that makes us question, Where is God?) is over, the happiness that comes after is BEAUTIFUL. You no longer have to wonder, "Where is God?". "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch." Proverbs 15:3. So my friends, our God is always around, in the words of Psalm 46:10 " be still & know that I am God". God is good, all the time.....