~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!