The Garment

The Garment

I was approached by a woman in the grocery store one day who wanted me to model a product she was selling. She told me that her product would instantly make any woman look two to three dress sizes smaller. Of course I was curious and a little excited about being in a smaller dress size. We exchanged numbers and agreed to touch base later in the week so that she could tell me all about her “magic” product. A few weeks later she called and we set the time and place for her to show me the product. With my busy schedule, we decided to meet at my house. As promised she arrived with the product and all the marketing materials that came along with it.

As she pulled the garment out of the bag I wondered how in the world this thing would make me instantly smaller. She measured me and the pulled out another size and asked me to try it on. I went into the other room to try it on and yell out to her that I needed her assistance. We pulled and we tugged. We stuffed and we pulled, we struggled and finally the garment was on. And guess what? I did look 2 dress sizes smaller. My waist was slender like it was in high school. My hips were smooth and my behind was round and full. I looked good. The woman said “And if you wear this all the time eventually you will begin to loose weight because you won’t be able to eat as much”. I could barely breathe let alone eat anything. Who in the world could possibly wear this thing 24/7? It was at that moment I really knew that there is no such thing as lasting instant gratification. When I took the garment off, I was back to my original size. Nothing about me had changed except the embarrassment of having a total stranger put me into and release me from a garment that made me appear to be something I was not.

Such is the case in knowing oneself. Human beings want to instantly feel good about ourselves so we gravitate to the things that make us appear to be something we may not be. There is no such thing as lasting “instant” gratification. Our true self has to be cultivated by our positive thinking, discipline, speech and acting on our need for lasting change. This process does not take place over night. It is a continuous learning process that is ever evolving and ever changing. It requires honesty admitting who we are at this moment however ugly it may be, dealing and acknowledging it then moving on to create a clear path to reach our goals. It may mean the loss of relationships and it may mean stepping out on faith to build new ones. Nothing in this world that is meant to last comes easy or instantly. We are not brought into this world in an instant, it takes nine moths to prepare for the birth and even longer than that to reach maturity.

If by chance we are wearing a “magic” garment cloaking our true self, take it off and reveal your true self. Don’t be afraid of what you see and by all means don’t be afraid to change it.

Peace and Blessings

Phaedra

What’s in Your Wallet?

I love that CapitalOne commercial with the tag line: What’s in your wallet? The characters in the commercials are always finding themselves in some type of crazy situation and at that exact moment that question appears to be the most appropriate question to ask.

I started to ask myself the question…What’s in my wallet? No, not my physical wallet, but my spiritual wallet. The great thing about a spiritual wallet is that we do not have to be in some type of crazy situation to use it. We can use it at any time of the day or night, just because.

One of my favorite scriptures in my wallet that I use on a daily basis is found in Ephesians 6:13-15- the Amplified Bible verse reads:

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news of the Gospel of peace.

What a way to wake up in the mornings! Knowing that you put on the complete armor of God before you walk out the door gives you peace of mind.

Since we are a covenant people, we are heirs to greatness and to what God as promised us. Sometimes, when life gets hard, I forget that. I pull out my spiritual wallet and remind myself that God never lies. The scripture in Numbers 23:19 (New International Version) reminds me:

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

For the reassurance of his love, I always pull out John 3:16 (New International Version)–

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I think about my only child and my only grandchild, and the love I have for them, would I have given them up to save a sinful mankind? How can I not be in awe of him and what he has done for me.

So the next time you hear “What’s in your wallet? take time to reflect on your spiritual wallet. Believe me; it’s better than plastic any day.

Peace and blessings

I’ve Never Seen

I’ve Never Seen

…”Well if you can’t at least pay the interest on the vehicle, we will have to come get it”. “You don’t understand, I don’t have any money at all right now, I’ve never been late on a payment can you give me a little more time?” “I can’t help that, those were the terms to the agreement and if you don’t abide by the terms …please verify your address so that the vehicle can be picked up”.

Such are the conversations being held around the nation everyday. People are struggling to make ends meet. Jobs are eliminated and homes are being foreclosed on. What was once a happy family environment is now strained due to financial stress and worry. When it seems that you are doing all you can, what else is there to do, where can you turn?

I speak often about the righteousness of God because it is real. The scripture in Psalms 37:25 says “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” God says that he will never leave you or forsake you. You must believe that! His righteousness does not mean that we will not go through trials and some tribulations. You may even trip and stumble, but you will not fall, you will not fail. He won’t let you.

The trials and tribulations you encounter are tests. When the storm passes, you will be able to see the wonderful blessing he had in store for you all along and if you are really listening, you will apply that lesson in your everyday life. Being imperfect and falling short of his glory means that on occasion life will get rough. You may even loose some of the material things that you acquired through the years. Don’t worry; you will recover it all and then some. We are so use to living life a certain way that when our life is shaken up a bit we feel like everything is lost. Don’t let the enemy fool you. Please know that the enemy knows that you have a better life ahead and he is trying to stop you from getting to it, so move forward.

Remember that it is his will that every need be supplied. Keep the faith, keep trusting in God despite of what you see, be grateful, keep encouraging others, reading, interceding and giving.

Be Still

Be Still

God’s people are a people of action. We are on the move, reading and meditating, speaking about Jesus Christ and acting in faith on what we believe. However, there are moments in our lives, as many of us know, where God places on our hearts to be “still”.

When I first heard the words “be still”, my first thoughts went to physically being still. I knew that could not be correct because I had to work, take care of my family and other responsibilities. What did it mean, and how would I know when and for how long I should be still? This was puzzling to me. I came across the scripture in 1Samuel 12:16 where it says “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!” I became excited; I was ready to experience the great thing that God had for me. I thought that I would see results almost in an instant. What I failed to realize was that during this period of me standing still, God is moving. He is busy during this time.

Shifting and Molding
Unhappy with your job and you know that you know there is another purpose for your life but bills are due and you feel like you can’t leave? It’s been on your mind for years, perhaps you dabbled in weekend business ventures only to return to work feeling financially safe. You even asked God what you should do…to no avail. Then one day, you are told that your position has been eliminated! You have no choice now but to pursue your purpose. There are different ways that God can shift and mold you. He removes obstacles and people that mean you harm from your life. He introduces you to your spiritual eye and through study and meditation; you begin looking at your life situations from a different prospective. Your movements through life become slower because you are no longer quick to act. You ask God should you, before you move. He is molding your mind and your thoughts repositioning you to receive what you have been destined to have.

Confidence and Trust
The other thing that god begins to do with you is build your confidence and trust in him. Philippians 4:13 states: I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [g]infuses inner strength into me; I am [h]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. When you begin to believe in god’s word, there is nothing you can’t have or can’t be if you believe. Believe me, it’s easier said than done. It is during your building and trust period that all types of people cross your path. Sad to say, most of the time these people are here to do you more harm than good. But unlike the other times when you may have succumbed to the temptations, you have read enough, studied enough and prayed enough to know that they or the situation they present to you is not your purpose. That my friend is growth and you can rest assured that if you do not give in to the temptation, God will move you one-step closer to where you are to be.

I’m Still Waiting…
Trusting in his word is hard to do when in the natural it looks like the end of everything is near. Unemployed, bills are due and creditors are not sympathetic. It seems like you have been waiting for an eternity and still no breakthrough.

• Keep waiting, but also keep moving
• If unemployed keep searching, find new business ventures
• Stay active remembering that an idle mind is the devils playground
• Ask for direction, he will answer you
• Keep giving! There are many ways to give time, advice, visiting some one in need

ALWAYS move forward and don’t look back. Be a person on the move so that God can move in your life.

In the Glow of Love

Sitting at my computer, one of my favorite songs popped into my mind. The song is from an old group called “Change” with then front man and balladeer Luther Vandross. The song is entitled “The Glow of Love”. The song depicts the wonderful feelings people in love feel and the lively actions they display while being in love. I could not help but to think that ever since I became saved, I felt like I was walking in the Glow of God’s love. Everything I thought about felt alive. Life had meaning and it was then that I started seeking my purpose in life.

In the Glow of God’s love your mind and your spirit is transformed into something new everyday. As stated in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (NIV). In walking in the glow of God’s love, you look at your life in a different way. Although it may take a life time to master this thing called “flesh”, walking in the glow of God’s love enables us to make wise decisions and even gives us the knowledge and courage to say “no” when needed. In a time when the wrong decision or action takes place, walking in his love allows us the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and equips us with the necessary steps to get back on track. As 1 Peter 5:10 states, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast”(NIV).

If you truly desire to walk in the glow of god’s love then dig deep into his word. I liken walking in his word to following a lighted pathway. With every step taken, the stone lights up making it easier to see where your foot should land next. God’s word is unmovable, unchangeable and steadfast. It is what it is purposed to be, a guide, a life line and a way of better way of life. If we continuously go to his word to seek the answers to our situations, then we will begin to feel the warm glow of his love. It should make us hunger and thirst for more. The more we hunger, the deeper we will dig, and so on…and the glow grows stronger until we are one walking in the glow of God’s love.