Rich In Love

Good Sunday morning family. It's a little chilly here in the "Ville. Everyone's up doing their thing. I'm feeling blessed and highly favored (we should feel this way 24/7 no matter what). Had a great week at work and a wonderful Saturday filled with family and friends. As I walked through the week I realized I'd dodged a lot of bullets. I truly understand, even though I don't have a lot of material things and my money isn't as long as I want it to be, that I may be one the richest women in the world. Funny? As I look around, I see my life as being full, rich with people who love me, a God who has allowed me to make mistakes and still opened His arms to me when I asked forgiveness. That's rich. When I say I've dodged bullets, I mean I've done some crazy things that could have taken me down paths of darkness, things that could've taken my life (mentally/physically). This morning I rejoice because I've been restored, redeemed and set free from a past that will no longer over shadow/outshine my present/future. Heavenly Father I say thank You this morning, I am in awe of You. You've opened my heart/cleared my mind, made me better than I ever thought I could be. Thank You for showing me that giving of myself is more fulfilling than receiving every/any fleshly desire. Those things bring temporary relief. Lord I thank You for my family, my friends and my life. I pray that You continue filling us with wisdom and love so that we can share who we are and what we have with those who are in need. Lord I bless and praise Your Holy Name this morning, thanking You for all and wanting for nothing. In Jesus' Holy Name, AMEN. TeamRichInLove. Bblessedloveyou. Psalm 18:16. Romans8:12-14. 2Chronicles 9:12

Happy Anniversary

Good morning family. Thanking God for a new day and a blessed life. Asking Him for continued blessings as Dee and I celebrate 30 years of marriage today. Sometimes I still feel like that 19 year old girl standing in front of the justice of the peace saying "I do". Marrying the man I'd loved since I was 13. I can honestly say that God's hand has been on our relationship. We were young parents, Dee having just turned 14 and me about to be 15 when Cedric was born. Ya'll know we didn't know what we were doing, but God. I'm thankful for all that we've endured, the good and the bad. I'm grateful that I have a loving husband who accepts me for who I am because the Lord knows I can be difficult sometimes. I'm more grateful to God for allowing us to grow up/old together and for blessing us with beautiful children and grandchildren. What I've learned over the years is that it doesn't pay to be nit-picky, that communication is everything and it's okay to disagree. Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You continue watching over all of us. I pray for broken relationships, asking for healing for those who are struggling/trying to survive. I ask that You grant each of peace/understanding and the courage to love unconditionally. Father God, I thank You for providing examples of what true love looks like and for bringing people into our lives who support and lift us up. In Jesus' Holy Name, AMEN....TeamHappyAnniversary. Bblessedloveyou.

Overcomers

Good morning family. Enjoying the weather in Louisiana. Nice and cool. Praying that each of you woke up in your "right" mind, blessed and highly favored. Continued prayers for the Young family as they prepare to celebrate Mike. God is good, He is awesome in His wisdom. He heals our hearts and teaches us to endure those things that seem impossible to overcome. Also praying for the family of my son's friend who lost his life this week. Loss is never easy to accept but when we open our hearts to The Lord we find the strength to endure. My granddaughter, Nadya, reminded me last night that we will stumble, we may fall, even fail but we should never lose faith in Our Heavely Father's ability to restore us. I'm forever grateful for all the lessons I've learned. When we find the courage to humble ourselves we move forward. When we throw away selfish and careless ways we are strengthened. And when we understand true "faith" life becomes an incredible experience as opposed to "the struggle" we're used to. Romans 5:3-5. TeamOvercomers. Bblessedloveyou. Also praying for Kathy's family. 

Convictions

Good morning family. Thanking God for a good night's sleep. Headed to Baton Rouge today to visit with the Young family. Still doesn't seem right that Mike has gone to be with The Lord. Asking God to help the family through this weekend and for continued blessings. Just a quick reminder this morning that we have to be mindful of how and who we criticize. I've changed a lot of my ways based on convictions. I understand I can no longer pick and choose "my sin". It simply is what is based on God's word. He's given complete/clear direction as to how we should live our lives. When I was younger I drilled through my life living recklessly, choosing to follow the ways of the world. I soon found out that this world will kill you and then brag about it. I pray that we're all clearing out the mess we've made and that we stop fooling ourselves into thinking that just because "the world" is doing "it" God's okay with it. He expects us to be bigger and greater, He expects that we will love unconditionally, He expects that we will abide by His word and not be swayed by our "worldly" desires. I'm truly thankful for my change and thankful for the changes that are coming because I know I have more work to do, more convictions are coming. So grateful for His word and wisdom. TeamConvictions. Bblessedloveyou

Finding Purpose

Good morning family. Sending a special prayer out to the Young family. Mike passed this morning. If you knew Mike, you know how much he loved life and being around people. I'm thankful that God allowed me/my family to know and love him. Something that has been on my heart to share is that we are to busy looking for signs to follow in life when God has already laid our purpose out for us. We are to afraid to step out on faith and pursue those things that make us happy and those things that God intended for us to do. We're afraid of failure and we're really not listening/watching the right people. We're thinking like Moses when he said he wasn't the right person because he stuttered. But Our Father in Heaven provided a will and way that allowed Moses to do as God asked. I don't know about you, but God has provided me with so many opportunities that I've "flushed" away because I didn't think I was capable, ready for or worthy of. At some point in all of our lives we have to fall into our purpose, we have to begin doing the "work" we were designed to do. I realized that I've been waiting for retirement age instead of enjoying maturity and looking forward to learning more. Why would I want to retire when I have so much more to do/learn? This morning as I/we prepare for Sunday, I pray that if we aren't walking in our purpose, that we seek guidance through prayer and meditation. AMEN. Thinking of Trenee and Tayla this morning, praying that God gives them and the rest of the Young family the strength they need to go "through". TeamFindPurpose. Bblessed. Exodus4:10 Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, (A)I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."

Research Your Vote

Good morning family. Well it's my second day at home. I actually planned to give this day back and go to work but I thought about how busy I've been over the past few weeks, decided to stay home. Dee told me I deserve it, so another day "sitting up in my room". A friend of mine and I were talking last week about the upcoming elections. It's so sad that the commercials we're seeing are so negative. We have become people who blame everyone else for everything that goes wrong in our lives. It seems people with "book sense" have lost their compassion and common sense when it comes to the affairs of those who elect them. We've become so used to the corruption that it doesn't even shock us anymore when things done in the dark are brought to the light. It's just "my opinion" but casting a vote now-a-days is a crap shoot. What I know for sure is there is never going to be an elected official who can please everyone because we're all different, we have different needs, we have different views, we come from different races, we've had different experiences. I can't speak for a "community" I've never lived in nor do I want someone who's never lived in my "community" to speak for me. People stand outside the "communities" of others judging and making recommendations but most of those people have not felt what it's like to live "there". The only and one true way any of us will have peace of mind and joy in who we are is to follow and obey the words/will of Our Father in Heaven. He's laid the foundation but we got side tracked by what/who America said we should be. Before any of us vote, we should pray, we should really understand what our candidates believe, we should know if they are in it just for the attention or do they honestly want to help those they are supposed to serve. I am blessed to live in this country. Ask anyone I speak with and they'll tell you that I don't travel outside the country because I feel safe here and there are so many places I haven't seen in the US, so why leave? That's just me. Please be prepared to vote. TeamResearchYourVote. Bblessedloveyou.

Toss & Turn

Good morning family. Praying everyone is up and moving, getting things done. Traveling grace for Christopher. A huge birthday shout out to Devante, love him to life. When he figures out where he wants to go in life, it's going to be huge. Proud of him and Elon, getting that higher education. Man I tossed and turned last night. So much going on lately. Work is busy, home life is busy. So glad God's word reminds me that it's all okay and everything is going to be alright. Dee and I aren't traveling to Louisiana but I took the day off anyway. Needed a little rest. There are times in our lives when we'll question whether or not we're doing the right thing. There are times when we have to take a step back and let things go. There are people in our lives who will do things that we can't/won't understand but guess what, it's okay. We won't always get the response we'd hoped for, our ideas won't always be received well even when our intentions are good but those are the times that teach and show us how to be better, how to sustain, how to use what we've learned to our advantage as opposed to allowing our emotions to get in the way. Praying and thanking God for peace of mind, for allowing each of us to get through  the "sometimes" impossible days. Asking our Father/Lord over all to continue pouring out understanding because we can't get enough, at least I can't. Thanking Him for all. TeamToss&Turn.