Using my gift of writing with the flow of the Holy Spirit. If one of my posts encourages just one person, I have succeeded! I pray that both women and men are blessed and are encouraged in the Lord by my testimonies. Xoxoxo
Friday, January 25, 2013
I'm Still a Girl
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Lord is OUR source!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Friendship Grace
Heather Lindsey
Tuesday 10:08 A.M.
Why are you dumping every friend that has a character flaw as if you don't have one of your own? Start gracing people because God could be using YOU to help reveal it to THEM. That same grace you give them.. You will find that you need down the road.
Proverbs 18:24 NLT
There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
I'm so glad I seen this status this morning cause it was definitely a slap in the face! A lot of my friends I've stopped speaking to or just completely dismissed b/c of their lifestyle or the things they partake in. Now, there DOES come a time when in our lives when you must separate yourselves from friends and start receiving a new group of people in your life. That's not what I'm talking about here. Going off of Miss Lindsey's post, I'm thinking she's referring to those strongholds or certain things we KNOW our friends are struggling with and are trying to change and get better at, but because they can't "get it together" quick enough, we drop em!
When I think about it, it really is sad how we are so quick 2 dismiss & throw away people but quickly forget how the Lord is long-suffering with us and has such GREAT compassion, mercy and grace, yet WE (including myself!) we tend to forget to display those same things towards others. :-( Romans 13:8 NLT Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 1 Peter 4:8 NKJV And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” We are to build up, and not tear down one another! Pray & ask the Lord to help you, teach you how to be a better friend. NONE OF US HAVE ARRIVED OR MADE IT YET! So, until we close our eyes to this world, we are still battling, struggling, going through & learning! My Ace-Deuce is quick to "cut me" (as I like to call it). It does hurt, but it's for MY GOOD! I pray that you are greatly blessed & encouraged by this posting! XoXoXo ~Raven J.Friday, January 18, 2013
DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES!
~Raven J.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!
Quickly I need to share this! Idk if this was directly for me because how the Lord has been blessing me and having me connect with new people regarding my writings and desiring to have a career in that field.. He's been opening doors for me and I've been receiving a lot of great feedback! But it may not solely be for me. It may be for my Ace-Deuce Traci n her situation, or someone from my #IG FAM that needs confirmation... But this was dropped into my spirit out of the blue and I pray that it touches who it needs to touch and begins to manifest even the more! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!! XoXoXo
~Raven J.
It's the LITTLE things!
Luke 16:10 NLT
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
Hello Luvs!
I know it's super late and I most definitely should be sleeping but I needed to post this little message.
****Oh before I forget: I JUST LEARNED TONIGHT THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO POST ANY COMMENTS ON MY BLOG. A SISTER TOLD ME SHE TRIED 10X THEN I TESTED IT OUT MYSELF. THIS IS WHAT SHOWS UP WHEN YOU TRY TO SUBMIT A COMMENT****
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The Lord's Love
I don't have Internet access at home right now so that's why I haven't been posting regularly like I want. Nevertheless, I'm at work right now and hope to be able to finish thus before having to clock in! :-P
About a week ago, I was watching episodes of Full House, and the last one I watched was the one where Stephanie accidentally drove Joey's car through the kitchen window. The last clip of the show ended with Danny telling Stephanie that she could never do anything that would make him stop loving her.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
Instantly hearing those lines, I thought about the love the Lord has for us - NEVER-ENDING! I also thought about how scared Stephanie was that she ended up running away.
She asked her dad how could he possibly still love her after she done what she did?
I can guarantee we all have done something when we younger or even in our teenage years and we just felt like it was the end of the world for us! Our parents may have been furious and probably did give us a serious beat-down (not child abuse, just a good old-fashioned whooping) that which we did, didn't remove their love us. If anything, their disciplinary action proved they loved us!
Proverbs 13:24 NLT
"Those who spare the rod if discipline hate their children. Those which love their children care enough to discipline them."
I hope you all KNOW that NO SIN is greater or less than the other! In GOD'S EYES, they're all the same and all lead to the same place. So, whatever mistakes you make or short-comings you have, the Lord won't ever stop loving you or caring from you. Too often when we felt we've disappointed God, we run away from Him and stop having a relationship with Him because we feel the mess we've gotten ourselves into is just so great, why would He choose to deal with us now?? But His grace and mercies are new everyday! A new day to start over and get it right!!! :-)
Also, in saying all if that, just because the Lord is a merciful God, doesn't mean we should take advantage of HIS LOVE for us!
Romans 8:38 NLT
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
I know just about all of us who've come to know the true love of Christ have felt that way at some point in our lives. If we backslide, if we disobeyed God or kept failing the tests or just had a hard time understanding the things of the Lord or getting things right in our lives. We're like, after all this mess I've done, this mess I'm in, how can He still love me after all of that?
I'm going to have to come back and Edit this post, but please be Encouraged & God Bless you 2day!!! XoXoXo ~Raven J.
Friday, January 11, 2013
ENCOURAGERS Need Lifting Up, Too!
Good Morning & Happy Friday!!!
I first want to take a minute to thank everyone who has taken the time & patience to read my Blog posts and spread the word! I humbly appreciate the feedback, love & support! I'm staying humble & grounded and knowing that it's NOT about how many viewers I get or how many subscribers I get, but that people are truly ENCOURAGED in a world where it all seems hopeless! So many have given or are giving up life! I thank the Lord for blessing me with the gift of Inspiring people! We ALL need that! And it seems like we all need it more than ever!
So... Even if the layout of my Blog (temporary - I'm still learning! :-)] doesn't immediately catch your attention, it's my prayer & hope that the words I have written does! I pray that you are reminded of God's love, of His Grace & Mercy and that you regain hope for whatever situation you're going through! If this isn't for you, that's find! But I'm sure we all know someone who could relate and be blessed by this site.
OK..Sorry, that was longer than I wanted! Hey, it's the #WRITER in me! :-P
I wanted to remind myself and others that those who have the gift & ability to encourage others in their storm (some people don't know how to encourage), that we need to be uplifted, too! I say that because all that we pour our drains us and then we need to have the Lord pour back into us. Ironically, sometimes we're so optimistic and have such great faith when it comes to another person's situation, but we have a harder time believing it during our own trials. As they say, sometimes people are so strong, people around them feel they never break and can endure any and everything. That's not always the case! Behind closed doors is usually where their guards are let down. So, remember to Thank those who have made a difference in your life! Thank those who has ever encouraged you, or just blessed you in some kind of way! A hug and a smile goes a LONG way! We may not always understand a person's situation or can relate, but just the thought of them knowing you ARE there & DO CARE makes all the difference in the world!
So, on this Friday, let's continue to help and encourage one another. Let us remember to pour into one another as the Lord himself is always pouring into us!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Acts 2:18 NLT
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND & BE BLESSED & ENCOURAGED IN THE LORD 2DAY!!! XoXoXo
~Raven J.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
PRAY MORE ...WORRY LESS!!!
“If you pray about it don't worry about it. If you're going to worry about it don't pray about it.”
― Steve Harvey
Good Morning, Luvs!
Happy Humpday! I hope the first full week back to work since the holidays hasn't been too challenging! :-D
I wanted to share with you today something I'm pretty sure we all can relate to, and if if you're not feeling this way now, I can guarantee you have before in the past and will experience it in the future. "Financial hardships (as the school loans department likes to call it)
With the way the economy is, the difficulties of finding a job, a good one and good paying one at that, there are a lot if people, including myself who are unfortunately living from check-to-check and are just barely getting by. With my school loans and other monthly bills, it always seems as if I can't receive a break, and when I do obtain extra funds, its always going towards a bill.
I want to encourage you today to take your mind off those financial burdens and place your mind on the Lord. He sees and knows our struggles. He wants to rescue us and strengthen us, but we have to have the faith & trust and believe He will see us through!
Thank you, Jesus!
The Bible scripture for today just happens to be Jeremiah 17:7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence." FYI - I had no idea that was the scripture for today. It just confirms that once again, my encouragement for today is definitely "on time!" So, I thank the Lord for His leading and the Holy Spirit for the anointing that's within me.
Things happen in life that we sometimes have no control over, or we make bad money decisions or we just get more bills or prices go up. It's happened; it's done, but don't let it consume you and strip you away of the peace and joy that's inside of you!
Most of you know the scripture I'm sure from Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." As well as verse 26: "Look at the birds. They don't plant KR harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him then they are?"
I close in saying this, Trust your financial stories and everyday cares into the Lord! Pray to Him about your situations and leave them there! Don't believe Him to make a way and then you go worrying and talking about the situation. Those bill collectors are going to call, they're going to hound you, but you just ask the Lord to touch their hearts and have mercy on you and ask to set up a reasonable payment plan. You don't know unless you try and ask! I know personally what the Lord can do when you just tell Him honestly how you're feeling and his you need HIM to get you through it.
I pray you all are Blessed & Encouraged today and have an AWESOMELY BLESSED DAY!!! XoXoXo
Raven J.
Monday, January 7, 2013
DREAM BIG!!!
GM, Luvs!
I hope you all has a very blessed and an enjoyable weekend!
Today I want to encourage you to dream big! No matter how crazy or ridiculous your dream(s) may sound to others or even to yourself, don't stop chasing em! The only way it won't happen is IF you don't attempt to try and God says No.
Don't waste any opportunities and please don't take advantage of the doors the Lord opens for you! You never know when that opportunity is going to come again, and. You don't k ow how long you'll have to wait for it to come around again.
Only the Lord can open doors that "man" can't. And only the Lord can close doors that no man can open. So if you know God has given you the desire to act on those gifts & talents He's blessed you with, GO FOR IT! DON'T LET LACK OF A DEGREE, LACK OF FINACES, EXPERIENCES or even lack of emotional support stop you from chasing your dreams!
They say Dreamers never sleep, and sleepers never dream! It'll take hard world, but it will DEFINITELY br worth it! And use your gifts to glorify Him!
Colossians 3:23 NLT
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
I pray your are Blessed & Encouraged in the Lord 2day!
XoXoXo
~Raven J.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Feeling Alone
Good Morning, Luvs!
Sorry I have not posted in the past two days...I was in my own self-pity and just couldn't force myself to get my writing gears going. I'm working on that, so please forgive me. I hope you've been enjoying my posts so far!
I want to talk to you today about what to do when you're feeling alone, when in actuality, we're never alone! No matter what our spouses, significant others or family and friends may do or say to us to make us feel like we are, that's farthest from the truth!
The Word of God says in Hebrews 13:5, "For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Why if we have this promise from God, we are left with the feeling of loneliness when our loved ones leave us, or our friends desert us, or when it seems like nothing is going right in our lives? I think it's because our heart and trust is not in the right person or thing.
Isaiah 2:22 NLT
Don’t put your trust in mere humans.
They are as frail as breath.
What good are they?
Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
Yes, we have family and friends that we love dearly, but we as humans, we fail. God has and never will fail us! When we take our focus off of the Lord and start looking at man, we are going to get hurt and disappointed when certain things are done to us because being in the flesh, it's to be expected. That's why the Bible tells us in Galatians to walk in the spirit. Trust - I know all too well that it's not easy, but the more we do it, the more it becomes habit-forming and the things that would usually effect us and easily change our mood will no longer have that kind of power.
I woke up around 4 or 5 this morning just feeling very alone. I'm involved with someone, but yet, I felt like I was all alone. I felt like I no longer mattered. My Twin, as we've been calling each other since 2001, said to me, "I think being alone when you're with someone is the worse. That's insane!"
I've been told a time and time again that a person or being in a relationship doesn't dictate the happiness we have. I finally got that after all these years! BUT...You still want to be happy with the person you're with. I know relationships aren't always going to be hugs & kisses and disagreements and misunderstandings will occur. I got that. I just don't think we should ever be made to feel like that, nor, should we make the person we're in a relationship with, feel like they are alone. So, if we put and keep our trust in God and not man, and not lose focus or forget the immeasurable amount of love He has for us, no matter what happens to us in this life, the Lord is always by our side and He cares about what we're going through and what we feel.
So, I'm saying to you as I say to myself, whenever you get that dreaded feeling of being alone or that nobody cares about you, remember that Jesus cared so much that He died for our sins to take away every punishment that was due to us! So, don't ever allow anyone or any situation to make you feel like you're alone or that you don't matter in this world! Jesus always cares and is always there!!!
I pray you are Blessed & Encouraged in the Lord 2day! XoXoXo
~Raven J
Friday, January 4, 2013
WE ALL HAVE OUR DAYS!
Morning Luvs and Happy Friday! I'm working on a new blog I should've had ready last night, so I'm posting one of my old writings from my Evernote. Hope you enjoy and are blessed by it! Feel free to subscribe and spread the word! Thanks much!!! XoXoXo
~Raven J.
We all have our days. We have our GREAT days, our Good days, our OK days and and our less-than OK days. Sometimes we feel like we're on top of the world and with God, can't nobody touch us or say anything to us to that will cause us to fall from that high. Then we have those days were we feel totally useless, pathetic, unloved, alone, trapped, not moving, not growing, not learning, so undeserving that we just don't wanna feel anymore or wanna have a pity-party.
BUT...I have learned that when I talk out loud to the Lord, it makes the next breath, not the next step, a little easier. No matter how small a problem may seem to you (Everything is LITTLE 2 GOD!), or how GREAT the situation or circumstances APPEAR, NEVER GIVE UP HOPE OR LOSE FAITH! (That is where I true test comes from, I believe). I KNOW 4 MYSELF that the Lord Jesus DOES hear and DOES answer me when I talk to HIM about my baby problems or my adult problems!
Psalm 55:22 NLT
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
I pray that you will Blessed & Encouraged in the Lord today! XOXOXO
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Romance Doesn't Stop
Originally written on December 7, 2012
That A you received on your book report; when you first learned how to drive; your first car you bought; your first house you purchased; that job promotion you got - what do they all have on common?? IT TOOK HARD WORK & DEDICATION! The same goes for relationships & marriages! The Romance Doesn't or SHOULDN'T stop just because you now officially have that person! All that you did n what it all took for you to win that person over and have them fall for you/in love with you should continue throughout your time together! Why get comfortable & feel like those things no longer matter?? I'd see it as two things: either all of that was an act or you no longer care! If he or she was not easy to get, you should work just as hard if not harder to keep him or her happy! Trust - there's always someone watching & waiting for that opportunity! Don't lose something great because you no longer feel like putting in the same effort it took to get you there...
Sandy Brook Children Returning
Please pray for the Sandy Hook students and their families as the children return to class today. https://twitter.com/christianbeat_/status/286863740169748480 Shared via Plume http://bit.ly/GetPlume
HE NEVER Changes!
I hope everyone has been having a great New Year thus far! All I've hearing at work since New Year's is some of the ladies talking about going on these diets and what have you! Eating healthy is great, but some of these women are worried about their "weight", and I so much wish they could see what I see!
Anyway, this morning I wanted to share with you something that came into my spirit the other day. I hope it blesses you and reminds you of God's awesome love for you and that although we change, He changes not!
(NKJV)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Ever go into a situation being 100% sure about it, and then later down the line, become unsure and somewhat confused? The Bible says in I Corinthians 14:33,
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Grace and Car Testimony - Birthday Gift From The Lord!
4. a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only
through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school. Synonyms:
forgiveness, charity, mercifulness. Antonyms: animosity, enmity,
disfavor.
5. mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the
governor. Synonyms: lenity, leniency, reprieve. Antonyms: harshness.
EXPAND
6. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable
granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or
a penalty applied: The life insurance premium is due today, but we
have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses. Compare grace period.
There are a lot things that members of the body end up doing they KNOW IS WRONG, but God may give them a grace period. That in NO WAY MEANS THAT IT'S OKAY OR ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. ~James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." All I'm saying is, OUR WALK WITH THE LORD IS AN EVERYDAY BATTLE AND STRUGGLE! NOT JUST WITH THE LITTLE THINGS, BUT WITH ALL THINGS AND ALL AREAS OF LIFE! It's about your heart, your sincerity, your humbleness... God will grace us in our lives and in our situations because He loves us THAT MUCH, BUT we should NOT take advantage of that! We never know when our grace period will run out! There are some people who have more grace than others and there are some who, depending on the calling of their life, LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THAT RISK!
Encourage Yourself
I wanted to bless you this morning with an Inspirational Fact that I hope gets you through your day or anything you may dealing with. Popular Gospel music artist #DonaldLawrence has a famous song called, "Encourage Yourself". I had to do that yesterday evening. I was feeling sad about a personal situation I'd been dealing with and didn't feel like doing anything. I said to myself, "I can't lay here in my own self pity. I can't waste the first day of the New Year having not done anything I said I wanted to do."
I had written my "2013 Goals" in my journal and I had to remind myself of that. Verse 1 of that song goes, "Sometimes you have to encourage yourself. Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test. And no matter how you feel, speak the word and you will be healed; speak over yourself, encourage yourself in the Lord". So, even though I was feeling in a funky mood, I had to force myself to get up and start achieving what I desired to do.
Some scriptures on Encouragement :
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand."
Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
Using my gifts
This is my first offical blog posting! I'm excited as I am finally learning how to get it together. STILL SOOO MUCH to learn, so please be kind and bare with me! :-)
Anyone willing to give me any tips, tricks or any other advice, I'd greatly appreacite it!!! I've been giving some great info, a huge amount of YouTube videos and other links, but you can never have too much information for this kind of thing! The number one challenge I'm dealing with as of right now is desigining my layout and finding some nice templates and different buttons for the layout. The backgrouonds I tried to use, I was told the size was too large...I'm all about customizing and having things layed out to my liking.
My main purpose for wanting to do a blog (for two years now) is for one, the Lord has blessed me with the gift of writing. I've been sitting on my writing gift for years and I know my time is running out that with all the Lord has deposited in me, he will soon take away and give to someone else who will use it for His glory! I know blogging is a great outlet to have my writings noticed, but not so much just that, but to be able to encourage people with the things the Lord has given me, inspirations I get from other brothers & sisters in Christ, my own personal experiences and reflections and just everyday living.
I recently learned of another gift the Lord has blessed me with and that is of inspiring people. A lady who I instantly became friends with via #Foursquare a month earlier through another friend posted this on my Wall on #Facebook back in August 2012.
I think I've said more than enough for my first blog post! Hahah FYI: I LOVE to write and talk so my blogs may go on & on sometimes! ;-) I thank you for reading and hope you'll be back and tell others! Like I said in the beginning, bare with me as I'm still learning and trying to get things together. Be Blessed & Encouraged in the Lord 2day!! XoXoXo