My Way of Saying "April Fool!" to the devil!

It’s been a very long time since I've posted in this blog space, but having today's post about God's goodness be removed from my social media page motivated me to come back to this space and to use it to repost my heartfelt worship. If the enemy of all that is God's and all that is godly thought having it removed from social media would stop my praise .... then APRIL FOOL to him! 

Here is my earlier post all over again: 

TESTIMONY TUESDAY… and I have an amazing one regarding my church to share. It’s lengthy, but I believe if you read it, it’ll bless you. 

As a quick backstory, GOD did a “suddenly” miracle for Deliverance Revival Church in 2024. He blessed our small body of believers to begin taking ownership of a beautiful sanctuary that seats 250. It was a petition we spoke into the atmosphere and placed on the altar over five years ago. We didn’t have the resources for it then, and we don’t have the resources for it now. BUT GOD! I held on to the faith that God was going to do it. I could see it clearly with my spiritual vision even though I couldn’t see it with my natural eyes. God did it in His perfect timing. 

We didn’t go looking for the church. It was literally like the church came looking for us. I didn’t know it, but my name and the name of Deliverance Revival Church were being spoken in rooms that we weren’t even in. God divinely orchestrated a plan to bring a wealthy stranger into my life who offered to fund our purchase of the building… interest free, no money down, and with our monthly payments matching that which we had previously been paying for the small storefront that we’d been renting. In the weeks leading up to this, I had been earnestly praying for God to do something miraculous that would send an unmistakable message that His hands were upon the ministry. I asked Him to allow what He did to be so big that nobody could get the credit or the glory except Him. And boy, did He ever!! When God shows up, He really shows out! 

The wealthy gentleman that stepped in and offered to back the funding came into town on December 17, 2024, and we signed the contract. I’ll always remember it, because it was my birthday. That gentleman passed away on February 25, 2025. Deliverance Revival Church was the very last funding deal that his company made. God’s timing is EVERYTHING! 

Now… to the current day testimony… In late January… I began the process of trying to get the sign in the church yard changed to reflect our church’s name and service times. I was told by the sign company that I needed to go through our county’s planning and zoning department. When I reached out to P&Z, I was informed that we would have to pay double fees and fines because the previous church that occupied the building never went through the proper channels, which meant they had been functioning illegally as a house of worship because they never got the proper permits. The total cost for us was going to be well over $2,000. YIKES! 

I called my best friend and shared it with her, and I told her that I wasn’t even going to worry about it. I told her I didn’t know how, but I knew God was going to work it out. I began to earnestly pray just as I’d done before. When I called back, the P&Z representative told me to set up an account on their website and to start working with the sign company to get the paperwork uploaded. There were costs involved in getting the sign company to do that, but when I called, the guy at the sign company said he wouldn’t charge me a thing. He said he would assign a representative at the company to complete all the paperwork on my behalf and upload it to the site. I began praising God for that. 

Once that was done, I got back in touch with P&Z to let them know that all of the paperwork was complete. I was prepared to ask the representative if they could possibly set up an installment plan for us to pay off the doubled fees and fines. But before I could ask, she informed me that the P&Z committee had met, and they had voted to waive every penny of the fees and fines!!! (Let me get up and run around my office space for a minute… I’ll be right back.) 

Okay… I’m back! All that Deliverance Revival Church had to pay was the $100 permit processing cost. Our permit has been granted! Our sign is being designed even as I type this testimony. To God be all the glory!!!

Sharing a song that's been resonating in my spirit lately. God is doing great things! The blessings are falling! You ain't seen nothing yet!

I GOT THE JOB!

Waiting on God is much easier said than done. I'm a living witness, and I think most honest folks will agree with me on that. But I have more than one testimony to prove that the wait is worthwhile, and I'd like to share my latest one with you. If you're like me and you struggle with patience or if your faith just needs a boost; please read this blog entry in its entirety. I believe it will bless you.

See the girl in the photo above? That's me. I took it on December 30th. It was the eve of New Year's Eve, and I was sitting in the lobby of a prominent 150-year-old business establishment in my local area awaiting to be called to the back for a job interview. I snapped this selfie because somewhere in the core of my soul, despite the many doors that had previously been closed in my face, and despite the fact that I'd experienced one disappointment after another; I knew that the smile I captured here was going to be validated.

Let me rewind just a bit. . . 

Four days earlier, on December 26th, I'd stumbled across an open position at the aforementioned company, and I submitted an online application for employment. To be perfectly honest, I had very little hope that I'd even obtain an interview let alone land the job. Sometimes in life, after we receive so many disappointments, disappointments become what we expect. It sounded like a wonderful opportunity, and after doing some research on the company, I submitted the application and then went on with business as usual. That was on a Thursday evening. To my surprise, I received a call on Friday morning requesting that I come in for an interview, and on Monday afternoon, there I was waiting... praying... and suddenly feeling my faith being renewed.

Let me rewind a little bit more. . .

At the very beginning of 2019, just as the previous year rolled out, the Holy Spirit spoke these three words into my spirit: "Exceeding. Abundantly. Above." It was so profound that I shared it with my husband, my children, and my church family. I even blogged about it and posted it on my social media pages. The Holy Spirit promised me that those words would describe my 2019, and I embraced it with great expectations. But I didn't prepare myself for the tremendous battles that would come before I could claim the victory; I was just ecstatic about the promise. At that time that I heard the words, I was led to make a list of five specific areas of my life in which I wanted God to do the "exceeding abundantly above" in 2019. And wouldn't you know . . . as the year proceeded, the enemy fought me harder in those five areas than in any other. It was like he strategically targeted those areas just because I'd listed them. The devil fought long and hard to try and break me down in the process, and I dare say there were times when he had me on the ropes . . . BUT GOD!! 

I watched as all but one of those five special petitions that I placed before the Lord were granted. The job I'd prayed for was nowhere in sight. Nearly all of my corporate life, I've functioned in the role of an administrative professional. It was a position I enjoyed, but I was ready to step outside the box and make a change. So when I made my request to God for new employment, I made it very specific: 1) I wanted a career that was not considered an administrative support role; 2) I wanted my workplace to be closer to where I lived; 3) I wanted employment that more closely aligned with my God-given passion for creative writing, and 4) I wanted a position where I was not mandated to be in an office everyday.

Keep in mind that it was at the onset of 2019 that I'd asked God to bless me with a job that came with all these specifications, and here it was, the eve of New Year's Eve, on the brink of 2020, and I still didn't have it. 

I'm a firm believer in James 2:26 which states "... faith without works is dead..." So believe me when I say that I wasn't sitting around expecting a job to fall in my lap. I submitted my first job application while we were still in the first week of 2019, and I continued to go after every open opportunity that embodied what I desired to do. I applied for so many jobs that I eventually lost count. I was well qualified for all of them and actually landed an interview for most of them, but door after door after door was shut in my face. I couldn't understand it.

I am a woman of great faith, and I knew what God had promised. But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months; I found myself battling daily with increased frustration and discouragement. I was still speaking life and God's favor into my existence but January 1st had now turned into December 30th, so yes . . . doubt had crept in. Thoughts like: maybe this just isn't what God has for me had begun to repeatedly filter through my head.

But God's delay is truly not a deny, and His timing is not our timing. Just because God hasn't given us a YES doesn't mean that He's given us a NO. Sometimes He's just pruning us, and all while we're wondering if we're going to make it through, God already knows that we will. And He's preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies so that those who thought we'd die in the battle will not only see us survive, but they'll see us thrive. Our timing is what we want, but God's timing is what we need. I recently posted these words on social media: Nobody can come through in the 11th hour like Jesus! I had just experienced it for myself, so I could declare it boldly.

Please let me encourage you today! Having doubt and getting discouraged is nothing to be ashamed of. It does NOT make you a weak Christian!

Whoever came up with the notion that it's impossible for one to have faith and doubt at the same time couldn't be more wrong in my opinion. Even in the Word of God, we find examples of people who battled simultaneously with belief and unbelief. In the book of Mark, chapter 9, we learn of a man whose son had been possessed with a demonic deaf and dumb spirit since childhood. He brought the young man to Jesus desiring the son to be healed. And when Jesus charged the man to have faith and believe, the man, with tears in his eyes, responded with, "Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

In spite of popular opinion, faith and doubt CAN be possessed at the same time, but in order to get your breakthrough, your faith has to supersede your doubt. Ultimately we have to learn how to crush doubt under our feet and use it as leverage to move us closer to our faith. We must feed our faith (with prayer, the Word of God, positive affirmations, etc.) and starve (push away, speak against, refuse to embrace, etc.) our fears so that our faith is the stronger force of the two. Like David in 1 Samuel 30:6, we have to learn how to encourage ourselves in the midst of the distress.

After being turned away and passed over for numerous positions throughout the year, God gave me an 11th hour blessing! I kept believing (despite my doubts). I kept pushing (despite wanting to give up). And because my faith outlasted and overtook my fears, God came through! My interview was over at 2:00 that day and by 4:30, I had received a job offer. I finally got the answer to the fifth and final request on the prayer list I'd made on January 1, 2019. It wasn't done as early in the year as I wanted it to be done, but God kept His promise to do it in 2019. The eve of New Years Eve was still 2019. 😅😅 I guess God really does have a sense of humor. 😇


See the girl in this photo? That's me. I snapped it early in the morning on Thursday, January 2, 2020. I had just submitted my letter of resignation, and I was genuinely praising God while sitting at my soon-to-be former work space. My rejoicing is no slight against the company for which I currently work. It's an amazing and highly respected place of employment. But God had answered a prayer in the 11th hour, and submitting the resignation made it all the more real!

My day of departure from this wonderful Fortune 100 company is just a week away. God gave me the job I'm leaving just like He gave me the one I'm going to. I represented Christ and functioned in a spirit of excellence at the one I'm leaving, and I'm going to do the same at the one I'm going to. My assignment at my current job is up, and the thought of my new one has my heart bursting with joy. The past few months have been incredibly tough for reasons I won't delve into. But God saw it all. He knew it all. And in His perfect timing, He delivered me from it all. The devil had a plot, but God had a plan! What the enemy meant for evil, God worked it for my good (ref. Romans 8:28). To HIM be all the glory!

If I said last year's process from January 1st to December 30th was easy, I'd be lying. It was hard . . . very hard. My faith in God was the key to my triumph. And because of that faith, you're now looking at a full time News Writer and Reporter for a distinguished print media company in my local area! Just today, as I sat at the desk of my current job, I received an unexpected call from my new employer letting me know that they already had my executive press pass and my business cards ready and waiting for my arrival. Wow! When God answered my prayer, He answered every part of it! 1) My role at the new company is not a support role; 2) the job is less than 15 minutes from where I live versus being an hour and 40 minutes away like my current job; 3) my duties very closely align with my divine passion and purpose, and 4) I'll only have to be in the office a couple of days out of the week.

Won't He do it? Yes, He will! And God is no respecter of persons (ref. Acts 10:24). If He did it for me, He'll do it for you. God truly did the exceeding abundantly above!

So whatever it is that you're praying and believing God for this year (whether it's a job, a home, a car, better finances, a spouse, a child, restored health... whatever) don't let the enemy make you think you won't receive it just because it's taking longer than you'd like. Don't rush God and don't try to help Him do His job. He doesn't need your assistance; He just needs your faith. He's all knowing and all powerful. Let God do His perfect work in His perfect time. When your answer comes, it will be worth the wait. Stay strong, and keep the faith!

What Chapter 53 Means To Me

I am exactly one week away from completing Chapter 52 of my life and turning to the page that starts Chapter 53. While some people (especially women) frown on the thought of getting older, I celebrate every single day of every single year that GOD allows me to live to see. Great and marvelous things are what I expect in this next season, so I'm excited to read what the first sentences of the first paragraph of Chapter 53 will say. As a passionate and purposeful writer, "sentences, paragraphs, and chapters" are the best words to describe it all. 

Some prefer to celebrate their birthdays with spa treatments, shopping sprees, exotic excursions, and even by boozing it up with their buddies. To each his own. Me? I choose to celebrate mine by giving honor and praise to the Giver of life . . . the only ONE who allows me to see a new year of life. If it weren't for His mercy and His grace, I wouldn't be here, so I'm going to give Him all I've got! This year, my "Birthday Hallelujah" will take place the Sunday before my actual birthday and yes... we will be glorifying God to the highest! Ain't no party like a Holy Ghost party!! If it were not for the Lord, there is no way I could've have made it through these last twelve months.

As I reflect over my Chapter 52 I can honestly say that it has been one of the roughest of my life. At the end of the 2018 as 2019 was rolling in, God promised me a year of the "Exceeding Abundantly Above" and He did not disappoint. I have been wonderfully blessed this year, but those blessings haven't come without tests and trials. The enemy has fought me every step of the way. Every blessing seemed to come with the prerequisite of a battle, but with God on my side, I've won every single one. For the ones that are still ongoing, I've already claimed the victory because I'm not leaning on my own strength; I'm totally depending on the ONE who never loses. Therefore, there is no question that I shall win. 

I haven't publicly shared most of what I've had to face in the year 2019, and I'm not going to go into details about it in this blog entry either. But those who are closest to me (my small circle of confidants and prayer partners) are very aware. The battles ain't everybody's business, but rest assured that the overcoming testimony will be shouted from the rooftop! I haven't always understood God's will or His process, but my walk in Christ has taught me is that elevation almost always calls for excavation. When God prepares to promote us, it often requires the uncovering of things and people around us. Masks start to fall off, secrets begin to reveal themselves, a shifting happens at work, friends and family often change their attitudes toward us or walk away from us altogether. Excavation comes in many forms.

As many revelations and alterations came for me in 2019, so came the struggles.  It's been an unusually tough year on multiple levels. I've had to face giants that I've never had to face in all the years prior . . . BUT GOD! Yes, God has been with me through it all, and I have no doubt that there is a powerful testimony forthcoming. I can already feel it on the horizon. At this very  moment, I'm laughing within myself . . . because even in the midst of me writing this blog, I received an instant message that could very well be the start of my victorious Chapter 53. God is working it out even as I type, and I'm thanking Him in advance!

So spiritually speaking, what does the number 53 mean? It was a question that came to mind this morning, so I searched online and discovered this information:

• Biblical Reference - Isaiah 53 refers to Jesus Chirst as the suffering servant who is horribly repressed, but in the end, He is rewarded! Jesus Christ is the Perfect Servant. The word "perfect" is used 53 times in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the Rescuer. The word "rescuer" is used 53 times in the Bible.
• On earth, the number 53 is an indivisible number. As human beings we are indivisible with God.
• Taking the number 53 and breaking it down to 5+3 we arrive at the total "8"... The number 8 represents the new beginning, the creation. It represents the resurrection. Jesus Christ was seen 8 times after His resurrection.
• What does the number 53 represent in your daily life? Since you are indivisible with God, you have nothing to fear in this life. Anything you want from God starts with you, and God will help you. In health, love, happiness, family, business, career, faith... every part of your life and anything that can help you improve your life. All you need to do is make the first step toward God. He is always ready to rescue you.\

Even before I read this, I knew God was on my side. I didn't need to see it in my research to know it in my heart. But seeing it brought confirmation. All of this and more is what my Chapter 53 means to me. What the devil (and his imps) meant for evil, GOD is working it out for my good!

When God Has You In The Waiting Room

A popular storybook from my childhood years was Goldilocks and The Three Bears. It's a fairy tale that's almost 200 years old now, yet parents and teachers everywhere still share it, and young readers across the globe still love it. It seems as though no kid is able to resist laughing at the theatrics of adults as their voices change octaves in an attempt to mimic what a family of bears would sound like if they spoke our language. The story is quite an entertaining one... but only because it's fiction.

In real life, the thought of being in this little girl's shoes and living her experience is nothing short of frightening. I've often been teased because when watching TV shows and movies on the big screen or even when reading books; I have a tendency to draw a spiritual message from actions and scenes that are merely intended for entertainment purposes. To be quite frank, we should all keep our spiritual eyes and ears open, because we never know what vehicle God may use to relay a message of hope when we need it most.

This age-old tale introduces us to a child by the name of Goldilocks. There's no indication in the story that she was a troublemaker or even mischievous. She was simply hungry and tired, and in her naive exploration, she found a place that provided what she needed. But note that her needs weren't met immediately. This is the portion of the story where my spiritual ears perked up!

Goldilocks came across food that was too hot and too cold before finally discovering a meal that was just right. She had to endure lying on a hard bed, and then one that was excessively soft before she found one that was just right. If Goldilocks had walked away after sampling from the second bowl, she would have still been hungry. If she'd given up after sampling the second bed, she would have left with no relief from her weariness. She had to be patient. She had to be persistent. In other words, not only did she have to wait until the right thing was within her reach, but she also had to wait for the right time to grab it. And to many of us--in our nonfiction real life existences--WAIT is truly a four-letter word.

In Psalm 27:14, the Word says: Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. For most Christians that's a familiar passage of scripture. Many of us can quote the words from memory, but despite all that, applying it to our lives can be frustrating and downright agonizing. Waiting can make us want to lose hope, lose faith, and settle for what we have (or don't have) versus continuing to strive for what we need and deserve.

Our spiritual "waiting room" experience seems to become particularly uncomfortable when we, like the girl in the classic fairy tale, are tired and hungry. Tired of the same-ole-same-ole and hungry for change. Hunger and fatigue have a way of making bad situations appear to be even worse than they are. Waiting can get even rougher when we know full well that God has something greater. We feel like we're looking out a window, and our "something greater" appears to be right there with nothing but a glass pane separating us from it. Yet no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to obtain it.

I have a dear sister-friend who often starts her sentences off with, "Can I be real?"😄 In other words, let's just tell the truth and shame the devil. The fact of the matter is, when God has us in a waiting room, ALL the chairs appear too big or too small, and ALL the beds feel too hard or too soft. It's just not a comfortable place! But through it all, we have to trust Him, which includes trusting His timing. Things don't always happen when we want them to, or how we want them to, but if we just be patient and squash the urge to get ahead of God or His perfect plan; we will find that the end result will be worth the wait.

Does God have you in a waiting room right now? Maybe it has to do with your physical health, your relationship/marriage, your job situation, or something else for which you've been praying will change for the better. I believe at some point in our lives, we're all put in a waiting room where our patience and faith are tested by God. He definitely has me in one right now, and yes... I'm tired and hungry. I know God has something better for me, but waiting for it to materialize has taken much longer than I would like. Perhaps that's your testimony too.

Well, let me encourage you as I encourage myself. We can't give up or give in because doing that won't bring satisfaction either. Victory only comes if we fight and win. So as we continue to wait, we must also continue to pray. During this waiting period, we'll likely see what appears to be multiple ways of escape - many doors may come within reach that we feel can offer us what's needed and desired. But we can't get ahead of God. Just because a door is there, doesn't mean it's our door. If we walk through the wrong door, what we thought was a better situation, might actually be worse. Perhaps the food on the other side of that door would be too hot or too cold. Maybe the beds would be too hard or too soft. But when God fully reveals His provision... when HE opens a door... it will be just right. So I will continue to wait. And I encourage you to do the same.

Wait, I say... on the Lord!

Who Encourages the Encourager of Encouragers?

As I was driving my vehicle into the parking lot at work this morning, my cell phone rang. A sister who comes to me whenever she needs encouragement and spiritual counsel was on the other end. She was in tears as she expressed to me some of the things that are currently going on in her life. I quietly listened until she was all talked (and all cried) out, and then I began to share with her the things that were on my heart and the Word of God that rested in my spirit.

I always arrive at work early; well before the required "clock-in" time. Most days, I go ahead and enter the office and take a few moments  to pray and meditate, and then I grab breakfast and get a jump-start on whatever work assignments await. Today, one phone call altered my normal routine. Although I still got into the office ahead of schedule, it was necessary for me to use some of that time to encourage a heart that was hurting and to help rebuild a spirit that was breaking down. 

By the time we got to the end of our "counseling session," the sister was laughing. Her joy was on the rebound! Just before we disconnected our call, she said to me, "I consider myself an encourager, Kendra. People come to me when they need a lift, but they just don't know that this encourager needs encouraging sometimes too." Then she laughed and added, "Since I come to you when I need encouragement, I guess that makes you an encourager of encouragers." We ended our call shortly thereafter, and as I got out of my vehicle and began the short walk to the entryway of my place of employment, I thought to myself... So who encourages the encourager of encouragers? Sometimes those of us who are known for being strong can be so solid, sturdy, and enduring in our faith that people forget that there are times when our spirits need to be rebuilt, refueled, and reinforced too.

There is a once chart-topping gospel song that says, "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." Later in those same lyrics there is a sentence that says, "As I minister to you, I minister to myself." And for me, I believe that's where the answer most often lies. Yes, I have been blessed with a couple of trusted and devout confidants in my life that I know I can go to if I need the listening ear of another Spirit-filled human being, but often times I have found that when I allow God to use me to minister to others, I find, in my own words, the very encouragement for which I've been searching. As I pour into them, I'm pouring into me. As a reward for my obedience in sharing God's word with others, it's as though God, in turn, allows those same words to empower and encourage me. God is awesome like that!!

Psalm 46:1 is a dynamic verse of scripture that reminds us that no matter what comes our way, God is not only our Strength, but He's also our Protection. It says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. That assures me that even if it looks like I'm by myself in a battle; I'm never alone. If I try to call my trusted friends and they're otherwise preoccupied and can't come to my rescue, I can always look to the Lord. In fact, He should be my first recourse because He is ALWAYS there, and He never fails. He will give me what I need so that I can encourage myself and go forth in victory. Thank God for being the ultimate ENCOURAGER of the encourager of encouragers! 😊

2019: My year of "Exceeding... Abundantly... Above..."

Growing up in the church, I remember hearing new slogans being broadcast from the pulpit on a near annual basis. It usually happened during Watch Night Service as we greeted the New Year with praise and worship. The slogans were generally very catchy, inspiring, and they almost always rhymed. We were encouraged by sayings like, "God will open the door in '74" and "We're coming alive in '85" and "It's already done in '91." 

This practice may seem silly nowadays to a generation that seems to have migrated so far away from the Lord, but I remember these annual slogans as words that empowered the people of God and gave us increased hope and the faith to push forward with great expectation. On a broad scale, churches don't do this any longer. It seems to have been a season in Christendom that has now passed and become a distant memory. However, in spite of it not being done corporately, in recent years the Holy Spirit has been directly giving me similar affirmations to apply to my personal life for the coming year. They aren't particularly catchy nor do they rhyme, but they're very specific promises that God gives me for the year ahead.

By definition, I became legally separated in 2010, and in 2012, I made the difficult, but necessary decision to completely cut ties with and divorce my ex-husband after 15 years of marriage. As that year faded, I was lying at the foot of my bed staring up at the ceiling when I heard the Spirit say, "2013 will be your year of better. Better home. Better job. Better relationships." And He did not lie! God opened great doors and granted me immeasurable favor that year. He took what was meant to destroy me and turned it into something amazing. He rewarded me for remaining faithful and full of integrity despite the enemy's plot to try and destroy my testimony, my sanity, and my life. Everything about that year was BETTER. God blessed me with a management position on a great job. I acquired a home that I loved and God proved to me that He was my source; not man. I paid my own rent and not once was I late. I took out my own trash. I washed my own car. I paid all of my own bills... and I loved every minute of it. God had given me complete joy and contentment.

That dissolved marriage was my second one, so I was completely done! Love was a four-letter word, and I was over it! Many years earlier, my first husband--the man who introduced me to what it felt like to truly love and be loved--had passed away, leaving me heartbroken and with two toddler daughters to raise. Ultimately, I trusted another only to be left embarrassed and utterly disgusted at the discovery of and the details surrounding our shattered wedding vows. I was still in my 20's when the title of "widow" was forced upon me. Now here I was accepting the title of "divorcee." When I walked away from that marriage, I told God NEVER AGAIN! However, God had other plans. My girls were all grown up and living on their own by now. I still recall the day in January of 2013 as I stood in my kitchen preparing dinner for myself when God softly reminded me that His promise of "better" included relationships. I had begun making a few friends so I'd surmised that those had been the relationships that He was referring to. But there was more.

I remember being torn and going to my parents' house to share the details of the spiritual encounter with my mother. I told her that I never wanted to marry again but I had the feeling that God had other plans. She advised me not to resist anything that God had for me based on past experiences. "If God does it, it'll be done right," she said. And she was on point. Four months later, I met the man who would become my husband. I wasn't broken. I wasn't needy. I wasn't lonely. I wasn't even looking. Regarding Michael, I've often said that He's the greatest gift I never prayed for. We married in March of 2014, just ten months after meeting. My mom went to be with the Lord later that year and it was a major blow to the heart of our family, but in the midst of it all, God continued to bless.

His voice came again as the year 2014 came to a close. Just like in times before, I was lying in bed when I heard, "2015 will be your year of double-blessings." I ran from our bedroom into the living room where my husband was sitting and I told him what God had said. He joined with me in believing it to be manifested, and it was. When we married, I left the management job that I had been working and relocated to the city where my husband was already established. I found employment there but I only worked for a few months before God opened the door to a new job that paid double the salary of the first one. It was the most money I'd ever made on a corporate America job. Additionally, I witnessed double engagements and then double marriages when both of our daughters got engaged in 2015 and then got married in the same year (which also blessed me with double amazing "sons-in-luv"). I received a bonus child (an adult son) when I married Michael, and that son gave us double granddaughters when his twins were born. My husband and I were blessed with two complete living room suites that were given to us free of charge. We were able to pass them on to other families in need. The double-blessings that year came back to back to back. God had once again held true to His words.

The past three years have been quiet ones as far as the Holy Spirit speaking and giving direct words to me about what I could expect in the year to come. As 2015 closed, I heard nothing specific. As 2016 closed, I heard nothing specific. The same goes for 2017. But in each of those years, God continued to prove Himself strong. I was blessed with the opportunity to create and host my own Internet radio show. As ordained elders, my husband and I were elevated to the positions of church pastors. We relocated from one state to another to be closer to the ministry that had been entrusted to us. The relocation was a major sacrificial transition, but God made it a smooth one. Most recently, we were blessed with a beautiful new home. Prayers have continuously been answered. Divine favor has continuously been granted. God has continuously been good to us even in the stillness of His voice. But near the midnight hour of Sunday, December 30, 2018, I heard Him once more. And yes... I was lying in bed yet again. This time I was on the verge of drifting off to sleep, but the voice of the Holy Spirit fully awakened me and brought me to an upright seated position.


"Exceeding. Abundantly. Above." Those were the three words He spoke to me. He told me that in my professional life to date, EAA has always stood for Executive Administrative Assistant, which has been my specialty pretty much from the start of my corporate career. However, the Lord assured me that in 2019 those letters would stand for Exceeding Abundantly Above! He said this is going to be my year of increase and that He's going to make this an Ephesians 30:2 year; doing exceeding abundantly above all that I could ask or think. I couldn't wait to share the experience with my husband when we woke up to prepare for work the next morning. How is God going to do it? I don't know. But I have no doubt that He will, and I look forward to the manifestation with great expectation. God has never failed me yet. Everything He has ever promised; He has brought to pass.

I look forward to sharing the testimony!

A Hairy Situation...

Have we somehow made other cultures afraid to compliment us? I wear my natural hair in an Afro puff, and yesterday, as I was at the grocery store picking up a few items, I heard this little voice behind me say, “Your hair is soooooo pretty!” I wasn’t sure they were talking to me at first, but when I turned around, I saw the cutest little grey-eyed, brown-haired girl (maybe 3 years old) standing in the back of a shopping cart. Her mother had her hand clasped over the child’s mouth and she had a horrified look in her eyes. 

Before I could say anything, the mom said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. She didn’t mean anything.” I was totally confused. I said, “Didn’t she say my hair was pretty?” Her mom (still with her hand over her daughter’s mouth) said, “Yes. But she didn’t mean anything by it.” I reached forward and put my hand on the mom’s hand and moved her hand away from her little girl’s lips. By now, the kid was looking like she was about to be beat down too. If it weren’t so sad, it would’ve been funny. 

I said, “It’s okay.” Then I looked at the little girl and said, “Thank you, sweetie. Your hair is pretty too.” That made her smile. Then her mom said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how you’d take it. Sometimes… we don’t know what to say. We don’t know what’s offensive.” I just replied with, “Genuine compliments should never be found. And children tend to be genuine even when we adults

aren’t. It’s really okay. I’m flattered.” The mom finally smiled and she looked relieved when she said, “Thank you. I’m glad. And your hair really is very pretty. It’s so perfect. Like a painting. Not a hair out of place.” At that point, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud because she seemed to be cautious about every word she was saying. 

As I thanked her and walked away to continue my shopping, I started to wonder to myself… What have we done as a people to make those of other ethnic groups afraid to give us a compliment? Everybody of every racial background has to do better. Race relations in America have really gone down the toilet, it seems. As I’m approaching my second year of being a natural, my eyes are continuously being opened to new things… both good and bad. Heaven help us all…

There's No Stopping Us Now!

My husband and I are are raising our hands in praise. We're just a few short days away from celebrating our 2nd pastoral anniversary as well as Deliverance Revival Church's 2nd church anniversary and it's been no one but God who has brought us this far. The aged Macon, Georgia edifice that we started out in had been in existence under the same name previously, but had been defunct for a few years before our founder and Chief Apostle reestablished it. We were ordained and installed as co-pastors on the same day that the church's doors were reopened for worship. The date was Sunday, July 10, 2016.

It's such a marvelous thing to be trusted by God. To be called and chosen by Him is an humbling privilege! But we must understand that sometimes it's also a trying and tedious task to carry out His mandates. Especially when the assignment is to "build" a work for Him. I have many long-time ministry colleagues who have been placed in the position of pastor over the years, but I don't recall any who were charged to build a ministry from the ground up. All of the ones I know were either placed over churches that were already established with members, praise teams, choirs, ministry leaders, ushers, etc.; or when they opened the doors of their church, there were already dozens of people walking through the doors with them who had left other ministries to become a part of their new work. These men and women of God are doing great works, and I applaud them. However, their experience is not our testimony. 

For Pastor Michael and me, there was none of that. We had wonderful family members and friends who attended our installation and initial church launch service, but none of them were members of Deliverance Revival Church. So for the following Sunday after our installation and for several Sundays thereafter, there was no one there on Sundays except Pastor Michael and me. We were the praise team, we were the ushers, we were the ministry staff, we were it all. It's been quite a journey and an experience! Many members have come and some have gone over the past two years. As caring leaders who give our all, we have been hurt by some who we did everything to help. Some have taken advantage of our kindness. Others have blatantly stolen from the church. Then there are those who, after insisting that God sent them to DRC, just disappeared for seemingly no reason. But in spite of it all, we say, "Thank you, Lord!" The Word of God (Romans 8:31) is true... If God be for us, who can be against us? The enemy's ploys have not been successful because our Heavenly Father has been with us every step of the way! It hasn't been easy, but God continues to reward us for our diligence and faithfulness.

As we prepare to celebrate our 2nd pastoral and church anniversary, we do so with great joy and excitement. In the past year, the Lord has blessed us to move from the old church in Macon, Georgia to a newer, more visible edifice in Warner Robins, Georgia. Whereas we had no musicians when we began, God has blessed us with highly talented ones. Whereas we had no praise team, He has sent us anointed voices to lead us into worship each Sunday. We haven't yet seen the full manifestation of what God is going to do through Deliverance Revival Church, but He has made known His grace and favor upon us and as this year's anniversary theme proclaims... THERE'S NO STOPPING US NOW!

What the enemy meant for bad, God is turning it around for our good. Whereas the devil thought we'd become discouraged and ultimately give up after going through the trials that year one brought, the Lord used those trials to make us stronger and more determined than ever. God has brought us from a mighty long way, and we know that the best is yet to come. We are still few in number compared to many other churches, but DRC is doing a great work in the kingdom, and God is not through with us yet.

We invite everyone to join us Friday, July 13th through Sunday, July 15th for a 3-day celebratory event that will be unforgettable! We will kick things off on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with a prophetic experience featuring Apostle Jon-Michael McKinney of The Impact Church (Decatur, GA) as our special guest speaker. Saturday, beginning at 5:00 p.m., we will enjoy an afternoon filled with lyrics and laughter that will feature recording artist and psalmist, Minister Peyton Bailey (Atlanta, GA), comedian Rod "Rod of God" Allison (Kannapolis, NC), and the legendary gospel group, Jay Caldwell & The Gospel Ambassadors (New Castle, DE). We will culminate on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. with our founder and Chief Apostle, Bishop H.H. Norman (Macon, GA) serving as our guest speaker. All are invited to come and enjoy this celebration with us. The devil was messing, but God is still blessing. We've said it once, and we'll say it again: THERE'S NO STOPPING US NOW!

Igniting Your Relationships with God and Mankind

Nearly every day after leaving my corporate America assignment, I sit in the room with my husband, and for hours, he and I spend time writing entries for the new book that we're releasing this fall. One thing for sure that I can say about Cross-Fire: Igniting Passionate, Purposeful, and Powerful Relationships is that it's truly a labor of love.

Just the thought of the release of this relationship devotional excites me. The feeling of partnering in a literary work alongside the love of my life is beyond amazing. I'm no newbie at this. Cross-Fire will be my 23rd published work, but it will be my husband's very first, and of course, our first book together. People often tease us, saying that we're connected at the hip; always doing things together. It's true! We live together in the same home, work together for the same employer, and pastor together at the same church. I suppose writing together was the natural next step. We're guilty as charged. Our marriage seems to take oneness to a new level, but all of it is God-ordained, so I'm grateful!

Michael and I are very open with our love and affection for one another, and judging from the kissing couple on the front cover of the book, most would probably assume that it's a devotional about romance. That's true to a degree, but Cross-Fire is much, much more. Every human relationship needs God as its foundation. This devotional will cover subject matters on passionate relationships between man and woman, but also passionate relationships between mankind and God. Our relationship with our spouse should be the most passionate, purposeful, and powerful one that we have in the flesh, but our spirit's relationship with the Heavenly Father should be even more so. We should be in love with and on fire for God; seeking to please Him in every way! And we'll find that when our vertical relationship (the one that reaches from us upward to God) is solid, our horizontal relationships (those reaching laterally to connect us with other human beings) will be solid as well. That vertical and horizontal piece come together to form the shape of a cross.

Thus the name... Cross-Fire!

God has truly called and anointed Michael and me to write this ministry tool. When I look at the thought-provoking submissions that my husband turns over to me to include in the layout of the book, and I think of how just a few short months ago, he didn't view himself as a writer, it wows me. His writing is quite amazing. As readers will soon find out, Pastor Michael Holmes is truly a Word scholar and biblical teacher to his heart. Our creative writing styles are vastly different, yet they complement each other perfectly to make Cross-Fire an encouraging page-turner that will be both educational and entertaining.

Stay tuned for soon coming information on how to place advance orders. This book will make its initial debut (a pre-release, of sorts) on September 23rd in Atlanta, Georgia at a couples brunch sponsored by Dope Wives. It is scheduled to officially release, however, at the Christian Book Lovers Retreat in Charlotte, NC on October 28th. For more details about this eye-opening, life-changing "relationship bible" ... click HERE!

Thankful Thursday

Have you ever become overwhelmed at just the thought of God's goodness? I have. And I know I'm not the only one.

It helps tremendously when we redirect our focus. To stop honing in on all of the challenging things that we face on a daily basis (or that we've faced in the past), and instead override those negative thoughts by recounting the innumerable times that we've encountered trials that could and should have destroyed us, but didn't because of the grace of Almighty God.

I had one of those moments this morning. As I took the drive from home to work, a sudden rush of thoughts entered my mind. And I mean the not-so-distant memories seemed to bombard me out of nowhere. There I was... just driving along minding my own business, and all at once, I began recounting all of the people in my life that I thought were my friends whose true colors showed over the past four or five years. Some had been in my life since childhood and others since I was a teen or my earliest adult years. Some were even family. And when one of the greatest storms in my life brewed and the enemy came in like a flood to try and destroy me, those people walked away. Literally. And they not only walked away, but I watched in utter disbelief as they walked away from me and toward the main culprit who was being used of the devil to lie, scheme, betray, and manipulate in an attempt to destroy my family and distort my character.

It was mind-boggling! If they had been close friends all the while, then it wouldn't have been such a shock, but that wasn't the case. In fact, some had sat with me at the inception of the storm and expressed to me how lowdown and devious that foe was being; how they'd always known the dastardly deeds the enemy was capable of. They told me they had my back and would be praying with and for me, but their declaration of support turned out to be counterfeit. They'd never been close to my rivals before; yet in the midst and in the aftermath of the destruction that was attempted toward me, those who once walked, talked, and laughed with me began embracing and supporting my attackers. 

The initial sight of it all took me by complete surprise. It was totally unexpected and the impact it made on me (spiritually, physically, and emotionally) was tremendous. I spent weeks and even months being heartbroken. Sometimes I felt as though I was in mourning; like a physical death had taken place. Even as I recalled it all this morning, water welled in my eyes, and by the time I came to a stop in the parking lot of my job, the tears I had been fighting were beginning to fall. For a brief while, it was like I was reliving the pain all over again.

Oh... but when I think of the goodness of Jesus!!!

In the middle of the devil's attempt to bring misery upon me, I came to myself. In doing so, I began to realign my thinking and fast-forward past the thoughts of the test and began to replay the testimony that resulted.  I remembered how God stepped in and threw every arsenal the enemy used right back in his dirty, deceitful, disgusting face. What was meant for evil, God worked it all for my good. He allowed me to weather the storm with my faithfulness, dignity, and testimony in tact. Everything I thought I'd lost, God restored, and what He restored made my now far, far, far greater than my then. In the end, it was all worth it. I wouldn't take nothing for my journey!!! As I sat in my car, the waterworks of my wounds turned into a fountain of praise. Tears of joy overshadowed those initial tears of sadness. My weeping turned into worship. My pity party turned into a praise party, and I began to hear myself verbally saying, "Lord, I thank you! Lord, I thank you!"

When I finally got myself together, exited my car, and walked into my office space, I'm sure my red, puffy eyes made it look like I was weary or sleep-deprived, but truly my body, soul, mind, and spirit felt refreshed and renewed. Good thing I was the first in my department to arrive. I was able to use eye drops to erase the evidence of my earlier crying, but before I did that or anything else, I sat at my desk, bowed my head, and prayed a prayer of forgiveness and thanksgiving. Why the prayer of forgiveness? Because I felt the need to beg God's pardon for allowing my thoughts to stray so far away from Him and all that He's done for me that the devil was able to sneak in and have a takeover moment. It happens to the best of us. I realize that. But what I know for sure is that the Lord has been way too good to me for me to have given the enemy even an ounce of my time.

God has given all believers authority over the enemy. In Ephesians 6 and beginning at verse 11, we are instructed to put on the whole armor of God so that in those times when the wicked one tries to rile up and present us with adversity, we're fully quipped (from head to toe) to immediately fight the battle and win. Somehow, I was ill-prepared this morning, but thankfully, I was able to identify it as a plot of satan before he could fully overtake me... and in the end I won.

Regardless of where we are in our walk with God--whether we've been saved for thirty minutes or thirty years--the devil isn't going to give up. He's going to try us every chance he gets in hopes of destroying us. He knows the places where we're most vulnerable, and those are the areas toward which he'll aim. If we've been hurt by family and friends, and he knows that the bonds of family and friendship are of the utmost importance to us; then he'll try and magnify the incidents in those areas that have caused us the greatest pain. It's up to us to stay prayed up, armored up, and on guard.

And thanks be to God who always, always, ALWAYS gives us the victory! #POW... take that black-eye devil. You lost again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Tree Preached A Message...

There's this tree that sits among many trees in the parking lot of my workplace that has fascinated me for many weeks. There have been days that I've stood at the window behind my desk and just stared out at it. On several occasions, I've said to one of my co-workers, "There's a message in that tree. God is trying to say something." And today, I finally got the message that this tree was preaching.

Right now, we're in the dead of winter. We've seen some pretty harsh temperatures that fell below freezing during this season. We had threats of snowfall and ice cold winds to rip through our city. There are at least two dozen trees planted in our parking lot's landscaping, and most (if not all) of them are the same kind of tree. They all look alike, but there's something peculiar about one of them. When the fall came in, every tree on the grounds went through the leaf-changing process. Leaves turned red... then yellow... then brown... and ultimately fell to the ground. Dead. What has kept me fixated is the fact that every single tree in the parking lot has been completely bare for months... except this one. See the red circle in the picture?

The red circle marks this one area of this one branch of this one tree that has refused to die. Lifelessness surrounds it, but hasn't phased it. Not only have these leaves not fallen off, but they've never turned brown, orange, or even yellow. The world around them changed, but it didn't change them. The bone-chilling temperatures and the high winds that made every leaf on every branch of all the other trees tremble and eventually fall to the ground haven't done the same to these. Every limb of every branch of every tree in the parking lot is in the same environment, but they aren't all having the same reaction to the environment.

As I stared out the window at this limb filled with green leaves today, I received a spiritual revelation. This limb represents what we, as Christians, should look like in a dying world. We shouldn't look like everybody else. We shouldn't act or react like everyone else. Just because society changes doesn't mean that we should change. People should look at us in awe; wondering how we can remain strong in the face of adversity. They should see that our faith doesn't falter just because everything isn't going the way we want or expect. We should be just as peculiar as this limb of green leaves because although the world changes, the God we serve is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

When the weather changed, so did all of the trees in our lot. Only a small remnant--one limb of one tree--remained steadfast. Despite the shift in the atmosphere, these particular leaves continue to thrive and show life. In like fashion, the climate of our nation changed in recent weeks. A new man and a new mindset took his sworn-in place in the White House, and when it happened, many of us who call ourselves Christians changed. What we began saying and doing and how we began acting didn't reflect Christ. Our Christianity seemed to wither, change, and fall to the ground. It was as though our faith, hope, joy, and peace of mind had been rooted in a great man instead of a Great God, and because that man was no longer in the position of power, we became hopeless and lifeless. We began speaking words filled with hatred, bitterness, and death. Except for a small remnant of believers, Christians began looking like all of the other "deadness" in the world.

That's just one example. All throughout our lives, seasons will change. We will go through times of plenty and times of lack. We will have times of gain and times of loss. We will experience times of happiness and times of sadness. As long as we are on this side of life, there will be seasons of good and seasons where things won't be so good. But no matter what, we have to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:6). We can't be wishy-washy-- preaching today but cussing tomorrow; talking holy but living hellish; standing in the field, but bearing no fruit-- having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (II Timothy 3:5).

Sometimes when a man or woman is a person of great faith who is determined to remain that way regardless of what the majority is doing, saying, or thinking, they are made to feel like the leaves on this tree: isolated and perhaps even ostracized. I know that feeling quite well. A "living holy" existence can be a "living lonely" existence. Staunch Christians don't often have a lot of true friends. We don't follow the crowd and the crowd doesn't often follow us.

In spite of that, we must hold on. We must be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58). When the climate changes around us, it shouldn't change the Christ within us. With our lives we should always preach the Word; in season and out of season (II Timothy 4:2). Even when we rebuke the sins of the world and voice our disdain about the wrongdoings that are happening in our society, it should be done in a manner that never disconnects from our life source; GOD. Our reflection of Christ should remain in tact. Our "tree" should be planted by rivers of water, and our leaves shouldn't wither (Psalm 1:3) We should never change colors. We should never shrink and shrivel to the level of the world. We should never lower ourselves (fall) to the ground like dead leaves.

This tree preached a message today. Not the bigger part of the tree that changed with the climate; gave up and gave in; but the remnant: the leaves that through it all, refused to fall down and die.

In 2017, I'm saying... So Long, Bye-Bye to Facebook "Friends"

There are only a few hours left. It's so close that I can already hear the fireworks being blast on the outside. The year 2016 is quickly coming to a close, and 2017 is anxiously awaiting to make its debut. One year closing and another one opening is a bitter-sweet experience for some; often times because it's hard to let go of what has been and embrace the uncertainty of what is to come.

For me, the year 2016 brought many experiences, and thanks be to God that the good far outweighed the bad. The Lord showed Himself strong in my life and in the life of my family. My husband and I were ordained as Elders in the ministry and installed as pastors of Deliverance Revival Church in Macon, Georgia. Royal Pen Network, the weekly radio show that I launched in 2015 celebrated one year of success on the Stellar Award winning Joynet Radio lineup of talk shows. I stood in the labor and delivery room alongside my son-in-luv and witnessed the miracle of childbirth as my baby daughter gave birth to my first biological grandchild. Oh the joy the flooded my soul!

But God wasn't through . . . 

My 22nd published work released, and I quickly began getting amazing feedback from the readers. My husband and I performed our first wedding; that of our niece and new nephew. And most recent of all, in this very month of December, I reached the beautiful milestone of qualifying for the 50's club (and the benefits of AARP) LOL! In a highly entertaining, yet very much Spirit-filled event, I celebrated turning fifty years old during a private event with 50-plus dear friends and family members. We all gathered at Open Door Community Center in Columbus, GA and marked the occasion with praise and worship, gospel singing, liturgical dance, spoken word ministry, Christian comedy, and delicious food. Yes, I welcomed "Chapter Fifty" with Jesus Christ at the forefront. I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was a night that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life.

But as much of a joy as 2016 was for me, I'm looking for greater in 2017. So much GREATER! In my life, the enemy has set many traps for me, but God has allowed me to trample on his filthy head and triumph each and every time. When God is for you, who can be against you? In 2017, I'm going to another level in every aspect of my life. I'm decreeing that God is going to blow my mind. In order to go where I'm believing Him to take me, I can't be afraid to let go of the familiar. Just a couple of days ago, I posted on social media these words: "Sometimes God has to shrink our circle in order to enlarge our territory." Although that posting touched many, it was a word for me.

And so . . . in the words of gospel artist, Jonathan Nelson, "So long, bye-bye." In his song, he was waving goodbye to his pains and sorrow. I'm saying the same to many Facebook "friends" who really aren't friends at all. For some time I've desired to disconnect from some because I've known all along that they are walking closely with others who I know for a fact mean me no good. God tested my patience and obedience. I wanted to cut them off, but God said, "Not yet." And although it was hard, I stood still and vowed not to make a move until He said so. And now, to my delight and relief, He has spoken. 

As this year bows out and the New Year makes its grand entrance, this is the last posting that many of my current Facebook connections will have access to read from me through my social media page (with the exception of a few post along the way that I may mark "public," making them viewable to anyone whether they are my FB connection or not). If you're reading this and you're one of the ones from whom I'm disconnecting my page, please know... I'm in no way angry with you. I promise; I'm not. There is absolutely no hatred, animosity, or even hard feelings. This isn't a personal lashing out. This is simply God shrinking my circle so that He can enlarge my territory. There is zero space in my life for so-called friends. God has released me. I no longer have to remain connected--not even in the name of being the bigger person--to those who partner with and support those who have not only hurt and betrayed me, but also tried to destroy my character and my testimony. 

It matters not if you know me by blood relation or by business or ministry affiliations, if you know the horrible details of the story, and yet you choose to still be friends with and support the person/people who mentally and verbally abused my children, maliciously attempted to destroy my relationships with family and friends, attempted to distort my testimony, and betrayed me and my daughters in the worst way... then certainly you're not for me. Saying you love me and that you're with me means absolutely nothing if your actions don't line up. Sometimes in life, we have to make hard choices in order to stand up for what is right and righteous. If you don't have the backbone to do that, then I'll make the choice easy for you. So it is without remorse that I bid you farewell. In spite of this online detachment, please know that I love you with the love of Christ, and because of that love for you, I leave you with these words of caution that the Lord has placed on my heart for you...

Please be careful. You can't drink poison and not become contaminated. Don't continue to allow yourself to be fooled. You know the truth. The devil can disguise himself to look harmless, but make no mistake about it; he comes but for three reasons: to kill, steal, and destroy. He will use you for as long as he needs you, and when your usefulness is up, his true self will show. See with your spiritual eyes and not with your natural.

And now . . .

Happy New Year to one and all. I truly pray that 2017 will bring you a new mindset, new discernment, and a new revelation in Christ.

To God be the glory!

Ten Days From Fifty...A Testimony

Today, as I walked in to the office building for work, I was stopped by a gentleman who kindly complimented what he referred to as my "classy togetherness." And as I thanked him and headed for the elevators, he added, "You always get here so early, and every time I see you, you look happy. What's the secret?" 

Man!!! God has a way of giving us such amazing impromptu opportunities to be witnesses of His goodness!

Now, I could have taken his words as obvious flirtation (which they very well may have been) and chosen to ignore him or give some sort of smug reply to let him know how unavailable and happily married I am (which I surely am). But that's why it's so important that we keep our ears to God's mouth and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Immediately when he said those words, I saw a door of opportunity open. Instead of admonishing him, I turned to him and said, "It's God." (I know that may sound cliche', but it's the honest-to-goodness truth.)

I went on to tell him that my purpose for arriving early each morning is to get into my work-space in time enough to pray and meditate without interruption. I pray over the atmosphere. I pray for God's protection over the building itself. I pray for the safe arrival of my coworkers. I pray for the success of all of our professional endeavors for the day. And my happiness, I told him, is rooted in the fact that I have Jesus in my heart. I explained to him that God has been too good to me for me to be a complainer or a killjoy. From my family life to my physical health to my faith walk...I'm living my BEST life. God is just so good! 

I've been through hell and high water. The enemy tried to take me out. He tried to make me lose my self-confidence, my hope, my faith, my mind... even my life! satan had a plot, but God had a plan. He set a trap, but God allowed me to trample on it. My personal experiences say that I should have never lived to see 40, but I'm just ten days away from turning 50! I shared with the man that my children should have never lived to become teenagers, but they are adults; grown, married, and have families of their own. We're all healthier and happier than we've ever been, and it's all because of GOD! No one gets the glory except HIM.

By the time I finished talking to the gentleman, I was almost in tears. My heart was overflowing with renewed joy at the remembrance of the extreme FAVOR of the Lord. He was quiet for a minute when I stopped talking. Then he said, "Well when you get to your floor today, will you pray for me too? I've been dealing with some things and maybe I've been telling the wrong people. Maybe God is the one who needs to know." I nodded and said, "He already knows, but I got you." And then I walked away. I don't even know the guy's name, but God does. And when I said my prayer this morning, I prayed for him just like I promised.

We never know who needs to hear our testimony. We never know who needs our prayers. We never know who's watching our life or who needs someone to be a witness of the goodness of the Lord. I'm so thankful that ten days 'til fifty years, God allowed me to be one.