In The Moment, It's Hard...Come On Chocolate!

I find myself saying, "If I just didn't have to do this," "This is hard," "This is too much," "I feel so alone," "If I can just get it right and be done with it."
So, we look for ways to do "it" better, faster and easier. It doesn't matter what it is. If it's not Chocolate or Vacation (woohoo!!!), we want to know how to get past the moment of dread. And it can be anything from doing the dishes, facing the never-ending laundry, disciplining the sassy-mouthed child, picking up the 15th dirty sock today, struggling in prayer and finding words to say to that hurting friend, figure out what's for dinner every night for 365 days a year...every year!!! How do I get through this trial. How did I get here and how do I get out. Why do I have to deal with this...again!
I have journals of notes that represent all the sermons, marriage and parenting conferences I have attended over the years, filled with all the "how tos." My bookcases are filled with books for couples, parenting, organizing the home, dealing with conflict, being assertive, overcoming addictions...on and on.
BUT....the more I study in it, I am finding all I really need is My Bible. I find myself wanting only to have my husband or children, lost friends, saved friends, read it alone. There in it holds our hope for the future and our joy for the moment. It tells me "how to" do this thing called Life!

A few minutes ago I received a devotional in my Inbox that spoke to this same subject. Getting past the rules and how-tos and move to the Source, not the fixes. So true! Because we are more of an informational based society than relational, we just want answers to "get through." What about in the moment? Is it possible to enjoy the difficult or mundane or exhausting moment? I say YES!!! It's a matter of the HEART:)
Just this week my Mentor called me out my "grumblings." What if I asked God to turn my grumblings into thanksgiving. Was I doing "that" for myself, in my own strength, because I "had" to or was I taking care of God's stuff, meeting a need with a servant's heart? Dishes, laundry, conflicts, trials, traffic, even anxieties or attacks can be overcome with joy. These things must be done, (anything we know we need to do but don't want to...cuz I know some of you actually like doing some of those things!), can't avoid them, but I do not need to have a grumbling attitude about them?! If I am asked to do something I can respond with a huff and a grumble or I can with joy,

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," (Colossians 3:23).

I get to choose my attitude. I personally do not like dusting, laundry, mopping, changing linens, picking up after other people's messes, but I know that God has called me to this season of Mothering, Being a Wife and Friend and Church Member, with certain trials and temptations in my life. Therefore, I must know there is a reason. Being rooted in the Word of God, it shapes my "how-tos." It shapes and molds my heart and mind. I may not always see the "why" but I will know "how."

"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Mark 7:21-23

There is a place for instruction outside of God's Word. I think what we are missing is where we should start...


Step 1 "How To" Know God Intimately: His Love and GIft of Salvation.

Step 2 Understand His Great Love for you and in that, "How To" be the You He created you to be.

Step 3 Walk in and Learn About His Amazing Grace

Step 4 Live in community, not forsaking fellowship with other Believers, receiving help with wisdom and encouragement and accountability

Step 5 Walk Through Each Moment in Grace, choosing a heart of Love

Step 6 Seek out the applications of Hearts of Grace through resources given


Being in The Word, we find help...


John 14:26-27 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Titus 2: 3-8 "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled,pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us."

I Thessalonians 5: 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

I Thessalonians 5: 14-18 "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted,help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

THANK GOD we have help!!! Every moment has a reason, if it is simply doing what needs to be done. Rather than grumbling on the inside, won't we choose joy to serve the Lord instead. I will be the first to admit it's hard, but if I look forward to the ultimate goal, I will find that joy in purpose as I work for the Lord! I must choose it for myself. It's not a discipline I will learn, but a heart change that changes my mind, and thus changes my attitude and actions.


Laundry- never-ending and exhausting...but leads to clean clothes, praise God for clean clothes to place on my family.

Dishes- smelly and sticky but when they are clean, I can serve fresh food and serve my family, reminding me of my Daily Bread's provision.

Picking up other's stuff- learning the act of servanthood when not deserved or appreciated, showing me how Christ walked on this earth, humbled and with purpose

Cleaning bathrooms- keeps my family healthy and fresh, reminds me of how God washes me white as snow, cleansing me from my sins...every week after week.

Listening to the whiners- I get to show patience and practice self-control, giving gentle correction and turn their grumbling hearts to what God has purposed for them

My end goal is not "task accomplished" (although my husband might disagree-lol!). My end goal is to reflect the sacrifice and servanthood of Christ, serving with blessings and not bitterness.

Whatever I face, even amongst tears, I can work through it with joy. I'm never alone. I have my Helper and other tangible helpers to keep me focused on Christ, knowing in the end, my goal is to honor God. To love Him back. For my heart to be shaped into His even if it hurts for there is joy in the moment knowing I am protected and purposed for. There are no wastes in His economy.


God is my ultimate sweet-joy!! He makes me smile, fills me, satisfies my cravings and I so look forward to my times meeting with Him. He is the chocolate drizzle over all my life!!! I'm not different than my kids desiring a reward for the toil. I am learning which reward I am wanting...it's more of Him! "Better is one day in Your house than thousands elsewhere!!" I will spend my whole day with Him, making it a great day!!


For me, everything is sweeter and made better with Chocolate! Keeping my eyes on the outpouring of sweet joy for every moment!!!! 

Precious are You Lord, the Joy of my Salvation!!!! My Saving Grace in the toil of Life!!!!!
I Love You Jesus!

I LOVE doing puzzles! Do you? My husband absolutely does not and therefore does not see a wonderful masterpiece in the making...he sees a waste of time and a mess! It does take patience. I could say the same thing about his game watching....for hours sitting in one place (the couch) seemingly wasting time, eventhough he's as happy as can be!  So, I get it. You won't spend hours on something voluntarily unless you are enjoying what you are doing.

Needless to say, over the years my puzzles have changed, as well as how often I even pull one out to create. It's probably been over a year since I pulled one out to work. Of course, there is an open invitation for anyone who wants to jump in and build this masterpiece with me. At first glance, it is overwhelming, especially for the younger kids! They are used to the large, 2" pieces with a maximum of 24 pieces! Mine, I will do anything over 200. (I do prefer the traditional cut pieces though!)

I had to stop and think why the kids freak out when they see all the hundreds of odd shapes spread over a 4 ft area...it's too much work...where do you even begin...what if there's a piece missing...what if it takes aaaaall daaaaay long!?! The older you get, you are able to understand how to approach a puzzle, looking first for edge pieces, then grouping similar designs/colors. It's not overwhelming, it's a challenge. And you know it's gonna take a certain commitment to stick with it, completing it.

I was sitting here reflecting through my Week 1 Homework in True Woman 101 and how I have felt a little overwhelmed at all that encompasses being a Woman of God. Soooo many pieces. Such a commitment of time and energy to work it all out. Where do you begin? 

God reminded me of my puzzle. His "divine design" for me. Our puzzle changes as we change. The big picture is the same, but the cuts (shapes) change. God only gives us what we can handle and when we first walk with Him, I imagine the puzzle being a 12 pc which at the time seems like a challenge, but then it becomes easy and through time and maturity, we can handle the 24, 48, 50, 100 pieces. Taking a step back and looking at the big picture, you see the glorious end result, but getting started and putting together all the middle pieces can be overwhelming and sometimes a seemingly impossible feat!

I look at being a Woman of God and everything that it means. Womanhood encompasses every bit of our life in our many different roles, all the thoughts and feelings, and everything tangible physically in our life. At the core is being a Child of God and that right there takes up most of the pieces!!! God is the Creator and Designer. He gives what we can handle and nothing more eventhough it can look like it at first glance. 

The truth is that the Creator knows what it takes to get to the glorious picture at the end of each of our puzzles. He has given us a Helper in the Holy Spirit that will work it out with us, leading and encouraging us to push through the times you can't make sense of a design. If you are patient, He will show you the big picture and help you fit all the pieces together, some of which need to be turned around so you can see the design on the other side. Ya don't get far with a bunch of brown pieces!

There is nothing more exciting (in the puzzle world) than to get to the last few holes...one by one, snapping in each one! Anticipation grows!! I imagine my husband feels the same thing as he watched his favorite player running towards the goal line, or as he watches a putt rolling ever so slowly towards the hole. You almost become giddy!

As we join with our Helper to put together our puzzle, one by one, the pieces of our puzzle, may we resist the urge to give up, or walk away. Instead, may we work fervently to turn over all the brown pieces and complete it to the glorious end!!

Father God,

Thank You that You have designed a glorious end just for me, for each season in my life, for each trial, in each wilderness, You hold the big picture and I place my trust in You. Be my strength when I feel like giving up and for the endurance to push onward. Help me to keep my eyes on Your glorious end and not all my pieces that sometimes seems scattered beyond reach. With You, my Helper, I can do all things. Mountains can move, shattered pieces can be mended, missing pieces can be found when I trust in Your Help.

Sweet and Patient God, thank You. Piece by piece, I'm laying them down and melding together the design You've made for me. May You receive all the glory in "my" design. Amen!

 

  

All about Pink & Blue

Sugar & Spice and everything nice!

Oh the blessings of being a GIRL! Once a month it's not so "fun" but the rest of the time it's pretty great I think! I'm a NOT a super Girly-Girl, but neither am I a Tom-boy. I enjoy dressing up but I can dig down in the dirt and get my nails dirty!

It's the very first question when someone announces they are expecting..."Is it a Girl or a Boy?" And of course after the birth, they always ask, "When's the next one?!" Good Grief!

My husband and I were blessed with 7 babies, four of which I care for here on Earth. The other three are in Good Hands.

In 1997, God blessed us with our first BOY.We spent the last 4 months of the pregnancy at High Risk visits watching the fluid build up in one of his tiny kidneys.Prayers were heard and there were no complications! Just one week early we met our big boy, weighing in at 8 lbs 4oz.  Everything "boy" and blue denim had filled our house. Blue blankets, burp rags, furniture, balls, toys, bottles, bags, pacifiers.

Then, in 1999, we lost our first little Angel baby only to unexpectantly find ourselves carrying our next bundle of energy! I LOVE being pregnant, such a gift, however, the pregnancy was not easy. My hormone levels had not returned back to normal ranges so when I became pregnant, my body responded as if I was already 4 months pregnant and I began to have contractions early, and I spent 6 months on bed rest hooked up to a monitor. After several trips to Labor and Delivery to settle the contractions, after 6 months of getting out twice a week in my wheelchair to go to church only, and arriving two weeks ahead of schedule, God slipped our blonde haired, blue-eyed baby boy in our hands, weighing 8lbs 1 oz.

Over the next several years, two more babies returned Home to their Heavenly Father and I cannot wait to meet them!!!

In 2005, a sea of PINK flooded our home, over powering all the denim. Lace and ruffles, bows and softness filled our home and life with all things GIRLY!! Such sweet clothes and blankets. This Tinkerbell of a Princess arrived three weeks early, weighing in at albs 5ozs. It definitely awoke the sleeping Princess within me! I found myself matching her colors and trading some of the jeans for some cute skirts!

And to our surprise, God gave us another blonde haired, blue-eyed bundle of joy, weighing in at 10lbs, 7ozs and this boy still surprises me to this day, taking his time arriving one week LATE and still continues to take his time.

When we got married, we attended marriage conferences as an enrichment to our marriage. We both have parents who are divorced and have committed to truly let God be at our center and reason! We just wanted to know HOW!  Once we entered Parenthood, we attended with the same fervor and desperation how to do it right and not to mess it up!! 20 years of marriage seminars, 15 years or parenting seminars, and today I sit in one about Womanhood. Week 1 not even completed and His Word and the insights fall fresh on me! I almost can't formulate the words to express it. Wow! Amazing God! I could go on and on with this and maybe I will blog some of this out but for now, let me tell you this: You most certainly DO have a purpose. You were created as a Masterpiece. You were created in Divine Design, in your specific role.

We were created male and female. We have a role and purpose. We are a reflection of Christ and the Church. If I understand my role as a Helpmate to Christ, it helps me understand how to be one to my Husband. If I understand my role as a woman, and I honor God through my Womanhood, won't I be a better Mommy? A Wife? A Church Member? A Friend? YES!!! He tells us "Seek FIRST His Kingdom." This is not just in how to live out day to day life, but with who we are...seek out who you are in Him first. Know the Hands that made you, then learn who He made you to be, then learn how to use the tools He gifted you with as you live the life He designed for you, as you live to honor God above all others. Your How To is The Word!!!

I tell my kids all the time, if you are living a life pleasing to The Lord, you know without a doubt that Dad and I will be pleased! If their focus is to please God above all others, all the "others" will be happy too. If they only focus on being a student and friend and Dickerson Child and yet never look towards fulfilling their role in the Kingdom which highlights the glory of God, how will they ever be satisfied? Our greatest joy is being in the center of God's Will for our life! Not having a happy marriage, earning several commas in the paycheck, being a popular and envied Parent or being a social-lite respected and known. Where does our heart's joy come from?? The Lord!! Our Peace. Our Comfort. Our Joy!

Are their roots digging deep into a sold foundation or are they spreading themselves out in shifting sand?

Maybe you have never gone all the way back to the very first question of and for yourself...Are you a Girl or a Boy in Christ? Beyond your special "parts", were you created for Manhood or Womanhood? Boy or Girl, there is a gifting only you can fulfill in all of creation. There is more to life than being the best at serving others (and ourselves if we are honest). How would our life change if our only desire was to bring honor and glory to God alone? Above all others. Understand there is a God. Beginning to End, He created everything, and in everything, with a purpose. The purpose is to reveal His beautiful Glory. To reveal Himself to us. To Love. Are you a man of God or a woman of God? Let's learn "how to" do that!!

SIDENOTE: Seminars are great, not saying we should not attend or that we won't gain practical advice, cuz we certainly have; what I am saying is that it is crucial that in order for us to understand "how to" do our our many roles we serve in this Earth right, we cannot skip pass what ought to be our first step...understand how and why we were created. Before we understand our spiritual giftedness, before we ask how to be a better "whatever" may we find out from The One Who created us, with what purpose in mind were we created, male or female.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26

Day Four, Week One...here I come!! Only Week One!?!?! It's gonna be good!!! :)

Much to Fear

Yes, there is MUCH to fear. We live in a fallen world full of selfish evils. Today, we remember the evil that fell our nation on 9/11. It's impact reached further than those planes. Everyone's lives have been impacted in one way or another, be it personal or indirectly. We personally felt the destruction as the horrific and seemingly unfathomable news poured out from the media. Although unless we were there, we will never fully know what must have seemed like hell on earth for those people which ashes fell upon.

Indirectly, 9/11 changed us as a nation. I can probably sum up what could be hundred's of books in length, our security changed. Personal securities and national securities.

As a Believer, my security changed literally as well as emotionally and spiritually. No matter who you are, it rocked your world. It made you question this topic of security and protection. What would we have done if that was us in one of those planes? Would someone have risked their life for mine? Where was our help? Would I risk my life for another? If God is real, then why did He allow this? There we go, the big question!! It was a topic of huge debate at the time. This national crisis turned some people to God while others turned away from God.

There is just as much evil today as there was back on 9/11....as there was at the beginning of time. The Father of Lies, the Wolf in Lambs clothing is still on his watch. Evil happens publicly and privately, in every nation, in every town, in our own neighborhood. What we need to remember is The Father of Truth and the Savior are still on their watch. Salvation happens publicly and privately, for every nation, for every town, in our own neighborhood. To the ends of the Earth, He reigns, always has and always will.

As a person who struggles with fear, I must guard my heart, mind and soul from dwelling about all the evil around me, in "my world." It is something I must be prepared for but not consumed by. When I look into the face of evil, the impact it should have on me is not a consuming one rather a fleeing one. If you are a Believer, if you haven't already, you surely will, come under the attack of evil. This spiritual warfare we face can only be won when we flee from evil and run with confidence to our Protector, the Lord our God. Victory over evil has already been won and yet Satan continues to fight. Until we sit at the Throne of Glory, we will be surrounded by evil.

The way we can live amongst this evil is not to ignore or deny it's power, yet to see it, and claim Jesus' power over it! Living a life of fear in whatever way it touches us is not living in the freedom that Christ has for His children. There is power in The Blood. You can walk through any trial, wilderness, hate and threat with confidence knowing that The Creator of All things, people, principalities, is with you and fighting back on your behalf. Do not cower down. Do not be defeated. Do not fall back. Stand firm. Be ready. Gather a personal army to surround you and cover you if you feel as if you are about to be overtaken. 

I was in this place just a few short years ago, consumed and fretting about the evil in my world. I feared traveling, people, circumstances. It was an ambush and I was caught in the middle of a war that I could not fight alone. There have been many battles I have won alone, praise God, but there are some wars that cannot be fought alone. I must confess that even though I was ambushed, I had also been given warnings that a war was near. I wasn't ready. I wasn't aware what it took to be in a war. I had very little armor. I didn't know my Protector like I do now! I lost confidence in myself and began to doubt my God.

I cannot tell you how super duper mega mega important it is to be in The Word of God. There you will find everything you need to live in this world. Your Armor, there. Your confidence, there. Your strength, there. Your action plan, there. Your hope, there. Your endurance, there. Your peace, there. Everything you need, there.

Whatever you are facing today, know that you are not alone. Know that victory in the battle is yours in Jesus Name if His blood covers you. Stand on The Word of God as your Authority in all things. Watch for warnings of upcoming battles. Be ready! Gather an army if needed. 

Romans 8: 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 

Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

O, The Blood of Jesus! It IS my VICTORY!! IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN!!!!!!!!

Rock vs Sand

""Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."" Matthew 7: 24-27

With the new change of the season, less humidity and cooler temps, I have found myself spending more time outdoors. In this Texas heat, it's a rare treat to spend full days outside without drowning in sweat! This verse came to mind today as I was returning home from my bike ride. Just outside my neighborhood, there is an area of rugged terrain I pass through to get home. For the most part, it is either sand or dirt. 

As I come flying off the street and make the transition into this "unstable" area, I must be paying attention to the unevenness of the ground so that I don't fall. Tree stumps, rocks, holes, branches and even trash fill the area. If I am not watching where I am going, I am surely gonna slip and fall.

This happened to me this morning. I wasn't paying attention as I crossed the now very familiar grounds, and my bike slid sideways on the shifting sands. I was not planning on sliding, or going sideways, but that is the way I went because I was careless. God brought this verse to mind.

Why do we "build" on "rock?" Because it is steady and dependable. Sand can be compacted down but it still gives way to pressure and it can be easily manipulated and moved. If it is our intent to build something that will withstand the pressure and rains of our circumstances, not quickly shaken or lost, then wisdom would say build on The Rock.

So it is with God. When we build our lives on God our Rock, we will withstand the pressures and rain that come against us. We won't crater and fall. Our circumstances will not control us. We will stand firm on Our Rock and endure.

Do you feel "loose?" Do you feel as though you continue, time after time, to be tossed around, heart and mind slipping and sliding, never at rest? Then may I suggest you check your foundation. You may need to replace some of that sand with a Bigger Rock!

Shade PLEASE!!!

After spending some time outside, a friend exclaimed, "Whew, it's soooo much better in the shade!!!" Indeed it is!!!! Nothing breaks the scorching glares of the sun than a good ole block of shade. Facing this intense ball of fire we call the Sun, which thankfully happens to be millions of miles away and yet, even with sunglasses on, sunblock and a hat, will burn you! Oh, the comfort of turning the corner of a building or even the shadow of a large oak tree brings instant relief from the heat-attack (which nearly leads to heat-strokes!!) Water, Water, Water people!!! 

These words of hers echoed in my head all day, with what I now know was an affirming of a lesson God was teaching me. As many of you know, my husband and I took a weekend trip and our ride on this little prop plane that delivered us to our destination was...interesting. We had the front 2 "lucky" seats which happened to face the rear of the plane!! Just one of His humors and many a little tests...

1. Being in front of people looking at you and not feeling overwhelmed....check.
2. Being calm on a little prop plane AND sitting by the exit door AND facing 100 people...check.
3. Staring at the fast spinning, metal propeller literally right out MY window, since I was facing backwards...check.


Now that all anxiety and panic attacks have been confirmed demolished in Jesus Name....AMEN!!!!!!, another lesson....


As we landed, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to the shadow created by the wing of the plane as we made our way to the gate. Depending on the direction of the wing and the sun above, the shadow would fluctuate under the wings as it casted it's shadow on the ground beneath. It would sometimes be to the left, front, back, directly under and even big and small...as the wings moved, the shadow moved. 

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by." Psalms 57:1

Shadows are not possible without the "Son." The Holy Spirit is the Wing that move us, shape us, and shield us. And the shade is God, our Rest, Refuge, Relief and Rescue. 

So the question is, when we are being "attacked" and things are "heating up" against us, where do we find these shadows and how do we stay in it as it moves once we find it? We must intentionally align ourselves under the Wings that lend us this Rescue and Refuge we so desperately need. As the wings above us move, so we too must move in alignment. That requires being intentional and clear-minded, willing and submissive, moveable yet not scattered, eyes that see and ears that hear the direction of the Holy Spirit. And for Goodness sake, if you just cannot seem to find some shade, ASK!!! Do not let pride or fear burn you, cuz it will!!! If you are lost or already overcome, call out for help!!! God will you rescue!! There is no fire He cannot extinguish! The Lord is our only Consuming Fire, amen!!!!!

Do you feel like you are being burned alive? At one time or another, we all get a little burned. We all go through difficult desert-like seasons where it's especially hot. Eventhough the shadow is always there, it may be small so that "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison," II Corinthians 4:17. While other times, our thirsts are satisfied fully as we fill ourselves with the Living Water and rest in Him."On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39

 " The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" Ruth 2:12 

Be intentional: dive deep in the Word of God who Provides and Protects with Purpose, trusting Him to keep His promises, never leaving or forsaking you, growing you into His perfect design for you. Do not be overwhelmed or afraid when the heat is turned up! Gear up with the right armor and find your shade under the Wings of a Mighty and Faithful God!!!