Is he/she good?

The question about if a man/woman is good is really relative to the individuals in the relationship. How I define a good man may be totally different than who you define a good man. Have you ever thought about when you’ve been asked what type of person you are? How accurate is this definition? Most of the time this definition is based upon who we desire to be not who we actually are. Also this definition is based upon what we think others perceive us to be but its not the reality. This also holds true when we think about the opposite sex. It’s what our perception of a good man is not what the reality of a good man is. Are we being fair? Personally, I listen to a man tell me what type of man they are and get excited saying, “wow he’s the one cause he has the qualities I desire in a man.” So when he doesn’t live up to those standards I feel let down.

I must say I’m not being fair. We must seek God on all that we do in finding a mate. Allow HIM to guide us instead of looking for qualities that the world dictates. Psalms 14 says “All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Men and Women have the capacity to do wrong. But we must lean and depend on God not our own understanding in relationships. If your relationships are based upon the world’s standards then the enemy shall control but with God all things are possible. Lets based our relationships on HIM and see our marriages and relationships sore. Be blessed.

Stuck on Stupid

Is it just me that feel like relationally, I'm stuck on stupid? Ok, sisters and brothers, if you don't feel like being real today, that's ok, I'll be real.

There are so many times when I'm so stuck on stupid that I should put a tattoo on my forehead that says "STUPID" Dang that's sad.

Men and women, we get ourselves into some situations that we wonder, "Lord how did I get here" and we know that it is only the grace of God that's gonna get us out of it. Hallelujah!

If you're like me, you tell yourself "I'm not gonna do this again" and then you find yourself right back there again.

Men, I know you say, "Sistahs don't know what they want, I'm not going to go there with them again." And lo and behold a beautiful one walks by and Lord have mercy you forget all those feelings of stupidity.

Ladies what about you? How often have you talked to God and said, "Lord I know he's not the one." And then you find yourself right back stuck on stupid when he calls whispering those sweet nothings! (By the way, you know it really was some nothings. smiling)

I have to share something, since I'm being real. I had a man tell me I was selfish because I desired to spend more time with him. While I listened closely to him talk, I laughed so loud that I couldn't even be mad at him, only me. No brother, I wasn't selfish, I was STUPID for wanting what you couldn't give me! Only GOD could!!!!

So, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, what to do when we're stuck on Stupid?
First,
Proverbs 3:5-6 says:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart

and Lean not unto thine own Understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and He shall direct your path."

Saints we must acknowledge the feeling first and don't worry so much about why we feel this way but learn to turn to God and allow Him to have his way in the situation. The problem is not that we feel stupid, the problem is that we don't acknowledge the feeling and learn from it.

Secondly,

Psalm 46:10 charges us to "Be still, and know that I am God"

Stop right not and let God have his way. Did you know that if you're listening to God you can't be talking? If you're listening you're not waiting to get your next thought in? HUSH for a moment and listen. Some of us even need to just SHUT up! That's what he is charging us to do when he says BE STILL.

Lastly,

Pray!!! I can never say this enough.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says "Pray without ceasing."

When you've prayed, pray again... Ohhhh You've prayed? Pray again and again. Don't stop praying...

Remember its a process. Change will not come over night. You may stay stuck on stupid for a season, you may even leave a state of stupidity and find yourself back there years later but don't worry you don't have to stay stuck there permanently.

Whatever you're going through, be it a relationship, money issues, depression, children, job issues, or life in general. Don't Stay Stuck on Stupid!!!

What does Temptation Look Like?

"Yield Not to Temptation, for Yielding is Sin" - old spiritual hymn

Praise God for discernment!

But let's be real for a moment, we do not always heed to that discerning spirit. Come on now if you can't be real with me, be real with God cause he'll be real with you.

I know I have this spirit that talks to me but Lord knows sometimes temptation talks louder than that spirit. Oh, I feel like screaming as I write this. Matthew wrote in chapter 26 verse 41, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." This was not written to be used as an excuse but a way to acknowledge temptation and how to handle it.

Temptation has a way of looking sexy, making you feel good and desirable. Temptation has a way of making you feel like you're the man on the moon. Temptation has a way of talking to you like Tyler Perry's Madea. "Hey, Hiya Doing?" Like you're all special. I'm laughing now cause we all know how temptation can be.

We sisters in the spirit must feel like Eve in the garden talking to the serpent. Do you really think brothers look like a snake, smell like a snake, or even walk like a snake? Lord have mercy NO! He looks good in our eyes, smells like Michael Jordan's new cologne, and Lord Jesus has a swagger like an angel. And brothers, we know sisters have a way of looking delicious with their own heavenly scent and a beautiful sway of her hips.

I say all that to show you temptation doesn't always look like a serpent or the devil. Temptation has a way of making you feel desirable one moment and undesirable the next. Don't let temptation take you away from what God has for your life. It's far greater that any momentary satisfaction. If that individual is who God has placed in your path as your help meet you will know. It will be a feeling that's far greater than what that sister looks like or that brother's swagger. God will reveal it to you if you allow that discerning spirit to speak louder than temptation.

Remember, temptation isn't a sin, yielding to it is what takes you outside of the grace of God.

"he said unto them, Pray that ye not enter into temptation", Luke 22:40

I pray for strength for all of us as we continue to recognize temptation and yield not to it. I also pray something I say on this blog is a blessing to you and your friends as I share the words that God lays on my heart. May God bless and keep you all.

Safe In HIS Arms

“seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33

Are you safe in HIS Arms?

Or are you still seeking safety in the wrong arms?

A dear friend of mine once told me, “Rae, how can you truly love a man when you don’t love God the way he wants to be loved.”

Wow, that’s deep. It takes a good friend to tell it like it is. But, I have to be honest. I didn’t get it at the time. You see, I’ve been in the church all my life. I know the Word better than most. I knew I loved the Lord. What was he talking about? His words actually hurt, especially since he was a brother I was once intimately involved with. But, I knew he was telling the truth even though I had a relationship with the Lord.

It made me question, “was I loving God enough or seeking the arms of man for safety?”

Isn’t God awesome? He has a way of revealing himself to us if we pay attention.

I question now whose arms I was trying to be safe in. This made my love for God to intensify and start a closer relationship with HIM.

When I was barely eleven or twelve years old and had to grow up quickly due to the death of my father and sister, God was there.

When Mother’s feeble body couldn’t make it any more and she knew she had finished this race, God was there.

When the doctors told me my career as an Engineer was over and I thought my life was over, God was there.

When I lay in the hospital due to the pills I accidentally took, which should have taken my life, God was there.

When my beautiful 20 year marriage ended and I felt all alone in this world, God was there.

When my SUV flipped over 3 times and I walked, did you hear me, walked away from a totaled car, God was there.

Not Man, God kept me Safe!

A wise man, Dr. John R. Adolph, wrote recently about Making Love in the Right Position. This message made me think about what I had been seeking while I was making love in the wrong position. I know now I was seeking safety in the wrong arms.

Praise God I was already Safe in HIS Arms!!! Hallelujah!!

Due to his forgiveness and loving spirit, I can now love HIM the way I need to, CAN YOU?

A Change is Gonna Come

Greetings in the Name of our Heavenly Father,

This blog has always been a source of strength for me as I let the Lord’s words flow through me and pray that it be a blessing to someone. I’d like to share with you a recent experience as I moved to Beaumont, Texas where my parents were raised. I knew it would be a huge change for me even though some were against the move. In my heart I knew the Lord was guiding me in this new journey. As I stepped out on faith, I asked the Lord a couple of things. One, please be with me and keep me strong. Two, help me find a new church home as a church foundation is very important to me. Finally, I asked for strength to make it on my own in a new location.

I know the Lord is heard my cries. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Therefore finding a church home was very important. Praise God, I found a church home where I am spiritually fed regularly. I’ve never been a member of a large church before so when I visited Antioch MBC I was apprehensive but knew that the Lord would not lead me astray. Oh how right I was. Last month I attended a women’s ministry meeting that I’d like to share with you because it continues exactly from my last post, “Everything happens for a Reason.”

My all time favorite scripture Romans 8:28 says, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” No matter how bad things may seem in your life remember that things are working together for the good. We may not see it now but thank God there is good in there somewhere. I’m smiling even as I write this.

I’d like to digress for a moment. When I was going through my divorce I thought it was the most difficult time in my life. I was what I would call homeless. Often time, I didn’t know where my next meal would come from. I was in and out of the hospital and had no money to pay the doctor bills. I was traveling all over the state of California trying to finalize a divorce that I couldn’t see coming to an end. In the midst of all this, I was separated from my only child. I say I was homeless because I didn’t have a place of my own. Oh I thank God for all the wonderful family and friends that were there for me. There was never a day that I had to sleep on the street or in my SUV but there was days that I thought it would come to that. There was never a day that I didn’t have food but Lord knows I thought it would come to that. At times, I really couldn’t see the GOOD in all of this. I had to keep dwelling on my favorite scripture. I have to tell you about being homeless, being sick, going through a divorce, being separated from my child and the pain I was experiencing because that’s MY testimony to how good God has been. I grew closer to some of the most awesome individuals during this trying time. I drew closer to God. I returned to Los Angeles after living in Santa Barbara for 17 years to my church home and was welcomed by family and loved ones. I could see the rainbow through the storm.

I shared my testimony to show that all things work together for the good because as my divorce was being finalized this December my dear Aunt passed away suddenly which brought me to Beaumont. This is when God told me that it was time for a change. I was like “God, haven’t I been through enough change.” Well He told me that this change was for the Good. Stepping out on faith I moved. Just as I am enjoying my new home and getting comfortable the seam breaks loose. Another Change!!! Well I begin to dwell on that scripture again. “All things work together for the good.”

One day I was having a horrible day. I was ready to pack everything up and run away. I don’t know where I was going but I was going. On top of this I had one of my massive headaches which I knew would lead me to the hospital yet again. I must add since I’d moved to Texas I hadn’t had many hospital visits where before I was going at least twice a month. As I lay in bed praying and crying, I got a text from a woman I had met on a church outing and had not talked to since. She just said she was thinking about me. Well, I’d had on my heart to go to the women’s ministry meeting but didn’t want to go alone so I texted her back and asked if she was going. The funny thing was she didn’t know it was going on so she called around town to see if they were really having a meeting. With a massive headache, nausea, heart ache and pain, I headed to that meeting to hear exactly what the Lord had to say to me. Minister Kim spoke about “It’s Just a Season.” Hmmmm! Didn’t I write about that just a couple of months ago? She goes on to tell us to be aware of our seasons. There are several types of seasons: Prosperity, Suffering, Harvesting (Planting and Giving) and Growing. The part that really spoke to me and has helped me have peace in my home and in my spirit is that the things that we’re going through are just a Temporary Inconvenience for a Permanent Change!!! Hallelujah. I can stop complaining, stop whining, stop worrying, stop hurting, and stop everything because it’s All Temporary. The biggest blessing is that a permanent and positive change is gonna come. Alright now, wasn’t it Sam Cooke that said “A Change is Gonna Come.” Sorry, for those that don’t know me, I can find a song in everything. Thank God for that change. One final thing I have learned over the years is that we can not change anyone. We may want to change our spouses, our children, our bosses, our friends, or even our neighbors. Unfortunately, we can not. The only person we can change is us and our reaction to the other person and the situations that we are going through. So if you’re going through something right now, put your SMILE on because A Change is Gonna Come.

Everything Happens for a Reason

For years, I have said this very thing to myself. I don't worry about situations that happen to me because I try to find the reason for it happening and learn from it. This line of thinking has helped me be a better stronger person. I think without it I would have been bitter and unloving. I know that God is teaching me through all situations and circumstances. It's me that's being too stubborn to heed HIS warning. We must open our eyes and learn and grow.

This morning I found a poem by an unknown author on this:

Sometimes people come into your life

and you know right away that they were meant to be there...

to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or

help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be but

when you lock eyes with them, you know that every

moment that you are with them,

they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you

at the time that may seem horrible,painful and unfair, but in reflection

you realize that without overcoming those obstacles

you would have never realized your potential, strength,will power or heart.

Everything happens for a reason!

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments

of true greatness and sheer stupidity

all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests,

life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere,

safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet affect your life.

The successes and downfalls that you experience

can create who you are, and

the bad experiences can be learned from....

In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart,

forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust

and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally

not only because they love you,

but also because they are teaching you to love

and open your heart and eyes to little things.

MAKE EVERYDAY COUNT!

Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people who you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, even if it doesn't seem right because you are too young or too far, just follow your heart. Surround yourself with those who make you smile, laugh, and make you happy.Break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life then LET GO and LIVE IT!

This philosophy will make us all a better person. I know it's helping me each day.

May God Bless and keep you.

Rae

Do You Have Mustard Seed Faith?

originally posted -Ms. Rae's Moment of Faith Blog @ Chinue Christian Fellowship

The past couple weeks, I have been suffering through one of my massive headache spells. I must admit that when I’m in physical pain, I am my biggest critic. I begin to question my life.

“What have I been doing or not doing to cause this headache?” I even start looking at those around me. “Have I been what God would have me to be for them?”
I have even been known to take things a little bit further… I start questioning my faith.

I have conversations with myself.
“Girl, where’s your faith?” “Don’t you have enough faith to believe that God is going to do what He says in his Word?” “You need to pray more to increase your faith.”

Can you believe that this dialogue can go on and on for days at a time? There are always my wonderful God Fearing friends, who will walk in, call, email, or text to add to the mystic of helping me “increase” my faith. So we get it everywhere we go.

Ok, I know I’m being sarcastic, but I can start my own personal ministry program called, “How Big is Your Faith” with the sole purpose to increase my faith bigger than yours, not realizing the injustice I’m creating in my world and yours.

Do you realize that Matthew tells us, that our mountains can be moved if we have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed? He didn’t say MOUNTAIN size faith is needed. He said mountains will move because of our faith is the size of a mustard seed. Reflex on that.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" ~ Matthew 17:20, New International Version

Now, I was raised by southern parents and know a few things about mustard seeds. I was raised on Collard and Mustard Greens and had to think about what size is a mustard seed. I have also done my share of planting seeds in my life and realized that mustard seeds are used for pickling. These seeds are actually about the size of the head of a pencil. Not that big!!!

Can you imagine that? We aren’t being asked much. We are just being asked to have FAITH the size of this little old mustard seed. Why can’t we do that? With the smallest measure of faith we can move mountains in our lives. Praise God, He doesn’t ask much of us!

So, Ms. Rae, my dear friends, and Christian Saints, He isn’t asking us to increase our Faith, He is asking us to just have faith alone. By having the smallest measure of faith, changes will happen in our lives. God couldn’t be any simpler with us. He is as simple as His Word.

In the midst of my pain, my actions should have been to focus on Him instead of doubting my Faith. Looking back at the situation, I could still see how blessed I was and see God’s good work in my life. God was ‘still’ moving mountains but I was so busy questioning my faith that I couldn’t see it. I had on my pity-colored glasses that needed to be refocused. Actually I should have removed those glasses and BE STILL!!!

How often do we as Christian realize that all we need to do is, BE STILL? That is an act of faith in itself. Often my bodily pain is just that, God’s way of saying, "Be Still, Rae." I didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just time for Rae to be still.

So Saints, the next time you’re going through your personal moment, hold onto your mustard seed faith. It doesn’t take much faith to move that mountain you need moved in your life.

Some Faith Food Until We Meet Again:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

“And without faith it is impossible to please God,” Hebrews 11:6

The Lord will either calm your storm or

allow it to rage while He calms you.

~Unknown

Take the first step in faith.

You don't have to see the whole staircase,

just take the first step.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Who Do YOU Call?

originally posted -Ms. Rae's Moment of Faith Blog @ Chinue Christian Fellowship

Last year, I had an experience that will leave an indelible mark on my faith. I’m an individual that try my best to find the positive in most situation and pray first. I must admit that often time when our bodies are racked with pain we forget or lose focus. We begin to seek help in places everywhere.

I’m a headache sufferer and I deal with chronic pain constantly. There are days when I can’t get out of bed due to the pain. I was in the midst of a 6 month spell with no relief. The doctors were baffled by what was going on and I felt like a human guinea pig. My family and friends were sympathetic but confused by the situation. All I could do was continue to function as best I could while sleeping through the various pain medications.

This one day my pain got so unbearable that I didn’t know what to do. I begin by calling out to everyone I knew for help. Due to my history of pain I have a close relationship with my pain doctor, I can usually call him at any hour of the day, so he was the first person I called and he was out of the office. I left a message for him to call as soon as possible because the pain was insufferable. I am so blessed to have a group of wonderful family and friends so I began to call them hoping that if I could just talk to them I could make it though the pain. Of course they couldn’t remove the pain but I felt like if I could just get my mind off the pain, Lord knows I’d feel better. My dear friend that lives in town, that always takes my call no matter what time of the day, I gave her a rang. Can you believe her cell phone was off? I proceeded to call my male friend who I knew was at work. Unfortunately, he was in an area where he couldn’t receive calls at that time. I proceeded through my list of supportive buddies. One by one, I got voice mails or ringing phones. This normally doesn’t happen. I have such a great group of friends that are always there for me.

I must admit that as I placed each phone call my anxiety level escalated which made my pain skyrocket. For those of you who have experienced any kind of pain, you don’t want to mix anxiety with pain. Basically, I began to get sicker by the minute.

In the midst of all this, I forgot to call on the one that was always there for me. The one when times were hard had gotten me through so many other situations. The one that just a few years before when my body was raked with pain and I called on Him he got me through. The one when I felt so alone that when I just called on His name I felt peace in the midst of the storm. The one when my friends turned their backs on me was my best friend. I forgot to call on Jesus. I forgot to Pray in the midst of this. I called all over the country to family and friends but I forgot to pray. I forgot to call on the one that told me in His word that “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”, Hebrews 13:5

Later, after a friend found me passed out from an overdose of pain killers, I realized it was Him who had kept me from dying in that bedroom all alone. I realized that God was not through with me. He had gotten me through so many situations and knew that I had so much more living to do. He had work for me to do and I thank God for another opportunity to praise His name. In the hospital, I prayed without cease. I didn’t have a bible to read but thankfully I was able to just talk to the Lord in secret prayer and tell Him all about my troubles and pains. My body was still in pain. Actually, it was in worse pain than before but I realized that God was still in control. I’m thankful today just to be alive.

Saints, Who do you call in the midst of your pain? When you’re going through a tough situation? When your friends turn their backs on you? When you don’t know how you’re going to pay your bills? When you’re your kids forsake you? Who will you call? The bible says, “Pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We should not let our faith waiver because we’re going through a storm. This is when we should be focused on HIM. Pray continuously. He will answer our prayers. Call on HIM today!!!! May God Bless and Keep you.

Ms. Rae
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me", Philippians 4:13

The True Beauty of a Woman

As I turned 40 a few years ago, I was asked to reflect on what had changed about me the Woman Rae vs the Younger Woman Rae. I often referred to myself as a people pleaser. I believe this is what makes me a good person and also what gets me in trouble. A really good friend of mine calls this the "Essence of Rae" - that because of my strong faith and my belief in God I strive to be a good person by pleasing others.

Instead, our focus should always be on pleasing God, foremost. When we do this, others will see the true Essence of HIM and Rae (or YOU) will shine through as well. Matthew says in verse 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"

One of my favorite authors, Bishop T.D. Jakes, captured how I felt when I turned 40 with this poem. I hope it sheds some light on how not just Women should strive towards pleasing God but all Christians should find the True Beauty of being Christ-like. God Bless and Keep you.

The True Beauty of a Woman

It’s not what people say about you
that makes you different
It’s what you say about yourself,
and what your GOD has said about you
that really matters.
T.D. Jakes

Jesus Paid it All

originally posted -Ms. Rae's Moment of Faith Blog @ Chinue Christian Fellowship

Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow!!!

A few years ago, I was having a conversation with a counselor friend of mine and he shared with me the various stages of Jesus' life. We, as Christians, remember the stories of the birth of Christ and can probably recite the manger stories but have you ever thought about all the various other things that Christ went through, for us?

If we think about Christ's life from His birth to resurrection, there are actually many stages that were monumental to His life. Actually, we can find ourselves at these same stages if we really think about it. What's really great is that Christ has already Paid the Price on the Cross for us. So when we go through these stages we don't have to worry because we are never alone.

The Stages of Jesus' Life from Birth to Resurrection

• Alone on the Mountain Top (when you're going through something big don't you seem so alone on that mountain?)


• About to be betrayed by someone among you (there is always someone around the corner ready to steal our joy or betray us)


• Carrying a heavy cross because we all have a cross to bear


• Dying on the Cross


• Dead and Loss


• Down in the Midst of Hell


• Resurrected and Renewed (Thanks Be to God we will all reach this point!!)
  

No matter where we in our walk in life, the resurrection is still to come. Glory to God!!! This should give us hope for tomorrow. In our faith walk, we must continue to always have this in our mind when we're going through situations. No matter how low things may seem, we will be resurrected as Christ was because of the price He paid. Aren't you happy to be one of His chosen few? Don't lose the faith saints, there is JOY through the Resurrection!!!


Ms. Rae's Quote for the Day

"If you Needed it. You wouldn't Have Lost It" ~T.D. Jakes

--- Special Note from Ms. Rae
An in dept look at the stages of Jesus' life and much more can be found in an enlightening book called, "The War Of Art" by Steven Pressfield.