From the Abundance

The last 5 months have been one of the craziest periods of my life.  I met an amazing man, lost my mom, spent almost 2 months in KY, came back to Florida and hosted my first mental health retreat, accepted a great position for mental health with Vibe Church, car broke down, got a new one, got sick and ended up in the hospital for 6 days, had a hole in my belly, diagnosed diabetic, watched one of my best friends marry the love of her life, did a week of IV antibiotics at home (I was a whole fake nurse yall), brunched with Anchor & Bloom, celebrated the newlyweds at church and give myself shots 5 times a day... whew. That was a lot!  That's just what was happening on the outside.  Inside, I was like Dorothy when the tornado scooped her up from Kansas.  A complete whirlwind of emotions.  Some days I was ok, others I was in complete shambles.  I was in disbelief at the loss of my mom but somehow calm at the same time. I was sad and devastated, but also at p...

What do you do when God tells you "hands off" and you're watching someone you love suffer or Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash struggle, sometimes in the fight of their life? You take your hands out of the situation and let them wrestle with God. You pray and watch and pray some more. You give them words of encouragement when God allows. You gather your intercessor friends to help you pray and you keep praying and covering them. It's difficult to watch somebody go through something that you could easily fix or know the solution to but God tells you no. You could help but God says you've done enough, this is between me and them. This obedience is a different kind because it requires us to stay in our place like the children we are. You can argue with ya momma or daddy but you can't argue with God.  If you're anything like me, you don't try to! You pray & cry and keep your mouth closed and your hands in your pockets. Why is this importa...

Photo by  Sydney Zentz  on  Unsplash Over the past two weeks, I've gone through some pretty big things.  I went to the hospital 3 times, was admitted and spent the night, saw my primary care  4 times and spent several days and nights in excruciating pain.  After several attempts to get some relief from the pain, I was finally sent for a CT Scan only to discover that my spine is pressing on the nerves in my spinal cord. Suddenly the thing that the rude ER nurse told me I should manage at home was a legitimate issue.  Suddenly I had a reason for screaming out in pain in the ER.  Suddenly I was a patient and not a burden.... Suddenly I went from being healthy to taking 6 different meds and being in a medicated stupor just to manage the pain.   Suddenly I had high blood pressure and high blood sugar.. the things I've worked so hard to avoid.  Suddenly, I was unable to drive or perform most of my normal functions wit...

About a year ago I was having a conversation with a friend and we were talking about God's instructions and being obedient when He speaks.  Fast forward to a couple of days ago and that same word was spoken by another friend with myself and the first friend present for the conversation.  I can't begin to explain to you how excited I was.  God had just awakened me from a deep sleep with a specific set of instructions, then sent vessels to confirm it.  It didn't take a long time, it didn't take a bunch of extra stuff.  It was a simple coming together of believers. In the initial conversation I had with my friend she spoke to me about how things would start to fall into place once I started to move in obedience.  It's been an amazing journey so far and I can't even express all of the things God has done and is doing.  This morning on the Prayer call Bishop Walker was speaking from Psalm 23:2 on the topic of He Knew what I needed...  Rest, Resto...

There are certain things that we're all hoping and believing for but sometimes life make it extremely difficult to hold on to that belief.  Circumstances and situations have a way of shaking that belief, diminishing the level of belief or just wiping it out altogether.  I'm believing God for some cray big things but right now I'm not seeing the manifestations of any of it. For the most part I'm fine with waiting and trusting that it will come, but in some things  I feel like it's almost impossible or I'm like gees can it happen already.. I've been waiting x # of years/months and nothing!!  Don't get me wrong, I have crazy big outrageous faith to trust and believe God for the impossible or pretty close to it, but I'm still human. Being in this fleshly body my impatience sometimes gets the best of me. In Mark 9 there's a story of a man whose son had plagued by a deaf & dumb spirit since childhood.  The spirit would throw him down, caus...

Luke 12:48 tells us that to whom much is given much is also required. I just wanted to take a minute to tell myself as well as remind you, that much is required of us.  No matter our titles, positions, accolades, posts, education, training, posture, works, or level of faith, God is requiring more. God blesses us to be a blessing to others.  I don't know about you but I am beyond blessed.  I have the full function of all my limbs, I'm in my right mind, I have everything I need, I''m forgiven, I've been redeemed, I have joy & peace, I feel safe, and I serve a God that truly understands every part of my being.  I know a lot of people get upset or angry with God when bad things happen and say how could such a loving God allow this, or how would a God who heals allow so much pain, etc. If you look at all that Jesus went through to take away our sins, to allow us that gift of healing and eternal life our light suffering is nothing.  Could you imagine the we...

Today I had the most frustrating day I've had in a while.   I went to my "river front office" and tried to take a walk.. that didn't help.  I tried listening to music but that didn't help either.  SO I went to the- grocery store to wander the aisles and find some fruit and icecream... then I did what I love to do when I'm frustrated.. I cooked. I cam home and opened a full out assault on my kitchen.. I grabbed ingredients, pots, knives, a skillet, some broth and as the old folks say.. got the pots stinkin.  As I stood in my kitchen and chopped veggies the tension eased up, (I talk, think and sometimes pretend I have a cooking show), my mind stopped racing and I was able to calm down.  As the veggies went into the skillet, I added my second layer of seasoning, a blackening seasoning I got at the farmer's market, and let them cook for a while.  I tasted and the flavors were not coming through like I wanted them to.  I went back to the spice rack (it ...

As I sit watching this beautiful blanket cover the streets, buildings, and trees I am reminded of God's love. The streets are covered with dirt, rocks, holes, oil, and trash.  Just beyond the edge of the street there's a sidewalk lined with trash cans, mailboxes, fire hydrants and other random things.  When you step beyond the sidewalk there's grass and more sidewalks, stairs and buildings, trees, more cars, and a few people braving the cold.  The amazing thing is, the snow keeps falling, keeps covering, and keeps coming back no matter how many times you try to shovel it away.  That never ending blanket covers everything.  The dirt, the grass, the mailboxes... everything covered under this beautiful blanket of snow.  The same way God covers us. His love wraps us up, covers us, and makes us new.  It covers to the point that nobody sees the dirty places in our lives, the holes and voids in our hearts get filled, the oil and residue of past ...

image :http://www.jeanniebottles.com/geniebottles/ I find myself in a position that I'm sure somebody else is in right now too... I'm in transition.  I know that may not seem like a big deal at the surface but when you really think about what that means it becomes a bit more tricky. I guess I should explain myself.  When I say I'm in transition, I literally mean moving from one place to the next in every area of my life.  Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing.  I'm moving forward to bigger and better.  The frustration comes from not being able to release certain things the way I need to in this place.  For the past few years God has been giving me tons and tons of stuff, but with the tag "for later".  It's like getting a gift on new years day that says don't open til Christmas.  I have so many thing in me that I want and need to release, but I have to do it in God's timing for them to be effective.  I want His perfect will, not...

Like millions of other people I've belted out the words to Amazing Grace hundreds of times, but I gained a whole new understanding of the song once I truly experienced the grace of God for myself.   God being the gentleman He is, didn't stop there.  He escorted me on to the next level of glory and revelation.  There's a line in the song that says.  "I once was lost but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see" I thought about that blindness and how I was in the dark and deceived about so many things.  In case you're confused let me lead you over to 2 Corinthians 4:4, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. " That god of this world is still up to his old tricks and is always trying to keep people blind and bound. It's completely different to be physically blind than mentally blind.  Though I've n...

There's so much on my heart and mind right now that I really need to release... things have been locked up for weeks and months and I just haven't been motivated to write.  I really haven't known where to begin.. Feb 24 I got the most devastating call of my life.  It was about 2:30am and I was a little restless and my phone rang.  I immediately knew something was wrong  when I saw my older brother's picture on the screen.  I answered the call and received the news that our father had been murdered in his home.  I was in shock, numb, in disbelief, and devastated wasn't even close to describing it.  I maintained my composure through the call but when I hung up and the heaviness of the words I had just repeated hit me, I crumbled. With tears running down my face, I called my mom and told her.  She was on her way immediately.  During the time that my mom was driving to my house I sat in the middle of my bed, cried and prayed, prayed and c...

  For the past few night's I've found myself wide awake in the wee hours of the morning.  I'm not talking that, wake up to go to the restroom and pass back out awake.  I mean the bright eyed, bushy tailed, can't get comfortable, not even yawning type of awake.  I haven't quite figured out what it is that God is trying to get from me or to me but I'm available.  I have spent these nights in worship and meditation.  I don't know about you;  but I discovered that there's something special about seeking God early in the morning (aka late at night).  I used to struggle, I MEAN REALLY STRUGGLE, with 5am prayer.  I would always want to go then I would calculate... "ok i have to be there at 5, which means I would have to get up by at least 4 to shower and be dressed, then it'll be over around 6:30-7.. what am I going to do for two hours before school starts? I can't go back home and go to sleep, I can't go to anybody's  house...

So I've been thinking about doing a post on dating and relationships for a while now but there's just so much to say I couldn't figure out where to begin... until I started a Bible study series on the book of Proverbs (one of my favorite chin check in the spirit books).  There's so much wisdom, knowledge and just flat out common sense in this book that it's crazy.  If you haven't read it, studied, and applied it, I highly suggest you start today.  It talks about life, how we treat one another, our neighbors, relationships, business, how to carry yourself, everything really.   But back to what I was saying.. I didn't know where to start until I started this study series.  As I prepared the lesson for week one covering chapters 1-5, I paused at the continued warning about the people you choose to connect yourself to.  Especially the warnings about strange women and harlots.   Not because I plan on doing so, but what the word was saying a...

It's mighty dusty around these parts and I have some cleaning to do!  let me brush off the cobwebs by saying... I'm Back!!  I sometimes take a break from writing because I try to be careful with what I release and share with others.  My blog is From the Abundance for a reason.  I set out to share what was in my heart, and truth be told, my heart isn't always right. Sometimes I get attacked, I get angry, discouraged, bitter, depressed, sad, grieved, and sometimes down right disgusted.... BUT I DON'T STAY THERE! None of those are things I want to share with the people of God.  Out of the abundance of the heart, meaning whatever there's the most of in your heart, the mouth speaks...  UH OH, some of us are in big trouble right now!  I'm real enough to say all of the things I just said without fear or worry of being looked at strangely, whispered about, or just flat out talked about.  I've come to a place in God where I have to be real with Him at ...

    Sometimes the hardest thing in the world is to wait on the promise of God!  Especially when He's given you a sneak peak of the manifestation.  You've seen yourself owning your own business, happily married, on a vacation, living abroad, giving away a house to a needy family, or serving meals from your own homeless facility.  Whatever it is that God has shown you, usually the hardest part is waiting. I can't speak for anybody else, but God shows me the most amazing glimpses into my future, usually while sleeping, and I can't help but want to press fast forward and get there.  I keep a dream journal beside my bed so that I can write, draw, doodle and capture what I've seen.  (If you're not already dong this, you should definitely start tonight!)  Most people forget the dream a few minutes after waking up, especially the details.  I try to write down ever detail that I remember. EVERY ONE, no matter how big or small, everything po...

I saw a post on a friend's facebook page that was beautiful.  I'm a sucker for love and romance.  What can I say??  I love, love, love.... LOVE!    The post was about her husband and she said,  "... his touch on my skin is like the first rains in the Serengeti desert.... His voice settles like the the most magnificent yet softest sunset in my spirit...." I said wow, that's beautiful and truly a blessing.  It's amazing to have someone love you like that and to still feel that way after years and years.  God did that thing right there!!  I saw this post early in the week but something about it just stuck with me throughout the week and even until now.   Saturday I was having one of those "in my feelings/in my head" days and just could NOT turn my thoughts off for anything.  They were screaming louder than party-goers trying to get beads at Mardi Gras.  I went to bed trying to pray, frustrated, sad, irritated, but at the ...

So I've been absent from my blog for about a month now and I truly do apologize for those of you who read regularly.  Thank you for thinking what I write about it important enough to read and share.It was not my intention to be away for so long, and I did have some post finished that I was ready to share but I soon learned those posts were just for me.  Sometimes I write something I think I'll be sharing with you guys and God just won't let me share at the time... So to that end let me tell you what's been going on and why I haven't been posting anything... and I pray this helps somebody else stay in the race and press on Some of you know and some do not, but a few months ago I made a huge leap and left my church.  Before you even ask...I didn't just leave because I felt like it. lol  The decision really wasn't even mine, the act of obedience was the requirement.  Nevertheless... I left.  This wasn't just my church home, it was the place where I had g...

There's a lot of talk about being transparent and real and what not these days in the kingdom but a lot of people are more like a stained glass mosaic than truly transparent... they let you see through the areas they want you to but hide most of the truth.  Well today let me help somebody out by being real  transparent... I'm 33, I have two degrees ( a B.S. in Apparel Design & Merchandising and A Master of Social Work), I live alone, pay my own bills (with the Lord's help), I'm gifted, talented and anointed to do a lot of things.  I have great friends, a wonderful family and a pretty decent boyfriend.  I have a small image consulting business on the side, I'm building a ministry and I'm writing blogs, books, and several other things...I'm usually a pretty upbeat and positive person.... People usually tend to think I have it all together, ask me how I do it, how I did this and that or whatever The thing is... I'm extremely frustrated, ...

So today is the first day of Summer and I don't know about anybody else, but I feel great!  I'm a few days closer to moving and a few steps closer to releasing some of this purpose.  I don't know what it is about summer that just makes me happy.. It's hot and humid and my hair is usually a frizzball but I love it nonetheless. There's nothing like sunshine and warmth on your skin, a good BBQ or  picnic, a popsicle, and swimming pool! The only thing that can make it better is a gallon or two of Chic-fil-A lemonade that's ice cold... Now that's the business!! Today as the seasons officially change I just wanted to take time to remind somebody that even though the season has changed, God has not changed His mind about you.  His promises haven't changed, the plans He has for your life haven't changed, His love hasn't changed, and neither have His grace, mercy, or willingness to forgive. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. H...

I had an ah ha moment yesterday while I was out taking one of my clients to get her monthly commodities.  The line is always super long so I usually let her out at the door and find a parking space.  As I was letting my client out of the car someone knocked on my window.  To my surprise, I turned to see my cousin Joe standing there with a huge smile on his face.  He calls me Dah Ha (don't ask me why, but he has since I was little).  So I roll down the window and he's asking me about getting my Master's Degree, work, ministry and a bunch of other stuff.  He says "well Dr. Dah Ha you're just everything aren't you?  Getting my masters.. oh no that wasn't hard, it was just a test... That's that genius stuff" I just laughed and went to park the car.  When I cam back I sat on the steps of the church waiting for my client and my cousin came back to talk to me some more. This time he was asking me about the details of what I'm working on, what I...