From the Abundance

  I have a habit of collecting spiral bound notebooks.  I don't collect them because I just love paper, but because I use them to write important information.  I always use one to write my church notes and I have another I keep near my bed specifically for recording dreams.  I have another one that I  use for ministry ideas and brainstorming and one that I write sermons in.  These little notebooks that line my self are my lighthouses... When I get in dark places, moments of doubt, insecurity, wavering faith, or even just flat out weariness.. I can go back to these notebooks and get reminders of what God has spoken to me through the years.  I can see things He's shown me in dreams and visions that haven't manifested yet. Just like real lighthouses, these little notebooks and the treasures in them shed light on subjects and seasons of my life.  When I need direction, I can go back and flip the pages to see what God has spoken about specific pray...

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...

Yesterday I went to the beach for what was supposed to be a short meeting and an interview for an online show, So What's The Problem.  We ended up staying at the beach for almost 5 hours.  It was such an amazing blessing and was much needed.  Sometimes you never realize how much you need something until you have it.  We had our meeting, did the interviews, frolicked in the water and talked about a thousand things.  I am so thankful for my new Daytona Beach family away from home. While they were out playing in  the water I took some time to walk and pray, like I usually do when I'm at the beach.  There's just something majestic about standing at the ocean.  You realize how small you really are in the scheme of God's vast creation, yet see the beauty in the fact that He knows the number of hairs on your head and bottles your tears.  It amazes me every time!  I am constantly in awe of God , his creativity, and love for us. Yesterday a...

Have you ever grieved for something that you haven't lost?  I bet you have and didn't even realize it.  I went to the movies tonight to see Me Before You and I cried my little eyes out.  It was such a great movie!  I laughed, I cried, I reflected on my own life and things I often take for granted, and I left with questions.  As I left the theater I sat on a bench and talked on the phone with a dear friend about old times and the neighborhood we grew up in. We talked about the changes, things in our lives that have changed, some things we'd hoped would have turned out other ways and things we aspire to have.  His voice became a little sad as he talked about not being able to see his daughter and how everyone around him seemed to be celebrating graduations and birthdays.  I reminded him that he wasn't alone in longing for those celebrations and someone to share them with.  I have the same issue with everyone around me celebrating births. engagem...

I know I usually blog and try to give you guys great content on Tuesdays and Thursdays but today is a very special day!  My first writing baby was published and made available for sale!! I am so nervous and excited all at the same time! So don't mind me if this isn't my best blog.  This is just the beginning of my published works.. I have a lot more on the way in various formats, for different ages and tons of topics.  So be on the look out. Simple Sayings By Chaconna Downs Now let me do what I came to do... Encourage someone! This book along with many of the others I've been working on have been in progress for years.. and I do mean YEARS.. The next book I plan to publish has been a work in progress for at least 5 years and I've scrapped it and started over at least 8 times. Sometimes getting your thoughts out on paper isn't an easy task. It's like stripping in front of a bunch of people or baring your soul to strangers. You have so m...

When I moved to Florida I moved here with the knowledge that I was called to this area and region.  When I gave God my yes I told Him I would go wherever He sent me, so here I am. A lot of people freak out at the thought of packing up and leaving everything behind.  The thing is, it's different when you leave everything behind to follow Jesus. I can't say that this journey has been difficult physically, but emotionally it hasn't been the easiest.  I miss my family and friends, I miss the things that I associate with home, and I miss that sense of knowing that comes with being in your comfort zone. That leads me to the first step in the journey to promise... getting out of your comfort zone.  Sometimes you step out on your own, other times God kicks you out and then there are the times you go kicking and screaming.  Fortunately, I stepped out without being dragged or prodded.  I've never had a problem with taking leaps of faith.  I leap first an...

So I'm all settled into my new place and I'm beginning my job search.  I haven't looked for a job since Graduating from Asbury in 2012.  I loved my job and needed the two years of experience that everyone expects you to have, but no one is willing to give you a chance to earn.  I know somebody else is on this journey with me so I jut had to share some of the things that I've been experiencing. Since I moved to a new state the licensing system is completely different, the way supervision hours is handled is completely different and I find myself in foreign lands when it comes to navigating through some of these things.  No worries though, I've always been good with maps and directions!  As I sat down to begin my job search I realized I was looking for a job in an area where I was kind of rusty.  I truly believe that Social Work is my outside the walls call to ministry and that I have everything I need to be successful already ingrained in my DNA. ...

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...

  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...

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...

Dear Pastor Chaconna, In lieu of coming to you directly I wanted to take this opportunity to offer you a few friendly reminders for your call and appointment.  First let me start by saying, I know it's not the easiest thing in the world to walk in the calling that God has placed on your life.  I know you had plans and things you wanted to do with your life and probably even some dreams and goals you'd set for yourself as a young girl.  Nevertheless you chose to answer God's call.  I can't say that everything will be peaches and cream, heck you may not even see any of those hopes and dreams you had for yourself come to pass, but know this... the plan (Jeremiah 29:11) He lined up for you is greater than anything you could have imagined. You'll have to compromise much of what you thought was normal and completely switch your way of thinking... church to kingdom... I know it's crazy but you'll never get it right until you can do this.  Trying to figure ou...

Since everyone has decided to jump on this bandwagon of 30 Days of Thanks for November I decided to do something a little different.  So I'm going to give you my list but with a twist... it's things I haven't always been thankful for (in no particular order of importance, just as they come to me).  So here goes.. 1.  I haven't always been thankful for my intelligence.  I know that may seem arrogant or strange but let me tell you why... when I was in Kindergarten we were placed in reading groups.  The groups were identified by the color of yarn necklace we wore.  Mine was ALWAYS green and I never knew why.  I HATED that green yarn necklace.  I wanted to have different colors like everybody else and to change colors like my friends.  One day I cried and cried because my necklace was always green and FINALLY my teacher explained to me that it was a good thing to have a green necklace because it meant that I was a good reader. 2. My crazy ...

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...

Alright folks this is just a quick post to support my awesome brother in Christ and the ministry God has poured out through him... it's his first EP and guess what.... it's FREE! That's right, he's blessing the people freely as God has blessed him.. BUT!say  BUT.. that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to sow into his ministry.  This is authentic, God given and inspired music ministry at it's finest...  So please check it out, download it, share the link with your friends and sow into this Man of God's ministry!!  DOWNLOAD IT HERE!!!

                                     Several years ago when I started blogging I had no Idea I would still be blogging 10+ years later.  Although the address and the platform have changed, my love for writing has only grown.  I am so blessed and amazed every time I sit down to write.  I'll be honest and admit that I got a little discouraged when I was writing and writing and noticed that nobody was responding or commenting but then the strangest thing started happening.... I would run into one of my mom's friends or a person I met on Facebook telling me something about what they had read on my blog.  I said wow, people are reading!  So I said ok, maybe the comments don't matter so much as long as someone is reading and the seeds are being planted. A few months later I was fooling around in the control panel of the blog and saw the stats section.  So being the ...

Every now and then, an artist needs a blank canvas.  Sometimes that blank canvas comes out of a fresh package, other times it's made by hand, and even still there are times when a blank canvas is created by sanding and painting over an old canvas with Gesso.  Well... this is where I am right now.. God is sanding me and has begun painting over the old painting to create something new. There are times in life when everything around us seems to come crashing down around us and everything we knew to be true is ashes.  The good thing about that is God already said He would give us beauty for our ashes (Isaiah 61:3) . The process of reworking a canvas amazes me but also expresses exactly where I am right now.  Imagine this... you're a canvas that's had a picture drawn on it and as you've walked through life that drawing has been filled with color and texture... brush strokes, flicks of the artists brush, scrapes of a painter's knife, and even some thinn...

                    Lately I've been having dreams about prison and jail but I know for sure that they have nothing to do with a natural jail or prison.  The thing about spiritual bondage is the fact that it can have so many faces, facets and sources.  Think of those pretty winding topiary bushes that form animals, zig zag shapes, words, or even people.  On the surface they look like one big bush or tree, but in reality they can have several sets of roots that end up growing together to create the fullness of the bush.  The same thing happens with spiritual bondage.  I can't say that all bondage is of the devil and all imprisonment is ungodly because Paul declared himself a bond-servant of Christ. First let's look at what bondage means: 1.  slavery   or   involuntary   servitude;   serfdom. 2. the   state   of   being   bound   by   or   subj...