From the Abundance

Photo by  ANDRIK LANGFIELD PETRIDES  on  Unsplash I do a post every year for my birthday reflecting on the things I've learned, what I hope for moving forward, and just where I am in life.  This year I had a different kind of birthday so I wrote a different kind of post.  Hope it still blesses somebody!  Sometimes when you're wired to give and pour out and nurture others you can feel invisible.  Most days I spend my day taking care of other people, helping families, and  keeping children from being removed from their families.  I take crisis calls, ims, and emails all day and try to be a listening ear for friends and family when needed.  Sometimes I feel like I've disappeared and all people see is the gifts, the talents, the benefit of having me around. I love that I can be and do all of those things but at times I feel like screaming , "Hey I'm human too ya know!"   "I need someone to support and encourage me."  "It ...

One of my favorite ways to encourage myself when I'm down is to find a song that speaks to my heart, stirs my soul and lifts my spirits.  One of those is the Corinthian Song by Micah Stampley.  The song is based on the scriptures in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" Let's be honest, life is rough sometimes and when everything around you comes crashing down all at once it can certainly get the best of you.  Sometimes you gt discouraged, your faith wavers, you feel uncertain, you lose hope, or just get down right disgusted. In this letter to the Corinthians Paul was offering encouragement during times of uncertainty.  He told them look... I know we're troubled on every side but we're not crushed... we're uncertain but not in despair, we're being persecuted right now but God hasn't left us or forgotten us,...

  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...

I saw this post on Instagram and had to steal the picture because it was the exact sentiments of where I am right now.  2016 has been a season of transition in every area of my life and I have truly embodied the sentiments of this picture. When I moved to Florida I walked away from everything familiar and had no idea what I would be walking into... I just obeyed God and came. I knew I was leaving behind my family and friends, my home, my favorite places and things, but I didn't know I would be leaving behind me.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm still me, but the me that I assumed I was got left behind.  That me was the one that was pieced together with everyone else's expectations, goals, aspirations, hopes, dreams, and ideals for and of me.  Not the ones I'd created for myself or the ones God had given me in dreams and visions.  I'd always assumed I wanted certain things and wanted them a certain way but I quickly learned that sometimes the very thing we ...

Over the weekend I did my usual #Saturdayscopes and invited my friend to share a story of her current dating chronicles.  There were several live viewers, a few replay viewers and I thought it went well.  Later that evening I called my mom about something totally unrelated and she quickly expressed her disapproval of my conduct during my #Saturdayscopes.  She told me I was unprofessional and unbecoming of a minister and that I needed to do better.  She admonished me for eating on camera and laughing to the point that I was choked up.  I chose not to respond and told her that I was not going to have this discussion with her at that time.  I was in physical pain, my patience was lo and I wasn't in the mood for arguments. Now don't get me wrong, I agree that I should not have been eating on camera.  I hadn't been up until the point that I flipped the camera back around and took one bite of the donut.  I immediately realized my mistake and put t...

There's a time in everyone's life where you feel like you've failed God.  It may be in word, deed, thoughts, a broken vow... lots of things. The great thing bout God is, He won't let you stay there.  Even when you have utterly failed Him, intentionally failed Him, repeatedly failed Him, or combined all three and EPICALLY FAILED Him.. He won't let you stay there. He has this amazing way of letting you know that He still needs you, still wants you, and still chooses you.   Not to say that you might not get a spanking first, but He always picks you up and lets you know that you're still His beloved.  There are countless times when we will make mistakes, make the wrong decisions, move out of God's timing or will, or just flat out be in flesh and sin. God already knows.  He knew before we were even formed in out mother's womb.  He factored all of that in when He declared our end from the beginning.  I'm so grateful that God's mind is greate...

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...

This past weekend the church I've been attending was in revival and My God was it an amazing time in the Lord.  The atmosphere of sheer expectancy was breathtaking.  I love being in a place full of believers hungry for more of God!  There's something spectacular about being under the downpour of heaven. Sitting in that room filled with hundreds of believers anticipating the infilling and downpour of the Holy Spirit gave me a small glimpse of what the Day of Pentecost must have been like. Imagine being surrounded by a room full of people only there for one thing... the Holy Spirit! This revival was unlike any I've ever been a part of.  Not because the service was so different or the songs were special or even the preachers.  They were all great.  The thing that was different was me.  Each service I went in expecting God to show up and move like never before.  I expected miracles, signs, and wonders.  I expected somebody to be healed, deli...

I've been in Daytona Beach for three months now and it's beginning to feel more like home.  I've made a few friends, found a couple of places where I can go and get good word and have great encounters with God, gotten involved in some thing to help with my writing and have tackled the first round of job interviews.  I'm not worried about a job or making money because I know that will come.  God taught me how to wholly lean on Him for everything I need. Last week I sent out my weekly message that encouraged us not to trade our deadlines for God's timeline.  It's something that I remind myself of constantly. That reminder came again over the weekend.  If you know me, you know that I've always loved everything artistic and creative.  One of my dreams has always been to have my own line of merchandise; clothing, accessories, interior decor items and the whole nine. I was offered the opportunity to join the design team for an online retailer.  At first ...

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day in the library, working and writing.  I needed a quiet place that wasn't my house.  I finished up there and ran to the store to grab a couple of things I'd forgotten the previous day.  On the way out I had the opportunity to talk with a homeless man. He was sitting on the ground eating breakfast (by this time it was late afternoon) he'd gotten out of the dumpster at steak and shake.  He asked me if I had $.47 so he could get a drink. I gave him all the cash I had in my purse, it wasn't much but I was glad I had some cash to give. I stood and talked with him and offered him some of the snacks I had in my my hand  but he didn't want to take  anything away from me. I told him I didn't mind sharing and it would be my pleasure but he told me he was diabetic.  It touched me in such an incredible way that someone with nothing was worried about me not having enough.  I asked his name and if I could pray wit...

Last week was a crazy week for me.  It was productive and full of things to do , but also very emotional.  I've been applying for jobs, creating content for my store, visiting churches, trying to carve out my spot here in Daytona and do what God has for me to do.  I know that sounds like the normal things you do when you move but for someone who's used to going and doing, this idle time is killer.  Before I came I went to visit my hometown and the pastor there prophesied to me several times about this journey that God is taking me on.  He told me that what I've asked is a hard thing and because of it, I'm being tried but that God would fulfill His promises and nothing would fall to the ground. This is one reason I always carry a spiral notebook in church.  Anytime I receive a word of prophecy, word of wisdom or knowledge I like to be able to go back and review it, pray about it (especially the details), remind myself of God's confirmation, and encourage my...