On My Back Porch, coffee with my Father

Are You Missing Someone?

2011-12-31T21:47:00.006-05:00

For the past I don't know how many years now I've been estranged from my oldest child. The reason or fault isn't the issue here, but I do have something to share with anyone who is separated from someone they love.

Over the last 10 years I only saw my oldest child on the obligatory holidays and the occasional birthday. My youngest would go 2 or 3 years with out contact with me.

My heart would ache to see them. Even though I had relationships with my 2 middle children I missed the other two and longed for the day God would move on my behalf and bring us together.

Every year I would pray and claim household restoration, but nothing seemed to be happening. I know God is a restoring God, a healing God, a merciful God, I know it was not in His plan for me to be separated from them for ever.

At times I would grow impatient, I would cry, I would complain, I would be angry and jealous of those they chose to be with instead of me.

Last year started out the same as all the others, me claiming something that seemed impossible.

My oldest, her husband, my youngest son and his wife met for brunch on Mother's Day. I have learned to cherish the little time I got to spend with my oldest.

As we sat there eating she announced she was expecting twins in Nov., something in my heart came alive, I couldn't stop crying for joy. I didn't know if I would be a part of their lives, but I know the Holy Spirit was letting me know my wait was coming to an end.

I've been unemployed since March 09, completely unable to find a job. All this time I kept saying I didn't know what God had for me, but I knew He had the perfect job since I had to wait so long!

In July I was asked to be the "Granny Nanny" for the twins. Never in my wildest dreams would I have hoped to ask for this. The perfect job for me.

God, in His infinite wisdom, was answering my prayers from the last 10 years in His perfect time.

The boys were born in Aug., three days later the littlest one went to heaven. We will always miss him and he will always be a part of us.

When my daughter wasn't at the hospital with our precious survivor I was able to sit in his room and just be with him.

Now I am with her helping everyday.

God is restoring what the enemy had stolen from her and me.

Tonight I ran over and had New Year's Eve dinner with them and hung out for a little bit before coming back home to share this with you.

If you are reading this and missing someone please don't ever give up. God is a restoring God and He will restore back to you what the enemy has stolen.

Keep praying, keep fasting, keep believing no matter how many years it takes. Take it from me those years are well worth it when God moves suddenly and brings your loved one back to you.

If you are reading this and want me to stand with you in prayer for restoration leave me a message. I would consider it an honor to pray with you.

Blessings,

Wendy

It's Time to Play

2011-08-23T15:23:00.005-04:00

I realize some of you may look at this and start to hyper-ventilate, all you see it one big messy rug that needs to be cleaned up and made neat and orderly.

I admit there's a small part of me that gasps in awe at such destruction, but there's a bigger part of me that just overflows with love and gratefulness.

This mess belongs to my Grandson and me. We made every bit of it and had so much fun in the process.

I'm in no hurry to clean it up after he goes home, sometimes I just sit and look at it thinking about what we talked about, the hugs, the laughter that rang out in my otherwise quiet living room.

His presence in my home is so special to me. I am so honored that God in His infinite wisdom allowed me to be this amazing child's Grandma. The responsibility I feel toward this little one to teach him and just love him with total abandon is, at times, overwhelming.

I can remember a time when children's toys, messes, noise and such were something to get through. Like all Mother's I love my children desperately, however when your a Mom, Wife, Employee etc, etc, it's hard to stop and enjoy the mess.

Now I can't wait for Cole to get here so we can play! I do wish my other five Grandchildren were here for me to play with , but I just have to settle with looking at pictures of them and imagining the things we'd do if we were together.

Don't get me wrong there are boundaries, and he knows he has to listen to me, but for the most part we have a free for all of love and fun.

I can't help but think of God sitting there in heaven waiting for us to show up for our special time with Him. I think He's ready and waiting for us to spend time with him in conversation, singing, dancing, smelling flowers, laughing, just being with him and soaking up the abundance of love He has ready to pour out on us. I can see Him telling the Angels to hush and make room because one of His favorite people is approaching the throne.

So when no one is looking, look up to Him and do a little dance, smile, throw your arms up toward heaven and let Him love on you. After all He created you and your presence gives him pleasure.

Let Him love on you like the doting, loving Father He is. He doesn't see your flaws, to Him you are just the way He created you. Open up your heart and receive His abundance of love and acceptance and dance, dance, dance!!

Gotta go the cookies we made are done :)

Blessings,

Wendy

Ant Bite Analogy

2011-07-12T11:13:00.004-04:00

Last week I was weeding my back patio when I felt a burning sensation on my hand. I looked down to see one of my arch enemies, a tiny tiny reddish colored ant. As he was injecting his venom into my hand I could immediately feel my hand start to tingle and swell.

These little critters don't send me reaching for my epi-pen or grabbing the car keys so I can get to the hospital like the fire ant or bee stings, but they do their own brand of damage.

Brushing him off me, I headed inside leaving my project undone.

Once inside I went into my routine, make a paste with oatmeal and water to place on the bite area and grab two benadryl. Knowing the benadryl will "knock me out" I make sure I have the oatmeal paste on the bite and a cloth draped over the oatmeal in case it dries and starts to flake off before I lay down for a nap. Benadryl makes me so sleepy I know not to do anything but lay down after swallowing the little pink and white pills.

For the next few days the area is red and puffy, with a little white hard bump like a pimple and it itches like crazy. When I can't stand it any longer I take the tweezers, doing a mini surgery on myself, I open it up to get to the root of the bite and scratch. Not very adult of me but it feels so good when I'm scratching the area. Then I have to put an antibiotic cream on it because I've opened the wound area again and could cause more damage. I have little scars on my feet from previous battles with the dreaded little creatures.

This time while I was going through my ant bite routine I thought about how tiny this particular ant is and how much damage it does to my body. I know you see where I'm going with this......

And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.~ James 3:6

I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.~ Psalms 39:1

A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. ~ Proverbs 18:21

These are just a few of the scriptures warning us of the negative results of and unruly tongue.

The pain and devastation we can cause to others as well as ourselves by not controlling what we say can sometimes be damaging to the point of death.

Like those tiny ants injecting their venom into me, the words we speak over others can be poison to their soul.

It is our responsibility to choose our words carefully so what we say will bring life not death to ourselves and others.

Most people don't realize how powerful the little tiny sting of a word sent out in anger and frustration can be to another human being. Even if your attitude is "I'm just keeping it real" your reality may not be the reality of the person you are firing your words toward. You may be killing their hopes and dreams rather than being a vessel of life and hope.

It's not always what you say, but how you say it that can make the difference between life and death for someone, even yourself. Sometimes we have to discipline or instruct another, but it can still be done in a manner that makes them feel like there's hope not like they are a loser.

In business management training I learned to sandwich constructive criticism between two layers of praise.

I encourage anyone reading this to take a couple days and listen, really listen to the words you send out to others, and the words you speak about yourself. Make a mental, or on paper, list of the words that could be a poison dart being fired out into someones soul. Sometimes even "joking" around with someone can pierce their soul. Before you speak them, think, don't just blert out poison darts that you could avoid by thinking before you speak. If what you are about to speak is not God sent, or positive, or uplifting, or inspiring or in love just say no to your mouth and your brain. Retrain yourself to speak carefully and deliberately so your words bring life not death.

To quote my Mother who quoted the famous Disney character Thumper who quoted his Mother, "If you can't say nothin nice, don't say nothin at all."

Like those little ants that wreck so much havoc to my body, your words may seem harmless to you, but to someone else they may be the words that cause them to give up and feel hopeless.

Remember, we are going to have to give an account to God at some point for our actions, and our words are actions they are alive with power to kill or heal.

Keep your little part of the world a place where others feel safe and secure. Where they know they won't get bitten by anything that will cause them to feel less than what God created them to be.

We all need a place where we won't get bitten by the little ants of this world. Make you one of those places!

Blessings,

Wendy

This is the Day!

2011-06-28T11:13:00.005-04:00

I am a Grandma, I don't feel like my Grandmas looked, but none the less I am a Grandma. As I ponder my responsibility in this roll I have to look back on the mistakes I made as a Mother and realize this is my chance to "make it right".

We all make mistakes as parents and I believe God gives us grandchildren to give us an opportunity to "work off the guilt" so to speak.

I was not a perfect parent, I did the best I could considering my circumstances and mind sets at the time, but now I see so much more clearly, I am much stronger and am so grateful for the opportunity to influence my children's children in the ways of the Lord, and life!

I have the honor of picking my three year old Grandson Cole up from pre-school everyday. This is a God designed assignment that I in no way take lightly. Everyday for 2 hours I have the God given opportunity to influence him, to teach him,to play with him, to bond with him in a way no one else can.

My one regret at this time is I can't be with my other 5 grandchildren in the same way, they live out of state.

Everyday when we get in my car, before I start the drive to my house I ask Cole a series of questions. Did you have a good day? Did you take a nice nap? What did you learn? all this to lead up to the BIG question, Do you know what day today is?

Do YOU know what day today is???? This is a loaded question, one which Cole has learned the answer to and giggles as he gives the answer.

"This is the day" he giggles and waits for me to start singing "This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice, let us rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it."

I can hear him attempt to sing along with me in the back seat chiming in with an occasional word.

When I'm done I shout "Yay" then shout "Yay, God!!" I figure if he can hear people shouting for every and all sporting events he should hear the same shouting and enthusiasm for God.

He does his "Yay, God" with me, giggles and usually says, "Grandma, your so funny," and then we proceed to talk about trucks, cars, boats and other vehicles we pass on the road.

But for that moment, he is learning something so profound it will shape his mind sets for life. Something that a lot of adults don't grasp.

Some days he tells me he doesn't have a "Yay God" inside him. And I take the time to explain that no matter what happened or how we feel God has given us this day and everyone and everything, no matter what, is to have a "Yay God" inside them.

A report from his Mom the other week was he told her God made us this day. I can't even begin to tell you what that did to me! I definitely teared up. Through the fun he's learning.

There are days when I pick him up I don't feel like singing or shouting "Yay God", but those are the days when Grandma needs to sing and shout the most.

We all go through things on a regular basis. However our circumstances don't change WHO God is, or WHAT He's done for us. Circumstances will change, they are just blips on the radar of our lives. Some are bigger blips than others but they are blips.

God is God and for that reason alone we should be shouting His praise continually.

YAY GOD!!

Blessings,

Wendy

Unemployed? But God....

2011-02-03T10:29:00.005-05:00

We all know life is a journey with lots of twists and turns.

We all know we can plan for our future, but in reality have minimal control over the outcome of said future.

I love the saying, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

As I'm coming to the end of my unemployment benefits with no job in sight, not for the lack of trying, I find myself saying, "I know God has a plan for me" with tears welling up in my eyes. I find myself pulling those words up from somewhere deep inside me almost chocking on them. Not just a surface, glib "Christianese" speak that we all are so familiar with, but a "speaking through the fear" declaration.

When I was first laid off I was excited, I couldn't wait to see what God was going to do with me. I just knew it was going to be amazing!!

Women's Bible Studies in my home, a patent on my day planner idea, ministering to abused and hurting women, the possibilities were endless!

Two years later, after many failed attempts to do odd jobs, thousands of applications, hours of networking and still no job, the excitement has worn off!

Oh, I still believe God has a plan for me and in His time it will be revealed. There is no question in my mind that those words are fact, but I have to be like David and work constantly to encourage myself.

We won't even go into the embarrassment factor here. I know everyone that looks at me is thinking what a loser! Well maybe not everyone, but that's how I can let myself feel at times.

I had a plan for my life and trust me I am no where near where I had planned on being at this point in my life!

Lately, I've been asking God for just a little sign that He really did know I was still here and what my situation was and this morning I read Prov. 3: 5&6.

"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

I thought I was trusting Him, but I can recount many attempts to manipulate situations to get a job. If I do this or that and speak to so and so and then this will happen, on and on and on.

As long as this nagging spirit of fear is tugging at my innards I know I'm not fully trusting in Him.

His word promises if I put ALL my trust in Him, and stop trying to analyze why I'm still out of work, acknowledge Him in every area of my life with everything that I do everyday, He will make my path straight.

He may not show me every little step, but my path will level out and His plan for me will be able to materialize.

This is not an easy task. We are taught to be self reliant, to make it happen, to be independent, etc., etc. so there's a lot of junk in the mind that has to be eliminated before we can truly say we trust the Lord at ALL times.

I'm not saying sit on the couch and do nothing. Work on eliminating fear by building total trust in the Lord through reading, studying, believing and acting on His word, and if "things" are stripped away your trust level will be increased. Realize that your gifts and talents are for Him to choreograph, not for your good pleasure but for His.

He doesn't want us poor and destitute, but He does want us to fully realize His ability to provide everything. He wants us to KNOW what we have is because HE has given it to us and what He allows to be taken away is to teach us total dependence on Him.

This may sound like whining to some, but I shared all this in hopes of encouraging anyone out there who is in a situation where they have little control.

Our job in all this is to learn to trust Him completely with everything and everyone in our lives, acknowledge He is who He says He is, and know He all ready has everything worked out for our benefit and His glory.

He does love us so and He will take care of us.

I know He who created the universe is well able to put me in the right job at the right time as long as I acknowledge Him with each job application, and tell everyone I know He is my provider, protector, strong tower.

Blessings,

Wendy, Princess Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

What Defines Me?

2011-01-04T10:51:00.004-05:00

I've been job hunting since March 09, YIKES!! Seeing it actually written down is a bit depressing and yet what a time of God showing off on my behalf!!

Yesterday I received a response to a prayer request that was put out by a dear friend of mine, Marsha of Marsha's Musings. His question was quite different from the normal questions you receive from people who are interested in helping in your job quest or current living situation.

He asked me to forward my resume to him so he could see where my giftings are.

Giftings, job?? Not even in close proximity as far as I'm concerned.

I explained to him my career path was the result of regular moves due to my ex husbands corporate advancement and had nothing to do with what I am "gifted" in.

Thinking back on all the jobs I've held over the past __ years there have only been a couple where I loved what I was doing and I felt good about myself while I was at work. Both of them were jobs where I was helping others.

The first was when I was in Mary Kay Cosmetics. As a Sales Director I found I liked nothing more that my Monday night "Sales Meetings". I had center stage and always managed to turn them into a time of motivation and encouragement.

Nothing thrilled me more that seeing women dig down deep and realize their self worth and inner beauty. Not because they were selling skin care but because I could somehow convey to them they were priceless jewels in God's eyes. I did everything but have an alter call and I loved it.

On the down side, I admit sometimes the drive to keep the pink car overshadowed my family life. And there were times when I chose career over family all the while telling myself I was doing it for them, realizing now what color car I drove was more for me than them!

But what I learned was I love speaking to groups, the larger the better, and if I could encourage someone to feel good about themselves, change their attitudes and draw closer to God I knew I was doing something positive for the Kingdom.

My second favorite job was with FEMA. After Katrina hit I was hired, as so many were, to go to Houston and help people with their claims, finding housing, medical care,etc. We could even do searches to help find lost loved ones. Everyday I was part of a group of people who were truly making a difference. I hated the circumstances, but loved what I was doing.

My resume shows me as a retail manager. That piece of paper that I forward on to, or upload to a company site tells them nothing of me. Quite frankly I don't care what label you wear or what "color story" a particular vendor is trying to tell with their merchandising requirements. I do it because I can and because it pays or rather paid the bills.

So why have I said all this?

I guess it's because I want you to know your job resume doesn't define you. We are so obsessed by what do you do rather than who you are that we can totally miss the being God created because we are looking at or for the skills that create money to define you.

Next time you meet someone, rather than asking what do you do to get to know them ask them who are you, or ask if you could do anything at all with out limitations what is it you would be doing.

A job description doesn't define a person, their hopes and dreams buried deep within is what will tell you what kind of person you are facing.

After all Jesus was a carpenter, or was He?

A Sweet Fragrance

2010-11-12T14:05:00.004-05:00

My first bottle of Shalimar came from my Mother's best friend when I was in Jr. High. For you younger ones that would be middle school!

I was probably too young for such an extravagant gift but that's the way Aunt Charlotte was.

Immediately I loved the warm, sweet, spicy fragrance. Without discussing how many years, I've worn this fragrance off and on ever since.

When I make my bed I spray a little on my pillows, when I walk into my bedroom I am immediately greeted by a fragrance that puts a smile on my face and makes me feel like putting on a cashmere sweater and having a hot chocolate.

This fragrance warms my heart, works wonders with my body chemistry, brings back only pleasant memories, and makes me feel at home.

Isn't it funny how certain smells cause different reactions? Burned food, burning leaves (for those of you close to my age!), cut grass, rotten eggs, coffee, gas fumes from the truck in front of you, warm apple pie all of these smells and more cause us to react in some way.

In Eph. 5 the Word says, "Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Living a life of love, the kind of love Christ exhibited, causes a fragrant offering to rise to God's throne.

I'm not talking about the kind of Politically Correct love that says to accept all beliefs as equal and all paths lead to god, or let's circle the globe and have a bottle of coke.

I'm talking about the kind of love for others that will cause you to want to sacrifice some of your comforts to help someone in need.

What kind of need? All kinds of needs, a hug, helping someone move, a phone call, some clothes or food, a smile, a blanket, yard work, giving something of yours to benefit someone else.

I don't think God sits up there with a check list watching us go through life.

I think He's saying, "Smell that? I smell something wonderful. One of my children is releasing a fragrant sacrifice into my atmosphere and it's making me smile."

My take on heaven is a fragrance like Shalimar, baked cookies, apple pie, but better!

As I walk through this life I want God to smell me coming and going, not because I stink but because I am releasing a fragrant offering to Him.

Blessings,

Wendy, Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

What's in Your Cupboard??

2010-10-23T16:38:00.003-04:00

Monday evening I opened the cupboard that has my spices, tea, oil, etc. and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something move. I quickly did what most of us would do, I closed the cupboard and told myself I was seeing things, that it was just my imagination, and besides it was rather dark so what ever I saw I probably really didn't see.

Then I poured myself a glass of milk and went to bed.....

The next day I knew I couldn't ignore my sighting and I had to do something ASAP.

Thanks to the internet, I researched what to look for as "evidence" of a visitor in my cupboard. I grabbed my light and began to carefully open the doors one by one, starting furthest from the previous nights alleged sighting.

I saw little tiny black dots resembling sand hear and there. Not what I wanted to see....

Something or things, were lurking in my cupboard and were doing a good job of hiding from me. I was not about to have any visitors of the creepy kind so I went to work.

Methodically, I emptied each cupboard, illuminating it with as much light as I could to see what was hiding. I scrubbed it with bleach and sprayed with bug spray.

Each item in the cupboard was washed in HOT water and lots of soap and bleach. Not the contents of the spice containers, just the outside.

On the second shelf of the last cupboard there it was.... my enemy.....the very thing I thought I had under control simply because I couldn't see it or them.

I grabbed my bug spray and promptly drowned the little sucker. Then I had to dispose of the body, yuck and yuck.

Needless to say that cupboard got an extra shot of bleach and disinfectant.

My situation was this, I got the roach but how many of his hundreds of relatives were residing behind my cupboard, or stove? I don't know, I can't see them. Short of ripping out my cupboards I may never know, ewwwww.

All cupboard doors remained open that night, bug spray handy and lights on.

The next day my son, who used to work for a pest control company came over, I made him inspect each shelf and every box containing food in my kitchen. After a few helpful tips he assured me I did everything I could and probably got the relatives while spraying in the cracks between the cupboards, stove, microwave, floor and ceiling.

I knew God wasn't going to let this experience go to waste, so here it is

Luke 8:17 tells us, "For ALL that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all." NLT

During this time, I had a couple "incidents" that caused things I thought were over to resurface. Things that were apparently buried so deep I thought they were gone and forgotten.

When the "light" of an event hit me in just the right, or wrong way, I realized that little thing had not completely gone away but just hid down deep behind all the good things in me so I wouldn't know it was still in me.

That sounded familiar. My son explained the roaches like to be in areas where there's a lot of stuff so they can feel something on each side of them. This makes them feel secure and they can go to sleep.

Sometimes we intentionally conceal things and somethings we have things so deep with in us we don't even know they are there till something happens and we are shocked at our response.

The more we allow God's light to shine deep with in us and allow His light to bring hidden things to the surface and bleach them clean the more space we have in us for His Holy Spirit.

The more we are filled with His Holy Spirit through the light of the Word the less room we have for those pesky little critters that are destroying us from deep within.

So that's my little story.

We have to always be willing for God to shine His light deep within us to expose what's concealed that's not of Him.

Then we must be willing to let Him cleanse us so we have more room for Him.

Keep your lights on!!

Blessings,

Wendy Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Into the Light

2010-10-15T11:00:00.004-04:00

I was watching the rescue of the miners in Chile along with millions of my closest friends, completely awestruck by the enormity of this event. After 69 days under ground these men, one by one, were being lifted out of their dark captor into the light and freedom of the above ground world.

As each miner made the choice to get into the capsule and be lifted up, I was filled with emotion. Every rescue brought a tear to my eye knowing those waiting on the surface would be reunited with their loved ones.

Watching husbands and wives, fathers and children being reunited with an opportunity to forever "upgrade" what ever kind of relationship they had prior to the accident filled me with joy.

While this was going on, one family's reunion moved me to uncontrollable sobs. It was a Mother standing there, waiting for her son to be lifted out of his temporary world of darkness into the saving light and fresh air of the surface. I could only imagine how her heart pounded watching, waiting, knowing any minute her son would be safe in her arms. I tried to put myself in her place wondering how many hours this Mother spent on her knees during the days of her son's life in darkness, how many tears were shed as she cried out to God for her sons rescue.

God spoke to me very clearly during this specific reunion.

He showed me each believer has family trapped in a world of darkness, and at any moment they could be swallowed up, lost forever. Or they could be lifted out of their darkness, provided they choose to get into the capsule and take the ride to the surface.

As believers we are given a promise from God, and I happen to be one of those who believe God will never default on a promise.

In Acts 16:31 He promises us if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we would be saved, not just us but our household. To me, this is one of the most exciting promises in my Bible.

By holding fast to my salvation, believing in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, my God will save my entire household. That's my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren and all the kids who have lived under my roof. That is exciting!

I have the God given right to stand on this promise for the salvation of ALL of my household.

I have the God given right, based on this promise to call my household saved no matter how things appear.

I have the God given right to battle in the spirit for each person that has been placed in my family and my extended family.

I have the God given right to call them out of the darkness into His light.

Not only do I have the right, it's my job, my responsibility to stand in the gap for each person God has given me to care for.

Like the Mother standing there waiting for her son to emerge from the depths of the darkness he was captive to, I stand waiting expectantly for each member of my household to come to the end of their own entombment.

I stand waiting, believing God will make good on His promise.

If you are saved and are waiting on loved ones to see the light, don't worry, be happy!! God has promised you their salvation all you have to do is believe.

If you are not saved yet and you are reading this, it is your responsibility to accept Jesus death on the cross as payment for all your sins so your household can begin to come into order and receive the gift of eternal life with Him. It's not hard to turn your household around, it starts with a simple decision by you, just tell God you receive His gift of forgiveness and mercy and the process will begin.

Those of us on the "surface" must stand, waiting for our loved ones to get into that capsule of Jesus Christ and begin their ride into the light and fresh air.

I will stand with you for the salvation of your household, and I would appreciate your standing with me for the salvation of my entire household.

Blessings,

Wendy, Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Have You Come to a Detour?

2010-09-17T14:14:00.004-04:00

Have you ever gotten to a certain point in your life and wondered,

how on earth did I get here? What happened that caused me to arrive at this point?

This isn't where I was going. I was heading in a different

direction. This is not how my life was supposed be.

In some areas of my life I can look back and know the exact moment I was cut off and ended up on another path. At the time, the incident seemed less than significant, but that one little bump ended up taking me completely off track. It took me down a foreign road that I or my children were never meant to travel.

You see, when you are a parent, your children must go down that dark road with you. My heart aches now to look back at my travels knowing no matter how I tried to see my way clear, I was in darkness and thus so were my precious children.

In other areas, as hard as I try I can't figure out how I got off track or when the detour started, I just know something went wrong somewhere in my travel through life. Was it a harsh word, or look from someone I looked up to, or perhaps something one of my parents said over me as a child that put a harness of slavery on me? As hard as it is, I have to realize I may never know the real root of my detour. I just have to accept here I am, now what am I going to do?

I fully believe all my twists and turns come as no surprise to God. After all, He created me and His love for me has been constant, even when I was running my race on the wrong track.

He has always steered me back on course. Sometimes gently, lovingly and sometimes jerking me up ripping me out of a situation causing, oh, so much pain. But I understand had He not used force at times I would have kept blindly feeling my way down a dark and dangerous pathway never intended for me or my children.

I also believe we each come to a detour sign in our lives and are forced into making a choice. We can ignore it and plow ahead forcing our way down that same path to certain death, or we can choose to make the turn that saves our life and the lives of our children.

Choosing to turn with the detour can sometimes be the hardest act of obedience ever. We have to deal with our pride, our fears, our guilt, our shame, this list goes on and on. In dealing with each of our issues one by one, as we take the detour God has arranged for us, we begin to see a restoration of our life back to the original purpose God has for us. Generally not overnight, but in time. God's time.

In Galatians 5:1&2, Paul writes, "Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your Stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered."

Later in vs. 7 he writes, " You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race..."

I don't know about you, but I do not ever want to squander the Blood of Christ again. I want to stay alert and stand strong keeping my eyes open watching for anything that is trying to deflect me from my true course of obedience.

Sound paranoid? You bet, I don't ever want to go down that road of darkness again. If I let my guard down for one instant something will try to knock me off my path.

My only words of advice are put on God's armor everyday, stand on guard, and pass me some coffee so I can stay alert!

Blessings,

Wendy, Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

God Speaks, even when there's nothing said

2010-09-07T11:55:00.007-04:00

Job 16:20 says, " My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God." NIV

Several years ago at a Woman's Meeting the alter was opened up for us to seek God, pray, what ever was needed. I went up secretly hoping for a word from God through the lady who had spoken to us that morning, I have to say I was totally taken off guard by what happened to me there in His presence.

I fell on my knees praying and deep, deep, deep from inside me I started to cry. Memories of my past kept flooding in and all I could do was cry, cry, cry. Not just whimper, or the sophisticated quiet tear rolling down one cheek that causes others to say, "Oh, what strength". No, not me I was sobbing uncontrollably, loud, tears, snot the whole ball of wax.

Part of me kept saying, "Pull it together, girl you are embarrassing me in front of all these ladies" but I just couldn't. The second I thought I was about to regain my composure it would start all over again. I couldn't control it, I felt like my insides were coming out and to a certain extent they were.

All the "stuff" from that part of my life that was less than stellar, that part that still tries to creep in to cause shame and guilt, that part that destroyed my relationship with my children, that part that makes up my testimony was playing before me like a movie that I couldn't shut off. It just wouldn't stop. I had no control, and I was getting pretty upset with myself for the embarrassing display. I remember the lady coming near me, and I was thinking, "finally, a word from God and I can put myself back together." She walked right past me, I knew she knew I was there in a little heap at the alter, anyone with in ear shot knew I was there.

I was totally discheveled, makeup running down dripping off my chin, hair matted from sweat, thank God I had slacks on. You get the picture.....

OK, I've said all that to say this.

There was a lady, a matriarch in the church. You know the one, she's what we aspire to be when we grow up. Her parents were missionaries, she has a Godly presence about her, frail in appearance probably in her 70's or early 80's, and yet mighty in the Spirit. I'm sure anyone reading this knows her or someone like her.

She came and sat down beside me on the floor, which I knew at the time had to be painful for her.

During all this mess, when most of us would have been tempted to start a deliverance and cast out a few of the demons who were torturing me, or try to get me to talk about what was going on, or at the very least grab some oil and start praying in tongues she did none of the above.

In her wisdom, maturity and compassion she just sat there handing me tissues. Occasionally she would rub my back, but for the most part of this ordeal she just sat there next to me, on the floor quietly not saying a word. It was like she was protecting me, possibly she was. Maybe she was the reason no one else came over and tried to "minister" to me. She just sat there and let me get it all out till there was nothing left.

I can't describe what her presence was like for me, but this scripture in Job, "My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God." Comes to life every time I remember that morning.

She was quietly interceding on my behalf, handing me tissue after tissue sitting next to me on the floor just being there, allowing me to pour out my tears to God.

When ever I am in a place where someone is in distress I remember that morning, and I know sometimes the best way to be a friend is just be there. I get so tempted to share my experiences, to give scripture, to anoint with oil to "minister" in some way, to do do do, talk talk talk. I thank God for the Woman of God who taught me sometimes quietly being there for someone is the best ministry we can offer.

I will never forget what Miss Amy did for me that day, I will never forget the lesson I learned from her.

Perhaps that lesson was the Word from the Lord He wanted me to have that day!

Blessings,

Wendy, Princess

Daughter of the King

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty!

No Hope? Here's Some of Mine!

2010-07-08T11:19:00.006-04:00

In our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us. 2 Cor.1:9

I usually tend to shy away from Paul's writing because to me, he rambles. Now before you decide to have a deliverance session for me let me explain.

Having the tendency to ramble on myself, I can relate to his wordings. But many times I find myself at the end of a sentence forgetting what the beginning was about and I lose the whole thought.

This thought of his really makes sense to me, let me explain.

Many times through out the years I've felt the grip of panic and fear, the darkness of feeling alone, and the inability to breath. The overwhelming feeling that everything is spinning out of control and I surely won't make it another day without some kind of relief.

To me the sentence of death isn't just about dieing a physical death, it's about being in a place of no hope. You feel alone and there is nothing anyone can do to turn the page, so to speak. You just have to sit there in the dark and wait praying for something, anything to happen to get you through this situation.

My old way of handling these moments or days or weeks was to go into a total panic, cry uncontrollably, and hide in a corner out of shear terror of what was to become of me. Not much hope, very little faith.

As I've grown closer to God I'm able to look on these momentary setbacks and know, in time, the sun will shine because none of my situation at hand is a surprise to God. He knew it was coming, He knew it wasn't going to kill me, and He all ready had a plan for my salvation from whatever situation I currently found myself.

During these times of certain "death" I find myself recouping my composure much more quickly than I once did. I find myself reminding God about all the past messes He's seen me through and that, since I am one of His favorite daughters, I just know He has the Master plan to raise me from the "dead" yet again.

No matter what "death scene" I'm experiencing at the moment, I've learned through experience, my loving faithful Father will once again reach down, pick me up and set me on my way. His track record is impeccable, He is always there working in the background on my behalf. And through each scary trial my faith in Him grows.

So now, when the "goblins" come to attack, I refer back to the many times I was rescued and "raised from the dead" and they don't seem so big and scary.

When we are faithful to seek God, He allows us to find Him, He's ever ready to extend His hand of life to us in our most dire situations.

If you are going through a period of "sure death" with unemployment, divorce, betrayal, foreclosure, disease, flood, draught or what ever other plague or plagues are beating your door down, seek Him, cry out to Him and in time you'll be able to breathe again.

Nothing you are going through is a surprise to Him. He all ready has your victory planned out. He just needs you to reach out to Him in faith knowing He'll do what He does best. Then stand on the fact that He will do it. He'll come through, I promise. Maybe not the way or in the time frame you would envision, but His ways are not our ways. Trust me on this, His ways are sooooo much better!

There are so many other scriptures about God being our protector, but I choose to close with this one. After all it is my blog!

"Because she loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue her; I will protect her, for she acknowledges My name." Ps. 91:14 Yours doesn't say she??? Why not try inserting your name to give this an added bit of reality.

Blessings,

Wendy

Princess

Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Learning Pride in America

2010-07-04T13:38:00.003-04:00

My Dad fought in the 103 Armored Division during WWII. He was a Staff Sargent at the time and was in Africa, Italy, France (I think) and Germany.

He had fully intended on staying in the army after the war, but told me they started sending new C.O's over with only a college education and no battle time what so ever. He couldn't see taking orders from some one who only had "book-learning" and no actual experience so he left the Army when his time was up when the war ended.

He always wanted to go back to the places he served in during the war. He especially loved Italy, perhaps it was the wine! But, as life would have it he never made it back.

I can remember going to all the parades in Canton, Ohio on Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Independence Day. When I was little he would hoist me onto his shoulders so I could see. Him being 5'6" that put me about eye level with the crowd. But to me he was a very tall man.

As I watched him, my love for this Country developed. Nothing I learned in school taught me the value of our freedom or the ultimate price our Military Personnel are willing to pay.

It wasn't always his words, although he he had many and was willing to use them, it was his body language, his actions that showed me how much it means to be a Citizen of the Greatest Country God ever allowed be created. As the Flag would pass by, I could feel him stand at Attention out of love and respect. As I got older I could see him tear up, these were important lessons for me to learn at a young age.

When flag burning became the acceptable form of protest, I couldn't even imagine someone doing that to something that meant so much. Not that it was the cloth, but what that piece of cloth stood for.

After 9-11 he had our dear family friend and my Sister by choice, Darlene hang a full sized American Flag in his window at the nursing home. He wanted to make sure, if any of those B-----ds flew past his window they would know who was in that room!

He was, at the age of 90, totally ready to take up arms to defend this Country. I bet if someone had given him his gun he would have stood, or at that time in his life sat, guard and done it with as much passion as he fought the enemy during the war.

No book can teach that, no history lesson can instill that kind of passion for one's Country. Only by watching a little man by stature, yet a huge man by heart can you pick up on the value of being an American Citizen.

So on this Independence Day 2010, I would like to express my thanks to every man and woman who has served, who is serving and who is going to serve in the Military.

May God Bless you and God Bless America.

Let the Son Shine In

2010-06-28T13:30:00.004-04:00

I was doing some yard work last week, not a good idea in 95 degree heat with the sun beating down and a boat load of humidity in the air. But who says I always use practical thinking when I start a project?

As very little time went by I noticed something trickling down my back, forehead, and other places a lady wouldn't admit to. As nature would deem it, I was sweating, not glistening, not perspiring, I was wringing wet with yucky sweat.

The sun and heat caused my body's temperature to rise to a point where it took over and started it's own air conditioning system.

When we get too hot, in order to cool our temperature down to a livable setting, our body goes into action. The sweat our pores emit actually acts as a coolant for our body. As the minimal breeze hits our wet skin it causes the evaporation of the sweat to cool our temperature down, at this point hopefully the wise will seek shelter in the air conditioning.

In this sweat we emit, are toxins, impurities if you will, that need to be expelled from our bodies. Sweating has a two fold purpose, cooling the body and expelling toxins from our body. Pretty cool, huh?

When we are done with this process we need to re-hydrate our body in order for it to function properly. That's when the jug of water comes in handy. Water, pure filtered H2O to replenish what has left our body. If we don't drink enough water we become dehydrated and our body suffers dearly. We must fill'er up or we get sick, then other issues will take over and a trip to the doctor will be in order.

There are a lot of beverages we can drink, but only clean, pure water will really restore our bodies back to prime working order. Everything else is just a copy of the original.

In a nutshell, the sun heats up our bodies, our temperature rises, we sweat out the poison that has collected in our bodies, and we must replace the toxins with water.

Where is this leading you ask??

When the Son begins to shine in us, the pureness of His being burns out the impurities we've collected throughout our life time. The breeze from the Holy Spirit causes the impurities to evaporate, they are no longer a part of us. In order to keep the toxins from rebuilding we must fill ourselves with the Water of the Word or the toxins will re-enter our body.

Eph. 5:26, Cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.

John 7:37&38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.

Matthew 12: 43-45, When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven others spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there, And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.

Next time you're outside in the hot sun, let it be a reminder of what Jesus Son light can do for you. But make sure to wear a hat and drink plenty of Water!

Blessings,

Wendy

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Being Prepared

2010-06-18T13:44:00.004-04:00

I was reading in Timothy today and stumbled across an interesting statement, that so much shadows today's attitudes towards the Word that I had to share it with you.

In 2Timothy 4:2-4 Paul is telling Timothy the following, "Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

As I read this I couldn't help but think of all the news media, politicians, educators, pastors, students, writers, actors, musicians, well you get my drift, people in all walks of life who can't tolerate the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"They" have surrounded themselves with "intellects" who have twisted and desecrated the Word till it appears to them to be nothing but another fictional book to be laughed at and ridiculed. Making those whose life is directed by God's Words look like illiterate simpletons that can barely read or comprehend a more tolerant and sophisticated line of thought.

One would think Paul somehow transported himself to the 21st century and observed the world as we see it today. I'm amazed at the accuracy of his description of people surrounding themselves with "yes men", and listening only to those who's words spew out like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, enabling a twisted thought process to justify a more "tolerant" life style.

As Believers, we are charged to be prepared in season and out of season. To me that means when being a "Christian" is socially acceptable, or when the world seem to do a 180 and everything we as Believers stand on is offensive and repulsive to the socially and intellectual elite.

Can we stand committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ when our freedoms and rights are striped away because someone is offended by the Blood of Jesus?

Is the Word in us to the overflow point that if something should happen to our Bible we can draw from the meals we've ingested and still speak God's Word allowing the infilling of the Holy Spirit to speak through us?

Are we, as Believers, really ready to face a Godless society and not compromise His Word, but exemplify it in our daily walk?

I know I personally need a lot more time on my knees seeking His face, gleaning from the insight of others and learning to hear His voice for myself so I will be prepared in season and out of season to share the Gospel.

It seems like I'm being a real doomsayer today, however I find it encouraging and exciting to know that as long as I seek Him I will find Him. To know He has a plan for me, that He has anointed me and called me and that He will finish the work He started in me. Relying on that, I know when the time comes, His Words will flow out of me like honey or fire which ever is needed at the moment and His Holy Spirit will fill me with power.

Knowing God is no respecter of persons, what He does for me He does for you. As long as we seek His face diligently He will give us everything we need to be prepared for what ever comes our way!

That to me calls for a "happy dance"!

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

For This is God's Will for You

2010-05-27T13:53:00.002-04:00

I'm always amused at myself when I read a scripture that I've all ready highlighted, marked, dated and made a note about and look at it as if it was the very first time I read the words. Certainly I am the only person in the world that happens to!

So many times we all ask ourselves, "What is God's will for me?", "How do I know what to do?", "Who can I call or text or email or tweet that will have a word for me from God?"

Today in my reading I stumbled on what I see as a very clear instructional for putting ourselves in line with God's will. It's actually pretty simple, and very clear, no need for a Doctorate in Theology to understand what Paul's saying in these few lines. In fact, in my Bible the subtitle for the text is Final Instructions, the editor wanted to make sure the reader fully understood the importance of these words.

Are you curious? Ready to be astounded at my Spirituality? Hold onto your hats and prepare to be amazed!!

Here's the list:

1 Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord (Pastors, Teachers, etc.) and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

2 Live in peace with each other

3 Warn those who are idle

4 Encourage the timid

5 Help the weak

6 Be patient with everyone

7 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong

8 Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else

9 Be joyful always

10 Pray continually

11 Give thanks in all circumstances

For this is God's WILL for you in Christ Jesus

Also

Do not put out the Spirit's fire

Do not treat prophecies with contempt

Test everything

Hold on to the good

Avoid every kind of evil

And then at the end of the Final Instructions, Paul sends out a blessing to the reader.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it! 1st Thessalonians 5:12-24

That's better than any Irish Blessing I've ever heard!!

We always think we have to do do do, and there it is, God will Sanctify us, He will do it. There's a total of 16 things listed here for us to do and knowing we can't do it without Him, Paul tells us the One who calls us will do it, He will sanctify us.

To me that's so freeing, realizing my to do list has been given, and as long as I hide myself under the Rock that is higher that I, He will do it. He will lead and guide me and put in me the fire of the Spirit to direct my path.

What an awesome God we serve. He gives us our orders and knowing we can't, on our own, accomplish the list, He let's us step into Him and He does it. That's His will for us, to be Inside Him resting, waiting, standing, praising, loving, listening, the list goes on and on.

Bottom line, crawl up in His lap, settle down in His arms and let Him bring about His will for you. He will do it!

Blessings,

Wendy

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Who's Dancing in Your Head?

2010-04-24T15:14:00.003-04:00

So many times I cry out to God in my place of fear, suffering, humiliation, etc. needing to make sure He sees what I'm going through.

I need to make sure He has a full understanding of my situation, just in case He was off somewhere having coffee with Abraham, Moses and the gang and missed what's going on.

So many times I feel like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth. On one side I'm thinking O, pity me, Lord look at me, see what I'm going through. Out of the other side, I'm saying God, You are well able.

Acting like the petulant child I allow myself the luxury of having a come apart, whining to the Most High God about my situation, while the other side of my head it telling me He's all ready got it taken care of for me.

Oh please someone, tell me I'm not the only one that has two decidedly different visions of their situation doing a version of Dancing with the Stars inside their head!

Much has and can be said on this dance competition. Coming before God in prayer for help is a topic greater Christians than me have written about, but I'd like to share my take on this.

Psalm 100

1. Shout for joy to the Lord

2. Worship the Lord with gladness

3. Come before Him with joyful songs

4. Know that the Lord is God, He made us, and we are His.

5. Enter His gates with Thanksgiving.

6. Enter His courts with Praise.

7. Give thanks to Him, Praise His Name.

Do this because the Lord is good, His love endures forever, and His faithfulness continues through all Generations because of His Covenant with His people.

I think once we've gone through these steps the things that are messing with us will grow strangely dim and His presence will move the mountains far from us.

We with our finite minds will be able to put our situation in the proper perspective, that would be God's perspective not ours.

Proper protocol goes a long way in approaching the King, and I think approaching our King, Father with praise and worship will get us a lot closer to His ear than our incessant whining about our situation.

Nothing surprises Him, and he all ready knows exactly what's going on. He doesn't take coffee breaks, He's ever present, always watching, waiting for us to approach Him with thanksgiving.

When we get so full of thanksgiving we bubble over, the dance competition will be over and God will be the winner!

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Who is your Daddy?

2010-04-05T12:03:00.003-04:00

Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8

Sounds simple enough. So why do we always think we have to have an action plan and a scheme or a list of things we have to do or become?

In March the unemployment office celebrated my one year of unemployment by stopping my benefits!

Previously I had received a letter stating I was approved for a 13 week extension. Now, me being me, I assumed that meant my benefits would be automatically extended 13 weeks since the letter didn't have any fine print telling me otherwise.

On the day my check is normally in my bank account I checked my account and discovered a negative $400 balance. I quickly realized something was wrong, duh!! I must have misunderstood what was going on. After a very quick call to unemployment I was told my benefits had come to an end regardless of what the letter had said and I needed to reapply.

The nice lady on the phone took my info. and submitted my claim again assuring me I was all ready approved for more weeks, but since everything was first come first serve my application was at the bottom of a very large pile to be reviewed, and she had no idea how long it would take to get my checks started again. Reassuring me I would get all the back weeks I missed didn't make me feel better considering the current state of my checking account and the fact that in 2 weeks my rent was going to be due.

Unlike how I used to react to this type of situation, I just said," OK, God this isn't a surprise to you so what do you have planned?"

After calling the bank and a few other places I had done all I could do, the rest was up to God.

I was nudged by the Holy Spirit to Fast. I pulled out my book, "Fasting" by Jentezen Franklin, grabbed my Daniel Fast information from it's folder and started to prepare myself. I knew I was to fast from Monday-Sat before Easter.

On Monday I claimed my unemployment weeks as instructed by the nice lady on the phone, knowing it would probably be at least 6 weeks till I started getting my checks again, that's what I was told the wait was.

Knowing there was no other immediate source of income for me I reminded God He was my provider and rent was coming due, just in case He forgot.

I proceeded with my fast Monday and Tuesday knowing God had a plan, trusting Him to fulfill His plan. I was feeling very much like a little girl trusting her Daddy was going to provide somehow. I didn't know how and I really didn't care how I just knew He was up to something.

Wednesday came and I thought I'd take a peek at my negative balanced bank account just for kicks. I almost fell off my chair when rather than a negative balance I was back in the black!!

Not only did God move on the State of Florida to get me to the top of that long list, but the first week that's normally held back was in there too!!

What could I do but praise and thank Him! There was some serious happy dancing going on in my home that morning!!!

Along with all that, as if that wasn't enough, God, my Daddy, decided to bless me with some groceries just to put a little icing on the cake.

He is such a good Dad, if we would just let Him what He wants to be to us. He doesn't need our instructions, our lists, our plans. All He needs is for us, His beloved Children to draw close to Him.

If we take one tiny, feeble, infant step toward Him, the creator of the Universe runs to us to fill in the pot holes, level the mountains, fill up our bank accounts and throw in a few groceries for good measure!

How can we not love and praise Him? How can we not trust Him to take care of us? He has chosen to have a loving family relationship with us, He's not going to hurt us, He wants to be our Daddy.

Even if there was no loving family relationship in our life to draw on for an example, even if there wasn't a Daddy figure in our childhood, He wants to fill in that loss. He wants to be your Daddy. He will never leave us or forsake us and He's not a man that he would lie to us. You can trust Him when maybe your earthly father wasn't so trustworthy or loving.

Having what the world would call crazy faith in God is not politically correct or socially acceptable, but I'll continue strive to raise my level of crazy faith in my Father.

In the end, He's the only one who will take care of His own by lavishing us with all the blessings He has stored up for us.

He's waiting on us to take that step toward Him in love and obedience so He can start overwhelming us with His love, comfort, healing, and provision.

Let Him be your Daddy.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Is the Grass Really Greener on the Other Side?

2010-03-22T23:53:00.004-04:00

I think everyone has a place that makes them say ahhhh.

This is one of mine. I have a courtyard off my kitchen with a pond, little water fall, fish and soft solar lights.

In the evening I sit out there and go ahhhhh. I'm content there. Next to my back porch this is a favorite spot.

An observation I've made through out my life is where ever I am, I'm usually dreaming about being or doing something else.

I have it on good authority that I'm not alone in this pursuit of the green grass on the other side. Or maybe it's a longing for the "good old days", either way it keeps us from the present moment and from contentment.

When we are young we get fake ID's that say we're older. When we're older, well I'd just as soon no one ask my age!

When we're single we know if we were only married things would be better. Then, when we're married we're quite sure God made a mistake and if we were only single we would be able to fulfill God's plan for us. And if we become single again we dream of that non-existent Prince Charming to ride up on his white horse and sweep us off our feet, then we'd be able to do God's will and minister to others.

If we have straight hair we pay for a perm and if we have curly hair we straighten it.

When we are driving to work we lament about our busy work days that keep us from God's work. When we are unemployed we are desperate to get that job to survive.

When we're here we want to be there and when we get there we feel God leading us somewhere else.

When we don't have kids we are desperate for them, when we have them we love them but many times we dream of the day they are doing their own laundry in their own apartment. When they are doing their laundry in their own place, we long for the dirty diapers, lingering hugs, messy rooms and noise.

Having any or all of these things in our lives is wonderful, but none of these will bring us to the place where we are content.

The only thing that will bring us true contentment is having a deep, intimate relation with our Creator.

Seeking Him, getting to know Him deeply, craving His presence, allowing Him to shape us right where we are into that person He created us to be is the only thing that will bring true contentment.

Daily striving to build such a trust in Him that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, where ever we are, whatever circumstance we find our selves in He will change it into something good.

Phil. 4:12 Paul writes, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

I think our catch phrase should be "Thank you God for this moment, I rejoice in it, I am content here, right now, You are all I require"

To kind of bottom line it, He is all we need to be content.

Being unemployed, I'm amazed at how little I can live on, and in comparison to most in the world I have plenty. I can't complain, I must be content where I am today knowing He will turn it around for my good.

Where ever you find your self today, in plenty or in famine join me in thanking our Father for this moment. Rest assured He knows where you are. Nothing is a surprise to Him, if we trust Him and rest in His provision we will come to that place where we are content in whatever state we find ourselves.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Light within light without

2010-03-17T18:09:00.002-04:00

The picture was taken by my friend's daughter on a trip to Ireland.

Celtic Blessing:

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire.

Luke 11:36:

Therefore if your whole body is full of Light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted as when the light of a lamp shines on you.

When we invite the Light of the world into our being to save our souls an ember of light is planted within us.

As we read the Word, commune with the Father, and walk in His Spirit the ember of Light is fanned and becomes a glowing fire.

This glow so fills us that our outward appearance is changed. We will have a glow about us that the world doesn't understand, all it knows is there is warmth and light when we are around.

It's the Light from the Son that causes the change within us.

So on St. Patrick's Day in honor of my heritage I would like to offer this blessing to you.

May the Blessing of the Light of the World be on you. The Light of His Anointing be on you, His Light within you. May the Blessed Sonlight shine on you and warm your stony heart till it glows like a great peat fire.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

God's Special Forces

2010-03-10T22:04:00.004-05:00

OK, I admit the picture to the right is soooo not me. No pink, no sparkles, nothing girlie about it. But, in all the amazing ways God sees us, I believe this is His visual when He looks into our Spirit.

Last Saturday night I woke up about 3AM with my TV still on. I don't believe in accidents so we'll chalk this up as a divine appointment.

The show that was on was detailing Military personnel who are trained to serve in the Special Forces, Green Beret, Seals, and a couple Israeli branches I couldn't name.

I watched in amazement the tests of human endurance these men were put through.

God was impressing on me our true calling in Him. We are to train to be in the Special Forces of God's Army.

Each of the four men were put through a challenge and timed. Then the "fun" began.

One was put in a tub of ice water, bags and bags of ice were added trying to get his core body temperature to drop below a normal range. The man was in that freezing water for an hour, but because of his training and mind discipline he endured, his core body temperature never dropped. He was finally taken out due to concern for his heart and other internal organs not because he begged to be taken out and warmed up.

I was laying in bed covered up shivering watching him.

After taking him out of the ice bath, he was to run the same obstacle course as before, pick up his gun and fire at the person who was the threat. I watched in awe as he executed the obstacle course, picked up his gun and with pin point accuracy hit the target, perfectly. His time and his aim were more accurate after the hour in the ice bath, after the trial.

One by one I watched these amazing men go through their timed tests. Then after an unbelievable trial that would send normal human beings to the hospital, they re-executed their tests in less time and with more accuracy than they did under normal circumstances.

After his trial each was stronger and more accurate than before.

By this time I was wide awake realizing that we, in His service, are called to a higher and more specialized training. We are called to be the SEALS, or Green Berets in the Army of the Living God.

Then they showed the "baddest" of them all, he only appeared in total camouflage, half of his face covered by the night vision apparatus he was going to use and the other half painted. His name was "classified". This man was such a threat to the enemy and so valuable to our Military his name was non-existent. I am quite sure, however, the enemy knows of this masked man. It doesn't matter what his name is, it only matters that he is such a well trained, disciplined, asset to our Military that his identity is protected. WOW

By this time I'm sitting up in bed, it's 4AM now and my mind is racing. God's Special Forces.

How do I prepare for such an assignment, how do I qualify? What on earth do I, little old me, think I'm doing aspiring to be a member of God's Special Forces?

There was another Special Ops. Soldier in Judges. Gideon was approached by an Angel who said,"The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior." Judges 6:12 NIV

God saw him as a Mighty Warrior. He saw himself as the weakest member of the weakest clan in Israel. Yet God helped Gideon assemble a Special Ops. team that when following God's orders were victorious over a much larger army.

Truth be told, I sometimes have a hard time seeing my self as the baddest of the bad. I don't see Special Ops written on any of my things, but God...... but my God says I'm a Mighty Warrior. Who do I believe, my mind that is filled with self doubt and fear or the Creator of the Universe?

I go with God's vision of me. I am a Warrior, not just any soldier, I'm a member of the elite fighting force, the Special Ops. Team of God's Army.

Training is not hap-hazard for this Elite Fighting Force. We must train daily, always wearing our battle gear, executing our assignments with precision and bravery.

Each test we endure will make us stronger and more accurate in our abilities to defeat the enemy.

My name is Classified and my desire is to have the enemy on the run as I turn in my bed to get up in the morning.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

What's between You and God?

2010-02-22T13:19:00.003-05:00

In Exodus 20:3 God commands us:

"You shall have no other gods before Me or besides Me," AMP

"No other gods, only Me." MSG

I know full well we would never take our gold earrings melt them down, form a cow and worship it.

I also know we would never worship the gods of some ancient cultures.

We are too sophisticated and well read for that.

Our spirituality is far too advanced to revert to some pagan worship ritual like dancing around a tree or bowing down to some man made image.

So what does that scripture have to do with us spiritually sophisticated Christians who would never, never, never bow down to a "graven" image?

I'm glad you asked!

Last week I was lamenting to God over some important relationships that have yet to be healed and restored.

Before you blow me off as crazy, He sometimes shows me pictures in my mind, not unlike a video!

I saw myself at certain points in my past where sin or hurt occurred. As certain issues came to mind I would stop, pick up a boulder and go on to the next spot and pick up another boulder. This went on for a while, I was bent over backwards trying to balance all these heavy boulders I had picked up. I saw myself picking up boulders for things I couldn't even remember from my childhood. As I watched myself over burdened with these boulders, I heard the word alter. Because I was carrying these "alters", memories, boulders, whatever you want to call them with me, I couldn't be completely in the now.

Before you call the men in the white coats, I have a point, I promise.

As Christians we are forgiven, washed in His precious blood. Our sins are no longer a part of God's memory. These issues are a part of the past and God is not there, yet as we continually present these alters to Him as an excuse for whatever, we can't fully be free in Him.

I know, I know....."Just give it to God, Just let it go, You're forgiven it's over, move on, Lay it down, Take it to the cross, Put it at His feet"....did I forget anything?

It's simple, but not really.

I think it's a process.

Some of the results of our past sins are still facing us everyday so it's not that easy to "let it go"or move on, because we have constant reminders.

Learning how to reprogram our thought process comes from believing His word. The transforming of our minds is a daily process that we must diligently pursue on a second by second basis.

In the picture you see some stones I collected and put in a jar, it sits on my desk. This reminds me of all the boulders I'm carrying around that I, by the renewing of my mind will someday be free from.

When my mind takes a trip back, asking me, how could anybody have done that? or what on earth were you thinking, you knew better? or how pitiful were you to have let that happen?, etc. I look at my jar and it reminds me I have to choose to release those things that I hold onto before I can totally be in the NOW with God and receive the healing and restoration of a broken past.

I'm sure God's sick of hearing about my mistakes, but for some reason they have been set up as an alter, and sometimes take more of my thought process than worshiping Him, studying His word, praying for others.

We don't have golden cow idols or gods and goddesses we pray to or worship that would be breaking the first commandment, we all know better.

We can, however, unintentionally set up idols and put them on an alter that we spend way too much time in front of, taking time away from God.

God wants us free from our idols.

Sometimes it takes a long, hard, critical look at ourselves to find the idols we have so creatively crafted because many of them are good and profitable and helpful. Sometimes they are dark secrets, past sins or hurts buried so deep within us we don't even know they are there.

He wants us to remove anything and everything that takes our minds, and our hearts off Him.

Focusing on Him will bring to light our idols. Once we recognize them we are better equipped to break them down, totally destroying any evidence of their existence.

Don't be tempted to hold on to them because you are emotionally attached to them.

Get out your Sword, the word of God, and don't stop till they are completely obliterated. It may take time, lots of time. It's OK, you can eat an elephant one bite at a time just keep at it. God has given each of us the equipment we need to tear down and destroy our idols. With faith, determination and daily renewing our minds with His Word our idols will be completely destroyed. And we will be free to be with God in the Now.

So start swinging that Sword and when you're done, put on your dancing shoes.

Blessings,

Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Pride or Shame?

2010-02-17T12:08:00.003-05:00

Pride or Shame, Strength or Weakness....

How many times have you found yourself in a place where you really really wanted, needed, someone to pray with you about a certain situation, but for what ever reason you conjured up you didn't reach out?

Be honest, I can't be the only one that didn't reach out when I should have.

My question is why don't we reach out for prayer when we need it most?

Proverbs 16: 18 says, Pride goes before destruction. NIV, or in the Message Bible it says, First pride, then the crash--the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

Dictionary.com defines pride as, a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit or superiority.

Our enemy, the deceiver will inevitably set us up.

On one hand, we find pride in what we do, or how people want us to pray for them or give them advice, on the other hand we are ashamed or embarrassed by our lack of Spirituality, our messed up finances, our disfunctional households.

But does the shame and embarrassment come from a kind of pride that keeps us from reaching out for prayer because we just don't want anyone else to know how messed up we really are?

"I'm ashamed of what I did, but how can I go to someone for prayer when I know better? People will look at me differently if I expose my deeds and lack of Spirituality therefore I'll suck it up and go it alone."

Yes, that's it, I can pray on my own and God will fix it up and no one will ever know.

Now we aren't just dealing with our issues, but with alienation from fellow believers who are willing and ready to intercede for us.

I'm not saying to run around with a megaphone and announce all your indiscretions to the world.

Use your closest, most trusted prayer partners to confess to, and let them stand in the gap for you till you are restored. God will do the work, but I think sometimes He needs to see we are willing to bring "it" into the light.

Don't let a spirit of pride or shame keep you from falling at His feet. Take your Alabaster box and break it open at His feet. This act was not done in private, but in a house full of people.

Don't let a spirit of pride or shame keep you from reaching out to your prayer partners, pastors, spiritual teachers, or trusted friends for help. I don't know about you, but I consider it an honor when someone asks for me to pray with them, not something to be taken lightly.

Don't let a spirit of pride or shame keep you from answering an invitation to go forward in church for prayer, we've all done that.

Stop it, reach out, there are people in your life willing and able to cover you in prayer, not condemn or judge you, just pray for you.

If you don't have anyone, get a hold of me. My past sins had to be exposed and wash clean by His blood and I'm fully aware that would have never happened with out people interceding for me in prayer.

Don't let your pride or shame keep you from release and freedom.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Cure for the Winter Blues

2010-02-15T00:54:00.005-05:00

The cat is Angel, her picture was taken in the summer on our back porch at a Birthday party.

I have two cats, Sheba is smart, Angel is the pretty one...

I love the heat and sunshine of the summer months, there's something about it that just makes me feel good.

Not so much the winter, I hate being cold. I can't describe how miserable I am having to wear socks, layers of sweaters and still being cold. Yes, I live in Florida, but right now it's cold here.

Before you pre-judge and assume I'm a southern light weight I was born and raised in Ohio.

It gets cold there. The days are mostly overcast and when the sun does come out everyone runs for shelter in fear of the big strange looking fire ball in the sky. All I ever wanted to do was move somewhere that didn't get cold and the sunshine was a familiar sight.

I think in winter many of us get the Blues. I'm constantly looking for a heat source to get my blood flowing again.

Sheba, the smart cat, must feel the same way I do about being cold. I have a lamp on my desk and when I have the light on, up she jumps wrecking havoc with the pile of papers that constantly collect in her spot.

She sits up straight with her face pointing upward toward the source of light, the light bulb. To her it must be some wonderful thing that causes warmth to flow into her cold body. She thoroughly enjoys soaking up the light, never in a rush to move away usually laying down for a snooze in the warmth of the light.

Watching her I couldn't help think, when our Spirits get cold we need to seek out the Light to get the Blood flowing through us so we can warm up and radiate the heat that comes from basking in the Light of the World.

John 8:12, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." NIV

When we take time to praise and worship God we begin to be immersed in the warmth of His light. His Blood begins to cover and fill us with a warmth and energy we can't get anywhere else.

The longer we bask in His Light the warmer our Spirit becomes and the more distant the chill of the darkness becomes.

His light is transferred to us freely. His warmth radiates from us and we are no longer bound by the clouds and chill of everyday troubles. We are raised up in His Light and are given the ability to see our situations through His eyes, the eyes of the Spirit.

Next time you find yourself feeling a little blue from all this coldness seek out The source for Light. Read, sing, dance, praise or pray you'll find your temperature rising and the warmth from His Light will change you from the inside out.

Blessings,

Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Backing away from the Light

2010-02-09T14:39:00.006-05:00

Wow, I almost couldn't find my way to my own back porch.

I have learned that no matter how craftily you back away from the Light you back right up into God who's been waiting for you!

My backward journey began in Oct. or Nov., I was getting too close to things that I had been praying for, dreaming of, working toward.

Feeling that old familiar sensation of fear creeping into my blood stream I started a backward slide away from the very things I was walking toward.

It wasn't a conscious backward movement just a very subtle letting go, procrastinating, and the old favorite not feeling "worthy" of any kind of success or realization of a dream.

My backward slide took me into a terrible 2 month bout with bronchitis among other things.

When we give into the enemy's lies he holds nothing back to keep us from our appointed destinations.

I couldn't concentrate on anything, therefore I stopped reading my Bible, having daily devotions, communicating with friends except enough to keep up appearances. I was not only physically sick but choking out the very life in me.

Remember the dream where you are falling? That's how I felt. Minimal hope, falling and too tired to grab a hold of anything that would stop my slide.

I did however know all the right words to say so no one would know how really desperate I felt. I was in no mood to be anointed with oil and be prayed over. Pride raises it's ugly head and keeps us from getting the very thing we need the most.

Finally, a dear friend of mine dragged me to the doctor, paid for the appointment for me, then ushered me into Publix where I could get free antibiotics and the other stuff that was prescribed. Things started turning around, not right away, very slowly.

As my bronchitis started to clear and the antibiotics started working in my body my mind started to clear. God provided an online conference for me to attend with the A Woman Inspired group. I love those Girls.

It was then I realized even as I was slowly backing away from God, tiptoeing so no one would notice, He had all ready gone to the place where He knew I would back smack into Him.

I am absolutely blown away by His constant love for me. Especially at my age, I think I should have it all together spiritually and not get off track. But there He is graciously, lovingly and sometimes with a smack upside my head capturing me from myself and guiding me back into Him where I belong.

I'm sharing this with you because I know full well I don't go through anything that someone else won't, at some point, need encouragement to get through.

Let me tell you now, no matter what the "reason" no matter how sick you are, how fearful you are, how unworthy you feel, how tired you are, God is there waiting for you to just fall backward into His loving, healing, supportive arms. Just like in the falling dream, only with the assurance He's there to catch us, because He said He would.

We aren't supposed to react or give into our feelings or illnesses or emotions, the only thing we are to do is trust He will be the light in our darkness. He will be the dance, He will be the Prince Charming we dream of.

If you feel yourself slipping backward away from the Light, just let go....I promise, like me, He'll catch you and make you safe.

When you're drowning the worst thing you can do is struggle, the minute you trust in the water to hold you up you start floating.

Blessings,

Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

My Girlies

2009-12-07T21:17:00.004-05:00

Thanks to you who hunted me down to find out why I haven't written to you in a while. I'm feeling better now, still coughing but on the mend. The burn on my hand is still very painful, but I can type now. This has been a crazy couple weeks!

I wanted to share some of my friends stories with you in hopes of giving encouragement and helping expose some of the self-esteem issues we allow ourselves to buy into.

Today's Girlfriends all have a "past".

Sexual impurity isn't always a choice, sometimes it's forced on us, by a stranger, a boyfriend, a relative, someone of the opposite sex or the same sex.

What ever the reason... there it is.... penetrating the spirit so deeply that in most cases bad choices, and low self esteem are inevitable.

Once dragged over to the "other side" some find it impossible to regroup. There seems to be no reason to be anything other than what we've been dealt because, after all, that's what we are now. No hope, no joy, no bright shinny future, no Prince Charming.

I don't believe any little girl playing with her dolls aspires to become someone who has sex indiscriminately, jumping from one relationship to another, or to become a prostitute.

Sometimes things happen on the way to adulthood that can shape us into things we were never meant to be.

Those things help contribute to an out of control lifestyle that can lead to an early death.

What I learned from my Girl friends that I want to share with you is, no matter how bad other people think you are, no matter what icky things you may have done or had done to you, all is not lost.

There is One that meets you where you are. It doesn't matter where you live, what kind of clothes you have on, how many tats or piercings you have, what drugs you use to kill the pain.

He doesn't care what you've done or what was done to you. He doesn't care what you've been called or even what you call yourself when you look in the mirror.

Once you meet Him, look into His eyes and take His hand that life of sexual promiscuity, pain, loneliness, and emptiness is part of your past not your future.

When He looks at you in your mess all He sees is a Princess, the love of His life. He sees beauty, strength, dignity, integrity, and purity. He sees all things beautiful in you. Everything you were created to be is reflected in His eyes.

At that moment you are transformed, restored back to what He created.

You can pack up your past and use it as a reference to help others, or you can wear it like a death cloak the choice is yours. It's not easy, but it's so worth it to move beyond the past and walk hand in hand with Him.

My friends stories have inspired, encouraged, motivated and liberated me. Realizing Jesus comes to us right where we are is so overwhelming. The Prince of Peace, King of Kings coming to my end of town to rescue me and then sending me out to tell others what He said to me...

Most churches won't let a "divorced" woman or a woman with a "past" have an opportunity to share His love with others, but Jesus sent my one friend out into her town to tell others about Him.

These friends have several things in common with many of us today. A past steeped in sexual misdeeds!

Rahab was a prostitute. Probably separated from her family due to her profession and her need for privacy. What caused her to turn to a life of prostitution is a question I plan on asking her someday. Something happened to her that made that life style a necessity. She protected the spies in exchange for the safety of herself and her family. She made a choice to do something. As a result of her action she was not only rewarded with life, but married a Hebrew and is in the Royal blood line, listed by name among all those men. She made a choice, and her past didn't get in the way of her future.Her story is in the Book of Joshua. I love this girls bravery and smarts..

My second friend is from Samaria. This seemed like an ordinary day for her, but when she got to the well her entire life was turned upside down. I'm sure there was a reason she had so many husbands. Why she was shacking up with her current fella remains to be seen. Another question for when I get to heaven. After a brief conversation about water, Jacob and political correctness, Jesus told her about her past and present living conditions. She knew He was something special and ran off to tell the Good News to the people in her town. A woman with multiple marriages used by Jesus as an Evangelist, go figure!! He didn't care about her past, He cared about her new life.... Her story is in the Book of John

My third and last friend for today was also the subject of a sexually charged story. She was caught in the "act" of adultery. After being dragged in public to Jesus for sentencing, I'm quite sure this was a conspiracy, after all where was the guy, this was a big set up at her expense. I digress. My friend knew the moment she was caught what the penalty was, and I'm sure fear gripped her entire being. In her day a woman caught in adultery was stoned to death. Today we are beaten to death by the wagging tongues of the onlookers. Little did she know that day, being thrown at the feet of the Master was the best thing that could have happened to her. He didn't condemn her lifestyle choice, He didn't do anything. He told her to leave her life of sin. Not only was her life spared that day, but her story was written to encourage anyone who's made less than stellar decisions regarding sex outside marriage. Whatever her issues were Jesus saw past them, cleaned her up and gave her a new chance at life.

I love these girls, they have been my friends and encourager's. Their lives are so real, they weren't virginal, prim, proper, churchie girls. These girls knew what forgiveness really meant.

Transformed by His love and provision.

When I was praying about sharing my girlies with you God told me to tell you this:

"I don't care how the world has abused you. I don't care how you have abused yourself or someone else. I have a plan and purpose for you and your descendants."

Don't let the sins of your past hold you back from a new life in Christ. His loving arms are waiting to hold you and make you pure.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Come Meet my Girlies

2009-11-19T16:48:00.003-05:00

Over the next few entries I'm going to introduce you to some of my best girl friends.

Some of them I've know since I was little, but most of them have become my friends over the last several years.

Their faithfulness and flawless examples to me have been life changing.

These girls are always there for me pointing the way to hope.

As shinning examples of the Lord's forgiveness, mercy and grace I have clung to these gals on more than one occasion. They have never let me down.

They have shared their stories with me, not because they were proud of their pasts or experiences, but because of what God had done to change their lives. Thus giving me encouragement to make it through what ever current challenge I'm facing.

I look to these ladies for everything from simple DIY ideas and beauty tips to more complex issues like health and family salvation.

Each of my friends have had an encounter with God that inspires me to move closer to Him on a daily basis. With their help I am learning to put Him and His word first in my life, and to strive to be what He created me to be.

I hope you'll join me. I really want you to get to know these exceptional women and read their stories that have so influenced my life.

These gals will bless your socks off as I share their stories with you.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Dear Anonymous

2009-11-17T12:51:00.005-05:00

Dear Anonymous,

I am not going to turn my blog world into a forum for debate, however I apparently wasn't clear in my last posting about Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays.

So, in an effort to make my beliefs crystal clear to you and anyone else reading this, here goes.

As a Follower of Jesus, I choose to remember and celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 25.

He was not born on Dec. 25, nor does it matter what day He was born. It only matters that He was born, that He is the Son of God, that He is the only way to the Living God.

John 14:6 says:" I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Celebrating His birth is not a "race" thing, it is a "Believers" thing. Believers come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and nationalities.

Everyone celebrating Christmas as we know it is recognizing the birth of the Savior of the World, whether they openly admit it or not.

His birth is the beginning of me being able to kneel at the foot of the cross and have my sins washed away by His blood.

I don't know about you, Anonymous, but I have a past, I sinned. Big sin, little sin and anything in between. If it were not for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (hence the term CHRISTmas), I would be sentenced to eternity in hell, separated from God, our Creator.

But because of Jesus, His birth, life, death, and resurrection I am able to live a life that is free from guilt and condemnation of my past. I am free, I am free!

I am celebrating my Saviors descent into this world. His birth into a world consumed with sin and disease. His birth, which was planned to lead to a horrible death just for me.

Quite frankly, I don't care about celebrating anything else on Dec. 25 or during this season.

I don't care if someone is offended by my Merry Christ-mas greeting

I don't care if someone thinks I'm being exclusive by not embracing the "Happy Holiday" mantra.

I just don't care....

I only care that, my savior was born and I am still free to celebrate His birth with child-like abandon. And I only wish you had that freedom too, it's glorious.

For you, Anonymous or anyone else out there reading this. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior it only takes a second to invite Him into your heart. To allow Him to bathe you in His forgiveness, mercy and grace. Our past is of no consequence to Him, He loves and forgives anyone who asks. He's waiting with open arms.

When you've been forgiven, and you have been adopted into the Kingdom of the only true God, you realize with every passing year how much a privilege it is to celebrate His birth.

Thanksgiving, New Years, July 4th, Labor Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, etc. are Holidays.

The day we celebrate the birth of Jesus is a Holy Day, not to be lumped in with the other days we get off work.

Christmas and Easter are far beyond tinsel on a tree or an Easter egg.

I, for one, refuse to, for the sake of Politically Correctedness, lower either of these celebrations into something less than what they are. The Jewish celebrations would be included in my list of Holy Days, since they are the foundation stones for my beliefs.

So, my dear Anonymous, you can have all the Happy Holidays you want and never utter the words Merry Christmas so as not to offend. But, I will shout "Merry Christmas come celebrate the birth of my Savior", as loud as I can, as often as I can so everyone can hear and know HE IS LORD.

Blessings and Merry Christmas!

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays

2009-11-09T17:33:00.003-05:00

Please indulge me today. I have to rant about something that has made me lose my "Christmas Spirit" for several years now.

My last 10 or so Christmases have been spent working in the Retail World.

At that certain point, while setting up all to early for Christmas the "memo" came.

With instructions in hand, Managers were to make sure each and every employee knew to use the term happy holidays rather than Merry Christmas.

Thinking of it makes my blood boil, I always made a special point, rebel that I am, not to use the term happy holidays. I just didn't say anything unless someone wished me a Merry Christmas then I would reply in kind.

Given the nature of my job, retail management, I was especially offended by the Politically Correctness of the Retail World.

Terrified a penny or worse a dime might be lost if someone were offended by the greeting Merry Christmas the term is banned in most retail organizations.

Here's the rub, if it wasn't for the celebration of Jesus birth on Dec. 25, they wouldn't be taking in over 50% of their profits for the year. The greedy corporations should be shouting Merry Christmas from the roof tops, in gratitude for the business that comes their way.

Not worried about offending Christians because they won't speak out on this issue to the "powers that be," the focus is turned on not upsetting the "Non-Christian" market.

In my mind, the Christmas buying public should be getting their feet kissed with every purchase, or at least a foot massage, especially in today's economy.

Retailers should be promoting Christmas with all the abandon they use to hush the words Merry Christmas from their sales floors.

They pull the merchandise out in September hoping to boost 3rd quarter sales, but deny the One we are celebrating.

As you shop this year, don't be Politically Correct. Wish your store personnel a Merry Christmas and don't be afraid to let the store you frequent the most know you are offended by the denial of your Lord's birth.

Speak up and speak out, why join the Politically Correct when it comes to the birth of Jesus.

Before any of you say anything, I'm well aware Jesus was in all probability born in Oct., but this is the day we celebrate it so let's let them know we are proud to be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior.

This is not a time to be quiet and stand meekly by only to have one more thing important to the Believers taken away.

Saying Merry Christmas is just a little thing, but we as Believers have to stop letting others tell us what we can and can't say, what we can or can't display in public.

Thanks, I feel better now! Let me be the first one to say Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Are you in the Protected Area?

2009-11-05T21:36:00.004-05:00

I took this picture while I was at the beach on October 31.

I can't tell you how much more fun it is to be in the ocean on a day when some places are experiencing snow!! It's like an extra special treat. Especially since I grew up in Ohio.

Seeing this sign I couldn't help but stop and take a picture.

The day we give our lives over to the Lord we enter the "Lifeguard Protected Area"

There's the same sand, waves, fish, shells. The dangers are the same on a bad day. But when I cross that imaginary line in the sand and enter the area protected, should something happen to me help is readily available.

When we cross that line and enter into the Lifeguard Protected Area of life, we still face the same challenges.

The difference is the Lifeguard is ready and waiting for our call. He's waiting for us to look to Him and then He comes running with everything we need to be rescued.

He will pick us up and carry us through the rough waters to safety. Then if needed, administer First Aid.

If you haven't all ready crossed that line in the sand and given your life over to the true, the only Lifeguard then take that step now.

He's waiting with open arms.

Nothing you've done or had done to you is to horrible for Him to handle. He can administer the appropriate First Aid for your situation. His love will set you free and keep you from drowning in the raging waters of life.

Cross over the line, He's waiting

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Sharing a Dream

2009-11-02T21:45:00.003-05:00

I had the strangest dream last night and have been debating all day whether or not to share it with you. Usually if I have a dream I write it down, very few do I share with someone else. But for some reason I believe this isn't just for me. So, I'll share it with you.

My bedroom window opens up to my back yard which is enclosed with a privacy fence.

In my dream, when I opened my blinds I saw the privacy fence had been knocked down. Concerned, I started looking around my home to see what had happened during the night.

When I went into my bedroom, I noticed things missing. Looking into my closet I saw all my clothes were gone. To fully appreciate this you need to know the condition of my closet. It's full, were I married he would have to store his clothes elsewhere because mine fill up this closet.

So to remove my clothing would take more than one trip, lots more...

Looking at my empty closet I just couldn't believe how someone could come into my home, into my bedroom and remove all my clothes while I was sleeping. Needless to say I was more than a little upset, not just in my dream, but thinking about it even now.

The scripture that came to me is Prov.31:27. As annoying as the Prov31 woman is on a good day, I was in no mood to have her crammed down my throat while contemplating this dream. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. UGGGG!(The ugggg is mine)

OK, so for me, I reluctantly admit to you there are more than say one or two things I've been letting slide. A few things I should be doing that I'm not. Several things that I should not be doing that I am.

Watching over the affairs of our household to me means more than paying bills. It's an accountability to God for what goes on under the roof He has provided for me. Being aware, watchful, prepared, diligent in pursuing Him, relentless in pressing into Him.

Perhaps there are robbers at your door today. What can you do to protect the affairs of your household?

Seek Him, study His word, put on your Battle Gear daily so you can stand in faith, don't slack off for a minute. The enemy is seeking someone to devour, don't let it be you or anyone in your household.

When we seek Him we find him and His protection. When God is our protection, what can man do to us? Selah

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Do you FROG?

2009-10-26T16:59:00.004-04:00

Friday and Saturday I spent time with some mighty Women of God, immersed in His presence. Filled with His Holy Spirit receiving His Love, Mercy, Grace and a healthy dose of "Come to Jesus."

Each of us running in wild abandon to His feet.

So what does that have to do with the froggies pictured here?

Plenty, I'll explain.

Freely

Relying

God

I have occasion to become amused with myself and my life when I realize the whole thing is nothing more than a "set up" to get me to the place where I completely rely on HIM for everything.

It's amazing at how dependent we are on people, ministries, jobs, unemployment checks, alimony, internet, TV, Books, Sunshine, Cars, Routine, well, you get my drift.

We can effortlessly put our hope and trust in everyone and everything but the One that has been the provider of our life from the beginning.

Every time something else is stripped away I have to make a conscious decision about my level of trust in my Father.

I don't know about you, but I feel at my "age" I should be one of those pillars of Spirituality, a rock, steadfast, unwavering. Sadly, I'm not.

Daily I find my self running to get close enough to fall at His feet. Completely unable to make it through a day on my own.

We each have an Alabaster Box that holds the precious things in our lives. My relationship with my children is in mine. Knowing had I not been what I was, those precious relationships would be what He wanted them to be.

Pouring the contents of my Alabaster Box out on His feet is all I can do right now. But in doing that I know He will, in His own way and time bring healing and restoration.

What ever is in your Alabaster Box run to Jesus.

When I say run I want you to picture a major sale, the last sweater in your size and color and the only thing between you and victory is a few hundred other women trying to get that same sweater. Nothing will keep you from getting to that sweater. You don't care what you have to do to get to that sweater, it's yours and it's going home with no one but you.

That's the determination we have to have when running to Jesus

When you reach Him fall at His feet, pour out the contents of your Alabaster Box. Let your tears flow down to wash His feet and with your hair dry His nail scared feet. Don't try to hold onto it thinking you can make anything happen.

Open it up and pour it out, it might be messy, you may need to forget about your eye make up streaking down your face, but healing will come.

You have to release the precious contents of that priceless box. Holding it in secret will only put off the day when Jesus can touch your situation and say "Daughter Get Up, your tears have moved me and now go and tell others what I have done for you."

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

S.A.L.T.

2009-10-20T23:38:00.008-04:00

Before I start, almost all the credit goes to one of the young men in our church, Jason Kadlac. He spoke Sunday and shared this with us. I am always excited to see how God speaks, to one then speaks to another and it all ties in. God is so Awesome!

On my last visit here I wrote about being a role model, and this just fits perfectly.

Our church is called Merge we believe God is merging the generations together for His purpose. The motto with that is Connect, Grow, Impact.

Keeping in mind our responsibility as a role model and as Christians to share the Gospel, by our actions and our words. I'd like to share with you what Jason gave us on Sunday.

Matthew 5:13 MSG says: You are to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.

The text from his message was from 2 Corinthians 5: 16-19

S- See something worth saving. vs 16. "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly

point of view." We don't evaluate people by what they have or what kind of job they do.

A- Act out your new life. vs 17 "The old has gone, the new (life) has come". Don't be an undercover Christian.

L- Love unconditionally. vs 18 "All this is from God who reconciled us to Himself through

Christ." God's love is unconditional, and that's the kind of love we are to demonstrate

T- Tell others the Good News. vs 19 "He has committed to us the message of reconciliation"

Talk to people around you tell them what God has done in your life.

Thanks, Jason!!

As we fill in the space between our morning coffee and turning out the light at bed time we are an ambassador of God's Kingdom to this world. Everything we do and say reflects back on our King.

Technically we are not citizens of this world, but are Princesses and Princes of God's Kingdom. Seeing ourselves in this light puts a higher responsibility on us to protect our Father's Kingdom and to be an accurate reflection of our Homeland.

We, by our actions and our words, are to be the conduit that bring others to a place of reconciliation to our Father.

We are to Connect, Grow, and Impact on a daily basis.

Always remember who you are, who you are representing and never forget someone is watching you and will be learning how a Godly Woman or Man conducts themselves from you.

Get out there and be the SALT of the earth.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Is Anyone Younger than You?

2009-10-15T23:51:00.003-04:00

At times I feel like everyone is younger than me. Especially with this last Birthday under my belt.

On the other hand, I'm planning on out living my Dad, who was in his 90's when he died, and his sister who is 100. So, as I see it, that puts me solidly in middle age, give or take.

Anyone reading this can look around and find someone younger than them. That makes each of us a role model for someone.

What ever else we are, we are role models.

Thinking about this responsibility God has assigned us I often reflect on what people see when they are around me. The good, the bad, and the very ugly.

Each of us has been given successes, trials, temptations, failures, loss, challenges, general life experiences to draw from.

It's not so much the junk we go through, but the way we handle ourselves, and our attitude going through the junk that speaks to others.

You may not want to be a role model, you may feel no responsibility to lead the way for someone younger, but you are. Someone is watching you and taking their cues from you.

This line of thought all came about when my friend and I were talking about single Mothers. I am one, she is not.

The whole area about older single Mothers speaking to the younger single Mothers, teaching them and guiding them was the logical follow up.

I can speak to things she can't. She has the head knowledge and the scriptures to pepper her speech with, but she's missing one thing, "Street Cred.", she has no experience. I, on the other hand have no idea what it's like to be married for 25 yrs., I can't address longevity in marriage.

The challenge is for us to become so filled with His Spirit, and His Word that our daily walk can be executed in a manner that will show those younger than us what God expects. We teach by our actions.

Make no mistake here, if you're 20 you are a role model to those teens that look up to you.

Younger women take their cues from someone. They aren't just hatched from a pod. They will either take their cues from a strong, solid, happy, secure Godly Woman, or from what society tells them is acceptable, right, and politically correct.

When someone younger than you observes how you handle yourself you are preaching a very clear gospel and I caution us all to be very careful. It's not just what you say, but what you do that teaches God's principles to a younger generation.

My generation needs to look to those who are more mature to learn how to be a solid, steady beacon of light in a very cloudy gray world. We in turn need to walk in a manner that will draw the next generation to Him.

God will put people in your life for you to draw from, He in turn will bring younger ones along side you for guidance.

He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. 2Corin. 1:4&5 MSG

Older women....are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble. Titus 2:3 AMP

I encourage you to seek out someone older than you that you see God's hand on and latch on to them for dear life, learning from them. I had a very special lady give me her prayer shawl, even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. More than once I've wrapped up in it for a one on one with God, knowing I had a little more "pull" with Ana's prayer shawl over me.

In the same respect, open yourself to the concept that God does have younger ones for you inspire and teach through your life. You're not living your life just for yourself there's someone out there that needs what you have to teach them.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Compromise, is it worth it?

2009-10-09T13:30:00.008-04:00

OK, I know you're wondering what on earth two wine bottles could have to do with compromise.

I have a point, I promise...

The bottles look the same. The contents look the same. The corks look the same. The labels are different, that's how I can tell them apart without pouring a glass and tasting the contents.

As you can see, the one on the left has less contents.

The reason for that is the quality of the contents is much better!

The one on the right looks just like the one on the left when you pour it in a glass. But when you taste it, it's bitter. Nothing like the one on the left.

The other day I had the bright idea to pour the contents of bottle A into bottle B, hoping to make bottle B better......y'all know where this is going don't ya??

God doesn't particularly care about the contents of either bottle, but at this point He decided to make a point to me and show me how really stupid my idea was.

If I had taken the good tasting yummy wine and poured it into the not so yummy cheap wine I would not have made the cheap wine better.

I would have destroyed the quality of the yummy wine by compromising it's integrity.

It would have no longer been what it was. The yucky wine would have destroyed the good wine.

Does this sound familiar?

As God's people we have so diluted ourselves that we can't be distinguished from anyone else out there.

After Church we rush to the store just like everyone else. We work on Sunday, we do everything else everyone else does with few exceptions. Not to pick on Sunday alone, but the stores are full on Sunday. Which day of the week do we then set aside for rest and reflection on our Creator? Are our Church services on Sunday enough to restore our Spirits, heal us from the past work week and prepare us for the next? I doubt it.

When we walk into a room the entire atmosphere should elevate because we are so full of God that His presence changes the air. In most public areas Christians are so intimidated by the politically correct that we whisper the name of God like we're embarrassed by Him

Daily I'm seeing the need for God's people to start drawing our world in black and white.

It's either God or it's not. Good/Evil, Yes/No, Black/White, Light/Dark

We have to start seeing a sharper image of God in order to see a sharper image of what's detestable to Him.

We have to hate what He hates, and not be cohersed into compromising truth for the sake of peace or acceptance into today's society. We as God's children can not be politically correct so get over trying.

Looking at todays society, in terms of good and bad, black and white with no gray why would we want to be participants? Why would God's people, for the sake of acceptance, want to be like those who take His name in vain and laugh tirelessly at the late night comics who mock our beliefs as outdated, uneducated and unsophistocated?

Everywhere we go should be looked as a mission field.

If God has directed us to a place, then He has more for us there than getting a cup of coffee or buying groceries. We are on a mission from God to change the atmosphere around us. We are not to be compromised and diluted into a weak, useless shell of a Christian perfectly acceptable in todays society.

We are to be fearless, ruthless, desperate in our desire for separation unto Him. We, as God's people, have to become committed to destroying every last bit of compromise that we have given in to for the sake of being accepted, popular, or considered "normal" by todays standards.

Our only standard, our only need for acceptance should be our need to be accepted and approved of by Him, our Father. Who else matters?

"The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it will be set a part for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction." Deut. 7:25,26

I know, it's the Old Testament we're the New Testament church...so then why does our Bible start with Genesis rather than Matthew? Why does the New Testament constantly refer back to the Old Testament? Because it's God's word. His blood covers us, but we must remember we are grafted in, and His word teaches us what He expects of us whether it's before Jesus' birth or after.

What we have to start doing is take an honest inventory of our beliefs, our walk, our committment, search out the areas where we have compromised and get the detestable things out of our house before it dilutes our integrity.

We won't be popular, but we will be free in Him.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Cloud by Day, Fire by Night

2009-10-04T21:15:00.005-04:00

I promised a picture of the front of our church. Sorry the picture isn't better, but it does give you an idea what I get to look at while I'm Worshiping the God of all creation.

Today during worship Pastor Mark encouraged each of us to just be quiet and listen. Let God speak to each of us right were we were.

Now, I admit sometimes it's very hard for me to stop and listen. I have constant "chatter" going on in my head and to turn it down much less off is a challenge. Something I am working on as I grow in the Lord.

Standing there looking at this stained glass God spoke to me. Not in an audible voice, but I knew what was in my head was from Him.

He reminded me of the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that lead His people through the wilderness.

Ex. 13:22 says: Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

He never left, 24/7. He was there in front of them leading the way to their destiny. They could look up and physically see His presence. Awesome isn't it?

What He showed me in those few minutes is this.

He's right there in front of us trying to lead the way, but we can't see Him because all we look at is the "stuff" in our life that blocks our view of Him.

I know what most of my "stuff" is, some I still haven't figured out, but I have to be diligent in hacking my way through my "stuff" so I can get Him in my sights all day and all night. I can't settle for a glimpse of Him now and then when the dust from my "stuff" settles.

We all have "stuff" to clear away from our line of vision. I don't know what yours is, but I do encourage to take stock and start clearing the "stuff" that's blocking your view from the One that is in front of you by day and by night.

He's there, in front of each of us always and it's our responsibility to look at Him and not our "stuff".

Sounds impossible, but He has put in us everything we need to clear "stuff" from our line of vision and behold Him.

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Tea Time

2009-10-01T00:20:00.004-04:00

It's cold. All right maybe 67 isn't cold to you, but to me it's cold and I don't like it....I live in Florida and I want it hot all day everyday, hot and sunny.

Because it's so cold I felt the only thing I could do to make myself feel better about the dropping temperature is make a pot of tea.

Making tea is a very involved process.

Choose your tea, black, green, herbal, organic herbal, flavored, caf/decaf and on it goes.

Once you've chosen your tea then you can determine the water temperature. Black tea takes boiling water, any thing else the water needs to be just below boiling.

The pot has to be prepared by putting heated water in it to warm up so it doesn't break when you pour in the water from the tea kettle.

Pouring the hot water over the tea bags starts the process of steeping the tea. For black tea 5 minutes, green or lighter tea 3 minutes.

It's the steeping I want to address here.

The unsuspecting bag full of wonderful dried leaves is placed in a tea pot. The pot is warm and very cozy, nice place to be for a tea bag. Very comfortable...warm, dark nice place for a nap.

Then out of no where comes this boiling hot water being poured over the innocent tea bag till it is completely covered.

Totally immersed in hot water, something wonderful happens, the boiling water rehydrates the leaves and as they steep in this bath they begin to do the very thing they were created to do.

They release their flavor into the water, the aroma sneaks out of the tea pot filling the air around it with an inviting fragrance.

Soaking in the hot water doesn't take forever, even though it may seem like it. A short amount of time to make an entire pot of something soothing, healing, refreshing and tasty.

Once the steeping process is complete, the tea bags are removed. They are done, they have given everything and the plain water is infused with the sacrifice of the tea bag.

At this point the flavorful aromatic liquid is poured out of the tea pot into a heated cup to benefit anyone willing to drink.

No one has to worry if the tea bags will make tea when the hot water is poured on them. They will do what they do...when the appointed time for the steeping has come the water is tea.

It's a process that has guaranteed results.

When we are steeped in the Holy Spirit we have nothing to worry about.

All we have to do is allow the Holy Spirit to wash over us and steep in it's warm liquid. Allowing God to make provision for us.

When we immerse ourselves in Him and soak up His Spirit we will come to the place where we don't worry, we Know, He will provide for us.

The Message Bible translates Matthew 6:33,34 this way: Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

He will meet our needs, all of them, when we allow Him to completely immerse us in His Spirit.

Now, lets talk about the cookies we eat with the tea......

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

God's Family

2009-09-28T23:49:00.004-04:00

I would love to have you visit my church. Not only because it's a group of people with a strong desire to be in God's perfect will, not because we are a new church, but because we meet in a Jewish Temple.

The fact that Jesus was Jewish, and we are grafted into Abraham's line by the blood of Jesus, makes our meeting there more special to me.

In the front there is a beautiful stained glass circular window, in the window are twelve squares situated clockwise around the inside of the circle, the banner of each of the twelve tribes of Israel is in a square. Sometime I'll post a picture of it for you to see. It's beautiful.

We had our first praise and worship night a couple of Sundays ago.

God is always faithful to His people when they let go of all the outward trimmings and just get down to business and worship Him for who He is.

No laundry list, no bargaining, no looking around at what others are doing, just pure from the gut worship. You and God and no one else.....there His power is released on our behalf.

While singing I looked up at the stained glass window and started crying. You see, the pictures on the stained glass suddenly became very real to me.

I couldn't take my eyes off the piece. Each of the twelve Tribes represented there, in a place where God is so sacred, were real people.

Families, Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Babies, Teens, Aunts, Uncles, rich, poor, sick, healthy everyone in Abraham's lineage became human to me. These were now my people, because I have been adopted into God's kingdom.

They were real people, not just names, and words on the pages of my Bible, not just historical figures. They were real, I could see them.

At that moment I knew it wasn't just our little group worshiping, but millions of people who have gone before us. Members of those original twelve tribe and all their descendants were joining us in worship.

I was completely overwhelmed at the bigness of that moment.

Every time we raise our voice in worship it's not just us, but a chorus of ancestors all related by a covenant made thousands of years ago that's still in effect today. A covenant threaded through history, joining us by the blood of Jesus, our common denominator, the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

I think we tend to Americanize Jesus like we have a lock on all things Holy.

We get so caught up in today's modern religious practices we forget about the rich history that led us to where we are today. We forget these people are real, and we don't have a lock on anything, these people paved the way for us to be who we are today and we are paving the way for future generations.

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Gen. 22:17

We are numbered in that count, our children and grandchildren are numbered in His family

Someday people will be worshiping and we will be a part of that heavenly chorus joining them.

And so it goes, one generation leading the way for another, teaching, setting an example, telling our stories to glorify our Creator. It's so much bigger than politics, jobs, cars, jewelry, bank accounts, it's about being part of a family that is so big the numbers can't be counted.

God's Family.

So my Family members, God our Father craves our worship because He is God, we worship Him because of who He is.

Today and everyday as you go about your business take time to worship Him and listen for the millions of voices joining you in singing His Praises.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Thankful Thursday......

2009-09-24T13:26:00.007-04:00

OK, today is "Thankful Thursday" so I will proceed...

Tuesday my friend Elizabeth and I went to the HolyLand Experience where these photos were taken.

After the body of Christ was taken down from the cross I stood there looking at an empty cross with the "blood stained" cloth they used to remove the body.

I am so grateful my Savior doesn't hang on a cross, have His remains buried in some cave in the Middle East or worse just disappeared with out a trace.

My Savior descended into the depths of hell, captured the keys to open the prison doors and set us free from sin and death.

Because He took every sin, temptation, and disease into Him self and carried it with Him to the cross we are free.

He has the keys ready for us to take and use to pray our children free, to pray release for our household and to open the doors to total restoration.

He's holding the keys out for us to use to unlock healing for our household, friends, and our Country. He has all ready done the work, all we have to do is go with all the faith we have and start opening doors.

I can see them opening now.

Some of them rusted shut. With some anointing oil on the hinges and the Keys to the Kingdom in our possession we can call our family out from behind locked doors and into His presence for salvation, healing, deliverance, restoration, total forgiveness and unconditional love.

We as Godly Women and Men are challenged to put on God's Armor, pick up out Battle Gear and

start unlocking some doors.

He's done His part, now it's time for us to do ours.

If you're weary in battle, don't give up....He will send Angels to minister to you, He will lift you up with His right hand and you will regain your strength to keep standing on your families behalf.

Always remember, you are not alone in this fight, and in that have peace and rest assured what He has started He will finish.

So, what are you thankful for this beautiful Thursday?

Congratulations to my friend Elizabeth who became an American Citizen today!! God Bless America...

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

My Plan vs. God's Plan

2009-09-19T17:20:00.005-04:00

Plan A. Graduate High School, go to college, become a teacher, get married, have children, be a stay at home Mom. OK I'm telling my age on this one!

Plan B. Go to Cosmetology school, get my license, work, get married have children, work part time.

Plan C. Go to Canada with husband and children, live on a religious commune, wait to become the "voice crying in the Wilderness" OOPS!

Plan D. Return to USA with husband and children, be a stay at home Mom

Plan E. Join Mary Kay, work my way up the ladder to National Director, take care of my family for life! Loved my Pink Cadillac.....

Plan F. Walk into sin....take my family with me...divorce, marry again then 20 years of blackness and pain

Plan G. Go through the divorce from Hell, lose everything important to me, start life over in my 50's

Plan H. Find a career I can do for the rest of my life b/c no retirement, see Plan G.

Plan I. Great job secure for the rest of my working days, get laid off due to Company going under

Plan J. Live on unemployment, w/o alimony that was awarded being paid, see Plan G.

Plan K. Find a career I can do for the rest of my working life while on unemployment see Plan J

Plan L. Find a great hobby on line writing sharing my faith, but it doesn't pay the rent.

Plan M. Fall helplessly into the arms of my Father realizing plan A-L are my plans and His perfect plan is yet to unfold for me.

Relinquishing all rights to my life's plans and ambitions brings me full circle don't you think?

I'm back to Plan A. Only this time, with much prayer and humbleness, I will walk toward, and not side step from my Father's path.

All my failed plans are strewn like flower petals behind me.

The good news is, from each failed plan I have learned lessons that have propelled me forward. I have met true friends that will be carried with me on the rest of my journey.

Where am I going now? I don't know....

What I do know is this...

Many are the plans of a woman's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Prov19:21

Even with all my past failures, because my heart is turned toward my Father, His purpose will prevail in my life.

Should He choose to not reveal it to me right now, it's OK. I have come to learn to trust Him and not try to orchestrate too much because I don't want to be so caught up in my plans that I miss His.

In sharing all this with you I want you to see and understand something very important.

Our past doesn't matter, when we come to the end of ourselves and fall at His feet, He'll pick up the broken pieces, dust us off and set us on the perfect path He designed for us.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

So, whatever life's plan you find yourself on right now, it's not too late to give it up and run to the One that all ready has your life's journey planned from the end to the beginning.

Run to Him, His arms of love are open wide.

He's waiting to turn your life into the very thing He created you for. Turn all your past over to Him and let His creative energy be your guide into your God created future!

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Free To Be Me

2009-09-16T12:00:00.005-04:00

I have entered a scholarship contest to attend a Retreat for Women who have blogs. Go figure!

I love the name "FREE TO BE ME" wow.....

Since my unemployment began in March I have stumbled upon a whole new world on the internet.

No, not just my farms, my yoville world, and my tropical island, pillow fights, water fights, and Twitter but a world of Women who share what God has given them.

I discovered the world of ministry in blogging.... wow, what a concept.

While checking for jobs, applying for unemployment, I could write down all the "stuff" God was putting in me.

I had an outlet.

My concern was, I'm not that computer savvy, html and links, and all are a foreign concept to me.

Slowly, as I take baby steps, I'm learning enough to put the words He has given me out there.

It's not fancy and certainly not professional, but it is from my heart and I believe that has to count for something.

When the Single Mother's Ministry I was helping with was stopped by the church I was attending, I had no where to "get rid" of the words God would put in my heart. I kept writing lessons and shared them with a few close friends.

I am so happy to be able to share what He has given me and so honored that He would give me words to say.

So, if your reading this, I would like to thank you for being here.

I can only pray that as He gives me words and I put them out there for people to read, somewhere in the process a few hearts will be touched.

Whatever He is putting in front of you, step out. Even if it's something you've never done before or never even thought of before, it could be the beginning of a whole new adventure for you and God. Don't be afraid, He's holding you up and if you fall flat on your face, He'll pick you up and set you on your way.

If you are interested in more information on the retreat there's a link on the side bar of my blog. I have no idea how to put it in here so you'll just have to look for it! :)

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

God's Garden

2009-09-15T14:01:00.007-04:00

Pictured to the right are our sad, sad tomato plants.

Amy did her best to grow tomatoes. She watered, weeded, separated, sprayed for bugs, prayed and whatever else we could come up with to make them healthy and produce beautiful tomatoes.

I cheered her on trying to come up with semi-intelligent suggestions to make those darn thing produce food for us.

The plants were tall, lots of leaves, looked healthy on the surface, but very few flowers formed and no tomatoes at all. :(

We are very sad at the dismal future of these plants.

After examining these pretty plants closer I saw something very important. They barely had any roots.

I don't know how the plants grew so tall when the roots were so pathetic, unless it was for me to share this with you today. Funny how God uses our apparent failures to teach valuable lessons...

Without a good strong deep root system the plant can't get the nourishment it needs to produce food.

If we as Christians don't have a good solid deep root system we will be uprooted by the first breeze of deception that blows our way.

We have to be grounded and rooted in His word in order to produce any fruit at all, much less flourish as God intended.

By daily studying His Word and ingesting it into the very depths of our being we can cultivate a solid, deep root system that will cause us to grow and flourish on top of the ground where the fruit will produce life.

Jer. 17:8 tell us, "He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of draught and never fails to bear fruit."

The deeper and bigger our root system is the more lush and tasty the fruit will be on the surface.

But, remember the root system is established first, before you even see a sprout above ground the roots are digging down deep into the soil for nutrients, water and stability.

I think as Christians, we need to learn to first dig deep, get our root system healthy and stable before we try to impress people with what's on the surface.

If we don't we will be toppled over by the first wind of deception that blows our way.

Join me in the dirty work of digging deep into the word to establish a life system that will support us during trials and temptations.

Pull out your Warrior's Manual, let your Spirit drink in the Water of the Word and feel the good earth between your roots building strength for the Battles to come.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Warrior in a nursing home, my Dad

2009-09-11T12:07:00.006-04:00

There's a lot I could write about my Dad, but since this is the anniversary of the Attacks on America I want to share this story with you.

He was in a nursing home in Nashville, Tn in his nineties and having had multiple hip fractures couldn't walk any longer.

He was a decorated WWII veteran and extremely patriotic, he loved this Country.

When he heard the news of the attacks something happened, the same thing that happened in many of our veterans.

The very thing he fought to protect was being attacked, his family was in danger, everything in him rose up ready to go back to battle.

He wanted his gun, he wanted his boots and he wanted to be put in a chair so he would be ready.

He had a full sized American Flag put up in his window. He wanted to make sure if any of those @#@# flew by they would know who was in that room.

He was ready and fully willing to go back into battle to protect what he valued so highly.

Some people thought it was "cute", but I was so proud. Here was this little frail man who's body was just not able to function anymore with a warrior mentality. Ready, mentally prepared to lay his life on the line again for his Country.

He wasn't in a depressed state or suffering from any mental issues that come with being older he was fully aware of what was going on and was fully ready do make the sacrifice to protect and defend America.

He died two months later, never really recovering from the stress of the attacks.

He never stopped asking for his gun and boots.

To the end a frail gentle man with a warriors heart.

His memorial service was attended by a military guard, they read his service record and said they were proud to be attending his service.

As they presented me his flag all I could do was sob, but once again I was so proud of that little frail man with a warrior spirit.

Today, as we remember the Attacks on America tell your children and grandchildren. Never let this time in history get buried and made any less than what it was. And don't ever think it can't happen again.

God Bless America and all those who protect Her.

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Now you see Him, now you don't

2009-09-09T00:09:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago my friend, Elizabeth and I went to the Orlando Science Center to see the sky through the huge telescope they have.

I'm not much of a student of the stars, planets and such but it sounded like an interesting evening.

We climbed up into the little tower where the telescope was then at the right moment we each got to climb a ladder to look at Jupiter.

I wasn't too happy about climbing a ladder when I'm all ready at the tippy top of the building. But I figured I was there and didn't want to look like a chicken so I took a DEEP breath, acted like everything was super duper and climbed up. The ladder did have hand rails and I was hoping no one noticed I was grasping the rails like they were my sole link to life.

Focusing in on the telescope I saw Jupiter and it's moons. Cool, how fast can I get down this ladder and down the circular stair way to a safe place??

Once safely on the top of the building we could see Jupiter on our own. It was a very bright light, not too impressive unless you're into that kind of thing.

Then the clouds started to roll in and I stood there and watched as Jupiter slowly faded away.

I knew it was still right where it was before the cloud cover, but I couldn't see it. All I could see with my eyes was darkness. I kept watching the spot like I was going to get some kind of sign that Jupiter knew I was rooting for it to be uncovered so we could see it again.

Standing there in the darkness staring at the sky that once had a pretty light for me to focus on I realized how cool it was for God to provide me with a little visual of Him and me.

I was so excited when I realized all this, I started talking as fast as I could trying to explain what I was seeing to Elizabeth, who by now knows me well enough to just hold on for the ride till I'm done with my "revelating".

This was amazing...I saw Jupiter, I knew it was there because I saw it. After the clouds covered it and I couldn't see it anymore, was I sure it was still there? Of course, because I knew it didn't fall out of the sky it was just behind a cloud cover. I had faith to believe it was there, behind the clouds.

When God is bright and shinning, preforming miracles on our behalf, bringing our household into salvation, raining down financial blessings, healing our illnesses, and all the other great stuff He does we all can see Him with our eyes and marvel at the beautiful light.

We are so excited knowing He's shinning just for us we can't help pointing Him out for others to see.

But what happens when the clouds roll in?

Are we still looking?

Are we still excited?

Are we still pointing Him out to others?

Are we still able to "see" Him behind the clouds?

Are we strong enough in our faith walk that we don't need to "see" Him constantly to know He's there?

When we can't see him because of a cloud cover what do we do? Worry that maybe He's left and forgotten us or Praise Him because we know He's always there?

Matthew 28:20 promises, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

It doesn't matter where we are in our journey, or what inconvenience we're facing today, He promises He's right there with us.

It's our choice to believe Him.

It's our choice to exercise our faith and thank Him for being our covering, our protection, our everything, even if we can't see Him.

We can have faith that He's behind the cloud taking care of our business.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Whose Battle is it?

2009-09-04T22:56:00.004-04:00

These are my children. The Bride is my newest daughter-in-love. My other d-i-l was probably chasing kids. Not sure where my son-in-love was either. Aren't they beautiful? I digress.

I firmly believe the prayers of a Mother for her household have a special place in God's heart.

Sometimes our prayers are ones of thanksgiving, but for the most part our prayers are battle cries.

When a Mother is crying out for the salvation of one of her children, or praying a covering over a child that she doesn't know where they are, or a Mother trying to capture her child out of the jaws of death all heaven is moved.

When these Mother's groan in travail for their children, with no one to turn to but God Himself, I can see God hushing the Angels and saying, "Hush, listen, that's one of My Girls, she needs Me."

I know with out a doubt the fervent prayers of a Mother touches the very heart of God. And those prayers hold a power only God, the Angels and another Mother can understand.

I have anointed pictures, pillows, clothing, mattresses and whatever else I could sneak a dab of oil on while praying over my children. I've cried, spent sleepless nights, cried some more praying,praying,praying for issues to be dealt with and healed, for restoration, salvation, guidance, the list goes on.

Every now and then something spectacular happens that lets me know God hears me and is bringing His plan into reality for me.

I'm changing my mental picture of a Mother. You know the one, apron on, dinner cooking, laundry folded, carpet vacuumed, gentle, smiling, mild tempered. Mrs. Cleaver, we all know the image.

What I'm beginning to see is not a domestic goddess but a warrior. Totally clad in her battle gear, sword drawn, watching, on guard, alert, standing ready at a moments notice to storm hell's gates for her household if needed.

2Chronicles20 gives us our battle plan step by step.

In vs.3 Jehoshaphat proclaimed a three day fast when he heard about the armies on their way to attack. During this time he was determined to hear from the Lord .

When the whole nation was gathered Jehoshaphat spoke out in verse 12 saying, "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You "

Then someone from the crowd spoke out and said, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not your, but God's. Then he told them, "You will not have to fight this battle, TAKE UP YOUR POSITIONS; STAND FIRM AND SEE THE DELIVERANCE THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU. DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."

After that Jehoshaphat and the whole crew bowed down in worship before the Lord. Then the Levites stood up and praised the Lord with a very loud voice... no whimpering or crying here, praising loudly is how we are to go into battle.

Jehoshaphat appointed worshipers to go out ahead of the army. The worshipers were the front line assault force in this army.

As they began singing, praising, and worshiping the Lord Himself set ambushes for the enemy army. The bad guys became so confused they began killing each other, not one of them was left.

When we go into battle for our children, after fasting and seeking God, we get loud. We put on our game face, we put on our armor, we praise and worship thanking God for the victory He is about to hand us.

The battle is not ours, it's God's. That doesn't mean we sit idly by, no, we train, we prepare, we move out in praise and worship to the battle field then we stand on His word.

The Bible says it took them three days to haul back all the loot they gathered from the armies.

When we allow God to orchestrate the battle, not only are we assured the victory but He provides us with all the spoils. I believe the spoils will be all the things the enemy has stolen from us in the past, everything he owes us God will allow us to collect.

There's a lot of warfare to do, as we learn this battle plan we will get into position more quickly and the battle cry from the core of our very being will be a shout, a loud sound of praise. Then God will step in and set the ambushes.

Victory is ours, the battle is God's. What a sweet deal! Only a loving Father, a mighty protector would fight the battle for His Children. I don't know about you, but I'm so glad I'm one of His favorite Girls.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Thankful Thursday......

2009-09-03T23:28:00.004-04:00

As I read through my favorite blogs today I noticed a theme. Thankful Thursday was the going topic in many blogs so I figured I'd add my partial list.

Sorry I don't have fancy pictures and special fonts to make this more special, but my list is just my list

1. I'm thankful that while being unemployed I have been able to see the favor and generosity of my Father through friends, family and sometimes financial surprises!

2. I'm thankful I was able to attend the A Woman Inspired conference.

Because of what I learned I was able to start this blog, and meet some

really cool girls.

3. I'm thankful to belong to the church I attend

4. I'm thankful all four of my children and my grandchildren are healthy

5. I'm thankful for my health

6. I'm thankful for friends that encourage and support me

7. I'm thankful I have had the privilege of housing and "Mothering" kids that

needed a "Mom" or just a place to stay.

8. I'm thankful God will reveal His plan for my future in His time and until then

I can rest in the knowledge His plan is so much better than mine would be.

9. I'm thankful I live in a free nation where I can agree or disagree with out

threat of imprisonment.

10. I'm thankful God sent you here to visit me.

I'm curious, as you read through my list what things came to your mind that you are thankful for? List them in the comments so I can get to know you better.

Now it's almost Favor Filled Friday and God will move in a new and exciting way just as He did today. Are you anticipating Favor for Friday? I am

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

God's Favor

2009-09-01T15:24:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, as we all know was Monday. Enough said, it was Monday.

This week my Monday started Sunday night! It's bad enough Monday is Monday, but when it starts a day early that's just more than any one girl should have to deal with!

My car tags are up for renewal in Sept., I received the notice from the State a couple weeks ago. I didn't open it, I knew when it was due, why open it and have to worry about the money for tags a month in advance?

I knew there would be plenty of financial challenges between now and the end of the month and I didn't want to add the cost of tags to my list. So in my Scarlett O'Hara fashion I "filed" it unopened!

I did notice someone posting about the cost of tags going up in Fl. but I decided they certainly wouldn't do it till the beginning of next year.......silly me!

Sunday, the beginning of my Monday, I happened to see on the news the price for the tags was going up not just up, but UP almost double, Sept. 1, Tuesday.

As I sat it total shock, visualizing a calendar in my brain, with today as Sunday, Monday came next and was the 31 I suddenly realized what all the fuss was about!!

I had NO money to get my tags and only one day to orchestrate the purchase of 2 years worth, to "put it to the State" for hiking the cost of my tags!!

Florida was graciously allowing all born Sept-Nov to buy tags at the low low cost of what we had been paying, enabling us to avoid the hellacious fee hike they were about to impose on us for two years.

I needed to come up with $71 in less than 24 hours!! Remember, no money in the bank!

Immediately, I went into panic mode.

Where was I going to come up with that kind of money that fast??

I sent a text message to my youngest son who said he might be able to help out with one year. Whew..at least one year taken care of.

Out of sheer lunacy, I sent my ex an email reminding him how long it had been since I'd seen an alimony check and perhaps he could send me a little something to help out. Now, that was a move of a desperate woman.

All this on Sunday night, Monday hadn't even arrived yet!!!

I had to let my friend know about this financial burden the State was imposing on us because her birthday is in Nov., now two of us were trying to scramble to raise funds for these tags!! I had to share with her, misery loves company! Plus, I wanted her to pick up on the savings if she could.

My friend offered to pay for mine and hers on her card and gave me all her information. How sweet was that??

As we were plotting our attack on the tax office, her from her work and me from my home we discovered:

A. tax office didn't take phone orders

B. Neither of us could go stand in line, she worked and Amy was using my car

C. Couldn't go on line because the renew web site was shut down!! Of course everyone inFlorida who's birthday was Sept-Nov. was trying to get on to get their tags.

Are you getting the picture here? This was a time crunch, an all out assault against the tax system and we were bound and determined to win.

War had been declared!

I took all the info. I needed from my friend and proceeded carefully moving forward into attack position.

The web site was down. I called, was put on what seemed like a never ending hold, finally I got though. Victory was in my reach!

Armed with credit card and ready to do battle I was informed they didn't do phone orders.

I don't remember what I said but groveling and tears were involved.

OK she would help me, but not on someone else's credit card. Panic set in, then I remembered Amy put her rent money in my checking account that morning. Full speed ahead, I whipped out my card and gave her my numbers. Yes.... victory!!!! I won, two years of tags for a mere $71 WHOO HOO!!!!

With one victory down, no one could stop me from finding a way to get my friend's tags. After all, her giving me everything but her first born was a verbal temporary power of attorney, at least in my mind.

I checked the news, it didn't look good for anyone not standing in concert ticket sized lines. I saw they were issuing vouchers if the web site went down.... BINGO... had to get voucher at all cost....

I called back, waited on hold, disguised my voice just in case it was the same person from the enemy camp answering the phone. Introduced my self with my new temporary identity, kind of James Bondish, don't you think??

Was told the vouchers were issued if their access to the State web site went down. Ouch, temporary set back.... think fast.....all I remember is more groveling, more begging for mercy.

The next thing I remember was giving "my" tag number, then "my" address, all "my" pertinent information....Victory was at hand!!!

Mission accomplished!!!

After catching my breath, doing an "in your face" victory lap and allowing the adrenalin to stop pulsing through my body I reflected on the whole scenario.

I was geared up, I was pumped, ready to do whatever I needed to do to make this happen, but.....

God allowed me to have the victory. His favor had people doing what they normally don't do, in a crazy situation that should have turned out very differently.

Luke2:14 NIV tells us, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom His FAVOR rests.

Peace? There was no peace. I was fighting a battle, on my own....No peace

Looking back, isn't hind sight wonderful, I had no need to go into "crazy mode", God had it all planned for me. All I had to do was take one step at a time, proceed in His anointing and the whole issue wouldn't have been like a circus!

We operate under a different set of laws. His Kingdom operates differently and when we are grafted into His Kingdom we are placed under His mantle of Favor and Grace.

So, next time I go into battle, I must stop, check my Battle Gear and then proceed to victory.

I know He was getting a chuckle out of my antics. He must have been thinking "Silly Girl, don't you know I have it taken care of? You have favor with the King, your Father, what do you have to worry about?"

You have unmerited favor with the King of Kings also. What ever battle you face today, His favor rests upon you.

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

What's next? Don't Ask!

2009-08-29T11:53:00.005-04:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks? You know the one, looking back you can't see one discernible thing accomplished, attacks coming from every side, and you just numb from all of it.

Please, someone, anyone tell me I'm not the only on out there with weeks like this!

My ankle has been puffy and aching everyday from poor circulation, the one disc in my back has been throbbing like it's ready to explode. I wake up today and can barely talk, my throat is scratchy and every time I speak I sound a little like the Little Rascals character "Froggy", anyone remember him??

Through my walk with the Lord there's one question I've learned NEVER to ask. When I say never, I mean not to even let the thought finish in my brain. Don't go there....nope...back away from the thought....run Forrest run!!

What's the question you ask?

The question can be put out there in various forms but it goes something like this: What else can happen? What's going to happen next? What did I do to deserve this? Can it get any worse? And one of my personal favorites, How much more can I take, Lord, where are you? Can't you see what's going on???????

With my coffee and my Bible in tow I went to my back porch and low and behold, out there in my safe place, waiting for me was my own personalized Pity Party!

The minute I sat down and opened my Bible my brain, not yet fully engaged due to lack of caffeine, started letting me have it! Rehashing the under productive week, all the little ailments thrust upon me by my body, the underdeveloped state of my checking account. It was like the words in my Bible faded away and my brain took on a life of it's own.

The battle was on, my poor under caffeinated brain was struggling with its self. The me bashing coming in loud and clear.

Then somewhere way back in my brain a faint little voice with only one word jolted me out of my misery.

What was that word?

I'm glad you asked....

"Content"

"NO" my brain shouted," how can we be content? Look around, look at the mess, no one cares. Feel your back hurting? Try to pay a bill, see what happens! Watch as your ankle swells up today. Try to talk see how bad it hurts!! We can't be content in this....."

I heard it again, "Be Content"....

Oh, for pity sake, I was just beginning to enjoy being the guest of honor at this little party.

"I have a purpose and a plan"....

Then I realized I had to make a choice.

As comfortable as I was at my party, I had to choose to crawl out of the muck and mire that my brain was trying to suck me into. The sludge was covered over and called a party, but what it was meant to do was pull me into a darkness I really didn't want be in.

Swigging down another gulp of coffee, my brain started to switch gears from the whole depressing scene, and I began to focus in on the words written on the pages of my Warrior's Manual.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

OK, my ankle is still puffy, my back is still throbbing, my throat still feels like there's a piece of sandpaper in it, BUT GOD....

Sustained by the proper amount of caffeine I can see these "ailments" as minor inconveniences on my way to the promised land.

I have so much to be grateful for that my list of blessings far exceeds any pitfalls that have crossed my path along the journey. And trust me there have been pitfalls many many pitfalls, many of my own making.

I'm choosing to march on with head held high.

My armor in place, after a little struggle.

My Battle Gear protecting me

I can face the giants set out to destroy me today, knowing God my Father is right there, His right hand sustaining me.

This week is over and next week is about to begin. It offers new hope, new opportunities, new challenges and new mercies. Like the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, I can see the water piled high on both sides of me, however I am fully aware Who's holding the water back for me to cross on dry land.

Just as He's holding the water back for me, He's holding it for you too. The amazing thing about God is, as His children we are each His favorite and what He dose for one He'll do for all.

Now it's time to get excited and execute a little Happy Dance!

If you're just getting out of a not so stellar week or going into one filled with uncertainty you can confidently put your Battle Gear on and march ahead. He's got your front, He's got your back, and He's holding the water at bay so you can cross into next week on dry land!

Another cup of coffee and a Happy Dance will do me just fine, come join me!!

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Blessings or Cursing?

2009-08-26T22:49:00.003-04:00

We make choices everyday. Most of them seem small, insignificant not worth praying over or worrying about.

We choose what to wear. Not necessarily a big deal, unless we choose to wear jeans to a formal dinner. Then we look a little silly.

We choose what to eat. Again, not a big deal unless we choose to ingest something we are allergic to, then we have a huge problem.

The consequences of our choices can be minimal or life threatening.

Psalm 109:18 tells us, "He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil."

Life or Death? Choose life

The words we speak, read, and listen to seep into the very core of our being, into our bones.

Words are active, if we aren't sending out and creating blessings we are sending out and creating curses.

Which do you choose? Blessings or Cursing?

With our words we are forming the future of our household.

Positive-Negative

Blessing-Cursing

Prosperity-Poverty

Building up- Tearing Down (Abuse)

Life-Death

Destructive, negative word curses and thoughts can seep into the center of our very being.

I can picture raw sewage seeping out of the ground covering everything in it's path, being absorbed into whatever it touches. Dark, raw, life threatening, filth being taken in by what used to be alive, covering it and choking it to death.

The choices we make regarding entertainment will affect our thoughts and seep into our very inward parts. Books we read, movies, TV shows, Internet, magazines will all affect our words, our beliefs and our future.

Choose Life!

Instead of wearing cursing as a garment, put on a garment of praise

Instead of having cursing enter our bodies like water, allow the water of the word to wash us clean.

Instead of allowing cursing to be absorbed into our bones like oil, we need to pour the anointing oil of the spirit over us and let it soak into our bones making us strong.

Choose life!

What curses have you worn? Something a parent or loved one said to you? Maybe a teacher, pastor, or friend said something that wounded you. Think about books or magazines articles, movies, pictures on the internet, that you knew were not what you should be looking at.

God wants us to be free of the curses we've been subjected to. In His word there is freedom. Let Him wrap you in His arms of love and remove the curses that have weighed you down.

Lord, I ask you to touch everyone reading this. Clear our vision so we can see the things that would come upon us as a curse. Give us discernment to recognize words spoken or printed that would do us harm. Strengthen us so we can do away with anything that is not in line with your blessing over our households. We stand, knowing the battle is not ours but yours.

Keep your head up, your eyes open and always be alert for something trying to sneak up on you to take your focus off God. The battle is on!

My challenge to us all is list everything we can think of that has come upon us as a curse. Everything that is designed to suck the life out of us. Study it, and ask God for guidance in dealing with each item on the list. Ask for clarity of mind to discover the root of the curse and then ask for God's guidance for dealing with it. One by one, deal with the very root of the things that are trying to seep into your bones and cause your spiritual death. Then pour on the anointing oil of the spirit to heal and refresh.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Thank you for your prayers!

2009-08-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

For those of you who have asked, Linette was released from the hospital today.

Instead of having to wait 12 weeks for a second surgery the surgeon was able to do both at one time.

What a miracle!

Faithful Instruction

2009-08-24T23:11:00.011-04:00

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Prov. 31:26 NIV

I know, that pesky Prov.31 Chick keeps popping up!

As I cruised Face Book and Twitter today I was made very aware that today was the first day of school for many here in Florida.

As an aside, I have no idea why the kids here are forced back to school the last few weeks of August. Seems to me the proper thing to do is to wait till after the Labor Day holiday. But, no one asked me!

Trying to come up with an eye catching photo for my thoughts I stumbled on this one. My two oldest ones on their first day of school.

To give you an idea, both of these cuties are in their mid-thirties now!! YIKES

Reading this scripture makes me think of all the times as a young mother I didn't speak with wisdom and faithful instruction was not on my tongue, in my mind or anywhere else.

As parents, it is our privilege to train and teach our children.

The only way a young parent can accomplish this feat is by having Godly parents to model after, or have a Godly mentor.

Without a strong faith and solid support system in place it is almost impossible to become a speaker of wisdom. God's Wisdom

To be able to fill our children with faithful instruction, or instruction that is full of faith, we ourselves must be dedicated to studying the Word and walking everyday as closely as we can with God.

Every moment of everyday we must be studying who He is and what He does, so we can be filled with faith and set the example for our household.

The best way to study Him besides reading His word, is living the kind of life He has purposed for us.

It's not about the money, cars, or the big house, it's about knowing Him, being so in love with Him that we know what ever comes our way He's got our back.

Faithful Instruction is living a life that exemplifies faith in the Father.

We teach by speaking God's word and telling our children all the miracles He's done for us. Speaking Blessings not Curses.

We teach by being a living example to our children and when they get to be adults they will in turn be able to Speak with Wisdom and have Faithful Instruction on their tongues.

Could I possibly be the only parent with mounds of regrets regarding the upbringing of my children? Am I the only one that made mistakes? Is there no one out there that would give anything to be able to go back and redo a lot of what was done? I can't be the only one....

We can't go back and start over with the wisdom we have today, but we can take the wisdom we have now and use it to help others along their journey.

It doesn't matter how old or young you are, look for someone to teach, someone to share your wisdom with. When you share and pour out God will bless you with more.

Suddenly you'll realize you are speaking with wisdom and faithful instruction is on your tongue.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Please join me in Prayer

2009-08-18T09:30:00.005-04:00

My dear friend Gloria's daughter is going into surgery today.

Linette is a 26 year old single mother and is having major life altering surgery.

Anyone dropping by for coffee and a visit I'm asking you to offer prayer for Linette.

Sometimes we go to a certain place for refreshment, and receive a snack or a meal.

Sometimes we go seeking refreshment and are called on to serve the coffee.

Today I am asking you to serve up some prayer for Linette's body, mind and spirit.

I can pray alone with her and her Mom, but if you join with us on Linette's behalf we form an unstoppable offensive front and the enemy has to retreat.

Stand with us for her healing, be it by surgeons knife or by creative miracle. Either way the hand of the Creator will be guiding the events of today.

I'm off to the hospital now and will be there everyday. My job is to "pet" Linette's head. Gloria, her mom, can not miss work so I've been called in to be the assistant Mom. What an honor, and I don't take this assignment lightly. I feel like it is one of my own going in for surgery.

By calling you to battle for Linette I feel I've done a little extra for her. I know you will take this assignment as seriously as I do.

Suit Up, get your Battle Gear on, for you have been called on today to fight!

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Battle Gear, Breastplate of Righteousness

2009-08-15T10:46:00.008-04:00

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Eph.6:14NIV

I think a strong case of false humility is my biggest problem with the Breastplate of Righteousness.

My first thoughts are, oh I'm not a righteous person, you don't know my past.. Completely forgetting there is only one who is righteous.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that IN HIM we might become the righteousness of God. 2Cor.5:21.NIV

The Breastplate is designed to protect the vital organs from injury during a battle.

Being IN JESUS, is the only way we can strap on the Breastplate of Righteousness. HE is the Righteousness that protects our vital organs during battle.

To hold the Breastplate in place we use the belt of truth.

Knowing the Word of God will allow us to understand who our Righteousness is, and that truth will firmly hold Jesus next to our hearts for protection against the enemies attack.

When the enemy goes after our mind we have the Helmet of Salvation covering our heads, when he goes after our body, we have the Breastplate of Righteousness, Jesus, to protect us.

Two more pieces of the Battle Gear God designed for us to wear daily to protect us from anything the enemy has to use against us.

When we feel alone we need to remember He has designed the perfect Armor. He knew what we would need and designed our Armor to fit us individually for maximum protection.

Our God is not only with us in battle, HE IS OUR PROTECTION.

If God is our protection what can man or any evil force do to us??

As long as we "Suit Up" daily in Him, we have everything we need to assure victory.

In case you are wondering, I took the photo at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Just My Thoughts

2009-08-13T00:52:00.005-04:00

Dad,

This is for you!

I understand the basic premise for blogging, have an eye catching photo, base your topic on a scripture or two, share what God has shown through living life!

As a natural course of progression, I should go on with another part of the Armor of God to keep the flow going. I'll pick it up again, because it's stuff God has placed in my heart and if I don't get it out somewhere He won't give me more.

But today I just want to share something that concerns me and something that I feel needs prayer and consideration.

I watch the news, case different political arenas on line, read what others Blog and Tweet and comment about on Facebook and I use my upbringing, my world view, my moral compass and my Bible to help me seek out truth and form opinions.

My time of unemployment has given me the opportunity to start this Blog, meet some very interesting people, help my friend when her daughter was in the hospital and have some fun.

It's also allowed me to extend my time of prayer and study.

Don't get me wrong....I don't have my nose in the Bible 24/7, or am I on my knees near as much as I should be.

Regarding my job search, or what ever God has in store for me for this part of my life, I'm at peace. I know He has a purpose and a plan for me and it's better than I could ask for or imagine.

My concern today, along with many, is the trend that our basic freedoms are being slowly taken out of our grasps. All for our own good, of course!

As descendants of people who build a Nation on hard work, honesty, religious freedom, free speech, and many other freedoms we take for granted today, we need to take a look back to the beginning of our Country and learn from our ancestors. They came here looking for a life they could only dream about in the country of their origin. I fully realize many people entered this country because of the greed of others not of their own free will.

It makes me so sad to think of the years many have spent in uniform defending our basic freedoms from the enemies that would desire to take us over and make our country something

other than what it was created to be.

I suppose because my Dad was a veteran I was brought up with a soft spot in my heart for America. He made me realize how many men and women laid their lives on the line to preserve Freedom, to protect our Country from the threat of Communism, Socialism or any other ism that would seek to destroy us. While he was alive his patriotism was a tremendous example for anyone who knew him.

You can put a sheep's wool over a wolf, but it's still a wolf. As cute, soft and harmless as the sheep appears from a distance, it's still a wolf.

You can dress up some of the ideas our Country is being spoon fed, but when you really look close and examine them they are truly designed to destroy our Country as we know it. Taking away freedoms, not preserving them.

As Christians, somewhere along the line we believed the lie we were to be quite, not rock the boat, not make a scene, keep our beliefs quietly tucked away in some church service and leave the running of the Country to the "enlightened".

When did we turn over control of America to the minority? This is a democracy and the majority is supposed to rule not a hand full of fat cats in Washington whose word to the masses is, do as I say not as I do.

This Nation wasn't built on hand outs, taxes, unions, socialized medicine or anything else reeking of socialism, slick politicians, or the idea that the majority of the people were just too stupid to know what was good for themselves or their children.

I have to stop here or I won't be able to stop!!

I am so grateful to God for allowing those first freedom fighters to come across the ocean and settle our Country with the idea of democracy under God's leadership.

We as Believers in the God who created all living things need to stop being afraid.

We as Believers need to start getting prepared for battle.

We as Believers need to get on our knees and beg God's forgiveness for handing over our Great Country to people who don't acknowledge His part in creating America.

We as Believers need to beg forgiveness for compromising our beliefs just to keep a few happy.

We as Believers need to start walking tall, speaking with the sword of the spirit, being proud of the fact we are Warriors in God's Army.

We as Believers need to stop apologizing for our God and His direction and mandates.

It's time to get your Battle Gear on and get ready.

When Jesus approached the money changers at the temple I highly doubt He went in there like a dove. I think He more went in there like a Warrior defending His Father's house. "Guns a blazin"

We too need to be ready to speak the Word of God and be prepared for what may happen when we do.

Who ever gets this far in my rant, please don't let another minute go by without offering a gut wrenching prayer for God's favor over this Country, it's leaders, our precious military, and it's citizens.

We are the people.....

Blessings,

Princess Warrior, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Battle Gear, Your Shield

2009-08-10T23:00:00.008-04:00

In addition to all this, take up the Shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph.6:16 NIV

I read one type of ancient shield was made of leather. Before battle the shields were soaked in water, this way when the flaming arrows of the enemy hit the shield the fire was extinguished.

Our Shield of Faith as Christians is God. His word, His protection, His provision.

Ps. 33:18-20 NIV tells us, "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose Hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine, We wait in hope for the Lord; HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD!"

"Every word of the Lord is Flawless, HE IS A SHIELD to those who take refuge in Him." Prov.30:5 NIV

We think of a shield as a physical barrier designed to protect us from what ever we see as a threat.

In the arena of Spiritual Battle, God Himself is our Shield.

When we immerse our selves in the Water of the Word, our Spiritual Shield, God is able to extinguish all the enemies arrows that are targeted toward us.

Another function of the Shields that the Roman Soldiers carried was to form a "tent". By linking the shields and forming a wall of protection, the enemies arrows couldn't penetrate because each solider was linked to the one next to him by his shield.

We each have our own Shield of Faith that protects us, providing we pick it up daily as part of our Armor.

When we link up with our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, and our Shields are attached, no power of the enemy can penetrate through the Shield of Faith that is formed when two or three gather together in His Name. We can confidently march toward the front lines of battle.

By ourselves, our Shield of Faith is more than sufficient to protect us and our household from attack, but the real power is linking up with the community of believers and marching together as the Army of the Lord's.

Shoulder to shoulder, shield to shield, the enemy's forces have to flee in defeat. Our personal faith multiplied by many when we connect our Shields of Faith.

God has made provision for us for total and complete victory. That is so exciting, God Himself has all ready charted our course for victory!!

Time for a Happy Dance here!!!

As we put on the Whole Armor of God we can stand, knowing the enemies attack is going to fall short of it's intended target.

Our Shield of Faith is ready for us to pick up and utilize on a daily basis. Every morning we are to put on the Whole Armor of God

Lord, I thank You that You have made provision, and supplied us with the proper Battle Gear to insure complete victory over the enemy.

What do you do each day to prepare for that day's Battle?

Who do have in your life to link your Shield of Faith with?

I would be honored to be considered a Sister of Faith, to link my Shield with yours.

Our assignment is to dress ourselves for battle and stand in faith, God will bring the victory!

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Battle Gear, Your Sword

2009-08-07T22:27:00.004-04:00

Ephesians 6:17 tells us to, "Take the helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD." NIV

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged Sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts (which are protected by the Helmet of Salvation) and attitudes of the heart. Heb. 4:12 NIV

He made my mouth like a sharpened Sword, Is.49:2 NIV

I could go on adding scriptures referring to the tongue, mouth, lips, words but I'll just use these

three.

In preparing for Battle, we as trained warriors must make sure we have our sword with us. How else are we going to fight the enemy?

Every other piece of our Battle Gear is defensive, designed to protect a certain part of our body.

The Sword, however is offensive. With our Sword, the Word of God, we attack the enemy's lies and cut them apart.

With our Sword we can offensively attack the enemy in regard's to our household.

What ever our battle is, with the sword we can attack, and allow God to bring the victory in our lives by the effective use of His Word which is Alive and Active.

So many times we let our speech line up with what we see with our natural eyes rather than allowing the Spirit to speak through us to attack and defeat the enemy with what we say.

Using God's word to attack a situation is opening the door for God Himself to fight the battle for us. His word will not return void, and when we use it in accordance with our manual (Bible) victory is promised. If we can get out of the way and let God be God.

When we speak to a situation fully aware the Word is Active, knowing it will bring about God's perfect will we can stand firm in our Battle Gear resting in the sweet victory that is ours.

With our helmet firmly in place to protect our mind, all we hear is God's word, and in turn all we speak is God's word. Ripping to shreds the lies of the enemy, who, by the way, wants you separated from God, so you have no power.

Filling our selves with God's Word is the only way to be able to sound the Battle Cry when we go on the attack.

If we are fighting disease, wayward children, foreclosures, unemployment, repossessions, immorality, anything, being filled with the Word of God is the only way we can be assured of victory.

Grasping this one concept will change your prayer life.

GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE

Something has to happen to each one of us in order to fully grasp that sentence.

Yes, we know the Scriptures, we've heard it preached, we get goosebumps when we pray, we cry, we sob, we lay face down, we get on our knees, we walk around, we anoint with oil, we shake our fists, we repeat written prayers, we do do do and it seems our prayers don't go past the ceiling.

Not that any of that is bad or of no account, but if it's not working something is missing.

We have to grow to the place where we can, with out a doubt, with no reservations, no "if it's God's will", no tears, no dramatics, just KNOW, with every fiber of our being GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE!!! Happy Dance here!.

At that point, when we speak, all Heaven will jump and move to align itself with what we've just said.

How much more power can a girl want or need??

Are you excited yet??? I am!

Put your Helmet on, open your mouth and sound the Battle Cry over what ever situation you are facing.

Watch the Sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God, slice and dice through the enemy's lines and hand you the victory.

It's His word it HAS to come to pass, it HAS to bring victory.

You have to be so trained and prepared for battle that the very sight of the enemy's activity sends you into a Battle Cry that shakes Heaven and moves mountains.

All I can say is drench yourselves in the Word, it's life, it's power and it's victory.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Battle Gear, Your Helmet

2009-08-05T23:33:00.004-04:00

We are called to be Warriors.

We've been given a military manual of how to's that we are expected to read, learn, meditate on, speak of, teach, and live by.

If you think being a Christian is a cake walk, read your manual. We are told to put on the armor of God, prepare for battle, stand firm.

Just because we are "girls" and have painted nails, we are not excused from gearing up and going to the front lines.

No Girly Girl I know would think of going anywhere without proper accessories. This holds true for being deployed to the front lines.

One part of our ensemble is the Helmet of Salvation. Eph. 6:17NIV Take the helmet of salvation.

The helmet covers the entire head with only the eyes showing. Some helmets have vision goggles on them to protect the eyes.

What's in your head that's being protected???? Your Mind.

It's our mind that tells our unsaved body to get in line. The body follows, because it does what the mind commands.

Some helmets are equipped with audio for a direct link to dispatch. Unless the enemy can hack into the system, all the wearer hears is the voice from dispatch which is simply repeating what the commanding officer orders.

Our heart is tugged and convicted, but our salvation comes when our mind is protected by our helmet of salvation and our orders come through clearly.

We are saved, healed, restored, able to hear God's still small voice, able to see ourselves as God sees us, able to capture His perfect will for our lives when we have on our helmet of salvation.

Putting on our helmet of salvation, is the only way our minds can be renewed.

Putting on our helmet of salvation, is the only way our thoughts will change to line up with His word and His perfect plan for our lives.

What we are today is a result of our thoughts leading up to today. What we think today will determine our tomorrow. Put on your helmet of salvation.

Where God is, the enemy can't exist. Fill your mind with God's Word, with praise and the enemy HAS to flee. Put on your helmet of salvation.

When you actively, purposefully, diligently fill your mind with God's word your mind will become renewed. Put on your helmet of salvation.

Wearing your helmet of salvation will protect your mind from the lies the enemy will try to get you to believe. His arrows will fall short.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, put on your helmets. Whether they are camouflage, or pink and sparkly your helmet of salvation will protect your mind from the attacks of the enemy.

I pray as you read this you are blessed and will see the helmet of salvation in a different way.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Family Record

2009-08-03T23:22:00.012-04:00

Awhile back I encouraged the members of the

Single Mother's group I was in to make a

Miracle Book.

I believe recording miracles for our children is the best way we can share our testimony with them.

Today, this minute they may not be interested in what God has done for us or them. They may be running from Him, or too little to appreciate some of the miracles you have recorded.

Someday this book will be a written testament of what God has done for your household.

Miracles don't have to be the huge, growing out of limbs kind of miracles to be recorded.

I have a LOT of Winks from God recorded. Everyday little things that may not mean anything to anyone else, but I recognized where they came from.

During my time of unemployment I have never, not once, run out of coffee. Now that may not seem like a big deal to you.......unless you are a coffee nut like me. Wink from God!!

Filling the book with Family Miracles will not only be good for you, by providing therapy inexpensively, but at some point will show your kids why you spend all that time on your knees.

Writing down the blessings, miracles, and winks from God in one place provides you with a written record of God's love and care for you and your household.

I have also found it a sorce of comfort, encouragement and strength.

When I'm feeling alone and discouraged I only have to look at that book and I have to smile and praise God for what He's done and what I know He's going to do.

How can we be discouraged when we have an entire book filled with things He's all ready done for us?

If you don't all ready have a Miracle Book for your family I encourage you to grab a notebook, scrapbook what ever you have and start writing. It doesn't have to be listed in order, just write the times you know God has shown up and shown off for you.

You can decorate it with stickers, pictures, or drawings, fancy it up or keep it simple. It doesn't matter at all, just get it written down before you forget.

Picture your children someday reading it and getting to know the testament of their heritage a little more clearly.

Telling all the wonderful things our Father has done for you and your household is one project you won't regret working on for years to come.

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Are Your Hands Idle?

2009-07-31T23:31:00.011-04:00

Today I helped my friend go through her husband's Grandmother's things that were boxed up for sale. What wonderful treasures!

As I picked through boxes of linens that were cross stitched with tatting on the edges I had to hold myself back from taking them all home.

Not only were they beautiful, but doing needle work myself, each piece was special, unique, and I assume created with love.

This morning I was reading Proverbs 31. I have to admit I have a love hate relationship with that woman. It has to be humanly impossible to do everything she is credited with.

I just can't accept one woman could do all that with out electricity, a computer, a car and Starbucks.

The scripture that grabbed me today is verse 27. The NIV says "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

As I picked through each beautiful piece I couldn't help think of the time it took to create each masterpiece. Everything imaginable in stacks and stacks of fabric creations.

This woman was not idle, judging by the amount of work in those boxes. Her hands were busy, instead of being on the computer, or phone she was using her talents to create.

So many times we get sidetracked by life and lose track of what we are really called to do.

We are to make the home. Fill it with treasures, memories, smells, music, love, beauty.

We are to watch over the affairs of our household. Being alert at all times. Watching what comes in and what goes out. Not just finances, but people, things, books, TV shows, movies, music, web sites. All the affairs of our household. It's a big job, but it's one of our assignments from God.

Are you going to tell God He's given you to much to do?

Picture a warrior in full armor guarding her post, being responsible for the well being of what is inside her doors. Always ready, never idle.

What ever your hands find to do make sure they are creating as unto the Lord. Whether it's cross stitch, knitting, drawing, writing, or cleaning out a cupboard make your activity an act of worship.

We must challenge ourselves to resist the temptation if idleness.

I know if asked, God will give us the energy and creativity to do what needs to be done.

This week end, let's do a little something extra as a tribute to that woman in Proverbs.

I just had to share some of the pieces I brought home with me! I'm sorry the pictures aren't better so you could see the detail.

Have a blessed and fruitful weekend!

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Battle Gear

2009-07-29T22:31:00.005-04:00

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6: 10-13 NIV

A while ago I did a study on gearing up for battle. And as any good Christian knows we have to put on the Armor of God, but what exactly does that mean to you, to me?

Let me share with you my thoughts.

Be strong~~in the Lord~~ inside the Lord, when I am inside the Lord I am strong. We usually think of it as meaning I have to be strong in my faith in Him, Wrong....when I am INSIDE HIM I am strong. He is Strength.

Be strong~~ in His mighty power~~same thing, when I am INSIDE HIM His mighty power is mine.

If I'm wrapped up in a blanket, you can't see me because I'm in it. You see the blanket.

When I am wrapped up inside Him, you can't see me, neither can the enemy. All anyone can see is HIM, not me.

Put on the full armor of God. Put on the full armor, of God. God is the armor. If God is our armor, why are we weaping and moaning, throwing little sticks at the enemy trying to defeat him in our own strength?

Inside God we have armor that is bullet proof.

Time for a happy dance!!

When we are In God we have bullet proof armor covering everypart of us. The flaming arrows, bullets, bombs, knives, or words of the enemy can not get through God, our armor. I don't know about you, but this makes me excited!!

In our battle gear, which is God, we can stand firm knowing we are safe. Nothing the enemy can throw at us will kill us.

Our armor is God.

Knowing He is our armor what do we have to be afraid of?

Man? Are you kidding me, God Scoffs!

Illness? God Heals.

Bankrupcy? God Provides.

God Resotres. God fights our battles. God wins our battles.

Every morning, before you get out of bed, step into the best battle gear available, God.

I can see the firey darts of the enemy falling to the ground at your feet.

Be encouraged, you are only alone in battle if you choose not to gear up!

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

Walk This Way!

2009-07-27T22:27:00.008-04:00

Ok, I know that's a song title, I remember the song clearly!

This is not about a song or the video that went with it, sorry...

So many times we look at a situation and lament, if we just knew what God wanted us to do we'd be happy to do it.

If we just knew His will for our lives we'd jump on the right track and run to the prize.

If we had that cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night to guide us on our way...

If Jesus were alive and walking with us, like He was while He was on earth.....

If we had Joshua to lead us into the promised land....

If things were like they were in Bible times it would be easier.....

If we just didn't have so many distractions and noise or pretty sparkley things......

If we were in the Garden we wouldn't have messed up like Eve and Adam.....

If we just had our kids straightened out, then we could concentrate on God....

If we had a husband that was a Godly man, we'd be able to be closer to God and know His will....

If we didn't have a husband we'd be able to be closer to God and know His will.....

If we just had some kind of sign, we'd be able to follow God's direction....

If we just had the right Bible Translation we'd be able to understand God's direction....

If King David were alive today we could get God's direction from a meeting with him....

If King Solomon were alive today he could surely give us God's direction....

Does any of this sound familiar?? Or am I the only one that can come up with a million legitimate excuses for being confused and unsure about what I'm supposed to be doing?

Is this God or is it me, how do I know??? What do I do? Where do I go?

Please tell me I'm not the only one that sits and stares into space wishing for a neon sign to come down from heaven with the words inscribed, "THIS WAY"

Gods Word says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 NIV

To me the answer is pretty simple.

The more I draw near to Him, the clearer His voice is to me. The clearer His voice is to me, the easier it is to understand the direction coming from behind me.

When I get to know Him intimately, I will recognize His voice.

Even if I'm in a crowd with lots of noise, I will hear His voice behind me telling me which way to go.

His voice will become so familiar that without hesitation, I will know it's my Father, my Love, my Husband, my Protector, my Provider, my Strength, my Everything whispering in my ear His direction for me.

I'm not there yet, but my desire is to know Him that well. To be so one with Him, that His presence is with me every minute of everyday gently whispering in my ear, "This is the way, walk in it."

I know I'm not the only one with this desire, as His children we understand our life depends on hearing His voice.

As I walk on this journey of drawing closer to Him, come join me.......Walk This Way!

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

East Coast West Coast

2009-07-25T00:10:00.008-04:00

Ahhh, the beach, one of God's better creations!

A couple weeks ago my friends and I went to Cocoa Beach, on the East Coast of Florida.

Yesterday some of us went to St. Pete's Beach, on the West Coast of Florida.

The two Coast lines are completely different. Water, sand, sun, fish but there the similarities end.

The East Coast has colder water, choppy waves, should one want to you could surf, barely any shells, the water seems to get deep fairly quickly, and beautiful sunrises.

The West Coast has warm water, calm soothing ripples, no surfing, shell's everywhere all shapes and sizes, you can walk out quite a way before it starts to get deep, and beautiful sunsets.

Same sun overhead, same state, but very different.

East Coast, West Coast both beautiful, but different. Opposite sides of the State, East/West.

As I was thinking about the two Coasts the scripture came to mind.

As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Ps 103:12 NIV

When you are standing on the Beach on the East Coast you are looking at sand, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf Coast is behind you.

Get in your car and drive several hours West on I-4 and you end up on the Beach. More sand, but it's the Gulf Coast you're looking at and the Atlantic Ocean is behind you.

When we sincerely ask for forgiveness and repent of our sins, God takes the transgression and removes it to the other Coast. It's behind us, and unless we get in our car and return to the other coast the sin is no longer a part of our coastline.

He has taken it and removed it. We are the ones that keep going over the past. Like we can change it by thinking about it. Should- a, could- a, would- a, just doesn't get it in the Kingdom.

Our confidence in Him should out weigh the need we have to keep revisiting the past. It's over, it's done and if we sincerely repented, it's on the other coast behind us.

Whatever you may be holding on to LET IT GO! God has dealt with it, He's removed it, stop going through the trash to dig it back out, it stinks!

Rejoice in the simple fact that He can remove our sin, and when we ask He does.

Now is the time for a Happy Dance!

Whatever the sin, He'll take it away if we let go of it.

Come on, you can do it, unpry those fingers, He'll set you free......

Dance, Dance, Dance!! Rejoice in the Lord always..

Blessings

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princesses and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty

New Name, New Nature

2009-07-22T09:13:00.006-04:00

I will change your name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast
Lonely or afraid

I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness
Overcoming one
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks my face.

The first time I heard this song the only thing I could do was fall on my knees in tears and worship Him.

The abuse from my past had been so devastating that, in my eyes, I had become nothing. I would look in the mirror and try to see any sign of life in my eyes, but they were blank. Empty...

While hearing the words to this song I realized I had slowly change from a blob of nothingness into someone with worth, someone with a future. I began to have hope!

The King of Kings, my Father, had poured His healing oil on my wounded spirit and broken heart and slowly I began the metamorphosis into what He created me to be.

Please keep in mind, I'm nowhere near what He intends me to be, but I'm not the total mess I was! I'm moving on up into His will! What an exciting place to be!!!

I was no longer a caterpillar wrapped in an ugly cocoon hiding in shame and fear from everyone.

I was becoming a beautiful, brightly colored sparkly Butterfly. Very Sparkly, very Pink!

As I opened myself up to His word and sought His face, clinging desperately to Him, I s-l-o-w-l-y began to change.

One day I noticed that heaviness on my chest had lifted, I could take a deep breath and not feel that pressure like someone was sitting on me.

Little things, day by day started lifting. I would actually catch myself smiling! I could hear a song in my heart instead of moaning.

God was changing my name!

Isaiah 62:2-4 msg. says, "You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married). Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration."

I am so in awe that God, the creator of the Universe cares so much about me that He even changes my name to suite His purpose for my life. Nothing goes unnoticed by the Father! No detail is too small for Him! Every little thing is meticulously arranged for my benefit.

All I have to do is reach out to Him to receive His benefits.

What ever the past was like, what ever lies we believed about ourselves, they have no part in our New Name, except to help another get though a similar situation.

It's time to get excited!

Dance like no-one's watching!

For those of us going through the name change the past can't hold us down once we get our wings! Sparkly Pink wings for me please!

Now hear this, God is no respecter of persons!!!!

If He did this for me, He will rename anyone who wants to dance to a new tune!

Surrendering to His total love and name change is the best decision anyone can make!

Turn in your depression, illness, financial despair, unemployment, thoughts of suicide, abuse, all of it.

Let the most High God start the process of a name change for you.

If you let Him, He will place on you the name He picked for you at the creation of the world. He's waiting for you.....run to Him today and get your new name, and your wings!

Should anyone reading this have a prayer request, feel free to enter it in the section marked comments/prayer requests. I don't want you going through life feeling alone, sometimes just knowing someone else is praying with you makes all the difference in the world. It would be my privilege to pray with you.

Are you ready for a name change? There's no better time to begin your journey than now! Take His hand, He's waiting for you.....

Blessings,

Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings

Mother of Princessed and Princes

Grandmother of Royalty