What Are You Thankful For?

My blogging days are a bit thrown off this week.  Both of my boys ended up sick, so I had to shift into mommy-nurse mode.  Any mother knows that caring for sick children is a full-time job all by itself.  I don't mind one bit though; I'm crazy in love with my Joseph (7) and Jaxon (14 months).  I am so thankful for my children.

I have had such a heart of gratitude this week, and Thank You Jesus is continuously flowing from my lips.  You know, sometimes we get so caught up in the stress of everyday life, that we often overlook the many things we have to be thankful for.

Today, I want to encourage you to think about your blessings.  Make a list of things you're grateful for. No matter how grim things may become in your life sometimes, you are blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

So tell me, what are you thankful for?

Thankful for My Special Friends...

It is so important to make sure that you are surrounded with positive people who love, support and encourage you along your journey in life.  I cannot adequately express how significant it is to seek God before forming relationships with people.  There are some people who only have your demise at heart, which is why you must be careful when asking others to pray for you, sharing your vision, or telling your business.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by genuine people whose love and loyalty I never have to question.  I have a family of friends, near and across the miles, who encourage and support me in all that I do; pray me through tough situations; uplift me when I'm down and rejoice with me when I'm up...a priceless gift from God. I have had my fair share of friends gone wrong, so I am eternally grateful to finally be divinely connected to the perfect group of people who love me for me, and have no hidden agendas.

If you have genuine people in your life who are always in your corner, cherish them.  It's not everyday that you come across people who have sincere motives for wanting to be a part of your life; whose only agenda is to love you, unconditionally, and push you toward being your best self.  And, in turn, you give the same devotion.

Today's post is dedicated to those who have been there for me when the going was tough, and didn't allow my ugly truths to push them away.  Instead, you embraced me, prayed for me, gave me a hand up, and pushed me toward my destiny. (You know who you are.) I thank God for you, and love you beyond measure.  You are a precious gift, and my life is richer because you're a part of it.

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

God Will Deliver

God is doing some amazing things in my life!  He's answering prayers, opening doors, healing situations...I couldn't tell it all if I tried.  I have had many dark days, and countless sleepness nights.  I've been so low that I wanted to die.  But God, who is faithful to perform His word, has kept His promises to me.  He has delivered me from my afflictions, and given me brand new life.

While in the thick of things, it wasn't always easy to believe that God would indeed deliver.  It seemed like God was ignoring me.  Anybody ever felt like that? You're praying and crying out to God, but it seems like you get nothing from Him, and instead of things getting better, they grow worse.

Know this, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."(Psalm34:19)  Yes, it's rough right now; but, I encourage you to lift your eyes unto the hills from whence cometh your help. (Psalm 121:1)

God is a God of promise.  His word absolutely cannot return to Him void; it will accomplish that which it was sent out to do. (Isaiah 55:11)  God promised in His word that He will deliver you; trust Him to do just what He said He would do.

Hang in there, knowing that the race is not given to the swift, neither the battle to the strong, but to those that endure until the end.  Pray for strength to endure until God sees fit to manifest His delivering power in your life.  In the meantime, grab hold to what He's trying to teach you.  The things you're going through are intended to mature and develop you into a vessel fit for the Master's use.  So, while you're on the Potter's wheel, surrender your all and allow Him to shape and mold you.  I know it hurts right now, but remember this:  God will deliver!

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Go With the Flow...

This morning, a couple of unexpected events occurred that threw me completely off my normal schedule.  A whole 45 minutes off.  Initially, I grew irritated because this meant that my whole day would be off course.  I was going to be late taking my 14 month old son, Jaxon, to the sitter, and extra late getting to work.  You should have seen me rushing this morning.  By the time I got into my truck I was hot and out of breath.  Then I realized I left the curling irons plugged up, and Jaxon's diaper bag sitting on the table. I had to run back in the house.

While running back into the house, the Holy Spirit spoke to me so calmly:  Rushing isn't going to change anything. Slow down, go with the flow and trust that everything will be just fine.  Needless to say, I slowed down, didn't speed, and though I was still a little late, everything fell right into place.  It's as if I was right on schedule all along.

Similarly, in life you will experience seasons that completely throw you off your normal schedule.  During this season you grow frustrated, irritated and agitated, because it seems as if your whole life is now off course, and there is nothing you want more than to rush through it so that things will get back to normal.

Just as the Spirit spoke to me this morning in the midst of my irritation, I am saying to you in the midst of your frustration - Rushing isn't going to change anything. Slow down, go with the flow and trust that everything will be just fine. 

I promise, if you learn to go with the flow of God's plan for your life, things will turn out just fine.  Trust His plan, and know that just because you feel that you're thrown off course, you're exactly where God wants you to be.  You will realize that you've been right on track with God's will for your life all along.

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Nobody Greater

Happy Friday! Seems like this week has flown by.

My heart is so full. I have been fighting back tears of joy all day. God is so awesome, and there is truly nobody greater.  I am at a loss for words at how God is showing Himself strong in my life...

There's a song that's been on my heart today - Nobody Greater by Vashawn Mitchell. The song simply says:

Searched all over

couldn't find nobody
Looked high and low
still couldn't find nobody
nobody greater, nobody greater
nobody greater than you

Today, I want to encourage you to take a moment and really think about how great God is. Take your mind off your problems for a moment and let your thoughts lead you into your place of worship. Sometimes we become so focused on what's going wrong in our lives that we forget how marvelous our God is. (I have definitely been guilty.)

We serve an awesome God; no one compares to Him. I don't even have the words to adequately describe Him...He's great. That is all. Enjoy your week-end! Oh, and enjoy the song posted below.

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Stand On His Promises

There is a phrase that seems to be on repeat ringing in my spirit.  What is it, you ask? STAND ON HIS PROMISES.

I keep hearing it.  The more I hear it, and the more I speak it to myself and others, the more excited I become.  God's word is full of promises, and they all apply to me...and you!  And what I love about God's promises is that they are true, because He is a God that cannot lie and His word will not return to Him void.  You know the saying: If God said it, that settles it!

As I draw nigh to God, He, in turn, draws nigh to me, and His promises are being made manifest in my life day by day.  There was a time in my life when I thought that God's promises were for everyone, except me.  I felt as if I wasn't worthy of anything He promised in His word.  Truthfully, none of us are really worthy, but it's through the precious blood of Jesus that God sees us worthy of His unmerited favor.

One thing I know for sure is that if you love God with all of your heart, mind and soul, and live uprightly before Him, no good thing will be withheld from you, as long as it lines up with His word.  Oftentimes, the problem is that instead of focusing on The Promiser, we become too fixated on the promise.

Unless the God of the promise is your primary focus, the promises of God for your life will be on layaway for a little while.  Many times, we hold up our own blessings...but that's another post.

I want to encourage those of you who wholeheartedly love and live for God to stand on His promises, because they are sure to come to pass.  Every promise made to you in God's word will be made manifest in your life, and there's not a thing the enemy can do to block it.  He may try, but it won't work.

Keep the faith and don't you dare stop believing.  The promises of God are yes and amen.  They are guaranteed!

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Keep In Touch...Pray Daily

Hi Divine Words family!  My heart is so overwhelmed by all of the love shown to me in the publishing of my very first article EVER in EEW Magazine!!  I have to give a big THANK YOU to my dear friend and mentor, Dianna Hobbs, for affording me such an amazing opportunity.  God's blessings are something awesome!

Now, on to today's post...

A couple nights ago, a relative that I haven't seen or heard from in about 8 years showed up unexpectedly at my mom's house.  We spent a little time reminiscing and laughing about old childhood memories, but then our conversation took a turn.  I began to bring him up-to-date on some things that had been going on within the family, informing him of family members that had passed away.  Fighting back tears, he responded "Why didn't I know about any of this?  Why didn't anyone inform me?"  My response: "You've been out of pocket. We tried, but no one could reach you." 

Though I was sorry that he had to find things out long after the fact, my conversation with him made me think about how important it is to keep in touch with God.  He is the source of our being, and without constant contact with Him, we are sure to end up misguided and confused. 

The way to stay in contact with God is through prayer. Prayer is so very vital to a relationship with Christ, and there is no way to have a meaningful relationship without it.  We should incorporate prayer into our daily life; not only when we need something from God. 

If we communicate daily with God, He will communicate daily with us.  In doing so, we will be in tune with His spirit, and His spirit will lead and guide us. 

If you've been out of pocket with God, today I encourage you to work on keeping in touch with Him.  Keep the line of communication open and active with Him.

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Choose Your Friends Wisely...

Happy Friday (although it's almost over)!  I am so exhausted...I could sleep for days.  I am praying that this week-end will be uneventful so I can get a little rest. *crossing fingers and wishing upon star* I can barely think straight right now...just sad.

Today I just want to leave you a quick note: 

Choose your friends wisely.  Be careful of the connections you make, because not everyone is meant to be a part of your life.  Partaking in the wrong relationships can prove to be detrimental to your progression in life.  Linking up with the wrong people will weigh you down.

Assess your circle and ask God to help you weed out those that mean you no good.  Pray for direction in choosing who you should allow to be a part of your life, because there are no connections like divine connections.  Life is so much better when you're connected to the right people.

Enjoy your week-end!

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Walk In His Will

The safest place in all the world is in the will of God.  I am learning this more and more everyday.  My prayer is to always have a heart that wants to remain in God's perfect will for my life.  I can vividly recall a time in my life when I was completely outside of God's will.  I never consulted Him about anything and didn't really care what direction He wanted me to take.  Being out of line with God caused me a lot of disappointment, heartache and failures.  As long as I walked in my will, nothing in my life turned out right.  Can we say trainwreck?!  I'm talking a hot mess!

It is so very vital that we walk in accordance with God's will for our lives, because it is only He who can truly order our steps.  I mean, sure we can try to order our own steps, but will find that the path will be full of potholes, pitfalls, dead ends, detours and roadblocks, and will only lead you back to square one.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says this:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

So, if God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, how is it that we think we have even the slightest clue about the direction our life should take, unless we consult Him and walk in His way?  The mistake that so many make is walking according to their own will.  If we desire to live purpose-driven lives, it is imperative that we link up with Christ and submit our will to His will.

God cannot direct us in His path if we are strolling along our own path which does not lead to Him.  You see, in His will is where we find covering, protection, direction, safety, favor, peace...outside of His will, we find just the opposite.  It is impossible to please the Lord unless you walk with Him, and unless you are in His will, you cannot walk with Him.

God has the masterplan for your life.  Not to say that just because you live according to His will that you won't experience some turbulence in your life, but one thing is for sure, His will is the absolute safest place in the whole wide world.  Today, I encourage you to relinquish your own will and give yourself over to the will of God.

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,

Keisha

In The Midst Of It All

I hadn't planned on blogging today, but I feel led to share a word of encouragement for somebody who is in a serious fight.

I don't know who you are, neither do I know what you're going through, but today I want you to know that if you continue to call on the name of Jesus, He will keep you in the midst of it all.  Though you feel like you're about to lose your mind, the Lord has His hand on you and He will not let you break.

Psalm 27:5 comes to mind:

"For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;"

He has you covered under the shadow of His wings, and though there's a storm going on around you, He's keeping you safe from harm.  In the midst of all you're going through, God is going to keep your mind and heart in tact.  I know Him to be a keeper, and I just know that He's got you covered. 

Trust in Him and don't you worry.  He will keep you in the midst of it all.

Enjoy the song below by Yolanda Adams and let it minister to you...

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,

Keisha

You've Been Equipped...

Today This week has turned out to be extremely busy for me, as has the past month or so.  It seems that my plate is overflowing with obligations.  I have had moments when I wasn't quite sure if I was coming or going. At least 18 of the 24 hours in my day are spent doing something. From my 8-5, home responsibilities, ministry obligations, rush projects, personal ministry projects, caring for my mom...I'm pooped!  There just aren't enough hours in a day, or maybe my time management skills aren't up to par. 

At times, I feel a little overwhelmed by all that God has given me to do and I often feel as if I just cannot do it all.  I must admit that there are times when I'm like "God, are you sure you've got the right person?" But, of course He does.  There are specific things that He created me to carry out and no matter how overwhelmed or unsure I may feel, He has already equipped me to be successful in all that He has purposed for me.  Knowing this gives me the motivation and wherewithal I need to keep pressing forward.

I wonder, do you ever feel this way?  Do you ever feel like God has given you too much to do?  Do you question whether you'll be able to successfully handle it all?  It's natural to feel stretched and overwhelmed, but know that everything you need to handle all that God has put on your plate already lies within you.  You have been predestined for such a time as this.  You already have the strength, courage and tenacity to carry out every assignment placed before you, no matter how big or small.  All you have to do is reach up to the Father and reach inside your soul to find just what you need.  It's already in there.

Yes, it may be challenging, but know that you've got everything inside of you to make it...successfully.  No one else can do what you do, so give everything before you your all. Don't relent; don't give up; don't tire out; don't stop working; instead, keep pressing; keep praying; keep progressing. You've already been equipped. 

Enjoy your Labor Day week-end!  I'm taking a 3-day rest, so I'll see you Wednesday!

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Peace and Blessings,
Keisha

Light For Your Path

Hello Divine Words family! I pray that all is well with you, you are growing in Christ and He is continuosly pouring His favor upon you.

Today, I just want to talk a little bit about the importance of studying God's word. As scripture says, it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. If His word serves as light, how can we see our way without it? How can we say we truly love God if we don't take time out to learn of Him through His word?

Not only do you learn more of God through the word, but you gain strength and wisdom.  If you make Bible study a part of your everyday life, you will find that when tough times come your way, you're able to bear it a little better because the word of God has given you strength.  When you're faced with big decisions, having God's word in your heart will help guide you along the way. 

You absolutely cannot make it along the path of your life without the word of God.  It takes more than just cracking open your bible on Sunday morning.  I mean, it's all good to hear a preached word, but it's even better to know it for yourself.  No one can lead you on your purposed path, except God.  How can you follow Him if you don't know His word? 

Today, I urge you not to merely read God's word for the sake of reading it, but pray for understanding and allow it to take root in your heart.  Make it a lifestyle. Without God's word, the path is dark. If you need a little light in your life, you can find it in God's holy word!

Til we meet again...live more, worry less, laugh often!

Your sister in Christ,
Keisha