Compromising......

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness….” Joshua 24:14a ESV (Bolded by me).




I hate when I find myself in a place where my words doesn’t mirror my actions. Lately, I have been asking God to make sure my “Sunday language” (I love this phrase. It means the things I say in church) matches my everyday lifestyle. Let me tell you: never ask God for something because when He delivers on His side you will have to deliver on yours. I can say the past month; the past week even has been an eye opening experience. I realize there are areas in my life that I will not compromise with and than there are areas where I would and I shouldn’t at all. I realized that I have reached a point where I love God more than wanting approval from peers, co-workers and friends. I want to please Him and make Him happy; so that requires a no-compromise on my part in many areas. Why a no-compromise? When people see that you are CONSISTENT (there goes that word again) and your lifestyle lines up with the word of God, you can draw people to Christ because your “no” is always “no” not “yes, on the weekends” and “no during the week”. If we compromise in certain areas of our lives when the word tells not to we become a hindrance to the
 building of God’s kingdom instead on a help. Let me use an illustration for you: imagine a wall is being built and you are assigned to a certain section. You make the bricks and build the wall. You have a certain list of ingredients and a mock up of how the wall should look. You decide you will use your own ingredients or skim on some and build the wall the way you like because the mock up and ingredients list is to hard to follow and will take too long. Soon, part of the wall that is being built start to crumble, but it’s not just your part of the wall that’s starting to fall it’s the WHOLE WALL! If you did your part the way you were supposed to, it wouldn’t have happened. That’s how it is in our walk with Christ, God lays out a plan for us and we know for a fact it’s not a bad one (Jeremiah 29:11). He even illuminates the way for us in His word (Psalm 119:105) which is our guide book with all the ingredients to make this life a good one. If we swerve from the path and still try to do the work and confess with our mouths and not with our lives, we will push people further from Christ instead of closer because we decided to cut corners.


We are ONE body (Romans 12:4-5) (arms, hands, feet, toes, fingers, back, legs….you get the picture) and we must work TOGETHER. Body parts can’t operate apart from each other, imagine how we would look if one hand decided to go one way the other another way and our feet in two different directions= absolute chaos! That’s how it is in the body of Christ. We all have certain functions, duties and gifts that TOGETHER work for the building of the church and kingdom. So I have to do my part and you have to do yours and that means INSIDE and OUTSIDE of the church. If you feel like I do, like there’s areas in your life that you compromise aware and unaware bring it before the Lord in prayer….I warn you, He will answer and there maybe things that you may not like about yourself when He reveals it but the blessing is knowing that you have a Father in heaven who loves you and wants you to be more like Him. So when He reveals it to you ask Him to work on those areas in you (you may have to do work as well, don’t be lazy! Lol) and watch the difference it will make. That being said, I (finally) close with this over-used quote: “If you don’t stand for anything, you’ll fall for anything.” That statement packs a punch when you really think about it. What are you not standing for that is allowing you to fall? Be blessed.

Old Year Done, New Year Come

Jeremiah 29: 11 always comes back to my memory when I think about this years highs and lows. There were few highs but they were so awesome that they totally outshadow the lows. I have to say that I've been blessed. The New Year is going to be so mindblowing amazing that I am just going to enjoy what time I have left now...Can't wait to share....Happy New Year & Be Blessed.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Ok, so I's officially 26 (12:08pm). I am so excited to see what this year will bring for me. I always remind myself of Jeremiah 29:11 when I feel like I'm at a low point. So, I have a new job and.......a new hairstyle. I have really, really cut my hair. I love it! It feels so liberating! It's golden blonde and so short I don't have to do anything but brush it...until it grows out, lol. It looks like Amber Rose cut but a warmer blonde. (I don't care what people say about her, I love a person who isn't afraid to take a chance with fashion). I posted a pic of her to give you an idea of the cut, I'll try to post pics of me soon. I'm not sure what I will do this weekend to celebrate but tonight I'm going to the 92nd Street Y with a couple of friends from Redeemer Artist Small Group. I haven't seen them in awhile so it will be cool to catch up. Also, I have some really great news but I can't tell you guys yet.....Soon. Until then, be blessed.

Fasting From Sex

....Lol, I know what you are thinking: "fasting from sex?" Let me explain. I had the blessing today of coming across a blog about the Blessings of Singleness and it mentioned fasting from food. I started to think about how fasting from sex or abstaining until our season of marriage is like fasting from food. When we fast from food our stomach still grumbles like when we abstain (especially those who have been sexually active before) from sex we still have a desire for it; but we press through it and put it before God because He will give us something better than.......a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger from Wendy's, lol. It had me thinking: when we don't really stress it and approach it on a day-by-day situation and REMIND ourselves everyday that God is more than able (since He is our architect; He made us this way) to handle this and keep us, it gets a little bit easier. I remember when we did the Daniel's Fast how the first week was the hardest, but as each day passed I didn't think about it much. I was focused. If I approach this the same way, knowing some days will be harder and staying in God's word and before Him; it will get easier because He will be giving me the strength. That being said, I want to leave these verses (NIV) to encourage you:

1. Jeremiah 29:11 (My most favorite verse)

"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."

This verse reminds me that in that hour when it seems darkest and I doubt God; He already has it all mapped out and it will work out fine. All I have to do is follow that path He is leading me down.



2. Galatians 5:16

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

This verse is pretty much self-explanatory; live by the spirit (a lifestyle that is in the Word and led by God) and you will not gratify the desires that are flesh- based. If you live for God and have a relationship with Him you wouldn't want to grieve Him by following and doing things that you know will break His heart. It like God is your spouse; you wouldn't intentionally do things to strain the relationship and hurt Him, right?



3. 2 Corinthians 4:17

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

This one is the verse that belongs on my mirror so I can see it every morning. It just reminds me that this is nothing; the eternal glory, eternity trumps this little thing.



4. Isaiah 26:3

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

If you keep your mind on Christ not on who is in a relationship now or getting married while you're still single, blah, blah, blah.....you will be calm and in peace. Trusting God is the hardest thing to do nowadays; we live in a microwave nation and we expect God's time to match ours. But if just let Go and let God because HE DOES KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING we will be in perfect peace. Perfect is a powerful word; it means no faults, errors, nothing. Can we /will we trust God? What would that look like?



5. Psalm 37:4

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I am focusing on the first part of that verse, "delight yourself in the Lord". How can we or what can we do to delight ourselves in the Lord? I can think of one thing: treat Him like your best friend and tell Him everything, look forward to those times when you can speak to Him candidly. Get excited about this wonderful relationship you have with Christ Jesus!!!!!



That being said, I hope I have encouraged others in their season of singlehood; I know I have encouraged myself.





Be blessed!


image source: photo.net Entitled: Alone by Miguel Angel de Arriba Cuadrado

I Can Rest Easy

So Berlinda didn’t tell me anything horrible like fire & brimstone will fall on me or anything like that, lol. She just told me that God has so much planned for me and that I will know what its like to commune with Him! I will not lie; I am actually anxious and excited. I had to miss out on intercessory prayer because my aunt’s arthritis was acting up really bad and my cousin needed help with her. Keep her in prayer; I believe God is going to heal her. Any who; I ended up frying up some steaks with her and talking to her to keep her mind off of the pain. I feel that the only way you can help someone is to serve them. To assist them in the time of need; when they need an extra hand. Don’t you agree? Yesterday we went to the Christian Church of Jamaica (a Spanish speaking church) for their English service during their Youth Campaign. It was a blessing! Lately a lot of churches have been talking to their Youths about turning on their lights. It’s time for us to burn bright and burn unashamed.

When God Writes Your Love Story

Tomorrow is Jovian and Berlinda’s wedding. I am so happy for them. I can’t stop smiling for them. I thank God that we are becoming that generation that are seeking God in all aspects of our lives. I remember when I read “When God Writes Your Love Story”, by Eric & Leslie Ludy; that they were discussing give God that aspect of your life. He is an amazing author. He spoke things into existence, blessed nations, parted seas, does things that always blows our minds; this is a walk in the park for us. In Jeremiah 1:5a (NIV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” He is telling us He already has everything planned, sorted, done. This brings me back to one of my favorite Bible verses: Jeremiah 29:11. He said that He knows the plans He has for us; and these plans are plans to give us hope, a future, and to prosper us. Now, that doesn’t sound bad to me. God isn’t going to force us to give Him the pen; we have to hand it over freely. How many of us are tired of heartbreak, pain, and hurting? That wouldn’t have happened if we let Him write our story. So give Him the pen today.

Jeremiah 29:11

“I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)

I love this verse. It has been my key verse all last year; and I needed to hear that last year. But it has been popping back up this year as well. There are times when things happen that I can’t understand. I literally feel like someone has taken something from me sometimes. But then I remember this verse. I remember that God has plans for me; and they’re good. He plans to give me a good future. What more can I ask for? I mean, I have to admit I get upset when things don’t turn out the way I want them to; but then I remember who’s in charge and I realize I have nothing to worry about.

How Will It Turn Out?

I hate when I feel like I am just standing in the rain. You feel deserted, like you should have known better. I sometimes get frustrated with things when I can’t figure out how it’s supposed to work or will end up. I have to remind myself that God is sovereign. He has absolute control and supreme authority over EVERYTHING! So that means nothing happens without He knowledge or permission. My favorite verse in the Bible Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has plans for us. These plans are good and they are going to give us a good future and ending. So with that being said, we should relax. Let Jesus take the wheel and lead us to a wonderful paradise.

No Words...

There are days when I would rather be at home in my bed, locking myself off from the outside world. I am one of those people that if it can happen, there’s a chance it will happen to me. I finally figured out something about myself that I don’t like. I am an emotional sadist. I destroy, tear down, and ruin myself emotionally so no one else will have a chance. Then, I only associate myself around people who won’t put me out of my comfort zone: they only talk about themselves, barely ask questions about you, etc. I came upon this realization because I just spoke to my ex boyfriend today and he told me that he’s expecting a baby. I felt like I was being suffocated, then I realized why. We are still attached; there’s a yoke between us that hasn’t been broken yet. I still love him and he still loves me; and there lies the problem. I can’t move on if I am dragging something with me that will put me over the weight limit. I am the “numb point” now. That’s the point after you found something out and you turned it over to God but you haven’t really assessed the situation yet. I know that God is sovereign and that He already saw this situation and the result before the universe was made; I know that He has wonderful plans for me (Jer. 29:11). All I have to do is surrender.

Where Do I Fit In?

I constantly ask myself that. I mean constantly; everyday when I arrive at work. I look at my situation (the fact thay I am working is a blessing) but I want to have a career not a job. So those questions always come up: "Where do I fit in? Where is it that God wants me to be? How will I know for sure?" I love design, not just design; I love creating dresses. The flow of the garment, the way it lands, hangs, sways, etc. I know in due time it will work out and I will know where I am supposed to be. I always draw reference to my key Bible verse from last year: Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I picked the NIV version because it says it so plainly. God has plans for you and these plans aren't horrible ones. These are plans to give you hope, to make you prosper, to give you a future. This verse also works well with the situation we as a nation are facing now. With the stocks dropping, layoffs about to hit a million, a global economic recession; we can stand firm on the word of the Lord. Through everything, He will keep us, He won't harm us. We won't suffer or beg for food because the Lord of the heavens is our heavenly Father. He controls EVERYTHING; it doesn't get any better than that.