I'm here. Where are you?

For the month of May I decided to study the book of Ruth. Not just Ruth but the entire book of Ruth. I wanted to grow deeper in my relationship with God. Reading different plans on the Bible App wasn't cutting it for me. I was all over the place. One Sunday at church my pastor mentioned he was studying Genesis. Eureka!!! I needed to choose a specific topic or book in the Bible to study. Otherwise I would be reading aimlessly. For weeks I was stuck on what to study until that particular Sunday. I realize in this situation I had to make myself available by choosing and let God work. There are times when I feel like I'm not in tune with God so I become fearful with my decisions. In moments like that I end up not doing anything. So I made the decision to read Ruth in faith and allow God to work.

Spring Cleaning: Blog Anniversary

So it's my Blogversary!!! Wait. Is that a thing to say in Bloggers World lol?!? Well today makes one year since I posted my first blog post "Check Mate".

I am extremely thankful for all my supporters. It means much more than words can express. The texts, comments, and shares let me know that God is truly working. There are times when I doubt people are thoroughly reading my entries. I'm sometimes leery about being transparent. Then the support comes rolling in. I've been asked by people to continue blogging. It's like really? You really want me to keep writing? You actually like what I write? I'm thankful that God is using me to reach others.

Moving forward, it's Transformation Tuesday!!! This entry is about change. I have been doing some spring cleaning. Some clothes, shoes and books have got to go. Negative thoughts have got to go.

A Detour is Not a Dead End

Happy New Year!!! Yes I know it's not the first but it's my first entry of 2016. We usually spend a few days or even weeks in December and January collectively reflecting over the year. It's a time when people make new goals or resolutions. During reflection, we're happy about the goals we accomplished over the year. You may have a goal or two or maybe fifty leven (yes fifty leven lol) that were not accomplished in 2015. Shoot you probably don't have goals completed from 2013. Well you know what?

A detour is not a dead end.

Remember everything works together for the good of those who love the Lord. This doesn't mean everything will be good but everything will work for your good. I want to share a few examples from Genesis. Please bear with me.

Ishmael and Isaac - Even though Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands, God's word still proved to be true with the birth of Isaac. God was even able to use the descendants of Ishmael to fulfill another purpose.  Ishmael married a woman from Egypt and was lacking nothing. Now don't go purposely creating Ishmael situations in your life. We don't want to take advantage of God's forgiveness.

Jacob, Leah and Rachael - Not your ideal story. Although when I would watch Love & Hip-Hop (NY and ATL) I would refer to the love triangles as JLR situations. I'm not encouraging being a sidechick or waiting on a married man but we know the JLR story. Despite the detour of her husband marrying her sister first and not being able to bear a son for sometime, Rachael gave birth to Joseph. With the sister wives competition the 12 Tribes of Israel came into place.

Going Home

Hilton Head Island, SC

Fun fact: I love the sound of water; it is so calming to me. I've wondered why from time to time. Did I have an experience with water? Traveling "home" allowed me to realize being born by water probably had something to do with that lol. (If you don't know what I mean by home check out "Set The Record Straight.") Let's not forget I spent approximately 4 years of my life living on the island of Guam. Hey I am a Navy Brat so water is life lol.

So many of us do certain things not knowing why. Go back "home" and figure out why. Talk to your family and see what generational patterns need to be broken. Look at Rebekkah in the Bible. She was deceitful. Her brother Laban was deceitful. Her son Jacob was deceitful. Her daughter-in-law/niece Rachael was deceitful. They all have great qualities about them but good Lord talk about a generational pattern. After realizing their connections to each other I have wondered about the parents of Rebekkah and Laban.

Not all generational patterns are bad by the way. When you take a trip "home" you just may realize you do or like certain things because of your great-great grandfather. My grandmother ate Mr. Goodbars heavily when she was pregnant with my dad and now he loves the candy and so do I lol. I have an old friend whose mom ate fish a lot when she was pregnant now the result is my friend cannot eat fish or her throat will swell up.  A friend of mine's wife asked him why did he work so much. After having a self-reflection moment, he realized he saw his mom work so much so it was natural for him to work.

Use to Develop not Develop to Use

Hey y'all!!! Today's topic is using your gifts. Many times as Christians we tell non-believers they do not have to "get right" before turning their lives over to God. Turning to God will get you right. It's the same with our gifts God has given us. We don't have to master and sandpaper our gift before using it for God. Using it for God will cause it to be mastered and sandpapered.

I received this revelation attending Bible Study at Engage Church. The topic was stewardship and Dave Plettl did a great job speaking. He came out of 1 Peter 4:10-11.

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

~1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)

He pointed how the scripture said use and not develop. You do not have to perfect your gift before you use it. Just use it. As a journalism student I have been told several times the only way to get better at writing is to write. As hard as using your gift may seem it's just that simple use it. Ask God to direct you and He will show you how to use your gift. If you don't know your gift. Ask God to reveal your gift to you.

Another thing about your gift. Use your gift before it is taken away from you. After Plettl spoke we broke up into small groups focusing on the Parable of the Three Servants in Matthew 25:14-30. Many people know it as The Parable of the Talents.

One servant received five bags of silver, another two bags, and the third received one bag of silver. The servants with five bags and two bags of silver both doubled their bags. The other was afraid to lose his bag and buried it in the ground. No matter how big or small you think your gift is; use it.

We don't let our cars, appliances, or food sit without use 24/7 365. Once that happens they become no good and we have to throw them out. Think about what happened to the servant who did nothing but bury his bag of silver. He was thrown out.