I'M PAST LOSING MY PEACE OVER THIS

I've come to learn how to withstand a lot of things that happen to me that I would rather not have had touch my life. Time after time, I've learned to lean into the wind rather than let situations blow me away. At one point, it felt as if I were being bombarded with unpleasantness. Deep within my Spirit, I felt God telling me to just keep standing. I couldn't understand why He just couldn't make it to where I never experienced these things, or at least make them go away quickly. Didn't He understand my plight? Tonight I had an epiphany. It's about two things. One, it's about me learning to live life out thru faith, from now until. Two, it puts Satan on notice, that no matter what you throw at this girl, she will stand on the principles of God, and still maintain her peace. Tonight something happened to me that every time it does, it stirs me. This time when it happened to me, I decided, " I'm past losing my peace over this." Finally, I understand what God was trying to teach me. Yes, He could remove it. But, because I was letting it bother me so much, Satan would just keep doing it to me, and stealing my peace. God wanted me to get to the place, where the next time Satan pulled that on me I would keep my peace, and continue to lean into the wind and just keep on walking, keep on living, keep on keeping on.

Stay blessed.

FLOWERCHIC

HOW TO UNSTICK YOURSELF FROM ADVERSE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT YOU

Luke 22:32-34

New Living Translation (NLT)

³² But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
³⁴ But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Just because God knows beforehand how mankind will act in a given situation, and does not intervene, does not mean He agrees with our decision. What it means is He allows us free will. He gives us the freewill to make good decisions for ourselves, and He allows us freewill to make bad decisions for ourselves. God makes Himself, through acceptance of His Son, Jesus Christ, available to to us for assistance thru every circumstances. So we must choose wisely. When we don't choose wisely, we must go to God to repent, and receive forgiveness.

Because we are all in this world together, sometimes decisions are made that adversely affect us as a whole. When this happens always know that Jesus Christ is available to you, and God's principles written in His Word are at your fingertips. You must simply determine in your mind, that you will seek only God's Word, as to how you will from now on proceed. Because of God's Plan from the very beginning, Christ has always been the unlocked door in a room with padlocks on all other doors and windows. Luke 11:28 says, "But he [Jesus] said, “Blessed...are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Anytime we choose our ways instead of God's ways, what will always happen is, we will end up lost-wandering around in the wilderness by ourselves, and trying to survive on our own limited resources. When we choose God's methods, we end up with an unlimited Source, that will provide a way out of nowhere. The sad thing is, until we learn this principle, we have to experience some very cold nights, and some very blistering days on our own, before we are rudely awaken to the consequences of the choices we have made. We strive so hard to have our own way, and in our success in getting our way, we push God off to the side with a sideways comment of, "I got this God." In reading and studying the Word of God, I have noticed that God handles us in a variety of ways. Sometimes God DOES allow us our "own way" instead of intervening. By doing so, our blessings are not withheld by God, but are delayed by our choices. There is a difference. God Himself is not being indifferent. He is simply allowing you to have it your way. For those who DO choose to follow God's way, your provision is in following the principles of God. You will learn those principles only by accepting and following Christ, and reading God's road map to living life-His written word.

Stay blessed.

FLOWERCHIC

My Prayer For America And Our Newly Elected President

Lord I thank You for Your past blessings upon this nation, and I ask that You continue to bless us as one nation under God. I thank You, that You have not left us alone, for we are not a fatherless nation. We are still a nation with Believers in Christ that holds out to You, and Your Word. That will always be our stand. You have a plan for us, and nothing happens that You don't have foreknowledge of as Creator God. This election process has allowed us to solidify what we believe-Your Word. Barak Obama is president of the United States because You have allowed it. That means any plans he has that are contrary to Your will is subject to Your plan for this nation. I pray that President Obama seeks Your will for this nation for the next 4 years. By doing so, all will be well with him, and with us as citizens. In obedience to Your word, I pray for President Obama and his personal well-being. For he is a part of Your plan, and it is important that he fulfills his role. I thank You for Your protection of both the US and Israel against our enemies. This will not change, other than it will be even greater than before. For no weapon forged against us as nations shall prosper. Your home is in Jerusalem and Your word says that will never change. Father God, it is Your will that we prosper. As believers in Christ, we know how to live an abundant life through Your principles. This election has not changed that. But we ask that You put Your super on our natural and bless us not only financially, but with favor and grace. Bless our economy God. Your are our source. God I do today, as I did yesterday, and the day before, I pray Your will over my life and that of my family and friends and enemies and this nation. Open our eyes, and show us Your will for Your plan. God You are so awesome. All I am and all I do is for your glory. Amen.

HOW THIS ALL BEGAN

Hip Hip Hooray! As of today, I have had 2,004 people to read my blog regarding my witness of life with God, my journey to know Him better, and my religion Christianity. Wow. For years I have written to God, and about God from my own experiences. Then one day they turned into poems, then I would have stuff in my head and would write on my hands, napkins, scraps of papers, then I finally bought a small notebook to keep in my purse to catch my thoughts. Then I realized I would wake up at odd times and just write for hours. Each one with titles, one right after another. One day my aunt, daddy's half sister, who I never met died, and in going thru her personal items, I found a book of beautiful handwritten poems she had written too. I felt regret that we had never met, because we were so alike. Like her, I never shared my writings, they were so personal, yet I always had a desire that no one go thru life alone without knowing the goodness of God. Only thru that desire, as it grew stronger and stronger did I decide to share my thoughts. I am a very private person, and I say I am shy. Others, say I am not, but they have no idea how much guts it takes for me to speak up. I better than I used to be. When I speak of God though, He empowers me. I never knew how to write a blog, I never knew how to design a blog page with a header, I never knew how to open a fb page of encouragement. That first day my dad ask me to share my poems in church in front of people, even people I knew and loved, I thought I was having a heart attack. But they listened so intently, and laughed with me. When they came up later and talked to me I was surprised and happy that they were encouraged. I still never want to do that again, but if God ask me to, and I hope He won't, I would obey. I like to just write. I leave it up to Him to draw whomever He decides to draw to my blog. I follow my inner compass of what He wants me to do, and I go about my way. I'm learning to just follow His instructions wherever they led me.

The Elephant In The Room & At The Kitchen Table In America

This is the elephant in the room. I will speak of it anyways. For years African Americans have wanted a President from their own rank in file, due to the past discriminatory history in this country, that no one can dispute, and the fight for basic civil rights. The thoughts of some was that by doing so, the lives of African Americans would be better, for we did not willing come to this country for better lives, we were brought here against our will to make the lives of others better, more profitable, and easier. So very different than than for other cultures and races who escaped to this country for hope of a better life. Four years later, what some of us have failed to understand is that the color of a man or woman's skin, in comparison to our own, does not hold the power to save us, nor to bring us to our demise. To believe so is prejudices in its own right, and lack of faith in our Father-God.

In our own race, we do not determine leader and followers based on the lightness or darkness of our own skin tones.

The truth is what it is, regardless of what color marker we use to write the letters.

TRUTH

FLOWERCHIC 

  

WHO ARE YOU, WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR, & WHAT WILL YOU FALL FOR?

Principles, Convictions, Character, and Integrity or PCCI are needed when determining the longevity of any relationship, whether it be a male/female, employee/employer, or a friend relationship, and even in  political or  governmental relationships. Studying a person's or an entity's PCCI is a fail proof method, if you give yourself the time to allow the process to work. The focus of this article will mainly be about relations between persons, but can also apply to relationships with organizations or entities as well. So here it is again, the acronym PCCI stands for P=principles, the first C=convictions, the second C=character, and lastly I=integrity.

The process of finding a person's Principles, Convictions, Character and Integrity will allow you to see without the aid of rose colored glasses, past all the window dressing, and allow your emotions and hormones a much needed break as to the type of person you are in relationship with, or are considering entering into relationship with. This is especially true for emotions, and/or hormones, because they seem to kick up the most dust, and cloud your vision as to which path to take, as far as, who in your best interest stays, and who goes, relationship wise. Principles, Convictions, Character and Integrity shape who the other person is, and who you are as a person.

Principles determine Conviction, Convictions determine Character, and Character determines Integrity. A person's PCCI will give you a heads up on how they will handle any given situation in and outside of a relationship with you.

Determining a person's PCCI requires patience though. That's why relationship gurus are forever telling us not to get caught up in the touchy, the feely, and eye candy aspects on first dates. Instead, on the first date go dutch, and allow for randomly switching off on picking up the tab. Dates between attracted opposite genders are opportunities to determine each other's Principles, Convictions, Character, and Integrity. Dates should not be about conjuring up series of strategies for becoming fully vested, just yet. The same holds true when interviewing for a job. As an applicant, ask questions of that potential supervisor that will give you an idea about what type of management style they have, find out what type of company you're interviewing to work for, who their clients are, and what their vision statement is. Vision statements don't have to be written or formal. Walk into any McDonald's and stick around long enough to people watch. Look at how they handle their customers, and you can figure out their vision statement. I interviewed for a job, and by the end of the interview the person hiring told me thru my questions asked, and them volunteering information, that they slandered past employees by name, were a gossiper in sharing their employee's business, would dig up information about employees and use it against them, by black balling them when potential managers called for references. I got the letter in the mail telling me I did not get the job, and considered it a bullet dodged.

While determining a person's Principles, Convictions, Character, and Integrity remember to do 2 things as well. One, love yourself enough to take your time. Two, trust your gut instinct. Gut instinct says, "It looks like this, it seems like this, but "Something" is telling me it's the opposite." And always, always, always, if you ever get the smallest inkling of fear-remove yourself immediately, and end all contact. Fear is a game changer-that's flat out God cutting to the chase, and telling you this is not the relationship for you. Get out of the relationship as fast as you can.

So there you have it, Principles determine Convictions, Convictions determine Character, Character determines Integrity. Good relationships are time-released journeys where you get to, at the appropriate time, experience emotional and physical joys, periods of ups and downs, and healthy periods of feast and famines when it comes to a desire for togetherness. For me, I'm learning it's best to search out the basics first in any type of relationship I am considering, then invest myself, after I determine if it's even worthy of my time.

I am a Christian, so it goes without saying, one should pray before, during, and throughout, any and every relationship. God is the center of every aspect of my life, so it's just a given for me. Because I am a Christian blogger, and I blog about my  relationship with God, as well as my other relationships, I don't know if I am writing strictly for myself, or for someone else; for the present, or for something that may occur in the future. Mercy me, while reading this post, I pray you'll determine for yourself, if this article is for you, or not, for now, or for a later relationship as well. I will end with this answer, God only knows, and time will tell. Basically that's what this article is all about, slowing down the pace in forming relationships, and taking the time to focus on determining which are worthy of our time. Some relationships are long lasting, others are but for a season. The key is to know which is which, and at what point we decidedly move on.

FLOWERCHIC

A SHELTERED LIFE WITHIN

Deuteronomy 10:14 The Message Version
14 Look around you: Everything you see is God's - the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it.


Were I to say that I believe in the right of an unborn child to live full term till it is able to live outside the womb, and then I say that I also do not believe in limiting the ability, not the right, of a woman to abort that same exact child, I have just cancelled my first conviction.

The act of procreation is a gift given from the Creator. The result, a child is also a gift from God. Both gifts can be abused and mishandled.

The only One that determines life or death, period, is God. He is the only One with that right-that authority as the Creator of life and all things present.

If it's the wrong time, the wrong circumstance, or if it is inconvenient to shelter a human life for 9 short months out of an entire lifetime, it is not the fault of the gift(s). Inconvenience does not negate the right of an unborn child, who is toatlly innocent, to live. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We are a civilized country, we are civilized people, WE DO NOT HARM THE INNOCENT, we protect them. 

See, I have a real hard time trying to figure out, how we negate a human life for convenience, and run that by God thinking we'll ever get His approval. 

Sometimes, we as human beings like to see ourselves as little gods, when what we really are in totality are creations of the Master Designer-God. For the Creator, no one human life is any greater, than any other human created life. For every human life there is a purpose and a master plan of God to enhance the planet and shape the human race to a greater good. We are created to not just shelter, enhance, and promote our own life. 

This image was shared from Personhood USA Internet site

Simplicity

Sometimes life is not all that complicated. Today is one of those days.This afternoon I took Caity out to take care of doggie business, and afterwards I let her roam around the property. Just so you know, the temperature is a breezy 50+ degree day, absolutely wonderful out! So part of her time spent was watching the neighbor boys down the street playing street basketball. In case you don't understand the lingo, that is where you play basketball in the middle of the street, when there's no cars coming, and you "hot dog" your abilities shirtless in front of family, girlfriends, and neighbors. Only in small town America can you still do this. I don't know who won, or even if it really mattered much to them. It was just a moment of watching simple fun.

After watching street ball for awhile, I decided Caity and I should take advantage of the perfect weather by sitting out in the yard, for soon fall, then winter would be nipping at our heals. As usual once winter comes, we'd wish for summer the first time we were stuck in the house, due to being snow bound.

Last week was my vacation and I went nowhere, just hung out around town enjoying my favorite junk spots. Now that was nothing to sneeze at, since junking is my all time favorite activity.  I found two really cool things. One, was another side table for sitting outside with friends, and second, was a $4 wooden box for Caity. It's just a plain ole box. When I brought it to the counter, the owner asked me why I was buying it, and what my intentions were for it? Like I said, the box was plain and nothing particularly exciting about it. Well, my intent in the back of my sometimes creative mind was to  turn it into a wooden deck for Caity the dog, Now how cool was that. Yeah, well she wasn't all that much more impressed than you are at reading this I'm sure. But trust me, I had a plan.

Caity's DIY deck debuted as a hit. Today, I sat in my favorite Adirondack chair, and she on her deck. She actually napped on it for a short period. Most times she wants to sit on my lap, on my side table, on my chair arm, or over my shoulder. Not all that relaxing for fur momma. Caity always thinks there's plenty of room for her.

Speaking of simplicity, I am blogging outside in said Adirondack chair (without Caity, she kept getting her leash tangled) watching Ziggy the cat lounging in the window. We've been talking back and forth at each other through the screen window.

Even my parents have begun to ride the waves of simplicity. This morning I called my mom to see if we were having church. I wasn't sure if I heard right, that my pastor would still be at church conference today. During our conversation, she asked, "Well why you don't you get on the computer and see if church conference is still in session. I'm like, "Oh yeah, I can get on twitter and see if Bishop Bryant has tweeted anything. My church Bishop is a huge tweeter! He tweets every morning, every day, and I follow him on twitter. Of course he does not follow me on twitter, cause you follow one member, and you gotta follow them all. However, I do occasionally do a shout out for me and my church, and he always shouts back, "Hey family," which is pretty cool. So I read her his tweet, where he was inviting everyone in the area to join him for the last day of annual conference. Dilemma solved!

I'd say my precious momma has past the stage of threatening to buy a computer, to now anticipating buying one. I fully expect her to call me up on her red Jitterbug phone or text me, now that she has learned how, and tell me she's ready to catch the wave of simplicity and start surfing the WEB. Too funny!

So here's hoping you too are enjoying a day of simplicity! COME TO THE PURPLE DOOR WITH FLOWERCHIC next time, and we'll ride the wave, and see what the tide brings in.

FLOWERCHIC


                                                                                                                Photo by Andrew Mulligan

ME AND GOD GOT OUR OWN KINDA COMMUNICADO GOING ON

God and I have our own type of communicado. We got our own lingo, our own dance moves during our personal praise and worship, our own sense of humor, which mostly is appreciated by only us, Yeshua, and the HS. He likes the way I sing, even when I make my own words up and they don't always rhyme! Prophet Kim says that's OK cause God's listening to our heart anyways! He loves to sit with me when I read His Words. Sometimes He'll touch my eyes, my ears and show me stuff right in front of me that I have just been glossing over time after time. Sometimes He'll have me compose a thought and give it away for whomever is open to it. I think that part is really cool! God is a lot of fun to spend time with in doing plain ole normal everyday stuff. Sometimes I'll be running errands around town and praying in between stops. I call that our "hang time." And you know what, God totally "Gets" me. However, I'm still working on "getting" who all He is. I only know the tip of the iceberg of who all He is. But I'm on it! LOL

Have a happy remainder of your Shabbat Shalom!

Click on the link below for a beautiful love song. Close your eyes and dance with your Lord. Come visit me again at the purple door. It's always wide open to friends. Stay blessed.


FLOWERCHIC

SPEAK IT OUT!

Faith101-if we want God to do the unprecedented, the extraordinary, the unfathomable, then we must speak the unprecedented, the extraordinary, and the unfathomable, for He is the God that creates. He creates your something out of what presently does not exist. The extent that He will bring what you ask for is based upon what you speak into existence. That's why we cannot speak what we see before us, we can't speak what we hear, we cannot speak what we "feel" or are capable of physically touching. Because when we do, we are simply speaking what already exists. God doesn't move when this is done, because we have not spoken faith. Faith is speaking out what does not currently exist. It takes no faith to speak what already exists.

God is not excited by chaos that Satan has played apart in creating in our lives. Only Satan gets excited about hearing this. God gets excited by us speaking our faith in Him, and what He is doing in our lives. This happens when we say, "Thank You God, for doing the unprecedented, the extraordinary, the unfathomable in my current situation! I look at it like this, God's ears are not tuned into unbelief, therefore He does not react on our behalf. Note the word I used was re-act. GOD'S EARS ARE TUNED TO HEAR WORDS OF FAITH, AND THAT'S WHAT MOVES GOD! He's like, "Whoooa, did You hear that Yeshua? Oh, yeah, I heard that too! I do believe We just heard Us some faith! Al-righty! Watch Us now!" That's when Yeshua stands up and says, I'm with Ya! Lets roll Daddy-O!~Written by FLOWERCHIC