The Loss

Amazing

Isn't it amazing how I have returned to blogging again during the anniversary month of Medea's passing. I have been writing a lot but, just not here. April 20th is vastly approaching. This is our third year without Madea. It has not been a easy process, some of us are still unable to talk about it. My youngest brother who ushered her from life to death still cannot tell me about the experience. I thank you my audience for allowing me to walk through my grief process with you. My hope is that it not only helped me but you as my audience. It does not have to be the death of a love one to experience grief. It can the loss of a job, divorce, the loss of a pet, a friend just to name a few. A loss entails many things that will and can cause one to grieve. Whatever yours is today, I want you to know that you will come through this. Through it all i had to learn how to depend on my creator.

How is your Summer going?

     Mine is going not as planned but, wonderful none-the-less. I attended a liturgical dance conference with other members of the ministry from the church. This conference was held in Newark, Ca. and it stretched me to the limit. Each work shop was active in learning a different routine. It was not one of those workshops where you sit and take notes. These workshops you had to be an active participant. It was awesome because you learned that Ballet is important training for any type of dance. I do not have ballet training but, God blessed me with a spirit of gracefulness.  The conference ended with each ministry in attendance was to minister in that Sunday which was the close of the conference. In preparation our team rehearsed for four hours, which was my limit. After all the workshops I felt tired and my knee was hurting. When you are doing it for the Lord you will be surprised at what He can do through you.

     We are on Summer break for the rest of this month. In the meantime, most of you know about my vacationing with my granddaughter. What you do not know is the highlight of our trip home was when Terrin met a young man. As it turns out he is a Christian, and he does something that many young people that I have seen do not do today. His phone calls to Terrin is always encouraging. Terrin has not had a lot of encouragement in her life and that is why this is important at this time.  This was and is an indirect blessing, as I enjoy encouraging others and God sends some one to encourage my granddaughter. This blesses me yes, to see the fruit of your labor is an awesome thing.

     There is another granddaughter you have not yet been acquainted. Her name is Nicole and she turned sixteen years old on Saturday. She celebrated at the Elks in Vallejo. It was a poolside party with plenty to eat, drink and conversation. For this occasion Nicole ask that I would make a Banana pudding. For Your Birthday party, you want a banana pudding? yes!. I tried to discourage her but, to know avail. Agreeing to make the banana pudding, I am wondering how will it keep on a hot day? The banana pudding traveled from Suisun to Vallejo, taken out of the car and traveled through the parking lot, past the pool to the designated area. We found the area draped with red table clothes and green and yellow streamers. Nicole theme was Jamaican. The DJ was playing Jamaican music mixed with a little American. Anyway, the banana pudding finally made it. It sat on the table for about ten minutes and then traveled to a cooler that was filled with soft drinks. The cooler was open and closed a lot because of the soft drinks. The next time I saw the Banana pudding it was traveling through the play area to the kitchen where there was this big white box called refrigerator there the banana pudding got to rest and chill out and firm up. The banana pudding was preparing for what it was there for, what? consumption. It was time for me to leave it was to hot. Terrin and I said our good byes and left the birthday girl having fun in the pool.

     My summer has not gone as planned but, it has blessed me. As I continue to volunteer with the Guidepost ministry prayer team. This ministry has blessed me as I have blessed those who have called for prayer. Many know Guidepost through their magazine. The past eleven months has really taught me a lot about intercessory prayer. I am expectantly looking forward to the rest of the summer. God has great things in store I am sure. So, How is your summer going?

Must you bear your burden Alone?

     We carry our burdens all the time, although the load gets heavy and we are weighed down on both sides. We've carried the load of guilt but, Jesus went to the cross to remove all guilt and stain. What burden are you carrying today? The burden of an abusive relationship that you do not want anyone to know about.  Financial burden you have gotten yourself in by spending beyond your means. The 10% that is due God should come off the top and He stretches the 90%. It is a wonderful thing when we trust God in our finances.  The emotional burden that we carry in the guise of depression or wear the mask is if everything is alright. Learn to think Happy thoughts and come out of the dark rooms of your mind. The dark room that you spend most of your time in . ("take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5b).

     God know about Abuse, Financial and emotional burdens that we mask. When He came down in the form of man he experience all things. He understand the broken relationship. He "says to us to cast all your burdens on Him" 1 Peter 5:7 NIV. "His yoke is easy and his burden is light" Matthew 11:30 NIV.

     If you have not come to Jesus and ask that he take Lordship over your life. Today is the Day, release your burdens to him and let the Almighty handle them today, right now. Amen

Are you spiritually Strong

To be spiritually strong your priorities should be God centered. God wants us to put Him first. Matthew 16:24NIV "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". I am sure you are wondering how you will know when you are spiritually strong, you will want to be more like Jesus and less like the world. You will want to please God more than man. You will start to apply the word of God to your lives more and your spiritual discernment will improve.

Instead of doing things of this world stay in the word of God and be ye transformed to the things of God. And be spiritually strong.

Keep this passage in your heart; " Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approved what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will" Romans 12:1-2 NIV.

In Limbo

What exactly is Limbo? Well, to my knowledge "it is being in a state of oblivion,confinement, or transition. In your walk with the Lord, whenever you're in such a position -  that is a transitional position of not knowing or understanding what God is up to - it's always very uncomfortable. In the Book "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby and Claude King states the following "God is always at work around you". and "God invites you to become involved with Him in His work".   Remember these Two realities of the Seven  quoted from the book "Experiencing
God".

I know that in your heart you earnestly desire to know God's will and plan, but He doesn't always reveal those answers right away. Jeremiah 29:11 "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". NIV

Sometimes God allows you to go through an in tensed time of testing wherein your faith is tried and you're stretched beyond what you believe you can handle. Another Quote for the book "Experiencing God, God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.  Sometime, you must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing".

Let me encourage you today; it doesn't matter where you are or what the circumstance is God has a plan; God has not forgotten His plan for you, your break through is on it's way, Just continue to hold onto God's unchanging hand. When we pray asking god "where is he working in your life so that you can join Him". I am speaking to this issue because I am where a lot of you are right now; in Limbo. I am encouraging myself also. "Sometimes we have to encourage ourselves in the Lord " this is a quote from Tri-City CD song Encourage yourself. Get the CD it will bless you.

Be Blessed in the Lord, until next time.

Listening

This is a big issue with me. Have you talked to a person when all you want is for them to listen. Well, I have this friend who does not know how to listen. All this friend know how to do is to talk about issues that they have experienced. When you call a person to talk about something that is troubling you, you do not want there opinion. you want a listening ear. Why is it so hard for people to listen and save there opinions and experiences for the appropriate time. You cannot listen when you are talking as fast as the person that called you for your listening ear. Don't that just frost you? What I have decided to do is; When I want a listening ear first ask if the person have time and secondly ask that they reserve all comments unless otherwise asked.

I am thankful that the one who we never have worry about listening, always have a listening ear is God. He is always waiting for us to talk to him, his ears are open to hear what it is that is troubling us. God does not give opinions he directs us in the path we should go. The bible gives us the advice we need to walk this journey. We never have to say be quiet god and listen. Talking to friends who will upset us take it to God.

Walking in 2008

2007 was a year if grief in more than one way. But, I have stepped into 2008 with excitement and joy.

Yes,  know I am excited because God is going to do exceedingly and abundantly more that I could ask. This is a wonderful feeling when you know with certainty that God is going to Bless in a miraculous way. As Pastor Lea stated in his sermon on Sunday, RAIN God is going to release all I need in 2008, Amen.

MY goal is to win more souls for Christ this year. This will be a year without Mom. I remember one of our conversations when I said to her ; I do not know what I am going to do should she go before me. She told me that God will take care of me as i go through the process of Grief. Now that it has happen Mom was right, God is carrying me through. Not just me but, my family as a unit. I am ready to walk in my blessings in 2008, I will be in prayer, studying and listening for his still small voice.

I will continue to pray for others who have had a loss in their lives.

Blessings upon you in 2008.

Faith

Read November 28th, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL.

REMEMBER: IF YOU REMAIN PATIENT, PERSISTENT, AND PRAYERFUL YOU WILL POSSESS YOUR PROMISE.

Painful Experience

The painful experience of surviving the loss of a loved one is complicated when you do not have a network of people and activities to add support and meaning to your life. Identify those people, groups, and activities in your life which form your support network and help give life meaning.  Your greatest tribute to your loved one can be in how you choose to live your life after the loss.

As we move forward into the Holiday season your support network will be very helpful at this time. Yes, you will weep, but remember joy is coming just hold fast on your belief system..

Daughters

I have forgotten there are daughters who have a special relationship with there Fathers. Fathers sometimes have play ed the role of both parents. I am sorry if i have seemed insensitive. I am sure the hurt is just as painful for you as for those of us whose Mothers have gone on. To a girl her Father is her first everything (love,date,dance,kiss) just to name a few things.

Daughters I have decided to adopt a Mother and share some things that I did not have a chance to share with my Mother before she went home to Glory. There are mothers who have been forgotten for what ever reason. We tend to forget is that whatever we sow one day we will reap. I ask each Daughter whose Mother is no longer alive, find and adopt a Mother, we can share memories. There are a lot of activities we can do. Can we do something in the memory of our Birth Mothers.

What do you think?

Do you want to get together as a group of Daughters and share and do other things as grieving Daughters. Our mothers would want us to live our lives to the fullest.

Let's talk !!!