Category Archives: blogging
Help One Now
Meet Naiderson. My sons and I watched this video together.
I do not want them growing up not knowing the needs that exist around the world. I’m also trying to instill in them biblical principles.
God teaches us not to forget the poor or the orphans. (James 1:27)
I’m trying to serve in any way I can which is why I am now a Help One Now blogger.
This is all voluntary. I do not get paid to blog for any organization. I do this on my own accord as a way of giving back and helping in some small way.
God has given me the gift of writing and I want to sow it back to Him.
The Lord seems to be reminding me lately about the necessity and importance of children receiving an education.
I just finished reading and reviewing a book called Creating Room To Read by John Woods which is about the importance of education. Mostly, children living in poverty around the world who do not have access to books or schools.
Help One Now is helping children in Haiti which Unicef reports the education statistics are very bleak.
When we watched the video of Naiderson, we were very sad. After the earthquake in Haiti, it left children like Naiderson without schools.
I’ve learned by John Wood and Nick Kristof that children receiving an education is one of the ways to break the cycle of poverty.
In the days ahead, I will be blogging more about the work Help One Now is involved in and how you can get involved or help.
If you are moved to give, just click on the photo above to donate towards this cause. Any amount will be helpful and appreciated.
Stop Making Excuses
Lately people have been saying they don’t know how I do it all. How they wish they had the time to do something they love.
I thought to myself… what is stopping them from doing what they love? What is getting in their way of pursuing something they are passionate about or enjoy?
But then I remembered I was one of those people. A spectator standing on the sidelines watching others pursue what they enjoyed.
Here’s the thing, no one was stopping me from pursuing what I enjoyed. Excuses were.
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God gives us twenty-four hours a day. What are we doing in and with those twenty-four hours?
Is all the time going to work? Or are we wasting time on other things or activities that could be replaced by something we love doing instead? Are we managing or stewarding our time properly? Are we disciplined?
You see my friends, what it all comes down to is choice.
I choose to get up an hour and a half earlier to spend time with the Lord and do what I love.
Is this easy? Absolutely not. It’s a sacrifice.
But I made a choice. I decided getting up early and carving out time in my day to do what I love is important to me.
I sat down one day and thought about how I could incorporate time to work toward something I love without it eating into my job, obligations or family time.
I came up with a plan, that I would either get up an hour earlier or stay up an hour later consistently. I was committed to taking a small portion of my time daily to work toward my goals or dreams.
But I always make sure to spend alone time with God first before I do anything. This sets the tone for my day. Then I move into something I love, enjoy or am passionate about for the remainder of the time.
Please understand that even committing a half an hour a day is better than nothing. You have to start somewhere and stick with it no matter what.
I promise you, that if you do this consistently, you will see a difference and feel better too.
Do you feel stuck or unfulfilled? What are some small changes can you make or steps you can take to change this?
It’s Not About Us
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27
I remember when I first read the above bible verse. It was as if the words jumped up from off the page and hit me in the face.
These words went deep into my heart, never to be forgotten.
My heart has always been for the children; the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, the abused, the neglected and the orphans.
This was even before I had children of my own.
My husband remembered my sponsoring children from Compassion International when he first met me.
My desire has been and will always be to help in some small way and make a difference to children in need.
But honestly, I can’t do it alone. I realize that no matter how much I try to help, it isn’t enough.
Recently, a sweet sister in the Lord who lives in Pakistan reached out to me. She is a young girl who has dedicated her life to feed orphans in the town where she lives. The need is so great there and the money she receives unfortunately doesn’t suffice.
I am troubled by this. I am troubled by the fact there are children who are hungry and have no family.
I personally give to the capacity I am able, but again, it’s not enough.
This grieves me and I find myself crying out to God for help.
The burden is great.
Recently, I watched a movie by Tyler Perry called “Good Deeds”. I am happy it had a Hollywood ending, but the entire time I watched, I suffered. There was this one character who was a struggling single mother. She was evicted from her apartment in the worst way. She became homeless overnight and had to live in her car with her young daughter. It was a sad situation and it broke my heart.
I know there are countless women in the USA alone in dire straits, trying to make ends meet to feed and care for their children or are homeless and living in shelters.
The needs are great.
Which is why I became a Compassion International blogger, because I want to make a difference somehow and in some way to help children around the world.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, my dream isn’t about me, my blog isn’t about me, my writing isn’t about me. It’s all about Jesus, His dream and His heart for His children throughout the world.
My life isn’t about me, it’s about Jesus. It’s about living His Word to the best of my ability. His Word is the rulebook for our life. As Christians, we need to follow what it says and not live our lives according to ourselves, our dreams, our motivations or our desires.
We are to live our lives helping and serving others, being the hands and feet for Jesus on earth.
This is why the above verse means so much to me, because I believe this is God’s heart and dream for mankind.
For those of us who say we love Jesus, we are to love what He loves and obey His Word by caring for the widows and orphans.
We must realize that God’s dream is much bigger than our own dreams. The gifts He gives us is not to be used for ourselves, for our gain or recognition, but for His cause and His cause alone.
We all can do our part and make a difference, even if it is just donating a dollar to help a hungry child. Any little bit would help.
Won’t you join Children International by helping them fulfill God’s commission here on earth by donating any amount or sponsoring a child today?
Alternate Reality
Last week, a very special and precious young lady, the daughter of faithful missionary friends of mine passed away suddenly in a tragic car accident.
The following day I went to work and found out a young co-worker’s husband passed away unexpectedly, leaving her and two year old child behind.
Both tragedies left my mind spinning and my heart rend.
I realize an alternate reality is just a step away.
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Heaven.
Earth is not our home. We are just pilgrims passing through.
The Bible says, our citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
We think we have tomorrow, but tomorrow may never come. Tomorrow is not promised.
So do we lose heart or hope? God forbid. Our hope is in Christ. Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
As we traverse the earth, the kingdom of God is within us.
We live in an alternate reality.
In a split second, we cross the veil and into eternity.
As children of God, we live in two worlds simultaneously.
Our flesh is on earth and our spirits in Heaven. Two realms colliding.
The time we have here is unknown, but as carriers of His glory, we must live in this truth.
For what is unseen is more real than what we see.
We must live each day as if it’s our last and shine the love of God. Shedding hope and love abroad man’s hearts wherever we go.
My dream is for revival.
I have been praying for the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to touch those who don’t know Jesus in a life changing way.
His love and kindness leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
If we are alive, our purpose is to live for Him, serve Him and lead others to Him.
In memory and honor of those who recently crossed over, I am even more determined to live my life passionately for the cause of Christ.
In conclusion, I want to share a song which has been ministering to me. I hope it blesses you.
Do you want to live a life surrendered to Jesus Christ? Do you want to be used for His glory? Do you want lead others to Jesus?
Who Are You Following?
People tell me I’m passionate about Jesus and the things of God. And they are right. I simply can’t help myself.
He is my passion.
So much so, I am willing to follow Him, even if it means saying goodbye to what is familiar.
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Which is what I did this weekend, after much prayer.
All this time, I have been following other people’s formula’s for success. I followed the “successful” people to build my platform, tribe, audience and subscribers.
Until God jolted me awake by allowing some disappointing incidences to occur with the people I was following. People I respected and admired.
God reminded me that He is a jealous God. He wanted me to quit idolizing them and stop following their prescriptions for success too.
He said, His ways are not their ways. He told me to follow Him.
I realize my calling isn’t going to be like other people.
What may have worked for these successful people, may not work for everyone and it doesn’t make them any less of a person either.
My husband reminded me the other day that I never felt comfortable with the whole platform and tribe building thing in the first place. I just settled and went along with it because everyone else was. But it was never my thing.
I didn’t start a blog or writing to build a platform, tribe or become someone famous or successful.
My whole purpose to writing and starting a blog was ministry. To use my gifts to the glory of God, to serve, help, encourage, inspire others and point them to Jesus. That’s it.
It was never my intention to build a big platform, tribe or write a book even. I just got caught up with the whole fervor of it by being part of an online community.
I love the community, but I lost my way.
My purpose is not to chase after anything or anyone or to strive at building a platform, tribe or to become successful by the world’s standard.
My purpose is to serve God with my life and to be a light in the darkness.
I want to live my life in such a way that people will recognize Jesus in me. I don’t want to be a phony, wishy washy, lacking backbone, hypocritical, compromising Christian.
God has a calling on my life and I want to be obedient to Him.
I am already successful because He lives in me. He walks with me, He talks with me and He shows me the way.
How many Christians can say they hear from God or sense His presence?
These are the riches the Bible talks about. He isn’t talking about financial prosperity or being successful as the world defines it.
His riches are spiritual.
I can say I’m rich in Him and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in this world. Nothing, absolutely nothing is worth it to me. I rather be a nobody for the rest of my life and have what I have in Him, then to be a somebody by the world’s standard and chasing after wind.
I do not want to be one of those people who Jesus says, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23)
I want to be the one He says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
What about you?
What is Success?
Have you ever thought about what constitutes success? When you think about the word, what comes to mind?
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When I think about it, I think about a great career, making loads of money, mansions, yachts, fancy cars, nice clothes and exotic vacations.
My definition of success matches what this world and media have indoctrinated me with.
However, this is the wrong definition of success.
Success holds different meanings to different people. What success might mean for one person may not mean for the next.
As a Christ follower, we are not to define success the way the world does. We are not to chase after the temporal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
What is the use of chasing after something that won’t last or give you fulfillment?
I know loads of people who have a ton of money and by the world’s standard are successful. But if truth be told, they are the most miserable people walking the face of this earth.
Why? Because God never meant for us to be chasing after idols. He made us to chase after Him. He created us to worship Him and have intimacy with Him.
Believe me, it’s not easy living in a world where our senses are bombarded daily by advertisements, social media, music, television and movies.
Someone is always selling us something. There is this underlying subliminal message repeating itself. Buy this and you will be happy. Go here and it will change your life. Do this and you will be famous. Follow this strategy and you will be successful? Drink this or eat that, see this or do that… get the point?
We are constantly driven, chasing after that “next” thing which we “think” will make us happy, fulfilled or successful.
But it’s all a lie, we are just chasing after wind.
Jesus is the only one who can give us joy. He is the only one who can deeply satisfy us. He is the only one who can fill that void. He is the only one who can complete us.
When we have Him and live for Him, we are a success. It’s as simple as that.
Today my prayer is you will see the futility of chasing after things which are temporal and not eternal. May the Lord open the eyes of your heart to see Him and may you sense His profound love for you. His love is the only thing that can truly satisfy you.
What do you define success as? What does success look like to you?
Evicting Jesus
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Today I have been reflecting on the state of affairs with the Church and it’s members. Those who go on Sunday’s, fill up the pews and then walk out unchanged. Church has become nothing more than a social club or coffee clutch.
And we wonder why the world doesn’t respect Christians.
I can’t quite blame them. We are wishy washy, sensual, carnal, powerless, materialistic, selfish and self seeking. We only care about ourselves, our agendas, our concepts, our dreams and our works.
We appease our conscience by doing missions work or by feeding the homeless every now and then.
We Christian’s have been acting “politically correct” as not to offend anyone. We basically want our cake and eat it too.
I have decided not to mince words or keep silent anymore on issues I believe need a spotlight.
Lately, I have been noticing that Christians are walking on egg shells around nonbelievers. They don’t want to offend.
I am all fine and dandy about this to a point. But, when I have to make excuses for the sake of unbelievers or told to be sensitive to nonbelievers or to keep silent about my faith, then that’s where I draw the line.
You know why?
Because nonbelievers do and say whatever the heck they want and no one says a word to them. Yet I’m suppose to keep my mouth shut, not say anything about my faith for fear they will be offended or feel uncomfortable?
I walk down the streets of Manhattan and I am assaulted by unbelievers cursing up a storm and acting in offensive ways. I can’t do or say a thing about it either. But yet, I have to be careful around them for being a Christian?
I’m sorry, but there is something terribly wrong with this picture. For me, it’s called compromise. We want to please everyone, but if we call ourselves a Christ follower, then God requires us to please Him first.
Listen, I’m the last person to get in someone’s face and force them to believe in Jesus. But I sure as hell won’t be keeping silent or behaving like I’m not one. I don’t have to be ashamed of Jesus Christ.
Why do I have to make excuses or keep silent that I’m a Christian amongst unbelievers? Oh I see, I have to tolerate them, but they can’t tolerate me?
I presume I have to apologize for my mere existence or for the air I breathe too?
No one is apologizing to me for being a Muslim, Buddhist or Satanist? I don’t expect them to, but nor should they expect me to either.
The way I see it is this, if you are Christian, then you are a Christian, period. I shouldn’t have to squirm, apologize or pretend I’m someone other than who I am to please anyone.
Nor should I have to censor what I write or believe either. With all due respect, if you don’t like what I have to say, you don’t have to read or subscribe to my blog. I’m not here to win any popularity contests. I’m here to tell the truth as I see it. If you don’t agree with it, then please feel free to unsubscribe. I’m not going to compromise my beliefs for anyone… even if it means walking alone.
God gave me the gifts I have and He has blessed me with the ability to communicate and write. He has called me to use those gifts to encourage and edify the Body.
He did not say for us to bury our gifts, He said for us to use them for His glory, not use them for our own gain.
I’ve been reevaluating lately and the more I go on, the more disappointed and disillusioned I’ve become with the state of affairs. The world has seeped into the Church and Christians are acting no different than the unbelievers.
We have evicted Jesus from our Churches, from our projects, from our agendas, from our plans… and mostly, from our hearts. Do we really expect Him to be cool with that?
Sorry, but this isn’t how it works. Jesus said, “But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33) He also said, “But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Rev. 3:16)
Yes, God is a loving God, but we can’t take His love for granted.
If Christians keep acting like He doesn’t exist as to not offend people, then I’m afraid the state of affairs is only going to get worse, not better.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel like you have to walk on egg shells, make excuses or pretend you are not a Christian for fear of offending unbelievers?
When You’ve Lost Your Dream
There was a time in my life where I couldn’t hear, see or sense God. I would pray and it was as if the heavens were brass.
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I thought my life would turn out one way and here I was, recovering from the aftermath of a difficult pregnancy, overweight, post partum, sleep deprived because my son was colic and unhappy.
I can’t tell you how hard life was for me back then. I would look around at my friends who were happy and pursuing their dreams.
But I wasn’t. I was stuck in a new reality that I did not want.
I kept asking God where He was. He didn’t seem like He was with me at all. I felt isolated and alone.
When we are in a difficult season of life, we think it will last forever.
My friends did their best to try and encourage me by saying, God is not over with me yet and He had a great plan for my life.
While I whispered under my breath, yeah right. I couldn’t see it. I felt as if God abandoned me.
I was miserable.
Instead of getting better, I got bitter. I was angry and I was envious of others who were living their lives the way I wished I could.
I honestly did not believe I would ever dream again.
I am happy to report I am dreaming again. I’m dreaming God’s dream for me before I came to earth.
You are probably wondering how long it took to get to this point. The answer is a decade. It was only up until recently I was able to dream again.
So for those of you who are raising babies, don’t know what your dreams are, feel really discouraged and inadequate, this is for you:
God has a plan for your life. He hasn’t given up on you. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t abandoned you. He loves you passionately. You are in a season right now. It won’t last forever. He is growing you in the process. Keep your eyes on Him, no matter what and He will see you through. You will dream again.
Have you stopped dreaming? Do you think God has forgotten you?
Why I Became A Muslim
Why did I become a Muslim? That’s a good question. Because I found the people who call themselves Christians don’t conduct themselves as such.
Courtesy of Creative Commons.
You see, it’s one thing to be a struggling Christian and yet another to be a Christian leader. As a leader, you are not afforded the same liberties as a lay person.
I think the mistake is that many leaders choose what they want to do, even though God didn’t call them. They want God to co-sign whatever they choose, even though He didn’t choose it for them.
This is where I believe things go awry and what causes unnecessary hurts and offenses within the body of Christ. Because they weren’t called to be leaders in the first place.
God allows them to be there because He gives us free will. However, if you are not called into those positions, you will eventually fall on your face and do some major damage in the process.
We see it time and time again amongst leaders; the misuse of power, misuse of money, misuse of position, misuse of authority and a host more.
I just went through something last week that completely threw me for a loop. I had no idea I would get the kind of response I did from someone who is a Christian leader. To make matters worse, they falsely accused me of something I wasn’t even doing.
I can’t tell you how devastated and hurt I was by this Christian’s actions and words. I wasn’t even able to be heard, get a word in edgewise or communicate on any level with this person. I was refused the opportunity, but was cut off and ignored.
The Bible says when we have an issue, we are to take it directly to that person to resolve it. (Matthew 18:15-16). We are also to live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18).
Leaders are supposed to know how to handle and resolve conflict and not treat others as the world does.
Which brings me back to why I became a Muslim… because of instances like the above.
Christians who are cruel, insensitive and basically have no business being in leadership positions at all as they do not exemplify the love of Christ toward others.
If truth be told, I have been treated better by unsaved people more than I have from Christians. True story.
Which is why I fell in love with the Muslim community. I was hurt by the church in more ways than one, you can read about an incident here. When I decided step down from choir and leave the church.
After 9/11, I went to Egypt by myself. I met some Muslims there and spent time with them. I was treated better than I ever was treated by Christians. I was treated so well that I cried when I had to leave.
Is this shocking for you to read? Well, this is the honest truth. Something I’ve kept hidden all this time.
I have only experienced good things amongst the Muslim community. They are kind, loving, generous and will go out of their way to help you in a heartbeat. They really understand what community is all about. I felt like I was accepted and part of a loving family. A family I never had.
I have never experienced that in the church, ever. I see fragments of it here and there, but nothing to the extent or degree that I experienced firsthand in the Muslim community.
Why didn’t I remain a Muslim? Because I had a supernatural experience with Jesus which I believe resulted from the faithful prayers of a few friends.
This is the simple answer, but there is a whole story behind this which I can’t get into now. Perhaps some other time though.
What about you? Have you ever been hurt by the church, a pastor or another Christian leader? If so, how did you handle it? What was the outcome? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
Happily Ever After
This is the scenario, you have this picture in your mind of what marriage is supposed to be like or some ideology of what you imagine it to be.
Frankly, Hollywood has done us a disservice with their unrealistic and irrational portrayals of pie in the sky and happily ever after.
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The truth is marriage is hard work. It doesn’t come ready made like Cool Whip. Quite the contrary.
I’m sure you heard the first year is the hardest. Believe me, it is.
Two galaxies crashing together under one roof with all their quirks, baggage and what not.
Excuse me, but that ain’t easy.
Single people look at married couples with envy (or vice versa). Meanwhile, what they see is only a snap shot. A glimpse in time.
I feel like telling them to come on over when I’m having an intense fellowship session. I wonder if they’d envy me then?
They have no idea what takes place behind closed doors. Just because they’re smooching and smiling at the moment, doesn’t mean that’s the whole story.
People walk around pretending they have a perfect marriage. God forbid they should keep it real.
If you would have asked me back in the day if I loved being married, I would have looked at you like you were crazy.
For the record, no, I did not like, enjoy or think marriage was the greatest thing on earth. Quite the contrary, I wanted to run from it. It was too hard, hurt too much and it was not what I had signed up for.
The marriage is bliss thing is simply not true, so please don’t buy into the lie.
I can tell you this, I am not at the place I was before, where I simply hated being married with a passion. Where I wanted to be single again and do whatever the heck I wanted.
I had dreams, places to go and people to see. Marriage was cramping my style.
But like everything in life, you have to work at marriage. The word “work” is like the bubonic plague in our microwave society.
We want easy and quick. We don’t like to work or wait. We want everything yesterday.
The minute something doesn’t go our way, we want to run, hide, escape or… cheat.
Yes, I’ve done that too (in the past and not on my husband)… and let me tell you, cheating doesn’t solve your problems, it just adds to them. Instead of having one headache, you have two.
In the beginning, everything is great. It seems like a dream come true. You found your soul mate. Someone who completes your sentences. You feel alive, you feel beautiful, you feel like someone finally understands you… until… the bubble bursts, the nightmare begins and then… the jokes on you.
I know marriage is hard and it hurts, and you want it to give up or get out. You want the ideal situation. I understand all of this.
But marriage isn’t ‘presto magico’. Both parties have to work at it.
My suggestion for anyone at the brink of giving up, is to pray, ask for the Lord’s help and go to marriage counseling. Seriously, don’t underestimate counseling.
I’m thankful I hung in there and didn’t give up, because I can finally say… today is a new day.
Can you relate to this? Are you struggling in your marriage?
It’s Time to Fly
It’s a new year, faced with new challenges and new possibilities… it’s time to fly…
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I don’t know about you, but for years I’ve been trying to fly…
It’s been a constant struggle… every time I turn around there’s something happening. Situations pop out of nowhere and obstacles get in the way of reaching my full potential.
Awhile ago, I resigned myself to the fact that “one day” I will do this or that. I found myself sitting around… waiting, hoping, praying, wishing and dreaming.
As if something magical would happen to get me to where I wanted to go without doing the work or going through struggles.
I had everything I needed… except belief in myself. Mostly, belief in God.
I limited God, therefore I limited myself.
We do have a choice. We can either choose to believe truth or listen to lies.
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I played footsies with the devil for years… we kept dancing the same dance. As time went on, I started to believe this was my life.
I listened to his lies, his whispers and his seductions… luring me here and there like a puppet.
I was at his mercy, controlled by the puppet master… believing in the goods he was selling me. Thinking it was all I deserved, all I was worthy of.
He showed me his kingdom and I believed that’s all life had to offer… Yeah, sure, I read the bible, I went to church, but deep down I felt like an outcast, lurking behind the shadows with his minions.
I wanted to fly, but I was trapped… like a bird in a cage… set free only to do his bidding… manipulated, deceived, used and abused… lost and in utter despair…
He convinced me that I would never fly again. His words echoed, “You are damaged goods baby, who’s gonna want you now…”
I can still hear him, with each step I take and risk I make. The only difference is that now I know he has no power.
My belief in Jesus is stronger and His voice is louder.
He thought he had me… and he did for a while. But, praise God, those days are over.
This year I’m not going to limit God or myself. Even when it gets tough and challenges sneak up (which they have already)… I will continue to focus on Him, believe and not give up.
It’s your time to fly too… will you soar with Him this year?
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