Guard my mouth O' Lord

All my life I have been a "misses know it all".  If you would come talk to me I would always an answer, even if the answer was wrong as long as I had the last say, it did not matter.  Lately I have been asking God to convict me when I am not doing or saying things led by the Holy Spirit.  Recently God convicted me about listening and responding.  I was reading a book written by one of my favorite Evangelist and she stated:

"So choose to listen, resist the urge to criticize, insult, laugh, or make sarcastic remarks.  Battle the press of time and urgency and the hunger to get away.  Just lean in, quietly, emphatically, purposefully" (Shirer, 2011).

It wasn't just these couple of sentences that hit me it was the whole chapter.  I thought to myself, I have not been a good listener.  I started replaying various conversations with different people at different times in my life and I realized that I have been quick to speak, slow to hear and sometimes fast to anger.  Conviction hit me like a ton of bricks.  In the book of James chapter 1 verse 19 states "so then, my beloved brethen let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19 NKJV) I obviously had been doing it wrong.  Saints, God wants us to get it right.  There is a reason he has given us two ears and one mouth.  It is our job to listen more and speak only when guided by the Holy Spirit.  I am not just saying this to you but to myself as well.  The question is do you truly hear what someone is trying to say?  Do you wait on God to provide the answer? Then do you speak with the love of God? Or are you barely hearing what someone is saying, then responding with all of this "wisdom" that you MUST share with the world.  If it is the latter I pray that God convicts you on this immediately, as He did me.  It is not our job to have all of the answers or to always have something to say.  It is our job to listen and to provide "wise" counsel.  For Proverbs 12:15 states "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that heeds unto counsel is wise".
So I say this saints, let us be quick to hear, wait on the Lord to provide wisdom, then speak with love and the wisdom provided.

Here are some verses to help you along the way:

Quick to hear (Great Listening Skills)
Proverbs 17:27-28:  He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.  Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (NKJV)
Proverbs 18:13: He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

Wait on  the Lord to provide wisdom
Proverbs 5:1-2: My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips my keep my knowledge
Proverbs 2:2: So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-7: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord ad depart from evil
Proverbs 18:2:  A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.
Speak Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 3:7: A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. 
James 1:26:  If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.

So as I grow closer to a birthday milestone and embrace this new chapter of life I pray that God helps me in this area.  My prayer is that I listen more, speak less and wait on the Lord to give me the words to say. I continuously pray, Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalms 141:3).  Saints I pray the same for you.  Everything does not need an immediate response, everything does not need your worldly wisdom.  What people (friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, etc) need is God given wisdom, filled with love and understanding. 
I close with this as Elihu in the book of Job said to Job, I also hear God saying this to me and apply your name if you see it fit;
Give ear, Pamela, listen to me!  Hold your peace and I will speak, for I desire to justify you.  If not, listen to me; Hold your peace and I will teach you wisdom.


Be Blessed
Pamela. A
BrandNewME

 

A Father to the fatherless!

Psalm 68:5 He is a Father to the Fatherless.

I didn't grow up with a good father, in fact for many years I despised my earthly father. Most young girls learn how to date, how to choose a good husband, how not be treated wrongfully by their fathers. A fathers love is secure and allows you to view the world differently. Unfortunately, as I became a teenager I searched for a father in men, I yearned for that fatherly love. I had father figures in my life, but was heartbroken and felt unloved because the only relationship that mattered what own father. As time went on and I did not receive that love, I became very defensive and disconnected to the relationship world, settling for less and allowing men to hurt me way more than I should. It took me a long time, even now doubt creeps in, to learn that I have a loving Father who loves me even when I mess up, a Father who, when I am hurt, I can sit on his spiritual lap and just cry, a Daddy who I never have to worry about hurting me. A Father who supplies all of my needs. (Matthew 6:26). Sometimes my Father whispers in my ear, "you are my daughter" just to reassure me that I belong to Him, that He loves me. God, my Father loves me so much that he knew me before I was in my mothers womb. (Jeremiah 1:5). I am His daughter, I was His daughter before my mother and father could claim me as their own. My Daddy was with me through all my hurt and pain as a child when no family member knew what was happening, when suicide was plaguing my mind. God's love is so deep for us that he sent His son Christ to die for us. (John:3:16). It took me 32 years to realize that I always had a Father even when my earthly father had forsaken me. I thank God my Father in heaven. The Father my Gaga (grandma) spoke so much about, the Father who has always seen me for who I am even when I masked the pain from not having my earthly father (psalms 44:21) and the Father who has shown me that He is even a Father to my earthly father. So while father's day is approaching, I want you all to pray for my father, pray that he comes into the knowledge of Jesus Christ, pray that those demons that has plagued him since he was a child is removed, pray he is delivered. For while, my father and I haven't spoken since the death of my Gaga, since I dropped that letter off releasing all of my pain, my hope is he gets saved. While I may see my father one way, God sees him another. So today pray for my earthly father as I will with a sincere heart that he gets delivered and saved.

To those who never knew their father, who was hurt by their father, who lost their dad, there is a Father in heaven who loves you more than I can describe. He will give you a perfect peace about your earthly dad, he will touch your heart more than anyone on this earth can and help you forgive your absent dad. Get to know The Father, read His word, accept him into your life. For I know its hard to get to know The Father when you never had a father but it'll be the best relationship you ever had! (2 Corinthians 6:18).

After reading this please listen to Chris Tomlin's Good Good Father!

https://youtu.be/OfJrxvVnmkE



Much love,

Pamela. A

SMITE IT AT THE HEAD!

1 Samuel 17:49-51

"Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him.  But there was no sword in the hand of David.  Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it."

The other night, about two nights ago, I was on the women's bible study/prayer line and was really moved by what was being said.  A lot of women, including myself, expressed their anxieties, doubts, fears and so forth.  We became vulnerable with each other, which is not the easiest thing to do.  God really showed up on this line.  After the line, I proceeded to clean up my house but the Spirit stopped me dead in my tracks and I began to write.  I thought about David and him killing Goliath.  I thought about David's faith in God and how he knew that Goliath didn't stand a chance against God's people. We all know that it wasn't the stone that killed Goliath but the faith that David had that God was going to deliver them and that is what we need.  We need to know that when we throw stones at our burdens, diseases, temptations, spirits of the enemy or the enemy himself that its not how hard we throw but our belief in Christ that he will deliver us from the situation and with that we must go forth. But wait that isn't even the main part.  After David Goliath fell, David then took the sword and cut off the Philistine's head.   See it's not enough to throw the stone at our fears and doubts and strongholds we have to cut it off at the head. There's a saying cut the head of a snake and the whole thing dies.  THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.  Let's say you are experiencing anxiety about a situation, we know that God's word says "be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6)  God's word says exactly how we should handle fear, doubt and anxiety.  We all know that fear is a spirit that does not come from God.  So if fear is a spirit and it does not come from God who could it possibly come from. THE ENEMY.  His job is to walk around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  Do not let the enemy play with your mind and convince you that you cannot do this and that, or your children are completely lost, or that starting that family will never happen, or going back to school is pointless or starting that business is too much.  WE MUST CUT THE ENEMY OFF AT THE HEAD.  For doubt and fear start in the mind.  Put on your full armor of God and smite the enemy and kill doubt, fear, shame and other spirits that are keeping you bound from going forward or that is making you doubt God.  Today we cast out bitterness, unbelief, doubt, fear, shame, strongholds, the fleshly desires, not loving yourself, temptations, condemnation, accusation, deception and anything else that is not of God.  This spiritual battle starts in the mind, even Eve was deceived. In Genesis 3:13 "And the Lord God said to the woman, What is this you have done?  the woman said the serpent deceived me, and I ate.".  DO NOT BE DECEIVED.  If God has given you promises, he will do them, for God does not relent, if he has given you a vision, pray, fast and go forth, if you are afraid for your family or children began to intercede but DO NOT allow the enemy anymore of your time.  Be the conqueror that you were called to be.  WE are CONQUERORS, WE ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE ONE TRUE KING.  It ends now.  We have the Holy Spirit on our side.  We are no longer slaves but free through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Get up, prepare for battle, throw your stones with mustard seed faith, with your sword  AND SMITE THE HEAD OF THE ENEMY AND BE FREE!


Be blessed sisters and brothers,


Pamela

BE BOLD

Ephesians 6: 19-20 "And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."  

     Hey all its been a while.  I have been doing so much with the organization and starting a new job.    I also have not been writing because like Jacob I've been wrestling with God. (Genesis 32: 22-32) God won, lol. When it was prophesied to me that I would have women from all over coming to me I said, for what? Of course through time God has shown me, why. It took me a while but now I realize as the word says we are God's workmanship, the plans he he has for us are plans he has had from the beginning and as long as we keep doing what we want to do there will continuously be a hole in us where our purpose should be but if we do the will of the Father then we will no longer we a slave to jobs, school, friends, etc.  For even in Ephesians 2:10 states For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Let me explain why this has been put on my heart so.  I want to give you a vision that God gave me. Let me state this vision came to me 2 years ago. I was not alone, I was surrounded by a bunch of women at an annual meeting we have where we reflect on the year and worship God and where great things always happen.

     We were praying and as we were praying there was giant blue feet going into the ocean from the shore. As it started walking into the ocean I realized the feet was humongous then came the legs, which were so long I mean about 12 Foot. It was a GIANT a huge blue giant but that was not all. This giant had a crown on its head made of fire and a cape around its neck. The giant was so beautiful and full of joy.  The armor that it had on, no man could stand against.  The giant began to walk into the ocean and it was not afraid, it walked boldly going towards the middle of the ocean, with it's head held high.  As the giant walked forward it looked out and there was more giants  also walking toward the middle of the ocean. The sky was blueish black but in the middle was fire and not regular fire it was like the Glory of God all the giants was drawn to it.  The closer the giants got to it the more fearless they became.  It was a vision like no other I still get goosebumps and smile when I think about it. I guess you say so what does the giant represent? ME. I am the Giant. I have never seen myself in this way. I was so bold and courageous and beautiful. As I stated before this vision was 2 years ago. Recently God has been bringing it back to me and with a soft whisper God said BE BOLD! Just typing this I want to cry because whom am I that God sees me this way.  But I had to stop myself because His word says ins Psalm 8:4 "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

God told me BE BOLD with my organization, BE BOLD with my book, BE BOLD when it comes to spreading the gospel but more than anything BE BOLD with my Women's Ministry. Yes Women's Ministry. I accept it. I have a passion for women and for them to be saved and succeed. I've asked God time and time what you want me to do with this ministry and all he says is BE BOLD. Wait that's it Lord lol. But now I know. I've been running a Women's Bible Study on Saturdays and I have not announced it or told anyone because I said who am I to teach or show anyone anything and again God said BE BOLD. Through my vision I discovered that God has called me and other women like me to BE BOLD when it comes to His Kingdom, BE BOLD when it comes to your calling, BE BOLD if God has given you a vision.  Do not be afraid because we know that fear comes from the enemy.  We were meant to BE BOLD and COURAGEOUS.  In these times people are lost, let us be the light that shows the path to The Way and The Truth.  

For those who do not know Christ, get to know him, accept him as your Lord and Savior because Jesus saves and for those who just want a closer relationship with Christ, he said "seek me and you shall find me"  Once you have done all of that let him use you, for it is the Church's time to stop being meek and timid but to RISE UP and be the children of the King that we are meant to be.  Daughters IT IS TIME TO RISE UP! BE Blessed!

For The Love Of Money

"For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds  of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
I Timothy 6:10 NKJV


Being from NYC, the city of hustling and bustling, I started working at the age of 14 making 10.00 a hour in 1997. I never had a minimum wage job. I worked hard, I hustled hard. I stacked money and became overly greedy. That extra shift wasn't enough I needed more, so I left school and got a second job. Sometimes I would work 24 hours rest for four hours and do it again the next day. After I got saved (2012) I still had the same mind set, my husband married a hustler (2016) and then God spoke to me (2016). "Pam you have enough." I quickly replied ummm God no I don't I want this, I want that what about my bills and what about my savings. God chuckled at me and I was like what is it? But I knew the answer, God knew my bills and what I wanted and needed. God spoke really clear to me "I will take care of you", it was such a soft whisper that it brought tears to my eyes. I prayed and prayed about my job, scared to let the money go, scared to let the tuition reimbursement go, just scared. Then my supervisor happened to pull me in her office and mentioned being per diem, which is working 4x a month. Mind you I am a full time student, I have a internship full time and I have a non profit that is full time plus I'm a wife, a newlywed at that. I spoke with my husband and he was like "do whatever you wanna do". That sure didn't help me decide. I prayed and prayed some more and decided I would go per diem. I brought it to God and the Spirit literally said if that's what you want to do. What!!! Come on God tell me what to do. And it came to me that God gives us free will to choose him or the world, to chase him or chase money. I chose God and left it all at the cross. For the scriptures says in Matthew 6:26-27 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
For the word says be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6).  God's word is forever true. We as human beings have a tendency to want to have complete control when in all reality God has the control. God does give us a choice but those of us who belong to him know the choice we should always make, which is to always trust God to supply our needs. Now that I am per diem, I pray more, I read more, I focus more on the vision God has given me, God has given me less bills and I have a overabundance of everything I need. I began reading this book Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. This book was spectacular. This was me, from the beginning of the book until the end. I was always running and never sleeping and resting. But God said he will give you rest. So why was I tired and lacking in my walk because I was like Martha running around when Mary was sitting at Jesus feet getting what she needed. For Christ told Martha, "oh Martha you worry about many things but only.one thing is needed and Mary has chosen what is right. Chasing that dollar won't get you into heaven, running tirelessly won't allow you to focus on God. A lot of my friends are running chasing that dollar and I just look and listen to them because I know that chasing that dollar may bring you what you want but only one thing is needed Christ said. Now I'm not saying don't work, go work for the Bible says a man who doesn't work doesn't eat and that is for women too BUT there is a difference between working and hustling for the love of that money because you feel you don't have enough. If you are saved and you know Christ then you should know that you have more than enough. If you are not saved then of course I understand why you are doing what you are doing because you don't have the Savior to lean on. Get saved, have faith, repent and allow the Lord to lead and guide your life. For God says I have never seen the righteous forsaken or begging bread. Be blessed.

Alone Time

It has been so long since I wrote in my blog. I must say that it is because I got sidetracked with life and I kind of threw blogging to the back burner. I got married, started my internship and have been focusing on my organization. Just recently around September The Spirit of God told me to fast. Like most people I figured okay no meat, no sweets pray more and read the word more. I was ready. Until I got around a bunch of people and realized that my fast wasn't food but people. I realized I was always surrounded by people, friends, family, and others but it was more than that. I was around people who wasn't good for my spirit. So it bothered me because I was like but these are my friends and family and coworkers but I said let me do it, but I found myself making excuses, for example; Oh no I already planned this so after this I'll take a break, or oh wait its her birthday so after that I'll take a break not realizing that I was actually not yielding to what God had asked me to do. I spoke to my husband about it and was like this is the hardest fast EVER. Then it kind of hit me and it was like how can I hear Gods voice if I'm always surrounded by others who are speaking louder than God. I couldn't possibly hear God because when I'm around others I'm not even looking for him to speak, I'm so in tune with what others are saying I block out my spiritual canal to hear God. Isaiah 30:15 states "  For thus says the Lord God , the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not" I literally found myself doing what the flesh wanted me to do instead of taking quality time with God. Of course that causes for repentance.  Even Jesus had to take time out and pray and be alone.  "So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."
Luke 5:16. God requires us to separate ourselves so that we may hear his voice, his whispers. Friends and family talk will always be there but if we are to move in the Spirit we MUST start first obeying the word of God and the voice of God. We have reached a time where God is speaking to his people, God is building up his kingdom but how can you know when to move if his voice is just a faint whisper because your surroundings are so noisy.  So with that being said I find myself in a season of alone time. A season where I am "slow to speak and quick to listen", a season where some friends may not understand, a season where God is ready to give specific instructions and I am finally okay with that because I'm never truly alone for Christ has provided me a comforter, God is with me always and sometimes the walk with Christ is lonely because everyone can't go with you on your journey. Jesus had thousands with him on his way to the cross but none could understand his walk. Even in the midst of all of those people he was alone just HIM and the Father, I figure that's not such a bad place to be.

I say all of this to say sometimes you will feel lonely, sometimes it will be just you and your thoughts. Friends cannot always be around, family can't either but there is always a God in heaven waiting to whisper to you and talk to you and comfort you. Being alone in a place where you get to know God is such a great place to be. Try it!

Treading A Thin Line!

Most of the time I sit and observe and then once I gather the facts I say what I need to. Tonight I decided to visit my in laws and we were all trying to find something to watch on TV. We happened to pass this show Preachers of Atlanta, which I must say none of us watch, and I have to say my mind was blown. I was pretty upset at the 2 episodes we decided to watch and critique. While God grace is sufficient and his mercy endures forever I feel like Christians take the gospel and twist it to what they want it to be. I have to tell you all that the Spirit of the Lord never detours from the word of God. God's word is true. You do not have to dress like a prostitute to get across to prostitutes. I have a non profit organization that mentors girls in low income neighborhoods. These girls have to deal with homelessness, poverty, domestic violence in the home, prostitution, etc but I don't have to stoop to their level for them to understand me. The Spirit of the Lord guards my tongue, provides discernment and allows me to talk in a way that my girls understand. While the show spoke about some serious issues of police brutality and meeting people where they are, that does not allow us as Christians to compromise who we are. Pastors were handing out cigarettes to people, handing out condoms to people, idols were being worshipped. Lord have mercy! This does not show the world true Christianity. This shows the world that, hey do you what you want, because God's grace is sufficient.  Well let me tell you this as I always say there is a mark you have to meet to get into the kingdom. The Word says everyone who says Father Father will not make it in. We as Christians have to get to a point where we discern God's voice from our own thoughts. Now God can take your bad and use it for good but you have to be aligned with God's word. You are treading a thin line when you do things in God's name but was not called to do so. Churches have to have a standard. God is coming back for his churches and his people but not those who claim to be of Him but doing everything that the world is doing. My fellow Christians we are to be the light, WE are to be the example, WE have to stop conforming, the world is watching. We cannot win souls, conforming. We can only win souls by living according to God's word, walking in the calling he gave us, and being the light. Time is ticking people, fast and pray and allow the Spirit to work in you and if you're not saved GET SAVED! BE BLESSED!!