Leaving This Month's Problems Behind

This month has been very interesting. The enemy has been attacking marriages, finances and the health of my family and friends. If it was not one thing, it was another. But God is faithful! He was there every step of the way. He was there to comfort and tell us everything was going to be alright. He is right now providing and healing hearts and bodies.
If there is one thing I know for sure, is that God hears our prayers and runs to the aid of those we pray for. He does not like to see us hurt and in pain. He constantly wants to hold us in his arms and shield us from harm.
In Psalms 145:19 David writes "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry and will save them." God is ready and willing to come to our rescue if we just call on Him and have faith that he hears us and that the work has already been done. I pray for everyone that had a rough month of May and will walk into June victorious!!!!

My Savior My God by Aaron Shust

I have always liked this song and loved the words. Lately I have been singing it and the words just come alive. It reminds me of how loved I am by my Lord and Savior Jesus Chirst. I have included the lyrics to the song on the post, just so that you understand what the song is about. To all who know the song, enjoy. And to those who have never heard it, let it touch your spirit and rejoice at what your Savior has done for you.

Here is a video of Aaron Shust performing the song:



Lyrics to My Savior My God :
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Chorus (2x's)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna beYes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Chorus (2x's)
(2x's)My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives

Who Will Pray for Me?

I don’t know about you but often times I have a problem praying for myself. I used to think that praying for myself was somehow selfish. While I shied away from praying for myself, I often wondered well if I don’t pray for myself who will. I learned that it’s okay to pray for myself and that it is very important to trust God for your needs. It is also good to remember that you should pray for others. It shouldn’t just be all about you, it needs to be about the body of Christ, your unsaved family and friends and your leaders. Prayer is a time to talk to God about everything that is going on in your life and the life of those around you.

Now to answer the question, who will pray for me? Well that’s easy; Jesus will pray for you. Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” This is one of the most beautiful promises from Jesus. He is praying for us. I don’t know about you but I am surely happy that Jesus intercedes on my behalf. Who better to pray for you! Praise God that He is always mindful of us! He cares so much! When you are going about your Father’s business, he has your back. Praying for you and loving you till the end.

So don’t be afraid to pray for yourself; but always remember to pray for others and that Jesus is praying for His sheep. Also know that if we are praying for others surely others are praying for us. It is a beautiful prayer circle! Praise God for His goodness and love! Praise Him for praying for us! Praise Him through it all!

Finding Blessings in Disappointments

I received an e-mail two weeks ago from a former supervisor at an internship I worked last summer. She was the VP of wholesale and her whole department was laid off last September. It actually happened while she was on her honeymoon! To make it worse, she and the owner/designer were friends. But she took it all very well. She was not bitter and she never said anything bad about her former boss.
She continued to have an upbeat attitude even though she and her husband are currently unemployed. She told me in her e-mail that she was interning for a costume designer and for the first time she is enjoying what she is doing. She also said that she is making a lot of contacts and might be an apprentice to the designer.
I responded and told her that sometimes disappointments can be blessings in disguise. God revealed to me that he is always in control. And that every “no” you hear, every job lost, every relationship that goes wrong, or every opportunity that gets a way just means that God has something else or better in store.
The story of Joseph is a good example of someone who had so many disappointments in their life. God had revealed to him at a young age, what his destiny would be. The devil did not want Joseph to fulfill his destiny so he used Joseph’s brothers and Potiphar’s wife to stop it from happening. The beautiful thing is that God was with Joseph through it all and blessed him in those trying times. In the end, Joseph’s dream came true and he was second in command in Egypt and brought his family into the country to avoid the famine in the land.
Joseph said to the enemy in Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
So if you are facing life’s let downs, know that God is in control. Pray and ask the Lord for wisdom and understanding. Trust in His divine plan and serve the devil notice that you do not believe his lies. Let him know that you will endure the pain of rejection, loss and disappointments because your blessing is around the corner. So Praise the Lord because you are blessed and highly favored by the Most High God. You are a STORMRIDER!

True Stormriders: Mob Atttacks Christians in Niger

Here is an article from Voice of the Martyrs on the crosswalk website about Stormriders being persecuted for our Lord and Savior:

NIGERIA - Mob Violence Against Christians in Niger State

On April 13, a mob of suspected Islamic extremists attacked a group of Christians who were peacefully marching through the town of Gwada in an Easter Monday celebration in Niger State, Nigeria, according to VOM sources.

About 25 Christians were injured and three churches were torched in the violence. Attacks also occurred in the capital city of Minna, where extremists attempted to set a church building on fire. Cars were burned and vandalized and several believers were stabbed. At last report, approximately 110 suspects were arrested for their involvement in the attacks.

The Voice of the Martyrs is actively involved in ministry in Nigeria. VOM provides a wide range of support to persecuted Christians, some of which are providing support for widows by giving vocational studies in sewing and computers and providing literature. Pray that Christians will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them.

Impacting the Culture for the Kingdom of God

I ran across this article from the Crosswalk website called Cultural Engagement: Every Christian's Obligation by Paul Dean. It is a very interesting article on how we as Christians should be influential in today's culture. We are all called to further the Kingdom of God. And in this article Paul Dean explains how we can be in the world but not of the world.
I know for me and my sister working in the fashion and entertainment industry, there is a consent battle of compromising our beliefs or standing for holiness. I know many of you struggle with the same thing working in the medical field, music and film industry, the political area or Wall street. I know one thing we can agree on, is that it is not about us but that it is all about Jesus.
So at the end of the day people are looking for you to take a stand. They want to know your beliefs and morals. Because everyone, no matter what their religion or beliefs are, is searching for the truth. And as children of the Most High God we should be making an impact on our culture and not having the culture impact us.
Please take the time to read this article. It will give you a better understanding on how we are to influence and evangelize in today's world. Click here for the article.

A Lesson in Divine Produce

Early one day I was walking through the 59th Street/ Columbus Circle Station. I was already late for work and was trying to get through the station as fast as possible. As I was walking towards the stairs to get off the platform, I saw a man digging through the trash. I felt bad that he was looking for food, but I just didn’t have time to think about it. My mind was too preoccupied with work. As I approached the stairs, the Lord spoke to me saying, give him one of your oranges. My steps slowed and I said to the Lord, “Really, but I’m late”. I convinced myself that it was a self generate thought and picked up the pace to the stairs. Again the Lord said, “ Give him one of your oranges”. Again, my steps slowed down and I said to the Lord, “ But God, I’m late…. and this is all I’ll have to eat for the day…. the stairs are right there.” But the Lord repeated His words and as my left foot hit the first step, I bowed my head and said, “Okay God, I’ll obey You”. I quickly turned around and headed towards the man. I stopped near the trash can He was digging through, reached in my bag for one of the two oranges I had and said, “Excuse me Sir, would you like an orange”. He paused for a moment, never allowing for his hand to leave the trash can; looked me up and down and said, “NO”. He turned his head and continued to dig through the trash.

Upset, I raced back to the stairs and asked God, “Why did you allow me to waste my time, you knew he wasn’t going to take the orange. Did you just want to make sure that I would be obedient?” The Lord was silent and I was not happy about it. I got out of the station and raced across the street. Stomping now from the frustration of being late. It was then that I heard the Lord say, “ Do you know how often I offer people good fruit and they turn it down, imagine how I feel”. I paused for a moment to think about what the Lord told me. It is so very true! How often does the Lord offer us the best in life and we still want garbage. We turn down the wonderful things He has for our lives.

Don’t look in the trash when you can have the wonderful things that God is offering you. Praise God for good fruit! O taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8)!

Shaking up our relationship with God

God allows certain things to happen in our lives to shake up our relationship with him. The Holy Spirit laid this thought on my heart. He revealed to me that we should not get comfortable in our praise, prayer, worship or relationship with God. It's like with any relationship, friendship or marriage, when you start to become comfortable, you get into a routine. Than you become bored or detached from the person.

Well, that can happen in our relationship with God. We pray the same prayer and we expect the same answer. We praise and worship the same and we expect the same feeling. Sometimes we just do it because it's routine and we don't have the urge to expand or grow in the relationship. We become comfortable. Than we can get detached from God and His word. This can be a very dangerous place.

In order for us to get out of this runt, God allows certain situations to happen in our lives to revive us.Take for example David, God and David had a close relationship since he was a Shepard boy up to his dieing day as King of Israel. God was always there with David. When he was attacked by a lion and a bear. He was there when he defeated Goliath. God kept him safe through many wars and when Saul tried to kill him. So David knew that God would always have his back.

David built a good relationship with God and knowing from experience that God is merciful, faithful, slow to angry and full of grace. David might have taken all of this for granted when he decided to sleep with another man's wife. Because of David's sins God sent the prophet Nathan to give him His judgment on what he did. David would lose his child with Bathsheba, the woman he committed adultery with and murdered her husband.

This was a painful judgement for David, that he fasted and laid on the ground praying and hoping that the Lord would spare his child. When the child died, David got up and ate. I believe this is when David started to renew his relationship with the Lord. When his servants asked him why he stopped fasting after the child died, David responded and said "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:21-23.

David understood that the Lord could have been gracious enough to save his son but he knew this was not about him. David realized that He had to praise the Lord through his trails and tribulations. That he had to gain a better understanding of what the Lord wanted to do in his life. Even though, God took his son, he still blessed David and Bathsheba by giving them Solomon, the heir of the throne. Through David's iniquities, God restored their relationship and made David the Prince of Praise.

So take the time to think about your relationship with the Lord. Look at all the areas that need improvement and focus on developing a stronger relationship with Him. He loves you and he wants to be constantly on your mind because He is constantly thinking about you. Pray that the Lord continues to renew your prayer life, your praise and worship. Also your walk with him.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2

True Stormriders; Miss California

As many of you know we really don't write post based on pop culture or celebrity news. But this pass weekend's Miss America Pageant has caused some controversy. Judge Perez Hilton, a gossip blogger, asked Miss California a question about Same Sex Marriage. If you missed it, here is the question.




Miss California answered the question honestly and took a stand for her convictions. I respect her and admire that she glorified the Lord on such a huge platform in front of millions of people. Not many people could have done that and so many well known pastors have avoided questions like this. Miss California has shown the world that she is "Not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ...." Romans 1:16.
That same night, Perez Hilton went on his blog and lashed out in an angry rage against Miss California for her answer. Miss California went on FOX News to respond to what Perez said about her and to defend her answer.





10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you Matthew 5:10-12


I pray that the Lord will give all of us the same courage and strength to speak the truth. People are watching and waiting to hear what we have to say.

The Blessings of Giving

This past Resurrection Sunday, my sister and I baked cookies for the tenants in our building. We thought it would be a great way to meet our neighbors and do something special for the holiday. My sister made sugar and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. She cut out purple squares of construction paper and wrote Happy Easter on them. We wrapped them in sulifane and tied purple ribbon around them. We said a pray asking the Lord to go before us and open the hearts of our neighbors to receive the cookies and that it would bring Him glory.

We went door to door knocking and heading out the cookies. Everyone had big smiles on their faces and were so grateful for the cookies. They said, "You guys are so nice" and "We have such great neighbors." We even handed out cookies to owners of the deli beneath our apartment building. The owner's son was so shocked and happy. He had the biggest smile on his face and kept thanking us. It really filled our hearts with gladness and that Jesus was being glorified. God loves to see His people do his will and doing it with cheerfulness and gladness. In Hebrews 13:2 it reads 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. We should always keep this is mind because God can use strangers to help us in our time of need. Getting to know people in your neighborhood is a great way to have support and unity when there are times of crisis. People will always remember when you show them kindness.

I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord what is it that He would want for you to do in your neighborhood. It could be baking cookies, praying with a neighbor, inviting them over for dinner or just saying hello. Small acts of kindness go a long way. It plants a seed and that seed will grow into something beautiful. Giving of yourself to others also brings glory to the Kingdom.