God...The Center

*Deep Breath*

Okay, several deep breaths. I've been thrown off course more so than ever for the last couple of months. Many things have happened towards the end of last year and honestly I'm not one to dwell on situations. Saying that, it also means that I am not one to always confront situations, because I rather them be left alone. But of course that's not always wise. I've allowed my world to become greater than God. Allowed it to sour my mood and control my emotions. I've also been denying and covering it up with hurt smiles and angry laughs. Nothing really genuine. I've been walking around as if everything is okay, as if all is well with me. I'm tired. Tired of it all. As soon as I completed that thought, the verse gets pushed in the forefront of my mind "Come to me and I will give you rest". No one but God. No one but Jesus. NO ONE. 

I've been walking around praying scared prayers, timidly coming to the Father. Pushing away what I know I need. For what!? Like some BIG BANG is going happen to simply change the situation 360. Not saying that it can't, because God is God and He does what He pleases. 

" Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." -Hebrew 4:16

 It's all a process, a season, a "through" that we all have to endure. The thing is with me, is that I know better. I truly do, I've been in that place where I've walked with God hand in hand and His voice is what lead me in the directions. Then what happens is I get in my own way. I get stubborn and tell God, oh I got it, I'll call you when it's that one thing that I can't push. But see, it's all wrong. God is an all inclusive God. He's the first, the last, the in-between, all over God. In being real, I don't think I do it on purpose, but I do let my environment and my situation dictate and remove me from the hands of God at times. Instead of telling my problem that my God is greater than it and that I will overcome it, I skedaddle to a little "me" corner and let it consume me.

I created the image above to remind myself that God is the center of my life. He's the giver of my heartbeat. The one that allows me to wake up every morning with His grace and mercy washing over me EVERY day. It represents that in all those categories that He has precedence. He is there all throughout, not only in the beginning, but also at the end.

At any point when one thing feels like it is weighing you down, try and inspect the position that it is in your life. Is work stressful? Is God at your job? Are you seeking Him in your right now season? Are you praying for God's Will  fro each relationship, your family, each situation? Not only are we seeking, but are we simply getting in His presence? God likes it when we are all up in His face. Jesus being at the center of my life, gives me that balance. Not saying  that some days one thing won't be heavier than the next, but you should always know that when you go back to your center or keep God at the center entering every situation there's that balance. He's that balance that keeps your tongue from ripping your fellow sister or brother into tomorrow. He's that balance that keeps you from going over the edge. Thank God there's no limit with Him. There is only freedom.

I'm grateful for the chance to be able to write this, as it has been somewhat heavy on my heart. I know I haven't been where I needed to be, so I thank God for taking me back every time. Life happens to us everyday, just remember that God is greater and is with us through life happening. So what are we choosing to let happen to us?

With Love and Blessings,
Daphne

Merry Christmas 2013

Hoping your Christmas is a Blessed one. Merry Christmas to you All.

-xoxo Daphne

Your Name is Higher, Your Name is Greater {Worship}

So yesterday at church, the worship team ushered us in the presence of the Lord with  this song. The title is "Anchor" by Hillsong and it is on the Glorious Ruins (Live) Album. The lyrics are:

I have this hope 

As an anchor for my soul 

Through every storm 

I will hold to You 

With endless love 

All my fear is swept away 

In everything 

I will trust in You 

Chorus: 

There is hope in the promise of the cross 

You gave everything to save the world you love 

And this hope is an anchor to my soul 

Our God will stand 

Unshakable 

Unchanging One 

You who was and is to come 

Your promise sure 

You will not let go 

Repeat Chorus 

Coda: 

Your Name is higher 

Your Name is greater 

All my hope is in you

Your word unfailing 

Your promise unshaken 

All my hope is in you 

As we go about our day remember that our hope is in Jesus Christ. Not a job, not a friend, not a guy, not our parents, but Jesus. I know sometimes we get caught up in life and we feel like we have to take on all the stress and worries on our own, but know that God is our Anchor. He alone holds us grounded. No amount of sin, no amount of stress, no amount of worry can shake God. And as Christ as our foundation we too stand unshakable. 

Happy Monday,

Divine

Spiritual Sanity {Fasting Day 20}

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For the past 20 days I have embarked on a 40 day fast. This is my first time doing a 40 Day one on my own. I've done fast's before while I was in Texas collectively with my church, however this is my first one by myself. I am currently following the Agape Worship Center Prayer, Fasting and Devotion that I found online here. Wherever that they have specific pertaining to their church I just insert my church information along with theirs.

Worship: "I Surrender" - Hillsong

Because I feel like it......

Yes, because I felt like writing. Writing to ease this tension, anxiety, frantic sense that has been surrounding me this week. I've been feeling all sorts of ways that I can't explain. Like the feeling of neediness. I told a friend of mine that he's neglecting me and he called me a brat. Maybe I was being a brat, but all I wanted was to hear his voice. (Is that too much to ask?) Anyways, he ended up calling and it was a temporary high that only made me want him physically  there with me. But I digress.

I don't really get too personal on my blog when it comes to relationships and such, but then again I am trying to live a transparent lifestyle, which isn't easy of course. And today I just wanted to write. So whatever comes of this post is meant to be here. Judgement or no judgement. Since October started, I feel like more productivity should be in place for setting up my present as well as my future. Realigning my goals, plans, and seeking His guidance in it all. People this life is not easy, but when you stick it through you come out on top and you look back and smile, rejoice because you see how far you have come.

I am always attempting to be a better me, fighting against my old way, trying to lay foundation for the better things, but it's not easy. Gotta stick it through, be disciplined. My thoughts are all kind of over the place, because that's exactly how they are in my mind. Running rapid and sometimes running into each other.

JESUS!

Sometimes that all I can say, call on Him. There is a peace that falls over me, when I call on the name of Jesus. Strengthening power when He is at the forefront of my thoughts. Aligning together all the things that want to take over my mind, conquering them one by one. Jesus. The calm in the raging storm that wants to take over my body. Jesus. The comforter that caresses my soul when my body deceives me. Jesus. The truth  that holds no judgement of my hypocrisy. Jesus. The love that holds my hands, looks me in my face, and whispers in my ear. Jesus. Oh Jesus. The power within that overcomes the attacks of the enemy, that tries to entrap us every minute of every hour of every day. JESUS. The quiet release of the tension, the fear, the anxiety, the persecution, the loneliness, and the self-destruction. Jesus. The corrector of all my faults, my wrongs, my sins. Jesus. The true lover of my soul.

Many of times I have these epiphany where I have the concrete solution to the problem, but there's like cement on my legs preventing me from acting on the solution. Jesus be the help, be the motivation, be the courage.

As I slowly take deep breaths, close my eyes and surrender. I am nothing. Nothing more then just pure dust collected in form for His Glory. So may the things that I say, and do be reflections of God goodness in me. Sometimes that view is tainted because of our self infliction's BUT GOD.

So friends, do today what yesterday did not produce and what tomorrow we will not find to do.

Love always,
Daph

#HonestHour w/@AisforAlex

Last night @AisforALex had an #honesthour on twitter and I jumped in midway. The discussion was about what scares you. At the time I didn't have an answer for myself. Not that I'm not afraid of anything, but trusting in God helps put those fears at bay. Yet this morning I thought some more about it and what I came up with was that I am afraid of falling back into my old ways, my old sins. The funny thing is tho, that as soon as I thought that, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I walked away before, yes the verse of how we have all fallen short of the Glory of God can be used here, but I walked away from the drugs, from the sex, from the lies, the hard liq, things that were hurting me and putting distance between the Father and I {Insert Donnie McClurkin song here "We fall down, but we get up"}. There are things that trigger our past to make a reappearance, some times we forget that our eyes are the windows to our soul, so not only the things we see but also listen to, or absorbs, it affects our living. We have to remember to guard our hearts....remembering that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,so all that we see and hear builds up until we can't contain it anymore. We can also think of the things we watch on TV, or the literature we choose to read, it all enters into our system and pushes us to act. It's funny how the spirit works, all day yesterday I was singing "I'm an overcomer, and I'm more than a conqueror". Yes we are human, and we will have fears, but remember that those fears were once overcome by Jesus. And that we are called to live freely in him. The enemy wants you to wallow in your sin, in your past, he's like a nag, making you think that the Father won't forgive you. But! confess your sins before the Lord and you are forgiven. Not tomorrow, not in five minutes, but the moment you set in your heart that you were wrong, God forgave you.

Overall, don't let the fear of anything hold you captive of being who you are called to be. Lately, my constant prayer has been that I exhaust all the gifts that were given to me from above, before I leave this Earth. I refer back to the Parable of Talents in the Bible, because when Christ returns I wan to be sure that all that He entrusted to me, I have used for His Glory. 

This all from Alex's #honesthour. A beautiful spirt, definitely a fellow right brainer with everyday gifts that she abundantly shares with all of us. I silently admire her drive and the freedom she has. Check her out here at The Good Hair Blog. Also here on Twitter. And here on at her online store ALS. And here on her Tumblr. Oh and if you ever want to have breakfast with her, then check her out here. (Remember silent admirer, lol. I just appreciate Beautiful things)

Year 26: Boss Tendencies::Know Thyself

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Who are you? 

I finished typing that question above and then the line to continue typing just kept staring back at me flashing, waiting for me to answer the question. A mocking “Well? Who are YOU” resonating with each flash.

Automatically when someone ask me Who am I, I respond with a confident “I am the daughter of a King, destined for great things” of course with reference to Jeremiah 29:11. {Insert Verse here}. Every morning we wake up we are reassured simply by the air of breath we took within that second. Everyone is not privileged to have seen the day, yet because Christ loves us and He knows that he is not through with us yet, we get to see yet another day.

This segment of my blog “Year 26: Boss Tendencies” will be about my chronicles of being 26 years of age and going through life. Really pursuing the facets in life I would like to change, improve, and even get rid of; things such as my finances, health, food, crafts, relationships, and more. So I figure the first post in this series should always begin at the beginning with the foundation of knowing who you are. Being able to look back at where I’ve been I can understand who I am in the present and who I would like to be in the near future.

Boss Tendencies for me is simple: becoming a lady. Everyone woman is not a lady. But every lady is a woman. There are some things that I like to hold on to which makes my life a little easier, but then again I can get a little too comfortable. For instance make-up…..not a big fan, but when I do put it on it does make a statement. I want to be able to know different ways of applying it especially for the different seasons in life.

At 26, a shy month away from my one year anniversary of graduating with my MBA in Operations, and making a major move to NY, I am tired of what seems to me no progress. However, I have learned to accept my accomplishments and strive for new goals, because I know that once I put my mind to it, it can and will happen. So let the fun begin, and I hope that you will jump on board while we ride Year 26.

Happy Birthday Jesus

I pray that everyone had a wonder Holy-day season. My post is a day late, but aye we're always celebrating the King of Kings! These are the homemade cards that I made for everyone this year. Money is/was tight and this was the most frugal method of sending love for the Holiday Season. Below is just a snippet of my workshop. 

My roomates homemade Lady Bug Christmas Card 

and toilet roll filled with her Fave candy, Chocolate Kisses

Corner Pinches

The bulk of cards, fresh from the printer.

Testing 1, 2, 3

Card Decor

-Divine Beauty

Christ-like

Hey Beauties,

"Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus live. -1John 2:6"

We all know and understand that Jesus is the sinless and perfect son of God, yet the Bible advises us to "live the same life Jesus lived". Some adjectives that describes Christ life are humble, servant, healer, preacher, teacher, loving, kind, giving, and endless amount of other words. How can we walk like Christ?

As I wake up each morning graced with breath in my body, I pray that I won't sin or cause my Father pain....honestly sometimes I don't think I try hard enough. In my opinion sin is so much easier to just fall into, however God holds us at a higher standard. He knows temptation will come, but he gives us the tools and weapons that fight off these temptations. Knowing that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (flesh), but they are spiritual. Worship:spiritual. Prayer:Spiritual (We must pray how? In spirit and in truth). Another weapon:Praise, others include exaltation, proclamation, fasting. It's fierce out there. Dealing with other personalities, and moods, and their issues, their mistakes, their failures, their lack of sleep, we have to deal with their lack of Starbucks caffeine. But when we use our weapons of prayer, worship, praise their becomes ours in a way. The way of understanding. Christ took all of petty, ignorant, troubles and never did He give us an attitude about it.

Christ-like.....

Jesus was always talking with God. Taking time away to spend time with the Father. In that way He was clear on what His task was, His purpose on this Earth. There are sooooooo many ways that we can spend time with God, it's crazy how we waste the time we have. Because God is everywhere, He is with us always. We take God where we want Him. He's a gentleman and will not push His way into your life. We can read the Bible, and there should be NO excuse. To why we don't have a Bible. We all have or most of us have computer access via home and especially our phones. And I know there's and app for that! I'm not preaching in no form or way, honestly I'm writing as an outlet. I have a Bible and an app on my Blackberry, and honestly I don't read my Bible (either of then) as I should. I'm a work in progress. But it is available, worship....that right there needs a posts or several of em in it's self. Worship is the purest form of intimacy between us and God.

Christ-like

I know I don't always end Up doing things that Christ does, but 1 thing for sure is that I am determined to chase and try again and again to get closer to Him. Trying harder to do better every chance I get. To know better is to do better. Sometimes I look over my life and feel like a hypocrite, cuz I'll write encouraging texts, status's an tweets. Most of the time though is because I need it as much as the next person. It's not easy, but it is well worth it. I can honestly say that at a time in my life I was on one accord with the Holy Spirit...and I am trying to get back to that. Where God and I would have grand conversations, smile and laugh together....oh what I would give up for life like that again.

My prayer tonight is that the Lord would forgive me, clean me white as snow, clean hands and a pure heart, wash me over and purify 7x70 times. In Jesus Name....Amen.

Blessings
-Daphne