There is a gift God has given, that has in time been forgotten how precious it truly is. This gift is one that starts as something hidden, that with time illuminates in brilliance. It is a gift that without it, many would have fallen and given up long ago.

It is a gift that has to be taken time with, listened to and understood. When you do that, the benefits can be overwhelming and compared to none. This gift, given time, experience and wisdom, can be priceless in value and something that cannot be replaced. When this gift is in the right hands, Gods love can be seen and felt through the very essence of the gift.

Unfortunately many of these gifts have been neglected and misplaced. The result, people see it as no longer a gift, it has become invalid. The truth is, if this gift was recognized it would find it’s value. If we would take this gift from the very beginning and nurture it from the start, the world would be full of many brilliant diamonds.

This gift I so highly speak of is the gift of “woman”. As a woman I am honored that God made me one! But as a woman, I see the woman God speaks of in the bible has become scarce! The bible says “He that findeth a wife findeth a GOOD thing and obtains favor from the Lord”. A woman is a good thing, if she knows she is a good thing, but she must be instructed in that from the beginning.

We, as women, are a gift to men, our children and even other women. When we recognize we are diamonds, not gaudy rhinestones, but diamonds…. we won’t throw ourselves just anywhere! When we allow God to show us who we are, we confidently will go to the places and people we were meant to reach. Some of us are meant to reach the business world, but with class and character, to teach a dying world about hope. Others will be wives and mothers, nurturing the lives of young diamonds and young men who need to be taught how to recognize a diamond. Wives, you are a pillar of strength to your husband, he would be lost without you. Your gift brings stability, love and wisdom which gives him the confidence and the platform to be the man God wants him to be.

There are women, young and old who need to be encouraged as to who they are. We must be aware of the gift that is next to us at work, the daughters we are raising, and men, the woman  you are married to! We, as believers, must take the responsibility to groom and cultivate these young gifts, and ones that were never told they were a gift.

God gave Adam a gift , someone to be a “help meet” and to walk beside him in all that he did. God gifted women the strength to be able to endure and the ability to communicate and in those words, create an atmosphere for hope, peace and love. If you are a woman, know this, you are an amazing gift, a priceless diamond that just needs the right place to shine. Men, if you are married, your wife is your gift, your door to favor and something to be cherished. Single men, don’t settle for immitation, for if you want to be the man God wants you to be, only the gift of a diamond will do. It is time for this world to be gifted with the brilliant sparkle of beautiful diamonds we call women!

There are situations and people who have been set before you and you have a decision to make. For some of you, you only have a moment to think about it and for others, it is about completely surrendering your own agenda!

We are living in a time where decisions must be made and those decisions are directly connected to where God will move you and place you in your destiny. There are acts of obedience that are tied into how and when you will see the manifestation of your promise. God is wanting to deal with HIS children as mature, confident and “knowing HIM” kind of children. When your own children reach a certain age, you don’t want to have to explain everything, by then they should know you, trust you and obediently respond to your directives! That is how God is dealing with us now…. Be quick to hear and quick to act! Darkness and hopelessness are increasing daily. We are the ones God uses to reach the broken. To love the unloved and be an example to the motherless and fatherless. The bible says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM… as we seek HIS commands and obediently respond, there can’t help but be a reward for us when we act in obedience.

i encourage you to be sensitive to who and what is going on around you. It may be a choice, a selfless act, a financial involvement or even being still, but God is there in it! People may not understand, in fact, they may be more then willing to give you their opinion, but this is between you and God! Step out and take the challenge to trust God and see where these opportunities will lead you. Don’t be afraid, watch and see how God will use you! Obedience is always rewarded, and when you walk in it, you will see God move on your behalf!

We are so quick to give an opinion and to tell someone what they must do, but do we ever consider we may be part of the answer? I remember when I was younger, we went to church every Sunday and my parents taught us the principles of God. We were at youth group, and Sunday school every week. We heard ALL the teachings and words spoken. But the thing that stands out the most to me was something my mother did…….

One Saturday morning she gathered us children and we drove over to a needy family’s home. It was a small home , scarcely furnished and you could tell they didn’t have much. They had a few children , close to the ages of my siblings and I. My mother loaded everyone in the station wagon and we were off to do something they hadn’t done. My mother took them to get shoes and a few items of clothing and we ended it with lunch at a fast food restaurant. I will never forget how those kids and mother blossomed that day! What was a regular event for us became a special day for that mother and her children! They were not church goers, nor did they know what I knew, but what they felt that day was real, real love and concern for their needs and their worth!

I learned something very important that day, words are not enough….. That family wasn’t at church, they were not going to hear a message, we were Gods message of love to them. As I look around today, I see how distant we are from people and the hurt that is really in their lives. We are quick to speak things to others but maybe just maybe God may use us to help them to an answer. It is time for us to be a little more selfless and regain the heart of a servant. We were not a wealthy family, but what my mother did meant so much to that family. Just that one day gave them a sense of value and worth and let them know someone cared. Jesus was more than words that day, He became an action.

We must look beyond our own afflictions and stop leaving it to the pastors and ministers to reach a hurting world! Don’t be so quick to judge, but for the Grace of God , we all could face horrible situations. Truth is , some of us have and we are left standing so we can be the human representation of Gods love and concern for those in need.

I believe this year God will bring people across your path so you can be the “more than words”. You have such an important role in bringing people to knowing God and HIS love. Be sensative to the hurting around you and ask God what you can do to help. Our actions make HIM real to a dying world, look beyond, it’s up to you to share HIS love.

Lately I have been blessed to spend some time with different young women and I am seeing a pattern developing, no one is instructing. There was a time when we could assume young people were being taught and instructed but not anymore. Society has scared off those who would stand for right and wrong and now anything goes. We have stopped disciplining and instructing and now our young people have no vision or direction.

In my conversations I realized these girls needed instruction in life. We cannot be so ignorant to assume they had God-fearing, interactive parents who led and taught by example. We are living in a society today full of the children of broken parents. These young people are drowning in the fear of rejection, abandonment and hopelessness! They have never experienced unconditional love so they live in a conditional reality!

I have never felt the need like this before. It has become an epidemic of loneliness and despair. We must get past ourselves and our own issues and look what is around us. I was blessed with a loving family, not perfect, but a family that taught principles and instructed me as part of something that mattered. I in turn poured into my family, no it wasn’t perfect, but I secured and nurtured my children to know they mattered and were loved.

We have a world filled with orphans of all ages. Not necessarily without parents but without mentors to instruct and secure their life’s journey. Those of us who have been blessed, either by natural parents or friends , family or even our own mentors, it’s time for us to become the mentor. Perfection is not required, just the willingness to be vulnerable to instruct someone who can see hope through your story! If you have overcome obstacles and learned from your mistakes, you can share with someone , so that they may gain wisdom from your life.

The life lessons that were the most painful are usually the ones that can help someone the most. You may think you have nothing to contribute, your not smart enough, spiritual enough, or just not good enough….. Nonsense! We learned from others and from our mistakes. We now need to be transparent enough to plant the seeds of wisdom and hope into the ones who have become sickly and jaded.

We are Gods tools here on earth. We are HIS example of HIS love to a hurting world. Now that you have become stronger and more resilient in your journey, pause and see whom God has brought across your path. Age doesn’t make you a mentor, learning from life and gaining Gods answers to life’s challenges, you are one who can testify to HIS goodness!

We must stop and look around, we are losing people everyday to hopelessness and despair. The bible says ,” My people parish for lack of knowledge”. We are living examples of Gods word and His ways. Be selfless, share with someone who is scared, hurting or needing some good advice. You are important to God, HE needs your sacrifice to reach HIS children that need to know they are not alone!

Change, it’s one of the hardest things for most people to do! We establish routine, habits and stick with what we know…….. Even to our own destruction. As we get older it becomes even harder to break habits, routine or even let go of the familiar! We all have been groomed under different circumstances , some good , some bad, but changing with the seasons is mandatory!

This year is like one we have never known before. The systems of this world are failing one by one and there is nothing that looks like it used to look! How is it that we can update our phones with each new one introduced but we fail to update ourselves?! We are more disciplined in keeping up with new technology then we are at keeping up with bettering ourselves!

When we are younger there are certain behaviors we are shown mercy to in our discipline. As we get older those behaviors are not looked upon the same way……. We should know better! The same holds true as growing Christians and people who want their lives to be better. It’s time for a CHANGE! Some of you are experiencing difficulty because God expects your actions and ways to change now. He was merciful as you grew and learned, but some of us are frustrating our forward progress! It can be as simple as an attitude adjustment…… Stop seeing life as a victim and use what you have been through to teach someone else. For some, it’s the wrong friends… they don’t think like you and everytime you have an opportunity to go forward, they pull you to where they have chosen to stay. Maybe you need to look at where you have become complacent…are you content with less than you are capable of doing or handeling?

We often get upset with God and try to blame others for our lack of progress or promotion, when it could quite simply be us, not open to change. If we believe God can open doors and bring divine connections to us, how can He if we are stuck in the same mentality refusing to be open to change?

I encourage you to start this year by taking time to examine where you have you stopped being open to newness. Have you stopped being teachable? Do you refuse to hear anyone else’s opinion? Do you end up with the same results time after time and say” it’s just not my time yet!”? I think it may be time to open up to the change God has in store for you! He knows exactly what you need to look like and act like to fulfill HIS promises to you!

There are people who are counting on you to make those changes in your life! The decisions you make will be the learning tool you will share with others as you go on life’s journey. We must change so others will have the hope for a better way. Your discomfort in the change will be but only a moment in the spectrum of what lies in store for you! God will give you the grace and peace needed while you are making these changes. He said HIS grace is sufficient and HE will lead you in this NEW way you are going! Change doesn’t have to be a bad word….. It can actually mean hope, you can change into a better person and walk in a better place!

The celebration is over, the holidays are done and now you are faced with the reality of what is in front of you. You are armed with a promise and you have been encouraged that this year will be different, and full of new things! Now you must take that first step! I know after all of the hype settles, the sound of the voice within starts to chip away at your confident beginning. The ideas and plans that seemed achievable, the unresolved issues that could be fixed, now it’s getting fuzzy and the doubt and fear are creeping in! That first step toward your promise is the hardest! It may involve a move, a job change, a conversation or even a good-bye. Taking the first step is definitely one of the hardest life changing decisions you will ever make. I know, I have been there and am there now. These are the times when absolute TRUST in God is a must! Human reasoning cannot comprehend what our God has in store for us. If we try to figure out HIS ways, we can get in the way of how HE wants to do something. There are times we must literally say, I don’t feel it, see it or understand it but I am going to move forward and trust you God! This first step takes a mature mindset that says God knows best, so I will not lean to my own understanding. Picture this, you are standing on the top of a cliff and God says jump…… You see nothing but only hear HIS command. It is then that you must jump and trust HIS hand is there to catch you! This is where we are….. The first step, the hardest, but the step that will change the course of where you are and where you are going. This new journey is just beginning, and if we will simply step out and take the first step, God will meet us and gird up the weak places in our faith.

As I take a moment to look over this last year, I never would have imagined to be where I am now or even facing the challenges of which I must trust God with today. When I began this  year, it was with hope and expectancy I tackled every thing the months brought me. There were good moments, life revelations and even the unexpected hiccups that seemed to come out of nowhere! Here I am today, facing another new year and I have absolutely no idea what could be “next”.                                                            I believe I am not alone in this sentiment…… Oh  I know God is going to do something, I know HE will fulfill HIS word to me, but I have never been here before!!! There is no fear, but there is a curious, back to basics kind of faith that I believe God is demanding of me.                                             If you have found yourself feeling the same, consider yourself right where God wants and needs you to be! This past year has been a year to tear down the things that became stumbling blocks and gave us a sense of false security. It was a year to see what we were really made of and could we stand. If you are reading this, you are still standing!                                          The last 12 months were days God used to show you how and what you were made of. The trials that knocked the wind out of you were not to destroy but to shake off the laziness and light a fire under your spiritual mindset. Those who are no longer with you, their season in your life has come to an end, but now new ones will begin to divinely cross your path. God had to show you, you can survive and HE will keep you even when it isn’t the way you saw it!                                                             We can enter 2015 knowing God is with us and HE has never left us. We may not have answers yet, and there may be unresolved issues we take into the new year, but we are not alone. This time and season may not look like anything you have ever seen or felt before, but God has set the atmosphere for “such a time as this”! Complete trust in God is the fuel necessary to move us where and how HE wants us. It is true………….. You have never been this way before!

It’s December 24, and by now, reality has set in, the Christmas holiday is here! I encourage you to walk away from social media these next few days and feel and live amongst your family. Actually experience them and the conversations you have with those you love. You don’t need a Christmas selfie, you need a family experience. Be and live in each moment presented to you over these next few days!                                 I am doing the same. I will share again after the Christmas holiday is over. I too want to create memories that only can be done with me actually present physically and mentally! . I pray you laugh and feel,and take in every moment, and truly live in these next days. The most important people that need your posts and updates are your kids, grand kids, mother, father, brothers, sisters, friends and extended family. Pour into your future, bless those that need encouragement, and let someone love on you! Merry Christmas, I bless you and pray loneliness subsides in the presence of Gods perfect gift to us all……….. His son Jesus

I write this love letter to you hoping you will know and see how very loved you truly are! This journey called life that you are traveling down, it has been tough, challenging and even brutal at times!           You began life with the wide-eyed innocence of a child, and now, years later, battle wounds and scars showing, you find yourself numb to any kind of emotion except for “blah”! This letter is for you, yes you, the one who feels invisible, the one who feels defeated and the the one who may have forgotten how amazing you really are!                                                                  You have realized, over time, there is much in this journey you can’t control. Rarely do you get the “fairy tale ending” throughout your life. The truth be told, you really do have a reason to feel what you are feeling! It’s all right to have those moments where you grieve when necessary or cry in frustration and even feel anger for a minute. The key is to never “stay there”! For some of you, you may have been staying “there” too long! You have forgotten the you before the crisis began and now you are trying to exist in the residue of survival. For some, it may just be everyday life, times are tough right now, and it takes everything in you to not give up and quit!                                                   The good news is, you do have hope! Not in your own strength, but in a God who made you and loved you enough to give you a very special gift here at Christmas, HIS son Jesus. This time of year is challenging, but maybe just so you can see how much you really need God in your life.                          You are hand-crafted and a one of a kind! You cannot be duplicated and you are here on this earth to contribute something only you can. The love God has for you goes beyond every mistake and every bad choice you ever made. How you feel now and all you experienced thus far has been used to bring you into HIS arms. The bible says NOTHING can seperate us from the love of God……. You are still in this , and HE still loves you and you are not alone! As of right now, you have been told you are loved, and there is a reason and a purpose for you to be here! The next days and weeks of your journey can be brighter and full of hope and expectation. Give God an opportunity to show you how amazing and gifted you

Recently I was having a conversation with one of my “grown” sons and I found myself encouraging him with a story from my early struggle years. He had found himself in a place in his life where he was irritated and uncomfortable. He had some choices to make. As I hung up the phone, I smiled knowing, he was truly on his “faith journey ” with God and now all of the years of being taught and instructed were becoming real. He was seeing it was now up to him to “move with God” and to actually “do” what he had read about and watched others do.   There are many of us who are in the very same place. We are uncomfortable and we have prayed, gone to every church service, sent out social media prayer requests and yet we haven’t seen any change or progress. Maybe it’s time for you to become the one who steps out of your comfort zone and takes the faith risks now?!                 As a believer, I don’t believe we ever get to cruise through life and put it in “auto pilot”. The bible says without faith it is impossible to please God. It also says faith without works is dead! We are forever facing obstacles that challenge us to step, leap, or boldly crash into them by using our faith in God. You may be facing one of those moments now!                                                 We have a responsibility to act on the promises of God. Yes, we want to wait on Him, but He may be waiting on you to step out and move toward what HE has for you. We can’t murmur and complain that it’s hard, uncomfortable or not easy… we have to step up and do our part too! I look back and every life changing moment I experienced, there was something I had to do to show God I was ready and trusting! Let me give you and example…When my children were young, and we were struggling financially, there were many opportunities to see God move in our lives. If one of us needed clothes or a new pair of shoes, we would gather the clothes or shoes we had outgrown and give them to someone who needed them. Every single time, God would bless us with the money or someone would give us shoes or clothing! We had to act first, by faith, and then God met us by supplying what we needed. This is a principle I taught my children from youth; when you need something, you release something and HE will always take care of you!                                                     The world we live in now is all about comfort and no pain. As I was talking to my son, I had to remind him that everytime it was time for a spiritual or natural promotion, it was through faith and discomfort we got there! The quick, fast easy way is not the “God Way”. We have to be groomed right along side of our promise, otherwise we won’t be able to walk in it, it will destroy us!                                                         I encourage you, if your journey is uncomfortable, irritating, or disappointing, it may be time for you to step out in faith and show God you trust HIM. If the house is too small or too big, maybe it’s time to start looking for something else, even if the money isn’t visible yet. Your husband or wife doesn’t seem “passionate” anymore…you bring some “spice” and you be the one to make it more exciting. You don’t feel you are at the job you are supposed to be, start looking for something you like or get a business plan together for what your passionate about.                                     We cannot be afraid of discomfort, it is what greatness is born out of. There is always pain in the birth of anything! Step out and become that faith walker you used to be when you first started your journey. If you are just beginning, discomfort is the sign your about to step out into something God wants for you! It’s time to take those leaps of faith!