Release

No matter what people say or what it looks like in the physical, when God speaks listen and obey even if it's not a popular choice.

A real Christmas list

Mary of Martha?

Are You a Mary or Martha in Your Relationships? | Godly Woman Daily

So pretty.

~Thankful~

There is much more to say thank you about than to complain about. I've been absent from the bloggersphere lately due to working and taking care of family and myself. You learn in life that there isn't anything more important than taking care of God and your family. People disappoint you, a lesson I'm still learning, however, there are great opportunities in all seasons of your life to "live and learn". The best training comes from learning more about God and what His Word has to say about any matter, especially those of the heart. I didn't know I would end up having a desire to share anything with the public, however, threw the last 2 years of my life I have stopped running from God and His call on my life. People will suggest to you what they think is right for you but, take inventory with God and don't just take everyone up on any offer that comes along for you to have ministry opportunities or even opportunities outside of church. I will say that taking it all the way to God is the only way to do things. You never ever want to find yourself getting stuck in someone else's vision for your life. In great times of strain always think and thank God for all you have, someone else has less and would love to trade places with you.

~Devotion From The Heart~

Another wonderful day God has given us not just to live but to serve Him and the needs of our brothers and sisters. Ministry starts at home first and I'm glad God is giving me a much needed balance in that area. I am enjoying my honeymoon and the joys of parenting our children and having time to sit and spend time with them. I have been changed by this experience in a good way. It's really been life changing to learn to step into the role God intends for me to have as my husbands help meet. I don't wear the pants, he does and I enjoy seeing him in his place. For any woman struggling with her husband:

1. Hold on to Gods unchanging hand in prayer, fasting.
2. Make your spouse your best friend
3. Do not talk to anyone but Jesus about your problems
4. Lift your spouse up in prayer and yourself too, seek Gods face to give you revelation about what you need to change to grow in love and grow spiritually
5. Stay in the Word of God, all of His Word, it's good to find scriptures that pertain to your situation as well.

I have been in the Word like it's nobody's business lol. I have been blessed to be able to read the new testament and now in Deuteronomy (No I'm not Bragging). I have however learned that sometimes we get too "busy" and forget to maintain that personal time with Jesus. It's a lesson well learned so thank God for seasons even if in the season you have to decrease to raise up your family, they are the ones who will be at the funeral when you die. Others may forget you no matter how closely you served with them in ministry but, family will never forget. God bless you~DNA

Blessed.... Don't take it Lightly

Blessed. That is an amazing word that sometimes we take lightly when we are staring adversity in the face. As long as we remember that God has blessed us to wake up, we are blessed. We may not have all we want but, we have all we need for where we are at this present stage in our lives. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 KJV.  God knows what He is doing, today when you feel overwhelmed take it to Jesus and tell Him all about it and watch how He works it out for your good, Romans 8:28-
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  When you keep your eyes and mind in the Word of God you have no choice but to not just feel blessed but know that you know you are blessed!  Joshua 1:8- King James Version (KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Meditate on God and the things that He speaks on in His Word and your day will go much better.  Philippians 4:8- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The Word of God has all the answers, think on these things. I love that, we don't have to be bound up by worldly thoughts or worries, we can think on the things of God and "Think ourselves out of a mess"! Isn't God good?! Love you all and be blessed on today as we all learn to rely more on God than ourselves and what is happening around us. Be blessed~ DNA

One Month

One month with the Lord alone in His presence, one month alone with the Lord to hear His voice, feel His touch, and know His motives behind His merciful love. To God be all glory, honor, and praise, I love to lift up His name and give Him the praise. He is the Alpha, Omega, my beginning and my end, I hang on every Word from His mouth every vision from His thoughts, the glimpses into my future and others He allows me to see. I am thankful for His boundless and loving mercies. New daily are His Mercies for us and new daily should be our Mercies for each other. Sometimes we look at the seed form of the man and judge him or treat him bad, when all along God sees us for who we are and what He purposed us to be. Mighty in His eyes man, woman, and child we must learn to come to Him in child likeness to get the fullness of His love and mission for our lives. Before we were in the womb He knew us and predestined us not just for us but for others as well, it's not about you, me, or our motives, it's about giving the one true and High God our hearts, minds, and souls to mold to shape and to make totally His. His love His eyes gaze into our souls and know everything about us already, stop trying to hide who you are and show Him you are ready to dive in deep...deep calleth to deep do you hear Him calling your name, He wants to raise you up for His glory because you are destined to reign not just to get by, He created you to have all your needs met and to have more than you need to give to those who need more. Your gift isn't for you or a select few, it's to be shared with everyone to impact them each in only the way God intended them to be reached by you. His will and His way's are not ours but get into that place where He can reveal them to you and they become a part of your life. God loves you so stop being in strife.

No Complaints

Have you ever found yourself complaining and grumbling about your spouse? That is a sure sign that you have taken your eyes off of God and chose to see them in your flesh. I had a major problem with this and after taking time to see Jesus more than issues I can say I see things more clearly. I can look beyond the petty things and see Kingdom things. I am greatful for the storms that have came and tossed me around they have shown me to see the good in my marriage and the joys of being a wife and mother. Sometimes you have to shut the door on other things to sit in the stillness of God so He can give you a fresh view of your situation from His point of view. I pray that all marriages experience a revival and awakening so Christ may be glorified in marriage so people may see marriage as the blessing God intended it to be. Be blessed on today and cherish your spouse and children, they are your most important ministry.

God is our Maker

Isaiah 54:5- For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

God never ceases to amaze me daily and when you can get into that place to hear from God He answers you and gives you just what you need, just in time. I have learned in my journey thus far that having things when I think they should be there isn't always possible and that is because God is all-knowing. He is our covering and protector, He is our covenant partner.

Encourage yourself

Sometimes in life we are going through things and tend to look to our friends and family to encourage us through.  Well that isn't always going to happen and for the ones who aren't always acting helpless and needy when you do fall on hard times it's a time to let God shine in your life and circumstance.  This is possible by digging deep into His Word and seeing how He speaks about what you are going through.  In all they ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths Proverbs 3:6.  God is an amazing Father and wants to be just that in our lives so learn to climb into His lap and tell Him all the things that are going on in your life.  Even though He is all knowing He still likes for us to be not just scheduling Him in but looking forward to the time we spend in His presence in prayer and just hanging out with God.  For a long time I was hung up on the fact that God wants to hang out with you I always thought He was so sovereign and Holy that we had to pray and be in certain postures in order for Him to even take us serious.  Not so, God will meet you where you are no matter the posture.  In all your postures you must reverence the Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth John 4:24.  Sometimes we are required to get into that secret place and stay there until we walk away changed for Gods good.  It is in that secret place that you must learn not just to stay there but to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty psalms 91:1.

Never let anyone dispute how God sees you

Have you been someone who has been written off or forgotten by others?  Take heart and know our heavenly Father is always thinking of you.
Psalm 139:17-18
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them,
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I am awake, I am still with you.
(NIV Bible)
Remember some of the most successful people have been overlooked or told they would not amount to anything but God says different.
Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
You have Gods potential in you no matter what man says, God always has the FINAL WORD on your life. Be blessed on today and remember how God sees you and not the situations in your life but God.

Walk it Out

In darkness you have to make sure you maintain light even if it's just s flicker of light you have to hold on to that if you don't you will surely be lost.  I use to depend a lot on people but, as I walk this out I have learned that people are just that people.  You have to know and believe that you have a friend in Christ no matter what you are going through people fail but God doesn't.  We all have our own problems and issues we face and there are seasons where we walk through those valleys alone so when God brings you out he gets all the glory for Himself.  I don't claim to know or understand the things that this life has for me or anyone else but, I do know the higher the call the harder things are going to hit you.  It's learning what to do in those times when things hit you.  We all have responsibilities to others and always find ourselves sacrificing so things will go on without a hitch but, I have learned things will continue whether you are there or not so in those times when you have to step back and be submitted to the call of your family it's hard but necessary so your children won't grow up resenting God because you were always too busy with everything else and sacrificed your relationship with them.  I am learning to be wise in my dealings with my family and learning that God is the only one who has your back at the end of the day.  That is a well worthwhile lesson and one to be admired when learned.  Never look down authority and those who have rule over you.

Introduction of Encouragement

A New Day...

Did you know that God has a plan for your life and no matter how bad you may think you have made things by living without Him in an instant you can change that Jeremiah 29:11?  God wants to be a part of your life and He leads you in this life on many paths and we sometimes choose our own paths thinking we know more than God but, in the end He works it all out for our good Romans 8:28.  His Word is amazing and when you grab hold of His Word and His Plan for your life there are no limits!  God has revealed some new and exciting plans to just blow my mind and I know when you pray and wait on God, He will do the same thing for you.  No I haven't arrived or became some guru of God or life for that matter, I'm just realizing the flow He has for me isn't one that He has for someone else.  He is working things out on a regular basis using all things to build us up no matter how bad it has been.  God has put it on my heart to write and has been for awhile so that is the birth of Life's Journey to encourage and share my own personal walk with God.  No everyone might not agree and yes people will be nay sayer's but, they talked about Jesus and killed Him for His obedience to God like I can't handle some critics on what God puts on my heart to write about.  I believe in building people up and not tearing them down and I do declare that this blog is a place where you can come and read some encouraging things and some real talk but it's all embodied in LOVE.  We all want people to take time to pour into us individually I don't always have the fortune of being one on one with a lot of people but, I will do my best to follow God and be lead by the Holy Spirit to post relevant uplifting things.  God bless you and welcome to my journey.

-Darleen