Rockin!!

Hey peoples.

Today is the BEST day ever. No wait...yesterday was the BEST day ever! NO wait....it seems that all my days these days are the BEST most ROCKINEST days ever. I can honestly say that these past few weeks have been amazing. Why you ask? Well there is a number of things:


#1. I'm learning what it means to surrender

-It is so hard for me sometimes to surrender the things I carry to God because well, I like to be independent and think that "hey, I'm strong. I can handle it." No ma'am. I will only
rejoice in my weakness, because that is when my God flexes His muscles for me!

#2. My relationships are wonderful
-I'm learning that power that good and not so good relationships have. I am learning that you should pour into the lives of those you are in relationship with, as well as be poured in to. In the past few months I have made some WONDERFUL new relationships and changed some old ones. I believe that I can truly say that my people (the ones I see often, and even
the ones I don't see so much) are the greatest people.

#3. I'm learning the value of communication
-The other day I had a little discussion with a friend about what makes relationships work. We came up with you things: keeping the Lord at the center, and communicating.

#4. Spiritual Rejuvenation
-I know that when you read my blogs you must be like..."this girl is ALWAYS being 'spiritually rejuvenated'." Well....you're right. I am not content with being in the same spiritual place every day. I'm not content with being comfortable. For a while I just wanted the Lord to change my life...make me uncomfortable. umm...He did it. He shook some things up, turned some things around, and moved the ground on which I stood and thought was solid. So for a minute there I was like..."ummm hold up Jesus. I didn't know you was gon do all this!" After that short period of hesitation I'm just like..."Lord do what you gotta do! I don't want to be the same ever. Move me. Change me. Make me a better vessel to carry your glory." *It's amazing how your attitude changes with other stuff stopsmattering and your focus in completely on how can you give God glory every day.

Current events: I'm going to Chicago this week-end. I am very excited. I haven't been to Chicago in a really long time. I'm going to visit the Ray Sisters and attend a couple of their service. (I'll add a vid of two of them on here later on today...youtube doesn't work at my current location). I'm also very excited to eat eat eat!!! ALSO I plan to start guitar lessons really soon. I can pick my way through a song, but its about time to get some theory and technique down. AND I'm on the prowl for a new humble abode. I think I've found it! Ladies and gentlemen, it was yellow, with light blue shutters and a white picketed patio. I LOVE it!!! It's so bright and sunny. AND (lol) I'm making a scrapbook for a friend. So in case you didn't know, I don't think I'm the best at scrap booking, but I'm super excited to do it! I hope it turns out well. Ok...one more thing. I'm making a skirt for Courtney. I'm praying it turns out right! LOL It's harder than I thought it would be, but I think it should work. Let's just pray it fits her! I'll put a pic up as soon as I'm done.

Word of the day: Love

We as Saints of God are always looking for opportunities to minister. Minister in song, dance, public speaking. You know what I believe is the most effective ministry? Loving other people. That means speaking to people you may not necessarily want to speak to. Being available to serve others. Praying for those that are close to you and not so close to you. Just loving others because this is the ministry that God has given each of us.





In the Love of Christ,



Anjelica

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Hey peoples,



I don't really have much to say other than God is sooo faithful. No matter what you will ever face, when God makes a promise, He WILL fulfil it!



I am grateful!



I went to think night of straight up WORSHIP in Spring Hill. It was called the Awakening. I LOVED IT!!!! AHHH Basically we were probably there for maybe 3 hours or so and the entire night was full of worship and praying for one another. At one point we teamed up with someone we did not know and prayed for one another. I ended up with a lady named Tracy. I have never met her before, but I quickly learned that she is the BOMB. I gave her my prayer request and she truly came out of herself and began to pray heaven DOWN! She was so sweet and I could tell that she loved God and that was it. You know how you meet someone and you don't really have to wonder about their motives or whatever, you just know by the spirit that they are one of the Saints. That's what it was like for me when I met Tracy. So anyway she prayed for me, and I prayed for her....it was great!

Then we worshiped and a lady (I think her name was Monica, the facilitator of The Awakening) got up on the mic and just began to pray and call upon God, and then she called this lady up to the front. This lady was just another attendee of The Awakening. Monica then began to pray and prophesy over this lady and it was wonderful. It was such a spirit of freedom and openness for the spirit of God to move however He wanted to. After that lady sat down (well actually, she fell out, but they picked her up and took her back to her chair) Monica looked in my direction, pointed to me and said...."you, come here. Come on up." Now you know my heart stopped right? LOL

Side note: This isn't the first time this has happened to me, and I'm beginning to wonder like...Lord, whats UP??! lol

So anyway, Monica began to pray and just speak what she heard God saying, and another guy came up and do the same. It was an amazing experience because although everything that was said was like confirmation and encouragement about what I'm currently going through. I love when God just comes with the right word at the right time, even if it's just to say..."I am your God, and I am still here with you." God doesn't have to say anything profound. I've found out that it's enough to know that He is still with me. Psalm 39 says no matter where I am, the Lord is there. He was using this night to just remind me that He is still here with me, and that I need to keep fighting and reaching for Him, regardless of whats popping up around me.

After they were done speaking over me, Tracy came back up. I was confused because she didn't say anything. So I thought I was done, and I started to go back to my seat. Well they called me BACK up there because Tracy had a song she wanted to sing over me. It was AMAZING!! It wasn't a song that I've ever heard. It didn't even sound like it was coming from Tracy. It was like Tracy was not even conscious of the words she was singing, but she was at that moment, a vessel. I've never experienced anything like that before, and all I could do was close my eyes and receive.

For the next hour I worshipped. I don't know what was going on around me. God is amazing. Then Beckah Shae (I met her a few weeks earlier at Abba's Heart) came up to me and gave me a wonderful word of encouragement. I love people who step out and commit their lives to being a messenger for the Lord.

I'm learning slowly but surely that God uses people at different times to minister to you in different ways, but at the end of the day our job is to learn from them and receive what God had for you in that relationship to receive, and remain in God's embrace. Whether or not that relationship lasts forever or a week, there is purpose in it. I thank God for everyone that is currently in my life, and those who were but are no longer because as I said, there is purpose in it ALL.

My current focus: God. LOL Like fa real. I love my time with Him. Don't get me wrong, I love my peeps, but their is nothing like taking yourself away and being with God. I'm finding more and more that my fulfillment is so not in my relationships with other people. They are only supplemental. God is my source of EVERYTHING I will ever need. I am so grateful that the Lord had to take me through some things for me to realize that. He is faithful in that He loves us too much to leave us as we are (Thanks Max Lucado). There is nothing the Lord will not do to draw us, and no matter how uncomfortable or lonely that place may have been for me, I love the outcome!

Alright, I need to get back to work. I have too much stuff to do for school. Graduation: 8 months!!

Great is Thy Faithfulness...it makes me only want to be more faithful.

Word of the day: You guessed it...faithful.

Anjelica

Makeover

Good day peoples!

Guess what? I got a make-over a few weeks ago. It was much needed because my look was so outdated. I have gotten way to old to wear some of the things that I used to think were cool. I had outgrown that old look. You know how sometimes you just look in the mirror and just say to yourself..."I have GOT to get a new look." Yup, that's what I did. Only instead of looking in my bathroom mirror, I looked in the Word of God. And guess what it said...yup! MAKEOVER TIME!!!! Only, this type of makeover isn't so fun, but the changes that result are not temporary, but eternal...hopefully.

Can I talk to you a minute? K great, thanks

Isaiah 6 talks about a man who said "yes" to God, and from that day was changed. Until recently I didn't know what it really meant to say "yes God." I knew it was more than just a word and a few crocodile tears. I knew it was more than that, but I still could not seem to say it in a way that would make it permanent. Like I'd say "yes" on Friday, but three weeks later I would be back to questioning God about what He was doing, like He didn't know. I go back to searching for the opinions of others when I knew what was what.

5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

Purification


For the past few months (umm...maybe years) I've gone along pretty content with my life. I knew that I hadn't reached my destiny and I was content in my striving to get there, because I felt like I was making progress, and I was. I was progressing at a nice pace for someone who is 22 years old and just trying to make it in a world that doesn't always want to give you a leg up. I'm realizing these days that it's true, I was doin alright for myself; slowly advancing, climbing the ladder of academia. Putting some degrees under my belt. Making some speeches and appearances at professional conferences. However, I am learning that God has so much more for me than striving and struggling. I have a wonderful habit of getting caught up in the process and forgetting about the destination. I stopped one day not so long ago. Stopped the striving and the struggling and the fitting in, and all I said was..."yes God." It wasn't pretty. It wasn't eloquent. It was real. I am unclean, with unclean lips and an unclean heart. Woe is me honey! But I asked God, if you would only take coal and place it upon my lips so that I might be clean. So that I speak only things that you would speak. So that I do only things that you would do. So that I go only places you would go. Because woe. is. me. Caught up in the process, forgetting about the destination.


I have a great drive for knowledge. I love to KNOW things. For the most part, that is an asset. It's good to want to constantly educate yourself about your surroundings. Knowledge is power, and people parish for the lack it. Only for me, there would be times when my thirst for knowledge would be so great that I'd surprise that all important step of gaining wisdom.


Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.


After learning all that I have learned I am now in a place where I am ready to gain wisdom. What is the point of knowledge if you don't know how to use it. What's the point of knowing the bible if you don't follow it. God says if you love Him, you'll obey Him. Simple right? Only if you have a serious "yes God" in you. Would you be willing to give up every comfort, every secure thing in your life if God said that you need to come away with Him? The verse says "though it cost all you have, get UNDERSTANDING." A lot of people have knowledge, but it takes a perculiar person to be brave enough to use that knowledge to make an actual change.

One thing I've learned and am beginning to understand is this: When God is pulling you away, you need to go away. "Deep calls to deep" (Psalm 42:7). You can't fully ignore His call, probably because you'll have no peace of mind nor spirit. He is trying to shape you and prepare you for where you are going. You need to get back on the potter's wheel, and no matter how hard it may be, you can't take people with you. This is a solo ride. As I said, it takes a complete "yes God" to be willing to let go of your current life for the life He wants of you.

My life is no longer my own. The hand of the Lord is making me over.


So now what?

I'm excited. I'm ecstatic. I'm willing. I'm scared. I'm just going along with God on this one, completely trusting Him. COMPLETELY. It doesn't matter what is said about it. It doesn't matter how I feel about it. If God says "move" I gotta move. I know that after this is all over, my former glory and my current afflictions will be nothing in comparison to what God is going to release. The only thing is I have to be prepared to catch it.

So makeovers can seem scary. They can totally strip you of what you find comfort in. They can cause so many changes in you; emotional changes, physical changes, mental changes. They can cause others to react to you differently. But every once in a while they are much needed. They are a good thing, even though it may bruise or hurt a bit...or a lot, it's necessary. So if God is pulling at you and telling you to go away, go away. Why continue to be content with what you have when He wants to enlarge your territory. He is trying to get to your whole heart, free of distraction. So give Him your whole heart, free of distraction.





Our lives are not our own. We were created to carry the weight of His glory. Unless we totally surrender our lives and give up all ground, we will never experience His glory the way He intended us to.





Give up all ground and say "yes"

~~~~



Oh yea, something strange happened to me the other day. I was at work (at a hotel) and this lady was staying there. She has stayed there before so I kind of recognized her. Anyway she had a question and I was showing her how to do something and she glanced at my purity ring. She asked me what it was and I simply explained it was a purity ring and she about flipped out. She gasped, placed her hands over her mouth, and I thought she was about to cry. She then started telling me about how she wished she had waited until marriage and all that, and how she really had a heart to just minister to young women about the importance of abstinence. We then just started talking and I was just so blessed by her heart that is just so full of love and compassion for ministering; for being a servant. She wanted to start some type of group at her home church in Atlanta that focuses on encouraging young people to live for God, but she was scared. "What if people react like...crazy to the idea or something?" she said. My response was.."they might, but God put this in your heart." I tried to encourage her by letting her know that this was a good thing she wanted to do and God had entrusted the idea to her. She was soo sweet.



Ms. Diane, I hope that you continue to seek after the things of God and continue to be filled with a fire for ministry.





That is all

You Make Everything GLORIOUS

Whoooo what a week!!

I'm gonna make a really long blog really short, K?

Alright, so I was driving on the interstate (I-24 to be exact) the other day and some stuff fell out of a truck in front of me. I couldn't swerve riiiiggghhhttt, or left (lol, sorry) cuz there were trucks on both sides, so I buckled down and prepared to hit all this stuff. It was tools and stuff...and the cop had the nerve to ask me what kind of tools exactly...and where they were now! I DONT KNOW!! LOL Well they told me my suspension, frame, EVERYTHING was jacked. Sounds expensive...but wait, I have insurance right? Yup...with a $1000 deductible. OMG

Well how about my final bill went from $1000 to $403 to $300 to $100!!!!!!!!!! Yup. Can you say that the Lord is AMAZING. There was this lady at the Nissan office who took pity on me, and did everything she could. I don't know what she did. I don't know exactly what God did. But you know what?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!!!!


So my mini-vaca is still on and I can't wait!


Hmmm...what else. Nothing really. Just excited about life. Good news after more good news after MORE GOOD NEWS! Today, all I can say is I love God sooo much. Its like the more I chase Him, the more He chases me. And it always helps to have like-minded people around to encourage me :)


BTW I don't think I ever put of pics of my Cali trip. Well heres one! lol...I miss everyone sooo much!!

Word of the day: Humility

I never want to appear prideful. I never EVER want to appear as if I look down on anyone! You know why? Because God is the only reason for every good and perfect thing in my life; my job, my relationships, by fam, my friends...everything! So who am I to think of myself as better than another?!


Folks, I don't care how fly you may think you are. You are no better than anyone else. You're fly because you're covered by the blood of Jesus. Thats it, thats all. So I humble myself, because after all, I'm just a servant; a conduit for His glory.

Alright...just wanted to give that brief "thank ya Jesus" story!

As the girls would say...."thats that on that!"

Abba's Heart

Alright, so I haven't blogged in a really really really really really long time. Haven't had time to, and haven't really felt like it. BUT I do want to share this with you all.

I was invited to this thing called Abba's Heart right? At first I just thought it was a few ladies getting together and just testifying about the goodness of God and coming together in worship. Well, I started to hear about it from a few different people which got me wondering...umm...how many people are gonna be there???


You see, I was asked to sing and play at it, and as I'm sure ALL of you know...I HATE playing by myself, although I am beginning to get over that fear. So when I found out that there was gonna be like...a lot of people there I kinda freaked out!! NOOOO!!! Well I couldn't very well back out...I ain't no punk. But still....maybe a little scared....or a lot.


So anyway, I go over my friend Court's house to play it for her. I could barely get through that! Lord I have a problem lol. After I'm done, and a wrestling session with her dog Lyrical, we head out. We get there at around 5 to help cook, and everyone else is scheduled to get there around 7. TACOS!!! Ladies and gents, I love me some tacos! I need to thank the Lord for that little extra time before the other folks arrived. It gave me some time to laugh, act a fool (as usual) and relax. Just what I needed.

Well we eat, I met some AWESOME people (Leslie, Becka Shay *did I spell that right?*, plus a whole lot more...those are just the names I remember). And here comes Deidra, "Anjelica is gonna start us off tonight with a song of worship." CRAP. You know what? I started the song, and I finished the song. That's all that matters right?! LMBO!! And then people just begin to pray, worship, and sing. I LOVED it. Who knew there were ladies that got together on a Friday night with the purpose of encouraging one another and worshipping? It was great. What better way to get your mind off of yourself but to put it on God? Everything is in worship. Everything.


Now me. I've been pretty good. Actually, considering a few minor bumps in the road, I've been really good. I've finally gotten the courage to put myself under a microscope and say..."ok Lord. This is it. Fix me up." And I think like .3 seconds after I said that, He began. Now in the past, a prayer of mine has always been for the Lord to make me more like Him, give me a clean heart, all that. But this time...I was like..."God, do whatever you got to do! I have GOT to be exactly where you want me." I got to a point where I no longer want to be enveloped in negative and doubtful thoughts. A change in comin!

The Lord has since brought some great women in my life who #1. Don't take any of my excuses. For example, they'll ask me how I'm doing or what's going on. I'll give them the usual "life is good." And they start digging in. They address issues in my life and issues about me that no one has ever really addressed before. And although it is uncomfortable, I appreciate all of it. My desire is to grow. To be better. And one thing I've had to do is learn to be by myself. Now this is a struggle. I LOVE my friends and I love to chill, but this is a time when I need to hear clearly, and that requires some intimate me and Jesus time and some serious fasting. I thank God daily for those women who have pushed me into getting real with God. I've learned that relationships with people may come and they may go, but no matter what happens there, I still have to continually push to grow in my relationship with God. So saints, please pray with me. I'm embarking in a serious spiritual make-over and coming out better for it. What does Paul say...something about how one's current afflictions is nothing compared to the future glory. Ima have to find that scripture after I'm done with this.

Can I share something? I am worried about one thing. I don't want my peeps to think that I'm replacing them or have gotten "too good" for them or anything. Haven't you ever just gotten to a point where you have to block out all other stuff so you can go deeper with God? Well that is all that this is. I love all the people in my life, and I know that they love me. Pretty soon, they'll be able to love a better me! I was talkin to Lola and Crystal about how I've been soo ghost. I have. Never spent so much time focusing on God in my life. This is a good thing. But I've decided if folks don't understand, they just don't understand....I still gotta keep it movin....and so do you.

Okey Dokey...until next time.

Word of the day..week...month...year...lol: Surrender.


Peaces!! ♥

The COUNTDOWN has begun!!

Hey folks! It's been a minute. So what's been goin on with you?

Oh me? Well, let's see...hmmm...oh yea..SCHOOL. My entire life is school, and when I'm not at school, I'm at work. But don't worry, I'm not complaining. This schedule keeps me focused. I don't have too much time for foolishness, which is a good thing.

Ok so a couple of weeks ago I went to California for a prayer conference. I know right!! a PRAYER conference. After I bought the ticket I was excited, but then I was like...Anjelica? Did you really just buy a plane ticket to freakin California to pray and wear super long skirts?! Yup, I sure did. My friend Courtney was my friend under 40 who went. Everyone else was pretty much 40 and up (I can't tell you why my friends are so much older than me...but I don't mind. I'd opt for 40 year old wisdom over 20 year old attitude any day). Hey Deidre, Wendy, Deborah, Anita!! **group pic coming soon**

So we get to Cali and this lady who went by the name of "Motha Hall" picked us up from the airport. My first impression of Mother Hall? H.O.L.Y. She had on brown low heel shoes, brown tights, a brown skirt to her ankles...I'm talkin straight out the holiness church! LOL By the end of the trip I LOVED Mother Hall. I miss her so much. She loved to share her wisdom and she loved to laugh and she loved God...fa real y'all.

So anyway, me and Courtney shared a room, and the 40+ plus club shared a room. Let me tell you, I never thought Courtney and I would end up being good friends...but would ya look at God. I've known her for like 4-5 years, and only in the last like 4-5 months have we really gotten to know each other. God knows whats best...and when.

(That's Courtney to the right...I believe this is her debut in my blog...I think, but I'm not finna go back and check, so let's just say it is and welcome her Amen?)

I can't really explain all that happened during the conference except my life was changed. I don't have the words. I have never been around people who were so hungry for God. I met this lady (Teresa) who plays keys for the church. She is the business. She plays bass too, and is so into music as worship. Pastor Tamara Bennett actually taught about travailing, and it was one of the most profound week-ends of my life. I don't see anything the same anymore. I know that doesn't tell you much, but I'd really have to sit down and talk to you about all that transpired. Blogger just won't cut it. Just know...I don't care how holy you wanna call me...it does not matter. I loved every second. It only grew my desire for God, and I'm trying every day to keep that. ("be it unto me...")

So, as some of you may (or may not) know, I have been praying for my mother for a long time. I was her to find her place in God, and not try to fit in the world. My mother is amazing. Her heart is soooo big. She's gorgeous. I love her, but I want so much more for her. She did an amazing job raising two BAD kids by herself, she managed to own a beautiful home, then she was courageous enough to leave everything she knew and take a chance to reach for fulfillment. I have since learned that it's not about where you are in the world that makes the difference, it's about where you are in God. I used to worry about her right through there, but nowadays I see God working so quickly, and mending a heart the world spent years breaking. My mom is on her way home...praise the LORD!

Ok, so back to the 40+ club. I have always loved chillin around older people. Back home I was pretty much around my grandmother and her friends all the time. Older people have such a substance when they talk. It's like they realize how valuable words are, and so they don't waste them. I have a horrible habit of talking (good thing I'm gonna be a counselor huh?). I've learned over time that silence can be just as valuable as talking. I am able to look to my older and wiser friends, and go to them with things I couldn't tell any of my other friends. I value them more then they know, but of course I can't show or tell them that...it's already weird enough that I chill with people 20-30 years my senior on a regular basis. At this point in my life I realize that at 22, I don't know a lot of things. So...I've decided to willingly put myself in a position to learn.

Oh yea...so the COUNTDOWN. 10 months. 10 months and I will have a Master's degree. What does that mean? #1. I can be a professional counselor. I'm not really worried about this whole economy and job market thing. I never claimed to be a part of this recession anyway. #2. I can start on my doctorate. #3. Possible another move? Who knows...where ever school, the job market, and God calls (not in that order)...I'll go. So won't you start the countdown with me saints??? 10....

YOU KNOW WHAT?! I haven't done a word of the day in sooo long. Well folks the word of the day: Consistency.

~Father help me to keep moving, going deeper in you. Consistent in my walk, and not distracted by side shows.

I will never buy another pillow

We all need hobbies. Otherwise...we end up watching t.v. for a ridiculous amount of hours and accomplishing nothing. I have many hobbies...trying not to forget French (I talk to myself in French sometimes), guitar, writing songs/poetry, road trips (I'm due for one), and there are many more. I have now developed a new hobby, and I must say...I'm enjoying it.

You see, 2 days ago I didn't know how to use a sewing machine. 2 days ago I didn't know what a bobbin was, let along how to thread one. 2 days ago I didn't know the speed of the needle was control by the pressure one puts on the pedel. But today? Oh today, sewing has officially become a new hobby of mine. Now I'm not the bomb just yet...but I can make a mean pillow. Check out my first creations....

I don't have a lot of spare time BUT when I get a free day, I'm gonna attempt to tackle the following...

I will never buy another pillow...