We make mistakes. We get hurt. If you cut us, we bleed like the next person. However, strong women bounce back quickly and fiercely like the queens that we are. We don’t have all the answers but we know who does. We know our worth because of who our Father is. Our Father is a King! We are strong women who will continue to put one foot in front of the other against all odds. We walk by faith, not by sight. We know we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Love and Blessings…

“I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14)NASB

“For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corithians 5:7)

” I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelations 19:16)

#Proverbs 31

We all have come or will come to a crossroad in life, where we ask ourselves, should I go left or should I go right? Should I start my own business? Should I go back to school! Should I buy this house? Should I marry this person? Should I change jobs or should I just play it safe and stay where I am? Wow, so many questions. What do we do! We. Do. Nothing. It is praying time! And when we pray, we listen for God’s answer. God speaks to each of us in different ways. If you know Him, you will know His voice. If you can’t hear Him, thank God for His instruction book on life, the Bible. It has everything we need to know to make life decisions based on godly wisdom. Don’t let the devil get you twisted, wait for God’s answer. Do not get impatient and make the wrong move!

Sometimes even when we hear God and we know what we should do, we let fear stop us. Lord I hear you but I’m afraid. Lord I hear you but I love him/her. Lord I hear you but I’m not smart enough. If God says you’re enough, you are enough! Let me tell you, don’t let fear stop you from living out your destiny. God has a plan for each of us but we have to move, we have to begin the journey. I know it can be scary moving from the known to the unknown. It can be scary even if we are not happy in the known. So we settle. That’s what fear does, it makes you settle. Our faith has to be bigger than our fear. Faith is an action word. Sometimes we have to move for God to move! Have enough faith in God to take the first step, and trust Him to direct the rest of your steps. Get moving, your destiny awaits you! Love and Blessings…

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
(Jeremiah 29:12)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
(James 1:22)

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:9)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

I have never been a spontaneous person. I have planned things as long as I can remember. I had my life all planned out. And when things didn’t go as planned, I just moved to plan B. Yes, I always had a plan B. I thought I knew what was best for my life. It seem to be working for a while. Then in 2016 I had what I call my wilderness experience. I tried plan B; but my plan B did not stand a chance up against the wilderness! In hindsight, I feel like God was trying to get my attention. And He did!

There is nothing wrong with planning, if you are getting direction, advice and guidance from God. God’s plan comes with total submission to His will and authority in our lives. There was a time when that would have been hard, giving total control to anyone, even God. I thought I knew what was best for my life. He had to take me down a notch. I had to learn, I don’t control nothing, God does!

Our plans are self-satisfying, temporary, and usually separate us from God. People, circumstances, and satan can interfere with our plans. But God’s plans will always prevail! God’s plan for our lives are peace, prosperity, hope, and a future with Him. When we follow God’s plans, there may still be detours and delays on our journey. We will face obstacles, persecution, hurt, pain, rejection and suffering. When we are following our plans, those things can catch us off guard and we become anxious, depressed, and overwhelmed. However, God is never caught by surprise. If we are following God’s plans, He will be there with us, guiding us through it all. Before I ended up in the wilderness, I was following my plan. The wilderness was not in my plans, so I didn’t know what to do when things started happening. Once I submitted it all to him, he was right there with me. I know He could have made everything right again instantly, but instead He stayed there with me and gave me strength to endure.

As Christians facing difficult situations, we can take comfort in Jeremiah 29:11 knowing that it is not a promise to immediately rescue us from hardship or suffering, but a promise that God has a plan for our lives and regardless of our current situation, He will work through it and everything will work out for our good. What I thought at the time was the worst thing that could have happened, I now know was the best thing! He is the God of second chances. I no longer need a plan B. I know God’s plan for me is eternal, and full of hope, joy and peace, even in the mist of life’s storms. What do you do when God’s plan does not align with your plan? I encourage you to go with God’s plan, it is always better! Love and Blessings…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:11)

You may call her mother, mommie, mama, mom, or ma. Whatever you call her, she is the face of love. Celebrate today and every day that God blesses you with the gift of a mom. A mother’s love is a gift that keeps on giving, even when she is resting in peace. Even if the flesh is no longer with us, the spirit is always with us. The memories will forever be with us. The love will forever be with us. Today is bittersweet for some, I pray that it gives some comfort to know that those in Christ will meet again. For those that are still blessed to have their mama with them now, make everyday count! Today I remember my ma whose hand I held as she transitioned to her eternal home. I realize I am blessed to have a son who shows me love everyday. I am blessed with a wonderful bonus daughter, 3 beautiful grandchildren, and my adorable great grandson. Today I celebrate Mother’s Day with gratefulness. I am truly blessed! Happy Mother’s Day! Love and Blessings…

“Then the mother of the child said, ‘As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So he arose and followed her.” (2 Kings 4:30)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)

I want to share with you my morning devotion. It talked about experiencing God’s kind of peace in the midst of fearful circumstances.

Peace is not the absence of trouble in your life. It is not the absence of turmoil, challenges, or things that are not harmonious in your physical environment. It is possible to be in the midst of the biggest crisis in your life and still experience peace. That’s the true kind of peace that you can experience with Jesus—peace that surpasses understanding. Naturally speaking, it does not make sense for you to feel completely at rest and at peace when you are in dire straits, but supernaturally, you can be filled with peace! The world defines peace, harmony, and tranquility based on what is happening in the sensory realm. The world’s notion of peace would look something like this: A man lying in a hammock on a white sandy beach in Hawaii with luau music playing softly in the cabana, coconut trees swaying in perfect unison, and warm, blue waves rolling languidly along the shoreline. The world calls that peace—until reality kicks in and the transient peace that was experienced just moments ago dissipates into thin air! You see, my friend, you cannot use your external surroundings to permanently influence the turmoil that you are feeling inside. Only Jesus can touch what you are feeling inside and turn that turmoil into His peace. With the Lord by your side, and from that abiding peace within, you can influence your external surroundings. It’s not the other way round. With Jesus, transformation is always from inside out and not outside in. He puts a peace and rest in your heart that is so secure, you can face any challenge without worry or stress, regardless of your negative circumstances and environment.

This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days of Favor—Daily Readings from Unmerited Favor. Joseph Prince Ministries…

We all can give advice based on our opinions, experience, and our perspective of the truth. But should we? We have to be careful when we are receiving or giving advice. Is this advice coming from the voice of God? Is it coming from the Word of God? Did you consult with the Holy Spirit? We must understand that in the New Covenant, it is all about hearing the voice of the resurrected Son of God.

As His children, God said we should know His voice. Why does the Father want us to hear only the Lord Jesus? Hearing God speak is a blessing we receive as his children! The voice of God will give us direction. When He speaks, we will receive an answer to something we have asked, or a request we didn’t even know we needed. When God speaks to us, we will gain clarity. Why is it important we focus on hearing the Holy Spirit and being led by Him? Because we grow in the knowledge of His grace. Because neither this world or the prophets of the Old Testament hold the answer to our deepest cry for intimacy and peace with God, or the enjoyment of His presence and power in every area of our lives. Only Jesus can do that. His way is the only way out of darkness. His voice is the only truth.We can learn from Moses and Elijah, who did mighty things through God, but both great men of God still fell short in the end. Toward the end of his life, Moses hit the rock twice in disobedience, and yelled at the people out of anger and impatience. Despite his years of service, Moses’s disobedience kept him from entering the promised land. (Numbers 20). Why were the consequences of Moses’s actions so severe? Because he misrepresented God. He did what he wanted not what God told him to do. In his anger, he represented God as angry and judgmental toward His people, when God actually loved and cared for them. This tells us that as children of God, we must seek the voice of God and then obey what we hear. When we give advice it should come from a place of love and always be based on God’s Word, not our opinions or emotions. Moses teaches us that we need to be very accurate in how we represent God. And what about Elijah? Despite amazing victories and evidence of the power of God in his ministry, in his last days, Elijah thought Jezebel was greater than God and fled from her. After all he saw God do, he still lost faith and became discouraged. (1 Kings 19). We learn from Elijah to not lose faith or get discouraged. We know God is greater than any circumstance or situation. When we seek spiritual advice from a friend or spiritual leader, we must make sure that person is in tuned with God and is given you God’s truth and not just their truth.

We can learn from Moses and Elijah, who did mighty things through God, but both great men of God still fell short in the end. Toward the end of his life, Moses hit the rock twice in disobedience, and yelled at the people out of anger and impatience. Despite his years of service, Moses’s disobedience kept him from entering the promised land. (Numbers 20). Why were the consequences of Moses’s actions so severe? Because he misrepresented God. He did what he wanted not what God told him to do. In his anger, he represented God as angry and judgmental toward His people, when God actually loved and cared for them. This tells us that as children of God, we must seek the voice of God and then obey what we hear. When we give advice it should come from a place of love and always be based on God’s Word, not our opinions or emotions. Moses teaches us that we need to be very accurate in how we represent God. And what about Elijah? Despite amazing victories and evidence of the power of God in his ministry, in his last days, Elijah thought Jezebel was greater than God and fled from her. After all he saw God do, he still lost faith and became discouraged. (1 Kings 19). We learn from Elijah to not lose faith or get discouraged. We know God is greater than any circumstance or situation. When we seek spiritual advice from a friend or spiritual leader, we must make sure that person is in tuned with God and is given you God’s truth and not their truth.

Sometimes we may not want to hear godly advice. We want to hear what we want to hear, to make us feel better or to feel justified. And it may help us feel better temporary, but when we receive the truth as it comes from God, we are forever set free. God’s truth will set you free! Love and Blessings…

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:16)

“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1John 4:6)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippines 4:8)

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:33)

I read that religion is humanity’s attempt to reach out to God. It said that religion involves human effort to become acceptable to God or to give meaning to one’s life. Christianity does not involve humanity’s attempt to reach God, but rather God’s attempt to reach humanity. Christianity is centered on a personal relationship between our creator God and His human creation. It’s about a loving God who initiates the relationship by revealing who He is to His human creation by coming to us in the person of Jesus. The number one enemy of Christianity today is religion. It was so from the very beginning. Jesus did not offend sinners, He offended the religious men of His day. In the person of Jesus, religion and Christianity tackled head-on. How can you distinguish religion from authentic Christianity? First, religion loves ritual. Religion delights in the status quo. Change makes it uncomfortable. Religion is a commitment to a system of beliefs, attitudes and practices. Second, religion responds to challenge with intimidation. Challenge religion, and it will attempt to intimidate you into submission. What does an attorney do when he suspects that truth may not be on his side? He buys time, attacks procedure and assassinates character. Religion is defended the same way. What about Christianity? Christianity loves the truth. Aristotle defined the truth as “saying of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not.” In other words, truth has a standard, and is not relative. Also, Christianity responds to challenge with boldness. Why? Because knowing the truth and embracing it gives you courage. When religion and Christianity clash, what happens? Many times, people come to know Christ. When Peter and John were arrested for the first time, five thousand people were saved! Don’t be afraid when your faith is challenged by religion. It could be your opportunity to save a soul! While the religions of the world falsely require you to do something, be a good person, or observe certain rituals or traditions to get right with God, we Christians know that Jesus already did what was necessary for our Salvation. What He did was pay the penalty that God, who is holy, justly requires for sin which is death. Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we can have eternal life. But being a Christian is more than being assured of God’s forgiveness and going to Heaven. We should not use the grace of God to indulge in sin. God wants to work with us so we can live life as He originally designed us to live. Living life by His design is the only true pathway to the purpose, meaning and significance we all desire. Religion keeps you in chains, but Christ has set us free! Love and Blessings…

John 14:6 of the Bible, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Romans 4:4-5 “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Don’t let what the world calls a failure be the end of your story. When we walk with Jesus, His power lives within us. The Word shows us that sometimes success only comes after failure. Moses, Elijah, Paul, Peter, David, and Rehab all failed forward. But they, as we must do, continued to walk with the Lord. Jesus is our power source. You can’t say you have faith when you give up after one failed attempt. Pick yourself up and try again! Plug into your source by studying the Word, praying, fasting, and worshiping. The truth is we can’t lose as long as we are walking with Jesus. Thanks to our God, we have the victory through Jesus Christ. When we walk with Jesus, His power lives within us. When it’s your season, no giant can defeat you! No fire can burn you! No battle can turn you! No mountain can stop you! No situations or circumstances can stop you. They may slow you down, but they cannot stop you! Scripture tells us that there is a name above all other names. That name is Jesus. He has the power! All we have to do is tap into it. Whatever circumstances, trials or tribulations we are facing, they are just names which are all under one greater name, Jesus Christ! I don’t know about you but I know where my power comes from. There is power in the name of Jesus! Love and Blessings…

“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that at the mention of the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Visit emanne.org to receive more food for the soul!

It does not matter what emotional or physical battles we face, when we tap into the wisdom of the Word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are guaranteed victory! Our test becomes a testimony. Our ashes turn into beauty. Our faith overcomes our fear. Then we experience real freedom!! Love and Blessings…

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Visit emanne.org to receive more food for the soul!

Something I read in one of my devotions last week resonated in my soul. So I have been pondering on it and talking with God about it. I am thankful because I have become steadfast in standing on God’s promises and what He speaks to me, no matter what the enemy throws my way. I know His voice. That is a good thing, but what the devotion was teaching is how we should always fight the enemy with God’s written Word, not just what we think God said to us. Because there is no mistaken what is written. That’s what Jesus did. “It is written”, He said when the devil tried to tempt Him. Jesus also knew the voice of God He stayed in communion with Him. But in His time of temptation, He declared, “It is written.” In the first temptation, the devil challenged our Lord Jesus to prove His identity, saying, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matt. 4:3). It is interesting that our Lord did not rely on what His Father had audibly spoken over Him at the River Jordan? A voice had come from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). Yet, the Lord did not point satan to the spoken word of God. Over and over again, He declared, “It is written.” Now, if the Son of God used “it is written” to defeat the devil, how much more do you and I need to use it. Our Lord Jesus Himself showed us what to do when we are under attack by the devil. Three times He was tempted by satan in the wilderness. Each time, His response was the same, He quoted the written Word of God. Against each attack, His response was to say, “It is written” (Matt. 4:1–11).

When negative thoughts come our way, we must not give them time to take root in our heart. This correlates with the wise saying that you can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you can surely stop them from building a nest on your head. We can’t stop the enemy from attacking our minds, but we can surely defend ourselves with the written Word. God’s Word is infallible, unshakable, and everlasting (Isa. 40:8, 1 Pet. 1:25). We can combat the enemy’s attacks, by sticking to the pattern our Lord Jesus shows us in the Bible.

Discouragement, weariness, disillusionment, shattered dreams, and unrealized goals are some of the devils favorite weapons he uses to disturb our peace. But the truth is that the enemy can only use what we allow him to use. We can go to the written Word, where God tells us that He left us with peace. No devil, you cannot have my peace, for it is written! Speak it and satan will flee just as he fled from Jesus! Love and Blessings…

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)