The Lord Is My Shepherd

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. -Luke 15:4-5

 

 

I can actually identify with the verses above as they play out so descriptively true within my life. Jesus came looking for me-a major event that I never actually expected to happen.

I didn’t think he cared whether or not I had distanced myself from him.

Anger, and the misconceptions I developed about Jesus/God through out the ups and downs of my life had kept me from wanting to be bothered anymore. There are certain things I hadn’t learned or understood up until now.  Jesus approached me in such a very strong way. At first, his entrance seemed harsh, considering the situation that was at hand. My attention was fully grasped and focused strictly back upon him. 

Jesus arrived to me with an extreme seriousness, one I initially took as a retribution for having turned away from him with animosity.

Then, I soon realized off and on during the process that Jesus was just being a stern, but solicitous parent/father. Although I was hurt by the circumstance in which arose he wasn’t at all trying to hurt me. In fact, he’s been nothing but a tremendous help, comfort, protector, and loving guide through out it all.

Jesus wasn’t messing around this time. He’s got me in an intimate one on one relationship with him. One that is stronger and more intense than ever before and it is continuing to grow beautifully. I’ve also noticed that our relationship is guarded. Jesus is attentive and I am eager and hungry for all of his love, grace, knowledge and instruction. You have to ardently love someone to come at them that hard and keep them under a tight grip. I am utterly shocked. I really shouldn’t be after all Jesus/God has done for me in the past, however, that is what built up the faith that I had to instantly trust in him.

I feel genuine love in my heart for Jesus and I enjoy spending quality time talking to him in my prayers and reading the scriptures along with my devotionals day to day.

Sometimes we go by what we feel or see in the natural sense and when it comes to God we shouldn’t do that. We are to walk by faith and not by sight because even though we don’t see the lord we know that he is everywhere. And just because we may not feel he cares we know he does from the extraordinary acts that he does in our lives no matter how big or small and he does them with a consistency.

Like I said before, I didn’t think it fazed Jesus that I departed communication with him for several years when all along he was there and working it out for my own good and as a part of his plan.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.-Proverbs 16: 9

 

 

 

Following Jesus

I really enjoy reading the gospel and I am touched by the sincerity and dedication that Jesus’s disciples had toward him.

I admire the relationship they all had and the strength, determination, and perseverance to follow through on their mission with such fervor and integrity. The love shared between Jesus, Martha, Mary and Lazarus was also beautiful.

I look at how Jesus healed multitudes of people and some didn’t even have the decency to say thank you.

There were some people who had good intentions and who wanted to learn from and follow Jesus. Some people only wanted to be around Jesus for what he could do for them through the healings and the miracles that he performed. There were some people among the crowds who were just spectators looking for mere excitement, and there were those who were against Jesus.

A lot of people today are not true followers of Jesus Christ.

They don’t really have a commitment to him within their hearts. For some it’s just about getting their prayers answered or getting through a tough time and nothing is wrong with that if seeking out the Lord runs deeper than just having him fix their problems and grant them their desires.

Nonetheless, with many people it goes no further than what they want and need for the time being afterwards they move on and forget about Jesus.

What determines a true follower of  the lord is their motivation.

Are they acquiring Jesus for their own personal gain and other selfish reasons or are they looking to really grow in a committed relationship with him to enhance the quality and essence of true life meaning and purpose?

 

Spiritual Gifts

 

 

I was always very sensitive spiritually as a child. I was highly empathic, perceptive/intuitive, and intelligent (wise beyond my years), and I had a strong connection to the spirit realm and to God. I was also very strong emotionally with a strong, enduring spirit.

Highly sensitive does not mean easily wounded (getting one’s feelings hurt or taking matters or things too personally and seriously) when it comes to people who have extrasensory perception.

People in my experience have the ability to feel deeply and to sense at a heightened level of capacity/range and are often misunderstood and/or mislabeled as being timid, having anxiety, or not being normal. None of which is true as we are all individuals. People tend to categorize when it is something they know nothing about.

We are just people with gifts who experience a touch of the supernatural (I’m not talking about fortune-telling, I’m talking about extraordinary faculties) and our God and Lord Jesus is indeed supernatural.

 

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1 Corinthians 12: 1-11

 

Spiritual Gifts

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.  So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

 

 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.  God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.  To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.  The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.  He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.  It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Canceled Our Debt

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.- John 3:18

Satan is the God of this world and he is God’s main enemy. An abomination whose main intention is to promote and execute slavery, bondage, fear and destruction. God designed mankind within his own image to demonstrate his love. 

Satan who is also known as Lucifer wanted power and control over mankind. He was one of the great archangels that were created by God before he created us human beings. Satan was  beautiful, intelligent, talented, and self-willed. He didn’t want to serve God he wanted to be God and rule within his own prideful system of disobedience.

Where our true God is love, the God of this world is hate and reflects everything that is detestable to what is right and originally planned.

No matter how much confusion and havoc Satan produces upon the earth God is still in utter control and Satan’s capacity is limited. Satan isn’t able do anything without God’s permission or authority. Satan’s threat of death and the fear thereof through sin and bondage was conquered by Jesus Christ. We were set free to be lead into the new kingdom of God.

Satan has been defeated and knows that his time is short and he is eager to take as many of us down with him as he can in the most deceptive and misrepresentative of ways. He tries to manipulate through our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

As Jesus offers us new life we must draw near and stay close to God, seek out and incorporate his plan into our lives, and God will secure a triumph over Satan on our behalf as he fights our battles for us. We cannot do it by ourselves and we aren’t supposed to. The Lord tells all who hear his words-Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. –John 5:24

In conclusion, we have authority over Satan. He has no true power over us who follow/believe in Jesus Christ. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. -James 4:7

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When The Lord Draws Near And Walks Close

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44

I was introduced to God as a child by my mother. I had a few other family members who were into God and who read the bible. God was no stranger within my early home life and I was drawn to him. I use to have a deep interest in the bible and God’s word and I had asked Jesus into my life as my lord and savior before I hit my teens.

I remember when I did enter my teenage years I had so much faith in what God could do.

Yet, I didn’t understand all of the scriptures and between the misbehavior of certain so-called Christians, church goers, everyday people, tribulation and my lack of interpretation to some of the bible I had a negative perception of what God appeared to be.

There came a time when I began to view God within a positive light when things in my life started to improve and I developed what I considered a closer relationship with God. I’d pray to him and he would give me the things that I asked for and I was trying to live accordingly to his approval the best way that I knew how from where I was at.

Nevertheless, there was always something within me that kept me conscious of God. Whether it was through spiritual intuition, intellectual curiosity, or a natural life connection there was a continuous leaning toward finding specific answers and making acquaintance.

Currently, in my older days, God has used a trial to bring me back to him after a long period of my having been angry with him. I already knew from the past what God had done for me and how he came through sufficiently. He was wonderful then and even more astonishing to me now.

I am getting to know him in a way I’ve never known or realized before and it is very real and supernatural. God is my ultimate comforter and he has drawn me closer to him than ever before. I can’t believe how good he’s been during my time of challenge.

God makes the unbearable bearable and in doing so creates a strong, intimate and personal relationship of sincere intention and reliability. God’s concern and providence is extremely nurturing.

He is holding on to me, not letting me go, constantly sustaining me in the power of his spirit. But whoever is united with the LORD is one with him in spirit.  

-1 Corinthians 6:17

 

 

 

Only God/Jesus

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

At the moment of an event a little while back, I paused, then immediately turned back to God/Jesus. I would have never been influenced by any human persuasion or on any other occasion. I was prompted with the foreknowledge and sole acknowledgement that God/Jesus was sovereign over my life and life itself, and my choice came natural.

Only God/Jesus could reach me. He had to come to me directly himself and he knew just what it would take to bring me back. I’ve even wondered why he wanted me back, even though he never really lost me because once we belong to him we’re his for keeps even if we don’t realize this fact. God is in control, knowing our true hearts and hurts and ready to help and heal to again make us whole within him.

I’ve always been intelligent and I’ve always had sense, therefore, I used these faculties that the Lord gave to me to wise up during a grave opportunity for him to get my attention.

I came across a scripture in Acts the day before yesterday that spoke to me dearly and that had touched my heart.

“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.  In the past, he let all nations go their own way.  Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”  Acts 14: 15-17 This passage reminded me of how God still looked out for me and didn’t turn his back on me but how he mercifully continued to protect and bless me even though I was giving all honor and praise to “orishas” who I instead substituted as a loving and more dependable nicer means.

Oh Lord Jesus and father God I apologize again for my misperceptions and false ideas that caused me to give up on and turn away from you so harshly within the past as I once defined you harsh. Thank you for being so loving, caring, understanding and forgiving although I am unworthy and undeserving of your grace. You are a faithful father who came searching for their long lost daughter to welcome her readily into your reassuring arms and it feels so good to be back home where I truly belong. In Jesus precious name, Amen -latoya lawrence

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome

God’s Holy Spirit At Work In Me

Hi, I’m LaToya Lawrence,

God has inspired me to help spread the good news (his good news!) And surely, I can also testify to give my own personal accounts of God’s outstanding work in my life.  

God wants us to know and remember that he sent Jesus to die for us so that we could no longer be separated from him and have the relationship with him that he had originally intended. 

God wants us to know and remember that through the life, crucifixion/death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been pardoned through God’s grace and mercy to escape death and receive eternal life.

God loves us and desires for no one to perish but to grasp onto his word (read the bible faithfully) harken unto his voice, (listen to him for our best interest), and follow his lead (surrender and let him direct our path).

God also wants us to be inspired by his promises and to not be discouraged by our enemy (the devil/satan and his fellow demonic army) but to hold on and continue to have faith in him. 

As an ambassador of God, this blog is in devotion to my strong relationship with God in my journey motivated by his holy spirit, and inspires to share and bear witness. Scroll down to read the posts.

Answer Jesus’s knock at the door and allow him into your heart and accept all of the teachings and blessings that he has stored up in preparation to getting us ready for our permanent home.

– “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, Matthew 6:19

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14: 1-3

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When I was a little girl my mother always told me, I had a gift. My great-grandmother told me that she believed I was going to be a missionary one day. When I got older, I was told by a teacher that I am a “messenger”. All glory goes to God as I am a servant/follower of Jesus Christ.  

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4  

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36  

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:16  

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16  

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 was very young when I noticed the special abilities that I had, though, at the time I thought it was a trait that everyone had. It wasn’t until I had gotten older that I realized while most people experienced life through their natural senses I and certain others who were bestowed with discernment experienced life through our extraordinary senses. 

I was highly sensitive as a child growing up, able to feel and to sense things about people and environments that other people couldn’t sense. I’d have intuitive thoughts, visions, dreams and sensations that would alert me to my surroundings and to the happenings taking place within the spiritual realm.  

As one born with a caul/veil I naturally had a special link/sensitivity to the spiritual realm, often encountering demonic spirits or activity as well as the signs and presence of angelic energies around me.  

At the age of twelve, while I experienced a season of trial, I frequently saw before my eyes sparkles that twinkled in the sign of a cross. They were so beautiful and illuminating, a piercing silver-like. I use to wonder if I was really seeing what I was seeing, but I actually was. To this day I still see these sparkling signs yet they come in a different form. I’ve even seen gold and blue sparks of light on separate occasions. This manifest at the time had brought with it an internal message from the Lord stating “I’m here. I am with you. Everything is going to be alright”.  

God already knew the unique plans that he had in store for us even before he created the earth. He appointed our callings then furnished and equipped us for special talents and gifts before we were born. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. Psalm 139: 13-18 

Salvation (Eternal Security)

In my late teens, while I was having a weekly bible study, I had mentioned to my group members the trouble I was undergoing in my neighborhood with fellow teens and adults who were jealous of me for not doing and not having done the things that they were doing. I lived a totally different lifestyle than what they all did.

One lady from my bible study specifically pointed to a particular verse of scripture and then spoke it out loud to me. It read: They are puzzled that you do not continue running with them in the same decadent course of debauchery, so they speak abusively of you. 1 Peter 4:4

Although I had never indulged within the same behaviors as certain neighborhood folk, I had cut loose those who I had grown up with and refused to be bothered with others who were not of good character as I had no desire to associate with wicked or undesirable people.

As a result, and out of resentment for my living “not of the world”, these affiliates (who came in legions) ventured upon me to lose my salvation. They believed if they could deliberately ensnare me into doing some deed I’d no longer be saved and end up going to hell where they were headed.

There are people in the world who actually believe that one’s salvation is dependent upon whether or not some disqualifying sin is committed. They think the precious gift of eternal life is contingent upon how well one refrains from offending God.

From what I have learned according to biblical scripture once we truly become saved, we’re always saved and nothing is able to forfeit that salvation.

Eternal life to begin with is based on God’s pure grace and mercy and not determined by any of our deeds or misdeeds. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–Ephesians 2:8 And Romans 11:29 goes on to say, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”.

The bible doesn’t state that until we sin a number of times or carry out some huge sin that our future eternal state will remain unaltered.  God already knew each one of us who were going to follow his way long before he created us, And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:30.

All of us believers in Jesus sin while we’re here on the earth, the concern is whether one continues to practice their sin in a type of way that may insinuate a heart that is unreformed.

The wages of sin are death, however, the gift of God is eternal life in our lord Jesus. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3: 16-18

God punished our sins through Jesus on the cross.

All of our sins were forgiven by Jesus’s death and resurrection and we are made righteous by what he did. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10: 9-10

Once we genuinely accept Jesus Christ as our lord and savior and repent, we receive the Holy Spirit which represents our assurance and security of eternal life as well as the renewal and regeneration of our moral and spiritual nature. The Holy Spirit aides us within desiring to do God’s will. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  Romans 8:9

the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John14:17

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

l give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 28:37-39

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”  John 6:37-40

Although our salvation is guaranteed through God’s promises if we truly are saved, this precious gift of life eternal is not to be taken for granted. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. Romans 5: 20-21 

This is a serious life event and we are required to honor our lord by abiding within accordance to his will. Our salvation will not be in jeopardy, but as followers of Jesus Christ we will all have to account for what we do as the measure or degree of rewards that we will receive in heaven depend on how well or poorly we serve God while we’re still here on the earth.

If we properly serve God fruitfully our work will survive God’s testing fire meaningfully, leading up to rewards.

If we don’t gain or achieve anything substantial within service to God our works will not stand up to the test and they will render of no value, burning up in the fire and we won’t receive any rewards, though we will still be saved.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10: 9-10

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:30

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Romans 6: 1-2

Counterfeit Christians And The Truth About Salvation

I never understood why people who’d done tons of dirt and/or who lived an iniquitous lifestyle before supposedly turning to Jesus Christ were so judgmental and harsh towards those who’d never done anything close to what they did within their lifetime.

And when you reach the limit in tolerating their hypocrisy and tell them the truth about themselves, they’re quick to respond with, “We all fall short of the glory of God”. These words are often used by them to undermine and to downplay the individual who confronts them on their own misdeeds and behaviors. Their traits of manipulation and deviousness conveniently resume instantly, yet they claim to be a born-again Christian.

They make irrational or petty comments about others based on preconceived ideas and notions even when they don’t know one all too well.

There actions definitely have more to show about them than they do anyone else. Sometimes it is derived from their own guilt that surface to haunt them and sometimes it is just a matter of jealousy, or both. Another person’s character may be a reminder to the opposite of what they once were and wish they could have been like from the beginning of their life journey, and they may feel inadequate or even resentful toward that person.

I know, I’ve been through it before with a relative who had just met me for the first time, however, she considered me the “judgmental one” because my spirit did not take to her, and it did not take to her rightfully so.

One of the gifts I was born with was the gift of discernment. I was always able to sense things about people that other people could not sense.

About nineteen years ago, this relative expressed to me that yes, the bible stated that there are seven gifts given out. So, she didn’t deny my gifts as her grandmother had also been born with the gift of extrasensory perception. Nevertheless, she also stated that one could have a gift without being saved. I was intuitive enough to know that she was snidely hinting around at me and insinuating that I was not saved.

During the time I had spent with her I had caught her in lies, intentional gossip, and a plan to do dirt towards me.

The Lord, of course, delivered me out of the circumstance safely and perfectly unharmed, but now I was even wiser to those wolves who walk around in sheep clothing. I had experienced people like this relative before yet not to this extent of sickness.

This relative even said to me that she tried to figure out how I had made it through particular hardships during my childhood still intact. She boggled me because if she was truly a Christian there would not have been anything to figure out. As a believer, to me, the situation was obvious. It was God. When us believers walk through fire we don’t get burned. Our Lord protects and shields us faithfully.

She was always talking about wishing someone would get saved and about who wasn’t saved. My question was who and what made her the authority on who was saved and what it actually meant to be saved?

This relative told me a person who died went straight to hell because they weren’t saved. I asked her how she knew they weren’t saved. She told me because of all the dancing that they use to do. She claimed if one had a gift that they weren’t exclusively using to glorify God than they were not saved. This person who she spoke of wasn’t a stripper or into any pornography or anything of that nature, and she was still young (in her early twenties).

This person sung and danced for audiences just as certain gospels singers and musicians do, they just weren’t singing gospel music or in the genre. Even some gospel entertainers are not all what they appear to be, neither are many active members of the congregations.

Jesus said himself, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock“. -Matthew 7:21-24

Anyway, my point is, I was christened at a Catholic church when I was four months old. I also verbally accepted and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior when I was still a child or during my preteen years over thirty years ago. God was always with me and has always kept me and had did some very amazing things for me even when I had gotten angry at him and doubted his goodness for a period of time due to my particular trials in life. The purity within my spirit never left.

God is omniscient and only he knows who is a true believer and who is not. No one else can ultimately make that decision so those in particular need not to make subjective judgments in regard to who is and who is not a saved Christian based on their perception of one’s performance in life.

There are indeed sincere Christians who do exercise, carry out, and accomplish righteousness more effectively than certain others but God knows one’s heart and genuine efforts and he meets his people where they are and aides them with his Holy Spirit. There are different stages of transformation depending on each individual as everyone is unique. To whatever degree where one is at God is working things out for their own good and preparing a wonderful place for them.

True believers in God/Jesus Christ do not let the regrets or mistakes of their past negatively influence their conduct toward others who haven’t been down their same road. Yes, none of us are perfect, though one shouldn’t try to beat down other people on account of not being able to handle their own insecurities. It’s not about where one has been but where one is going as they are a new creation within God/Jesus. Forget the past as it is all forgiven through our savior and move on positively learning correctly and building each other and growing each other with our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.

In all honesty, a lot of so called Christians are not really saved and were never truly Christians to begin with. ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:5

For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Ephesians 5:12

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:17-18

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Matthew 5:11

So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” … 

-Luke 20:20-24

A Letter From Jesus

During the 1980’s, when I was around eleven or twelve years old, there was a Christian bookstore that opened up around the corner from where I lived.

At this store, my mother and I would pick out and purchase hand crafted religious plaques.

 

We bought a large-size, dark wood carving, scripted and pictured with the beauty of the sky, ocean, and sand, adorning the words of the timeless “Footprints” inspirational.

The Footprints poem, is one of the most wonderful reminders of the comfort we receive from the Lord within the certain times we may not feel he is around us.

There were a few other religious plaques that had caught our attention and spoke to our hearts, but one that I remember buying in particular was a favorite of mine.

I purchased this lovely plaque when I was about fourteen. I had bought two of them, one for myself, and one as a gift for someone else.

Over a decade later, I ran into the lady who told me she still had the plaque that I had given her all those years ago, and I still had mine at home too

The Plaque was an attractively designed carving on light-colored wood scripted as, “The Letter from Your Friend Jesus”:

Dear Friend,

How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me too. I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you — and I waited. You never came. It hurt me — but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you sleeping last night and longed to touch your brow so I spilled moonlight upon your face. Again, I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you! You awoke and rushed off to work. My tears were in the rain.

If you would only listen to me! I love you! I try to tell you in blue skies and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in leaves on the trees and breathe it in colors of flowers, shout it to you in mountain streams, give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the ocean, and bigger than the biggest need in your heart!

Ask me! Talk with me! Please don’t forget me. I have so much to share with you!
I won’t hassle you any further. It is YOUR decision. I have chosen you and I will wait — because I love you.

Your friend,

Jesus

This is such a beautiful inspirational! And oh, so timeless indeed. It was always enough to bring tears to my eyes as I discerned the heavy meaning of the recitation. The message is very touching, still to this day.

Accepting God

As a child, my mother regularly attended a Baptist church and was baptized at the age of ten. Shortly after I was born, at four months, my mother had me christened at a Catholic church. We both had the spirit of the Lord within us early on in our lives, and she introduced me to the bible at an early stage of my youth.

My mother took notice of the special gifts and talents that I had growing up, observing how advanced I was as she herself was very smart, and highly intuitive.

The both of us went through a lot, however, my mother always believed and trusted in God no matter what. There were certain things that I could sense and feel and that I was repulsed by, and the devil would come hard against my mother and I, but we never gave in.

Instead, I had gotten angry.

I blamed God for a number of things. I was angry for being born into the world, for having to go through certain things I felt I shouldn’t have and that I didn’t deserve.

I believed God was trying to hurt me, that God was against me, that God was a mean, cruel, sick, unfair God who was apt to punishing at any opportunity in accordance to what displeased him or that he was just waiting for the moment to find fault with me just to send me to hell.

I felt it was impossible to love, trust, and live under a God successfully under those conditions and terms. It was very hard for me to perceive God as the good, loving, caring, trustworthy, merciful god that I’d often hear people claim that he was. I just couldn’t understand their reasoning.

My mother conveyed to me there was a time in her life where she felt similar to the way I did. Wondering why God allowed specific things to happen and tended to think negatively about him.

My mother did stress to me that the Lord wasn’t against me and that god was good. She explained how good God had been to her throughout her life, and this is what confused me at a period. I had to admit to myself that no matter what went on within our lives we had always come out okay, or even better than okay.

I can give testimony to the wonderful and amazing turnabouts from our trials and tribulations, regardless of what may have occurred and seemed unfavorable or impossible.

Life is full of ups and downs, in general. It is even more burdensome when trouble comes through the vile hands of malicious people as well as the malignant principalities of this world.

I loved when the good things would constantly happen, I wanted life to continue on in those ways permanently. It was easy to have faith and believe in God while experiencing the pleasant moments of life. Yet, I learned that true faith, or a deeper faith, comes with fully trusting God when things don’t go well, and when all seems hopeless.

This is when our belief is ultimately put to the test.

When we stick with the Lord during the worst, most devastating events of our lives, knowing in our hearts he will come through in a fashion we don’t clearly perceive-but expect, from his loyalty and truth, amid his past accounts-we can rest assured God has prepared a grand delivery. All of our distinct packages are wrapped, sealed, and distributed through our unwavering faith.

Spiritual Warfare

Witchcraft/Black Magic

Witchcraft is definitely real and the bible will confirm this truth.

I’ve had people work Brujeria and all other sorts of evil witchcraft/voodoo on me and members of my family within the distant past, however, I and my family prevailed against it.

God/Jesus is, of course, far more powerful than the devil. Satan and his demons are no competition for our heavenly father, neither are negative/wicked people.

Always stay positive, continue to pray and to stay close to God and everything will work out fine. Don’t worry about anything, just go to God with all of your concerns no matter how big or how small your worries may be.

Take care, and God bless you.

Read the scriptures and hold on to the word of God

 

Survival

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6: 12-18

The Lord Never Abandons Us

 

I read somewhere that what we believe about the nature of God is of infinite importance and that is so true because what I believed about God was anything but love.

I did believe he was a primarily angry and vengeful God who expected me to live up to his demands without consideration or reason.

And I believed that all God wanted was a bunch of praise and recognition out of some type of narcissism. And I didn’t understand why because I felt that I didn’t ask to come into this world.

False ideas about the Lord can indeed rob us of the true beauty that is within life and save us from a lot of unnecessary strain.-latoya lawrence

For years, I was very angry at God and turned away from him. Not at all within the sense of changing from a good to a bad lifestyle, but living a personal lifestyle choice which didn’t include him.

I had never done drugs or indulged in alcohol. I had never been interested in sex or wild partying, and so on.

Nevertheless, we all have sinned or continue to sin in some way or another.

Whether it is holding animosity toward someone, intentionally speaking negatively about someone, being unreasonably selfish toward others, lying about something, or other things that we may not deem as too serious of acts, but that are always serious to god.

My point is, the devil knew that he could not get to me through drugs, alcohol, or sex.  My mind was too strong, and my self-esteem was too high in regard to the fact that I really did love and respect myself and my body.

So, he had to come at me within another way, and that was to turn me completely away from having any further relationship with God, to separate me from him.

As a spiritually incline individual, I have genuinely had a lot of supernatural experiences. Experiences that were legitimate and many that had proved to be accurate, revealing knowledge and enlightenment within my journey here on this earth.

When I came upon what was known to me as my Ancestors and Orishas things ran smoothly in my life.

I didn’t get every single thing (most of the desires I wanted came to me) that I asked for but all of my needs were continuously being met and provided for and I was being protected from the things that came against me.

I had a peace of mind and a joy that the world couldn’t give to me and that the world couldn’t take away.

I had felt nothing but absolute love from these Ancestors and Orishas and no type of fear or harm from them whatsoever.

If anything, their essences were encouraging my already positive and clean lifestyle, and inspiring me to stay away from negativity and things of a negative nature, and so on.

My spiritual involvement went on for about thirteen years. Until recently God was able to get my full attention.

I have never ever denied the existence of God ever. I always believed Jesus was the son of the lord and god in the flesh who died for our sins and who was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion. I just had erroneously came to the conclusion that god was no good and that he meant me no good, but now I know nothing could be further from the truth.

Satan is very deceptive. A liar who comes to steal, kill and destroy any way possible just as the bible says.

My mother once told me that I didn’t love God enough to trust him. She also told me that God wasn’t against me. My mother had spoken with such a wise tongue.

It was hard for me to bring myself to trust him because even though I had once been very acquainted with God during my youth and early adulthood, I never truly knew the real him.

I knew the things god had done for me in the past and the incredible things that he was really capable of doing, but I never came to know him because of the false perception that I had of him.

I interpreted God as being a controlling god that wanted me to submit to a life of what I considered to be “bondage” or else I would be destined to hell-that is how I actually viewed him.

It took something drastic to happen for me to pay attention to God now within the present.

I already knew that he was the creator and that he was in control of things and that is what scared me because I believed he was evil.

In spite of all my misconceptions, God has been showing me nothing but love. He has been so kind to me, and I just cannot believe it.

I just stopped myself to ponder a bit these past few months. I reflected on the past as well as the present, and at how since I was a young child how blessed I have actually been no matter what I had gone through.

The beautiful and loving soul of a mother that I had, the beautiful and loving dog that I had, the nice and caring people that I have encountered, the trials and tribulations I have prevailed over, the wonderful and extraordinary experiences and things God has granted to me and my family as well.

God continues to provide my vital necessities, he has never let me down the way I thought he did, I just didn’t realize it.

Even when I turned my back on him, he didn’t turn his back on me.

When I was occupying my attention on my “Ancestors and Orishas” instead of God, he was there the entire time.

Nothing can be done or carried out without his authority.

I’ve known since my younger years that according to scripture the word of God states to not be deceived by Satan and his demons as they tend to imitate the illusion of deceased relatives and false deities to ensnare us into a trap and I could rationalize that but there seems to be more going on behind the scenes than what we’ve actually been informed.

I did actually receive accurate information about relatives I had never met or seen before that was confirmed by other family members and further things that did tie up to true events.

However, and nonetheless, we must test the spirit and line it up with the word of God if we are not certain about something.

I have the confidence to put God first and foremost trusting in his word and not leaning on my own understanding but within the understanding given to me by the Holy Spirit to discern the way I have through the gifts of the spirit.

In my ignorance (believing God was not working at all within my life since I had turned away from him in anger), it was not the power of any Orishas, God had taken over instead.

He was the one who was there and God was the one who was steadily watching over me the whole time because I was still his child.

God knows our hearts; he knows us better than anyone else because he made us all.

The one and only true creator who created us for his own special purpose, and for him to have a relationship with us.

A relationship that the devil wanted to take away. The relationship that Jesus died for so that I, and everyone else who chooses to, can have only if they genuinely want to through God’s mercy and grace.

God had to urgently come to let me know himself to depend on no one but him as there was no other way.

And that he didn’t want me left behind to be subjected to a life without consciously knowing him, and being apart from him without a fair chance at making a sober decision.

He cared enough to keep knocking on my heart and soul until I finally opened the door to fully trust and believe within his goodness and faithfulness.

I acknowledge that all glory goes to my heavenly father God.

I pray and talk spiritually to no one but God now. It literally happened the instant that I received God back into my life.

I can honestly say that I have learned to really trust in God, I can wholeheartedly say that God is good and sincerely mean it.

I can also say that God does genuinely love and care for me more than I ever will imagine.

He truly has my back, and when I take a look back within my rear-view mirror it is very clear that he had my back all along.