Overflowing with Gratefulness

I am Overflowing with Gratefulness!

I am full of joy, yall!  🙂

I am grateful to God for:

All things: By body, soul, and spirit- all being healthy and prosperous!
He blocks so many things from hurting my body and my heart.

His protection … it makes me speechless!

My travels, he always protects me and gives me rest.

He loves me, He really does and it’s humbling.
He shows me that He cares about the details of my life.
He makes me smile and laugh often.
He shows me that I am important to Him.

My accomplishments and failures- I learned more from my failures.
My parents, grand parents, great aunts/uncles, aunts and uncles, my siblings, friends, loved ones, and my opposition.

Having enlightenment, peace, joy, love, and for happiness.

For strength to overcome my short comings and obstacles.

For the ability to love people past their faults.

Feeling the presence of the Lord, every day- I don’t take that lighlty or for granted.

The ability to make His vision – in my life and in the lives of others- come to pass.

Energy to work and do what He has for me to do.

A cheerful attitude and disposition.

My prayer circle who will pray for me at the drop of a dime, and me for them.
Business ideas and for finances to bring them to pass.

Business partners- near and far.

My mentors in my relationship with Christ, business, and in life.

Each and every one of my ladies in my B4 Group!

The members of my 5LINX group.
Each of the readers of my blog!

I challenge you to write a list of things that you are grateful for… every day!

Love and Joy!

-Michel

 

 

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I Was Running

International star athlete, Forrest, Forrest Gump, popularized the statement, ‘I was running’ in the film Forrest Gump.

Image Source: Nike.com

 

As I reflect on the film, I thought of many races and games, and a couple of marathons I’ve ran. I think of challenges that I’ve faced and the things that I have been faced with.

I never want to get to the place where all I can say is I was running.  I want to be forever in the place where I run and move forward.

Progress is one of the most significant things that we can see in life.

Think about it. Progress, even a minuscule amount of it, can make the difference between you quitting, starting over again, staying at the same pace, or increasing speed.

Progress is important, when we assess the situation and are certain that we are progressing, we propel forward.

– Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain (I Corinthians 9:24).

– I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

I never want to speak of running this race in past tense.

Morover, I declare and I decree:

I will run the race that is set before me diligently (Hebrews 12:1).

I will press toward the mark (Philipians 4:13).

I will run, run, run, until the Lord says, ‘Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant’

#FeelingDetermined

… But Did You Die?

Yesterday, I noticed that a good friend of mine posted an image on her Instagram.

The image was the picture below, that says, “… People talk about my driving, but did you die?

 

I chuckled, laughed, and liked the post.

In the quiet, I reflected and thought of all of the things I’ve complained about; things that I heard other people complain about.

Failing tests/papers/classes, being broke, car accidents, being in bad relationships, being sick, being diagnosed with deadly diseases or ailments, being raped, being hurt, spraining both ankles, spouse cheating  … So many things things that may make you wanna cry for days.  Idk,  maybe you did cry for days.

-But as people of God, at the end of the day, we are not dead; the Lord has given us a way of escape!

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13).

-At the end of the situation, He has delivered us!

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle (Psalm 140:7).

-He is our refuge and our strength and our help!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

God is saying that He has saved us for a time such as this! Stand up straight, put your head up, and walk on. Don’t waste your life. God has given you a second chance, now do something with it!

I am humbled and honored to say, that I have been through a many things but, no, I did not die.

I am not minimizing the significance of what happened, but I give God glory for seeing something in us and for saving us for a time such as this.  I give God praise for his love, grace, favor, and mercy.  I am thankful for his patience, and kindness for these things are overflowing and unmerited.

#JesusIsMyHelp

#ButDidYouDie

I’z Married Na!

I’z Married Na! I’z Married Na! I’z Married Na!

Image Source: http://www.youtube.com

Is a common phrase that me and some of my girls say at weddings. It’s a popular line from Alice Walker’s The movie, the Color Purple.

Earlier I wrote a post about being single. It’s funny that there is not one woman I know who has not at least once, longed to be married. Why is this. I have been searching my own heart and this is what I believe that the Lord is saying:

It was always His intention for us to be married.

In the creation account:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Genesis 1:26).

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman (John 15:1).

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits (Mark 6:7).

¹⁸ And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

¹⁹ And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof (Genesis 2:18-19). 

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Mark 19:6).

See also: https://michelcockerham.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/lets-stay-together/

Ok, so, I can’t say that I have reached many other conclusions, but I am totally sure that God wants us to be together and He wants to be the one who places us together. 🙂

 

#LetGodPutYouTogether

#LetsStayTogether

#OneDayIllSayIzMarriedNaLol

 

 

Gratitude

Good morning!

I don’t have much to say, really! I feel so full this morning.

I am so full of joy and gratitude that I must give thanks!

http://www.dailygood.org

 

I love the Lord so much.   I am so honored to have a relationship with Him.

I am humbled that He cares enough to speak with me everyday.

I am to overwhelmed that He loves me and He cares.

… To the extent to show me time and time again. 🙂

I just love His order and His tenderness. His mercy. He is so awesome!

I am thankful for every person He has ever-so strategically placed in my life.

I am grateful for my family, friends, co-workers, and especially for people that I run in ministry with!

I thank Him for the way He has orchestrated this time in my life, I could not have done it better myself!

I am humbled at His love for me, and had to share in His goodness!

 

If you don’t know Him for yourself, please try Him.

Ask Him outloud, ‘Jesus, if you are real, please show me’.

… Tell Him a lil woman from Two Egg Florida sent cha!  Blessings!!

 

#InAwe

#Grateful

#Joy

Count It All Joy

Sometimes, our experiences can lead us to feel sad or confused. Sometimes, individuals fall into depression because they are ‘too close to the mirror’. Because we stand so close, we cannot see the picture. There is a familiar adage that about those who “can’t see the forest for the trees.”

We must remember that God loves us (Romans 8:37) and He cares; He is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5). He said that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8 & Hebrews 13:5) . We are important to Him. He knows the end and the beginning (Isaiah 46:10 & Revelation 22:13) and is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 2:12).

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thessalonians 5:18).

My brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4).

In the accounting world, we have the prerogative of serving the best interest of the company board. In this case the accounting team reasons together to determine which number goes into which column.  The accountant makes a decision to which area they will count a given dollar amount.

I dare say that as Christians we have more authority to do this that other groups. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (James 1:2). We have the prerogative and obligation to count everything that happens to us as part of God’s divine plan for our lives.

In the moment, we may characterize something as ‘good or bad’, what ever you think, proactively use it to be closer to Christ.

#HappyHappyJoyJoy

#CountItAllJoy

#Winans

#Closer

 

Let Freedom Ring

This past weekend, I went to see Selma. Selma was recently released to theatres and will remain open through the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend.  Great cinematography, great film!

It was very painful to watch many of the scenes.  I cried. It was very emotional for me to see what happened to so many people.

Moreover, my mom was an activist. She did a set-in, was taken in custody, etc. She shared her story with us (her kids) when I was growing up.

As I reflect on the sacrifices that they made and the lives that were lost, I think of the sacrifice that our Lord made to deliver us from sin.

Lord, thank you for coming to earth to live as a man.

Thank you for suffering greatly for us, even though many of us take you and your sacrifice for granted.

Thank you for accepting such a horrible death.

Thank you for the blood that you shed.

May I never take anything you did for granted.

I accept the freedom that you purchased for me with your blood.

Let Freedom Ring!

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36).

You Betta Sing!

Paul and Silas were delivered when they were INSIDE the jail. While they were there, they sang praises unto the Lord.

Shadrach, Meschch, and Abendego were protected when they were INSIDE the fiery furnace.  Their hearts sang, Lord, you will deliver us, if it is in your will.

David was delivered from the wrath of Saul when he was INSIDE the cave.  He was a hard-core psalmist!

Lord, please help me learn what I need to learn. Let your lessons become part of me.

Lord, now, put a song in my heart and on my lips.

Deliver me from this place and as you will, I will be better, not bitter with a praise on my lips!

#YouBetterSing

#TheCagedBirdSingsBecauseSheKnowsSomething