Loss For Words

My friends, I pray all is well. I have been so busy with work and enjoying my private life. Nevertheless, I must not neglect to write my blogs. God is still the ruler of my life!

Let me ask you, have you ever been in a situation where someone says something to you and you were at a loss for words? Well, that happens to me every now and then when I do not have on the full armor of God and then I feel stupid. Well, as I was studying one of Ken Hemphill's devotionals titled, "We Can", Mr. Hemphill made three important points in this particular lesson in regards to being at a loss for words. He said that there is a way for us to answer the critic, but we must be very confident in doing so. Okay, so how do we answer the critic without being at a loss for words? Mr. Hemphill says:
1)First, we must receive it; that is, study diligently and ask God for direction and understanding of the Word;
2)We must appropriate it; that is, our willingness to obey;
3)We must delight in it; that is, we must feast on the Word daily, morning, noon and night.

When we study God's Word, we must study with a purpose, we must study truthfully and then we must ask God for understanding of what we have read. As we keep on studying the Word, we will find that when someone says something that may catch us off guard, we can hit them with the Word because God gives us a spirit of boldness, not timidity. When we are grounded in the Word, God gives us the ability to answer the critic lovingly and cheerfully, leaving them no choice but to leave us alone.

My friends, I encourage you to get in the Word, study daily, study with an open mind, study diligently, but most importantly pray before you read and pray after you read
the Word asking God for clarity.

Be blessed,
Therese from Belize

My Life Re-written

My friends, I pray all is well with you. God has been good to me and I thank Him for every blessing He has bestowed upon me and my family!

I recall my Pastor, Rev. Dr. Felix G. Williams, III saying that favor is not fair. Guess what? He is right, favor is not fair. Favor is blessing God gives us even when we do not deserve it. I thank God for favor. Rev. Jamal Bryant prophesied, once the anointing of God comes in my life, no one can separate me from the love of God. Rev. Bryant said it does not matter who likes me or who does not like me, because I have the love of God. And because I have the love of God, He has re-written my life, He has given me a new slate to start all over. My friends, God has re-written my life, He has re-written all the bad and has turned them into good. Now, look at me, look at my life and all that God has done for me. All I want to do is shout about it! All I want to do is dance about it! All I want to do is sing about it! All I want to do is keep praising God! Rev. Bryant said that when we praise God, He will change us, He will reorder our steps. Glory.

My favorite apostle, Paul, tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. In other words, my friends, when we confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness and ask Him to come into our lives, He wipes our slates clean, no matter what we have done or with whom we have done, whether sins of commission or sins of omission. I am a living witness that God can clean us up so good ands fresh when we submit to His will. I was once lost, but I am now saved by God's good grace and I am eternally grateful. God has surely re-written my life and I know if He did it for me, He will do the same for you. Be obedient to His will and submit to the Lord. Your life will be re-written and you will see how God will just use you to do good, you will see how much easier and happier life will be when you are cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. It is easy as a-b-c to get your life re-written; all you have to do is accept, believe and confess. To God be the glory.

Ta ta,
Therese from Belize

Claim It, In The Name Of Jesus!

To God be the glory, for His name is worthy to be praised!

My friends, I had declared on the 1st of January,2010 that this will be my year and my family's year. I believe because I am speaking life into it and I have faith that God will make it happen for us. I have already claimed victory in the name of Jesus. When we have vision, it stretches our faith because we have to wait on the Lord to do His thing. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Rev. Williams said that faith is not only spoke, but it is actually doing something. He said that when your situation talks to you, you have to holla back at it. Speak to your life, speak to your pessimism, speak to your negativity; speak to your brokeness; just speak life!

When we claim something or someone in the name of the Jesus, God hears our cry. God promises us over and over that when we call on His name, He will supply ALL our needs! Claim it, my friends, whatever it is, whatever you desire, claim it in the name of Jesus. There is power in the blood, power in blood of our Lord. I encourage you to begin claiming back your life, begin to claim back your husband, begin to claim in the name of Jesus that your finances will be released; claim it in the name of Jesus. Claim it, claim it, claim it. Look at me, I already claimed claimed victory, I claimed my life, my prosperity, my finances, I claimed everything in the name of Jesus.

God bless you and I pray that instead of worrying, you will begin to claim that thing or person.

Ta ta,
Therese from Belize

Beauty From Within

Greetings, my friends!

I give all the glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I just thank God for making me a beautiful person, beautiful on the outside, but most importantly beautiful on the inside. People often tell me what a kind person I am, what a humble spirit I have. My response has always been the same, it is natural beauty because God has given it to me--it is called favor. We do not all have God's favor of having beauty on the inside. Some of us are so very beautiful on the outside, the side that man sees, but the inside is rotten stink, the side that God cares about. I tell you the truth, I thank God for giving me beauty on the inside. I am not the most beautiful woman, but that is okay with me because what is important is that I have a clean heart that is pleasing unto the Lord.

In 1 Peter 3:2-4, Peter advised wives, "It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful." "No", Peter said, "your beauty should come from within you-the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God." (New Century Version) My friends, let us not get caught up on the outside appearance--how good someone looks, how "foine" that person looks. Looks are deceiving and we must be careful to not fall prey.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord had told Samuel, "...God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart." (New Century Version) Let us fix our hearts, let us get the inside of us clean, so that we can have a gentle and quiet spirit, which pleases the Lord. I pray that God create in me a clean heart and renew my spirit because I thrive for a beautiful inside. If you agree with me, you pray the same, "Lord, please create in me a clean heart and renew my spirit." You know, I can remember my grandmother used to always say to me, "it does not matter how ugly you are on the outside, if you have a heart of gold, it will shine so bright that the heart is what gets noticed." I pray that when people see me they do not judge me by my outward appearance, but by what I have on the inside, that is, a gentle and meek spirit.

God bless.

Ta ta,
Therese from Belize

HELP WANTED: In Need of Paul

God's name is worthy to be praised! I thank God for a new day, a new beginning. As I take on my new role in directing my church's Youth For Christ Ministry, reality has set in...I am in need of a "Paul" in my life.

Rev. Angela Lee Price made me step back and evaluate myself in directing my church's youth ministry. She told me that it seems I am still committed to women's ministry, and I have not fully embraced the youth ministry aspect of my life. I contemplated what she told me and I tell you, she is totally right. I know God has anointed this area of my life and I must be obedient to His will and stay on course. Since I am new in this aspect of ministry, I have begun to start reading articles and look at various youth ministry websites. I came across a very interesting article. The article was titled, The Graying of the American Youth Worker, by David Olshine, Co-founder of Youth Ministry Coaches and Director of Youth Ministries, Columbia International University, Columbia, South Carolina.

Mr. Olshine, in his article, made several great points to help youth ministry workers. However, the point in his article that really resonated with me was his point on refocusing and re-energizing. Mr. Olshine's first point on refocusing and re-energizing is for me to find a Paul, for me be a Timothy. He said that there are few youth workers in their late 30s and 40s who have older mentors. In his article, he stated that we must find an older, wise person to walk with us. My friends, I just love it when God confirms what I need to do and how I need to do it. Thank you Lord.

As you know, I have written so much on Paul because I just love him, I see myself like Paul. God had to blind me in order to make me see the light. I work hard to carry out God's will, that is, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to any and every one. So, those of you who know me well, know I am not a quitter. I have not quit at anything I have set out to do, so I am not giving up on youth ministry, but I do need a mentor, I need support, I need encouragement, I need a Paul. I will finish this race that I have set out to run. I am a survivor, I have never given up and I will not let Satan get in the way of my doing God's work in youth ministry. Mr. Olshine said Paul was a true survivor. And like Paul, I will keep pressing on and keep holding on to my faith in Christ. In Paul's second letter to his protege, Timothy, he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7, N.C.V.)

Please continue to pray for me as I set out to do God's will in youth ministry. Please pray for me that I will fight the good fight and will finish the race, while keeping the faith.

God bless.

Ta ta,
Therese from Belize

BE REAL, Ralph S. Marston, Jr.

My friends, I write today with such humility because the devil has been trying everything to get me discouraged in my work with youth ministry. Today, has been a difficult day because I began to feel discouraged, but my Lord told me to keep moving forward. After I prayed for courage to continue my work with the ministry, I looked at a motivational note that I have posted on my wall in my office from Ralph S. Marston, Jr., titled "BE REAL".
Mr. Marston wrote:
"The world will often discourage you from giving love. Give love anyway.
Many times, despite your best efforts, you will not be understood. Keep giving it your best anyway.
The treasures in life are not what you get back. Those things are only shadows of life’s true value.
The real treasures are what you are able to give yourself.
And as long as you give authentically, from the heart, with the best you have, it doesn't really matter what comes of it.
It’s nice to be acknowledged and respected and understood.
Yet even when you’re not acknowledged or understood, there is still great value in doing what you know is right, what you know is best.
Smile a peaceful smile to the depth of your being. Be real, and know that all is well."


It is just amazing how time and time again the Lord sends something or someone my way to give me that message; His answer to what I need to do or where I need to go. I will not let the devil tamper with my service to the Lord. The devil is a liar and I detest liars. I stand on the promises of my Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me "Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (N.I.V.) I just give God all the praise because He has my back time and time again. My friends, do not ever, ever let the devil try to let you give up on something that God has ordained. Just keep praising God, surround yourself with "real" people, and keep on stepping.

I give God all the praise and glory, because He is the same yesterday, today, and always! My friends, I will keep moving forward as the Lord has directed me to do. I pray you will pick up yourself too and keep moving forward. Please pray for me and I will pray for you.

God bless,
Therese from Belize

Stop Living In Dreamland

Greetings, my friends! To God be the glory!

I had a conversation today with the Lord because something has been weighing heavily on my mind. My friends, I have been wondering why it is that grown folk choose to live in "dreamland". My own, personal definition of "dreamland" is an imaginary place grown folk "park" so as to enjoy the what-if (not having faith), instead of the when (having faith). To realize one's dream, a person must first and foremost, let God lead the way. Proverbs 16:1 says, "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." (N.I.V.) In other words, the dream, the plan must be from God; it must have God's stamp of approval. Next, when you have the dream or the plan, ordained by God, you must be focused; dedicated and willing and able to put in hard work. I can guarantee you that if you do not let God direct your path, direct your dream and stay focused on that dream or that vision, you will be exactly where you are; that is, in dreamland. What makes me irritated is when grown folk talk about the "ifs". If I only had money, if I only knew the right people; if I only had a computer, if, if, if. As I had told you some time previously, a man of faith says "when", while the unfaithful says "if". See, what these false dreamers and visionaries do not realize is that we serve a God who provides all our needs, we just need to ask, in the name of Jesus. When we ask, in the name of Jesus, the money will come, the right people will be sent our way, doors will be opened.

My friends, stop living in dreamland, you are only fooling yourself, not others. I implore you to let God direct your plans and they will succeed. When God directs my plans, they succeed, no need for me to live a life that is not pleasing to the Lord, a life of "wanna be"; a life of "if". The author of the Book of Proverbs had encouraged me in Chapter 16, verse 3 to "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." He also warned me, in the same chapter at verse 9, that "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (N.I.V.) I encourage you to submit your plans to the Lord. Dream big dreams, yes, but ask the Lord to direct those dreams. Remember, if it is His will, those dreams will come through no matter what anyone says. Get back in the driving mode, pull yourself out of "park" and submit your plans to the Lord.

God bless,
Therese from Belize


PRAYER REQUEST:
Please stay in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. May God give them all the resources they need, may families be comforted with words of wisdom ad encouragement.