Giving Thanks Day!!

What I am thankful for...

God
My family
My friends
Poetry
Being a youth mentor
Being able to smile even when life throws a curve ball
The professional opportunities I have experienced
My health
My outlook on life
My determination
My ability to give myself a break (sometimes you just need to take pause in life)
The blessing that I woke up this morning
The joy in learning new things every single day
Those moments when I learn more about myself
Embracing those seasons in my life when life goes so fast like a train and then those seasons when life goes slow and maybe a complete halt, like a stop sign. Those moments in my life are when I've grown the most and my faith is strengthened.

love, peace & courage

What have you been called to be?

Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. Jeremiah 32: 17

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"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." - Langston Hughes

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Q. What is a Spiritual Gift?

A. A Spiritual Gift is a special characteristic given by the Holy Spirit to every member of the body of Christ.

Q. Why should we discover our Spiritual Gifts?

A.

·        Spiritual Gifts help in finding God's will in our life

·        Spiritual Job Description

·        Appropriate commitment to Ministry

·        Helps overcome feelings of weakness

Bible passages with the list of spiritual gifts: (Please read these as we will discuss these in more detail)

     ·        Romans 12:3-9

·        Ephesians 4:11-12

·        I Cor. 12: 1-31

·        I Peter 4: 10-11

·        I Cor. 14: 1-40

More questions that I will answer next time:

How do I discover my Spiritual Gift?

What should I do once I know my gift?

If you have any questions about Spiritual Gifts, please ask and I will do my best to answer them.

keep dreaming

not alone

 

This is what I learned from God this month:

 

1)     He loves me more than I could ever humanly imagine.

2)    Sometimes He wants me to be totally alone so that He can talk to me, one on one. (ie. He takes out any distractions in my life.)

3)    He will bring people into my life that will help me fulfill the purpose He has given me. His timing is perfect and I no longer question it.

4)    The more I learn about God, the more I learn about myself.

 

Young Adult Section: Blaze

 Sometimes your friends and family may not understand you and your faith. Keep on keeping on. God is with you. You are not alone.

 

My Prayer 

 Lord, I thank you for today. Lord, thank you for each person that has received this email. Lord, thank you for giving me this assignment to share with others. Lord, sometimes in life we feel alone. We feel like we are breathing, but not living and everything gets dull. Lord help us to live the rich life that you have planned for each of us. We love you so much Lord. Thank you for always being there.

In Jesus name, Amen.

 

love, peace, and courage

 

good enough for me

 This past month has really been eye opening for me. God has blessed me in so many ways. He revealed a lot of things to me as well and I learned a valuable lesson. What did I learn? I learned that God’s timing is good enough for me. This month I gave God total control over many things and when I did, He showed me that I didn’t need to help Him…. with anything. I’m Praising God for allowing me to learn this precious lesson. Yes God, your timing, your wisdom, is good enough for me.

 

Young Adult Section: Blaze

 My young friends, what is God asking you to wait for? Please trust Him to bless you when the timing it right.

 

My Prayer 

Lord, thank you for another day of life. Thank you for another chance today to tell you thank you, another day to ask for forgiveness, another day to learn a lesson, another day to learn more about you Lord, another day to love others. Lord, Father, my friend, thank you  for sacrificing your life, for me. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

love, peace, and courage

 

giants

I looked up the word giant and came across the following definitions:

a. A person or thing of great size.

b. A person or thing of extraordinary power, significance, or importance

God showed me so much about giants when I was at school. He showed me, they only have great power when I give them the power. Right before leaving school, I made a promise to myself not to give any giant that comes my way any power. It takes a lot of prayer and a lot of trust in God. I still have to work on things from time to time, but every step of the way I’m asking God to keep me focused on Him and the plans He has for my life. Will giants come? Yes? We don’t have to give them any power though.

Young Adult Section: Blaze

In this world, you are told how to dress, talk, where to go to school, if you are cool or not. The list goes on and on. When you look at the mirror, would you say you reflect the world? Or God?

My Prayer 

Lord, thank you for another day of life. Thank you for the blessings you give us when we don’t deserve them. Thank you for forgiving us day after day. Thank you for being our Savior as well as our friend. Thank you for our families and our friends. Thank you for everything that you have done for us. In your loving name, Jesus. Amen.

love, peace, and courage

Time

I’m writing you on the last Friday of school and a day before graduation. The last month of school has been full…completely full. It has been so full to the point where I asked God, “Lord, how will I have time to do everything that I need to do?”

This last month our Pastor and a LIFE alumnus co-preached an evangelism series. Four nights a week, the students, our Pastor, and Staff, heading to our sister church to share the gospel. Mind you, we still had class, homework, tests, book reports, visitations, etc.

This past month we learned about Health Evangelism and did a Health Expo at a local Wal-Mart. We learned about Faith and Works, Preaching, How to hold an Evangelism Series and we ended with a class on the Sanctuary. Our last assignment was preaching a 10 minute sermon. It’s funny, I was so nervous at first, but after awhile I really enjoyed it!

This last month, I asked God to give me the time to do everything that was expected of me. This last month has not been easy for me at all or for my classmates. We were tired, stressed, some of us were sick, we were excited about learning all these new treasures, and deeply convicted by what we learned as well. We had to sit back and think about our lives and what changes God was asking us to make. I was so inspired by my classmates, because as we are so different, we are all sincerely here at LIFE for a reason. We all seek to know God more and share Him with others. We encouraged each other every step of the way and we have become a family. I’m also thankful for my family and friends, all the people who read my emails, and all those who donated to my education. They have all made my experience at LIFE something I will never forget. I’m so grateful to know that so many people are praying for me. The key thing I learned this month from God was, what was important to me and how I spend my time.

Please continue to keep my classmates and I in prayer as some of us are still waiting for God to lead us to our next assignment. Most of us will be traveling to our destinations this Sunday, please keep us all in your prayers.

Young Adult Section: Blaze

Two things: No matter how busy you are, please always place God first in your life. Never think you are too small, to do something so big.

My Prayer 

Lord, thank you for another day of life. Lord, for some of us this month has been so busy. We didn’t know if we would be able to find the time to get everything done. Sadly Lord, we didn’t always put you first. God I’m asking today that we use our time wisely and that we place you first, always. Forgive us Father for the things that don’t please you. Thank you Lord, for all of your blessings. Thank you for one more day that we can know you more.  

In your loving name, Jesus. Amen.

love, peace, and courage

seeking

I don’t have much to say this month loved ones. I just want to share with you this simple thought. Seek God. Seek Him for wisdom, for healing, for your finances, for your marriage or if you are dating. Seek Him when you need to make decisions about your future. Seek Him when you struggle with a certain sin. When you seek Him, you will find Him.

Updates with School:

School is full of book reports, memorizing scriptures, studying the Bible, door to door outreach, visitations, and our Evangelism Series. Within two weeks we studied the Book of Daniel verse by verse and the book of Revelation, verse by verse. I will never see those two books the same again. The Bible is so much more alive to me since coming to school. This last week we had a Health and Nutrition class and we learned some delicious vegan recipes! In the morning we learned the recipes and cooked them and then in the evening we demonstrated our recipes during a Health Seminar. Please continue to keep me and my classmates in prayer. Graduation is May 4, 2013 and we still have some more classes to go! God is not finished teaching us yet!

 Young Adult Section: Blaze

 My young friends! I have one favor to ask of you, seek God with your entire being.

 

My Prayer 

 Lord, thank you for another day of life. Lord, thank you for your love and patience with us. Please forgive us for our sins. Lord, we come to you today desiring to seek your Spirit to dwell within us. Lord, we need you in our life. Help us Lord to draw closer to you this day.

In your faithful name, Jesus. Amen.

 love, peace, and courage

 

hiding place

In life we get so busy with work, children, church duties, school, our relationships, or whatever those things that have our constant attention. There comes a time when we long to have one moment of silence, one moment to slow down and breathe. I experienced this lack of slowness this past week. I prayed and asked God to give me the time to spend in my hiding place. He answered my prayer. I felt so revived afterward. I praise God for my hiding place.

Updates with School:

So far I have learned how to give Bible Studies for over 20 subjects matters found in the Bible. For example, Prayer, What happens after death, Salvation, and Health. Also, they have taught us how to do door to door ministry such as canvassing and how to ask people if they are interested in Bible Studies. This past week we learned about Communication, What is a Disciple?, and how to reach missing members. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as God is presenting His Word to me in a new way. The thing I love the most about school so far is that our text book is the Bible. We study every day. I’m so humbled that God has allowed me this opportunity to grow closer to Him and my prayer is to share what I know with others.

Young Adult Section: Blaze

My dear youth! Whatever you do in life, do it for the glory of God. If you are not sure what you gifts and talents are, please speak with an advisor at school or an Adult that you admire and you would like to mentor you. They can help you to get on the right path to living the life God would have you to live. Of course pray and pray and pray. He will answer your prayers.

My Prayer 

Lord, thank you for another day of life. Lord, thank you for my family and friends. Lord help us to be more like you, so that when others see us, they want to know you more. Lord, forgive us of our sins. Lord please give us your wisdom so that we live as you would have us to. In your name Jesus. Amen.

love, peace, and courage

comfort zone

Welcome to my blog, trains & stop signs. The title came from me thinking about how in life we have these moments when God will ask us to move and then sometimes He will ask us to stop. The thing is…will we listen and obey what He tells us to do?  In my blog I hope to share with you my perspective about the trains & stop signs in life and how God is entwined in everything that involves us.

According to the Online Merriam-Webster Dictionary “comfortable” means the following: enjoying contentment and security, enjoying physical comfort, free from vexation or doubt, free from stress or tension.

The last few months I have had a steady routine and now God is telling me it’s time for my comfort level to change. Tomorrow I will be in a new city, new state; I will be a student again. All I know is, God planned for me to attend Bible School in Florida, this year. I don’t question it at all, because I know I’m on my “train” I’m going somewhere, to a place that GOD wants me to go. Life is again taking me somewhere and Bible School is my destination.

Young Adult Section: Blaze

This section is called Blaze because I want to have a section for my youth and young adults about how to live a life that glorifies God. My young friends, all I have for you this month is…Be yourself. Please don’t allow this world to tell you who you are suppose to be. If you don’t know who you are, ask GOD and no one else.

My Prayer 

Lord, thank you for another day of life. Thank you for another day to forgive, to grow, to love, to laugh, and to learn from you. Lord, it’s the beginning of a new year and many of us are thinking of ways we want this year to be different than the 2012. Lord, I’m asking that we listen and obey you more this year. I’m asking that we all get to know you more this year. I’m asking that we not think about 2012 at all, my prayer is that we look ahead and know that you are with us every step we take, even if we have to take those steps with shaking legs. Give us courage this year Lord, to do the things you have asked us to. In your name, Jesus. Amen.

love, peace, and courage