Designer's Original

I'm so bless and honored to have Jesus on my side as my Advocate. God knows that we are not perfect. He knows in some form or another we will sin everyday. But because our heavenly Father loves us so much, He appointed Jesus as our defense attorney to plead our case. In addition to being an Advocate, Jesus is also our Helper, Counselor (Lawyer), Intercessor through and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:1-2 reminds me of a Helen Baylor's song, "If It Had, Not, Been For The Lord, On My Side Where Would I Be?, Where Would I Be?..... He Never Left Me All Alone He Gave Me Peace And Joy I've Never Known He Answered When I Knelt To Him In Prayer And In Victory The Lord Brought Me This Way, So... If It Had, Not, Been For The Lord, On My Side Where Would I Be?, Where Would I Be?....." I don't think I even want to begin to imagine my life without Jesus in it!! Do you? Not only has God appointed Jesus as our Advocate, but...

Have you ever wanted to pray, but wasn't quite sure what to pray for? Well, if you are ever loss for words, you can always pray the word of God. You can't ever go wrong with praying God's word. One of the prayers I like to read as well as pray from the Bible is Apostle Paul's prayer for spiritual growth in Ephesians 3:14-21. It reads.... "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, the   He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell     in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.   Now to Him who is able to do e...

Sometimes we have the tendency to fear the unknown. When you are in a midst of distress or despair, it's naturally to fear the worst at first. However, you must be careful not to wallow in it. This is where you should not feed into your fear, but into your faith. One of the many reasons why I love the book of Psalms is that you can get a clear sense of his heartfelt relationship with God. David was in trouble so many times. Nonetheless, he knew His God, our God, will bring him out. Psalm 138 is a psalm written by David about "The Lord's Goodness to the Faithful." Verses seven and eight are my favorite. It says, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands." David knew that God will stretch out H...

    Welcome to Wisdom Word Wednesday!! For a quick review, our theme scripture for this week is, "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing," (Psalms 100:1-2). I love the last part of this scripture ...."Come before His presence with singing." The Contemporary English Version says, "Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord!" To read more bible translations for Psalms 100:1-2, click here. The reason I love the last part of this scripture is because it expresses one of the ways to enter in God's presence, which is through singing. And, boy, do I love to sing. It's the best of both worlds. I love to get into God's presence; And I love to sing! Now, how about that!!  For Wisdom Word Wednesday, we should be wise to SING to God every chance we get. "But, Toia, I cannot carry a tune in a bucket, if my life depended on it." I...

It's Manic Monday!!  This week our themed scripture is Isaiah 55:11, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void , But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper   in the thing  for which I sent it." We are going to look at two words:   VOID and PROSPER. Dictionary.com defines void as useless; ineffectual; vain, without contents; empty . God's word is 100% opposite from all of that. His word is not useless, ineffectual, and definitely not empty. God's holy word is full of life and purpose. And whatever God says it is, then that's what it will be. There is power in God's word. Amen and Amen. Prosper is the completele opposite of void. Just as void is to emptiness; prosper is to fulfillment. Prosper means to make progress, succeed, and to be profitable. God's word never fails . When you delight in God's Word, you "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That br...

My Dearest Heavenly Father, I speak to you the same words that David spoke to you, which are so true. I praise You for deliverance. Lord, You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me...I will call upon You, Oh Lord, because You are worthy to be praised; I know that when I am feeling down or in distress, I can call upon You and cry my heart out to You, Oh God. And You will hear my voice and incline Your ears to my prayer. Show me Your ways Father; And teach me how to keep them. I know in due time you will reward me according to my righteousness. Oh Lord, You are my lamp. You enlighten all the dark areas of life; So that I can shine and reflect Your glory. I will follow You. Your way is perfect. Your word is proven; And You are a shield to all who trust in You. Father, I thank you in the name of Jesus for being my Rock, my St...

My Dearest Heavenly Father, I praise and give You all the glory. I thank You for being the head of my life. You are the Alpha and Omega of everything. You are my Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and my Everlasting Father. And I need You, O God. I need You to teach me. Lord, please teach me how to cast all my cares, anxieties, and all my worries upon You and just let them go. Teach me how to pray more and worry less. I know sometimes I tend to let my anxieties get the best of me; And for that I repent and ask You to forgive me. From this day forward, I am going to take heed of Philippians 4:6-7 and " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, I will let my requests be made known to You; and Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus." Thank You Lord for setting me free. Thank You for taking away my anxieties. And if at anytime I feel myself worryi...

For this Wisdom Word Wednesday, we are going to look at Proverbs 16:1-9. When I read this, I was taken aback. It's straight to the point all meat and no milk. It was just what I needed to read. I pray that this passage is a blessing to you as it is for me. Proverbs 16:1-9 (msg) Everything with a Place and a Purpose 1 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. 2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good. 3 Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place. 4 God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included—but for judgment. 5 God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place. 6 Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil. 7 When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand. 8 Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich. 9 ...

Have you ever found yourself in a middle of a situation where do you not know if you are coming or going? And the more you try to "fix the problem" yourself, the worst it gets. Many times you probably searched and searched for a solution, but was not quite sure what you need or want. You can't exactly put your finger on it. However, you will know the very minute you come across it. (So, you think.) Does this sound familiar? It does for me. Needless to say, once every thing is basically said and done (especially after I do more harm than good) I end up realizing that Jesus was all I needed from the beginning. And He is all I need now. "When we are in a situation where Jesus is all we have, we soon discover He is all we really need." ~ Gigi Graham Tchividjian It's a matter of letting go of the problem, giving it completely to Him, and letting God work it out for the good. No matter what you may go through in life, God will take ...

"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8). because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.  The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.           (1 Peter 1:24-25) The word of God lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:24-25). Storms pass. Leaves wilt. Problems come and go. Things happen. People change. Rollercoasters go up, down, and around. But, the one thing that will remain constant and forever true is God's word. It won't fade. It won't fail you. It's always there especially when you need it the most. Lord, teach me how to trust and stand on your word for it endures and stands forever. Amen.

"For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:30) How often do we find ourselves taking on more than we can carry?? If you are like me, probably more often than you can count on one hand. God wants us to allow Him to carry all of our heavy burdens. This past month or so since my last post, I had a lot on my plate. I had to plan and prepare for the first day of preschool, where I am the assistant director, register my three children for school, paying facts and fees, buying school supplies, school clothes, and make transportation arrangements. All the while I had to maintain my sanity. It was tough no doubt. Many times I felt overwhelmed. I was worrying about how much it was going to cost to get my three children ready for school. In addition to that, I was questioning my position as assistant director. So, it was a lot of emotions going on inside of me and all kinds of crazy thoughts running through my head. However, when I was able to come to mysel...

AT THAT time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4) To be or not be humble? That is the question. However, to be humble is the right answer. Many people might think humble is a sign of weakness. I am here to tell you that is simply not true. According to the bible, humility is a great thing, especially if that's your ticket to heaven. Dictionary.com defines humble as: 1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful. 2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, e...

There are people in this world who tend to behave a certain way; That is not exactly what I would call of Godly characteristics. There are even people who are just down-right mean, nasty, evil, and spiteful. The crazy (and yet sad) thing about is that all of us have at least one family member or know someone who behaves in an ungodly manner. They are always the one who causes drama or turn a happy get-together into a not-so happy one. Many people who operate in such a way will try to push the boundaries just to see how far they can go and how much they can get away with. Sometimes you may even wonder how someone can have the audacity to say and do whatever they want to people without any remorse or an ounce of conviction. It's simple: Sin = ungodly characteristics (works of the flesh) = bad behavior "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish amb...

The word of God has the power to discover or diagnosis our condition as well as treat it. Before a doctor prescribes or recommends any type of medication or treatment, he must examine you and take notes of all your symptons. After that, comes your diagnosis (your condition). After the doctor informs you of your condition, then it's time for the necessary treatment so you can begin to heal/recover. It's the same way with our spirits. Sometimes we may have a spiritual condition that may stunt our growth in Godliness. If you are spiritually under the weather, it is very hard to grow. Therefore, it's always great to get a spiritual check up every now and then. That's why it is so important to read, study, and meditate on God's Holy Word. It is His Word that tell us if we are truly living a Godly and sanctify life. If we are not living a Godly life, then "Houston we have a problem" that needs immediate attention. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest,...

"The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation). And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity]." (Psalm 9:9-10) Amplified Version These scriptures really popped out at me. Knowing that I can confidently put my trust in the Lord, can definitely keep me steadfast in my faith. And He has never forsaken those who seek or inquire of Him. It's blessing to know that someone, who is able to the exceedingly, abundantly far above anything I can ask or think, has my back. Blessings, Peace, and Confidence to you!!! Toia

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:1-8) My prayer is that we continue to grow in Christ. That we bear fruit that is pleasing to God, whereas He can b...

"So I said, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, [And] remain in the wilderness. Selah I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.'" (Psalm 55:6-8) In this scripture, David would rather run away from his problem rather than stick around and fight. I'm sure a lot of us feel that way some (if not most) of the time. We would rather run away from or try as much as possible to avoid our problems. It's what I like to call the "Calgon Take Me Away" syndrome. Even though we can try, running away from our problems do not solve them. If anything, it can make matters worst. Rest assure when it comes to facing our problems, (sticking around to fight for a solution), you don't have to do it alone. Even though David's initial reaction is to fly away like a dove, he knew his confidence in God would allow him to face difficulties. "As for me, I will call upon God, And the ...

"For You [are] great, and do wondrous things; You alone [are] God." (Psalm 86:10) "He [is] your praise, and He [is] your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen." (Deut. 10:21) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us," (Eph. 2:4) Reading these scriptures (among many others), always tend to make me feel so good in my spirit. One thing for sure, my God (our God) is truly great. He is great beyond expectations. His love is great. His mercy is great. His faithfulness is great. He is the Great I am. No one can compare to God and all His greatness. This is something we can truly praise God for. If you need a lifting or encoragement in your spirit, think about how great God is and remember He can do the exceedingly, abundantly far above all we can ever ask or think according to the power that works in us. "They are new every morning; Great [is] Your faithfulness." (Lam...

"For the LORD [is] the great God, And the great King above all gods." (Psalm 95:3) "For the LORD your God [is] God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe." (Deut. 10:17) Myspace Thursday Comments

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." (Proverbs 16:3) Commit - [Hebrew-galal; #1556] - To roll, roll down, roll away, remove, roll your works in God care "Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed." (Proverbs 16:3) amplified When you roll over or commit your works to the Lord, they will succeed and come to realization. "Commit your work to the Lord and then your plans will succeed," (Proverbs 16:3;NLT). God wants us to succeed in everything we do as long as it give Him glory and edify His Kingdom. We cannot do anything without God's help, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the authority of Jesus' name. Also, we have to make sure our plans or works are God's will. However, there are so many times that we want to go on our own will and understanding. When that happens, nothing ...