Refresh 2018

For many years I have placed God in my hand as if He were a yo-yo ... playing with my life. Allowing God to come near when I wanted to be entertained by His thoughts, His words, His vision and throwing Him far away from my grasp when I wanted to run from His thoughts, His words, His vision.

In January 2007, God gave me a vision called Jewels, Inc., in which He told me it would be a mentoring organization that touches the lives of His daughters. He shared with me that this organization would be bigger than me, bigger than the campus in which it was founded (Howard University), bigger than the city in which I lived (Washington DC), bigger than the United States ... it would touch the world! I said NOPE, but immediately turned around and said YES!

In January 2015, God led me to create a women's ministry called brunch & Bible, to bring His Beauties to the table to be fed in the natural (brunch) and in the Spirit (Bible). I had a number of friends that were living trying to figure out how to do this thing called life and have full joy and happiness when on a daily we were trying not to cuss out everybody and their mama.

I wanted nothing to do with these God led projects. I ran from them year after year. Why because I did not think that I was good enough. I did not think that I was qualified. I was ashamed that it took me 10 years to graduate from college. I was full of FEAR that God didn't really know what He was doing when He called my name to lead these organizations.

My flesh skated through the foundation of these organizations, but the Holy Spirit trumped my flesh and His Foundation still stands on both Jewels, Inc., and brunch & Bible! There is no way that I could ever take credit for what He founded.

In November 2017, brunch & Bible co-Founded the Women's Empowerment Summit in Madison, WI! During this Summit I delivered a message called, "Build-A-Beauty" and it was all about Breaking the Brokenness that I had been living with. I suffered over 13 years of depression since the age of 19 when my father passed away, not to mention the insecurities I had in High School even as a popular prom queen and cheerleader.

Days after the Summit, God delivered a message to me telling me that the theme for brunch & Bible in 2018 will be to "Refresh" (theme scripture focus: Joel 2:18-32, The Land Refreshed). God is calling us to Refresh our minds, bodies, souls and spirit. He is tired of us being the victim, when He has given us every ounce of power that we need to succeed and live out our potential. We were born with a seed of purpose.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Our family portrait above is such a blessing! It represents my past hurts and pain and the blessings that God has given me even through the years I choose to suffer through depression, most lovingly it shows my future.

Our son that is in my womb is a testimony to God's love and blessing over my life, my family and my marriage! For almost 6 years my husband and I have prayed for a baby boy, God kept blessing us with these beautiful baby girls .... during the years of creating and birthing our daughters we had some of the most challenging years of our marriage. I swear we were going to divorce once a quarter for the first 5 years of our marriage. Most recently, this photo represents how spiritual warfare is so real.

What I didn't realize is that in 2016 when God was "Breaking Brokenness" (I have a whole brunch & Bible, Bible study on this) in my life ... He was also working on my husband and then when we both fully submitted to our Father, God blessed our marriage. We spent a year learning one another while keeping God in the center of our marriage. We used to argue about anything because we did not understand what it meant to have a Kingdom marriage.

On January 1, 2018, my husband and I were head to head in disagreements....I was thinking man, this is not what God showed me in 2018 for us, we haven't had any issues like this in forever long. I ended up crying out loud to God that night (while eating my favorite ice cream Hagaan Daz Dolce De Leche -- preggo woes) asking Him, "What is my purpose in Madison? Why am I here? What does God want from me?" He confirmed what I already knew.

January 2, 2018, God's presence was so heavy on my spirit and He started me down a vision trail of what is next to come for me and my families life. I shared God's vision with my Husband and that was the seed that we needed to begin the confirmation process in our marriage to Refresh us for the year.

January 3, 2018, our family took this family portrait, that I did not think was going to happen just a couple days prior. But because we shared God with one another the day before ... God started to Refresh our attitudes for our marriage and our family.

January 6, 2018, our entire family spent our Saturday night at a Revival at our church. This was the very first time myself AND my husband spoke in the spirit! (I will be sharing more of this in future post). This was the most amazing experience I have ever experienced ... like EVER!!!!

I will be making more and more blog post reflecting my life and my relationship with Christ ... why? because GOD TOLD ME TO!

"Refresh" Blog Take Away:

1. You have everything you need inside of you to live your best life, the life God has purposed for you.

2. Depression and Anxiety does not belong in your body. You have to go against this in the spirit. It is up to us to always remember that we are not to worry about anything. The scripture that initiated my intimate relationship with Christ at the age of 17 is Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" You must always remember that you are God's chosen treasure, He will never leave nor abandon you.

3. This is the season to Refresh your life. Whatever it is that has been holding you back, has no place in your 2018! God is alive. He is with you. His spirit is upon you. Open your hearts and your mouths and receive your King. Yahweh is waiting on you to be in obedience to His will. Submit and say yes!