Rising Above to Get a Clearer Picture

     Have you ever been in a sand storm before? If you have, you know that while inside the storm you cannot see anything.  You may even put your hand up right in front of your face and not be able to see it.  It is not until you get above the storm that you can see around you with clarity.  This was the introduction to a lesson on telescopes that I taught to my students during an astronomy unit.  As soon as I read it from the textbook, I immediately felt as though God had chosen that moment to speak to me.
      Whenever we are in a situation that is unpleasant to us, we can never see how it will end or the light at the end of the tunnel.  It is just like the saying "You can't see the forest for the trees".  We are too busy in our mess and looking at our mess that it is impossible to see the solution when so often it is right in front of us.  Similar to the Children of Israel who were so "stiffnecked" and grumbling in the wilderness, taking 40 years to complete a journey that was supposed to take only 40 days.
     Does this sound like you?  Are you currently in a situation that is so dusty and sandy that you can't see clearly in front of you?  Whenever this has happened, do not be consumed by your mess and blinded by the sand that so thickly prohibits your vision.  You must listen to God, for he wants to elevate you above your situation.  Once you look up and rise above your current, temporary position then can you see clearly where God is trying to move you.  So what does this mean?  I want to encourage you to let God elevate you in the midst of your trials.  Just when your thoughts are overcrowded with your current condition and all the hell that's going on around you, rise above it all and look to God.  Then will you be able to see clearly and get to a place of peace and understanding where you can follow God and He will lead you where He wants you to go.


Praying Blessings Upon You All,

Pretty Divine

In Everything Give Thanks!!!

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5: 18)

     Tis the season to be thankful, but do we really need a holiday to tell the Lord thanks and express our sincere gratitude for not only all the wonder things He has done for us but just for the great God He is??!!  Just tonight I was in the vanity across the hallway from my nephew's bedroom. His mom was getting him ready for bed and he was saying his prayers.  As I listened to him pray, I noticed that his prayer was simply giving thanks! My six year old nephew prayed a continuous prayer of thanksgiving!!!  The only thing my nephew asked the Lord for was a good night's rest and protection from hurt, harm, and danger.  And this was at the end of the prayer after he had given God thanks for everything else!  It amazed me how we as adults, myself included, can pray and just ask God for things the entire time, with a lot of what we ask for being temporal things as opposed to things of the spirit.  We ask for jobs, money, a husband, a new car; all things that cannot go with us at the end of this journey called life!  What we should be doing is thinking on the goodness of Jesus and constantly thanking Him for what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do in our lives.  My nephew really embodied the essence of the scripture presented in 1Thessalonians 5:18 by literally giving thanks for everything.  He thanked the Lord for our house, everything in his room, his parents, and their ability to have the money to buy him toys.  I could feel the sincerity of his prayer and thought I should be more like him and take the time to thank God for EVERYTHING!  That is what God wants us to do; give thanks for everything!!!
     So during this season, while you are with friends and family or maybe even alone for the holidays, take the time to do God's will for your life and thank Him for everything.  Nothing is too small for which to be thankful.


Praying Blessings Upon You All,

Pretty Divine

Yes I Will Trust You Lord!!!

     Summer 2008 was the best and worst summer of my life.  I had the best job I'd ever had as a Zoo Camp Counselor and was about to embark upon my senior year in college.  But then, in the very first week of June, God called my step-father home to be with Him and what a shock it was to us all.  Family, church, community; everyone grieved the loss of this great preacher, husband, and father who left behind his wife of almost nine years, my mother.  To say the least, this was a difficult time for my family with the sudden loss of someone so special.  We didn't know where to turn except to each other.  During this time, my role in my family changed from me being the spoiled youngest child, to the nurturer and protector of my mom.  I found strength in God and was able to strengthen and encourage my mom during what was probably the worst season of her life.
     In preparation for the funeral my brother and I decided to do a tribute in the form of a song.  We sang Donnie McClurkin's "I'll Trust You Lord".  To me it was more of a way to minister and comfort my mom when she needed it most.  This song is a series of questions that make you think of how no matter what occurs in your life, one must trust God.  Even though we found ourselves angry and confused, we had to give the situation to God and honor Him with our trust, knowing that God doesn't make any mistakes.
     What does this mean to you?  Are you grieving over the loss of a loved one?  Are you searching for that career to set you up for the future?  Are you coming out of a bad situation and feel like all hope is gone?  Don't worry, don't fret! Your blessing you'll get, if you wait on it! He'll do it, just for you!!!  Just place whatever your current trial or tribulation in God's hands and say "Yes I Will Trust You Lord!"

Praying Blessings Upon You All,

Pretty Divine

It's the God in Me!!!

     I am one who is trying to do better at self evaluating.  I want to be all that God has created me to be, and throughout that process I am striving to evaluate myself daily.  Not only on my job, but at home, with family, and even while spending time with friends.  Not all of my feedback about myself to myself is good and I am always finding things to change and perfect.  Ultimately I want to grow as a person and be a Virtuous Woman who possesses the Fruits of the Spirit, and is endowed with the very Essence of who God and Jesus are!  That being said, I have noticed a change in myself that has really affected most areas in my life.  Being that it is a positive change, I am overjoyed about its presence in the aforementioned aspects of my life!  Upon recently, I have noticed a positive and worry-free attitude about myself (concerning my job and where I am at this point in life) and I can only attribute it to one thing; The God in Me!!! Every morning I wake up thanking God for all that He has done and all that He is and then I ask to Him or actually claim victory over my day.  When people, or even I, ask myself about this change and positivity, I know that it is not me, myself, but the God in me.  It is almost as if it is beyond my control and even when I want to have a negative outlook or think about where I'd rather be and what I'd rather be doing, the God in me steps in and takes over!! And I am thankful for that.
     If you're in a situation that is not typical of how you pictured your life, but as you're in that situation, you and others around you notice that you have a calm; worry-free demeanor; just attribute it to the God in You!!

Praying Blessings Upon You,

Pretty Divine

Hates sin, but Loves the sinner

     I don't know about anyone else but when I try to do good, evil is always present.  And when I succumb to the devices of the enemy I always feel horrible and immediately repent.  I know that no sin is greater than the other but it is hard for me as a human to equalize the wrong I do when I feel that some sins have a greater weight than others.  Not excusing our sin by any means but the Word says in Romans 5:8 " But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

     Now who wouldn't serve a God that loves you so much, that he would lay down his life for a friend!  God hates sin, but loves you and I so much that in the midst of our sin against Him, He still loved us enough to die on the cross for us.  We just have to love him enough to abhor evil sin and flee from it to his arms.  It is not enough to just honor God with lip service although he abides in the praises of His people.  We need to honor Him through outward, observable service in order to reach others to motivate them to do the same.  

     There is nothing more to say but "Go, and sin no more." (John 8:11)  Know that God loves you, walk in authority, and when evil is present step boldly and claim, "I shall not fall for there is One who loves me so much that He died for my sins!"

Praying Blessings Upon You All,

Pretty Divine

Peace

Isaiah 26: 3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

     Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were just merely existing and not living?  You know the vision you have for your life and are sure that God's purpose for your life is bigger than where you are, but you feel stuck and don't know how to get out of where you are and get to where you want to be.  Well I have definitely been there, and though I am not yet where I want to be, I have learned to focus on the positive instead of the negative.  It was not easy and this peace and understanding came from going on a 30 day fast.
     My present career is okay for now, but it's not in a field in which I wish to continue.  I constantly feel as though I am doing it for other people and getting no satisfaction from it for myself.  During the time I was feeling at my worst, my focus was on the negative aspects of my job and how bad I wanted to be somewhere else.  I was not at peace at work and constantly frustrated at home.  I immediately knew something had to change and decided to go on a fast.  This fast was entitled "Look Not At The Situation But to Him".  During this fast I spent 30 days in constant prayer and communication with God and also refrained from watching YouTube (which was taking attention away from God) and I only drank water. My goal was to focus on Jesus, who could change my situation, instead of looking at the situation itself.  I also kept a sort of journal and wrote "letters to God" nightly.  During this fast, I was also seeking an answer on whether or not to renew my contract at work.  With everyday during my fast, things got better and so did my attitude toward my job.  I am not saying that all was perfect but I just received a peace that allowed me to be able to feel better knowing that this was not my problem to solve but the Lord's.
     The date that my fast ended fell on a date that I would be out of town, but in a place where I always seemed to hear a direct word from the Lord.  I was at church that sunday and the preacher invited people to the alter for prayer.  I stepped to the alter and began to pray to God asking for an answer but also that it be His will and not my own.  The Lord spoke through the preacher of the church and told me that I could not fix the situation but needed to release it to Him and allow him to take care of it.  I was so grateful for that confirmation and immediately knew I had to take a step back and stop trying to fix the situation myself.  Ever since that day at church, God has still been keeping me in perfect peace and I continue to keep my mind focused on him and not the situation of my career.
    Going through this situation, I can tell that it is only the Lord that has been keeping me as peaceful as I am.  In all that I do and all that I go through, I will continue to keep my mind stayed on Him and trust in Him to keep me in perfect peace.  If you are going through a situation where it seems as though there is no peace around,  take a second to reflect on what has your attention.  Give it to God, trust Him, and he will keep you in perfect peace.

Praying Blessings Upon You All,

Pretty Divine

Patience: Wait on the Lord

Psalm 27: 14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

     Patience, I believe is one thing most people struggle with.  MYSELF INCLUDED.  Waiting for something can be extremely difficult especially when you want it right then.  At times I feel as though everyone else is getting so much out of life and doing what it is they really desire to do.  I find myself feeling as if their life is moving ahead and leaving me behind.  It makes me wonder: When is this going to happen to me?  When will I be able to do what it is I really want to do?  When will God manifest my purpose to me and allow me to begin to live it out?  I then have to step back and say to myself that I cannot understand how God works but must know that He's working everything out in my favor.  When I pray, I always say Lord, I don't want to move or walk ahead of you.  I want to stay right with You and do things in Your time and behind You so can lead and guide me.  This is where trust and faith come into play.  You must trust God and have faith in Him to be patient while He prepares His promises for you.  It is not easy when you know what you want and feel as though you can do whatever it takes to get to that point.  Just know that God's timing is always better!  Seek the Lord for direction and timing and follow Him.  You don't want to get ahead and have to look back at God.

Prayer

     Have you ever felt like things were going well and you were almost completely happy in your life?  Then has it seemed as if things took a turn for the worst and everything around you was not going well.  You find yourself in a hostile mood and reacting to events in such a way that is uncharacteristic of yourself?  When going through a situation such as this, take the time to examine your life and determine what you were doing when you felt happy and then what you weren't doing when things were not going well.  When I find myself in such a predicament, I always notice that when I was praying and in constant communication with God, all was going well.  Then when I began to pray less frequently and not give God his time, there was an immediate difference.  Sound familiar?  I want to bring to your attention and give you notice that God wants to communicate with us.  I can always tell a big difference in my life from when I am consistently praying and talking to God and when I am not.  It is amazing how that one thing can give you such a peace in your life that makes everything alright.  I of course am not perfect, as stated before, but I do try to pray every morning when I get up, throughout my day, and once again before I go to bed.  I realize that I cannot make it in life on my own, nor does God want me to feel like I have to.  He is here for you and I and we must do our part by staying in constant connection and conversation with Him!  Trust me, you WILL see a difference.

1 Thessalonians 5: 17 "Pray without ceasing"

Praying Blessings Upon You,

Pretty Divine

Product Review

       So, today I was on YouTube.  I frequent this site for natural hair videos, styles, and tutorials.  This particular time I came across a product review and immediately had an idea to do a product review on my blog.  I, however, will NOT be featuring a product for beauty or vanity reasons!  Today's product will be on a MAN who can set the captive free, bring healing to the wounded, and comfort to the hurt.  I am talking about JESUS!  I have been "using" this product for quite some time now and HE has NEVER failed me yet!  This product is easily accessible and always there when I need Him. I have had one-on-one experiences with Him and must say that HE IS Real.  If you are looking for a product that is there when no one else is, try Jesus!  If you want a product that will hear and answer your prayers, try Jesus.  If you are looking for a product to lead you and give your life direction, try Jesus!  This product has 100% satisfaction guaranteed and a wonderful reward/benefits package.  I, myself plan to continue "using" this product and keep a full supply with me at all times.  Please, if you are reading this, try Jesus and let me know your results.  If you already "use" this "product", just continue and I'm sure you'll be just as pleased as I am!

Praying Blessings Upon You,

Pretty Devine

Michele's Minute Message: Wisdom

       In my journey through the Bible, I am currently in the book of Job.  A couple of nights ago I read chapter 28 where it speaks about wisdom.  This particular passage of scripture really stuck with me.  In this scripture, Job is having a discourse on wisdom and trying to define it.  Throughout the chapter, Job is explaining how valuable wisdom is.  He goes about listing items that in no way could compare to wisdom; gold, pearls, not even rubies.  He further continues to say, "Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.  Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears." (Job 28: 20- 22)  Basically, this scripture is saying that wisdom is of God and cannot be measured by man's standards nor compared or equalled to anything.  It ends with verse 28 saying, " And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, IS wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." In reading this, I am led to believe that God wants us to seek out wisdom and in doing so, we will see the Lord.  Upon finding wisdom we must then depart from evil to receive understanding.  In order to have a relationship with God we must seek after Him.  It is then that we will receive wisdom and in so doing, turn from evil to receive understanding.

Praying Blessings Upon You,

Pretty Divine

Michele's Minute Message: The Notion to Create this Blog!!

       So I have never been one to like being put in a box with a label.  All through life I have been labeled with one title or another, but no one title truly speaks to the person I am.  I am a person of many interests and cannot see myself doing only one thing (as far as careers go) for the rest of my life.  By profession, I am a teacher but that does not define the person I am.  I am constantly seeking new adventures to embark upon, such as the recent accomplishments of becoming a certified scuba diver and a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor.  

       Over the summer I spent a lot of time thinking of what else I could do, not only for personal gain but to help and enrich the lives of others.  I knew I wanted to start a blog but was scared at first and never really knew how to go about getting it set up.  So I just put it off, but the idea would constantly come into my mind.  So I asked God, is this really something I need to do?  I wanted to do it for Him and others that may be inspired by it, not for personal gain.

       During the Labor Day Weekend, I spent time with my sister and on that Sunday, I attended church with her.  I try to always go to church already in prayer and expecting to hear from God, and this particular morning was no different.  The preacher's sermon came from the scripture of James 4: 13-17, where James was calling out the people who make plans for tomorrow as if tomorrow is guaranteed to them.  James compares our life to a vapor that appears for only a little while and then vanishes away.  What I like about this scripture is that not only does it highlight where we as humans are wrong, but it also gives us directions on how to do the right thing.  James says in verse 15 "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."  So we must move away from putting things off and saying it can wait until tomorrow.  Are we that arrogant to think tomorrow is promised to us?  Rather we should say, if it be the Lord's will, I will do this tomorrow.  But why wait when it can be done today?

       This topic of scripture ends with my point, James 4: 17 " Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin."  This scripture is simply speaking of obedience.  Whether given directions from a parent, mentor, teacher, or stranger on the street we must do the right thing.  Even with seeing something wrong and doing nothing about it, this same scripture applies.  So when I heard this, I immediately thought about this blog.  It had been an idea that was laid on my heart months ago and I had yet to do something about it.  I was continuously waiting and putting it off as if I was guaranteed the future to actually start it.  I did not want to be disobedient to God by knowing what I was to do and still not doing it.  So here I am with this Christian Lifestyle Inspiration blog today.

       Is there something you know you should be doing but have not been obedient to do yet?  Is God calling you to make a move, but you constantly put it off for tomorrow?  Make the choice to do good today, because are you sure you will see tomorrow? 

Welcome to Michele's Minute Message by Pretty Divine

       Hello and welcome to Michele's Minute Message by Pretty Divine!  This blog was created to be a Christian Lifestyle Inspiration.  Here you will find spiritual refreshers, discussion topics, and thoughts to keep you motivated throughout your Christian Journey.  Publishing blog posts is a first for me and I just decided to put my thoughts and experiences out there to possibly help someone else.
       To tell you a little bit about myself, my name is Michele and in researching its meaning I find the words, "Like Unto The Lord".  By no means am I perfect but I am trying to live a life that is pleasing to God and embodies the meaning of my name.  I also chose the display name "Pretty Divine" for those same reasons.  Pretty, as an adjective means attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful or handsome.  Divine, as an adjective means of, from, or like God.
     One thing I am currently focusing on is reading the Bible in its entirety.  I feel that as Christians we must not only be readers of God's Word but also doers.  I will post frequent updates on my progression through the Bible as well as thoughts and ideas that occur during my reading.
       I hope something I've said has drawn you closer to my blog but more importantly, closer to God Almighty!

Praying Blessings Upon You,

Pretty Divine