LIFE IS A GAME OF SPADES!

Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 - This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you LIFE and death, blessings and curses.  NOW CHOOSE LIFE, SO THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN MAY LIVE. And that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your LIFE, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The minute we became old enough to make choices, is when life dealt us a hand called spades. In that hand, we had the clubs to get our groove on and or to hit each other over the head with, hearts to take us where ever we desired to go with our emotions, whether it is to manipulate or transform each other; diamonds to gloat, splurge, or whatever our hearts desired, and spades to dig up whatever we needed to dig up about each other to gain leverage, or knock each other out of positions (loss of life).

So the game of spades is played with a team; it is designed to gain the best hand to beat the opponents. If you are a spade player, you know it is easy to manipulate your hand in a way that causes others to re-evaluate whether or not they will be able to make the books they called out to their partners. So it is with life! There are laws to begin with, that causes us to re-evaluate or make decisions that will change our lives, sometimes for the rest of our lives. Each decision we make in our lives will determine our tomorrow.

Now lets go back to the game. One team has a trump hand; meaning one that will dominate their opponents bid, and will possibly set them backward. If the team with the trump hand says they have a yard (10 books), there are only 13 books in a deck of cards; then their opponents are not able to make 4 books, because it will mean they have set the trump team backwards. If the trump team make a bad decision, they could possibly lose that hand. So it is with life. When we make decisions in life, we make them based on what we have. If we are on top, we believe we can sustain with the decisions we've made until the unforeseen happens. If we are on the bottom, we believe we have no hope, but we make due with what we have. If you are team player with hope, it doesn't matter what your hand looks like, you can play it to the best of your ability, and get a VICTORY!

Lets say, in this case, the trump team made all their books. They have set their opponents. They are now on top, while the other team is in the negative. There is joy in winning and being on top, but while there, you must be wise, and never gloat. The team on the bottom may turn the game around with one winning hand to put them back in the game. Thereafter, they may be consistently dealt a bad hand, but if they remain focused, and positive, it is a possibility that hand will bring them victory. Spades is a game of strategy, knowing how many cards there are, paying attention to the cards played, and knowing what is left. When you know what you are working with, it is easy to make valid decisions and good choices. You see, a bad hand is not always a bad hand. It's only bad when you make a bad decision and bad choices. If its played right, you can set your opponent, not even having a Boston hand. Its knowing what to do with what you got when you get it. The bible says in Matthew 25:21, since you were trustworthy with the small things, then I can make you a ruler over much.

Now the team that thought they had a Boston hand, has been set backwards by the team with a considerably bad hand. Whooooaa, know we got em'! Life has sucked them in to its defeated world. Know they are arguing and pointing fingers at each other.  Will they finish the game or give up? And so, this is the question when life knocks us around in the statuses we may hold weather up or down, winning or losing. I Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good confession before many witness.

We can beat the odds of life, though we can not change how the world is, we can change who we are, how we think, how we react to things, how we view things, etc. The game of life is designed to knock us off our square. Its not setup for us to win, but to lose. We put ourselves in a mindset of illusion, where things appear to be normal, real, and true; but in reality, what we thought was truth, was a lie. Life deals us all different kinds of hands, some are winning hands, while others are losing hands; so it may seem. It is not about whether it is one or the other, but what we do with it when we are dealt it, makes the difference. The decisions we make today will always affect our tomorrow. Sit down and analyze your life, where have you succeeded, where have you failed? Don't beat yourself up about where you failed, nor do you gloat about your success. Enjoy life! Learn from your experiences. Share what you've learned. Don't be selfish or jealous, but encourage others to beat the odds of life through wisdom and knowledge. God has given us both wisdom and knowledge, spiritually and naturally; we can not fail nor falter, if we follow His GAME OF LIFE! IF YOU DON'T..........

GAME OVER!!!!!!!!

John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the Lord is a fountain of LIFE, turning a person from the snares of death.

Desperate for Change!

As a woman who has come from a dysfunctional family growing up, I thought I would be a statistic. I tried so hard to recognize my anger, frustrations, and bitterness, so I would not get caught up in the system. I guess I did well, because I have never been arrested. I most certainly can not take the credit for it, as I know God had a big hand in keeping me. I went through so much in my time of growth that I thought I would get caught up in drugs, alcohol, immorality, homosexuality, and any crime you could imagine. I had no fear, I felt no guilt, just numb. I should have probably been killed or raped; as I use to walk the streets in the middle of the night when my anger got the best of me. I was ready to wreak havoc on anyone that jumped out at me professing to be tough. I believed I could take them on; that is, if they had no weapon.

I drank alcohol, and smoked marijuana often. I partied like a rock-star; while raising 3 small children alone. Approximately 8 years tops, in the streets with no care of life. I didn't pay my bills appropriately, my credit was a mess; I jumped from job to job, almost dependent upon state benefits, experienced 2 evictions, and 2 accounts in the shelter with my children. I had a low self esteem, no respect for myself, an certainly didn't love myself. I dated men who loved domestic violence, and smoked cigarettes to calm depression and stress. I dressed sexy, but did not want anyone to treat me like a whore or slut. I had no clue I was promoting my body, nor did I realize my attitude and the way I carried myself screamed TROUBLE~

I can remember the day I got tired of all the hype, confusion, and disrespect. I wanted to be a lady. The desire for change was very strong and I had no mentor, or anyone to encourage me to do better. I couldn't trust that anyone would help me without wanting something in return, or if they would help me without judging me. Out of no where, my mother called to let me know an old girlfriend from High School called. It was a friend whom I had a strong bond with, and could trust with all my secrets. My mom number was the same for several years; I was 27 years old when that call had come through. Long story short, the friend was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost and she led me down a path I had never been before. Don't get me wrong, when I was very young, I went to church with my grandmother; Baptist that is. I just never seemed to understand why I was there.

Within that same year; at age 27, I found myself making choices I had never made before. I stepped into my friends church and never walked out. I learned about who God was, and why we should serve him. I learned what Godly characteristics were, and why it was important to love and forgive self and others. I stopped going out drastically, drinking and the desire to drink stopped, smoking stopped; my attire changed, the way I raised my children changed. I received the power of the Holy Ghost one year later, March 15, 1998 to be exact. I saw a change not only within myself, but, within my children as well. People I use to hang with left my side. I felt lonely, but happy that I had finally changed!

Moral of the story is; God is the only way to true change, He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). God knows us better than we know ourselves (Romans 8:27-37); when he called, I answered. I could feel him tugging at my soul, I gave in to him, and embraced his love that were all over me....so overwhelming. I was immediately baptized, and from then on, I have been a servant. You too can make a change. Over the years, I have done nothing but excel in my walk with him. Its been a hard walk but I am in it to win it! Try Jesus for yourselves.

Changed woman

The Spirit of Abigail!

Abigail was a woman of courage, a woman who believed in doing the right thing. Nevertheless, she was married to a man opposite her ethical beliefs. She loved him despite his differences. Many would say she was out of line for the assistance she provided to David, but her husband was very irrational to David's request, and she understood what was about to happen to her family. Abigail, by faith, and out of her nurturing spirit, did what she had to do to protect her loved ones. Read it for yourself: 1 Samuel 25.

Now the bible does not say she loved God or if she served him, but she exemplified characteristics of a Godly woman. She did not disrespect her husband, she was protecting her husband. She had her families back. I believe, Abigail saw the need, she understood the consequence, and she trusted God to assist her in the plight to do the right thing; and it was a success. Even if she was not trusting God, she had hope, and it paid off. In the light of things, Nabel, her husband, thought he really scared David off or intimidated him, when all the while, his wife stepped out on faith to build a hedge of protection over her family. When Nabel found out the truth, it vexed him so that his heart failed him. 

As women of God, we are to love our husbands no matter what; as God has given him to us until death (Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:4, 1 Corinthians 7:3). It does not mean we become slaves to them, or accept physical abuse; but, we are to honor, protect, and trust God for direction while in it. The truth is, regardless of the reason we married the man, it is our duty, as a woman of God, to act, speak, and think as a woman of integrity, and of God; in and out of his (husband) presence. Abigail was not trying to flirt, gain brownie points, or any such thing, she was in protection mode, while still loving and respecting herself and her husband. This is a perfect example of a woman who understood her position and operated not in deceit, but in compassion, concern, and love for her family. 

The fact that Abigail's husband was so evil, as the bible considered him, she could have spoken against him, and set him up to be killed so she could be free. Yet, she approached David and his servants with gifts in humility, to ask for forgiveness, and hope that they will change their minds in harming her loved ones. AMAZING!!!!! 

This has taught me how to love pass myself and love whom I have chosen, whether in the will of God or out of his will. We must remember how to forgive and love, for it is our greatest ingredient to our growth period. In conclusion, Nabal, Abigail's husband, killed himself with his own deceitfulness, after he learned it was not him who cause David to step back, but his wife. God will take care of our husbands in his time, if we as wives and women of God choose Him over our emotions. I am a witness of this. Go to God with all that is burdening your heart. Your friends, family, nor anyone else, will be able to give you the right direction to go. ONLY GOD CAN!!!!! Build yourselves up on the word of God and follow it without doubt, for in it, is true happiness and peace!

Esther 1:20 - And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

Proverbs 12:4 - A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 21:19 - [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

1 Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

Philippians 4:5 - Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.

Give your Man Child to God!

Hannah - 1 Samuel 1

Hannah was unable to have children, however, she did not give up on God. She prayed until something happened. Hannah made a covenant with God to give her child back to him once born. God in his own time allowed Hannah to be with-child. Hannah kept her promise to God, took her man child to a priest to be raised under the leadership of God; however, she too was a constant influence in his life. The man child's name was Samuel, who was one of the most influential & Godly men in the bible.

I, raised my children as a single mom. 1 girl and 2 boys. Who said we can not do it alone? Well some of us has proven society wrong. I agree it is hard raising boys alone; however, if there is a relationship with God, the right people will be placed in their path to assist along the way. If not, God will show us (women) how to raise them, and how not to raise them. Although I was not barren like Hannah, nor did I have the assistance that Hannah had; my men child had my constant Godly influence, which shaped their lives all the way into adulthood.

Raising my boys was hard, but God always made a way. I was a tomboy, so that helped in many ways. When God converted me into living the characteristics of a full blown woman, raising my boys seemed harder. I still enjoyed sports with them, but I did not know how to reach them when they got older and had man problems. In some areas I succeeded, while in others I failed. The moral of this story is, we can never take the place of what man can do with a man child, but through Christ, we can do all things. Give your man child to God, and watch the changes in his life.

In giving my boys to God, they have faced many challenges; because still today, they love God! Despite those challenges, they have always found their way back to Godly principles and relationship with God! Its their life long sustenance. Both of my boys are influential; try talking with them about the word of God 

                                 and you will see.                                         #APROUDMOMOF2MANCHILDS!

GOOD OR EVIL.......HATE OR LOVE

(2 Corinthians 4:3-4)The world is blind! It has been for decades. Its even more blind today than yesterday. We have inflicted undue pain on one another because we have been separated from God. There is only two sides to life; Hatred or Love. We hate each other so much that we are looking at each other as the enemy when the enemy has taken over within...its a spirit that looks like us to make us fight one another til death; for he (the devil) is DEATH! When we love (absent from God) in our humanity, we exemplify HATE especially when it is not reciprocated the way we believe it should be. For example: We result to murder with our words, our hands, and our looks (attitudes).(James 4). WHO ARE WE WORKING FOR? the enemy???!!!! Lets be real. IS THIS TRUE LOVE? SOME SAY "YES" OK. God loved us so much that he allowed his son to be murdered for our sin. hmmmmmm....sounds like a different kind of love to me. You see Jesus died so that we may have life and have it more abundantly, while humanity is living to die by the hands of another. NO ONE IS DYING FOR THE TRUE CAUSE, WHICH IS TO SAVE A LIFE! We are dying because of hatred, selfishness, jealousy, wrongful intentions, etc.

Our (humanity) has to battle the world by putting on a new set of war clothes to be protected from this harmful world. You see we all have defense mechanisms that drive our enemies away. With it, we derive a new name for ourselves, one that reminds people of how we defend ourselves from our perpetrators. Further, if we are the type that don't have the power to fight ourselves, we get into clicks (somewhat gang related), actual gangs and so forth to be protected. This is the worlds clothes.

If you put on the whole armor of Christ (Ephesians 6:11), we don't have to live by the sword and die by the sword ( Matthew 26:52). Ephesians 6:12 says we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against wicked spirits in high places; ones that take on human form. BUT, if we follow the INSTRUCTIONS OF GOD in Ephesians 6: 13-18, we can DEFEAT the real enemy of EVIL/HATE.

GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:7-10): We are to love, not hate, encourage, not tear down, be cordial, not sow discord. When we as a people, can face our faults, except the repercussions, learn from it, apologize (repent), and move forward, we have then experienced the characteristics of God. Who gave any of us the right to Judge one another, or to act as if we are above, and others are beneath us. Love is recognizing we are imperfect, and in need of help! Understanding that we all have come through the womb of our mothers in sin (Psalms 51:5), that we all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We will always be in a constant need of a changed life/lifestyle, as well as have our lives reshaped. Let's help one another succeed without bias, jealousy, or envy. Allow Only God to do the Judging; for he judges us righteously! (James 4:12).

GALATIANS 5:19-21, BAD/HATE - Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these:

•  Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
•  idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, 
• wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, 
• drunkenness, revellings, 

and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

GALATIANS 5:22-26, GOOD/LOVE - But the fruit of the Spirit is:

•  love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
•  faith, meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

STOP THE VIOLENCE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER & LETS FIGHT THE REAL ENEMY!