SWADDLE ME LORD!!!!

Thought you would enjoy that!

As I'm sitting here preparing for my reading and becoming one with Him, I felt a restlessness that I know all too well.  But as I continued to praise Him and let Him take over, I felt a calm that only He can give me.  It reminded me of how I used to wrap my kids.  Back then I called it 'like a burrito', LOL.  Recently I realized I was swaddling.  Maybe I need to pray "Swaddle me Lord!!!"  throughout the day".  Never thought of that.  It's an awesome feeling when you're wrestling in prayer, trying to get past the flesh that wants to remind you that you... 'Didn't finish the dishes', 'Need to call this person', 'Isn't your show on?', 'What's that noise outside?', 'You didn't realize it but you have a pain in your body', 'You didn't worship enough', 'You didn't praise enough', YADA, YADA, YADA, YADA...and then...

~*~!!!BOOM!!!~*~

His peace takes over and it's like a judge banging a gavel!  Order in Karla's temple!! Order!!  LOL  It's awesome!!!  I want to have more of that.  I usually pray here and there throughout the day but I want to make sure that there's a solid block of time that I'm  really just concentrating on Him.  I want to tithe my time in prayer also.  Not driving, not cleaning, etc...Just me and Him.  This blog is helping me do that:) 

✿♥❀♥❁✿•* ¨✿❀❁•  STUDY TIME  ♥❁•*¨✿❀❁•*¨`*✿

The following is for my own accountability.  Those of you who wish to join me feel free.  You can never get enough spiritual food...ENJOY!!! This is the first year I'm reading the Word cover to cover.  If I can read a 500 page novel in a week, surely I can read my 2200 pg bible in 52 weeks!!   Daily reading schedule example:                  

1st of the month read:   

Proverbs 1, 

Psalms 1, 

Psalms 31, 

Psalms 61, 

Psalms 91, 

Psalms 121

~*Proverbs and Psalms read ENTIRELY by the end of each month*~

My yearly schedule is based on WWW.BibleGateWay.com

Before I begin my study I make sure my heart is right with prayer and worship.  

I ask Him to give me Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and Discernment.  

If He leads me somewhere else before I actually study...so be it...I want more of HIM

✿♥❀♥❁•* ¨ ✿❀❁•* ¨`*• . ✿❀❁•*¨ `*• .`✿♥❀♥❁♥✿

Proverbs 5.2 'That you may regard discretion, and that your lips may keep knowledge.' ***My study portion says: Wisdom and understanding are distinct, one from the other.  Understanding is the discrimination which recognizes Wisdom. A child, not having understanding, cannot discriminate between a glass ball and a diamond.

Diamond color is a primary quality factor along with the other 4Cs of Diamond Clarity, Diamond Carat Weight, and Diamond Cut.

So, to discern between the gaudy glass of folly...

and the simple beauty of wisdom...

*~*~***Understanding Is Everything***~*~*

PSALM 5

I pray that my first instinct is always to pray
no matter what

In the morning will I direct my prayer unto You and will
LOOK UP

I think one of the hardest things about being a Christian 

is learning how to take things to the alter...

AND LEAVE THEM THERE!!! Knowing that He heard us 

and His will, which is for our good, Will Be Done!!

Plead my cause, O LORD, with them who strive with Me:
fight against them who fight against Me

I pray for prosperity for the body of Christ physically, financially and spiritually.

O Thou Who hears prayer, unto You shall all flesh come, Psalms 65.2

It doesn't 

take me 

long after 

starting my 

blessing count 

that I wanna...

As the mountains surround Jerusalem

They who trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion,
which cannot be removed, but abides forever.

As of today I'm following the through the bible in a year plan with www.biblegateway.com.  Old and New Testament.  So I have some catchin up to do:

GENESIS 4 - What stands out for me was that although Cain knew God wanted a blood offering, he still tried to do it his way by offering fruit.  I know that when I give Him something different then what He asks of me, there will be some type of consequence.  Interestingly his people created the first musical instruments and also brass and iron (Gen 5.21-22)

GENESIS 5 - Have you ever heard the phrase '...old as Methuselah'?  Well you'll meet him in this chapter.  Lived to be 969.

GENESIS 6 - Although man became very wicked and giants roamed the land as a result of fallen angels mixing with humans, Noah found grace in God's eyes.  He walked with God.  He gave Noah detailed instructions for the Ark and established a covenant with him.

GENESIS 7 - I've always heard that Noah led the animals in the Ark 'two by two' but after reading Genesis 7.2, I have a different understanding: 'Of every clean beast you shall take to you by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.' Interesting!!

GENESIS 8 - I wonder why the raven didn't come back.

GENESIS 9 - All these vampire movies out today really bother me.  God was really specific about man not eating animal blood.  How much more human blood???  I respect the jewish cultures way of keeping their food kosher.  We'd probably be a healthier society if our S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) was kosher. No pun intended...the truth sets us free.  God gave us the rainbow for covenant, No More Global Floods.  I think Noah is the only person I know that could get drunk and remember what happened to him.  LOL (vs. 24)  Too bad he got drunk, may Canaan could have avoided being cursed.  God's will be done.

GENESIS 10 - Sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.  We learn about Nimrod the mighty hunter.  He founded Babylon and led rebellion against God.  We are given names of the sons of Japheth, Ham (father of Canaan and Cush [father of Nimrod]) and Shem.

GENESIS 11 - After the flood, the Lord wanted man to be scattered and multiply upon the earth, but man feared being scattered so they tried to band together and make a name for themselves through the Tower of Babel (vs 4) God confused their language, causing them to probably sound like they were babbling (Tower of Babel :) (Babel means confusion and is also the Hebrew name for Babylon) and scattered them around the earth like He originally intended.  We are given the generations of Shem ending with Abram who eventually becomes Abraham. In verse 27, after Lot's father died there was a migration from Ur of the Chaldees into Canaan land.  Sarai was barren.


GENESIS 12 - Abram at God's direction moved with his family to Canaan land.  He tells his wife to lie and say she's his sister out of fear of the Egyptians.  Pharaoh and his house were plagued because of Sarai and he called and confronted Abram.


GENESIS 13 - Abram returned back to the Alter to call on the Name of the Lord.  Lot chose land near Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abram remained in Canaan, tooked down his tent and built another alter.


GENESIS 14 - The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah found themselves in the middle of a battle with some foreign kings.  After hearing Lot was taken, Abram took 318 men with him to help.  NOW THAT'S AN ENTOURAGE!!!!  Then after, Abram paid the first 'tithes' recorded in the bible to Melchizedek, Priest of the Most Hight God. Also, the king of Sodom tried to tempt Abram with 'stuff'.  Abram declined cause he was a man of God.


GENESIS 15 - God told Abram he would have seed he could not number like the stars,  there was a blood covenant with 5 animals (5 is the number for grace).  "Unto your seed have I given this land"

STAY IN THE WORD

STAY BLESSED

STAY

Alone But Not Lonely ~ If It Had Not Been For The Lord On My Side

I've heard people in ministry say it many times, "Sometimes, you have to walk alone."  The more I want to get closer to God, the more that statement rings in my head.  Many times I wanna call someone and hang out, but when it comes down to it, I know we're 'Unequally Yoked'.  Being unequally yoked can be like yeast.  I don't want no yeast in my life unless I have a plan for baked goods :)


I cherish the fellowship I've found at my church home Destiny in Indio.  When I first walked through the doors I felt an energy that was contagious.  So many people smiling and GENUINELY happy I'm like, 'Yeah right!!'.  But it's been about 8 months since I first started attending and the smiles remain and mine has joined!  Thank you Lord for my new church home!

After reading Proverbs 4, I feel an urgency to always be wise.  Choose wisdom and understanding.  Pastor Obed mentioned in one of his teachings how important it is to take your time when making important decisions. Especially investments.  Many times people want to rush you and make you feel under the gun because they know you're more inclined to make hasty decisions.  But wisdom tells us to look at the whole matter.  How will this affect us 5 years from now, not just today.

I remember living in LA, on a 101st and Vermont, da hood.  Never felt scared.  And it had nothing to do with the iron bars on the windows.  I just always felt God's presence with me.  I thank You Lord for always letting Your presence be felt

✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿♥❀♥❁♥✿

I'M PURSUING PEACE TODAY

~PSALMS 64.8  So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all who who see them shall flee away.~  So much hurt in this world is caused by tongues.  I've gone most of my life listening to replays in my head of what someone said to me.  The fiery daggers of rejection, inadequacy and abandonment.  It wasn't til this year I finally realized what other people thought or said about me was none of my business.  But when you're working in an office for 9 hours a day with 17 other women, sometimes it's hard to remember those little slogans.  I thank God for filling my heart with songs.  Every time I would go to Him with my head down about something, not only did I leave His presence with my head up but often I leave with a new song, a melody and joy in my heart.  Our God is an AWESOME God!!!

I've battle depression and I'm a witness that the Word, 

especially the Psalms have power to bring you out of that dark cloud

God fights our battles...they're His anyway!!

HOW MUCH DO WE LOVE HIM?

As I read this Psalm, I smile thinking of this song my mom used to sing to me based on this particular Psalm.  "If it had... Not... Been... For the Lord.. ON MY SIDE.... Tell me where... Would I be...WHERE WOULD I BE???"  I bet if I called her right now she would happily sing it to me. LOL  No matter how much I think about my childhood with negative memories, I have to say I thank God my mom always had me in church.  The Word is ingrained in me and that's the BEST HERITAGE we could ever give our children.  Thank you mom!! XOXO

Oh Yes!!  Found mom's song!!!

STAY IN THE WORD

STAY BLESSED

STAY

I COULDA HADDA BABY!!!!

Well as of today I am 9 months clean and sober.  Without going into too much detail, let's just say that there was a time in my life where I decided to take the wheel from God.  And the rest is HIStory.  He had mercy on me and showed me a whole new way of living and showed me things about myself, strength, I didn't know I had.  His love for me is something I still don't quite understand but all I know is I don't ever want to doubt His abilities in my life again.  That scripture that talks about your life getting 7 times worse when you go back to your old ways... NO JOKE!!!

I'm making an effort to actually have my blogs post early in the day instead of the last minute.  So far so good huh:)

JESUS BE THE CENTER

I'm reminiscing a bit right now.  When I was at The ABC Club in Indio, a group of us started our own meditation group.  We read the Psalms and Proverbs everyday.  The peace in that group was off the chains. 8:30 every morning for like 5 months straight!!  I miss those guys!!! Shout out to Blue Eyed Brian, Matthew (Chapi), Geoff (with a 'G'), Keith, Melvina, Melinda, Terry, C.J., Pretty Tony... When we first started the group it was only like 4 of us.  It grew to about 20 over time.  And everyone was hungry for the Word.  We often played praise music.  We took turns praying in and out.  The presence of God was always felt.  We had other 'meditation' options.  We wanted GOD!!!  Not no new age crap!  I'm not sure who decorated the club but there are buddhas everywhere and I felt like there was some serious spiritual warfare going on.  People relapsing left and right.  I looked forward to starting my day with the Word and after all that time it has definitely become a must.

PROVERBS 3

This proverb is about obedience.  Not wavering in our faith.  When I got out the Navy in '92, it was a devastating time in my life.  But the Lord kept telling me that if I was faithful with little He would bless me with much.  I tithed on money people said I didn't have to.  But that's where my faith was.  I wanted to give.  I knew He would meet all my needs ~ Proverbs 3.9,10

PSALMS 3

There's been times when I found myself in hostile work environments.  The politics are so shrewed, the cliques are undeniable, ALL I COULD DO IS PRAY!!!  Some years ago, there were a certain group of women that loved to jab at me, like I was their comic relief.  What was worse was I pretty much acted like I didn't know what was going on cause I knew if I let my anger get the best of me...I wouldn't have a job.  I was pretty consistent at that time with my prayer and bible study.  Matter of fact I made it a habit to sing praise songs to myself throughout the day.  An interesting phenomenon began...the little clique that tried so hard to break me up...BROKE UP!!  I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I would hear them talking crap about each other.  I knew God broke that up:)  That's just one of many testimonies I have of God '...smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone.'  When He says PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES, it's for a reason.  Sometimes you wanna say Lord Have Mercy, cause He gets them back better than we ever could.  I start feeling sorry for them.  Sometimes He does things like that so you'll be a vessel to lead them to Him.  I've had people ask me about church and prayer and it blew my mind, but I was obedient and helped them as best I could.  Regardless of how they had treated me in the past.  I can bear that cross if it means one more soul in heaven.

PSALMS 33

Psalms 33.12  When I read that scripture, I can't help but think about how drastically things have changed since prayer was taken out of school.  I often hear those of my mom's generation say the most anyone got in trouble for was chewing gum.  Now...we wish that was all. But those of us who know God, KNOW that He can't be taken out of our hearts.  No matter where we are we have to let out lights shine!!  

PSALMS 63

When my flesh dreads reading the Word or praying...that's when I know I need to do it the most.  It never fails that He gives me some type of revelation or information or just plain PEACE.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in wordly things whether it be 'friends', family, internet, tv, music, etc and it just messes up our Godly vibe to the point where we're all lop sided.   As badly as our spirit wants God, the flesh has taken over.  Just like when we prefer junk food over healthy food.  So I'm being proactive and keeping myself in Him, constantly hungering and thirsting so I won't find myself having to ask for forgiveness every time I look around. 'My soul SHALL BE SATISFIED...' Psalms 63.5  '...but the mouths of them who speak lies SHALL BE STOPPED.' Psalms 63.11  ~~You gotta love those promises :)

...Mightier than the noise of many waters... I wonder what it was like to stand on the edge of the Red Sea as the Lord parted it.  Can you imagine walking down a hallway in between two HUGE aquariums? You see sharks, whales and all kinds of creatures swimming around and it feels like it's taking you forever to walk to the other side?  Now imagine the sound with the walls gone... An invisible wall in between you and some of the most awesome creatures God ever made.  You look up and you can't even tell where the wall stops.  I wonder if that happened in these days and times how many people would be going to the doctor for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome???  I'm sure the noise of it all was mighty...but God is MIGHTIER says the Word.

UNTO YOU OH LORD!!!!  HALLELUJAH!!

I think it's funny When people say, 

"I don't like reading the bible it puts me to sleep"  

I'm like, "That's the PEACE OF GOD!!!"

Ever play the 'Blame Game'?  Adam and Eve did.
"It was that woman you gave me"
"It was that serpent"
Funny stuff!!

This chapter reminds me that whenever I'm disobedient, I make myself vulnerable to the enemy.  I'm taking God's cover off of myself.  Sometimes I think spiritual death is worse than physical death.  Nothing worse than knowing what you HAD.

MATTHEW 3

Our savior was baptized by John the Baptist in this chapter.  Even though the Word vividly describes the after effects of Jesus' baptism; heavens opening up, the Spirit descending like a dove, I always thought water baptism was merely symbolic.  But on Oct 2, 2011 after getting baptized at Destiny, I had a supernatural experience.  The urge to smoke cigarettes left me instantly.  Right before I was baptized I asked the Lord to let His anointing break every yoke of bondage off of my life and He answered my prayer<3 

STAY IN THE WORD

STAY BLESSED

STAY

Feeding My Spirit ~ Starving My Flesh

My motivation to write is hiding somewhere.  But since it's only the 2nd day of the new year, it's too soon for me to get blog lazy.  I mean wasn't that the reason I started it 3 years ago...to get writing?  Ok, so here I am Anti Up and Kick In!!

At this point, the only thing I have to write about today is the Word.  That never gets boring.  I stayed true to my Word schedule today.  My schedule is listed below in the 'labels'.

PROVERBS 2

I love the promises of the bible.  You know that when God says SHALL...it's a rap.  Proverbs 2.10-17 caught my eye, 'When wisdom ENTERS YOUR HEART, and knowledge IS PLEASANT TO YOUR SOUL...'.

There's a promise in this scripture but I realize it comes with a condition.  The only way God's wisdom can enter my heart is for me to READ HIS WORD :)

PSALMS 2

There's no opposition in our lives that the Lord can't help us overcome but we have to ask, Psalms 2.8, and He SHALL!!!

PSALMS 32

Although we strive for perfection in our walk with Christ each day, I know that we won't be truly perfected until he comes back in the clouds.  But until then it's so nice to know that He has mercy and when I mess up, all I have to do is reach out to Him and be honest (He knows anyway:)  Psalm 32.2, 10

PSALMS 62

I dread those times in my life when I'm hit with 'something new'.  But looking back, those are the times when my faith grew and I was able to see my God, my Rock, my Fortress flex His muscles and show me He is always with me.  If it weren't for those trying times, how would our faith grow? Psalm 62.2, 6

TO FLOURISH OR TO DIE...

PSALMS 62

I love the palm trees in this valley.  As tall as they are their roots must run pretty deep.  That's what I'm talkin' bout. #ROOTED  Every time I drive past rows of beautiful palm trees I can't help but have a feeling of relief...knowing that only GOD can do that.  All life is a testimony to God's presence. As big and bad as man thinks he is, we have yet to CREATE anything.  Yes we can MAKE all kinds of stuff from what was already created.  High Five LORD!! The Almighty Creator.  So when I am told that I will flourish like a palm tree...It's all good Psalms 92.12

PSALMS 122

'I was glad when they said unto me'... has always been a familiar scripture to me, Psalms 122.1.  But as I digested this chapter a little more I noticed yet another promise;

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

They SHALL prosper

who love you

When's the last time you were prospered just because you prayed for someone?  LOL  Probably more than you realize.  Prosperity doesn't always have to mean money.  Many times I've seen my prosperity in 'favor with an enemy', or 'having peace when all around me is crazy', 'getting a parking spot right in front of Walmart' (Thank ya Jesus!!).  Yes, I always thank God for any and everything that makes my life a little bit easier, my load lighter, my stress...LESS.  So how are you prospering?  Count your blessings, your list is long!!!

STAY IN THE WORD

STAY BLESSED

STAY

Family, Friends and All The Laughs My Belly Could Take :)

Yep, that's how I ended 2011.  No wild parties.  No substances or relations that lead to regret...just good old fashion FUN:)

in Cathedral City on Perez St.

Me and my girl Tanisha took ALL OUR KIDS, LOL, and went ice skating!!  That's right, I got my skate on last night.

Alexandria and her Big Brother Dupree

At first I was like, "Lawd Jedus!!!"  Took some time balancing all this natural goodness, especially with my flatfeet :)

Kori, Me (oh so Godfident :) and Kiri

  All you Coachella Valley folks out there need to grab your kids and get your skate on.  

Alexandria and Caprice

It's only $8 including skate rental for two hours.  

My oldest Phillip Jabari, taking his Superman Swag Sweet Time

Two hours is plenty believe me.  A guaranteed good time.

This rink is HUGE!!!!

Isn't it Tanisha? :)

In addition to becoming more physically fit, I've decided this is the perfect time to read the bible from cover to cover.  If I can read 'The Help', which is 500 pgs, in 3 days, than surely I can read my 2221 pg bible in 52 weeks... "Come on somebody?!?" (as Pastor O would say :)

You know wassup!!!!

For the last couple of years I've been, inconsistently, following a Proverb and Psalm schedule as follows:

There's 31 Psalms so read what ever today's date is... then...

5 Psalms a day, today is the 1st, so read psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121 (just add 30)

By the end of the month I've read all the Proverbs(wisdom) and all the Psalm (praise and prayers)

Because of today's Proverb I know that as long as I obey him, not only is evil not a problem for me, but neither is the FEAR, which is a byproduct of evil. (Prov 1.33) Hallelujah!!!

Found out today in Psalms that as long as I delight in God's ways/laws/word...EVERYTHING I do will prosper.  It says SHALL people, that's a PROMISE :P (Psalms 1.3)  

The Strife of Tongues sounds like gossip and backbiting to me... Psalms 31.20 tells me He SHALL protect us from that too!! Woop!! Woop!!  

Since only our spirits have been reborn and not our flesh, come on somebody, there will be times when we are overwhelmed, but Psalms 61.2 reminds me that Jesus is our rock who is always HIGHER, so wherever we find ourselves in life, we have to call out to Him and HE SHALL take us higher.  I'M A WITNESS!!  

~^~NOISOME PESTILENCE~^~ sounds like something you wanna spray until the can runs out LOL, well it's as bad as it sounds and guess what... He's got us covered on that one too! (Psalms 91.3)   

My bible title's Psalms 121 'God's Sustaining Power '.  The thing that trips me out is, we can sit and think about God all day... and STILL not realize what a wonder He is all by Himself.  Every authority figure on this earth that we know of has to get some sleep.  The LORD... DOES NOT SLEEP... OR SLUMBER!!! Wrap your head around that one LOL :)  Enough said.  I love the Word.  It trully takes me out of my head, which can often be a dangerous place, and takes me so high that I'm looking for Jesus to TAKE ME NOW!!!!  LOL  But He always tells me, 'No not yet, you haven't finished your assignment'.  As long as He walks with me...I'm good♥

♥♥Feeding my spirit more than my flesh. ♥♥
I always read prayerfully
I want His interpretation... not mine
♥♥

I like the idea of reading Old and New Testament at the same time. 

Genesis 1 - I wanna be like the LORD in everything I do in 2012. I want to speak things into existence with the power in my tongue, than once I see it manifest, pronounce it good.  No more speaking death with doubt, fear, little faith. I'm digging deeper, becoming more #ROOTED, I want to see the fruit of 2012 cause I know it's going to be good!!  

Matthew 1- I've never really been good at history when it comes to genealogy, family trees and stuff like that.  But one thing I do understand about all the names is NO ONE can dispute JESUS!!!  Hallelujah!  It's like God was saying, 'Yeah you can miss me with all that Buddha and Muhammad stuff, Jesus was , is and is to come SO TAKE THAT!!!'  LOL  I love it:)  I wonder if Joseph knew Who the Holy Spirit was.  When the angel told him 'for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit', did he know Who the angel was talking about?  I wonder if there was a small part of him that was like, 'Holy who?'.

There will always be storms

chillin'

I'm looking for a picture... I can't remember where I saw it, but there's a HUGE raging storm.  Then there's a tree off to the side.  Then when you look very closely at the tree, you see a tiny bird dangling from a branch over the raging waters.  In the midst of this storm, this bird is chillin.  I'm that bird yall:) 

STAY IN THE WORD

STAY BLESSED

STAY

#ROOTED