It's Not About You!

Yesterday a friend asked me if I ever got discouraged and distraught because people did not always comment on my blog; especially when I post stuff that is personal or really serious. Funny he should ask me that yesterday-- the very day I got positive and encouraging affirmation from a friend about my blog.

My answer was, "No, not any more." To explain the whole story, when 'I' first started this blog, I did it because 'I' wanted to create a spiritual network online for some of my close girlfriends. And that was to be the extent of my network. But that is not what happened.

My girlfriends did not understand what 'I' had in mind, and they passed the link out through the vast world of email. I remember being very upset when I found out the close circle of girlfriends that I had envisioned, had gone on and shared the blog link with their girlfriends and they with their friends...some of those friends being men!!!! Now I did not know who all was reading my stuff, and I was feeling a little itchy about it.....not that had I put anything so personal out there that I wanted to retract, but I still wanted to control who was reading my thoughts online.

I was lamenting about this to my husband one day, and he looked at me real puzzled, and asked, Why are you trying to limit God? Why are you trying to limit your ministry? Evidently God is expanding your ministry to reach and help many more people than you know yourself." Ha! Then it was my turn to look puzzled. "Limit God? Ministry?"

Then it hit me. "Wow, Tish this is not about you!" I thought it was 'my idea' to start this blog, but I soon realized early on, nope, it was God's plan all along....to spread the gospel online and to encourage others in the faith.

This little blog has turned into a ministry that blesses people not just here in the tiny little state of Maryland, (like my little mind had envisioned) but God has blessed me with regular readers from different countries all around the world!! They must be getting blessed, because they keep coming back to read the blog! I have no idea who these people are, or how they were led by God to the blog, and I don't know why they don't comment but that is really is not of consequence to me. The mere fact that all these people are continuously reading and being blessed by the blog is indeed a blessing to me!

But I must admit in the early stages of this blog, a little more than a year ago, at one period when it seemed that no one was submitting comments, I allowed myself to fall in the ego trap of wondering why no one was commenting...essentially validating what I said and felt...and God had mercy on a sista and 'helped a sista out'. He sent other 'sistas and brothas' to me in person, precisely at the right time to encourage me concerning my blog.

That was the last time I ever needed that type of affirmation...and surprisingly God was right there to meet my need to encourage me to plod along with this blog. But then again, I should not have been surprised....God always knows what we need when we need it, and supplies our need. Since I know all things are from God, I was really blessed that He sent so many people my way to encourage me at that particular time in my life. And I still am blessed by that...the encouragement was so strong, and so profound, that I know it was of God, through God, and by God, just for me! Whew!

When I wrote my friend privately who commented on the blog yesterday, I thanked her adding, "I don't do it [the blog] for positive reinforcement from others, but it is always nice to hear that God IS using me/my blog to help others."

Believe me, it blesses me, it is absolutely wonderful to hear news of how the blog has ministered to someone, helped and encouraged them in their situation, actually clarified something about the Word for them, or even how it painted a more vivid picture of this awesome God we serve!

But as wonderful and humbling as those testimonies are, what really matters first and foremost to me, is that I follow the leading of the Spirit, and do as I am asked by God. If God leads me to continue to blog, I'll blog. If no one ever comments on my blog again, it is okay. God is reaching the people He wants to reach through me around the world and I am very honored to be His vessel.

It seems to me, the looking for and seeking of self validation and positive reinforcement at this point in my walk would take away from the validity of who I am in Christ, and take away from the aspect of this blog being all about Him. My positive affirmations of who I am, come directly to me from the Word of God. I believe that God is in control, that I live and move and have my being in Him, and that I am doing what He asked....and that is ALL that matters. After all, it is all about God. It's God's blog. \o/

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36

*Check out a snippet of Smokie Norful's "It's All About You" (referencing God of course!)

Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds...

Yes, God has it all under control....really....whether we believe it or not! And (I think) sometimes it is good that we don't believe, because when the whole scenario at hand finally plays itself out, then our eyes are opened to what God was doing all along that we could not see, and we get to knowingly experience God's omnipotence in the form of His unending and merciful love, peace, gentleness and justice for ourselves.

Only then does God gets all of the glory when we see the whole picture, or part of the picture of what He was doing in our lives! It is absolutely amaaaazing to me when I look back at various situations in my life, and see how the puzzle pieces fit together in how it was orchestrated, due to no contrived effort on my part. 'For in him we live and move and have our being...We are his offspring.' Acts 17:28

It is a shame that we usually don't have blind trusting faith in Him at all times, because scripture tells us 'Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29

This scripture applies to our faith concerning our whole lives...not just the application mentioned here in the book of John where it illustrates Thomas only believing because he saw with his own eyes Jesus in the flesh after He was raised from the dead.

This reminds me of a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman called,


"Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds."
It is on an awesome compilation worship CD called "My Utmost For His Highest," by several Christian recording artists. Click here to listen to a snippet.

Video courtesy of www.kyeshung.com and www.ynem.org

These are the places I was so sure I'd find Him
I've looked in the pages
And I've looked down on my knees
I've lifted my eyes in expectation
To see the sun still refusing to shine, but...

[Chorus:]
Sometimes He comes in the clouds
Sometimes His face cannot be found
Sometimes the sky is dark and grey
But some things can only be known
But sometimes our faith can only grow when we can't see
So sometimes He comes in the clouds

Sometimes I see me, a sailor out on the ocean
So brave and so sure as long as the skies are clear
But when the clouds start to gather I watch my faith turn to fear, but...

[Chorus]
Sometimes He comes in the clouds
Sometimes His face cannot be found
Sometimes the sky is dark and grey
But some things can only be known
But sometimes our faith can only grow when we can't see
So sometimes He comes in the clouds

Sometimes He comes in the rain
And we question the pain
And wonder why God can seem so far away
But time will show us
He was right there with us, and...

[Chorus]
Sometimes He comes in the clouds
Sometimes His face cannot be found
Sometimes the sky is dark and grey
But some things can only be known
But sometimes our faith can only grow when we can't see
So sometimes He comes in the clouds


Just a little something to think about....

BE BLESSED! \0/

Hey, Hey, Hey!!!

Shalom Y'all!

As you know, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Man, o man, o man! I'm getting my shout on!

As you already know, if you know me personally, or if you've read my last two posts, I have undergone a new change in my life....from one job to a new job at another local educational institution.

All I can say repeatedly is God is good! I had been in His face about a new job for some time now....but it was not until I finally stopped being stubborn, and exercising faithlessness in one area in my life that He permit it to come to pass.

Let me digress and address one thing for clarification: Whether or not I got my prayer answered about a new job, did not change the character of God, or my opinion of Him. He is and will always be good and perfect. And if a prayer did not seem like it was being answered did not stop me from being in an attitude of praise and worship. It always propelled me to seek Him more.

Looking back, (hindsight is usually 20/20) I can see some of the reasons why it took so long for God to be able to move me on. It was my own doing. I tied His hands so to speak. I had to learn some valuable lessons first listed in no particular order:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come to and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." Jeremiah 29 11-13

• I needed to learn tolerance and develop love and patience for the hateful acting people that I worked with and came into contact with everyday.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

• I needed to work on maintaining a non-judgmental/non-pious attitude to the non-believers I worked for and with

"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:2

• I needed to learn how to let others see God in me without necessarily saying a word- unless prompted by the Holy Spirit to do otherwise

"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just." Psalm 37:30

"My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding." Psalm 49:3

"Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words." Proverbs 23:9

• I needed to learn that I was supposed to work as if I were working for God himself
• I needed to learn how to work as if I were working for God

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." Colossians 3:23

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

• I needed to learn that worship is 24/7 - It does not stop because you are at work or anywhere else!

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." Psalm 113:3

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105:4

• I needed to step out in faith and learn how to trust God completely for everything

"You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." James 2:22

"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
I Corinthians 1:9

"We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

• I had to learn to ALWAYS keep my mouth SHUT and never allow myself to be caught up in the office gossip...and not let them come bringing tales to me either.

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Psalm 34:13

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." James 1:26

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:4-6

"My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long." Psalm 35:28

• I needed to have faith and bring my treasures into the storehouse, trusting God (tithe).

" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." Leviticus 27:30

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

It was amazing... when the last of the lessons was finally learned within, BAM! Things started happening so fast in my life that it seems that my world still seems to be spinning! ;-)

I know you will think it is too early to say, but I love my new job and the people. It is so wonderful to know that you know that you are where you supposed to be, concerning part of His will for your life, that everything is beautiful! Hey, I did not intend to write nearly this much, but sometimes when I start typing, the fingers just start to flying, and I can't stop them!!

On another high note, church service was 'off da hook' today. Well, to me every Sunday is 'off da hook', but this service was extra special! The traditional service that we normally have, went out the window as Pastor Doolin was led by the Spirit, and went into prayer and praise mode instead of the usual life application sermon.

He invited people who desired prayer for any area of their lives to come forth to the altar and down the aisles. After he shared some things with us by the Spirit, he called a member to the pulpit to share her testimony concerning faith, and it was a blessing indeed! His wife came up and she also confirmed what the Spirit was saying concerning faith to the congregation.

Pastor then led the congregation into a spirit of prayer, praise and ushered in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit!! People were healed, got prayers answered in faith, and were touched by the Spirit of God! Witnessing and participating in this service was miracle enough, but it further confirms for me that absolutely nothing is impossible for God.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:9, 11

Blessings to you all,

~God is more than worthy to be praised~ \o/

The Excitement Revealed........

Whoa! It's been a whirlwind! Let me catch you up to speed!

Remember in my last post, "Like Fire Shut up in My Bones," I spoke about this burning excitement in my spirit, but I didn't know why? It's amaaaaazing how this has all panned out...you can call it whatever you want to call it, but I am calling it GOD!It's all about Him! He was moving in my life (as always), but I couldn't specifically see what He was doing, but I could definitely feel it!

Some of you know that I had been wanting a new job for various reasons for a little while now....and some of you know that job-wise I wanted to stretch my wings and have a little more responsibility, and a little more pay.....and some of you know that I wanted a job that offered more benefits in terms of tuition. But that seemed to be something that wasn't happening because I have not completed my undergrad degree, and the opportunities seemed to be very limited if they were even existant at all. The opportunities were not presenting themselves to me. And the few times that I did get an interview, I was not offered the job. ;-( This was a brand new experience that I was not taking too well....to get an interview and not get the job?! Well!! I never!!! In the past, anytime I applied for a job I got it! What happened to change that?

So I was starting to allow myself to wonder, "Okay Lord, when is it gonna be my turn?" to "Is it ever gonna be my turn?" And believe me, He knew exactly what I wanted, because I ran it down to Him numerous times reminding Him of it just in case He had somehow forgotten me. Yeah, right! :-)

Now, looking back, I see that nothing changed until I changed. Through continuous dousing of the Word, my mindset became, "Lord, wherever You want me to be is where I'll be." "Whenever You move me is when I'll move." And I left it at that. And I had faith in that. I put a stop to the spirit of fear and trepidation that was trying to rule my life and overtake it concerning every area of my life...including my giving....(I'll have to write about that aspect of this story another time.)

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."Romans 12:2
"I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."Lamentations 3:24
The last job I applied for was in September. It seemed to be good a good one....to me anyway. It was less pay than I was currently making, but to me after assessing the costs of the benefits offered, if I had to pay for them versus receiving them for free, then the benefits solidly outweighed the lesser pay. Evidently God had other plans for me...............because I did not get that job...I didn't even get an interview! (Hmmmph! Imagine that!) ;-) But I remember telling a girlfriend of mine at work, that evidently God had something better for me, and that I was waiting for it to come forth. In His time it would be revealed. She agreed with me.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalms 5:3

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:4

I continued to look at job postings online at different places, asking God to lead me and guide me in my search. I asked Him to impress upon me, the job He wanted me to apply for....Then one Sunday night I saw it. Immediately, I KNEW in my spirit that this was the job for me...and as soon as I 'knew it was for me' the enemy immediately came right away and snatched that thought away by immediately sprinkling a myriad of different seeds of doubt....and so much so, that I did not submit my resume at that time....but I did print the job description out, and I looked over it from time to time. 'Something' kept tugging at me internally, but I was ignoring it....for some reason I 'wasn't hearing it!'

When I mentioned the job posting to girlfriend at work the next day, (Monday) expressing my newfound doubts about the position, she immediately encouraged me to apply for it anyway. (Looking back, she was definitely being used by God.) After talking to her, I still sat on my resume, but I was still thinking about what she said to me about submitting my resume through out the next couple of days.

On Tuesday, during lunch, I felt led to share with another girlfriend at work about the job I applied for, and I even showed her the job description. She read it, looked me square in the eyes, and said, "That's your job, girl! You know that is your job! That's what you've been asking for!" To make a long story short, both of these women were confirming what I already knew, but I was hesistant to accept.

This sweet women volunteered to be a reference and suggested several other 'key' people on the job that I should ask to be references. I followed her instructions to a 'T' and asked them as she suggested that same day and on Wednesday morning. They all agreed very willingly.

After hearing the Word of God at Bible Class the next night, something resonated within me, (can't put a label on it, other than God) and I went on and sent in my resume online that very same night. That 'something' I mentioned in my last post was starting to resonate within my spirit even stronger....and I felt it, but I still did not know what to make of it. That was Wednesday night.

That Friday of that same week, the institution where I had just submitted my resume on Wednesday night, contacted me for an interview! (Wow! Already?!) We set it up for first thing Monday morning. That Monday we were snowed out, but that was okay. I remember thinking, "What God has for me, can't be blocked...not even by 20 inches of snow!" The institution contacted me the next day for a second interview date. We set it up for the following Monday.

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16

Meanwhile, on the following Friday evening, (the Friday before the second interview appointment) I happened to mention to the lunch date girlfriend that I did not have anything to wear like a nice dark professional suit with a skirt instead of pants, or nice business heels to wear with this yet to be found suit to wear to the interview. I had been combing the stores and the internet relentlessly all that week trying to find them....and reasonably priced too! She asked me what I was doing on Saturday morning. I told her, and she asked me to stop past her house on my way back home. "Okay," I said wondering what she had up her sleeve.

On Saturday morning she called to confirm that I was coming...of course I was coming....I said I was! my curiousity was really piqued at this point. I get to her house, she takes me upstairs to her bedroom, and laid out on on the bed was a huge heap of business attire!

Okay, you have to picture this: I kinda figured that she was gonna try to lend me something for the interview...but in my mind, I figured that would never work...we are not the same size and we are built differently. But I went to her house anyway because she was sweet enough to offer to help me. I decided to appease her, (figuring nothing would fit) so I tried on the suits first, then the dresses, pants and blouses. With the exception of 2 or 3 tops, everything fit like they were made for me. Can you believe that?!?

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20

She had gone on a strict exercise and dietary regimen, and none of her clothing fit her right anymore, and instead of giving her things to a faceless entity, she decided to bless me with the clothes...and I am talking designer labels here, folks!!! AND we both wear size 11 shoes!!!! Finding shoes in our size in really hard, and to have someone bless me with business attire and the slingback pumps to match also, is awesome, awesome, awesome! I left her house loaded down so heavy with clothing and shoes, that I could barely get the huge duffel bag into my house from the driveway....it barely could fit onto the back seat!! That blessing was nothing but God!!

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

Interview Monday finally came, and the interview went very well. You know how you 'know that you know?' That's what I felt when I left the interview. I feel that it went well because I was relaxed knowing that God is in control! There was nothing to fear. If it is ordained by God for me, then it is ordained by God for me! Nothing can change that! I told God that I knew that He was the giver of life, of all blessings, even of jobs and promotions...and that I DID NOT want this job just because I wanted it, or just because of the benefits...but I only wanted this job if it was His will for my life, His plan, and part of the next step of growth spiritually for my life....and only if those conditions were met did I want this job.

"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28

That Wednesday of the same week of the interview, they called and offered me the job. I was excited about the job offer....but I was much more excited about the prospect that finally I knew this job part of God's intricate plan for spiritual growth my life. To me, that was much more exciting than anything else!!!

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1

In fact, I remember praying a similar prayer (but not as conditional) before I was blessed with the job I currently have. My current job was definitely the preparation ground for the new job, all across the board in many areas. The things I have learned spiritually, has definitely played a role in preparing me for the next step in my life that God has planned for me.

So along with the sweet comes the bittersweet....I have to leave behind so many friends that I grown to love, cherish, respect along the way for the last six years. Once I started thinking about all of my goodbyes, it was mind-boggling to think of the number of people that I can count as friends. I am definitely rich in friends....and that too is a blessing. So now I am in the process of saying all of my "goodbyes and seeyalaters". This week coming up will be my last week here, and I am happy, yet I am sad. I guess what I heard is true: 'Growth usually involves a little bit of pain.'

Thanks for all of your prayers for me job-wise over the years. God knows what's good for me, I don't. This go 'round I hope not to be such a slow student. ;-)

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
Halleluyah, Amen! \0/

All In One List...My Favorite Blogs!

These blogs listed below are some of my favorite ones I've written. Some are favorites because of the experience or my lessons learned, and some because of how the blog has impacted others. I believe all of these blog stories come to me from the Holy Spirit, and He gets the glory, honor and praise for all of them. Happy reading!

For Mothers ONLY!!!

Tish of Woodstock

God is *Not* your Magic Genie!

Adamma and Eva?

The Story of This Little Piggy...


A White Christmas

The "F" Words----Faith, Fact and Fear!

A Prayer for my Married Sisters

Can God be ANY CLEARER Than This?

What's Joy Got To Do With It?

My Manchild

My Manchild Again

Ode to Dr. J. Part I

Ode to Dr. J. Part II

Frustration and Temptation Part I

Frustration and Temptation Part II

Did I Really Forgive?

He Really Cares - Wow!

Mired in it and Needing a Bandaid

They're Watching....

Serendipity They Say

Time...What Is The Essence of It?

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice- What Constitutes Being a Good Friend? Part I

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice- What Constitutes Being a Good Friend? Part II

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice- What Constitutes Being a Good Friend? Part III

Life and Death Musings....