“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV) One morning, I picked up my phone to see the “Verse of the Day” (YouVersion Bible App), scripture which was 2 Corinthians 7:10. I read it, then I re-read it! Then I thought, what’s the difference? I thought I sort of knew, but I really had no clue, so I did some research and found an article written by someone who knows the difference. The author, Pastor Adriel Sanchez, wrote an article that really touched my soul. In essence, he explains the difference between repentance, which prompts us to turn away from sinful behaviors and attitudes. Rather than having a false sense of repentance, which is really living in an unrepented state of being. I so enjoyed his theological explanation, which prompted me to look deeper within myself. I had thought I had completely repented in all areas of sin in my life, but upon inspection of his definition; I had not. I still had a lingering lust affair with some sinful behaviors that I needed to expel from my fellowship. Immediately!!! Now I have a fuller understanding, and I also know why I was able to let go of some sins easily, but I struggled to let go of others. Saying "I'm sorry" is not enough! But God’s grace is sufficient to bring us to full, heartfelt repentance when we determine we love God, his ways, his Word and his will more than the sinful desires of the flesh that draw us away from him. To enjoy the full article, use this link: https://corechristianity.com/resource-library/articles/true-vs-false-repentance-whats-the-difference Prayer: Father, please forgive me for my sins, not just my sinful ways of thinking, but the sins of my flesh. I don’t always get it right, but I know you will make me right. I give you my repentant heart, and I am turning toward you for your deliverance. Thank you for your grace and mercy that assist me daily on my new journey of salvation. Help me let my light shine, that men may see my good works and glorify my Father who is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I was sitting on the bus one day when we pulled up to a stop. As the bus loaded passengers, we could hear the conversation of a young woman. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it had it not been for the language, because I had my headphones on, listening to some music. I was immediately distracted by her cursing and fussing while on her cell phone. She was standing in the middle of a group of people, letting it all hang out. It immediately made me think of other conversations I’ve heard on the bus. And it made me reflect on some conversations I’ve had on the bus and in other situations. I realized conversations tell you a lot about a person. As a matter of fact, they tell others where we are in life and where we’ve been. They even reflect our personalities, values, and beliefs. Later in the evening, I talked to God about the experience, and he revealed that, “There are different kinds of conversations, and they often reveal the person’s heart. Sometimes the conversations are loud, angry, solemn, quiet, reflective, boastful, edifying, encouraging, and yes, even explicit. So, when we listen to a conversation; whether purposefully or unintentionally, we learn who that person is and what they’ve been through or are going through.” I walked away with a greater understanding of the value of guarding my conversations. Not so much in terms of guarding the conversations from being heard by others not intended to hear them, but from the perspective of guarding how I speak, when I speak, what I speak about and why. I learned that the state of our heart in any moment will always reflect our conversations. A wounded heart will reflect that hurt through bitter and angry conversations. A happy heart will reflect joy through conversations of praise and rejoicing. And a solemn heart will reflect the sorrow through depressing conversations. I have come to understand that not all conversations hold the same value. Proverbs 25:9-10 (NLT) teaches, “When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.” I’ve had a few of those kinds of conversations. Not intentionally to betray another person’s secret; but because I was angry at them and I thought I needed to vent. And that’s the kind of conversation the young woman at the bus-stop was having. Everybody could hear the anger and contempt in her conversation. She was clearly hurt and agitated. For me, this was a timely reminder because I’ve been dealing with a close family member about her conversations. She’s a career gossiper, and she feels the need to tell me everybody’s business when I don’t want to hear it. I’ve told her time and time again in the nicest way that I no longer participate in gossip. I speak only of a matter to teach a lesson, one that God has taught me. Otherwise, I'll keep the matter between us. I’ve noticed that as soon as I remind her of that, she has nothing else to say. Her entire conversation is about gossip because she has nothing else going on in her life that she can speak well about. It’s a sad state, and I sympathize with her because I remember a time when that was me. I thank God that he’s changed my heart and my life, and thereby changed my conversations. I’m not saying that my mouth doesn’t get me into trouble sometimes, but I’m grateful that I have the Holy Spirit to give me that subtle tap to remind me to correct myself and get back on course. And to remind me that whatever is going on, I can always call on God to help me through it, rather than belittling another person through hurtful gossip, which hurts me more than them. I would rather have my conversations be filled with meaningful, edifying words that can soothe and minister to a hurting soul, including my own. The scripture states, “Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” (Proverbs 15:23, NLT). Our speech should always represent our walk with God. There should never be any type of vulgar or inappropriate talk flowing from our holy lips. We are ambassadors for Christ, and as ambassadors, we must represent the Kingdom of Heaven in a way that is holy and righteous, in deeds and in speech. And by doing this, we will also be holy representatives of the mini-kingdoms that are our families. The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on your because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity,” (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV). Prayer: Father, please help me guard my words, for they are containers that fill the ears of others. When I am angry, help me be mindful to cool down before I speak to anyone. If someone makes me angry, please help me stay calm and bring the matter to you, so that I can respond to them calmly; even if I have to step aside and say a quick prayer for your support. Help me let my words glorify you, by edifying them with peace. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” (James 4:17, KJV) A few years ago, I had an awakening; I woke up to see that I was still overweight. The sad part about it is that I had been battling with being overweight for 29 years. I say that I was able to see it because that’s the day when I became fully aware of it, not so much of the weight, but of the reason for it. It’s not like I didn’t notice it before, and have tried to overcome it many, many, many times before. But this time something clicked. When the revelation came to me, I went to my Father in prayer. Initially, I went to complain about being overweight, and then I ended up trying to explain about being overweight. After I was done, he asked, “So, when did you go back to eating what you want?” I thought, “Lord, what are you talking about?” And he explained that, “Being overweight has become your lifestyle by choice; it didn’t happen by accident; you have been choosing to maintain an unhealthy way of eating for 29 years.” I still didn’t quite comprehend until he said, “When you decided to eat what you wanted instead of what you know nurtures and nourishes your body, that’s when you chose to remain overweight and unhealthy.” That got my attention because I know what to do and how to do it. I’ve done it before and dropped the weight. I’ve taken the time to train in nutritional balance, but I’ve neglected to practice it continuously; and therefore, I haven’t been reaping the benefits from the wisdom. And furthermore, I was sinning. The Bible says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins” (James 4:17, KJV). After spending some time meditating on what he said to me, I came to the understanding that I simply cannot eat, nor do anything that I want. My purpose is not to have my way. Even when my body is craving sugar that I know I’m allergic to, I can’t have my way. Even when I really want to eat out, I can’t have my way. And when I’m bored and wanting to snack my way through it, I still can’t have my way. God has not designed my body to take in junk food and excess calories and thrive; it’s just not going to happen. So, in taking inventory, I’ve noticed that when I eat what is nurturing and nourishing to my body, it responds by shedding the excess pounds. Nurturing and nourishing my body also increases my energy and clarifies my thinking. The most fascinating benefit that I’ve noticed is that I’m not thinking about or craving food all day long; it does not master me. After I revisited the weight loss story for the ump-teenth time, I have finally realized that my health comes not from my ability to get it right, but to do it right. I have struggled for years trying to overcome obesity in my strength, when all I really needed to do was be obedient to God’s wisdom. Years ago, God taught me what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and why. But like others who have failed at the diet thing, I would start a healthy eating plan but never finish it; I would return to eating what I wanted instead of what is right for me. And that’s when I would hear a knock on the door of my conscience; it was failure. And usually he would take me to go meet up with guilt and condemnation, and then we would go to the house of pity; who would always throw a party and invite me to celebrate defeat, with pain and suffering leading the festivities. The world will tell us we can eat to our heart’s content, but when I do that; five minutes after the feast; I’m sick and tired and needing a nap. For me, understanding that I don’t have the right to eat anything and everything because it’s not God’s best for me, really helped me. God has a prescribed way of living in every area of life; including what is best for my body; which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God declares that I should, “Be holy as He is holy,” (1 Peter 1:5) & (Lev. 11:44-45) and “Walk in the Spirit so that I will not fulfill the lustful desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). I’ve noticed that when I keep my mind stayed on Jesus; I don’t give into the temptation of the devil. And when I keep my mind stayed on Jesus; I’m able to drop the excess weight easily because food is not my comforter. But as soon as I take my mind off Jesus and put it back on myself, that’s when I return to having my way; which results in me hanging out with failure, pity, defeat, pain, and needless suffering from overeating. By keeping my mind stayed on Jesus; I get to see myself through his eyes. Then, I see my weaknesses diminish and my strengths magnify. And the only master I have is the One who loves me; Jesus. Let’s not become slaves to sin when we can become victorious in righteousness. Having our way is not God’s way; so, let’s turn around and follow him, and he will lead us to victory. Stay the course in him, and be blessed and victorious!!! Prayer: Father, you know the thing I struggle with the most, and you also know the reason. Show me what you see. Expose the emotional issues that have caused me to turn to anything, when I should only be turning to you for comfort and the healing of my soul. Strengthen me emotionally in the same way you have spiritually, so that I can do my portion to strengthen myself physically in your wisdom. Thank you for making me in your image and likeness. I only want to look and be like you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV) A few years before my daughter passed away, I was having a conversation with her. Her plans were being shared with me by her. She also told me she had received some opposition to her plans from a relative who was trying to schedule plans with my daughter’s time, which forced my daughter to divulge her plans. She would have preferred not to tell anyone else. Initially, she felt annoyed that the relative disagreed with her unavailability. The relative also questioned her ability to move forward after the trial they had endured for a few years. I had to reminder her that, “the relative is well-meaning in her concern, but the one thing she lacks concerning you is faith! She can’t see your faith in God, so she thinks you're making a monumental mistake; when all you are doing is taking a step of faith, trusting that God will lead you from there.” It’s interesting to me to hear people (the world) tell you what you can’t do, can’t be, can’t have, and can’t give. When the truth is; they have no business in God’s business. They can’t see all the wonderful possibilities of faith in God, because no one can establish your faith for you; it’s completely personal. Your faith in God is you planting your mustard seed, expecting a harvest of things you’ve hoped for. The world can’t comprehend faith because it’s spiritually activated by trust in God and his ability. At its basic; it’s simply believing God! Matthew 12:20 reminds us, “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed nothing shall be impossible unto you.” However, until you become a believer in God, you just can’t believe God. The two principals work together. Hebrews 11:6, NIV, continues, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” My advice to my daughter was, “Understand that she doesn’t have the faith in God that you have. And she doesn’t have to understand your faith walk; it’s personal. Hopefully, she will get to see the fruit of it and learn to trust God for herself.” Don’t let the world’s lack of understanding about your faith hinder your trust in God. Remember, it’s between you and God. I watched God bring my daughter into her purpose as a life coach. She was ill, but she pressed on to accomplish her dream before she left this earth. Her time serving in the life coaching capacity was brief, but after others found out she had passed away from our Facebook posts, their testimonies of her impact on their lives were heart-warming. I never knew she was loving and serving so many in secret. She even sowed a financial seed to help someone start their business. And she didn't have a lot of money; however, she did have a big heart. Prayer: Father, please help the world see you, so they can receive you and all you have for them. Let our lives, struggles, and triumphs be a witness of your goodness to your children. And let them see that although we suffer with Christ, we do indeed reign with Christ. Our weeping may endure for a night, but our joy will come in the morning by your grace and mercy. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

“Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Cor. 12:9, NLT) Thanksgiving 2025 for me was bittersweet, but still blessed. We were still mourning my daughter's passing, but we still saw God's goodness. Even though our family is not where we want to be, having want we want to have, and doing what we want to do; God’s grace is sufficient for us. It’s particularly true for me because it was Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1996, that I was born again and received the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit after a long illness and losing everything I had. Preparing the meal for my family, I reflected on the abundance of God’s grace he poured out on me during that season. ​ When I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get up from that bed of affliction, he took me by the hand and walked me right out. I was diagnosed as disabled and placed on Social Security disability in the spring of 1995. Some years later, I was able to work part-time and even went to college part-time, but I officially came off disability on January 1, 2019. It had been 24 years that I had struggled to regain my independence. It was a new beginning, and a new chapter in my life’s journey from disability to ability. And I let God guide me one step at a time, though it was difficult. It’s such a wonderful blessing, because my earlier medical report from 1995 stated, “She will never get better.” Reading it in 1995 insulted me, but it also made me even more determined not to give in to their perception of my ability or my life, even though I felt like I was dying. ​ I can’t boast about myself at all; my soul makes her boast in the Lord. This is because his grace is sufficient for me and his strength is indeed made perfect in my weakness. So, like the Apostle Paul, I too, "...will boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." Because of that season, no matter what is going on with our family, I still have joy in my heart because of the personal relationship that I have with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Every Thanksgiving is a constant reminder of how much God truly loves me. When I cried out, “Save me!” He was right there telling me to, "Hold on!" When the hospice nurse informed me that my daughter wouldn't make it through the night, I asked God not to let pass away on my spiritual birthday. I needed that day to belong to him and me. Her last day with us was Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024. She passed the next morning at a hospice center. I knew it wouldn't be good for her to pass away in our home. My grandson later told me, I had made a good call because he would not have been able to stay in the house if she had. They were minor children. It was November 29, 2024, when she went home to be with the Lord after battling cancer. I know it might have seemed selfish, but now I can celebrate my spiritual birthday on November 28, and on November 29, I can celebrate her spiritual home-going. She was a born-again Christian as well. ​ Let me encourage you to boast about your weaknesses, too. Remembering, God takes those weaknesses and trades them in for his strength! “Hold on.” You will get up as long as you don’t give in! God still has a plan for you! Just ask him for what you need. Prayer: Father, I am so grateful for your saving grace. Not just for eternal salvation, but also for daily salvation. When the troubles of this world try to overtake me, it is your saving grace that sustains me. I am daily grateful for your presence, which allows me to enjoy your daily presents in their various forms. Help me always to remember your goodness and your tender mercies, so I can always remember to give you praise daily. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) In this tumultuous season in the world we live in, there is a necessity that is not always being utilized. It’s a quiet, yet powerful tool that will overcome every means of disparity. That necessity is: Love. Poem: ​ Love, in all its grand wonder, is the catalyst for change When all else fails, it will always remain God is that Love, and he is everything we need him to be He has a better plan for us, so be patient; just wait and see Though it lingers in the distance, it’s not so far away It will reveal itself in time; one glorious, blessed day In the meantime, despite all the violence, fear, and emotional debris Please, just remember to love the human being called me!

“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47-48, NIV) Have you ever found yourself jealous of your family member's or friend's promotion? You can be honest, because at some point, we all have. Is someone currently jealous of your promotion? Don't be dismayed about it; just understand that they don't really understand what a promotion is. Yes, a promotion is a career and financial advancement. That's the gift side of promotion. But promotion always comes with added responsibility, which is the giving side of promotion. People who worship titles often cannot grasp that every title is inherently a job description. "President" is a job description. "Supervisor" is a job description. "Doctor" and "Lawyer" are also job descriptions. "Husband" and "Wife", "Father" and "Mother" are also some of the most common job descriptions, which are also considered a life promotion. And with these impressive titles comes greater work. So, the next time you find yourself jealous and despising someone else's promotion, just remember, the person may advance in life or the organization, but they are also advancing into more work responsibilities. When jealousy causes you to feel anger, pray for the person who just received an advancement in much more serving responsibility. Trust me, your angry stares and condescending comments will not be as appreciated as your prayers. And the gift of encouragement you sow into their good success will be the harvest you will reap when it's your time to be promoted into more serving responsibility. Remember, God has a job responsibility for everyone; he’s just waiting for the opportunity to promote us. Are you ready for the promotion?

The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:5-8 (NIV) A few years ago, I attended a gospel concert at an amusement park. “Joy Fest” was its title, and a joy fest it was. But it was so hot that one of the featured ministers of music asked, “Why is it so hot?” Another minister's response to the heat was, “If this is what hell feels like, I don’t want any part of it.” What blessed me the most was not the inspiring music, or the fun and food of the occasion. For me, it was seeing all the hands go up when one minister asked, “Has God done anything for you?” Hands went up all over the concert venue, including mine. As I glanced at the sea of raised hands, it brought to mind how much God has done for me. Too often as we experience the pitfalls and trials of this life, we often forget to remember all the good things God has already done for us. Things like: •Giving us the breath of life! •Keeping us well fed and properly hydrated on hot days! •Fighting our battles with us and most of the time, for us! •Keeping us calm inside when we want to hurt somebody who has hurt us! •Paying the bills when you know there’s not enough money available! •Forgiving us our messes and exchanging our failures for divinely orchestrated victories! These are but a few of the details of our blessed lives that we often overlook in the chaos of life. But it is clearly evident, that if you are reading this blog, God has done something for you because you are still alive and can see this post. Keep on praising God, keep on loving God, keep on obeying God, and watch God do amazing things to show you his amazing love for you. And don’t forget to pray every day to God, who loves you the most. Prayer: Father, we thank you for doing so much for us. More than we can possibly understand, see, explain, or contain. Your blessings are so constant that we sometimes overlook them. But we thank you for never overlooking caring for us. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV) In the summer of 2019, I had to discipline my granddaughter for plotting to take a trip that we had not scheduled. It was to an amusement park. She was saddened after I scolded her and took away their privileges. Afterward, I spoke to her, letting her know God could gift her with a trip if she asked him, and then waited on him to work it out. Two Sundays later, on our way to church, we discovered that our church was planning a trip to that very amusement park. Without hesitation, I agreed to pay for the trip for the three of us. God had just blessed me with money that allowed me to splurge on my grandchildren. They had lost so much because of a nasty divorce and paternal neglect. My daughter and I were doing all we could to comfort and assure them that God had not forgotten them. It was later that evening, while we were sitting next to each other looking at videos on my phone, that the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “Let the child know I heard her.” I did, and my grandson responded, “I told you that in the car.” I had no idea they had talked about the incident, and the way God had blessed them that day. We had a great time thanks to God’s answered prayer. It reminded me how we sometimes feel so weak and decide to take matters into our own hands. This never works for us; in fact, it works against us. All we need to do is “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14, NIV). Prayer: Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, please strengthen our hearts and our minds to wait on you. We know you can take care of our every need and desire if we patiently trust and wait on you. But waiting is not easy, especially when our need or desire seems so great. But knowing that you will give us the desires of our hearts gives us the hope that we need to wait in faith. The principal; we understand, the execution of the practice we struggle with. Thank you for being so patient with us while we wait for your generosity to manifest. Amen.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT) It was a hot summer afternoon, the day I learned that fear should not run our lives. It all began on a hot summer day when authorities issued a tornado warning for our region. I have always hated storms and feared them immensely. Before the tornado warning, I had a pretty good day. I put the tea kettle on a slow boil for a cup of chamomile tea, which I would enjoy after my ironing. I had just set up the ironing board to iron some clothes when the weather alarm sounded off on the television. Immediately, I ran to gather my things and called my friend who lived in another building across the street to ask if I could ride out the storm with her. I grabbed my purse, ran out of the apartment and over to her apartment, where we rode out the storm. It was early evening, somewhere between 5 and 6 p.m. when I left. As we watched the weather forecast, we saw the radar show that the worst of the storm had passed us by, with nothing more than some rain and slight wind gusts. It was about 7:30 p.m. when I made the decision that I would just stay the night at her house. Anytime I visited her, we would just make a girl’s night of it. I was sitting in her spare bedroom watching television about 9:10 p.m. when I heard the Lord whisper, “Go home.” I thought about it for a moment, then sat there until about 9:30, before I told my friend, “I have to go home.” “Why? You always stay. It’s late now,” she replied. I don’t know, but I just heard the Lord tell me to “Go home.” I gathered my purse and made the walk across the parking lot in the darkness of night. As I turned the key in the door and opened it, smoke filled my nostrils. The apartment was full of smoke. I ran in to see where it was coming from and noticed that the tea kettle was still on. “Oh, my Lord, thank you, Jesus!” I shouted. In my haste, I had run out of the apartment and left the tea kettle on. As I turned off the stove, I pulled the tea kettle from the burner, looking for the knob that was on the lid. It was across the room. It must have blown off because of the intense heat. The tea kettle itself was burnt beyond repair. It was done. I turned the exhaust fan on and opened the patio door to air out the apartment. The smoke detectors had not yet gone off, and the sprinklers hadn’t either. Thank God! If I hadn’t obeyed God’s direction, I would’ve burned the apartment building down and been homeless. All because I let fear control me. Yes, a tornado warning is serious, but fear had permeated my being since I was a child. Most of the fear of my past had left me, but the fear of storms had not. That night, I had a deep conversation with the Lord about it. He reminded me that fear is tormenting, and he did not give me a cowering spirit. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18, KJV). As I grabbed my Bible, he comforted me by directing me to Proverbs 10:25 (NLT), which states, “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.” Reading that scripture let me know that storms have a purpose in our lives, but they are not meant to destroy us if we are God’s children. In his hands, we are well protected. I still respect the power of a thunderstorm, but I am grateful that I no longer fear it. Prayer: Father, I have let fear run my life for too long, but now is the time to end the torment. In the name of Jesus, I declare that fear has no place in me. "No weapon formed against me shall prosper" (see Isaiah 54:17). "Because I have made the LORD my refuge, I have made the Most High my shelter, no evil will conquer me; no plague will come near my home. For he will order his angels to protect me wherever I go. They will hold me up with their hands so I won’t even hurt my foot on a stone" (see Psalm 91:9-12, NLT). "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus" (see Philippians 4:7). Amen.

In these perilous times that were predicted in the Bible, there is still much to be grateful for. My family and I were preparing for my biological father’s viewing, and my heart was at rest. He and I have had a tough time of father/daughter bonding, but even through the difficulties, I have what I call “Father/Daughter Moments.” God asked me a question the day of his passing, before I knew of his passing, “How are you going to handle your father’s passing?" I didn’t find out for three days after my uncle, who broke the news to me, found out. At that moment, I felt no sorrow, only numbness. I had been mourning the loss of my father over and over in my life. He was there, then he wasn’t there. I met him for the first time when I was seventeen. From that time forward, I was always trying to figure out who he was. I had heard all the negative stories about him. But I wanted to know who he was, to know who I was. He lied quite a bit and was very irresponsible. After 39 years of that, I was done with it. I had to let my father go two years prior to his passing because of something I found out about him that was so disturbing; I had to back away. I couldn’t take anymore drama concerning him. A few days after his passing, the Lord asked, “Where is the value for you?” I thought about it for a while, then it came to me, “My life. I am alive only because of you, my father and my mother.” Then I thought about it a bit more, realizing that we had a few happy “Father/Daughter Moments” that are embedded in my heart and memory. When I had my heart surgery at eighteen years old, he was there. The day I brought my daughter home from the hospital, he was the person who came to get us. From the day we met when I was seventeen years old, he was always proud of me. And then I realized something very significant about the man I was trying to get to know as dad. When we spoke, he never once spoke ill of anyone, family member or friend. He spoke about how he felt about them, but it was never evil towards them. That was a genuine revelation concerning him, because everyone who knew him only knew and spoke of his terrible reputation. I am more saddened by the fact that we don’t know for sure if his relationship with God was authentic. He went to church services and was a part of the ministry, but couldn’t seem to live righteously. I am not his judge; that’s between him and God. When I think of him, I would much rather remember the good qualities about him that I have inherited. He was a talker, and a very articulate speaker. My writing and speaking gifts came from that side of the family. My reading and storytelling gifts came from my mother’s side of the family; they are amazing verbal storytellers. He was also the only parent with whom I could have real conversations, with no judgement. In times when so many elders and loved ones are leaving us, we must remember to cherish the wonderful memories of them. I have determined that with God’s help, I will live my life in a way that brings honor to God and my biological father's name. I can’t do away with the reputation that he created for himself, but I will try to recreate a better reputation for our family’s sake. Regardless of the past, we should still be grateful for their contributions to our lives. Then we should live in a way that honors God and their memory. Remember, we didn't get to choose our parents, and they didn't get to choose us, but somehow through it all, God made us family. And we must be grateful for the family we have, despite the issues and imperfections. And considering that some people don't have a family, and they pray and search to be a part of one, we are blessed.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV). In 2019, as we celebrated Good Friday and the Easter season, I was reflecting on all the events of recent years, and I can honestly say, I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. Looking at the state of the world, it perplexed me; one day all was well, and then all was not well. Through spiritual understanding, I knew the season and some of the reason, but what I was really concerned about is humanity looking to Jesus and not ourselves. Our tendency when trouble comes is to run to safety in the arms of other people. They become our go-to saviors, but they really are not; they are temporary comforts in our time of need. Usually, they can help us overcome, but in a time like that, there is no other savior but the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That season has truly tested the heart of humanity, and it is still exposing all the stuff that is non-essential to our living righteously and victoriously in this life. I think we can see that all the things, and even some people we depended on, are not dependable at all. What is really dependable in our lives is God’s Grace and his Peace. I heard people saying, “I wish I had done this or that while I could move about freely.” Or, “We took breathing freely for granted.” God’s peace is something humanity is searching for, and by his grace it is free for the receiving. All that is needed to partake of his peace is a repentant heart and an invitation into our lives. Yes, Jesus is the Savior of the world, but the world has to make a personal invitation for him to be their personal Lord and Savior. He cannot come into a heart unprepared to receive him in repentance. We must lay down sinful desires to walk in oneness with the Living God. Only then will we experience his Grace and the precious Peace that accompanies it. Job 22:21 (NIV) comforts, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.” Be Blessed!