Take A Walk With Me

 It’s the time where we sit back, reflect and think over the past year. There is one word that resonates within me. Faithful. God has been faithful. This past year I have watched God move on and in RJ’s life. Some wonderful things have opened up to him. He’s connected with his family, friends and involved in the church. He is excelling in his academics.  RJ has consistently put God first in his day and because of it- God has been faithful to him.  This has been a time of healing, growth and new beginnings for both of us. My job is a daily gift. I love my church and leadership. I have so much to be thankful for. God truly has been faithful. I don’t know what the new year will bring. I do know that as long as I keep putting Jesus first, He will continue to guide, lead and direct my life. I believe now more than ever before that God has a plan, a hope and a future for both RJ and I. His ways are perfect and He is faithful. God is good. 

 I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the goodness and mercy of God. He does all things well. RJ is thriving. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a very long time. His strength is perfect. His joy is pure. God truly is good.

 My Dear Sis Vickie Davis, this week makes it a year that you passed from this earthly life and entered into your eternal reward. I came across a lady's devotional you had made during the pandemic.  I pushed play because I thought it would be comforting to see your beautiful face and hear your voice. It was more bittersweet. The pain was deep, and I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. I am thankful for everything you taught me as well as many others. I am thankful for the wisdom and loved you poured out on so many. I'm thankful for the prayers you prayed for they live on. Can I tell you when I feel closest to you? It's when I'm cleaning the ministers' suites. I still remember you telling me to make sure I ironed the sheets. I will admit at first, I inwardly rolled my eyes (I'm sorry for that), but I paid attention because I wanted to please you and learn from you. I will never forget the day you called me from the church and asked if I could...

While at work today I was thinking over the past few years. Some things in life are not as I would have hoped they would be. If I focused on those things, I could easily stay down. In doing so I would miss all the good things that are happening around me. Life is filled with the good and the bad. There are times of joy and sorrow. The past few months have been a time of change for me. I have watched my son make some really wonderful friends. He is excelling in school. Plugged in at church. He has found his voice and knows what direction he wants to go in life. I am very proud of him. He is also spreading his wings and I know as a parent; I need to step back and give him the space he needs so he can fly. For me personally, I have learned to be content. I won't lie, there are some days, when all I can see is everything that is going wrong, but then I look at all that is happening, and refocus on what matters. I love my church. I love my family. I have some really amazing friends. I h...

 Grief can rise from the most unexpected times and places. In December, it will be a year that our beloved Sis. Vickie went home to be with the Lord. She has been on my mind a lot lately. Today, as my son and I were cleaning the church, he asked me about washing the baseboards in the foyer. I had a playlist playing on my phone and as he asked, the song changed to a song that Sis Vickie often referred to believing God was going to heal her of ALS.  I just stood in the foyer, mop in hand, and tears started streaming down my face. I remembered finding her on her hands and knees cleaning the baseboards so that it would be clean for a Sunday service. I remembered getting on my knees with her to help. She taught me almost everything she knew. She was going to teach me how to remove the light bulbs from the ceiling, but we never got around to it. She loved Bethel. She prayed fervently for the saints who filled the pews. She wept for those who no longer attended. She taught me how to ...

 When I learned last night that the full moon was a rare one and it will be 14 years until the next one like it, I decided to find a place to watch it “rise”.  After researching, RJ and I found an amazing place that we had never been to before on the Island.  What a beautiful sight it was. We were near the water and it was just breathtakingly beautiful. It was as if the moon was rising up out from the ocean. It was a blood orange red color and it was massive. I have never seen the moon look as large as it did last night. As it rose higher it was simply magnificent. I am in awe at this beautiful world that God has created.  Moments like last night remind me of the greatness of God. That He holds my world in His hands.  My problems may seem so big to me, but to my Heavenly Father, it’s not too big.  I’m glad RJ was able to experience something so amazing. I’m thankful, we made some happy memories as we watched it rise.  He’s going into 11th grade and alr...

 The Sound Of Freedom was released into the movie theaters on July 4th 2023. A friend made me aware of it. I decided to watch it. It's based off of a true story of a brother and sister who were rescued from child sex trafficking. This is not a movie you take young children to. I do strongly recommend that every person who is old enough, to go and watch it. This is very real and it's happening in your world. I think it's time we wake up. Why is this so important to me?  Let me tell you a little of my story. My birth dad abused me as a child. He was also a part of a drug trafficking ring. He was also a part of child sex trafficking. He did this all while being a faithful saint and minister in the church. When I was in 5th grade, I started fighting back and slept with a baseball bat by my bed. He decided he didn't like that and one day he picked me up from school and took me for a very long drive. This was before cell phones. He didn't say a word, he just drove. Eventu...