³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:3-8

I woke up this morning longing for my church family and friends. The Lord led me to spend time in Philippians. While reading, I began to inwardly relate to Apostle Paul being in chains. Initially, I began to have a ‘pity party’.  After I meditated on Apostle Paul’s joyful attitude while in prison, I settled into confession and repentance after owning up to my sinful attitude accepting my conviction by the Holy Spirit. Paul was illegally arrested, beaten, placed in stocks, and humiliated before the people; instead of dwelling on the obvious which led him to his chains, he meditated on the fellowship of the Saints, which he was enjoying even miles away being in chains.

Paul’s fellowship with the church of Philippi transcended the chains and distance. His fellowship with the Saints began with the Gospel and ended there. From which there is no ending, only eternity. Paul understood that it didn’t matter what happened to him as long as Christ is glorified and the gospel being shared with others. Paul rejoiced in spite of his chains. His rejoicing included the gift of fellowship of eternal life within the heart, fellowship of the gospel, and fellowship of the same sufferings.

This passage and Paul’s example comforted me by reminding me that Christian fellowship is much more than being present at a worship service in a church building or the anticipation of a new worship format. It doesn’t matter what the new format will be, what matters is that no matter the chains, (COvid-19, isolation, social distancing… no hugs, or no smiles from behind a mask), true fellowship has not been affected. Basically, that which I grieve is no comparison to the true fellowship of that which can never be lost.

Like Apostle Paul, I will continue to serve, worship, remain joyful with the Christian fellowship that we as believers have within Jesus Christ.  Paul was in Rome with his friends/brethren being miles away in Philippi. Their spiritual fellowship, being distant, was still satisfying. I am learning to rejoice in having a unified mind and not be anxious in my spirit about the situation. I embrace what God is doing in each individual life to strengthen the fellowship of the gospel.  I am confident that He who has begun a good work in me (us) will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus, Phil. 1:6.

I thank God in all of my remembrance of you in prayer and supplication with joy in my heart for you all. It is ok for me to grieve, but focus on God not the situation or the uncomfortable affects of the current state of affairs.  With all of this being said, I still struggle with and pray about so many aspects of my position and the position of the church during this time, but for now, I will take a pause and enjoy the peace of today. Lord help me as I look to you for all of my help, Amen! 

The journey flows…

There is a song by a Country music singer that has lyrics with the potential to influence perspective on living each day to the fullest. A poor diagnosis can change one’s perspective and shift priorities for many, if not all. We do not know what life will be like tomorrow, James 4:14a.

The lyrics:

Verse: He said,
“I was in my early forties
With a lot of life before me
And a moment came that stopped me on a dime
I spent most of the next days
Looking at the x-rays
Talkin’ ’bout the options
And talkin’ ’bout sweet time”
I asked him
“When it sank in
That this might really be the real end
How’s it hit you
When you get that kind of news?
Man, what’d you do?”

Chorus: He said
“I went skydiving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
And I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying”
And he said
“Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying”

Verse: He said
“I was finally the husband
That most of the time I wasn’t
And I became a friend a friend would like to have
And all of a sudden going fishin’
Wasn’t such an imposition
And I went three times that year I lost my dad
I finally read the Good Book, and I
Took a good, long, hard look
At what I’d do if I could do it all again
And then

Chorus repeated… ~ Tim McGraw

If you notice in this song, the man received news that altered his existence (stopped life on a dime). Taking in account the news that he had a progressive illness with a very poor prognosis, the man started to live each day as if it were his last. What will it take for you to live each day as if it were your last? What would that look like? Would you do like the man in the song? His days became sweeter. He began to check-off items on his bucket list: skydiving, mountain climbing, riding a bull, and going fishing. He renewed his commitment to loving deeper and talking sweeter, and giving forgiveness that he had refused to give in the past. He finally read the bible. His relationships became a priority. After assessing them, he realized that he needed to be a better son, husband and friend. Finally, he began to muse over his life with remorse… only if I could do it all again.

When I think of the finality of each day with this man, I asked myself do I live each day as if it were my last. I asked myself what would that look like in the life of a believer. Before the current days of pandemic, COvid-19 and quarantine, my life-lense was narrow with less depth of field. My attempt to look past tomorrow extensively into future destinies was futile. As I experienced each day, by mid-noon, that day was already becoming yesterday. I was already living into tomorrow with plans, worries, anxieties, and celebrations. My afternoons and evenings were filled with “what will I do tomorrow” concerning blah, blah, and blah… you fill in the blank? I neglected to live according to Matthew 6:27 and 34, ²⁷ “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” and  ³⁴ “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”. There are times when I am anxiety-driven with excessive worry about the “what if’s” and “what abouts”, and “what will I do” rather than to allow the Lord’s peace to reign in my life. I cannot rest comfortably in today’s peace for borrowing tomorrows troubles.

Lord I thank you for causing ALL things to work together for good to those who love YOU, to those who are called according to YOUR purpose, Romans 8:28. Somewhere within these last eight weeks, my life-lense has become broader with greater depth of field. I don’t gaze so far into my future endeavors but I live in the moment with a broader scope ‘taking in’ the advantages as well as the disadvantages, the splendor and the unattractiveness, also the captivating moments as well as the repelling ones. Life is so much simpler when walking with faith as my retina. If I allow faith to drive my destiny, my only future gaze is eternity. “So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Corinthians 2:18.

I do not know if I would do any rocky mountain climbing, riding bulls, or even fishing for that matter, but there are some things that I would like to do before I transition into my eternal life that I have put off for another day. There are words that I want to say and questions that I want to ask, but have not because of fear. Anticipatory anxiety has been my retina far too long. It is time for me to put to rest life-imbalances, worry, stressful and distracting thoughts to replace them with greater faith, peaceful thinking, and daily contentment. Don’t just live for today, but live for God while living today. Pray for me. 🙂

Finally, planning is essential to life on earth, but that’s beyond current context.

C.S. Lewis, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.” Hmm….

The journey flows…

I am so grateful for all the workers who are mandated to ‘clock in’ during this season of variant. However, I would like to introduce to you the Unsung Heroes of today. It is no surprise that any task or responsibility that has to do with keeping the family sane and safe holds the position of ‘last but not least’. “I thank God upon every remembrance of you”, Phil. 1:3. To all the mothers and fathers who take risks upon your grocery store visits, thank you. You don’t have a second thought to this matter. It is essential; it has to be done. The initial thought is normally, what must I do to be safe as I go to the store? How must I glove and mask up; are there any disinfectant wipes? Do I leave the items in their original packet or do I change it out before I take it inside? Do I wipe the package off with wipes? Darn it, I have to wash my hands. This mental process is primary when it comes to making sure the family has something to eat. Your love, commitment and sacrifice for your family is to be honored. I honor you !

Another, “thank you” for taking up the mantle for the teachers. Although, there are variations of virtual teacher-student communication to ensure learning, still the parents are much more involved in their children’s learning than ever before. I can only imagine the stress for some of you. You are courageous! Thank you!

Thank you to all of the Pastors, Ministers, and church Leaders who are continuing to minister to the spirit-man. This includes discerning how to keep the body unified at a distance or deciding when to open the church for worship. No easy feat. This also includes ministering to encourage the saints to live holy lives as they themselves remain the same.  Stay encouraged. You are fearless. You are another Unsung Hero.

Thank you to the mental health, addiction, and abuse counselors who are tirelessly finding creative ways to provide therapy for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to function at their best. Families and the community thank you!

Thank you to the Sanitation Engineers who continue to keep the environment clean from the mounds of trash that would be accumulating in our homes from the excess trash, rubbish, and debris. You are crucial. Thank you!

There are many others in other industries: banks, department stores, grocery stores, home good stores, gas stations, pharmacies, restaurants, coffee shops, mechanics, towing companies, plumbers, electricians, and postal workers. Because of my narrow scope, I am certain that I have left out many.  I congratulate you too! Thank you all and congratulations for being chosen as an Unsung Hero of the COvid-19 crisis and beyond. I honor you!   “…And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves”, 1 Thessalonians 5:13.  May the Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones.

The journey flows…

Too much of anything in the secular realm is not wise. Do a quick self-examination and ask yourself what is the object of your overconsumption. Truthfully, I could make a list of the top ten. In my effort to encourage you, my goal is not to rattle off a list of what we spend too much time participating in, but I want to discuss some potential effects of overconsumption. The perspective of the outcome is the same. If you routinely spend too much time ‘doing the same thing’ especially around the same time, preceding or following a particular event or activity, you can develop not only a bad habit but also an addiction could be unfolding.

When the word addiction is mentioned, some default is to think of drugs and alcohol and not the many activities that we participate in daily that gives us that ‘happy feeling’. Those activities or ‘things’ that gives us the most comfort has the potential to spur addictive behaviors e.g. repetitiveness, lack of management, and destruction. The simple fact that anything outside of God that gives us that rush of comfort is only temporary and leaves us feeling empty from having participated.

Okay, okay… some of us would not agree that our behaviors are borderline addictions, but for the sake of this exercise, examine your daily routines, especially since you have been quarantined or simply humor me. 🙂

I know this person, (wink, wink) at one time in her life, she would listen to a certain genre of music, other than Christian music, a certain day of the week. This music took her to a happy place, not all bad, but not all good either. The fact that this started out as a day to unwind, was not the issue, but the issue was the development of how this time became her happy place.

During the week when she became sad or depressed, she knew that she could go to that place in her head/mind that would provide a level of comfort like nothing or no none else on the planet. She had even begun to experience the chemical ‘let down’ that accompany sex, shopping, eating chocolate, or even falling in love. You know… Dopamine, one of ‘natures’ happy drugs. It is released with the anticipation with any of the aforementioned activities. Dopamine is one of the ‘big four’ chemicals that our brains release associated with producing that happy feeling. Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins are the other three.

Soon, what started out to be harmless would become her addiction… her idol. In case you have not noticed, she did not start out to substitute God’s comfort with seeking comfort by fleshly means. My bible tells me that my comfort and hope come from God’s living and active word that He, Himself has given us through reading and abiding. “For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus”, Romans 15:4-5. Another one of my favorites, “³ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; ⁴ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”, 1 Corinthians 1:3-4.

A nugget; If God comforts us in all our tribulations so that we may be able to comfort others in any trouble, why would He allow us to find our comforts elsewhere, (in this case, the flesh), since I am to share and utilize it to comfort others? Hmm…

There is no way that I can tell anyone to look at what God did for me through earthly and fleshly means. Do not hear what I am not saying… refocus. What I am saying is that we cannot find lasting comfort and the kind that would not leave us shameful and empty apart from God.

Loving Exhortation: Be consistently, sober-minded. 1. Be careful if you are spending too much time on social media or the internet, even if the goal is to ward-off boredom. 2. Be careful if you are spending too much time consuming COvid-19 information. Yes, this can even provide comfort. How? The more you know about the disease the more comfortable and control you feel; the more you know, the more you think you can prevent it. Live and trust God, quit reading and talking about it so much. 

3. Are you listening or reading more about the Covid-19 environmental effects than reading or listening to the word of God? Only you can honestly answer that. Do you know more about COvid-19 than you do on how to lead someone to Christ? Do you know more about the symptoms and how the national leaders are trending with their decisions than defending your faith with scriptures? Again, only you can answer this.

4. One more thing to be careful with. That glass of wine that use to be occasional. Since the quarantine, you have more in the house, you enjoy it more than before because you have more time to drink it. You look forward more to a nice glass of alcoholic beverage because it relaxes you. I am not a drinker, but just writing this makes me want a glass, especially if it is going to relax me. Lord have mercy! See what I mean…

5. Finally, the beauty of tickling those taste buds with comfort foods. When working, you did not have time to prepare them, but now, you prepare those big meals with homemade desserts and pastries more regularly, meals with pastas, like spaghetti and lasagnas, because it feeds more people or more leftovers to stretch those groceries for budget purposes. How about, trying out those new recipes; another facilitator of comfort. What I am trying to say is be very careful. The enemy and the flesh working together will create havoc in our lives.

This is not the time to get relaxed in what can become easy living or the proverbial life on a ‘flowery bed of ease’ as a means to avoid complaining or to produce contentment. Be careful of overindulging in things of this world that brings temporary comfort, joy, and happiness. Desire comfort in that which lasts. This can only be found in God though Jesus Christ and His word.

Allow me to bless you as I leave you for today with my favorite benediction prayer: “May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, may He life His countenance upon you and give you peace” Numbers 6:24–26!

Thank you for reading my free style writing! 🙂 I pray that you are blessed and encouraged by it.

The journey flows…. –

As I sit and stare out my office window and reflect on the last few weeks, I began to praise the Lord for His grace, mercy, compassion, love, protection, provision, presence, closeness, companionship, patience, gentleness, my every breath, freshness, and so much more. Just thinking of His ‘Allness’, my heart feels full. You know the feeling.

At times, when I reflect on God’s goodness, I fear of forgetting these times of such closeness and stillness. I want to remember them so I can pass the memories and these experiences of God’s ‘Allness’ along to my granddaughters. I desire to share and testify of this swelling of God’s existence and His character to many. God is so faithful in every way.

The Lord has impressed upon me to remember one of His great miracles. The supernatural damming and drying of the Jordan River. This was so the multitude could crossover into Canaan. God spoke to Joshua and told him to instruct the twelve tribes of Israel to erect a 12-stone memorial to celebrate the crossing of the Israelites over the dry-river Jordan. This memorial would serve as an applicable method of teaching their young of God’s ‘Allness’ and it would definitely prove that God was with Joshua and His people.  Joshua 4:6-7 reads, 6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever. KJV

God commanded them when they cross the Jordan to remember to fear Him and to keep His Laws and statutes and to teach them to their offspring from generation to generation.  4 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”, Deuteronomy 6:6-9

How will you remember this time? What will be your memorial and teaching tool to help reflect on these days and how the Lord is helping you to cross over your ‘River-Jordan’? Journaling is an inexpensive practical way to help with recall. There are hard copies, and electronic ways to journal concerning how the Lord is meeting and has met your every need. It is also worth journaling about how He is swelling up into this giant of ‘Allness’ in our lives so monumentally, especially during these weeks of stillness. I encourage you to use this time to catalog how God has shown to be your true ‘Daily bread’.

You don’t have to journal every day. It can even be once a week. Pray about your routine. Make an appointment in your phone calendar with a reminder to journal often.  Journaling can serve as a memorial for teaching future generations about God’s character and how He is our sustenance for life. It also can become a catalyst to praise and worship. It is very therapeutic in many ways. Please enjoy reflecting on God’s goodness during this journey!

Happy Resurrection Day,

With Love,

The journey flows…

If the walls in your house could talk, would you be embarrassed or ashamed at what they would say? Would you try to silence them? Would you try to make them forget about today, yesterday, last week, last month, and /or last year? Would your walls be able to say that you treat your spouse, children, and/or elderly parents with love, respect, compassion and patience? Would your walls be able to say that you over-discipline your children? If your neighbor or church family member ask you to discipline his/her child, would you discipline them with the same measure of patience and understanding that you discipline your own children with or would you be a little less harsh and impatient for the same offense as your own child?

If your walls could talk, would they sound the alarm of how you have shown lack of forbearance and self-control when caring for the elderly, mentally ill, or physically handicapped? This is ugly, but it happens. When there is a loss of income, financial hardship, loss of perceived control, living in close quarters, loss of a place for escape, there is a potential rise in violence, abuse, and neglect.  While the world is so focused and concerned about how not to contract the virus, let us not forget about these sicknesses that have been plaguing homes for centuries.  

Currently, husbands and wives are spending more time with each other like never before… literally, twenty- four/seven. The same applies with children. The responsibility of teaching/schooling the children has fallen on the parents. Many of these parents feel ill-equipped, which is causing anxiety.

Since the quarantine, people who already were victims of violence, abuse, and neglect, have no place to run, hide, or escape. In some homes, the workplace and schools provided a temporary safe place to escape and a healthy distraction from the horrid dysfunctions of home. Whereas too much time in the workplace previously caused types of dysfunction… now, too much time at home can trigger family dysfunctions, especially abuse. There are many articles on the web, issuing warnings with discussions concerning the rise of domestic violence and child abuse. The home has become more of a disadvantage than an advantage (Patrick, 2020).

You might be asking yourself, “How can I help, if I cannot leave the house?” You can help by reaching out by phone, text, and private messaging.  There are Department of Human Services or Elderly Abuse hotlines for reporting suspicion. Let’s face it, some of you have some suspicion and have decided to ‘mind your own business’. You are already convinced from asking yourself, “What if I am wrong?” But what if you are right?

The doors of churches are closed unfortunately. We can’t pass this on for pastors and church leaders for comfort. We have to find a way through prayer, faith, and taking risks.

If anyone is reading this blog and needs assistance, please seek help. At the end there will be information to guide you. At the same time, seek the Lord. I can help you with that as well. “¹⁷ The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. ¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit”, Psalm 34:17-18. Not only for the victims but also for the offenders, there is help for you also. “⁶ Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. ⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts”, Isaiah 55:6-9.

Heavenly Father, please heal broken homes and broken-hearted today. You are our protector and our shepherd. We are garrisoned in your loving arms. Cause peace to reign in disruptive violent homes, oh God. Change the hearts and minds of offenders. Comfort the hurting Lord. You are the merciful God of all comfort from all troubles. Be all of that and more for everyone… the grieving, emotionally, physically, mentally, financially hurt, and those who are worried. Thank you for not forgetting about us and is providing a way. Help us to trust in you and wait on your timing, for this too shall pass. In Jesus’ majestic and mighty name, I believe, Amen.

What must I do to be saved? Email me at: Thykingdomcomem1@gmail.com

I can and want to help!

The journey flows…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to Report Domestic Violence:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline website is filled with resources, tips, and links to further information to help victims stay safe. They have a hotline for victims and survivors that is staffed around the clock. They invite those who are in need of assistance or support to contact them at 1-800-799-7233. They even provide an option for victims who feel they are unable to find a safe place for a phone call to log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.

The bottom line is that even in a time of crisis, help is available. For some victims, becoming familiar with available resources is the first step. Knowing where to go and who to call provides many victims with a sense of relief even in the absence of current abuse, because knowledge is power (Patrick, 2020, para. 12-13)

 Reference: Patrick, Wendy, JD, PhD, (2020). Domestic Violence: Domestic Abuse During Quarantine: When the Threat Is Inside. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-bad-looks-good/202003/domestic-abuse-during-quarantine-when-the-threat-is-inside

Child Abuse Reporting:

https://dss.sc.gov/abuseneglect/report-child-abuse-and-neglect/

Adult Protective Services and Elder Abuse:

Adult Protective Services assist vulnerable and elder adults to stop and prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Anyone can make a report about suspected abuse to the Hotline.Phone: 

Adult Abuse Hotline: (800) 222-8000Caregiver Eligibility:   Adults age 60 or older and adults with disabilities

Many people are avid planners and already have 2020 planned and promised as such: dreams of a beautiful spring wedding and reception with a guest list of 100 plus; travel plans accompanying career ambitions or positions of prestige; the Cooper River Bridge Run scheduled for this Saturday, April 4th; maybe a trip to some exotic island or cruise to enhance your marriage; to improve the quality of friendships and other meaningful relationships, i.e. girls/guys trip or family reunion; or to attend Easter service to reclaim your life spiritually… no waiting required.

However, the health advisory to stay-home has altered earnest intentions. Nevertheless, the feelings of disappointment can exist for some, if not all. Experiencing disappointment is sometimes difficult to get past, especially when lives are so driven by completing tasks, securing positions/titles, and vision fulfillment. Don’t misunderstand, planning is necessary for progression. Yet, when self-identity is so closely associated with ‘making things happen’, admittedly or not, there is risk for developing a posture of despair.

Seeking God’s will for our lives should supersede personal plans and promises. ⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”, Matthew 7:7-8. No plan or promise should be made without seeking God for guidance and peace to proceed. ‘Putting the cart before the horse’ is not wise planning. Asking God to bless your plans and promises after implementation is not a healthy practice for a blessed life. Developing this habit not only causes you disappointment but also leads to you disappointing others.

The remedy: 1. Patience-try not to rush into moving forward with plans without carefully and intentionally seeking God. 2. Silence-only share plans and promises with a few praying and intimate people. Oversharing can cause peer pressure, which makes you pridefully move forward outside of God’s will. “¹⁹ So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…”, James 1:19. 3. Humility-do not be too proud to realign your plans to God’s will. 4. Faith-just because you don’t see evidence of your plan, it doesn’t mean that God disapproves of it; do NOT doubt your prayerful process. As Gabriel told Mary “With God, nothing will be impossible”, Luke 1:37. 5. Flexibility– Don’t be rigid with processes and strategies. Be open to alternative input and ideas. 6. Trust-understand the nature of God’s sovereignty, He is divinely or permissively controlling every aspect of our lives. 7. Thanksgiving-be thankful for all things, whether plans are allayed or deviated. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess 5:18. 8. Contentment-there must be a level of satisfaction and peace with current situation and positions in life where no planning is necessary, just maintenance and stewardship is required. Finally, 9. Prayer-pray, pray, and keep praying. Prayer heals our mind, soothes our soul, and refocuses our gaze.

Meditation: Allow the Apostle Paul’s wisdom to his protege’ Timothy guide you in your planning:  “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:6-12

The journey flows…

I just hate to talk about this, but I do not think that I have a choice. Somebody has to be the one to say it. Why not I; especially since I can relate. The struggle is real! Beware of the sneaky little low key temptations lurking in the background. Most people are focusing on warding off fear because of the pandemic. However, beware of the increase in Cortisol levels, which is a by-product of stress. Our Adrenal glands generate and release Cortisol (stress hormones) into our bloodstream causing an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, surge in glucose, stops insulin production, constrict arteries, release of epinephrine, and many more responses to the body that occurs as the body prepares for “fight or flight. During fight or flight, you can probably ‘leap a tall building in a single bound’, metaphorically speaking of course. Basically, you are more energetic, mentally astute, and physically stronger (powerful). You probably are wondering, what’s the problem… I can use some of that!

The problem: Imagine your body in this state consistently… not good! Too much of a good thing can and most of the time will become a bad thing. In this case, weight gain. Yes, I said it! During this indoor crisis, be careful of the temptation to stress eat or eat out of boredom. You think you are hungry, but you are not. Those extra snacks and excess food that you purchased is ‘screaming’ “eat me and eat me right now”. You have been quarantined, not to mention the gyms and sports facilities are closed, i.e. more sedentary life-styles. You literally, would have gone into the house slimmer, but will come out heavier (more weight). Take heed, be alert and watchful of the your increased hand to mouth movements. Stress and weight gain can go hand in hand. I want to help you and help myself too.

The enemy will use this to distract us from kingdom matters now and again later. “Be sober, vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”, 1 Peter 5:8

Practical advice: 1. Be at peace with our current situation, understanding and believing that ‘this too’ will pass, trust God. 2. Put your kids‘ snacks in the back of the pantry. 3. Drink more water, put the sodas down. 5. Don’t stay up too late. 6. Go to bed at a decent hour to prevent a rise in your cortisol levels. 7. Develop an exercise regimen (workout videos), 8. If you must snack, beware of the carbs), 9. Try on your (dressy or favorite) outfits or even wear them daily, comb your hair, apply a little make-up, if that’s your norm, (you will feel better) 10. Twenty four/seven (24/7) pajamas and curlers might be fun and relaxing, but not a good thing, 11. When hungry, prayer helps. Finally, this might be a great time to try the Intermittent fasting plan (if okay with your doctor ), no food from (6:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 7:00 pm to 1:00 pm), then eat all your meals between 12:00 pm to 6:00 p.m., or etc. Not easy at first, I have failed for three days (I chuckle). As I stated earlier, the struggle is real. I will not be defeated. We can do this…

Heavenly Father, please help me to remember this temple is the body made for your use, you reside in it, built it to last and maintain. Help me, oh Lord, not to overeat during this season of being at home. Help me not to eat out of stress or boredom. Remove my stress Lord and give me the drive to be active and creative in my home. It is a safe haven for me and I am so thankful and grateful for this roof over our heads. Thank you for the strength and motivation to do better. In Jesus name I believe, amen!

The journey flows…

Share with us what you are doing to stay fit and healthy during this quarantine… Just click reply and help us out.

I am an educator at heart, Assistant Professor of Nursing. I have not spoken on the virus, because I wanted to save my words to speak life and give you hope. However, if I do not speak out, then I am not being responsible with what the Lord has gifted me with for the journey. In short, I would not be true to my journey. I posted this on my Facebook page and wanted to get this out to the masses. My desire is to educate, arouse healthy perspectives and advocate for the community, especially those who cannot for themselves. And sometimes those people are not just the elderly and children, but people who are uninformed and unaware are also included in the vulnerable population.

Many times, this lack of enlightenment has to do with lack of understanding. So, please review the following video to expand your knowledge, increase your understanding as to become committed to Romans 12:10, “¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Love and honor people by keeping them safe by keeping your distance and keeping your hands clean as much as possible. If possible, please stay home, wash your hands, call the elderly, family, and friends, tell people you love them, educate in love, pray without ceasing, and share the gospel as much as possible.

You won’t understand why, until you understand why. This is why:

This is the unpleasant part of our journey, nevertheless…

The journey keeps flowing…

Peace & love to you all!!