DaringDebs

Today I want to talk about the motions we face when we are striving to hold on to our faith even when the unexpected throws us into what can feel like a faith comma . The G.O.A.T. One good example of this is " the greatest of them all ". According to Matthew 11:11- scripture says Jesus called John the baptist, " the greatest prophet ", but even the greatest can experience a shake in their faith. Scripture tells us the story of how Mary, the mother of Jesus, while pregnant of Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the baptist. At the moment when Mary and Elizabeth meet, scripture tells us in Luke 1:41 that John leaped in his mother's womb. Even while John was still in Elizabeth's womb he was able to be filled with the holy Spirit and able to recognize the savior of the world. John makes the way for Jesus. John separates himself from the common everyday life and the bible says he lived in the dessert and ate locusts and

So many times I have found myself worrying about my future. Wondering about my purpose. The truth is that even when I think I reached the point of self-realization and fulfillment, I have to do it all over again that day. Just this past week I struggled with coming up with a Plan B, just in case I lost my job. I left home and became independent at 18 years old. I've mentioned before, I strongly believe leaving home so young is the reason why I struggle with the constant thought of a backup plan in the event I lose my job, or become sick, or get evicted... there's a lot of "what if's", but those are my main ones. Then the holy spirit of God spoke loud and clear. I actually faced all of the above. See right before I moved to Orlando the main contract agreement that secured my job was terminated, but God was a few steps ahead of me. I had to make the decision of leaving South Florida a few weeks prior to the contract termination announcement. The president of t

I want to write this blog on an extra personal level tonight. I wan to stay real and unfiltered. I experienced a season of hungering for the presence of God. I'm over it. My search to encounter God in a new way sometimes has challenges, but it also experiences breakthrough. My motivation for this search and devotion for the presence of God? ... ... To feel. I wanted to always have the feeling that He is aware of me and of my life issues. Wanting to " feel" love and affection is a natural part of who we are... However, the journey with God is that of faith, not feelings . The word of God tells us in the book of Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance for those things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen ... Did you read that? The EVIDENCE.  For me evidence represented a tangible substance. Evidence is a fact. Evidence can be documented. Evidence can be seen. But not with God, no with God we have to believe before we can see. We must faith-it-out ...

A month ago I made choices that were deeply rooted in faith. I took a road trip alone to a friend's house on Thanksgiving day. I travel alone all the time from Orlando to Miami to visit family, but this trip was different. Upon my arrival I received a warm welcome that would lead to many more wonderful shared moments of fellowship and faith. On my trip I met a resilient woman of faith. A woman that has walked with the Lord for quite some time and knows Him on a personal level. She shared how the Lord sustained her through some of the most difficult circumstances of her life. She confronted cut throat moments of life and death situations that screamed the loudest fears in her face, but her trust in God helped her chose faith over fear. I'm eternally grateful to my Lord for the time spent with this soldier of faith and as the word of God says in Proverbs 27:17 , " As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another ", and God knows why He brings people into our li

What do you define as success? Stop. Think for a moment. Be honest with yourself... What will deliver satisfaction to your hunger for success? What is it you're looking for in the endless quest? Tranquility. You think if only you can acquire enough worldly goods, enough recognition, enough eminence, you will be free, there'll be nothing more to worry about, and instead you become a bigger and bigger slave to how you think others are judging you. ~ Tom Wolfe, A MAN IN FULL As a young kid my dad was concerned that once I would have a job that I would become lured by money. Dad was right. Once I had some money I experienced independence. It was new, felt like a grown up. I liked it. This new freedom jaded my judgement.  I moved out at 18 years old and when I was on my own, I remember a conversation where a friend expressed satisfaction and feelings of accomplishment and success in his college degree and his career. He had just gotten married and his wife was a stay at hom

Romans 8:38-39  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [ a ]  neither the present nor the future,  nor any powers,   neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I'm in a season where I have found myself worried about being in God's perfect will. I have been concerned about a number of things. I was serving in ministry, spending a lot of time with the Lord, getting deep into the word and feeling the peace of God.  Things have changed a bit these past 4 weeks. New job, new friends, longer commutes and a shift in my schedule.  Prayer time has declined. I had to step back from serving for a bit and these changes have affected my moods.  This had left me feeling a lot of guilt.  The guilt was dictating swings in my mood. This is a perfect situation where, if I am moody enough to lash out, then I later feel ashamed and undeserving of God's