For a while, I've been struggling with anxiety and didn't even realize it until I started this journey in finding myself and my relationship with God. I started learning to pay attention to how I thought throughout the day and would catch myself overthinking or overanalyzing, causing me to be overwhelmed, hard on myself and needing to find some sense of control over things. So I either began to exert that anxiety towards my kids---especially when they were out of control or I usually would
keep it bottled up which is soooo unhealthy. Anxiety is real guys!! I would LITERALLY find myself worrying about things all day...planning ahead "Ok how am I going to do this? or how is this going to go? What are the kids and my husband going to eat today? What about homework? I mean just a full blown thinking machine. Sometimes I would have to catch myself and other times I wouldn't even notice until I take a deep breath and realize this was my body's way of getting rid of all that energy I had going on up there. I needed to STOP and BREATHE. Where was God in all of that?? Blocked out. Minimized. Burried. Forgotten. There was no room for His promises. No room for Him to dwell. We need to create that! It needs to be INTENTIONAL. We can't expect God to change our lives if we are not actively doing something. God's Word was created as a blueprint in navigating life and knowing God's plan for our lives. When we've become so used to thinking a certain way it becomes hard to think another way but the bible says to RENEW YOUR MIND THAT YOU MAY BE TRANSFORMED...so there has to be a daily reminder of God's promises...of God's Word related to our circumstances. I thank God for Philippians 4:6-7 that tells me "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving continue to make your specific requests known to God. (HERE IS THE PART WE ALL DESPERATELY NEED!!)--->>>>>"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS" God's Word is living. It has a power within itself that can transform lives. I want this! Especially at a time now when we are waiting to see how 2021 will play out. A lot of us are not clear on how the future is looking. A lot of us are shaken by the many events going on when we turn on the news. A lot of us are wondering if things will get better after COVID. These things will have you STRESSED. But Jesus wants us to be in communication with Him. Jesus wants us thank Him and acknowledge who He is despite it all. I encourage you all family, to dive in to God's promises and His Word when it comes to the anxious thoughts that want to RUN your liife! And if the anxiety you face today is something that is too overwhelming to bear (totally not diminishing what God's word can do.. sometimes intervention from a therapist or a pastor is needed as well..I did it and it helps to be able to talk it out with someone who can help you navigate through the thoughts and lead you to God's Word too)...I suggest seeking counseling through a therapist (biblical perspective preferred) or pastoral counseling. God wants us to be a people who are not easily shaken by the things of this world. He wants us to abide in Him, so that He would establish His throne on our hearts. I hate to feel overwhelmed, defeated, on edge and hopeless. And though I like to be in control, I've learned and am still learning it won't always be that way. You have to tell yourself STOP. LET GO AND GIVE IT TO GOD. Instead of being anxious about this I will pray about it. I will acknowledge my God and thank Him for who He is and what He has done for me and I will decide to trust Him for everything...let Him do the rest sis. He's got you.
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Can I keep it real???? God, what is going on this year like really?? As if 2019 wasn't already a year of trials and struggles for many of us. 2020 came HARD and we still have a few months left of it. I've had to face a couple of trials myself from giving birth during a pandemic to losing a close family member around the same time to name a few. It has been difficult to focus on the promises of God. It has been difficult to pray and spend time with God. I can only imagine what many of you have had to experience yourselves in all of this.
I personally have had to sit down and question God about all of it...like why God? Why now? And for how long? People had plans. People had places to go and people to meet. I was frustrated and had to just vent it all out to him. I had a baby shower to do and that got cancelled. I had to give birth to my son by myself with just the medical staff in the room. We were suppose to go on a small vacation with the kids before the summer ended and now we're worried about traveling far without being quarantined when coming back. The truth of the matter is....God is "GRAN MOUN"---meaning an adult in haitian creole. It means he does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants PERIOD. We can question him until we're blue in the face..God owes us no explanation and if he does reveal the answers to us...we should be thankful and humbled because He is God. He knows ALL things. He sees beyond what we understand or see. DO.YOU.TRUST.HIM? Is your trust in the earthly things of this world?? I don't know about y'all but this pandemic has put me in check. We truly have no control over what happens...and if you're like me...who loves to be in control of things to feel safe...to feel secure...to feel accomplished then you know this pandemic has helped me to include God more in what I'm doing. To be vulnerable to Him and acknowledge that I truly need Him. Every hour, every minute, every second is NOT YOURS. Its not promised. You need the Father. You need Jesus. You need his direction. You need his wisdom in your daily decisions. You need his love in your relationships. His light in this dark world. I enjoy encouraging you guys because I'm not just speaking to you...its for me too. We are living in difficult times people. God is calling us to pay attention...get back to Him...and be in relationship with Him. He is our refuge. Our hiding place. Our HOPE. Our strength to keep living this life. Do you trust and believe that He is still who he says he is?? That he still has your best interests at heart. Psalm 62:8 says " O my people trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to him for God is our refuge." Despite all that is happening God still has a purpose for your life...do you trust Him with your life? Come back to Him. Learn to trust Him inspite of what you see or don't see. Seek Him for your life and stay connected to Him. He cares for you sis. You are His. He loves you! Yours truly, Naomie....daughter of the King Happy New Year 2020 ladies!!! Im back and I know its been a while since I've been posting. The last few months of 2019 have been CHALLENGING for me! I mean it has made me question God and my faith all together. I was ready to go LEFT you guys. But I have to say I thank God for that dark time. It has made me become more real with myself and with God about my life. It has helped me to understand and realize that I need nothing in this world more than Him. Can I be honest?--- I realized yes, I have trust issues but there's no one else I can really trust but Him. Yes, I struggle with anxiety, fear, and even anger (to name a few) but who else can truly help me but Him. And there may be some of you reading this who are dealing with the same things. You feel alone and don't know where to turn. You've tried to find inner peace, to find acceptance and joy in other things (tv, social media, job, etc.) and people (significant other, children, friends) but nothing seems to help. You probably even questioned if Jesus was truly the answer or just not good enough for you but maybe for others. I was there. I was dealing with a lot of things on the inside and I felt like God was nowhere to be found. I felt like if He was truly there, He should have been able to help me deal with these things. He should be able to heal me. I was feeling hopeless, faithless, alone and angry---I will go more in depth about this in other posts--but the more I made the choice to expose myself to the Word, to church and community, is the more I realize He has been there all along because there was always a word that lifted me up and gave me back some hope. God used those things to help me understand...I truly am here...I am in fact with you. He helped me to understand that this is not a sprint or a marathon...but a daily walk with Him. I have to be willing to take up my cross and walk with Him daily. Trusting Him daily. In good days and bad days. When things seem to be getting better AND when things are just nasty and ugly. That's the journey. Jesus didn't promise us a sweet life. He says in His word that in this life we will have trouble--- trials, hurts, wounds, sorrow, discouragement, persecution-- but take heart!! I have overcome the world. John 16:33. We can hold on to this promise...that because Jesus has overcome and we are now in Him (as believers) we overcome. So take heart sis and hold on! May 2020 be the year of overcoming for all of us! May it be a year where we take heart and trust in Jesus the overcomer, the healer, the deliverer! May we continue to walk with Him and take it day by day with Him. He's got us.
Lately I've been watching youtube videos on other christians' testimonies of where God took them from and where they are now and it truly has been encouraging to watch and listen to them. Its always good to be reminded of what God can do. Sometimes we forget the type of God we are serving when we get wrapped up in life. We forget He is mighty...He is loving.....He can heal and restore...He is forgiving...THERE IS NO ONE ELSE LIKE HIM. No other gods, substances, material possessions, etc. can fill the void and emptiness anyone on this Earth seeks after. And bottom line is as much as some of us deny it...WE ARE ALL SEARCHING. JESUS is real guys! And I am so grateful He has given me the opportunity to know Him! God took me from a place where I didn't know who I was and how valuable I was. He took me from a place where I didn't know what true love was. I didn't know how to love myself and accept myself and how He created me. I was lost and without hope. Who knows where I would have been if it wasn't for Jesus!? But what about y'all? How did God save you? I'd like to hear your story. Please share! God bless you ladies!
This week I had been doing a lot of reflecting on my walk with God and I started praying because I really wanted to know what He wanted me to learn in this season of my life. And out of nowhere there was a voice that said in me "Who do you say that I am?"....I paused and it took me some more thinking to really understand what was going on that this is what came to me. Maybe I was doubting who God really was in my life. Maybe I was not trusting Him enough for who I say and know that He is. Maybe that's why it can be so easy for me to be swallowed up in my insecurities..what others think..what others say...what others do... and it gets me discouraged and disabled where I can't walk in who God has called me to be. ---How much do we really believe what God says about us is true? How much do we believe what God says about Himself is true? Does it show in how we live? Ask yourself, am I really walking by faith? Jesus asked this big question to the disciples one day..He wanted to know if the people who were following Him and should have known him more than anyone else had faith in Him as the Messiah. Simon Peter answered and said "YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD"...Jesus then answered and said "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah...." MATT 16:16-17.
There are many verses in the bible that tell us just who our God is. The bible says "I am El Shaddai"-- God almighty GEN. 17:1 The bible says "Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God and there is none like me. ISAIAH 46:9..How many times has the Lord come thru for you? And you still don't believe? The bible says "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God! ISAIAH 41:10 There are so many other passages that depict who God is and what He can do and has done ladies! When we learn to see see Jesus for who He is and embrace it, we have no choice but to believe what He says about us too! He is not a God that He should lie! NUMBERS 23:19..another verse in the bible that depicts who He is! So lets delve into learning who He is, embracing it as truth..I believe His power will work in our lives and increase our faith not just in who He says He is but in who He says we are! Be encouraged my sistas! God WILL SHOW YOU WHO HE IS! TRUST HIM! Today happened to be one of those days where I was just constantly thinking about things going on in my life with my kids, God's plan for my life, with school, my job, our church ministry etc. It was just these overwhelming thoughts trying to devour me every chance it had. It got so bad, the anxiety I had--I started to exert that energy towards my kids which made me feel even more overwhelmed and defeated because now they began to be more on edge than usual. Had some time during the day to go through my journal, I was reminded of this verse found in 1 Peter 5:7 that says "Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." OMgoodness! did I need that!...I was reassured and reminded that I actually have someone who cares about what I'm going through even when those around me may not even know to care. He knows and He does TRULY care. Casting according to the english dictionary means throwing, rejecting, discarding, disposing of. So when it says to cast our cares..it literally means to hand it over to Him while no longer worrying about it. It's knowing and believing that it is now in good hands. It's no longer for you to worry and take care of. It doesn't mean you don't care, it's just saying "Lord, I don't know what tomorrow holds for me but I give that over to you. Lord, I don't know how the bills are going to be paid but I give that to you. I trust you because your Word is true. I trust you because I have given you my life. You are my Savior and Lord. So it's yours to deal with. Stop worrying and give it all to Him sis! Be encouraged!
Yours truly. Naomie St Louis, daughter of the King Hey ladies! So I really wanted to make this a post topic because it's actually something I've been able to learn and discover about myself as well as practice lately in this season of my life. When I hear the word "HOSPITALITY", it sounds like a dignified word and has such valuable meaning to it. It comes with honor, respect, service, and humility. But in the eyes of the introvert it can also be one of the scariest and overwhelming processes to experience and have to endure through. If you are an introvert, you know exactly what I mean! But with Jesus there is always hope ladies! There is always a WAY! First, let's just go through the description of an introvert and what it means to be one: An introvert is characterized as someone who is predominantly concerned with her own thoughts and feelings. They prefer smaller groups, or one on one convos as opposed to larger groups because it requires all their energy. Introverts need a place of solitude to function properly. A place of solitude helps the introvert to regain energy. Its not just a luxury but its as vital to an introvert as the air we breathe. Its a time to think, reflect, and regroup. (So you can imagine how hard it may be to come home from a long day or being home all day having to run errands, take care of the kids and have to have unexpected visitors or family over.) Secondly, Introverts are very detailed oriented and goal focussed. They are effective in controlled events as opposed to random gatherings. They prefer meetings, gatherings, other social interactions, etc. to be planned ahead of time (even if its just 15 min ahead of time). Lastly, Introverts----most of the time----are quiet. (It doesn't mean they are shy or antisocial though its possible). Introverts just have to think on things before speaking and again that requires a lot of energy. Do I really have to respond to that? How should I respond to that? Now, that may sound like laziness, but I think its just how we've been created. Small talk can be a challenge when meeting new people. Even when its someone we've recently met or have known for a while. There are quite a few posts and articles online through google, about introverts and extroverts if you'd like to know more about their personalities but now let's put all of what I've just shared in a christian perspective. The question now is... How do I---an introverted christian woman--practice hospitality? Well, what does the Bible say about how we are to treat others in regards to hospitality? The Bible says: Romans 12:13..."When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." 1 Peter 4:9..."Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay." Matthew 25:35...For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home." One verse in particular that has helped me in learning this especially because we are so INTO ourselves is: "Do to others as YOU would like them to do to YOU." Luke 6:31 During this season of my life, it was a challenge accepting the type of personality I had but aligning it and submitting it to the Word of God and what God wanted me to do. I had to know that not only was I created this way but I was still His, so being obedient to Him was important. So sis, if you are an introvert struggling with hospitality, go to His word about it and also pray that God would help you to obey Him in this way. God's word always provides some type of instruction and guidance to deal with life's struggles. There are people hurting in the world today who need to see Jesus and in more ways than one, hospitality does that. You no longer see yourself but the interest of another. Thats what Jesus when He died for us. So be encouraged my introverted sisters!!! Be encouraged! Happy New Year ladies!!! It has been such a while since I've come on here to share and put up posts but Im back again! New year! New slate! I do apologize to those of you who have been faithful and have continued to check in on the blog posts. I do appreciate that. I have to say I did get discouraged and busy at one point in time but God did reassure me that this is something He really wants me to continue doing and so here I am Lord, I'll do it! I believe that if God really wants you somewhere or to do something, He will show you one way or another and you WILL know its Him. I am so grateful for the year 2018 and I know God has so much in store for me and all of you if you just trust Him because He is faithful. God is too BIG for us to limit what He can do in our lives. If we just learn to walk with Him and stay in His word, so much blessing will come from that. Prayer and walking in the word is my biggest thing this year. I don't want to go ONE day without doing these two essential things. It is the only way we stay connected with God and I believe it prepares us and guides us through any situation or struggle we have. Our hearts need to constantly be submerged in the truth if we are to walk in who God has called us to be. What springs out of the mouth is from the heart.The negative thoughts, the insecurities, the fears, the doubts...they all come from a heart that needs Jesus and His word. This is what I am seeking for this year. I need more of Jesus and His word. We have victory already. We don't see it because it just needs to be manifested in our lives and that will happen only when we walk by faith in who He says we are sisters! Will you be determined to stay in His word and in prayer for your life and in all you do so that you may truly see the manifestation of His power in your life and in others around you? I am so willing! So join me! Im ready in Jesus name! "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 "I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him" psalm 62:1 "My victory and honor come from God alone." Psalm 62:7 "O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8 Sincerely, Naomie --Daughter of the KING Hey ladies, Im back again with another post!! So much has been going on in my life now its good to be back and share as much as I can with you all! Im hoping this can encourage and help someone on there way to being made whole in Christ! Have you ladies ever been in a situation where you were under so much pressure at the moment, you felt overwhelmed and defeated and stressed and angry because you had no control all at the same time? Almost as if you were a ticking time bomb ready to just go off on everyone and everything around you?...well, I've had those moments countless times myself. And when it does happen I honestly don't know what else to do with myself but take a step back and breathe, stay quiet and breathe, or go outside on my front porch and get some air. It has helped but I realize something that has made it even better to not even have to run away from the situation but deal with it. I've learned that you don't have to wait for things to get bad to do it either. WHO ARE YOU MY DEAR SIS? WHO LIVES INSIDE OF YOU? WHAT DOES HE SAY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SITUATION? You need to speak to yourself. Call yourself out on who you are! I am the daughter of the Most High God. I am accepted and blessed with even spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me! These are the things I've been learning to ask myself even before things get to that point and DURING and thats when I find a peace and strength come over me that I can't explain to you. There is healing power in Jesus. Not just because you say it to yourself but within itself there is power because we serve a miraculous and powerful God. Sis, you need to experience that for yourself. You have a power living inside of you my friend. If you are a follower of the true and living God, Jesus Christ, He lives in you and is with you in the good and the bad PERIOD. I do believe I have made a similar post on this before but I feel like God is teaching me this time after time because I need to get it right. And thats the type of God we serve. He won't stop allowing these type of situations to come your way until you've mastered and passed the test. You won't be perfect but you would have learned whatever it is He wants you to learn in that time of your life. So that when the fire comes again, you know what to do BECAUSE IT WILL COME AGAIN. Lately, I've had to ask myself what is really going on here? I'm someone who likes to reflect and so I had to try to get deep within me to understand what is the source of my madness and once again I'm led to the issue of a heart that is broken and wounded and a mind that is flooded with negativity about myself and what's going on around me. I still have so much God is teaching me and I am ready to go thru it with Him each and every step of the way. We have the Healer living inside of us y'all. we HAVE THE ANSWER! All we have to do is learn to walk with Him, seek Him and His Word. What does He promise us? What does He say about us? And walk in those things. Are we cultivating a relationship with the One who can do the transforming? With the one who has the power to break any chain in our lives? Here are two sources that have helped me in this journey thus far: Heather Lindsey and Christa Black Gifford. I encourage you if you are dealing with the issue of negative thinking to watch Heather Linsey's youtube video I posted here below. It has been soooo helpful to me. Christa Black Gifford also has a few videos on youtube talking about a heart made whole and how to walk in oneness with the One who makes us whole and two books that talk about what she has learned in her journey to being whole in Christ and freedom from shame, insecurity and hurt..it is AMAZING! I'm so sure sis, if you are on this journey with me it will help you LOTS! And remember the ultimate person you need is your Creator who knows your heart. The Healer, Christ Jesus. Be encouraged today! Both videos are posted below! I'd love to know how this has helped you so don't hesitate to leave a comment and share!! We are in this together my sistas!
Before my husband and I got married and were courting, all I use to think was "wow, this guy has got it all together". He was a hard worker with a good job, check. He had a vision for the future, double check. He is a man of God..that did it for me. I knew from then on and for the rest of my life, he would be able to love me, take care of me and most of all fill up the voids I was dealing with inside. But that way of thinking completely changed after we were married. He had flaws. There was friction between us--and there still is at times-- and the voids I had were still there-- not filled. Nothing really changed. Our closeness became more intimate but that was pretty much it. Nothing really changed. I still felt lonely. I still felt insecure. Believe it or not, I didn't feel loved. It's not that it wasn't being expressed or shown to me. Thats wasn't the issue. It was the condition of my heart that was broken..it was the baggage I carried in with me that confused me and blinded me.
Here I was thinking all my personal issues would be solved. He was going to be all I needed. My expectations were so high that each time he failed to meet them, I was disappointed, hurt and even more confused. I almost couldn't trust him anymore. It added more to my insecurities because now I began to think "he doesn't love me." "He doesn't care about me." "I don't mean anything to him". " I'm worthless". Little did I know, Jesus was already working behind the scenes of it all. In the midst of everything..He helped me to see that the problem wasn't really with my husband...it was with me. I was so focussed on him and what he can do for me than on God and what He has done for me. I was pointing at him with one finger, while three fingers were pointed right back at me. I was trying to make someone just as imperfect as I was MAKE ME WHOLE. God was teaching me that only He can do that. Only He can mens my broken heart and make me whole. That was the problem. Did I love God? Yes. Did I have a relationship with Him? Yes. I just didn't understand what place He should have in my life. I didn't give Him room to do what only He can do. I didn't trust Him enough to do the work He already started. Psalm 118:8 My insecurities and past hurts put a huge strain on our relationship. I began to see my husband through the mirror of the baggage I was holding on to and that made me MISERABLE. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU. It's so important for a woman to find herself not in anything else but in Christ alone. Before she can give herself to any man, Christ must reign over her life. If your relationship with God is not solid-- not perfect-- but firm in Him.. don't expect to have a fruitful relationship with someone else. You have to know who you are in Christ. You have to know you are beautiful before anyone else tells you "YOU ARE". You have to know what you stand for and who you stand for. Do you know how to pray and seek God when things are tough? Matt 6:33 Ladies, after 4 years of marriage I have learned A LOT! And i am still learning..God has done so much in mt life amd He can do the same in yours.. if you let Him. If you give Him thay place in your life. To the woman in a relationship right now seek God for yourself and your relationship to that man. Be sure He is first in your life and be sure He is at the center of your relationship. Seek His will for your relationship. To the woman who is already married...pray for your heart..that you are always following Him and what He wants you to be for your relationship to your suppose. Pray for your spouse and his relationship to Christ. (How we are in our relationship with Christ will affect how we are towards each other)..for the person who is still single..oh what a sweet and precious time it is for you...grow sis..make Jesus the love of your life..know who you are in Him..know who you are as a woman..learn to pray and seek Jesus..the man God sends you will need a woman who can pray for him. Be still. God will send you that right man and when He comes you will appreciate the times you had when it was just you and Jesus. He will equip you. I guarantee it. |
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