You Will Make It

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Luke 12:22

In a time where there is great uncertainty in the job market, the world financial markets and every other market on earth. May are founding themselves stress about this or that. How they will pay the bills with the cost of everything going up from milk to gas?

The stress is even in the Christian community, a community of faith, where we serve the God who is able to make the impossible possible. We must remember the same God who fed the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness is no respecter of person, if He did it for them, He will do it for you. Who kept them so much that the Word tells us, their clothes did not wear out.

Jesus on the matter of worrying asked this question, “Who of you by worrying can as a single hour to his life?” The answer is simple not one of us can add a day to our lives. Worrying can actually shorten your life and kill your faith. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Peter goes on to say, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”

And since we know Jesus is the life, in which, we as Christians gain our strength. We should not worry about the things the world concerns themselves about. Our Heavenly Father, has promised to provide each one of our needs; the need for shelter, food, good health and employment. He knows that which we have needed of.

I know many may say it is easy for her to write this, it sounds good! I do not write about things I have no clue about. I know what it is to be kept by Jesus in these rough days. I have been unemployed for three years and it is not because I have not tried. But each day I look to the hills and I know my strength is coming from the LORD to endure this season.

I have made up in my mind to trust in Him! For in Numbers 23:19-20, it states, “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.”

My friends God has given a command to bless us because we are His children. He promised to prosper the plans He has made for us. If we look over God’s track record concerning His children, we should be assured, strengthen and encouraged! Whenever the Israelites were in trouble or danger, God brought them out. In Exodus 3:7, “The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave masters (problems) and I am concerned about their suffering. So, I have come down to rescue them!”

The LORD is coming to your rescue! Peter said of the LORD concerning suffering, “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

So, do not worry today about how the bills are going to get paid! Do not worry about what the doctor said! Do not worry about your children, or anything else! Chose to live by faith! “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

You can make it because you are blessed by God…walk in it!

Israel and New Breed It's Not Over (When God Is In It)

I Feel Like Going On

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Every Christian has heard or read Jeremiah 29:11 at some point on their journey. It is the scripture where God tells the Prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I have read this passage of scripture over and over again. Not only have a read it, I have commit it to memory and I believe every word of it.

Here is where fear enters the picture and tries to keep me away from the prosper plans of God for my life. Over the years I have grown familiar with death and pain. It seem death was apart of me. Every couple of years there seem to be an unexpected death in my life. The death was always it seem at a transition period for me. Whether it was me transition from middle school to high school, when my sister was murdered and my mom, brother and another sister were shot. Or when I was making the transition from high school to college my brother was murdered. When I was making the transition from college to the workforce a dear friend was murdered. As I was making the transition from the world to a closer walk with Christ my best friend was murdered. Then as the gifts of God begin to awaken in me, my cousin and granny died two weeks apart.

However, all of this has not stop God’s plan for my life. I feel Him even the more urging me to accept His plan for my life. I know there is no failing in Christ. That whatever you put your hands to do for God, He will prosper it. I have the faith to move forward but not the works. James 2:17 states, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” I would start out with great action and intent but fear would grip me. The things or ideas God had planted in me would be left undone. I have numerous ideas for movies, plays, books and articles on my labtop, in my notebooks that I have never worked on. I have plays and books I have started and left undone.

Due to my fear that I would loss someone I love by accepting God’s next level for me, I did the bare minimal, if I did anything at all. Coming up with excuses after excuses, never really wanting to tell anyone the real reason why I have not lived up to my fullest potential, yet. Why someone with my kind of faith is not living out God’s plan for my life. It was this fear that has kept me trapped and frustrated in this position that I currently find myself. 

This fear has also kept me from being true to the real Ryane. So much that no one but God knows the real Ryane! I have hidden behind mask, never wanting anyone to really see the real me for fear, they would not know how to handle me. This extends to my family as well.I will show people glimpse of me but never really being me.

Yesterday, as I pondered what to write about for my blog, God begin to too talk to me about this fear. This fear that has kept me locked away from living the life He has purposed me to live. I found myself sitting with God, allowing Him to minister to me. Asking, when was I going to let go of this thing and walk into the prosper plan He has for me.

This morning I awakened physical and spiritually! I had a dream last night that I was with my cousin Tonya, who passed away three years ago and some friends. There was a dark presence there trying to discourage us from moving forward. In the dream, there was a flow of beautiful clear water amongst the dirt. My cousin Tonya starting singing, I Feel Like Going On, we joined in with her.

My friends I feel like going on! I feel like being that fearless woman that I know I am. I am a child of God, created to serve out His purpose for my life. It is in His loving hands that I have been placed. As the scripture says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” God is driving this fear out of me and I thank Him for doing so!!!

I do not know what fear is stopping you from walking in your God given purpose but I do know God is the answer to that fear. I know because I am “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Be blessed and walk into your God given destiny knowing the gracious hand of your LORD is upon you!

I Feel Like Going On

Silent Tears

The Sandusky case at the University of Penn State has once ago put a national spotlight on victims of child molesting, rape and incest. It has brought to light what many survives of these heinous acts continue to deal with in their adult life.

For many victims of child molesting, rape and incest it is a silent struggle. It is one where the victim feels like no one else understands the pain and violation they feel. Like it has only happen to them! Sadly hundreds of thousands are being molested, rape and incest all over the globe each day. What further saddens this issue in our world is that the offenders are people the victims trusted in some way.

Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that in the United States: "Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Every year, there are about 207, 754 victims of sexual assault."

I wish I could tell you this is a new thing but sadly it is not. We can open the Word of God and see that even then sexual predators where walking the earth. The story of Dinah (Genesis 34), Tamar (2 Samuel 1) and the woman who is brutal raped, can all be found in the Word. I know many asked the question, “Why does God allow these kinds of things to happen?”

I myself asked that very question of God. Why did he allow me to be molested? Where was God and why did it He protect me? I was only twelve years old. To be perfectly honest, after asking these questions for nearly 18 years, I still do not have the answer. However, I do have peace with what happen to me on that night so many years ago in my bedroom. The night a family friend thought it was okay to first invade my private space, then violate and take something so precious from me that was not his to take. But God has healed my wounds, He has loved me pass that pain. He has given me strength to share my story with others. He has also given me the strength to forgive the man who molested me.

As hard as it was I have forgive him for what he did to me that night and the things that happened as a result of what he did to me. The struggle with being molested, rape or a victim of incest is that it extends beyond that encounter. It goes with you into relationships with other people. You begin to look at others with a cloud of suspicious. Wondering if this person going to hurt me too. When you do not deal with what happen to you, it effect’s the way you live and how you react to situations.

For me, I begin to think my worth was nothing more than sexual. That all men would ever what from me was sex. I thought if people could just take it from me, “why don’t I beat them to the punch”. So, I begin having sex as a teenager. Not understanding fully that my action stem solely from the one encounter. It was an encounter I kept to myself for many years, until a situation forced me to tell my brother and cousin what happen to me.

For those who hold that secret like I did for years without telling my parents or anyone, we deal with the burden of carrying that weight all by ourselves. Something we do not have to do.  To those who have never shared your story with anyone else. I beg and plead with you to tell someone you trust and seek help. You cannot continue to carry that weight around with you. It is hard I know but God will see you through this. I know He did it for me! It took some years but He as He promised turned my ashes into beauty.

Please remember it is not your fault. It is nothing you did wrong. Leave the blame at the foot of the person who molested or raped you. That is not your burden to carry at all. It is their issue and I believe God will deal with them one way or the other. While the man who molested me is not in jail for what he did to me, he is there for the rest of his life, for another crime. Locked away so that he cannot hurt anything little girl.

For more information please check out http://www.rainn.org/ or call 1-800-656-HOPE.

Prayer: God I pray that you would bring peace to every person who has been violated by a molester, rapists or someone they trusted. I prayer Your peace and comfort into their lives. Those who are still holding on to anger, give them the strength to let it go, so the real healing process can begin. Lord, Tamar and Dinah brothers dealt with those who harm them. God I ask that you would deal with those who have harmed Your children. For God you said “I will defend your cause and avenge you.” I ask that you would do so for every victim as you heal them from the pain that was inflicted upon them. In Jesus Name Amen!

He Is Covering Me

For our Ash Wednesday Worship Service the ministers at my church ministered on the “Redemptive Names of God.” Each one took a name of God and preached on that for 5-7 minutes. As I reflected on their messages on yesterday, three things seem to echo in almost all their messages for me.

The first was trust in God and not in self/man. For so long I have been waiting on certain people in my life to confirm/approve of where God is taking me, as I listen to the ministers on Ash Wednesday, I heard, “I can trust God with everything concerning me.” I heard God can always be trusted. That for me is a big thing, because over the years, so many that I trusted in, did something to hurt me but to know I can completely and totally trust in God is awesome. I knew I could but the messages at Ash Wednesday service confirm it for me. I was wrestling with this trust in the plans God has for my live, for three or so years but not I am convince He can be trust. So as Proverbs 3:5 says, I WILL…”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Anymore!

The second was God’s protection and providence in my/our lives. The scripture that comes to mind is Romans 8:31, says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? I looked back over my life and I can see the protection and providence of God in my life. There are many things God has protected me from. From the times I tried to commit suicide to the poor choices of hanging out with the wrong people. It has been His hand on my life that has kept me in the past and I was reminded on Ash Wednesday that same protection and providence is there for me know and will be there for me in the future. So, I will, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Deuteronomy 31:6).

The third was being obedient to God. The prophet Jeremiah tells us God has a plan for our lives.  For the last three years I have been trying to ignore, avoid, distance myself, restructure, and deny the plan/vision of God for my life. I tried to offer God parts of my, when He was calling for all of me. It was parts of God’s plan/vision of my life that I wanted to accept and others I wanted to live at the door, with a thanks but no thanks note to God. I falsely thought the sacrifices I was making with giving my time, talent and treasure was good enough, when God was calling me to be obedient to what His plan/vision for my life was. In the book of 1 Samuel 15:22 where the prophet Samuel said, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” I have decided to walk in obedience to God’s plan/vision for my life. In the book of Deuteronomy 5:33, it says, “Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

I have listed the Redemptive Names of God below:

JEHOVAH-JIREH- “The Lord our provider”- This is also the name Abraham gave to the place where the Lord provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. (Gen. 22:14)

JEHOVAH- NISSI- “Our banner, a banner of love and protection”- Also the name Moses gave to the altar he built after defeating the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15)

JEHOVAH-SHALOM- “Our perfect peace”- Also the name Gideon gave to the altar he built at Ophrah (Judges 6:24)

JEHOVAH-TSID-KENU- “The Lord is our righteousness”- The name is applied to a future Davidic king who would lead his people to do what is right and thus bring peace (Jeremiah 23:6) and to the restored city of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 33:16). THE name is possibly a play on the name Zedekiah (Righteous is the Lord) who reigned from 597 to 587 B.C.

JEHOVAH- SHAMMAH- “The One Who is with us everywhere for He is Omnipresent”- The Jerusalem of Ezekiel’s version (see Ezekiel 48:35 margin) was known by this name. Compare text at Isaiah 60: 19-20 and Revelation 21:3.

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH- “The Lord of Hosts, our Protector.” C.H. Spurgeon said this about the phrase “The Lord of Hosts. The Lord rules the angels, the stars, the elements, and all the hosts of Heaven of heavens is under His sway…[the Lord] is on our side—our august Ally; woe unto those who fight against Him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when He gives the word to scatter them.” See text at Psalm 46:7

JEHOVAH-RAAH- “Our Shepherd Who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe.” The famous Psalm 23 tells us that “The Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want…”Being illustrated as a shepherd implies a relationship with His sheep (His believers). The term shepherd appears approximately 80 times in the Scriptures, denotating, meanings of: feeder, keeper, companion, friend, pastor and herdsman.

JEHOVAH RAPHA- “I am the Lord Your Physician or I am the Lord Your Healer- this name especially was a Name God prophetically spoke about Himself, not one that someone gave In The Bible by Herbert Lockyer used as source for certain material.

May the peace, love and blessings of God be with you!!!!

I Give Up

Today makes the first day of the Lenten Season for many Christians across the world. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. A day in which ashes that were blessed from the previous year on Palm Sunday are burnt and placed on the foreheads of believers. The ashes are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross. Ash Wednesday/Lenten season is a time of reflects for many Christian, including myself.

This Ash Wednesday I find myself reflecting on the promises God has made me over the years. I find myself looking in the mirror of my soul/spirit with some very critical questions for myself. There is one question I keep asking myself. Why do you keep allowing fear to consume you?

On Ash Wednesday many Christians begin to fast from food or they give up something that takes their time away from God. For me today starts the first day of giving up the spirits of my will, fear, procrastinates, and low self/spiritual worth (not feeling like I am worthy of God blessing me the way He has in mind to do) . I am starting today, by encouraging myself in the LORD. In the Word of God, He tells me, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.” (Psalm 139:14, NIV) I am taking the necessary steps to rid myself of these spirits, so that I can live the life God has pre-planned for me. What are those steps?

First, I plan to look over the 10 year life plan God gave me in November of 2010 and pick those things I can do now that will lead me to the blessings in my career, life and ministry. Secondly, I will stop denying who God has said I am and called me to be. Finally, I will just trust and obey, there is no other way for me to rid myself of these spirits and hindrances but to just trust and obey God’s instructions in my life.

I desire, want and need a closer walk with the LORD! I know to get it I must give up those things that are hindering me from drawing closer to Him. So, during this Lenten season and for the rest of this earthly life, I plan to trust and obey the direction/plan God has for me. It was God who told the Prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV) I desire/want/need what it is God has for me. With that Ryane has to die daily that Christ may live in me and that I may experience Him on an even greater level.

During this Lenten Season, what do you plan to give up (for good) so that you may draw closer to the LORD?

May the peace and blessings of our Savior/God rest with each one of you!!!

http://youtu.be/tJznj1a8I1w

Stepping Back Into Promise

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It ^[d]hastens toward the goal and it will not ^[e]fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3-4

As I entered July 2011, I found myself in a place of utter frustration, discouragement, disappointment, anger and depression, which led me to a place of rebellion. Who and what was I rebellion against? God and His purpose for my life. After writing and publishing my first book under the guidance of the Holy Spirit I found myself at an high place with God in April and May, feeling like my season was of blessings were coming. It seemed to me like the wheels were now turning in my favor. Then came the slap in the face, as book sales stalled and my money dried up, I found myself questioning, if I was truly in the will of God with this writing career. If I had truly heard the LORD say, “He would bless the works of my hand.”

I begin to feel frustrated with God and His promises of my life. Why, if I had such an anointing, call and purpose on my life was I always going through so much? Why, did I have to ALWAYS go THROUGH and FIGHT so much? Why, could I get something easy? Here I was giving God may TIME, TALENT and TREASURE; only to see things go from bad to worst for me.

It was a day in July that I told God, I was not going to do ministry work, write another thing, pray, study the Word or anything until He blessed me. I was so freaking tired of taking a step forward only to be pushed ten steps back. In a state of rebellion I sat and did absolutely NOTHING. I ignored calls for my ministry team leaders, went to Worship service late (I am the Media Ministry team leader and I run the sound system at our late service, not a good thing for me to be late.) But here I was, so causal about ministry, catching attitudes, rolling my eyes and saying I do not care or whatever. What I could not understand was that even in my disobedience and rebellion God continued to tell me He loved me. In the two months I was in a rebellious state, God, reminded me of what Jesus said, “no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” He did not stop there, the words King David record in Psalm 139: 7-12 came to me, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

God reminded me that His Word was so much apart of me and who I was that not even rebellion and disobedience could separate us. I had done what David recommended, I hide the Word of God in my heart and as the enemy told me, my attempts to be obedient to God was all for not. If He was going to bless the works of my hand, why was it taking Him so long to prosper the very thing He told me would bless me? Where was my Jehovah Jireh when I needed Him the most? As the voice of the enemy grew louder and louder in my head, it was the presence of God and the Holy Spirit that kept me from going any deeper into despair.

It was a day in August when I know the rebellion and disobedience had to end. I know it was time to let it go and get back to be about my Father’s business. The last six years with the LORD has shown me He could be trusted with everything concerning me. I know God loved me! I went from a place of rebellion and disobedience to a place of just been in a rut and not really know how to get out. There was the desire to get out and continue to pursue the dreams and things of God. This week Habakkuk 2: 3-4 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It ^[d]hastens toward the goal and it will not ^[e]fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay” kept coming to me. It was not until this morning that I really gave the scripture much thought. As I contemplated what was said to Habakkuk, the promises God made to me came to mind. In the last three months I had lost my patience. I lost that preservation that God placed in me. I lost my determination to keep going no matter what. I lost my drive and ambition to eagerly pursue the things of God.

After three months I am ready to step back into my promises. Knowing that the vision (promises) of God may tarry but if I wait for them, I am assured today that God will surely bring them to past. I feel like going on in faith, hope, obedience, praise, worship, trust and courage to again pursue the things God has said are mine.

God Bless
Ryane

Our Story

It took years for me to piece together what actually happened thatnight. I shared with the student body, what I understood to be the turn
of events that led to the tragedy. Some parts of it we will never know,
but I shared with them as best as I could. Our next-door neighbor owed
Tracy some money. The neighbor’s daughter came over to our house
and told Tracy her mother was in a crack house smoking her money up
with the neighbor’s brother. Tracy was upset and went to the house
looking for her. She found her and asked for her money. The lady
started to curse and resolved that she was not going to give Tracy
anything.” Tracy told her simply, “You WILL give me my money”
and she began to walk away. The lady threw a beer can at Tracy and
all hell broke loose. Tracy started to walk away but didn’t. After the
lady throw the beer can Tracy went back to confront her further and
that was when, Charles, the woman’s son, came out and begin to hit
Tracy. My other sister Danielle then joined in the altercation. One of
their friends went to tell my mother about the fight. My mom and my
brother Ronnie went down the alley from our house where my sisters
were to see what was going on. This is where the story gets fuzzy for
me. It was not clear then and it still is not clear who had the gun. The
gun was there and it was in Charles’s hand. He shot Tracy first as his
mother looked on and screamed, “Kill all of them.”

Charles turned the gun on Ronnie and shot him, then Danielle.
My mother could not stand by and watch her children be shot down by
this man as if they were nothing. She jumped on Charles and struggled
with him for the gun. In the process, my mother was shot twice, once
in the head and a second time in the leg. She managed enough strength
to wrestle the gun away from him; it was then she shot and killed him.
It’s crazy how in a few minutes your life changes completely.
Our mother warned Tracy that the neighbor was going to be the
cause of her death. She told her if you keep messing with her and her
family, she is going to be the cause of Stacey growing up without a
mother and you being dead. And in a couple of days her words rang
true and our lives were changed forever.

When I got to the part where my mother shot and killed Charles,
the whole auditorium erupted in cheer. Was there anything to cheer
about in this situation? I am more than grateful to my mother for doing
what she did and I understand her reasoning for her actions, but there
were no winners in this situation. Both families lost. It is fair for me
say that Charles was high on drugs the night he turned a gun on my
family. I do not know if he had been sober if the outcome of the
situation would have been different. I wish and pray that it would
have, but what’s done is done. We just had to learn from it and go on.
While my classmates cheered my mom like a hero at the end of a fairy
tale, I didn’t have the words to explain to them that resolution doesn’t
come that easy. I couldn’t silence their cheers and take them through
the journey of my pain. I wanted to scream to the top of my lungs and
tell them that Charles’ life was not as ransom for what had been stolen
from my family on that day was greater. I couldn’t tell them about the
mental breakdowns my mother suffered or the visions of my sister in
my mind that plagued me from time to time.

They wouldn’t understand that part of it – so I left them in a happy place, though I
was stripped emotionally and damaged spiritually. I let the applause
echo in my head for moments after, when it was silent. I simply
thanked them for their attention, but they had no idea of the story
behind the story. I wish I would have told them be careful what you
cheer for. That ending was not a happy ending at all.

Purchase your copy of From the Gutters to a Mansion by going to www.lulu.com/buy and typing in From the Gutters to a Mansion.

Thank you!!!

Relationship

Everyday I receive a scripture on my cell phone, today’s scripture was Jeremiah 17:7-8,"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

For the last three Sunday’s my Pastor has been preaching and teaching on prayer. He gave an acronym about how to get a prayer through R-A-P. The R represents relationship, our relationship with God. Relationships are important to humans whether we would admit it or not. We were created to be in relationship; first with God and then with others.

It is our relationship with God that allows us to fully understand what Jeremiah is talking about in verses 7-8. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. A relationship with God will build your trust in Him as you learn about His character, love, and patience’s. Then you begin to experience God and it’s through your experiences with Him that your confidence grows which leads to trusting in God.

Trusting in God is important everyday of your life but it is extremely important to trust Him when life gets difficult for you; when the storms of life coming raging into your life like a hurricane. It is then you see where your relationship with God stands. Will your troubles cause you to walk away from God or will you be like the man Jeremiah talks about in verses 7-8. The blessed man who trusted in God in good times and bad times; the one who continued to trust in the Lord, even when the heat of life came. As it will, Christ said, “In this world you will have trouble.” In His love the Lord forewarned of the trouble that could arouse in our lives but He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world."

You can only take heart if you know Him. If you believe in what is written about Him? What is said of the miracles He is still performing today? It is important to have a relationship with God because when the heat comes, as it well, you will be able to still bear fruit during your season of drought.

I know this because the last two years I have been going through a season of loss but I have also been able to bear fruit. I have been able to see God’s mercy and grace up close and very personal. I have stood in the heat of life and have ben refreshed by God day in and day out. He has held to His promises to never leave me or forsake me.

My trust in Him has opened up the door to peace in the midst of my troubles. I have not had to worry about food, money or a place to stay at all, even through I lost my job.
So, get to know God. Spend some time with Him and allow His love to move you to a place where you trust Him. A place where you place all your confidence in Him.
God Bless!!!

Confidence in God

One of my favorite old saints from the Bible is King David. There are a couple of reasons why I like King David so much. He had a faith, trust, and relationship with God that preserved every trial, tribulation, problem and situation he faced. His relationship with God never changed based on his condition or what he was going through in his life. When his own son was trying to kill him, King David looked to the Lord for answers. When He had a promise from God that he would one day be King of Israeli, King David never give up, when people were trying to kill him, lying on him and doing everything to undermine the promises of God in his life; King David held firm to the promises of God over his life.

When you read through the Psalms King David wrote, you see a relationship that is rooted in love, trust, and faith. It takes a lot to still trust, have faith in and love a person, who at first glance seems to be standing idling by as folks try and kill you due to the promise He has given you. But that was King David, when you look at Psalms like Psalm 27, where King David writes, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour[a] me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” As I have study King David’s life, his trust, love, and faith in God came from him spending time with the LORD. Making himself available to the LORD. Even as all these things were happening in his life. He knew God would never leave him or forsake him. It seemed at times like King David had some insight into God’s character that no one else on the planet had. I wonder sometimes will my faith, trust and love for God ever come close to King David’s. Will I get to a place that even in the most unbearable situations that occur in my life, while I be able to show this much faith and trust in God.

There are times on my journey, particularly the last two years, were I have had to take pages out of King David’s life on faith, on trusting God and know the love of God. Like King David I have promises from God about my life and our journey together. While I see something happening in the natural ream, I have not seen the full manifesting of the promises of God on my life just yet. Which I admit can be a bit discouraging at times, when you are doing almost everything that is required of you and still not seen the promises. And then it seems that even more problems pop up in your life. I look to old saints like King David for an example on how to get through the preparation season of my life. To stay encourage on this journey that is sometimes filled with twist and turns, ups and downs , we have to look to the LORD and the encouragement He has made available to us in His written Word, in songs and in His people. So, I find my encouragement in the Psalms when I am discouraged. I allow my mind to go back to what King David must have felt to have so much promise on his life and be hated to the point where some would want to kill him. But there was not quitting in him and it seem the more he believed in the LORD, the deeper his relationship with Him grew.

I desire that type of relationship with God. That no matter what I go through on this journey it only serves to deepen my relationship with God. I am getting there and I thank God for His patience with me. As King David continued in Psalm 27, I allow these words not only to minister to me but I apply them to my life as I take this victories journey with God. “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper; Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. “

Reflections

As the hours are running out on 2010, I find myself reflecting on all 2010 has meant, for me the first 8 months of 2010 was stagnant, unproductive, undisciplined and lacking in self-control. It was in the first 8 months that I could not believe I was still going through such tough losses, while still trusting in God. While still doing some of the work God has prepared for me to do. I could not believe my life had not turned the corner at that point. Why was God not moving in my life and turning things around for me? Why was He still giving me things to do and encouraging me to fulfill my God given purpose but was not answering my prayers for relief from my situations? So, I just did enough the first 8 months of 2010 to say I did something. Honestly, I did not put my best foot forward I just put a foot forward and said, “I did it.”

Then one day as I sat on the beach in Virginia Beach in August, things changed from that day. I had a totally awesome experience with God that propelled me to stop just existing but to start living again. God told me I was in a season of loss. My mind went to something my Associate Pastor asked me two years ago, Was God the joy of my strength.” To which I said, “Yes.” That meant to me, even in this season of loss, He was still the joy of my strength. This was the beginning of 2010 turning around for me. It was the beginning of my journey to rediscovery. I need to rediscovery the God, who found me in my loss state and clean me up. I need to rediscover the unique things God has disposed into me that make me Ryane Belynda Nickens. For that I went on a road trip for six week, visiting friends and each friend held a key to unlock the part of me I had locked up. It started in Chicago and brought me back to Washington, DC, renewal, revived and even the more determined to fulfill God’s plan for me life.

So, 2010 for me was a season of loss but in my losses I found Ryane Belynda Nickens again. As I head into 2011, I know God has a plan to prosper me. Today, Isaiah 43:16-18-19, spoke to the very way I was feeling about entering 2011. It reads, “This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” For I know the LORD is doing a new thing with me. I know He is preparing me to enter into another season and to experience Him at another level. So, as I take the lessons learned in 2010 with me into 2011, I go thanking God for being true to His Word and not leaving me or forsaking me. Even when I wanted Him too! I thank Him for always loving me, protecting me, guiding me and I know it will continue in 2011.

I pray God will reveal Himself to you in an awesome and magnificent way in 2011. Be safe and Happy New Year!!! May it be filled with God’s glorious presence and His awesome blessings!!!

Matrimonial Money: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 10

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; if they fall down, they can help each other up. But pity those who fall and have no one to help them up! Ecclesiastes 4:3-10

12 Days to Go: It’s Not Just about You

Main Point: Together as one you can become better stewards of your money.

My Pledge: I will work with my spouse to develop a set of rulers to govern how we handle our money together.

Daily Assignment: If you are married (or engaged, as in there’s a ring and a firm date set), work together to come up with at least ten “House Rules” to handle your money as a couple. I’ve already started you off with four, so you only have six more to go. Once you are in agreement, write down the rules. I mean it. Put them on paper and keep the rules handy so there is no question what you both agreed to.

In addition to mediating on the Scripture for today, read Luke 14:28. Discuss with your spouse what this Scripture means. Here’s a hint: The passage is about the importance of planning.

If you are not married, make a list of the financial qualities you would like to have in a mate. Now, create a list of the financial issues you have and would like to improve upon before getting married.

My Response:
Qualities I would like in a mate.
1. A excellent steward of his financial resources.
2. Financial stable.
3. A mate who is able to tell me no and be firm, when it comes to my impose spending.
4. A tithier.
5. Someone who knows how to budget.

List of my financial issues I would like to have improved before getting married.
1. Be more financial responsible.
2. Reduce some or most of my debt.
3. Have a working budget I am living within.

Diversification Delivers: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 9

Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. Ecclesiastes 11:2

13 Days to Go: Investing for Your Future

Main Point: Understand that when you invest, you put your money at risk.

My Pledge: I will examine my investments to make sure I’m well diversified.

Daily Assignment: Visit a website that explains the basics of investing. I’ve already listed several, but at least start with www.finra.org or www.mymoney.gov.
Review your investment statements-including your retirement account and your children’s college fund. Look at where and how you’ve allocated the money in your 401(k) or other retirement plans. Is it spread across various asset classes? Or have you concentrated your contributions in just one or two types of asset categories? In other words, is your money all in one basket?

If you are not investing, make the commitment today to begin investing for your future. If you are eligible for a 401 (k) plan at your job, start contributing to it. If your employer doesn’t provide a retirement plan, resolve to invest anyway. You can open an IRA. To find out more information about IRA, go to www.ivestorprotection.org. Read “Maximize Your Retirement Investments.” You can also find information on how to open an IRA at www.choosetosave.org.

My Response: I am currently unemployed, so there is no 401 (k) for me to invested in. However, I am working towards being self-employed and will look into opening an IRA account for myself.

Taking a journey down honest avenue right now...I have yet to write down my budget. Why, you ask? I have no clue! I will committment today to set aside Friday night to work on my budget, however, hard it is for me to do.

Pray for me, because I need it!!!

The Salvation of Saving: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 8

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5


14 Days to Go: God’s Blueprint for Saving

Main Point: There is great reward in saving.

My Pledge: I will commit today to set aside a percentage of every paycheck for my savings.

Daily Assignment: If you are not regularly saving money, make the commitment today to save at least 5 percent of every paycheck. For example, if your net income during one pay period is $1, 500.00, you will save $75.00.

If you work for a company, contact your benefits coordinator to set up an automatic deposit into your savings account. Put the money into an account and resolve not to touch it.

If you are already saving, consider increasing the amount you are putting aside. Five percent is just a beginning. If you really want to boost your savings, go to 10 or 15 percent.

To give your savings a purpose, list the things you would like to do with the money. For example, pay off a debt, take a long-overdue vacation, make some home improvements, etc. Post the list someplace where you will see it frequently to help maintain your commitment and motivation to save.

My Response: I am currently not saving any of my income, due to the fact, 95 percent of it goes right back out the door. But I will make a commitment starting today to saving at the very least $10.00 out of every check I receive to start with.
In the future I will put away five dollars from every book I sale into a saving account that will not be touch. It will be in my Emergency Fund account.
I can use the money to assist with my book tour I will take in 2011, to promote my first book. The money can be used to pay off debt and to help my parents and Granny with their bills or wants.

The Providence of Preparation: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 7

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18

15 Days to Go: Budgeting for Life

Main Point: A budget is your roadmap to prosperity.

My Pledge: I will be diligent and develop a budget so that every penny I earn has a purpose.

Daily Assignment: You know what to do. Follow all the instructions in the chapter to begin putting your budget together. You may not finish today, but you must begin the process today. By the end of Day 11, which is the end of part 2: “Prepare Yourself to Prosper,” you should have completed your budget. (You can find an online version of this budget at www.washingtonpost.com/singletaryP2Plinks).
Journal daily from now through Day 11 about your feelings concerning your budget. Use the sample journal entry in the appendix as a reference if you need help. Whatever you do, don’t give up-even if the numbers look grim. Remember that God is with you during this entire process.

My Response: I am working on this assignment and it is no fun at all. I know how much debt I have and to whom I owe it too. My budget should not be that hard to do, what I am finding hard to do is face the mess I made of my finances. Facing a financial future within a budget, something I have never done. I am not the must discipline person on the planet, as evidence by my finances. But I believe creating this budget will help me be more accountable and responsible with my finances.

Coveting versus Contentment: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 6

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. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

16 Days to Go: Satisfaction Guaranteed
Main Point: Be content with what you have.

My Pledge: Today, I promise I will not complain about anything I don’t have.

Daily Assignment: Make a list of at least three things you’ve said lately that express a lack of contentment. For example:
I wish I had a bigger house.
I don’t have anything to wear.
We never go anywhere.

After you make the list, ask God for forgiveness for not appreciating what you have.
Clean out your house. You didn’t think I was kidding, did you? Well, maybe not the whole house today. Instead, pick one room or a closet or toy bin and pull everything out. Sort everything into three piles: Keep it trash it, give it away. Give or throw away everything you haven’t used in the last year.

My Response: A major of my stuff is in storage, making this assignment nearly impossible. I went through my items before I placed them in storage and ridden myself of all the things I did not need or want.

The Evils of Entitlement: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 5

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Ecclesiastes 2:10

17 Days to Go: The World is Enticing

Main Point: A sense of entitlement could be getting in the way of God blessing you.

My Pledge: Today, I’ll think about something in my life that I did or purchased that I know realize was giving in to a sense of entitlement.

Daily Assignment: Think of an occasion where you gave in to your sense of entitlement. For example, did you take a vacation that ended up putting you further into debt?
How much did your sense of entitlement cost you? Write down the amount so you can own up to it.
Today I want you to list at least three things you are grateful for. Then, in a specific prayer, I want you to give thanks to God for those blessings. As the song goes, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” The following are examples of things to be grateful for:
I have a job.
I have someplace to live.
I have my own teeth.

My Response: It was back in July when I visited the T-Mobile store for a new charger for my phone and saw the new Windows phone. Though there was nothing wrong with my current phone I wanted the Windows phone and thought because of everything I had lost and going through the last three years, I deserved something new to play with. I brought the phone and a month later it was stolen for an outdoor community event I was volunteering at. So, $358.00 was wasted because I do not submit my claim to the insurance company in a timely fashion.

Father,I am grateful today for my family & friends who have encourage me and been there for me the last three years. You have blessed beyond anything I could imagine in giving me people who love me for me and support and encourage me to be all You want me to be. I am also grateful for a roof over my head, when so many people who have lost there jobs during this recession, have also lost their homes and are now homeless. I thank you!!! For I know it could have been me but you continue to bless me. I am also thankful and grateful for Your Presence in my life because had it not been for you…I surely would have lost my mind during this time but I am clothe in my right mind because You would not take Your hand off of me.

Love Your Child,
Ryane Beylnda Nickens

Tithing Today: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 4

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

18 Days to Go: First Fruits

Main Point: Tithing is still applicable today.

My Pledge: I will commit to tithing or recommit to continue tithing.


Daily Assignment: If you are not a tither, make a list of the reasons why you don’t tithe. Your list might include things like:
I can’t afford to tithe.
I am afraid I won’t have enough to pay my bills.

Add up all the nonessential expenses you had in the last month, such as cable, eating out, going to the movies, etc. How much are you spending on these?
Figure out how much your tithes would be per month and compare this with the money you spent on nonessentials. Do you see places you can cut your expenses to find the money to tithe?

If you are already tithing, are you tithing on your gross income? If not, take a look at your discretionary spending (cable, cell phone, entertainment) and consider cutting back so that you can tithe on the full amount of your “increase.”
If you already tithe on your gross income, examine your offerings or charitable contributions to other organizations. Are you giving as much as you can? Or are you tithing to the penny, while grousing that you can’t or won’t give another dime to anything else?

My Response: I believe if I budget appropriately I will be able to give more in offerings each month to my home church. We currently have a building fund pledge going on to help renovation our church. I filled out the card but I have yet to turn it in because I do not really know where I am going to find the money, I thought. After four days on the financial fast I believe I can support this effort with the $20.00 a week a waste on unnecessary things. I plan on turning in the card with my first donation this Sunday.

God’s Generosity: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 3

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

19 Days to Go: Cheerful Giving

Main Point: To whom much is given, much is required.

My Pledge: I will identify someone-a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker-who needs help either with cash (I can afford to give away) or my time. I will use God’s generosity toward me as an example of how to be generous to others. As I prosper, I will share my wealth with others.

Daily Assignment: Think of at least one person who could use some help financially. For example, perhaps there is someone you know struggling to purchase groceries. Could you pick up some extra grocery items for them when you do your shopping? If you can’t afford to help someone with cash, how else might you ease their financial burden? Perhaps you could offer to babysit for an evening. Maybe you know a neighbor whose care has been repossessed. Offer to drive the person on a few errands or take them to work for a week free of charge.

My Response: At this time I am not able to help anyone financial. Every dollar of my income is account for each week. I am on this financial fast to learn how to budget and handle the money God has provided for me. I can and will seek other ways to be of help to someone else with my time and talent.

A Promise of Prosperity: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 2

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:18


20 Days to Go: God Will Provide

Main Point: God promises prosperity.

My Pledge: To find the key to wealth, I have to understand that prosperity comes with conditions. I must follow God’s will and Word for my life.

Daily Assignment: Listed below are the Ten Commandments. As you review each one, ask yourself these questions: “Have I broken this commandment in ways that have left me broke? Have I ignored a commandment and been robbed of financial peace?” After each commandment are some additional questions to consider. You don’t have to answer all the questions, but read through and see which ones most apply to you. Write your responses in your journal.

“ You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:7). List at least one time in which you cursed God for not having the things you want. How did that impact your relationship with God?

My Respone: There are a number of the ten commandments I have broken over my life span. The one that jumps out at me is “ You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” In the last three years I have seen many things/people taken away from my life. Just as I was getting around to get my finances in order, I was let go from my job. It was almost four months before I recieved my first unemployment check. At that point I was three months behind on my rent and other bills had piled up. In the months to come I found myself slowly but surely going deeper into debt. I was tithing and giving my offering on the money God was bring into my life. I was still giving my treasure, time and talent but there was no release from my financial burden.

I found myself one day this year asking God, why had others who were not doing anythign for Him prosper and here I was giving Him my time, talent and treasure but I was still under heavy financial debt. I remember cry out and asking God, "where are you?" I need you!!!

Hebrews 13:5 "“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”God, had been telling me this for the last three years, along with the Do Not Worry passage in Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. and Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Knowing God is always with me and as Numbers 23:19-20 records, "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it." I feel closer to the Lord and every trial appears to bring me closer to God.

The Power to Prosper: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 1

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

A couple of weeks ago I started working on my 5-year life plan. As I looked at the areas of my life I wanted to set goals for I felt pretty good about all but one. My finances!!! I am going to go ahead and admit I am horrible with money. I spend, spend and think about the cost later on. So, I looked at the financial section of my 5-year life plan and thought I would save that portion for last. But in the last week, my finances have been at the top of my discussions with God. I feel trapped in debt, mad at myself for making so many bad choices, and really unsure of how to rein in my spending. How do I break myself out of this poor money management system or the lack of any system?
It was a couple of months ago that I picked up Michelle Singletary book “The Power To Prosper: 21 Days to Financial Freedom”. I read the Acknowledgements and the introduction chapter then put it down and did not pick it back up until it was time to return it back to the library. I have made myself become accustom to be in the library to write at least four days a week. While I was in the back waiting for something, I found myself standing next to the books on finances and again there was Michelle Singletary’s book. I looked at it and it looked at me…then something within me told me to pick it up and try again. So, I picked the book up again. Thinking to myself am I really going to be able to complete a 21 day financial fast, in which, I purchase nothing but the bare essentials. Am I even capable of doing something like this?
Not sure if I am capable but the next 21 days will tell me if I am capable of not spending money on anything but the bare essentials. In the book Michelle Singletary suggested we keep a journey and this will be my journey…you guys already know all my business anyway…why not take this journey with me. She also has an assignment at the end of each reading for the next 21 days.

21 Days to Go: Breaking Bonds
Main Point: We need to be set free from the bondage spending holds on our lives.
My Pledge: For the next twenty-one days, I will be on a spending diet. I will not shop for anything except necessities. I will not use my credit card. I will limit or eliminate the use of my debit card. I will use cash for purchases I make during the fast. In this way, I will strive to break the chains that keep me from achieving financial freedom.
Daily Assignment: Make a list of any potential obstacles that may prevent you from sticking to the fast and then decide how to eliminate them. For example, instead of putting your credit cards in a drawer or file cabinet, freeze them. Yes, that’s what I said. Put the cards in the freezer. That’s what one person did so that she wouldn’t be tempted to use her cards. If you are a shopaholic, you may need to change your driving pattern so that you don’t go near your favorite shopping places.
Take this pledge and then sign your name on the line below:
“I promise to follow the 21-day financial fast so that I may put myself on the path of prosperity and financial freedom.”
Ryane Belynda Nickens
My List:
Food- I go to the gym five days a week in between the timeframe of 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. each day and then to the library. According to the trainer I need to eat at least 5 small meals a day, which means I stop at local sandwich shop or fast food store to pick something up for lunch. For the next 21 days I will pack a lunch and snacks to take with me and eat that instead of going to a restaurant.
I Need-I living under the assumption that I need everything that I purchase, when in reality I know I do not. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to lead me in making the right financial choices over the next 21 days and everyday after that.

So, the journey begins…wish me luck!!!