I have a friend that has been saying "I'm transforming" for almost a year now. So I asked her, "how much transforming do you plan to do and will I be able to recognize you after all of this transforming?" Her answer was "yes you will be able to recognize me, I'll just be a better me."
Dena being Dena had to go to the dictionary and look up the meaning of transform. Webster's states transform, verb, to change the form or appearance of; 2 to change the condition, nature, or function of. Interesting. So my friend is changing the form or appearance of herself? Maybe she is changing the condition, nature, or function of something?
When I think of transform, I associate it with renewing because my biblical mind kicks in. Webster's define renewing as to make new or fresh again; 2 to reestablish; revive. In the bible Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
When a person makes a decision to transform they want to change something. Does the person want to change the outer condition, nature or is the person looking, attempting to renew their mind? In my opinion I believe a person should renew their mind and the transformation will follow. If you change what is going on in the mind; thoughts coming in and going out, images, sounds, etc, transformation will begin to take place on the outside. People will look at you and know that you are transforming and you will not have to tell them.
I'm excited to know that my friend wants to be a better person. We should all strive for that at all times. I'm also excited to know that my friend recognized that she needed to be a better person. That is the hardest part for a lot of people. What I would like to say is YOU GO GIRL, RENEW YOUR MIND AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW! You will look, feel, act, and be better.
My favorite motto is: If you know better you will do better.
During this holiday season, I pray that we all take some time to look within ourselves and see if some renewing needs to take place. Think about how we can be better not only to ourselves but to others. You will be happy that you did.
Renewing your mind will also free you from bondage that may have held you captive for a long time. Its time to let it all go.
Peace and Blessings
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Goodbye Fear
Hello Fear is the name of Kirk Franklin's latest CD. I was listening to the song titled Hello Fear on the train ride in to work this morning when I had the biggest breakthrough. I have lived a very big portion of my life in fear.
People wouldn't know it by looking at me, but fear has dictated a major part of my every being. It started as a child. My mom would get angry at me for whatever foolish thing I had done and would tell me that I would never be anything and no good like my biological father. Those very hurtful words put fear in me that would last for a very long time. I believed those words!
When things in my life became a little shaky or overwhelming, I would run in fear of failing. When I would become weary, I would give up in fear of pressing on. I experimented with drugs to fit in with certain crowds in fear of being rejected. I gave my body away in fear of not being loved. I stayed on a job I hated because my mama and granny said it was a good job in fear of not disappointing them. I was afraid to start this blog and let my life be a testimony to others to help them in fear of what others would think of me and shun me. Fear, fear, fear.
I'm very happy to say that fear no longer lives inside of me. God has now replaced the fear with love, grace, and mercy. God's word tell me that I can do all things through Christ Jesus that strengthens me. Philipians 4:13 God has me. Even though I walk through a dark valley, I will fear no evil. God has me. God will never leave me or forsake me. God has me. There will be times that I will feel alone, afraid, wonder about the what's next, what ifs, etc, but grace and mercy abounds all the more and erases all the fear. God has me!
I have learned that people act out negatively from fear. They do destructive things to themselves out of fear. Fear is not of God. The only fear we should have is the fear of the Lord and that is a good fear. That fear should be that we reverently, a feeling of deep love & respect, worship the Lord.
Let's put fear behind us. Let's seek God and move forward in a more positive, graceful manner. With fear behind me, I plan to do what I can with what I have to build up the Kingdom. God has me and He can have you to!
May God Continue to Bless Us All!
People wouldn't know it by looking at me, but fear has dictated a major part of my every being. It started as a child. My mom would get angry at me for whatever foolish thing I had done and would tell me that I would never be anything and no good like my biological father. Those very hurtful words put fear in me that would last for a very long time. I believed those words!
When things in my life became a little shaky or overwhelming, I would run in fear of failing. When I would become weary, I would give up in fear of pressing on. I experimented with drugs to fit in with certain crowds in fear of being rejected. I gave my body away in fear of not being loved. I stayed on a job I hated because my mama and granny said it was a good job in fear of not disappointing them. I was afraid to start this blog and let my life be a testimony to others to help them in fear of what others would think of me and shun me. Fear, fear, fear.
I'm very happy to say that fear no longer lives inside of me. God has now replaced the fear with love, grace, and mercy. God's word tell me that I can do all things through Christ Jesus that strengthens me. Philipians 4:13 God has me. Even though I walk through a dark valley, I will fear no evil. God has me. God will never leave me or forsake me. God has me. There will be times that I will feel alone, afraid, wonder about the what's next, what ifs, etc, but grace and mercy abounds all the more and erases all the fear. God has me!
I have learned that people act out negatively from fear. They do destructive things to themselves out of fear. Fear is not of God. The only fear we should have is the fear of the Lord and that is a good fear. That fear should be that we reverently, a feeling of deep love & respect, worship the Lord.
Let's put fear behind us. Let's seek God and move forward in a more positive, graceful manner. With fear behind me, I plan to do what I can with what I have to build up the Kingdom. God has me and He can have you to!
May God Continue to Bless Us All!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Take the focus off self
Yesterday I was having one hell of a day. I'm suffering from serious sinus pressure that has me not wanting to open my eyes, the nonsense on public transportation, work, life, and I could go on and on and on. Let just say by the time I made it home, I was overcooked, overdone, and burnt!
The phone rang, it was my sister-in-law crying out for help. Sigh. I said come on over and in a flash she was there. I listened, she talked. I gave an opinion, she talked. I silently prayed, she talked. By the end I sat wide-eyed, she cried.
Her heart was heavy. Her voice full of weary. A woman at her wits end. I truly understand that feeling. As I sat there listening, praying, talking, I realized something; my problems seemed long gone! WOW! Look at God. At that moment God was using me to help and minister to her and He was helping and ministering to me.
My focus was removed from self and put on someone else. Shouldn't that be one of our main goals? Aren't we called to be servants? How can we effectually serve if the focus is always on self?
Take some time to minister/help someone else and watch God minister/help you in the process; your problems will seem to get smaller and smaller. Take the focus off self for a minute...It really does help!
May God Continue to Bless Us All!
The phone rang, it was my sister-in-law crying out for help. Sigh. I said come on over and in a flash she was there. I listened, she talked. I gave an opinion, she talked. I silently prayed, she talked. By the end I sat wide-eyed, she cried.
Her heart was heavy. Her voice full of weary. A woman at her wits end. I truly understand that feeling. As I sat there listening, praying, talking, I realized something; my problems seemed long gone! WOW! Look at God. At that moment God was using me to help and minister to her and He was helping and ministering to me.
My focus was removed from self and put on someone else. Shouldn't that be one of our main goals? Aren't we called to be servants? How can we effectually serve if the focus is always on self?
Take some time to minister/help someone else and watch God minister/help you in the process; your problems will seem to get smaller and smaller. Take the focus off self for a minute...It really does help!
May God Continue to Bless Us All!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Don't be Boxed In
Just the other day I heard a man very dear to my heart say to me, "Dena stop letting people box you in." What do you mean I asked? He said, "Time after time I hear you speaking of your dreams and places you want to go, but at the same time you say you can't do this or that because someone else is depending on you for this and that and that too. God gave you something to do...DO IT!" Hmmm!
That conversation has not left my heart or mind. At the time, I didn't admit it but now I can say true, so true. Year after year I say what I want to accomplish in that year or some task I would like to start. Then somewhere along the way, things start happening, mostly other people things and I throw the things I want to accomplish on the back burner while helping or should I say enabling someone else with their problem.
Today I have to say stop. I have to stop letting others box me in. I have to go after my dreams. These dreams where given to me for a reason and I surely would hate to see them all go down the drain because I was boxed in.
Don't be boxed in. If God has given you a dream, pray about it, listen to God speak about it and get on your way to living it.
SN: In the conversation with the man, he was not telling me not to help others; he was telling me not to let my dream die in the process of helping others. He also said I can't save everyone but God can!
May God Continue to Bless us All!
That conversation has not left my heart or mind. At the time, I didn't admit it but now I can say true, so true. Year after year I say what I want to accomplish in that year or some task I would like to start. Then somewhere along the way, things start happening, mostly other people things and I throw the things I want to accomplish on the back burner while helping or should I say enabling someone else with their problem.
Today I have to say stop. I have to stop letting others box me in. I have to go after my dreams. These dreams where given to me for a reason and I surely would hate to see them all go down the drain because I was boxed in.
Don't be boxed in. If God has given you a dream, pray about it, listen to God speak about it and get on your way to living it.
SN: In the conversation with the man, he was not telling me not to help others; he was telling me not to let my dream die in the process of helping others. He also said I can't save everyone but God can!
May God Continue to Bless us All!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Nerves
June 22nd is quickly approaching. That is the day of my back surgery. All days have been fine for me until, WAM, BAM this morning. I don't know what happened, I don't know why it is happening now but I am a bundle of nerves. Fear has set in.
As I type this my fingers are shaking and my stomach is rumbling. I'm truly praying that it is the three (3) cups of coffee I have had this morning. Lord Jesus please let that be it!
Now where did this fear come from is my question? I wasn't afraid when I made the decision to go through with the surgery? All I could focus on was getting better and stopping the pain that has encompassed me years.
Me and my prayer warriors(I have a team of prayer warriors that get down with it) have prayed over the doctor and the entire staff at the hospital; I believe in the power of prayer so that shouldn't be the source of my fear.
I have asked God to remove all negativity and naysayers from my atmosphere; there have been some that had nothing good to say...geesh. So what is wrong with my nerves???? Is this normal? Sometimes I wonder if I'm normal but that is another blog..hahahaha
So, my HALO (Humble and Loving Others) family, help me! Help me to answer these questions. My mind wondered to the famous quote given by FD Roosevelt during his inaugural speech...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Then the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, 2 Timothy 1:7; For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of sound mind.
Pray for the sister(me) whose mind is in a thousand places this morning. Be Blessed and may God continue to Bless us all.
As I type this my fingers are shaking and my stomach is rumbling. I'm truly praying that it is the three (3) cups of coffee I have had this morning. Lord Jesus please let that be it!
Now where did this fear come from is my question? I wasn't afraid when I made the decision to go through with the surgery? All I could focus on was getting better and stopping the pain that has encompassed me years.
Me and my prayer warriors(I have a team of prayer warriors that get down with it) have prayed over the doctor and the entire staff at the hospital; I believe in the power of prayer so that shouldn't be the source of my fear.
I have asked God to remove all negativity and naysayers from my atmosphere; there have been some that had nothing good to say...geesh. So what is wrong with my nerves???? Is this normal? Sometimes I wonder if I'm normal but that is another blog..hahahaha
So, my HALO (Humble and Loving Others) family, help me! Help me to answer these questions. My mind wondered to the famous quote given by FD Roosevelt during his inaugural speech...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Then the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, 2 Timothy 1:7; For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of sound mind.
Pray for the sister(me) whose mind is in a thousand places this morning. Be Blessed and may God continue to Bless us all.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Friends
I have gone through my share of friends in my lifetime. Some have stuck around for the long haul, some left as soon as the heat got turned up but through it all I have learned that a girl need friends. Not just any friend but a Real friend.
Friends should first of all show their self friendly before being a friend. You have to know how to treat others if you want to get the same in return. I do my best to be good to others because I know that I will need someone to be good to me.
I have friends that are trustworthy and geniune. I have friends that I can call on and say, "girl we need to pray now!" and just like that we are praying. I have friends that I can call and say, "I need to scream" and just like that they are listening to me scream. Yes, indeed, friends are needed.
A friend can be your sister, mother, aunt, co-worker, daughter, or whoever you have formed that bond with. In a lot of cases it can be a man. I do have some good male friends as well, but a lot of times they don't soothe me like my girl friends can.
Then you have those "bad" friends that are just there dumping whatever unhealthy nonsense they can dump. Those are the ones that should be weeded out of your life. If that friendship is not a healthy one (even healthy ones have problems but not deadly, poisonous problems) then weed it right on out of your life. One thing I have learned is that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Everyone is not meant to be there forever wrecking havoc.
I thank God for teaching me the real meaning of being a friend and placing the right friends in my life. If I didn't have these friends, who could I scream, cry, and laugh with all in the same conversation. Thank you friends.
What about you? Do you have healthy friends? Are you showing yourself friendly? Or just maybe its time to do some weeding so you can move on to more healthier enjoyment.
May God continue to bless us all!
Friends should first of all show their self friendly before being a friend. You have to know how to treat others if you want to get the same in return. I do my best to be good to others because I know that I will need someone to be good to me.
I have friends that are trustworthy and geniune. I have friends that I can call on and say, "girl we need to pray now!" and just like that we are praying. I have friends that I can call and say, "I need to scream" and just like that they are listening to me scream. Yes, indeed, friends are needed.
A friend can be your sister, mother, aunt, co-worker, daughter, or whoever you have formed that bond with. In a lot of cases it can be a man. I do have some good male friends as well, but a lot of times they don't soothe me like my girl friends can.
Then you have those "bad" friends that are just there dumping whatever unhealthy nonsense they can dump. Those are the ones that should be weeded out of your life. If that friendship is not a healthy one (even healthy ones have problems but not deadly, poisonous problems) then weed it right on out of your life. One thing I have learned is that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Everyone is not meant to be there forever wrecking havoc.
I thank God for teaching me the real meaning of being a friend and placing the right friends in my life. If I didn't have these friends, who could I scream, cry, and laugh with all in the same conversation. Thank you friends.
What about you? Do you have healthy friends? Are you showing yourself friendly? Or just maybe its time to do some weeding so you can move on to more healthier enjoyment.
May God continue to bless us all!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Journey to a better back
Soon I will be having back surgery. I have had problems with my back for a long time now and it is time. I plan to blog about this journey because everyday seems to bring on something new.
This past Saturday, after being off my meds for one day, the pain hit me so hard I wanted to cut my right leg off. All I could do was walk and pray, pray and walk. (I have to be off the pain meds for 2 weeks prior to surgery. This will decrease the risk of bleeding or something like that I am not the doctor just following orders.)
Anywhoo, on Saturday I realized that this 2 week journey without pain meds will surely make me rely on God. I'm sure to be having many conversations with Him about me and how He can take this pain from me. I also believe this will be a great time for me to really get this listening for Gods voice mastered. (See prior blog)
So knowing that God is going to get the glory out of all of this is making me feel better already. Stay tuned.
May God continue to bless us all!
This past Saturday, after being off my meds for one day, the pain hit me so hard I wanted to cut my right leg off. All I could do was walk and pray, pray and walk. (I have to be off the pain meds for 2 weeks prior to surgery. This will decrease the risk of bleeding or something like that I am not the doctor just following orders.)
Anywhoo, on Saturday I realized that this 2 week journey without pain meds will surely make me rely on God. I'm sure to be having many conversations with Him about me and how He can take this pain from me. I also believe this will be a great time for me to really get this listening for Gods voice mastered. (See prior blog)
So knowing that God is going to get the glory out of all of this is making me feel better already. Stay tuned.
May God continue to bless us all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)