2014 Recap: Promise Keeper

Where do I begin about 2014? I can't even begin to write about the blessings, the favor, the opportunities, the doubt, sadness and fear that I have experienced this year. Because all in all, God has been ever so faithful.


The biggest lesson I learned this year is: God keeps His promises. It's so easy to doubt God when the evidence is negative, but that's exactly when God works best. I knew that He had called me to be a psychologist, but because of my brief stint as a biology major, my GPA was a mess. This time last year, I was completing grad school applications, terrified that I was not going to get an interview anywhere, talk less of get into a Clinical Psychology program. As I type this, I've completed my first semester of a doctorate program, a program that I was told I was not competitive enough for. To top it all off, I aced my first semester. I'd be lying if I said that I got here on my own. It was only by the grace of God. Once I got into grad school, everything else just literally fell into place. Sometimes, I sit and wonder what I did to get into this program. I'm so blessed to be there. Just continue to follow the path that God has provided for you. You never know where He will lead.


Honestly, 2014 was THAT year. God opened soooo many doors and pushed me wayyyy out of my comfort zone. From graduation, to moving to another state, to starting grad school, it's been quite the adventure. I haven't always been the happiest camper, but God has given me this incredible peace that even scares me sometimes. Having to move away from the only place I had ever known as home was so hard, but I know that God has a reason and nothing happens by mistake.


Not sure what plans God has for 2015, but I'm entering the year with an open heart and letting Him lead.


What are you hoping and praying for this year?




Selah [pause and think]

No Pain, No Gain

First post of 2014! 

So, it's a new year, well, three months in and I've been on this whole working out thing. I've been attending a boot camp class at the gym pretty frequently in the past couple of weeks and though it seems tough at the time, the instructor is very encouraging. I keep going because I know it is for my benefit and I leave feeling great about myself. The next morning, I wake up sore in places I didn't even know existed and that's how I know the workout is actually working.

You know what's interesting? Trials work the same way. During the trials, you're sweating and exerting energy and it's just HARD. Sometimes you don't even know if you'll make it through. But the Instructor (God) is there, by your side, cheering you on. He knows that it's good for you and for your benefit. You walk away feeling better, stronger. It's only when it's over that you realize that you've worked out muscles of faith, hope, patience, forgiveness, etc.

James 1: 2-3 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

Trials, just like working out, define us. Something of value WILL be produced. If we were couch potatoes and just ate cookies all day everyday, we'd probably never know what muscles have, more less what muscles are. Same with trials. If you never had a rainy day, you'd never learn to appreciate the sunshine. It's not easy going through it, no, not at all. But, at the end of the day, you're going to be stronger than you were before. Your Instructor's cheering you on! There so many promises in the Word. So, sweat on and persevere. You're coming out GOLD.

Selah [pause and think]

Opened Box

Confession: I have been working on another post for a week now. It requires research and I currently have no motivation to do the research. SMH... well, it's summer. I will be on my grind very soon. Anyways, during finals week, I don't remember what brought the thought about but I started thinking about society's view of beauty and how I measured up. My thoughts were so intense/compelling that I had to write them down. Here's what I got:

Opened Box
Beautiful, they say.
I wonder what they are talking about.
You see, I never really found beauty in my features.
Now, before you say I have low self-esteem, hear me out.
I'm no where near the coveted 5'11" with the slim build.
Nothing amazing.
I'll never be on the cover of a magazine.
But you see, society uses these features to put us in a box
They don't want us to be difficult or unique, but robots, identical to each other.
MY beauty lies in my relationship with my Creator.
MY beauty lies in my God-given talents and personality.
MY beauty lies in my morals and values.
MY beauty lies in my heart for others.
MY beauty lies in the desire to positively impact those around me.
You see, I never really thought of my physical features as beautiful because what's inside overshadows it by far.
In everything I do, in every experience I have, I find another facet of beauty.
Yet society chooses to limit beauty to one thing.
I refuse to indulge in that mindset.
Physical beauty chips, cracks, fades and disappears.
I, every aspect of me, was beautifully and wonderfully made, crafted by a skillful Artist.
To limit this beauty to only one aspect of me is just unfair.

Where does your beauty lie?

Selah [pause and think]

My First Read!

So, I finished reading through the Bible after reset/catching up my YouVersion (my favorite Bible app) plan many times. This year, my goal is to read 4-6 books, in addition to my personal devotion, that will catalyze my spiritual growth. My first read is A Young Woman’s Call to Prayer by Elizabeth George, which I started almost 3 weeks. So far, I learned many valuable tidbits about prayer. I've always know that prayer was important but as I read this book and as I spend more time in God's presence, I find myself more at peace than before. I also find myself craving alone time with God and shooting up little prayers during the day.  

It's not like I'm learning something brand new, but I'm seeing some verses in a new light. For example, yesterday, I read about how the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don't know what we should pray. (Romans 8:26-34). Verse 27 says that the Holy Spirit prays for us according to the will of God and in verse 31, it says if God be for us who can be against us. So basically, both the Holy Spirit and Jesus intercede on my behalf even when I don't know how to pray and they are praying according to the will of God. Therefore, everything in my life is working for my good and if they are on my side, fighting for  me, who/what can hurt me? WOW.

At the beginning of the book, we were encouraged to right down our commitment to prayer. Here's mine:

I commit to finding a quiet place to pray. I will pray constantly, consistently and persistently. Instead of giving up and worrying, I will pray because God has promised me His peace and His ears are open to me.

What's your commitment to prayer?

Selah [pause and think]