With The Flow of Traffic

Are you living life in the fast lane trying to zoom past those that are moving too slow in your opinion.  Or are you in the slow lane, merely holding up traffic.  Or are you somewhere in the middle flowing with the traffic.  Your going the right speed, your not afraid to past others, and your also not going so fast that you can't let people in.  

I would like to think that most of us are somewhere in the middle.   However, I'm finding out that even in my own life when I'm in the fast lane, rushing to get somewhere, I'm only thinking of self.  I have my own agenda, I could care less, if I cut you off.  I have a destination and I have to get there and you are holding me up.     My focus is on one thing and one thing only to get there.  (where ever there is)   I see this in my faith walk in the moments when I'm very anxious about what God will do or say.  And instead of waiting to hear from God on the answer, I do the very thing that I shouldn't do.   In essence I tell God, " I got this."

There are other times in life when I'm in the slow lane.  I'm still only concerned about self.  I don't contribute anything to those around me.  I just don't want to be bothered, because I'm too hurt, or too sad to be bothered with others.  It's the time when things just don't seem to be going well and instead of shaking them off, I get caught up in them.  I isolate.  I don't let anyone in, and I don't give anything either. I'm moving forward but I'm only doing what is necessary to get by.  It is at these times in my life when I'm not productive at all.   Unlike the times when I'm telling God, "i got this."  It's at these moments when I'm saying absolutely nothing to God.  I'm not praying, not studying and not focused on the blessings of God.

Where should I be, with the flow of traffic.  I should be with the body of believers.  I should be in a place where there are others around.  In a position where I can help and where they can help me when needed.  There are times when you must move past the group only slightly, but not so far that you become separated.   There comes a time in our lives when we have to remember that this road we are on, is a journey.  We've got to remember the days when we first learn to drive.  We were cautious, we were always obeying the speed limit because we were just happy to be driving. It didn't matter if people cut us off because it just didn't matter.  We were also too scared to go to fast because we didn't think we could keep up and it seemed just to dangerous.    In life we may forget and go too fast, and there will be other times when we are going to slow, but if we just remember that in the end God is the ultimate driver.  He directs our path, he orders our steps and if we just remain faithful, we will receive all that God has promised.  It says in  Hebrews 10:26-33


Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.  Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.   Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Rebuilding The Walls Of Our Lives Together

Just this week I've started studying Nehemiah.  He was a great leader of people.  However, even though Nehemiah was a great leader the one thing that he understands is who God is.  Why do I say that, when Nehemiah found out that his ancestors were not doing well in Jersuleum. He didn't complain, He didn't get angry.  He weeped.  He felt the pain of the people that were suffering.  Then Nehemiah began to pray and fast, that God would prepare him to help his people.

Nehemiah 1: 3-6a  I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.  Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,  listen to my prayer!

It is said that before he made a move he stayed in prayer for 4 months waiting to hear from God.  He was diligent in preparing his self by confession that not only did he know that he had sin, but even his family had sin.  But he asked God to remember the promises that you have given your people to bring them back to the promise land.

It is my desire to be like Nehemiah. To wait for God, to not rush God.  To be the type of Chrisitian that just doesn't pray after I have been disobediant to God.  Then I have to ask God to fix my problems when I know I shouldn't have done it in the first place.  I want to be the type of Christian that is also willing to tackle the impossible.  I have to be willing to step out on faith to rebuild the wall.  

The wall represents the weakness in my life.  It's the places that if not protected or strengthen can in essence destroy me.  It's the things in my life that I know are no good for me, but I continue to do them anyway.  It's the places in my life where I have been hurt and even though I am healed and recovered.  I still walk through life as if nothing has change and I am still hurt.  For example, there is a senior saint that I know that fell about 4 months ago and has been in the hospital for most of that time.  She desires to go home, but because she fell 4 months ago and hasn't walked in a while, she is afraid to walk.  Her body has been healed, her muscles are able, but in her mind, she can't do it.  I think that is a great example of how I operate in some areas of my life.  Everything points to being healed. But I have made up my mind that I can't.    

God desires for us to rebuild.  He wants us to pray, fast and wait.  He will  then give us favor in the places we need to rebuild.  He will send people that can help us through the process.  Because in most cases, we can't rebuild the wall by ourselves.  We need each other.  I need you to help me rebuild, and I will help you rebuild and together, the wall will get built. 

Words of Encouragment from a Greeting Card

My birthday was a few weeks ago and my dad sent me the best birthday card ever.  It was so thought provoking and timely.   You may have noticed that many of my past blogs are about searching and wondering what is next.  Trying to hold tight to God's unchanging hands and moving forward at the same time.  When I got the card, I was once again reminded that my personal journey was created with me in mind.  The Potter has carefully picked out just the right clay, and as I go spinning on the wheel into my new creation.  He's got is hands all around me.  When the Potter creates he uses his hands and takes time to gently mode us and then he bakes us in the oven for a bit to make sure that the finish product  will last. 

So be encourage as you read these words sent to me in a greeting card.

You are the author of your own life. 
It's up to you to dream it, imagine it, sketch it, shape it,
build it, go after it, and make it happen.
And then color it in with bright, shining shades of joy and deep,
lasting shades of meaning that are yours and yours alone.
No one else can know the dreams you dream
or the strengths yo uhave within you that will help you make
your dreams come true.
No one else needs to. 
Because they're yours.  And so is today. 

To be passionate or to be gifted that is the questioned?

Tonight I was watching a show that Steve Harvey the comedian was on with Donnie McClurkin.  It was such a powerful show, because I hadn't seen Steve Harvey share his testimony about how good God has been to him.  One of the things that he said is that we have to take the scriptures that we know and put them in to practice.   Which means that you have to believe that He has come so you can have life and have life more abundantly.  You have to believe that God has a plan for your life.  You have to believe that He will give you the desires of your heart. You have to believe that you are a joint heir with Christ.   You have to know that your worth it.  God already loves you.

The thing that I truly desire to share which is simple and to the point that was stated on the show was this:
We all have passions that tend to inspire us to move forward, however it's not the passion that God gives you that should propel you forward it is your gift.  


What unique gift has God given you that not only are you good at it, you enjoy doing it?   If you discover what gifts God has given you and pursue those things, then you will begin to use the tools that were given to you and you will begin to experience the fullness of your life in Christ.    Now I am not saying that you can't be passionate about your gift.  But I agree with Steve Harvey that sometimes the things that we are passionate about are not necessarily the gifts that God has given us.    Just to drive home the message, Steve Harvey said that when he was younger he was very passionate about being in the NBA.  However, not only was he not good at basketball, it was not his gift.

In my life I know that I am passionate about many things, but I have to admit that some of my gifts have nothing to do with what I'm passionate about.  The statements I heard where the kind of statements that make you go  UMMMM..........maybe........  And I leave you with that idea, maybe.............

Waiting makes me antsy......

So my apologies for not writing.  I was out of commission in the Bahamas on a vacation.  What was truly amazing about this vacation is that I realized that the light that dwells within us can be seen by many.  On the cruise I met several people over the course of the week.  I was amazed that within minutes into the conversation, we would somehow get to the place where we would both share our faith.   When I left for the trip, I never considered that I would meet so many Christians and that we would be able to share the ups and downs of our faith.  

The thing that struck me most that no matter what country you live in or state in the USA, no matter what your color is, social status, we all have burdens to bear.  We all have crosses in our lives that we are carrying.  What became evident is that once I heard other peoples stories or challenges, I began to realize just how blessed I have been.   It made the low moments that I have been going through not so low.   It also made me realize that no matter where one finds themselves on the journey, we all seem to be in the same place.  We are waiting in faith for God to move.   We are waiting for answers to questions, we are waiting to see what steps to take next,  we are in a holding pattern waiting to be told when to land.  

Isn't it amazing that in our differences the one thing we all have in common is that we must wait on God.
We have to trust that he has our best interest at heart.

Psalm 46:10--Be still and know that I am God.......


I don't know about you but I'm getting antsy.    We've got to learn how to come together and "Wait together."   Then just maybe the wait won't seem so long.

OH Where OH Where Art Thou............

Where is Boaz? And for my male friends, where is the woman that possess your missing rib?  I don't know about others but relationships with the opposite sex have been very difficult for me. First, it's very hard to find, if you think you have found a good match, it's hard to maintain or clearly just not the right person for you.  Why is it that in the year 2010, you can meet a person that believes in God, but isn't willing to follow biblical principles?   Why is that in our churches the divorce rate is higher than in the secular world?   Why does it seem that so many men and woman are in the midst of broken marriages, trying very hard to hold on.  When did divorce become the easy way out?

What will it take for Christians to have fruitful marriages that last?   How can the church help young men and women prepare for relationships that are healthy even in the beginning stages of dating?

How do we truly achieve and find the love that is describe this passage of scripture:
“Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not promote itself, is not puffed up, does not behave badly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” 1Corinthians 13:4-8


As I said in an earlier blog.  I believe God.   But how long must I wait for Boaz?  

I Believe God...

Today I had an opportunity to celebrate answered prayer.   My church came together today to dedicate a little girl whose parents had prayed without ceasing for over 11 years  for her arrival in their life.  They went to several doctors, they did everything that the doctor ask of them.  But God, had another plan.  Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.  They kept the faith.  They continued to keep the faith that one day they would produce new life on the earth.  

At the same time as we were celebrating a member of the extended family was experiencing lost.   She had just lost her mother and she was out celebrating the miracle of life.  What struck me most of all is when she said my mother always said, "I believe God."  No matter the circumstance, "I believe God."  No matter what my situation looks like today, "I believe God."  She told of a story where it looked like her mom was going to need to have her leg amputated.  And do you know what her response was,"Let God's will be done."  She said that her heart was heavy but she knew her mom had gone home to be with Jesus.  

One of the things that I learned today was that life is too short.  And life is just beginning.  We have moments when things are just beginning and we have moments that come to an end.  The amazing thing is that we have the ability to see both at once.  Today we celebrated birth(life), and at the funeral they celebrated life.  To very different moments but the celebration of the same thing, life.    I was reminded that in both situations faith was important.   You have got to have faith on this journey or you won't have anything.

What are you believing God for?   Can you exclaim with all sincerity that, " I believe God."   As I got in my car to leave church today there was a song that came over my radio, and it was you guess it, "I believe God."  It was a song by Kurt Carr that was a reminder to hold on to the dreams that God has given you.  Don't grow weary, keep believing, keep praying, keep trusting and know that not only has God heard your prayer, he will answer.   Maybe not on your time, but on his time.  It says in Isaiah 55: 8-9,  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.


All I can say is , "Believe God."

Love is a process

Relationships are so difficult to maintain and to have in life.  We were created right from the beginning of time to be relational when God created Adam and Eve.  Even Adam and Eve had there share of problems right from the beginning.   I think one of the reasons our personal relationship with God struggles is because we tend to use our human relationships as the model and not the other way around.   Think about it, if i have issues with my natural father, I may have a hard time relating to how God could be a father.   If my personal intimate relationships don't work out, then I may extend that same doubt to God.

I think all through the bible we see a lot of different types of relationship.  If you remember the story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel what a  difficult situation to be in with all the parties involved.  How must Leah of felt in the midst of this to go along with her father's plan to be deceitful to Jacob?  She was marrying a man that loved another woman and her father was the cause of it.  She must of initially, been heart broken, even though we know later she does bear Jacob's children.   How must Leah of felt in that moment, her dad had set this horrible plan in motion?   Both woman may have lost confidence in true love, lost confidence in their father's trust.  How do they then look at God through the midst of this situation.? I could only imagine the doubt that had to arise for both women.

How do we get past the broken relationships in our life to have a full relationship with God?   I think this is the struggle for most Christians even myself at times.  I think when things don't go the way we want or plan, even if it's for a brief moment we may doubt.  I think we all live in the place of the father in Mark 9:24, Lord I believe but help my unbelief.  

As we journey to get to know God the father better, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit better, we have to know that it is a process.   Just as we fall in love with earthly people a little bit at a time.  Our love relationship with God is exactly the same.  However, in reverse our earthly relationships can never be like our relationship with God.  We can rest in the fact that God loves us, and we have to work at maintaining and growing closer to God daily.

Why do you believe relationships both earthly and spiritual are so difficult?

What season are you in?

Every year depending on what part of the country one lives there are 4 seasons.  In the winter, everything lays dormant, hibernating, preparing and getting ready to bloom.  In the spring, things start to grow and develop.  The ground is ready for planting and the weather is comfortable.   Then it hits summer, the things that are planted, are in full bloom, and it seems all you can do is endure the heat and try to make the best of a hot situation.  Then we hit fall.  The weather returns to a comfortable temperature and the colors of the  trees are at there peak as it prepares to shed the leaves of the spring.  The trees go through a natural pruning process in the fall.  The things that are dead, are dropped to the ground to be put in bags and thrown away never to return.

As I think about this hot summer evening and evaluating where I am in the midst of the seasons in my life.  I feel like I'm in the winter season.  I've been resting and now I'm waiting to spring forth.   I'm ready for new things in my life.   However, it seems to me that the winter will never end.  I begin to realize that there is nothing I can do to rush the season.  I just have to take it one day at time. Then there are those moments when I feel like I'm at the beginning of spring.  I begin to enjoy the new things that are happening, things seem to be progressing then all of sudden there is a winter storm that comes from no where.  It wasn't expected, and it stays around for days on end.  My question is why is it so hard to just have life happen?  To know that ultimately God has a plan for my life.   I just need to be prepared to receive it, I must be obedient to what He is requiring and I must be willing to do the work that He asks of me.  I don't know that I have the answers to the questions but I do know that 

Isaiah 40:31, 

"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

My question is how long must I wait?   I guess in reality as long as it takes because my life is in God's hands.    I don't know about you, but waiting is very hard, but necessary in this journey.   So as I encourage myself in this winter season of my life, I want you to also be encouraged.   I want you to know this day, that you are not alone.  We all go through the seasons of life.

What's your season?

We need serenity

One of the ways that we experience peace is that we we realize that it is not about us.  When I graduated I was given a little plague with the serentiy prayer on it which reads:

God, grant me

the serenity to accept the things

I can't change,

The courage to change

the things I can, and

the wisdom to

know the difference.

I have to tell you that when I read this today.  I realized that there is only so much I can do.  Realizing that even having the courage to change implies that I need the courage to do the things that God has asked me to do.  Then  there are those things in our life that we have no control over.  We have no control over the family we have been given, we have no control over our skin color, no control over hair or eye color.  For some you may feel like there are other things in your life that you have no control over but you do.  Your job, your health, where you live, and etc......  I'm also not saying that life's circumstances hasn't left us in what appears to man to be impossible situations.  But God can work it out.  For he says, in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans."  

It is my belief and I'm working on it too, is that we need to learn to hear from God. We need to obey what we hear from God.  When He says move, move.  When he says stay, stay.   Then have peace/serenity that God is in control. 

How do we find serenity in a world of so much chaos?  Any ideas........

He Dwells

Lately, I have been teaching Bible Study and we have been studying Exodus. In particular the part about building the Tabernacle, setting up the Holy of Holies and the robes that Aaron and his sons where to wear.  All of the planning and preparation of these assignments of the Israelites was so they could be constantly reminded that God Dwells with them.  I was thinking about the the scriptures in Numbers 9:15-23, which reads,
On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

I gave you the whole passage so that we hold onto the significance of God dwelling among his people.  they created the Tabernacle to be reminded of His Dwelling and here we see them obeying God.  Does he have that type of guidance in your life, that you can easily move when God tells you too?  I know I don't always.  I think one of the main reasons I don't is because, I'm not sure if the I see the cloud or the fire because I'm looking in all the wrong places.   I look for guidance amongst God's people, I use my intellect and sometimes I'm just guessing.  But how powerful the journey would be for all of us if we just did what we where told, when we where told without delay.  In order to do that one has to be in tuned to hear the voice of God.  We must be in close relationship with Him, if we desire to be guided by Him.   We also need to be prepared at all times to move.  Can you imagine what it must of been like for the Israelites to not know if they would be staying for a long time or just over night.  The faith one must have to believe that God knows best.  

Today, look for God.  He is everywhere because He Dwells amongst us.  Look for Him in the big things and the little things that happen in your day.  I think you will be surprised at the places where you will find Him.  Close by waiting to lead you. 

Follow the cloud of fire............It will never lead you in the wrong direction.

Everything that the devil Stole

I recently got a chance to sing in a choir and I learned a song, by Dorinda Clark-Cole called," Take it Back." My favorite line in the song is Everything that the devil stole, God given it back to me.   This is one of those songs that reminds you that God is in the restoring business.  He knows that we often get discouraged because we feel bad about the things that seem to push us further and further away from HIm.  But I am here to let you know that He loves you too much for you to be separated from Him.  So don't let the enemy convince you other wise.  

It says, in a very familiar scripture in Romans 8:38(NLT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.  Death can't, and life can't.  The angels can't, and the demons can't.  Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.  

God has the ability to take back all of that heart ache, depression, and broken relations.  He can even take back your self doubt about the dreams He has given you.    So today, don't be discouraged.  Because there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.   The song goes on to say, Can't have my joy, Can't have my peace, Cant have my faith, I want everything.   So don't let the trials of life steal your joy, peace and faith.   God desires for you to have them and They are yours!!!!!!!

Clarity........And........When did your relationship start?

A few people have asked me, why this is called Tea Cake.   It is not a recipe.  About 2 years ago, I started writing a devotion which was sent to an aol list serve that I started with the help of my sister.  And due partly to the fact that  the Tea in Tea cake stands for Tiffany, and the cake part...... doesn't really stand for much except when I was younger my favorite cookies that my grandmother would make were you guess it, "Teacakes"  so a mixture of my name and my favorite cookie.

What's great about those days when grandma would bake those cookies we would have such a great time.  I would watch her make them, while she sang the hymns as she cooked.  

When I think about those moments it reminds me that we need to get back to the ole days.  When a little girl could sit and hear songs about Jesus.  It was there that I fell in love with Him.  It would take years later for me to develop a relationship.  But it started in that little kitchen in St. Louis.  

When did you fall in love with Jesus?   Singing,"Falling in love with Jesus" Falling in love with Jesus, falling in love with jesus was the best thing I ever ever done...........

Do you see the new thing.......

In Isaiah 43:19, God says " Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.  

Have you been stuck?  Life seems to be going no where fast.  However, it says right in his word that He will do a new thing.   I think all too often that we are just too scared to step out and trust God.  But this scripture is awesome because it says that he will make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  What God is saying if you just trust me, I will do the impossible on your behalf.  See deserts are dry land, but if a river runs through the desert there is the possibility that life has a chance to exist in a dry place.   

So as I start this blog and venture into a new journey, it is my hope that not only will we discover God together but we now have a forum where we can dialogue with one another and share with each other.  So here's to doing a new thing.  

What's your new thing, that God's begun.

TS