My Alabaster Box

Interview: Tanika Featured on the Bridgette Murphy Radio Show

My Alabaster Box Readers!

I pray that all is well! As many of you know, I am in the process of launching a Christian Magazine - Armed Magazine.  I had the honor and privilege of being on the Bridgette Murphy Show on Blog Talk Radio.  We had a great discussion about the June launch of Armed Magazine, Overcoming, Victory in Christ, Purpose and so much more.  If you missed the live show, please visit the link below to listen to the Podcast of the interview!

Please let me know what you think via the comments section below and stay tuned for the June launch of Armed Magazine! It is going to be a BLESSING!!!!

Click Here to Listen to the Show!

Until Next Time,

 

Wait for your Isaac!

Image: Standing on the Promises of God  (L. Kern)

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) 

God made a promise to Abraham, the father of faith.  God promised him that he would make him the father of a great nation and that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).  In order for this promise to be fulfilled, God had to bless Abraham with a son.  Abraham was old in age and Sarah, his wife was barren.  God still worked in His time to fulfill the promise.  Abraham and Sarah began to grow impatient waiting for the manifestation.  Abraham reminded God that he was getting old and that his only possible heir would be his servant Eliezer.  He thought that maybe God would allow him to make Eliezer the heir since his promised son had not yet come to pass.  Fear started to come into play. Maybe Abraham felt that God has forgot about him.  God reassured him that His covenant would be fulfilled. his descendants would be so many that he could never count them! 

"Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:4-5)

Sarah (then Sarai) grew tired and frustrated when God's promise had not come to pass after a long wait.  She told Abraham to go and get Hagar (the maidservant) and bear a child with her.  Abraham in his weariness agreed.  Their action showed a lack of faith that God would fulfill His promise.  Ishmael was born but he was not the promised son from God! 

Both Abraham & Sarah acted outside of God's will. A lack of faith creates a series of problems.  This happens when we take matters into our own hands instead of waiting on God to do it.  We attempt to make his promises come to pass through efforts that are not in line with His specific directions nor His Word.  Time may be the greatest test of our willingness to let God work in our lives.  Sometimes we must simply wait.  When we want something so bad we can become blind and make a trick from Satan  (Ishmael) seem like a blessing from God.  We can want something (or someone) to be what we have been praying for so bad that we ignore The Holy Spirit whispering "That isn't God's promise for you".  Remember that whenever you are outside the will of God, you are outside the best that God has for you!

What are you believing God for? Does it seem like it is taking FOREVER to come to pass? Are others around you being blessed and you feel like God has forgotten about you? He hasn't! Do you feel like some prayers work fast and others take too long? Are you growing weary and ready to take matters into your own hands? I caution you to build up your faith and remain in your season of waiting until God is ready to bring you out of it.  When you move out of season, the season will only last longer.  Don't delay your blessings any longer.  Let God bring upon the manifestation of His promises in His timing.  You may not be ready yet.  He may be molding you with the ability to handle the blessing.  Your blessing may not be at its best or ready for God to present it to you.  In this season, give God your best so that He will return His best to you.  We should be so into God that he has to interrupt us serving Him just to bless us!

We all make mistakes but "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) 

Don’t want something so bad that you move outside of God’s will. Beware! Satan will send  you an Ishmael! Be patient & wait for the Isaac that God promised you! 

It will be so much greater than anything that you can go and get on your own.  The next time you receive what you think is a blessing, take it to God and ask "Lord, who sent this?"  I can tell you from my own experiences that He will show you and it will happen fast! When /if you get the answer that the "blessing" is not from Him, RUN RUN RUN or you will delay the manifestation of His promise.  God can't bring you an Isaac when you have an Ishmael in its place!

Until Next Time

Satan is Defeated - 5 ways to GET EQUIPPED for Victory!

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

Each and every one of us is filled with purpose from the day that we are conceived in our mother's womb.  God has a plan that He has called us to walk out in it's entirety for His glory.  The road will not always be easy (James 1:2-4) and the burden will not always be light.  There will be struggles, doubt, temptation, fear, haters and more.  But I have good news, with God all things are possible and He wants us to be confident that that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).  Just as we, God's children have purpose, that ole devil, Satan, has a purpose as well.  John 10:10 (above) tells us that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He wants to steal your joy, kill your purpose and destroy your life!  Satan can only do what we allow Him to do and he will be successful when we are not connected to Christ through a true relationship with Him. Jesus gives us the rich and abundant life. Part of that abundance is guidance into what He has called us to do.When things are going well the road is easy.  When you have discovered your purpose and have begun to walk in it, be prepared for the attack of the enemy. 

Women that Inspire: Lady Serita Jakes

I got the awesome opportunity to interview First Lady Serita Jake, wife of Bishop T.D Jakes of The Potters House (Dallas, TX).  This special feature was done for Hope for Women Magazine.  I want to share this article with My Alabaster Box Readers.  A short excerpt of the article is below.  Be sure to click the link below to read the full article. 

Article Excerpt

Lady Serita Jakes – wife, First Lady of The Potter’s House (Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas), mother, grandmother, author, ministry leader, and more – has a profound and passionate commitment to leading women to become all that God has destined them to be.

Although she’s often seen before the congregation — guiding WoMan to Woman Ministries, developing God’s Leading Ladies Life Enrichment Program, and supporting her husband, Bishop T.D. Jakes — behind the scenes, she appreciates the simpler and more meaningful things in life.  She loves being near her family, and shares that she enjoys “…loving on them and being loved and accepted unconditionally. I enjoy the good times, and I have stopped bracing for bad times.  I used to feel like I needed to carry an umbrella — because I thought there was a water balloon over my head, and I didn’t know where the pin was.”

Click Here to enjoy the Full Article in Hope for Women Magazine

Until Next Time,

The Grace to be Silent

My Alabaster Box Readers,

I pray that you all are doing well.  I have been slacking on my writing because there are so many other things going on.  I have been convicted so please look forward to some great inspiration coming your way very soon!  Writing is the gift that God has called me to walk in. 

In the meantime, I would love for you to check out the article I wrote entitled "The Grace to be Silent".  I had the wonderful opportunity to be a guest blogger on Kennisha Hill's Cup of Grace blog.  A short exceprt is below along with the link to the full post.  Enjoy!

Excerpt from Blog

As mighty women of God, we must develop the uncanny ability to know when to speak and when to be silent.  Our silence has the power to calm a raging storm.  Some of the wisest people are those that know when to hold their tongue.  “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 NIV).  Grace is the gift of God’s unmerited favor.  Just as He gives us this wonderful gift, it is also His expectation that we pass it on to others through loving them as He loves us.  God wants us to have mercy on others and to possess the grace to be silent as an act of love and understanding.  The Bible says that there is "A time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). 

Click Here to Read the full article!

Until Next Time,

Raising Naomis: Be a Woman with Impact!

 

 

It's a powerful story that we have learned so many lessons from.  It's a story that shows us the power of family relationships, trust in God, His timing, His purpose and the power of sticking together.  It is the story of Gods's grace in the midst of very difficult circumstances.  It's the love story that so many women refer to when we speak about waiting on our "Boaz".  It's a story that involves quite a few people but only two are mentioned the most.  You guessed it - The Book of Ruth.  Many of us have read this four chapter book plenty of times.  I recently spent a great amount of time studying the Book of Ruth with a focus on Naomi. 

Naomi was living in a time of famine.  She had relocated to Moab with her husband in search of a better life.  It was in Moab where she lost everything.  Her husband died and ten years later, her sons were killed.  She felt that she had lost everything.  Naomi knew God, had a relationship with God, trusted God but for this, she blamed God.  She had lost faith but had no idea that her ray of hope would manifest through her relationship and love for Ruth.  After the loss of her husband and her two sons, she though that it would be best to return to Israel but encourgaged Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab to remarry.  This was a selfless act.  Ruth clinged to her and said “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more" (Ruth 1:16-18). Just when Naomi thought that all was lost, she was encouraged by the faithfulness of Ruth.

Be Thankful in Tribulations

We are in a new year.  As I reflect back on the holiday season, I recall many people expressing thanks for the great things happening in their lives.  Posts on Twitter and Facebook prove that many are thankful for life, strength, great financial situations, strong and healthy families, new cars, jobs and much more.  During the holiday season and at the beginning of the new year, we tend to reflect on what and whom we have in our lives that have been a blessing to us throughout the year. 

The one thing that I haven’t seen many express thanks for are the trials and tribulations that they have experienced.  Now I know that the challenging times in our lives aren’t the ones that are the happiest times to think about.  The holiday season is all about joy and happy times.  Tribulation and happy don’t seem to fit well with one another at the first thought.  But, these are the times that we should be thankful for in the same manner of which we are thankful for the other blessings in our life.  God tells us that we will have tribulation but, He is going to be there with us through each and every one!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Each and every one of us has experienced trouble, challenging times, tribulation or tragedy.  Regardless of how close to God we may be, there has been a season of trouble that we must overcome.  Many times we don't understand why we are going through but I want to let you know that God said that He would be there for us in the midst of anything that we may be experiencing.  Tribulation is a path to your blessing.  Through tribulation we learn patience and our faith is strengthened. 

God has to send us through tests in order for us to have a testimony.  Think about how that testimony will encourage others around you.  God will use your tests to bring others to Him.  He is using you whether you realize or not. We may not always know how He is working and why He allows us to go through various trials on our lives.

We should "glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

God increases your faith during tribulation and teaches you just how to endure.  The Word tells us to rejoice in hope, endure in suffering and persist in prayer (Romans 12:12).  Your tough times, disappointments and stumbling blocks are just setting you up for a mighty blessing.  Your setbacks are just setups for your comebacks.  Don't fear (for fear and faith cannot abide together) but be thankful that God is at your side to bring you through. 

Tribulation comes with the promise of deliverance.”  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." (Revelation 3:10).  Hold steadfast to God's promise for your life.  "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12).  This is God's promise to bring you through.  Your latter is destined to be greater than your past.  Tribulation makes you grateful for your blessings. The Lord knows that we wouldn't be fully grateful for our greatest blessings if we didn't have to go through to get to! Stay on the pathway to your blessings even through tribulation.  Don't get off the solid rock for you will then delay what God has for you (that's another blog right there!). Trouble won't last always!

In all seasons, remember to thank God for all of those challenging times in your life that taught you how to stand.   Thank Him for the times that required you to activate your faith and continued trust in Him.  Thank Him for the people and situations that were removed from your lives as a result of these times.  God will never fail you and He knows what is best for you.  Give thanks in all things – you are still here to experience them! 

I pray that you have a wonderful and blessed 2012!

Until Next Time, 

Honor Begins at Home - Courageous Movie Review

Inspiring, Encouraging, Faith-Building, riveting and even convicting.  These are the descriptions that popped into my mind and heart after seeing this remarkable film!  Courageous is the story of four Sheriffs who are called by the Chief to protect and serve their community.  They are committed and passionate about their careers.  They pour their all into their work.  Dedication to the county lives in their hearts.  Quite frankly, they are the best at what the do – serve and protect their community.  If the deputy sheriff was looking to promote four of his best people to the next level, Adam, Nathan, David and Shane would be the recipients. 

They are all fathers – called by God to serve and protect their families in every way.  In this area, they are falling short.  The same dedication that they bring to their jobs is often left behind when they get home.  Adam doesn’t seem to be paying enough attention to his children.  Nathan is doing well, but knows that good is not enough when it comes to fatherhood.  David is not stepping up to his role and Shane doesn’t seem to have his whole heart quite where it needs to be.  From the outside in, one would say that they are good fathers.  When tragedy strikes home, it forces them to become closer and makes it clear that God is calling them to bring a deeper dedication, passion and commitment to their homes than what they bring to their jobs. 

The Dangers of Procrastination

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." Ecclesiastes 9:10

With the New Year upon us, we have set new goals and resolutions that we want to achieve.  The barrier that often keeps us from success is the enemy of procrastination.  Do you have goals that you want to pursue? Dreams to fulfill? Challenges to overcome? Maybe you want to start a business, change your career, go back to school or maybe God is calling you into a ministry within His Kingdom? The biggest procrastination - maybe you are procrastinating getting your life right in the eyes of Jesus Christ! Have you ever felt that spirit inside of you telling to that you need to turn your life over to Him or come back to Him and you didn't answer the call? To procrastinate and put off getting right with God is to harden one's own heart.

We all have goals and dreams that we have been called by God to achieve. We know what we need to do to get there but we are sometime slow in taking the steps to reach the final destination. We come up with excuses like "I will do it tomorrow", "I'm tired today!", "I'll get right when..." or "I just don't feel like it." This is procrastination. An action that too many of us are familiar with on too often an occasion.

New Year, New Prayer for 2012

Happy New Year!  2011 has come and gone and the 2012 is upon us.  Many of us have made resolutions (which few of us will keep), updated our goals, set new goals and even made vision boards.  The new year is a time where most people begin to assess where they are and the steps they need to take to close the gap to where they want to be.  We often take the time to think over the successes and the failures of the year.  We write down what we need to change and what needs to stay the same.  These are all great things to do but, all too often our resolutions and goals fall by the wayside in the earlier months of the year. 

I want to encourage My Alabaster Box family to commit to making 2012 the best year yet!  2012 should be the year where we finally do the things that we want rather than just talking about them.  If you are unhappy, do something about it.  If you have negative people in your life, let them go.  Don't take old things nor people into the new year.  Assess your friendships, relationships, careers, businesses and ensure that they are adding to your life and not just taking away.  Pursue your passions and stop doing the things that you hate to do.  Find what makes you happy and go after it.  Pick a place that you've dreamed of traveling to and go.  Love those who hurt you, forgive those that have persecuted you and mend those broken relationships.  Pursue your dreams with ALL that you have inside of you.  Don't be afraid to fail.  Be prepared to succeed.  In all that you do, seek God's guidance, trust His way, His plan and His timing.  Make 2012 count! 

A Prayer for 2012

Father, we thank You for the blessing of another year.  Another chance to live out your purpose and plan for our lives.  We ask that you help us to leave anything that is outside of your will in 2011.  We ask that you help us to pursue You passionately, increase us spiritually and develop us personally.  We ask that you protect us as we enter into this new year. Lord, you know the our hearts and our deepest desires. Our prayer is that you would manifest those things in our lives in Your timing.  We ask that you move us out of our own way so that each and everything you have for us in 2012 comes to past.  Draw us closer to you Father and reveal Your purpose so that we may walk out Your plans.  Father make this year the most blessed one yet.  Remove the spirit of procrastination in our lives and help us to take the required steps to fulfill the destiny that you have set before us.  Remove the things, people, attitudes and habits that may be preventing us from rising to the next level in Your kingdom.

Lord, we honor you first and in our lives and our desires are second.  We ask that you hear our prayers, use us for Your glory and remove any temptations that would take us out of your will. Father we claim that 2012 will be our best year yet.  In this year we will grow closer to you.  We will love more and give more.  We will live lives of integrity.  Jesus, we ask that in 2012, you will break our hearts with the things that break our hearts.  We want to please you in all that we do. In 2012 we will be believing for miracles, answered prayer, manifested purposes, and destinies fulfilled!  We surrender hurt, grudges, pain and anything that may be holding us back from loving the way that you have called us to love one another.  We ask that you take what the enemy meant for bad and turn around for our good.  We look forward to the blessings that you are going to bestow upon us in this year and we promise to give you all the glory, honor and praise that You so righteously deserve.  Make our lives a living testimony of your love.

Amen!

Until Next Time,