Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: I Am Fierce, Favored & Fabulous

Psalms 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Today I would like to encourage all of my sisters to encourage yourselves daily. As we celebrate women all across the land this month I wanted you to digest and believe that You are fearfully and wonderfully made! In fact you are fierce, favored and fabulous!

In praying for a message to encourage us all to move forward I was lead to Psalms 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. God also lead me to Mark 5 and dealt with me as I encourage women daily to utilize the story of the woman with the issue of blood.

She too was fearfully and wonderfully made! She was fierce, favored and fabulous! Her story is used to help loose women all around the world!

In Mark 5 there is a story of a woman with the issue of blood; the bible does not describe out her life entirely it just focuses on her issue.

Today let’s focus on our issues, so we can stand up, step up and show up! God has a plan for our lives and as women we need to build up our self esteem and take authority over our lives. God created us on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose.

Daily our situations seem to get the best of us. Some of us carry more weight than others; some of us carry more hate than others. But on today I declare that we all be made whole and that God shows us how to love one another, but before He can we must first make the effort to be made whole in Him!

I would like to think that the woman with the issue got sick and tired and fed up with the issue to the point that she exhausted all means of help in her own strength and had to seek out the Source, she heard about Jesus, knew He was headed her way and pressed through her sickness; weakness and frustration in faith to touch His clothes, not to speak to Him, not to touch Him, but she believed that if she just get close enough to touch His clothes she would be healed.

Also mentioned in Matthew 9:20-22 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

As you read this know that I have been praying for a sign, a wonder and a miracle for all women. We all go through an issue or two daily that we can compare to the story of the woman with the issue of blood. What seemed to be incurable in her life to others was healed in an instance by the Lord. It was all in accordance to the strength of her faith. She believed in the One who they called Prophet, the One who they called Lord, the One who was the most hated, at the same time He was the most loved!

I would like to think that one moment when she was sick and tired of bleeding, and sick and tired of praying, and sick and tired of being an outcast, and sick and tired of being alone, and sick and tired of people talking about her and her condition that she took a stand to give this man named Jesus a try.

I believe that in a moment when she felt sorry for herself God spoke an encouraging word to her and said today my Son, the One who I have sent will cross your path today and it's up to you to get to Him and in an instance you will be made whole.

Although your situation is a little different I want you to have her type of faith. I would like to believe that that woman crawled, begged and cried her way through the crowds of hundreds to touch the Holy One. Today as I pray with you I say to you may your faith make you whole! I have grown to know that our situations are some times not a result of anything we think they should come from, but it is an issue that has taken over the lives of God’s people and is in us to be transparent to help someone else and with faith we can seek God in destroying it!

It’s time to set aside all things that are not of God in order to receive all the things He has in store for your life. It’s time to forgive yourself and forgive others, so you can free yourself from unforgiveness. It’s time to allow God to heal your broken heart. It’s time to be set free from the soul ties, drama in the workplace and relationships! It’s time to get your finances in order and get back on track to live the life that God has called you to live and be all that God has called you to be!

Sister you are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are fierce, favored and fabulous!

Be encouraged,
Tennille L. Whittington

Let’s us pray:

Father I come to You on today and I take authority of my existence; The reason in which I was created! Father I believe I was created with purpose, on purpose and for a purpose! Father I position myself daily to take the dimmer off my life, so that You can shine in and through my life. Father change my posture and position in order for me to represent myself accordingly to Your will and way for my life! Father may I arise and shine on today and know my worth and be all that You have called me to be! I believe it’s my season! I believe it’s my time! I am fearfully and wonderfully made! I am fierce, favored and fabulous! IJNA

Naked and Not Ashamed

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

I would like to continue focusing on our determination. I pray that each of these writings uplift your spirit. Last time we talked, we focused on being in dependence versus our independence. In this writing we will focus in on being naked and not ashamed.

Let’s start off by defining the term naked & not ashamed.” My definition is life before we knew any wrong. The word naked meaning without addition, exaggeration, or excuses; not concealed or disguised; open to view; manifest, pure and/or plain. The word ashamed meaning feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness, or disgrace.

There once was a time in all our lives were we did not know any wrong. We operated off our spirits, not yet knowing life’s situations would allow our flesh to dominate our decisions. It was a time when we had no worries, no struggles and/or stress did not live within. It was in our beginning, when we were first created. We were born into this Earth naked & not ashamed.

In the beginning of creation with Adam & Eve, they didn’t know of any wrong. They both were born into this world naked and not ashamed. It was not until they went against God’s commands that they both became clothed (unwanted layers) and ashamed. Although as a result of their disobedience, we all were born into sin, but that still does not determine our destiny. In this writing when you think of being clothed (unwanted layers) I want you to think of each layer of the clothing as our life’s experience.

When we were born, we knew no wrong. Everything we grew up to know, we were taught. We didn’t know right from wrong, until we were given rules or corrected. As we grew older we tend to face some challenges that added unwanted weight to our lives. With every bad decision, every bad moment, situation or challenge we grew weaker and became ashamed, no longer was our spirit naked. We allowed our life experiences to build up our flesh and block our spirit from growth.

Each experience began to control our spirit and we began to change our outward appearance. At this very moment, picture yourself with a shirt and pants on, which will be the visual of our first bad experience. Then picture yourself with 2 shirts and 2 pair of pants on, that’s the visual of 2 bad experiences. Now picture yourself with 3 shirts on and 3 pair of pants, that’s the next bad experience and so on and so forth. As you visualize, you see that each time we go through negative experiences; we add more layers on our lives. If we were to actually walk around with all those clothes on we would look foolish. So imagine how our spirits look as they are covered with so much weight of our flesh.

In actuality what happens in our lives is that our flesh becomes dominant over our spirits. We tend to allow our inner pain to be displayed on the outside. Whether we believe it or not we all have been ashamed at one point in our lives of something. No matter how painful that experience may have been and no matter how much we forgave someone or thought we forgot about it, some of us are still living it.

I want us to go back to our first day of creation and I want us to strive to remove those unwanted layers to present, out of our lives. So for my sisters and brothers walking around with all those layers of clothing smothering their spirit, it’s time to take them off!

It’s time to let go of those past experiences that are holding us back and be able to walk forward in the promises that God has for us all. Let’s let go of the past negative

• Unhealthy relationships
• Financial issues
• Sickness
• Addiction
• Broken marriages
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Being a victim
• Bad Parenting
• etc (the list goes on and on to what it is we know is holding us back)

Despite whatever you may be going through today, or have been through we will pray for a release. Now is our time to walk back into our path of destiny according to God’s will for our lives naked and not ashamed. No longer will the past have a hold over our lives. No longer will guilt lead us into stress. No longer will our wrongs, have us down and out. No longer will we not faced our problems, situations and circumstance head on! No longer will we allow ourselves to be deceived.

In the beginning God created man in his image and likeness and so on and so forth. So when it became our time, we were created the same way. We hold in our possession the same promises that were giving throughout his Word. We will walk this Earth today naked and not ashamed. We will look everything in the face with courage. We will not be discouraged.

Today I challenge each one of you to take off all those layers of clothing off your flesh and allow your mind, body and soul a chance to breathe in order to let your spirit shine.

What is behind us we can not change, but what is before us we control. Paul writes to us in Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Prayer for Today

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father we come to you today and we stand in agreement in prayer. Father we ask that you put else back to our first day of creation, when we were “Naked & Not Ashamed”. Father we ask that you teach us to strive hard and reach high for all things for our lives according to your will for our lives. Father we ask for discernment of all things in our lives. We ask that you teach us how to use our lives in other to bless others. Father we ask you to show us our way. Father we pray for strength, guidance and motivation. Father we ask that we walk in the promises that you have given us all. Father were we are weak, please make us strong. Where we are in denial, Father please teach us how to apply your word. Father you know what we need to pray for our lives, please show us so we can each day. Father build our spirits and tame our flesh. We thank you for your love and mercy.

In Jesus name, Amen

Be Encouraged,
Tennille L. Whittington

In Dependence

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

I want to focus on dependence. As we all know we are all guilty of speaking our independence, when in actuality we are in dependence with something or someone at all times. Recently I had the opportunity to have an out of body experience that we have been praying for, for some time now.

I got a chance to see what areas in my life where weak and what areas had strength. I saw that no matter how good I’ve done, there is always opposition to come in contact with and in order to sustain that opposition we must be grounded in the Word and have a developed spirit.

I saw how easy it was for me to slip in and out of my past life. I saw how my decisions in my life affected others all around me. In life we must stay focus on where we need to be, we must keep in mind that someone is always counting on us. Regardless of how much success we may have, we must know we didn’t get there alone. Society has us focus on independence when really we are in dependence.

When there is no one else there to help us, teach us, lead, us or for us to lean on we always have God! There is not a moment that goes by that He does not want the best for us.

Just sit back and think about all the times you made it to see another day, you overcame a challenge, your money stretched to make ends meet, you got that job that you were told you weren’t qualified for, your result was the opposite of the negative doctors report, etc. Those are some of the many examples of how we receive from another source, we cannot do it alone!

I took my children camping in the woods in Georgia a couple of years ago and the experience was life changing. We went hand in hand with nature. God open my eyes to see that without all of the technology today we could still survive. He showed me how he has provided for us as people out in the wilderness.

This reminded of many stories I read throughout the Bible. When we were out in the woods the experience was mind blowing. I never imagine being on a camping trip, it’s has never been my cup of tea.

We slept in tents on the ground with no electricity. We got caught in a bad thunderstorm and all I could think was my children were going to get hurt, but through it all He kept us. We were in our tent as the loud sounds of thunder and lights of lightening were over our heads. I’ll be honest I was shook and the first thing I did was prayed and in a still soft voice all I could hear is I will see you through this storm.

My life flashed before my eyes. I had a chance to reevaluate my independence while out in the woods away from my reality and actually focus on being in dependence. We face so many storms in life and yet we still stand tall. In the end when we make it out we speak our independence, instead of reflecting the person or source that assisted with our success. We need to focus more on how we are in dependence vs. independent. Don’t allow others to bring you down; we all should build one another up. We at all times should work as a team; no one person can do it alone.

Today I challenge you stand tall through your storm and look at your opposition in the face and step to your next level in success! No longer let selfishness, circumstance or challenges determine your outcome! We are the only ones that know where we need to change in order to move up into our next level and build up others all around us. Today is your day!

Prayer for Today

Lord we stand in agreement in prayer and thank you for seeing us through our storms. Lord we ask that you continue to guide us in the direction according to your will for our lives. Lord we ask that you go before us and make our crooked ways straight and teach us how to focus more on building up our sisters and brothers. Lord we ask that you send forth our angels to guide us along our paths. Lord we ask that where we are weak, you provide us with strength. Lord we ask that you strengthen our spirits and guide us into building better relationships. Lord we cast all our cares upon you and thank you for your forgiveness and everlasting LOVE!

In Jesus name, Amen!

Be Encouraged
Tennille L. Whittington

The Responsibility of Parents

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6

I want to touch base on responsibility. So many times in our life we are quick to blame others for our lack of being responsible. When something goes wrong in the home, majority of the time we start to feud with our love ones. When something goes wrong on the job, sometimes we point the finger or get uptight with a coworker. It takes a lot to be the bigger person in an argument. It’s even harder when you are in a disagreement with someone who has pointed out where you lack responsibility. I applaud both single mothers and fathers who step up to the plate and take on the extra responsibility due to the lack of parenting done by the other parent. Also I applaud the family and friends who help in parenting where they can.

So many children today go without having a healthy relationship with both parents due to our lack of responsibility as adults being able to let go of the past and move on into the future. We need to hold ourselves accountable for our actions regardless of our emotions. No longer should you make excuses for things of the past. The past cannot be change, but the future we still control. As parents we need to build stronger relationships with the other parent, despite the situation. We need to stop talking negative about the other parent in front of the children. We need to be positive in order for our children to learn how to be responsible. We need to teach them more about who they are and be apart of every moment of their lives.

Just imagine as a child how you felt when your parents fought,
when your mom and dad split,
when your dad wasn’t around,
when your mom was too busy,
when grandma had to step up and take care of you,
when dad missed your games,
when mom missed your major accomplishments,
when you pretty much had to raise yourself,
when you didn’t have the things you wanted,
when you got tease because of your upbringing,
etc

Well children of today, lack responsible parents as well. Schedules are too busy for family. Work pressure is too heavy, you feel you owe more of your time to your job, than your love ones. Friends seem to be more important than your loved ones. So there’s a new man/woman in your life, your kids still come first. We need to make sure we are using our time wisely and that our love ones don’t suffer as a result to our actions. To me nothing in life is a mistake; I believe everything good or bad is a learning experience. You cannot have a testimony if you haven’t been tested!

For those experiencing bad breakups, divorce, financial problems, single parenting, loss of a job, etc. know that you are not alone. It’s a big population of our world that is going through similar things. In order to recover and be successful in getting a fresh start, you must first recognize where you went wrong and make it right. Don’t allow yourself to go back to your childhood and continue to blame someone else for things that are happening in your life. We need to learn how to take those situations and be able to grow from them. Holding on too them and using them as an excuse only holds us back.

If you have an unhealthy relationship with anyone I challenge you today to let go of the past and walk into change in your future. You will never be able to fully tap into all the things God has in store for you if you continue to hold someone else responsible for your actions. We are our worst enemies. We need to be the bigger person in situations and point out where we went wrong and make those situations right. I know it may seem hard, but challenge makes us strong. Seeing is not believing! We must stand on our Faith and ask God for direction at all times.

Prayer for Today

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father do something new in us and in the lives of our children today we come to you for direction. We come to you Father for You to guide us through this storm. Father teach us how to grow from our past and walk into the things of God in our future. Father You said You would go before us and make our crooked places straight. Father we ask that You teach us how to be more responsible. Father we ask that You show us the areas in our life in need of change today. Father help us grow into the strong men and women of God you created us to be. Father we pray over our children today and ask that you guide them along their walk. We ask that you protect them from all things that will hinder them along their path.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Be Encouraged
Tennille L. Whittington

Stay Focused and Determined

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:10

I would like to keep us uplifted in the spirit. Daily I pray for a message to encourage us all to be determined to stay focused along our paths in life. In my last message we redeemed all things which had fallen by the wayside in our lives. We climbed out of our sinkholes and now we stand on solid ground. We each took steps in these past weeks towards our prosperity in all things.

Some of us felt like we were at the end of our rope and we could no longer hold on. We had given up on all of our hopes, dreams and desires. Well today we no longer are hanging from that rope we have successfully let go and headed down our paths to success! We will all step together towards our victory! We need to realize God wants us victorious now! I’ve learned that it takes a team to do all things. Although in life we can get by thinking we are doing things on our own when in actuality we always have some assistance from above.

In order for us to continue to grow into and fulfill our hopes and dreams we must let the past be just that the past! If we continue to live out our past experiences presently we are only holding ourselves back and all things will fall again, by the wayside. We can not go back and change anything from yesterday, but we are in control of today and tomorrow.

We need to shed light on all of our weaknesses and pray to God for strength in those areas. We need to recognize there are certain tests in life we no longer want to repeat. We are our living testimonies and in order to deal with our past experiences we need to use them in order to build up someone else. This will boost our determination!

We have had the experience and now we need to grow from it and keep it moving into the direction of where God wants us to be. We must know our worth to ourselves and others. We must remember at all times to be a positive influence, because we never know who is watching. We need to keep others uplifted at all things and trust that we will be showered with blessings from above.

Others can sense when we are not confident about who we are, so in order to reach our goals, dreams and desires we need to stay focused and determined. We need to respect and love who we are daily.

Today is your day to continue to walk in all things where God will have you to be according to His will for your life! In these past weeks if you have been set back remember it is only temporary because you have angels watching over you who are ready to continue to lead you to

Getting that job,
Getting your finances in order,
Purchasing that home,
Getting that degree,
Being a stronger parent,
Lacking nothing and having the abundance of all things,
Being prosperous, despite the economic state;
Getting your marriage back on track,
Being a positive role model,
Reaching that goal,
Diving in deep of fulfilling your dreams, your hopes and your desires!

Today I challenge you to get in touch with your spiritual side and have an out of body experience. I want you to review yourself from the inside looking out and determine your value. Please be aware that we were created to be priceless individuals. We all need to stay focused and pick up where we once left off; we cannot be defeated! As we all experienced history take place with Senator Barack Obama reaching a goal of becoming the President of the United States. We saw that his determination has placed him closer to his destiny. As people we need to know if it’s for us we will have it on God’s time. If God is for us who can be against us?!

Prayer for Today

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father we come to you today and we give you thanks for being our inspiration. Father we thank you that we are stronger men and women of God. Father we thank you the victory now lives in our house. Father we thank you because we are back on track. Father we ask that you continue to strengthen us and teach us how to walk in love. Father we ask you to continue to teach us to be obedient to your word. Father you said that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Father we ask that you teach us how to live by your word. Father we ask that we live out your will for our lives and do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. Father our circumstance no longer has control over lives. We ask for discernment of all things. Father we have been tested, but we all passed into success. Father we ask that you remove any doubt or any unbelief. Father we ask that you take the limits off and push us to new heights. Father we ask that you come into our hearts and teach us how to respect ourselves, love ourselves, cherish ourselves and be the men and women of God you have called us to be. Father we love you and we glorify your holy name.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Be Encouraged
Tennille L. Whittington

Redeem What has Fallen by the Wayside

"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Mark 4:3- 9

Today I just want you to know we all fall down, but when we fall we must stand up and continue to walk forward. As I look back over the years and go over all of the creative things I've done and have yet to complete. All of the volunteer opportunities I chose in order to give back to youth and yet for a time I stopped.

These are all the wonderful things that brought joy into my life as I helped others and yet for the past year I let it all fall by the wayside. I read over my writings over 100 I did within a few months. Things that I passed out and emailed to others, that help us all get through troubled times, yet I stopped. All of the other projects and assignments I started but never quite finished. Recently I realized I got stopped in my tracks and lead astray. There is no one to blame but me. I cannot honestly point a finger at another person and say they influenced me to do what I knew was against God's will for my life. We are our worst enemy. The sooner we realize that the more we will accomplish in this life.

Despite how hard times may be, nothing is too hard for our God. Nothing is too big that we can't ask for his forgiveness. We must strive hard for what it is we need in our lives. Sometimes we as people move to fast, instead of waiting for God to send us a sign. Then we lose track of where he wanted us to be in this life, because we took the situation into our own hands. We go out and try to make things happen on our own, but end up creating a bigger situation that may get out of our control. Remember nothing is too big for our God; he will never give us more than we can handle.

Unique Encouragement was something I started back in 2006 and yet that too I let fall by the wayside. I started a few things here and there, but yet I stopped once again. One morning I had a conversation with God and he reminded all of the talents and gifts he gave me. He reminded me how it help another make it through the day and at the same time he brought joy into my life. So that day was the first day I got back on track with the project that was assigned for my life almost 2 years later from when it was birthed.

As I always say nothing is a mistake all that we do is a learning experience. In the past 4 years I believe I wasn't spiritually ready in my mind to walk this path that I am currently on today. God had to detour me in order to mature me! I used every excuse not to obey the call. I successfully finished my first year of Ministry school in 2007 and yet I still let my call fall by the wayside. I just want you all to know that this happens to us all. We all have an idea of where we should be in life. Thankfully I am currently enrolled and off to a great start at Washington Bible College.

We all are filled with so many wonderful gifts and talents and the world is just waiting on us. There's so much room for opportunity, yet we remain silent. Our phones are still ringing, yet we fail to pick up the line and answer the call on our lives. As children we use to dream big and those dreams would change lives. We wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, fireman, policeman, etc….yet today circumstance or our upbringing crushed those dreams.

Today I just want to encourage you to get back on track with
Whatever assignment you were fulfilling,
Whatever you dreamed to be one day,
Whatever goal you were about to reach,
Whatever great opportunity you closed the door on because of fear,
With whatever job you were training for,
Whatever degree you were working toward,
Whatever major step you were about to take in life, but got cold feet,
Whatever relationship you were getting back on track,
Whatever family time you lost,
Whatever responsibility you got away from because circumstance got in the way….

Don’t allow yourself to continue to make excuses of why you can’t be, why you can’t do, why this isn’t happening or why that isn’t happening!

Today my sisters and brothers is your day. Forget about the past and what people have said in, on and over your life. It's never too late. You are still loved by God. You are still #1 in his book. You were created for a divine purpose. No circumstance or situation can ever take the place of the mercy of God in your life.

Today I stand in agreement with you as we pray a prayer to get back on track where we let it all fall by the wayside. We let down some our standards to become comfortable or for pleasure of the flesh and not the spirit. Well today we all are going to get back on track and walk in fulfillment of getting all things accomplished as assigned!

Prayer for Today:

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father we come to you in agreement to ask for your forgiveness; Father we have been side tracked from where you want us to be in this life. Father please forgive us if we have went against your will for our lives. Father we ask that you guide us daily and that you send forth our guardian angels for the north, the south, the east and the west. Father we ask that they shed light along our paths and keep us in line with righteousness. Father we ask that you teach us how to increase our talents with the purpose you have for our lives. Father we ask that we be able to redeem all things which have fallen by the wayside in our lives. Father we close the doors on all of the paths that led us astray from where you would have us to be. Father we thank for your mercy and forgiveness.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Be Encouraged,
Tennille L. Whittington

Strengthening the Spirit

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I want to encourage you to relieve stress by using faith and forgiveness in order to strengthen your spirit. In my last message I touched on “Filling the Void” and I stand in agreement in prayer that you all are walking in your future and experiencing your breakthrough. Although times may seem challenging you have to stand on your faith in order to see through circumstance.

Each challenge brings us to a new height in life. I’m assuring you each week, I stand with you encouraging you along your path. We must live by faith and not by sight!

Throughout our journeys we cross paths with so many people, with different intentions that impact our lives. From each person we encounter, there is a transfer of energy that takes place. Whether we know it our not, we pick up positives/negatives from each person we come into contact with. At times so much negative energy is transferred that we no longer can tolerate it and stress builds up. This causes our hearts to harden and at times we are unable to function properly.

We are unable to be the loving people God created us to be. There are so many things we believe, but because we have allowed our circumstance to lead us by sight we tend to fail at what we believe.

In my own life forgiveness was a big challenge, but once I mastered it. It no longer had a hold over me. I had to stand on my faith and ask God for help in releasing all tension caused by those in my life that resulted in a negative experience. Those experiences caused me to carry a lot of weight which lead to anxiety attacks. I pray that you all do not experience one; some say they are similar to a heart attack. I know how they felt to me, but I’ve never experienced a heart attack. I had a friend once tell me her mom passed due to worrying (stressing).

So if you still hold in your heart a grudge towards anyone, today I encourage you to pray a prayer of forgiveness and let your thoughts fly like birds and keep a clear and refreshed mind at all times. For you have so much to live for and worry shouldn’t be your friend. Instead get to know my friend joy, and she’ll bring you happiness! To find out more about her, just smile and enjoy her company forever.

Always remember all things will happen in our lives on God’s time. What resorts in your mind isn’t as important as you think, hand it over to the Lord and free your mind and everything will come together. Stress kills, mentally, socially, physically and definitely spiritually!

Prayer for Today

Lord I come to you today and ask you to guide me into strengthening my spirit; Father teach me how to tap into Your power on the inside of me; Father right now I need You more than before; Father I pray for an open heart full of your love and no worry; Father I seek out Your joy and happiness on today; Father I ask that you relieve my mind, body and soul of all negative thoughts and emotions towards another; Father I ask for forgiveness from myself; I ask for forgiveness from everyone else; Father I ask for forgiveness from You; Father I ask for forgiveness overall to be set free from the bondage of my past and present, so I can move forward into Your future for my life; I ask that you build me up in the areas that have been weakened; You said if we ask we shall receive and if we knock the door shall be open; Lord I ask for you to fill my mouth with your words and guide my path to forgiveness today as I walk in the doors of my future.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Be Encouraged
Tennille L. Whittington

Filling the Void

Filling the Void

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

Today I want to uplift you and assure you that you are loved. Have you ever felt the need to fill a void?

In reading John 4:1-26, we find Jesus at the well talking with the Samaritan woman. We find that she is journeying to the well for water, but doesn’t realize she was led there for the living water more so than the drinking water in the well.

While at the well Jesus speaks to the emptiness inside of this woman. He gives of Himself to quench a thirst within her. This was a woman who had many experiences that seem to send her in the wrong direction, but yet at this time in her life she was led to the right place; to meet the right One.

We too sometimes live in repeat cycles trying to fill a void within that just never seems to get filled. We thirst after worldly things that never quite seem to quench our thirst. It’s time we focus on Jesus and allow Him to fill the voids in our lives.

Once you and I fill our voids, we will be able to share our testimony, just as the Samaritan woman and bring others to get filled by Him!

You should no longer hold on to the hurting things of the past that will cause your void to increase. We should obey His Word and as it is written 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. We should do just that. It’s time to cast our cares on Him and we should not take them any further along our journey as we strive to the next level. Our pasts do not determine our future.

Many times we tend to let people speak negatively over are lives and their words become our actions. This creates unwanted layers in, on and over our lives. This has us focused on the negatives versus the positives. We should take every negative moment of our lives as a learning experience. We should no longer ponder on it awaiting something to change, instead grow from it and move in a positive direction.

At the well Jesus knew everything about the woman. He knew her better than she knew herself. Not once did He call her out of her name of judge the state she was in. He instead filled the void in her so she could go back and do the same for others. He taught her a lesson that was more meaningful than anything she had ever experienced. We must allow His Word to do the same for us and allow the words from others to have no impact unless they are words from Him!

No matter what area in your life is empty He can fill it. There are so many things that are waiting to happen in your life, yet you are standing in your way. It’s time you meet with Him at the place considered the well in your life and allow Him to fulfill you in Him!

So from this day forward I challenge you to love yourself and do unto others as you would want them to do to and for you. No longer let anyone stand in your way from getting to the next level in life. At work don’t take it personal, be professional. At home, be strong, whatever is going on in your personal life is happening to bring out the good in you. So no longer stress because without trial there is no success and without challenge we remain weak!

All things will happen in our lives on God’s time! Always remember the decisions we make have a direct affect on someone else whether we know it or not. We all are role models.

I believe sometimes we need a mirror to see that we are the only ones holding ourselves back. So be strong and know that the best is yet to come!

Prayer for Today

Father I come to You today looking to fill a void; Father I am at the place considered to be the well in my situation; Father reach down and touch me today and allow me to feel Your presence totally; Father allow me to see myself as You see me; Father allow me to grow in the areas You need me to grow; Father fill me with Your living water; Father I want to thirst no more; Thank You for creating me; Father I am determined to be all that you have destined me to be; My past does not determine my future; I am a beautiful creation and nothing or no one has a hold over me; Lord guide my steps and guide my words; Give me the strength needed to close the doors of my past, in order to open the doors of my future!


In Jesus name, Amen!


Be Encouraged
Tennille L. Whittington

It's Time to Take a S.T.A.N.D. (Step Towards A New Direction)

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:11

Today on this 1st of June, I come to encourage each of us to take a STAND. The acronym I came up with for STAND stands for Step Towards A New Direction.

As you read this I want you to gather all your hopes, dreams, desires and wants to the forefront of your mind, center of your heart and top of your soul. I want you to put a lot of thought into where you are today and where you would like to be tomorrow.

I want you to begin to measure the gap between where you are today and where you would like to be. In a successful attempt I will encourage us daily to take a STAND that will be beneficial not just for our lives, but also the lives of others.

We spend so much time focused on the past during the present and it causes us to lose time in preparing for our future. This message is being written to encourage you that the time is now to take a STAND. No longer can you worry about what happened yesterday, because it cannot be changed.

So today I ask that you tap into your God-given talents and abilities and make a difference in your life. You are only waiting on you. You are not awaiting God to show up, He is awaiting you to show up!

We must learn from yesterday in order to STAND today and move forward tomorrow. Once we have made up our minds and take a STAND to move forward in that direction all things will come together for our good and others.

In Ephesians 6:11 the scripture reads Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

If we were to input the meaning of the acronym into the verse it would translate to Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your Step Towards A New Direction against the devil's schemes.

It’s powerful to know that God has already equipped us with His word and our talents and abilities in order to move forward. The Promised Land is still before us and our past is still behind, but we must take a STAND and follow a different path in getting there. We have to realize who we are and how and why we were created.

If you were to read Ephesians 6:10-20 it describes all the armor you will need as you journey down a new direction towards your Promised Land. God is our Ultimate Provider and we need to solely depend and trust Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

After being hurt, failing, going through storm after storm, situation after situation, rejection, heartache and headache, defeat, etc…it’s hard to STAND because you become weak and tend to strive off of emotion. It’s time to let go and let God and allow Him to heal, provide, protect and lead you into a new direction towards your promise! He has given you the book of life the Bible to help you defeat it all and experience your turnaround. He has provided us with all that we need.

I like to think of the Bible as the manual needed to operate in this life and it was provided by my manufacturer, God. It’s similar to a car that comes with a operator’s manual that was provided by its manufacturer. Most things we purchase or receive in life come with instruction.

So before we entered into the world, He provided instruction. It’s up to us whether or not we are going to align ourselves accordingly and apply it to our everyday lives. Today I encourage you to pick up the instruction manual for your life and get more familiar in how and why you were created.

In Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

See we were created to have dominion over the very things that seem to have dominion over us. We were created in His image and likeness. What does this mean to you? Do you even realize the power that is buried on the inside of you?

Do you realize the impact you will make if you stop making excuses? Do you realize the impact you will have if you stop beating yourself up over things out of your control? Do you realize the impact that you will have if you pursue your dreams?

So what you fell down, get back up! So what you made a mistake, fix it! So what you have been denied, God has the final say when it comes to access being granted! So what it looks like it's never going happen, never going to be, is too hard, it's not worth it, blah, blah, blah, so what! Stop being so hard on yourself and making excuses about every little thing and hand it all over to God. If you trust in Him, He will never lead you astray. Always remember He wants the best for you and sees the best in you. He will show you a new way!

Today I challenge you to take a STAND and be all and do all that God created you to do and become. I believe you can do anything you set your mind, heart and soul to do!

You are more than a conqueror! Now take a STAND!

Blessings,

Tennille L. Whittington

Prayer for today:

Father You know our beginning, middle and our end, today we ask that You align us accordingly if we are not align with Your plan for our life; Dig in deep within us and remove the heartache and pain of our past in our minds, hearts and souls; Send people into our lives that will hold the mirror for us to see who You see when You look at us and encourage us to be all You have created us to be! Father we are starting with the woman/man in the mirror! We want to step higher, bolder and faster at Godspeed as we take a S.T.A.N.D. (Step Towards A New Direction) to impact change all around the world! We give You thanks for it all; You are the Ultimate Creator, Healer, Provider, Redeemer, Friend; You are our first love; Without You we are nothing; Today we take a STAND to take back everything that the devil stole or we freely gave away: he cannot have my things anymore! We will enter into our Promised Land! IJNA

Press Reset ...Ready, Set...Go!

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

As we journey along God’s path for our lives today I felt it necessary to encourage us to tackle each day differently than the day before. For a few days now God has been dealing with me in the area of forgiveness. He showed me that forgiveness is an area sensitive to most of us.

In the area of forgiveness I challenge each of us to press the “reset” button in our minds, hearts and souls. Now I know you must be thinking that you don’t have a “reset” button, but you do. It’s not a button that you can see or touch, it’s simply changing your ways within. After you press “reset”, the next step would be to change your outlook on your situations.

The easiest way to do so is to seek God through prayer. When we pray it’s a time to converse with God. It’s a time to praise and confess. It’s a time to intercede, release and receive. It’s a time to repent and reconcile. The list goes on and on.

Through it all prayer is a time where you can be released, replenished, refreshed, renewed, and “reset”, just to name a few.

If we think about where we want to be in life today and compare it to where we are; we will see that there is a disconnection somewhere for most of us. If we start to think about how we became disconnected with our goals, dreams, or desires we would begin to point fingers at others and even ourselves.

That’s why it’s extremely important that we reconcile the existing matters in our lives today, in order to press forward in fulfilling our purpose in life. We need to seek God for forgiveness in order to forgive others and ourselves as well.

This week I have been working on one of my books “Birthing the Promise: It’s Time to P.U.S.H.”. In this book I have compiled my life long journey into different chapters as it relates to my growing pains. I aligned every experience in each chapter with God’s Word and how it has helped me along the way, especially in the area of forgiveness.

This year is my year to give birth to my promise. I believe it’s still time for you to do the same.

You see nothing we experience in life is experienced alone. We can identify most of our situations with things that have taken place with biblical characters. We also may be by ourselves going through trials and tribulations, but at the same time, in another location someone else is experiencing or has experienced a similar situation. We have to change our way of thinking, feeling and doing to align with God’s will and way for our lives.

We always seem to beat ourselves up about the very things that are out of our control and pay little to no attention to the things within our control. We often try to accomplish so much for ourselves to prove something to others and especially ourselves to feed our ego, but in the end we have no real success if we don’t choose to include God and do it His way.

In last week’s blog “Right the Wrong” we examined the book of Jonah. We went through each chapter and identified Jonah’s charge from God with some of the things we are faced with today. We saw how Jonah fled God and attempted to go in another direction.

We learned that no matter how far he thought he had gotten away by going in another direction, God was still in control. You see when we ignore God and do our own thing; it just blows up in our face. We may be happy now, but it won’t last for long. We will never truly be satisfied being stuck in our ways and doing things outside of the purpose in which we were created.

Every decision we make in life impacts others in some way. We learned from Jonah that when he didn’t obey, he threatened the lives of the sailors. When he did obey he changed the lives of the people in Nineveh to reconcile with God.

It’s time we decide to step forward in a new direction and reconcile our matters with Him as well.

It wasn’t until Jonah asked God for forgiveness and reconciled the matter with Him that God allowed Jonah to use his “reset” button. Once Jonah cried out to God, his journey was restarted. He took the necessary steps to start again and fulfill God’s plan for his life.

You and I still have time to fulfill God’s plan for our lives. As long as we are alive and able, we can turn our situations around!

Most of us have dealt with people who have hurt us, lied on us, cheated on us, abused us, etc. We have dealt with so many people who have smiled in our faces and talked behind our backs. We have dealt with people who have stabbed us in the backs and threw us under the bus.

We have also done those very things to people. So I am honest enough with myself to say I am a sinner and I am not perfect. I have done wrong to many people in my life and I am at fault just as much as anyone else.

So we must also seek forgiveness from others. We have to learn to take ownership of our actions and reap the consequences and forgive ourselves too.

We deal with people in the home, workplace, at school and even in the church who pushes our buttons and try to get the best of us, but we have to learn to forgive them daily and not allow them to have a hold over us any longer.

Today is our day to press “reset” and release all of those situations to God through prayer and restart His journey for our lives.

So what you were wrong, so what they may laugh at you or talk about you, so what! It’s not like they aren’t doing it anyways.

So what you are embarrassed, so what you feel ashamed! Guess what? You are not the first and you definitely won’t be the last.

So what you made a fool of yourself, so what, so what, so what! Do away with the excuses and step forward with the courage and confidence of God today, because He has your back!

Right now I challenge you in this moment to release it all over to God. As Jonah was in the belly of whale he pressed through a prayer to reconcile the matter with God. As you say the prayer below I ask that you reset your mind, heart and soul to focus solely on God’s plan for your life.

No longer allow your haters, enemies, loved ones and friends to get the best of you and allow forgiveness to be an area that will hinder you all of your days.

Instead bless them and love them as God instructs us to do daily!

Blessings,

Tennille L. Whittington

Prayer for Today:

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father on today we ask for Your forgiveness in all things; We seek forgiveness from ourselves as well, so we can move higher in You; Teach us to forgive those who have hurt, hindered or shattered our lives; Strengthen us in our areas of weakness as we step forward along Your path for our lives; Deliver us from us! In Jesus name, Amen

Right the Wrong!

Psalm 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Psalm 3:8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah

Right the Wrong!

As we approach this week I want to ensure we are walking down the right path for our lives. All weekend long God has been dealing with me on some things that have taken place in my life for some time now. When I thought about all that God has been asking me to do, say and become it would get the best of me. For so long in my life I have been running and I was headed the wrong way.

This is my year to walk in my God given authority and run no more! I am grateful to know that I have reconciled my wrong with God and I am headed in the right direction!

Thank God!

Do you sometimes feel you are headed the wrong way? God has said go right, but instead you try avoid Him and go left. God calls you closer, but yet you step back. God taps on you and gives you a little power, but you fear it and you hide it within. You walk around powerless, but God has called you powerful in His eyes. You don’t like what God is asking of you, so you decide to do you and ignore God. Daily you pray against all that is taking place in your life, because you are stuck in a place where fear has set in or you are stubborn and don’t want to obey Him.

Daily we struggle with decisions, whether they are in the home, workplace, at school or in the church. It all depends on what we consider important to us. Well today I want us to focus on what God has deemed important to us verses what we feel is important.

God has been dealing with me in several areas of my life and for some time I chose to ignore Him, avoid it and even take a step in a different direction before 2010 began. When I stepped into 2010 I chose to step boldly and chase after all that God has promised me.

As we have been walking with God this year, He has been beating me up about all the things He has spoken to me about since 2006. I had dealt with too many sleepless nights as a result of my disobedience and so I decided to seek Him for reconciliation and step out on faith. I stepped off the cliff of my life to enter into an airspace of faith where I have placed my trust in God to lead me daily according to His plan for my life. I can testify today that He has not failed me yet.

I say this to say that my experience led me to the book of Jonah. The story is about a man who disagrees with the assignment that God has given him. In Jonah 1:1-3 God instructed him to go to Nineveh, but instead he headed elsewhere. He thought he could outrun God by fleeing from Him.

This is no different from when God asks us to do something, but instead we result to our own plan and test God. It doesn’t make God’s charge to us go away, but instead it impacts our lives and others negatively. It challenges us daily until we give in and if we don’t give in ourselves and others suffer a great deal. It’s because God’s plan unfolds to us daily and it’s up to us to walk in our call and complete our assignments.

As Jonah journeyed out to out into his own direction God sent a great storm. In the midst of doing his own thing Jonah endangered the lives of others. In Jonah 4-16 the sailors on the boat Jonah decided to travel on were impacted by the great storm, they ended up throwing Jonah into the sea.

In our lives how many storms have God sent our way? How many times has negative situations taken place because we made the wrong choice or we failed to do something? Take a look at your life for a moment: Are you in the midst of a mess? Are you going through day after day? Is God beating you up because you decided to walk in a different direction? Is your family falling apart? Is your workplace off the hook? Is your business declining? Are your finances jacked up? Are you in a place that you don’t want to be in, but you chose to be there because you thought it would be better?

In Jonah 1:17 God sent a whale to swallow Jonah alive. While in the whale Jonah (Jonah 2:1-9) reconciled with God and prayed for His forgiveness. After he called on Him, the whale was commanded to vomit him up in Jonah 2:10. This reminded me of how in the midst of our troubles when we call on God, He will deliver us also. No matter how your situation looks God can command you to be delivered from it, but first you need to reconcile the matter with Him.

In Jonah 3, he goes to Nineveh where God had instructed him to go and he completes His assignment. The people turn from their evil ways and reconcile with God. There are people awaiting you and I to do what God has instructed us to do. What if Jonah stayed on the boat or died at sea? How would God have been able to impact the lives of the people in Nineveh?

If you don’t get up and apply yourself how will you ever get that degree, job, house or business? If your relationship is falling and you haven’t stepped up and compromised how will it get better? If you don’t take a step forward to change, how will your life ever change? If you don’t step outside of your box, how will you ever experience all that God has for you?

The book of Jonah is about God’s fulfillment of His holy plan for Jonah’s life and for the people of Nineveh. What has God been speaking to you about? What is He trying to fulfill through your life?

If they were to extend the books of the bible how would your story read? If you don’t get up and go where God has instructed you to go how will your assignment be fulfilled. It’s ok to mess up, it’s ok that you were disobedient, but today God needs to reconcile the matter with you and send you back the right way!

We are not waiting on God, He is waiting on us. One of my favorite songs is “They That Wait” by Fred Hammond. This morning I heard the song a little different. It’s not really telling us to wait on the Lord like in the physical. It’s telling us to run and not get weary and walk and never faint. Instead of sitting around waiting, instead of laying down complaining, instead of stopping and looking for a sign from God, we need to keep it moving in the right direction, because as we walk with Him change is going to take place. He is working it out behind the scenes as we continue to move forward with Him. So get up and move forward now!

Be encouraged,

Tennille L. Whittington

Today’s Prayer:

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father I have been running away from You; Father running away from the call on my life; Father I have disobeyed Your commands and today I step out on faith to reconcile with You to make it right; Father the road is unclear to me, but I know all things are clear to You; Father I ask that You strengthen me today in the areas of need as I start over again and walk in the call of my purpose to Your honor and glory; Father no longer do I want to suffer, no longer do I want to lack rest, Father I give in You when; Father I deserve it all; the good and the bad, because through it all comes a testimony that will impact someone else; so use me on today and forever more to Your will and Your way, May it all be done in my life according to Your assignment! No longer shall I travel the wrong way! In Jesus name, Amen

Fearless Faith

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:25

Today I am writing to tell you to keep the faith that will win the race in your life. Whatever the plan is that God has shown you, don’t give up and don’t give in. He is working it out in your favor!

As I was reading over some old writings of mine I thought about where I had planned to be during this year of my life. I had the opportunity today to take a trip back down memory lane to see how far God has brought me. I can remember a time when I was dreaming of being at the place that I am today in my life.

Now it is a living reality!

I remember a time when it seemed only to be a dream never to come to pass, but I am grateful I have put my faith in God and allow Him to lead the way. So I ask that you put your dreams at the forefront of your mind today and walk them out with God.

There will be times in our lives when we will be tested and majority of the tests we will not let take place and will probably give in too before allowing God to lead us through them because we are sometimes stuck in our ways.

I wanted to reach out to you today to tell you its okay to fall down, mess up, shed tears and to be wrong every now and again. Those are some of the things that make us human. No one is perfect but God and He loves us too much not to help us overcome what is taking place in our lives.

In the event you have an issue with a person, it’s always best to reconcile it before it grows out of control. In the event you make a mistake, as long as you are still breathing you still have time to make the wrong…right! You shouldn’t sit around purposely doing things to intimidate, irritate or to upset the person. Those actions only make matters more challenging for you and keep you off track.

It makes no sense in worrying yourself out about something that is out of your control and then not handling those things that are in your control. It’s time we focus on what’s in front of us and allow God to do the rest.

If people are intimidated by you in the workplace, home, church or school than so be it. You have to remain faithful to the call that God has placed on your life and not worry about what people think or know about you, because all that matters is what God knows about you and what He has said to you. Remember He wants the best for us all.

If someone is intentionally doing things to make you feel uncomfortable seek God for discernment of how to wisely deal with the situation. If the person is unable to receive and reconcile the matter I encourage you to keep moving forward. Life is too short for us to focus our time or things that hinder us from stepping closer into the plans God has for us. Difficult people will be used to knock us off our path. Before we get to far off track, I encourage us to learn how to overcome those situations and use those people, places and things as stepping stones to what’s next.

If we look back at King David, he went through a lot of ups and downs, but He also knew how to praise God and ask for His forgiveness. Even though David had done wrong in the eyes of many, God still used him.

If we look back at Saul, he was a murderer and was against all that God was trying to do, but He used him. He transformed him into Paul, one of my best teachers as I move forward to do as it is written in 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

I am at a place in my life where I can care less of what anyone thinks about me. I am striving hard to keep the faith and rely on God to make all things happen according to His will for my life.

All things that I do are to His honor and glory and will be forever!

Today I challenge each of us to keep the faith to finish the race. I challenge each of us to stand through the tests of time. Despite how hard times may be, nothing is too hard for our God. Nothing is too big that we can’t ask for His forgiveness. We must strive hard for what it is we need in our lives. As for people pray for them and bless them at all times, especially your haters!

Be Encouraged,

Tennille L. Whittington

Today’s Prayer:

As it is written in Matthew 18:19 …I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Lord God we come to you in agreement to ask for your forgiveness. Lord God we have been side tracked from where you want us to be in this life. Lord God forgive us if we have went against your will for our lives. Lord we ask that you guide us daily and that you send forth our guardian angels for the north, the south, the east and the west. Lord we ask that they shed light along our paths and keep us in line with righteousness. Lord we ask that you teach us how to increase our talents with the purpose you have for our lives. Lord we ask that we be able to redeem all things which have fallen by the wayside in our lives. Lord we close the doors on all of the paths that led us astray from where you would have us to be. Lord we thank for your mercy and forgiveness. Lord help us strengthen our faith! In Jesus name, Amen

Stepped Outside The Box

Rev 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Today I ask that we take a look back over the last 3 months of this year and allow God to highlight what we need to leave behind. I ask that we take two steps forward today in seeking Him and experiencing more of His love.

It's time we shed our lives of people, places and things that are hindering us.

Daily I encourage us to tap back into our dreams, hopes and desires, but along the way there have been some obstacles, challenges and pit stops. There have been some doors God has led us to, but there seem to have been something or someone blocking the entry way.

There have been some relationships that we have let go, but yet overnight he or she seemed to have had a change of heart and we let them back in. There have been some habits that we have kicked, but overnight we had the urge to light it up, pop the top and give up ourselves to those who don't love us. Some of us have even raise the hand to hit someone we love and/or neglected our responsibilities. All in all we have been beating ourselves up daily because of our decisions to give in or to give up at some point in time along the way.

We have been faced with test after test, situation after situation and we are putting too much time in trying to make things happen on our own. We are avoiding change to take place in our lives because we expected a different outcome.

We have been placed in difficult situations and it has been very challenging for us to live life as usual, but I want us all to stay firm on God's word at all times.

When we walked into 2010 a lot of us made the decision in our mind that we were going to plan out some resolutions and stick to them, yet after the first week we had forgot all about the resolutions. We saw the challenge of trying to live right, do better and become who God has called us to be and decided to step back into our comfort zone.

I'll go back to Genesis and Joseph's journey for a moment. God had given him visions of who he was to become, but before his eyes it didn't seem possible. Did it stop Joseph from walking in what He believe God had called him to do? The answer is no! Joseph continue to keep his faith in God that his visions would become a living reality. Through all the test and trials Joseph remained confident in God's word for his life. That's the same approach we need to take daily. Despite how it looks know that God is in full control.

No longer can we live in comfort and just allow life to pass us by. I am not one to allow anyone to let life just pass them by! I believe my assignment is to encourage, motivate and impact people.

So from this day forward look forward to me knocking at the door of your conscious, look forward to motivating messages that will get you back on the path that God has established for your life.

Reflection:

In order for me to step outside the box and get myself positioned to the call on my life I had to learn and value the true meaning of God’s love. In 2006 I was faced with so many decisions, so much was happening all around me and I just needed an outlet. I was having anxiety attack one after another until the point I just gave up on all things. I laid there in a fetal position in my bed, until I was able to move and make it to the hospital.

I had hit rock bottom in my life and felt that love was no friend of mine, but God showed me differently. While I had blacked out from the anxiety attack I could not see nothing but darkness, but I could hear a still small voice on the inside of me keeping me conscious. I remember thinking I have given everyone and everything else a try, but not God and I shouldn't give up on Him easily because times got rough.

At the hospital the doctor placed me on the EKG machine and found nothing, he took X-rays and found nothing, and then he asked me what’s on your mind? Before I could respond, he said “young lady let go of whatever it is that is out of your control”.

It took a moment to respond because I struggled with myself for a while before I let anyone in on what was taking place in my life. I have always strive to be so independent and do things on my own. I realized at the hospital that I needed help and that I needed to reconcile my relationship with God and give it over to Him.

It took some time, but eventually through God's word and patience I was able to do as it is written in Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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..

At one time in my life I would never apply scripture when I was going through, but today I rely on the Word for all things. I was giving God bits and pieces of my life at my convenience, but now He has it all. I always tried to do it on my own, but today I am grateful that He is the center of my life. I put Him first in all that I do. I realized that in order to fully receive all that God had for me I had to give Him all of me. God needs all of you in order for you to experience your breakthrough as well. It's time to stop wrestling with yourself and allow God to lead you to your next level.

One scripture that has helped me overcome my situation is Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. As it is written in 1 Peter 5:7 I have been casting my cares on Him daily, in order to keep myself leveled and focused on the path I believe He is directing me to travel.

Today I ask you what’s on your mind? What’s troubling you? What is it that God has been asking of you?

I challenge you today to step outside the box and allow God to lead you into His promised land to reap all that He has in store for your life. It will not be an easy journey, but I guarantee it will be well worth the fight and effort you put forth for change in your life.

Blessings,

Tennille L. Whittington

Prayer for Today

Thank You Lord for new beginnings; thank You Lord for it all; Jesus You are the center of my life; Jesus You are my joy, Jesus You are my everything; All of my help comes from You; There is no one that can compare to the love I have for You or have received from You; I bless Your name and give You all the praise! In Jesus name, Amen

Step Above and Beyond

Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Good Afternoon,

On this 1st day of April as we step forward towards pursuing our dreams I wanted to focus in on faith. I wanted to get us out of our way of thinking and understanding of what God is doing in our life and into His will for our lives.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

It's time that we do away with seeing is believing and allow our spirits to take lead of our lives.

During my fast I haven't posted a blog, but felt it necessary to pick up where I left off today. The next 3 days will be life-changing for me, because I believe God has been preparing me to be use at a higher level for His honor and glory.

I am grateful for Facebook and how it has allowed me to connect with so many people around the world and pray daily for each and everyone. I am grateful that I chose to be obedient to what I believe God was calling me to do and that was to encourage and impact the others at all times, despite the cost.

I take my Facebook pages very seriously and I believe it is just the beginning of where God will have for me to go, do and become. I tapped into my gifts and talents in order to help someone else be all that God has called them to be. It's time you step out and do the same.

Another area of mine that I love to the serve the Lord is with community outreach. Through my church Community of Hope as needed I help people with social ills that affect our community and I put others first in doing so. It fills a void within when I see someone's life change because of the choices I chose to make and serve God in helping them.

Today I want you to reach deep down within and tapped into the gifts and talents on the inside of you and bring them out. I want you to step above and beyond and grab the hold of the Lord and allow Him to lead you forward.

The scripture in Ephesians says now unto Him...., God is waiting on you. You already know what your gifts and talents are, what your likes and dislikes are and it's time you stop wrestling with yourself and stand on faith to know that God's got your back. He will never leave or forsake you.

So I challenge you today to bring back the fire in your mind, heart and soul and bring your dream to life. We have touched on Joseph and Daniel and their abilities to interpret dreams over these past few months. God wants you to step above and beyond and live your dream today and no longer miss out on all that He has in store for you!

Bless You

Prayer For Today:

Father come into my mind, heart and soul on today, Father change my way of thinking, doing and seeing, Father I believe in me and I know You do too, Father I stretch my hands to You right in this moment and ask that You have Your way, Father may Your will be done! In Jesus name, Amen

"Spiritual Love" Poem

I looked into your eyes and united with your spirit,
It served as my guide throughout your mind, body and soul,
Each moment of my journey I embraced your spirit and let it take control,

My spirit saw things on the inside that human eyes could not see,
It made me realize that real beauty is skin deep,

As I explored all of your thoughts,
Each avenue I traveled led straight to your heart,
Which instantly absorbed my spirit, assuring it we would never part,

We both house all of the fruit of the Spirit and God’s grace,
Love, joy, meekness, temperance, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, peace and faith,
One at a time, they assured me the Holy Spirit led me to the right place,

The deeper I went into your heart, you became rooted in mine,
In the depths of my spirit, our love became divine,

In each other’s heart we engraved our names,
In the book of matrimony, God vowed to do the same,

You made me feel complete the moment I first laid eyes on you,
The love we share is more than just a dream come true,
For the Lord has blessed me with you,
Each day He will guide us to pull us through,

This shall last and we keep each day the same as our first,
We will prove to keep it together for better or for worse,

Together for all eternity, also through sickness and health,
We will become one share our blessings and wealth,

Each step we take and the air that we breathed,
Just know I am apart of you fulfilling all of your needs,

Today history begins,
we will be one forever,
You and me for all eternity!

Copyright © 2006 Tennille L. Whittington

Pursuing Your Dreams

Pursuing Your Dreams

Matthew 25: 14-18 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Good Afternoon,

It’s been a while since I took time out to blog and encourage each of you. Over the past few weeks I have been putting my thoughts on paper, in order to put what is written into action in my life. I know the importance of being obedient to God’s direction in my life and today I wanted to remain focused and determined to do His will and do it His way through this blog.

In today’s message I would like us to touch back on our dreams. I want us to get focused on the visions God has given us for His honor and His glory. Each of us was created for a purpose. We were born on purpose, with purpose and for a purpose.

What is your purpose?

What is the dream that God has placed on the inside of you?

What are the talents that you possess that God is waiting for you to step out on faith and allow yourself to be used according to His purpose for your life?

Instantly you should be able to answer the questions if you are being honest with yourself. I find that some times we know what God has placed in us to do or become but we limit ourselves to our own understanding and our ways. Hopefully as we journey forward we will step aside and allow God to have full control.

In the series “Dynamic Dreams” we learned that we need to write, work and measure our plan. In this series “Pursuing Your Dreams” I want to touch back on each one of those steps.

Writing the Plan

When we pursue our dreams, we need to organize our thoughts on paper. We need to carve out some time and just write all things that come to mind. We should list out our likes and dislikes, wants, needs and desires. We then need to identify areas of growth and development in order for the things that are written to become a living reality.

So much of our time is wasted in a day on things that allow us to waste more of our God given time. Just think for a moment how much do you write in emails, on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter?

How much time do we spend doing things that do not benefit us?

How do you spend your time?

How much of your time is spent living out your dream?

It’s time to identify where we spend most of our time, love and commitment and make it all come together for our purpose. It’s time to discover our differences and use them to our advantage in stepping higher in the will of God for our lives. It’s time that we take the first step towards pursuing our dream today and write out all the things we believe God has planted on the inside of us.

When I sat down to draft one of my books “Pursuing Your Dream”, I had to think about the ways that I was different. There are several books out that will encourage people to pursue their dream; I had to ask myself what would be different about my book? What would be different about the information I had to share? In order to answer those questions I had to examine who I AM says I am. I had to take note of all the things I believed that made me unique. I had to focus on my difference.

Once I discovered all of the things that were different about me. I was able to narrow my plan to focus solely on the area where my heart is and that is to encourage others in need, despite the cost. I realized that no one else has walked my journey but me. Anything that I would place on the inside of my books would be from my walk and unique. I learned a while ago that when we discover a problem, we are the ones with the solution. Daily I find new ways to bring increase to all that I do, especially for others.

In order for us to develop a plan that will benefit us along our journey we need to focus on our difference and connect our plan to our passion. I have learned that people will go above and beyond for things that they love.

What is it that you love to do?

How do you spend your free time?

If you could get more time, how would you spend it?

In Matthew 25 is a parable about 3 individuals who were given talents and 2 out of the 3 pleased the master. The other servant chose to do nothing, but hide his talent and displeased the master.

What are you hiding from the Master today?

What is it that God has been reminding you of daily?

What is that one thing that you do better than anyone else?

What is it that you always wanted to be when you grew up?

What are you beating yourself up about?

Are you saying I should have done this, or I would have done that, or I could have done this? If so I telling you today that you still have time. You don’t have to continue to give up. It’s time to step up! It’s not too late! The time is now!

I encourage you today to take the necessary steps forward to write out your plan. If you wanted to be a lawyer, a doctor, a model, a teacher, or an artist, the time to begin your journey is now! If you want to be married, a parent or even a better person, the time is now! This month we celebrate great African Americans who took steps of faith in pursuing their dreams. What if they just would have allowed fear, laziness, limitation, etc to stop them from moving forward? What life would we have today, if it had not been for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream?

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In John 5:1-14 we learn that Jesus heals a lame man. He had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

Today He is saying to you “Do you want to get well?”

In other words do you want your chance to get out of whatever it is that has you stuck?

Do you want your chance to live life more abundantly?

If you continue to sit around doing nothing, nothing will continue to happen for you!

Don’t allow your situation or circumstances to hinder you from pursuing your dream. The fact may be that you may have been a mess and feel invalid, but God has a different plan for your life.

The lame man replied to Jesus that no one would help him and Jesus said to him "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” It’s time to stop waiting on someone else to take interest in your dream. It’s your dream and that means it’s for you to seek God and make it happen. God is all that you need. He is waiting on you. It’s time we put in the work.

How will you respond when the master comes to evaluate your use of His talents?

I challenge you today to get up and pick up your mat and walk forward in pursuing your dreams. Daily we will touch on different ways in order for us to move forward. It’s time you approach each day with great expectation! God wants only the best for us.

Blessings,

Tennille L. Whittington

Prayer for Today

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Lord as I read Psalm 51:10 I stretch my hands to thee, Lord I ask that You create in me a pure heart, Lord I ask that You remove all things that caused me to have a hardened heart, Lord I ask that You renew me by diving in my mind and refreshing my thoughts with Your words, Lord I ask that you renew my heart to flow with Your Word, Lord I ask that You dive to the pit of my soul and settle as You renew a steadfast spirit within me, Lord I surrender my life today and I journey forward following your lead, stepping in Your footsteps towards my dream! Use me Lord I am available, I rest in You! In Jesus name, Amen