Monae`Denise

When did God start getting things wrong, mixed up, confused about this life we're living? NEVER!! So often we make choices or decisions about our lives and then we want to blame God. He's not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 4:13), we are. We will confuse our lives with a bunch of mess because we want to think that everything is okay to be apart of, "everybody's doing it", we have to accept this and we have to accept that, "why not; one time won't hurt". One thing I have learned in my 38 years of living...I do not have to be a part of everything nor do I have to try or accept everything going on around me. When you start accepting things, you open up your sensory gates to things that you shouldn't be consuming. We have to guard ourselves from the tricks that this world throws at us. So when did God get it wrong? At birth? Naw. He knew us before He formed us in our mother's womb (Jeremiah 1:5). James 4:7 explains that when we know ...

Grace is defined as unmerited mercy/favor - not deserving of His mercy/favor. Please don't frustrate God's grace. I've seen so many people become angry with God, stop communicating with Him, won't acknowledge Him and think that it's all about their abilities. Trust me, God is your source for EVERYTHING. God's grace will take you places you can only imagine. His favor will open doors and make things happen for you. In everything you do, acknowledge Him and He will lead and guide you. If you're in your feelings and can't seem to get out of the funk you find yourself in pray; talk to God about whatever it is.  God's grace has helped me through a lot of personal situations that I know I couldn't have managed on my own. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 , Paul reminds us how much God's grace is so good towards us. God's grace is sufficient - adequate or enough. I find pleasure in knowing that the grace God gives me is enough to spread across my lifetime...

Last Christmas I was gifted with a Polaroid Camera that I requested. I use to admire the Polaroid Camera's when I was a kid; I never had one but I always wanted one. To finally have my own personal Polaroid, it was nostalgia. I started making plans for all of the candid pictures I would take with my new camera and since it was Christmas, I was looking forward to all of the instant pictures I would have on that day. I have used my Polaroid a lot since Christmas; I even had to get more film. The best part of having my Polaroid Camera is watching the picture come out and watching it develop right before my eyes. The anticipation of what the picture is going to look like; is it too dark, too light or did it develop just right? Making sure the camera's settings are correct before taking the pictures make a big difference. Sometimes the pictures can develop too dark or too light; both make it hard to see the image. Having messed up a lot of pictures due to the wrong setting can be ...

I was listening to a teaching a few mornings ago and the story of the Prodigal Son came up. This struck a nerve in me to the point of tears. The Prodigal Son had it all: inheritance, wealth, promises and he rejected it all. He left his inheritance for things he thought were better but those things didn't work for him. He left his wealth to only allow what he had to run out. And what stuck out to me the most is that he walked away/rejected the promises God gave him. To be honest I had to ask God to forgive me. Forgive me for walking away from His promises, forgive me for rejecting my inheritance. God is the source of everything we'll ever need. He gives us Freedom!! Freedom to have it all and to walk in Him daily.  I'm sure we've all had the Prodigal Son experience and some still might be in it but guess what The Prodigal Son did? He went back to his father and accepted what he initially rejected. His father welcomed him back with open arms and love. That's exactly...

One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 12: 1&2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will". Conformity is defined as behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. Transformation is defined as to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance or character of. This evening I decided to go for a walk/run to clear my mind and it was so refreshing. I didn't know how much I missed being able to go outside and clear my mind from overwhelming thoughts, worries, everyday life...but it was a good feeling. During my time of "clearing my mind" I was listening for God's voice and just me...

In the '90's there was a very popular song entitled "Poision" by Bell Bev DeVoe.  The jest of the song was to warn men about women that only wanted to use them, abuse them and have absolutely no purpose for or in their lives. The phrase, "Never trust a big butt and a smile" was a popular verse in the song. Most men will admit that they love a women who has a nice curvy body & a beautiful smile is also a plus!  Whenever I think about that song I also think about a guy in the bible named Samson. He was that guy that trusted that nice figure & that beautiful smile of Delilah. He allowed the "poision" that she had overtake all of what God promised him. He lost himself...He lost himself in her, another person (Judges 16). One of the worst things we can do is lose ourselves to someone else. He lost himself because he allowed her to get the best part of him. He knew what God promised him. The bible tells us it's better to put our trust in God ...