Be fearless!

 

Be fearless! It is such a powerful statement. Yet, we must admit that in a crazy world that it is sometimes difficult to be fearless. It is sometimes challenging to walk boldly amongst trials and tribulations on every side.

There are several scriptures that remind us in the Bible to be fearless and courageous. God desires for us to walk upright in peace and trust him. When we do then our focus shifts to God and off of our problems that are so small at the hands of a big God. 

Proverbs 30:5 (NIV) - Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)- For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

I admit that in the face of life’s challenges that l have experienced anxiety and fear. Yet, l have found peace when l focus on God and begin to speak his continued promises beyond what l see. God is able to uplift you and give you a spirit of freedom and holy boldness. Don’t let fear hinder you from moving forth. There are great things for you to conquer and fear will only keep you down. Open your heart and trust God. No one said it would be easy but the impact you make will certainly be worth it.

WORDS HAVE POWER!

“Spiritual things are created by WORDS. Even natural, physical things are created by WORDS. Faith is expressed in WORDS. Faith must be released through WORDS through your mouth for when you speak something that is action.” ~Kenneth E. Hagin

You have to see the vision you seek before it ever arrives.  I always use to hear this phrase when I was younger and I never understood it.

How could I see something and trust for it to come if I couldn’t see it?  I learned as I got older that every dream begins with a vision. When God gives you a vision, others may not be able to see it at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you stop pursuing the vision. You have to see it in faith. Faith unlocks doors to greater possibilities and eventually through prayer it will come to pass. It also requires sacrifice.  

Priscilla Shirer once said, “There are some things God does not place in our hands but within our reach. We have to choose to grab them.

 Be Content

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 11:23 (NIV)

It is easy to be content when your life is going “picture perfect” but what about those times that force you to trust. What about those times that you have to wait because nothing can move your circumstance besides the hand of God?

The word of God tells us to be content no matter the situation. The apostle Paul learned this in the midst of his encounters of life. He knew how to be content because he knew that the battle had already been won. He knew how to be content because his focus was on the right purpose.  It is during those moments that our faith is put to the test.  It is during those moments that doubt tries to slip in. It is during those moments that we must not lose our purpose or vision.

    There is power in your words! Faith is acting like it is SO,  even if it ain’t SO, SO that it may be SO, because God has said it is SO. -Tony Evans 
    

"Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Mark 11:23 (NIV) 

Wow! Don’t you know that there is power in your words? You can have whatsoever you saith according to will of God. There is power in your prayers to transform circumstances. Your faith is the confidence in the word of God and it unlocks the power of God that works in your life. 

      It is okay to ask.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  James 1:5 

Consult God in all things. Ask God! I have to remember to consult God in all my decisions big or small. I think back to the past.  Did I ask God before I decided to jump into this relationship? Did I ask God about this job before I decided to take it? Did I ask God for wisdom on how to handle the situation or did I just do what I wanted to? Did I do what I thought felt best during the moment instead of listening to God? There are so many heartaches we could avoid if we would simply just choose to listen to the voice of God to direct us for what he desires us to have.

       God created the world through…

Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26

For it was with words that God made us in the like image of who he was. God formed the entire universe with his words! When we received salvation, we believed in our hearts but we then had to confess with our mouth. Why? There is power in your words.

In conclusion, so why do we speak so much negativity? Why do we give up so fast on our dreams when the power lies in our tongue? Why is it that so many people have issues with controlling their tongues? We speak curses and expect blessings to overflow in our life. It may not always work out how you think it should but God has already made I way. I had to make a conscious decision to pray about my circumstances, never complain, and trust God to work them out. I have to make a conscious decision daily to be positive even when my emotions tell me otherwise. 

So today speak life!

It just came natural...

Best friend

You are the man that I dreamed of... for in my heart I have no doubts,

You are my best friend, companion, and the one I can’t live without,

You are the essence of a sincere, God-given heart,

Yes, you are his precious work of art.

You came out of nowhere when I could not see,

Thanks for taking a chance and believing in me.

Natural

You are not perfect but you are the one for me,

It took a while to notice you,

But now you are the only one I see.

I don’t have to pretend with you,

You encourage me to live, love, and do.

You make me laugh like no one else can,

You are my rock, my prayer partner, and my man.

Black, Bold, and Handsome

You are black, successful, and strong,

Every day I am with you,

I hear a sweeter song.

Your dreams and passion drive me too,

You never know the impact,

So always keep that view. 

Taking that Chance 
I believe in standing with you through the good and bad,

I am down for you and it is just not a fad.

I am glad God sent you in my world

And yes, to answer your question, I will forever be your girl.

My Random Thoughts- "Lifting Each Other Up"

I shared this through a Facebook note on July 15, 2014. My friend sent it to me today(4 years later) so decided to repost it on my blog. Sometimes we need to revisit the same messages!

So I was on social media only to run across a video that had
over 4,000 shares.  It was a video of a
young girl with daisy dukes “twerking” her booty in the air on stage.  This video was only 36 seconds long. In this
video the girl on stage was said to have a menstrual cycle stain on her shorts
as well her hair piece fell off.  Embarrassing!
I see many videos on social media today. So many videos make me laugh, but all
I could do was look at this video and say this is very sad.  I begin to read the comments below the post.
There were thousands of comments shooting the young lady down and slashing her.
People called her a 304 basically. The new term “THOT”. They said how nasty and
disgusting she was.  She probably had
discharge from chlamydia and so on. People were saying really horrible things.
As I read these comments, it really hurt my heart. It wasn’t even me.  I wondered how many people who were
commenting had ever had a moment where they did something embarrassing. How
many of them went to a party drunk looking ridiculous? How many of them went
out half-naked in they stilettos thinking they were cute? How many of them have
ever fornicated? How many of them have never made mistakes? But most
importantly, how many of them have taken time out their day to uplift someone
who didn’t even really deserve it.

I may not be the person to get on stage and twerk with booty
shorts on. My mama raised me better then that and those personal convictions
have kept me from making a lot of negative decisions. But I have made mistakes
and God’s grace has protected me. I have messed up in different ways. I haven’t
made the best decisions, but God’s grace is amazing towards me. I don’t feel
that it is in my character to judge or even say that it is nasty. All I can say
is that it is sad.  Before God cleaned us
up and before he sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. We were all
nasty, but now in him we have “Amazing Grace”.

As I looked at this video, I didn’t want to tell this girl
that she was nasty. I felt like I just wanted to reach out and save her. I
wanted to reach out and give her a hug sister to sister.  I wanted to tell her that you are beautiful
and demonstrate your talents and your worth through your knowledge to lead the
world. I didn’t want to tear her down, but lift her up. She had been torn down
enough, but who was there to lift her up.  I begin to think I wish more women were like this,
but yet most are so quick to pass judgment. I want to see others do well! Maybe
it is the teacher in me. I want to be able to see my students grow up to be
successful. I want to see them conquer and surpass all the stereotypes in this
society. I want my African/African American boys to not get caught up in drugs
and jail. I want my African/African American sisters to be able to stand
against society’s expectation of broken hearts from premarital sex, STDS, teen pregnancy,
and so on. In order to see this then we must not judge those who may not even
deserve it, but encourage our sisters and even brothers around us. So let’s
start today and dare to be bold and different.

Fear is a liar!

FEAR IS A LIAR

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It was just one of those days. You know! One of those days where nothing seems to be going right. One of those days that you would rather just be left alone. One of those days where you have worked your butt off and you still come in last place.

Truth be told, we have all had those days where we have felt defeated and stressed out. I have come to realize that even on THOSE days, we must rise above the fear that tries to come against us.

So I was riding in my car on the way home after a long afternoon. I begin thinking about all that had transpired in one day. Isn't it also funny how when one defeat occurs then you think of all the other defeats you have experienced in life? We concentrate on these things so much that we forget about the victories.

 I shook it off! I refused to let the devil get glory in what seemed like the worst timing ever. I begin to thank God for the the victories. I begin praising God in the midst of my situation for the perfect timing in which my life existed.

 I have come to the understanding that everything in my life happens for a reason so I can chose to make the best out of it or give in to worry. I can choose to take lemons and turn them into lemonade or I can choose to listen to fear.

At that very moment that I begin to praise God then this song by Zach Williams came on the radio:


When he told you you're not good enough
When he told you you're not right
When he told you you're not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you're not worthy
When he told you you're not loved
When he told you you're not beautiful
That you'll never be enough
Fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
Cause fear he is a liar

As tears begin to flow down my face, I knew God had heard me and this scripture came to mind.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. Psalm 139:14


We have all had those days but it gives me comfort just to know that God is with me. He is leading every area of my life.
Footnote: Some people are not meant to be taking where God is trying to take you. We have to leave some people behind. God is getting ready to do a new thing in your life that is going to blow your mind.

When you experience rejection, rise above it. When you experience betrayal, rise above it. God will give you the desires of your heart. God will provide you with the right thing at the right time. So don't let fear overtake your life.

So I say this to you! To the sister who feels like your best is not good enough....you are amazing.  To the brother, who feels defeated by life....push on.

God is doing a new thing and we can't let fear get in the way.

God set the vision!

When God sets the vision, we can believe that it shall come to pass when we choose to walk in his will...

Wow God!

After college, I graduated with my degree in Education. I wanted to conquer the world at that point only to find that their was a crisis in Education. No one was hiring! There was a freeze on hiring and budgets were being cut shorter and shorter in Education. 

I was appalled!

You mean to tell me that I had done ALL this work only to be unemployed.

The devil is a lie. 

I soon got a job at a charter school. There were no public schools that were hiring.

Furthermore, I soon understood why this school had several vacancies. The school had several issues that no one would even believe if I told it. I wanted to quit and throw in the towel. Give up this career and start over! This is not what was in the textbooks. It end up being a blessing in disguise as I developed tough skin, creative thinking patterns, and a quick mind to act. God sent people to bless me along the way and it was a stepping stone for where I am today. 

Soon, public schools were hiring and I took my place as a second grade teacher. I taught second grade for five years. In those five years, I was awarded rookie teacher of the year. I took a leap of faith and moved to a new town and district. The same year I was astonished to find out that I had gotten teacher of the year my first year on the campus.

I have faced battles, but my good days outweigh the bad ones. I have found joy in the simplest things. 
Then, there are those moments where you want to give up, but God sends one more unexpected gust of air that pushes you. 

Now here it is...

As a child I had a dream that I would be teaching Special Education students. I woke up from that dream wondering where did it come from. I even kinda laughed at the dream.
Now I teach SPED. I get to work with amazing students all across the school. The thing that I once thought was impossible as a child became the vision God truly had for me.
I have met so many people along the way who have blessed me. I have worked with amazing teams of teachers. I get happy at the simplest things. I smile outwardly and cry inside when my students make progress. I believe that God will bless their minds to be the hope of our future.

Yes, I know there will be hard days, but God has a vision for my life. Some things have not yet come to pass, but I am believing what he said in Jeremiah 29:11. He knows the plans for my life and they are good.

He know the plans for YOUR life. Use your words to claim good! 

Adriann Takes a Stand Book Release

Book Trailer

Just be you!

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I have never really been out to a please people, but really more after about the age of 24-now as I have chosen to focus on deeper goals and things that really matter.


I have seen it through my eyes based on the lives of others that it is true that people will forget the 10 million good things you have done and fault you for the one. People will always be people whether there is fault to find or not.  And beyond that, I am no dummy to realize that it would not be any different for me under the right circumstances.
So I just choose to love as God has loved me but I am very careful to those who I surround myself with. Honestly, I rather have a small circle of real people than a huge circle of phony ones.

It is even more evident in today's world of social media where people will blast someone on a viral post. They will comment, "I would never do that." They are stupid. I always knew they were A, B, and C back then." All in the while I'm thinking, 'Be quiet you didn't know nothing'.

We take so much time bashing people instead of trying to lift them up that it is ridiculous.
We live in a world of hypocrites who believe others can't fall in the midst of their own struggles.

But the question is:

What would your viral story look like if it was exposed? or
What would your life have looked like if you weren't rescued by grace?

I want you to remember today that people don't define your story. You have the choice of how you handle things and where you put your choices.  You can either live a life of wisdom or defeat.

I am grateful that I have allowed God to define my story even though I haven't always done it right and will continue to make some mistakes.

Artist Tauren Hills says it best when he says,

 "On the mountains, I will bow my life
To the One who set me there
In the valley, I will lift my eyes
To the One who sees me there

When I'm standing on the mountain
I didn't get there on my own
When I'm walking through the valley
I know I am not alone!"

God is always with me. He doesn't leave me alone in the valley, but at the mountain tops I shouldn't forget how I got there. My life is not defined by the riches or lack of. I am the hands and feet of a God who truly loves all of us.

So if we are not the voice and hands of compassion then who will be. 

You are not alone!

I work part time at a tutoring center outside my regular teaching job. For some reason that day, the students on my schedule were late showing up for their session. My coworker next to me asked if I wanted to start a session with one of her students.

I responded with a "yes" and jokingly said, " I am lonely over here." The little girl she had chosen hurried over. I had worked with her before and she was very quiet and kind. As small and cute as she was...she peered over her pink glasses, looked at me with a serious,concerned look, and begin to speak.... She said, "You don't say that. No, don't you feel that way. You are never alone. God is always with you. I know because I accepted Jesus Christ into my life and I know."

My coworker next to me and I were like "Wow" in astonishment as she had said it with great conviction, compassion, and force. I stated,         " You are right. I am never alone. You go girl."

I had to pause and think...

What about those moments we feel lonely and incomplete? What about those moments of solitude when we feel like God has forgotten about us?
It is human nature to feel lonely, but when I remember that I am not really alone then it does something to my demeanor. My head is no longer hung down, but raised up in knowing that God will never leave us despite challenges or imperfections.

Those words speak to me. "You are not alone. God is with you."

I do have moments where I feel lonely, but it is okay because I know God has so much more for me and he does for you too.

Thank you Lord for reminding me today that I am never alone.

Spoken Word: Time

“We don’t have enough time.” Baby, my God is in control of time.

His love is divine.  Mentally stimulating, intellectually giving, and a love that keeps forgiving.

He is the beginning and the ending. So you can’t continue sinning. 

 Expecting a new beginning because if we trust him.

I promise you we will come out winning.

You keep doing it the same and expecting different results.  When God is saying I want to turn around your faults.

He says...Seek me, that is all you have to do and I will blow your mind for my miracles are true. 

So this time around, we are doing it the right way.

Now if you got what it takes then stay. I would hate to see you go, but my salvation is more important so I just had to let you know.

I guarantee you it won’t be without a fight, but it will be worth it and it will be more than just for tonight because of the promises God has made we’ll be in eternal light.

A Wound to Heal: Blog Post 50

A Wound to Heal

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Life can be tough sometimes and full of unexpected disappointments. We live in a society where many people lose their drive to live and passion to move forward. 

I was talking to a friend who was going through. She had just gotten out of a broken relationship and she was telling me about how broken her heart was like someone had just stabbed her in it. The unexpected deceit was causing her to break, but she knew she had to be strong for her children.  

I hear these stories so often of broken men and women.

Well, how do you heal the wounds and scars of a broken heart? 

Many try to find their own remedies by covering it up with drugs, new broken relationships, revenge, or other temporary fixes. You CAN'T cover up a wound with dirt and expect it to be healed. 

I begin to think of the things we do when other parts of our bodies are scarred, broken, and wounded.

       1)  We go to the doctor. 

      

     The doctor is the specialist who knows how to treat things with specialty. He has the authority to prescribe the medication we need or perform the procedures to start the healing process. So when your heart needs healing then contact Doctor Jesus. His prescription of love is written in his word. He is your source of healing and provider. So take your issues, problems, and lay them at his feet. He will clean your broken wound and start the healing process.

      2)   Keep the wound clean. 

      

    We must care for it by keeping it away from negative sources whether it is negative people, self-doubt, and unnecessary stress. Those are what I call bad germs. We may be surrounded by them, but to keep the wound covered until it properly heals is the best thing.

     3)  It takes time. 

        

    Last, it takes time for any wound to heal. Some may take longer than others depending on how deep the cut or if the bone is broken. With proper care, it will heal. It is just like if you have a broken foot or arm. If you try to do too much prematurely then the results can be even more detrimental and extend the time of the healing process. Allow time for your heart to heal.

Your heart is precious so guard it. So to that lost brother or sister who feels like their heart will never feel whole again, don’t give up. Give your heart time and continue to live. Your purpose is awaiting you and boy does it look great!