Desperate Hope, Desperate Faith

What exactly is Hope? Webster dictionary defines it as, to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence. Faith and trust are required in the hope process; it's impossible to hope without the two. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). You trust God by faith that everything you've hoped for will be given to you.

There is hope in not knowing. For if we knew how everything would happen when it would happen, then what would be the purpose for hope's existence? I believe God gives us hope so we'll never forget how mighty He is. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). In that power is hope. When we pray, we hope to see what we petition God for come into fruition. Even in our everyday lives, when someone promises to be there or do something for us, we remain hopeful that they keep their promise, right? Well God is sort of like that ....actually He's better! His promises are Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). When He says it, it WILL come to pass, without question, hesitation, doubt or second guessing....all in His timing of course.

If we aren't careful, fear will rob us of our hope and the things we've hope for. Fear has no place in our lives because it's not given to us by God. He has given us power and a sound mind. Don't allow fear to creep into your sound mind and become a derailment of your process. We also have to make sure we don't get weary. Oh, it's very easy to become discouraged and even doubtful but we have to hang on the Word of God. If that's the only thing that keeps us going, let it be. We know that His word will NEVER return to Him void.

When Jesus was on his way to heal Jairus' dying daughter, in the crowd He was touched by the woman with the issue of blood. He had to stop to find out exactly who touched Him. Now this is Jesus and I'm sure there were so many people around and they were all probably touching Him. But this touch was different. It was a touch of hope, faith and desperation. She'd been to the doctors, spent tons of money and had been shunned by the people because they deemed her legally unclean. But when she heard who was in town she didn't care about the people. Her Faith activated her Hope and her Desperation drove her to Jesus in a crowd that would've been hard to get through for someone without hope, faith or desperation...and she was healed. (Story can be found in Mark 5:25-34)

We should have that drive every time we are hoping for God to come through for us, it doesn't matter how small it may be. Hold tight to your faith, hope for better and be desperate in your search for God. He will come through!

"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst." -Lamentations 3:25-30 NLT

Guilty, but Still Cooking!

I'm guilty. Guilty as charged. I confess! I, Sierra S. Folder, admits to partaking in reality television. Yep I watch Love and Hip Hop, not religiously, but if it's on I'll watch it. Why? I honestly find it entertaining. Is it feeding my spirit? ABSOLUTELY NOT; "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (Corinthians 7:1 ESV). Yup, I gotta stop watching that one! Hey no judgment; I'm being transparent here!

On to my point of my transparency, while watching the episode where Tara found out Peter was married to his artist (okay you may not watch it but follow me, I'm going somewhere), I couldn't help but thank God that I know Him (God). She was with this man for 13 years, bore his children & put up with his indiscretions.....and he married someone he knew for only a year. Can you imagine the pain she felt? All I could say while watching was, "If I didn't know Jeeeesuuuus!!!! Lord if I didn't know Him, that could have been my "model" for 21st Century love." I could have thought that's how love was supposed to be!! Thankfully that's not the case.

I am so glad that God loves His daughters. We ARE the daughters of THE KING!! He wants His best for us....I mean what parent doesn't? We just have to want His best for ourselves. We have to stop wasting our time with meaningless PTTD's (Pass The Time Dudes) and guys that give us attention, because all attention isn't good attention. We really just have to quit trying to mend our own hearts and fix our lives and let God do it (and NO, Iyanla, cannot do it!). We have to hand every situation, our struggles and our heartaches over to God. "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7 ESV) It's easier said than done but it's so worth it.

There's a process we have to go through to get to our ready point and during that process we have to TRUST God and WAIT. He has to do us just like that Thanksgiving turkey. We have to be Cleaned from the inside out: from all things that are not like God; Washed: by the Blood of the Lamb;  Based: With His Holy Spirit; Seasoned: With the Fruits of the Spirit and clothed in His Righteousness; and Cooked: Ooooh the Process of being under pressure, going through storms, facing giants, resisting temptation, etc.....all to come out READY TO BE SERVED!! And if one of those steps are skipped or if it/we are removed prematurely, it/we won't turn out right and we'd have to go through the process again.

We all want to get it right the first time but sometimes it doesn't happen like that. The good thing about having a repeated cycle, is that it teaches us. We've learned right? If so, together, let's declare this time as the LAST time we will go through the same process!! No more cycles!! Okay now, you've made the enemy angry with your declaration, so be prepared for him to come at you strongly. Watch as well as pray, Clothe yourself in the Amour of God and show that sucka who your Father is when he tries to come for you!!

My sisters, let God do the cooking. He's the Head Chef and we're just the course that's being prepared to be served to the one He thinks is most deserving of us. We aren't the only ones being cooked. God is doing the same thing to our "Him". And oh how wonderful it will be when both sides are equally enjoying what's been prepared for them! Remember that it's VITAL to let the process do what the process is supposed to do! Process is the only way we will ever see progression in our lives. Process essentially prepares us for forward progression, and oh how we love moving forward! So stick it out, soon you'll be happy that you did!

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 1 John 3:1 (ESV)

P.S. I haven't done this blog in 9 months! This year I have been in the oven cooking and I'm still there. And I cannot explain how much this was for me. I did not plan to write about all of this but my fingers just went to moving and I feel like I was all over the place but I pray that it touches someone. God Bless!

He's Such A Constant God!!

Yo, this weather is so crazy! During the day it's all nice and warm but at night, the temperature drops and it gets super cold. Although it's March, Spring isn't officially here yet but I'd really like for this weather to make up it's mind on whether it wants to be hot or cold because I'm ready to wear my maxi dresses again.

God wants us to do the same thing. He wants us to stand for Him and not be lukewarm, "But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:16). Trust me, He doesn't want to spit us out but if we are to walk worthy of the high calling, "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God" (Ephesians 4:1), then we have to make a choice to live completely for Him and stick with it. Just as I'm ready for the weather to become constant so that I can wear my maxi dresses, God wants us to become constant with Him so that we can fulfill the work He has for us.

Sometimes we can be so topsy turvy...one day we say this and the next day we do that. We change worse than the weather does! I'm so glad that God doesn't change like we do; we would be so screwed if He did. His Word assures us that He remains the same. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). He's the ONLY consistently constant thing in our lives. In the blink of an eye our whole world could change, as for me it did, but I find rest and peace in knowing my God never will.

Isn't it amazing to know that God will always be there, that He won't change and "flip the script" on you? It's so comforting to be assured that in world that changes constantly, Our God remains constant at NOT changing!!! Don't you just LOVE HIM?!?!?

"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." -James 1:17

Give Thanks...In All Things

Those of you who know me personally, know that I've been dealing with a lot in this past week or so. Like, A LOT...it seemed like it was entirely too much for me to bear. I remember talking with my mom and she just kept telling me to "Give God the Glory in it all". I was listening to and hearing her but in my mind I was like "why??". The stuff that was happening wasn't good but it was beyond my control. I knew why I should praise and give Him glory but couldn't acknowledge that what was happening was for a bigger purpose and that it was going to get better in time. I was just in a funk, discouraged and so stubborn.

God owes us nothing, but He freely gives us an abundance of grace in spite of. He allows us to go through trials and tribulations to bring us closer to Him and gives us grace in that. In those moments we can't deliver ourselves so we have to depend completely on Him. "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. " (1 Timothy 4:10). We have no other choice but to trust Him.

Yesterday, I finally thanked God for my current situation. I don't like what's going on nor do I know His plan or His purpose, but I know that I have to trust Him because He knows what He's doing. "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28).

I know I'm not the only one going through, so YOU my brother and/or sister please be encouraged. When God gets ready, what he does in your life will blow your mind!

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." -1 Peter 5:7

My Broken Heart...

Let me start off by saying that I apologize for being selfish and not sharing a blog post with you all on Thursday and Friday. I really tried to find something to say to encourage you all and to encourage myself but I've been so blocked off, not really wanting to deal with life this week.

On Monday, you all were so kind to offer up prayers for my friend, not knowing him or his circumstance. I really appreciate it and I'm sure he did too. The friend I was referring to was Al, my boss of the last 6 years. Your prayers were effective, for he has been healed and restored...on the other side. He  is in a much better place now and has gone on to be with the Lord.

It all happened so fast. I remember hearing a few details about what was going on so I prayed and asked you all to pray too. Then I went on to an appointment and on the way back to the office I got the terrible news and didn't think it was true. When I finally got back into the office I could feel that it was indeed very true when I walked inside. My heart broke again that day. And it's still broken.

I'll never forget my first day working for Al.  Back in March 2007 in my senior year at USC, I was walking to one of my classes when I got a text message from Fran asking me if I knew of anyone that needed a part time job.  I texted her back and was like, "Uh Me!". She told me to come to the office the next day to start working, doing little administrative things. The next day, I went to the office and had an interview with Al. When it was over, I was sent home and I was so confused because I went there ready to work. Once I left Fran tried to figure out why I was sent home. When she figured it out, it was just a miscommunication, she told Al that I came ready to work that day so he told her to tell me to come on back. Then when I graduated from USC in May 2007, I was still employed there. I had been lazy and hadn't really applied for any other jobs but it God had a plan. I remember stopping by to pick up my check before heading out to Bike Week (my pre-saved days) and Al asked me if I'd like to be trained as a paralegal and of course I said yes!! I was forever grateful to him because He'd given me my first real job as a college graduate. I know this job was for me because I've learned A LOT and I've met some of the most memorable people and I have formed lifelong friendships/familyships with my coworkers, past and present.

Who would have known that I'd only get to know him for 6 years? I know people have to often dig to find nice things to say about people when they pass away, but I can assure you this is not the case. I know for a fact that I will never, ever, ever have another boss like him. He was the sweetest, most humble person I'd ever met. He didn't fuss nor did he complain. In the 6 years that I've worked for him, I never saw him angry or upset. His compassion for people grew deep and he was so loving. I remember when my dad passed away in 2010, he came all the way to the country town of Guyton, GA for the funeral, not because he felt obligated to but because he cared. There were many times when he'd catch me crying and he'd make me come in his office, even when I'd lie and say I was okay, so that he could give me words of encouragement. I could talk to him when I needed to vent and he'd give me sound wisdom. I could go to him for all kinds of advice, ESPECIALLY spiritual. He was a true man of God. I even could confide in him and not worry about being judged.

He was buried yesterday and it's still unreal. I know some people may say, "He was just your boss". But he wasn't just my boss, he was my family. Al told his staff that he loved us (and we loved him back) and he treated us like nothing short of family. Two of his nieces worked for him and they'd call him "Uncle Al", and sometimes I'd call him that too. He'd chuckle and say, "Ahh listen at you" and he really didn't mind. In fact, I could call any of his brothers and sisters "Aunt and Uncle" and they didn't mind. They are just that loving. He went above and beyond for us. No one will ever know the lengths he went to in order to help his staff. We will miss him tremendously.

My heart really aches but still goes out to his family, his friends and us, his staff. We did not expect this to happen so soon but we know that God makes no mistakes. It's going to be hard going to the office everyday knowing he won't be there ever again, but I know Heaven is smiling something big right now because a soldier has come home. I thank God and find peace and consolation in knowing that he is fully restored and no longer has to fight with physical infirmities. To Him be ALL Glory through it all!!!

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." -Isaiah 35:10

"There indeed is NO sorrow that Heaven cannot heal."

Don't Be Deceived

The saying, "God doesn't give us the people we want, He gives us the people we need.", is so true. Many of us have come to realize as we've grown older that our friend circle is relatively small. We begin to value the word "friend" and we stop using it so loosely. Fortunately life has a way of "happening" and circumstances occur for the sole purpose of showing us who is for us and who's against us. Over time, life begins to reveal to us who our true friends are. "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." (Proverbs 17:17) Over time we learn this and it really begins to manifest as being true in our lives.

We all know this scripture, "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33), but do we let the people who corrupt our thinking go, do we try to guide them towards Godliness? Oftentimes we'll say things like, "They do that, but I'm my own person" or "No one influences me to do anything I don't want to do". While this could be true in all it's entirety, it doesn't look true. We are supposed to "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).  For instance, if we aren't stealing and doing drugs, why would our best friends whom we share everything with be doing it? How does that look to a sinner you're witnessing to? They'd be thinking that we can't even help our own best friend find Jesus and we still remain yoked up with them, so how can we help them. These are really things to think about. I understand that Jesus hung out with the sinners (Matthew and Luke elaborates on this), but I believe he did it to show them how to live like God wants them and to call them out of darkness. So if we are hanging with our friends who are corrupt and aren't seeing any fruit, maybe we need to start evaluating the soil, planting more seeds and watering it more often.

This isn't to condemn anyone, but it's to make us conscious of who we allow to get into our spirits. I've been there. I've allowed people and things to come into my life and deter me from God's course. I thought I had control but apparently I didn't. I've learned and I'm still learning this.

Also, be careful because believe it or not, there are people who profess to be Christians, who will corrupt your character too. So let the spirit of discernment be your judge when it comes to your close associations with people. 

One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. -Proverbs 12:26

Ahhh, Life...

Life. It sure has a way of knocking us off of our feet sometimes. We can plan every detail of our day/life and oftentimes are able to execute it without anything going wrong. Sometimes our plans are thrown off slightly causing us to make minor alterations, but there are times when our plans are completely demolished due to circumstances beyond our control.

It aggravates, angers and even saddens us but it's all God's plan. Most of the time it's hard for us to come to grips with His plan, especially when it interrupts ours. I can't completely figure God out but I do know that He sometimes has to throw us off of "our course" for 1) To remind us of Who He is and 2) To get us onto His course. 

Yesterday I tried (I'm still trying) to figure our God's plan for me in regards to something that happened to someone connected to me. I know He has a plan, because He's the only reason we were still connected. He hasn't shown me yet but what He has done, was block everything I tried to do for myself, in this particular area, for over a year. Everything was pretty much perfect and was in line to fall into place with perfect precision but that wasn't how it was going. I couldn't figure out for the life of me, why things weren't going the way I wanted or had planned but yesterday I learned why. Now, I need to know what to do next.

The story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 encourages me to wait on God for an answer, a sign...to never lose hope and it reminds me of how perfect His timing is. For them, even when the foundation of the prison was shaken creating an escape route, they still waited on God's timing and for His perfect will to be done, and it was! Souls were saved...they accomplished what they were sent to do, no matter what they went through.

I like how God doesn't give us all of the answers when we want them but He gives them to us when we need them, so the only thing I can do is wait....patiently wait for His answer. Whatever answer you're waiting on, it may not be what you want to hear but it's His plan, I encourage you to wait patiently. WE CAN DO IT!! 

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." -Philippians 4:6