Unforgiveness

As I was having my quiet time this morning I asked God, what should I talk about in my next blog? And He told me to talk about unforgiveness. At first I was like are you sure God, why unforgiveness? Then He started to reveal to me some unresolved issues in my heart. And then I was like ok, ok... I get it… Lol ( Be mindful when you ask God for an answer He might give you one you weren’t expecting). For some of you this might be a topic you don’t like or you don’t like to hear about because you either feel like you aren’t the one who should apologize or you feel like the other person doesn’t deserve your forgiveness. And I can understand why this topic steps on a lot of toes because it was a problem for me too. I used to say I forgave (whoever), but deep down I truly didn’t mean it. I was so hurt, hurt by people who I was close to, friends, family, people in the church, people who I trusted. I was hurt physically and emotionally and because of what they did I couldn’t find it in me to forgive them so I kept it all inside. And little did I know that throughout the years that that unforgiveness turned into bitterness which turned into anger and it caused my heart to be hardened and it stopped me from allowing God’s love to flow through me, I wasn’t able to love people the way God wanted me to and instead of letting it go I held onto it and allowed it to hinder my walk with Christ and because of that He couldn’t use me the way He wanted to with my heart all messed up. But as soon as I forgave and let it all go He was able to move and work freely through me. I really like this quote so i thought I should share it because it goes perfectly with what i'm talking about, “It is critical for us to realize how bitterness and unforgiveness can break our connectedness to God and cripple our spiritual life and ministry.” Unforgiveness disconnects us from God, that’s why forgiveness is so important in our Christian walk, we must forgive as God forgave us. In Colossians 3:13-14 says: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Forgiveness is freedom, as I begin to forgive and hand all my hurts over to God and let Him take control, I felt such a relief.  I don’t know why God had me write this but I hope that if any of you reading this is dealing with unforgiveness that you’ll take it to God ask Him to help you forgive so and so, I don’t know what might have happened to you or your situation but God does and I encourage you to let it go, don't give power to the enemy by allowing him to keep you trapped in your pain. Forgiveness is the first step you have to take to begin healing. Maybe you need to forgive yourself, your parent(s), a friend, a sibling, or relative, etc… do it and let God begin to heal those hurts and deal with those people that's His job . Don’t stay a prisoner to that person set yourself free, free to be used by God and to show his love that has forgiven you! In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” I don’t know about you guys but I don’t want to imagine all the stuff that God can hold against me and choose not forgive me because I couldn’t forgive someone else. That’s a place where I don’t want to be in and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be in that place either. Matthew 18:21-22 says: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” So no matter how many times someone has hurt you God wants you to forgive them each time... There are several other bible verses that talk about forgiveness but these are the few that God put on my heart to share. My prayer for you is that if this was meant for you that you’ll forgive those people who have hurt you and allow God to start the healing process in your life today so that you can be free and He can move in you the way He wants to. I’m not going to lie, it’s not going to be easy but by God’s grace and mercy you’ll get through it. Trust Him!

Love you all,

Joy <3

Embrace The Season That You're In.

I’ve chosen to talk about this topic because this has been something that I’ve been dealing with lately and God has been speaking to me about. To be completely honest with you all, I don’t like the season that I’m in at all, most of us call it the “dry season” of our life where you feel distant from God so you go on a fast, pray, go to church and try to do all the right things but you still don't feel God near. I had to realize that just because I can't feel God doesn't mean He's not with me, He's ALWAYS there even when you can't feel Him.  it’s in the dry season where God starts to deal with You. He begins to break us and mold us. He also begins to pull out all that junk buried way deep down in your heart, all that pain/hurt, all the things you tried to hide and cover up, He begins to uncover them and they begin to surface and now you have to deal with it all again but with His help. For me personally He has been showing me things that I need to change, for example my attitude, for some of you it may be hard to believe, but it’s true, I’m not always the most “joyful” person who’s always smiling 24/7 but that’s alright because God is still working on me. I know a lot of us don’t really like it when someone starts showing us what it is that we need to change about ourselves. I know I don’t. Sometimes I wish that I can skip this season, which I like to relate it to Fall, because EVERYTHING in your life feels like it’s falling apart, friendships are breaking, you feel like you can’t trust anyone, you feel alone, you get not so good news that tears you apart, you feel like God, Himself has abandoned you, etc.. And you start to question “GOD WHERE ARE YOU??!” Like I said earlier I wish that I can skip this season and move on to spring, where everything is blossoming and going my way. And just like there’s a different season in every year (winter, spring, summer, and fall) each season in our life is preparing us for the next one ahead. Each season has it's own storms and unique beauty about it. As I’m sitting here writing this I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1 which says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Each season in our life has a purpose, we may not understand it now or in the next season but in time you will start to see the fruit of this season. As I'm growing in this season I don't wish to be in another season in life as much, I'm learning to embrace it and take in as much as I can in this season so that i can take it with me when I'm in the next season. I had to learn as I’m going through this season/time in my life to TRUST God COMPLETELY, every aspect of my life, even when I don’t understand, even when it hurts, even when I feel alone because what we fail to realize is that God is actually “shifting” some things around and replacing some people/things in our lives that are going to help us grow in Him and help us in your next level and accomplish the things that He created us to do. So trust Him when He removes people in your life, friendships/relationships that aren’t the best for you. Don’t run after them because you’re feeling lonely, turn to God in those quiet moments, it’s in those times He speaks the most and begins to change you and restore you, but you have to be quiet/still enough to hear Him talking. Learn to be still at the feet of Jesus in this season, not the feet of your friend(s), your ex, your boss, your teacher, but God! He’s wants all of you in this season. So I encourage you and myself to just EMBRACE this season and rest in Him. :)

Love your sis in Christ,

~Joy <3                                                    

Welcome! :)

Hello you guys! I want to welcome you to my blog. My name is Joy, i’m 25 years old and i’m kinda new to this whole blogging thing… lol so please bear with me as I get used to using it. ;) I’m starting this blog because I felt it heavy on my heart to start blogging about certain things that God has been placing on my heart to write about and encourage, uplift,  and motivate my sisters and brothers in Christ, but mainly my sistas. God put you all specifically on my heart. I know we all need a lil prayer/encouragement here and there in our walk with God. So I want to help by obeying God and allowing Him to lead me and guide me as I write whatever it is that He places on my heart to talk about, some real life struggles/issues we go thru in life/ face on a day to day basis as women and men/children of God and how we can walk thru and deal with them together and not worry about what others might think because no one is perfect. We are all imperfect loved by a perfect God.  Your thoughts, opinions, and comments are welcomed, there will be absolutely No judgement, negativity, or putting down others here :) I'm doing this all for God's glory not mine. Hope to get to know you and walk on this journey with you all and be able to help you all grow in God by encouraging everyone of you all, including myself. praying for you. Love ya <3
~Joy