I keep a journal of "gratitude's." Which in itself makes me smile, whenever I re-read pages from past months and years. This is just a short list, of a few things, I'm thankful for everyday, year around.. and not just on Thanksgiving Day. It has always been, what others might consider "the small things" in life, that make me the happiest. What others may take for granted or may not be able to see the blessing in, usually bring me the greatest joy! It never has taken much to make me happy.

Today I'm thankful for the redeeming blood of Yeshua.
Salvation.
The precious Ruach Hakodesh.
Love. Kindness. Smiles. Thoughtfulness. Integrity. Genuine concern. Humility. Honor.
Tenacity. Which is an undervalued attribute-I can't count the times, just sticking with something, when others have quit, has helped me progress, beyond what I thought, was possible.
Fathers who are spiritual leaders.
Compassionate mothers.
​Family, friends, and even my enemies.
The peace and solitude of the wee hours of the morning.
Divine favor.
White noise.
Porch swings.
Signs, wonders and miracles.
Courage.
Magnolia and gardenia blossoms.
The beauty in the flight of Monarch butterflies.
Ice-cream cakes.
Africans who know how to pray.
Cheap fuzzy socks.
Vick's vapor humidifiers.
Blouses with bows, ruffles or puffed sleeves.
Mornings alone on the front porch.
Coffee.
Understanding.
Sad love longs and old black and white movies.
Wisdom. Trials. Peace. Resiliency. Laughter.
Nicolas Duncan-Williams whose ministry helped to teach me the REAL POWER in prayer, and the legalities of the Kingdom.
I'm so grateful for #KennethHagin, Papa or Dad Hagin, for those of us, whose lives he's impacted,in such tremendous and unforgettable ways! His labor was not in vain. His legacy lives on! What a gift he was to the body of Christ! And I'm beyond thankful for his messages of faith.
The life of J. Vernon McGee.
I'm grateful that I'm not in a "low place" any more..just thankful, that I was pulled out from the muck and the mire.
I'm so grateful for Jesus' finished work. For doing for us, what we were unable to do for ourselves. Thank you, Savior.
I'm thankful for the Light, that shineth in darkness, and every experience, that has allowed me to see "beyond the veil".
I'm thankful for low-impact strength workouts, old fashioned epsom salt, and rubbing alcohol.
Essential oils and scented candles.
Beef tamales.
60 degree thermostat settings.
New fans with STRONG motors.
The warmth of portable heaters to warm my feet.
Ceramic flat irons.
White peach and nectarine body wash.
Pink Himalayan sea salt.
Habanero sauce.
Smiles that light up any room.
The pure praise of toddlers.
Soft robes and heavy comforters straight from the dryer.
Awesome smelling leave-in-conditioners.
Grace.
Mercy.
​Forgiveness.
Growth.
Clay face-masks.
Self-care.
Life, health, and strength.
Peacemakers, but... NOT... peacebreakers!
The meek.
I'm SO grateful that the #HolySpirit is a RESTRAINER!
I'm thankful for thunderstorms that seem to wash away all the stressors of the week and rest.
I'm thankful for the gift of music and song, that has gotten me through many, topsy-turvy-upside-down days.
I'm grateful for all of the people Elohim has strategically place in my life.

I'm thankful that I've never had to testify at any hearings.. I'd be just like #jeffsessions.. "Look, lady! You're making me nervous!" That would just be too much. Hour after hour?! Person after person?! Question after question?! The whole nation watching?! No, thanks.

I'm so grateful for whoever it is/they are, that's been praying for me. I certainly know someone has been! Prayer changes things.

I'm thankful for things "being as well" as they are.
I'm thankful for the people that the Bible calls "the least among us, and the pure in heart."
I'm so thankful for Mason, Marc, Jason, and Scott coming into my life. No better friends have I ever known. #AustismDoesNOTLiveHere
I'm so thankful that my name has been written in the Lamb's Book of Life!
I'm thankful that our Father, never puts more on us than we can bear, and always provides, a way of escape.
I'm thankful for confirmation.
I'm grateful for those God has called and anointed. His mouthpieces and vessels. They are valuable.

These are only a few of the things I'm thankful for, as the entire list would be too extensive. Let me know in the comments section, what you are thankful for, today. And, remember...

''Reflect on today's blessings, because every man has plenty. Do not lament over past misfortunes we all have some."

Be blessed and encouraged today. God loves you, and so do I!

-Tasha

For those of you who read my first post, “Why Not Just Impeach God..?”, you know that the matter of unnatural families and relationships, seemed to be the main focus of the entry. The point was made, that a lot of different types of families, and lifestyles, can be categorized as unnatural, and this is true. Today, I would like to try to touch on some of those points, and the consequences, they bring with them. And hopefully, bring some clarity, to what I wasn't able to explain, as thoroughly, as I wanted to in the initial post, because of time constraints.


 Oh, and after this post is complete, I think I will deal with lighter topics, for a while.

This is yet another topic, that I cannot fully explain, without the biblical perspective.


First lets start with marriages. 


I stated that abusive marriages are unnatural, and they are. So how do abusive marriages, and relationships even come about? First, it starts with what we have seen, heard, or witnessed. As children, we come to know and accept what family is, by the way we are raised. Namely by what we see, and what we hear. If there is an abusive father in the house, and little boy watches him physically, and verbally abuse his mother, I can tell you, that he hates what he is witnessing. Even though he hates it, often times, those same little boys, will grow up to become, the very thing they hate. Abusers.


 Even though, in their heart of hearts, they know that it’s wrong, their minds have been programmed to accept that this is what ”family” is, and this is what a man does. I can also, almost guarantee, that the father who is doing the abusing, has been abused himself, and has seen abuse taking place, in one way or another. With every abusive man, I’ve ever met, the issue has always been, the internal struggle, within himself. It often has very little to do with his woman or his wife.


 If a man beats himself up in his mind, he will beat his woman up, physically. Meaning, that if he believes that he is nothing, he will treat her like she is nothing. If, in his mind, he believes, that he is worthless, and stupid, he will tell her, that she is worthless and stupid. And, after awhile, she will believe, and become, just what he said, she is. Here's the reality of it. ----->>> Once a man is cleaved to a woman, whatever is on him, gets on a her. Especially, if she has been raised in a household, where she has seen her mother abused too, or no father at all. If a man hates himself, he will hate his wife. After a while, he will see to it, that she becomes a shell of her former self. Broken, just as he is.


The problem is that most men, don’t even know what it even means to be a husband. They’ve never seen it, as it should be, and it’s never been taught to them. Most men think, if they go to work, and pay the bills, that’s enough. That proves to him in his mind, that he loves his woman. Not to her! Christ gave HIMSELF! Women need more than a man’s money, she needs HIM! His support, his encouragement, his communication, his affirmation.


 She wants to know what he thinks, and feels. She wants his passion, and his intensity. She even want to see his tears, and know his fears. In the 1st blog post, I mentioned, how the husband and the wife, are supposed to play the same roles as Christ and the church. People misinterpret the scripture, by saying that Christ is coming ” back after” a church without a spot or blemish, but this is wrong. What it, actually says, is, "so that he might present to himself a church, without a spot or a blemish”. See,none of us, were “all that “when He got us. But as time goes on, God begins to build and strengthen us, by His Spirit. He strategically, conforms us, to the image of His Son. Then we are gradually changed into what, he has already called us, to be.


It is a responsibility of each man, as a husband, to properly love and cover his wife.


A godly man will be a true shepherd over his household. He will lead, feed, heal, and tend to her, and his family." Whosever loveth his wife, loveth himself." Adam had a job, and a responsibility, before God ever gave him a wife, and some kids. Marriage is called Holy matrimony for a reason, God has to be the head of it. Often times, we don’t even think of men, as being nourishers and nuturers. 


When it comes to those characteristice, we  think of the woman, the breasted one. That’s because in many households that’s what we’ve seen for so long, the mom raising the kids, the mom giving all the encouragement. The mom building her husband and kids up. However, this is not what God intended. 


He intended for the father to raise the kids, and the wife to help him. He intended for the husband to build his wife up, even if she wasn’t all of that, when he got her. He should call her beautiful, strong, smart, and blessed. He should tell her, you are mine, I love you, I want you, and I respect you. If he’s doing his job, after a while, she will become what he has called her!  


I meet so many women, who do not know their own value or worth, because it was never instilled in them, as young girls, by their fathers. It has been proven over and over again, in psychological studies, that young women, gravitate to men, who are like their fathers. Whether they were trash or treasure! If her father was abusive, she will gravitate to an abusive man. If her father was strong and nurturing, she gravitate to a strong and nurturing man. If the father was not present, often times, she will gravitate to a man, who will run out on her, and her kids.


There are so many strong and beautiful women, who are single mothers, and are doing a great job at it!I commend them for it! Most of these mothers are not single by choice, they are just playing the hand they have been dealt. Most of them make it look effortless, but I know it’s hard. You have to be everything to everyone: mother, breadwinner, cook, housekeeper, nursemaid, and dad. I have heard from a few men, that I’ve counseled, that when they get into a relationship with a single mother, it is often difficult, because, they are “set in their ways” and won’t let him “be the man”. I try to get them to see it from the woman’s perspective. Meaning that, she has had, no one, but herself, to depend on for so long. She often times, she has been so hurt by past relationships, and situations. It's difficult, to just let someone come in, and take over. She doesn’t know if she can depend on him, for the long haul, or not. She has to  guard her heart and her children. She doesn't know what his track record looks like. 


But on the flip-side of the coin, there a lot of women, who've gotten used to being self-sufficient, and self-reliant. They don’t even know how to accept being nurtured. I've seen women push a good man away, subconsciously, because of past hurts, from other men. She won’t let him get too close to her, or love her too much, because the pain she’s suffered before, has been too great. None of this is what God intended.This is why it is so important that we get back to what God has ordained. The “ natural” order of things, as He intended, for them to be.


 That is, God as the head of Christ, Christ as the head of man, and man as the head of his wife, and his family. When you get away from His ordinances, these things above, are what you get. This is the “social disorder” I was referring to, and with this I close, we must return to our first Love, because He first loved us.


Be blessed and encouraged, today!

-Tasha

Last Friday, July 10th, Sandra Bland was pulled over for failing to use her turn signal. 72 hours later, she was found dead, in her Waller County, jail cell. We, the public, are being told, that she committed suicide, by hanging herself, with a trash bag. This is the same jail, that another inmate, James Howell, age 29, supposedly hung himself in 2012.

Yesterday, the world lost a living legend. The incomparable Riley "B.B." King, the UNDISPUTED, KING OF THE BLUES. He passed away peacefully, Thursday night, in his sleep. It has been reported, that in the past month, Mr. King, suffered a series of mini-strokes, due to complications, of his long battle with diabetes. His death has left me and the world, with a sadness and a heaviness in our hearts.

Is it about Jesus or is it about the conference, itself? These are the things I think,  and the questions, I ask on a daily basis. People are hungry and need to hear the Living Word. Not eat of all the catered food on finely adorned tables in the house of God. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong, with being able to make your guests feel welcomed, and provide for their physical, as well as their, spiritual needs. I'm not saying that.

What I am saying is, it's not all about the glitz and glam, the finery and fancery. The hats and the shoes. The dresses and the suits. It's about Jesus. The Living Word who was made flesh. And, I'm finding out, that too often, that it's becoming less and less about Him, and more and more about other things. I too, want to go where signs, miracles, and wonders follow. The Bible says, "and these will be the signs that follow them that believe!"

The same question I asked in the title, was also posed to me, by Sister in Christ and Intercessor. She said "I like to look pretty just like the next lady, but that's not what it's all about. I want to go where signs, miracles, and wonders are. Not just somewhere to say "I went!"  I mean, IS IT ABOUT JESUS, or is it about the conference?!" End Quote. So, I'm not the only one, who's noticing this.

I preached an engagement a while back, that I was asked to be a part of, at the last moment. I said "yes" hesitantly, because I was still halfheartedly, trying to stay in my comfort zone, while simultaneously, trying to put my personal fears under subjection, and walk on them. That was more than a year ago and I'm doing much better with walking in the boldness that God gave me, I'm grateful for that! But anway, I preached the engagement and the Word went forth. I think many were helped by it, as was I, but I swore I would never do THAT TYPE of engagement, again.

Since I accepted at the last minute, like I said, earlier. I didn't have all of the details. There were 3 speakers, but they were not the focus. The focus seemed to be, primarily a fashion show, and the speakers were being squeezed in, in between their wardrobe changes. Yes, it was a literal fashion show, not a proverbial one. I just...(what am I even supposed to say about that. A. Fashion. Show. In. The. House. Of. God.
They had vendors there, selling purses and clothes, and they were selling food out of the cafeteria, as well. The announcements of "Be sure to go check out the purses over there in the corner, before you leave, they've been discounted" and "we have fish plates in the back for such-and-such amount of dollars" were going out in between the speakers and the fashion show.
I was like.."Is this really happening? This can't be happening! Except, it IS." It was. It was happening.  I'm laughing now, but I wasn't then. I was honestly, annoyed, angry, and saddened.

My face was saying "IS THIS ABOUT JESUS...OR ABOUT THE FASHION SHOW?! AND THE FISH PLATES? AND THE PURSES FOR SALE? chile, naw.

Let's keep the main thing, the main-thing. This is about Jesus and Him crucified, and resurrected. This is about compelling men to Christ. This is about the Kingdom of God advancing. This is about helping the lost come to salvation, exhorting the backslider to repent, and equipping the saints for service. I feel the main focus of any conference should be glorifying our Father, exemplifying faith and love in action. It should be about healing, deliverance and encouragement. It is not to strut around like a peacock, with big hats and sequins and sell your wares. If that's what it's about count me out. 

 It's time to cleanse the temple! Matthew 21:12-13 says

...Then Jesus went into the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

I had my Easter evening all planned out.

•  Come home after church and finish preparing Easter dinner. 
• Eat until I couldn't move. 
• Watch Roma Downey's  epic premier of A.D. 
  

That was the plan.

It's shortly after 11p.m. 

I was about to say, and "finally, the house is quiet". But, I would've spoken too soon. Sigh. 

I've been sighing, for the better part of this day, because you know.. LIFE.  LOL! I am really sitting here typing this, laughing out loud. 

I would tell you guys all about the folly, I've seen and experienced today. But, that would take all night. And I don't have all night. As I mentioned earlier, it's after 11p.m.  So, instead, I'll just put my stunna shades on, so I don't have to see it anymore. Not really. I just love those glasses, and I'll find any excuse to put 'em on.

So, let's get to the part where "sighing" goes out the window, and The Whole Attitude of Gratitude-thing comes into play. Shall we?

After a day like the one I've had (and it's been a doozy)...

At the end of it all, I realize that I am blessed beyond measure! 

I am grateful for things "being as well as they are"! I say those words, to the Lord, just about, every day of my life. 

Because, I sit here  and type in the comfort of my home, with all the modern conveniences. Like WiFi. And we all know, how y'all can't live without that.


 I even had that WebTV thing back in the early 90's, when internet was "NEW"-new. Does anyone remember that? It was a keyboard, you just plugged into your TV, with an adapter of some sort. You could set up an email account through the provider and whatnot,  and SLOWLY surf the web! And I do mean, slow-ly, too! 


 It took like 3-5 minutes to load a web page. Chile. But we didn't know that it was slow. We had nothing to compare it to. (Until I went to work for a startup Internet company and found out what multiple,huge servers, will allow you to do!) Bet we wouldn't go for that now, though, would we?  I  know I couldn't abide it. I do everything quickly, and I don't have time for dilly-dallying. 3-5 minutes to load a webpage? That would kill these kids. And me too.  I have about 8-10 tabs open at any given time, on this laptop. NAH. That would never do! I had totally forgotten about that thing, until my sister-in-law reminded me, of it. So yeah, that's enough to make me grateful, right there. 

And THE FIRST THING kids want to know, when they come to your house, is do you have WiFi? What if I don't? Then, what?  They're not going to stay or come over again? I'd really like to know. The next time they ask that, I'm going to tell them I have WebTV.


                                                              .....but in all seriousness

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL to God, for all that He's done, for me. I  don't have to go to bed hungry, tonight. But someone, somewhere does. I have a reasonable portion of health and strength. Someone, somewhere is wishing they could say the same. I have a family, that I love, and loves me back . But someone, somewhere is hurting because they feel alone and they think no one cares. For some of them it's true.  I see it every day. People who  really don't have anybody. It's a sad thing to be in this world all by yourself.  There's so much that we all take for granted, that others would be so grateful to have. 

Sometimes it's difficult not to let the stressors of life, overwhelm us for a moment. We all have those days. It's normal. We're human. Especially for moms.  We move  like we have a battery in our back. We just, "go, go, go", because it's what we know. And often, it's what we  must do. The older I get,  the more I'm learning how to slow down, and truly be in the moment.  They are sometimes, few and far between, but when I see an opening to stop for a second, I DO. Do it when you can, as often, as you can. Life is too short, to spend it, rushing. It'll  still be there when you come back to it. Whatever IT is.

 I thank God, tonight, for inner peace and joy. It's a supernatural peace, that in the midst of storms, we have the power to speak a word of any situation, and calm it. 

I say "PEACE BE STIILLL OFTEN!   OFTEN!   OF-TEN!


Y'all can laugh if you want to, but...LISTEN!  

I mean..

The "good" WiFi went out for 45 minutes, RIGHT AFTER, I had typed "I don't have all night" and was getting ready to talk about gratefulness! See how that works? 


Be blessed and encouraged. God loves you and I DO TOO! I am grateful for you as well. 

Goodnight,
Tasha 
2:18 a.m.  <---- Y'all see that time stamp? 

They've asked.. (read: begged)  me to throw her away. Several times. I stopped responding to those requests about 5 years ago.

New robe purchases were even made, on my behalf, in an attempt to make me shun Stephanie. I gave those other wanna-bees a chance, but none of them measured up. They were all too itchy, too silky, not comfortable, didn't have the right kind of pockets,  prone to static cling and electricity.They searched high and low for a replacement, but there was NAAAANNNNN found like Stephanie, in all the land.
In all the land...,  meaning Wal-MArt, Ross, Victoria's Secret, Amazon and Target. 

Stephanie was plush, warm, soft, comfortable, pocketed for all of my belongings, and could hold a fabric softener smell for days. Sure she had holes in her, and a couple of worn places, but I'm not shallow. She had what mattered to me. Plus, Stephanie was a staple in my community and abroad. Everybody knew her, my neighbors, the convenience store workers, my coworkers at my former workplace, my church family, my BFFs. I mean...her reputation preceded her!

But about 2 weeks ago, Stephanie took a turn for the worse. She already had a hole under her arm, but no one could really see it, unless I had to lift my hands over my head. I figured she had at least 6 good months left in her. I washed her and when I took her out of the washer, her arm got caught...she ripped about 6 inches down the side...! I said then, "there's no point in putting you in the dryer ol' girl, just lay here on top of it and air dry." I knew then, what I had to do. I had to let her go.

So I called the family in and explained the situation. They seemed to be sympathetic on the surface, but inwardly, I knew they couldn't wait to get Stephanie on the trash truck. I watched her lay on top of that dryer for 2 days, trying to triage the situation. Finally, I came to the conclusion to put her, back on my back!!!! Sure that rip under the arm was getting caught on door knobs, and furniture, but still, we adjusted and shouldered on. I kept saying," we can make it 6 more months Stephanie, just hold what you got!!! High hopes and wishful thinking, unfulfilled. :(

Sadly, yesterday, after her weekly wash, the same mishap occurred. And this time, she was ripped from the arm, all the way down to the hem. Why did it have to be you, Steph? SMH! 

This time, I REALLY had to let her go!

So, once again, I brought the family in and notified them. This time they knew it was real. And this time, I think they realized from the look in my eyes, just how much she meant to me. There were hugs all around, and I was told that although Stephanie could never be replaced, a new search would be launched, to find me an equally comforting substitute, to help me along my way. (I'm assuming she'll arrive on Valentine's Day) *crosses fingers*
So, we said our "Goodbyes" and my 12 yr old, said a few words over her, and sent her to be with other robes, who've fought the good fight of faith, and finished their course. Beloved, I've seen better days. 


     RIP STEPHANIE GRIMES
Sunrise: 2005
   Sunset: 02-07-2015

            You were cuddly, you were soft
         I regret to have to send you off
                 You were my companion, you were my friend
                But our time together, has come to an end
             You were faithful, and you served me well
              Now the time has come to say farewell
              I know you're aware that you'll be replaced
             But my memories of you will never be erased