You Betta Watch Your Mouth!!

Hello Everyone!!

I know it’s been a very long time! Almost a full year since the last time I wrote a blog!  God has been good to me and has been working on me a lot over the past year. One of the things that was laid on my heart to share was on “THE MOUTH”.

There are sooo many sermons and books written on the power of words and how we should be careful of what comes out of our mouths but I really felt lead to re-emphasize on what has already been said.Now I'm going to be realll Honest here!!!! The mouth is an issue that many people struggle with!!! Especially us women!!! From the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep we speak! Whether it be to God in prayer, to ourselves or to others.Oftentimes we really don’t realise the power we as human beings possess and that power lies in our mouth! The tongue!

The bible says in Proverbs 18:21 (KJV): “ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

When we look back in the first two chapters of the book of Genesis we encounter the story of the creation of this world. After the first 5 days of creation where God called light into being, created the waters, the seas, the sky, the dry lands and the animals; looking at what He created  He said that it was “Good”. However when God created man he didn’t say that it was good but he said that it was “VERY GOOD”; this tells me that when God looks at you and me as human beings he speaks and thinks “VERY GOOD” of us (If that makes sense). Regardless of what people think and say about us, the one that created us sees perfection.

When God created man the bible says in Genesis 2:7 (KJV) “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” God did not breathe into animals nor in the other things he created but he breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul.  In Genesis 1:26 (KJV) “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”.

This tells me that after God formed man he breathed himself who is life into man. He breathed his speaking and creating power to speak things into being and to call into being things that were not (Romans 4:14-KJV). Hence why when God presented Adam to the animals he created in Genesis 2:19 (KJV) the Bible says in “And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof”. And the fact that he created you as a human being with that power means that he trusts you to use it wisely. But how do we use it?

What do we say? Are the words that come out of our mouths edifying? Do we tear each other down with our words? If God was to replay every conversation we’ve had how would we feel? Would we be full of embarrassment and shame because some of the things that we said were out of line?

James 3:5 (KJV says)” Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” Although the tongue a little member of our body and in fact one of the smallest members of our body it yet has the power to damage and hurt if used wrongly. Yet many of us don’t use that power wisely! And growing up in church one of the reasons and I’d say a huge reason why people left the church and still leave the church is not because of the devil! Don’t blame it on him! But it is because somewhere along the line words that were not meant to be said were said and that caused hurt and offence. Now if somebody corrected someone or spoke to someone out of love and that person left that’s another issue all together!

And it is not as easy as it sounds because sometimes out of anger we say things. For those who like to gossip!! And TRUUUSSSSSTTT MEEE!!!! I used to be one of them! Always wanted to know the latest about people and talking about people’s business until one day the Holy Spirit convicted me that I was doing was wrong. Although at times I didn’t mean to say things with bad and hurtful intentions it still came out as gossip which was WRONG! If the person that you speak about to someone else was to sit in your conversation without you noticing them would what you said hurt the person? Cause slander and spoil that person’s reputation? Am I there yet? Not at all but I can say that I’m better than I used to be. And seriously and with all honesty sometimes I’m sooo tempted to say certain things but thank God for the Holy Spirit who convicts me and helps me to improve in this area.

Sometimes people do hurt us and there is nothing wrong in expressing how we feel and how their actions made us feel but still in these trying and hard times try to still watch what you say. Because one day you might just regret it. And as the bible clearly says in Matthew 12:36 we will give accounts of every idle word that we have said in the day of Judgment.

As not only people but people of God we must watch what comes out of our mouths! The bible says that in James 3:10 (KJV) “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” We are God’s representatives down here on earth? Do we represent him rightfully in our speech?

God has entrusted us with such power and authority exercised through our words!  So let us use it wisely and to His Glory.

Hope that this blog blesses you

Love & Blessings always!

Yours In Christ

Valencia

 

 

BE FREE TO BE YOU (Be free to be Who God has called you to be)

I know it's been a while but as usual when I come out of a season I love to share what's on my heart and help y'all!

BE FREE TO BE YOU!!!!

The Bible clearly says in Jeremiah 1:5 that before We were formed in our mothers belly God knew us and ordained us. One if not my favourite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts I think towards YOU, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give YOU an EXPECTED end" the NIV finishes this verse by saying plans to give YOU a hope and a future.
Where am I going? Good question stay with me it will all make sense.

Like I mentioned in previous blogs I grew up with low self-esteem didn't think I was good enough and didn't like me. I often used to compare myself with other people who were in the same field as me like other singers,  other young dynamic preachers etc.  Whilst doing that I started to envy them not realising what was inside of me.
Some people used to tell me that I was waayyyyy too loud, wayyy to energetic and too talkative and I used to try the tone everything down,  not talk too much not crack too many jokes untill something inside started to feel like noo!!! Enough is enough! That is not me and I shouldn't try to change to please men. If God put it in me and didn't convict me about it its a part of me that God has need of. And the more God was dealing with me on  how to accept ME. I realised that I was more and more becoming people bound rather than being God bound. I had allowed people to determine how I should be instead of allowing my creator to break me, make me and mold me into who he wants me to be.
Don't get me wrong sometimes God will convict you of something through people but if it causes heartache, distress and hurt IT AIN'T OF GOD!!
There isn't another me like there isnt another you. God has created you uniquely fashioned with a specific purpose that only YOU can fulfill. Nobody can be a better you but you!
Being in leadership amonsgt 4 other guys where I was the only female and the youngest one I was always told how I should behave in order to look proper and that meant burying who I was, who God made me to be to become this woman they wanted me to be. Did what they do work? NOPE! NOT AT ALL! Instead it made me more insecure. I felt like I was putting an act on, and always wondered what if I drop that act, will people take me seriously? Will people still like me? Untill one day the Holy Spirit reminded me that GOD has the final say over me and that GOD made me this way for a reason and for the purpose he has for me and looking back then and looking at myself now I have grown a whole lot and what I was told to tone down is what God has been and is using to enable me to fulfill my purpose and connect with various people from various walks of life.
And since then I have become PEOPLE FREE!!!!! Dont care about what people say on whatever I do anymore. Its all about what God says about me! Becoming people free will enable you to fullfill your destiny. And so what you praise a bit louder than everybody else? You dance a bit more than everybody else? You dont sing as high as another singer? YOU ARE YOU and THAT'S WHAT MATTERS  and its high time you EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE!
To return to the scripture I highlighted God has amazing thoughts and plans concerning YOU and for YOU his thoughts and plans towards YOU are for YOU and nobody else!! There are things with YOUR name on it just for YOU!! Don't forfeit the purpose God's plans and purpose for your life by comparing yourself to oher people, you keep on wishing you were like someone else. The truth is that by carrying on like that you will never be able to be a better YOU because you are trying to be somebody else and you will never be able to fulfill YOUR destiny because you are too busy trying to fulfill somebody elses!

Be Encouraged!! Be people free and God bound but above all BE FREE TO BE YOU!




Love y'all

Yours In Christ

Valencia

It's time to LET IT GO

Wow!!! What a title!  May Sound cliché but it is soo true and real! Life, people and circumstances have a way of leaving things with us. Some good and some bad! We need to hold on the good things and let go of the bad ones!  But it is often the bad things that we hold on to causing us to be stagnant and not move forward!  For the past 2 years God has really been dealing with me on this topic. Like I shared before I grew up in a single home.  Things were not always easy!  I've had my wilderness experiences and valley seasons. I've had my heart broken many times,  various people hurt me including people I loved HARD!  Disappointed by many,  hurt turned into bitterness which eventually turned into unforgiveness.  I was leading Praise & Worship carrying unforgiveness!  I was interceeding for people with hurt in my heart.  I was serving in pain.  I wanted to be free; I wanted to forgive but I didn't know how.  Until the Holy Spirit began to minister to me.
The first thing He said to me was that He doesn't send wounded soldiers to battle.  God is more interested in your well-being and your emotional, physical as well as spiritual state more than what you do for him. Oftentimes we're hurting and instead of taking a back seat and allowing God to heal us and mend our broken hearts we keep serving not realising that we're an easy prey for the enemy as we're already weak!  he'll know where to attack us! I did it for so many years! It took me to get sick for God to slow me down and take time to heal me! Let Him do it! If you need to take time out do so! Don't wait till God has to do it for you!

Then God began to tell me that on my own, I can't forgive. I need his grace to forgive.  I was busy trying to forgive and when I would see the person that hurt me I'd go back home crying because the hurt still felt fresh.  Thats when God told me, give it to me.  You just be willing to forgive and let my grace empower you to forgive.  When you forgive someone you don't forgive them for them but you forgive for yourself.  You're the one that's hurting! They're out there living their lives! They might even have forgotten  what they did to you! And that unforgiveness starts taking root in your heart.  Tainting your heart. The Bible says in Matthew 5:8"Blessed are the PURE in heart for they SHALL SEE GOD ". When your heart is tainted by bitterness, anger,  unforgiveness and many more you are not able to hear God clearly or even feel him near because these things cause a bridge between you and God.  When I realised that I said to myself I don't want to allow anything to get between me and God.  And I surrendered everything to Him . Told God how I felt,  told Him EVERYTHING!  And he began to pour his love and peace into me. The more I asked him to help me forgive and to give me the grace to forgive and LET GO!The better I Felt! I felt soo much freedom and peace! Today I stand as a living testimony!! I'm not  a 100%  there but I'm definitely close!  God is AMAZING!!!!  And NOTHING and NO ONE is worth jeopardising your relationship with God.  Whatever it is!! LET IT GO ! Bring it to the Master! He's waiting for you!  You're not in this alone!  He's right there with you!
Be Encouraged!  You will get through it!

Love Yourself

Hello Everyone!!

Here's my second blog of this year called "Love Yourself!"

Ever been in situations where you just didn't love you! Times where you didn't like you? The way you look? Big nose, small nose?  Big cheeks no dimples? Big thighs or short?You go through people's Facebook pages and people's Instagram's pictures and the more you see beautiful ladies and Gents you start to compare the way you look with the way they look? Then you become more and more depressed because you want to look like them but you are far from it? You wished you had longer hair, slimmer waist, more muscles or a better build?
Well ladies and Gents this blog is for you!
I'm addressing both men and women but I'll be speaking from a woman's perspective.

Growing up like I mentioned in one of my previous blogs I grew up with low self esteem! Never thought I was pretty enough and never thought I was good enough for anybody! Out of all my friends I would be the only one who didn't have a boyfriend or a guy after me. And to be honest it did hit me in a way because I thought if nobody comes to me that means that I might not be pretty enough nor beautiful enough! So I grew up with that mentality!  I would look at other girls!  Tall, skinny, long hair and all and I would think I wish looked like them!  I was a Christian don't get me wrong but I still didn't think I was beautiful!
Until the scripture  Psalms 139:14 was made reality to me! It says "I will praise you, for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works and my soul knows it very well".
The more I was going through those times of not really liking myself the more this scripture would resonate in my spirit. And I had to realise that by comparing myself with other people I was telling the God of the whole universe,  the one who created me in his image and in his likeness; the one that formed me in my mother's womb and ordained me to serve him! I was telling that God that he made a mistake by making me the way I was! When I realised that I had to repent and tell God sorry for not appreciating myself,  sorry for not appreciating how you've created me! And I had to ask God to show me how to love myself! You see as human beings we were made for companionship that's how God created us however you can NOT and you will NOT  love your spouse properly if you don't love yourself! That's why for some people God delays the arrival of your spouse in your life because he wants you to learn how to love yourself and how to love Him. Then and only then will you be able to love yourself!  You will not only be able to love yourself but you'll be able to receive love!  All these things don't just come by wishing!  They come by having a close walk with God! Ask him to teach you about love! To help you to love yourself and give and receive love! To help you to see yourself the way He sees you! If you ask him He will surely do it!! Whatever can be changed if it's weight loss or eating healthier taking care of the body that God has given us by all means do it! But the things you can't change!  Learn to appreciate them because that's how God made you!
You are beautiful,  you are special, you are intelligent and loved!  Don't let the things you see the models you see determine how you are going to view yourself! Be bold, brave and confident in who God made you to be! Nobody else can be you better than you!
So when you wake up in the morning after your devotion, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself: I'm beautifully,  fearfully and wonderfully made! The way I look is how God made me and I'm going to love ME!
Big nose, small nose, big lips, small cheeks, big thighs and whatever else. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!
Learn to value yourself!!  And don't ever sell yourself short!!
This change will not come suddenly! It does take time! But the more you do it the more you shut the door by which the enemy will try and come in to make you feel low about yourself!  As you do it! You will build confidence in who you are and you will be able to be all that God wants you to be!

Pray that this blog encourages you! Leave a comment to encourage others!

Love y'all!

Why Me???

Hello People!

I know it’s been a while but God has definitely been dealing with me on some things and I’d like to share one of them with you and I hope it blesses you!

The title of my first blog for the year 2014 is “Why Me?”

Have you ever asked yourself that question when things are not really going your way? It seems like you are always going through something? You come out of one trial and then comes another one? Why am I always going through something you wonder? Is it ever going to end? Am I ever going to be happy?

Well you’re not the first nor the only one asking yourself that question!

Towards the end of 2013 to middle of January 2014 I was going through depressing times! The fear of not knowing what my future held though in God’s hands!  I was always crying and weeping because things that I thought would come to pass then didn’t. People I called friends and people that I sacrificed a lot for let me down, disappointed me and hurt me even though our differences and issues were discussed and settled. I felt worthless, because things were not working out. I almost started to doubt my very calling and why God put me on this earth! I was tired of being sick and tired! I was fed up of being hurt and disappointed! Getting my hopes and dreams up only to see them being crushed over and over again. Whilst I was crying out to God I kept on saying “Lord I know you can hear me, but I can’t hear you, I can’t feel you I have no clue as to what is happening to me”. And I wept, and wept and cried and cried some more until I couldn’t weep nor cry then I was brought to this calm place by the Holy Spirit and there God began to minister to me.

Why me? Because I called you and chose you! And as I began to be still these scriptures were whispered in my ears. The bible says in Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” The NIV version says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew^[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Then Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to PROSPER you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE.” The King James Version says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an EXPECTED END”. And Romans 8:28 (KJV) “And we know that ALL things work together for GOOD to them that love God, to them who are the CALLED according to his PURPOSE.”

The bible clearly says that ALL things not something’s or a few things; but the good things and the bad things that come our way work together for our GOOD! The Holy Spirit made me understand that the reason why I was going through those things was that in order to become someone after the heart of God a way to get closer to God was in those though times I faced because those times brought me to my knees; made me seek the face of the Most High God and He was magnified in my life! Light doesn’t shine in the midst of light but Light shines in the midst of darkness. It’s in our dark times, in times where we don’t understand what is going on, in times where we’ve lost hope, in times where you can’t see past the end of the week, in those times God’s light shines through and He reveals himself to us in a way that he wouldn’t have been revealed if everything was rosy and easy! And even if the enemy tries it like our brother Joseph who went through hell we understand that whatever the enemy meant for evil God will turn it around for your good (Gen 50:20).

 In the Book of Zechariah chapter 13 we as God’s chosen people we are likened to Silver and Gold and Zechariah 13:9 says: “And I will bring the third part through the FIRE, and will REFINE THEM (You and me) as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.”. 2 Timothy 2:20 (KJV) says “But in a great house there are not only vessels of GOLD and of SILVER, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” The NIV translation says it even better “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for SPECIAL PURPOSE and some for common use.” God sees us as precious stones Gold and Silver and in order to be used for the special purpose that God has called us to, we have to go through some refining! How is Gold refined? God is refined by Fire! Refining with fire is one of the oldest methods of refining metals i.e Gold, silver and many more. The refining of gold is even mentioned in the bible, refining by fire is the preferred method for larger quantities of gold. In ancient times, this form of refining involved a craftsman sitting next to a hot fire with molten gold in a crucible being stirred and skimmed to remove the impurities or dross that rose to the top of the molten metal, with flames reaching temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius until the craftsman can see a reflection of himself.

Whatever we go through in life shapes our character for where God is taking us! I will never forget what the Holy Spirit told me! Your gift will make room for you and bring you before great men but it is a humble heart and character that will make room for you and KEEP you before great men!

So Why You? You because you are called! You because you are chosen and were ordained to be a vessel unto God before the foundation of the world! You because you are special in Gods eyes and he has great things in store for you! So whatever you go through know that it won’t break you but it will make you stronger! Don’t ever allow the enemy fool you and cause you to start doubting the very God you serve! When you go through things not knowing what the future holds TRUST God! I know it is easier said than done! I went through it myself! Not knowing what was coming up next career wise and in other areas of my life! I had to trust God! Sometimes we don’t know how to trust God because we build our hopes and a false sense of security on our plans instead of putting it in God’s plan! And when things don’t go our way we get thrown off and allow the enemy’s words to cause us to doubt. The bible does say in Proverbs 19:21 “There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” Trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Whatever you are going through! Trust God!  Even when you don’t know what lies ahead! That’s what makes him God! All knowing! Even when you don’t know what’s going to happen trust the All-knowing one who holds your future in his hands!

Please be encouraged out there! Don’t let the enemy rob you of your joy in this season!  Things are not always going to be easy but as long as you hold on to God he will keep you and strengthen you! Keep holding on and see what God will do!

In the meantime! Be and Stay blessed!

Peace & Blessings Always!

Yours Truly!

Valencia

Are you saved FOR REAL? Or just saved in church?

Have you ever asked yourself that question? Are you saved FOR REAL or just saved in church?

Well I have! The more I go to church services, events and see how we worship and how we are at church it makes me wonder if we do the same behind closed doors when nobody is looking! When you're in that secret place where nobody is around you! Do you still worship Him the same? Do you love on Him the same?
Many at times we go on about our own business during the week not acknowledging God and not spending time with Him but on Sundays when we go to church He becomes our centre of attention or even worse we only go to Him when everything goes wrong and when we have nobody to turn to but as soon as we get back on our feet we forget Him! I've been there and the Holy Spirit revealed it to me through friendship challenges I was facing. 

Lemme share a lil  story with y'all!

During my three years at uni I spent so much time investing on friendships with close friends. For some of them I sacrificed time and money to make sure that they were ok. Every birthday of theirs I would go to the extent of organizing surprise birthday parties and make sure that everything went smoothly and accordingly whereas my birthdays would often be recognized but not celebrated. Saw them in their great days as well as in their bad days, had their backs as much as I could and really carried them in my heart. Never saw it as a big deal until I left university and some of the people for which I sacrificed the most I wouldn't hear from them. They would barely if not remember my birthday. I would hear that they'd be in the same city as me but yet wouldn't hear from them at all; but when I would see them in public they would act as if we were tight and always spoke and looked very excited to see me but when we would leave that occasion and go our separate ways I wouldn't hear from them until another occasion.

That deeply hurt me and I was like "God really?? How can people be so ungrateful, act like they know me in public but yet behind the scenes they never talk to me, they don't even remember my birthdays!!" then the Holy Spirit said to me that this is what many of us do to God. We stay with him when we're struggling, we fast, pray and seek Him earnestly and when things get better we don't talk to him as much but on Sundays we bawl, we cry, we lift up holy hands and act like we know Him but behind the scenes we don't even speak to Him nor do we even acknowledge Him!

This goes out to all Christians! Most especially the ones standing in the office of a minister, Praise &Worship leader, Pastors and anyone that is in the public eye.
I myself am a Praise & Worship Leader having that revelation caused me to look back at the times where I led Praise & Worship; I was worshiping a God that I knew of without knowing Him personally. And God had to use that situation in my life to make me understand how it feels! Since then I refused to be so caught up with God's work that I don't spend time with Him! Getting to know Him personally!
Luke 10:38-42 in the (NIV)says : 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed-or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
When we look at the story of Martha and Mary, nothing in the Bible states that Mary couldn't cook or help around the house; I believe that she was as skilled as Martha but when she was in Jesus's presence she decided to stay at his feet and just pull on Him. Many of us are like Martha, busy running around from one place to the other worried about many things but the most important one which is to spend time with God in your secret place. Standing in front of people ministering in His name, leading people into a place of Praise & Worship where we ourselves have not even entered into in our secret place with Him. You might not spend two hours praying or ten hours reading the Bible but as long as you do spend time with Him daily is the most important. Knowing the Lord for myself in the past 8 years has been the greatest experience I've lived in my entire life. Being born in church and having grown up in church coming from a Christian home wasn’t enough for me! I had to get to know Him for myself. Getting to know God and feeling so close to Him is priceless! I don't always pray for two hours a day nor do I fast 21 days a month but whenever I have time and I remember I talk to God like He was a person jamming with me, letting Him know about my problems, struggles and trials, as well as acknowledging Him, thanking Him for life and worshiping Him. 

God is not hard to understand nor does He hide; Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) says: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" .When you seek him with your whole heart he's there available waiting for you, He'll stand by you like no other. Where all others fail that's where He goes beyond! Where man's understanding and wisdom finishes that where His starts!

Are you ready to be saved for real today? Take it to God in prayer and adjust your timetable! Make Him the priority. Don't only live your life speaking of, teaching about, worshiping a God that you know of, but do it worshiping  speaking of and teaching about a God you PERSONALLY know! That makes the difference between Relationship with God and Religion! Matthew 15:8 (NIV) says : "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me". No more lip service! Let it become a pure heart service! After all He died for us and He gave himself up so that we can be free and walk in liberty! 
Let us not only be saved in church or in front of people!! But let us be saved FOR REAL!

Make that decision today! And I can truly guarantee that your life will never remain the same!

Be and Stay Blessed always!

Love y'all 

Valencia

It's All A Matter Of The Heart (So What's your Heart saying?)

As I laid in bed one night pondering on many things, “Worship” dropped in my spirit. Worship is not only the singing that we do but it is our service to God. Whatever you do in Gods house and for God is seen as an act of worship. And as I kept on being still the Holy Spirit started to minister to me about the Heart! God places so much importance on the heart. The word heart is used over 720 times in the Old Testament and about 164 times in the New Testament. We normally attribute it to the physical organ or an emotional feeling. Scripture describes it as the whole or centre of man’s inner life or nature. We can think and imagine with our hearts (Genesis 6:5), we can love God with our hearts (Mark 12:30) , We can make choices, decide things in our hearts (Daniel 1:8)  ,we can hate with hearts  (2 Samuel 6:16) and we can believe with our hearts (Acts 8:37). The physiological purpose of the heart is to pump the blood that bathes every organ of the body. The blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, and removes waste products from the tissues. If the pumping action of the heart is disrupted, the body’s organs begin to fail very quickly. Therefore, life itself is dependent on the efficient operation of the heart. The same way the heart pumps blood to every organ of the body and that blood carries oxygen and nutrient to the tissues and removes waste products is the same way the state of our hearts works in our Christian walk and in our service to God.

Matt 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” If your heart is not pure, you can’t see God so how are you going to lead people to Him if you can’t see him yourself?? What is a pure heart? A pure heart is not necessarily a perfect one but it is a heart that admits when they are wrong, always willing to do the right thing and follow what is right!

You see many at times we go to church and come home, we serve in different ministries pursuing our different callings and destinies do we really take time out to stop and look at the heart we serve with? It doesn’t matter whether you sing in the choir or usher or even clean the toilet in your respective church as your services and act of worship to God but what matters is the heart you do it with.As it is all a matter of the Heart what is YOUR heart saying?

A man that we can definitely learn from is The Psalmist David who was called a man after Gods own heart as Acts 13:22(KJV) “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

Acts 13:22 (AMP) “²² And when He had deposed him, He raised up David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully.”David was a man that loved God more than anything! David was an undignified worshipper and servant! He wasn’t scared to look ridiculous for God! A man that seeked to do Gods will and above all he was a man who knew how to touch God’s heart.But let’s start from the beginning! Let me give you an insight of the beginning of David’s story As God has rejected Saul due to his pride and disobedience, God now sent the prophet Samuel to ordain another King. That King would come out of the house of Jesse. As Samuel went to Jesse’s house he explained everything and told him to bring all his sons out because out of them a King would be chosen. And Jesse called all his sons except David. As Samuel looked at David’s brothers he thought surely out of these ones must be God’s chosen one then God stopped him and said look not on the outer appearances, on their statures or their muscles but for I The LORD does not look on the outer appearance of man but I look at the heart(The bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7(KJV) says “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”) And therefore God chose David and David was the one that ruled over Israel and Judah for many years and till this day he’s known as the greatest Psalmist of all times that knew how to touch God’s heart!A pure heart is not perfect heart! A pure heart is a heart that acknowledges when they’re wrong and cries out for mercy! A heart that completely depends on God, a heart that knows that without God they are nothing! And David had that heart. Every time he sinned he went before God and repented Psalm 51 was written out of a repented heart (For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba) Psalm 51:17(KJV) “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise”.Psalm 51:17 (New Living Translation) “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” .The Bible clearly says in James 4:6 that “God opposes the proud, but shows favour to the humble”. We were created to worship God. Worship is from your heart. You can sing but not worship! Worship is not only singing it is your service to God. Doing what you were called to do with a pure heart. So what is your heart saying? Are you just serving God for the fringe benefits of serving Him or are you worshipping/serving Him for who He is? Are you just doing lip service or heart service? Matthew 15:8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”The State of your heart differentiates between A Relationship with God and Religion Where is your heart at?  Do you serve God to please him, to know him better or just for the anointing so that when people see you they can hype you? Prov 18:16 “A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men” But a PURE HEART will make room for you and KEEP you before great men. As that heart will never think that you’ve arrived but will constantly seek to know God more not just to God to the next level in ministry but to know God more for yourself and that is what God is after.

As a singer you can riff and run up to the roof! But if your heart is not pure nor in the right place with the wrong motives all that you do is in vain!A pure heart and a humble heart attracts God and causes you to become a man/ woman after his heart to be favoured by him and for you to connect with Him to know what he wants you to do. A pure heart is a heart open to correction, a heart willing to learn, a heart saying Lord I don’t have it together and I never will have it together unless you hold me together. A heart that understands that we can’t do anything without God! A heart always opens to hearchecks! We need to check our hearts! These are all matters of the heart.

So Where is your heart at? What is your heart saying?

Dearly beloved I pray that this Blog will be a blessing to you! In this season I encourage you to seek to serve God with a pure heart! Seek to know who He is and know His heart! He is an amazing God not hard to understand if you would only seek Him you’ll find Him!

And remember! I love y’all but God loves you more!

Bless up!

Valencia

Is it Ever Going to Be Alright?? (If He Did It Before, He can do it AGAIN!)

Have you ever gone through situations so tough that you  wondered “Is It Ever going to be Alright?” You try to hold on, 

be strong and courageous whilst persuading yourself that it will soon be over but yet it seems like it is still going on and never ending?  Then you get to a place of discouragement and total despair. The load seems too heavy to carry and the pain too much to bear; it seems like nobody understands what you’re going through. You feel all by yourself in this situation! Your heart feels so heavy that it physically starts to hurt just thinking about where you’re at and what you’re going through? You haven’t given up but you are on the verge of giving up, barely hanging on. 

You go to church Sunday after Sunday with that pain. You smile and act like everything is ok but yet you know deep deep down inside that you’re not alright because of what you’re going through? You stand there leading Praise & Worship, ushering, playing your instrument, preaching but yet you’re soo discouraged! It feels like you’re often the one to give someone an encouragement when they need it the most but yet when it comes to you it seems like nobody is there to give you a helping hand to boost your faith up and encourage you? If that’s you then this blog is for you!

Recently I was going through very discouraging times! Things that I was waiting on God to for were still not happening.  Just when it seemed like things were going to breakthrough things started to go downhill. And then I found myself in a place of total discouragement and despair. My heart was soo heavy that I couldn’t even talk to anyone concerning what I was going through. I would find myself crying out to God and weeping asking “Why me?? When is it going to come to pass”  Anybody been there where it always seems to be you that’s facing a hard time whilst some other people seem to be enjoying their lives (Based on how they act and what we can see from the outside coz we don’t know what they are going through behind the scenes! #Selah Moment right there!)? You ain’t the only one!! I would weep and cry, weep and cry, weep and cry asking God all the Why’s, When’s and How’s! 

Then one day I was on my way somewhere then I looked at my bible app on my phone and the 1st scripture that came up was: Jeremiah 29:11 in the Kings James Version it reads:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of  peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”And in the NIV it reads “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Then the Lord begin to remind me of the tests and trials that he brought me out of and as I look back I can truly testify that had it not been for the Lord who was on my side where would I be??!! You see sometimes when we go through our current test we often forget the many testimonies that came out of the tests that God brought us out of in the past. The Lord then began to reassure me that if He brought me out then, He can surely and assuredly bring me out now. No matter the situation, no matter the challenge the word of God is true. The bible says in Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”. If He said it it will surely come to pass! In our current test we have to realize that oftentimes the way God brought you out of tests in the past might not be how he will bring you out of the one you’re in! His ways are not our ways and his thoughts certainly not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).  As long as we keep our eyes focused on Him and Him alone the mountains we are facing will become invisible.

When you look at the story of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33) He was in the midst of a storm, had the faith to come out of stress, fear, panic and doubt and go towards Jesus! But as he was walking as soon as he turned his attention off Jesus and started focusing on the wind and how it was impossible for him to walk on water and be at peace in the midst of the storm he began to sink! As Jesus stretched his hand he said to Peter “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (V31- NIV). Peter had seen many miracles performed by Jesus and had witnessed Jesus saving him and the rest of the disciples in a similar situation as He calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23-27. He was expecting Jesus to silence the storm like He did before but Jesus had another agenda. And because the way Jesus was going to bring him out of that one didn’t seem like how he brought him and the rest of the disciples he began to doubt, fear and started to sink.

Like Peter you’re facing the storms of life and you decide to stretch forth and look to Jesus, you’re doing fine for a while, you have peace in the situation you’re in knowing that God will bring out but then you like Peter start sinking because of doubt, fear and panic, looking at the situation, thinking this is not how God brought me out before. There you are sinking in depression, oppression, discouragement and despair.

But let me encourage you that in the midst of it all God is in total and complete control. He has never failed you and He is not about to start now! Even as you are going through your current test! Remember the testimonies from your previous tests and let it encourage you that if He did it before! He can surely do it again! Sometimes God won’t send people to boost your faith or give you a word of knowledge. Sometimes God will allow you to go down Memory Lane, Past street and Trials avenue to encourage you and remind you that He is in control and that indeed it will be ALRIGHT!!! Why??? Because His thoughts towards you are GOOD to give you an EXPECTED END! He might not bring you out of your test they way He'll bring your friend out of his/her test but He will bring you out uniquely so that you can have a testimony that's yours and unique!

Keep on keeping on and keep on holding on!! Just know that in DUE season if you’re not weary in well doing! You shall reap if you faint not (Galatians 6:9)!

Be encouraged y’all!

Love you all and God loves you more

Valencia

Let God Father You

We are living in a world where everyone is looking for a Father figure whether male or female. God made it so that an ideal family would have a father and a mother to show order and bring stability in the home. Even the Holy Trinity is composed of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit displaying order. A father figure nowadays is so important for our young women as well as for our young men. But often times in many cases the fathers are absent for one reason or the other not realizing the damage it causes not only to the mothers who have to be both  father and mother but also to the children involved.

A father is not only someone whose sperm unites with and egg resulting in the conception of a child! That is not where his role ends!! in fact that is where his role begins.A father is not only a man that acknowledges his responsibilities but it is a man that would go to any length to ensure  his family is safe ,lead his family as God leads him and above all show the fatherly love that every son and daughter so long for.

Many young men longed to hear their dad say "Well Done Son! I knew you could do it" whilst young woman longed to hear "You are beautiful and you'll always be my little princess". But unfortunately many young men and young women never got to hear these sentences that many others raised by their father as well as their mother take for granted.

And when that happens we see many young men walking around with no confidence in themselves not understanding what respect is and how to earn it searching and yearning for that fatherly love in anything as long as it looks like it's the real thing; and because of that they'll go to any length to fill that void inside of them  I.e gangs,being womanizers jumping from one woman to another and many more length seeking affection, acceptance, a sense of purpose and respect.

Many young women struggle with low self-esteem seeking for someone to affirm them as long as they feel accepted and valued. Leading to too many being lead astray, being lured to love and be loved by someone that doesn't even know what love is and how to show it instead they'll show you what they think love is.

If you're out there and you've grown without a father and have experienced the feelings above. You are not alone! There are many people out there suffering and hurting and I was one of them!

Psalm 68:5a says that God is "a Father to the Fatherless". If you're looking for a father that will fill this void inside you that only God can and that will love you Let God Father You!

I've been there, seen it and I know what you're going through! Let me share a little  testimony!

I'm the oldest of three, I have two brothers and I was raised by my mum!

My mum miscarried before she had me and  when she got pregnant with me my dad wanted me aborted and did not want to have anything to do with the pregnancy; born two months early with my mum suffering from preeclampsia thank God my mum and I made it!.

My dad then left my mum with three children age 5, 3 and 6 months.At the age of 29 she was left with three children! Thank God she was saved and allowed God in.

From a young age I felt rejected and unloved by the one who should have been there for me! Comfort me when I'm crying, tell me how beautiful I was and how much he loved me. Instead of that when my dad was supposed to come and see us we'd wait for him excited and looking forward to seeing him then we would have the harsh news from my mum "Sorry Darlings, Daddy said that He couldn't make it" or in other instances he would send his girlfriends to drop our Christmas presents or occasionally on our birthday if he remembered.

Growing up I suffered from low self-esteem.Never thought I was beautiful enough or good enough always felt rejected somehow even though I was surrounded by a caring and loving family. 

Then last year where God made me realize that I was so busy looking for a father figure and fatherly love in man,in positions and places that I hardly paid attention or even asked God who is love to father me, love me and fill this void inside.1 John 4:8 (NIV version) says Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I was so hungry for God, tired of being disappointed by people that I went down on my knees and asked God to reveal to me what His love is and for God to father me.

And the revelation of God's love wasn't only  made clearer through revelations of who he is but it was as if a void inside of me had been filled with a feeling of security, warmth,confidence and love that I had never felt or even experienced before; and as I grow in God daily, He keeps on showering me with his love.

One thing God made realize is that as the bible says  in Hebrews 13:8 " Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever"God does not change!.Which means that God's love is unconditional, irrespective of your condition.Whatever you do God loved,loves and will always love. So by you putting your confidence, your self-esteem and your trust in Him,regardless of what you do His mind about you remains the same. But men we change like the weather, we love you conditionally in respective of your condition.One day we'll hype you and be on your side, but the next day if you mess up we start looking at you funny and our attitude towards you changes.

Let it encourage you! Sisters!!!Stop selling yourself short and chasing everything you think is love or looks like love but chase the one who is the definition of Love itself!Let Him father you! Let him show you your worth! Let him tell you "You are beautiful and you'll always be my little princess". He will fill that void in your heart and love you the way you truly deserve. Not only will he show you how to be loved but he'll show you how to love

Brothers! It's time to man up and stop trying to earn respect and love without knowing the one who is Love itself! The one who will teach you how to respect, be respected, the one who will always tell you  "Well Done Son! I knew you could do it"  the one who will fill the void of that fatherly love that you've always longed for!! He can do it brothers! I know He can!!

Let it be an encouragement to you all!! If God did it for me He can do it for you too!

All you have to do is let him in!

I would  like take this opportunity to give a massive Shout Out to My mother Sylvia Matanda!Thank you for all the sacrifices you made and how you've taken care of us!!! Love you mum!

And to all the single mothers out there who are working hard to raise their children in the fear of God to become all that God wants them to be!Be encouraged! Keep striving and keep on keeping on for in due time you will reap if you faint not!

Remember I Love you all but God loves you more!

Valencia