ALL THINGS ARE NEW

All things are new in Christ Jesus; He prepared a path for us,
He guides us through our trials and storms which builds our faith and trust.

All things are new in Christ Jesus; and as we enter a new year,
we must seek His presence daily, to remove all doubt and fear.

Each year has new beginnings and every moment that unfolds,
comes with opportunities and blessings to acknowledge and behold.

All things are new in Christ Jesus; and it is important that we see,
all the necessary changes that will help to set us free.

To be more loving and more patient in the up-and-coming year,
to be obedient and forgiving, as well as grateful and sincere.

We've all been blessed with gifts and talents that were meant to glorify,
knowing the plan and purpose for your life, will lift you up and fortify.

All things are new in Christ Jesus; He died because He loves you so,
embrace all that God desires and watch favor and blessings grow.

As we embark on new beginnings and search all that there is to find,
may this year be filled with all things new and may you enjoy all that God designed.

                                                               
                                               THE ART OF GIVING

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR GIVING, but it's not just all about the pretty packages! It's about the GIVING of your time~ when someone needs a helping hand or maybe just an ear to listen. It's about the GIVING of your talents~ we all have been given special gifts like; music, art, writing, teaching, the list goes on and on!  Each gift we posses has the potential to encourage, uplift and bring joy to the lives of others, while also giving honor and glory to God!  It's about GIVING love to others~ we are not only called to love those who love us back, but we are to also love those who may find love difficult to give OR to receive.  It's about ForGIVING~ we are charged to forgive those who may have caused us hurt, anger or pain.  Practicing forgiveness can be challenging, but is necessary for our own well-being and it allows us to live a life full of joy!  God gave His Son, so that we may have life and live it more abundantly.  He GIVES us guidance, protection and comfort and He loves and blesses us beyond measure!  Our ability to GIVE should extend beyond the Christmas Holiday, but it is especially important at a time that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior JESUS Christ, for He truly IS the Reason for the Season!!  May your heart be filled with joy and your mind be filled with peace as we enter into a New Year of GIVING!!~MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

                                UNWAVERING FAITH



What is unwavering faith? A faith that is unshakable, a faith that is so strong that it plants your feet solidly on the ground and keeps you standing no matter how the hard wind blows and tries to knock you down!  A faith that stands up to present circumstances and gives you complete reassurance that God is right there with you and will bring you through the fire and lead you to a victorious outcome.  We know that we all will face trials throughout our journey here on earth and many of them may come out of nowhere and attempt to run us over like a locomotive without an engineer!  We are taken right of the the track with it and thrown so far off the path that we can't seem to find our way back to where the collision began.  We struggle to find our footing, because when we were hit by this unexpected circumstance, we landed in a ditch that seemed so deep, we couldn't see the light of day.  Our strength seems to be limited, which affects our attempt the climb out of the darkness......BUT GOD!!  When we look up, fully believing that God is right there, stretching His hand out to pull us from what seems to be an impossible situation, things begin to change!  God improves our vision and gives us the clarity needed to see where we need to place our feet to climb out of that pit of circumstance. He gives us the strength needed to keep moving towards the light, he lifts us up and He leads us away from the catastrophe that landed us in the ditch and shields us from the destruction and confusion that occurred at the point of impact.  God will get us back on track, but we won't return the same.  We will have a different perspective and will see things with new eyes, because we have seen God's miraculous love, strength and power on a very personal level and we know, without a doubt, that whatever life brings from that point on, that God will bring us through it!  We are also now charged with the responsibility of sharing our victorious triumph with others, because there are MANY who will encounter potentially destructive situations like the one we just recovered from and they need to know that they too can make it through!  Our testimony has the power to impact the lives of others and give them hope and build their faith. 
The kind that you now have.......Unwavering Faith!!

When one of my beautiful Sisters-in-law asked me what my motivation for writing was and what I desired it to do with it, I told her that I felt my purpose was to inspire, encourage, uplift and motivate people.  As I continued to meditate on what the driving force of my journey was, I thought about one of my favorite words....JOY!  I pray that everyone God allows me to cross paths with, will have joy in their life and below is the finished product of my prayer!                    

              I PRAY YOU JOY                                            

                                                         

I pray for you great sunsets,

seeing God within all things.

I pray for you bright rainbows,

and the promises God brings.

I pray for you sweet music,

sung so sweetly by the birds;

The songs create a melody,

inspired by God’s words.

I pray your life is filled with laughter,

that a smile adorns your face.

I pray that love will fill your heart,

enough to heal the human race.

I pray for help to fix your burdens,

that your trials will not destroy.

I pray that God will grant you peace,

THROUGH ALL..... I Pray You Joy.

                       SWIMMING PAST JUDGMENTS

Written in 2011

It was this very encounter that God told me to go home and write about this experiences! 

My first reaction was to say, "WHO...ME?"  But this was the beginning of my journey to being obedient to the call of writing and I am so thankful!

Today I was reminded of the tremendous responsibility placed on Christians! I went to the health club to participate in my water exercise class.  The work was intense and pushed me beyond the point of what I thought I could do that day, but I kept up with the routine and was even called out by the instructor as an example to the class, because my efforts were recognized.  

When the class ended, I decided to treat myself with a few moments in the hot, steamy, swirling waters of the whirlpool!!   Mmm.... the water looked inviting!  There are actually two whirlpools that sit side by side in the spa area and both of them had adequate space available for me to envelope myself in the soothing water!!  As I approached the entrance to both of the whirlpools, I noticed a man all nestled down in one of the tubs.  At first, I hesitated to enter the water, because to look at him, he did not appear to be someone that I would immediately want to share a limited space with.  He was covered with tattoos, donned a tall multi-colored mohawk and didn’texactly seem appropriately dressed for a therapeutic experience!!  

 As I entered the water, he gave me a look that sent a chill down the back of my neck on top of everything!   For a brief moment, I moved slowly toward the other whirlpool ……but then, I remembered something that I read in a recent devotion about how we can make swift judgments about a person, simply by their appearance and that WE ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN!   As Christians, we are commanded to treat those we come in contact with as Jesus would!!  As I emerged myself deeper into the water, I looked him in the eye and gave a nod and said, “Hello”, he acknowledged my presence and nodded back.

I went to a spot at the opposite end of the whirlpool and took advantage of the warm bubbly water that seemed to immediately speak to my aching joints and center my thoughts on peace and tranquility.  After relaxing for a short period of time and deciding it was time for me to make my exit, I made eye contact with the gentleman again and said, “Take care of yourself!” I then silently excused myself and headed out to change my clothes.  I don’t really remember hearing him say anything, but he did acknowledge my departure with a nod.  On the drive home, I couldn’t help but to think about my encounter in the whirlpool.  How many times had I, being an African American woman, been judged and shied away from, simply because of the color of my skin??

 What a shame it would be if God turned away from us due to our appearance! What if he decided that we weren’t worth blessing, touching, healing or simply denied us the pleasure of hearing his still quiet voice that comforts us and tells us that if we just have a small amount of faith,everything will be alright.  I am thankful for those few moments in the whirlpool, because they reminded me that my job as a Christian is to reserve judgment on those who may look or appear different from myself.  We are to take the time to share a look, a smile or a kind word with the people that God places in our path. I don’t know if it meant anything to that gentleman, but I know that for the rest of my life, I will strive to follow God’s desire as stated in Matthew 7:12.  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  –KJV

Thank you God for the Daily Lessons that you provide.    Thank you for the opportunity to be an example of your unconditional love and to prayerfully be a blessing to others.

                               



This poem was written in 2011
It is very special to me because of the way it was delivered to me.  It was midnight and I had been up working on a few poems and decided to turn in for the night.  I put everything away and turned out the light.  When I closed my eyes, I saw the word FEAR as if it were on a theater marquee!  I sat straight up in the bed and quietly whispered, "am I supposed to write about fear?"  Well, what you see below was completed before noon the next day!!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

                              
                       FEAR


FEAR IS SHEER INTIMIDATION SATAN DEVISES IN HIS PLAN.
HE DESIRES TO KILL AND TO DESTROY,
THE SPRITUAL GROWTH OF EVERY MAN.

FEAR CAN PARALYZE AND CRIPPLE,
MAKE THE STRONGEST PERSON WEAK.
CAUSE CONFUSION AND RESENTMENT,
IN THE HUMBLE AND THE MEEK.

FEAR CAN SPIRAL INTO DEPRESSION,
CAUSE A LARGE AMOUNT OF DOUBT.
SEND US DEEP INTO A PLACE SO DARK,
WE CAN’T SEE OUR WAY OUT.

BUT GOD IS OUR REDEEMER,
HE COMES QUICKLY AND WITH LOVE,
HE OFFERS US SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE ABOVE.

WHEN WE CALL ON GOD FOR COMFORT,
HE WILL ANSWER EVERY PRAYER.
HE WILL NEVER, EVER LEAD YOU,
FROM HIS TENDER LOVING CARE.

GOD HAS PLANS TO GUIDE AND BLESS YOU,
REMOVING FEAR WITHIN YOUR MIND.
HE WILL DO IT IN A LOVING WAY,
THAT IS GENTLE AND IS KIND.

PLEASE TRUST GOD TO BE YOUR REFUGE,
REMOVING FEAR ALONG THE WAY.
KEEP GOD CLOSE IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR MIND,
LEARN THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAY.

Copyright © 2012 Debora Grandison. All rights reserved.

                  THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING!!

WE ALL APPRECIATE RECEIVING GREAT GIFTS; FROM BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDINGS TO ANNIVERSARIES AND GRADUATIONS, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE GIFTS GOES ON AND ON. MANY OF THE GIFTS THAT WE GET, WE CHERISH AND ENJOY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.  WE OFTEN MAKE PROVISIONS FOR VALUABLE GIFTS WE RECEIVE, TO BE PASSED ON TO THOSE WE LOVE FOR THEIR CONTINUED ENJOYMENT.  SOME GIFTS  WE RECEIVE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE RIGHT AWAY AS A  GESTURE OF KINDNESS, BUT IF WE REALLY DON’T HAVE A NEED FOR THE ITEM OR SIMPLY DON’T CARE FOR IT, WE FIND A WAY TO DISPOSE OF IT THROUGH REGIFTING OR JUST BY SIMPLY THROWING IT AWAY!  

 BUT HOW DO WE VIEW THE GIFTS THAT GOD CREATED WITHIN US AT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE? THOSE GIFTS ARE OFTEN LABELED AS TALENTS, QUALITIES AND ABILITIES!  OTHERS MAY VIEW OUR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS AND STAND IN EITHER AWE OR ENVY AT WHAT RADIATES WITHIN US.  IT IS GREAT WHEN PEOPLE CAN SEE POSITIVE POTENTIAL ILLUMINATING FROM OUR BEING, BUT IT IS MOST BENEFICIAL WHEN YOU YOURSELF RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE ATTRIBUTES ARE TRULY GIFTS FROM GOD.  HE CREATED YOU WITH THE PURPOSE OF LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND TO USE THOSE QUALITIES TO BLESS THOSE AROUND YOU.   HE DESIRES FOR YOU TO BE A POWERFUL EXAMPLE  FOR OTHERS BY USING THOSE GIFTS TO GLORIFY HIM!  

SOME PEOPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO REACH CELEBRITY STATUS, USE THEIR GIFTS TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN AGENDA.  THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY GOT WHERE THEY ARE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIQUE QUALITIES AND PERSONAL CREATIVITY. GOD GAVE THOSE PEOPLE ABILITIES THAT WOULD ELEVATE THEM HIGHER THAN THEY COULD EVER IMAGINE AND PLACED THEM IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MANY WILL ONLY DREAM ABOUT OBTAINING.  RECOGNIZING OUR TALENTS AND ABILITES AS GIFTS FROM GOD IS AN IMPORTANT STEP BECAUSE WHEN WE ACCEPT THESE ATTRIBUTES AS GIFTS FROM GOD, WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN US TO USE OUR GIFTS TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS AND BRING THEM TO THE FOLD.

WHEN OTHERS SEE US UTILIZING THE GIFTS WE WERE BLESSED WITH, PRAYERFULLY THEY WILL SEE THE PURPOSE IN THEIR OWN GIFTS AND WILL HAVE THE DESIRE TO USE THEM IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD.  THIS CONTINUOUS RECOGNITION AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE WILL CREATE A CYCLE THAT WILL MAGNIFY HIM AND ENCOURAGE HIS CHILDREN TO SEEK HIM IN ALL THINGS!! WHEN WE PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD, WE ARE GIVING HIM THE DESIRES OF HIS HEART.  WE ARE GIVING HIM THE GIFT OF OUR LOVE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO LIVE LIFE IN THE WAY THAT HE CREATED US TO LIVE WHILE HERE ON EARTH. PLEASE DON'T SET ASIDE THE GIFTS YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN AND DON'T TAKE YOUR GIFTS FOR GRANTED! APPRECIATE THE GIFTS THAT WERE HAND-PICKED ESPECIALLY FOR YOU AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE, ILLUMINATING YOUR GIFTS FOR OTHERS TO SEE. USING YOUR GIFTS ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE BUILDS HOPE IN OTHERS AND CREATES A NEVER-ENDING CYCLE OF GIFT GIVING THAT TRULY HONORS AND GLORIFIES GOD!!

JAMES 1:17  EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMES DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHADOW OF TURNING.

  THE BEST GIFT EVER!!

ARE YOU PREPARED TO RECEIVE THE MOST PRICELESS AND PRECIOUS GIFT EVER GIVEN?  YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS TO RECEIVE IT;   IT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU YEAR ROUND!!

Christmas is right around the corner and the hustle and bustle of excitement has filled the air!  People are searching for that extra-special gift; the one that will earn an even bigger squeal of excitement than ones given in the past.  Christmas melodies serenade frenzied shoppers as they make their way through aisles and aisles of alleged discounts.  Some people light from one store to another, feeling satisfied with their selections and having gratitude in their hearts because their buying mission has ended and they have taken care of everyone on their list.  Others forge on with the feeling of dread, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time, imagination, energy or money to complete the task of Christmas giving!  

Christmas has the ability to bring out both the best and the worst in people.  Many are tremendously excited about the sights and sounds that this time of year brings; others grimace at thoughts of “holiday cheer”while fighting their way through Decked Halls and Jingle Bells!  The range of emotions that people exhibit can be extreme in both instances. The true meaning of Christmas seems to have fallen somewhere between the snowflakes and the mistletoe.  

One very special night, a child was born in a very unassuming place; a manger.  That child was born unto parents that struggled to understand his initial existence.  From the moment of his birth, he was recognized to be the Messiah; the one who had the ability to deliver a world filled with suffering and strife, the message of hope, love, peace and joy.  A lot is owed to this child and December 25th has been set aside to celebrate and honor his birth.  The day is recognized as an opportunity to give and receive gifts from friends and loved ones and also provides the chance to travel near and far to spend time with those who mean the most in our lives. Both of these things are very special privileges, but the most significant gift that we are blessed to receive is the gift of eternal life.  That gift comes from the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He traveled the earth, preaching and teaching about the love of his Heavenly Father; he healed the sick, raised the dead and gave his life for our sins, so that we may have everlasting life.  MY….WHAT AN AMAZING AND VALUABLE GIFT THAT IS!!  

On Christmas day, after opening your gifts, enjoying family and friends and eating all the goodies that you can possibly hold; please remember to say a prayer of thanks and give praise for the birth of a child who gave his all…..FOR THAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS!!

IS GOD THE CAPTAIN OR CO-CAPTAIN OF YOUR VESSEL?

When we were born, a plan and a purpose for our lives had already been implemented. God designed a specific journey for each one of us to embark upon. The Bible teaches us that God has a plan for our life and we are to be obedient and follow HIS instruction. So why do we still attempt to take over the controls? We were not created to maneuver efficiently through the storms and fires that will inevitably confront us on the trip. When we take the driver's seat, we also have to take on the responsibility of managing the crashes and turnovers that occur along the journey. We often struggle with keeping the proper speed along the path and we end up going too fast and missing our destination. We may also find ourselves slowing down and allowing other people and opportunities to pass us by. Sometimes we weave in and out of lanes; nearly missing people who have no idea that we too are on a mission and that our lack of focus could not only delay, debilitate or completely destroy our lives, but the lives of others as well. God is always with us, no matter what our destination is. HE protects us from all kinds of circumstances; those we are aware of and others that we aren’t. Trust and allow God to take complete control of your life. When life seems to take a wrong turn and head us towards an undesirable location; we tend to believe that God has left us out there to fend for ourselves, that HE has forsaken us. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!! God allows us to experience some road blocks for our own good. HE helps us recognize that He is there to guide us every step of the way. HE strengthens and prepares us to endure the spiritual struggles that may come our way. Depend on God to fight your battles, be still when necessary and hear HIS voice when HE guides you on the path of righteousness. Pray daily for the directional road signs that He has already written up and mapped out for you to follow that will lead you to victory. Knowing that God created the Heavens, the Earth and ALL things, we should never doubt HIS ability to guide us through the circumstances and situations that cross our path. We should always rely on HIM and know that HE should be in control of our lives. Trust God to take the wheel and HE will ALWAYS lead us to a joyful, blessed and peaceful eternal life.