Faith – During a Global Pandemic

It will see you through! Especially times like we live in now!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Many times the doom, disparity, gloom, and darkness of the times we live in want to come in and take up space or even residency if allowed for too long.

Its up to ourself to fight the good fight of faith! Its a choice to choose hope, its a choice to choose joy, its a choice to keep the faith!

I recall being told numerous times from those further down the spiritual path then I to, take time to reflect on all the good God has done, look at all the answered prayers and allow that to build your faith, becoming the substance that is needed to see what is hoped for manifest!

“be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Every time the darkness wants to come like a blanket of false comfort, I have to be aware to fight to renew my mind. Thats where we win or loose it all begins in the mind. I have to take up my sword of the Word of God and pull from Gods strength.

“for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I have a proclivity to not deal with things timely at times. The slip by and build and build and build until one day I am so over taken by it all, that I either crash or explode. Neither one when they happen are pretty. In the last few months I have been working on dealing with things before they get out of hand. Learning to pay attention to what I am thinking so I can take the wrong thoughts captive and sort them out sooner.

“for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4-5‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Its up to me and only me to deal with my thoughts. For what I think on so I become. This is by far easier said then done. It is a job to watch your mind. But, if that is the way to continue to keep changing, then I must be committed to the work to see it through. For faith without works is dead, just as work without faith is dead. Both of those have to been alive on the scene.

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23:7‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! I hope that it encourages you and inspires you to keep the faith, do what you can to change, and continue to seek God! This blog has derived teachings I have received under the Pastoralship of Juanita Gibbs.

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🌺Cynthia🌺

Gladness of Heart

Seeking God’s will for your life brings gladness of heart.

In coming to Reformation Developmental Center that is Pastored by Juanita Gibbs (read her blog post from today) that I stepped into God’s will for my life.

The reason I know I am in God’s will where I am at is because growth is happening, cultivation of gifts has been occuring, purpose has come forth and an overwhelming sense of fulfillment has come within.

Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
1 Chronicles 16:10 NASB

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one day I would be truly and completley happy in my life. I had spent so much of it being negative and looking at things from that perspective dampened every outlook I had.

To work with the children at church as an ordained Youth Teacher, to blog 4 to 5 days a week, work on projects that have kingdom impact. Write a book (of which I am still writing) and have two more potential books to write. Being part of a family of God that loves, accepts and helps me continue to grow.

These things came only by seeking the Lord and asking Him where did He want me to be. My soul had done made the choice 2x before and the tenure with those ended and to much pain I have to say.

The gladness of heart has only come by seeking God for what His will for my life was to be, and its been a joyous thing ever since.

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~Cynthia 😍

By Faith…

Cleansing the Heart

Ever have those times when it seems like nothing good is coming from you?Maybe your not like that and have to problems like I do, its a blessing if you don’t.

Its like days start bad and progressively get worser and worser and thus changing my entire disposition from what was once ok, to not so pleasant, to down right intolerable.

Its at the end of it all and there seems to be no way to clean it up or go back to the beginning and start over. Its like wanting to go in and deep clean but looking at the desbrie and not even knowing where to begin to clean up.

I just stand there looking at the mess that I made and having to decide one of two things. Clean up or turn around and leave it for another day. I choose to clean if its not but starting where I stand and begin to work my way through the murk and mire of a mess that is within my heart at times.

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:8‭-‬9 NASB

The clutter that conjested my heart was from not guarding like I was suppose to. Gods word tells us to guard our heart with all diligence for from it flows the issues of life.

What flowed from me revealed to any hearer I have issues of life that need to be cast upon the Lord and not harbored inside. Somethings, I admit I expend too much of myself giving time and energy in vain.

By faith in Jesus He is the extra cleaning step within my heart. To keep his word at heart is to keep it free from clutter. Why else would He proclaim to take His yoke upon me and learn of Him…

He wants me to walk in things like He did. He walked in the fruit of the spirit and in full knowing of who he was as a person in the deity of his royal priesthood, as well as, still not allowing the troubles and cares of the world to hold him back or down.

Cleansing our hearts not only cleans up our own life, but it will begin to also help cleanse those around you slowly as they see your transformation.

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~Cynthia 😍

Heart of Faith

May God find my heart faithful!

Having faith and steadfast faith at that can be tough at times. Well it is fo me atleast I will say.

Life comes and it delivers a blow that seems to knock you off course. Then after the initial impact subsides you find your self far off course and having to work your way back.

I do think for me this is why God wants me firmly anchored in Hin better. As well as, being trained in being more prudent as a woman of God.

Pastor Juanita Gibbs has lovingly taken me under wing to help develop my prudence and develop me as a woman of God in the faith. Believe me it has been much needed in my life.

She teaches us that our words reflect what is in our hearts. My heart for far too long has been full of doubt, negativity, unbelief, worry, anxiety to the point that my words created the world I want now to break free from.

That can only happen by changing my thoughts to effect my heart so that my words can create a new and better life for me.

“You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite- To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, For You are righteous. Nehemiah 9:8 NASB

By working on changing my heart condtion by changing how I think and thus what comes from my mouth can then be found within me a heart of faith. Having a heart of faith is what pleases God and opens the door for God to fulfill His promises.

It takes work going from a Heart of Unbelief to a Heart of Faith. Its been a slow progression but God has shown Himself mighty in my life. For that and all He has done, is doing, and about to do in my life I am thankful for God and His unconditional love, mercy and grace unto me.

He will fulfill every word spoken for it went out for a set purpose and it will accomplish what it will and not return void. In between seed time and harvest time is the time for me to grow my faith, develop in fruit, and grow in prudence.

~Cynthia 😍

Steafast Confession 🗣

Life and Death are in the tongue!

(Blog inspired by Pastor Juanita Gibbs Wednesday Night Teleclass)

I dove into her teaching of Wednesday night it was so very powerful. I am glad I got to record it so I can keep renewed in that message. She spoke on the word of God being seeds.

Gods word is supreme, it has great power, and cannot end. The more we use His word in our daily language how much more can we shift our life around.

She teaches us about what we think and what we say reveals our heart and those things make the world we live in. She often quotes the change your mind change your life in relation to this.

When we shift our mind and let it infiltrate our heart, from the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak thus creating newness.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:23 NASB

The more I begin to confess the word of God as my confession of hope(faith) it can implant into my soul from what my spirit already houses. It takes time and much practice. She says:

Reptition is the mother of success!

-Juanita Gibbs

Its very true the more and more you do somthing it begins to change everything. The more I consciously discard negativity and choose positivity the choices to choose good words of life begin to become more aware of the negative death talk words.

This is pulling on those promise seeds of God and keeping them watered and in son light to grow in good soil as it is renewed in good things over the old bad that the soil use to contain.

Lets hold fast to a new confession. The confession of faith(hope).

~Cynthia 😍

They know the right buttons to push!

Weaknesses are targets!

Without faith how can I protect myself against attacks on my weaknesses.

Weaknesses are those vulnerable places that some can easily spot or they get close enough that they study you out to know just where your weak.

Those are in my opinion the folks that you have to guard against. In my youth I was open to way to many folks! My trust has been broken so many times it has damaged me from even good that God sends. I didn’t know then what I have been taught by my Pastor Juanita Gibbs that I need to know a person by their fruit they bare in life over what they say!

She forever teaches us to listen beyond mere word to hear the heart. She has wonderfully taught that they may say they are with you but in thier heart far from you. Scarry but true so many have said you need me just say and I will be there. When in reality was in their heart: I hope they don’t call cause my life is too busy to help. But, to look like a good person I offered my assistance.

This can be very hurtful and painful when it is a continual repeat thing in a persons life. Well, it has been for me. When if true, genuine love amd compassion for a person is on the scene then it would help without being asked. It would go above and beyond with never being told.

When this has done damage to a soul that creates an inner weak point in a person that can easily be manipulated or exploited for self benefit and gain.

As Pastor so wonderfully taught last night to us is that it is our individual jobs to guard our heart/soul. So to say that is to say my lack of knowledge of the word of God didnt properly arm me for the battle of life. I knowingly opened myself up to people and things before coming to Reformation Developmental Center.

Those things prior coming into the knowledge of the word of God was of my own doing and to my own demise. Had I not allowed certain things the hurt, wounds, pain in my soul may not have been such as they have been.

Time and healing and the proper teaching had to be on the scene of my life to help me to begin to grow and mature.

Is it the fault of the other person that they exploited any weaknesses with in me?

No!

Its mine because I was wide open to allow the pain to come in!

They have their own amount of responsibility to own and that rests with them. As for me, I must learn from each encounter and grow to limit those things from happening any longer.

A properly guarded life is a life to be lived in the comfort that the spirit of God within will alert yoi as to who you can and cannot trust in this life if you allow him to do so!

~Love Life~Live Life~ 😍

~Cynthia 😉

Foundational Relationships

God given bonds of connection make the world of difference in a life!

All it takes is one God given person to change the entire outlook. All it takes is one to help heal wounds from broken relationships of the past. All it takes is one being used and filled with the Holy spirit that is able to walk unconditionally with you to encourage you on to the next phase.

Have I or am I that friend?

No not yet, but I am striving toward such as things become aware to me that need to grow or develop in.

Is it easy? It can be by not overthinking, stressing or getting all anxious which only causes paralyzation of oneself.

Depending on many factors its within us only that we make changes easy or hard. Pastor taught us sunday in a section of time about “be still” (Psalm 46:10). Beautifully ellaborated we are to be still in our inner processes of thinking. Not being still in the natural as in unmoving. No!

Her teaching and her leadership of me has been that one connection/relationship that I needed in my lofe to begin to turn my life around, grow out of things to begin to mature and able to handle better what life throws out at us and what we get from choices we make.

When someone takes set apart time to pour into you truth, wisdom and be loving and accepting of you then that is a treasured gift that only God could give.

Do you have someone like that in your life?

If not pray to God he send you someone. If you do thank God for what He gave you and ask Him like I am doing to help you to be a better friend in turn. Relationships/Friendships/Godly connectiond help us enjoy life.

~Love Life~Live Life~ 😍

~Cynthia 😉

Now that I have asked, now prepare!

We are to prepare for what we pray for!

In my time as it has been if singlehood it has provided me time to pray and seek the Lord and its a great time to spend with my Savior. Developing that true and lasting relationship with communication and worshipping his majesty, thanking him for his goodness, grace and mercy in thanksgiving. To study and delve into his guide book for all things concerning life to navigate the path here on the earth.

In times past though I hated continuing to remain single. It was as if my mind decided to name it a plague or something. But when God got hold of me through my wonderful Pastor Juanita Gibbs to show me in reality it is a blessing and a prepatory time was revolutuonary for me. It held begin to reshape my thinking on the whole thing.

Later, as time has gone on she has helped me tackle some wring stronhild thinking that I have had about it and to begin to bring healing to places from damage in my soul from my past, how I have lived this life that seriously needed attention as I had tried for so long to put a man in those places and always ended up hurt and the more empty due to the contents of my soul.

Her book up above(which can be purchased on Amazon) has helped me have a paradigm shift to loose fear, doubt and worry and begin to have faith, hope and trust in God that in time He provides whats needed. Where I had thought it may just bot happen for me and that thought is not in line with the word of God. So it is to he captured when comes and cast down (2 Corin 10:4-5).

Freedom from old stuff is a process and it takes time. As to why the word of God is the best guide book to have in this life as it touches all subjects including relationships. Her book has helped me begin to shift my mind and see myself as a winner in the faith and trust in God and His timing.

These books below are others that I have read in time past before going to the church that has so wonderfully aided me in my life far more than theae books as my lraders know me and my battles and issues as they have taught the best knowledge is your own personal experiance and gaining wisdom from those who know you personally to help naviagte the journey.

In no particular order:

This book is great for understand yourself and how you commincate in showing/displaying love to those in your life.

This book mainly focuses on enjoying single life! I passed my copy on to encourage other single sisters, but God replaced the copy when He sent me a leader in my Pastor who tells me the same thing. Enjoy, live, focus on God, walk in my purpose and his will. She is my book of wisdom since the others fully cannot relate to me as she can relate me to my story and prepare me.

This book was pretty much a reinforcement to my Pastors councel to trust God. As this spoke about divine timing and God doing the work to bring about His will and plans for my life.

This book expounded on Ruths story. She focused on her purpose with Noami and Boaz found her. Our bishop has spoke on her story in times to wait to be found by him as we are about our Fathers business. To stop falling for the words of a Bozo (lol) but wait while God works. Wait patiently with good attitude.

This book also reinforced the concept of time and touched on boundaries and enlightened that if you have things going on in your life you may not need to be in a relationship where we need wait and get healing first just as my Pastor focuses on with us. Heal the inner and if its Gods will He will bring things to pass.

This one is a premartial counceling book. That focuses on reflecting marriage as marriage of christ and the church as to which that is what earthly union should reflect when 2 born again believers come together.

This book opened up more the concept from the prior book, but showed more the difficulty and challenges in union on one flesh. As my pastor has taught us that 2 becoming one is an undertaking of understanding, forgiveness, and unconditional love to not quit when things get hard, but to keep at it.

This one I have not read, but I have read the book Boundaries just not this targeted area. But my Pastor has been instilling in me boundaries are very important in all kinds of relationships.

I so love my church Reformation Developmental Center where they speak on practical wisdom tips as well as full depth of the word of God to bring us insight into all things in this life.

~Love Life~Live Life~😍

~Cynthia 😉

Waiting Power

There is power found in waiting which brings about growth!

There is one things to say that when your single and you desire a relationship that God will test your heart and find out where He stand with you all the while still promising things unseen.

Well He has with me anyway. Just like the children of Isreal when he took them from bondage of slavery to the egyptians and into the wilderness. He said to them worship me the one true God who removed you from captivity and is taking you to a land flowing with milk and honey.

What happens next after they were saved by God and given the promise, the test. Where they will gonna worship God for all he had just done or worship the promise. He put them in the wilderness to find they worshipped the promise of land with milk and honey over him so they grumbled and complained. An eleven day journey took 40 years.

Its the same way today with some of us, but I will focus on myself mainly. I was saved by grace given new spiritual life, I was saved by mercy and given new life in the natural, he set me free and gave promise and now in the wilderness I have seen where I worshipped the promise over the God who saved me. He has(is) tested(ing) my heart.

I have added on time to my journey by not being patient and going by what the world says over allowing my process to happen. The wilderness reveals who we really are my Pastor just brought out to us not long ago.

And boy oh boy my wilderness has showed me that I have got perspective in error. My perspective was worship Gods hand and the promise.

I am after all a child of God right and He will come through for me! That statement is loaded with pride as if God owed me something when in reality I owe God my life and service.

The power in my waiting is allowing my process to happen, growing me in areas that need to be developed in before the promise. To cause my spiritual walk to be stronger, my soul to not rule my every move but be under subjection to the word of God. To understand God wants me to keep him first in my life and to love him with all of myself as he loves me so eternally and uncondtionally.

The power of my wait is not attaining the promise but to be the best woman of God for Him and His glory until such time He sends someone to walk the journey of faith with me. There is fullness and completeness in God that satisfies like nothing else so even if the promise doesn’t come I have a great and perfect love with God and Jesus and the Holy spirit.

~Love Life~Live Life~ 😍

~Cynthia 😉

Delight

Take delight and joy in the love of God in my season of singleness!

To be honest I conformed to the world and listen to what its message was in regards to singleness. That if your of a certain age and still single you better get out there and make some moves or you may remain single.

I chased men, asked them out, built friendships in motive of looking to fulfill my longings to remove the singleness status and conform to this world.

You know what happened with them all? They all ended in disaster and heartbreak on my part. The motives I had in it was all wrong.

When God intervened in a huge blessing type way to remove the last one it removed distraction and He could begin to work on me and why I kept conforming to the world.

He began to show me those issues I have blogged about already and the latest he has shown me was that I back burnered the Love of God for the Love of Men.

God is a jealous God!

He saw I put that man up as an idol and made him a God in my view. Cause as my Pastor told me if they were not made a God in my view then when they left I would not have felt empty and like I couldn’t go on with life.

He is showing me that I forsook my first love for another and that is in error on my part.

Repentance and genuine heartfelt broken repentance has come to say God I am so sorry I replaced you for another.

God knows that if this goes undealt with I will keep repeating the same pattern of putting another above Him. He proclaims over and over seek me first and don’t forsake your 1st love. This is Gods order of things.

Listening to the world I bypassed His instruction and listen to the wrong directions that lead to distruction. These cycles and issues require me to do some work within to keep from going down those same roads.

Taking my delight in His love for me. Thanking Him for the God given people he has given me. Praising him for the Godly leadership that is before me to help me to see my inner issues and begin to mature me in those areas as a believer and conforming to Gods way and shedding the worlds way.

God is my portion! He sent a man to die for me when I didn’t deserve it to forgive my sins. He unconditionally loves me even when I fail like a good father he helps me get up and try again.

Allowing that love to fill me up so I can show it to others is what He is about. Love is the greatest command. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love is Patient, kind, gentle, unboasting, and confident in the eternalness of His love when human love has its limits.

When God see’s I am firm in Him and his love and that he keeps proper place of first in time he will send a man after Gods heart. He will do it, not me! That was the missing component, I moved ahead of God.

So, for now yes my season of singleness has purpose and that is taking delight in whom God is and that is a loving Father and learning who I am deeply on the inside and loving me! Love is taken in with self first and filled up then overflow comes as love grows.

~Love Life~Live Life~ 😍

~Cynthia 😉