We believe, some of the richest, fullest, and most fruitful


 lives are those lives that have been in the crucible of


 testing and tribulation.

The dark and painful seasons we journey through in life 


can refine our faith and hold vital teachable moments for 


those of us who are directly involved. The most painful 


events always seem to contain hidden blessings. 



In many instances, experiencing and persevering through 


extremely challenging seasons can stretch and build us, 


become valuable insights, open doors, develop godly 


character, help others, and answer prayers. 



Many of the hardships, heart-breaks and troubling days


 have become the impetus for us to pour our hearts 


out to God, trust God more, and humbly recognize how


much we truly need God in our lives.



Jesus cautioned us in John 16:33, that


"In this world we will have


 tribulations".



Jesus has made it clear that following Him 


can lead to persecution. 


John 16:1-4



"Into each life a little rain must fall". None of us 


will navigate our way through life without facing 


occasional difficulties. Some of our seasons will


 be stormier than others. Trust, God never


promised us a storm-free existence. 



Uncertainties, unchartered waters, and tribulations


 will find us, they are inescapable, but our trials and 


tribulations will never take God by surprise. In the 


middle of the storm, God is still in control working 


all things together for our good. 



Nothing can happen without God knowing it. 


When God allows suffering... He has a purpose


 for the suffering. Everything that happens has


 a divine purpose. 



Most of us know all too well what it is like to be 


thrown into confusing, tempest tossed troubled. 


Some may know a thing or two about those fully 


developed life threatening hurricanes and tornados. 


Sometimes we suffer because of our own mistakes. 


We may follow the wrong voice or do our will... 


instead of God's Will. With ill advice and hasty, 


self-driven feet, ofttimes, we miss the way.



"Trust in the Lord with all our heart; we are not to 


depend on our own understanding. Seek God's Will 


in all we do, and God will show us which path 


to take."


Proverbs 3:5-6



When our arms are weary and our souls are 


battered, when storm clouds are on the


 horizon, when the winds are howling and the 


flood waters are rising... even in the muck and 


mire and what appears to be insurmountable


tribulations... we can experience God's peace. 




God is closer than our thoughts... always present 


and providing. God is greater than any storm we face. 


God is bigger than all our fears. God is able to still 


all of our storms and do immeasurably more than 


we can ask or imagine. 



We cannot control the outcome of life's storms, 


but we can trust the One who controls our


 entire existence and has all authority in heaven 


and on earth. 



We can confidently trust God to work


 out "His Will." God can use the storms in life as 


classrooms which can cultivate our spiritual 


advancement. 



 When it seems like God is breaking us, God is 


always building us, refining us and working all 


things together for our ultimate good. Even in 


the midst of life's storms... God is molding, shaping 


and doing many great things we cannot always see. 



In times of trouble, if our eyes are fixed toward


 the world... we will run in a worldly direction


 seeking help. Comfort and safety does not come


 through the power of the flesh. When life becomes 


stormy, let us trust and find solace in these simple, 


yet profound words of comfort from Jesus;


"Fear not, I am with you."



God is attentive to our every need. We believe, God has 


a higher purpose and reward behind every problem, 


and God is masterful enough to divinely orchestrate all 


of our trials and tribulations so they can strip away all 


of the worldly things we were relying on... and 


ultimately draw us towards being the people He


 desires for us to be. God will use any circumstance to 


fulfill His purpose.



Trials develop godly character, and that enables us to 


rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering 


produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and 


character, hope.


Romans 5:3



Whether we have traveled safely through the storm 


or we find ourselves still in the midst of a violent 


storm... we can take heart knowing... as God's


 children, we will never need to fear abandonment. 


There is never a moment when God is not present.



Isaiah 43:2 reminds us, 


 "When we pass through the waters, God will be with


 us; and when we pass through the rivers, they will 


not sweep over us. When we walk through the fire, we 


will not be burned, the flames will not set us ablaze". 



No matter how fierce the storms are... or have been, we 


can look back over those difficult times and see that, 


even if we were faithless, the faithful handprint of the 


Master Artist has been all over our lives doing


 miraculous things that we could never have 


accomplished on our own. 



Whatever we are facing, no matter what our 


circumstances may be... the answer to preventing, 


overcoming and/or eliminating our difficult 


circumstances is turning to God.


God is Greater than any situation


 we will ever face.



We are empowered by God's grace. Through the


 grace of God, a gift we do not deserve, we can be 


helped in every way we need help.

 

"God's grace and power is made 


perfect in our weakness."

 

2 Corinthians 12:9



Everything from God is by His grace. Our ability and


 strength comes from the One Who can do all things. 


We all have, more likely than not, seen many miracles 


where we knew it was only God Who could have done this.


Every good and perfect gift is from God.



We believe, as we bear our crosses in life and go 


through the classrooms of affliction, we are witnessing 


and learning powerful and purposeful life lessons which


 will not only help us, but can enter the hearts of others.



As we continue to navigate through our challenges 

and tragedies, we pray that we will not neglect or

 gloss over the greater gifts inherent in our wounds. 

We wholeheartedly believe, God uses the most 

painful wounds and tumultuous storms for our 

good, and whatever brings us closer to God is 

our greatest blessing and inspiration. 



Throughout the years, the avenues of our interests 


have grown and changed. It's amazing what God can 


inspire us to do when we allow God to move in and 


through us. 



With God as our Guide, we are able to explore new 


territory and break new ground. We know that as


 long as God is in the forefront of all of our affairs


 and we are standing in the power of God... nothing


 will overcome us. Whatever it is... we can get 


through it.


God doesn't promise us a life of joy. Instead, God promises


 us a life of finding joy in all circumstances.



We know that being a believer in God does not give us 


immunity from life's fiery trials, tribulations, valleys, 


conflicts, storms or adversities. 



We believe, trials, tribulations and adversities invite us to 


build our physical and Spiritual endurance, and above all


 else, we experience the power of God. 



There are no coincidences in life; God has a divine 


purpose for allowing and arranging hardships in our 


lives. Contrary to popular thinking, the crucible of 


testing could prompt us to cry out to God, rely more


 on God, and ask not, what is our purpose, but what is 


God's purpose for our life? 


However vital our choices seem, and however 


fervently our ambitions burn, God decides our 


vocation. We believe, God purposely and 


uniquely created each of us to express His 


character and glory in a way that no one 


else could.



Amid the spiritual training God can steer and 


signal us to reevaluate our priorities, they can 


shape us, point out our weaknesses, correct us,


 reveal and expose those who want to get or to 


give, they redirect us, and make us spiritually 


stronger and wiser. 



Tough situations can be a means through which


 God works to accomplish His will in our lives. 


It is not to rob us of our peace. It is not God's


 purpose to knock us down, but to raise us to a


 higher level of Spiritual maturity. 



In many cases... we can more readily discern,


 push through and embrace God's purposes 


during those difficult, "back against the wall," 


encounters of our lives. 



Scripture reminds us, "When our faith is 


tested our endurance has a chance to grow."


We believe, the trials and tribulations God allows 


in our lives... are part of  "Working all things 


together for good." "God's strength is made 


perfect in our weakness."



"We are God's workmanship,"


created in Christ Jesus for good works,


which God prepared beforehand, that we 


should walk in them."


Ephesians 2:10 



God has nothing but our best interests at heart.


If we do not become weary in doing good, if 


we faithfully persevere and patiently endure 


testing... our seasons of trials and tribulations 


can reveal Whom and what we love most, and


we can function the way we were intended to 


function; as thinking, reasoning, living beings


pursuing life for the glory of God and doing


the good things God calls us to do... for the 


good of the world, and for the sake of 


God's glory.


There are valuable results of going through 


God's seminary of affliction. We see that 


God is good, and everything God does is good.



No matter how much pain God providentially 


ordains... we must remember that God has a 


Kingdom view, a Master plan and a Divine 


purpose for arranging or allowing adversity. 



God has assigned and made each of us with 


a purpose... to do good works. God began the


 good work and will continue to work in... and


 through us... slowly forming us and finishing 


the transformational work He has begun in us. 


God will not leave us where we are. God will 


keep molding us until His work within us is 


finished. 



Trials and tribulations may bring pain, but it is


 not an end in itself. Trials and tribulations 


leave the essence of what we really are and 


clarifies what we were called to do and be. We 


learn to see the good that God intended and


 rejoice in God's design.



God calls us to be faithful, and to cling to 

His promises.
 

“But those who wait for the LORD shall


 renew their strength; they shall mount up with 


wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;


 they shall walk, and not faint.” 


Isaiah 40:31


Sometimes, the storms come to usher us into our next 


season. If we are doing our part, being patient 


and remaining faithful to the vision God has given us,


 God will continue working, often behind the 


scenes, restoring what was broken and bringing 


us out better... much better, stronger and wiser


 than we were before. 



God hasn’t brought us this far to let the accuser


 throw us under the bus! 


God knows what's best for us. 


"He Who began a good work, 


will we faithful to complete it!"


 Philippians 1:6


God started this, and God will finish it. 
This website is somewhat of an account of some of the most 

challenging years of adversities and hardships I have experienced, 

during my spiritual pilgrimage.

This website development was born, March 23, 2009, from a deep


cry within my spirit. I was going through an onslaught of troubles.


 I was wounded, hurt, betrayed and devastatingly shocked. 


These messages were born in prayer, 


bathed in tears and founded on the 


Word of God.

Many are inclined to see pain as a negative experience and will 


try to circumvent the pain as much as possible. Unfortunately, pain


is an inevitable consequence of life. 



When tempest tossed troubles, disappointments and despair 


eventually befall us, we can endure those tests and trials through 


God's grace. Scripture is very clear about our response: 


“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of 


God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”


I Thessalonians 5:18



Instead of despairing when we encounter trials, we are to glory 


in our weaknesses and be thankful... responding to trials... in the 


grace of God. In doing so, we will experience the power of God's 


Spirit. As God faithfully pours His grace and mercy upon us we 


will be better equipped to endure hardships and overcome the 


enemy in God's strength. Rather than complaining we can focus 


on the strengths we are realizing and the lessons we have learned 


and are learning.


God's goal through our trials is to strengthen our 


dependence on Him. 


God alone must become our Source of 


strength, provision, protection, and direction.


God uses tests and trials to develop our character. We believe, it is


important, when pain comes our way, to honor the experience. 


Scripture teaches us that there is always a God-given purpose within 


our suffering. The Scriptures remind us that God permits suffering 


because God has a purpose for suffering. God doesn't merely want 


to move us out of our suffering; the hard truth is... God wants to 


change us through our suffering. 



As painful as many of the hard knocks have been... I must admit, 


some of my most precious lessons learned... have been in the 


school of affliction. Many of those painful and perplexing


 difficulties were my greatest teachers. They taught me 


powerful life lessons I would not have learned


 any other way. 



While in the classroom and season of 


my pain I discovered blessings, 


growth, conviction, strength, and 


purpose. I became an honor student 


in the school of hard knocks and discovered, 


first hand, that God, in His infinite wisdom, 


is able to use even the most painful, difficult, 


heart-breaking suffering for good.



I have come to realize through many of these difficult experiences... 


that suffering can teach us important lessons. If we don't experience 


storms we don't grow. Our God appointed afflictions can prune us, 


stretch us and help us to die to "self" and grow up spiritually. 



Tragedies, sorrows, interrupted plans, mistakes, disappointments,


and "Rock bottom" can be blessings in disguise. It is when we 


reach the bottom of ourselves and are stretched so thin that we feel


 that we have no more fight left... that is when God will often 


open up the windows, doors and floodgates and pour into our 


lap His most precious blessings... 


"A good measure, pressed down, shaken together 


and running over." 


Luke 6:38 



Sometimes we will never truly realize that God is all we need... 


until God is all we have. The Scriptures teach us that the bottom is


 the place where we can truly experience God's provision. When we 


put our faith and trust in God it helps us to be more objective and 


consequently more thankful and alert to the reasons why God may 


have allowed the tests and trials to happen.



Many of the hurtful situations, I have gone through, have increased 


my hunger for God. They have also been great groomers and


 pruners for character building. 



I am grateful to have moved through... and now find myself in the 


position to witness the pain and the many disappointments giving


 way to, what I believe are, God's mighty appointments. 



The knowledge, observations, and up-close experiences have helped 


me to grow in my spiritual walk and equipped me with extremely 


meaningful and worthwhile life lessons that have been very 


eye-opening for me and could very well be beneficial to others.



Those painful experiences have become my spiritual work and


 service. They are helping me to grow. I'm learning and have 


learned many powerful lessons from these experiences and it has 


become a passion for me to share what... and 


Who I know.


Some of our virtual chapters, in this website, will touch on 


many of the trials and tribulations, by the grace of God, I have 


been blessed to pass through.


These meaningful and worthwhile experiences have and are 


richly educating and enriching my life. They have proven 


to be extremely useful and relatable to anyone who needs 


to be encourage. They have been a reminder of what is


 important in life, Who we should put our trust in, and 


Who we can always depend on.


Our main purpose for developing this website is to do all 

we can with what we have... in the time we have... in the 

place we have been planted. These commentaries are not

written in an effort, by any means, to place or present 

ourselves as the experts or as flawless individuals 

without faults or failures.



Having a heart for God 


does not equal human 


infallibility. 



There are times when we all regrettably do things and speak


 without thinking first, make bad judgement calls, and behave


 immaturely. In other words, none of us are incapable of making 


mistakes or being wrong.



We realize we are flawed and far from perfect. We certainly do 

not have a shortage of faults. We know that we have much more 

to learn, this is why, with great intentionality... we humbly remain 

teachable spirits and usable channels for greater works.

We believe, our contribution to the world is part of our challenge 


and is essential if we are to develop our talents and... 


pursue God's best for our lives.


God has moved the hearts of people throughout history to 


achieve His plans and purposes for each generation. God is


 able to use any of us to influence the aristocratic and kingly,


 the governors, the bureaucrats, dignitaries, the pauper and 


the working class to... 


work toward His purposes.


God chooses anyone He desires, regardless of their 


accomplishments, skills, or special experiences. We are fully


 aware that God does not necessarily call the equipped; but


 God equips the called.


God has a way of orchestrating a series of unlikely events that 


will work together for our good. God is well aware of what is 


going on behind the enemy lines and He knows exactly what it 


will take for us to become... 


His mighty warriors. 


God delights in taking what the eyes 


of the world may see as worthless, 


meaningless, insignificant, and


 unimportant to do the most 


extraordinary things!


The Scriptures can certainly back up 


our claims.

We believe, good goals are living breathing statements


of who we are becoming, and they should not be


 motionless, inflexible, fixed representations of what 


we may have once longed for.


We believe, well-timed, sincere and compassionate 


encouragement can have a powerfully positive impact in


 the lives of others. We believe, when the right thing is said


 at the right time... it could be much like vital life-giving


 and life-sustaining oxygen for the soul. 



We have come to realize, personally, just as we need


 physical food for physical strength, we need spiritual food


 for spiritual strength. This kind of "Soul food", the Word


 of God, awakens the soul and gives us the energy and


 grounding that we need to keep our lives on track.



God of all comfort comforts us in all our troubles so we


 may comfort others as God comforted us.


2 Corinthians 1:4

We passionately believe in the power 


of walking with God and valuing God's love 


and glory over our short-term gratification.

Our goal is not to secure applause and/or accolades. Applause 


and accolades, to flatter and stimulate the ego, 


are empty and fleeting. 



Our goal is to humbly remain


 driven to... 


do God's Will, 


to add to, build upon and improve 


the quality of life for others and 


ourselves... despite what we can or 


cannot see.

 


☆We know that all things in Heaven and 


on earth are under God's authority. 



☆We know that God has a purpose and


 plan for our lives, and God's plans for us


 are far superior to our ambitions. 



☆We know that God has a way of 


orchestrating a series of unlikely events 


that will work together for our good.



☆We know that God, Who breathed 


life into us, loves us enough to plan 


for our future.



☆We know that God has promised 


that if we will seek Him, we will find 


Him, and we will also discover 


His Will for our lives.



We are taught that if we 


“Seek God first, all the other things 


shall be added unto us.”


“As we keep on asking, we will receive what we ask for. 


Let us keep on seeking, and we will find. Keep on knocking, 


and the door 


will be opened to us. 


For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.


 And to everyone who knocks, the door


 will be opened”


  Matthew 7:7



☆We know that during times of testing God strengthens 


and builds our character and revives our soul with new 


insights and deeper 


revelations. 



God gives us wisdom, and fills us with joy, even in the


 midst of it all. And out of our greatest tests comes... 


our greatest testimonies!


☆We believe glorifying God begins with agreeing with 


everything God says, especially about Himself.


We know that God's thoughts and ways are not like ours. 


As we open our eyes to the incredible work God is doing 


around us, we are awed by His wonderful deeds and


 unfathomable kindness. 



God's marvelous ways have brought us to a humble 


recognition of the magnitude of His goodness, greatness,


 dominion, majesty, and might... all of which we are totally


 undeserving of. 



We trust God's ways completely.

To glorify God requires full commitment to God. 


In Colossians 3:23 we read, 


“Whatever you do, 


work at it with all your heart,



 as working for the Lord.” 


1Corinthians 10:31


“Do all to the glory of God.” 



We believe, to do all to the glory of God is the first


 principle of all godly life. 


The “Glory of God” means, in every area of 


life we carry out God's Will, honor God and 


serve God in all we do. 


We must strive for every thought, word and deed to... 


bring glory to God.


When we focus on God’s Word, we know what is right 


and can follow through with 


doing what is right.

We are endeavoring to positively and creatively sow inspirational 


seeds of goodness and serve as a source of Spiritual upliftment 


to help us all live a less fretful, a more fruitful, creative, and 


all-around improved life.

Some of the important and painful life lessons we are learning 

and have learned are being passed on to the next generation

 so they may avoid costly mistakes and have a deeper and 

better understanding of life.


Just as our ancestors generously passed-on pearls of wisdom


 to us... we are freely sowing seeds so that future generations


 may reap the vital life lessons we learned, as well as glean from 


the wisdom, perspectives, and happiness we have acquired 


throughout the years.


We pray the contents of this website will serve as a storehouse 


of encouragement and can be a fresh incentive for individuals 


to obtain strength, victory, a spiritually richer and more 


fulfilling life.



May the uplifting words equip and point readers back to their 


purpose and the path that they committed to before birth, and 


mostly... may these humble offerings equip and point others


to live a more awakened life by turning back to...


the Perfect One 



within us...



Who is Majestic, Perfectly Good, Just, Righteous, without 


Partiality, Faithful to His Promises, intimately aware of all


 of creation and...


 "Able to do exceedingly 


abundantly above all that 



we ask or think"...



simultaneously!

We know that we cannot open someone's 


heart to God's Truth, but God can.


💕