God said wait . . . .

So, God said . . . 

Now what?

Sometimes in this walk with God He tells us to wait. We often feel in that moment like that "loading circle" that's constantly revolving and we anticipate the moment when the period of waiting is over. We often shift our focus and expectations to the end of the waiting period, instead of seeking God about the reason why He told us to wait in the first place.

In my own seasons of waiting on God, I have come to understand that the "waiting" is most often not about the length of time, but it is purposeful for what God wants to get accomplished in our lives. For some of us it may be hard to come to the conclusion that we are still works in progress that are being perfected for God's use, but if we can ever settle this fact in our spirits, hearts, and minds then we will be better equipped to endure through the waiting periods.

God's waiting periods are always strategic.  When He gives us the command to wait, it is likely because there is something that He has to work in us to be ready for the next step or level in our journey with Him.  Maybe there are still some of our own selfish ways that He must work out of us, before we are ready to walk in the next level of anointing that He desires to place on our lives. Often there is some fine tuning that is required so that our ability to hear and trust Him is increased, before He gives the next instruction. Sometimes the greater purpose is for us to have a much needed period where we slow down and are purposeful about being in God's presence to deepen our relationships with Him.

Noticed I called this period of waiting a command.  When God says to wait, it isn't an option.  He isn't giving us the option to wait or to move forward. God's instructions for us to wait can also be associated with our protection. Maybe there is a direction that we thought we were being lead by God to take and it is really a trap set by the enemy to take our very lives. However, when we are obedient to the voice of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can avoid such pitfalls and have victory in every area of our lives.

I hope that this post encourages you to trust God not only for His promises, but also for the timing of those promises in your life.  If God said to WAIT, know it has a purpose and you will still get to the expected end and all the promises that God has spoken over your life, exactly when He desires for them to manifest for you.

I Can't See . . .

So here goes a real honest moment . . . . 



In this walk with God there are moments where I feel like, I can't see.  I can't see the path that God is taking me on and the directions that I'm given . . . well sometimes, they don't even make sense in the natural.  Fortunately for me, I've had enough experiences with God to know . . . that's exactly how He desires our relationship with Him to be.  


God does not like to be predictable in our lives.  He wants us to constantly be in a place of trusting Him.  He wants us to trust Him, even when we cannot see.  And as we progress and mature in our relationship with God, the level of trust and the things that God will require us to surrender to Him will change and even, at times, be more of a challenge.

There have been times in this walk with God that I've found myself having to surrender to God's will at the expense of my own desires and thoughts about what is "good" for me.  I've found myself having to prove through my desires, decisions, and actions in life that I truly trust God and the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life, even when it doesn't make sense in the natural. I've had to challenge myself to prove that at the end of the day, above all else . . . I trust God's leading in my life. I have to trust that God will guide me in the direction of what's not only "good" for my life, but what's "great, exceptional, and abundantly blessed" for my life.  I have to trust that God will work all things for my good, including even those things that are a challenge for me to give up or walk away from.  I have to trust God even if, at the onset, what I can see in the natural is completely opposite of looking like it is working for my good.

Spiritual growth and maturity is not an easy process, but it is necessary if we truly desire to deepen our relationship with God.  In this type of season, it will require more and more of a dying to one's self (i.e. desires, thoughts, feelings, etc.) in order to progress forward.  As we take this journey, the growth and maturity that we experience in our private lives will begin to spillover into our external ministries. Remember that with every step, God is with you and He will never leave you or lead you astray.  God has your back and knows where the path is that leads to your future. When it is all said and done . . . JUST TRUST GOD!

In the Mirror

Begin to love who you are and have confidence in whose you are. ~ RDP

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In light of Valentine's Day approaching this week, I thought it was a great opportunity to release this post that the Lord inspired me to write.  

Valentine's Day, for most people, is a day that they look to those around them to validate them and prove their love for them by the giving of gifts, the spending of quality time, and even the expressing of grand gestures to profess their affections.  And unfortunately, when we place so much of the responsibility for our happiness and validation on other people, they have the tendency to disappoint us.  Why is this you might ask . . . it's because they are human.

The objective of this post isn't to focus on the disappointment, but to challenge you to redirect the expectation that other people are responsible for making you happy.  There comes a point where you have to look at your reflection in the mirror and decide that you are going to be happy -- "point, blank, and the period".

I've come to understand that happiness is a personal choice.  It doesn't matter what challenges you face, what situations you may be in the midst of, or even what you might be lacking during this season of your life.  Your personal happiness should be rooted in and be an extension of the joy that the Lord provides.  When you chose to receive the joy of the Lord, there is a peace that comes along with this free gift.

Your true happiness comes from being able to look in the mirror and accept yourself for who you are, understand that you are on a constant road to being perfected by God, and know that above all else God loves you. Take the time to reflect and ask God to help you see the beauty, love, joy, and all-around awesomeness that He created on the inside of you.  Let that inner deposit begin to shine through to that reflection in the mirror and take back the control over your level of happiness. Begin to walk confidently in the knowledge that you are God's own. Remember that He made the grandest gesture imaginable to show forth His love for you . . . He gave you the life of His only Son.

Shedding the Old, Embracing the New

At the beginning of a new year, we all have likely fallen into the mindset of embracing fresh starts. We look in anticipation towards midnight hoping that it will bring the promise of dreams come true.

Many people set resolutions and goals for the start of a new year. These goals can range from losing weight, launching a business, starting a new career, saving to purchase a home . . . and the list goes on.

As I began to think and reflect on what God would have me to accomplish or focus on in 2015, I heard the Spirit of God say …

"I need more of you."

I must admit, I was taken aback a little at this request.  Not because of the implied sacrifices that it would require from me, but because I knew that if God was asking me to surrender more of myself, He was also willing to pour more of Himself into me.

As I've continued to reflect on this request from the Father, I look forward to each new day with great anticipation of what God has in mind.  I look forward to His leading and His direction on what should be accomplished for that day. As I'm faithful to give God more of me, I stand in overwhelming expectation of God's outpouring of His Spirit and His glory in my life.

Being in this place of surrendering more of myself is not unfamiliar. I've noticed that during periods of transition in my life, God has often pulled me closer to Him. In this place, where God nudges my spirit to have more intimate moments with Him, I've often experienced maturity and revelation.  I've also always experienced growth from the inside out. This type of growth cannot always be seen with the naked eye, but I know that it is happening beneath the surface. 

When you grow from the inside out, the outward evidence will soon not be able to be denied. Why is that you might ask . . . because what you are carrying on the inside will no longer fit the outer exterior. As you grow from the inside out, all of the external situations and challenges and even your countenance will change. God will begin to beam through your pores and your life will be changed forever.

If you think you know what 2015 might hold for you or if you are still trying to figure it out, I want to encourage you with this post to surrender more of yourself to God. 

Make the investment in your relationship with God, spending more time drawing closer to Him. I promise that you won't regret the time you spend in His presence and that your life will never be the same.

Be Present

God has allowed me to write posts concerning the Spirit of Honor and sharing the love of God with those around you, but this post turns the mirror inward.

There are times in our lives where we have to take moments to reflect and receive the love that others are pouring out for us.  We have to pause from the busyness of life and "just be".

We all have the same amount of time in a day . . . 24 hours . . . 1,440 minutes . . . . 86,400 seconds . . . but my question to you is . . . What are you doing with the time God has graced you with?

Are you so busy with the activities of life that the days of the week go by faster than you can remember? Do the birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays seem to come faster and faster each year? Do you find yourself putting off that one thing God keeps reminding you to do for Him, because you have just one too many things on your plate?

If so . . . . I want to recommend that you take an evaluation of your life and how you allocate your gift of time.  Time is one of those things that we cannot exchange, return, or save.  Time is a free gift from God, but we have to be good stewards over what God has given us.  We have to make an effort to set our priorities to reflect God's priorities for our lives, according to His will.


John 10:10 (AMP) tells us . . . . The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

The thief (a.k.a. the enemy/the devil) will try to get you to fill your 86,400 seconds every day with so many things that you will just be going through the motions of life.  This is how he steals, kills and destroys your time.  You will have life, but you won't be enjoying it.


Be determined . . . . Not to just EXIST… but LIVE! Enjoy life and be present in the moment. Soak in the goodness of God that He shares with you in the small things in life each day. 

God intended for you to experience and enjoy life to the point of it overflowing with His goodness, favor, joy, love, peace, and glory. 

The 86,400 seconds of today, only last for today. They will never be seen again, so make them the best moments of your life . . . TODAY!

If It Is All Stripped Away

I've recently had the thought . . . .

What if "it" was all stripped away?

What do I mean by "it" you might ask, and I would respond . . . . 

"It" = your roles, jobs, titles, accomplishments, accolades, etc. For example, what if you were no longer referred to or carried the title of Pastor, Elder, Overseer, Vice President, Teacher, Manger, Mentor, etc. Who would you be without the "title"?

As God challenged me to think about this, I began to reflect and ask myself . . . At the end of the day what do I want to be known for? What are the things that I want the people who I interact with to remember me for when I'm no longer serving in the "position" that they have seen me in.

I know that at the heart of who I am  . . . I love God,  I'm a worshiper, and I'm a lover of God's people. When it is all said and done I want people to remember me more for how I made them feel, how I encouraged them, how I dared them to be more than their present circumstances, and how I challenged them to keep seeking after God.  I want them to know me by the love of Christ that pours out of my pores for them.

We've heard it time and time again that . . . only what you do for Christ will last.  So, why don't we focus more on the assignment that God has given us to help, nurture, encourage, and love His people? I'm not saying that I always get it right, but I'm determined to be more and more like Christ as I continue this journey with Him.

The love of God is powerful. Most often it is only the love of God that is able to reach someone who is still seeking to fill the void within, which only God can fill. Be determined to exude the love of God through everything you do.  Desire to be known more for the love that you share than the title you hold.

Empowering the Next Generation

The Rebirth Arts team had the esteemed pleasure and opportunity to minister at the Girls with Purpose & Destiny Empowerment Conference this past weekend, hosted by Dale City Christian Church in Woodbridge, VA.

My team and I give God ALL the glory for this divine appointment and we cannot say thank you enough to Bishop Patrick Thomas, First Lady Cassandra Thomas, Deaconess Lashon Harris, the leaders of the D.I.V.A. Ministry, as well as all of those who worked behind the scenes for all of the honor and hospitality they showed us this weekend.

The conference was an amazing experience not only for the young ladies in attendance, but for the Rebirth Arts team as well.  Not only did I have the honor of ministering in dance, but I also had the opportunity to facilitate a workshop entitled - "My Body, My Temple: Healthy Eating and Healthy Living".  

With this post, I just wanted to share a few short clips with you from the workshop.  I pray that the Lord will speak to you through these moments in ministry . . . 

Just click the links below: 

God Has a Plan

God Desires to Bless You