My oldest son turned 4 this past Friday. We had loads of fun! He took favors to school for his classmates. He left school early to go have fun at Frankies with myself and aunty Ade. We came home to a pizza party organized by aunty Remi with some of his friends and most of his "aunties" in tow. It was a joy to see the light in his eyes...it was obvious he was having a blast. My oh my the unyielding faithfulness of the Father...it all takes me back to the weekend of September 20, 2002...
...how time flies! I remember so well the weekend of his birth. I worked up till the Friday of that Sunday...crouching for my tummy at irregular intervals due to funny cramps. The following day, a Saturday, we went to the hospital because the cramps had increased and were more painful. The doctor sent me back home saying I wasn't in labor. What?! no labor? with all this pain?...I decided to venture out from the hospital..I remembered their was a children's tag sale organized by my local la leche league that I had to attend. Of course I was a sight at the sale to say the least, constantly stopping to hold my belly. Several fellow shoppers expressed concern and wanted to make sure I needed nothing, my husband was besides himself thinking I was out of mind for shopping at my state and mad at himself for agreeing to bring me there. Albeit, I found some good deals at that sale.
We went home and my mom wouldn't let me sit...she put in a praise CD and we danced all the way. By evening time, the cramps had become full fledged contractions and later sharp pains through the back. A little after midnight, I asked my husband to call the practise and he was a little hesistant because of our experience the day before but he grabbed the phone and made the call when I gave him the eye. A couple of hours later we were on our way to the hospital again, with my mom in tow this time comforting and praying! DH was at the wheel, trying hard to keep his focus.
At the hospital, I was already 4cm dilated..."oh yeah, you are in labor" the nurse says. I thought to myself, "tell me that again!" When they asked me if I needed something for the pain I told them YEAH BABY, BRING IT ON. Praise Jesus for epidural...the pressure of labor continued..but "Miracle" came forth 7 mins before noon on a beautiful Sunday morning. It was also the first of Fall (autumn).
Lesson Learned: Weeping may last through the night, but JOY sure comes in the morning!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
May you today Rejoice!
I wrote the letter below to my team members in the music ministry today. I hope it sparks a fire in you. May you today Rejoice!
Jubilanees -
I trust the Almighty that your week is progressing fabulously well. I had in my heart to encourage you today to live your life well, to live your life with purpose, to live your life with conviction.
I was dwelling on our anniversary preparations on my way to work this morning...you know, pondering on our conversations after service on Sunday and a picture came to my mind. I want you to take a minute....now think of a major event coming up in your life, a job interview....your best friends' wedding.....or perhaps a big date (if you are in a God ordained your Pastor aware relationship/courtship).
What things would you do to prepare for the occassion? would you anticipate? would you plan? would you have expectations? would you spend resources for proper grooming? would seek the Lord's counsel? would you ask questions? what is it that you will do? what? Do you realize that every new given day is another date with the Almighty?....Tha Psalmist knows this when he said, "this is the day that the Lord has made, I will Rejoice! and be Glad! in it! How excited do you get about each day? Do you know that gladness and joy reflects in your tone...the conversations you carry with people....gladness and joy reflects in your attitude and perceptions....did you know that it could even be represented in your dressing? Rejoicing.......Rejoicing...Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say Rejoice!
I want you to begin to rejoice about your ministry....I want you to have a rejoicing attitude...infact, how can we be ministers of faith if we cannot rejoice? How about we modify our vision to: WE ARE A REJOICING TEAM......ALLELUIA!
Start Rejoicing now...for this moment was intricately created with you in mind by the Almighty....yeah brethren...he sees, knows (mine oh mine does he know?) hears, understands everything that is going on within and around you....so, Rejoice! Come Rejoicing on Friday....joyfully plan and prepare for the Anniversary weekend. PRAY hard, PRAISE hard, PREPARE hard (sing Friend, All things are possible around the house and memorize the verses....refresh on Days of Elijah) When people are rejoicing they don't wear their shabbiest outfits, on the other hand they wear their best....decide to always look your best FOR THE LORD at all times.....come apraising looking sharp and ready for business both physically and spiritually.
May the Lord ignite His joy upon your soul....May your eyes be opened today to see! and know! and understand! that no one created this day but JEHOVAH! and of course with you in mind. May you increase in wisdom and strength in the way and things of God. I love you and rejoice to have you in my life....thank you for being a part of me!
Rejoicingly,
MaPraise.
Jubilanees -
I trust the Almighty that your week is progressing fabulously well. I had in my heart to encourage you today to live your life well, to live your life with purpose, to live your life with conviction.
I was dwelling on our anniversary preparations on my way to work this morning...you know, pondering on our conversations after service on Sunday and a picture came to my mind. I want you to take a minute....now think of a major event coming up in your life, a job interview....your best friends' wedding.....or perhaps a big date (if you are in a God ordained your Pastor aware relationship/courtship).
What things would you do to prepare for the occassion? would you anticipate? would you plan? would you have expectations? would you spend resources for proper grooming? would seek the Lord's counsel? would you ask questions? what is it that you will do? what? Do you realize that every new given day is another date with the Almighty?....Tha Psalmist knows this when he said, "this is the day that the Lord has made, I will Rejoice! and be Glad! in it! How excited do you get about each day? Do you know that gladness and joy reflects in your tone...the conversations you carry with people....gladness and joy reflects in your attitude and perceptions....did you know that it could even be represented in your dressing? Rejoicing.......Rejoicing...Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say Rejoice!
I want you to begin to rejoice about your ministry....I want you to have a rejoicing attitude...infact, how can we be ministers of faith if we cannot rejoice? How about we modify our vision to: WE ARE A REJOICING TEAM......ALLELUIA!
Start Rejoicing now...for this moment was intricately created with you in mind by the Almighty....yeah brethren...he sees, knows (mine oh mine does he know?) hears, understands everything that is going on within and around you....so, Rejoice! Come Rejoicing on Friday....joyfully plan and prepare for the Anniversary weekend. PRAY hard, PRAISE hard, PREPARE hard (sing Friend, All things are possible around the house and memorize the verses....refresh on Days of Elijah) When people are rejoicing they don't wear their shabbiest outfits, on the other hand they wear their best....decide to always look your best FOR THE LORD at all times.....come apraising looking sharp and ready for business both physically and spiritually.
May the Lord ignite His joy upon your soul....May your eyes be opened today to see! and know! and understand! that no one created this day but JEHOVAH! and of course with you in mind. May you increase in wisdom and strength in the way and things of God. I love you and rejoice to have you in my life....thank you for being a part of me!
Rejoicingly,
MaPraise.
Monday, September 18, 2006
My life (name, identity, future) is hid in Christ Jesus
It will be six years since I got married in Dec. and I just finally went through with changing my last name last week. For me, it has been a journey....filled with questions, reasonings, and growth. I have always struggled with the issue of name change...why do women have to change their names after they marry....my guidebook of life, the Bible says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."Gen 2:24 See? hence my rationale has always been that if there be need for name change at all...it should be on the man's part.
I love my name. My first name is loaded as a way of giving thanks to the Almighty. My maiden last name is hyphenated....with the first part being my Dad's first name, his name signifies "my worthiness of the crown" and the second part is a universal name that could have belonged to an Italian, Portugese, French, or Spanish family....in spanish it means beautiful! my older brother was besides himself the last time he was in Italy seeing his name on every other major business establishment. I was brought up to be proud of my name, my heritage, my identity.
However, at this point in my life....I am learning to embrace my whole identity...I am learning that as I grow so does my understanding of life and personal convictions....I am learning that what I lay down does not deprive me as long as I am in the will of my Lord and Savior....who laid down His life for me. Before arriving at this junction, my husband and I have argued about changing my name numerous times...then his family started pressuring and that made me even more unyielding...if I was thinking of changing my name before, their interference made me totally unwilling. The more my husband talked about it the more I justified my decision. If anyone is married, they would understand how turbulent a marriage could be at the beginning and unfortunately I nursed terrible strategies about saving one headache or two if our marriage went kaput..........my thought was, "at least I wouldn't need a name change"....can you imagine? oh the sure mercies of God....
It has been quite a journey...people would make comments here and there... "oh you have different last names" and most recently at the hospital after we had our twins...they would refer to the babies by my maiden name...assuming that it was my married name and of course their last name. On one of such instances, my husband was there...and he just kept his peace...I saw it...his reaction showed that he had settled the matter within himself....His reaction spoke volumes......also by then, I had made my peace with the Almighty to change my last name to my husbands'
So what made me change my mind? hmmmm....I came to a place where I wanted to embrace my husband totally...reverence him, prefer him....we have been through a lot together and I love him as he loves me both in word and deeds (he still looked at me this morning and winked at me) .... he really really desires that we have the same name....and most importantly...it was my decision through the help of the Holy Spirit...not shoved down my throat without reason by some unexplainable tradition, system, or culture. I am most thankful to the i.) Almighty for His sure mercies and not allowing me to be consumed by my ignorance
ii.) to my husband for loving me unconditionally and letting me grow and fly at my pace
iii.) to my parents and siblings for their PRAYERS!!, patience, and support
iv.) to my Pastors for speaking out and making me think...
So my husband and I now have the same last name....may our journey continue with the mercies and sustenance of the Father.
Lesson Learned: I am my Father's daughter and I bear His name alone!
I love my name. My first name is loaded as a way of giving thanks to the Almighty. My maiden last name is hyphenated....with the first part being my Dad's first name, his name signifies "my worthiness of the crown" and the second part is a universal name that could have belonged to an Italian, Portugese, French, or Spanish family....in spanish it means beautiful! my older brother was besides himself the last time he was in Italy seeing his name on every other major business establishment. I was brought up to be proud of my name, my heritage, my identity.
However, at this point in my life....I am learning to embrace my whole identity...I am learning that as I grow so does my understanding of life and personal convictions....I am learning that what I lay down does not deprive me as long as I am in the will of my Lord and Savior....who laid down His life for me. Before arriving at this junction, my husband and I have argued about changing my name numerous times...then his family started pressuring and that made me even more unyielding...if I was thinking of changing my name before, their interference made me totally unwilling. The more my husband talked about it the more I justified my decision. If anyone is married, they would understand how turbulent a marriage could be at the beginning and unfortunately I nursed terrible strategies about saving one headache or two if our marriage went kaput..........my thought was, "at least I wouldn't need a name change"....can you imagine? oh the sure mercies of God....
It has been quite a journey...people would make comments here and there... "oh you have different last names" and most recently at the hospital after we had our twins...they would refer to the babies by my maiden name...assuming that it was my married name and of course their last name. On one of such instances, my husband was there...and he just kept his peace...I saw it...his reaction showed that he had settled the matter within himself....His reaction spoke volumes......also by then, I had made my peace with the Almighty to change my last name to my husbands'
So what made me change my mind? hmmmm....I came to a place where I wanted to embrace my husband totally...reverence him, prefer him....we have been through a lot together and I love him as he loves me both in word and deeds (he still looked at me this morning and winked at me) .... he really really desires that we have the same name....and most importantly...it was my decision through the help of the Holy Spirit...not shoved down my throat without reason by some unexplainable tradition, system, or culture. I am most thankful to the i.) Almighty for His sure mercies and not allowing me to be consumed by my ignorance
ii.) to my husband for loving me unconditionally and letting me grow and fly at my pace
iii.) to my parents and siblings for their PRAYERS!!, patience, and support
iv.) to my Pastors for speaking out and making me think...
So my husband and I now have the same last name....may our journey continue with the mercies and sustenance of the Father.
Lesson Learned: I am my Father's daughter and I bear His name alone!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Whitney, I pray you WIN!!
One of my favorite artists of all time is Whitney Houston because she sings with her soul...i'm a somewhat hard critic when it comes to music because I write and sing myself, but Whitney has a way to my soul.
Her Preacher's Wife movie soundtrack was my anthem for years and I still pop in a dose of the songs from time to time. Whitney has a beautiful God given talent, she truly ministers to me.
Therefore you can understand why I've mourned how things have been with her for the past few years...the mockery of the press, the unstable relationships,
her alliances with questionable sects, her drug addiction, and her poor daughter! I read about her proposed split from Bobby Brown this morning and I wonder....how unfortunate things have become...I can only pray that Whitney will come back fully restored by God's grace. I pray you win at the end. Godspeed girl!
Lesson Learned: Pray for those that touch your life through choice, design, or by accident.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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