To Be A Queen

To be a queen means you're beautiful inside and out because you know God created you that way; you are accomplished and in control because you listen to God's instructions; you are treated like royalty because God fills your life with abundance after you've listened and acted upon His Word; you're special in the eyes of others because you realize how special you are in the eyes of God; you are powerful because you've harnessed the power of God within you and realize there's only one, true power. To be a queen means others recognize and appreciate your talents because you're making use of the gifts God gave you. A queen helps others in need because she knows that's what God wants of her.

A queen is happy with herself, her life, and is constantly reaching out and up, even in the face of adversity. She draws the strength she needs from God. He helps her overcome the difficult times. She is better able to pull through the struggles of life, because she knows God is her life-jacket and will see her through anything.

In God's eyes, we are all queens. We are all special, unique, talented, loving women who can do anything with Him by our side. He gave us each a map that would lead us to our destiny, yet so many of us chose to create our own. And where did it lead us? It led us away from our true selves and into some sort of incomplete experience. Maybe we're living part of the destiny God intended for us, but true happiness and success can't be reached until we live ALL He intended for us.

In The Desert and Wilderness Places

Often times in the desert and wilderness places of our journey’s there are many circumstances that just don’t make sense. And often the battle within our being is wrestling with the question, “Where is God?” Well, I have to say over the past 2 plus years of my desert journey this has been a frequent battleground with the enemy. Satan maneuvers to tempt me to agree with him that My God has abandoned me, that God has left me alone in this place. It was an every day struggle. And to my mind and my flesh, it really did feel that way. However, I’ve learned those feelings become the enemy’s scheme of deception. His lies got me to thinking it was all me, but it wasn't! It was him tempting me to agree with him so that he can take me captive to his lies and I refuse to surrender to my enemy...

One common battle that comes along with this desert journey is a lonely isolation that I normally would not embrace. You see I am a people person, love the interaction, and the life that comes from fellowship, especially with my family and extended church family. Another thought that surfaces is the different times where I discover the emptiness of many of my efforts. After many attempts of taking what appeared to be the right path, I suddenly discover at some point that I am simply spinning my wheels and fighting God’s direction, getting nowhere. This experience happened a number of times until I came to the realization that there was something My God was trying to say to me here.

There were a lot of areas in my life that I needed to work on, repent of and ask for forgiveness. This journey has helped me to do just that. The Lord really helped me by showing me through scripture that I can overcome shame that was hidden away inside of me, and how to break those strongholds in my life in order to find true peace. I have learned through this season, with the tools which are; the Word of God, fasting, praying and spending time with God in my secret place how to deal with many situations and I must say, I have received such peace by putting God first to my everyday life. Anxiety, despair and hopelessness which kept me in bondage, has become a thing of the past. The Lord has helped me to discover the “TRUE TREASURES” in life. My faith has increased. My love for God and others have increased as I have learned how important the four cornerstones are. I am an over-comer. I am victorious. I am a princess. I am His beloved. I am His Bride! I have become a Woman of Peace!

I know my journey is not over, there is much more that my Heavenly God has to take me through but for now, I have embraced my desert season and Thank God that HE never left me nor forsaken me.......So My Friend.....whatever battlefield or desert you find yourself in this moment always know that our Father in Heaven is with you, for he has promised He will never leave you or forsake you. This my friend is the truth that sets us free!!

My Future, Past and Present

A couple of nights ago, I was reading through an old journal from a year ago and I was caught off guard how emotional it would be to recall painful events and memories. I poured my heart into writing down every fear, disappointment, and heartache into this small notebook. Some of the ink on the pages have almost disappeared from my tears smudging the words right off the page. I can recall crying so many times as I poured my heart and soul into this journal. It was the only safe place I could process my thoughts and feelings as I were going through a very difficult and trying time in my marriage. Back then, I was so convinced my life situation would not improve. In fact, just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did – measurably.

So many months have passed since coming through that difficult time it seems so long ago. Yet reading those entries refreshes the memories from my past as if they were yesterday. But yet, here I am today – determined to move on again as a single mother and doing very well. I have learned that my past doesn't have to interfere with my present and let alone not hinder my future.

In our darkest moments it is easy to allow ourselves to be consumed with hopelessness and despair allowing our decisions and actions to be birthed from feelings or emotions instead of rational thinking. Even pity parties are a form of self-medicating which has its own consequences.

But what saved me from going down a dark path of self-destruction was taking my eyes off myself and the turmoil within me. Instead, I clung to my faith and believed with all my heart that I would rise a better person, the moment I let go of my own selfishness and focused my energy towards a transformation of heart, mind, and soul from the inside out. What I learned through years of meditation, prayer, and reflection was that my circumstances may determine my feelings, attitude, and emotions but they do not determine my future. With a warrior mentality, I started to address certain lies I allowed myself to believe: “I’m not worthy… things will never change… ” I challenged these negative thoughts one by one with the truth of God’s love and His endless grace for me until I conquered the enemy within me. This journey opened the door for healing waters to flow and set me free from lies I had believed since I was a child.

Although my life is not perfect (and neither am I for that matter), I live each day by faith and not by sight knowing whatever hardship I may be experiencing presently is only for a moment and only part of my journey and not my destination.

Your Love Rescured Me

When I was heart broken, You were there with me.
When I was blind and needed a Savior, You opened my eyes and came into my heart.
When I was confused, You gave me your wisdom.
When I was sad and lonely, You gave me your Word to remind me how you will never leave me nor forsake me.
When I was unclear about my future, you said you have, “a hope and a future for me.”
When I was weak, You make me strong!

When God Made Woman

By the time the Lord made woman, he was into his sixth day of working overtime. An Angel appeared and said "Why are you spending so much time on this one?" And the Lord answered and said, "Have you seen the spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have 200 moveable parts, all replaceable, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped
knee to a broken heart, and have six pairs of hands."
The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six pairs of hands! No way!" said the Angel.
The Lord replied, "Oh, it's not the hands that are the problem. It's the three pairs of eyes that woman must have!" "And that's just on the standard model?" the Angel asked. The Lord nodded in agreement, "Yep, one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows.
Another pair in the back of her head are to see what she needs to know, even though no one thinks she can. And the third pair are here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands
and loves him or her without even saying a single word."
The Angel tried to stop the Lord. "This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish!" "But I can't!" The Lord protested, "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick and can feed a family of six on a pound of hamburger and can get a nine year old to stand in the shower."
The Angel moved closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft, Lord." "She is soft" the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the Angel. The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason, and negotiate."
The Angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model....I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one." "That's not a leak." The Lord objected. "That's a tear!" "What's the tear for?" the Angel asked. The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride."
The Angel was impressed, "You are a genius, Lord. "You thought of everything, for WOMEN are truly amazing."

A Puppet Master

You can love someone so much that you lose yourself and self respect, because you 're so busy trying to please him that you forget about yourself in the process. Some of us are so busy trying to make him happy, that we forget about what makes us happy. Sometimes, we can be our own self's worse enemy, because of our actions, “to please”.

A puppet master is someone that controls you and your actions in a relationship; and will even try and control your mind, if you let them. Puppet masters can be husbands or significant others that try and control your life, if we're blind enough to let it happen. A puppet master wants to know, where you're going; who you're going to see, when are you coming back home and any more information that's going to help him keep tabs on you, your life is literally ran on a time clock. In this type of relationship; the puppet master is the only one with freedom to come and go as he pleases, without their life being under constant scrutiny by you or anyone else. I played this game for some years; and after dancing to the puppet masters music, I got up enough courage to dance to my own music. It's really sad being a puppeteer, because you lose your identity in a relationship you thought was loving and normal; but realize that everything you believe in, was just one big lie.

A marriage and relationship is an equal partnership, with the same advantages for both parties involved. All I do know is; when you're young and foolish; you do a lot of of silly things, like being controlled by someone else, because you don't know any better. But when you get to an age where you know how you really should be treated, and want more out of life; than just being a puppet on a string.....

If you find yourself in a puppet master- puppeteer relationship, it's time to cut the strings that bind you to this person, so you can regain you self respect and start to truly live your life again. Please also remember this; no one can treat you like a prisoner in your own home unless you allow it.

The Warrior Woman of God

Am I a warrior yes I am upon His field I take my stand I take His bow of bronze and strength in hand by His power I take my stand…I stand poised for battle ready to shoot that arrow I stand on the field of the straight and narrow….I lift the shield of faith and truth ..
 
I am His warrior this woman named Maribel…I am not afraid of the enemy’s band for truth and righteousness I stand. He under-girds me with His arms of strength to fight me in spiritual battle the enemy shrinks…I stand my watch on my high tower, waiting to hear His voice to be filled with His power…

When He speaks I will not fear; He is my covering my defense from the rear. He is a wall of fire by night a cloud by day, He will keep you, till the enemy flees away...

Many years ago I joined this great spiritual band a warrior for Jesus? O' Yes I am…We fight with our weapons of our warfare which are not carnal you see --Weapons of the word, salvation, righteousness, and victory…Come Gods women join the army you will see, He will use you to set the captives free
We are in the army of the mighty host ..Our chief and commander the Holy Ghost--A great cloud compasses those who have gone before.

Need I explain or tell you more…Look in Hebrews chapter eleven
Those gone before looking down from heaven, They are cheering on from heavens grandstand …Keep in the race and possess the land!!