Special Announcement

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I am happy and excited to inform you that Divine Voice Magazine will be available for purchase in Books-A-Million within the next week starting with our September/October issue. I did an article on my experience as part of Oprah's Belief Team discussing and promoting her upcoming 7-day series. I also did an interview with Rob Howze, Founder & CEO of Camp Fit Realty TV and my experience with the Camp Fit kids over the summer. There's so much inside- get your copy!

 

 

He Will Do It!

Psalm 37:3-4

 

3Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

 

Trusting in the Lord means that you may not always understand when He says to do something. It may even be the opposite of what you would do. But trust what He says anyway. Isaiah 55 says that your thoughts are not His thoughts nor are your ways His ways.

 

Case in point, more than three years ago the Lord instructed me to do something that I struggled with for months. What He desired me to do was the opposite of what I would normally do and not my way. But I eventually had to trust the Lord's prompting on what He desired of me. It was a faith step because I didn't understand it. It was confirmed by a minister of the Lord that I was doing God's will and my faithfulness would be honored. At the time, I did not understand how necessary the move was. My focus turned to the vision God gave me and the dreams I had as a little girl. One dream was already accomplished by God's favor. As the Lord continued to grant me favor, He instructed me to reach back and extend that favor to others. Fast forward to August 2014. I was an attendee at the African American Author's Expo with two of the five first author clients under Get Your JOY In The Morning! LLC.  I said to one, my next goal is to start a publishing company and I hope all of you will eventually come with me. By October of that year, a dear friend said, "with what you already do, why haven't you started your own publishing company?" I said, "it's coming in God's time."  He said, "well I will pray that God makes a way for you to do it."  When I shared with another close friend, at that time, they said, "Amen" meaning they stood in agreement according to the will of God. Fast forward to 2015. I bless God for being introduced to the Publisher & CEO of The Divine Voice Magazine (www.thedivinevoicemag.com). As my relationship and with the magazine has grown, God began to re-ignite that goal. As He did it in me, so He did in the Publisher & CEO of The Divine Voice Magazine. One year to the day, during the African American Author's Empowerment & Expo, I am truly blessed to say that Get Your JOY In The Morning! LLC has partnered with The Divine Voice to create Divine Voice Publishing (www.divinevoicepublishing.com). I am the author liaison and mentor for Divine Voice Publishing. For those of you who have expressed previously your desire to write and become published authors, God has now opened another door of more favor that I may reach back and assist others who God has given a dream and a story to share. I can only help those who are willing to trust in the Lord and step out on faith.

 

Please see below for submission guidelines and the special we are running. You can send your manuscripts directly to me or submit via www.divinevoicepublishing.com. I look forward to seeing more of you achieve your purpose and dreams you never thought were possible but delight yourself in Him and He will do it according to His will.

 

 

 

 

    
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Event Announcement for Saturday, August 15th

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

It gives me great pleasure to share with you that I will be at the African American Author's & Empowerment Expo THIS Saturday, August 15th in the Baltimore area.  There will be books and workshops for the whole family. I will be giving away a FREE children's coloring book with the purchase of my second book, "Shh Don't Tell." Get Your JOY In The Morning will be available too. I will also be making a MAJOR announcement! I look forward to connecting with you! See the flyer below for details.

 

 

 

"A Game of Focus"

John 10:10

 

10The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

In the film, Focus, starring Will Smith, Will plays a conman, a thief, named Nicky. In the film he teaches a young woman, named Jess, a few "simple" tricks on how to steal from people. He said, "stealing is a game of focus. The mind is slow and can only focus on one thing at a time. If I draw your attention to my hand or whatever I'm looking at, you can't see where my hand is." Nicky then gives a physical demonstration as he with one hand has Jess look at it with him while with his other hand he snatches a possession from her person. Now Jess was able to utilize the techniques later under the direction of one of Nicky's partners. There was a team of them.

 

God had me remember the scene in particular because of some events which happened recently. When I recognized the scheme and called it out for what it was, the enemy literally sent something else as an additional diversion. The hope was that I would forget what God said would be happening. Why am I sharing this with you? Well, Jesus said Himself what the devil's tactic is. For someone reading this, God is doing something and the devil sent a diversion hoping you will focus where he wants you to focus so he can attempt to take the blessing God has given you right off your person. However, God ALWAYS has a "contingency plan."

 

In the film, The Devil's Advocate, starring Al Pacino and Keanu Reaves, the devil is played by Al Pacino and goes by the name John Milton in one of his human forms. And Keanu plays Kevin Lomax. In There is a scene on the roof top with a strange waterfall. John Milton was "interviewing" Kevin Lomax for a lawyer position. John said to Kevin, "I'm wondering about how you will be under pressure. For some people, when you apply pressure, they focus. Others they break." In the word, God says He uses everything referencing Romans 8:28. So basically the pressure, diversion, distraction that the enemy attempts to use as a method to break you and steal your blessing, God turns it around because He knows you better than the enemy does. He knows the pressure, the diversions, the methods of thievery will only cause you to focus that much more if you are willing to listen to Him. Are you focusing? If you focus, Jesus will give you the strength to smack away the hand of the enemy as he attempts to put his hand on what does not belong to him, whether it be a physical possession/blessing or that of your peace, joy, etc. FOCUS!

In or Out

John 21:15

 

15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?"  He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."  He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

 

 

Jesus did not give Simon Peter the statement, "If you love me." He said, "do you?" Merriam-Webster's dictionary says the word "if" is a function word used to introduce an exclamation expressing a wish or "in the event that." However, "Do" as we know is an action. Jesus had already risen and would soon ascend to the right hand of the Father. Before doing so, He restored Peter. When Jesus was taken Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times just as Jesus said he would. Peter wept bitterly as the Word says and obviously had guilt. Jesus is a restorer regardless of the wrong. But the choice still remains with the one who committed the offense to be in or out. In or out of what?  The choice to be in or out of fellowship with Jesus. Jesus knew Peter loved Him. In verse 17 Peter tells Jesus, "Lord you know all things." And He does. So Jesus asking the questions of Peter was to show Peter though he made a mistake, it did not mean that his purpose and assignments were absolved.  To the contrary. What He wanted to show Peter was there is a choice to be in or out and to continue to do His will in spite of mistakes. The "do" was action and Jesus gave the three action items of "Feed my lambs, Tend to my sheep, Feed my sheep." For each time Peter denied, there was a counter statement given by Jesus to restore and be in fellowship. Peter denied Jesus. Was it bad? Of course. But the Lord restored Moses who took a man's life and David who took another man's wife. Surely, Jesus, the son of God, would forgive Peter's denial. All violated commandments but God still loves. The word says we all fall short of the glory of God. You have a choice to be in or out of fellowship. Jesus will take you back. The choice is yours.

 

P.S. Join me on Saturday, August 15th at the African American Author's Expo. Go to www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com for location details.  I will be signing  both my books, hugging necks and revealing some exciting news of what is next for Get Your JOY In The Morning! LLC. I will be giving away a free children's coloring book that helps parents talk to children on how to be safe with the purchase of my book "Shh Don't Tell." I look forward to seeing you!

He Can Do Anything in His Name

John 14:12-14

 

12"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

 

A few years ago I recall a debate or a serious question someone asked about why when Christians pray do they say the words, "In Jesus Name" before ending the prayer. Now from the scripture above it makes logical sense but I want to talk about from a faith perspective. The verses above are from the section called "Answered Prayer" in John 14. The Word says in Hebrews that without faith, it is impossible to please the Heavenly Father. What does that mean? It means that if you pray for something but do not believe that what you are praying for will be answered, "then why should God answer it?" If you lack the belief yourself for what you pray for then the words mean nothing. The definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11. Paraphrased it means to believe what you cannot yet see. For me, this is personal.

 

Toward the end of 2014 God kept saying to me through the Holy Spirit that someone dear to me was not quite right health wise. I recognized feeling from when I lost a family member ten years ago. In March, the one dear to me asked me to embark on something together we had never done before. God said to me, "just say yes." So I did. I learned right before my 40th birthday that the doctors had found something in this person's lungs back in October of 2014 but the person was told in March. God confirmed. The way I was told I wasn't able to react emotionally. All I could do was listen. When they left my home, I cried out to God something fierce. That night I began listening to forever Jones' song, "You Can do Anything." From that moment on, I decided that my prayer to God would be that when this loved one went back to the doctors for a retest, there would be nothing for them to see. I even shared it the next day in the Lord's house. I enlisted some prayer warriors with me. Now the doctors told my loved one what they saw they believed to be benign or noncancerous. So that's what the loved one believed. But again, I believe, Jesus can do anything. The retest was done earlier this week. I kept asking for the results as I believed there would be nothing. On Wednesday, I received the call. When I returned the call the loved one said, "the doctors found nothing. I guess it must have dissolved or something." I shouted and blessed the Lord. And then I confessed what my prayer had been since May with the other prayer warriors. The entire time, the prayer was in the name of Jesus. The Lord who heals or Jehovah Rapha is in the name of Jesus. He is called by many names.

 

Just as the friends who lowered their friend down through the ceiling to get to Jesus on his mat/sick bed, it was through their faith in the name of Jesus that their friend was completely restored. This is why I wouldn't stop praising His name during worship today even when all else was quiet. The worship leader said, "no one can praise Him for you." Yes, Tracey, that's why I couldn't stop this afternoon.  If any of you have lacked faith before, let this serve as a testimony to you, Jesus can do anything in His name if you wholeheartedly believe.

What Price and/or Sacrifice Would You Make for a Child's Safety?

The Community Book Signing Event and Panel Discussion on Child Abuse Prevention is almost here! I am looking forward to meeting and speaking with each one of you! We have great panelists who are knowledgeable and desire to make the world a better place for children. I am hoping to connect you with resources for you and your children, or parents that you know so children in D.C. and throughout can be kept safe during this summer season. The conversation is bigger than discomfort about the subject. We want to help you so you can approach the subject with knowledge, wisdom and preventative measures. My book, "Shh Don't Tell" will also be available for purchase. What price and/or sacrifice would you make for a child's safety? See the flyer below and join us on THIS Thursday, July 9th from 6:30pm-8pm at Busboys and Poets Brookland in N.E. Washington, D.C. Admission is FREE. Follow the instructions below on how to register. Copy and paste the URL (website) in your browser or go to www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com

 

and go to the contact tab.