Day By Day

Day by Day Lyrics


Day by day

Oh Dear Lord

Three things I pray

To see thee more clearly

Love thee more dearly

Follow thee more nearly

Day by day

If I Were Free…

If I were free…

I would examine my feelings and deal with the hurt

I would trust in God and allow Him to work

 

If I were free…

I would allow my heart to forgive

I would decide each day to live

 

If I were free…

I would praise Him in the aisle

I wouldn’t be concerned about my style

 

If I were free…

I would lift another when she’s hurt

I wouldn’t participate in or carry the dirt

 

If I were free…

I would love the one who couldn’t  love

I would embrace my heavenly Father above

 

If I were free

I could call a sister when she’s in pain

I wouldn’t seek lime light or fame

 

Thank God for the freedom bestowed upon my life

Blessed to be a daughter, sister, mother and wife

Thank God for the freedom to just love me

Curvaceous, quirky, loving, creative, free

 

I am FREE! I am FREE! I am FREE!

Thank you Lord. YES!!!

I have joy down in my soul

I am surely BLESSED!!!

 

Yolanda Grier©2012

 

More Than A Conqueror

A Season of Marigold

Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God: Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”


At the beginning of the spring season, I wanted to grow flowers as a way to celebrate a particular area of Spiritual growth. I was quite excited about my selection of Marigolds since the bright colors always remind me of the Marigolds displayed in the front yard of my childhood home. At the change of seasons, my spouse always prepares the yard and gardens.

I love my husband’s rose and vegetable gardens. He has such a wealth of knowledge when it comes to gardening. I, on the other just, wanted to plant a simple seed.

Because frost was no longer an issue, I did not start the seeds inside. I gathered everything I would need which included the seed packet, soil, water, appropriate plant container. I located a plant container I had abandoned years ago, so there was no need to purchase a new one to go along with the nice planters my spouse used. I was ok with that. The planters were old, but very useful. Noticing my excitement, my husband decides to use the old planters. I am grateful.

The patio area provided the right amount of space and ample enough of sunshine. Over the next couple of weeks, I watched in great anticipation as my Marigolds sprinted in growth at first and then stagnated. My seedlings were growing right next to the floral transplant my husband planted. I notice the difference in size, container, and color. But I never forgot that each plant had different beginnings….mine from a mere seed. The other flowers, transplant.

Weeds did not grow in my little pot, but small flowers appeared, died, and reappeared. I found later that I was supposed to purge the dead flowers that were holding on. Finally, I did. My marigold plants never had an abundance of radiant blooms of orange and yellow. But I learned so much from this experience.

I would like to share the first lesson I learned from this planting ……

Preparation…


Right season – Become aware of your season. If you are in a winter season of your life, you may be in a period of sitting still and waiting for God’s further instructions.

Seed packet – Know your seeds by staying in the Word. Perhaps you have to start the seedling inside by sitting under the covering of someone else. Don’t make a move without God!

Soil – Give yourself an EKG and identify any issues that can impede your progress such forgiveness, anger, defiance. Once identified, stay in pray to allow God help you with your weeds of issues.

Water – Allow the Holy Spirit to irrigate your mind and heart. Be open to the people that the Lord sends to you.

Plant container – Ensure that you’re doing what you need to stay healthy (mind, body and soul)

There is something wonderful about planting good seeds! What are you waiting for??

Prayer  Thank you Lord, for the Spiritual seeds being planted in my life. I ask you Lord to keep me aware of my season. Thank you for shining your light on me so that I can be a witness for your goodness. Amen

Standing In The Land of Promise

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Hebrews 5:6



“In my mind, this is clear,

What am I doing here?”

These lyrics are from the movie, The Wiz. Many people have memories of how this movie was fun to watch and how you could dance to the music. For me, the lyrics rang through my mind and I would sing them often out loud reflecting how deeply my heart was hurting. That was my song! And the words occupied small crevices in my life. My smile hid the pain and my laughter masked the depression.



For most of my life, I couldn’t figure it. Real joy and peace always seemed temporary. And I finally made a simple yet profound decision to do something different. My life had become a set of rules and lists in a feeble attempt to exercise control over my space. In so doing, I guarded my space, allowing nothing in and nothing out. My heart had compartments I wasn’t willing to address, forgiving, trusting, confessing, anger.



Insanity of Sameness

I desired something different and I was willing to do something different. Being comfortable and living a lie was killing me spiritually. I desired to do more than just exist. Aggravation, irritation and frustration were losing their grip. The Lord showed me through his Word, that He had more for me than a mediocre existence. I was feeding my body junk and my body was returning junk to me. I made up in my mind I wanted all He has for me!



Telling the Truth

I had to be bold in telling my story….the good, the bad and the ugly. So often, I was concerned with what the story would look like and how people may treat me differently. Yet I learned how important it is to be vulnerable. It’s a freedom to just be. I learned that my testimony helped others to refresh and come to terms with their story. My story isn’t one of shame and pain, but of hope and possibilities.



Importance of Fellowship

Many times church hurts can take you on paths that meander to places we never intended. But I have learned, there are always lessons in the valley. Church hurts are major distractions designed to steal your assignment. I realized that when I heard my First Lady Johnson say, “The devil wants your assignment!” Folk are just folk! And by giving people authority over my emotional and physical space, I had placed God in third place. I understand there are times to step back to reflect on what the Lord is saying. But leaving the fold will isolate your mind and invite activity and thoughts that are not in line with God’s word.



Embracing His Abundance

My life was changing right in front of me, yet I was holding on to the very thing I needed out of my life. A part of me felt as if I didn’t deserve anything good. It’s hard to explain just how unworthy I felt. Yet, realizing that I was made in God’s image forced me to embrace my inheritance quite differently. I look in the mirror and rejoice just because God sent His son to die for me! That’s powerful!



Quiet Time

I love my time with the Lord. I am blessed knowing He never left me. When the noise in my mind silenced, He was still there. When my body was violated, He allowed a small voice to remind me that my life was valuable and to just hang on. Through the winds blowing softly, through the trees or the sounds of waves rushing to the shore, He reminds me He’s still there.


Giving Thanks

At one point my story and I were interchangeable. I was lost in the details of the stuff. My focus was on the situation and I dressed daily in the circumstances. I could never imagine life any other way then. I didn’t fully understand the restlessness within. But I was clear when I listened to the testimonies of others and read the stories of love and lost in the Bible, my life certainly could have been worse. Therefore, even when I woke up in pain, I would remind to be thankful! And because of that, God has something for me to do.

Living on Purpose With a Purpose

I am Standing In the Land of Promise

*God’s promise to never leave me

*God’s promise to never forsake me

*God’s promise to forgive my confessed sin

*God’s love never fails, because God is love.

Can’t go wrong with God first, then people, then things!

The rip tides of life had me spinning and trying to swim back to the shore of mediocre existence. If you are ever caught in a rip tide, you should remain calm, relax, float or tread. I was fighting becoming exhausted and about to drown.

The voice I heard said,

Be still. Be quiet. Be calm.

I listened and stopped fighting. When I looked straight up and focused on the Lord first I realized I WAS STILL STANDING!!!! I looked down around me and saw the water was only knee deep! I WAS MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!!!!



I AM THE LORD’S SERVANT!!!!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for saving me from myself. Thank you for your Word that has filled my mind body and soul. Thank for healing and for making me WHOLE! I give you praise and honor. Amen

I Thank You For All That I Am by Lamar Campbell

Really feeling this song today!

Here I am Lord, my life is in Your hands

Take and use me, I am your instrument

It is Your love that keeps me through the day

And Your peace won't let me go astray

I can say, I don't know where I'd be

Without You leading me

I'm Your child Lord, I humble myself to You

For without You, there's nothing I can do

Now I know when troubles come my way

It's is Your strength that keeps me come what may

Everyday, You keep me in perfect peace

When my mind is stayed on Thee

I Thank You for all that I am

For giving me courage to stand

and when I am weak You hold my hand

to tell me what I really can

I'll praise You for all that You are

I wouldn't have made it this far

So I want to take time to say

That I really Love You

Thank You, Jesus

I really love you

by Lamar Campball