The Lord Has a Way of Working Things Out! - Chapter 58

Yes I'll admit, I was freaking out about what would happen to me, but the Lord has a way of working things out!

On January 31st, I was cleaning out my apartment getting rid of everything.  The only thing left in the apartment that day was my mattress, TV, cable and kitchen cabinet.  I was laying on my mattress (which was on the floor), crying out to God, asking Him "What do I do and where do I go from here?"  Then I've heard the Holy Spirit clear as day say "Call your aunt!'  My aunt lives in South Carolina.  So, I was obedient and called her.  I've shared with her everything about the journey God has me on for the last four years leading up to that very moment.  She said that she needed to pray about if I could stay with her or not.  I said okay.  Meanwhile, I called my pastor who now lives in Georgia for prayer.  She told me that the Lord was speaking to her for me to move down to Georgia and assist her in her businesses. Unfortunately, it took my phone call to remind her of what the Lord told her.  She told me to pray and that she would pray as well.

An hour later, my pastor called me back extending an invitation to come down to Georgia and be her assistant.  I accepted it in a heartbeat!  Book a Greyhound ticket to Atlanta online, cleaned out the rest of the apartment, turned in my keys to the super's daughter, walked out of the building, got on the train heading to the Port Authority, got on the bus and did not look back!  The crazy thing about it is that I didn't even tell my family where I was going or what I was doing until I transferred at Richmond, VA.  On February 1st,  I've came down to Atlanta, my pastor picked me up and I've been here ever since.

It's been 21 days and as I write this episode, I realize that everything I've prayed for has started to come to pass!  I prayed that I would leave my Brooklyn apartment for me or no other member of my family to live there again.  And so it is!  Praise God!  I left everything I know, people that I care about, etc and came to a place I've never been before.  I have let the Lord order my footsteps and only He knows where I go from here...and I trust Him to do so!

Until next time...

Best Quote Ever!

I believe this statement says it all.

Until next time...

You Don't Know My Story - Chapter 57

Well, it's 2014 and so far, it has gone off with a bang!

Since I haven't been able to pay rent, the landlord was going to evict me.  Because of the good rapport my mother had with his father, he gave me an offer for me to move out at the end of this month and he won't penalize me for the back rent.  Given that I have been asking for God to move me elsewhere and away from here, I consider it a blessing.  Praise God!  Now, where is God going to place after January 31st?  Only He knows.  But I have to trust Him during this process.

The worst part about this is telling my Mom!  It was hard to hear the shock, anger and disappointment in the tone of her voice.  But in all honesty, my mom, my brother or anybody else does not understand this process that God is putting me through.  She wants me to fight for this apartment and for my rights as a tenant.  What she don't understand is this apartment is nothing more than a security blanket for this family, a clutch, a STRONGHOLD!  Yes, for the latter part of the year, I have been murmuring, complaining, crying, venting and moaning about what I've been going through in 2013.  But how can I say that I put my trust and faith in God if I don't try Him?  In the book of Malachi 3:10, it states "... "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!" (NLV)  

In fact, everything I've gone through since 2009 has been a part of the process.  Everything that I have previously written as well as things that only me and God knows.  Like the time when I had my apartment in 2009 and the Holy Spirit told me to quit my job.  All of those days where I had no money and no food to eat, that I've passed out constantly.  Didn't know how long I've been out or how many days I've been out.  People don't know that!  What people also don't know is that when I moved back in with my brother, all of the humiliation, ridicule and torment he has put me through for the last 3 years!  I hate being talked down to like a child - especially from someone that's younger than me!  The constant smug on his face like he's better than me!  I expected to get that kind of treatment from my haters or from strangers - not from my own blood!  That's truly heartbreaking!   Nobody knows of me crying myself to sleep almost every night for the last 4 years,  the times when I had no job or money, there were days when I was starving, some of my "friends" would give me their scrapes of food they wouldn't eat themselves and pass it on to me like I am a DOG!  Give me clothes they wouldn't wear themselves and when I would wear it to church, they would whisper behind my back telling people "I gave her that.  Don't she look ridiculous?" and laugh at me every single time!  Not realizing that everything that they have given me, God turned it around and made it for my good!  These examples have nearly broke my spirit - but it didn't!

The moral of this story is never judge a person during the pruning process.  Once God brings me to my promise land, I will know that I know that this journey will be all worthwhile.  God has allowed for me to go through all that I have gone through to be a living testimony for those who are CURRENTLY going through these same situations that God CAN and WILL ultimately bring you through!  You don't know my story - that is until now!

Until next time...

New Radio Show! - Chapter 56

Well, before this year comes to a close (finally), I wanted to let you know that I have another internet radio show - this time on Spreaker.  These shows are just strictly music and each episode are pretty much music that I listen to on my ipod regularly.

Check it out!  http://www.spreaker.com/show/the_tonja_e_withers_show

Until next time....

Lord, I Need You Now More Than Ever! - Chapter 55

Father God,

You said in your Word that "no weapon formed against me shall prosper," but I'm being attached on every side.  You said in your Word that "You will not put on me more than I can bear," but I'm at the point that I no longer want to run this race.  You said in your Word that "...you will do exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ever ask or think."  Well, where is it?  Because I don't see it!  You said in Your Word that "...the last shall be first and the first shall be last."  Then why am I last in every point of my life?  When will I be first?  When will I see Your promises?  Where is my expected end?

I'm frustrated, angry, anxious, lonely and depressed.  All I have is Your Word!  Your Word says that "...this walk is not given to the swift, nor to the quick, but for those that will endure until the end.  I can no longer endure.  I don't want to do this anymore.  This walk is so hard.  I don't believe that you truly love me and watch me suffer the way I am.  There are 13 more days until this year is over.  Where's my Genesis 26:12?

I don't want to quit, but I feel that I need to.  Even though I have absolutely nothing to look forward to outside of Your will for my life, being in this walk is so much harder.  I really, really, REALLY need you to give me sign, show me something that is tangible for me to continue with this race.  My mustard seed of faith is breaking down.  I'm calling out to You Lord!  Please show me something tangible!  Forgive me for murmuring and complaining.  Forgive me for not having enough faith in You.  Forgive me for not trusting You.  I'm so tired.  Please forgive me!

What a Year This Has Been - Chapter 54

As I sit here and reflect, 2013 has been the most challenging year of my life.  I left a wicked church in the beginning of the year, some family and folks who I have depended on has abandoned me, some folks I've waked away from for my sanity's sake, got fired from my job, don't know if I will have a roof over my head or not when the year is over, have been off and on in deep depression and I've watched my mother have not one, but two hip replacement surgeries.  The good news - well, I'm still breathing and have a sound mind.  I have one good friend left that I can trust.  So, praise Jesus for that.

Here's the hard core, God's honest truth - I hate my life!  I hate how my life is, I hate that I have absolutely no one to turn to.  I hate when people say to my face that they love me, when deep down they really hate me.  I hate coming home to an empty apartment.  I hate crying myself to sleep every single night.  I hate that some men tries to play with my intelligence when I can see right through them.  I hate living a very lonely life!  I hate the fact in 2009, I surrendered and said yes to God - yes to His will and yes to his way!  Most of all, I hate myself!  

There...I said it!  I don't know what the future holds for me, but I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I'm tired of feeling like a vagabond.  I'm tired of my enemies prevailing over me.  I'm tired of constantly being betrayed and a family member. I'm tired of church folks telling me that I should be praising God, when deep down I am so angry with God!  

Well, at least I'm honest!  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year...I guess!

Until next time....

I Know That I Am A Leader! - Chapter 53

I wasn't feeling well today, so I've stayed home.  Bishop T.D. Jakes' Pastors and Leadership Conference started today and thank God they were live streaming.  He was sharing the following topic; therefore I'm sharing it with you:

The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership

by Bishop T.D. Jakes

From the 2013 Pastors and Leadership Conference

!)  Thou shalt not lead beyond your own exposure!  You cannot lead people where you have never been.

2) Thou shalt not choose your leadership team like you choose your friends!  You cannot choose leaders who thinks like you if you want your ministry to go from glory to glory.

3) Thou shalt not reward nepotism!  Self explanatory (especially if your have family in your ministry!)

4) Thou shalt not avoid confrontation!  Put out the little fires early before they turn into infernos in the church!

5) Thou shalt not over promise and under deliver!  A ministry only grows when it's moving.

6) Thou shalt clearly articulate expectations!  Self explanatory.

7) Thou shalt not mistake regimentation for revelation!  When the church program becomes more important than the Holy Spirit's entrance, then there's a problem!

8) Thou shalt not lead forward without updates!  Always notify your congregation where you and the church is going.

9) Thou shalt not lead without listening!  Self explanatory!

10) Thou shalt cross-pollinate!  Obtain information from other sources and broaden your horizons.  For example, learn about leadership from CEO's of Fortune 500 companies.

I know that I am a leader and I believe that these commandments will help me get from glory to glory!

Until next time...