Sometimes instead of just posting and praying, I have a moment where I want to just cry out and share with my Father and this is okay.  Although I have shared my letter here, I want you to know that it is okay to stop, cry, write, or scream out to God when you need Him.  He knows your struggle and He knows your needs and He is here! Today I am thankful for His omnipresence....So grateful...

If you ever want to pray, or need me to pray for you....Inbox me. I am here.

So, for those of you that have missed me, I am back!! I have been hosting a blog on ChicagoNow called Inspire ME and it takes a lot of time!!

Well, Ms. Tates is now a 10 Year Old Pre-Teen!!!
and I have enjoyed every moment with her!

We travel and read and argue?? (yes, I know), but I love it all.

Except......Mealtime!

That is why I have become SNEAKY MAMA in addition to the FystyMAMA!
My child has a very strong aversion to vegetables and fruit! This drives me crazy because I want to expand our dinner options, but I also want her to enjoy mealtime!

So, I purchased the Deceptively Delicious book, hoping that I could come up with creative ways to sneak veggies into her meals.  THIS BOOK WAS A GOD SEND!

I began blending broccoli and adding it to burgers. I added carrots to cookies and finally, I added blended apples to Kool-Aid!!! Yes, I turned a normally empty drink into a fiber filled delicacy!

So I plan to share my Sneaky Recipes soon, so come back for more!

If you have any deliciously sneaky recipes that have worked for your family, share them with me!

After all, with friends we can make this FystyMama thing look easy!!!

This week on one of my favorite shows #Iyanla Fix My Life, they discussed the infidelity of a Pastor and its effect on the wife, children and parishioners.  This story affected me greatly because it shows that although people are called to a position, the flesh is weak and if we don't die daily, those with greater responsibility will face (and may fall to) greater temptation.

However, I also began to reflect upon times in my life when I let my guard down because of position and promise not realizing the true identity and "mess" in the message.  For example, when I would begin to talk to a man  as a potential "suitor" back in the day, I could recognize "game" instantly.  If he gave me his cell and was vague on the phone and call only during the work hours, I would understand that there is probably another relationship or something he is hiding from me.  I would then discontinue conversations because I did not have time for mess. 

On the other hand when a man from church approaches with the same actions and untruths, I  may let him pass, because he is a "Good Man".  Very similar to the wife in the television scenario, I realized because a man is deemed "of God", attends church, knows the word, and may even preach very well, we, as women, give them extra "grace" or "bonus points" because of their potential. We figure that if he knows God, then he can't be all that bad, and if there is a problem God can fix it, right?

I can admit, I have even had a man in leadership tell me abstinence is Old Testament and we are now under grace! I knew it was wrong, but the man was good looking and had a word in him, so I kept the conversation going.  I began to envision all of the perks (as the wife mentioned on #IFML) of dating this man and ignored the signs! Although I never followed up on "that discussion", I now realize I fell for the banana in the tailpipe in effort to link up with potential instead of recognizing the mess! 

The Bible tells us in Romans 16: 17-18 to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

I thank God for growth and the ability to recognize flattery and deceit in effort to move us away from our Purpose! 

Be strong sisters, He hears us and will soon send the one He kept for us!

Love-

Lady A-TFM

I’m In This Place Kim Stratton-A Prophetic Ministry-Yet the current Soundtrack of My LIFE!!

Scriptural References:

1. Luke 17: 21 KJV-Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 
2. I Corinthians 6: 19-20 KJV- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's 

We have been anointed and appointed for such a time as this! The Glory of the Lord shines both around and within us as we were selected to do a good work in the Kingdom. Prior to our delivery in this world, God decided and planned our destiny and path in life. Once we were birthed into our earthen vessels, we were then allowed to live freely on this Earth, deciding to stay or stray from the path of righteousness. As believers, we know that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead is alive and dwells within us. Thus, I believe that God has instilled in us His glory, majesty and power, and when we are to do a good work on this Earth we have the power to see it to fruition. Likewise, because we are His children and heirs to the throne, if we are ever unable to tap into the power that dwells within us, we have the ability to call our Daddy for assistance. When we seek His face and his presence, our Father will come to comfort and calm us. When we are weak He gives us the strength to endure and restores us.

I chose this song because this year showed me that not only does God hide us from tumultuous circumstances, but He also comes to us in the midst of our trials to show us that He loves us and is never too far away. Sometimes, we get so “bogged down” with the cares of the world that we have to stop and realize He is there, standing right beside us holding our hands. He is right in that very place where we have diligently sought to see His face. Although we can’t always feel it or recognize when we have entered into His presence, He sees and knows what we are going through. Similarly, God continuously guides us and protects us so while we are in the fire we can come out unscathed. I needed to know this during these past few months. Although I know God permissively allows certain circumstances to occur in our lives as a pruning process, there are times when I just become overwhelmed. This song ministers to my spirit as it constantly reminds me that God comes to give us Spiritual Prosperity! For this our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Because He dwells within me, I continuously tap into that inner faith and power to move forward victoriously. He is in this place-my heart, my mind, and my soul! I can trust, lean and cast my cares upon Him, because He has already taken care of it all!

Have You Tapped Into That Power That Works Within YOU? Do you realize God is in This Place?

Love you!

Lady A-The FM

Proverbs 22:1-4

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.

What is in a Name? Yes we were all born and given a name, and as we grow up we decided whether to shorten it, hyphenate it, or change it altogether.  In  a worldly sense, we adapt our name based upon our current circumstances and settings, so that it is acceptable.   For example, as a teen I was Angie, as driving teen I became Baby G, as an adult I prefer Angela.  Yes, as I changed my name changed, yet the purpose and plan for my life remained the same.  People that know the transitioning Angie, Baby G, Angela can link behaviors and ideas to each and every name.  Yet, all the names fit the same purpose and although linked to trouble, at times, overall remained blemish free.  Angela means the Heavenly Messenger, and although I don't believe my parents knew this, I feel it was divinely ordered. It was a good name for me, but what I do with the name, purpose, and plan for my life is up to me.  If I tarnish this "good name" with acts of evil, backbiting  slander, lying, stealing, cheating, and others, I have chosen to move myself out of my purpose and from this God ordained realm of favor, as He freely gives it to all.

I shall Praise the Lord At All Times

The Good News is- if we confess our sins-we have a forgiving God that is faithful and just, and allows us to again walk in our "good name". That name is sometimes all we have, remember Ike and Tina "but only if you let me keep my name". Even if the name is tied to too much iniquity, God will change our "good name" (e.g. Saul) and allows us back into His loving favor, with the ability to move forward, in our purpose, without hindrance from our past.

What is your "good name"?

This is one of my postings from the 31 Days of Proverbs Challenge....There is power in a group of praying women! Join Us.

You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the LORD judges your motives.
 Do what is right and fair; that pleases the LORD more than bringing him sacrifices.
 Wicked people are controlled by their conceit and arrogance, and this is sinful.
 Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough. (Proverbs 21:2-5 GNT)

Motivated Mothers and Daughters-

As we wake each day let us begin in the spirit of worship. Waking early and giving God our attention and our praise shifts us into a realm of clarity. When we tell Him how good he is then he turns around and shares with us who we are! This clarity prevents self promoting, deceptive, and unruly motives which ultimately lead to destruction.  Go before God early and ask Him to order your steps as the steps of the righteous are ordered.  Declare and decree that your day will follow God's plan for your life without hinderance or disturbance from others.  This declaration and worship not only sets the tone for your day, but also prepares you to go forth victoriously and receive the "plenty" God has for you!

Love ya-

Lady A-TFM

This has been an AWESOME week filled with mind blowing Prayer, online bible study and concerts!!  Not only did we interview Worship Leader, Pastor, Writer extraordinaire, Sheryl Brady, but I finally finished the BOOK!! Pastor Brady has authored You Have It in You, and although I had to stop for praise breaks, I  finished reading it!  I received so many messages from God during this time..Destiny delivered in increments..I will detail you later.

I have also received daily blessings from devotional pages on Facebook! First, Bishop TD Jakes has been tweeting his daily pecking orders, as a result of his message at #WTAL.

The second Facebook devotional/bible study l is a group of  Women reading and discussing Proverbs over the course of 31 days!  If you have never read Proverbs, it is a must.  This challenge is pushing us to endure through tough times. We must go through tough pruning seasons, so we are able to grow stronger/tougher fruit!  I know God is trying to do something in me because Proverbs can cut deep.  Today we were given an additional challenge:

Proverbs 31 Challengers: All of you will read this post at different times and on different days. So, after you read it, I submit to you, during your 15 minute daily prayer time, to PRAY FOR THE NEXT 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS for these intangible seeds that will yield a righteous and holy harvest. Seek ye first the KINGDOM OF GOD and HIS righteousness, everything else that you need WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.