Fasten Your Seatbelt

I grew up in a small rural town so needless to say, I’ve seen my share of unpaved, bumpy roads. Just like the paved roads, these unfinished ones will get you to your destination. The way, however, is not smooth sailing. I used to hate those dirt paths because by the time I reached my destination, I felt like I had been mixed in a blender. The constant up and down motion and shaky drive used to make me so dizzy. I wondered why no one bothered to pave those old dirt roads. The ride would have been so much easier.

We can use that same illustration in our lives today. All of us want to be successful and reach our ultimate destination but sometimes, we want to take the easy way out. We never take the opportunity to learn from and appreciate those bumps in the road. Those side streets and unpaved roads in life are designed to develop us into better people. If we allow them to, they will make us stronger. Each bump in the road of life should be evaluated. When we encounter trials and tribulations, we should ask God what he wants us to learn. We should try to discover what God is trying to tell us from the situations we find ourselves in. If you face trials with a defeatist attitude, you may miss your blessing. All of the difficulties we face in life are just a part of the journey. Every day is not going to be sunshine and roses, but we have to remember that God has given us everything we need to make it through those hardships.

Life can throw us some devastating blows if we are not equipped to handle them. That’s why we have to be certain that we are grounded in the word of God. When trials come and we can reflect on the promises of God, we have the extra push we need to keep moving forward. We’ve all heard the expression, “no pain, no gain.” If we don’t have to work hard to achieve success, oftentimes we will take that success for granted. When you can look at your life now and see all of the things that God has brought you through, you realize that every trial that you went through was worth it. Every tear you cried, every disappointment, every challenge has made you into the person you are today. 

When God chooses you to go through a difficult task, he knows that you have the strength to pass the test. All you have to do is put your trust in him and follow his instructions. Once you come out of the test, God will reward you for your obedience. I thank God for every time he sent me down an unpaved, bumpy road. I’ve learned and grown from each test and trial. All of  the adversity I have faced in life has made me into the woman I am today. You see if we follow the path that God has designed for us and not try to fight where God is trying to take us, we can look back and see that every pitfall in our life has been for our good. So, the next time you have to take a detour and you find yourself on one of those unpaved bumpy roads, just fasten your seatbelt. Let God guide your path and when you reach your destination, those bumps in the road will be worth it!


Scripture for today: I Peter 4:12-13

An Encounter With God

My first experiment with poetry...hope you enjoy it!

I looked up and found myself in a barren place

I cried out for a familiar voice but no one answered

There was no help in sight

I wondered to myself, how did I get here?

In the midst of my despair I heard a voice say

“You were never alone, I’ve been here always”

Who could it be? The voice I hear so clearly

A voice unfamiliar, but comforting in deed

Scared to ask who is behind the voice

To my surprise, I begin to speak

“Who are you? Where did you come from?”

The voice responds and I listened intently

“I am your sovereign King

The one who watches over you when you sleep

Your biggest supporter

Your very best friend”

Oh no! This cannot be

I’ve heard other tales of an encounter with God

I never thought the experience would be mine

How could God speak to me?

I’ve done so much wrong

Hurt so many

Ran so far away from his arms

God said, “I never gave up on you

I’ve always been speaking

But you chose not to hear

Now that you are listening

I can give you a life beyond your dreams”

In that moment it all made sense

I was meeting God for the very first time

All the darkness faded away

And I was experiencing the light

Never again will I run away

The joy I feel can’t be replaced

Today is the day my life has changed

The day I had an encounter with God

A Delay is not a Denial

The word of God is packed full of promises. When you read those promises, you cannot look at your current situation and get frustrated. If God speaks a word into your life or gives you a vision, you have to have confidence that it will come to pass. It doesn't matter where you may find yourself right now, you have to believe that God is able to do exactly what he says. The other morning I began my meditation time reading in the book of Genesis. I came upon the story of Abraham who was blessed and highly favored by God. When God came to Abraham and told him that he would be a father of many nations and he would have a seed, God did not say when it would happen. Abraham and Sarah, his wife, were old in age and in the natural it looked like it would be impossible for them to have children. Even though they believed what God said, they wondered how it would come to pass and eventually they figured they would help God out and Abraham slept with Hagar, their maid, and had a son. Even though they faltered away from where God was trying to take them, God did not go back on his promise. It took many years for them to bear a child, but they continued to believe that God would honor his promise. Sarah bore a son in her old age and Abraham's seed began to grow.

After reading this story, I heard God say that a delay is not a denial. It doesn't matter how long it takes for God's promises to be realized, they will come to pass. It is our responsibility not to try to handle things on our own or try to help God do his job. We have to remain faithful and trust that God knows what is best for us. Sometimes God needs to continue to work on us so that we will be ready to receive the blessing that He has for us. In the development stage, you get to grow closer to God and delve deeper into his word. Don't take that time for granted.

If you take the time to develop your faith walk, you will see that God wants to use you to show the world that He is still a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)  Don't get discouraged by what you see in front of you. Look beyond that and realize that God is just waiting for the right time to pour his abundant favor into your life. Don't quit when the going gets tough. This is the time to pray harder, trust in God more than you ever have, and wait to receive what He has for you. When God blesses you, the time you spent waiting will be worth it. He can do more for you than you can ever do on your own. Be encouraged!

The Earth is the Lords

During my meditation time this morning, I read the 24th Psalm which starts off by saying "The Earth is the Lords." I've read this passage of scripture so many times, but today it really hit home for me. If we really get it into our spirit that the Earth and all of its inhabitants belong to God, we should never have any cause to worry. We spend so much time wondering where the state of this world is going. We worry about finances, if our children will be safe and what the future will hold. We have to realize that God is the supreme ruler and He has everything under control. Sometimes we go about life thinking that things happen haphazardly or by chance. God knows exactly where he wants us to be, and if we take the time to listen, we will never have to wonder if we are making the right choices. God will direct our path.


Bad things do happen in life, but we can choose to move forward instead of letting tragedy consume us. Because the Earth is the Lords, we should have confidence that his will is going to be done. If you are a child of God, you are on the winning side. Stop worrying every time you see a news report. Don't listen to the reports that say there won't be enough Social Security in the future. When God gets ready to bless you, the critics can say there is no hope in sight, but God will pour out his abundant blessings in your life.


We have to keep reminding ourselves that we serve the true and living God. He is so powerful that his words brought this entire world into existence. If you think about God like that, how could you ever worry? When you put your trust in God and submit to his will, you can have confidence that your future will be brighter and more blessed than you could ever dream of.


Don't let the enemy deceive you. There is no cause to fear. If you choose Christ, don't worry, you will come out victorious!

Progress Report 2

Over the course of five months I have been working on my second book. I am still amazed at all that God is showing me through my writing. When God gave me the concept for this book I realized that it was an opportunity for me to grow closer to him. You see we can never learn enough about God and his word. Everyday with God is a blessing and its a chance to build a deeper connection with him. That's what this second book is all about. With the state of the world today, we can't rely on material things to give us peace of mind. God never changes and if we take the initiative to listen, He will give us the road map to our life's journey. I finished my second book last week and I am now at the point of going over what I've written to make sure I have properly conveyed the message I want to send. I had originally anticipated the second book to be released by March, but the way things are going, it may be sooner than that. My first book, The Job Experience is doing well and I am so grateful for what God is doing in my life. I enjoy hearing the way the book has inspired and motivated people because that is what my journey was all about. All the adversity I faced was so that I could encourage others to keep trusting in God no matter what obstacles life brings. Keep checking for updates, my next book will be available soon. To God be the Glory!

Don't Forget Who You Are!

Life is full of challenges. Oftentimes we can feel like the walls are closing in and we don't have any fight left. If we don't have a solid foundation in God, it is easy to give up and throw up the white flags of defeat. Instead of giving up, we have to remember who we are. We were created in the image and likeness of God. We come from greatness. Our Father is the one who stepped into nothingness and with his words, he created this world. I'm sure if you sit back and think you may start to ponder on all the things that are wrong in your life. Can we switch that around for a moment? The next time you feel like you can't make it, think about all the blessings you have. Realize that you come from royalty. If you desire to do the will of God, he can pour his favor in your life. Yes, you will have to cry sometimes. You will get frustrated, but you will not be defeated. Don't forget who you are! You are a chosen vessel, designed by God; unique and special. We can make it through difficulties and come through the fire unscathed.

In your meditation time Read II Corinthians 4...The enemy can try his best to make you give up, but if you stand on the word of God, you will have the victory!

The Past is Over

This morning I woke up with a vivid memory of the past. It wasn't a pleasant time in my life. During that period I was unable to distinguish between what I wanted and what God was trying to do through me. As I pondered on the painful memories of the past, I kept wondering why I started thinking about such a hurtful time when I had declared that the past was over. Then I realized something. The past is just a reminder of the things we've learned, mistakes we've made and primarily an opportunity for growth. Sometimes memories of past hurt and disappointment may creep into our minds, but it is how we react to them that makes the difference. If we use the past as a tool to become a better person, we have literally stomped on the devil's head. The enemy's tactical plan is to have us dwell in the past and get depressed. He wants us to wish we could go back and change things. We all know that we can't change what has happened in the past, but we can take charge of the present and our future.

If we make a conscious effort to let go of the past, we give God the opportunity to work miracles in our lives. Sure there are some things in our past that were so hurtful that it is hard to even fathom how we made it through it, but we did. Those past hurts, let downs and disappointments shape us into who we are.

I am an avid Rocky fan and on the last Rocky movie, he is having a conversation with his son. Because of the notoriety of Rocky, his son has always felt like he was in his shadow and he never had a chance to have something all his own. Rocky gives his son a life lesson. He tells him that this world can be a cold and cruel place. But its not about how hard you get hit in life, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. We have to have that same mentality when we reflect on the past. Yes it has caused some devastating blows, but guess what you're still here. Take time to grow and learn from the past. Don't let it consume you. You don't have to let the mistakes of the past define who you are today. The word declares that your latter days will be greater than your past. Now walk in it!

Video of the Day: Moving Forward by Israel Houghton

Feeling vs. Knowing

When you give your life over to God, you become a new creature. You have immediately transcended from death to eternal life. But sometimes we forget to realize that we still have that old mind set. New Christians and even mature one's sometimes beat themselves up when they think negative thoughts or have feelings that don't line up with the word of God.  Because we were all born into sin, our innate desire is to fulfill those lusts. When we come to Christ, we have to exchange our thoughts for what the word of God says.

This Christian experience cannot be based on what we feel but it has to be grounded on what we know. When we study the word of God, we become equipped to take control over our emotions. If we let our emotions rule us it is easy to fall into lustful desires, unforgiveness, and even entice us back into the world's system. The first step in controlling our emotions is to stop and not react instantly. For example, if you are talking with someone and you start to feel like the conversation is not heading in the right direction, the best thing to do is end it and come back to it later. If you continue and let your emotions take over, you may say something that you will later regret. I have waited several days before returning to a conversation when I felt that I needed more time to be strong enough to resist letting my emotions take over.

The second key is to go to the word of God when you start to have negative feelings. Take losing your job for instance. The first thing most of us would think about is how the bills are going to get paid. We would start to worry and maybe even get depressed. If we open up our bible and read, we will discover that God says he will supply all of our need. The word of God has an answer for any situation you are faced with.  If you don't dwell on how you feel, but go to God instead, I guarantee your whole perception of your situation will change.

Lastly, we have to realize that our feelings don't determine the outcome, the word of God does. Just because we feel a certain way doesn't mean it is true. If you make up in your mind that you are going to serve God regardless of how you feel, in time, your feelings will begin to change and will line up with what God says. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes work to build your faith walk and take charge over your emotions. Feeling and knowing are two different things. You can feel like you can't make it, but you have to know that God is always with you. You may feel like your illness is taking over, but you have to know that God is a healer. Situations can come to destroy you, but God says that we are more than conquerors. Believe that God is going to do a new thing in you and he will. Don't get discouraged by how you feel, know that God is able.

When we continue to meditate on the word of God, our feelings will start to change. We will begin operating in the know. The enemy will always try to make you feel things that don't line up with God's word. When you are grounded and rooted in the word, you can immediately counteract those feelings and exchange them for the never failing word of God. Keep giving your situation over to God and know that he desires the best for you. Be Blessed!

Video of the Day: I Believe by James Fortune

My First Author Interview!

I have been hard at work promoting my first book The Job Experience and I am excited about what God is doing in the midst of everything. When you get a chance, check out my first author interview on joeypinkney.com. I know that this is the beginning of great things to come.

http://joeypinkney.com/african-american-author/5-minutes-5-questions-with-margaret-wesley-author-of-the-job-experience.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JoeyPinkney+%28FeedBurner%29

A Change in Seasons

Every morning I get out with my twins and we walk around the neighborhood. Today, however, something was different. When I opened the door I felt the brisk air of Fall settling in. Yes, I could have bundled up the boys and braved the cold weather. Instead, I decided to stay inside where it was warm and comfortable.

I began to think about this scenario in the spiritual. God's word says that there is a time for everything. A different season to plant and a different season to harvest. Based on the season we are in, we have to make some adjustments. If we are in a season of waiting, we have to equip ourselves for when the harvest comes. We can't just sit idle and let our new season pass us by. Our attitude shouldn't change based on what season we are in, but we can put strategies in place to prepare for where God is going to take us next.

If you are in the midst of a trial, you should start to envision yourself coming out. If you are in a season of prosperity, you should always be prepared for whatever the enemy may try to throw your way. Don't stay inside and roll up in a ball because of what season you are in. Preparation and Expectation should be ever present when you are dealing with the things of God. I shouldn't have changed my routine just because the season had changed. That's how we have to be with God.

We need to recognize what season we are in so God can move in our lives. Too often, we are so ready to get out of what we are going through that we don't take the time to find out what God wants to show us through our situation. We should take every opportunity to grow from our adversity. Just like I opened the door this morning and felt the shift in seasons, God wants to do the same thing in the spiritual. We can all have the abundance that God intended for us from the beginning.

Video of the Day: Don't do it without me, Bishop Paul S Morton. Get ready to come into your new season!

Progress Report

My second book is really taking shape. I guess it was a week or so ago that I changed the whole direction of this book. I had the title already in place and I thought I was close to the finish line. God had a different plan and he shook everything up. I changed my title and added four additional chapters. I am so excited about the new concept of this book and I am confident that it will be a source of inspiration to all who read it. With this new vision in place, I spent most of the day on Thursday writing. I got so much accomplished and I even developed a concept for the cover. This book is all about building our connection to God and how we can reach that higher level of intimacy with him. I hesitate to give much more information about the book as of now because God may decide to build on what he has given me so far. I am just yielding myself to where God wants to take me. Stay tuned for more updates....

Success: God's Way

When you ask someone what they want to accomplish in life, one of the first things they will say is that they want to be successful. Well, success is difficult to attain if you look at the world's view. The world bases success on the material things you possess. The kind of car you drive and the type of house you live in are determining factors in your impending success. I argue that the world's view of success is skewed. There will always be someone with a nicer car or a bigger house than you have. We will always be in competition with others if we look at success in that way.

If we go to God and ask him for his direction, he will put us in a class all our own. Because we were each uniquely designed, there is something we have to offer this world that no one else can. When we ask God to show us our purpose, we have just opened the door to the overflow of success in our lives. If you have been called to teach, you have an opportunity to change the life of every person that enters your classroom. Every time I begin to share my thoughts on this blog, I have an opportunity to encourage someone. Whatever gift God has placed inside of you is special. That's what you should measure your success by.

If you are striving to be the man or woman that God designed you to be, you are already successful. Stop looking at the world for validation of how successful you are. When you choose to obey God, the abundance will come. If you have yet to discover your purpose, pray for his guidance. He is just waiting to open his good treasure to you. When he does, you will be amazed at what he has planned for your life. He wants to give you his version of a never ending success story.

In your meditation time, read Deuteronomy 28:1-14. God wants to bless us beyond measure. The only prerequisite is obedience to his will. Be encouraged.

Maximize Your Potential

Have you ever felt like your best wasn't good enough? I know I've been there so many times. And even now, those little thoughts try to creep in. I sometimes wonder if I'll be able to add value to people's lives through my writing. I don't want to write just to make money. I want to make a difference. What I've come to realize is that the enemy wants to stop all of us from reaching our full potential. He wants to flood our minds with self-doubt. When that happens, we have to remember that God designed us in his image. We are not destined to fail. We come from royalty and we should always keep that in the forefront of our minds.

Are you letting the enemy stop you fom maximizing your potential? If you are, today is the day to stand up, dust yourself off and get back in the fight. We all have a purpose. Go out there and fulfill your destiny. That's exactly what I plan to do.

Awhile back, I heard a song by Donald Lawrence called There is a king in you. I hope you will get inspired by this song in the same way I did.

The journey begins

I've heard so much about the benefits of blogging that I decided to join in the fun. My first book is out and available for purchase. Now I am hard at work on my second book. I actually started writing as a way to cope during a particularly trying time in my life. Little did I know, God was arranging everything together so that I would find my purpose in life. I never dreamed of being a writer. It wasn't even on my list of things to do. God had a plan and he turned all of my tragedy into triumph with the release of my first book, "The Job Experience." Now that I am working on my second book, I can see the vision that God has for me clearly. My writing process is different now. Before it was very therapeutic because I was coming from a place of pain. With this new process I am studying and researching more. I am working hard to perfect my craft. Most importantly, I want to make sure I am humbling myself so that I can hear God's voice. I'm all about purpose and vision in life. I would love to hear your own stories of how God showed you your purpose.