A waiting room is noisy, crowded and the wait time can be long. Some may have been waiting a few days or even years for something. You doubt where is God? Is He going to fulfill His promise? Is He going to provide? Why does it seem as though others do not have to wait? These are only a few questions considered while waiting. 

To wait simply means to delay something, to postpone, to look forward to eagerly, to be available or in readiness or to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens. 

Waiting is not easy especially when you feel you are needing something instantly. 

Waiting takes humility and trust when you are expecting your need or want to be met.  

Waiting takes integrity and boldness before God. 

During the season of waiting, sometimes we have thought about giving up. We often ponder how we will make it through another day. The waiting season appears long and our thoughts of anxiety and wonder absorb us. Maybe you are waiting for healing in your body? Or a spouse that you have longed for? Or a baby you have had difficulty conceiving? Or a new job? Or redemption for a family member struggling? Philippians 4:19, says, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Being confidence is knowing that God will meet every need that we have especially when we are following Him in obedience. 

God wants us to profit a new perspective in waiting. He desires a change in our attitude towards this season of waiting. How do we handle the situations that we face? How do we develop this spiritual character? When God allows adversity to stagger in His waiting room we can either sink into discouragement or we can trust God through the difficulty and the blessing. He allows this to strengthen our faith and purify our attitude. You may pose the question: Why doesn't God open up an opportunity for me? I've prayed and prayed and I'm not married or my marriage is still broken, I without a child, my sickness is worsening or my family member continues to struggle. Just because we don't see the immediate evidence of God's work doesn't mean that He has not answered our prayers. Waiting simply means God has a greater purpose. He has a plan for every problem and frustration we face. 

Keep a good attitude and trust Him. Don’t choose to turn away to meet your own needs. Keep your eyes on Him no matter what. James 1:2-4 says, My brethren counted all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience but let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.

-Leslie Marks, MSN, FNP-BC

March Thoughts 

March

A word that describes moving.  In this month, let's March. March pass limited beliefs about ourselves, our GOD, our friends and our families. March pass generational limited thinking that it can't happen for me because of this or that.

March pass the things you would have or should have done. 

March pass the negative thoughts and opinions that have been spoken in the atmosphere about you or others. 

March forward into end less limitless possibilities that are waiting for you to discover. 

March Forward!  

Philippians 

  3:13 - 3:14 KJV 

 
¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

_{-Shendoria Middlebrooks ,BSECE}

Positive Thinking

 “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” 

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Faithful

"We fall, we break, we fail, But then, We rise, we heal, we overcome.”-Author unknown

Ashamedly, each time I experience the Lord’s faithful, I am still in awe as if it were the first time He covered me in His love. So often I complain that life is not moving as I think it should, I am not progressing as I think I should, or I am going through difficulty that I don’t think I should. And yet, somehow God carries me through the difficult times, holds me close, builds me back together, piece by piece, with His restorative hands. Then He gently leads me back out to keep pushing and striving. The cycle continues, I get knocked down again and the Father’s faithfulness finds me again, cares for me so perfectly and repairs the brokenness again.

God’s Faithfulness is great. We all experience fiery trials throughout our life’s journey. As the days draw closer to the Lord’s Majestic Return, I feel the battle heightened and most rigorous than years past. We depend on the Lord’s faithfulness more and more to carry us through to victory, while enduring such fierce trials and training for our day of eternal deliverance.

Recently, I started shopping for a new exterior door. There’s been some difficulty with the hinges and the door is wearing down. As I began shopping, the idea of new features came up with so many options to choose from, I was shocked! It seems ridiculous that the cost of a new door would be so expensive, but I understand the importance of a safe, sturdy door as an entry to my home. My current door is a solid color, and I would prefer something that will bring in natural light but will provide privacy as needed. The clear windows don’t provide much privacy but bring in the most natural light. My eyes were quickly drawn to the stained-glass windows that provides such a beautiful masterpiece and reflective light from the natural sky, that this just stuck with me. Some the stained-glass pieces were etched in various designs, some had a tint of color that were beautiful, but nonetheless, all the stained-glass windows were individual pieces that were connected to create a beautiful art piece. There was a story behind each piece of art, there were different shapes and sizes, although they were all framed so perfectly within the door.

Each time the Lord pieces me back together, after I have been shattered and despairingly crushed, I hope that I will remember that just maybe I can be a beautiful masterpiece. A piece of artwork that my Father has so intently and specifically designed with each etch, carve, or pattern, to create a memorable and strong masterpiece.

May we reflect on the Lord’s precious faithfulness that allows us to wake each morning and keep moving forward.

With Love,

Patricia

Patricia Velasquez, PTA, BS, CWCA, CLT

 

If you’ve never struggled with your mental health, it can be hard to understand what it feels like to have your mind and body hijacked by the crushing weights of anxiety, depression, or other debilitating mental illnesses; I assure you, as someone that has walked this trying road, there is more to these terrifying experiences than a lack of a proper understanding of God’s Word. 

God’s Word is an amazing tool that does help us all find healing in our lives. Nonetheless, many times when we are experiencing clinical forms of mental distress, we also need the help of our community and professionals to find balance in our bodies again. Don't be afraid to get help.

Understanding the physical connections between our bodies and minds helps to free us of the shame and guilt that holds us back from seeking healing through a holistic approach. God uses many ways for us to find peace not only through our connection with his Holy Word and prayer, however also through seeking health for our bodies, mind and spirit that promotes our physical and mental well-being because health and wellness will always work hand in hand.

Prioritization plays a crucial role in maintaining physical and mental health. By prioritizing activities like exercise, healthy eating, and self-care, we can improve our overall well-being.

Psalms 119:15

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

What Is Prayer?

 Prayer is communication between us and the Lord. Prayer is a two-way conversation and we cheapen it if all we do is talk. The best conversations that we will ever have are back and forth conversations. Make sure that you’re allowing yourself to listen to God. There is so much that the Lord desires to tell you. Let’s not only be good talkers, but also good listeners.

"It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without heart." "Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsted that we may thirst for him." "Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of Containing God's gift of himself."

Encouraging Prayer Quotes

"Saints of God need to become more separated in the matter of prayer, and fasting adds intensity and power to prayer. 

The Rewards of Fasting.

 -Rev. B.R. Hicks 

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." 

- Max Lucado

"Prayer lays hold of God's plan and becomes the link between his will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit's prayer." 

- Elisabeth Elliot

 PRAYER IS …“Difficult times are pregnant with glory moments just waiting to be birthed in the lives of those willing to labor through the pain.”

-Sharon Jaynes

"Prayer is to surrender to God's will, not yours."

 - Regina Marks

"To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse. "

- Charles Spurgeon