The Love of the Light

I am the light of the world. 
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. - Jesus 
John 8:12

December is a beautiful month celebrating the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. It is also a very hard time for many that have lost family and friends and those who are alone. Let's not us forget them and pray for God's Love to be upon them during this time. 

As we approach the closing of a year into the New Year lets reflect on all the memories and moments we had. May we always seek to Love the Lord with all our hearts. May we always be obedient to His Word and to things He calls us to do.  May we embrace the New Year with gladness for all God has done in our lives and still yet to do. 

God Loves you so much.

For God so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

That is the gift, The Love of the Light... Jesus!

Praying you have a very Blessed Christmas & New Year.

The Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt in case your not familiar is a party game, an outdoor game in which participants have to collect a number of miscellaneous objects on a list created by the organizer. It's actually fun. The last time I played was with friends on St. Augustine Beach until recently I played the game with God. Back in St. Augustine I just had my girl scout knowledge and a determination to win, but this time around I had my Bible and prayer. I took this journey led by God completely, nobody knew about it. But the thing was I told God I will do these things to disprove what He was telling me was true. Like in the movie God's not Dead, the devout Christian student must prove the existence of God to his professor, I was set out to disprove not God but things about myself that He was telling me. It's like is that me God? Or is that you speaking? God gave me His list of items to do and not to do. I followed intently with prayer and my Bible. A journey that I may share one day, but for now it remains with God and I. This invested time for eternity sake proved to be one of the most beautiful in awe times in my life with God. He revealed way more than I was asking for about myself, others and life. But He is like that as the Bible tells us in Ephesians 3:20- Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think. 

Today you sit on your bunk hanging with your bunky or at chow or your the one at work in the free world reading this. This message is for you today. God loves you. God is crazy madly in love with you. But God wants to hear from you, it's been way too long. He misses you. Your struggles have been more than He ever wanted for you and He has never been blind to them. He has been relentlessly seeking you with His Love. Will you consider today to take your own scavenger hunt with the Lord? Will you consider investing sometime in with Him to draw closer to Him? The girl reading this in confinement, you can do this too, just start by talking to Him. If your not sure about all this, perhaps take the rest of November and thank God each day for something. He is worthy to be praised and thanked. I promise you if you take the time to hang with God you will be refreshed with clarity, liberty, boldness, sensitivity, insight and free from all the petty worries around you that will not matter in the bigger picture. I pray in Jesus Name you wait no longer and start today! I'm believing for you and if nobody has told you lately, you are loved and special. Your so special that He only created one you. Be yourself and if you think of it, look up, God is an amazing artist, literally the best.

The Judge & The Jury Box

When I was 14 years old I went to youth hall which is like a jail for kids. I was placed there for something I didn't do. After about two months the Judge placed me in a half way girls home for about a month. This was my first experience with judges and it started a fear cycle in my life. This person was able to take away my freedom.

Many years later I got involved with a guy who went to jail and prison many times for stealing large amounts of money from places like fast food chains to banks to bakeries to neighbors. He also had a drug problem. I was in and out of courts with him and felt that fear once again of a judge having that control over his freedom and well mine too.

Then years later I married Steve. I spent literally over 10 years as his paralegal, counsel and the Pro Se behind the scene. I had no peace as with each court hearing something else happened or didn't happen and once again at the mercy of a judge. The fear grew deep within even though I was not the subject at hand, just entering into a court room or the thought of one made me full of fear and to be honest literally sick.

I knew my fears yet I didn't think it was something that was a big deal in my life since court hearings eventually end. However, the end still leaves you with yourself. In January of 2012 I got a summons for Jury Duty back in Miami. I had them numerous times in the past and dealt with it. This time I was so fear stricken that when Steve asked me what I wanted for valentine's I told him get me out of going to jury duty. I was at the end of recovering from knee surgery so it was all good and I was back happy, but yet nothing was really resolved within my heart.  

On August 1, 2013 we moved to Davenport and within in a few months I got a jury notice as seen in the picture above. I began crying out to God for help. That fear rose up and I knew I was in total bondage of a Judge who really was just a man or a woman. I fasted and God showed me that they are just people. They sleep, eat, get dressed just like me. I am no different than them and He created them like me. He also reminded me that if I could kneel and fall on my face with Him I could stand up to any giant in my life. I reported for Jury Duty, feeling better but still somewhat uneasy. Out of the pool of 500 of course I was one of the ones selected for a jury questioning. As I began to enter the courtroom my name was called separate from everyone else... of course it was...I was placed in the "Jury Box". This is the place where they asked you more questions than the other perspective jurors. After it was over I had a peace come over me and I believed I was totally free of the fear of man. 

God put me to the test in 2016 when I was placed in Federal Court and had no fear and won the case in the middle of 2017! A true David and Goliath story. So I said all that to say this. There are many of you that are in fear of man or the judge in your case because they hold your future. Please hear me..only GOD holds your future. He is the one that no matter what you've done or haven't done He loves you and He goes before you. DO NOT place a judge or a person above GOD! He is the only One that holds your future and when you place your trust in Him you will find peace and be kept safe.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25. 

Today, honestly I have zero fear of man. God has made me totally strong in my weakness because I have placed my trust in Him and Him alone. He is in control no matter what. I pray if you struggle with a judge with pending court hearings or with your boss, your family and friends whoever that you too will lay it down and let Him free you in Jesus Name. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. I promise you that He will free you as He did me! And just so you know...I'm thankful for God pushing me past what I couldn't handle in that Jury Box because now I only fear out of Love the Judge on The Throne. 

Let Me Remind You-

Let me remind you that He loves you. 

No matter where you find yourself today, 

in the valley, 

the mountain top and 

everything in between 

He Loves you. 

I pray these lyrics Bless you.

David Crowder Band

"How HE Loves"

(originally by John Mark McMillan)

He is jealous for me,

Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, 

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

And, Oh how He loves us, oh,

Oh, how He Loves us,

How He loves us all.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes.

If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.

And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest.

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

When I think about the way...

That He loves us,

Oh, how He loves us

Oh, how He loves us,

Oh, how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us

But First She Prayed

“When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. 

And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:15

These are the very courageous words of the Queen of Persia, Esther, as she prepared to approach a very young, inexperienced and emotional King Xerxes to plead with him to stop the TOTAL annihilation of the Jewish people. If the king was in a bad mood that day, he could have her killed instantly, even though she was Queen, and more importantly, his bride. What courage this must have taken, what a magnificent statement of faith Queen Esther displayed as she unselfishly prepared to sacrifice her life for her people.

Do you know that the Name of God is NOT mentioned anywhere in the story of Esther in the Bible, yet we see such magnificent evidence of HIS Hand all over the story. And the greatest evidence that we see of His mercy and grace in Esther, the absolute beauty of what we call “Reversal of Destiny”.

 

In Esther, we are given a close up look at the ongoing struggle of satan against the purposes of God and especially against His promised Messiah. The birth of Christ into the human race was totally dependent upon the existence of the Jewish race. Just as Haman plotted against the Jews in order to destroy them, so has satan set himself against Christ and God’s people. Just as Haman is defeated on the gallows he built for Mordecai, so does Christ use the very weapon that his enemy devised to destroy Him and His spiritual seed. For the cross, by which satan planned to destroy the Messiah, was the very means through which Christ “having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” Colossians 2:14-15

Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai, 

so the devil was crushed by the cross he erected to destroy Christ.

Esther proved to have a godly and very humble spirit that also showed great strength and willing obedience. Esther’s humility was very different from those around her, 

and this caused her to be elevated into the position of queen.

Woman everywhere would do well to emulate her godly attitudes in all areas of life, but especially in trials. Not once is there a complaint or bad attitude exposed in the Book of Esther. Many times we read she won the "favor" of those around her. This “favor” is what ultimately saved her people. We can be given such favor as we accept even unfair persecution and follow Esther’s example of maintaining a positive attitude, coupled with humility and the determination to lean on and fully trust in God.

So, in closing, it does not matter whether in prison or the free world, Jew or Gentile, white or black, rich or poor. We are all placed here to show love, grace, mercy, humility and unselfishness to ALL people, regardless of our circumstance, regardless of the cost!

Who knows but maybe God has placed YOU in such a position, for just such a time as this?

Happy Mother's Day 2017

A short but full of Love post to say....

"Happy Mother's Day" to all YOU beautiful Mom's. 

May your day be filled with nothing but sweet times. 

Sending lots of Love and comfort to those who will be

without their Mom's for the first time this holiday, 

I know how you feel. 

Happy Mother's Day to first time Mommies 

may you experience nothing but 

joy with your new bundle of joy.

Mom's,  your kids are out there, but keep standing on His promise, 
they will be back. 
May your day be filled with Hope. 

God Bless all Mom's and may God Bless you in your lying down, rising up, going out, coming in and make all your plans succeed with great peace and joy. 

Much Love,

Trachena

True Friends

Be careful who you surround yourself with! 

True friends are always seeking your good, while false friends merely seek good from you.

"Wounds from a sincere friend are better 

than many kisses from an enemy"

(Proverbs 27:6 NLT)

The Vine

Many of you reading this post today are getting out of prison soon and stepping into a new season of your life. I am excited for every single one of you! I love you affectionately! And I love you enough to share some truth and wisdom with you of what I've experienced in the last 8 years in prison ministry. 
First, let me say WITH GOD all things are possible!

1. Put God first in everything you do. If HE is truly at the center then everything will come together. Live for Him first and seek Him in all you do. (Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding, but in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path)

2. Some of you getting out shouldn't go back to your families home. If you've made Christ the love of your life, your first Love in prison, getting out and going to an environment that doesn't share the same Love for Him will corrupt you. (1 Corth 15:33 Bad company corrupts good character) Seek out a Christian transitional home, if you need help we can research some for you. I've seen time and time again girls getting out and going back to the homes of family and slipping right back into a ungodly lifestyle.

3. Jesus is your Love. Let Him guide you into healthy Godly relationships. A man will not save you. Do not look for a man to rescue you. Your worth is found in Him alone. Take time to get to know the new free world you've walked into rather than running to the arms of a man. I've seen many get out and fall from a broken heart of promises of a man. Wait on God. True Love waits. 

4. Plug into Godly friendships, your old friends, old places will do nothing for you but get you in trouble. Join a church within the first week of getting out so you can develop relationships that seek to know Him. You are always welcomed to call or text me anytime for prayer or just to talk. I have many that do this. 

5. A job-some of you are highly motivated to get a job into awesome careers. But be wise, it will only be with God that you will be able to do this. Depending on your record you may not get many jobs you hoped for, know this in advance. One girl got out and wanted to be a nurse and the state boards of nursing wouldn't allow her with her record. If you want to work with children, teens, young adults and have a serious record perhaps you should consider another field of work. However if God wants you in this particular sector He will open the doors, but it can only come from His favor. Please know this before getting out, this particular girl was heart broken. 

These are just a few things I've watched unfold and hope it helps you make healthy decisions before and after you get out. And remember this scripture..
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing".  John 15:5

Stay connected with Him no matter what!

Love you so much!
Trachena

You Are VALUABLE

You Are VALUABLE

You Are SPECIAL

You MATTER

Just because someone can't see your worth, doesn't mean you are not valuable. 

You are valuable to God.

Psalm 139

1-You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.

2-You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3-You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

4-Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

5-You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

6-Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7-Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8-If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9-If I rise on wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10-even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

11-If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

12-even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

13-For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14-I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

15-My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16-Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were 

written in your book before one of them came to be.

17-How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

18-Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-

when I awake, I am still with you.

19-If only you, God would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20-They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.

21-Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22-I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.

23-Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24-See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You Are Incredibly Made by The Maker of Heaven And Earth.

Rejoice!

You Are Beautifully Unique And Bountifully Loved. 

Ducks and Then Stella

This picture above was taken in May of 2015. As many of you know we have a homeless pet ministry called SpinkyPets. These are 10 babies and both Dad and Mom on our patio. We raised these ducks until they were big enough to fly. We watched days where Dad and Mom would teach them. I personally grew to Love them deeply, I am sure Steve did too. We also feed many cats too which we Love. At this time we were feeding Spencer and Sabrina two cats that had many babies over a 2 year span. One day Mom Sabrina ran up on our patio and took one of the baby ducks. I watched in horror. I watched Sabrina take this baby duck all the way to the forest behind our home. I sat and cried for hours, I mean really cried like a baby and couldn't stop. My heart was broken! I cried out to God asking why! I get teary even today thinking of that day and how Dad and Mom ducks were so unsettled as they watched Sabrina the cat take one of their babies. 

God cares about every detail of your life. He cares when you cry over baby ducks, He cares when people hurt you or mistreat you. He cares about everything that concerns you. We don't always see or believe that especially when we are going through pain. We know He is faithful and we put our trust in Him. Gal 5:6 says; The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through Love. We put our Faith in The One who holds everything. We know that He works everything out for the good of those who Love Him and are called according to His purposes-Romans 8:28 right?

On January 22, 2016 God blessed me with Stella. She truly is a God girl cat. I know that God gave me Stella, I could write a post for days of all the things God showed me that He gave me Stella. The one I want to share is this-That horrible day of May 7, 2015 when I watched in disbelief "Sabrina" the cat take that baby duck I loved so much, well Sabrina was being a Mom that needed to feed her litter of babies that were born on April 20, 2015. And guess what? Stella was one of those babies! I can't tell you in words or express the depth of my Love for Stella today, but I know God gave her to me. He saw me that day crying deeply over a duck and then blessed me with Stella who survived by eating that duck!

God cares! HE Loves you! And if you will put your trust in Him 100%, He will always work things out for your good even if they don't seem good then, later on you will reap a blessing from Him. 

Here is my baby girl Stella who I rescued from the wild. She was born on the floor of the forest. I've had so many cats over the years, but she by far exceeds any cat I've had, because not only is she like almost perfect (literally) but because this was God's gift to me.  

Thank you Melissa!!

WOW! I've been in tears all day! 

I got a letter today from Melissa whom God 

has allowed me to serve through Christ for years now. 

I just had to do a post of Love and thank you's to her! 

Melissa's journey has been a miracle through the power of Christ. She has been transformed and redeemed in God's Love. From Lowell to Gadsden and soon Hernando she is a miracle. A beautiful girl with a heart of gratitude and not one that thinks that ministries should bless her, 

but grateful for anything including open to be loved and treasured.  

Today she sent me a "thank you" for all I've done for her and a check for $50 payable to me (not the ministries) just because she is grateful and well loved. I take no credit Melissa, I give God all the glory, AMEN. I'm just so thankful you allowed me to love you through Christ. Thank you for your refreshment and your act of Love to give back. I'm in tears because I remember the days you didn't have a penny and was losing weight. And to see how God has blessed you brings so many tears to my eyes. I'm so happy for you! I also have tears because God showed me through your words of Love and encouragement that He is proud of me! WOW! And yes, I am overwhelmed too by your generous heart to give back and share. Thank you Melissa!! You are Loved deeply. And I hope your okay with me telling the whole world how much I'm proud of you and sharing your letter :) I also want you to know that I am so blessed to see you write your "Well Loved". That is what we all are called to do by God, "Love People Well". Thank you for opening your heart to me Melissa. May God continue to bless you richly in Jesus Name. 

"Love Never Fails"

Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:8

My favorite scripture, because in my life God has shown me over and over through His Love for me that Love Never fails. I had to choose to receive His Love. I need to be filled with His Love contunually. I receive that Love through a love relationship I have with Him. It's a journey of Love. He then turns what He poured into me and somehow pours out that Love into the lives He places along my path. It's truly incredible. His Love is relentless and because it never fails, with His help we can all Love from a place of Our Father. I'm still a work in progress, but I believe with everything in me that Love never fails. I also believe 

He will never called us to do something He doesn't equip us to do. 

He calls us to Love.

Below is a 1 Corinthians 13:3-8 in the messages version, I love it. I hope you will too. As you read each verse, ask God to help you Love like He loves.

“If I give everything I own to the poor 

and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, 

but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. 

So, no matter what I say, 

what I believe, 

and what I do, 

I’m bankrupt without love. 

Love never gives up. 

Love cares more for others than for self. 

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. 

Love doesn’t strut, 

Doesn’t have a swelled head, 

Doesn’t force itself on others, 

Isn’t always “me first,” 

Doesn’t fly off the handle, 

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, 

Doesn’t revel when others grovel, 

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 

Puts up with anything, 

Trusts God always, 

Always looks for the best, 

Never looks back, 

But keeps going to the end.” 

Love never dies.

1 Corinthians 13:3-8

True Love

Written by: Cenia Means Masterson

While most people today would define love as a feeling, Jesus Christ defines it quite differently. 

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: 

Jesus defines love for Him as obedience to Him. We may say that we love Jesus, but our lifestyle will reveal whether our love is really true or not. True love is the perfect love that motivated Jesus to surrender His back to the beating and His life to the cross for us. 

Joh 15:13-14 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
He asks nothing more and deserves nothing less than our love in return, but the love He asks for, the love He is worthy of, isn’t just lip service. It is life service. 

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Will we deny the passions and pleasures of sin for a season to live a life of obedience and full devotion to Him or do we love self more than Jesus? Jesus asked Simon Peter a simple question that we, who claim to love Him, should ask ourselves as well.

John 21:16 Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
Do we?

Brokenness by James MacDonald

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17, ESV).

Before a horse can be useful to its owner, it has to be broken. An unbroken stallion is proud and strong. It will paw and snort and let no one ride it. But then a bit goes in its mouth, a saddle goes on its back, and someone climbs up and hangs on. The stallion immediately starts to buck, because it doesn’t want to be broken—but eventually it stops fighting and surrenders to the will of its master.

Sometimes we have that same stubborn, rebellious, self-sufficient spirit within us, and God often breaks those attitudes because they keep us from experiencing true intimacy with Him. 

Have you ever been broken? Brokenness is empty-handedness before God. It makes no demands. It is falling into the embrace of your loving Father and finding Him to be enough. It says not only “God, I need You,” but “God, You are all I need.”

What are some of the things God breaks? Here are some of the big ones:

Stubbornness. “I am going to do this my way.” If you are one of God’s children, that attitude is on its way out. You can fight with Him for a long time if you want, but your stubbornness will eventually be broken.

Pride. “I know better; I am better.” God hates pride in the hearts of His children. He hates it in my heart; He hates it in yours. People who have been greatly used by God have come to grips with the need to dispense with all pride and to humble themselves.

Willfulness. “You can’t make me! You can’t tell me! I’ll do what I want, when I want.” That’s willfulness, and it is also on its way out. God will use whatever He has to use to remove it from your heart and life.

Independence. “I can make it without You.” Nothing will inhibit your intimacy with the Father like an attitude of self-sufficiency. Recognize your weakness and rely on His strength.

God will use broken health, careers, dreams, relationships, promises, and hearts to rid our lives of the things that hinder intimacy with Him. Some say a loving God wouldn’t allow pain, but God’s love is not a pampering love; it’s a perfecting love. God is producing something in us—the likeness of His Son—and He is going to do whatever it takes to make that happen. You might want to get off the program, but any other path will lead you to a place you don’t want to be. 

You will never experience true intimacy with God until you are able to come before Him in genuine humility, utterly desperate for Him. You need to be broken. 

JOURNAL

• Describe a time in your life when you’ve experienced true brokenness before the Lord. What brought it about, and what resulted from it?
• What are some areas of your life you need to loosen your grip on and surrender to God now?

PRAY

Lord, I confess that I am naturally proud, stubborn, willful, and prone to believe I’m self-sufficient. I confess that I resist the thought of being broken, but I believe that, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Please help me to let go and allow You to have Your way in my life. Thank You that the more I surrender to You, the more intimacy I can have with You. God, you are all I need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Orphans and Widows

Happy Blessed New Year 2016!!

We pray that this year will bring you abundant blessings and that you will prosper. 

May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 

We wanted to start the New Year off by asking for prayer for our ministries. As most of you know Surrender40 reaches out to the poor, the sick and prisoners. 

Pink Love was created to reach girls everywhere in Love through a writing ministry that currently and mainly focuses on reaching those girls in prisons. 

The last several months God has been tugging on our hearts to begin reaching out to orphans and widows. We are in deep prayer about this. We are thinking about restructuring Pink Love Ministries to embrace these additional outreaches. We even thought about adding a new name ministry to our current ministries.  

Any ideas would be a blessing.

Please pray for us. 

We want to be in the center of God's will. 

Pray for doors to be open and God to make the light shine on direction. 

Thank you for your support, love and prayers. 

James 1:27

Pure and Genuine Religion in the sight of God The Father means caring for Orphans and Widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Performance Love

So recently I was hurt by someone I love. We all have been there right? Well regardless of the pain, I pressed on in God's Love and sent her and her family a Christmas card. Many days later I got a text message back saying; thank you I wasn't expecting nothing. I pondered that reply. And this is what God showed me. 

When I was a child and even when I was officially grown (by age that is) my parents had expectations on me. It was to get good grades on my report card, kept my room clean, be nice to my sister and others. I mean these weren't out of the norm expectations right? Most parents want their kids to excel right? But what happened when I didn't live up to these expectations or perform up to their standards? Well usually I either got yelled at, the belt or put on punishment and sometimes all of the above. But when I brought home the report card with all A's and 1 B, my room was sparkly clean and I was nice to my sister and others I was rewarded-rightfully so right? So I developed a "Performance Love" meaning when I did good I was rewarded and loved and when I didn't 

I was punished and not shown love. 

Back to the person who hurt me-she obviously was raised the same way-what she thought her performance deserved. It hurt my heart that she thought I only loved her when she was acting a certain way. And that she really didn't know that I loved her no matter what-unconditionally.  I don't blame her. I understand how she would think that based in how I was raised and maybe you too?

God's Love (Agape Love) unconditional selfless, self-giving and sacrificial love. 

Do you have that for others?

When we really love others (God's Love) there is no expectations on that person. We want the best for them, but if they fail to live up to that we don't withhold love. We don't gossip about them. We actually cover them-Love covers. 

This also needs to be applied for those that clearly show in actions and in truth that they don't love you. If you truly love someone, just because they don't love you back shouldn't stop you from loving them. If you stop loving them back because of there lack of love in return then your love for them 

is conditional or a type of performance love. 

Let's Love Like Jesus-Not in a Performance type Love-Let others know with God's help you will Love them unconditionally and no matter what-

God is crazy about you! He loves you no matter what! 

His Love is relentless-

Let's put on His Love to Love others

and take off any conditional or performance type Love.

Jeanine Marie

Meet Jeanine Marie...we have been serving her in Love through Christ since June of 2010. Jeanine is currently an inmate at Homestead Correctional. On August 13, 2015 she will be released after serving almost 12 years. We would like everyone to pray for her as she transitions into the free world. I personally reached out to Jeanine back in June of 2010 through a random devotional that I sent. I was led by God to send devotionals to random girls to uplift and encourage them and Jeanine was on that list. Shortly after receiving our devotional Jeanine reached out. Since then it has been a beautiful and Godly journey serving her. I personally have grown to have a deep love for her. During this time her relationship with Jesus has grown and matured over the years. She started attending the Church services held by Church by the Glades in Coral Springs and her Love for God developed even more. 

Jeanine is beyond beautiful. She is honest and has lots of deep thoughts.  For almost the past 12 years she has kept up with her profession in there as a hair stylish. She loves all animals including all sorts of bugs...LOL. Her favorite is monkeys. She cares deeply. Jeanine means very much to my heart and it would mean so much if you can lift her up in prayer each day in the month of August.

 We believe in her and we know God has beautiful plans for her life. 

We speak this scripture over your life Jeanine...

We love you beautiful!! 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Friends

I've been deeply hurt over and over by a friend who I thought was a true and faithful friend. I think many can relate. I've done everything that God has showed me to do to reach out in Love to somehow try and fix the friendship over the years- anything but to let it go. But I had to learned the hard way-she wasn't a biblical-faithful-friend.. I have given this friend to God and continue to pray for her. I still believe that one day we can be friends  because...Love believes, Love never ends-never fails...and I still love her and I still believe in us.

This is what God has shown me in the process, and I hope it will help you...

A friend loves at all times-loves is an active word. It doesn't mean sometimes I love you sometimes I don't. It loves at all times-through all circumstances-through all differences-

I realized that "I" wanted a "Biblical" friend-not one of the flesh, or a friend that was here today gone tomorrow-but one that we can be bonded together for life through Christ. Let me add I have some wonderful non believing friends who are very loyal and love me and I love them...I am writing this to have more Christ center friends..and this might be a tall order-but since God says I can have that (and you can too)-(in His word) it's what I desired. My motive was to love her and each other like Jesus I just assumed we were each loving that way. My fault.  Never-ever assume-verbalize your friendships..

What is a biblical friend?

Loves at all cost

Fierce Loyalty 

Holds you up when you are down

Is there for you in your highs and lows

Doesn't think of you as a "second thought" when making decisions, because they value your faithfulness

Are committed and continually show that 

They don't counsel to your flesh-they share God's truth

They strengthen you through God's Word

They pray for you

They protect you

They show acts of kindness 

They ask how you are-and talk less of how they are

Relentless givers-their time and their resources 

There are so many more attributes of a true and biblical friend, my point is for you to search your hearts and ask God to show you if you're a faithful friend or just a passing friend.

Are you an absolute-totally-committed-friend?

With God's help lets become friends that love at all times and ones that reflect a true bond of loving each other through Christ.