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.

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

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. 

"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

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.

-Friend or Not-

That word "Friend" is thrown around probably just as much as the word Love. Whether you live by God's Word or not the Bible is clear who your true friends are. They are those special people in your life that are loyal to a fault, who are there for you in your highs and lows. They don't care if you are not the same in beliefs, or if your married to the same sex, have money or don't-they love you unconditionally. They speak truth in your life because they don't want to see you get hurt. They shower you in prayer and your name is on their prayer wall. 

They are generous beyond, always giving gifts and cards just because. 

They always seek peace even in disagreements

 and do not let offense come between you-

But most of all they Love you at all times-

Proverbs 17:17

A Friend Loves at all times-

That word Love is an action and All means no matter what!

If you don't have a friend that Loves you at all times and no matter what-

Be that Friend-lead the way.

Be that true Friend-shine your Love-it's a rare gift-

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. 

Our Love Checklist

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus said; Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it; " Love your neighbor as yourself. (40) All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.

Did you know that in the Bible that Love is spoken about 681 times from the Old to the New Testament? I believe that with this many references that it isn't just a suggestion of what we should do, 

but it is how we are to live in every part of our lives. 

We Love because He first Loved us-1 John 4:19

Love is an action word. 

Let us not Love with words or tongue but in actions and in truth- 1 John 3:18

We are called to a Love walk.

Love one another deeply from the heart-1 Peter 1:22

Love will make you known as a follower of Christ.

By this everyone will know 

that you are my disciples if you love one another- John 13:35

The one garment you should be putting on everyday is Love.
Of all the virtues put on Love. 
Colossians 3:14

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:8 

If you want to live in the will of God and have a powerful life in Him, you must Love. There is simply no way around the command to Love. Please take this message of Love to heart and really seek God to Love. Ask Him to fill you with His Love so you may pour out from the inside out to Love others. To Love is the greatest commandment-so make it a decision to Love, nothing in your life will flow right without Love. I personally have decided that since Jesus said it, and its the most important I will go to Love school. I have been on a journey of Love since moving from Miami in 2013. I was unpacking after our move and I noticed I had so many things that say "Love" on them. I had a wow moment and said I want to know how to Love the way God wants me to Love. It truly has been an amazing Love ride. I'm a work in progress as you will be too, this is a journey of Love, 

to live a life of Love not a destination. 

I complied a "Our Love Check List" 

based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and created a list. 

This list below will help you in your Love walk. 

Ask yourself these things in question formats.

Am I long suffering/patience in this situation?

Am I kind?

Am I jealous?

You get the point...

 As you commit to God to Love Him and others

continue asking yourself these questions in 

all life situations on this journey to Love.

I believe in you Beloved. 

You are Loved by the creator of Heaven and earth-

in His image-therefore..

YOU WERE MADE TO LOVE

And remember what God commands He will equip you to do.

GOD Is More Than Able

By Angie Blevins
Dose of Encouragement

It's easy to get distracted by life's difficulties. It's easy to get overwhelmed with life itself. Many times our situations look and feel "hopeless" and we also can just feel completely way in over our head. To be quite honest it's very easy to limit God with our very own limitations. It's easy to forget at times that God is the great I AM.

Sometimes I have to take a step back and just say to myself...if Jesus

• Changed water into wine
• Gave sight to the blind
• Healed the sick
• Fed 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish
• Raised Lazarus from the dead
• Rose from the dead Himself 

I mean if Jesus can do all that... then I know with confidence that He is MORE THANable to handle whatever I'm going through in this journey called life!

God can do any an everything, Nothing is ever impossible with Him. So when I fix my mind and heart on that I am truly at peace.

"Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." Ephesians 3:20 (TLB)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel

Written by:

Mandy Carey-Founder 

Father of the Bride Ministries

Cape Coral, Florida

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, BECAUSE IT IS THE POWER OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, FIRST TO THE JEW, THEN TO THE GENTILE. ROMANS 1:16

WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY DEFINES “ASHAMED” as, “feeling shame or guilt: not wanting to do something because of shame or embarrassment, a feeling of inferiority or unworthiness.

Romans 1:16 makes such a BIG statement. The Apostle Paul is all about LIVING, BREATHING, EATING, SLEEPING, PREACHING, and TEACHING the Gospel of Salvation. 

The Apostle is declaring to the entire world that he is ALL ABOUT JESUS! He makes it very clear.

In this one little verse, He is telling the WORLD, “I’m not who I used to be”. He is BOLDLY proclaiming to all who see him, all who hear him, all who know him, “it does not matter what you used to be! What matters is that you believe in Jesus and what He has done for you!

Paul’s life is a very real example of the grace of God coming to meet us right where we’re at in life. No matter who you are and what you’ve done, JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED OF YOU! NEITHER IS HE OR WILL HE BE ASHAMED TO USE YOU FOR HIS KINGDOM. HE WANTS YOU TO BE BOLD IN PROCLAIMING YOUR FAITH. HE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW YOUR PAST. HE WANTS TO MAKE THAT PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY. 

Remember, it’s not about who you were, but rather who HE, (Jesus) is in you! Don’t live your life Ashamed, but UNASHAMED!

Be Strong & Courageous

Written by Robin Brewer

Joshua 1:9

Haven't I commanded you: 

BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS?

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

I know most people are a little set in their ways, afraid of change..I am! However, God may have a huge change in store for you and since it's quite different from what you expected or how you thought things should go-be strong and courageous and just do it God's way-the Lord will be with you wherever you go. Look in the Bible and every time God send someone-once they obeyed-they were blessed. Remember God told Abram to not be afraid-He is our shield, our exceedingly great reward (Gen 15:1) and God was definitely with Abram!

Thankfulness

“WE thank you Lord for all your blessings upon me and my family.”

As I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to write for the November Issue of Pink Love Ministries, I heard the word “Thankfulness”.  Last October, my husband went to prison.  In December of 2013, my daughter went to prison.  My health started failing and my mind was tormented day in and day out missing 2 key pieces of my family puzzle heart.  I wondered how I was going to do this on my own and who was going to help me now.  I felt abandoned, hurt, angry, and so many more emotions and feelings.  For a long while, I thought why we have to go through this all the time.

Why can’t life just be ok and we have little problems and they are solved easy.  But it’s in the pain, the trials, the tribulations, the anger, the grief, and the heartache that we learn to be THANKFUL and to stand on our FAITH.  It is through all this that we learn valuable lessons and wisdom so that the next time we have to go through something we can take what we have learned and apply it to our life situations.  It is these lessons that show us who God is and how to be “STILL AND LISTEN” for guidance and instructions to live our lives right.

Will we fail?  Probably…Sorry but truth is truth and we are still human.    The difference is if we have Jesus in our hearts and He is the author of our life story, then we have a way maker, a healer, a doctor, a lawyer, and any other help we might need along the way.  He is there to take us by the hand to make the first steps so he can walk with us the whole way moving obstacles that need to be moved and leaving ones  that we need to  walk over ourselves.  We have to face obstacles, but with Jesus there is no impossible.  The word is not even in His vocabulary.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have a SAVIOR who loves us unconditionally, guides our path, and gives us wisdom.  Sometimes in life we complain about paying bills and giving up our money to make sure we have electric, gas, water, etc.  But we shouldn’t complain because there are people out there who can’t turn on a light switch, make a bed, take a hot shower, or even cook for themselves.  They depend on others to do it for them.  There are people who cook and serve the homeless, they bring out blankets and sleeping bags, they bring sandwiches, socks and toiletry bags to those who otherwise would not have these things.  The homeless people are so thankful for what they get and they show it with smiles and big thank you and sometimes a hug and hand shake.  I know this because I have been on both sides of this fence.  I was homeless and then God delivered me from crack cocaine 

and homelessness on March 14^th, 2007.  I was so thankful that everything I did from turning on a light switch to taking a hot shower every night, that I would thank God for each and every thing He blessed me with.  People probably thought I was crazy when I would holler “Thank You Jesus” but I did not care because I was ecstatic over my Abba Daddy and how much He loves me and takes care of me.  He blesses us every day that we wake up and breathe our first breath.  We should be thankful EVERYDAY NOT JUST THANKSGIVING DAY!  Thankfulness is a feeling, emotion, and action all wrapped in one 12 letter word:

THANKFULNESS

One thing I  am thankful for today is Steve and Trachena Muchnick, Surrender40, Pink Love, and Spinky Pets for the love, care, hononesty, truth, help, arms to hug, and lips to speak the Word of God into my family and I’s lives every day. They are an awesome couple who show their big God hearts to everyone.  There is no difference with them.  They love each and every person they encounter with total love and non sugar coated truth from the Word of God.  My family loves these two so much and we are so appreciative of them being a blessing to us from God.  We love you Both!!

So as of this day, please make sure to thank the ONE who gives you LIFE over and over every day.

Sincerely Yours

Jesus loves you and so do I.

Cheri Carlisle Bradford.