My BIRTHDAY

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and this one proves it to be so. You see on my birthday I may not have gotten a lot of phone calls, text messages, or things of monetary value. However, what I did receive was this picture that was a reminder of not only this moment, but how far GOD has brought me. What I say is, nothing makes sense until it’s all past tense. So when I look at this picture, I see the little things matter, the little moments, the little victories.

2 months and 4 days shy of a year prior to this picture I walked into this space and place for the first time ever. I still smoked, drank, and was more broken than I thought I was. I didn’t know that it would be a turning point in showing me who HE was. The truth is I didn’t know the true love of a Father, I was broken, desperate, and in NEED of a Savior. While yes, one moment in the presence of God can change everything, this is deeper than that.

You see, God taught me that in this place, I am the best version of me. The completely undone and surrendered version, yep, that is the one. This is the place where all the noise and chatter of what doesn’t matter gets silenced. This is the place I can hear clearly. Where I find that I have everything I need. Where I find that no one or nothing compares to the love that I find in this place. It took a long time to get here honestly. However, He got me here. This picture show’s me that this place doesn’t just strengthen me, but it strengthens the one in front of me. That the more I am in THIS place, the more I can accomplish outside of this place.

Honestly the first thing I seen when I seen this picture was my hair. How it wasn’t thinned out like it used to be. There wasn’t parts missing… it was becoming full again how God promised me it would when it began to fall out in 2018. That was 4 years of losing hair, having it regrow, only to lose it again.

Then I noticed my son and the way he was showing his muscle. As a reminder that even on my weakest days, I am stronger than I know. However, THIS posture is the source. Again, it doesn’t just strengthen me, but it strengthens him as well.

This picture shows that, through it all.. the mess ups, the tears, the mental anguish, the wins and the losses… GOD is faithful. That day I got delivered too….. I screamed louder than I probably ever have… in desperation, letting go of shame and guilt, hurt and fear, all of it. This relationship with God, is more important than it ever was because ITS NOT ABOUT ME. I realized that I had made it too far to turn around, I don’t want the one in front of me to have to battle through the same things I have had to just because someone else didn’t. I will be the first to tell you, it’s a process that God is walking me through, and it is NOT for the faint of heart. If I don’t stay in this place, I forget what His love is. I forget I need a Savior and that I cant do it alone.

Worship is warfare. Worship is giving God everything you have while the world around you thinks you are crazy. Worship is believing God to be healed when you have suffered your whole life from trauma you didn’t ask for and doing whatever it takes to get free. Worship is singing a song at the top of your lungs just because it takes all that. Worship is running around the church and in your head you hear… “Keep Going”… so you do. Worship is saying God I may not have the money, but I will spend my last on whatever it is you want me to do because again, it is not about me. Worship is Obedience. Worship in Spirit and in Truth.. and if I am being honest I tried it in my own strength for a long time… and it didn’t get me very far. Worship is loving the ones that say they love you, but then turn around and talk about you… and you still love them anyways. Worship is giving God your all, when you don’t feel like it, when all hell is breaking lose in your life, and you say “God, I STILL TRUST YOU.”.

This picture reminds me of a place where miracles happen, angels literally walk the halls, where you can come in one way and leave completely changed. It lets me know that the church as the world says it is… that’s not it. That’s not it. I walked in one way and haven’t been the same since. I can’t go back, even if I wanted to. This place is not just a place, it’s a church, a family.. and it reaches far beyond the 4 walls… because everyone connected to it, has changed my life. It has led me down a path and a journey to encounter more than just this place, but a 1,000 other people and places along the way.

Where God takes you, it wont make sense to others… or yourself sometimes. Trust Him anyways. Fight for your deliverance, you deserve it. Fight for your relationships, you deserve it, and they do too. Fight for your family, everyone deserves it.

Here in this place.. this is where I yield and surrender.. and say, “Nevertheless Father, at Your Word.”

Because Spirits are REAL and when all of hell is against you, all of HEAVEN is cheering you on. So, I will fight the good fight of faith. I am beyond thankful for these people and this place though. I am a better person because of it. I am a changed person because of it.

Bishop Smith, He isn’t just a person, but a GENERAL in the faith. He is one who loves without regard, and will teach you the depths of the Word. One whose voice plays over in my head again and again when I want to give up. Although, I want you to know, He is surely not the only one whose voice I hear along this journey, however.. today, I am giving honor where honor is due because.. It takes all of that. This picture, its personal.

So, if you’re looking for a place where you can call home, where you belong, where the you hear the Choir of Heaven sing a song, if you need healing, or a miracle.. fellowship or guidance..

Embassy Covenant is more than just a place, its Heaven on Earth.

It is Holy Ground and they will welcome you with open arms.