Could it be What You Thought was Rejection was Protection?

John 14, Jesus speaks on Answered Prayers, verses 13 and 14 says, “…And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Often times we read the Bible from a topical stance. I remember running to the Index and looking for what I wanted at the time and pulling passages of scripture to support the prayer I wanted answered. John 14:14 can have us park on the word, anything, but not “…in My name.”

It goes without saying that we are going before a God who can and will answer prayers, but it will always be in accordance to His Will. We serve a sovereign God, but are we mindful of that when He says, “No?” What does it mean to see God as Sovereign? This will help us to know not only who we are going to in prayer, but the authority He has as to His response.

Strong’s Concordance defines Sovereign as, a ruler or officer -- of great authority, mighty, potentate. Let’s highlight that last word for a moment. It speaks of Him being a powerful ruler, sovereign, or mighty one. 1 Timothy 6:15 reads, “…which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” He is supreme with unmatched authority and full dominion! Do not miss your shout! I know we have a list of requests like children have for Christmas, but to know the completeness of who God is and what He is able to see should make us look at His “No” differently. It will never be about His capability; it is about His Will!

Please hear my heart. I do not share this from a utopian view. I am well aware of an earnest prayer not being answered in the way in which I desired. It is what transpires in developing a relationship with God and maturing in His Ways. He is not our personal bellhop. He is not in need of us; we are massively in need of Him! We do not need only His air, but His perspective. We should not have to travel the road that leads to a dead end if we have someone in our lives, who is already aware of what the road leads to and how that decision will impact our final destination.

The Rejection that you may have felt in that Answer not aligning with what you want more times than not is about Divine Protection! When I look back over one of the most painful moments in my life; when God pulled me out of a relationship I did not have the strength or sense to leave! Imagine someone buying you a ring and right before they were to present it, you find proof no one ever wants to receive on someone you thought you would spend the rest of your life with! Never misinterpret my sharing stories. The fumble is never about the other person. It was about the Vow I made to God and broke to be in that relationship! Before He cheated on me, I cheated on God!

God not allowing that relationship to go forward was a prayer answered from my Soul Man. It would have changed the trajectory of my life with God because of what I would have had to do to maintain it. In that rejection came the most all encompassing protection that I could have ever imagined! A Yes Lord could cost you everything, but never be mistaken- It can all be taken away! Nevertheless, what we absolutely cannot live without is God’s Presence in our lives here and beyond!

Remember the investment that God has made in your life. The ROI is expected and we should desire to bring forth a return worthy of all that He has done by how we live our lives. Now give Him the praise that is due because Heaven said, “Not that one!” [Insert Shout]

-Selah

Divine Design Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal Moments were the Rejection that you experienced was really God’s Divine Protection.

Pray:

Heavenly Father, your love is unmatched! You know what is best for me. Help me to accept Your Will with great humility and acceptance. No one lays out a plan for our lives that is beater than what you have put before us. You are due honor by how you care for me. Your Divine Protection goes beyond what I am able to see!

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Who Checks on the One who Checks on Everyone?

There was a saying that was permeating the airways telling people to “Check on your strong friends.” The thought is…Strong People are infrequently checked on by those who are around them. It is assumed that they will be fine. That they will pull themselves out of the slump. The assumption is that they may get knocked down by life, but they will get back up, with no incident

That thought processing has a lot of levels that we will unpack in this blog. What qualifies someone to be a strong friend? What approves them to be the one to stand in the gap and deliver for others, when they themselves are struggling to breathe? What is in their make up for them to Show Up for you, but contemplate if they should remain present for themselves?

Ultimately it is not about what; rather it is about Who made them strong?” It is this mirror experience that you see in them that is likened to a two way mirror. You see your Strong Friend on one side, but from that other view- there are two who are not seen. The Word of God tells us, “…for when I am weak, then am I strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:10 It is the way that God shows up triumphantly in a surrendered life that actually makes us see someone as strong.

Allow me to have a transparent moment. In the pass, I grappled with the title of strong friend, and what it came with. At times, it seemed like it was absent of reciprocity, and sometimes even Lone Ranger-like. Until God gave me a different inference point. He often times isolates those who are considered the strong friend.

There is a pour by the Lord that takes place in the lives of those whom God allows to tarry with others. You will get to the place where you stop keeping score about how many times you have shown up for others to being grateful for the times you have, like Jesus, to still away with the God. He endows and equips you to go right back out to pour into others.

I remember years ago attending a conference where the Speaker asked the question: “If you are on a plane and it experiences an issue where it is going down, do you put the breathing apparatus on you or your child first?” Many people said the child first, but the correct answer was…YOU! Strong Friends must always find themselves having to keep their mind on the needful thing to be able to meet the needs of others. The Strong Friends understand well that their care and counsel to you is inextricably tied to their relationship with the Lord.

A Strong Friend in God can be the one who did not show up to the event that you curated without God. A Strong Friend could also be like Prophet Micaiah in your life, the one telling you, “No”, when four hundred before told you “Yes.” A Strong Friend could be the one who does not give advice all the time, but turns down his or her plate to fast on your behalf.

Strong Friends in God requires an understanding that far exceeds friendships as usual. They are so rich in vegetation that nations feed off of them! They are fruitful in and out of season. They are purposeful and life-giving. They are remarkably resilient; and yet oddly precious. They come both with jaw dropping words and much needed silence! Strong Friends do not react or respond to everything. A powerful reminder pinned by King Solomon, shared in Ecclesiastes 3:7, “…A time to keep silence, And a time to speak.”

If that Strong Friend is you- do not carry the weight of fixing the problems of those who you love. Recognize the gift God has given you in them seeing you navigate through life trusting Him; surrendering to Him; and maturing in Him! Lead them back to Him through your counsel and presence.

So, to answer the question, “Who checks on the strong friend?” The Lord does!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal what you think the Characteristics of a Strong Friend in Christ is and examine your circle of friends. Do they align with the definition ?

Pray:

Oh God, how great is your mercy. You continue to provide my needs and grace me to carry out Your Will. You allow me to experience Your Fullness and prepare opportunities for me to point others back to you. Thank You for every moment that you have allowed me to understand servitude. You have done to great of a work in my life to keep it to myself. May the strength they see in me be a glaring example of You making over my life! May my love for you provoke others! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

“On my Momma”… Not Needed if Your Yes is Yes and No is No.

The saying, “You can take my word to the bank” is a long standing principle promise of one’s word being good enough to withstand an insufficient funds notice, because what you have stated can be cashed in. There is something to be said to have a word to come out of your mouth that is not always questioned. Years ago, there was a commercial that coined a slogan, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.” He was a well-known financier of a prominent brokerage firm. Before scandal set in, people stopped to hear what he had to say. His word carried weight.

A liar carries a second guess assumption by individuals who have experienced the untruth. However, the one who is trustworthy has the ability for those who entrust his or her word to tell some of the most peculiar events without much questioning. We do not give enough attention to people being honest and delivering what they said. It goes without saying that we should walk in truth and integrity. However, we are in a culture that minimizes lying down to degrees, such as the infamous “little white lie.” How little is that lie when it negatively impacts your life &/or the people around you?

The Divine Design Blogs are curated to get us to begin to truly embrace God making us over. That Makeover comes with being truthful and taken at your word. It develops a maturity in what one says and how it is said. The “little white lie” has to become like a perjury statement. It is often seen as getting one out of trouble. However, it often multiples the trouble! God empowers us to be truthful. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus speaks on making oaths.  “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Our word is supposed to stand on its own! When one’s word has not been met, it creates a distrust and time element that is not determined by the perpetrator. Forgiveness has its place in this conversation, but it should also be noted that the impact the lie had on someone does impede how they hear your next words. Grace goes both ways. As much as you want to be believed; they also want to be able to trust your word.

We should not have to add caveats to our words. Putting what you said on my momma should never have to be said to believe what was said. Walking in truth and integrity is truly an amazing gift to give to those around us! It will even speak on your behalf when you are not even in the room. Can people take your word to the bank and you not even be present? That is the biggest flex! Here’s to cashing on that word said!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Blog the areas that you may be struggling in to tell the truth. Write out the scenarios that are hindering you from being truthful. Create a second column of what can be produced out of your honesty and transparency.

Pray:

Father God, Thank you for the sanctification that comes through your word. Thank you for the freedom that is connected in being honest. Your way is the best way. Oh God, may the tough places requiring a word that may come with some adversity be met with the courage to still stand on truth. May you get glory out of the words that come out of our mouths. In Jesus Name. Amen

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Follow me as I follow Christ…What’s in a Follow?

I ran across a children’s song entitled, “Follow the Leader.” The lyrics rhythmically shared for the listener to “Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me.” It would also share these melodic commands. “If I go high high or low low, follow follow me.” The commands were not questioned. As a matter of fact, you did not want to be the one doing something different when the music stopped.

There has always been an interesting phenomenon concerning group dynamics. There is a conditioning that can come out of a group setting that can impede critical thinking and authenticity. A group did a study in a doctor’s office and they had the actors simultaneously stand every time a bell sounded. The unsuspecting patients were also seen standing without asking the purpose. Their reasoning was in what they saw the group engage in. It is not often times questioned or denied.

The verse, “Follow me as I follow Christ…” found in 1 Corinthians 11, penned by Apostle Paul, is one of the most loaded Command to Actions. It does not end with Paul, but it speaks to the responsibility of him in others looking upon his life. It is not a blind, whimsical follow. It is very earnest and intentional. It is not a loyalty simply based on who one is; rather who they have become. Apostle Paul was informing the people of Corinth to remain in the path of imitation, as he remained in obedience to the Walk of the Lord.

We are living in a time where people are blindly following leaders. Where accountability is plummeting and behaviors are not being aligned to the Word of God. Those who are new in Christ are hearing, “Follow me…”, but some how the “…as I follow Christ” has been omitted. The responsibility does not just lie with the leaders. In order to follow someone who follows Christ, we must first know what Christ did. After all, how will you know if they have veered off if you never knew the coordinates to the destination?

It is a glorious act to be able to follow those who follow Christ! There are a plethora of enrichment moments for those who execute this verse. It allows one to get closer to Christ. It sets one up to become and not simply blindly follow. There is a strength and wisdom that comes forth in obeying God. Both are needed, because in that follow- you will not be absent of weapons forming, but the shout is in them not prospering.

Let’s go back to that children’s game for a moment. The awkward act is being found not doing what the leader is doing. However, when you follow Christ, it will look like you are facing right while the crowd turned left. The New Life we experience no longer holds us under the matrix of simply following whatever the leader says. This is why we must be endowed with the grace of God to stand. Your stance moves from popular opinion to fulfilling His purpose and the posterity of the people. Take joy in pleasing the Father, even when it goes against the grain, because it will!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal the characters of a leader who is following Christ. Do you find yourself struggling to remain objective and sober in your following?

Pray:

Father God, I bless you for your sovereignty. Thank You for Your Son and the example He has set before us. Thank you for a path that leads to eternal life! I am forever indebted to you. May my faith or loyalty never be blind; rather sharp and attentive. Get all the Glory out of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen,

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Just Imagine…

Just imagine ascribing to everything in books to matriculate through school for multiple years. Retain the information to be tested because a diploma or degree is connected to information in those books. Whether we are fully in agreement with the material being read or not- the pages become where the answer lies, and therefore adopted to believe, to pass the exam.

Just imagine having a book shelf full of Best Sellers that you excitably join others for the Book Club gathering to pontificate on the Author’s Intentions, but in reality, you are 100% unable to determine the Author’s full intentions. Stay with me, we will come back to this. Pinky Promise.

Just imagine that all our lives we have been groomed to believe that knowledge is found through reading. It is this pathway to attaining more understanding of the world. It puts us at a said advantage. It makes us more cultured and more adept. We can go years quoting books that have been later lauded as fallible. In Darwin’s, “The Origin of Species” much of the tenets of his content concerning Natural Selection and Evolution were debunked. The “How” in his writings were often never realized. However, the reach of those teachings arrested the minds of many!

Just imagine a Book being written around 1500 B.C. Capturing centuries of historical events by multiple people, giving accounts with an accuracy that has withstood the puncture test. Remember earlier, I talked about not being able to fully know the Author’s intentions 100% of the time? Well, the Bible is the Book where we find God’s Truth. It is the infallible and inerrant Word of God. Yet, one of the most questioned books! In 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV, it says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” The wisdom of God to know that the Words penned would be questioned.

People chose to believe the Evolution of Man by a man who was created by God. People question the various accounts in the Bible, but embraced a “Big Bang Theory.” It is intrinsically within us to believe. An Atheist may shout from the raptors of not believing in God, but that still does not leave him or her absent of belief, even if it is in themselves.

We are composed of a wiring that people will be unable to explain away. More than anything, we must get back to the Heart of Worship. How we read the Bible may need a recalibrating. Instead of questioning the many stories, what if we gave God praise in revealing to us who He is and what He has done? Meditating on the Word of God should leave us more in amazement than confusion or unbelief. An intimate relationship with anyone will bring about more of an understanding of who they are and their capabilities. Imagine how much more with God?

Let us Spotlight Ephesians 3:14-21

Appreciation of the Mystery

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

See the Divine Work & Pray segment concerning the focal points.

Divine Work & Pray:

Jot down the aforementioned passage of scripture in your Divine Design Journal. Ponder on the comprehension He endows us with to know the width, length, depth, and height of His Love. It goes beyond our understanding and fills us. Knowing God far exceeds gathering information. It is a gift that never stops giving when our Unbelief Graduates to Belief!

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Grace over Grind for $1,000, Alex!

In the Business World, there is a huge conditioning to sacrifice whatever and whoever to be successful. You are told to miss family engagements; miss sleep; and dismiss people who get in your way to getting to the bag. They make casualties casual and sacrifice light. They would have you think that those decisions will be able to be recaptured in some way. That is so far from the truth! Building a business will come with very tough decisions daily, but it is interesting for what they select as the immediate negotiables.

Recently, I have seen many videos of them showing children at events and them thinking no one is there to support them. All of a sudden, as they look out into the crowd, they spot a loved one! Their faces light up and their countenance changes! There is no feeling that could compare to knowing that your household is there to cheer you on. There have been times that people have caught a four hour flight to see the last 10 minutes of their son’s soccer match or the last 15 minutes of their daughter’s recital.

We should never underestimate what a Show Up means for our loved ones! It is paramount to prioritize our families in the grind instead of sacrifice them. Life happens and you may not be able to be on every scene. However, make sure the effort is put forth to be there. When you are sitting on that front row at someone you truly love memorial service, you would move Heaven & Earth to have one more event with them!

Repose also becomes a negotiable. A sacrifice that we are willing to make time after time. We do not fully factor how important rest is until we find ourselves met with danger, like veering off the road or making an error that could cause what was built to crumble. Taking care of our temples involves shutting down for our bodies to be restored and for our minds to have a reprieve from being in auto-pilot. Burning the midnight oil for an extended time could have drastic effects like it does for a vehicle. We want execution without the maintenance of our bodies being at optimum performance.

Another negotiable the Gurus talk about is cutting off people. This one should really be handled with much discernment. I say this after being the Club President for the Cut Off Game. I do not say that with a smile; I say that with great understanding for how little mercy I had when God has given me so many Do Overs! Every misunderstood exchange is not a toxic relationship. Excelling in life for a Believer is not just having a Circle of People around you who only speak Grind Language. It is about having people in your vicinity who walk with integrity; those whom hold you accountable; and those who will give you reminders to not be guilty of stamping God on the climb, but leaving Him on the first floor!

The painful and gripping Truth is…we can actually make it to the top with our grind and not be Graced by God to stay there! It will become the most polarizing feeling, because you will feel the elation of the accomplishment, all while experiencing the weight of doing it in your strength and not that of the Lord.

That Truth is why people end up finding the thing they grinder for becoming a Taskmaster. It drives you more than God being glorified in the endeavor. Do we truly think about the fruit God is looking for when we walk out the Church Service into the World? Like really, ponder that question. It has to be bigger than forming a LLC or our names being on a door. Who will God allow you to encounter where the grind and the thing they were working for was about to be their god, until He used you to have a candid conversation? They were able to witness the peculiar character in you by God to not pursue the grind as usual, but to know it will always be bigger than…Goal Accomplished!

The Grace of God is sustaining and rich in self assessment. It governs how we talk to people and how we lead. Security in God does not require a forced respect, people will be drawn to the Anointing deposited in you! The greatest gift that we can give ourselves in the grind…Never leave home without Him! He’s needed in the boardroom to the bank!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal what your non-negotiables are and assess your commitment to keeping them through the grind. Write down your plan for keeping your non-negotiables and being mindful of the sacrifices that you are making to be successful.

Pray:

Father God, may nothing that you allow me to possess, possess me. May you always be the One to hold the permanent marker to my life. May my decisions produce fruit that others may grow thereby. You are an intentional God. Thank you for your sovereignty and how You order my steps. Great is your faithfulness!

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

They are in the R’s, but Rush & Refining are not on the Same Shelf!

These polar opposites draw appreciation more by seeing the premature and undeveloped results of Rushing, in comparison to the completeness and wholeness of the Refining process. It is an interesting phenomenon how much more we like things that require a process, but tend to migrate to that which gives a Rush Order option. It is like we have settled for a lowering in quality for the opportunity to lessen the wait.

We live in a society that gives kudos for always beating the deadline, no matter how many corners were cut. More modern cars are said to be safer with regards to the measures like air bags and vehicle design. However, old cars can be more reliable in the sense of simplicity, repairability, and predictable long-term behavior when properly maintained. -Carbuzz citing

People often lauded the old selection of cars as being “built to last.” The Rush comes with convenience, and it certainly has its place. However, there are crucial elements missed with going for that “R” every time, rather than the “R” that goes contrary to the speed deadline- Refining. Rushing often encapsulates the task of doing, but not always retaining. Its focus is more in the finished product than the sustainability and longevity of what is produced.

Rushing can cause a lot of parts to be missed. It is like the individual who puts an object together and in their haste, they opt out of reading the instructions and end up with an erected product and several parts on the floor, that should have been a part of the assemble. Therefore, down the line, they find a product that once was being used for its function, now vertically-challenged because it is now leaning. The Road to Rush was chosen over the Road to Refine!

Now, let’s talk about that “R” that leads to a staying power. What does it mean to be refined in God? Strong’s Concordance defines Refining as purification and testing, using the metaphor of a goldsmith separating precious metals from impurities. Malachi 3:1-4 says,

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare and clear the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness]. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in ancient years.” It is the purification process that makes us pleasing and accepting to the Father.

One of the epiphanies I find myself embracing more and more is to understand that a Sovereign God is not in need of a Rush Order. In all of His Splendor, He does a miraculous work in the ticking of time. There is nothing like walking in a room He burned the impurities out of you to not only enter, but stay in! Many have access, but not the Seal of Acceptance from Heaven.

Allow the close to highlight the fable of Aesop, of the tortoise & hare. Slow and Steady won a race that many would have thought speed would have taken. Rush may sleep on Refining like the hare did concerning the tortoise, but it will never be able to second guess its finish. Allow the Refiner to prepare you not only for the Race, but The Finish!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal your thoughts concerning the differences between rushing & refining. Do you struggle with meeting deadlines and pacing yourself?

Pray:

Father God, there is so much to learn about being still in You. You are a Good Father in how you teach us! Thank you for the example we see through Your Son’s life of how He lived on earth. Continue to refine us and prepare us to carry out Your Will. We are eternally grateful. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Isolation before Elevation: The Cost to Accomplish!

The Process of Accomplishment comes with ebbs and flows. It is a sustainability needed to find oneself ultimately at the finish line. At times, the trek is grueling and exhausting. It will test you and expose what you are built on. Think about the journey of the marathon. Most will be gathered at the finish. However, the areas that you will contemplate quitting is often absent of many supporters. Why is that, you ask? Let’s head towards Heaven for the answer.

In the greatest accomplishment that we will ever experience, we will stand before God awaiting to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” No one who tarried with us will be there. Your grandmother, who prayed for God to save you, will not be standing with you. The roll of that beautiful footage of your life will be played. It is interesting that the reel may show your interactions with people throughout the years, but it will be squarely placed on you- once standing before God.

People may associate Isolation with the ebb, but to the contrary. The wisdom of God concerning the process of David being a shepherd for about 15 years before being king. The grooming of God to walk into the flow. A great refining takes place in Isolation. It alleviates a lot of chatter in how your steps will proceed. You are left with your own thoughts for how you will move.

Accomplishment in God calls for individuals to understand that our conditioning is incomplete without an admittance and surrender. It is a required dying to Self to live in and for Him. It is this sober reality that the prior gifting alone will not be enough without the Anointing.

Isolation becomes a superpower in many aspects. When you are not easily swayed by applause or the lack there of; it establishes a resolve to clearly hear from God on your moves. One of the most resounding passages for me in 2025 was, “I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.” -Philippians 4:12 Amp It is a lesson learned from Heaven. Not one to fake it until you make it, but to find value and appreciation in every stage of your life.

Your “Yes Lord” will bring an Isolation, but do not allow your heart to stay there. The accomplishment that comes with following God is not simply tangible; it is the regeneration of our Spiritual DNA that bears so much praise! The blessing in Him approving you to come out of obscurity. The wonderment of knowing that God processed you to bring to pass His Will on the earth warrants us embracing the entire journey of what an accomplished act produces. Selah-

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal what isolation has been able to produce in you, and the challenges that may have occurred in it.

Pray:

Father God, you do all things well! You Save and keep those in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you. You do not desire for us to miss your love message concerning us stilling away with you. Thank you for the quiet moments that made your Words so defining and palatable. May we appreciate what you are doing through the journey of reaching what you allow us to accomplish. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Never Confuse Attendance w/ Alliance!

We often vet people by their Show Up Game. You want a circle who supports. One who responds with their presence. That is certainly welcomed and appreciated. However, as we mature in the things of God, there comes an evolved mindset for how we define alliance.

I have heard Celebs say countless times that they can walk into a room with hundreds applauding them and feel empty. Let’s unpack that statement. People can know your name and never know your heart. They can have all the stats on your latest work, but develop memory lapse in your non-negotiables and what God truly did to transform your life! They never really take the time to see your character traits over your accomplishments.

There are things we have made expendable, which should have actually fallen behind the line of demarcation. We have been conditioned to look for easy; to cut corners in transactions. That is how we now treat relationships. They are highly transactional and often times with no depth. There was a term used back in the day in the church called, “tarry.” It was an act to wait on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The act comes with some controversy, but what I would like to pull out of that act is the time element.

There is an organic and divine act that goes into a Godly Connect. Time allows the Alliance to thrive and withstand tests. The wait allows for clarity on what is expected and whether one will continue with the alliance. Let’s highlight the word, Alliance. Oxford pens its definition as, “a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or qualities.” I love the texture of the word affinity, it is the similarity of characteristics suggesting a relationship. Folks may show up, but do they have the imprint of like intentions? Is your Circle in unison for the greater good?

An Alliance is not by happenstance. It should be well thought out and executed in a way that speaks to an end goal. When we show up for people, is our role simply to cheer them on? It has to be more than that. That act can be done by the world. In the Believers’ Camp, our Show Up should be a reminder to folks of what God said to them and what they uttered back to God. True Alliance will cause us to function more on quality than quantity.

In time of battle, you want people around you who understand the assignment more than those just there for the photo op. People can like how hard you go in the lane of prayer and serving God, but still not want to truly align with that level of sacrifice and obedience that it takes. The weight of the remnant is gravely underestimated. Many followed Christ until they factored in the cost to be in alliance with Him.

May your circle have the capacity to walk with you and hold you accountable to your Yes Lord. May the alliance that you make birth much fruit and impact generations to come. Great is the faithfulness of God and that most certainly is owed a Called Out Life!

Divine Work & Prayer;

Work;

Jot down in your Divine Design journal those in your circle and how they impact you staying true to what and who God has called you to do and be.

Prayer:

Father God, this life is filled with swift transition. There are events that have left scars and reminders of defeat. Nevertheless, in you we find peace, joy, and love. A hope to face another day! Father God, keep us sensitive to how You move. May we prosper in obedience and surrender. May the alliance that we make forever bring us closer to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Stillness is Strategy, Not Weakness!

We live in a world that gets on the P.A. System and yells, “Do Something” anytime something tends to happen! We are conditioned to live by fight or flight. Often times leaning more towards fight. We are more reactionary in nature than responsive. Our thoughts go immediately into act on something; rather than ponder and make a determination if it even warrants a response. There is a propensity to try to make something happen, because something happened!

Human nature comes with some communal behaviors that are often pronounced in times of conflict and despair. How many times have we had knee-jerk reactions to events that left us implementing a poor response? How many times have we wished for a Do Over? If we had it to do all over again, we would have certainly slept on some things. There is something about the Peace of God. It takes you out of panic mode. It allows you to recalibrate your thoughts and see the lessons being conveyed by God.

Peace and Stillness in God comes with this indelible ability not to be rushed into haste and premature acts that hinder the Fruit of the Spirit from showing up in our lives. Do we truly affix our eyes on the makeover of God? How He will take our lives through growing pains of spiritual maturity to produce His Character in how we respond to life!

Stillness produces a divine assessment that is earmarked by His Grace. We move from puppets manipulated by the puppeteer, Satan to prematurely move ahead of God and Do Something! Do not miss that Shout Moment! When one is always in fight mode, you often misplace the degree of significance of a situation. It produces this chaotic existence that does not always display the wisdom of God concerning a matter.

The year 2020, during COVID was a glaring example of how challenging it was for people to be still for an undetermined amount of time. We pride ourselves in being multi-taskers and often times synonymously yoke stillness with idleness. Oh, how different they truly are in nature and preservation. Stillness will settle us and drive our attention to the View of God. Idleness lacks directed intentionality and the ability to see the big picture.

The Strategy of Stillness is this beautiful gift from God that causes us to Show Up in Life differently. You are not easily swayed or knocked off of kilter. There is an understanding that there is safety and wise counsel in settling down. There is a glorious freedom to hear the Heart of God on how &/or if you should even respond.

The more I live this beautiful life; the more I am overwhelmed by the act of God making us whole! It gives you a much greater appreciation for the crock pot over the microwave. The desire for speed can kill off that which was supposed to nurture us. Just as our food does not escape the watts emitted by the microwave; nor does the inability to get still not avoid the misalignment from always doing something and prematurely responding from flight mode more often than needed!

Stillness is a Super Power! It allows us to remain behind God. It keeps us in a follow mode. It embraces the wait! I could write a whole blog series on Waiting on God! I did not always wait right! Sometimes that wait had folded arms and a foot tap. I Thank God for His long-suffering! Learning how to wait with joy has truly helped me to transition to an appreciation for every stage of my life! To know my Lord & Savior would never leave me nor forsake me allows me to assume the position from a point of a Grateful Victor of the timing and counsel of God, instead of a Self-glorified Victim!

Your Stillness is wrapped up in a strength that is personified in your decision-making. It is a secret weapon that debuts at the most essential time. It will empower you to move differently and not move at all when warranted. The Wisdom of God to put contentment in being opposite of the Energizer Bunny…a Place Called Stillness! Selah!

Divine Work & Prayer:

Work:

Jot down in your DD Journal the moments that you found it tough to get still. What were you triggered to do? Why is Stillness important and what can it produce in you?

Pray:

Oh God, create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit. Flood my thoughts with Your Thoughts. Capture my senses in how I perceive. Get Glory out of my responses. Saturate my desires to wait on You. Your timing is perfect in everything. Thank You for what stillness produces. A great moment to bask in your presence and hear from you. You are a perfect God, who fails not. May Your Wisdom be on display in my life daily! In Jesus Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

“Kicker, Alex McPherson Chose to bless the Lord after 3 Failed Attempts, and was questioned. What determines your Praise?”

Psalm 34:1 says,  “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Football Kicker Alex McPherson clearly took that to heart! After multiple failed attempts for field goals for Auburn against Missouri, McPherson still gave God praise! He still knew that God was worthy to be praised in triumphant and defeat.

The irony is in the criticism McPherson faced when he chose to praise God after missing 3 field goals! We live in a society where God is Thanked after receiving the award, but is He not worthy to be praised when your name is not called? Does He not deserve our attention when what you desire does not come to fruition? The maturity and reverence shown by McPherson is a significant testament to a beautiful relationship that He is living out before our very eyes with the Lord. It is definitely not transactional in nature. It is an amazing awareness of all that God has afforded Him in the moment and what is due to God!

McPherson has been plagued with many health challenges that has taken him away from the game. However, the game has not taken him from Celebrating the One who has made Him a Winner through accepting Christ Jesus! There is an interesting phenomenon that happens in the Sports World. I call it Sports Mania Ministry, like how when people go to jail, many say they find God. It goes without saying that in both arenas, a true conversion can be had, but it is also vitally important that the most sobering self-assessment happens while incarcerated and released, as well as, while in collegiate sports and if the professional level is in the cards. Why you may ask? Great question: Allow me to bring on some Scout Talk!

Scouts wear many hats. Not only are they looking to place you in a situation to your advantage, but they also do a lot of intervening and damage control to protect one as an asset. Having a relationship with God that is built on a solid foundation is the best playbook an athlete can follow. It is so much more than John 3:16 plastered on your equipment, it is the act of becoming what is associated to these scriptures.

McPherson showed more God through defeat than many show in triumph. Shortly after the game of missed field goals, McPherson showed up in a later game and tied Auburn’s record of six field goals in one game! McPherson is displaying the Win on and off the field. Remember, Victory does not stop at Actions, it also encompasses Attitude!

Blessing the Lord at all times entails a mindset that is well aware that the praise is far greater than simply what is before you. It is the heart’s posture to know who goes before you. The One who opens and closes doors on your behalf because He knows what is best for you. It is the act of giving Him what is due because of who He is.

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your DD journal various scenarios where you gave God the honor that was due to Him even in the midst of adversity and it appearing not to work in your favor. If there was an event where neglected to give God what is due, write out that situation as well and how you felt concerning your response.

Pray:

Say a prayer concerning giving God continual praise and being able to understand the things He will use to mature you.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

You can learn a lot from folks on a cruise ship entering an elevator!

I have been in revelation overload on this trip. It is really eye-opening to see how we move in life through pleasure. In everyday life, my elevator experience has never been so welcoming and inviting. Getting on an elevator is usually met with an awkward silence and uncertainty of where to look. It is not usually a plethora of pleasantries and inviting faces. Do not misunderstand the message. The excitement is understood. It is the learned behavior that is subtly amusing.

Vacation is a time of wonderment and anticipation for what is to come. You have worked hard and enjoying the fruit of your labor. On a cruise line, you are meeting new people and often experiencing never before events with complete strangers. The conversation comes so easy, as you identify similar expectations. As I exited the elevator many times hearing people smile and say, “Enjoy your time.” It became a part of my Elevator Language. It became our exiting symphony to all who were getting off before us to begin their vacation journey for the day.

You all know how much I love to see life from Heaven’s View. Imagine leaving your home in your Sunday’s Best and your neighbor takes the time to smile and say, “Enjoy your time in church!” Imagine driving to church and you are listening to your Gospel List, and happen to put those hands up in praise, at a stop light. The driver next to you smiles and says, “Enjoy your time with Him!” Imagine getting all the way to your church, and while in the vestibule, you are greeted with a smile and someone says, “Enjoy your time as you are being prepared to spend eternally with the One who first loved and Saved you!”

Every Sunday all over the world, people go to a place that should have a category of excitement that is unmatched! The Word says, “For I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the Lord.” -Psa 122:1 In Hebrew, “glad” is defined as, joyful, gleeful, or to brighten up. It is lauded as a deep feeling of joy! Multiply a child waking up on Christmas morning by 1,000! That is how we should feel walking into the church.

There is no experience like anything that has eternity wrapped in it! Vacations have their place; events are greatly welcomed; but to know we have an opportunity to go to a place where we come together as Believers in Christ and to worship God, all while He inhabits our praises!

Everything has limitations, but God is so bountiful in who He is! Go with me for a moment! We can pack out an elevator, but at some point, it will reach capacity. We can never exhaust God! Seven billion people can all go up in prayer, praise, and worship, and we would never have to wait for Him to receive our offering. How much more should our Elevator Language be for anything Heaven-related? The largest cheer and elation should be upon entering the House of Prayer!

These downloads have been marvelous in my soul. There is nothing like living for the Lord; enjoying life; and maturing in Him to be a blessing to others. It is also a blessing to see other countries call on the Name of the Lord! My Elevator Language for Heaven has definitely been increased!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your DD Journal how you will exit out of the Elevator of Life as you enter the church this week.

Pray:

Father God, may you never be common place. We are blessed to experience you in new and profound ways every time. Your heart has captured our heart. May our heart’s posture always be to worship you! You deserve all the praise! I love you more today than yesterday! The earth tells of your goodness! In Jesus Mighty & Matchless Name, Amen!

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Are we mature enough to pick the door “Some Day” over “Today”, when the latter can hinder Tomorrow?

Divine Design Readers, I pray this blog finds you exceptionally well. In the course of life, I have found an amazing gift in the Waiting Process. It for sure was not always like that. I was the queen of timeframes and expected deadlines. I was guilty of even putting my First Love, Jesus Christ on a clock for what I felt should be manifested in my life. Imagine telling the One who stands out of time when you feel you should be married; have children; be at the top of your career, and even your community involvement presence!

Since childhood, I have been groomed to walk in certain rooms and have experiences that spoke of a pedigree that was widely centered on self-preservation and bootstrapping, instead of truly embracing what God has for me. I can honestly say, God’s Plan is the absolute best! It has twists and turns that prepares you for the next boulevard you will travel.

When I really became serious about God, like if He took His Presence from me, I would not be able to breathe! It was in that season that I Thank God I was not married! There is no way I would have wanted to share that moment with anyone! The work that God did in my heart was intensive care treatment. It was the kind of surgery that if a miracle did not take place; I would not have made it through that process!

My talks of my transition are candid and sobering because I know what it is like to be in the position of those building the Tower of Babel! I know what it is like to build things with your eyes close and they prosper in the eyes of the world. I have the memories of what it is like to be invited into rooms with wealth and prestige, but No God in Sight! Even today, when I think about what God did not allow to be! It sometimes makes me tearful with gratitude for how He Saved me not from the Streets, but from the Penthouse!

This Blog is designed to get you to embrace the Waiting Process! Too often, we are consumed with attempting to gauge the time something will take. However, we seldom focus on the blessing of God allowing you to wait! What He is investing in your life for Him to get a ROI. What is it for God to place in you beforehand what it will take to be a Godly Wife and be a helpmate who has not made marriage an idol, but goes just as hard in the Spiritual Paint as your Spouse?

I am so grateful for how we are positioned to move after God makes us over! How the intensive surgery produces a heart that pumps out God’s Love; a commitment to live out loud for Him; and a desire for others to experience what you now have in Him! The Waiting Process is Glorious! I smile with an imaginary sweat gland activated in typing that, because it certainly was not always like that! LOL! God knows, the long suffering that He has shown with His daughter concerning being the child who always asked, “But why…?”

Friend, choosing “Some Day” over “Today” not only better prepares you, but also gives you a great appreciation for what God Crock Pot cooked for you! I am eternally grateful for His Saving Grace; His heart transplant; and His Makeover! It is glorious to walk into “Tomorrow” free from pre-maturity and anxiousness.

It goes without saying that we are always growing and being stretched in our faith! The flex is not going before Him, and having a grateful heart for every stage of your life! Contentment-ville is a boulevard that has a scenic route out of this world. I checked your schedule and cleared it for the day. I saved a seat for you! This blog is being brought to you from this most quaint dessert cafe in Italy. Even on vacation, you are being warmly thought about. Bon Appétit!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your divine design journal your feelings about waiting. What are some of the blessings in waiting on God?

Pray:

Father God, I am grateful for all that you have planned for me. You have made my life complete by how detailed you have been with ordering my life. Great is your faithfulness. You have a way of daily blowing our minds. You take our lives and transform them. You truly give us purpose. Thank you for loving us so much, that you provided a Way through Your Son to not remain in a state of mind simply concerned about acquiring here. Waiting on You is an honor. May my heart’s posture be to forever give you glory and honor you with how I wait and live for you! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

When What You Once Called a Bunch of “No’s”, You Now Call “Glorious Decisions!”

Just imagine purchasing a ticket; and voluntarily getting on a flight to go to the Vostok Islands. An uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean surrounded by dangerous, narrow coral reefs. There is no means to survive the elements of its surroundings. It has such a dense forest that on Google Maps, it gives the appearance of a black hole.

You realize that you did not count the cost. You are met with the realization that you invested in a place that you were never supposed to inhabit. You shared the excitement of your wonderment before you truly acknowledged the impending danger that you subjected yourself to in that season. All in the name of saying “Yes” to subscribing to the YOLO Mantra…You Only Live Once.

Before Christ, we called the “Yeses” free Spirit and being adventurous. People would tell you, “Live a little.” You would make decisions out of compulsion and not allows free will. There may have even been times where you knew you did not belong where you said, “Yes.” Shakespeare said, “The world is your oyster.” Opportunities await your curiosity. The intrigue of what is behind the door sets in. How many times did curiosity expose your eyes and ear gates to something that extended way pass the event &/or encounter?

Oh, but the moment that we were removed from the Yes Moments; we were met with a void that was increasing in diameter with every Yes of Entitlement and Compromise. It is the Mercy of God, when we chose to live in a space that He never called to be inhabitable; yet He allows a restlessness with World’s System. The theologian Augustine said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

That restlessness turned into a seek. A desperation for the One who life is found in. There are those who said, “Yes” to God; however they still see their New Life as restrictive and riddled with “No’s.” I wonder if they really reached the place of understanding that we serve a God who 100% wants His Best for us! He has never held back from a place of ill-intent. If anything, He allowed some things to not come to fruition, because He knew it would impede our growth in Him.

The more you walk with God and surrender, the more His Love Letter unfolds. No’s in God saved our lives. No’s in Him guarded our hearts. No’s in the Great I Am preserved our posterity! We evolve into No’s as Glorious Decisions we get to make. A people who were once unrighteousness, unholy, and self-serving now get a chance to embrace the No’s as a protection from on high!

I often feel we miss our Shout! It is an honor,

To Just Say No to…

Fornication, Drunkenness, Envy, Covetousness, Pride, Unfruitful Connects and so many other decisions that we once said, “Yes” to and cost us more than we would ever be able to convey! The full impact is never just about the seen consequences, there is a stain left on the heart and only God can reach the place where we said, “Yes” to everything but Him! He is a Redeemer and a Restorer. When you factor all that He has done- the No to what does not honor Him is a response we get to give in return! It is absolutely glorious for our decisions to be transformative and exclusive! “Just Say No”…proudly, I will!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your journal all of the Glorious Decisions of No’s you now get to make because of your surrender to Christ. If you are still battling with the Yeses that helped to place you in bondage, write out the fruit that has been produced from that decision.

Pray:

*Say a personal prayer concerning being able to embrace the standard of God and what He has empowered you to carry out in your decision-making.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

The Power of the Answer is Tied to the Quality of the Question!

We live under so many unanswered questions. Many can find themselves perplexed by the answers given to the questions. Can it be because we do not agree with the answer? Maybe it is because the answer is not confirming a certain thought.

There was a very popular line in the movie, “A Few Good Men” Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, during the intense scene said, “You can’t handle the truth!” There is a level of Truth that can shock our System to the point of believing, it was better not knowing. We can go through life not desiring the whole Truth.

God truly has a remarkable way of preparing us for the weight of Truth! He enlarges our capacity to take in information so that we may respond appropriately and righteously. It is a gift of God to not have to succumb to overwhelming thoughts about what we heard; rather being able to recalibrate and grow thereby.

God is so mindful of us in every way imaginable. He is the Protector of our hearts. He is our fortress. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Can you imagine the back to back truths facing Job in having reports concerning his family and livelihood? At the end of his questions, he was able to truly understand that he was standing before The Answer. The One who was able to restore and heal his heart.

Someone can present the question, “I love God, you don’t love God?” Immediately loddy doddy everybody can quickly say, “Yes” without truly pondering on the weight of the question. What if the question was poised, “Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?” The quality of the question just went through the stratosphere! It forces you to sit with the question. There is an assessment before an answer.

In the counseling world, we were taught to ask open-ended questions to be able to get more quality from the exchange of the session. In the sales world, not asking quality-based questions can cost you the sell. Well, how does that look in the life of a Believer? The Word of God says, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—” -Luke 14:28

Do we go through this abundant life and embrace what it will take to get to Powerful Answers? What are the Quality Questions we ask ourselves to remain on the narrow path? Are our questions leading to us truly being a prepared person? How painfully honest are we with our own inquiries concerning our readiness? It can be daunting, but it does not have to remain there. There is nothing like looking in the mirror and admitting that the quality needed to excel in your walk is not where it should be, but you are willing to put in the work to look like who God says you are in Him!

I leave you with a Growth Challenge: Take a moment to think about the definition surrounding Quality. After your probe, create a Quality Game Plan that will get you to your Answers fueled with Power. You will go through life differently. It will cause you not to haphazardly answer; rather showing up to life with zeal and wisdom to be more intentional in your practices and truly owning your Answers!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down your Growth Challenge response in your Divine Design Journal.

Pray:

Tag, you’re it. I want you to end this blog with your own prayer. God equips and empowers us through prayer! Be encouraged, it always gets more enriching in Christ!

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Are you a Lawyer or Attorney with the Truth?

Before giving the confused face, always know: the question is loaded, and we are most certainly going to the Highest of High Altitudes. Truth has intrinsic and profound layers that we may not actually take the time to realize—the sacrifice and perseverance it truly requires to be called His own, as well as to wear the merit of acknowledgment that speaks to being with Him.

A Juris Doctorate requires great discipline and commitment. It is the decision to devote additional years to a postgraduate degree. In 2024, approximately 115,000 students enrolled in Juris Doctorate (JD) programs in law schools. Each year, it is estimated that about 34,000–38,000 law students graduate with a JD.

Those statistics show that the finish is not always met with the same fervor as the start. The trek of the believer is likened to the elliptical machine, which has an interval marked “Advance.” It entails resistance and the need to know how to adjust to recalibration. Whether you select a beautiful scenic view or just the bars, the work to achieve the determined goal is grueling and challenging. It forces you to go beyond your perceived gear—just as this walk produces a spiritual stature that far exceeds the capability of your flesh.

The Word of God says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” -Philippians 2:5. There is a mindset shift needed to complete law school. How much more for matriculating through life while following Christ? Just as the elliptical has multiple settings—Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced—one can go to college and choose to Party, Coast, or Break Forth! The Break Forth has always been a required course, not an elective. There is no way to experience graduation and/or progress without the breaking. No accomplishment is absent of sacrifice.

And God, being God, adds obedience to the required courses for us being Called Out! After all, we reap the benefit of our tuition being paid in full through His Son. That calls us not to remain in Beginner (Excited, but not Counting the Cost) or Intermediate (Coasting). It calls us to stretch and to possess what He said was possible—not simply from a tangible place, but from the cumulative teaching and ability to apply His Word.

Graduation day comes, and one walks across the stage to obtain their J.D. The one who was once a student is now a lawyer. Elation fills the air, but they know it does not end there—the Bar Exam is still ahead. “Bar” is an interesting and telling word. It does not have an acronym attached; it represents a place of separation between the public and the Judge & Legal Counsel—the point at which one who was merely a lawyer now gains access to cross the barrier as an attorney.

Altitude ascension is now in operation. Let’s see Lawyer/Attorney from Heaven’s perspective. We spend hours obtaining knowledge of His Word. We sit in churches week after week. We walk across the Stages of Life declaring we are Christians. We have the paraphernalia—from shirts to bumper stickers—repping our favorite spiritual alma maters (churches). And yet, for some reason, we think it ends there.

No—it is just the beginning. We cannot practice without going through the exams of life that teach us to respect the heights of the BAR. There is a Standard of Law expected in the natural. How much more in the spiritual realm? People are counting on you to be in position to represent. There is no name change from Jacob (Lawyer) to Israel (Attorney) without perseverance and testing! Jacob was left alone to wrestle and do what it took to pass the Bar.

Here is the Double Shout:

1. Jacob was not really alone—God has always been there with you.

2. The first-time pass rate for the Bar Exam ranges from 50–80%, depending on many factors. But testing in God has the ability to be a 100% Completion, as we yield and surrender our will to His!

Do not just stop at learning of Him—go all the way to letting His mind be in yours. Then, when going past the Bar, we will be qualified!

Selah.

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your journal what trepidation you experience in sharing your faith and witnessing? Create a Plan to actively share your faith and be a billboard for Christ.

Pray:

Father God, you have been our hope and promise. There are moments of questioning will we be able to finish strong? Will Your Will be fully carried out in our lives? May we engulf the richness and completeness of your Word. You have never sent us into the world to fail when we are representing you. May the Bar that you set be adheres to so that we may walk in places that only you can qualify us for. In Jesus Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

A Virtuous Woman Thrives in Yes & No

Proverbs 31 is one of the most recited chapters when it comes to speaking of a Woman of God. It gives many this perpetual green light to go and pursue. It is the thought that everything that you do will prosper and everyone will call you blessed. That is wonderful when it happens, but do we have enough faith and sticktuitiveness in us to remain committed when everyone is not calling you blessed or it appears that nothing is working out for you?

The Walk of a Virtuous Woman does not only include our ability to do, but to also be able to pivot and recalibrate. There are times that with the best plan and intentions, that door still remains closed. God can and will perfect us through a No. We may not want to hear No all the time, but a No to something saved our lives! A No allowed us to walk away from what would have actually jeopardized our walk with God! A No is not to be underestimated or poorly received. “It was good that He afflicted me, so that I may keep His statutes.”

It is an interesting phenomenon we are seeing in Christiandom. There are so many who lead with hustling to get whatever you want. “Faith comes by hearing; hearing the Word of God.” When was the last time you attended a conference that told you to pray first about the direction God wants you to go? Prayer does not just change things; it can reroute our thoughts and pursuit concerning a thing!

Multi-tasking has taken a 1st Place trophy over Be Still and Know I am God. We struggle to get and stay still. This should not be, Virtuous Woman. There is something so sacred and precious in stilling away with God. Where there are no deadlines, only life in Him and moments to experience Him in His Splendor!

Virtuous Woman, A No in God when it is not His Will or Time can be just as exceptional as a Yes in God. Go with me for a moment. Allow me to paint the picture. How many times has God intervene prior to us making what would have been a detrimental decision? If you have ever experienced God ending a thing you did not have enough Will Power to end. You will look at No’s in God quite differently.

God never has a hidden agenda that does not have our best intentions at heart. Seeing God even use decisions that we have made to turn them around for our good. There is truly No Greater Love! Not even the Plan that we have for our lives can compare to what He has for us!

There was a very popular image circulating of a young lady being asked to give God her teddy bear in exchange for what she cannot see, that will be presented to her! Let’s take that visual even higher! We stand before God with a baggage of familiarity, idiosyncrasies, habits, and hangups and He lovingly stands before us- extends His hand to take things that did not come from Him, nor gives Him glory!

God wants us to thrive in both seasons- The Yes & No.We must delight to carry out His Will. We must never forget that He will meet us both on the mountain top and valley low! A Good Father knows where we are in our maturity. God knows what would be distraction and what would catapult us into carrying out His Will!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your DD Journal some of your recent Yes and No Moments from God and the impact both have had on you.

Pray:

Father God, Thank you for changing our perspective There have been things your No has spared me from- events that I will never fully know. Your care for me is beyond imagination. Thank you for maturing me in your ways and truly causing me to live out the words of Your mouth. May the virtue that you endowed me with allow me to continue to live holy before you! You are my Rock & Fortress Forever! In Jesus Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Woman RESOLVE!

Woman, there are so many invitations headed your way! Invitations to remain in what wounded you instead of walk away and be healed! Invitations to get to the bag by any means necessary instead of being prolonged by trusting the process of God ! Invitations to drink the moonshine over the milkshake. Invitations to be entertained by the world’s standard instead of embracing the wholesomeness of God and fellowshipping with others whose hearts have been captured by God!

Make no mistake, the Invitation is coming for your, “Yes Lord.” It is coming for those intimate prayers and promises that only you and God know. “Lord, if you get me out of this situation, I promise I won’t do this or that.” Or perhaps, “Lord, if you allow this door to open, I promise this or that.” A Yes to God is like no other affirming statement that you will ever say to a human being! You are saying “Yes” to the One who knows exactly how many times you will break that Vow or keep it!

Are you Ready? Are you ready to RESOLVE? Are you ready to have a made up mind about following God all the way? Are you ready to forsake all others? Are you ready to swim against the tide? Are you ready to be penalized for being peculiar? Are you ready for the Holy Roller Title? Are you ready for the infamous, “It doesn’t take all that!” Unless they were in the room, and knew 101% of what God delivered you from- How would they know how much it took for you to reach God’s heart? Do not skip over “101%”, it was not an oversight. Do we fully understand the dangers seen and unseen that God spared us from! Deliverance can go far beyond our physical acts! What lies in those thoughts? Is unbelief on a microphone in our minds, but never uttered from our mouths? God continues to be an amazing Deliverer! One who will allow fire to encamp you but you not smell like smoke! Jesus!

Are you ready to take the hits for your RESOLVE? It is an amazing liberty that comes with resolving in your heart that for God I live and for God I die! There is also a place of reckoning. This place in God will often cause you to be misunderstood. It will many times have your motives questioned. It will reduce your invitations over time. It will stretch you; break you; mold you, and perfect you!

Woman, this RESOLVE is never ever on clearance; yet it is available for every Sister willing to pay the price! However, this cannot be purchased with your black card. This Invitation does not come with a VIP Section. Your pedigree nor connections will get you this invitation! It is the Most Sacred Invitation you will ever receive! This one is not mailed or wired. There will be no need to save it on your calendar, because it will be stamped on your heart upon acceptance! There will be no need to hunt for the right outfit for the next conference, because He adorns you in the perfect garments that will never dry rot or shrink!

There is a Greek Word for Resolve (bouleuo)- to consider, decide, take counsel, deliberate. Luke 14:31, so effectively expresses the weight of the definition, “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” The deliberation and decision are intense, because when that visual comes- it is what you have resolved in your heart is what will help you stand! How much Word? How much History with God do you have to progress and not retreat?

Woman, way before you evolve, a RESOLVE is needed! If not, you will find yourself line dancing with the world on Saturday and attempting to raise up Holy hands on Sunday! I assure you, there is an acceptable worship for a Holy & Righteous God, just as there is one that does not bring Him Honor.

Woman RESOLVE beyond the noise, hype, and emotion! Your very Spiritual Life depends upon it! If an avalanche hit your life in the form of trials and tribulations, do you have enough RESOLVE in you to Stand; enough persistence to Go; and enough indebtedness to God to continue to Show up saying, “Yes Lord?”

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal what it has taken or will take for you to get to a resolve in God. What have you chosen to walk away from that at first, you did not see it as an issue, but as you pursued God more, you began to learn what truly honors and dishonors Him?

Pray:

***Write out a prayer concerning God giving and perfecting your resolve for Him and His Ways. Pray for your circle of influence and the impact that you will have on each other to further your Spiritual Growth.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Divine Life Lessons from Hannah

Can you imagine being in the midst of a daily reminder of what you desire, but do not have? We do not serve a God who is oblivious to our suffering. He uses it to perfect us. He allows it to be a catalyst to stretch us and produce the Fruit of the Spirit. He shapes our desires to align with His Will.

Hannah found herself toiling with her current reality of not bearing a child, but she did not allow it to impede on her going to the temple. Evolving thoughts have people thinking that church attendance is not as paramount. I am here to debunk the thought of church not being relevant in the 21st Century! Church attendance in a Bible-based, God-fearing edifice is like the expectation of having someone go to a hospital for a triple bypass heart surgery! That procedure is not done at home. No one would expect you to remain in your nicely decorated room, no matter how plush it is to have that kind of surgery!

Hebrews 10:25 speaks of us not forsaking ourselves from the assembly of the brethren. There are so many topics in the Word of God that we have given a grey area mark that really should be in black and white. Why is the expectation not to do a life-threatening procedure from the home accepted, but living your life absent of the Church and the fellowship has met the approval of so many?

Is it about convenience or inconvenience? Is it a convenience to get up whenever you like on a Sunday and be able to head straight to brunch? After all, you work so many hours during the week! Hey, you deserve to do as you wish with your weekend. Right? Perhaps it is the inconvenience of it all. Having to find something to wear; driving to a location; finding a parking space; sitting through both Praise & Worship and your Pastor bringing a Message with an undisclosed ending time.

Decisions are never solo passengers. They are always accompanied by input as to why or why not. Does something fit in the scheme of what I have planned for my life or is it an inconvenience I am willing to work through? We like to make it about either/or. However, the more I live, I see this third option. I am also learning that everything is not about “I have to” in God, it moves to “I get to!”

Let’s allow the “Get to Crew” to speak…

•I get to honor Him with time, treasure, and talent.

•I get to sacrifice.

•I get to dress up for my King.

•I get to worship Him uninterrupted or absent of fear of being arrested for doing so.

•I get to be in a place that challenges me to come up higher.

Hannah’s life was such a beautiful access view of what it means to be broken; yet still consciously aware of her need for God. In the Secret Place, there is no pretentiousness or assumption. There is this humility that comes as you take in the weight of His Glory. Hannah did not just go to God complaining and accusing. Accusatory Prayers take the spotlight off of the One who is able!

One of the most fascinating occurrences for me is Hannah’s countenance upon leaving! 1 Samuel 1:18 says after she left from Eli, she ate and was sad no more! Never underestimate the Come in thru Sorrow and Go Out in God! Today’s Life Lesson from Hannah is…God Remembered, as I remembered who I stood before! When your ask aligns with His Plan and you are mature enough in Him to worship prior to manifestation, that carries another level of grace!

Divine Work & Pray:

Jot down in your journal lessons you get from Hannah’s Life from 1 Samuel 1.

Pray:

Father God, Thank you for the lives of our Sisters and Brothers lived out in the Bible. They were far beyond action figures, they are far greater. They are human beings who placed their faith in You. They believed You for what seemed impossible. You are truly a God who has our best interest at heart and there is no plan for my life like Yours. Thank you for ordering my steps. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️

Play through Pain…Not just for the Team, but for the Godly Investment!

If you follow sports, you have heard many heralding stories of Athletes playing though pain. Many have conditioned themselves to play pass what their bodies are communicating. However, there is a Will that can override the objection of the body. Their decision to continue to play superseded the agony of their bodies not being at 100!

Let’s look at some Athletes who played through pain:

•1980 Los Angeles Rams, Jack Youngblood played in the Super Bowl XIV with a fractured leg.

•1985 San Francisco 49er, Ronnie Lott had an injury to his finger where a piece dislodged in the game. He had them wrap it up for him to play in the playoffs.

•2008 Tiger Woods won the US Open with a broken leg and torn ACL.

•2013 Liza Clemons was a Student Athlete at Purdue University. She played through a torn labrum and broken foot. Her pain did not end there. In the same year, she loss her fiancé to gun violence. During this time, it is reported that Clemons did not miss one practice, not from injury or grief.

You see, pain is not always relegated to the physical. There can be a heart pain that no doctor can touch and no medication can relieve. Oh, but there is a Balm in Gilead! The Lord has a way of reaching our heart and healing us to the point of total recovery. He will take our wounded heart and will us back to His Will.

Remembering the Investment God has made in our lives will keep us mindful of what we must do! Just as 2 Samuel 12:20 penned, “David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.” There are so many miracles connected to saying, “Yes Lord.” The strength to get up again. The ability to worship. The endurance to see what the end will be. The will to show up for life after pain and injury. The privilege of lifting our hands to a Holy God. He is a very present Help. No pain, whether it be physical or mental can surpass God’s ability to see about you.

It is impossible for us to bring anything to God that He cannot grow us through. I have always been inspired by the story of Joseph. His brothers stood both in fear and then amazement by his desire not to harm them, but to provide for them. There was no tit-for-tat in Joseph. He understood what God would turn around for his good by what was meant from their evil.

There are acts that we can do in Christ that goes beyond human comprehension. Our focus often becomes what happens to us, but the real spotlight is Who happened to us? Think about the exchange that we gave God- an unyielding, tainted, self-seeking, egotistical, complaining, unrighteousness, prideful, and unforgiving life only to get from Him- holiness, the blueprint to die to self, humility, sober-mindedness, and endowed with an ability to forgive and even pray for our enemies. And just when you thought that was enough to drive the point home- the View of Calvary- Jesus giving His Life that we may have life! Truly take that in! How much do we owe?

Playing through Pain because of the Godly Investment will keep us grateful and kingdom-minded. Our show up points people to God and sends a message of the ability of God to build and shape us for what our lot entails. It goes without saying, God gives reprieves, but make no mistake about it- this Walk is not what we retire out of- it is what we are redeemed into for all eternity. You may be playing through pain right now. It may be the most excruciating pain you have ever experienced, but look up for a moment. The latter shall be greater. Keep your eyes on God and watch Him make the final play!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your journal some of the life injuries you have experienced recently (physically, emotionally, & spiritually). Write in detail how God brought you through each.

Pray:

Oh Lord, how excellent is your Name in all the earth. When I look back over my life and see all that you have brought me through. Every trial and tribulation was meant for me to keep my eyes on you. There were things that were working for my good that I could not imagine. May my mind be affixed on your sustaining and keeping power. Great is your faithfulness towards me. In your Mighty Name, in Jesus Name. Amen.