Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Friday 07/30/10)

Today’s Devotional Wriiten By A Friend, A Daughter, A Mother and A Bride in Waiting: Tracy Koweh (soon To Be Dixon)

Is it Strange............It was a Stranger?

　

Leviticus 25:35-36 (Amplified Bible)

35And if your [Israelite] brother has become poor and his hand wavers [from poverty, sickness, or age and he is unable to support himself], then you shall uphold (strengthen, relieve) him, [treating him with the courtesy and consideration that you would] a stranger or a temporary resident with you [without property], so that he may live [along] with you. 36Charge him no interest or [portion of] increase, but fear your God, so your brother may [continue to] live along with you.

This past week has been filled with many highs and lows. Joys and pains. Victories and Defeats. Some moments this week cause me to doubt God, and others confirmed that without a doubt God is real. The most amazing part of it all, is that the most profound situations involved a stranger.

Stranger not in the sense of people I've never met or seen, but stranger in the sense of people who God has just allowed to enter into my life within the past six months. Its been no secret that Shane and I have shouldered the majority of the wedding, but the out pouring of love and support that we have received from those outside of our box has been overwhelming.

Sometimes God will bring you into someone else's life and make you think you are there to bless them, but the truth is that He may just be positioning you to be blessed by them. Had you told me that 3 months ago the same couple I put my wedding on hold to be with, would be the same couple to put some finances on hold for me, I would have thought you were crazy. But God knew what He was doing and because of my obedience in the midst of my ignorance to the big picture, I've been blessed with a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

We don't always understand the purpose of strange encounters we may have, but as we prepare to enter into the weekend, let us think twice before we cut those God allows to cross paths with us. We never know who is holding the key to unlock the doors to our destiny. Don't dismiss, or mistreat the very person that could be holding the last piece of your puzzle. Had people recognized Jesus for who He really was while He was on Earth, how many more could have had a better life, complete healing and peace beyond all understanding. Think it not strange, that God will allow a stranger to come in and flip your world right side up.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Thursday 07/29/10)

Today’s Devotional Written By A True Sister In Christ: Tracy Koweh (soon to be Dixon)

A Change of Heart

　

1 Samuel 10:9 (New Living Translation)

9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.

　

Yesterday was the first day this week, that I came home to am empty house. Since last Friday the sister gang had been hanging out with us. We had our two teen sisters, Breana and Jamerika and the two toddlers, Zakyah and Jaida. We all went putt putt til midnight, to the ocean where I got stung by a jellyfish, out to dinner, shoe shopping, dress shopping, bar b que'd and had homemade taco night. There was rarely a quiet moment in the house and I loved every minute of it.

What was so different this weekend that when Sunday finally came, I asked the girls to stay a few more days? The simple truth was that they both had genuinely had a change of heart. You see Shane and I use to try to get them as often as possible to give them a place to just come, relax and receive love, but they took us granted. It was always a gimme this, take us here, or buy me that kind of attitude. We never felt like just being with us was enough and so we just cut off the weekend trips for a while.

Well, after some alone time and lots of prayers, God was able to get through and show them the true value of family, love and real quality time. What was so ironic about it all was how their change of heart affected us. It compelled us to want to bless them, to want to take them out, to want to buy them things. I thought how God must feel this same way. If we would stop looking to Him to be our Sugar Daddy, and just love on Him for being Daddy how much more He would be compelled to open Heaven's doors. I'd rather learn this lesson the easy way, and not to have to learn it because God had to cut me off for a while.

Today as you allow God to search your heart, let Him give you a new heartbeat. Ask Him to restore or create in you a grateful heart. Let us get to a place where we can love and appreciate just spending some alone time with God, no ifs, no ands, no can I's, and no will You's, and watch won't He do some great things.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Wednesday 07/28/2010)

Today’s Devotional Written By One who is an Angel Here in the Earth To Many:

Tracy Koweh (Soon to be Dixon)

Angels on the Earth.........

Acts 12:7-9 (New Living Translation)

⁷ Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. ⁸ Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. ⁹ So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening.

Since last Friday my house has been filled with the joys and pains of multiple young ones all around. We had the honor of entertaining all of our siblings and Jaida. Well Saturday night while we were all just hanging out and dancing, my baby sister Kyah said, "Angel did it". I didn't have a clue of what she was talking about or who she was talking to. Apparently, Kyah has called Jamerika (our middle sister) Angel, ever since she could talk. No matter how you attempt to pronounce her name, Jamerika sounds nothing like Angel.

I realized in that moment standing there, that no one else in the room had fully caught the revelation of what that meant. There was something so special and so precious in Jamerika's behavior, actions, and love towards Kyah, that it prompted something on the inside of a toddler to call Jamerika............Angel. To my four year old sister Jamerika is her protector, a supernatural force in her life and someone she can trust. Like me, Jamerika has been forced into the role of carrying for a minor child that she did not birth. And like me, she has chosen to stand in the gap for the weaker sibling and take the bulk of the hits in the house (not physical hits).

As I began to share this story with Lisa on Monday, I could not hold back the tears. What a great example my sister is setting. What an awesome testimony Kyah will have when she looks back and remembers the one who kept her, the one who shielded her, and the one who was always there. I love how God will allow you to go through a role reversal sometimes to understand and appreciate what someone else went through.

Today as we begin to refocus on the path we find ourselves on, let us not forget the angels God has placed on Earth to protect us. Jesus is on the main line all day and night, but I love that I serve a God who loves me enough to surround me with my very own personalized angels to protect me, shield me, guide me, encourage me, and push me to my destiny each day. When you think no one is there, or no one understands, look a bit harder, they are angels watching over you.

Words Of Encouragment To Start The Day (Tuesday 07/27/10)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Courageous Young Woman:

Tracy Koweh (soon To Be Dixon)

They Call It, Like They See It

　

1 Timothy 2:7 (New Living Translation)

7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

　

Last weekend Jai's biological daddy came and picked her up for the weekend. She was so excited to see him: they played, hung out, went to the zoo, ate nuggets and stay up all night long. He took her to gymnastics, out to eat and just spent some long overdue time with her. When he returned her home on Sunday morning she said "bye Jai Jai" and then came in the house. She kissed me and then began to look for her "Daddy"......Shane.

How could after a weekend of "do whatever you want", a three year old call a man she hadn't seen in three days "Daddy"? The answer was simple, his actions, love, faithfulness and consistent time had told her little mind that He was the real thing. She enjoyed fun time away, but at the end of the day she recognizes the one who prays with her daily, takes her to school, picks her up, kisses her boo boo's, spanks her bottom, kills the bugs in her room, and who spends hours sitting on the couch watching Spongebob reruns with her. Children are young, but I believe they are wiser than us all.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Monday 07/26/10)

Today’s Devotional Written By My Spiritual Daughter Who I am Proud To Say Is Who She Is: Tracy Koweh(soon to be Dixon)

It’s Not Right, BUT it is Okay!!!

Psalm 27:3 (Amplified Bible)

³Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident.

Today’s message in the music comes from Whitney Houston's song "It’s Not Right, but it’s Okay". This past week the stress of the wedding and all the family drama that has come with it, finally got the best of me. I broke down as I read all the stories of the daughters and mothers out working together to give the bride the wedding of her dreams. I cried and wondered how that felt.

Last week as I sat with Daniela finishing up the paperwork about Kenneth's passing, she asked how the wedding plans were coming along. Having just planned her wedding a few months before, she was shocked to learn that for the vast majority of it, Shane and I were doing it alone. We didn't have the support and financial backing that most couples do.

The greatest shock however, was that my birth mother had not participated in anything to date. It hurt to realize that my special and important day was not a priority to the woman who brought me into the world. I thought "It’s not right, but it’s okay". Daniela in the midst of dealing with the passing of her husband of 4 months spoke words to me that I will never forget. She told me that I was so busy focused on who was not there and what was not being done, that I couldn't see that God had surrounded us with a family created by His spirit.

This past weekend as I tried on wedding dresses I looked up and saw my sisters and my Ma. Not the one who gave physical birth to me, but the one who God allowed to birth me in the spiritual. She encourages me, prays with me, corrects me and she constantly sacrifices for me. The situations and circumstances I find myself in right now are not the norm, but God is still taking care of it all.

Today as you look at certain things happening in your life, you probably have a few things that you can admit are not right. But God wanted you to know as Whitney sung it so perfectly: It’s not right, but it’s okay, You're going to make it anyway. Be blessed this week, and know that the people who bail on you are only making room for God to give you something and someone better.