Written & Published by Lolita Buck

Just as wine ages with time as does our bodies, so should our faith. It is with life's many ups & downs that our faith matures. I've always been fascinated by the scripture that speaks about us having faith the size of a mustard seed. I thought to myself it doesn't take much to get this faith thing started. But let me tell you it takes a whole lot to keep that seed watered & growing so that your faith continues to grow. I think I took that scripture literally for years when it said we could move mountains with just a seed. But I've come to realize that the seed is just the beginning. We don't actually start moving mountains in our lives until we have what I like to call "seasoned faith".

Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

This is a faith that has matured enough to realize that God may or may not answer our prayers the way we like. But we believe he knows what's best for us & we trust his plan no matter what. This is the kind of faith that may make you wet your pants a little bit, because fear & faith are so close together that one bump in the road & you might just have an accident. The devil has you shaking in your boots but God is quietly whispering in your ear "I've got this".

This isn't the kind of faith that looks for comfort & happy. But instead, one that's open to the possibility of brokenness in exchange for divine purpose. This kind of faith isn't for the faint of heart. For those of us who have been doing this walk with God for quite some time we've come to realize that getting weary is normal. But knowing that God promises a harvest if we hang in there makes it all worthwhile.

Galatians 6:9
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

I'll be the first to admit that this kind of faith isn't easy & does takes time. But who better to put your trust in than your Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ? He won't steer you wrong I promise you. Throughout the many seasons of life he's got your back & for that matter your front as well. So remember to always to put your faith in him!
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Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

As you go forward in your daily journey I extend love & peace to each of you. I pray that you find your "it" and that you OWN IT. That the chains of this world be broken off of you & that you walk in the light that God intended you to walk in. ​

With dedication & servitude
Lolita

Written & Published by Lolita Buck

Clearly our country is in troubled waters when building a wall takes precedence over the well being of humanity. But having said that, I'm not here to take any political stance or bash president Trump for that matter. I'm here to take a God stance. Knowing what my bible says about love, in that it covers a multitude of sins I'm here to offer love as a bridge that connects us all together during these troubled times. So my prayer today & going forward is "Help me to build a bridge God & not a wall". A bridge that connects the hearts of your people.

1 Peter 4:8
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
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I do believe that God can & will use this entire situation for his glory & honor. Often times he uses the most unlikely circumstances to show himself strong & mighty. So many stories in the bible illustrate my point but none quite like the children of Israel's story. Can you imagine spending 400 years in captivity for no reason at all other than the fact that you ran across an oppressive Pharaoh? My point is that God does eventually show up, no doubt about it.

Exodus 6
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country."

God also said to Moses, "I am the Lord". I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

Therefore, say to the Israelites: "I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord."

Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country."
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So in the meantime while we await God's response, why not build a bridge of love & unity that makes our country even stronger? I know Trump's campaign slogan was "Make America Great Again". Bottom line, the only way we truly do that is with God's love. The wall that Trump wants to build is to keep people out of the country. The bridge of love that I'm suggesting today is one that brings hope to a dark, dim situation. The answer isn't to keep people out the country the answer is to let God's love in.

As you go forward in your daily journey I extend love & peace to each of you. I pray that you find your "it" and that you OWN IT. That the chains of this world be broken off of you & that you walk in the light that God intended you to walk in. ​
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With dedication & servitude
Lolita

Written & Published by Lolita Buck

Oh the venom of success. No doubt about it privilege comes with a cost. But the question is, how much are you willing to pay for the luxuries of life? I thought it was very important to write about this topic because many of us don't even realize that there is a cost to success. And so we mistakenly think that God's plan isn't working, when in fact it is.

I used to get completely frustrated myself. That is, until I realized that pain & persecution is just the price you pay. Once I realized that the cross is just as relevant to the process as the crown I was able to walk freely & boldly in the privileges of God. Check out his word on this topic.

Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Luke 12:48
But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Having God's privileges & promises in your life is amazing. But often times we don't fully enjoy his blessings because the enemy would have us focus so much on the crosses that we bear in life that we overlook the good stuff. He's a master manipulator.

I once heard someone say Satan can't stop God from blessing you. But he'll do his best to make certain you don't enjoy the blessings. That sneaky little devil.... This is what I call the "sting of privilege". It hurts just a tiny bit, but the enemy magnifies it. Therefore making us overlook the goodness of God. Because God forbid if we are inconvenienced even the tiniest bit. Then he's no longer worthy to be praised or so the devil wants us to believe.

Think about it he did the exact same thing to Adam & Eve. They actually had it made. God only asked that they not eat from one tree. Otherwise they had total access to everything in the Garden of Eden. Talking about privilege.....But the enemy caused them to focus so much on what they weren't allowed access to that he got them all caught up in a frenzy. And they ended up in BIG TROUBLE. So I'll leave you with this final thought. Are you so bitten by the "sting of privilege" that you aren't fully taking advantage of God's wonderful blessings in your life? Here is the scripture regarding Adam & Eve just let it sink in. God has so many amazing things in store for each of you today. Just relax & enjoy his bountiful blessings because he would have it no other way. It might sting just a tad bit, but always know he is with you every step of the way.

Genesis 3:1-13
The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. But God did say, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.’ ”
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“You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “God knows that when you eat fruit from that tree, you will know things you have never known before. Like God, you will be able to tell the difference between good and evil.”

The woman saw that the tree’s fruit was good to eat and pleasing to look at. She also saw that it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it. Then both of them knew things they had never known before. They realized they were naked. So they sewed together fig leaves and made clothes for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. It was during the coolest time of the day. They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called out to the man. “Where are you?” he asked.

“I heard you in the garden,” the man answered. “I was afraid, because I was naked. So I hid.”

The Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?”

The man said, “It’s the fault of the woman you put here with me. She gave me some fruit from the tree. And I ate it.”

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me. That’s why I ate the fruit.

As you go forward in your daily journey I extend love & peace to each of you. I pray that you find your "it" and that you OWN IT. That the chains of this world be broken off of you & that you walk in the light that God intended you to walk in. ​
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With dedication & servitude​
Lolita

Written & Published by Lolita Buck

Our power lies in our ability to stay connected to "the source". Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. That's why it is critical that we remain plugged in at all times. We certainly don't need any short circuits or power outages going on. God is always willing to be our surge protector, keeping us out of harms way during the many perils of life if only we would trust him. He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. But we must take him at his word, more importantly stay connected to his word.

Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

​Life will definitely challenge you, no doubt about it. God's word promises that persecution & trials are a part of his divine plan. But we should count it all joy because the trials we face today will eventually build some beautiful characteristics within us tomorrow.

James 1:2-8
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

The reason I think it's imperative that we stay plugged into "the source" is because without him there is no way we can do this life's journey, any justice. And we certainly can't bring him glory and honor. It's way too difficult to do on our own. He has this thing set up so that we have no other choice but to rely on him. Which is awesome!

I can't think of anyone I'd rather be connected to especially in times of trouble, but God. Psalms 46 reminds me that he is my refuge & strength. He can be yours as well, you don't have to carry your burden's alone. I'd like to share that scripture with you today. It reminds me daily that he is my powersource & without him I'm completely drained. Here it is, check it out. Please allow the word of God to penetrate your heart. But don't stop there, continue to refuel daily so that you too can be a mighty warrior for the kingdom of God.

Psalm 46
​God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

As you go forward in your daily journey I extend love & peace to each of you. I pray that you find your "it" and that you OWN IT. That the chains of this world be broken off of you & that you walk in the light that God intended you to walk in. ​

With dedication & servitude​
Lolita