Written & Published by Lolita Buck

Okay so I didn't watch the Oscar's personally last night. But I woke up this morning & found out that many people that have been in the game grinding for years finally took home the coveted trophy. I don't believe in idolizing the gift but instead the giver & for all of us who have learned to trust in God's plan & his timing for our lives I can tell you first hand that the reward is so much better! Why? Because after you have suffered a while letting God establish you is a wonderful, absolutely amazing, feeling.

To watch his plan masterfully come together in your life is like reading something out of a story book. I suppose we can find many references of this level of blessing in the good book. But let me tell you, when your life becomes the canvas by which he creates his masterpiece its breathtaking needless to say.

1 Peter 5:10
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

What I've learned in life is that while God prepares you for greatness it's tough. Because often times we can't see his hand at work. It feels like a cruel joke & the enemy will do his best to convince us of it. He wants us to believe that God isn't gonna come through, almost making our faith null & void. Oh but if I had listened to those voices I wouldn't be where I am today.

I would never have been able to see the beautiful person I've become. I literally watched God take a broken, fragmented soul, myself that is, reshape & restore me. And then to top it off, use me. Yep that's exactly what God does you see it time & time again in the bible. But its not a quick fix, its a permanent change and so it takes time. But most of us never fully experience God's love on this level because it does take quite a while. And most people give up along the way which is exactly what the enemy hopes we'll do.

To be honest i never set out to find God he found me in my brokenness as a little girl & over time he has made me whole. He's turned my ashes to beauty but I've had to trust his plan every step of the way.

Psalm 37:23
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way."

As the question above asks, will you do the same? It hasn't necessarily been an easy journey but its been well worth the ride. The Academy didn't give out the awards last night God did, he established those who had suffered a while. Those trophies will sit on a shelf and collect dust over time but the hand of God will still be at work bringing those that love & trust him to their rightful position in the earth. To God be the glory, the honor, & the power, forever and ever! Amen

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

Has the devil ever had you down for the count with only seconds to spare and you mustered up the strength & courage to get back up, to keep moving forward? If so, why not dub yourself "the comeback kid". Shoot everyone else in the boxing industry has a nickname. Floyd Mayweather went from "pretty boy" to "money" in his career & Manny Pacquiao is "pac-man".

Regardless of the hand you were dealt in life I believe that each of you has it within you to go the distance. To go toe to toe with the greatest enemy on the earth. Why do I believe this you might ask? Because the God that is in you is much greater than him. And absolutely no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper you are more than a conquerer. Think I'm lying check it out.

1 John 4:4
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The scriptures above give me life personally because they tell me that no matter how many times the enemy tries to knock me out I'm guaranteed victory. The key however, is to keep getting back up. The bible doesn't promise that fatigue won't set in, and that we won't get a few good uppercuts along the way. Trust me we're gonna have a few scrapes & scars when it's all said & done. But if we don't grow weary in well doing, if we faint not, we will reap a harvest in due season. Boom!!

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."

There you have it, the enemy will deceive you by making you think that a few minor bruises means defeat. Nope not at all, so bring it on. That's the attitude you've got to have or else you'll never win. With God in your corner as your personal trainer how can you not succeed?

I smell a knock out coming your way, a heavy weight title for the kingdom is yours for the taking. The cool part is that you getting bragging rights here on Earth but then once you leave this place he will say well done thy good & faithful servant now come unto me. The real reward will be in Heaven. Now there you go "comeback kid" whatever you do, don't ever give up on God because God will never give up on 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

Ephesians 6:12
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Rarely do I start a blog post with scripture. But for this post in particular I felt it imperative that I do so. The devil is surely busy & we need to stand on God's word like never before especially when it comes to mental illness.

What prompted this post is the recent news about actor Kristoff St. John from The Young & The Restless soap opera. Kristoff was only fifty two years old. It is said he had been battling severe depression ever since his son committed suicide at the age of twenty four. Do you see the pathology here? The generational curse? Two precious lives snuffed out way too soon.

The attack of the enemy is real people. And his most prized possession is the human mind. He knows this is where transformation occurs & his number priority is to keep us stuck. His objective is to kill, steal, & destroy. And he'll do it by any means necessary.

It's so funny in preparing this message a spirit of depression came over me out of nowhere. It was almost like Satan was trying to stop me from getting this out to the people. He's a sneaky little thing. In doing research for this post I also read that Kristoff's net worth was ten million dollars & when I looked at highlights of his life it appeared picture perfect. But that's what I'm talking about when I say the enemy is sneaky.

He'll give you every material possession you ever wanted but then torment you so much internally that you can't even enjoy the stuff. Crazy, right? But it's a well known fact unfortunately. Just look at the number of celebrities that commit suicide. My goal isn't to preach to you today but instead to leave you with some scriptures in the event you find yourself becoming unhinged. To offer light in what may appear to be a dark & lonely space.

Deuteronomy 31:8
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 40:1-3
Psalm 3:3
Psalm 34:18-19
Isaiah 40:31
Isaiah 42:3
Matthew 11:28-30
Romans 8:38-39
Psalm 34:17
Psalm 42:11
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Numbers 6:24-26

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

Are you giving a full-time God part-time commitment? You do realize he's working around the clock, in fact he's putting in overtime on your behalf? That's just how much he loves you! Just the mere fact that he would plan a beautiful love story of redemption for us all, speaks volumes. But who do you personally know that's willing to sacrifice their one & only son for you? ABSOLUTELY NO ONE

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
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I'm appalled at how many people think that a relationship with God is a Sunday service from twelve until two once a week. Now come on, you know that's nothing more than a part-time lover at best. I mean ladies if your husband or boyfriend didn't call or text regularly & just checked in once a week for two hours you'd be highly disappointed.

I'd imagine that's how God feels too. He's taking care of us twenty four seven, watching over & protecting us daily. And what do we do to show our appreciation? We show up every Sunday to put our so called relationship on display for the world to see. While our bibles sit conveniently on the nightstand collecting dust. The sad part is that God wants intimacy with each of us he's just waiting on us to make the first move. And there is no double dipping allowed. He's wants all eyes on him, check it out.

James 4:8
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Exodus 34:14
"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

Ladies God isn't looking for a part-time lover. But instead he is looking for a woman after his own heart. He's looking for a heart connection with you & I. But how can we connect with him when we're so attached to the things of this world? The internet, our cellphones, tablets etc.
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I'll be the first to admit I'm just as guilty as the next person. But each day I strive to do better at making God my number one priority & the number one lover of my soul. One thing I do know for sure is that God's love is unfailing & I just want to make certain that I fully partake in it. To God be the glory and honor!

1 Samuel 13:14
"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee."

Acts 13:22
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will."
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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