With Loving Kindness Have I drawn Thee.......

My lovies!! It's been a while. Life has bought about numerous changes for me. Good, Bad and indifferent but still I thrive to be the best version of Cheneka. There's so much I could say but I'll keep it to a minimum...

I guess you're wondering who are the 2 women in the picture. One is Mother Kelley(COGIC) and the other is longtime church friend from back home, Vera Brown. Well what is COGIC? It's the Grand ole Church Of God In Christ... Where you can't join in, you must be born in( no seriously it's an old convocation song we sang in Massachusetts Juridiction #1)

"This is the church of God in Christ,
This is the church of God in Christ,
You can't join in
You must be born in
This is the Church of God in Christ....."( As I hear the late Bishop LC Young singing)..

So why the picture and how does the title go with the picture?

There have been a number of videos posted since last year on facebook. Just yesterday, I saw the ones being posted on instagam. While I have not seen the video in it's entirety, I will say my heart was a bit saddened. WHY??? And trust me, this blog is not a bashing, it's merely my thoughts but sometimes before we laugh, we should consider the feelings of the other person.. I will be honest and say, growing up it was the typical thing to laugh and mock a person as they shouted in church. We were young and spent a good amount of church with the same people every single week.

But as I've gotten older and developed my own relationship with God, I've come to understand before we open our mouths to judge, consider the person.

We fully  never understand a person until we've gotten to know them. Some people were not born attending church. Some people found God after dealing with situations that should've killed them. Some found the church by default, some found the church while they were getting high.. And instead of being embraced: alot of these people have been mocked, talked about and even ridiculed.
People have experienced all types of hurt in the church and it's never ever been addressed( and the hurt goes DEEP). The church is supposed to be the one place you go to feel loved BUT it has now become the place that so many people refuse to walk into.

GOD IS LOVE~ God is pure LOVE~

"Long ago the lord said to Israel, " I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love have I drawn you to myself". ~ Jeremiah 31:3 NLT  I've learned that rebuke comes in many different forms. But open rebuke can be the most harmful when it's not followed by correction and love.  WE judge people based on their appearance and it's not fair. A person only does better when they are taught better.

I've learned sometimes, we have to meet people where they are and be ok with it. If you truly want to know a person's heart, sit and talk with them. No alternative motives, no underline schemes, just one on one conversation.

In order for us to reclaim the church and for God to truly operate and see MIRACLES, SIGNS and WONDERS let's get back to showing love. Let's return to where love is an ACTION followed by teaching and nurturing. GOD is perfect therefore LOVE should be perfect. If we continue how we are, we're going to continue losing souls by the dozen.

I ask that each of you say a prayer for Vera tonight....

Signed,
I don't just go to church, I AM the CHURCH
~Cheneka

The Strength of a Woman

I'm tired. I mean tired but when you're a Single Mom, business Owner, work outside the home and still have to find time to live just a little; you find that there's not enough time in a day. 

Today was a day used for lots of thinking, some tears and time with God. I'm learning to not only Pray but to just talk to Him to because he's always listening. 

My truth is::: I carry a lot stress. While I've learned to cover it up, sometimes I just have to get it off my chest. My biggest stress as a single mother is equally giving my time to my daughter and my son. 

Another issue I'm carrying well and hiding is this whole single life. It. Makes. Me. Sick.. 

It's easy for people in a relationship to say it's not all that it's cracked up to be but to an outsider it's everything. I believe in my heart that there are still a few things I must learn in this season and though it's hard, I'm trusting the process. 

Parenting::: oh it's hard. I love my babies to no end but sometimes, after I've been their ear all day, I need an ear too. I spent a good 2 years beating myself up because I have 2 children by 2 different men( it's a cycle that I pray will not repeat with my daughter and son. The buck stopped with me. If I have anymore children, HE will be my husband). I cried for a good year and then it registered, God did not put me in this situation to fail, I've had to learn it, believe it and take  the lesson and share it. 

As I walked( met my step goal tonight, 8500 steps), God reminded be, " Be still

And wait on me". I yelled a little, cried a lot and by the end of my 2 miles, I was at peace. 

I have various playlists that I listen to while walking. Tonight's playlist was everything my heart needed. "They that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength"... "Go ahead and spread your wings"... Because, "You're Everything to me, Everything...."

My Lovies, tonight as we prepare to rest: Believe with everything in you that God has you. He hasn't left & he won't.  Just when you feel that you can't make it, he's already working it out. Rest well in knowing, he's he's protecting us. 

It's okay to cry, just know that when you're done, wipe your tears put your big girl panties on and keep it moving. It won't be this way forever. I hope my truths inspire you to accept your truths... 

Signed, 

Cheneka's Simple Truths 

God is Good, RIGHT?!!!

Growing up, I've always known God to be good. Old saints would say, " he kept my mind, kept me alive etc....". I didn't understand the trueness in that until I became an adult and developed my own relationship with God. 

I truly understand who and what God is TO Me... I'm sane, I'm alive, I'm safe, my kids are safe, we have a home, we have food, our basics are provided. While with the natural eye it may look like I'm making it happen but in all honesty, "God is Good" and he truly looks out for me. 

But as of lately, I hear God is good all the time. Pastors say it, R&B artists say it,  Rappers say it, politicians say it, drug dealers say, kids say it! Everyone

 says it!! Has it become a cliche' or has everyone truly caught the belief that he's absolutely GOOD? 

I know we all experience different moments with God and we all live different lifestyles but it's a good feeling to hear "God is good"... 

My Loves, I challenge you to truly allow, "God is Good" to be more than a cliche'. I dare you to truly sit and reflect on all that he does and is to you. He's good even when the odds are stacked against you. Trust me I know he's already working it out. He's good when your pockets are full of money, he's even good when your pockets are full of lint. You know why? He's already working it out. 

Today, allow God to be God and in the process watch he'll be good to you!! 

Signed, 

Cheneka simply trusts God!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

Simple Reminders..

I'm not perfect but I Love God. I make mistakes, I stumble but I always get back up and try it again.. 

Today is only Monday but my FAITH and PRAYER life have been tested. Sometimes, God will use situations to position us. 

I was positioned yesterday.. I prayed yesterday and I cried yesterday. 

Today I woke up, still feeling God's presence. I was a bit quieter than normal ( wasn't extremely social) and I just spent time listening... 

Then it happened, a sistergirl reached out and the tears fell. It was such an unexpected text but it warned my heart. 

My Lovies, I challenge you to trust the process. Trust change, trust moves, trust tears, trust frustrations because it's the beginning of the making of you. And when you least expect it, God will remind you, "You're right where I would have you to be to Change the World"...

Let your light speak for you, be okay with your mistakes and trust that someone is watching and learning.. 

Signed, 

I've learned A lot but I PRAY more!