Exodus 4:3-5 "And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Have you ever desired to obey God concerning a revelational instruction for your life, but fear held you captive? Have God ever told you to do something that on the ordinary, you'd never ever do?
The scariest thing for me to do was to confess my calling into the ministry. I'd been the bad actor for most of my life, and no soon as I truly got saved, God put me to work. First, Sunday school teacher, then junior Matron's teacher, and then Mission Leader. At the same time, I was under a pastor who totally didn't believe in women preaching or the gift of speaking in tongues. So when God spoke into my heart concerning the direction for my life, I was so fearful, so I decided that because of men, preaching was not what I wanted to do. 
After three days in jail preaching and teaching God's word, while sitting on the floor God spoke to my heart and said, "If I ask you to stay, would you stay? As one tear trickled down my cheek, I said, "Lord, I will, but I don't want to." Ten minutes later, they were calling my name to leave the cell because my bond had been posted.
For a while, I felt like Moses did. Lord I know You are the one who told me to do this, but I just wanted to flee. Nevertheless in obedience to God, I took the Gospel in my hand, to hide it in my heart, in order to release it out from my mouth.
Now, I am no longer fearful of man; I am committed to obeying God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that took a sinful young woman like myself,, and changed me in order that you may see Him through me. When we decide to obey God, this choice fully cast out fear. It is our obedience to Him and His Word that gives us the authority to walk in the assurance of Isaiah 54:17.
So my sister or brother, I encourage you to obey God. It's sometimes what you fear the most, that will be the very thing that God will purpose you to conquer for the sake of the people seeing Him through you. So grab whatever it is by the tail, and master it! Be Blessed! 

In my thirty something years of life, I can't remember ever spending a Fourth of July at church. Anyway, it was truly the firework that I needed to jump start the next half of my year. My Pastor song a song today that said something to this affect....God I want to have more of you and I'm willing to do whatever I have to for it! And then he said, "I might have to let go of some friends, but I'll do it."
It's so amazing to me that when we get ready to go on different levels or either walk in our true purpose, we lose friends and sometimes even family. For the life of me I still can't quit wrap my mind on the fact that relationships are seasonal. Seems like to me, you should be a friend for a life time, but there's a distinct different in covenant friends and friends. So in case you are like me, let me explain it to you.
Sometimes God puts us in covenant relationships because these folks are there to keep us grounded and to help us stay on tract. Covenant relationships are with people who are spiritual and who are determined to pray you through even when you aren't praying for yourself. That's why when people say to me, "Why are you still friends with them?" It's no simple answer to someone who doesn't believe, but to a believer they understand that in covenant relationships, everyone isn't going to always be right or where you are in their levels of closeness with God.
That's why the song affected me so much. I understand that when God gets ready to move me, He'll do whatever it takes to get me in His face, on my face. So today, I left church on this lovely Fourth of July saying to God, "Whatever it takes to get me where you want me to be....whatever it takes for me to walk in my purpose....whatever it takes for me to walk according to Your will....I'm ready to do it!  So to you I offer my firework for this next half of the year. Get popping with doing what ever it takes to get in God's presence.
Be Blessed

     We are finally getting things together for "His Mistress or God's Daughter?" release, and I am so excited about this book. It's truly been a long time coming but we had to make sure and even so as I write, that it was sound in both the doctrine and the power to deliver. I know when some folks hear the title, they'll think it's that typical beat up on the mistress, but actually it's not.
     His Mistress or God's Daughter? simply ushers it's reader into a sound decision concerning their very own personal choice. Remember it is just that; your choice. We have the right to do or be whatever we choose. Nevertheless, as we grow in Christ, we'd rather our choices align with the Word verses just being a choice to satisfy our fleshly desires. So, I guess what I really want you to do is look at the long-term affect of your choices.
Anyway, I hope you are as excited as I am!
Danyelle

     Have you ever been put in a place where you had to choose between what you wanted and protecting someone else? It's never ever easy to make a choice against what you feel is best for you versus what is best for someone else. Nevertheless, true love will cause you to accept the exception of what's best over what's wanted or even needed.
     I plunder sometimes over the fact that even Christ had to make a choice that caused Him to have the worst end of the stick, because He knew that for Him to sacrifice Himself, was for us to gain. Again the need to protect.
     When you truly love someone there is no limit to the selfless acts, that one does in order to protect them from any harm or danger. You widely consider your options as being null and void, and carefully understand that although the consequences to your actions might leave you longing, you find inner peace in your ability to protect.
     Now in the end will you be appreciated for all that you've done? Will the ones you protected go through special measures to insure that your protection wasn't in vain? Maybe they will and maybe they want but the good thing is, they had the opportunity because of your need to protect.
Be Blessed!

     It was October 1990, and I'd been put in the car of a guy who cared and rushed to LSU hospital for an attempted suicide. I was at a point in my life, where I felt, I had nothing to live for. It had seemed like the weight of the world was entangled on my shoulders. I'd just found out I'd only be able to graduate if I got a extra credit in night school, the guy I loved didn't love me, and my home-life wasn't what I thought it should be. Might seem like nothing to you but to a sixteen year old who would be seventeen in two months, I was hysterical.
     I'd taken twenty antibiotics and lain dazed and for the life of me, I can never forget the sting that hit my lip as the nurses used medication to get me up. I'm writing about this because a teenager whom I love a great deal, tried to commit suicide. Parents, this is a spirit that grabs ahold of a teen through broken channels and you must be attentive and aware of it's grip. I was too self assured for this, they thought. The girl that could get any guy, who wore nice clothes, who was considered pretty and fine, had a doormat demon that would try to snatch me out before I'd really even got to know a God who cared.
     Two things happened to me at the hospital, I realized that someone really cared for me (RV) and I also found out that I was two to three months pregnant. You talking about a life-change. The doctor ask, "Did you try to kill yourself because you are pregnant?" And I cried, "I'm pregnant." She, the girl who thought she had no one or nothing to live for, finally sees that she had everything to live for, growing inside of her. On that day I experienced "Mother's Day". The moment when a mother knows that her life is not about what she thought it should be, but who she is and will be to a child. And more importantly, when she finds out that no matter what, God will be there to protect them through it all.
     I thought as I rode home, God how can I be so precious to You that You would allow me to live and then bless me to have a baby? In the days to come, I would experience the worst yeast infection known to human. It was horrible and I had to suffer through it, without the strong meds because of the child that lived inside of me. I'd given the baby all the medicine that she was going to get; because of my ignorance and inability to fight off the spirit of suicide.
     I know someone's wondering, well what are you trying to tell us, and so here it goes; Mother's as you prepare to celebrate the day that is suppose to celebrate you, don't spend it miserable because you neglected the signs. Pay attention to your children and understand that communication is a must. What might not have affected you, could very well destroy someone else who has a doormat spirit of suicide trying to steal their life. Fill the voids in your children lives by being everything to them. Don't just give them everything, but allow your love to be everything and we all know that when you love someone, you pay close attention to them. I can't imagine what type of Mother's Day my mom or grandmother would have had, if I had killed myself.
     Most importantly, know that God cares for you and tell your children this often. I often wonder, am I doing all the God left me on earth to do, because it's apparent, He spared my life. Not to mention, my child who is now twenty, a sophmore in college majoring in Biology-Pre-Med/ and aspires to be a doctor, a gifted talented basketball player who has transition from post, to two guard, and now point guard, a child that would give you her last and who loves hard, and most importantly a child who truly loves Jesus Christ and has excepted Him as her savior. Little did she know, He truly did save her and me before we accepted salvation.
     Happy Mother's Day Ladies, and never forget that at that moment when you felt the effect of Mother's Day, you also willingly vowed to be the vessels that would carry the seed and nurture it until it was able to care for itself and trust that God cares! Trust God in all and everything that you go through and trust Him to help you love, care for, and raise those babies.
     I love you Raiyawna Shaundell Gatlin and I thank you for giving me a reason to live! It's because of you, I was blessed with two more reasons (Dobrielle & Dwight Jr.). Be Blessed!

     I'm reminded of a song that lyrics like this..."It's a new season, it's a new day, a fresh anointing-is coming my way. It's a season of power and prosperity, it's a new season coming for me!" The song was song by Isreal Houghton & New Breed. As I think of the changes that are going on in my life; especially the children getting older and preparing for lives as adults....I  know that I'm heading to a new season in my life.
     Although my cares were and have always been centered around who and what I believe God desires and purposed for me, my family being a great part of the purpose, I now see a transformation going on. As the children are no longer desiring as much attention from me, I find myself desiring more of God. You know it's almost like finally I'm free to focus on what God wants. Yes, I still and will always as a wife consider the needs of my husband, but he unlike the kids, understand the me and God's time. The kids have little understanding of me time; especially when they have needs that requires mother's attention.
     What I once saw as a lost, them not needing me as much, I now see as a new season breaking forward. I still have those moments when I wonder if they'll include me in their lives as much as I would like to be when they are grown, but even if they don't, I know I've given them the best of my life and the best information I had to offer....the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And now they'll have to wonder is mother is going to Woman Thou Art Loosed this year, and every other conference that I can get to, just to be amongst the saints and to get more of God.
     You know how when a kid come of age there are some places that they are just dying to get to, I'm coming of age again for the second time and there are some places I'm free to go to without the headache of wondering who will take care of my children and where will they go when I'm gone. It's a new season coming for me and I'm riding the wave on the Word of God. Be Blessed!

     I had the distinct opportunity of watching a little girl named Nyla come into the world on last Monday. What seemed natural and easy took a turn for the worst. At the last end, Nyla wouldn't move and her mother's blood pressure was steadily rising. You know, I don't think I've ever been this scared in my life...watching a situation that was meant to be joyful turn frightening.
     As always, I resorted to what I knew best; I prayed. At the beginning of the prayer, I immediately began to tell an all powerful God to help them. I'd always been taught that when you need help, you should go to God but unfortunately, I just like many of you, have tried to figure out ways to fix things on my own. In this particular instance, my hands were completely tied and all I could do was call on the name of JESUS. He has power over the enemy and as quickly as the enemy came into the situation, we watched God send him packing.
     I watched God drop an elevated blood pressure in increments of ten from the start of the prayer until the finish. It was a miracle right before my eyes. We always say that God is a blood regulator, but now I'm a complete witness to the fact that He will lower elevated blood pressure. As I took the miracle in, I noticed how it made those around react. It was as if we all were at awe by the power of God for some reason or another, and some might have been totally shocked at how quickly prayer works.
     Either way, we all saw God move and now we have a beautiful baby girl named Nyla Shavon Danyelle, and her mother is alive and well. I was asked to be Nyla's God-parent and I accepted the task. So, now that my role is to cover her through prayer, I have the greatest task of all before me...telling a little girl how God brought her out through prayer, and teaching her not to wait until all else fail to pray; pray without ceasing. I can truly say, "Welcome to the World Nyla."

Today, I truly received an awesome revelation through God's Word that really explained why I won't give up. Sometimes, I hear, "You've been writing for so long and sharing the Word of God and it still seems like you are going no where." I promise you that just when I seem to be on the verge of agreement with those words, I hear, "Psalms 1", and immediately, I say, "I am blessed and whatever I put my hands to shall prosper."
Of course, I can't say when, but something on the inside tells me to keep dreaming and keep believing in the dream. Do you not know that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy and in the midst of his fiery and destruction is your dreams and the things you hope for? If the dream killer can cause you to kill your dreams, then you'll whither.
I choose to be like that tree planted by the rivers of water. Underneath the surface and although you can't see it, the water by the river keeps providing everything I need and eventually - in my season, I'm going to produce just what is in me, like that tree. So to those of you who have a dream, don't let it die. No matter how hard it seems, do like me, keep working, keep moving, and most of all keep believing.
And when the dream killer try to mess with your mind, have enough of God's Word on the inside to meditate on, both day and night. I can assure you that the Word is truly that standard, that has been lifted up just for you, when the enemy tries to overload your mind with the floods of negativity.
Hang in there and know that I am praying for you my brethren. Be Blessed!
And whatever you do, don't allow the dream killer to kill your dream!

     I've noticed something that's happened in my life, I am quick to discord people when they get on my nerves. So of course, this leaves me alone most of the time. Now I know you think that people shouldn't get on a pastor's nerves but you are mistaken. We sometimes deal with more foolishness than you'll ever imagine.
     Nevertheless, God is really dealing with me concerning associations. Do you know that just being around someone who's blessed can cause you to come into your wealthy places? No, I'm not just talking about mouching off someone else's money, I'm talking about the blessing of association. Just associating yourself with someone who has favor, can cause favor to fall on you. If God said that He'd open up windows from heaven and pour out blessings that you won't be able to recieve....then tell me, who does those blessings that fall off of the tither and the one who walks into provisionary promise falls on? I'll answer that for you, they fall on the people around them. How? Because the tither already is soaked in giving and they understand, "give and it shall be given unto you."
      We are often blessed through the people we know! Nothing that we've done, just to know someone, and sometimes to know someone that knows someone else, is a true fire way to move into blessings by association. So as God began to release this in my life, I'm finding a way to deal with people even though my nerves are sometimes shaken. I just had to come to the realization that everyone isn't where I am and I ain't where they may want me to be. The definition of friendship is to take someone into your heart, accepting them flaws and all, teaching them when they are wrong (according to God's Word), loving them through their rough times, and blessing them in your plentious times, creating a bond that no one can break; a bond that can withstand the turbulent times. This is friendship.
     So, I guess what I am trying to tell you today is don't take friends for granted. Decide to love your friends, no matter what. I've been rebuked to stop letting people go and maybe if you're reading this, God is handing that same instruction to you. Speak to your nerves and command them to be at ease, I know I've got to get mine under subjection. This is a giant in my life that has had to come down. Love covers a multitude of faults and you must allow love to cover others faults. Don't allow friendship to vanish because who knows, you could be blessed by association.

This weekend I met a little girl named Cameron Danielle. Cameron came into this world faced with so many oppositions but in the midst of them all, she prevailed. Watching her run around the room, playing, talking, and being her....made me realize that life is not promised and if you are here, you should be making the best of your time. There are so many things that have been dropped into my spirit and time and time again, I neglect them due to fear of failure.
While watching her, I saw a child who knows exactly what she wants. I saw a child who met no strangers and one who had the boldness of David. I saw a fearless, fanatic who could say whatever was on her mind. I saw myself before life's failures and longed to get back to the place where I could walk in complete boldness irregardless to fear.
So as I drove home from my trip, I gaze out of the window at trees that seemed to have had a haircut. I saw green grass and leaves that seemed to be fighting between being orange or green. And get this, I saw the same senery in Texas as well as in Louisiana. God reminded me, "If I can do for the trees in Louisiana, the same as I did for the trees in Texas, surely I can do the same things for you that I've done for someone else." I could feel the passion recapture my heart for some things I'd thought were gone. I could feel my thinking cap turn from fear of failure, to determined to do. What's even better is I realized at that moment that I had purpose. Purpose that's even greater than I can imagine. Purpose to be someone who will be known for doing whatever I thought God put in heart to do and I owe this revelation all to a little girl who God put in my path to show me that in Him, adversity is but advantage!