The Twelve Thoughts Til Christmas by Danyelle Scroggins Day 9

We all face different challenges in life. Sometimes, the same challenge as others but in different ways and during different phases of life. But, no matter what it is we face, we can overcome because we were built as an overcomer. 
Tonight I had a conversation with my sister/friend who is in the hospital facing COVID. Even as she spoke, I could feel the anointing. The special gift God has given her to break yokes and ease the hearts of others through words spoken or song, rest securely on her lips. All I could think was out of the mouth of the anointed.
God has perfected a praise in her even in the state she’s in. Hallelujah!
Well, Scroggins what is the thought?
How are you handling your challenges or how are you coping with what you're going through? Is your head hung in despair and heart broken to the point you don't want to live?
Can you still find something to praise God for right in the midst of your situation?
Listen, praising God has been proven to be stronger than the cable wires on a machine made to lift heavy things. Praising God has the power to lift you out of anything. It can change your heart and mind, and give you the strength to press. Even if you have to crawl or make steps like a baby just learning to walk.
So, first, you've got to learn to simply: Praise God.
Then, you’ve got to learn how, when, and where to praise God. 
I'm glad you need to know.
How? In spirit and in truth and with a joyful noise.
When? In the midst of good times and bad and whenever you feel the desire. And,
Where? Anywhere and everywhere you go.
Can you make this your decree?
I will bless the Lord at all times. His praises shall continuously be in my mouth!
I just blushed as she spoke of the goodness of God and said, “Now this is the testament of her life.”
To be in the throws of sickness, but yet find a praise pouring from your lips shows that we are definitely overcomers.
Happy Holidays and please pray for my sister & friend!
Danyelle

Excerpt from Grace Restored. You can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/2HEkU7L or read it on #KindleUnlimited.

I walked into Faith Temple Cathedral, four years ago, and my entire world changes. Every time I take a break from wife and the music, I find myself sitting on this chair beside the oval-shaped swimming pool, thinking back to that very day.
I wasn’t sure what I expected or either what I wanted, but what I had that day, was definitely worth more than what I had.
I slide into the back row making sure my dark shades didn’t fall when I lowered my body into the seat. I took the seat directly next to a young lady who held her little baby in her arms. Some of the teenagers on the row in front of me looked back at me and waved. Apparently, there were fans a disguise would not fool, but I pretended I wasn’t aware of them. 
The choir sang, “Oh how I love Jesus,” and a tingling came over me. I closed my eyes, lowered my head and the young lady sitting beside me touched my knee.
“Christ loves you.” She whispered and flashed a smile fit for the cover of JET Magazine.
Not really knowing what to say, I simply nodded but wondered how she’d known my thoughts. The choir continued to sing, and a tall man whom I presumed the pastor, stood up before the microphone. As if he too heard my thoughts, he spoke, “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; Jesus loves you.” He simultaneously began to sing along with Faith Cathedral’s heavenly sounding choir.
Then he asked,“How many of you take into consideration, we all are filth and rags before the Lord? Thanks belonged to God when the Saints were sinners, Christ died for us. Christ didn’t die because of our goodness, kindness, or sin-free life. Christ loved us and He is still showing us His love now! Can I get a hallelujah?” Pastor Strong asked and the noise level in the church resembled a baseball game. Many of the parishioners were shouting, “Hallelujah,” while some shouted, “Thank you, Jesus.”
The reaction of these parishioners reminded me of how fans reacted when I came to the microphone to spit lyrics; the crowd usually goes wild and when they go wild, I go harder. After the pastor got them all crunk, he said he better stop before he wouldn’t be able to preach. To one lady it didn’t matter because she belted out, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord”! And as if on cue, the choir began singing, “Thank you, Lord!”
I respected the power of God and its existence, but never had I witnessed anything this powerful before. The church radiated with love and even the pastor showed earnest, genuine love for God and God’s sons and daughters. The Pastor’s willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to move went beyond any act of obedience I’d ever seen before. As men and women deliberately got their break-through, Pastor Strong stretched out his arms, lifted his eyes and head towards heaven, and began to cry. Unresistant, and without shame, this move brought me to tears.
I hadn’t cried in a while and even surprised myself. I came through those heavy glass doors searching and expecting, and if it were only tears I found, that was exceedingly wonderful. There was definitely a justifiable cause for my tears. I shed tears for all the times I experienced hurt, for my guilt, and for the pain my mother caused.
Again, the young woman next to me came right to my rescue. She handed me a Kleenex and told me that God cared. I needed the words she spoke and held her gesture of kindness close to my heart. 
Little did I know, God had a plan that beat all of the plans I’ve ever had. All I know is that of all the places I could have sat in this church, when I came through the doors, that seat was calling my name. I was so heavy in my heart behind my mother stealing money from me until I wanted to just run.
My grandmother always said, “It’s a poor  man that runs and don’t know where he’s running, but a smart man when he runs, he runs straight into the arms of the Lord.” 
That’s exactly what I did. I ran to the Lord’s house and one thing I know for sure, God met me there.
You won’t hear too many rappers like myself say this, but I realized a long time ago, even when I was smoking everyday, that the only person who had my back for real was God. 
You can take good care of the entourage, buy them smoke, shoes, gold chains, and build stores so they can advance in their own communities, but it’s always a jealous negro hiding in the set.
At first, I thought this was some bull. Then I read one day in the Bible when the angels came before the Lord, the devil came with them. That right there made me always keep one eye opened, looking for that devil in my set.
He just happened to be using my momma too.

Grace Restored; You can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/2HEkU7L or read it on #KindleUnlimited.