Yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite songs, “The Storm is Over Now”by Kirk Franklin. It explained perfectly how I had been feeling this season of my life. But I am so thankful that God has begun to deliver me and I can smell the freshness of rain after the storm. I am over the strained relationships I’ve had with people who I thought I had to please in order to be liked or appreciated; Everyone  deserves  to be celebrated not tolerated;  I’m over the guilt of not being this career woman and believing I let my husband and children down financially; I am over downing myself for the weight I struggled to lose; and I am finally over the misconception and the down right lie that the enemy has had me believe, that I wasn’t worthy of being loved by God!!

Are you ready to take this decree over your life with me today? When will you be over it? Ask God to remove the self-centeredness that quietly exists in you; that causes you to be moody,withdrawn, depressed and walk in sin. Declare today that you are “OVER IT!”  That you are over the obsessive thoughts that circulates around you and prevents you from being the best version of yourself that you were created to be!  Can you begin to say your storm is over? Don’t let the devil lie to you any more! In Deuteronomy 1:16  God says “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”  Begin to move the mountain that is in your way and declare that you are “OVER IT!”  Your harvest is here and it’s waiting on you to enjoy!

Every Morning I wake up to the inspiration station on my dial and I hear Kathy Hughes say ” What’s your Reality?” Well, here is my reality: I am 46 soon to be 47-year-old mother & wife. I have a physical condition that has caused me to limp when I walk. I’ve had several surgeries over my life time starting from the time I was 12. I always thought that I wasn’t  good enough or pretty enough to be relevant in life, so I hid in the background. My reality was whatever issue that caused me to give up in life. My reality was this disability that I carried with me. I didn’t realize that my reality was really my perception and that God had designed me to be this way in order to work through me. One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is how Paul struggled with his weakness in Corinthians 12:1-10. That describes me perfectly. God has the power to speak the opposite of who and what I am. My reality says though I am weak I am strong; my reality says that though I experience pain, God gives me pleasure which is beauty for my ashes. He says to me” My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” Once I accepted Jesus into my life, and understood finally what it really meant  to surrender all that I thought about myself , He showed me a new perception about Tanya. Let me be clear; it didn’t happen overnight! It has taken 40 + years of going around this mountain and I’m still coming across detours. The main thing is that I know now that it’s not my “Disability” but “His Ability” that allows me to succeed. That is my reality. To quote Kathy Hughes, ” What’s your Reality?”

How many times have people told you that you have amazing talents & gifts but for one reason or another you doubt yourself therefore not  using them at all? Who are you around?   I am reminded of Luke 13:6 about the story of the fig tree; there was a man who had a fig tree in his vineyard. It had not bore any fruit for the past three years. He considered cutting it down, but the caregiver of the vineyard convinced the man to leave it alone one more year, and he would dig around it and feed it with fertilizer. This was in hopes that it will begin to provide fruit. How many of us just need someone to plant some spiritual food in us? To help us dig out the negative and plant positive seeds into us?  Assessment time; Are you rooted in good soil right now in your life  or have you planted yourself around individuals that appear to be “Christlike” only to bear  fruit of negativity, fear & doubt?  My nephew came to live with us almost a year ago. He was filled with seeds that had been planted in him to wither instead of grow. I asked God ” Lord, please show me how to care for this child.”  I am proud to say that he is awesome!  He is truly growing in wisdom, stature and favor with God and with man! (Luke 2:52)  We all need replanting at one time or another;  I am glad to know that I can be a caregiver to someone and at the same time be placed in a vine yard where if I need some fertilizer there is a caregiver (Jesus)  designed to help me bear fruit!  1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  So, are you a fig tree in need of a caregiver?

You know, I started this week with my husband and kids envisioning all the plans I intended to make; Get ready for Jessica’s induction ceremony, (she made it into the  National Honor Society, Praise God!) The boys have basketball practice on Tuesday, Get groceries & meals planned  for Memorial Day weekend,& so on….but Tuesday morning I awoke with a pinched nerve in my lower back. The pain was something I had never felt in my life! (for those of you who have back issues, I have a newfound respect for you.) The past several days I haven’t been able to walk, much less stand. I asked God was this an obstacle that would take me out for good? Each day has been a challenge; Even the pain meds & heat and ice therapy wasn’t working. I prayed and prayed. One night, through my tears I heard the Lord say; “Let Go.” I was still trying to manage the household like a super hero in the midst of my pain. Still worried about dinner,the kids,my husband, etc; After all the advice I give to new moms at church, you’d think I’d take my own.   The Lord was speaking to me and through me. ” Daughter, here is an opportunity to fallback. Let the laundry cease; let the kids eat sandwiches; Let Dad have father /daughter time at her ceremony, Missing one practice really won’t change their place in the NBA. Let go of the control.”    Suddenly life didn’t seem urgent or that I had to handle everything. As the week went on, I had a conversation with my oldest who is 21. I began to counsel & encourage him in some issues; Later, a church member called and I found myself using my discomfort to encourage & uplift her assuring her that God hadn’t forgot about her problems. He showed me that in my obstacle it was an opportunity for him to use me.  2 Corinthians 12:9 says “But he said to me, ‘My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” {NIV} In what ways have you seen God work in your obstacles?