Where My Joy Comes From

So lately, I've been learning to carry things in my spirit and not in my soul...because Lord knows once any burden (good or bad) makes it to my soul...my emotions are out of CONTROL. This hasn't been easy but with Christ all things are possible and I've learned to rely on who God is in my life. Learning about the mysteries of Him has been my heart's cry as of recent.

Now, many many many have wondered where my joy comes from. I'm naturally a joyful person and the answer results in Jesus, MOST DEFINITELY. However, every so often I find myself down and out (usually when I've let things rest in my soul, not my spirit) and there...my emotions and mind are gone. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit tugs on my heart just enough to keep me from suffocating in my own stinkin' thinkin'...and LATELY, He has pulled me back to a place of thanksgiving.

So here is a chronological effort of where my joy comes from...

Dec. 4th, 1986 - Born with the umbilical chord wrapped around my neck and struggled to see the light of day. Finally, when I began moving, the doctor dropped me but my earthly father caught me. My Heavenly Father catching me would be an ongoing theme throughout my life.
This is where my joy comes from.

1990-1997 - Exposed to images and actions that would cause most to become involved in a lifestyle of promiscuity and/or homosexuality. Harbored hope of growing up to be like my real-life role-models and explicit female rappers but never got a chance to act out on it the way I "should have." Today, I'm not a born-again virgin but a real one, by the grace of God and any dark alley I've walked into, I exited almost unscathed and unblemished compared to most. Once again by the grace of God.
This is where my joy comes from.

Oct. 3rd, 1999 - Saved by the Almighty hand of God at the age of 12, right before I planned to "act out" on all I had been poisoned with as a child. Summer of '99 moved to the outskirts of the city like Moses in the wilderness. Saved by God and from many possible life-changing events.
This is where my joy comes from.

2000-2004 - The outpouring of wisdom from the lives of so many God-ordained people helped break chains, generational curses and began to uproot areas of my life many leave untouched. When many friends were pregnant or with a child or two, locked up, on drugs or plain dysfunctional...God chose to protect me from it all.
This is where my joy comes from.

Late 2004-Late 2005 - The things I did dabble in, even a little bit...God chose to expose, uproot and fill with His blood. PRAISE GOD!! This would mark the beginning of what I like to call "The Great Uprooting & Healing" chapter of my life story that God continues to write. Here is where the true uprooting began...and He chose to show me because He loves me.
This is where my joy comes from.

January '06-July '06 - "The Great Healing" BEGINS as I learn who I REALLY am in Christ and begin truly breaking generational curse after curse after curse. In this season I learn was what true repentance, true surrender and true transparency are.
This is where my joy comes from.

August 26th, 2006 - Move to Philadelphia to help plant In The Light Ministries Philly. Here "The Great Transformation" BEGINS where I blossom into a woman of God from a child of God. This would continue until August of 2007. The old things have passed away....
This is where my joy comes from.

Present - I realize I should've, could've, would've but never did because of His protection, unfailing love and mercy!!! Praise GODDDDDDD for the great uprooting, great healing and great transformation; the valleys, mountains, deserts and storms BECAUSE TODAY...presently, I'm still standing and I'll remain standing with hands trained for war. Why??? READ THE TEXT...it's all in scripture...and this people is just a little taste of...

WHERE MY JOY COMES FROM!!!