Praise Him for the Little Things - Part One

You wanna talk about being relieved!!!!!!?????

Well, last December, some sales reps from Verizon Wireless were at my job trying to get people signed up. Mind you, I have AT&T and at that time, my contract was up and I could switch service providers at any time. So, I figured I could save a couple dollars since they were giving employee discounts [we can't get a company car, so I guess a discount is the next best thing]. So I signed up and a few days, then weeks passed and I still hadn't received my new phone from Verizon. But they were sending bills. I'm like what??? So I called them to let them know that I didn't get a phone yet, they verified my address and said they were going to try to ship the phone out again. About a week later, still no phone. And then a couple weeks later, I received another bill. HOLD UP! What's going on here. I called to let them know that I no longer wanted to get my service through Verizon. But something came up and while they had me on hold, I had to hang up to do something. Well, some months had passed since the last time I had spoken with them. And I received some more bills. Each one was getting bigger than the last. Then finally I got the early termination bill for like $175.00 - I was like how are they going to charge me for something that I never had??? By this time it was APRIL!!! I know, I know. I'm terrible with deadlines and stuff [don't trip, God ain't through with me yet!!!] So I call and I speak with a rep. I'm giving him the run down about how I NEVER received my phone and how I'm NOT paying for something that I didn't even receive. So he says that he has to let me speak with his supervisor. I'm telling her the same thing, plus I told her that I have a land line and DSL service through Verizon and this whole experience was making me want to seek out other service options. Her argument was my service began when I signed the paperwork. I wasn't trying to hear that. I brought up their 30-day guarantee promise, that if I wasn't pleased that I could end the service agreement. She agreed with that and said that if I faxed her documentation that I had service with AT&T during that time frame, she'd waive the early termination fees. I said cool. Now ya'll know I didn't do it right away and most of the time, if you don't do something right away while it's fresh, you won't do it at all! So I didn't do it. I put the PRO in PROCRASTINATION!!!! Lord help me! SOOOOOOO, fast forward to August. I receive a collections notice on the Verizon account in the estimated amount of $450.00! Plus, I've been receiving friendly calls from Miracle Financial, asking me to settle up this debt that has been placed in collections. This is getting long, so I'll make this part one.

I Know Patience is a Virtue But...

Yesterday, I'm in Giant picking up a few items before going home. I also had to stop by customer service to get a roll of quarters. So I'm waiting in line behind an older lady who obviously knew the young man behind the counter. Clearly he was done with her transaction and I thought she was getting ready to move on, but she stood there in front of him and continued the conversation. "Oh yeah, you're still at Montco [community college]..." Meanwhile, I'm looking back and forth at both of them thinking to myself, "I've gotta make moves, I have to take my son to the doctor in 45 minutes, don't they see the urgency in my eyes!!!" Dang nab it!!!! "MOVE!!!" I wanted to say. Oh the colorful words one says [people always excuse themselves when they use curse words around me...NEWSFLASH! I'm a sinner saved by grace!] Sure, I could have interrupted them mid-sentence and said, "I'm really in a hurry, I have to take my son to the doctor he has Sickle Cell Anemia." But I don't like the awkward silence that follows. Some are seemingly immune to that awkward silence or don't see it as awkwardness at all. I don't like to be perceived as a "pushy" person. I never want to be that person. Yet at the same time, I admire a person who can hold their own without having to "go there". How would you have handled the situation??? Furthermore, how do you think Jesus would have handled this same situation???? I'd REALLY love to hear your thoughts on this.

2008 Guyana Missions Trip - Part Four

You can't judge a worshipper by their praise...

Isaiah 55:1-13 Today's Morning Devotion:
We talked about how we should not be so quick to judge one's heart based on their outward appearance. We truly can't see what's going on in someones heart. Just because people may not be dancing around and shouting and clapping along with us doesn't mean that they aren't being impacted. Cause the Lord is showing us that people are coming to Him. Each concert that we do we have seen people come forward to accept the Lord. The bible says that His word won't return void - we may not see someone accept the Lord that same night, but God may deal with that individual later down the road. People in ministry need to learn this early.

On another note, I am learning or being challenged about my complaining spirit. Hopefully I will yield myself over to the Holy Spirit so that He can allow change to take place in my heart and in my life. I see the same things playing out in my kids... I know, I know, I've got to stop - drop - and PRAY!!!!!

THE WRAP UP
Going to Guyana made me constantly reflect on my life and the things surrounding my life. My home, my family, my job, my church - everything. I am so blessed right now. Yes, I may have made bad financial decisions, but God in His grace has given me a job that I may be reluctant to go to at times, but I praise Him for that job. Yes, I may be renting out an apartment and would much rather be in a position to kick my shoes off in a place I could call my own, but I praise God that I have a solid roof over my head. And my God is so good that He's never allowed us to struggle to make a rent payment. Rent has ALWAYS been on time. When we were in the different churches we sometimes struggled because some of the congregations didn't get up and outwardly praise God with us while we sang, but that helped us to learn how to praise God even when it seemed that no one else felt what we were feeling. You have to get to a place where you can say, "It's just me and You Lord, and I've made up my mind to praise You in my own way, regardless of who else is around and regardless of what people may think of me. I will praise You for You are worthy!" Souls were saved, people's lives were touched. Members of the choir grew in their faith. I felt so close to the Father.

2008 Guyana Missions Trip - Part Three

Sunday Morning Service at Elim Timehri Pentecostal Church. This church that we went to was beyond anything that I have ever experienced. When we got there, the place was packed with the exception of some chairs for us to sit. Their praise team / choir was off the hook! The congregation offered up to God the most heartfelt, unrestrained praise that I had ever heard. Collectively, they shouted out the name of JESUS! It was like a thunderous roar! There would be no rocks crying out on this day! It was truly amazing to hear people speaking in a different accent than my own lifting up the name of Jesus - it made the tears flow. Their praise was so rich and true.

Their choir was comprised of younger people who were not ashamed to lift up their voices, who were not ashamed to lend their bodies to exalting the Lord. We in America have so much, yet we don't have a thing because we've missed it (hope you follow me). We suffer and lack in the area of experiencing true fellowship, true worship, and true love towards one another because we've missed the fact that it ALWAYS will be and ALWAYS has been about Him. The Lord was exalted, He was in our midst.

We sang a song led by Dawn Hairston called "I Bless Your Name". The tears flowed again. I found myself throwing up my hand and saying, "Thank You Jesus!" When we sang "He's God", the electricity went out during the first verse and I opened my eyes for a split second, then just kept on singing God's praises. It really sweetened the praise! The pastor there, Pastor Sammy said that true praise really begins when all of life's "things" are taken away. We kinda scrambled after the song was over because we didn't really know which song we would sing without having sound/music and solo microphones. But just then, Ms. Carol (the choir director) had us sing "Sweet Aroma of Praise". We were just singing and praising God to the best of our ability and towards the end of song the electricity just came back on! It was unreal. It was crazy because Pastor Sammy had said that it could take a while for the electricity to come back on and less than one song later --- BAM! We were up and running as if it was just part of the program. It was like the Lord was testing us to see if we would truly praise Him anyhow/anyway.

We have had good food, transportation - from people who didn't complain about the task or anything. They were willing workers for the Lord. Altaf was our main driver. He is a Christian who had converted from Islam. He told us that the day he had gotten baptised was the day he was kicked out of his parents home and shunned.

Later than night we had another concert at Bethel. After the concert was over, a lady named Beverly had greeted me. She said that the Lord told her to tell me that I was a special person and also, whatever was burdening me, that I should roll it over onto Him. What an amazing thing - the Lord sent someone to give me a message of hope, of peace, of comfort. Yet another reminder from God that He's more than able to bring me through my trials! Do I really trust my Lord and Savior with the stuff that is weighing me down? The Lord met me over in Guyana to remind me that He cares for me and that I am special to Him.

Cast all my cares upon Him for He cares for me.

Quotes from Pastor Sammy: "It's nice to know that we are related!" and "Make haste, slowly!"

All pictures by Sister S. King

2008 Guyana Missions Trip - Part Two

Saturday. We went to the Joshua House Orphanage to minister through song and signing. Also, some of the choir members bought toiletries and candy for the kids. It was a very blessed time. It was raining really hard by the time we started singing. The kids were attentive. It was amazing how they were seemingly content though they were without their natural parents. Sister King have her testimony about how she grew up in a family that didn't express or display love towards one another. She was a natural at talking to them, they seemed to hang on her every word. She let them know that she found love in Jesus and that Jesus loves them too. Some of the kids came to the Lord! It was awesome.

(pictures shot by Sisters S. King and D. King)

Homegirl on a Budget - Commercial Break!

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If anyone can find a different stain remover that doesn't make you have to temporarily relocate due to the fumes...Holla at me.

2008 Guyana Missions Trip - Part One

(pictures provided by Sister S. King)

Wednesday June 25th. My husband, 3 kids, mother, sister, and nephew came up to the church (Montco Bible Fellowship) to see me off to Guyana. I'm really going to miss them all. Pastor Sam, Pastor Darryl, and Pastor Dru drove us to JFK airport. It was a rollercoaster, riding with Pastor Sam, but God is good! We got there in time, everything went smoothly. Checked our bags, went through security, but as I got onto the plane it started to get very real. I was on my way to Guyana to do the work of the Lord! I was going on a missions trip. I am thankful for this awesome experience.

We took off from JFK and safely landed in Trinidad & Tobago's airport. We couldn't get off of the plane as I had originally thought. So we waited for more people to board and then we were headed for Guyana. We hit some turbulence - it was like, how did we do that four-hour flight from NYC to Trinidad without anything going on - then fly from Trinidad to Guyana, which was a shorter distance and have such a bumpy ride? I just broke out into praise. We have to praise Him in the midst of our storms. He's always worthy of our praise, through the good and bad times.

Guyana has it's picturesque places...

and then there are places where you can see the desolation...

Driving is crazy! Everyone passes everyone (if that make sense?). Barely any stop lights or stop signs. Dogs and cows are on the sides of the roads or walking across the street.

Our first concert was met with some obstacles. The sound wasn't the best. The mics were not good, but inspite of it all, the Lord still came through. Hands of Praise ministered and really moved the audience and brought glory and honor to the Lord!

I'll be back with Part Two soon.

Nu 2 Dis

I'm not quite sure where I'll go with this or when I'll find the time to get some of this stuff outta my head, but nonetheless I will make an attempt. Seems like a nice way to invite others into your thoughts. I guess I'll share what happened to me at Wal-Mart, like Trish (another blogger) did a day or so ago. I went into Wal-Mart with just TWO items on my shopping list, but you know how that turned out. Come on, it's Wal-Mart for crying out loud. Not even the most disciplined shoppers can enter without purchasing an extra item that's not on their list. So, I set out to pick up a money order and an iron. I remembered that I put some film in a while ago and was anxious to see what I took pictures of - yes, I am guilty of holding onto film for 1 - 2 years, then forgetting what event(s) were captured. So I picked up the pictures and paid for them and continued to pick up the other items (plus the other extra thing that wasn't on my list...the pictures didn't count). So I finish up and pay for my items SIDE BAR: ALWAYS BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR RECEIPT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE! I almost walked out of there with some type of decorative net thingy and some gaudy hair clips that were definitely for someone 40+ from way back in the late 60's.

So, I get into the car, start pulling out my pictures only to find that the first set didn't belong to me!!!! HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!!! I frantically opened up the second set and was relieved that those definitely belonged to me (wasn't thrilled with the pictures, but they were mine). So my husband pulls over so that I can take them back to the Photo department. I calmly explain to the lady that the pictures weren't mine. I did the 2-day turn-over time frame instead of the 1-hour deal. Apparently when you do the 2-day, they send your film to Fuji, and they send them back to the store. As the lady was filling out my paperwork, I thought to myself, I'm sure they get a lot of customers that cuss them (the Wal-Mart employees) out over not receiving the correct pictures, without even finding out who is truly at fault. I said to the lady, "I bet you get a lot of customers that are upset with you about their missing pictures. Where my pictures at? or I'm not leaving here unless you get my pictures" She said, "You have no idea." She was very nice. She walked me to customer service so that I could get my money back, we even chit-chatted down the aisle. You know, a lot of frustration and aggravation could be avoided if people would be willing to listen to one another. If I had gone back into the Wal-Mart with an attitude, that 4-minute transaction could have easily turned into a 30-minute argument, which probably could have resulted in some type of altercation. Basically, like it says in the good book -- a gentle answer turns away wrath (Proverbs...not Confucius).