what a coinki-dink

so Saturday night, i blogged about my struggle with unbelief. Sunday morning, i woke up bright and early to begin our ritual of breakfast, getting dressed, and making the trek to the South Side for church. i looked outside and it was POURING down rain, which had pretty much been the story all weekend--nonstop rain rain rain thanks to our friend-to-the-south, Ike. for a moment i was discouraged thinking about all of the trouble that it was going to take to transport PC from the door to the car--and the car to the door--in the near-monsoon conditions. but, i talked myself into it, and bit the bullet, albeit a little bit wet, frizzy, and flustered by the time we got there.

i don't know about you, but i have more often than not found that when i don't feel like going to church (whether it is because i don't feel well, i'm tired, or the weather is unfavorable), when i decide to press my way there, there is ALWAYS an on-time Word for me. it is rare that i don't feel like going, but i'm also not so holy that there aren't Sundays where the bed is feeling good and the prospect of spending 45 mins-an hour fighting traffic on the way home from church is not-so-good. but, i do try to make a point to get there, because i need to be in that space to worship Him, to release the burdens of the week, to prepare for the week to come, and to find fellowship with my church family.

so, yesterday i went....a little distracted...still reeling a bit from what i'd written about the nite before, but needing to be there.

and, i'm glad i went.

Pastor's message yesterday was all up in my business, which i guess i shouldn't be surprised about, lol. he spoke about the man in the book of Mark who brought his son to Jesus to have him delivered from the demonic spirits that were within him. he had tried everything he knew to try and nothing was working, and all he wanted was for his child to be free. he was a believer and basically said to Jesus, IF you can help me....i'm a believer, but help my unbelief! Jesus said to him, "If? EVERYTHING is possible for those who believe."

the point of Pastor's message was for us to TAKE BACK our families--our children, our marriages, etc. our children are being attacked on all sides and the future of our very communities is being cut down at young ages due to violence, drugs, poverty, etc. the same is being said for our relationships/marriages, and the state of families in general, particularly black families. the Enemy is real, and we have a right and a RESPONSIBILITY to get him away from our families.

and, the only way to do that is with prayer...fervant prayer...and fasting.

Pastor challenged every member in the church who wanted to take their family back, to approach the altar yesterday, to hold the hand of someone they didn't know, and to make a commitment, that, for the next 7 days, to pray for their family 3 times a day, as well as the family of their fellow congregant. this should also be fortified with fasting--whether from food or from things/people.

this message spoke volumes to me because i have been asking God for restoration and completion in my small family (me & PC) for quite a while, and have given up on it more times than i can count (hence where my unbelief issue came in). i had a moment yesterday that i think all single mothers have had or still have: you just get to a space that you realize this ISN'T the way it's supposed to be. it's not about a pity party or trying to get ppl to feel sorry for you--there are countless other women that do this thing everyday with more children and less resources than i do. but it is about knowing what you desire in your heart for yourself and for your child(ren) and believing God that He will grant you those desires, according to His Will.

so, that is what i am standing in agreement for this week--restoration and completion of my family, according to His Will.

and, if you have areas within your family that you need God to take back--or even if things seem so great on the surface but you know there's some healing that needs to be done underneath--i dare you to get before Him this week. whether you're a single wanting to be married (for the right reasons), married and wanting some healing in your marriage or restoration of the "magic," divorced and wanting to find peace within your spirit, dealing with unresolved issues with your parents/siblings, kids driving you crazy, whatever it is--please stand and agree with me that God can fix it.

oh, and i don't believe in coincidences--or "coinki-dinks" as i like to call them...

but i DO believe in confirmations...so here's a confirmation number for you:

Mark 9:23

all things are possible.