Category Archives: Family
Birthday Behavior For The Boys
Birthday Behavior for the nephews and a reminder that God is the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, and Light in The Darkness!
ο We forgot to take pictures of the meal and doughnuts before taking a bite.
#birthday #Jesusis #God #birthdaydinner #hoodies #lionofJudah #fightthegoodfightoffaith #takeonedayatatime #writer #planner
Get Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner Available Now with Amazon. http://www.stcfpoetrybook.com/new-books
Check out my YouTube also @ Tannika Nikeya !!!!!
Seeds of Doubt
Yesterday, I had another Saturday, home, resting and healing from a recent accident. I had to also watch my youngest nephew for a little more than a few hours. I was able to keep him still just for a bit while we watched movies, as he ate snacks and lunch, and he took a nap. Thank God because my nephew is one busy toddler, lol!
But it was one movie that we watched, moreso myself, that I got another eye opener. I have watched this movie several times but this time I got a ping from the Holy Spirit with a word.
Spoiler Alert below.
I was watching The Hand That Rocks The Cradle where a pregnant mom gets molested by her doctor. She comes forward to expose him, he takes his life and his widow realizes not only is his life over but hers is collapsing also. She goes into labor prematurely and the baby doesn’t survive. She is in the hospital recovering after such loss of her child and I believe she also had an emergency hysterectomy done. She sees the victim of her husband on tv and this is where the grief and anger surfaces as well as the evil wheels get to spinning.
Six months later, the lady, Claire, who was molested by the doctor has given birth to her second child and he is now three months. The widow of the doctor, Peyton, meets Claire. She is applying for the nanny job and Claire and her husband approves of her. Peyton moves in with them to begin her duties. They do not know who she is and she is not going to reveal it.
After Peyton moves in, all hell breaks loose. I am not going to tell you all the things that happened but Peyton was behind them all. And it was how she did everything. The light bulb went on and I’m like man, this lady is crazy and evil, and her schemes were working at first.
Peyton caused chaos, confusion and strife. And how did she? By sowing seeds of doubt. Sowing seeds of doubt about Claire’s family handyman’s interaction with her daughter who was totally innocent. By sowing seeds of doubt about her husband and his faithfulness. By sowing seeds of doubt about her competency as a mother. She did more stuff but you have to watch or rewatch the movie if you have seen it before.
And that is what the enemy does. He sows seeds of doubt. According to the Idioms – Free Dictionary.com, sowing seeds of doubt is To cause someone to have doubts, worries, or concerns (about something); to introduce someone to a doubtful or worrisome idea. He plants seeds of doubt and causes strife and confusion and everything in between.
Now Peyton came in the door winning everyone over. She was supportive and a great help to the family but slowly turning the household upside down. Sounds familiar?
What helped them realize at first something was wrong although they couldn’t put their finger on it fully? There was too much disorder and confusion. Claire was falling apart at the seams. She couldn’t as she said go on like that. There was no peace or little peace.
And Peyton seemed to be at the source of it all.
Peyton even tries to seduce Claire’s husband. But love was stronger, boundaries were set. He looked like he may have been wrestling a bit in his head but he clearly respected his wife and marriage and didn’t take the bate.
So, realize the enemy comes in to sow seeds of doubt. He may not send a Peyton but he may send something or someone else and in a different way. And we must do the following to overcome:
- Be alert. Know the spiritual climate of your home and when something is off, seek God’s wisdom and address it. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.β Mark 14:38
- Guard your heart. Guard it with the Truth of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Saturate in the Word of God. Ask God to cleanse it and to heal any areas of it that need healing. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).
- Ask God for wisdom to discern the enemy’s lies. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5).
- Set boundaries and enforce them. Set standards and keep them. Setting boundaries protects you and others. It enforces self control and it draws the line with disrespect, unhealthy or ungodly intrusion. It show people how to respect you and treat you. For scriptures regarding boundaries, I will just include the link here. https://www.openbible.info/topics/boundaries
- Know your enemy. Even if he disguises himself, we should be able to recognize his tactics, his M.O, his ways, etc. And remember we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). For knowing your enemy, I will include more scriptures regarding such here. https://www.openbible.info/topics/knowing_your_enemy
- Trust God and know that His love is unfailing. He will win and help you overcome. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses (Proverbs 10:12). So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Claire and her husband’s love won and in the end they trusted one another and came together to protect their family.
Whew, we don’t always see the enemy coming nor realize that he has been either invited in, has crept in, or finessed his way in, but I pray we realize more and more his tactics and lies. And I pray we replace his lies with the Truth of the Lord. That is what Jesus did. He fought the enemy with the Word of God, the Truth, and His commitment to the Father didn’t wane. Sidebar: He also knew His own identity and He knew His opponent. Knowing who you are as well as knowing and receiving God’s love and purpose for you are so crucial in our walk of life and continual fight for our destinies, souls, and families. We are in this fight whether we want to be in it or not.
Moreover, be alert as best as you can. Allow God to remove the distractions, heal you where needed, and to see things the way He does. We need His insight, wisdom like never before in these times. I pray peace for all over our homes, the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding and that peace only comes from Jesus.
A Visit to The Museum of Ice Cream
Survival Kit
Survival kit. Yes, I bought one.
I have been wanting to buy one for years. It is apocalyptic, zombie-esque movies, etc. that prompt you to think, how would I survive if I was in that situation or movie.
So, let me start by saying a thing or two. Never, have I been a conspiracy-driven person. I don’t flock towards conspiracies. Is everything a conspiracy? No. Can some conspiracies have some truth in them? Possibly. Let me also say, I also do not believe in zombies. π
I do believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I do believe we have to be prepared for emergencies and catastrophies as best as possible as well as have survival skills.
Lastly, I do sense an urgency (like many have been prophesying) to be prepared for some hard times ahead for our nation. I have been saying for years that something is coming down the pike. And what we are experiencing now is probably what I have been feeling in my spirit a few years now.
Currently, gas prices are exponentially high. Food cost a grip. Shortages are being reported. And crime is at an all time high. And to mention the countless other things going on and that Covid is still here. We, as believers, know the signs of the times or should be recognizing the signs.
And we should always do our due diligence in preparing for each season, each time. But unfortunately, even some of us are still trying to gain our footing and get ready.
This season, we should be getting our households in order. Spiritually, financially, physically, etc. We should be decluttering physically, but also spiritually, mentally, and financially. Often times, I feel a cluttered home represents a cluttered heart. I also believe, because these are the last days and the enemy is causing so much pain and turmoil, we have to protect our hearts and minds. So many people are in so much despair that many can not see a glimpse of hope. And if we are distracted, cluttered, and losing hope, the devil, our enemy, can disarm us or slip through the cracks of our foundations and cause havoc and even crippling despair.
So, I reiterate that we must prepare physically. Declutter your spaces, have stuff for emergencies as well as an emergency fund. We are to prepare for our families but also God will bless us to be a blessing to others that’s not just in our immediate circles.
We are to not just prepare physically but WE NEED TO REMEMBER OUR SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL KIT.
And that is to:
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING,
PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD,
AND SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We are to also get Godly wisdom and pursue God greater than anything or anyone else in this world or universe. We are to love God with all of our hearts, minds, bodies, and strength. We are to love others as we love ourselves. We are to saturate in the Word of God. His Word is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword! And His Word cannot return to Him void. We are to live in the presence of God and remember the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Now, to end this, I remind you to not fear. Oh I know that is easier said than done for many of us. But let us focus on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Also God did not give us a spirit of fear, but that of power, love and a sound mind.
So, don’t fear and don’t panic. Don’t give up. And definitely prepare. We reap what we sow. So, plant your seeds of faith, of hard work, of preparation, of encouragement, of love, of time, of whatever it is God says to do or give in each season and for each season ahead.
Check out the emergency kit! It has so much stuff that I may not have all displayed here. I got mine from Amazon.
What other things do you think a survival kit needs? And what do you think that, as a believer of Christ Jesus, we also need?
Scriptures for this Post: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1β-β¬8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/ecc.3.1-8.NLT
βTherefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaohβs storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.β
Genesis 41:33β-β¬36 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.41.33-36.NLT
Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devilβs schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lordβs people.
Have Mercy
Loving others can sometimes feel difficult, and not just because we have our own free will, our own personalities and our individual issues. And not just because sometimes our experiences with others can be rocky and full of anxiety or stress. We can tend to love from our emotions, intellect, strength, and within our own lens and conditions instead of with an agape love, God’s love, love that comes from and is God. God’s love is not limited. We may not set out to love in a limited way but it can happen. So when a loved one takes too long to change, grow, respond to the love, or receive the love we have for them, etc., we may understandably get frustrated, afraid, sad, angry and more.
Think about it. As a parent, you may love your child with everything you got and gone get. You want the best for them. You want them to do their best and be their best. You want them to have a healthy, great future. But they may be disrespectful, making poor decisions, and letting everything you teach them go in one ear and out the other. They keep driving you crazy and you feel defeated. Or maybe you are patient and nothing they do can shift your hope or peace. But if not, maybe you are like countless parents who feel like throwing up your hands or letting them know they can catch a hand, lol.
Same thing with a spouse or friend (or even a colleague), your patience may be running low and you are beyond frustrated with them. You want them to pay for what they are doing or aren’t doing.
I remember I was frustrated at my child and one of the messages that hit my heart was have mercy. I believe that message was one from God. The Hebrew word for mercy is rachum and it means compassionate. Within mercy, there is forgiveness and there is compassion. When we deserved God’s wrath, He gave us mercy. When we deserved God to turn His back on us, He gave us His ear and His heart. And there are times now when we may deserve punishment or a certain type of consequence, but God gives us mercy. He may not remove every consequence, but He will give us His kindness, His compassion, His forgiveness, His patience and His unfailing love.
And so maybe someone in your life needs you to have mercy upon them. Maybe you need to give your own self mercy. God’s mercies are new everyday and we are definitely to have mercy upon others and ourselves.
Now this doesn’t mean to enable or to make excuses for someone’s poor behavior or choices. Nor does it mean to fail to set boundaries. This doesn’t mean to neither give or allow that person to face their consequences nor also to allow someone in your life that is not respecting your boundaries or that may be a danger to you or someone else in your life. So use discernment, stay alert and be proactive. Seek God’s wisdom in your relationships with others: family, friends, colleagues, children, spouses, etc.
Moreover, have mercy. Forgive and bear compassion to others around you. Not only because they need it, but because it serves your heart in so many ways and also because God forgives and shows compassion to you daily.
Remember to love others as you love yourself. Whew, Jesus, give us grace and teach us how to love ourselves.
Read this scripture below on mercy and forgiveness:
Then Peter came to him and asked, βLord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?β βNo, not seven times,β Jesus replied, βbut seventy times seven! βTherefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldnβt pay, so his master ordered that he be soldβalong with his wife, his children, and everything he ownedβto pay the debt. βBut the man fell down before his master and begged him, βPlease, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.β Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. βBut when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. βHis fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. βBe patient with me, and I will pay it,β he pleaded. But his creditor wouldnβt wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. βWhen some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, βYou evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldnβt you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?β Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. βThatβs what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.β
Matthew 18:21β-β¬35 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.18.21-35.NLT
Merry Christmas And A New Year Is Loading…
This year went by quick but seemed so long. It is like 2021 copied and pasted 2020. The struggle was real. And we are continually learning to deal with the new normal. I was going to do a post about my year in review with more pictures, but naw. I don’t need to post anymore selfies or photos or make it all about me. This year was stressful and blessful at the same time for me and I bet for many of you all also, and that’s that. I just pray as we approach a new year that the things we need to fall off fall off so we can walk lightly and respond well in this new year as well as receive what God has for us. And learn what we need to learn to pass some tests and overcome some more things. I pray for those of us struggling with anxiety and depression to pack on courage to keep going and to take one day at a time, trusting God all the way.
Anyway, I am elated to say if you are reading this that you and I both made it to December and we are close to a new year. Although our finances may not be where they need to be, we still have a roof over our heads and food on our tables. Although we still have some more healing to do along our healing journey, we have come a long way. This year was not easy. It was stressful and heavy. This year also, I anticipated feeling depressed again on my birthday (12/10), but I actually felt ok. I even looked better despite having Covid and being in quarantine. My entire immediate family had Covid with mild symptoms and towards the end of our quarantine, we believe we also got food poisoning. But we are well today and grateful.
I know the holidays may be hard for some and many are going through right now, but I pray you have a joyous day. I pray you hear laughter, feel loved, and reach out to someone that God has just for you to touch your heart and lift your spirit and vice versa. I pray you have enough to eat. I pray that you remember those lost loved ones with a smile and that you understand that it is okay to grieve too. I pray that you are healthy or getting well. I pray that you start new traditions like watching a Christmas movie that you will watch every Christmas. Or cook a new dish and share it with your elderly neighbor or single mom. I pray that you embrace yourself through your healing journey and take one day at a time. I pray you won’t be so hard on yourself and know that you are worthy and loved by God, the Great I Am.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
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Merry Christmas Eve!!!!!
Tannika Nikeya 