Monday, March 31, 2014

Cultured 'Favor'...Have fun with Me!

Highly Favored comes from a rich culture.  Her Country of origin is mostly know for it's music.

Can you guess where she's from?

Here are some additional clues:

  • Here people dominate track and field in sports
  • Her country woman won the last season of The VOICE.

Have fun with me and guess......

 

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Mr. Milton

I met Mr. Milton my last year in Undergraduate studies some 12/13 years ago (I'm aging myself).  He was a janitor at the University I attended.

One fateful day I was in the elevator when it stoped at a particular floor, Mr. Milton entered with his cleaning cart and greeted me quite cheerfully; how are you today? he asked.  I responded with a smile, "I'm blessed."  Little did I know that that particular response would have sparked an important ministry for the Lord and a great friendship.

Mr. Milton was intrigued by my response and asked "Are you a Christian?" I replied yes.  He asked me what church I attended and a friendly conversation ensued from there.  My mother and I were hosting a bible study series at our home called a Revelation Seminar (a study of Daniel and Revelation).   So I invited Mr. Milton to attend, he was happy for this opportunity as he shared that he read his bible but never attended a seminar or bible study before and he gladly accepted the invitation. 

Mr. Milton did not drive so I would pick him up on the two evenings per week after his shift was finished at work and take him to our home for the bible study.  Because he was coming directly from work, my mom would prepare something for him to eat. He was always delighted and exclaimed that it had been years since he had a hot home cooked meal. He would recall stories of when he was a boy growing up and how his mother would cook for his family.  Mr. Milton was a middle aged African American man, he lived alone and his origins were from the South. He was very very slender.  I think mainly because he was a smoker. He was also very friendly, well mannered, optimistic and enjoyed healthy intelligent conversations.

The bible study was well attended and at the end Mr. Milton made the decision for baptism. He got baptized and joined a church closer to his home.  We remained really good friends over the years, he attended my graduations and other special events we've had.  We would drop in at his church every now and then and surprise him and enjoy worship with his church family.

Mr. Milton ended up ministering to us some years later when we were going through a very trying time. He prayed, encouraged and was a great moral support for us.  It was during this time that Mr. Milton shared with me that when he first met me, he had not long started the janitorial job at the University.  He revealed that he was homeless for several years and did odd jobs at construction sites etc.  He slept at the homeless shelter called the Mission.  He remembered how at night during meals the helpers at the Mission would sing and talk about the Lord.  It was those experiences that gave him hope in his heart and sparked his interest in learning more about God.

I loved Mr. Milton like an Uncle. There was a trust and frienship that could have only been orchastrated by God.  Somehow, we lost contact in the recent years.  When we visited the church he had attended we were told that he had retired and moved back to his home state in the south where he had a sister. His cell number that we had was no longer working.  My heart ached and I really miss Mr. Milton.

May your covenant with God never sever Mr. Milton.  I miss you dearly, I don't know if you are alive and well or have passed on in death but I hope one day we will be reunited in heaven when God returns.  We will sing and shout and dance about and rejoice that we made it.  This is our hope; And until then....

If I Can Help Somebody by Morgan State University Choir.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Forward Flow

The Lyrics to this song is so freeing....

Moving forward: Ricardo Sanchez

I'm not going back
I'm moving ahead
I'm here to declare to you
My past is over
In You all things are made new
Surrendered my life to Christ
I'm moving, moving forward

What a moment You have brought me to
Such a freedom I have found in You
You're the Healer Who makes all things new
Yeah, yeah, yeah

You have risen with all power in Your Hands
You have given me a second chance
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
 
 
God bless you for reading and listening!  Love you all
 
Highly Favored~

Monday, March 17, 2014

God Favors Me.........Again

I'm going to be a mother to another Son again!.......you can read about my other children Here.  Today, my dear respected brother and friend called me to announce that he and his wife has chosen me to be the God mother of their third son Benjamin.  Benjamin is due in three weeks which would make his birth month April like myself and my other two boys.  Could this be providential?.....I don't know.

It's ironic that I was feeling so down especially after attending their baby shower on Saturday night.  I had fun but I couldn't help after getting home, reflecting on all the young ladies many married and  expecting mothers as evidenced by their little or big bumps.  Many by my estimation were within my age group a few older a few younger. 

When I got home I was like God!!!!! what happen to me....why am I still waiting, how much longer do I need to wait God.. I'm not going to lie I was mad and annoyed with my loving, sweet Jesus (let me be honest and real).  I still love Him, I still appreciate all the blessings, I still know that I can't exist wholly without God holding my hand. 

But today, my sadness is turned to joy as my friends could have chosen any one else (they have a lot of friends)....a married couple to be the God Mother/Parents for their child, but I was the chosen one. 

God has favored this household again with the joy of a child a boy child too.  I welcome you in advance Benjamin.....your name is great and mighty.  I look forward to sharing the joys of parenting with your parents and introducing you to your two brothers Isaiah and Josiah.   

May your days ahead be filled with health, strength, courage, Godly virtues and success in spiritual and physical matters in Jesus Name with thanksgiving I pray......AMEN.  Welcome my Child Benjamin.

Monday, March 10, 2014

God Favors Me....Testimony

I thank God for His continued mercy, grace, protection, deliverance and FAVORS that He displays in my life. Hence the name of this Blog 'Highly Favored'  Other God Favors Me Posts can be viewed by clicking on these: Favor; and  Favor and Favor and More Favor

For the past six years there has been a legal issue that my family has been dealing with.

While we know that God covers and has been faithful, We still had this lingering thing following us,in the back of our mind it was there.  It's like when Paul talked about the thorn in His flesh that would not leave.

2 Corinthians 12:7  Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.


God knows how to keep us humble and dependent on him.  I know that I've prayed and cried out to God more that ever in my life and while the response/solutions were not always immediate, God knows what He is doing.  I know He knows, because the deep down peace (my definition of peace is evidenced by ones ability to sleep well, concentrate and focus, laugh, talk, eat,be thoughtful of others; in other words knowing there is an issue at hand but be able to function wholly) that He has given me truly is a gift from God.

(v.8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.


This peace that I've experienced doesn't mean that I wasn't concerned.  I was concerned, but my concern did not consume my life or thoughts or spirit.  God demonstrated His power to keep me and perfect my weakness (my definition of weakness in this instat is ones propensity when facing challenges to be despondent, unable to focus/function, constant worry, easily irritated, depressed etc.)  God kept me from experiencing all these things because I trusted Him to know that he would not forsake me or leave me.  I've trusted Him to prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. I trust God because He has not brought me this far to leave me.

(v.10) That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


I have learnt something about myself through all this.  I have learnt that I am strong. This strength is not of my own, but God given strength ( my definition of strength is the ability to go though and no one knows or have an incline because of how you carry yourself; not whining, complaining or attention seeking). God has given me strength of character, resilience and a persevering spirit.

God has awarded us closure;  closure in our Favor.  This long drawn out issue now finally coming to a close has kept me grounded, humble, centered on God. Most importantly, I've proven God to be Faithful, A Provider,  Protector............Hallelujah..Thank you Jesus.... You move all mountains.... YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!