Friday, June 20, 2014

Light of Life




 For the last week the song “This little light of mine” has been in my Spirit! The song instantly took me back to my childhood as I remembered singing it in the choir but clearly not understanding what my light was or who it came from. 

I now know that my light is the GOD in me. HIS word says in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".

This song has been ministering to me that even in the midst of negativity, chaos, gossip, hurt, pain, uncertainty, confusion, sadness, loneliness and depression to allow my light (GOD) to shine.

I pray that this song will bless you today as much as it has blessed me. 

Blessings, 
A'Keta Julinate'

 * Don't forget to check out the HISBlessdOne Store. All sweatshirts and hoodies are on sale for $18.99. New items will be added soon. www.HISBlessedOne.com

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Mother's Day Prayer



In 2009 I went through the hardest year of my life when my Grandmother passed away. She was my favorite person in the world and I am so glad that I was able to spend more than half my life waking up in the same house as her. We had a special relationship so much that somewhere in my early teen years I went from calling her Grandma to Ma. 

A few years after my Grandmother passed I was having a conversation with my Mom telling her how much I missed my Grandmother and she said something that I will never forget.  She said "A'Keta I know you and your Grandma had a special relationship and I know you miss her but my siblings and I lost our Mother and we will never get another one." When she said that my heart immediately hurt for my mom, my aunties and my uncles. She was right...yes I called my Grandmother Ma and loved her like no other but I still had my Mom breathing and living every day.

My heart was again wrecked this week as I thought back to the conversation I had with my Mother. Not only was my heart hurting for my family but for everyone else that is without a Mother in this season. Today it is my prayer that Mother's Day brings you nothing but JOY as you rememeber the special relationshiop you had with your Mother. I pray that your day will be filled with laughter and good times. 

This is my prayer.....


The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; HE rescues those whose spirits are crushed.{Psalm 34:18}



Blessings

A'Keta 



 

My Beautiful Mother wearing her "Blessed Tee"

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Speak Up!



 April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and as a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the Military I spent the entire month raising awareness and speaking out against this horrific crime that is hurting our Military and Civilian workforce. The Army's Campaign for this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month is Speak up! A voice unheard is an Army defeated.


Not only did Sexual Assault Awareness Month open up the door for me to continue speaking up for Government Civilian's to have the same rights as Military when it comes to Sexual Assault and Harassment it also allowed me to open up about events in my life where people have hurt me and I didn’t speak up about it but now I am.


Growing up my Mother taught my siblings and I to always speak up for ourselves. We were always able to voice our opinion and speak up for what we felt was right as long as we were not disrespectful. I felt empowered at a young age and always believed that I had a voice until my voice was taken from me.


When I was in my teens I was sexually molested by a man that lived across the street from me. I was friends with his daughters and it started off as a hug, touching and then progressed to kissing. I knew that it wasn't right but I was too scared to tell anyone....I had lost my voice. After living with this secret for months I finally broke down at school and told a guidance counselor that I trusted. This month I found the voice to ask my mom what happened when she found out that this guy hurt me. It was like I forgot all the lessons that she taught me growing up.


In my 20s I lost my voice again when I was physical abused by a guy I was in a relationship with. I can remember telling a friend of mine and being so extremely embarrassed that I allowed someone to put their hands on me that I didn't mention it to anyone else until the relationship was over. Even now some of my  siblings and close cousins will be shocked that I never told them.


Earlier this month someone tried to take my voice again. After working on the same job for 5 yrs my work environment turned toxic. I was feeling disrespected, feeling like I was being silenced and my opinions didn't matter. This time I stood up for myself and others and fought back! I made the decision to no longer allow anyone to treat me disrespectful or silence my voice!


My prayers goes out to all the Victims of assault, domestic violence or victims that feel like their opinions doesn't matter. I will ALWAYS stand with you and for you! SPEAK UP!


Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. {Proverbs 31:8-9}

If you are a victim of sexual assault contact your local Rape Crisis Center and if you are a victim of domestic violence you can contact your local Safe House.

Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'






Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Stay Focused!


 

 
I love when GOD sends me a word when I least expect it. This morning during my 4am Ultimate workout class we were doing high intensity aerobics and my instructor {who is a beast} kept telling us not to focus on her or the person next to us because the enemy will try to distract you. When she said that it resonated in my Spirit and as I looked around I noticed that everyone was moving to their own pace and own beat I could see how you could get off focus when you are looking at the next person.

How many times have you gotten distracted because you are paying attention to the person in front of you, beside you or even the person behind you? I know I have! I am learning that everyone's beat is different but we are made perfect by the one and only GOD so we should stay focused on the plan that HE has for us not anyone else.   

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. {Proverbs 4:25}

Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'

* Don't forget to check out the HISBlessdOne Store. New items will be added soon. www.HISBlessedOne.com*

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

GOD is LOVE




 GOD used my latest t-shirt design to minister to me last week. 1 John 4:8 says "Those who do not love do not know GOD because GOD is love". GOD has really been teaching me what this scripture means and I can tell you that it has not be easy. When someone has hurt you or betrayed you the last thing that you want to do is be nice or love them but because of GOD I am learning to die to my flesh multiple times a day. I know for me when someone has hurt me I don't want to be around them or speak to them but GOD was telling me {and continues to tell me} every day to speak...to be nice. That was a hard pill to swallow. I am often reminded that JESUS endured so much more during HIS 33 years on earth including being nailed to the cross yet HE still loved those who betrayed HIM.


Not only was {is} GOD teaching me to love those that have hurt me HE is also making sure that my Heart is pure {Matthew 5:8}. Out of a pure Heart comes pure thoughts and pure intentions so normally  in the flesh most people want to hurt the person that has hurt them. My Heart tells me to love them harder and my intentions are only for good and never for harm. The person that hurt me may never be my friend again but my heart will not allow us to be enemies.



I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. {Philippians 4:13}


Because I am obedient to HIS word HE calls me Blessed. 

Check out the new GOD is LOVE shirt on the website. The entire store is 30% off! www.HISBlessedOne.com



Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'