Tag: Trusting God

Circle of Hope Counseling Services, End the Stigma

Faith When You Step Into Adulthood Alone

barefootfaithjourney

Faith When You Step Into Adulthood Alone

God Goes With You: Faith When You Step Into Adulthood Alone

Stepping into adulthood can feel lonely, even when you’re surrounded by people. Especially when the structures that once held you no longer fit.

For many, faith was intertwined with family routines, expectations, and roles. When you leave home emotionally, it can feel like you’re leaving parts of your faith behind too. Questions surface. Certainty shifts. What once felt inherited now feels personal and sometimes fragile.

This is not failure. It is formation.

Faith in adulthood often looks quieter. Less performative. More honest. It asks deeper questions and tolerates fewer easy answers. It becomes something you carry, not something you borrow.

God does not disappear in this transition. He is not confined to family systems or familiar patterns. He goes with you into the unknown spaces where your faith becomes your own.

Trusting God here doesn’t mean having clarity about every step. It means learning to walk without constant reassurance. To sit with uncertainty without panicking. To believe that guidance can unfold gradually.

There may be grief in this stage. Grief for shared traditions that no longer hold the same meaning. Also, grief for approval that once felt guaranteed. Grief for the simplicity of earlier faith.

But there is also invitation.

An invitation to relationship rather than performance. To discernment rather than compliance. To a faith that supports your growth instead of constraining it.

God is not offended by your questions. He is present in your becoming.

Stepping into adulthood alone does not mean you are abandoned. It means you are being trusted with responsibility, agency, and choice. And that trust is holy.

You are reminded that belonging doesn’t disappear when roles change. It deepens.

And wherever you go, God goes with you.

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Book Now: Circle of Hope Counseling Services

Circle of Hope Counseling Services, End the Stigma

Trust the Period

barefootfaithjourney

trust

Trust the Period

There are times in life when God says, “It’s done.”
A relationship ends.
A door closes.
A chapter finishes.
And yet—we still stand there, confused, clutching the pen, trying to rewrite what God already finished.

“Never put a question mark where the Lord put a period.”

We ask:
But what if I tried harder?
What if I misunderstood?
What if it wasn’t supposed to end like that?

But here’s the truth:
When God ends something, it’s not to punish you. It’s to protect, redirect, and refine you.

Let God’s Period Be Enough

God sees the full picture. He knows what’s ahead.
And sometimes the greatest act of trust is not in the open door—but in walking away from the closed one.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

It’s not easy.
We like answers. We crave closure.
But faith often asks us to release the pen—and believe that God knows how the story ends.

A Gentle Challenge

📝 Try this: What are you still questioning that God already resolved? A breakup? A job loss? A redirection? Write it down. Then write a prayer of surrender next to it.

It doesn’t have to make sense right now.
It just has to be surrendered.

Let the period be enough.
Let God write the next sentence.
Trust that the Author of your story is faithful—and still working.

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Faith Journey, Medical, Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome

With Every Joy, In Every Hope

Brandi C

With Every Joy, In Every Hope

This journey with OMS has brought me to my knees more times than I can count. It has stretched me, refined me, broken me open—and built something stronger in its place. However, With Every Joy, In Every Hope there is Jesus.

There have been days filled with fear. With doubt. With exhaustion that sank into my bones.
But there have also been days of joy.
Joy that surprised me. Joy that snuck in quietly and wrapped itself around the hardest moments.

And that’s what I’ve learned: joy and hope can live alongside pain.
They’re not emotions reserved for the easy days.
They are gifts from God, woven right into the messy middle of the story.

With every joy—in every smile, every step forward, every laugh that returned after weeks of silence—I saw God’s fingerprints.
With every hope—in every prayer whispered through tears, in every night I chose to believe again—I saw God’s faithfulness.

This journey hasn’t been linear. Healing rarely is.
There were setbacks, victories, and there were days I felt like giving up.
And then there were days when I couldn’t help but praise—because of the progress, because of the peace, because God had carried us one more step forward.

With every joy, in every hope, God was there.
Not one moment missed, not one tear wasted, and Not one prayer unheard.

And maybe you’re in a hard season of your own—maybe your story doesn’t look like mine, but your heart still needs to know:
Joy is still possible. Hope is still alive.
Not because of the outcome, but because of Who walks with you.

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Faith Journey, Medical, Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome

When the Doctor’s Told Me There Was No Hope

Brandi C

When the Doctor's Told Me There Was No Hope

I will never forget the day a doctor told us, “There’s no hope.”
Not in those exact words, maybe—but close enough. The weight of it settled like a stone in my chest. My son—my precious, brave boy—was facing Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome, and suddenly, it felt like the world was holding its breath. When the Doctor’s Told Me There Was No Hope, the Lord was whispering something different.

There is something soul-shaking about hearing someone in a white coat, someone trained to fix what’s broken, tell you that your child may not get better. That this could be your forever. That this is as good as it gets.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Hope doesn’t come from doctors. It comes from the Lord.

Doctors are human. They do their best with what they know. But their knowledge is limited. Our God is not.

When the medical community stopped speaking hope, God kept whispering it. In every quiet moment, tear-stained prayer, and in every ounce of strength I saw in my son when he should’ve had none.

The world says, “Don’t get your hopes up.”
But I say: Get them up. Lift them high. Anchor them in Jesus.

Because even when the diagnosis is rare, the prognosis is grim, and the outcome is unknown—God is still the God of hope. He isn’t confined by statistics and He isn’t intimidated by symptoms. The Lord doesn’t operate by percentages.

We saw Him move. In ways medicine couldn’t explain, in tiny improvements that felt like miracles. Also, in strength returning where it had disappeared. In joy rising up in the middle of impossible days.

And no matter how long the road is, or how uncertain tomorrow looks, we keep walking with hope—not because we ignore reality, but because we know Who holds it.

So if you’ve heard those crushing words—“there’s no hope”—I want to gently, fiercely tell you:
That’s not true. There is always hope where God is.

Reach Out

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Faith Journey, Medical, Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome

Hold On to Hope

Brandi C

stay inspired. never stop creating. (2)

When my son was diagnosed with Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome (OMS), the world shifted beneath our feet. It was one of those moments that divides life into before and after. Fear came crashing in, and the questions outnumbered the answers. The only phrase that permeated through my life was “Hold On to Hope.”

In the middle of that storm, Hebrews 10:23 became a lifeline:
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

It didn’t say, “Hold on when it’s easy,” or “Hold on when everything makes sense.” It said, unswervingly. Without turning. Without hesitation. Without giving in to the fear or the doubt.

That kind of hope doesn’t come from our own strength—it comes from knowing the character of God. And I had to decide: do I believe He is faithful, even when I can’t see the outcome? Even when healing doesn’t look how I imagined? Even when the journey is long, hard, and uncertain?

The answer—again and again—was yes.

There were days I had to whisper it through tears. There were days when I could only breathe it. But I held on. And God held us. Through hospital stays, setbacks, victories, and the beautiful, miraculous moments in between—He was faithful.

If you’re walking through something hard right now, this is for you: Don’t let go. Don’t lose hope. The One who promised is still good. Still present. Still faithful. Hold unswervingly. You are not alone.

Reach Out

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Faith Journey, Medical, Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome

Even When There Was No Reason for Hope

Brandi C

Even When There Was No Reason for Hope

There’s something about this verse that stops me in my tracks. Even when there was no reason for hope… Abraham kept hoping. Why? Because God had said. I was told there was no hope in my son living, however, Even When There Was No Reason for Hope.

This isn’t blind optimism. This isn’t wishful thinking. This is faith—the gritty, hold-on-tight, eyes-on-God kind of faith. The kind that says, “I believe You, Lord,” even when everything around says it’s impossible.

This verse became my anchor, my theme, when my son was diagnosed with Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome (OMS). In the face of uncertainty, fear, and countless questions, this Scripture reminded me to hold on—to keep hoping. Not because circumstances gave me a reason, but because God had spoken promises over my child’s life, and I clung to them with everything I had.

How often do we face situations that seem hopeless? A diagnosis. A broken relationship. A shattered dream. The temptation is to let go. To stop believing. To shrink our prayers.

But Abraham’s story reminds us: when God speaks a promise, we can stand on it. Even if we don’t see it. Even when time drags on. Even when our hope feels foolish. If God said it, that’s enough.

Maybe today you’re in a season where hope feels far away. Let Abraham’s faith encourage you. Keep hoping—not because circumstances make sense, but because your God is faithful.

What He says, He will do.
Even when there’s no reason for hope—keep hoping anyway.

Reach Out

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Faith in the Wilderness: Trusting When You Can’t See the Way

Brandi C

Faith in the Wilderness: Trusting When You Can’t See the Way

Faith in the Wilderness: Trusting When You Can’t See the Way

Faith is easy when life makes sense. But when we’re in the wilderness—when everything feels confusing, heavy, or dark—faith becomes a choice. Here I talk about Faith in the Wilderness: Trusting When You Can’t See the Way.

I’ve walked through seasons where it felt like God was silent. I questioned everything, even Him. And yet, He never let go. Faith isn’t the absence of doubt—it’s trusting in spite of it. It’s choosing to believe when your feelings haven’t caught up.

Therapy offers a safe place to process spiritual doubts, disappointments, and even church hurt. There’s no shame in asking hard questions. Even Jesus cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Practical Tips:

  • Journal your prayers honestly—even the hard ones.

  • If spiritual trauma is part of your story, find a therapist who honors your faith while helping you heal.

  • Practice breathing prayers, pairing deep breaths with Scripture verses.

Faith Perspective:
Isaiah 43:2 promises that “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Not if—when. He doesn’t promise an easy road, but He promises His presence.

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Circle of Hope Counseling Services, End the Stigma, Faith Journey

Facing Fear God is Bigger

Brandi C

circle of hope counseling services (1)

Facing Fear: Remember, God Is Bigger

What is your biggest fear right now? Maybe it’s the fear of failure, rejection, the unknown, or something deeply personal that keeps you awake at night. Fear has a way of creeping in, whispering lies that you are not strong enough, not capable enough, not enough. But here’s the truth: God is bigger than your fear.

Fear thrives in isolation. It grows louder when we try to face it alone. But you weren’t meant to carry it by yourself. Seek help. Talk to someone you trust—a friend, a pastor, a therapist. There is strength in admitting that you need support, and there is no shame in reaching out.

One of the best ways to overcome fear is to confront it with truth. What does God say about you? He says you are loved (Romans 8:38-39). You are chosen (1 Peter 2:9). You are not alone (Deuteronomy 31:6). When fear tells you that you can’t, remind yourself that God can.

Pray. Surrender your fear to Him, even if you have to do it over and over again. Fear loses its grip when we trust God’s plan more than our own anxieties.

Take action, even when you’re scared. Fear will always try to keep you stuck, but faith moves forward. One step at a time, you will find that what once felt impossible becomes manageable.

Whatever you are facing, God is bigger. You don’t have to have all the answers, and you don’t have to be fearless—you just have to trust the One who holds it all in His hands.

Reach Out

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Circle of Hope Counseling Services, End the Stigma, Faith Journey

I Did My Best, and God Did the Rest

Brandi C

@circle of hope counseling services (4)

I Did My Best, and God Did the Rest

There’s a deep peace that comes with knowing we are not in this alone. We show up, we try, we give it everything we have—but at the end of the day, we are only human. And that’s okay because God fills in the gaps where we fall short. At the end of my life, I want to say “I did my best, and God did the rest.”

Some days, our best doesn’t feel like enough. We carry burdens too heavy, face challenges too big, and battle thoughts that tell us we should be doing more. But the truth is, God never asked us to handle it all on our own. He asks us to trust Him.

When you’ve given all you can—when you’ve prayed, fought, endured, and still feel like you’re running on empty—know that God is still working. He sees what you’ve done. He knows your heart. And He is carrying you the rest of the way.

Maybe today, you feel like you’re falling short. Maybe you’re exhausted from trying to hold everything together. Take a deep breath and release it to God. Let Him take what you can’t carry.

Your best is all He asks for—not perfection, not endless striving, not doing it all alone. Just your best. And He will take care of the rest.

So, trust. Rest in His grace. Know that He is working in ways you can’t yet see. You are not failing, you are not alone, and you are deeply loved.

Do your best, and let God do the rest. 💛

Reach Out

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Circle of Hope Counseling Services, Faith Journey

What Does Impossible Really Mean

Brandi C

2053782

What Does Impossible Really Mean

I stumbled on this quote by the great actress Audrey Hepburn and it reminded me of Luke 1:37 that says “For nothing will be impossible with God.” As the word IMPOSSIBLE is broken down, she says it really say I’m Possible. However, we can do nothing without the salvation that only Jesus has provided for us.

Friends, He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on a cross for YOUR sins. If you were the only person, on Earth, God still would have sent His Son for YOU. He loves you so much that He wants you to answer that knock on your heart door, open it up, admit you are a sinner and that you need forgiveness and for Jesus to reign in your life.

Then, my friends, NOTHING is impossible. He makes it all possible. The sky is the limit and His gifts are freely given to you, as well as, His forgiveness for when we screw up. Even with Jesus in your heart, you will have bad days. You will struggle with mental health, you will be angry, you will sin and do stupid things. Here is the good news, all you have to do is repent and turn to Him and ask Him to forgive you and help you.

Grace. Mercy. Love. Forgiveness. This is what God freely gives us and asks that we give to others, though it can be super hard. Stay in the Word, find a church of like minded believers, pray so you can form that relationship with Him. It is so worth it. God is good all the time and all the time He is good. He will never leave you…not even for a minute.

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Integrity

Brandi C

Integrity

2053572

This is something I tell my kids (and myself) on, almost, a daily basis. This is the definition of integrity. Once you realize that everyone you encounter is not just by happenstance, it is directly ordained by God. You can take every moment captive and when you make eye contact with someone, pray for peace in their lives. Say that “breath” prayer because behind that smile, those fancy clothes, the ragged clothes, the haggard or dirty looks you may be getting from that person…there is a story. You don’t have to know the details to do the right thing and choosing kindness.
A breath prayer is just that…one breath. “Jesus, give them peace.” It is simple, focused, and to the point. Some people think you need to be in a 3 piece suit and speak like King James spoke with all the “thou art” type phrases. Talk to Jesus like you talk to yourself or to a friend. When I am having a big moment and I am going to pray out loud is to say “in the Name of Jesus, satan and all his friends must leave” and then it is game on LOL.
 
On a joyful note…Happy birthday to my sweet daughter and my mother-in-law. The joy that they both bring to my life is unexplainable. I’m thankful we get to celebrate them.

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.

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Adoption, Guest Blogger

Meet my Guest Blogger and Sister Tera

Brandi C

Meet my Guest Blogger and Sister Tera

Meet my Guest Blogger and Sister Tera

 

Do you ever step back and take a look at where the Lord has had your journey? Reflection is an amazing reminder of our sanctification process. Sanctification….the word I view with both dread and anticipation. It is God’s plan of growing us into the likeness of Christ. Sounds lofty, but what does it require? Sanctification requires stretching. I am not a fan of being stretched, but the Lord has stretched me over the last several years in ways that I would never have asked, but in ways that I would never trade.

Memories

Recently I took a look at the blog I kept during our adoption processes. We have six children, three of whom joined our family through adoption. These three were older when they joined our family and all came home with memories of their life in their home countries.

During the adoption process, my blogs consisted of all the typical thoughts and anxieties that a mother exhibits while waiting for her precious child to be in her arms. Nothing ever happened on my timetable. What was the Lord thinking? Didn’t He know that our child needed to be home? Also, didn’t He sense our pain in the waiting? Wait, didn’t He part the Red Sea? Wasn’t He capable of blasting through the Red Tape? I feel anxious typing all of that right now! So, as I re-read my entries I ran across this note that typifies what I pray the Lord has taught me and continues to teach me in my walk with Him. We were on our way home with our newest son.

Previous Blog Post

This week we have watched God’s hand guide every aspect of our journey. Lots of travel troubles, UGH. Through it all, when I would feel anxiety welling up in my heart, I would hear Him asking me, Do you trust me? Also, do you really mean all the things you say to everyone else? Do you trust me to work out circumstances according to My plan, not yours? Finally, do you recognize that you are not in control? Over and over, I know that He was and is telling me that in good or bad I must choose to trust that this journey is HIS.

This journey of my life is the one that He has planned and intended. I still get very anxious, wanting to control situations and people, but honestly….deep within my soul, I do trust Him. I may not like the plan, but I trust that He has it ALL worked out. I’m on a plane right now on our last leg home from bringing home our son. We are surprising the other kids with an early flight home.

Soon we will be the eight of us. Our sweet boy is sleeping peacefully. He fully trusts us as his parents. We know where he is going and we know what is in store on the other end of this plane ride.  There was a plan to bring him home. Everywhere we’ve led him, he has willingly gone with a smile on his face, handheld out to take ours. Fully trusting. May I be the same with my Heavenly Father who has the plan?

Encouraging Words

As your family journeys along in life, I ask you to trust Him with the plan. Recognize that He sees the view from above the plane. The full view. You only see out of your little window. How we react to our journey will show the world that we trust HIM and love HIM more than we trust and love our plan. Ask yourself what you desire more…the child to be added to your family, your children to be whole, relief from difficulties, or is your desire for a relationship with the ONE who made both you and your child?

Lean Into Him

Marriage. Parenting. Adoption. Life.  Complex, beautiful, hard.  Embrace the hard as God’s provision for your sanctification.  Growth is never easy. Cling to Him.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “The Lord says: ‘My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.’ ”

 

End the Stigma, Quotes

Get Your Fight Back

Brandi C

Get Your Fight Back

Get Your Fight Back is one of the first videos I saw on TikTok.  This, well, it gave me chills.  Every time I hear/read it, I have the same experience.  Sarah Jakes Robert amazingly delivered this sermon.

“Get Your Fight Back” by Sarah Jakes Robert

It is titled “Get your fight back.”

Girl, get your power back.

~Girl, start acting like you are a king’s daughter, and that there has always been a crown attached to your head.

Even when I was sick I was still His. Even when I was dead, I was still His.

Do you know who I am?

I am a child of the highest God.

He has kept me alive so that I can be a testimony to everyone attached to me.

Get Up: There is No Hold on You

Girl, you can get up again.

And Girl addiction can’t have you.

Girl divorce gotta let you go.

Get up girl, Girl get up, Girl get up, Girl get up, Girl get up again.

Girl Depression gotta let you go.

And Girl anxiety has to lose its hold.

I’m pleading for you to get up.

My daughter needs to see you get up.

And My sister needs to you get up.

Get up, Get up.

I gotta get up, I gotta get up again,  I gotta get up again.

Get Your Prophecy

God’s you just sent a word, And now I know I need to get up again.

Something died on the inside of me, but I feel my spirit coming back.

I feel my power coming back and my ideas.

And I feel these dry bones shaken and coming back to life.

I’m getting up, I’m getting up.

I’m getting in position.

And I’m tired of crying about it.

I’m tired of fighting about it.

So I’m getting in the position.

Girl, You gotta get up.

I’m getting up for my daughter, I’m getting up for my sister, I’m getting up for my kids, I don’t even have them yet, but I was getting up for them too.

And I’m getting up for my community and marriage.

Gotta get up, I gotta get up, I gotta get up, I gotta get up.

Jesus, you’ve been chasing me too long.

I’m here and I surrender.

I gotta get up, I gotta get up.

The bitterness you got to Let me go.

Death, You can’t have me.

I gotta get up.

Honestly, I gotta find my joy.

I’ve got to find my peace.

I Gotta find my spirit again.

My friend made me who I am, my spirit got me into this.

And My spirit is gonna get me out, My spirit is going to get me out of it.

I got my Spirit back.

God touch me, God overflow.

I need your spirit, I’m hungry for it, I’m desperate for it.

God help me up.

Who You Need to Let Know

Let Hell hear you.

And Let the Depression hear you.

Let the enemy know.

And Let death know.

Spirit

The spirit is coming back to me.

This spirit, what spirit?

The Holy Spirit, the Name that is above all Names.

Yes. When we call on that Name things happen.

That’s what I’m calling on.

What I need

Your Spirit.

Jesus, I need your power.

Your healing.

Get Who You Are Back

The King of kings.

Lord of lords.

You are the way maker.

My healer.

What I Call You

Excellent.

Wonderful.

Magnificent.

Jehovah Jairus.

Jehovah

What I Say

You can have control.

I surrender.

Make a way.

Nothing is off limits

I say God touch me as only you can do.

God give me power.

Help me forgive.

I say God Cleanse me from bitterness.

Sermon Video and Full Transcript of Sarah Jakes Robert

Girl Get Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adoption, Faith Journey

A Priest, A Deaconess, and a Baptist

Brandi C

A Priest, A Deaconess, and a Baptist

A Priest, A Deaconess, and a Baptist

On September 21, 2011, we were working together at the store, and the jokes we wrote were often the highlight of the day.

It was a difficult decision for our family when I decided to return to work. I cried… a lot. I’m someone who thrives on routine, and when that routine is disrupted, it shakes me to my core. Am I controlling? Maybe. But I’ve always known that I like things a certain way, and change is something I tend to resist.

My whole world changed.

My kids went back to public school, while my oldest continued being homeschooled. It felt like everything was upside down. But I was grateful when I got my job. The woman who trained me was the slowest I’ve ever met, but she was kind, genuine, and stable.

When I was assigned my department, I met a gentleman who stood out to me—his regal demeanor, kind eyes, and radio-worthy voice immediately caught my attention. I wanted to know who he was because he worked in my department, and at that point, I needed all the help I could get.

The Priest

I introduced myself and learned that he was attending school to become a deacon in his church. Honestly, I didn’t even know there was a school for deacons, so I was immediately intrigued. I asked him questions like, “What’s up with the Pope? Why do you kneel and stand so much? Can you explain the hierarchy of the church?” He answered every question with patience and understanding, never making me feel ignorant. It was clear to me that he deeply loved both God and Jesus.

He became a blessing in my life. He would often see when I was having a rough day and would encourage me to stay busy and keep moving forward. Sometimes, when things were particularly tough, he would give me a hug. Once, after a difficult day, he handed me a beautiful rosary, saying, “This means more to me than anything, and I’m giving it to you for peace.” He explained the prayers that accompany the rosary, and it encouraged me to pray more. He also took time to pray over me at work and sent me emails with prayers. This man has truly been a precious soul in my life.

The Deaconess

Now, onto the Deaconess. She hadn’t been working with us long, but she quickly became someone I admired. She is a small, fiery woman, completely in love with the Lord and her family. To her, working at our job wasn’t just about earning a paycheck—it was a mission from God. She saw every opportunity to witness and share her faith. This lady exuded grace, dignity, and love, and she was always there to encourage, protect, and listen.

She wasn’t shy about expressing her faith. There were times when, with customers waiting, she laid hands on me and prayed over me. She has held me as I cried and cried with me, often reminding me, ‘Speak it into existence. Whatever you want, claim it. Speak positively—don’t let negativity slip out.” I have to be careful now, because I can almost hear her telling me to stop expressing negative thoughts.

Be positive. Wait on God.

I’ve been learning, through the trials of adoption, that it’s okay to cry, be upset, and talk about my feelings. I’m someone who tends to keep things inside because I don’t want to burden others or seem like I’m always complaining. But with my Deaconess, Priest, and my Wednesday night girls, I’ve found a support system full of love, prayers, and understanding. And let me tell you, I’ve needed it, especially this year.

Our Trial is Almost Over

Our adoption journey is nearing its end. I am confident that God will bring my child home before the year is up. Also,  I’m speaking that out in the name of Jesus. I am so thankful for the people He is bringing into my life during this difficult time. He has blessed me with a strong family of faith, a supportive church family, and coworkers who have prayed for me, encouraged me, and walked beside me through it all.

My daughter reminded me by texting, ‘Mom, I love you, and remember to CLAIM IT,’ that God is working in our lives. He’s showing us His grace and mercy through this challenging year.

A Priest, A Deaconess, and a Baptist

As the year comes to an end, I’m choosing to believe that my son will be home by next month. The people I’ve met along this journey—my Priest and my Deaconess will forever be a part of my child’s story. My Priest has seen me through some of the darkest moments. He has done so by praying for me while we folded jeans at JC Penney’s.

I am beyond thankful that God placed these people in my path. They have loved, supported, and encouraged me more than I could ever have imagined.

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