A Christmas Story..

Merry Christmas everybody. I trust that you enjoyed your holiday. Some of us spent our holiday during the traditional things and some of spent this year doing something new. *raises hand* ..sigh..I never NOT spend a Christmas in Mississippi.

Every year I am in Mississippi around this time, however, since God is doing a new thing with me I spent my Christmas in a new way. God told me to stay in Dallas this year and that's what I did. At first it kind of stung my heart not to be at home with my family and missing moments with friends, but God reminded me that in order to follow Him I have to be willing to "get from amongst my kindred" as God told Abraham and go to the land that He has shown me. What land Gab? whatcha talkin bout..Basically in order to go higher spiritually to where God wants me to be as He prepares me I have to be willing to be obedient and submissive to Him even if it cost me Christmas in the Sip'..now what am I talkin about? Surely God doesn't want you away from your family at Christmas Gab..You miss heard him!..I know that's what you're thinking but trust me..you have no idea.

Let's talk a little about Purpose. When God has purpose for your life and you begin to walk in that purpose..it becomes a "new" walk..You CANNOT DO THE SAME THINGS YOU USED TO. DONT EVEN EXPECT TO. Why? Because the path to your purpose is not in your old way nor your old walk. This Christmas started out so weird for me. I thought to myself.."God, im not at home..Yes i am here with my mom but this just aint the norm for me.." So as the day went on God began to show me WHY I had to be here in Dallas.

Today we had some company over for Christmas dinner..some of the people I knew and only one man I had never met before in my life. A friend of some of our (my mom and I) close friends here. This man said that he had come all the way from Atlanta, GA to the Potters House and that he really enjoyed the service. No big deal. From the moment I layed eyes on this man something drew me to him..spiritually. As if I almost knew that he was here for more than to simply hear the word from Bishop Jakes..He had a divine purpose. But, I haven't learned to recognize just when God is speaking like that or if it's me so I ignored it.

After a little while, this man and I began to talk about the Word of God and immediately the spirit fell upon Him and He told me things nobody would know but ME AND GOD and I was just soo overjoyed to know that God had not forgotten about me. And He cared enough to explain to me the things that i had been experiencing. This man gave me more encouragement than I had possessed all year. I could have easily missed this! Had I went home for Christmas like I wanted to do!!! For those of you who have experienced divine interventions you know how amazing and what a relief it is just to know that YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW..you are hearing from God and that He is leading you. But if we aren't obedient we can miss that little encouragement to stay on our purposeful paths and stray away from what God intended because we are discouraged and all sorts of emotions.

I say all of these things to say that this walk with HIM is not going to be easy but it can be done as long as we make our minds up that it's just US AND HIM. It hurts to let friends go..it hurts to feel left out..but we certainly don't want to miss our amazing call and purpose for our lives ordained by our heavenly father because of friends or family. Abraham was an amazing example. Thus, be encouraged my sisters and brothers and don't be afraid to take the road less traveled because He is there to guide your every step if you can submit your way to Him.

I love you! Merry Christmas! <3

-Gabriel