Exceedingly Abundant Blessings

The bible verse that reads God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above more than we can think or ask is really hitting close to home. Excuse me if I have jumbled up that verse. Let's just say it can be found in the book of St. Sherri until I can get to the accurate wording from the real thing.

It's a funny thing when you think you want something so bad and then that something is seemlingly snatched from you. When I left my mother's house 2 years ago this month, I vowed that would never return. I was going south to follow my dream of starting an eyelash business because there was a huge market for individual eyelash applications down south. In other words, this city girl was going south to get some of that country money.

There was only one problem. I hadn't consulted with God first. Everyone knows the story but this is a part that I find that I leave out more often than not. I didn't ask God whether or not this was His plan for me. I didn't ask God if this is where He could maximize my talents for his glory. I didn't do any of that. I got some business cards made, found an apartment and made sure that I could do eyelashes out of my stylist's salon. Once those three things were affirmed, we were on our way!

God is a funny God in that even when you are so out of His will, He will still keep His mighty hand on you. I got down south and was in paradise. Everybody knew the "Eyelash Girl" had landed from up "nawf". I was doing my own thing, making my own hours, socializing, just living "my" dream. Yep, it was mine alright. God was no where in that thang. Yet and still, He protected me. I didn't make a lot of money to where I had a bustling savings account but I had enough to get my sushi every week. See, I'm the fat kid that's after meals. I leave the shopping to the other girls. No shoe or purse fetishes here. My fetishes are allll edible and a have a nutrition guide on the side of the box.

Well, we all know what happened while I was down south. It has been well documented on this blog, with a youtube vid, a walk and in conversation. It's no secret that I left my southern comfortable surroundings fighting and screaming. That was a sad day....

This month marks a full year that I have been back the city in which I vowed that I would never return. I didn't want to come back to what I deemed to be the Titanic. I had no intentions on driving along roads where the potholes could swallow up a small child. Unwillingly, I came back and before my own eyes became a rose that grew from concrete.

I had to go through a lot to get where I am. It wasn't a picnic but the Lord said that He would be with me where ever I made my bed. Whether it be a hospital bed or a crack house (no I have never done drugs, I'm just sayin), God was with me. That alone got me through the tough times. I had the faith that God was with me through every ache, pain and chemo treatment that I encountered. I refused to have a spirit of FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) and besides it's written that we don't have a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. See there, told you. God has us covered.

What God has for you, is for you. The devil in hell can't tear from your hands what God has promised you, what He has ordered for you. What He has for you isn't going to come easy, no ma'am, but when you grasp on to what He has for you, you are going to wonder how you lived without it in the first place. I am a witness.

As a witness, I had to retreat for my rebirth. There is nothing wrong with retreating to collect yourself. Most times, it's when God gets you all alone that He is speaking to you. In silence. I couldn't hear God as I doing the Roger Rabbit and doing the robot at the juke joint. I couldn't hear God while I was gluing eyelashes to ladies faces. While I did a marvelous job-clients' words, not mine-God said that is not what I commissioned this hard headed girl to do.

So a year later, I can sit here and tell you that God got his way. I was thrust in a situation not where I was able to Grow, Go and Glow. Since nothing that comes from Him is harmful, I could only stand on his word and believe everything from Genesis to Revelations.

As I lay in bed, body wracking with pain, I was actually GROWing. As my hair fell out, I was growing. With every pound that I lost, I was growing. God was talking to me, closer than a brother, easing my fears and letting me know that everything was going to be alright. Mama Jones brought me books and I would read them, increasing my faith. My Godmother would come sit with me further letting me know that this too shall pass. Phone calls, get well soon cards poured in from every end of the earth. Pastor Lewis once said that when the adversary messes with a child of God, he will have the entire kingdom of heaven on his butt (edited version).

I got stronger, wiser, so much better and felt it was time to GO. I had a good story and I needed to get it out to help somebody, isn't that right Summer? I drove almost a half hour from my home to buy a $5 Lupus Awareness shirt. Before I made the drive that day, I dropped off an application for a job downtown. While I was at the Lupus Allaince's office, not only did I come away with a cute t-shirt but also a rewarding career(read career not a job). A career in which I could use my journalism degree that I earned 8 years prior. A career that affected me directly being that I'm working with the Lupus Alliance. Remember when God said don't touch His children's annointing? He meant that.

Finally, when something is from God, it makes you GLOW. I am just so freaking happy right now, I can cuss but don't worry, I won't. I have a glow not just because my situation has turned out wonderfully and better than I could ever think or imagined, but because I know who has my back. God has you!! No matter what the circumstances are, He has your best interest at heart. You have to get in the spirit and let the Lord minister to you.

In my quiet time, I sit and smile thinking this time last year, my little cousin was carrying me to the toilet. It was always a crap shoot whether or not my legs were working a particular day. Then flash forward a year later-with a lot of prayers of gratitude and introspection- and I am sitting in my Congresswoman's face on Capital Hill in D.C. asking for 35 billion dollars for lupus research. Never tell God how big your mountain is but tell your mountain....

I wish you many days of glowing and mountain moving! You can do it. God is just waiting for you to make yourself available and He will orchestrate the rest.

Now for the accurate wording of that scripture that St. Sherri attempted:

Ephesians 3:20 (New International Version)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Ephesians 3:20 (King James Version)
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20 (St. Sherri's Ebonics Version)
Bless your heart, you think that you have it all figured out but-in my Fred Sanford voice-'you big dummy'. Consult with your heavenly father and watch Him exceedingly, abundantly blow your mind.

I can't wait to hear the Praise Reports.