To Do List 2016:

1. If You've Been Wronged:

"Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

2. If Someone Got One Over on You:

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

3. If Something or Someone Broke Your Heart:

"...Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."

4. If You are Worried or Anxious About the Future:

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done."

5. If You are Dwelling on the past:

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"

6: If You Feel Scared:

"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God..."

7: If You Feel Weak:

"....I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand."

Seven seems like an odd place to stop right? Well, this was done intentionally. You see, I often research the biblical meaning of numbers; because God is very specific and precise with His numbers just as He is with His words. As for Seven, it is the number of completeness and perfection, both physically, and spiritually. It derived most of its meaning from being tied directly to God's creation of all things. The number 7 is the foundation of God's Word.

Be Blessed this 201(7)! Happy New Year!

- Brianna Carey ©

PRUNING 2016

It's been a very long year. I think that sentiment is shared, if I may speak for others, by many. I feel more physically exhausted and spiritually drained this year than I ever have. I have an inkling as to why.... I was leaning on my own strengths and understanding more than I was leaning on God. I lost sight of the fact that I could bring my burdens to Him. That He had the ability to carry them for me so my heart wouldn't be so heavy.

I knew He was there, and yet there I went all through 2016 dragging with me all of these weights. The weight of Unforgiveness, Stress, Worry, Discontentment, Anxiety, etc. You name it, and I carried it. I allowed all of these things to hinder my potential and spiritually cripple me. There was no growth because I refused to let go of anything.

You cannot grow when you refuse to let go.

When a gardener needs something to grow better, he uses this technique called Pruning. The definition of Pruning is this: "To trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to increase fruitfulness and growth" Another definition says: "to reduce the extent of (something) by removing superfluous or unwanted parts".

I don't know about you, but I could use a bit of Pruning. An increase in fruitfulness and growth? Yes please. It's time to let go of that dead weight. It's time to reduce the extent of the damage done to you in 2016 by removing the unwanted parts. Are you with me?

Let's go into this New Year not just with resolutions but with Revelations of who we are in Christ. Let's go into 2017 freshly pruned of any and all things that can hinder us on our Spiritual journey with God. No more dragging anything with us that is not Good and that is not of God. If it's not "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, (Philippians 4:8) then it has to go. Prune it and move forward into the abundant fruitfulness of life and Spiritual growth. Step into All things new.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Sending Blessings and Love to you on the eve of this New Year. Shalom.

- Brianna Carey ©

THOSE WHO COMFORT WILL BE COMFORTED

I think it's a true mark of God's compassion in man when we can show love to others in the midst of our own pain. For instance.You can be hurting so deeply, I mean just coming away from something that has torn you apart.....and if only but for a moment, you see someone else come along with tears in their eyes or a brokenness about them, and suddenly your heart is called into action, and briefly, you set aside your own pain to be a comfort to someone else. That is so beatiful to me. When I experience this, on a personal level, it fills me with a sense of hope for humanity and gratitude for man's ability to be so selfless in a moment where they could just as easily be selfish. It is a beautiful example of how love can overshadow the darkest night, and compassion can overwhelm the greatest pain.

And it is a prime example of God's grace that we have this ability to care for others over ourselves when the need arises. And what's more compelling even, is the fact that by comforting others when you are hurting, you, yourself are also comforted.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (ESV)

I hope this message comforts anyone who may be in need today. I hope you know that you are not alone and your tears are seen, and you are cared for. My loving sister shared these verses below with me today which gave my heart such peace to know.

God longs to be gracious to us.

“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” - Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

“The Lord supports all who fall, and lifts up all who are bent over.” - Psalm 145:14 (NET)

So no matter what you are going through, know that He awaits eagerly, to comfort you.

- Brianna Carey

The Hamster Wheel

I just don't know what to do with my life anymore, and I'm so discontent..... I want so deeply to do what truly matters in life, I want to do what God placed in my heart as a little girl, but I seem stuck. Stuck on this hamster wheel just making it by, all of my money goes to corporations, making them richer, and as I sit here watching the years of life pass me by, I'm thinking "I'm still in the same place, and I haven't done anything of substance with my life", and it seems to never end. I don't know how to get off this wheel. For a moment I think to myself, maybe it's just more money I need, but then I look around and see the wealthy "successful people", and they look "sorta happy" but they work even harder and have even less time with their loved ones or even less time to do what matters and so I wonder how happy can they actually be? Even just spending quality time with family/friends, or giving of time to charity seems impossible at any level of what man considers success. And so I find myself having a very Ecclesiastes moment in my life. "It's all meaningless" without purpose. Without living for a reason, what is living? It's just existing. And I don't want to simply exist anymore. I so deperately need to find and fulfill my purpose. I CANNOT keep living the same day over and over again. It's literally killing me inside. Literally. My soul is clinging to life. I was made for so much more...... Now the unending questions remain.... How do I get to where I am supposed to be? How do I not repeat this same monotonous year over again?

I'm praying God will reveal His plan to set in motion my true calling. This day to day monotony with two days off is tearing my soul up. I just cannot do it much longer.... I really just cannot......

Jesus help me get off the wheel.

- Brianna Carey

KEEP ON

Simply because you recognize an area in which you are struggling in life does not mean that you are ungrateful for everything else that you do have that is good, that others may not have. It is possible to know that you are blessed and also be honest with God and yourself, and ask Him for that which you are lacking, whether it be financial, spiritual, emotional or physical needs, God already knows your needs before you open your mouth to tell Him; so you may as well ask. In fact Jesus Himself tells us to:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Jesus ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

And I love how He says "KEEP ON....".
Interestingly enough; most of us ask God once for something we need and if He doesn't bring it to pass that very moment, we never ask again.

KEEP ON ASKING. KEEP ON SEEKING. KEEP ON KNOCKING.

Just because the request hasn't been answered yet does not mean it never will be. Just because what you are searching for has yet to be found, it does not mean it never will be. And just because the door you've been knocking on has yet to be opened by God, it does not mean it never will be. Don't lose faith and hope in God because it hasn't come to pass YET. And don't let anyone make you feel ungrateful for asking for God's help in any area of your life.

KEEP ON.....

- Brianna Carey ©

Your Memory

I just get so sad during this time of year....
It becomes so impossibly clear that you are not here
to share in the moments we once cherished together
If ever I missed you most, it's at Christmas time....
My mind flashes to back when we put up the tree
And then suddenly that week you couldn't walk....
The way you talked began to change
You were slipping away.....
as I tried desperately to make the days go by a little slower
I'd stay awake for hours just to hear you breathing
Because I knew you'd be leaving soon.....
I could feel it in my heart
A part of me was vanishing
And although I was managing the pain of that realization
I was still faced with the deepest sorrow I'd ever endure
You, not here with me anymore.....
I was sure I'd die right there beside you that day
But His grace....it came, and it stayed
Even today, it helps carry me through the pain
The pain of missing your presence
Until we meet in Heaven, I believe it will always remain
But so will your memory
And that too gives me peace
I love you so much my sweet Mommy.

I've walked so many miles
Trials of which I've not spoken to a soul
Only God knows the whole story
Most have only read one chapter
Laughter, a part of my life as much as tears
But through all the years
One consistent has been this smile upon my face
And I don't plan on letting it fade any day soon. - Brianna Carey ©

How Very Human It Is.....

You know.....I'm the last to admit that I need improvement in any area. But as I drove home the other day, (in rush hour traffic) I realized it's not all butterflies and sunshine that radiate from my heart at all times. Love doesn't always pour out of my mouth so easily. Sometimes I say things in my head or under my breath that wouldn't be considered nice. And I use to get down on myself about that because my intentions are to be ONLY good. But then I began forgiving myself instead. I began to realize that's very human. In each of us, there's this desire to be the best version of ourselves ALL OF THE TIME. But no one is. We're multifaceted, emotional beings. Often shaped by experiences. And we've all been through good and bad times. I believe that being authentic in every moment is healthy. It's honest. If you have a moment where you get angry, that doesn't make you an angry person, it only makes you a person whose currently experiencing anger. Same with sadness or anxiety. It's what we choose to hold onto that makes us who we truly are. What am I holding onto? Faith. Love. Hope. Joy. Kindness. Those are what I keep inside me at all times, so that when those times of frustration arise in me, they pass, they don't stay with me for very long. I forgive myself; and I remind myself of who I am in Christ; my true identity of being Love and Light. And I move forward in that. I don't dwell on my shortcomings, neither should you.

- Brianna Carey ©

Don't Overthink It

One should never dwell in their thoughts. It's a dangerous place of uncertainty and fantasy. On one end, the mind is a plethora of creativity and imagination and on the other a master of manipulation. You can convince yourself of something that hasn't even happened and even allow negative things to manifest that would have otherwise never come to be. Basically, by over thinking you can create a problem where there wasn't one. You cannot let your thoughts run wild or run on repeat. Try to find the root of each one, and if it it ain't good for the soul, you gotta let that thought go.

- Brianna Carey ©

A Proverb

May your eyes alway see what blossoms rather than what decays.
Life has this way of reminding you....
It goes on.

Brianna Carey ©

Black Child

Black child,

I want you to know that your hair is beautiful 

It's true that you were made exquisitely 

A tapestry unlike any 

And many will try and convince you 

to "tame your mane"

But please refrain 

Your hair is not meant be tamed but rather celebrated. 

Beach Short

Beach tomorrow, rain or shine.
The melody of waves eases the mind.
The ocean breeze brings with it peace.
And the sand beneath my feet keeps me grounded.
 - Bri

Gifts of The Spirit - By Faith

Do you believe that the gifts the Disciples of Jesus had, are in existence today? Basically, do you believe in miraculous things being done through human beings. I believe those things are still very much real. The gifts of the Spirit. Prophecy, Laying on of Hands (Healing), etc. all still exist. His Word says, "Faith can move Mountains" but it is contingent  upon your belief in the fact that by Faith, God can move that mountain. The problem is we lack the faith. We don't think that the God of today is the same as He was then. But He is. And so the same miracles performed then by the hands of His disciples could be performed today by the hands of his modern day disciples, but according to our faith. Just like it says in Job 2 "God deals with us according to the measure of our faith, our love, the measure of His Spirit within us." What is the measure of His spirit is us if we cannot believe He is able to do through us all things?! His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven is solely dependent on us accepting that it will be done. And again in Matthew 9 with the Blind men that cried out to Jesus to heal them....
" When He (Jesus) had gone indoors, the blind men came to Him, and He asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”.... “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored." See, that's how God works, in us and through us. Their sight wasn't restored because they asked Jesus, but because they believed. It's all about Faith. That's why I think His Holy Spirit in us and strengthening That is so essential because as the measure of His Holy Spirit increases in us, so does our faith, and as our Faith increases so do the displays of His will being done on earth increase also.

- Brianna Carey ©

Watching this incredible sunset, which a picture just wouldn't do justice. So I'll try to describe it with words.....
"A hue of pink I've never seen....
a hand painted dream across a once blue sky
It's like the sun kissed the clouds goodbye
as if this were the last time they'd ever meet."
- Brianna Carey ©

Something's Gotta Change.....

The level of animosity these past few days is baffling to me..... The division between friends, the discord between family members, fights with neighbors..... I just don't understand it.....
How someone would be willing to let an election result destroy relationships they've had for years is beyond me. I also don't understand how you can disregard all aspects of the person you cared about on November 7th, just the day before, and now vow them an enemy because they didn't vote the same as you. If something like this uproots your entire relationship with another human being you once considered friend or family, it wasn't built on genuine love to begin with. Love doesn't mean having to agree on everything. And you don't walk out on someone because they don't think the way that you do. All I keep seeing as I scroll is "Unfriend me", "block me", "cut me off", "you're no longer a part of my life".... all I see is such hateful words being spewed from both sides and I'm just utterly disappointed in humanity.....

The fact of the matter is, not everyone is going to share your views, but that's not cause to go around hating each other. A person shouldn't have to Be exactly as you are or Think exactly as you do in order to be a part of your life. I have friends of many walks of life, and I would never minimize the extent of who they are as an individual, the soul on the inside, to who they voted for in one election. Nor would I throw out years of cherished memories over a difference in opinion. That is so unnecessary and rash.

I'm just over the hate..... my heart is heavy from this atmosphere of negativity fueled by anger and animosity towards others for simply clicking a button on one day in history that 4 years from now won't matter anyway. But I'll tell you what will matter, and have a lasting effect.... how we chose to treat each other during this moment in time. What example did we set for our children?

Change for the better is never born of hate. It's conceived in Love. And unity cannot come by way of division. It comes by way of compassion and understanding. And a willingness to sit down together at a table and share a meal. 'Whether you're both "meat eaters" or you're both "vegetarian", you should still be able to across from each other and be at peace. If you cannot do this, then you must ask yourself 'what within my heart prevents me from doing so and how do I correct it? Because it should never be a difficult decision to love others.

Put aside your differences, hug one another, move forward in love. Together, we can make tomorrow a better day.

Romans 14 MSG

- Brianna Carey ©

Pearls to Swine

Sometimes you've just said all that you can, and at some point in the conversation you have to stop trying to convince someone of something they've already made up their mind they won't accept.
It's hard to do because you want so deeply to impact that person for the better, but once you feel you've given it all that you have, and it's just falling on deaf ears, be still, say Shalom and just pray for that person; that God will sow a seed in them. God tells us not to go on and on, with the back and forth rhetoric. At that point, you're just throwing your pearls to swine.

"Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." - 2 Timothy 2:23-24

The fact of the matter is you cannot make someone listen. You could talk until you're blue in the face, you could convey with eloquence simple and precise reasoning for your position but you can't make them really hear you if they have decided not to. You can't position a heart to be in a place of reception. They either want to receive from you a word, or they don't. It cannot be forced.

Never minimize the power of prayer. It can do more than a million words ever could. God is always working!

Blessings and Love to everyone. Goodnight!

- Brianna Carey ©

Love me but just don't tell me I'm wrong.....

To insinuate that one has to condone the behavior of someone in order to love that person, that's a false perception of what it means to Love. If I am to love honestly though; I don't have to like everything that you do, let alone be in support of it. For instance, I can love the drug addict, but I don't have to condone his behavior in any way, shape, or form in order to do so. I find it disheartening that by having a strong personal conviction against something that equates also to you hating those who take part in that which you are against. That is truly sad. And in most cases, that couldn't be further from the Truth.

At the root of this misconception of Love, is the egos' desire to expect Love without discipline. But the two go hand in hand. It's like the Word says in Hebrews 12, "whom the Lord loves, He disciplines" and again in Proverbs 3 "Do not despise discipline of the Lord, for whom the Lord loves, He corrects." Unfortunately people do despise being corrected. People would rather you allow them to walk off of the cliff than to tell them the correct path to follow that will not lead to their death. But see.... I'm just not a believer in that, simply because we are given free will from God, to do as we please, that we (His children) should never intervene. If we allowed everyone to do everything they wanted regardless of consequences to themselves or others.... Well.... The world would be in even more disarray than it already is.

Unrighteous judgment condemns. Righteous judgment corrects. Knowing the difference is wisdom. You don't have to take my advice but that won't prevent me from giving it. Why? Because I love you too much.

- Brianna Carey ©

The Day After Election

Contrary to popular opinion, my voting Trump did not equate to me being a Racist, Misogynistic, Bigot, who hates gays, latinos and Muslims and is in support of rape. Surprisingly enough, I'm actually a multifaceted human being who chose the person I felt most closely resembled my Biblical principles on several policies closest to my heart. And furthermore, oddly enough, I don't have any hate in my heart today, only Love. It's the darndest thing.

Sincerely, Brianna Carey ©

Peace Be Still America.

Counterfeit love

Reflecting on society.....
To take a stand against something you believe is right and true (in God's eyes) is seen as judging, condemning and yes, even hating someone. The world now views only tolerance as acceptance, and rejection as hatred. So, let me understand correctly... In order to love you, I must condone all that you do? That's not real love. That's counterfeit. But that's what many desire. That kind of love allows them to keep living in sin without conviction, it allows them to be disillusioned in thinking, "if no one shines a light on the problem then there isn't one." But that kind of desire is not of God, it is of the ego. Wanting to do whatever you please, wanting to eat from the 'tree of knowledge' and wanting to consider yourself in higher esteem than the One who created you. It's deceptive acceptance that you know better than God regarding your life. It's been the perish of many men centuries over.....

When will we learn....? Your ways are higher.
- Brianna Carey ©

BE READY

The more I meditate on The Book of Revelations in God's Word, the more I realize Hillary is going to win. And I don't mean that in a supportive way, no not at all. I'm still voting for Trump. I am speaking more matter of fact. Her character lines up with the anti-Christ agenda that is written in Revelations. I can't foresee Donald Trump being in support of a New World Order (One World Government - One world. One Economy. One Religion). And I also can't foresee him making deals or alliances with those who have openly expressed wanting to destroy Israel. And I definitely can't see Trump appointing Supreme Court Justices who will remove the right to bare arms amendment from standing. But I can definitely see Hillary doing and fully supporting all of these things. She was there by Obama's side when we signed a Nuclear deal with "Six World Powers". The UK, France, Russia, China, Germany, and Iran.

"The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had TEN horns and SEVEN heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name."

- Revelations 13:1 (The Seven Countries)

"The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings." - Daniel 7:24 (The One World Government)

"He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.…- Daniel 7:25

I'm telling you.... this is Truth.

People in America have a false sense of security. We have this "Well, that won't happen here" sort of persona about us. Well.... it can, and it will. We will lose our 2nd amendment rights. We will lose our religious freedoms, especially Christians, we will face persecution like you see occurring already in other parts of the world, beheadings, imprisonment for even speaking the name of Jesus or owning a Bible. It has already begun and will intensify; with most people condoning the atrocities or joining in on them. (This is the spirit of the anti-Christ arising, talked about in 1 John 2:22 and 1 John 4:3) They will have denied Christ completely and in doing so aligned themselves with the beast.

But many Christians are sleeping on God's word..... sleeping on his warnings, they can't foresee or envision a world like Revelations or Daniel's Visions described so vividly. But I can see His words unraveling before my eyes and the steps being taken, and policies being implemented by people in positions of power and the one who most Americans are about to elect into power.... I see them like puzzle pieces tying together, ever so intricately, these events that will inevitably take place in our generation. Jesus will come, but for a time, times and half a time, the enemy will have his reign. My only solace is in knowing that his reign will not last forever.

But we, Christians, must prepare ourselves for what is coming. We must be ready for the war. Ready to die in battle for His name's sake. We must prepare the way for the King that will reign forever.

My point in this entire writing. Study His word, meditate on it. Let it take root in your soul, so that when this time comes, you are not caught unaware. So that the enemy does not devour you in your sleep. Wake up to the signs God gives us. Preach His word without fear, or timidity. But with boldness and authority. Speak with conviction. We are His messengers. If we do not speak up for what is right and true and stand against what is wrong, then we have not done our duties as servants of God. I don't know about you, but I want to be fully prepared and wide awake so that I can fight tirelessly the battle for souls until the return of Jesus.

- Brianna Carey ©

THE RENEWAL

Can we all be honest, let's just be real for a moment, if we said every thought that came to our minds, none of us would have a single friend in this world but Jesus who would tolerate such disgraceful verbiage. Why is that? It's because our minds are not fully aligned with God. This is why His word says "Be transformed by the renewal of your mind." (Romans 12:12) It takes God stepping into us and reworking the way we think. And this renewal doesn't happen over night. It takes diligence, seeking after His image, *character* so that we may mirror it. It takes work done through the Holy Spirit within us. You cannot expect anyone to be fully transformed in Christ, the very moment they have an encounter with Him. No. But "you can be confident in this: That He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) Meaning it's a continual process of spiritual refining. We are PUT right, we are not born right. We are born of sin, that's a generational curse not one man can escape, however desperately he tries.

This is why Jesus is a necessity not a commodity. This is why a real relationship with Him and a bond with His Holy Spirit is so crucial, because we cannot do right by our own efforts. We may have every intention of doing right, speaking right, acting right, and yet still, we stumble. This is what Paul knew all too well when he wrote: "....For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18) He later goes on to add "...Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin..." (Romans 7:20-24) But listen to the last sentence in verse 25, he says: "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

We are delivered through Jesus, not through ritual practice of doing good. We can "do good" until we are blue in the face, but what does the heart reflect? What does your mind convey? His word says: "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." (Jeremiah 17:10) What are the unseen deeds of our minds? The ones not visible nor audible to man but well known to God? What do they say about our true nature?

The truth of the matter is God knows our thoughts, what is done in secret. He hears that which we do not utter with our lips but with our hearts and the beautiful, merciful character of God is that He knows we cannot be made new until we are transformed in Christ. To be born again in Him. The rebirth begins the renewing process. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The wonderful God we serve already knows the sin that has corrupted our hearts since the first Fall of man. He didn't ask "Where are you?" in the garden of Eden because He didn't know where Adam and Eve were.... No. He asked them, because He wanted to make them see that they were lost. See, God will often ask a question He already knows the answer to, in order to reveal to us Wisdom that we would have otherwise not been privy to. This is how He convicts the heart of man. And when conviction comes, a door is opened, and Jesus comes in. Piece by piece, He restores what has been broken in us. He makes clear God's word that has been distorted by the enemy. He dismantles the walls of deception built around the hearts and minds of men so that we can begin to reflect the nature of our Creator rather than remain tarnished by the nature of sin.

His Grace. Purely and simply put.... rescues us from ourselves.

- Brianna Carey ©

PROLIFE

LIFE MATTERS.
I'm about to touch on a rather sensitive subject. I'll preface this writing with the statement: 'I hope that you receive it as intended and not misconstrue in any way shape or form where I am coming from, because I am genuinely coming from a place of Love.'

Forgiveness is available to anyone who wholeheartedly and sincerely seeks it from God. Jesus died a gruesome death for ALL sins, not some. All. No one sin is greater than the other. That being said. I want to express my views on Abortion. Someone told me recently that the topic of abortion didn't exist in the Bible, and there are no scriptural references that state God is against it. But if you truly know that God is Love, is it an act of love to abort a child?

Human life is sacred to God.

He created each of us in His image. (Genesis 1:27) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward....(Psalm 127:3) God cherishes each precious life He chose to bring forth to this world. I understand each circumstance is unique. Hear my heart. I am not condemning women who have made this choice to terminate their unborn child reluctantly, nor those who were pressured into doing so, or those who made the incredibly tormenting decision under duress of or other unfortunate events, and are now left with guilt that weighs heavily on their hearts...

No. This is not to throw stones at them. This is not meant to condemn anyone, but it is meant to convict the hearts of many. Many who don't think that life begins until it exists outside of the womb. But we know that to be just one more deception in a long line of deceit from satan. Because God's word says:

"My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in Your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them." - Psalm 139:15-16

It is simply not up to us to decide who lives and who dies. We cannot take a life that we did not create. I believe abortion has been so widely acceptable for so long now, that people have become immune to the pain that God must feel seeing what He fearfully and wonderfully created....killed because it was "inconvenient".

If you cannot afford the baby.... Have faith that God will provide.
If you cannot stand the baby because it was born of rape.... Give the baby up for adoption. That baby still has a purpose, days have been ordained for that baby, don't deny him or her that.
If you just plain don't want the baby.... There are plenty of people in this world who do, so if you can bare 9 months, to bless someone else's life with that child, what a worthwhile self sacrifice that would be. To bestow such joy to someone who cannot bare children.

Pray about it..... when does life truly begin?

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb." - (Psalm 139:13) "Before I formed you in the womb.... I knew you...." (Jeremiah 1:5)

- Brianna Carey ©

Morning Thoughts

Loving everyone is one thing but trying to please everyone is another thing entirely. If you love everyone, and they hurt you, that may cause you temporary pain yes, but you'll get past that. If you are trying to please everyone, you are putting yourself in a permanent state of hurt because it's impossible to do so. The only person you should be trying to please is God. Everyone and everything else is should be an afterthought.

- Brianna Carey ©

And another thing: You "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", it does not say 'do unto others What They do unto you.' Know the difference.

- Brianna Carey ©

Realistically Speaking.....

"Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity." - Will Smith

Things considered unrealistic at one point in time:
The Abolishment of Slavery.
Airplanes.
Automobiles.
Cell Phones
Organ Transplants.
Prosthetics.
3D Printers that can design Anything.

And these are just a few things we've accomplished so far as a human race by daring to believe that what has been deemed unrealistic can actually become a reality. If you can dream it, and apply the science and effort to it, it can be realized.

What will humanity as a whole dream up next? The possibilities are limitless.

- Brianna Carey ©

A Word of Encouragement

So many bad things going on in the world right now. I know it can get you down, but I just want to spread some Light and Salt tonight and just say.....

Do not be weary. Do not fret. God is still in control. He was then, He is now, and He always will be in control. He holds it all in His more than capable hands. So, when you are faced with adversity, don't let the situation turn you into a bitter or fear-filled person or make you stop caring about humanity. That's what satan wants, don't give him that satisfaction. Above all else, don't let the negative things you witness on a daily basis harden your heart or cause you to lose your Faith. Instead, let them give you both, a spirit of forgiveness and the fuel necessary to burn your Light even brighter for Christ. God didn't create you for a defeated life. Absolutely not. "Life, and Life more abundantly." That is His promise in His word. A Word that you can trust. Unlike your local news or much of what you see on the surface. So many perspectives, so many angles, our eyes cast in so many different directions, our hearts trying to process it all; when all along, our eyes should just be fixed on Jesus.

Just hear my heart please..... Don't let any of the bad that's taking place right now phase you. It has all been written, and the ending of the story will always be the same, Jesus standing VICTORIOUS. Regardless of who the enemy is or what they are trying to accomplish, they will always fail. The Pharaoh who tried to hold captive the slaves.... failed. Hitler who tried to wipe out all Jews.... failed. Any act committed against the will of God to this day...... is still failing. So don't hang your head, "Look up, for your Redemption draweth nigh." Keep a watchful eye on the skies and a heart of expectation for GOOD things to come.

- Brianna Carey ©

I think the reason why pride spreads so rampant is because of an unwillingness to surrender. Too many confuse submission with "giving up" and surrender with "giving in" and neither is accurate. To submit is to show humility, and to surrender is to show complete trust. Neither of those is a character weakness although the mainstream would portray them as such. "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18

- Brianna Carey ©

Flip The Script.

I normally stay off of the topic of racism. I hate to believe that it even still exists. In a world as big as this, so many colors, with so many gifts; to see an entire human being eclipsed by simply his race. It's hard to face that this is in fact the state of our nation. Where a man whose skin happens to be black is in fact reason enough to kill him. And instead of admitting that there is a problem, our government that was put in place by God to solve them, is only making excuses. If we continue to do this, how can there ever be retribution? How can there ever be healing? And I'm not saying I'm against the police, I'm simply saying that I am in need of an explanation. I need to know that what we are facing will not become what is normal, that we will not, as a nation, tolerate blatant discrimination with no consequence. That we will not look on and just..... do nothing. There needs to be a change. In order to make a way for better days, in order to create a place for forgiveness in the hearts of man, there needs to be a plan of action towards unity. Until then, there can be no peace. The violence will not cease until we come together. Simply put, we need to do better. This old way of thinking isn't working anymore, so we need to get clever. Flip the script, don't just throw up a fist, lift up your voice, and yell until it's heard. Cry out with a profound word that cannot be ignored. Don't force your hand, formulate a plan to reform the system. Use your mind brothers and sisters. Let wisdom be your weapon. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, demonstrate an intellectual basis for your protests. Use patience and restraint in the face of racism. Don't let them take your freedom by giving them a reason to take it. Indeed it's the only way that true lasting change has ever been created. Peacefully.

We Are Masterpieces

Love yourself as you are. Remember that God took time on you alone, with precise attention to every detail, He fearfully and wonderfully created you. He even counted the very hairs on your head until He got the number just right for YOU.

Don't be as concerned with the vessel as you are with the soul that dwells within you. You have so much to offer this world and a purpose in Christ bigger than you could ever fathom. Don't let something as superficial as looks make you feel unworthy or less than. Don't let society redefine God's standard of beauty. YOU ARE A WORK OF ART in the Father's eyes. If only we all saw the way Jesus does, we'd recognize how beautiful we are. We'd recognize that we are Masterpieces. No one of us entirely alike, each multifaceted and designed with specific intentions for our lives by a Loving Creator who made us in His image.

See yourself as God sees you.

- Brianna Carey ©

Tell Them All The Truth

It's such a profound sight to witness the Truth being spoken in a time where most people have resigned to embodying lies for the sake of "getting along". They would rather set aside their moral conscious in exchange for popularity. So afraid to offend, that they now deem any and all behavior, however morally corrupt, to be acceptable. So as to ensure that no one's feelings get hurt. Every wrong act now committed is viewed as simply a "lesser right". The shade of gray removed entirely, but not even the black remains, there's only white. All is okay.

But it is not.

We can no longer keep living in a society void of a moral integrity, and saying nothing. We cannot continue to be a witness to wrong, fully knowing what is right, and yet not standing for it.

Popularity doesn't save souls. Keeping quiet doesn't prevent atrocities, in fact, it invites them. This trend of wanting so desperately to fit in, that people will allow, or what's worse, condone evil acts just to belong..... this must end. "Plausible deniability" won't cut it anymore. When we stand face to face with our Creator in Heaven and He asks if we stood for Him, and what is right and true; it will not suffice to say: "but God, I didn't want to tell the adulterer that she was wrong because I didn't want to make her feel judged." Or "I didn't want to share the Gospel with that homosexual guy because I didn't want him to not like me." It's not going to be enough to say to Jesus, "I'm sorry, I neglected to share Your word, because I was more concerned about where I stood in the eyes of man than I was with souls being saved for Your Kingdom."

Think.... if any of the Apostles had been hesitant to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ for fear of persecution or outcast among "friends"; Christianity, in all likelihood, would not be in existence today. But they weren't hesitant; they were unapologetically bold, and with intense conviction, they went out into the world and delivered confidently, The Good News.

GOOD NEWS.

His Word is not condemnation; It's Freedom. It sets us free from the chains of sin and death. But the world cannot hear if we do not speak; it cannot change if we do not act. Not every thing that everyone does is right in the eyes of God and we need to be, unashamedly, that Light in the darkness that says, "I tell you this Truth, not because I judge you, but I because I love you enough to tell you what you don't want to hear, so that you'll come to know a Father who can set right your path the way He did mine. Who can make straight all that is crooked. I tell you this Truth because I value the sanctity of your soul more than I value your opinion of me."

That is who God needs us to be, especially now, in this time.... the end times. If ever we were nearing the return of the Messiah, it is now. Don't miss another moment of sharing His Truth with anyone who has ears to listen. His message is redemption through confession. It is forgiveness through repentance. The Holy Spirit is given through acceptance. Knowledge, and Understanding come when we accept the Truth and deny "The Lie." That very same lie we allowed to take root in our hearts since that first bite of the forbidden. A lie that has been deceiving man from the dawn of time.....

That we know better than a sovereign God who knows all. We do not. We cannot. And that..... is the Truth. Accept it. Share it. Let it take root in your spirit. And understand that those of us who are found have an obligation to show those who are lost, 'The Way'. That is how we honor God.

- Brianna Carey ©

HISTORY REPEATED

History is repeating itself...

"Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.

Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!" - Romans 1:26-32

- 'My brother Anthony shared this scripture on his Facebook, and simply said "History is repeating itself", and indeed it is. I pray those who are lost will come to know Him. He is a patient God which is why He hasn't come back yet, His hope is that none will perish, but it is we perish for lack of knowledge. God gives us the knowledge, it's up to us to apply that to our lives. His Word is living water but if you don't drink it, you'll stay spiritually dehydrated, and end up chained to your sin and ultimately face eternal consequences. But that's not God's intention for you. So don't let that be you. If you know someone who needs prayer or needs to give their lives to Jesus, send me there name in a message so that I may pray for them and if you know you are that someone, then pray these words below and pray them with expectation:

"I don't know you yet God, but I want to. Please come into my heart and soul, renew me from the inside out, forgive me for my sins against you. I genuinely want to be a good daughter/son and walk in Your ways. Help me to be better, provide me wisdom, guidance and understanding of Your Word and who You are.... Teach me. Love me back to life. I need You, and I accept You as my Lord and Savior. God, redeem me, in Jesus name I pray, Amen."'

- Brianna Carey ©

GOD FIRST

Don't make God fight for your time. 

Some people will spend hours just scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, and all these social networks, but find it a challenge to spend five minutes in God's Word and then wonder why they don't feel the presence of God in their lives. 

The Holy Spirit does not come where he is not welcomed. 

Don't get me wrong, God can move at any time, I'm not downplaying God's power to move or capability to show up at any moment, but if your heart is closed off to Him, He won't burst in without permission. His Word says; "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Revelations 3:20 KJV

This is an almighty God we are talking about here, and yet He knocks.... that just touches me, and speaks so highly of His grace. Knocking..... when He has the power to just obliterate the walls of our hearts, and yet....He just stands there, patiently waiting, hoping that you'll open the door. It's so beautiful. God wants to sit down to dinner with you, His child. What I mean by that is, He wants your time, your conversation, your Love. He doesn't want to be last on your list of "Things To Do" in the day. God shouldn't have to bide for your attention. Sometimes we need to create the time even when we feel like we have none. I think He's worth it, don't you? And it doesn't have to be some grand affair, it could be various moments throughout the day of just He and you, but all throughout them, you should do your best to stay in communication with Jesus. He wants all aspects of your life to revolve around Him, not for Him to revolve around your life. 

If you seek Him wholeheartedly, and pursue a relationship with Him, you'll get it. If you find yourself having to squeeze God into your day, then you're not truly after Him. Can you imagine if Jesus did that to us.... "Yeah, let me see if I can pencil my daughter or son in for some time with me today, I don't know, I'm just really busy doing God stuff, like.... I can't make it to the cross today. Sorry, something came up." :) Honestly though, how would we feel in all seriousness? Pretty disappointed yeah? 

I can imagine it's the same for Him when we neglect to spend time with Him. 

"But seek first the Kingdom of God...." Not last..... FIRST.... "and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Jesus (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

Everything your seeking right now, His presence, Love, joy, peace, contentment, these things all come after you first seek His Kingdom. 

Father, I just pray that you remind us to put You first in our lives. No matter what we attempt to juggle into our day, let Kingdom thoughts, Your thoughts, be at the forefront of our minds, and our souls be ever more thirsty for You. Forgive us for not spending time with You. Teach us not to have a spirit of discontentment, always needing more from the world, but let us realize instead, that You are more than enough, Your grace is sufficient, and despite life's challenges, we can be content in knowing that You are with us. Your love prevails and conquers all. Messiah, our precious King, Christ, our Lord, We give you all the glory forever and ever.... Amen. 

- Brianna Carey ©

Quotes and Writings

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Despite how small you may feel you are in the grand scheme of things; the impact you can have on the world around you can be significant. For instance, throw a rock into the water, it may only create a tiny splash, but the ripples can go on for miles. You may only be one human, in a planet nearing 7 Billion others but your contribution still matters greatly. Your actions still create reactions. Be sure that they are good ones.

- Bri


"I feel you.... indeed I do, it all rings true the words you've written. I've ridden myself of the shelf that was just sitting, covered in dust. It was too much watching my dreams begin to rust. I felt I must return to the pursuit of the Truth, no matter how blue the world may get, there are other colors that reflect the more beautiful side of this life." - Short reply poem to Joshua

A Light Unto my Path

Thank You Jesus for making a way for us to enter in to Eternal life.
Thank You for making death a lie.
Your ways are true and right.
Always a light unto my path that I walk.
Christianity is no act; not at the cost You paid....
The foundations You laid at the cross that day
are what hold in place my Faith
and the Faith of many others
I have discovered that life has many trials and tribulations
But with patience and faith it's possible to overcome
And with Your Love and Grace to guide me
and Your ever present Spirit inside me....
I can never go wrong.

Amen. - Brianna Carey ©

And might I add....
Happiness is fleeting but being a useful, honorable, compassionate person in your life and having a strong relationship with Jesus, creates Joy, and unlike temporal happiness, JOY is eternal, it is permanent, it's something that never goes away, you carry it in your soul forever, like a sweet song, ready to sing at any given moment.

We aren't always going to be "Happy", not every day. Moments, yes; but it's very healthy and also quite beautiful, to have a plethora of life experiences, both the ones that make us laugh and smile, and the ones that make us cry and feel deeply. You cannot let one moment define you because the next moment will be entirely different from the other, and then gone like the wind.

Chasing happiness, would be like chasing the wind. An endless and ultimately time consuming effort that will inevitably lead to defeat. Use that effort, instead, to seek the Lord, and His joy. Go after God with all your heart and everything else will fall into place and you'll just notice yourself being a better person without even trying. You'll notice that life seems more peaceful, more joyful regardless of anything to the contrary happening around you at the time. You'll find yourself counting it all joy. King Solomon knew that everything but God in life was fleeting or as he put it "meaningless", "all smoke".

Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books in the Bible and for the first few chapters it's all about everything being pointless and a waste of time, EXCEPT for when He speaks of God. My favorite part is Chapter 3 Verses 1-8. A time for everything. I suggest reading that in a few different versions. I like the MSG Version and NIV Version personally! But either way, just read it.... and let it sink into you. There is a time for happiness but it's not always going to be there. But your God developed character is lasting and it remains even after your gone from this earth. Those you've impacted by your character will remember you for it. So go.... be good people, Love the Lord with all you've got and do your best to just Be, but be in Truth; however you are at the moment, it's okay to be just that. I hope that makes sense.

- Brianna Carey ©

Slow Down

- Slow down my friends. Enjoy life, breathe deeply and be still. Listen for God to speak in His still small voice. Don't miss His whisper because your life is too loud... Don't make Him chase you down to have a conversation. I know some who spend so much time working for the Lord that they neglect to make time to just simply be with the Lord. He's not after how many hours you can spend serving in His name, He's after your heart. When was the last time you really talked to him? Just you and the Father? If you cannot recall.... Take that time tonight, say everything that is on your heart, or say everything by saying absolutely nothing at all.... He knows..... just be with Him. God bless you and goodnight.

- Brianna Carey ©

Still

Everybody is in such a rush
I sit and breathe as the leaves brush
across me in the morning breeze
My heart at ease, and my soul at peace
Thankful at least, to be still.

- Brianna Carey ©

His Ways are Perfect

"Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work he does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." - Ephesians 7-10 (MSG)

A lot of us want all the benefits of Jesus, we want His Grace, Love, Kindness, Peace, Favor, etc. And we don't mind the idea of becoming Christ like when speaking of His more welcoming life attributes, but when it comes to suffering in any event, we look for a way out immediately and we expect God to provide it for us right away, on our timing, so that we don't have to be uncomfortable. Interestingly enough Jesus suffered quite a bit, wouldn't you say? If we are to truly become Christ like and be fully transformed by the renewing of our minds, would that not include, in some form, suffering? 

Suffering is as much an essential part of our Christian walk as any good thing that comes from God, if not more essential. It provides growth spiritually, and forms humility within us. And when we suffer, He knows, He sees our hurt and He will make a way to comfort us and provide for us but only in His timing, so that when we are brought through that trying circumstance, we praise Him and not ourselves. And you can trust His timing, it's PERFECT. We couldn't fathom in our own minds, a better plan for our lives than the Almighty has for us. We just have to be patient and wait on Him, and we have to KNOW, with no doubt, that God has a PERFECT plan for everything we go through, including suffering. His Word says "He makes all things work together for our good." 

Did you catch the word ALL? 

All things, not just good things that happen to us, but the bad too.... Still, He will find a way to make it work together for our good some how. God never promised us a life free from suffering, but He did promise to be with us through it all. Rely on Him in your time of need and your time of abundance, in all seasons of your life, give Him praise; because He is perfect in all His ways. You can trust Him. 

- Brianna Carey ©

"May the leaves fall beneath your feet, and your soul rise to sweetest heights of peace." - Brianna Carey

At The End of Sins Creek Stands a Man

I stand in a river
that flows with the sins of many men
Plenty of them are my own
As the water winds down below
these jagged rocks that cut my feet
I seek the peace and stillness that awaits me
at the end of this creek
I find a Man who stands to greet me
I feel unworthy of His hands
they're so clean
and mine are so tainted
as are my lips
But I find the courage to whisper this....
"Forgive me Father."
Take me into Your bliss
for in such a time as this.... I need You.

The Gift of Affliction

It is hard, when it the midst of tumultuous circumstances that seem to be flooding down on us all at once, to view this affliction as a gift from God. But that's exactly what it can be if we choose to alter our view of what we're going through as an opportunity for God to refine us, humble us.... rather than looking at it all as just.... bad. I was reading in 2 Corinthians 12 and there is a passage from it that struck me as inspiring and encouraging. When reflecting on the "Thorn in his side" Paul says this:

"..... I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

"My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness."

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (MSG Version)

How many times have you complained to God about your "Thorn", your problems, your troubles? Cried out to Him to just make it all stop? I'm definitely guilty of this. But today, when I awoke at 3 am with my tooth throbbing; these thoughts came to mind.... what if my pain served a greater purpose? What if my afflictions physically, are an opportunity for growth spiritually? What if I simply trusted that His grace is truly enough, and recognized that in my trials, through my weakness, God is making me strong and His strength is being made perfect also? What if my "Thorn" kept me in constant touch with God because it reminded me of my human limitations and that I need Him above all things?

So today..... I'm letting Christ take over like Paul did. I'm going to take my afflictions in a humble stride. I'm going to choose to focus on Jesus and not my pain; on His goodness rather than the bad that may be happening to me and all around me. He is sovereign and has good reason for EVERYTHING I endure in this life. Of this I haven't a single doubt.

- Brianna Carey ©