Halfway into 40-Day Lenten Season Fast - Part Two

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I pray you and yours are doing well. I'm doing well, thanks be to God! So today marks the 20th day in my fast during the Lenten season, that means I've completed half the journey. Another awesome thing about today is that it is February 29th, a day that we only observe in a leap year (every 4 years). Over the past 20 days, I have learned and experienced a lot and I am thankful to God for all the blessings and lessons. So here's what has been happening during the 20-day mark, I have broken them down into 2 blog posts sharing 3 lessons/actions each.

Dedicating More Time in Ministry
Matthew 6:33 states But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. During this time of fasting, the top revelation the Lord has made to me is serving him. God has repeatedly been telling me that He will answer my prayers and reward me in things I seek from Him but first I must completely submit to His authority and be dedicated in serving Him privately as well as in my youth ministry. He keeps telling me directly and through prophecies from others that during my time of serving Him is when He will reward me for the things I am desiring from Him, during a time I am not even in expectation. Last week, I started reading "Supporting Diligently in Christian Ministry" by Rev. Dr. Folashade Toyin-Kehinde, First Lady of my dad's Church in Nigeria (Agape Generation International Church). As I have mentioned before I serve as a leader in my Church's youth ministry. This month we started our annual mentoring program and I am one of the mentors for our Ladies Into Priceless Standards (LIPS) program for our youth girls; I am the lead mentor for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls. Being part of this program has been truly rewarding and I enjoy getting to know my girls, having fellowship, as well as being part of the lives of these amazing girls as they grow in faith and faithfulness. I am also blessed to work alongside with four sisters in Christ that are part of my leadership team. To God be the glory. Additionally, I was recently selected to serve as the Events Coordinator in the Youth Ministry, and I am blessed for this opportunity God has presented me to continue to give Him glory and plan events for the purpose of discipleship and evangelism.

Engaging in Acts of Kindness
In the body of Christ, we receive numerous messages on the importance of tithes and offerings. Yes, they are important as followers of Christ, however, we must be reminded that acts of kindness towards others is another way we can give for the glory of God. The Lord has been igniting this fire in me to actively engage in acts of kindness more than ever in small and big ways. These acts of kindness include giving time and attention to others by listening to their stories and sharing words of encouragement, and continue to be an intercessor for others in my prayer life. I have been engaging in the practice of being quick to listen and slow to speak. Additional ways I have been engaging in acts of kindness is giving rides to those that need it, regardless of how far the distance may be or the level of gas in my tank without asking for compensation. As a result of the fact that the Lord provides for me financially, even though I live on a tight budget, the Lord has been putting in my heart how much to give others as love offerings, some have been more than I anticipated but I have been obedient to what God wants me to do; the Lord has also been instructing me to treat others in the form of feeding others, either by buying something for them to eat, as well as continuing what I have been doing by serving meals to the homeless. May we never forget that We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8).

Joy and Rest
During this time of fasting, the words that the Lord has been putting in my heart are joy and rest; these words have also been prophesied to me through others as well. From sermons in Church to my daily devotional, the word joy has been a constant. During this time of fasting, I have been declaring joy in my life and proclaiming that the devil will not steal my joy. I will be honest and tell you that there have been times I'd make these proclamations but not completely believe it but I have also seen that by declaring with my mouth, the Lord has worked on my heart. What I find to be interesting during this 20-day period, I have experienced moments where the devil has worked hard on stealing my joy and having thoughts/emotions that I know are not from God. In the midst of receiving answers from God from praying fervently, some of the responses have been what I did not expect and the enemy has made attempts to tamper with my joy, but the Lord has been faithful. Let us not forget that it says in James 1:2-4 that Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Another recurring word the Lord has been putting in my heart and through friends is rest. With this word, I have had lengthy conversations with one of my brothers in Christ about how much God wants us to rest. Yes, I know I have previously blogged on this topic but I think I am finally getting to understand the depth of it. During this time of chaos, the Lord desires rest for me. For me, I find rest in sitting or laying on grass and staring at the sky, listening to music, watching a movie, reading, taking a long walk, journaling, and even just laying in bed.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Halfway into 40-Day Lenten Season Fast - Part One

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I pray you and yours are doing well. I'm doing well, thanks be to God! So today marks the 20th day in my fast during the Lenten season, that means I've completed half the journey. Another awesome thing about today is that it is February 29th, a day that we only observe in a leap year (every 4 years). Over the past 20 days, I have learned and experienced a lot and I am thankful to God for all the blessings and lessons. So here's what has been happening during the 20-day mark, I have broken them down into 2 blog posts sharing 3 lessons/actions each.

Praying and Praising More
Praying and engaging in praise and worship more were one of my top goals entering into this Lenten season of fasting. To God be the glory, this is being accomplished. As I have previously described for my fasting routine, I break my fast in a time of communing with Christ in prayer and worship. Ideally I like to commit about 30 minutes or more as the Spirit leads to prayer and praise/worship before I break my fast at 6 p.m. or later, but sometimes I don't have enough time to do all that. However during this time, I have dedicated this practice to throughout my day. Praying in the Spirit as much as possible, as well as listening to praise and worship songs. I have noticed how this is making a positive impact in my life. It has been lifting up my spirit. Just like many people, I have highs and lows, days I'm on a mountain and days I'm in the valley; but prayer and praise have been my support for perseverance. In the past 20 days, I have encountered moments whereby I have gotten angry, envious, and even though the devil tries to pollute my mind with these emotions, I push through and seek God in prayers and praises. By doing this, I am edified and the Lord takes me to a better and brighter place. Be reminded by what Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:18-20, Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Engaging in Things That are Christ-Centered
Yesterday and today, I've had conversations with a brother in Christ and we talked about the importance of guarding our hearts. We must stay focused on Christ and fix our eyes on Him, who is the author and finisher of our faith. In Proverbs 4:23, we are told that Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. I watched a sermon by Pastor Rick Warren last week and one of the things he mentioned that resonated to me was the importance of staying clear off things that will interfere with our relationship with God. He mentioned that if we feel that we don't discern God's voice clearly anymore, then we must evaluate our lives because there must be something that is coming between us and God. I could relate to that and it truly convicted me because I have been feeling this way over the past couple months. During this time of fasting, I have been dedicated to reading the 40-Day Lenten Devotional in the Bible App; the topics covered, scriptures used, write-ups, and prayers have truly been blessing me and have found them to be in alignment with things in my life. On February 14th, I attended the Winterjam Concert which consisted of 10 christian bands and artists. I had a great time there and shared this amazing time with thousands of followers of Christ from across the country with music, sermon, and testimonies. For many months, my little brother has been telling me to watch "The Passion of the Christ" and I finally watched it last week. This is truly a great movie. Although most of us know about the crucifixion of Christ by reading the Word and through teachings, it is also important to see the graphic presentation of this moment and how much Christ endured persecution as a criminal even though He was holy and blameless. Additionally, I participated in social media fast last week and stayed clear of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. During this time, I dug deeper into God's Word, watched sermons, read, and engaged in praise and worship more than ever. With the elimination of social media distractions, I truly fixed my eyes and time on the things of God. Although I am back to using these accounts, I returned with a mindset of spending less time and using them with a Christ-centered purpose.

Evaluating Friendships and Commitments
Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 says, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. During this time of fasting, I have been seeking Christ in guiding me and practicing godly discipline. Specifically talking about evaluating my friendships and commitments. I have been seeking more spiritual guidance from friends and folks at my Church that are mature in their faith. Additionally, I have been evaluating and ensuring that I am not making an idol out of people in my life as well as things in my life. Even when it comes to texting or talking on the phone, I have ensured that my words and time spent on it are life-giving and Christ-centered. No idle conversations, and to make no room for conversations that could lead me into acting out of my flesh. I have become conscious of the times I call folks as well as receive calls. No late night calls and texting.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Share God's Love and Serve Others

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I pray you and yours are doing well. I've been blessed and highly favored, to God be the glory. This past Friday (February 19th) morning, I served breakfast at So Others Might Eat (SOME) along with other volunteers in the dining room. I have been volunteering at SOME for the past four years. SOME is an interfaith, community-based organization that helps the poor and homeless of our nation's capital, District of Columbia. SOME tries to meet the immediate daily needs of the people by providing food, clothing, and health care; they break the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. As children of God, we must be a representation of Christ and love everyone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

Since I was in high school, I've been very passionate about volunteering and giving back to my community in whatever small or large way I can through service. My introduction to service was when I was in high school and in my county in Maryland, students were required to graduate with 60 hours of student service learning (SSL) hours upon graduation and God blessed me with a wonderful service opportunity that changed my life. I volunteered on summer holidays as a camp counselor for a camp dedicated to children with autism. Prior to volunteering at this camp, I knew nothing about autism. This was a great learning experience, and even though I served as a leader at this camp, I learned so much more from the kids. Now, I am very passionate about autism awareness as well as giving back to communities with my time, attention, and prayers. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Service was the top reason why I decided to do pageants years later and made that part of my personal platform as I served for the first time as a titleholder as Miss Sierra Leone USA 2012 with the platform of advocating for SHERO (Service, Health, Education, Rights, Opportunities). Even though my platform as Miss Earth Maryland 2015 was focused on advocating for a sustainable future in the mining industry, I still made service a priority as a titleholder. During both reigns, I served at SOME.

Since February is seen as the month of love, I highly recommend we not only share love with those in our circles but also to those outside our circles. We serve a God that gives us joy and an abundance of love. Therefore, we must be Christ-like and do that to all. Remember that Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Why I Read The Holy Bible Everyday

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I pray you and yours are doing well. I've been doing great, to God be the glory. In this post, I'll be talking about the importance of reading the Word of God, the Holy Bible. When I was in grade school and even college, I always had my Bible next to my pillow on my bed but rarely did I ever open it to read it. The frequent times I touched the Bible were taking it to Church on Sundays and when I made my bed. Yes, there is power in the presence of the Bible but it's inefficient if one does not open it and read the Word. It is like having connection to a main power source but not turning on the switch in your room; there is electricity in the house but your room is still dark because you did not flip that switch on. After I rededicated my life to God, one of my goals was to read my Bible frequently. The way I have accomplished this goal is by reading a lot of faith-based books; these books contain scriptures throughout the read as reference, therefore it gave me incentive to open the Bible to find out what the scriptures say. Now, I don't need to read a book to open my Bible but it has now become a habit to read my Bible as much as I can in a day. I enjoy reading the Bible the traditional way, reading my King James Version book, but I also love the option of having the Bible App in which I use the New International Version on my cellphone.

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” We must read the Bible everyday, just as we eat food everyday for sustenance. As children of God, it's imperative that we edify ourselves by reading and meditating on the Word of God frequently. The Holy Bible is very relevant because All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Holy Bible is the guideline for a fulfilled life, and everyone must hold firm to it. As it says in Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Bible disciplines us and gives us instructions on how we can honor God in our thoughts, words, body, and deeds. By reading my Bible frequently and prayerfully understanding the scriptures, I have noticed positive changes made in me, and those close to me have said the same; it is impossible to adhere to the Word of God and remain unchanged for the better. When I have feelings that I know are not from God (anger, envy, lust, etc.), I immediately read the scriptures, as well as pray in the Spirit; this always calibrates me and puts me in a better place.

Lastly, we must take the Word as it is, it must not be misinterpreted for man's convenience; all scriptures in the old and new testaments are relevant and must be read. As it says in Revelation 22:18-19, I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Love Letter from God, To His Princess

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I have been doing well, thanks be to God. This post is specifically geared towards you, my dear sisters. If you are a man reading this, please share with the girls and women in your life. Valentine's Day is this Sunday and the month of February is usually seen as the month of love. In commemoration of the lovefest, I wanted to use this post to remind all of you of the first person who first loved you: God. I put this short love letter together for my youth girls at Church that I mentor and wanted to share this with all of you. These are not my words, every word comes from Him as said in the Bible. I believe that it will uplift every girl from 0 to 112. I pray that this letter blesses you, you fully comprehend God's love for you, and you may abound in His love at all times. I love you, my dear sisters.

Dear God’s Princess,

Know that you are very important and good enough. Remember that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. Jesus died for you, so that you may live.

God’s Beloved, your Father in Heaven said that “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:4

His Beautiful Girl, you will always be loved. Be reminded that “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

Daughter of the King, remember that “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Jesus’s Favorite Girl, always remember that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.

Daughter of Esther, know that there is a reason you are on this earth for such a time as this. Therefore, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Why I Am Fasting This Lenten Season

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I have been blessed and highly favored, to God be the glory. This Lenten season, I plan to observe it and be fully committed. In the past, I have given up something or just read a Bible plan for the 40-day period, but I was not fully committed. This year, as my personal goal to grow in faith and faithfulness, I will be dry (no fluids) fasting February 10 through March 24; I will be fasting for 12 hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. I completed day one yesterday successfully, to God be the glory. One of my resolutions for 2016 is to fast at least twice every month, and I started the new year very well by fasting for 7 days in the month of January. I have seen how powerful fasting is in my life, so I look forward to this 40 days of dedication. With all the things the world throws at us, it is important that we all go into our wildernesses after a while and just refocus and renew our minds. As it says in Matthew 4:1-2, Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

During this time of fasting, there will be temptations but as the scripture above says, even Jesus was tempted. As one continues to read Matthew 4 through verse 11, Jesus was tempted three times by the devil but he did not fall into temptation. Therefore, I know I will endure the tests and how great is to know that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. As Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; because I know Christ strengthens me and the Holy Spirit dwells in me, I will make it. My main purpose of observing lent is to grow closer to God and work on my relationship with Christ. It is about God's glory and seeking His Kingdom. Also, I started reading and meditating on a lent devotional in the Bible app which I plan to complete this time around. Additionally, I am trusting God for several things which I have detailed in my prayer journal and will be praying fervently on everyday. As it says in the gospel of Mark 11:24, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

If you are wondering how fasting days look like, here is how it usually goes: since my fasts usually start at 6 a.m., I eat well before that time. This sometimes means that I eat a meal (sandwich, fruits, or oatmeal) around 4 a.m., because it is healthy to have something in our stomachs when planning on being active during the day and dry fasting. Throughout the day, I pray a lot, as well as listen and sing praise/worship songs. Before breaking my fast at 6 p.m., I make sure to read and meditate on a scripture in the Bible, and pray on whatever I am trusting God for, for whatever amount of time I can. Before eating anything solid, I'll have a cup of tea, maybe a fruit and then a solid meal such as rice. For my first day of fasting yesterday, I drank a cup of tea, had a banana and then a delicious homemade salad with chicken wings. I pray that you are fasting or consider fasting this Lenten season, or make it a priority to start fasting. Fasting is a relevant time for every believer. I can attest to the fact that every time I have fasted, God has answered me immediately in direct and indirect ways. Do not miss out on this important way of communing with our Almighty God. If you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, I recommend that your prayers are done in the Spirit while fasting during the day. As Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:18, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

My Words Matter

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I have been blessed and highly favored by my Father, all glory to Him that sits on the throne. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:9-10.

As a person that is sarcastic and blunt, my mouth has gotten me into trouble in the past. Sometimes it is not intentional, but what I end up doing is hurting someone's feelings or making them feel less than. This is something I have been working on over the past few months with the help of my Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture above is so relevant because we tend to praise the Lord with our mouth but also say ill things about folks. What I have been doing instead is praying for those that may have upset me in some way, as tough as it may be sometimes to pray for someone that has hurt you, it's necessary to do that.

Remember our Lord is rich in love and slow to anger. This is something I pray I never forget. Pray the Lord gives you the strength in trying times. God is faithful, He will do it. Therefore, I encourage you to speak positivity into the life of others. Let your words be life-giving and peaceful.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Receive Rest from the Lord

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope all is well with you and yours. I am doing well, glory be to God. Today, I will like us to dig a little deeper into the Word and talk about rest. In the dictionary, rest is defined as relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs; as well as to base, or let depend, as on some ground of reliance. Today, we constantly hear about wars, discrimination of many forms, and the news outlets constantly report negative things going on in our communities and worldwide. You may be feeling overwhelmed today with things going in your life and think everything/everyone is against you. We may live in this world but we do not have to be of the world and its struggles. Go to the Lord and He will give you rest.

God knows our tomorrow and has good plans for all of us. In Revelation 21:4, God says to us, His beloved, that 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." When we get rest from God, He shields us when attacks from the devil come our way and He comforts us when we are hurting. As we go through hardships or become overwhelmed in life, we must run to God and get rest from Him that He freely gives because of His everlasting love and unfailing kindness towards us. The world may give but there is a price to it, as He says in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

The first step in getting rest from God is to completely surrender to Him and submit to His authority; receive salvation now and accept Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. I pray that as you seek God's face and rest, may you have the peace and joy you desire. Jesus loves you very much. In Exodus 33:14, The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Why I Created This Blog

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am blessed, all praises to Abba Father. The purpose of this blog is to bring glory to Almighty God. Over the past weeks, the idea of creating a platform like this kept popping in my head but I didn't want to act hastily. Over the past months, I have shared posts on my social media accounts glorifying God but I don't think they reach as many people as it would with a blog. So a few days ago, I prayed to God that if it is or isn't His Will for me to create this blog, may He indicate this to me. He answered and said yes. I have promised Him that I will use this blog for His glory and prayed that He gives me wisdom and knowledge on what to put on it, as well as this blog blesses many as He chooses to advance His Kingdom. I pray the Holy Spirit gives me discernment on what to post and may His message be conveyed to His disciples. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20

In my personal life: I enjoy praying; especially in the Spirit (tongues); reading my Bible and meditating on the Word of God; listening and singing praise and worship songs; reading faith-based books; as well as writing and detailing my thoughts in my prayer/life journal. With all this, I believe this blog will be a great way for me to share my journey with everyone as I grow in faith and faithfulness. I pray this blog not only blesses believers, but also others of different faith with hopes of getting more soldiers to join God's mighty army of believers. I enjoy going to Church regularly and serving as a leader in youth (teens) ministry but what makes me a Christian is my personal relationship with God. With this blog, no topics are off-limit. As a restored woman, I have experienced life in the world and in Christ, and now I live for God's glory and on the path to being fulfilled. God is not done with me and neither is He with you. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

In this blog, there will be a wide range of topics covered. I pray the Lord provides guest contributors that can share stories and testimonies that bring glory to God. Some of the topics covered will be from my personal experience, and others will be from other folks, as well as wisdom from God. Topics include: salvation, redemption, grace, love, music, books, traveling, movies, abstinence/celibacy, dating, marriage, motherhood, career, politics, fashion, education, friendship, family, peer pressure, self-esteem, temptation, etc. I pray that there will be something for everyone that stumbles upon this blog and it blesses them and draws them nearer to God so that they may fully understand His everlasting love and unfailing kindness for them. Feel free to contact me on Facebook or Twitter/Instagram @Ruby_B_Johnson

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,
Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

Receive Salvation Now

Hello my sister and brothers,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing awesome, glory be to God! So have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now. It is not too late. Choose Christ. Do not run from God, run to Him. He will give you that love, peace, and joy you desire. He is worth living for. Jesus loves you. Message me if you have any questions or need someone to pray for and with you.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.Colossians 2:13-15

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

My Hope is in Christ Jesus

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing fantastic, to God be the glory. In the dictionary, hope means to believe or place trust in. We all have seasons we face hardships or sufferings. I don't know what you are going through right now but I want you to know that you do not have to do this on your own, put your hope in God. As it says in 1 Peter 5:8-9, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Satan is working hard right now to steal yours or a loved ones joy and happiness, but he won't succeed when your hope is in Christ Jesus. Don't give up. Put your trust in God for He says So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10. Put your hope in God by completely surrendering to Him. Receive salvation and put your hope in Him because Jesus Christ died for you, so you can live. 

Regardless of how difficult and exhausting what you are going through is right now, put your hope in God for he is the author and finisher of our faith. If you will like me to pray for/with you, feel free to contact me on Facebook.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

God bless you. 

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

I Have Learned To Be Content

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing great, thanks be to God!

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

A few months ago, a boy in my Church's youth ministry that I have gotten to know while serving as a leader in this ministry asked me why am I so happy. He mentioned that I am always in a good mood and smiling. How do I do that? As a 14-year-old, he imagines adults to be stressed and always worrying about bills and the things life throws at us. In responding to him, I made reference to the scripture above and how it has been my motto. I told him that I have been a happy person (for the most part) throughout my life but over the past months, I have been blessed with this pure joy and learned to be genuinely content with the things and people in my life. I have done so because I have Christ Jesus in me and His love for me gives me happiness and butterflies. When I began to trust God in all things in my life and just focus on Him, life became so much more joyous and wonderful. 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I don't know what you may be going through in this season of your life but you don't have to face it by yourself. Give it all to God. He can give you that happiness and contentment you are searching for in all the wrong places. Why be stressed and anxious when our awesome Father has already told you that He has amazing plans for you in Jeremiah 29:11, and that you are precious and honored in His sight and He loves you in Isaiah 43:4? Knowing all these things, I am so content that my personal prayers now mostly consist of thanking God for the things and people in my life rather than asking for stuff. Therefore, submit yourself to Him and give Him your all. Be still and know that He is God.

If there is something you will like me to pray with you on, feel free to contact me on Facebook. I love praying with and for people.

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.

I Am Sorry

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm blessed, all thanks to the Almighty. In the dictionary, the word forgive is defined as "stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake." One of the things I (and possibly some of you) have struggled with is saying "I'm sorry" and asking for forgiveness. It's even more difficult when the person you are asking for forgiveness from has hurt you as well. Your flesh wants them to feel that hurt you felt. However, as I've been digging deeper into the Word, praying, and recently reading Priscilla Shirer's The Resolution for Women, I have come to realize the importance of asking for forgiveness and letting go of bitterness.

Over the past couple months, asking some folks I hurt in the past has been tough, that gruesome moment before making the call, or clicking on the send button for the text or Facebook message. I have prayed for those who hurt me, as well as those who I have hurt, that I know and not know of. My purpose of being obedient to God and asking others for forgiveness is for God's glory, not to get on the good side of others. It is to let go of bitterness, truly live out God's command of loving my neighbor, and applying the grace of edification through Christ. I encourage you to do the same. Some of these relationships may be restored after forgiveness has happened, and some may not AND that is totally fine. What matters is that you have submitted to God's command. Let go of bitterness, ask God for forgiveness, forgive others, and here's a very important one, forgive yourself!

• Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31
• And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you gotten right with the Lord? Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste anymore time and receive salvation now.