It has been about two weeks since my uncle has gone home to be with the LORD and although I miss him I am so happy that he is no longer in pain or having to take dialysis every day (can you believe that he was on dialysis for 18 years.....GOD is so good).
A few weeks before my uncle went into the hospital he was on my mind heavy and I now know that GOD was preparing me for my upcoming assignment. So when the call came that Joel (my uncle) was in the hospital I knew that I was suppose to go visit him and pray for him. The first time I prayed for him the Holy Spirit told me to tell Joel that GOD was waiting for him to make his request known and to cry out to HIM! When I told Joel he started crying and with each visit I could tell that a shift was taking place in my uncle.....he was talking to GOD more and more and asking GOD to wrap HIS loving arms around him. Weeks to follow Joel and I were able to share some alone time together and I used that time to talk to HIM about how good GOD had been to him and to make sure that he had repented for his sins.
On Thursday morning, July 21st when I got the call at 3am that my uncle was leaving us I jumped up and got on the road and during the hour drive to the hospital I tried to prepare myself to be strong for my aunt (who was like his mother) but nothing could have compared me for what I saw when I walked into the ICU room. I had just let my uncle the night before around 10 and I left thinking that he was going to be okay but I was starting to see that GOD had other plans. Joel was now hooked up to a bunch of machines and had mittens on his hands because he was so restless and trying to pull his tubes out. Although he couldn't talk very well because he was on 100% oxygen he was still able to tell me he loved me. The more and more I watched him it looked like he was fighting someone....he was swinging his arms and even tried to get out the bed a few times. In the spirit realm it seemed to me like he was fighting the death Angels because he wasn't ready to die. After watching him fight for awhile I asked if myself and my aunt could pray for him and he agreed.....we prayed for peace and for GOD's will to be done in his life. I wish I could really explain the peace that came over the room after we prayed.......slowly my uncle stopped fighting, the transition began and several hours later at 6:53pm Joel Pittman took his last breath.
Now I had never seen anyone pass before but I am so thankful that GOD allowed me to encounter the love HE had for my uncle. As I watched Joel's pulse go down to zero and touched his chest to confirm he stopped breathing I started rejoicing.....to be honest I started singing! Lol....I know sounds crazy but my spirit just wanted to praise GOD for answering our prayers so I started singing Thank you LORD! Now of course there were a few tears but there were a lot of smiles also as we started to remember the good things about Joel.
I wanted to tell this story to bless someone else but I also wanted to go back to that day and hold on the love I felt that day. I told my cousin about a week ago that I wish I could bottle up the peacefulness and the love I felt that day.....I want to always remember that GOD....not that HE is any different any other day....so I guess I want to always be in a good place to receive the peacefulness and love of GOD.
LOl....there were even a few times over the last month that I thanked GOD that I wasn't married and didn't have kids because I was able to sit at the hosiptial and not have to split my time between my family........another reminder that GOD has a plan!
At Joel's home going service I read Phil 4:4-9:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Thanks for going on this journey with me!
Many Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'
All last week I kept checking the weather all excited about the the warm weather we were going to finally get here in the Carolinas. Saturday came and the weather was okay but there wasn't much sun and it was windy. I thought okay well Sunday is guaranteed to be a good day! Well Sunday as I was on my way to church it started to rain and I just laughed and I said okay I get it.
What did I get you ask?! I constant reminder that things in life will not always go as planned. LOL...I am sure I am not the only one that wishes it would. For the past 6 years I worked for the military and working for Brigade Commanders and General Officers I became proficient in planning out their days down to the minute so to return back to the states without a plan but to trust GOD has been HARD!
There are days I beg GOD for the full plan for my life because I don't like not having a plan or having a plan and it not working out. Again, working for the military if something changed in the schedule I always had a plan for the plan and I was quick on my feet. Now when a door closes it forces me to sit still and ask GOD to order my next steps.
As I am writing this tears are forming in my eyes because I feel like I am not truly trusting GOD. My pastor said on Sunday that faith is believing GOD is going to answer your prayers or open doors on your behalf but trust comes in when those things don't happen you are still okay because you still trust that HE has a plan. Honest moment....because this is the only way I can grow.....I have faith but I don't always have trust even though I have seen how GOD has worked things out for my good! I want to trust HIM in season and out of season...when things are working in my favor and when things aren't.
I am thankful that GOD continues to show me my weak areas so that I can continue to grow. I ask that you pray for me in this season as I push closer to HIM and I will do the same for you.
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
Many Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'
I am one of a few women I know that loves their annual visit to the OB/GYN office. I know I know call me crazy but I desire to have children of my own one day soon and the older I get I always want to talk to my doctor to make sure everything is okay with me.
Well a few weeks ago I walked into my annual appointment excited to catch up with my doctor about his new office, his latest vacation spots and my ovaries (lol). My appointment was going well until my doctor mentioned that he felt a fibroid during my check up. Now I don't remember much after I heard those words come out of my doctor's mouth all I remember is smiling as if everything was okay when really I wanted to break down and cry and ask him a thousand questions.
I left out of my appointment with so many thoughts running through my mind and as I sat in the car I didn't know if I wanted to cry or to go get some comfort food (If you know me then you know I throw the BEST pity parties around and I am a BIG cry baby...lol). Instead I called my cousin (who is a doctor) to have her better explain fibroids to me and to calm me down. As she explained that fibroids are common in African American women and that I could still conceive and deliver a healthy baby with fibroids I heard the Holy Spirit say 'Crucify a Flesh' and sense of calmness came over me.
Later that evening after talking to my mom I decided that although fibroids were common GOD didn't call me to be common....I am an anomaly. I eat healthy and work out so that I can be ready to carry my child when GOD decides to bless me with her (yes her...lol) so I started praying over my body daily and declaring the word of GOD over my life which took my FAITH to another level. I also changed my diet up a little more because I wanted to be intentional about doing my part!
This past Tuesday morning around 2 am the Holy Spirit woke me and dropped 3 James 1:2 in spirit Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. I sat in bed knowing that was an on time word from GOD as I preparing to go back to the doctor later that morning for a vaginal ultrasound.
LOL.....well I don't have to tell you how this story ends do I? I mean you know the GOD we serve right?! Okay Okay I will tell you so that GOD can get the Glory. As the nurse was starting my ultrasound she said that I would see the fibroids on the screen in front of me and I laughed and said well I am praying that I won't (my confidence was on 10 at this point) and GUESS WHAT I didn't see any fibroids and neither did the nurse. She was almost confused because I guess my doctor is normally accurate. I got dressed and went back to see my doctor and even he looked a little confused but he said EVERYTHING on the ultrasound looked great! I smiled, thanked GOD and literally floated out of the doctors office!
My first texts went to my sisters, my prayer group and my cousin....all with the same text.... Thanks for the prayers! All of my test results came back negative! I am actually ovulating right now so if you can pray for GOD to send my husband today we can get married and make this baby! LOL...I mean you have to ask for what you want right?
I am so thankful that GOD continues to be crazy FAITHFUL in my life and I so appreciate HIM. I am also reminded to continue being intentional about the things I did while I was waiting on the negative test results to include Walking by Faith!
I pray this encourages someone!
Many Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'
Most of you know me as the CEO and Owner of HISBlessedOne LLC but I am also a Certified Growth Coach and a Certified Life Coach. Since 2013 I have been hosting Vision Board Socials and this past Saturday I was humbled and honored to spend the afternoon helping a group of women to Make their Vision Plain and to encourage them that they can and will WIN in 2016 and beyond!
The enemy tried all last week to discourage me but I knew he was trying to keep me from speaking to the women that attended the social because he knew once they heard the word that GOD had for them they were going to run their race (this journey called life) a little harder.
I appreciate each and every one of person that came out on Saturday and I am sitting on the edge of my seat with anticipation and expecting to hear their testimony saying it it done!
If you are in transition (between jobs or relationships, or anything really), feeling stagnant, not sure of your purpose, want to start a business, or you are tired of not setting clear goals I would love to help you to Write the Vision and create SMART Goals to help you WIN this year and beyond. Email me at aketajulinate@gmail.com.
Happy New Year!
So you ask what is a girl from South Carolina doing designing a shirt for Alabama? Well it is quit simple 2 of the most important men in my life are from Alabama. Yep you guessed.....my dads!
There is nothing like a daughters love for her father and because GOD sent 2 amazing men into my life (one at 7 and one at 18) to help my mother raise me I will always pay homage to them. I am forever Blessed because of the love they have poured into me. So the Alabama Blessed shirt makes sense right?
No worries a Blessed Tee for South Carolina will soon follow.
I pray you guys love the shirt as much as I do!
Shop for the Tee here
Many Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'
Last month changed my life and I am pretty sure when GOD told me to do 31 Days of Declarations for the entire month of August that HE knew that I would be different after this journey.
I was intentenial about spending time with GOD on a daily basis studying HIS word, speaking it over my life and then sharing it with people that follow me on Persicope. Some days no one logged on and that was okay because GOD had already told me even if no one shows up keep waking up and doing it. That is when I knew that it was for me first before it was for anyone else.
Isn't it amazing how GOD works thing out on your behalf. There were a lot of things that I was going through personally during this journey and when GOD would give me the declaration to share it was something I need to speak over my situation. Most days I was literally fighting for my life and sanity and GOD would show up with an on time word for me to fight the enemy with! Gosh I LOVE HIM!
So today is a new month and GOD has given me a new assignment as HE continues to strength me but I wanted to share the Declarations for those that might have missed them last month. I worked for the military for 6yrs and during that time I learned how to prepare for battle so use these words to combat the thoughts that have you thinking you aren't enough or to come against the words of the naysayers. All you have to do is...
Speak and believe the words that you declare over your life, pray and ask GOD to give you strength during this journey, worship and praise GOD for all HE is going to do in your life (this is where the breakthrough is going to take place) and finally share the word with others!
I pray this blesses you as much as it blessed me. Please let me know how it goes.
ENJOY 31 DAYS of Declarations.
I DECLARE I can not be defeated, discouraged, depressed or disappointed. {Philippians 4:13-14}
I EXPECT the best days of my life spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and financially in JESUS name. {Romans 5:13}
I DECLARE I have the wisdom of GOD today. I will think the right thoughts, say the right words and make the right decisions in every situation. {1 Corinthians 2:16}
I DECLARE GOD is on my side today and therefore I cannot be defeated. {Psalm 91}
I DECLARE I live by Faith not by sight or my feelings and my Faith is rooted in the word of GOD.{2 Timothy 1:7}
I DECLARE I am fearfully and wonderfully made by GOD. I am HIS workmanship, HIS masterpiece. Therefore I will praise HIM at all times and I will not walk in insecurity. {Psalm 139:13-14 and Ephesians 2:10}
I DECLARE GOD has plans to prosper me and to give me a a good future and a hope. {Jeremiah 29:11}
I DECLARE GOD richly supplies all my needs. {Philippians 4:19}
I REFUSE to allow sickness to dominate my body. {Isaiah 54:4 and Matthew 8:16-17}
I DECLARE each of my family members is wonderfully blessed and radically loves JESUS! {Acts 16:30-31}
I DECLARE I am a carrier of the Light and bring Light to dark places. {Matthew 5:15}
I DECLARE I am a minister of reconciliation a peacemaker. {Matthew 5:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:18}
I DECLARE I am a winner! A Victor! More than a conqueror! An overcomer! I am a "nevergive-upper". I am a survivor of trials that refine me as a gold tried in the fire. {Romans 8:37-38}
I DECLARE my prayers are powerful and effective. {James 5:15-16}
I DECLARE my house is built on CHRIST and will stand when the storms hit. My children are blessed and protected and as for me and my household we will serve the LORD. {Proverbs 10:25}
I DECLARE I AM Blessed! {Deuteronomy 28:1-14}
I DECLARE the Spirit of truth lives in me and HE will guide me into all that is truth. HE will show me things to come as I allow HIM to speak into my life. {John 16:13-14}
I DECLARE if it is GOD's will that (name that person) be saved and comes to a knowledge of truth.{1 Timothy 2:4-6}
I DECLARE VICTORY over (name your situation). {1 John 5:4}
I DECLARE that GOD has great plan for my life. HE is directing my steps. {Jeremiah 29:11}
I DECLARE I am a new creature in CHRIST forgiven and free of shame and condemnation, washed by HIS powerful blood. {Romans 8:1-2}
I DECLARE that GOD will open up doors for me to have Godly relationships. {Philippians 2:3}
I DECLARE that GOD has given me a peace of mind! {Colossians 3:15}
I DECLARE I am blessed to be a blessing. I will sow and reap generously on every occasion, will live to give cheerfully and will learn to steward well GOD's blessings in my life. {2 Corinthians 9:6-8}
I DECLARE I can do all things today through CHRIST as HE gives me strength. HIS Strength is made perfect in my weaknesses and whatever I face today HE will give me the strength to match and to overcome it. {Philippians 4:13}
I DECLARE I am the head. I have insight I have wisdom. I have ideas. I have authority. {Deuteronomy 28:13, 8:18; James 1:5-8, Luke 10:19}
I DECLARE I have childlike Faith. {Luke 18:17}
I DECLARE my life is full of JOY! {James 1:2}
I DECLARE that GOD answers prayers. { Jeremiah 33:3}
I DECLARE GOD loves me(you). { John 15:13-16}
I DECLARE the favor of the LORD is upon me. {Isaiah 61 and Luke 4:17-21}
Some of you know my story of how GOD planted a seed of love for Kenya in my heart in 2013 and although I knew after a family trip to Capetown in 2011 that I would go back to Africa to do mission I often asked GOD why Kenya and what am I suppose to do there. In September 2013 GOD connected me to Real4Christ Ministries and gave me the vision to provide clean drinking water to the villages in Kenya by designing a HISBlessedOne Supports Africa Tshirt and selling it on my Christian Apparel website. GOD instructed me to donate all the proceeds I made off the tshirt and to personally match all the sales dollar for dollar.
I love that Real4Christ is planting so many Godly seeds and building relationships not only for the children that attend MBEAWAU or Maasai Corner but for the people that visit the clinics, pump water at the different wells Real4Christ has provided, or attends the church services. Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" so I am rejoicing because I know the harvest season is coming!
Please lift Chris and Lisa Moore (founders of Real4Christ) up in prayer as they continue to grow the mission GOD has given them. When I asked Chris how does he handle everything he looked at me and he said it is ALL GOD....and I couldn't agree with him more. Take a few minutes to visit the Real4Christ website (http://www.real4christ.com/) to see how you can sow a seed into this great mission.
Asanta Sana (Thank you very much)
A'Keta Julinate'
Last November as I was praying for the new design to launch for HISBlessedOne GOD gave me Beauty for your Ashes. As I meditated over the scripture Isaiah 61:3 GOD began to show me the new design and immediately I fell in love with the concept. Little did I know that in the Spirit GOD was giving me a word to hold onto during the dark season I was getting ready to walk into.
I have blogged before about me loosing my job back in December/January and how hard it was for me to return back to the states after 6 years but what most of you don't know is that I was going through one of the darkest moments of my life. I found comfort in my bed and my shower echoed with all my loud screams as the water washed away my tears....I was in a mourning season.
I was not only mourning the death of my life overseas and my job but I was mourning the death of a relationship from someone that I had known for years but recently began to date romantically. The two of us often discussed marriage and having a family together but on the inside I knew that he wasn't GOD's best for me. I kept telling myself that he was a good guy and I may not get this opportunity again so I ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit until I couldn't ignore it any more. As difficult as it was I made the desicion that on judgement day I wanted to hear GOD say "Well Done" more than wanted to hear "I Do" so I walked away.
After waking up and going to sleep in tears day in and day out for weeks GOD reminded me about the new design HE gave me back in November.....beauty for your ashes. It was Isaiah 61:3 that began to get me out the bed in the mornings with a different mindset. Once I truly believed that my joy season was around the corner I began to worship GOD differently. When the tears and the depression spirit tried to come on me I would get up and praise GOD in the spirit and command the enemy to flee from me. I had become very sensitive to the tricks of the enemy and no longer wanted to play his games.
During this time of self realization and standing on the word of GOD I began to see this new journey of being in the states as a good thing so when I received an offer to return back overseas (my comfort place) I turned it down. Some may have thought I was crazy but I felt at peace about chasing GOD and my purpose. I have surrendered my entire life over to HIM and some times HE has to take you through somethings to get you to the point that your throw your hands up and submit to HIM. I am so thankful that HE loves and wants the very best for me.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. {Isaiah 61:3}
I would love to hear your Beauty Story!