News

Worship!

Every morning as I am getting dressed for work I turn on Pandora so that I can spend some time worshiping GOD before I walk out the door. Lately I have opened myself up to listening to different Christian Artist and I have really been blessed by them. Of course I love to be a blessing to others so each week I will share what is on my playlist. I hope you enjoy the worship songs and if you have an Artist or a song you would like to recommend please leave me a message.

Hillsong-More Than Life


 

MercyMe-I Can Only Imagine





Today is the launch of my new website! You can now shop for dope Christian apparel and visit my blog in one location. I love how GOD continues to open up doors for HISBlessedOne even when I feel like I am not worthy! 
Go now to www.HISBlessedOne.com!
Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'

HISBlessedOne Supports AFRICA

In February 2011 I went on a family vacation to Cape Town, South Africa and it was the best experience of my life! It was there that I fell in love with the African culture and the continent of Africa and when I left after 7 days I knew that I would go back to do missionary work there.  In December 2012 while doing my vision board I did a section dedicated to doing mission work in Kenya. As I set at my desk and worked on my vision board I thanked GOD for giving me this awesome vision and was excited to plan my trip for the new year. I did some research at the beginning of this year trying to find the right Christian mission group that was bible based and doing work in Kenya. As the months past I started getting a little discouraged when I didn’t find one so I went to GOD asking what else I could do to follow through with my vision and I was led to help build a well in Kenya. At first I was like okay GOD build a well really how am I going to do that and who will I partner with and then GOD started showing me how wasteful I was with water and how I take the fact that I can just turn on my shower and get clean water for granted (something some of the Kenyans cannot do). I started noticing that when I wake up in the mornings one of the first things that I do is turn my shower on even if I don’t have plans to get in the shower for another 10-20 minutes. I had to go back and repent for being so wasteful and now I am teaching myself not to turn my shower on until I am ready to step in (this has been hard). Once GOD revealed my new purpose HE led me to a Mission group that was just perfect (Isn't that just like GOD).

The mission group that I am working with is Real 4 Christ Ministries and from the first email exchange I knew that they were the right people to partner with. The Real 4 Christ Water Ministry gives life! People die every day in Kenya due to water contamination.  Right now there are 8 villages that desperately need water and it cost about $8,000 to drill a well. I was a little intimidated by the $8,000 price tag but I am dedicated to providing water to 50-150 people every day. I have worked with my logo designer and HISBlessedOne has a new Support Africa Tee and all proceeds from this edition of Tees will go towards drilling a well. I believe in the cause so much I have decided to match the sales from the Support Africa Tee dollar for dollar.  

I am asking everyone for support! You can purchase a shirt on the HISBlessedOne website or you can make a donation directly to Real 4 Christ Ministries go to www.real4christ.com.

Deuteronomy 16:17 All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your GOD.

Blessings

A'Keta Julinate'

The Journey to Becoming a Better ME!

Everyday when I wake up I pray to be a better to person than I was the day before. This week on my IG and FB page I shared how GOD is molding me so I decided to share them here on my blog as well....

I am choosing to be HAPPY everyday! 

I am ridding myself of people that are negative or bring me down. 

I am commiting to live in the moment at all time so when I start to get nasty or in a bad mood I can take a few minutes, walk away, or sit at my desk and

usher in the Holy Spirit.

I am choosing this for A'Keta!

Life is too short not to be HAPPY!

 I am learning to be thankful for the things seen and unseen. 

I  am thankful that I serve an AWESOME GOD that will never leave me nor forsake. 

I am learning from my boss to give thanks even for the smallest things. I promise you he tells me thank you at least 50 times a day and with each thank you it is as if I am I hearing it for the first time!

Learning to move when GOD says move....

Learning to be okay when GOD tells me know...

Learning to sit and listen.....

GOD has spoken!

My Journey.......

Blessings

A'Keta Julinate'

The LOVE of GOD through Friendships!

1 Samuel 18: 1-3 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

I love the relationship between David and Jonathan and as I think about the friendships that GOD has blessed me with over the years I literally sit and cry. GOD truly shows me what love feels like through my friends.

It is that love that sustains me most days as I am in Kuwait and away from friends and my family. Living and working on a military base can be hard. There are days I want to break free and go back home to normalcy where I can invite friends to dinner or shopping. There are times that I need a hug from my mom and/or sisters.

It is moments like that when I have to stay before GOD so that I don't form relationships here in the Middle East that are not of GOD. Like 1 Samuel 18 says when David met Jonathan there was an immediate connection. I have met a lot of people during my time in the Middle East and I have a good time with them but I try not to connect to spirits that are not like mine even if it means that most times I am alone. 2 Corinthians 6:14 is clear when it says do not be unequally yoked. Some think that is only in marriage but I believe that in any relationship light can't live with darkness.

I have been seeing a lot of controversy on social sites about Drake's song No New Friends. Some feel like it is stupid to say that because you are cutting yourself off from meeting new people and exposing yourself to other things. I believe that new friendships are healthy to growing in the body but it has to be the right relationships. Recently I have met people that are awesome and doing great things for the Kingdom. I know that the relationships are not by chance and it is those relationships that I nurture and try to draw my energy from because I know that it comes from GOD!

So as I celebrate Friendship day today I thank GOD for my loves. It is you that encourages me, supports me, pushes me closer to CHRIST, makes me laugh so much that I cry, challenges me to be better, birth purpose out of me, believes in the purpose GOD has given me, prays for me, talks me off the ledge and makes me feel love a 1000 miles away!

GOD I can never say thank you enough for the love! 

Blessings

A'Keta Julinate' 

Sacrifice vs. Obedience

I am so excited to introduce everyone to the new design for HISBlessedOne. As I am growing more and more in my ministry GOD is peeling back the layers of fluff and calling me to be more BOLD in my spiritual walk with HIM.

The new design is called "BLESSED" and I am absolutely in love with it. When GOD gave me the vision of this ministry HE gave me Deuteronomy 28:1-14 as the scripture and every day when I get out of my bed it is my prayer to be obedient. Not to receive the blessings but because I LOVE GOD!

Last week GOD revealed to me that in some areas of my life that I was making a sacrifice to HIM but not really being obedient. Two years ago I made a decision to become celibate and I can be honest when I decided to go on this journey it was not because I was really trying to please GOD and I defiantly didn't think it would go this long. I made the decision because I was having sex with a guy for two years on and off and not one time did he make a commitment to me. I woke up one morning making a choice to love me more than I cared about him. I promised myself that I would not have sex until I was in a committed relationship. LOL.....but GOD had better plans for me and now I am committed to be being celibate until GOD sends me a husband. What GOD did show me is that two years later I was still holding on to this relationship. I never thought of me trying to hold on this relationship as being disobedient but I did know that it was not GOD's plan for me but...oh I wanted the relationship to work so bad. So I told myself that I could change him and that we had such a great connection(what I now know is that we had soul ties to each but that is for another blog posting). I am thankful that GOD opened up my mind and heart to the truth and now after years of me asking the guy to let me go so I can move on after 4yrs I have now asked GOD to give me the strength to walk away with a clear heart and mind.

I feel good about my new deliverance and it opens up my spirit to know what true obedience it. 1 Samuel 15:22 says 'But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to HIS voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.'

My desire is to listen to GOD's voice instead of my own. I know that my voice can be jaded but Romans 8:28 reminds me that GOD causes everything to work together for the good of those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose for them.

I now know that I Am Purposely Driven by HIM!

Blessings,

A'Keta Julinate'

Blossom

Last week my brother told me that one of my classmate from middle school had asked how was Blossom and when I heard that name I chuckled to myself and thought back to those days. As my 36 year old self looks back on my 12 year-old self I can see when the insecurities started. As I got older I battled with different insecurities other than having a big nose.....rather it was I talked white or was to proper, I wasn't black enough, I wasn't pretty enough, my hair wasn't long enough, I wasn't skinny enough, my butt wasn't big enough, my breast wasn't big enough, I wasn't light enough, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't rich enough.....you name it and I probably thought that I wasn't enough.

It took years for me to begin to like who A'Keta was as a matter of fact I am just learning to LOVE who GOD says I am. I mentioned on my Instagram and Facebook page how my recent trip to Dubai was life changing for me. I had never gone on vacation by myself before and when I decided to go to Dubai I called a few friends and invited them on a trip but no one could make the trip at that time so I decided to go alone. The closer and closer I got to the trip I felt like GOD wanted me to go by myself I am so glad that I was obedient. From the time I got off the plane it was like a peacefulness came over me. From the cab driver sharing her story with me on the way to the hotel, to my room being upgraded because I am a preferred guest member, to having a nice secluded breakfast in the guest lounge so I can read without the noise, and then my Internet didn't work that well in my room (which meant I could not call my family as often as I normally do). I knew it was all GOD!
Every day I woke up with a smile on my face as I pulled back the curtains and took in my view. I danced around and sang at the top of my lungs as I got dressed. I would spend part of my mornings at the beach or the pool trying to get a nice glowing tan. Not caring that I was getting darker but just enjoying the music I was listening to in my ear or the words that I was taking in from the book the five love languages( a book I have been trying to read forever but always allowed the business of the world to keep me from one of my favorite things to do).

During my four days in Dubai I went to a comedy show solo, I went to hear a friend of a friend sing Latin music and even got up and danced in front of everyone as if I was dancing in front of my mirror at home, and while at the spa one day I decided to cut all my hair off after I had made a decision to get extensions in my hair bc I half way wanted to protect my natural hair from the extreme heat of Kuwait and half way bc I wanted to have long straight hair for a while (something different). While sitting at the salon the thought of cutting my hair came so quickly and with such a strong sense of surety I never even thought about calling my sisters to get a confirmation (as I sometimes do).

When it was time to leave Dubai I felt like I had grown a few inches. The weight of the world no longer weighed me down and my spirit was so clear.....I had a little more pep in my step. Somewhere in those 4 days I feel in LOVE with not just myself but in LOVE with who GOD has called me to be.
I am different! I am not like everyone else! I AM who GOD has called me to be in this season of my life.

Isaiah 35:1-2

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.

A'Keta Julinate'

Happy Father's Day!

Gifts from GOD

Last week I had a conversation with one of my girlfriends about being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongue and as I was talking to her it reminded me of a Saturday morning in my 20s when I received the gift of tongue.

My mother had encouraged me to attend a Woman Conference with her at my God Mother's church and shortly after I had walked in I heard a noise that sounded like a woman in labor. I turned around to see what was going on and in walked my God Mother dressed in scrubs. She said that she had come to birth to our spiritual gifts that GOD had put in us. I don't remember very much about that day but what I do remember will forever be with me.

After being there for a while my God Mother asked if anyone wanted to receive the gift of speaking in tongue. My mother turned to me and asked if I wanted to receive the gift and made sure that I fully understood what the gift entailed.

I had been baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit but had not received the gift of tongue. My relationship with CHRIST was getting stronger and I knew that I was called to do more with my life. As I walked to the front of the church a few women came to pray with me. Now this is where my memory escapes me a bit because I know I walked to the front of the church but all I can remember is laying on the floor on the right side of the pews with about 3 to 4 women praying in tongue over me. I remember opening my eyes looking for my mother and wondering why she was not there with me. I was nervous and even though I tried to speak nothing would come out of my mouth. It seemed like I was on that floor forever but the women of GOD did not give up. Ha but my flesh did...I finally succumbed to the spirit and when I opened my mouth I uttered a word. The women began to praise GOD and I began speaking in tongue as if it was my second language. A sense of peace came over me and I was no longer nervous.

I received my gift over 10yrs ago and during that time my relationship with CHRIST has gotten stronger and my tongue as changed since that first day at the Woman's Conference. I now mostly pray in the spirit and sometimes it is peaceful and some time I am loud and crying and exhausted but I never complain or get tired of it because I know that either I am being healed or delivered or someone else is.  In some instances after I come out of prayer the Holy Spirit will give me a word for the person I was praying for and I have learned to embrace that gift because it is not about me but about the Holy Spirit having its way.
Of course this was my experience and I am sure that everyone that has the gift of tongue has a different story.  What I LOVE about GOD is everyone's experience with HIM is different and personable (that makes me smile). 
For those that does not have the gift and would like to receive it I would encourage you to study the word, have faith and pray for it.
Acts 2:4, 10:45-46, 19:6 
Mark 16:17
1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 14:1-2  
Please share your story of how you received your gift of tongue. I would love to hear it.
Blessings
A'Keta Julinate'

*****All pictures on my blog were taken by me. The pictures above seemed fitting for this post....symbolizing my flesh and spirit battling.********

What Kind Of Seed Are You Sowing?

A few years ago I had the brilliant idea that I would go to Istanbul, Turkey. I am not sure what lead me to want to go to Turkey other than overhearing someone say they had a good time there. I had talked to my brother and discussed my plans of traveling alone but he then reminded me that one of his friends lived and worked in Turkey. I was a little apprehensive because I knew his friend....as a matter of fact she was my friend at one point in my 20s but life and years separated us. He ensured me that it would be okay and that I would have a good time and I am sure he did the same thing for her.
So the planning began for us to meet up and spend a few days in Istanbul (she lived a few hours away from there) it would be a mini vacation for both of us. We talked a few times over the phone and through emails and everything seemed to be okay between us despite the lack of communication through the years.
Finally it was vacation time! When I pulled up at the hotel there was my some what "friend" there to greet me. I wouldn't be honest if I said that it was a little awkward for like 2 seconds. The moment we opened our mouths to say hello I don't think we stopped talking until we said good bye to each as I headed to the airport a few days later.
I often refer to Turkey as my Eat Pray Love moment!  The first meal we had was lunch and it lasted well into the evening. We couldn't walk by a pastry window without going in to try something and have a cup of tea which most times turned into an hour long conversation. If you had looked at us through the window you would have thought we were sisters or life long friends. Our conversations covered relationships, love, religion, books, our future and we even talked about the past and why we stopped talking. By the end of the trip we were sad to see each other go. In just a few days we had allowed healing to happen and a life long friendship to grow. 
I am thankful for Istanbul because I know it was all in GOD's plan. Last night as I was studying the word of GOD I read Matthew 13:1-23 over and over again. I asked myself what type of seed am I sowing daily. As I was reading the word I was reminded of a picture that I took while I was in Turkey (checkout the picture above) which in return reminded me of the awesome seed that was sown between myself and my friend and how I want to sow a deep planted seed with everyone I meet. 
Just earlier this week GOD convicted me by asking me who I was passing judgement on (I blog about here) so I know that HE is working somethings out in me which means HE LOVES ME! 
I  no longer want  to sow seeds that die......
To my friend Alicia thank you for such an AWESOME trip and I love you like crazy!
Matthew 13:23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Blessings
A'Keta Julinate' 

Who Do You LOVE?

For the last couple of days I have been in prayer for one of my friends. This morning as I was in prayer she dropped in my spirit again and as I began to pray for her I prayed that she would seek CHRIST and cry out to HIM for healing and deliverance. As I said that I remembered that she is not a Christian but of another faith. GOD immediately reminded me that just because she does not believe in HIM does not mean HE doesn’t love her. HE loves everyone even those that sin, the back sliders, and again those of different religious backgrounds. GOD then asked me who have I turned away or passed judgment on because they were different than me or not in my circle?

Of course my eyes got big as I thought about the people that I have judged and why I have judged them. I was at a loss for words even as I am writing this I am convicted. Matthew 22:37-40 clearly says Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

GOD loves me (US) with Agape love and I know in order for me to love my neighbors like I love myself I will need to stay in prayer and in the word of GOD.

1 John 5:14-15   And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

I have faith that I can love with the LOVE of GOD!

Blessings

A'Keta Julinate'