Fight For Your Right to Love

Posted on July 9, 2021 by 201boulevard

Fight with love.

Words can either speak life, or words can speak death. As a matter of fact, Proverbs 12:18 puts it this way, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” The stakes are high. Our tongues can build others up while administering great comfort, or they can tear them down while igniting grievous wars.

As an inspired Christian writer, I love to learn the meaning of words and of course the most powerful of all words, the word of God. As a Teacher/Catechist, I write to share what I have learned and experienced in hopes that it may be applied in a helpful way. Like every noteworthy boxer, behind him stands a great boxing coach. The boxer’s training is crucial to his success, while he maintains a balanced diet, time for adequate rest, and education; together they work towards the same purpose. In an even more extraordinary and vigorous way, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity (The Holy Spirit) stands beside us; filling us with unlimited teachings, rest, recovery and wisdom. While we are living our lives training to be all that we are created to be, prayer (Conversation with God) and studying His word (the Holy Bible) we find a new strength to fight for our right to love, all by God’s powerful grace.

Note: God created man in His own image… Though our color, mindset and personal attributes may differ, if our skin were punctured, we would all bleed the same. In that same way, it was by the blood of Jesus Christ that we have received the greatest gift of all. Truth, sacrifice, passion and love came through one God in the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, giving us the opportunity and privilege to become one with Him and each other.

We belong to a living God. An all powerful God, an awesome God who is filled with love, compassion, patience and wants us to partake in just that. The Scriptures are given to us to lend a helping hand by those who walked before us; teaching on what to look out for and how to achieve a successful outcome in any situation. Our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being is a priority in God’s Word, and He will give us His strong arm, to see it through.

Here are some of those treasures found in the Word of God that not only educate us, but give us the tools needed to fight better:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” 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. Ephesians 6:16-18

May we be like the well-watered garden which thrives because the roots are firmly planted in God’s love. I once heard this pearl of wisdom. I hope it opens your eyes and gives you the desire to fight back with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit:

“Satan was going out of business, all his tools were up for sale, what an array, hatred, envy, jealousy, pride, and one tool priced much higher and more worn out than all the rest. When asked what this tool was, it was said ‘discouragement’ and when asked why is it priced so much higher than all the rest. Satan replied, “because it’s more valuable to me than all the rest.”

Whether it’s personal, or in our relationships, in our families or in our world, Jesus came to save. It is not always easy, with the different lives we lead and the different circumstances. Yet, no matter how tough the battle, our God will bring us through it and the celebration will be grand. Our God is closer than the breath we breathe and here to pick us up, restore us, cleanse us, break us free of the chains of all deception and bring us back to His loving arms. It’s time to fight for what is true, honorable, right and pure… such things should be thought about, talked about and declared. Christianity is not a one-man show, God has included all of us in His Divine plan!

“Let your ears listen to wisdom. Apply your heart to understanding. Call out for the ability to be wise. Cry out for understanding.” Proverbs 2:2-3

For the battles we face are real and very active. No one knows more about our situation than our God. I Thank God everyday that through His magnificent love and faithfulness the punches are thrown for us. Pray For The Ones You Love, is a song that I have written about God’s healing power and redemptive love:

PRAY FOR THE ONES YOU LOVE

Brother, brother, brother – why are you doing this to me, I believed in you – now I sit here helplessly. You told me to take a hit, it would surely do me good. Now, my life is ruined and I miss the neighborhood. This jail cell is cold and I can’t believe what I’ve done. What am I going to do, my life had just begun.

Sister, sister, sister – why are you doing this to me, you told me to share my body with everyone that wanted to see. Now I hold this baby as we sit here on the street. I can’t afford to feed him, and I’m not sure who his Daddy could be.

Mother, mother, mother – why are you doing this to me, you gave me up, I was not your priority. Your life meant more to you than holding me in your arms. I sit here feeling so lonely, I don’t know where I belong.

Father, father, father – why are you doing this to me. I trusted you as I sit here anxiously. You said you’d be at my game, but I heard you were with another. I saw the tears in mothers’ eyes. Father don’t you love us.

Child, child, child – listen to me. The world can be so crazy if we don’t know who to seek. We can’t keep blaming everyone for how we feel, we need to call on Jesus. He will show us what’s real. He will take our sorrows, and our burdens too. All we have to do is call out and He will see us through. All our weaknesses He will turn into strength. All our sadness is a stepping stone to help bring comfort to someone else. All our troubles, He will teach us something new; all our emptiness He will make us feel full. Don’t you worry, He’s got you in His hand. Just call on Him, He is the living “I AM”.

Child, child, child – I promise you, He will show you right from wrong – repent of your sins and pray for the ones you love.

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, be with us, direct our path, fill us with the riches of Your grace, transform our mind with a healthy balance that is good for our body and soul. Guide us with Your gracious love, that we may press forward to being all that You created us to be. In Your Holy Name we pray… Amen
Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it, and may you be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:16, NLT)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Posted on October 19, 2020 by 201boulevard

Encouraged.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked my junior high school counselor, as we pieced together my high school schedule. You see, I was my own kind of Amelia Bedelia, struggling to learn, with no talent whatsoever and fearful of my own shadow. After pondering the direction of my future for a few seconds, I responded, “I’d like to be kindergarten teacher.” With a respectful smile, he replied, “I don’t recommend that for you. You don’t like school and teaching means you would need further education. I don’t see you doing that.” Eager to know his thoughts, I replied, “What do you think I should do?” “Do what your mom does” he said, and that afternoon, I watched carefully as my mom cut and styled her client’s hair. Clueless yet curious, thoughts of, “The apple never falls far from the tree” came to mind. After telling my mom about my conversation with my counselor, she blessed me with words of wisdom, “If this is what you want to do, then I want you to get a job this summer in a salon to make sure it’s right for you…”

In sharing this story, many people are offended by my counselors dispirit. However, to me his recommendation was a truly valuable puzzle piece to my life. Like an angel in disguise, he helped guide me to dig deeper into becoming all that I was created to be. We all have a purpose in life and God gives us exactly what we need in order to accomplish all that we are called to do. We may not always hear what we want to hear, or get what we want when we want it, nevertheless, the direction we take with what we have been given is up to us. For me, it wasn’t that I couldn’t be a teacher; it just wasn’t a good fit at that time. Truthfully, styling hair has been a tremendous gift to me.

Life doesn’t always do what we want it to do, but it is comforting to know that God’s love remains steadfast for each and every one of us everyday. We don’t need to lose faith when we see others receive answers to their prayers, while we feel like we haven’t yet received our own blessings. We can rest assured knowing that our time is coming, and when it hits the ground, the earth will feel it. My mom recently shared with me this motivational story:

“An elephant and a dog became pregnant at the same time. Three months down the line, the dog gave birth to six puppies. Six months later the dog was pregnant again, and nine months on it gave birth to another dozen puppies. The pattern continued. On the 18th month the dog approached the elephant questioning: “Are you sure that you are pregnant? We became pregnant on the same date. I have given birth three times to a dozen puppies and they are now grown to become big dogs, yet you are still pregnant. What’s going on? The elephant replied: “There is something I want you to understand. What I am carrying is not a puppy but an elephant. I only give birth to one in two years. When my baby hits the ground, the earth feels it. When my baby crosses the road, human beings stop and watch in admiration. What I carry draws attention. What I’m carrying is mighty and great!”

The key to mighty and great in the word of God simply teaches us that God is our Hero. The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is an on going question, that continues to grow within us no matter how old we may be. As I look back over the years, I can appreciate God’s intimate love in the details of all things. Our path is designed by God and bound to be glorious if we are willing to follow Him. Everyday is a stepping-stone of grace to use as a tool to move forward in the grand puzzle of life.

Be encouraged and committed as you take bold steps and healthy risks. Remember, without the struggle, it’s difficult to find your strength. While serving others, we will see more clearly the bigger picture. At the same time, recognize the little blessing that come to us daily. “Say your prayers” were the closing words my Dad would speak as he hit the light switch after tucking us into bed every night. Years later, I am still praying. It gives me great pleasure to share the word and love of God with others. As a catechist (teacher of the principles of Christian faith) my prayer for everyone I meet is to come to know and feel the love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who traded it all in for the Cross; giving His life as a sacrifice to set us free from the spiritual chains of slavery that trap us in a web of confusion, addiction and sin. The Bible is filled with so many treasures and tools. The Word of God is our sword and shield as we all travel or wander like a pilgrim on this journey through life. Here are a few scriptures to ponder:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. [Luke 16:10]

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. [Hebrews 13:2]

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

Michael’s hands: My 3rd grade student 2020-2021

Disciples In The Making II

Posted on April 7, 2017 by 201boulevard

In order to be a really good teacher, I believe you must continuously be a student. I see quotes, parables, and metaphors, all having one mission in common, and that is to help visually guide.

I once read that the famous quote, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn,” derived out of a Chinese philosophy book. The original paragraph read, “Not having heard something is not as good as having heard it; having heard it is not as good as having seen it; having seen it is not as good as knowing it; knowing it is not as good as putting it into practice.” I am not sure I agree 100% with the original paragraph, as much as I do the quote that came from it. After all, some things are better off when not seen, nor heard, or practiced. However, it is all good when it serves us well.

Every year, I do my best to put together a fundraiser, theatrical play and video, with my class. It’s in hopes that they can learn more about God’s love for them through involving them in tasting it, feeling it, and seeing it. Through these events I realize that we were not created to walk by ourselves, but with each-other. It is said that fruit rarely grows in isolation, but only together with others, being connected by the vine that gives it life and fruitfulness.

This year before our Easter production, I reached out to my students that are not fans of being on stage. I delegated the responsibilities of opening the curtain, playing the music, and filming. I have to say, they did an awesome job, I couldn’t have done it without them! From my performers to my crew, they are all truly disciples in the making. After all, we may be the only bible that the people we meet will ever read, or the last message given, through word and deed.

In the presence of God, we are sure to be protected, directed, and even corrected. My Mother-in-law once said it best, as she was helping me fold some clothes. I was just about to go up the steps when she handed me a stack, saying, “Don’t go up empty handed!”

Matthew 6:19-21 Treasures in Heaven “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. May His Risen, giving, loving presence fill us with every joy, motivating us to do our part to bring His Good News to others.

Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve, to protect us, and to defend this great nation. In celebrating this Memorial Day, may you and your family be blessed in abundance!

Deanna Danielle

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…” John 15:5

One hand reaching out to hold another…

Disciples In The Making

Posted on May 19, 2015 by 201boulevard

In order to be a really good teacher, I believe you must continuously be a student. I see quotes, parables, and metaphors, all having one mission in common, and that is to help visually guide.

I once read that the famous quote, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn,” derived out of a Chinese philosophy book. The original paragraph read, “Not having heard something is not as good as having heard it; having heard it is not as good as having seen it; having seen it is not as good as knowing it; knowing it is not as good as putting it into practice.” I am not sure I agree 100% with the original paragraph, as much as I do the quote that came from it. After all, some things are better not seen, nor heard, nor practiced. However, it is all good when it serves us well.

This year for our Easter production, I reached out to my students that are not fans of being on stage. I delegated the responsibilities of opening the curtain, playing the music, and filming. I have to say, they did an awesome job, I couldn’t have done it without them! From my performers to my crew, they are all truly disciples in the making…

In John 15:5 we read, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” In the presence of God, we are sure to be protected, directed, and even corrected. After all, we may be the only bible the world will read or the last message given, through our word and deed. My Mother-in-law said it best, when helping me fold clothes. I was just about to go up the steps and she said, “Here, (handing me a stack) don’t go up empty handed.”

Matthew 6:19-21 Treasures in Heaven “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. May His Risen Presence within us fill us with joy and motivate us to do our part to bring His Good News to others.

Wishing you, your family and all those you love, a very blessed Easter,

Deanna Danielle

Easter Blessings

Unto Us a Child is Born

Posted on December 31, 2014 by 201boulevard

We are surrounded by gifts, not only at Christmas, but all through the year. Every day the greatest gift of all waits for us to receive Him.

During our last class before Christmas break, I incorporated some treasurable stories. I started with a story about one of my sons. When he was younger, we walked along one of the beaches on the west coast of Florida. After viewing some beautiful seashells, starfish, sand dollars and many other interesting things, he asked me why there were more treasures in the sea than on land. I explained how sometimes we get so used to seeing all the treasures around us, that we tend to take them for granted. Just as the little mermaid, Ariel, thought that there was so much more on land.

Very often, people will express themselves with something tangible. Pretzels have been around for many years. History has it, that in A.D. 610, a baker in a monastery in Europe twisted leftover strips of bread dough into the shape of a person’s arms crossed in prayer. They began offering the warm, doughy treats to children who had memorized their Bible verses and prayers. The monks called these treats pretiolas, which is Latin for little rewards.

Over the years, many people have also used the candy cane to share God’s love. Explaining that, the white base color of the candy cane symbolizes the purity of Jesus, the red stripes symbolize Jesus’ blood when He died on the cross, and the J shape represents the J for Jesus.

After giving our class pretzels and candy cane treats, I asked them to share with me what Christmas meant to them. With all the beautiful answers, Gianluca summed them all up with, “Christmas is about how Jesus was born, and we celebrate that.” For unto us a Child is born, and His gift is everlasting.

God’s word reveals, “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then He adds, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

May we receive the greatest gift of all this Christmas and let His love shine throughout the world.

Blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! – 2 Corinthians 9:15

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Let Your Light Shine Bright For All To See

Tag Archives: treasures

Fight For Your Right to Love

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Disciples In The Making II

Disciples In The Making

Unto Us a Child is Born