Mr Fox, Mr. Fox! What Time Is It? | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

Recently, I saw these two young girls playing a childhood game that brought back memories for me. I thought to myself how I didn’t know kids still played Mr. Fox. I was flooded with memories of how one person would stand about 3-5 yards away from everyone else with their back turned away from them. In unison we would bellow out, “Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox, What Time Is It?”

The person playing Mr. Fox would holler back a time, “3 o’clock.” Once Mr. Fox gave us the time you would take that number of steps forward. This would go on until at some point Mr. Fox would holler, “It’s Midnight.”

All the players would run scurrying away because if Mr. Fox got you, you were out of the game. However, if a person made it to Mr. Fox before he turned around, that person won.

Many of us live our lives that same way. We wait idly for the right time to move. Oftentimes we are waiting on someone to tell us when to move. We proceed through life with no set agenda, but allow the vicissitudes of life to lead and guide us. Before we know it, most of our time on this earth is almost over.

Yet we still don’t feel as though we have come even close to achieving all God created us to be. We pray and ask God to order our steps and teach us to number our days that we can apply our hearts to wisdom; yet we find ourselves moving towards the dusk of our lives not quite knowing what we are to do and who were created to be.

Like those who got close to Mr. Fox, once he turned around and bellowed out, “It’s midnight,” they were devoured. That is what happens. The enemy is devouring you from reaching your destiny and fulfilling your purpose. When he turns around you run away, or you get caught up in his web of deception whispering what you can and cannot do. Unfortunately you believe it.

Those who did manage to reach Mr. Fox had to be strategic. They made sure that Mr. Fox did not hear their footsteps. They took giant steps forward to get closer to him before the game was over. When they got near Mr. Fox, they were able to assume his position. You have to be strategic as you meander through life. There are traps of deception set along the way with the primary objective to keep you from achieving your purpose.

You can do something to prevent that from happening. You can beat Mr. Fox (the enemy) at his own game. You must walk circumspectly with a determination that no matter what, you plan to win. You have to be relentless and strategic. You have to be determined to reach Mr. Fox before he turns on you, but you have to be strategic in thinking one step ahead of him to anticipate his turn.

One thing for sure, Mr. Fox is only going to be turned away from you for a little while. You have to anticipate the moment when he decides to turn around with the intent of capturing and devouring you. At that moment, if you have not reached him first, you have to high tail it out of his way.

The enemy plays games with us as well. He makes us feel as though we don’t have much time left, but believe me you have a lot of time to do what you were created to do. Maximizing every day as if it were your last determines how you will finish.

You may not have had a lot of control over how you started, but you do have control over how you finish. “It’s Midnight!” Will you finish as a winner, someone who runs away or someone who is captured in the enemy’s snare?

Are you waiting to move? How will you finish? Are you making the right moves to finish as a winner?

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #trophies #prayersforsuccess

Trophies Along the Pathway of Life | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

In a conversation with a close friend of mine about her son, she stated that all her son’s life all he wanted was to play football. Over time he accumulated many trophies for his outstanding performance. She shared that he didn’t care about the trophies as much as she did, because when she looks at the trophies what she sees is a methodical approach to achieving his goal. Every trophy represented him becoming more discipline and determined as he got closer to fulfilling his ultimate goal to be a professional football player.

We may not have trophies we set on top of a mantle. What we do have are the trials and triumphs in life that has gotten us to the place where we are right now. Every step in the journey is a trophy we should envision as an outstanding performance on the path to fulfilling our dreams.

My friend’s son has learned as much from games lost as from games won. So, do we. It is the failures of life that fortifies and, if allowed, forges you forward. If you give up because you may have failed at the first attempt, you will never experience true victory.

Keep in mind, the space between each trophy on your victory mantle are the games lost, not the games that caused you to lose. There is a difference in the games lost; they help to build you up for the next play. However, the games that caused you to give up (those that caused you to lose out) are the ones that prevent you from moving forward in anticipation of the next play. It is all right to have lost a game, the problem comes when that lost consumes you. In the consumption of the lost, you lose yourself and you lose sight of your goal. When you lose sight of your goal, you will find yourself meandering down a path clueless about your destiny and your purpose.

Stay on the path in your methodical approach to achieve your goal. Appreciate the defining moments that propels you to your destiny and purpose. Remember just because you may have lost one game, doesn’t mean you have to give up on the season.

Are you ashamed of your life’s trophies? Have you hidden them away? Will you bring them out and begin to celebrate the victory each one has brought you? Do you celebrate your loses just as much as you do your victories?

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #trophies #prayersforsuccess

Favor: The Priceless Blessing | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

In a conversation with a close friend she told me that she held on to the words I spoke. According to her, the words were fascinating causing her to think about them ever since. I told her, “I am a woman of favor.”

So many people do just like I did, they state that they are highly favored. When I was young and we were getting ready to play a game, whoever was the captain selected who they wanted on their team. Those who were considered to be the highly-favored players, because of their ability, almost always got picked first. Now when it came to baseball I was not a good player. In most instances, I was one of the worst players. Naturally, I wasn’t highly-favored to be on someone’s team.

God’s favor, on the other hand, is one of those inexplicable things of life. The blessing of God’s favor enables you to be selected even when there is someone more proficient. Although someone else has been earmarked for a position, God’s favor will automatically cause you to be promoted regardless of their credentials.

His favor is one of those things you should covet. One thing for sure, God’s blessing is inherent in His favor. The blessing of God’s favor is priceless and more valuable than silver, gold and all the money in the world.

All that you may have felt you lost in the past, the favor of God has the ability to instantly restore it. It causes people to give to you without your ever asking. It catapults you from a prison, as it did Joseph, to the palace. Like Joseph, regardless if you are enslaved, in prison or the CFO of the palace, God’s blessing of favor and increase will be with you.

This blessing of favor places you in the hearts of those of influence. They will naturally be drawn to you and seek you out, as well as cause them to protect you even against them. Favor is one of those things that can’t be adequately communicated, because you have to experience it.

The experience of God’s favor even causes you to be in awe. You know that it has nothing to do with You as much as it has to do with God bestowing his blessing of favor on you, just because He wants to do it.

God’s favor exemplifies His compassion and abundant love. The children of Israel were favored by God, yet they weren’t always obedient and didn’t always reciprocate that same compassion and love. God never wavered in His favor. Even God’s chastening is favor. He chastens for you to be able to reap the abundance of His blessings.

I am a woman of favor. I walk in the blessing of God’s favor. The beauty of God’s blessing of favor is that it is as much for me as it is for you. Just begin to proclaim decree and declare God’s blessing of favor on your life and experience the abundant life every day. Expect to walk in God’s favor and blessing. Now get to steppin!

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #beyou #prayersforsuccess

He Is Risen! As He Said | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

Find hope in Resurrection Sunday when Jesus rose with all power in His hand and redeemed us from a life of limitation and eternal damnation.

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #beyou #prayersforsuccess

Intimacy of Communion: Remember Him | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

When I was young girl I remember thinking that the table with the inscribed words, “This Do In Remembrance Of Me,” was associated with death. What I remember most is that every time someone died their body would be at the front of the church on that table. Or, so I thought it was. The wording was appropriate for the occasion seeing how someone had died and we were at a funeral remembering them.

To the mind of a young child it made perfect sense. People were wailing and crying, remembrances of their lives were being spoken and everyone was bidding their final farewells. This had to be the table where dead people were placed for their families to remember them. You have to remember that I grew up in a church where many things were not clearly explained. It was assumed that everyone knew what that table represented.

Interestingly enough, I knew about the true meaning of the table, but I didn’t associate the true meaning with the table because my perceived application of the table was more prominent than its actual purpose. I was operating on misinformation of my own pre-conceived thoughts. As we celebrate Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday in observance of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, it brought me back to that memory of the inscription on the table.

Not until years later, if I wasn’t grown I was almost grown, that I made the connection about what the inscription on the table truly meant. In this maturation process, I also realized that they didn’t place the deceased bodies on that table at all. You see, my mind connected the wording and the height of the table with the riser where the coffin was set on. Oh the beauty of getting wisdom and understanding!

Now that inscription on the table has become the center of my life. “This Do In Remembrance Of Me” speaks volumes as to our walk with Christ. You see, Communion was and has always been sacred to me. We were taught that you need to have your heart right and your life in order to receive Communion. I knew that if I ever took it unworthily I would meet with some unexpected calamity. True, that is a bit extreme, but it reinforced the sacredness of the experience that resulted in increased reverence.

I refer to it as an experience because that is what it is all about. It is all about experiencing Christ in His fullness. It is all about embracing a lifestyle that catapults you into a realm of commitment that completely transforms your life. It brings into focus a relationship that is unparalleled and unprecedented by any other.

Fourteen years ago, I began receiving daily Communion; twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. No, I don’t have a Communion Table erected in my house, but I do have one erected in my heart. You see, it is at the Communion Table where you begin to embrace Christ and it is also there where you make the decision to follow him closely; not a far off nor will you completely turn your back on Him. Everyone who takes Communion heart may not be prepared to receive it.

It is the ultimate remembrance that symbolizes His life, crucifixion, resurrection and triumphant return. It connects to us a force where that no limitations in this world can prevent us from becoming all God envisioned. I am consumed with the limitless love that was demonstrated on the Cross, so I could be completely free in a world full of oppression.

The beauty of it all is that it wasn’t just for me, but everyone. This Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday remember Him and in remembering Him you will come to know who God created you to be. This is the intimacy of communion.

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #beyou #prayersforsuccess

No Charge | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

Gospel artist Shirley Caesar sings a song entitled, “No Charge.” She sings about a young boy who has given his mother a list of things he has done. Beside each chore is a cost. The mother meditatively reads the list.

When she is finished she begins to write her own list. She writes down how she carried him for nine months. She goes on to write how she stayed up when he was sick. As she lists all she had done, after each one she puts no charge. At the end of the song she simply states “When you add it all up the full cost of real love is no charge.”

Oftentimes hearing the song, it causes me to think about my own mother’s sacrifices. I think about how difficult it must have been to birth and raise 10 children, while juggling their idiosyncrasies, habits, likes and dislikes to make sure they succeed. I think about the sacrifices she made so we would have, when she didn’t. As a single parent, it all falls on you. There is no one there to help carry the load. Interestingly enough, when it is all said and done each of us walked away with our own perception of our upbringing and her maternal practices.

Relationships are critical to our existence. Without them where would be. The most crucial ones are those between a parent and a child. From infancy and well into adulthood, we look to our parents for guidance and direction. We may or may not always adhere to those instructions, but we look to them to be there, regardless of our actions or how insensitive we may be about their sacrifices.

Then one day we have an epiphany that make us re-evaluate our parents. We realize what they did is priceless. There is absolutely no amount of money in this world to repay them. We can never truly comprehend the breadth and depth of those sacrifices.

More than 2000 years ago, Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, paid a heavy price for each of us. He was beaten beyond recognition, nailed to a cross and hung as a spectacle. Although none of us were alive, the cries of the people that went forth continue to reverberate to crucify him. Our very breath and life is tied to the cross and His sacrifice.

Our society seeks to silence Him as they did in that hour. Yet the blood of the Lamb continues to cry out. Those of us who have placed his blood on the spiritual doorposts and lintels of our lives, experience the benefits of His sacrifice every day. We are no longer in bondage to the strongholds that prevent us from walking in absolute victory; because we have experienced a spiritual epiphany that propels us to unparalleled success. We unequivocally know that the power of His blood sets us free from the deathly limitations of this world.

The breadth and depth of the sacrifice is unquantifiable, yet we are qualified solely by His grace, mercy and and His sacrifice. It is the empowering presence of God that causes every death situation to pass over us. Daily we overcome by His blood and our words. Faith in His blood is the healing force that transforms our minds to live victoriously.

“What does all this cost?” No Charge!

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #resurrection #prayersforsuccess

 

 

Saddest Words I Ever Heard | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

Growing up there was a song, “Almost,” that started with the singer bellowing, “The saddest words I ever heard were almost…not quite, but almost.” The lyrics illustrated various scenarios of almost achieving victory. But, the one I remember the most was the guy who likes this girl but he is too shy to let her know how he feels. Once he gathers the nerve to tell her, she is dating another guy. I often think about these lyrics and realize that so many people live them out every single day.

Almost is never good enough. This sad word haunts many about all the missed opportunities that slipped away. You were almost there, but you never quite hit the mark. So it is with many of our dreams, visions and our goals.

We have them and we ponder over them year-after-year. We dwell in the land of “fit tin’ to” and we never quite can get to the land of accomplishing it.

When I was a young girl I remember a pastor telling us about his dreams. One dream was that he was going to have a great affair at Cobo Arena in Detroit, with renowned guests and singers. The place would be packed out.

Well, it never happened when I was young; but it did happen when I was an adult. Just like that guy who finally got up enough nerve to approach the girl but it was too late, so it was with him. Sure, he had the event, but by that time the dream had fizzled to about 200 people in a place that could seat 12,000. He almost realized his dream, but he was too late for its complete manifestation.

Timing is critical when you are in pursuit of your dreams. There is an allotted time for everything and when the iron is hot, you just have to strike it hard with everything you got.

These are haunting words when you were so close to success but for whatever reason you didn’t quite succeed. More often than not your inability to succeed is steeped in fear, just like the guy who was too shy to pursue the girl.

In a conversation with the pastor, he indicated that listening to others prevented him from pursuing his dream. You have to be so careful of those “others” who claim to support your dream when in actuality they are there to stop your dream. Everybody who says they are with you is not really with you. Especially when you share your dream and they find myriad reasons why you shouldn’t pursue them.

Later for haters! Who need them? For sure, not me and not you!

You do need to have faith and passion in your dreams. You do need to have the courage to step out and to do them. You do need to be relentless in your pursuit. You definitely need to move away from the saddest words I’ve ever heard, “not quite, but almost.”

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace

Thank You So Very Much! Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings,

God is so expansive in all that He does. Sometimes a mere thank you doesn’t suffice. Every day God does exceedingly abundantly far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. He does all of this because of the best gift that He has placed inside each of us to succeed in every facet of our lives.

Grammatically speaking it may appear that “thank you so very much” goes overboard in our expressions for all that God does. Truly, there are no words in the human vernacular to adequately express our gratitude for all God does every day—known and unknown.

As you go throughout this Thanksgiving season, move beyond the superficiality entrenched in shopping from Black Friday to Cyber Monday to embrace the exceeding-ness of God’s love and the thankfulness of the season. Throughout this Thanksgiving weekend, take precious moments to thank God so very much for infinitely blessing you beyond your highest prayers, dreams, desires, thoughts or hopes for your success in every facet of your life.

Have a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving!

Jacqui Showers

Expectancy Never Waits | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

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I was thinking about the CD project released by my church, House of Prayer & Praise Ministries entitled, Expectancy. One of the tracks bellows out, “We cannot wait.” As I reflected on those words, it took me back to a book written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. entitled, “Why We Can’t Wait.”

The book outlines the plight of the Negro since arriving in America. Because of the injustices and inhumanity endured from the shores of Africa, to the horrible middle passage, to slavery itself and to Jim-crow, it meticulously outlined why the Negro could no longer wait to experience the same rights and privileges afforded their Caucasian counterparts. The literary work emphatically illustrates that the Negro was no longer going to wait, but was ready to take action and embrace all of the promises as a citizen of the United States.

I realized we all reach a threshold where we can no longer wait as well. Many of us have not been exercising our privileges and rights. The ugly face of racism prevented African-Americans from experiencing the fullness of citizenship in a country they helped to build through their sweat and tears.

Oftentimes we find ourselves existing below our privilege because we have not tapped into the reservoir of resources that God has given us. No it was never God’s intention for us to fret over the uncertainty of this world, but to walk in complete victory as we become all He created us to be. For centuries, African-Americans were not allowed to experience the privileges inherent in citizenship because of the label of inferiority placed on them. In many instances, we are not experiencing all of our rights and privileges, because of inferior labels inflicted on us by either ourselves or others.

There comes a time when you have to say I can no longer wait for change to take place, because I am going to be an active participant in making change happen. There comes a time when you can no longer idly watch life passing you by without developing and exercising your God-given gifts and talents. There comes a time when you no longer allow outside stimulus to prohibit you from tapping into an infinite reservoir of overflowing opportunities. There comes a time when you no longer live as a second class citizen and you begin to expect more because you know you are a first class citizen. There comes a time when you say enough is enough. I’m taking back everything that has been withheld from me.

This is the time for you to move from idleness to expectancy. You see expectancy involves action. Expectancy involves forward deliberate motion. When you expect something more, you no longer are immobilized by fear; and “no” and “I can’t” no longer has a place in the lexicon of your life. Your mindset has elevated to expect “yes” and “I can.”

Even when all around you is a raging storm of uncertainty, you realize that you dwell in the heart of the storm where there is abundant life. You come to realize that outward circumstances have no dominion over your inner peace. It is this inner peace and joy that propels you to steadfastly move with an expectation unimaginable. You move from limitation, to the unlimited potential inherent in you from the day you were born. What begins to happen is that the fragments of famine and negativity no longer can skew your vision, because your vision causes them to become a micro dot on the landscape of your life and they no longer control your destiny.

Change your mindset! Expect more! Take action! Because you cannot afford to wait anymore!

Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to stop waiting, and be the change that makes things happen?

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #competitiveedge #playtowin #prayersforsuccess

Bear Down: Birth Out | Showers’ Blessing PicSpire | Jacqui Showers

“Don’t just sit on the stool of do nothing,” my mother would say when it appeared as though you were doing exactly that—nothing. At some point and time all of us find ourselves on that stool doing nothing and wondering how to get off it. Interestingly enough, there is more to that stool than meets the eye.

In ancient times when women gave birth they perched down on a stool and a mid-wife would assist as they brought the birthing stool/chair new life into the world. All the while, the midwife would coach the woman through the pain of labor to ensure the baby’s safe arrival. The mid-wife played a critical role because she was an encourager and a protector, not only for the mother’s life through the birthing process, but the baby’s as well. Her main objective was to ensure that the mother received her promise of a healthy baby.

Many of us are perched on the stool and need someone who can coach us to give birth to myriad talents and gifts that God placed in us. Oftentimes, we find ourselves just sitting on the stool waiting and longing for someone to help us birth out the thing that has become uncomfortable to carry any longer. We are clueless as to what to do. The pain of moving forward appears to be more than we can handle we remain stagnated perched on that stool in fear. Afraid to push!

One thing is for sure if the seed that has been planted is not allowed to be birth it will die inside of you. Just like there was enmity between Eve’s seed and the serpent, there are forces with the express intent to keep you from birthing into your destiny and purpose. His deceptive tactics are always rooted in the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. He is forever lurking to prevent you from giving birth.

Rather than stay perched on that stool or positioned with your feet in the stir-ups without any assistance, seek someone who can coach you into your destiny and purpose. Everyone needs someone to cry out, “Push, Your Name, push.” Even more, we need someone who is willing to put their lives on the line as the mid-wives did for Moses when they defied Pharaoh’s decree to kill all the male babies, Midwives are deliverers and protectors of the seeds of purpose.

There is so much greatness in everyone. My task, as a spiritual midwife, is to coach others to experience and become all God created them to be…all He envisioned for them. You see, each of us have been impregnated with seeds of purpose and need coaching through the gestation process to birthing out that which God has sanctioned from the foundation of the world.

Rather than stay perched on the stool, push your way into greatness. Need some help? I’m here to coach you to the greatness God envisioned even before you were born!

Have you ever worked with a coach? Are you looking to go to the next level, but feel you can’t do it alone? Are you ready to work with a coach?

 

#showersblessing #ohbreakout #themeplace #competitiveedge #playtowin #prayersforsuccess