THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MASK Happy Birthday in Heaven Chanel

Celebrating the life of Chanel today! I give God glory and praise for allowing her to be with here for 24 years!! Trusting and believing she is at peace with our Lord and savior!!

Over the past thirteen years I can truly say God has kept me. It’s by his unmeasurable grace that allows me to go from day to day.

You might be wondering how someone can survive a loss as devastating as losing a child or losing any loved one for that matter. It’s through our trust and faith in God. Knowing there’s a better place than this. A place called heaven. Storms will come. Jesus told us that in this life we will have trials and tribulations but to be of good cheer. How can you be of good cheer when your child is snatched from you? How can you be of good cheer when sickness comes? How can you remain cheerful when you look at your bank account and your money is low? Faith! Following, Aligning, Ignoring but Trusting Him. I have to follow God by living his word. Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my understanding. In all my ways (situations) acknowledge God and he shall direct my path. Yes, I want my child here but I must trust God that she’s okay. Trust God when he tells you to walk away from a job, a relationship, or losing a loved one.

Aligning myself with God. Not my will but God’s will be done. Jesus had to keep the faith when he was on the cross. He ask the father, “Why have you forsaken me?” He said, “Father if it be your will take this cup from me; nevertheless not my will but thy will be done.” Why did God allow the sickness, the death, the divorce, the job loss? Could it be he wants you to get closer to him? A storm will draw you closer or pull you away. Which will you choose? I know God loves us even when we are going through trials. But trust God in the trial. Align you thoughts and will to God’s will. We may always have questions or doubt but come back in alignment by standing in faith.

Ignoring the voices within and around you saying you want succeed, you’ll never see your loved you again or you will die from this sickness or your hopes and dreams want come true. Joseph was a dreamer. His brothers were jealous. They wanted to kill him. Instead they sold him into slavery. But his dream couldn’t be blocked or stopped. Ignore what appears speak to your fears and have faith.

Trust Him. Trust is a must. A church member sent me a card shortly after Chanel’s accident saying, “Trust is a must.’ You can’t quit. Quitting is not an option for me. I heard God say this to me the night she died. The three Hebrew boys trusted God. They refused to bow down to the king. When they were thrown into the fiery furnace God was faithful and kept them from being burnt. They didn’t quit they held on to their faith in a Sovereign God.

What is faith? The bible declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The message bible reads “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.” ‭‭Faith is trusting God when havoc is reaping on your job. You can go to work with a smile. Faith is laughing in Satan’s face when he tries to block blessings by causing confusion. Faith is rejoicing in the mist of the distractions! Faith is expecting with all your being God will come through for you!!! Faith is giving God total control of all situations. Mother Brownlee use to tell me, Barbara if you’re going to worry don’t pray? If you are going to pray don’t worry.” Faith is seeing what you are believing when what you see don’t add up. Faith is preparing for the wedding when you don’t have the ring. Faith is speaking and declaring a thing. Faith is encouraging others when you need encouragement yourself! “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” Job 22:28 (NKJV)
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Chanel died a week after hurricane Katrina. I was going through my own Katrina. A different kind of hurricane!! A hurricane that could have left me insane. Nevertheless, because of my faith, my firm foundation and his grace, I’m here today celebrating the life and legacy of my child. We are all at different levels in our faith. That doesn’t mean one person is more saved than another. When we go through the hurricanes of life, we go from faith to faith and glory to glory. It’s not natural to bury the one you gave birth to. It’s strange and words cannot covey the pain of a grieving parent. My heart breaks but I still remain faithful. I can celebrate because of my faith. I know, I don’t know how, but God is working it all out for my good! I am excited to see how God takes this hurricane, make a rainbow and give it back to me all for my good and His glory.
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