Sherylynne L. Rochester's Blog, page 2

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**Out Now **

New relationships can be passionate and blissful, but what if things start off rocky? That’s what Lailah and Jeff are about to find out—that storms can happen at the beginning of a relationship.

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When we last left Lailah in God Send Me My Husband, she had overcome some personal self-esteem and desperation issues and was working on finding that ‘happily ever after’ Christian relationship. Now, she believes that her prayers may have been answered and trusting God has paid off – she has found a handsome man who makes her heart flutter, but she discovers that Jeff has some of his own baggage from past relationships to deal with.

Lailah is no longer naïve, and she is ready take their friendship to the next level – Jeff feels the same way and cannot wait to spend one special night with her. But their past relationships and current ideas keep getting in the way. Still, they are building a strong relationship and passions are intensifying… and then one night, the storm hits. Now, Lailah and Jeff are stranded in the house, stuck with only themselves and time to try to navigate the natural, physical and spiritual storm that life brings them.

In order to find true love and a long-term relationship, Lailah and Jeff must open doors and rooms that have been locked for a long time, doors that they thought were meant to stay closed, but time alone in the house are forcing them to explore. They discover that in order for their new love to blossom, they have to communicate about their difficult pasts and their current desires. Then, an even bigger storm enters the house to derail their happiness and the relationship they are trying to build. Their lives are about to change in the storm as they determine whether the storm will keep them together or cause them to remain apart forever.

You will love this rewarding Christian Romance novel, with valuable messages about believing in God to help you overcome adversity and build a lasting relationship that lead to finding happiness, getting married and building a loving family.

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It’s A Spiritual Battle!

⁣⁣In this season we are all in, we’ve forgotten about Ephesians 6:12.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As I watch my favorite television show, Flash, I always scream at the TV, “Why are you fighting a spiritual battle with natural weapons. It will not work!”

Every episode a spiritual being shows up. Then, the humans take out their weapons to kill them.

Of course, I respond by saying, “You can’t bring a knife to a gunfight.”  

Meanwhile, God joins in and says, “This is happening today. Look at what is happening today in our nation. People are fighting a spiritual battle with natural weapons. They too are bringing a knife to a gunfight.”

Some of us are looking like this when we fight naturally in 2020.

When we should be fighting like this…

Selma to Montgomery March

I’d like to share with you what happened when Martin Luther King, Jr. decided to fight it spiritually from the article Selma to Montgomery March:

Forced to consider whether to disobey the pending court order, after consulting late into the night and early morning with other civil rights leaders and John Doar, the deputy chief of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, King proceeded to the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the afternoon of 9 March. He led more than 2,000 marchers, including hundreds of clergy who had answered King’s call on short notice, to the site of Sunday’s attack, then stopped and asked them to kneel and pray. After prayers they rose and turned the march back to Selma, avoiding another confrontation with state troopers and skirting the issue of whether to obey Judge Johnson’s court order. Many marchers were critical of King’s unexpected decision not to push on to Montgomery, but the restraint gained support from President Johnson, who issued a public statement: “Americans everywhere join in deploring the brutality with which a number of Negro citizens of Alabama were treated when they sought to dramatize their deep and sincere interest in attaining the precious right to vote” (Johnson, “Statement by the President”). Johnson promised to introduce a voting rights bill to Congress within a few days.

On 6 August, in the presence of King and other civil rights leaders, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Prayer is what won the battle!

2020 has been a crazy year. That is probably the only thing we all agree on. But, I’d like for us to consider and remember this one thing:

Fight this battle spiritually and you will win against the real enemy.

No longer should we enter into a confrontation or other challenging situations with the real enemy without being adequately equipped or prepared. God has equipped and prepared us and now it is our job to fight this natural battle with the spiritual weapons He has given us.

HOW DO YOU FIGHT THIS SPIRITUAL BATTLE?

Read Ephesians 6:10-20
⁣Discern that you are in a spiritual battle and fight it with spiritual weapons. Put on spiritual armor, “the full armor of God.” 
Stop fighting with flesh and blood, i.e. your family, your friends, your coworkers, PEOPLE etc. Recognize the fight that is going on today is not with people but with the enemy (the devil). Stop fighting those around you.
Increase your prayer and fasting life
Take Your Position – You have authority in Christ Jesus to fight this spiritual battle with the weapons He alone has given you. ⁣God has given us everything we need to resist and defeat the enemy’s plots and schemes.

Remember, all we are going through right now is spiritual. You may not believe it but PRAYER STILL WORKS in 2020. It is the only thing that will cause the walls the enemy has put up to fall. Fighting it God’s way stops the enemy and stops what we are facing today in our nation. Give God’s way a try. His weapons work.

Prayer and worship wins the battle!

Great Spiritual Warfare Fiction Novels

This Present Darks by Frank E. Pretti
Piercing the Darkness
Exile of Lucifer: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 1 Kindle Edition

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This Song is Blessing Me…

Every morning for the last week or so I’ve woken up singing the song Promises by Maverick City. It is like God has sung this over me in my sleep and I wake up repeating part of the chorus over and over throughout my day.

It is such a huge encouragement because it is a reminder that God hears our prayers and He is faithful. It is also a reminder that God sings over us according to Zephaniah 3:17:

The  Lord  your God is with you,

     the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

     in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

     but will rejoice over you with singing.

The part I keep hearing over and over every morning is:

Great is Your faithfulness to me

From the rising sun to the setting same

I will praise Your name

Great is Your faithfulness to me

One of my go to words for God is faithful. To me whenever I say God is faithful, I am saying God is trusted. He is loyal and true to His word.

As you are going about your day, let this song encourage you. Let it be a reminder of how faithful God is. Most of all, be found praising God no matter what. For I have made in my heart and mind that I will praise His name because He is FAITHFUL!

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Behind the scenes (BTS) of My Writing Life

On this particular day, I needed to change environments. I love this spot in the park that shows the beauty of Philadelphia. There’s something about the open field and God’s creation that inspires me. It’s peaceful and filled with bugs.

Yup, you read that right. On this day it was filled with bees and lanternflies.

I set up my beach chair. Took out my laptop and here they came. Yes, the bees came and of course, I got up and walked away quickly. I did not want to run because I’m sure other park goers would have thought I was crazy.

i said to myself, “self, you know, you hate being outside with bugs. why did you think this was going to be great?!”

So, my writing in the park was over 30 minutes later and I needed to get out of there quick, fast, and in a hurry.

Well, not immediately, of course.

You see after I walked half a mile back to my car, I realized the key to my car was missing. Yup, you guessed it right. My keys dropped somewhere in the grass on the way up the hill and back to my car.

I now had to walk back and join the bees and lanternflies in search of my keys.

I low key panicked because I could not find it at first. Would I have to call my husband or a locksmith?

Praying to God and tired from the long walk, I finally found my keys in the grass that wanted to stay a little longer.

Nope, let’s go keys. There are bees and those ugly lanternflies.

But, thank you Lord for helping me to find my keys. I was now safely back in my car away from the bees and lanternflies.

My life as a writer in the park ended that day. I’m going to just stick with the home writing life.

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We Wrestle Not…

It’s hard living in 2020 as one who believes in God or one who speaks the TRUTH (or even what one believes is truth). It seems those that try to warn prophetically we push aside or reject. You know, if I don’t believe like you do, we can no longer be friends. Or, I won’t attend your church anymore, you’re not speaking what I want to hear.

That’s the climate we are living in today. We are living in the fighting and cancel culture. It hurts my heart to see this new climate we are living in especially in the church. I mean didn’t God say in Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It makes me want to run away to some island and just live life there without the craziness after all I’ve seen.

Yes, I know scripture speaks on the many that will depart from the faith and leave. I’m seeing this with my own eyes. Yes, I know scripture says fighting will occur between family and friends. I am seeing this with my own eyes, too.

All of this is making me reflect and ask…

What happened to us?

We’re fighting for what? For politicians, and they do not even know us.

We’re fighting for what? For justice for other people and they do not know us, nor do we know the full story.

We’re fighting for what? For Celebrities and they do not know us or even care about us, either.

We’re NOT fighting for what? Our family and friends that have been there all along and we’re ready to cancel them—the ones that know and love us no matter what FOR YEARS.

For several months, all I’ve seen is fighting in the church and outside the church. My heart is so heavy. I’m emotionally drained by all this fighting and nonsense. I’ve constantly had to draw to the Father and ask him what in the world is going on?

It never fails, but God reminds me of the one scripture that we’ve truly stopped quoting in this season…

Ephesians 6:12 For We Wrestle NOT…

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

That’s where the actual fight is. I learned that in High School after reading Frank Pretti’s books, This Present Darkness and Piercing The Darkness. Also, if you really want to see Ephesians 6:12 at work read UnHoly Empire. These books outside of the Bible helped me to see the spiritual warfare that takes place before us.

Where’s Your Armor?

You know the other thing we have forgotten to do in this season…

Ephesians 6:12 says: Put on the whole amour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Newsflash: Stop fighting spiritual battles with natural weapons!!!

My favorite show is FLASH. I also love the old Batman and Robin from the 60s. There’s always a lesson from these superhero shows. Now, it always amazes me when a spirit being comes to attack, the people always fight with natural weapons. Watch an episode of your favorite superhero. They always take guns out to shoot at a spiritual being.

Isn’t that what we’ve done in 2020?

In 2020, that’s all we’ve done. We’ve fought a spiritual battle with natural weapons. We’re fighting each other when the word of God says we wrestle NOT…

The enemy is playing us like a fiddle, and we’ve fallen right into his schemes. We’ve fallen in the schemes of in fighting. We’ve fallen into the schemes of sinning. We’ve fallen into the schemes of not having faith. We’ve fallen into the schemes of fear. We’ve fallen into the schemes of hating our brother or sister. We’ve fallen into the schemes of doing whatever the news and social media tells us to do.

It’s Time To Fight The Real Enemy Not Each Other

So, I am asking even if it is one person, to take a step back from politics, take a step back from the racial tensions and see who has always been there all along…

God has been there,

Your family has been there and…

Your friends have been there.

Rick Pino said something so interesting, and I am passing this along to EVERYONE.

Be committed to each other beyond seasons. 

We are going to fight. There will be seasons when we do not love each other (even though God says to love). There will be seasons where things will not go right between us. There are seasons where you do not want to be around certain people (even though God says to be around them anyway…it is not good for man to be alone. Yooooo! I learned another take to this and it’s in the new, God, Send Me My Husband, Too book).

Whatever it is, just commit to each other beyond the seasons.

Yes, I am asking you to commit to your family, friends, and even your church family beyond seasons. Stop fighting each other over people who do not know you or care for you (meaning—politicians, racial tensions, celebrities, etc).

Get through this season and know once this season is over, everything will go back to normal. We go through this every four years (learn the tactics of the enemy). We all have moments where we are going through. So, please, also, give your family and friends the same grace, just as God has given you the same grace. Stop canceling them because you disagree. Honestly, God disagrees with you, but he still stays and still loves you.

Relationships

As I write this book, I am relearning about relationships and how to deal with storms and conflicts. I am still learning because Lord knows some people get on my nerves (being real here) but I have to agree with Michael Todd; we do not know how to relate to each other. I am also going to add; we do not know how to ride the wave or wait out a storm together. At the drop of a dime, we are out when someone hurts us or when we do not agree. I was that way. If someone hurts me I cut them off. Another real moment! Yet, God did not call us to be that way. He called us to love and be committed to each other beyond seasons.

Someone gave this point. They said, Paul in the Bible experienced disappointment and betrayal in the church. Yet, he still called them beloved. He continuously referred to those that hurt him in the church as brothers and sisters. He did not stop calling them saints. He continuously proclaimed the truth about God’s people. He spoke it into existence. We need to do the same as believers.

Seriously, Paul!!!

It puts so much into perspective. Too many times when we have hard times with family, friends, and even church members we go and criticize, gossip to the member or members that left, and even distance ourselves from people that truly love us.

But wait… what does Paul encourage us to do as Rick Pino said in scripture form…

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)

I need a moment after reading that. Wow!!!! It’s also making me think, have we prayed for them, the one we’re disagreeing with?

An Interview With Jeff

What Is Your Full Name?

My full name is Jeffrey David Johnson.

Do you have a nickname?

Everyone calls me Jeff.

Where and when were you born?

I was born in Philadelphia in 1978.

So, that would make you 42? Wow, you’re a handsome man at 42. 

Thank you [smiles].

What is your occupation?

I spent about fifteen years in the military. Also, I might be retiring due to… [pauses] Let’s just say I haven’t decided yet.

Are you doing that now?

Right now, I am on break. Not sure what I will do next. I am going through some situations right now and I’m taking a break.

Let’s switch to the topic of relationships.

Okay.

So, you know I am living to know… it’s been three years. How are you and Lailah doing? When we last left you two, you both were dancing at a friend’s wedding.

Yes, we met at a wedding and we’ve been getting to know each other since then.

God, Send Me My Husband, Too!

Three years is a long time, don’t you think? Do I hear wedding bells, then?

We’ve been dating as friends for three years and it’s been wonderful. We’ve both been kind of busy. Just living life. Healing. Getting to know each other. Lailah is a sweet woman of God. I need that in my life but as of right now we are just dating friends.

What exactly is “dating friends”?

Well…we haven’t really defined our relationship in these three years. It’s something I made up. We’ve just been seeing each other by going on dates and talking on the phone. We are taking it slow. We aren’t exclusive.

Slow is an understatement, don’t you think?

Understand this… we’ve been through a lot from previous relationships and we want to do this right. We care about each other.

Ohhh, so you’ve been hurt and you don’t want to be hurt again?

I–we just want to take our time, but I truly believe it is important to just take your time in relationships. Rushing can cause a lot of problems. We don’t want to rush this.

Sounds like you know a lot about rushing. Can you tell us more?

All I know is that rushing is not a good thing to do in relationships. So Lailah and I are taking our time. I’ll admit I’ve had some bad experiences and I may have rushed my last relationship. So, I won’t do that this time. We will take it slow. We have remained friends and now we are just getting to the exclusive stage. Although, she’s been the only woman I’ve talked to these last couple of years.

I mean is that even smart to wait so long? I mean don’t men usually know when they’ve found the one.

Umm…it just depends on the man. It doesn’t make a relationship bad because they want to wait or take a long time. Some men are cautious because of past experiences. I’ve had bad experiences. It’s not a bad thing. Not all men are there wasting ones time. Every relationship is different. I’ll say this… be led by God. God will tell you to wait or to move on.

Did God tell Lailah to wait?

Well, you will have to ask her. Waiting is not a bad thing. For us it is a good thing. We are in the process of going through a bad storm and it’s causing us to really dig deep and deal with issues most people do not deal with in the beginning stages. This storm will make or break us.

Part 2 coming soon.

**

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please understand that I have experienced these books, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

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Top Two Books To Help You To Fast

A lot of people have been asking me about fasting. I wanted to share two books that I highly recommend. It is a book and a journal that will help you to fast for 21 days. This book will help you to not underestimate the power of fasting. It is an essential reading for those that want to learn about fasting or reignite their fasting life. The book will teach you the different types of fast in the bible and the journal will keep you focused as you fast. Check it out on my Amazon Store to purchase your copy.

Christian Singles: Waiting On God

A short message on waiting on God.

Single Ladies, It's Time For You To Marry Your Ministry

I remember it like it was yesterday. The prophetess told me to marry my ministry. When I heard that I heard, “Marry your ministry because you won’t get married anytime soon.” That was far from the truth. Now a year later, after being married, I finally understand what the prophetess was saying. I finally got it as I was studying Ruth and found some important principles that every single lady needs to hear and act upon in order to possibly meet who God has for them.

Your God Will Be My God

These days many women are leaving the faith. They no longer call God their God. They are serving many gods. There was a time when women called on the name of the Lord but today, many women have left God to serve gods, as Orpah did. The interesting part is Naomi said to Ruth, “Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should go too.” Ruth replied, “No, I will go where you go and your God will be my God.”

Here we have two women. One who decided to go back and serve her people’s gods (plural gods). But Ruth said, “No! No matter what, I am staying here with you, God.”

In the single walk, I believe we each are giving the opportunity to choose. Are we going to choose God or are we going to choose other gods? Are we going to turn our back on God because we’ve lost something? Or are we going to stay with God?

I often wonder what happened to Orpah? Did she get back safely to her family and other gods? Did she find a husband among her people? What we know is what happened to Ruth as she stayed and served the true and living God. Even though she had lost her husband, was in a famine, and lost everything she had, she said, “I may be single or I may be a widow but God I am staying with You.” In the end, her staying with God, caused Boaz to find her.

May I Glean… Work My Calling

So Naomi and Ruth went on to Bethlehem and the next part that amazes me is she didn’t wallow up in her feelings or focus on what she didn’t have anymore. Not once did we see Ruth complain. I find that very amazing. Today, myself included, we cry and we curse God but Ruth kept it moving. She did not complain or even cry about her situation or lack thereof. She didn’t take time to sit and rest when she got to Bethlehem. She didn’t just mourn the whole time when she lost someone dear to her. You know what she did? She said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain…” In her hurt and in her lost, she got up and went to work. She got up and married her ministry. In fact, it says, “She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz… ” It was at this moment he noticed her because he asked, “Who is this young woman?”

Which leads me to my next question…

What would have happened if she didn’t go to glean or go to work in the fields that happened to be Boaz’s field? 

Think about this for a second.

Ruth met her future husband when she went to glean in the fields which happened to be his. Since she went straight to work, it was as if she stumbled on to where her future husband would be.

Ruth 2:3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

I said this a long time ago on an Instagram post that a woman I follow wouldn’t have met the person she’s seeing if she wasn’t doing what she was called to do. She wouldn’t be in the relationship she is in now if she did not turn her hobby or passion into her business. If she wasn’t working or if she didn’t marry her ministry per se, she wouldn’t have met him. The same with Ruth, if Ruth did not marry her ministry or get right to work she would not have met Boaz. Boaz would not have found her.

It’s Time For You To Work

Woman of God you are called to do a mighty work but you’re allowing things like singleness and feeling lonely to stop you. Do you realize what might happen if you went to work; if you married your ministry? You marrying your ministry and you getting to work on the very thing God has called you to do will open doors that you’ve been praying for.

It’s your passion and the call of God on your life that will lead you to meeting your future husband but, you have to get to work, NOW! He too has to get to work if he’s not working on his God given talent, hobby, or calling. When you both get to working on your passion, your calling, and marrying your ministry, it will lead you to finding each other.

What would happen for many of you, if while single, you married your ministry as you waited? Even though I am married now, Ruth is an example for all women who are waiting for something. Something happens when you work and do all that you are supposed to do in life. Nothing happens when you just sit there, complain, and cry. For many of you doors you’ve been praying for will open if you follow these principles from Ruth. Doors will open and marriage will happen if you stop allowing what you are going through to stop you from gleaning in the fields and getting straight to work on what God has called for you to do.

Go out there and work as you wait. Yes, marry your ministry. Something great will happen when you marry your ministry. God is calling you to not sit around and wait but to do what you’ve been called to do. #yourenext