"God Uses What HE Chooses"

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard

"And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?" Numbers 22:28

I know the people in the glass building were looking at me this morning wondering what in the world is wrong with that woman! As I was walking into work I was laughing and smiling because a license plate spoke to me this morning!!!

Now, I'm sure you're wondering too...what's wrong with Paula...she don' bumped her head or somethin'...NO..the license plate DID speak..or should I say....ministered to me!

Okay let me back up a minute.....almost every morning after I drop off "Kid" (that's what PamS calls him) and hubby...I turn the radio off so I could "have a little talk with Jesus". I thanked Him in advance for what He has done and is about to do in my life and just after I finished...as I pulled into my parking spot I noticed an SUV parked across from me with a license plate on the front that said: "Shhhh...God Got This"

DUH...I didn't have to be Balaam to understand...God used that license plate as a ministering tool! WOW!

I rec'd an email from one of my Spiritual Mentors today and in it Pastor Charles Spurgeon says: "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand." Watch not the clouds, consult not the wind-in season and out of season witness for the Saviour, and if it shall come to pass that for Christ's sake and the gospel's you shall endure suffering in any shape, shrink not, but rejoice in the honour thus conferred upon you, that you are counted worthy to suffer with your Lord; and joy also in this-that your sufferings, your losses, and persecutions shall make you a platform, from which the more vigorously and with greater power you shall witness for Christ Jesus."

Look....in the past....at times my life was turned upside down..I had heartache after heartache...disappointment after disappointment...lack (plenty of it)....low self esteem....no purpose......at times I felt like I had no hope....BUT.....(I like that word...BUT)....NOW IT'S MY TIME...MY SEASON....IN SPITE OF....OTHERS WHO KNEW MY PAIN...KNOW MY STORY...THEY CAN LOOK AND SEE WHERE GOD HAS BROUGHT ME FROM...NOW MY LIFE IS A LIVING TESTIMONY FOR CHRIST'S GLORY AND TO HIS HONOR!

Sooooo....like the license plate said.....I'm gon' Shhhh until I see the manifestations of His Promises....I'm gon' Shhhh until HE who has begun a good work in me complete it.....I'm Shhhh...."Just Sit Still"....wait on The Lord.....continue to stand on His Word....and REST IN HIM....I'm not going to try to make things happens or wish for things to happen...I'M REJOICING AND THANKING GOD BECAUSE HE GOT THIS!!!!!

Peace.....I'm out!!!!

You are already Blessed so be Encouraged...and OH....... remember.... "Shhhh...God Got This"
Love ya,
Paula
© Copyright 11/25/09
All Rights Reserved

"Don't Let Your Circumstances Dictate Your Praise"

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard


I'm gon' try to make this quick because I just got called into work....ON MY DAY OFF...UGH!

Anyways...this morning as I drove my son to school...I started flipping through radio stations. The first station I got to was Gospel station, I sang along with the song that was on and then I flipped to another station, which played secular music (I was actually hoping to hear one of Nephew Tommy's pranks).

The station I landed was playing a song (and I don't know the title) but the song says ....sometimes love knocks you down...then you get back up and it knocks you down.....knocks you down...(something like that)....well, as I was listening to the song, I just started PRAISING GOD out loud! I mean, I was saying GLORY....HALLELUJAH...THANK YOU JESUS while this song was playing. Now my little Prophet (who should have known better..LOL) looked over at me and asked, "Momma, how can you find that song Holy....that's not a Gospel song"....my reply, "I don't need a Gospel song in order to PRAISE GOD.....I can PRAISE GOD in the midst of this stuff...the circumstances around me doesn't determine my PRAISE...it doesn't dictate my PRAISE...God rises above what's around me and my circumstances...so that's why I can Praise HIM!" WOW!

I'm about to eat something and head on to work, but People of God....LOOK HOW MANY TIMES SATAN DON' KNOCKED YOU DOWN...BUT WHO WAS THERE TO PICK YOU UP....Proverbs 24:16 SAYS, "FOR THOUGH A RIGHTEOUS MAN FALLS SEVEN TIMES, HE RISES AGAIN..."DON'T LET YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE YOUR PRAISE....LET YOUR PRAISE DICTATE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES....GIVE GOD A JUDAH PRAISE AND WATCH PRAISE GET YOU OUT OF THE PIT!!!!!!

You are already Blessed....so be Encouraged...
Love ya,
Paula
© Copyright 10/23/09
All Rights Reserved

Singing to the tune from Snow White....I GO...I GO..IT'S OFF TO WORK I GO!

"You're Covered"

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard

"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" Ephesians 1:7

If you see tons of mistake in this motivation, charge it to the head and not the heart....it's 4:30 in the A.M. and I am still trying to get the sleep out of my eyes...T.M.I. I know!

Well, I was awakened by a dream and although I tried to convince myself I could write about it later, Holy Spirit said otherwise!

I'll try to make this brief but my dream was centered in the neighborhood where I grew up. In one of the houses on the block, some men tried to take over the house. I wasn't about to let that happen so me and these men got into a "verbal" altercation. One thing led to another, and I had to let them know that I wasn't afraid and if I had something to fight them with, I'd show them a thing or two.

Well, I guess the men didn't think I would do what I said because they threw me, of all things an umbrella. Well, I had to show them that I meant business so I went to swinging! I did as Matthew 11:12 says....."and the violent take it by force"! When it was all said and done, the men backed down and even wrote a letter of apology which they gave my big brother and even agreed to clean up the mess I had made! My big brother wasn't too pleased with me though, because all the while, while I was fussing and causing a ruckus, my big brother kept trying to tell me that I didn't need to do what I was doing because....he had things under control!

Now, I'm sure you're thinking....Paula must have eaten after midnight again.......but no! I couldn't get back to sleep because little by little, Holy Spirit pointed out some things about the dream:
1. The men obviously were the enemy.
2. My old neighborhood was the past.
3. The umbrella represents a covering.
4. My big brother.....he's Jesus!
5. The letter.....it's not an actual letter letter...it's the letter "t"....symbolic of THE CROSS!

Satan is devious in that he will try to use your past or whatever he can to get you to a breaking point. He often reminds you of what you used to do or how you used to be just to make you feel unworthy or inadequate. He tries to get you to feel that you don't belong or have any right to be called a Child of God yet alone any rights to the Promises and Covenant of God.

I was reminded after the dream, that when Jesus died on the cross, His death and His Love covers a multitude of sin (I Peter 4:8)! I was also reminded of Psalms 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

A song we sang back in the day during Communion says:

"I know it was the Blood, I know it was the Blood, I know it was the Blood for me....one day when I was lost...Jesus died upon the Cross...I know it was the Blood for me"!

You're covered People of God....You're covered! Satan already knows he's a defeated foe! When Christ died at the Cross, that was it for him! Oftentimes we fight...fuss and raise a muck when all we have to do is just plead the Blood of Jesus! I want to encourage you today.....let Jesus' Blood do the work for you!

You are already Blessed....so be Encouraged,
Love ya,
Paula
© Copyright 10/14/09
All Rights Reserved

Don't Allow Satan To Punk You

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard


"This Week....Don't Allow Satan To Punk You"

2 Corinthians 2:11: "Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

Now I know my title sounds a little strange....but the other day I heard Nephew Tommy from the Steve Harvey Morning Show "punk" someone on the radio. (For those of you who don't know...."punk" is just an urban word used when someone has fallen prey to a prank call).

Well.....Nephew Tommy picked the right one that day! This guy was so gullible....Nephew Tommy had him right where he wanted him! Nephew Tommy struck a nerve because I mean....that man became so unglued....he lost every ounce of couth he had....he started using more than 4 letters words...and I'm sure if he could have reached through the phone....Nephew Tommy would probably now be known as “TOOTHLESS TOMMY"!

I mentioned to another Warrior last week that satan's oldest and first trick began in the Garden of Eden with Eve. Satan wanted Eve to believe that God was holding something back from her and Adam! Eve got riled up and even got dumb Adam (ooooppss did I say that)...she got Adam caught up in the mess too! It was only afterwards.....after they fell for the "ole okie dokie" that we see.......Eve got punked!

Satan wants us to think....God is holding back on us! He'll place suggestions in our thoughts that our dreams....aspirations or the promises made to us by God is not going to happen. He'll taunt....tease and try to get us to that breaking point...and if we are not careful and hip to his devices...we could fall prey and also lose our cool....Faith....and start using bad words....Confessions.....that are contrary to what we know.....The Word of God!

I Pray this week.....you don't allow satan to mess with your head or get into your pysche...which is your thought life! Regardless to what suggestions he makes.....regardless to what it looks like....regardless to how you feel....regardless to how long it has taken...regardless to who don' walked and left you...regardless...don't fall for satan's ole okie dokie....don't allow satan to punk you!

Have a FABULOUS week!

You are already Blessed so be Encouraged....
Love ya,Paula
© Copyright 9/20/2009
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Email: Mspauladpoet@yahoo.com

"Handle Your Own Business"

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5 (KJV)

My husband and I were at the neighborhood gas station this morning when I noticed a young lady, who after pumping her gas, left her gas tank door opened with the top hanging out. I quickly summoned my husband who was pumping our gas to stop the young lady. Well after yelling about 3 or 4 times for her to stop (guess she had the music loud) she did and her son got out of the car and screwed the cap back on and closed the door. As she drove off I told my husband “she didn’t even look our way or opened her mouth to say thank you.”

After I drove no more than a ½ block away, I heard a noise from the back of the car. When I looked in the side view mirror, I saw..…guess what…..our gas cap fly off the car onto the side of the road….in his haste to stop the young lady, hubby forgot to put the top on and close our tank’s door! All I could do was laugh and I told him, “you know I’m gon’ write about this right?!!!! That’s when I heard….YOU COULDN’T EVEN HANDLE YOUR OWN BUSINESS! I was rebuked in my spirit and Holy Spirit said:

1. What was your real motive? You told her about the door, so what if she didn’t say thank you…WHAT…..were you looking for some praise or something?
2. When you look at someone else’ shortcomings or what they do or don’t do, be careful because you don’t have it all together yourself!

WOW….Perfect Patty isn’t perfect at all….FORGIVE ME FATHER!!!!!!!!

I wrote a motivation not long ago entitled “What’s Your Motive” and it asks: why do we do the things we do? Do we do things out of sheer love and concern for others or do we look for a pat on the back…..recognition……fame or glory? And why…….myself included…but why are we so quick to look at what someone is doing or not doing when we ourselves don’t do it…….HYPOCRITE (Matthew 7:5)!

I looked on line and here’s a definition I found for hypocrite: “a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives” (www.thefreedictionary.com). There’s that word again MOTIVE!

People of God we have to LOVE one another! It is our duty….our obligation to edify and lift up one another and not be a stumbling block (Romans Chapter 14). We should be willing to restore (Galatians 1:1) even if they do fall…..and our speech….our words should always “minister Grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29)!

Galatians 6:10 (NIV) says “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers!

It is my Prayer today that WE not look at others in judgment but walk in Love towards ALL PEOPLE! Remember: Love is patient….kind…does not envy….does not boast…it is not proud….not rude….not self-seeking….not easily angered….it keeps no record of wrongs….does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth….it always protects…always trusts…always hopes….always perseveres...Love never fails...
I Corinthians 13:1-8 (NIV)

You are already Blessed so be Encouraged…..
Love ya,
Paula
© Copyright 9/9/09
All Rights Reserved

"Perfect Patty Isn't Perfect At All"

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard

Now all of you know by now I am very transparent when it comes to sharing things in my life….well….the other day I received a rather disturbing piece of mail that took me back to 3 years ago in my life! I truly thought that chapter of my life had been closed, filed and set ablazed but there I was….fuming and ready to draw blood! Sis. Sweet, Kind-hearted, Loving….Saved & Sanctified Paula had an anger issue!

I’m reminded of Romans 12:3 that says: “For by the Grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of Faith God has given you.” I just knew I had it going on…and as my Daddy says…and on my way to Glory! Who me…..that angry with someone…..no way……yes way!!!

As I was preparing for my homicide support group session, I came across a group exercise entitled “Anger Fountain”. Here’s how it works: each participate is asked to think of someone they are angry at and collect a stone from a small fountain (I’m going to use a vase). When the participants have their hands filled with stones, they will be asked to make a circle and join hands with others in the support group. When they realize this cannot be done, it will be explained this happens when we hold on to anger and pain. We cannot reach out to others in Love. Inside the fountain (or the beautiful vase in our case) is God’s Love and should they choose, they could put their stones in the fountain so that God’s Love can help take the anger away! I thought WOW…it’s just like God because He knew I needed this exercise more than they do!

My friend and former supervisor, PamL sent me an email and in that email she encouraged me (that’s why it’s important to have Godly people in your life), Pam stated in her email:

Just remember…The devil hates to see you happy! You just had your 1st Anniversary (moving to Atlanta). You’re so happy and proud! The devil probably said “OH YEA!!!!...Take this one lady!!!!! Don’t let him do that. Think about how God saved you and Praise The Lord that He saved you from yourself. Now go give someone a compliment. Watch how the Holy Spirit will fill you up so much. Those negative feelings will drift away!!!! And you’ll be all great!! I can promise!

Y’all…..I wanted to make a couple of phone calls and tell some people off, but thank God I didn’t! Come to find out, the paper I received in the mail….it was sent to me in error…a communications error between two offices! It makes me wonder though….was it a test or what….and if it was….can I honestly say I passed the test????

I like the Amplified version of 2 Corinthians 13:11: “Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.”

It’s important we stay Prayed up…walking in the Spirit so we won’t fall prey to the flesh (Galatians 5:16). We must be Spiritually minded and conscience of our words, actions and deeds! Just because we’re Saved….Sanctified….Filled with The Holy Ghost and Fire Baptized doesn’t mean we are exempt from “things”! I think “things” attack us more because of that fact, however, we have choices. We can either choose to hold on to the “stones” or whatever our “thing” may be….or we can trust God….let Him do the work He needs to do in us and in spite of how we may feel…..walk in Love!

Now I know this is kinda long, but I actually wrote this on 8/10 but had to add to it this morning because no sooner after I wrote this yesterday….I went home….and guess what…..test #2 came!!!! Today my cousin Minister LaKisha sent the Word for the day from Psalm 138:8 (NKJV): “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me….”Amen and Hallelujah for Jesus!!!!

Prayer for this day…Father…..perfect that which concerns me so I can walk in Love and Peace toward my Sisters and Brothers…..in Jesus’ Name I Pray…Amen!

You are already Blessed so be Encouraged,
Love ya,
Paula
© Copyright 8/11/2009
All Rights Reserved

P.S.
In case you are wondering about the title….I jokingly sometimes use a line Janet Jackson’s character says on Tyler Perry’s movie “Why Did I Get Married”…she says……“Perfect Patty messed up”! Perfect Patty isn’t perfect at all!

"Let Praise Get You Out Of The Pit"

Motivations from the Heart of Paula Williams-Gaillard

"And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt." Genesis 37:26-28

Yesterday God placed in my Spirit a Word to share with each and every one of you today! I heard it from Pastor Jentzen Franklin before I went to Church and I heard it again from Pastor Jerome Carodine in Church...but The Word is..."LET PRAISE GET YOU OUT OF THE PIT"!

In the story of Joseph, The Dreamer, it was his brother…Judah (meaning Praise) who said to his brothers “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites.” Joseph was then lifted out of the pit (because of “PRAISE”) and was taken to Egypt where he later became 2nd in command under Pharaoh!

Pastor Jerome's message yesterday was entitled "The Just Shall Live By His Faith"! People of God...all we have is our Faith in God! The world wants us to believe that we are living in a recession...but Faith says..."God shall supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19)! The world says starting a business or owning a home right now is not a good idea...but Faith says..."You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Philippians 4:13)! The world says they are bracing for swine flu....west nile and all other diseases that might hit....but Faith says...."no plague shall come nigh thy dwelling" (Psalm 91:10)!

I want to encourage you....no matter what you are faced with today...PRAISE YOUR WAY OUT OF THAT SITUATION...NO MATTER WHAT THE DEVIL THROWS YOUR WAY...LET PRAISE GET YOU OUT OF THE PIT......GET OUT OF THE PIT OF DEPRESSION....GET OUT OF THE PIT OF LACK....GET OUT OF THE PIT OF DOUBT...FEAR AND SICKNESS.....PRAISE YOUR WAY EVEN BEFORE YOU SEE WHAT THE END GON' BE…...LIVE BY FAITH…...WALK IN FAITH....SPEAK FAITH......FAITH SAYS IN SPITE OF.....BECAUSE OF IT ALL....THROUGH IT ALL.....I'M GON' LEAN…TRUST AND DEPEND ON GOD!!!!

You are already Blessed so be Encouraged....
Love ya,
Paula
© Copyright 8/3/09
All Rights Reserved