IT'S........................#EncoreWednesday!!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

YOU Know What Day It Is?!?  YES! IT'S #EncoreWednesday!!

For today's **Featured Message** for #EncoreWednesday!, we get a helping hand from The Holy Spirit who is taking us back to WHO YOU IS?? from Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Thanks Holy Spirit!

**Remember**: Email me at wincty@aol.com or post in Comments below or DM me at @MonaGirlNYC to have your Fave Mona Girl Blog re-posted the last Wednesday of the month for #EncoreWednesday!! 

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WHO YOU IS??

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Welllll, for today's Mona Girl Blog,  the Holy Spirit has some homework for US to do. And the way I look at it, this Assignment can be easy or a tad daunting (smile).  So let's get to it......

Our Holy Homework centers around a question my friend Dr. Bertie was asked by one of Our Lord's Angels who was in need..........

Here's the Back Story: Dr. Bertie is from the Virgin Islands and for many years, he and his Family and Friends prepare and serve Holiday Dinners to those in need.  It's been a long standing Family Tradition and the group of volunteers grows each and every year (folks who want to assist who live in V.I. and folks who travel with him from NYC).

So one year, Bert was doing his usual routine of being SELFLESS and providing for those in need back home and this man (who Bert saw frequently and helped anytime he saw him) said out of the blue:

"WHO YOU IS?"

When Bert told me this story a couple years ago, it ALWAYS stayed with me.  Not just the actual question itself  but how the man worded his question (LOL!) ALWAYS stayed with my heart space as well.  I think of it from time to time.......and the Holy Spirit brought it back to my mind again this weekend during my quiet time with My Lord.

"WHO YOU IS?"

Hmmmm,that's a pretty loaded question don't you think?  When Dr. Bertie told me the story, of course I asked him, "What did you say?"  And Bert, being his humble and gentle self said he replied (and I'm paraphrasing cuz it's been awhile): "I am just someone doing what I can to help."

Yeah....."WHO YOU IS?"

The Holy Spirit put on my mind for me to pose this Powerful question to US.........and to Really (REALLY) think about what Our answer is.  No pressure, No Right/Wrong answer, No "what will people think if I answer this way", No this is the politically correct answer, No guilt, No shame, No pride, No **NOTHING** except what is in Your Heart, what brings You Peace, what brings You Freedom, what makes You Smile when you whisper Your answer to Yourself.

And Loves, since I'm asking You to do Your Holy Spirit Homework.......My answer (at this point in my life, at this stage of my Faith Walk, as Our Lord continues to pen His Weekly Wednesday Blog through Mona).... My Honest answer is: I AM HIS! Oh Yeah!  May sound hokey, may sound "Holy Roller'ish", may sound cliche, may scare a few of You (LOL!) but that's MY answer and I'm sticking to it :)

Family, that's ALL I've got for US today.  And as I close out today's Mona Girl Blog, I hope you take some time to think about what Your answer is......as I leave You to Your thoughts........

"WHO YOU IS?"

"But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature.  I've already eliminated him.  God judges persons differently than humans do.  Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, MSG)

"What about you?" he asked them.  "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16, GNT)

Continued Success & Abundant Blessings!

Mets Gushing Moment:

Blessed & Gifted Gentlemen......DO NOT DRINK THE WATER IN PANIC CITY!! #Toxic!

Metsies Winning Season - Scripture #12:

"Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate.  For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life." (James 1:12, MSG)

THE HOLY TRINITY.....#TheBigThree!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Today's Message is Alllllll about Filling us with HIS TRUTH and WISDOM!

I receive emails from time to time asking me to explain the Holy Spirit. And like those who've asked me, understanding WHO the Holy Spirit IS was something I had to learn as well.

We ALL know that God is the Creator of the Universe.......that Jesus is the Son of God....but WHO is this Holy Spirit that folks keep mentioning and what does HE do?

**Mona's Simple Definition**: The Holy Spirit is who Jesus left with Us after He died on the cross, was resurrected and returned home to Heaven to be re-united with His Father, Our God. The Holy Spirit is a Gift from God and He is our Comforter, Helper and Counselor.  The Holy Spirit lives within each of Us. He Speaks to Us and Guides Us.  The Holy Spirit is our internal GPS.  In the Word, Jesus describes the Gift of the Holy Spirit to us as follows: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." (John 14:16-17, NLT) So when You give Your life to Christ.....Receive Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour -  You instantly receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always referred to as a HE and is a major player (an equal) in The Holy Trinity.......The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Comprende? You Understand? I hope I'm not confusing matters with *Mona's Simple Definition*(smile).

Now, to hopefully make it even clearer and bring some Ordained Wisdom and Insight to the table, let's check out this Read from one of my fave Preachers......Dr. Charles Stanley.  He breaks it ALL down in Real Time, Biblical Style........

GOD IN THREE PERSONS

Years ago, after I preached about God's Spirit, a woman came up after church to complain, "Why do you talk about the Holy Spirit when people need to hear about Jesus and God?" Sometimes even those who have been Christians for a long time regard the Trinity as a hierarchy. To their way of thinking, the Father is God, Jesus is slightly beneath Him in rank and seniority, and the Holy Spirit is their servant.  While this may conform to human models of authority, it isn't biblical. 

According to the Scriptures, all three members of the Trinity are fully God:

God the Father - Jesus Christ referred to His Father as God (John 5:17-18).

God the Son - (John 1:1) identifies Jesus as divine.  While Christ never specifically called Himself "God", His Father did apply the title to Him (Hebrews 1:8).  Furthermore, Jesus acknowledged having unlimited power - an attribute possessed only by the divine Creator (Matthew 28:18) - and also accepted worship (Matthew 14:33), (John 9:38)

God the Holy Spirit - After declaring that God raised Christ from the dead, the New Testament goes on to credit the Holy Spirit with the resurrection (Romans 8:11).  Jesus reinforced that idea when He commanded the disciples to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  

The Bible confirms that each member of the Trinity is equally God.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit function as a unit - no one is more important or less essential than the others.  All three are focused upon their plan for mankind: salvation, transformation, and glory for God.

So Loves, as we can see, the Holy Spirit is an Equal part of THE HOLY TRINITY.....#TheBigThree!  The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are One God, having the same Power and the same Divine Nature.  And, if you've given your life to the Lord, the Holy Spirit LIVES in You!! He is your personal, intimate Comforter, Helper and Counselor.  You can call on the Holy Spirit just like you call out to Your Daddy God and Jesus.

And Family, to be completely honest, there are times when I call out to **ALL THREE** at the same time (LOL!).....I pull out ALL the stops and call out to the THE HOLY TRINITY.......#TheBigThree! to Show Up and Show Out in my life. And depending on what We are Walking through........what We are Growing through.......what Life Stuff We are dealing with......it sure does bring Comfort, Peace and a Divine Assurance to know that ALL Three.....God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are Available, Listening and Ready to Help Us....their Beloved Children!!

Continued Success & Abundant Blessings!









Mets Gushing Moment:
Roses are Red, 
Violets are Blue,
I'm blocking out the NOISE & DRAMA and so should YOU!

#YOUGotTHIS! #UnfinishedBusiness!

P.S. **Remember**: All those folks bringing the NOISE.....stirring up the DRAMA can NOT ever, ever, EVAAAAA Do what You Do in 162+!!! Focus & Shine!!



Metsies Winning Season - Scripture #11:
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about You." (1 Peter 5:7, NLT)

GOOD FRIDAY..........#TheRealStory!!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

I start off today's Mona Girl Blog with a heavy heart.  I did not receive One "Random Act of Kindness" (based on last Wednesday's Blog, ARE YOU IN?!?) and my heart is sad.  And Loves, I PRAY & HOPE it's a case of you Not Sharing instead of Not Doing :(

Mona's "Random Act of Kindness":
Last Friday, as I was completely zoned in, working intensely on my laptop, Holy Spirit said: "Go Get A Bagel". And because I no longer question or debate when I hear His voice, I stopped typing mid-sentence, pressed Saved and headed out. Right now I'm finishing up an Assignment and am not in NYC. So instead of just walking down the block to my fave bodega and having Luis hook me up with my standard Well-Toasted Cinnamon/Raisin Bagel with a Schmear of Lite Cream Cheese, I had to get into the car and drive to Starbucks......and it was raining. As I drove down the street, I approached a young lady running in the rain. Yeah.....I pulled over and she got in.  Turns out, she was running to work at Target, trying to get there early to get a gallon of milk for her young son, that she could then take two stores down to the UPS Store where the Father of her son works, so he could then take the gallon of milk while on his lunch break to their son. Yeah again.......she was full of anxiety and out of breath and crying.  When we arrived at Target, after Praying a Prayer straight from Jesus to her soul that calmed her nerves, we hugged, and she left the car Peace-filled and Focused.  I then headed to Starbucks to get my God-Ordained Bagel while crying and Praising Our Lord for His Awesomeness!! Yeah again.........God DOES NOT Play when He wants us to Be His Helpers......His Hands & Feet. BUT, we have to be available, Genuinely willing, humble, void of ego/pride and ready to Go, Do, Be, Say and Help when He Calls.........when He Leads........when He Guides. As a result, I NOW have a beautiful new friend (Hey Tacasha!) who Our Lord Blessed Me to Bless but who's also a Blessing to Mona!! (Thank You Jesus! Please continue to Use Me!!) Loves, I PRAY & HOPE that You, in your place on this Earth, are Doing your "Random Acts of Kindness" from the Heart (not to boast or brag to others) for His Glory!

NOW, for today's Message.......GOOD FRIDAY........#TheRealStory!!

As we are in the midst of Holy Week, I wanted to share a Powerful, **POWERFUL** Message Holy Spirit put in front of me last week.  This Message.....in a meticulous, excruciating, very detailed, unbelievable, I-can't-bear-to-read-another-word kind of way.......describes what Our Beautiful, Wonderful, Loving and Compassionate Jesus....Our Lord & Saviour endured for US!! For You and Me......BEFORE He hung on the Cross at Calvary, suffered and brutally died for Our Sins!! This was the horrific pre-show of torture that Jesus experienced.....BEFORE His Crucifixion!!

THE SCOURGING OF JESUS

"But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

The Roman flogging or scourging that Jesus endured prior to being crucified normally consisted of 39 lashes, but could have been more (Mark 15:15; John 19:1).

The whip that was used, called a flagrum, consisted of braided leather thongs with metal balls and pieces of sharp bone woven into or intertwined with the braids.

The balls added weight to the whip, causing deep bruising and contusions as the victim was struck. The pieces of bone served to cut into the flesh.

As the beating continued, the resulting cuts were so severe that the skeletal muscles, underlying veins, sinews, and bowels of victims were exposed. This beating was so severe that at times victims would not survive it in order to go on to be crucified.

Those who were flogged would often go into hypovolemic shock, a term that refers to low blood volume. In other words, the person would have lost so much blood he would go into shock. The results of this would be:

1) The heart would race to pump blood that was not there.

2) The victim would collapse or faint due to low blood pressure.

3) The kidneys would shut down to preserve body fluids.

4) The person would experience extreme thirst as the body desired to replenish lost fluids.

There is evidence from Scripture that Jesus experienced hypovolemic shock as a result of being flogged.

As Jesus carried His own cross to Golgotha (John 19:17), He collapsed, and a man named Simon was forced to either carry the cross or help Jesus carry the cross the rest of way to the hill (Matthew 27:32–33; Mark 15:21–22; Luke 23:26).

This collapse indicates Jesus had low blood pressure. Another indicator that Jesus suffered from hypovolemic shock was that He declared He was thirsty as He hung on the cross (John 19:28), indicating His body’s desire to replenish fluids.

Prior to death, the sustained rapid heartbeat caused by hypovolemic shock also causes fluid to gather in the sack around the heart and around the lungs. This gathering of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called pericardial effusion, and the fluid gathering around the lungs is called pleural effusion.

This explains why, after Jesus died and a Roman soldier thrust a spear through Jesus’ side, piercing both the lungs and the heart, blood and water came from His side just as John recorded in his Gospel (John 19:34)."

~ Source of writing unknown

I don't have much to say after such a Graphic Read & Pic.  Only that I've fallen even MORE deeply and madly in LOVE with Our Jesus! Our Lord & Saviour who served as our precious sacrificial Lamb and died on the Cross.....who died an horrific death on the Cross for OUR SINS!! For OUR HEALING! For OUR REDEMPTION!! Our Father God, over 2,000 years ago, gave up His ONLY Begotten Son for US!! FOR US!!! Thank You God! Thank You Jesus!!

"We know what love is because Jesus gave His life for us.  That's why we must give our lives for each other." (1 John 3:16, CEV)

And My Loves, Please get this........PLEASE GET THIS!! If Jesus LOVED US SO MUCH that He was willing to die such an ugly, gruesome Death on Calvary for Our Sins.......how can We NOT give Our Lives to Him.  How can We NOT Love Him back.  How can We NOT Worship Him.  How can We NOT be His Hands & Feet to touch lives and souls.  How can We NOT be fully and completely HIS!! (Hmph! Guess I did have something to say after all...Thx Holy Spirit!)

Here's a Link that lists/details in full JESUS' SEVEN LAST WORDS He spoke from the Cross.

On every Good Friday since I was a little girl (sans my college years and the first few years after college when I was Playing Church), I have been/and will continue to be in Our Lord's House from Noon - 3:00 p.m. hearing and reliving the Powerful, **POWERFUL** Seven Last Words Our Jesus spoke as He hung on the Cross on Calvary, suffered and died for Our Sins!!

Family, I PRAY this Message gives you pause......and makes you look at GOOD FRIDAY....#TheRealStory!! in a whole different light.....in a way that touches you deeeeeep down in your soul......in a way that disturbs and shakes you to your core.....in a way that causes you to Do, Live, Be and See Things differently!! Loves, Easter is sooooo much more than Easter Eggs & Candy!!

Have a Blessed rest of Your Holy Week, A Humbling Good Friday and A Glorious Resurrection Sunday Celebrating HE's RISEN!! HE LIVES!! OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST LIVES!!

Continued Success & Abundant Blessings!







Mets Gushing Moment:
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize!! 

#MyMetsiesMUYCaliente!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Metsies Winning Season - Scripture #10:
"Now therefore, stand and see this Great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes." (1 Samuel 12:16, NKJV)

ARE YOU IN?!?

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

As we continue to Walk Out Lenten Season together and head toward the Glory of Resurrection Sunday, Holy Spirit continues to remind me of my Lenten Season Mantra: "Lent is no longer about Giving Up Things - it's ALL about Becoming so I can Receive His Blessings."  And this continued on Repeat as I read the "Reflections Message" of the April Praise & Prayer Calendar I received yesterday from My Blessed Sister (Heyyyyy Shalawn!!).  

I so enjoyed the Devo from "Seeing God In Everything" that I thought I would SHARE the idea with His Mona Girl Blog Family!! P.S. If you want a copy of the April Praise & Prayer Calendar, shoot me an email and I will send you the pdf file cuz I can't figure out how to embed the link in today's Blog (smile).

Anywho.....the scribe for "Seeing God In Everything" described in her April Devo an assignment/activity her Sunday School Class participated in called "Random Acts of Kindness".   Each of the Sunday School Class students was to perform a spontaneous good deed and then report about it to the class.  She said one of the classmates spoke of an encounter she had while she was running errands.  She had regularly seen a group of gang members and stepping into her "Random Acts of Kindness" assignment full force, she courageously asked to speak to the gang leader.  When the gang leader approached her, she did not allow herself to get intimidated or back away from Holy Spirit's nudge and proceeded to tell him that he didn't have to live the life of a gang leader and then ended their little chat by informing him that she was PRAYING for him.  The author of the Devo goes on to say that as the classmate was sharing her "Random Act of Kindness" story with the class, she said the gang leader did not accept her message with open arms BUT he did admit that he'd never had anyone tell him they were PRAYING for him. Despite the gang leader's honesty, the classmate felt she had not done enough........that maybe she could have done more.  But her Testimony ended with her fellow classmates encouraging/assuring her that she had Planted a Seed in the gang leader's life and just like in the Scriptures, God leads some of us to Plant and some of us to Water and that both of these actions prepare the soil for Our Lord to step in and give the increase. 

"I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6, NLT)

So Loves, based on the story...the beautiful Testimony above, what do you say? ARE YOU IN?!? Want to join me over the next seven days, until we meet again next Wednesday, and do your own spontaneous "Random Act of Kindness"?? At work, in your neighborhood, at school, at the gym, at Target, at a restaurant, at the Mall, at the Market/Grocery Store, walking down the street, on the subway, at the DMV, at the Airport, at the doggie park......WHERE EVA the nudge hits you............ARE YOU IN?!?

Oh Yeah!! I see you nodding YES Mona!! I am soooooo excited to see what You Post Below in the Comments or Email Me at wincty@aol.com that I'll share next Wednesday!! Just think about it......ALL over Our Big Beautiful World!!  Our Mona Girl Blog Family will be stepping out and showing Our Love and Kindness to Our fellow Brothers and Sisters!! "Random Acts of Kindness" from one end of the Globe to the other!! WE will Be A Blessing AND Get Blessed by Being A Blessing!! Wheweee!! Can You tell I'm soooooo Fired Up about this?!? 

And Family, please remember, just like what was shared above..........folks may NOT receive what We are Doing or Saying......but again.........embrace my Lenten Season Mantra (make it Yours!) and this week, courageously Step Out of your comfort zone and Step Into your spontaneous "Random Act of Kindness"!!!! And WATCH........just You WATCH and SEE how you feel after You Plant Your Kindness Seed in someone's Heart! It's NOT about the Instant Return.......It's about the PLANTING. God will send someone else (or maybe even return You) to Water and HE will make it grow.

In the Beautiful Words of one of my Fave childhood Pastors growing up in South Bend, IN: "It's NICE to be NICE." - Rev. L.J. Perry

So Family, PLEEEEEEZ do join in and share this week. It will do my Heart & Soul such good, along with the rest of His Mona Girl Blog Family, to read your "Random Acts of Kindness"! Comment Below or Email to wincty@aol.com

Continued Success & Abundant Blessings!!








Mets Gushing Moment:
Oh Yeah!! Talk About **BULLETIN BOARD** Material!! 

#Bound&Determined! #LGM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. NO MATTER what's happened this week, elbows, blisters, etc.  ALL IS WELL!! YOU are PREPARED & READY!!  Living in a DRAMA-FREE ZONE Gentlemen!! Ignore the NOISE!! IGNORE THE NOISE!!!!

Metsies Winning Season - Scripture #9:

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)