BE ENCOURAGED BOO!!!

Family......Shhhhh. I need your full, complete, undivided attention.  Come a little closer......closer...... I want to whisper something in your ear.  Did you see who's in FIRST PLACE IN THE NL EAST?!? Oh YEAH!  My Metsies!! I don't believe in the "j" word so I'm SHOUTING - YAHOO, WAY TO GO BOYZ!!!!! Keep Shining Brightly My Talented and Gifted Mets Men and Keep Doin what you Do ohhhhhh so Well!!! "For Nothing is Impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) #LGM!!!! #MeExcited!!! 


OK!! NOW that I've got that out of my system, let's get to today's Mona Girl Blog which is about Being Encouraged and Being an Encourager!!

We can ALL raise our hands in this class that there are times (Whewee!! Are there times!!), when WE ALL need some Encouragement. And there are times when WE are to give Encouragement to others.  It goes both ways, We receive and We give back.

And Being an Encourager is sooooo MUCH better than being a discourager, a naysayer or a Negative Nellie.  It doesn't take much effort to Encourage a friend, family member, co-worker, etc. who may be growing through a hard time, walking out some life stuff, dealing with a rough patch.  And when WE come along at just the Right Time and Encourage him/her......lift up, support, share a positive word, Pray with them or just sit and be a good listener...Oh YEAH, that's ALWAYS time well spent!

And on the flip side, when WE are going through some stuff.....someone will do the same for us......Just you Watch!!!  WE ALWAYS reap what we sow. Good and Kind seeds planted will bring a harvest of positive thoughts,words and actions to both the Encouraged and the Encourager.

As you all know, One of my all time Fave Mighty Men of God in the Bible is King David!! And BOY, could King David not only Encourage others but the King could Encourage himself when he had to!! And there were many, many times when King David was in despair, discouraged, weary, depressed, at his wits end.......and that's when he rose up with the Power and Love of Our Lord and Enouraged himself......

"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul." (Psalm 138:3, NKJV)

"God, the one and only - I'll wait as long as he says.  Everything I need comes from him, so why not?  He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life." (Psalm 62:1-2, MSG)

OH YEAH!! Now That's What I'm Talkin 'Bout!!! Whewee!! King David, REALLY knew how to Encourage himself.......King David, TRULY knew how to lift his Own Spirits......King David, CONSISTENTLY slapped himself Hi-Five when his circumstances required him to do so!!

And Loves, WE can take a page (heck.....the whole book) from King David's life in how WE are to do this Encouragement thing..........how WE are to Encourage ourselves and how WE are to be Encouragers. Here are a few of my FAVE "go to" Encouragement Scriptures to Fuel Your Soul and to Share.........

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, JUB).

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God - those whom he has called according to his plan." (Romans 8:28, GNT)

"I will bless you with a future filled with hope - a future of success, not of suffering." (Jeremiah 29:11, CEV)

"For with God, nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37, NKJV)

**And my 2 All Time FAVES**.........

"Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us," (Ephesians 3:20, NIV, emphasis added)

"I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, NKJV, emphasis added)

Family, I hope you are Encouraged by this Wednesday's Post.  And as the Holy Spirit's been penning today's Mona Girl Blog through me for You, I'm soaking these Words of Encouragement in MYSELF. I'm taking them to Heart, Right Now!!  Thank You Jesus, this hit the spot!!

As I close today, I urge US again to not only Be Encouraged but to also and ALWAYS, whenever possible - Be an Encourager!! YOU will be Amazed at how YOU feel and the response YOU receive from those YOU touch with YOUR Encouragement!!  Oh Yesssss! #GoooodFeelings!!  #WarmFuzzies!!

FAMILY, THIS PIC QUOTE WAS SOOOOO GOOD,  I JUST HAD TO POST IT AGAIN!!

Continued Success & Blessings!!

LOL!! - Part 2

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Yahooooo!!!!! LOL! - Part 2 is hot off the presses!  For today's Mona Girl Blog, I've searched high and low for some Jokes to make you laugh, chuckle, smile.  And Laughter is sooooo Good for the Soul!!  So without any further delay......here we go! Enjoy!!

A small town Doctor was famous in the area for always catching large fish.  One day while he was on one of his frequent fishing trips, he got a call that a woman at a neighboring farm was giving birth.  He rushed to her aid and delivered a healthy baby boy.  The farmer had nothing to weigh the baby with so the Doctor used his fishing scales.  The baby weighed 21 lbs 13 oz.


Two guys are walking thru the woods when they see a charging Grizzly Bear.  First guy says "Run for It!" Second guy says, "You can't outrun a Grizzly!"  First guy says "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun YOU." 



Due to job transfer, Brian moved from his hometown to New York City.  Being that he had a very comprehensive health history, he brought along all of his medical paperwork, when it came time for his first check up with his new Doctor.  After browsing through the extensive medical history, the Doctor stared at Brian for a few moments and said, "Well there's one thing I can say for certain, you sure look better in person than you do on paper!"



The devout cowboy lost his favorite Bile while he was mending fences out on the range.  Three weeks later, a bear walked up to him carrying the Bible in his mouth.  The cowboy couldn't believe his eyes.  He took the precious Book out of the bear's mouth and raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "It's a Miracle!"  "Not really", said the bear.  "Your name is written inside the cover."


Ten Things I Know About You:
1) You are reading this.
2) You are human.
3) You can't say the letter "P" without separating your lips.
4) You just attempted to do it.
6) You are laughing at yourself.
7) You have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5.
8) You just checked to see if there is a No. 5.
9) You laugh at this because you are a fun loving person & everyone does it too.
10) You are probably going to share this to see who else falls or it.

Family, please feel free to SHARE a Joke in the Comments below.

Continued Success & Blessings!!

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 and Blessings Family!!!


Also Family FYI............

Our Lord has put on my heart to start a Prayer & Praise Line! And YOU KNOW ME, I am uber **Obedient** when it comes to His Suggestions so I AM ON IT!! The calls will be the last Sunday of the Month, with the next call being Sunday, July 26th.  Dial-in anonymously, give your name at the prompt, join in for a few minutes or the entire hour.....however You chose to participate is completely up to You.

Time: 7:00p - 8:00p ET

Dial-In Number: (605) 477-2100

Passcode: 343645#

***Feel free to email me at wincty@aol.com if you have questions prior to the call.

YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR!!!! #YesYouAre!!!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family.

Today's Mona Girl Blog is piggy backing off the 2015 MLB All-Star Game that took place last evening in Cincinnati, OH at one of my Fave Ballparks - Great American Ballpark!

Great American Ballpark is beautiful and sits on the banks of the Ohio River. It's such a picturesque and peaceful Ballpark.......designed to remind you of the old time Steamboats that rolled up and down the Ohio River. I especially like the Night Games with the sparkling of the Roebling Bridge lights, the twinkling of the building lights from downtown Cincy and the lit up smokestacks out in center field.  Whewee! My friend Patti and I have some WONDERFUL memories of watching My Metsies play the Reds at Great American Ballpark! #Fun!!2MuchFun!!

OK!! Now for a couple Cincy All-Star Shout Outs:

*Shout OUT to Jacob deGrom, one My Metsies Starting Pitchers who played splendidly last night, MAKING HISTORY in his FIRST All-Star Game......Congrats Jacob! SHINE STAR SHINE!

*Shout OUT to two of my Fave people, All-Stars in their own right, (Penny, Director of Sales and Michel, General Manager) who flawlessly run the BEST Hotel in Cincy - Hilton Cincinnati Netherlands Plaza! 

Soooo, now that we've given props to the 2015 All-Star Game and Mona's Personal All-Stars.....let's see what the Title of today's Mona Girl Blog is all about.........Oh Yes! YOU ARE AN ALL-STAR! When it comes to being a Believer and walking out our Faith Walks - WE ARE ALL **ALL-STARS** in Our Heavenly Father's Eyes.  After all, God created US in His image and HE does not make ANY MISTAKES!

"So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female," (Genesis 1:27, GNT)

As I was thinking about the 2015 All-Star Game and US being All-Stars in our own right......I was led (Thank you Holy Spirit!) to a great read by Kenneth W. Hagin entitled Staying An All-Star for God.

And as I close out our time together today, I'm turning today's Mona Girl Blog over to the wisdom of Pastor Hagin so he can share with Us what it means to be on God's All-Star Team!  No selection committee, no ballots, no posturing, no Team Marketing tactics, no fan voting, no picking and choosing and judging who's better and more deserving.....Oh Yeah!!  YOU ARE AN ALL-STAR!!  #YesYouAre!!!

Enjoy the Read Family!! God's All-Stars!

Continued Success & Blessings!!

DONE!!! FORK!!!!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family.

Today's Mona Girl Blog is **A BIG** Testi-Mona about being filled up and overflowing with LOVE for the AWESOMENESS of Our Heavenly Father!

Have you ever reached a point in your life when Our Lord just continues to SHOW UP & SHOW OUT in your Daily Faith Walk?  I mean, DAILY!!! EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY!! Over The Top....Surreal......Sooooooo Real Stuff!! Stuff that literally takes your breath away.....Big Stuff.....Little Stuff.......Stuff YOU know YOU had NOTHING to do with happening......Stuff only HE could do....Stuff that causes You to Walk with a Holy Boldness, Confidence, Joy and Fearlessness....Stuff that makes you Shout - "You just can't make this Stuff UP"!.....Stuff that is NOTHING But God's Mighty and Loving and Glorious GRACE. Oh Yeah!!! Stuff that makes you stop dead in your tracks and just LOOK UP and say THANK YOU LORD!! THANK YOU FATHER!!

"Light, space, zest - that's God! So, with Him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing."(Psalm 27:1, MSG)

Whewee! Oh Yeah Family!!! Thank you for indulging me because I just have to share with YOU that this is the place/space where I've been hanging out lately with Our Abba Father. No Coincidences, No Strokes of Luck, No Happenstance, No Randomness - JUST PLAIN OLD, GOD-ORDAINED, FLAWLESS OCCURRENCES that CONTINUE to Blow My Mind!

"For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29, KJV)

And that's where today's Mona Girl Blog Title - "DONE!! FORK!!" comes into play.  When my friend Angela (aka MAA) and I are totally overwhelmed, consumed, awed, amazed, mouth hangin wide open, blown away by Our Lord's Blessings and Daily Miracles........we say to each other (yeah, you guessed it).....DONE!! FORK!!

"...........therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.  I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence." (Psalm 119:120, MSG)

Real Talk?  It's taken me a lonnnnnnnng time to get to.....arrive at this place/space in my Faith Walk. But WOW!!! Has the journey, the road less traveled, the uber Obedience (instead of temper tantrum), the trek, the "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21), HIS humbling and meticulously thorough Route been Worth It!!!

"What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth.  Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward  Him Makes it." (Psalm 18:30, MSG)

Family, I'm on full throttle/over drive and that's ALL I've got for You today.  Mona Girl's gotta go lay down for a moment after this.....LOL!  Yeah......a bit ALL ova the place but we landed safely this Wednesday. Whewee!! DONE!! FORK!! Thank You Holy Spirit!

Loves, I'm closing out our time together today with two Powerful Pic Quotes, a Quote and a Video! The Video was sent to me by a friend (Thanks Angel Kenneth!) couple months ago and it's been riding shotgun since. My listening suggestion? (Head phones, max volume.......YOU will NEVER be the same!)  Enjoy!!!

"When your Joy in Me meets My Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy." - Jesus Calling (Sarah Young)

Continued Success and Blessings!!

HEYYYYY.....WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Today's Mona Girl Blog is about **NAMES**.  Yeah.....this is what the Holy Spirit put on my heart to share with you today, so here we go......

What's Your Name?  Do you like Your Name? Is Your Name one that has been passed down through generation after generation in Your Family (i.e., are you a II or III or Jr.?).  Does Your Name have a sentimental meaning?

All these things come into play (or should) when our parents give us our birth names.  As we carry these important monikers throughout our lives, Our Names are our banners, our representation, and sometimes our status. I will always remember back in high school (and even now), how the guys I hung around with always called each other by their full last names or shortened versions. There were times, when we were being funny that we would call each other by our parent's first names - LOL! And there were other times, we would use nick names and most of those nick names from long ago are STILL being used......me being known as Mo or Mo Mo or Mone or Miss M.

But when all is said and done, Our Birth Names are something special.  I LOVE my name MONA (not short for Monica, Monique or Romona) - just MONA. And there are not a lot of Mona's roaming this Earth, we tend to be a special breed, so the fewer the better (smile).

My name in Greek means: Royal, in Italian: Lady and in Irish: Noble.  I remember one time in 5th Grade, we looked up each other's names in the Dictionary and my name meant: "small African monkey".....Yeah, I didn't live that down for a while.  But despite all of these meanings, nick names, etc. my parents named me Mona because there was a little girl in my Brother Mark's kindergarten class (named Mona) who my Mother just fell in love with......so here I am......M-O-N-A.........and I LIKE my Name.  Great Job - Mommy and Daddy!

"A human being's name is a principal component in his person, perhaps a piece of his soul." -Sigmund Freud

Now Family, if we Really want to do this "Name Thing" justice today, we MUST take a moment to look at the meaning of the **Most Important NAME** in Heaven and Earth.......Oh Yeah!! The NAME of Our Lord and Savior, Father God as found in His Word, The Bible.

"O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens." (Psalm 8:1, KJV)

As you've read in many Mona Girl Blogs, I will refer to Our Lord God as Our Heavenly Father, Our Sovereign Lord, Our Abba Father and so on.  But those Names for Our Lord are just a very small reflection of WHO GOD IS. Our GOD IS sooo much More and has sooo many More Magnificent and Awesome and Powerful and Humbling Names. You can see the entire list and the very informative meanings and derivations of each of God's Mighty Names here: NAMES OF GOD.  And as the Study Resource states: God knows us by our Names, shouldn't we know Him by His?  OH YEAH!! Good Point!!

• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
• El Elyon (The Most High God)
• Adonai (Lord, Master)
• Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
• Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
• El Olam (The Everlasting God)
• Elohim (God)
• Qanna (Jealous)
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

Family, I urge you to revisit, often, the above NAMES OF GOD! As you repeatedly read and understand each and every Mighty Name of God during your quiet time, Bible Study, etc......You will begin to memorize the NAMES OF GOD and use them in your daily Faith Walk.  It's overwhelming how the Power, Magnificence and LOVE of Our Wonderful Lord permeates our souls when WE KNOW HIS NAMES!! When HIS NAMES sink deep down into the depths of our hearts.  When HIS NAMES become an integral and important part of our Faith and Love for HIM! When HIS NAMES define the Powerful Audience-of-One intimate relationship we share with OUR LORD GOD!  When HIS NAMES cause us to walk, talk, speak and move with God Confidence!! Whewee!!.....That's when HIS NAMES begin to mean EVERYTHING TO US!!! Oh Yeah!!! Hallelujah!! Glory to God!! THANK YOU Lord God!! THANK YOU Holy Spirit!!!! 

My Loves, as I close out today's Mona Girl Blog, I leave you with an AWESOME, SOUL LIFTING, INSPIRING Video of the NAMES OF GOD!!  Real Talk?!? If this doesn't get your juices flowing and your heart racing for HIS Glory!!!!!!  I don't know what else will do the job. ENJOY!!

Continued Success and Blessings!!

TWEET.....TWEET

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Today's Mona Girl Blog is about Social Media. I have to be completely honest, I am NOT a big Social Media person (hence why I procrastinated in starting Mona Girl Blog - Thanks Holy Spirit!).  But I do have a Twitter account @MonaGirlNYC that I use mainly to Tweet Wednesday's Blog, communicate on a limited basis with Friends (my Tweets are ALWAYS too long), and follow my fave NYC Restaurants/Food Trucks/Chefs, Inspirational Folks, ESPN/SportsCenter, Travel and Film Stuff.

You all know my Fave Team is The New York Mets and for the last few months, I've been at a location where I've not had the joy of watching My Metsies on  SNY.  And since I canceled my MLB.TV Membership (to watch/listen to games live), I've been keeping close tabs on my Metsies Men via MLB Gameday and "Mets on Twitter" via MetsBlog which is by far my Fave way to track the Games. Tweets come in from the slew of Mets Reporters, The New York Mets Team site, etc.  I'm partial to the following three "Twitter Folks", (yeah, I made that up....it's a Monaism) @AnthonyDiComo and @MetsBooth.  Their Tweets are funny, factual, informative, laced with sarcasm at times and just down right witty.

Anywho.....as I was thinking about Social Media, my mind wandered to thinking about What if Jesus had a Twitter Account?!? LOL!  Yeah, I KNOW.......I am way out in the deep end today with this but come on.....take my hand and let's see where this leads us.

Soooo, we know that in order to have a Twitter Account, you have to have a Username so here are some of the Usernames I came up with for Our Lord and Savior: @JesusChristSaves or @JC2000A.D. or @JesusRSavior and my fave, @JesusLives!

OK!! And now that we've discussed options for Jesus' Username, just imagine if Jesus came on the scene and Tweeted His First BIG Miracle - #Jesus Turns Water Into Wine at the Wedding at Cana - John 2:1-11 (read the Bible Scripture at: Jesus' First Miracle). Can you imagine the Number of Followers and Retweets and Favorites He would have received INSTANTLY?!? Whewee! YOU Go JESUS!!

Or what if Jesus decided to Tweet what He did one evening in the desert with a little boys lunch (5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish), after He finished preaching to an audience of 5000+ - #Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - Matthew 14:13-21 (read the Bible Scripture at: Jesus Feeds Five Thousand).  Can you imagine the Tweets and Instagram Photos!! Twitter would have crashed!! Hallelujah!!

OK, pleeeeeeez indulge me for just One more "What if"........What if Jesus Tweeted His Miracle when He raised His Boy and life long friend Lazarus from the Dead?!? - #Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead -John 11:38-44 (read the Bible Scripture at: The Raising of Lazarus). Oh YEAH!! I can't even Begin to Imagine the Selfies of Jesus and Lazarus!!! Yeah Jesus!!

Family, this was FUN!! I tell you one thing......if Our Lord and Savior had a Twitter Account, I would be His BIGGEST Follower....hanging on Each and Every one of HIS Awesome Tweets!!  Thanks to the Holy Spirit for feeding me the **Biblical Twitter** "What If's". And as I ALWAYS say, when it comes to Mona Girl Blog, WE just NEVER know where Our Lord is going to lead, teach and laugh with US on any given Wednesday.

"Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come unto you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full." (2 John 1:12, JUB)

Continued Success & Blessings Family!


Also Family, FYI.............

Our Lord has put on my heart to start a Prayer & Praise Line!  And YOU KNOW ME, I am uber **Obedient** when it comes to His Suggestions, so I AM ON IT!! The calls will be the last Sunday of the Month, with the next call being Sunday, June 28th.  Dial-in anonymously, give your name at the prompt, join in for a few minutes or the entire hour......however you choose to participate is completely up to you :) 

Time: 7:00p - 8:00p ET

Dial-In Number: (605) 477-2100

Passcode: 343645#

**Feel free to email me at wincty@aol.com if you have any questions prior to the call.