Hide me

Psalm 27:5

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Dear GOD, if you don't come help me, my outcome is not looking good. Can I please feel a fresh wind today? The very foundation I am standing on seems to be sinking!!! I'm at the point of throwing my hands up & quitting!!! Is there any refuge? Can I go on a little further? I can't show my weakness...LORD IF YOUR LISTENING..." I NEED THEE!!"


Tears go away, but as they flowed the Psalmist came and awakened my spirit...for in the time of trouble he shall hide me!!! I stretched my hand out and surrendered. Today, GOD hide me!!! 

To the man, woman or child who thinks life is too hard & there is no way out...stretch your hand out & say GOD HIDE ME!!! Abide in the shadow of the Almighty!!! Whatever you are going through, just know it's not bigger than my GOD!! I know it seems too simple to work, but just stretch you hand out. HE promised that in your time of trouble HE WOULD HIDE YOU!!! Now your problem may not be like my problem nor the size of mine, but it is a problem!!! Run to OUR DADDY and be swept away in His arms. You're safe there!! I'm safe there!!! Hide us DADDY!! Trouble all around us...HIDE US!!! SLEEPLESS NIGHTS...HIDE US!!! More month than money...HIDE US!!! Children going astray...HIDE US!!! Depression attacking the mind...HIDE US!!! Death and loneliness...HIDE US!! Look as if the good is losing and the bad is winning....HIDE US!!! Marriages on the rocks...HIDE US!!! 

This thang is deeper than just being hidden from trouble...see GOD WILL TAKE YOU FROM YOUR TROUBLE while you are yet going through, but see you are covered by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB!!! In HIS pavilion(covering)...In the secret of HIS tabernacle(place of worship) ....somebody say plenty good room!!! And then HE will allow us to rise above our trouble...and sit us upon a ROCK(a solid foundation...THE LORD IS MY ROCK!!!) STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND & SAY, "GOD, HIDE ME!!"

Be set free in JESUS' name!!!!

Thank YOU LORD!!!! Bless HIS NAME!!!

GARMENT OF PRAISE

Isaiah 61:3

King James Version (KJV)

³ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Right now I'm reminiscing about the goodness of my DADDY & all I can say is THANK YOU!!! See I know when life gets a little crazy, GOD is on a mission to bless me immeasurably!!! I just gotta say THANK YOU!! 

See when the slightest distraction comes to make me question "WHERE IS GOD IN THIS?", I am reminded HE WAS THERE ALL THE TIME!!! While the enemy was out to kill me, GOD COVERED ME!! Don't get me wrong..I entertained some craziness BUT GOD BLOCKED IT!!! HE WOULDN'T LET IT BE SO!! I had to quickly change my stinking thinking!! 

GOD SAID I WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE!!! Oh somebody needed to hear that!!! Look in the mirror and say it with me, "GOD YOUR WORD SAYS I WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE!!" Now if you believe that, put up the funeral clothes and PUT ON YOUR GARMENT OF PRAISE!!! HALLELUJAH!! Chains are broken right now...yea right that place...be made free today!!  

Starting today, I challenge us to get in the WORD OF GOD & find out what HE says about us!! Then, be crazy enough to believe HIM!! HE can't lie. Be true to yourself!! Take off them funeral clothes & get suited up in your PRAISE ATTIRE!! LOOK THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION!! 

YOU SHALL LIVE & NOT DIE!!!

Psalm 118:17

The Message (MSG)

^17-20 I didn’t die. I lived!
    And now I’m telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
    but he didn’t hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
    I’ll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
    so the victors can enter and praise.

Be blessed today & everyday!!

Take 8

Psalm 139:14

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

USM the place to be for Jamita....I didn't party like I did at State, though I was still the life of many Christian fellowships. I went to class & excelled. I wasn't trying to hide my usual name, look or be a loner because my "soul knoweth right well"! Nothing & no one was going to stop me now!

SN: When I wasn't worried about being seen or dated, guys came out the woodwork. Alpha, Kappas, Omegas & one of the star football players, but my mind was on the ONE WHO WOULD NEVER LEAVE  ME NOR FORSAKE ME!!! For those of you who feel like you AIN'T got it...believe me you are the one who is rocking it the most!!!

I was ministering to whomever would listen to me and if you listened, at the end I prayed like JESUS was coming the next day. Conviction came and I had another person going to midweek bible study with me. I believe my total was a good 40/50 born again believers..not that I was keeping count, but the young minister who taught our bible study said that he should give me a trophy. Lol 

Evangelizing and didn't even know it!!! Didn't know what GOD'S  plan for me was..but HE knew the plan HE had for me!!! Somebody hold my mule.....

I found my place...I fit in...I have joy...I knew(know) my worth...and I'm not ashamed of my name because my name had been changed to Daughter, Sister, & Christian..I was no longer unusual, but unique. My life was changed!! Hallelujah

How many of you know the test was coming? Lurking in the distance of my future was a test of many to move me from spreading the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST to the unsaved, to going back into a deep dark hole with no way out.

Questions: Have you been on fire for GOD so that you forgot to WATCH as well as PRAY? Did you fail the test when it came? How did you feel? 

Take 9 coming soon

Take 7

Jeremiah 29:11

Today's New International Version (TNIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Well the saga continues.....my life at State had its ups and downs. One thing, I found out that created more problems for me than anything was that I didn't have to go class if I didn't feel like it. Another escape for me not to deal with my uniqueness or people(loner mentality). 

Fast forward....grades in the mail & Brenda Joyce Townsend hits the roof. Academic probation & I had to explain that I had not been going to class. Ughhh..."Momma don't play that!"

Farewell Oh Dear State....hello University of Southern MS..not happy but for a split second, I cherished my life. Lol 

 Ok, I'm experiencing a new outlook...let's see what happens!!!

USM was my changing for the good place. Why you ask? Because I was introduced to some sold out Christians, who were or had experienced some hardships that they too thought they couldn't overcome or fight through......but GOD!!!! 

How many of you know that when you think your  life is over & you have no more fight in you that GOD WILL STEP IN ON TIME!!!??

I, Jamita, realized that she was "fearfully and wonderfully made" by the hands & love of MY DADDY GOD. This scripture came alive in my spirit again, but with a new & bolder outlook & truth! Take hold of your seats people the next Takes will allow you to peek into my heart for real. Though I was still getting to know the Jamita GOD knew, I faced it all with boldness....never to question my worth again.

Questions: Do you believe GOD forgives the backslider? Do you believe there is true life(natural & spiritual) after dying to the ways of your thinking(your flesh)? 

Well if you don't believe that HE FORGIVES THE BACKSLIDER & that there is true life after dying to the flesh, allow my journey to minister to your brokenness & your unbelief! I feel a praise rising in my spirit!! 

Take 8 in the works

Take 6

Jeremiah 29:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹¹ For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Well off to college I go & so not ready, but at least I'm not a virgin(how stupid)!!! I enter college with the mindset that I was going to meet new people and I could be true to myself(hey..nobody knew me...a fresh start!) Could this really be a new start for this unusual young lady? Well Mississippi State University here comes Jamita Renepte Townsend...watch out? 

Remember this young lady was embarking on a whole new outlook on life...what in the world was a new outlook to an old mindset. I told you to have an openmind going through this journey with me. Here goes everything!!!

August of 1991, I stepped onto the campus of MSU with a smile on my face, a strut and sway in my walk, fear in my heart and mind questioning what had I gotten myself into. I was in a battle in my own self. Frankly, Jamita was her own enemy. It hurts to say that I was against my own self...my future, my destiny, my ministry, my beliefs...THE REAL ME!!!

Wooohsaa!!!!...ok Freshman year started off pretty ok, but remember when I said I had become a loner...uhhh yea walked to class alone with my head down and in full stride, loved my roommate, but would have loved her more from a distance(why didn't I get a room by myself....it wasn't her it was me, but I couldn't express that)!! Eventually loss a good friend because of the inner me. 

On a happy note, I became friends with some cool dudes...the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma!! Well this relationship came from one of the brothers spotting me walking across campus...head down and in full stride to class. I was in the Union meeting my roomie and was approached by this tall bald dark chocolate brother wearing his letters from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He said, "Hi, what's your name Miss Lady?" Me, "uhhhh, hi I'm ok!"...girl pull it together your name is not ok...and yes he is talking to you....He laughed and said "Your name is ok really?"  Me, "No..(heehee)..my name is Jamita!"...then I immediately got on the defensive, stood tall and eyes opened wide..like come on with a joke if you think you're bad(LORD HELP ME)! He said, "What a lovely name, for lovely young lady!" Me, "Thanks!"...but really questioning his motives! Still in that place of feeling if I could love and be loved, but in this instance just to have a good conversation without my guard up. Though I was wrestling with my insecurities, I had a big smile on my face...what woman wouldn't looking up at this hottie. Lol

As we talked, he told me that he had been watching me. Huh? LORD IS HE CRAZY? Well, he continued to say why don't you walk with a friend across campus. He said that my head is down and I'm in full speed going to class. "Look up because you are missing the world around you!" And from that day on, I walked with my group from Pulley dorm and I was checking out the world around me. I saw my Sigma friend every morning and he waved with this huge smile on his face....then one smile became 10.  Lol the brothers were scoping me out. Lol 

But the struggled continued....even though I became the life of many dances and danced with many Sigmas...even got up the nerves to go out on a date with one of their line brothers...my inner me almost paralyzed my life. The twists and turn of the life of the young lady Jamita.

SN: I so wanted to be a Zeta at State, but guess what..so insecure that I didn't! 

Questions: What in you is causing you not to embrace your destiny and move form one place to the next? Have your inner you paralyzed you to the point that you have become complacent in less than striving for more?

Take 7 coming very soon

Take 5

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Failed test....not the first and sho' nuff not the last. This Christian life took me through so many ups and downs. After that journal entry, I didn't look very saved on the outside. How many of you now the outer doesn't show the real you most times? Thank GOD because if you knew me just by the outer, you would have said that I needed a rebirth into the faith. 

Let's forward to my last year in high school:
1. I loss friends that I had grown up with from grade school....another transition and cement walls being built.

2. I became a loner. Not good for none of the parties involved. Here is where I found myself in a dark place. Guilt set in and hurt mounted. I hate thinking about it, but to those who read this be encouraged that if you have given your life to CHRIST then HE will not let you stay in darkness....moving right along

3. My mouth became a weapon...literally..I, Jamita, would cuss you out and speak so low to you that it would take a lifetime to build you back up. And what was so messed up about that was that I purposed to hurt a person, if they did or said anything against me. I meant when I wrote in my journal that I was never going to be hurt by people again & that I would hurt first. Oh I meant it.

4. Now this is the kicker, I finally gave in to peer pressure and gave it up at 18(to the young man that would be my husband two years later)....I know...I wasn't giving it up unless I was married..I lied. My decision was made on the grounds of I didn't want to go off to college a virgin. Truth be told I should have kept my business to myself(nothing I ever expected..not memorable at all)! SN: If you are a virgin, stay that way until marriage(there's a reason why GOD made it for that covenant)!!!

This brings us up to the young lady to the young woman journey. Really where was Jamita headed? She is in another transition? Can she love? Can she forgive? Can she allow the spirit(the real her) rule her? Has the walls brought her to a place of no return? Well, you will have to keep reading to find out.

Question: Have you ever loss your way on your faith walk? Was it hard to come back to GOD?

Take 6 coming soon

Take 4

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Oh how awesome it was and is to hear from MY FATHER!!! At the tender age of 12, I gave my life(all of me) to GOD. I was saved that night in my secret place and on that following Sunday, I went up and took the chair before the world to become baptized. I was not playing about my new found worth and I believed GOD that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. My mustard seed faith was rapidly growing. I felt I could take on the world with GOD on my side. I was still scared, but it didn't show on the outside. My emotions had not yet caught up with the renewed man yet. Look at your neighbor and say "but GOD knew my heart". Glory!!!

Let me give you a few inserts of the next several years of my life that are needed to understand where this journey is going:

Ages 12-13: Jamita had found her worth because her Heavenly Father had assured her she was one of a kind. This young girl became a student of the Holy Ghost. She found herself reading her bible when the other kids where outside playing. Ok GOD this a bit unusual for a girl this age, but this wasn't just an ordinary girl(remember that). 

SN: Jamita was raised traditional Baptist..only the sanctified folk talked about the Holy Ghost. Which meant again, she was treading on unusual ground according to her upbringing. LORD WILL JAMITA MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD ON THE PATH SHE WAS TAKING.(Keep on the journey you will see where Jamita didn't stay on common ground much!)

Ages 14-15: Jamita began to feel out of place again because her body didn't develop with all the other girls....oh and whoever said "the curse" was a welcome to womanhood could have kept that welcome wagon!!! Yea, I know life comes through the blood, but tell that to a teenager that is just trying to live. Oh my, the wives tales that I was told by my Madear and Momma....almost sent me into hiding. I had just come to start blossoming in my faith...LORD HELP ME!!

SN: during the natural maturing, Jamita matured spiritually. This young teenager wanted everyone to know about her GOD! She even held session with close friends to get them saved. This is the season she was named "bossy". Ok she was a bit radical with her faith, but her compassion drove her to be a bit forceful...."Give your life to CHRIST TODAY or die in your sins..it's your choice, but I've told you!" Forgive the teenage Jamita LORD, but I think some of those same friends are saved today for that "bossy" teenager. Lol and some have converted from different religions to Christianity because of that untactful teenager. Reading old journals..I'm surprised I wasn't stoned on the playground..lol

Ages 16-17: Introduced a whole new set of problems for Jamita...my body has blossomed beautiful, but there were no guys beating my door down. Those that I heard liked me were friends and I valued friendship like I valued family...so NO chance there. What happened to "fearfully and wonderfullymade?" Then peer pressure..."why haven't you been with a guy...what's wrong with you...if you were giving it up then guys would like you...you're cute from the eyes down, but your lips kind of take away from that, but if you were giving it up".....oh how I cried in my secret place...JESUS JESUS WHY WHY WHY ME!!! I found myself in a bad place....(a complete cement wall was built overnight)

SN: entry from this young lady's journal:
April 19th Dear GOD the words I'm about to write are not words of a Christian and please forgive me on the front end, but I gotta be real...I will never be hurt by another person again....I'm not going to allow anyone to get close enough to me to be in that position again and bet on this I will hurt them before they can hurt me!!!! If a guy want me, marry me. I ain't giving up jack!! F them!! 
Your daughter

I told y'all to have an openminded. I'm totally trippin' ...I signed your daughter!! Lol nothing about that said GOD'S Daughter, but "In The Mist Of It All" HE knew my heart(through the hurt, rubbish, wall, crippling words)! HE knows yours too!

Question: Have you ever come to a crossroad in your faith and instead of doing what was right you succumbed to your emotions? Failed test

Take 5 tomorrow

Take 3

Jeremiah 29:11

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹ For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Well morning came and I'm still here...

I realized that I was stuck with this name, this body and this life. Ok GOD, I guess it's me and you. Please help me..since YOU won't rescue me from all of this. And at that very moment, GOD gave me a WORD that saved my life. HE SAID, "You are fearfully and wonderfully made!"  I, Jamita Renepte Townsend, believed the WORDS OF MY DADDY and began to see myself as HE saw me. At the tender age of 12, I finally saw my worth.

When I realized that it was not in the name I was given, the body I was given nor the life that I was given, but in all reality THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER PERSON ON THE EARTH LIKE ME.....GOD took out the time to make only ONE ME....wow really? I must be special not just to my parents, but to GOD....WOW!!! Knowing this at 12(the most awkward age there is...I think), made my life worth living. Now did the insecurities leave.."No!", but I could deal with life a little better. Thank YOU DADDY! YOU really love me! When I question my self worth, I will remember YOUR words to me from this day forward....oh how my heart filled with joy and the tears fell because my life was worth living..."In The Mist Of It All"!!!

In the days to come that will transition this young girl into a lovely lady, prayer & constant intimacy with THE FATHER will be surely required!! Tests and trials will come to shake the very words that saved her....now the question is will Jamita the lovely lady become bitter from the storms ahead? Hold on to your seats because the journey takes a few turns and curves....will she holdfast to her GOD and HIS WORD or will she turn back to building walls? Hold on before you jump to conclusions, remember just because you may know her or think you're pretty clever, take this journey with an openmind because it may not be as obvious as it seems. 

Questions: Has GOD saved your life by speaking  just A WORD? 

Take 4 tomorrow 

Take 2

Jeremiah 29:11 I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.(the message translation)

Here goes everything:

Questioning my existence...."Really GOD? YOU give me this name, this body, this life and leave me to figure out what? That people are cruel to me because I am not pretty...that this name I've been given is unusual and people think a ugly name for an ugly girl....that the parents you gave me couldn't be rich so I could be in the in crowd.......GOD WHY DID YOU MAKE ME LIKE THIS?"

Yea I know people had/have bigger problems, but remember this is my journey and those problems were big to me as a little girl. You know how I know because as this little girl grows into a woman, she still wrestled with the same problems. Keep walking with me and you will see that if problems are not addressed, I don't care how much JESUS you think you have in you, your past problems can and will hold you bound from understanding that JESUS LIVES IN YOU AND THAT HE HAS CONQUERED ALL YOUR FEARS AND DOUBTS In The Mist Of It All!!

I, Jamita, took it upon myself at a young age to seek out the meaning of my name. Uhhhh can someone say TO NO AVAIL!!! Not a meaning....oh come on....No destiny? No origin? I felt lower that day than I had ever felt in my life. Mind you, there was no computer in the home. Which meant, I had me a few baby books and even looked through encyclopedias(don't laugh...some of us do know what those are). I searched, but found nothing. Oh did I cry & oh so heart broken(This was the day my first brick was laid for the wall that was about to be built in my young life.) My heart weeps...take me GOD...YOU alone understands this person YOU'VE created...singing JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO...oh but this little girl named Jamita couldn't feel HIS love right then...just let me not wake in the morning

Question  Have you ever asked GOD to take you home before your life was complete?

Take 3 tomorrow

Take 1

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts I think towards you said the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expectant end.


Well at one point in my life, I had no clue what this scripture really meant. But if you allow me to express myself, than you will see this scripture become alive in my journey. Get the Kleenex and weep with me...but know as you take this journey with me there are some triumphant times that your and mine tears will be indeed tears of joy!!! Here goes everything:

I was born Jamita Renepte Townsend...yea I know the name uhhh was unusual and I wanted to change it when I became old enough to do so. My thought was why this odd name. Well I couldn't do to much about it, but live with it until I GOT OLD ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT! What was I going to change it to you ask....I don't know...it just didn't fit me and I didn't fit it.

Yea I know you're thinking...simple problem...we all go through not fitting in. Well remember this is my journey and when we reached the present then you will understand why the problem I had was not so simple after all.

Remember I said the name didn't fit me and I didn't fit it? Well let me tell you this was an unusual name for an unusual little girl. Unusual yes...uncommon, rare(truth be told I didn't get me either)...
1. GOD gives me this out of this world name(if you find the meaning let me know)
2. I had an oval face, thick eyebrows, long lashes, skinny legs, booty, and "big lips"(an insulting name that was given to me by some evil lil kids)
3. Soft heart(cried a lot in my secret place)
4. This was the kicker....I was never a follower no matter how hard I tried to be with the in crowd...it wasn't happening(why GOD..all I wanted to be was cool..whatever that meant)
5. Here's the unusual thing....I prayed for the people who hurt me at a young tender age(what is really going on all I wanted was somebody to beat them up so I wouldn't be upset to go to school or scared..gosh)

I didn't understand why I had been chosen for the life I was living....why didn't my parents have enough money so that I could dress like the cool kids and maybe that would've helped me not stand out so much.....OH GOD HELP THIS YOUNG GIRL NAMED JAMITA ACCEPT WHO YOU MADE HER TO BE!!! Tears

Question: have you ever questioned your existence? If so, please continue to take this journey with me. I promise you GOD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS HE THINKS TOWARDS YOU!!! And they are all good!!!!

Part 2 tomorrow