When I moved to Atlanta in 2005, I had one plan and God had another. I didn’t know too many people, yet I knew of so many who lived here. My very first college roommate Tanja was here and helped me get started. We still to this day have the same primary care doctor, OBGYN and home church, The Way, Truth and the Life Christian Center. This is where I began the foundation of teaching and truly understanding really who Christ is.
I’ve always been a note-taker and from this have been in many positions because of it. I have so many journals from the notes taken at church that I can go back and share what God shared with me in those messages in many posts to come. Those messages got me through some really dark times and introduced me to some really influential people in my life.
I’ve never had a big sister, as the oldest of 4 (only girl with 3 younger brothers). This is where I met Michele (with one L) Scott. This woman was on fire for the Lord, a great confidant, listener, advice giver, and someone who I could talk to for hours. We just meshed well together. She eventually became one of my band parents as I taught 2 of her children in my band. She did a great job of distinguishing between Ms. Fogg and Monica. There were times where I had to be submitted to her when in choir rehearsals at church and then she was under my leadership when attending band parent meetings.
For her birthday in March of 2020, right before they shut everything down, Mrs. Michele invited a few women out to dinner for her birthday. At this dinner, we fellowshipped, laughed and she went around the table and spoke life into everyone that was there. She even paid for dinner for her birthday party!! It was a surprise, yet a true testament of who she is. From this party, she started the prayer group She Prays.
She Prays started as a 28 Day Prayer challenge. We bought or were gifted the book “The 28 Day Prayer Journey” https://www.amazon.com/28-Day-Prayer-Journey-Daily-Conversations/dp/0310361133 by Crystal Hurst. And from this challenge, my prayer life began to change. I still use the acronym for P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) to guide my prayers. Each week there was a guided video posted by Crystal that was shared in our Zoom meetings and guided reading questions and prompts from the journal. This was a great time during the height of the pandemic to connect with like-minded women and grow closer to God.
In She Prays, sisters would post prayer requests, celebrations, encouragement, scriptures, inspiration, testimonies to help support. We have become a great support group for each other that continues strong until today. In the group, Mrs. Michele shared other groups or prayer challenges or classes that she was attending. This was for information purposes only, however many I chose to attend.
I’ve learned from Prophetess Carla Clark (https://www.lionsroarministries.org/prophetess) through Clubhouse “Using your Spiritual Gifts in the Marketplace” room. This room met every Monday Morning during the school year of 2020-21 and was a great way to learn how to use the gifting that God has given me on my job. I learned about what my spiritual gifts were and how to use them effectively. Mrs. Michele also shared a spiritual gifts test (https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/). My spiritual gifts are administration, exhortation, and teaching. As a teacher, I would’ve thought it was teaching, but that is further down the list. I’ve always found pleasure and ease in organizing things and this really made me understand more about myself.
Prophetess Carla, during her taglines on Clubhouse, mentioned that she was a part of the Kingdom Business Network. I was new to Clubhouse and found some fantastic rooms to follow. I looked up KBN and OMG!! These are my PEOPLE!! (https://www.clubhouse.com/club/kingdombusinessnetwork) This group is one of the largest Christian Entrepreneur Clubs on Clubhouse cofounded by Chanel E. Martin (https://www.instagram.com/chanelemartin/?hl=en) and Chandler Bailey (https://www.instagram.com/chandlersbailey/?hl=en). They have rooms daily and the network is only ONE year old with over 76K followers.
The room I attended most often was the Prophetic Planning for Your Day (PPFYD). There are teachings and then there are prompts that are given that encourage you to journal how you hear from God. Chanel encouraged you to write down what you see, hear, smell or the quiet still voice in your head. It would be in your voice, but was really the Holy Spirit speaking to you. I was extremely new to this, but during the prompts, it felt like I had been doing it all my life. I began to add this to my daily prayer routine in the mornings. I believe that adding this helped me get through one of what was supposed to be the toughest school years thus far. This is how I hear from God through the Holy Spirit the most, journaling or scribing. I am thankful to know about this gifting and plan to use it until God takes it away.
I also completed a number of YouVersion bible plans. I believed that I was healed from the trauma of my last relationship and was ready to begin dating, the right way. Somehow God heard my prayers, or maybe Siri, because this particular morning there were like 3-4 dating bible plans suggested for me to read. #RelationshipGoals by Pastor Mike Todd (https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/19260-relationship-goals) was everything!! It provided some tips for dating as a Christian or building up any relationship that I will share in future posts. If you are dating, I implore you to read the plan. At the end of the plan, the book that the plan was created after was suggested. I immediately went to Target that day and purchased the book. It was an easy read and filled with so much knowledge. (I know that I am ready to begin dating when God sees fit and that I will be able to receive what my future husband has for me. Until then, I am enjoying my singleness journey and who I am now.)
After reading the book, I wanted more. I searched for podcasts and discovered that there were youtube videos of the sermon series entitled #RelationshipGoals. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7h5BHax06c) During the pandemic, I binge-watched so many shows that I wish I had come across this series sooner. If you have never watched it, again I implore you to look at it. Even if you are married, it will help your relationship.
Pastor Mike’s messages are so relevant to me, encouraging, thought-provoking and, what I need at this stage in my life. His church is called Transformation Church and services are LITTTTT!!! Even though they are virtual, they are amazing. It feels like I’m standing in the building during their services. His sermon replays are podcasts as well if you are into those, but the youtube video replays bring it to life for me. I am a part of Transformation Nation (his online members) and watch his live services after my local church services end.
From being a part of Transformation Church, I felt the transformation begin in my life. Of where I was on my spiritual walk and how I’m transforming into being a powerful woman of God. Not like the ones that I saw growing up, which sometimes scared me, but into the one that God has called me to be. I am embracing my calling and gifting and all that God has for me. His plans are way better than the plans that I have for my life and I’m ready to receive all that he has for me. I hope you are too.
Thanks for reading and joining me on this transformation journey!!
Transforming Monica 
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