March 13, 2025 • 42 mins
In this episode of Give It Your All, we sit down with Joyel Glaze Loiz to explore the power of faith, perseverance, and purpose in every season of life. Joyel shares her journey of personal and professional growth, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and how she stays rooted in her calling. Whether you're navigating transitions, seeking clarity in your purpose, or just need encouragement to keep going, this conversation is filled with wisdom and inspiration to help you give your all. Tune in and be inspired!
Give It Your All Podcast
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Daryl,welcome to give it your all, the
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podcast where we dive deep intolife's biggest challenges and
victories through a biblicallens. I'm your host, Daryl
Baptist junior, and I'm excitedto introduce you to my friend,
my sister in Christ, Joel glazeLouise. Joel is a mother, an
educator, a community leader andjust, more importantly, just a
servant of Christ. So we justthank you, Joel, for stopping by
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today. Just wanted to introduceyou to the audience, because
you've been just so impactfulfor my life through the church
and beyond. So I just hope thatyour story and some of your
vulnerabilities will helpsomebody will free somebody
today, of course, absolutelydelighted. Thank you. Awesome,
awesome. Daryl, gonna jump rightin to the first question, who
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has been a significant spiritualinfluence and how they impacted
your journey.
You know, most folks always datetheir mother. So my mother and
my grandmother, actually, andthen I have a third person, my
spiritual mentor. So mygrandmother, surprisingly, well,
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not surprisingly, you know, shedidn't have much of an
education, I think maybe up toabout third grade,
but she had a deep relationshipwith the Lord. And as I grew
older and matured, I wouldnotice that she would always
have a Bible open. And I knowshe wouldn't really couldn't
read that much, but I actuallyhave one of her Bibles after she
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passed, and I can see where shetried to underline and
highlight, but she was a devotedservant in the Lord, and the way
that she kind of reallyinfluenced my life through my
Christian walking journey wasjust simply by the life she
lived. So though she couldn'tread the Bible much, she was
devoted to her church, herfamily,
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and she did her best to readinstead of the word on her own,
always listen to Christianmusic, and when I walked in the
house, sometimes it would beabsolutely nothing on. She just
had her old humming, you know,she came from the old school
Baptist Church, where a lot oftimes they just use their almond
and Patten on their feet andpraising the Lord and just
(02:15):
always in song and praise. Mymother, through her maturity,
um, just always everything wasjust rooted in she can either
give me scripture or got me andwhat she thought best through
her um discipleship,discipleship and walk through
Christ. So I can never remembera time when I asked my mother
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for guidance or instruction, orwhat do you think, or that
wasn't something that was rootedin either a word or scripture or
sound instruction, just throughher walk. And
you know, as I grew older, andI'm so grateful that my
daughter, my mother, is gone nowas well, but my mom had a great
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development in raising her upfrom her birth, but every
morning throughout, you know,when I was coming home from
college and as an adult anddropping my daughter off to her
every morning, and she kept herfor me,
and she would be on that samesofa, same lamp on every
morning, sitting, reading theBible, you know, And finishing
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up when we get in there. Andthen she always has a word from
me every morning,my daughter from birth, she had
our daughter at, they used to atMount Calvary have prayer,
midday prayer, and they had aprayer group. And Jillian from
the time she again from born,from birth on, she was right at
Mount Calvary. Mom would takeover to Grace Temple, just so
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she can play with other kids andyouth Bible study, because it
was across the street where shelived. So Jillian, my daughter,
as well, has been so influencedfrom my mom, which is her
grandmother. So, you know thoseold school grandmothers just,
you know, they're living legacyand just raising, putting it in
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us at a young age. And thenfinally, Miss elder Kendrick out
to miss Kendrickand my mother is Dorothy glaze,
and my grandmother's Teresaworthy, but Altis Kendrick is
just a sound board. I met herwhen I first joined Mount
Calvary Missionary BaptistChurch. She was a Sunday school
teacher there, and she alwaysspoke, even though she would
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teach Sunday school lesson andbut she always gave a vivid,
true picture of the lessonthrough, as you know, through
either an example of her life oran example of someone who
influenced her life. So she madeit applicable. She was one who
was taught and led through lifeexperiences. You know, sometimes
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we go to folks who really havean experience, but and just
throughout life, she supportedme through.
Unfortunately, a divorce. I callany type of night, she will hold
me accountable, but alwaysrooted in the word brand with
me, telling me, you know, putyour big girls clothes on, and
holding me so I think it'salways good people of influence
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and not just give you the wordbut make it applicable, share
their experiences and also tohold you accountable with it as
well, expecting greater andbetter of you through the Word.
So wow, yeah, most informationfor influential folks, amazing.
That just goes to show that somany people play a part in our
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development overall, butespecially our spiritual
development as believers, youknow. So that's awesome. Giving
homage to everyone. Mm, hmm,alright. So tell us about a
moment of time when God calledyou to step into your purpose.
Then how did you respond?
Um, you know, I was raisedchurch, and God in Christ, which
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is COVID, andit was always the teaching of
the Holy Spirit, right? Andindwelling of it, speaking in
tongues. And I always desiredit, but really didn't have a
full understanding of it. Weleft. And that was when I was
born out in Belgrade and raisedin my church. I remember it now,
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St Paul Missionary BaptistChurch and well, St Paul COVID
Church of God in Christ, and itwas family. And I think through
that thing I know, through justbeing active again my mama,
through making me Sunday school,being in church programs, was
really in making sure I was notjust forcing me, but active. And
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then I just grew a love for, forit, it's that's where I really
just find my peace. You know, ifyou ever have people that have
their quiet places, when I walkinto a church building, and we
used to do shuttings, and wewould spend a night or, you
know, at church, sometimes justpraying, and the youth will have
their areas, but I just have apiece. I remember just walking
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into this church, beingwhen I was young, and being
there late sometimes, you know,COVID, we would have church at
night, our night services aftermorning services and during the
day. And it was just a piecethat always and I think just, of
course, that presence.
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But it wasn't until I moved overto, we moved over to Royal Palm
Beach, and it was a small mixedchurch, meaning it races out in,
actually, in Loxahatchee, adiverse church, and it was
caucasian pastor, but the youthministry was phenomenal. Um, we
did a lot of activities togetherwith games, praise and worship
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and a lot of other churches. Andit was actually one of our youth
sessions where the Lord,you know, when they opened the
call for acceptance of Christ,is where I was led. I was, you
know, called, and I stepped out,and that's actually where I
actually received it through ayouth ministry worship session
at that small, little church inLoxahatchee, before World Palm
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Beach developed to what it isnow,
and actually after transitioningthen to Mount Calvary as an
adult, after finishing collegeAnd joining full gospel
ministry, it was at a fullgospel conference, and I
remember it, it was Bishop,bloomer, think it's his name,
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and he that night, was justsaying, two nights, you will be
filled if you desire it. Andthere were sessions during the
classes on the Holy Spirit, Ithink, like the theme of that
session, that whole conferencewas about Holy Spirit. And, you
know, the sessions, the classes.
And I remember walking up bothof the instances when I was
saved, it was just I had thisexperience. And you know, the
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the wailing and the crying andand then again, when they
called, and he, in his bigarena, called out who wanted it
and who desired it, and it cameforth and and that was my first
evidence of the indwelling ofthe Holy Spirit there. So those
are my monumental personalexperiences when I say it, of
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course, baptized. And then, aswell being active in a church
from a young child, and havingthat old school COVID experience
in church, feeling like a placeof peace and joy and where I
wanted to be and family. Andthen, of course, when the
indwelling that one of theconference Not, not too far
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after graduating college, andthat experience. And now, you
know, having that the knowingand activating more and
understanding more throughteaching of courses as well of
the Holy Spirit and theindwelling the evidence of it,
did I really see and feel andunderstand and believe to have
matured in Christ? Yes, ma'am.
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Amazing. So the whole concept ofa place of peace, you know,
that's, yeah, never really heardthat before. You know, that's
awesome. Yes, it is. And nomatter what church it is, it
doesn't, you know, not just myold one, even the current
church. It's just when I walkinto a church building in which,
you know, I have grown myfellowship, my not just
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membership, but the fellowship,and again, the family, and
that's through the connection ofministries. I just get a sense
of it's a safe place for me, asafe place and peace. And when
I've been in there, times whenI've either been cleaning or
we're at a meeting, and it'sonly a few of us. It's just a
place. No matter what else goingon outside of the church, I
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always get this sense of peaceand rest and safety when I'm,
you know, inside of of churchesthat I'm a part of and a member
of. Yes, that's amazing. Sothat's That's amazing, that's
encouraging. So speaking onthat. So what is the favorite
Bible verse or passage thathelps you stay encouraged during
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challenging times? Then how doesthat look in action? Yes, so
there are a few, and I was andthen I think on it as an adult,
it would just be one that'sfamiliar. And that's that Romans
eight and 28you know that. We know that all
things work together for ourgood, for those who God, who
that are loved by God. And weknow, of course, because He
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predestined us as He knows ourbeginning and our end and as you
mature and developed. And Ireally again, I think it was
really in college where thatbecame my point of focus at one
thing, because, you know, it'sthe first time you have your
independence, you're away fromhome, and you're really
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experiencing that. For me, theadulthood, because I was the
Mama's baby, very clingy to mymom, very sheltered. And that
was that was and is, and evenstill, today and being a mom and
at work and life andexpectations, bills and
everything else is that nomatter what hardship, you know,
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I experienced divorce and livingindependent, moving out of
state, just stepping out onstates for things too out of
comfort zone. But no matterwhat, that's one thing that I
know that ultimately, and Inever really grasp that concept
until later on in life. But youknow, it's just gonna work out,
maybe not how I preferred it,because sometimes we go through
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things because of our ownconsequences, right, of our own
choices, but because of theLord's love and because I
believe and trust in Him, andbecause I'm his, it's just gonna
work out, and it's gonna workout for my favor. Might there be
some consequences, might therebe some suffering, might there
be some losses, absolutely, butultimately, it's going to work
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out. And so that's just ascripture that always gives me a
place of just ease. You knowthat about of to be true, to
anxiety at once, and about ofdepression and there too, just
at ease. It's going to work out.
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All the things I was stressedout and about going to work out,
and sure enough, to this day, isall worked out. So
it's not just a scripture that Ihope or refer to, and that's my
go to, but it's it's provenitself to be true, and so that's
why it's my favorite. That'sawesome. So, you know, we do
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have the confidence that allthings will work together, but
sometimes, you know, we you knowlife, life gets to life, and so
yeah, how do you navigatemoments of doubt or questioning
any relationship with God?
Um, you know,again, with spiritual maturity
and learning how to rest on myown. Because, being that mama's
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girl, I mean, you know, Grandmaand mom, when they were ever
present, no matter what, eventhrough I mentioned the divorce
or hardships, or whatever Iexperienced as an adult, a
single mom or, you know, when Iwas in college, or whatever it
was high school, whatever itwas, you know, I run the
grandma. Run the mama. You know,you always have that comfort of
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those who are near and dear toyou, and of course, they'll pray
over you and come. Butwhen it was Mom's gone, Grandma
gone. It's that and things, justlike you mentioned, life be life
in and things happening. It wasnot only just maturity in
Christ, but growing up as anadult and knowing that things
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are going to happen, andsometimes, as I mentioned,
they're not going to turn outthe way.
I preferred again either do mychoices, or because it's a
choice that God has thought fitfor me to experience, to mature
me, or to grow me, or for me tobe sharpened or better for law,
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have law have many losses,but those losses, I can say,
have given much gain, andincluding, you know, the losing
of my mother,that was the hardest thing. And
I cannot explain the peace thatGod gave me. And I remember
whispering in my mom's ear, it'sokay for you to go, because I
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know she was probably worriedtoo, like, Oh, my baby. Because
it was a sense of dependency,and maybe even too much of a
dependency for me and myadulthood, because she was my
earthly strength and my earthlysource of comfort and my earthly
you know, I of course, knewabout Christ, live a life of
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Christ always trusted andbelieved in him, of course. But
when you have that source thatyou can go to here earthly for
that, even though they couldn'tsolve it, but just them being
present, right? Or you beingpresent
with them, I remember as anadult going or crawling up on my
mama's dead when I had issuesand stuff going on. And so
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that's that scripture. I lean onit, and, like I said, it's
proven itself even through theexperiences it's it's proven
itself ofjust be transparent. You know,
I'm in education, and where wasone time I lost my teaching
certificate because I just comepast the exam, and I just, oh,
my god, how am I going tosupport my family? And he saw me
do a job, made less money ineducation than someone I just
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met. And I don't believe it washappenstance. It's like, you
know, you have a degree inpsychology, you never try a
Special Ed and I have a love forpeople, love how the mind works,
and, you know, folks thoughtpatterns and all of that. And I
love working and serving thosewho a lot of folks believe that
people come under dogs, but Icall them just people they don't
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expect to have be as successful.
And I love working withindividuals like that to help
them get there. And so someonesay you should do special ed,
and it was the best fit for meversus me trying to get
certified, you know, inpsychology. So I to bring it
back to scriptural base, I hadto lose my certification or my
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efforts in working in Psych andpsych to really be directed to
something that was better andgreater for me, that I had
greater I was of greater serviceto God's people for and it
allowed me to mature and grow.
Because, as I mentioned, I cango crawl up in mom's bed, but
she can't pay my bills when Ilost more money, you know what I
mean, because of losing a job,and that's what I'm saying. So
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this scripture in those times,just that's just an example of
where nobody, mom and grandma,no one could fix it. They could
pray. I can get that comfort andhug and be there. But it was
just relying on God that he wasgoing and then he always does
for the better when I feel in mymy here and now is okay. I don't
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lost my teacher certificate.
What am I going to do? I couldhave just given up, you know,
but he saw fit to put anothereducator in my way that taught
me when I was in high school andran into her at a store and was
expressing and said, you know,give me a call. There it was,
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and I hadn't seen her in years.
So he always works it out forour good, for our better. And
the experience of you know, thesuffering and the hardship and
our loss is only for a moment weknow it's going to make us
better, right? And it alwaysproves to do it. So, yeah,
yes, ma'am, it does. It doessometimes, like you say, in ways
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we really don't want to happen,but exactly, but God, God is
sovereign in that, and also hesees things that we don't see.
Because I, I've come to realizesometimes we go through stuff
not it's not always for us.
Sometimes we go through stufffor somebody else
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as well. So, you know, I'm, I'malways encouraged, knowing that,
long as he gets his glory andand I'm a part of it, he go
share a little, at least, he'lllet me partake in it one day
when it's all said and done,yeah, because, you know, it was
embarrassment as well, too, mycolleagues, you know, and then
learning, oh my God, you're inmy administrator. Thank God. You
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know, God has given me thedesire to whatever I'm doing, to
do it the best that I can andthe best, because, again, it
brings them glory. So, you know,my principle was heartbroken.
Oh, my God, we can't keep you,you know, everyone.
On, and then my students havingto leave them and those that I
work with, my colleagues, beingembarrassed and still not
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working in the school system,but at a job that they knew was
less, you know, a job thatwasn't as, I don't want to say
the status, but that of aneducator and blacker pay. And I
had to do that, and I wasn'tsure how I was going to get back
in. I was looking for otherjobs, and it was, I think I was
working, actually, with inanother role in the school
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district for maybe a couple ofyears. So like I said, it wasn't
and walking in the grocerystore, so you get the shame, the
embarrassment, thedisappointment, and then, of
course, your life changes allwith that. So only then later
on. So you're absolutely rightthat in those things, it's not
just for us, it's so man can seehow he sustains me, how he
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allowed me to get mycertification back, and I only
once I got it back, to find anarea where I can thrive and work
with students who a lot of hadforgotten about, but he used me
so that they then could bepropelled and in a forefront
with other students that theythink could not and help them
get into college that theythought would never go or to
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trade school or program. So yes,he used an example to strengthen
and make me better, but also tobe able to be able to help
someone else along the way,because there's I wasn't the
only teacher that I'veexperienced that. Come on, so
you're absolutely correct. Heuses it for his glory in all
aspects. That's amazing. So, oh,wow. Yeah, that was tattoo.
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So how do you stay calm andbalanced and everything?
Oh, I cannot say I would neversit here and tell you I have
remained calm, sir,I've lost my temper and
shouldn't have.
There have been time when I havethrown in the towel and
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shouldn't have. There have beentime when I've given up in or on
the verge of it, and I shouldnot have, and so in doing all of
that, I will not sit here andprofess that I've been calm with
the Lord and entrusted hisscripture that all things are
going to turn out for my good. Italked about the time when I
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literally had took myself to thehospital, and I thought I was
having a heart attack, and itwas panic attacks, and they kept
me because they needed to runsome tests two or three. So here
I am sitting up in the hospitalbecause of all this stuff out.
It was one of the, you know, wasgoing through a divorce,
transitioning, you know, leavingfrom where I was living, moving
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back with my parents, excuse me,things that work was not going
well. So it was just anxiety andthat I was having. And I think
it's the down the down time aswell, maybe a bit of depression.
And again, Ram in the bush, theLord my doctor, who is a
Christian, went to her, and shewas saying, Look, I'm gonna go
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ahead and I'm gonna write youthis mild prescription, but
you're not gonna use it. I'mgonna go ahead and send you to a
therapist, but it's just gonnahelp you out. And I can tell
you, she told me, just whenyou're feeling the anxiety
coming on, and, you know, Icouldn't sleep at night, and all
it was, it was a bad experience.
And my mom was questioning,Where is your faith? Where is
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your faith? And how are yousitting here going through it,
depression and anxiety, andyou're a Christian, and so I'm
getting it, you know, from amom, she's you need to believe
in the word, and at the sametime, trying to juggle it all
and maintain my sanity. Andthere are moments that I can
tell you, I was not in the bestof character. I didn't have I
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didn't respond the best waysometimes.
But she told me, when you feelthose those those anxieties
coming on and you're feelingoverwhelmed, just take your deep
breaths. And when you're doingthat, just say something nice to
the Lord, and just pace yourfloor, your the floor, and just
quote some scriptures, or justsing a song, or just reflect on
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just talk out to the Lord. And Ican tell you, I had never taken
one antidepressant medicationthat was prescribed to me. I
never went into a depressionwhen I was spiraled out and I
couldn't control and I had thatone moment. Sometimes I feel
myself getting overwhelmed. So Iwould just say, again,
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definitely the Lord's getting methrough working all things out
because, because of him, heworked it out I didn't need the
medication. He worked it out toput that in my doctor. Because
doctor will say here, I'm goingto put you on this
antidepressant. And you, youknow, and not tell you anything
about the Lord, but challenge methat you will not take this
medication.
And so having a support circle,having people, Christians, that
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are mature to.
Hold you accountable, as Imentioned, but
to maintain my peace, I reallybelieve that people say, you
know, God gives us free will.
It's a choice, you know, it's achoice when we're going through.
It's a choice how we choose togo through, and it's a choice on
whether, how we're going to leaninto the Lord when we not just
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when we need him and in thosedark times, but it's all the
choices to keep the faith, tohold on, to press through, to
pray when you don't feel likeit, to maintain those circles
and those support and to justwalk through it, trusting and
knowing that all things aregoing to work out. And again,
check he worked it all out. Sono complaints. I can't profess
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to be a perfect Christian, andI've had my moments, but for the
most part, I can't say that he'sallowed me to be a Christian of
good character and tobe that support for others. And
again, I've used that experiencemany a times to be a testimony
encouragement to young folksthat, you know, I've taught and
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mentored, as well as adults whoexperience the same thing, and,
you know, depression, anxiety orfeeling overwhelmed. So it
allowed it for me to be anexample and to be a testimony as
well. So, yeah, that's what Ihave to never perfect. But he
made it all work out and broughtme through. Yeah, if you find
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that perfect Christian, let meknow, because, yeah,
that's why they do it. Yeah,it's unfortunate. Some will
believe that. You know, it's allthem, and they do this and they
do that, and but, um, we knowthat that's never, so, never.
So, yeah, you know? Well, youknow, Satan is the Great
Deceiver according to the word.
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So, you know,people are to see you
absolutely, unfortunately,that's a reality. So, you know,
that's cool, hopefully,hopefully, a conversation like
this can help plant season andshake them up a little bit, wake
them up and like, hold on. It'snot me. And like, No, it's not
exactly and that people are notalone, you know, and whoever
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held this it, whatever they mayhave experienced might not be
exactly mine, but my prayer isthat they know again, to hang in
there. All things work out andthat whatever they're
experiencing, it's not somethinga silo that no one else has, and
it might not been what Iexperienced, but,
and I was talking about that inSunday school, that there needs
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to be more opposition back inthe day, I know it's definitely
a COVID when I was raised, therewill always be a time every
Sunday, and even sometime theBible study for a testimony, you
know. And I do think, because welack that a lot of our churches
and our ministries, because weget encouraged by the
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testimonies of others, and weknow that,
and sometimes, and it doesn'thave to be long and drawn out.
It could be short, simple. Thisis what happens. Is what
experiences how the Lord did it,just so people are confident to
know that, you know, I'm not inthis by myself, and so that can
help them keep the peace. Youwere just asking me, how do you
keep that peace and that youknow? So I think testimonies as
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well, hearing it from otherfolks and knowing how you get
through it, it helps you to get,you know, okay, you know what.
This is going to work out. I'llbe fine. It's okay. And then you
have that, that strength, yeah,that's awesome. I never, you
know I'm relatively new ofgaining little stripes. I'll be
seven year Christian next year,I'll work it'll work, it my way
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up there. So the whole conceptof testimonies being just a
regular part of just service, orat least that, or a minimum, the
study session, you know, that's,that's that sounds amazing,
because the you know, but likeyou said, the Bible is clear on
that, you know. But you know,testimony will win a brother, so
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you never know what somebody'sgoing through, and just hearing
how God did it for you, like,hold on, man, am I? It ain't
that bad for me, or it is justas bad, you know. And if he
could do it to that person forhe could do it for me, you know.
Yeah, that's, that's thatshould, that should be brought
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back, you know, so, yeah, if anyleaders out there listening,
tuning in, you know, pray onthat, please. We can, we can use
it. We can use it. Yeah, mostdefinitely, most definitely need
it. Yes,alright, um, can you share an
example of how God turned afailure or set back into
something good in your life. Toomany to count um
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and aren't too many. Mainly,he's allowed a lot of failures,
but again, some things we bringourselves and excuse me,
I would have to use um.
I think two of and that notnecessarily.
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Well, one, I would say mybiggest first experience was I
was actually retained.
That's something that's livedwith me forever, excuse me.
And I do think that that kind ofimpacted my self image of
(30:28):
what I was capable of knowingbut being retained. I think it
was third grade,and they determined that my
reading levelswas not what it should be.
And knowing, at the time, theyactually gave my mom a choice
(30:49):
look, we can let her pass on.
She may be able to maintain andsurvive and make it,
but we really believe, if youallow us to
retain her and pull her out ofclasses. You know, they went
through the whole gamutthat she would develop,
(31:13):
and her academic success wouldbe much, much greater. And I can
tell youthat was third grade. I had just
moved from my hometown over tofrom the west coast of Palm
Beach County to the east coastof Palm Beach County,
and I so, you know, experiencinga little bit of shock because
(31:36):
culturally, and then moving overand trying to adjust to that.
And there were a lot ofracist slurs. I endure it every
day,but then coming into the school
where there was only a handfulof us, or I might be the only
one in my class, and then notbeing able to read well
(32:00):
on to grade level and then beingretained because my mom agreed,
hey, you know that I don't wantto take the chance of her
struggling throughout letme retain her. So, you know it
was a big hit as a young person.
Every day you're being picked onand bullied. You know for who
(32:21):
you are that you can't change.
And then, as well asbeing in that environment and
being picked on because you'rebeing pulled out of classes
because you're not in readinglevel, and then at the end of
the year, being retained, andhaving to see all of my
classmates go on,they're passing me and lunch,
and I'm going to lunch becauseI'm with, still with the third
(32:43):
graders, and they're coming outof lunch, you know, as a fourth
grader, or vice versa. So thattrauma, that experience, really,
I pinpoint assomething that really dealt with
my self esteem and self imageand I and it was very hard to
(33:04):
overcome that, and then I thinkto do so I overcompensated,
because then I just turned intothis study hawk and never
professed myself to be a smartperson, but I was a hard worker,
and so the lot the Lord allowedme to get on to my reading level
(33:27):
to back then it wasn't F cat,or, I don't even know what it's
called, but there was a testthat I had to pass to
demonstrate I was on grade levelI did and was able to move on To
the fourth grade.
And the Lord allowed me toexperience that and to give
through andturning around later on. You
(33:49):
know, I excelled all throughoutmiddle school, throughout high
school, full ride academics, myundergraduate to college because
of my academics.
And, um, that was only becauseof the Lord. And I just thought,
you know, that failure that Ithat stayed with me. You could
(34:11):
tell that it still is reminisceof it with me throughout school,
you know, high school, middleschool, not knowing if I was
going to be passed. I'm smallwith question if I'm smart
enough. Andthose advanced level classes, I
got into Funko, that was thefirst magnet class to graduate
from sunco. So when it was atrue, true magnet, and you know,
his kids from all over, highperforming, and I was holding my
(34:32):
own AP courses and all, andthen the full ride, so God, then
to it, use that as anopportunity for me, again, to go
into education. And I met withstudents all the time,
especially those students whoare in special needs, and to
give them my testimony thatyou know, just because you
(34:53):
cannot or you're you have adifficulty with reading or math
or.
Whatever it is, you're nolesser, and you can and I so the
Lord used that, but it was a bigturning point. It was a big
issue that played a role in myself esteem,
and still, to this day, I workedthrough it. So I would say
(35:14):
that's the biggest failure thatI experienced, and I still
remnants of it. And from time totime, I still do question,
you know, sometimes if I'mbrought into, you know, right
now, Bishop is talking abouthaving access, you know, God has
allowed me to be a manager nowin a role in the school system
(35:35):
or promotion. And I've beenthrough grad school, and I'm
brought into rooms with, youknow, district leadership, you
know, it's just in a meetingwith the superintendent not too
long ago, I was in the room, hadaccess, close proximity, not too
many people, and the chiefperson and
could have talked to, could haveasked question, you know, I, you
(35:57):
know, I feel that sense ofintimidation when I walk in
those rooms, like if I ask aquestion, is it a good question?
Is it a stupid question? What Ifound that I don't know? Should
I know? You know those sobecause of that failure, it
still plays, you know, the enemytries to use that in my mind. I
(36:17):
have to remind myself who I amthrough the Lord. He allowed me
to get here. He brought me thusfar. Nobody else did. And if you
brought me here, I can do it,but I know too a lot of it, not
only because of the Lord himputting that hard work and
spirit in me, is because ofwhere I am, because of the Lord,
(36:39):
and because I just work. I'mwilling to go the extra mile.
I'm willing to work hard. I haveto do the research that most
people becomes natural to. I gotto work harder at it because,
you know, I have struggled with,with feeling that assurance that
I'm capable all this time andthings too do not come, you
know, easy. I've always been oneof those where I have to reread
(37:00):
things two or three times to getthose
to comprehend. Where someone cansay something in the meeting,
they can regurgitate it. I'm akinesthetic learner. You know at
work where a new software comein, no one is coming in to hold
your hand. You have to figure itout. Whereas me, I need someone
to walk me through it, and youknow that to work with me as
(37:21):
well. So I that failure has hashad lasting impact on me still
today, but at the same time, heworked it all out, as I
mentioned, you know, the managerin the district, you know,
constantly receivingfolks are directing people to
(37:42):
me, even over other folks whoare even higher than me, because
they know that I'll get it done,or referring to me, or a guy, so
that's all in the Lord, and forhim to use that as well for me
to have a testimony for the verystudents that I taught and
worked with to tell them, youcan do it. You You are capable.
You just need this little extrahelp, or you need this extra
(38:06):
time to get it done, but we yougoing to get it done or and then
to see them when they come back,graduating, you know, from
college or and working incareers, and so that has been a
failure that the Lord allowed tohappen for His glory and for the
betterment of me, to be able tobe of greater service to his
people. And I know that for afact, but I would say that's my
(38:27):
greatest failure. And thenagain, guess, as I mentioned,
too, I never thought about this,to experience the same failure
in the career by not being ableto pass the test, you know, and
still was able to eventuallypass it through God, sending
someone, and going on to gradschool, and even at a professor
in grad school who told me youwould never earn your master's
(38:50):
degree. I remember this to thisday because she said, um, of my
writing skills. And you know,reading and writing is literacy,
so it's something I've alwaysstruggled with. But
she was the only class I made aB in, and I think I should have
gotten a otherwise I would havegraduated with straight A
students. I was a 3.9graduate of grad school,
(39:16):
and I did finishing. I gotmyself. You know, you have those
people who still put nuggets inyour ear, and people at work or
whatever it is make you feelthat wear and grasp whatever it
is that you're doing. So I wouldtell people, when you experience
that failure and it impacts youas an individual, whatever that
is, you just have to make achoice that the Lord allowed
(39:38):
you. Know It penetrated my heartand make a choice that you would
never fail again when it came toacademics, because you're going
to work your time off, you'regoing to do extra. So you just
have to find a way to turn thatfailure, with the Lord's help,
of course,into a greater success, or into
a testimony, and to use it to bea blessing to someone.
(40:00):
So yeah, that's my greatestfailure, and the Lord still
allow me to work through it fromtime to time. I you know when
he's bringing me into places,but he's always working it out.
Though, working it out that'sThat is phenomenal. Wow.
Thank you for coming on apodcast today and just sharing
(40:20):
your story, just opening up, Idefinitely learned a lot, and
have a lot to think aboutmyself. So I know somebody else
is in the same boat as me. Youknow, like you said earlier, you
know, I'm not the only one goingthrough what I'm going through,
so I do thank you. Is thereanything you would like to share
with the audience today beforeyou first? I want to just say to
(40:42):
you, I'm so I'm very proud ofwhat you continuously blow my
mind, that you justentrepreneur, and you're going
forward and you're just, you'renot talking to talk. You're
actually walking the walk. Sothank you for just being that
example for me, who you know, Iset out on my little journey,
and I didn't fulfill everythingthat I could have, but I still
(41:04):
know that I'm using it, but Ithank you for being an example.
Thank you for allowing me not bean opportunity to
speak, not just in your yourpodcast, but to be, hopefully,
be able to be a blessing tosomeone else by their hearing in
the testimony of myself, thatyou know the Lord is used to me,
and no matter what I just prayfor anyone that hears this, that
(41:30):
they leave empowered, strengthenand encourage is the most
important thing for me, and thatif they don't know their walk
with the Lord, to just Hear mytestimonies, and know that He is
able, and he will work it allout for their good. For those
who he loves, he calls Hepredestined, and we have a
choice, and I pray that theywould choose the Lord, and that
(41:52):
my message or my struggles or mytestimonies help them to do
that. So that's the mostimportant. That is amazing.
Thank you so much for that.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
All right, we'll talk soon. Allright, have a great night. Thank
you for listening to give ityour all a podcast sponsored by
the Spirit filled collective. Ifyou found that today's episode
(42:15):
has been encouraging in any way,we ask that you like, comment,
share, subscribe or follow so wecan keep giving you this
valuable content. Thank you.
Daryl,welcome to give it your all, the
(00:03):
podcast where we dive deep intolife's biggest challenges and
victories through a biblicallens. I'm your host, Daryl
Baptist junior, and I'm excitedto introduce you to my friend,
my sister in Christ, Joel glazeLouise. Joel is a mother, an
educator, a community leader andjust, more importantly, just a
servant of Christ. So we justthank you, Joel, for stopping by
(00:26):
today. Just wanted to introduceyou to the audience, because
you've been just so impactfulfor my life through the church
and beyond. So I just hope thatyour story and some of your
vulnerabilities will helpsomebody will free somebody
today, of course, absolutelydelighted. Thank you. Awesome,
awesome. Daryl, gonna jump rightin to the first question, who
(00:50):
has been a significant spiritualinfluence and how they impacted
your journey.
You know, most folks always datetheir mother. So my mother and
my grandmother, actually, andthen I have a third person, my
spiritual mentor. So mygrandmother, surprisingly, well,
(01:10):
not surprisingly, you know, shedidn't have much of an
education, I think maybe up toabout third grade,
but she had a deep relationshipwith the Lord. And as I grew
older and matured, I wouldnotice that she would always
have a Bible open. And I knowshe wouldn't really couldn't
read that much, but I actuallyhave one of her Bibles after she
(01:32):
passed, and I can see where shetried to underline and
highlight, but she was a devotedservant in the Lord, and the way
that she kind of reallyinfluenced my life through my
Christian walking journey wasjust simply by the life she
lived. So though she couldn'tread the Bible much, she was
devoted to her church, herfamily,
(01:55):
and she did her best to readinstead of the word on her own,
always listen to Christianmusic, and when I walked in the
house, sometimes it would beabsolutely nothing on. She just
had her old humming, you know,she came from the old school
Baptist Church, where a lot oftimes they just use their almond
and Patten on their feet andpraising the Lord and just
(02:15):
always in song and praise. Mymother, through her maturity,
um, just always everything wasjust rooted in she can either
give me scripture or got me andwhat she thought best through
her um discipleship,discipleship and walk through
Christ. So I can never remembera time when I asked my mother
(02:36):
for guidance or instruction, orwhat do you think, or that
wasn't something that was rootedin either a word or scripture or
sound instruction, just throughher walk. And
you know, as I grew older, andI'm so grateful that my
daughter, my mother, is gone nowas well, but my mom had a great
(02:58):
development in raising her upfrom her birth, but every
morning throughout, you know,when I was coming home from
college and as an adult anddropping my daughter off to her
every morning, and she kept herfor me,
and she would be on that samesofa, same lamp on every
morning, sitting, reading theBible, you know, And finishing
(03:21):
up when we get in there. Andthen she always has a word from
me every morning,my daughter from birth, she had
our daughter at, they used to atMount Calvary have prayer,
midday prayer, and they had aprayer group. And Jillian from
the time she again from born,from birth on, she was right at
Mount Calvary. Mom would takeover to Grace Temple, just so
(03:44):
she can play with other kids andyouth Bible study, because it
was across the street where shelived. So Jillian, my daughter,
as well, has been so influencedfrom my mom, which is her
grandmother. So, you know thoseold school grandmothers just,
you know, they're living legacyand just raising, putting it in
(04:09):
us at a young age. And thenfinally, Miss elder Kendrick out
to miss Kendrickand my mother is Dorothy glaze,
and my grandmother's Teresaworthy, but Altis Kendrick is
just a sound board. I met herwhen I first joined Mount
Calvary Missionary BaptistChurch. She was a Sunday school
teacher there, and she alwaysspoke, even though she would
(04:30):
teach Sunday school lesson andbut she always gave a vivid,
true picture of the lessonthrough, as you know, through
either an example of her life oran example of someone who
influenced her life. So she madeit applicable. She was one who
was taught and led through lifeexperiences. You know, sometimes
(04:52):
we go to folks who really havean experience, but and just
throughout life, she supportedme through.
Unfortunately, a divorce. I callany type of night, she will hold
me accountable, but alwaysrooted in the word brand with
me, telling me, you know, putyour big girls clothes on, and
holding me so I think it'salways good people of influence
(05:13):
and not just give you the wordbut make it applicable, share
their experiences and also tohold you accountable with it as
well, expecting greater andbetter of you through the Word.
So wow, yeah, most informationfor influential folks, amazing.
That just goes to show that somany people play a part in our
(05:34):
development overall, butespecially our spiritual
development as believers, youknow. So that's awesome. Giving
homage to everyone. Mm, hmm,alright. So tell us about a
moment of time when God calledyou to step into your purpose.
Then how did you respond?
Um, you know, I was raisedchurch, and God in Christ, which
(05:54):
is COVID, andit was always the teaching of
the Holy Spirit, right? Andindwelling of it, speaking in
tongues. And I always desiredit, but really didn't have a
full understanding of it. Weleft. And that was when I was
born out in Belgrade and raisedin my church. I remember it now,
(06:15):
St Paul Missionary BaptistChurch and well, St Paul COVID
Church of God in Christ, and itwas family. And I think through
that thing I know, through justbeing active again my mama,
through making me Sunday school,being in church programs, was
really in making sure I was notjust forcing me, but active. And
(06:38):
then I just grew a love for, forit, it's that's where I really
just find my peace. You know, ifyou ever have people that have
their quiet places, when I walkinto a church building, and we
used to do shuttings, and wewould spend a night or, you
know, at church, sometimes justpraying, and the youth will have
their areas, but I just have apiece. I remember just walking
(07:01):
into this church, beingwhen I was young, and being
there late sometimes, you know,COVID, we would have church at
night, our night services aftermorning services and during the
day. And it was just a piecethat always and I think just, of
course, that presence.
(07:21):
But it wasn't until I moved overto, we moved over to Royal Palm
Beach, and it was a small mixedchurch, meaning it races out in,
actually, in Loxahatchee, adiverse church, and it was
caucasian pastor, but the youthministry was phenomenal. Um, we
did a lot of activities togetherwith games, praise and worship
(07:44):
and a lot of other churches. Andit was actually one of our youth
sessions where the Lord,you know, when they opened the
call for acceptance of Christ,is where I was led. I was, you
know, called, and I stepped out,and that's actually where I
actually received it through ayouth ministry worship session
at that small, little church inLoxahatchee, before World Palm
(08:05):
Beach developed to what it isnow,
and actually after transitioningthen to Mount Calvary as an
adult, after finishing collegeAnd joining full gospel
ministry, it was at a fullgospel conference, and I
remember it, it was Bishop,bloomer, think it's his name,
(08:29):
and he that night, was justsaying, two nights, you will be
filled if you desire it. Andthere were sessions during the
classes on the Holy Spirit, Ithink, like the theme of that
session, that whole conferencewas about Holy Spirit. And, you
know, the sessions, the classes.
And I remember walking up bothof the instances when I was
saved, it was just I had thisexperience. And you know, the
(08:50):
the wailing and the crying andand then again, when they
called, and he, in his bigarena, called out who wanted it
and who desired it, and it cameforth and and that was my first
evidence of the indwelling ofthe Holy Spirit there. So those
are my monumental personalexperiences when I say it, of
(09:15):
course, baptized. And then, aswell being active in a church
from a young child, and havingthat old school COVID experience
in church, feeling like a placeof peace and joy and where I
wanted to be and family. Andthen, of course, when the
indwelling that one of theconference Not, not too far
(09:37):
after graduating college, andthat experience. And now, you
know, having that the knowingand activating more and
understanding more throughteaching of courses as well of
the Holy Spirit and theindwelling the evidence of it,
did I really see and feel andunderstand and believe to have
matured in Christ? Yes, ma'am.
(10:00):
Amazing. So the whole concept ofa place of peace, you know,
that's, yeah, never really heardthat before. You know, that's
awesome. Yes, it is. And nomatter what church it is, it
doesn't, you know, not just myold one, even the current
church. It's just when I walkinto a church building in which,
you know, I have grown myfellowship, my not just
(10:24):
membership, but the fellowship,and again, the family, and
that's through the connection ofministries. I just get a sense
of it's a safe place for me, asafe place and peace. And when
I've been in there, times whenI've either been cleaning or
we're at a meeting, and it'sonly a few of us. It's just a
place. No matter what else goingon outside of the church, I
(10:46):
always get this sense of peaceand rest and safety when I'm,
you know, inside of of churchesthat I'm a part of and a member
of. Yes, that's amazing. Sothat's That's amazing, that's
encouraging. So speaking onthat. So what is the favorite
Bible verse or passage thathelps you stay encouraged during
(11:06):
challenging times? Then how doesthat look in action? Yes, so
there are a few, and I was andthen I think on it as an adult,
it would just be one that'sfamiliar. And that's that Romans
eight and 28you know that. We know that all
things work together for ourgood, for those who God, who
that are loved by God. And weknow, of course, because He
(11:30):
predestined us as He knows ourbeginning and our end and as you
mature and developed. And Ireally again, I think it was
really in college where thatbecame my point of focus at one
thing, because, you know, it'sthe first time you have your
independence, you're away fromhome, and you're really
(11:50):
experiencing that. For me, theadulthood, because I was the
Mama's baby, very clingy to mymom, very sheltered. And that
was that was and is, and evenstill, today and being a mom and
at work and life andexpectations, bills and
everything else is that nomatter what hardship, you know,
(12:14):
I experienced divorce and livingindependent, moving out of
state, just stepping out onstates for things too out of
comfort zone. But no matterwhat, that's one thing that I
know that ultimately, and Inever really grasp that concept
until later on in life. But youknow, it's just gonna work out,
maybe not how I preferred it,because sometimes we go through
(12:38):
things because of our ownconsequences, right, of our own
choices, but because of theLord's love and because I
believe and trust in Him, andbecause I'm his, it's just gonna
work out, and it's gonna workout for my favor. Might there be
some consequences, might therebe some suffering, might there
be some losses, absolutely, butultimately, it's going to work
(13:02):
out. And so that's just ascripture that always gives me a
place of just ease. You knowthat about of to be true, to
anxiety at once, and about ofdepression and there too, just
at ease. It's going to work out.
(13:22):
All the things I was stressedout and about going to work out,
and sure enough, to this day, isall worked out. So
it's not just a scripture that Ihope or refer to, and that's my
go to, but it's it's provenitself to be true, and so that's
why it's my favorite. That'sawesome. So, you know, we do
(13:46):
have the confidence that allthings will work together, but
sometimes, you know, we you knowlife, life gets to life, and so
yeah, how do you navigatemoments of doubt or questioning
any relationship with God?
Um, you know,again, with spiritual maturity
and learning how to rest on myown. Because, being that mama's
(14:09):
girl, I mean, you know, Grandmaand mom, when they were ever
present, no matter what, eventhrough I mentioned the divorce
or hardships, or whatever Iexperienced as an adult, a
single mom or, you know, when Iwas in college, or whatever it
was high school, whatever itwas, you know, I run the
grandma. Run the mama. You know,you always have that comfort of
(14:30):
those who are near and dear toyou, and of course, they'll pray
over you and come. Butwhen it was Mom's gone, Grandma
gone. It's that and things, justlike you mentioned, life be life
in and things happening. It wasnot only just maturity in
Christ, but growing up as anadult and knowing that things
(14:51):
are going to happen, andsometimes, as I mentioned,
they're not going to turn outthe way.
I preferred again either do mychoices, or because it's a
choice that God has thought fitfor me to experience, to mature
me, or to grow me, or for me tobe sharpened or better for law,
(15:14):
have law have many losses,but those losses, I can say,
have given much gain, andincluding, you know, the losing
of my mother,that was the hardest thing. And
I cannot explain the peace thatGod gave me. And I remember
whispering in my mom's ear, it'sokay for you to go, because I
(15:35):
know she was probably worriedtoo, like, Oh, my baby. Because
it was a sense of dependency,and maybe even too much of a
dependency for me and myadulthood, because she was my
earthly strength and my earthlysource of comfort and my earthly
you know, I of course, knewabout Christ, live a life of
(16:00):
Christ always trusted andbelieved in him, of course. But
when you have that source thatyou can go to here earthly for
that, even though they couldn'tsolve it, but just them being
present, right? Or you beingpresent
with them, I remember as anadult going or crawling up on my
mama's dead when I had issuesand stuff going on. And so
(16:24):
that's that scripture. I lean onit, and, like I said, it's
proven itself even through theexperiences it's it's proven
itself ofjust be transparent. You know,
I'm in education, and where wasone time I lost my teaching
certificate because I just comepast the exam, and I just, oh,
my god, how am I going tosupport my family? And he saw me
do a job, made less money ineducation than someone I just
(16:47):
met. And I don't believe it washappenstance. It's like, you
know, you have a degree inpsychology, you never try a
Special Ed and I have a love forpeople, love how the mind works,
and, you know, folks thoughtpatterns and all of that. And I
love working and serving thosewho a lot of folks believe that
people come under dogs, but Icall them just people they don't
(17:10):
expect to have be as successful.
And I love working withindividuals like that to help
them get there. And so someonesay you should do special ed,
and it was the best fit for meversus me trying to get
certified, you know, inpsychology. So I to bring it
back to scriptural base, I hadto lose my certification or my
(17:33):
efforts in working in Psych andpsych to really be directed to
something that was better andgreater for me, that I had
greater I was of greater serviceto God's people for and it
allowed me to mature and grow.
Because, as I mentioned, I cango crawl up in mom's bed, but
she can't pay my bills when Ilost more money, you know what I
mean, because of losing a job,and that's what I'm saying. So
(17:56):
this scripture in those times,just that's just an example of
where nobody, mom and grandma,no one could fix it. They could
pray. I can get that comfort andhug and be there. But it was
just relying on God that he wasgoing and then he always does
for the better when I feel in mymy here and now is okay. I don't
(18:17):
lost my teacher certificate.
What am I going to do? I couldhave just given up, you know,
but he saw fit to put anothereducator in my way that taught
me when I was in high school andran into her at a store and was
expressing and said, you know,give me a call. There it was,
(18:37):
and I hadn't seen her in years.
So he always works it out forour good, for our better. And
the experience of you know, thesuffering and the hardship and
our loss is only for a moment weknow it's going to make us
better, right? And it alwaysproves to do it. So, yeah,
yes, ma'am, it does. It doessometimes, like you say, in ways
(19:00):
we really don't want to happen,but exactly, but God, God is
sovereign in that, and also hesees things that we don't see.
Because I, I've come to realizesometimes we go through stuff
not it's not always for us.
Sometimes we go through stufffor somebody else
(19:22):
as well. So, you know, I'm, I'malways encouraged, knowing that,
long as he gets his glory andand I'm a part of it, he go
share a little, at least, he'lllet me partake in it one day
when it's all said and done,yeah, because, you know, it was
embarrassment as well, too, mycolleagues, you know, and then
learning, oh my God, you're inmy administrator. Thank God. You
(19:45):
know, God has given me thedesire to whatever I'm doing, to
do it the best that I can andthe best, because, again, it
brings them glory. So, you know,my principle was heartbroken.
Oh, my God, we can't keep you,you know, everyone.
On, and then my students havingto leave them and those that I
work with, my colleagues, beingembarrassed and still not
(20:05):
working in the school system,but at a job that they knew was
less, you know, a job thatwasn't as, I don't want to say
the status, but that of aneducator and blacker pay. And I
had to do that, and I wasn'tsure how I was going to get back
in. I was looking for otherjobs, and it was, I think I was
working, actually, with inanother role in the school
(20:27):
district for maybe a couple ofyears. So like I said, it wasn't
and walking in the grocerystore, so you get the shame, the
embarrassment, thedisappointment, and then, of
course, your life changes allwith that. So only then later
on. So you're absolutely rightthat in those things, it's not
just for us, it's so man can seehow he sustains me, how he
(20:50):
allowed me to get mycertification back, and I only
once I got it back, to find anarea where I can thrive and work
with students who a lot of hadforgotten about, but he used me
so that they then could bepropelled and in a forefront
with other students that theythink could not and help them
get into college that theythought would never go or to
(21:13):
trade school or program. So yes,he used an example to strengthen
and make me better, but also tobe able to be able to help
someone else along the way,because there's I wasn't the
only teacher that I'veexperienced that. Come on, so
you're absolutely correct. Heuses it for his glory in all
aspects. That's amazing. So, oh,wow. Yeah, that was tattoo.
(21:37):
So how do you stay calm andbalanced and everything?
Oh, I cannot say I would neversit here and tell you I have
remained calm, sir,I've lost my temper and
shouldn't have.
There have been time when I havethrown in the towel and
(21:59):
shouldn't have. There have beentime when I've given up in or on
the verge of it, and I shouldnot have, and so in doing all of
that, I will not sit here andprofess that I've been calm with
the Lord and entrusted hisscripture that all things are
going to turn out for my good. Italked about the time when I
(22:20):
literally had took myself to thehospital, and I thought I was
having a heart attack, and itwas panic attacks, and they kept
me because they needed to runsome tests two or three. So here
I am sitting up in the hospitalbecause of all this stuff out.
It was one of the, you know, wasgoing through a divorce,
transitioning, you know, leavingfrom where I was living, moving
(22:40):
back with my parents, excuse me,things that work was not going
well. So it was just anxiety andthat I was having. And I think
it's the down the down time aswell, maybe a bit of depression.
And again, Ram in the bush, theLord my doctor, who is a
Christian, went to her, and shewas saying, Look, I'm gonna go
(23:04):
ahead and I'm gonna write youthis mild prescription, but
you're not gonna use it. I'mgonna go ahead and send you to a
therapist, but it's just gonnahelp you out. And I can tell
you, she told me, just whenyou're feeling the anxiety
coming on, and, you know, Icouldn't sleep at night, and all
it was, it was a bad experience.
And my mom was questioning,Where is your faith? Where is
(23:26):
your faith? And how are yousitting here going through it,
depression and anxiety, andyou're a Christian, and so I'm
getting it, you know, from amom, she's you need to believe
in the word, and at the sametime, trying to juggle it all
and maintain my sanity. Andthere are moments that I can
tell you, I was not in the bestof character. I didn't have I
(23:48):
didn't respond the best waysometimes.
But she told me, when you feelthose those those anxieties
coming on and you're feelingoverwhelmed, just take your deep
breaths. And when you're doingthat, just say something nice to
the Lord, and just pace yourfloor, your the floor, and just
quote some scriptures, or justsing a song, or just reflect on
(24:10):
just talk out to the Lord. And Ican tell you, I had never taken
one antidepressant medicationthat was prescribed to me. I
never went into a depressionwhen I was spiraled out and I
couldn't control and I had thatone moment. Sometimes I feel
myself getting overwhelmed. So Iwould just say, again,
(24:32):
definitely the Lord's getting methrough working all things out
because, because of him, heworked it out I didn't need the
medication. He worked it out toput that in my doctor. Because
doctor will say here, I'm goingto put you on this
antidepressant. And you, youknow, and not tell you anything
about the Lord, but challenge methat you will not take this
medication.
And so having a support circle,having people, Christians, that
(24:57):
are mature to.
Hold you accountable, as Imentioned, but
to maintain my peace, I reallybelieve that people say, you
know, God gives us free will.
It's a choice, you know, it's achoice when we're going through.
It's a choice how we choose togo through, and it's a choice on
whether, how we're going to leaninto the Lord when we not just
(25:19):
when we need him and in thosedark times, but it's all the
choices to keep the faith, tohold on, to press through, to
pray when you don't feel likeit, to maintain those circles
and those support and to justwalk through it, trusting and
knowing that all things aregoing to work out. And again,
check he worked it all out. Sono complaints. I can't profess
(25:45):
to be a perfect Christian, andI've had my moments, but for the
most part, I can't say that he'sallowed me to be a Christian of
good character and tobe that support for others. And
again, I've used that experiencemany a times to be a testimony
encouragement to young folksthat, you know, I've taught and
(26:06):
mentored, as well as adults whoexperience the same thing, and,
you know, depression, anxiety orfeeling overwhelmed. So it
allowed it for me to be anexample and to be a testimony as
well. So, yeah, that's what Ihave to never perfect. But he
made it all work out and broughtme through. Yeah, if you find
(26:28):
that perfect Christian, let meknow, because, yeah,
that's why they do it. Yeah,it's unfortunate. Some will
believe that. You know, it's allthem, and they do this and they
do that, and but, um, we knowthat that's never, so, never.
So, yeah, you know? Well, youknow, Satan is the Great
Deceiver according to the word.
(26:49):
So, you know,people are to see you
absolutely, unfortunately,that's a reality. So, you know,
that's cool, hopefully,hopefully, a conversation like
this can help plant season andshake them up a little bit, wake
them up and like, hold on. It'snot me. And like, No, it's not
exactly and that people are notalone, you know, and whoever
(27:10):
held this it, whatever they mayhave experienced might not be
exactly mine, but my prayer isthat they know again, to hang in
there. All things work out andthat whatever they're
experiencing, it's not somethinga silo that no one else has, and
it might not been what Iexperienced, but,
and I was talking about that inSunday school, that there needs
(27:33):
to be more opposition back inthe day, I know it's definitely
a COVID when I was raised, therewill always be a time every
Sunday, and even sometime theBible study for a testimony, you
know. And I do think, because welack that a lot of our churches
and our ministries, because weget encouraged by the
(27:55):
testimonies of others, and weknow that,
and sometimes, and it doesn'thave to be long and drawn out.
It could be short, simple. Thisis what happens. Is what
experiences how the Lord did it,just so people are confident to
know that, you know, I'm not inthis by myself, and so that can
help them keep the peace. Youwere just asking me, how do you
keep that peace and that youknow? So I think testimonies as
(28:18):
well, hearing it from otherfolks and knowing how you get
through it, it helps you to get,you know, okay, you know what.
This is going to work out. I'llbe fine. It's okay. And then you
have that, that strength, yeah,that's awesome. I never, you
know I'm relatively new ofgaining little stripes. I'll be
seven year Christian next year,I'll work it'll work, it my way
(28:41):
up there. So the whole conceptof testimonies being just a
regular part of just service, orat least that, or a minimum, the
study session, you know, that's,that's that sounds amazing,
because the you know, but likeyou said, the Bible is clear on
that, you know. But you know,testimony will win a brother, so
(29:02):
you never know what somebody'sgoing through, and just hearing
how God did it for you, like,hold on, man, am I? It ain't
that bad for me, or it is justas bad, you know. And if he
could do it to that person forhe could do it for me, you know.
Yeah, that's, that's thatshould, that should be brought
(29:23):
back, you know, so, yeah, if anyleaders out there listening,
tuning in, you know, pray onthat, please. We can, we can use
it. We can use it. Yeah, mostdefinitely, most definitely need
it. Yes,alright, um, can you share an
example of how God turned afailure or set back into
something good in your life. Toomany to count um
(29:46):
and aren't too many. Mainly,he's allowed a lot of failures,
but again, some things we bringourselves and excuse me,
I would have to use um.
I think two of and that notnecessarily.
(30:06):
Well, one, I would say mybiggest first experience was I
was actually retained.
That's something that's livedwith me forever, excuse me.
And I do think that that kind ofimpacted my self image of
(30:28):
what I was capable of knowingbut being retained. I think it
was third grade,and they determined that my
reading levelswas not what it should be.
And knowing, at the time, theyactually gave my mom a choice
(30:49):
look, we can let her pass on.
She may be able to maintain andsurvive and make it,
but we really believe, if youallow us to
retain her and pull her out ofclasses. You know, they went
through the whole gamutthat she would develop,
(31:13):
and her academic success wouldbe much, much greater. And I can
tell youthat was third grade. I had just
moved from my hometown over tofrom the west coast of Palm
Beach County to the east coastof Palm Beach County,
and I so, you know, experiencinga little bit of shock because
(31:36):
culturally, and then moving overand trying to adjust to that.
And there were a lot ofracist slurs. I endure it every
day,but then coming into the school
where there was only a handfulof us, or I might be the only
one in my class, and then notbeing able to read well
(32:00):
on to grade level and then beingretained because my mom agreed,
hey, you know that I don't wantto take the chance of her
struggling throughout letme retain her. So, you know it
was a big hit as a young person.
Every day you're being picked onand bullied. You know for who
(32:21):
you are that you can't change.
And then, as well asbeing in that environment and
being picked on because you'rebeing pulled out of classes
because you're not in readinglevel, and then at the end of
the year, being retained, andhaving to see all of my
classmates go on,they're passing me and lunch,
and I'm going to lunch becauseI'm with, still with the third
(32:43):
graders, and they're coming outof lunch, you know, as a fourth
grader, or vice versa. So thattrauma, that experience, really,
I pinpoint assomething that really dealt with
my self esteem and self imageand I and it was very hard to
(33:04):
overcome that, and then I thinkto do so I overcompensated,
because then I just turned intothis study hawk and never
professed myself to be a smartperson, but I was a hard worker,
and so the lot the Lord allowedme to get on to my reading level
(33:27):
to back then it wasn't F cat,or, I don't even know what it's
called, but there was a testthat I had to pass to
demonstrate I was on grade levelI did and was able to move on To
the fourth grade.
And the Lord allowed me toexperience that and to give
through andturning around later on. You
(33:49):
know, I excelled all throughoutmiddle school, throughout high
school, full ride academics, myundergraduate to college because
of my academics.
And, um, that was only becauseof the Lord. And I just thought,
you know, that failure that Ithat stayed with me. You could
(34:11):
tell that it still is reminisceof it with me throughout school,
you know, high school, middleschool, not knowing if I was
going to be passed. I'm smallwith question if I'm smart
enough. Andthose advanced level classes, I
got into Funko, that was thefirst magnet class to graduate
from sunco. So when it was atrue, true magnet, and you know,
his kids from all over, highperforming, and I was holding my
(34:32):
own AP courses and all, andthen the full ride, so God, then
to it, use that as anopportunity for me, again, to go
into education. And I met withstudents all the time,
especially those students whoare in special needs, and to
give them my testimony thatyou know, just because you
(34:53):
cannot or you're you have adifficulty with reading or math
or.
Whatever it is, you're nolesser, and you can and I so the
Lord used that, but it was a bigturning point. It was a big
issue that played a role in myself esteem,
and still, to this day, I workedthrough it. So I would say
(35:14):
that's the biggest failure thatI experienced, and I still
remnants of it. And from time totime, I still do question,
you know, sometimes if I'mbrought into, you know, right
now, Bishop is talking abouthaving access, you know, God has
allowed me to be a manager nowin a role in the school system
(35:35):
or promotion. And I've beenthrough grad school, and I'm
brought into rooms with, youknow, district leadership, you
know, it's just in a meetingwith the superintendent not too
long ago, I was in the room, hadaccess, close proximity, not too
many people, and the chiefperson and
could have talked to, could haveasked question, you know, I, you
(35:57):
know, I feel that sense ofintimidation when I walk in
those rooms, like if I ask aquestion, is it a good question?
Is it a stupid question? What Ifound that I don't know? Should
I know? You know those sobecause of that failure, it
still plays, you know, the enemytries to use that in my mind. I
(36:17):
have to remind myself who I amthrough the Lord. He allowed me
to get here. He brought me thusfar. Nobody else did. And if you
brought me here, I can do it,but I know too a lot of it, not
only because of the Lord himputting that hard work and
spirit in me, is because ofwhere I am, because of the Lord,
(36:39):
and because I just work. I'mwilling to go the extra mile.
I'm willing to work hard. I haveto do the research that most
people becomes natural to. I gotto work harder at it because,
you know, I have struggled with,with feeling that assurance that
I'm capable all this time andthings too do not come, you
know, easy. I've always been oneof those where I have to reread
(37:00):
things two or three times to getthose
to comprehend. Where someone cansay something in the meeting,
they can regurgitate it. I'm akinesthetic learner. You know at
work where a new software comein, no one is coming in to hold
your hand. You have to figure itout. Whereas me, I need someone
to walk me through it, and youknow that to work with me as
(37:21):
well. So I that failure has hashad lasting impact on me still
today, but at the same time, heworked it all out, as I
mentioned, you know, the managerin the district, you know,
constantly receivingfolks are directing people to
(37:42):
me, even over other folks whoare even higher than me, because
they know that I'll get it done,or referring to me, or a guy, so
that's all in the Lord, and forhim to use that as well for me
to have a testimony for the verystudents that I taught and
worked with to tell them, youcan do it. You You are capable.
You just need this little extrahelp, or you need this extra
(38:06):
time to get it done, but we yougoing to get it done or and then
to see them when they come back,graduating, you know, from
college or and working incareers, and so that has been a
failure that the Lord allowed tohappen for His glory and for the
betterment of me, to be able tobe of greater service to his
people. And I know that for afact, but I would say that's my
(38:27):
greatest failure. And thenagain, guess, as I mentioned,
too, I never thought about this,to experience the same failure
in the career by not being ableto pass the test, you know, and
still was able to eventuallypass it through God, sending
someone, and going on to gradschool, and even at a professor
in grad school who told me youwould never earn your master's
(38:50):
degree. I remember this to thisday because she said, um, of my
writing skills. And you know,reading and writing is literacy,
so it's something I've alwaysstruggled with. But
she was the only class I made aB in, and I think I should have
gotten a otherwise I would havegraduated with straight A
students. I was a 3.9graduate of grad school,
(39:16):
and I did finishing. I gotmyself. You know, you have those
people who still put nuggets inyour ear, and people at work or
whatever it is make you feelthat wear and grasp whatever it
is that you're doing. So I wouldtell people, when you experience
that failure and it impacts youas an individual, whatever that
is, you just have to make achoice that the Lord allowed
(39:38):
you. Know It penetrated my heartand make a choice that you would
never fail again when it came toacademics, because you're going
to work your time off, you'regoing to do extra. So you just
have to find a way to turn thatfailure, with the Lord's help,
of course,into a greater success, or into
a testimony, and to use it to bea blessing to someone.
(40:00):
So yeah, that's my greatestfailure, and the Lord still
allow me to work through it fromtime to time. I you know when
he's bringing me into places,but he's always working it out.
Though, working it out that'sThat is phenomenal. Wow.
Thank you for coming on apodcast today and just sharing
(40:20):
your story, just opening up, Idefinitely learned a lot, and
have a lot to think aboutmyself. So I know somebody else
is in the same boat as me. Youknow, like you said earlier, you
know, I'm not the only one goingthrough what I'm going through,
so I do thank you. Is thereanything you would like to share
with the audience today beforeyou first? I want to just say to
(40:42):
you, I'm so I'm very proud ofwhat you continuously blow my
mind, that you justentrepreneur, and you're going
forward and you're just, you'renot talking to talk. You're
actually walking the walk. Sothank you for just being that
example for me, who you know, Iset out on my little journey,
and I didn't fulfill everythingthat I could have, but I still
(41:04):
know that I'm using it, but Ithank you for being an example.
Thank you for allowing me not bean opportunity to
speak, not just in your yourpodcast, but to be, hopefully,
be able to be a blessing tosomeone else by their hearing in
the testimony of myself, thatyou know the Lord is used to me,
and no matter what I just prayfor anyone that hears this, that
(41:30):
they leave empowered, strengthenand encourage is the most
important thing for me, and thatif they don't know their walk
with the Lord, to just Hear mytestimonies, and know that He is
able, and he will work it allout for their good. For those
who he loves, he calls Hepredestined, and we have a
choice, and I pray that theywould choose the Lord, and that
(41:52):
my message or my struggles or mytestimonies help them to do
that. So that's the mostimportant. That is amazing.
Thank you so much for that.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
All right, we'll talk soon. Allright, have a great night. Thank
you for listening to give ityour all a podcast sponsored by
the Spirit filled collective. Ifyou found that today's episode
(42:15):
has been encouraging in any way,we ask that you like, comment,
share, subscribe or follow so wecan keep giving you this
valuable content. Thank you.
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