Our Joy Brings Him Joy

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4

       New York City (NYC) is our home away from home. It all started when my mom, Melissa, was a teenager working in a Kroger deli, looking gorgeous, and was approached to model for a local photographer. One thing led to another, and she became a very successful regional model and actress. She was working at one of the most prestigious fashion malls in Little Rock, Arkansas at the time, modeling for Christian Dior and other major designers.

       The owner of this mall asked Melissa to teach her other part time models to be as polished and professional as she was, offered her a space in her mall for free, and told her to go home and write a curriculum. So, she did. She prayed about what to name her new business venture and the Lord sent someone to her suggesting EXCEL from the verse Proverbs 31:29-30, “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain (or passing), but a woman who honors the Lord, she will be praised.” Thus, the birth of Excel School of Modeling, which became Excel Models and Talent, and now (over 30 years later) EXCEL Academy.

       Needless to say, God poured out His favor on my mom and blessed her efforts with success. From her first class at EXCEL (in the late 80’s) came an aspiring model who was asked to attend the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention in NYC to find national and international representation. Even though she missed her children terribly, this trip sparked a love in my mom’s heart for NYC.

       When I was eight years old my sister taught me a commercial script and had me do it for her for fun. Apparently, I did it really well and she had me do it for my mom who allowed me to attend IMTA in NYC and act in front of agents (really just for fun). While I received many call backs and could have signed and moved to Los Angeles (LA) to work as an actress, my mom sat me down at the Star Diner in NYC with a chocolate milk shake. She explained to me that if we were to pursue this we would move to LA, and my dad and brothers would not want to come with us, and she would leave EXCEL behind. I had no desire to move to LA, leave EXCEL or my family behind. To be honest, I just had to come to NYC every year. That was non-negotiable.       

So, I did not pursue those call backs. Instead, I built my resume working with national coaches, directors, and industry professionals for 20+ years, learning the ins and outs of the entertainment industry and making amazing contacts. Yahweh knows what’s up. He had a plan for those connections, even though I did not know what they would be until I was in my 30’s.Most importantly, I not only had a paid trip to NYC every year from 8 years old on, but I also started to get paid to go when I was in my 20’s (Hallelujah!). I started learning and doing the behind the scenes work with my mom when I was 13 years old, and by the time I was 21 I was leading groups of 70 or so aspiring actors, models, singers, dancers, and their parents traveling to NYC seeking national and international representation!     

In the summer of 2014, I met a young lady by the name of Laura Sofia. I was critiquing actors in class one night when she stood up to do a scene with another precious young lady at EXCEL. I was blown away by both girls, but there was just something about Laura. I met with her later to find out what her desires were when it came to acting (basically are you here for fun or a possible career?). She explained to me that acting was a desire of her heart, and she took it very seriously.       

I invited her to attend IMTA in NYC that summer, met with her wonderful mother and soon after Laura was registered. Halfway through her training we learned that Laura’s parents had to relocate to Dallas before her training was complete. I prayed about it and decided that Laura could stay with me the next few months so that she did not have to miss out on this amazing opportunity. She quickly became a part of our family and attended IMTA with us that summer.

       The love for NYC has been engraved in my heart, as well as my children’s, since a young age. There isn’t really a good way to describe it. It’s not shopping, big buildings or people’s attitudes that we are drawn to. The city is alive, like a person you love. It is a feeling you get when you are there. I’ve heard so many people say that you either love NYC or you hate it. Well… clearly, we love it.       

Since we closed EXCEL in December of 2015, the summer of 2016 came and I did not have a work-related reason to go (or someone to pay for my trip), but my NYC clock was ticking! My oldest son, 11 at the time, received a scholarship to the New York Film Academy summer program for filmmaking. Incredibly excited I get on my knees. “Can we go, Lord?”. “Yes!”, He replies. Done. The faith to believe He would provide for this trip was in motion.       

I asked my Abba, Father if I could go to NYC for my son to partake in this opportunity, and for us to get to go just for fun. Mind you, I did not have a work-related reason to go, nor was there a reason to go for the ministry. He said Yes anyway. I was living off His miracles as it was just to pay my bills… how in the world could I ask to go to NYC for fun? Because He is a GOOD Father who delights in our delight. He has shown me that firsthand. I would like to point out that my rent was paid up until September of that year and all my other bills were paid.       

At first it was easy to have faith. He provided for all that we needed ahead of time, from the place to stay with good friends, to a vehicle to get us there. Oh, did I not mention I did not have a vehicle currently? Oh yeah. Since I no longer worked for a company, the company vehicle went back! So, a precious longtime friend let me borrow her extra van. I loved that thing. We called it ol’ faithful!       Ol' faithful was ten+ years old and had problem after problem with it, but it was my blessing. Plus, you pushed a button and the back doors opened and shut! In the car line at school that is a mother’s dream! My precious friend allowed me to drive it across the country for the heck of it! I did not even ask… she just offered! Favor of Yahweh. Laura, the boys and I loaded up the van and drove to NYC. The van never broke down, and we had an amazing trip.

       The next year, summer of 2017, was a different story. Now, please note, you will probably think I am nuts after you read this story. I am almost certain that no one would have said this trip was “wise”, nor would I ever encourage anyone to do this. However, sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us opportunities to have some crazy adventures with Him. It’s not like I was trying to build a humongous boat (A.K.A. The Ark) in preparation for rains that had never come before or anything… just saying.       

Laura, the boys and I really wanted to go to NYC that summer, but there was really no reason to go other than we just wanted to. I had prayed about this trip and was certain the Lord said yes, we could go, and I was basically waiting on Him to provide. It was not like the year before where He provided so that I could book things ahead of time.       

Out of faith, I booked a hotel that January before. We come to the day we had planned to leave, Laura had traveled from Mexico to be with us on this trip, and I still did not know how we would get there. The car I had at this time was given to me by my brother and I did not feel in my spirit that I should drive it to NYC. Oh, have I mentioned that I have been given four different vehicles during the period of not working for income? When He says He will provide… believe Him!       

So, it is the day we are supposed to leave, hotel is booked, but how are we going to get there? Father, are you sure we can go to NYC today??? Earlier that day I had missed a call from a girl, for privacy reasons we will call her Sue. I had not spoken to her in about a year. Then a man I look up to spiritually called me and said, “Sue is trying to get a hold of you… call her back.” So, I called her back and told her I was basically waiting for God to come through financially, that day, for us to drive to NYC that night, to be at the hotel by the next evening. She told me how the Lord had told her to call me and that there were two testimonies He wanted her to share with me about some other people who had to take large steps of faith before God showed up. Like when the priests carrying the ark, crossing the Jordan, had to put their foot in the water before it stopped flowing. (Joshua 3:15-16)

       Um, perfect timing. So, I called my mom and spoke to her about it. Now, she is very overprotective of me and my boys, but she prayed about it and felt in her spirit that the Lord said, “Go.” She told me that I could use her Prius to drive us to NYC. I calculated it up and it was going to cost $70 one way to get to NYC from Little Rock, AR.       

I felt in my spirit that this was going to be an adventure with Yeshua. He said yes, all my bills were paid, and He would provide along the way. I had this faith because of the miracles He had already performed in my life, as well as testimonies I had read in the Word and heard where Yeshua did the same type of crazy acts with others. I am not the first!     

I pick up my oldest son from camp, and he gets in the car and asks, “So did we get the money for the trip or are we YOLOin’ it?” (YOLO= You Only Live Once). Perfect question. We all busted out in laughter, and I said, “We are YOLOin’ it, son!” We had a pretty decent vehicle to get there (I mean, the bumper was falling off, but it drove fine), with amazing gas mileage, and about $300 cash. We head out that evening, the kids slept while Laura and I talked and drove through the night.     

I kid you not, we left Little Rock with $300 and got to NYC with $500 cash. Jehovah Jireh provided for that trip once we stepped into the water. It was definitely an adventure. We prayed every hour on the hour and read scriptures my mom had written out for us to keep our focus on Yeshua, because when I didn’t… fear set in. While we were praying, I started to tell the Lord, “I know that when we get to the hotel something will be wrong with our reservation and you are going to shine down your favor on us and we will get an even better room!!!” Won’t He do it y’all!!! You can ask Laura and my son!       

We get to the hotel and apparently the third-party website we booked the hotel through booked us a single room while advertising it as a double room. No wonder it was such a good deal. I told the man behind the counter, “The four of us will not fit in a single, sir.” He did his thing on the computer and got us a family suite! Like I said, WON’T. HE. DO. IT! And He did! Not only that but we had more than enough money to eat! We did not miss one meal!

       He delights in our delight. Our joy brings Him joy. Matthew 7:9-11 says that if we can give good gifts to our kids, how much more can our perfect Heavenly Father give us even better gifts when we ask Him. I’ve said this many times, I don’t LOVE basketball like my son LOVES basketball, but when there is a chance to surprise him with basketball shoes or getting to see his favorite team play in person, I am beyond excited to bring him that joy, and experience it with him!       

To wrap this up, that trip to NYC in the summer of 2017 was an adventure of faith with Yeshua. A woman once told me that’s what FAITH stood for; a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him. I would not tell anyone to do that, and I had a clear word from the Lord myself and through others that I trusted to hear from Him, multiple confirmations, and then He proved it and made it an amazing trip! I share this testimony to express my experience with His goodness, and that He wants to have fun with us! We did not have some big spiritual plan for the trip, no mission, no job to accomplish, just an adventure!       

The following December of 2018, the boys and I got to go to NYC for Christmas with Laura and my mom, and the tickets and accommodations were already paid for way in advance! Just because He loves us. We have delighted ourselves in Him and He is giving us the desires of our hearts! He does not love me any more than He loves YOU! You can have adventures with Him too. Maybe not like mine, but one that is designed for you!

Seek Him! Spend time with Him! Delight in Him! Have fun with Him! Enjoy Him!