Tag Archives: humble

Apr 11 2011

Day 24 – Shifting gears but not shifting focus

April 24th

Pre-order Today!!!

It will almost be a year since I began blogging the journey that I was committed to embarking on last year. I actually enjoy re-reading some of my post, especially when I am not in the mood to forgive or when I have lost sight of the vision. I must say when you put things in writing you have no choice but to follow through on them. At times, I thought to myself this is more painful than liberating, but I can honestly say that I feel freer than I ever have in my entire life.

Now I must shift gears. I have always had a hard time talking about myself, which some may call marketing. But I am going to maintain the same focus that I began with, not on me but the transformation, that HE has done in me. I have gone from a victim to a victor, from a writer to an author, from a listener to a speaker and none of which I could have ever done on my own. One things is for certain, I was obedient.

Some may ask the question, “Who is the attended audience for your book, “Sunday Mourning”? My response would be anyone who has ever said the church was full of hypocrits, pointless and had walked away feeling hurt. I went through that same pain and hurt, I was so focused on what the people were doing that I could not maintain my focus on what GOD can and will do for those who truly seek him. So as I step out on faith and allow to you take the journey through some of the most painful, difficult and transformational moments in my life, I pray that it motivates you to press through any obstacle that life brings you and know that HE has not and never will leave you or forsake you. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

About these ads
Mar 28 2011

Day 21 – Growing Pains

As we mature naturally, we can just about pinpoint every stage of development; infancy, toddler, preschool, childhood, adolescence, young adult, adulthood and senior are the eight stages of development all marked by a different milestone. The most notable changes are those of our verbal abilities, cognitive skills, the way in which we form relationships, independence and motor and fine motor skills. Growth and development in the spiritual, works a little different and does not progress simultaneously with natural development.

We were created for a purpose, His Purpose, which was established and ordained by God. At times it seems as if we are experiencing some of the very stages we progress through naturally all over again. For some the redundancy can feel like growing pains. Though we may have mastered the skills to sustain life and to meet our basic needs, we have not attained the wisdom necessary to fulfill His Purpose. The growing pains for some get so painful that we forfeit the process and abandon His Purpose. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 The process is not for our detriment but for our benefit.

But when we truly understand that the pain is for our good, revealing those areas in our lives that need to be purged, it makes it easier for us to “Trust in the Lord” and give into the process. I tried so many times to do things on my own because I was woman enough and grown enough, but the Wisdom that I possessed was not enough. “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word.” Mark 4:13-14 For I have learned to be content in whatever stage I am in, learning from the process and maintaining a hunger for more.

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:4-5

Mar 15 2011

Day 15 – A Heart of Praise

It’s night like these, when I find myself wanting to write but the thoughts and words don’t always seem to come together. My heart is filled with praise, but how do you write about your praise. Well, I guess we will soon find out.

Lord I thank you for keeping me, when I wasn’t able to keep myself. I thank you for keeping my mind. Lord I take nothing for granted and I take no credit for what is or what is yet to come. All I can say is “Thank You” and “Yes Lord”. No matter what may my way, you have shown me that in you I am more than a conquerer. You have shown me that little is so much when I place it in your hands.

I thank you for breathing life back into me when I tried to end it by my own hands. Lord if it wasn’t for your power, grace and love, I don’t know where I would be. The very least I can do is praise you, for you are God alone. I must stretch my hand out to those in need; I must serve.

Mar 4 2011

Day 8 – What’s Next

What’s next? Truthfully, I don’t know, but one thing is for certain my steps have been ordered. When I set out on this journey, I was letting go of a lot of things that had been holding me back. I vowed to be obedient to what God had for me to do, no matter how strange or difficult it seemed at the time. March 3, 2010 changed my life in more ways than one. I can’t believe it has been an entire year. Some counted me out, some probably even thought I would stay down, but still by the grace of God I am rising.

Throughout this entire journey, patience has been the key. Though a year seems like a long time, I have learned that being in the wrong state of mind can make it seem even longer. My mind has been renewed. Yesterday is gone, today at this very moment is what matters and I have learned to make the most of each moment that God allows for me. I have shared my struggles, my vision and my purpose. I can’t wait to share with you how it all comes together. The countdown has officially started!!!

Mar 1 2011

Day 5 – My Circle

Typically, I am not one to run with cliques. I have my close friends who I have known for years and then I have recent acquaintances that I have gotten to know through social media. No matter how I have come to know you, you have all played some role or purpose, whether it was to tweet an inspirational tweet, comment on my status to let me know you had been through the same thing or even to teach a lesson that everyone just isn’t for me, plain and simple.

I guess I had been a little naive. I mean even Judas, who was amongst Jesus chosen 12, betrayed him. But instead of dwelling on it, I am learning from it and moving on. Will I proceed with caution to whom I extend myself to? Maybe, but it won’t hinder from showing the genuine love that is in my heart for people. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

Jan 17 2011

Realizing the Dream

“But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” ~Dr. Martin Luther King~ I Have A Dream

I could never re-write something as profound as the historical “I Have A Dream” speech delivered by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But I can say thank you. Dr. King carried a cross for all Americans to one day have the freedom that was rightfully theirs. In his death we realized the power of a dream. The challenge that we have to day is understanding that we are the dream. The dream lies within each one of us. We are to speak those things that aren’t as though they were.

The other day as I revisited the “I Have A Dream” speech, I began to cry. It was as if I could feel his strong and overwhelming desire for each one of us to realize our power and our rightful place. Who wouldn’t? He had seen the vision, he wrote the vision and he wanted to empower all of us with the understanding that we have a God given right to live the vision.

I live for that day when we begin to understand that with God’s Promises there is no competition. When we will be able to come together in ministry and “none will go lacking”. When we will have more ministries operating outside of the church instead of auxilaries within the church. I live for the day when the Body of Christ will truly understand what it means to be set apart, while transforming a nation.

We have paid attention for so long to the messenger but we missed the message and the power behind it. Words have the power to wound and heal, influence and change, use them. But use them wisely. This historical speech has the power to transform, the power to ignite and the power to change if we can all realize the dream that lies within each of us.

“Like anybody I would like to live a long life. Longevity has it’s place but I’m not concerned about that now, I just want to do God’s will….So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD.” – Dr. King

Jan 11 2011

Full Circle

Life has a way of teaching us lessons. The key is to learn them the first time and move on. Sometimes learning the lesson can be easier said than done, but going through the process shows us some of our greatest weaknesses and vunerabilities.

I never realized how much I feared failure, until I lost everything and was forced to try. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do what others had told me I couldn’t, but that I feared that even if I tried I would fail. So what did I do, I always threw in the towel before I had to look defeat in the face. I never realized how the opinions of others bothered and contolled me, until all my credentials, titles and name were on the line.

2010 taught me a lot. We speak about the pruning process that God takes us through, but when you don’t yield to instructions sometimes drastic measures have to be taken. He not only pruned me but he left me in a state to either bare new fruit or fall. Some of you wonder why I spend so much time writing, but when he pruned me he left me with only the gifts that he had given, that no man could ever take away. The title is now gone, no degree or credentials to fall back on and no family name to hide behind. It’s just me and God.

So where am I at now, back where he placed me over 5 years ago, left with a pen and paper in my hand pouring out my heart and soul. The Bible says, “out of the heart flow the issues of life”. Those things that once brought me so much shame now bear my testimony, the guilt that imprisoned me has now opened doors and I am free. Free to share, inspire, encourage, live and love, this is what coming full circle has done for me.

So on this perfect day(1/11/11), I celebrate not only my birthday but the birthing of purpose. I have always been a dreamer, but I have now realized the true power that lies within. I’m tapping into mine and I hope to encourage you to tap into yours. The change I have so longed to see is starting with me. Full circle, getting back to where I was always meant to be.

Jan 2 2011

You Just Got Served

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

Christ took on the role of a servant and came down to this earth and became flesh, to take on the sins of this world. How do we esteem ourselves to be any higher than a servant, sent to fulfill a purpose on this earth? God gave his Son that “None should perish”. We are all here to be humble servants and spreading the gospel.

Some of us however, have become to busy with serving up the next mixed drink, serving the baddest attitude and no discretion of words uttered from our mouth, to even be busy and about doing our father’s business. I just want to hear him say “well done, my good and faithful servant”.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 At the end of this ole journey, I have to be able to give an account to God and my salvation will not be based on how many times I typed “Jesus”, or “Thank you Lord”. But it should be about that cross, we all have a cross to carry and some sins that had to be nailed and blood to be shed for its redemptive power. For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Its time to get uncomfortable sitting in our mess. Carrying that cross is not easy but it should serve as a reminder that none of us are deserving of the measure of grace and mercy that has been afforded to us because of the price that was paid on calvary. We could never repay the price for His blood being shed, but I am submitting my body as a living sacrifice. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Our press has got to go higher, we have to raise the standard~you’ve been served. May lose a few for this one but I have to speak the whole truth, whether it feels good or not.

Dec 9 2010

Standing on His Word

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23
Sometimes I need a scripture to keep me motivated and encouraged, you know a word to stand on in spite of the circumstances. 2010 has been one of the most humbling, trivial and purposeful years. I went from making a decent salary a year, to less than half that salary in just a moment. I woke up and life changed drastically. With all the years of education, experience and knowledge that I possess, I found myself having to take a job that would barely be enough to pay my bills. But in spite of the job, I knew that if I was obedient to what God wanted me to do, he would bless the situation. Each day I’ve gone into work, I’ve pushed myself to work that much harder and his blessings have been evident.
“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye cloth you; but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:6-7
I was putting so much time and energy into my previous job. I enjoyed my job working with families and assisting parents with getting their children back. The problem was the money had become my master, I had forgotten my source and how he had provided me with the resource in the beginning. I was working but still living from paycheck to paycheck. The circumstances that I had to go through to bring me back before the throne of grace were drastic, but all things do work together for the good of them that believe. We are experiencing some of the roughest economic times of our day. Many are losing their jobs, homes and do not know which way to turn. I am so glad that I serve a God that will never leave me or forsake me.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23:1-6