Tag Archives: Mother 2 Mother

Jan 3 2012

Hold Me Accountable…

Often times we make committments at the beginning of the year that we have a hard time fulfilling and carrying out.  Having someone that will hold you accountable, I have found makes a difference in one’s motivation to follow through.  So even after starting a blogging challenge of my own, RATL , I am also going to be participating in another blogging challenge for the duration of January.   This challenge is only for 31 days, but they say it only takes 30 days to make something a habit.  Hopefully, if I can commit to 30, I can commit to 365(well 366 considering the leap year). 

Accountability is the second principle of R.A.T.L.  I hold others accountable for their actions on a daily basis through the work I perform, having someone hold me accountable definitely won’t hurt.  Join a challenge today and enjoy the ride. 

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Jan 1 2012

2012 Blog Challenge: R.A.T.L. 365

“Building (R)elationships of (A)ccountability and (T)rust with all roads leading to (Love.” 

 R.A.T.L. (rattle) Relationship, Accountability, Trust and Love…the acronym used for the mission statement of my non-profit, Mother 2 Mother CDC.  2012 is a year for change and we often here the phrase, “Be the change you wish to see”.  I am going to post each day about how I fulfilled one of the principles within the mission statement.

  • Relationships: Mother 2 Mother wants to inspire pro-social friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and instill a sense of hope in the future.
  • Accountability: The focus of Mother 2 Mother is to empower mothers in establishing goals and following through on commitments.
  • Trust: Mother 2 Mother wants to help to diminish the negative stigma attached to relationships amongst women while instilling the importance of trusting and quality relationships.
  • Love: An individual is dramatically influenced by their support system. Mother 2 Mother wants to surround mothers in a caring, supportive and loving environment; allowing them to heal and grow.

I am always up for a blogging challenge and you should join me.  Let’s get ready to shake, RATL and roll…use RATL in your tags and #RATL in your tweets.  Find a way to accomplish one principle per day in the mission statement and compile a post. 

“Any act often repeated soon forms a habit; and habit allowed, steady gains in strength, At first it may be but as a spider’s web, easily broken through, but if not resisted it soon binds us with chains of steel.” – Tryon Edwards

Oct 31 2011

The Season of Thanksgiving

Author Zari Banks to Help Mother 2 Mother CDC With Donation from November Book Sales

Finding your passion in life is a goal that many gaze at but only few are able to embrace fully and enjoy the rewards of its success. Zari Banks and Rhachelle Nicol’ have found their passions – to support and uplift mothers by coming alongside them and helping to lighten the load in any way possible. Join author Zari Banks in supporting Rhachelle Nicol’s mother-advocate organization Mother 2 Mother this November.

      This Fall, Zari Banks is donating a portion of all proceeds from the sales of her books to Mother 2     Mother CDC in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother to Mother CDC is an agency that seeks to build relationships of accountability and Trust with all roads leading to love. Mother 2 Mother supports women by providing preventative services, mentoring programs and other types of assistance to mothers in the greater Las Vegas area.

 

     Zari said helping mothers has always been a dream for her. “I’m a single mother, and even though I have college degrees, achieving the ‘American Dream’ is sometimes out of reach because there’s not enough to go around – not enough time, resources and sometimes, money. I’ve always wanted to start an organization like this one, and since Rhachelle has already done it, I can support other mothers while she mentors me.”

 By purchasing any of Zari’s four titles – First Class Foolishness Vol. 1, First Class Foolishness Vol. 2, O Lord, Hear My Cry: A Book of Psalms Devotional and O Lord, Teach Me Your Ways: A Book of Proverbs Devotional – you’re making a difference in the lives of hundreds of mothers and children. Zari’s books can be purchased on Amazon.com, BN.com and at http://zwriteswords.weebly.com.

For more information contact Zari Banks at 520.591.5989 or email her at zwriteswords@gmail.com. Visit www.zwriteswords.weebly.com to order books today.

For additional information about Mother 2 Mother CDC call 702.538.3366 or visit www.mother2mother.me.

Oct 5 2011

40 Days with God – Day 1

For the past month, I have been pulled in so many different directions. I’ve switched hats multiple times in a day and feel like I’m filling the shoes that were leftover, looked over and/or never wanted.

I knew I would have to give up something in order to get to the next level. However, I didn’t know what I could afford to give up and yet still be able to survive. I began writing out my daily schedule, including only the things I had to do, no if’s, and’s or but’s about it.

My list looked something like this:

Prayer
Get my oldest sons up and off to school
Prepare breakfast for the little ones
Get the little ones dressed
Get my daughter (kindergartener) off to school which included a 3/4 mile walk(one way might I add)
Lunch is eaten right before leaving for school or incorporated into our walk.
Naptime for the two youngest is usually accomplished on the walk back home.

I think you understand where I am going. With all the hours in a day, I am always on the go. There really isn’t as much time as I thought I had for everything I do. I may squeeze in a facebook post here or tweet there, but the time I once had, I no longer have. Which explains why my household had spun out of control.  At first, I was upset.  I thought Lord how could you give me a vision and take it back.    But then I thought, my Father knows best and he is equipping and preparing me to take this to the next level.  I had been spending more time working the vision, then spending time in prayer and receiving direction.   “For thou shalt worship no othr god: for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14   My ear must be keen and my heart open to hear the instructions of the Lord. 

My devotion and meditation for the day:

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” I John 2:27

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Oct 1 2011

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

I’ve come too far to turn around, but what’s keeping me in the wilderness? We will all experience a wilderness period at one time or another. Some will turn back to old ways but some will embrace the experience and seek to learn what is being taught. “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. Psalm 86:11

Last year God gave me (3) areas to study and understand, while he was freeing me from the bondage of my past: strongholds, surrendering and transparency. I had to realize that there were some things in my life that had a stronger hold on me than I had on them. I had to trust God enough to surrender them to him and believe that he would heal those areas that had been so deeply wounded. Transparency brought me to a place of complete trust and faith. My scars became proof of God’s faithfulness and bare my testimony.

There are (3) more areas I must learn while in the wilderness: faith, obedience and patience. My faith has been developed and has kept me seeking more truth and believing that He will never leave me nor forake me. “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6 Obedience has caused me to believe the vision that was given and continue working towards bringing it to fruition.

Now patience…

The other day my daughter came to me and said “mom I just want you to be happy, not irritated or frustrated.” Two days later, she came to me and said the same thing. I did not realize it until I began researching the wilderness experience, that she was speaking of having patience. I guess I wasn’t demonstrating patience. According to dictionary.com, patience is defined as the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like; an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. And all this time, I thought God wasn’t speaking to me but he used my daughter to give me a word.

Patience is a lot like a thermostat on an A/C unit; it regulates the temperature. The thermostat makes sure its not too hot or too cold. Patience regulates one’s character, causing one to respond consistently to whatever circumstances presented instead of reacting. Patience says God is preparing something better when we don’t get what we want. Patience says there must be more to learn rather than believing we know it all. Patience says, “though he slay me, yet will I trust him”. Patience assures that a firm foundation has been built and will allow things to be tore down in order to ensure the leaks and cracks have been sealed.

Character is developed as the result of a wilderness experience and patience is the best lesson.

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4

Sep 23 2011

Death Row

Yesterday evening, we witnessed the death of a man, Troy Davis, that may or may not have been guilty of the crimes committed.  Today, though some continue to mention the issues that plague our legal system, most have gone back to their day to day.  As I thought about the issues at hand,  one thing struck me, so many people live their day to day lives on “Death Row“, awaiting their day of execution.

So many people wake up each morning with nothing to live for, no dreams to pursue and lack any ambition or motivation to change their circumstances.  Do we stand up and fight for them?  We have a system, which has developed an industry out of the heinous acts and crimes committed, that preys on the illiteracy of our youth and adults and consistently gives hand outs while never helping to lift up.   Our system does not provide rehabilitation, but a training ground to be a better thief, liar and criminal.

“How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the person of the wicked? Selah.  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”  Psalm 82:3  I wake up everyday fighting for these individuals to have clemency and be granted a second chance at life.  I let them know that the decisions that were made by their mother or father do not have to be the same decisions they make for their own lives.  I tell those that are seeking change to forgive themselves of their past and start taking the necessary steps towards a brighter future.  

So many complain and desire to see change, but never put themselves in a position to influence the change they desire.   We have a system that sustains generational curses and deficiencies.  Now is the time for the “Church” to takes its rightful place.  It is a season of healing, a season that strongholds and generational curses will be broken.  Now is the time to walk in our power.  “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; an if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  Mark 16:17-18

What can you do today, that will influence change tomorrow?!?

Sep 22 2011

3 Year Blogaversary Giveaway

So excited for, “For Colored Gurls” 3 Year Blogaversary.  Over the past year or so, I have enjoyed the inspirational writings from the Founder, Jamie Fleming-Dixon and other women.  I didn’t have to think twice about helping her celebrate.  Visit the site for details on how you can join in the celebration.  Someone will receive a Mother 2 Mother Tote bag as well as a copy of Sunday Mourning.  Click the link here——>>>>> 3 Year Blogaversary Giveaway .

Jun 21 2011

Train up a child…

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6  This past year, has been my training ground, each blog post, facebook status and tweet was an area in my life that I have had to learn and conquer.  I had to learn to let things go, that have been holding me back.  I had to learn to forgive in order to love.  I had to discover the purpose for my life that has been in me waiting to be developed and nurtured.  I had to understand that though people have come in and out of my life, not one person was able to leave with my purpose.  It’s MINE waiting to be used and fulfilled.  So now that my mind has been renewed “trained” to produce or birth the purpose that is in me, I must utilize discipline.

Discipline:

-Setting deadlines and sticking to them

-Scheduling my time to increase the amount of productivity

-Getting a full nights sleep, in order to be able to function adequately.

-Making at least 5 business calls per day

-Organizing my filing

-Utilizing the tools available more efficiently for social media, networking, etc.

-To articulate the process that I have gone through in order for someone else to be able to utilize the outline, make it better and pass it on…to teach is to twice learn.

-When I begin to discipline myself in these areas, my “no’s” will also be easier because my time will already be spoken for and the results will speak for themselves. 

When we step into areas that we have not been exposed to before, we become as a child; a child in need of training and discipline.  We can pull from the wisdom of times past through our experiences, but we can not forget the discipline that is necessary to bring it all together.

Jun 12 2011

And My Answer Will Be Yes…

“And my answer will be yes Lord, yes”  God is requiring my ”yes”.  At the same time I must get more comfortable with saying “no”.   I do not want anyone to be more dependent on me, than they are on God.  “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7  There is no purpose to my giving or assisting if I can’t do it freely from my heart.

It seems the closer I get to fulfilling those things that God has placed on my heart, the more distractions I encounter.  The more “can you do this”, or “can you do that”, or “call Rhachelle she can do it”.   I was always so quick to say yes, but now I am realizing that even in the little things, I need to pray.  ”In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:6

I am realizing that my “no’s” may start occuring more than my “yes” as I continue to go deeper into the things that God has purposed for me.  Though uncomfortable, I realize that it is a necessity.  I can no longer be concerned with what the people will say, but what God has said.  Understanding that the work I am set to do involves empowering others, I can not be a hinderance. 

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Jun 9 2011

Giving from the heart…

I wanted to say “Thank you” to everyone who participated in our Mother 2 Mother giveaway and liked our facebook page.  You all have supported Mother 2 Mother since day one and the support has been phenomenal.  We gave away our first Mother 2 Mother Tote to Adrianna Allen!!!  Congratulations Adrianna I am sure you will enjoy it.

*Mother 2 Mother Totes will available at www.mother2mother.me soon!!! Keep checking back!