BeYOUtiful!

The phrase "keeping it real" has kept so many people locked up in their own misery. Instead of being real, people put on masks and facades. They live in pretense for the sake of "keeping it real" (oxymoron, right). But what keeping it real should entail is that you can learn to live right now in this moment, being the authentic you God created you to be. With your unique gifts and qualities and quirks. Even with your frailties and faults. That's what makes keeping it real beautiful. #AuthenticallyMe #BeOriginal #BeYOUtiful #Authenticallyspoken ❤

Stay Lit!

Not long ago, I watched one of Pastor Toure' Roberts messages. The title was "Stay Lit." The jist of the message was even through turbulent times we are to stay lit. We are the light of the world. God placed His divine light in us to shine through the dark chaos of the world and even our troubles. 

I must be transparent...this last week has tossed enough my way not only to knock that light out but to keep it out for good. And I won't lie, I almost let it. But a person in scripture came to my mind, Job. He probably experienced the most tragedy in such a short period of time than anyone else in and out of the bible. He was torn, devastated, and deeply wounded. Through the course of his anguish, he recited some of the most powerful words "though he slay me, yet will I trust him" (Job 13:15). Sometimes we will never understand the things we experience. But the purpose is to suit is up for the purpose God assigned to our lives.

I encourage you to allow the firey darts of life and the enemy to be fuel to aid those flames. Stay prayed up. Stay encouraged. Stay lit! 

You Matter!

Hey y’all. If I may be a little transparent this afternoon. It's taken me some time (years) grappling with the thought of sharing some of my most vulnerable points in my life. Though I can't and won't share all, I have come to learn the necessity of transparency. In some way, we are all connected through trials, struggles, even sin. When we've received healing, we have the choice to remain silent or help usher the next person into his or her healing and freedom. I've chosen the latter.

I am humbled to share an article on mental illness written by myself and my business partner, Ramon Maisonet. It is our prayer and hope that the candid truth in this article be the catalyst to someone's healing.‪#‎HaveTheConversation ‪#‎MentalIllnessAwarenessMonth ‪#‎YouMatter

Photo Credit: Forest Cavale via CreationSwap

Click on or highlight and copy the link below into your browser. 

http://clarksvillenow.com/local/letter-you-matter/       

Aim for Her Life

**Important Note** To those who read this who have sons, please understand I wish not to exclude sons from this topic. Their upbringing by both parents is equally of value. However, my charge from God is to women and daughters. It is not my intention or desire to present information I have no knowledge of since I am the mother of only girls. Any information that goes forth in my blogs are from personal experience and guidance from God. I hope this is clearly understood and no negative feelings are taken from the mention of only daughters and mothers. Blessings!  J

So, I’m a huge Hunger Games fan.  Am I the only one? I’m sure I’m not! I’ve watched all but the last movie. From the time I watched the first movie, I was hooked.  My favorite character of course, is Katniss Everdeen.  Not only are her skills amazing, but her will to live and sacrifice for others are admirable. She becomes a skilled bow & arrow shooter who is selected (well forced) to participate in representing her people of District 12 in a violent game of survival. With every draw of her bow, the weight of her people rests on her shoulders. The weight of potential victory so her district can receive vital necessities such as food and fresh water. The future of her people depends on her. Sounds familiar? Maybe not. Allow me to explain.

Okay mothers, this is where I need your imaginations activated. Now, go with me here…so imagine the weight Katniss has on her shoulders for her generation.  Now imagine our families…our daughters specifically.  The weight we’re given by God to carry to ensure our daughters grow up to be the women He designed them to be.  Now we don’t have tangible arrows to shoot.  But we have our engagement.  Our guidance. Our thoughts. Our words. Our actions. We have those unseen arrows that can do just as much damage as the real ones. Just as Katniss had a humble heart, she understood the implications of withholding from shooting an arrow. She understood that she wasn’t in that game just for herself, but for her District.  For people who relied on her drive, determination, and courage to get through.

Hebrews 12:11 (NLT) No discipline is enjoyable while it’s happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained this way.

Sometimes the arrows we shoot, correction, chastising, discipline, don’t feel good. But it’s in understanding that we aren’t just raising these girls, that makes the difference. We are raising the future. We are raising them to continue on where we leave off. I’ll be the first to say when I have to correct my fifteen year old daughter, not all the time does it feel good. I even question myself sometimes. But even in doing that, I must understand that if I don’t throw that arrow of correction or that arrow of discipline, she will grow up a wild weed being blown and tossed by the wind. She will grow up validating who she is in relationships, habits, addictions, status, etc.

Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Not every arrow shot did Katniss hit her target and I know not every arrow we shoot will hit their intended target either, but it’s in not quitting or giving up that makes the difference. It’s in our daughters seeing our determination to continue forward that sends an unspoken message to them. Mothers, we are given the charge to ensure our daughters grow up knowing they are princesses in the eyes of God. We are given the charge to safeguard the innocence of our daughters in the manner of appearance, relationships, integrity, worth, etc. If we choose to neglect those charges, then we leave it up to the world to shoot arrows into their lives.

So mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, or any woman of influence…get those bows in hand, charge that arrow, breathe, and shoot! Blessings!!

What’s some of the painful lessons (arrows) you’ve had to shoot in your daughter’s life that she later appreciated?

Putting Things Into Perspective

So a few days ago, my phone completely died on me.  Out of the blue, a brand new phone died…Surprisingly, I didn’t overreact like I did when my phone before this one died.  As a matter of fact, I only prayed one prayer, that my phone would come on for just one moment to speak with my husband about an important matter…and it did!

But of course, in many of the small things that happen in our lives comes great lessons to learn from or thoughts to ponder on.  Mine showed up as a thought to ponder…a couple of thoughts actually. 

I recently started back college.  I am hoping after retry #600 that this will be it and I will be walking the stage, degree in hand (please Lord!) I also have new projects and ventures under way, my husband has launched a great program, our daughter is knee deep in the teenage years and our baby girl is flying through her toddler years.  So yeah, you can say I am juggling a lot.  And like many of you have probably said hundreds of times, there just DOES NOT seem to be enough hours in the day to get things done! I mean, geesh, I blink once and it’s at the top of the hour.  Blink again, it’s at the top of another! Am I the only one to witness this phenomenon?! 

 As I sat looking at my phone go in and out of life and death, a soft thought came my mind.  What if this was supposed to happen this way? My phone dying that is.  Because, although I’d rather not admit it, I’m addicted to my phone.  I can easily get lost in the pinning ocean of Pinterest! Darn you creators of Pinterest!!  And while I’m whizzing through pins, time is ticking and tocking away. It was a humbling but hard truth to realize that I didn’t value my time as I ought.

The bible says things such as “make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16), “teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12).  Further scriptures instruct us to learn and understand what God wants and how He wants us to spend our time.  Our time is valuable…I would dare to say invaluable because we can’t get it back once it’s gone!

So, as my phone made its last flicker, I remembered one of my core values which is time management. I value my time spent on things that will better me, my family, the people God places in my life, and the Kingdom of God.  The fight was over.  Some rearranging, prioritizing, delegating and dedicating had to be done to my time.  After all, I’m holding myself accountable to what I chose as a core value!

I pray from my lessons you are blessed and even have reflective moments that leads you to rearrange some things to better dedicate, dream, and do! Blessings!

*Photo credit: @rekitanicoledesigns 

Hello! Now Let's Change!

First off, WELCOME TO 2016!!! I know we are a “few” days into the new year, but I haven’t gotten the chance to welcome everybody.  Gosh, it feels like forever ago since I’ve been here.  And please, my apologies for being MIA.  I’ve actually been in the stewing pot reviewing, revamping, and creating some new things.  I am SO thankful to God for choosing to allow me to see another year in both my birthday (mid December) and the new year!

Sooo much has taken place and though some of that much was bittersweet, I’ve come to understand it was necessary. A lot hit my family and I right at the smack end of the year.  But again, it was necessary.  Had some of those events not happened, I don’t think I’d be on the track I’m on now.  God has a plan, has always had a plan, and will carry it out for good in mine and your life (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28). So I chose and choose to trust Him. I hope you do too! J

So...all of that processing led to me thinking…thinking of course about change.  This is what I got.

In order for change to take place, we must be willing to change.

I remember growing up, I was terribly shy. I hated making eye contact or doing anything that would draw unwanted attention.  Having that trait coupled with fear didn’t make things better.  I kind of outgrew one of them (shyness) but the other, I enabled for so long until it crippled me.  It wasn’t until recently, and I mean as recent as the last year or so, that I decided to divorce fear.  I had had enough and I wanted out.  I wanted to change.  Needed to change.  And so I started the process. 

See, I think one of the biggest issues with change is this…we become so comfortable where we are, even when we know where we are isn’t good for us.  We get trapped in our own vices.  Sabotage our own freedom.  But the truth is and remains that if we don’t make the deliberate, intentional decision to change and be set free, we will always be that caged bird on the inside, looking out. We have to decide that being uncomfortable and moving forward in God’s assigned destiny is better than being complacent and miserable. We have to be willing to take God by His word and follow Him as He leads us (Proverbs 3:5,6).  I know sometimes the way looks foggy or downright unrecognizable, but as we learn to see with faith and not our own understanding, change becomes a bit easier to enter into (2 Corinthians 5:7).

So what steps have you started to take to make sure your change isn’t sabotaged? 

I pray y’alls new year has been off to a great start. Blessings!! J

Removing the Plank

Many times it’s not easy acknowledging our own flaws.  Quite frankly, we don’t want to so we don’t.  Because if we do, that places us in the spotlight.  

It places us on a platform of un-comfortability.  So instead of admitting our flaws, we point the finger or fingers at someone else’s.  We bash, criticize, judge, gossip, or straight run down that person’s character once their flaws are exposed.  We think that because they operate in a certain capacity that they’re to be perfect…flawless even.  But God is clear in His word when He says that we will be judged with the same measure of judgment we dish out on others (Matthew 7:1-2). 

We are all jacked up.  We are all in need of a Savior.  Whether we believe it or not, accept or acknowledge that fact…the truth remains that we all are flawed and all fall short (Romans 3:23 NLT).  It’s not always easy to own up to topics like this.  Because we prefer to project a squeaky clean image.  We cocoon ourselves from our reality and transform instead into a faced-type of life, giving that false impression for others to validate.

As I am in the midst of this learning this difficult lesson, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s better to strive to live in peace with God and those around me and to be real with my own faults.  Not only recognizing my own frailties but working through the shortcomings of other people as well.  The bible says that it’s not only about our own interests but also the interest of others (Philippians 2:4-5).  We will all have to give a personal account to God for our actions…so we should decide to live in such a way to not cause another to stumble and fall (Romans 14:13).  And that includes bashing, criticizing, judging, and condemning. 

God doesn’t desire perfection from us…but willful excellence and devotion to Him through our lives.  So let’s go find some good tweezers, because we have some planks to pull out! 

Blessings! J