Saturday, November 28, 2009

Let God Take Control!

Ok, God I get it, I've seen the final sign, this huge sign that says LET GOD ORDER YOUR STEPS!! This is the trending message I've been getting thru emails and signs over the last couple of weeks. It has been about following God's divine purpose and dying to my own desires. That's so interesting because a lot of times when we are praying, we are praying and asking God for EXACTLY what we want. Lord, please bless me with this new job, Lord let this home loan go thru, Lord let my man start acting right, Lord let my child get into this great college. Those are very familiar prayers for a lot of us...but I have to stop and reconsider, at the urging of the Holy Spirit, how do we know those above mentioned (and many other prayers) are in God's PERFECT will for our lives? I have to question that myself..I believe our lives would be a lot less complicated if our prayers turned to LORD, order my steps, Let YOUR will be done. That's tough, seems easy on the surface. But what about when you have a loved one on life support, or an unfaithful spouse, or a loved one being lost to the prison system, or a child who is confused about his or her sexuality or something that pulls at your every heart string..that's tougher to pray..but I believe that if we still pray that prayer, LORD let YOUR will be done in my life, in his life, in her life, things would start making a lot more sense or we would at least have more peace about the situations we are in, we will start to realize that it's all in God's hands, all I can do is expect the best, expect God's will . He will hear from Heaven and ordain the things that are perfect for each situation. It's not our job to judge but to pray, and it's so easy for us to look at the situation, diagnose the problem, and then go to our Creator for the cure, but sometimes God just wants us to watch HIM work, He wants us to be uncomfortable for just a little while, so that when we are brought out, when our loved ones are healed, saved and delivered, we all can BOW and realize WHO brought us out.

Our own personal diagnosis can sometimes make us feel like we don't need God, not consciously but subconsciously, less and less we connect to HIM and yearn for HIM, we just simply figure it out on our own, we may bow briefly (if we even bow) to consult with God and say ok, this is the problem and Lord here is the answer, so when you get a free moment, please fix it, make it right, I'm here waiting and then have the nerve to get mad when things don't turn out the way we had them in our minds, that's because we dont know the whole plan, thats because divinley we are no where close to having a clue as to what's the best outcome, not just for the NOW but for the bigger pciture. When instead it would be more beneficial if we would go before HIM and petition HIM, ask HIM for HIS guidance, ask HIM which way to go. Simply, ask Him to reveal HIS will, tell HIM that you are done trying to take control, you just want to stand and allow HIM to order your steps...

I dont know about you but I'm getting chills thinking about God ordering my every steps. The things I say to people, the major decisions I stand at the crossroads of making, the way I raise my daughter, the person I spend the rest of my life with, but most importantly, where my soul rests eternally, ALL in the palm of God's hands, all ordained...now that's living!!

I pray you all had a wonderful and blessed holiday season. Hug your loved ones, tell them you love them, give them their flowers while they can smell them, cherish the small things in life, look up in the sky, look at the trees, listen to the ocean and just bask in God's great creation, look at how creative and mighty He is, hit the refresh button on ALL your relationships (including with GOd) be a more patient parent, a more understanding friend, a more supportive companion or spouse, a wiser speaker, a more positive person in general, it's never too late to begin again.. start new today..

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Hats off to the stand up guys!!

Watch this video
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1l4l7_flaws-and-all-beyonce_music

Ok, so I know this video is way old..wayyyyyyyyy old(LOL) but I love it, and I've been watching it ALL morning. Beyonce is so talented and beautiful!! I love this song, the lyrics, the beat, the melody, the message behind it, the simpleness of it, but that's NOT what this entry is about, I want to talk about the person who's not pictured in the video..

..the man who she's describing, the man who she's talking about, the strong, stand up guy who treats her like a queen and is the inspiration behind the message. That's a strong brother, a strong brother to deal with all that..but that's why I love our black men(the strong and real ones), because they have to be resilient to deal with our many moods, attittudes, highs and lows taking it all in stride and managing to still make us feel so protected!! Ok, let me make this clear one last time, the above and below is for the stand up guys!! Weak ones, please exit stage left (unless you want some tips on how to be a better man).

Ok, so now that we've cleared out the dead weight in the room, let's roll.

Black men, thank you! Thank you, for protecting us, for listening to us, for loving us in spite of, thank you for listening to the many stories about our co-workers and girlfriends who have pissed us off one good one and nodding at the pefect time, thank you for fixing things around the house, thank you for taking the kids to the park to give us a break, thank you for holding our hands in labor, thank you for rubbing our feet at night, thank you for taking us on dates, late night walks, early morning pillow talk, thank you for going out on a daily basis, earning a living for us to make sure we have all our needs and most of our wants, thank you for building us up when we're down, for being strong when we're weak, thank you for putting aside your fears in a storm just to asure us we can depend on your bravery, thank you for simply..just being the rock we need in life

Thank you for loving us..flaws and all!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Our President..Chosen for such a time as this!!

I can't get enough of Mr. President also known as President Barack Obama, I remember that late Tuesday night in November of 2008. The anchor was talking and he said we may just have the first black president and in an instance the world was changed, the words, for the firs time ever, read: Barack Obama, First African American President of the United States..typing this, my hands are shaking, it brings back a very real and memorable feeling for me. I was in utter disbelief, I was in shock, I couldn't scream, I couldn't cry, I couldn't run, I was stuck in my tracks, utter disbelief. I was going through an array of emotions (which is typical for me on any given day. LOL), but It felt like for some reason at that exact moment, we as a people had arrived at a place we (or anyone for that matter) never thought we could, but then reality set in, yes we have arrived, but my spirit was reminded, to whom much is given, much is required. We had arrived at a place that we are going to have to fight even harder to maintain, let alone be promoted to bigger and greater things. I couldn't believe it, I was in shock, this was by far the proudest I'd ever felt. Ever.

You know what concerns me? We voted him in but what have we done, let me make it more personal, what have you done since then? Have you followed any of his successes, or failures, have you measured his growth? Do you know where he stands on education, the new health care reform, or foreign policies? Have you prayed diligently for him? Have you protested or wrote to your local representative on any of the many occasions that he's been disrespected? Did you know about the man being allowed to have a gun on his persons when the president was present at a town hall meeting? Did you know that openly and publicly he was called a liar to his face by a man who was supposed to be dignified, an elected official? These two incidents and the many more unnamed, are ALL unprecedented and it's obvious the reasons as to why.

On the flip side of that, watching him, is amazing, last night he flew to Dover Air Force base to stand at attention, meet with the families and show his respect as fallen soldiers and DEA Agents arrived by casket after being killed in Afghanistan earlier this week. It was amazing to see in the dark of the night, the man who is our leading country, standing in on behalf of us, to show his respects to these men and women who died fighting for the freedom of sleep we enjoyed last night. It all tied together, it was like President went out late at night to be a physical condolence on behalf of us, while we slept the night away. How symbolic? I watched him on TV, I watched the fire in his eyes, I watched the veins in his forehead, I watched the determination in his posture and for once I saw him in a different light, he's human. For some reason, I always viewed him as superhuman, hell to a lot of us he is. A black president? No way. But he's human and he cares, he loves, he hurts, he worries, just like us, he puts his pants one leg on at a time, just like us. He needs us, he needs our support, he needs our prayers, he needs our ideas, he needs our strength, he needs way more than our vote. He needs way more than our vote..

Our last "selected" official, pardon me if I offend anyone, these are just one man's thoughts, my own. But Mr Bush, never in eight years, stood at attention when fallen soldiers arrived back in the US. Eight years, how many fallen soldiers? You do the math, he was detached from the situation. I admire our new president for being very real and extremely transparent, for being a martyr of some sorts. I admire who he is and what he stands for. I admire the love he has for his wife and children, I admire he brought his barber to the white house, our president has to stay fresh (smile). I pray to God that we continue to lift him up in our prayers and thoughts. Converse about him, learn about him and his administration, let's be supportive, because right now we are definitely "tardy for the party". We voted him in and left him high and dry, a lot of us haven't been back to check on him since January 20, 2009.

He is being attacked in the spiritual, political and physical realm, I would hope we can stand in for him..our beloved President, Mr Barack Obama

..stay tuned for "She's Such a Lady..Mrs Obama!!" We all can learn from her!

A Breath of Fresh Air






Hey, here is my conclusion on us (after being able to look at us objectively with a clear mind): I truly believe what we have was ordained by God, but I don’t think it was for the purpose we believed. Remember we used to say we don’t understand it, how the chips fell perfectly into place but at the wrong time? but I do now and it’s refreshing, coming to grips and an understanding is the most powerful feeling, I believe we were meant to love and inspire one another, I believe I was put in your life to inspire and you were put in mine to restore to life my belief in true love. I believe deep down, you were to show me that there is love after hurt, to help me believe again in that pure, unconditional old school love, that pure love that makes your heart skip a beat. The world and it’s evil perils made me doubt and even had me thinking that I’d always have to settle for just enough, because greater than that no longer existed. But I don’t believe you were my final destination in this journey of love but to set me up to believe in love again because God is NOT the author of confusion (you have a family). Ain't no feeling like being free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvI96oJROG4

And although our re-connection was brief, it produced a lot of hope for me, it made me realize like the song says, love keeps fighting when the fight gets old. It taught me that there still are men out there that will give their all, emotionally, financially, spiritually, a man who really wants to make u smile, a man that can’t sleep unless he knows you are resting peacefully, someone who adores everything about you from the top of your head to the sole of your feet, a stand up guy who is strong mentally and will take your hand, help you bow your head and bend your knees and go to the throne in prayer. This was a set up for what God has in store for my future, it’s not my final stop, couldn't be because you have a family, but regardless to all of that, you put back in my head, my worth and if I was ever in another relationship that drained me like the past, I was selling myself short and I deserved to be happy and have all the things in a relationship I want because I don’t ask for much, you made me realize that I'm high quality yet low maintenance, you always point out how little I ask of another person but how much I give, so I think that situation was ordained, it built me back up for the man that God really has in store for my future. As I said before I don’t want something that's going to be here today and gone tomorrow, I want to build something with someone that my daughter can grow from and see as a functional and healthy emotional empire, you made me believe and know I’m worth it and it’s divinely possible.

I hope and pray you got as much as I did, I hope and pray all the laughter, prayer and encouragement didn’t fall on deaf ears….I love you and always will, no one can EVER take that away..Love is definitely a man like YOU.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Love is YOU


This morning Journee woke up singing Chrisette Michelle's song..Love is You. It was the most innocent, pure version of the song I'd ever heard..but then I got to thinking, isn't that what love is supposed to be? Pure, Innocent and from the Heart? With as much selfishness, greed, hate and evil that's in our present world, isn't it just the most refreshing thing to be reminded that the old school simple love still exists? I know it warms my heart each time I encounter it and pray to God that we all, at one point in our lives experience it, taste it, touch it, feel it, breathe it, I hope it envelopes us into it's power completely, where we are freely loving and being freely loved in return with all inside of us, and that God is shining down on that love. How amazing.

If you've never heard the song, take a listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZDd4LD3AM4

Now, don't you feel a little different? Doesn't that you back to the cool breeze of summer on the playground of your middle school playground? Swinging your legs, looking into the pure blue sky thinking of that person you just love to love? Doesnt it take you to your first school dance when you had butterflies? Or when you got the note checked yes, I want to be your girlfriend or boyfriend? Or your first kiss on a crisp fall night? Or the times you stayed up all night on the phone and dreamed of being forever in love? Remember when they used to make love songs?

In one point she says, "Love's my permission to be who I am"
That is so powerful to me because to have a person love you in spite of you seems impossible. But God gave us a perfect example of that, thru Jesus, He knows all about us, but loves us and died for us in spite of it all. With every whip, with every second that passed, Him hanging on the cross, He knew what sins and betrayal we would commit, but He loved us enough to stand in for us, wow..powerful love.
That's the kind of love that makes the world go round. and round. and round.
God gave us another example or definition of love. Read I Cor 13. Love is meant to stand in spite of, love is meant to give more than it takes, love is meant to stand in front of the rain, so your love doesn't feel a drop of water, love is meant to believe in the unbelievable, love is meant to be the strength in hard times, love is meant to be the bread when you're hungry, love is meant to be the forgiveness when you've been hurt, love is supposed to be faithful, love is honest, love isn't misleading, love isn't selfish, love gives everything within even when there's nothing left, love WAITS, love pushes you on the swing in the playground, love makes sand castles with you on the beach, love cries when you cry, love rejoices when you rejoice, love understands, love gives you good and pure advice, love puts self last, Love is LOVE!!

I received an email about a man marrying his sweetheart who was terminally ill with cancer, she died 5 days later but she died with pure love, I heard another story of an NBA player who has remained by his Love's side thru the pain of her cancer as well. There is so much out there to really inspire us to hold our love a bit closer, or even pray more diligently for the love we once will hold.

I hope and pray you look within and fix whatever piece of your love that's not true to Love's definition..and after mending, fixing and restoring, I hope and pray...that:

Love is YOU!

Praise HIM in advance

Praising GOd before the battle is over is the hardest thing to do but very necessary in order to be able to come thru your trial a stronger and better person...or just to be able to simply come thru alive for that matter.

I'm going thru a personal situation and I get down and each time my spirit reminds me, Kamisha your victory will be in your praise. In order for God to see your diligence, in order for God to see your maturity, in order for GOd to elevate you out of the storm, He first has to know you recognize it's HIM alone, who is able to bring you out. It's HIM alone you trust even when you dont see HIM. Each time, that thought, along with my prune juice (thank you Britney), My mom had also forever encouraged me to write a book of advce, encouragement and a glimpse into my own struggles, I come to grips with being kept. THat's my prayer, Lord keep me, if it's not Your will to heal me, deliver me, save me, mend my broken heart, fight this temptation, Lord please just KEEP me, that simply means, that God will be your greatest comfort in your greatest storm. The storm may not pass at this time, we may not get what we want, the man, the woman, the job, the house, the car, the healing, the deliverance, but we will be kept, it will be bearable, we will be able to look up and see a glimpse of light that reminds us, HE's still with us, holding us along the way.

It sounds so cliche, just be happy before it's over. Just believe in the unseen, but how can that be possible, when sometimes you dont even believe in the things your eyes see, or the things your heart beholds?

Here's a quote that helps me thru:

Pain is Inevitable, but misery..that's optional. Most times, we dont have this magic hat that we pick and choose our struggles or our battles, they are dished to us either generational, spiritually or even by decisions we make, so pain is going to happen that's out of our control but how we deal with pain, that's up to us. We can choose to live a miserable life, or we can choose to breathe deep and trust GOd, and make the best of each moment (because sometimes even taking it one day at a time is too much!). After we are blessed to live another day, then it's up to us what kind of day it is. I hope and pray each of us opts outof misery. Avoid the temptation to complain, or be down for too long. Choose peace...but more importantly, choose to:

Praise HIM in advance

Friday, October 23, 2009

Faithful is Our GOD

After you give yourself to HIM and trust that HE will deliver you and bring you back to the fold, watch how Faithful HE will be to you.

You won't be without pain or suffering but you will be KEPT thru the midst of it all. You will be able to walk and not faint, run and not be weary

That's the amazing thing about GOD, that is so wonderful. HE is not like man, he won't throw you out beccause of what u have done, instead HE knows that's when you need love the most.

He wraps HIS loving around the faithful. He wipes the tears of the faithful. He mends the broken hearts of the faihtful. He restores the health of the faihtful.

Give your heart back to the ONE who will keep your heart protected and safe and watch HIM be so faithful to you!!

Here's to mending broken spirits and to a faithful GOD

Tragedy

My spirit has been so heavy this week. Tragedy has been all around me this week. Hadnt touched my personally but had been all around me. Family members have lost loved ones and the news has been bombarded with children dying, being thrown in trahes, girls raped, innocent being struck by stray bullets, cancer killing the unknowing. Tragedy

My spirit has been so heavy and then this song came to mind. "Bow down and worship HIM..oh worship HIM, bow down and worship HIM, enter in"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNp4n_5VFE

It's time we turn our hearts, broken, bruised and heavy ladden, it's time we turn our hearts back to Christ, the truth and living redeemer

It's so easy to get distracted, it's so easy to get drawn into this world. You dont just jump into sin, it's enticing and it sucks you in little by little, while sucking the life right out of you. You become one with sin. But today with all that's going on, it's time to fall down on your knees and ask God to revive and renew. ASk HIm to restore the right spirit within you

Take baby steps each day to be right with GOD. love more, judge less. Think positive thoughts. Do something today for the good of others, before you selfishly think of how NOT to help another person, go back to the old school way of thinking, with blood, sweat and tears, we are family, one big family, whatever you need, I have.

Live as if today was your last, love as if you'd never felt pain. Dont punish God for the things the world has grieved you with

Today is YOUR day. Today is a new day..take advantage of it because I believe the people who took their last breath had no idea which heartbeat would be their last.

Trust God.

It's Important to do the right things, but more important to do them with the right heart.

Hug someone and tell them you love them, look to heaven and tell God you love HIM and surrender your all back to HIM, look at satan and confirm that his time in your life is done, he will not break your heart anymore and lastly, look in the mirror, and tell yourself the past is the past, NOW is the time to live...live with a pure heart and clear mind