Roots & Branches

Hey y'all. I have been thinking about something for about a day now. Here it is: A lot of what we seek ourselves and what other people do, whether it is good or bad, are just the branches. There are roots that have grown those branches. Think of a tree. A tree only needs a few roots to grow tall. And as it grows, the tree sprouts branches. If you are ever wondering why you or anybody else acts in a way that is unacceptable in any atmosphere, check the roots. A person's past can tell you a lot about their behavior. Examine each branch and ask yourself are you willing to tolerate such behavior in spite of the roots. And if you are, ask yourself why you are willing to accept the behavior. I just wanted to give you guys something to think about.

A New Me and A New You!

Hey everybody! I missed you all so much! I want you all to forgive me for not writing. I have been caught in other things and neglected to take care of what God has given me. Please forgive me for that. I know that there may people who read my blog and want to hear from me so I have made a vow to do what the Lord has called me to do. 

I want you all to know that I am not who was a year a go. God has increased my knowledge and strength in Him. My family has been through a lot with my grandfather dying in January of last year and my grandmother who had fallen ill. And by the power, mercy and grace of God my grandmother is doing extremely well. She is getting back to where she can do for herself again. Even my father almost lost his life in January because of a blood clot that was too close to his heart. But God....

Y'all we serve an awesome God. Even when we don't feel it or situations make it look like He is not, He yet is. I have a better appreciation of Him now. And I want you guys to have a better appreciation of Him as well. I will be writing more regularly this year. You will hear from me a lot more this year. God has already spoke a lot in this new year already. God said this is the year of suddenly. A year of surprise. He is going to surprise us with the the blessings we have been praying for for years. And He will do it quickly. Suddenly. Keep looking and keep praying. Love you guys! 

Freedom

I wonder is it like to be free. I mean really free. No worries. No pain. No anxiety. Nothing that can cause you harm in form. Jesus has made me free from sins. It feels good to know that He did that for me. He didn't have to but He did for all of us. Yet there are some things that are clinging to me. It has been a struggle. Seriously. It has been a real fight. My flesh and spirit are at a constant war. Who is going to win? I understand what Paul says by some things I want to do, I don't do. Then there are some things I don't want to do but do. I so get that. I just want to be free in my mind as well as my spirit. No bills. No regrets. No shame. Completely free.

A love like that.

Hey guys. How are ya? ;)

I saw a movie by my favorite artist of all time this past weekend. Under The Cherry Moon. This is was my second time seeing it. The first time I saw it I really didn't pay it a whole lot of attention. But this go round I did. I like the movie a lot. Pretty funny, too. Tricky and Chris were hilarious. But you know what I got from it? I want a love just like that. I want someone who will love me no matter what I have. Or don't have. I want someone that will see my heart and not just my body. I want to be swept off my feet just like Mary Sharon was by Chris. He showed her that life can really be fun if you loosen up. Take a chance. That is something that I am learning how to do. I've been taught to always being afraid to do stuff. I want to take risks. I'm not saying I want to be careless but I do want to be spontaneous. I love how they met secretly and then when things got rough they no longer hid their relationship. Now, I don't want to betray my best friend for no man but I do want a love of my own. Someone that will go the distance and the miles for me. Someone that will love me divinely. Someone who will stand up for me and me for them. Somebody worth dying for. That is what I want. Now, if I had my way the ending would have been different. Christopher would....well, I'll let you see the movie for yourself.  ;)  But tell me something...is what I want wrong?

Khole......I've been there.

Hey everybody. Please forgive me for not writing sooner. It has been laziness for me. So please forgive me. But I feel like I have to talk about something. Khloe Kardashian. This girl, to me, gets a very bad rap. She really does. The media really tears this girl to shreds. And to me because of this she doesn't have the self esteem that she should have. Vey low self confidence. How do I know you say? Well, I was where she is mentally and emotionally. Now, we don't have the same background and have not been through the same things but there are some things that I have noticed about her that I myself used to do. I noticed that she really does not take the time to get to really know a person. She has gone from Lamar to French. Saying that, she is not paying any attention to what she is picking. See, when you date, you have to have discernment. You have check people's spirit out. Where are they coming from? Why do they act the way they act? Why do they hang around who they hang around? What are their motives for being with you? It is not that you are being insecure. It is that you have to be careful about you let into your life. Everybody cannot share your atmosphere with. What are their goals in life? What is it that they hope to accomplish? You must asks these questions. And even you must ask yourself these questions. You have to love yourself enough to not accept anything that is thrown your way. Just because it said "Hi!" does not mean you start to develop any type of relationship with it. Also, if this means that you have to be by yourself for a long time.....and I am not talking about a year or so.....I'm talking at least 3 or 4 years.....then so be it. Your heart and your head will thank you. Trust me. In the end, it will all be worth it. Pray Khloe and every other Khloe out there.

The Journey

Hey everyone. You guys...for the past two months I have really been making some changes to my life. And it all has to do with my weight. I give health tips at my church every Sunday and I am over the Health & Fitness ministry. Even as I give out the health tips, I really never put some of them to my own use. Now check this out. I really do believe in eating healthy and living healthy in every aspect of health. I even practice healthy cooking. My problem is portion control and sweets. I can be an emotional eater sometimes as well. You see...I have been battling my weight ever since I was 7 years old. The story goes like this: When my dad came and took me to Missouri where he was stationed for two weeks, he let me eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I did not recognize what he was doing to me because I was so young. But my grandmother and mother did. When he brought me home, he took me to my grandmother's house. Grandmother told me years later that when she saw me she wanted to cry. I had gained twelve pounds while I was with my dad. Too much weight for a seven year old. Ever since then, I have tried all type of diets and nothing ever stuck. I can remember being 13 years old, asking my mama if I could have liposuction. At 13 now. And as far as school was concerned.....I hated most days I had to go. I had some friends but the bullies could not be counted. My worst grades were 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th. Absolutely hated them. I use to dream about being home schooled all the time. My mother made me go though. But one thing that she told me that has not left me until this day is "Never entertained ignorance. Never give ignorance an audience." I still have to say it to myself sometimes. My childhood was really something serious to go through. That was why I use to love to read so much and be by myself sometimes because I knew that as long as I was with self I was alright. There were times I ate to soothe the pain of having to deal with life and other times I ate because it was available. Now, I am determined to turn that all around. I want to be the health tips that I give out every Sunday at church. I want to really walk in the fullness of everything that God has for me. And I don't want to be afraid to do it because of my size. Now check this out...there were times when I KNEW I was the finest woman in the room and could not and would not tell me other wise. I knew that before I step outside my bedroom door to go anywhere at that time I was the sexiest thing walking.  I knew. But then the other times came. I looked great but didn't feel great on inside. God has me in the process now of truly appreciating myself for all that I am while making myself better. I can do it. And i am going to do it. I am walking more now. Watching my portions especially. Really knowing when I am full. Especially late at night. Late nights, like after ten, I either eat tortilla chips, crackers or peanuts. These really help me in my journey. Well, that is all I have for now, guys. I think I will be doing a part 2 of this but I am not sure yet. Just keep praying for me and I will keep praying for you. Let's walk this journey together. Until next time....

Complain or Pray?

Hey guys. I have an issue. I'm going to start by telling you a little something about me as the introduction to this blog and to the issue. Here it goes....When I was about five years old, I saw a video. A music video that is. At the beginning of this video, the music started out slow and seductive. There was this light smoke and lighting that encircled the stage. Then appeared this light skinned guy with curly hair who had a nice mustache. In my five year old eyes, he was kind of tall but most definitely handsome. He wore a purple coat over a white ruffled shirt and gray pants with matching gray boots. Most exquisite he was. I didn't memorize the words to the song at that moment because I was too in awe of him. His way of singing was different as was his style of music and style of dress. I was indeed smitten. I later learned of this young man name. His name was Prince. I had heard of bedtime stories and fairytales with princes in them. But never have I ever heard of a boy named Prince. Needless to say, I fell in love with this "Prince". I remember telling my mother that I was going to marry him. :) When my uncle bought the Purple Rain album, he would always call me whenever he got ready to play the album. I would run to his room and sing along with the songs and look at the poster that was enclosed in the album sleeve. It was nothing better in the world than to hear "Dearly beloved...we are gathered here today to celebrate this thing called life." There was absolutely nothing better.

I am an adult now. A lot has changed since then. Hairstyles changed. Fashion changed. Technology has changed. Music has even changed. And my life has changed. Ever since I gave my life to Jesus, I've been noticing something. Those of us who call ourselves Christian have the scathing and seething and nasty attitudes towards people in the music industry. We have gotten so blatantly cold towards them that it is scary. We say that they need to get saved, which is true. But why should they when we don't offer the same kind of love that was shown towards us? Why should they break their necks to serve our God when don't act godly? You know what I mean. There have been documentary videos out talking about the truth behind this and that. And in these documentaries they have been called out of their names. Insulted in ways you wouldn't want a dog to be insulted. And the lies... don't even get me started. Some of that stuff we should already know that it is not of God. We should know better. But we CHOOSE not to do better. We as the people of God should pray for those who are lost. Complaining about what they are doing or what they are not doing is not going to get them to Jesus. At all. What would happen if we prayed more than complained? What if we stormed the gates of heaven for them? What would happen if we decided, "Yes, we are going to tell them the truth but we are going to love on them"? The Bible says, "With love and kindness I have drawn you". Did God save you by yelling and screaming at you? Calling you out of your name? Spreading lies about you? So why would yo do it to them? Think about it.