Build It With Care

How do you prepare to cook a meal? How do you prepare for your daily work out (okay, maybe your weekly work out)? How do you prepare a long lasting marriage, a fun family trip and on and on? 

A satisfying meal, a productive work out that does the body good, a marriage of two people who compliment each other now and in years to come and bringing the family together from near and far to have fun all require preparation. The other day it occurred to me that learning, I mean deciding to really learn also requires preparation:

  

Clear your study space

Listen to Classical Music (it awakens your brain)

Ask questions and if you don't understand the answer...ask more questions in person, via email or set up a time to meet with your instructors

Take detailed notes that YOU will understand later

Use the internet to learn a little more about your subjects (time consuming I know, but this is only if you are determined to learn)

Do your homework (yes every assignment)

oh and...Go to class & Tune In!

The Keys required for Success in almost any and every endeavor you take on are: your time, creativity, commitment and preparation...this is your education, your dream, your life...Build it with care...Muah

 

 

Please Be Kind

Never ever be kinder to others than you are to yourself

Never ever show more compassion towards others than you show towards yourself

Never ever forgive others more than you are willing to forgive yourself

Never believe in others and their dreams more than you believe in you and yours

Never never love others more than you love yourself

And always be gentle

Be encouraging

Be loving &

Please be kind to yourself...for it is then and only then

That loving your neighbor as you love yourself can be all that God intended it to be♡

For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34)

When God Takes Over

Today in church service a question was asked, “Do you remember the day you were baptized”? Today I witnessed a young man dedicate his life to Christ he converted from Islam to Christianity and afterwards that question was asked. I didn’t need to think long about it because I remember it as if it were yesterday. I got baptized when I was nine years old, but God called me when I was eight years old. When God speaks to you it’s not easily forgotten. So, why wait until nine if I was called when I was eight? I’ll never forget...

Me and my twin Priscilla were two very, very shy and introverted eight year olds who did not want any type of attention brought our way.

 

We were seated at the back of the church with our Grandmother, nestled comfortably under her protection. Cill must have been sitting on the other side of Granny because I don’t remember her sitting next to me. The Pastor gave Alter Call at the end of service and I always got nervous and scared during this part, I don’t know why I just did. My shyness seemed to rule my actions which means I operated in fear most of the time. But this particular Sunday this shy little eight year old stood away from her grandmother’s protective arms, moved out of the back pew and started to walk up the  aisle  to be baptized. It was as if I was being spoken to directly. FEAR HAD LEFT, GOD HAD TAKEN OVER, AND I WAS MOVING. This shy eight year old felt no fear, I just knew I wanted to be baptized. Then I felt my grandmother’s hand grab me I looked around and she asked “where are you going?” “To be baptized” I said, “no you’re not” she said, shaking her head, “have a seat”. I felt so disappointed and defeated. Now in my grandmother’s defense, she probably didn’t think an eight year old knew what she was doing or what it was all about, but at that moment I knew and I never forgot.  Other Sundays came and went, Altar call was given again and again, fear had crept back in and I sat frozen wanting to get up but too shy & scared to move. Then one Sunday opportunity presented itself again. Cill and I were sitting up front and center, Grandmother seated in the back of the church as was her custom, she was usually ushering or keeping her eyes on the ushers. I had excused myself to the restroom and when I came back I looked for Cill, I asked our friend “where is Priscilla?” She replied “She went up there to get baptized”, they had Alter call while I had excused myself. I looked up at the pastor and he was still asking “Is there one”? I think I ran to the Alter, no one to stop me. Priscilla was already in back changing, all I could think is she’s not going to leave me we’re going to do this together.  

 

This time it was through God’s gift to me, my twin sister Priscilla, that I had the courage and was able to move without fear to go and dedicate my life to Christ.

MY FEAR HAD LEFT, GOD HAD TAKEN OVER, AND I WAS RUNNING TO HIM

Dedicated to my twin and

My Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ

I’m still running to you.

Exhale All Doubt!

Waking up is a gift from God
Walking, talking and breathing are true blessings
Loving and being loved, make life beautiful
To dream is to dance with possibilities
To achieve is simply awesome!



Breathe in possibilities, exhale doubt!
Breathe in love, exhale fear!
Breathe in determination, exhale procrastination!
Breathe in creativity, exhale what will people think!
Breathe in purpose
Breathe in passion
Breathe in destiny
Breathe in Faith in the impossible and exhale all doubt....
Actively trust God's timing and the divine process

Time To Wake Up!

In the sad echoing confirmation that indeed the legal system was never truly intended to protect our liberties, our rights nor our freedoms; I am pondering these truths....

I must acknowledge that God is my strength, my way maker, my peace in the midst of the storm and my life's architect.

Education is one of the necessary keys to true freedom and abundant living.

We as a people must learn to heal ourselves of and move past the pain born of social injustices and the deeply embedded history inflicted wounds we have had to bear.  

I must look to the heavens, from where my true help comes from.

Only as WE re-think, rebuild and truly establish solid families and a sense of community, will change take place.  

For far too long we have been force fed bold lies that have poisoned and stripped us of our royal heritage.  We in turn, willingly shared this way of thinking and living with our children.  These bold lies and half truths have created a distrust and formed self destructive mind sets among our beloved brothers and sisters....it is BEYOND TIME.

Time to Wake Up, Rise Up and STAND for something life altering.   Understanding that a house divided can not stand and STAND WE MUST!

How to Effectively Lead

To Serve or Not to Serve, now that is a great question.

Over the years I have dreamed about being much more involved in my community; feeding the hungry and helping young people connect the dots to their future.  Sadly, this remained a desire without much action to bring it to fruition.  I've watched and admired people being passionate about serving and it seemed to just be in their DNA.  How irritating to be too darn lazy to serve others; which can help heal you of loneliness, depression and give you a better quality of life.  However, the other day I had an AHA MOMENT!

I attended a great panel discussion at Eastern Michigan University, "Redefining Our Identity: I Am A Black Man".  This forum was a free event and open to the public hosted by some very bright future leaders and community changers.  I came in a little late, rushing there straight from work.  I took a seat near the back, just in case it did not hold my attention and I wanted to duck out real quiet like (I mean one must be prepared..right?).  As I settled in and listened, I was somewhat surprised at the overwhelming amount of EMU students(young ladies and young men) who felt this was important enough to attend.  They actually had to bring in more chairs a few times because it was standing room only.  The energy was positive, the speaker was engaging, the questions and comments were thought provoking and funny.  I felt such a sense of pride in these young people!!  All the negative comments and imagery  that is portrayed in the media can be very disheartening.  If only the world could be healed of the racial viruses that have plagued us for far too long; perhaps then they could see, truly hear and appreciate THIS wonderful dialogue and we could collectively be the CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE.  

As i greeted them after it was over, shook hands and such, I was spiritually full and so very glad I had decided to come.  Driving home is when that AHA MOMENT occurred.  As I reflected on those students discussing a range of topics from Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin (both young men far too close in age to those sitting all around me) to the fear of not wanting to die and being harrassed by law enforcement.  And in spite of the fear, pain and even anger...they still hope and with extreme clarity, spoke of wanting harmony, a better understanding between the diverse people in our country, more love displayed and support given among each other.  It was a powerful discussion and it made me realize that this is truly what it means TO SERVE.   

Many want to be large and in charge

yet don't have a heart to serve

We Serve to help

We Serve to heal

We Serve to give hope

We Serve to learn

We Serve to strengthen, encourage and uplift others

We Serve to enhance and pour much needed love into our communities

We Serve, so that we may one day know how to Effectively Lead!

Watch your step...

It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.  


There are things that will happen to us that seem peculiar and often downright crazy.  Have you ever been going back and forth and back again about a job offer or a move?  You turn on one of your favorite t.v shows and they mention not only 1 of the places you were thinking of moving but also the position you were unsure was right for you.  You stare at the screen, mouth open and think nooooooo, did they really just say that?  Coincidence or heavenly guidance?

God's word is a lamp unto our feet and the Holy Spirit is a comforter and guidance counselor (so very grateful for that).  We are often shown what school to attend, person to marry, job opportunities to pursue and much more by subtle conversations and situations.  Ponder this: A total stranger strikes up a conversation with you and before it's over, everything you've prayed about has been spoken about and you've barely said a word.  They speak directly into your personal circumstances leaving you thinking, who in the world is this person and have they been reading my emails (just all in my business)? 

Be still and know that He is God, He knows and sees all.  He knows how to get you where you need to be just in time and not a minute sooner.  He will use who and what He wants to bring about his divine plan for your life (and YES there is a Divine Purpose and plan for little old you).  The bible is a living breathing thing and as you align yourself with God's heart, with a little help from the one who loves you with an everlasting love, He will grant you the desires of your heart.  

You are like clay on the potter's wheel, being formed everyday by the potter himself.  He is creating a masterpiece.  So, be teachable, take in the lessons being taught, let Him love you as you stumble and sometimes fall.  Be patient with the process,  watch your step and remember He has you in the palm of his hand.