Transformation

It is the last day of February.  Just a little while ago we were toasting in a new year and promising ourselves that this year would be the best year of our lives. How’s it going so far? Still on track? Need a little motivation? Today’s post is all about transformation.  

Webster’s Dictionary defines transformation as: a complete or major change in someone's or somethings appearance, form, etc.  Transformation, in my opinion, also deals with the inside.  There's a popular hashtag on social media these days called #TransformationTuesday where a picture on one side may contain a younger photo of an individual and the picture on the other side will contain an older more wiser photo.  This hashtag can also be seen when comparing weight loss results or hair growth in the natural hair world. No matter where the transformation occurs, the good news is that it CAN happen.  Where you are today is not where you have to remain. 

I believe that all of us have a desire to be the best version of ourselves as we can be.  In order to accomplish this goal, we must work on every part of ourselves. The physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of ourselves need attention. 

So where do you begin?   We live in a time where information is literally seconds away. We can type just about anything in the Google search menu and feel that we are experts on the subject moments later.  There are several tools and tips provided by knowledgeable men and women who have done extensive amounts of research all to ensure that you avoid certain missteps in your life that they have encountered.  

Physical 

Just about every dieting book, blog post, video, or plan will tell you to first speak with your doctor before beginning any new programs.  This is very important.  You may think that the extra pounds were brought on due to your stressful job, change in activity, or simply eating too much, but there are several factors that can and will cause weight gain.  Speak with your doctor about all of the changes that have occurred in your life over the past 9-12 months. These changes may have a direct impact on how you are feeling physically.  Your doctor may recommend that you meet with a nutritionist or simply remove certain foods from your diet (i.e. fast foods, sweets, etc.)  Getting yourself in tip top physical state will help with your emotional and spiritual needs. 

Emotional/Mental 

Have you ever eaten an entire box of cookies and then all of a sudden you think of that one relationship that just didn't work, how horrible he/she treated you, how you shouldn't have wasted your time with him/her, and then you find yourself crying on your couch for the memories to just please hurry up and go away?  Or maybe that is just me.  Just think, all of these thoughts could have been avoided by not eating the cookies.  Your diet impacts your emotions, but also the things and people that you have around you.  Is your house cluttered?  Do you have a laundry list of things to get done but not enough time to do them? When you enter your home do you want to run in the opposite direction kicking and screaming?  If so, then perhaps it is time to transform your personal space.  Your home should be your sanctuary.  Everything should have its place and the things that do not have a place do not belong.  All of these things can make you emotional and in turn drive you to make not so good choices when it comes to what you drink and eat. Is your kitchen clean and tidy?  Does your bedroom closet keep you up at night?  Good Housekeeping and several other magazines offer tips on removing clutter from your home. The Container Store is the perfect place to find space saving storage units for every room of the house. (I have more products from this store then I would like to admit.) Tackle one room at a time.  If you begin today you will be one day closer to reaching your goal.  Ask yourself as you prepare to purge items from your personal space, "Could I live without it?"  If the answer is yes, then let it go. Give it away to Good Will, Salvation Army, Arms of Hope or any organization in your community that takes lightly used items.  What you are holding on to may be the blessing that someone has been waiting for. 

Watch out for things that you read, watch, and listen to. Social media and reality television has a way of making a regular everyday person feel as if their life has little to no meaning. If an individual cannot afford brand named clothing and accessories, cars, or jewelry then that individual feels insignificant.  This in turn drives the regular everyday person to spend lump sums of money that they do not have in order to prove their significance. This behavior leads to increased debt, drug and alcohol abuse, and it also ruins relationships.  Turn off the TV.  Close the gossip magazine.  Delete the application from your phone.  You are beautifully and wonderfully made for God's glory.Nowhere in the bible does it say that in order to enter into heaven one must have a certain amount of social status, money, or other things that are materialistic.  Our emotions are impacted when we try to live up to unrealistic expectations of others.  Reality television sucks and it is anything but reality.  

Spiritual 

I have to admit that I struggle in my spiritual walk. I find myself from time to time saying, "Did I remember to say my grace before dinner?"  or "What exactly did the preacher preach about on Sunday?"  I know that I am not alone.  Your spiritual walk goes much further than praying before meals and showing up at church.  It is about having a relationship with God and knowing that the relationship with Him should come before any and everything else in your life.  If you don't feel connected to God, then you may need to do a spiritual transformation. 

I use to struggle with how to get back to that "sweet spot" with God.  You know the time when scriptures seemed to wake you in the morning, hymns danced around in your head all day long, and God was the last thought on your mind as you closed your eyes at night. 

To transform spiritually does not mean that you have to go away to a wellness facility to completely block out the world.  You can simply decide that from the time your feet hit the floor in the morning to give God all of the Glory.  Thank Him in advance for the people and situations that you will encounter because all of it is a part of His divine order for your life.  Get into the habit of thinking about what you have instead of what you do not have.  Thank God for delivering you from addictions, financial setbacks, heartbreaks, and anything that made you feel as if your life was in trouble. 

Be transformed today; physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  

Be blessed! 

Christy

Love makers and Heart breakers

To You from Me - Part II

To you

I wish that I had a giant eraser to erase the hours, days, minutes, that I spent thinking of you. Although in reality it was only a few weeks I can’t help but to feel that my time would have been better spent focusing on the plans that God has laid out for my life.

Am I angry? Am I sad? I’m not really sure how I feel. I’m just numb. I feel nothing. I keep replaying your voice to my ears as you struggled to find the words to prevent my heart from hurting. Although I appreciate your honesty it doesn’t take away the sting. Perhaps I am a bit angry though. Angry that God allowed me to feel again after so long only to feel nothing again. I’m starting to question the direction that I’ve received from Him over the years. If He truly loved me, why does He continue to allow me to feel so much pain? What lesson is in all of this for me?

In a matter of seconds I was transformed back to the little girl, in that little room, in that little town trying to be somebody for everybody except the me that I was created to be. Stupid is how I feel. Dumb that I allowed myself to fall so deep, so quick for someone who obviously felt differently.

I remember the silence of the past suitors whose immaturity caused them to leave me breathless and hopeless, eyes filled with tears, and an empty heart. But you… you have left me numb. Perhaps all of the tears were wasted on those from my past because for the life of me I can’t will myself to release not a one. Even as I watched Martin speak and Oprah give a stellar performance I was unmoved, unbothered, and showed no emotion when all around me there were tear stained eyes and weeping.

Is it my fault? Should I appreciate your tactic and use it as a lesson learned and begin to transform my life into the life that I was meant to live; esthetically pleasing, submissive, and with a good heart. I’m a good person. You reminded me. Being good left me here…alone…numb.

I wish that I could go back in time to before I accepted your request to enter into my life again. I wish that I was what you wanted and that zip codes didn’t matter, but I’m not and they do.

I can’t help but to wonder if the spirits made you do all the things and say all the things that you said there where tribes once fought and for twelve years men were slaves.

Your news didn’t come by surprise, actually I expected you to make a grand announcement when we were still there above the alligators and the crawfish, and the band. I could feel it on the second day. You attributed your behavior to the lingering of the spirits, but deep down I knew the truth. I tricked myself into thinking that finally I was meeting someone who met me where I was, who didn’t expect anything else, and someone who saw the me that I didn’t see. How foolish of me.

I was blinded by the idea of a you and me or a me and you that I didn’t see what was standing right in front of me; a representative. These words aren’t meant to hurt you in any way, but to heal me. I should have known that when no plans were made past day three and the silence on your end became deafening that it was an anomaly. I can’t really express the way that I feel. I can’t find the words to say to you or to anyone about how you left me there on the corner of shoulda and woulda, but didn’t bother to pick me up for the ride. I hope that you find what you’re looking for. 

You may think that it was your conscience that led you to make that call that day while I headed north with rain all around me, but I think that it was my God. I believe in His divine order so even though I am very hurt right now my faith in Him tells me to believe that He has something better in store for me. My God is jealous and I am awfully special to Him.

I do appreciate your honesty because I am sure that it was hard for you to say the things that you said, but trust me it was harder for me to hear them. It is unfortunate that I am not where and who you want me to be. I can only be me and I can only have people around me who like me just the way that I am. I am imperfect and I am okay with that. It took me years to love me and avoid being what everyone else wanted. I was rooting for you. I was. My desire is still for you to be great and sh!+. Maybe I’ll see you around.

From me 

Love makers and Heart breakers

To you from me - Part I

To You

“Literally knock me over God” was my only request.  “I think I’m ready to love again” I said to a friend. It was as if my words sent a whisper to your ears and just like that you appeared out of nowhere.  Now here is where I almost lost my balance.  I struggle daily to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground. Knowing the errors of my past I busied myself with mundane tasks in order to avoid the thoughts of a you and me or a me and you.

I sought counsel from the source that I have known about my entire life, but only recently did HE and I develop a strong relationship.  Once there I promised not to lose myself, I promised to remain true to my goals, my values, and all of the plans already laid out for my life. I interviewed you to make sure that you weren't that measly heart-breaker rearing his ugly head again. You passed the test, but still I found myself afraid.

I want my next to be my last, so you have to understand my uncertainty.  Then there’s the subject of what we believe but cannot see.  Although in my eyes neither is greater than the other, it weighs heavy on my heart. What will our foundation be?  What will we teach our children; our beautiful children with your eye lashes and my lips?

Our lives separately are not news worthy, but combine the two and they are like a major motion picture. But I’m rooting for you still.  What if we created our own religion and called it Love?  Then we could teach our children to love every man. Our children could see how a perfect artist created an imperfect world. This religion called Love would allow you to enjoy the most beautiful part of me and after seven years I could return the favor. 

What if we could create a world where there were no titles?  You were simply you and I was me. There was no black or white, rich or poor. No fancy clothes, jobs, or cars, just two people studying and swimming in the deep in of Love. Lying in a sea of white from moon to moon with you is more fulfilling than any stroll along a beach or trip across the seas. If I add one more roman number to my skin it becomes you. The thought of your touch sends waters rushing to the most beautiful part of me.

There’s this energy, this magnetic thing that is drawing me close to you. I can’t put it into words. I just know that it’s different.  I’m spoiled. Now I will always expect to be treated as if no one else is around. Now I expect to be held like time stands still. Now I expect to be looked at as if my regular face brings new life.  You have to understand that all of these things are foreign to me.

So what do we do? 

 We could seize the moment, enjoying stolen kisses, glances filled with butterflies, and hearing the murmured beat of our hearts while our brown skin mixes to the point where I can’t tell where yours ends and mine begins. We could keep this up for ten years. They will find you lifting me up and I right by your side as our individual goals come to fruition and our names are raised above our heads showcasing the sacrifices of our mothers.  Will it matter then to what we believe?

All I know is that I want you and it scares the sh!+ out of me.  I wish I could bottle up your kisses and sip on them whenever I was thirsty for you.  I tried my best to memorize your face but all I can remember is how you made me feel there in that place where tribes once fought and for twelve years men were slaves.

 You’ve ruined me for all other men so you can either take me with you on this journey called life or drop me off at the corner of shoulda and woulda.  We can either do something or nothing at all.

But for now I’ll just wait. Wait to see what your conscience and my God suggest that we do. I’m cheering for you to be great and sh!+.  

From me

Sister

It feels so great to have a sister.
A friend to laugh you through the pain.
Such a pleasure to have a sister.
Someone to dance beside you in the rain.

No miss treatin you my sister.
No callin you out of your name.
Instead, I'll encourage you my sister.
And I know you'll do the same.

When the worries of the world get you down,
no need to fret, I'll be coming around.
To hold your hand. To wipe your tears.
To hurt my knees praying you through your fears.

We help each other, my sister we do.
To serve a larger purpose than just us two.
There is no other, my sister it's true.
That's why I treasure and care about you.

When death calls for you my sister, I'll look to your family and say,
life owes her naught, she's lived her day.


Dedicated to all the lovely ladies of AKA! #107 #J15 

Black Boy

Don't you cry black boy
Hold ya head up high black boy
The world is crazy black boy
Rise above it black boy
Head to the GOOD book black boy
Turn your anger into art black boy
Use your words to inspire black boy
Lift up your brother and your sister black boy
Look inside you black boy
There lies the healing waters black boy
They talked about Jesus black boy
They nailed HIM to the cross black boy
You are HIM and HE is you black boy
Your fathers are the same Him and you black boy
No more violence no more destruction black boy
Inspiration and positive vibes only black boy
Hug ya your brother and ya father black boy
Turn ignorance into education black boy
Smile for you are loved black boy
HE will never leave you nor forsake you black boy
May your life be filled with love black boy
When your days are done, give Him the glory black boy
You are beautiful brown skin, caramel, mocha black boy
You are a divine creation black boy
Let no one tell you that you are anything but a child of God black boy
Those who speak against you will be prosecuted by God black boy
No need to lift a finger or say a word black boy
God fights your battles and in HIM victory is won black boy

Making Love (For the married & soon to be married folks)

Making love begins with our hearts connecting, then our eyes, then our hands. 
Before our bodies connect the aura is so spectacular that God Himself stands and gives us an applause.

Before we touch I want to look in his eyes..no words spoken only our heartbeats to keep up with the time and our eyes to say all of the words that our lips can't seem to utter.

I want to stand naked in front of him allowing him to take in every freckle, every birth mark, stretch mark, scar and know that he sees all of me... the me that I can't even see.

I want to memorize every crease, every line, every flaw  on his body because when I look at him I want to pause and praise God for creating such a magnificent imperfect creation made especially for me.

The B's of life for the Ladies

Be a BOSS and lead by example. Reach back to younger generations and share your talents and skills to enrich the lives of our youth.

Be a BIRD - don't settle for the things that you can see. Spread your wings and travel to uncharted lands.

Be BUSY - when you busy yourself with productive hobbies you will have less time to dwell on the things that you do not have. Everything comes in God's perfect time. Keep busy.

Be the BOMB in whatever you seek to accomplish in life. Glass ceilings can only stop you if you allow them to.

BLOOM where you are planted. God has an important task for each of us. Grow wherever you are and watch God add more to your day-to-day.

BELIEVE that what God has for you is specifically for you. Have faith and let God handle the rest.

Mind your BEESWAX and avoid gossip. It's not fitting for anyone and especially not pretty for a woman.

Use your BRAIN to get ahead in your career or to get keep your man's attention, not your BREAST or your BUTTOCKS. Beauty fades.

Break down BARRIERS every where that you go.

Don't be a BITCH no matter how many people push your buttons.

Don't be BOSSY no matter how tough the situations and circumstances in your life may become.

Don't be BIAS, there is always something that you can learn from others to help you grow into the woman that you were meant to be.

Don't be BLAND; add a little dash of sophistication, a cup of confidence, a tablespoon of creativity, and a sprinkle of assertiveness. A woman should always have good taste.

Don't be a BULLY, learn the power of influence and the leadership principles necessary to lead others to their full potential.

Don't be afraid of the BOGEYMAN. He doesn't exist. It's all in your head.

Don't be so caught up with having BABIES, large BANK accounts, or marrying a BALLER. God will see to it that you have all of your hearts desires, but first you will need to surrender to HIS will for your life.

Be BEAUTIFUL in every aspect of your life.

Be BRILLIANT in everything that you do.

Be the BEST you that you can possibly be and watch God add a BEAUTIFUL man to compliment your qualities and a BUSINESS to enlarge your territory.

Be great! Be you! Be Blessed!

Christy  

Just like that: Inspiration

After suffering yet another day of writer's block I took to my bookshelf for inspiration from other brave souls who had dared to share their innermost thoughts with the world. Tucked away neatly in my end table turned bookshelf was "A Gift for Ron" by Everson Walls former Grambling State football player and former Dallas Cowboys star. I met Everson during the GSU Alumni football brunch in 2012, but it has taken me almost exactly two years to crack open my autograph copy of his book.  I had heard great reviews and was excited to read how he had sacrificed so much for a close friend, but somehow life happened and here I am today reading the story for the first time.  It has only been a couple of hours and quite frankly I don't know what made me go for this book and not one of the many titles that seem to glare at me after time I walk passed their unopened covers. All I know is that God always sends along the inspiration that I need exactly when I need it. This is not the first time that I've pulled a book off the shelf after having owned it for several years and it seemed to light something under my behind. Well, this book did just that. I just finished chapter 4 "Coach Rob's Team" and I promise there were moments that I wanted to shout out loud, cry, laugh, and dance around the room (and sometimes I did). Everson's account of his experience at Grambling and most importantly the lessons that he learned from Coach Rob make me proud to be a Gramblinite and a "local" having grown up literally less than a mile from campus.  I haven't finished reading the book obviously, but I had to stop for a second to share these few words with you. I'll be sure to write again once I'm done. As I prepare to read the remaining 12 chapters I can't help but to get excited about the current football season and the strides that MY school is currently making.  I'll leave you with this challenge...buy the book for yourself, buy it for your child, buy it for your husband, your son, or any student currently attending GSU.  I was prepared to read about disease, surgeries, and football but there is so much more. And just like that I no longer have writers block. Just like that I am inspired and no longer afraid to take the first step. Just like that I am reminded of true friendships that have lasted for decades. Just like that...

Only if...

Only if you woulda liked…no loved me

Only if I would have given you the key

Only if you woulda asked me

Only if we had no history

Only if I coulda told you all about me

Maybe then you would see

Only if you would have given me a reason

Only if it were a different season

I woulda shoulda coulda given you all of me

Only if you woulda let me in

Only if it wasn’t a sin

Only if you woulda hugged me and never let me go

Only then would you really know

Only if she wasn't there

Only if I didn't care

Only if you let me kiss your lips

Man, all those years we did miss

Only if we could turn back the hands of time

Only if you woulda let me shine

Only if you woulda cared enough

Only if I would have dared enough

Only if time could stand still

Only if we could have one more thrill

Only if you weren't an entertainer

Only if our love needed no disclaimer

Only if I would have stayed

Only if you would have asked me to stay

Only if ten years was only ten minutes

Maybe we would have a chance to finish

If “if” were a fifth we’d be drunk in love

We can’t argue with the man above

Only if your eyes didn’t tell all your secrets

Only if you weren’t my weakness

Only if I could erase all the memories

Maybe we’ll meet again in another century

Another lifetime and two different bodies

A brand new love at first sight

Perhaps then we’d get it right

Until then stay well my friend

I’ll like…love…like…love you to the end.

The Reunion

This past weekend I had the opportunity to celebrate my 15 year class reunion.15 years ago we sang our Alma Mater in the auditorium of Grambling State University. Many of us took the short walk to the yard of GSU to begin our collegiate experiences. Others chose to travel to various campuses across the world making bonds with people who were much different than the characters that they grew up around.

Upon reuniting on Friday we quickly saw that we were still those crazy kids from Grambling High. There was the beautiful cheerleader with the infectious laugh, the girl with the booming voice that moved the room when she spoke, the beautiful shy girl who was completely unaware of her natural glow, the guy that brought laughter to a room simply by saying hello, the guy that was always working on his next hustle, doesn't have a lazy bone in his body and inspires everyone he meets to reach further and work harder. The girl that dances like no one is watching and laughs like she doesn't have a care in the world. The guy that is still the only true genius I have ever met that can fix anything that's broken and do so with a humble attitude. The guy who moves people around the south with his love of music, the guy and the girl that have become the glue that connects us to Gods word so that we never forget that He is the reason for everything that we are and everything that we have so we should always acknowledge Him and thank Him in advance.




We are no longer those kids from the rural town in North Louisiana. We are much, much more.  I thank God for bringing us together. For healing our broken hearts, mending friendships, delivering us from unhealthy life choices, and allowing us to see another year. There were many that could not attend but they were never far from our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for a great time class of 99. Keep doing your thing and hears to the next 15!

Be Blessed!
Christy

God is in the Imperfections

Playing with paint brushes, laughing uncontrollably, and enjoying the company of close friends; that is how I spent my Saturday evening. 

In honor of my friend Courtney’s birthday, my friend Nikki and I treated her to a Girl’s Night Out at Painting with a Twist.  We were mesmerized by the display of art that draped the walls of the intimate studio in North Dallas.  After locating our seats and slipping on our aprons, we waited with the other eager participants for Daniel and Robert, our amazing instructors, to help us turn the white canvases into a painting of six lively colored wine glasses.

“Okay, first we will begin with the large brush…” Daniel said.  The chatter and giggling among the participants came to a halt and all eyes were glued to the front of the room where Daniel stood with a completed painting to his right and a clean canvas to his left. 

Moments later we created a sort of creamy cheesecake (homemade not store bought) color for the background using a mixture of honey mustard yellow and a mayonnaise white paint.  Daniel would refer to this mixture as mayo and mustard throughout the course of the evening.

It was apparent from the first few strokes that Nikki was an apprentice to Picasso and Courtney a student of Van Gough in their previous lives.  Nikki used soft feminine strokes. It was as if she barely allowed the bristles to touch the canvas before she twisted her wrist to go at it from a different angle. The girl had skills.  Courtney’s approach, although, still delicate, was very precise.  She is a project manager like me, so her attention to detail and precision was not a surprise.  My approach was simply to keep up with Daniel’s instructions and to make small talk with Picasso and Van Gough in between strokes.   The three of us were focused, determined, and dead set on leaving the studio with an exact replica of the wine glass painting. 

It didn't take us long to see that we would end up with three very different paintings.  As a matter of fact, no one in the room would walk out with the same piece. Nikki used more mayo than mustard in her mixture, Courtney used a perfect blend of the two, and I used more mustard than mayo. I forgot to mention that Daniel and Michael… I mean Robert (I kept calling him the wrong name throughout the evening, but bless his heart he answered anyway) had drawn an outline of the top of the wine glasses which meant that we had to ever so carefully paint around them.  My next blog will be called, “Painting outside of the lines” because the three of us were temporarily transported back to our youth and even though the pre-school and kindergarten art classes were decades ago we were just as agitated when our brush found itself on the wrong side of the lines. Hearing our rants and groans due to our juvenile slip-ups, Daniel reassured us by saying and I’m paraphrasing here, “The beauty is in the imperfections.” Robert agreed.   

The last step of the process was to outline the wine glasses and initial our names at the bottom right corner.  Let me tell you the outlining was very tedious. If you ever want to see adults whine like little kids then sign up for a painting class and I’m sure that you will be entertained. Six vibrantly colored wine glasses caused us to bend, stretch, stand, and place our bodies into some pretty uncomfortable positions all in the name of art.  Daniel reassured us that our efforts would pay off in the end. Again Robert agreed.

As a final touch my friends and I each added the words Live, Laugh, and Love inside of one of the glasses.  We stepped back, dropped our brushes in the water cups, and admired our finished pieces.  Picasso (Nikki) received compliments for her zigzag free-hand glass stem, amongst other things. Daniel had the class take note of Van Gough’s (Courtney) ice cubes which she had drawn in one of her glasses and a few participants thought that my tiger print wine glass was truly unique.  It was so easy for  us to compliment the work of the other person seating next to or around us, but when we saw our own paintings, although truly breathtaking if you ask me, we focused on the imperfections.   

                

           After a few photos and selfies with our finished projects, Daniel left us with a few final words of wisdom, “Everything looks better in the morning. Ummm…with paintings that is.”  Robert agreed as always. 

                

            Courtney, Nikki, and I left the studio last night with our heads held high and a new found appreciation for art. In life it is so easy for us to focus our attention on our imperfections or our flaws.  God can do wondering things with imperfect people and imperfect situations. Last night I learned to step back and focus on the big picture instead of focusing on the mistakes that I make along the way. Each day we must take a look in the mirror and focus on the canvas in front of us.  We must paint our individual pictures and allow God to steady our hand so that we can maneuver the curves and turns that may come our way.

This morning when I took a look at my painting, I no longer saw the uneven lines as imperfections. I saw a unique creation; a one of a kind piece of art.  I saw God in the imperfections. And that my friends, is a masterpiece. 

Be Blessed,

Christy

***Special thanks to Courtney and Nikki for allowing me to share our story. Also thanks to Daniel, Robert, and Jim at Painting with a Twist in Frisco, TX.

"Jesus take the wheel"

I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip -- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord watches over you -- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord will keep you from all harm -- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.  Psalm 121:1-8 NIV

Last night I had a dream that I was driving a school bus. It wasn't an ordinary school bus.  The bus seemed longer and it had been painted white.  A few classmates and I boarded the bus in front of my old high school.  My classmates took seats along the back of the bus while I took the driver's seat. Now I don't know what possessed me to jump into the driver's seat, however, before I knew it I was putting the rig in reverse and holding on for dear life.

The bus jerked and before I knew it we were moving backwards. I tried pumping the brakes but the bus was too powerful. I couldn't get it under control.   A few seconds later I heard a crash from behind us and out of the window I saw debris flying everywhere. On the ground there was a row of baby strollers. They were empty, thank God, but they had been lined up neatly one after the other. No one appeared to be hurt.

The dream continues on for a bit transitioning from one location around the high school campus to another, but the bus accident wasn't far from my thoughts.  Moments later when I woke up, God revealed to me one interpretation of the dream.

In life we will face opportunities that may seem manageable at first, but before we know it things can shift very quickly in the wrong direction. If we aren't careful, we could end up harming not only ourselves but others around us. Our only sure why of getting through these obstacles is to allow God to take control.

Let me go a little deeper into the dream...

The bus represents a situation that we may be currently facing. The white paint of the bus represents something new;  an obstacle unlike anything we've every dealt with before.  My classmates and I that boarded the bus were no longer the knuckleheads from junior high and high school, but grown adults.  This shows that even though we have grown in years we haven't grown completely in God. In some parts of our lives we still handle situations as if we were carefree teenagers.  The strollers represent generations to come. If we are careless in how we handle challenges that we are faced with today, we will not only harm ourselves but future generations as well.

God is telling us to allow Him to take the wheel. He wants us to be obedient passengers as He leads us into our next season. We were not created to go at it alone. God has promised to never leave us. He has said in His word that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When we get bogged down in life it is useless for us to attempt to fix anything without God's help. He created a unique plan for our lives and only He knows how it will end. We are exactly where we are suppose to be during this season of our lives. It may feel uncomfortable. It may feel like we're wasting time. We may have an idea or strategy of how to get to our next level faster, but God... God has the ability to reset our clock. After we've been running a race or dealing with an issue for awhile, we may think that we've had enough or that we are nearing the end but God can place us right back at the starting line.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Allow God to take the wheel in your life and everything will fall into place.

Be Blessed,
Christy

Promotion: For the Single Ladies

Let me share a story with you about a lady that I had the pleasure of meeting some years ago.  I'll call her Peg.

Peg was a self-starter, a real mover and shaker on the job. She worked for her current employer for over three years and whispers of a promotion ran rapid throughout the hallways. Peg met with her boss, her boss' boss, and even the human resource manager to identify the skills she needed to possess in order to move to the next level in her career. Peg put all of their suggestions to use day in and day out, so it didn't come as a surprise that during her yearly evaluation she was promoted to a more senior role on her team.

Peg saw her goal, made a plan, and then put her plan into action. Because of her diligence she was rewarded in the end.

Okay now let us look at Peg's story using a different goal. What if Peg wanted to get married and start a family? What then?

Here is what I believe.

I believe that God gives us the things that we want/need when we are able to handle them. If being a wife is what you aim for, take a look at your current position as a single woman.

• Are you taking care of yourself, your finances, and the home that HE has given you? 
• Are you enjoying life for the things that you have, instead of the things that you don't have? 
• Are you creating an environment that a man would want to enter into or that is conducive to raising a child?

Just like on the job, what are you doing to work on YOU so that you can reach your next level?

Some may say:

"Well, I prayed for God to send me a man but nothing is happening."
"I feel like God is punishing me."
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong."
"I can't find any good men out there."

God is the creator of all things. He created each of us uniquely for His glory. If you are single, you better believe that you are exactly where you are suppose to be at the moment.  Perhaps you have more work to do before you can receive your promotion. Don't be so eager to move up. Although promotion is sure to offer more benefits, more responsibility will also be required.

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48 NIV

Are you eager to receive the promotion from single woman to married woman? 

Pray and ask God if being a wife and mother is part of the path that He has created for your life. Then ask Him to show you the things that you need to work on to prepare for your next level.

We should work just as hard to receive the promotions in our personal lives as we do on the job.  Pray for what you want. Listen to what God has to say. Wait until something happens...

Be Blessed,
Christy

My, my, my how time flies...

I looked up a little while ago and it was September of 2013, now today I am staring down the barrel of April 2014.  Whoever said “time waits for no man” hit the nail on the head. 

I feel overwhelmed when my thoughts go to all of the many things that I would like to do in my lifetime and the clock seems to keep on ticking.

Ever wish that you could rewind, fast forward, or replay certain events in your life? Yeah, me too. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. We get one opportunity most times to say and do those things that we've been dreaming about.

Often times I allow fear to hold me back or past failures to keep me stationary. God wants us to put all of our faith and trust in Him.  Once we rest within the safety of His arms there will be no limits to what we can accomplish. 

A friend of mine has challenged me to create a few goals for the month of April and at the end of the month we will debrief to see how many of those goals were completed. 

I’ll be a little transparent here and share with you a few of my goals.

1.)    Make an effort to go to bed no later than10:30PM each night.

2.)    Attend Bible Study on Wednesday’s

3.)    Zumba classes on Tuesday’s

So, far I’ve been able to rest my head on the pillow by 10:30, however, the actually falling asleep needs improvement. I danced the night away last night in Zumba class and I plan to attend Bible Study this evening.

These were just simple goals that didn't require me go out of my way to achieve them.  Now, consistency is the next goal. After April 30^th what must I do to make these monthly goals apart of my lifestyle? What will that look like?

Stay tuned…

Until next time remember don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today!

Be blessed,

Christy

A Good Foundation

A house cannot survive with an uneven foundation. A leader cannot lead without followers.  A business cannot survive without the demands of the consumer.  A church is only a steeple without a congregation.  A school is simply a structure when no students are present. A team is only a team when a group of people work together towards a common goal.  A coach can only be a coach when he has a strong team surrounding him.  A CEO can only lead a company when every person underneath him/her is inspired by the same vision and mission of the company.  A husband can only lead his household when he has his wife at his side.

The White House, home to every US president since John Adams, has seen its fair share of attempts to dismantle its foundation.  The War of 1812 destroyed most of the interior and exterior of the White House. Even after years of reconstruction many of the interior rooms were dismantled during the Truman era due to deteriorating internal wood beams. Kennedy also completed minor restoration projects on the residence, as well as other first families, however, no changes have been as vast as that of Truman.  Every first family can suggest modifications to the private quarters; however, changes must be approved by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.  

Even the most historical homes must be preserved and changes can not alter the integrity of the original foundation. This statement is also true of the person who is nominated to the position of president. This leader may suggest changes; provide the vision, mission, and purpose of his presidency, however, he cannot lead and make decisions on his own. The president is simply the face or the voice. He is the person that represents the vision, articulates the mission and carries out the dream.  In order to be successful, he must have a team behind him, beside him, and underneath him as he stands before the people and receives both negative and positive feedback.

If the physical White House becomes unsteady, if the internal beams begin to give way, the house will fall.  If the skilled leaders, advisers, and analysts that report up to the president are not on the same accord, their disjointed behaviors bleed directly up to the president. 

To further explain my position, here’s an excerpt from John Donne:

“All of mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…As therefore the bell rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness…No man is an island, an entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

We cannot thrive as a single person in a single body. We can only be successful when we join together as one; many persons representing one body. 1 Corinthians 12-12 states: The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body.  So it is with the body of Christ. 

This is the case of the President of the United States, the CEO of a major corporation, the conductor of an orchestra, the director of a marching band, the president of a university, or the head coach of a team.

With a strong and sturdy foundation, the President can face the nation, a quarterback can throw the winning touchdown, and the runner can win the race. 

Spend more time uplifting, encouraging, speaking positive life into your leaders. Leaders can only achieve greatness when they are surrounded by a strong and positive support system. 

Still Grambling

I have struggled tirelessly with the words to describe the heartache I feel when I hear negative comments directed towards my great university.  I am further irritated when I hear those words coming from people who call themselves Gramblinites, die hard Grambling fans, supporters that bleed black & gold, or true Tigers.  How can I express these feelings without adding to the noise that is currently polluting so many social media sites? How can I present my opinion in a positive light?  Then I had a thought. What if her walls could talk?  What if GSU, the institution itself, had a voice to speak out on its own behalf?  What if it could address questions and concerns that so many students, faculty, staff, and alumni seek?  What if her walls could talk? What would they say?

If her walls could talk they’d say: 

“Have you forgotten who I am? Do you think that I am a beginner?  I am over one hundred years old.  Three, four, and even five generations have walked through my doors.  I am anything but ordinary. In MY house, everybody is somebody! You need not worry about the color of your skin, the size of your wallet, or the geographic location of your motherland.  I welcome you with arms outstretched knowing that when you leave me you will never be the same.  I have created leader after leader.  These leaders have gone on to represent me at the local, state, and even at national levels.  I have greeted presidents, congressmen, judges, senators, and governors.  I am known throughout the United States and internationally. There is NO other like me.  I have often been imitated but never duplicated.  Even with all of my many accomplishments, I've seen my fair share of disappointments.  The one thing that I must remind you is that there is only one leader, one dictator, one governing body who can determine when my days are done.  HE is the only one who can judge right from wrong.  HE is the only one that can impart real change when my foundation becomes rocky.  So when I see signs of turmoil I simply stand firm and lift my eyes up to the hills where my help comes from.  I remind myself that what I see now is only temporary.  When the enemy approaches my yard in an attempt to break me I again stand firm, unmovable, knowing that this too shall pass. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other supporters remember the words that are written in my Alma Mater. We’re loyal to thee our dear old School. We’ll fight for thee for ever more. Will you fight for me? Will you stand for me again?  Will you join together in unity uplifting one another instead of tearing each other down?  Will you remain loyal even after you've walked across the stage and your time with me is nothing more than a distant memory?  Will you use your talents, resources, and Tiger spirit to educate, encourage, and inspire future leaders of this great institution?  Will you pass on a message for me?  I am STILL Grambling, the place where everybody is somebody." 

Idols

Whatever occupies your thoughts is your god. Whatever occupies your bank account is your god. Whatever occupies your dreams is your god. There is only one true God. He is the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning, and the End.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  God is Love.  

REPOST: Roll Them Over

August 7th - Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer 

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. (PROVERBS 16:3)

If we want to be in intimate relationship with God and live lives that are truly committed to Him, we have to take everything about ourselves and say to Him: “God, I give this to You.  I give You this problem.  I give You this situation.  I give You this relationship.  I completely release it and let it go.  It is too much for me.  I am going to stop worrying and trying to figure everything out—and I am going to let You take care of it.   God, I also give myself to you because I can’t do anything about myself either.  I give it all to You.  I give You my strengths and weaknesses.  I want to change, but You have to change me.”  It was a great day for me when I finally learned that it was God’s job to change me and my job to believe!

Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (NKJV).  What does it mean to commit our ways to God?  It means to “roll” them off of ourselves and onto Him.  When we roll our problems and human reasoning onto God, which means to trust them completely to Him, then He changes our thoughts and makes them agree with His will. In other words, His thoughts become our thoughts so that  we want what He wants.  When that happens, our plans will succeed because they are in complete agreement with God’s plans.  Release yourself and all your cares today and relax so you can hear God speak to you. 

GOD’S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: Roll all your problems onto God.  

Use Your Words

There's a popular phrase among parents of preschool and elementary aged children. "Use your words", they say, when their child is moody, whining, or struggling to express their juvenile needs or worries.  This simple phrase sends somewhat of an electric shook to the brain of the child which almost always results in the kid quickly straightening up and attempting to verbalize their emotions.

After having somewhat of an unpleasant confrontation with a fellow co-worker involving her rolling her eyes and me exiting the room, I had a thought. What if, we as adults coined the phrased "Use your words." Why is this lesson only good for elementary aged children, when adults are the ones that struggle the most with communicating their needs and wants?  And what if, just like that the physical emotion that we were acting out quickly turned to words filled with less emotion but more truth?

Instead of slammed doors, rolling of necks, fists against eyes, and tears along cheeks, what if we simply stopped for a second and pleaded, "Use your words."  We live in a world with a vast amount of communication tools, but yet face so many situations where the tools seem to get in the way of what would better understood and received verbally.

What if we used our words and said "I love you" instead of typing "I <3 U" in  a text or email? What if we used our words and said, "you hurt me" or "Don't call me" instead of ignoring phone calls? Sometimes non-verbal communication speaks louder and often times sends the incorrect message.

What if we used our words instead of assume the worse or even the best in certain situations?  What if we said out loud what we mean instead of taking to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to discuss a private matter publicly?

What if we used our words?

I may be an optimist, but I think that by using ones words out loud a divorce could be reversed, a promotion could be given, or even a life saved.

I don't know... just a thought...

Use your words and be blessed,
Christy

One day it’ll all make sense…

One day we’ll understand why so many had to die.

One day there will be no more tears left to cry.

One day the wrong will be made right.

One day we’ll all stand together and fight.

One day the storm will pass.

One day true love will last.

One day sinners will be judged.

One day there will be no need to hold a grudge.

One day the violence will come to an end.

One day we will learn to transcend.

One day mass destruction will be a thing of the past.

One day we will sing, pray, and fast.

One day can’t come soon enough.

One day the roads won’t be so tough.

One day the fallen will rise again.

One day the victory song will begin.

One day the tears of sorrow will turn to joy.

One day the mother will be reunited with her little boy.

One day the runner will reach the end.

One day we’ll heal from deep down within.

One day will be one day since.

One day it’ll all make sense. 

#Pray4Boston41513