Welcome 2009!!

If you’ve been anywhere the last two weeks, you’ve seen a lot of stuff on TV, on-line, everywhere about the pressure to make – and keep – New Year’s Resolutions. I hate New Year’s Resolutions. Probably because I’ve never kept one. My past promises of losing 50 pounds, reading the bible cover to cover or taking up a new hobby have all fallen by the wayside, leaving me a little round in the middle, halfway through the bible, and hobby-less.

We try, that part we have mastered! But, the follow through is the problem. We can never seem to turn our best ambitions into long-term successes. They say that it takes 30 days to develop a new habit, and by then, a daily routine becomes habitual. As soon as the first 30 days are behind us and we’re racing quickly towards the next 30, 60, 90; we slip up, fall down, forget, bungle and fail. And then we stop trying. That pound we shed during week one is back at some point during the next couple of weeks. We then get in our ruts, forget what it was we aspired to be or, and hope that our conscience doesn’t remind us that we failed.

Every year, we trick and punish ourselves into thinking that this time will be different. So, this year I am trying something new… Every Day Resolutions. Every day set a goal and shoot for it. Don’t worry about whether or not you’ll do it again tomorrow, just focus on today’s goal. It’s simple wake up every day and make a resolution to [fill in the blank]. Say you want to lose 50 pounds, resolve instead to eat healthy today or take the stairs instead of the elevator. And do it!!! Bam!!! You’ve done it!! You’ve made and kept a Every Day Resolution.

Try it and let me know how it works out. You have 353 days left to meet the challenge.

Out With the Old….

…..In with the new.  This is my last post of 2008.  This year has been a trying one.  I have had many successes and many failures, but yet I press.  I decided to live a life a of “No Regrets”.  The past is the past and my future is so bright I gotta wear shades, lol.  So, here are my thoughts for the last post of the year.  God Bless and see ya in ‘09….

At ends and at beginnings, my mind is usually invaded with thoughts about the past, present, and future; failures and successes; regrets and resolutions; time and eternity; and a lot more. As we come to the beginning of a new year and the ending of an old one, we often wish we could turn over a new leaf or have a fresh start. No doubt about it, there have been certain things we have said or done in this past year that we want to relish on shoulda, coulda, woulda. Personally, I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. It’s the hard times that you go through that build character, making you a much stronger person. God never consults your past to determine your future. So I can’t keep looking at where I have been, I must look at where I am going. I can’t live this New Year advertising my pain. I cannot move forward concentrating on my short comings. I have no regrets. I wouldn’t have lived my life the way I did if I was going to worry about what people were going to say.

I have decided to no longer allow my past to dictate what my future will look like. I am letting the past go, I am changing my outlook on things. When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. To let go is not to try and change or blame circumstance; I can only change myself. To let go is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization that I don’t control it all. To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To let go – is to let God!

We never know what the New Year will bring. We don’t know what problems we will encounter or what changes will come our way. Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future. Some people stay up until midnight to welcome the New Year. Others stay up to make sure the old year leaves! As you enter this New Year you can’t afford to let your past infect your present, or sabotage your future. Let go of the past and walk into your future. If your hands and heart are tightly clinched around the past, you can not grasp the new. You cannot move forward if you are continually looking in the rear view mirror! The past has passed, but your future is an unwritten book! You now have a choice. You can go into the New Year, taking everything with you, or you can go into the New Year trying your best to make sure the past is past and the future is for God.

Two Birds with One Stone

Man, I wish I had the time and ability to travel.  I mean really travel.  A good friend of mine will be spending her Christmas abroad.  She will be going to Bahamas and then on to Cuba.  She leaves next week and returns in January.  Bahamas I could do, but the Cuba part worries me just a little.  But, she is very adventurous… She was in Grenada last year and Africa this year.  I can’t wait till she gets back to hear the stories and see the pics.

Travelling for me has to be family vacations.  Although, I would love to take a Mommy break and get away, I would hate for them to miss something great.  I am on a mission to broaden my children’s horizons.  I treat as much as I can a teaching moment.  I can’t sit back and wait for the schools or anybody else to do it for me. So, me travelling alone is not an option, at least until my honeymoon, lol.

I  took a class this semester- Multicultural Education.  I was surprised at how diverse my kids really are.  My classmates who were predominately African American exposure level was really low.  They rarely did anything outside of the “black” experience.  I guess I am a freak.  I take my kids to everything, especially if it is free.  We attended the Celtic festival this year. My kids had a ball.  It was really neat. I want them to know about other things. The more things I introduce them to the easier it is for them to be able to hold a conversation.  I want them to know something else besides who their favorite rapper is.

I am putting it into high gear at the first of the year.  They all will be responsible weekly for a report (and I really mean report) on  a current event.  They pick one on Monday and it’s due by Friday.  I am budgeting to include more artsy stuff too.  Ballet, Opera, etc.  The youngest will probably be the most receptive.  That 16 yr old is going to have a cow.  He is upset because he has to read a book.  I ordered Hill Harper’s MANifest Your Destiny and he has to read and journal. He, a male friend, and I are going to read and journal together. Weekly we will sit down and talk about it.  He is so upset, but I don’t care. I am looking for a book for Lil Bil (8) and Tada (12).  So, if you have any suggestions let me know.

I am building a home school curriculum to supplement what they get at school.  The best teacher teaches at home.  So…. I am teaching at home. I want well rounded kids, so I have to put in some work to get it.  There are a lot of changes coming… Family Game Nite is on its way back. We had so much fun during the 11 day black out, I bought a ton of puzzles and board games to entertain them.  They loved it!! We used to do this monthly and fell off for quite awhile. My Christmas list includes some great traditional games and some educational ones.   I will keep you all posted on my progress.

Oh, Really?!?

I have been away far too long,  I have gotten the messages asking when I would post so…. I have been trying not to write.  I had to let some stuff marinate.  I have been going through a HUGE transition and it hasn’t been a simple one. I tried to stay away from writing until I got my mind right first.  I didn’t wanna write and be accused of  “Spitting Venom” thus my silence.  I had to really think about that and came to a conclusion.  This is my blog and I say what I want, if you don’t like it nobody is making you read it so… “Kick Rocks!!!”

I’ve been doing a lot of observing. I have been watching the actions and comments of people and it’s been pretty eye opening.  Really eye opening. Seeing who people really are will blow your mind. I was talking to my boyfriend about it last night and he said something I already knew but needed to be reminded of…”Folks will be folks, all you can do is pray for them.”  Thanks, J I needed that. Once I got past the shock, hurt, and then just pure anger I just laughed. Laughed because I remembered something we used to say as kids, “Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”  It sounds juvenile but when you apply it makes great sense.  It’s just words, they don’t make me and I sure won’t let them break me.

Last week I went to a self-help group and it was great. I had a chance to vent, I got some stuff off my chest and I left feeling like I could conquer the world.  Being in a room full of people who listened, didn’t judge and offered sound advice made the difference I needed that night.  It was great!! Something broke that night and I closed a door that was open for far too long.  I can now move forward and not look back, even though the darts are flying and the pull to go back is ever present, I press. I don’t care what folks think any more. You can’t judge me. The haters will hate…”Hi, Hater!!”

I love the place I am in now.  It is great!! Everything is lining up.  School is great!! Work is great!! Family is great!! Church is great!! I have a renewed outlook and I am GREAT!!! So, thanks Haters for all the love.  I really appreciate it.  You just don’t know what you’ve done for me.  The more you hate the more I know I am back on track.  Thanks!! A bit of advice for all haters…Be careful who you put your mouth on, your assumptions and comments don’t always tear down.  It may be the elevation some people need to RISE above you.

Is it raining?

I have been sitting here staring at a blank page for about 10 minutes trying to find the words to say what I feel right now.  It is funny I hear them in my head but will not make the journey from my mind, to my hands, to the keyboard, and on to this screen.  I have a million emotions flowing right now and I guess words cannot effectively describe them.  So, why am I sitting here…writing is therapeutic for me…

Close your eyes and imagine this…

A bright beautiful day in a matter of moments turns grey and drizzly.  The clear blue that once blanketed the sky slowly, cloud by cloud turns gloomy. It is dark. The boiling clouds obliterate any hope of sunlight. Lighting flashes illuminating the sky, imposing its light on its surroundings. Lightning flashes again and the tempo of the falling rain increases. The wind starts blowing the leaves began to rustle, the birds stop singing, and the crickets have taken cover. Right on cue, raindrops began splattering hard and fast against the sidewalk, you watch as the once joyfully playing kids make mad dashes for cover from the impromptu shower. The rain then begins pounding harder and harder; the sudden onslaught almost floods the roads. The concert of thunder and lighting now replace the laughter of the children, the song of the birds, and the chirp of the crickets. You hear the roar of the thunder chased the occasional brilliance lightning’s electric dance. The rain drums loudly; on the roof, bounding across the shingles; onto the potted plant sitting on your stoop. The wind whispering only at intervals, content in it is howling. There is indeed a storm raging.

The trees and bushes are bent double from the pounding of the water rushing from above and the wind whipping through their limbs. Visible sheets of falling water move across the yard. You can barely even see the neighbors’ houses, or the cars sitting on the streets.  But, in the distance, you see a lone individual decked in the brightest yellow rain gear you have ever seen. Rain hat, galoshes, and coat slowly this figure is approaching almost in slow motion.  Intrigued you stand, tilt your head to the side, and just watch wondering. You step off the porch just a little to get a better look you are dampened from mist blowing through. You take one more step and you are quickly covered in a sheen of cold moisture, and shiver, but never take your eyes off the yellow.

Then you notice that the rain had slowed, but the sky was still dark grey. As quickly as the storm came, it is gone. The sunlight is progressively returning, but still the figure is walking. A journey that seemingly takes moments seems to take hours.  Slow and steady is the pace.  You watch but the whole time you are wondering.  You close your eyes for a brief moment, and then open them and the figure is gone.  You turn look left, right and still no figure.  You go on about your tasks still wondering about the figure. A few hours pass you head back out for some fresh air and there again it the figure still dressed in its rain gear.  You glance around, no rain, no thunder, no lighting, not even a cloud.  So why is he still in his gear…

Life has its storms, too. Sometimes the Lord calms the storms that rage in our lives, but sometimes He does not remove the storm. However, how we respond to these storms can be a powerful witness. All around me are people that are on the verge of hopelessness. The storms of life are numerous seemly unrelenting and hope of relief is waning.

Sure, storms will come and go. Troubles will arise, and they will go too. Either way, remember you are covered, you are protected there is a way out of your trouble.  In the visualization, the use of the yellow rain gear symbolized protection, but how ludicrous is the image of a person standing in the bright sunshine with a raincoat on.  The idea seems ridiculous but it can be related to the things we often do when we attempt to protect ourselves from the things we deem to harm us. A common defense used in such instances is to isolate and alienate us; in other words, put on our raincoats. In the process we not only shut the out the world, we also shut out the very God we pray will come and save us. When we wear that raincoat, we cannot let Him in.

Most of us reach for our raincoats when we are showered with the test and trials of life. God wants us to make Him our place of safety, protection, and shelter from any storm.  When things get tough, He wants us to raise our umbrellas of Word, put on our Praise ponchos, and step into our galoshes of victory . What can truly harm us if we are in God’s protection? When it is raining cats and dogs and the wind is blowing, an umbrella is not a refuge. Sometimes an umbrella is a problem.  Umbrellas can break, raincoats can tear, galoshes can leak, but God cannot. Not even in the midst of a storm. When it starts pouring and the winds are blowing, God says, ‘I am your refuge. Come to me. Run to me. I’m your shelter.’”

To Hell Wit It!!

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 16:19 NASB U)

I have heard several different interpretations, sermons, and testimonies dealing with this scripture. But one Sunday, I heard it again and it really stuck with me (Thanks, Bishop!!).  Most of us have been taught the principles of binding and loosing, but do we really understand them.  I’ll give you a quick lesson, this is by no means all inclusive but just a little, to help you see where I am going with this. The word “to bind”  means to be put into bonds, to be tied up, to yoke, to harness or to join together. It can also mean to forbid, refuse, not allow, shut the door or bring into subjection. The word “to loose” means to break up, dissolve, unloose or melt away. It can also mean to permit, open or grant.

Binding and loosing in agreement is one of the most effective weapons in our spiritual warfare that can be used for deliverance as well as our everyday life. We can bind or loose anything that God has given us the authority to bind or loose. You have the legal right and authority to bind and forbid what has already been bound or forbidden in heaven. Satan’s jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, and strength has been bound in heaven, so we can bind it here on earth. When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can forbid or tie up anything that is trying to hinder us. And loose us from Satan’s hold. By binding and loosing those things which God has declared lawful to bind or loose we are putting the covenant to work. As believers, we are putting God’s will to work when we pray the prayer of binding and loosing in accordance with what He has declared permissible for us to bind or loose.

In Matthew 12:29 Jesus says, “How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house.” From the context it is almost obvious that Satan is the strong man. Thus the lines are drawn. For effective spiritual warfare, for victory over the enemy, we must first bind the strong man. Then we can spoil his house. All too often, attempts are made to tip-toe by the strong man to get at the work of the Lord. And just about as often, we are frustrated, defeated, held up, held back…When you bind someone up like the strongman that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 12:29, they are unable to move or cause mischief, but they remain in the vicinity. It is a restriction upon their normal activity and influence while they are still present in an area.

What happens when we don’t cast them out,  we give the enemy opportunities to create hideouts in our newly swept out places. Luke 11:24-26, talks about a spirit leaving a person and wandering about for a while in desert places. The evil spirit then made its way back to the home he left. The place was nice and empty so he brought along seven bigger, meaner demons. The point in the story? Cast that mess out! We need to guard our newly-cleaned house. If we go back to verse 19, I think Jesus was telling us, that He didn’t scatter the spirits when He cast them out, He bound them and sent them to the abyss (hell). When left  to wander about in desert places, the results are a  worse condition for the victim.

I said all this to say….TO HELL WIT IT!!! TO HELL wit sickness, poverty, depression, lust, jealousy, unforgiveness, anger, [fill in the blank].  II Cor. 10:3-5 say, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.  Pulling down strongholds is our job. God has given to us Christ authority and power over all devils, all demons, all sicknesses, diseases and over Satan himself.  He has crushed Satan under our feet.  Authority belongs us to pull down strongholds.

If you don’t take anything else from this post today, take this TO HELL WIT IT!!! I refuse to live the remainder of 2008 or any of 2009, 2010, etc bound by the enemy. TO HELL WIT all that mess!!!

Very, Very Creative!!

I saw this video and I had to share it!!!!

 

Words to Live By…

I read this last night and I thought it would be useful…

The most selfish 1 letter: I
Avoid it.

Most satisfactory 2 letters: WE
Use it.

Most poisonous 3 letters: EGO
Kill it.

Most used 4 letters: LOVE
Value it.

Most pleasing 5 letters: SMILE
Keep it.

Fastest spreading 6 letters: RUMORS
Ignore it.

Most coveted 7 letters: SUCCESS
Achieve it.

Most enviable 8 letters: JEALOUSY
Distance it.

Most essential 9 letters: PRINCIPLE
Have it.

Most divine 10 letters: FRIENDSHIP
Maintain it.

Does It Really Matter…

1) That I treat most like I expect them to treat me and never have it reciprocated. Yet I still treat you the same.

2) Most men I meet tell me I am this “Awesome Catch” and they can’t understand why I am not married.  Most days I wonder the same.

3) I fuss and fuss around the house, yet nothing gets done till I go “T” totally off. This happens at least once a week.

4) The thing I hate to do most is my greatest achievement. The thing I love and want to do most is failing miserably.

5) I work hard and sacrifice for you to have things and yet you won’t clean your room.

6) That I am a bit uneasy about going to court and seeing the man who climbed in my window. Nobody is going with me, nor are they concerned.

7) That I am writing and posting this. No one even reads this stuff.

A Difference of Opinion

Hey You Guys!!!!!!!  Yeah, yeah, I know I have been very absent, sorry bad Cice.  But, I had to post today I need to hear some of you alls thoughts on this conversation I had last night.  I had a very intense conversation last night with someone and it had me thinking well into the night…

This particular young lady was talking about marrying her boyfriend. Currently they attend the same church, but she is not satisfied with that church.  She feels like she isn’t growing there and she is leaving. She stated that she no longer believes they were not teaching sound doctrine.  Well, boyfriend likes the church and has no plans to leave. She made the comment that they would just be attending different churches, it doesn’t matter she was leaving anyway. That bothered me. So, I asked her  didn’t she think it would be difficult for them to function that way. She didn’t think so. But, I my mind all I could hear over and over was “One Flesh”. I asked her then, “How can two walk except they agree (Amos 3:3).”  Her argument was that then that should be in everything they do. That they are out of agreement if they work at two different places. I just stopped talking and let her continue with this odd argument.  At least to me it was odd.

Genesis 2:24 says to us that God created man and woman to become “one flesh” when they marry, not two separate beings who go their own separate ways. I was taught that the marriage covenant between a man and a woman is symbolic of the covenant between Christ and those for whom He died. And that this covenant is holy and sacred, just as marriage is to be holy, sacred and unbroken. Shouldn’t a a husband and wife be of one mind regarding the basic doctrines of Christianity – God, Christ, sin, salvation, heaven/hell, etc? Maybe I am confused.  That is why I am writing this today…what do you think?