trust...REGARDLESS!

Okay, so....I know that we're going to struggle in our lives sometimes and have difficult times. I even know that everything won't be smooth sailing. But, for some reason, i like to think that it just shouldn't be ;) No, but seriously, how many of you would sign on the dotted line for stress, frustration, pain, and hurt. Shoot, "Not I" says the cat:)

So, let me tell u a lil of my business without telling you my business, heehee. A couple of months ago, i was laid off from my job (another one of those things I thought would never happen to me) But, it showed me that no matter how talented, seemingly invaluable, and successful you are, you can still be shown the door. Long story, short - Upon being laid off, the Lord made it clear to me that it was time to make a move. He opened door after door after door. I knew it was Him and, not even three weeks later, I was on the road - excited and ready for a new adventure. Conversely, once I moved, it almost seemed like a dead end. The road that He had made so clear before looked hazy and blurred.

But, in the midst of all that, this is what's been rolling around inside of me the past couple of days...

It is vital that we understand that when God opens doors for us, we must walk through IN FAITH and keep believing! So many times, we allow ourselves to believe that just because God told us to go, do, or become, that the coast will be completely clear and we can expect everything to be peachy. NOT!!! We must, however, change our positions (change positions - nu position, nu position, oops...maybe shoulda kept that song to myself, HA!)

Anyhoo, truthfully speaking, I'm still not in my new place yet. I'm actually in my FOURTH stopping place since moving here. Thank God for caring people who have opened their doors along the way. Imagine how weird, and sometimes saddening it must feel to be semi-homeless and quasi-squatter (lol-that probably doesn't even make sense). And since I'm sure you're not reading this blog to become depressed, let me move on... I'm still not where I thought I'd be, but my position has changed. Now understand, chaning positions is NOT Just a paradigm-shift, its a complete life alteration!

I TRUST GOD! You can't allow circumstances to dictate your faith level. And you certainly can't allow the enemy to make your mind an incubator for fear and doubt. And for GOD'S SAKE, don't let people determine your rise and fall. Uh-oh, I think tonite's blog is turning into my faith wall. I'm believing Him for-

*my relationships - RESTORED, RIGHT, and PROMISING
*my family - WELL, WEALTHY, and REFRESHED
*my life - PURPOSEFUL, JOYOUS, and FULL

I hope you all jumped right in on that confession--make it your own. C'mon brothers and sisters - BE ENCOURAGED! No matter your age, situation, or circumstance, if God said it, He'll do it! If He told you to go, Go! If He's called you to be, Be! Let's do it together; LET'S TRUST GOD!

Get It All

Tonight, I was speaking to a dear friend of mine. As we spoke about my moving out of town, she said these words, "Let me tell you how I feel. I feel as though I haven't maximized our friendship and our time together." And while she had genuine excuses - marriage, family, work, etc. - she reminded me of an ideal that we often let slip.

Sometimes, we have to make the time. Now I'm not talking about letting people use you and drain you for all your time (that's anotha post...maybe tomorrow, heehee.) So often, though, we get so familiar with the people around us. We talk on the phone everyday, see one another at work, in class, at Church, and the gym. But, still our conversations are filled with surface gossip and the dealings of the day. When do we take time to ask "How are you doing?", WAIT for an answer, and Care about that answer? When do we call our friends just to say "I'm thinking about you" or "You crossed my mind today and I just had to call" or "Let me take you to lunch" or even "I just got paid. Need some gas?" I'm talking about a REAL friendship!

Friendship, per the Lewis Dictionary:), is a relationship based on mutual care and appreciation, where two or more individuals can feel comfortable sharing some of their commonalities, hobbies, and feelings. I feel as though when any of these parts are missing or out of sync, the friendship loses a part of its very essence. But, expressing care and exhibiting appreciation takes time.

Time is invaluable! The moment that I'm taking to type this line will never come again! I can't get that time back. So, the way I spent it has great significance.

I urge you! take time today for a friend. Don't give them a reason to feel that you don't care. Don't give them any room for feeling unappreciated. Let them vent if they need to. Don't make every conversation a fight or about yourself. In order for friendships to last, one can't be selfish. Keep your intentions pure. Do something together - swim, bowl, skate, or just talk - whatever you like.

Maximize your friendship NOW! Get everything you can out of it - Get it All! You'll reget it later if you don't. Take time to develop solid relationships that will stand the test of time - friends that are there and friends that care.

~Friendship...Priceless!~

True Love

~We all have our own views of love & they certainly can't all be listed on any 1 list, written in any 1 book, voiced at any 1 venue or felt in any 1 way; but, here are a few things that love is, in some form or another~

Love is the truest reflection of the heart's complexity

It's the one thing that can race, beat, and remain.

It

runs after

heals

and remembers

Love desires, pants, calls

beyond the sensual to a place so private, so exceptional, so intimate

so free from flaws

in its originality

yet given character by one's individuality.

It

wants

comes

and forgives

Love understands the importance of friendship,

to create, cover, and care

It

changes

amends

and does what it takes

True Love is of God.

Everyone that loveth is born of God

and knoweth God.

He that loveth not,

knoweth not God

for God is love

Beloved, let us love one another

(I John 4:7,8)

Just when the tide of love's perfection

reaches the shore and leaves again

No tears

for without delay...

Love

starts over and goes the distance,

calming storms and raging tempests

of the heart -

the heart that

can race, beat, and remain

The dichotomy of which

is formulated and developed by

the nervousness of first greetings,

the excitement of first seedlings,

and the togetherness of first evenings.

Go the distance in love.

Try beyond ability.

Believe in love.

Hear your heart.

The same heart that can race, beat, and remain

is sturdy, stable, and strong.

So, fall in - head over heels

With all of its emotions, you'd begin to wonder-

Could it be

that love has a name, a personality, a character essentially free,

yet transitioning, transforming, and revolutionizing til eternity?

Yes

Love is you and

Love is me.

(This is an excerpt from the blogger's already copywritten material)

...Should have a tag

Have you ever walked up to a retail salesperson and asked the price of an item in your hand? And as they reach for the item, they say "Well, let's see...it should have a tag..." Now, instead of me saying, "Look woman, would I have asked you the price if it was on here?!" (lol), I follow her to the shelf to find a similar item with a tag.

Check yourself. Is your value obvious?

Allowing yourself to be abused, harassed, disrespected, lied to, and avoided hide who you really are. Take care of yourself - inside and out.

We're not perfect and we have those 'don't-feel-like-it-days'. No one's asking you to be thin, but be conscious. No one requires that you wear the latest and most fashionable, but be presentable.

Find something precious in you that motivates you to be all that you can be. YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT! There's something in you that we all need. There are dreams in you that must be fulfilled. And there are ways that you can impact the world that NO ONE ELSE can!

IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOU TO BE ALL THAT GOD HAS CREATED YOU TO BE!!!!!!

Don't be ashamed. You have value! Show your tag!

WORDS 101

from the simple words/phrases: "can" "won't" "want"
to "boyfriend" "engaged" "i got u"
-----------------------------------------
Call me old-fashioned, but Words mean something to me.

Let's address these:

"can" - (i.e. I can make it work.) Well, since you have the ability, try it. Don't sit idly by with ability and do nothing with it. Life's treasures are for those who use what they have to get what they can, instead of sitting around complaining about what others won't let you do.

"won't" - Don't keep asking. Don't keep tempting someone to do something - drugs, smoking, pre-marital sex - that they continually say the WON'T do. Peer pressure only has power when we give in and lose our "Won't"!

"want" - I haven't met anyone that would rather be needed than wanted. Need is often a sign of helplessness and sometimes, insecurity. It relies on someone to make things easier for them. But oh the goodhearted feeling we have when someone wants us! That says I'm not relying on you to make my situation or circumstance better; instead, I want you just because... Maybe this doesn't apply to you. But, I desire to be desired.

And, you'll find that some of the things we consider complex are really not as complicated if their spoken from a heart of sincerity--

"boyfriend" - I'm not saying that you have to commit to one another (boy/girlfriend) for eternity. But, at least while you're together, could you try (sarcastically said) not to stare at the girls passing on the street; or at least act like you care about only her. If you no longer have feelings for a person, have the common decency and respect to speak to them directly and explain.

"engaged" - Don't give the ring or accept a ring with question. Engagement doesn't mean "I'll think about it" or "Sure I'll marry you, unless a better offer comes along". Be committed!

"i got u" - Do you really? When a baby falls and a mother reaches down and says, "Come to mommy sweetie, I got you", it means they are there. It means they'll try to keep you from falling again. It means they care. It means they want you to trust them. It means they are willing to do what must be done to protect your body, your heart, your soul. It means they don't want you to cry from hurt, especially at their expense. Consider that next time you say or hear someone say "I got you" (or for those outside of the associated colloquialism - I have you):) Can you really uphold its meaning? If you have a friend that's not willing to do the above, they may not deserve the title. (see the Friendship Uncut blog)

WORDS MEAN SOMETHING! So, mean something when you say them!