Speak Up!
Our voices are a gift. We have the ability to speak our desires into existence. We also have the abilities to speak our fears into existence. We can change our reality. We can change our thoughts. We can change our lives when we speak. We have become complacent and comfortable. We are muted. If you are not content with your life its time to speak up!
Abundant Life
The bible speaks about God's ability to bless us abundantly. God's love is described as being abounding. God’s desire for our life is the exceedingly abundant. How do we get to live the life that God desires for us? Follow God’s word. Heed his instruction. Make prayerful decisions. Seek the counsel of elders. Ask for wisdom. Wait for godly answers. Accept the consequences of past decisions and make an effort to be a good steward moving forward. The abundant life is within reach, but it does require you to do things differently. Change is how we get to live the life God desires for us. Acceptance is the path to the abundant life. Obedience is the key to successfully navigating God’s will for our lives, because it won’t always make sense. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Trust the plan, but more importantly, trust God.
Delight
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
When was the last time you stopped and smelled the flowers? When was the last time you laughed until you cried? When was the last time you danced in the rain? When was the last time you just had fun? Delight by definition means great pleasure. Pleasure comes in many forms. Life is meant to be lived. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Delight yourself in the Lord. Delight yourself in the Lord’s creation. Delight yourself in life’s simple pleasures.
A Mother's Prayer
Mother’s Day is upon us. Florists are making arrangements. Restaurants are preparing for their brunch crowds on Sunday. Children are making rice necklaces and handprints cards to give to their mothers. A friend of mine is launching a business dedicated to reminding mothers everywhere that self-care is the best care, and more importantly…Mommie needs a Moment.
It’s true mommie does need a moment. She needs a moment to breathe. She needs a moment to herself. She needs a moment to rest. She needs a moment to cry. She needs a moment to do nothing. She needs a moment to pray.
Praying for our kids is probably more beneficial than any of the other things we can do for our children. It is recognizing that our children are a gift from God, and we need God’s help to raise them. We can’t be with them 24 hours each day. We can’t protect them. We can’t be all things despite the cape we wear. We can’t make them make good decisions. We have to trust that we are being the best stewards of this divine gift. So, we pray for kids.
We pray that they be safe from harm. We pray that God will keep and cover them. We pray that they are healthy. We pray that they be healed. We pray that they become wise, productive, God’-fearing people. We pray without ceasing. It is a whisper at breakfast and a kiss goodnight. It is a fleeting thought throughout the day. A Mother’s prayer never ends.
Kindle
As another year is coming to a close, our minds are bombarded with our failures and our successes. What did we plan to achieve this year? What did we actually achieve? What did we completely miss the mark on? What were some areas of unexpected growth? Let go of your expectation. Revel in the blessing of today. Next year, next week, tomorrow, let your heart kindle with a renewed desire.
Vulnerable
Self-preservation is a natural instinct. It keeps us out of harm's way. It is our own internal "spidey sense." If you've ever had your heart broken, love can make you a little gun shy. You become protective of your emotions. You don't want to fall in love too quick or too fast. You want to take things slow. Falling in love can be terrifying. Vulnerability is seen as weakness. You isolate yourself and your heart from the very thing you say you want. You find fault in everything and everyone. Being vulnerable is the only way to get what you truly desire.
"What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful." - Dr. Brené Brown
Gifted
I was introduced to Nina Simone at a young age. I loved her raspy voice. I loved how she sang her politics and called it all jazz. I loved how this unapologetically big nosed black woman was able to leave us feeling good, spellbound, all while telling stories about four women and strange fruit. She was one of the first to tell me that I was young, gifted, and black. I learned that my youth was a gift. I learned that my blackness was a gift. I learned that my ability to write and express myself poetically was a gift.
Your intellect, your sense of humor, your business acumen are all a gift. Be unapologetically who you are because you are a gift. You are gifted. You are blessed. You are a blessing. To truly be young, black, and gifted is to recognize that you are the gift. Your complexion, your hair, your smile, your hips, your thighs, your nose and your eyes are a gift. Your sincerity, your peace, your joy, your faith, your heart, your spirit are a gift. You are gifted! Your talents, your treasure, your pain and your pleasure are a gift. Your desire, your dreams, your plans and your purpose are a gift. You are gifted.