Category Archives: Miscellaneous

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Divine Hem Ups aka Atlanta Snowstorm 2011

Hello World!

Not even the postlady has been to my mailbox since last week...

 

If you’re in the A, you know what’s up…and it’s not the temperature…And if you’re not in the A, let me fill you in…It’s Day 3 of being hemmed up in my home. That’s right, I have not left my house since Sunday around 6 p.m. because the city of Atlanta and surrounding cities are snowed in and just about all of our businesses, government buildings, etc. have not even opened for the week…It’s almost unbelievable…We ATLiens just ain’t used to dealing with cold temperatures for too long much less snow so we have shut it down baby…

Okay so follow me on this: Sometimes, I’m too deep for my own good, but all of this has got me wondering what God has been up to for the last three days…Just what is He trying to tell us…It could be nothing…I mean weather is weather, and we’ve all heard the talk about how our climate is changing, etc. But I also know that God sometimes hems us up for divine purposes…

“You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5

So if you’re here in Atlanta, have you considered why God has hemmed up you up for the last three days? For me, I’ve been able to work on some critical writing projects…And since you cannot immediately respond to my question, I have decided to post some of the most interesting status updates I’ve seen on Facebook about the Atlanta snowstorm and why some of my Facebook friends here in the A may be hemmed up and what the Lord is trying to tell them…Of course, no names are attached to these updates…Presenting the funny & poignant…

wonders how many Atlanta snowstorm babies will be born 9 months from now…hmm…(Maybe God is trying to tell you it’s time to add to the family.)
Being still…………….(Maybe He hasn’t been able to get your attention before.)
is making sure I turn over every few hours so I won’t get bed sores!!!…ahhh this is the life!! :))))) (Maybe you just really needed to rest…)
A good way to test the endurance of your relationships is to become snowed in for more than 48 hours! The first 8 is the honeymoon, the next 40 is the trial! (Maybe God is trying tell you that buster really ain’t for you…)
I think I see a message in this bad weather for me. I only can talk about me:) It’s saying write, write, write. Okay, I think I will write. What about the rest of you that’s working on getting that book published? Did you really think I was going to leave my friends out? (God has given you a gift. Why aren’t you using it?)
I’m really tripping off of all these parents who keep saying they are tired of being snowed in with their kids and are ready for them to go back to school. Hmmmmmm what an interesting phenomenon. Maybe they are getting a taste of what us educators get on a daily basis, 5 days a week 180 days a year. If you’re tired of them…… how do you think we feel at the end of the day, week, year?? (Maybe God is telling you that you need to train and discipline your children so that others won’t have a hard time with them when they are away from you.)
My husband is my HERO! He just walked over 4 1/2 miles to rescue me. THANKS honey. I love you. To my co-workers, my car is on the side of the road, if you can get it I’ll come in to work. 🙂 (Maybe you needed to be reminded why your hubby is The One.)
For the last 2 days, I’ve been snowed in and living the life of a REAL Housewife of ATL: Cooking 3 meals a day, and snacks, for my family, laundry, cleaning up, quality time with the family, etc. Where’s my darn TV show? (Maybe home & hearth needed to be attended to…)
Just left downtown from the Atlanta Union Mission passing out blankets to the homeless. Im thankful for a warm home, hot cook meal, and clean drawers. God bless the homeless during this artic temperature. (Maybe God is telling you to count your blessings and not always think about your own circumstances at the same time…)
Greetings from Atlanta, where we anticipate Jesus’ return momentarily. (As the world continues to get crazier a la a three-day snowstorm in the A, y’all better get right with God and do it now…)

Happy Snow Day #3! I’m.out…

Any thoughts?

“Maybe God is Trying Tell You Something” from “The Color Purple”

 

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Going Higher…

Hello World!

I will state the obvious…it’s 2011!

As you know, it’s time once again to consider resolutions, goals, dreams, wishes, etc. for the New Year…There are two camps that form at this time of the year…The Gung Ho Resolution Makers &  The Anti-Resolution Makers…

At the gym where I teach twice a week, I have already seen the Freshman Class of 2011 – they are the people that join the gym in January with the goal of losing a gazillion pounds by working out whenever the gym is open, wearing those annoying plastic suits and carrying jugs of water on their persons…But I ain’t mad at them…I started working out on a regular basis with the Freshman Class of 1994 and haven’t fallen back into my former coach potato habits so it can happen…

And then there are those who want to get their money right in the New Year…I’ve had a couple of people ask me about my financial coach’s contact info because I shouted her out so much last year…I understand that too…Money ain’t erething, but when you don’t have it, it really is…okay? (in my sistah girl voice)

But let me not leave out the people who hate on those who make resolutions…And to some degree, I even get that too (all this resolution talk can be annoying)…even though sometimes it seems as if these people are projecting their frustration about not attaining their New Year’s Resolutions onto others and assuming that others cannot achieve what they have not been able to achieve…

What I believe: I think that the start of a New Year is the perfect time to set goals and make resolutions. But I also think God must be included in this process because He will direct you in what ought to be your goals and resolutions…And we know that with his Help, we can do everything…(Philippians 4:13)

As I peruse my goals for 2010, I am thankful that God, first of all, helped me to come up with my list, and secondly, He helped me to achieve most of goals…Give.Him.Praise…

But I also see that much if not all of my goals revolved around things I want to achieve in the natural…which is fine, but should not be all for the Christian…We Christians also have to consider the spiritual…And so this year, God has impressed upon me already in a dramatic fashion that I need to continue to work out my salvation because I got a ways to go saints…(Philippians 2:12-13) …I mean being saved is the first thing, but there is more to do after the altar call…Here is a verse that sums it up (read the whole chapter for a better understanding if you need too…)

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:11

This year, some more sanctification has got to take place in my life…Unfortunately, God knows that one of the best ways to get my attention is to allow some trial to come into my life…but it’s all good or at least it will be…because I do trust Him…although I don’t like what He allows sometimes…I liken it to the whippings I got from time to time when I was a child…My mother, who has quick temper, was quick to swat me on my backside. My father, on the other hand, has a long fuse and rarely hit me…But baby, when he got mad, I knew that I was in for it…But I reflected on why my father chastised me more because he did it so rarely…

In the end though, even in my trials, I count it all joy (sometimes grudgingly though)…

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  James 1:2-4

Because I love the Lord, and I want to go higher this year – and not  just in the natural – but in the spiritual…

What about you?

Any thoughts?

“I Give Myself Away So That You Can Use Me,” a great song by William McDowell. Check it out…

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The Home Stretch (2010 is nearly ova)

Hello World!

We are officially in the last days of 2010.  This means that if you had any goals, resolutions or dreams for the year, you now have just over three weeks including today to get moving on making them a reality…

One of my goals was to pay off my sole credit card, and I did with the help of a financial coach and God in May! There is another important goal and dream that I realized as well, but I’m not ready yet to share that here on my blog. Stay tuned in 2011 though because big things will be poppin’ and little things will be stoppin’. (Thanks T.I. 🙂 )

As the days of the year slip by, I also think it’s an appropriate time to reflect on the highlights and even the sad moments of the year. Although I relish sharing my life with you on this blog, I must confess that as I write, I feel reticent about sharing some of the deeper questions I have grappled with this year…but I will say this, I have begun to pray scriptures…As I get more mature (not perfect) in my Christian walk, I learn more ways of communicating with our heavenly Father. I never knew how powerful it can be to actually pray Bible verses back to God. In His word, God has told us that His word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), and so now, I take every opportunity to remind Him of what He said…Now, I’m not saying that I can tell God what to do by quoting scripture as He is sovereign, but I do think quoting scripture reminds us of His love and power and it demonstrates to God that we really business…

Below are some of the scriptures I have used this year, as I went through ups and downs of life…

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.   Joshua 1:7

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Matthew 10:29-30

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8

And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.   Mark 16:15

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.  Deuteronomy 30:19

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  II Thessalonians 3:10

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

So what verses helped you to navigate 2010? What goals, resolutions or dreams have become a reality this year? How will you spend the remaining days of this year?

Any thoughts?

P.S. Because it’s the Christmas season, the proverbial “most wonderful time of the year (As a Jamerican, I actually prefer summer),” I plan post videos of my favorite Christmas songs on my blog posts this month…