The Notebook

Southwest Believers Convention 2013....So this year I was ready. I saved money for it. I bought snacks for it. I packed lunch for it. I even had a new cute Turquoise Bag to carry my bible, notebook and all my supplies I needed. I had planned for it to say the least. I was ready, really ready. A friend and I went together, we went last year together, and I barely knew her then. But now this year, I knew her, I knew her current situation, I knew what she was up against. I knew the things of her heart, and she knew the things of mine. We went out there early Monday morning, another friend followed us there, it was her first year too, and I knew she was gonna love it. We found good seats, sat down and received from the Men of God, and really enjoyed ourselves. That Monday was a good day! A tiring day, but a good one. We decided to leave our notebooks on our seats over night, like most people do, so we could keep our seats. There was only one problem with that, we discovered that Tuesday. Our notebooks were stolen. Our seats were stolen. And I felt completely horrified. No it's not JUST a seat, or not JUST a notebook. That seat was a hard earned seat for that convention, you have to be there to know what I mean. And that notebook, had all of the good notes I took from the day before, plus all of last year's convention in that one notebook. How could they, steal, from us as Christians, at a Christian Convention. What is the world coming too? Then to top it off, we had horrible seats, on the floor right behind where the crew was recording, so we couldn't see anything. Not only we couldn't see, but al the greeters/ushers kept walking up and down the aisle we were in and moving people, talking loudly, and just plain ole getting on my nerves. Mad wasn't even the word to describe it, it was more like outrage. So when we left that day, we went check lost and found and they said they had not received any notebooks. Oooh I thought that ole devil, he is a liar from the pits of hell. He will not win.

 Now, I don't know how God did this, but somehow through all of the caious of the day, I still received from the Man of God preaching. It was none other but Bill Winston. He said something that kinda stuck with me. He said "You've gotta see it, before you see it. Seeing is believing". So right there in that service I saw it. Saw what. My red spiral notebook and my friends cute little notebook. I saw us holding them in our hand studying the notes and going back over information. I "saw it" before "I saw it."  Then I prayed with my friend in agreement, I said "God I pray right now for that person who stole our notebooks. I pray that you would use that information and revelation to open up their eyes to know you and to see you. I pray that their hearts are convicted for stealing and that you allow them to give those notebooks back to us, in Jesus name. I decree all that was stolen was returned to me 100 fold. In Jesus name we pray, Amen" So Thursday came and we went straight to that lost and found table as soon as the session was over and I asked boldly, "Mam did someone turn in our notebooks today" And before she could even say yes, she pulled out my red spiral, then my friends cute little journal, and I shouted really loudly "Praise God." See God cared about what we cared about. No matter how big or small, God says "Cast your cares on me, for I care for you." Be encouraged, God cares about ALL the things in your life too.

****Just a little lagniappe, (that means extra for you non-new-orleaneans) Did I mention that the same time our notebooks were stolen, God replaced them with two brand new free notebooks from a ministry at the convention. Talk about that Elijah, double portion blessing.

With Love~

 



Bad Side Effects

As I sit here with my bible open, trying to get fed in this Word, already getting physically fed.  (side bar, eating breakfast in Chick-fil-a), I watch, I see, I observe. I watch families or whatever the family is supposed to be. I see a young boy with his dad sitting at a table attempting to eat. Well, while dad is drinking coffee he stares into his phone; the son is playing Game Boy or wait is it Nintendo DS. I'm not the most high tech person, so don't quote me here. :)  Two members of one family only engaging in the newest high tech gadgets. Not realizing time is passing them by. Opportunities for relationships are passing them by. Whatever happened to talking at the breakfast table? What ever happened to eat first, play later. I see the same child who trades in his kids meal toy for an ice cream cone. Only a few tastes of the cone and he leaves it, lying on the table. Too engaged in his game to care. That uneaten ice cream cone stares at me as I think of so many little children I know, who would love the opportunity this little boy has. An opportunity to be taken out for breakfast. An opportunity to spend "quality time" with his dad. An opportunity not only to eat a good meal, but to order something extra, some dessert. Wow. The average American Family wastes about two tons of food each year. And they seem to spend even more on it. So today I challenge you, and I challenge myself too. Eat a meal without your cell phone, I-pad, I-pod or no other electronic device. Put it on silent, leave it in the car, your purse, wherever. It's so ironic, because I say that looking down at my own Blackberry Torch, which is sitting right next to my Diet Lemonade and my bible, and I'm checking the time to get along with my day. Wow, what a challenge this will be.

As I'm wrapping up my bible reading and this entry, I see the same dad, asking his son, (yeah I said asking) "Do you mind putting your game away?" The boy tells him "No, I'm still playing." An argument sand I know the dad I know is  totally embarrassed, by the expression on his face, so they walk out the door, and guess who wins this argument? Technology. Yep. You Got it. So theses are just some of the Bad Side Effects of Technology.

In This Season....

In this season, things are moving fast for me. Started a new book. Bought a new Laptop. Opened my own non-profit. Driving a brand new car. (that's not mine). Registered for my Social Work test.  Signed up for membership @ a gym, and actually excited to be going. Changed my diet and even some of my snacking....... New Stuff, I tell you. God is opening up new doors and windows of opportunity for me. He's closing doors for the things of old and opening doors for things to come. BUT.....there's that big BUT that always seems to jump right on in there.  I'm still in a funny kinda place though. Not here or there, just somewhere in between. Somewhere in the middle. Wherever that some place is. I'm in a place where I'm like "Okay God with all of this happening, I don't want to miss you. I don't want to be going to fast or driving in my own lane sorta speak, and not see you. I don't want to be in a place where I'm too busy for you God. Too busy with me, to come to you. Too busy with ministry to pray. Too busy with life to fellowship with you and talk with you, like I did in those times when I wasn't busy. So, God right here, right now I take a public oath all across the World Wide Web (www) and I dedicate myself back to you, back to your presence, back to your word, back to your teaching, and even back to that time of fasting. Use me Lord for your glory and your honor. I am ready!" This really is a new season for me. What type of season is this in your life? What are you doing to embrace it?

Just thought I would put a New Pic of Me to go with the New Season of My Life.....

 

 

Happy May, Happy Diva!

School's out for me and summer is here. It's time to celebrate, Diva Style!

What are my plans for the summer?

 

Check back with me for more details.......

 

I See a Need

My heart cries out as I see  this generation, as I work at three schools, as I see what kids see. My heart cries out. I have been given the burden to pray, pray for this district, pray for these kids, pray for these schools. Pray. So guess what I do ..........I pray. I speak life into these kids, I show the love of God to these kids.

The teacher in me sees a need. I always wants them to  be learning, reading, understanding and comprehending. The social worker in me sees their needs beyond school. I see past the bad behavior, or the poor grades.  I see a cry for help. I see a cry for food, and shelter, and safety. The prophet in me sees what's really going on behind the scenes. I see the pain. I see the generational curses. I see the word curses. The mentor in me sees a need for direction. I see a need for wisdom. I see a need for guidance. The counselor in me sees a need. I see a need for wise counsel. I see a need for relationships.  The evangelist in me sees a need for ministry. I see a need for the Holy Spirit. I see a need for the Blood of Jesus.  The mother is me sees a need for for love. I see a heart cry of the kids. I see a cry for attention. I see a cry for affection. I see a cry for affirmation. I see a cry for quality time. I see a cry for gifts and surprises. Mostly I see a cry for Jesus Christ. Will you show him to them?  I will, because guess what I see a need.

Church Search, Search No More

"Go back" he said, "Go back". As I heard those words on Wednesday night, I knew what he meant. Go back to my last church, my church home, my church family, my pastors, my familiar. But it hadn't been familiar to me for the last five Sundays. How would I just walk back in? Would I feel like a visitor? As these questions were in my head, I knew what was in my spirit. God told me to do something and I was gonna be fully obedient. So I made it official, I told my mom I told my Pastor's wife, I told the people that were impt to me, and that's why I'm telling you. I know it may not make sense for God to tell me to leave for a while, then to call me back but he's God, he doesn't have to "make sense".  So stop trying to make sense out of what God is doing in your life, Just go with it and Go with him. He's God, you are not. That's a hard lesson, that I'm still learning. So: Continue to trust him. Don't waver. Be patient. Be vigilant. Be prayerful. Be his......

Love You
"Peace In" 

Spring Break.....Time's Up

Man, how I wish it could be Spring Break year long. I guess it can't because then it wouldn't be "Spring Break". I've enjoyed my time off so much. Fellowshipped with friends, went to a Zumba class, had a free meal, went to a free play, and was able to bless so many people. My friend, Yolanda opened her own non-profit organization called Faith Eyes and being able to see the play they put on and actually participate in the  whole night was wonderful. Then she selected one of the teen girls and we made care packages for her and her baby to be! Oh how exciting it is to be a part of something that is sowing such good seed. For more information on Faith Eyes go to www.faitheyes.org. I'm sure you will be blessed by her ministry. All of this to say my stay-cay not vay-cay was awesome! I needed this break and was ready for it, but now I'm ready to get back. To everything there is season, and the season is up. Monday, back to work, back to tutoring and back to kiddies being kiddies. I'm ready for it though, I'm ready to be back, it was very enjoyable but I'm ready to be back! (I just need my voice back, now, started losing it on Thurs nite). I really enjoyed my Spring break, how was yours?