No. 27 ‘Prepared!’

Walking Into 2022 more prepared than EVER!

26 is the number of times I have spilled my heart out to you guys about my setbacks, struggles, and victories for 2021. Today makes number 27. It’s my 27th blog entry! It is inevitable that after setbacks and struggles come victory and triumph. God set it up this way for a reason. Ironically enough, today will be my 27th and final blog post for the year. And I am walking into 2022 more prepared than EVER!

Going forward, every new year I will pick a word that sums up my goals and intentions for the year. I’m getting started a few weeks before we move into 2022 with the word ‘Prepared!! Instead of setting a bunch of resolutions that I know I cannot keep, I listen for God to speak into my life. I choose ‘Prepared’ because there were many life changing lessons in 2021. Changes that brought an opportunity to be fearful but I chose to be faithful through it all. There is always a CHOICE. Always. Everyone of us has a choice. Most of the time, getting prepared means making a difficult choice. Difficult in the sense of going down the road less travelled. For me, prepared means surviving circumstances that were completely in my control. Surviving the waiting seasons in 2021 and there were many. What I am trying to get across to you is that I’m prepared because I chose to let go and let God trial after trial in this year. I’m still learning to let go daily.  My perseverance has been tested on levels I never dreamed I would go. 

I opened my blog, ‘Knetris The Word Nerd’ up in 2021. I survived COVID 19. I turned 40 years old. I was hired to write for a major women’s lifestyle magazine. I will probably resurrect my teaching career and get back into the classroom in 2022. God prepared me in ways I never thought possible in 2021. God is also for YOU! Absolutely. 100% He loves us in such a way that the human mind cannot even comprehend. Everything he does is out of love. It’s always for a greater and better you. All the things I went through in 2021 will be used as fuel to ignite the fire for ushering in this brand new season. Those hurdles created a more compassionate, more joyful, more graceful Knetris. Now, I can truly decipher what is really important. You are not regressing. You are growing and getting prepared. God is taking you higher. Just trust him❤️

I hope you have a Beautiful week leading up to Christmas and a very safe AND happy New Year! I love you and there is nothing you can do about it!

Remember To Breathe!

How To Survive The Holidays During A Pandemic!

Grammy award winning singer, Lalah Hathaway’s song, ‘Breathe’ has become a beacon of light for me since I first heard it. In 2011, I was on a Christmas vacation in Kansas City, Missouri with my family. At that time, my brother, Thomas was playing his final season in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. We were on our way to the mall to Christmas shop and I just wasn’t quite feeling like myself. He put that song on and it was an instant mood booster. At that time in my life, I was carrying some unresolved grief and may have been suffering with slight seasonal depression. Now, whether I’m not feeling quite as confident or if I’m on cloud 9, ‘Breathe’ is my anthem. We MUST remember to breathe.

I think at times it’s hard to truly understand the trauma we have all endured since Covid came to America. We have been so totally knocked out of our routine. It is important to stay on a routine during this holiday season. I exercise as soon as I wake up in the morning. I shower and then have a light breakfast. I do this everyday. This routine helps my mental and physical health because I know its going to give me long term benefits. I also have noticed an extreme difference in my confidence level. It’s through the roof. I have increased energy, which shows up at work all day. 

If you are struggling with mental health concerns, be sure to ask for help during this holiday season. The use of alcohol usually rises during the holidays. Reach out to a sponsor or family and friends if you find yourself struggling with alcohol and drugs. This time last year, 47 million people reported mental health issues due to the death of loved ones, financial strain, not being able to buy gifts for kids, as well as foreclosures and evictions! Organizations and non profits are available to help buy kids toys for Christmas this year. 

A tip that I’ve found to be so necessary is to avoid social isolation during the holiday season. I have a large family but we also have cell phones for a reason. I have a weekly virtual meeting with my sister and her two kids and husband every Sunday after church. Since I haven’t been able to visit them in Florida since they were born due to the pandemic, I look forward to seeing them and watching them grow. 

Keep your holiday small. Plan a small family gathering like brunch or dinner for the holidays for family that has been vaccinated. At the moment, it’s imperative for you to be COVID tested if you are going to be around individuals who have not had the vaccine. You can still get COVID if you have been vaccinated. I have been laying low during this holiday season because I tested positive for COVID in January of this year! I have not had any symptoms since then. When I visit with family and friends, my circle is always very small. That is intentional.

I hope and pray for you to have a Bountiful and Blessed holiday season! Remember to use your best judgement and a lot of common sense. Happy Holidays!

When God Says, ‘Wait!’

Have you ever thought about why you have to be put in a position to ‘wait’ for certain things in life? Actually, we are ALL waiting for something. When God says, ‘Wait’ it’s always for a good reason. It’s always for the greater good of our lives. I was gifted this book in 2016 called, ‘When God Says Wait,’ by Elizabeth Laing Thompson. In it, she laid out her waiting seasons in life, most extremely painful and connected them to waiting seasons by powerful women in the Bible. My objective with this post is to provide you with some reassurance that your waiting is not in vain. I would also like to give some tips on what to do to ease the waiting periods in life, no matter how painful!

Everyone of us is waiting for something. Whether big or small, we make our requests known to God and we wait. I know it’s hard when God says to wait. I am waiting for things right now also! Whether we know it or not, the waiting seasons transform us. Most of us are totally oblivious to what we need during waiting seasons. They are uncomfortable, lonely and down right awful if we let them. I like to use the analogy, God is taking us from ‘odd to awed,’ during seasons of waiting.We could be waiting for a job, a husband, a wife, a baby, physical healing in our bodies to a million other things. What God really wants us to do is to focus on him during these times in our lives. Those odd seasons of life can be used to get to know God on a deeper level. We can get to know ourselves better and can let these seasons polish and refine us in such a way to equip us with the answers that God will soon provide us with. Getting to know God on a deeper level is more important than the answer to what we are waiting for.

Here are 5 tips on what to do to be a good steward in a waiting season!

1. Reach out to family and friends who may be waiting on something too. It’s most often that loved ones around you could be strengthened by your story. Check on your strong friends.

2. Use social media less during waiting seasons. Comparison is the thief of joy. For some, social media is not the best place to be while we wait. Try to find other forms of entertainment like reading or music. My love for music stemmed from difficult seasons in my life!

3. Try to find strength by fellowshipping with your church family. As much as time will allow, go to church, Bible study and pray without ceasing. There could be someone who could be going through the exact same situation as you! 

4. Keep a gratitude journal. As humans, we should get into a habit of writing down our feelings. When tough times come, you’ll need to be reminded of what God told you!

5. Exercise and eat a healthy diet. It’s important to take care of your mental health during the waiting seasons that are harder than others.

How To Read More!

Reading feeds my creative well. I remember falling in love with reading and writing as a young girl. My brothers, sisters and I would play school when we were kids and I was always the teacher. As I got older, going to buy school supplies at the beginning of the school year was my FAVORITE time. I loved it. English ended up being my favorite subject in grade school. It came so natural to me. So much so that I went on to study it in college. It seems as if I have been destined to be a professional writer since childhood. It’s not a wonder that I ended up teaching English both abroad and in the states for a total of 10+ years. I was having a conversation with a dear friend recently and she said, ‘…with this new digital age of social media, people want to be entertained and not educated!’ She is absolutely correct. It seems as though people are just not interested in reading anymore. Unless it’s just something that is deeply imbedded in your spirit, it seems like reading and writing are so yesterday. With this post, I want to encourage those of us who still enjoy reading and motivate those of you who don’t find reading fun as well. Here are some tips on how to read more!

1. Get a library card.

2. Read in the morning.

3. Read at night.

4. Read electronically. Whether it’s on an iPhone, iPad, E-Reader or on a tablet.

5. Choose from and download an app specifically for reading. There are the Nook app, Kindle app, Goodreads app and Audible app. Goodreads has a book challenge every year. This pushes you to read and keeps you accountable with your promise to read a set number of books.

Audible is a good app to listen to audiobooks. I downloaded this app a few years ago when I lived in Charlottesville, VA. This app is strictly for audiobooks. I would listen to ‘The Four Agreements’ and ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ while running around Charlottesville. 

Since becoming a member of Goodreads, I have read close to 20 books. That is nowhere near my goal. Right before the pandemic began, I started a book blog on social media. Here is the list of books I featured and read! I hope going into 2022 you are able to create a good reading regimen. In my opinion, education is the key to success and reading is at the forefront on that journey!

1. The Purpose Driven Life.

2. Beat The Clock.

3. Blessings From The Dust.

4. Less.

5. The Bluest Eye.

6. Tipping Point. 

7. The Dorito Effect.

8. When God Says Wait.

9. Trick Mirror.

10. Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married.

Gateway To Greatness!

Since being invited to become a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success, I have access to so many resources and empowering people. This week’s ‘Motivational Monday’ blog captures those individuals who were a part of the Fall 2021 Speaker Broadcast Series with the NSLS. All of these very influential individuals have come from different walks of life but have found themselves in a very powerful position. It is not by chance. Despite the hardships they have faced throughout their lives, they have managed to persevere and I find them very inspirational.

Here are a bio and three Key Takeaways from each speaker that I wanted to share with you! These are the dates and lessons I took from each speaker to use as fuel to create my own success in life or whatever that looks like to you! In my opinion, these gems are needed to enter into the Gateway to Greatness.

Gabrielle Union-October 12, 2021:

Born in Nebraska in 1972, Gabrielle Union studied at UCLA after working as a model for different agencies in her teens. While watching Union speak during her speaker broadcast series, she talked a lot about lessons she learned as an actress before her fame hit full throttle.

1. I want to be known as a truth teller.

2. I want to be known as a freedom fighter.

3. I want to be part of the resistance.

Anita Hill-October 19, 2021:

Anita Faye Hill is an American lawyer, scholar, educator and author. She is a university professor of law, social policy and women’s studies at Brandeis University. She gained fame by accusing Clarence Thomas, her supervisor and US Supreme Court nominee of sexual harassment.

1. We need new thinking.

2. We need new thinking in gender equality.

3. The baton to social justice must be passed from generation to generation.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama-October 20, 2021: 

Born July 6, 1935, His Holiness The Dalai Lama is a member of Tibetan Buddhism. He is 86 years old. These are the three takeaways from His Holiness’ speaker broadcast session.

1. My religion is kindness.

2. Compassion is important.

3. If you want to change the world, change your heart.

Bill Clinton-November 3, 2021: 

Born in 1946, Bill Clinton is an American politician and attorney who served as the 42nd president of The United States of America from 1993 to 2001.

1. Be kind.

2. You have to trust people.

3. It’s not the outcome, it’s the journey.

Rachel Ray-November 9, 2021: 

Rachel Ray is an American celebrity cook, tv personality, businesswoman an author. Host of Rachel Ray and the Food Networks, 30 Minute Meals, Ray also has a line of dog food that is very successful.

1. Have gratitude.

2. Having gratitude gets her out of bed in the morning.

3. Find beauty and grace in the low points in life.

Jamie Foxx-November 10, 2021: 

Born in Terrell, TX, Jamie Foxx  began his career as a comedian on, ‘In Living Color!’ After breakout success, he starred in ‘The Jamie Foxx Show.’ His success in comedy led him to a career in acting where he is now an Academy Award winning actor.

1. Don’t limit yourself.

2. You can come back from anything.

3. Use all of your gifts.

Where Do I Get My Inspiration?

Lately, it seems like inspiration has been coming at me in every direction. The world has been in such a state of vulnerability since the COVID pandemic started in early 2020. Being a survivor of COVID I have been looking for inspiration ever since my positive diagnosis. Gratefully, God brought me through that very difficult time in my life better and stronger than ever. My relationship with God has gotten more dire since recovering from this illness. Through that experience, I learned what’s really important in life and what I need to be giving my time, love and attention to. So many people have passed away from this disease and the numbers of fatalities are still rising everyday. I take my ability to resurrect my writing ability as inspiration and an answer to many of the prayers I prayed while battling COVID. I get to inspire people by writing about issues concerning the world around us on a weekly basis. Since surviving this illness, I had the inspiration to make my blog public after 7 years of inactivity. I’ve opened it to the public and I’m getting a plethora of positive feedback. I get to polish my writing skills in hopes to one day make writing a professional career!

I come from a legacy of extremely hard workers. My mother was the first African American female coal miner in Southwest Virginia. It was an incredibly difficult and grueling job for a woman. She was so good at her job that she was able to do it for 20 years. Her and my father sacrificed so much for me to have the life I live. They both taught me to have self respect and to use my voice. Other lessons were to keep God first and that nothing comes easy in life. Although I had a very non conventional childhood, my parents made sure I had what I needed to thrive in life. My brothers and sisters were also a source of inspiration for me growing up. From a very young age my two brothers had a dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL.) They are three years apart and one of them happens to be my twin. With discipline, strong work ethic and perseverance, they both made their dreams a reality. Together, their football careers lasted for 19 years. 

So, what about you? How do you find inspiration to pursue your dreams in life? The thing about dreams is that no one is too big. God has placed at the center and core of all of our beings gifts and talents. Everyone has something they are really good at. It is our job to find out what they are. Here are 5 tips on how you can find the motivation to finding your talent and pursuing your dreams!

1. Reach out to a job coach.

2. Find a hobby that you enjoy.

3. Teach someone else how to do something. Tap into your role as a leader.

4. Find out what you enjoy doing that you would do for free everyday. That’s your passion.

5. Ask yourself and really spend some time thinking about what you have overcome in your life! Overcoming life’s obstacles is a big motivator and will inspire you to move forward.

Kobe Bryant And The Evolution Of The Girl Dad!

It’s been almost 2 years since the world was brought to its knees by the loss of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant in a tragic helicopter crash near Southern California that killed 9 people in total. They were on their way to a basketball tournament for Gigi and her friends. NBA preseason basketball just so happened to begin today. Although Kobe Bryant retired from playing basketball in 2016, he left more than just a basketball legacy. In my opinion, his biggest accomplishment was being a girl dad. Kobe Bryant was a girl dad and I know because I was raised by one too.

At the time of his death, Kobe was raising four daughters. He was quoted as saying, ‘Girls are the best…I would have five more girls if I could.’ Like Bryant, my Daddy considered himself a girl dad because I’m one of five girls. Kobe was a professional basketball player which meant that several times a month, he would be traveling out of town for games. Like Kobe, my father worked out of state when I was a young girl. He worked at the University of Tennessee as an Admissions Counselor during the week and would come home on the weekends. My father was also daddy to two boys who were really gifted in all of the sports they participated in. One of the boys, Julius, just so happens to be my twin. Even though my mother worked the night shift for most of my childhood, I remember both my parents being very engaged and interested in what I was doing at school.

After Kobe retired in 2016, he spent a lot of time taking Gigi to Lakers games. Kobe was a naturally comforting father. It came easy to him. Like my father, Kobe knew that in order to be there for the joyous times, he’d have to be there for the challenging ones as well. So many similarities between Kobe and my father. I’m almost positive that they were put on earth to raise daughters. My daddy sacrificed so much so I could be me! We have pictures and videos of Kobe and Gigi playing basketball and although there are lots of smiles, Gigi had the same tenacity as her dad. They shared a love of basketball. She had dreams of playing at The University of Connecticut and going on to play in the WNBA and carrying on her father’s legacy.

It’s safe to assume that Kobe envisioned watching Gigi go on to do just that, as well as support his other three daughters pursue their passions too. He and Gigi died together doing something that they loved; playing basketball. Kobe leaves a lasting legacy for girl dad’s and I cannot help but to reflect on my own father who will also. Just like Kobe is a legend and hero, my own father will always be that for me. The love I have for my own father mirrors that of Kobe and Gigi! May they both rest in eternal peace.

Brick by Brick! How I Find Balance In My Busy Life.

In 2009, Katy Perry recorded an acoustic album with a song titled, ‘Brick by Brick!’ I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Here are a few of the lyrics!

‘..And I sure confess, I’m a mess, I’m a mess of mistakes, but please count to ten, before you throw it all away…’

‘…So brick by brick, I’m breaking through these walls, Oh, between you and me, I’m not giving up, I’m not giving up on us…’

These lyrics seem to be hinting to a relationship gone bad but I like to flip it and for me, it’s a testimony that I was once lost and need God as my GPS. This week I want to discuss how I transitioned from broken to whole with a balanced lifestyle. This post, I reveal some tips on how I have found balance in my busy life. 

In September 2007, I made a move to Charlottesville, VA. After attending college there for 4 years, I felt it necessary to move back there after a tumultuous year of living in Chicago. I met with a pastoral counselor a few days after my move. My counselor’s exact words were, you’ve built this wall around yourself and God wants to help you take it down brick by brick. From that point on, I worked feverishly at getting rid of the wall.

I landed a great job at UVA and made a handful of friends I could go out with. Unlike in Chicago, I had a support system at my new home. I started going to church. I volunteered at the Virginia Discovery Museum and at UVA. I worked with the international population to help them speak better English. I built a resume filled with lots of public service. My schedule was packed with things I loved to do. I exercised everyday and stayed in shape by running. I was in a good space. That wall I had built was starting to come down brick by brick. 

10 Key Takeaways for finding balance in life!

1. Exercise AND Recover/Rest.

2. Learn something new everyday.

3. Read and Write.

4. Get a balanced diet.

5. Reach out to your ‘Strong’ friends and family.

6. Volunteer.

7. Meditate.

8. My mother says, ‘give God some of your time!’ Try to find a bible based church to attend.

9. Step out of your comfort zone daily.

10. DE-clutter all of your spaces.

Little by little, Brick by Brick..you will be practicing gratitude while living your best life. Balance is possible, you just have to be intentional about creating it!

SHAME-less Plug! My Mental Health Journey And How Therapy Saves Lives!

‘Honesty without Empathy is Brutality..’

Prominent TV Host and Radio VJ, Charlamagne Tha God, began his new show, ‘Tha God’s Honest Truth,’ with this old mantra! He has been pretty brutal with getting his guests to open up on his classic radio hit, ‘The Breakfast Club.’ But over the past 5-6 years, he has been going to therapy trying to heal some childhood issues. I watched a documentary on his life several years ago and he revealed that he had been sexually molested when he was a small child. I have supported him ever since. I have a tremendous amount of empathy for people in pain. I feel like this is one of my gifts. I have had to pray without ceasing to get to this point in my life. We often tend to think that feeling pain is a sign of weakness. But I beg to differ. Feeling pain leads to healing and healing leads to strength. Strength leads to the ability to share our journies with the world, which leads to CHANGE! Change is POWERFUL!

I moved to Mexico City, MX for a job opportunity after graduating from college. After my teaching stint ended, I moved to East Tennessee. When I arrived in Tennessee, I quickly landed a job doing what I had been trained to do, teach. I started getting word that my dear friend’s health was declining due to Diabetes. He had been battling this disease for years. He ended up passing on Memorial Day 2004. I was absolutely devastated. He and I were extremely close. This was my first experience dealing with death. I was only 22 years old. I had no idea what to do. I ended up moving to Miami, Florida, got an apartment and tried to begin a new life. This cycle began of moving around, staying for a year or so and trying to figure out why things weren’t working out. In hindsight, what I should have done was stayed in Tennessee and worked through my grief. My faith in God was there. It had never left! My mental health was really suffering and I needed to deal with it.

Fast forward about 6 years later, I was 32 and ready to deal with my health concerns. At the recommendation of my doctor, I started seeing a therapist. To be honest, therapy helps us to change the narrative we tell ourselves about our lives. Before I talk about my journey to healing, I just want to say loud and clear that there is absolutely NO shame in going to therapy. It’s actually quite the opposite. I will plug therapy for anyone who needs to heal from trauma. I believe in it. It takes a lot of bravery to confront yourself and your issues. 

Key Takeaways From Therapy And Dealing With Grief:

1. Focus on your relationship with your loved one that passed and how you made their life better while they were here!

2. Focus on your relationship with God and the lessons he wants to teach you through grief!

3. Focus on what you are moving from instead of what you’re moving to!

4. Moving forward, focus on what you are good at and how you can change lives in those spaces!

5. Yes Knetris! YOU can do hard things and you are a straight up Overcomer!!!!!

My therapist and I worked feverishly at tackling each one of these key points. Yes, I would be in tears during most of my sessions but we had laughter too. Lots of breakthroughs in there. Tears led to laughter, laughter led to healing, healing led to strength. One day I just woke up in a different space. No grief anymore. I had worked through it all. It took about two years of therapy to fully heal. Instead of holding onto grief, I started leaning on God. I went after God so hard and still do. I pray without ceasing! I reach out to loved ones and friends who are hurting. Life is hard. No, my life isn’t perfect. BUT I’m tough as nails. I am RELENTLESS! I’ve decided to use my Journey as proof that therapy works if you work IT! That is why God put it here. Since I love writing, I’ve decided to write a memoir about my life in hopes to encourage others that grief is not the end all be all. Mental Health is super important. My memoir, ‘Love Me Back To Life,’ is a love letter to God saying thank you for loving me back to life because God is the ultimate healer! Head over heels in love with my Savior! FREEDOM is a good feeling❤️❤️❤️ Because who the son sets free is free indeed! ‘John 8:36’ It’s a testimony, a new perspective, a goodbye and a thank you post!

2021 New York Fashion Week Recap💃

My obsession with fashion began in one of the most non conventional places on earth; Church! I remember my grandparents being dressed to the nines every Sunday. My grandma wore the big hats and looked so beautiful color coordinated. The bright red colors looked so beautiful against her brown skin. That obsession with fashion quickly trickled down to my parents. They would dress up my brothers, sisters and I for major holidays like Easter and Christmas. That tradition then followed us to school. We would have to dress up once a week. The frilly bows, curls and shiny shoes were just the sweetest thing.

Fast forward about 5 or 6 years later. I was 16 years old. The love of fashion was passed down to my two older sisters. I watched them be obsessed with then MTV’s, ‘House of Style!’ Amber Valletta was the host in the 90’s! Most of the models that were represented on MTV didn’t look anything like me but I continued to watch in hopes that one day, there would be more of a brown skinned modeling industry. My prayers were answered. As soon as I began moving around after college, I saw the groundwork being laid for a more diverse fashion week nationwide.

Fast forward to September 2021, New York Fashion Week. Fashion designers Helmut Lang and Brandon Maxwell were using multiple darker skinned models in their shows which I hadn’t seen before. Blackness is breaking new ground with more black models in fashion. Helmut Lang is an 81 year old Australian designer who has been representing the fashion industry since his 20’s. Then we have Brandon Maxwell, a 36 year old American designer who uses the darkest male and female models throughout fashion week. The bold, bright colors used in both these shows made the African representation even more present.

Moving on to two designers who cater more towards affluent, white women; Louis Vuitton and Dior. If you paid attention to fashion over the past several decades, you would recognize the lack of diversity in any and just about ALL of Louis Vuitton’s fashion weeks. I remember when I bought my first Louis Vuitton handbag in Miami, Florida, there were NO people of color in the store. Not a soul. This year, Vuitton used lots of shorter and curvier black women in their shows. Judging from the pictures I saw from social media, Dior followed their lead. I cannot say that I didn’t love it. Their were lots of bikini tops with bold suits and skirts with structured blazers. I really enjoyed seeing all of the diversity this year. Dior was also a lot more playful this year with an Alice In Wonderland themed fashion house.

Every year that I am able to follow #NYFW, I dream of the day when I’ll be able to attend the real deal. Prominent NY fashion influencer, Sai De Silva, has been attending fashion week for years. She has amassed a following of close to 400,000 followers on Instagram. She talks about renting clothes from Rent The Runway for a much cheaper price and how at times, designers loan her clothes for the week in exchange for endless plugs on social media. I remember attending this beautiful, plush and extremely expensive Indian wedding in 2016 at the Boston Park Plaza. A friend rented this beautiful Carolina Herrera gown for the wedding. It was breathtaking. Rent The Runway has become the premier fashion house for influencers at fashion week. When I’m able to attend in person, as opposed to watching from home, I’ll be in a position to choose between using Rent The Runway or buying my own designer clothes. I’m striving for the latter🤩 Let’s GO!

Are You A Treasure Hunter Or A Field Inspector?

I was blessed to attend Faith Christian Center International located in Charlottesville, VA from 2008-2013!!! For five years, I faithfully attended church and bible study in hopes to get set free from baggage that seemed to follow me everywhere prior to coming into this particular house of worship! Pastor Wayne Frye taught a life changing bible study on a night where I was at my wits end and struggling to overcome shame and fear! He posed a question to the congregation ‘Are you a Treasure Hunter or a Field Inspector?’ I was very caught off guard because I had never heard of this language before. After doing some research for this blog post, I was pleasantly surprised at what these two jobs meant and how they related to me spiritually!

Treasure Hunting is the physical search for treasure. Treasure hunters try to find sunken ships and retrieve artifacts for market value. In order to find any treasure, they most always need a GPS! Field Inspectors gather information and perform property value appraisals of residential and commercial properties. Field Inspectors perform most of their work on the surface level of houses! They may even use a tape measure or take pictures of properties they are assigned to. There are no qualifications to becoming a Field Inspector! On the other hand, becoming a Treasure Hunter takes much practice, skill and experience.

To break this down even further, biblically, Treasure Hunters are constantly seeking God. They have been trained by the Holy Spirit to seek God in every area of life! These believers have developed a deep relationship with Christ and continuously seek his face. That depth comes from putting faith above feelings trial after trial. After every trial, is a reward! As long as Treasure Hunters continue to go deep, they find treasure. The GPS is God! Field Inspectors stay on the surface with God where there isn’t much depth. They do just enough to get by and do not really have the desire to go deeper with God. When I say ‘deeper’ I mean reading God’s word on a regular basis, attending a bible based church, and carrying a sincere heart while letting God lead you through challenges in life! We are all a work in progress! What helps me to stay connected to Christ is definitely praying for God’s will to be done in my life. Because ultimately, what God wants for me is what I need. It’s easy to go ahead of him and we all have a tendency to stay stuck in the past! That’s another blog post in itself. I try to study God’s word daily because it’s sharper than a two edged sword! At this point in my life, I am striving to become a Treasure Hunter!

Here are three key points to strengthen your ‘Treasure Hunting’ skills! 

1. Keep a journal. 

Make a habit of daily journaling to let God know how you feel about how your life is going. P.S. He already knows😊 Some things to keep in mind when journaling are to write down triggers in your day that cause your mood to shift from happy to sad. You can also write down to do lists so you aren’t so overwhelmed as the day goes along!

2. Alone Time.

I have found that for me, the main thing that’s kept my mental health in tact is having a significant amount of alone time. It’s true that we need time to be around our peers but alone time is just as dire! I spend alone time when I meditate. Meditation helps to clear the clutter from our minds and gives us a fresh perspective.

3. Practice Gratitude.

Like the saying goes, ‘An attitude of gratitude is the BEST form of Thanksgiving!’ I believe in this whole heartedly! I try to practice gratitude by reaching out to loved ones and friends on a regular basis. I thank God for the family and friends he has placed in my life! I send a quick text to my family and practice uplifting them! I’ll go outside and listen to Spotify on a nice day. In addition to that, I try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day! I thank God for the sun and the ability to get fresh air! When I do that, I feel God is pleased! This allows him to see that you are a good steward over what he has given you! AND this is what a true Treasure Hunter would do😊

Hope this helps!

Broken Relationships!!

RECONCILIATION. /n./the restoration of friendly relations.

RECONCILIATION. In biblical terms: Bringing in Unity, Harmony, or Agreement that has been alienated.

Listen, Let me just clear the air! To everyone who is reading or will read this blog post, everyone of us will be offended at some point in our lives! YES, offenses will come! You can bank on that. BUT in one of my favorite scriptures, Luke 17:1-4, Jesus says ‘…it is impossible that no offenses should come…’ and to expect them! If and when we decide to reconcile with the ones who have offended us solely determines our eternal destiny!

Broken relationships will hinder us from fulfilling our calling! You may have monetary success but you will never get what God truly wants to give you in this lifetime! We must find it in our hearts to forgive those who have offended us. We must seek reconciliation. Countless relationships fail due to a simple misunderstanding, an accident or unintentional failure, words or actions that occur in the heat of the moment, or because of a calculated plan of retaliation or deceit. Many adults reflect on a troubled childhood, wishing they could reverse the action of their youth and reverse their past. 

Most of us never take the time to make the first move, speak up and come to God’s throne with a humble heart! First and foremost, one has to have a humble and contrite heart. God knows each one of our hearts, intentions and whether we are sincere or not. We must also forgive! The bible says to forgive ‘7x77 times daily! Most of us stay silent about being offended and take our resentment to the grave. BUT, the fact that Christ made his greatest sacrifice on our behalf , while we were yet sinners, should move us to seek reconciliation with those with whom we have experienced betrayal, conflict, or misunderstanding.

When I have felt offended or offended someone in the past, in order to truly forgive that person/persons, I first spend some time in prayer and meditation. I cannot tell you where the other party’s heart is, but God knows my heart. All that God requires me to do is come to him with a humble, meek and sincere heart. Forgiveness is the same way! If I have intentionally hurt someone, it is my job to go to that person and ask for forgiveness! I get into some scripture about forgiveness and then go to God and ask for forgiveness from him. With a contrite and humble heart, God can forgive me, as well as anyone else! Forgiveness truly sets us free!

Focused on the Fruit! Faithful over the small…

Accomplished Pastor, Author and Worship Leader, Steven Furtick; has been blessed to preach and teach the incomparable word of God! I recently stumbled upon one of his most recent sermons on Youtube titled, ‘Focus On The Fruit!’ Just by looking at the title, one would associate ‘Fruit’ to Fruits of the Spirit! One could also make the assumption that ‘fruit’ or harvest are the blessings that God has stored up for us as rewards after making it through a difficult season of waiting! BUT, In my opinion, you cannot talk about one without the other!

The objective in a believers walk with Christ is to grow in discipleship, but there will always be someone or something trying to ‘choke the growth’ along the way. Everyone of us is waiting for something! Whether big or small, we make our requests known to God and we wait! I know it hurts when God says wait. Trust me! I am waiting for a few things right now. But whether we know it or not, the waiting seasons transform us. Most of us are totally oblivious to what we need during waiting seasons. They are uncomfortable, lonely and down right awful if we let them. I like to use the analogy, God is taking us from ‘odd to awed!’ Those odd seasons can be used to get to know God on a deeper level. We can get to know ourselves better and can let these seasons polish and refine us in such a way to equip us for the answers that God will soon provide us with. 

Steven Furtick would have believers to focus on the fruit during our times of waiting. The Holy Spirit comes to produce in us the nine fruits of the spirit, which are, love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, forbearance, self control and gentleness. The fruits of the spirit do nothing but Transform us into the woman or man that God has called us to be. They can be the gift that God wants us to have during a hard waiting season. If we spend enough time with him throughout this season, we will gradually be blessed with the fruits of the spirit. As a believer, the objective is to keep your eyes focused on God so we don't miss any opportunities to grow in Christ. FOCUS on the FRUIT!!!

INSIDE OUT!

Stories of Transformation from Fear to Faith.....

The 2015 Pixar film, 'Inside Out' aims to teach kids about their emotions and how to overcome the ones they cannot understand! In other words, the underlying message is to teach kids how to Life! The theme is for Riley, the main character, to learn how to properly process Joy, Disgust, Sadness, Anger and Fear. There was a character for every emotion. Riley slips into a deep depression throughout the movie and learns how to understand her personality and that throughout life, she may experience different feelings according to what is going on around and within her. Out of all of the emotions expressed in the movie, Fear was the hardest to understand. Sort of like Fear has been one of the hardest to overcome in my personal life. Watching 'Inside Out' was one of the BEST movies I have seen that actually helps individuals young and old to understand Fear. Throughout the movie, Riley conquers each emotion and is transformed from the inside out!

'Psalm 138:3'-On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul!

There are many stories about transformation in the Holy Bible. Out of all of the brave and powerful women in the bible, Dorcas' story is similar to parts of my journey towards deliverance. The one aforementioned is the story of Dorcas or 'Tabitha,' which is what most people called her. Dorcas was a disciple in Joppa. She helped everyone but herself. She was fearful of putting herself first! She built a reputation for being compassionate, resourceful, and very generous. She willfully and blissfully served her community. Just because we do good things for people doesn't mean bad things can't happen. Dorcas used her needle for the glory of God. Despite her good deeds and generosity, Dorcas became sick and she died. In the bible, God used Peter to resurrect Dorcas and bring her back to life. This was God's will, for Dorcas to lead people to Christ. The transformation happened when she trusted God!

Not prominent figures in the bible but leading ladies in their own right, Helen Keller and Mother Teresa were both very powerful women who had to endure a grueling transformation with God. Helen Keller was plagued with a disease when she was a baby that caused her to be both blind and deaf. She had to endure the uncertainty of her ailments throughout life. She was very fearful. The way she transformed that fear into triumph was by pure servitude. She served others instead of focusing on her dis-ease. She later became an author and an all around leader. Her transformation was built from humility, as was with Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa was a Romain Catholic nun and missionary. She began missionary work with the poor in 1948. With no income, she begged for food and supplies, and experienced doubt, loneliness and the temptation to return to the comfort of convent life. Mother Teresa was very fearful. Her transformation came when in 1979, she won The Nobel Peace Prize for her work helping HIV/Aids patients and different charities she headed up. She continued giving, serving and leading on many international platforms.

Next Stop...FAITH Plaza!

Contentment VS Reaching for More!!

FAITH Plaza is a fictional place where believers can rejoice, worship, fellowship, sing and dance, as well as stay faithful through life's struggles. As a more seasoned believer of Christ, I visit FAITH Plaza when I need encouragement to move through life. When I first started cultivating a more serious and intimate relationship with God, I struggled with unbelief from time to time. I questioned God on a regular basis. At this point in my life, around my early 30's, I was losing friendships, people close to me were landing their dream jobs, and a lot of college acquaintances, including my two younger sisters, were getting married and having babies. I had a lot of baggage that needed to be addressed and because none of those blessings were happening in my life, I felt totally left out. But, 'Isaiah 55:8-9' tells us that God's ways are not our ways. God is the Master and he can do whatever he wants to do, for whoever he wants to, when he wants to do it. After much praying, seeking and knocking; God answered. He revealed that he had a plan for me too. What I didn't realize was that while all of my friends were getting blessed, God must be in my neighborhood! You see, when God blesses your neighbor, YOU are next in line for a miracle!! This made me joyful and most of all, CONTENT! The more I connected with God, the more joyful and content I became!

'For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.'-'Psalm 107:9' The topic of discussion for this post is how to remain content while striving for more! Some have said, 'The soul of a man is so big that ONLY God can fill it.' The thirst for more will always be just that, 'A Thirst For More.' For a lifetime, the lack of true contentment can elude us and we will continue seeking satisfaction along paths that lead us to dead ends! The lack of true contentment versus that unquenchable thirst opens the doors of comparison to others, fear , worry, envy and unrealized expectations. God's word gives us true Contentment, Encouragement, as well as Patience! HIS love embraces us which brings satisfaction regardless of our circumstances! It is okay to want more, just make sure your more is rooted in God!!

Do You 'Sea' What I 'Sea'?

It's amazing how the gift of Sight may just be the most important of the 5 Senses! To be able to 'see' is a tremendous blessing! Families big and small retreat to the sea yearly for rest and relaxation. Admiration for the water, sand and blue skies brings a cult like presence to see and follow. Although the gift of sight is important, it is also important to know what our views of the 'sea' really mean. Some people are on the beach for pleasure, spring break, or summer vacations. Others are there to reminisce of the days of the past or are there to make new memories. No matter the cause, people meet at the beach for an eventful time.

As each of us grows in age and stature, it is inevitable that we will endure hardships and pain. When God created the Earth, he said in his word that in this life we would have trouble! 'John 16:33'..We either cast our cares on the Lord or we carry them around causing dis-ease all around and within us. In biblical terms, we either cast them in the Dead Sea or the Sea of Galilee.

According to the biblical narrative, the Dead Sea region was once vibrant filled with life. It was only after God rained down fire and brimstone on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah did the area become a wasteland and the sea became a hyper saline salt lake, filling the sea with tar, gunk and death. The Sea of Galilee is known to Christians because it was the scene for many episodes in the life of Christ the King, including his Sermon on the Mount, at which he gave the blessings of the Beatitudes and first taught the Lord's Prayer.

The question I want to ask you is, "What do you see?" When problems surface in your life, "Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?" "Are you casting your cares into the Sea of Galilee, the sea of good and plenty; where things grow or are you stuck in the Dead Sea with fear? Nothing ever grows in the Dead Sea you know! Even though fears arise in all of our lives, God gives us choices and free will to endure and overcome or be defeated. That's the thing about God, he is always going to be a gentleman and is never going to force us to do something. I have found that in my personal life, when I find myself getting fearful, loathing over the past or lacking understanding/struggling with unbelief, I turn to the glass as half full. Over years of having trials, you become stronger and are able to build up this healthy perspective time after time! Even though I've never seen it, I am most certainly hanging out at the Sea of Galilee, sun kissed with a good book and Sangria in tow!! I hope you will join me!