Posts

Ode to 2017: The Year My Broken Places Built Me

-
Image
  Dear Diary, Five years ago (2017) was a rather traumatic year for me. That year I felt stress like no other, that year I thought I would have died, that year grief took hold of me, that year the people who I thought would have been ride or die left, that year brought me to my knees. 2017 should have been the year when all should have gone right but instead went wrong. I started working out because that Christmas weight was not going to work off itself. I began to work on myself. To what extent though? I was trying my best to fix what was there on the outside, the parts that could show. You know, the parts everyone could see while the inside was broken, as broken as could be - shattered into pieces, lonely, unloved, scared, terrified - craving something...something from above? 2017 should have been the rebirth of me, my career, my marriage, and my other relationships. 2017 should have been a year of success. 2017 should have been…but…it wasn’t what I had expected. 2017 wasn’t what...
4 comments
Read more

I AM IN LOVE...

-
Image
  Dear Diary, The most amazing thing in life happened to me… I AM IN LOVE!!! Oh…wait, where are my manners? Happy New Year!!! I’m a few months late but better late than never, right? How is the year going for you thus far? A lot has happened since the start of the year for me and I’m truly grateful for it all - the good, bad, and the ugly. The most amazing thing is my love interest. Let me share a little about the man I’m in love with. I am in love with a man who loves me beyond words. I am in love with a man who values me. I am in love with a man who respects me. I am in love with a man who makes me feel on top of the world. I am in love with a man that sees the very best in me. I am in love with a man that makes me sit and smile to myself. I am in love with a man that puts me first. I am in love with a man who provides. I am in love with a man who protects me. I am in love with a man who comforts me. I am in love with a man who encourages me. I am in love with a man who empowers ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the Cause of Your Relational Battles?

-
Image
  Dear Diary, Have you ever fought relational battles (battles with your relatives and friends - non-romantic relationships)? More than likely you have - I believe people have fought at least one of these battles in their lifetime. I feel like I have been fighting these battles all my life but I now have a different perspective on them. Before I share my current thoughts on this new perspective, I would like to give you a little background on some of my battles. Growing up, I was always compared to others, I was always told to be like others, I was made to believe that I was not good enough and that I would not amount to anything. I tried my hardest to prove myself, I tried to make others see that I am perfectly imperfect just the way that I am, I tried my hardest to make others see that the thought of me that they had in their heads is not me - but nothing seemed to work. Do you know that feeling? Where was all that animosity coming from? Why can't people be accepted just the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is your grave?

-
Image
  Dear Diary, I was listening to the song “Glorious Day” by Passion Conferences and when it came to the verse, “You called my name and I ran out of that grave. Out of the darkness into Your glorious day!” When I say that verse spoke to me, I mean it really spoke to me. It led me to ask, “Is there a grave that is holding you down?” When I say grave, I mean metaphorical grave and not the literal grave. Your grave can be your failures; your past mistakes; anything that is holding you down; anything that seems to be draining the very life out of you; anything that is causing you to question who you are and who God says you are; anything that is preventing you from stepping into your God-given purpose. That is your grave. So, what is your grave? Identify your grave and call it by name. Let that grave know that He called your name and you are stepping out right now. Let that tomb know that you’re not looking back. I know it may seem like you’re boxed in within that four tiny walls but I’...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are you addicted to?

-
Image
  Dear Diary, What are you addicted to? What is giving you your high or your fix? So, my students recently conducted some research on the different types of substances and they presented their findings to the class. They were required to identify what the substance does to the brain and the human body; the implications for abusing the substances as well as the long-term effects. They presented on alcohol, tobacco, heroin, opioids, marijuana, just to name a few. All those substances have one thing in common - they give a certain high which keeps them going back for more. In an effort to get that same high, they continually take the substance and even begin increasing the dosage. Now, imagine if we were to get that high on God. I would like you to take a moment and visualize it...Okay, you get the point - so, let us move right along. I remember feeling that “high” when I got saved. I was on top of the world - I was floating. I was spending quality time in the word, I was praying, in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Are we present day Pharaohs?

-
  Dear Diary, Okay...so here I am studying the book of Exodus, and I came to the realization that there are a lot of present-day Pharaohs. I find that rather unsettling, and we all need to do better - beginning with us Christians. “Present-day Pharaohs” - yeah, you must be wondering what I meant by that. Well, present-day Pharaohs are those people who call on God when things get difficult and even go to the length of making promises to God. Crazy right? I am not finished yet. They make promises, and as soon as they begin to see a break in the cloud, they go back to their old ways and forget about the promises that were made. Is it a matter of forgetting, or is it that they do not care? I hear a lot of “YOLO” these days.  Let me give you more context. In Exodus 8, frogs were all over the land of Egypt because Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the people of Israel go. Frogs were here, there, and everywhere. Just try and picture that for a moment... The visualization ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Should a Christian get divorced?

-
Image
Dear Diary, Should a Christian get a divorce? What constitutes for a Christian to get a divorce and is he/she condemned forever? Is there life after that divorce? Can a Christian remarry even if their “Ex” is not dead? What will the church say? What will people say? What does the bible say? These are all questions I wrestled with or should I say I still wrestle with.  The topic of divorce in the Christian community is a major one. Some people are totally against it while others are for it. Some say it is okay to remarry even if their “Ex” is still alive while others believe that they shouldn’t. But - how do I feel about it? I do not agree with divorce, especially as a Christian; however, I am a divorced Christian. Can I share my story? You know what, let me share it anyway but this may take some time.  My marriage was a tumultuous one and even before marriage, the relationship was very tumultuous. I got saved the same time I found out I was pregnant. Crazy huh? I always dreamt...
Post a Comment
Read more