Wisdom – My mother told me when I turned 40 in January that one thing that she wants me to know is that 40 brings about wisdom. A greater understanding of self and others. She said you will really begin to dig into who you are and what you want when you turn 40. No truer words. This year has been about me learning to love me, accept that others won’t ever love me and be okay with it. I’ve been wise to hold my tongue and I’ve shown strength when I’ve walked away from unhealthy situations and people. I received wisdom this year and I’m grateful for it.
17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
“Most men if they are absent of having a good woman in their life only have good ideas. In the company of a godly woman ideas become a dream.” – Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant
Yesterday, my local radio station had the topic of the day which was what makes someone “Marriage Material.” There were a lot of male callers that were saying that a woman needed to have:
class
belief in God
a good job
self-respect
purpose
If that was all, then why are more men and women not married? Why is it that men have a list of what makes a woman marriage material, but no desire to get married? Isn’t that the real question? However, men need to realize that your dreams can’t be realized without a good woman on your side.
History shows us that some of the most powerful men had strong women who dreamed for their mates. I’m sure that these women encouraged, prayed and helped nurture their man’s ideas into visions.
President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta
President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie O’.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle
I’ve never really thought of myself as a visionary. I just dream, believe, pray and commit. That’s all I do. Many things work according to God’s plan (favor), but I learned early in life that I have to thank God for the good and the bad. For what I have and for what I don’t.
I had a man to tell me years ago that I have a gift of making a man believe that he is superman. He said, “You get to encouraging a man and he feels as though he can’t fail. That is your charm and I have to be careful that I don’t fall victim to it.” I was hurt. Was I being malicious? No, I don’t think so. I just encouraged a man’s dreams. Was that wrong?
Nope. It was my gift. A woman’s gift and responsibility. To encourage a man to believe in his dreams and to follow them. I did it in my relationships and I did it in my marriage. But, I wasn’t consistent. I wasn’t praying over my partner with purpose. I was just praying in general for his health and well-being.
Then I heard that sermon that Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant preached and I knew that it wasn’t charm that was deceiving to men. It was that I was a woman with vision and trying to encourage my man to pursue his dreams and watch them manifest. Did it always work? No.
However, that didn’t stop me from believing that it was my job to pray over my partner. To encourage his spirit. But, I realized that a lot of women don’t do that. We don’t really pray for our mates and men don’t really pray for us. Why not? Aren’t you supposed to pray over your loved ones? I pray over my son at least two times a day, but I wasn’t praying over my partner.
As I’ve gained wisdom in my 40th year I realized that I need to pray more. That I need to have the courage of my conviction and pray for my partner. Pray over him openly and pray with him consistently.
I spoke earlier this year about visualizing love and I want to add that I vow to do the following with my partner:
Pray with him daily
Pray over his life and encourage his dreams
Help him to visualize that if he’s following God’s plan that favor will follow
My next relationship has to be one where we both follow God. Where he is without a shadow of a doubt a believer and living in God’s purpose. Where I can truly be his help mate and rib because he is following God and leading the family. We will pray together and we will continually work on maintaining a healthy relationship. He will recognize that I have vision and I will help his dreams become reality.
Today at 11:18 a.m. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who weighed 5 pounds 15 ounces. He was so tiny and I couldn’t believe I was a mother. When I heard his cry I started crying tears of joy because God had given me a child. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
I was so sick that I couldn’t really hold him the first 24 hours of his birth. I couldn’t nurse him because the doctors were afraid that I would have a seizure and drop him. I was spiraling in health, but God. God knew that this little angel in my womb was sent from Him and that we both would survive. We did.
It’s seven years later and I am in awe of who my munch is! I’m always babbling about the funny things he says or how awesome he is, but I mean it. I can’t believe how fast time has flown. I have 3 different birthday parties planned for him. The first is at school later today and then at church school with his class on Saturday and finally on the 16th of May we are doing a big family dinner at his favorite hibachi restaurant. I can’t wait!
I don’t know how I’m doing in this mothering thing, but one thing for sure is that I wouldn’t change a thing. My life didn’t turn out as planned and many days I’m just winging it, but I hope and pray that this little boy knows how much I’ve changed because of him. He has truly made me a better person. For that, I am thankful.
So, dinner tonight at Chuck-e-Cheese. Why? Because he loves the mouse and it’s his birthday!
Yep, we say “Happy Resurrection Day” to all to remind you that He has risen. There was no greater sacrifice than Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. It may seem small to some now, but trust me when I say it is not. I am reminded everyday of this sacrifice and how awesome it is to have a God that would send his child to die for my sins.
When you take the time to remember the ultimate sacrifice it helps you to take life in stride. To forgive and to know that you are forgiven for your sins. How many of us would be willing to give our only child to die so that others may live? It is a truly selfless act.
Remember that today is not about the candy, Easter baskets or big dinner, but about our risen savior. Happy Resurrection Day folks!
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Let’s celebrate and sing “Hosanna, Hosanna” because on this day our Saviour was born. That in itself is reason to sing in exultation because we know that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In opening your gifts and spending time with your family and friends remember that this day is a day of celebration. Not a pity party or a time to be upset about what you don’t have or didn’t get for Christmas. Because you did get a gift today. The best gift ever! God gave us the gift of Christ. A king was born and the entire world received this gift. This is the true meaning of Christmas.
So, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and share Christmas photos of munch over the years to let you know that I’m truly thankful for the gift I was given. God is an awesome God and while my munch is opening up his gifts on Christmas morning, we will be reading the Bible story about the birth of Jesus. Let’s rejoice!
I titled this post the bestest gift ever because I wanted to tell you through pictures what Christmas means to me. It’s not the cost of gifts or whether I get any gifts at all, but waking up everyday with an attitude of gratitude and appreciation for Christ allows me to know the difference between wanting things I can’t afford and knowing that I received the bestest gift ever. It’s a year in review of what I’ve been blessed to receive.
I’m thankful for everything. I wish you only the best this holiday season. Remember to appreciate and enjoy the life you have and know that you are truly blessed.
I woke up this morning excited. I have been sick for the last week and a half and it felt good to be out and about and even back at work. I was pumped. Yes, I have some things that are going on. Some worries I’m working through. Some concerns that are on my mind, but I was thankful for another day. I woke up feeling like superwoman. I told myself, “Girl, today is a new day. Yesterday was the past and today is a gift. Be present in the moment and know that no matter what happens today you are incredibly blessed and highly favored.”
Even when it doesn’t seem like it, I need to remember that I am a conqueror and this too shall pass. So, my #motivationalmonday message is based off one of my favorite chapters in the bible: Romans. Romans 8:34-39 which reads:
“Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.[a] 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
So, I want to tell you the same thing. You’re a conqueror. Nothing we can do will separate us from the love of Christ. Trust me (I’ve done some things I thought would separate me and He still loves me).
Listen to Estelle’s song “Conqueror” and tell me that you are not inspired. No matter who is counting you out. Estelle sings “I’d rather stand tall than live on my knees because I’m a conqueror and I won’t accept defeat.”
Neither should you. God has already determined that you will win, so love, know that it will happen.
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