i want a "DO OVER"

original creation date: 01.04.08

There's this new comedy by the name of Samantha Who? And they say that's it's the #1 comedy on TV right now. As a viewer of the show I'm not surprised, Samantha was granted what I call a "DO OVER" in life. She's been able to start her life all over again…kinda; after a freak accident she has amnesia & doesn't remember the type of person she used to be which was mean, manipulative and shallow. If anyone got in her way of something she wanted she would make a way to get it at the expense & sacrifice of others. Now that she has amnesia and doesn't remember who she used to be she now acts the way she really is on the inside which is a considerate, goofy and loving person.

Every now and again she goes somewhere or meets someone who remembers her "bad deeds" and they hold her to it even though she doesn't remember and she's turned over a new leaf. Like the time she tried to go see a hockey game and didn't know she was banned from the arena because of the time she went in a wheelchair just to get a front row seat. Nevertheless Samantha tries her best to live her life anew with her past behind her with a clean slate, pushing forward to enjoy life as she can create it.

This reminds me of what Jesus does for people (and has done for me). That no matter what we did before or how we treated other people or even ourselves, when we accept Him into our life we are able to have a clean slate in life and are granted a DO OVER! Other people or even you may remember what you did or how you used to be but in Christ you are a brand new person and get to start life all over again. The best part about it is that you have the ability to recreate and reinvent yourself. Any insecurities, generational issues, former hurts and inadequacies are a thing of the past.

No wonder the show is so popular…who wouldn't want a DO OVER in life?!
The truth of the matter is Jesus is still doing the same thing He was doing when He was on the earth, granting DO OVERS. Why don't you let Jesus grant you a DO OVER right now?
Prayer: Jesus I believe You are the Son of God and that You died and was buried and rose again for me. Come into my heart, I make You my Lord & Savior. Forgive me of all my sin and wipe away my shame give me a new life in You and for You. Amen!

A simple prayer (when you believe with your heart) can grant You a DO OVER in life, make the best of it. Lightning may not have struck and you may not feel any different on the outside but on the inside you're a new creation…make your outside new too! Love God and serve Him with the help of the Holy Spirit and I promise you life will never be the same. (II Corinthians 5:7, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

Song bird, called to ministry

original post date: 05.04.08

So what had happened was I ended up doing the praise and worship today at church and I have to say it went pretty well…despite the fact that I carried Zoe the whole time b/c she wouldn't stop fussing and eventually she feel asleep, still holding her mind you. I may not be a Yolanda Adams but I can do a little somethin' somethin' I actually remember back in the day I used to sing with my sister watching Mariah Carey videos (even though we knew we weren't supposed to be watching MTV) we hit them notes too! She did better than I did but I sounded good. My immediate younger sister couldn't sing a lick and so we were going to be the next TLC. Strep throat hit and lasted a cool 3 months…needless to say I NEVER tried to hit a high note like MC again. When I did try singing again "friends" told me I should just give up singing along with other things (you know how cruel kids can be).

I recently heard a message preached by someone who was saying that when God calls you into ministry you just better go, don't disobey, even if you don't like it you better just go ahead. Admittedly, I believed this type of message that when God calls you it's going to be something dreadful and you won't like it because if you don't He'll strike you down, blah, blah, blah.

NOTHING could be farther from the truth! Why in the world would God call someone into a ministry that He knows good and well we won't like and expect us to do well at something we can 't stand doing?! That's like telling us to go to a job we can't stand everyday and expecting us to be the top performer in the company. It can't happen! FoR tHe ReCoRd God is not cruel and any ministry that He has set up for you is just that FOR YOU! He will cater it to your personality, the way you function, your likes and dislikes, it'll all be catered to the true YoU…after all He gave them to you in the first place!

Now will stepping into ministry require some changes? Sure. Maybe more discipline, familiarizing ourselves with the Bible, minding the things we do because others are watching, finding other ways of having fun that do not include going to the club and getting pissy-fall out drunk (it's just not cute, really). And at the end of the day we're able to find our purpose in life, become whole & not wait on anyone else to make us happy other than Jesus, enjoy life no matter how bad the economy gets and know that when it's all said and done you eventually helped someone else get a grasp on their life by airing your dirty laundry. That's ministry.

I thought back then that I would never sing or be in the limelight or do anything that would draw attention to myself but look at what God can do. I don't mean to brag but I will say that I love my life and am grateful that despite it all God didn't change His mind about His plan for me.

image courtesy of istockphoto

the #1 matchmaker

I recently tuned into the show Millionaire Matchmaker, which has provided a bit of entertainment, but really spurred a series of questions within me. Before I get to the questions, the show is based on a woman who is a matchmaker for millionaires but many of the millionaires only go on a couple of dates and move on to the next young woman in line. The millionaires seem to never be satisfied with the young woman they are matched with and yet can't figure out why they are still single. Aside from the fact that some of the millionaires need a bit of home training, the standards they place on the young women is outrageous.

I'm more than sure that it's not only the millionaires on the show who place outrageous & unattainable standards on their potential mate but everyday single people. So the questions begin, could it be that society has fed us a bunch of garbage telling us that we have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, drive x-type car, keeps up with the Jones', knows how to "work it" when in fact the true qualities of a man or woman which would create the ideal marriage are things that society left behind 20 years ago? Being ambitious, able to provide, a spiritual leader, able to love and care for those around him/her, being respectful are all qualities that, back in the day, weighed much heavier than if someone is cute or not.

Of course we don't want someone we can't take home and show off to family and friends....but at what cost? Someone once said that good looks fade but dumb doesn't which could be interpreted as the person can be beautiful beyond compare but what they lack as an individual may not be replaceable and could possibly be the difference between for "better or worse" and "irreconcilable differences".

For every person that wants to be married, I believe that God has a special person that will be compatible with them like a hand in glove. Case and point I Samuel 16:7, God had designated the next king over Israel and while everyone thought it was going to be the best looking guy in town or the strongest guy around they were wrong. God told them not to look for the guy's appearance or his physical stature because He doesn't see as man sees because man looks at the outer appearance but God looks at the heart.


Wow. So could it actually be that we have this thing all wrong and although it seems "old school" being old school in our matchmaking will yield the best results? Or should we just leave it alone occupy ourselves with other things that will help us to grow as individuals and let God do the matchmaking??

picture courtesy of istockphoto

God-mail

They are always in my iNBoX. I receive at least 2 everyday: God mail. At first I used to send them as soon as I read them, then I would delete them, then I would feel bad if I deleted them: God-mail. Uhhhh!

We know you love Jesus & you're not ashamed and if I'm not ashamed then I'll send it to others. Okay, but you know what really shows me that a person is not ashamed is through their behavior. If you say you love God then to me when you love someone you'll act in ways that displays that love to others. So much so that I or anyone else watching you doesn't have to ask if you love God we can just tell. I think there's a myth out there that says as long as I love God and tell a couple of others then I can act in any way I want to…..as appropriately noted a myth. If someone tells me they love me I expect them to act a different way towards me then they would to someone else. That person wouldn't have to say, "Do you know that I love her?" Someone could just tell by the way we interact.

Sad that God loves us so much by protecting us, giving us promises to take our lives higher despite the circumstances, answering our deal making prayers even when He knows we won't keep our end of the bargain & yet we find it difficult to act in a way that would show we love Him i.e. by respecting ourselves, showing love to others even if they hate us, washing our mouths out with soap, "keeping" ourselves for our husband or wife.

Maybe it's just easier to send an email that says we love Him than living our lives to show that we do. Either way God-mail goes out all the time and most times you have to forward them to prove yourself…
Personally speaking, I love God but I primarily choose to 'say it' in a different way that doesn't depend on me sending out God-mail every two seconds just to prove to the person that sent it to me and everyone else on in my email contacts that Jesus is my homeboy. Am I perfect? Nah. Do I do things that God would deem 'questionable'? I'm sure I do.

On the other hand God-mail could help get the message out a lot quicker and in a way that others in the Bible wished were available when they were alive. Alright change of plans, maybe I'll start sending out the God-mails, but not to prove anything to anyone but rather to help someone out during a hard time. They may not want to talk, or even know the right words to say to communicate how they feel but at least they can open an email and read about God's love and I'll be the one who sent it.

the bad 11 letter word

orginal creation date 01.01.08

Maybe its just me…maybe not but rather every single person that has lived in the United States for more than 6 months of their life (except for the Omish and babies),
CONVENIENCE
Ohhhh. Very scary word. It's the same word that allows us to pay $6.65 with tax at Mr. Big-Name-Fast-Food restaurant for a chicken sandwich that we can make ourselves at home. But instead of the homemade taste which is better than Mr. Big-Name-Fast-Food restaurant we pay $6.65 with tax almost everyday for something that causes our omentum (the stuff that causes a pot belly) to spread like butter on toast.

Convenience. I've come to realize that it's become a part of us on my recent traveling journey to Spain. Upon my arrival in Paris (our transit destination), I realized that 'Auntie Flow' decided to arrive ahead of schedule. I was prepared in the sense that I had packed my suitcase expecting her presence…but it was the suitcase that was on the plane not my carryon!

Needless-to-say I trekked up and down that endless French airport to find a vendor to alleviate me of the arrival of my visitor to no avail. I even asked a young woman to point me in the direction of where to the much needed purchase and she looked at me as if she had no clue what I was talking about…as if she had no idea who Aunt Flow is! My legs were burning (b/c I'm out of shape of course), my face was flushed and I still didn't have the goods I was searching for and I was out of breath by the time I reached my husband again. He looks at me & says 'Babe, we're not in America anymore.' Thank you for the keen observation…and realized that I wasn't in America.

America home of the brave, land of the convenient, able to get anything, at any time, any where had brain washed me into thinking that everywhere else is the same. Is this a bad thing? Hadn't figured it out yet. It has occurred to me that Americans may be the most out of touch people on the earth. Everything we need is conveniently packaged, prepared and arranged for us. If you're willing to spend the money then have not fear what you want is here.

Then again is it wrong to want the 'essentials' readily available when you need it? If our (ladies) expected visitor comes ahead of time, should we not have the option of spur of the moment protection?!? Who knows. One thing I do know is if I need one and have to pay $6.56 for a pack of 3 so be it…in this case convenience isn't such a bad word.