Chapter 35

Proverbs 4:7, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Hello there!  It has been a while since I've blogged, but I'm back and I'm building. I turned 35 this month (May 10) and as the day neared I asked friends for sage advice on reaching this milestone. I also googled wisdom for 35-year-olds and nothing truly resonated with me. I've learned along my journey that often times our INstinct is the INformation that we are seeking. Perspective wise, 35 is the halfway mark to 70, and others define it as 5 years from 40. Either way, it's movement and milestone.

Here are a few lessons I've gleaned from my 35-year journey around the sun...

1. People will only respect you at the level in which you require.
(Frustration is the byproduct of lack of communication. People will only operate at the level of expectation that you have set for them to operate within. Nothing more.)

2. Your success is in Your surrender.
(God will allow your gift to make room for you once you become present.)

3. There is good in the good-bye.
(Unequally yoked goes beyond marriage-it extends to family and friends as well. You will never become better until you receive clarity on who doesn't want you to be your best.)

4. Navigate from a Kingdom mindset with your finances.
(The Bible says that the poor will be with us always, but Jesus didn't say we had to be in poverty always. Operate from the mindset of biblical stewardship (God is a supplier of NEED) and delegate every dollar in decision and discipline. Restore your financial dignity in your early years to ensure no lack in your latter times.)

5. Forgive Fast
(Forgiveness is truly the gift you gift yourself. Operate from the intention of people can't give you what they don't have and never assume the depth of anyone at any time.)

6. Let peace be your bottom line.
(Peace is only valuable to those who operate in it and desire it. Let peace be the bottom line in every decision you make.)

7. Trust your intuition.
(The Holy Spirit is Holy and is the internal GPS that will always navigate you back to God. The Bible declares in Ecclesiastes 3:11, that God has placed eternity in our hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end. Find solace in knowing that no matter how far you get away from God, He is always there.)

                   "The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows."-Audrey Heburn

Spring Cleaning

Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you. 

2 Timothy 1:6

Welcome to the second quarter of 2019! I pray this new shift and season finds you in great health and wealth as your soul continues to prosper. Spring is not only a time of physical cleansing but also fiscal cleanup. I encourage you to take inventory of your life- spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially and the people who are connected and vested in your life. Springtime is a great focal point to rid yourself of anything that is not conducive to your growth and overall well-being. In the realm of your spiritual well being, consult with God concerning His plans and assignments for your life. I've learned from my personal pursuits that our calling is consistent while our assignments can be seasonal. What worked for you spiritually at the beginning of this year may not align with what you feel led to do in this season and that is absolutely okay. Don't stay uncomfortable because it was once comfortable. Fasting may have been what you felt led to do in the first quarter, but studying the Word and increasing your prayer life could be what is necessary for this quarter.

Emotionally, invest in self-care and activities that bring your soul solitude. Find mechanisms and paths that give you space to navigate your thoughts in a peaceful, productive and professional manner-whether it is counseling, small groups through a local church or simply journaling. From experience, I personally would admonish that you unplug from technology periodically to reconnect to what needs your connection. 

Physically, spring is the perfect time to visit your doctor for wellness checks and to become intuned with nature after enduring the winter season. Particularly, African-Americans should take full advantage of getting some much needed sunlight because of the wide-spread Vitamin D deficiencies that the bulk of us unfortunately genetically endure.

Lastly, do a fiscal checkup of your financial health. Get clear on where you are and where you desire to be at the end of this quarter. What areas of your financial life require management and maintenance? Always remember, every dollar you earn and possess should have a job and it should be protected under the spiritual covering of the Kingdom. Lastly, it's not what you make, it's how well you manage what you make. 

#2019

3 John 1:2, "Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."

Happy 2019!! I pray this message finds you in great health and wealth as your soul continues to flourish throughout this new year! We entered 2019 under unforeseen circumstances-including a governmental shutdown that was the longest noted in our American history. Although we are facing unparalleled levels of uncertainty economically and it seems as if the foundation of our country has failed its inspection, continue to trust God, stay focused and keep your mind on God. Isaiah 26:3, is a constant reminder of the benefits that come with keeping our focus on God. He keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast on Him because they trust in Him. As you navigate through the many chapters of 2019, stay committed to each page of your process. We will experience ebbs and flows, but we have a solid assurance of knowing WHO controls the waves. As always, below I will provide tips on how to make the most of your new year. 

1. Create Strategies and Set Systems to ensure the order and organization of your days.

2. Write down daily, weekly, and monthly goals and review them daily to hold yourself accountable.

3. Get clear on what is coming in and going out financially. It's not what you make, it's how you manage what you make.

4. Don't dismiss discernment. Dismissing the Voice of God will cost you in every area of your life.

5. Always remember your WHY and stay focused on it no matter WHAT. 

#BlackPanther

Show them who you are...this affirmation is such a powerful spoken word and sets the tone of Black greatness, unity and devotion to family that was so definitively portrayed in the movie "Black Panther." There were so many hidden gems in this movie that I unearthed, but the ones that stood out to me among the many were the homage to our ancestors, the deep devotion and consistent commitment to family and culture, the flow of order with the man being the headship and the journey of two men whose fathers had deeply impacted their future. 

    Black Panther's homage to our ancestors was intertwined throughout the movie from the beginning to the very end. It powerfully sent the resonating message that we are who we are because of who they were. In reference to commitment to family and culture, the movie did an amazing job of conveying the need and power of a man leading his kingdom in order and the success that comes as a byproduct of male leadership and structure. T' Challa's father said it best, "A man who has not prepared his children for his death has failed as a father." I also loved how Black Panther showed the navigational journey of two men and how the presence of a father laid the foundation for one son and the absence of the other's father led to his inevitable failure.

    The timing of Black Panther's release was impeccable and rejuvenated a fire in me concerning where I come from and gave me an eternal hope concerning the direction I am going. I absolutely loved the theme of #BlackLove and how the movie so powerfully conveyed the love, adoration and honor that Black women have for men who sincerely love them and respect them. What spoke to the depths of my heart was how the movie allowed its audience to see a Black woman speaking life into the darkness of her soulmate's heart. One of the most touching scenes was Nakia telling T'Challa "You define the King you will become." It is my hope that through these healthy depictions of authentic love, as a culture we start to redefine who we are to each other and what we can become to the next generation. In the words of Nakia, "Wakanda is strong enough to protect itself and help others."

#2018

Isaiah 43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do yo not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Blessings and Happy New Year!! By now mostly everyone has settled into 2018 or at least began the process of living your best life in this new season of your life. As you move forward in the affirmations, vision boards, resolutions and plans you have positioned in strategy, be mindful of being realistic and ensure that everything you are preparing to pursue is measurable. Many people go into a new year sincerely expecting newness and change, but we forget to insure that the foundation of the outcomes are staged from a place of long-term devotion and effort. While working on my Master's, we learned a term called "incremental steps," meaning that true change and big results are birthed through small steps. In life you can't get everything over night, but you can receive some things over time. I admonish you to receive this and remember this as you focus forward in your 2018 endeavors. God is truly doing a new thing in your life and as He springs up insight, wisdom, and blessings upon you, pray that He gives you the clarity to understand it and discernment on how to handle it-overflow can't be truly appreciated until one has an appreciation of their wilderness seasons. Here are a few pearls to cling to as you navigate through 2018...

1. Go with God and allow Him to order your steps.
2. When you make mistakes, allow them to develop you not demote you.
3. Be okay with pulling away. Everybody isn't worthy of having a seat at your table.
4. Always see GOD in the BAD.
5. Your goals should be measurable and create a time frame for accomplishing them.
6. Your cash should reflect your character. Be a good steward of your resources.
7. Unapologetically choose you and what works for you.
8. Schedule your Schedule.
9. Create goals and plans monthly, quarterly and yearly.
10. Trust and treasure your instinct. 

The Message of the Cross

Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Easter season is the most wonderful time of the year for me because it is a delegated time that we collectively position our sight on the Cross and our minds on the ultimate sacrifice that Christ gave for us to receive eternal life. As a child, the sacredness of the season did not resonate with me. Like most children, I was excited about getting my hair done, getting an Easter basket and a very expensive dress that I wouldn't wear again. As a matured believer, the weight of the day and the message of the Cross holds a special place in my heart. I find great joy in delivering the Message of the Cross to not only those in my women ministry, but to the people I meet along my journey. The Message of the Cross perspective will be translated differently through each of our personal experiences with God, but the overall theme is the same. Jesus hung, was crucified, bled and died for us and those who came before us and who will come after us. He looked beyond us and became a part of us. So as we commemorate the crucifixion and ultimate resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, take some time to tell someone about the goodness of the Lord and the sacrifices of Jesus. No matter what Cross you are having to endure in this season of your life, know that just like Jesus' Cross it's only temporary.  The ultimate message and measure of the Cross is that whatever we go through is always only temporary, but the harvest of the Cross is eternally.

God bless you and may His grace continue to shine upon you! 

"Planning for the New Year"

                                                            Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Happy New Year!! What an exciting time to be alive in the land among the living! There are so many milestones we collectively as a country are embarking upon and if we are to put our best foot forward, it is imperative that we plan our 2017. There is a powerful creed that is often quoted, "When we fail to plan, we plan to fail." I am a firm believer that an organized life results in an overflow life. In all things, the Bible declares we are to do them decently and in order and that God has full knowledge of the plans He has concerning our lives that yield prosperity, hope and an expected outcome. With that being said, here are a few tips that I believe can assist you in ensuring that your New Year be better than your last year!

1, Ask God what He believes for your life and what the plans are concerning your life.
2. Ensure that the goals you have set are measurable and realistic.
3. Create consistency by investing in a planner and organize it accordingly.
4. Schedule all health appointments in January for the year for you and household and ensure the offices have accurate information on file to contact you prior to your appointment date.
5. Get clear on the revenue that is coming in your home and what amount is going out so that you can strategize on how to stay afloat throughout the year.

I pray these tips are helpful and help create harmony in your life in this new season of your life! I would love to hear from you on how you are strategizing to have a better and blessed year! Leave your nuggets in the comment section. Have a blessed week and a prosperous New Year!