X-Out Social Media X-perience Social Life

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to participate in a Social Media Fast. It didn't take a lot of thought to know that the Lord was compelling me to be a part of it. I had done a semi fast from Facebook before but really didn't have anyone to hold me accountable so it was a little easier to "slip up".  I challenged my children to be a part of it as well.  We fasted from Facebook, instagram, twitter, games, as well as limited t.v. and radio. 

Day one was rough! I found myself going to my phone almost as natural as I picked up a cigarette and smoked before God delivered me. Without even thinking about it, it was so easy to start something and then get distracted by Facebook before. Honestly, I had to delete the whole app off of my phone and deactivate it. That evening my middle son and I had gotten into an argument because I had asked him to turn off the music he was playing. I was beginning to enjoy the quiet, with four kids that is simply rare.  I was able to expose the stronghold that  cell phone music had on him because of his reaction. 

Almost every night that week we read either a chapter out of the Bible or a devotional, talk about it and then we pray. Our usual 15 minutes lasted an hour. I was elated!! I even asked the kids  if there was anyone at school that was in need of  prayer and they came up with quite a list! It was awesome for them to be able to see all the people around us that are in need. 

That Friday, an Ice cream shop called Sweet Frog was having a Father, daughter "Princess and the Sweet Frog night."  I took my daughter because her father doesn't live here.  It was quite busy, there were lots of  pretty little girls dressed up in princess dresses with Tiaras. We had to wait a little while for a table but once we got one I noticed a dad holding his daughter,  trying to feed her too.  I offered him to come sit at our table. He gladly accepted. When he sat down I began to reach for my phone so I could  "hide behind it" so to speak. BUT I was fasting, so I pressed passed that awkward feeling and asked him a few questions.

Its amazed me how we were in deep conversation about life. His young daughter showed me pictures of herself, her mommy and  her daddy on his phone. It was great. I thought 'wow, this little girl is so proud of her daddy. (Isn't that how we feel about our Heavenly Father?)' He shared how he had just got off of work and rushed her over here to get ice cream.  I wondered what MOM was doing home alone for that little bit of free time too. 

Well, as we got ready to leave I was waiting for my little ones to finish up, I paused and looked around at all the little princesses and their daddy's. I then noticed that out of about 7 dads, 5 of them were on their phone, not even talking to their daughters as they sat there eating ice cream. My heart began to physically ache and I thought wow, look at all these little girls sitting "alone" entertaining themselves with ice cream as daddy plays on his phone. 

I walked behind one man and saw that he was playing Ruzzle. :/   I instantly began to pray and ask God to forgive me for anytime I may have made it seem like my phone was more important than talking to my children. It took me all the way back to my childhood, having parents that were there but not there if that makes any sense. It made me ill to think that we have come to a place where we hide behind phones, text messages and social media. We don't TALK to each other anymore. 

I'm so grateful that God allowed me to fast and see this for myself. I got so much accomplished this week and was able to focus on the more important things in my life. I would encourage anyone to try it for yourself and see what you have been missing out on!!!

Meet Tabata~ You can email her at here

I am so full of joy just to be loved by Jesus. I have a heart for children and making people feel special, valued and loved. I think every woman should know she is BEAUTIFUL, I'm still learning that for myself.

A Spirit of Excellence

I listened to this sermon by Joel Olsteen the other day about the Spirit of Excellence. Before I get into the message, can I just say that Joel Olsteen is THAT dude?! Only Joel can give a puncturing Word of God slap in your face, still keep a huge smile on his, while not offending anyone. haha

Anyway, the message talked about having a spirit of excellence in our PRESENT situation.

We may not have our dream house but what are we doing to take care of the house we were blessed with? Are you keeping it titty and everything neat? Are you taking care of the grass or just letting it grow all out of control? 

We might not be graced with a husband of wife that we want, but what are we doing to make ourselves better and where are we looking? Are we all up in the ratchet club expecting to meet a graceful partner? Are we carrying ourselves with respect and dignity?

 We may not have that job or promotion but what are you doing to excel in the one now? Are you clocking out 15 minutes early? Going on facebook, twitter AND instagram every chance you get or are you putting in that extra time, going above and beyond when no one is looking, and still preforming to a tee when your boss is on vacation?

You see, God isn't going to bless us with our next, until we appreciate our now.

Trusting In God's Timing

Trust in Gods timing. It can sound cliche it's been said to us so many times. I won't front. Sometimes its hard to understand why our hard work hasn't paid off yet. It seems as if every one else is getting promoted, all of your friends are getting engaged or married, or someone else gets their 'big break'. And you're just sitting there witnessing it all. You think God, "where's my promotion, where my husband/wife, why can't I can't my piece of the pie?"

  

 Would it drive you crazy to trust that God is never one second late? That promise He made to you may come to  pass in 5 years or one week. That promotion may have not come maybe because a year from now you'll get a greater one that will blow your socks off. Maybe your 'boo'  never proposed because he was never the husband God ordained for you. Maybe you were rejected because God knew that if He gave you the blessing then and there, you wouldn't have been able to handle it maturely. Maybe you're struggling just a little bit longer so that you learn how to grip a little bit tighter to Him.

Trust in His timing. Not because I am saying that it's always easy, but because it is ALWAYS worth it. That rejection may have just been for your protection. That closed door may just lead you to the best door. Trust Him. He is never one second late no matter how much our advanced clocks count the milliseconds.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

A Poem For Your Children on Christmas

Let us not forget the Christ in Christmas. As our children frolic along in their innocence this season, let us never think they are too young to know the truth about it. I found this poem that I wanted to share with you all. Who knows, maybe parents will even benefit. ;-)

"Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

 

You have to wait in line to see Santa.

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"

JESUS knew your name before you did.

Not only does He know your name,

He knows your address too.

He knows your history and future and

He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.

JESUS offers Health, Help and Hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys.

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but.

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.

JESUS became our gift and died on a cross.

Yes, from sin He sets us free!"

Who Lied To You?

Who lied to you and told you that you had to be perfect to come to God?

A friend of mine once said "I am not ready because I'm not ready to live my life like that."

Like what?

There's this strong misconception that one has to COME cleansed but that is an upright LIE! The Lord says "come as you are!"

Allow me to tell yall what that means.

That means broken, broke, abused, addicted, boisterous, cunning, deceiving, fraudulent, hopeless, insecure, jacked up, killer, sinner, lustful, knocked up, liar, hurt, used, bruised, backslider, opportunist, drug dealer, prostitute, and everything in between.

You come willing and He will do the rest. Know that it's going to take work, and a surpassing faith but He will bring comfort, peace, healing and restoration to every area of your life and the lives of your family if you trust Him enough to say "I can't do this without You" and then obey.

What are you waiting for? There's no mess too big or no heart too broken for God.

It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. Keep Going!

Take A Minute

What other words are needed in this post? I guess I just wanted each of us to reflect. Reflecting is sometimes just silence and sitting still. But in this past year, many times I've reflected, there's an out pour of tears and 'thank yous' for my Father.

There was once these young men at church standing behind me. They were laughing. I felt kind of offended because my usually funny pastor was being quite serious at the time. They were laughing because there was this woman at the alter whaling and crying out to God in conviction.

When this happened it kind of made me think about all the people who have laughed at me for my choices to break away and start trying to live in accordance with the Word. Then I felt comforted again, because no can judge anyone if they haven't walked in their shoes.

Maybe one can better understand my love for Jesus now when they hear about His love for me then and now and about how He saved my life countless times. 

There's days I ask Him for nothing because I know in my heart He's done more than enough for me. So I just wanted to take this minute to remind you of all that He's done for you!!!

Where Did 'Gorgeous Inside' Come From???

Actual sign

 

I always get asked “where did gorgeous inside come from?” Besides the obvious reason of its representation, I’ll tell you how it came about for me.

Like many of us, when I was an adolescent I was lost. I will say I was a bit beyond though. I did things I never was supposed to do at a young age and influenced others to do the same. Not something I am proud of but lessons I am grateful for.

In all of my craziness, and outlandish behavior, I never quite fit in. I was popular but still felt very alone. My friends would give me the side eye when I would want to talk intellectually and they wanted to talk about cute boys. It’s like God injected me with wisdom at birth because sometimes the things that would come out of my mouth even surprised me. I admit, I ‘dumbed myself down’ at times not to be quite an alien (because that’s what I felt like at the time).

So in accordance with my blog title, I can’t lie to yall: One day when I was fourteen, I was smoking weed with some kids in the neighborhood and walking around. On our journey we walked by this house which was for sale. It had a for sale sign and an “I’m gorgeous inside” sign. Where I grew up, at the time, the houses were rag-it-ty. So I guess the sign was the perfect cope out, or else no one would step foot into that house.

(Something like this)

The sign called out to me in my heightened stupor. I wanted to take it but I knew that it was wrong. Just as I touched it and looked up, there was a woman in a suit at the window smiling at me and nodding her head. As if she was saying “take it, it’s yours.” So I did, running like the cops were coming after me.

When I turned fifteen and started driving, that sign boldly sat in my back window. Anyone I grew up with can tell you that’s how they recognized my Honda. One day this man was honking at me at a light and as I’m ready to curse him out he smiled and said “it’s so nice to see that sign. There are too many people that just care about their outer and don’t worry about their inner.”

His words never left my heart. At that point I understood my calling a little bit more, although throughout the years, I still got lost along the way. I knew that I didn’t fully fit in for a reason. And the nights where I cried alone because someone called me naïve for being so forgiving or ‘too emotional’, God would tap me on my shoulder and say “You’re gorgeous inside. Don’t worry about them.”  

Gorgeous inside isn’t a pretty picture. It’s a calling. It’s those intangible moments only created by God. And it’s the overcoming of conflict within to walk on purpose and not for others. Gorgeous inside is truth embedded in substance. Gorgeous inside is not a flashy mob, but sometimes it’s just walking alone with God and truly listening to your heart.

Gorgeous inside means ‘I don’t care about your attire, whose flyer, or who can pay the highest bill’. Gorgeous inside is vulnerability and transparency at its finest, admitting that at times we come short but when we give our 100, God does the rest. Gorgeous inside is more blessed than a woman with a double D chest because gorgeous inside understands that it is our inner light and our outer deeds that truly make us beautiful!

I am gorgeous inside. Are you?

Broken Bible

I was sitting in a coffee shop the other day reading the Word, utterly lost in the zone and this young lady walks up to me. I smiled and said "wussup?"

"That's a pretty bible," she said. "I like the color." 

"Thank you," I responded with a smile.

"But why is it broken, do you not take care of it?"

I asked her if she wanted to take a seat.

She did.

This bible is broken because I used to be....It's torn from the many nights I would fall asleep in it. 

Flipped some pages....

You see those water marks? Those are tears of pain, joy and conviction. The highlights represent scriptures I hope to remember forever. 

Can you believe I've only had this bible for less than a year? I'm not the same person who opened it....So while this bible got weak in adhesive, the Lord strengthened me in spirit more than I could have even imagined.   

 The young lady just took a moment to stare at me....."I WANT ONE!" 

So on kindle we went.....<3

Spread Your Wings Butterfly

A butterfly will never crawl again. It might take a rest depending on the seasons, but its wings will not fall off unless pulled by an inanimate object.  Stay clear and do not fear what’s in front or behind. Just FLY as much as you can and never trip over a small ripple, they are only thrown in to amp up your momentum! 

If something or someone today tried to knock you off your path just praise God for them and keep flying. No one ever said the path would be easy, but there's no feeling greater than flying with purpose. Which way are you going today? You are not the 'caterpillar' you once were! All those legs before and all along you just needed two wings. Fly butterfly, FLY.