An Idle Mind...

If I had to guess the question that boggles everyone's mind, I would have to say, everyone wants to know the answer to “What If”. What if I went to college and did right in the beginning? What if I chose him/her, how would my life be right now? What if I made better decisions when I was younger? What if I this, What if I that?  There’s an old saying “An idle mind, is the devil’s workshop”. When I was younger this phrase didn’t mean much to me.  But now that im older I fully grasp the meaning of this term.

Think for a second, when does depression or regret usually hit you? When your out enjoying your day, busy at work, running errands? No, depression and regret usually strike in your moments of silence. When you sit still long enough to evaluate and depict certain aspects of your life.  Hence, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. The enemy uses what can be moments of peace to attack your spirit and rob you of joy.

I find that the best way to avoid moments like these is to surround yourself with positive people, and keep yourself busy with things that you enjoy.  Everyone should have at least one thing that brings them happiness on demand…and if you haven’t found that thing yet its not to late to venture off and try new things.  I’ll be the 1^st to admit that if something peeks my interest enough, I’m gusty enough to try and conquer it. My many ventures have helped me to embrace who I am and what I represent. Basically, it’s been a win, win for me!   I shut down the devil’s workshop by staying busy, discovered hidden talents and learn to love me in my natural essence in the midst of it all.

Today My Voices are Cheering: Forget about the What Ifs, Embrace the Right Nows and Look Forward to your Future with Expectancy of great NEW things.  Keep yourself busy by learning to love yourself. Figuring out who you are, will reap greater benefits than dwelling on who you were or who you could have been!

Until Next Time…

Life of Contentment

I have been a Computer Technician for about 9 years now.  I can remember years ago, I was working for Lockheed Martin and I was content with my life.  I had a decent job, an ok salary, my own home, and healthy children.  In my mind, being the country girl that I am, I was already living at my full potential.

As time went on and I grew as a person and in the word, I soon learned that the state of mind that I was in, was a state of contentment.  Simply put, I was settling! I settled for the hand that life dealt me.  While working for Lockheed, Katrina happened…despite the tragedies that were faced because of this hurricane, I received a blessing.  I was hired for a job that opened my mind to something greater than I ever imagined possible at my age living in Louisiana.  I worked with FEMA for 4 years before being laid off.  Looking back, I realize that God allowed me to experience that type of money to change my way of thinking and to help me realize that I was limiting myself in so many ways.  I feel that he wanted me to realize that I have not, not only because I ask not, but because I didn’t deem it possible. 

Having that experience has changed my outlook on life for the better. I no longer settle for what is given or offered to me, I work hard for what I want, speak on what will be, and only accept that which I feel is deserving.

So today my voices are encouraging you to STOP SETTLING!  If you deserve a better job, a better boyfriend/girlfriend, bigger house, more dependable car, whatever it is that you may be more deserving of…GO FOR IT!   

Today I challenge you to change your lifestyle of contentment. There is always a next stage or something else that can be done to better the condition of your life. I want you to literally write down some realistic short term goals each month. As they begin to materialize, I want you to highlight them.  At the end of each month, what ever is left, carry it over to the next month and add it to your new monthly goals…and so on. 

The fulfillment you get from reaching your goals will give you the boost needed to start making long term goals. Once you develop the belief in your ability to achieve things the sky will be the limit!  I look forward to you accomplishing great things.  Keep me posted

…Until Next Time 

Languages of Love

My friend Rakia bought me a book called the Different Languages of Love. It was a very good book, it was about the different ways that people love. It went in to detail about how everyone loves in their own way.

Typically when we think of someone loving and supporting us we think about having someone that we discuss our thoughts and dreams with. Someone that encourages us to keep on trying to achieve the things we want out of life. Or someone that helps us obtain these things by giving their input and sharing their thoughts and dreams. But, just because this is what our mind automatically goes to, doesn’t mean that these are the only ways to show love and support.

I am a full time mother, wife, student, worker, natural hair enthusiast and now blogger! My life is far from dull. I have a husband that loves me in spite of my many layers (working on the because of part) but he shows his support for my many ventures by making it possible for me to have enough time to explore my project of the day...whatever that may be. He does this by occupying the children when I’m doing school work, cooking for the kids and I so I don’t have to, helping out with housework etc. There was a time in our relationship that I didn’t understand that this was his way of loving me.. this is his personal language of love.

My point is, just because someone doesn’t love you the way you or society think they should, that does not mean that the love isn’t there. The way a person love is a part of their personal identity. The way they profess their love is a result of the imprint that life has left on them that enables them to show and receive love in a way that is fit for their life.

Today My Voices are Screaming: IT STARTS WITH YOU!! Evaluate the situation, recognize your blessings, accept the good, pray on the bad, enjoy life and allow people to love in their own way…you never know, your acceptance may open a new language of love for everyone involved.

I'm still a work in progress, but at least now im on the right path!

LOVE YALL!! Thanks for reading and supporting me

Never Too Young To Learn Humility

My son Demond Jarvis (DJ) is a very talkative, inquisitive 11 year old. He is far from modest and does not mind letting people know just how smart he is. He prides himself in making straight A’s and excelling in Math. Thinking back, I can remember his last 3^rd grade award ceremony when he said "Wow! Ma, can you see how big those trophies are? Next year that’s going to be me!" A 4^th grade girl, walked away with 3 trophies for the highest LEAP scores in different subjects… that was the very moment that my son decided to strive for excellence in all things and set his first academic goal.

　

"And for ALL A Honor Roll in the 5^th grade we have Demond Jarvis! Not only is Demond the only 5^th grader with all A’s, he is also in the running for Student of the Year" the principal announced during the 1st Honor Roll Assembly. My husband and I gleamed with excitement at the possibility of our son being Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School’s next 5^th grade Student of the Year.

　

"Next up we have the highest LEAP scores; in Math we have Demond Jarvis and in Social Studies we….we also have Demond Jarvis" said the teacher announcing the LEAP awards.  This was one of the many accomplishments that DJ set his mind to and achieved.

"Just like I got the highest LEAP score I’ll also get Student of the Year, mark my words" DJ says with a twinkle in his eyes. As I look at my baby, all I can see is someone that believes that the sky is the limit and all I could do is smile. His carefree attitude about achieving what some people deem impossible is refreshing, but scary at the same time.

　

DJ walked in the door with a bouquet of balloons, assorted candy bars decorating the bottom, accompanied by a cup that read "Congratulations 5^th Grade Student of the Year." My husband and I looked at one other in amazement.

　

This 9 weeks however, DJ brought home his 1^st C! I was very upset on one hand, but ok on the other. The reason I was ok is because I feel that he needed to be humbled. . I know that it is important to be confident and believe in yourself, but I also need him to know that there will be some disappointments in life. He has not experienced any letdowns yet. Some may think that this is a lesson that a 5^th grader does not need to know, but I feel that this is a vital ingredient to raising a good man.

Moral of the Story: I feel that everyone should understand..

"Swallow your pride occasionally, it's non-fattening!" ~Author Unknown

"It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help." ~Author Unknown
"Talent is God Given. Be Humble. Fame is man-given. Be Grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be Careful"

It's good to set goals and achieve them. But it's even better to allow your good works to speak for themself.  Sometimes people can get so carried away in what they've accomplished and what they are capable of doing,  that they forget the determination and will that it took them.  Never get so caught up in what you've done, that you forget about what you need to do!

All in all, I am a Very Proud Momma! Congratulations DJ, We Love You!!

Dear God

As I was going through my old emails I found this and felt that it may be something that someone needs to read.  The letter to God was written in October of 2010 and the response was given in November of 2010.

Dear God,

 I know you have the blueprint laid out for my life;

And you want what’s best for me, yet you still allow strife,

To mold and make me what you have me to be

But why did I have to come down this road is what I can’t see.

The road of depression, anger and regret..

Lord I keep listening for you to say “my child please don’t fret”

But I hear nothing, and I need to hear you voice…

Please help me Lord, before I make the wrong choice…

The choice that will lead to things that are not like you…

Things that make me feel better, but multiple sins I will accrue.

Sins that will add, a crimson stain to my path

Lord is it only me, that your allowing to feel wrath?

I know you didn’t bring me, this far to leave me alone,

And since you created me, u know some things I just wont condone

So tell me what is it , that’s led me to this place…

I’ve been running for 31 years now and I cant seem to win this race!!!

Tasha

I wrote this letter to God a week ago, and on Sunday Pastor blew me away... it was as if God was answering my letter to him and using my pastor as his messenger.  The topic of his sermon was “The Power of Release & Praise”.  He spoke about activating the power of forgiveness and how God gives us the power to forgive but he can’t forgive for us.  He went on into saying that we have to Release or set free those grudges that we are holding on to, in order to receive our blessings.  The only thing holding us back from the next level is us; we have become our own enemy! 

Release is the 1^st step in success.  The spirit of forgiveness is a divine gift from God that places us in the super natural market.  And that’s definitely one market that I don’t want to miss out on! When we forgive, we are forgiven…when we hold on, we are held accountable for the grudges we hold. So Let Go and Let God!! Forgiving does not change the past but it does enlarge your future.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. “

New Year's Resolution

When I tell you that God does not whisper his messages to me he screams them I am not exaggerating. The other day while working out I was reading and I came across a scripture that stood out to me 1Corinthians 2:9 "No Eye has Seen, No Ear has Heard, No Mind has Conceived what God has prepared for those who love him". It stood out so much I had to share and post it on Facebook. I’m at my desk, reading my morning word and guess what I see again? Yep! That scripture, accompanied by:

Position yourself for discovery. Stay steady. Keep your focus. Don't be afraid to allow My Spirit to take you to greater heights and to reveal what has been hidden. Your new found sense of adventure will be delightful.

You are on the threshold of a new era in which you can begin again, says the Lord. Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

God is constantly assuring me to trust and believe in him and he will do the rest. I keep saying that I don’t really have any New Year’s Resolutions, I just have goals that I want to achieve and different things in my life that I want to better. But I guess that can be considered a new year's resolution, because a resolution is a means to resolve a problem or a decision to do something. I have decided to step out on faith and stop waiting until things are tangible to believe that it's possible.

So before you get so caught up on being against a resolution realize that it is just a way to get everyone as a whole to work towards doing and living life better. Just because you live your life the way you see fit throughout the year don’t knock others for realizing that it is time to attempt to change some things in their life.

So for all the people who make resolutions, I commend you for wanting to make changes and resolve issues. And for those that feel that their life is ok the way that it is, God Bless and keep on keeping on. Today I say don’t look at a resolution as a confirmation that your living wrong, look at it as an acknowledgment that you are committed to constantly growing as a person.

There are a few things in my life that can use some resolution, are you without blemish?