Countdown to:

…in a Haiku:

Over London's games
Our affection developed
Olympics bond us

…Now we have:

FOUR years to Rio's games;
THREE words cannot begin to describe us;
TWO hearts uniting;
ONE bond to be celebrated and strengthened.

(Thanks for remembering that I wanted to learn Portuguese in preparation for the Olympics in 2016...Sincerely grateful I am…ATTENTIVENESS ROCKS!!!)

YeLLoW...

...last week was full of yellow "just because."

Flashback # 1-> Soror C gave me a yellow rose last Wednesday:

(SN: Yellow roses symbolize joy, gladness, friendship, delight, promise of a new beginning, welcome back, remember me, "I care"; from http://www.rkdn.org/roses/colors.asp)

Flashback #2-> TJ gave me yellow calla lilies last Sunday:

->YAY FOR RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!!! <- strong="strong">

All of this yellow makes me feel like the little girl in this picture:

[BTW, the caption is so very true! It is my sincere hope that others will share the joy of yellow and demonstrate appreciation for those in their lives for whom care they care (and who care about them)!! I know it's cliche BUT be sure to PAY IT FORWARD!!! *smiles*]

Soundtrack->I'm in the mood to listen to Coldplay's "Yellow":

 

 

Joy & Pain

While waiting for Mr. Sandman to lull me to sleep, I was listening to Pandora. Frankie Beverly and Maze's "Joy & Pain" came on. Listen here:

 

 

While I can truthfully say that in this particular moment I am not experiencing pain, or joy for that matter, I am feeling some discomfort due to uncertainty. This lyric caught my attention: "Seems the things that turn you on turn you around" (NN: Pasted from <http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/f/frankie_beverley_and_maze/joy_and_pain.html>) 

One of our strongest attributes is our transparency. It normally turns us on but today it turned us around. As a result, the adage "honesty is the best policy" has been put to the test. While what was said has not stirred up what either of us has called anger, there is a admitted unsettledness in the atmosphere. 

Although we talked, prayed, and exchanged verbal articulations of our affection, when we got off the phone I was still uneasy in my spirit. This was concerning to me because I do not like to go to bed with heaviness in my heart. So I turned to the "don't go to bed angry" scripture found in Ephesians 4. As I read the contextual passages, I was comforted. Here is that I read:

Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. ... 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Pasted from <

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204&version=NIV1984> 

***

We spoke truthfully (but on some level the truth "hurts"). However, I'm comforted because we intend to build each other up; we are kind and compassionate to one another; and (to the extent that forgiveness is required) we have the capacity to forgive one another. 

Psalm 139 has a perfect articulation of my individual (and collective) prayer:

23 Search me [us], O God, and know my [our] heart[s];
test me [us] and know my [our] anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me [us],
and lead me [us] in the way everlasting.

Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139&version=NIV1984> 

With an unburdened heart and in Jesus' name, AMEN (...and GNITE) *smiles*

Grateful…

…Grateful, grateful, grateful.

I heard a great sermon that really put everything I've experienced since Fri afternoon in perspective. SN: I'm probably going to write a blog about it later BUT I didn't want to close my laptop without sharing part of my testimony. The stones won't cry out for me [sub-SN: see Luke 19:28-40; a great sermon from http://www.pbv.thunder-bay.on.ca/NetSermons/Luke%2019%2028-40%20Rocks%20Cry%20Out.html]. Quite frankly, they can't praise Him like I can!)

Although there is much that is less than ideal, I have so much to be thankful for. As I was lying in bed, I started to hum this old great hymn of the church:

As I was reflecting on my eventful weekend, there were moments when I felt forsaken. This made me think of Mary Stevenson's "Footprints in the Sand":

“One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved

Pasted from <http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/index.php?page=Poem/Poem.php

  

YAY FOR NEVER BEING ALONE! The enemy WON'T steal my joy OR cause me to forget the Lord is with me always!! I'm thankful for a great support network, clarity of mind and the resources to do what must be done. I SERVE A GOOD OF PROVISION (He may not come when I want/how I want BUT He is ALWAYS right on time!!)

Both through and after a 48 hr period of nothing but human disappointments, the Lord exposed me to compassionate words and works. I was pleasantly surprised by  the follow through and genuine care from angels on earth <-LOOK AT GOD :-D

Faith Without Works Is Dead

A convo I had with my closest genealogical ascendants this past Saturday morning made me think to read James 2:14-26 before church today. The New King James Version (NKJV) reads:

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[

a] works, and I will show you my faith by my[b] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[c] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[d] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
[Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV> ]

The Ps are in a pickle and I worry that they are resorting to microwave (i.e. "set it and forget it") faith. When we talked about how to make the best out of their less than ideal situation, the only solution they wanted to talk about was prayer. 

Now don't get me wrong, I believe prayer is very powerful & that it changes things (SN: I have seen this time and time again in my own life. And I thank Him for what He has done based on my prayers alone). BUT I also believe faith is a verb. Yes, God works on our behalf, even when we do "nothing". But, sometimes we can't sit idly by doing nothing. There must be works to accompany our faith! (RESTATED-> We should do something!!!) Unfortunately, the P's don't think they can do anything. I hope they change their perspective soon to be in line with this quote that I recently retweeted: Inspirational Quotes (@Inspire_Us) "Participate in life instead of just watching it pass you by."

It is my fervent prayer that Christians choose to actively wait on God, as they are divinely directed. More specifically, I pray the P's seek God's face as well as open their ears that they might hear and their eyes that they may hear what they should do. I pray God's will be done and that they are spared for purposeless pain. Grant them peace and strength. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN!!!

Let Your Soul Say…

 ..."Ah Yea"

SOOOOOOOOOO-> I'm thinking back to Friday when one of my sorors introduced me to "Ah Yea" sung by Robert Glasper featuring Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele. It was suggested that our other soror have the song played at her wedding. Even if it is not *THE* wedding song, I do hope it is played at some point on December 22nd. *smiles*

Definitely listen to it, if you haven't already. For your convenience, WATCH BELOW:

 

I know the lyrics are in the video, BUT here they are again:

oooooh ah ooh ah ooh ah ha [...2Xs]
oooooh ah

i think beauty's overrated
'ccause that's something anyone can be
attraction now something different
and thankfully you're both to me

Chorus:
'cause i've learned in this life
you gotta be with someone you like
if you think we've got what it takes the distance
i can tell you're now
ah yeah ah yeah ah yeah [...3Xs]
ah yeah ah yeah ah 

[Chrisette Michele]
you're sweet
and you see through me
You let me be free 

i'm woman (i'm woman)
The only one I'll be
The only one you'll ever need
And you're the very same for me

[Chorus] 

things can get so real in love
you gotta know exactly how you feel in love
'cause if you don't

then maybe you might find love
Could be all in your mind

oooooh ah ooh ah ooh ah ha [...until fade]

***

This song is so sweet to me! The music is smooth. The lyrics definitely resonate with my spirit. It speaks of a love that is genuine and pure (SN: the kind of love I hope to properly acknowledge giving and receiving in the very near future…)