Have you ever seen a tall building in the distance that looks so close, you feel like you could reach out and touch it—but the closer you get, the farther away it seems?

That’s exactly how it feels when I let the Holy Spirit lead. There are things in my future that feel so close, like I could almost step into them. But allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me means surrendering the route we take to get there.

If it were up to me, we’d hop in a car and take the quickest route. But sometimes, He chooses the scenic route—the one Google Maps marks as “walking,” with hills, no tolls, and plenty of stretching moments. When I try to guide Him, it only slows us down. But when I let go of control, the journey becomes paced, purposeful, and full of His presence.

Releasing control is hard, especially when I think I know the way—but the truth is, I don’t. Still, I’m learning to trust that even when the path feels uncertain, He’s already prepared me for the terrain ahead.

Like me, will you release your grip and trust Him too?

If you are new here, welcome! I’m currently reading through the gospels before Resurrection or Easter Sunday (whichever one you call it). Recently I read about when Peter denied Jesus three times.

Before I dive into this story, here’s a fun fact, Luke is my favorite gospel writer about the life of Jesus because he’s so detailed. 

Okay, let’s jump in. I’ve read or heard of this story of Peter denying Jesus three times before the rooster crows, but I never saw this detail:

The scripture says:

“And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. “And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:61-62 ESV

Please read Luke 22:54-62 for a full context. To give a quick summary, Jesus was with some of his disciples up until he was betrayed by Judas and taken away by Roman soldiers. Jesus even foretold Peter of his betrayal earlier that day. 

The scripture says: 

““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”” Luke 22:31-34 ESV

In verse Luke 22:61, it says the Lord turned and looked at Peter. While God wasn’t actually physically there in human form, we can glean from wherever Peter was standing, Jesus looked at Him after he denied Him three times. And if you see Jesus, you see the Lord – you can’t encounter Jesus without encountering his Father, the Lord. 

Can you imagine the weight of what Peter felt in that moment when the Lord turned to look at him? Peter grieved and wept. But to have a loving Jesus look at you with love and compassion, I would be just like Peter weeping. It was encouraging to know when Peter was at his lowest after three denials, the Lord saw him. 

On my worst day, the Lord sees me – not with judgment with love and compassion. 

 If the Lord turned to look at you, what is your response?   

I love tea—preferably a hot cup of elderberry tea with honey or a refreshing glass of cold lemon iced tea. What I don’t enjoy is lukewarm tea. I want it either hot or cold, not somewhere in between. I’m sure coffee lovers can relate. There’s something about the in-between that just doesn’t sit right.

That’s why this verse always hits me:

“But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

—Revelation 3:16 (NLT)

Honestly, I like to go with the flow. I avoid arguments and don’t enjoy going back and forth with people. If a conversation starts to feel tense, I’d rather just walk away. Peace is my default setting. But I’ve come to realize that serving God doesn’t always allow me to stay in that comfort zone. Sometimes, peace means speaking up. Sometimes love requires boldness.

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

—1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

It’s easy to write that. Living it out? That’s another story. A life that truly reflects Jesus won’t always be agreeable to everyone. And that’s okay. Following Him means I won’t always get to blend in or keep quiet. There are moments when silence can actually reflect a lukewarm heart—especially when truth is on the line.

Being agreeable for the sake of comfort can look a lot like being lukewarm. And that’s not who I want to be. There will be times when we’re called to speak up—to lovingly correct what isn’t aligned with God’s word. That doesn’t mean being harsh or judgmental, but it does mean being clear and courageous.

My prayer for you—and for myself—is this:

That God would make us bold in love.

That He would give us the words to speak His truth with grace.

That we would be light in dark places, never lukewarm, but fully alive in Him.

I like for things to be neat and organized. The more organized things are the better. Woosah But lately my prayers have felt a little jumpy from one topic to the next and I’m learning how to be okay with that.

Remember when you were in school coloring a picture and the teacher would tell you stay within the lines. I tried my best to outline the picture and not get outside of the lines.

But, I am learning with God things can get messy. He doesn’t work within the confines of the defined lines. If you ask for a miracle it may not come in the pretty package – there could be spillage.

I think about the three stories of three blind man who Jesus healed. Read the parables for yourself in Mark 8:22-26, Mark 10:46-52 and John 9:1-41. 

One of the Blind Man called out to Jesus and said, “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

What if the man became embarrassed and stopped shouting when the crowd told him to be quiet- would he still be healed?

Or the other two blind man, Jesus spit on one of the man eyes and the other man he spit on the ground and made mud and anointed the guys eyes with the mud. 

Spit and mud – messy. 

What if the guys would have opted out and said no thanks to the mud and or spit. Would they still be healed?

What if our want for control of a situation can cause us to miss out on a miracle? Miracles can be messy. Learn to be okay with the mess knowing Jesus does some of his best work outside of the box. 

Y’all, I’ve talked about this before—how it’s the little foxes in life that I constantly have to ask God for help with. And today, the little fox I’m calling out is envy.

I always have to double-check the definition of envy because, in English, it often gets mixed up with jealousy. But they aren’t the same thing. Envy is wanting something you don’t have. Jealousy is being afraid of losing something you already do.

Now, let me be real with you—I want to be the kind of person who always rejoices with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). But sometimes? I’m just not feeling it. And in those moments, I have to check my heart and reach out to God for help. Because the root of envy? Comparison.

And comparison is sneaky. It makes you believe that someone else’s success somehow lessens your own. But Proverbs 14:30 puts it plainly:

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

Whew. Rots the bones?! That’s deep. And it reminds me that any time envy creeps in, it’s stealing my joy and my ability to see the blessings already in my life.

So when I catch myself comparing, I shift my focus to gratitude. Gratitude resets my heart posture, reminding me of the overflow of blessings God has already given me. And when I truly lean into that, envy loses its power.

Have you ever found yourself letting envy rob you of happiness? How do you shift your focus when comparison sneaks in?

As I continue reading through the Gospels in preparation for Easter, one question has lingered in my heart: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15, ESV).

This wasn’t a question Jesus asked just for the sake of conversation. He directed it toward His disciples—those who had walked closely with Him, witnessed His miracles, heard His teachings, and shared daily life with Him. Yet, He still asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Why? Because this question wasn’t just about knowledge; it was about revelation. It was about personal conviction, not just secondhand information. It required an answer rooted in experience rather than assumption.

A Question for Every Generation

This question is just as relevant today as it was when Jesus first asked it. In a world where countless voices claim to define who Jesus is—it is critical that we answer this question for ourselves.

Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him. Many have heard His name, but to truly know Him is to understand His nature, His love, His holiness, and His power. It’s easy to adopt secondhand faith, relying on what we’ve been taught by pastors, parents, or culture. But Jesus is asking for something deeper: “Who do you say that I am?” Not based on what others have said, but based on your own relationship with Him.

Your Answer Matters

If Jesus asked you this question today, what would your response be? Could you confidently declare, “Jesus, You are…”? Or would you hesitate, uncertain of how to answer?

This isn’t a question meant to induce guilt—it’s an invitation. An invitation to seek Him, to draw near, and to discover who He truly is beyond the noise of the world. Scripture tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

So, I encourage you: take time this week to reflect on this question. Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. Read His Word, spend time in prayer, and invite Him to show you who He truly is.

Who Jesus Is to Me

Throughout different seasons of my life, Jesus has revealed Himself to me in different ways. He has been my Comforter in times of grief, my Healer in times of pain, my Peace in moments of anxiety, and my Strength when I’ve felt weak. If I had to sum up who He is to me in this season, I’d say He is: Savior, Faithful, Friend, and Provider.

But what about you? Who is Jesus to you?

Take a moment to sit with this question. Let it stir something in your heart. Let it lead you into deeper intimacy with Him. And if you’re unsure, don’t be discouraged—simply ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Because He will.

So I ask again: Who do you say that He is?

Y’all, I recently heard a story about ants, and for some reason, I felt compelled to do a little research on them. Who knew these tiny creatures could be so fascinating? I mean, I always loved the DreamWorks movie Antz as a kid (yes, I watched it on repeat!), but I never realized just how much we could learn from them.

And get this—there are even scriptures in the Bible that reference ants! How sway?!  If God made sure to include them in His Word, they must be pretty important, right?

As I dug deeper, I found a few key lessons that really stood out.

1. Ants Stay in Community
Ants don’t do life alone. They move, work, and thrive together. They understand the power of unity. No ant is off trying to do everything by itself—they rely on each other. This is such a reminder that we, too, are better together. Life was never meant to be navigated alone.

2. Ants Communicate Constantly
These little creatures have their own language through chemical touches and vibrations. It’s their way of working together and staying on the same page. If ants can prioritize communication, how much more should we? Clear, intentional communication can strengthen our relationships and keep us from unnecessary misunderstandings.

3. Ants Are Stronger Than They Look
Did you know an ant can lift 10 times its body weight? Talk about strength! Sometimes, we feel like life is too much to carry, but we have so much more strength in us than we realize—especially when God is our source.

4. Ant Parents Help Shape Their Future
Ants don’t just leave their young to figure life out. The colony plays a role in raising them and preparing them for what’s ahead. This is a beautiful reminder of the power of mentorship and legacy. Whether you’re a parent, mentor, or friend, you have the ability to influence and pour into others in a meaningful way.

5. Ants Protect What’s Precious
Some ants have a special job of guarding plants from insects that try to steal their nectar. They instinctively protect what’s valuable. This made me think—are we being intentional about guarding our peace, joy, and purpose? Are we protecting our time with God, our mental health, and our dreams from distractions?

The Takeaway?
If God thought ants were worth mentioning in His Word, maybe there’s more to them than we realize. These tiny creatures may be small, but they’re mighty—and so are you. Stay in community, communicate well, recognize your strength, pour into others, and protect what’s valuable in your life.

Even the smallest things can teach the biggest lessons. 💛

Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; Proverbs 30:24-25 ESV

I once heard that when federal agents train at the Mint to detect counterfeit money, they don’t spend their time studying fakes. Instead, they immerse themselves in the real thing. They touch, tilt, and examine genuine bills for weeks, memorizing every detail—the texture, the patterns, the watermarks—until they know it so well that spotting a counterfeit becomes second nature. They don’t have to guess; they just know when something is off.

The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. When we spend intentional time with God—reading His Word, praying, and dwelling in His presence—we begin to deeply understand His nature and character. The more we align with Him, the clearer our discernment becomes. We won’t have to second-guess when something doesn’t sit right in our spirit because we’ll know His truth so well that anything counterfeit will be obvious.

False teachings, misleading doctrines, and even people who distort God’s Word will become easier to recognize. It won’t be because we studied deception—it’ll be because we’re anchored in truth.

So, if you want to sharpen your discernment, don’t fixate on the counterfeits. Get so familiar with God that anything not of Him stands out immediately.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 1 John 4:1-3 ESV

Hey y’all! We are jumping right into scripture today because I believe these verses are so vital to our current climate we are in today. 

Here’s the verses: 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:1-2 ESV

As always, I encourage you to never take my word alone, but to read the scriptures for yourself in John chapter 13 and chapter 14.

In the meantime, let me paint a scene for you. In chapter 13, we see, Jesus knew his time of crucifixion was near and shared with the disciples that he would leave them soon and go to heaven. Jesus also washed his disciples feet, foretells of the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. 

After learning all of this if you can imagine, this moment felt heavy for the disciples.

In chapter 14, the verse starts off, “let not your heart be troubled. The word troubled in the Greek means: to agitate, to strike one spirit with fear, to make restless

 I’m sure many of us can relate to agitated hearts today with everything that is currently going on in society. I know for myself I try to limit my social media and news intake because every day there’s a new “troubled” headline. 

But what Jesus said then to his disciples, is still true to us today, no matter what is going on we must: 

1. Believe in God. 
2. Believe also in Jesus. 

Jesus then reminds them he goes to prepare a place for them. Heaven should be all of our home, so even when life gets heavy always remember to believe in God and also in Jesus and that Jesus prepared a future home from us in heaven. Be encouraged on today and don’t lose hope! 

Happy belated Valentine’s Day! Since this holiday recently passed, let’s spend some time talking about love. I truly believe if there was one word that could change our world, it is love in action. 

I’ve shared I’m reading through the 4 Gospels of the Bible (The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) before Easter. I was currently reading the story about the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. 

First, lets highlight this verse about love: 

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

To know anything about Jesus it is to know, he loves speaking in parables. I’m going to quickly summarize the parable and as always I encourage you to read it yourself. 

The Good Samaritan: 

A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers – who took his clothes, beat him and left him for dead. There were 3 people who passed by and saw the man. A priest saw him and crossed to the other side of the road. Next a Levite passed him and crossed to the other side of the road as well. As last a Samaritan saw the man and had compassion for him. He stopped, bandaged his wounds and sat him on his own donkey and took him to an inn for safety and paid for them to care for him. He even told them if he had additional expenses let him know and he would pay them off when he passed back through. 

The moral of the story was out of all 3 encounters, only the Samaritan proved to be a neighbor to the man and Jesus said for us to do likewise. Take a moment to think about how the world would look differently if we loved our neighbor as ourselves. 

Here’s practical steps to put love in action from the scriptures:

1. Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and all your mind. 
2. Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Are you putting love in action? 

Im currently reading the New Testament of the Bible and Jesus shares profound wisdom about several topics. When I’m reading the Bible, I automatically notice patterns and connections within scriptures – it’s how God wired me and I love it. 

I’m a millennial and statistics say we enjoy receiving rewards, recognition, bonuses and praises when we are working. While reading the Bible, I notice there were a couple things if we do them in secret, our Heavenly Father God will reward us. I don’t know about you, but I want to be rewarded by God – sounds like a bonus!

So here’s the three things: 

1. When you give to the needy, do it privately. 

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:3-4 ESV

2. Pray to your Father in private. 

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 ESV

3. When you fast anoint your head and wash your face. 

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18 ESV

I believe the theme of these scriptures is saying don’t be boastful about giving to the needy, your prayers or even about fasting. The purpose of giving to the needy, prayer and fasting is to be closer to God and not to complete kingdom activities to be acknowledged by others. 

Have you checked your motives to ensure when you do the following things it isn’t for the praise of people. Let us each examine our own hearts. 

The sayings of Jesus are opposite of what culture would tell us to do and in today’s society, we should be the examples that we can respond differently. 

Additionally, did you know the golden rule actually came from the Bible? Matthew 6:31 ESV, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” 🤯

Like how would the world look differently if we lived by this one biblical principle? 

To live like Jesus lived takes intentionality and you have to learn to respond differently. Rise above the noise in culture and set your mind on Jesus. I won’t say it will be easy all the time, but it will be so worth it. There’s so much going on in the world, so why not focus on what we can control – our response to others. Are y’all ready to go deeper into the truth of God? 

Jesus says to you who are ready for the truth, I say this:

1. Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. 
2. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. 
3. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. 
4. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. 
5. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously.

Luke 6:27-30 MSG

I’m reading this and I’m shook. Before I share a blog, just know it hits me first. I also have work to do to live like Jesus lived. Are you willing to do it? 

Hey y’all! There’s so much going on in the world, and despite the challenges, I want this space to remain a beacon of hope. The Word of God reminds us:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Before we dive into today’s topic, let’s take a moment to breathe. Inhale for three seconds… and exhale for three seconds. Repeat as needed. Sigh… doesn’t that feel better?

In this season, I think the most important things we can hold onto are God and community. Thank you so much for being a part of the Wrenhowsway Community. ❤️

Now, let’s jump into today’s topic: the Beatitudes. This week, I spent time reflecting on the first and last Beatitudes. As I read through these scriptures, I couldn’t help but ask myself questions—why did Jesus present them in this particular order? He’s an intentional God, so I know there’s a purpose behind it.

Let’s look at the first Beatitude:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And the last:

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How we begin and end things is essential, and this holds true even in scripture. Jesus intentionally starts with “poor in spirit” and ends with “persecuted.”

The first Beatitude calls us to be poor in spirit, meaning to be aware of our constant dependence on God. Without this reliance, we risk becoming prideful, trying to navigate life independently of God’s rule. To remain “poor in spirit” is to stay connected to God, acknowledging His sovereignty in every aspect of life. Honestly, this reliance on Jesus is the only thing carrying me through this season. How about you—are you leaning on Him right now?

The last Beatitude reminds us that when we’re persecuted or lied about because of Jesus, we’re blessed. It’s a hard truth, but one that brings hope—Jesus sees us, values us, and promises a great reward in heaven for enduring such trials.

As we reflect on these verses, let’s remember that Jesus cares deeply for us. His words remind us of His love and intentionality.

Let’s continue to rely on Him, stay connected to our community, and let our light shine.

As the year unfolds, I recently found myself in a meaningful conversation with a friend. I was sharing the incredible opportunity I had to read my book at Children’s Medical Center. What made this moment even more special was that it came from one simple act: trying again. My friend paused, smiled, and said, “That should be your motto for 2025—Try Again.” 

Here we are, nearly 21 days into the New Year. Many of us started with goals, ambitions, or dreams—whether it’s starting a new relationship, losing weight, committing to therapy, reconciling relationships, saving money, or anything else close to your heart. But let’s be honest: staying on track can be hard. Life gets messy, motivation wanes, and we sometimes stumble. 

Here’s the truth: we can do hard things. 

Even if you’ve already veered off course—whether it’s missing workouts, spending too much, skipping that book on your reading list, or faltering in your commitments—don’t be discouraged. Give yourself grace. Messing up doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it’s just a chance to try again. 

So, what if you start over today? 

💪 Try again: at your workout plan.  

💸 Try again: at sticking to your saving goals.  

📚 Try again: at your reading challenge.  

💬 Try again: at reconciling relationships or prioritizing self-care.  

The beauty of trying again is that it reflects resilience, not perfection. Every day is a fresh start—a new opportunity to show up for yourself and what matters to you. It’s not too late to rewrite your story, one small step at a time.

So, what will you try again today? Let’s make 2025 a year of persistence, grace, and growth together. 

I learned during a church sermon there’s a new holiday in January. The second Friday in January is National Quitters Day.  Apparently, by January 10th most people give up on their New Year’s resolution. However, we aren’t quitters, so we are still working on our goals and any resolutions we made for the New Year because we have a strong why, and we are committed to bettering ourselves. The goal is to become 1% better each day and to focus on what we can do to reach our goal based on the current day in front of us. It’s easy to say in 3 months, I’ll do this or that, but what are we doing today?  

There are a couple of reminders in scripture to remind us to focus on the day in front of us. 

 In Matthew 6, the Model prayer, also known as The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus reminds us to ask for our daily bread – not bread for next week. “Give us this day our daily bread,” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In Lamentations 3, we are reminded we are given brand-new mercies every morning. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In Matthew 6:34, we are told “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

So the moral of this blog is to remind us to focus on our goal for today. It’s okay to have a bigger goal or even a deadline – but what can we do today to reach our goal? 

I know it’s tempting to dive headfirst into the new year with a list of resolutions, goals, and plans that stretch as far as your imagination can go. But whoooaaa, let’s pump the brakes for a second. Before we start stacking up expectations, let’s take a moment to slow down, plan this thing out, and talk it through.  

This year, I’m doing something *different* with my goals.  

Now, usually, I have this loooong list of things I want to accomplish, and I try to tackle them all at once. While I might check a few off the list, I’m rarely successful with all of them. You know why? Because I’m out here trying to juggle everything, and inevitably, something (or a lot of things) ends up slipping through the cracks. 😩  

Let’s be real: many of us think we’re great multitaskers, but let me free you up real quick—we’re not. What we call multitasking is really just shifting quickly between multiple tasks, and it’s not as productive as we’d like to think.  

So, what’s the plan this year?  

Enter the 4 by 4 Method—a game-changer my mentor introduced to me. It’s a simple, structured way to focus on your goals without feeling overwhelmed.  

Here’s how it works:  

– You focus on 4 goals for 90 days at a time.  

– That’s 16 goals total for the year—4 goals each quarter.  

– Each goal falls into one of these categories:  

  1. Emotionally/Spiritually 

  2. Financially

  3. Relationally

  4. Physically

But here’s the key: only one goal per category at a time.  

Each goal includes actionable tasks, reminders, and regular progress check-ins (weekly or monthly). And if you don’t complete a goal during one quarter, you simply roll it over to the next quarter, replacing the completed goals with new ones. No stress, no guilt—just steady progress.   

What makes this year different*?  

We all know how easy it is to start strong and then fall off, right? 🙃 That’s where another critical piece comes in: a strong WHY. 

My mentor always says, “If your why doesn’t make you cry, the price of commitment will always be too high.” That hit me like a ton of bricks because, honestly, motivation isn’t always there. But a solid why? That’ll keep you anchored.  

For me, the difference between success and failure isn’t whether I get tired or lose focus—it’s how quickly I recover and how deeply I connect with my why.  

So, what about you? What are you working on this year? Do you have a strong enough why to keep you going when the excitement fades? And hey, would you consider trying the 4 by 4 goal method?  

Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear from you! Let’s make this year intentional, impactful, and full of wins. 💪✨  

Blog from Last Week: Start Today

I’m a firm believer in starting your goals today! Too often, people wait for the new year to roll around before setting new goals, chasing aspirations, or making resolutions. But why wait? What are you waiting for? Instead of holding off, why not give yourself a head start on the new year?

There’s a book titled I’ll Start Again Monday that explores how we tend to procrastinate when it comes to tackling tasks or making changes. But if you can tell yourself, “I’ll start Monday,” then why not take it a step further and say, “I’ll start today”?

Imagine heading into 2025 already working toward your fitness goals, launching that new business idea, building up your savings, diving into books you’ve always wanted to read, prioritizing healthier rest, or practicing mindfulness. Don’t let the calendar dictate your progress—yorow, not next week—today is the perfect time to begin!

The holiday season is in full swing, and I’m sure many of you are feeling a mix of emotions. Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? I’m almost there—I just need to pick up an ornament for a Christmas Party.

Whether you’ve already checked off your shopping list or don’t plan to shop at all, it’s important to keep the main thing the main thing this season. This time of year is about celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, giving to others, enjoying moments with family and friends, or simply taking a much-needed break.

So before you break the bank, get upset with an Amazon driver over delayed deliveries, or feel down because you don’t have extra to give, take a moment to pause, breathe, and refocus. Let the main thing remain the main thing this holiday season – that Jesus Chris was born and is Lord.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas from Wrenhowsway!

Last Week’s Post: The Little Foxes

Let me tell you something—God is working on me, and let’s just say, He’s got me in a season where I’m watching my mouth. If I ever send you a random message that starts with, “I apologize for…” just know I’m over here being obedient and keeping my blessings flowing! Sometimes, though, I try to have my own little side conversations with God about it – before I send the message, but in the end, I apologize for my words.

Have you ever caught yourself saying something and immediately regretting it? Whew, let me share a story that still makes me cringe.

Storytime: 10 plus years ago, I was on a movie date (we’ll call it…an experience), and I decided to text my friends about something. Here’s the plot twist—I sent that message straight to the guy I was on the date with. Yep, the same guy sitting right next to me. 🙃

He checked his phone in the middle of the movie, and there I was, popcorn in hand, oblivious to the mess I had just created. The realization hit me a few minutes later, and let’s just say…that was the longest 90 minutes of my life. #Wannagetaway

Fast forward—there was a lot of explaining to do, and spoiler alert, things didn’t work out. LOL. But here’s what I learned from that situation (and a hundred others like it): words matter.

Scripture says it best:

“A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!”- James 3:3-5 MSG

The words we speak or even write have power. They can build someone up or completely tear them down. And let’s be real—it’s a lot easier to say something in the heat of the moment than it is to repair the damage afterward.

So, here’s your reminder (and mine): the microphone is always on—watch your words! You never know who’s listening, but God always is. Let’s make sure what we’re saying reflects His goodness. ❤️

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It’s Thanksgiving week, y’all, and let me tell you—this is my absolute favorite holiday. Back in the day, it was my favorite because we automatically got two days off work and the Christmas season went into full swing. But now? It’s deeper than that. It’s my favorite because it’s all about giving thanks.

When I take a step back and look at my life, there’s not a single part of it where I can’t see God’s goodness and grace. Every moment, every blessing, every lesson—He’s been there. And for that, I give Him thanks.

So, here’s a little challenge for you this week: as you take time off, whether you’re spending it with family, friends, or enjoying some quiet time solo, write down ten things you’re thankful for.

I’ll go first:

1. I’m thankful for my relationship with God—it’s grown so much this year.

2. I’m thankful for my health and the ability to move and do things.

3. I’m thankful for God’s protection, from dangers I’ve seen and the ones I haven’t.

4. I’m thankful for my family, my friends, and my church community.

5. I’m thankful for my job, which lets me provide for myself and others.

6. I’m thankful for clean water to drink and bathe.

7. I’m thankful for my car, L Beeszy, so I don’t have to walk everywhere!

8. I’m thankful for a cozy apartment to call home.

9. I’m thankful for my little garden—it’s been such a peaceful place for me this year.

10. And I’m thankful for YOU—for showing up, for being part of this community, and for sharing this journey with me.

Honestly, I could keep going, but I’ll stop here so you can jump in! What are you thankful for? Hit me up in the comments or reply to this post—I’d love to hear all the things that fill your heart with gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Let’s pop off on being thankful together.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of Lords: For his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Can we all raise our hands and acknowledge the world feels tense right now? I’ll raise both hands. 🙌🏽 

For me, when I’m anxious or stressed I feel the tension in my shoulders and neck. If I’m really nervous I can feel the discomfort in my mouth because my jaw line is tighten and I grind my teeth. It’s interesting to me that your whole body responds to your internal and external environment. 

Because I’m aware of this, when there’s things I can’t control I must release them and place my trust in God. For me trusting in God is not denying the reality or even thinking my situation is going to change it immediately (although it can because he is big G – God) – it’s actually the opposite. I acknowledge the reality of the situation, talk to God about and then release the burden of carrying it to him because it’s too large for me to carry. 

I ask myself can I do anything to change this situation? 

Usually, the answer is while I can’t change the immediate situation, I can change my response and my attitude. Therefore, I change my heart posture to trust in God. 

I mentioned earlier that I release the burden to him. Yall, I know this may sound silly, but every time I release something to God I stretch my hands in front of me, palms up and open my fingers as a sign of release and close my fingers and then open them as if I’m handing something to Him. I’ll repeat this as many times as I can until I feel the release in my body too. Therefore, I’m trusting the unknown future to a known God.

My two questions to you are: 

1. What are you carrying this week? 
2. How can you release it and trust in God?

If you can’t change the situation, change your heart posture! I trust in God. 

Scriptures: 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  1 Peter 5:7 NLT 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In case you are still here, bonus content! I’ve listened to both of these songs in my devotional time are throughout the day and they helped me! 

Sometimes, I can be a ball of nerves. The Bible says, “Do not be anxious,” but here I am, anxious, trying to control every outcome as if I hold all the cards. The irony is that I *know* I don’t have any real control, yet I still find myself wrestling for it, holding on tightly to my own plans and hopes, imagining I can somehow steer it all.

It’s in these moments that the scriptures speak louder than ever, reminding me of something critical: do I actually trust God? Or am I just pretending to be in control, as if I’m somehow in God’s place?

Then, I picture Jesus seated in Heavenly places, on the right hand of God, his Father. He has the vantage point—the perfect perspective to see and know all things. He already knows every single detail: the mistakes I’m going to make, who I’ll marry, whether I’ll have kids, what my next job will be, the current events I will live through and etc… Knowing this, I’m reminded, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

The weight of trying to control it all is exhausting. It’s a weight we were never meant to carry. We can’t control people, and we certainly can’t control outcomes, no matter how much we’d like to think otherwise. So I invite you, friend, to do what I’m reminding myself to do: invite Jesus into the situation. Lean on the one who has the clearest view and the wisest plan.

It’s okay to share that you’re nervous, worried, confused, or anxious. I think it’s human. But we don’t have to stay there.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Trust that He hears you and has the best vantage point.

Last Blog: It’s Good

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I think in our culture we underestimate the word good. Even when we are ranking something we use the categories of good, better, and best. This order signifies that good appears to be a lower ranking and we must be the best. I think maybe our English vernacular can’t compute the goodness of the word good. 

Storytime: I was reading during my devotional time. Sidenote: (I’ll do a blog on how I structure my mornings with God and share with y’all.) Okay back to the story, I was reading about a Jewish celebration called Rosh Hashanah and it made a reference to the story of creation in Genesis Chapter 1. In this chapter every time God spoke and created (because he’s the greatest Creator) he said it was good.

Scripture reference: “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 NLT

Here’s a slight biblical history lesson: The Book of Genesis was written in Hebrew and was later translated to English. As always research this for yourself and don’t even take my word for stuff! That’s how you build good study and relational habits with God by having a curious mindset. Okay I digressed! Back to the story, in the scripture above when God said it was very good. 

From the Bible concordance, good in Hebrew, in the verse referenced above means pleasant, agreeable and good.

For me, the Hebrew definition sounds so much better than the English definition.

Webster defines good as to be desired or approved of.  

All of this to say, the next time you use the word “good” remember we were created in the image of God and everything He created, He said it was good!

Ciao! ✌🏽

Last Blog: Drawing Closer to the Mirror

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You know how when you step closer to the mirror, your reflection becomes so much clearer? Suddenly, every detail is up close and personal, things you may not have even noticed from a distance are now front and center. This simple act of drawing closer to our reflection holds a powerful message about our relationship with God.

Imagine that mirror reflection as a symbol of how we should be with God. He’s created us in His image, right? So, when we “move closer to the mirror”—when we draw closer to God—we start to see ourselves in a new light. We’re given the chance to truly reflect God back, and in the process, He reveals things to us, things we need to work on.

When we get close enough, He’ll show us areas that need attention: our heart’s posture, patterns of sin, or parts of our character that may need refining. This closeness is a blessing because it means we’re allowing God to work on us, to mold us to look more and more like Him in character. And just like looking in the mirror shows both the good and the imperfections, spending time with God does the same—it gently nudges us to become better.

Reflecting God’s Image: Becoming More Like Him

As we draw near, we should start to mirror qualities of God’s character. Imagine your reflection showing qualities like kindness, love, mercy, and generosity. These aren’t just “niceties” they’re traits we should work on to reflect God.

Kindness: Are you patient and gentle with others, even when they don’t “deserve” it?
Scripture reference: Proverbs 11:17 – “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

Love: Is your love selfless and sacrificial, seeking the good of others?
Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Merciful: Do you forgive and show grace, even when you’ve been wronged?

Scripture reference: Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Generosity: Are you willing to give freely, of your time, talent and treasure?
Scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

As we look into our “mirror,” let’s reflect on these traits and ask ourselves, Are we kind? Are we loving? Are we merciful? Are we generous?

So today, take a step closer to that mirror, both literally and spiritually. Draw near to God, let Him show you what needs work, and let your reflection—your actions, your character—start to look a little more like His.

I am not a fan of long waits and stuff—long lines, long meetings, long books, long hikes… Get the idea? 

I’m going to share a secret with y’all – don’t judge me. 😬😬😬 I listen to my audiobooks on a speed of 1.5 – 2. I also sometimes read the last chapter before finishing the entire book if it is too long before. I prefer a good summary, blog and or cliff notes you know. 😂

So if you can imagine, you probably won’t see me asking God to help me be patient although it’s one of the fruit of the spirit you know. 

Since we mentioned patience, let’s recap all the fruit. 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Notice the scripture says fruit and not fruits. 😆

For me this means the 9 fruit are like a fruit basket altogether – I need to have all of them inside of me, not just the ones that are convenient. 🙃 🎵 You can’t have one without the other! 🎵

Looking at these have you thought of which fruit you need to work on? 

“But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve always been a lover of a good story. Give me all the details, or at least enough to follow along! When a friend starts telling a juicy story, I can’t help but lean in, physically and mentally, hanging on to every word.

Lately, I’ve realized that same posture—leaning in—is exactly what I need to do to hear God clearly and focus on what truly matters in my life. This season is full of distractions. They’re not all bad things, but if they’re pulling me away from what I’m meant to focus on, they become distractions—whether it’s social media, TV, or an overly packed schedule.

With fall here and Q4 upon us (can you believe it?), the question is: Are you ready? Have you thought about where you’re leaning in this season?

Remember, where you place your attention affects what you retain. So be intentional—lean into what’s right for you during this season.

Last Blog: The Repetition of Love: What Does It Take to Love Like Jesus?

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In the Bible, there’s a powerful moment when Jesus asks Simon Peter the same question three times:

“Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17 NLT).At first glance, it seems like a simple exchange. Yet, when we look closer, the repetition of this question holds deeper meaning.

Here’s the passage:

“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” 

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” 

Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” 

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. 

He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The question that rises here is: Why did Jesus repeat this question three times? Was it for Peter’s sake, to reinforce his commitment, or for us, the readers, to truly grasp the weight of love?

The Power of Repetition

Repetition has a way of breaking through our surface-level understanding and helping us dive deeper into the heart of a message. We may have all heard the scripture: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” But how often do we pause and really think about what it takes to live this out daily?

Jesus wasn’t just asking Peter if he loved Him in a general sense. He was calling Peter to live out that love in action—feeding His lambs and caring for His sheep. It was a command to love through service, to demonstrate love by caring for others.

Loving People Like Jesus

When I read this scripture last week, I found myself reflecting on my own character. I’ve always known that love is important, but how can I love people better? In a world where unkindness and division can sometimes feel overwhelming, what does it mean to love others the way Jesus loved?

Just as Jesus repeated His question to Peter, we’ve heard the message of love again and again, whether it’s through biblical teachings or the echoes of love in our own lives. But hearing is one thing—living it is another.

To truly love others, I believe it begins with seeing them. So many people feel unseen and unheard. A quote I love says:
“Being unheard is not the absence of a voice, but the absence of someone willing to listen.”

Love in Action

We live in a fast-paced world, where the habit of listening and engaging deeply with others can easily get lost. But maybe love is simpler than we think. To love people like Jesus, perhaps it starts with a willingness to pause, to see someone, to truly listen.

That’s my challenge for myself—and for you—this week. Let’s commit to seeing someone, listening to them, and showing them they matter. In doing so, we can reflect a deeper, more genuine love.

Challenge: Who can you listen to and care for this week?

Last Blog: Did Someone Say Challenge

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This weekend, I tuned into the 818 Conference and walked away with so many valuable insights on finance, credit, budgeting, and more! While watching, it hit me that there are definitely areas in my life where I could improve how I manage my resources. And let’s be real – September I was outside, so it’s time to get things back on track.

Whenever I feel the need to refocus, I like to kick things off with a challenge. Who else loves a good challenge? I sure do! Challenges have a way of pushing you to new heights and helping you prioritize the promises you’ve made to yourself. And remember, when we honor our commitments to ourselves, it strengthens our ability to show up truthfully for others.

As we step into fall and approach the final quarter of 2024, let’s finish strong by focusing on our health, wealth, and personal growth (reading)!

Last Blog: God Hates This and I do too!

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When I read the Bible, I focus on two things:

1. God’s character revealed in scripture.

2. The qualities I share with God.

Right now, I’m participating in a challenge where I read one chapter of Proverbs each day, and you’re welcome to join me! While reading Proverbs 6, I noticed a list of six things God hates and one thing He detests. As I reflected on it, I realized I dislike all of them as well. Since I’m God’s daughter, made in His image (Genesis 1:26), I’m always striving to align my values with His. My desire is to reflect Jesus in my life.

Here’s the list from Proverbs 6:17-19 (NLT):

1. Haughty eyes (pride).

2. A lying tongue.

3. Hands that shed innocent blood.

4. A heart that devises wicked plans.

5. Feet that race to do wrong.

6. A false witness who breathes out lies.

7. A person who sows discord in a family.

The first six are things God hates, while He specifically detests the seventh.

How do you feel about this list? Do you find yourself disliking these things too?

As I age gracefully, I realize my list of desires and needs that I want in a spouse is much shorter than it was in my 20s. One recent thing I added to my list for my future spouse is consideration. 

Consideration – careful thought, something that is to be kept in mind in making a decision, evaluating facts, esteem, thoughtfulness of others

As I’m thinking of traits I want in a spouse I try to ensure I’m practicing the traits today and so I thought of my most important and valuable relationship – my relationship with God if I was considerate there.

I know I can’t physically see God because he’s not a man – but there are ways I can consider him.

The Bible says:

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

and 

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As I was journaling this morning (yes you can write your prayers) – I wrote: “God I consider your will and plans for my life.”

For my relationship with God, consideration means that even when I have plans and ideas I ensure they align with his plans for my life. If our plans don’t align, consideration for me means God’s plans prevails.

My Practical Way of Considering God

I communicate with God in prayer. When I pray I share my plans and ask him his thoughts. Then I sit still for a moment and look for ways for him to confirm it within me through his word (the Bible), dreams, others that I trust, inner knowing, peace and etc…

But the main thing for me is before I take my plans and or ideas to anyone else I consider God’s thoughts and will on a decision. 

Do you have anyone you consider in your plans? 

Last Blog: Life Has a Rhythm 

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Life has a rhythm. Ebbs and flows. Peaks and valleys. For me, I can tell when my rhythm is off because I’ll start to rush things and become highly agitated. Certain things in life are routine – such as my prayer life, working out, blogging and so much more. 

1. To keep a rhythm, we must prepare. While our preparation seasons may look different because our tasks vary, we must be intentional in planning. Planning entails deciding what you want to do in each season. Some things are going to always happen in the fall – like football and back to school. Are you prepared? I know the Business Brunch Conference is in August along with my Birthday. Am I prepared for both of those? Life has a rhythm are you prepared?

1. Along with life rhythm, we must have a rhythm to work. As a blogger, author, book coach, and employee I must have a rhythm for when I’m blogging, writing, and everything else vs. when I’m working my full-time job. If I don’t have a rhythm  of when I’m preparing my blogs or writing – my life will feel chaotic and I won’t get things accomplished. Life has a rhythm for work, are you in rhythm? 

1. Lastly, life has a rhythm for rest. The scripture reminds us here: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Even God rested. I recently took a few weeks off of social media to rest after planning a conference. My goal is to have such a rhythm that I’ll rest before I have to so life won’t force me. Schedule rest into your schedule. Take time away from social media – it will be there when you get back. Rid yourself of the fear of missing out (FOMO). You are exactly in the season you need to be – even if your current season is rest. Life has a rhythm of rest – have you rested? 

My challenge for you this week is to write one thing you are going to do to prepare for this season, how you are going find your work rhythm and decide when you will rest! Feel free to drop it in the comments. 

Hey yall! I’ve missed yall! So the week after hosting The Business Brunch Conference, I deleted my social media apps – Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I realized I needed to rest my brain and decompress. I’m glad I did because I prioritized my mental health, reset my sleep schedule, and rested. I enjoyed the time off social media and want to share some of the things that happened in the last couple of weeks! 

7 Ways I utilized my time off social media

1. I spent time quality time with God. Right now, I’m going through the book of Romans.
2. I listened to like 3 or 4 audiobooks. I love memoirs. My favorite was Tina Turner, My Love Story. 
3. I had my first speaking engagement for a Writer’s Guile. Go me!!!
4. I celebrated my birthday early with friends and family. ❤️ My birthday is on  August 31st, but I’ll be somewhere on a beach! 🏝️ 
5. I returned to boxing class at the gym. 6am gym times are brutal. 
6. I went to the movies to see Inside Out 2 with a friend. It’s such a good movie. 
7. I slept. I decreased my phone screen time and took naps. I love a good nap! 

Other stuff happened that didn’t make the list; however, I wanted to share my top 7 list. When you discontinue social media, how do you spend your time? 

This weekend, we wrapped up Year 2 of The Business Brunch Conference with the theme “Remain Planted.” Can you believe it? Year 2 already! I have to pinch myself sometimes—like, is this really happening? The atmosphere was everything I hoped for: a beautifully cultivated space that felt like a warm, encouraging hug, surrounded by like-minded women. It was pure joy.

While the entire conference was a highlight, my absolute favorite moment was sharing it with the incredible ladies of The Business Brunch. I am forever grateful for Kelechi, Carmen, Brittany, Erica, Yaritza, Timika, and Renisha. You all made this experience so special.

And can we talk about the fact that I spoke to my therapist live in front of everyone? 😬😂 I mean, who does that? Me, apparently! I still can’t believe I did it. It was one of those moments where I had to pause and think, “Baby, what are you doing?” But you know what? I’m so glad I did. It was a reminder of how far I’ve come and how grateful I am that God chose me to help others on their journeys.

Of course, after planning a conference, I’ve learned a thing or two, and I’m excited to share some helpful tips:

5 Tips for Planning a Conference:

1. It’s never too early to start planning.
2. Write your vision down—and don’t forget to add prices to it.
3. If you have help, delegate as much as possible.
4. Create a to-do list of all the necessary items for completion.
5. Most importantly, enjoy the moment and have fun.

There’s so much more to share, so stay tuned for photos!

Y’all sometimes I am reading scripture and I laugh thinking- God only you can help me implement the things outlined. 

Okay so I was reading this scripture mentioned below on last week and I was shook! 

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44 KJV

When I read scripture I like to: 

1. Break it into pieces.
2. Look up the key words in Greek or Hebrew. 
3. Read the same scripture in different translations.
4. Ask God for ways to apply it to my life.

However, when it comes to this scripture, the commas already break it down for you and it is written practically. 

Before 5:44, you must read 5:43 because the scripture starts with a conjunction so it is negating something that was previously written. 

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.” Matthew 5:43 KJV

Okay now we can discuss 5:44 and this is God speaking. 

God Says:

1. If you have enemies – love them.
2. If people curse you – bless them.
3. If people hate you – do good to them.
4. If people use you – pray for them.
5. If people persecute you – pray for them.

Say what???!!! Like this is stuff I can only do with God’s help because it wasn’t initially my normal response. It seems counter opposite to culture. But honestly, that’s just like God – calling us to be different and to love others. Are you doing what God said? 

Last Blog: https: Be at Where Your Feet At

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I recently heard this quote on a show: “Be at where your feet at.” While it might not be the best grammar, it’s entirely true. Wherever your feet are, be present in that moment.

There’s so much going on in the world right now with elections, breaking news, weather updates, social media drama, summer travel, and more. Since July started, it feels like the world is all gas and no brakes. To be present takes intentionality. Here are some ways I’m practicing being at where my feet are.

5 Ways to Be Where My Feet Are

1. Limiting distractions: When I’m out, I turn my phone over.
2. Engaging in active listening: I make an effort to truly hear and understand what others are saying.
3. Not overloading my schedule: I try to avoid more than two events in one day.
4. Asking open-ended questions: This encourages deeper conversations.
5. Showing empathy: I try to understand and share the feelings of others.

In a world filled with distractions, we must be intentional about being where our feet are. Being present means fully being there with others.

Last Blog: How Do You Make Decisions?

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We all know decisions can have a lasting impact on our lives. In fact, research suggests that we make about 33,000 – 35,000 decisions each day. While some choices are trivial, like whether to sleep for an extra 5 minutes or what to wear to work, others have profound implications, such as deciding who to marry or where to attend school.

Recently, I read an insightful book titled “Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets.” It offers a straightforward yet powerful framework for making better choices by considering five key questions:

1. Integrity: Am I being honest with myself, really?
2. Legacy: What story do I want to tell?
3. Conscious: Is there attention that deserves my attention?
4. Maturity: What is the wise thing to do?
5. Relationships: What does love require of me?

Reflecting on these questions helps us navigate our decisions in light of our past experiences, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams. Your decisions determine the story of your life, and private decisions often have public outcomes.

Remember, when you find yourself trying to sell an idea to yourself, it’s a red flag—it’s rarely necessary to sell yourself on a genuinely good idea. Ultimately, wise decisions are not just about choosing between good and bad but understanding what is truly the wisest thing to do in any situation.

Last Blog: Mantle 2024

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There are some moments in history which are indescribable and that Conference was one of them.

On July 10th I flew into Atlanta, Georgia to attend Mantle 2024 hosted by Apostle Joshua Giles. I had no expectations except to meet Jesus there and have an encounter with the one and only true living God.

Day 1 – I picked up my badge and after changing came back to the venue for night 1. The conference began with a loud blowing of a shofar horn which filled the room followed by the procession of the ark of the Covenant replica. We then went into worship accompanied by praise and flag dancers. Joshua Giles preached the first night and I immediately knew there was something different about the conference. Again I was happy to be in the room because I had an encounter with God that night that I can’t describe. I was Mantled! 

Day 2 kicked off at 9am with several different speakers, an amazing prophetic panel discussion and ended with one of my favorite speakers Pastor Hannah! Again – we encountered God in an unusual way. People were healed, delivered and forever changed. I opted to stay in the building all day instead of leaving during the condensed breaks. It ended at 11pm that night. Some thought I was on vacation, but I wasn’t – there was nothing touristy about this trip.

Day 3 opened with a powerful word – which I can’t wait to rewatch and then it went into baptisms. I’ve never seen baptisms in that way – people were unable to get out of the water tubs from encountering the presence of God. This was later followed by a break, a prophetic think tank and closed with a powerful word by Bishop Tudor Bismark.

Day 4 – The last day opened in prophetic singing followed by a word by Bishop Tudor Bismark and then Dr. Anita Philips set the stage ablaze with her message. It ended in a message from Chuck the last speaker and a reminder to take what we learned back to our selective cities. We were Mantled.

Since then, I’ve watched the replays, my limited video clips and still get chills. I met so many amazing women, prayed and cried with them and mostly importantly experienced Jesus. My life will never be the same. I was Mantled by God.

If interested in watching video replays are available on YouTube. Start here and keep going. 

Last Blog: The Mic is Always On

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We’ve all heard the cliché, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, we should recognize that this saying is far from the truth. Words, whether spoken or written, can be just as impactful as physical actions.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you didn’t watch what you said? I was chatting with a friend this weekend and was reminded of an incident from my college days.

Storytime: I remember being on a date in college and thinking I was sending a text message to a friend about the guy I was with. Unfortunately, I accidentally sent the message to the guy himself and initially had no idea I had done so. While the message wasn’t terrible, I cringed and wanted to disappear from embarrassment right there in the theater. This experience underscored how words can leave a lasting impression, and it taught me to always assume the microphone is on.

I’m continually working on being mindful of my words. Scripture offers a poignant reminder:

“We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.” James‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Words matter! They have the power to build up or tear down. It’s easy to say something, but much harder to take those words back.

Remember, the microphone is always on—watch your words!

I’ve written countless blogs, but surprisingly, I’ve never dedicated one to the topic of dating—until now. So here it is. Buckle up for this one!

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, and you find yourself in unexpected seasons. My goal was to be married by 27 with two kids. Now, at 35, I’m single. 😬 Life happened, and despite having a few serious relationships, they ended due to irreconcilable differences.

Fast forward to today, and here I am, navigating the world of dating and talking… sigh. 😂 For the longest time, I didn’t really understand what dating was.

One of my favorite mentors, Dr. Dharius Daniels, said that dating is simply collecting data! That’s it! You’re gathering information to see if your values align, if you’re compatible, if there’s attraction (because that’s important), and if you can communicate well. This definition has simplified the dating process for me. To date effectively, you need to know what you want and what’s important to you based on your values.

Secondly, I’ve realized I need to date more safely. I now offer to schedule a virtual meet-up on Zoom before meeting in person. This makes me feel safer and helps me decide if an in-person date is necessary.

Lastly, you must have fun! There will be miscommunications, assumptions, and unspoken expectations. Remember, it’s just two humans coming together to chat and to get to know each other. Enjoy the process, and that’s it! Maybe I’ll share more in another blog. Lol.

Last Blog: My Father Is the Pilot

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Have y’all seen the movie The Woman King yet? If not, let me tell you, it’s a must-watch! One of the standout moments for me was a powerful quote delivered by the incredible Viola Davis: “We don’t act alone.”

This simple yet profound statement shows the essence of the film’s message about the value of community. The women in The Woman King are depicted as powerful forces of strength and resilience, but their true power emerges when they come together. Through their unity, they strategize, plan, and support one another, creating a unified team that is far greater than the sum of its parts.

In the movie, their collaborative efforts significantly reduce the number of casualties and lead them to victory in their battles. It’s a vivid illustration of how collective effort and mutual support can yield remarkable results.

Now, imagine how much better our world could be if we all embraced this mindset. What if we prioritized working together, leveraging each other’s strengths, and covering each other’s weaknesses? How much more could we achieve? The sense of solidarity and shared purpose seen in The Woman King is something we could all learn from and apply in our own lives.

So, next time you face a challenge, remember Viola Davis’s words: “We don’t act alone.” Let’s strive to build communities where we lift each other up, collaborate, and create a world where unity and cooperation lead us to greater heights.

Last Blog: The Importance of Community: Lessons from “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”

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I recently watched “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” and while I’m not here to spoil the plot for those who haven’t seen it, I can’t help but share some of the valuable lessons the show imparted. One theme that resonated deeply with me was the significance of community and the unique ways in which friends show up for one another.

In one scene, the community of friends rallies around a friend in need, each contributing in their own distinct way. One friend brought food, another came with drinks, and a third arrived with a deck of cards. These gestures, though varied, were equally meaningful. Each friend supported their loved one in the way they knew best, demonstrating that showing up authentically is what truly matters.

This scene is a beautiful reminder of the power of community. It teaches us that the best way to support our friends is by being true to ourselves. Whether it’s providing a meal, offering a listening ear, or bringing a bit of fun, our unique contributions are valuable. The key is to always show up for your friends when they need you, in a way that feels genuine to you.

So, the next time a friend is in need, remember: it’s not about what you bring, but that you bring yourself, authentically and wholeheartedly. Your presence, in whatever form it takes, is what makes all the difference.

Last Blog: The Backside of a Blessing

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I could easily call this blog “The Keith Lee Effect”—but I won’t. If you aren’t sure who Keith Lee is, he’s a boxer, a lover of God, and a food connoisseur. He visits different restaurants in various cities, trying a variety of places—mom-and-pop shops, local recommendations, and stories submitted to help the community. He usually purchases his food to go, records himself trying the food on camera, and then gives it a rating. If the rating is great, within hours of him posting the review online, the restaurant experiences an increased demand that they often aren’t prepared for—this is the backside of a blessing!

Blessings can be messy!

Everyone prays for blessings, but are you prepared for the overflow? 

Do you have systems in place to handle increased demand? If you are praying for more money, do you have a plan for how you will steward it?

My new request when I pray for a blessing is for the wisdom to steward it well!

Last Blog: Day 2 of 🔌

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I expected to have power when I woke up on May 29th, but flipping the light switch confirmed it was still out. After heading to the gym, I came home to a thoughtful delivery from a friend—a smoothie and healthy chips for breakfast. #joymoments

The office day was pretty nice, filled with check-ins from family, friends, and coworkers. I finally got an update from Oncor, which stated:

“ONCOR is repairing storm damage and estimates power restoration between today and Friday, with harder-hit areas by Saturday. Seek alternative accommodations if without power. Check your meter base for damage and contact an electrician if needed. Thank you for your patience.”

Following their advice, I made arrangements to stay at my sister’s house for a few days. I’m grateful to have so many family members and friends offering their homes to me.

Last Blog: Finding Joy in the Storm 

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Culture conditions you to invest in what you put on you when you should invest in what you put inside of you.

Now I love a cute outfit, a nice purse, a new pair of shoes and some really nice perfume. Side note: If anyone can find this Delina Exclusif perfume in a small bottle let me know because the current price is... 😩🫥 Okay, I digress!

As much as I like new clothes and nice things I realize I can only spend money on external things within reason, which is why I don’t mind thrifting. As nice as the clothes are that I put on my body, I realize it is even more important to pay attention to what I invest inside of me as well.

I am in therapy and have been for over 4 to 5 years. I am also in a mentorship program and I listen to helpful books and or podcasts which are related to what I am currently experiencing. Additionally, I feed my mind mentally from the Bible and expand my thinking by engaging in conversations with others. I’ve realized, what I take in is even more important than what I have on my body. How are you feeding yourself internally?

Last week’s Blog: Approved

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Y’all remember the movie Fighting Temptations? I don’t remember the plot of the movie, but the title was perfect for this blog.

My pastor preached a sermon yesterday titled Recipe of Regret. He talked about the story of Jacob and Esau and how Esau regretted his decision he made of selling his birthright to Jacob his brother for a bowl of soup. I encourage you to read Genesis chapter 25 and 26 for yourself. 

Aside: Get comfortable reading stories for yourself, so that God can speak to you directly.

In the sermon, he gave us 3 points for a recipe for regret which I will share below. When I was listening to the sermon, I realized the points could also apply when you are making decisions about eating food, particularly when you have decided to eat healthier. I thought about the scripture there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) – meaning, some of the same things experienced in the bible, we experience today like the temptation of food. Also, see the story in the Bible in which Jesus was tempted with food by the devil after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. (See Matthew 4:1-11)

Okay back to the story, here is the list shared, renamed My Fighting Temptation list.

3 Ways to Fighting Temptations

1. Don’t decide in isolation. You need council.
2. Don’t decide tired. Cultivate a rhythm of rest and have healthier options available to make your decision easier.
3. Don’t make a decision which provides immediate gratification. Think long term.

I hope this list helped and it is something you can come back to often and utilize when you are fighting temptations. One of the things I am considering to fight temptations is ordering my food online. I  need healthy food sent straight to my home whether it is juicing or meal kits. This way I have less decisions to make and when I am tired, healthy options will already be available for me to consume; therefore, I am more likely to eat healthier.

What is one practical way you plan to fight temptations in your life?

As Mental Health Awareness Month continues, I’ve come to firmly believe that just as we prioritize yearly check-ups with our healthcare providers, we should also prioritize regular check-ins with our mental health.

I’ve been an advocate for therapy for some time now. Since August 2019, I’ve been engaged in therapy sessions, and I foresee it being a lifelong commitment, complemented by coaching. After all, why not set ourselves up for success in every aspect of life?

My personal formula for a fulfilling life comprises my relationship with God, therapy sessions, a supportive community, and well-defined boundaries. Looking back, my only regret is not starting therapy sooner.

But why did I start therapy?

In August 2019, I found myself on the verge of releasing my first book while simultaneously navigating the turmoil of a relationship that seemed to be coming to an end. Amidst the celebrations of one of my biggest accomplishments, I was grappling with heartbreak. Walking into my therapist’s office that day, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I knew I needed a safe space to unpack my emotions with someone nonjudgmental and unbiased. Dr. Pearson, my therapist, helped me gain perspective. She asked me to consider what I would lose if the relationship ended—would I still have the essentials like food, transportation, and financial stability? Together, we explored various options for navigating the relationship. Walking out of her office that day, I felt empowered, and I’ve continued my therapy journey ever since. I recognize that my positive experience with my first therapist was fortunate, but I understand that this isn’t always the case for everyone.

If you’ve tried therapy and it hasn’t worked out, my advice is to give it another chance. Just like dating, finding the right therapist is about collecting data and finding the right fit. If the first therapist isn’t the right match, don’t hesitate to try another.

If you’re considering therapy but unsure where to start, here are a few resources to explore:

1. Therapy for Black Girls

2. Psychology Today

3. Your Employer’s EAP Benefits

4. Better Help

5. Therapist.com

6. Talkspace

7. Therapy for Black Men.Org

8. Your Insurance Company 

Are you currently in therapy? If so, what prompted you to start, and how has your experience been so far?

 Are you considering signing up for therapy?

Last Week’s Blog: My Walk With God

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I’ve always known of God, but to be honest I’ve been closer to him now than I’ve ever been in my life.

To explain you know how you know someone by their face or you may know their name – but until you spend a lot of time with them you don’t really know their personality or who they are. I heard a quote and I’ll try to quote it correctly, Until you know a person’s name, you don’t know them.

In this season, I’m learning the many names of God and his personality.

I’ve quoted the prayer of faith several times, faithfully had a prayer time for the past few years, listened to the Bible app, served at church and still needed to go deeper with God. All the things I mentioned above are great – but the scripture reminds me what would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? (Mark 8:36)

I made assumptions that “doing church” was enough and it’s not. It’s about relationship and having respect for God. The more you love someone, there’s just some things you won’t do because you know it doesn’t please them. This one sentence sums of intimacy for me. The more I realize I love Jesus – the less of a desire I have for sinning because I realize it doesn’t bring him joy.

For me the decision to have a reverence for God didn’t happen over night, it’s been a gradual process of stopping several things like not having sex before marriage, white lies are not okay because a lie is a lie and gluttony is a sin. My personal convictions (not condemnation) for God and against sin are much stronger.

What’s a conviction? I would describe a conviction as an impression on your heart of what you know to do or not to do. It’s kind of like when you were a kid and there were things you didn’t do because you knew your parents wouldn’t be okay with it.

So, this is where I am currently on my journey with God. I would love to say that everyday I have a blast 😂 but no. But I really want to show others you can live at God’s standard. A standard is the floor – so of course, there’s levels to this. 

Also, the goal is never perfection, it’s relationship. I’m in need of his grace and mercy daily – just like any one else!

How are you living?

Last Week’s Blog: Boldness

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As a Christian, I’ve heard the story of Jesus death, burial and the resurrection so many times, but every time I hear the story again I hear a new detail. That’s really my new prayer in this season, God reveal something new to me as I read the scriptures with fresh eyes. 

I was recently thinking about my sins cost Jesus his life. That’s heavy. There’s no way, I can ever repay Jesus for what he did – ever! 

But, what I can do is learn to give God a yes in every season in my life. 

Giving God a yes, can be scary, but as a I grow in my walk in Christ, I realize my release of my hand causes him to release his hand and reveal his plan for my life which far exceeds mine. As many of us walk through seasons, ask God what can you release to receive more of him? 

It may cost you sacrificing some sleep to waking up earlier, a relationship, your own plans and it will be worth it to receive all God has for you the remainder of the year in 2024! 

Last week’s Blog:  My Testimony of God’s Protection

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***“Viewer discretion advised: This blog contains content discussing a shooting incident, which may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.”***

If you know me, then you know I’m only sharing because I feel this may help someone and because I feel led to share.

On Oct 14th I happened to be at the State Fair when the shooting happened in the food court area. While, I wasn’t in the immediate vicinity the fear and panic in that moment could be felt by all there as we ran for safety. While, I won’t recount exact details, for me it was a traumatic experience.

That night, I came home – prayed, journaled and did all the things I knew to do to help me move forward.

Looking back over the past six months I realize the main things which aided in my progress were:

1. Praise and worship (the impact for healing this has on the brain is top tier)
2. Therapy (having someone to listen non judgmentally and provide ways to work through things has been helpful)
3. My community! My friends, family, church prayer team, DTA community have surrounded me like never before. I can’t thank you enough for listening to me and for praying for me.
4.  Sharing my story with others.

 Through that experience, I’ve learned God designed us to be resilient. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can retrain our brains to think about things which are more edifying and positive. One of the books I read was Cleaning up our Mental Mess by Dr. Carolyn Leaf while also binging her YouTube content and listening to Pastor John Hannah’s 4am prayers.

I realize I’m loved by God and he protected me even in that moment. My encouragement for others is to seek help if needed, call on God – he’s always there and never underestimate the power of a good therapist!

”And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.“
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Last week’s Blog: Veggie Tales

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Spoiler Alert: I have a garden! I feel like there are so many wonderful lessons in gardening which I’m excited to learn. Sometimes, I honestly just want to sit outside and watch the plants to see if they grow. 

One of the first lessons I’ve learned is the importance of growing in the right soil. Soil for a plant provides their source of nutrients and water. Without the needed nutrients and soil for their life, plants can’t flourish or grow. 

When I relate this to my own life, I think about how God is my source. In addition to having the right nutrients to feed my body and soul, I have to have water just like plants, and the right resources such as relationships, capital, and food for proper nourishment. 

 How is the soil in your life? Is God your source? Do you have the necessary resources to provide nutrients to your soul and body? 

We are all plants – awaiting the necessary resources to flourish! 

Last week’s Blog: https://www.wrenhowsway.com/lifes-pace/

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I recently purchased a new to me car. My car’s name is L. Beeszy. There are so many safety features on L. Beeszy, which were not on my prior vehicle. One of the safety features I recently noticed was when I’m reversing in addition to the backup camera, if I reverse too fast my car stops for me. The first time it happened, I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what happened – but it has caused me to slow down. 

I was sharing about my car with my sister yesterday and I realized there are so many lessons in life if you choose to lean in. This lesson reminded me that God tries to lead and direct our lives in similar patterns. Sometimes we are going so swiftly that he will orchestrate events and things to happen in such a way to have us stop and recalibrate. There’s a natural rhythm to life to move forward or look backward to look inward if you need to revisit things. Stay with a steady pace – not trying to get too far ahead or going back too much that you must stop to redirect.

Last week’s Blog: Your Joseph Day

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I’ve read and heard the story of Joseph several times; however, this time while reading, it hit me differently.

I encourage you to read the scriptures for yourself. Y’all the Bible is rich, full of wisdom and gems from cover to cover. If you read it with fresh eyes and ask God to speak to you in new ways he will do so.

Okay, back to Joseph. Lol. To give a high-level summary, Joseph was a dreamer and was the son of Jacob and Rachel.

Joseph was Jacob’s favorite because he was conceived when they were older in age. Because he was his dad’s favorite, his dad made him a coat of many colors and his brothers hated that their dad loved Joseph more. One day, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in the field with the sheep. They saw Joseph approaching from a distance and made plans to kill him. Instead of killing him they decided to sell him off into slavery and made it appear to their dad he was eaten by wild animals. Crazy right?!!! All of this is in the Bible by the way. (Genesis 37 the entire chapter)

Fast forward to decades later and a lot of skipped events in Joseph’s story – there was a famine in the land and Joseph brothers had to come to where he now worked as Commander of the land in Egypt to get food. When his brothers came to Egypt to purchase food, Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. After a series of events, Joseph eventually revealed his identity to his brothers with tears in his eyes. 

At that moment, Joseph could have said so many things to his brothers – since they did previously send him away. 

Instead he told them: ”Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.“ Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Like wow! This is purpose. What Joseph went through wasn’t just for him but for him to save so many people including his own family. He wasn’t bitter toward them – he was healed. If you ever want to know what forgiveness looks like – read how it is reflected in the Bible.

I’m sure you are reading this and you are like what’s your point – great question. I’m  getting there.

Maybe you need to reframe your story and look for God’s fingerprints in it. 

Maybe perhaps, you are preserving life! When will you have your day like Joseph to truly heal and reframe your story into purpose?

Scripture References: Genesis 30:22-24; Genesis 37:3-11, Genesis Chapters 42-45

Last week’s Blog: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

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There’s a famous picture from the 2016 Olympics with Michael Phelps in the water swimming to the finish line and another Olympian competing against him in the next lane. The other Olympian turns his head to look at Phelps instead of continuing to look at his finish line.

This blog title also makes me think of Lot’s wife in the Bible (read Genesis Chapter 19 ) also check out my blog Salt Please.

To summarize quickly, the angels gave Lot and his wife specific instructions – Run for your lives, don’t stop and don’t look back. All Lot’s wife had to do was fix her eyes on Jesus. But she looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Whew 😥.

Isn’t that a depiction of our own life?

We turn to the left, right and back to see what others have going.

I’m writing this, but I’m guilty myself. 🙃

We can be winning and successful in whatever field and entity we are working and then we fix our eyes on others instead of keeping them on Jesus.

The word of God reminds us in Hebrews  12:2: We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

In this season we must keep our eyes on Jesus and him alone. Turning and fixating our eyes on others can led to so many other things that God didn’t intend.

As we go through this week and we encounter so many circumstances, will you make the decision to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

Last week’s Blog: Focused

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I often share I was raised in church – not as a badge of honor but as a reminder that it helped shape my foundation with God. My mom was a Sunday School teacher and I learned early on that “Jesus Wept” was the shortest verse in the Bible.

While I’ve always known this scripture for as long as I can remember, recently I’ve thought about how Jesus was on earth and experienced the same feelings we felt. There’s a story in the Bible where he was angry and another scripture referencing his weeping when his friend Lazarus died. (That he raised from the dead). In all of his human deity on earth, he allowed himself to feel and have experiences just like us.

Therefore, feelings and emotions aren’t either good or bad; however, we can’t allow them to control us or our actions. Feel your feelings as much as you need to, talk to your therapist, trusted friends, family, and others, and don’t allow your feelings to control you. Knowing that Jesus had human experiences, makes me comfortable to share any of the experiences I’ve had with Him. There’s nothing I can share that he can’t handle.

John 11:35 Jesus Wept.

John 11:38 Jesus was angry.

John 11:1-40 Full encounter of Lazarus resurrection

Last week’s Blog: Identity

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What ten words describe you the best as a person?

…

I have time today, I’ll wait for you to write them.

This was one of the questions I received in a devotion on the Bible app called, “My Identity in Christ”.

I’ll share with you my 10 words to see if we have any of the same words! Also, if you can’t think of 10 words, that’s okay, ask a trusted friend and or family member and or read Ephesians 1, 2 and 3. Those chapters have a lot of verses which share what God says about us. Okay, here’s my 10.

10 Words that Best Describes Me

1. Beautiful
2. Loved
3. Whole
4. Unique
5. Intelligent
6. Creative
7. Redeemed
8. Blessed
9. Favored
10. Chosen

To be honest, the first 6 was hard to come up with and after that I had to think for a quick second – what does God think about me? What would my closet friends say about me?

I think often times our identity is so rooted in so many things – such as a career, status, wealth, relationships, titles, materialistic things and so much more. But, if we really sit and be honest – if all of those things are gone, who are you at your core? And does it align with scripture?

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Last week’s Blog: Hacking Yourself

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Some of my friends may disagree, but I can be lazy sometimes by my own standards.

My truth: Since the end of November, I’ve had no desire to workout. My prior gym closed down in November and I was devastated because I finally found something I loved – so it didn’t feel like working out.

I’ve joined two gyms since then and neither feel like home, so I’m still open to exploring more options. Until then, I’m realizing on days I lack motivation after a full day of work I have to coach myself.

The most important person, I’ll ever coach is me. I have to create hacks for myself because no one knows me better than me. I mean I could lie to myself but it would be counterproductive for me – therefore, I’m learning I have to hack myself!

I know if I’m off work, I need to go to work in the morning because if I wait until later in the day – I’m probably going to lay down and take a nap and chill. I’m a component of the motto, to thine own self be true. So, as I learn to get better at hacking myself with grace and flexibility, I’ll share what I’ve learned. Happy hacking day!

I’m curious, what do you do to motivate yourself on days you lack motivation?

Last week’s Blog: Impulsiveness

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Impulsiveness. I think of this word as ready, set go! The dictionary defines impulsive as a tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences.

I am a fan of people who are able to make decisions. While decisiveness is great because you are able to make an informed decision based on known information, impulsiveness is less rational and may have severe consequences.

I understand there are situations in which impulse decisions can be helpful, but when a decision can be costly for yourself or it doesn’t represent who you are and can be costly for your brand Inc…sit down and consider the cost.

I listened to a sermon message on this yesterday and the Pastor stated, “If you have ever been in a situation and you look at yourself in the mirror like what am I doing here?” or said, “I should leave this place.”- was that decision driven by impulse?

I’m sharing this story because while I am growing my brand, I always want to represent God and myself well. I want to ensure I am making marathon decisions and not decisions based on a sprint for quick results.

What can an impulse decision cost you?

If it cost you your peace, that’s too much!

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36 KJV

Last week’s Blog: Dream Again

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Life – Be lif-ing! It’s tough! But on the other side of things are beautiful moments you can create with family and friends to have joy – when we dream! 

To dream again after difficulty is to say, that as long as I still have life in my body – I have a reason for existing and to dream. I can dream about creating a different life, starting a new hobby, learning a new skill set, taking a cooking class, creating pottery, publishing a new book and so much more. Don’t let the results of past decisions dim your light. Continue to have faith move forward and dream again. The word of God says:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”  – Hebrews 11:1

To dream you have to tap in and visualize things before you see them.  I like to dream BIG!

What could or would life be like if you expanded your mind and dreamed a little?

Last week’s Blog: Whew Lawd

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What do you do when you feel you have to walk away from something you truly loved?  This something could be a relationship, friendship, a job, a venture or etc…

I think most people think of grief only when someone passed away, but you can grieve lots of things. 

Y’all know I like to go to Webster for a good definition to help with my understanding. Webster’s dictionary defines grief as a deep sorrow. Okay, that definition isn’t defining it enough so let me look at sorrow. Webster defines sorrow as a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others. Okay, that’s better. 

To answer my initial question posed in this blog, I believe you have to grieve a season. To grieve is to say you loved. The presence of grief doesn’t negate that you trust God. But sometimes my plans don’t line up with God’s plans and his plans always supersede mine.

Y’all I love to eat a good meal, but when I’m grieving, that’s not the case. For me, that season is pushing the plate away, I wouldn’t even call it fasting bc it isn’t intentional. I don’t have a desire to eat. 🥹 It’s also been lots of worship, praying, journaling and practicing mindfulness as the scripture says and bringing every thought into captivity. To be honest it’s been rough! 🙃 And at the same time a beautiful mess knowing that God is with me every step of the way. As the saints used to say in church, I’m continuing to pray my strength in the Lord. 

Last week’s Blog: Last Place

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”Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What are you waiting for to get started with your idea, business, song, podcast, book, journal, group?

If you are waiting for the perfect… fill in your blank – that day will never come.

If I waited for the perfect venue, I would have never hosted my first conference.

If I waited for the perfect book, I would have never written a book.

If I waited for the perfect client, I would have never began book coaching.

Remember, done is never perfect and perfect is never done!

Start now, get good at your craft, build your audience. For me I rather make mistakes with a few people than to start when I feel it is perfect and make mistakes in front of millions.

If you are waiting for perfect start now because perfect doesn’t exist!

Last week’s Blog: Threads

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I saw this blog question and I thought I’d join in! I want to share a diverse range of posts, so I thought this would be a fun and short post for others to join as well.

The blog question posed was, “What are your favorite two things to wear?”

When it comes to wearable items my favorite go-to items are:

1. Dresses

I love dresses because it is one easy piece to throw on. I can doll up a dress with a waisted belt, some cute accessories, high heels, and boots or I can dress it down with some mules, tennis shoes, or sandals. Dresses are so versatile in shapes and colors. I prefer more of a fitted dress – but not too tight because I don’t want to have to continue to fix it all day. I’ve been there before with the dresses that continue to “ride up” and give I’m too little vibes.

2. Sweatshirts

When it comes to traveling – sweatshirts are my go-to item! Listen, I’m usually always cold, so sweatshirts keep me warm. I like layering my sweatshirts with a cute undershirt in case I get too warm I can take it off and tie the sweatshirt around my neck or waist to make it fashionable!

Because I love a bonus item – skirts were third on my list! Honestly, they are really tied with sweatshirts but since it is cooler here right now, I put sweatshirts as number 2.

What are your favorite wearable items?

Last week’s Blog: Finish Strong – Wrenhowsway

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I was chatting with friends the other day and I mentioned this quote from Dr. Dharius Daniels, “We live on whatever level we settle.”

I know for myself I have so many goals and aspirations I would like to achieve. As long as I’m still breathing, I still have time to progress forward in my goals. Although we are a little shy of 30ish days to the end of the year, we still have time to finish the year strong.

I could easily make tons of excuses for unaccomplished goals or I could adjust my goals and finish them out well. Of course, I decided to adjust my goals for the year and have as much forward progress as possible.

One of my main goals is my weight loss. To gain some momentum in my weight loss since the last two weeks were cray, I am considering doing a two a day challenge again, Crazy?!!! Yes! Hard! Yes, but I can do hard things and I no longer want to settle for my current weight. What goals are you completing before the end of the year?

Last week’s Blog: Valiant Lady

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I was listening to a podcast recently and they mentioned we can purchase almost every fruit all year long. Like summer fruits, can be purchased in the winter and vice versa. That’s a little scary when you think about it. I think this has aided in our current society that we need everything now. There’s no reason to wait until things are in season, they can be imported or manufactured even when they are out of season.

But when we have things out of season, we are no longer receiving the best quality or fruit that we could have if it was produced in the right season.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NLT

Sometimes, it’s better to wait until things are in season for you! Just because something is available it doesn’t mean it’s the right season for you‭‭. Not waiting to the right season may mean your fruit aren’t ripe! Often times it’s better to wait until your season.

Last week’s Blog: Therapy

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Did y’all know the word therapy is in the Bible? When I learned this I was astonished!

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The word heal in this verse translates in the Greek to therapeuō and it’s where we get our word therapy. This word means to restore health!

If you have ever been to therapy, this is what a therapist does – heals!

I believe God can use therapy as one of many resources to help us process things in our lives. I tell people all the time, I need Jesus and therapy. Therapy can also lead to quantum leaps in areas emotionally, relationally, or spiritually to process past experiences and create new habits to move forward. Therapy helps you see your blind spots from the past and gives you language to help you understand things that may have occurred in your life.

If you are looking for a therapist, the key to finding a therapist is to keep trying until you find someone who works for you! If you ever want to have a non-biased person listen to you, try therapy.

Last week’s Blog: Thrive 2023

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Hey y’all! So I went to an amazing conference over the weekend! It’s really more like a family reunion. Lol. I finally put some names to some faces and met some of the coaches from the mentorship program. I always feel the best way I learn is to implement what I learned and to share it with others.

So here’s my top 7 nuggets in no particular order:

1. God gives creative abundance. What I do with the creative abundance determines if I get financial abundance.
2. Sometimes you need to be in a room to get permission to be you and do what God called you to do.
3. Content is an exchange of goods and services and the compensation is the way to say thank you.
4. You are not who you are after you are encouraged, you are who you are at your natural state.
5. Money respects itself so much that it will not come to someone who will waste it.
6. Certain rooms will change your appetite and you get hungry for things that you didn’t even know you needed.
7. Greatness is mandatory.

Because I’m me, here’s a bonus nugget:

Those who are uniquely successful treat what others deem optional as mandatory!

I have so many pages of notes that I wouldn’t even try to share in one blog! The best conferences are those that make me examine what I am doing and lead me right back to Jesus.

What’s your favorite conference to attend?

Last week’s Blog: Internal Investment

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In a world with a heightened awareness of seeking approval from others through social media likes, comments, and reshares I have to ensure I’m grounded in who God says I am.

We are in such a beautiful time with information easily at our disposal within seconds. However, on the flip side, we can consume 20 to 30 different images in less than a minute on social media telling us we should be more like this or that.

To be honest it isn’t normal to consume information so quickly because we can’t filter or process all the images we are seeing.

As the Information age continues to rise, I have to be willing to decrease my intake and fall on my knees and have an encounter with the one and true King.

Before I fill my eyes with any social media post, GIF, and y’all I love a good laugh, I have to fill my heart, mind, and soul with the word of God.

The only approval that weighs the heaviest in my life is my Heavenly Father. Once I’m approved by him, it becomes easier to tune out the noise of others.

“I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Last week’s blog: Holding Patterns

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I am writing this blog while I am on a plane in a holding pattern. While I don’t know all the instances a holding pattern is used, I’ll share with you my experience on a plane in this holding pattern.

We were descending into DFW airport and the captain came on the intercom and advised of bad weather. All flights in the air were halted from flying into the airport and for 10 mins we were circling in the area in a holding pattern in the air until we were cleared to land.

After I landed, I began to do a little research on a holding pattern. Based on my knowledge a holding pattern is a period of no progress or change and for a plane it is when you are awaiting permission to land.

I realized sometimes we may have holding patterns in our own lives. There may be areas where there’s no progress or we are stagnant in our growth. I think holding patterns usually start in our minds and thoughts and eventually lead to our hearts and become part of our actions.

Mind -> Heart -> Action

They can derive from a variety of things such as fear, unbelief, or a lack of direction or clarity. The best and hardest thing to do if you want to release yourself of the holding pattern is to become the person and do the thing that brings you growth.

Question of the day: What is stopping you from releasing yourself from a holding pattern?

Last week’s blog: Exposure

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I am often asked why I travel so much. I can sum this answer up in one word, exposure.

Exposure breeds curiosity.

I was exposed to travel in high school, and after that, while I didn’t have the means to travel as often as I liked in college, I was finally able to pursue my love of travel after finishing school. The one thing about exposure is that once you are exposed to something you can never be unexposed to it. For me, I realized travel exposed me to so many different cultures, landscapes, lifestyles, cuisine experiences and much more. Through my exposure to traveling, I encountered various situations and learned resilience. So, if you see me on the plane just know traveling is just one of my hobbies that I was exposed to, and it captivated me.

What’s something you were exposed to which changed your life?

Last week’s blog: My Top 5 Travel Items

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My friend Brittany mentioned this quote recently and I knew I wanted to share and talk about it on my blog.

“I don’t participate in other’s perception of me.”

This quote while simple was profound for me. I’ve learned everyone has opinions and perceptions of others – right, wrong, and or indifferent. And if we aren’t careful, we will find ourselves interacting to accommodate others t for a favorable perception.

Storytime: I was in a meeting recently and I had a question about the content discussed. I asked a clarifying question earlier in the discussion and was hesitant to ask another question. At that moment, I asked myself a question, Was I willing to sacrifice learning valuable information at the cost of someone’s perception of me? Heck no!

So y’all know, I asked the question anyway because I don’t participate in other’s perceptions of me.

While I do my best to consider others if deemed necessary, I recognize, I’m human and something I do may impact how they perceive me. For example, my tone may be too high or too low, and someone may perceive that my attitude is off or I’m doing too little or too much on my blog. Guess what? That’s okay, it’s their perception of me. I can love others and not participate in their perceptions of me at the same time! ✌🏽

Last week’s blog: My Year of Grace: 35

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The last twelve months was a whirlwind! Lots of great things happened.

I self-published my first children’s book, Kids Can Pray Too.

I began my circuit boxing training journey (s/o to my gloves Energizer Honey).

I hosted my first One-Day Conference for the Business Brunch.

I launched an online global women’s community, check it out here!

Wow! If I move too quickly, I’ll miss a moment!

Most importantly I’ve seen God show up for me as my Heavenly Father and I know the best is yet to come! I sowed the biggest seed I’ve ever given to church and seen God give it all back to me and more! ❤️ He’s so faithful!

I’m still learning to listen more than I speak. It’s a work in progress! 😂 While I’m receive grace, I’m learning to walk it out and give grace to others.

Above all I’m learning my relationship with God is not linear, it’s filled with twist and turns and knowing God is with me every step of the way! Cheers to another year of life and grace.

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Last week’s blog: 5 Lessons Learned from Planning a Conference

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I’m still in awe when I think about The Business Brunch One Day Conference. I found my journal from 2020 and one of my goals was to have an in-person event and then Covid happened. While the conference didn’t happen in 2020 because we all know life happens, in August of 2023, my dream and vision became a reality.

I was recently reminded by a friend of the importance of taking a moment to sit and share any lessons I learned along the way. So here’s my top 5 lessons I learned while planning an event.

Top 5 Lessons Learned

1. Hire a personal assistant before you need one. There will be so many task along the way, so hire someone to help you.
2. Start planning as early as possible – at least 6 months in advance. I planned the Business Brunch One Day Conference in two months and wouldn’t recommend. 😂
3. Ask for help. I’m grateful to have friends and my sister that stepped up to help with making the event a success.
4. Over communicate with vendors and companies you are working and get everything in writing.
5. Protect Your Vision. Some things may change because we have amazing people around us – so be flexible. But also protect your vision when it comes to implementation. It’s your brand and your name.

And as a bonus – let me remind you of the importance of rest! There was one day every week in which I didn’t do anything Business Brunch related and I logged off social media to rest! It was so helpful and beneficial to relax my brain for a day every single week!

I hope this helps you in case you are ever planning anything! Until next time, Ciao!

Last week’s blog: Comfort Zones

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Comfort zones are lush, relaxing and remind me of a warm cozy blanket with the perfect amount of soft marshmallows in your hot chocolate on a cold winter night. It’s hot in Texas, so I’m dreaming of colder weather. 😂

But what about when you have to step out of your comfort zone? 😬 I stepped out of my comfort zone with the planning of The Business Brunch One Day Conference and I’m so glad I did. Even after a successful conference event, you would think I could rest – but I felt the nudge again to continue to move forward with a community event for women. So, here I am with the planning of another event, Finding You! This virtual workshop is free 99. I’m launching this because I know I’m called to help women who feel stuck or unsure about their next steps! Check out the information on my website and sign up for the workshop! I hope to see you there! I’m building something great and I’ll love for you to be a part of it! ❤️

Sign up for Finding You!

Last week’s blog: The Business Brunch One Day Conference

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Wow! Where do I begin? While, I know nothing in life is perfect, the event on Saturday was perfect for me. ❤️

The event was timely, the food was spectacular s/o to Mama Gwen, the participants engaged with the panelist and honestly, both panel discussions could have continued past our allowed time. The candles (Golden Blk Candle Lounge) smelled amazing, the swag bags (Forever Woods) were cute and the coffee (Yari Blends) was amazing! To God be the glory for only something he could do!

I’m so glad I interacted with all the tables in between sessions and activities – I didn’t feel rushed! I can’t wait to receive the photos from the photographer (TotheteePhotography) to share!

Of course with anything, there are always lessons learned and I’ll share those with you later. For now, I’ll like to thank the ladies of The Business Brunch, Carmen, Renisha, Erica, Kelechi, Brittany, Timeka, and Yaritza for believing in my vision and helping me implement it.

Thank you to the panelists, Kessy, Krista, Renisha, Erica, Brittany, Kelechi, and Carmen. Each one of you did such an amazing job and shared so many gems.

Thank you to the sponsors, AccuOps, Wrenhowsway, Ricki Wax, Forever Woods, Yari Blends, Google, and Erica Menefee. Thank you for believing and investing in the vision of the Brunch, to create a safe space for women to cultivate their gifts and talents to obtain wealth and leave a legacy for their future.

Thank you to all the ladies for coming! I truly appreciate you! Until the next brunch, Ciao! ✌🏽

Last week’s blog: 5 Keys to Stop Worrying

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I recently heard a different definition of anxiety in a sermon and I wanted to share it with y’all.

Anxiety – I’m a creative being

Listen this definition freed me because the stories I tell myself that never happened are colorful and creative. I remember I once shared with my friends my hypothetical situation and they looked at me as if I was crazy, so I stopped sharing with them. 😂

The sermon continued and elaborated that when we have anxiety it is misplaced faith. Your faith is placed in everything else except focused on God. Sigh…

I’ve learned and I’m currently having to practice with the planning of the Business Brunch, my faith has to be focused back on God. If things aren’t going as planned – my focus must remain on God and not on the situation. He’s the only one who owns everything in the world; therefore, he can fix it and handle it! Therefore, I release any anxiety and continue to anchor my faith in God.

Last week’s blog: Time Moves On…

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*Caution: This blog is about grief, feel free to click out it if necessary. 

I was conversing with a friend recently about grief. If you have ever lost someone close, the week leading up to the funeral there are so many people around while you are planning all the event arrangements.

But…

What happens as time moves on? There are many random moments, days or months when it feels you are grieving all over again. As time moves on, there are many life updates you will never experience with them such as birthdays, weddings, the birth of children, and so much more.

What do you do as time moves on?

I’ve learned to take moments to cry if I need to and reflect on past experiences I shared with them. I’ll talk to a friend or my therapist.  I also remember that as time moves on, I have to exhale and continue to breathe.

My dad passed away on his birthday, April 12, 2010. I realize I’ll never stop missing him or grieving him. While, I don’t grieve him the same as I did before, I realize to grieve someone shows you loved them.

So in closing, my moment of wisdom is to remember those you loved, even as time moves on and continue to love.❤️

Last week’s blog: Say Yes

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Don’t tell yourself no before someone else tells you no.

This is a recent quote I heard while watch tv.

Planning and selling tickets for an event is an adventure. One of the things I’ve had to get better at was asking others.

Webster defines asking as to put a question or to inquire.

My friends would tell you, I’m usually not afraid to ask a question. If I’m out with my group of friends, I’ll be happy to ask someone a direct question and await their response.

However, I’ve learned when it comes to an event you are planning, you have to ask and invite others to come to the event.

It’s not okay for me to ask once and expect the place to be packed. I have to continue to ask others through different communication channels. Therefore, I think it’s important that I refreshed the initial quote shared at the beginning.

My reframe is:

Don’t tell yourself no before someone tells you yes.

Okay, I’m going to take y’all back a bit with this reference. Do y’all remember the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul? In case you never read them, in my opinion, they are a collection of short, soothing, and relatable comforting stories.

I’m sure you are wondering why I’m talking about chicken soup, just wait – I’m going somewhere with it! 😂

I’ve shared on my social media I’m hosting a Business Brunch. I really can’t explain the eudaemonic state I’m experiencing in anticipation of the event. While I truly believe God wastes nothing, it is special to feel like you are in a destiny moment. I would like to describe it as my chicken soup moment. You know when you have a good hearty bowl of chicken soup and it is the right temperature, a perfect blend of spices, a good balance of chicken to noodle and veggie ratio and you feel it fuels your soul! That’s what this moment feels like! I’ve invested in the Business Brunch for a few years and I’m overjoyed to share it with everyone.

So, excuse me for a few weeks if my blog post reference the planning of this event – I’m ecstatic!

Also, I’ll like to personally invite the ladies to come to the Business Brunch One Day Conference. Come expecting fellowship, excitement, laughs and some aha moments. Most importantly, I hope you are fueled to do what you are designed to do!

Last week’s blog: Joy in the Middle

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I’ve talked about joy before on my blog and even shared things that brought me joy. However, I think my initial perspective was limited and should be expanded. I’m currently reading, “Inciting Joy”. While I’m not done reading the book I’ve learned joy is much more complex and joy is found in the middle…

I know it is often said happiness is circumstantial but I would like to add my definition, Joy is reinvigorating.

I like to describe joy as the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s my beacon of hope.

Joy is a visit from a friend after battling depression.

Joy is the aroma of your favorite meal after dealing with grief or loss.

Joy is gaining the energy to try again one more time after you were told No umpteen times.

Joy is the sound of friends cheering you on when you have cried your eyes out in sadness.

Joy is remembering a funny memory about a loved one.

For me, joy is like breathing in fresh air after you’ve quarantined in the house. Joy is love after sorrow and a little hope for tomorrow.

I hope today you find joy in the middle of whatever you are encountering and if you have joy, share a little joy with someone else!

In case you missed it!

Last week’s blog: 3 Questions to a Balanced Reset – Halfway There

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It’s week 26 of the year. We are halfway there to the end of the year. After January, it always feels like the year flies by and if you aren’t intentional you will look up and Christmas will be here.

If you are anything like me, you made plans and or goals earlier in the year and you veered off course.

It’s natural to have detours and get off course when you are working on something. The important thing is how quickly you recover and reset.

In the game of basketball, there are tons of shots taken. Some shots go into the basket and some hit the rim. While the goal is to have all the shots in the basket, the players understand if they don’t make it in the basket, the next important thing is retrieving the rebounded ball to shoot again.

This teaches, we may not be 100% on our goals and that’s okay. But after you realize this, what are you going to do about it?

I think for me this year, I have so many things I’m working on, I’ve had to narrow down my focus and be intentional about how I spend my time. Some weekends can be jammed packed with great things going on. My reset now includes doing as much as possible during the week to set myself up for success on the weekends. For me, this means prepping a blog on Thursday, utilizing my task app for reminders, adding events to my calendar as a reminder, and then revisiting my goals as often as needed to recalibrate and readjust.

So while we are halfway there to the end of the year, what does a reset and readjustment look like for you?

Here are 3 Questions to help with our reset:

1. What are our current goals for the year and do we still desire the same goals?
2. What adjustments do we need to make to obtain our goals?
3. How can we hold ourselves accountable and add achievement markers to celebrate our wins?

Remember, reset, refocus, readjust, restart – As many times as you need to. Just never give up. – Author Unknown

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Last week’s blog: Selective Amnesia

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Have you ever experienced selective amnesia?

I have…but before I move forward let me give you my definition of selective amnesia.

Selective Amnesia is when you forget something took place, but this usually only occurs when it is to your benefit.

Has this happened to you?

Recently someone was sharing a story with me about how they messed something up. While I didn’t verbalize my concerns to them I had so many ideas in my head of what they could have done better to prevent this – sort of like I know best and if I was them I wouldn’t have made this mistake.

I had several preventive solutions for this person when I forgot I had the same thing that almost happened to me last week.  🙃

#selectiveamnesia

Once I remembered my situation, I realized how quickly I forgot my situation. I’m human too and I’m very capable of making lots of mistakes. 😩

As the saying goes, you point a finger at someone else and have many more pointed back at you.

At that moment, I immediately changed my response to them. I showed them compassion and grace. It shouldn’t have taken me remembering my situation to have compassion for someone else; therefore I’ll do better at implementing this going forward.

After hearing a sermon titled, “Under the C”, I felt compelled to watch The Little Mermaid. While watching the movie, I realized there appeared to be similarities in themes to The Lion King. Now, in full disclosure, the observations I’m noting are about The Little Mermaid in which Ariel is Halle Bailey since that’s the only Little Mermaid I’ve watched.

While some may disagree with my observations, here are the 8 similarities I noted between both movies:

8 Similarities B/t The Lion King and the Little Mermaid 🧜🏾‍♀️

1. Both Ariel and Simba come from royal families and their father’s were king
2. Both were leered away by an aunt or uncle who didn’t have their best interest at heart. Simba by Scar. Ariel by the Ursula.
3. Their dads assigned someone to watch after them. Simba – Zazu; Ariel – Sebastian
4. Both desired to be somewhere their parents told them not to go. Simba – pride land; Ariel – sea wreckage and on land
5. They were both taken in by someone or something when they were away from their family. Simba – Timeon and Pumba; Aries – a royal family
6. The songs have similar melodies; The Lion King, I Just Can’t-Wait to Be King, and The Little Mermaid Under the Sea.
7. They both go on an adventure with their love interest. Simba and Nala go on their adventure in the forest. Ariel and go on their adventure with the carriage and ends up in a boat in a rainforest.
8. They both have to fight and kill their antagonist aunt or uncle to save the throne.

To summarize the similarities, there are two royal characters, who are wooed away from their family by an antagonist family member. While away, they find a love interest, have to return home due to conflict, and have to fight the antagonist’s uncle/aunt. After they win the fight it ends with them with their new love interest.

Feel free to comment below if you agree are indifferent or disagree! I look forward to your comments!

In case you missed it!

Last week’s blog: Lead with love 

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Over the last week, every time I’m frustrated with someone or something, I remember I need to flip the mirror and look back at me.

Am I leading with love?

I’m sure there are a plethora of examples of when  God is frustrated with me. But, even when he’s frustrated, his correction is done from a place of love.

He even gave us his son, Jesus, because he loved us.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Additionally, the greatest commandment in the Bible reminds us to love.

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Reminding myself of this caused me to change my heart posture. I wanted my words and actions to be rooted in love.

Leading with love allowed me to approach others with empathy and compassion before I responded back to anyone and to ensure I was coming from a place of love.

I have to say, I’m not going to always get this right. However, I’m never striving for perfection, only progress. Therefore, I can give myself grace and correct next time.

I’m sure we can all agree the world needs more people leading with love.

What action will you to take to lead with love this week?

Here’s a link to my last blog post!

Prior week: The Best 10 Beach Travel Necessities

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Sometimes I feel stuck – you know like you are working on that math problem and you can’t quite figure out the next step. I’m asking myself what am I supposed to do next. How do I get unstuck? 

Besides the Bible (Basic Instruction Before Living Earth) our life doesn’t come with a play-by-play book with Mapquest directions that says turn left or right – you have reached your next destination. Wouldn’t that be great?

Instead, life is full of choices with consequences and or rewards depending on our decisions. But what about when you feel stuck?

Of course, I’ve felt the overwhelming stress of feeling stuck several times. I share below some practical advice I use when I feel stuck. I hope it helps you and you share with someone else!

My Unstuck List…

1. Make a list of 25 things I’m grateful. Nothing shifts my heart posture like gratefulness.
2. I go read old blog posts or words of encouragement I wrote or that God gave me.
3. I also read my favorite chapter – Psalms 139. Pause and go read it now, come back, and let me know what you think.
4. I go talk to God – whether it is journaling praying or talking out loud. Sometimes my prayers are silent. God hears my written prayers and he knows my thoughts – so he can still speak to my heart.
5. After speaking to God, I usually have a next step and I work on that. So if the step is to work on a book – I’ll try to make that task more actionable by dividing it into smaller steps and making a checklist. I love checking things off a list because it makes me feel accomplished. 😂
6. If I still feel stuck, I’ll take a walk. God is always speaking even through creation. While on the walk I’ll listen to my favorite worship songs or turn on one of my favorite speakers – Pastor Robert Madu or Dr. Darius Daniels. My personal favorites.
7. If this persists the next day, I’ll start back over at step one and focus on releasing my worries to God.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Is Summer Vacation Coming?

The kids are out of school! 🙌🏽

Are you traveling to a 🏖️ ?

Then you clicked on the right post! Listen, I’m coming off of time off from work and I could honestly schedule more time! 😂 Honestly just take me to a place with palm trees, beautiful sea water and a nice cool drink. I’ll be good to go!!! 

But what are those essential things needed for vacation? We may have some of the things at home and need this reminder blog post to pack them. I’ll share my list below! 

[ez-toc] The Best Top 10 Essential Items for Beach Travel![ez-toc]

1. Oversized button down. I wear my button down as a cover up for my swim suit.
2. Sunscreen – I prefer black girl magic kid – SPF 50
3. Bug Spray because mosquitos are disrespectful. 
4. Shades! Cheap shades work for me because I constantly lose them. 😩
5. Battery Pack! There’s nothing worse than a dead phone.
6. A good book! I love getting lost in a good book while relaxing.
7. Cash money! Cash is King for traveling especially for bartering.
8. Reusable water bottle. I have a small yeti which is my favorite!
9. Waterproof phone case
10. Tote Bag

While I usually pack other items these are my go to essential items!

Because I couldn’t stop at 10, here’s one bonus item – swim shoes! I usually forget them 😩, but when I don’t they are my favorite!

Here’s a link to my last blog post!

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I received a few questions about my experience with boxing, so I thought I’ll share my review in the form of a blog. If you are new to my blog, fun fact: my blog began with my fitness journey, so I’m always excited to share fitness stuff!

Also, fitness is even a part of my blog motto:

Pray. Eat. Workout. Have Fun. Repeat.

While my methods for working out may change, I’m forever committed to the mission of my fitness journey!

Alright, let’s jump in! 9-round fitness. Is circuit fitness training. It’s 9 rounds of circuits at 3 mins each with a 30-second break in between. There’s a coach present who will guide, motivate and encourage you during your 30 minute workout. Each round is a different circuit and the exercises change every day. The first round is always cardio and the last round is core training. The other rounds consist of kicks, punches, weights and so much more. You should come to a class – the first one is free!

I truly enjoyed my experience. My first class was the hardest! 😩 But it was still fun. The coach gave me an overview of every round, to ensure I understood the exercises. I think it helped that I was familiar with some of the basic moves from turbo kickboxing such as jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, roundhouse kicks, etc… but even if you aren’t familiar with the exercises they are easy to learn. I liked that the facility is smaller than a normal gym because it felt more personable.

I’m looking forward to focusing on my form, stance, and ensuring I am throwing a punch or kick correctly. I also want to master the speed bag! As I practice more, I want to gain muscle, becoming more proficient in the exercises and continue having fun. I truly believe once you find something you enjoy, it’s easier to workout because it doesn’t feel like a chore.  While I don’t enjoy every circuit, I love that after 3 mins I get to move on and do a different exercise. So, cheers to me on my boxing fitness journey!

P.S. If you missed it my gloves were named Energizer Honey! Thanks to everyone who voted!

Did y’all ever participate in spelling bees in elementary school? I did and I didn’t make it past the first or second round. Listen, math was my thing in school and words are hard. 😩Also, the English language is forever evolving rapidly! Words that used to be okay to use in everyday vernacular or sometimes no longer culturally acceptable.

I digress, I brought up spelling bees because one of the questions you could ask the judges was for additional context – such as the origin of the word, the definition and to use it in the sentence. Having that additional context can help some students figure out the spelling of the word.

I was thinking about how context is so crucial in daily conversation. I’m sure we all have made incorrect assumptions about something because we didn’t understand the full context of a thing!
But the only way to glean additional context from others is through communication – whether it is written or verbal.

We all have to be willing to ask open-ended questions, complete research if needed and view things in their entirety without jumping to conclusions! It’s okay to take a step back and ask for more context please!

Okay, I know Easter was yesterday, but let’s chat about my childhood Easter weekend memories.

In my family, Easter preparation began weeks in advance.

1. Weeks before Easter, we received speeches at church to memorize. My mom always opted for us to get longer speeches. 😩🤣
2. In addition to learning the speeches, there was a rehearsal for the Easter play and lots of the traditional Easter songs, such as, “He rose, yes he rose… “I know it was the blood” and so many others!
3. The Saturday before Easter, we had more rehearsals and the Easter egg hunt. I was always searching for golden eggs with money.  😂 Additionally, I would stack up on Easter goodies because my beloved Auntie always made us bomb Easter baskets! Honestly, she can run those back. 👀
4. There were 7 girls in the house. Our hair was pressed with a steaming hot comb 🪮 or permed the night before. My mom said it was the hair grease, but I’m sure she burnt my ear and head a few times with the hot comb.😩
5. Easter Day began early – depending on if our church had a sunrise service. Easter attire included a new dress, Payless finest shoes, ruffled Easter socks, and a cute purse. To top it off, I loved when my older sisters did my hair because it included front bangs and my edges were freshly laid with brown gel. 😂😂
6. Once at church, there was Sunday school, the regular morning service, and then festivities after church.
7. We usually went home to eat a nicely prepared Sunday lunch and then came back to church at 3 or 330 for the Easter program. The most important thing was you could not get anything on your clothes all day, you needed to stay clean. 🧐

Sigh, those were the days!

What is your favorite Easter memory?

Another topic request! Keep them coming!

Historically, salt was used for two purposes.

1. Preserve. They didn’t have refrigerators so it was used to preserve the meat.
2. Flavor (seasoning of food)

Y’all I lowkey consider myself a foodie! I will happily get back in line for a second serving of a satisfying meal!

But what about when you take a bite of a steak and immediately spit it out and gag? Okay, that’s extreme but we have all been there from having food with too much salt or no salt at all. 😩

What is food without flavor?

Bland! Tasteless!

But what are we if we lose our flavor? If we lose the things which make us unique, and different, which gives us our flair?

What are we if we don’t remember as believers of Christ we are the salt of the earth?

When we encounter others we should influence them because we represent God. Chuck Smith says, “We are to be the preserving influence in the world.”

Like the scripture says, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?

Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Y’all you can always tell when someone tries to season food after it is cooked. You probably want to give the cook the side eye when it happens because the salt sits on top of the food. #itsnotthesame

Remember, let’s be like salt! Let the flavor be in us and shared with all. 

1. Be the persevering influence of the world by sharing God’s word with others.
2. Don’t lose your salt! Our salt is our style of influence God has given us to influence others through the gifts and talents he gave every one of us.

Take your salt with you everywhere you go, so no one will ever have to say, salt, please.

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” Mark 9:50 NLT

Y’all, I’ve read or listened to a lot of books – more than 100 books last year alone. But, none of them compare to the Bible. It’s the only book that’s living!  The more I read it, the more it reads me! Also, the more I talk to God, the more he shows me -me!

I’m sure I said this before, but I talk to God about everything! First off, it’s not like I’m telling him a secret because he knows everything anyway. But, sometimes I want to tell him my side of the story, my perspective, and my feelings. Guess what, he’s a great listener and communicator.

But usually, somewhere in the conversation, there’s a shift. It feels as if the conversation has flipped and we are now talking about me.🙃 #howsway

Like seriously, it’s like a mirror reflecting on me! I go to tell God about someone else because, to be honest, I love people but sometimes people be people -ing (I know that’s not a word). 🤣 And before you know it he’s reminding me he’s a God of grace and mercy.😩 I’m like that’s not what this conversation was about. 😂 Like, how did we get here? 😩 But somehow, we end up there with the mirror on me and discussing my journey and the work I have to continue to do.  And because there’s a mirror showing me, I remember I’m a hot mess in need of God every day just like everyone else! 

How are y’all doing on your 2023 goals?

I know things can happen to deter us from our goals, but give your goals one more chance or as many chances as needed. In a perfect world, life would be peaches and cream every day – but doesn’t that sound boring?

Life is constantly full of twists and turns to cause us to readjust, become flexible and re-evaluate things. Sometimes we make goals and we mean well but something hinders us and that is okay. But in the words of my mentor, the difference between a successful person and a non successful person is their recovery.

How quickly do you recover when you mess up?

If you mess up on your diet are you now done with your diet for the rest of the week, until the following Monday or do you start again at the next meal?

I decided I will recover quickly and get back on board and give my goals one more chance. It doesn’t matter if I give myself one more chance hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and or semi-annually. The most important thing is I will continue to give myself one more chance until I reach my goal.

How are you doing on your goals?

“I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes you can do a thing so often that it becomes mundane. For example, I believe I took about 13 trips last year. Im not bringing this up to brag, but to add context to my story. I was recently chatting with someone who may only fly once or twice a year and they were thrilled to be on the flight and to travel. While I am often excited to fly I can often forget the beauty of just preparing for the trip. There are so many small moments that I can take joy such as being at the airport, being on a plane, eating delicious snacks, experiencing other cultures and cuisines and so much more! So, as I prepare for new trips this year, my prayer is that I remember to relish in the wonder of the small moments! There’s so much beauty in the world if we will look wonderful in moments.

What is something you do often that you forget to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the process?

“Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Spoiler Alert: God showed and showed out at my “Self-Publishing You Workshop”. I should tell y’all, I’m the person which will read the last chapter of a book because I want to know how the story will end and then go back and read the beginning. 😂

Anywho, I’m a witness when you do what God told you to do, he will show up for you in only ways that he can do! I shared last week about how I launched my second workshop and I was scared. But, I also realize if I don’t give God anything to work with how will my faith be increased? I see my faith being  like a muscle – the more I  activate it and use it, the stronger my faith becomes.

Is He God or is He God?

On this week I created my presentation for the workshop, purchased ads last week and also went live on social media to chat about the event. Listen, I get it most of don’t want to go live, but I know it can be helpful if people have questions about the content. After this I told God I did everything which was in my control and the rest was for him. Friday night I checked and no one signed up, but Saturday morning I woke up, prayed, signed in early to the event and y’all one person paid and signed up.
#wonthedoit

Y’all, I hosted the class like it was a room full of people and it was amazing! She was amazing – only God could have ordained that moment and I’m grateful. I see this as a success because the people will come, but I have to continue to show up and do what God called me to do. I’m never going to despise small beginning because one day when I  sell out arenas I want everyone to remember God did it!

Are you going to believe, Is He God or is He God?

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)”
‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was sharing this story with a friend on last week and they thought it may be helpful to share on my blog, so here it is!

One thing I realize is that God will only call you to do things and use what is readily available to you. When I think about the story of David and Goliath, David used what was in his hands – a slingshot. Clearly it was more than enough for him to defeat the giant in his life. (1 Samuel 17)

But, even when we do know God has given us everything we need, we can sometimes allow fear to grip us or should I say – I can let fear grip me or at least try.

Storytime: On Thursday, of last week I am excited to share I am hosting my second Self-Publishing Workshop(Link is also in my bio).

After I pressed submit to share the event on social media, the thoughts of self-doubt immediately flooded my mind such as:

• If you hurry and delete the event know one will remember you posted it.
• You won’t have to be uncomfortable and worry if people will sign up if you delete it.
• What will happen if no one signs up?

In those moments, I decided I could sit and waddle in the lies of the enemy that haven’t happened or I could remember, it’s okay to do things scared and trust God. So instead of waddling in self-doubt, I shared the post even more in different communities and even purchased an ad for it. Since I did my part – even a little scared, now I have to trust God to do the things only he could do! Remember, it is okay to do it scared, but like Nike says, Just do it!

Y’all old tv shows are where it is at! I forgot how many good principles and life lessons the shows include. I recently watched two episodes of Family Matters on a plane and in those two episodes they stood around the piano and sang, “He Has the Whole World in His Hands” and they ate dinner together as a family almost every Night. I don’t have children yet, but when I do, I am going to implement that we I eat dinner together as often as possible and that we also have a family night and watch some wholesome shows together.

It is so much beauty in seeing a black-loving family together in a two-parent home, seeing their family values and how they navigate raising children.

Family Matters is by far one of my favorite television shows. In my opinion, there should be more shows with no cussing which you can enjoy with children. I still enjoy new shows as well, but I will always go back to enjoying older shows from my childhood. Honestly, the name of the show says it all, Family Matters. If you don’t have family, remember friends can become family too.

What are some of your favorite shows you watched growing up?

I had the privilege of going to Bucee’s over the weekend. When I’m driving in Texas on a road trip it is customary to only go to Bucee’s. I know if I go to Bucee’s they set the new standard I expect for gas stations – although Bucee’s offers so much more than just gas.

When I go to Bucee’s I expect clean bathrooms, fresh Turkey jerky, fresh bbq, a ton of snack options and lots of other amenities. Prior to Bucees in Texas, there were no standards for gas stations. Since Bucee’s is here, they are the standard. The interesting thing is besides the beaver being their store mascot, Bucees didn’t go create a new thing – however, they did create a new standard – cleanliness!

As an author, blogger, content creator, writing Coach and so much more – a lot of time we are looking for ways to stand out from the masses. I’m sure many of you can relate. The reality is – we are the reason we stand out! Our vibe attracts our tribe and we create the standard for our industry.

As I continue to grow I know I will have more clients; therefore, I want to set my standard. I always want to serve people well, operate with excellence, integrity and honesty. My goal is to help other people grow by sharing what I know and to never exploit others for money. I’m sure there are other things, I’ll add to my list, but as I blog, write and or journal – my thoughts I share are my standard!

What’s your standard? 

Y’all know sometimes people say, if an opportunity isn’t for you then God has something else even better. Or my favorite one – a no-to-one thing is an opportunity for something greater? So, both of those things can be true…but when you are in the midst of a lot of no’s it doesn’t feel like it!

When I write, I always want to share the good and the reality. My reality right now is I have put in work the last few weeks and have received several hard no’s. I thought we were going to be shouting all January as the preacher says, “This is the year for increase.” and I’m like umm. I’m just being real yall. 😂

What is the church saying? God is good, all the time, and all the time God is good. But the reality is all the time life isn’t good even when God is good. To be honest, I would have loved to come on here and say I won this grant and my book was picked up by this company, but that’s not my reality right now.

In this moment of my reality, I have a choice to continue to move around or I can choose to believe the report of the Lord.

While I take a moment, I remember:

My scripture for the year is:

“Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even when I don’t see it, I command my soul and my body to still believe the report of the Lord. So, even when my reality doesn’t match my faith, I’ll still believe what God has promised.

God is faithful.

God is good.

God can’t lie!

Will you continue to look at your reality or believe God is good?

 How is January going for you?

Listen the one person you lie to that you shouldn’t lie to is yourself! Like you know you lying – unless in some kind way, you convinced yourself that you are telling the truth. 😩

Storytime: Since the beginning of this year, yes I know we are only a few weeks in – but let me finish. Lol. I’ve logged my food daily. I don’t enjoy logging my food, but I will say it has helped me become more cautious about what I consume. But one day, while logging I knew I would be over my calorie intake and so I considered not adding a food item to my list. And I realized – why am I trying to lie to myself? 🙃🙃🙃

I know what I enjoyed and ate! It would also be evident when I don’t see results. There’s no need to lie or hide something from me! So I didn’t! I logged all my food items and said I’ll do better the next day, which I did! All that to say, whatever goal you set – be committed to the process! Don’t lie to yourself or anyone else. Yep, I messed up on my goal and I’ll try again!

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19 

The first step in accomplishing a goal is we must first believe we can do it! We can have limiting beliefs that may hinder us from moving forward.

What are limiting beliefs? I am glad you asked. Limiting beliefs are things we believe are true that limit us from moving forward. Often time they are not factual and are a lie. When you believe a lie you allow the lie to impact you like the truth.

I wanted to give you a few examples to help explain some possible limiting beliefs:

I am too old to do this…

I am too young to do this…

No one will purchase my product…

No one will read my content…

No one will listen to my YouTube videos…

Let me tell yall, as a self-published author if I listened to my own limited beliefs which try to replay themselves over and over in my head like a broken soundtrack I will have 0 books self-published! Because I chose to believe I could at least help one person, I have sold over 100s of products as a self-published author! Not 1, not 10, not over hundreds. 

Sometimes we have to take the first step and get out of our way to move forward. For every limited belief, I am faced with, I find a scripture to combat it. I am choosing to believe the report of God over anything else. I have seen his track record and it is good! He is consistent and he can’t lie! Point blank period!

In closing, here are two of my favorite scriptures to combat limited beliefs:

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

What limiting beliefs do you have? How will you combat them with scriptures?

The difference between you starting and someone who has started is the other person believes they can!

Hey, y’all! It’s such a blessing to see a New Year! One of the things that I did which I hadn’t done in the past was select a scripture for the year.

My scripture for the year is: Luke 1:38 NLT

“Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”

My pray on this second day of 2023, is “May everything God has said about me come true.”

I’m crazy enough to believe all the words and promises God has given me shall come to pass!

Believing the promises of God spoken to me requires intentionality. As I embark on this year I’m reading one chapter from the book of Proverbs every day for the entire year – Once I get to the end, I’ll start back at chapter one and repeat it! Sounds simple, but I have to rehearse scriptures over and over until they become a part of my being! In addition to this, I have to do my part and stay consistent in the things I know to do. My goal is to have all blog content completed at least 24 days before posting. Y’all pray for me on this!

Happy New Year!

2022 flew by! Like wow! One of the things I always remember from reading the Bible was moments of them taking stones to make markers of what God had done. (Deut 27:1-8) It’s necessary to take a moment to reflect on a year or a tough season before new goals are set. Moving too quickly can cause you to forget some monumental exciting moments.

I was flipping through my prayer journal this morning, which I self- published this year and turned slowly through the pages. I took a moment to reflect on all the prayers God answered not only for me, but for others as well. God is faithful. He’s consistent. God continuously remained faithful through an inflationary year and for this I’m grateful.

Here’s some of my top highlights from 2022:

1. Increased my relationship with God.
2. Set boundaries and became more emotionally secure
3. Self-Published my 1st children’s book, Kids Can Pray Too
4. Exercised consistently for at least 4 days a week since June
5. Promotion at work
6. Self-Published my 1st Prayer Journal
7. Self-Published my 1st travel journal
8. Monetized my blog
9. Coached over 4 new clients with their books.
10. Traveled overseas to Portugal and Madrid
11. Created a newsletter for my blog
12. Saw my favorite artist in concert for the 1st time ever and so much more.

Before I set goals and plan for 2023, I want to take a moment and thank God for 2022. While, we only have five more days in the year, I know this is plenty of time for God to move. One word, one moment and one miracle from God can change everything.

What’s your top highlight from 2022?

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1 KJV

1. I initially had so many ideas to write about, but none of them seemed fitting, so I scraped them for right now.

I decided to share a topic that was prevalent in the news last week – suicide.

I first one to say, I understand the holidays can be triggering for some due to different types of loss, unfulfilled expectations, regrets, personal and relational responsibilities, depression, health concerns, financial issues and so much more!

I see you. I love you. I value you.

You belong here and you are needed.

While I know I don’t have all the words or may not even articulate this message correctly to portray what some may be battling – just know I truly do care.

Some seasons may feel long with no end in sight but be encouraged. Take courage. Know that God is always with you and will never leave you or forsake you.

In closing, I wanted to share some of my favorite scriptures I often re-read or commit to memory to help me on my worst days.

1. Psalms 139 – read the entire chapter! It’s my favorite chapter in the entire Bible.
2. “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
3. “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬
4. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, Which made heaven and earth.” Psalm‬ ‭121‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬
5. “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬

Please also note you can text 988 or call 988 from your phone and it is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

* It’s available to anyone in the US.

Recently life is life-ing! If you are new to my blog – welcome, but you should know sometimes I make up my own words. Just roll with it. 😂 So many things in my life occurring simultaneously in addition to working full time. Y’all sometimes between work and after-work activities –  I’m exhausted!

But, there’s a phrase we say at our church and something I’ve read in several books this year which says “I Get To Do This.”

This phrase has helped me on so many long days of working when my eyes are crossed and I’m beyond tired!

This phrase has become a motto for my life – I get to do this!

I’m often cautious when I respond to my friends by text. For example, I remember recently texting a friend saying I have to do a task! I quickly corrected myself and said “ I get to do this!

The words “have to” sounds like a chore – while the word “get to” for me sounds like I have an option and it feels more like an honor or privilege.

I get to go to work every day.

I get to go to the gym and work out.

I get to blog and share my life to encourage and inspire others.

I get to write books.

I get to coach others and so much more!

We all know words have power! Life and death are in the power of your tongue. I challenge you to go through the week with the attitude that I get to do this vs I have to do this and share if it helped change your perspective for the week!

I get to do this!!!!

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve always thought I’d done a great job of resting because I’m a professional napper, but not really. A few weeks ago, I decided to be more intentional in my resting and to sabbath.

First off –  Ummm, y’all why is it so hard to rest sometimes?

Chillin’ in bed isn’t hard to do – but being intentional about not doing any type of work was a little harder.

Sabbath is a promise God gave to us to work 6 days and rest on day 7 and to trust him. While my day of the week for sabbathing may change depending on my schedule, I am intentional about my sabbath day of rest. For me, my sabbath is about trusting God with doing what I can in 6 days and for God to provide the difference when I honor myself by resting.

In this season of my life I need to take resting seriously or else I will overextend and overwork myself by trying to say yes to everything.

What did I do for my sabbath?

I’m glad you asked, I’ll share.

My sabbath day:

1. I took a day off Social media.
2. Spent a few hours going through old prayer journals and allowed God to speak to me.
3. I also did not work. I did not spend the day cleaning or washing clothes. (Side note – I’m considering hiring someone to clean for me.) 🤔 Back to my sabbath. I had the day off from my full-time job, but I also intentionally didn’t blog or create any reels, or anything else.
4. The rest of the day I rested in bed and relax.

I can’t lie, the first hour or two I was tempted to log in to social media, but I deleted the apps from my phone, so I wouldn’t log in. As I go into week 3 of my sabbath, I’m looking forward to resting.

How do you honor your body by resting?

“And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was in Atlanta this weekend eating dinner and I overheard this young lady informing the waiter she had all the information in her phone to host an event. Y’all I was probably being nosey, but she was also talking loudly – so I listened too. I’m working on my listening skills. 😩😂😂

Anyway, this young lady had pages and pages of notes down to potential hired employee schedules. I’m thinking Geesh – she has more information than some people who have launched successfully. But like many what is stopping her and others from moving forward?

This lady had the money, the business plan and everything else but she lacked the confidence to move forward because of fear. She shared with the guy she was afraid to fail.

Can I be honest, there are several things I haven’t done in the past or feared doing because of failing. It’s a common fear. So, I completely understood.

But I’m in this season of my life where I’m more afraid of what happens if I don’t pursue something and don’t fail.

Each potential failure – is a “lesson” we learned of what not to do next time. Those same “lessons” can be used to “teach “others from the mistakes you learned. We are currently living in the Information Age. People will pay for information that they don’t know.

I’ll share an example I used of lessons I learned and how I turned into something used. I turned my mistakes I made with my first book, “Things I Learned Before I Turned 31” into my second book – “My Self-Publishing Secrets.”

I turned my mistakes into lessons.
My lessons into a book to teach.
My book into passive income.

I want to be clear of what I’m saying and what I’m not saying. I’m not saying start something without a plan, but also don’t not start something because it isn’t perfect.

No one is perfect, but God.

Think about all the people who are waiting for you to execute your ideas, gifts and talents into the earth.

From publishing my first book, I can now see fruit. I’m not boasting in myself at all. I’m boasting in God. I’m grateful God gave me the ability to create books to give him glory. Since I moved past the fear, I’ve self-published 5 items and helped others self – publish their books too!

In closing, my prayer is that we all get busy in this season executing what God has given us to give him glory and to bless others.

Sometimes I think life happens so fast we don’t take time to lean in and sit in the gravity of the moment. I want to share my appreciation for my first children’s book reading. My friend said this comment and I’m going to repeat it because I agree. The pictures shared didn’t do any justice to the gravity of the moment.

First off, it was a full-circle moment for me. The event took place at the very first library I ever visited as a child- in the same area I grew up in! Like – wow! S/o to the Dallas Public Library – West Dallas branch location. In addition, two copies of Kids Can Pray Too are now in circulation at the public library! Ahhhhhh!!!!!! 🎉🎉

When I first wrote Kids Can Pray Too, I don’t think I understood the impact it could have on others – honestly I still don’t.  I’m truly grateful God used me to give language to so many children’s situations. It warmed my heart to hear stories from parents of their children going through similar experiences mentioned in the book regarding feeling alone, identity issues, bullying, transitioning to a new school and so much more. It’s so necessary to have community and support. Not only did we discuss Kids Can Pray Too in detail, but I was provided with amazing ideas for other children’s books. I’m in awe of the moment and the experience. I’m truly grateful for every person who purchased a book, liked a post, shared a post, sent me encouraging words, and came to the Author’s Reading ! I appreciate all of you.

Kids Can Pray Too is just getting started! Cheers to more book readings and encouraging children to communicate more with God!

First off I want to give a s/o to the people on my airplane row yesterday, they were the real MVPs and even assisted with naming this blog. 😂

So, as a frequent flyer I love window seats – unless I’m flying international then aisle seat me please! While traveling this weekend – I was given a middle seat on my departure flight and the person near the window kept the shade closed until we landed. 😩 Like why? How do I even know when we are in the sky or when we are landing? And why can’t I see the beautiful clouds? 😬 and then on my return flight home I had a window seat with no window. 🙃🪟

First off, what do you call it when there’s no window – near the window seat? The people on the row with me agreed we will call it a wall seat. Lol. It’s a speciality row. It was literally the only row like this on the plane. 😂

I truly believe nothing happens by accident. I also believe if you look for God you will find him in so many ways. He’s everywhere!

In my recent conversations with God one thing he’s said repeatedly to me is to trust him.

How does this relate to the plane? 

I’m glad you asked. It’s easy to trust God when you can see how something you want will take off and or land, but what about when you can’t see?

Even scripture reminds us:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

For my flights this weekend I really had to:

1. Actually take off my earphones and listen to the flight attendant to know when we were landing and taking off and

2. trust the pilot to do his job without seeing where we were going.

In closing, since God should be the pilot of our life, can we trust him when we can’t see?

Picture reference:

Fight or flight! Your body immediately picks a side when you are going through an experience that feels traumatic. Majority of the time depending on the situation my body picks flight. Last week, I had an experience and my body immediately felt like it was in danger. It’s crazy what your brain tells you to protect you from any real or perceived threat. I immediately grabbed my luggage and decided I would ask questions later. 😂

It all happened so quickly and all I could think was let me flee (flight) from this situation and put myself in a more controlled environment to feel comfortable.

Fast forward another 10 minutes or so I calmed down some and told myself I could practice a healthier response to calm my body and brain so that I could make a more logical decision. So, instead of fleeing (flight) from the situation I went for a walk and calmed down. A nice brisk walk was a great way to calm my environment, get some fresh air, and slow the internal noise in my head. I understand my body’s ability to respond to situations to alert me to fight or flight will vary depending on the level intensity to protect me. Which is – great, but sometimes it’s okay to calm down and respond differently.

Do you tend to fight or flight when you encounter situations?

#permissiontothinkdifferently

I saw on social media the other day someone decided to go from a nickname to their full name. The reasoning behind it was they initially wanted others to be able to pronounce their name easier, but they prefer to be called by their birth name. I thought this was a great idea as I’m learning to give people to grow, change and evolve.

Storytime: I remember in grade school when my teachers took attendance I always knew when they were about to call my name because they would stop and look confused. In their defense it didn’t help that due to my first name containing 9 letters and my last name containing 8 there was a letter or two cut off from my first name on the roll. So, they weren’t sure if they should say Lawrence or Lawrencia. 😩

Fast forward to now, people occasionally happily share with me my name is difficult and to their comments I’m often unsure of what to say because like you all reading this – I didn’t have any input in my name. Our names are given to us by parents or someone else as we arent even old enough to chat at birth.

I truly believe you can’t even get to know someone until you know their preferred name. The best thing to do is to ask them – that’s it!

I’ll say this and I’ll probably keep saying it-  therapy is hard, sometimes. All weekend I’ve been trying to process things I discussed with my therapist on Friday. Additionally, every other thing I’ve listened to from sermons to mentor calls and conversations with a couple of friends compounded off that conversation. 😭

I will say this for starters when God wants to get my attention about anything it may start gently, but if I miss the cues and don’t do the work, then it will hit me like a ton of rocks. #woosah

In case you are new to my blog, one of the ways I process things is through conversation and my writing. So welcome aboard.🤗

After a combination of many things this weekend, I’ve realized sometimes you have to ensure you embrace how God has wired you.

We are wired exactly how God wanted us to be for my unique assignments and purpose.

The more I become clearer on my assignment, it allows me to produce speed and execute my purpose quicker because I can easily say yes or no to different things which don’t align.

– Dr. Darius Daniels

God graced me for every assignment he wants me to fulfill even if it feels weird to someone else and that’s okay.

I’ll dive deeper into this with a later blog, but enclosing we all have unique things which bother us from social justice issues, the abuse of animals, orphans, lack of systems in organizations and so much more! Lean into what bothers you as you may be able to solve a problem that others don’t see!

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What’s something which bothers you which no one else seems to notice?

In case I haven’t shared sometimes I like therapy and others – well therapy is hard. You are continuously looking inward and if I’m honest I’ll like to believe the issue is not me. 😂#whewchile

Story time: So, a few weeks ago I shared a post about feedback, (read this first: https://www.wrenhowsway.com/floppy-feedback/) . After meeting and discussing this story with my therapist she gave me a completely different outlook on my initial post and I knew I had to share a follow-up blog.
After sharing the story with my therapist, she first reminded me I volunteered to help with a project. Secondly, she advised once you agree to do something you sign up for every part of it – the good, the bad, and even the unsolicited feedback conversations which may result from it. Y’all! #therapyishard 😂 Definitely, not something I wanted to hear, but I understood her point.

Moral of the story: I’ll be very selective when I volunteer. 😂 That’s it!

New Blog: Meeting People Where They Are…

We are all on different journeys in our lives and at different phases of the journey. Some of us may be farther along than someone else in one aspect, while slowly trying to catch up in a different area. It’s easy to expect others to show up for you in different seasons as you anticipate you would show up for them in a similar season. But we are all going through unique situations as we journey through our different life seasons. I’m learning that grace has to be extended in so many different situations and nuances.

I was recently reading this book and the author shared, that while she was sick she had some friends who brought her meals, sent her cards in the mail, went to the hospital, helped around the house, told her jokes and some did absolutely nothing at all! She concluded that no matter how someone showed up for her in a tough season in her life – they would still be their friend.

This book resonated with me because it’s often easy to assume people will show up a certain way to help, but sometimes they don’t! You never know the unknown things people have going on which are not shared with everyone. Even if they don’t have anything going on, we still have to give them grace because maybe they don’t know what to do and that’s okay!

Sometimes God allows certain people to come into your life to pour into you in a really difficult season. However, we get to choose how we show up for others. Meet people where they are and allow God, grace and love to cover the difference. I love handwritten cards, so I’m going to be more intentional in sending cards to others.

How are you showing up for the people in your life?

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Few people want to be a writer and everyone wants to be an editor. I heard someone quote this last weekend and I knew I had to share it. It’s so much easier to have a red pen correcting things than to be the person who wrote it receiving all the feedback. This is why I’m not that fond of some constructive feedback. Let me clarify. I receive feedback from my editors for my books all the time – which I appreciate. However, it’s the unsolicited feedback from others, which can grind my gears at times.

Y’all remember being in school and there was always one or two people doing the bulk of the work for a group project? The other group members chimed in with feedback or stood at the front of the class for moral support for the group presentation. Yeah, still not cool today.😩

While the settings may have changed unsolicited feedback can be tough to digest – especially if others didn’t contribute and they were able to do so. I wish I could say I have mastered receiving feedback, but I haven’t.

However, the two most valuable things heard from a mentor recently were:

• Always assume positive intent from others.
• Don’t allow others to rush you to respond if you need a moment to process what they are saying.

How do you deal with constructive feedback?

Blind spots is a word that defines itself. We all have blind spots, but it is hard for us to see our own. However, we can usually identify a blind spot in a friend or a family member.

The truth is we are often only able to see ourselves outwardly, but others have a perspective of us inwardly and outwardly and see things we couldn’t possibly see. For example, friends can identify areas, which may need improvement. For example, a friend may inform us that we really aren’t that nice or we are easily angered. Ouch! 🤕 While, the news may be shared in love it can sting a little.

Are you receptive to feedback about a blind spot?

Do you receive it in love or are you easily offended? – which is a completely different blog, I’ll save for a later date. 🤔 Lol.

Blind spots can also be revealed to us if we have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, God. Listen, when God tells me about myself, I realize it is only for my good. Sometimes it can be hard to accept, but I’ve learned in my weaknesses he is always strong. And because his love is perfect for us, it alleviates any fears or anxiety I may experience. I use the information he shares as an opportunity to invite him to help.

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever had a moment where you are trying to write and nothing seems to be exactly what you wanted to say to your audience? That’s this blog here. 😩

I’ve deleted and rewritten it at least 4 times within the last hr and nothing seems to stick, so I’m calling this blog, “Untitled”because it’s coming straight from my heart. My prayer is that it helps someone.

Sigh….. blog attempt #5. 5 the number of grace. The more I read the Bible and chat with God I realize I will always be in a position where I’m becoming. I never want to get to a place where I feel like I arrived with God and there’s nothing more for me to learn about him or myself.

I’ve shared often that I grew up in church my entire life and I’ve heard some great sermons. However, some of the most important things I’ve learned are to read and study the Bible for yourself, have a relationship with God, life is better lived within a trusted community and remain in a student posture.

We are all human and none of us have this thing called life completely figured out. Everyone is capable of making mistakes but God gives us grace freely for ourselves and for us to give to others. As I’m writing this I’m thinking – man I have so much work to do to get better at giving others as much grace as I would want them to give me. But the great thing is… I’m encouraged because I know there’s grace for me to do better! ❤️

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38 Amplified

Everything is not as it seems. Some things may appear fruitful and healthy on the outside, but upon inspection or examining it at the core, it isn’t how they initially seemed.

Y’all I love summer fruit. Watermelon, peaches, plums, cherries and so much more. Last week, I ordered some peaches for my weekly grocery pick-up. I was so excited to bite into this delicious fruit or so I thought.

I picked up the fruit and immediately washed it off. After this, I noticed the top of the fruit looked different than normal. It was very dark, almost black and the outside of it was much softer than normal – like squishy. I broke it open and discovered the fruit was rotten. What initially appeared as something with nutritious value wasn’t good for me and could have made me sick.

The moral of the story, everything isn’t as it seems. Examine things past face value. Everything which seems good to you, may not be!

Remember: “People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Scripture: “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

P.S. I included photos of the fruit.

If I sit and think I can come up with an excuse as to why I shouldn’t move forward with anything. For example, there are about 1.2 million bloggers in Dallas and another 200,048 self-published authors. Okay, I made both of those numbers up to give context for this blog, but you get the point. 🙃😂 I will say the number is pretty high for bloggers and authors in Dallas and tremendously even higher if I look at the state of Texas.

The majority of us know someone who has started a blog and may even know an author. If I looked at the number of bloggers or self-published authors it could be intimidating if I allowed. I could easily give a lame excuse that the market is saturated and not share my own stories via a book or a blog. But…saturated or not in the words of the great Toni Morrison “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

A saturated market can be both an excuse and a fact at the same time. Due to this,  I could hope for others to write about my experiences, or I could do it myself. Of course, y’all know me, I will do it myself. No one else has my voice or my distinctive personality which God gave me.

My friends often tease me, all in good fun, and say “Wren Logic” when I share a story. Lol. Even my logical way of thinking is unique to me. It’s the way God made me and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

All of that to say, you can either make a “lame excuse” or do what you have been called to do.

Because it is Mental Health Awareness Month, I thought I’ll share things that bring me joy! I know oftentimes similar lists are shared and entitled self-care activities, but I was reading a book last week and it referenced activities they enjoyed as a joy list. The idea of calling it a joy list, made me smile, so here are my top 15 joy list items.

1. Spending quiet time with God.
2. Reading a book in one day.
3. A hot bubble bath with candles and relaxing music.
4. Sitting outside on the patio (with nice weather), enjoying a nice drink to relax.
5. Going to the pool and or beach.
6. Reading greeting cards from friends and family.
7. Receiving a note or email about how my book and or blog encouraged someone.
8. Publishing a book.
9. Turning on my out of the office because I have a trip booked.
10. Watching a comedy show.
11. Game night with friends and family.
12. Lying in bed binging a good series on Netflix.
13. Teaching others and seeing them have their aha moment.
14. Take nap midday!
15. Enjoying my favorite snack!

While I could go on and on about some of the things that bring me joy, I want you to think about something on your joy list. In addition to thinking about it, try to practice it tonight or even this week!

What brings you joy?

“Strength and honour are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I know there’s a buzzword called mindfulness, but I wanted to share some of my self-work.

I heard this quote recently and I was compelled to share it.

“We don’t fail, we reach our capacity!”Antoinette’s Corner

One thing I’ve tried to be mindful of is my feelings, my emotions, and how I process things. The quote posted above spoke volumes to me because of society’s preconditioned idea of “failure.” I’m working on becoming more mindful of my feelings, emotions, the things I tell myself, and even how I decide to process information.

While I may have initially labeled a task that didn’t meet my expected outcome as a possible failure, I can now say I reached my capacity for that task. I may have more capacity to problem solve, try it again tomorrow or even ask someone else for assistance, but one thing I’m not going to say is I failed.

Also, on my mindfulness journey, I’m conscious of my emotions and try not to let them control me because I know they fluctuate like this Texas weather. For example, before I react because something may have been an initial trigger I’ll have a conversation with a trusted friend or chat with the person. Being mindful for me means just because an action may invoke an initial emotion, it doesn’t mean that emotion is valid. I have to weigh my emotion against what I know about the person, is it a repeated behavior or maybe it is something that needs greater clarification. I’ve learned you can chat all day, but if you don’t have understanding – the words are meaningless.

Listen y’all, we are products of the things we say to ourselves, what we consume, and the people we hang around. What you verbalize you become. What you believe about yourself you become. Being mindful of these things may be the mental health break you need.

As someone who has lofty goals and ambitions, I’ve come to realize the importance of asking for help. I know so many of us including myself hate asking for help, but let me assure you it’s normal and the way God designed us. He wants us to live our lives within a healthy community of people who can do life with us. So of course like most of my blogs, I have an example for you of when I had to ask for help.

Storytime: On Easter Sunday, I had on a beautiful dress; however this dress had a long zipper down the back. I practiced the night before zipping the dress up successfully by myself. Now Easter morning comes and I’m attempting to zip my dress by myself and I can’t finish it. I even looked up YouTube and TikTok hacks and it wasn’t working. So, at the point I’m frustrated and on top of this, I’m running the risk of being super late for church with a half-zipped dress. I decided to grab my purse, keys and run to my car with my half-zipped dress and figure it out in the church parking lot. While this was not ideal and I don’t recommend this for anyone else – as soon as I pulled up to the church I found a single woman, ran to her car, and asked her to help me zip my dress, which she kindly obliged in assisting me.

I know this may seem like a small ask, but if you can’t ask for help for small things – it will be harder to do when the task is larger. Think of all the ways you could benefit from something someone else knows which could be beneficial to you. It’s nothing wrong with stating, “Hi I need help with… can you assist?

I recently boarded a Southwest flight and l noticed their napkin. The napkin stated,” Southwest Airlines was born on a napkin in 1971.”

While, l was on my flight I sat and thought about all the ideas of others scribbled on a napkin or in a notebook and because of fear and doubt the idea remains just that – faded words on a page. While this blog may be short,my prayer for you today is for God to help you develop a plan and for you to implement the idea, thought, or dream. Shed some light on that scribbled vision that’s on a sheet of paper tucked safely away.

For me, blogging all started with a 60 – day challenge. What’s your story?

“A dream is only a dream until you decide to make it real.” – Harry Styles

“Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

First off, I surpassed writing 200 blogs! 🙌🏽This is currently blog # 202. Thanks for being a part of my blogging journey! I appreciate every one of you. ❤️

I have a question for you, have you ever had a tough conversation with anyone? At some point, someone you have a relationship with will say something to offend you, whether it is intentional or not. I can admit I’ve been offended quite a few times through various relationships. I’m learning the key is not to allow the offense to become a fence in any relationship. It’s imperative to have tough conversations with others in professional and personal relationships.

I’ve had my fair share of tough conversations in which sometimes I handled them fairly well and other times they weren’t so great. I’ve realized my biggest issue with having tough conversations is sometimes I ramble. I start with good intentions and points and then, I add too much unnecessary context.

My mentor recently shared that the key in any conversation is conciseness. His quote was, “Say as much as is needed to get your point across, but no more than you have to say.”  I always feel like when I learn something new there is a testing experience. 😩

I will have to say, this time I wrote down what I had to say before the conversation. I ensured I acknowledged my feelings and ended my thoughts concisely with what I would like the result to be going forward. I’m thankful to report the conversation went well. While I’m sure I will have more conversations with others, I’m glad I now have a working blueprint of how I can be concise and handle the conversation gracefully.

How do you handle tough conversations?

“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Colossians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes I sit down and wonder did God call me to do this or that?

Am I able to accomplish it?

Can I do it?

Do y’all deal with self-doubt too or is it just me?

I heard this recently in a sermon and it made sense.

Everything begins with a thought. You can choose to entertain that thought or replace it with the truth of God.

For example, I’m sitting in a conference room moving a vase and didn’t want to drop it so l pushed it down the table. As I pushed it down the table I said,” I am clumsy and then l knocked over a glass of water.” While it felt like that statement validated what happened, l reminded me there is power in my words. So, at that moment l immediately stated I spilled the water, but I’m not clumsy.

I know this may sound small, but small habits are changed when you recognize them and take steps to change them.

Now I practice evaluating my thoughts and replacing them with the words of God. Even if I have to repeat the same scripture over and over until I believe it and it becomes a part of my psyche.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

This weekend I went to hang out with some friends at a restaurant. So, like some of you I love to plan what I am going to wear in advance in hopes it will allow me to get dressed faster. However, I quickly learned you can have a plan, but it may change real fast. Okay back to the story. lol. As I changed clothes on Friday night and put on my dress because I absolutely love dresses – my zipper broke on a brand-new dress. I attempted to try on my back up dress, but I didn’t like it.

After the dress mishap, I took down my hair and realized my curling rods didn’t curl any of my hair. In fact, my hair looked a hot mess. At this point, I am frustrated, and I had a whole melt down. My initial fixed though mindset was to cancel everything! But, after quickly pulling myself together I snapped out of my fixed mindset and thought of how can I apply a  growth mindset to this situation. What can I do to enjoy the evening and how can I improvise with my hair? Well, if you swipe over, I share a picture of my outfit and my hair. I’m thankful I was quickly able to change my thinking and focus on a solution vs. the problem.

QOTD: How can you apply a growth mindset to a challenge you faced today or even over the weekend?

My favorite quote: It always seems impossible, until it is done. – Nelson Mandela

We may make our plans, but God has the last word. Proverbs 16:1

A week ago, I was preparing to wash off some grapes I had purchased and I realized one of the grapes was rotted. I quickly checked the grapes surrounding this one particular grape and realized other grapes were no longer edible due to their proximity to the rotten grape, so I threw them away.

Listen Proximity matters!

Especially, when it comes to your community of friends. While we don’t get to pick the family we are born into, we get to pick if we want to befriend someone. Be sure you have friends in your community who are like-minded.

The scripture says, “Iron sharpens iron.” (Proverbs 27:17) Use wisdom to ensure, there are no spoiled grapes in your community.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” I Corinthians 15:33

I’ve recently watched Inventing Anna and the Tinder Swindler. If you watched them, share your thoughts below in the comments and if you haven’t watched them, check them out on Netflix.  (Sidenote: Has anyone noticed Netflix keep increasing their bill – like Geesh everything is increasing in price.) 😩🙃

Okay, I was distracted,  but back to my story. 😂

In case you haven’t seen them here a Quick Summary of Both Shows: The series are based on true stories, in which both of the portrayed individuals change their names and utilize other people and resources in unorthodox ways to try and gain wealth and status.

First I want to say, I don’t agree with the actions from both shows and neither do I encourage or recommend anyone to recreate what they did to others. However, because I believe I can learn something from everything, it was interesting to see their confidence. For starters both individuals convinced themselves and others they were someone wealthy with a stellar family pedigree. In addition to them convincing themselves and others, they also acted upon and implemented strategies to get the resources they wanted to live the life they wanted and so much more.

After watching all of the episodes, I sat and thought about how beneficial it would be if we believed in ourselves and implemented the goals and strategies we want to accomplish our dream job or to launch our own company. With God’s help and our action – we could be unstoppable!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

As we wrap up this month with blogs focusing on all things American Black Culture, I want you to take a moment and consider your favorite enjoyable thing about American black culture. Whether it is the versatility of our hairstyles and hair textures, our music, the food, our style of clothing, or even our language between each other. Like there are some things we just know and it doesn’t have to be verbalized. Like your mom giving you a side-eye, you and your friend making that connecting glance, and y’all both spot the same thing or the trash-talking during a game of spades or dominoes. It’s all a part of what makes us, who we are.

As Black History Month is coming to a close, we still have every day to celebrate who we are. No day or month on the calendar will change my gratefulness for being a proud black woman.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalms‬ ‭139:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Music is powerful. Music moves your heart, mind, and soul and even changes your mood. Music is a way to connect with others and is such a vibe. To be honest, I have my best cleaning days when I turn on some music and find a good playlist.

In American Black Culture music is a staple at every event from family reunions to birthdays. Family reunions are filled with line dances because it isn’t a family reunion until you do the electric slide. And let’s not forget about birthdays -y’all know we are going to sing the Stevie Wonder redemption of the song.

Even when you are singing at church, the runs on a solo hit a little differently and run a little longer. We will remix a song and combine them all into one and before you know it you have a 3 min song that turned into a 15-minute song. (But who’s counting?!!!) lol – me. 😂

The fact that we have our Black National Anthem, 🎶Lift Every Voice and Sing. 🎶

I mean – what more can I say!

From hip hop, rap, r&b, the quiet storm, blues, reggae, gospel, etc. – there’s music for everyone.

A good drum beat even without music – you can feel it in your soul.

Whether I’m saying, “It’s 7 o clock on the dot” or, “ You make me happy, this you can bet… someone will always jump in and finish the song.

I’ll leave you with this fun fact about my favorite artist and see if you can guess the artist.

“How you gon’ win when you ain’t right within”.

Our music is a part of American Black History.

It’s so important to show up everywhere you go as your true authentic self. Others can benefit when you are you – even at work. I started a new role last year and I’ve received tons of positive feedback on how others enjoy working with me because despite what happens around me every day I decide to show up as me.

For example, I love to have fun so when I lead huddles for the team, I always plan a five-minute game before we jump into the daily topics. We also have a shared board we update every day, so I started commenting under everyone’s post to say nice things and adding funny gifs or memes. Now others on my team have joined in. Those two examples may seem small, but they can make someone else day when you show up as you!

While there are billions of people on the planet, there is no one exactly like you.

No one has the same DNA strand like you.

I say this often, I can give every blogger I know the same blog topic, and our blogs will all be different. That just shows the beauty in the importance of being authentically you. 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalms 139:14

I posted a picture on my timeline yesterday of the Cowboys stadium before the game occurred. The picture was captioned, “The Stage Is Set”.

From observing the picture, it was the subtle quietness that occurred before the game. They were anticipating what was to come once the stadium was filled with people.

When I looked at the picture, it was a reminder for me of how hopeful we can be before the New Year starts which usually carries over at least until the first week of the New Year.

New Year’s Day, the stage is set for an amazing new year.

Yells – 2022 is our year!

We set our goals, have vision board parties, and then somewhere along the way “it” happens. We lose momentum and focus or we never initiate any of our plans. The entire stage can be set for an amazing year, but if there’s no action from us then there will be no progress.

Today is Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day. I know it sounds like a made-up day, but by now some people have written their plan for the year and have never taken a step towards execution.

Don’t allow this to be you. 2022 can still be your year! Let’s get this done!

“Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Listen she can walk that walk!

2021 was a whirlwind! Some days I felt like I was literally hit by a bus. 😩 But the next day…I bounced back! I’ll give you my top 11 things from 2021.

• My relationship with God has grown. Y’all he loves me and he be talking to me because I talk to him.
• I traveled every month of the year – which I absolutely loved!
• I caught Rona 😩, but I’m grateful I didn’t have any severe symptoms. I was basically asymptomatic. 🙌🏽
• I received a new position at work.
• I learned not to be so hard on myself, particularly about my weight. I look amazing!!!
• I had my first self Publishing event!
• I have my first client to help with self Publishing!
• My friends and I had a dope photoshoot.
• I have accountability partners in so many areas of my life. S/o to my friends from DTA!
• I joined a new church! @social_dallas
•  I colead a connect group at church.

Wow, so much more happened this year, but I couldn’t  have done none of it without the grace of God on my life. I’m excited about 2022 and I’m expecting amazing things.

Share one of your favorite memories from 2021!

I was lying in bed one night last week pondering about the past year. While I’m grateful for this year, 2021 is a roller coaster of emotions for me and it’s not over yet. Initially, I couldn’t seem to get my balance with working out, traveling, writing a new book, starting a new position, and don’t forget there’s still this global pandemic going on. 🤯 I remember telling my therapist a few months ago I think I’m broken and she quickly reminded me that I wasn’t. 😫🤣🤣🤣

Fast forward to December and I finally feel like I found my rhythm. It only took 11 months 😫, but I’m here. For me, I had to add structure back into my life especially now knowing I’m working from home permanently. Structure for me the past couple of weeks is morning devotion, prayer time, gym, work, and then scheduled time after work for any projects. Woosah.

To be honest, some days, I still struggle to get out the bed so early, but I can say I feel so much better knowing I’ve spent time with God and completed my workout before logging into work. This has also helped tremendously with my energy level at work and my adjustment to day life savings time. Y’all it’s dark so early. 😩

For many of us as the year comes to an end and the new year approaches – we think of the goals we want to start for next year. I’ve learned, you can either wait until January 1st to start those goals or we can say ready, set, go and start those goals now! Starting today will give us a jump start of a couple of weeks on a new health goal, financial goal, or any type of accomplishment. We don’t have to wait for the calendar to say January 1st to work on ourselves, we can start now! 💯

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. KJV Isaiah 43:19

Storytime: I used an air machine to blow up balloons a couple of weeks ago and there were a couple of times when I put too much air in the balloons and they popped.

This reminded me of what happens when you allow things to fester and continue to build up without dealing with them. Eventually, you feel like you are exploding because you have feelings and emotions which are unaddressed, and then like a balloon you pop.

Or lets say you are at a holiday party and you consume too much food and then your button pops on your pants. 😂

In both situations, overconsumption can be detrimental. Learn to deal with things and address them before you reach your boiling point and act out of character. Remember, one of the fruits of the spirit is self-control.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s all fun and games when God is sending out blessings, but what about when the Holy Spirit tells you no to something.

Y’all I’m in a season where I’m focused on stewardship. Pray for me because I’m not okay. 😩😂😂😂

What is stewardship?

I’m glad you asked. Lol. The short definition of stewardship is managing the property or affairs of someone else. God has given us all talents, gifts, and resources and it is our responsibility to be a good steward of all the things he has given us.

So I’ve shared I love to travel. However, it can be an expensive hobby. Y’all it’s one thing not to be able to afford a trip, but what if Holy Spirit tells you “no” you can miss out on a trip and save all the money you were going to use for traveling? 😩

Of course, I wasn’t happy about it, but I know it is for my good. I’m learning stewardship requires discipline. And discipline leads to living a life of freedom. However, in the meantime, while you are cultivating a disciplined lifestyle – it involves saying no to yourself and others, which to be honest isn’t fun at all.But, I’ve decided I rather be a good steward of the things God has given me, so he can trust me with more.

Question: What’s something you had to say no to – to be a good steward and live a disciplined life?

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head overall. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29:11-12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

I know there are so many fear stories, but what about fear due to a real-life traumatic experience. 😩 I’ll share a personal story with y’all.

Storytime: When I was younger – elementary school age, I remember being at a cookout at someone’s house who had a pool and someone thought it would be cool to throw me in the pool. Y’all, I high key thought I was going to drown and thankfully, someone saw me panicking and helped.

As you can see – this was the beginning of my fear of drowning – which is absurd because I love water, the beach, and pools. But my fear of drowning still feels so real to me.

I’m sure you are wondering why I’m sharing this – so I’ll explain. I had a dream the other day about something I was fearful of. To be honest I forgot this was something I hadn’t worked through and it felt so real in the dream – it woke me up and I grabbed my phone and searched for scriptures on fear and found this one below and it helped me tremendously.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the  Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm‬ ‭91:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

First off: Psalms 91 – is all about God’s protection and safety.  If you are ever feeling like you need protection, I highly recommend you read the entire chapter until it comforts you.

However, this scripture really stuck out to me because it reminded me there’s so much safety in God. He wants us to dwell in his presence and he will calm all of our fears, even if they were from prior experiences. 

Listen, I love a good National day. I honestly completely forgot about one of my favorite’s until a friend reminded me! It’s National Author’s Day!!! 📚

As I think about this day I’m reminded of my why for my blog. When I first started blogging in 2017, I had no idea I would publish a book or a second book with a third in the works! My initial why at that time was I wanted to complete a 60-day fitness challenge and document it to help others. Fast forward until today and my why hasn’t changed – I want to help others. While my mediums for helping others may change due to different assignments my purpose and reason for starting this page remains the same. I’m grateful I get to share my experiences with all of you through my writings.

So, to all the authors, future authors and our beloved readers cheer to you!

P.S. In case you haven’t purchased one of my books, here’s the links! 🥰

Things I Learned Before I Turned 31

My Self-Publishing Secrets: Lawrencia’s Self-Publishing Blueprint

You always have to plug yourself!

Growing up in a low-income area, many children including myself had limited options due to poverty being all around us.   We learned survival and coping skills at an early age due to exposure to so many things in our neighborhood. However, we knew there was something bigger, which encouraged us to dream larger than what we could see. For us this was sports.

The guys and I quickly learned when we were able to connect with others playing sports it created a common ground. Sports was the only place where our ethnicity or our family’s financial status didn’t matter. At that moment we all came together to enjoy the sport.

Sports gave us hope. It provided us the ability to dream, see potential, and possibly change the trajectory of our lives. We even saw generational wealth created – just from playing sports.

I’ve often heard the quote, there’s no I in team, but I truly felt when we played sports it allowed us to make new friends have coaches, mentors, and teammates – who were part of our extended family.

As a former athlete myself, I’ve seen many witness the positive impact sports had on the trajectory of a child’s life.

Would you consider changing the trajectory  of a child’s life and investing in their future?

Donation Link

Every year I have a renewed faith in the Cowboys. Like every single year. For me as a fan, it doesn’t matter to me the last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl or even if they went to the playoffs the previous year. The only thing that matters is – a new season has begun; therefore my faith for another winning season is renewed. 

Storytime: September 9, 2021, was the kickoff game for the NFL season and of course my team the Cowboys were playing and I’m excited. To show my excitement, I even wore Cowboys gear while working from home, virtually. #mindyourbusiness😂

Anywho, while I was going back and forth with some Cowboys haters on social media, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said if only your faith was renewed in me every time things didn’t go as you prayed. I’m like say what?!!! 🙃

I’m thinking man, God knows how to snatch my edges. 😂 Does he talk to y’all like this too? Lol.

But he’s so right – we pray for things to go one way and God has a different plan and then we are lowkey upset about it. But what if every time we felt disappointed by God because we didn’t get our way (which probably wasn’t the best decision anyway), we decide to renew our faith in him. Because just like I continue to give the Cowboys another chance – he’s the God of another chance for us! He continues to forgive us over and over again. And he can make everything that happens to me work for my good! 🥰

Would you consider being a God Fan For Life (GFFL)?

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.” ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I was listening to a sermon by Dr. Darius Daniels entitled, Mood to Movement. In the sermon, he talked about how your mood (your emotions) can impact your movement. I felt convicted because I immediately thought about past situations in which my negative mood interfered with my movement.

Y’all want an example? Okay, good. I’ll share.?

Storytime: Some of y’all aren’t going to believe this, but I used to go from 0 to 100 in a matter of moments. ?

One embarrassing moment I can remember from about 12 years ago is when I was at a department store and I was trying to purchase a skirt set for an internship interview. Y’all the skirt set was on the rack together and it fit me perfectly. When it was time for me to pay, the cashier told me I couldn’t purchase the items because the skirt and blazer were different sizes. Y’all my mood changed drastically. I went from being excited about finding my interview outfit to immediately being upset at this lady. Shamefully, my mood changed my disposition and everything else. ? Thankfully, my sister was there with me and she saved the day.

Side note: Because of my sister’s calm mood, I was able to get the suit and I was hired for the internship as well! ??

But what if my sister wasn’t there – I could have allowed my mood to impact a moment – which would have impacted my coin flow in college.

I could have gotten the suit without my sister’s help if I would not have allowed my mood to impact my movement and mouth.

Question: How have you allowed your mood to impact your movement?

“Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭MSG‬‬

My friend was teaching me words and phrases in French such as my name is and how are you.

I would tell y’all how to say it, but you can ask Siri or Google – I’m still working on my pronunciation. ?

I remember asking them a question, in which they replied in French saying I’ll do it later. So I asked, how do you say now or immediately and they explained certain words don’t translate from English to French. Based on their culture they are never in a rush, they take their time to relax and enjoy moments.  They also explained rushing and doing things in a hurry is a concept learned in America. I was taken back by this, but I started to ponder about this because a Bible study I attended a few days earlier – spoke about the art of rest and additionally my pastor recently completed a series about rest. #mindblown

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus never hurried to get anywhere, he always took his time?

When he heard Lazarus was dying – he delayed a few days and took his time making it back to his friends. 

Or when the storm was happening on the boat, Jesus was unbothered and was asleep. Listen, that’s the kind of peace I want to have – where you can rest in the middle of the storm.

As my vacation ends, I’m going to continue to operate from a place of rest – not striving, not over hurrying, but resting! I hope you guys can feel how restful my vacation was through this photo.

Question of the week: How can you un-hurry this week and slow down?

This blog was inspired by a conversation with a friend.

Storytime: I was sharing my birthday photos with a friend and was letting her know the story behind my dress in the photo. I explained I purchased this beautiful dress in February of 2020 to wear for a friend’s Birthday photo photoshoot in Paris. Then Covid happened. My trip planned for March 2020 was postponed to July 2020 and then it was eventually canceled. Woosah.

I’m sure like me, we all remember when we thought Covid would be over in a month or two, and unfortunately, it is currently still ongoing- and launched into a full global pandemic. That’s still mind-boggling.

But any-who, what was I supposed to do with this beautiful dress? I couldn’t return it. Therefore, I decided to repurpose the dress and wear it as my birthday dress. Whoop! ??

So, what are you supposed to do with your events planned or outfits you haven’t worn due to the pandemic? – You repurpose it!

Turn the event into a zoom event, wear the outfit to your living room party or a random mailbox trip, or a Tuesday at the park. Remember you don’t need a reason or a special occasion to wear something – wear it or celebrate it whenever you want!

So, I’m a huge fan of the Olympics. It’s amazing to watch people from around the world who trained vigorously compete against the world’s best.

Fun fact: I binged watched as many hours of the Olympics as I could this weekend. My favorite competitions are the synchronized divers, gymnastics, and track and field.

Sorry, I digressed. ? But, while watching the Olympics I realized a majority of the Athletics wore noise-canceling headphones or AirPods before their event began. While the arenas were closed to outside fans, I’m sure it was still very loud in the stadium and they needed to concentrate and not be distracted by outside noise from announcers, other competitors, etc…

I thought to myself, how often do I sit, disconnect from the noise and tune into what God is saying. Well, starting in August, I’m going to do just that. I’ll be off social media for a while to silence some noise and will be spending more time with God. Remember, it’s important to be intentional and prioritize our relationship with God over things. It’s hard to hear God’s soft gentle voice if there’s a lot of noise.

“and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬