Are you ready for a refreshing?

   

I read someone’s FB status yesterday that said, “God might not come today. He may not bring what you need tomorrow. Remember that He is coming.” I paraphrased it but that was the basic yet profound idea. I know a lot of my friends are going through things. Some people in my family might be also. Remember… YOU are not alone. YOU aren’t the only one going through things. And YOU will get through even your darkest moments. Know that even your worse is better than the “worse” of some. Where you are may not be the best place for you but it is where you are supposed to be. You will prevail. You’ve done it before and I believe in you. 

I have been on journeys that I haven’t expected go through. Some came when I least expected. When I got there I didn’t think I would get through it. I survived even when I knew in my heart that I wouldn’t. When I got through it, I refused to look back.  I have lived long enough to know that things do and will get better. Life is one of the best teachers of strength. Whatever we are searching for will eventually come. It doesn’t always come when we feel that we need it most but it comes when we need it. You must endure pain in order to truly embrace the gain. As a result of everything you experience growth occurs.  It really does.

I believe in God. Some don’t. In order to get through both the good and bad times I hold on tight to His promises. I can only encourage those of you who don’t believe in God or something greater than you to hold on. It will come and good things will come to you. If you pray and believe, be fervent. Don’t every stop praying. Some folks say, “Pray until something happens.” I do and then I start praying again.

I saw Oprah talking to a minister a few days ago that said he started his day with prayer. I do too. He prays for 30-90 minutes in the morning. I don’t. I thought initially that it was a lot of time to sit without your mind wandering as mine definitely would. Then I realized that my mother does this daily. She sits in her chair every morning and becomes the prayer warrior that she is. I pray throughout my day but have never sat for 30-90 minutes praying. I can remember when I sat alone in the dark one day praying for about ten minutes. It was an amazing experience.  It was refreshing.

Would it be hard for me to do this? I don’t know. I know that it takes discipline combined with faith. I have the faith. I have to become more disciplined with the amount of quality time I spend praying. This is not a challenge. This will be something that I hope to do for the rest of my life. Prayer is easy, and I’m going to embrace the peace it brings. I’m ready for a refreshing. Are you?

Make 2012 a great year!!

As the bells toll ringing in every New Year, your dreams should get bigger not smaller. You may not have achieved your goals for 2011.  Don’t fret.  Jot them down and carry them into 2012 with a vengeance. Combining them with your current list of goals will help you maintain your focus.

                                                   

I’m continuing my publishing endeavors. I’m writing as much as I can so that when the moment arrives, I’ll be ready. I just paused from things to relocate in August and am taking care of things that currently take precedence over publishing my work. However… it will be coming to daylight soon.

My computer and flash drives refuse to continue housing my manuscripts unless I share them… LOL! I’m committed to do so and trust that 2012 will be a good year. I’m currently looking for the best copyeditor and book cover designer. I want all of my ducks in a row so to speak. It will come when it is supposed to and I know this is the year.

Along this writing journey I think I have found a voice in a genre that doesn’t get heard from too often. I have a young adult fiction story that I hope will reach LGBT teens. I also have a middle grade reader completed and one close to completion. I have one adult fiction book completed and am in the final stages of completing another. I’m working on two inspirational or spiritual books. They’re faith based or motivational filled books but wouldn’t necessarily be classified as religious.

I’m not trying to be boastful or arrogant. That’s not a part of my character. I share all of this to hold myself accountable and let you know that I really am working diligently to bring my dreams to life. I can’t encourage people without inspiring myself to remain focused.

As the year begins we can readily call out things that didn’t go right for us in 2011. It could’ve been unemployment, a breakup or divorce. However, we pause when it comes to things that went well. I look at it this way… if I hadn’t survive the things that I thought would be the end of my world, I couldn’t stand here today in a better place telling you different. Life happens to make us stronger. Every current moment/experience is connected to future moments. It’s imperative that we pay attention to the cues so that we make the right decisions.

So… if the year doesn’t end well for you make a promise to make 2012 even better. Embrace your dreams and remain mindful of how deserving you are. Don’t just watch others succeed. Create ways that you can as well. Think outside the box and you will find ideas inside of you that you didn’t know existed.  YOU are a winner and the same success awaits you… dream BIG and achieve!

Happy Holiday Season... Don't stop believing!

Any one who has been around me most of my life knows that I LOVE gifts. I usually celebrate my birthday the entire month and maybe even a few days after. The older I get the more excited I’ve become about Christmas. Any given year, I could be seen dancing when I opened my gifts on Christmas morning. This year has been entirely different.  

We moved in August from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. It was something I had always wanted to do. However, it wasn’t until God provided us an opportunity that we were able to cease the moment. Despite how corny it may sound, everyday since then has become more than I could ever receive on my birthday and under the tree on Christmas. What did I ask for this year on my birthday? Nothing. What did I ask for this year for Christmas? Nothing.

Does that mean I’m above accepting gifts? NO! I’m always ready for a gift but for the first time I feel like I have everything that I need. We haven’t been here for long but the change has been good for us. It’s been amazing for our spirit. We both are so happy to be here that we embrace each day more fully than the last.  Some of what we’ve been blessed with I haven’t shared publically. I don’t like when people brag so I don’t want to come off that way. What I will say is God has surely been smiling on us.

If you’re tired of me talking about this move, I guess you should stop reading my blog for a while. LOL! I can’t apologize for my happiness and this move is a great part of it. So, I can’t help but talk and write about it. I was happy before we moved here but this new chapter in our lives is something short of amazing!

I hope everyone has a blessed holiday season and is ready to have a wonderful 2012. Find something that keeps you motivated, and inspired. You can find it in small things as easily as you can in big things. You might not need a new address or career, but find whatever “it” is that will inspire your tomorrow to be even more fabulous than today! Love life and live fully.

My life's not perfect but it's a life guided by faith...

I haven’t written a post in a few months. I’m still trying to get acclimated to North Carolina and our life here. I have a lot to say but wasn't sure if this was the forum to share it. I decided to take a chance on that today. There’s a lot going on but it’s more so inside of me than environmentally. I don’t want to sound as if I have a life of perfection. I DON’T. I have a life of faith, which makes it appear that way. 

I have been in places where I never wanted to be. I’ve survived things that I didn’t think I would. Nothing like addiction or abuse but things that I had to go through to get where I am.  So, now it’s a chapter that I have embraced fully and things affect me differently. I want to stand on top of the mountaintop and scream daily how grateful I am.  I don’t but I do pray and tell God more than once a day how grateful I am.

I’m thankful for the pain I’ve gone through because I know I wouldn’t be me today.  I hated it with every fiber of my being when I was going through it. However, I now better understand its purpose. I in no way live a perfect life. There are a few things that I’m lacking but because I’ve been through worse sometimes I don’t even notice. 

My problems are the same as others but I have learned the art of seeing the good in the bad. When faced with loss I will allow myself to grieve and not give myself an expiration date on the way I feel. Death is another thing all together. However, when I am tossed things from here and there I give myself a few minutes to be annoyed and then I have to move on. I haven’t figured out how to deal with inconsiderate drivers. I don’t have road rage but they know how to increase my blood pressure. Remember… I’m not perfect!

Wisdom and faith have carried me to a better place. I am not trying to push religion on anyone. It’s what is best for me. My relationship with God is powerful. I asked Him, the last time I was in the valley, “Please just help me get through this, Lord. If you help me, I will promise to never look back.” I know you’re not supposed to bargain with God. He is not a man.  I did. I am human so I did what I needed to do at the time. It has aided my growth because I have to keep my promise. As always, He kept His.

My Nana used to say, and my mother still says, “When I tell you about the goodness of Jesus!” That’s what I’m living. In life you have to find your place.  Jesus, God, G-d, Jehovah, or whatever you call Him, is for me. You have to find what is best for you. We all have trying times, some more than others, but once you get through them you MUST grow. If you don’t every trial and pain will be the same with no lesson learned. Find what is best for you to aid in your healing and daily living. 

My review of Flirting with Faith by Joan Ball

Flirting with Faith
Joan Ball
Publisher: Howard Books
Published: 2010
ISBN: 9781439149874
Pages: 213

After reading Flirting with Faith, whether you are a Christian, atheist, or unclear about what you believe, you might arrive at the conclusion that it was a great thing that the author, Joan Ball, had her come to Jesus moment when she did. After reading the book, the reader is amazed at the experiences she endured—the death of both of her parents, a friend and a child and her son’s illness-- in a short period of time that would bring any Christian, saint, or sinner, to their knees. Faith came to Joan’s life, one might say, in the nick of time. Her survival in part depended on it. A Christian might say, “God is always on time.” And for Joan Ball, the atheist, He was “right” on time.

I was raised in the church and had been to church through my adult life, but never owned the blind faith that I had always desired. My journey, although different from Joan’s, was similar in some ways as that blind faith came over me unexpectedly all at once. I know the power of God and was able to witness it in my life which allows me to believe that the story she has penned clearly reflects her conversion experience.

Ms. Ball will face skeptics who might question her story but my being a Christian allows me to see that her story is valid without having been there beside her when it happened. God comes to all of us in different ways and at different times and that is reflected in Joan’s walk throughout the story. When one is truly anointed it is evident to those who know what “it” looks like if that anointing is real. Joan Ball is now walking the life of a Christian and is no longer an outsider standing on her toes peeking in.

This book is well written and clearly reflects the sudden and profound experience Joan Ball had in 2003 that would ultimately change her life forever. I feel that this author’s wit, honesty and humor guided this book allowing the reader to think of their own religious views while reading about her being “struck” Christian. Joan has walked with blind faith since that day allowing God to be her guide. She never stopped to question what she was feeling. She just stood up, owned it and has never let it go. That is the most amazing part of the story to me. She, like an infant navigating the world for the first time, embraced God and hasn’t questioned what He needed from her. She fervently acquired knowledge through reading the Bible, meeting with her pastor and the monks, and dove into Christianity as she had into her addiction, education and career. She had a great desire for her life to be in order and it is now held together by the one thing—religion—she never thought she’d embrace.

Despite your religious beliefs it is clear that something happened to Joan Ball that day which has affected her life and has changed her view of life since religion became a part of it. I look forward to reading another book by Ms. Ball as she continues her Christian journey.

The next book up for review...

Why Me, Oh Lord, Why Me? is my next book up for review. It is a moving true story of Jane, a Christian widow and mother of five children. Some might think it is a controversial account of Jane's life- demonic spirits, voices, a second personality-which she feels stemmed from a "generational curse." Jane lives through a number of tragedies and heartaches. Jane persevered despite dealing with mental illness and recurrent thoughts of suicide. The book discusses her struggles and reflects her faith in God which pulled her through each event in her life providing a foundation for her survival.

I'm not far from the end of the book and have enjoyed it thus far. It is an eye opening account of the power of the human spirit. It makes the reader question if they could survive experiences such as this with the same fervor that Jane did. It is a compelling story and I'm eager to continue with Jane on her spiritual journey. The story was written by Jane with help from her sister Rebecca.

I have five more books up for review and I'm looking forward to reading all of them. The genres vary but they are all debut novels. I hope to have them completed by the end of the month. I try to give each book a week or so to complete because I put myself in the author's shoes. I don’t want them to wait because I would be sitting waiting anxiously for my review. So, I do my best to get them done quickly.

Today is a beautiful sunny day in Bucks County, PA and although I want to spend my day off outside, I am going to do my best to be productive. I have set goals that I need to stick with but spring days have always been a challenge for me. I am not truly an outdoor person but I just feel like I need to feel the breeze and enjoy the brightness of the day. Again I say to myself… focus!!

Fast paced story... highly recommended!

Mozart in the Future
By:Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters
Publisher:Rodrigues-Peters
Published:2009
ISBN:9783950280401
99 Pages

I took a break from reading the book I planned on reviewing next and opened “Mozart in the Future,” written by Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters. Before I knew it, I had finished the book. This book is a wonderful story to share with children who are working hard to achieve their dreams—athletically, musically or academically—because it will motivate them to see it through.

This fun fast paced story discusses a childhood friendship between young Mozart and an equally talented young musician named Max. They both long to be “normal” little boys outside playing with friends but aren’t allowed to have any fun. Mozart’s dad prevents him from playing with the other boys as does Max’s mother forcing them to only focus on playing the piano. Although he is not allowed to play, Mozart holds his love for music getting lost in his desires as he plays each key. Max on the other hand, starts to dislike music and becomes physically ill from the stress his mother has him under. These talented young men never met outside of their nightly dreams when one day, seeing Max’s love for music lessen, the Spirit of Music intervenes bringing these boys together in reality.

The boys meet and Max introduces Mozart to a new world—the 21st Century. Mozart in return gives Max more than he could ever give him—he gives him back his love for music. These boys, two worlds apart, needed each other to get where they needed to go in order for their futures to occur. This is a great story in that a lot of us get lost on our journey forgetting the purpose of what we initially set out to do. This book will encourage children and teens to stay focused and continue on their course. Ms. Rodrigues-Peters achieved what she set out to do in this story—to encourage young hearts to dream and believe.

I highly recommend this book to all school aged children. It will give them permission to dream...

Just one of those days...

I am surprised that I had "one of those days." I am surprised because it has been a few years, despite the circumstances, that I have had one of them. I woke up yesterday morning with a plan in sight, made a phone call for clarification of those plans, and to my dismay-- my mood changed -- when things didn't go as planned. I own my feelings and the fact that I allowed "something" to steal my joy. I am a little disappointed in myself but stopped to remember two things. One, I am only human and two, these feelings were only allowed to last for a few hours. I made every effort to write and do other things but the negative feelings took hold. So, I wasn't as productive as I wanted to be.

Earlier I watched my recording of Oprah. It was about Roger Ebert. He is no longer able to talk after facing thyroid cancer and numerous surgeries. The tears rolled down my eyes as I saw the light shining in his eyes although he lacked the ability to speak. Here I had allowed a perfectly beautiful day to get away from me forgetting that things would be better tomorrow. Things always get better. If not, I would make it through anyway as I always did until things did finally turn around. I watched the love in Mr. Ebert's eyes-- for his wife, his life, the movies, his computerized voice, Oprah-- and although he couldn't speak, I clearly heard his voice verbalized through that love. His voice is gone but his spirit has remained.

I watched Mr. Ebert in awe who self-reportedly "loved to eat and talk." He has lost those two abilities but has managed to keep on living-- really live not just exist. I allowed myself yesterday to feel whatever it was that I was feeling. But today I'll make it a brighter day even through the rain. Take what you have been given in this life and make it better... that's my plan... don't give up because something or someone has let you down. It is quite simple: keep the faith.

When the "real" job gets in the way...

What do you do when the "real" bill paying job gets in the way of your aspiring goals? Deal with it and work extremely hard to change it. For right now I go to work everyday knowing that I'm working toward something great. I find comfort in thinking about what lies ahead for me. I guess that's that thing called faith again. I walk through my eight hour shift with song ideas rolling in my head. You never know when and where inspiration is going to rear its head.

It is the desire that I have to break into the literary and music world that allows me to walk through my shift at work with a new swagger. I know this is temporary. I know that I am going to do the things that I desire as I asked God to allow me to do them. Faith! Knowing that there is an eventual end to my mundane eight hour shift, allows me to make it through my shift with ease. Faith, determination and an immense desire are a few ingredients in the recipe of my humble existence... the key factors to my success!!


Goals for today... run a few errands and write, write, write...

Faith Pulling Me Through...

I've had a few things on my mind this week but haven't let them get the best of me. Yesterday, I sat staring at the computer screen as a headache tried to distract me from the writing goals I had set. A few other things got in the way but I managed to brush them off as well. After a moment, I looked up and the blank page in front of me was filling up with words. Those words evolved into a song. After I sang it over, making sure I hadn't just thrown words together, it made sense. So, I printed it out, read it over, and liked the way it was written. I put it in my binder with the rest of the songs I've written and then I wrote another song and another.

I'm not telling you this to brag. I don't do that at all and I don't it like when others brag. I'm quite humble actually. I say this to confess that I was having a slow week with things getting in the way or staying at the forefront of my mind. I prayed and spoke with a friend, but it is my faith that has carried me through. I know that eventually what I'm doing will pay off. The late nights, the many little notebooks I scribble in, the ideas floating in my head, will all develop into something special. The idea of seeing my books in print and hearing Minister Steve sing melodies that I helped create evokes a feeling in me that I can't explain. Maybe that feeling is called... praise!

I write quotes on my Facebook page almost daily. Sometimes they are from others but most of the time they are by me. I do this because it forces me to hold myself accountable. When I wrote this week that "Sometimes you have to move out of your own way," I was also speaking to myself. I know where my strength comes from. I can't let anything get me down and block my blessings. So, I claim my success now and know that it will come to fruition--especially if I keep up at this pace. I'm working and "grinding," as they say, like this is my last day on earth. I hope it isn't. I'm going to continue to work very hard so that I can reach my publishing goals and I'll walk with the blind faith that my mother owns... this faith will carry me through...