Don't Ever Get Too Comfortable.. It Might Be Moving Time...Again!

One of my favorite past times has to be visiting different hotels and experiencing new hotels. I can remember one time, I went out of town, stayed in a great hotel, go to my room, and was like, "Uhhhh, I hate this room, but I don't have time to be changing rooms." So, I settled for what I was given, unpacked, got dressed and headed out on the town. Of course, I got back to the room, rather late, so I assumed I would be sleeping in. Well, the front desk thought otherwise. I got an early morning call from the manager with him explaining that I had the wrong room and would have to move. Right then! You know I was cutting up. But, I packed up my cute little luggaged and obliged. When I arrived to my new room, it was bigger, nicer, newer. When moving time came, I got a free upgrade. Wow! When I humbled myself, packed my bags, God moved on my behalf.

That's kind of like with God. As His children, we get so happy with where we are and what we are doing, we don't ever consider moving or changing. We think where we are is fine. We think that because we are comfortable, that there is no need to seek another alternative or another route.

I can remember being at my first job from college. It had taken me forever to finally get one, but I did, lol. One day I was out with my girls and I ran into my friend from school who was a realtor in Atlanta and he was like, "Mel, you really need to leave Miami, you're too comfortable here." Duh! Why wouldn't I be. I had a good job, I loved my co-workers, I knew all the back streets in the city, why would I want to move to Atlanta? I didn't know any people there, I didn't have a job, and I just wasn't interested in breaking my flow. Low and behold, my boss co-authors a grant and guess where it is at? ATLANTA! Right. God is a mess. lol. I was like, "Lord, I am not going to make it in Atlanta, it's this, it's that." Blah, blah, blah. I mean, I fought tooth and nail to get here. But guess what, I came. I got better friends, I was able to affect more youth one-on-one, I got more TARGETS!, and I even got closer to God. It was one of the best decisions that God has made for me.

You see, often time we get caught up in what we want, what we believe, and the direction that seems safe with us. Our ultimate goal should be to be where HE has us to be. I look at my dream board, my prayer book, and my daily reminders and pray, "Lord, if it be your will." We don't ever want to put too much emphasis on what WE want, we have to stay focused on HIS will for our life. Whether its dating a particular person, leaving a job, being laid off, budgeting, changing church membership, even as trivial as going out. We have to trust God to know that his will for our lives is greater than any thought that we could conjure up. He has wisdom, far beyond what we can ever have.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Whatever new situation that God places us in, we have been adequately prepared throughout our lives. I was recently faced with a very life altering situation, where I knew I would simply go crazy. But, as I was in the midst of it, I began to praise and lift God's name up.

Sometimes God does what we don't have the guts to do.

It's crazy because we think we have "arrived" by being in our place of comfort and God's comes to shake all of that up. Not to demote us, but often times it is to promote us. It may not be evident initially, but when the facts are all ironed out it is for our better.

God may even be trying to protect you. Our steps have been ordered and our stories have been written. Understanding that, God has seen what we will be faced with. He brings great shifting in our lives in order to keep us from harms way. And for that, we must remain grateful.

When it's moving time, we need not kick and scream. We should really remained partially packed and be ready to move when God says so.

Moving according to His will,

~Mel

I have chosen to share this video by Paul Morton... "Don't Do It Without Me"

http://

Don't Lose Sight, Make Your Vision Plain

Well, this is probably one of my most favorite things in the world to do. Cut up pictures, magazines, use cute scrapbook paper lots of glue, wheeew, you name it! Putting together a Vision Board (VB) is perhaps one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself and into your destiny.

Now, it's one thing to want to do something and to think about it often. But to visually see all that God has promised you and all that you want to accomplish, it's invigorating. There is power in SEEING things. Not just in your mind, but in your future, and in front of you. It is vitally important that you always keep reminding yourself of what God has promised you. All that he told you and all that you know.

With my VB, I've included things as trivial as what I want my hair to look like in a year, to the car I want to drive, the kind of man I want to marry and the kind of places I plan to travel. Now, the beauty of having a close relationship with God is that he hears your every requests, cries, and desires. But you MUST be specific. Its nothing like calling Pizza Hut to order a pizza and you're like, "just send me whatever", and get mad when they deliver a pizza with anchovies, onions, and sardines. lol. You have to be very, very detailed oriented with God.

That's where a VB comes in handy for sure! Not only does it let God know what you want, but it reminds you of what all of your struggles are for. What your prayer and fasting is for. What your light of the end of the tunnel is.

I've been doing VBs since late 1990s. I can remember as a freshman in high school, wanting to go to FAMU. Not wanting to pay a dime. So, I got my dad to get me a FAMU bumper sticker and I stuck it to the ceiling, over my bed. Every night, I visualized myself walking the highest of 7 hills, hanging with new friends, being the "IT" girl on campus. Low and behold, in 2000, I met the university president who handed me a specialized scholarship to FAMU. I wept like a baby. Never imagining that a bumper sticker and visualization would actually work. Things have been falling into place since, and I've been cranking out VBs like my life depended on it. lol

That's the place that God wants us all at. A place of raw belief and faith. A
place where we are saying, "Lord, you are all I have. I have no other hope but
you. Lord I trust you with everything I need and all that I am."

Let me tell you, that does something for God. Like a proud parent watching children feverishly write out their Christmas list. They know they have to make it happen because they are the only source. That's God. Our proud papa ready and willing to answer every prayer and every desire. Putting our VB together is like our perpetual life Christmas list. All we want and all that we know is a part of our life.

Ok, there is no right or wrong way to put one together. It merely a huge collage of words and pictures that mean something to you and that are directly connected to a major goal in your life. I usually divide mine by Love, Relationships, Friends/Family, Finances/Career, Spiritual Life, Car, Travel, House, Parenting/Kids, and a personal declaration. Now your board may consist of more or less, but it is entirely up to you!

Biblically, it was proven that writing things down and laying it before the Lord gave him something to work with. In Habakkuh 2:2-4 it says:

2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon
tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by
his faith.

The key part of the scripture to me is not only the writing it down part, but it warns you that "the vision may tarry". Even back in the biblical days, people were discouraged with the timing on things and the way things worked out. But be encouraged to know that because you have written it down and placed visuals to your goals, God has a CLEAR picture of what you desire.

Ok, Here are my past 3 that I have made. I have made several board and books. I am a super scrapbooker, so I have a whole bunch of creative stuff laying around. And I kicked the boo to the curb for the New Year, so I have A LOT of free time on my hands. lol.

My Vision Board 2010: The Land of Milk & Honey- Year of Overflow

My Vision Board 2009: The Year of Expectation

My Dream Book 2009: What Dreams May Come

Well.... I will leave you to work on your board, book, or whatever you choose. Remember, it's between you and God what you want in your life. So you're the only one that knows what it looks like.

Visually speaking...

~Mel

Consistency Is The Missing Ingredient

So, anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely looooooove the Food Network. Many nights I fall asleep to it, with hopes of finding one of the restaurants the next day. I watch it so much that there is a little Food Network logo burned into the corner of my TV. lol. Needless to say I'm a faithful steward of perfecting my craft of cooking and baking. While there are several different cooks with their own unique styles, one thing remains the same, the consistency of ingredients. When each cook begins cooking, they stress the importance of the right ingredients, the way they balance out, and the consistency of the entire mix. In baking the consistency is the texture, the look, the feel, and the ability to hold together. So if there is any smidgen of inconsistency, the whole dish is done for.

For some reason, that stood out to me. Consistency. The web dictionary defines it as: the same throughout in structure; the property of holding together and retaining its shape; agreement among things or parts. Wait a minute, you are not hearing me.....

Same throughout. Holding together. In agreement.

Baking is a whole lot like believing God for that next breakthrough. You have everything you need to make it, but you have to be consistent.

Prayer- equal parts of prayer throughout the day will equip you to sustain all tests, adversities, and storms.

The Word- reading the word on a regular basis allows you to read God's promises and witness his consistency. You can then use that same Word to encourage yourself, fight all battles, and secure your victories.

Partners- now, not all family and friends are deemed as your prayer partners. Takes a while to understand that, but it is very true. Sometimes, God will send you seasonal people in your life to get you to your next one. We often times try to force the new season on people who were never meant to be there (that's another blog entry *makes note in journal* lol)

Jesus- Now the word says in Hebrews 13: 8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Whew! Now you talking about amazing? That means no matter what we do, where we go, what we say, Jesus is going to be the same Jesus that he has been to us. No variation. No additives or preservatives. The same good ol' Jesus.

You- Guess what is the missing variable in this lovely recipe? YOU! You are the difference maker. You have the innate ability to change your destiny, your situation, your direction by merely being consistent in your faith. Your ability to see the bigger picture. Understanding that your right now is not your forever. No matter what it may look like, you know the promises that he has made and you know that it has to get better.

Same throughout. Holding together. In agreement.

We have to remain the same throughout our struggles. If we are believing God for the sun to shine again. We can't tear up at the sight of rain. When we get a call/email/text that totally wrecks us emotionally, we cant immediately break down to the point where we can't be steadfast and believe that God is the same God that delivered us so many times before. When we get a "no" from someone or a company, we can't automatically assume that God has forsaken us. We must always stand in agreement with God knowing that he knows what we have need of, our deepest desires, and our pains.

With seeing the job that God has, I think we got off pretty easy with just being consistent. Now, not to say that being consistent is the easiest thing to do, but it definitely beats doing it all alone. With God as our rock and our guide, there is simply nothing that we cannot accomplish.

Consistency gets easier the more we do it. Then it becomes habit. Therefore our character.

I challenge you today to consistently look beyond your right now and believe God for all he has promised. If you don't know what that is, he will show you. Through prayer, worship, praise, the right connections, you will find him.

Consistently seeking Him,

~Mel

God Will Restore You Through Your Tears

The first reaction to sad, bad or disappointing news is to do what? To cry, right? Well, for me it is. I can look back at many moments in my life where I've felt helpless, in despair, lost, and forsaken. I can remember being in places that I've never thought back until this very moment. All I could do was cry.

There are several reasons for tears. They're for cleansing, purging, and strengthening. Scientifically, tears have a very necessary function. Did you know that each type of tear has its own purpose and therefore a different chemical makeup? Did you know that there is a continuous supply of tears?

The main purpose of tears is to smoothen the surface of the eye.These tears act as oxygen suppliers to the eye, carry away waste, destroy harmful bacteria, and in general maintain a healthy eye. These tears contain salts, proteins and an enzyme called lysozyme, which protect and nourish the eye.However the tears, which are produced as an expression of emotion, are totally different. (God is something else isn't He?) Scientists have discovered that emotional tears contain high levels of manganese and a chemical called prolactin. In fact it is believed that crying is a way of removing “excess” chemicals, which are not very good for the body. This might help explain why people say they feel better after "a good cry."

Did you hear that? Tears carry away waste? Now any scientist would overlook that, the "carrying away part". But what God has revealed to me is that, crying is not just a scientific necessity, it is a spiritual necessity. We have to spiritually get rid of all the pain that we are experiencing. The things that are hindering us to get to our next level. The things that we have allowed to fester and grow into something bigger than what it is. When we cry, God catches every tear and He knows exactly what we are saying. Our wordless communication to the Lord is a way to tell Him everything without saying a thing. Our tears is an unspoken language that our heart speaks.

Use your tears to flow you to your next victory. Use your tears to strengthen you. To empower you. To cleanse you. To heal you of the unspoken pain. Use your tears to tell your heavenly Father all that is within.

Like I said yesterday, I received an email that made my world come to a pause. As my emotions welled up within me, one tear fell. I mean, real dramatic like a soap opera. I was like, "God, let me cry! I wanna kick, scream, and fall out." But God told me that was my last tear for that situation. That ONE tear renewed my faith, renewed my strength, and gave me hope. It was almost eerie. It was like God caught that one tear and began to wash away my pain and hurt caused by my despair. I hopped up and said, "Ok, what's for dinner." In the midst of eating my veggies, my phone began to ring off the hook. I got a call from one of my girlfriends about starting ANOTHER project. I sat the phone down and went back to eating. Then my phone rang AGAIN and its was the producer from BET telling me that the episode of Monica's Still Standing that we recorded in October would be airing on January 12, 2010 and I had the most face time.

Now, if I had of wallowed in pity, self-doubt, and despair, I would have missed those calls, those moments to rejoice, and the path to my next journey. It was all connected to letting that tear fall.

Tears are necessary avenues to flow you to your next victory.

I want to encourage you today to rebuild, refocus, and re-energize. All that has happened to you is a part of your story. It is not meant to destroy, but to make you better. Know that God hears your cries and catches every tear. No matter the pain, the wrongdoing, the disappointment, or the reason. You can rise up and be great again. Don't ever forget that.

"Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalms 126:5-6 NKJV)

Be comforted and know that , for all the tears you have allowed to fall, HE has caught them all.

In spirit and in truth,

~Mel

Study on tears in scripture by Charles H. Spurgeon:

Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers; and of weeping as a constant dropping of importunate intercession which will wear its way right surely into the very heart of mercy, despite the stony difficulties which obstruct the way." Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

"The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the sealed book was opened (Rev. 5:4)." Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

"Tears and brokenness in the victorious war (Psa. 126:5,6)

Tears of sorrow, joy, compassion, exertion and repentance are present in spiritual warfare." Dick Eastman

In Scripture, tears fulfill a unique purpose in spiritual growth. We discover here that when tears are sown, not only is a spiritual harvest collected, but it leaves a spirit of rejoicing in the sower. This passage, along with others in Scripture that relate to a suffering spirit, describes various purposes and roles connected to what can be called "the ministry of tears", a ministry that Charles Spurgeon defined as "liquid prayer". There are tears of pain or suffering (II Kings 20:5); tears of joy (Gen. 33:4); tears of compassion (John 11:35); tears of desperation (Esther 4:1,3); tears of agony or labor (Isaiah 42:14); tears of repentance (Joel 2:12,13). Clearly, passion is necessary in spiritual warfare." Dick Eastman

Sources:

-http://dimdima.com/science/science_common/show_science.asp?q_aid=196&q_title=How+we+cry

-http://beautifulgrace2008.blogspot.com/2007/11/liquid-prayer-ministry-of-tears-and.html

Speaking your NOW! Living in the NOW!

As I look back over 2009, there were so many lessons. Too many to list or go back to. If could do anything different, it would certainly be to use the word NOW!


We don't often realize the power of our words or the strength in the consistency of them.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and
they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

Can you imagine that? That you could merely control your own destiny? Your life? Your death? Your victory? Merely with words? Well, it is so possible.

It's kind of like working out. You follow a plan, you struggle with it, you don't know if its working, but you keep at it. You might not see the results immediately, but there is a build up. It takes time... Positive speaking should be a part of your daily routine. It's vital to your health and to your survival.

Now, as I typed this entry, I got an email that could have very well ruined my night along with the rest of my week, but I spoke into the enemy's ploy and declared victory. Many times we can't see what God has ahead of us, but the enemy does and he tries to throw stumbling blocks in our way to distract or get us off course. When you feel or see it, just yell out "VICTORY". Don't just say it, but see yourself already winning, already overcoming. Whatever it is, don't let it get in the way of your intended goal.

I am not going to be long winded today. But know that, you can speak your destiny. You can speak your future . You can speak your victory.

Use your words to activate your tomorrow, TODAY!!!

Positively speaking....

~Mel




Quotes on words:

• Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs. --Pearl Strachan


• Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is. --Publilius Syrus


• Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. –Jesus Christ


• Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment. --Ira Gass


• The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven't thought of yet. --Ann Landers


• If you wouldn't write it and sign it, don't say it. --Earl Wilson

Year 2010... Year of Testimony....

Hello everyone.. I have have been so busy with life that I haven't been true to my blog, but today is a new day...

I will be giving you all LOTS of things to come... look over some over some of my old stuff in the meantime.........

Love you alllllllllllll!

Mel

Your order is coming right up....

Since I'm still in the answered prayer mood, let's talk a little more about it. I was thinking about how when I was little I used to ask my parents for something and they assured that I would get it. When I didn't get it that VERY moment, I lost it. And me badgering them about it didn't make them move any quicker. Whether it was a trip to McDonald's or to Disney World, they gave it to me when they saw fit, in their timing.

Same thing with the big homie G-O-D ( ok, that was lame, I know.. lol) . He already knows that we want this, we would love to have this, we need this. That's not important to Him. Calm, down. He is certainly concerned about us being supplied for. What I am saying is that God is concerned first and foremost about our relationship with Him. He wants to be assured that we love Him enough to know that whatever we have need of will be taken care of. "Things" mean nothing, "we" mean everything.

I have caught myself so many times praying for the same thing or throwing a spiritual tantrum about the same ol' same ol'. I can literally hear God saying, " My child, if you could just see what I see. If you could just see what next week, next month, or next year holds." You have to be able to hear His voice and accept His answer. Whether it is him telling you to leave the only man you've ever loved for the one He has for you to fulfill your purpose with, or to leave a high paying jop to go work for the church, or to go on a fast the day you get a coupon book for the local buffet. You have to be willing to accept what God says and what he allows.

I recently ordered a pizza and God spoke to me saying, "The same way you just ordered, I've heard your cries and supplication, your order is coming right up." And a light bulb came on. It was a "WOW" moment for me. When you order a pizza and they tell you your order will be ready in 30-45 minutes. You're supposed to just wait for the doorbell to ring right? No, you and your smart self decide to speed things up. lol. So, instead of waiting the allotted time, you decide to call again to place the same order repeatedly. The operator is like, "Ummm, didn't you just call? You're order is in route, just wait." It's common sense to wait right? Of course it is.

That's the same thing with prayer. You don't have to keep calling to place your order with God. First of all, he already knows your order when you call. Kinda how Pizza Hut knows you like a pan pizza with light sauce, heavy cheese, lots of veggies and NO MEAT! lol. (Ok, maybe that's just for me?!? lol) But really, God knows what you can bear, what you can handle, what you are equipped for. He takes all that into account when you place your "order". Sometimes we "order"the wrong things, but God knows just what is right for us.

So when you place our "order" next time with God, just wait. That's it. He will deliver. He always does. Your order is coming right up.......

~Fly Orderer

Be careful what you pray for.....

......you might just get it...

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests
before you and wait in expectation.(Psalm 5:3 NIV)

Well, I'm back in full effect now. So, I was in the airport a few weeks ago and I got the lovely news that my flight would be delayed for 6 hours!! Whaaaaaaaaaaat the heck! (I really wanted to say "hell", wait I said it..lol) Anywhoo, I was super pissed! I was like, "what exactly am I supposed to do for 6 hours dude??!". And for an overactive bunny like myself, I knew this was another test from the "big guy". So, I'm sitting there at the 1.4 hour mark about to pull out the hair I did have and I'm like, "God, can you pleeeeeeeeease send me somebody to talk to. And make him cute?! " lol. And guess what? He came. And we talked for the remainder of our layover. And he was seated next to me on the plane. The rest is history, been the "boo" since! lol.. Talk about a quickly answered prayer. God is awesome.

That's the thing with God. He hears all of our requests, our pleas, and our cries. No matter how minuscule or monumental they are. He hears them all and takes them all into consideration. He answers them in His timing and in His will. No matter what. Sometimes, we just so happen to line up on the same timetable and when that happens, it's magical! lol. It really is.

God's grace and mercy are simply magnificent. When I experience His swift works, I'm in amazement. There is nothing like seeing God working in your life, right before your eyes. There have been times I was in the parking lot of Target and been like, "Lord I need a parking spot", and one opens up immediately. And even when I asked God for a new career, a new car, and even a new man, God has moved within His plan for me. And when I look back down that tunnel called progression or read the pages of my life, I see that He has been in control the entire time.

Even in the heartaches, the pain, the disappointments, the misunderstandings, the misdirections, He's taken an account for it all. When I pray, I know that God has my best interest in mind. He created me and knows what I am equipped for. No sense in me praying to win the lotto when I won't even balance my check book. Or pray for a man (husband), when I'm not ready to share my bed or my Honey Smacks. lol. It's really that simple.

There are so many stories that I could share that could show you how God has done a quick work and even how He has taken His time. It seems that we all can. The one thing that we must all share in common is expectation.

Just know that when you pray.....you might just get it ...

~Fly Prayer.....

How to jump out, when you've jumped in head first!

Ok, it's been a minute. After you read this, you will know why. lol.

So, you meet a new guy, he's darn near perfect, you have a great time with him, you have a zillion things in common, and you're like, "This is it!". For 3-4 weeks, you're non-stop with this guy, you've learned more about him than you know about yourself, you spend every free moment with him, he's your quintessential BFF and boo. You have those future talks about marriage, kids, life after being single all that blah,blah stuff and you're like, "is he trying to get serious????" lol. A million questions are running through your head. You like him, but do you like him,like him? Does he like you like that? You freakin' panic... but then it happens! You're like, "WAIT!!!", it's moving waaaaaaaaay too fast. lol.

You try to slow it up without halting it, you monitor every word so it's not too "binding". Meaning, you don't know if you're ready to make him "the one", but you don't want to go through the hassle of filling that void again. You want to see him everyday, but you don't want to seem too pressed. It starts to get rather complicated mentally, and you are wrecking your brain trying to decide how to address it.

So, obviously I've dealt with this in the past and it was interesting to say the least. I liked this guy, he loved God, was totally great on paper, great skin, cutie pie, all that. We saw each other 23 hours of the day, literally! lol. It was cool until we both started getting those commitment jitters where we knew that was the natural next step, but both weren't willing to take that deep plunge just yet due to past hurts and complications. So what's next? We like each other, but not enough to be totally exclusive, but best believe I would have an attitude with someone else.

My question is, how do you slow down without coming to a halt? You see I'm all over the place with this blog because I've experienced it in the past and kinda, sorta dealing with it now (I hope he's not on here...lol)

New Music Tuesday...

"...it's Keri baaaaaaby...."

Keri Hilson's album comes out today and I am pretty excited for her. She's been in the game for a minute! She's super talented and seems humble overall. I am going to actually buy her album.. lol. If you want to here samples of it, go to Amazon.com. It has the typical electric Timbaland sound. I likes!

Here is the track listing:

1. Intro

2. Turnin Me On ft. Lil Wayne

3. Get Your Money Up ft. Keyshia Cole & Trina

4. Return The Favor ft. Timbaland

5. Knock You Down ft. Neyo & Kanye

6. Slow Dance

7. Make Love

8. Intuition

9. How Does It Feel

10. Hey Girl ft. T-Pain & Lil Jon

11. Alienated

12. Tell Him the Truth

13. Change Me ft. Akon

14. Energy

15. Where Did He Go

The video for "Knock U Down" w.Kanye and Ne-Yo

My favorite songs of hers are High Heels and Superhuman w.Chris Brown