Dec
19
2011
Photo of the day
Posted 1 month ago
Comments
Here’s to the FUTURE because I’ve finally made through the PAST!
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Posted 1 month ago Comments
Posted 1 month ago Comments
Dec
19
2011
2011 Farewell
Every year many of us often make New Year’s resolutions that we know we have no intentions on keeping; that is exactly why I did not make any last year. Yet, I saw many changes in 2011. The best act that happened this year for me is that I finished grad school. (Yay ME!) I often look back now and wonder how did I work full time and be a full time student with my numerous 15+ page papers in both classes and homework due every day. I know that it was not me that could have done any of it alone; it was only by the grace of God and prayers from loved ones that got me thus far. This year also bought illness into my life in more ways than one to those I hold the most dear to me. I am happy to know that although the illness will be ongoing that things are not as bad as we had thought.
The most interesting thing that happened this year is that a client asked me if she could give me a word and many of the things she told me were occurring in my life and by whom left me with an open mouth. I didn’t know this woman from Adam and she was telling me what was going on with me like we grew up together or something. I have seen much of what she said occur and the rest is being unveiled.
I noticed many changes in myself as well. People I use to enjoy the company of I’m fine only acknowledging them in passing. I began to separate myself from everyone and didn’t even communicate with people. The funny thing is that they didn’t reach out either. However, I noticed some of the “friends” I were once close to and communicated often with now we are as separated as oil and water.I noticed how some sorors I once defended in the company of others now barely want to speak to me at all or how some of them purposely try to make me feel uncomfortable in group settings; but that’s sisterhood? I am no angel but I am pretty sure I come close to it. If I do nothing else I am always fair and believe everyone should be treated respectably. Therefore, that is all I ask in return. If U don’t like me fine but respect me and I will return the favor.
I have even re-united with some old friends and gotten rid of relationships that were not so healthy for me. I realize as much as I try to be the peacemaker, go with the flow and the smooth out things between everyone, that all people will not like me. The reasons they choose not to is up to them but they will not and I just have to be okay with that. There are even persons who attach the title of friend to me who are and have been everything but that. I have heard that you only get a sprinkle of real friends in your life time. So, those few who are willing to ride with me know that I’m willing to do the same for you as long as time allows. And to those who decided to exit I would like to say your season in my life served its purpose and it was not by chance that we had an opportunity to encounter one another. I truly learned from our experiences so, THANK YOU!
Life is a game that I have never quite understood the hand I was being dealt but in the long run I always see how everything worked out for my good. I must remind myself of what the Bible says: Psalm 23:1-6 tells me that the lord is my shepherd and I shall not want… Philippians 4:13 tells me that I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. Psalm 37:1-2 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb… Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. So, 2011 I would like to say that you have truly been a struggle personally & professionally but I am attempting to cope. I must say that I will not be sad to see you go. Therefore, I bid farewell to 2011 and hello to 2012.
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Oct
11
2011
Written by T. Smith—“Does Education Really Matter?”
Today, while surfing through one of the many social networking media sites I came across a photo. The photo was of a homeless man holding a cardboard sign. Now many would ask what makes this man any different from the thousands of homeless people that are scattered throughout the United States. This man sign read “PhD… and I will work for food…” When we think of the homeless epidemic in America most of us fail to realize that there are some highly educated people who have fallen victim to homelessness.
Being well educated no longer guarantees that you will have a bright and successful future. A college degree or degrees today means that you decided to take a step above the rest and join the other thousands of individuals who decided to go to college to have the extra edge on those who did not. Yesterday’s elite has become toady’s middle class, working poor and plain impoverished. The richest of the rich have remained just that. Meanwhile, the middle class has become the working poor and the working poor have become even poorer.
Our economy is and has been at a horrific state for sometime with a steady incline in the unemployment rate. Since April of 2011 the unemployment rate has remained around 9.0% and was at 9.10% for the month of September (Legislatures, 2011). 44.6% of individuals are considered long term unemployed, 14 million idled and 6.2 million people have been jobless for more than 27weeks (Legislatures, 2011).
See Unemployment Chart Below↓
National Unemployment Rates, 2008 - 2011
Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 2011 9.0 8.9 8.8 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.1 9.1 9.1 2010 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.9 9.7 9.5 9.5 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.8 9.4 2009 7.6 8.1 8.5 8.9 9.4 9.5 9.4 9.7 9.8 10.2 10.0 10.0 2008 4.9 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.5 5.6 5.8 6.2 6.2 6.6 6.8 7.2
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
I must say I can definitely relate to the gentleman holding the sign. I may not be homeless in the same sense but I can strongly relate to the struggle of poverty. I have learned in the past five years that it is not what you know as much as who you know. I have indebted myself to education and I often ask myself why? I ask because I work in a position where my talents are unappreciated and overlooked only benefiting the success of others who have no intentions on helping to guide me professionally but to put me on hold in order to help them look flawless professionally. I have grown tired of hearing from employers that I am over qualified or need more experience. I have often wondered to myself if all employers have that frame of thinking where am I suppose to gain this additional experience?
References:
Legislatures, N. C. (2011, October 7th). National Unemployment Summary. Retrieved October 10th, 2011, from ncsl.org: http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13307
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May
5
2011
Accelerate-E-mail I received
” My times are in Your hand…”
(Psalm 31:15, NASB).
Today’s Word:
One thing I’ve learned is that God doesn’t always work on our timetable. In fact, He rarely does. But in a single moment, God can change your life! All throughout Scripture, we see examples of how God was working behind the scenes and instantly turned things around for His people. Scripture tells us He is the same yesterday, today and forever which means He can instantly turn things around for you, too!
You may be going through some difficulty today, but be encouraged because your times are in God’s hands. He wants to accelerate things in your favor. He wants to take you further than you dreamed possible and work in your life in ways beyond what you have ever imagined.
Let this truth sink down into your heart today. Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He’s going to accelerate your times and lead you into the life of victory He has for you!
Today’s Prayer:
Father God, today I humbly come before You giving You all that I am. I trust that my times are in Your hands. I trust that You are working things out in my favor. I set my focus on You knowing that You are working things out for my good. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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May
4
2011
Activate Favor- E-mail I received
Today’s Scripture:
” …The LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless”
(Psalm 84:11, NIV).
Today’s Word:
Favor is a part of your inheritance! You don’t have to beg God for it; as a believer in Jesus, you are in covenant with Him. That means that everything He has is yours!
The way you tap into that favor, or activate it, is by thanking Him for it. Say, “Father, thank You for Your favor today. Thank You that Your favor is causing me to be at the right place at the right time. Thank You that Your favor is causing people to want to be good to me.” See, you don’t have to pray about something that you already have, just receive it by thanking Him.
Before I speak each week, I never say, “God, please give me Your favor. Please give me Your anointing.” No, I simply say, “God, thank You for Your anointing. Thank You for Your favor on my life. Thank You for equipping and empowering me.” See, I know that it’s all part of my inheritance. So I just act like it’s true.
Today, activate His promises by faith. Praise and thank Him for His goodness and for blessing your life. Receive His Word as truth and hold it in your heart because He has already given His favor and blessing to you!
Today’s Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your favor and blessing in my life. Thank You for cleansing me and making me new. Your Word says that You will withhold no good thing from me because I walk blamelessly before You by the blood of Jesus. I receive it by faith and thank You for Your goodness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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May
2
2011
A Dream Deferred
As I sit here and listen to the rain beat down upon the tin roof my mind is filled with a variety of things. One of the things that came across my mind is how racially segregated everything still is. Which causes me to wonder what is it about a person skin pigmentation that causes one to be intimidated or instantly conjure up pure hate. If I were to begin to tell a story of a heinous crime the first thing one would want to know is if the offender was African American. Why we are as a people still viewed so negatively after all of these years?
This past Saturday a young Caucasian woman in the local Piggly Wiggly referred to my 68 year old mother as an asshole. Now my mother was pushing a shopping cart and this woman was behind her as she was turning to enter a checkout line. The woman tried to go around my mom and when she couldn’t she called her an asshole. My mom being the person that she is asked me not to say anything but I being the person that I am had to confront her. So, as she was leaving the store I stopped her and asked her if I correctly heard the statement that she made.
She went on to tell a lie about how she was in line and some people (my mom) just got in front of her and every time she comes to that store she is treated un-fairly. She apologized about what she had said because she knew she was wrong. I did not get loud, never left off the property and was respectful to her at all times; although, she blatantly disrespected my mother who was old enough to be her grandmother. I approached the woman not to be confrontational but to allow her to know I heard her and that her actions were inappropriate and disrespectful. We cannot go around misbehaving thinking that our actions will not one day catch up with us. I say that this woman is lucky that she did not disrespect a more radical African-American or the conversation or the incident may have taken another direction all together.
I also think of the President of the United States of America Mr. Barack Obama. He has been the most disrespected president in my lifetime. He is referred to by his name and not President Obama. Because he is articulate and educated it is considered arrogant and condescending. Critics are always talking about if he is black enough, is he a citizen of the U.S. and every move he makes is under the microscope. He is criticized for wanting his kids to go to public school, his wife for wearing shorts and a variety of other things. However, in the eight years Bush was in office not once did we constantly hear about his constant vacations and costs, dinner parties or the war and how it was ignorant for beginning in the first place. As a country people became patriotic and defended his vacations’ as he deserves a break after plotting America’s next move against the “Enemy”. Although, I am still trying to decipher who exactly are our enemies since he helped us accumulate so many. However, President Obama is expected to be a miracle worker and undo in a 4year term what it took Bush to screw up in 8years. This is because of the society color complex.
In summation Dr. King you were a very articulate and educated man. Your dream is one that I also hope that one day will become a reality. However, as of today that dream is deferred because this nation is still one that judges a person based on the color of his/her skin and not the content of the person’s character. The bells of freedom may be ringing but I ask is anyone listening and if so, how will you answer its call?
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Apr
29
2011
Seeing Potential in Others-C.Carter
Today’s Scripture:
” …Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out”
(Ephesians 6:18, The Message).
Today’s Word:
It’s easy to be someone’s friend when they’ve got it all together, when they’re walking in blessing and prosperity. Anybody can believe in people after they’re successful, after they graduate, after they’re promoted, after they get their big break. But, people need our support the most before they get their breakthrough. They need us to look past their faults and failures and see their potential.
Most times, people just need a little “push” of encouragement to keep them moving forward. We should always put ourselves in the other person’s shoes and see things from their perspective. You may have some good advice that could save them a lot of heartache and pain. Don’t keep it to yourself. Pick up the phone. Help them win. Maybe you excelled in a college course that they’re struggling in. Don’t sit back and think, “Too bad. They’ve got to learn it the hard way.” No, you are the hands and feet of Jesus. When you help others rise higher, you are fulfilling His mission. Today, share your love, support and encouragement. Invest life in others, see their potential, and together, you’ll rise higher into the blessing God has for you!
Today’s Prayer:
Father God, thank You for giving me influence with the people in my life. Thank You for equipping me to help others rise higher. Reveal to me the potential You have deposited in the people around me and show me ways to help them so we can win at life together. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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