Future Today

The secret to living a successful life is learning to be content in the present one. If we look past our present state to look ahead into the future without recounting past misfortunes we will miss key components that will empower us to have a brighter future.  It’s important that we appreciate what we've experienced now so that we don’t miss out on opportunities that will allow us to grow from and into the current day. Being able to recall and recount the past is not a bad thing. It reminds us how far we've come and for others how far we’re behind.  Staying in one place for too long can decrease our hopes of ever moving on, but it can also work in your favor. Building from the ground up takes times and if you have it use it. Why would you waste time wondering aimlessly in thought loosing precious moments and night’s sleep growing weary about the future. Bring in your new year now, by not putting off the future for tomorrow, start today!

Duly Noted and Marked 

Your Time of Season

*Ecclesiastes 3 1-8

There is a time for every season in a person’s life. As I was reminded on this week what season I am in, it had me to reflect back on the last few months. While I was trying to mend relationships I had to look within in myself to see if those relationships were meant to be mended. When you are in a place of awareness often times people won’t see what you see. Their vision can be blurred by opinions and judgment. Although it is okay to stand your ground you have to be careful not to offend anyone. People are people and they have needs, wants, and desires just like you. And for me being sometime ultra-sensitive and every so often being hard headed, stubborn, stern, and non-emotional, the list could go on; I have to take into an account of who I could hurt in the process of me changing. Maybe you think this is a bit harsh, but it’s me being real with me.  If the mirror sits on my left side or my right, it doesn't change the reflection. I count every one of my changes as goals in which I have set for myself as accomplishments, even if I have not achieved them all. Making the point to set one is an accomplishment within itself. As the season changes we/I must too. We can’t go on doing what we've been doing expecting different results. If this is your time of season to change embrace it and it will uphold you through the next season. You may ask the question, “How do you know when the season is changing in your life”? The best response I can give is, “When you become uncomfortable in the old one”.

Duly Noted and Marked 

Skin Deep

The richness of beauty is not skin deep, it’s within the person who neither searches for perfection nor seeks its attention. But it’s in the heart of the person who believes that beauty is more than what it looks like but what it is.  Surfaced with the intent to reveal itself to a world that is clouded by judgment to gather those who see beyond the physical to gain the attention of the spiritual who resides in us all. Appreciate your physical makeup, because he made you into someone so special that beauty cannot define you.



Duly Noted and Marked

Double Cross

Always establish a line before it gets crossed, so that there won’t be any double lines stationed. The line is based on where you have positioned yourself. Too often we are afraid to set one, because we feel that if a possibility should arise that our limits may not live up to someone else’s expectation or standard. But the line is for you to establish, rather than someone else drawing it for you. You keep what you have by making it apparent that if there is a double cross you have the right to draw a new one and oppose the old.  Making the choice to stick with what you have set, by all mean you’re in control. If you decide to cross the line in exchange for drawing a new line, it’s your decision to make and yours alone. Always follow your instinct blindly. The eye will deceive you and have you to double cross yourself.

Duly Noted and Marked 

Dedicated to You

Dear Steven,

From the day that I first saw you, I never thought you and I would be as close as we are. As a baby I held you tight and as you grew older, I never wanted to let you go. My heart is as big as you have allowed it to be. You have had some challenges in the past few years, but you have made it through the tears. I have prayed for you constantly and with my, “Yes”, came prayers that became answers. Not only are you my baby brother, but you are so much more a part of me.  I have had a hand or two in raising you and I know what you have on the inside of you, it’s beyond your wildest belief.  The years that I was far from you, it was a time that I needed to grow and make decisions based on the rest of my life, but you were always in my heart.  I can’t take back the years and even when I felt that you were not in a good place in mind and body, I knew that deep inside it wasn't a place you wanted to stay. From our last conversation a few days ago, it sent me on a roller coaster so high that I could not see the ground. You are where you should be and it’s a great place to be. Stay reading “The Word”, stay praying, believing but most importantly trust in no man but GOD. He holds the key to your future and so much more. You have fought a great fight little brother, but now the battle is the Lord’s.

Love you always and forever,

You’re Sister

Duly Noted and Marked 

Answer

In life there are no mistakes. For those of us that have made them, there are. As the year is coming to a complete close, each day I am expecting it to be better than the day before. Of course I will make a few mistakes here and there, but learning is a part of the growing process to increase in knowledge. Knowledge is weighed in weight, not pounds but based on the volume of situations that have occurred throughout mines and yours lifetime. We either live to live again, or we simply live to see another day. Perhaps if tomorrow wasn’t promised we would make better choices.  But would you make choices based on what you would do if tomorrow wasn’t promised or would you make choices based on who you would rather be. It sounds confusing, but if you take a minute to allow it to sink in, a light will go off. From my own personal reflection I have to live a life that is not only for me, but for those who look to me to be an answer. An answer to how can someone like me, leave all that she had behind to pursue not just a dream but a vision, a vision to have yet come to pass. I know without a doubt that I have purpose. And in knowing that I have purpose it surpasses the doubt that I had within me. You cannot live in doubt wondering what will be, but if you live in purpose there will be no question as to why, when and how the vision will come to pass. I wait in anticipation and I will continue to. Not just for me, but for those in need of the answer.

Duly Noted and Marked

Many Hands

Anyone can give a reason why they don’t want to be accountable for someone else. Many people have other agendas that don’t necessarily have a root of its own, and tending to someone else’s affairs would end up killing both parties involved. No one wants the responsibility and when it time to point the blame, fingers come from all directions. Then you have those that wait around to see what will happen and if it’s rewarding, they’ll want ownership. The story about, “The Little Red Hen”, comes to mind quite often. Little Red Hen went around asking those who were close to her to help bake a bread that everyone could partake in. And while she went around asking, everyone gave her a reason as to why they couldn't help. She eventually got fed up and decided to bake the bread herself and after it was done, there were many hands waiting. The story is fictional based but has real life content. How often do we look for others to help and when it counts there is no one around, but in the end they are all applauding?  No one can see the ending from the beginning, but it takes those that have keen sense to daylight to recognize when there’s a breaking in the day. Even if there are a few rough patches down the road there will eventually be a smooth ride ahead. Those people are known as “keepers”. They’ll stick it out not based on who you are, but due to the fact of what it will be.  Not only is this not the day an age to waste time, but it is not the time to waste opportunity. Cease moments in everyday and one of those moments will sooner or later pay off.

Duly Noted and Marked