Old Girl Dead, New Girl Reborn.....

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! What a month it has been leading up to this Wonderful Day.  I will admit, I was feeling like scrooge this year. I was not my normal "Christmas Season" person. Even knowing the reason for the season was not moving my spirit like lit had years prior. I could not pin point the reason why I was so down. I knew of the immediate things on my mind, and they were only contributing factors to my "scrooge-ness". About 2-3 Sundays ago, a brother of mine from church delivered a message that truly began to shift something in my spirit. He talked about breaking things off your life. Things that can not only trip you up, but your fellow brother/sister. And even your children and grandchildren down the line. Honestly, we talk about that all year long. About how as we walk this walk with Jesus, we need to consistently shed more and more of ourselves and become more like Him. Well, last week, God finally spoke exactly what He was trying to say to me.

Hey Family, I was recalling a message that a sister of mine delivered in church a few weeks ago. She finds Jesus everywhere. In places where you find entertainment, she can find Jesus. But it must have rubbed off on me. So in her message, she was referencing a character from the movie Coming To America. Of course, I keep replaying the movie in my mind and about a week ago, I found something that really struck me in my spirit. Prince Hakim found his love. And in the struggles he was having between the Kingdom he was going to inherit was creating friction within the relationship with the newfound love of his life. She could not handle the "lifestyle" that was presented. And yes, I know in the end of the movie he ends up able to keep the girl and the kingdom. But there was one thing I want to point out. He found a love that he wanted so deeply. He chased after her through the city and onto the train. He confessed his love for her, but yet, she didn't quite believe h

Do you know God's voice when He is calling you? Will you go somewhere just because someone/anyone called you? We teach our children as they are growing up about stranger danger. We tell them you don't talk to people you don't know. Even if they call you by the "right name". And you especially don't go towards anyone's car.  An evil person says "(I wonder if her name is Ana.) Excuse me Ana, can you tell me where tina lives? I have $5 if you can help me." It's just dangerous. In the same way it's dangerous for us adults to go to everyone who calls us. We think because we are adults that we have so much wisdom. We think because we've experienced a certain amount of life that we know better. Especially with people. But you just never know anyone's intentions. Just like a child does not realize the intentions of an evil person who may be trying to lure them. WE can't always know that the person that we've known for a whi

"Girl come on! Let's go to the club”. Nah girl, I’m good. Clubs ain’t my thing no more ." "Girl I can't stand my boss, he makes me so sick!” Girl you need to be grateful for the job that you got. You know God gave it to you. Plus, it could be worse, you could have NO job ." "Girl I'm so worn out praying for this chick. She so stuck in herself, she ain't ever going to act right! Girl I'm pretty sure someone was saying the same thing about you before you got delivered but they didn't stop praying for you did they ?" Romans 12:3 NLT Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Matthew 18:3 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Hey Family, These things all used to be me. And

Hey Family!!! So 2 days ago, I posted “Yes! I am A DIVA!!!” and I know it’s a little bit of a “sexist type” of statement. Many of our Godly men are not walking around saying I’m a DIVA regardless of what acronym it may truly have attached to it. I’m aware, and actually quite relieved that they aren’t doing that. I’m sure I’d have a few questions if Reggie walked around saying that. LOL! So I decided to customize a post for our Men. Feel free to forward this post to any men in your life that you feel may need to be reminded that they are a HERO . But Men, I know you are strong. And you do all that you can to not only provide for your family, but to somehow have a sense of accomplishment in the process. I am fully aware that sometimes being the man in a home (whether you are THE man OF the home or not) is a little bit on the “un-thanked” or “unrecognized” end. We (your family) sometimes take for granted the long, hard, sometimes physical hours you work. Because we have been

Hey Family, I know by this title, you are probably thinking "Dang, Ana done went back to her vanity days!" Nah. Not that the sin of vanity cannot fall back on me. Because at any moment, on any good day, like any other person, I can easily fall back into it. But I'm a fighter that refuses to lose. And that is a fight that I will fight everyday to be sure that I don't inadvertently fall BACK into it. Just like many of you are fighting to continue to be free from your old sins. Whether it be drinking, sex sin, lying, pride, or something even as simple as lack of self confidence. It IS a 24x7 fight. But it's a fight worth fighting. But I'm here today to tell you that I Am A DIVA . And after I explain it, I'm hope you will be able to come out of this, saying exactly that. I hope I get tons of emails and texts from those who believe this with me, saying "I Am A DIVA!". Because if i'm the only one that feels this way, then what am I doing this f

Hi Family,  Sorry it's been a while. I've had quite a few things on my mind this month. Specifically, My God and what He needs from me. Decisions that need to be made. Some good. Some just plain old hard.  I know i'm not the only one in this world who sometimes asks God the same questions. Or that sometimes just has general questions for God. And sometimes find myself in a place where I just want to speak to God in a way that just allows me to say exactly what I need to say. To cry out to Him what I need to cry out. To yell if I need to. And afterwards, to repent of course, because He deserves all my respect.  Sometimes I just need to be honest with my God about how I feel. No sugar coating. No spiritual control of emotions. Just to be free to completely pour out to Him in whatever way that moment calls for. So I decided to post these images. Two quotes and a scripture to help you with each quote. So as you go through these things and these questions in you

Dear World, I know it's been a while. I've not spoken to you in a long time. But I've had some new things going on. New people in my life. One really stands out. I'm sorry I haven't had time for you. Time to do all the things we used to do. Gossip. Talk smack. Joke around dancing and having drinks while listening to Biggie, 2Pac, Big Pun, Elephant Man.... The good old day’s right?  We had a lot of fun. But I'm on a new journey now. I've grown up. I'm a big girl now. I was able to really stop and look back over my life and see how you were so important to me. You fed my ego. You filled my needs. You had all the pleasures I could ever want. But none of it ever truly lasted. I couldn't figure out what it was that I needed. What it was that I was looking for for so long. Whatever it was, I could not find it in you world. Apparently it was something you couldn't give me. I know world, you gave me a lot!!! You gave me a beautiful Son. He

Hey Family I was just talking to another of my sisters about life. And things we tend to struggle with and things we see others struggling with, when suddenly I heard "They are comfortable in their chains". That made me question myself. What chains to I have that I got comfortable in?  So the reason why we don't see these chains is because we do not think they exist. We are so comfortable and they blend in so much with your state of mind that you have no idea that you are walking around in chains and you don't realize it. For example, some people have become comfortable in their chains of financial struggle. It's really easy to end up there. Besides the fact that it is a generational curse, it's something that can be broken. But there is a chain that you don't see that can keep you from your blessing as well. Lets just say you finally make it to the point where you are debt free. You are not making any money to save, but you are so happy that the

Hi Family, I know and fully believe that your life experiences, good and bad, are meant to be a testimony for someone else. Your testimony is not meant to be a moment for you to brag on what has happened to you. But to make a true point that will inspire someone. To be given at a time when it will be used to raise someone's faith. A moment where someone would benefit from it. A moment when someone can hear your testimony and it will push them to go farther than they would have been able to go without it. Revelation 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.  Today, I have been in a constant moment of reflection of how good our God has been to me and my family. How He has truly kept us when we didn't deserve it. So many times God should have turned his back on us. And i'll only speak for myself. God should have turned His back on me so many years ago. College. High School. So many times I did what I did and said what I said.

Hi Family!! So was with my family talking football when God decided to ask ME a question in the topic of discussion. So my son's middle school football team won their first game in apparently a very long time last week. And by a very large spread. My son was talking about the team photo they took at the end of the game and how he was trying to get the cheerleaders to come over to be in the pic as well. I usually play around with him about the cheerleaders. Me:  Why you want the cheerleaders in the pic for!? They didn't put in on this win man! (in my Chris          Rock Voice) Son: Well they are part of the team, they were cheering! Me:  But they were NOT on the field doing the real work!! Suddenly, God stopped me right there. Who have I been? Have I been part of the team, doing my fair share? Putting in on those wins? Or have I been on the sideline? Cheering on other people who are putting in the work to get those wins? Have I been the lineman? Keeping my family d

Hey Family, I was talking to a teammate at work yesterday and we were talking about different good feeling "sayings" and suddenly he says this one. It immediately did something. And it also reminded me of a t-shirt my husband designed. A Diamond Is Still A Diamond, Even If Its Thrown In The Mud... I now feel the need to remind my beautiful sisters and handsome brothers that you are all Unique Rare Diamonds!!! You might not see it. YOU might see dirt, deformities, scars, dents. But there is no denying, that you are still a diamond.  In your life, someone may have cast you aside because you look like a simple dark stone. You may seem rough on the edges. Dented from life and being thrown around. You may even have landed in the mud quite a few times. And while you were there in the cold, thick, wet mud, it rains even more and you sink deeper into the mud. You are then fully engulfed in the dirt. Completely covered. Not a glimmer of the sun to be seen. Then you feel the pre

Hello Family! I woke up quite a few times in the middle of the night Sunday night into Monday morning, and at least the last few times that I woke up, those 2 words came into my mind. Growth, Development and Leadership. I am not quite sure why they came to mind the way they did. But I don't deny that God may be trying to do or say something. It truly is a year of growth and development for me. Even at church, most if not all of the ministries have had a focus of Growth and Development. It really does not matter what you are looking for in life. Whether it is in family life or politics. Your job or your church. You look to someone for guidance. Whether you do it by their side or in their shadow. Then this happened. You have no idea that you are someone else's leader. There is someone who is watching you for guidance. How to handle certain types of children. How to handle a difficult boss. How to manage things in the day to day of married life. How to walk the walk of a

Hey Family, Something hilarious just happened to me. Those absolutely closest to me know why this would be so funny. So, it's a lazy Saturday. I, for once, have nothing on my calendar. Which means it's a day to really just be. Aaaaand a day to catch up on laundry after a really busy week, of course. So I was just watching.... correction..... baby girl was watching her favorite channel. Disney Jr. And they just played Tarzan. The old cartoon one. Throughout the movie, I, being the emotional person that I am, found myself tearing up. By the end of the movie, I have to admit, I had to wipe away the tears. Yes Momma. I hear you already. I know. I'm a water-bucket.   Once I got finished giggling at myself in my mind, all I could think of was "Man, if that were me, my heart would be exploding with excitement! Oh my God! What an amazing way to go left in your life!" It made me realize that thinking that way is a form of having Compassion. See, when you thin

Hey Family! So I'm not sure what it is. No, let me correct myself, I DO know what it is, It's My God At Work. So it's been an awesome week. It had a lot of accidentals. But accidentals in the natural, but I'm sure it was planned by My God. I got up and started my Monday as normal. Got on my way to drop Sami off at daycare, only to find that she was closed for the holiday. Silly me didn't even know that it was a holiday. Shoot, how would I know? School was still in session and I was going to work, why would I think it was a holiday? Oh well, I ended up with a 3 day weekend. I only worked a part day Friday to try to handle the first part of this Journey, but I was still at work. Well, I figured that I'd make the most of my day. Me and Sami got to hang out by ourselves so we got some mommy-daughter time. But all day, all I could think of was the appointment that I had set up for my child for that afternoon. Well, I did some cleaning, I did some praying, I did

Family, I know I already did a post for today, but you know that sometimes I have something extra. I don't know if this is going to be a personal testimony. I guess it is. Maybe it's a testament of faith. Maybe it's my own testament of endurance. Maybe it's Gods way of letting you know that the struggle is real for someone that you know. But I know that I need to give you my own personal journey as I walk a particular part of my walk In Faith. So this topic that I will always call "My Personal Journey" will be multiple entries until God brings out what He is looking for. I am allowing you to be a spectator to see God move in real life for someone. I guess my Pastor was right... My Family Was The Next Coming Attraction. But know that I am only documenting this for YOU. I just want my pain and my success to be something that pushes you to go a little further, pray a little more. Get what God needs from you and for You. I'm the last person that wants a spot