I recently found this video when I was surfing USATODAY.com. Millions of people still need a hand up and our continued prayers. As you will see miracles ARE STILL being reported from Haiti.
Hand of Hope - http://www.handofhope.org
Samaritan’s Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org
Yele Haiti - http://yele.org/earthquake-relief
American Red Cross / Haiti - http://www.redcross.org/haiti
Lela Jefferson, © 2010 All rights reserved.
True story… So, during a recent sound check at church; I was bouncing and praising so much… I started to feel as if my ponytail was bouncing more than it should. After a quick check my ponytail ended up in my hand. What to do??? what to do????
Well, I decided to yank it off and keep on singing. My praise leader later stated over the mic… “Ladies, please remember to secure your ponytails and weaves before we begin to praise. They have fallen off in the past.” I shouted back… trust me I know from experience.
The moral of this little story is NEVER take yourself too seriously. Why? Cuz stuff happens 
Lela Jefferson, © 2010 All rights reserved.
1 Samuel 15:23 AMPILIFIED – For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.
Has this ever happened to you? So God has been speaking to you about doing something. Yet you have been shookin’ and divin’. Telling HIM, not right now… you are not ready to do IT; making excuses for why you are not obeying…
Hmmm… but then you are confronted again with IT. Folks have been talking about IT indirectly to you… The songs you listen to on the radio, the programs you watch on TV all refer in some way about or to IT. Your Pastor is led suddenly to teach on IT at church. It seems as if you can’t avoid IT.
While all along in your quiet time you have asking God to speak to you… However, what IT is, is not what you want to do, right? So you have been ignoring the very thing that is going to be the key to your breakthrough.
So my question to you is… Has God been trying to tell you something? If so, just say yes and do IT already!
Lela Jefferson, © 2010 All rights reserved.
“Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46:10 NLT
God has a mighty BIG sense of humor. This has been a, connect the dots week for me. I have been taking a trip down memory lane as I reconnect with my old friends, family and colleagues more and more. They give me the opportunity to take a look at my life in hindsight….
It amazes me that I can say I have NO regrets. If I had the power to magically undo ANYTHING I have done thus far, I wouldn’t. I’ve spent too much time in the past doing, the “what if I had?” dance. Mentally nailing myself to a cross and using past actions to halt me from moving forward; oh how I was deceived.
To paraphrase one of my mentors from a far Joyce Meyer “My greatest testimony is that I am still here!” My second is that I am redeemed and saved by the grace of God. That I have the ability to plead the blood over my life and say the name that is above every name… Jesus and get my prayers answered from my heavenly father.
I say that God has a mighty BIG sense of humor because if I was to have seen where and how my life has gone to get me to where I am today… 20 years ago, 10, or even 5…. I would have probably looked at God like he was crazy. Good thing he is the only one of us that sees our end before the beginning…
Lela Jefferson, © 2010 All rights reserved.
My sisters,
We may not have the same mother or father… our skin tones different shades and hues. However one thing that we have in common is our gender and its name…WOMAN.
Through it we have a kinship. We have the ability to share stories of similar hormonal changes, first crushes, first kisses, loves, heart breaks, marriages and for many of us childbirth.
I write this article from my perceptive of being a single woman in her early 30s, no children yet…African American and having had my heart broken and restored. Raised by older parents, both having since gone to be with the Lord; I write this as a Christian, born again with a heart renewed, who is grateful for everyday for new found grace.
Honestly I felt compelled to write this open letter after receiving too many calls from sister-friends or chance meetings where I have been asked for advice. These moments have been opportunities for me to take the focus off of self and truly love on my fellow sisters.
I find it an honor to be able to minister and share my testimony with them and to hear theirs. Encourage them that even after being hurt and having your heart stomped along with your pride and name… They like the phoenix can too rise up again.
See, I was in a relationship that spanned almost ten years off and on with someone that I allowed to mentally abuse me. He had ties to my soul and privileges that only through the covenant status of marriage he should have received.
The details of my story are not as important as the lessons I am still learning from it. The first lesson I learned was how to forgive myself for the part I played. No one can abuse you unless you allow them to. You are never without the power to at least attempt to fight back. True love from God, goal is not to tear you down, but instead its goal is to build you up.
Being bitter and angry at someone that probably doesn’t even give you a second thought after the damage they have done is just a time waster. You can spend years using the excuse of being hurt to block blessings God has in store for you. New relationships, children, careers/ministries being birthed, can be blocked by you allowing your emotions to control you and keep you at an impasse. I know this because I did it.
For two years I thought by keeping a wall up around my heart so I could lick my wounds in privacy, I was protecting myself from being hurt. The sad truth was it hurt me more. Instead of growing in love, I was growing in offense and the ripples affected every area of my life.
My job became my life. My home reflected how I was feeling inside, a mess. I was functioning, yet was empty. My prayer life was ritual vs. being relational. During this time God’s voice that used to be so clear for me to hear… was but a whisper…
I was short tempered, and made excuses for my rude behavior. I tried to control others around me because I had no self control. My friends, tried to tell me, however their constructive criticism fell on deaf ears. Jesus though I understood him as my savior, I had not allowed to sit in the driver’s seat of my life. The Holy Spirit’s guidance by my delayed response showed evidence of disobedience. So when my world the one I had constructed began coming crashing down around me; I was forced to stop. Take a personal inventory and return the keys and seat to the true owner of my life, God. To him I repented and asked help. No man could give me hard truth I needed to change.
The scriptures that can best describe this time is in my life is Proverbs 18:10 – 12 from the Amplified Bible … “10The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong. 11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit. 12Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor.”
The following series of poems, a few are from my 1st book Poetry of a Black: Girl the Darkness and the Light Volume 1, others are still works in progress… In a way they tell my journey with God as he has been giving me beauty for my ashes Isaiah 61.
Some Diamonds in the Rough Never Go Beyond Infancy
I used to call you a diamond in the rough,
I saw so much potential in you
I held you down when others laughed and scorned,
said I was a fool.
I kept secrets even from my mama.
Let you live in my house rent free.
Let you see and operate in my inner court.
And act like you were the king of my Holy of Holies.
I placed all my trust in you,
only because I used to see so much potential in you.
No mere mortal man could ever appreciate what I did.
What I sacrificed, understand the tears, I shed all unselfishly.
So now I have come to the conclusion.
That some diamonds in the rough
Without the proper pressure,
never go their beyond infancy.
So as I look back at what I saw, what I thought we could be
I know now that because HE was not in between you and me
My dear, you and I were never meant to be
I played no games of the heart
I kept it real from the start
My heart was open and true to you
But I did not want to believe what I knew
A player unless he wants to change,
will always want and play the game
My focus was so much on you
That I did not know that
I had aligned myself to flesh
I needed to align my heart up,
To the most highest God,
For he would never leave me
Nor ever forsake me
He would never be untrue
Never walk out, or use me
No need for apologizes
For he would never wrong me
Abuse my love like you did to me
Though I was hurt
I have learned to forgive
The ties you had to my soul
Have been released
And until you find your own peace
And get in a relationship with HIM
You will remain just a lump of coal
That could’ve been the brightest diamond,
the world has ever seen.
###
Do You Know Me?
I sit here and I ponder our relationship.
You used to call on me, so we could just talk awhile.
Spend days on an end, just you and me.
I had your back even when others didn’t
I pleaded your case against our father,
when you sinned.
I forgave you when you lied.
I encouraged you when you couldn’t do it on your own.
I protected you when you were weak and clothed you with my love before you even knew my name or could even speak.
I sent provisions, but you didn’t give me thanks.
I was ok with it all, because the promise I made and the sacrifices I gave for you.
I remember times when you were bold enough to talk to others about our relationship.
Now when someone asks about you and me you deny that we are even related.
You have let fear of rejection and thoughts of unworthiness creep into your psyche.
I ask, do you really know me?
Am I not your friend, your brother… your teacher?
Did I not show you in my words, in my love for you, in my actions that I would never forsake you?
Trust me…. I have your back…even when you don’t think no one else does.
I will never give up on you why? Because this we have, this thing… is real… and I am real.
I am love, I am your Father God, your brother Jesus and your teacher the Holy Spirit and in me, you can trust.
I AM whatever you need me to be…
Trust me, it is not in my DNA to not tell the truth.
I swore to tell you the truth through the shedding of my own blood… not once, but twice.
I am just waiting for you to talk to me again…I have all the time in the world.
###
Goodbye
The words seem to not be able to escape from my lips…
However, I know they need to be said.
Listen, I have to get this out of my head…
I know I have the power to stop you with my declarations.
I have loved you for so long.
However, I love another more…
Our destinies seem to have different paths that don’t meet in the end.
So as I am sitting here close to being washed away from my own flood of tears.
I know I must be the one to find the courage to walk away.
Shh…Don’t speak…
I really don’t want to hear anything you have to say.
Don’t waste your time.
I’m not listening.
I am not looking back.
Goodbye.
Sin…
###
Barefooted
I dare to walk alone
Yet you are always present
Your voice is so clear in my ear.
Guiding me down roads without fear
Barefooted…
Stones and pebbles lay underfoot.
Blood drawn I fall and scrap a knee
Get up… I hear… Get up…I hear so audibly.
Get UP! For righteousness sake
Arise…repent.
Barefooted
Dreams deferred
And given back renewed
Cause their source
Had to be known
My feet are healed
My eyes see clear
Barefooted walking on air…
He carries me still…
I read, I believed by faith
I lay still … I wait
Mediate and then… and then… and then…
I hear Barefooted
I’ve got new shoes
For you!
A shield a sword and armor too!
Barefooted I’ve got your shoes!
Barefooted you have been renewed…
You obeyed…
You acted by faith…
You heard my voice and did not hesitate.
Barefooted PREACHED it…
Words He never knew.
Barefooted…PREACHED it…
Words…He never knew…
###
Preparing for Boaz
This poem is for my sisters
However, I hope I get some nods from the fellas…
So you say you are preparing for your Boaz.
The man, you want to share the rest of your life with
Have him call you his wife, share his name…
Maybe raise a kid or two with,
hoping even through the weight gain and stretch marks
he will love you just the same.
However…Ladies…my sister girl friends…
We think at times that we must flirt and dress
in ways that leave nothing to the imagination
That Boaz will see this and instantly fall to one knee.
Or that the perfection we see
from the corner of our eyes in the dimness of club lights
while we sip on Apple martinis could it be he?
Or when we talk
in ways that would make a sailor blush
and wonder why we are not treated with respect
and as ladies
When we make
excuses for being late unfocused
and for unkempt houses…
Thinking Boaz, your Boaz will accept you for you.
You are worth far more then jewels
though you give yourself up for less
and even sometimes for free
Your reputation should precede you
elevating you to new levels of fame
not give you reason to hold your head down in shame
Daughter of the Most High, God
reclaim your position of grace
###
Lela Jefferson, © 2007 – 2010 All rights reserved.
I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer. A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read. I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs. Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.
Questions for Discussion or Reflection – Day Fifteen
2) According to Dr. Edward Hallowell, over half of us are chronic worriers. Which of the ten signs of a big worrier on page 33 do you struggle with? How do worry and anxiety spill over into your daily life and affect your behavior? Your physical health?
Ten Signs of a Big Worrier
Is worrying a problem in your life? Dr. Hallowell says it might be if these worry signs are true about you:
1) You find you spend much more time in useless non constructive worry than other people you know.
2) People around you comment on how much of a worrier you are.
3) You feel that it is bad luck or tempting fate not to worry.
4) Worry interferes with your work – you miss opportunities, fail to make decisions, perform at lower than optimal level.
5) Worry interferes with your close relationships – your spouse and/or friends sometimes complain that your worrying is a drain on their energy and patience.
6) You know that many of your worries are unrealistic or exaggerated, yet you cannot seem to control them.
7) Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by worry and even experience physical symptoms such as rapid breathing, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or trembling.
8) You feel a chronic need for reassurance even when everything is fine.
9) You feel an exaggerated fear of certain situations that other people seem to handle with little difficulty.
10) Your parents or grandparents were known as great worriers, or they suffered from an anxiety disorder.
Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting – Psalm 139:23 – 24
###
Personally I believe all of us have some areas and have had times in our lives where we have worried over people, places or things that we should had turned over to God. I know for me, I have a tendency to either over analyze a thing or want something to be so prefect that I fail to even start on a project I know. I should be doing. Praise God, he is helping me in that area by bringing the right people and influences across my path and I am willing enough to accept their counsel vs. being offend by it.
2009’s I speak by faith and see by my actions strongholds are not being carried over into this New Year. Missed blessings or opportunities are not an option. I have cleaned out my inner ear to hear more clearly from God. In turn, I have begun the process of removing the waxes sort of speak of distractions, either externally or internally created.
To be continued… I welcome your comments!
The previous article can be found here.
Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com
Proverbs 18:16 (Amplified Bible) 16A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
It has been a good challenge for me to decide what would be the first topic; I would blog about this year. A lot has happen since my last posting. I celebrated a birthday my 31st, I began working in a new industry health care administration and officially graduated to the status of courtship with a man of valor; a friend I have known since my girlhood.
With all these new developments and responsibilities I had to begin the process of evaluating my priorities again. Judge myself and see if the last things God told me to do, if I was still doing them with the same level of passion I had when they were first dropped in my spirit. Or had I allowed other things to distract me from accomplishing my assignments. Basically I asked myself have I been a faithful steward.
In short in some areas being very transparent, I have not been consistent. The word consistency is defined by Webster to mean “1 a archaic: condition of adhering together: firmness of material substance b: firmness of constitution or character”. Ironically, one of the points my Pastor taught during our Watch Night / New Year’s Eve service was in fact the importance of being consistent. He let us know that his year having a steadfast mind will be one of the perquisites for obtaining the fullness of the blessing (the empowerment to prosper.)
Looking back at the last 12 months and at my I WILL statements for 2009, I can say I believe I have made good progress in areas such as being a better steward over my relationships with others professionally, personally and spiritually. I have become more pliable and fearless out of necessity and a true desire to want to change my life for the better.
2009 was a year where God began pruning me. I was like a tree with unruly branches that were bearing fruits of selfishness, a short temper and just plain fleshy behavior. I had to go back to the basics in making sure I was getting in enough word and fellowship time with God (prayer) to balance any worldly attacks. I had to humble myself and repent to those I may have hurt emotionally through the neglecting of their needs in my pursuit to guard myself from new hurts. In short I had to get honest with myself and God.
So as I embark on this New Year 2010, the one question that I continue to replay in my head and I know I must answer is… “What was the last thing God told me to do?”
I am sure and I know that there will continue to be more pruning by God as he prepares me for the next phase. He is preparing me to walk out my destiny in fulfill his ultimate purpose.
I DARE YOU… To begin to ask yourself similarly the question, WHAT WAS THE LAST THING GOD TOLD ME TO DO? AM I STILL CONSISTENT IN FULFILLING IT? You may be surprised by the answer you receive back.
If you liked this feature and would like to share your own dreams, leave your comments now.
Lela Jefferson
http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com
Recently, I was given the opportunity to re-enter the workforce in a new industry from my former. Previously, I worked in non-for-profit religious and before that direct marketing. This new industry actually is one that has been around me my entire life. Many of my relatives have worked in it or currently still do so. That industry is healthcare.
The most important and awesome part about the experience is the opportunity came suddenly after a shocking self examination. What I realized was that I had been neglecting (in my prayer time) the topic of gaining new employment. In the natural, I was still being diligent calling my recruiters and applying for opportunities, reviewing my skill sets and working on clarifying my personal brand (online and offline.)
However, spiritually I had stopped thanking God for my new job in advance. On the flipside, I had begun studying and confessing over my business ventures. However, I needed to schedule more time for increase study including goal setting. I was lacking balance and once I realized that and corrected it; it was less than 24 hours that I received a phone call about this new opportunity!
All this was realized when the workaholic in me began to be decoded. Webster defines the word ”workaholic” as being a person that is a compulsive worker and one of the definitions for the word “decoded” means to discover the underlying meaning. The one thing that is powerful about prayer it is supposed to be a two way dialogue between you and God. When you take the time to stop talking it is amazing what God can drop into your spirit. For me, it was being shown why I had in the past always seemed so busy and why while I was working on projects, I was not able to close them out.
The Holy Spirit gently corrected and guided me through the process of an honest self assessment of how I had been managing my time.
- First I needed to be realistic with my schedule. Remembering to put God first. Giving him undivided time and focus; more than I had before.
- Not taking on new projects without first closing out current ones and consulting God in prayer about taking new ones.
- Re-learning how to and socializing offline with like minded people.
- Exploring my environment for new opportunities (neighborhood and community)
- Not second guessing when God has already given me peace in my spirit on projects that take me out of my comfort zone.
- Tapping into my personal networks, family, friends and former colleagues. I now have mentors not just supporters.
- Truly seeing my life and myself as God sees me as someone and something that is precious and worthy to be loved, shared and shown appreciation.
Now getting back to the topic of this article the decoding of a former workaholic, my life during the last year has become more balanced. Though my schedule on the outside looks fuller it is filled with manageable items.
No longer is work, my life it is a function or aspect of it. I truly know and trust that God is my source and by living a balanced life; I am giving him the greatest of me really for the first time. I know it is not his will to see me stressed out, cranky and snappy to those I love and care about.
Two questions I now constantly ask myself…
- How can my spirit yield when called upon by the Holy Spirit if it is stressed?
- Why should I hold onto concerns He/God has given me the okay to give to Him?
So as I continue to be decoded…
- Leave work on time
- Eat my lunch away from my desk
- Take care of my physical (using my gym membership), mental and spiritual health
- Foster my relationships
- And most importantly believing by faith that God plus me is okay
I can confidently say I am a former workaholic that is being not only decoded but also re-invented and classified as passionate.
Lela Jefferson
http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com
I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer. A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read. I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs. Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.
Questions for Discussion or Reflection – Day Fourteen
1) Martha wanted Jesus to tell Mary to help out in the kitchen, but instead of giving her what she wanted, Dr. Jesus made a diagnosis: “Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things.” If you had been Martha, how would Jesus’ words have made you feel?
I have been Martha, in the past and sometimes do even have relapses. However, to answer the above question directly and honestly, I would have felt at first taken aback and quite possibly a bit offended by Jesus’ comment. The reason since that this man would have been undressing my mind, with his response to my request of help, from Mary my sister. Culturally yes the women were to ready the house for guests. However, nowhere in this encounter with Jesus do we see Martha being asked to do anything by Jesus or anyone else for that matter. She made the conscious decision to busy herself. I can imagine being Martha saying to myself while being very aggravated “I wish I could sit at the Master’s feet and act as if I have no cares in the world like my sister Mary! However, I must do what duty dictates.”
Duty at times can be a blessing. It leads to the maintaining of order. However, it cannot be our excuse for not making positive changes in our lives. Mary outside of the two sisters was the most bold in this story. She went against traditions to sit herself in a room filled with men, at the feet of a man that was not her husband. In this she showed Jesus that she valued what he had to offer, his presence.
Instead of trying to show him through works begat from busyness, she [Mary] showed him in her immediate corresponding action of faith by sitting at his feet. Martha on the other hand, showed her busyness to be more important than to hear a word from Jesus.
To be continued… I welcome your comments!
The previous article can be found here.
Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com
Folks, I have a new sister-friend to tell you about! Cherese Bracey, a devout Christian, early childhood educator, entrepreneur and author  . She has just released her first children’s book, Story Time Friends which is geared to encourage children to operate in love, compassion and friendship… |
 |
||||
|
||||
ABOUT
The Writings and Experiences of Lela Jefferson.