Posts Tagged ‘poetry’

There is something about obeying that small voice of reason otherwise known as the Holy Spirit…

This past Saturday after attending church, I was led to go book shopping at Borders.  I had been debating for some time with myself about buying a Message Bible.  See for the past year when I did my home bible study, I would use the website Bible Gateway to look up the Message Bible translation of a verse for a deeper understanding.  My main reference translations have been the King James and Amplified up until then.   I was first introduced to the Message Bible by a minister from my church’s parent ministry during a service he taught us here in NY.

Fast forwarding back to the present, the message my pastor had taught on that evening had been on acting on the voice of God behind the word of God we hear or read.  The word I kept hearing as he was preaching was that it was time for me to get my Message Bible.  Being obedient I did get to Borders which is just outside of the venue where we had service that evening and proceed to go on upstairs where I knew the bibles was housed.

When I got upstairs, I actually almost missed the aisle of bibles.  They have them so far back in the store that I thought that they had relocated them somewhere else since the store is currently undergoing renovations.  When I did see the titles I saw there were several of them actually with funky book jackets in different colors, versions and formats.  The one that called to me; however was a parallel copy that included the TNIV (Today’s New International Version) with the Message REMIX that was in a convenient travel size.  The complete bible title in itself looked like a hardcover novel; that could easily fit in my day-to-day hand bag!

Ironically the bible was even priced less than the first one I looked at and included as I mentioned the Message REMIX which includes bible book introductions and general scripture references to do cross study.  Talk about favor!  Before leaving the store, however I was led again to see if one of the authors/poets I wanted to do a further study on collective works was in the store.

This brought me to one of the store’s kiosks, to check their inventory.  The poet I was looking for was Nikki Gionvanni.  Once it was confirmed that a collection of her works was indeed in the store by an associate I proceeded to go towards the downstairs escalators.  Upon reaching the main floor, my eyes were drawn to the clearance rack where I found a treasure for sure!

Just sitting there so sweetly was this volume called Poetry Speaks Expanded- Hear Poets Read Their Own Works from Tennyson to Plath. The volume itself includes 47 of the world’s most renown poets ever recorded complete with brief bio and essays written about them from living legend poets such as Sonia Sanchez and three CDs of the poets reading their own works.  The oldest recording is from the 1800s!  Originally priced at $49.99 now $9.99!!!

To make a long story short, I left the store with four titles; the fourth was a book for my pure leisure The Devil Wears Prada. A fifth book was purchased.  However, it was one donated to local charity that gives books to grammar school kids.  I was just blessed beyond measure with my selections and in the end was blessed to be a blessing. This was all because of being obedient to the voice I heard behind the message.

For your quick reference here is the purchase information for the books I bought:

• TNIV The Message Remix Parallel Bible – Zondervan
• Poetry Speaks Expanded – Hear Poets Read Their Own Works from Tennyson to Plath (Book w/ CDs)
• The Collected Poetry of Nikki Gionvanni 1968 – 1998 P.S. Insights, interviews and more…
• The Devil Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger

Bible Gateway | A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages

– http://www.biblegateway.com

Lela Jefferson, © 2009 All Rights Reserved

http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

Hello, my Memoirs Fans, Family and Friends,

I know it has been awhile and in some cases the first time you ever received an update from me pertaining to the Memoirs of a Black Girl writing series!  I want to, first off, thank you so much for your support.  Give some major big up to my father God, my big brother Jesus aka JC and my spiritual tutor the Holy Ghost for inspiring me to write again and share my innermost thoughts with you and the rest of the world!

I recently posted a little note to the haters, letting them know I was no longer concerned about their thoughts.  I am only focusing my attentions now on what God says and thinks of me.  I was and was very serious about that.  So, if you think at times my writings are bold or shocking…well I apologize, I am just keeping it real… and if need will  back it with scripture.

In case you did not know, my name is Lela Jefferson. I am the creator / author of the “…of a Black Girl” writing and poetry series and the voice behind the podcasts.  I also proudly hail from Brooklyn, NY, am 30 something, African American, female, member of World Changers Church – New York, single with no kids, heterosexual, and a living holy born-again Christian.   I do not confess I am perfect I have a lot of areas the trio mentioned above are helping me develop.  However, I can honestly and proudly say I am not the same Lela I was a year ago or even yesterday.

Just a little more background on me professionally I have worked in Entertainment Management, Direct Marketing Online in the areas of Web Producing and Development.   I have also worked in Office Administration Management in the for-profit and non-profit religious sectors. I consider myself a writer, poet, blogger, PR and marketing professional, web producer, consultant, mentoring coach and definitely an entrepreneur.

Most of my recent volunteer work has been either community based for my church or in relation to local politics.  In the past, I did  pro-bono public relations and participate in social marketing, this was before social media had a name, think tanks for a few entertainment celebrity clients.

Currently, I am working on re-inventing myself and establishing my brands.   My company Urban PR Connection is a New Media Marketing, and PR firm.  I am amercing myself deeply in social media in its inner workings.  It’s the new buzz term and is where those in my field are now. I am an avid reader/researcher.  So I actually budget in time for surfing the web and book shelves.   You can actually very soon check out what I am currently reading at http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com/straight-from-the-crates/

Enough about my background …Here is a quick list of projects and websites I am currently working on:

Writing Projects

• Memoirs of a Black Girl – From 0 to 30 (memoirs / book)
• Poetry of a Black Girl Vol. 1 – From Darkness to Light (a poetry collection / book)
• Memoirs of a Black Girl – My 1^st Trip to West Africa (transcriptions of my journal entries; age 15)

Blogs and Podcast

• Memoirs of a Black Girl | The Blog – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com
• Memoirs of a Black Girl | Podcast Series – http://poetryofablackgirl.podOmatic.com
• Poetry of a Black Girl | The Blog – http://poetryofablackgirl.tumblr.com/
• Saved in My City | The Blog – http://savedinmycity.greenpress.com/
• True Proverbs 31 Women – http://trueproverbs31woman.blogspot.com/

Businesses

• Urban PR Connection – http://www.urbanprconnection.com
• SankofaDot.Com – http://www.sankofadot.com

In closing (had to stop somewhere), for those that want to connect with me via my personal profile on Facebook; you can find me at http://www.facebook.com/lelaj and on twitter follow me as LelaJefferson

Till the next update…

Stay blessed and true to you,

Lela Jefferson

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…

##

By Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

& http://www.poetryofablackgirl.com

I am your friend
that is what you call me.
Yet in your eyes I see so much more…
Though you tell me that you trust me
would give me your head if…
You should need to lean…
on my shoulder?
A small part of you…
stops you from telling me…
You love me…
In fear that I might abuse you
use you …mistreat you
causes you to… push me away,
while still you hold me near…
For with me…you leave all your hopes and dreams
aspirations of the woman that you want to be.
Your very words give your true feelings away.
In your gushing,
in your sentiments… in your actions,
I can see it there’d…
You love me.

I am the Holy Spirit.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsfoablackgirl.com &

http://www.poetryofablackgirl.com

I sit here and I ponder our relationship
You used to call on me so we could just talk awhile.
Spend days on 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 the question, 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 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.

5/14/09 12:16 PM