Sister United In (love, purpose, unity...Christ)

I had the best time today at the Chicken Soup Seminars XIII.  It's an annual event hosted by Lady Gloria Abbott.  The women at New Dimensions Ministries and beyond came together to fellowship, worship and grow.  The theme was "Girls With Swords" from the book by the same name.  We heard from God!  The speakers were dynamic and the spirit was present.  At one point, I sat with a church member I see EVERY Sunday.  By the time she was finished with her testimony, we were both in tears.  You just never know what people have experienced...or more importantly, what God has brought them through.  There is this belief, and it has been true in some instances, that women--especially black women-- can't get along.  Well, today baby...the devil was a liar!  We rejoiced in who we were created to be; what our struggles have been ; and how to be SHE-ROS  and move forward in our purpose.  AMAZING! I am grateful to have been there!  YAY GOD!  Girls with Swords ROCK! 
#lovemyNDM
What is God saying to you in this season?  Are you listening? 

Expect More Than You Could Think Or Imagine

Living the Life I Want...and Praying It's the Life God Has For Me

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
 
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Without fail, when I'm off work and get to wake up at a "not as early as usual but still pretty early" time, I start to think about how I can make that a part of my everyday life and still do the things I want to do (read...the things God has for me to do).  If I want to sleep in and be home when it's time for Grace to go to school, but I also want to spread joy with my smile and knowledge of what's going on in the world at large and encourage women with a message of living a purpose filled life and be a leader among women in my community, then I have to figure out the proverbial ideal of having it all.  Can we have it all?  I've heard it said that, yes, you can have it all....just not at the same time.  Well a lot of good that does me, right:o) 
I think the biggest challenge to having it all is really being truthful about what it is I want.  That's a start.  Then, I believe I have to decide what I'm willing to give up.  I know, giving up something sounds like a contradiction to having everything I want, but it's not.  There are things I want ( and pray God wants for me) and there are things that would be nice to have included in my life if I could make space for them.  We all have our non-negotiables.  For me, that list includes the "Dear God, please have these things for me because I really want them to be in my life" items, while the rest could wind up on the "Thank you for that God; I wasn't expecting or even hoping for it, but I'm grateful" list.  I'm getting pretty clear about my lists and the items on them.  I know who I am and whose I am.  I know what's important to me, and I'm getting clearer on what I was created to do (read...purpose). And, I trust God with it all. (PERIOD)
I have to believe that it's only a matter of time before it's all figured out, packaged and handed to me in a neatly wrapped gift box.  RIGHT!  Until then, I'll enjoy the day and make sure my alarm is set for my "very early" wake up time tomorrow. 

EXPECT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE