God truly supplies my every need

You know God is truly awesome. A year ago I was having a yard sale and I almost passed out. It is very clear I have no desire to go anywhere near hell. But anyway I got a phone call this week advising me to pick up a brand new canopy from a friend. It just never ceases to amaze me how thoughtful God is. He just touches hearts and renews the mind all in one shot.

As July is my month of consigning to get rid of the excess in the house. I thought it is time to have another yard sale and surely God has sent a vessel right on time. The only thing holding me back was the heat. So now there is nothing left but to do it! Have a blessed week!


Neicy

Passion vs. Profit

As I looked out over the crowd today, I observed my children interact at their school. I heard is it profit or passion? Mrs. Hood and Ms. Sluder are definitely examples of passion. I heard God say it's the passionate that will survive.

I believe the worst day in education was when the theory was presented that one could hold a carrot to lure teachers to teach. There are many jobs that are suitable to be for profit. Teaching simply is not one of them. Our children are simply too valuable to be placed at such risk.

It is awesome to reward those who have a proven track record and the rewards should be great for those who produce! However, we are going to continue to see massive losses because only the fittest will survive. It is definitely a job created for the passionate at heart.

God's Grace and Mercy are Incredible!

As I was going through my "Lord, just so tired of people trying to take advantage of our kindness mode." I realized it truly "was not as bad as Christ's pain"... by reading Sis LaTanya 's blog or the "holocaust" reading Brother Andrew's post. So now that I have had my pity party "I am bouncing back" as Pastor Paula posted. Isn't it amazing how God can use people all over the nation to minister to your needs.

To top it all off, I had just thrown out furniture and decided to clear out space for the new. My husband and I stopped to see an old friend. This is a friend my husband encouraged to open a business and God is just blessing. Since my husband is a master visual merchandiser, he volunteered his time to help a friend and I pitched in where I could. As we were heading out and were about to purchase a dresser to support this friend's business. The owner said "no way after all you did." "No charge!" It reminded me there are good people out there who truly have appreciative hearts and that do deserve the goodness you try to share.

The weekend only got better because my husband went to work and was given a really nice t.v. stand there again at "No Charge" that matched the book shelf we just bought the children recently. So I must say that while I am a brat at times, I am grateful that God loves me as he does and just continues to bless my family despite my tantrum. It's so good that his Grace and Mercy are new every day! So I will learn to extend the same to my fellow people as I continue to learn their ways.

Is your word not your bond?

I am going to go a little more in detail about some things I have experienced. I was involved in a deal in 2007 here in Charlotte that "a woman of God" agreed to through a religous organization. In the agreement I agreed to pay $550.00 per month. During this term the first month the woman came back to me and said. Well since you were blessed you should bless me and pay $550.00 for the first two weeks. Of course my response was no. For I did not understand why she felt entitled to the blessing God gave my family.

Next, this woman came back and said it is going to cost me more to provide you this service. So I said okay just provide me the receipts. Not once did she come back with the receipts, yet she expected me to pay her more. My husband said "no, she agreed to a flat fee and there should be no adjustments." As a result this woman was upset with my husband and did not want to speak to him further about the agreement for being firm, then she became upset with me because she did not get more money.

However, growing up if we agreed to something we honored it even if we took a loss. My Mom taught us it was our word that we had given and the other party should not be penalized. Therefore, my husband was correct. However, I went one step further and asked that she simply provide the receipt but she never did. So why should she feel I owe her anything after she was paid as agreed and failed to provide the receipts or even a figure? I have tried to get past it and treat her with love but she continues to have an attitude like I really owe her. I asked for the receipts and she seems to think I shouldn't ask for them. I have simply moved on but has she?

I write this for my children so that they will one day understand their parents experiences and learn from our story. My hope is that they will use my writings to their benefit one day.

What is for you is for you and what is for me is for me

I grew up believing your word is your bond. However, since moving to the south. I have learned that a verbal agreement is much like 40 acres and a mule. My mom use to say "a promise is only a comfort to a fool." She would also say "The heart is willing baby but the flesh is weak."

Therefore, forgive me if I expect everything you offer me to be in writing. I have learned that people will offer you whatever sounds good to get what they want but by the end they will have butchered and altered the agreement to fit only their own self gain if you allow it. We were recently offered a dream oportunity, yet when asked to put it in writing the individual could not comply. I was already not at peace. So the reluctance to write the terms only served as a red flag. I sought Godly counsel which confirmed my thoughts.

You see we have been given a vision and each time we share that vision other people try to make it their own and try to run with it. However, each time they have been faced with failure down the road. I believe my error is in believing the vision is so much bigger than me. Their error is in trying to use God's blueprint for us as their own. There is simply too much opportunity and ideas to steal someone' else's business plan or to even steal their thoughts word for word. "You are a designer's original." God truly did not make any counterfeits. Be blessed and be who "God designed you to be."

I hold the village accountable and so should you!

I was advised I take on way too much responsibility for others. However, I believe I saw the village at work and it was always sucessful as a child. I believe as a village we are our brother's keeper and if one child fails we all fail. As I advocated for my children this year, I woke up many nights upset that there were children with no parents standing in their corners and on graduation day I thought how many should have been marching alongside my child.

We fail these children both spiritually and in the natural when we fail to realize their success is indeed our success. Also, that their failures are indeed our failures. It takes one body in Christ to be the difference we want to see. It takes the village to truly succeed!

Happy Father's Day My King!

The travel was not easy and our load was not light.
The battles are behind us...... we see the light.
It's time to stand in unity without the constant fight.
Our life has been to live as clean a life as we can.
In an effort to show our children in Christ they can stand.
We never claimed to be perfect only Christ can be.
We promised to stay the course and teach them and help them see.
See what it is to be the best family we can be.
You showed so many because you stood the test of time.
You showed our sons not to abandon ship at the drop of a dime.
We honor you and sing..........
You assumed your position as Husband, Father and King!