UPP Creative Media
Sometimes the thing you fear the most
is the thing that blesses you the most. I learned many years ago that when that thing you fear the most comes upon you, let it. It is in those moments you meet God in a whole new way.
Let me explain. I had been praying over some things waiting on God’s answer. Writing in my journal and waiting. Some of the strangest struggles I have ever experienced came upon me. Imagine all of the things you feared happening all together at one time. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is where your bible memory verses come in.
When your situation starts to deteriorated, you have to remind yourself of who God is. You won’t always have access to your bible or the app when Satan starts reminding you how dire your situation is. You got to know God’s word. Remind yourself of God’s character. He said he would never leave you or forsake you. (Heb 13:5) He said He knows how to give good gifts (Matt 7:9-11) You must trust what He is giving you is good even though the world and people around you will tell you it is bad.
Because of my struggles this week, I got to spend time meditating on Lecrae’s new album, All Things Work Together. Wow. What an incredible young man and powerful prophet! I love how God speaks to us through vernaculars we understand. I could relate to his need to be “Black Black” and a “prophet who visits the chicken shack.”
God knows me well. He knows what gets my juices pumping and what inspires me. He knows my heart and how to reach it. As I listen to the words of this album and hear this young man’s story I can’t help but say “God, you are so awesome!” I can’t do nothing but praise Him.
More than anything, I found this young man’s journey compelling. He shared his pain and his triumph. His rhymes draw a picture of a real life poured out to Christ. He is not a fake smile who only wants to talk about Jesus, but a real person who dealt with depression, anger and doubt. And he took it all and ministered to us. But God told us our sons and daughters would prophesy (Joel 2:28)
What I prayed over for months, He answered in a moment. He taught me through the words of a rap album. A song said “Crooked sticks draw straight lines.” Sit on that, cause we the stick. We ain’t doing the drawing.
Sit down and let the Lord of the Universe draw. He gives us the grace to take it.
Once You Get You Some Learning
They can’t take it away from you. I learned about art and spent time with aspiring artists. I learned to draw and process black and white film and create digital art. It gave me different eyes to look at the world with.
I don’t know what your 2018 will hold, but I hope you choose to do something that will change your point of view about the world around you. I hope it will help you look at the world though another lense. I hope you will try to do something you never thought you could do.
These are some of the 17 things I did this year that are different from what I have done in the past. Each year of your life, that you are able, you should explore this amazing world that God has placed you in.
My faith has been stretched in 2017 like it has never been before. I have had some of the best laughs of my life on Twitter. And I learned how to make an incredibly good grilled cheese sandwich.
It doesn’t cost anything to live life. Go
Peace and Hairgrease.
A Different Type of Christmas
I love Christmas and it is my most favorite time of year. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you this girl loves Christmas. By this time I have usually finished Christmas cards and got them in the mail with my Christmas Letter and Christmas Photo. I would be half way through Christmas shopping and planning who I will be celebrating with.
This year there are no christmas cards, no christmas photo, no letter, no presents, no parties and no shopping.
There are two finals, 1 photo project, 1 drawing project, a couple of photo packages, an unkept home and a cold that will not die.
BUT I still love Christmas. I mean think about this. The Creator of the Universe loved us so much that He came down from heaven to see about us. He didn’t try to keep His apartment in heaven. He didn’t go home to heaven every weekend to kind of help Him get used to our ungratefulness. When the choice came for Him to lose communication with heaven, He gave it all up for us. We were important to Him. (How can you not fall for a man who will do that for you?)
I love Christmas because He didn’t come on His terms, He came on ours. He came as a human baby raised by human parents. He dealt with poverty, rejection and death. When He says He understands what we are going through, we believe Him. We got a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, everlasting Father and a prince of peace!
I don’t have to shop for this. I don’t have to send cards. All I have to do is accept the free gift He offers and spend eternity with Him.
I do have a Christmas tree which reminds me that even though it is strong and sturdy, it is the lights that give it the beauty. The same is true of us. We may be strong and sturdy, but it is Christ’s light in us that give us our realy beauty.
I love this season and how it changes people’s hearts. I hope it changes your heart.
Merry Christmas
My Favorite Tweets
In 2018, each week I will share with you some of the best tweets on Twitter according to the folks I follow. These people crack me up and give a whole new meaning to social justice.
Black Friday Sale
For Black Friday, these books are on sale for $.99 or $1.99. Read fun books about African American women living life to the fullest. There are novels and devotionals. Something for everyone. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.
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- Destiny’s Dilemma
Happy Thanksgiving
Thankful
What an incredible life we get to lead. We live during a pivotial time in history where God is doing amazing things. In a time full of darkness, I have seen things that give me hope.
The thing that makes me giggle, and I am very grateful for is that God does not forget our prayers even when we forget. This year I was reminded of how I prayed to be surrounded by people who pray big prayers and believe God more than a decade ago. This year I was surrounded by a church standing up to do that exact thing. It is exciting and scary at the same time. It is exciting to watch God work, yet it is scary as you step on that limb and walk toward the edge.
This has been a transition year for me as I teach my daughter to adult and begin my own personal journey. I am thankful for the blessing God has given me in both areas. Again, I was surprised at what I could do when I surrendered to God’s leading.
I am so grateful for phenomal the people God placed in my life this year. They have been His Hands, His Feet, His Voice, His Encouragement, His Strength and much more. My favorite moment was when I couldn’t hear. I didn’t have insurance. I didn’t have cash. Some folks I love stepped in the gap.
If you never need anything, and no one ever helps you, you will miss the mightiest blessing of all. It provides for a need, but what it does for the heart is more powerful.
But the thing that gives me hope is that people are seeking God. They are not seeking a church or a minister, but the One who Created the Universe. I sit in BSF and wonder where did all these women come from. There are so many new women, I seldom see the people I have known for years. This gives me hope.
Twitter gives me hope. Unlike the rest of the world that puts up with nonsense, twitter will take a stupid idea and beat it with a baseball bat. Like the word of God, it is a sword that separates joints and marrow, soul and spirit. In 140 characters, it reveals the heart of the writer. I met some amazing hopefilled hearts on there.
My prayer this year has been, if I ask for bread, the Lord will not give me a stone. He has been faithful. I am thankful. I praise Him for the journey..
I wish you and yours the best of Thanksgiving,
Peace and Hair Grease
Thanksgiving Is The Perfect Time
Listen up, I have a few slots available the week before and the week after Thanksgiving for photo sessions. The best week will be the actual week of Thanksgiving. I mean think about it. All your family is in one location. Call me, text me, inbox me.
I.Love.God’s.Word.
I really mean it. I know many of you wonder why I spend so much time at bible study. Because there is nothing more enthralling to me than when someone gets up to speak on a portion of scripture I am familiar with, yet they are able to help me approach it from a new direction. Ms. Lisa Harper tore me up today teaching on patience and waiting. But the moment that floored me. How you spend all your time praying for something, and when God give it to you, you complain about it.
You see we learned earlier today that grumblers and complainers died in the wilderness not able to reach the promiseland.
I am so glad I have friends who love God and want to get to know Him better.
As I sat in the room with thousands of women, I couldn’t help but think of the one woman God used to change the trajectory of my life. I had never encountered anyone who loved Jesus like she did. I wanted some of that.
I have done 10 of her bible studies. Believing God was my favorite because it taught me to take Him at His word. It gave me courage to walk in the purpose He gave me.
I have not been disappointed in Jesus, but in some of the circumstances faith has led me to. I have learned that God is far more interested in my character than my comfort. He always uses His word to remind me who He is. He will have my pastor at church, my weekly bible study homework and a weekend conference I just happen to attend quote the same verse to let me know that He can do exceedingly beyond all I can imagine.
Today the teachers and preachers taught us that words are powerful.
For me: Doubt dies unborn if it is never spoken.
To quote and old bible study
God is who He says He is
God can do what God says He can do
I am who God says I am
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
God’s Word is alive and active in me
I am believing God
(Believing God Five Statement Pledge of Faith)
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