Pearls of Wisdom

I'm blessed to have some wonderful, extraordinary, beautiful, intelligent women in my life. They are my sisters, best friends, and I imagine God's blessed me with them not for a season but a lifetime.

We all come from different backgrounds with different stories, but I love my sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. It was a treat for me to be able to spend quality time with my soror who crossed with me. One highlight was seeing 'The Color Purple' at the Kennedy Center. Further, Stevie Wonder happened to be there for the show, and he had to use our aisle to enter and exit the theatre...WOW...

However, the topper was when we went to M St Bar & Grill in Washington, DC, for brunch. We're sitting and catching up when my dear soror who's a lawyer begins this wild wave with one of the customers. She's a nice looking woman with her family and she smiles and waves to us...Leasa makes out the word "Justice..." which is right about when it clicks that this is the newly sworn in Supreme Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She was with her family enjoying brunch.

Well, we were off the chain and Angel with her big camera whipped it out ready to do begin the photo shoot...YEAH...a bit embarrassing when the Secret Serviceman came to our table and had to get buck. However, Justice Sotomayor thought we were a fun bunch, sending us the flowers the managers had prepared for her at her table. We got to take a picture with her and mingle afterwards. It was super cool and made for a memorable experience.

Here is a true example and pillar of wisdom that we had the chance to meet and exchange words with...






"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

In essence, "The pathway to success in everyday living requires pursuing the practical wisdom of the Lord amidst the distrations of a seductive world."

E.G.O. Tripping & Real Love

"Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out." Proverbs 8:14

Before any beautiful mountain, ocean, valley, sunrise or sunset, there was God. He created the heavens and earth. He made each one of us, and we are fearfully and wonderfully created with a purpose: to worship him. We were the first of his creations and most valued and cherished.

When I allow wisdom to be my guide, I contribute to the good in this society...from government and lawmakers to militaries and wars. Little ol' me makes a contribution daily in the decisions I make with my actions.

Simple, godly living results in major benefits...Hard to believe? But, what sacrifice has he made? The ultimate one: He bled love and the scars continue to bleed when we close our hearts to his goodness.

I'm talking about Real Love sings MJB...I'm talking about E.G.O. Tripping ---Thank you, Ms. Giovanni!

I leave you with an acronym that will allow you to have a big ego and get your swagger on: Easing Out God.

Be richly blessed by embracing his ways and instructions...It's priceless, yet the most valuable piece/peace one might possess. And, it's yours...all yours...for free.

You Can't Turn a Ho into a Housewife...

but Jesus can...

I was truly disappointed in myself when I missed three/four days worth of posting. I had started out so strong and was getting a post day. However, I know better. With my schedule and really trying to make these blogs reader friendly, I need down time to allow for the creative juices to have a happy process.

The first evening when I read Proverbs 5, I thought to myself, "WHOA...Heavy grounds...I can't share my thoughts on this." But it didn't stop there! The next few days I found the topic/theme threading its way into these following chapters. I begin to pray and ask God, "How does this apply to me, God? There has to be something I can capture in these readings?"

There is something to be learned for me...and hopefully for you, too.

Proverbs 5, 6, and 7, bring up the ways of the Immoral Woman. Solomon wrote Proverbs along with Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. He has a very distinct message in each book, but they also correspond to the different phases/times in his life: youth, mid-age, the old age...All of this to provide some history, but what is consistent in Solomon's writings is he is graphic and seldom holds back. You want a good sex bood--yes, I used the "s" word--read Song of Solomon; it could put you and your significant other in the mood: rekindle the flame! What was I supposed to be talking about???!!!

Oh, the immoral woman! In these three chapters, Solomon is pretty straight-forward in his description about these types of women. While there is the literal message for us to learn and heed, I am certain we could take this message to a broader and more contextual meaning for life.

Proverbs is a book that repeatedly stresses wisdom, knowledge and understanding. From a blog I came across in my studies of these chapters, a writer stated it well in asking us to substitue "wayward woman" for something like "sinful world". If you read through the ways of this woman, every one of us could find where we have individually or collectively fallen short in the eyes of God. From laziness to lustful thoughts, we are in a time where many morals and good manners have escaped the generation before us. It is sad; I see it daily. Sadly, though, in a second, third, and fourth read, I found myself feeling convicted due to knowing I am no better than the ho...Sin is sin.

Jesus actually does come face to face with a few immoral women throughout the Bible, and he does change them for the good. If he can take a nobody or scum of the earth person and give them a makeover, think of all the other things he can do!

In a society where it appears everything is a go, we need to remember that we have the power to model and facilitate the change. This comes through the power we get in our relationships with God.

Don't lose the faith...or your Christ-like ways!

Life's Moral Compass

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. PROVERBS 4:23


Life's moral compass is the heart of man. Our hearts are powerful instruments-figuratively and literally. The heart holds emotions and guides our direction through the plans made pending the ups and downs life dishes us. As a compass, it is important that the heart leads us to the voice of the Lord, which could be considered North. To the East there is prayer and studying, which allow our outreach and fellowship with others. To the South is the Word, which we should take time for daily.

Think of the wilderness: It is not a fun place when there is no sense of direction, preparation or purpose. I never minded camping as a young girl in the Girl Scouts. In fact, I looked forward to those trips. I think it was due to the amount of planning and preparing, that I never thought about the things I would not have, getting lost, being attacked, or going without certain luxuries. Some of the prior mentionings I listed have now become many of the reasons I would not have a desire to go camping now. Really when I reflect, it is the point of the preparation, and my use of imagery and the compass work...

While I certainly do not know what's before me each day in "the wilderness". I seldom start the day in fear or anxiety due to the preparation of the Word in my heart. His words comfort and remind me that "I can do all things," and that "no weapon formed against me will prosper."

Today, I reflect and ask: What's guiding or guarding your heart?

If it isn't Jesus, you're likely dealing with a lot of unrest and dissatisfaction. I can attest that there are times when situations get the best of me and I need a moment to fall into "pity" mode...Truth is, it feels great when a situation can come and not get knocked down. Being unmoved, walking in faith with confidence in what's been planted in us is the BEST feeling. I will call it a cocky swagger (hehehe), but it is definitely not one that is used for bad! I hope it exudes his love and models exactly what life should be like when we know our lives are safe because of whose hands they're in: GOD'S...no better place I know!

Love Seeks to Understand

"If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain."

No need to be upset in your search (for gold)..."Fool's gold is what you find when you're panning for the real thing." In other words, you're on the right track. Keep on tracking.

"Do not neglect the gift that is in you."

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REFLECTIONS

The most noted and repeated verses of Proverbs 3 are verses 5 & 6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

There are many nuggets one can take from Proverbs 3, but I'm going to focus on verse 13:
"HOW BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO FINDS WISDOM, AND THE MAN WHO GAINS UNDERSTANDING."

I'm often sought out when it comes to providing logical, spiritual/christian, what-would-Jesus-do advice. Relationships, children, career decisions, relationships, transitions, education, relationships, conflicts, scriptural references, etc. You'll notice there was a word that kept surfacing...RELATIONSHIPS. While I appreciate that young and old trust my words and thoughts when it comes to choices, obstables, life, the topic of relationships is always a puzzling one for me considering I'm single and that would appear to be a poor indicator of my having success in the area!

Truth be told I think people have watched me get burned time and time again and still carry on with dignity. How do you do it? Why are you so calm? How did you overcome the hurt? Should I confront him/her?

Simply put: Love seeks to understand.

While I cannot answer any of those questions, I know a few things to be certain when it comes to God. He cares. He does not desire for us to live a life of hurt. And, he has a purpose and plan for our lives. All this to further say that when trials come, we must seek to understand from a perspective of love. On a deeper level, I often think of how frequently grace and mercy are offered to us despite how we mistreat the relationship we have with God. He loves us even when we don't spend time with him, trust in him, or ignore his teachings.

In my personal life, I am struggling presently to understand and love. We are able to experience emotions: anger, love, joy, peace, frustration, impatience...What matters is how we choose to respond and react based on our feelings. I have some frustration with a certain someone, but I also know that I've hurt people in my life--not intentionally, but to do what I knew was best. Knowing this, I am looking for the blessings in this recent outcome--trusting that it was done for the good.

Seeking to understand is hard--it takes work. The word used in the verse is "finds." It is active and means we cannot just be stagnant. As a reminder, God seeks to give his children good things (Matthew 7).

"Trust and obey. For there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus then to trust and obey."