What are you THANKFUL for?

Although I know just how important it is to be thankful, I learned some years ago the true significance of it. I was presented with a challenge of writing out 100 things that I’m thankful for.  Initially I didn’t want to do it.  I mean, “I’m Thankful for EVERYHTING” that’s all there was to it right?!?!…or so I thought until I began to list item by item, piece by piece, thing by thing of everything that I’m thankful for. 

SO here’s my list (in no specific order)

1. Jesus Christ, My Lord & Savior: THANK YOU JESUS!!! I simply can’t say it enough.  Where would I be with your unwavering love for me. 
2. My Mom
3. My Dad
4. My Sisters: Wouldn’t trade these two for the world.  I love them!
5. My Friends: I know if I named them all individually from amazing acquaintances to true friends, I would be done with my list.  I  don't have a large number of really close friends, but I do know there are a lot of people, who I can count on, who care about me, and who want only the best for me.  I value them all and appreciate their presence in my life. 
6. Good Health: At the age of 31, I’m happy to say that I’ve never had any major health issues and above all that’s an incredible blessing. 
7. God’s Holy Word: The Bible
8. Being an American:  I think too often we take for granted the many luxuries we have as American citizens.  I love this country!  It may not be perfect, but what place is?  When you think and learn about other countries and cultures you realize just what how many freedoms we have every day.  
9. The Struggles: Oh MY! I’m thankful for all the things I’ve gone through.  Through all the tears all the things I thought I would never get out of, BUT God saw fit to bring me out and teach me some everlasting lessons.    
10. Gift of Sight: What an amazing gift. 
11. Hearing: The thousands of fibers that are found in our ears that allow us to have the sense of sound. 
12. The ability to Speak: What a tremendous blessing to be able to verbally communicate
13. Strangers: Maybe it’s just me, but I often times meet strangers that out of the blue offer a word of encouragement, unexpected help, or a smile.  I’m grateful for the kindness of strangers. 
14. People that just Listen: People that take the time to just listen.  They sit still and listen to me with all their heart as I pour out things that are heavy on my heart. Thank you!
15. Church Families:  I have been known to bounce around the last few years, but I’m thankful to God for the people that I have met that have inspired me and blessed me greatly. 
16. My Students (past, present, & future): It’s what I do and what I love.  Even in the midst of all the craziness (teachers understand), I love them to death. 
17. Laughter: In a nutshell, I love laughter.  Love to laugh. 
18. Home: Thanks for keeping a roof over my head daily.  I’ve never had to wonder where I would sleep.  What a wonderful blessing!
19. Water
20. Books:  For all the books from where I’ve gained knowledge and wisdom.  From textbooks, to fiction, to nonfiction, to magazines, to journals, ect…
21. Being able to Pray & Worship: Many other countries don’t have the same privileges as we do.  Thank God!
22. Technology:  Technology has helped us connect and have made our lives easier and convenient.
23. The Seasons: Summer, Fall, Winter, & Spring.  Something special about each of them.
24. Air in the summer
25. Heat in the winter
26. My Dog: China He’s getting so old and I love that little dog. 
27. God sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins
28. The fact that we can conduct bible studies in our homes and in public places without being arrested or oppressed
29. Forgiveness: THANK YOU JESUS
30. God’s Grace
31. The Holy Spirit
32. My Nieces: Amaya, Amber, & Hannah.  Love those three to pieces!
33. My Job: A blessing to bless others every day.
34. Support
35. Accomplishing Goals:  I’m such a goal setter.  I’m thankful for God for putting direction in my life and allowing me to achieve many of the things I desire most. 
36. Holidays: Especially Christmas, Thanksgiving, & Easter
37. Blogs: Being able to connect with like minded people. 
38. Internet: Valuable resource
39. Oxygen: Every breath that I take
40. My Immune System: fights infection and sickness from my body keeping me strong & healthy
41. Generosity of people I’m blessed with
42. The sound of Rain:  I love the sound of rain!  It’s so relaxing and calming.  Perfect for sleeping.  Have you ever just walked in the rain?  You should try it J
43. Hot Showers: Who wants a cold shower??...not me J
44. The Ocean: I love the smell of it. 
45. Gospel Music:  And some gospel rap
46. Facebook: Who would have thought that this would have made my list?!?! LOL!
47. Moments of Silence:  Those quiet moments when its just you and God. 
48. Fresh Snow: I don’t like the cold weather, but I can appreciate it.  With that said, as ironic as it may sound I LOVE fresh snow.  Clean, white, & fresh.  Looks good, feels good and is actually quite beautiful. 
49. Helping Others
50. Being a nice person: I’m not perfect, but I’ve got a good heart.  Thanks to God.  I genuinely care and recognize the value in others.
51. Sushi: Okay so I threw this one in, but I do Love it!  So I’m thankful for it too!
52. Sunshine:
53. Rivers and Lakes
54. Teachers:  Some of the great people that have taught me things over the years.
55. Cameras: What a way to capture all those special moments.
56. The men and women who serve our country every day!
57. The ability to laugh at myself: it makes "awkward" moments so much more enjoyable
58. Reliable Car: Some would say it’s more than reliable, but it get me where I need to go all the time
59. A relatively orderly government: By no means is it perfect, but I think in comparison we have nothing to complain about.
60. Spring Break: WHOOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
61. The power of prayer
62. Alone time with God
63. Sunrise & Sunset:  Beautiful to see.
64. Memories:  So many...good and bad
65. Girl’s Nights
66. Twitter
67. Club Fitness: The opportunity to be healthy and fit
68. A College Education
69. This Blog: A place where I can share my thoughts...
70. Moments when I just Cry:  I’m emotional at times... ok a lot of times.  LOL.
71. R&B Music
72. Premier Designs Jewelry:  My part time business.
73. Doctors, Hospitals, & Medicines.  Need I say more.
74. Health Care: Sometimes I wish I lived in Canada where all citizens have access to healthcare, because so many people need it and don’t have it. 
75. Clothes/Shoes:  My indulgence, my splurges...
76. Food:  Need I say more.
77. Cell phone: 
78. Cheering and Uplifting Others
79. Rainbows
80. Today
81. The fact that thinking of 100 things for isn’t hard: Blessing.
82. Systems of the Body:  Digestive, reproductive, nervous...can’t think of any other ones but they are all in working order...THANKS!
83. Private time with God
84. Peace
85. Close, personal relationship with Jesus
86. Daily Strength
87. Freedom
88. Friends I’ve yet to meet
89. Songs that I hear at the exact moment when I needed them
90. Old Friends: Wishing some of them I can reconnect with (miss them so...)
91. Bad Habits that I’ve overcome: Thankful that I can put some things behind me...I’m a work in progress. 
92. Financially ok during these tough economic times:
93. Homework time with my Niece:  Nothing like spending quality time with my niece Amaya helping with her homework.  We have a good time. 
94. Patience:  Word of my life J
95. Fasting Times
96. My Grandma:  She does so much and I appreciate it so much
97. Obedience
98. Setting Goals and reaching them
99. Being Me
100. I am just plain old Thankful for EVERYTHING!!!!!

I realized when I reached 100 that I could keep going easily.  I learned that making this list really put some things in my life into perspective. SO…I challenge you to start writing out 100 things you are thankful for and look at them every day for a while.  It will change your life.  Thanks for reading.  Be blessed!

Letting Go

What do you do when your memory drags the “there and then” into the “here and now,” immersing you in the same old pain, agony, and distress?

Your past can infect your present and influence your future unless you decide to LET IT GO.

Close your eyes.  As you close your eyes, I want you to do two things: (1) clench your hands together by griping them into a tightened fist.(focus and make it tight) (2) Imagine in those closed fists rest THAT THING that you need to let go of or THAT THING that you’re having trouble letting go of.  Those things that are so dominant in your life that if they are not released, the pain just continues.  The sadness continues.  That bad relationship continues.  Something you’ve wrestled with over and over continues.  Something that has caused hurt or pain.  That fight, that loss, that struggle, the sorrow just Continues.  It’s something that we’ve wrestled with; struggled with; battled with over and over and over.  You are now at the point where you don’t know how much more you can take.  LORD I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE I CAN TAKE…I NEED YOU!! 

In your mind you hold on to that thing that you really need to let go of.  And now is the time to release those things.  To let go and let God as the saying goes.  To be released.  Giving those things that we’ve been holding on to up to God.  Trusting and believing that whatever thing you are dealing with is now in God’s capable and loving hands.  And we can rest fore we know that God’s hands are the best hands.  . 

Jesus, in Matthew 11:28-30 says

“Come to me all you who labor and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

We need to learn how to respond to Jesus’ invitation to rest in him and experience the life that God designed for us and not the one we have designed for ourselves.  Rest is the place where one surrenders their life and all of its concerns to God.  I’m convinced (I know I’m right) that our biggest challenge is letting go and letting God and actually allowing this process to truly take place.  I’m convinced because I’ve lived it and I’m living it. We forget to check in with God as it relates to the plan for our lives.  And then we realize that the plan we had wasn’t really God’s plan or even close to His plan and NOW there’s a problem between shifting from your plan because this is what you know, this is what you’re comfortable with, this is what you wanted to do instead of allowing God to dictate the matters concerning you and your life. 

Letting that go and being comfortable with the road and the twists and the turns and the ups and the downs, that’s the journey that God is taking you on.

And that’s the journey that we all want.  Like the song that was sung many Sundays as I was growing up, “Nobody told me that the road would be easy.  And I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”

Do you have anything to take to God?


We take things to God, but we don’t commit to learning how we are to deal with it. We’ll take it and then we think that God is supposed to magically wave a wand over it, and it’s gone. It doesn’t actually work that way.  Looking at the scripture I gave in Mathew 11:28-30 Take it, learn and then rest in it.


Be Blessed!
Tracy
                             

What a Rally!

This weekend I went to the Regional Premier Designs Rally in Kansas City and had an Great time!   It was AMAZING!!! Inspiring, Uplifting, Spirtual, Joyous, and best of all they introduced the new spring/summer line. For those of you that don't know, Premier Designs is a direct sales jewelry company.  Jewelers (like me J) host home jewelry parties for friends, family, neighbors, ect.  But it doesn't stop there.  What I love about this comapny is that it's biblically based.  We believe in honoring God and serving people.  This weekend I soaked up lots of training and met lots of amazing women.   

This company is so over the top awesome and I'm so happy to be apart of it. I can’t wait to share a little more, but here are a few photos of the new jewelry.  Enjoy...

Pursuit...

Apparently there is a science to being chosen by a male suitor.  I say that for several reasons because I recently went to a workshop called, “Women Learn… To Follow”.  The workshop was interesting, but it brought up a plethora of other topics that women often times deal with.  I’ll share my opinion later. 

So I say again… Apparently there is a science to being chosen by a male suitor.  Call me old fashion, but, when did our society get to the point where women had to become so aggressive in their actions towards men that men somehow forgot their roles and roles are now reversed.   Women have now become more aggressive and more assertive in pursuing relationships with men.  Why?  Why are the roles reversed?  I’ve heard women mention the women to men ratio and there’s more of us (women) and less of them (men) therefore if you don’t go after it; sadly you’re not gonna get it.  Seriously? 

WHAT HAPPENED TO GOD CHOOSING OUR MATES?  Is that too old fashion too??

So, I question what are these women doing?  Some women many times choose to engage in small conversation, flip or toss the hair, a sweet, innocent smile, a phone call, a push or tug of the arm, you get the idea.  And let’s not forget our physical appearance which many times is what attracts a man’s attention.   Never underestimate the power of lipstick or manicured nails or those new Betsy Johnson heels … (my favorite right now J).  Either way women are no longer allowing the man to make “The Move” they are simply moving without hesitation.  And this doesn’t even include those women that are beyond aggressive that will truly say what it is they want with no filter.  I think the new term for those women is “thirsty”.  (My kiddos taught me that one lol!).

Call me old fashion, but I believe it’s a man’s duty and his responsibility to choose a “Jane to his Tarzan, make like King Kong and throw her over his shoulder, and whisk her away to the home he built with his bare hands.”  However, more and more men are relinquishing these duties and women are picking up where the man left off due to women’s need for control.  Why must we feel the need to control everything?  Let that man be a MAN!

So let’s look at GOD.  He is the ultimate pursuer.  He comes after us, romances us, and wins us with His love.  Therefore, each and every follower of Christ should be in full pursuit of Him first and foremost before they ever worry about pursuing the opposite sex. 

So what does it actually mean to pursue?  I think many of us have a different understanding of that word and if we are supposed to pursue Christ we should be knowledgeable in doing just that with an accurate perception.  Often times, we as Christians have a misguided and ill-advised concept usually constructed by what society deems as important.  But, what society deems as important is more or less not important at all.  Unlike the behavior of many women, Pursuit is not aggressive or assertive or forceful like the “I’m not taking no for an answer”. 

One definition that I liked is “The act or an instance of chasing or pursuing; act of striving”. This definition allows us to see that pursuit should be an ongoing process to attain or achieve that which you are pursuing.  Pursuit should not be something you do one time.  Christians must always pursue Christ,   husbands must still pursue their wives, and our Lord continually pursues us.  It is very important to pursue God, seeking him as a priority.  So, we should be striving incessantly, constantly, relentlessly, continuously, persistently, ceaselessly, and so on. 

So what does this have to do with the relationships of men and women?

Well, the act of pursuit in dating has to be in direct relationship to one’s relationship with Jesus Christ.  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First off, women stop pursuing these men! 

Proverbs 18:22

A man who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD

A man that desires a relationship should NOT pursue a woman unless he has a personal relationship with Christ and is pursuing Jesus with every part of his being.  If he is not doing this, why would you want a man to pursue you who is incapable of pursuing the Almighty God? 

My thinking in writing on this topic is because I was concerned with the aggressive nature of women in creating relationships with men.  Unfortunately, there are many women that want to be pursuers in the relationship.  I wonder why they have the need to pursue.   Well, I came up with the conclusion that there are many men that don’t pursue women which leads women to do it and those men that are pursuing women are doing a inadequate or poor job.  Therefore, women become the pursuer in the relationship thereby forcing the situation of creating a relationship that is not designed by God. 

So listening to the radio a woman calls in.  Of course I missed the beginning, but I got the gist of it.  She said her boyfriend sent her a text message saying, “We’re going out tonight be ready at 8pm”.  Well the text message got the woman super excited and so she went home from work and began to prepare for “HOT” date with her boyfriend.   It took her three hours to get ready.  She did her hair, her makeup, got a manicure and a pedicure.  When her boyfriend arrived at 8pm he took her to his friend’s house and they watched a movie on the couch.  Was that his idea of pursing her?  This made me realize why women become so involved in their pursuit of men.  Her boyfriend actually thought that an evening watching a movie with his friend constituted pursuing. 

Last thing, pursuit takes both parties. In just the same way in which God, pursues us, it requires that we respond.  Similarly, a man pursuing a woman requires that she respond as well. 

Even though I’m old fashioned and I want my man or husband to be the man that Christ designed him to be I really want to be pursued.   I believe most women want–to be pursued. And most men want to be the pursuer.

The trouble is many of our men have forgotten what that looks like and how to do it. And that's another blog. 

Be Blessed!

Judging Others

Mathew 7: 1-6

¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
  ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
   ⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

The past few days have been very interesting.  I've taken notice of people making judgements about me.  ME?!?!?! I'm nobody special and definitely not one to be excluded, but when I saw this occur it truly hurt my feelings.  People can be so mean, uncaring, spiteful, and malicious.  But when I think of how people treated Jesus...I don't mind it at all.  It still hurts, but I can withstand it because He did for me. 

WHEN WE JUDGE PEOPLE WE USE A LESS MATURE FORM OF THINKING that makes unsophisticated, crude, and categorical impressions of others. Rather than learn about the depth and breadth of people--their history, interests, values, strengths, and true character--we categorize them. However, if we resist initial stereotypical impressions, we have a chance to be aware of what a person is truly like. If we spend time with a person, hear and learn about his or her life, hopes, dreams, and become aware of the person's character, we use a different, more mature style of thinking—

Lets begin to think about how our actions can affect others. 

Love & Blessings

Corner Girls...

Corner Girls…

Corner girls are what I call them.  You may know them by the term Prostitute, sensual provider, courtesan, call girl, hooker, whore, street walker, woman of the night, harlot, sex worker, street walker, or any other slang word used.  And “Corner Girls” is a word I’ve recently began to refer to them as.  You may wonder or be curious as to why I am writing on this topic. WHY AM I WRITING ABOUT THIS?!?!?! I don’t know.  To simply answer the question, it’s because I see them.  I see them.  I know who they are.  I know what they’re doing.  I know… and I see them. 

I’m intrigued and disgusted at the same time.  I’m intrigued because I want to know more about them.  My interest in them comes from my concern for them. They have a name.  They all have a story.  How did you get here is what I want to know.  What happened?  On the flip side, I’m completely disgusted at the immorality of it.  It shows women portraying themselves in the worst possible way.  Dirty, trifling, nasty, filthy, pathetic, pitiful, shameful, disgraceful, having no self value-no worth.  And these girls are not girls as all.  They’re women just like me.  The only difference is something happened that led them to believe that what they were doing was ok and acceptable.  When will women such as the “Corner Girls” realize their worth?    

On the corner waiting is where I see them.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Waiting.    I used to watch them months ago before the wintery cold weather and snow.  These were the days when my curiosity began to intensify.  I was curious and interested.  More so, because I was trying to figure out if these women that I saw were truly, “Corner Girls”. I would say, “NOOOOOOoooo…couldn’t be, could it?”  I would think about it for a moment or two and then continue my drive home.  I mostly saw them when I left work. Down the street and around the corner is where these women were.  They weren’t hidden or out of sight, or secluded.  They were in plain sight-very visible.  Now many of you know me and know that I work in an environment which is completely opposite the environment that I was raised.  Enduring culture shock has become the norm for my day to day interactions.  But this is something that I couldn’t seem to fathom the first time I witnessed exactly what was going on.  As we set into spring time, these women began to creep out and make a statement that let me know that they were indeed, “Corner Girls”.  I wasn’t sure then, but I’m sure now. 

It amazes me that women would degrade themselves in that manner.  But I have to question myself, am I really that surprised and my response is a sad, “NO”. 

Now tell me why my interpretation of a prostitute comes from the movie “Pretty Woman” with Julia Roberts.  Some of you laugh at this.  In fact, I myself laugh at it, because it’s not reality.  Not even close to reality. 

As I watch them, I begin to take notice of their mannerisms and their appearance.  I felt like a private investigator examining them as if there was something that I could do about their situations.  I would look to my right as I rode down the street in my car.  Not too slow, but fast enough to be able to make some quick observations without looking like I was lost or confused or just being too nosey in this part of the city.  After passing them, I would check my review mirror or periodically turn around to catch another glimpse of these “Corner Girls”.  One of the first things I noticed was the way they looked.  The way they represented themselves.  Well, to keep it simple, they looked a HOT MESS!  Unkempt. Messy.   Hair all over the place, cheap mismatched clothes, bad weave,  bad wig,  hair all over, usually smoking a cigarette, standing in the most unlady like manner.  Just a mess.  Not what I would have envisioned at all.  Another thing I noticed was that I never saw the same girl twice.  Weird huh? I thought so.  I assumed that the same girl I saw on Monday I would or should see again within a week or two.  But I didn’t.  I don’t understand.  And something else was that there was always only one girl.  Only one.  That was weird to me as well. 

Now I know there are different perspectives on “Corner Girls”.  As naïve as I may sound, I don’t understand that these things still exist despite me being unaware of what some may refer to as the “Real” world.  I many times stay in my own little bubble.  My environment, my neighborhood, my home and all those places that give me comfort.  Yet there are many things that WE don’t see.  Things that may or may not affect us but affect the lives of other people.  I recall a movie, well a line from a movie that said, “Open up those pretty brown eyes” and I’m going to use this as a metaphor because a lot of times we see what we want to see and disregard everything else.  I grew up sheltered to say the least and I’m thankful for my mom’s constant protection and guidance, yet at times I feel like I’m so out on the limb concerning some things. I pray for these “Corner Girls” and I ask you to join in with me and pray for these women too.  Please understand that these women are daughters, mothers, sisters, even grandmothers.  Some young, some old.  It’s not fun having sex with strangers.  And in my opinion it's not something you do unless you are desperate. Really, really desperate.