Love Note- Wilderness Mentality

I got this email, as I do daily, but today it touched somewhere different. Just had to share.

Shaun

Love Note - Wilderness Mentality

March 3

The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, You have dwelt long enough on this mountain. Turn and take up your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites. . . . Behold, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.
- Deuteronomy 1:6-8

Those of us who are parents know these words so well: "In a minute. Just a little longer." We call our children to leave their playing and come inside, but they want just a little more time to stay out with their friends. For now, at least, they're content playing and don't want to think about getting cleaned up or eating dinner. It's always, "Just a little longer"-if we let them. And at times, we adults act a little like those children who cry out, "Just a little longer."

I've met miserable people-those who disliked their lives, hated their jobs, or were in intolerable relationships with the wrong kind of people. They knew they were miserable, but they did nothing about it. "Just a little longer." A little longer for what? More pain? More discouragement? More unhappiness?

Those are the people who have what I call the wilderness mentality. I want to explain that. Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt. If they had obeyed God, stopped their grumbling, and moved straight ahead as God originally told them, they could have made the trip in eleven days. But it took them forty years.

Why did they finally leave? Only because God said, "You have dwelt long enough on this mountain." If God hadn't pushed them into the Promised Land, I wonder how long they would have stayed and longed to cross the Jordan.

They were people in bondage. Although they had seen miracles in Egypt and had praised God at the defeat of the Egyptian armies at the Red Sea, they were still in bondage. The chains were no longer on their bodies, but they had never removed those chains from their minds. That is the wilderness mentally.

For forty years, they grumbled. They had no water, and then God provided it for them. They grumbled about the food. Manna was all right, but they wanted meat of some kind. No matter what the situation, they were still mental prisoners. As they had been in Egypt, so they were in the wilderness. No matter how good things became, they were never good enough.

They had forgotten all the hardships and slavery in Egypt, and every time they were dissatisfied with Moses' leadership they moaned, "Oh, if only we had stayed in Egypt."

They had forgotten how bad things were; they had no vision for how good things could get. When they had the chance to move into the new land, they were afraid. "There are giants in the land," they cried out. They had seen God's deliverance in the past, but they weren't ready for it in the present.

Finally God said, "Okay, it's time to move out." The Bible doesn't tell us about their attitude, but there's no reason to believe it had changed. I can imagine they cried out, "Let's stay just a little longer. Things aren't good here, but we know how to live in the wilderness. We are afraid to leave this place-we have become used to it."

If you don't like your life, but you won't make the effort to change, you may have a wilderness mentality. If your mind stays filled with negative thoughts, they will keep you in bondage.

However, you can do something about it. You don't have to waste any more time. You can say, "I've dwelt long enough at this mountain. Now I'm going into the Promised Land-the land where I'll live in victory and defeat Satan's plans."

Pray this...

Father God, forgive me for having a wilderness mentality. We are already in the Promised Land with a victorious life, through Jesus Christ. Therefore, Lord I come into the obedience of Your word. I receive the Truth knowing that I am blessed. Father, I thank You for blessings me; giving me unmerited favor, and protecting me. Lord, I Love You. Amen.

Ms. Cocoa Butterfly
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Proud Momma: 1st Grade Science Fair

I know it's super late everyone, but I am so proud of my son right now!

Tonight we finished our first science fair project! I'm so glad! *wipes sweat from brow* trust me when I tell you, that as a science teacher, I have a new found appreciation for all the work these projects take. As a parent, I have a new found appreciation for deadlines along the way because tonight we only had to assemble which was enough! (I'm normally 11th hour doing everything...#justbeinghonest (for my tweeps) LOL! And I have a new appreciation for my sister (not that I didn't before)...she is the best aunty in the whole wide world...she hung in there with us the whole project...kudos to you!!!

Anywho, check out the pics...his aunty helped with the decorating, mommy typed and fussed...fussed and typed...but Dae prepared for his oral presentation. Hopefully a snow day will give us another day to practice! All in all, as much as I don't like the experiences of science fair as a mom and son duo...I am totally happy at the outcome! My son's project is the bombdiggity...he wants to watch everything volcano #gofigure...and I was actually on time with something!
#aintGodGOOD!!!

G'nite!

"One Proud Momma"
Ms. Cocoa Butterfly
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An Interview with Love...

An Interview with Love…

Over the past few months I have been pondering many things about love and its place and purpose in my life. I’ve gone back over all the lessons I’ve learned personally and through my family and friends, I’ve replayed everything I’ve ever read about love from nursery rhymes as a child to Act like a lady, Think like a man most recently, but more importantly I began to think about God and the things that his word says about Love.

I decided on today’s blog this morning as I was pondering what I would ask “Love” if I had the opportunity to interview it…so I surveyed some of my closest friends, Text buddies, co-workers, BFF, boo, Tweeps, and FB Fam to see what questions were the most burning and I got some surprising questions…and the answers magically appeared to me. I think that is the ultimate answer to any question, seek God and he will give you all understanding!

At any rate, here is my interview with love…***disclaimer***Remember, this is just MY INTERPRETATION of my/the situation and the answers that I received when pondering these questions!!!!!!

Me: I woke up this morning and decided that I needed to make some amends in my life, I wondered where would be the best place to start and you (love) were the first thing that came to mind.

Love: Really?!?

Me: Indeed! I decided that it would prove better for me to seek some answers directly from the source, then to continue on my path searching for answers from self, which obviously hasn’t been working for me.

Love: Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I am not working for you, but go ahead…let me see if I can assist you.

Me: I surveyed some of my closest friends, many of whom I am sure you know very well, and based on some of their questions and my own I would like to begin by saying “Thank you.” One of my closest friends and a major reason for some of my reflection decided that he wouldn’t ask you anything, that he would only thank you. At first, I was a little baffled by his response, I thought to myself that he must have a burning question to ask you, but after a simple moment of reflection, I realized that he was simply acknowledging and accepting everything that you’ve done this far.

Love: You’re welcome!

Me: Ok, so why can’t I help but to feel you?

Love: I am a major part of everyone’s life, or at least I should be. Those that know me come to understand that without me (love) there is nothing. 1st Corinthians chapter 13 Vs 1-3 1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

Me: I get it, love is necessary no matter how bad it hurts, what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger, so…Why do you hide yourself from those seeking you? Why are you so hard to find?

Love: I don’t hide myself from those seeking me and I am not hard to find at all. At times you chose not to see me for your own selfish reasons; you put man or woman before me and left me to the back, so it isn’t that I am or ever will be hiding from you, but more that you are choosing either not to seek me.

Me: Ok, so…one of my friends wanted to know why you are so terrible and so good at the same time? Or why do you hurt so bad, when you are supposed to be so good?

Love: Well to be honest with you, good and bad co-exist in everything including love. There are going to be good days and there will be bad days. It is my hope that the good will out weigh the bad from time to time, or at least you will begin to understand and appreciate the good days when they come because you learned a lesson from the bad days. There is no Testimony without a TEST!

Me: Makes a lot more sense to me now… people often refer to you (love) as being blind, can you answer or clear up the mystery as to why you are “blind?”

Love: That’s easy…The bible describes me as and I quote (NIV) “ 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
I use my blinders so I can stay focused at the task at hand, even if you don’t know what I am doing, I do!

Me: WOW…it is so true that everything we need to live is in the Bible. Ok, well since you are knocking these out so easily, a friend of mine asked “when will I know when I have found the one?/How do you know when it is real?”

Love: To that friend and all the others pondering that question, don’t seek “the one” let me bring them to you. When I bring them to you there will be nothing you can do to get rid of them. What is for you, is for you!

Me: Ok, last question, and I think this is one that many wonder, but are scared to ask, Will you stay forever?

Love: Where would I possibly be going? I have a job to do and that is spread myself. Again, The Bible says…” 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1st Corinthians Chapter 13 vs 8-13

Ultimately, I want you to understand that God is love! When you love as God loves you, I (love) will love you back. Check out and read Deuteronomy 7:9


****** Just my interpretation of my situation*****
It’s 2009 and I am working on me, I hope something good came from my BLOG, if nothing more than to get you to think about love and how important it is to your life. We have to make ourselves happy, we can’t wait on someone or something to do it for us, God has given us everything we need to achieve, if we seek him, we will find the answers to all things unseen.

Peace and Blessings

What do we need most to have a successful relationship?

I was listening to some music this morning, as I normally do, and a question popped into my mind…What does it take to have a successful relationship? For the purposes of this BLOG we will consider a romantic relationship.

I pondered this question for a few moments and I decided that one of the first things I would deem important after GOD, who should be a major part of everything for those that are religious, is the fact that there needs to be two willing participants. No relationship can/will work if one party does not want to be involved in the situation to begin with. I think that it is important for us to make sure that we are both well aware of what we are getting ourselves into before we make a commitment to be someone’s bf/gf, so that we avoid any hurt feelings later.

Now, I know that my first choice isn’t traditional, but I think that may be the foundation that is broken in many relationships from the start. Don’t get me wrong, honesty, trust, friendship, and things along those lines apply as well, but I want to know what you think.

Post your feedback and I will compile a list of the top answers.

I am waiting on you!

Appreciate my ultra short hair By Carina R.

You can not love someone you don't appreciate and you can not appreciate what you do not see. -Bishop Ronnie Crudup, New Horizon Church International

I want to say "thank you" to the one in my life who appreciates me. Me.

He runs his fingers through my ultra short hair, kisses my forehead and tells me he cares.

Kisses my cheek because he misses me.

He misses me when I am not around just on the other side of town. And it's insane because we can talk for hours and he still misses me.

He is my comfort, my strength and my sanity when life is hectic and the air is thick with the stress I breathe.

He holds me, his arms are my sanctuary.

He wants what is best for me. Is gentle with me when I need comfort and support and he tells me the truth especially when it hurts.

And we don't argue we share difference of opinions, strong wills, and strong personalities. We don't fight... we clash, we dispute and debate. Get mad and laugh, talk it over and respect the differences of perspective because that is why we are friends.

Partners.

Friends.

He is sweet sweet sweet. Nice and good to me. Feather downy soft and warm, I feel safe and protected in his presence and in his arms.

Smooth.

He appreciates me because he knows that I gave when I didn't have. He can always have my last because he will always put me first. He was a provider when he didn't have it and I know it hurt.

But he is ALWAYS a man first. His word is his bond. His bond is his word.

He appreciates me. He sees me. And he told me that I am beautiful and unique. He loves my personality and my ultra short hair.

He runs his fingers through my ultra short hair.

--
Shaun~

"Love cares more for others than for self." 1 Corinthians 13:7



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Movie: Fireproof

I watched this movie last night and I thought it was a very good movie. Not only did it talk about relationships on all levels, it spoke more importantly about the importance of a relationship with God.

I think this is a good movie for everyone to see. If you have Comcast you can watch it OnDemand for $4.99.

They have a really helpful website at www.fireproofmymarriage.com

Now, this isn't just for married folks. There is a section of the website for couples etc. They even have an article entitled "The Benefits of Pre-Engagement Counseling" for dating couples.

NOW...Don't listen to me, check it out for yourself. IMO, it is worth it. Watch it with your husband, finace, boyfriend, significant other, *buddy* whomever. Just watch it!

You will be blessed from it somehow!

*Be blessed, as you have been a blessing to me*


--
Shaun~

"Love cares more for others than for self." 1 Corinthians 13:7



Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

7 years ago today...The loss of my son!

Seven years ago today I lost my first son, an experience I will never forget.

One never truly knows the pain of death until you loose a child. I was a 21 year old married woman pregnant with her first child. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that my pregnancy would end abruptly and in such a horrible fashion. As I sit back and recall the events of those days leading up to and then the 3 days in labor I still feel the pain as if it were yesterday.

I think about my son Demandre’ Antoine (Dre’ as he was affectionately called) daily. I wonder what he would be like if he were living today, would he be tall like his mom or short like his dad. Spoiled wasn’t a question because he was already that, and handsome was not a worry either because he had cute parents. :)

I think the thing that I wonder the most is if there was anything that I could have done to change it. I understand Divine order and the fact that everything happens in God’s time, but I wonder if there was some small change that I could have made to save my son’s life. Ultimately, the answer is NO, because God is in control, and I try to find comfort and solace in that fact.
Life is no bed of rose and I certainly know that, but is there ever going to come a time when I don’t wonder what my child is doing in Heaven daily. I can’t physically see him or talk to him, but I know he is there. He is there watching over his mom, dad, grandparents, brother, aunts, uncles, godparents and the rest of his family as an angel should. I know my baby is on his job, and that I will one day meet him in Heaven again. That doesn’t ease the day to day pain here on earth.

Many of us know the serenity prayer and quote it when it sounds good, but today I am truly asking God to grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.

RIP Demandre’ Antoine…this BLOG is for you!