If you want to take in the magnificence of the world our divine Lord has created, watch the “Life” miniseries on Sundays, on Discovery and most other learning channels, its amazing stuff. God is the greatest artist above all great artist. This world, you, me, us, we are his masterpiece. I’d give all I am to be at least 1% the artist he is, and paint a colorful, joyful, fulfilled life for myself and my loved ones.

 I started this year with one mission in mind. My mission is to become a better me at the end of this year, than I was in the beginning. Actually, that is my all time life mission, to grow, keep moving and changing, and to get better, healthier; sexier; smarter; wiser; more blessed; gifted, and talented with every new breath. I want to take in the moments, to feel love and be loved, to be kind and receive kindness; to give of myself via service, encouragement and my abilities. I want to dance and sing all the days of my life, and I want to teach my children to be the same.

I’ll bet for some of you who are taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this article, probably think that sounds like a fairytale. Not according God’s word. In Jeremiah 29:11, a very popularly quoted bible verse, God declares His plans for our life. If we read on, he tells us how to get it. Seek Him with all your heart and He will prosper you. I haven’t a single doubt about it that everything in my life is working for my own good; to help shape and develop me into the “me” version of the “Proverbs 31” woman. So I’m going for it. I am absorbing every moment like it is my last. I am  going to spend quality time with my kids while they still want me too, I’m going to enjoy my marriage, I’m going use my time wisely here on this earth and live everyday like it is an amazing adventure. What are you going to do?

There is an illustration used in many sitcoms that we often find hilarious; but it kind of accurately depicts what goes on regularly, if not always, inside our thoughts and spirit.

 There are two versions of ourselves, one on each shoulder; one wearing a fiery red devil costume with a pitch fork in his hand, trying to convince us to embrace our wicked side; the other wearing a glowing white robe with wings on his back and a halo over his head, ever so sweetly representing the good in us. Then you have to decide which one to listen to, whenever you need to make a decision.

 I often feel as though they are two mes. One which is a vibrant, confident, powerhouse of a woman ready to take on what life throws at her; ready for adventure; rolling with the punches; and getting back up and dusting herself off whenever she falls. She often hears a voice whisper in her ears; “You are wonderfully made, you are loved, you are significantly blessed.” She doesn’t over-explain or over compensate, and she doesn’t apologize for who she is. She loves God, herself, her life, her family, her children, and everything that she is and represents. She is healthy physically, spiritually and mentally. She is always wrapped in the warmth of Jesus’ embrace.  I could describe this woman forever, because she is my favorite. Yes, I said it, I have a favorite.

 Then there is the other one; who lives in darkness all the time, her thoughts and attitudes are always toxic. She is always angry, afraid, worried and anxious. She hears voices that lie to her everyday; they say things like; “you are worthless, stupid, and incapable;” and she believes that smut. She walks around in despair all day which makes her unable to do or enjoy anything in life; and she is never able to grow because she never steps out of her comfort zone. Satan has her under tight lock and key in the darkness, so no light could ever shine through.

 These two mes are both fighting for dominance, and I know which side I’m routing for. However, it is going to take more than just sitting on the side lines and screaming to the top of my lungs; “Go Latisha, go; Go God go.”

I have to make a choice. I have to be the one to hold all my thoughts captive and make them obedient to God. I have to choose confidence in God and not in myself; and cast my cares and fears on HIM, because he is better equipped to handle them than I am. I need to choose happiness and joy; and pray and believe I can move mountains with faith as small as a mustard seed. I have to do what I can, and trust God to do what I can’t. I have to believe that I am wonderfully made in God’s own image.

 God’s Word:

Psalms 139 (NIV)

 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 ¹ O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

 ² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 ³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 ⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?

 ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

 ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,”

 ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

 ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!

 ¹⁸ Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

 ²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.

 ²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
       and abhor those who rise up against you?

 ²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.

 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.

Starting from the beginning. We have been experiencing the potty training blues with our ever-so-brilliant daughter over the past month. Bits of January and February she was on the right track, she had accidents here and there, but at least she managed to poop-poop in the potty most of the time. She was even going to the potty by herself without telling us first or without us having to ask her if she had to go. Then she got sick for two weeks (Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono), also known as “the kissing disease.”

That set us back terribly, now all of a sudden, she stopped trying to go. She goes at school, but for some reason she lets it all out wherever, whenever at home. What makes it even worse is in her fight for independence, she wants to wear a panty and not her pull-ups. So we end up cleaning poop and pee off the floor a couple of times a day.

Yesterday, we were at the doctor’s office, we went there straight after picking her up from pre-school, so she still had on an underwear. I wanted to put on a pull-up on her, so to avoid any accidents, but she fought me on it, she wanted to be a “big girl.”  So I explained to her that we were at the doctors and if she pee-pee or poop-poop in her panty that she would have to keep on her wet pants until we get home. I took the chance that she’d do the right thing. What she knows she should do. She didn’t.

She peed in her pants like I thought she might and hoped she wouldn’t. Then and there I realized how much parenting requires patience. I thought about the way my mother would respond to that, if my three year old self did that, after fighting to keep the panty on, I felt sure she’d go ballistic on me, right there at the doctors office, onlookers or not (we are Caribbean folk). However, being that I live in America, I kept my cool.

Now back to the story at hand. I tried forcing my daughter to go to the toilet today, even though she said she did not want to. Often, she has an accident just two seconds after we’d asked her if she needed to go. So I wanted her to at least try. My daughter is in her  “no” phase, she tells me no numerous times a day and she is quite stubborn. So I’m yelling and threatening, and she is getting frustrated and angry at me, and I at her. Then my husband comes out.

He tries to speak to me nicely and tell me that this technique will not help us in our potty training quest. I knew that, but I didn’t want him questioning my parenting skills, so I tried to shut the bathroom door in his face. That makes him mad, now he’s yelling and I’m trying to walk away from him as he is trying to talk to me. I am angry because of the way he is shouting at me in front of my daughter and he’s angry because I am not listening and I am trying to run away from the conversation (imagine that).

I’ve told him before, when you start to shout, I stop listening. There is nothing that makes me angrier in this world than to be shouted at or told to shut-up; even when I am wrong I still expect your respect.

So I’m angry. I feel the tension and frustration boiling in my chest; and I want to scream so loud aliens could hear me in Mars; I want to tear the place up; rip stuff; punch stuff; break stuff; throw stuff; and I don’t want to ask God to help calm me down because I want the anger to fester, I want my husband to know how angry he has made me.

I know your expecting me to have some big solution of what to do when you feel like that. I’m still working on it. Maybe the right thing to do is to walk away; go meditate for a while; talk to God; not hurt someone physically or with your words;  and not destroy your stuff or anyone else’s and regret it later; that makes no sense. Keep your cool is all I can say to you, before you do something you regret or you can’t take back.

Anger causes people to do stupid things. When you allow yourself to stay in that place, it gives the devil the leverage he needs to destroy you and use you to destroy others. Don’t be Satan’s minion.

I eventually calmed myself; and nothing or no one got hurt in the process. Writing is very therapeutic. I love it. You should try it.  I’m going to go hug my family now.

What God’s Word Says about anger?

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil (Psalm 37:8).

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult (Proverbs 12:16).

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18).

A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless (Proverbs 14:16

A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated (Proverbs 14:17).

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly (Proverbs 14:29).

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel (Proverbs 15:18).

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered (Proverbs 17:27).

It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel (Proverbs 20:3).

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you (Proverbs 20:22).

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28).

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger (Proverbs 29:8).

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control (Proverbs 29:11).

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins (Proverbs 29:22).

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment … first go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:21-24).

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (Galatians 5:19-20).

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-7).

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32).

Let your gentleness be evident to all (Philippians 4:5).

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8).

And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24).

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20).

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).

I Wanna Punch Stuff Video-from “I’m in the Band” Disney  XD

Nor, “The Facts of Life;” “Past Life;” “This Emotional Life” (a documentary which premiered in January on PBS) or any other song, game, book, movie or t.v show that has the word life in the title. I watch a lot of t.v, can you tell?

Anyway, I’m referring to life closer to home; my life. I love my life, I really do. I love life and what it stands for; even though everyday I hear a voice in my head telling me different. I probably hear “I hate my life,” “I want to take my life,” “Life sucks,” “Life is unfair,” in my mind more times than I should. Really, I’m not an angry person; a sad person or a depressed person, not by nature anyway, but those thoughts and emotions do get the best of me sometimes, I am human after all.

 However, life is a beautiful thing, a gift from God and despite all the evil corrupting this world and trying to destroy God’s magnificent masterpiece; life. We can live a full, happy, healthy, adventurous life.

  Psalms 91:5-10 says

 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

  ⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

  ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

 nor the plague that destroys at midday.

  ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.

  ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

  ⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

  10 then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.

Life is good. Life is love; life is joy; life is adventure; music; movies; books; happiness; art; architecture; culture; travel; tasty food; dance; sports; discovery; I could go on forever. So what’s not to love?

 Last year, life brought me a miscarriage in January; the birth of my handsome son in November; and nausea; fatigue; and no appetite in between. My mom, Dad and three of my five siblings visited me; and that was an adventure. Last year, I celebrated birthdays; dedications; baby showers, and so much more. Last year, like every year I have been alive has been an adventure, an experience that could be compared to a roller coaster ride.

This year, I started off planning with one purpose in mind and received a big surprise. I had to rethink my plans. Life doesn’t always, in fact hardly ever goes according to your plans.

 Right now, as it stands. My heart is filled with the desire to grow; learn; understand; overcome; teach; bless and be blessed. I desire to build a deeper bond with the lord and study HIS word. I desire to raise my children excellently. Prepare them for the very challenging road this life provides.

I am a BIG dreamer. Are you?  Some of my dreams are to travel the world, taste it, touch it, feel it, explore it, and discover it. This world is a stunning and majestic place. I want to experience as much of it as I can before I leave it behind. It is God’s incredible creation after all. I want to experience it to the fullest with my precious family.

Other dreams not yet fulfilled are; to see Theater productions, e.g “The Little Mermaid;” “The Lion King;” “Dirty Dancing;” “Beauty and the Beast,” etc. Some of those productions have been so close to me I could easily catch a train and go downtown to see them but alas I could not afford to go. Life is heart-breaking some times.

 I desire to be a writer and own my own magazine publication among other things. Life is hard-work. I desire to be a confident; happy; healthy woman who will be a blessing to others; and whose life and family will be blessed because of her faith, hard-work, prayers and kindness. I want to add to this world and leave a legacy behind; as well as paved a smoother road for my offspring to travel. What are your dreams? What do you want to leave behind?

Life is faith; hope; believing in your dreams; hard-work; challenges; trials; triumphs; risk; passion; creativity; art; poetry; accomplishment; visualizing a future; dreaming, and more. Life is ongoing; always changing; and always moving. God is like that too.

 God designed us with a plan and purpose; and it is not to be stagnant. It is to keep planning; growing; learning; discovering; creating; developing; and so on.

 So keep doing those things, as well as pray; praise God; study HIS word and be patient. Your time will come. Your children will be alright, your loved ones will be divinely blessed because they are covered in your prayers and your actions.

Besides life is good; life is God; God is life.

 Have a Blessed Day.

 Talk to me, I’d love to hear from you.

I can’t give him all the credit though, I’m pretty sure I meet him more than half the way. After all I have more control over me than he does. Do you know he can’t even read my mind? So pretty much what he knows, I told him, one way or the other.

He may not be able to read my mind, but he is a great listener, whether I want him to or not. So every time I talk about my weaknesses and short-comings he hears me. When I am anxious; worried; afraid; nervous; angry; sad; depressed or any other poisonous emotion, he notices, because he is very observant. He pays very close attention to my body language and actions, and when I am most vulnerable he pounces like a predator and hits me where it really hurts.

I am Satan’s greatness ally in the war against myself. He would stop at nothing to keep me from discovering the champion I am deep inside. He would stop at nothing to keep me from shining and showing the world what God’s light looks like in me.

So I have challenges. I have the regular kind, like everyone else. Then there is my own personal spiritual battle with the stronghold of ****. Unh-unh, I’m not going to say it this time.

I know one thing; I can’t be Satan’s bitch any longer. I have a family I need to be a confident; empowered woman for. If I don’t man-up, I mean woman-up for my children then what chance will they have in this sinful world.

I have been receiving a message a lot lately, through God’s messengers. Preparation and discipline is the key. I can’t just be praying (more like begging) for God’s help and do nothing while I wait. I have to believe God will answer my prayers. I also have to prepare my life and my heart to receive his blessing.

I have been victim for way to long, and I have had enough. The devil is probably reading this right now and laughing to his self, saying “Sure, I’ve heard that before.”

Nevertheless, today is the day I take charge of my life by handing it over to God. Trusting HIM wholly, arming myself with his word; prayer;  and then prepare for his blessing.

Starting with studying the word; praying; meditation; exercise; discipline; filtering what I watch and listen to; facing my fears; educating myself; enjoying life’s precious moments; being thankful in all things; and positive self-talk.  It’s a new day.

God’s Word:

Jeremiah 29: 11-14

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. ^[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV)

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (New International Version)

⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Keeping the faith in these difficult times in our lives is not as easy to do as it is to say. Yes, we believe in God and that his son died to save us. However, as human beings it is in our nature to desire the warmth of human touch, the love of friendship and the security that you are loved and appreciated wholly by your peers, and that they care about your well-being.

Sometimes we want to hear a human voice of encouragement. Not simply that inner voice in which we are still trying to discern God from our own thoughts. As young Christians, many of us are still learning the difference.

 My mom is not a young Christian, but she is a discouraged one. I find that disturbing because she goes to a big and well organized Church. I visited that Church’s website during the conversation with my mom, and it looks great, they seem to have it all together. This church has numbers; members; workers; followers; groups; well developed ministries, etc. So why does my mother believe she has to go through what she is going through alone?

 So I sent them a short e-mail, which went like this:

“Dear………

 My name is Latisha. I am daughter of one of the members of your Church. She is going through a lot in her life right now of which I am concerned. I love her so much. She feels as no one is there for her, which I find very hard to believe due to the fact that she is a member of such a big church family. Please remember her in the midst of your church responsibilities. Family is supposed to be there for each other, especially in our times of need. Yes, she needs your prayers but she also needs friendship and love. I am overseas and I can’t be there for her the way you can.”

Short but to the point don’t you think? I just wonder for some, what they think this is about. I go to a very small church, with very little members and following. We are still trying to grow many of our ministries, but I feel loved, I feel cared about. If we (my family) don’t make it to church on any given Sunday, they notice our absence and they call to find out why we weren’t there. My church is a giving and loving church. They give what they can, service; love; friendship; a listening ear; time; transportation; money; physical gifts, etc. In turn from them I learn to give in the same way.

Why do we go to church, is it only to praise and worship God and pay tithes? What is its purpose? Here is what God’s word says.

Romans 12:5 (NIV)

⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Hebrews 10:25(NIV)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

It sometimes seems to me, that Christianity is like a little all girls/boys club, where the other sex isn’t allowed to join; the secular world being the other sex outside looking in.

We seem to be holding hands so tight there is no room for anyone who is not already a part of our group to connect with us. We are the ones who keep some from ever wanting to know God, we are the ones who judge, and we can be unforgiving and intolerant snobs.  

That is not the way God wants us to be, we need to be a reflection of Jesus. Jesus loves everyone, he forgives; he is merciful; warm; welcoming and kind. We need to open our arms and invite others to feel God’s love through us, those on the outside and on the inside. I know it is possible to be a part of a big family and still feel alone.

Open your eyes, Christian family and remember what we doing here? What is our purpose as the Body of Christ? Open your eyes, take the time to care for; love; forgive and encourage others or go back to your earthly home, and praise and worship God by yourself, food for thought.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Did you know God had a plan for you before the foundations of the earth? He created you to be holy and blameless in His sight. Why? He chose you to be His ambassador, His representative on the earth. God created you to reflect His glory. He created you to reflect His character, His righteousness, His holiness. Think about that for a moment. Part of your purpose on this earth is to be a representative for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That should make you want to walk a little differently. It should make you want to talk differently. It should make you think a little more carefully about the places you go and the things you do.

Are you representing God’s holiness today? Remember, God will equip you to do whatever He’s called you to do. If there are things in your life that you need to change, God wants to empower you to overcome those things. Receive His strength and might today so that you can walk in holiness as His ambassador and live the destiny He has prepared for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me today. I ask You to search my heart and remove anything that is displeasing in Your sight. I accept Your holiness today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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