Lens of Life

Have you ever seen a website, read a letter or even heard a statement coming out of a person's mouth and it was like a a slap across the face! A You know what I am talking about - one of those Warning Signals like that of the blast from the Tornado Warning Signal that right on top of you.

Recently I had been looking up information about a Christian Based Non Profit for a new friend to contact. He wanted to give some time giving back to the community while here for several months.

As I began scrolling through candid pictures posted on this website, I could feel the slap hitting my brain hard! All of the volunteers of this inner city non profit - the volunteers - were all Caucasian. The inner city area they were working in was prominently African American.

After pondering this I decided they probably never thought how their website might have been perceived. Knowing these folks as I do, it was never intentional. It caused me to further ponder the question, do we as "Christians" just not think when we are out and about trying to "Win The World"? How do those folks looking back at us see?

This scenario reminded me of my families good friend, who was a minister in the inner city of Savannah Georgia - he related a story about food and can goods collected for Thanksgiving to the families within that inner city. He said - "One afternoon I was standing in the kitchen of a lady who was looking at a turkey so large that it would not even fit into her tiny oven and the can goods that were brought to her were items she had never even heard of."

Our perception of life can be seen from a multiple of different lens. Some of these lens can alter our perception of the reality of the true picture we are looking at. Sad but true.

Not only should we keep our lens clear - free of those clouded lenses that alter our perception, we also need to make sure that when those that look back at us see us through a clear lens as well

What lenses are you wearing today?

The Malignant Cancers to The Spiritman

Today's world is hard to ignore looking at all circumstances surrounding us, as well as our own circumstances. Even Christians speak doubt - speak with fear - fear of the world more than speaking what The Word of God says.

Once our eyes focused on the circumstances, the whys and "the should of - could of - would of" instead of on THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD, Opening the door for Doubt to loom over us screaming. Immediately fear, anxiety and other negatives evades our thoughts - our actions and our reactions reflect Forcing The WORD to move to the back seat as theses Malignant Cancers begin rapidly feeding away at our Spiritman!

If not stopped these killers grow and will literally eat away our Spiritman! Fatal to not only our Spiritman but to our mind, emotions and our body, effecting our total well being.

In order to understand exactly what we are dealing with we take a piratical look at the definitions of - Doubt, Fear and Malignant Cancer, and how important it is for us to sink our teeth into The Truth of God's Word to escape!

Doubt is defined as being be undecided or skeptical; to fear. To "feel" uncertain. Disbelief - distrust.

Fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid

Malignant Cancer is defined a cancer disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred, very dangerous or harmful in influence or effect, tending to produce death.

Have you noticed that today the media has gone to the extreme in putting doubt and fear into our normal everyday lives? Daily we are bombarded with News on Wall Street - Financial Instability - Earth quakes - Youth Rebellion - Tragedies in Families - Movies of Fatal Destruction - the list goes on and on. Doubt and Fear on Steroids non the less.

The foundation of the Church over the past number of years have been shaken as pastors, priests and many leaders have been exposed to hidden secrets. Leaving many to question the stabilization of Christianity.

What is the Cure for these Malignant Cancers? Is there any help for us or are we just doomed as many would like us to believe?

The answer to these questions is YES!

The Cure! The Word of God. The Blood of Jesus. The Name of Jesus.

At this point just what have you to loose? If the World is going to hell in a hand basket and your Final Destination is everything you fear - then why not.

It works - It heals - It keeps you healthy - Mind - Body - Soul and Spirit!

Character DNA _ Who Controls Yours?

Recently I was visiting my brother, I had the rare opportunity to sit in total silence - - no television - no radio - no talking - only the gentle hum of the air conditioning unit - an occasional car going by and a lone bird chirped in the distance welcoming the day.

It had been two years since I have been home. It was good to be back. Not matter how often or how long it has been, I always allow my thoughts to thumb through the scenarios of the past, the present and even thoughts of the future. This rare extravagant ritual gives a cleansing of my soul and a renewal of who I am and where I am going.

This particular morning my thoughts focused on all the influences one is bombarded with from moment we arrive in this world to the time we leave this present world - Each and every one impact the shaping who - what and why we are. Thus forming the DNA of our Character.

Character Mr. Webster says is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. The distinctive nature of something.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is said to be the self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information

As I continued to ponder, it became clear that our Character DNA is also unique to each one of us just as our physical DNA is unique. It is the carrier of our character information. Character DNA has one unique quality that is so awesome unlike physical DNA.

Character DNA can be changed and filtered/changed totally on how any and all influences affect us. Very Cool! The choice of how our Character DNA can be controlled by our own self only if we filter in the good and filter out all those negatives that want to paralyze our whole entire being. Good or bad right or wrong it is our choice.

Since that rare quiet morning in Atlanta, I have continued understand all the different influences we experience and how many times we allow these influences effect our every day life - thus affecting our Character DNA.

So I would then ask, Do we just become puppets allowing all those influences to keep us from taking control? Do we even want to have control over our Character DNA?

What keeps us from putting a stop these influence that want to paralyze us - keeping us from trying to control our Character DNA? Knowing full well that it also keep us from enjoying everything in our life? Are we too lazy? Do we not care enough about our own selves? More often than not, we allow our selves to fall prey to those influences. We fall prey to the "The Puppet Syndrome" and our Character DNA is out of control - not controlled by ourselves. The truth is, the majority of folks accept the "Puppet Syndrome" and those outside influences to control their Character DNA.

We have spent billions of dollars on books, magazines, we have watched hundred of hours of talk and reality shows, searched out websites, blogs of thoughts and opinions of the why and what that makes us what we are. We buy into it running and searching and spending our hard earn dollars to find out how to fix us and how to break free from The Puppet Syndrome.

Now don't get me wrong,some of these sources are really excellent, but others just enhance those negative - paralyzing influences - adding even another layer of tangled strings that bind us.

WARNING! Taking control of our Character DNA might actually free you of all those puppet stings and you will begin enjoying your life - enjoy who you are!

As I see it, it is so simple and it is so clear! We can make these three simple steps and we are on your way to having a very healthy Character DNA! But it is not simple - some of us have been Puppets for a long time.

Although I do love those 3 little monkeys - You know the ones I am talking about.



Watch your eyes - Watch your mouth - Watch your ears.


Don't LAUGH ME OFF NOW. That wise old adage - The three little monkeys - Speak No Evil - Hear No Evil - See No Evil! It is a great rule of thumb in living our everyday life and controlling our Character DNA.

NO DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND !

OK - Let me ask you some simple questions - be very honest with yourself. . . .













Your Mouth:




Do you allow your mouth to speak negative words about your life - about others - about just the simplest events in your life? How do you "feel" afterwards"?

Do you spend time tell others about all the bad - negative happenings - how angry you are - whether personal or otherwise. Do you feel better afterwards? (I am not talking about confiding in that one accountability person) Are you telling anyone and every one that will listen?

Do you just grumble and complain about the littlest experiences? Do these little experiences throw your whole day - your whole week off?







Your Ears:




Do you allow yourself to be influenced by what others tell you - what you hear on the news - talk shows, etc. What the weatherman says? Afterwards did you wish you had not allowed them to influence you but it is too hard to change now?








Your Eyes:





Do you allow yourself to be influenced by what you read - watch on TV and Internet? Are you seeking out shows and books and websites you would not want anyone to know about?

Are you allowing the events and circumstance of everyday to have such an effect on your life that you become fearful - negative - angry - bitter?

If you have answered yes - then you are allowing those influences to put puppet strings on your life - begin to tangle and control YOUR Character DNA.

STOP NOW! Take Control of YOUR Character DNA!!

As Joan Rivers use to say, "CAN WE TALK?"




For more years than I would even like to admit, I allowed circumstances, other people, events in my life to attach many puppet strings. I became a tangle mess. I did not know who I was - what I was or why I was. . . The harder I struggled, the more tangled the mess - my Character DNA was so overloaded with Life Puppet Strings it was choking the very emotional - spiritual and physical life out of me.

Anger Strings - Forgiveness Strings - Pity Party Strings - on and on - tangling and tightening every day!

How I wish I could tell you that my fairy godmother came in and waved her magic wand and I was totally transformed. Even when I took the right steps, it took years to grasp and understand that I did not have to allow any influence to put negative poisonous DNA strings into my Character.

Yes - Many times I would take one foot forward and then fall back and allow old strings - influences to reattach themselves.

Even though we are not totally void of influences, we do have the ability to choose how those influences feeds into it. We can cut all strings and influences - we are able to be the unique person we were created to be and our Character DNA can accent our life.

Remember we DO have a choice how any influences is going to affect our choices, our actions and our reactions. You CAN CUT YOURSELF FREE!!




Finally, just let me add - controlling your Character DNA is not a one time shot. Everyday one must keep a good check on their Character DNA.



Look at yourself!


What has influenced your Character DNA - Are you allowing the past - those folks who hurt you - angered you - being done wrong - to control your Character?

Barbie in The Box

There she is Barbie - not much has changed with her over the years - except she has gone from being a brunette to being a Blondie. Maybe that is because the World has told us for years that "Blondes Have More Fun".


They may change her hair and change her clothes - but all in all when you find Barbie - you find her in a box - twist ties holding her in and sometimes almost impossible to get out of the box.


I remember one Christmas when I had bought my daughter a designer Barbie from a Doll Store - her head actually popped off leaving the twist ties still attached.

But this walk down Barbie lane is not really about Barbie. It is about us - women - especially us - Church Women. Cloned just like Barbie but we wear different clothes.

Well, as I told a good friend years ago I don't want to Be a "Barbie in A Box", I don't want to be known as just another "Church Lady" that has gone through all the ranks to become "Madam Church Matriarch" of the Local Church who is known by all because she seems to have her finger on every pulse. She is well versed and knows all the right things to say and is seen in all the right places and smiles that sweet little Church Lady Smile - but deep inside she knows she is bound by the twist ties and she can't get out of the Box! She can't really break loose and be real, she has to maintain her role within the confines of the Box.

Years and years ago, I taught about the "Barbie in The Box", and I broke free and clear from not only the Church box but of the Southern Bell Box. Two of the request that I made of God when I thought my whole life was over was to make me a "real" woman and to show me His way not man's way. Over the years He has done just that.

I was reminded of this teaching just recently when a precious young woman, whom I had been sharing God's Word with and seeing her life begin to bloom, told me about how "beat" up she was and how she just could not take her situation any longer. After a few gentle questions, she poured out her story of her and her husband going to counseling. The couple counseling them made her out to be the "bad" guy because she was struggling with forgiving him of indiscretions that had come to light. As I listened to her, I felt the pain and hurt that she was experiencing. I also could feel the frustration, because I knew exactly why she was experiencing these feelings, the couple as well meaning as they had been, had not taken in consideration the whole picture. They had just about thrown the baby out with the bath water. This sweet couple had bought into their role and even though they had similar experiences, they missed how much damage they had done - They were the Barbie Couple in the Box.

Not many days later I experienced another scenario, as a lady had become empowered in her new role within the Church house and was exercising her limited knowledge about a plan for the Church Body taking it to such an extreme that the whole purpose of the program faded. As I watched her, I realized that she positioned herself as the authority, when in fact she herself needed the affirmation that she was important. She had become the "Barbie in The Box" and knew only how to play the role she had been taught over the years.

Sad but true, we find this "Barbie in The Box" scenario over and over thought out the Church House of every denomination - and even in corporate business.

Women of the world, in every walk of life, are not looking for a text book answer they are looking for reality of who they are and why they are. Being real is so much of the time lost and it is shame that the Church House mass produces Church Women who are cold - uncaring and judgmental to those who are not in their box, but those who have never had a box!

Over the forty plus years as a Christian Woman - who believes the Word of God to be Truth - who believes Abba Father looks on the intent on the heart and forgives our sins and remembers them no more forever - and it breaks His heart when we dress ourselves in that Box and have tunnel vision into the lives of others.

Secondly I am convinced that if we do not take time to take a hard look at ourselves and learn about His Love and His Forgiveness and His way of seeing His Creation (others), then we are no more than a "Barbie in The Box" on the shelves in the Toy Department.

Many of the awesome mixed media artist and writers I follow have such a love and acceptance of our sisters of the worlds that share the common bond of hurt, and issues of self esteem. The Life Stuff that make us all weak at the knees and produce gallons of tears, and yet so many of my "Christian" Sisters can not take time enough to stop their narrow Barbie in The Box mentality that it wound and kills rather than heals and restores.

Don't Shout Me Down! You know it is true!

I will never forget the Sunday Morning I had the rug pulled out from underneath my feet - My whole entire Church World changed forever - and it has taken years and years for the Healing Balm to reach the deep gaping wounds that seem to just tear deeper an deeper. Nevertheless, I watched one of the most precious women of God walk through the fires of Hell and even though there were times I never thought Victory would come - It did - The Victory was not in they way we would want it to be, but it opened up how rich - Real in Him is. It separates those that only want to Hear His Voice and Walk His Walk . . . It truly altered my Walk forever.

wound upon wound - pain upon pain - tear upon tear - the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months and the years into years - As Divine Revelation began to take over - I was brought back to that ole Hymn - "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, Than Jesus Blood and Righteousness - I shall not TRUST the sweetest Frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name."

Do I ever get use to seeing fellow sisters get wounded and shattered? No. Do I still want to rush in and intervene on their behalf? Yes! My Journey and lessons of life has taught me - It's all about HIM and doing it HIS way - It's all about loving The Barbie in The Box - Spending a lot of time on my knees - And Trusting His His Voice - Casting My Care - On Him. Is it ole age - LOL - No it is His Wisdom of Life.

The Barbie in The Box needs to break out and break free - Getting the Barbie out of the Box without popping her Head OFF - Well - Love - Prayer - Understanding - Not my time table - His timetable.

Break Free You Barbies in The Box - Break Free!!

My Goat Lists

The dictionary definition of goat is 'a ruminant quadruped of the genus Capra'. What's that got to do with being angry? Given the meaning of 'get your goat', we might expect to find goat as a slang term meaning anger or annoyance. That meaning is recorded in the US book Life in Sing Sing, 1904, which goat is given as a slang term for anger.

Several things - persons - happenings - really seem to me can be summed up in the phrase "That Gets My Goat". Actually, they do not make me angry, but just don't understand why folks put themselves out there to be taken as just plain dumb - stupid - should know better, etc.

Here are a few things that "Get My Goat"!

Paragraphs after paragraphs of Religious Diatribes on Facebook. As well as telling everything you know about yourself, your family and those around you on Facebook.

Rude people - whether male or female - who could care less about the effect it has on those around them.

Women who use words that even make a sailor blush - and don't seem to care that it is offensive tot those around them.

Looking like you just rolled out of bed to come to Church. Whatever happened to just being plain respectful to the Creator Himself.

When you are a part of an office - be courteous - a Good Morning will not put you into overload. If you use the last piece of paper in the copier - fill it back up.

My list could go on and on - and I am sure your list could as well. Keeping in mind that we are all different and have different likes and dislikes - what gets my goat may not get yours.

But all in all - Rude Behavior - Disrespect - Foul Mouths - should be at the top of all of our Goat Lists.

So what's on your GOAT LIST???

Your Vote Counts! Or It Should

Last night and through out the day today I have reflected on the voting scenarios - why we vote - the privilege of voting - the right to vote - who we vote for and why we vote for who we vote for.

Even with all the negatives that seem to be thrown around about candidates, those who are in office and those who want to be in office - we as Americans have the great privilege to go vote. We do not have to walk into a machine gun filled place to vote. We don't have to be told who we have to vote for and we don't even loose our life because we want to vote for someone different than those in leadership tell us to vote for.

We have the right to even voice our opinion on why we do or do not care for a candidate. Great debaters and arguments are openly aired without fear of being thrown in prison or losing one's life.

What I do find interesting is that we can't seem to have the voting machines - the method of counting votes correctly. It is 2011 - we have IPhones - IPads - computers that can zip out information in the blink of an eye - yet we don't seem to be able to have voting machines working correctly on Voting Day nor do we seem to get the tallies correct. One would think this would be a high priority for those responsible.

But that is not the point of this blog. I do want to say that it is up to each one of us as an American to not only vote but to know exactly why we are voting for the candidate(s) we cast our ballot for. We need to make it a priority to go vote - we have a great place to live - even in the midst of all the negatives - Living in America is awesome - and where in America we choose to live is our responsibility to be a part of making it the best place for ourselves - our family - our children and our heritage to come.



Know your facts - don't just depend on others opinions - all the political hype - but truly know who and why you are casting your vote. Be in the KNOW!

Make your Vote Count - You Count!