WHAT WE HAVE IS POWERFUL
ITS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS SIMPLICITY
IT IS THE ONE CONSTANT IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD.

IT IS PURE
UNTAINTED BY MALICE OR GREED
FAITH AND TRUST THE NOURISHMENT 
UPON WHICH IT FEEDS.

TO BELIEVE IN AN UNSHAKABLE, UNBREAKABLE
BOND SHARED BETWEEN TWO SOULS
THE STRENGTH TO EMBRACE AND TO ACCEPT EMOTIONAL
VULNERABILITY 
TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND OTHER THAN YOURSELF.

TO LOVE AND BE LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY
TO SURRENDER COMPLETELY 
TO FEELINGS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL.
TO OPEN YOUR HEART AND MIND TO A WORLD OF 
NEW EXPERIENCES AND POSSIBILITIES.
GIVING OVER CONTROL TO THE ALL CONSUMING 
POWER OF LOVE. 

Is never ending
No matter how many times you return
You will never leave feeling empty.
His love is never ending,
No matter what we do or how far we run
We can always go back to the source and be filled.
It will never run dry, no matter how many times you seek 
Him you will never reach the end
The well that contains God's love will always be there,
You just have to look to him in all things
Like a waterfall it will continue to flow;
With love, forgiveness and blessings.
Bow before the King of Kings
Submit to his will
Have faith that he will deliver you.
There maybe days of suffering
But always put your trust in him
Trust that his divine plan is in motion
Let go of fear, shame and doubt.
Worship him in all things
Sing his praises during every trial
Shout his name in victory
Put your trust in him
Return to his ever waiting arms
Believe in his will.
When you feel like your struggling
Drink in his words, his grace and his mercy
You can always go back to the well
When you are overwhelmed
Or have lost your way
He will be there with arms wide open
To welcome you home
For what you lack, he will supply
If you are broken He is whole
He will fill the empty places
His love can make you whole.
Trust in the one that loves you completely. 

Everywhere you look, everywhere you go there is something up advertising Valentine’s Day! Is it just me or has it lost its sentimental appeal? I used to enjoy Valentine’s day but now I dread it more than anything else in life and NO its no because I’m single, I am a great valentine, I take myself out, buy the chocolate and the teddy bears (who doesn’t love a good teddy bear?) Maybe its because I work in an industry where people go crazy this time of year, they stress themselves out trying to make this one day special and in turn stress you out with their unreasonable expectations. My thing is this; if you have a partner why not shower them with love and appreciation 365 instead of killing yourself on Valentine’s? I’m not saying you should ignore it, just celebrate it all year round, surprise them with little things, things that will touch them more than a box of chocolate and roses.

All I need is quality time; sometimes that’s all your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife needs. Time in which you make them feel special, loved, appreciated and treasured. I want to know you love me all day everyday, not just on birthdays, valentines and Christmas, show me with your actions that I’m valued.

We need to make valentines sentimental again, make it about the person you love; not about the expensive gift your gonna get them that only last one day and didn’t take much thought or planning. Love might be in the air, but it should never be a routine, it should never be something you assign to your assistant nor should it be an after thought. If you’re going to do it, do it right; plan it out, invest a little of yourself, make it personal: if you want to do flowers, candy, edible arrangements, whatever it is make it personal deliver it yourself, show up at their jobs, surprise them. Personalize your cards with pictures, poetry and just simple words from the heart. Make a home cooked meal, get a babysitter for the kid, have some grown folks time. Create memories that will last longer than 24 hrs.

Remember to be nice to those who work to make your day special.

TEARS FALL FREELY DOWN MY FACE,
TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT MY LIFE HAD BECOME,
TRYING TO CONTAIN THE RAGE
PLAGUED BY DOUBT
WEIGHED DOWN BY DEPRESSION
EVERYDAY I WAKE UP BLAMING GOD FOR MY PAIN.
I HAD NO SOLUTIONS
HAD NO CLUE WHAT TO DO,
WHO WAS I TO TURN TO 
WHEN IT FELT LIKE GOD WAS IGNORING MY PAIN.

WITH EACH NEW DAY THE QUESTIONS OF A BROKEN PERSON KEPT REPLAYING IN MY BRAIN,
WHAT DID I DO?
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
WHY AM I BEING PUNISHED THIS WAY?

I COULDN'T COMPREHEND, MY LIFE SEEMED PERFECT
EVERYTHING GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN
I HAD A GOOD JOB, MONEY IN THE BANK, FOOD ON MY TABLE,
MY OWN PLACE; EVEN FRIENDS I BELIEVED WOULD BE THERE IF I EVER NEEDED A HAND.
I WAS RIDING THE WAVE THINKING I HAD IT MADE,
THEN ALMOST OVER NIGHT IT SEEMED TO ALL FADE AWAY
MY JOB DISAPPEARED, THE MONEY WENT FASTER THAN A SPRINTER ON A TRACK
THE FRIENDS I WAS THERE FOR VANISHED FASTER THAN I COULD SAY H-E-L-P AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.

I WAS BROKEN, ALONE AND DESPERATE 
WANTED TO END IT ALL; TO PUT AN END TO ALL THE STRUGGLES, SUFFERING AND LONELINESS.
NO MATTER  WHAT I TRIED I COULDN'T SUCCEED, 
EACH ATTEMPT TO TAKE MY LIFE IT SEEMED THE LORD WOULD INTERVENE.
I LASHED OUT, BLAMED HIM FOR LEAVING ME AND FOR NOT LET ME TAKE THE COWARDS WAY OUT.
 MY FAITH WAS NON-EXISTENT, NO ONE COULD TELL ME TO PRAY OR TRUST GOD. I WOULD GET SO ANGRY WHEN PEOPLE SAID KEEP BELIEVING GOD KNOWS WHATS BEST.

HOW COULD HE KNOW YET DO NOTHING?
HERE I AM CRYING, MY HEART AND SOUL IN PIECES AND STILL NO ANSWER FROM GOD.
I WAS BROUGHT LOW, EVERYTHING BURNED TO ASHES AROUND ME.
COULDN'T SEE THE PLANS HE HAD FOR ME
ALL I COULD SEE WAS THE UTTER DESTRUCTION OF EVERYTHING I HAD BUILT, YET STILL HE BURNT IT DOWN.

THAT I WOULD LEARN THAT ITS NOT MY WILL, BUT HIS WILL BE DONE.
HE BROKE ME TO REBUILD ME
TO RESHAPE ME IN HIS IMAGE
HE TOOK ME OUT OF MY WORLD AND PLACED ME INTO HIS
HE GAVE ME A NEW BEGINNING
A VILLAGE
A COMMUNITY OF GOD MINDED PEOPLE TO HELP ME PICK UP THE PIECES.
I LOST ALL THING MATERIALISTIC
SO  THAT GOD COULD USE IT,
NOT TO PUSH ME AWAY
BUT TO DRAW ME EVER CLOSER TO HIS WAY.
TO SHOW ME THE VALUE OF HIS WILL,
TO TEACH ME TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT SIGHT
TO RESTORE MY TRUST AND BELIEF NOT JUST IN HIM BUT HUMANITY AS WELL.
TO LEARN TO CLAIM WHATS BEEN PROMISED IN ISAIAH 61,
TO BE AN INSTRUMENT FOR HIS GLORY, TO LET OTHERS KNOW MY TESTIMONY.

TO LET OTHERS KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT STORMS WE MAY WEATHER , OR FIRES WE MAY FACE, THE LORD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO GIVE US BEAUTY FOR ASHES.

WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR US TO SAY GOODBYE? TALKING TO MY BEST FRIEND ON THE PHONE AND SHE WENT OFF TOPIC AND ASKED ME WHY IS IT EASIER TO SAY HELLO THAT IT IS TO SAY GOODBYE? BEING THE PERSON I AM I HAD TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE MEANT. YOU SEE I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO ANSWER, THEN I ASKED HER SAY GOODBYE TO WHAT? IS IT TO A PERSON OR JUST MAKING PEACE WITH A SITUATION? HER ANSWER WAS BOTH. THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS TELL HER ABOUT MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH GOODBYES AND SEE IF SHE WOULD GET HER ANSWER.

I PERSONALLY HAVE A PROBLEM LETTING GO OF PEOPLE AND IT TOOK MY SISTER POINTING OUT FOR ME TO REALIZE AND OWN UP TO IT; THOUGH EVEN THEN I WAS STILL FINDING WAYS TO JUSTIFY HOLDING ON TO THE PERSON. EVERY EXCUSE I BROUGHT FORWARD SHE WOULD SHUT IT DOWN, UNTIL I HAD NOTHING LEFT TO SAY, MY ARGUMENTS WERE INVALID AND COULDN’T STAND UP TO LOGIC WHEN IT WAS LAID OUT FOR ME TO EXAMINE.

AS HUMAN BEINGS WE LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN OTHERS, WE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON CAN CHANGE AND WE CLING TO THAT HOPE, IF YOUR LIKE ME YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO KEEP THEM AROUND EVEN THOUGH THEY BRING NOTHING TO YOUR LIFE. YOU FIGHT TO KEEP THEM, YOU STRETCH YOURSELF THIN DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN FOR THEM, WHILE PRAYING THEY WILL START TO TREAT YOU THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM. WE LET FEAR CONTROL US; FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, FEAR OF BEING ALONE AND OF STARTING OVER WITH SOMEONE ELSE. WE ARE SO CRIPPLED BY FEAR THAT WE MAKE EXCUSES FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR EVEN WHEN WE WERE THE ONES TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON IT AND THOSE AROUND US TOOK NOTICE AND COMMENTED; THEN WE GET MAD AND BECOME DEFENSIVE. WE START TO PRAISE THEM AND POINT OUT ALL THE GOOD THEY DO BUT NOT REALIZING WE ARE THE ONES HIGHLIGHTING THEIR NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS.

NOT BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING DOESN’T MEAN ITS GOOD FOR US. WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON OUR WANTS AND NEGLECT OUR NEEDS. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE FIGHTING TO HOLD ON TO DON’T FULFILL US MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, OR SPIRITUALLY. WE SETTLE FOR LESS THAN WE DESERVE BECAUSE WE GET TIRED OF WAITING ON THE PERSON THAT WILL FULFILL OUR NEEDS, WE SETTLE BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THINGS SHOULD BE HAPPENING NOW, WE SHOULD BE MARRIED, HAVE KIDS WHAT EVER IT IS, WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO ACCEPT MEDIOCRE TREATMENT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO BE ALONE. LETTING GO OF TOXIC PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS IS NOT A BAD THING, IT ALLOWS YOU TO GROW, AND IT GIVES YOU VALUABLE LIFE EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND APPLY IN THE FUTURE.

SOMETIMES WE HOLD UNTO SOMETHINGS AND IT CAUSES US TO MISS OUT ON SOMETHING EVEN MORE WONDERFUL. WHATEVER FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY YOUR CLINGING TO LET IT GO, TRUST THAT THERE IS BETTER WAITING OUT THERE FOR YOU. STOP LETTING FEAR GUIDE YOU, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING ALONE AND TAKING THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE, OR BETTER YET TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF, ALL THE ENERGY, TIME, MONEY AND LOVE YOU WERE GIVING TO SOMEONE UNDESERVING, INVEST IT IN YOURSELF, TREAT YOURSELF, LOVE YOURSELF RESPECT YOURSELF ENOUGH TO NOT SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THE BEST.

BLOCK TOXIC PEOPLE FROM YOUR LIFE IF YOU NEED TO. MAKE A CLEAN BREAK, DON’T FOLLOW THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY’RE UP TO, DON’T ASK YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THEM, JUST MOVE ON, LET GO AND LET GOD. WE NEED TO REALIZE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT WORTH OUR TIME. DON’T KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT THEY’LL CHANGE, THEY ARE THE ONE FOR YOU, THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE; THEY MAYBE GOOD BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN THEY ARE GOOD FOR YOU. PROTECT YOUR HEART FROM WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING, DON’T KEEP HOLDING ON TO POTENTIAL, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET A PERSON GO SO THEY CAN GROW BECAUSE YOU COULD ALSO BE STUNTING THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CAN’T CHANGE PEOPLE, A PERSON HAS TO WANT CHANGE OTHERWISE YOU WILL ALWAYS GET STUCK REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

LETTING GO IS HARD, CELINE DION EVEN SAID GOODBYE’S THE SADDEST WORD I’LL EVER HEAR, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO HEAR IT AND SAY IT!

THE NEVER ENDING NEED TO SLEEP, WAKING UP TIRED, NO ENERGY OR EVEN THE WILL TO FACE THE DAY. JUST WANT TO PULL THE COVERS OVER YOUR HEAD AND STAY IN BED UNTIL IT ALL GOES AWAY.

RELENTLESS PAIN, WANTING TO MOVE BUT IT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING HURTS, MOVING JUST MAKES THE PAIN MORE AGONIZING. CURLED UP IN THE FETAL POSITION HOPING IT WILL HELP TO CONTAIN THE PAIN, PAINKILLERS AREN’T WORKING, NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP AND THE PAIN JUST WON’T GO AWAY.

CAN’T REALLY EAT. EVERYTHING JUST COMES RIGHT BACK UP. YOU HAVE DAYS WHERE THE TOILET IS YOUR BEST FRIEND BECAUSE YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. LONGING TO EAT BUT FOOD IS NOW YOUR ENEMY.

TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS YOU FEEL, NOT ABLE TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO GET OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND THE CYCLE YOU’VE BEEN TRAPPED IN.

ENDOMETRIOSIS CAN WRECK HAVOC ON YOUR DAILY LIFE. IT IS OFTEN TIMES MISDIAGNOSED BY DOCTORS, MILLIONS OF WOMEN SUFFER WITH IT AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING SO NEVER RECEIVE THE CORRECT TREATMENT.

HAVING LIVED WITH THIS FOR MANY YEARS I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF TO GET OUT OF BED DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOUR BODY IS IN SO MUCH PAIN YOU CAN’T THINK CLEARLY. I’VE HAD DOCTORS TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME WHEN I KEEP PASSING OUT FROM THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD I’VE LOST OR THE LEVEL OF PAIN IS SO BAD MY BODY SHUTS ITSELF DOWN AS A WAY TO COPE. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I FEEL LIKE MY OWN BODY IS WORKING AGAINST ME, I CAN’T GET IT TO DO ANYTHING, DAYS WHEN ALL I CAN DO IS SLEEP, WHEN ALL I HAVE ENERGY TO IS ROLL OVER IN BED. DAYS WHEN I HAD TO CRAWL AROUND BECAUSE WALKING IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN YOU GO DAYS WITHOUT EATING BECAUSE JUST THE SIGHT OR SMELL OF THE FOOD HAS YOU THROWING UP.

SEEK HELP IF YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING MAY NOT BE NORMAL. VISIT YOUR OBGYN AND HAVE THEM EXAMINE YOU TO SEE IF THE SYMPTOMS YOU EXPERIENCE MAY BE CAUSED FROM ENDOMETRIOSIS.

SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR ARE: PAINFUL PERIODS, PAIN DURING INTERCOURSE, EXCESSIVE BLEEDING, PAINFULLY BOWEL MOVEMENTS, FATIGUE.

AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES WE HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION. WHO AM I? WELL I RECENTLY TRIED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND THIS IS WHAT I CAME UP WITH:

WHO AM I?

A DAUGHTER
A SISTER
AN AUNT
A NIECE 
A GRANDCHILD
I AM A FRIEND( BUT I WONDER, AM I A GOOD ONE)
I AM A HUMAN BEING,
A FEMALE (THOUGH I HAVE DAYS I WISH I WASN'T)
IS THAT ALL I AM OR ARE THESE TRAITS JUST PART OF THE WHOLE?
I AM NOT ONE THING,
I AM MULTIFACETED.
I AM CONFIDENT
I AM SHY,
BOISTEROUS, YET SOFT SPOKEN
I AM PLAIN, YET BEAUTIFUL
I AM VIBRANT, YET HAVE MOMENTS WHEN I'M DULL
I AM STRONG, YET STILL SO VERY WEAK.
IS THIS REALLY ME OR JUST ALL THAT PEOPLE SEE?
I AM WHO I AM,
BECAUSE I AM.
I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE HE DIED TO SET ME FREE
I AM WHO I AM
A DAUGHTER OF THE MOST HIGH KING.
I AM BLESSED 
I AM FAVORED
I AM BOLD
I AM PROUD
I AM LOVE
I AM SAVED
I AM REDEEMED IN HIS NAME
I AM HIS
I AM WHO I AM 
BECAUSE I AM A CHILD OF GOD.