Spiritual Sunday: The Tortoise & The Hare

When is it going to be my time? I have been steadily attempting to move forward and make good decisions follow in Gods path that he has for me, but it seems like I am getting no where, fast. If slow and steady wins the race when will it be over?


It seems like everywhere that I look there are people getting ahead of me, doing the right thing, and some doing the wrong thing. I just wonder and ask, how can this be? I have been doing everything that I am supposed to be doing; walking this path, being patient, and being obedient, but I still see no results. Many of us may feel this way at one time or another. I just wish that there was a sign that lets me know that I am going to win this race. Even though I am tired, weary, and lacking faith, I know that I am going to win this race.

Recently, I set out to buy a new car. I did my research, planned my budget, and went out searched. The first dealership that I went, anxious to test drive and get this Nissan Rouge, turned out to be a bust. Well, I guess I will just go out again next weekend and take a look at the Toyota Camry and Rav4. Ok, the frigidly cold temperatures and snow kept me away. So here we are a month later and still no car. But I am faithful that I will find the right car at the right price. Patience. Faith. I got this. Do you know that this week one of my friends who went with me to test drive the car actually brought the same car that I test drove yesterday?!? How can this be?! I did everything that I was supposed to do. Was she even looking for a car while I was looking? Guess I'm the tortoise and she's the hare. Sometimes I just wish that for one time I would be able to win the race. Lord, just let me come in first one time.  Yes, there is some natural competition in life, it just seems like I am always coming in last. But if you know anything about Jesus and how he works, the tortoise will win the race. Not in the tortoise's time, but in God's time.

Before I started writing this post, I thought about one of the first sermons my lil cousin preached and it was based off of Job and the struggles that he faced and overcome. His patience and how the end of his days were better than the beginning. One of the lines that stood out to me was 'The race isn't given to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but he who endures til the end'. After doing some research I found out that it's not exactly stated in the bible, more like a combination of Ecclesiastes 9:11 and possibly Matthew 24:13. I'm not going to get too technical with this, because I have heard it before but when I googled it to get the true understanding of it, there were so many stories about marriage, life, and love illustrating this and it was truly inspiring to know that other people are going through the same thing that I am and still came out on top. Am I discouraged? Yes. About more than one thing, but I just have to keep the faith and keep on moving in this race.

Spiritual Sunday...

Have you ever had a dream about you or someone you know being pregnant? The definition of this is giving birth to a dream or idea that you have been having for a while. Last week, I wrote a post about knowledge and being prepared, which kinda leads me into this, well not really. A vision board. I have one of these that I used to keep by my bed to help keep me focused. When I moved, it got lost in the shuffle and hasn't surfaced yet. While reading another blog, I seen where she had a post about making a vision board electronically through Oprah's Dream Board Website and keeping it somewhere that you can look at it all of the time. She said that she looked at hers and she had accomplished almost half of them without even knowing it, but it was always there right on her desktop.

This Sunday I invite you to make a vision board of what you would love to see happen in your life in 2013.

Spiritual Sunday: Knowledge

This year has been almost blah for me. Not in a bad way, but just in a way that has made me take notice of the things that are going on around me and within me. It seems like the one thing that the Lord has been telling me is to seek knowledge. 

As many of you may know, I have been debating on several things in my life and it all boils down to knowledge. I have been debating back and forth about whether I want to buy a house and out of no where my coworker says 'Have you actually researched the programs out there for first time home buyers and single woman?' With a clueless look on my face, 'No, I never thought of that.' I looked online and there it was a program that will help me with closing costs and repairs. Something that I never would have known if I wouldn't have talked to her that day or about mentioned it casually in conversation.

At the end of this year I realize that there are some things that I want so very badly, but I am not quite ready for since I have not taken the proper steps to seek the knowledge to make my plan successful. Now, I know that there are things that you just have to trust and take that step of faith out there and do, but what you will find is that some things are just not in God's time since you don't have the knowledge to do it. And yes, there are mistakes that will be made, but learning from them and taking the knowledge that you have, and moving forward.

Leading into 2013, I am going to fill myself with knowledge, knowledge and more knowledge! There are so many things that I need to seek out and expand about my life. My friend said something that kind of inspired this post. She said that '[We] are the last generation that will actually have some sense. Most of these kids out here don't have a clue what do, how to make decisions, or anything that will help the world or make it a better place.' And the more I thought about it, its true. I thought about how wise my father is. He only has an 8th grade education, but he is really well-versed in many things, from politics to carpentry. Some of his habits consist of reading the paper daily, not looking at TV, unless its CNN or the local news, and seeking knowledge from different people and places.

For the next year, I invite you to be a sponge and soak up all that you can. Read the book of Proverbs.  Read the newspaper. Learn a new word every week, and use it. Think outside the box. Exercise your mind in ways that you never thought possible. Find a different way of doing things. Be aware and knowledgeable of things other than the newest IPhone out. Seek and you shall find. Make the right decisions knowing that you have thought about all possible options and looked at it from every angle, but most importantly seeking out God for his knowledge to guide you.

Spiritual Sundays..

Blessing to you on this Sunday morning! This is going to be a random kinda post today. I have really been trying to get myself back on track from falling asleep at the wheel. I have been reading alot of things, catching up with some television sermons, and just preparing myself to get back on that path, full-time.

During this time of self-reflection, I am learning alot of things about myself. It seems like every time I turn around there is something or someone reminding me and encouraging to get back on that path. With Thanksgiving just passing, I realize that there are so many things to be thankful for. Honestly, there are things that I never noticed (almost took for granted) that are coming to the light. I am working on strengthening relationships that I have. One of the things that I have been praying for the most, I realize that I might not be completely ready for--but I am working on it diligently. Knowing this, is helping me be more content with my life and the situation. As with anything comes change. I am facing some struggles in life and this is building character and preparing me for what is ahead. You know, I will be driving from work and something will just pop into my head from my past. And two seconds later, I will say 'Kara, why are you thinking about that? That is in the past, stop living there, and look forward to the future'. Yes, I am getting ready for 2013 and I know that its going to be a great year! The Lord is telling me to leave all of those things that happened in the past right there, in the past. Let it go and let him work in my life. All of these battles that I have been trying to fight are not for me to fight, but for me to truely put my faith him. Its a great feeling when you can come to that realization and just let go of all of the worry and negativity behind. Whew! Let me stop there...Peace!

Spiritual Sunday

Spiritual Sunday: Jesus Drank, Can I?

A couple of weeks ago, as you know, I got baptized.  Although my life before I got baptized wasn’t completely out of control, I started questioning some  things. One of the things that I questioned was drinking. Now, had slowed waaay down from my college days, but I would call myself a social drinker now-a-days. I am completely fine with going out with friends and only having a single drink, or none at all. I did a little bit of research and found out that Jesus drank (wine), so it makes me wonder can I?

Wait, let me put that disclaimer out there that I am by no means trying to rewrite the bible. This is just my interpretation as a beginner in my walk with Christ. We all know that it takes time to change and baby steps may be in order. This is not my way of trying to twist the words or undermine the importance of living a pure life and heart like Christ.

I recently went out to happy hour with a friend that was moving out of town. We arrived at Bar Louie and immediately my mind went to: should I drink something or shouldn’t I?  I thought about how I just took this important step in my life and already I was back sliding. Heathen. Anyway, we arrived and I glanced through the happy hour list and thought, How about a nice glass of wine. There is nothing wrong with wine; they drank it all the time in the New Testament, right? That is exactly what I had, a glass of wine. I didn’t feel that I was doing it because of peer pressure or get drunk, just a drink of wine instead of an alcohol laden drink that would have me drunk after a couple sips.  I didn’t feel bad after I had my glass of wine. I wasn’t drunk, maybe slightly more relaxed, but nothing major. We even talked about my baptism.

My interpretation, in my mind, is that having a glass of wine isn’t a bad thing. I think that it depends on ones intentions on why they are drinking. The purpose of drinking the wine for me wasn’t to get drunk, but to have a nice time with my friend before she left the state for a new adventure. Getting drunk was never my intention, or hers. It was more like a form of fellowship for us.  By the way, I am not a wine drinker, I just thought that it would be as potent as other drinks because my intentions were not to get drunk.

So for all of my other fellow Christians out there, please do not chop my head off. But instead, give your opinion and enlighten me on how you feel about the topic.

Spiritual Sunday: Baptism

Today at approximately 6:30pm, I will get baptised!! Yes, I am 30 years old and was never baptised.  At church, they state that its the washing away of your sins and an outward showing that you believe in that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I know that I am changing my life because this weekend is my best friends birthday and I am missing it to get baptised. To be honest, I don't miss going out to the clubs back to back, feet hurting, make-up running, sweatin'. There are several passages in the Bible taking about the importance of baptism, such as Paul and Silas in Prision. I'll write my experience in detail next week.

Spiritual Sunday: I got all I need

I think that God is trying to tell me something (in my Suge Avery voice). I posted my series on contentment, and it seems like every where I look something is popping up talking about contentment. I recently participated in a conference call with Heather Lindsey of Pinky Promise, and the topic was contentment. The hour long conference call was very moving and spiritual. I thought to myself, I must be on to something with this whole contentment thing, lol!

The conference call focused on being content in every season. I found this to be really eye opening. I saw things in myself that I didn't know lead to discontentment. Actually, if you read alot of my posts, they show exactly how discontented (is that a word?!) I was. For example, parts of me loves Facebook, but there are other parts of me that hates it because I go on there and see some of my friends either married, getting married, or pregnant. That hurt me because is something that I want, and I was in a sense jealous of them for that. Facebook brought it right in front of my face (no pun intended). The way that I was feeling was a part of me that wasn't content with were I was at. And I will admit that I just want everything to happen like right now, but I have to know that all in due time. One of the scriptures that the conference called focused one was Galatians 5:6 which reads: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. She suggests writing this on a card and just mediating on this when we start to compare ourselves to other people.



Another thing that stood out to me during the conference calls was when (we) should be living like we already have all that we need. This is hard to do. When you think about how we are constantly wanting what's new things, better cars, a new house, when really we aleady have everything that we need. This is one of the reason why I am going to do the debt diet in the fall, because I buy so much, when really, I have everything that I need. Its the same with family and friends. I would love to have  social life where I go out somewhere every-single-weekend, but to be honest, I have everything that I need with my family and friends.

Awwwh! I could go on and on with contentment and how I think that the Lord has been speaking to me, but I am going to end it here for now.

If you would like to listen to Heather's message on Contentment, please click here. Also, there is a worksheet and if you would like for me to email you a copy, leave a comment below.

Spiritual Sunday: Contentment-The Reprise

While doing all of my posts about contentment I forgot about one important part: celibacy. It has been over 2 years since I have been intimate with a man. Dang, its been that long?!?! Sigh. Let's not focus on the time periods. I was thinking and this is the perfect example of contentment. I have been on this journey and before anyone thinks that its easy, its not. It's hard. Believe me. But there are so good things that have come out of it...when I think of them I will post it (here).

Okay, enough with the jokes. I am perfectly fine with being celibate. I am so fine with it that I have joined a celibacy group that supports woman that are going to wait for marriage. Yes, I am going hard on this celibacy thing. I am thinking about getting myself a celibacy ring.

In my life there are things that have happen brought me to this point. One day,  when I open up my non-profit you will know because it will be based around/off of it. But I am doing what makes me happy and that is what contentment is all about right?!?!  Now, this has been met with some adversity. I think that some of my family members think that I am gay since that haven't seen/heard of me with a man in so long. To be honest, that hurts me because my family just doesn't understand. They think that I am the one that is weird, but actually it's how the Lord wants it to be. I am going to put my sexual life in the Lord's hands. He knows my heart, needs, and wants better than a man that just wants my flesh.

I recently discovered a GREAT blog by a truely inspiring woman named Heather Lindsey. I invite all of you to take a moment, look around, and be inspired. There are alot of articles on there, and she also has an online boutique. Click Here

Spiritual Sunday

Over the past month, I have been focused on being more content with my life. If you have read all of my posts you might be saying, what does all of this mean? To sum it all up, I am going to be grateful for what I have, work on being a better person, and do what makes me happy. Put myself at peace with alot of things in my life. I am going to stop with the lists and beating myself with only completing 2 of the 35 things on it. Take my time with everything. I know that everything will come in due time...this is where my faith must come in at.

Being content with myself and my life will open up doors. Doors to freedom. Doors to being myself. There are so many things that I want to do. Notice, I said I want to do. Not what I think I should do, or what other people are going to do. And yes, this will sound weird to some people but for me it means putting everything in God's hands.

Have you ever seen some do something and it just looks effortlessly? I mean, I have friends that are like that; it seems like they don't even try and they get what they want. There is no struggle or confusion, it just falls into their lap. Well, that is how I want my life to be, but only I want God to be the one to put me at peace, guide me, and free me--effortlessly.

Spiritual Sunday

Alright, so after listening to Joel last week preach about Blooming Where You're Planted, brings me to my professional life. Now sure that are so many things that I wish that I could change about my job. Please just let me put it out there that I am so GRATEFUL to have a job, along with the benefits and flexibility. But I must admit that I am not completely fulfilled there. As much of a public servant that I am, there still isn't that sense of fulfillment or that I have actually done something good for someone else. The people whom I help don't really feel blessed to have what they have, they feel like they are entitled to it. Well, some of them.

This all has me thinking about starting my own business and/or non-profit. I am constantly toying with the ideas, but lately, there are parts of me that just want to take the leap and do it! And do it right here in Pittsburgh, none the less. You know, I have a friend who is constantly down-talking Pittsburgh. She has so many negative things to say about the nightlife, quality of life for African Americans, the lack of higher paying salaries, just anything and everything. It bothers me so much, I mean like nails on a chalkboard in a cave echoing, when I am talking to her because she hasn't lived here in so long that she doesn't know that things have changed, and to know that not everyone here makes $10 an hour. Sorry, went off on a tangent there.

Perhaps there is a reason for me being here. After all of the research and job searching that I have done in other states, I still have yet to get an offer out of state doing something that I feel would be uprooting my life for. Then again, maybe the Lord has sat me here in Pittsburgh to grow and then take me off on another path or place. Either way, I have decided that I am going to continue to work diligently at my job, trying to make a difference, using everything that I possibly can to make my job a better place, all while asking the Lord to guide me to start a business or non-profit, if its in his will. Contentment. Putting myself at peace with the whole moving, staying, job situation thingy.

Oh yeah, I am also going to really pray about possibly buying a house.

Spiritual Sunday

Continuing on with my whole series on contentment, last Sunday, I woke up and tuned into Joel Osteen. His message: Bloom Where You're Planted. Could this be a sign? Watch the video and let me know!

Spiritual Sunday--A Little Late...

A couple of Sundays ago I had a post about contentment. Mainly because there has been so much that I have been thinking about and asking myself why?  I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish before I turned 30 and a lot of them I really had to think about why I wanted to accomplish these things. Sure, I want to loose weight, but what was my real reason for wanted to do it so fast. If it takes me 2 years to lose it, what difference does it make? As long as I am healthy and happy with it. My weight is something that I have been struggling with for a long time now, just about my whole life. And I am at a point where I am who I am. The same size 14/16 that I have been for the past 10 years. I am not saying that I am giving up, but what I am saying is that I am going to do what makes me happy. If that includes eating a burger every week, then so be it. I see so many woman that are curvier, and they embrace it. I am so caught up on the size of items that I've completely lost my sense of style.

Awwh, the single life. Where to start with this one?!?!? Ya'll all know how I hate technology and what its done to communication as we know it. Well, there is a reason for that. I just feel like everywhere I look everyones life is moving forward but mine. I know that I shouldn't compare myself, but there are parts of me that cannot help but to. I'm sure that I am insecure in a lot of ways about being 30 *gasp* single, and not married and *grabbing my chest like Fred Sanford* no kids. It just starts to wear one me and I wonder when will it be my time. But this is where the whole contentment thing comes in. Why am I so concerned and obsessed with being in a relationship or with someone. I honestly had to ask myself why? Am I trying to save face? Want to be in the in crowd so that I can go on couples weekend with friends? All selfish reasons. If I were to find someone, and settle for them just to have a relationship, I would be miserable and it wouldn't be in God's time. I believe that I should cherish this time that I have alone and learn from it and learn myself. Honestly, that is what I have been doing. Lately, I have had some moments of clarity...and I have taken a look at some of the men that I thought was the one and now see as dodged that bullet. But it does have its lonely moments, but this is where I am supposed to lean on the Lord.

Stay tuned for Part II!

Spiritual Sunday....

I have been thinking a lot about contentment lately. With all of the things that I have been going through, it just wants me to let things go and let them just be. Not worry about what I should wear, how much I should weigh, or constantly looking for the newest, greatest, thing. Just doing what makes me happy. I looked up the meaning of contentment and it says: the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind. Synonyms of contentment are: gratified, pleased, happy.

I did some cross-referencing in the bible and I came up with a verse that I just want to meditate on James 4:2-3: You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

When I first read this, I just had to sit back and think about some of the things that I am doing and just think...why?

I am going to really take an inventory of my current choices and ask myself why? But most importantly, is this in God's will and plan for me. I worry about things and compare myself to other people, but why?

Once I reflect on things, I will post another Spiritual Sunday post with my discoveries. I encourage everyone of you to read over the verse and really think about your life. If there is something that you are constantly worrying about or not satisfied with, just be honest with yourself. And ask yourself why? If you want, post it below and the comments.

There is more to come on the topic of contentment!

Spiritual Sunday

"And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail"
Isaiah 58:11 (New American Standard Version)

Be sure to read this weeks posts....The droughts.

Hung Him High, Stretched Him Wide...

He has risen. Easter Sunday is one of those days that I spent with my dear aunt Lori. I remember walking from Valley Terrace to Deliverance Temple Church being able to see my breath in the air. She has her bible and tamborine in tow. I was always amazed at my aunt when she played the tamborine; there was some real skills there. Me with my pattened leather shoes,  Easter dress, and how could I forget my small purse with a couple of dollars for offering. When we arrive, I go to Sunday school. When I return from Sunday school the choir is singing a song...the melody I can't really remember only the lyrics: They hung him high, stretched him wide, on the cross for me he died...that's love.

Need I say more? Happy Easter!!

Spiritual Sundays...

Spiritual Sunday

Elmstreetlife.com

Profound.

I should post this everyday!

Spiritual Sunday, Mid Week...

Today is the day that I really find out what I am made of as a manger. I have been worrying about this day all month long, but the one thing that I have to do is let go and let god. I have faith that everything is going to work out for the best. If not, then Lord, please order my steps.


 Just a little inspiration for anyone that may be going through something. Be blessed and stay encouraged!

Spiritual Sunday: Prayer

You don't even have to be the one praying, but if you get around somebody who really know how to pray--prayer will lift you when you've fallen, prayer will catch you when you've lost your grip, prayer will stop you from going overboard, prayer will bring you out!

-T.D. Jakes