True Proverbs 31 Woman

Martha, Martha, Martha, it’s time to sit your tail down.

2012-02-14T21:50:00.000-05:00

About three years ago, I blogged about a book I read called “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver. A sister-friend of mine highly recommended it to me. My friend, I will call her “Mary” for the purpose of this piece. Like the biblical figure to this day she exhibits characteristics that mirror that of Mary; the ultimate worshipper desiring only to lie at the Master’s feet and serve him in excellence with a pure heart.

To tell you the truth I don’t know who outside of the Holy Spirit could have motivated my modern day Mary to recommend this particular book to me. It was such an on time read. Just 6 months earlier I had been released from my last full-time ministry position and I had begun serving only three months after that again in volunteer ministry leadership. I was looking for new fulltime employment, working on writing my first book “Poetry of a Black Girl Volume One: The Darkness and the Light” and had begun a renewed platonic WORD based friendship with my now fiancé. A lot was happening in my world.

Taking the time out to read the book and other similar titles was really beneficial to my personal and spiritual development.

After I was released I began the process of getting my focus back on track and rediscovering God’s purpose for my life. One of the first books I actually picked up and read thoroughly was Joyce Meyer’s “Approval Addiction”. Next was a series of titles by Dr. John C. Maxwell “The Winning Attitude”, “The Difference Maker” and “Being a People Person”. I also began to read over some of my favorite books of the Bible in different translations, Samuel 1 and 2, Kings 1, Kings 2, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Proverbs and 1 and 2 Corinthians. I rented Christian movies only from Netflix and dug deep in my personal message archives keeping on repeat messages on topics like Grace, Humility, Anger, gaining wisdom from God and dealing with emotions.

Looking back with hindsight I can honestly say at that particular time in my life, I felt as if I had something to prove; to myself, God and to all my haters. My haters were not actual people; they were feelings of failure, disappointment, shame and mistrust. Feelings I no longer wanted to have.

I was so hungry for the WORD. I was Martha reformed and what I desired more than anything was busying myself getting to know my Lord more.

© 2012 Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

Grace - (Video) TheSkitGuys.com

2011-12-06T11:49:00.001-05:00

God’s Chisel – Remastered (Video) – TheSkitGuys.com

2011-12-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

Man, You Need to Look UP!

2011-10-06T18:32:00.002-04:00

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Recently I sat down and had a conversation with one of my dear friends about Men. It was not one of those stereotypical sessions where you have two girlfriends talking about guys and dogging them out. Trust me it was far from that scenario. We spoke of how important it is for men to see God as their ultimate source for how to love others unconditionally, to forgive and forget, to trust, to be an example of integrity, knowledge, wisdom and how quite simply provide for themselves and their families.

You see, God is the ultimate provider and father; when he created Man he fashioned him after himself. Man was created because God desired to have a family/people to commune, provide for and share his abundant kingdom with. Just like God, Man has that very same desire ingrained in him; to provide for those he cares for his own family.

In order for Man to be the true provider which he was created to be he has to be whole heartily in relationship with God. Without this relationship it will be near to impossible for him to be a true sustainer. When Man begins to trust in only what he creates of his own hands and things of this earth like money he is trusting in what is temporal. God is forever and will never lose value, dry up or spoil.

If there is no consistent communication between God and Man, the seeds of confusion can be planted and quickly take root and eventually bear fruit. Fruit like fear, lack, despair, depression, anger, and desperation on the side of man. God is confident in who he is. Man on the other hand until he is rooted and ground in the knowledge of God and his love will always try to make things happen out of his own abilities which are limited.

Man should never get this reality twisted. Man did not create God, God created Man. And when he did, he did so with a purpose in mind. Man was to be fruitful and multiple on this earth. He was to further God’s kingdom until it spread across all four corners of the globe; making a perfect copy of God’s kingdom in heaven on earth. Man was created to be the steward of this planet. Yet, when he disobeyed God’s commandment and did not take responsibility for his own actions, he created a communication break down.

First, he ate from the Tree of Life that God explicitly told him not to. Then he hid from God and lastly he blamed Eve who had not been given the commandment in the first place from God to obey. Man/Adam was the one that God ultimately held responsible for following the community / Garden of Eden, his rules. Here is where fear came on the scene and Man began instead of looking up for guidance from God, he began to look down and around himself to see how he could make things happen…

Man, you need to look UP!

CAPRICORN GROOVE: Her Story: A conversation with Memoirs of A Black Girl author Lela Jefferson.

2011-09-12T18:48:00.000-04:00

CAPRICORN GROOVE: Her Story: A conversation with Memoirs of A Black author Lela Jefferson It's finally here! I know I've been saying for months that I was going to post this interview as part of the Your Story Series...

Promote Reading: Share Books

2011-09-05T16:07:00.000-04:00

Promote Reading: Share Books

I found this article on how to promote book reading online and thought it was wonderful enough to share. I hope it moves you to action as it has myself!

Random Thoughts and Others Quotes

2011-08-10T06:21:00.001-04:00

Here are some of my random thoughts and other quotes I have posted on my favorite social media networks most recently:

Relationships

Remember to put first things first... 1) God 2) Family 3) Your Calling / Ministry.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:12

God’s Will

I know I am destined for greatness and my promotion comes from God... it’s my heritage and it’s in my pedigree as a child of the KING. I confess today I will faith it, and work it diligently till HE makes it.

I needed to take a day yesterday to shut it all down and slow it down. It ended up being a day of re-dedication.... God is moving and I want to make sure as I move with him that my steps are truly ordered by him vs. my flesh.

Reality Checks

It is so not about you. So, some person place or thing or YOU are agitating you. Good! Pass the test. Move on to the next level. How you react now WILL affect not only generations to come, but yours right now.

The desires of your heart God placed there. What you may be lusting after will never equal in comparison. Spoken by a delivered woman who God blessed with her own heart-tailored Boaz ;-)

Change is Good!

I am constantly changing... A good friend of mine asked my opinion on something yesterday and my reaction was not what she thought was my norm. In the past my answer would had been 'I really don't know about that...' My new response was 'Go for it if you have peace about it.' One response based in fear the other one based in confidence/peace...

When you start to see RED (emotional/fearful over a situation) is a clear sign you need to STOP pray, assess, conquer and then overcome. Relax; Relate and Release are good next steps...

I am still in personal evaluation mode. Here is a question I asked myself after a recent bible study... Whose character are you emulating? God's or Satan's? Did you know if you say you are going to do a thing and you don't do it... You are a liar? I guess that is where that childhood rant came from... "Liar, Liar pants on fire!"

Quotes

"EXCELLENCE is attention to detail, that gives rise to superior performance, which leads to promotion in life." -Dr. Bill Winston

Learn to settle down and be happy with what you have while the Lord is preparing you for something better - Joyce Meyer

“Sometimes you have to believe in someone else's belief in you till yours kicks in.” - Les Brown ... So why don't you believe in God's belief in you? His is the ONLY one that really matters l!

"My only competition is me in the past... Don't play me." – Prince

Not Mama

2011-05-27T21:21:00.002-04:00

Her hips sway …like Mama’s
Her smile shines bright,
There is even a twinkle in her eye… like Mama’s
You take a look longer than a glance
Just like you do with Mama
Did I just hear a word you told me was not ok to say…?
Starts with D…and ends with anyway…
I try with my innocent mind to figure out why
Your head twists each time a grown lady
Not Mama walks by
Did the hinge that holds your neck in place somehow loose a screw?
Or is this what all men do?
You are the model of what the man I will one day give my heart to be.
You are my first love daddy… I trust and watch all you do.
My first boyfriend I hope one day will be just like you.
So this thing you do… Looking at a woman…Not my Mama
Must be cool…yeah it must be cool!
Cuz it seems to be all you do, when Mama is not with you…
So when my own little girl comes to me just as confused as I am right now by her own daddy’s actions…
I will tell her baby “Hush now… that is just what daddies do!”
They look at women as objects… they lust after them like hungry dogs…
They don’t care what their own daughters see.
How their behavior affects me and you…
But baby… Fathers know the truth and Ol’ King David did too, however a little bit too late… Glancing at ladies that are not your Mama is not cool…actually its really weak…

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

What to Do When Quitting is Not an Option?–Part 1

2011-05-08T13:48:00.001-04:00

In 2006 there were a few factors that if I did not have a relationship (meaning a prayer life) with God I may have wanted to check out… nothing extreme like taking my own life. However if I could I would have just become invisible and just disappeared from the craziness of what was becoming my everyday routine. I had bouts with depression, my behavior and attitude changed, and not for the better. I was under a lot of pressure and more responsibilities than I would have cared to have. Yet quitting was not an option for me…

See, 2006 was the year my mother went home to be with the Lord. The job and career that I had successfully progressed in I no longer had a passion to do. In some ways my family was on the verge of falling apart and though I was the youngest I had to stand in place as if I was the eldest and make some life changing decisions. I felt as if I was back in time and was experiencing the emotions and happenings that I did when my dad past five years earlier. It was also the year that I was first offered an opportunity to work in fulltime ministry…

The big difference though the morning my mother passed I awoke for the first time with the unction to pray at 4AM first in the spirit for an hour and then in my natural language just to say…”God… no matter what people, places or things you must remove from my life in order for me to walk and be in your prefect will for it..I will not get angry with you, I so swear.”

Little did I know that promise I cried out to God in the wee hours of the morning on March 15, 2006 would be tested time and time again in the years to come…

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

“Uncommon” by Greg Long and Kristy Starling; theme song to Tony Dungy’s book by the same title.

2011-04-08T19:22:00.001-04:00

I recently finished reading Tony Dungy’s Bestselling book “Uncommon”, the sequel to his NY Times Best seller “Quiet Strength”. In doing some follow up research about Coach Dungy; I learned that the book actually had a wonderful theme song associated with it. Follow the link below to take a listen. I pray it inspires you as much as it inspired me.

Official theme song to Tony Dungy's book "Uncommon" - Greg Long and Kristy Starling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgFkYNtonZc&feature=autofb

Spiritual Vomit…Ewww… Clean up needed in aisle you!

2011-04-03T17:19:00.001-04:00

Psalm 45: 1 (Amplified) MY HEART overflows with a ^[a]goodly theme; I address my psalm to a King. My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

“Spiritual Vomit”!?!? What the heck is that you may be asking…? Does it sound gross to you? It should. The repercussions that come from not purging your soul, can cause you to have unexpected verbal accidents.

As I have been taught, man is a tri-part being he is a spirit that possesses a soul/heart (where his thinker, feeler, and chooser reside) and he has and lives in body. When we die in the physical our spirit man is separated from our flesh (our earth suit) and the decisions we made while we were alive affect where we end up living out eternity.

My spirit man, when I became born again was made new. However my soul/heart needs to be renewed daily. That means what I allow into its gates through my ears, my eyes, by what I touch and what comes out of my mouth must line up with the Word of God. This way my spirit and soul/heart can become on one accord. When they are not, the possibility for verbal accidents based in flesh to happen can seem unavoidable. For example, I have been called snappy on more than number of occasions, as it relates to my responses… snappy means briskly cold. Am I proud of it? No, it’s an area where I need to continue develop in. It’s an area where I can visualize my spirit man physically getting ill because it has to witness my soul/heart controlling how my body reacts to situations. Its base is fear…

Going back to the topic of this article, “Spiritual Vomit”; if you noticed above I made mention that our soul/heart is where our thinker, feeler, and chooser reside. So it is safe to say that if you think a certain way, and feel a certain way you will choose to do a certain action, right? Again hypothetically speaking, if I think on doing something for a while (mediate on it), I will begin to have strong feelings and eventually will choose to do it or because I have been mediating on it for so long, I will begin to act out on my thoughts by instinct. Think of a person that has learned to drive. After awhile the fact that in order to keep the car moving forward requires them to press their foot on the accelerator and hold onto the steering wheel to keep the car steady will become almost as instinctual as breathing.

The same can be said about a person and their attitudes towards others. If you think a particular way about a person, you will begin to feel also a particular way about them and so either way good, bad or indifferent will begin to treat them based on those feelings. When you see them your face may also read a different message to what you are actually saying. This scenario can also cause you to seem phony, not truthful to people because you are attempting to mask your feelings. I am not saying it’s ok either to go around telling people exactly how you truly feel, because it can be considered offensive. Depending on the delivery, the timing and the words you use… Trust me, I know. Choose your battles… However, I do recommend that you examine yourself before you react.

If you are not cautious with your words, you may even begin to make comments that reflect flesh based feelings. These little comments may seem accidental but are really what you are feeling in the city of your soul.

Usually what makes you angry is what you are afraid of. Or what annoys you, is what you have given power to trigger negative reactions from you. When my Pastor taught these two points a number of years ago it really hit home. What more than anything hit me is that I can choose how I react and what I react to. I have the ability to stop verbal slip ups from escaping my lips.

Now what are some of the repercussions of NOT purging your soul?

1) Lost relationships

2) Doors of opportunity being shut

3) Communication breakdown

Cheers to fewer clean ups in the aisle called you!

Reference Scriptures

John 6:63 (Amplified) It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.

Romans 8:1-7 (Amplified) ¹THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.^(A)

²For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

³For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [^[a]the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [^[b]subdued, overcame, ^[c]deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],^(B)

⁴So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

⁵For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and ^[d]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and ^[e]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.

⁶Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that ^[f]comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

⁷[That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.

⁸So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him.

What A (Virtuous) Woman!

2011-03-29T20:47:00.001-04:00

Proverbs 31:15-17 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁵She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.^(A)

¹⁶She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

¹⁷She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

Karen Clark Sheard - It's Not Over (Live)

2011-03-27T18:09:00.002-04:00

The song of testimony by Karen Clark-Sheard "It's Not Over" from her album with the same title is my praise and worship song of the moment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsWVPNUHwd4

It’s Okay, God Already Knows

2011-03-27T17:01:00.001-04:00

So… you missed the mark. You sinned. You were disobedient to God’s will / His word. Now what? FYI Its okay, God already knows what you did. Will there be consequences? Sure there will be. It’s okay to go to him and talk about it and get the instruction on how to get back on track. God is God, he created you and he has given you a purpose to fulfill. But first you need to get over yourself… (YOU-R-SELF)… relax he is waiting for you; he has made an opening just for you in his busy schedule.

Psalm 32 (The Message)

A David Psalm

¹ Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start,
      your slate's wiped clean.
² Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you
      and you're holding nothing back from him.
³ When I kept it all inside,
      my bones turned to powder,
      my words became daylong groans.
⁴ The pressure never let up;
      all the juices of my life dried up.
⁵ Then I let it all out;
      I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God."

   Suddenly the pressure was gone—
      my guilt dissolved,
      my sin disappeared.
⁶ These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
      when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
      we'll be on high ground, untouched.
⁷ God's my island hideaway,
      keeps danger far from the shore,
      throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
⁸ Let me give you some good advice;
      I'm looking you in the eye
      and giving it to you straight:
⁹ "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule
      that needs bit and bridle
      to stay on track."
¹⁰ God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved
      every time they turn around.
¹¹ Celebrate God.
      Sing together—everyone!
      All you honest hearts, raise the roof!

Who is in Pursuit of Whom? And who are you Pursuing? – Christian Courting vs. Dating

2011-03-21T13:38:00.001-04:00

2 Corinthians 6:14 (The Message)

^14-18Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:
   "I'll live in them, move into them;
      I'll be their God and they'll be my people.
   So leave the corruption and compromise;
      leave it for good," says God.
   "Don't link up with those who will pollute you.
      I want you all for myself.
   I'll be a Father to you;
      you'll be sons and daughters to me."
   The Word of the Master, God.

I will be the first one to tell you, when it comes to matters of the heart and romance in general I am not an expert. I can only speak from my own experiences. I can count my relationships actually on one hand. One of which lasted way beyond its prescribed expiration date, it had just been bad and personal pride and a genuine desire for me to see it work had me hold on and be in pursuit of what turned out to be an unhappily ever after. Putting that all aside for it is in my past…

As I have written about before I am a big opponent to the term dating when it comes at least to describing my own current relationship. Dating by loose definition has an expiration it certainly must end. Courting on the other hand has a purpose in mind from its beginning and eventually will bring the two people in that courtship into covenant with each other through matrimony. As I see it my Intended has been courting me since we reconnected almost 3 years ago. We were blessed to have a shared history, yes. He and I went to high school together, but that was really it. When we graduated we parted ways and at the time were just acquaintances.

So, oddly enough when fate reconnected us and we began working on establishing a friendship based on our common interest of wanting to grow in closer relationship with God. The thought that we would slowly but surely grow in love with each never crossed my mind. It just happened because at first I saw him just as my friend. A person I had fond memories of from high school and was enjoying getting to know.

All of us have heard the term that when getting to know someone it is important to have “lengthy conversations”. To tell you the truth, the advice should really be given to have “lengthy quality conversations.” Relationships that are meant to last require substance God’s word is the best.

Whether you are “dating” or enjoying a courtship just remember to always check to whom you are pursuing and who is in pursuit of whom…

Matthew 6:33 (The Message)

^30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Lessons from Iniquity …Bring Deliverance to a Broken Generation

2011-03-20T22:17:00.001-04:00

Exodus 34:9 (Amplified Bible)

⁹And he said, If now I have found favor and loving-kindness in Your sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray You, go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.

Did you know a generational curse can be broken and become a generational lesson...? How? If it is received by a teachable heart, humble spirit, which is also willing to make sacrifices and make, changes by faith for the better.

The other day as I was entering my apartment building I was confronted with something that I had wished I hadn’t. Yet, it brought me to the point where I felt compelled to write this article. What I saw was a young girl, the daughter of one of one of my childhood playmates clearly pregnant. The reason why I wish I had not seen it was because just a generation ago, her mother had been in her shoes; under 18 and pregnant with her. Just like her mother, she was very beautiful, popular and book smart. However, again just like her mother, she had let temptations win the battle to bring her to her present state underage and having a baby out of wedlock. To be very frank, she could have been my own daughter, had I made different decisions.

My mother too had become pregnant before she turned 18 and before she was married. Not with me but with one of my siblings our ages span a difference of almost 30 years. Unlike my friend though my mother who was born in the late 1930s; grew up in foster care because of my grandmother’s early death and my grandfather’s inability to take care of his 5 children on his own. He was an alcoholic, and a World War II veteran that had his own demons. When he married my grandmother her family had disowned her. She had come from a prominent family in Barbados and my grandfather was a half black half Native American service man from Virginia.

Due to my immediate family strong influence and their desire not to see me repeat their own iniquities, instead of condemning her, I felt in my own way I needed to empower her. I find that too many times we look at how we meet a person or see them in their present state and typecast them in a sense cursing them. What I wanted to do was envision her future as bright as it could be.

For it is not my place to judge nor did I want to; in my heart and under my breathe I began to pray. First interceding that the strain of sin that seemed to still be active in her family to stop and also let loose a blessing that her child and her would finally learn the lesson and become the generations to be delivered, healed and restored from iniquity.

It only takes a generation to make a difference, and change the course of a family; you can be that generation.

Bloom Where You Are

2011-03-14T19:56:00.001-04:00

A lot of times we make the mistake to want to run from our challenges when presented by them; rather than allowing our challenges to prune us so we can bloom where we are. For the last few weeks and especially today, I felt pressure from many different fronts. However, I also know this is a season that I am preparing for rain… an outpouring of immeasurable favor from God. He has already shown me in his Word and in his actions that he loves me and favors me. Yet, I know by following his will I should always be in a state of expectancy. I just need to do my part and continue to bloom where I am.

Mr. Bridges’ message from the movie “Facing the Giants”.

Forget About Yourself – Cornerstone Scripture 2011 Attitude Adjustment Plan

2011-03-12T08:36:00.001-05:00

Matthew 10:29-42 (The Message)

Forget About Yourself

^29-31"What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.

^32-33"Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I'll cover for you?

^34-37"Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.

^38-39"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.

^40-42"We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

Constant He Who Never Changes

2011-03-06T19:51:00.001-05:00

“My loves, remember through all you have gone through… He has been your constant. He has never changed. People have come and gone, but your foundation because it is firmly grounded in him, you have always been able to return to. He has never left you, or forsaken you. Though situations may have seemed crazy at times, in the end when His Will / His Word has been obeyed.. The evidence of how much he loves you has been revealed. When you are weak, he is strong. Always remember WHO is your constant… in the beginning was God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost and so it will be in the ever after.” © 2011, Lela Jefferson. All rights reserved.

VaShawn Mitchell - Nobody Greater

2011-02-11T19:50:00.001-05:00

Darwin Hobbs sings CHAMPION new 2010

2011-02-11T19:49:00.000-05:00

The Illusion of My Crown

2011-01-29T09:19:00.001-05:00

The illusion of my crown draws attention from those that would normally not speak.
As their minds are confused by what their eyes see

I openly let them know that my crown is an added extension of me
Freely I change its look to suit my needs

The illusion of my crown draws attention from those that would normally not speak.
My honesty brings clarity to confused minds that eyes stare in disbelief.

Hair that changes with the seasons.

2011-01-11T20:40:00.001-05:00

The randomness of who I am. I was talking to my beau the other day about my hair and he tells me..."Babe, why are you even looking for a signature look? Just resolve to the fact, you change your hair like the seasons." He is right though :)

I took a minute and thought about his comment further AND the different hair styles I have had since I cut off my dreadlocks in the spring of 2005. For the 12+ years that I had them, even after they had reach well past my behind I attempted to spice them up with different styles.

I guess that desire in me has not died to always attempt to evolve and change myself for the better. Specifically speaking in regards to my hair, I have gone from the short Halle Berry signature pixie, to a colored texturized afro, to curly and straight half wigs and weaves in varying lengths to two toned micro braids and Chaka Khan / 70s Diana Ross auburn free flowing tresses.

My next hair style… only my sister-friend that does my hair and I know. Yet, I can tell you this. Underneath it all I can honestly say that I love me and the randomness of who God created me to be.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; …” Jeremiah 1:5

The Training Never Ends… A story about a couple’s Love and Football (A Sampling)

2010-12-04T23:02:00.001-05:00

The field is empty. My love and I walk its length hand and hand. A ritual started during our courtship. He replays the game to himself, play by play as I listen to the smooth timber of his baritone voice. Our boys the twins are playing catch on the sidelines. Both like their father play football, pee wee for now. The stands hold echoes of the memories of fans and their cheers. They are empty too but for the rubbish left behind from the throngs of people. It was just a couple of hours ago when he had been given his 100^th Gatorade bathe adding another win to his impeccable record at State.

Who am I? I am the head coach’s wife and I have held this title and that of assistant coach’s wife in different cities and at few schools through the years. It has been eight years in the same city this time. When my coach and I first met in high school I could have never imagined that we would end up here. Our weekends from August to December are filled with team chapels, tailgates, pre-game warm ups, get to getters with other coach’s ladies and two hours of nail biting, and eyes closed in deep prayer. Coordinating trips to away games, and couples’ bible study teleconference calls; other times of the year as a family going to conferences, visiting family and working on projects that could not be completed before the football season started.

Title: The Training Never Ends (Novel)

Author: Lela Jefferson

Last Modified: 12/4/2010 10:56:07 PM

Babe, you are a trip! You are praying for seats!?!

2010-12-01T20:00:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday evening my favorite football coach and I decided to take an alternate way back to Brooklyn from church and the City. He is home for a least a month to spend some quality time with me, his family and friends; since the UFL’s 2010 season is over. The absolute gentleman he is, he normally rides with me via my train route to my stop and walks me to my door. However this evening I convinced him that I would be fine if we took his train route home, since my stop is right after his. I knew he was tired and I was attempting to be accommodating and save us some time getting home.

See, this December marks our one year anniversary as a couple officially. We have been friends since high school and reconnected about two years ago. December is also my birthday month, so having him so close is a present / blessing all by itself.

Being the typical New Yorker I am before we entered the train, I took a look at the signage at the token booth to see if there were any scheduling changes. Since none were posted we paid our fares and proceed to go to the platform where our train should arrive to take us home. However when we got there the signage stated that the express trains were running on the local track where we just had come from!

Not getting upset while he allowed me to decide which direction we were going to take and the fact that we just ran down and up two flights of steps, my love told me once again that I was a trip. Then he just proceeds to smile, hug me and tell me he was just glad to be spending this time with me. Talk about cool points!

In the interim of all this we run into one of my new little sisters at church. She and I end up talking for a second. After she and I finish our conversation my love and I finally get on a train heading to Brooklyn. One of his other nicknames for me is social butterfly I wonder why? In addition to all this, we had learned we would have to transfer to another train in order to arrive to our destination of Brooklyn. When we arrived at one of the stations on our route he sees an express train and decides we should sprint for it. However, we then hear the overhead announcer telling us that all passengers would have to switch to the train we were just were on to get to the South Ferry, where we would get our free transfer into Brooklyn. So, what do you think we do? If you guessed that the two of us sprint back to our train, giggling all the way, you would have guessed correctly. Truly it was just a pleasure to be there and talk with him.

When we arrived at the South Ferry station, we are then told we have to leave the station and walk one block to the Bowling Green stop. Honestly if I had been by myself walking in that pitch blackness, the outside perimeter of the Bowling Green, I would had been praying for an extra legion of angels to protect me. The signage was horrible and the walkway not well lit. When we arrived at what we thought was the entrance of the station, there was no transit personnel in sight. Some of our fellow passengers used the talk box to get directions to where we had to go to get our free transfer. It turned out to be another block away and across the street!

At the station, my love jokingly says to the station agent that they were not really trying to give us the free transfer. Her response back to him was at least we got some free exercise. At that point I had to remind myself that I was in fact a saved born again Christian. The Coach however, thought he was going to have to hold me back. He didn’t have to though I took control of my emotions After that exchange we proceed to go to our platform and wait for our train to arrive. At that point I did a quiet prayer for seats. My love shook his head at me in disbelief and said he should update his Facebook status to read only the message “She prayed for seats!” He had prayed earlier for our train to arrive in a timely fashion, so my seats prayer was to cover all the bases

Shortly thereafter our train did arrive and it was not but for one stop and I did in fact get my seat My love on the other hand who at first laughed at me rode all the way home standing. Who says my Lord does not provide even for the little things like seats! In the end, the train ride was one I will always remember and as you see had to write about. My love even wants to do it again, get lost in the transit system with me on purpose go figure Life is truly a journey, however it’s up to us to decide if its going to be a pleasurable one or one of regret.