Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Life Goes on

Real talk! No matter what you are going through, life really does go on. Trials and tribulations are meant to come to bring something out if us that doesn't need to be there and to produce in something that is lacking. We certainly don't get to orchestrate the way each season of our lives play out but trust and believe that you will go on. You may be a better person for it. You will definitely be wiser from the experience. 

There is always going to be something happening. That BFF you thought would be a forever person in your life just stops communicating, the job that looks secure suddenly downsized you right out of a position, the spouse you thought you'd grow old with deserts you, or for some reason, you lose all your material things....all reasons to think about throwing in the towel. After days/weeks/months if panting, groaning and complaining. Realization sets in and you understand that you are still here. Your life has gone in and do has everyone else's. 

One step forward each and everyday is all you need to realize that your life goes on. It's also one step further away from the pain you feel from whatever hurt you deeply. God told is that trials would come. He also to us to count it all joy. That part is really difficult for all of us. The sooner we do choose joy over pain, we are winning the battle. The enemy wants us to stay tripped up. He wants nothing more than for us to stay stuck in our mess. If we do, there is no message to share to bless others. Weeping endures for a night. Not a week, months, or years. A night. But joy comes in the morning. The Word is clear, we are not to dwell on our pain and sorrow. We aren't even supposed to carry one days anger over into another. God already knew.....life goes on. We just need to grab hold of that and trust His plan-the one for good, not harm. 

Be encouraged. Life goes on. He sees your tears and knows your pain. Count it all joy, seek His Will, and trust the process. Your testimony will be a source if blessing and encouragement to yourself and others.

In Diva Love,

Pam

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day

Today is the day we celebrate the woman who gave us life. That person is usually our first love. Parenting is never easy. So no matter how you feel or what you think your mom failed to do, she is a woman who deserves your honor today.

That being said, if you are a mother who is not being celebrated or honored in the way you deserve, let me remind you that you are important. Your love and care of your child will impact future generations. God chose you to shape and form your child. Some of you are not birth parents but you still parent. Your role is no less important. So today, I salute you. Whether your importance is recognized or not, God sees all and knows all. He loves you for all you have done and will do. He sees your tears and heartaches, He sees your trials and victories. Happy Mother's Day!



In Diva Love,

Pam

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014

Yep, it's Definitely Monday!!

I had a chill but really nice weekend. No stress and no new problems. I Had a nice breakfast with a good friend who always encourages me spiritually. I got a nice unexpected gift from a BFF-can't wait to use it! A massage is definitely in my future.  My son's lacrosse team won their first game of the season. He scored a goal and had several awesome assists. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon considering the crazy weather we've been experiencing here in the DMV. On Sunday, the Word was simple but rich. It was a timeless message that is life applicable. I tried a new recipe and the pickiest eater gave it a thumbs up. With a weekend like that I was ready for the week ahead! Or so I thought!

Monday roared in like it usually does. Not to major on the minor;  but let's just say it hit a real sour note rather quickly. I handled my business, said my piece,and went on about my business. I am so thankful that time, age, and experience have truly mellowed me out. I  am confident, honest, and intolerant of too much BS. I expect people to be responsible and professional in the workplace.  Once I say what I gotta say, I am done. No grudges, no revenge.  That being said, as I type this blog, I feel pretty peaceful. 

I can clearly see that the devil tried to trip me up. Funny, when you put emotion aside, things get real clear real quickly. God has been so ever present in all of my messy situations lately. My love for Him as well as my faith is growing daily. He has me in some difficult places right now but I am realizing that I have some lessons to learn. I am not in control. I need help. I have to learn to ask for it. I have to trust His plan and stop planning my way. Most importantly, not only do I need to pray my way through but I need to praise my way through. Almost everyday in the past seven days I had to listen to songs that strengthened and encouraged me. ( I will share the playlist one day soon). I have to remember to surrender everything to Him. You too can choose to do the same. Yep, it's definitely Monday! I survived and I praise God for the day I had. I am loving the God moments that I've been experiencing. God is never silent, we just have to focus on Him to see His Hand. 

In Diva Love, 

Pam 😃

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Know Jesus, No Worry

As I often have stated, I write this blog for me. However, If I can help you then it is a double blessing. This is my free form of therapy. That being said, I realize how little I posted last year and it's no wonder. I was going through a lot and often I had no words. I had to sit still more than I thought I could. What I learned is that when you sit still, there is a certain amount of clarity that comes from simply observing. Me importantly, I learned a lot about me and even  more about God.
There are plenty of promises from God in the Bible, each and every one of them is for each and every one of us. You wanna pray powerfully? Pray scripture and insert your own name.

This year has not begun well. However, I made a promise to myself that I would post at least twice a month no matter what. This is not going to be a year that I get to sit still but I can already see that is a year that my faith is going to be tested. It is time for me to display the best testimony of God's goodness in my life on a daily basis. Already God has shown Himself to be a promise keeper. I have been constantly reminded of His love and faithfulness to me despite the trials I am facing.  I don't how the story will end but I do know that God has already written every chapter of my life. I posted this on my FB page the other day, I got it from my devotional: Secret things belong to the Lord, and future things are secret things. For me it was a gentle reminder that I should never worry about the future. God has already worked it out. Allowing myself to worry is a trick of the enemy. God wants us to keep our focus on Him and Him alone. You can't do that if you are worrying about things to come.

When you find yourself stuck in a rut or letting your mind drift to your problems, try praising God in advance. When praises go up, blessings come down. Gospel music is another form of therapy for me. Hard times reveals true friends.  Your friends my mean well, and probably have a lot to say about your situation. Be careful not to fill your head with too many voices-Christian or worldly. Sometimes, it comes down to you and Jesus. Only you and God know what's best. I know this, you will come out stronger and better.  If you are going through something, and inevitably you will, let me remind you of this. I saw it somewhere:" Don't worry, God is never blind to your tears, never deaf to our prayers, and never silent to your pain. He sees, he hears, and he will deliver." Hold your head up and trust God. Hugs!

Until next time...
In Diva Love & Encouragement,

Pam

Friday, February 7, 2014

Things that Make Me Go Hmmmm

It's been a week of occurrences that have left me scratching my head and wondering what the what? This is going to be really random but you know that means I have things to get off my chest. So where do I begin...........

Let's start with the King Family. I am literally appalled, and perhaps disgusted too, by their latest shenanigans. Brothers, Dexter and Martin III want sister Bernice to hand over their father's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and his traveling Bible, which was used in President Barack Obama's second Inauguration so that they can sell them. Umm, who the hell does that? There is something extremely distasteful about the very idea of that. Yesterday, Bernice came out and disassociated herself from the brothers wanting to protect the legacy of her father, a slain Civil Rights leader. Let's note that this is not their first time in a court battle over some aspect of his legacy. I think the whole idea of selling those aspects of  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s estate diminishes the importance of his sacrifice. We are talking about one of the most prolific and definitely the most prominent Civil Rights activist of all time especially since he preached and believed in non-violence in a time when it seemed unconventional. In my mind, it is just the craziest thing ever. I sure do wonder what is going on in their heads. Do you agree or disagree?

My cousin sent me a picture of P Diddy getting ready for some event. Can you believe his crazy self imported cucumbers from Milan to combat puffiness under his eyes. Really??? I understand having money to blow but let's be real here. Are you really that vain?

So I am in a major disagreement with someone really close to me. I had a mutual friend say to me that I could talk to them because they "would always be fair."  My  great discernment skills told me not to go there and thankfully I followed that intuition. I have reached out to that individual three times  since and they have completely ignored me. They have no vested interest in the outcome of said disagreement and they have gotten absolutely none of my side of the story. Hmmm, suspect.

I work in a middle school and concussions are on the rise. I respect that they are serious injuries and each person responds differently to getting one. There is a child whose parents fought to have her receive her education at home because the noise and stress of being in school exacerbated her concussion related issues. This same family is wanting their child to be able to attend school dances and participate in school clubs and activities. Is this a no-brainer or what?

Can a man who is not treating his woman properly, really teach his son that in order to have a happy life, you need to have a happy wife.

Would you consider holding off on getting married to a person you are in love with because you will lose your alimony?

Are you really bourgeois because you have standards that you will not relax for the comfort of other people?

Why has all this redneck reality become so popular all of a sudden? First we were obsessed with phony rich glamorous people, now we've switched to hillbillies living in damn near trailer parks.

Last but not least for this rant....how can you own property but never make any investment in it. If all you do is collect rent and fix things when they break, you just might be a slumlord. Homes need paint after a few years. I'm just saying...my grandparents were always doing something to their properties. They took pride in them and wanted them to be in great shape. I simply am amazed by the lack of investment in something that is technically still yours. Again, maybe I am the crazy one.

Whoops one more thing......can you live anywhere for free. If someone is allowing you to stay with them for a period of time, they are doing you a favor. It is not the other way around. You should be a gracious, problem/stress free guest who pays whatever agreed upon amount on time without inconvenience to the person you are imposing upon staying with.

I could go on but it was a good week that ended roughly so I needed to decompress. Remember this is my forum and my form of therapy. I just choose to share it with you. I do like feedback though. Have I made you scratch your head? Maybe you have a different take on things. Share your thoughts with me. In the meantime, be safe and enjoy your weekend.

In Diva Love,

Pam




Sunday, January 26, 2014

Lazy Days

Like a lot of the East Coast,we have been out of school more than we have been in school lately. Gotta love cold snowy days. So what does one do? Well if you are me, you read a lot. You watch a lot of movies, and well, you bake. Last week, we only were in school on Friday. If I ever get another job, outside of the school system, I will probably die. I absolutely love my work schedule. Can't beat it. 

That being said, Netflix has become my family's bestest friend. Everyone is watching{catching up on} some series and they watch every free moment they get. I can take it or leave it but given how much time off we've had, I too have gotten in on the action. I love a good show with complex characters, engaging plot, and lack of predictability. I am eagerly awaiting the return of two Netflix series. Orange is the New Black and House of Cards are really good shows. Again, no compensation but check them out. I am a big fan of Kevin Spacey and he is the star of House of Cards. Orange is the New Black grabbed me pretty quick and I am eagerly anticipating new installments.

Yesterday, I was home alone and had nothing else to clean  that I wanted to clean.. I decided to finally watch Fruitvale Station. It is the story of a young African American male, 22 years old who is senselessly killed by rent a cops the subway guards at a subway station on after ringing in the New Year. It left me teary and sad. It left his family and friends shocked and outraged. It left a daughter who was clearly a daddy's girl to be raised by a single mom. It left me again thinking about how quickly life can change. One minute, Oscar was celebrating the New Year with his girlfriend and homies and the next he was fighting for his rights as a man and minutes later, his life. The story is tragic and heartbreaking. Oscar is no angel but neither are most of us. He was flawed but he was a real complex young man who clearly loved his family and friends. Senseless deaths occur everyday all over this country and it really does make my heart ache. Life is full of twists and turns. It's precious. Tell your loved ones you love them.

When I am tired of watching movies and television, I resort to my favorite thing....baking or cooking. With the invention of Pinterest, there are a ton of new things out there to try. If the kitchen is not your area, then you might be inspired by the craft ideas. When all else fails, I love word games. My family will not play Scrabble with me despite the fact that it remains my favorite family board game. Thank goodness, my Iphone allows me to keep my mind productive. I have countless games of Words with Friends and Scramble with Friends going on. I am also addicted to Candy Crush Saga. Last week my daughter introduced me to Quiz up. Needless to say, I can keep myself entertained. I am not a napper so sleep is not high on my priorities. 

Finally, I do try to spend more time developing my relationship with Christ. I am always looking for inspiring devotionals and studies. I have read the Bible from cover to cover on several occasions. Every time, there is something new to discover about God and myself. If you are a Christian, you know that you are always a work in progress and there will always be room for improvement. This year I want my relationship with Christ to be more personal and more dynamic than ever before. I am trying to personalize the scriptures for myself because every promise God made is for me{and you too}. I think our prayers are strengthened when we make God's Word real and personal. I am hoping that as I go through various trials, that I can clearly see God's Hand every step of the way and that I give Him the praise He deserves. I want to be as faithful to Christ as He is to me. I already know that 2014 is going to be a game changer. Only God knows how He has worked it out. I am trusting and believing that Jer. 29:11 is written for me in this season of my life. Peace and blessings!

In Diva Love, 

Pam


Monday, January 20, 2014

Can You Further the Dream???

Today is the day we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am reflecting on his courage and magnetism. He was such an awesome orator. He moved people to action when he wasn't satisfied that people of color were being treated fairly. He moved a nation to correct it's injustice and the Civil Right Movement moved forward with fervor and speed under his repeated cries for justice and equality for all. Fifty years later, I am sure he would be pleased with our progress toward fulfilling his dream but I am sure he, like myself, would think we still had room for growth. The dream is still a work in progress in an America where color is the majority. We have work to do when it comes to treating people fairly in nearly every arena. Everyone wants their fair share of the pie. We all want to be recognized for our merit and pray that bias isn't holding us back. 

We live in a society where the discussion of race is still not easily broached and discussions tend to be more superficial than honest. America is going to be continually forced to deal with the issue of color and treatment of people who are not white. We are in a unique position of progressing the dream without violence and less prejudices. We cannot overlook the tragedies of the past but we can move forward with dignity and grace. Heaven is going to be a rainbow of color and race; religion, education, money, and other frivolous things will mean absolutely nothing. We can no longer major on the minor.

 Keeping the dream alive means embracing all races and colors, as well as insuring that our friends and neighbors are treated fairly and get to reap the same benefits as everyone else. Left to our own devices, we all have bias-conscious and unconscious but let's face it, our fear is really what holds us back. We need to champion ourselves and others but none of us should be held in higher regard than anyone else. We don't have to agree but we should be able to agree to disagree without hate, malice or violence.  The best way to keep the dream alive, is to live it and ensure that those around us are living it too. All things start with one small action. If you can change one action, you can inspire change in your little sphere of the world. I think then and only then will Dr. King's dream be fully realized. I am going to do my part, are you going to do yours?




Keeping the Dream Alive
in Diva Love, 

Pam

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Random Rants and other Digressions

We are seven days into the new year and I had the day off due to excessive cold. I live in the DMV. It is safe to say that in Northern Virginia, we waste snow days left and right. Thank goodness the school system builds extra days into the calendar (which they don't give back if they go unused). I am from dreary Cleveland, Ohio where the sky is grey way more than it is blue. I grew up in harsh winters with bitter cold. We went to school with snow up to our knees and not a school bus in sight. Snow days were always the result of sub-par temperatures(think negative something crazy!). Needless to say, we hardly ever had them.

Fast forward about to my current life. Snow days are declared before a snowflake falls out of the sky. Parents are cyber-bullying a superintendent who chose not to close schools. People in this area can't drive in the rain so honestly sometimes it is safer to stay off the roads in the snow or ice. Which brings me to my rant. I have lived in this area since 1992 with the exception of about 2 years. It is time for the folks to get over their weather issues and suck up a few inches of snow. It has snowed enough in the years since that we should be able to handle these situations with grace and finesse. We should have enough salt and de-icer to treat the roads in a timely manner. Now granted I want my children and everyone else's to be safe. The county I live in hasn't quite figured out when to delay schools versus closing them.  Part of the problem lies in the fact that they need to institute parking bans on streets so all streets can be cleared. School buses have a difficult time navigating some of these streets in the sun so ice makes it tricky. My point is that I think we need to adjust. Times are changing and so is the weather. Gone are the mild winters that the DMV is used too. Suck it up and adjust!

While I am ranting about cold, let me just say this: Parents dress your children properly for the weather. I am floored by the number of children who enter the school at 8:00AM with shorts, no jackets, thin T-shirts, and shower shoes. Seriously people?!?!?!? My car was reading 20 degrees so they must be cold. Heck I am freezing and I have on layers and a coat! Responsible adults are supposed to impart wisdom to irresponsible children.

Okay, I am off my soapbox about winter stuff. Let me share something that was really cool. My church is building a new facility to accommodate our growing congregation and hopefully decrease the number of services we currently hold. The foundation is done and covered but we are nowhere near completion. A friend of mine suggested that we go in and write the names of friends and loved ones that we wanted to see come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior and be impacted by our church family. Our pastor shared the idea with us and told us to pray about who we wanted to impact in the future and be prepared to write those names on the first Sunday in January. On Sunday, I attended our 12:45 services(I usually attend 10:15 service) and it was so sweet to enter our new building and see the congregants excited about who they wanted our church to impact. I wasn't prepared for how emotional or humbling that experience would be. What a privilege it will be to witness the prayers of our congregation answered. It was cool to see a mom and her relatively young children sitting on the floor listing the children's peers. It was sweet to see people write their prayers as well as the names they had chosen. God is going to do extraordinary things in our church and I feel excited about that!

In May, I purchased a book called Q&A a Day-A five year journal. I absolutely love it. It encourages me to write something each day. The questions range from the deep to the irreverent and everything in between. I love it and I have gifted it. Just thought I'd share that! As for how I begin my morning, Sarah Young's Jesus Calling is a great devotional. It makes another great gift. I am not being compensated for this I just like them and am sharing.

Last but not least, I hope your year has begun on a positive note. Remember that God chose you for whatever you face. Yes, I often wish He didn't trust me so much but what a testimony once we reach the other side. Breathe and pray! Smile! Be kind and remember that if God is for you, who can be against you!

In Diva Love,

Pam


















































Wednesday, January 1, 2014

In With the New

As we usher in a new year full of hope and dreams, it is easy to forget that every day is new and we can begin again.  I am over resolutions. Oh I have things that I want and need to see come to pass in this new and never seen before year. I was more than happy to wish 2013 a fond farewell.  It was a difficult year but I won't complain because God has a plan and though I certainly am not enjoying it, He knows what is best.

This year my prayer is quite simple. I want to grow in Christ. I want to exemplify His character when I would rather act like a ratchet chick with no sense. I want to be able to handle the tests that Christ has set aside for me without grumbling or complaining. This past year I kept thinking that I wish He didn't trust me so much. I am strong and independent but I still need my friends and family. I would be hurting without the prayer warriors in my life. I  want to grow in my prayer life and be enriched spiritually.

I am going to stand on the promises of Jesus. They are true for me(and you). I hope to receive a double portion of God's blessings. I am looking for miracles and breakthroughs. I want to have a testimony that will bless some one's socks off. I have worked on becoming more transparent as I get older-still can't trust everyone with everything. So I guess I want the Lord to use me and whatever circumstances that I face as a vehicle for me and others but most importantly for His glory.

Father, bless anyone who is reading this blog. Let 2014 be the year of double blessings and miracles in their life and my own. Let us see You in ways we have never seen you before. Heal the broken-hearted. Provide in situations where there seems to be no way. Bless our nation and its leaders. Let us all be mindful that EVERYTHING comes from you and we can't rely on our own sufficiency. Let see things spiritually and discern the schemes of the devil. Let no weapon formed against us prosper. When all is said and done, let us give you all the praise and honor and help us to realize that we would never have made it without you. In the Name of Jesus! AMEN!