RAWC Star Status

The Decision

2011-06-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

"Choices are long lasting and life changing." – as quoted by Pastor Clendon Terry of Promise Land Church Ministries

So anyone who knows a bit about basketball might recall that just a year ago sometime in 2010, basketball superstar Lebron James publically announced to the world that he would be leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to pursue his career with the Miami Heat. And in case you just don’t like basketball or live under a rock, you probably watched or at least heard somewhere that the Miami Heat fell defeated at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks who were declared the championship winners of the 2011 NBA Finals.

Anyhow, Mr. James’ decision was no doubt probably one of the biggest decisions that he would have to make in his career and possibly in his life. His decision came after considering the options that were before him, the benefits and potential rewards, in addition to his own will, personal desires and future goals. Whether people agree or disagree with him, that decision was his and his alone to make. And even today, that decision may still prove to be the best one down the road… only time will tell. In life, there are decisions that we are going to have to make and no one else is going to be able to make them for us.

Fast forward to the year 2011, Memorial Day weekend, after being harassed and literally hounded by my brothers AND my son, I too had a decision to make. For days, my son would ask “which team are you gonna be rooting for mom?” adding “make sure you choose wisely” [says the young Miami Heat supporter.] LOL So what I did was tell them all that on Monday, May 31, 2011, I would make “the decision” and let them know which team I wanted to win the championship - since my number one pick had already been sent home earlier in the season (insert unhappy face right here.) So prior to “the decision” I had a lot to consider. Did I want to be isolated from my family by going against the grain? Or should I pick the team selected by the majority so I wouldn’t feel left out? Did I pick the team that I felt actually had a chance to win this thing? So many questions came to mind before I made my decision but one thing remained… it was my decision to make. I would reap the consequences and/or the benefits of my choice.

Today I think about all of these decisions not merely in the context of a basketball game but in general. Some of our life decisions include, who we’re going to marry, where we’ll live, what school we’ll attend or which career path we’ll choose. All of these in some aspect are major decisions that no doubt require some thought and prayer.

Some time ago, I made the biggest decision of my entire life, and that was to follow Christ. I had a lot of choices before me and I could have gone in a different direction but today, my choice has proven time and time again to be the right one. Even though God has given me free will to make my own decisions and even be a free thinker, by allowing Him to guide me, I find myself making less and less decisions that result in disappointment and regret. Choosing a life in Christ has been the best decision I have ever made and as a result I’m receiving the benefits that he loads me with daily (Psalm 68:19). He is my protector, my provider, my strong-tower, my present help in time of trouble. By choosing to give Him my life, I’ve gained a new life in Him. I’ve opened up myself to receive the many blessings that go along with obeying His word and walking in His will. As you make your own life decisions today I urge you to consider this:

God says in His word that “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19 – NLT)

When it’s time to make major decisions in your life, allow God to order your steps. There is a blessed assurance when your decisions are aligned with God’s word and will. I pray that you all choose life today!

Joy & Blessings!

(By the way, in case you’re wondering… I did just so happen to pick the 2011 championship winner, to the dismay of my son and his uncles! LOL Congrats Dallas Mavericks!)

Don't Ever Wonder

2011-05-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

So I came up with the title of this post after reflecting on relationships and the little mental games we play with one another. Not too long ago I was listening to this old R&B cut (Don't Ever Wonder - Maxwell) that really spoke to the vulnerability and expressiveness of a man to a woman. In essence, Maxwell (the artist) is completely transparent in vocalizing how he feels about his love interest and further reassures her by saying in a nutshell, "if you're ever concerned about my feelings for you, I'm telling you now so you don't ever wonder." Profound.

Have you ever been interested in someone but had no clue, not the slightest hint of how they felt about you? I mean they kept a real good “poker face” for maybe even years until one day after you have moved on, maybe even committed your heart to another, you find out that this person was equally interested in you all along. Problem is that due to insecurity, maybe some past hurt or hurts and an extreme case of “caution my heart has been damaged”, instead of showing any sign or inclination of “opening up” every non-verbal and verbal cue says “go away, leave me alone, I’m not interested and I don’t want to be bothered.”

Recently, I think I read somewhere (maybe a friend’s FB post or something) that “if you have to wonder, then he/she is really NOT that into you” but could it be... that everyone is just so guarded? After all, the bible does tell us that we should guard our hearts right? (Proverbs 4:23)Something to think about indeed. I know that many times we become reserved and even reasonably selective in what we “let on” and which elements of our true colors we elect to disclose. However, I don't want to be so guarded that I'm unable to share myself with another even within the confines of a friendship. I would hate to have to analyze every little gesture, critique every statement, edit every sentence and literally dissect every single phrase and the “hidden meaning” behind every single thing all for the sake of self-preservation. Yet, it's what we do.

Believe it or not, this all made me reflect on my relationship with God. One thing for sure, I never have to wonder how He feels about me. I don’t ever have to feel so guarded that I’m afraid to just…be. I’ve never wondered whether He cared for me enough to see beyond my flaws and idiosyncrasies. I never have to wonder if I am beautiful in His sight and I never have to wonder if I’m good enough for Him to be pleased with me, although I’m so imperfect. I don’t wonder if He is disappointed because when I feel that I’ve done something wrong, all I have to do is say “I’m sorry” and I am forgiven. I never have to wonder if He still thinks about the wrong I’ve done yesterday. I don’t have to worry about hidden agendas, unclear motives, manipulative devices or ill intentions…not with Him.

I never have to wonder if He’s in love with me because I already know that He loved me first and at some point He has even loved me more than I’ve been capable of loving myself. He loved me so much that He sacrificed His Son, requiring His blood as redemption for my sin and death. He holds the very essence of my heart in His hand and in Him I don’t have to wonder because I know my heart, my soul, my mind, my destiny, my desires are safely entrusted in Him.

If you are in a position (relationship – business, personal or otherwise) where you are unsure about any thing… I urge you to tap into the Greatest love of all… Jesus Christ. Once you have Him, you will never have to do too much wondering. When all of our natural relationships are fruitful and blessed by God, they will pattern themselves after the relationship we have with Him and in Him… we don’ t ever have to wonder.

Joy & Blessings!

Rest & Restoration (even RAWC Stars require it)

2011-03-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

So it’s about that time again… a new season, another opportunity to do some cleaning out, cleaning up and ultimately yet another time of reflection.

This week I actually had “Spring Break” from classes but unfortunately, I couldn’t get “life” to align itself up with my school schedule due to responsibilities to my son, the pups, my family, my clients, ministry obligations and everything in between. However, what I did decide to do was to give myself a mini-retreat. I went online and found a quaint little Bed & Breakfast in a small historic town where there’s probably only like 20 people who reside there. My room appropriately called the “Spring Room” (even though it feels like winter is trying to rear its ugly head for one last "hoorah") is filled with all of the comforts and amenities of a plush hotel but with a nice homely antique-esque charm. My room includes a Jacuzzi tub, electric fireplace and even free Wi-Fi, a T.V., and DVD player should I decide to listen to something other than God’s voice or that amazing group called silence. (smile) Within walking distance is a full service spa & salon where I will be indulging in a deluxe pedicure and maybe a facial if I can squeeze it in. And when that’s all said and done, I’ll probably venture across the way to a local restaurant and order the grilled lamb chops served with mint jelly, mashed potatoes and grilled veggies on the side… can you say YUM? (smile)

Now I’m not a rich & famous author (not yet anyway) nor am I rolling in “dough” or the “cheddar”… in fact I’m a “temporarily financially impaired student” (lol) and single parent, working part-time as a freelance writer/author and the other “part-time” as an entrepreneur growing my businesses and building my portfolio. Nonetheless, I decided that I needed this. After seeking God’s favor in prayer, He opened the doors for me to make this mini-retreat happen and I am truly grateful and blessed.

Even if you can't get away physically it is certainly possible to create an ambience of peace and serenity in your home even if for just a few hours. Nothing wrong either with asking God (Matthews 7:7 and Luke 11:9) to open a door, an opportunity for you to take a couple days and just REST in Him. Perhaps a friend or family member may even offer their home as a personal retreat.

Many times we can become so busy, so engrossed in life’s issues, so consumed in life’s work and so engaged in “stuff” that most of us don’t take the time we need to rest, be restored and get replenished. And truthfully, I don’t mean just “sleep” although for many of the sleep deprived, the term “rest” would serve all inclusive… however, I mean just taking some time to take in the beauty of life, meditate on God’s word or simply just breathe. In doing so, I mean without any interruptions, electronics (unless it’s to play some soothing, relaxing music) or other disruptive or negative distractions.

Unfortunately we become so inundated and bogged down that it becomes impossible to experience life in the fullness that it was intended. John 10:10 says that “I [the Lord speaking here] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” So my question to you is this: Are YOU living an abundant life? (Something to think about huh?)

Now I hear lots of folks who have this “work hard now, I’ll sleep when I die” mentality. And even more disturbing is this mindset that many of us believers get trapped into accepting that we are to work, work, work in the vineyard with no rest in between when the God I serve says “come unto me all ye that labour and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) Don’t get me wrong, God requires us to work and he absolutely despises slothfulness but our Heavenly Daddy knows that our mere mortal bodies can only handle but so much. All throughout his Word, He reassures us that He is there for us when we feel weak and faint, discouraged and stressed out. He beckons us to come and drink from the well of His living water. God is awesome folks! And He knows how to take good care of what belongs to Himself!! Can I get some “hallelujah’s”? ☺

So having said that, I hope that you too will take the time to reflect on a few things, especially if you are experiencing a great deal of stress in your life. Sometimes you simply need to take some time to shut down all of the outside noise and chatter that feeds your subconscious and allow God’s Spirit to administer peace and rest.

Gotta go but I’ll post some pics soon from my mini getaway. Until next time... remember to breathe!

Joy & Blessings RAWC Stars!

The “Frou–Frou She-She” of It All: Wedding VS. Marriage

2011-03-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

So, I had the most amazing time helping out a dear friend with a bridal event that her organization hosted yesterday. (Huge shout-outs to Events Simply Beautiful and Tywana Tyler for a RAWC Star Bridal Soiree!!) The event itself was absolutely amazing and elegant. There were flowers and linens and makeup and cupcakes and a chocolate fountain and just “oh my!” LOL Certainly enough “frou-frou she-she” floating around to satisfy everyone! (smile)

So what is “frou-frou she-she” you might ask? Well, it’s all things “girly”, the things that some of us ladies dream about from the time we were little girls. It’s that whole “sugar and spice and everything nice” bit. It’s lip-gloss and flowers and shiny things. Frou-frou is actually a French term used to describe something as fancy, decorative, elaborate and frilly. The Urban Dictionary online describes the French derivative, “fru-fru” as being “very decorated or girly in nature; lacy or frilly in nature.” It can take on many forms as one completes her metamorphosis transforming from little girl to mature woman. Part of it is the whole romantic atmosphere thingy that makes us fall in “love” with the concept of being “in love.” Nothing wrong with a little “frou-frou she-she” right? Of course not! However, when it comes to the idea of marriage, something so honorable, so sacred in the sight of God it’s critical not to place the “frou-frou she-she” above that foundation in Christ.

Being around all that frilly and elegant wedding stuff yesterday really got my wheels spinning. I began to contemplate the idea of a beautiful wedding versus the concept (and commitment) of marriage and how they are not the same thing.

Once upon a time, yours truly, was engaged to be married. At that time my head was cloudy with a chance of blow bubbles and bouquets (and doves and ice carvings and streams of chocolate flowing from a lovely decadent fountain…LOL you get the wedding picture right?) I had so many ideas (even designed my own wedding dress), concepts, arrangements and "what not" to create the most beautiful wedding day EVER. I had boxes full of those big thick heavy bridal books, loads of brochures, flyers, postcards of various vendors and venues. We had considered having an outdoor ceremony at a beautiful park and then we pondered the idea of having the wedding aboard a cruise ship. All of these wonderful ideas were great but there was one very important thing that I neglected and that was, the marriage itself. The same energy that I expended delighting in the “frou-frou she-she” was not the same effort that I took to ensure that the marriage was being built upon a solid foundation (that foundation being in Christ of course and centered around God who IS love.) To make a very long story (that could actually someday turn into a book, hmmm…), when my 3-year engagement ended, I finally began to look at the experience no longer with fleeting and flimsy emotions but with a spiritual eye aligned and in tune with God’s will and His Word. As I allowed God to renew my heart I also began the process of renewing my mind and made a decision back then that a solid marriage was so much more important to me than a beautiful wedding. And even more of a priority than that, building a relationship with Christ was the foundation that I had simply missed all along. Even though my heart’s desire does still include a beautiful somewhat “frou-frou she-she” ceremony, if I can’t have a marriage that will bring God glory once the day is done…I’m content, right where I am.

After yesterday, I certainly remember how easy it becomes to get caught up in the beauty, décor and the planning of the actual day. Truly something that I think that every bride deserves to experience. However, today I’m so grateful to God for allowing me the privilege to understand His will and helping me to see beyond the “frou-frou she-she” of it all.

Confessions of a RAWC Star

2011-01-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

Just a little bit nervous about finally returning to college to finally put some closure to a few things that have weighed heavy upon me for some time now. First class starts tomorrow evening and I’m a mixed bag of nervousness, excitement, joy and even a bit of anxiety all wrapped up into one. I had my doubts about actually returning to the physical classroom but after some deep thought and many prayers, I finally decided that this is the best way to go.

As I wind down tonight and think about how different my life is now compared to when I first started my college journey, I must confess, I’ve learned so much more outside of the classroom than inside the confines of any lecture hall. God has amazed me with His tutorials, His life lessons, His home assignments and the many tests and exams to solidify my understanding and growth before being promoted to the next level. All I can say when I think about then to now is “Lord, thank you for your mercy and your grace!”

I must say, in that perspective returning to school for academics seems like it might be a lot easier than some of the hard life lessons I’ve had to endure over the past decade of my life. Yet and still God understands how much it means to me on a personal level to finish this chapter in my life and I thank Him for honoring my heart’s desire and opening the door me to accomplish my goal. (By the way, I know of this GREAT book called Daily Inspirations for Adult Learners: 31 Days of Prayer, Encouragement and Personal Reflection to Help You Achieve Academic Success...please check it out by clicking this link.

So with that, I’m girding up my college-bound loins, shodding my feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace and heading to class tomorrow! Thanks for reading my RAWC Star ramblings and remember,

Confession is good for the soul they say...

God of a Second Chance: Move On, Don’t Look Back

2011-01-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

So today I had to take a writing placement exam before I start my classes this month on the 24th and I think I did pretty well considering that all I had to do was formulate an essay to support my opinion on a given topic. Needless to say, I don’t mind these kinds of “tests” because as a blogger/writer/author/journalist… well simply put, I love to write. After having such a topsy turvy week, landing in the ER and still recouping from of a car accident a few days before Christmas, I pressed my way to campus for the test. As I scurried about this morning, I had to stop and just begin praising God for blessing me with a second chance at this whole school thing.

You see a long time ago, I thought I had blown it. I dropped out of college after experiencing severe depression as a result of a date rape. (if interested, I share a little more about my testimony in my first book “Content… Right Where I Am” which is available for purchase through www.joyturner.net and Amazon.com.) From that point forward, I had difficulty recovering from that one isolated occurrence. Despite the fact that I did return to school to obtain my Associate’s Degree (Magna Cum Laude… I might add) I still had challenges moving ahead, mentally. Leaving school the first time was equivalent to failure in my mind, and from that there was no recovery. BUT GOD!

Over the years, I have been in personal battle with coming to grips with the fact that no matter what occurred in the past, I couldn’t go back and re-do any of it. There is no “undo” key, no “do over” option and no rewind button to press but as I began to seek God’s face concerning the matters of my past, the mistakes I have made, the things that others had inflicted upon me, and even my own indiscretions, God moved in my Spirit and I felt two words rise up within me: Move On. This I have learned is the key to my total restoration in Him and He is requiring all of us to do just that.

Many of you know the story of Lot’s wife who looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. The key thing is that God Himself instructed them not to look back at the cities that they were leaving behind. It was a necessary component for receiving God’s blessing and progressing forward but the temptation to look back was so great that she could not resist and so great was the consequence. Suffice it to say that looking back hinders our progress and we become figurative “pillars of salt” in our minds and spirits as we are stagnated and paralyzed by the pain from the past. The New Living Translation of Philippians 3:13 reads where Paul says “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” So today I ask you, just as I’ve had to ask myself, what “cities” do you need to leave behind and never look back in order to press forward? If God has given you a second chance, there is no one who can stop you and no one who can hinder you… but YOU. I encourage you to take the second, third, tenth or fiftieth chance that our merciful God has given… and MOVE ON! 

Butterfly in a Jar (with 3 holes in it)

2010-12-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

When my brother Bryan was younger, he used to catch insects and stick them in a jar. He would throw some grass and dirt in there and maybe some pieces of food that may have fallen to the ground. One particular time I remember he caught this butterfly; little yellow thing, nothing real big or too fancy. My brother prepared its glass “home” as he had done for the others and to top it off he poked holes in the lid of the jar… (sigh). Ok so, back in the day, that was reasonable… I mean it was out of complete compassion and consideration for the insect’s well-being that he even took the extra measure to poke the holes to begin with (I really am going somewhere with this so stay with me…) Needless to say, the butterfly probably didn’t make it a good 24 hours which was extremely devastating to me but I think once it was confirmed that the poor little guy had flapped it’s wings for the last time, my brother took that as a green light to donate it’s frail remains to the scientific experiment of his choice (smh).

I suppose you are wondering what this little intro has to do with anything whatsoever and I’m about to enlighten you. Well, very recently I was sitting at a desk, in an office building, inside of a cubicle, doing oh…some typical “office temp work.” After I completed some very basic and minor tasks for the day, I began to get a little fidgety as I turned into a classic case of a clock watcher for the remainder of my 8 hour “sentence”(8.5 if you count lunch.)

So just to rewind a bit and give you some history, I had become a little bit used to dictating my own schedule as I had once again been tossed into the throws of unemployment and rescued by the life raft of entrepreneurship and freelance work. My almost 2-year stint as a work-at-home/run my own shots/spend hours in the gym-inthebestshapeofmylife/freelancer had me a bit spoiled in a sense. So spoiled that I actually went into a bit of shell-shock (or cocoon shock, just to keep it consistent with the whole butterfly theme) once returning to work full-time.

So here I sat, at a desk with a bunch of pencils, paper, folders, files and nothing really left to do once I completed the tasks that were assigned. My natural inclination was to simply occupy the time by doing some other freelance assignments (as I would have done at home) but then I quickly realized that these folks who now owned my time for these 8.5 hours a day, wouldn’t really appreciate that too much. So what I had to do, was master the art of creating the illusion that I was actually working. See, I couldn’t do any of my own writing, researching or reading but as long as I pulled off the façade of doing “work” work… it was all good. I gotta tell you that this was probably the most exhausting thing about being back in the 9-5 saddle “jar.” I could sit there for hours and re-sharpen the same pencil over and over again but I couldn’t dare go to Google and research for one of my numerous articles or blog posts that I desired to finish. I could sit there and pretend like I’m looking at the outlook Calendar but I dare not crack open my bible study notes or meditation scriptures. And once I verbalize that I’m open, eager and willing to do any tasks that would help to suck up the time, the only solitary task that could be found is to pull staples from a million packets of paper???… Father help!

One day, I just started thinking about how that butterfly felt in that jar. I imagined that what I felt at that very moment was exactly like the butterfly trapped in that tightly concealed space. To have wings to fly, but “captured” in a jar and unable to move beyond the boundaries that have been created by someone else. To have the ability to move through space and air, effortlessly and freely, co-mingling with other butterflies and insects but now confined to the density of an enclosed space with very little mingling with others unless they happen to be inside the same jar. To have beautiful wings that were meant to fly possibly around the globe but to be isolated in one space, one location for an indefinite period of time. To be forced to eat a diet of mundane mediocrity when you once had the fruit of life at your wing tips. To have the whole world under your wings but now only seeing it through a glass jar… only able to breathe in that little bit of air at a time through those three tiny holes (there’s your lunch and two 15 minute breaks.)

Well, I tell you what though… I’m grateful to God for positioning me in a place where I can become more motivated than ever to pursue His divine path for my life. I am trusting in Him like never before to open uncommon doors that my destiny might be fulfilled and in the interim I’m learning how to be grateful, how to be patient and how to still be “me” regardless of where I am positioned. I’m increasing my faith, realizing that this “jar” is only temporary but necessary for God to fulfill His purpose. I am leaning to God’s word and believing that my gift will make room for me. And finally, I am embracing not only my own creativity but I’m appreciative of those who aren’t like me at all. Not everyone feels like the butterfly in the jar with the 3 holes in the lid and some people truly love their corporate office “jars” and that is A.OK by me!

And the walls came tumbling down...

2010-09-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

When it comes to building proverbial walls, believe me… I know all about that. In fact, you could’ve called me “Bob the Builder” when it came to making sure every nook and cranny between every single solid brick was tightly concealed and reinforced with the “mortar” of bitterness, unforgiveness, fear and rejection. Truth is, there is a certain level of safety and false protection that came with these (wo)man-made “walls” that could easily be justified considering the sexual, emotional and mental abuse endured. And even after surrendering my life to Christ, I still maintained that position for a good minute within the confines of my brick & mortar safe house on a hill. My mantra? The good ole’ “guard your heart” theory, biblical even. But the caveat? These walls were so thick that even I began to struggle to penetrate through them on my way out. In other words, not only was it difficult for others to really get into my space and get to know me beyond the initial layers of introductory formalities but now I struggled to even re-claim my own identity outside of the “hurt” that had me bound for so long. Once I made a head and heart aligned decision to stop adding layers and be made free once and for all, I wasn’t completely loosed all at once or right away. Once you stop adding bricks, you then have to begin to deal with the wall (s) that have been constructed… no matter how high. Just a side bar: some of us begin building walls from inside of a ditch… imagine trying to climb out from the depth and height of THAT prison!

Jesus, being love personified, came that we might have life and that we might be released from the prison created by our own hands, or rather, minds. But as my Pastor once taught, thinking correctly is a choice (that can be made instantaneously) but the renewing of one’s mind is a process.

Now I still hold true to God’s word when it comes to guarding my heart (Proverbs 4:23) but when God says “trust” I have learned to do just that (Proverbs 3:5.) When God shows me someone else’s heart and that they are genuine but have been hurt just as I had, through His eyes He teaches me how to reach them, how to pray for them, how to love them even if at a distance. And when it comes to the various complexities of my own issues (which by the way, haven’t exactly disappeared) I know how to weigh them against His word and not allow anything to become “stumbling blocks” towards my own personal progression.

A very dear friend of mine, hipped me to the phrase “self preservation” and when I consider that revelation I truly understand that in many cases we require protection from ourselves. Jesus being the King “life preserver”, has extended His loving hand to us today and all He requires of us is the willingness and He will become the “bulldozer” to demolish those “walls.”

A Talk With God

2010-08-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

Hey RAWC Stars! I know it's been way too long but I'm here and I really hope that time will afford me the opportunity to blog more frequently going forward. I really do have alot on my heart to share with the blogosphere but life and so many other things have a tendency to take precedence. None the less, I'm here right now and I pray that you guys and gals have been doing well. I do have a very unfortunate update to report... remember my fish (RAWC-E?) Well my tough little Tetra succumbed to an overheated fish bowl a few months ago and it was truly a downer for sure :(. I mean I just thought my little guy was going to stick it out for the long haul but to tell the truth... I still think he fought the good fight of faith and maybe he's blowing fish bubbles somewhere in the heavens! Who knows! :)

Anyway, I just had a thought, well rather a song come across my mind as I was preparing to go into meditation to seek God's face about a few things concerning my life. Every once and a while I just get this desire to just up and relocate from the place I've called home all of my life. I just feel that there is so much of God's beautiful earth to see and partake of that it just doesn't make sense for me to stay in one place. However, I have to take so many other things into consideration including the best interest of my only son as well as other family members. Me and God have had this ongoing conversation and it goes a little something like this:

Me: God, can I leave Maryland now?

God: No, Joy...didn't you try this last year? Where to this time... California again? It's not time for you to leave yet.

Me: Well God... there's nothing here for me any more.

God: Joy, you're being impatient and you're not finished your assignment here just yet.

Me: But God, I'm doing everything I know to do in the natural, serving in ministry, using my gifts, talents and abilities to bring you glory... I'm just not understanding why I have to stay HERE and do this. Can't I just go somewhere else and serve you better?

God: Well Joy if you decide to leave before it is time, my grace shall cover you and protect you but you will miss out on the blessings that I have in store for you as a result of your disobedience. Remember that book you wrote "Content... Right Where I Am?"... maybe you need to go back and read it yourself huh?

Me: Funny Lord... you sure do have a sense of humor! What blessings? I've been single for way too long and I'm beginning to believe my "Boaz" is just NOT here God.. he's got to be somewhere else on this planet earth. Plus I could probably do so much more with my writing and music if I could just..(God just interrupted me... He's allowed to do that you know)

God: Trust in me with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding Joy. Acknowledge me and I will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5.) Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to me Philippians 4:6.) Don't grow weary in well doing (in your ministry and in your endeavors) for in due season you're going to reap if you don't lose faith (Galatians 6:9.) Know that if you wait on me (be patient), I will renew your strength and you'll mount up like an eagle (Isaiah 40:31)... in your case my daughter, maybe a butterfly! (I smile at God) Delight yourself in me and my word and I will give you the desire of your heart (Psalm 37:4.) And finally, remember that I came to give you life more abundantly (John 10:10), peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and joy unspeakable (I Peter 1:8.)

Me: Thank you God for the talk... you always know just what to say to encourage my soul... but if I get tired and just need to talk again can I call you?

God: Come to me if you are heavy laden or discouraged and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)and yes call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3.)

So there it is... my one to one, personal conversation with God. Not so deep right? Just real, honest and transparent. Most people think that they have to go to God with eloquent speech, fancy words and alot of "fake" stuff but that's simply not true. God knows our heart anyway so there is no better opportunity to be real than with God. Have you had your talk with God lately?

A Fish Called RAWC (or rather Rawc-E)

2010-03-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

So I woke up early this morning (about 4:30am-ish) in preparation for a morning prayer call and God began to speak to me about my pet fish who I affectionately call “Rawc-e” (pronounced “Rocky” as in the movie, as in Rocky Balboa… ya’ll feel me right?) Okay so basically I just had this divine revelation and I began to realize how God often will use the little things, the most basic, natural and simple things to teach us wisdom tools that impact our whole lives. In fact the Bible speaks of God using the foolish things to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.)

Well, several months ago I decided that I would need to get rid of my son’s fish tank. It was large, heavy and required a lot of maintenance that neither I nor my son could manage any longer. Over time we’ve had quite a few different sea creatures to dwell in our little tank including a few snails, a couple of algae eaters and of course a variety of fish. Most of the time when selecting our fish, we’d opt for tetras because they were considered “safe community fish” that were appropriate for our fresh water tank. Over time we’d have a few tragedies here and there… a few fish sucked up by the oxygen tube… a few nipped at by other fish (“imposters” who weren’t really “safe community fish” at ALL) and of course those who simply passed away due to other “natural causes” (not sure if children dumping candy, crayons and other foreign substances constitutes “natural causes” but we’ll just lump it all together as such.) When it came time for us to get rid of the tank, we were actually down to only one fish, a small silver tetra with a hint of orange on top. Believe it or not, I considered flushing him down the toilet but my heart just wouldn’t let me do it. So I found him a new home (my glass bowl with the floating candle filled with purple beads that formerly served as a centerpiece on the dining room table.) I sacrificed and allowed Rawc-e to occupy my decorative bowl because I sorta figured that he might not be around much longer. After all, I did just take him out of his comfortable surroundings and without the daily oxygen that flowed in and throughout the tank, I knew that it would only be a matter of time anyway so I just couldn’t flush him. Truthfully, I didn’t think he would last a whole day because I’m pretty sure that I hadn’t allowed the water to settle all the way to room temperature before I plopped the little guy into the bowl with a tablespoon. To make a long story short, a week went by, then a month and now it’s going on probably six months now and my boy Rawc-e still lives!!! Through the temperature changes (one time I lit the candle in the bowl, not realizing that this might make it just a teeny bit hot in there for him! Honestly, I wasn’t trying to kill him… God knows my heart!), the lack of oxygen, lack of companions and even lack of food at times (honestly, I HAVE forget to feed him from time to time)… his tenacity has truly inspired me. A true fighter indeed, willing to fight for his life and say “I will live and NOT die” is why he is called “Rawc-E”. When I think about the adversity that my little fish friend has endured, I consider my own life, the changes, the times I’ve been sick, the times I’ve been laid-off, periods of employment, the times I’ve been taken out of the comfort and confines of my own “fish bowl” and even the climate changes in my own personal and spiritual life and I just thank God that through it all, I’m still here to tell my story. I’m still alive to proclaim the victory and I’m still standing to see another day. So if my little “Rawc-E” can press toward victory with such a humble fate as to die in a little fish bowl and be flushed down the toilet, then certainly I can press forward thru my trials, tribulations and tests.

Joy & Blessings!!!

Isaiah 43: 1-3 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name: You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior”

I Stand Upon the RAWC

2009-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been a minute and I do apologize to my loyal readers for neglecting my blog! I have been very busy working on book projects, ministry, music and just LIFE but I just wanted to take a moment to do some reflecting upon some of the profound things that have transpired in my life over the past few months... whew... it's been breathtaking and surreal!

I think about a time in my life when my agenda was so far from His will but when I look at where I am today, I realize that all of my talents, abilities, goals, dreams and ambitions meant absolutely nothing until I aligned myself up with Christ.

Suddently it hit me! Realizing ambition within Christ! RAWC as in standing upon the "rock of my salvation"! WOW God!

So it is with this scripture that I encourage you all today, particularly those who are fighting some emotional and spiritual battles. Hold on tight and allow God to minister, repair, rebuild, rebuke, tear down, re-align, re-create and prepare you to be a living sanctuary fit for the master's use!

Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

A RAWC Star Revelation

2009-07-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

I think it can be called an awakening or epiphany if you will when you wake up and suddenly that proverbial light bulb appears over your head...you yell "Eureka”! But in Christ, God gives us many revelations as it pertains to our lives and our walk with Him. I truly believe that God doesn’t give it to us all at once because we simply can’t handle it. Then there are other times when we just want to do what we want to do when we want to do it without consulting “A”, “B” or “G.O.D”! Just like Burger King we want to “have it our way” and then what typically results is one hot, self-inflicted mess. Can you relate? Well recently, I’ve been going through a very serious phase of “writer’s block” if you will but it was even a bit more serious than that. I began to allow some negative thoughts and self doubt seep into my mind about my gifts and abilities and even began to doubt God’s plan for my life. I felt a little betrayed as my little “nest egg” began to dry up and I still had not become this best-selling author that I thought God wanted me to be. In a way, I had some very unrealistic expectations but NOT because of the goal or achievement itself but rather the time frame in which I expected God to do His perfect work and have His perfect way in me. I realize that I am still very impatient when it comes to a lot of things and I am quick to get discouraged when things don’t happen WHEN I expect them to. Not to say that they won’t happen but it’s just that my timing is way off and that’s when I get into trouble. God’s word says be anxious for nothing but so many times I just feel like God is taking too doggone long! I know I'm not the only one out here in cyberspace feeling this way... But the one thing that I realized is that before we can get promoted from kindergarten to the first grade, we have to pass the class. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks… we have to pass the class ya’ll and all of the tests, pop quizzes, final exams that go along with it. God gives us instruction, He has divine purpose and He has steps and various tasks that we must complete but if we don’t finish the little tasks that He requires of us… He can’t trust us with much more and it becomes “us” that hinders our growth instead of everything else around us that we can find to blame. I even thought that there was some satanic stronghold and demonic force that was just hindering my blessings and I started to get frustrated with everything and everyone around me, especially church folks! Well here’s where the revelation part occurred. In fact at present my Pastor is actually teaching on the book of Revelation which is a very profound series by the way. As he began teaching this book during Bible study, I began to seek for my own personal revelation and how many of you know that when you seek God, you are sure to find Him? What God revealed to me personally is that there are still some things that I have not completed. There are “issues” that still weigh me down that I need to deal with before he can add more responsibility and promote me to higher heights. I know what these things are now because I’ve asked God to give me the wisdom to know and the strength to do. I want to also encourage you all today. There are many times in life when we feel stuck. I hate that feeling and what’s even worst is feeling like you’re finally heading in the right direction simply to find yourself right back where you started. Prime example, you go on a diet and lose all of this weight really really fast but within several months time, you gain it all back and then some! How discouraging is that??? I mean really? I honestly believe that it is God’s desire for us to do things the correct way to begin with to avoid such frustration. When God tells us to wait on marriage and not fornicate, it’s not because he doesn’t want us to enjoy intimacy. He doesn’t want us to get frustrated and lonely but rather wants us to enjoy the fullness of a sexual encounter with a mate that He has ordained and designated to be our equally yoked match. So what are you anxious for today? And if you are stuck like I was (writer’s block, musician’s block, artist’s block, whatever…) consider if there is one small detail that may appear to be insignificant to you but to God is the key to getting over your stagnant phase. Perhaps it’s something totally unselfish like visiting a relative in the hospital or forgiving a loved one. Maybe it’s something more practical like cleaning your house, desk or car and showing appreciation for the things He’s blessed us with so He can pour out an increase. Think about it RAWC Stars and tap into your own divine revelations about your loved ones, finances, career, education, relationships, religion, your whole life. To those who believe, God promises a life of abundance and provision. God’s mercies are new each and every day and daily He loads us with benefits. So are you hindering the blessing and blocking your benefits? Like my 10 year old son recently told me (out of the mouth of babes!), “Don’t limit God”. So today I encourage you with these same words. God can do exceedingly abundantly all that we can ask or even imagine so sit back, be still, remember that He is God all by Himself and listen for His still small voice to guide you. Hope you enjoy this apropos clip of “Have Faith in Me” sung by the incredibly fabulous Kim Burrell!!

Joy & Blessings

A RAWC Star Romance

2009-06-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

A RAWC Star Romance

Love is in the air!!! As evidenced by the influx of wedding related articles, posts and updates in the media including Facebook and Twitter, it is definitely a popular season to walk down the aisle! There’s something refreshing about a summer romance that is simply intriguing to the heart strings. Walks along the beach, sharing an ice cream sundae, holding hands at a family barbeque are just a few tell tale observations of the prelude to a summer romance! But before you begin to think that I’m on the verge of writing the next best selling romance novel, let me reel you back in! LOL But let’s first ponder for a moment. You meet someone you are fond of and as you spend more time learning, discovering and growing with one another your attraction towards them deepens beyond external and physical factors and before you can blink, click your heels three times, you’re falling in love. You’re communicating with this person every chance you get via phone, text, IM, Facebook, Twitter (you get the idea!) Not only are you falling in love but you are falling pretty hard, fast and feverishly. Chances are your primary concern is that the object of your relentless desire feels at least remotely close to the same way about you. Can anybody out there in the “blogosphere” relate? Unfortunately many of us have also experienced the devastation of the abrupt yet inevitable end of what would be called the “classic perfect romance”. While there may be a handful of blessed few who are still basking in the glow from that initial “summer romance” chances are, if you’re reading this you are in the large majority who has partaken of that bumpy roller coaster ride of a temporary romance at least one time in your life. But here is a thought…What if you fell in love and that love lasted forever and ever? What if the romance never goes stale (I mean providing you put in the time, effort and communication to cultivate that relationship?) What if you knew that your heart was 100% safe at all times and that you would never be betrayed, forsaken, abused, disrespected or defiled but rather loved unconditionally and fervently as your every need was provided and even your heart’s desires were met. This type of “romance” might sound unrealistic to most but this love truly does exist and I am happy to reveal that I am falling in love right now…with Jesus. The thing is that I fell in love with Him several years ago, committing my life to Him, serving Him unconditionally. It was a “summer romance” indeed as it occurred during the month of August. The natural relationship that I was involved in (engagement to my former fiancé) had completely dissolved, I had been physically ill for several years with no clear diagnosis and to top things off my grandmother had passed on August 6th of that year. I must admit, I was clearly vulnerable but I allowed myself to fall, I needed to fall…deeply in love with the one person I knew I could trust with my whole heart. Over time, I must admit that the romance seemed to fade but during those times I can’t honestly say that I put in the time, the effort or the communication with Him that would cultivate that guaranteed security that He promised me. He’s never once gone back on His promises and neither have His words returned to Him void (Isaiah 55:11.) He basically places the responsibility in my hands to ensure that we keep our romance fresh, exciting, and refreshing by staying in constant communication with Him. He’s a great encourager and lifter up of my head when I hang my head down low (Psalm 3:3). When the issues of life try to overtake me, He always gives me a “Word” that somehow fills my spirit with the confidence of knowing that He is with me and will not leave me no matter how hot the fire, deep the waters, heavy the burdens (Isaiah 43:2 and Hebrews 13:5.) He loads me daily with benefits (Psalm 68:19)… even better than a 401k plan! Sometimes He even gets a bit jealous and says I spend too much time on Facebook and Twitter! LOL But you know when I make the required sacrifice to devote to Him, He never disappoints!! Sounds like a fairytale romance doesn’t it? Isn’t it time you had the ultimate romance? Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I’ve ever done…

Joy & Blessings!!!

Encourage Yourself

2009-06-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hello RAWC Stars!!! It’s always good to have someone who you can talk to when you’re “going thru”. It’s a blessing to have that special person who will say “you can do it” or “don’t give up!” But there comes a time (or times) in everyone’s life when one must stand alone. Your best friend may be preoccupied with wedding plans/new baby, your Pastor/Priest may be away on a much deserved vacation and your mother may live too far away for you to have that personal one to one conversation. Even the dog may be too preoccupied with burying bones to listen to you babble on about the issues of life. Times like this require us to go inside of ourselves and pull out that inner strength that indwells us, tap into that “power” and even bring to remembrance some of those words of wisdom imparted into us from our loved ones, spiritual leaders and mentors. Sometimes you just have to encourage yourself! The other night I got the most wonderful treat and was blessed to hear Ms. Sheri Jones-Moffett sing live (and I do mean SING) as she ministered one of my favorite songs entitled “Encourage Yourself”. This song is a reality check as much as it is an encouragement because when you think about what it is that motivates, inspires, encourages, draws out, cleanses, relates, empowers and presses us to move forward, it mostly comes from something internal as opposed to external. The greatest tool that we have is on the inside of us. The power of God is available to all who believe and it’s not found in your bank account, in your degrees, social status and it’s not on Facebook, Twitter or MySpace. In fact at the very moment you need it the most, it comes from the source that is often looked to the least. We underestimate our own strength but one of my favorite scriptures in the bible comes from II Corinthians 12:9 which is God gently reminding us that “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." So even at my very weakest moments, I am still encouraged because I am not only resting in the arms and wings of the Almighty but I am tapping into my ultimate source of strength right on the inside of me! Can I get a “Hallelujah”!

So with that said I want to give you all some encouragement today and some scriptures that will breathe life into your dead situations as you rise up and encourage yourself on THIS day that the Lord has made. Speak life and not death into your situation when you’re going through troubled times.

1. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)
2. I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
3. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
4. I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
5. No weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)
6. Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world (I John 4:4)
7. The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
8. If God is for me who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)

Speak life and not death into your situation when you’re going through some troubled times. Stop negating your entire world by speaking "death." Let’s rid ourselves of phrases like “if it’s not one thing it’s another” and “nothing is going to ever change." Always remember that we serve a God who is very resourceful and has all power and might in His hands. Just knowing that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me gives me that extra boost of reassurance (like the hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’!) When I have dealt with financial struggles in the past, I would always go back to Psalm 23 which begins with “the Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want”. In times of illness I proclaim that by His stripes I am healed. When I think about His faithfulness I realize how true His word becomes as soon as I apply it. Sometimes you have to talk it out, or even walk it out but don’t give up or give in. Believers go through adversity and hard times just like everyone else. We are not exempt. But the difference is that when the storms of life hit us hard, we have an advocate through Jesus Christ who is interceding on our behalf to our Heavenly Father. Most importantly we have the power to overcome and land in victory! When I think about all of this, I can’t help but be encouraged so if you are in need of a little “pick me up” today… know that all of your dreams, hopes, prayers, and desires lie within YOU. Encourage yourself! (Sing Sheri!!!)

Joy & Blessings!

From Cocoon to Butterfly

2009-05-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings RAWC Stars! I am so excited to be back with you all as I know I’ve been away for far too long! I’ve been doing a lot of re-prioritizing, spring cleaning (as you know from my previous blog) and just redesigning and redefining my life according to God’s will and plan. On the cover of my first published book “Content…Right Where I Am” (www.joyturner.net) is a beautiful blue monarch butterfly that symbolizes a place of contentment and satisfaction in my life. My desire is to emerge as one of the brightest, most beautiful “butterflies” EVER and that is also my desire for the readers of my book. However, in order to do that, I realized that I still have a few layers to shed of my “cocoon”. Sure, I’ve shed some of the major “layers” and I’ve made huge progress in a lot of areas in my life but after doing some inner reflecting just this year I found that I still have some residue from my old “cocoon” that I need to shed before I can emerge fully as one of God’s “butterfly” best! One of the things that I realize is that as we start dissolving the “layers” of our cocoon, the process can become quite uncomfortable. When we begin cleaning up our surroundings (literally) the task at hand can appear to be quite overwhelming and if you are like me, you may even find a way to somehow procrastinate to avoid completing the task. All this does is prolongs the whole experience and doesn’t improve our situation one bit. Trust me, I KNOW! (smile) When we start making changes in our physical bodies like eating properly, detoxing from junk and exercising, our bodies often respond with resistance and we find ourselves with nagging little headaches, irritability and sore muscles until our bodies conform to our healthy transitions. It gets a little rough and I’ll be the first to admit that I have succumbed to a french fry or two because my head screamed “Woman are you crazy, cutting out carbs on me like that”! LOL It’s not always easy but the one thing I have never done is give up. I may sit out of the race from time to time but I have committed myself to running this race no matter how long it takes to get to the finish line because I ultimately desire to fly high like those big beautiful monarch butterflies that soar in the spring time! But just like any dream or goal that we have, it requires work. My first plan of action is to “shed this cocoon” and lose the layers!

Losing the Layers

• Bad Habits – smoking, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, over indulging, excessive behavior, lack of rest, gossip, backbiting, lying, envy, jealousy, cheating, manipulating, etc
• Dead Weight – physical weight (excess fat) or proverbial “weight” (unhealthy relationships, abusive relationships, negative friends and associates)
• Clutter – mental and/or physical
• Negative Thinking – as a man thinketh, so is he (Proverbs 23:7)
• Negative Speaking – life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)

These are just a few things that we should monitor from time to time to make sure that we are headed on a productive path. Don’t ever feel bad when you discover something that needs to be changed or a layer that needs to be shed. In fact, rejoice!! Because it is when we DON’T see in ourselves what hinders our progress, that we become trapped in our cocoons. Many people leave this earth without having experienced all the fullness of life that God intended. Will you run your race and never reach the finished line? Will you walk through life and live on purpose with great expectations or will you simply meander through life struggling with issues of the past, present and future? Take inventory of your thoughts, your patterns, your life and see what needs to be changed. Let’s lose the layers RAWC stars and emerge into greatness in God!!!

Today’s inspirational scripture reading comes from Romans 12:2 (NKJV) and it reads “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“Change your mindset, change your life” is actually the title of the tour that will kick off featuring my friend and “butterfly sister” Erica Goodridge! She and several other dynamic women will speak at this life changing event that will kick off in Hunt Valley, MD on June 13, 2009. The tour is also scheduled to stop in a city near YOU! (including Detroit, Chicago, Orlando, LA and Charlotte) I am really looking forward to the event and have already purposed it in my heart to be there to support and to receive a blessing! For more information on the tour or my fabulous friend Erica and her organization, Moral Treasures LLC, please visit her on the web at www.changeyourmindset.net

Joy & Blessings!

Spring Cleaning

2009-05-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings RAWC Stars! Happy Monday to each of you AND Happy May!! This is the time of year when many of us embark upon the ritual of “spring cleaning”! I myself have gone into "purification mode” as I prepare to clean up, clean out, de-clutter, organize and prepare for the new season upon us. As we enter into May we are also quickly approaching Mother’s Day (this coming Sunday!) and what better time to refresh, revamp and realign our homes and living spaces in honor of our wonderful mothers and mother figures who constantly reminded us to clean our rooms!! LOL Now this year is a bit different for me personally because at this time last year, I had much less “space” to clean, occupying an apartment with my youngest brother and son. This year, as I’ve moved back into the family home, although familiar and comfortable it appears that now there is more responsibility in cleaning this space that I now share with my other younger brother and son. I must admit that when I lived here as a youth with my parents, the house was much more organized and the rooms appeared so much more spacious and orderly but now as an adult and mother myself, it appears that the rooms have “shrunk” and I have more stuff now than ever before!!! Geesh!!! So what I realize is that in order for me to maintain a certain level of contentment, I MUST be sure that I maintain my living space just as much as I maintain my blogs, my book calendar and any other thing that pertains to career and job. It is quite a balance but what I find is that “spring cleaning” is not only about what is before me in the natural. Of course I will take this opportunity to put away all the sweaters and boots and make sure all of the seasonal items are packed away accordingly but this year, “spring cleaning” has taken on a different meaning. As I “de-clutter” my home, I also want to focus on de-cluttering my mind and my thoughts. As I rid my home of any junk, I also want to make sure that I’m not carrying the “junk” around in my mind and spirit. When I say “junk” I actually mean harboring such things as bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, bad attitudes and even bad habits. I must admit that I am a “Clutter Queen” and I realize that the bad habits that I’ve carried with me this long, have made my task even more complicated than what it really could have been had I taken the steps to maintain my living space on a consistent basis. Instead I’ve let magazines, papers and mail pile up out of control and instead of getting rid of things I will probably never use, wear or read again, I have allowed them to accumulate and mix in with the newer things. One thing that God definitely has impressed upon my heart recently is that I must become a better steward over the things He has already blessed me with. Being content in addition to being satisfied also means being grateful and appreciative not just with our words but with our actions. So this week as I humbly embark upon my “spring cleaning” marathon, I invite you all to join me as we prepare for newness of life! Cleansing and purging is absolutely necessary in order to prepare for the new seasons of life that will spring forth as we uncover lost items that are now found, as we uncover hidden emotions and issues of life that haven’t yet been fully dealt with. This concept is how I’ve been able to motivate myself into taking upon what could otherwise be a daunting and unpleasant task. I must admit that I consider myself to be more creative than domestic but I am willing (and with the strength of the Lord!) to make an effort to improve. I’ve got my Mr. Clean, Clorox, Pledge, Mop N Glo, PineSol, Lysol disinfectant spray, rags, bucket, mop, cloths… Let’s do it!!! But not just cleaning on the outside but from the inside out! Matthew 23:27 reads “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” So….. Are we ready? As we clean and start throwing old things away and I leave you with the following scripture of encouragement!

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Joy & Blessings!

Share the Wealth (Part 1) - 5 Tips to Cultivate Contentment

2009-04-27T20:47:00.001-07:00

Hello RAWC stars!!! Wow! Monday is almost over on my side of town but I still wanted to set the week off on a good note! Speaking of notes, I really need to add some nice music or video clips… I mean what’s a RAWC star without the music to go along with it? I’ll be looking for some clips and if anyone has anything they’d like to share that may be a good fit for RAWC Star Status… you just let a sistah know!!!

This week’s focus is all about giving and sharing. I am a motivator by design and I just love spreading joy to the world and what better way to do that than to provide useful information, tips, ideas, strategies, quotes and even scriptures that may just give you that extra “boost” you need to make it through the week!! Today and for the rest of the week I just want to “share the wealth” because what many don’t realize is that knowledge IS wealth. We’re not talking about monetary things or material possessions however you never know how God can use the wisdom you gain and turn it into something beneficial financially, spiritually and/or emotionally. If you are open and willing to receive from God and truly call upon Him, He will show you some great and mighty things according to one of my favorite scriptures in the bible (Jeremiah 33:3).

Today I offer you some “RAWC Star” tips toward building, nurturing and cultivating contentment. My book “Content… Right Where I Am” talks about a real walk and personal life journey of yours truly and reveals how I wasn’t always this positive person. I haven’t always been a "RAWC Star" folks… and this is the honest truth. In fact it took me some years before I could truly say that I was content about anything in my life. Today, I am a new creature in Christ and I owe that all to God. Now, it is my life’s purpose to give back, pour into others and of course to share the hope of the gospel. So here I present to you…

5 Tips to Cultivate Contentment like RIGHT NOW!

Walk it out – Nope, not talking about the popular urban dance craze originated from down south. I mean literally “take a walk”, pump some iron, do some stretching, Pilates or some type of exercise. I am always surprised how my mood (and energy level) is elevated after a good work out. Even if you don’t belong to a gym, you can jog in place, take a stroll in the park, do some push-ups and/or some stretching! You might be surprised at the benefits this has on your ability to function throughout a chaotic day.

Talk it out – Release what is bothering you but there is a caveat to this… I am not promoting “pity parties” and “negative night caps”. Get whatever it is off your chest and then move on. My friend, motivator/speaker/entrepreneur Erica Goodridge (Founder of Moral Treasures and Speaker at the upcoming “Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life” tour) says that we should befriend KIM… Keep It Moving! LOL Find someone positive to talk to and PLEASE avoid contact with those who would too willingly help you drown yourself in sorrow (chances are you know EXACTLY who these folks are, don’t you? AVOID them like the bubonic plague or the swine flu!)

Write it out – When I wrote my first book, it started off as just a way to creatively vent about some things I had bottled up on the inside of me for years and years. Now (post drama), I’m a published author/speaker/entrepreneur and have had an opportunity to share my trials, adversities, tragedies AND victories in my book and will continue to share them with the world through my blogs, books and other writings! Even if you are not an aspiring author, it might help if you can jot down on paper your thoughts. You never know what this could lead to… perhaps you’ll be the next best-selling author as a result of your trials and tribulations!!

Tough it out – I know this may seem a little harsh as I’m famous for telling somebody to ‘man up’ but the reality is this: storms come to pass. Life is full of ups and downs even for Christians and church folk. We’re not exempt. But what we have to realize and perhaps even embrace is that the things we are going through now will make us stronger, wiser, better (sounds like Marvin Sapp’s song doesn’t it?)

Pray it out – “Prayer changes things” is not just another saying or cliché in my book. I challenge you to pray in the name of Jesus and ask Him to come into your heart and your life right now and cleanse of all sin and unrighteousness. If you take this bold step today, I mean RIGHT NOW I can’t make you any false promises but I know that I know that I know that prayer changes things. If you are in a circumstance that is a little bit more than just about “having a bad day”, I mean some very serious and intense life situations that have you bound and caught up so that you are disabled from enjoying the blessing of life… then pray, without delay!

Today’s powerful scripture can be found in Proverbs 4:7 and it reads “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding”.

Joy & Blessings!!!

Unofficial "I HAVE DECIDED" Day!!!

2009-04-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

New Year's resolutions. So why am I talking about this towards the end of April?? And didn't I say I was only going to blog on Mondays??? Just couldn't stay away! Anyhow, I'm going somewhere with this so please follow me! Resolutions tend to come and then they go. We start out with good intentions but then we fall off track, getting distracted with the issues of life. The good news is that those discarded resolutions can be "repackaged" if you will and turned into a little something called "goals". What a concept!!! Goals can be long-term or short-term. But the best way to think about goals is to cut them down into "bite-sized" manageable pieces. I've always known about setting short term goals but recently I've disected them even further into decisions and declarations that start in the mind. Then I write out the vision and make it plain. (Habakkuk 2:2) Proverbs 29:18 reads "Where there is no vision, the people perish:" so it's good to dream big but in order to reach our dreams in life, we must set some goals and take action. Incorporating methods like to-do lists or daily task lists help to plan out your steps in order to accomplish your goals and see your dreams fulfilled! Today I am officially claiming this to be "I HAVE DECIDED" Day!!! The decisions that I make in my mind, right here and right now will set the tone for my future. Drum roll please....

I have decided...

1. I am going to live each day as though it were my last.

2. I am not going to procrastinate.

3. I am going to be the best "ME" that I can be and not try to be like, talk like, walk like anybody else but the "ME" God made me to be!

4. I am going to trust God and not lean on my own understanding.

5. I am going to forgive and love unconditionally as Christ did.

6. I am going to become a "best-seller".

7. To become better organized (with much continued prayer! LOL)

8. To maintain a sense of humility and humor.

9. To follow Jesus (hey, that's song!!)

10. To be "Content...Right Where I Am" and a world class "RAWC Star" (Realizing Ambition Within Contentment)

So if you're reading this right now, whatever day you happen to come across this blog, claim TODAY as your "I HAVE DECIDED" Day and take the time to dream, set some goals and make some decisions that will impact your "tomorrow". Happy "I HAVE DECIDED" Day!! I leave you with a quote from fellow author, speaker and CEO/Founder of Incredible One Enterprises (http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com), the "Incredible" Darnyelle Jervey.

"Today is the tomorrow we were waiting on the edge of our seat for yesterday. What will you do to maximize it?" - Darnyelle A. Jervey

What's a RAWC Star?

2009-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog, RAWC Star Status!!! My name is Joy and I am a Christian author whose very first book "Content... Right Where I Am" was published and released to the world this past November 2008. RAWC actually is an acronym for Realizing Ambition Within Contentment taken directly from the theme behind the book and based upon the biblical scripture "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (I Timothy 6:6.) To realize ambition in your present circumstance is like finding a 'diamond in the rough' for many, particularly facing adversity and troubled times. However, we have an opportunity to take our negatives and turn them into positives based on our actions and our attitude henceforth becoming "RAWC Stars"! Today you may find yourself in a negative situation or circumstance. Perhaps you've been laid-off (as I was just this past February), maybe you are in constant conflict with family/boss/spouse or perhaps you're just going through a major "funk" today and find yourself asking "Where's my motivation?". If that is you, then you're going to enjoy returning to my blog for some encouragement even through the midst of your storm! Finding contentment in every day living is a challenge for many but I am committed to inspiring, encouraging and cultivating contentment through my blog posts, articles, tips and other motivational writings that I look forward to creating and sharing with the blog world!!!

I want this to be an interactive "community" and would love to hear your feedback on the various topics of interest to be uncovered and discovered through my blog. Today is Monday so I will do my best to post at least each Monday and may surprise throughout the week if I have some really good stuff to share that will inspire you to greatness!!!

As a closing to my blogs I want to leave you with a positive quote or inspiring scripture reference. Today's blog will end with a scripture of encouragment to anyone going through some challenging times.

Psalm 120 (NKJV) - In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me.

Joy & Blessings!!!