All the Things you need to know about the end of the world

Notes on life: Thank you

All I really have in this current existence are my thoughts about how I see the world. 
In this vision I tally the wins of all my merits.
I attempt to measure the length of my days.
I compare the accomplishments of my life with others and still I am empty. 
I think I am almost enthralled in the trap of achievement.
I know in the deep down of my mind that this too will lead to nowhere
and yet I go down the road curious of what I will find. 
Because too often I am alone in my thoughts.
Curiouser and curiouser I journey into the unknown.
I pick up habits that don’t belong to me and they weigh heavy on my soul.
Rest is calling and I often run away. 
Love is calling and I struggle to win another day.
Can I add a cubit to my stature by how I think about this life?
Or is it grace, is it mercy, is it the light of life and forgiveness that carries me when I have done all that I can do to try to win. 
When I cross the line I faint because I have no more to give.
But my Lord, he carries me and breathes into me new life,
although I curse him everyday with my struggle to be better than his most precious.
As I fall I realize, I am no better, I am no stronger, I am no wiser or astute to the lessons of living.
I fall and I need a savior to catch me.
I bruise and I need a healer to heal me. 
I stain and I stink and I mock the kindness of the lowly.
Still a gift of forgiveness waits for me to untie the lovely deep red bow,
and tear the paper back gently,
and open the box of truth where my real life lives.
Forever and ever is what this gift gives.
Thank you for the gift for all life to live.

Notes on Life: Why are we self sufficient?

Self sufficiency,

We do so much by ourselves and for ourselves.  Are we really asking for help?

We know how to pray ourselves through
meditate our selves through
exercise through
talk through
Walk through
Faith through
believe through
work through
therapy through
eat through
church through
survive through
We know how to adapt
We know how to keep living

It is a marvelous thing what this body can do.  It is a marvelous thing what this mind can do.  But these things can not continue to do without God.


Why do we feel that we have to do it all when the Lord says: Give it to me and rest. . .

Notes on life: Do we want help from the Lord?

This is not a motivation for Monday . . .. This is the unveiling of what life really is, A huge learning experience.  It is a time of reflection and growth and interaction with the world around us.  It is a period of time that we can come out of our selves's to consider the perspective of others if we so choose to love them.  If we choose to really see life through their eyes.

I woke up this morning with the intention of working all day.  I wanted to commit to the tasks that I know I have to do.  You know how we commit ourselves to those things that are not really important.  Family is important, friends, and God is important.  Building our relationship with Jesus is important.  However I am saddened by the hurt in the world and the perspective of Jesus it carries with it.

I have been accused of proselytizing on too many occasions.  I am at this moment reflecting on why people only see me as a woman of faith, a woman who is upright and dedicated to serving the Lord.  A woman who is forceful in the message with no sympathy to those who are living life the best they can.  For I am only a person with grief and pain and opportunities to grow like any other.  I fail everyday like anyone else.  I'm not trying to force feed anyone my perspective of faith, I just want to share my relationship with the Lord.  But what I am learning is that not everyone sees it that way.  I have to sit back  and consider that point of view.  How can I win souls for Jesus when it seems like no one cares.  And those who do care cannot be convince that we have so far to go.

What do I do Lord about my Life?  What do I do Lord about the ministry?  People are looking for away out but they don't understand that what they are looking for is you.  How do you help people when they have become so self sufficient and therefore don't want your help?

notes #9- explore

I just came back home from an anniversary vacation and I am off of  my routine.  I am wondering if it was worth it.  Was it worth going somewhere new?  Was it worth getting away if it takes me so long to get back on track?

Here goes the thing, we went to a very nice place.  It could have been a writers getaway; so serene.  There were trees, gardens, museums, and mansions to explore but we didn't do any of that.  We went to the nearest mall, went to the movies, ventured to restaurant next door, and stayed at the hotel.  Although I didn't mind spending all day at the Best Buy buying a gaming computer that would allow my hubby to play Gears of War 5 when it first came out, I became exhausted by doing nothing meaningful.  I did not experience anything new.  I did not meet or talk to any interesting people.  I stayed in my bubble even when I was set in an environment to expand my air space.

This is the future advice that I give myself.

EXPLORE THE WORLD

Do not be afraid to leave your comfort zone.  Go new places, meet new people, and do something different.  I think we create habits that set us to the tune of comfort.  What ever is most familiar to us, that is what we do.  I am not going to do that anymore.  I am so ready for my freedom.  I am so ready to explore the world.


I am at a new space in my life but I am realizing that I am making decisions that I am comfortable with.  I am not being vulnerable which means I am not growing.  I'm trying to expand in this area.  I remember Brene Brown talking about this.  She says:  "You can have courage or you can have comfort but you can't have both."

I am now adopting the courage to live life for a purpose.  I want to explore all that God has for me to experience.  I don't want to keep doing the same thing over and over again.  I want to go places and see new things so that it will all be worth it.  I want this life to be worth it.

We Moved!!!

Hi friends!!

If you are looking for Motivation for Monday it moved to

ARTTEACHER4PURPOSE.COM

I am very excited to start this new chapter of writing, blogging, and sharing the word of God with people.  Come and check us out. Read what the latest news is about in the Kingdom.  Learn more about what you have to do in order to be prepared when the Lord comes back for his people.

Motivation for Monday: The Breath of Understanding

Friends I wish you greetings this Monday morning.  I pray that your heart is full of peace and joy.  With that salutation I want to tell you a little bit about how I am working on my mind. . . I am simply trusting in the Lord. . .

I am agreeing with young Elihu who gives all credit of knowledge to our father in heaven.  He says:

I am young in years

and you are old; 

that is why I was fearful,

not daring to tell you what I know.

I thought Age should speak;

advanced years should teach wisdom

But it is the spirit in a person,

the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

It is not only the old who are wise,

not only the aged who understand what is right.

Therefore I say: Listen to me;

Job 32:6-9 NIV

I hope that who ever is reading this is taking the time to really listen to me.  This world is very confused to where it is going.  I am not the one to present my self as super religious although this is the perception that the world paints for me.  It is my mission to just share the knowledge of God with you.  It is my purpose to tell you the truth. . .

It is difficult to navigate through life with limited sight.  This is why I am so thankful to my Lord for directing my path in this life.  It is not always the most pleasant journey but it is very necessary.   This is a common theme in my writing and I am ready to expand my vision.  As you might already know I recently went back to school to study the philosophy of psychology and this has brought me to many drinking wells.  I understand the logical reasoning of why scientific studies have gained authority in this world, but I am not convinced that it is the only way to find true full knowledge.

Let me let you in on a little secret:

 I am not a smart person . . . my insight  comes from the Lord.  

It is the breath of the Almighty that give me understanding!

As I work on my mind by experiencing new opportunities and exploring new insights about the world we live in; I am growing my perspective.  I conclude that the Lord is the source for all truth and that the bible is forever true.  Through all of the research and studies that I have read about the origin of thought, the foundations of consciousness, and the concepts of the mind, there is no better explanation of reality but through the word of God.

How do I grow my mind?

I am taking better care of my self.  I spend quiet time with myself.  I spend quiet time with the Lord.  I make a conscious effort to prioritize my purpose here on this earth.  My purpose is to communicate God's presence and design with you and others.  Through prayer and meditation practices the Lord brings me to understanding and wisdom that others cannot see.  I do not say this to boast but to relay to you that he provides the opportunity for you.  He wants to talk to you and communicate with you.  You first have to learn his language. . .

Your motivation for Monday is the following
Wait on the Lord and he will direct you where you should go.
Talk to him, he will hear you.  He will make himself known to you.  

In his breath you will find understanding.

There is so much wisdom in the world but so much lost in translation.  There is so much pride in the world that allows some to secure their status and rule under their opinions.   But pride blinds men from their growth.  Pride stops the mind from seeking the complete glory of God because the prideful mind convinces itself that it acquires by itself.  Friends, I pray that one day you will understand that we are all connected.  We all share a source consciousness that comes from the Lord.  We as individuals are simply translators of God's spirit into this reality of living.  Every person's perspective is important.  We only get a clearer picture of truth if we first believe in the truth of Jesus Christ, and second respect each person's translation of reality.  Everyone sees things different and each individual has a perception of who God is.  Some people don't understand that their thoughts, dreams and aspirations come from God.  The earth is the Lord's and everything that dwells in it.  This concept includes the mind of the people who inhabit this earth.

This whole life is about you gaining a relationship with God.

I was having an online conversation with one of my classmates about the perceptions of reality.  We will call her Sarah.  We are currently discussing Descartes view of the nature of knowing and perception.  Descartes theorized that what we perceive in our current world isn't what is really happening.  He went on to explain that our first perceptions are only what we understand to be happening at the present time.  Descartes believed that the true nature of understanding truth was to reason through what is seen and prove it through tangible deductive equations such as math and science.  Hence Descartes was a big supporter of logical thinking, data, and scientific methods of research.  This is part of the reason why our culture relies so heavily on science for the explanation of why things are the way that they are.  My classmate, Sarah, gave an example of her perception of a couple at a party.  Sarah claimed that she just had a feeling that this husband and wife wasn't experiencing good chemistry at the event.  She also perceived that the wife had a better chemistry with a gentleman that was sitting on the other side of the room.  To make a long story short, Sarah later found out that the husband and wife were dating other people and that the other gentleman, who was not the husband, was actually the boyfriend the wife was seeing.  Although the couple attended the party together in the attempt to fool everyone about the status of their relationship (they didn't want anyone to know that they were dating other people),  my classmate said that she sensed it right away through her energetic perceptions. 


The following was my response to her:

Wow, Sarah . . . that was awesome perception.  As an art teacher I understand that every one's perception is not as developed as yours.  For example, the talent of Sherlock Holmes relied on his deductive reasoning skills based on his observation.  It was also his ability to easily identify and see things in plain sight that others may not have the perception to see.  There is definitely different levels of this skill. As you pointed out, we see things with our eyes and can make conclusion based on our senses.  Yes, I also think that people are more intuitive due to the fact that they have awakened their energetic perceptions through spiritual practice.  I think when people pray, meditate, or practice quiet reflection, they are more prone to seeing things.  It is almost like the world slows down around you and you just understand/see more.

I remember this instance when there was a picture going around on the Internet and it had a caption that read, "This drove me crazy, I can't tell what it is."  People made crazy guesses like a fish or a cat fishing, or an old lady in a rocking chair etc. . . I distinctively saw one image at first glance, but assumed I was wrong because it was the first thing that came to my mind.  Therefore, I kept looking at the picture trying to figure out what it could be.  I turned it upside down, squinted, made it smaller and bigger.  I could only see what I originally saw. To my frustration I later found out that it was exactly what I thought it was in the first place!

As an artist, I have a natural talent to perceive reality and translate it to a drawing or a painting.  Not everyone can do this with paint, but I think that every person has his or her medium.  Some people paint, some people created music while others think and create empirical research studies.  Each person has the ability to translate reality into another language (art form).  I don't feel that one is more important than another.  However I do feel that the influences placed on our culture has made science the authority.  According to rationalism and Descartes pursuit of science; we obtain knowledge by testing it through reason (Polkinghorne, 1984).  However, through your example I can see how some people just know because of a feeling.  I also feel that sometimes I just know things because I can see it different.  The key is to be confident in your knowing or else you can waste your time looking for something that you have known all along.

Here is the picture.  I saw what it was from first glance.  

Scroll down to see answer. . .

Polkinghorne, D. E. (1994). A path of understanding for psychology. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 14(2), 128–145. doi: 10.1037/h0091138

It's a cowboy in a cowboy hat.

Friends, let me tell you what I have known all along, what I have seen, and what I have come to understand as the absolute truth of living:

God loves us and he desires a relationship with us.  He sent an extension of himself to this earth so that he could start a communication with you.  He wants to talk to you.  He wants you to experience his presence, peace, and wisdom.  

For the growth of your mind, take time to think about the following:

What will be your creative practice to help God communicate to a world who doesn't want to hear from him?  How can you communicate his truth with just a feeling?

I want to thank everyone for reading this blog.  I usually go on my hiatus for 4 weeks around this time, but I have made a decision to transfer my energy into my website, my writing, and into school. I pray that God is with you always.  Remember to follow the Lord and to live your life on purpose.  Stay in touch by visiting me at the site:

ARTTEACHER4PURPOSE.COM

Failure brings Wisdom, Trouble brings Opportunity

So many things to talk about . . .

Hey my friends, so I took a break last week.  It was needed because I was surely under a spiritual attack.  I had to go see someone quick!  I had a meeting with my spiritual leader and had to take a couple of chill pills.  Life is an interesting compilation of events and decisions that sometimes seem unfair, but believe me; everything is working out for the good.

I am so glad that we have spiritual leaders that can help us get through this life.  Our leaders are meant to help us understand God's word and to help us put it to practice.  Yesterday, the preacher preached about how experience is designed to teach us wisdom.  We go through the things that we go through so that we can learn from the choices that we make. 

There are all types of things going on around us.  So many triggers, stimuli, and voices telling us what to do and where to go.  I'm not sure if you realize it or not, but we often listen to the wrong voice, the wrong opinions, and the wrong advice.  Now, when we make the decisions that we ought not make, these are the choices that make our life harder.  Sometimes we make decisions that seem like the best because it was the easy one to make in the present.  We can  find, through time,  that those easy/ comfortable decisions lead to a harder life in the future.

So, how do we keep track of all of our good choices, and all of our bad ones?  Better yet, what is the best way to learn from our failures in life?

Keep some type of a Journal. . .

I take note of a great motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, who taught not to trust your mind, but to take written notes of good ideas and things that you have learned.  A great way to remember things is to write them down and review them later for insight. He suggest that you keep a journal.

I want to insert an apology here

I have found that I often write my feelings.  Sometimes I write things because I am personally offended and then I attack with words.  I mostly feel justified in my interpretation of truth, but I am learning something new.  Just because I think that I am right, or if I think I am justified in my opinion, that doesn't mean that I have a right to destroy another person's view of the matter.  With that said, I will be taking down a post that I had written a few weeks ago about a former friend.  It was not written out of love, it was written out of anger and hurt.  It was not written in gentleness or understanding of the other person's feelings or past experiences. I reflected on the words and the tone that I had used, and I apologize for my voice.  It was a bad choice.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Philippians 4:5

What did I learn?  Being kind is more important than being right.  And although a very confident person gave me advice to not care what other people think, there is a stronger voice that tells me; it is very important to be aware of how people perceive you.  I am a representative of my father.  I cannot be careless with the souls of man.  I was wrong. 

This is wisdom friends.  If we don't want to keep taking the same test over and over again in life, we must try to remember what we learn from failing the first time.  We must take note of the things that worked out well for us. We must remember the series of choices that get us in the bad spaces of life. I keep a journal.  I keep this blog.  I am working on making a habit of reviewing these important lessons of life on the regular so that I don't have to relive the same mistakes over and over.  I can start making different kinds of mistakes! At least I am learning about my self.  I have the freedom to do this because I trust in the Lord.  He tells me that he will not leave me nor forsake me.  He tells me to be of good courage because he will be with me where ever I go.  He tells me that he will keep me in perfect peace.  He tells me that my labor is not in vain and that everything is working out for my good.  I listen to this voice.  This is the voice that we all should be listening to.  The voice that was sent to lead us beside still waters and into green pastures.  This is the voice of the Holy Spirit that is food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, and rest for the over worked.  Thank you Holy Spirit for your notebook of life, the Holy Bible.  I make sure that I read and review this book because it has great wisdom in it.  It is the book that will show you other people's experiences so that you can learn from them and not make the same mistakes they did. . .  This is what this book is for.  It is like the journal for all mankind. 

The Holy bible is the Journal for good life choices

This book was not meant to be a bunch of rules to follow.  It was not supposed to be pushy, bossy, or religious. The bible is a book of help us.  I am in love with it's wisdom.  I thank God for it's wisdom.  And I pray that I understand it more and more as I spend more and more time in it.

This week, I am reading Job.  Job was a guy who was just having a really hard time in life all of the sudden.  He lost his riches, his children, and his health.  He didn't do anything wrong really, he was a righteous man.  He tried his best to live right.  So why did God allow for Job to get beat up so bad?  Why did God allow for Job's wife to leave him at his lowest point, and have his so called friends accuse him of being a low down dirty, good for nothing, piece of human being?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

#1 So that we can learn more about ourselves

#2 So that our perspective changes

#3 So that we gain insight to see opportunity for a better life

#4 So that we continue to grow

This is life you guys.  We learn. We get to low points so that our perspective changes about what a "good life" really is.  I know for me, it took a lot of hurtful things to happen to me before I could even see the type of patterns and situations I put myself in.  I had to be at my worst to see what kind of people I was really surrounding my self with.  I had to be at my lowest to start looking at my life for what it was, placing no blame on anyone else, but sincerely asking myself: What can I do to change my situation?

Surely, my life started to reshape it self into something new, into something different and into something better.  Now my job is to remember what has made it better, and what will keep me moving forward to new things in the future. Remember from past post I have taught that our purpose is to grow.  This is a pattern with God.  The purpose of his design always requires growth.  However, in order to grow, the conditions have to be right.  Don't be worried about the trouble that is all around you.  The Lord is preparing the conditions for your growth. 

This is your Motivation for Monday:Trouble brings opportunityGod is preparing the conditions for your growth

Here are some of the things that the Lord has done in my life to prepare the conditions for my growth:

• I started writing things down
• I started to appreciate the people who really cared for me
• I stopped being used by people by releasing some of my people pleasing ways
• I started to say NO to things
• I started valuing my time for what I wanted to do
• I started to spend more time with my children
• I started this blog
• I started to communicate my feelings to others with my writing
• I started to make decisions that were out of my comfort zone
• I started reading more
• I started reading and studying the bible more
• I started exercising
• I started praying more

And friends these things have brought me peace, love, joy, and patience.  I thank God for these gifts.  This doesn't necessarily mean that everything around me is always going to be going good, but I know that everything is going to be alright no matter what it looks like.  

With trouble comes opportunity. . .

Friends, the trouble and trying circumstances that meet you in life are always signs that there are doors opening around you.  Your open door is a path to new opportunity.  I encourage you not to be safe and stay where you are, but I encourage you to take a step into something better.  Do it different this time.  We don't have to fail the same way over and over.  Fail different and gain the wisdom that this life is supposed to teach you.  

Fail

Gain wisdom

Get understanding

Change your Conditions

Grow

See your Opportunity

Keep living for your purpose

Until next time

Tamorra

Motivation for Monday: Your journey is necessary

Life is a Journey and I thank God for it.

The spirit let me know that I have people who are concerned for me.  People who are now paying close attention to my words and my decision making practices.  People who are praying for me.  I tell you: thank you for being who you are and noticing my journey.

I thank God for teaching me how to be strong.  I thank God for teaching me how to rest in his presence and in his grace.  I thank God for walking me through this journey with a light and understanding of the truth.  I never really saw it in myself. I always thought that I was "normal."  I always thought that I was going with the flow of what my life was supposed to be; REGULAR.  I am here to let you know that as a follower of Christ, you are not normal.  You may not see it in your self but others see it in you.  The city of lights on the hill cannot be hid.  You are special.  The world will see you as strange.  The world will label you as peculiar.  This is okay, as a child of God, this is exactly who you are supposed to be.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

I am here to share with you that as you continue to walk through this life things will not always go according to your plan.  The Lord will govern your mind and lead you to the places you need to go, this is for your growth; this is for your survival.  Friends, please believe and know that there is a law of sin, and death and if you live your life by sin then you will stay lost.  However, if you live according to the spirit,  you will find your life.  You will find peace, you will find mercy, and you will find grace that lives outside of the law.  I am so glad that the Lord teaches me as I walk this journey the following truth:

It is not necessary to understand everything now, but it is something that we will understand better by and by.  

This means that we have a journey to walk in, to live in, and to experience.  Enjoy the experience in every situation.  We must know, and believe in our hearts that it works out for us in the end.

I had wrote a few posts back that watching TV will not make a person go to hell.   I personally have my shows that I watch.  However, my television watching has become significantly lower due to other interests that have occupied my time.  The Lord does this, he grows us in the direction that we need to go. However, there are times that something happens in my life that triggers old feelings to which I end up binge watching Netflix movies all weekend.  This is an example of how we have a desire to do good, but the habits that are programmed in the flesh make it very hard not to fall.  Friends, we fall, but we get up.  This is part of the journey. . .

Read Romans chapters 6-8 for a good study on sin and your access to life through the Holy Spirit.

This will happen on your journey with the Lord.  There are levels to this thing.  Jesus, being the teacher that he is will not overwhelm you with a bunch of stuff that you are not prepared for.  He will not put you through the stress of a necessary test without first giving you the skills and knowledge to pass.  You can do this thing called life.  When it comes time, you will know how to handle that person that runs your name through the mud, you will know how to be at the job that doesn't respect your talent, you will learn how to overcome your lustful desires over food, sex, work, money, things, attention, etc. . . .

The Lord is with you to help you through it.

I used television as an example of how our culture is so infiltrated by things that feed the flesh.  This is ultimately not the individuals fault.  We are bombarded with so much information that it confuses the mind.  The Lord wants to lead us to a pace where we will have peace in our minds.  I do not wish to confuse anyone with a lot of rules, opinions, or dissertations about the law.  This is not my job.  I rest in the power of the Holy Spirit and know that he will direct you in where ever you need to go in this journey.  My only job is to let you know how important it is to develop your relationship with the Lord.

I want to encourage you again to take the time and read through Romans chapters 6-8. If you find the time to read the first 8 chapters I'm sure it will feed your spirit with truth.

Oh, if you only knew how well God knew you.  He made you.  He knows what makes you tick.  He already saw what this world was going to become and he has made a way out for each and everyone of us.  Our journeys will not be the same, but each of ours will be necessary.

Here is your motivation for Monday:

Your Journey is necessary

Be strong and of Good courage

The Lord is with you where ever you go.

Love you with the Love of the Lord
Remember to live your life on Purpose
Until next Time
-Tamorra

Motivation for Monday: For a Reason

Everything happens for a reason. . .

Some people may hear this as some type of cliche remark that people say when trying to ease someone's recent hurt or tragedy.  I do think it is true, but at the same time I am offended by it. It is a comment that tries to explain away our emotions.  It is a band-aid trying to justify the scars on our fragile souls.  How do we start to understand this concept through the pain of living through tragedy?

I feel like my current curiosities about life have lead me into the wanting to know "Why?"  Why do things happen and why do bad things happen?  Why are we hurt and why do we cry?  Why do we experience pain and why do we feel other's pain?  Why do we hurt people and why do we justify that hurt?

We are all living in a series of happenings that are designed by a complicated logarithm created by an infinite intelligence; I like to refer to him as my father.  This is what brings me comfort.  My father that is in heaven, holy is is name. He holds the whole world and it's existence in his understanding.  Our understanding is not his and therefore we must trust in the Lord.

 Although I may think about the reasons why these happenings happen the way that they do, I am comforted to know that my father has a plan.  He has everything working together for my good.  Hence, I should not be offended when someone says:

Everything Happens for a reason.

This should be something that is just understood although not easily explained.  There is nothing in this life that happens for no reason at all.  Our God is a planner, a creator, and a designer.  We can grow from every experience, every hurt, every loss, and every win.  It is up to us to see the benefits in the life that is happening around us.  Everything, I mean everything, is happening for a reason.

I challenge you to slow down in your current space.  Take sometime to analyze the happenings that are going on around you.  Just take some time to get un-busy.  Don't pour anything in your mind, just be and observe.  Ask your self:  Why is this happening to me?  Wait for the answer.  Open your heart and your mind to the answers that will help you understand the "Why?"

The word says:

Ask and you shall receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.

(see Matthew 7:7)

Everything that you need is around you.  Every answer and every blessing.  The Father has already solved that complicated math problem.  The logarithm is just being worked out on this time line that we are living in and on.

Here is your Motivation for Monday
Be at peace and know that everything is going to work out for you.
Everything happens for a reason.

Until next Time
-Tamorra

Motivation for Monday: None of your Business

The original post has been removed pending further guidance from the Holy Spirit.  

He tells me that it does indeed matter how people perceive you so be kind, be patient, and be gentle with other people's feelings. Always rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord.  Always be a representative of his love.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

Motivation for Monday: Freedom of Mind

Good Morning Friends,

I greet you with joy on this rainy day in New Jersey!  I pray that you stay dry and have a blessed day ahead. . .  A few announcements though . . .

Guuuurrrlss!!! I just found out yesterday that they are bringing Mary Jane back to BET! OMG . . .I am so happy because I was just thinking about that show.  I might even start a blog about it!  No, I won't do that, but I have been out of the TV advertisement loop for awhile.  Any TV that I watch is live streamed which consist of "This is Us," and  "Grey's Anatomy."  I do limit my TV watching because the Lord tells us to guard our mind.  It is important not to fill your brain up with nonsense, but I'm here to let you know that it is okay to watch TV.

Everyone was getting excited last night about the premier of "Game of Thrones."  I didn't get a chance to watch it, wasn't too in to it yesterday, but maybe another time.  I think someone was surprised that I watched "Game of Thrones." Perhaps they thought that I was "Too Holy" to watch something so racy.  I want to let everyone know that the holiest person you know may be more human than you know.  The holiness that you see on someone has more to do with the Holy Spirit then it does with the actual person. . .

I thank God for the freedom that he has sent us.  This doesn't mean that we indulge in all fleshly and lustful things.  No.  Not everything is good for us.  Not all things will lead us in the right direction.  The Lord wants to lead us to love.  He wants to lead us to life.  He will teach us along the way how to guard our minds.

Watching TV is  a big part of our culture.  I have to tell you that there are some denominations that tell you that you will go to hell if you watch TV, go to the movies, or drink coffee.  Well, I am a movie buff, I love to watch my favorite shows to relax, and I will be drinking my coffee after I write this post.  And guess what,  the Lord knew this about me.  And guess what else, I love the Lord.  And guess what else, God loved the world so much that he gave his only son to die for these sins. We are not trapped in our sin.  He already saw what the culture was going to become, he already sent the solution . . .

Here is your Motivation for Monday:
There is Freedom in Jesus Christ!

This is awesome news.  Why?  Because if we believe in this freedom we will stop being bombarded with the condemnation of sin, but we will learn how to work through it.  We will learn how to let the Holy Spirit guide us through this life.  One of the biggest hindrances to a healthy mind is self condemnation.  It is a heavy burden to feel like you are always in the wrong or that you are always doing something wrong.  Let go of that burden and give it to the Lord.  How do you do that you ask, simply by believing in Jesus.  It is that easy.

How do I believe in Jesus?

I would simply say to find a quiet place and start talking to him.  Don't think it is strange.  He wants you to talk to him.  He will direct you from there:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 3:16

I was just reading about some of the false prophets in the book of Acts that were trying to convince new followers of Christ to be circumcised in order to receive their salvation.  When Paul heard about this, he was like "HOLD UP.  That is a very heavy burden for a gentile to handle.  Why are we making this hard for them?" (paraphrased of course).  When Peter and the other elders spoke on it,  they set everyone back on the right course.  Peter put it like this: "God accepted all of us how we are.  We are saved by the grace of  our Lord Jesus Christ." The elders put together a letter and sent it to the new developing gentile church and said the following:

Greetings.

24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

See Acts 15: 5-29

I know there are a lot of words here, so I'm just going to go over a few things.  I encourage you to go to Acts and read the chapter so that you can become familiar with some of the characters like Paul and Peter.   The Gentiles were all of the people who were not of direct Jewish decent.  However, it was shown through out the book of Acts that Jesus's death covered all people in the earth to be saved.  All people, of all nations are able to receive the Holy Spirit through believing in Jesus. Finally, there were super religious people on the scene (Pharisees) always trying to give requirements and rules in order to follow the Lord.   The law of circumcision showed in the old covenant promise that a person was of Jewish decent.  It used to be a requirement under the law.  This is no longer an issue when you believe in the sacrifice of Jesus, and also when you believe in who he is.

It is by God's grace and his sacrificing his only son that we are saved.  Who so ever believe in Jesus will have everlasting life.  So I am here to say, that it may not be healthy for your mind to watch everything on TV or in the movies, but it is not going to send you to hell.

Keep believing in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  His yoke is easy and his burden is light.  Now, I am going to go get my coffee . . . .

Keep this in mind:  God sees everything, past, present, and future, so when he says he fixed something.  He fixed it.  It's all good.

Live on Purpose

Love you

Until Next Time

Tamorra

Motivation for Monday: from Him comes my Salvation

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

Psalms 62:1

Happy Monday to you!

I am having a calming day so far and I pray that you are as well.

I would like for this blog to be inspirational to the point of making people happy, but more importantly, I want this blog to feed your soul.  I want the truth of the word of God to shine through it, in it, and around it.  However, I am learning more about who I am and  I am learning more about who the Lord is.  I am learning that I am often flawed in my interpretation of the world around me.  This is why it is so important to seek after Jesus yourself.  There is no man on earth that is going to get you to heaven except for Jesus.

My upbringing makes me concerned with certain issues in the world and in religion.  For this reason I get involved with issues in church, education, and government policies.  This may not be where your interests are, so, again, I encourage you to let Jesus show you your purpose in this world.  We each have one. I and you are alike.  There are specific experiences, attitudes, and beliefs that form who we are as individuals.  We all carry insight, we all carry perspectives that can mold this world into something different. I am learning that the battle is not mine, it is the Lord's.  Hence, I encourage you to develop your own personal relationship with the Lord so that he can guide you.  He is the one that will show you what kind of job you need, what type of church to attend, what type of business to start, and what kind of prayers to pray.

I love God.  I love Jesus.  I often fall back on these two thoughts.  These thoughts remind me that God loves me and Jesus loves me.  These are truths that we need to hold on to forever and ever.

Why is this important to remember?

These are truths that are important to remember because as we navigate ourselves through this life, things happen.  Life beat us up, because we are not 100% sure in how to live it.  I think some people have learned some pretty successful strategies to live this life.  However, when others try to explain to us how to live our best life, the truth is often lost in translation.  The truth is this:  Jesus died for our sins and now we are free.  Believing in Jesus means that you accept him as your savior, your deliverer, and your salvation.  This is something that most Christians are taught.  We are taught a lot of things but we don't always understand.  Just hearing that we need to believe in Jesus doesn't mean that our soul understands.  It doesn't mean that your mind has received the power of that message.

Through these posts, my writing, my poetry, and my teaching, I try to communicate truth to you.  There is so much peace with Jesus.  Believing in him means that you trust him to guide you through this mess of a world.  Don't get stuck in one place of your own understanding.  Keep growing.  Keep learning.  Keep seeking after Jesus.  The word says; If you ask, it will be given to you, if you seek, you will find, if you knock, the door will be opened to you. . . (see Matthew 7:7)

Here is your Motivation for Monday:

Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.

Understand this and you will leave behind that spirit of self condemnation.  Leave behind that spirit of not doing things right, or those feelings of self pity, victimization, shame, failure, or disappointment.

Life is a journey and you must learn in that journey. You must grow in that journey. You are going to misstep sometimes but everyday is another day to start over.  Let the Holy spirit, (The spirit of God, who is also Jesus) guide you in that journey.  He wants to give you peace; and joy; and happiness; and purpose.  He wants you to feel better in this life.  He wants to give you hope for an future so that you have something to look forward to.  Have hope in your salvation!

What is salvation:

Your salvation is your free gift of everlasting life.  It is a promise that the Lord has given to you through the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Jesus's death represents the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the whole world.   Jesus, because he is also God, is so holy that his death covered everyone in the whole world.  Believe that and trust in that.  This is the good news that brings hope, love, peace, joy, truth, and comfort to your soul.  We get to be reunited with our creator.  Not everyone has the mind capacity to believe such a thing but I tell you that this is the truth that will feed your soul.  This is the truth that will set you free.

One more thing before I go . . .

I had a very intriguing thought over the weekend that I think will help a lot of people. . .

Here it goes:

"If you want to be a scholar of anything, learn how to study yourself"

I can go on in another blog post of what this means to me, but I'm going to let it simmer a little bit for you to ponder on. . .

Until next time

Remember to live your life on purpose

-Tamorra

Motivation for Monday: Be real in your journey

Greetings and Love to my brothers and sisters in Christ,

I come to you on this Monday to discuss the many decisions that we make in life.  Every little decision will lead you to a major decision.  Every major decision will make major shifts in the direction your life is going. . .

Here is your motivation for Monday:
Life is a Journey,

walk it with Jesus
it will be the best decision you make in your lifetime

I have been reminded this week of how our decisions effect other people around us.  Our actions show the person that we are inside.  Of course, we all are capable of wearing masks and showing people who we want them to believe we are, but who are we really?  I have learned that the longer you are around people, the more you get to know them.  The more intimate your relationship, the more you understand about them and therefore the more you know what is really in their heart. Basically, the closer you are to someone, the more in tune you are with their true character.

If we really want to stir this theory, we can begin with the following statement:

Everybody is fake . . .

To a certain degree, we hide our true feelings.  We are often conditioned to hold our tongue's and to be compliant.  We are trained on how not to cause a problem or raise an awareness.  I think what happens when we do this is that it gets all bottled up inside.  One day it is all going to come out anyway, so we might as well be truthful along the journey.  Let us meet others and ourselves where we can admit what is real.  Let us confront those things that hurt us, the people who hurt us, and the experiences that hurt us.  Let us be truthful with ourselves.  Let us seek help from those sent to help us. Let us ask the Lord:

Who am I really?

You will be amazed of what God shows you. . .

We wear masks to protect ourselves.  We wear masks to protect our feelings.  We wear masks to give off false perceptions of who we need others to perceive us as.  People treat us the way that they do because of the person we communicate to be.  Better yet, people treat us the way they do because of the person they perceive us to be. I'm not saying that we do this on purpose but it is all part of the subconscious processing going on inside of our selves.  This is the reason we wear different masks around different people.  We subconsciously want to be treated a certain way, so we act a certain way, around certain people.  If you want to be treated how you ought to be treated, be yourself.  If you want to be treated how you "think" you want to be treated, continue to wear your mask.

I think this is why people really act the way that they act and the reason why they can't be real.  People want to be treated with respect and relevance.  People want to have power and be reminded of the work that they do.  We as the human race do this, some at higher levels than others.  All in all this is the point I want to make. . .

Don't try to hide the person you are.  Release the stress, be who you are, then let God fix your flaws from there.

This is easy for me to say, but not so easy to do.  I am a recovering people pleaser.  As a people pleaser I wore a mask for every different situation that I was in.  As the competent teacher, I was resourceful, organized, and a manager of all things.  As the youth leader I was the responsible mentor who was reliable and trust worthy.  As the worthy daughter I was well mannered and obedient.  But when it came to my life at home where nobody could see, I was the uptight, yeller, messy, unreliable wife, mother, and friend who couldn't pull it together.

I was so wrong in my actions . . .

I was so tired by my actions . . .

I was ready to make a decision for change. . .

I often don't write about my husband, but I have to tell you that he is the opposite of a people pleaser.  I can honestly say that he is a person who doesn't care about what others think of him; as a result, he is the most consistent in his personality then anyone that I know.  I am not saying that he is perfect, but I am saying that he is real.  Here goes another realization:  Being the person you really are is not going to make people like you more.  Sometimes, being who you really are will make some people see that they can't use you or easily manipulate you for their own selfish needs.  As a result, your true friends remain true, and your fake friends will move on.  This is not anyone's fault, it's just that everyone is at different stages in their journey. . .

Everyone needs time to grow.

How can we get anywhere with growth if we can't admit that we are wrong sometimes.  Some of us are wrong all the time, but we think we are right.  This brings me back to how we should treat each other.  The bible says that we should love one another.   I think a lot of us are confused in this because we don't know the definition of love.  We don't understand the full potential of love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 4-8

Friends, let me tell you that in every decision that we make we should make it in love.  I am not saying that I do that all of the time.  The Lord actually showed me that a lot of my decisions have been selfish and self-serving lately.  He showed me how hurt I was by some actions that other people did towards me and my family; these actions were not done in love.  As a result, my hurt feelings sought to hurt someone else's feelings and I felt very justified in doing so at the time.  However, over time there was something going on on the inside of me that was changing who I wanted to be as a person.  I made a decision to forgive and move on.  I made a decision to be brave and to not be used because of my people pleasing ways.  It was selfish, but it was necessary to get closer to my true character.  

This is the biggest revelation yet: 

My people pleasing ways were from the result of needing to feel wanted and accepted which was seeded from selfish and prideful desires.  The praise and notoriety that I received from doing things at work, and at church were empty, but I sought after it anyway.  Why? Because I wanted recognition:  It was Vanity, all Vanity. . .

I had to let it go.

 The decision that I had made created a major shift in my life.  I thank God that he continues to teach me the healing power of forgiveness.  He also shows me how to be patient with people as they figure out who they really are.  Know this friends: Hurt people, hurt people.  Show your love by being patient with them and not responding to them in the wrong way.  Be aware in how you respond to people.  What kind of person do you really want to be?

Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes.  Remember to love because God first loved us.  Walk your journey, being aware that every step is for your growth and learning.

The following song has been in my heart and I want to share it with you:

Some of the Lyrics:

The truth can hurt you
Or the truth can change you
What would truth do to you

I just wanna be happy
But if I keep on doing the things
That keep on bringing me pain
There's no one else I can blame
If I'm not happy
Wasted time but now I can see
The biggest enemy it was me
So I'm not happy

Cry yourself to sleep
Shout and raise your hands
It wont change a thing child
Until you understand

If you're tired of being the same
If you're tired of things not changing
It's time for you to get out the way
Don't get stuck in how you feel
Say Jesus take the wheel
He knows the road that you need to take
(But it only works if)
If you wanna be happy
(Look at yourself and say)
Don't you wanna be happy
I just wanna be happy

But if I keep on giving my heart
For people to tear apart
The healing will never start
So I can be happy
Will I ever be happy

The most important decision that we can make in life is that decision to let go and let God.  It is that decision to say, "You know what Lord, I tried it my way and it is not working."

When we say "Jesus take the wheel in my life," we are making a decision that will effect so many people around us.  We must stay true to who we are and who Jesus is helping us to be.  It is a journey to walk with him.  He will continue to tell us to change our mind about a lot of things that we think we are doing right.  Build a relationship with the Lord and you will know him better.  You will understand that he has been real this whole time.  Jesus doesn't wear masks.  Jesus really loves you and his decisions are always out of love.

Live

Live life

and live it on purpose

Until Next Time

-Tamorra

p.s. I pray that all of this makes sense as I ramble on and on.  God be with you. May this post reach who it needs to reach, in the time it needs to reach them.  Let it be a blessing to the heart and encouraging to the soul. Amen, Amen.