Standing Out by Faith

     We All feel the need to be accepted. There is one thing that most people do not realize when they step inside a church. That thing is the probability of standing out. Now if you are a non Christian that just likes church for the atmosphere, this message isn't for you. In reality, there are a lot of people in church that just love to hear the choir and see what the people are wearing. Maybe they have no life or maybe they are trying to be in a better environment but are not willing to be a participant These people are called the congregation. However, if you are a person who has been stained and bruised in iniquity, covered in the blood through your belief, and born again; you no doubt stand out.

     Does this make you better than other Christians? No. Does this mean that your walk is significantly different that any other Christian? No. What this means is the other billions of people in the world now have higher standards for you. I'll give you a second. See some weren't ready for that reality. But they have higher standards for you. Higher than you have for yourself. I know you're like whaa? See what happens when you walk in those doors is that they see that you are going to a building where people go to become more like Christ. Since at least half the population of the entire world have gone to church at some point in their life and heard about this great man, they know that if you are going to church, over and over, to be more like Him, that you should be changing every single time. To them, at some point, you should master this skill. Instead, what most Christians do is go to continually here the same exact lessons. 

     A powerful woman today gave the example of what we call growing children who do not grow mentally. Can anyone guess? You got it, retarded. Slow. So what do you think non-Christians see you as? A member that has been in church longer than most people have been in school, still struggling with the same lessons. Still saying, "God knows my heart." Going just to be accounted for among the crowd to later be referred to as powerful. They see you as spiritually retarded. Doing exactly what they are doing. The same thing for years. You are getting the same results just like they are, so what encourages them to want to go to church. Must not be real. Wrong. It doesn't seem real to them because your standards of being a Christian is a fraction of what theirs is. 

     Now some may confuse judgment with standards. Judging someone is, say for instance you slipped and cursed, and someone else tells you that you're so sinful and you're going to hell. Standards is when a non Christian sees a Christian in a dark corner somewhere doing wrong, and they just shakes their heads and moves on. In both instances, the guilty usually goes and buys vehicle plates, stickers, and tattoos saying Only God Can Judge Me. How silly. Anyone can judge you but that doesn't mean that everyone has. Most probably just saw you and thought, Christians are suppose to be better than that. That's not judgment, that’s standards. Think it’s the same thing, try dating without any of them. It'll be a whole lot harder than you think. 

     So what does all this mean? No matter where you go and who you are, if you are a believer in anything, you stand out! People may not always look up to you, but they look at you. If you are not producing any fruit or getting better in life, chances are that you have hindered someone else's growth without even knowing it. Too often Christians believe that they must study the bible for years to learn nothing only because of their ability to repent. They go to do the same things in church with the same amount of faith, and the same amount of effort. These I'll do it tomorrow attitudes lead us to years of playing catch up. 

     So now the question is where are your standards of faith? What are your standards of being a seasoned Christian compared to a babe in Christ? How much like Jesus are you if non believers believe more in the power of your tongue than you do? Do you need to increase your faith? Do you need to spend more time praying and reading to find out who you are in God? All things are possible for them that believe. If you're a believer, you stand out. Now it's time to give them something to see. 

Faith to be Complete (short story)

Two sisters....One heartbeat...One bond...
A gift from God, nonetheless. In many African cultures, they are seen as precious and very important. A true gift. Some people see that some set of twins are very different; like night and day, while others see that some sets are truly identical.....
In the Swahili language:
Amili - means complete
Kamilika - means be complete

With this in mind, our path goes to the lives of Amili and Kamilika....They were identical, yet even though they were alike in many ways, they were also different. Amili seemed to always thrived. She always worked hard, and gained her mother's love and affection. She grew up to become a very wealthy wife, and loving mother. Kamilika, on the other hand, had to work harder. She didn't grow up resenting her sister's gifts of love and affection, given by their mother. She just chose to strive harder to be more like her sister. She never seemed happy with what she achieved, and wished her void would be filled. She wanted to be complete.

The two girls were raised in church and both sang in the choir. They loved the atmosphere in all ways....Just one of them didn't have the faith that God would move in her life....yet as a the other was sent a message...to never give up on her loved one..and she took it to heart....

One day as children, Kamilika said to her sister, "No one understand how I feel...I am never good enough." Before Kamilika could go on with her venting, Amili put one arm on her shoulder, and said, "I am always with you, my twin. Together, we will believe that the size of your faith will out size your doubts. Just believe you are worthy to be made whole and you will be."

Kamilika couldn't grasp how her sister knew she had issues with her faith in God to be made complete....She was young, and didn't grasp the bond they truly shared. See, she thought they were like day and night, when in reality...God make them just alike....Yet she still struggled to see the perfect God-made image that stared back at her in the mirror...Yet she prayed... "God....make me whole. Amen."

As the two twins grew older, Amili could always feel her sister's sad moments. When the first availble moment came, she would always call her sister and say, "Your mustard seed faith is growing thirsty....I've called to water it. Just believe that you are made whole, and you will be."

This still amazed Kamilika. She realized that whenever her faith was lacking, her sister will never fail to call. She loved her sister dearly. Yet she couldn't fathom why her sister was so concerned with her incomplete life, when she was obviously living such a good one. She decided to no longer take calls from her twin, to make sure her "unlucky" curse wouldn't affect her perfect sister. However, this didn't stop Amili from calling when she felt her twin going through life's storms. She called every now and then...but she turned her attention to praying to God that he will reveal her sister's true self in His own time.....

After two years of not answering calls, Kamilika's faith all but ceased to exist. She became depressed and made herself so sick, that she was bed ridden... After sitting there for a while, she eventally thought of her sister and what her sister had always said... "Just believe that you are made whole, and you will be." Kamilika prayed to God one more time....this time...a little different... "Thank you for making me whole....I am complete in you....I believe that you sent your Son to remind me, and my twin to instill it in me......I love you soo soo much....Please harden not her heart, for I have ignored her many years....Please here my cry.....I ask that you both forgive me, Dear Lord......Amen."

When she got up from her prayer, with tears strolling down her face....She smiled. Cause she finally felt good enough...She finally felt complete...With her new found happiness, came strength...And as she took that first step in faith off of the bed she hadn't risen from in weeks, she started to praise God....Then she thought about making a call....and as she ran to the phone to dial up her sister....When she picked up the phone, she could hear her sister...Amili saying, "Kamilika! You are now complete! Oh my Kamili! You are made whole!!!...and Yes, I forgive you...I am always with you, my twin sister. And I have always been...in your heart!"

And with this confirmation, Kamilika changed her name to Kamili....Cause like her sister...She was now complete. Her faith and prayer brought her through. And she worships and praises God till this day......

Kamili- means complete

I hope this touches you....Have faith and never doubt...He has will never forsake you.
As always, Much love...and hugs
NaturalnSassy

Another Poem...this is Untitled

My family has dealt with losing a lot of loved ones...I've had a big lost myself last year, that I'm still trying to recuperate from...Although I didn't put my baby in this poem, he's always in my heart. Maybe when I stop wailing inside, I'll do one of him...

But...this is written for my grandmother, and her two wonderful sisters.... Hope you enjoy!!

As Always Much love...and hugs
NaturalnSassy

Delighted by the sweetness of your face…
The memories we made together for the common good of our ethnic race,
Under the category…You and I….
Pausing to let the time go by,
So that the world can catch up with our ever so clever game to multiply….
The love…
And it’s crazy cause you never knew that you played an important part just by the kindness of your hug….
Which made me look up to you…
cherish you…
The time we shared was beautiful-
ly spent with glances of appreciation….
Concluded with your dedication….
And that standing ovation from which I can still feel the tears on my skin….
See you passed from my vision, but never from within….
You’re with me every day, reassuring that you’re still my closest friend.
Still laughing at your jokes…
And yes, I admit, I turned out to be just like you…
And even though people try to poke
Fun of how my hips widened to your figure,
or that my nails grew like yours, long, and hard,
or that my voice is not as high as a soprano, but you know a sistah can bust a tune and make homemade cards….
I’d still rather be just like you…
See I’m just happy knowing that I shared a part of your history….
That I get to say I’m a part of your legacy…
HA!…Guess that makes me a legend…
Cause you were truly the most famous celebrity to walk the face of this earth....
From birth, we shared a constant connection…
Even when we were away from each other…I can still hear the voice in my ear,
“This is your grandmother, pay our tithes and offerings, but look out for those who seek constant collections!” ….
Or how I knew I disappointed you, and though sometimes you couldn't quite tell me,
I always knew,
You forgave me, and our game of love multiplication played on….
You are my favorite song…..
And as the years go by, and I finally get peace within myself to accept that although I’ll get no more hugs..I can still feel the love…You have instilled in me…
And I’ll past that on…down to each and every generation…cause as like you said….There’s nothing more important than family…

I love you…..
Signed By Me
TNL

Unusual Behavior

Take a ride with me....
Smell the pizza as I put it on the passenger side of the car...
Check with me as I check to make sure I got all of the items...
Pizza Sign light plugged in....Check
Car head lights on...Check
Music to my liking playing....Check
Picture where I'm going...Double Check :D

Being a driver has it's many benefits. I don't have "the boss man" breathing down my neck every second. I can listen too my music and quietly bump (until I get to the street I'm on.) I like my co-workers...I mean. It's great.

However, it gives a thinker like me...way too much time to think. I'm often asked to smile, cause if we're all just looking at each other bored, I'm prone to zone out. The good thing is...I have time to internally pray...Which I had to do last night.

So we're riding....Sing with me. I think I was listening to "He Favors Me" on the way there. "Love...is patient caring...Love...is kind...etc"

We turn one street that leads to the street we're headed...We know the area OK, because there is a school there, but as we turn, we notice that it's getting darker....and lonelier. By that time, the song is off, and we're too busy looking for the house to listen to what's on...It's about 10:30pm.

From counting the houses on our right, we know the house is coming up...BUT there's something strange about the house that we counted to be the right one.....Can you guess what it is?

Total darkness...No porch light. No lights in the house. No street light. We're out in the boondies, with no signal on the cell...And an outline of a shadow flagging you down...

Now, ANYBODY else would hit the gas...and maybe run....Honestly, if that came to mind, I would've done so....But watch me as I turn off the car....Say a little prayer...And step out on faith...

Some can argue that that was a dumb step out on faith...But I had a mission...Deliver the pizza, while making sure that there was a safe way out....Yes, men, women, and dogs could have been lurking in the trees...Yes, the tall dark man could have had a gun, could have raped me, done anything....Cause I'm not street savvy at all...But I want you to watch as I make my way up the steps...Hand the pizza over, ask for payment...and his "are you married/happy" questions on the way to the car....

Truly, God was with us on this ride...I know you're heart isn't beating half as fast as mine was...but I'm sure you can only imagine the fear trying to jump in my spirit, but the faith that kept that fear in check....

I randomly step out there like that....I am so not a people's person, the life of the party, or the bravest...I find comfort in writing on my laptop, in the solitude of my room. But I want you to feel the awe and adrenaline from the awe that I felt.

I was on cloud nine. It was like knowing that with God by my side, all things are possible! He has never given us the spirit of fear, and I thank him for blessing me with my sound mind.

Which leads me to another unusual behavior....though, not of my own...Why, would you order pizza, and portray that you have no electricity? I asked that question to myself all night. Like I know you have to eat. And I'm full aware that pizza is a lot cheaper than a light bill...But why? The world is quick to say, "you have your priorities mixed up." But did he? He was hungry...and possibly had no car....Would you eat? or have light?

Thanks so much for riding with me. I'm sure it wasn't the most exciting one you've ever taken, but hopefully, you enjoyed my unusual behavior...lol

As Always...Much love and Hugs...
NaturalnSassy

Enter In...Welcome Home

Today, I had the luxury of being locked outside the townhouse with the kids....I know right. You're probably wondering, "How in the world?" And some may start to feel more empathy for the kids than you do for me...However, they were thrilled to be outside playing anyway. Me, on the other hand, had no jacket...was cold...lonely...and it felt down right crazy to not be able to be walk into the place where I reside. In my mind, I was yelling, "But I have stuff in there too!"

Have you ever been locked out? I know some of you probably haven't done the whole locking yourself out of the house thing. But let's think about the times where you may have locked the keys in the car...You can see them still in the ignition or in the chair...And in you're head you're screaming, "Those are mine! Now how in the world am I locked out of my own belonging?"

See, distractions will cause you to do things that, normally, you wouldn't do...
Distractions can surface in any form, whether stress, financial issues, marital problems, or like me, inquisitive kids...I have learned that I can't think of why Justin and Jonica have different snacks, but my son doesn't want their snacks, just something different and extra delicious, AND remember the kid's jackets, cellphone, purse...shut the door...oh, yeah...the keys....Dang. Funny, cause I told one of my friends today that superwoman...I am not. I am about the most uni-functioning person in the world. Honestly!

Luckily, I had one bar left on my phone, and I texted my aunt to find relief...She, being the great woman she is, came to my aid and did all that she had to do to bring me a key to get inside...I ran to her car yelling one of my buddy's favorite sayings..."THANK YA!" When I turned the key I was like the child in Luke 18:17 or Matthew 18:3 - (And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].) I was so excited, like a kid in a candy shop. I trusted that the key would work, and I forgave myself for losing the bookmark in my mind for that split second.

As my day went on, I didn't really think twice about what had happened. It was not a big deal to me to be locked out, and though I was cold, I was more concerned about the kids catching colds...I checked my email as usual...And started doing my little daily routine...I want to say that it was FB friend Hollie that sent me the picture at the top with a message...

At first, I read it, and just kept it moving...Sent to my friends and everything. Then I saw it posted by someone else...and I really looked at the image....Gracious!! That was me knocking on my own door today! And just as ludicrous as it sounds of me knocking on my own door...is also how ludicrous it must feel to God to knock on the doors of his children...To need permission and keys to be let in.

And I'll warn ya about keys and other entrances. Not in everything door, place, or humans heart you enter in, are you welcomed or do you fit in...I went to the country club the other day to deliver a pizza, and you could just feel that I was only allowed for that short period of time. People try to get on me for not having a church home...But I ask you guys, have you ever entered a church, and although you felt very welcomed, your spirit told you to run the other way? See I chose to protect my soul from the many churches I hear about like the ones spoke of in Matthew 23:13 (13But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you neither enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are about to go in to do so.) See, they have permanently shut the door to Heaven! And that's one door, I feel in my heart that I know I have belongings there! Come on now ya'll...Feel me on this. Certain people will wrap your mind around beautifully crafted personal beliefs of God, that not only are you not welcomed in Heaven, the places is totally off limits...

When I thought of that, I thought of churches that use to say children could not be lead by God, and churches who will pull you(women) to the side and tell you about yourself and how wrong it is to wear anything but skirts, and dresses, and shirts with sleeves in the church. Not once have I ever read that I had to dress up to go to church...When you(those who are talked about in Matthew 23:13) show me where Jesus Himself created that rule...you let me know. And I still will refuse to attend there. Cause see, God is more worried about souls. Do you think those people in the desert went to stores and spent 150 dollars on a "church suit." I think not, and I won't waste my money either....

And there are also times when things are welcomed home...but their destination is not where you and I should be. Example...Jesus saw a man with an unclean spirits...and he commanded that the unclean spirits be welcomed into the pigs...Which in turn took them to over the cliff to drown and return Home to Hades...

Sometimes spirits and demons make home in our homes and our minds, and we unknowingly, and sometimes knowingly, welcome them. They have us thinking about suicide, homicide(usually killing our spouse or kids), adultery, you name it!!

Again these are examples that you don't want to follow or lead your life in that direction....Please don't be a follower of the pigs and jump the cliff...Cherish your life and stop letting your flesh rule over your world, but wonder why you're still not complete nor happy.

It says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation!(A)

Welcome God in...He's knocking on your door...Wondering why he can't come in to visit and share his mercies with His Child. Will you let him in...Will you look in His eyes and Say...I'm sorry it took me so long to answer....Enter In...Welcome Home.

Forsake all others, and the things of this world. It says that when you accept and welcome Him in, he will accept and welcome you in as well...He sent Jesus, the key...to unlock the world of the highest riches. He sent His Word to remind us that His key was already sent and custom fitted to each door of our hearts...Let him in, so in return, He can say to you, "Well done, you upright and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy which your master enjoys."

As Always...Much Love and Hugs
NaturalnSassy

Word UP with Kerwin B. Lee

Are you saved on all 8 sides?

Mr. Kerwin B. Lee is!!
He's saved on the front side.
The back side.
The top(head)side.
The bottom(feet) side.
The left side.
The right side.
The outside.
And the inside!!!

I just fell out laughing with the realization that I am saved on all 8 sides too! Never again will I say there are only four sides of me. Boy, have I been missing the other four. But the devil can no longer get in by the sides I forgot to include!

Now I do not know Kerwin B. Lee personally. I don't know if he's a pastor, reverend, preacher, or whatever other name people in that position calls themselves.

However,I felt as if I've known him for years as he spoke of how the people in the older days use to always end church with the message of Christ died for our sins...He Laid them on the Cross. I remember, as a young girl whenever I paid attention to the sermon, the men and women in church stressing that. I use to think it was annoying. Like they would say it all the time as if we(the audience) didn't hear them the first hundred times. But now that I'm older...Just like he said, without the crucifixion...there would be no completion.

He went on to convey the message that we're not perfect. That in fact, before Jesus came, we were guilty. Guilty of all our sins, and no it was not the devil's fault. But when he died on the Cross for you and I...salvation was complete. Tell me God ain't good! He said, "We are complete in Him." He was reading from I think Colossians. He said for the women and men to stop looking for mates for them to
complete them. He said sometimes you should tell them, "To tell you he truth, I was good before you got here." He said, "Just like when me visiting an insane asylum...and seeing a man constantly hitting his head on the wall...and I asked the doctor what was wrong with him...and he said, "He lost the girl he loved,"....and we went further down and I saw a guy hitting his head faster and harder on the wall...and I asked the doctor what was wrong with him...and he said, "He's the one who got the girl."

And I could related to the Man of God when he told the story of how he was afraid of dogs as a young boy. I could relate to how he told the story of how he would avoid houses when he was a newspaper delivery guy. Of how he would get up to the house and try to rush and beat the dog to his destination, and run away.

In the neighbor hood I grew up in, there were two rockwilders down the street. And one day those jokers got out and were chasing my sister and I. I think we got home quicker than ever before!!!

I was studying the television screen, on edge, when he said, "But one day, I went to the house (with the dog), and I tried to beat the dog to the door, but then I noticed that when the dog came out, the woman had put a muzzle on him." He started moving around like he gained his confidence on the platform. He told the dog to bring it on, cause he said, "With the muzzle, the dog could make all the noise and fuss he wanted to, but he could not BITE ME!!!" Oh how wonderful he must've felt!!

But then he sat there and looked at his audience as if he was waiting on a reply other than the laughter and the far away high fives that even myself was giving him...He just sat there, and said, "You all need to wake up...You're not getting it!"

He said, "Before Jesus came, we were guilty! But when Jesus laid our sins on the Cross, he also put a muzzle on the devil!! The devil can make all the noise he can...But he Can't BITE ME!!!!"

Man...Can you say what an awesome relevance? Just blew me away with how it came together like that.

So I'll end on this note, just like he said....

"Jesus Saves...God Creates...The Holy Spirit Sustains! Is there anyone here who wants Jesus to save you?! Is there anyone here who needs God to create something in your life right now?! Is there anyone here who needs the Holy Spirit to sustain you through the storm?!"

Just awesome. Unfortunately I have yet to find a church home in my own town that moved me the way this message did. And I didn't even see the whole broadcast.

But you can visit him at Berean Christian Church, Stone Mountain,GA. They have churches in two families. And if you're like me, in a different state, visit their website at

As Always Much Love and Hugs
NaturalnSassy

Employment Insecurity

I've had lots of ups and downs within the past two years...Within this amount of time, I've always have spurts when I was unemployed. Just like other people, I have the pleasure of being at the end of the totem pole. People judge me left and right, before they even get to know me.

A few weeks ago, I was talking to my best bud Kev. I was telling him how I was so frustrated and mad at this so called world of opportunities. I know when I first lost my old job in August, I had put in like 20 applications with no phone calls, no interviews, no nothing in return...By me being a single parent, I had to turn to my family for support. Not that they wouldn't help me, but it's not the best feeling in the world to ask your folks to pay our bills. I got looks from some like they wanted to say, "As if I don't have bills to pay of my own."

Many people asked me...oh...why don't you go on welfare? My only reply to this is Why? To be yet another statistic? I am already a few. I don't plan on getting use to the government to barely help me enough to survive so that I get lazy and give up my dreams. My God promised me more than that. And what I did get from social service...they quickly tried to stop. Me not working? Yeah right. They suggested I go the welfare route too...And when I told them I'd rather take college courses, they laughed and said, We don't help adults in college. Like it's some sin to educate myself while I search for employment. They didn't help me with daycare....nothing. So I guess the government wants you to accept being jobless and become so needy that you never better yourself. Cause surely being a single parent, trying to go to college to get a degree so I can have a fighting chance, is not on their list of people to help. They would rather help those who chose not to ever help themselves. I could go on about that, but that's another story.

And the employment insecurity commission was no help at all...I filed the whole time I was unemployed, with them saying there was a pending situation in my case, but keep filing. They smile at you, while looking right through you. Internally saying, "NEXT!" I thought that I would at least find relief with the weekly payments...and of course...after a full month of filing, they denied my claim...But told me to keep a record of my weekly job hunts...FOR WHAT?!

Has the economy become so bad that people are seen as only numbers? I didn't think so...but I was soon about to find out.

I sent in applications for clerical work, sales, you name it. They looked at my resume and loved it. Who wouldn't want a person who's worked in sales off and on for like five years, who can type 50+ words a minute. Very good at Word and PowerPoint, and has excellent Customer Service Skills...Sounds pretty good.

Yet when I walked in the door, I can feel at most places, I was already listed as a number...A number that included the do not call pile. Now I know there are lots of strikes against me. For one, I'm a woman. Two, I'm black. Three, I didn't go to college. And four, I have a past.

Ha! That takes all of what was mentioned two paragraphs above to amount to zero. But I think it's so selfish and funny at the same time. These employers would rather have a white male, who knows crap about crap, screw up in a job in which I excel in , all because of looks. And people wonder why so many companies fail...Just like the one that was on the news the other day about this white man, his wife, and possibly his sons, stealing billions of dollars of the man's place of business. Shoot, his wife had her own company card, and even charged Netflix on it!!!

My best bud has some of the same issues as me, except he has no past. He has actually served a good minute in the army, and was injured. Although he's well qualified, employers go out of their way to make sure he doesn't work for them.

Talk about keeping the poor man down. I'm not racist by any means. I like all races, however, I can't say I have many close friends of other races. And no, it's not cause of me, it's cause of them. Yeah, blame it on my locs(cause there is nothing dreadful about them, so don't open your mouth to say dreds), and blame it on the fact that you think I grew up in the hood(never lived in the hood), you can do whatever you like. Cause I know who my Savior is...His Name is Jesus. You should really try him and stop playing around with his Word...Cause not nowhere in the bible have I seen that any race was better than any other one... Just like Tyra Banks said to this girl who claimed to love God and be a good christian, but couldn't fathom why her female friend would want to date a Mexican, "Study your religion more. Really study what you claim to be." No one's perfect. I know I'm not. And in this world of economic stress, we're all getting worse. As a people, we're becoming greedy and stingy.

My future is always bright, whether I recognize it or not. God has blessed me with a good job. I am still pursuing the military, and my writing is slowly but surely coming around. I won't let the employment insecurities of America hold me back any longer. And when I do retire after 30 years of the military, I will hold my degree to be a pharmacist, and you know what? I will practice becoming a pharmacist, and eventually open up my own place. My goal is to also have a part of my business to help single mothers out there, and parents that go through the death of their little ones. I'm gonna be on top regardless.

I hope everyone out there without jobs find something that they excel in. Baby if they don't to give you a job, create one. Make plans and avenues for yourself, cause that's the only person looking out for your good out there. And first and foremost, praise God...even when you don't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of...Praise and Thank him everyday....Trust in Him...For he will renew your strength.

As always, Much love and Hugs
Naturalnsasy