Not What We Give, But What We Share

Some might think my granny would now collect a pension from the phone company. Why? Well, she has always served as the community operator. Before I knew 411 existed, I realized that you could call our home and “mama” could give you every phone number you needed. While she has been given address books, none of her numbers are alphabetized or in any specific order. Everything is written in pencil and no one else understands her system. When it comes to getting people connected, she is Johnny Mae-on-the-spot. If you need the cousin from the country’s phone number to let them know the cousin in the city died, call Louise. If you cannot find your drunken friend, call Louise and she can put you in touch with a neighbor who lives on the corner where they hang out. If you need a few dozen crabs from the crab shack on the street behind her house, call Louise. Trust me, she has the number.

This service was often a source of contention in our home, as her clients thought her husband and children were at their disposal. Sadly, we often refused to answer the phone and concluded: “they callin’ for mama and she ain’t home.”

These days, you cannot call another person for a number or even an email address without hearing, “well, let me see if it is okay.” Louise never gave those types of responses; she just made connections and updated her address book. She is from another generation. She remembers when people looked out for one another. If you knew something, you had to share it so everyone could survive. She came of age in a time when very few people could read proficiently, so they had to pool their skills so they could understand the messages coming into their community and homes. They could not avoid people with caller ID.

Even if she is not always the friendliest operator, she and so many others of her generation adhere to that one verse: “If I can help somebody, as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.”

So often people think they have to be rich or smart to help someone else. We fail to realize that just a simple word or deed can make a difference.

Could your co-worker prosper if you just suggested that she proofread memos before sending them out? You have heard them laughing, but have you used your relationship to encourage her to make improvements?

Do you have some information about a summer program or activity that would help another parent? I know, I know, I know. If you share the info, your child may not get one of the five remaining spots. Remember, you would not know about the program if someone had not shared it with you.

Does your friend just need a word of encouragement? What is stopping you from delivering the message? Send a note, buy a book, or make a simple phone call.

Have you invited a friend or loved one to Christ? Have you shared the Good News? I refuse to believe that you have not shared salvation with them because it threatens your position as Super Saint. I refuse to believe that today!


I think I have taken after Louise, as I am always sending an email that may be of interest or use. I may not be able to use it, but it may help somebody else.

What can you share today?


Running on to see what the end is going to be,

Arlecia


The photo above was taken last week on the morning of my 35th birthday (Tuesday May 26). Lord knows it was too early, but I suggested the time. LOL! In the words of the old deacon, I was thankful that my bed wasn’t my cooling board and my sheet wasn’t my winding sheet. I started my day off by having breakfast with members of my Iowa Sister Circle. At some point or time, they have rescued me from something. They've picked me up from the airport and the hospital, and shared in so many ways. I call them friends and I don't use that title loosely.

Come to think about it, I've even been in a car accident with one of them and slid off the road in a snow storm with another one. Thank God we are women of prayer and people are always praying for us.

It's Still Spring and Not Too Late for Spring Cleaning

Tomorrow is my birthday, so I'm taking a little time off to celebrate my Earth Day!

I was cleaning my refrigerator and received a Word. Some of us need to discard a few people and things that no longer edify or nourish us physically, mentally, or spiritually. I'm using Clorox in the frig, but what kind of disinfectant do you need today?

I pray all is well with you and yours. I pray today for not only those who gave their lives for our country, but also for those family and friends who continue to grieve. I also pray that the minds and spirits of all veterans will be renewed this day!

Continue to Look and Live,
Arlecia

There’s Still Power in the Name

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.


On Sunday, I went for a walk in a wooded area near my home. It’s a trail maintained by two cities, so it is paved, marked, and there is a sign reminding users that all pets should remain on leashes.

One thing very few people know about me, is I do not like dogs. I do not like big ones, small ones, friendly ones, seeing eye ones, none. We had two dogs at home while I was growing up. I have baby pictures with Skippy, but I do not recall liking him that much either. Then there was prince, my grandfather’s friend. He would bark when my car arrived, but he knew I belonged to his family even though I did not like him jumping up all over me. If you do not want me to come to your house, just tell me you have a dog.

As a reporter, I always got the animal assignments and that was never a good thing.

On Sunday, I was energized and excited about my walk until, that is, I saw this big black dog running through the woods. “Oh, Lord.” I could not outrun him and if I went in the woods snakes and deer would greet me. I have previously encountered them during my walks. On the way to the trail, I had picked up a tree limb off the ground, so I was packing. I slid behind a few bushes. As the dog approached, I pointed my stick and yelled at the top of my lungs, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” There were no other bikers or joggers in site to rescue me. The dog got a few feet near me and he just stopped running. I kept screaming as the dog just looked around. I cannot say what took place, I only know that the dog just kept on running and left me alone. I hustled down the track only to find the dog’s irresponsible owners looking for him. Of course, I had to remind them that they had not followed the rules of the trail by unleashing their dog. I wished for a citizen’s arrest.

To avoid another dog encounter, I exited the trail and continued home via a main highway that added another 1.5+ miles to my walk. Now my adrenaline is rushing and my heart rate and blood pressure are up, so what was my lesson for this day? There is Power in the name of Jesus.

So often, other choice words come to mind when we are under attack or in trouble, but know today that your situation can change when you call on His name. I am not sure if the dog in the woods stopped because He saw angels, what I do know is that he did not get a chance to see or taste my thigh. If demons tremble at the name (James 2:19), I can only imagine a dog’s plan to attack could change.

I am thankful today that I can call His name and trust that He will answer!


Going From Recession to Possession and Walking in My Blessings!

Arlecia

P.S. This morning I returned to the trail for a 3.5 mile walk. I have to exercise to maintain my sanity and control the jiggle in my wiggle. I couldn't resist. LOL! No dogs today!

Don’t Jump

Last week was one for the record books. In addition to having a virus, I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my academic career. I am a soprano but I sounded like a bass; I did not have time to be ill. While I could not physically sit up on Tuesday, on Wednesday, I got the supernatural strength needed to put out the acres of fires spreading in my life. Around noon on Wednesday, I was simply through dealing. I was crying, blowing my nose, and trying to keep it together. I had prayed, but I needed to talk. I reached for my home phone and quickly scanned through the Caller ID for the Ohio call. The phone just rang, and rang, and rang, and I was about to hang up before hearing “hello.” I said the same and just started groanin’.and moanin’. I did not have to say much more. My sister friend/ prayer partner knew in that moment that I was under an attack. I did not go into that much detail about the situation before she responded as if she were a village elder. We are about the same age, but that homegrown Southern wisdom knew exactly what to say. She reminded me of God’s promises and rebuked me for any statements that did not line up with it. “We don’t receive that report,” she said to such comments. For example, earlier in that day I had spoken with one of my professors and had said, “I’ll leave here empty handed with no degree before I leave here without my sanity. Twenty years from now another degree won’t do me any good if I’m crazy.” From the very beginning, I promised myself I was going to complete this degree in my right mind.

Before we prayed together, she reminded me, “You are the descendant of the ones who chose to live.” By this time, I was having one of those Elizabeth and Mary moments where the baby is leaping. What she was referring to was the Middle Passage, the middle leg of the voyage for African slaves on their way to the New World. Whether through sickness or suicide, it is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of Africans did not survive the journey. Some jumped overboard while others starved themselves to death. (I feel sick even considering the travelling conditions. You can read basic info about the passage at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p277.html)

We each prayed and encouraged one another. I felt a release in my spirit after I hung up, and all I could hear was “don’t jump.” I had no plans of taking my life, but it was a situation where I could have lost my mind if I did not have something larger to embrace.

Beloved, I could not wait for the flames to cool so I could sit down and write this entry.

Recently, we have all seen the reports of people taking their lives and that of their family members due in part to our nation’s financial crisis. For many, life has become too hard to navigate. Just last year, my town dealt with a similar case after a former banker took the life of his wife and their four adopted kids. I will never forget the photo of the six white caskets on the front page of the newspaper.

“Things couldn’t get that bad,” we say as we hear these reports. Last week was bad, but something deep down inside of me reminded me that I had to run on to see what the end was going to be. My prayer partner’s words reinforced that. Since being here, I have heard of the suicide of at least one graduate student. In addition to the stress that comes with the territory, he was living with mental illness. “There but for the grace of God, go I.”

Life is hard.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 that although we are cast down we are unconquered. If you are more familiar with Mary J. Blige, you may recall she said it like this, “I came to the edge of the ledge, but I didn’t jump. ‘My life’ will sum it up; you can’t hold a good woman down.”

No matter how we deal with our issues, the most important thing is that we deal with them. While prayer and faith in God definitely works, we may also need to seek the help of professional counselors and therapists. While some things can only be worked out with prayer and fasting, others may require medical intervention. It is okay to say the load is too heavy. It is also just fine to say the word some of us have banished from our vocabularies: NO. Last week, someone asked about my blog and I explained that if I had anything left it was on reserve. I needed it to encourage myself.

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Thursday, May 7 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This month, take the time to assess your mental health. As I mentioned earlier, I cannot complete my divine assignment if my mind is not right. The same holds true for you. Most insurance plans or employers cover counseling visits and there are free services available from various agencies in each community.

No matter how you choose to deal with your issues, just remember these two words: “don’t jump.” God is not through with you yet!

I thank God for those of you who keep me lifted in prayer. May God continue to bless and keep all of you in health and peace!

Arlecia

Are You "rehd" to Go?

I often say I am like my granny when it comes to receiving a last-minute invitation. If she has no other plans, you can call her and within a matter of minutes, she can get ready for lunch, a church service, a funeral, or for a trip to the mall. As a young woman, I learned that one should always have a few essential items in an effort to stay prepared for anything. A woman should have an inventory of pantyhose, a black dress, white suit, pair of black shoes with a good heel, some pearls and any other items necessary for your lifestyle or work. From my grandfather, I learned you should not go out with your shoes looking any old kind of way. Even if they were old, you needed to replace the heel and give them a good shine. Nowadays, most young women rely on magazines or Stacy and Clinton on What Not to Wear to teach these lessons on preparation.

Recently, an acquaintance sent me a text message inquiring about dinner. We had previously discussed breaking bread, but I did not think the invite would come so soon. I hate texting, but I responded and indicated that I could meet thirty minutes later than suggested. Thankfully, the other party called to confirm. I had a few hours warning, so I completed my tasks and started to consider what to wear. Just like granny, I threw an outfit together (I even ironed), pinned up my hair, dabbed on a little mid-week makeup and I was “rehd to go.” Granny’s principle was at play: always be prepared. After returning home and considering how quickly I was able to get ready for the impromptu date, I realized how so many people miss their moment or an opportunity by being unprepared.

Would you be ready if the opportunity you desired presented itself?
Would your resume be ready if your dream job posted within the next 24 hours?
Would you have a passport if you received a last-minute invite to sail the Mediterranean?
Would your business plan be ready if your personal banker called offering a new business loan with zero percent interest?
Would your soul be ready if Jesus returned today? 2 Peter 3:10 reminds us: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief...”
Would you need to primp and clean yourself up, or would you be “rehd to go”?

What has the spirit been leading you to prepare for?
Have you been told to prepare for the shifting of a season in your life?
Have you delayed preparing your children in some way?

So often, we receive spiritual text messages prompting us to get ready, yet we ignore them, erase the messages, or simply power down the device. They will not disappear, like messages in the natural, that little mailbox symbol will just sit there until you listen or read the message.

It is my prayer that as we approach this new week, we will all consider how to get our physical as well as our spiritual houses in order. I may have 40 pairs of pantyhose, but if I cannot find them, I still got problems!

Continue to walk in your blessings, pray for others, and prepare to receive the blessings that are on the way!

With Love,
Arlecia

The photo posted here was taken a few weeks ago at a banquet celebrating 90 Years of Delta Sigma Theta at the University of Iowa. This look took some planning, as I bought the dress more than a month earlier.

Winning the Game of Life

As you can imagine, sometimes the inspirer needs a little dose of inspiration. Thankfully, God allows all kinds of things to encourage me as I strive to encourage myself. This morning before I went to sleep on the couch (Yes, I go to bed between 1 and 3 a.m.), I was flipping channels and landed on HBO Sports. It was there that I learned about the story of Rayna Dubose. I couldn’t the clip, but I found her website at http://www.raynadubose.net/

After hearing her story, I waved my hands and thanked God for the activity of my limbs. When time permits, take a minute to visit her site and read this powerful story yourself.

Once you’ve read her story, you’ll thank God that you have the physical ability to walk in your blessings!

Enjoy the blessings of the Lord!

Arlecia

You are the Apple of His eye!

I was recently in the produce aisle of the grocery store and a Bartlett pear spoke to me. Well, the fruit did not actually speak, but as I made my selection, God spoke

I carefully selected my strawberries, inspecting each one to make sure there were no blemishes and bruising, and proceeded to the pears. The pears were rather small and a tad hard, but I need my fiber. I loaded my bag and noticed that I had selected a few with brown scars. Not bruised, but simply kissed by nature. “Why would I pick this one with all of these marks?” I asked myself. Instantly God spoke and said, “that’s how I often pick people.” By judging the outside of the fruit I was underestimating the value inside. “There’s some good stuff in there.” I heard as I massaged the fruit.

“This is good, stuff,” I thought, wishing I had a pen and paper to write this revelation down.

Have you underestimated your value because of what things look like on the outside? Have you ignored your calling because you are more concerned with what people will think? Have you underestimated someone else’s anointing/assignment because God did not personally e-mail you that He qualified them?

So often, we disqualify ourselves because of our pasts. We walk around paranoid that someone is going to uncover our hidden secrets or begin a testimony period: “I knew her when she use to…be at the club…be at the hotel….cuss like a sailor.” You fill in the blanks.

Did you get the memo that God knows the raw material He’s working with?

If you only take one thing away this week, remember this:
“Get in alignment with your assignment”.

We align our tires; why not align our lives with God’s will?

So often, we hear God speaking to us about our assignments, but we second-guess the message and ourselves. We underestimate God’s ability to see our hearts.(See 1 Samuel 16:7)

I am not advising you to quit your good job or use what’s left of your retirement to follow a wild dream, I just want to remind you that YOU are so much more than your listing in the employee directory or the label on your name tag. Today, if you have not already done so, ask God to help you get aligned with your assignment. Ask Him for instructions on what He has given you to do. Ask him to remove the fear and mute the negative self-talk that prevent you from being all He wants you to be.

Even if you have been bruised, bitten into, left to rot, or stripped of your protective skin, know that there is still something good inside of you that God can use for His glory. No matter what you look like to others, you are still the apple of His eye!

Enjoy the blessings of the Lord and continue to pray my strength!
Arlecia