Prosperity

When we hear the word, “prosperity” many people immediately think money. Don’t get me wrong some prosperity is financial, but God has the ability to prosper you in all areas of your life. You can prosper in your health. You can prosper in your mentality. You can prosper in your perspective. You can prosper in your relationships. You can prosper in your spirituality. My prayer for family and myself is that God would prosper us. I want success in my friendships. I want joy in my kids. I want peace in my life. I want rest when I’m weary. I want God to prosper me. I want to be the blessing he created me to be. I want to give of my time, my tenth, and my talent. I want to share my wealth. I want to exude purpose and promise.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

ROI

ROI measures the amount of return on an investment, relative to the investment’s cost. To calculate ROI, the benefit (or return) of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment. The result is expressed as a percentage or a ratio.

"So, what's in it for me?" Most people want to know if they give you something how it will benefit them. ROI is easy to calculate when you are talking about tangible investments. What about time? What about emotions? What about expectations? When we invest in people, we don't always see immediate results. We don't always reap the benefits of everything we sow into people's lives. It's ok. Life has a funny way of bringing things full circle. Continue to live. Continue to grow. Continue to sow.

The Issue of How

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you this special announcement. "It's already done." You don't have to worry about the how or even the when. Trust that nothing has taken God by surprise. We spend time worrying about how this is going to get done or how we are going to get the money for this or when is this going to happen. We spend time majoring in the minors. God never said he would disclose the plan. He said he knows the plan. I'm not saying stop working towards something. I'm saying trust that when you get to the end of yourself know that God is there to fill in the gap. I'm saying that when you get to the end of your resources and connects know that God is a provider. We never have to worry about the issue of how. We have to have faith and know, "it is already done." God never gives a vision without provision. God gives seed to the sower. If he can clothe a flower, clearly he can clothe you and supply all of your needs. Be mindful that you are created in the image of God. He said, "let there be" not "how can there be?" Trust God and don't worry about how. 

Jewels

I grew up in barbershops and salons. In the African American community, this is where uncensored conversations about sex, money, politics, current events and religion occurred. As a child, I knew better than to join the conversation, but I did learn how to listen and digest what I was hearing. I learned to see things from a variety of perspectives whether I agreed or not. I learned about consequences from foolish behavior. I learned about successes from hard work. I learned that relationships are complicated. I learned that marriage takes work. I learned what men want and what women desire.

I learned to respect these "jewels" that were given. I learned that everything did not have to be experienced, and that I could learn vicariously. These men and women gave me "jewels" I still carry. They gave me wisdom and insight. I thank God for all the lessons and all the love given to this "young buck." I thank God for the men who stood in the place of my father and all the "mothers" who raised me.

I was blessed to have a host of strong women around me. My grandmother dropped domestic jewels and was my first example of a wife and mother. My mother is an enduring example of strength and perseverance. My godmother is an example of what fortitude looks like and one of my earliest examples of what it meant to truly blend a family. I have a host of mentors, "aunties", play cousins and friends who constantly shower me with "jewels" from their joy, their pain, and their triumphs.

Thank you for your time, your tenth, and your talent. Thank you for showing me that marriage and motherhood doesn't look the same for everyone. Thank you for your jewels. Happy Mother's Day.

Favor

I'm not a gambler simply because I don't like to lose. I never spend more than twenty dollars. I don't play the lottery despite the fact my husband believes, "you have to be in it to win it." I find no thrills in losing money. I prefer rollercoasters and movies. A couple years back my church had a women's conference that made you confront your fears. It was called "Fearless." We held snakes, shot arrows, wore bright red lipstick, and a host of other things that might incite fear. I got my Katniss Everdeen on.( She was the protagonist of the Hunger Games series.) I shot arrows at big bright targets, and I must admit I wasn't that bad. I held a boa constrictor. I stared at myself in the mirror and did some mirror work. What I learned that night was that when you face your fears you allow the favor of God to enter your life. You see things differently. You begin to understand that fear happens when you lose focus. Just like Peter when he walked on water. You must face your fears, have faith, focus on God and walk in his favor. 

"May the odds be ever in your favor."- Hunger Games

For Your Consideration

On the last day of Black History Month, I want to bring to light why representation matters in all forms of art, especially film. It's award season. The Academy Awards has come under scrutiny because of the #oscarssowhite controversy and the Moonlight mix up last year. For Your Consideration is a heading frequently used in advertisements in entertainment trade publications such as Variety, Backstage, and The Hollywood Reporter. They are directed towards members of awards voting groups in the entertainment industry, like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that annually presents the Academy Awards celebrating the best in motion pictures, or the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences which presents the Primetime Emmy Awards for television. 

For Your Consideration:

• In 2012, The Times reported that Oscar voters were 94% white and 77% male. Four years later, the academy has made scant progress: Oscar voters are 91% white and 76% male, according to a new Times study. Blacks are about 3% of the academy, up from 2%; Asians and Latinos are each just over 2%, with both groups up slightly.
• The executive branch, which finances the movies and determines what films warrant an awards campaign, is 98% white. The public relations branch, which strategizes those awards campaigns, is 95% white.
• Jordan Peele is just the fifth black director nominated for the award, a distinguished group that includes John Singleton for 1991’s “Boyz n the Hood,” Lee Daniels for 2009’s “Precious,” Steve McQueen for 2013’s “12 Years a Slave” and Barry Jenkins for last year’s best-picture winner, “Moonlight.”
• No female black directors – no, not even Ava DuVernay or Dee Rees – have ever been nominated for a directing Oscar.

• In a unanimous vote on 1/21/16, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved a sweeping series of substantive changes designed to make the Academy’s membership, its governing bodies, and its voting members significantly more diverse.  The Board’s goal is to commit to doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020.

• http://www.vulture.com/2018/02/how-new-oscar-voters-are-changing-the-way-the-academy-thinks.html

More

There's more. I want more. I need more. I should be doing more. There's more to life than....What? What is that in us that can't appreciate the now? What is that in us that makes us think that what we have is not enough especially since there are people who live in unspeakable poverty. There are war-ravaged countries where combat is the norm. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with goals and dreams, but there needs to be some balance. We need to learn to appreciate what we have now. Sometimes, that promotion means less quality time with your family, but it does mean more money. Which one takes a priority in your life. Sometimes, what we want costs us more than we can afford...literally and figuratively. Ask yourself if your "more" is a blessing or a curse. Will it hinder or profit you in the long run? Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary for the greater good. Sometimes, you do need a bigger house or a bigger car. Sometimes, you do need a better job with better benefits. Sometimes, you absolutely do need more. Make sure you are seeking after the right "mores." Make sure you evaluate what "more" is going to really cost you, and if it's really worth it.