Breaking Masks

It is the sufferer who is resilient. They can withstand the harsh blends of life that is sure to deal blows that seem like they come from hell. It's not the hell-like reflections that keeps one low but their inability to overcome by being deceived by challenge. Challenge is meant to be conquered in life. Conquering is a choice. #writersconfession #writing #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingsonthewall

Good morning. #repost 👌🏾

I praise God for the opportunity to get on the mic for the first time again since I moved to DC. It's been almost two years. I'm marking the date: Sunday, October 16th, 2016. The piece I shared Hagar was one that speaks about my life as a very broken individual but how God has rescued me time after time but truly since moving out of Boston it's almost as if it was a beautiful analogy of coming out of a place that was no longer for me. People may not understand but I know the intricate details of my life. I am so very blessed and thankful. So blessed to continue to work on this piece as well. It felt absolutely nerve-wrecking at the thought but with some added prayer and trust in the Lord, it felt amazingly freeing. I felt wrapped into the piece. I felt like I shed so much weight. I felt I had taken my words and pounded them into soil where they couldn't be moved. Most of all, I felt him standing right there with me. Several times, I almost choked on my own words fighting back tears but with confidence. The confidence that I have lacked about Jesus being my Savior was confidence that would bust through at the end of this piece. The spirit of God is true! And pouring my heart out in front of these people couldn't have been any less than necessary. I pride in sharing words. I can't help to be nothing but real. It's all I have ever known. It's the one gift that the Lord has given me. To write and then share. It's not my own. It must be said.

This sister is and will be an inspiration to me as a writer. I hardly know her but I am so very glad that she has accomplished writing and publishing her work. She said, "just do it". Thank you sis for letting me know ---rather confirming again that it is real and possible. It's beautiful to meet sister's in Christ who share the same or similar passions. ✏️✏️✏️📚🎙

"This lifestyle [in Christ] is beautiful, strong, regal maturity at every age." Thabiti Anyabwile I think about my life as a Christian and how it has brought me this far. God holding my hand along the entire way: in darkness, in my self-pity, in my depression, in my loneliness and despair, in my moments of gladness. It's not what I've been through that has just made me stronger but it's God's strength within me that has brought me through. His faithfulness. His live. His loyalty to me. His patience, care and love. Although they all don't right now, some dots connect. ...

at The Howard Theatre

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Have to speak into my life when attempting to do new things. When getting out of my comfort zone. When having to push passed all of my fears. When having to drown all the lies and all the thoughts of judgment. I can not fly with chains wrapped around my wings. I live for God not for the world. #proudwriter #proudpoet #blessed #poetry

Everything. 🙏🏾 (at Spirit Of Faith Christian Center!!!)

Some young guys pushing their music. Seen them before and passed by but they used a good catch phrase "you got time to support black business" something like that. Got me! Lol so I stopped and said "whatcha got". He was telling me about his music and I asked him about it. He had clean and dirty versions so I had to analyze that and asked him to play some stuff and he looked up his music and I listened. It was ok and the positive vibe he talking was ok. I decided to show love because they're out there daily and grinding in a positive manner. I let him know that I'm conscious about lyrics and that's what I like to support. So I got this pin which I think is dope!! And I bought the cd and said I would listen. They were like picture with the cd? And I was like noooo. But after that experience it felt humbling because we pass by young inner city artists every day and it doesn't hurt to stop to see what they're pushing. You might learn something new. Don't frown at what you don't know. No one is above. Besides, that's my family all day! 🙏🏾 people wrote about they're experiences. Imagine if we supported our young inner city artists, the ones not trying to plague the community, can you imagine the influence we could have and then what they would write about? Just thoughts. One love!

Done with my pictures!!! 😄just wanted to share my spirit today! Blessed Sunday family. Love you all and I pray you can meditate on the love and peace that lives in the Scriptures. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾 Titus 3: 3 thru...Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. 4 But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.[h] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life."

@blackgirlstraveltoo I think us brown people are raising the bar....oh yes!!!! #itsnotevenscary #itsfreedom #fearisinthemind #feariswhatyoumakeit #icandoanythingiwanto #nextadventureplease? I enjoyed every moment of it. (at Skydive Chicago)

Where Muhammad Ali was raised. A lady was nice enough to let us know while we were looking for other houses. (at Elijah Muhammad House) #chitown

☺️ (at Hydepark) #chitown

"The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." JOHN 1:4-5

☺️ “They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:32‬ ‭ESV‬‬ We studied Luke 24 today it's imperative that I read that book again. It was amazing message on the resurrection and how God reveals himself to us as individuals. I've received a lot of revelation in the past month and so greatful for all that I get to know about the Lord. Jesus is alive! And like those two men, my heart stirs and burns for him too. ❤️

I made dog tags with scriptures to wear on my neck at work. I've been reading them and mostly memorized them on the way to work. It's been really challenging this year and the last few months. Last week was tough and left me feeling uncomfortable. Yesterday while walking with my children (that I work with), I wanted to escape everything happening and lately I feel that way when it comes to work. I just wanna run away. I shouldn't feel that way working with children. They're not the problem. It's the people I work with. Anyhow, I just begin to meditate on the word of God and just being in him and I would experience glimpses of hope and leave. I figured I would look into some scriptures to carry me through the day. These ones spoke to me most. My coworker asked what was around my neck so I told her. One of my parents asked, "is it working?". Yes it's working. God first. Honestly, it has calmed me down. I also put out of my mind the bitter distractions. I thank God for his word and I want to live in it. Anywhoo if you want to do this just grab 3-4 index cards, sticky notes or paper. Any sort of paper that has some weight. Cut about an 1 inch X 2 inch. Or however big or small you want to make them. Cover both sides in clear tape and just grab some strong and tape at the corners on the back.

Blessed Sunday. The Word was encouraging to my soul. We read Luke 22:66 through Luke 23 which focuses on what took place before, during and after Jesus crucifixion. I've been in a place where I have been asking questions and seeking the Lord's face and reading His word and today was tough for me because the distraction of my pain wanted to take over me while trying to get into the Word but what I found was that every time I followed what my pastor was saying and reading Scripture, I quickly forgot my burden. This happened throughout service until I finally was all in with the Word. Then as we were reading Luke, the part on the crucifixion, I was taken by God's love for us. The fact that as Jesus was hanging on the cross, facing the condemnation and hatred of men, as he faced death, he still showed love and took people as his own (Luke 23: 39-43). Then about the death of Jesus, verse 46 truly captured me and gave me comfort: "Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. And when my pastor applied that to is as believers, I received it. That we should do as Jesus did, as he was the greatest example of what it is like to live here on earth. Daily, we should commit our spirit to God through his Son even in when facing any level of difficulty whether a loss, relational issues, internal pain etc I needed that and by having to experience it sitting in service was even more confirming that my hope is in the Lord, despite what this world or life has to offer. I'm comforted by the King and I fully accept and embrace that.