DivineGift317: My writing journey 1 year later

On June 16, 2014, I ended one chapter in my life and embarked on a new chapter by revamping my personal blog I started in 2012. Today makes 1 year that I bravely unleashed my blog to the world. I must say from that time period, God has stretched me and challenged me in my writings. He has allowed me to bravely share my testimonies through my blog posts on social media and He opened doors for me professionally. As of Sept. 2014, I am currently the blogmaster for #JustWrite, a writer's group that meets monthly to brainstorm, offer feedback, and is a place of accountability for writers. The blog for #JustWrite is called The Write Moment(www.thewritemoment1.blogspot.com). Every month, we feature writing testimonies and feedback from authors on their process, as well as encouragement for aspiring writers.  I also stepped out on faith and with the help of an amazing business coach, birthed D.I.V.I.N.E. Blogger(www.divineblogger777.com), a business that serves to help entrepreneurs develop their business/ministry content through writing, blogging, and social media services. I received my 1st client in Nov., and in May 2015, I began working with my 2nd client which has been a blessing. Through everything, God has been miraculous; it has been a journey of tears, setbacks, fear, doubt, some happy days, some sad days, frustrations, and just constant days of wanting to give up but I allowed God to work through those emotions and push me to sharpen the gift that He has given me. Since the age of 13, writing has been my therapy. Everything that has transpired from that point was because of Him. I don't know what's next, but I do know that I trust God. I can't do anything without Him. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In closing, I pray that the Lord continues to guide my steps as well as those who are reading and have supported me throughout my journey.

God bless

The Girl in The Picture

Today as I was scrolling through my Instagram feed, I noticed a post from my sis Erica Fitzpatrick who is over the ministry Daughter Of A King. It was a challenge for any woman to find a photo from her past and post it with a brief story of the picture with the hashtag #TheGirlInThePicture. When I read it, I instantly decided to find a picture and post the following:

#TheGirlInThePicture was 22 years old in her last year of college at Albany State University. It was Spring 2008 and she was on her way to church with some family. What most people don't know is this same girl was still dealing with pain and hurt from her past. She moved on campus to escape the bondage she was dealing with at home, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She numbed her pain Mon-Sat by clubbing, staying up late, and finding validation in friends while occasionally attending church on Sunday. She hated being by herself. Since 1998(8th grade), she battled anxiety after her parents separated and eventually divorced. Writing in her journal was her saving grace at the time. In 2005(sophomore year in college)her anxiety turned into social anxiety which caused her to not sleep at night(she purposely stayed up to avoid nightmares), bad eating habits(eating too less or overeating), depression, and just fearful of life and anything good happening for her. She believed every negative word spoken over her and all that she was seeing around her. Her relationship with her mother wasn't the best and her relationship with her father resurfaced in Jan. 2008. After graduating in Fall 2008, she moved away to Atlanta and was still carrying alot which affected her relationships with others, especially women. She thought dating would help, but that was another void filler which made things worse. It was in 2009 when she allowed Christ to be Lord over her life that things began to change for her from her friendships, family, to her whole outlook on life. She's failed a few times since then and fell off the path in some areas but she got back up. She's more wiser and has more insight on what it truly means to be a Christian and woman of God. Looking back, she knows that everything happens for a reason. She's determined to stay on this journey until the end. I pray that this blesses my beautiful sisters♡♡♡. #DaughterOfAKing#SpeakForTheSilenced #Unashamed#MyStoryForHisGlory




After writing it, I posted it via my Instagram as well as my facebook page. Within minutes, I received numerous comments about what I shared and how it blessed each individual. It was a testament to how bad things work out for our good to bless others. It was encouraging to know that others needed to read what I went through. It's freeing for them as well as the person who experienced it. I pray that anyone who reads this is equally blessed and encouraged by these words.




God bless,




Lequvia

Speak For The Silenced

For the month of February I decided to participate in Speak For the Silenced, a worldwide protest started by Unashamed Impact, a  ministry founded by Brittney Moses. This is the second year of the protest and I must say that I was shocked that I never knew how many Christians around the world were being persecuted for their faith. I guess that's easy to say when you live in a country where numerous freedoms are taken for granted: education, free speech, civil rights, etc. The one freedom that we do have that no one really seems to talk about is the freedom to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 31: 8-9 reads, "Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy." Over the past few days, I've had some very fruitful conversations/fellowships about how we as a people need to share our testimonies and Christ so that others are saved and drawn to Him.  It is not about us but what Christ did for us at the cross. It is heartwrenching to know that people are dying around the world just because they boldly live for Christ, but yet in America, we vainly preoccupy ourselves with the latest gossip, trends, stress over personal situations, and things that don't matter at the end of the day. When it comes to standing for our faith, we become mum and tremble. Reading those two verses in Proverbs reminded me that we must not silence our voice. I say that because I was that person before. I would never speak up at an appointed time about what was right when others spoke on those things which were wrong or I would never have a sense of urgency when it came to sharing my story when God wanted me to. I was never cognizant of my responsibility for change. I have seen in these last few years on my spiritual journey, that it is imperative that I share my story and be bold in my walk with Christ. There are too many lives that depend on my obedience. So today I choose to be obedient and speak for those who are silenced. I choose today to pray for those countries that have been impacted by the recent persecutions: Syria, N. Korea, Nigeria, etc. I choose today to fight this daily spiritual fight and walk in my pursuit of Christ. Will you join me? For more information, check out www.unashamedimpact.com

God bless.

In His presence, He is the present

This morning, I woke up to a Merry Christmas text from my father. I responded by saying that "I'm thankful and blessed to be alive . Merry Christmas to you all as well. Christmas is not about sharing gifts, food, or socializing, it's about sharing Christ and offering salvation. I choose to focus on that today and everyday." A thought-provoking conversation with my sister in Christ (birthday twin too) on yesterday reminded me of the goodness of the Lord and how we should share Jesus in conversation today and everyday as we encounter others. This is my 3rd Christmas away from family, so today I choose to sit at the Lord's feet and reverence Him and His glory upon my life.  His mercy and grace have sustained me and there are not enough words to express how grateful I am that He chose to die for my sins. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Provider, Friend, the Prince of Peace. In His presence, He is the present. "Great is Your mercy towards me, Your lovingkindness towards me. Great is Your mercies I see, day after day. Forever faithful towards me, You're always providing for me, great is Your mercy I see, great is Your grace."_Donnie McClurkin.

Amazed by His grace.

Prepare for 2015, The Next Level, Employing the Angelic Realm Workshop

Yesterday, I had an amazing opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by my sister in Christ, Tracey J. Johnson, author of Faith in Business: A Journey into Entrepreneurship and angel business coach. The workshop was entitled, "Prepare for 2015, The Next Level, Employing the Angelic Realm Workshop." It was a very intimate setting among other women of God who are seasoned and aspiring entrepreneurs.  As the workshop began, we opened in prayer. I admit, I was dealing with alot over these past few days so the heaviness I was feeling disappeared as we prayed. Each of us stood up and introduced ourselves and our purpose that God has given us in a business.  I was nervous and excited to share what God has birthed within me. Our first exercise was called, " Who Are You?" During this exercise, we wrote on a sheet about our identity(gifts+talents+beliefs), purpose(joy+fulfillment+ others), and destiny(possess+be+do) according to God's will for our lives. We were able to be still before God in our hearts and allow Him to speak to who we are in our writing. We each took turns sharing what was written. It was very interesting to read what was written. Next, Tracey began to explain the importance of writing a list of I AMs which are daily declarations that encourage you to embrace who you are and calling forth truths that speak to your purpose. We got a full understanding of how the spiritual realm works on our behalf when we present our lives, cares, and plans to God, allowing the angels to have charge over us and those areas as Psalm 91 states. Next we moved on to writing down the vision and plan that God has given us for 2015. We then concluded the workshop with a meditation that took us to a place of peace in God's presence. During this time, I envisioned  myself as a star in the dark night sky. It was at that moment, God reminded me that I am a light in the midst of darkness, piercing through areas that need healing within myself and others. Powerful. Another highlight was a moment where Ms. Sidra spoke into my life and she called forth some things that took me by surprise. It was an unforgettable experience where one had to be there, in order to fully understand what transpired. For more info, check out traceyjjohnson.com.

Blessings

Life and Death: Which one will you choose?

One of the hardest and best decisions of my life was leaving an unhealthy environment. I've shared this before in conversation and I would like to share again here. I was raised in an environment where I witnessed verbal, emotional, and physical abuse between my parents and I experienced verbal, emotional, and mental abuse from loved ones. I would later learn that abuse is a common factor within both sides of my family, but no one talked about the effects over the years. From those experiences, I viewed family as the enemy. I didn't trust anyone who shared the same blood as me. What's even sadder is that I was taught to be that way from a young age.  Naturally, writing, music, magazines, and movies became my friends. Even though I accepted Christ at the age of 10, I didn't always draw to Him for inspiration. My inspiration came from my favorite celebrities. In my mind, I believed that since they didn't know me personally, they couldn't hurt me. Sad, right? I had a few people in my life who I associated with, but I only saw them at school so my time alone in my room was great for me. There was no pressure to be something that I wasn't and I felt free. But I was still caged within my surroundings. I truly understood, Maya Angelou's, infamous book, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." That's exactly how I felt. Caged with nowhere to go. I use to make jokes with my friends, that I was "Celie" in "The Color Purple",  "Precious", "Antwon Fisher", and so on and so on. I literally saw myself within those characters.

As time went on, I went to college and met people. Being in that environment was even worse because there was no accountability and in my mind I finally had freedom. I made good grades but I still found myself in situations that were no good and I felt that I needed to date someone to feel, "normal". I would later learn that randomly dating someone is so boring. I would rather be courted for a purpose.  Honestly, I've always believed that being "abnormal" is normal, lol (not giving in to peer pressure, being set apart from worldly pleasures, having crazy faith in the unseen, etc).  I  can remember dating briefly in high school but it wasn't anything serious. I took the situation serious, but of course it was all a game to them. I will never forget the words my mother said to me when I was having a bad attitude one day: "If you want attention, you better find it in that boy," That was death to my self-esteem. Words are powerful and it is so important to know your worth as a person. As I look back, I realized that because of what I saw as a child, that's how I viewed relationships. I literally lived out those words that were spoken over me. As a young woman, I had a responsibility to know my worth. Even though I made a decision to leave my family, I still found myself in unhealthy relationships with others. I allowed myself to endure name-calling, false accusations, mind-games, manipulation, and constant disrespect. I even encountered a situation where my privacy was invaded and I became angry and physical with the other person. That's when I became scared. Scared of myself and who I had become. I didn't know who to trust anymore and I was afraid of being an abusive person. I realized that I needed help and that I can't continue to place myself in unhealthy situations. My livelihood and worth are more important than being with people who don't value me as a person. I'm so happy to know Jesus Christ as my Savior. Even though, I didn't always acknowledge Him, He tugged on my heart so many times to remove myself from those situations. Ever since I made that one decision on January 5, 2008, the Lord has been faithful. I admit, it wasn't an easy choice because I struggled with my emotions. But the Lord has kept me through it all. He provided for me when I lacked, allowed Godly relationships to be formed, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and just simply loved me where I was. He continuously loves me unconditionally. As I write this, I feel joy because I made a decision that was best for me, not my mother, father, or anybody else. I loved myself enough to say, "no" and to trust God. Regardless, of where you start, it does not have to be the end. Anyone who is reading this, please get out of those relationships that are causing you pain. Seek help from loved ones. Go to a shelter. Write an escape plan. (I remember writing out where I was going, my important documents, etc.) Love yourself enough to get out!!! Abuse is a topic that we as Christians do not like to discuss, but we need to be more transparent and talk about it. Discussion can be the defining moment for someone's life. "Life and death are in the power of the tongue." Proverbs 18:21. Which one will you choose?



God bless.

September: Month of Divine Elevation

Today is the first day of September. I'm so thankful to have made it to another month. August, the 8th month was the month of new beginnings, new creations, and a new birth. It was a time of preparation, leaving behind the old and bringing forth the new. Now we are in the 9th month, the month of elevation. I love the spiritual meaning behind numbers so here are the following excerpts from a great book that I've been reading, "Biblical Mathematics, Keys to Scripture Numerics: How to Count the Bible" by Evangelist Ed. F. Vallowe: "The number nine speaks of FINALITY or DIVINE COMPLETENESS FROM THE LORD. NINE is the number for the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. NINE comes after EIGHT, which represents the NEW BIRTH. After having a good tree, the next thing to expect is good fruit from that tree. "Make the tree good, and his fruit good." (Matthew 12:33) The good fruit follows as the result of the tree being made good. The tree (man) is made good in the NEW BIRTH. As NINE follows EIGHT, so the good fruit, the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, follows as the result of the NEW BIRTH.

"Paul mentions NINE "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the Fruit of the Spirit is 1. love, 2. joy, 3. peace, 4. longsuffering, 5. gentleness, 6. goodness, 7. faith, 8. meekness, 9. temperance: against such there is no law." In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 Paul mentions NINE gifts of the Spirit. "For to one is given by the Spirit 1. the word of Wisdom; to another 2. the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another 3. faith by the same Spirit; to another 4. the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another 5. the working of miracles; to another 6. prophecy; to another 7. discerning of spirits; to another 8. diverse kinds of tongues; to another 9. the interpretation of tongues."

"In the law concerning the Sabbath year and what follows, there is both a picture of the NEW BIRTH and also the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. God said to Israel, "When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto the Lord. Six years  thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof: but in the seventh year shall be a rest unto the land, a Sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard." (Leviticus 25:2-4) In the same chapter they are told what they should eat in the SEVENTH, EIGHT, and the NINTH years. "And if ye say, What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: then I will command my blessing upon you the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the EIGHTH year, and eat of the fruit until the NINTH year; until her fruit come in ye shall eat of the old store."(verses 20-22).

In this new month, I am embracing and trusting God to elevate me to a new level and dimension in Him. These last few months have been uncomfortable, growing pains. There has been a lot of pruning and purging of old habits. I've had moments of vulnerability and stepping out on faith. Although I've experienced rejection from man, I know that it is in those moments that I've continuously trust God wholeheartedly even when I don't understand. I can recall a friend telling me last year that he had a dream where I informed him that I was pregnant. I was shocked at the revelation in the physical sense but my spirit uttered that I'm pregnant with purpose. These "labor pains" that I'm enduring is causing me to produce a new thing. I'm so excited!! Of course there's going to be some warfare as I go further but it's so worth the joy of walking in my purpose and pleasing the Lord with my obedience. I'm thankful and grateful for this time.




Peace and blessings.