While I was a visit to New York this weekend that passed, I saw the movie Lottery Ticket. I keep thinking, what would I do if I won the lottery or had a million/billion dollars in my possession? This is what I would do:
(1) I would quit my job (working for others) and start my own business.
(2) I would tell my parents they will never have work a day in their lives anymore and build my mom her dream home.
(3) I would start a charity for Breast and Colon cancer as a tribute to my late grandma and uncle.
(4) I would so give back to my community in New York and build a community center for kids to have a place to go to for anything they need or want.
(5) I would travel the world and learn how to cook the dishes from all the different countries I visited.
(6) I would build myself my own music studio.
(7) I would buy me a house in the Caribbean, so I can have a place to go to when I over stressed and over work.
Now, I would love to know, what you would do if you won the lottery or had a million/billion dollars right at tip of your fingers?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Shack
Many people will tell you, I love to read books. Some of my friends and I have started up a book club were we read at least 5 novels in a year. One day my mom said to me, "You have to read this book one of my friend's put me onto." She was very excited and there was just this fire in her eyes like fireworks went off just by saying this book name. I thought to myself maybe I should really read this book and then she said it was a book about a man meeting God in a shack. At first I was turned off because I thought to myself, "God doesn't just come and meet anyone," and also I have questioned many things about why God has let things happen to me in my life. Then my mom came home one day and told me she bought me a novel, "The Shack" by William Paul Young. So, no excuses and I had to read it.
Before reading this novel, I had pre-assumptions about God and I love to rebel against someone with so many rules. I started reading the book and I could hardly put it down. I learned so much things about God, my faith and relationship has become so much deeper. Here are a few things I learned:
(A) I'm 28 and I have never been married. Many people look at me as an old-maid, but I'm just hesitant about marriage because I'm always seeing the worst of marriages and 54% of marriages end in divorces. This is what God says about marriage, "Marriage is not an institution. It's a relationship. I don't create institutions; that's an occupation for those who want to play God."(pg. 181) When I saw this, my mouth dropped. People have made me feel as though, marriage was this grand club that only a few people get invited to, that's if someone loves you enough to put a ring on it. My view on marriage has turned from a woman who vowed to never get married to a woman who wants to get married whenever the right man shows up.
(B) I don't like people who say they are "Religious", and God doesn't like them either. "So, no I'm not too big on religion, and not very fond of politics and economics either. Put simply, these terrors are tools that many people prop up illusions of security and control. People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures and ideologies, are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn't any. It's false! Systems cannot provide you security, only I can." (pgs. 181-182) Now, I did a double take when reading this passage. It was like all the Christian teachings I was taught just went out the door.
(C) Now this passage will shock you: "Why do you think we came up with the Ten Commandments? Actually, we wanted you to give up trying to be righteous on your own. It was a mirror to reveal just how filthy your face gets when you live independently. But can you clean your face with the same mirror that shows how dirty you are? There is no mercy or grace in rules, not even for one mistake. That's why Jesus fulfilled all of it for you-so that it no longer has jurisdiction over you. And the Law that once contained impossible demands-'Thou shall not...'--actually becomes a promise we fulfill in you."(pg. 204) When I read this, it just felt like a whole weight was taken off my shoulders. I no longer feel so bad when I don't always share my sin to someone or when I don't go to church every day of the week. My faith and bond with God has become much deeper at this moment.
(D) This is what God had to say about life: "It's simple, Mack. It's all about relationships and simply sharing life. My church is all about people, and life is all about relationships. You can't build it. It's my job...."(pg. 180) I couldn't believe life is this simple. We always seem to complicate things and make them harder than what they seem.
I finally was able to understand God by reading this book. It has touched and changed my life in a great way. I learned who I am as a person and if it is good enough for God, I know it is good for anyone. The one thing that I was trying to find and thought I could never obtain, I feel so complete. No more hole in my life. I hope you will eventually read this novel and I pray that it touches and change your life in the best way. Thanks!
Before reading this novel, I had pre-assumptions about God and I love to rebel against someone with so many rules. I started reading the book and I could hardly put it down. I learned so much things about God, my faith and relationship has become so much deeper. Here are a few things I learned:
(A) I'm 28 and I have never been married. Many people look at me as an old-maid, but I'm just hesitant about marriage because I'm always seeing the worst of marriages and 54% of marriages end in divorces. This is what God says about marriage, "Marriage is not an institution. It's a relationship. I don't create institutions; that's an occupation for those who want to play God."(pg. 181) When I saw this, my mouth dropped. People have made me feel as though, marriage was this grand club that only a few people get invited to, that's if someone loves you enough to put a ring on it. My view on marriage has turned from a woman who vowed to never get married to a woman who wants to get married whenever the right man shows up.
(B) I don't like people who say they are "Religious", and God doesn't like them either. "So, no I'm not too big on religion, and not very fond of politics and economics either. Put simply, these terrors are tools that many people prop up illusions of security and control. People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures and ideologies, are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn't any. It's false! Systems cannot provide you security, only I can." (pgs. 181-182) Now, I did a double take when reading this passage. It was like all the Christian teachings I was taught just went out the door.
(C) Now this passage will shock you: "Why do you think we came up with the Ten Commandments? Actually, we wanted you to give up trying to be righteous on your own. It was a mirror to reveal just how filthy your face gets when you live independently. But can you clean your face with the same mirror that shows how dirty you are? There is no mercy or grace in rules, not even for one mistake. That's why Jesus fulfilled all of it for you-so that it no longer has jurisdiction over you. And the Law that once contained impossible demands-'Thou shall not...'--actually becomes a promise we fulfill in you."(pg. 204) When I read this, it just felt like a whole weight was taken off my shoulders. I no longer feel so bad when I don't always share my sin to someone or when I don't go to church every day of the week. My faith and bond with God has become much deeper at this moment.
(D) This is what God had to say about life: "It's simple, Mack. It's all about relationships and simply sharing life. My church is all about people, and life is all about relationships. You can't build it. It's my job...."(pg. 180) I couldn't believe life is this simple. We always seem to complicate things and make them harder than what they seem.
I finally was able to understand God by reading this book. It has touched and changed my life in a great way. I learned who I am as a person and if it is good enough for God, I know it is good for anyone. The one thing that I was trying to find and thought I could never obtain, I feel so complete. No more hole in my life. I hope you will eventually read this novel and I pray that it touches and change your life in the best way. Thanks!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
I'm Back!
So, I have been away from writing on the cyber world for a while now. I was taking some time out to live and actually come up with some great topics for you. I have been traveling this summer, working, and enjoying my family and friends. I wanted to talk you about this movie I saw called "Eat, Pray, Love." I really enjoyed this movie and I took away somethings from this movie I would like to share with everyone.
(1) I find myself wanting to go find myself by traveling the world, but do I have to really do that? I can find myself right here where I live. I just need to stay true to myself and learn how to stop and appreciate life as it comes. God didn't put me here to be depressed, angry, have low self-esteem, or frustrated my whole life. Besides, the last time I said I wanted to find myself, I almost landed on the floor. Just make sure you have the money to pay for your travels yourself because telling a black mother you want to find yourself, you just might end up being splattered on the floor....lol...=).
(2) I need to learn that everything is not for me. Just because I want something or someone doesn't mean I can obtain it. People come in and out of your life for a reason. Some people stay in your life forever. No matter what, we all learn the same lessons just at different times in our lives.
(3) I am my worst enemy. I need to stop telling myself negative things. When negative things or sayings keep being kicked in your head constantly, you start to think about it. God made me perfect just the way I am. I need not to be in a rush to have what I think I should have at the moment, no instant gratification. I need to let things gradually happen. I need to stop worrying what I look like to others because I should know who I am and what I stand for. Life is too short to listen to every little thing someone else has to say about you.
(4) Lastly, I need to learn how to forgive other and forgive myself. We love to harbor things people do wrong to us. We need to learn how to forgive them not to only help them heal, but it is mainly for us to heal. But we never forget. We also need to learn how to forgive ourselves. We are so hard on ourselves we can't even appreciate life. We get scared and think people think the worst of us when they stare.
No matter what, I'm going to live life like I have never lived it before. I hope you take that chance too.
(1) I find myself wanting to go find myself by traveling the world, but do I have to really do that? I can find myself right here where I live. I just need to stay true to myself and learn how to stop and appreciate life as it comes. God didn't put me here to be depressed, angry, have low self-esteem, or frustrated my whole life. Besides, the last time I said I wanted to find myself, I almost landed on the floor. Just make sure you have the money to pay for your travels yourself because telling a black mother you want to find yourself, you just might end up being splattered on the floor....lol...=).
(2) I need to learn that everything is not for me. Just because I want something or someone doesn't mean I can obtain it. People come in and out of your life for a reason. Some people stay in your life forever. No matter what, we all learn the same lessons just at different times in our lives.
(3) I am my worst enemy. I need to stop telling myself negative things. When negative things or sayings keep being kicked in your head constantly, you start to think about it. God made me perfect just the way I am. I need not to be in a rush to have what I think I should have at the moment, no instant gratification. I need to let things gradually happen. I need to stop worrying what I look like to others because I should know who I am and what I stand for. Life is too short to listen to every little thing someone else has to say about you.
(4) Lastly, I need to learn how to forgive other and forgive myself. We love to harbor things people do wrong to us. We need to learn how to forgive them not to only help them heal, but it is mainly for us to heal. But we never forget. We also need to learn how to forgive ourselves. We are so hard on ourselves we can't even appreciate life. We get scared and think people think the worst of us when they stare.
No matter what, I'm going to live life like I have never lived it before. I hope you take that chance too.
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