My Passion

Worship is my passion. 

I am often asked, "What do I need to do to sing with an anointing? or "How do I get an anointing?" My heart was especially touched, though, when one lady said, "I want your anointing." God used that simple statement to stir my heart to help those who desire to worship, minister, or simply live a life that is truly anointed by the Holy Spirit.  I can only speak to this because I have fumbled, mumbled and stumbled until I found truth. 

We can all live anointed lives and serve from a place of spiritual power.  To do this we must understand why we lack the anointing and determine how to gain it. An examination of my life exposed hindrances and tools which impacted my journey to the power. Those truths provided the seed of the Pour the Oil series which has now grown to a vision of five books (two have already been published). 

The desire to help others birthed purpose, and the execution of purpose (writing Pour the Oil) changed me. Most amazing were the revelations in the writing process. They irrevocably transformed my heart. Many of the contaminants God exposed were eye openers. Even the exposition of some tools and how they should be used blew my mind. His revelations provided a spiritual awakening. In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul reminds us to "Stir up the gift." I was stirred, vigorously. 

I didn't realize how much my heart could take and what that meant. There was more (in me) for God to take apart, reorder, replenish and reassemble. I was humbled to a point of persistent worship. God is bigger, wiser, stronger, and He knows just what we need. I am grateful that I am not the same, and my journey continues. One thing which hasn't changed, worship is my passion, and I am pursuing God - relentlessly.

Constant Companions

Sweet words,
Constant companions.
They calm or stir,
evoke,
deride,
assault,
assuage,
force guilt,
or joy,
peace, anger -
fear.
Sweet words,
Constant companions.

Craftily woven
they create a
tapestry which
bends the ear and
draws the heart
unraveling tales,
triumphant,
woe,
Sweet words,
Constant companions.

Can I live
without them?
This I'll never know
When I wake up
or go to bed
They're always there
breathing, new life
Like Bible verses
truth rings clear -
Sweet words,
Constant companions.
I'll never let them go.

No Other Choice

I juggle daily.

When will I be able to get back to my manuscript? It is on my calendar, yet I struggle. Many writers understand this challenge. We have full time jobs, families and writing goals, among other things. The to do lists grow by the minute. To consistently persist until writing goals are reached is a constant choice. The journey from start to finish requires successful time management - and resolve.

The first thing which keeps me sane and moving is the fact that writing is my calling. The second, it is a passion that drives me. I will never give up, and I will become artful at making time. I have no other choice.

Strength

STRENGTH

Ah, it does offend you

that I celebrate my grays,

refuse to malign

people

or demonstrate

unpleasant ways?

Ah, and it offends you

that  I seem to take

a stand,

with my silence

as you whisper,

"Did you hear...?"

throughout the land.

And  you are also upset

that I don't compare

myself,

but celebrate

your "you nique" or

would even try to

help?

Please - don't be offended.

Everyone has their

own gift.

Strengths

that lend themselves

to culture,

fostering

unity, not rifts.

You have value,

I have value.

Can we all just

get along?

Together we

are a  unit,

fiercely relevant

and strong.

A Glimpse of Awesome ...

My mind was racing one hundred miles per minute, as I sat enveloped in silence. Six heads were bowed over a 1,464 word handout from the manuscript of my book, Pour The Oil. It was the first time my writing was being critiqued by our local Word Weavers group. I was both excited and apprehensive.

I saw hands moving. I heard pen on paper. Facial expressions reflected focus. The silence seemed endless; the air charged. It may have been due to a comment uttered when the last word was read from the handout, "... and she leaves us there. We want more." I chuckled inwardly. Maybe I was the only one charged. That was the thought until the group began sharing. 

They were thorough, intuitive, complimentary and enthusiastic. I felt encouraged. It was easy to receive comments geared toward making the work better, and wonderful to be affirmed. I heard things like:-

"This is a parallel to my life" 

"It is raw"

"I can't wait to hear more"

"I am going to add this to my reading list"

"It is needed now, in this time"

"You write well"

"It is obvious that you are a teacher"

"God will complete what He has started in you"

As valuable than the comments was the dialogue which started as a result of the (Pour The Oil) content shared. 

I don't say this to toot my own horn, but to express gratitude. I am thankful to Daddy God. I understand what He has done through me. There is purpose in this work and I see it. I got a glimpse ... of Awesome, and there is more to come. Stay tuned for more updates.

Bitten By The Bug

I have been bitten - by the writer's bug that is - and I cannot shake the symptoms of this windfall. My fingers will not stay still for a minute. My mind has created a folder of thoughts and concepts not yet typed. They are being stored at a rapid rate, and have reached a capacity that is threatening to overflow if I don't do something about it.

The Editor has been working on the "Pour The Oil" manuscript for exactly 6 days and I am itching to get back to writing. Clearly this is the season to accomplish this part of my purpose - to pen stories and principles that are destined to help those who are hungry for and have been prepared to receive them. I am ready for the words to begin pouring onto a page.

Today, I started the companion book to "Pour The Oil". It is a forty day Devotional. I am pretty excited about it. Stay tuned for more updates.

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

When Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream" he was not just daydreaming about something he wanted to see happen. Dr. King was living on purpose, taking every step in his power to move toward a difficult goal. His mindset; I will try until I die. He knew that achieving the dream would come at great cost. There is a price to finally realize what you may have been longing for your whole life. You have got to maintain sold out resolve, and unbroken focus.

Dr. King referred to many believing and working alongside him as, "veterans of creative suffering."  Wow! Think about that for a minute - "veterans." They had been in the struggle for a long while, but giving up was never an option. Jail, pain, pressure, the sight and stench of death; none of these things stopped the advancement of a people who believed.

It takes inner fortitude to keep moving when you can't even see a light -- when there seems to be no end to the journey. It takes some kind of spiritual power to continue moving forward when the path to the destination is obscured, or barred. That spiritual power is birthed at the same time you are - your purpose comes to life in that wail, as air fills your lungs for the first time.

That purpose propels you when others say it cannot be done. It keeps you working in the midst of snickers and criticisms that would discourage even the strongest. Purpose becomes a steel rod in your backbone. It is like a Kevlar vest, blocking verbal ammunition from penetrating; a helmet that shields the mind when projectiles are launched.

The only one who can stop purpose from being fulfilled is you. I dreamed of walking across a stage in cap and gown with my degree in hand. I dreamed of singing, and writing. There were many detours on the path, but purpose never died.

What is your dream? Are you going to give up because of something someone said or might have done to discourage you? Don't do that. Live on purpose. It will safeguard you as you navigate the process to destiny. Hold on -- You have what it takes. Be strong -- You are going to make it.

What are you doing the rest of your life? Living on purpose? Okay, that's what I want to hear. I am rooting for you.

Today, I Write

Today I write, 
like every other day. 
Sometimes I pen the journey
on vacant, ready, reams
sometimes it's only written 
in my memory, it seems
But today, I write, 
like every other day.