Touching Lives & Making a Difference! Uplifting One Spirit One Smile at a Time!

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2020 Wish for You

 May this year bring you true love, success and the joy of the Lord. Trust and believe that God is at the helm of your life and everything that you are able to believe will come to pass and watch Him exceed it a million times more than you can imagine. My percentage scale fluctuates but never below 51%, for I am trusting that 2020 is the year that all the dreams and promises God placed in me will come true. 

Have faith in the vision God has given you and join me in walking into this new decade, a new year of promise and prosperity in health, family, business and wealth. I am believing for God to increase my territory, to make me the head and not the tail, the giver and not the borrower. To raise me above the ranks to the destiny He has called me to. This also my belief and prayer for each of you.

May 2020 be the fulfillment of all dreams and desire according to the one and true Kings of Kings, our Creator, and Savior. My prayer for each of us, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS
Be strong and steady so that you can find your place of stability.  I am your Stabilizer.  Look to Me for direction, guidance, and wisdom.  I will show you where to go and how to get there, says the Lord.  Put your faith and trust in Me.  Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.

HAPPY NEW YEAR make 2020 the year the decade of promises fulfilled.

Jackie’s Dash

Ecclesiastes 3 (ESV) is a familiar passage of scripture quoted when someone dies, or something of significance comes to an end; for there is a beginning and end to every life span.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3 (ESV)

However, at the time of loss, many question the reason for the loss. Yes, the bible state that “our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures;” but in truth, we never know when we will close our eyes for the final time. It is this reason why many say it is the space after the date of your birth and before the date of your death that counts the most.

When a child dies young, we say it was too soon. When a young life is taken due to violence we state, they were taken to soon. When illness strikes a loved one, we say we didn’t have enough time. However, in all of these matters, for someone out there, it will always be too soon.

I often quote a song penned by Thomas Whitfield, “Don’t Cry for Me,” when friends or family lose a relative or close friend. In the end, I would let the spirit guide my final thoughts depending if I had a personal relationship with the family or the loved one departed.  Words that would give them a happy memory to remember.

THe dash represents

See it is the space or time that dash stands for that will allow laughter instead of mourning, smiles instead of tears, love in place of pain. See it is that dash that can bring comfort to those that feel cheated and left behind. For its the memories that we leave, that will change one’s mourning into dancing. 

Often as we live our lives, we don’t like to think about when we will die when all that we set out to accomplished will come to an end. Few consider and/or can leave a legacy. We don’t stop and think about what people would really say about us in our passing.

The meaning

In 2015 during an interview, Lisa Nichols spoke about “The Dash.” She said something about wanting to make the dash dance. Sound strange but when you think about it would be nice. When one pass, you should want to be remembered for all the good that you did in this world. You should want to leave a legacy for the lives that you touched. You should wish to be remembered for the seeds you sowed; for the life that you brought forth; for the souls that you build up; and the promises you kept. You should want others to remember the times that you spoke and when you were silent. For how you dried tears and brought hope to the down trotted.

Yes, there is a time for everything, but in our death, the only time we should want others remembering are those actions done in love.  For no one is perfect, but if we live our lives each and every day, doing every deed for the perfect pleasing of God, we would have accomplished much during our lives.

An Angel’s Dash is Dancing

An angel was called home, on Sunday, September 15, ’19, left a legacy that extends far beyond the love for her sisters and their children. Far beyond the passion and devotion that she gave to her two children and her grandsons. She left a legacy with every precious soul that she touched as a school teacher and then as a teacher’s teacher and mentor. In this time of mourning, her dash is dancing. Dancing because her love outshined any imperfection.  

Yes, her dash is dancing, the memories of her life filled with love and compassion.

Rest in Sweet Peace Jackie Blackman, your legacy lives on through so many.

Understanding My Gift of Writing

This morning I had a conversation that confirmed so much for me. Faitherpreneur weekend 2k19 gave me clarity in many areas and blessing in others. Though each, I pray for God’s guidance with every decision I have to make. However, one consistent prayer keeps returning.  

Repeat Request

Now many will say once you asked God for something, you should leave it and trust God to handle it. For some that may work. However, I remember the story in the bible where a woman would repeatedly to the judge for the same request until one day because the judge was tired of hearing the same plea, granted her petition. The moral the writer, Luke 18: 4-6, was trying to get forth is that God would surely give the prayers of His children who cry out to Him day and night. For this reason, until I see the manifestation of God’s work to completion, my prayer remains the same.  

With all that God is doing in my life, I repeatedly asked God to clear my mind and time that I may write. Today’s conversation confirmed something I suspect but goes against the understanding and process of many. For many people, their book is just a conclusion of something else. Many will tell you that writing is not profitable. You write only to give creditability for work. However, I always knew that my essays would be the gift that makes room for me, and my speaking would be the conclusion. Today, such was shared. 

Author vs Writer

It was shared with me that there are authors, and then there are writers. Looking up the webster definition of an author, it is one who originates or creates something; the writer of a literary work (such as a book); while the definition of a writer is one that writes. Using the definitions of both that would refer to those that write books, she explained it further for me to understand who I am for me to own and walk-in fully.  

Today there are many authors, those that write a book to give information. Those that share their story as the bases why they are now doing what they are doing. Sharing a lesson to help others who may be going through something similar.  

A writer is someone who can take information and share it in such a way that grabs other’s attention while delivering a message; one whose passion is in creating manuscripts or scripts out the same information an author would use to write their book. I am that writer! 

Writing is my gift

As I set down to fulfill a request, I came across a piece that I penned in April 2016 entitled “What do I Love?” this question came from two challenges that I took in 2016, while I was seeking my purpose. In it, I wrote about my passion, rejection, and hurt that came from me writing. In earnest last year, I started speaking the truth over myself and not the lies that have were spoken over or into me over the years of what I could/should never do.  

After years of writing secretly, my mission is to share these thoughts with others so that they will have an impact on my readers. As God directs both me the writer to write for those whom He would lead to reading it.  

As I continue to follow my passion, the discovery continues to amaze me.  

Time to Write.  

Until next time, I will continue  

Touching Lives & Making a Difference!  Uplifting one spirit; One smile at a time! 

Plans going up in smoke…

I often state that I make plans, and God laughs.

But can we laugh when the plan goes up in smoke causing what feels like yet another setback? That yet again, your hopes and dreams are once again being denied or delayed.

But God. See He knows the plans He has for you, and we must trust that He who knows the beginning and the end, He who knows the counts of every hair on your head, He who formed you in the secrecy is not surprised when the timing or direction changes. For God’s, today is our tomorrow.

In our humanness we are vulnerable

The human side of us feels, rejection, hurt, forgotten. We go to the Father in tears, asking why, asking how long must we be denied, how long must we have to suffer. You go to our Father asking: do you see me, Father, do you hear me. Father, are you with me.

It is times like this; we must dig deep into our pain and remember God’s words. We, like David, must comfort ourselves by seeking and listening for the voice of God. We must not forget His word says He will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us till the end of time. Remember that has He who clothes the lily in the fields and feeds the birds of the sky, even more, He will care for His children.

Moving Forward

After two days of crushing blows and setbacks, today’s word was just for me. I shall pick up myself, wipe my eyes, knowing that God is with me. Knowing that which He has promised, that which He has spoken will be in His timing. Not worrying about today, bit seeking my Father’s will. But most all I’m blessed knowing all things work for the good to those call on His name, and who’s soul trust and wait in Him.

JULY 26, 2019 SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS

You can make your plans and set your course, but you must hold them loosely. Be willing to make adjustments as you go. You do not know what the future holds, but I do, says the Lord. When you allow Me to give direction and guide you, you can expect the best outcome possible. I am your hope and future, and I am with you. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

As our Child age…

So as we get older and our child age, we asked ourselves what will happen when we can’t take care of our children anymore? Who will? Will they be ok?

These questions become a growing list of worries as child and parent both age. In NYC, the support drastically changes once they age out of school at 21. The new system, believe home care is the answer. But is it?

Many parents struggle with the daily challenges of raising their children, maintaining a home and paying bills. Many marriages fall apart because the struggle is real and one party can’t cope or accept their child’s diagnose. The mental and physical health of the parent(s) deteriorates due to lack of support, isolation, physical neglect.

The Struggle is real!

For many, we keep our child close to us as possible. Fearful to have them around anyone because they won’t be understood. Fearful of the reaction to others if they have a crisis or meltdown in public. Fearful of the ignorant comments we may receive by those who are judgemental without a clue. But by isolating our children are we really preparing them for the real world. By isolating ourselves, we become unaware of the pitfalls and danger to our own mental state.

To place or not to place

There are programs, for the server medical or challenging behaviors. Most of them are residential others are day programs. For the day program, we are a lot more accepting of them. For our child leaves our home, goes to a school fully equipt to meet their needs and then return to less than half equipt setting at home. See they need more than our love and presence. The need a fully structured program to train and teach them the skills we haven’t been able to teach. But to send them to someplace else we first have to understand that true love of our child, is not doing what is comfortable or expected so save face. True love is admitting when we are in over our heads and accept we are no longer capable of giving our child the care and love that need in totality.

Follow “As the child age…” continues discussing next the path of residential placement rational.

Motherhood & Dreams

In life we allow other things and people to take priority in our lives. But doing this we put our hopes and dreams on the back burner. Mothers are the largest population of people who commit this crime and mother’s of special need children are the biggest offenders. But motherhood and dreams can exist together.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. In 2019 I declared that my passion will walk side by side of me being a mother of two specific needs young men. Each with their own unique gifts and challenges. Each morning I awaken to care for them, I cared for myself, That includes following my passion.

Beautiful Village was birth out of lack. Lack of full parental support for mothers whose child is diagnosed with cognitive or mental health issues. Yes, there are programs and agencies that assist mothers in obtaining the care and services for their child, but none of these services reach back and gave support to the mental health and needs of the mother. One of the major points will allow the mom’s know that their passion doesn’t have to die. Postponed but not dead.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

I have had to delay my dreams. My dream of completing my education, I walked in the class of 2012. A 20-year vision of starting my our organization, inception 2019. A desire to write and published a book. Informed and persuaded that I wasn’t capable of such task, Volume one set to be released in August 2019 a cumulation of 5-year labor of love.

In August of 2019, “Entwined Hearts” the first release in my new series Matters of the Heart will be released. Proving motherhood and dreams can co-exist. For more information on this dream come true follow my progress at JustMystique.com.

To understand why I write is to understand the passion and vision for Beautiful Village. This is explained in my post “The true purpose of my writings.” Which at the end of I share an excerpt from the book.

Started pinning my first non-fiction “Mommy I want to be an Angel.”

It harder than writing my fiction books “Matters of the Heart Series.” Though a lot of the storyline in my romance stories is based loosely on my friend or even my life growing up, there a different type of muscle need to write directly about your life for all to read.

 

Today I awakened with the intention of writing in spite of having my son home with me. It is time I learn how to push through the distraction of his presence and general activity and get these books from mind to paper to the publisher. What I expected to write and wrote are two very different topics and styles. I intended to write. God intention was to have me finally pin my story of raising a child diagnosed with a mental health disorder and suffers from depression with suicidal idealization. No word count but the first section of a 5 section notebook completed.

 

I also realize that I will also need to pen a story of surviving a child diagnosed with regression autism and a severe fatal esophagus disease if his diet is not followed carefully and sent to the ‘house of Eli’ for training and nurturing. So much of my first-born is at the beginning of this story for contextual information it would only be fair to share his whole story as well.

To walk in my calling, I must be transparent in why I do what I do. So the preparation begins for the next level to commence.

7/29/18

A Loveless Mother’s Forgiveness

Many sons and daughters this Mother’s Day, longs for another day to be able to hear their mother say “I Love You”, for a chance to be held in their mother’s arms again. To have that one last chance to hear their voice, but instead must live on memories.

For many Mother’s Days, I have written letters to my mother. Letters that allowed me to express words that I could never share with her directly. Words that give me release from the pain of her absence, release from memories that leave me wanting and crying for what could never be.

 

What do you say to the children whose mother was just the vessel that gave birth to them? What words of comfort do you share that relieves the pain of missing a mother’s love that they may never experience even though they were raised in the same home with her.

 

Fathers (Mothers), do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Eph. 6:4 NAS

I remember the teaching that states to “honor your father and mother and your days will be long” for by following this commandment you receive the first promise. A lesson all parent teach their children regardless if they follow Ephesians 6:4 or not. But when your mother’s discipline was in pain, her teachings were not of the Lord’s yet though it all you remain quiet. You honored her if for no other reason than she gave birth to you. You stayed quiet about home because others couldn’t believe or accept your truth. It’s a hard concept to understand anyone having anything but a loving mother. Yet the Lord questioned and answered that very possibility. The LORD answered, “Could a mother forget a child who nurses at her breast? Could she fail to love an infant who came from her own body? Even if a mother could forget, I will never forget you. Isaiah 49:15 CEV

As I look back, I used to mourn for what could never be. I mourned for love that I never received. But one day, I realized I wasn’t motherless, but blessed.

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me. Psalm 27:10 CBS

The bible states that in the absence of parents the Lord would care for you, and He will. Throughout one’s life, God sends mothers to guide and lead at different points in your life. The woman in your neighborhood whose house welcomed you with hugs and cakes. The teacher that made that extra time to talk you whenever you felt lost.  The coach that encouraged you to succeed and continue to root for you even when there was no one else rooting. The church momma that gently guided you when started going left instead of right. The Lord cared for you by bringing numerous mothers in your life at the time you need them.

Yes, there is nothing like a mother’s love from the woman who is responsible for bringing you into this world. It is a bond that one would think impossible to be absent, destroyed or neglected. Unfortunately many children this Mother’s Day look on Mother’s Day in disdain. If you happen to know one of those children, hug and let them know they are loved. As God spoke to Jeremiah, He also is speaking to you. “Jeremiah, I am your Creator, and before you were born, I chose you to speak for me to the nations.”Jeremiah 1:5 CEV  The Lord continues the tell us has He stated: “I will bless you with a future filled with hope–a future of success, not of suffering.” Jeremiah 29:11 CEV  

The Lord has covered you through your childhood, He gave you testimony to share and assists others. He has given you a recipe to create your own family knowing all item that will allow you to flourish as a loving parent.

This Mother’s Day to the motherless child, I beseech you to forgive and let go of what could never be. I request for you to leave your past only taking the lessons learned. To become that mother you never had. To care for children from your womb or others that they will call you Blessed.

 

When you Write your Vision…You have clear directions

Are you are following your Vision as it is Written?

As as the 2nd month of the second quarter begins I started looking at everything on my calendar and realize everything isn’t speaking to my Purpose! Last year a took a position that held promise to take me the next level. Though I know nothing comes easy as you are growing but it shouldn’t steal my joy or bother me. There are other factors that also is playing my decision, the immediate need for my sons, my current health challenge. But the main thing is that it is taking me away from what I am called to do most.

God has placed books inside of me to write. Since the New Year, the time I would write has been occupied with other demands, As of May 7, I will tender my resignation letter. The Rate of Return (ROR) in some many ways did not make up for the cost of what I was paying.

It is important that we truly test every opportunity present before us. Yes, it may seem like a good path, it may even have many pluses that seems to benefit our goal. But if the ROR is less than the cost of what we are called to do, is it worth it? The spirit within speaks to us, and often we listen on the first whisper and other times we have to learn a direct lesson on why this wasn’t the route for us to take.

I received some good contacts  I have earned valuable connections, but in the vision that God has given me, this opportunity was given as a test, and after 6 months of struggling, after and praying for the past couple of weeks and days, after allowing God to speak into the plain writing of my vision, I know where I should be and what I should be doing.

Today, I leave these tidbits with you:

1) Test every opportunity against the true vision that God has given you.

2) Make sure the cost of your time is less than the Rate of Investment. The things that we do, may take not only monetary factor into consideration but it will also takes up valuable time we can’t get back.  Whatever we do we should ensure a plentiful return for our purpose.

3) WRITE YOUR VISION!  For months my vision was only in my head. Every time I set down to type it, I was distracted. Until one Sunday I set down with a pen and paper and wrote the vision that God has given to me for this year. The clarity that became evident spoke volumes to my spirit and lifted the pressure I could not identify,

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2

We can’t truly operate within our vision if we never write it out. If I have written when I first tried back in January or even last December, I would have seen I have been walking in my understanding.

Now following the written vision and plan, I will continue to pray for God to increase my territory that I may serve His children, His precious daughter as He leads me.

Write your Vision and Listen to the guidance of Holy Spirit and watch your tent expand greatly.

 

Who am I in 2018

Last night in my first Mastermind class. Yes, I have stepped up the level of development I will receive His year. Each year since God has taken me on this journey of understanding His purpose and will for my life, He has allowed for one His daughters to minister at the point where I was in my life. 2016 He allowed me to meet Abundance Now Ambassador who explained every lesson that God has taught me in 2015.

See my relationship with my heavenly Father has been since the beginning That if I ask,  He answers directly and specifically through a relationship He establishes at that point in my life. To God glory, many of those relationships still exist to this today.

In 2015, my first born assigned to in a residential school, my youngest son’s diagnose became clear all while going through a divorce that was anything that was pleasant. Moving 20 years of my life and two children back to my childhood home that was anything but happy memories. Removed from all the personal support, God used that time to break my will and replaced with His. For 2016 the Abundance Now movement was what I needed to understand where I am, whose I am, and why I am.

In 2017, God levels me up in my life and introduce me a ministry that based on being Doers of the Word. He placed me under a ministry that required me to invest in myself, mentally, spiritually and financially. The Abundance Life Camp has guided me thru eviction, homelessness, to a new apartment. And most of all walking unapologetic in calling and purpose.

For 2018 God has added a new dimension to my development. And the first direct question for this month homework has made me realize that I have involved beyond even where I thought I was two years ago. At the end of 2017, Dr. Marshall and Dr. Grant had us reflect on what we have accomplished in 2017, where we have fallen short, our wins and our losses. If we reached the goals we set out to complete. But in the class, I realize that I am more than what many know of me. I am more than a single mother of two specific need boys that have overcome rejection from their father. More than the rejection of my mother or abuse from her family. I am more than the specific need advocate that loves working with other mothers saving them from the headaches I endured before receiving the help after the diagnoses of Autism for my firstborn. Yes, that is my passion, but I am more.

I am a woman that has the battle scares obtained through the University of Life thru God’s teachings. I am a minister to His daughters who need to know they can and will overcome every struggle set is before them. That we are not an island unto ourselves but as we are to fellowship with each other in the faith; we called each into a Beautiful Village of support.

As Peter told the cripple man in front of Gate Beautiful,  “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” What Peter and John gave to this beggar was hope and a belief in something greater than what money can buy. For all those that come to my ministry, Beautiful Village restores hope in women whose childhood and or adult lives have left them crushed and bruised. But it my hope to show them they are not broken but their strength is greater than even they realize. It is for the mother who doesn’t understand that the gift of raising a specific needs child is a blessing, albeit a struggle, but a gift. A gift to teach us who we are and what cloth we are made from. A gift that allows us to have a voice we may never have found otherwise. This is the same in every situation we face in life. The challenges we face is to prepare us to help someone else. To be a voice for those that are hiding, ashamed, or living in fear and need to know they aren’t alone.

As I move forward this year, I look to exposed every aspect myself and bring them together as a complete package. To end the fragmented knowledge of who I am with different segments. To present my total self to those that need me. No, I can’t be everything to everyone. Yes, there are areas in my life that though I may have overcome. However, I understand that there are those in my village that is better suited to talk about some topics better than me. But I am a complete package that’s created to share my voice to bring healing and hope.

 

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