Facebook/Twitter...The "Real World"???

Today is my day 23 of my "Lent" from facebook/twitter with 17 more days to go. Can't get too cocky because that is when you get tripped up...seeing the finish line. Someone actually asked me, "how do you know what's going on in the "real world" if you are not on facebook/twitter"? WTHeck? When did facebook and twitter become the "real world"? Granted they are great tools for you to keep in touch with relatives, old friends, and meet new people...but they are hardly the instrument in which I would gauge what to call the "real world". When a person post something on facebook/twitter is not the "real world", but THEIR world. It is how they want you to see what they want you to see. Confusing? Let me help you out. People post those things that they want you to know, period point blank. If they don't want you to know their relationship status, they just won't post it. If they don't want you to know that they have 7 kids with 6 different people, they just won't post it. Only the flattering pictures are posted, the wittiest things are said, and if those are not liked, they can be deleted and start over from scratch. So to think that facebook/twitter are considered the "real world", implies that Snow White, Sponge Bob, and the Easter Bunny are the heroes that children everywhere should look up to...not so much. Please don't think I'm bashing facebook/twitter, they definitely have a fondness in my heart. I just don't think they should be the standard which is held to be considered the "real world"...not my world anyway. Even if you don't agree with what I said, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

Selfish...

Selfish, devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others. Well, reading the whole definition it sounds like a bad thing. If you go back and read the first part of the definition, "devoted to or caring only for oneself"; it doesn't sound so bad. Actually, isn't that what we are suppose to do? After God, why shouldn't we put ourselves first? If I am 100%, I can at least give you some of that. If I'm 0% what can I give you out of that? You can't be everything to all people and nothing to yourself. Do something as small as buying yourself some "Leroy from Fame" dance shoes for Zumba class, or plan a 4th Decade excursion. Okay, we are definitely talking about me, lol. You were not created to be the saving grace. Jesus handled that over 2000 years ago with the cross and the resurrection. Now don't get me wrong, if you are married and have children, please serve them, here is the lesson: If you take care of yourself first, you can do a better job of taking care of them. Luke 10:27, "And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Here is the blessing; put God first, and love your neighbor as yourself...you have to love yourself and take care of yourself before you can do the same for others. Even if you don't agree with what I said, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

A Secret...

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others...A secret. I witnessed one being uncovered today and it was uncomfortable to watch, so I know it was horrifying to those involved. A secret often has the domino effect. It is painful because it involves betrayal. It is betrayal because usually the parties are those who are closest to our hearts. There is a sense of disbelief, confusion, and unanswered questions. The shocking revelation of "everybody knew but you", lingers like a bad taste in your mouth that swallowing the truth... just can't take away. Having been on both sides of a secret, here is the lesson: Handle it, don't be destroyed by it. Confront, be angry, and in the end...forgive. Holding a grudge or resentment eats away from the very essence of who you are...you are too fabulous or have too much swag for that. Now don't get me wrong, it is truly a process, but if you remember, "Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37 (NIV)...that is the blessing in the lesson. Even if you don't agree with me, thank you for taking the time to see it Jen's way.

Half way there...

Today is day 20 and I have 20 more days to go on my "Lent" of giving up Facebook/Twitter. The pack at work has dwindled down to a hand full. In the voice of Forrest Gump, "that is all I'm going to say about that." I can only speak for me, but one day at a time. Side eye glance to the folks that are sending me messages through facebook/twitter...STOP THAT!!! My email still notifies me when someone sends me a message, comments or post on my page. Lead me not into temptation...These past 20 days have put me in "teachable mode". I love to learn things that I don't know, guess what? There is alot that I don't know. Shocking, isn't it...lol? The greatest lesson I guess I have learned thus far is that, you can have vision, but still can't see because your view is being blocked. I won't go into details because even though this blog is about seeing it Jen's way, some things are just too intimate that your spirit has to look away so that your soul can have a moment...Le Sigh. Raising my bottle of Powerade that I am currently drinking; here is to the next 20 days, yielding from facebook/twitter, teachable moments, being careful, taking chances, and most importantly...God's Will. Cheers!!!

Unnecessary...

I woke up with a fullness in my spirit. A regrouping is about to take place. The people and situations around me are the same, but I'm different. I am entering a season that woulda, coulda, and shoulda just doesn't have a place in my life. My tolerance for unnecessary has reached its limit. It is one thing to go through something, cause there is a lesson to be learned and God is going to get the glory out of it in the end; never the less, to go through something because you have fear, stubbornness, and are making the situation more difficult than it needs to be is...unnecessary. Most of times we want to blame everyone for the issues in our lives instead of looking into the mirror. We need to do an inventory and look at what part we played in the situation that didn't work out. If you want to play the victim, get you an agent, and go on auditions. Sometimes in life, we are not done fairly, but 69% of the time, we are eating from the plate we fixed. In the resounding voice of Fannie Lou Hammer, "you have to get sick and tired of being sick and tired." Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." So do an inventory, get your mind right, and get rid of the unnecessary in your life. Even if you don't agree with what I said, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

The love of a child

Enjoying the newness of another day that God has blessed me to see. I am such a morning person. I love the first fruit of a new day, I love the new mercies that the Lord gives me, and I love another chance to eat my favorite food...grits, lol. Today is day 18 of my "Lent"...22 more days to go. In my office, you could probably count the folks on two hands that are yet holding on. Giving up something has been a main stay in your life is hard...but doable. Read my earlier blog, Reconditioning your Mind to get some insight on that. One thing I do need to recondition my mind about is my nephew, who I call the "Toddler". He and I are going to hang out today. Pray for me because he is every bit of two years old, lol. Everything he does is done with  such flair and abandonment; like he just knows that it is going to work out every time he attempts it. I love that wide eyed free falling kind of faith, small children always have it. When puberty hits, it is but a distance memory. The "Toddler" has not grasped the concept of hugging my body...he hugs my whole head. He has not grasped the concept that my sister and I have names. We are both "Aunteee" to him. When he leaves my present, he always blows a kiss in my direction and refuses to move until I have reciprocated. The love of a child leaves me in awe. Matthew 18:2-5, ² "He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."  Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward appearances, are free from being mean, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents. Surely we need to be daily reconditioned in of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children.  Though, you may not agree with what I said, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

"Hit it and quit it."

Reality, the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or may be thought to be. This definition is so lovely, however in today's world even reality has a spin on it. I miss the "good ole days". I like to call it the "hit it and quit it" era. I'm not talking about having grown folks relations and never hearing from the person again. I'm talking about telling someone or doing something and be done with it. No going back and forth, no arguing for 2 weeks, and no convincing folks of your point of view. "Just "hit it and quit it". If you are at work and a co-worker brings up an issue, just say, I hear what you are saying...I will look into ways of correcting that situation. Don't go back and forth with them, just "hit it and quit it." If you children refuse to be obedient, don't argue with them...start disciplining them. "Hit it and quit it." My mom gave me the best "hit it and quit it advice, that I still remember to this day..."If you ain't no ho, don't act like no ho." She "hit it and quit it, she told me that and was done with the subject, lol. If you are in a relationship with someone( Not talking about marriage...that's convenant), "hit it and quit it" quickly. Don't keep arguing about the same thing, stop trying to fix something that is broke beyond repair, and learn when it is over..."Hit it and quit it." Of course, the "hit it and quit" philosophy is not appropriate in all situations, but if you can use it..."Hit it and quit it". Even if you don't agree with what I said, thank you for seeing it Jen's way.

Today was a good day...

Three Times a Lady is my favorite Commodores/Lionel Ritchie song. It ponders my mind how Lionel Ritchie could write such a beautiful ballad, and he and Brenda (his 1st wife couldn't make it)? Nothing to really blog, just wanted to post my favorite ballad. Day 15, not so stir crazy. Folks are still dropping like flies in my office. I'm yet holding on. I can actually see light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm not talking about a train coming straight at me. I'm not as weary, I can see things that were always there, but now I see them in a new light. For the first time in a long time, I'm not pressed about anything or anybody. In the words of that Hip Hop Poet, Ice Cube, "Today was a good day." 25 more days to go and I have an outstretched neck of expectations of how God is going to continue to move in my life. Well, I guess I did have something to blog after all. Even if you don't agree with what I post, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

Multi-tasking...

Multi-tasking...is the performance by an individual of appearing to handle more than one task at the same time. The keyword is APPEARING. It may seem like you are getting alot done in a smaller amount of time, but in the end you are really missing out. Something in your life is not getting the attention in which it deserves. More times than none, it is our personal relationships which end up getting the short end of the stick. Text messaging, facebook, and twitter are wonderful ways to communicate...you know I know this better than anyone. Here is the lesson...they shouldn't be our only forms of communication in our personal relationships. There is something to be said about hearing someones cheerful voice on the other end of the phone, giving someone a hug as a greeting, or even looking into the eyes of someone while you are recalling the events of your day. As for myself, since not being on facebook/twitter, I try to make an conscious effort to give folks my undivided attention. If I am on the phone with you, I will not put you on speaker, so I can try to level up on my "Angry Birds" game. If I meet you for a quick cup of coffee, I will not keep checking my phone for text messages or emails. When we are out to dinner, I will not avoid eye contact with you, but glancing at my phone every three minutes. God is still working on me about cutting the phone off all together...I'm under construction. If I must attempt to multi-task, it will be to do a load of laundry while starting dinner or reading a book while listening to some music. It will no longer be at the risk of not giving you the attention in which you so greatly deserve for being a part of my life. Now if I'm eating grits with Tyler Perry and Tito Jackson is performing...then I may have to rethink this multi-tasking thing, lol. Even if you don't agree with me, thank you for taking the time to see it Jen's way.

Le Sigh...

Le Sigh, is a term that I borrowed from a friend. Not sure of their meaning behind it, but for me it is like a deep sigh from my soul. After the evening I just had, that term is appropriate. To God be the glory. During this season of "Lent", I had been praying to the Lord on some stuff, and today he brought it full circle for me. SN: Be careful what you pray for, it may just come to pass, lol. Some things occured and I instantly rose up in my flesh and said, Lord, I don't want to go through this, fix it Lord...make it better. What I should have known was the minute, I called out to him, God was already fixing the situation. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." God gave me favor and the situation is being worked out at this very moment. I trust God, but at the moment I was going through my situation,but it was like Jesus asking me to get out the boat to walk on water to him, and I said wait a minute Jesus...let me grab my life jacket. "Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord." One of my issues is I don't like to ask for help. I would rather do it myself, that way I know that it is done. God has been saying, allow me to put people in your path that will assist you, trust me to work it out for you. The essence of this is to seek after the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. So while my heart is learning how to trust,  my mind is trying to keep the faith... my soul is letting out a Le Sigh...You may not agree with what I said, but thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

Sense of Smell...

When I returned home after being out for the evening, I was greeted by an unpleasant stench...the trash needed to be taken out, which I did immediately. I had been inside most of the day with the smell and it didn't really phase me. It was only when I left the trash and then returned to it, did I discover how stink it really was. Our lives are like that sometimes. We can be in a stinking or messy situation, and it doesn't even phase us. It is only when someone brings it to our attention, or we have a chance to get away from the situation for a while, do we really realize how stinking it is. That is why it is such a blessing when God puts folks in your life to help your sense of smell. You may not like it at first, because it seems like you are always being called on your stuff. If it's the truth, then you will have to deal with it sooner or later...it's not going anywhere. If you are the person pointing out the stinking, though it maybe the truth, do it in love. Steak and baked potato is appealing on a plate with sour cream and butter on the side. Steak and baked potato on a garbage can lid with sour cream and butter on the side...not so much. As you start the beginning of this work week, check your sense of smell. If something in your life is giving off an unpleasant scent, you may want to check it and even throw it out. Even if you don't agree with what I said, thank you for seeing it Jen's way.

My Springtime Prayer w/ video by Trin-i-tee 5:7

Thank you Lord for allowing me to see the start on another Springtime. A time of renewal, and growth. Bless the person reading this and allow favor to shine upon their life. Thank you for your grace and mercy even when I am not deserving, you bless me over and over. In Jesus Holy name I pray...Amen!!!

Hope

There is a quote that goes, "The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring." Tomorrow is that day...finally. This has been one of the harshest winters in my lifetime. I learned how to drive in gear 1 and 2 on ice in the state of Georgia, who knew? I am so looking forward to Springtime, for it is a time of renewal. With renewal comes life and where there is life, there is hope. Hope is the belief of a postive outcome to events or circumstances in our lives. During the springtime, farmers plant crops and HOPE for a harvest in the fall. College students in the state of Georgia, rely on a scholarship called HOPE grant to help them achieve a college degree. God in heaven puts emphasis on HOPE in his word, where it is nestled in between faith and love in 1 Corinthians 13:13. Without even realizing it, I use hope in my everyday life. When my gas light comes on in my car, I HOPE I have enough fumes to get me to the gas station. Whenever I go out to eat, I HOPE I don't get any allegric reaction due to my allegies. I went to the movies this evening to see this independent flick, I WILL FOLLOW,  and I HOPED that it would be worth my money...which it was, must see movie. I wrestled with a decision to do something that could have blew up in my face, and HOPED for a positive reaction...smiling, cause it surprisely went well. The point of it all, is that Springtime is upon us, and that brings new HOPE. Even if you didn't agree with what I said, I HOPE you can take something from it and see it Jen's way.

 

Ifs...and conditions

It is finally the end of the work week, Yipee!!! Today is day 10 of "Lent", so only 30 more to go. The "pack" at work continues to thin out with folks dropping their "Lent promises." Hmm, somehow this gives me strength to be one of the folks who completes all 40 days. Don't get me wrong, I still miss facebook/twitter, I just have a ride or die outlook on completing this task. What has been a great help is occupying my time with things that are constructed. I have created a "Youtube" page, jgfavor1. I actually have 3 videos that I posted all by myself. A friend gave me directions on how to upload videos 5 months ago, I just never took the time until now. I started taking a Zumba class, which is sooo fun. You could end up procreating attending that class, those moves are something else, lol. Of course I started this blog, which is a God send. It's only day 10...My 40 days of "Lent" are full of conditions. If I stay busy doing other things, I won't get on facebook/twitter. If I think about it, my whole life is full of ifs...and conditions. If I do this, I can get that. Even if I try to keep ifs...and conditions out of my relationships, it has a way of creeping its way back. Without even realizing it, we put ifs...and conditions on the folks that we allow in our lives. I will be your friend if you stay within these certain perimeters, never to step out of line. I will love you if you only make me happy and never betray me. It is not to be helped, blame it on being human. We do everything with ifs...and conditions. Only the love of God is unconditional. No matter what we do, he will ALWAYS love us. The ultimate show of this love was giving us his son Jesus. To accept Jesus as your personal savior comes without ifs...and conditions. How awesome is that? I leave you with one more ifs...and conditions; if I log off of this computer, I can go to bed and not have bags under my eyes tomorrow. Even if you do not agree with what I said, thank you for seeing it Jen's way.

Compassion

It has been a longggg day. When I started this blog, I didn't think that I would post every day, but stuff keeps coming up in my spirit...and I have to let it out. Today one of my co-workers lost their father. It shook up everyone up in the office cause we all knew the father on a personal level. Death is the one thing in this world that I can't grasp. The absoluteness of it, ponders me. I know in my head that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. However, this is a concept that my heart will never adhere to. It has been said that the worst loss is of a parent and a child. Having experienced both of these first hand, I would readily agree. The old saying that "time heals all wounds" is not an accurate statement when pertaining to death. The loss hurts me like it just happen. I get each day and go on with my living, cause that is what I'm suppose to do. There is a small part of me that changed forever, and to that I just shrug my shoulders...it is what it is. Getting back to my co-worker, I cried for her. Not at the thought of losing a parent, but at the thought of a small part of them will be changed forever. I was thinking about John 11:35 when it said, "Jesus Wept." He didn't weep because Lazarus was dead. He was the Son of God who could heal the sick and raise the dead. He wept, because he had COMPASSION for Mary for the sadness and pain she felt at the loss of her brother. I can't change the situation for my co-worker, but I can show her compassion for the sadness and pain of the loss of her father. Le Sigh, you may not agree with what I said, but thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

Peace of Mind

Just taking a moment to breathe. I'm talking inhaling taking it all in my lungs, and exhaling like my life depended on it. In a way it does. It helps to achieve a peace of mind. I am very big on having a peace of mind in my life. When I was going through my divorce, I wanted to file on the grounds that my now ex-husband had taken my peace of mind, and I wanted it back. What I know now and didn't know then, is that my peace of mind is owned by me and me only...not to be given to anyone at will. Something else I know now is to live without regrets. If you offend someone, hurt someone, or make a mistake try to make amends. Offer the olive branch, show remorse, or just say plain ole sorry. The next thing you do is NOTHING...you have done everything that was within you to fix the situation. It is not your job to make someone forgive you for any injustice that you may have done to them. I was having a conversation with a friend who had made an offense against another person, and they had reached out to that person to make amends. However, they were still carrying the guilt and the pain of creating the offense in the first place. I shared a similar experience that I had recently went through. The difference was that I was not carrying any regrets from my situation. First of all, my offense was not fresh, so time had soften the wound. I apologized to the person, I forgave myself, and I grasped the concept that you can't make anyone do anything...You can make a bed, a point, and even a sandwich, but you can't make another person do something they are not ready to do. I advised my friend on allowing God to fix the situation. As people, we get in our own way of trying to fix things. Though, we may regret that how the situation ended up, we never regret having the situation in the first place. Forgive yourself, have faith in God, and breathe...get a piece of mind. Though you may not agree with what I said, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

Reconditioning Of The Mind

Well, it has been a full 7 days since I began my "Lent" of Facebook/Twitter. 7 is the spiritually number of completion. I am a long way from completion, I have 33 more days, but I think I can make it. That gives me hope, cause folks are dropping like flies in my office. It is hard to give up caffeine and sugar once your body has chemically become accustomed to it...that is a nice way of saying addicted, lol. What I'm giving up is different cause it is a learned behavior...a habit if you will. It is a mind-set issue. I just have to recondition my mind so that it is not an issue. Hmm, I have to recondition my mind, so that alot of other things aren't issues too. Alot of you know that I get up every morning at 4am to pray and have devotion. I do this with ease every morning weekends included. Now, I'm not saying this to say that I'm "Super Christian." I am sharing this because it is a result of reconditioning my mind. About 2 years ago at my former church, the Lord led my Pastor to pray every morning at 5am. I had to force myself to get up and pray with my Pastor. Sometimes, I would even fall asleep during prayer and wake up at the end, just in time to say in Jesus name we pray...amen. I struggled, but I got up every day and prayed at 5am. One day, it wasn't a struggle any longer. I would get on the prayer before my Pastor would. Outside of the 5am prayer, I began to see an increase in my prayer life, just over all. I said all that to say this, if I could recondition my mind to increase my prayer life, then I certainly can recondition it to let go of Facebook/Twitter for 33 more days. It only takes 21 days for something to become a habit. You may see this issue a different way, but thanks for taking time to seeing it Jen's way.

My Virgin Blog

I am chuckling, because I never thought I would blog. I guess never say never. I have given up both facebook and twitter for the 40 days of Lent, and was desiring an outlet just to express myself. Today is day six since Ash Wed. and I'm not fiending so much. Now the first two days, I was like an addict who needed a fix. Thank God for putting folks in my life who entertain my quirkyness. I am a quoter and my friends allowed me to text them quotes since I couldn't post them on facebook and twitter. The reason, I decided to "Lent" fb and twitter is because they have in a sense became bigger than who I was. I needed to take inventory of the things and the people that I had in my life. An incident occured to allow me to see that we shouldn't never believe our own hype. If God doesn't elevate us, then it is called pride. The word of God says that "Pride cometh before the fall." I thought I was given an assignment, when in essence, the assignment was me. Spiritually, I'm in the pit working my way back to the palace...not in my time, but in God's time. Thank goodness that God is not like man. He forgives us, the minute we repent. There is no condemation through Christ Jesus. Now, not to say that you may have to go through something for your actions, cause the word of God says, "God is not to be mocked. For as a man soweth, he shall surely reap." After that is said and done, you learn the lesson and get the blessing. 34 more days of Lent to go. Who knows the lessons I will learn, what to hold to and what to let go, or even if I go back to facebook and twitter at all? I'm not asking you to see it the right or the wrong way, I'm just asking that if you read my blogs...you will see it Jen's way.