Your girl has been down with the Norovirus ( read up on at your own risk. Warning… its pretty gross) It couldn’t have been prevented( to all my friends and family out there who are concerned that I’m always sick ) half the children in my class plus my teaching partner contracted this virus. Mind you have started some new remedies that have really boosted my immunity, but this one I feel was inevitable. :(. I am just fine now 🙂
However, while I was on my forced sabbatical from work ( Public Health said we couldn’t return for 48 hours even though most of my symptoms were gone and I felt alright) I spent my time sipping on Gatorade and catching up on the talk show ” The Real” via YouTube. On one episode,they had a guest by the name of Dawn McCoy. She has started a movement to empower young girls. The movement calls on us more mature women to write a letter to the 15-year-old version of yourself, as a means to empower young ladies, to help steer them away from their insecurities and to build up a source of inner strength for the young people of today. Today’s generation has so many things that can really add to their insecurities, mainly social media. I think this is an example for young people ( especially young women) to see that life really does go on and get better! I think it’s also super important that this generation has positive and realistic role models to look up to. What advice/encouragement would you give the 15-year-old you? Here’s what I would have told myself…
Dear #15Me,
Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up. The world looks full of fun, but its full of responsibilities and obligations and tough situations.
Stay young and innocent for as long as humanly possible.
Respect your parents! They may seem like the bad guys now, but when you get older you will cherish the values they instilled in you. They are overprotective of you for a good reason. Try not to give them a heart attack with your crazy antics and unsavory and less than stellar behaviour.
Cherish the friends you have! some of them will walk with you for a lifetime, others you will lose along the way and some you will have to say goodbye to too soon and question why God had to take them back so young.(RIP Chan) You will never understand, but you will overcome. You will be OK.
Don’t stress yourself out over that silly boy. He is not the great love of your life! There will be others. You will suffer great heartbreak ,but you will come out stronger and better and wiser!
Don’t tweeze your eyebrows so thin! Super skinny brows won’t be a trend for very long!
Don’t worry about having braces and glasses at the same time.Your teeth will be gorgeous and glasses will one day be trend! You’re still a knockout!
Above all, take the commitment you make with God seriously. There will be times He will get you out of a jam that you thought was impossible. Don’t take Him for granted! He will be your best friend for life.
Finally, Keep smiling and don’t forget… you’re beautiful!
Good Lord LOL….
This Monday I feel the song “Beautiful Flower” by India Arie is so fitting! Have a blessed day! Take a moment to share your #15me with someone!
I hope you are having a wonderful week so far. This past weekend was a busy one for me. I had many rehearsals and events to attend so this oldish (lol) gal is EXHAUSTED! That’s why I had such a short post out yesterday… Nevertheless, this past Saturday was truly a blessing! I have been blessed with the opportunity to conduct a mass children ‘s choir for the Church of God of Prophecy in Eastern Canada’s National Convention ( Taking place in Mississauga Ontario at the Living Arts Centre from July 31 to August 2 2015…. I know… shameless plug 🙂 )
The feedback for children wanting or being able to participate was lackluster at best. I think I had about maybe 20 children confirmed to participate. So naturally, I was NERVOUS. Would you believe that at 10:30 am on Saturday morning 51 children showed up with an expectancy of 80+ children that are rehearsing and just weren’t able to make this particular rehearsal?? I could have kicked myself for doubting my prayers and God. I made candy bags as treats and had to send a friend to grab more candy and make more treat bags for me.
After the rehearsal was done, I had a short while before my next rehearsal/ event began. As I was sitting in my seat a soft still voice came to me and said “Why did you doubt me? I got you girl” ( I make no joke that’s what I heard LOL) The scripture Philippians 4:6 came to me and it reads:
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ( NLT)
Why do we worry about things that we already have given to God? If you ask Him to handle it, trust that He’s got it under control. There is absolutely nothing that He cannot solve, 🙂
Now, on Saturday evening I had an opportunity to participate in song at a concert for one of my sister churches. The West End Worship Centre ( WEWC) has relaunched their youth choir and Saturday was their first concert. Maaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnn…. ( is that exaggerated enough??) to say that I was blessed would be an understatement. The young people of that church are blessed. It was truly beautiful to see dozens of young people worshiping and having fun in the house of God on a Saturday night was refreshing.
WEWC Youth Choir…
They ministered so many great songs but the one that really took me to a special place (because its one of my favorites) was Marvin Sapp’s ” Praise Him in Advance”. Take a listen here:
Here are the lyrics:
I’ve had my share of ups and downs, times when there was no one around,
God came and spoke these words to me, praise will confuse the enemy. [repeat 2x]
I started singing, I started clapping, I started dancing, people were laughing,
they knew my problems, they knew my pain, but I knew God would take them away.
I have my share of ups and downs, times when there was no one around,
God came and spoke these words to me, praise will confuse the enemy. [repeat 2x]
I started singing, I started clapping, I started dancing, people were laughing,
they knew my problems, they knew my pain, but I knew God would take them away.
That’s why I praise him with my hands, that’s why I praise him with a dance,
He’s given me a second chance, come on lets praise him in advance.
That’s why I praise him with a song, when things are right and when they’re wrong,
He’s given me a second chance, come on lets praise Him in advance.
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him in advance. ( Azlyrics.com)
So many times we get wrapped up in our situations. We fail to lack the ability to “see the light at the end of the tunnel” . Instead of putting faith in God to deliver us from our situations, we tend to question Him ” Why me?” Well why not you? How do you know that everything that you are going through isn’t preparing you for something? It is inevitable. At some point in our lives, we are going to face hardships. But through those hardships try to remember:
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed ( 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ) NLT
God is with you through even the hardest of days. When it seems that everybody has abandoned you and there is no way out, praise your way through! It may not seem like you have anything to praise him for, but praise him anyway. My favorite line of song is ” Praise will confuse the enemy” So shout! Cry Out ! Let the enemy ( satan) know that he will not win!
The director of this choir is a friend of mine. She amazes me everyday. She has faced so much adversity in her family and she still leans on and trusts God to see her through.She truly epitomizes grace. If I can have even one shred of the grace she exudes,I will be an even stronger woman of God. I pray that God will continue to bless her! The work she has done with these young people ( and countless others including myself) is truly amazing! God lives in you! Keep pushing! Keep pressing! Your reward awaits you! God is pleased! Love you Wens!
One quick final shout out.:) My fellow blogger friend/ church sister is a part of this choir ( check out her blog here on WordPress No Strings Attached) I was so proud of her. Not only is she a wonderful person and blogger, she is a phenomenal singer. Y’all run over to her page and show her some love and encouragement! I know God is going to take her to higher places! I’m excited to go along on her journey!
Tonight I would like to leave you with one final song that I think sums up our topic tonight. It is Smokie Norful’s “Still Say Thank You”
The lyrics read:
I’ve had sins and I’ve had pain
My heart has been broken
And my life has been strained
But in spite of everything I’ve been through
I still gotta say thank You
I’ve been up and I’ve been down
Had my life turn, turn, turn
Completely around
But in spite of everything I’ve been through
I still I gotta say thank You
Thank You, thank You
For Your many blessings
(For Your blessings)
In spite of my mess
(In spite of my mess)
Lord, You looked down and You blessed me
(For Your blessings)
Even in the midst of my test
(In the midst of my test)
(In spite of everything)
In spite of everything
(I’ve been through)
I still gotta say thank You
Thank You, Jesus
For Your blessings
(For Your blessings)
In spite of my mess
(In spite of my mess)
Lord, You blessed me
(For Your blessings)
Right dead in the middle of my test
(In the midst of my test)
(In spite of everything)
In spite of everything, in spite of everything
That I’ve been through
I’ve still gotta thank You, Jesus
I wanna say, I just wanna say, thank You, Jesus
(Thank You, Lord)
Oh yeah, thank You
Yeah, just wanna say thank You, Jesus
(Thank You, I gotta say)
I gotta say thank You for every iddy biddy
Thing You’ve done in my life
For all the ways make me
For all the doors You open, Lord
I wanna say hey
(Thank You)
(I gotta say)
Glory, Hallelujah, for all You’ve done in my life
You’ve been Lord, You’ve been my protection
(My protection)
All of the way
(All of my way)
