About three years ago, I blogged about a book I read called “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver. A sister-friend of mine highly recommended it to me. My friend, I will call her “Mary” for the purpose of this piece. Like the biblical figure to this day she exhibits characteristics that mirror that of Mary; the ultimate worshipper desiring only to lie at the Master’s feet and serve him in excellence with a pure heart.

To tell you the truth I don’t know who outside of the Holy Spirit could have motivated my modern day Mary to recommend this particular book to me. It was such an on time read. Just 6 months earlier I had been released from my last full-time ministry position and I had begun serving only three months after that again in volunteer ministry leadership. I was looking for new fulltime employment, working on writing my first book “Poetry of a Black Girl Volume One: The Darkness and the Light” and had begun a renewed platonic WORD based friendship with my now fiancé. A lot was happening in my world.

Taking the time out to read the book and other similar titles was really beneficial to my personal and spiritual development.

After I was released I began the process of getting my focus back on track and rediscovering God’s purpose for my life. One of the first books I actually picked up and read thoroughly was Joyce Meyer’s “Approval Addiction”. Next was a series of titles by Dr. John C. Maxwell “The Winning Attitude”, “The Difference Maker” and “Being a People Person”. I also began to read over some of my favorite books of the Bible in different translations, Samuel 1 and 2, Kings 1, Kings 2, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Proverbs and 1 and 2 Corinthians. I rented Christian movies only from Netflix and dug deep in my personal message archives keeping on repeat messages on topics like Grace, Humility, Anger, gaining wisdom from God and dealing with emotions.

Looking back with hindsight I can honestly say at that particular time in my life, I felt as if I had something to prove; to myself, God and to all my haters. My haters were not actual people; they were feelings of failure, disappointment, shame and mistrust. Feelings I no longer wanted to have.

I was so hungry for the WORD. I was Martha reformed and what I desired more than anything was busying myself getting to know my Lord more.

© 2012 Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

© 2011 Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

CAPRICORN GROOVE: Her Story: A conversation with Memoirs of A Black author Lela Jefferson It's finally here! I know I've been saying for months that I was going to post this interview as part of the Your Story Series...

Promote Reading: Share Books

I found this article on how to promote book reading online and thought it was wonderful enough to share. I hope it moves you to action as it has myself!

Here are some of my random thoughts and other quotes I have posted on my favorite social media networks most recently:

Relationships

Remember to put first things first... 1) God 2) Family 3) Your Calling / Ministry.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:12

God’s Will

I know I am destined for greatness and my promotion comes from God... it’s my heritage and it’s in my pedigree as a child of the KING. I confess today I will faith it, and work it diligently till HE makes it.

I needed to take a day yesterday to shut it all down and slow it down. It ended up being a day of re-dedication.... God is moving and I want to make sure as I move with him that my steps are truly ordered by him vs. my flesh.

Reality Checks

It is so not about you. So, some person place or thing or YOU are agitating you. Good! Pass the test. Move on to the next level. How you react now WILL affect not only generations to come, but yours right now.

The desires of your heart God placed there. What you may be lusting after will never equal in comparison. Spoken by a delivered woman who God blessed with her own heart-tailored Boaz ;-)

Change is Good!

I am constantly changing... A good friend of mine asked my opinion on something yesterday and my reaction was not what she thought was my norm. In the past my answer would had been 'I really don't know about that...' My new response was 'Go for it if you have peace about it.' One response based in fear the other one based in confidence/peace...

When you start to see RED (emotional/fearful over a situation) is a clear sign you need to STOP pray, assess, conquer and then overcome. Relax; Relate and Release are good next steps...

I am still in personal evaluation mode. Here is a question I asked myself after a recent bible study... Whose character are you emulating? God's or Satan's? Did you know if you say you are going to do a thing and you don't do it... You are a liar? I guess that is where that childhood rant came from... "Liar, Liar pants on fire!"

Quotes

"EXCELLENCE is attention to detail, that gives rise to superior performance, which leads to promotion in life." -Dr. Bill Winston

Learn to settle down and be happy with what you have while the Lord is preparing you for something better - Joyce Meyer

“Sometimes you have to believe in someone else's belief in you till yours kicks in.” - Les Brown ... So why don't you believe in God's belief in you? His is the ONLY one that really matters l!

"My only competition is me in the past... Don't play me." – Prince

 

© 2011 Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com