Tag: Faith

Monthly Series: An Attitude of Gratitude – Challenge #4

Published on by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Happy Hump Day! so, today is the second week/4th day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

Some questions may have us digging a little deeper within ourselves to answer them, but in the end – my hope is that you will feel more empowered and begin to see yourself and even your life differently and not just for the month of November – but for every month of the year. You can choose to start a journal if you want but this challenge as you may say, is not just about us writing things out and leaving it in a little book to store it away and go back to it when we’re reflecting on our life but the challenge is to show it!! so as an extra bonus after every question regarding yourself will be a question in which will relate to the world around you, it’ll be called “Our End of the Day Question” – you don’t have to write about it here, but it’ll be something that you’ll just ask yourself everyday at the end of your day. While writing out what we’re “grateful” for is half the battle, showing gratitude for and towards others is the KEY!

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

Today's Challenge Question is.... (6)

What is one of the best gifts you’ve ever received. (My response)

Over the years, I’ve received quite a few gifts – some were from absolute strangers while others were from loved ones but I’ll talk today about a gift I received very recently; back in August I started sitting for an elderly woman, she was 91yrs old – I absolutely love older (seasoned..lol) people. The wisdom, the knowledge and just listening to them talk about the old days and who they used to be, where they worked and how they lived their life is always and has always been fascinating to me. Her name was Ms. Naomi and I looked forward to going over and spending time with her. Ms. Naomi was so full of life and was one of the sweetest people I’ve meet in a long time. However, unfortunately she passed away last month and my heart shattered, she lived a good life and I was so happy that she was able to be around good family when she departed and not in some rest home. The gift I received was a pair of purple diamond earrings that her daughter gave to me, in which were Ms. Naomi’s favorite color and her favorite pair of earrings – “I knew mom would’ve wanted you to have these,” her daughter said as she gave me the little box.  I felt so honored and blessed to get such a gift, it’s one that I will always cherish and remember Ms. Naomi by forever.

Rest In Sweet Peace Ms. Naomi – I Love You!!

purple flower

Now It's Your Turn

– What’s the Best Gift you’ve every received; Comment Below –

Your End of the Day Question:

Did you talk to someone you love today? If so, who & how did it make you feel.

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud, Inspire Often & Love Hard!

Monthly Series: An Attitude of Gratitude – Challenge #3

Published on by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Happy Monday! so, today is the second week/3rd day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

Some questions may have us digging a little deeper within ourselves to answer them, but in the end – my hope is that you will feel more empowered and begin to see yourself and even your life differently and not just for the month of November – but for every month of the year. You can choose to start a journal if you want but this challenge as you may say, is not just about us writing things out and leaving it in a little book to store it away and go back to it when we’re reflecting on our life but the challenge is to show it!! so as an extra bonus after every question regarding yourself will be a question in which will relate to the world around you, it’ll be called “Our End of the Day Question” – you don’t have to write about it here, but it’ll be something that you’ll just ask yourself everyday at the end of your day. While writing out what we’re “grateful” for is half the battle, showing gratitude for and towards others is the KEY!

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

Today's Challenge Question is.... (6)

What painful experience has helped you grow. (My response)

I’ve had quite a few painful experiences that has helped me grow, some painful experiences (such as relationships) were painful for the moment but after the pain eased up, I found myself treading back down that same hurtful path only to get hurt again, except this time around – it was a little worse. But I have to say that this year I learned a lot from my past relationships whether they were friends or past exes. I learned that the past is the past and when things have past on – it’s best to leave it there. There’s a reason they call the past the past because it’s something that’ll always be entitled “once was.” The past has absolutely nothing to do with your future and if you keep toiling with the past and it’s issues then you’ll never experience the future, which always offer us something fresh & new! I might have messed over my 30’s with being in the wrong places, with the wrong people and put on more hurts, habits and hang-ups than I should, but as this year comes to a close I’m determined to hang out with people whom “truly” have my best interest at heart. #NoMorePainfulExperiences – at least none that I can control or help.

Now It's Your Turn

– What pain experience(s) has helped you grow; Comment Below –

Your End of the Day Question:

Did you put a smile on someone’s face today? If so, who?

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud, Inspire Often & Love Hard!

Monthly Series: An Attitude Of Gratitude -Challenge #1

Published on by Roshonda B2 Comments

photo credit above can be found at mahindraraj

So, as promised today is the first day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

Some questions may have us digging a little deeper within ourselves to answer them, but in the end – my hope is that you will feel more empowered and begin to see yourself and even your life differently and not just for the month of November – but for every month of the year. You can choose to start a journal if you want but this challenge as you may say, is not just about us writing things out and leaving it in a little book to store it away and go back to it when we’re reflecting on our life but the challenge is to show it, so as an extra bonus after every question regarding yourself will be a question in which will relate to the world around you, it’ll be called “Our End of the Day Question” – you don’t have to write about it here, but it’ll be something that you’ll just ask yourself everyday at the end of your day. While writing out what we’re “grateful” for is half the battle, showing gratitude for and towards others is the KEY!

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

Today's Challenge Question is.... (8)What are you grateful for today (My response):

Today, I am grateful for life – health and strength. Life to be able to see another day and start over with a clean slate, no matter what yesterday looked like. I’m grateful for having a new day to do things things over. A new day to squash goals, be a better mom and co-worker, a new day to continue to walk and work in my purpose. I’m grateful for my health, it could be a whole lot worse as I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic – I’m grateful for having a mind to want to take care of my health and do the right things to make sure I’m in the best shape possible. I’m grateful for strength, to be be able to move past hurts, disappointments and failed relationships. It’s not always easy – but I’m grateful to God for not allowing me to succumb to my issues but for giving me the power and strength to bull-dozer through them.

Now It's Your Turn– Comment Below –

Your End of the Day Question:

How did you make others feel today, did you display your best attitude?

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud, Inspire Often & Love Hard!

 

To The Victims & Families of Las Vegas…

Published on by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Praying hands

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us of our debts as we forgive our debtors, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

Amen

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I wanted to start with the Lord’s Prayer because it’s a montage as to what we should pray in times of despair, need, understanding and forgiveness. I can’t say that I understand what you are going through because I don’t and I can say that I have empathy for what you have experienced, but I can’t even begin to say that; because there’s nothing in the world that you can say about something so tragic in which you’ve experienced and/or have gone through within the last couple of days.

It hurts to constantly see things of this nature being committed within our world, it’s also hard to believe that we’ve had 50yrs of mass shootings, taking out over 949 people including innocent children and teenagers. As you watch the news you can’t help but to think “Really?, Again?” – And each time gets harder and harder as the number of precious lives whom had so much to live for, so many things to accomplish and so many goals to reach, be taken out without warning or notice. In times like this it almost makes you feel like going in the house and not ever coming out again…but, then that gives the culprits the upper hand in having control and dictating how we should live our lives and we cannot, shall not, live this life in FEAR!

As you try to piece life back together as you know it, I pray that your heart heals daily and that your thoughts are overshadowed by good memories and thoughts of the countless people that put their life on the line to stop and grab someone to safety, either by pulling them or driving them; there were people that made sure no one (as much as they could help it) was left behind; in which despite tragedy, shows the strength and courage of our country . I’m a firm believer and it’s my motto that every negative situation has a positive one, it might be very hard to find at first but it’s always there. And believe it or not there is a positive in this tragedy.

A lot of times we don’t understand why people choose to be evil and mean or even why they do bad things and it makes us sad when you hear someone has done something that was wrong or mean to someone or to people that did nothing to them, But God is in control even of people, God created people to be good and very good and everything he created was a Blessing but it’s the road that people choose to take in life that can either lead them to be good or bad – it’s their choice and sometimes their choices are not good.

But don’t be discouraged, for in the midst of chaos and despair, know that God loves you and has a plan for you, there’s a scripture in Jeremiah that states:

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.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

This scripture has helped me through some really tough times and it just lets me know that no matter what, God has my back and through my tragedies and many disappointments he still has plans for me no matter what has happened or what I may have done, God has a future for me and I know he has a plan and a future for you in the midst of all you’ve gone through and while you may be shakened, I know you’re going to be okay.

My prayers and daily thoughts are with you. Be Blessed and know that God and a whole nation of good people with you, supporting you and praying for you during this time.

 

3hearts1

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud, Inspire Often & Love Hard!

 

Sunday’s Thought: Expiring ME, To Exalt YOU!

Published on by Roshonda BLeave a comment

I love the bible app, it has so many features such as creating a verse image in which you can post on your social media pages, if you highlight a scripture; it has a way of keeping everything you highlight in once place, which is helpful because you don’t have to scram through the bible to find it. I also love the bible plans, I usually read one or two at a time as it sort of keeps me in tune with reading my word and staying in contact with God.

A shame that something so minuet has to keep us on schedule to make time with the father of all creation, but it helps. However, there are times in my life where reading a plan, picking up a bible or even praying can seem to get lost in life’s shuffle. Work, Kids, Bosses, 2nd Jobs, Bills, Schedules, To-Do Lists, Doctor Appointments and Life Just Happened moments become our main priority while God easily slips to second base or the back burner while we allow the priorities of life to overwhelm us.

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I am so guilty of this, no lie because when “LIFE HAPPENS” it seems like EVERYTHING happens – ALL AT ONCE! and it’s easy to allow it’s circumstances to literally rule our day and life at the moment; but it wasn’t until I starting reading the bible plan ReThink Life: 40 Day Devotional from YouVersion that I began to think about a lot of things going on in my present life including my current priorities. In day 16 I came to realize that while I know giving my issues and life to God is the best resort as he’s the one that can “sort it all out” I really don’t totally give everything over to him; because I’m human, I always feel as though “I know best” or “It won’t get done, if I don’t have a hand in it to push it though” so while I pray and ask God to take my matters into his own hand, I find myself getting up only to take it back from him to handle it myself and when it fails? Then, that’s when my prayers get serious.

The one thing that stood out to me in that thought was this:

Check your “to-do” list for the week, is your schedule revolving around things that are eternally important like your relationship with God, your family and people who need Jesus?

So many times our to-do lists have every other thing listed on it besides the ones named above. At the end of the day, it won’t be how accomplished we feel about checking off the things on our list but rather who’s life was changed due to our attitude, what impact have we made on someone other than ourselves, do they really see Christ within us? If not, then maybe you need to expire.

You see, that’s what Martha got hung up over in Luke 10:38-42, Jesus had come to her and her sister’s house for a visit and instead of her sister Mary helping her in the kitchen, she chose to sit at Jesus’s feet and listen to him – upset, Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to come and help her prepare in the kitchen but Jesus stated to Martha that she was worried over trivial things and what Mary had chosen to do, was much more better than being worried about preparations.

What are you worried about today? Is the “Life Happens” got you stuck? Maybe you should really take out time and be like Mary and seek God on what his priorities for your life should be, I promise if you would just ask – your earthly worries will be a thing of the past because you know who holds everything in his hand.

Say today’s prayer and ask God to help you see things from his perspective and not your own. This prayer was taken away from the ReThink Life: 40 Day Devotional 

Father, today I thank you for your word that says if I seek you first the all these other things will be taken care of in my life. I pray today that you will begin to show me what you want me to prioritize in my life. Help me to see my schedule from an eternal perspective. If it is time for me to end some things I pray you will strengthen me to do it so that you can begin something new in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Blessings ~

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud & Love Hard!

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