Still Not A Fan...

But I simply love Alicia Keys.

This song, "Teenage Love Affair" has an EnVoguey vibe that I love. I think I'm actually going to buy the cd (download on the iPod and leave in the car). That brings my annual music purchases to three cds. Happy listening.

My Heart

I used to love a man so much that I called him my heart.

One night, I was on the phone with one of my girls and I referred to this man as my heart. Then my chest tightened, and words I had not thought of myself surfaced in my mind.

"I thought I was your heart."
He corrected me. I stopped mid-sentence and asked God for forgiveness.

Ever since that day, I have known, recognized, and acknowledged that God is and will always be my heart. In all matters, I consult with my heart because God is bigger.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

Another Year

I am now 28 years old. Somehow I managed to miss my goal of earning over six figures by my first quarter of life, but hey, stuff happens. :o)

So much stuff in fact that I may be moving to Miami (or Houston) sometime in 2009. My role at the company is changing (at my request), except I don't know exactly where it's going. It was described to me as "learning and building skills," and I'm all over that! My top strength is learning, and I am super geeked about the opportunity to find exactly where I fit in the company.

Meanwhile, the career change is a major move that God has been molding for a while now. I still don't know exactly where He's going, but I'm excited to follow. In November and December, I'll be working in the management office of one of our Chicago area malls. Sooooo stoked!!!!! After that, we'll have a better idea which direction to move my career toward.

My mom lives in Miami.

Soon, the boy and I might be living there too. :o) But I never really know with God. He just keeps telling me to Trust Him. I used to think it was so hard to trust God. Now, I think it's impossible not to.

Oh, and Miami is definitely my shade of lip gloss :o) Already found a couple apartments/town homes that I like in good school districts. I've been dreaming about the warm weather, and having my mommy back. And driving my Reddy Baby (the Jetta) around the town in my brights and curls. Sooooo geeked!!! I LOVE Miami!!!

I long for God's will above all else. I just need a lot of sunshine wherever He leads me.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

At the Park

There was a slight change of b-day plans. The boy and his dad joined me at the park instead of my bible and a chic book. And the park I envisioned was quiet and peaceful. This one was filled with children and laughter. Wasn't what I had in mind, but somehow the boy always gets what he wants on my birthday :o)

Anywho, I snapped this picture of the boy and his dad, and I thought it was a simply precious moment. I can't pinpoint why I like this photo so much. I just do.

There's something special about fathers and sons, and I guess I'm glad to see my son has something that I didn't.

The simple pleasures mean the most.

Good Morning Sunshine!!

How's everyone out there in the blog-o-sphere today?

All is marvelous in my world.

Today, my hair story is posted over at Urban Curlz. Check it out. There are two pictures of my fan-tab-u-lous Keda-fro. Must see. I'm actually rockin the Keda-fro to work today with a cute little purple dress.

But tomorrow, for my birthday -- Happy Birthday to me! -- I'll probably do a sleek, wavy do. Yeah, something on the demure side. I think I'm going to chill with God at the park tomorrow. I'll take a blanket, my bible, some sort of chick book, and my journal and lay out with God. That sounds like a plan.

Anyway, that's all I have to say today.

Big kiss... Muuuaaah!!!

The 'F' Bomb

Yeah, I said it :o)

Actually my Pastor said it first, almost three years ago in his sermon about Forgiveness. So, consider it borrowed for the purpose of today's post.

Forgive... it almost feels like a curse word sometimes. I used to be right there with Peter. "And just how many times should we forgive... up to 7 times?"
And Jesus was like, "up to 77 times."
A shocked and dismayed me would respond, "Are you serious, God?"

I've always been good at holding a grudge. Perhaps a little too good. And even when I tried to forgive, I would have to forgive the same person for the same exact issue like a million times before it actually stuck. I can't even begin to count how many times I went back to God saying, "I thought I forgave so and so for doing this and that, but when I saw so and so, all I could see was red. Grrr." And then I would probably drop the real 'F' bomb. The bad one. And end up praying for forgiveness for my potty mouth -- which is unleashed every single time I am betrayed. (Note: I am very imperfect. I just try to be better, and my Father helps me. Trust me, this is not an overnight process.)

This brings me to another point. If we do not forgive, how can we expect our Father in heaven to forgive us? Teaching moment: When we are unable to forgive others because we are holding onto grudges, we block the forgiveness of our own sins.

For me, it wasn't that I didn't want to forgive. It was just so HARD to forgive. Memories would flow back into my mind and before I knew it, I was steaming, boiling hot with rage. So, after trying to forgive all the so an so(s) in my life with no real success, I got to the point where I was begging God to bless me with a forgiving heart.

After years of Forgiving and Failing, God blessed me with the ability to forgive instantly for one of the deepest hurts I have ever experienced. God held my heart tight and showed me why he allowed me to be hurt and betrayed. He showed me why He let lies linger in the dark. And then when He brought the truth to light, He held my heart tightly and blessed me with the ability to forgive.

I believe that my Father didn't want me to suffer through the pain of an unforgiving heart. He comforted me through a brief period of mourning, and now He is holding my hand and guiding me out of the mess.

I find myself wanting to be angry. I want to have a psychotic moment and burn down the world because a few people hurt me. How dare they... grrrr! LOL!! But I'm not angry, and I sure have no desire to take the psychotic route... again. (That's a whole other story). I'm hurt, but I understand. My heart aches, but God won't let it fall apart.

God is a trip. I don't have a trace of hatred in my fragile heart. Only Love. Oh my gosh, I almost missed this very important and fascinating point. God blessed me with the ability to love the people that hurt me, and pray for their well being. I prayed earnestly that these people were blessed by God, and that He spared them any overwhelming sorrow from hurting me. I know, right! Me, the grudge-keeper, actually prayed for the people that hurt me... actually asked God to bless them.

Forgiveness is truly a gift from God. And my Father gave me another gift. He has lined my heart with His Love. A love so perfect that even when I fall, trip, stumble, or am pushed, I know that He is right there holding and healing me. Awww I feel so warm and loved right now as I write this post.

God is amazing. And I pray that all of you have the ability to experience His perfect love.

And now I will show you the most excellent way...
Love 1 Corinthians 13,
Makeda

Flyleaf

When there's nothing left to saym I just listen. Check out the Flyleaf video. It's one of my fave's.



Flyleaf "All Around Me" Lyrics

My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with you
I am alone and they are too with you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

And so I cry
The light is white
And I see you

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Take my hand
I give it to you
Now you own me
All I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you
I believe

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healed

Loving Virtue

Virtue is AMAZING!!!

This is by far my favorite cd. I've been listening to this album since 2006 and for me it has become a classic.

My favorite songs and why...
#12 - Holy - From the very beginning I just knew this song would hit my heart. No matter what I'm doing or who is in my car, when this song comes on, I feel God gripping my heart. LOVE THIS SONG!!!

#10 and 11 - Praises to You. For my blessings I'll give the praises to You. For my healing, I'll give the praises to You. From the tongue of my mouth, I'll praise only You, and for You I'll bow down with worship for you. Again I feel the music and melody connecting me to God, and it's not their voices, but my love that's being expressed to God. LOVE THIS SONG!!!

#7 Fall - And I've done this a million times. When God led me to practice abstinence (in spite of having a beau and a track record of screw ups) this song spoke to the guilt and the pain I felt each time I messed up. It would pick me up as I begged God to restore me, back to when I first believed, please fall again on me. I need you in the midnight hour. I need you Lord to give me power. I hear your voice so clear. Will you please draw me near? LOVE THIS SONG!!

#6? Thank You Jesus... for covering me with Your blood. Thank you Lord. Every single day I wake up. I lift my voice and jump up. Knowing it was no good of mine, but it was the Christ in my life. RECENTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS ONE.

There are some other tracks on here that I don't listen to, but I'm not a huge fan of gospel. I love music that hits my heart, and that's why I love Virtue. :o) HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Preparation

I just realized that God has been preparing me for this week for the past five years of my life.


I won't go into details because there's not enough blog space in the world for what I have to say :o) But I will say that God has shown me so much since I embraced him in the fall of 2002. I had no idea what He had in store for my life, but today, I am amazed.


In the spring of 2002, I was depressed and suicidal. I had low self esteem, and I needed other people to appreciate me in order to feel worthy. If something went wrong in my life, it was because I wasn't good enough, or pretty enough, or smart enough. So, I tiptoed through life needing to be loved and appreciated by others because I didn't have enough love for myself.


My heart was cold, and I needed others to warm it for me with their smiles, their friendship, their approval and understanding.


Ever since I clung to God, He wrapped His loving arms around me and held me so tight that I barely even recognize that lost and hurt 22 year old. I feel so sorry that her mind was warped for so many years, but I am so grateful that God stepped in and cleansed her, in a way that only He could.


I love Bibles. I have a pocket bible -- a cute one with a blossoming flower on the cover. I have a Spanish to English Bible because I've convinced myself that I will learn Spanish... soon :o) I also have a worship Bible, a Message Bible (which is amazing if you don't have one), an Everyday Life Bible, and my favorite because I'm a straight up NERD, my Archaeological Study Bible.


I love my Archaeological Bible because it has little inserts that show ancient artifacts and sort of connects the Bible to history. So, instead of thinking of Jerusalem as an imaginary place, the Bible shows photos of what an actual home looked like, or tombs. It was how God gripped my heart. He showed me that the Bible is a history book and not just a collection of stories. Don't get me started with the maps and the kingdoms along with my time lines... What a rush!! :o) I'm giddy just thinking about it, but I digress.


Back to the Bible. In 2006, God showed me the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 6:24-27. The wise builder hears God's word and puts it into practice, like those who build their homes on rock. The strong foundation does not allow the weather to make the house fall because it's foundation was built on rock. That's me.

The ex on the other hand was like the foolish builder who built his house on sand. When the rain started pouring, streams started rising, and the winds blew and beat against the house -- ie when times got rough -- his house fell with a great crash.

Rock - Follow the Word of God
Sand - Follow your own instincts (world) -- most of the time this is just like putting God on the back burner instead of at the forefront of our minds.

I wondered if Sand and Rock would ever be able to form a strong home.

So, I wrote a short prayer in the margins of that Bible (sometime between 2005 and 2006): Father, I pray that you will help him build his home on rock.

Only God can change a heart.

Back to the Bible, the footnote says "The Sea of Galilee served as a natural setting for this parable. The sand ringing the lake was rock hard during the hot summer. But a wise builder would dig down, as far as 10 feet below the surface sand to bedrock, knowing that this was the only way to erect a foundation able to withstand the winter rains, which were notoriously torrential and capable of causing disastrous flooding."

In Makeda language :o) Although the sand appeared solid -- good job, good person, committed, best intentions -- when seasons change, this all crashes down because the foundation was faulty from the start.

I love God because I've known this for years, and while I'm not sure if my prayer was answered, I can't say I'm surprised that the wind blew the house (our relationship) down.

Hope that makes sense because I gotta get my hair whipped now :o)

Love 1 Cor. 13,

Makeda

Damaged

Every so often, I like to take a hit song and personalize it to God and I.

Today’s song is “Damaged” by Danity Kane. Deep sigh… I just love DK :o)

Anywho, my heart is damaged, but I don’t look to another for a first aid kit. I go to God, and ask him to heal my heart. Look up.

Funny: I listened to Damaged on You Tube, and Diddy totally ministered to me LOL!! He was like, "some times you gotta go through the pain, to experience the joy. This too shall pass." And mind you, it actually hit me. God is hilarious. :o)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N40XabcrAk0

God, God does have a first aid kit handy.
God, God does know how to patch up a wound.
I know,
God, God, God, God is,
He is patient, understanding.
And He will take the time to clear the hole in my heart and I

I've tried every remedy But only He can work for me
Jesus, (Jesus) this situation's driving me crazy
And I really wanna be a lady (lady)

But the one before just left me so
Damaged, Damaged Damaged, Damaged
I think that I should let you know
That my heart is Damaged Damaged So Damaged So Damaged
And I can’t blame the one before

So how you gonna fix it, fix it, fix it (Father I gotta know what are you gonna do? (Jesus)
How you gonna fix it, fix it, fix it (Oh Lord I gotta know what are you gonna do?)
How you gonna fix it, fix it, fix it
How You gonna fix it, fix it, fix it

You, You do have a first aid kit handy.
You, You do know how to patch up my wound.
I know,
You, You, You, You are,
You are patient, understanding.
And You will take Your time to clear the hole in my heart and I

You've gone and gained my trust
You’re strength’s more than enough
Your actions speak louder than words
And You will show me something
My heart is missing some pieces
You’ll put this puzzle put together again

You will fix my h-e-a-r-t (Father please fix my heart don't you know it's damaged)
Cause it d-a-m-a-g-e-d
You will fix my h-e-a-r-t
I know
I know You are up for the challenge
Cause my heart was
My heart was Damaged, Damaged, Damaged

...But God is Bigger!

I'm Awake!

I saw Prince Caspian last night, and it was filled w spiritual truths. We ended up there because I asked God to show me a good present for the boyfirend’s 28th birthday.

I fought through traffic to get him cupcakes from Swirlz. Then I zipped back to my house fearing that the son (almost 5-years old) might need to use the bathroom.

Stopped at a red light, I saw a billboard for Prince Caspian. One of my teens that I have a Big Sister Little Sister type relationship with was eagerly awaiting the release of that movie. I made a mental note to have a movie date with my son on another night.

At my house, the smile on the boyfriend’s face was worth battling traffic. After we ate the cupcakes, I felt like we needed to do more, so we decided to see the movie.

Let me say that The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian was an amazing movie, loaded to overflowing with Spiritual truths. Here are just a few that I noticed. If you need clarification on any, please ask because my mind is rambling with thoughts I might neglect to write.

The real world vs. Narnia
The Narnians are like those who have heard the word of God. (Luke 8:4-15).
The real world is where we (and Peter, Susan, Edmond and Lucy) live. The world where sometimes if we say, “God spoke to me,” others will think we are a little on the not-so-sane side. Can you imagine what it would be like is Lucy told someone in England that she knew Aslan, a talking lion?

Lucy believed in spite of everything, but she was afraid to go to Aslan alone.

The dwarf (DLF) had faith. He could not see or hear Aslan, but he moved forward in faith. Lucy’s actions and not her words slowly strengthened his belief.

Susan was still too withdrawn to believe. There’s a lot of Lucy in me, but also a desire to be withdrawn from everyone and everything like Susan.

Edmond was amazing! His confidence was that of truth and grace. The prodigal son. The thing about Edmond and many of us is that once we’ve gone the wrong way and have been saved by grace, our confidence rests in the truth and not in ourselves.

Peter was like so many of us. When it seems like nothing is happening, we take matters into our own hands, and end up making things worse.

Prince Caspian was from a long line of wrongdoers, but he was set apart because he believed in the truth. He was taught and he believed.

However, even believers are fallible. Oftentimes, we underestimate the forces of darkness. This dark lure can appear to be right. It edits the truth with rationality, and we become weak. Those of us who have not yet fallen believe it is because of our strong will power. But those of us who have fallen know first hand the power of the lure, and its effects on even the strongest. Edmond knew.

Fighting between Prince Caspian and King Peter is a lot like what happens in the church. We all belong to God through Christ, but even good soil will not bear fruit if not fertilized with the word of God. He is the vine and we are the braches. Our relationship with God directly affects our relationships with other Christians and non-Christians alike.

Peter believed in his abilities more that in Aslan returning to save them, but as Lucy reminded him, it was not Peter who defeated the white witch in the first place.

As Christians, we try to do things for God without his guidance. Sometimes we feel like God is taking too long to answer. And that allows room for the dark spiritual edits. We don’t realize the darkness because it’s usually wrapped around our innermost desires.

The purpose of the devil is to steal kill and destroy. John 10:10 Jesus came so that we may have life.

Wake up.
That’s what Lucy begged the trees to do, yet they remained lifeless (Please see the significance with Jesus coming so that we may have life).

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch while he prayed. They kept falling asleep. The Bible says it us good for us to keep watch and wait for Jesus to return, but we keep falling asleep. We are sleeping because God gave us instructions to follow, just like Aslan told Lucy to come to him. She didn’t go because she was afraid to go against the crowd, but she knew in her heart that Aslan was calling her.

Jesus tells us to follow him, but we see the obstacles ahead. We think it’s impossible. But all things are possible through Christ Jesus who gives us strength.

When we wake up, we remember that life is not about doing what seems fun, life is the power of the Holy Spirit inside us to break free of strongholds, vices and addictions. Jesus came that we may have life.

There are so many more spiritual truths running through that movie. I left the theatre wide awake. My heart was unclouded and I was Lucy again. I wanted to be like Lucy. I wanted to believe in spite of everything and everyone else.

“Did you like to movie?” I asked the boyfriend.
“It was alright.”
“What? Alright? That thing was loaded with spiritual truths!”
“What?”
“You slept through that whole movie!”
Figuratively. Spiritually.

He was there with his eyes wide open, and yet he didn’t see or hear them.

I stared at him, amazed. He was good soil, hadn’t been fertilized in a while, but he was still good soil. Why couldn’t he see? I glanced away because I didn’t want to get all Bible-y on him, but less than a second later my heart spilled out of my mouth.

Every two seconds I thought of another spiritual truth and one by one, they poured in an excited flurry of fragments. And when I couldn’t think of anymore, my heart sang out to God in silent adoration.

As he left my house, I gave him a happy hug, and said, “This is the best birthday present I could have given you.”
“What the cupcakes?”
“No,” I groaned, slapping his arm. “Wake up!”
“Oh that,” he said, zipping his jacket. “I heard you, Baye. I’ve been listening.”

The Affairs of Men

Very interesting article in the New York Magazine. It talks about the difficulties of monogamy in marriage. Tough topic. But I just took a personality test today that says I am a Brownie, and us Brownies are champions of underdogs, slayers of dragons, and tend to be very loyal. So, this brownie-loving girl has something to say, particularly about this quote in the article.

“I haven’t ever seen anyone who doesn’t deliver on every single demand their sexuality makes on them. We make the mistake of thinking some people have a stronger will, they don’t,” says a forward-thinking friend. “There is no more unnatural principle of social organization than sexual exclusivity.”

I despise controversial topics because arguing gives me a splitting headache, but let's go to the Bible because God's word is the period at the end of every sentence.

We all have sexual desires whether married or single, male or female. But is it wise to act on these desires?

"'Everything is permissible for me' -- but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' -- but I will not be mastered by anything." 1 Cor. 6:12.

Acting on sexual desires is not always in our best interest. So, maybe we shouldn't. Simple enough, right?

This leads us to the statement about strong will power. The person who made the statement is actually correct to a certain degree because we all struggle with sin (Romans 7). So expecting a married person to be monogamous because of their strong will is like a set up for disaster. We all have moments where even though we love God and want to do his will, there is another part of us that wants to table God's will for our own desires.

Strong will doesn't keep us, God does. The only way to overcome our sin nature is to set our minds on what God desires (Romans 8). No small feat, but we have to wrap ourselves in His word. And I'll toss this out there. It helps to remove yourself from certain situations.

We have to trust that God knows what is best for us. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Our understanding can never surpass God's and he says, "No" to sex outside of marriage. Period. (Hebrews 13:4... I think the Message says it best for folks like me who needed to see it plain and simple before actually attempting to live it out).

That leads us to the marriage bed.
We can toss statistics about marriage failures all day long. But let's start at the very beginning.
Let's consider the foundations of these marriages... rock or sand? (Matthew 7:24-27)
Let's also consider the fertility of our hearts... path, rock, thorns or good soil? (Luke 8:4-15)

If the vast majority of us don't allow God to lead our lives, and guide us to make the right decisions, why are we surprised by the statistics?

Better yet, are the statistics a better gauge of how our lives should be lived?

Of course not. God is bigger.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

San Diego is BEAUTIFUL

Although I didn't see much of the city - only drove through the Gaslamp District on my way to the Loews Coronado Bay Resort - it was still beautiful.

Let's start with the old school, blinged out, low riders I saw near the Gaslamp. The metallic paint glistened in the sunlight, and I whipped out my camera - like the tourist that I am - and took a picture. Hydraulics are so cool. :o) But not everyone agrees.

The suited lady seated beside me in the shuttle bus said, "Why would anyone do that? It's such a waste."

"Well, it's subjective," I answered flashing another picture of the posing couple in the glitzy green car. "They may love it the way someone else loves a fancy handbag."

"I guess," She answered with her nose still high in the air. She was a sweetheart though. One of those personalities that seem rigid and unfriendly, but they're actually really nice people if you can get past their short and stiff responses.

But back to my trip, we drove over to Coronado Island, and the hotel was gorgeous. That's where I spent the majority of my business trip where I was an esteemed speaker. Yes, I'm a real like working woman outside of my rants about imaginary characters and reality TV :o)

Anyway, I gave a one-hour presentation to a group of roughly fifty people on how our company uses research to make strategic decisions for our shopping malls. It went extremely well. Mostly because I trusted God to the point of sparing myself from the usual hysterics and neurosis that usually prelude public speaking. I got so many compliments, and was then interviewed, similar to a radio interview about my company.

I even won a Canon digital camera, top of the line :o) Very nice. All in all, I love San Diego, but even more, I love the person that God is molding me into. I'm just an empty vessel available for His use. I get dusty from time to time, but what God has cleaned, let no one call unclean. Acts 10.

Bridget Jones Diary

Just played tonight on Bravo, and being the sap that I am, I just had to watch it. Cute. Adorable. Witty. Charming. Lovely. Absolutely lovely. Can you believe I've never seen it before?

Okay, I'm about to have a ditzy moment. I should be allowed every now and again. Was this movie some sort of play on Pride and Prejudice? You know with rude guy saying mean things about Brdget and then falling in love with her, and let's not forget that his name is Mr. Darcy. I'm guessing that it was.

Still it was adorable.

Favorite part: "He likes me just the way I am."
And her friends' response? They were speechless. It was adorable. My word of the day is adorable :o)

I'm so happy that I saw it.

In other news:
I dreamt about Suds last night. Uh-huh, I did. And to my two faithful fans out there in cyber world, I finally know how the season will end. :o) YAY!! So, expect to see the Season 1 Finale of Suds posted within the next week. I would post sooner, but I'll be in San Diego for work next week. Gotta pay the bills, and buy some cute clothes from my boutique :o)

Unplugged

The Unplugged Teen Worship Service was a-maze-ing!!! Mi familia came out to support... awwww! My girl brought her teenage daughter and her friends out. There were parents and their teens in the audience. And one of my ridiculously shy guys spoke to me more in that one night than he had over the past year. It's always great when their personalities shine through.

But back to the service. We re-enacted the Lifehouse Everything Skit, and it was so powerful that the room was practically overflowing with tears... okay I'm exaggerating. But, the teens in the skit were struck by the struggle, the pain, and Jesus' desire to fight so hard to get us back.

I broke down the skit using hearts lined in darkness from sin, and pop culture references. It was a-maze-ing, and probably had the biggest impact of all our services to date. I knew from the start that it was God's desire for us to do this skit. I leaned on Him completely because being involved in ministry hasn't been the easiest part of my Christian journey.

I am so overwhelmed by what God did in that room, and in every last heart in that room. I love God.

"God is bigger than the air I breathe, the world we'll leave. God will save the day. Then all will sing, 'My glorious. My glorious." Glo, Delerious?

Oh My Blog!

I missed you so much my dear sweet blog!! It doesn't matter if people never read the words that develop from my love affair with the keyboard. All that matters it that it's there, for me, and whom ever else cares to see.

Okay, so I'm over my dramatic moment, but man, I really missed my blog. I'm not ready to start posting Suds again yet, but I couldn't bare to staying away. SO, here's what I've been up to.

1. Saturday, my brother got married to my girl, Gpher!!! I considered him a flight risk up until the big "I do." But God must have really done something with his heart because he's completely enamored with his wife, the way it should be :o)

2. I taught the teens on Sunday, and I'm pleased to say that the lesson, which the Holy Spirit poured into me was great!!! It was entitled, "Music Makes Me Lose Control... or does it?" We talked about how music can affect our actions, and how we should be more conscious of what we listen to when we're sensitive to certain subjects. I also filed my taxes. Don't want to upset Uncle Sam.

3. Monday I took my mommy back to the airport so she could fly home to Miami. I miss her already.

4. Tuesday, I was at the church working on the Lifehouse Everything Skit with the teens for our Unplugged Teen Worship Service.

5. Today, I was summoned to attend the family reunion planning meeting -- my boyfriend's family. They keep calling me his wife, and I keep correcting them with my unbanded ring finger on the left hand. Anywho, I finished typing up the program for them before I left the meeting. SO, that's one less thing I have to do this week.

6. Tonight I'm working on edits from my writing coach for my novel Belle Linda. I'm so excited!! We're meeting on Saturday to discuss her thoughts and findings. It's weird, sometimes I love the manuscript, and other times I'm down right dejected. Today, I'm in love with my Baby Belle!

And that's it.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

55 Degrees and Sunny

I'm so happy! The sun was shining today. Of course, my eyes are sensitive to the bright light after the long winter, but it was just so pretty. There was even a moment when I was standing by the window at work, and when turned to face the sun with my eyes closed, it felt like I was in Miami :o)

In other LOVELY news, my big brother is getting married on Saturday. I just returned from the rehearsal, and it was the most precious thing to see him excited about his bride. Mario, that's his name, used to be against marriage. He considered it as just a piece of paper, but G-O-D has been working on his H-E-A-R-T. I can't wait to see what our heavenly father does in his heart next.

Finally, I must confess that my hectic schedule is finally catching up to me. I'm having trouble staying true to daily episode commitment :o( Sorry to disappoint, but I will close the season out as soon as my schedule (and creativity) permits. As of now, I'm pooped. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

I LOVE when things come together...

Yesterday was a LONG day, but it ended with a bang. We're pulling together an Unplugged worship service for the teens, and re-enacting the Lifehouse Everything Skit -- The original video clip is on the bottom left corner of my blog page. You'll need sound to hear it.

Anywho, last night's rehearsal was amazing! I had some serious doubts about this Unplugged Service because I took an extended break from ministry, and let's just say that the big D-word (Discouraged) has been coming up a lot. Not to mention that the original skit was sooo captivating that I had doubts as to whether we could pull it of. But my kids are digging into their silent roles and everything is molding together. God is reminding me once again that He is bigger.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

P.S. Tune in later tonight -- primetime... LOL!! -- for a fresh new episode of SUDS. You know you want to :o)

The Loveliest Moments

So, I teach teenagers about God, except lately it's been tougher than I care to admit. At one point, I used to live for those teaching moments in front of my class of adolescents where they hung on my every word... LOL! That totally didn't happen :o) But sometimes while I would teach, I could see those whose hearts had been pricked by something I mentioned about God. It's probably one of the most beautiful sights in the world.

Except lately, I feel blind. It feels like nothing I say to the room of twenty or so kids really makes a difference. They would rather talk amongst each other, roll their eyes at groups of other girls in the class that they don't particularly care for, and have me begging God for just an ounce of patience. And after all that, I leave the class room, drained, desperately craving a nap and a whole pack of Chewy Chocolate Chips Ahoy cookies... from Target, and about $100 dollars worth of items I don't need. I leave the class room defeated, and ready to throw in the towel... again.

Yesterday, I was up to teach for the second week in a row. I was certain I would lose all my hair trying to convey the importance of the day's lesson to my teens, John 15:4 "Remain in me..." Surprisingly, they were less 'active' than the previous week. And while I don't think I did a great job teaching the lesson, they listened.

After class, I mingled with my students, and a girl (15 or 16) I had been teaching on and off for about two years said, "Hey Makeda".
"Hi Hon, I haven't seen you in a while. How are you?" By the way, this part is me.
"I know, my daddy work on Sundays now. You signed that scripture in my eight grade graduation book," she said as I opened a nearby bible to 1 Cor. 13, and handed it to another young lady.
"I sure did, didn't I?"
"Yup, that's where I go in the bible every time somebody make me mad, and I just read it over and over again."
"Really?" I said, and now that I think about it, I probably should have done a better job hiding my surprise :o)

This young girl used to be hot tempered, always ready to fight, and cared little for those around her. And while I was on my hiatus from ministry, she would call my cell phone every other month with a problem that I would talk her through. I've watched her grow into a lovely young lady, and I can only imagine the changes God still has in store for her.

Amongst the not so great teaching days, I'm privy to many lovely moments, this was one of the loveliest, to make an impact on a young life when it feels like none can be made on any.

Love 1 Cor. 13,
Makeda

Love My Blog!

Who knew creating a blog could be so easy? In less than five painless minutes, you now have the joy of receiving my two cents, without using up all of your daytime minutes :0)

So, let's start at the very beginning with the name, Love Makeda. I chose this name because I literally fell in love with the LOVE chapter in the bible, 1 Corinthians 13. I'm just in love with all lovely things! It must be how God wired me :o).