Clever title, but not created by me. After going to bible study last night (WHICH WAS AMAZING BY THE WAY) the preacher talked about how many of us are in a season of distraction. This was right on point for me....especially since my post yesterday talked about how I fall victim to my environment. I kept track of the key points and compiled notes to send out to those I care about. It's a universal message that can have strong meanings for meaning. Notes goes as follows......
Plight of a Distracted Christian: Merits of Not Quitting

Scriptures to reflect on:

            Nehemiah 4:16

            2 Thessalonians 3:10

            Genesis 1:26, 27, 28

*We are in a season of distraction. Only reason we become distracted is because we take our “eye” off the target (our purpose)

* It is the expressed interest and JOB of the enemy to see us fail; his sole purpose

*He even goes as far as attacking those we hold dear to us to get to us; he does not mess with those we do not care about (finances, families, etc.)

*We have become so distracted over things we already have DOMINION over. In Genesis Chapter 1, it talks about how God created Adam in his image and how he gave him DOMINION over everything that was created (animals, fish, plants, etc.). The serpent that attacked Eve then came for Adam. Adam fell prey to the very thing he already had DOMINION over (the serpent who came for Eve)

* As humans every day, God gave us the power to speak life (and death); we have DOMINION but fall prey to things that WE have the POWER over

*Bind the spirit of distraction (friends, family, loved ones, bosses, jobs, co-workers, those who consider you an enemy, finances, sickens, etc.) anything and everything that distracts you.

*Speak things that are not as though they already are.

*When your life is going nowhere, the enemy sees no purpose in attacking you. When you are prospering, the enemy will come full force. Once you are in the word of God, he has provided you with armor (his word); the enemy will have NO victory.

*Three main points…

            (1) “ I have faced this before. Called it out and named it! I have DOMINION over it! WHY bow down to it now??”

            (2) I have to fight (work). How do I expect to reap the benefits without first putting in the work?

            (3) My labor MUST produce…or else. (Don’t come to church just to absorb a word for yourself, DO SOMETHING WITH IT)  You don’t get an A just by coming to class, you have to do work!

We are Planted, Placed, and Empowered for Purpose! God always takes care of his children. Never question his love for you or his grace! I’m praying for you J

 
Every time I go back home to St. Louis, I can never stay in the house. I always feel like I'm obliged to get out and do something. No one is forcing me, rather my own thoughts forcing me to "believe" that this is my break and I "deserve" to go have fun...or whatever. Only problem is, that "fun" is something I know I shouldn't entertain. I'm not out committing crimes are causing havoc somewhere, nothing like that (and also not saying that one sin is worse than the other), but just the environments I tend to place myself in. This past Memorial Day Weekend, I only went back to St. Louis with INTENTIONS of going to a friend's wedding, but wound up finding other things to do around the city. Although I am not oppose to drinking (not to get inebriated of course), but just for the social aspect, my tolerance level for alcohol is a lot lower than I thought and I fell victim to half of a can of a Margarita in a Can. 

 
After having a burning desire to start this blog just last week, it didn't take long for me to become lazy and get behind on my postings. Something interesting happens to me every single day (not too interesting), enough to make me want to post, but I always manage to find an excuse to draw my attention elsewhere. The thought to create this blog was embedded in my brain for a while and I finally came across somebody who could help me bring it to life (still under construction), but just like other things in my life, the discipline is never there. I don't have discipline when it comes to reading for my classes, finances, FAST FOOD, and now my blog has fell into that same pool. 

 
 
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This is what I like to call my #GodBeKnowingMoment. I happen to have these a lot. People believe in consequences. I don't. When things happen in my favor (sometimes when they don't happen in my favor) I always point to the sky and say #GodBeKnowing. Kind of an "ethnic" way of putting it but who cares. I always have to stop and acknowledge him and his works because he is so amazing. I know I am far from deserving of his magnificent grace, but he just keeps on. Well, my #GodBeKnowing moment today happened when I went to visit my job and talk to them about me leaving my internship and going to another one. I work in an advising office and one of the advisors is leaving to home school her two sons so I went to say goodbye. After a long discussion of what was going on with me and saying good bye, she told me how amazing I was and that I was l awesome. (I LOVE DEANNA). She also made me aware that another one of the advisors was leaving as well but only to another department on campus. She got a position as a recruiter in admissions for the grad program I am trying to get into. PERFECT! Now I have a connect in the grad program I will soon be applying to. If I never left this internship, I wouldn't have been able to see my advisor leave and wish her well, nor would I have known about the other advisor who took a job in a place that may be of use to me as well. #GodBeKnowing

 
Her right here...
"Remember who you are and who's you are"- Candess always reminds me of this
 
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<-- See this why I love her. During this phone call, she hit it right on the money. To sum it all up, I've been having problems with my internship (previous internship as of today) and I needed some words of encouragement as to what to do. Conversation goes as such, "Let's cut right to the chase. The Lord told me to tell you to stop comparing yourself to other people and asking yourself why other people have gotten certain internships and positions that you didn't." She is right. I was comparing myself to many people I know who have gotten the opportunity to obtain paid, seemingly fun internships. I applied for several and was only offered one (which happens to be unpaid). I contemplated daily as to what is it that everyone else has that I don't. What God has for ME is for ME. The sooner I realize that the better. To sum it up, after days of 
contemplating, praying, and seeking the Word, I asked my pastor what I should do and I was told to always go where I seek peace. I dreaded coming into my internship everyday (I was only there for two weeks) and never felt comfortable while I was there. Fortunately, I had another internship lined up for me that caters to what I want to do as a career anyway. Hopefully everything turns out in my favor. #S/O to Candess though.


 
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Now that you have a better idea on the intentions behind this blog, I’m going to divulge a little bit about myself. Well, the basics, (1) 21-year-old African American female (2) Born and raised in St. Louis, MO (3) One of three kids (two brothers and I’m the middle and parents are still married (I’ll discuss this more later) (4) Senior at the University of Missouri that graduates December 15, 2012 @ 12:30PM @ Mizzou Arena…not that I’m counting or anything (5) Hmm… guess those are the basics. I do have one interesting fact: I have a 2 ½ year old daughter named Addyson, meaning I had her at 19. Although I don’t regret having her, I feel guilty for my selfish actions and bringing her into a situation that she shouldn’t have to be in. I can’t provide her with a two-parent household (at least not right now) because both of her parents are not together. Being a full-time parent & student causes much conflict between balancing time for my school work as well as my child. Although I am very much aware that my child always comes first, I seem to get wrapped up in the demands of homework, exams, and being involved on campus. I still think I have yet to execute a well-balanced routine, but my child is healthy and loved and I graduate in less than 7 months so I don’t have much to complain about. I make the best of my situation by showering my child with lots of hugs and kisses, and since she is so impressionable, I always try to play gospel music around her (although it doesn’t always pan out that way with my versatile Ipod shuffle). She even knows the words to a lot of them now :) I guess what I’m getting at is that for a while, even a little now, I felt guilty for being a young single-parent because I know my child deserves a lot more. I’m working on getting over that guilt and accepting the cards that were dealt to me (some cards I chose myself) and being thankful for the many blessings I have. I have the most supportive family that I could ever ask for, my child needs for nothing, I am able to complete school on time, and still enjoy myself from time to time. I am so BLEEEEEEEESSED #JillScottVoice