Hate on me Haters!!!

Hi Gentle Readers:
Ever felt like the whole world was against you? Umph--I have. As a matter of fact, I feel like that this very minute! I have so many people hatin' on me right now...it's unreal. The strange thing is, I don't know why they hatin'... I ain't did nobody none--really, I haven't (in my best whinnin' voice)
First of all, in this situation, I know that I have to encourage myself. This I know: Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world(1John 4:4) AND as my pastor says, 'let 'em hate. That means God will bless and move on my behalf all the more and give my haters even more reason to hate!!' (I like that!!)
The thing about my haters is that they are persons who shouldn't be hatin'. (Aren't they always, though?) They are persons closest to me-- so they should be loving, caring, and supportive...you'd think?...but nooo...oooh dare I say it?....my haters are church and family members. Yep..they are. I've noticed in the last few weeks, that certain people are talking about me, not behind my back, mind you--like they are supposed to, but to my face. And giving me strange looks or just plain ol' igging me in conversations. What I usually do is just brushed it off as my imagination. But it keeps coming back time and time again, so I know there has to be something to it.
Can we just talk--you and me? Do you mind if I get real with you a moment and share this experience? See, I was at church---getting my praise and worship in, cuz you know, God is good!, and I hear my name whispered. OK--who's whispering my name while I'm in the middle of worship?!! So I think to myself, 'this must be pretty important, right? Maybe I should come out of worship to see if my skirt is caught up in my pantyhose or something....that can be too embarassing, you know...so I come out of worship for a moment--only to find this young lady is pointing at me and whispering something about me to her neighbor. So I say to myself, "Oops...that's not my conversation"--and I go back to worship. Now this is my thought--let me know if my thinking is wrong here: The praise and worship leader has taken us in. God's in the building. Blessing. Healing. Making miracles happen. And this person has NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO TALK ABOUT ME?!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!
The most important thing when the spirit is high is that we focus on God--give God His due. Give Him the honor, praise and worship He deserves. But no--this person decides not to give their attention to the Almighty God, but to meer (wo)man instead. WHAT?!! He is the God who woke us up this morning! Clothed in our right minds! Put food on the table! Gives life, breath, health and strength! I got news for you Ms. Whisperer Hater---I AIN'T DONE NONE OF THAT!!! and couldn't even if I wanted to!!!

Second hater issue...I'm on one of those social networks--you know the kind--where you have to be a member and all we do is talk (type) back and forth--forth and back. Well, I've got a cousin on therethat grew up with me. But after the debacle of 2001,we don't talk much--but anyway, it seems that from the time I announced I'm graduating from college--this cousin ignores me on the social network. Seems like when she realizes I'm on..she gets off. My son tells me, 'oh she just signed off and missed your comment.' No she didn't. She's dissin' me. But that's ok. Go 'head. Dis me. Cuz the more you dis me, the more I'll bless you. The more I bless you, the more I'm blessed. I'm not braggin or boastin on me. I'm braggin and boastin on the God in me. And if you choose to hate on me...hate on. Cuz it's not me you're hatin'.

As I sit and think about it, I'm reminded that I am not unique. They also hated on Jesus. Hated on Him so much that they sent soldiers to pick up an innocent Man in the middle of the night. They tried Him all night long, taking Him from courtroom to courtroom--all on trumped up charges. Hated Him so much that the crowd said let the guilty go free while an innocent Man was pronounced guilty. Hated Him so much that they beat him and spat on him and then they made Him carry a cross up Golgotha hill. Hated him so they put Him up on that cross between two thieves, put a crown of thorns on His head and mocked Him. And to think, He endured the haters, He gave His life, so that you and I can have eternal life. There's no need to ask 'what would Jesus do?' What He did is recorded in Luke for all to read. But in case you missed it, this is what He did--He blessed His haters. Remember? "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do"? Luke 23:34

So a short letter to my Haters: I love you. I decree that God bless and keep you! May God bless you financially--bless your family--bless your children, and your children's children-- bless you on your job--keep you healthy--provide food on your table, clothes on your back and shoes on your feet--May He give you the desires of your heart--bless your going out, bless your coming in--bless you in the city and in the field!! May He enlarge your territory. May the Lord God bless you in every way, every day in ways that are abundantly and exceedingly more than you can dream or imagine!! AMEN!!

I've got one last thing to say and I'll let you go...In the words of my favorite poetress the Honorable Jill Scott:

You can try as you may, Break me down but I say
That it ain’t up to you, Gone and do what you do
Hate on me, hater, Now or later
‘Cuz I’m gonna do me, You’ll be mad, baby
Go ‘head and hate on me, hater
I’m not afraid of -- What I got I paid for!!
You can hate on me!!!

Thanks, Jill! I could not have said it better!
and Thanks God, there is no better example of a more excellent way!!
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simply beautiful
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Strong, Grown, and Sexy

My friend sent me a poem today entitled: "Grown Woman". Basically, the poem is about how girls vs. women act/react in relationships with men. I decided to break it down and add my own twist and instead of a poem, it'll be a mini-essay.

*Grown Women do not want to control the man in her life. She knows if he's truly hers, he doesn't need controlling. If he is her man, then he's committed to love, respect, and care for her. If he chooses not to, she will let him go knowing that it's his loss.
*Little girls are insecure and will check a man for not calling. Grown women are too busy to realize he hadn't.
*Strong and Grown women revel in being alone and use it as a time for personal growth. She will read and meditate on the Word, take in some arts and culture, exercise, or she might even dress herself up and go out to dinner and a movie--by herself.
*Little girls beg and whine to make her man come home. Grown women make him want to come home. He can't wait to get there. (Do you want it on your rice and gravy? Do you want it on your biscuits baby? Do you want it on your black-eyed peas...give it to me...give it to me... LOL...Jill Scott's my girrrl!! )
*Girls sit by the phone all day long, waiting for the man to make plans for the evening-- and when she ends up home alone, she pouts because his plans don't include hanging with her. A grown woman will make her own plans and nicely tell the guy "to get in where you fit in."
*A Strong, Grown and Sexy black woman knows that she's pretty--no, she knows she's simply beautiful and is more than good enough for any man. She's confident in this because that's the way God made her.
*Girls try to monopolize all their man's time--she don't want him hanging with his friends or his family. Grown women realize that a lil' bit of space makes the 'together time' even more special-and encourages him to hang his boys. And while he's with his boys, she not at home pouting, she goes to kick it with her own friends. And since we're on the subject of friends, a grown woman IS NOT intimidated by the fact that her man has female friends. She's grown enough to discern when they are just friends and nothing more. She's not naive-- mind you, but neither does she feel the need to challenge him on his relationships with his female friends. And she's certainly not intimidated by another woman or girl admiring her man. See, she knows that if she finds him attractive, it's a compliment to her good taste if another finds him attractive also. Grown women don't want a man that look like the dog just dug him up and drug him in! He's got to be neat, clean, fine, dressed well, and good looking-- whether he's in a suit or a t-shirt and some jeans. And little girls remember, just look--don't touch...or there will be consequences and repercussions.
*Little girls think a guy who0 cries is weak. Strong and Grown women offer their shoulder and some tissue. Hell, it's better that he's able to deal with his feelings and his emotions through talking and tears than for him to come in and unexpectantly shove your head through a wall just because he's angry!
*Little girls want to be spoiled and whine all about it to their man. Grown and Sexy women will spoil their man first and be sure he's comfortable enough to reciprocate without fear of losing his 'manhood'.
*Girls get hurt by one man and make all men pay for it. Strong women know that he was just one man. Love hurts sometimes and we must move on. Think of it this way, God had to move the wrong one out of the way so that the right one could come in.
*Girls fall in love and chase aimlessly after the object of their affection, ignoring all signs. Grown women know that sometimes the one you focus on, doesn't always respond in kind-but it's okay... move on without bitterness. Who God has for you is for you.
Truth be told, it's easy to be a little girl. But it takes maturity, transparency, humility, self-confidence, God-confidence, inner strength, and trust to be Strong, Grown, and Sexy. She must have God's Word in her, be able to pray God's protection over her and hers, and be willing to allow God to guide her daily. Now as humans, we have our insecurities--and we're not going to always be on point. Just realize this: Being 'Strong' is about being in God. Being 'Grown' or mature is recognizing and acknowledging shortcomings and making a true effort to improve. And being 'Sexy' is not all about sex... let's be real, but it is about being beautiful and attractive for yourself first, then for the opposite sex. And to be 'Grown and Sexy' is when you're at a point in life where playing games and immaturity is a thing of the past. There's no more foolishness because you are ready to take on bigger and better things. The Strong, Grown and Sexy is aware of her worth, she's loving, elegant, poised, controls her temper, and secure in who she is and Whose she is. That's what makes her exciting, attractive, and irresistable.
So, little girls, stop wallowing in the muck and mire of immaturity. Woman up! Join the sect of the Strong, Grown, and Sexy!