I challenge you! Will you meet it?

This idea was first inspired by the Holy Spirit who pointed me in the direction of another sister in Christ. I would like to share this with those that may be reading this post. I'd like to challenge you to participate in a journal challenge with me. Here's what you'll need:

Journal:



Notecards:
You will use them to write down the scriptures. Meditate on them throughout the day. Write out the scriptures longhand– based on what God places on your heart to study & meditate on. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart, then proceed to write:



An example of how you’ll start your journal can be seen below. This one is started with “Dear Daddy”– Be sure to write the CONSISTENT day. The point of this journal challenge is to get you to be consistent in spending time with God daily. So that means writing, day 1, day 2, day 50, day 56.. etc.




Ok, so now that you have all of the materials that you'll need, you may be asking, "HOW DO I JOURNAL?" & "WHAT DO I SAY?"

First, You'll unclutter your mind BEFORE all of this by praying a prayer that will rebuke your wondering thoughts/mind. You will get on your knees and pray a prayer of submission of all of you in exchange for him. You will submit your will for his.

Then, you'll write/say what you'd say to a close friend, hubby, sister, mother, or brother. Its your diary to God. Pour out what's in your heart. Write out everything that hurt you on that day. Write out everything that made you smile that day. Write out your questions that may have come up for the day. Just be OPEN.  He is your best friend. He longs to have a genuine and true relationship with you. Not just one where you go through the motions on Sunday because of "tradition" and then go right back to the defeated mentality on all of the other days of the week. Be honest about everything at all times because he already knows. This is to strengthen your FELLOWSHIP with him. Many of us have a relationship but we don't have fellowship. There is a big difference.

Lastly but definitley not least, one you've finished reading and writing the scripture and your thoughts, just get QUIET and LISTEN!!



Sometimes he'll place something in your spirit and sometimes he'll just be quiet and allow you to enjoy his presence. Treat your relationship with God like a REAL relationship because IT IS.

Don't be one-sided by just speaking and never listening. Let's stop neglecting our time with him. 

We have to READ & MEDITATE ON HIS WORD in order to know his thoughts and to discern what his perfect will is in all of the situations that we'll face in this life. We make time to meet our girlfriends for dinner or lunch. We make time to take trips by packing and getting to the airport BEFORE our departure time. Lets make time to communicate with the one who blesses us to be able to do these things. We should enjoy our time with him and WATCH how we begin to become transformed from the INSIDE to the outside. No amount of make-up, jewelry, and clothing can even begin to TOUCH the type of beauty that comes from true and genuine fellowship with our Daddy. 

Keep in mind that the enemy WILL come to try & distract you. There will be ringing phones, barking dogs, crazy thoughts, sleepiness, etc... PRESS THROUGH and FOCUS on him. Take the time to turn your phone, tv, and any other distraction OFF. It's HIS time. You will not regret this. Trust him. This works for your good! 

If you need a accoutability partner, I don't mind at all. We can be accountable to each other! Just let me know!!

I challenge you to start TODAY! Let it go & LET'S GO!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Nata Bee

Unchartered Sets

The following creative entry was written in the confines of a cubicle during break time between a coworker and myself. Food for thought, you do the dishes! Enjoy!

New beginnings…new places…

Fresh Grace…..new faces…

Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday struggles

The walls of the cubicles, closing in like a prison structure…

Please give me muscle

To get past all of the daily tustle

Of endless mindless almost rusted

Baggage of loss grace to the point I cant trust it

Release me I say- its unwanted.

What’s unwanted you may ask?

The tustle of mediocrity

The bustle of creased slacks, collared tee’s

Paperwork that gives you a case of the zzzz’s

Is there an opportunity to advance?

Or have I reached the glass ceiling?

Does the American dream apply to me?

Or is that a fairytale feeling?...

Or a dream that has not been fulfilled yet

a longing to reach uncharted sets

that I just cant seem to touch- yes

I cant stop this feeling that im supposed to be a queen- chess

But I realize now I need others to help achieve it

Solo is no longer the means-correct

I finally mastered the ability to dream, or is this a test?

The end and the beginning should be the knee- pray yes

Prayers moves mountains

Mountains are moved by faith

The size of mustard seed is all that is needed

Perseverance, Hope, and Discipline

Spiritual ingredients deposited into a spiritual cake

Its time to break the chains off of our minds

It’s time to break out of that generationally limited nest

It’s time to spread our wings out as the eagle does

Will you past the test?

I need rest

Time to allow my mind to collect

All this information is here to progress

Yet I still continue to digest

All this fake mess

That surrounds me everday, obsessed

I'm drowning in a life of worthlessness

Please hear my call Lord for substance

He hears the cries of the afflicted

The struggle is not in vain

All things work together

For those who believe in his name

Weeping endures for a night

Yet joy comes in the morning

He’ll exchange our ashes of sorrow

Give us joy instead of mourning

His ways aren’t our ways

His thoughts aren’t our thoughts

His plan is to give us hope and a future

But first we must be taught.

Taught what you may ask?

You can’t tell me this is all on purpose?

The sleepless nights, tear soaked pillows

Screaming inside yet smiling on the surface

Taught to smile through the tears and walk through the fear

Taught to walk on the tightrope of life

Reject the negative and bring the positive near

Taught to reject the idea of a being a public success yet a private mess

Taught to look to the hills, stop dwelling on what WAS and look to..

WHAT'S NEXT!

Written by:

LaShonda Cole & Renate' Bender

The Plan

She stares in the mirror, wondering if this is real

Please Lord PLEASE!!! let this just be another nightmare and not the real deal!

PINCH ME! SHAKE ME!! SCREAM! Some type of feel!!

But the longer she stares and watches the tears fall, it confirms that this is not a drill.

Nope, this is the real thing...a NIGHTMARE...her worst fears!

Her best friend has left THIS world. Here comes more tears.

While her spirit knows that her mama has transitioned to a new life full of peace, beauty, and tranquility that's surreal

Her emotions scream, I WANT YOU HERE!

They scream like a toddler snatched out of it's mother's arms...like a eaglet kicked out of the eagles nest

Wings pinned to her back..falling and gasping for breath

Her heart feels like its been stabbed repeatedly with a knife

The world's color seems to be gone. 

Nothing seems exciting anymore

Everything feels wrong

Her laughs are short lived

Her soul feels torn

She knows she must move forward but how does one do that?

How does she go on?

How does one go forth when everywhere she looks, she's reminded of her mom doing this or that?

How does one continue on when they are so broken and wounded?

Can she really survive this ride?

YES. Her Creator says because I'm on your side.

I know the plans I have for you.

I can do all things but fail.

I am your shield.

I am your Rock.

You know my word.

It is not a fairytale.

My word is true.

I am not a man that I should lie.

You can't & won't figure it all out but TRUST that I am on your side.

My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts.

Don't be afraid.

I will give you joy for your sorrows and hope for your tomorrows.

I'll give you strength for EVERYTHING that you go through.

You know why?

Its because I know the plans I have for you.

I dedicate this to you mama. I love you so much. I miss you so much but I know that with much prayer and many, many more days & nights of tears, God will continue to strengthen me and I will be able to get through this. I'm pressing through and "bearing down" like you always told me to do when things get painful and rough. I'm glad that God picked you to be my mama. I'm glad that he gave me a chance to hug and kiss all around your face and head and tell you how much I love you and you tell me back. I couldn't ask for anyone better. I'll do my best to make you proud. I'm sure I have alot more inside of me to write because they say the best work comes from a place of pain and heartache so through this extreme pain, I'll continue to write. I'll see you on the other side and we can talk all about it and joke again. ~Nata B.

It's time to FLY!

“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.”* (Deuteronomy 32:11)

Have you ever seen an eagle stir up her nest?  There in the nest, right upon the rocky heights, are the eaglets. The eaglets are comfortable. The nest is nice and comfy and the mother eagle feeds them everyday while they lay there and relax....THEN ONE DAY...The mother eagle comes and, takes hold of them, and flings them out of the nest. They were so comfortable there, but she flings them right out of the nest, high above the earth. They begin to fall. They never have been in air before; they have always been in the nest.
Has the mother eagle lost her mind?! Why does she disturb the eaglets?

Watch her and you will understand. As long as you look at the struggling eaglets in the air you miss the point.

Watch the eagle. Having stirred up her nest, she “spreadeth abroad her wings,” the wings that beat the air behind her as she rises HIGH ABOVE IT. Where are the eaglets? Struggling, Terrified, and Falling...

The mother eagle is superior yet...they are falling. Then what does she do? She “beareth them on her pinions.” She SWOOPS beneath them, catches them on her wings, and bears them up. Wait...What is she doing you ask? She is teaching them to fly. She then drops them again, and again while they struggle in the air, but THIS TIME not so helplessly. They are finally realizing what she means. She spreads her pinions to show them how to fly, and as they fall again, she catches them again. That is how God deals with you and me.

Has He been stirring up your nest? Has He flung you out until you feel lost in an element that is new and strange? Look up at Him. He is not lost. He spreads out the wings of omnipotence to teach us how to soar. What then? He comes beneath us and catches us on His wings. We thought when He flung us out of the nest it was unkind. No, He was teaching us to fly that we might enter into the spirit of the promise, “They shall mount up with wings as eagles.”* (Isaiah 40:31)

He is teaching us how to use the gifts which He has placed in us. We cannot use these gifts as long as we are in the nest.

Eaglets cannot remain in the nest! It is contrary to their nature, contrary to the purposes for which they are framed and fitted. You'll never realize the power within you if you were never cast out into uncharted territory. There is a purpose in the eagle. What is it you ask? It is to fly to great heights.

There is a purpose in your life. What is it? Fly Godward and eventually heavenward. If you stop in the nest you will never get there. When God has placed his hand on your life and starts to lead you, it is a disruption to your dreams and plans. It is a disturbance but it is a PROGRESSIVE disturbance so that He may get you on His wings and teach you the secret forces of your own life, and lead you to a higher development and higher purposes.

You see me...

You see me, the chick with the crooked smile and small waist...You see me, the chick with the serious face. You ask yourself, what could it be that makes her so blue? If only you knew... You see, this crooked smile and serious profile does not come from a place of anger or insanity. You actually see a woman focused on her destiny. Yeah sure, I often wonder what it would be like to fit comfortably in the "convenience" box that many have made for me but my Creator quickly reminds me by saying Nata Bee, I made you in the image of me and you see, my ways will not be your ways and my thoughts, not your thoughts because when I made thee, I applied uniqueness with a dash of this and a pinch of that so stop ANALYZING and WONDERING about that. Your quirky ways and awkward daze will by no means bother the people I'll send your way. Just let me handle this and maneuver this so stop with the play. Your mind will not fathom the complete picture because you see...I set it this way. Your mission is to WALK, not by sight, but simply by faith. You do this by accepting who I've made you to be and not what the enemy fools you to see. So...You see me, the crooked smile and small waist...This face is not the result of being in a dark place or insanity. The face you see is focused on her destiny.
**********************************************************************************

The above flowed from my pen to my pad in a matter of minutes. For some reason, God wanted me to write this so here I am. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. To all that see this, never be afraid to let God use you. His intent is not to hurt us but to mold us into the people that he has called us to be. In order for him to do that, we must let him LEAD. With that said, thanks for reading!

Peace, Love, & Blessings!

Nata Bee

copyright © 2012 Renate' Bender All Rights Reserved.

What's Your Choice?

For many are called, but few are chosen

Matthew 22-14

Many people use the above scripture without actually knowing what it means. I've seen it used pertaining towards friendship quotes as well as used in a manner that tries to spread some sort of hopeless message regarding the kingdom of God. I'd like to encourage you to read God's word and meditate on it before carelessly throwing it around without an actual understanding of what it means. Read the bible for yourself. Many simply go off of what "grandmama & nem" said and run with it without actually reading and gaining a personal understanding for themselves. As God's children, lets stop recycling religious sayings that we've memorized from other people and actually start walking our own walk with God because when it's all said and done, we will be standing alone before him. God put this passage on my heart and gave me an understanding as to what it actually means. This passage represents God's love for us. He calls all of us at one point or another in our lives. You may wonder what I am speaking of when I say "call". This simply means that God calls us through messengers, sermons, visions, & experiences to live a life that represents him and is pleasing to him.

As a person who is trying to accomplish this, I will tell you that it is by no means easy which brings me to my next point. Few are chosen because alot of people simply do not want to change their "comfortable" way of living. Most believe that a comfortable way of living is what is actually acceptable and smiled upon in the world we live in. The revelation I received from this passage tells me that God never excluded us but we exclude ourselves by knowingly, actively & consistently making choices that reject his ways. When God calls us, it is very uncomfortable at first because it goes against the grain. It is the opposite of what the world deems as "normal". The world doesn't view voluntary celibacy & abstinence as "normal" or even sane. The world views this as "unreasonable" & "delusional". The world doesn't view loving and helping your enemies as a smart thing. The world says, "Do you". The world can't understand why some of us who choose to be more Christ like will actually walk away from a tall,dark, and handsome unsaved man that we can see for a man that we don't see. The world doesn't understand this because the world can't see what we see. The gospel is hidden to those whose hearts are hardened against his word. Don't simply go off of my word, check it out for yourself. * 2 Corinthians 4:3*

You will find that the world rejects people who strive to do what Christ has called them to do. It will portray an image that we are idiots and have no brain to think for ourselves. It will portray that we are too "radical" and "crazy" to think that way of living is achievable and normal. One thing that is correct about the previous statement is that, we are radical, I'll admit that. We have no choice but to be because we serve a radical God and I make no apologies for that.

Many times we can get so caught up in what the world is saying is "normal" that it impairs our vision and we start to chip away at our value system just to fit in and gain acceptance but what many don't realize is that the world is much like a "bad romance"..word to lady gaga...it feels so good at the beginning and you become blind to the red flags & unhealthy consequences that once you've completely invested yourself in it, it rejects you without an ounce of sympathy. It actually smiles at your tears and misfortunes. The deeper your despair, the happier it gets. Do not be deceived by it.

To further drive the point home, I will present you with a parable regarding getting caught up in the world's way of doing things. There was a certain individual eating a huge ice cream cone but this wasn't an ordinary cone, it had a sharp blade buried inside it unbeknownst to this person. The person licked this ice cream cone with vigorous delight & eventually was lost in the joy of this cone that they didn't recognize when they started to lick the blade. They eventually started to cut up their own tongue and lick their own blood because they were so caught up in the initial pleasure of the ice cream cone. Don't get so caught up in what the world says is OK that you miss out on what God is calling you to do. Read his word and meditate on it. Who cares if people don't understand or label you as "crazy". People label things as "crazy" when they don't understand it. They then try to demean and reject it. Do not let people deter you from a peace and joy that is unshakable. Listen, people that willingly live their lives in the dark, lose their "sight" so when the light comes into their room, they will become angry and reject it. Don't lose your sight. There's never a pit so deep that God can't reach in and get you out. Yes, we all are a work in progress & God has ordained grace for us through Jesus Christ because he knew we would fall down but do not be deceived into thinking that means life can be lived any kind of way as long as we scream "forgive me" without any true remorse. True remorse brings about change. Grace is actually the strength to refrain from living your life any kind of way. It is not a manipulation tactic that can be used as a pass.

A person that seeks God with their whole being will by no means be forsaken. God will hear their voice and day by day we start to become more like him. This means we start to gain his spiritual characteristics. When this happens, it will be very difficult to go back to our old way of life because his Spirit constantly guides our steps and once we step outside of his will, he alarms us. If we choose to ignore & continue outside of his will, then the spirit becomes grieved and therefore we will become grieved in our spirit because it dwells inside of our being. If you're on your own journey with him, you will understand. If not, what I'm expressing to you will sound "out there" & probably make you defensive and angry. To that, I urge you not to reject the truth aka light but to embrace it. While the light may shine on & reveal our imperfections, it will also work to free us from the bondage that connect us to these imperfections. In the words of Amistad...GIVE US FREE:) CHOOSE to be one of the few today.

Nata Bee

Happy New You!

Trade in your mind of history for a mind of destiny. Do not waste another year nullifying new opportunities with an old mindset. ~Nata Bee

I'm sure most of you reading this have by now heard or have personally stated & sworn to the cliche' sayings of reaching new weight goals, zero debt, getting rid of "baggage" & every other saying that many state during the New Year holiday. We often abandon or forget about many of these goals around the end of March or so when the hoorah has died down. I'd like to take the time to encourage you as well as myself by saying, make this year the year that you actually see these desired goals through. Let's start by actually praying to God to change our mindset because where the head goes the body follows. Let's adopt a healthy and spiritual mindset for the year 2012. It's time that we rid ourselves of negative circumstances and people. It's time that we actually take responsibility for alot of the mess that has been accumulated. While I know without a shadow of a doubt that we can't control every circumstance that we face, we can control our perception and way of thinking towards these circumstances. We must develop a clear vision in order to be mobile. A distorted vision will always cause some sort of immobility. This means that we must learn to be honest with ourselves and actually know who we are in Christ to find the answer to the questions of what roles we may have played within various scenarios. A victim's mindset will always place blame on other people when presented with an issue while a victorious mindset will tend to see the opportunity to grow stronger in a certain area of life. We need to stop giving human beings so much power and control over our mental state. Our moods and attitudes towards life should never be dependent on if the next person is in agreement with it. Stop expecting big things from little people. Most of the time people have their own problems and issues to work through so for us to actually place our livelihood and worth on something so unstable would be completely foolish on our part. Stop painting a different picture of people when they have shown you their true colors. We only waste valuable time and hurt ourselves. Lets learn to take responsibility and strive towards bigger and better things. Stop making excuses as to why you can't do something and getting jealous/mad when you see the next individual prospering. If we're not willing to actually be steadfast throughout adversity and sacrifice to reach the next level, we can't blame anyone but ourselves. Stop seeking approval from people whether its a boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, family member, "the elite" in society, or an associate. People's attitudes and outlooks are never constant and solid so we set ourselves up for failure when we do this. We must stop searching for the living among the dead. This means you can't expect prosperity and abundance out of a situation that is bankrupt. Everyone will not understand & some may mock while others will simply walk away. That is perfectly OK because the reward of submitting to a mindset and lifestyle that pleases God is priceless. We don't have time to convince people of our vision nor can we waste time trying to please everyone that doesn't understand. To those that don't understand, simply say, "Talk about me all that you please but I will continue to pray on my knees". If we learn to be steadfast and actually finish things through, there will always be a reward. Let's challenge ourselves to invest in the things that actually can't be purchased, like a renewed mindset and heart. Happy New YOU!

Nata Bee