Who the Heck is Corrie Ten Boom? Anybody???

Hello Good People:

I haven't blogged for 2 days and I am starting to have withdrawal symptoms. I hope you all had a splendiferous weekend. Mine was mild but very interesting (more on this later).

After my Friday night fiasco of losing all that I typed, I almost chucked my laptop out onto the patio, but I’ve decided to not hold a grudge against the SAVE button (and my jacked up memory for failing to click said button) and get on with it.

I came across a juicy tidbit on my FB (facebook) page today and it sums up EXACTLY how I feel, so I will let this be my jumping off point today: "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." Corrie Ten Boom

Now, I have no freakin' idea who Corrie Ten Boom is, but that little nugget stopped me dead in my tracks when I read it.

I am not a patient person.
I am not a patient person.
I am not a patient person.
(working on this)

I'm the kinda chick who doesn't INSTINCTIVELY trust the engineer. I'm the kinda chick who first yells and screams at the top of her lungs: IT'S DARK. WHAT'S GOING ON? HURRY UP AND GET ME OUTTA HERE!!! Then I do a reality check and say to myself "Self, get it together. You are not running the show. Just get in, sit down, shut up and hold on. Everything is going to be just peachy."

That's sad isn't it? (Smiling) Well at least I acknowledge MY faults...can you say the same? LOL

Corrie Ten Boom is talking about FAITH. Simply put, faith is the belief in something or someone unseen. If I don't trust the engineer then that means I'm lacking faith. How uncool is that?

Have you checked your faith levels lately? Are you running on full, half or empty? Is something happening in your life that is testing your faith in the engineer? How are you going to handle the situation? Will you sit still and know that the engineer knows what He is doing and know that He will get you through? Or will you first scream like a banshee and cut up like I have a tendency to do (from time to time)?

Let's get it together people. Let's check the nonsense at the door and let the engineer do His thang. I'm learning as I go that when I trust in Him the train ride is a smooth journey, the dark tunnel will have light at the end of it and when I arrive at my destination I will be exactly where I'm supposed to be.

(((((((hugs))))))) if you need one.
Niko

OMG?!?

My first roadblock. I've been typing for an hour working on tonight's post. I went to preview it without saving it first and all my work is gone. I am literally sitting here pulling out my hair (with my free hand, I'm typing with the other). Let me see if I can recreate it. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Into every life a little rain must fall. Cheese and crackers people. :-P

Hush Yo Mouf.

Good Evening Folks:

It's a humid Friday Eve here in The A. Work was work and a sistah is glad to be home. I'm sitting in the middle of my fluffy, queen sized bed watching 106 & Park on BET. They are showing a Keyshia Cole 'flashback joint' and I'm swaying back and forth and singing along. I just talked to my home gurl Esti and she asked if I started blogging for the night. I told her I was just logging on and what my subject matter for the day would be...then she said "Oh boy". So here we go...

Have you ever met a person who makes you want to say "Please. Put a sock in it!"? The kind of person who makes you want to say "Just shut up already!"? I have. In fact, I've probably even been THAT person (lol). The bible says: 'study' to be quiet. It doesn't say anything about 'taking a crash course' (thanks Esti).

Just because you have something to say doesn't always mean you should actually say it. Some thoughts should remain as such...in your pretty little head. I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to speak my mind, which isn't always appropriate, but it's difficult for me to hold back and so I just blurt things out as I see fit and because I feel like it. Besides, you're not the boss of me (smile). This is sometimes offensive to others, so I'm learning to pull back a little and tailor my convo to fit the MOOD of those around me or the SITUATION.

The flip side of that is WORDS are very liberating and powerful. They can encourage, persuade, incite, soothe, enrage, calm, impact, change, motivate, inspire, hurt, expose, amuse, confuse, heal, comfort, placate, convince...this list can go on and on...

Let's watch what we say people. Let's not just rattle off stuff to hear the sound of our own voices. Let's not be afraid or uncomfortable with silence. Let's think BEFORE we speak. Let's have something worth saying before we open our pie holes. Most importantly it's never WHAT we say, but HOW we say it.

In closing, here is a quip I received via email a day or so ago.

Four things you can't recover:
The time.....after it's gone.
The occasion.....after it's missed.
The stone.....after it's thrown.
The WORD.....after it's said.

If any of this hit too close to home for some of you, the wound can only sting if it's open. On that note, Im out. WORD to yo mutha'.

Affectionately,
Niko

Stop Biting off More Than You Can Chew.

Hello Peoples:

I hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday. Even though I didn't sleep much last night (get your mind out of the gutter), today turned out a lot better than I expected. For starters, on my way into the office, a 25 year old pulled up next to me at a red light and chatted me up. Lucky for him I'm no cradle robber (smile). Since I'm old enough to be that boy's momma I sped off with a wave of my hand and a beep of my horn and kept it pushin'. I also received some really inspiring feedback about this new blog -- needless to say that made my day. Thus the smile on my face now as I click away on these keys.

I have a friend in Cali, her name is Ketai, and she has this saying: "If you can't FEED the baby, then don't HAVE the baby." Although she means this in it's most literal sense, I on the other hand have added my own little warped spin to it. I'm a little twisted. What can I say?

I look at it like this...If you're not ready for "it" (whatever your "it" may be), then leave "it" where "it" is. Meaning, you shouldn't accept the challenge if you're not certain you can handle it. Quit standing in line for seconds when you still have uneaten food on your plate. And last but not least, don't let your mouth write a check your behind can't cash. You feel me?

As human beings we are self-centered (put the baseball bats down people, I'm talking about myself here) and selfish. We want it all -- brand new socks AND draws. But sometimes we're not ready or capable of taking on everything that our eyes covet and our hearts desire. It takes quite a bit of willpower to just sit still until the time is right. If it's truly meant for you it will be there. No need in you running over to collect and hoard every little thing you lay eyes on, especially when you might not be in a position to HOLD ONTO IT.

I came across this next bit on my Facebook page today. It's contibuted by Charles E. Flowers III and it quips: Be careful when it comes to what you want and what you need. Chasing what you want can leave you needing much more than you can afford.

Now that's a gem if I've ever read one.

Tomorrow is a new day. Another chance to do something pleasing in God's sight. Another chance to get it right.

Good night folks.

Love,
Niko

Have You Had Enough Yet?

Good Evening Folks:

It's Cinco de Mayo and I could not fathom being in a crowded hangout, jockeying for position at the bar, so I took a pass on the social scene tonight and decided to be constructive and do some writing instead. (Wow, that was a long run-on sentence). Anyway.

The thought for the day is: God's shoulder tap. Is it His way of asking "Have you had enough yet?"

Every now and again something will happen that makes me shake my head and pose the question to no one in particular "Why me?" "Why is this happening?" "Why do I have to go through this?" After quiet contemplation I arrived at the following: These little instances are God's way of tapping me on my shoulder and asking me "Have you had enough yet?"

Have you had enough of doing it your way? Have you had enough of this when I want you to do that? Have you had enough of the life you're living instead of the life I've planned for you? Have you had enough of being a follower when I want you to be a leader? Have you had enough of being an employee when your destiny is to be an entrepreneur? Have you had enough yet?

So the next time you find yourself walking around and scratching your head trying to figure out what the heck is going on in your life -- STOP -- and ask yourself: Is God tapping me on my shoulder? And have I had enough yet?

This wouldn't be complete without a quote and boy oh boy do I have a doosie for you. Ready? Here we go... (thanks for sharing this one Tia).

"Discernment gives us a proper frame of reference, a definite line separating good and evil. It acts as an umpire in life and blows the whistle on the spurious. It’s as particular as a pathologist peering into a microscope. Discernment picks and chooses its dates with great care. It doesn’t fall for fakes…or flirt with phonies…or dance with deceivers…or kiss counterfeits good night." Charles R. Swindoll

I know you're gonna have to read that one a couple of times...I sure did. It's a good one, isn't it?

In closing I'll leave you with this. Don't let God's should tap turn into a pimp slap. Does God DO pimp slaps? Whew. I think I already have subject matter for my next entry. (smile)

Goodnight to all...and to all a good night.

Love,
Niko

Failure is not Defeat: March 18, 2009

Hello Peeps:

I didn't forget about you, I just wasn't near my laptop yesterday.

So here it is...the thought for the day: FAILURE IS NOT DEFEAT.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt/snippet from Michael Durham's Morning Meditation.

Failure doesn't mean you're a failure, it means you haven't succeeded yet.
Failure doesn't mean you've accomplished nothing, it means you’ve learned something.
Failure doesn't mean you've been a fool, it means you had a lot of faith.
Failure doesn't mean you've been disgraced, it means you were willing to try.
Failure doesn't mean you don't have it, it means you have to do something in a different way. Failure doesn't mean you're inferior, it means you're not perfect.
Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life, it means you've a reason to start afresh.
Failure doesn't mean you should give up, it means you should try harder.
Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it, it means it'll take a little longer.
Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you, it means God has a better idea!

Much love,
Niko

What Are You Doing at 2:38am?: March 25, 2009

G'mornin:

Yawn...

Although it's 0'dark thirty it is officially Wednesday, so here I go. What up, what up, what up? Or may I should say Who up, Who up, Who up?

How ya livin'?

I don't have anything profound for you this morning. My only offering is just what's on my mind at this very moment. Random thought for this Hump Day: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME???

When was the last time you...?

Put God first and watched Him work in your life
Stayed up all night long, just talking to that special person
Kissed, again and again and again and again and again, but did nothing else
Ate dessert first
Fell in love
Let go of your past and moved on to your future
Watched a movie you wouldn't normally watch
Made a new friend
Extended yourself and helped someone out and expected nothing in return
Donated your time or clothing to a worthy cause or charity
Were completely honest (trust me, it's liberating)
Talked to your BEST FRIEND - the person who knows you and loves your butt anyway
Spoke up and made a suggestion
Laughed until you cried
Cried
Read a book (magazines don't count)
Listened to some GOOD music: Teena Marie, Earth Wind & Fire, Chaka Kahn, The Whispers
Swam in the ocean (naked)
Went swimming while it was raining outside
Watched a sunrise or a sunset
Gave a foot massage/Got a foot massage
Sat quietly and listened to your thoughts
Went for a looooooooooong drive with no paticular destination in mind

This is just my silly list, but I'd love to hear back and find out WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU...???

Quote for the Day: "We regret most the chances in life we never took" Author Unknown to Me

Word for the Day: Concupiscence (noun) a strong desire, especially sexual desire; lust

As always, I'm thinking of you all.

Peace and Love,
Niko