beautiful

For Chris

Music transcends race, age, gender and social class. Music can bring different people to together while they sing the same lyrics to a song. People who know me know that I listen to all kinds of music however rock music is my baby. I love rock music. The Seattle Scene was everything Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains one can throw Candlebox up in there too. I had every cassette of the bands from the Settle Scene.  Growing up 1991 was a great year of music in April my mother brought me the cassette Temple of the Dog and in October Badmotorfinger. My mother brought me Motorvision on VHS of course it was the 90s. Man, kids of today will never know what it’s like to watch a VHS tape and be able to tell which parts were watched the most from constantly rewinding certain parts on a tape. On Motorvision I kept watching the part where Soundgarden performed Searching with My Good Eye Closed the energy was amazing!!!! I have been a fan of Soundgarden for more than half of my age. A lot of mainstream fans (not putting them down) think that Superunknown put Soundgarden on the map but it was Badmotorfinger actually. My favorite songs off Badmotorfinger are Rusty Cage, Outshined, Slaves and Bulldozers and Searching with My Good Eye Closed. As a teenager I battled with depression and music helped me out a lot. This is the reason why I was so heartbroken about Chris Cornell’s death. I am Not idolizing Chris Cornell and quite frankly I’m sick of people who make a person feel bad about sharing about how someone touched their life.

My birthday is May 17 and Chris Cornell died on my birthday it’s so sad. I remember my phone going off from an email that I received. The email said Audioslave and Soundgarden leader singer so I click on it to open it and found out about his passing. I feel so sorry for Chris Cornell’s wife and children as well as everyone whose lives that he touched. Chris Cornell voice was unique that could hit a high C vocal range and he was an amazing songwriter too. Chris wrote most of the songs of the groups that he was in. On the album Superunknown one of my favorite songs is “Fell on Black Days. Fell on Black Days written by Chris is about how he suffered from a severe case of depression during his teenage years rarely leaving the house. Chris once spent a whole year without leaving the house he played the guitar and drums. I could go on and on about Chris Cornell’s songs and his talent. In an interview with Launch Radio Networks, Chris Cornell said: “The ‘be yourself’ part really just came from a lot of things that I’ve gone through in my life and a lot of different changes and all the different tragedies and all the horrendously stupid mistakes I’ve made in my personal life, and wanting to be able to make up for those things and wanting to be able to not be ashamed, all that stuff. You know, that’s the one thing about getting older that’s better, and this song kind of says it so simply, to a degree that 10 years ago I would’ve been embarrassed to put it in a song ’cause it is so simple. But there it is.”

In the song “Show me how to live”, Chris Cornell asks for help from God, saying that He created him, but now needs his guidance. There are a few religious references in the song, including “Nail in my hand,” which is relates to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Near the end, Cornell created an interesting vocal effect by hitting his throat with the side of his hand to change the pitch of his voice

I went over to Chris Cornell’s website and read his thoughts about his tribute to Prince; he performed Prince’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U”. He said “Sadly now his own lyrics in this song could not be more relevant than at this moment, and I sing them now in reverence as I pay tribute to this unequaled artist who has given all of our lives so much inspiration and made the world so much more interesting.” Those words are exactly how I feel right now Chris Cornell there will never be another like you because “Nothing Compares 2 U.” I know that you sometimes “Fell on Black Days” wanted the “Black Hole Sun” to come but you continued “ Searching with Your Good Eye Closed” asked God to “Show You How to Live” while you continued to “Be Yourself”. You were an awesome artist Say Hello to Heaven.

The Child Support Hustle

Oh, do it. Oh, do it Do it. Do the hustle, do the hustle. Do the hustle, do the hustle. Do the hustle. Oh, do it. Oh, do it. Do it. Do the child support hustle. I’m sorry but I just couldn’t resist because it’s so funny to me how some men can come up with anything excuse as an attempt to dodge their responsibilities. Anyway I hear lots of guys call child support a woman’s hustle. Like dude you guys cannot be serious. Are you?
I’ve heard some guys say to women for them to “choose better” when they get involved with a guy. As if I guy is going to introduce himself like “Hello my name is loser. I’m going to sell you a bunch of dreams, impregnate you and be a dead beat father.” Oh if only things were that simple there would be less broken homes.
As I always say that I don’t put black men down but I am not making excuses for the ones who are not right either. We have to call a spade out when we see one. There are some men who get a woman pregnant to tie her down. There are some men who pay child support but don’t want to be a father to their children. There are some men who don’t want to pay child support nor be a father to their children either. What boggles me is that must people in the black community have come from broken homes. Why don’t people in the community want to break the chain of broken homes instead of adding more links? We’ve seen what’s it’s like to grow up in a broken home and we know as well as understand the pain.
I get so tired of guys calling child support a hustle. Like a woman didn’t make a child alone and yeah don’t forget dude it’s your responsibility regardless. I don’t receive child support for my two sons by the way and  I won’t touch that subject…for now anyway. Attacking black mothers isn’t going to change the fact that a man has to pay child support. Most times when a woman takes child support out on the father he was given many opportunities to do right but he didn’t.
No woman want to go through going to court to make a father do what is right. Think about it when a father gets behind on child support the child gets like really nothing. So who’s losing here? The child. If you ask me it’s some of these fathers running a hustle because they are skipping out on their responsibilities. Some of these fathers need to bust a move and take care of their children or just use protection. It’s just that simple.

Check Out the Lyrics

This is one of my favorite songs by Sade which is quite appropriate with the way I’ve been feeling lately.

“Keep Looking”

Some will tell you that you’re wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you’re wrong
That you don’t know the way
They enjoy cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Don’t let them bother you no
They enjoy the cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Oh no

It’s no use sitting down
Don’t walk round with a frown
Oh no (aah) keep looking
It’s no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no keep looking

Say let my life alone

Some will tell you that you’re wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you’re wrong
That you don’t know the way

They enjoy cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Don’t let them bother you no
They enjoy the cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Oh no

It’s no use sitting down
Don’t walk round with a frown
Oh no (aah) keep looking
It’s no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no keep looking

Oooh
Aah
Keep looking
Oooh
Aah
Keep looking

Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Thinking about your problems
Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Keep looking
Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Thinking about your troubles
Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Keep looking

Keep looking

If you never let it show
They’re never gonna know
Aah Aah
Keep looking

If you never let it show
They’re never gonna know
Aah Aah
Keep looking

Seeing the Gold

The internet can be a crazy place. We see true stuff, fake news as Trump calls it and lots of added on stuff. The internet can be a world filled with gossip. Recently I wrote about reading a book called The Woman Code in it the author of the book ninth code was Do not gossip. The Bible talks about gossip a lot one doesn’t have to be a Christian to realize how badly gossip can affect a person’s life. I know that I don’t want to gossip or indulge in it either. I wouldn’t like to be lied on. Gossip causes a lot of damage most of it cannot be undone. Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Let’s think about it what are some reasons why men and women gossip about a person or people? Let’s be honest most times gossip are lies. I mean why else would the person who’s spreading the gossip tell a person not to tell anyone? Why won’t the person who’s doing the gossiping tell the person whom they are gossiping about directly? Hmmmmm….sounds suspect to me and I’m not Lieutenant Columbo. “One more thing sir…”

Angry people use the internet to publicly humiliate others they are nothing more than keyboard gangsters who hides behind the screen…a bunch of trolls who belong under a bridge in some land far far away. Yeah I said it! They don’t have any facts but lots of lies. So if you talk behind a fool one will sound like one.

We all should know better than to take anything on the internet as facts. Right now I am taking a Statistic course. Last week I turned in an assignment and had points deducted from me because she said that  I needed to support my work with facts…..allow that to sink in. I have had people tell lies about me I knew why they were angry with me some still are. Once people stop talking to you they start talking about you. Our enemies are nothing more than estranged family members, formal associates,or formal friends. Think about it if a person is no longer speaking to another person anymore how true is their information. Example if a person is still gossiping about someone after a long period of time and have not been in contact with the person how accurate are their words? Why would a person continue to gossip about a someone whom they no longer speak to? Just something to think about.

I always try to be Christ like and try to put myself in other people’s shoes. If  I were to see something on the internet about someone  I would question the person who wrote it. Gossip is something that an angry person does so I would wonder why they are doing that. Not everything we read or find on the internet is true. Beyonce went to dinner last night now her photo has been made into a meme already no telling what they say. People make up memes, create rumors, and twist things around to cause division, turn people against each other,and fuel hate. People who gossip about someone else does it in hopes of hurting the people whom they are talking about and isolating them from others by attempting to turn people off from that person. As a Christian I pray for discernment I don’t want to share or spread lies about a person on social media otherwise I would have to question my character as well as why would  I want to put faith in angry words.

When we assassinate the character of others we inescapably annihilate our own in the process. We become no better than whatever we’re saying about another. The soul is better fed with words that speak life and hope.

I don’t know about anyone else but I’d rather be a peacemaker I don’t want to play a role in causing the flames of gossip to grow higher I rather put them out. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

My Name Is Gossip.
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I am nobody’s friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and ruin marriages.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief.

I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses.

I AM CALLED GOSSIP.

Father God help me to have control over my words and to see the gold in others.

Proverbs 11:27

27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

A New Thing

I’m a creature of habit. I have always hated change up until recently anyway. Change is not always a bad thing it can be a good thing. The Bible spoke of doing a new thing in the Old Testament in Isaiah.

When God closes a door you best believe that He’s opening a new one. So whether you see a open door praise God anyway He always has our backs. The same God that made ways in the past still does it now and forever. It’s okay to move on and not look back God has something for us to look forward to. I believe this truly because He’s shown me so many times I’m not worried. Nothing will steal my joy there’s nothing or no-one more powerful than God. I can’t want to see everything that God has in store. So let go and let God.

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Check Out the Lyrics

As we all know music is powerful. The other day a person that I follow on YouTube made some interesting points about the song No Pain No Gain by Betty Wright. People of my generation grew up listening to that song. In my opinion the song can be looked at from two different ways obviously. The song no pain no gain was a popular song. Anyway the person on YouTube felt that the song had an negative effect on women. Basically the song encourages women to take bull crap from men. I have to admit that she has a point.

I have decided to share lyrics from songs on my blog to check the meaning. Here are the lyrics to No Pain No Gain by Betty Wright. Are the lyrics uplifting or do they keep women in bad relationships? Isn’t love about give and take? When is enough a enough in a relationship? There will be ups and downs in every relationship. Hmmmm.

“No Pain, No Gain”

Ooh…ooh…ooh…

My baby and are back together again
Lovin’ is better than it’s ever been
If it weren’t for the trials we’ve been through
I’d never have the courage to come back to you

We’re all entitled to make a mistake
We got to prepare for some heartbreak
I as earnin’ my man, while I was learnin’ my man
Something you young girls might not understand

No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain), no
No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

There was an old lady sittin’ under a tree
She called me over and she said to me
“My days left here may not be long
I wouldn’t waste my time tellin’ you nothin’ wrong

But love is a flower that needs the sun and the rain
A little bit of pleasure’s worth a whole lot of pain
If you learn this secret, how to forgive
A longer and better life you’ll live’

No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain), mmm
No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

Anything worth havin’ at all
Is worth workin’ for and waitin’ for
Some of my closest friends
Have thought they had their thing on a string
Just ’cause that man was bringin’ ’em flowers and candy and all kinds of gifts
Mmm, mmm, honey
Some gifts are just to make him feel better while he’s on his guilt trip
About the night before
You know what I mean
Especially when you know you haven’t been doin’ the things you should do
Think about it
What is the man tryin’ to tell you
Sometimes flowers mean “Maybe we should just be friends’
Do you get my drift
Hang if you can hang
No pain, no gain

In order to get something
You got to give something
In order to be something
You got to go through something

Be a cook in the kitchen, a lady in the streets
You can’t show your teeth to every guy you meet
It’s alright to be a little sweet
But be a mama with the kids and you know what in the sheets

No pain (No pain)
No pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

See, you can’t give up ’cause times get hard
It’s just that old evil devil trying to keep us apart
Say devil you ain’t getting nothin’ here
I’m holding on to my man and have no fear

No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain), oh
No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

See you can’t give up ’cause times get hard
It’s just that old devil tryin’ keep us apart
Say devil, you ain’t got nothin’ here
I’m holdin’ to my man, and have no fear

No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)
No-no pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

Oh, no pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)
No-no-no-no pain (No pain, no pain), no-no-no-no-no-no-no pain (No gain)
No-no pain, no-no pain (No pain), no-no pain (No pain), no pain (No gain), no pain

No pain (No pain, no pain, no gain)
In order to get something (No pain), give something (No pain)
To be something (No gain) you got to go through something
(No pain, no pain, no gain)

Oh…no pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)
No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no (No pain)
No-no-no-no (No pain, no gain)

No…no pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)
You’re really not to gain anything (No pain, no pain)
Without (No gain) goin’ through some pain

No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no
No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No-no (No gain)

(No pain, no pain, no gain)
No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No pain (No gain), no gain, no pain, no gain

Get something (No pain, no pain)
You got to go through something (No gain)
No pain (No pain), no pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

Hear me when I say no pain, no gain (No pain), no pain, no gain (No pain)
No pain, no gain (No gain)

Pray About It

There is power in prayer. There has been so much that  I have been through prayer helped me out a lot. What I have learned is if God brings you to it He’ll bring you through it.

Daniel, Nehemiah, David, Paul and even Christ prayed. Yes at times tests come along that can make things difficult still we can’t forget about all the times God brought us through. God is not a part-time God He works overtime and we see His work over time. The devil send situations that can try to make us anxious but the Bible says not to be. Sometimes God allows things to happen right away and sometimes it takes time either way God is always on time.

A couple of things that we have to have for others is empathy and compassion. We shouldn’t be so quick to tell a person to just pray about something. Yes, it’s important to pray but  I don’t want to be a person who says “just pray about it” as a way to silence a person. You don’t want to come off as being dismissive. Remember God sent that person to you for a reason so never brush a person off by saying “just pray about it”. Allow a person to vent then we pray for them after we suggest praying about a situation. Perhaps God gave you something to say as way to show the person that everything is going to be okay. I can’t tell you the number of times when I was waiting for a sign from God and a person would come with a word that was confirmation.

All I want to do on my walk with Christ is grow. I know that I have a ways to go and I am no perfect. I will stubble at times but with the power of prayer  I will be fine. Having a relationship with Christ is worth everything that comes my way because I know that everything with be okay. Thank Father God for the gift of prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Knowing Your Front Row

I was blessed to read this phenomenal book called The Woman Code by Sophia A. Nelson. The last time I read a book for enjoyment was a little over a year ago. The Woman Code gave me life it contains 20 important keys that a woman should apply to her life. I absolutely love the book and recommend it to any woman who’s willing to listen. Sophia is a Christian and used scriptures to support what she wrote in her book.

There was so many things about the book that I loved the main thing was knowing your front row. It’s essential to know your front row it’s what some people like to call a circle not me though. A person knowing their front row makes way more sense. It’s taking a long hard look at the people who are closest to you. The people closest to you that doesn’t live in your home. What kind of people are closest to you? Are they loyal? Are they kind? What kind of faith do they have? Does the people closest match you? People are an important resource. My mother always used to say that no man is an island everybody needs somebody even Christ had twelve disciples.

It’s important to know your front row. I want people who are honest and want the best for me as  I do them. I don’t want yes men or yes women, yes people will lead a person to water and allow them to drown. I don’t want disloyal people because the front row can poison the back rows. People will assume that everything a person says that is closest to you is accurate after all they are close to you. One mistake that I used to make besides being a people pleaser was always trying to recycle relationships with people. In life we have to let some people go especially when their time is up in our lives. Some people are either for a reason so they stay or a season so they go away.

A little bit off topic on the Walking Dead Rick wouldn’t let go of Shane. Shane had slept with his wife and got her pregnant. Shane not only poisoned Rick’s marriage but the people around them. Shane went against Rick the whole way it took Shane trying to kill Rick before he realized that the friendship was over. Sometimes we get stuck in our fantasies about people that we refuse to face the reality. I also believe that we sometimes hold on to people out of fear like will they talk about you. People will talk about you no matter what if anything holding on is giving them more information. We have to learn how to not feed the wrong people information. We have to think like Kenny Rogers got to know when to hold them, fold them and walk away. True facts!!! When a person shows you who they are believe them. When a relationship is over let it go. There’s power in letting go and pain in holding on.

I think that we have to really learn to trust God and listening to that small still voice. God will never leave us nor forsake us He promised this. I’m praying that God gives me discernment to recognize who doesn’t belong in my front row, protection from poisonous people and the strength to let the people go. I don’t want the wrong people in my front row poisoning the back row disturbing my audience.

It’s Okay

Heeeeeey!! I’m feeling great! Woot Woot! I took a little break and it’s okay. It’s okay to take a break students take spring and summer breaks from school. People take vacations from work. God rested on the seventh day. Taking a break gives a person a chance to relax, rejuvenate, and have a fresh outlook.

When  I started my blog  I was so happy and  I still am. I wanted to take a step back to think about the direction that  I want to take my blog in and well so far so go. I’m proud about the things that  I have shared it’s about helping someone else. I want God to get His glory from my story. It’s not a good look to make things about one’s self.

I will get back into writing again because I love to write. There are so many testimonies that I have witnessed and I can’t wait to write about them. God is so good!! I want to tell the world out the goodness of God!

I hope that everyone is enjoying spring! Remember taking a break is okay it will make you feel great!

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