Chelle Ramsey's Blog, page 6

A Life Fulfilled...

Over the last few months, I have been struggling with having balance in my life. I am either extremely dedicated to what's going on at work, going over and above to accomplish goals, OR I am spending an unbalanced amount of time escaping into my writing world to the exclusion of all else.

I looked at my blog this past week and realized it has been just over a month since I last posted. That's so different than my norm. When I started this blog I would blog daily Monday through Friday. Then after life dealt our family a few blows, I scaled it back to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I kept that pace up from 2015 through earlier this year. It's not that my blog and my writing isn't important to me, perhaps, some might say it's the most important thing to me. This happened because there was no balance or organization in my life.

As in my writing style of being a pantser, I also have a carefree, flow with the wind attitude in life. That's not always a good thing, because at some point things are going to spiral out of control or create some chaos in your life.

Lately, I have been extremely focused on work because my temporary job turned into a full-time job. On top of that, I took on another ghostwriting project which has eaten up any spare time that I have. While I am thankful for these blessings, I know that the Lord that I serve is not a God of chaos and confusion, rather balance.

So, in an effort to reel things back in and create balance (notice I said "create," not "restore," because there never was any before) in my life, I have done a few things that require a bit of self-discipline.Exercise - Implementing an exercise routine in my life is not the easiest thing to do, but necessary. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning kicks my butt, but it helps me feel great about my day. I have more energy than I normally have and it helps me to focus on what I'm eating, preferring to choose healthier options over the junk that I love. It also helps me to feel good about me, and encourages me to know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, no matter how challenging. (Philippians 4:13).Schedule - I sat down with my husband and kids and created a routine that we would abide by when it comes to certain things that are important (e.g., whose day to cook, what laundry day belongs to whom, etc.). This has definitely gone a long way to bringing order to our chaotic days and knowing what to expect. We still have two carefree days thrown in for the sake of being who we are.Family Time - This may come in the way of sitting and talking about anything, cooking together, dancing or just playing games. Before our time was more sporadic, and it still is to a certain extent but now we all work towards making it a priority.Me Time - My time is not like most people's. I relax by reading or writing. So, when I am working on a ghost-writing project, or my own novels it helps me to relax. In this way, I'm able to get done what I need to get done and still feel like I'm throwing some of the stress off.
The most important routine is to maintain my prayer life with reading the Word of Almighty God. I have never not prayed, because this is part of my daily life in the morning, throughout the day, and at night. However, I am focusing on how, when and how long I pray, because that, too, has suffered throughout the chaos that my life had become. Without His presence and guidance in my life, nothing can or will go right. So, I make Him a priority to ensure I am filled with His spirit and giving my best to my family and myself daily. He helps me to live my best life.What are some routine things you do to create balance in your life, and to bring peace to your day?What things have you seen get out of order when you don't do this?How do you spend "me-time?"What are some things your family does during family time? About Chelle Ramsey...
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey lives in the metro Atlanta area with her husband and three children. Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in the Almighty God, and belief in themselves. She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle
Thanks for joining me for another Motivational Monday Moment! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

A Listening Moment...

"So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9-10
In the book of 1 Samuel, we find Samuel has been sleeping but he hears a voice calling out to him repeatedly. Because he does not yet know the Lord, he mistakes the voice for that of Eli. After the third calling, Eli advises Samuel that it is the Lord calling to him, and when he hears His voice again, he should acknowledge the Lord and let him know that His servant is listening. When the Lord finally did speak, He confided in Samuel the plans that He had for Eli's family.

I can imagine that Samuel was probably nervous, excited, and maybe even a little afraid knowing the Lord wanted to speak with him. Scripture tells us in verse 1, a word from the Lord in those days had become rare and there weren't many visions as in times past. We can relate to that today.

However, I believe there are times when the Lord speaks to us. We have to be sensitive to the calling of Holy Spirit and to the voice of Almighty God speaking to us. There may be times that like Samuel, we don't recognize His voice. That doesn't always mean that we aren't in relationship with Him. I believe in these times, we get so caught up in the ways of this world and in daily living that we become "de-sensitized," if I can use that, to His voice.

Internet, social media, school, work, families, extracurricular activities, and financial and health issues all lead to stress, causing us to become consumed with worry and LIFE. When we are overwhelmed like this, it is easy to miss the voice of the Lord. However, He always has a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). One that won't fail, and will eliminate the stress if we only trust Him to guide us. But how can we hear His voice, when we're so consumed with the world?

EARLY PRAYER - We must first carve out time to get alone with the Lord. Starting your day off early in the morning to allow Him to guide your day is instrumental. He provides solid instruction for what we should do throughout the day, and how to maintain ourselves in every encounter.MEDITATE ON HIS WORD - Read His Word in the morning before you start your day. Meditate on some key points in the selected passage and ask Him to show you how to apply it to your life, or what you can learn from it.
SEEK GUIDANCE - Ask Him for instruction in various areas of your life. When you encounter situations, ask the Lord what to do and how to handle it. Don't move full steam ahead without hearing His response.
WAIT - Always wait to hear what the Lord says. In the morning when you pray, when you meditate on His Word, and when you seek His counsel. He wants to speak to you, as much as you desire to hear from Him. You must be patient.
UNPLUG - Turn off the radio, stay away from social media for a day or two, disconnect from distractions in your daily world. Sometimes, our brains are so flooded with messages from a variety of medium that we cannot enjoy a moment of peace and silence. It's in those moments of peace and silence that we're best able to connect with the Almighty and learn what He desires from us. We live in a world where we need constant and instant gratification and entertainment, that it is difficult to shut it down. Yet, that's when we become refreshed, rejuvenated, and empowered to be at our best and to draw closer to the Lord, Who will in turn draw near unto us (James 4:7-8).
RECOGNIZE - It isn't always a deep spiritual experience that you will undergo when the Lord speaks. Learn to recognize His voice, or His counsel in the reading of His Word, the voice of a family member, friend, co-worker, or even a complete stranger. You may find the answers you seek in a song playing on the radio, a book you're reading, or something someone says. The Lord will bring His answers in a variety of ways and they will always align with His Word. Just focus and pay attention.

Every day is not always easy to stay focused on hearing the Lord and pulling away from the cares of this world. However, if you take one step at a time and spend time in prayer and in His Word daily, it will become second-nature to you. Below are a few scriptures that will give you more insight into hearing from the Lord.

STRENGTHENED IN OUR FAITH (ROMANS 10:17)
CALL AND RESPONSE (JEREMIAH 33:3)
FOLLOWING HIS GUIDANCE (ISAIAH 30:21)
VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (JOHN 16:13)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALWAYS WITH US (JOHN 14:16-17)

This wraps up another Motivational Monday Moment. I would love to hear from you, so share your favorite Scripture, or an encouraging thought you have about hearing from the Lord.
About Chelle Ramsey...
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter. 
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.
She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
BLOG: http://www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle
Thanks for joining me for another Motivational Monday Moment! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Fab Friday Features, Edward King...

Write Now Literary is pleased to be coordinating a blog tour for Edward King. This tour will run August 23.  Book your own tour here.
 
Book Title: The Works of Christ My Proof of God's Existence           
Genre: Christian, Poetry, Inspirational
           
Paperback
ISBN: 9781498464451
About The Works of Christ...
In August 2010, Edward King was in a traumatic car accident that nearly ended his young life. From this accident, he had an incredible out-of-body experience. This is his story along with a collection of simple poetry designed to help one come closer to Christ.

TO PURCHASE:
https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781498464451&HC_ISBN=
About Edward King... Edward King is a positive-writing author, who tells us about how to look at things in a positive perspective. With his inspirational writings, he has come a long way from being at on verge of death to being able to inspire many people with both his life and his writings. With his quick healing from the death-defying car accident, Edward King goes through everyday looking to God for all of his answers and finds so much inspiration. He writes to show everyone the God he knows.

CONNECT SOCIALLY:
Facebook
Excerpt...
Sometimes we lose vision, and we're blinded by our desires,

but the Lord always cares about us, and he always inspires


a servant of his to show each of us some clues
that he will always love us, and his guidance, we'll never lose.
 
From our birth to our death, he will always be there
to cleanse us of our sins and enable us to care


and love every one of our brothers and sisters in his name,
for he loves us so much, he totally cleansed everyone's shame.

Thanks for joining me for another Fab Friday and a Fabulous Release! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Life Would Go On...

It's a #writerwednesday and today I'm sharing a throwback novel for many of you who aren't familiar with it. Is The Grass Really Greener shares the lives of 5 best friends, struggling with individual challenges. Each woman is comparing her own life to the lives of one of the other women in the group, desiring to have a different life. Yet, none of them truly know the other's deepest secrets.

Today, beautiful, feisty, and smart Pavielle is facing the largest challenge and scare of her life. Read on...
“Damn!” Pavi said aloud as she slammed the phone down on its cradle.

She breathed a deep sigh, reflecting on the phone call. Dr. Schwartz wanted to see her in the office today. That could only mean one thing…she might be dealing with the “C” word. 

Pavi recalled the morning that she had first found the swelling when she was finishing her shower before heading off to work. Santiago, her boyfriend, had already left for work after spending the night with her. She was finishing a hot and refreshing shower, reminiscing about the night before, when she started her breast self-exam. It was something she had done every month since she was a teenager, and an act she recommended to all of her family and friends. Pavi was diligent about being a health conscious person, working out, eating healthy, meditating, routine doctor visits, and staying as stress-free as possible.

It can’t be what I think it is…is it? No I’m being neurotic that wasn’t anything, just a little swelling, she thought to herself. Perhaps I have some type of bacterial infection under my arm, she attempted to reason with herself. She knew that it wasn’t there last month…or was it?

Before she allowed her anxieties to kick in, she got out the shower, dried off and made the call to Dr. Schwartz’s office for an appointment. That had been almost two weeks ago, and now she was getting the phone call that she had anticipated and dreaded simultaneously.

She turned away from her desk and stared out the window at the fountain in the park across the street­- seeing but not seeing. Her view of the square was exquisite, but it didn't hold her attention at the moment. Tapping a long Platinum Pink lacquered nail against her pearly white teeth, her mind was a million miles away. Strategic planning was her strength, not indecision. Indecision was for the weak, it was for the confused. She lived life on her own terms and dictated what did and did not happen. And that's what she was about to do now. She took her long, red hair and pulled it up into a messy bun, and plopped down into the high-backed tan leather swivel chair.

Picking up the phone, Pavi dialed extension 5387 for her assistant Carolyn.

“Yes, Ms. Herrera?”

 “I have three appointments today and I need you to reschedule them for me for some other time or preferably another day.”

“Okay, let me know which ones you would like to change. You have an 11:30 with Pete Ogilvie, a 3:15 with Nicholas Hambrick and a 1:00 lunch with Sharon in accounting, and that’s been rescheduled twice,” Carolyn stated with a bit of warning in her voice. If Pavi decided not to keep these appointments, it would be Carolyn’s responsibility to cancel, and she knew that Sharon was not happy about the two canceled luncheons already. She would never take her frustration out on Pavi, but Carolyn would definitely feel the effects of Sharon’s exasperation.

“Damn,” Pavi said again for the second time in less than five minutes. “Cancel my three o’clock with Nick until next week, and I’ll contact Sharon. It’s already after eleven so Pete’s probably on his way. Update my calendar for Nick and send a birthday card to Mike Eggers.”

Pavi hung up the phone before Carolyn could reply. Carolyn didn’t take offense at it; she knew that Pavi had just received a call from her doctor’s office and she had been distracted all week. Carolyn made a mental note to get Pavi a Thinking of You card.  Pavi had been a wonderful boss over the course of the past two years since Carolyn had been working at the real estate management firm, and was always thoughtful of what was going on in Carolyn’s life.

“Sharon…I’m rescheduling our luncheon this afternoon. Yes, the reports are in now, but I have to handle something that can’t be helped. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to consult your schedule and tell me what available opening you have on Monday. Yes, sure, I promise we can meet on Monday for lunch…on second thought scratch that; let’s move it to first thing Monday at nine, are you open?”

Pavi listened with a small thread of patience as Sharon consulted her calendar. They scheduled their meeting for Monday morning at nine, and Pavi hung up to prepare for her meeting with Pete Ogilvie. Life would go on. Download ITGRG...
About Chelle Ramsey...
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter. 
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.
She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
BLOG: http://www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle
Thanks for joining me for another Writer Wednesday! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Lessons In Math...

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." Proverbs 19:21 ESV
Hey, y'all. I know it's been a while and for the last several months I seem to be in and out of social media space and blogging. I haven't given up on any of this and I hope you haven't given up on me. I have been busily plugging away at learning a new job that has consumed so much of my time. So, if you follow me on social media I announced on Friday that it was the last day of being a contractor for the Coca-Cola company.

At the beginning of October 2017 I was laid off from my HR job at a local company. There were a total of 176 of us that were part of a RIF (reduction in force). For the first time ever, I signed up with a temp agency (last resort) after applying for a job with them that I didn't realize was through a temp agency.

Long story short...in December of last year they placed me in the payroll department with Coca-Cola here in Atlanta, which has led to a full-time position. Praise Almighty God! Now, I've had payroll experience, but nothing like I've gained in the last 8 1/2 months. So, I'm back in business and focused. But my true purpose here today is to share with you a pain point in life for me, and I hope you will find motivation or inspiration in it for your journey ahead. Read on...

*******************************************************************

I am often conflicted. I know what I want to do, yet, it seems no matter how hard I may push in a specific direction I find myself somewhere entirely different. Almost like fighting against the wind. I have found this truth evident in may areas of my life, but especially in my career. When I slow up long enough to consider it, I know exactly why that is.

My plans that I make for myself are often dictated by my wants, my emotions, and my desires. They are not in alignment with Almighty God's will for my life, and I have not given them to Him in prayer, trusting Him with every facet of my life. I have not trusted Him to guide me and understanding that He knows what He has purposed for me.

In those rare events that I do sit back and wait on Him, ALL IS WELL.

I pursued my degree in Human Resources Management and received my MBA. I have worked in plenty of HR roles and gained expansive experience and knowledge, yet, I somehow always come back to roles dealing with NUMBERS.

I HATE NUMBERS!

Or that was the lie I always used to tell myself. As a child, I struggled in math and my father, who was excellent at it, was an impatient and lackluster teacher at best. If I struggled with a particular concept, rather than encouraging me and exhibiting patience, or trying to find a better way to ingrain the theory in my head, he would belittle me. Therefore, math became synonymous with fear, inadequacy, failure, and just being plain dumb.

It wasn't until years later that my husband would teach me various concepts of breaking math down in its simplest components that I realized it wasn't as difficult as I feared. But I still didn't like it. The next thing I know, I'm working at a bank, then in an accounting department, and so on and so forth.

So, maybe I don't hate math. I just dislike it, right?

Still, years later after my husband taught me how to tackle and face my issues dealing with math, I came to realize that I'm not afraid of it. When I finally tied my loathing for math back to my childhood experiences, I understood that I had this thing on lock. Writing and reading are still my core and favorite subjects and areas that I know I'm gifted in, but math no longer seems daunting and I embrace challenges to resolve problems and work my way through critical thinking skills. This is an essential skill in payroll, which is where my career has landed me.

Throughout the years, no matter how hard I tried to avoid jobs with high Math functions, the Lord always led me right back there. Why? Well, I believe there were some crucial lessons He wanted me to learn, some important issues He needed me to face, and some healing that He had in store for me. All in lessons of Math. Even more important, I came to learn that facing my fears wasn't as scary as I believed.

And you know what? I think there's so much more He has in store for me in that area, but I will no longer fight it. I'll sit back and allow Him to guide my thoughts, my directions, and the plans for my life. Because only then can I know true peace and success.
About Chelle Ramsey...
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter. 
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.
She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
BLOG: http://www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle
Thanks for joining me for another Motivational Monday Moment! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Fab Friday Features, Deborah...

About Burning Desire... Deborah Ann Spence listed over 60 homes during her first year in Real Estate by cold calling expired listings and 'for sale' by owners (FSBOs). In 2016, Deborah won Rookie of the Year, Top Units Listed, Top Units Sold, Top Combined Units Sold in her sales region in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. This type of success from a rookie agent (without any formal sales training) is unheard of in the industry. Deborah shares her story of what motivated her to stay the course, survive her first year in real estate sales, and to ultimately, come out on top. This is a true story of how one woman turned tragedy into triumph and hardship into success. In Burning Desire, Deborah will share with you the tools needed for success and the activities that, as a new agent or newer agent, should be your primary focus. After reading this book, you too, will be inspired and motivated to reach the top level of your field in real estate, mortgages, finance, investments, or whatever you choose to do. This is an opportunity for you to change your life. It was for Deborah, and it will be for you, as well. Purchase your copy today. Do not wait. As they say in real estate: time is of the essence.

"Once you dig down deep and find your burning desire, you will be able to use that as a motivating force."
--Deborah Spence, top-ranking realtor and author of Burning Desire
www.tinyurl.com/BurningDesireMotivational As tough as it was living in the South Bronx, living on the streets was an eye-opening and motivating experience for me. I read a lot of motivational books, most of which I will share in the appendix at the end of the book. I also read articles and blogs about my condition to learn different techniques to help minimize my symptoms. I became super-charged with changing my life and maintaining my health. I realized that I wanted a break from relationships and instead I wanted to create a uniform routine to help me with the chaos in my mind.

At one point I tried selling insurance in hopes of finding a career path. It didn’t work out, but I knew something else was out there; it was just a matter of finding it. One of the most important things when it comes to changing your life is having a strong desire to make such a change – you must be totally open to doing it. I was open to finding something new and since I always wanted to go into business, the question was now; how would I get there?
Meanwhile, as I continued to improve my life, I learned my way around Philadelphia in a beaten-up old car, driving my son to all sorts of baseball and football games. He was always a good athlete, so when he wasn’t in school, he was playing for some traveling team. It was good for me, since the more I drove him to games, the more I got to know the city. I liked Philadelphia more than New York because it was smaller, less complicated and had a lot of neighborhoods side by side, rather than the four very busy boroughs, and Staten Island, which I had rarely ever visited.

At some point, while driving around my new founded home city I had some car troubles and took my car to an auto repair shop to have a mechanic check it out. Never could I have guessed that a trip to the auto repair would change my life. While the Mechanic fixed my car, he talked about a vacant lot adjacent to the repair shop. He pointed out how one person might see the vacant lot as an eyesore, but how he saw millions of dollars in investment funds and a lucrative opportunity to develop an underdeveloped area. I didn’t understand, so I kept asking questions. He explained that there was so much room for a developer to come and build, not just one house on this vacant lot, but someone could possibly build three houses and triple their investment. My mechanic explained that real estate was a great way for ordinary people to become financially independent and even wealthy, he wasn’t wrong. When I researched real estate, I found many very successful real estate owners who knew how to buy and sell properties.

Despite my medical condition, I always had a burning desire to succeed and to take care of my family. I started pursuing real estate after having that conversation with my Mechanic.

At the time, I was selling pre-paid cell phones for a pre-paid carrier. It was another in the long line of jobs I had after relocating to Philadelphia. I remember coming across an opportunity on Craigslist to become a manager of a popular pre-paid cell phone store. I went on an interview and was hired. After a few months, I had successfully turned around the sales of this small failing store and was then given an opportunity to move up to managing several stores in the area. I worked as a second level retailer under a master dealer, but sadly by the end of the month, after paying my expenses, I was not making any money. In fact, at the end of the month, I had to pay the master dealer to cover expenses that were not met by sales alone. This was very frustrating for me. It also didn’t help that most of the people working for me did not want to work very hard. These were people with less ambition than the drug-dealers or con artists I saw in the South Bronx. In fact, they hated me because I was trying to work hard and make a living. They threatened to rob me, kidnap my family and other horrible things. They felt that I pushed them too hard because I expected them to show up each day on time and do some work. Many of them were annoyed that they were no longer eligible for public assistance. They blamed me, the manager, for all their problems. Meanwhile, I was getting more frustrated each month when I’d look at my bank account.
​
Finally, I recognized that this was a dead-end job. No money, no future, and people who wanted me dead. So, I thought about the conversation I’d had with my mechanic, with whom I’d developed a friendship, and it inspired me to go on the Internet to research real estate as a career. Burning Desire by Deborah Spence is available on Amazon.com
LINK: tinyurl.com/DeborahAnnSpenceBook

https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Desire...
Thanks for joining us for another Fab Friday! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I'm sure Deborah would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Fab Friday Features, Patricia...

It's another Fab Friday and I'm pleased to collaborate with Write Now Literary to be a host for Patricia Bridewell's tour. She's sharing a little something sassy and special from the book, so you can get a glimpse of what you're in for. Read on...
About Two Steps Past the Altar...
Title: Two Steps Past the Altar
Genre: Genre: Inspirational Romance/Fiction 
ISBN: 978-1732130913
ASIN: B07DCC5XFT


Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Sasha Edmonds, is a motivated high-flyer with a stellar track record. Being the top sales representative and having a fiancé who loves her is more than she could ever imagine. Her life spins in another direction when she discovers that her mom requires a life-saving medication and her fiancé, Damien, may be cheating. Devastated, she breaks off their engagement.

Amid healing, she becomes captivated by Wesley, a wealthy pharmaceutical businessman who may hold the cure for her mom, career, and wounded heart. Romance transforms into a love triangle, surfeit of lies, blackmail, and deception.
A story of love, trust, restoration, and forgiveness.

As Sasha stood in the mirror, admiring how well the dress complimented her figure, she paused. Dad.

She rushed out the room, holding up the bottom of her dress so she wouldn’t trip as she made her way into the living room. Sasha whirled around. “You like my dress?”

“It looks nice,” he said, walking right past her.

Sasha tilted her head. “What’s wrong, Dad?” He frowned and mumbled under his breath before opening the refrigerator. From the expression on his face, something must have happened.
 “Hi, hon,” her mother said. “When’d you get in town?”

Sasha turned and saw her mother hugging Damien.

“This morning,” Damien said, peering at Sasha beneath a raised brow as he sat in a corner chair in the living room.

Sasha squinted at him and moved her attention back to her father in the kitchen. Her dad’s behavior made sense now. Damien had told him. Why else would her dad be acting so strange? She glared at Damien, who slightly shrugged his shoulders looking unbothered.

“What’s the occasion for the dress?” Her dad’s tone stung like acid.

“Tamar’s wedding is Sunday,” Sasha explained. “This is my bridesmaid dress.”

“Humph. A Sunday wedding? So, I’m guessing you won’t be at church,” her dad said.

Her shoulders felt heavy from the disappointment in his voice. “No, I won’t be there. Ebony’s leading the Women in Prosperity Ministry until my job slows down. Right now, between me trying to get this promotion, my business trips to Atlanta, and Tamar’s wedding, I’m swamped.”

Her father scrunched his face but didn’t comment. 

“We understand, and you’re planning your own wedding. This gown looks nice on you,” her mother said, touching the fabric. “Fits you perfectly. Ebony did an excellent job, and I’m loving the color. Doesn’t it look good on her, Damien?”

With his attention on Sasha, Damien got up and crossed the room, closing the space between them as he examined her in the dress. “Yes, she looks stunning. But she always does.”

Sasha forced her pouty lips to smile. “Thank you,” she said, taking a moment to observe his well-sculpted physique. Even in his camouflage cargo pants and black t-shirt, he could turn a few heads any day. But she refused to allow his striking appearance or cotton candy sweet talk to woo her. The fact remained; he had disrespected her, and their wedding was off. If he couldn’t be faithful to her for 365 days, how in the world could he commit to a lifetime?

He stretched out his arms for an embrace, and her skin bristled. Just the thought of his touch made her cringe. At the same time, she knew if she avoided his hug, it would raise questions from her parents that she didn’t feel like discussing. She’d just have to play this one out.

Her back stiff, she allowed him to wrap his arms around her briefly and then stepped back. “I…uh, I didn’t know you were coming down today. You usually call first.”
About Patricia...
Reading and daily journal entries were the catalyst to Patricia’s first novel, Reflections of a Quiet Storm, published by an independent publisher in 2009. An avid reader, her previous published work includes two books, multiple short stories, monthly health care columns for an online magazine, and several health care articles for a local newspaper. She also enjoys reading Women’s Fiction and Romance novels, which occupy many seats on her bookshelves.

Patricia is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, she holds Adjunct Nursing Faculty positions at two universities. She is a member of the National Black Nurses Association/Council of Black Nurses – L.A., Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Black Nurses Rock, California Association of Nurse Practitioners, and International Black Writers & Artists.

Patricia’s church home is Greater Zion Church Family in Compton, CA. She considers music, reading, and prayer as the keys to relaxation and creativity, and she loves spending time with her family.

Patricia’s short story appears in the Brown Girls Books Anthology Single Mama Dating Drama, an AALBC two-time best-selling book. Two Steps Past the Altar is her third and latest novel. She is currently working on her fourth novel.
Contact Patricia...
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I Blame You: The Return of Nick...

Finally! Release day for A Woman's Design: Redemption is here and I couldn't be happier. This novel has been postponed so many times, but sometimes you have to follow the flow of things and it cannot be rushed. I am giving my baby into your hands and it is my prayer that you enjoy it.

If you read #writerwednesday then you already know Ambiance had some 'splainin' to do about a few things. Well, today she's about to learn that dreams do come true. Read on...

One lucky reader who leaves a comment will receive a free copy of A Woman's Design: Redemption. And in celebration of today's release, all of my other novels are available for $0.99 this weekend.
About A Woman's Design: Redemption...
Ambiance – After discovering her husband had an illegitimate child resulting from a lengthy affair, her world was torn in two. His untimely passing left her feeling she had been robbed of the chance to deal with the betrayal. Seeking to give herself a fresh start, she packs up and moves cross country to the West Coast. Pursuing her dreams as a business owner, she’s on top of the world, until the man who caused her to question her marriage comes knocking. Will he mend her broken heart, or uproot her new life and leave it in further disrepair?

Naomi – Dealing with empty nest syndrome, she discovers everything everyone ever said about her is true. She has no life. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and entering the dating world after years of being alone, she’s unprepared for the games that lie in wait. Juggling her feelings between two very attractive men, she will soon learn that one is playing a deceptive and dangerous game.

Paige- Barely escaping a deadly snare created by her own devices, she is searching for healing and redemption. After two years of therapy, Paige is finally ready to face her demons. It won’t be as easy as it seems when accusations are constantly launched at her, and people from her past continue to pop up. A former lover is not ready to let go, and she soon finds herself making similar choices from her past. Will she open her heart up to love and be loved, and will she be convinced to open her life to Christ?
Three best friends search for healing and deliverance from their emotional wounds, as they come to grips that the affliction they’ve borne was at the burden of their own hands. They yearn for the redemption of their sins in the arms of men, the arms of a Savior, and in the eyes of one another.
 
When the heart mourns, redemption is born.
We made small talk as we walked the short distance to his hotel. Fortunately, we were able to stay away from the subject matter of “us.”

He shared with me how successful he had become in real estate development and how profitable his business was. In turn, I told him about my boutique I had started with the money left from Eric’s will. He was proud I had realized my dreams, and it showed in the way he responded to me. We were like two old friends catching up on the past.

That all came to an end when he stepped out of the shower and back into the room where I waited. I had only planned for him to come and change shirts and then leave. Now, he stood before me with a towel wrapped around his mid-section and another drying his long locs.

Girlfriends, if I sat here and told you I didn’t look, I’d be lying. My eyes feasted on his chest for a moment. The way each of his pectoral muscles shifted with the movements of his arms had me fascinated. Nick was super fine. I had always known it, but I had never seen his body without clothing. Eventually, my eyes took on a mind of their own as they dropped to the bulge protruding from his towel. Whew! My eyes savored what my body desired but could not have. The dreams I had been having did not quite do him justice.  

“Ambi.” He came to stand in front of me, and my eyes slowly rode up his body to meet his. The desire shining from behind his eyes matched the one underneath his towel.

“Nick, I need to get home.” I stood up, planning to move out of his path, but he gently grabbed my wrist.

Nothing more was said as he lowered his lips to meet mine. That kiss I had been longing for in my office two years ago was finally given to me. And it was worth the wait.

He explored the deepest recesses of my soul with that one single kiss. It was nothing like the sweet peck he had given me outside of Flaming Rio. That was the kiss that had led to the argument between Eric and me. It was that same kiss that drove him from home one last time before his car accident.
Suddenly overcome with guilt, I ended the kiss, pressing my hand against his chest. “Why now, Nick?”

“Why not, baby?”

“Because…because I’m involved again.” I choked that part out, because I knew my involvement with Denver had nothing to do with stopping me from being with Nick.

I had been contemplating leaving Denver alone for a while anyway. I was no longer feeling him like that, and I believed he wasn’t feeling me either. Now wasn’t the time to say that, though. Not sitting up in the hotel room with Nick like that. Not alone with a naked man that I had loved for the better part of the last two-plus years, though my mind tried to deny what my heart knew to be true.

“But your heart isn’t.”

I couldn’t break the stare, and his hand resting lightly on my waist had me paralyzed. The scent of his body wash mesmerized my senses, making me want to explore every inch of him with my tongue. I wanted to know if he tasted as good as he smelled. “How can you say that my heart isn’t involved? You haven’t been around me in two years.”

“Because you wouldn’t be up in this room with me letting me do this.”

Nick slowly removed the straps of my sundress from my shoulders and pushed my dress all the way to the floor. My breath caught in my throat as the chill from the air conditioner stroked my body, and I realized that I stood there in nothing but a thong. Every part of my body throbbed for his touch and ached for his lips to bring sweet relief. I didn’t have to wait or beg, because Nick instantly gave my body the pleasure it sought.

From the base of my neck to the tips of my toes and every spot in between, he licked, caressed, sucked, and nipped. When he picked me up and carried me to his bed, I offered no resistance. When he broke our kiss to grab a condom from his pants, I offered no denial. When he looked in my eyes as he lay on the bed next to me, and said, “Ambi, I’m gonna make love to you, baby. I’m gonna do everything I wanted to do for more than two years now. And I don’t want you to have no regrets in the morning. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Let’s just enjoy the moment right now.”

The morning? He didn’t plan to let me go tonight? Well, I didn’t plan to fight him. Instead, I spread my legs, pushed all thoughts of Denver out of my head, and prepared to open my body, heart, and soul up to the man. Not once did I close my eyes. Not once did I push him away. Not once did I have regrets.

If nothing happened past the night, I wanted every single vision etched into my memory and every single touch seared into my soul.

He kissed me sweetly. “What are you gonna tell your dude in the morning when he asks where you’ve been? When he sees the burns and bruises on your body that I leave tonight, and the fire and light I’m about to bring to your eyes, what’ll you say?”

I thought about one of my favorite singers, Ledisi, as the words to one of her popular songs floated through my head, and I truthfully answered his question. “I’ll blame you.” Click the image above to download A Woman's Design: Redemption...
Click the image above to go on a journey of love. All of my novels are available for $0.99 this weekend.
About Chelle Ramsey...
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter. 
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.
She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
BLOG: http://www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle

Thanks for joining me for another Fab Friday and a Fabulous Release! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Very Involved...

This #writerwednesday I'm excited to bring a snippet from the much-anticipated, A Woman's Design: Redemption! The release is this Friday, and I hope that it's everything you wanted to be and so much more. There's some growing, changing, ties broken, and so much more. But through it all there is redemption. Read on...
About A Woman's Design: Redemption...
Ambiance – After discovering her husband had an illegitimate child resulting from a lengthy affair, her world was torn in two. His untimely passing left her feeling she had been robbed of the chance to deal with the betrayal. Seeking to give herself a fresh start, she packs up and moves cross country to the West Coast. Pursuing her dreams as a business owner, she’s on top of the world, until the man who caused her to question her marriage comes knocking. Will he mend her broken heart, or uproot her new life and leave it in further disrepair?

Naomi – Dealing with empty nest syndrome, she discovers everything everyone ever said about her is true. She has no life. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and entering the dating world after years of being alone, she’s unprepared for the games that lie in wait. Juggling her feelings between two very attractive men, she will soon learn that one is playing a deceptive and dangerous game.

Paige- Barely escaping a deadly snare created by her own devices, she is searching for healing and redemption. After two years of therapy, Paige is finally ready to face her demons. It won’t be as easy as it seems when accusations are constantly launched at her, and people from her past continue to pop up. A former lover is not ready to let go, and she soon finds herself making similar choices from her past. Will she open her heart up to love and be loved, and will she be convinced to open her life to Christ?

Three best friends search for healing and deliverance from their emotional wounds, as they come to grips that the affliction they’ve borne was at the burden of their own hands. They yearn for the redemption of their sins in the arms of men, the arms of a Savior, and in the eyes of one another.
 
When the heart mourns, redemption is born.
My head was tossed back in passion as my body shivered all the way down to my toes. What was this man doing to me? I knew when I first met him that he would have the power to do things to my body I could never imagine before being with him. His strong, massive, dark hands encircled my waist and held me tight as I bucked, sliding up and down as if he were the pole and I was his private dancer.

“Ah, Ambi! Work it, my mocha princess,” he called out to me. When he said that I couldn’t help but look down to where our bodies connected. My cool, brown skin looked perfect against his sweat-glistened, chocolate rippled muscles. I lowered my head as I looked into his dark eyes. They were so beautiful, and I found myself getting lost in them. I needed to taste him, so I pushed plump, red lips against his full, dark brown ones. He slowly opened his mouth and snaked his tongue inside of mine. His kisses were sweet and tangy, his breath warm and smooth.

Nick flipped me onto my back and pulled me towards the edge of the bed. He lowered his head and did things to me that my husband had never done in all our years of marriage. He had me gripping the sheets tightly between my fists as I arched my back, allowing my core to meet his mouth. I felt the volcano erupting over and over into his mouth. I screamed his name out again and again. It didn’t stop him from lavishing his loving kisses onto my honey nectar. When he finally finished, he stood and entered me. He pushed my long hair away from my face, spreading it on the pillow.

“Open your eyes,” he commanded. When I didn’t obey, his voice came out gruff. “Look at me. I want you to know who’s making you feel like this. I don’t ever want you to mistake me for another, you hear me?” His slanted eyes turned into little slits.

“Yeeesss,” I cried out in passion. He took one large hand and covered my breasts. And let me tell you, these puppies are not small. He rubbed them back and forth in circles and then massaged one at a time. My nipples began pulling towards his mouth, begging for just one little lick, until they felt sore with desire. His eyes lit up, and he continued to play with them before finally giving in to my need.

Releasing my tender nipples, he once again claimed my mouth in his. His tongue searched and made love to mine the way it had just made love to my core. Yes! He was a man who went down and did it well.

“Ambi…I want you to be with me. I’ll do everything he hasn’t done. You deserve to be treated like royalty. You’re so beautiful…so fine…and sexy,” he shared between kisses. “And you’re such a strong, passionate woman. Whatever you want, or need, don’t be afraid to ask me,” he whispered.

“Nick, baby, you know I can’t get involved like that,” I whined.

“Ambi…baby, you’re involved now. Very much so,” he said, looking at me with those sexy eyes. I was so tired, all I wanted was to drift into sleep lying in his arms. I didn’t want to argue with him.

Nick continued to caress my body, and he was making me feel so good from my head to my toes. My body would be sore, and red bruises would surely pop up in the morning. Everywhere he had kissed my skin would show the markings of the whiskers that were growing out on his face. They felt good and rugged right now, but they were sure to punish me come the morning light. I hadn’t felt this good in such a long time. 
 
“Ambi! Ambi!” the voice called through the darkness.

I felt a rough hand shaking me, and my eyes popped open. “Hmm?” I moaned, closing my eyes rapidly against the morning sun slanting through the curtains.

“Who the hell is Nick?” Denver asked, frowning at me through the haze.

“Huh?” I asked, turning to bury my face in the pillow again. I wanted to go back to sleep and finish my dream.

“I said, who the hell is Nick?” Denver grumbled.

“I don’t know. Why you ask?” my muffled voice groaned into the pillow. I peeked my eyes open, heart beating fast.

“Cuz, you called him baby just after you were moaning and groaning like you were having sex or something. So, something you wanna tell me?” Denver asked, pulling the sheets from my shoulders as he disentangled his legs from mine. He jumped out of the bed and grabbed a pair of jeans from a chair near the window.

Denver? Oh yeah, did I forget to mention he’s my boyfriend of six months?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Denver.” I reached down, my fingertips seeking the edge of the cover. Finally, bunching it in my fist, I pulled the cover back up over my head with my eyes peering out watching him closely.

Denver’s back was turned to me as he pulled his jeans on, and I was thankful. If he could see my face, he’d know I was lying. Just thinking about that dream had me blushing, my heart racing, and…yep, my panties were wet. I squeezed my thighs shut and tried unsuccessfully to squeeze images of Nick’s nude body out of my mind.

“Yeah, I bet you don’t. Look, I gotta go. I have a photo shoot in just over an hour and a half that I need to set up for,” he replied, looking at his wrist while he fastened his watch.
I sighed deeply and turned over, my back to him.

 “We’ll talk about this tonight. Are you going to work today?” Denver pulled the cover from over my head.

“Umm, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your days, Ambiance.” He released a loud sigh and flicked the covers back over my head. He headed into the bathroom, and I could hear the water turn on. I assumed he was washing his face and brushing his teeth after hearing gargling noises a few minutes later.

There was no way I could get back to sleep, or back to my precious Nick waiting for me in my dreams.

Great! What a wonderful way to start the day. I pulled the covers from my head and watched him walk back into the bedroom, grabbing a T-shirt from his drawer. I felt somewhat guilty, but how could I control the dreams that I had? It was impossible. But then again, there was no way I could explain this dream to him. I didn’t want to explain it. I hadn’t had time to process it myself.

“Denver, please don’t accuse me of something you know I’m not guilty of. I go to work at my shop, just like you do every day. The last thing I’ve got time for is messing around with someone,” I defended.

“Besides, you keep me worn out. I don’t have anything left to give anybody else.” I pouted.

He shot me a doubtful look before making his way back to the bed.

Uh-oh, maybe my acting career went a little too far. The last thing he needed to know was that my panties were wet after I’d been dreaming of another man.

“What are you doing?” I asked, in what I hoped was a controlled voice.

“Wearing you out, to make sure you have nothing left for anyone else.” He unbuckled his belt and then unfastened his jeans as he leered at me.

I was thinking of an excuse to stop him in his tracks fast, but I didn’t have to. Saved by the bell.

As he looked around for his cell phone, I whispered a quick prayer, something I hadn’t done in quite a while. He found it on the nightstand and frowned at the number.

“Hold up a sec, babe,” he apologized, holding a finger up to me. I took advantage and scrambled out of the bed.

My only hope at this point was rushing into the bathroom. There was no way I could pretend that my panties were wet because of his actions toward me. Closing the bathroom door, I took off my panties and buried them at the bottom of the clothes hamper. I turned the shower on and adjusted the temperature until it was the right feel.

I had only been in the shower for a few seconds before the door opened and Denver came in, pulling the shower curtain back.

“Aye, I gotta run. Can I get a raincheck on that?” He pointed at my private area.

I smiled shamelessly at him and winked. “She’ll be waiting.”

He kissed me, giving me a little tongue action before he was out the door.
About Chelle...
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter. 
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.
She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
BLOG: http://www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle

Thanks for joining me for Writer Wednesday! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

Who's Guiding You...

Image by: Edwin Lester https://www.pinterest.com/blackart/black-christian-art/
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11

In the heat of the moment it's easy to have an emotional reaction to an event or situation that impacts you in a negative manner. Your first instincts kick into gear and your emotions go into overdrive as you search for ways to protect your heart from hurt, and your pride from damage. You go on the defensive because you don't want people to misjudge, misunderstand, or mistake you for a weak person.

I have experienced more of these moments than I would care to admit. The number of occurrences have been drastically reduced as a result of my husband's guiding hand in these critical moments. He always has an encouraging word to speak, or tells me to calm down and wait to see how things play out. More often than not we will blow things out of proportion because we did not wait to see what the true outcome would be. We examine a situation and judge it with our hearts rather than our minds.

As the Scripture above states when we respond in this manner we are fools. Why?

1.) We did not take out the time to understand the other party's perspective and why they said or did a particular thing. Rather, we responded on how the situation or words made us "feel."

2.)We failed to give the benefit of the doubt, assuming the other party purposely meant us harm. There are instances where we did not misunderstand what the other party did or said, but we misunderstand their intentions. We are offended because surely they meant us harm. Sometimes, nothing is further from the truth. Maybe they were not in a position to explain themselves or bring clarity to why they did or said a particular thing.

3.) We are judging from the seat of our emotions rather than allowing Holy Spirit to guide us into the truth. He will never lead us astray, but instead the gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to us to lead us in counsel. (And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2)

It's not always easy to sit back and wait for the truth of a situation to come to light. It's easier to respond and defend yourself in the heat of the moment, to prove that you're not going to let people walk all over you.

OR IS IT?

Actually, the easier thing to do is to give in to your emotions. It's not easy to control your tongue and emotions. James chapter three specifically verses two through ten has a lot to say on the matter. James 3:2-10.

While it may not be easier to control your tongue in the heat of the moment, it is WISER . Allowing your emotions to control you and speaking what you want to in an emotional moment will cause:RegretBroken relationshipsHurtDisappointment And later have you asking Almighty God to forgive you. Especially when you knew better. Honestly, in that moment if you breathe deeply, and try to remain calm, you will hear the Holy Spirit guiding you and telling you what to do. You simply have to be in control of you, rather than allowing the enemy to control you from the seat of your emotions.

Are there any broken relationships in your life resulting from a heat of the moment argument?

Is there someone you need to seek forgiveness from?

Is there someone you need to forgive?

Pray and ask the Lord for guidance in that area of your life. You may also want to confide in a trusted confidant, such as your spiritual advisor, prayer partner, or other trusted person in your life.

Be on the lookout this week for ways the enemy is trying to control your emotions. Stand back and view all things from a spiritual place and trust Holy Spirit to guide you through.


I leave you with this Scripture in parting to give you strength for the week ahead:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Have a blessed and beautiful week, and thank you for joining me for another Motivational Monday Moment.

Thanks for joining us for a Motivational Monday Moment! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.