Church Home-less

Sometimes God speaks in whispers.
Sometimes God speaks in shouts.
Sometimes He takes what seems like forever to answer a prayer.
Sometimes He answers as soon as the prayer is said.

Today God answered a prayer that I prayed long ago, and He answered in shout.

For the past few years my church has been "going through some things" if you will. As a result, many members have left the church. As I've watched people leave I've asked God, "Is it time for me to go. If so, tell me. Otherwise, I'm gonna stay put until you tell me otherwise".

Today, He told me that it's time to go.

I was coming off of a rough 3 days and walked into the church "broken". It's a wonder that I went at all, but I know that if there's anyway to pull myself out of this slump I needed to hear God's word. So off to church I went.

As soon as I walked in (hadn't even taken my seat yet), I was told about something that I had done wrong and how I had gotten someone else in trouble for MY mistake. As if I didn't feel bad enough walking in, I felt even worse at that moment.

I finally took my seat and did all that I could to keep from crying during the entire service. Tears fell, but I stopped as many as I could. Then, right then and there I had wrote my membership letter of resignation. Just like that. After 18+ years of membership, this was going to be my last church service at the place where I had called my "church home". Wow!

When service ended I gave my letter to the chairman of the Deacon Board, gave him a hug, he told me "to always keep my hand in God's hand", and off I went.

I got in my car and drove away realizing that I am now "church home-less". I no longer have a "church home".

What will I do now?

Visit other churches until God leads me to where He wants me to be. Although I will greatly miss my Pastor, his preaching and his teaching, I can honestly say that I will not miss some of the church members. Some of them were mean, just downright mean.

Mind you, there are probably mean church members wherever I go. But for now, I've had enough of the meanness from this particular group of folks. Nevertheless, I wish them well.

Now, Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever left a church where you had been a member? If so, why?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Quite Time

I'm going through some stuff right now and I've decided to shut the world out. I deactivated my Facebook account, and I'm not making or taking calls. I just need to be by myself and sort this stuff out. Figure out how I keep ending up here.

If you'd like to chime in, then Let the DIALOGUE begin: What do you do when you feel like your world has turned upside down? Do you keep everybody out, or do you invite them to come in?

Talk to me...

Til next time (when I'm ready to talk back)!

The Beat that I Dance To

Ok. So most who know me will attest to the fact that I'm just "a little different".

I'd like to think that that's a good thing, but in the end I imagine that it's all a matter of opinion.

Yesterday I was reminded of just how "different" I can be sometimes.

I attended a function that I was actually very excited to go to. Had been looking forward to it for weeks. It commenced fairly early for a Saturday, at 7:30 a.m.

So I get up, shower, fix my face, my hair, throw on my jeans, one of my favorite tops, my sandals, and I was off.

When I arrived at the venue it became quite obvious to me that I was waaay under-dressed. The other attendees were all "doodied up" as I call it. Men in suits, women in slacks or dresses...and then there was me..."Casual Cathy". GREAT!

What was I gonna do?

So I park my car and sat. And I sat, and I sat, and I sat. For 20 minutes, I sat in my car and watched the people arrive. Seriously, what was I going to do? I lived too far to go home and change. And I didn't want to just go home altogether and not come back. I'd been looking forward to this event and I planned on attending.

After 20 minutes and a lot of "self-talk", and evaluating the situation, I had to ask myself a few questions:

Q: Why was I there?
A: I was there because this is an organization that I want to become a part of and I'm interested in hearing more about it.

Q: Why do I want to be a part of the organization?
A: Because I have a heart for service and this organization is all about serving our youth who so greatly need help.

Q: What's more important...your heart and the desire inside to serve others, or your outfit?

That was the clincher. I took the keys out of the ignition, got out of the car and walked in.

The bottom line is this: My outward appearance should not be a factor. My heart is the only thing that should be considered as I am reminded of in 1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

I realized that God was looking at my heart, so what I had on was okay, and if it was okay to Him, then I was goin' in...and I'm so glad that I did. Had I not gone in I would have missed so many blessings that were to be had that day. So so many.

Yeah, people probably talked about me while I was there, or maybe after I left...but you know what...I don't care.

I am who I am and I'm not changing...because I don't want to, nor do I need to.

Mary J. Blige sums it up best in her song Take Me As I Am:

"Now she's older now
Yes, she's wiser now
Can't disguise her now
She don't need
No one tellin her
What to do and say
No one tellin her
Who to be
She's on solid ground
She's been lost and found
Now, she answers to G-O-D
And she's confident
This is not the end
Ask me how I know
Cause she is me."

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Do you dance to the beat of your own drum? If not, why not? What's holding you back?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Take my money...PLEASE!

These days, if you tune into the news, one common theme that you'll hear on any channel is how bad our economy is.

Well...I'm here to tell you that for one hair salon in my neighborhood, the economy must be BOOMING. So much so that they don't need any new business. Must be nice.

On Thursday, I called the woman who's been doing my hair for years...at least a decade, and found out that she has moved...to SACRAMENTO. What?!?

Wow. That came as a surprise. It'd been months since I last saw her since I've been wearing my hair natural and not straight.

So anyhoo...I call and find out that she's not here anymore. Sigh. Now what?

As many Black women will attest, a good stylist is a MUST in ones style arsenal.

Now...I was on the search for a new one.

She suggested another lady who works in the old shop but before I called her I thought I'd try to give the business to a local business. My old hair shop is not in my city.

So I give the local shop a call. Actually, I give the OWNER a call as I had her personal cell phone #. No answer. No return call. Ok.

The next day I call the shop number. Same thing. No answer. No return call.

And I know that they're in business because I drive by everyday. So why didn't anybody return my call. Hmmm. Guess they don't need my money.

So...I call the lady that my old stylist suggested. She was available and was able to schedule me for an appointment. She did my hair and I LOVE it! She did an amazing job. You know what that means...I HAVE A NEW STYLIST!

As odd as I found it that I had to practically BEG the local shop to do my hair, I'm glad that it didn't work out. I know how much they charge and it's 15 dollars MORE than my new stylist charges. So...great service...lower price means a win-win for me.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Have you ever had to practically BEG a business to take your money?

Talk to me!

Til next time...