Watch God Work Apparel

Now that I have brought you all up to date, I just have a few more things to mention. Although I love making clothes, I haven't made many outside of what I have to make for school projects. I am constantly coming up with new ideas and often find myself sketching (gotta do it quickly, before I forget). I even keep a small sketch pad and pencil beside my bed because I see the flyest stuff in my dreams! Being that I have always been pretty tech savvy and artistic, ideas pop in my head all the time for tshirts. I remember when I left my career of 6 years and decided to step out on faith and focus on my business full time, God spoke a word of encouragement to me. I was single, had an apartment, and a son who was about 10 years old. I didn't know how I was going to keep my rent paid and keep us fed. BUT GOD! One morning, as I was ironing, He said not to worry. Just watch Him work. I was reminded that my life was in His hands and if I only trusted in Him, everything would work out. Then I said to myself..."I could put that on a tshirt!" That's how "Watch God Work" apparel was born! I immediately started working on ideas for tshirts that say "Watch God Work". I wanted people who were proud of what God was doing in their lives, who wanted to let the world know to keep an eye on God, and watch what He was doing in their lives, to have a way to get it out there without speaking. My initial design was great but I did it all by hand because I didn't have the resources to do anything highly technical. I designed the logo in MS Word, printed everything out on my parents' laser printer, cut everything out, and ironed them on shirts. I gave them out to my friends, who wore them at a church cookout. That was my way of launching my first tshirt line! I got great reviews and a few orders but I felt stuck after that because I wanted them to be made in a way that they would last longer, and not fade in washing. To this day I haven't had them printed the way I want to because I don't know where to go to get it done. However, I have revisited the idea and redesigned the logo. Anyway, if you are interested in purchasing a tee or tote bag, let me know! I would love to have you stand with me, as a living testimony of what God can and WILL do!

Be blessed!

Progress

So, I don't think I mentioned since starting this blog that I have a serious love for fashion. From since I can remember, I have had my own style and often used my creative eye to create and express myself in my own way. Years ago, after frequenting stores and noticing how pricey things were..and saying quite a few times "How much is that? What!? I could make that!", I decided to start making clothes. So, after a few projects here and there, including an outfit I made for myself for an all-black party and some praise dance attire I made for a few groups, I decided to start my own business. Eventually, after hearing a special word repeatedly in sermons given by my pastor at the time, I came up with the name...Provisions. Its interesting that the word provisions is often referred to as something being provided "beforehand". To me, it is a reference to the fact that God will supply all of my needs. Now that I looked it up and see the connection with "beforehand", it speaks to me even more. God has had a plan for me and my life since before I was even conceived. Everything has been laid out and provided for me well before I caught up. He has done the same for you too. Have you ever noticed how its seems like things we have gone through in the past prepared us for whatever we are experiencing at the moment? I know there are countless things that I have gone through in life that prepared me for things that happened later. As they say, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. It also prepares you, giving you experiences that enable you to be more knowledgable about how to handle situations. Since I started my business in 2006, I have learned alot about proper business etiquette, networking, and marketing. It was pretty much trial and error, but I appreciate every moment and wouldn't change anything for the world. I am who I am today because of what I have gone through yesterday. And I am SO totally looking forward to seeing who I become tomorrow after what I have grown from today!

Blessings!

My, how time flies!

WOW! Where has the time gone!? So much has happened since my last post. For one, I have gotten married and relocated. My husband is in the Navy and we moved to his newest duty station. We have been married for about two years now and have lived here for about the same amount of time. We actually moved just a few weeks after our nuptials. Not long after we moved, I started going to school for fashion design, something I have been wanting to do for SO long! I should be graduating next year and I can't wait! I'm still trusting God daily to continue to lead me along HIS path in every facet of life, from my marriage and raising my son, to continuing to build my business. Moving out of state has thrown somewhat of a wrench into things but I'm slowly starting to get it back on track. I hope this post finds you all blessed and happy! Talk to you again soon!

Blessings!

Your Life As A Reality Show

Looking in the mirror this afternoon, as I was doing my hair, I had a thought that I was given to share with each of you. If your life was a reality show, would God be pleased if He was watching it? Would He smile and feel proud and call the angels over to come watch it with Him or would He be so embarrassed at what He saw that He'd want to turn the channel? I know that as a parent, I find myself quite uncomfortable when my son and I are sitting in the living room, watching a movie when romantic scenes come up or when those commercials come on that are advertising medications that claim to help eliminate ED (erectile dysfunction). I want to quickly turn the channel so that he isn't absorbing any of the nonsense that today's media has to offer. I wonder...would God want to avoid watching my life, moment by moment, as a means to not corrupt His mind or the mind of His most highly regarded and loved servants. I should hope not. I pray that everything that I do is pleasing to Him, although I know that as a human, I'm far from perfect and fall short daily. I pray the same for you....I hope that even if we do fall short on a regular basis, that we are still striving to live the most watched and "highest rated" reality show on God's tv. I pray that in everything we do, we remember that God is watching...and that we take a moment before we chose which direction to go, to first think about which decision would be pleasing to Him, and then actually do what's right.

Here's something to reflect on. Take your time reading it, to ensure that you are getting the full understanding of what it says.

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:8-17 NIV

Be blessed! Continue to trust GOD and relax....watch HIM work....

Reflecting on 2008

Wow....I haven't blogged in quite a while but it feels really good to be back. So many things have happened in this past year, both wonderful and tragic. Personally, I have gone from being a single mother with only male friends to now a single mother who is engaged and looking forward to spending the rest of my life with the most wonderful man I know. I tell you...if you stop looking and worrying, and only seek God, He will truly lay everything right in front of you. There's no need to search for human love because that love will almost always hurt you in some way. God's love is the only true and steadfast love that will never fail and as soon as you focus on Him and live according to His will, everything else will fall into place.

2008 has brought us a new President and a new hope that the future of the United States will again be bright and that the US will be brought back from the depths of debt and negativity to both prosperity and positivity. The American people have spoken and have chosen the man who will lead us and God has made it possible for us to have that opportunity to even have our say in the matter. I'm thankful for that.

Please continue to pray for those who are suffering from losses in their families...Jennifer Hudson and family, Macaulay Culkin and family, and the families of Bernie Mac, Heath Ledger, Robert Prosky, to name a few.

Blessings

Living Single

Wow! Who would have thought that at 27 years old, I would still be a single woman. Growing up, I always thought I would get married around 21 or 22. Knowing what I know now, I am so glad that I didn't get married at that time. The last thing I want is to enter into a marriage that would end prematurely. I know who I am now, but I know that when I was 21 and 22, I had no idea. And if I didn't know who I was, and hadn't experienced all that I have, there is no way that I would have been able to commit my life to someone else. Back then, I probably didn't love myself the way I do now....and loving yourself is always the first step, before you can love anyone else. My love of God and my relationship has grown so much in just the past year, its ridiculous. But I am thankful for that and everything that has happened that has propelled me to this point. Truly knowing the love of God and loving myself, after all these years, I am ready to love my husband....whomever he may be. But don't get it twisted....I'm in no rush. :) God is still preparing me. I am still a work in progress. I welcome the changes. As a single person, its the ideal time for me to continue the work of God. Once I'm married, that won't change, but it will add another person that I will have to focus on. Right now, its just me, God, and my son. As long as its that way, I am happy....But I know when I am blessed to have my husband find me, I will be happy too. I'm sure there is no way to describe the feeling of being in a life-long commitment with someone that you not only love, but with someone who loves you conditionally as well.

Be blessed and continue to grow in Christ. Find yourself through HIM. Live your life according to HIM and what it is that He has for you to do. Don't worry about your future or anything else. As long as you walk with Christ, everything else will fall right into place. (If you can't tell, I am telling myself this, as I tell you.) As with everything else, it may not happen when you want it to, but it will happen in God's time. Be patient. Trust God. Watch Him work.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On this day, April 4, 1968, we lost a great man. This is the date in which Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. I found out this week that there are so many more things about Dr. King that I never knew. I know that day alone, I had no idea that things went the way that they did. Its interesting what we learn in schools and what we don't. But its also interesting that with people in history, we seldom think of them as real people. Rather than a human being, they are put on a pedestal and seen as a hero...which of course, he was and still is, but because we do this, sometimes we don't see past the outer shell of the person. Yes we know that Dr. King was a great speaker. He was a father, a husband, and a preacher. After watching Tavis Smiley on Tuesday, I got a glimpse into Martin the man....the friend.

Rev. Samuel Kyles was one of the guests on Tavis' show. He is one of the two people who were with Dr. King, just before he was killed. He is the only one of the three of them who is still living. Openly, he shared with Tavis and the world that he believes he remains as the sole witness of that experience to continue to tell the story of what really happened that day. He is able to shed light on what actual events occurred....not just outside of the hotel room, on the balcony where King died, but also what went on the hour before, behind clothes doors. Now, I can look at Dr. King as the human being that he always was and I hope that after this, you will look at him in the same way. He was more than just a civil rights activist who preached equal rights and nonviolence. Turns out that he was actually a very funny guy who often shared jokes with his friends.

The Sanitation Workers sent for Dr. King to come to Memphis because they were striking at the time, hoping to be recognized as a union. He came, although his people initially turned them down,saying that he was too busy to come. He was asked to lead a march, and when violence broke out, he was hurt by it. But being the man that he is, he wanted to have another march, which he also led. On April 4th, Rev. Kyles went to the hotel where Dr. King was staying, at 5pm to pick him up and take him to dinner. The women of the church prepared a dinner of the delicious "soul foods" that he actually hoped he'd be having. At 5pm, Rev. Kyles went to pick him up, but he was in no hurry to leave because he knew dinner didn't actually start until 6pm. From 5 to 6pm, the three ministers, Rev. Abernathy, Rev. Kyles, and Dr. King sat in the hotel room having "preacher talk". They shared a few stories and a few laughs and just hung out, just like three friends would. As they were preparing to go, Dr. King was standing on the balcony, leaning over the rail. He shouted down to Jesse Jackson who he spotted down in the courtyard, joking with him about how he didn't have on a tie although they were supposed to be going to dinner. Rev. Jackson said all he needed as his appetite. :) As Dr. King stood on the balcony, he realized that he didn't have his coat so he yelled into the hotel room for someone to bring it out when he came out. Rev. Kyles tried to rally the troops because it was getting late and they had a rally to go to after dinner, then he walked away. Five steps later, he heard the shot. When he turned around, Dr. King had fallen back onto the floor from the railing where he had once stood, joking with his friend. That evening, the man, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed, but his kindhearted and gentle spirit will live on forever. Never forget....

If you get a chance, check out the transcript from Tavis Smiley's show. The link is below. No one can tell the story like the man who was actually there. :)

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200804/20080401_kyles.html

God bless you!