Beyond Expectation

It was a beautiful day. I attended service, hung out with a great friend after service.. The day seemed like it would never end.
I hung out with some friends at a fishing pond. As you know, at times, when there are new encounters with individuals. There may be two things that can occur, a inviting greeting for conversation or a skeptical hello of, hmm let me check her/him out first.. How do we get past this?
Does this signify that our uniqueness renders us of being totally incapable if reaching what is beyond our expectations.

What is expected of us?
Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
My spirit was not troubled, however there was something that did not sit well, with an encounter I had with someone that was new to me. I instantly checked "me" out and said to myself, "girl what's up" Sometimes, when we think we have issues with others, it's not them. It's us. However you need to be mature enough to identify this. It doesn't mean you are weak, and it doesn't mean that you are acknowledging out loud that you have issues. God knows we all have been delivered from some places and we know that only the father could have taken us from here to there.



Are we there yet?
Somehow I managed to whip my fishing line so far that it got caught on my bestfriend's sister's chair. The individual in which I had encountered came over to me, timid yet, the spirit of the willing was present. She said, " sister let me help you." I was amazed, because I said to myself, " father help me with this doubt in my mind" Can you please fix it? You could still tell that our spirits were not at a place of total relaxation. So, I remembered that God is not going to put anything in my path, that he will not allow me to learn from.. Fear.
Part of growing as a christian is to be able to adjust to the moments, that don't quite feel good. Character building skills. Yes sir!
I begin to quote this scripture while we untangle the fish line from the chair, I said, my sister, the bible says, " "For where two or three have gathered" and I said, finish it sister, and she replied, "together in My name, I am there in their midst" (Matthew 18:20)
At that moment, that feeling of uncertainty, that feeling of doubt. Ceased. In Jesus name we touched and agreed..Thus creating an environment of peace.
We can get there, if we all try.
It was at that point where God revealed to me again, that the power is in the word.
If we carry the spirit of fear and defeat in our minds. It will only hold us captive of progressing in the direction in which God wants us to go.

Be mindful of your actions, they begin with thoughts..

"The Announcement"

Well, well, well..
Finally had the opportunity to sit down somewhere and write about my experience from 4/11/10.
Some asked what is the announcement? What are you announcing? Let me take you on a little journey here.. I started writing when I was 10 years of age. Though years passed by, all I had was a notebook of poems, emails to family and friends, more poems written throughout the years, then there finally came "Chronicles Of A Mended Heart" since the book has been out. I have managed to keep myself way under the radar..Only reading at church, and doing book signings.. Why? You may ask.. I am a bit of a skeptic, when it comes to microphones, crowds of people and them looking at me, to see what I am going to say next.. Seriously! As perky and Pippy long stocking'ish, and at times serious that my character or presence may read.. To put me in the front of it all and have me being the presenter, makes me feel like the young lady in that movie, "Coyote Ugly" Lol.. I'm serious! I get chills, I may try to crack a joke to laugh a little, because laughing for me, eases my spirit. Lol.. Lol.. And last but not least, in my opinion people say that they don't judge you. Yea right! I would be totally not human and acting so oblivious to that fact. I'm going to keep it real with you... They do..Judging causes people to purchase a CD, a DVD, a new car. It's natural. However it can also be negative. I didn't want to allow anyone to have the opportunity to do that. So I managed to keep that part of my words and heart stored away, until I was able to put my best foot forward and not care about the opinions of others.
What the announcement represented was me as an author, poet, songwriter, a speaker.. Though I do other things, I actually let the world in.. I really let them into my thoughts, my heart, and I presented a voice for them to hear. So after 1 year & 4 months later, I finally introduced, "Authoress Shametra McGregor"

Some may ask how did you come to this point? I just said to myself, people are going to secretly judge you, and judge you for just being.. But if you are a believer, you know that only God can. (Luke 6:37, Matthew 7:1-5)
I made the conscience effort to say, " I don't care who says what, my supporters need to hear me, I owe it to them, and I love them because they believed in my dream."
So to those that may have the fear to get up and speak, know that God has your back. All he ask i you take the first step. I felt his presence all around me that day.. That is what made it so easy..

The announcement was my voice. Which is now heard..
For those that showed up, prayed for me, purchased a book, offered words of encouragement.. I say thank you..

The Announcement

Well...
The time is almost here.. The moment that I have been waiting for..
Wanna see what..

www.ujimamagazine.com (March/April Issue)

Thanks to Ujima Magazine and IvanMiko

Union Dinner

In my opinion, we all have our moments were. We appear to be skeptical of something that we don't know, or the way that we feel about a certain issue. Sometimes, we attempt to influence others, that our opinion is the right opinion. Without giving that party an opportunity to find the truth for themselves. We as a people in general, tend to have similarities yet through our ethnic backgrounds and beliefs, still yet evident there is an element of seperation.
I am so blessed that my mother taught me that having an open mind was imperative, that I may see with my own eyes the vast range of diversity that was among us. In retrospects, I had my inquiries; but I remained curious, therefore in order to get the answer. I asked many of questions. I was blessed to sit down and have dinner tonight with a couple that had crossed my path. When I was first asked I was a bit skeptical. With that said I prayed about this dinner. Through that prayer I was lead to go and not be in fear. Although this couple appeared harmless. It was an opportunity to meet and have dinner. We talked about their culture, and religion. As we sat down for dinner at the table. While in conversation, I politely interrupted the couple and asked them, "can I pray over the food." As I did this through silent prayer. The wife said, "Oh can you pray aloud".. At that point we joined hands, as I prayed over our dinner. This was my first encouter of having dinner with this couple so I was unsure of the invitation of prayer until we began to join hands and their interests in God was just as great as mines. At the end of the night, I learned how to read Arabic, I also learned that this couple had been through a trying time to get to the states. It's so amazing, when you sit down and have a conversation with people, you learn that the only element that may separate you from one another is a simple "hello" from there, the possibility of gaining understanding is presented.. Which offers you an ability to learn something new.. The experience was great and through that opportunity I was blessed to have met them and now I have created some new friends.

2 Down

What a blessing!
I have completed my 2nd magazine interview.. I would like to thank my cousin for the introduction and Gwen Pierce for taking time out of her busy schedule to get a brief story on the new Author.. LOL
This inteview was yet another trademark of the butterfly captured in the heart on my logo. Not sure if you have noticed that are not. Some of you know me, but many of you don't understand and know my thoughts. Ujima was the 1st magazine interview that I conducted that captured this, and as I shared information with Damita, that not only expressed my love for God and my short comings, but how there is possbility in the midst of it all. TheChocolateVoice interview I revealed a little more.
Resolution + The art of possibility = (you fill in the blank.)
2009 was a great year, I learned alot, and actually saw the fruits of my labor. I have also learned that diligence, ice cream, connecting with God, and just stopping to smell the roses, is something that makes me very happy. Thus I will press on and continue to keep these elements very near to me.
I would like to take this time, to thank each and every one of you that are reading this.. In some way shape or form, you have impacted my life in such a way that proves to me, that God has placed angels all around me. It's a feeling I can't explain and a love that I have never experienced before..
I will humbly accept it and share it with others.
In conclusion, my article is available to see on www.thechocolatevoice.com.


Blessings and Happy New Year!