Mia Johnson says hi from Dubai

Hi from Dubai!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Dubai.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1356613372

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Dubai

Hi from Dubai!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Dubai.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1356364488

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1354719700

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1354497946

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1354495946

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1354029104

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1353571912

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1353488388

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1352452545

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

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http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1352282563

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

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http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1351182916

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1350985914

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1350985914

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

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http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1350985914

Wish you were here!

Mia

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How Well Do You See?

I was teaching a literature class the other day and one of the stories we covered was a story called "What Do Fish Have To Do With Anything?" While it sounds like a rather uninteresting title, and even more insignificant question, it has proven to be rather encouraging. 





This story talks about a particular species of fished called "cave fish." Cave fish are fish that live in dark caves and consequently have lost their ability to see. As a result, they have reproduced a generation of fish that not only can't see from birth, but are often born without eyes. If they are born with eyes, they lose them after a while Studies show that as embryos, they have sightless eyes but due to underground adaptations that have affected the evolution of its genetic mutations, the organs decay and are scaled over the fish's body. With this ichthyological understanding, this story chronicles the life of a young boy who is searching for the cure from unhappiness for his depressed mother. The mother, while blind to her own inability to see, is unable to rationalize with the boy's quest and search. So, during one part of a discussion in the story between the boy and his mother, his mother tried to impose her perspective on her son. Her son responded, "You can't see anything. You're a fish. And you live in a cave!"

Let's face it...life can hand you some things that can really impact how you view the world. It can so affect you that it cases your perspective to be jaded, which manifests in your behavior. These experiences effect your soul and spirit the same way the water effects the riverbank; it creates a slow erosion. Slowly, it pushes you deep into a dark cave to fend and care for yourself...or at least attempt to. Once you are in there, it's hard to see things purely anymore. I know...I've been there before. You see, this is when the clean seems not so clean; the pure seems to be impure; the godly become filthy; and the honest becomes dishonest. I've heard it best described like this, "If you swim in the mud, all you see is dirt."

This reminds me of the cave of Adullam in 1 Samuel 22. David was running out of fear for his life from Saul, and had also resorted to playing crazy because of his fear of the king of Gath in chapter 21. David arose and retreated to the cave of Adullam. That's right...the man of God went into hiding! What's interesting about this is that when he was in hiding, those who were in "strauma" (stress, drama, and trauma) gathered unto him in the cave and looked to him as a leader. While David was in hiding, running from fear, and even leading in fear, God sent a Word that ultimately resulted in David abandoning the stronghold cave of Adullam and leading in freedom! There is so much that I could say about this text, and even teach on it, but I will stick to the point of this blog. :-)

Like the woman in the story, sometimes it takes a jolt of honesty and reality to shake you from one place. The woman didn't see that she was living in darkness. Neither did David. But it took one Word to illuminate or shine in on areas that had grown dark. What I didn't tell you about cave fish is that scientists now say that they are convinced that while blind cave fish eyes' have withered while living in complete darkness, they can regain their ability to see again (ScienceDaily, 2008). To that end I say regardless of how long a person may have endured darkness or resided in a cave, there still is a place of freedom in regaining the ability to see once again. You can never appreciate seeing the light until you have lived in the darkness. And those who have are usually the ones that sing these lyrics with tears in their eyes, "...Twas blind, but now I see."

So, my friend, I leave you with this question, "How well do you see?" Before you answer, take inventory on how you perceive people, places, and situations. I even encourage you to pray about it before you answer. You may be surprised to find out that your vision is not 20/20 the way your may think. But the good news is that it certainly can be. :-)

Well, that's all for now. Until next time...blessings!!!

Lady Mia

Mia Johnson says CORRECTION

Hi from Seoul!

My dearest mother pointed out a mistake in my blog that I made because I type so fast. She knows how anal I am about it. And She also knows that I will be turning this into a book. So I had to make the correction. :-)

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1350527440

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1350527440

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1350238172

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1349712377

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1349598551

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1349119245

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1349076415

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1348218989

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1347699000

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1347354201

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1347271507

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1347025040

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1346836224

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1346751962

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1346480815

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1346323840

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1345802068

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1345465101

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1345026577

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1344635386

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1344244331

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1343926417

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1343892994

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1343731144

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Seoul

Hi from Seoul!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Seoul.

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http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1343416758

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Houston

Hi from Houston!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Houston.

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http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1343256679

Wish you were here!

Mia

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Mia Johnson says hi from Houston

Hi from Houston!

I just wanted to let you know that I published a new blog entry from Houston.

To read the entry, follow this link:
http://www.travelpod.com/z/seoul2soul/1/1342994360

Wish you were here!

Mia

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The Cycle of Death

Happy Holidays to you all! I know that it has been a little while since I have written a blog. And as I lay in my bed on the eve of one of the most significant celebrations that Christian’s all over the world stand united in honoring, I can’t help but think about the cycle of death. Death, like any season, has a cycle. For just as the book of Ecclesiastes says, there is a time to live and yet a time to die. However, there is more to “the time to die” that has really rested on me in this moment. And it is in that vein, I would like to share with you.

Before I go any further, I ask for a measure of grace as I write about a few vulnerabilities. It is not to start some competitive war in the body of Christ that says, “Look at me. My “boo-boo” is bigger than your “boo-boo” and therefore what I am about to say is more valid.” No dear friends, it is just because I am in a season of realness like never before. So before we move forward, I ask that you take off your mask and let’s “Keep it 100” as my generation has so popularly coined.

I wasn’t quite sure if I was really considering the cycle of death because it is the eve of Resurrection Day; which in my eyes is one of the most powerful days to ever learn & experience in your walk with God. When you come to a place where you really understand what the word “Resurrection” means, and how it is applicable to your very life, it changes your perception. Or was I considering the cycle of death because of my own season of death with the devastating loss of my cheerleader, my coach, my confidant, my teacher, and my mentor; none other than my grandmother? I lost her during the time where I was supposed to be celebrating Thanksgiving with family, yet was burying her body instead. Or maybe it was the very public and humiliating loss of a relationship last year as well. I could go on and on as there has been loss after loss. And I know that I am not the only person that feels the same way as I am feeling about this. Even with all of the losses that not only I have experienced, but many of you have experienced, it is nothing like the loss of a Son on the cross as Our Father endured the grief and pain of what He had just witnessed. Earth became nervous and even the sun hid his face as he couldn’t bare to see what had just taken place at the crucifixion.  But whatever the origin was for me to consider the cycle of death on this night, I do believe that I have a Word.

The bible says in John 12:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Now, we know that Jesus was the first seed to fall into the ground and die, yet bring forth much fruit. If the saying of, “Anything dead ought to be buried” were solely true, then the burial site with Jesus’ remains would still hold true to it’s original intent of doing so. But we serve a risen Savior that not only died, but conquered death, hell, and the grave, and then did the impossible by rising from the dead on the third day! Scripture says that He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, making daily intercessions for us.

Understand that if it seems that you are in a death process, that things are being stripped from you, that you are being penalized for your obedience, that your name is being drug through the mud & your reputation has been tainted, that what used to work no longer works, and who used to be there is no longer there, when depression is heavy and contemplating suicide seems to be the only escape…allow me to introduce you to the cycle of death. As painful as it is, you are in a death walk. Yes dear brother, and dear sister, you have already endured a lot. Trust me, I’ve been there. But this is the death walk you take because it is actually producing the seed that is needed to fall into the ground and as a result, bring forth much fruit. Just as you died today, so shall you live tomorrow. When He got up, YOU got up too. And the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead is the same power that can quicken your mortal body (Romans 8:11). Then and only then will you see the glory being revealed in you. That’s when the fruit from the fallen seed is revealed. That’s all that means when the scripture says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).” Your sufferings are simply a death process, your place of Golgotha which is where the seed falls to the ground. But your revealed glory is simply your displayed resurrection to those, including yourself, that thought you’d never rise again.

As you enter a time to commemorate the Resurrection power of Jesus, be grateful for the same Resurrection power manifesting in your life which ultimately brings much fruit. With that said, I pray that as you enter the house of God tomorrow, you experience a surging of the Holy Ghost and that the same Resurrection we are celebrating can and will quicken your mortal body’s and produce life and much fruit. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

From my heart to yours,

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

Lady Mia Johnson

Diamonds and Pearls: The Witness Stand

Most times, when you hear of a witness stand, you think of a court room with those involved in either a criminal or civil proceeding. While attorney’s may call to the witness stand those that are able to either confirm or disavow an accusation brought against someone, inevitably (in most cases), the attorney will eventually call to the witness stand the one that has been accused. And it is in that moment that the entire court room is looking upon the accused; looks of either condemnation, false accusation, or justification will be present. The unfortunate thing about this is that it is often said that the accused is innocent until proven guilty. However, we live in a world that often preconditions jurors or onlookers to believe that the accused is actually guilty before all of the evidence has truly been presented, thus setting the jurors vision to filter everything he or she sees or hears through the eyes and ears of an already guilty verdict. 

This witness stand that I refer to is not one that you would typically think of. I am not referring to the one that you see on television, or the one in the main courthouse in your local city. But I am referring to the witness stand that is characterized by a season in your life when people have spoken prematurely about you, brought about accusations without any true credibility, and sought to impose and exercise a verdict that they themselves would not be able to live with. It’s this season where your actions are misconstrued, what you said is twisted, your pure intentions are considered tainted, and your love walk is tempted. 

It is with this understanding that I call YOU to the witness stand. Yes my dear sister or brother. I call you to the witness stand. I don’t call you to the witness stand as one to confirm or disavow an accusation against someone else although you may have very well been called to the stand for this reason in times past. This time is different. I call you to the witness stand because many have gone before you to speak about you as the accuser. 

So now, you may be wondering how do you win? How do you win a fight, or win a case that has already been set against you? How do you change the minds of the jurors or onlookers when the case has been fixed? In legal terms or phrases, this is referred to as “padding a case.” How do you repudiate an accusation when the players involved have padded your case? The answer, although is presented with extreme simplicity, is yet extremely powerful and thus complicated for many. The answer is to simply present the truth.  Understand that the truth will be the truth, even if people including yourself, do not believe it. One of my absolute favorite scriptures that I have many times dined on when feasting on the word of God is found in Romans 3:3-4 as it says, “For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” While I understand that this scripture has many more exegetical implications than what I am trying to say to you in this moment, I want you to understand the undertone of the insignificance of the lack of belief that others may have in your life. 

As you are on the witness stand listening to the prosecutor paint a picture on the canvas of your life of who you are not, allow the fruit of who you really are to be your defense. Let your life do the talking and not you. The integrity of who are will leave much more of a lasting affect and ultimately effect the positive establishment of your credibility. The truth doesn’t need you to defend it. And your critics will never openly admit their premature judgment. But your supporters will be rooting for you without wavering with great solidarity. 

“Truth stands alone. Honor needs no defense. My critics never believed me. And my friends need no explanation.” ~ Unknown

Gone Too Soon

I’ve come to realize that “Gone Too Soon” is really a way to say someone was really undervalued. I don’t want to be appreciated after I’m gone. I want to be appreciated now and then remembered for the impact that I made. I’ve heard it said that people know that they have received a gift, but fail to treat it as such because they thought they’d never lose it. While this isn’t true in all cases, it certainly is true for some.

No matter what part of the world you are in, the value of currency is dependent on how that currency is being “appreciated” in the economy. I’m reminded of the time I went to Great Britain. By the time I exchanged the US Dollar for the British Pound, it was worth very little. What would have cost me $.99 at McDonald’s locally was close to $3 by the time my credit card was swiped. The economy placed much greater value on the British currency than the American one. While the US Dollar used to be one of the most respected flow’s of currency in global finance, it has since depreciated and is still depreciating in value. The power of equity also is dependent on not the depreciating value of the property, but by how much it “appreciates” over time. Simply put, to appreciate is to add value by answering the question of how much something means to you. In the case of equity, no one can not care for or not value their home, and then expect it to appreciate in value when it has been appraised.
I believe we as a human society are flawed. Not just the regular day to day flaws you and I have for no one is perfect. But flawed in the sense that we do not value the gifts in our lives but wait until its time of departure (or appraisal) to show “appreciation.” This is where I believe we get stuck at. And because we realize we have gotten stuck in this phase without a chance to go back and place value where it should have been, we respond with common phrases such as “Gone Too Soon.” Yes, it’s a beautiful song. But yes, it’s a way to escape the feeling of missing the mark of appreciating those you value and love.

My encouragement to you is that you would accept the challenge of really appreciating the things and the people who are an asset to your life. My favorite quote in the movie “The Color Purple” is when Shug and Miss Celie are walking through the field of beautiful purple flowers. Shug says to Miss Celie,” I think it pisses God off to walk by the color purple in a field and don’t notice it.” Dear hearts, in the field of life that you walk through, make sure you recognize the “color purple” in your field; those things that add great value to you. Appreciate them now. You’ll thank yourself later for it.

Diamonds and Pearls: Training Day

In considering sports such as football, basketball, boxing, wrestling, or street fighting, there is a rule that one abides by in order to win. This rule consists of knowing your opponent so well, that you can anticipate his or her next move and plan your response accordingly.  It requires you to think ahead of them so as to block their advancement on the field, in the ring, or on the court.  As a matter of fact, the coach will likely have videos in the locker room to highlight a particular weakness of the opponent, thus giving the coach the “heads up” on how to adequately train and prepare his or her team.

This is essentially what happens in our lives. Unbeknownst to us, we have given our opponent clues which has assisted in helping them to gain ground on us. Yet the only way to really abort the mission of our opponent, which is to steal, kill, and destroy, we must implement a ploy that counteracts the very assignment that was given.

Here’s what you need to know. You have a very real adversary who’s sole mission is to take you down. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to cancel it’s mission and plan. Here’s something else you need to know. Your adversary uses things that you like, or even things that are considered sensitive heart matters, as a decoy to get you to react, think, behave, etc the way you have trained him into thinking you would. Yes, I did mean to say train. Essentially, when we repeat life cycles, bite the bait, fall into trap’s, it is us not only validating the adversary’s mission as successful, but we are giving the adversary more “highlights” to discuss back in the locker room.

I learned this lesson the hard way. And although, every now and then, I need a gentle reminder, I will never forget when I realized it was time to confound my adversary. Allow me to paint the picture for you:

As a young leader in the church of about 21, I was asked to attend a conference in the Midwest region of the country to assist in facilitating. I was given the release by my pastor to attend. Immediately, the host’s administrator and I began making arrangements. Not only was I to attend, but another well-known evangelistic duo that I personally knew was invited. How exciting right? I would be ministering in a conference with not only friends, but people who are highly gifted in ministry. So flight booked? Check. The hotel reserved? Check. Itinerary received? Check. Time off work requested? Check. We’re well on our way…or so I thought. I arrived in the city that morning and my driver was waiting on me. I’m thinking, “This is all great!” However, I made this assessment too prematurely. Shortly thereafter, I received word from the host that I was to reimburse them back for payment of the flight. Well, because I didn’t want to disappoint the leaders, I wrote them a check. Additionally, I was dropped off at the hotel with no means of transportation and no way to go out to get food for the 3 days I was scheduled to be in town. And of course, there was no tab left for me to order in room service either. Because I didn’t want to inconvenience the driver or the host by having them to go out of their way to bring me something to eat, or take me to the grocery store to stock up, I just ordered pizzas. After attending the first night of the conference, I realized that this was simply a way to brow beat another young leader (myself) into doing things the way they wanted, none of which I discerned to really be led of God. At this point, I just wanted to go home. When I called back to my home church to see if my church could get me a ticket home, I was told that our Bishop and the pastoral team was out on a leadership retreat in the Bahamas. (We had a system at our church that if we were out somewhere and things occurred that was uncomfortable, leadership would make arrangements to get us back safely). But because I didn’t want to disturb Bishop, I declined the offer to contact him to get the authorization to get me back home. Needless to say, I spent a very miserable 3 days in the Midwest and came back home pretty upset about it. When I was telling one of the leaders about what took place, she looked me square in my eyes and said something that was harsh, yet very true, and thus changed my life. She said, “While I understand that this was a very difficult situation to have been in, it’s nobody’s fault but yours….You will have to learn really quickly that you train people how to treat you.” My adversary knew that I had struggled greatly with not wanting to disappoint those in authority. I was a people pleaser. So when the situation took place, I had trained my opponent already in knowing just how I’d react which ultimately left me feeling underappreciated, mishandled, and taken advantage of. So back in the adversary’s locker room, he heard “Mission Accomplished!” Tough lesson; but lesson learned.

I share this Diamond and Pearl with you to say the same thing that was said to me many years ago. It is your responsibility to train people on how to treat you. Whatever interaction you have with people be it those in authority, family members, friends, or even those you may date (appropriately of course), it is your responsibility to set the tone for what is or what is not acceptable. Failure to do so can and will ultimately provide an entry way for your adversary to get in and use against you to cause you to react rather than respond. It’s a perpetual cycle. Understand that just as God uses man to accomplish His will and purpose on earth, so does the adversary. Could it be that the very situations you face are simply pre-planned?  Out of all of those situations, you will either repudiate the authority of the adversary in your life by not succumbing to it’s demonic devices, or you will yield to the process and add another notch to your opponent’s belt signifying yet another victory. Either way, I want you to understand that each day is a training day.

Diamonds and Pearls: Live Out Loud

 

Life has a rhythm; a melody, if you will. While sometimes the sound comes forth as a consonant integration of chords, there are other times that the sound produced is a screeching dissonant clash of noise. For the most part, no one wants bad experiences (dissonance). Moreover, we’d prefer things to work out positively (consonance). But the fact remains that we can’t always control any key changes, twists, or turns that life may throw at us. Consequently, fear of the unknown can paralyze us from moving into manifesting and producing the impossible. It’s not the fact that “it” can’t be done that makes it impossible. It’s the fear that halts many from stepping out into nothing and creating something. That fear results in a life; a very quiet one. A life that desires the sound of freedom and fulfillment to play in its soul yet is muzzled by the whimpers of silent “pass me not’s.”

Living out loud is more than a popular phrase. It means that you understand that each day you live brings you a step closer to fulfilled destiny. It means that you prayerfully and passionately pursue purpose. It speaks of life and the abundant living in your spirit that must consequently manifest in your life openly. It gives off the fragrance of fulfillment which is refreshing to the stale at heart or those that choose to live silently. It boldly announces its arrival of light to those that cower in dark corners while beckoning them to join in living brightly.

Brendan Francis, an Irish poet, once said, “No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves to today.” As I considered this, I can’t stress enough the importance of living for today. Yesterday has come and gone. It is now nothing more than a memory. If you spend today regretting yesterday, then tomorrow will turn into the yesterday you tried to avoid repeating. It’s not enough to just exist. But you must take an active role. You may be wondering how to take an active role in your life? You must assume the position as the conductor; the one that directs the rhythm of your life’s song. Do you need to slow down? Maybe even speed up so that you can catch up? Then change the time signature. But whatever you do, keep conducting…you must continue to live and do so out loud.

I challenge you today to evaluate your life’s melody. Does “she” sing confidently? Or does “she” even sing at all? If your life is void of rhythm…if it’s void of a heart’s melody, then it’s time to start orchestrating your life’s musical piece; something so beautiful that others can enjoy it like a symphony. If your life is producing a harmonious melody, then take the time to embrace every note. And continue to conduct the song of your life which would ultimately result in a standing ovation in heaven.

Diamonds and Pearls

 

According to society, life in the 20s is supposed to be fun, carefree, and somewhat irresponsible. This is a time when you can get away with doing absurd things and blame it on being “young and dumb.” This is also a time when you can for the most part still live off of your parents while exercising some elements of adulthood. Right? Well for some people, that is right. However, usually those people who live like this generally have a very hard time with adjusting to living with the consequences of those decisions made in their twenties. By the time the sweet thirties, or as society refers to it, the “dirty thirties,” come around, it can be summarized by one of the most quoted phrases… “If I knew then what I know now…” But at the same time, life should not be lived with a list of regrets; a list of woulda, shoulda, and coulda statements.

I was at a birthday celebration for a younger sister that was turning 25 years old over the weekend. One of the things that she asked of her guests that were over 25 was to share with her some things that we wished we had known at age 25. Of course immediately, my mind started going. The first thing that entered my mind was “Diamonds and Pearls.” I’m sure you are probably wondering how the phrase “Diamonds and Pearls” ties in with this topic. I am not referring to the thirteenth studio album released by the great artist Prince in October 1991. J However, I’m referring to the process in birthing a diamond and pearl is equivalent to the process of birthing wisdom. I’m speaking of the things that one must go through to have gained the wisdom they are to share with others. As I am now transitioning from one season of my life of the twenties to the thriving thirties, it is befitting of me to leave some things that I have learned from personal life experiences or from my own time of gleaning from mentors for my younger brothers and sisters behind to glean. I don’t profess to know everything as I am still learning myself. But what I do know, I humbly share with you.

As you can imagine, there are so many things that can be learned in the twenties. For the sake of time and space, I will list a running list of some of the things that I will be sharing in different blogs that address each individually in no particular order. Feel free to submit your questions as well and I’ll do my best to answer them.

1. Never let another voice in your life be louder than your own.
2. The step you leave is the one that creaks. ~ Bishop Jakes
3. Write your vision.
4. Make decisions for tomorrow, not today.
5. If you’re going to do anything for God, do it now!
6. Train people on how to treat you.
7. You need at least 4 streams feeding you. ~ Bishop Jakes
8. When you enter a new room, the first thing you need to do is shut up! ~ Bishop Jakes
9. Train yourself to multicultural and multidirectional; having the ability to communicate with people in different life structures or systems.
10. You are responsible for your destiny and success.
11. Most people pan to fail, not succeed.
12. The moment you are full is when you stop being filled.
13. If you don’t speak your next season, life will give it to you.
14. Everything is not the adversary. Something’s are just life.
15. There is such thing as supernatural forgiveness because there are things that you will not be able to forgive in your natural mind.
16. Pay attention to “repeat offenders” and understand that forgiveness doesn’t mean trust.
17. No relationship is mandatory unless it is marital and that has it’s limitations (i.e. infidelity)
18. You should never be in the same place after 365 days. Progression is a must!
19. It is not God’s will to remain in any type of abusive relationship.
20. Why halt ye between two opinions? Anyone that remains neutral, or warms themselves by the fire of your enemies, is usually playing both sides to his/her benefit.
21. Live out loud, even when people want you to live silently.
22. Never allow anyone to think that they know everything about you. They inevitably put you in the box that they think you should be in.
23. Don’t just live outside of the box. Destroy the box so that you aren’t tempted to get back inside.
24. Truth stands alone. Honor needs no defense. My critics never believed me. And my friends need no explanation. ~ Unknown
25. Being young doesn’t give you a license to be dumb.
26. Boredom is a result of unfruitful and unproductive living.
27. Real leaders lead from the front, not the back.
28. Verbiage is everything. Choose your words carefully.
29. Never say never.
30. Accountability is a must.

Love and blessings,

Lady Mia Johnson