Why I Gave It All Away

    There is exactly one month and one day  until I graduate from The University of Georgia . I am in awe of how time has flown by the past four years. My time at UGA was filled with achievements, broken dreams, and personal growth.On the outside looking in, it may seem as if I have it all. I'm smart, pretty, liked by most. However, one thing people don't see is the hurt and pain that I've experienced over the past year. Many would never guess that I experienced depression so deep that I once slept 12 hours in one day. Many don't know that I barely remember my 21st birthday. Not because I was so drunk, but because I felt so much emotional pain and was so deep in depression that I blocked out everything going on around me. The doctors tried to label me as _______, but I refused to accept that diagnosis.

       Then two weeks after my birthday, I had surgery on both of my legs. I was in excruciating pain for two weeks after that. My body was rejecting my pain medicine. I had to switch prescriptions several times, but no dosages would help my physical pain. Nothing eased the emotional pain either. However, I appeared to be handling it well becasuse I appeared happy. But inside I was breaking, so I decided to give it ALL away.1 Peter 5:7 , "Cast ALL your anxiety on Him (God) because He cares for you."

        So I gave Him all my worry, pain, doubts and frustrations. I realized that it was too much for me to handle alone. I had become bitter, hardened and unstable because of the many things going on in my life. The depression was just the manifestation of all my stress and anxiety.  But I had enough. So I gave it all away... to Jesus. Now I can say that the sum of what I have gained is greater than everything that I gave away. 2016 has been one of the best years of my life. I have a great support system and  a wonderful boyfriend. I am graduating Cum Laude. I have several job opportunities lined up for after graduation. I am happier, calmer and more confident. I gave it all away and I gained so much more.

     If you're weighed down by stress, pain, frustration or any negative emotion, I challenge you to not let it overwhelm you. Find an outlet, whether it be religion, a hobby or a sport. Don't keep those negative things in your life, be like me, GIVE IT ALL AWAY. 

.:JRSN:.

Wait for the Promise

So many of us are getting to the point in our lives where we are not content. Not necessarily unhappy, just not content. We feel as if we want more out of life. It's easy to become impatient and irritated  with everyone around us. It's not because we are going crazy. It's because God is getting ready to take us to the next level. He's getting ready to give us all the blessings that were promised to us. He won't allow us to be content in a place that we have outgrown.

This moment in our life is so important. We have to push through the discomfort. Keep strong and don't fall for every distraction that comes our way. We have to stay focused on our goals and God so that we can be in the right mindset to receive His promises.

Everything that God has promised to us is already ours we just have to set ourselves up to be in the position to receive those blessings. God tells us to WAIT for the promise. He doesn't tell us to settle. He doesn't tell us to lower our standards. He doesn't tell us not to expect greatness. He simply says wait for the promise. I encourage you all not to get weary, but stay prayed up and wait for the promise.

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."

Acts 1:4 (KJV)

Dear Kobe Bryant

Dear Kobe Bryant,

We WON'T forget. 

We won't forget the one who as an 18 year old who proved he could play among the best. 

We won't forget the one who won the dunk contest and started in the All Star Game as a teenager. 
We won't forget the one who scored 30 points in one quarter, TWICE. 

We won't forget the one who made 36 game winning shots.
We won't forget the one who scored 81 points in one game. 
We won't forget the one who made two free throws that inspired a multitude of people. 

We won't forget the one who showed us what hard work and determination was.
We won't forget the one who had us awestruck as we watched history take place. 
We won't forget the one who not only played basketball, but lived, ate, slept and breathed basketball.  

We WON'T forget, because "Heroes come and go, but LEGENDS are forever."

5 NBA Championships

4x NBA All-Star Game MVP

3rd All-Time Scoring

2x USA Olympic Gold Medal Winner

1 Black Mamba

Love you always,

Mamba Supporters

Click here for Kobe's original letter "Dear Basketball"
Click here for a video of Kobe winning the slam dunk contest
Click here and here for videos of Kobe's 30 point quarter games
Click here for a video of Kobe's 36 game winning shots
Click here for a video of Kobe's 81 point game
Click here for a video of Kobe's 2 inspirational free throws

Guard Your Heart

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." - Proverbs 4:23
Proverbs is a book that's full of wisdom and advice to help us through life. We're instructed to guard our hearts. Too many times we open up our heart to someone that doesn't deserve it. Too many times we open our heart to a situation that is not worth it. When we become emotionally invested in something, we open ourselves up to a world of hurt. We must give our hearts to Jesus and allow him to be the keeper of our heart. Anything that doesn't line up with Jesus is not good for us. Jesus is and always will be the standard.

When it comes to relationships (romantic or platonic)  it is so important to guard your heart. When you become too invested too quickly, and things do not work out, it will be harder to get over. I recently got out of a relationship. After 10 months, it was over and all I could think  about was how much I invested. When it comes to love, we must take it slow. Songs of Solomon is a book all about romantic love. "I charge you... that ye not stir up, nor awake my love, till he please." -Songs of Solomon 2:7. This scriptures reminds us to wait on love & let it come naturally. 

While I'm sad about my relationship ending, I have to realize that God makes no mistakes. My last post was "The Bad That God Allows",  so I have to trust that God is working it out for my good. I will use this time of singleness to focus on my relationship with God, grow as a person and go after my goals. I will wait on God to send me the right person and until then I will guard my heart. 

-MemoirsOfJazz (MoJ) 

The Bad Things That God Allows

       It's funny because "bad things" happen and we get angry, we cry, we question God's plan and then we realize life goes on. We begin to find peace in a situation we never imagined that we would have to experience. We see the silver lining and understand that this "bad thing" was part of God's DIVINE plan for our life.

        As time goes on, we experience so many new opportunities brought about by this "bad thing". We reflect on the state of happiness we are now experiencing. God filled our heart with an overwhelming sense of peace. None of this would be possible unless this "bad thing" happened. 

       We cried when it rained because we disliked the dark clouds. However, once we dried our tears, we saw the beautiful flowers that bloomed from the rain. We were struck with a startling epiphany. We realize the grass is greener on the other side... of the storm. 

         We ask ourselves, "How can it be a bad thing, if it brought so much good? " God allows "bad things" to happen, to show His sovereignty. God allows "bad things" to happen, so that we will realize that He alone is in control. God allows "bad things" to happen, so that we can use our story to testify to others of His goodness.

Never forget Genesis 50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." 

-MemoirsOfJazz (MOJ) 

Don't Pray and Worry

       Don’t pray and worry. How many times have we heard that phrase? And if you haven’t heard it before, allow me to introduce you. :) We may have heard this phrase many times, but how many of us actually apply it to our lives? This phrase comes from the scripture, “Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about everything.” (Philippians 4:6a) Oftentimes we find ourselves worrying about things. How am I going to pay for this? When am I going to be able to do that? Worrying about things you cannot control is pointless, because it does not change the situation. It only leads to frustration, bitterness and it drains your energy. Worrying about things you can control is
also pointless. Why waste time worrying, when you can go to God in prayer and He will help you overcome?
           Worrying makes the situation seem worse than it really is. Oftentimes we worry about something and then a few days or weeks down the road, we realize that things worked out just fine. Then we find something else to worry about. There has NEVER been a situation that God did not deliver you from. Think back to your worst situation. Did you die? NO. Did it break you? NO. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them ALL.” (Psalms 34:19) I love this scripture. It is such a peaceful thing to reflect on.

         So before you start to get worried about finals, your job, your partner or just life in general, remember to pray. God is able and willing to help you through any situation. There is nothing too big or too little for God to handle. You don’t have to pray a long prayer. You can just say a simple one like, “Jesus, I’m trusting you to help me with this situation. Please take away my worry. Amen.”

 

-MoJ (MemoirsofJazz)

Get Over Yourself

Sometimes we miss out on our blessings because we are too picky. We give God a list of how we want our blessings to come. We have a "type" and "preference" but we fail to remember that our "type" was what BROKE our hearts and our "preference" led us astray.

We keep telling the Potter what His masterpiece WANTS, when He's trying to give us what we NEED. We keep giving specifics to what we think we want, and we're ignoring the blessings right in our face. We let our pride and prejudices keep us from great things. We try to make our lives look glamorous to other people but have we forgotten that God sees it all?

Maybe if we stop fronting, we will connect with those who God sent into our lives. Maybe if we stop trying to build up our image, we will realize there are so many people like us. If we reject others because of their failure to measure up, we give God (and others), a reason to reject us because of our shortcomings. If God accepts it, what makes us think we are too good to accept it?

We claim that we don't judge, but then we handpick the people who get "the pleasure" of talking to us. Do we not remember that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God? (Romans 3:23) Are we not aware that everyone has a purpose in the kingdom of God?

Don't be the person who keeps you from your OWN blessing. Get OVER Yourself.

.:JRSN:.