FINE LINE BETWEEN PERSISTANCE &ALLOWING YOUR PLAN
Growing up in church, there was a phrase that I always heard from the elders: “Let go and let God.” I took this to mean something superficial, but never had to apply it to life. Through reading more into the bible and other books I soon forgot this phrase. One day when reading Proverbs 19:21-23, I found a passage that sums up the struggle that you may encounter when achieving something great for no journey is uneventful. These verses by my interpretation say “Many are the plans in a (wo)man’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails. If you guide your life in the fear of the Lord, that one lies untouched by trouble.” If you think about a small task such as making a road trip to a far destination, you plan for the trip by first mapping your route, preparing your car for no breakdowns with oil changes, ensuring a full tank of gas, making snacks, etc. You think that you have prepared for every unexpected event, however, 1/3 of the way you run over a sharp object and have a flat tire and the nearest help is not available for hours. Your first thoughts are about how much you have prepared and how did this happen. Are you patient enough to wait for your help? Will you use your spare tire? Will you give up? You make think in anger, who had the idea to take a road trip in the first place?
Instead of a road trip imagine this is your career goal. Since the age of eight, my goal was to become a dentist and provide the best care to all people especially those that normally do not have access to care. Even though my academic record reflected my abilities I still received discouragement from others. At these moments the phrase “let go and let God” replayed in my head as I tried to forget and forgive and stay focused on my plan. In dental school, the negativity (or what we call a “hater”) was more present than ever. Not only were there negative comments, but also attempts to ruin my dream. Instead of letting go, I let whatever was there come in whether it was doubt, negative comments, discouragement or depression. HERE COMES MY FLAT TIRE and my help may take more than a few hours. I failed my first class and debated whetherit is possible to recuperate. I began to question whether these comments were signs from above that possibly I am pursuing something that I wanted versus what is planned for me.
With soul searching I had to determine whether I was working toward the plan God had for me or the plan that I created myself. I realized that this is what I wanted but was what God wanted? Through service work in dentistry, I noticed that many people—minorities, poor—were neglected from care, and those providing care were just providing any care because “these people” are lucky to have them there. Then in the wake of more violence among children and a lower educational expectation of my future children’s generation I knew that a minority female’s presence was necessary to influence and encourage success for them. I realized that the Lord’s plan for me was to be a dentist and I have to still pursue my dream but trust in the Lord because it is His plan for me and He warrant its fulfillment. I was focused on my own success and forgot that I do not fully control my journey. I also began to realize that I needed to go through this tribulation as part of His plan as well to appreciate my blessing so far. At the moment I am still in dental school and am on track to graduate. The experience has strengthened my faith, but also strengthened my mindset toward the negativity and the idea of failure. My advice for those pursuing anything is to dream big and at the first or second or even third “flat tire” know that there is always a spare with faith.
Romans 5:3b-5 …we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulations works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Celia Mimms read more...

Okay, so I just wanted to say that I really LOVE Mama Neesha, she called me and texted me at around 4a.m. Monday morning! Of course Riaasa wasn’t awake, but as usual I heard the famous words….Rise and Shine Ri! Well, I wasn’t ready to rise and definitely wasn’t about to open the curtains in my dorm to see the sun…lol. read more...

College Week! This week we will be fearturing college students, my own children and some of my daughters best friends who I consider my own children! Enjoy their journey. Starting off with my beautiful oldest daughter Kristen Maria Stringfellow, now “21′ AND SUCH A BLESSING!
Best Years of my Life???
When I entered college in 2007, I had no idea of all the things i didn’t know. I came in with a barely 18 high school teenager mindset. I had not a care in the world, but little did I know this would be one of the most crucial times in my life. My Auntie Shanna told me before I came to college that, “this would be one of the best times of my life”, and now four years later I look back and wonder do I feel that way. This was definitely a very important part of my life. Throughout my years at Illinois State I’ve learned some very important things. Lessons that will stick with me for the rest of my life, that couldn’t be taught in a classroom, but only through experience. Not the type of experience where you put yourself in compromising situations, but just the experience of Life.
The first lesson I learned was to TRUST GOD. Everyone knows how finances can be an issue, but God has provided non stop since the day I entered college, and I have learned to trust Him for myself, and there is no better feeling. With help from my parents, grandparents and my whole family, I have never gone hungry or been out of school due to financial issues. My heart is so grateful to them and ultimately to God for making a way.
Another important lesson I learned was how to love myself for who I was and not depend on an outer appearance or the approval of others. By sophomore year I had gained about 30 pounds and lost all my hair. It was a very difficult and humbling time for me, and yet I had to believe that I was still beautiful, because I was made in the image of God, and the woman he created me to be was much more than physical features. From that lesson I learned that there was much more for me to learn in order for me to become the woman God wanted me to be. I had to “learn how to learn”. I learned who I was and I became very in tune with my flaws as well as my positive attributes. I learned to distinguish flaws that were just apart of me and flaws that I had made apart of me. For example being selfish and self centered when it was never about me to begin with.
Another hard lesson I had to learn was that in my journey to be who God wants me to be doesn’t involve ANYONE but me and God, and he will remove, and strip, and pry anyone and everyone who may get in the way of keeping my mind stayed on him.
So by now I am a junior in college and I have the basics down, my relationship with God has grown, and I am feeling confident in who I am and what I represent. God still required more. This was the year I started to make the very “unsmooth” transition into being a woman and not a young woman. I am not claming to have made it now, but this was definitely the start of me never being the same again. I learned that being a woman involves a lot of hard work and a lot of prayer. It is a constant press every single day to grow and learn and apply things to your life. God doesn’t make mistakes, and things do not happen by accident. I can honestly say I am grateful for who I am and the things I’ve experienced. So, now in my senior year I look back and hear the words of my Auntie Shanna telling me, “College will be the best years of your life Kris”. Naturally speaking if these were the best years of my life….. boy how I’m NOT looking forward to the rest of my life, but spiritually speaking… These years have shaped and molded me. These years have taught me things that will forever be embedded in me, good, bad, and indifferent. Without these years I wouldn’t even be able to appreciate the blessing I have ahead of me that Im so sure God has in store. So, can I say that these were the best years of my life… Yes, because they were years that I wont ever forget, and that have started my Womanhood. read more...

Today I chose to be transparent, probably too transparent but here it goes. Yesterday at 5:12 am I was heading out my bedroom on my way down the stairs to work, and yes I made it down all thirteen stairs without using my feet. Such a horrible fall, very painful, fell face first. Needless to say I am pretty bruised up and waiting patiently for my face to go back to normal. I am having severe headaches which constantly remind me of my fall. Thanks be unto God for no broken bones, no internal bleeding and no serious head injury, however even as I rejoice, my body has told me I need to rest and let it heal from the trauma. If anybody who reads this post knows me, you know I was ready to get up and go back to work today, but my body told me something different. So today, I sit and write this post with revelation, when you have been through an accident and you live to tell the story on this side, it is meant for you to take some time to reflect, relax, and slow down. Everybody’s recovery time is different due to the type of injury or their own body. Everyone is different and does not go through things the same, some need more rest than others.
As I tried to rest last night it was difficult, my mind constantly reviewed the fall so I would wake up shaking. Wes finally prayed for me I released it and was able to sleep. This morning I have not forgotten but I am obedient and I am resting.
I am sharing all of this with purpose, in life, we all fall down but we get up. When Pastor Donnie Mcclurkin wrote this song, it went off the musical charts. As christians we all make mistakes and fall, some fall harder than others, but it is important that when we get up we go through the necessary steps to recover and recover well.
A lot of us like to think we can jump up and start back doing what we always have done before the fall. I think just as in the natural, you need to get a check up, examination, and take some time to heal properly, its the same way in our spiritual walk. We have read many stories lately in the media of our leadership all over the world falling. We all have a prescription of what we think should happen, and what the remedies should be but truly all we can do is pray, and hope that people take the advice of the spiritual doctors. Take some time to recover and heal. Trust me people have enough pain that is going on inside their minds and hearts without everyone telling them what they wouldv shouldv done. My God loves us unconditionally and is just waiting for us to ask Him to help us to get up. At this moment we can begin to rest and be reassured that only His comfort can help us get through trying times. Only the Heavenly Father can heal the broken bruises and injuries that have taken place from the fall. A lot of us need to examine what caused us to fall in thefirst place. I realized that yesterday, moving too fast, having so much on my mind and not casting my cares totally on the LOrd didnot help matters. I had joy in my heart like every other morning but I just was moving little to fast. How many of us don’t take the time to rest. To recover from yesterday, or yesterdays, we just keep it moving. Most importantly, make sure there is no pride in your heart, for proverbs tells us, ….pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall……. Definitley make sure you remain humble as you heal and recieve the mercy of God. Ask yourself today, is there rest I need today or in this season? Am I on a fast forward pace and have not taken the time to get replenished and healed. Let us examine our natural walk and our spiritual journey and make sure that we have turned everything over to the Father.
I have today, then again I don’t have a choice……God bless you today as we take some time to reflect on where you have been and where you are going. It is true, We all fall down, and we Must get Up! Just realize there is a recovery time after you get up.
Ask the Lord what it is!
WIth Grace and Love
Neesha read more...