Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Power to Prosper: 21 Day Financial Fast_ Day 1

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

A couple of weeks ago I started working on my 5-year life plan. As I looked at the areas of my life I wanted to set goals for I felt pretty good about all but one. My finances!!! I am going to go ahead and admit I am horrible with money. I spend, spend and think about the cost later on. So, I looked at the financial section of my 5-year life plan and thought I would save that portion for last. But in the last week, my finances have been at the top of my discussions with God. I feel trapped in debt, mad at myself for making so many bad choices, and really unsure of how to rein in my spending. How do I break myself out of this poor money management system or the lack of any system?
It was a couple of months ago that I picked up Michelle Singletary book “The Power To Prosper: 21 Days to Financial Freedom”. I read the Acknowledgements and the introduction chapter then put it down and did not pick it back up until it was time to return it back to the library. I have made myself become accustom to be in the library to write at least four days a week. While I was in the back waiting for something, I found myself standing next to the books on finances and again there was Michelle Singletary’s book. I looked at it and it looked at me…then something within me told me to pick it up and try again. So, I picked the book up again. Thinking to myself am I really going to be able to complete a 21 day financial fast, in which, I purchase nothing but the bare essentials. Am I even capable of doing something like this?
Not sure if I am capable but the next 21 days will tell me if I am capable of not spending money on anything but the bare essentials. In the book Michelle Singletary suggested we keep a journey and this will be my journey…you guys already know all my business anyway…why not take this journey with me. She also has an assignment at the end of each reading for the next 21 days.

21 Days to Go: Breaking Bonds
Main Point: We need to be set free from the bondage spending holds on our lives.
My Pledge: For the next twenty-one days, I will be on a spending diet. I will not shop for anything except necessities. I will not use my credit card. I will limit or eliminate the use of my debit card. I will use cash for purchases I make during the fast. In this way, I will strive to break the chains that keep me from achieving financial freedom.
Daily Assignment: Make a list of any potential obstacles that may prevent you from sticking to the fast and then decide how to eliminate them. For example, instead of putting your credit cards in a drawer or file cabinet, freeze them. Yes, that’s what I said. Put the cards in the freezer. That’s what one person did so that she wouldn’t be tempted to use her cards. If you are a shopaholic, you may need to change your driving pattern so that you don’t go near your favorite shopping places.
Take this pledge and then sign your name on the line below:
“I promise to follow the 21-day financial fast so that I may put myself on the path of prosperity and financial freedom.”
Ryane Belynda Nickens
My List:
Food- I go to the gym five days a week in between the timeframe of 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. each day and then to the library. According to the trainer I need to eat at least 5 small meals a day, which means I stop at local sandwich shop or fast food store to pick something up for lunch. For the next 21 days I will pack a lunch and snacks to take with me and eat that instead of going to a restaurant.
I Need-I living under the assumption that I need everything that I purchase, when in reality I know I do not. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to lead me in making the right financial choices over the next 21 days and everyday after that.

So, the journey begins…wish me luck!!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Open Letter

This is a short story I am working on called Open Letter. I pray you enjoy and look forward to hearing your thoughts on Open Letter.

It’s August 19, 2009 and I am home on a raining day with my over active imagination. For months I have been pondering over this letter. What do I say to someone I have never meet? How do I start this letter? Will you read it before we meet? Are just a few of the question in my mind? I often find myself thinking about you, wondering if we will ever meet. Wondering if you have those perfect brown eyes like a brown new penny fresh from the mint. Wondering if your smile fits the one I walk around with in my head. You know, one of those smiles that can make a girl melt. If your touch would cause me to forget where I am, of course, these are all physical attributes.

Yes, a physical attracting is important but I really need a spiritual connection with you also. I wonder about your relationship with our awesome Heavenly Father. What are your favorite bible verses? What songs do you sing to encourage yourself in the Lord? Where are you on your spiritual journey with the Lord?

I wrote this prayer to God about you a couple of years back then I went and updated it back on August 20, 2008, so this is the eve of the one year anniversary of my updated prayer to God concerning you. As you can see, we have not cross paths yet. I believe we have not met yet because God is still working on the both of us. He is making sure we are both ready for one another. You see if I have some issues, some things God needs to get rid of before we meet. I know you probably are being transformed too, which is my prayer. Yes, I do pray for you! Not that God would send me a husband but I pray for your strength, career, comfort, success, family, peace, joy and I pray God will keep you while we are apart. That He would also keep you when we are together. It is easy to pray for a husband but I do not just want to pray for a husband I want to pray for the husband God has specific for me, I believe that is you. So instead of praying for a husband I pray for your needs to be met and God will give you the desires of your heart.

I mentioned earlier that I have some issues, yes, even though I would love to say, I’m perfect, I have to admit that I am only close to perfection. I am a daddy’s girl. No old lawds!!! Yes, I am spoiled, yes, I am a spoiled little brat. Sometimes I just want what I want, which, I know you have guessed it. I can also be stubborn at times when I do not get it. My mom says I get it from my dad but truth be told I get it from the both of them. I know how to compromise a little. I am still learning though. I will get it. Hey, I have been a spoiled little daddy’s girl for over 30 years so it is going to take a little while for me to get through this thing. I can be a little stuck-up at times, a tidbit lazy at times, and I procrastinate a lot and sometimes I just want to be left alone.

With all my faults, I can honestly say, you will never find a bigger supporter than me. While I can be a little spoiled and self-centered at times, I will always encourage you to be the man God purposed and anointed you to be. I will never put my own needs ahead of yours. I will stand by you and be the wife God has called me to be. I do not just want to be your wife I want to be your best-friend and lover.

In this prayer letter I wrote to God I asked that you be a believer in Jesus Christ. That you be rooted in the Word of God. That you be a God fearing man and not a man I have to put the fear of God in. That you not just be a hearer of the Word but also a doer of the Word! That you would be a man who would give God his time, talent and treasure for the up building of God’s Kingdom! That you would be a man who would be filled with the fruits of the spirit. That you would be strong and firm but still have a gentleness about yourself. That you would be someone who is able to admit when he is wrong. That you would be a compassionate, comforting, affectionate, patient, honest, disciplined, faithful, honorable man who I could share my life with. These are just a few of the things I prayed God will instill in you.

As your friend, wife and lover I will be the woman God has called me to be. I will submit to you, as you submit to Christ Jesus. I will honor you, in your presence and when I am not in your presence. I will display the fruits of the spirit in our courtship and marriage. I will be the wife God has called me to be. I will be honest, considerate, compassionate, comforting, affectionate, patient, faithful, and a honorable woman to you.

See I am not asking you to do or be anything I myself am not willing to do. So, as I wait for you. I plan to keep myself from this day forth, not allowing any other man entry into what has been predestined for you. I plan to keep myself for you from this day forward because it is what God requires and it is my act of love for you. While I will not be a virgin when we marry, you will be the last man to every touch me sexually. It gets hard sometimes during this waiting period but I pray my anxious will not overtake me. I pray you will do the same.

I love you and can’t wait to the day we are join together in holy matrimony.

God Bless You
Your Future Friend, Wife and Lover

This is just freaking brilliant, Melody, I mean it has heart, it has compassion, and who really thinks to write an open letter to their future husband. I heard my literary agent Lindsay say as I stood in absolute horror as she read my very personal letter to the future husband I was starting to believe will never come.

Lindsay, I thought you where in here making calls, why are you reading my personal journal entries. It is personal! It’s something that is just between me, God and the other person I wanted to read it. I found myself saying to what I knew was a brick wall that could not be torn down. I knew Lindsay had already made up in her little overworked Starbuck invested mind she was going to try and sell this to a magazine or newspaper. I had to find a way to talk her out of this. I mean the letter read like some desperate church girl letter. How could I leave me journal open? I must be a glutton for punishment. What in the heck am I going to do, there is no way I am going to let her try and sell this letter.
Earth to Melody, earth to Melody…is anyone home.

Lindsay, you can not sell this letter to anyone. It is personal for Christ sake. It is between me and my future husband. No one else! Come on Lindsay, can I wrote something to keep for myself, must I always be an open book to my readers. Gosh, I mean I share almost everything with them, they know when I am cramping, they know when I am anger, they know when am I broke, I mean they know almost everything about me.

My sweet, sweet Melody, hun, as your agent, you have not written anything close to this good in a minute. Melody, think about it for a second honey, think about all the lonely women at there praying to God for a husband, waiting on the Lord to answer their prayers. When they read the great Christian writer Melody Sweets is in the same position as they are, yes, she is beautiful and brilliant but she has the same struggles as they have as single Christian women. You know your readers would eat this right up and with that slick smile of hers she adds, who knows you may just get a husband out of this.

The purpose of the letter Lindsay was that my future husband would read it on the eve of our wedding and know I was thinking about him specific before we were joined together by our God. It is not for a brunch of lonely Christian women, God bless their lonely selves but I am tired of being there motivation, there example of everything Godly in a women. I mean dang, can I keep anything for myself!!!

While, my dear, if you do not come up with some good material I can submit to magazines and newspapers soon or finish your book, you will have a cardboard box you may keep to yourself while you sleep under the South Capitol Street bridge!

Did you have to go there?

Yes, you need to get off your high horse and start letting me submit some of these journal entries. I float the central idea of a lot of your journal entries around to some of my friends and associate in the industry, they think it is very good, in fact, one major newspaper is looking for a Christian writer to be open and honest about their walk with Christ.