Every Wednesday Night we are at Mocha Brown's Coffee Lounge for  Open Mic... Come see us and have a good time at 428 W Waters Ave. Showtime is 9 PM.

I have heard that so many times. It probably is the hardest thing to get started... Changing your everyday routine can be challenging.... But how many of us have started something and didn't finish it. The hardest thing for me is to listen to GOD and start at the right time.

6 years ago I started a spoken word ministry at the church I was attending. It was called Poetic4JESUS. My mission was to take GOD where is not normally acknowledged. I wanted to build a troupe and send them to open MIC nights and show to do performances that were spiritually based. Great idea huh. I was performing every first Sunday. I was going to a few churches and performing. But to no avail, I had no troupe and I didn't have the means to go to different open MIC nights myself because I have child care issues. I approached people, but they didn't want to do it. Some even said that they couldn't perform like I could. I offered to write the pieces and coach them, but no one wanted to do it. So, I thought, it wasn't meant to be. I'd started something that appeared to be awesome, but I lacked the drive, the people, or resources to accomplish that task. I was so discouraged, but the passion for spoken word and performing never died. It just fizzled a little.

Now, I have the babysitter. I have a little more confidence. Now I have people coming to me wanting to work with me to accomplish things that I'd only imagined secretly and kept hidden in the recesses of my heart. Some of the things that I desired to do and never told anyone about are coming to happen or very close to it. I'm very grateful for that. I realized that all the things that are happening now couldn't have happened 6 years ago. I wasn't ready. I wouldn't have been able to handle it. I wasn't conditioned enough to take on the task and challenges involved to make the best of it. I now know that. But before, I was stuck thinking that I had failed at a dream that I'd always wanted to accomplish. As long as I'm breathing, I'm believing that GOD put this gift in my grasp to do something awesome with it. I'm proud that he chose me for certain task. And although sometimes it can be scary (just a little) and I have a long way to go, it is something that He made intricately for me. So, I push on with that mind set. I study more. I pray more. I work more (and harder). I push harder. So that in the end I can look back and say, this way the right time to start, look at all I have accomplished.

So, it is hard to start something that you have always done! I think the hardest thing to do sometimes is to be consistent with it. Granted, don't put it off! But, pray for the discernment to know when is your time to start. The task may be hard, but the reward is great. If it is something that has been pressing on you to do, do it! The desire will never go away, but opportunities may pass. You can do it. It will be worth it. It will make you happy if it is meant to be.

For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

I was sitting at work listening to someone today. She asked a male coworker a question and when responded favorably, questioned it. She said, “ For real. What do you really think?”I sat there in awe of that fact that she couldn’t accept the positive comment… I saw myself in that situation. Some of us are so used to hearing the negative that we automatically condition ourselves for the “blow”. But when the positive comes, we question it. Why do that? That’s not how GOD works. That’s not how we should be; in constant expectation of that negative blow. Granted, I do agree with that saying, Expect the best, but prepare for the worst (or even better, Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.), but I know the best is yet to come so I will expect it!Now, I have been that way for a very long and sometimes it’s hard to shake.

I ALWAYS expected the worse, even if it’s in the back of my mind. Sometimes I revert back to that and still do if just for a quick minute. That is one of the most stressful minutes of my life! The good thing is, I’m pushing it further and further to the back of my mind and I’m finding comfort in God. I’m learning to trust him more. I’m getting prepared for the better things as I decide to give better things. If I believed all the negativity I would be stuck in the same position. I see my progress because I see my progression. Although it is tough, it is well worth it. Even on the toughest days, it is well worth it!I have an Open Mic Night that I host on Wednesdays. I’ve only been doing it since the end of February, so it’s still growing. 

Last night, we had one person in there.  (Probably since there was a tropical storm brewing in the gulf)a night, but 3 people came it. We did a show. It was good. As soon as the 3 people were leaving, 4 people came in….  They’ve driven across the bridge to come to the show so…… We had another show.  That was one of the best shows I’ve had so far. It was empowering and impactful.  I was able to push myself to limits I didn’t know I could conquer. And the last crowd was amazing. Last night, I expected the worse and experience one of my best!!!!!!  I’m thankful for that! Keep pushing… things are bound to happen. Just believe in yourself and most importantly your source!(And the person I had at the door said that no one would come! God sent a troupe of good people to share this awesome time with me!)

So that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:5