What do you want out of life? Pretty intense question to start off with, but let’s be honest. What is it you really want? Do you want better health? Do you want a new job? Do you want to travel more? Sometimes we go through life wanting many things, and we never once get them. I’d like to suggest that sometimes it’s because of our own doing…or should I say lack of doing. Not to get on you too hard, but with all the things you want, which of them have you truly worked towards? You want a new job, but have you applied? You want to be healthy, but have you started a healthy diet or exercise? Please tell me you’ve done something to prepare for your blessings.

I recently heard a sermon at church and the preacher stated that preparing takes faith. And we all know faith without works is dead. I’ve been looking for a job more suited for me recently, so I have been trying to stay in tune with the spirit. When you ask God for direction, your spiritual eyes and ears have to be open. I had already applied for the job and had my first interview, so it was a waiting game from there. I even wrote my resignation letter out. But in order to show God I heard “get ready” in the spirit, I began to buy office clothes. You see, I’ve been working from home for over 3 years and didn’t really have many office clothes. I began to buy pieces to put together with what I already had. Seems small, but I was getting prepared for my blessing. That took faith and faith is an action word.

I know some people are going to wonder how I elevated so quickly. The answer is simple, GOD. This is a God thing. I believe God has been setting me up for elevation for a year now. Ever since I heard in the spirit I was in a spiritual warfare, I’ve been trying to get right so I can withstand the attacks of the enemy. I went from not knowing a thing about my current field 6 months ago, to now being a customer success manager. Normally you need YEARS of experience, but let me tell you this: God qualifies. In my opinion, favor is fair. God gives favor to whoever he pleases. And I’m just glad I get to serve such a faithful God. So for the year of 2025, our proclaimed year of ABUNDANCE, take action. Your blessing is around the corner. Are you willing to take the steps to get to it? Be Sweet.

My black, your black either way it’s majestic

We fight back when the world tends to get hectic

They want us to back down and want to watch us burn

But they forgot that we know our history and we have learned

No one can stop the greatness that comes from within our heart

The dreams, our goals, the passion is only just the start

We love deep, we never stop, we try to fight for what’s right

Even when we’re knocked down, gunned down we still fight with all of our might

To show the world, we’re not backing down no matter what they do

So buckle up ugly world, we’re taking back power just to show you

I choose life. I bet you’re thinking “duh.” Who would choose the opposite? You would think no one, but there are more ways to not necessarily live life to the fullest and to me, that’s the opposite of life. It’s not death, but it’s not a full life. I always liked the saying of don’t just be alive, LIVE. Our church theme for 2025 is an abundant life, and that’s what I’m expecting from the Lord. 2024 started off rough with an awful job, situationships, lack of peace, and full out attack from the devil. I clearly heard the Holy Spirit say I was in spiritual warfare. But the second part of the year was God showing me that He’s merciful and gives rest after I’ve stood the test of time.

It’s a new year and this is when people have all of these goals and plans to be better. Most are mocked for their “new year, new me” attitude, but don’t let the haters phase you. If you want to be a new person, go for it. Most times the only thing stopping us is us. I can say that I’m ready for a new journey in life. If yall know me, you’d know that I’m always ready for something bigger and better. And no, I’m not moving again! Lol. I know yall thought it. I’m just ready for a breakthrough that only God can give. I’m in a place in life where I don’t want to do anything I don’t want to do. I’ve settled in the past in many areas and it got me in a bind. I don’t want to be that Monica ever again. Some lessons you learn the hard way and once you do, you don’t want to go at it again.

Most of you know I am working in a brand new field. It’s been a long ride, and I can say it’s been very interesting and informative. I’ve learned about things I would have never known, plus met some awesome people in the company. I wish they knew how helpful they have been for my new experience. But I have to come to realize I have a purpose and even though this job isn’t my passion, I have gained some knowledge and transferable skills for what’s next. When you work at something that’s not your passion, it can wear you down. I don’t want to spend a lot of time in the wrong place. My time is precious and my goals are in place to align with God’s will. I heard the Holy Spirit as clear as day on Sunday about my next steps in life. You want to make sure you always have your spiritual eyes and ears open.

One thing that life has taught me is that’s it should be progress over perfection. I haven’t always gotten life right. Who has, except Jesus? Giving myself GRACE is a crucial part of life because God gave it to me, so granting it to myself is essential. Every day I wake up with the goal of being better than the day before. I literally pray daily for God to “help me get it right today.” 2025 is about getting off my lazy tail and going after every blessing that God places in front of me. Yeah, some goals won’t be fully met, but I’m still going to try. I know it’s starting off rough with the political drama, but just like with anything else you have to protect your peace. Not saying it’s not important, but it can sidetrack you if you get consumed. This is not the time to get off track. In fact, this is the time more than ever to press in and ensure you’re on the right path. Write your goals down, but more importantly, start working towards them. Don’t just be alive, live your BLESSED life! You owe it to yourself to succeed and live in abundance. Be sweet.

I can hear my grandmother now saying, “I can show you better than I can tell you.” I’m sure many of you who grew up in the South have heard some variation of this phrase, especially if you grew up in a black household. I never realized how many wild and funny sayings I had until I moved to Los Angeles. My coworkers would laugh at my many old grandmother-like statements, hearing things for the first time and still knowing exactly what I meant. Another one I like is “you don’t believe that fat meat is greasy.” To sum it up, it means that you will get to really see the reality or true colors of what/who you picked. And after the election results, this is a statement I want to make sure I say now before the chaos starts.

When I was a teacher assistant at an elementary school years ago, I had to work in the lunchroom with about 100 students at a time. I like to compare it to hell on earth. Lol. No, but seriously, it was a jungle! Anyway, I would let them scream til their heart’s content and then reel it back in before the roof blew off. Some would see me reaching for that microphone to say quiet down and would fall in line, while others would be ready to test my gangsta. It only took them a little while to see that once you go too far, I’d have my phone out already dialing up their parents. It was a mess around and find out kind of situation. Well, I said all of that to say, yall played around and let this egomaniac get back into office and now you’re about to find out.

Although I’m livid that VP Kamala Harris will not be the next president, I’m waiting for the craziness that is going to begin starting today. Like they say to the kids, you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. We’ve already seen a fit on that January 6th date, but the “payback” mentality from Trump is going to be overwhelming this go round. America has basically given him the ammunition to do whatever he wants! I’m not even a true political person like that, but I’m invested now. I am going to keep tally of the foolery that is to come and be the first to say “no fits” as the countless occurrences roll in. Maybe then and only then will y’all realize the real character of Trump and the danger he is to true democracy. So sit back, buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. I can hear the screams from the roller coaster now….

Recently, the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me concerning my spiritual gift. I’m no longer in the mental health field, but I’ve joined the intake team at my church for those who join the church and are looking to give their lives to Christ. In actuality, I’ve always wanted to be in a role like this because I believe that helping others with their spiritual needs is a huge responsibility and I know that I can do it. It’s not that I’m such a Saint or biblical scholar, but it’s because I know that I have a purpose and this is a part of it. So last Sunday when I was in the room full of candidates getting prayer, it was an amazing site to see majority black women, who look just like me, in spiritual warfare on behalf of others.

Black women have always been a safe place, where people feel they can be loved. But on the other end of the spectrum, black women are the most disrespected out of their counterparts. It’s funny, because I’ve heard people tell their children if they ever get lost, find a black mother and you’ll more than likely be safe. Nevertheless, still we’re constantly undermined and overlooked. I can say that the love and support of a black woman has helped me personally so I have to thank them. Of course, this blog is in lieu of the presidential election tomorrow. After months of hearing and seeing absolutely awful things about Vice President Kamala Harris, I just had to say something positive. It’s much needed because we have been bad mouthed for so long that we’ve developed thick skin, but it can get tiring.

It’s no secret who I’m voting for, or rather who I’ve already voted for in this election. This isn’t a post to debate political views, it’s one to hone in on the amazing characteristics of a black woman. After all, a black woman raised me. I had 2 wonderful black grandmothers, not to mention black aunts and cousins who were an integral part of raising me. And although I’m not perfect, I’m the better for it that they helped me over the years. My black girlfriends, my black sorority sisters, my black lady church friends, black “girl pastor,” and many others have been an excellent influence and example of how I want to be in life. This may not be my most deep blog, but it’s one that means a lot to me. If no one else loves and thanks a black woman, I surely do.

No matter what happens in the election, I’m filled with joy that a black woman has gotten elected as Vice President and in the running for presidency. It gives me so much hope and joy not only for myself, but for my friends, my family, my niece, my future daughters. Seeing VP Kamala is a blessing for many generations to come. She represents the strong willed, educated, hardworking black women who refuse to give up. She represents for the sorority girls, the college girls, the ones who push past the limits and doesn’t acknowledge the ceiling because she’s pushed past it to go to higher heights. In essence, if you haven’t seen her hard work even before being in the White House and how far she has come and not been in awe, you’re probably a hater. Lol. This is the time more than ever to extend a thank you to any black woman who has even encouraged you, redirected you, or got you told for your good. Thank you to my black women, you are more than deserving of the best life has to offer! So in the words of my black Granny, Be Sweet.

Tadpoles gave me the Holy Ghost. I bet you’re thinking that I’ve finally lost my mind. No, I was reminiscing on my baptism. I had a very public baptism in a small town in Tennessee in a dirty pond by the church. There were tadpoles and I could feel them tickling me, so I just imagine that everyone assumed it was the Holy Ghost moving. Well, the Spirit was surely moving, but so were the tadpoles! Where were you baptized? I ask because I recently joined the new members intake team at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. During the training, we were asked to take our minds back a few years to remember our experience to becoming a child of God. Without a doubt, it is the Most Important decision a Christian will make.

As many of you know, I’m no longer a mental health counselor. After 10 years of the mental health field, I find myself in a brand new career. I’m now a healthcare advocate and it’s a totally new subject matter and it’s hard. It was by God’s grace that I got this job, because I didn’t even apply for the job. After being laid off from my EAP job, my old supervisor put in a word for me and I got an interview the next week. I got the job the week after…FAVOR! I’m in a new season of my life and I’m a living witness that starting over at a late age is possible. You do remember from my past blogs that I’m on my 4th life! Lol. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be in life.

I’ve had this blog half written for weeks. My mind has been going back and forth on what to say, but today the Holy Spirit dealt with me to just write it. Someone needs a word from the Lord through my testimony. One of my favorite preachers came to my church last week and reminded me that the Lord can use your mistakes to get you where you need to be. I have said plenty of times how my last relationship was a lapse of judgment and one of my biggest mistakes. Well, in the spirit of healing from that trauma, I realize that it was for my growth. You see, without that awful encounter, I would have never moved to Houston. I was on my way back to Cali baby, but I’m so glad God derailed my plans!

One scholar says that “life is lived forward, but understood backwards.” In other words, hindsight is 20/20. It didn’t feel good going through the hard times, but it was for my development. No pain, no gain! And now I’m in this big new city and I truly enjoy it. I promised God when I got a job that I was off on weekends that I would be active in the church. I’m not used to being a pew member, so my first mind was to do what I’ve always done, which was join the choir. But when I learned about the counseling ministry, I was intrigued. But due to a delay in getting the ministry back up and running, I was told I’d be a great candidate for the new members intake team. After not hearing any updates on the training, I was going to give up and just join the choir. But something inside me was telling me that I needed to do something different and come out of my comfort zone.

In the training, it was presented to us as being frontline workers in the church. We would be Decision Counselors, helping those who are not just in need of a church home, but coming to Christ wanting to be saved. I’ll say, mental health is important, but spiritual wellbeing is so much more important. Jesus did say we were supposed to be fishers of men, so being able to directly use my gift of encouragement for the building of His Kingdom seems like a great thing. We all have our spiritual gifts and the key to utilizing those gifts is to remember they are for others. I look back and realize that my layoff was so I could do God’s work. If I’m being honest, I could have never done EAP counseling and being a decision counselor, I was in a bad state of compassion fatigue. I was over people’s problems, so something had to change and fast!

The sermon today at New Life of Memphis by Dr. Linda Willis and the sermon at my new church by guest speaker Dr. Elaine Flake really touched my spirit. The Holy Spirit will prick your heart and make you move when you’re dragging your feet. One sermon was entitled “Don’t Miss This Catch” and the other was “Do You Understand The Assignment?” Together I heard in the spirit, don’t miss this opportunity to try again in a new city doing what I’ve called you to do. This new assignment will not only be a blessing to you, but also one for God’s people, so please understand how impactful it can be. It’s time for me to stop thinking of only self, but allow God to use me for the betterment of His Kingdom. Here I am Lord, I’m ready!

53 days of not working! Looking at that, most people would think it’s a bad thing, but God made it to where I had peace in that time. Not just regular peace, but perfect peace. The Bible says that God will give us peace that goes beyond our understanding. That’s exactly what I got and I’m so glad to tell of His goodness. I still remember getting the news of being laid off and how I shed a few tears, but then a peace like never before came over me. It felt like a weight was lifted off of me and I’ve been happy ever since.

I’ve been in spiritual warfare since around April or May of this year. I remember asking God one day why I was going through so much a few months back, and I heard “spiritual warfare” in the spirit. I knew then that I couldn’t break! I promised myself that this year would be better than last, so I started praying for strength to endure this test. I know some people don’t believe in all of this, but this blog is for the REAL believers. Ones who understand that we can be tested and the enemy can try to bring us down, but if we have faith in GOD, we can overcome adversity. God has never failed me before, so I knew this would be a victory story.

As stated in my last blog, I got laid off one week and got a new job the next. I actually got offered 2 jobs and had to make a decision about which would be better. The time I’ve had to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate have been absolutely amazing! I’m so excited about the future because I know who holds the future. When it comes to this Christian journey, we have to believe that we will win. My faith was tested, and I can honestly say God showed up and showed out. Miracles, signs, and wonders are what I expected and that’s what happened. I just pray that my story that gives God glory can allow others to believe for themselves. God never fails…try Him for yourself today.

Let my prayer requests become praise reports. That’s the prayer I prayed the week before I got laid off from work. One thing about God, He works in mysterious ways and you have to trust His plan. Who would have thought after I literally prayed for something new to happen coming off my 5 day vacation that I would be laid off from my job of 3 years? Not me! And yet, somehow I felt a weight lifted off of my spirit and inner peace instantly. Truth be told, I didn’t care for that job and it didn’t quite fit my personality and goals for myself. It just took this particular act to get me to move…divine agitation at its finest. And now I have a new job within weeks of my lay off. Someone cue the shouting music!

For the past year, I’ve been writing my “Let there be…” messages in my planner. God said those words and things came about. We have that same power of the tongue as children of God, so I’ve been consistent with the things I want to come into fruition. Funny enough, the day before I got the call that my job had been terminated, I wrote “Let there be a NEW JOB.” I actually laughed and said this was just God doing what He does and went from there. I wrote that vision quite plainly. When you ask God for something, you can’t put Him in a box and expect it a certain way. When you say any way you bless me, you have to truly trust God because He will do it His way.

I read somewhere that worry is a slap in God’s face, and I surely don’t want God to think that after all of these years of being His child, that I don’t even have a mustard seed size of faith. As a matter of fact, God has opened so many doors in my life (and my loved ones) that my faith should be beyond a mustard seed. I went from a lay off to a new job within a matter of weeks. There’s not one person that can make me doubt the power of God! If He can do it for me, I hope you know now He can do it for you too. The Lord took me out of a position that was stressful and potentially causing me to be physically ill to a new thing. Great is thy faithfulness. Keep praying for me in my new season, and I’ll surely pray for you. Note: I wrote this blog the same week I got my lay off notice, knowing in faith that I’d get a new job! Be Sweet.

Life is much like flying on an airplane. You may hit some turbulence and feel like its twists and turns are going end up disastrous. But the thing we can’t see is how the pilot is maneuvering in the cockpit to ensure our safety to our destinations. God is the same way. He allows the turbulence, but we forget we have The Pilot who can bring us to safety if we only trust Him. Many of you know I had a ROUGH time getting to Las Vegas for my family reunion. My flight got cancelled, the second time I paid for another flight it didn’t go through and they still took money out of my account. Then I had to pay well over $500 to finally get on a flight. I almost gave up, but if you know me, I’m persistent and I NEEDED a vacation.

One thing about Monica, she’s a fighter. I push through and the theme for this year was “Bounce Back.” Last year was a bit wild, but I didn’t break and I’m surely not going to let a rough time at the airport stop me from much needed vacation time. I truly enjoyed time with my family. The second I saw my parents at the airport, I felt relieved. Then the more family I saw at the airport, I was almost in tears of happiness. I’m so emotional! Lol. I feel like I had a good bond with many people at this family reunion. I’m pretty much Ricky Bentley (and Ruby Bentley) because I can talk and I like to mix and mingle. I think I asked who was related to who and how about 20 times. I think I got it down now.

I’m very thankful for my family and how everyone asked about me and if I was okay from the airport fiasco. It’s a blessing to have people who care about you and they actually show it. I had a wonderful time just laughing and talking. And I was humbled when I thought I could hang and go to a party that started late. I’m getting old…or as they say, seasoned. I’m ready for the next reunion in Nashvegas, which I am very familiar with. So family, next reunion please make sure you remember this very important thing…it’s Marcus, not Sha! Be Sweet.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve never liked a bully. When I was in elementary school, I was always the one taking up for people. I didn’t care how awkward they were, I always believed that no one should be looked down on or mistreated. And heaven forbid if anyone thought they could bully me. Most of my peers thought I was a little feisty as a kid, even through my shy ways. My bark was probably bigger than my bite, but no one ever tried it. It’s no wonder that I went into counseling and social work careers to help people in need. I like to advocate for the ones who feel like they have been silenced, so it’s no wonder that I will always do that for myself.

I’ll give a brief back story for those who are new to my blogs. Although I’m a very spiritual person, I’m very down to earth and very honest. With that being said, the last 3 years have been the worst of my life. I know people don’t like to say things like that and yes my motto is that “I Didn’t Break” but I’m honest. I have to say it for this blog because it paints a picture that through it all, I’m a fighter. I’ve realized something about myself that made me feel a lot better this year: I Never Give Up! I was able to get out of a very awful situation last year with a very toxic person, take a breather with loved ones back home, and then set out on a totally different life in a brand new city. I’m not afraid of anything or anybody. The perks of being a child of God.

Now that you know that much, I have to say that the last few weeks have been hell. The devil sent his goons to bother me, but I was armed and dangerous. You see, I stay prayed up and I’m always getting spiritually fed to withstand the wiles of the devil. I was at peace and just floating until recently when a bully tried to get at me. Now why would they do that to me, the crazy church girl? Don’t they know I have angel armies encamped around me? I’m sure they do now. You see, there’s no way I’m going to let anyone talk down to me, discourage me, or mess with me making a living. I stay ready!

All of the details aren’t necessary, but I will say that I’m so glad that I understand the power of speaking up. I was praying earlier this week and the Holy Spirit just screamed, “this is spiritual.” I’ve been remembering that I’m empowered and can speak victory into my own life. I even sowed a seed offering for my situation. I also had lots of loved ones standing in the gap for me and I’m very appreciative. My coworkers are also awesome, but one in particular made me smile and write this blog. Man, you said a mouthful when you said God has His foot on their necks. I almost ran and started shouting. It’s true y’all, the Lord really does fight your battles. Just remember to BE SWEET.