I Thought It Was Just Me... 2005

Thank you JESUS, you spared me to get through this year. So glad 2005 is almost gone-just a few more hours away.
I cannot tell you that I have had such a trying year-personally, physically, socially, spiritually, and financially.

(more to come)

1/1/06 Update

Well I was going to say more-- but why indicate it, when I prayed it all better.

Thank you Lord for another YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"At the Top of 2005"

Music:

Female Artist- Mariah Carey

Male Artist- 50 Cent

Group- Green Day

Movies:

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

War of the Worlds and Batman Begins (tie)

Entertainers of the Year:

Male Artist- Jamie Foxx and Kanye West (tie)

Female Artist- Mariah Carey and Kelly Clarkson (tie)

Group-Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown

Books:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Passion Marks by Lee A. Hayes

Tours:

U2

Destiny's Child

Gwen Stefani

Anger Management Tour: Eminem, 50 Cent, G-Unit and others

Biggest Breakups:

Brad Pitts and Jennifer Aniston

Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey

Destiny's Child

Power Couples:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Brangelina)

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (TomKat)

Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow

Catch Phrases:

"Hell to the Naw"

"Fresh Azimiz"

"Bush doesn't like Black People"

Proud Moments:

Michael Jackson, not jailed

Irv Gotti, not jailed

"Oprah turns 20"

Sad Moments:

Tsunami of Indonesia

Hurricane Katrina

President Bush... returns

Letdowns:

Lil Kim-jailed for lying

Aretha Franklin's obesity

President Bush

Kate Moss' drug habits

Big Tunes:

"We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey)

"Let Me Love You" (Mario) and "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson) {tie}

"Golddigger" (Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx)

"Candy Shop" (50 Cent feat. Olivia)

Big Shows on Television:

"Dancing With the Stars"

"Desperate Housewives"

"Everybody Hates Chris" and "America's Top Model " (tie)

"Noah's Arc" (LOGO) and "Being Bobby Brown" (tie)

New Artists:

John Legend

Fantasia

Omarion

Ciara

Huge Debuts:

"Everybody Hates Chris" (UPN)

"The Color Purple, the Musical" (Broadway, NYC)

John Legend

Deaths:

Rosa Parks, John H. Johnson, Luther Vandross, Ossie Davis, Richard Pryor, Shirley Chisholm, Shirley Horn, Johnnie L. Cochran, Obie Benson (Four Tops), Lamont Bentley (Moesha), Lyn Collins, Tyrone Davis, Constance Baker Motley, Edward Patten (Gladys Knight and the Pips), Brock Peters, Eugene Record, Nipsey Russell, George Scott (Blind Boys of Alabama), August Wilson, Ronald Winans, C. Delores Tucker, Peter Jennings, Johnny Carson

*all based on one's opinions

Sound Off

The Gospel Soundtrack features some of gospel music's popular artists, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond- This is truly a great album of praise. Highlights: "Victory" (Yolanda Adams), "Still Alive" (Kirk Franklin), and "All Things Are Working" (Fred Hammond).
India.Arie returns with a powerful single, "I Am Not My Hair". This is a song of testament that will encourage those that are stricken with cancer and other debilitating diseases. Hair is known as an ode of "strength" to the human race, however this tune speaks toward the upbuilding of the spirit within.
Floetry returns their sophomore studio effort, Flo'ology. This duo brings about songs of love and hope. Highlights: "Supastar (feat. Common)", "Closer", "My Apology" and "Lay Down".
Angie Stone preeminently retires with this set of songs that have made her famous while under the Arista/J Records umbrellas. She offers her hits "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" and "Brotha" along with a new Highlight: "I Wasn't Kidding" .
Finally, William Murphy III debuts with his set. Known for his powerful voice on the mega-praise anthem, "Praise Is What I Do". He offers similar tunes that hopefully will place him in the ranks of many gospel artists that have longevity.

Highlights: "All Day", "Praise Is What I Do" and " Awesome".

Today's Quote

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by moments that take our breath away". (11/05)

Love Is Simple

Love is simple- we make it hard with our trappings.
We make love difficult, painful, hurtful and regrettable,
because we keep trying to figure out- how to do love right.

In order to do and get what we think is the right kind of love,
we place demands, restrictions and conditions on our loving and those we love.
Sometimes it works.
Usually, it doesn't.
And when we get hurt,
we blame love.

Love doesn't hurt.
Falling into the traps we set for love,
makes us hurt ourselves.

Because Love just is-It is the experience of joy we have the courage
to tell the truth, be exactly who we are, and allow those we love
to do the same.

Love is not what you've been told,
what you've heard in the stories
seen in the pictures,

Love is not a tool or a weapon,
Love is the key.
It is the key that allows you to see more in yourself
and about yourself than you dare to show to the world.

Love is simple.
You simply give love or you don't .
You simply know love or you don't
You simply are love or
you continue to fall into the traps that make you hurt yourself
because you don't acknowledge yourself as the love that you are.

The Last Time Christmas Fell On A Sunday

The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday, was in the year of 1994.

Today marks that time once again and many churches have decided not to open up their doors. Many people have decided not to go to church as they take this day as a time of "vacation".

At a time such as this, we need not take Christ out of Christmas.

This year we saw more famine come across our nation and world- natural disasters and multiple deaths. Unheard of tragedies.

We faced tsunamis, hurricanes, airplane crashes, transit strikes, fires and robberies, layoffs.

This is a time where Peace needs to be ministered through the season and seasons to come.

I pray that God will ordain all mankind to love more and that He will have mercy on us.

JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON.

Happy Birthday.... Miss Lillie

Today marks the 75th BIRTHDAY of my grandmother, LILLIE BELLE BAXTER....

probably the only woman on Earth that has made way for who I have become today- Her sensitivity, temperance, and her unmerited love for her family and children.

Family has always been her main focus. To keep us as close-knit as possible. She struggles still to this day to shape and mold her children- First by introducing us into the saviour and Lord God, Jesus Christ. Her message to all, "We can do nothing without Him".

Next, she creates an atmosphere whether its about perfection or imperfection, that all are welcomed in her home and family. She does not sugar coat anything- what you see is what you get.

Finally, she is a true best friend. Whenever I need to talk or laugh or cry, she is always a phone call anyway.

Being her 7th born grandchild, I can stand on truth to say that we are "prayer partners" and you will almost never see me without her, whether on Sunday morning in church or out shopping. She keeps me "Alive in her spirit realm".

I salute this day to my grandmother. Her Strength, Courage and Wisdom.