08.13.26
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Throwback Thursday Poetry Time: Setting The Captive Free Poem

So, I think I am going to start a new series titled Throwback Thursday Poetry Time showcasing my older poetry. Come alongside me as I reintroduce my older poems and muse over my writing throughout the years. Let’s take a little trip through the archives. ✍🏾📖

Today’s poem comes from my first published book and is its namesake.

This poem was written during a season where I was learning to build my confidence as a writer, my voice as a person, and share with others a gift I thought was only for me.

Writing throughout the years became a place where I could explore emotion, imagination, healing, faith, and creativity. I began to understand that poetry isn’t simply something I write. It is an art form and a gift—one of the ways I can share what God has placed within me with others.

And when I wrote this poem, I believe I wanted to convey that expression and creative writing has allowed me to not only express myself and explore emotions and ideas, but also take the things I was afraid to say aloud and give them words through writing, especially poetry. It carries a freedom to do so also. I wanted to give myself permission to release the words of creativity, lessons, encouragement, wisdom and stories. That is a captive being set free.

Setting The Captive Free

Poem

I am giving you permission to be free.

I’m giving you permission to take words

And use them as you please.

You have known my pain,

Shown me revelations

And soaked me in lyrical rain.

You have taught me lessons,

Supplied me with healing over several years’ time

In word play, metaphors and rhymes.

No more restraints and tight grips

Poetry, escape and manifest this gift

I am giving you permission to soar.

I’m giving you permission to create

A sense of being from words readers can’t ignore.

No more restraints and tight grips

Poetry, escape and manifest this gift

You are to please and not to please.

You are to tell the truth.

You are to stretch the truth in imagination.

You are for consistent examination.

You are to say what my mouth cannot….

08.11.26
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Message From My Future Self

If your future self could send you one sentence, what do you hope it would say?

“You’ll get here, just hold on.”

To a place of surrender, peace, less stress, and more joy. Better direction. More writing. More books. Much more bravery and adventure.

A life of simplicity, fruitfulness, and purpose.

A life that is full.

08.08.26
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God Will Provide

For those of us who needed the reminder during a time of uncertainty or while facing some kind of hardship:

God takes care of His.

Don’t doubt that your Heavenly Father has your back. He will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory.

And that doesn’t mean hard times won’t come. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience uncertainty, lack, disappointment, or seasons where we don’t understand what God is doing.

It means we are not alone in those seasons.

God is there in the midst of them, caring for us, sustaining us, providing for us, and giving us what we need to keep going.

Psalm 37:25 reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not based on whether life is easy. David was speaking from a lifetime of experience. He had seen hardship, but he had also seen God’s faithfulness.

So if you’re in a difficult season today, don’t mistake the hardship for God’s absence.
God takes care of His.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread. –Psalm 37:25

08.07.26
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Helping Build Dreams Without Abandoning Your Own

I don’t mind helping someone build their dream, but I’ve learned not to neglect my own in the process. And I don’t allow someone else’s dreams to become my own.

There’s been a lot of conversation about how you should be building your own dream instead of working a 9-to-5.

But what if you can do both?

What if entrepreneurship isn’t your calling?

What if you genuinely enjoy your profession, your career, or the work you do for someone else all while having dreams of your own?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with helping someone else build what they’ve been called to build. Especially when you have been given such an assignment by God.

You have the opportunity to grow and learn and occupy the steps towards your next assignment within your own destiny.

I also believe learning to follow is part of learning to lead. It requires humility, wisdom and learning.

And no one can do everything on their own. Honestly, I am learning this myself: I can’t do everything on my own and that is okay.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. –Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NLT)

At some point, I’m going to need someone to help me build what God has placed in me, just like someone may need me to help them build what God placed in them.
Maybe not in the beginning. Maybe not in the way I imagined. But none of us builds everything alone. And one may have gifts, talents and strengths in areas I may not and vice versa.

The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you. –1 Corinthians 12:21 (NLT)

So yes, I can support your vision without abandoning mine.

I can work for someone else and still have something I’m building.

I can help someone else succeed without making their dream my own.

Their dream can be theirs. My dream can be mine. And there is room for both.
That’s not settling.

Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. –Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NLT)




08.05.26
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What Will Your Older Self Thank You For?

“The best person to take care of the old you is the young you.”
— Smart Money Bro (Eric)

At the end of each video from Smart Money Bro, I’ve come to anticipate hearing him share his signature line.

His advice and financial literacy content are reasons why I decided to continue watching his channel and eventually follow him. But his signature line is another reason why I enjoy his channel. It serves as a reflective reminder to keep your future self in mind, and that you can start taking care of him or her today.

And that’s exactly what I am going to do.
It can be difficult to have conversations and reflections about finances, health, and preparing for the future because of the weight of these topics. Yet they are crucial.
Implementing healthy habits, making wise changes, and becoming a good steward of your life are all part of taking care of the older you—the one waiting years from now.

My channel has focused on faith, mental health, healing, purpose, stewardship, and more. I want to encourage others as well as myself that every stage of life calls us to live simply, fruitfully, and purposefully.

Do understand that preparing for the next season doesn’t mean missing the one you’re in. It means being fully present today while faithfully stewarding tomorrow. There is joy to be found in the current season even as you prepare for the next.

And in every season, God helps prepare us for the next one.

That preparation often requires hope—the flicker of hope that rests in the center of your heart. It requires your experiences, your willingness to unlearn some things to learn new things, reflection, planning with God’s wisdom, patience, and taking it one day at a time.

It also requires proper stewardship over every area of life: your health, finances, relationships, career, time, healing journey, thoughts, and more.

Growing older is a privilege. And when that season comes, you want your older self to thrive and breathe in the benefits of the seeds you planted when you were younger.

Life will still happen, but you can be better prepared to navigate it with greater wisdom, better health, and a greater sense of wholeness.

Your older self will thank you.

So start stretching today.

Start doing what you can to pay down your debt.

Start doing what you can to invest in your future.

Start eating healthier.

Start setting boundaries.

Start decluttering mentally and physically.

What will you start doing today that your older self will thank you for later?
To check out Smart Money Bro’s channel, please visit:

https://youtube.com/@smartmoneybro?si=evHL5Jyum_WzfkSY

07.31.26
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Gratitude for my Day 1 Supporters

Recently, someone blessed me in a way that deeply touched my heart. It reminded me that I am supported and have been from the start and throughout my journey.

I want to give a special shout-out to some of my Day 1s for their encouragement, love, and support.

From encouraging me, sharing my work and posts with others, buying my books for themselves or as gifts for others, and simply being part of my community on YouTube. I am truly grateful.

Thank you for believing in me and believing in my writing. From the depths of my heart, I sincerely thank you.
I pray that you are blessed immensely for the kindness, love, and support you have shown me. 🙏🏽💜

Rika
Lisa
Auntie Susanne
Saneatra

Ariana
Shalamaar
My Mommy
And my Auntie Angel 🕊️

07.13.26
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Movies In The Backyard

I’ve been wanting to do a movie night in the backyard for awhile. And I finally got the chance.

After getting everything I needed, I spent a couple of days getting the backyard together making sure it looked nice and we wouldn’t have to deal with too many bugs, specifically mosquitoes.

But the night of, things didn’t go exactly as planned—we had a few hiccups along the way. It took me more than a hour to set up. Additionally, the cords situation had me out there like I was solving a much more complex math problem. And after all that work I did to make sure we didnt have to deal with the mosquitoes, they unfortunately decided to join us for movie night. But that is okay. We ended up having a good time anyway.

Check out the short video below to see some of the set up and good time we had.

07.09.26
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Martha’ing Too Long

I guess I have been Martha’ing for too long. Burned out. Tired. Stressed. Overwhelmed. And sometimes that’s when those old thoughts come back to visit. I pour out my tears to God for relief and I reach for Him spiritually to cradle me because no one is coming to save me or relieve me but Him. And sometimes I get scared and think He won’t come or come in time. Does this sound familiar?

But then you are reminded that He has come before and a flicker of hope turns back on and begins to get stronger. And you see His hand in the midst of darkness reaching out for me. And the light gets stronger. And all the tears that fell begin to dry up with breaths of relief.

There is a time and a place for everything but in this season Jesus wants you to sit with Him. Like Mary. And in every season actually, take time to sit with him. Rest in Him. Know that your worth isn’t predicated upon your titles or performance. You dont have to earn His love. He wants you to serve and give but not without His guidance, wisdom and love. Not with regret or resentment. Not in your own strength and unto burnout and weariness. He wants you to remember that rest is important. Trusting in Him is important. Depending on Him is necessary. And that He loves you with an unfailing love.

This week I plan to be still in my spirit and sit at His feet. And receive His love and Word. And to let His peace permeate my soul full of His providential care.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11: 28-30)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  (Peter 5:7)

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)