Do it for the Vine!

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he(she) who abides in Me and I in him(her), he(she) bears much fruit,  for apart from Me you can do nothing."~John 15:5

3 Life Changing Questions
1) What are you doing? 2) Why are you doing it? 3) Who are you doing it for?

I'm sure that most of you are familiar with the cute vine video of the little girl dancing or maybe Rickey Smiley's vine video as Lil Darrell is the one that stands out to you. Well, like many of you, I found them both amusing, but the more I heard the phrase, "Do it for the vine!", it reminded of when I began DOING IT FOR THE VINE....THE TRUE VINE.

Often times we find ourselves doing so much,  but at the end of the day these things are not fulfilling or in line with our purpose. It's a challenge to do what you are purposed to do when life demands so much of your time and energy. We have family, kids, husbands, mortgages, bills, etc. All of these things affect our decisions causing us to lead fruitless lives, but there is a solution. The enemy wants you to believe what it looks like and we oftentimes believe those lies, even though we are suppose to walk by faith and not by sight.

I understand, I was there! I wasn't living, just existing. My life wasn't about fulfilling my purpose,  although I had a burning desire, it was about what my family required of me and solving everybody's problems......all while mine were a mountain high! Have you been there? Well it wasn't until I lost myself in my depression, almost giving up on life when I mustered up enough strength to say, HELP ME LORD!!! I had to hear from Him, it was DO or die....That's when I was asked the very same 3 questions I asked you earlier.

What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who are you doing it for? God required an answer....a truthful answer. My reply took some thought, but once I opened up, God was able to pour into me. I was already serving in my purpose, but I wasn't fulfilled because I had not defined my WHY, and I was a big ole people pleaser.....I wanted everyone to approve of me, like me, recognize me.....you name it, I was in deep!!! When I answered all of these questions wholeheartedly, God begin to use me and all of my gifts. I began to genuinely pour into the lives of others, looking only to God for my rewards, it didn't matter if I got credit or whether my gifts were appreciated. I knew that I was walking into my purpose on purpose.....and I LOVE IT! Defining my WHY was simple....My children! I desire to give my kids a much better life than I experienced. Last, but by far the most important question,  who are you doing it for?  There isn't anyone I aim to please at this stage in my life besides THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT!!! When I begin to line my life up with the Word, my whole life changed! Things began to move forward simply because I chose to DO IT FOR THE VINE!!!

You too can began to DO everything your heart desires as long as it is aligned with God's purpose for your life. I encourage you that whatever you do, DO IT FOR THE VINE! GO AHEAD AND DO IT!!! DO IT FOR THE VINE!!! Your life will be much more fulfilling, I just know it! It is my prayer that you LIVE BETTER, DO BETTER, PERIOD!

Begin Again!!!

 Have you ever given up on the most important person in your life? Have you ever given up on YOU? It may be difficult to answer this question honestly at first, but if you dig deep, you'll find a goal that wasn't accomplished,  a desire dismissed, a plan never implemented,  a dream deferred. Why am I asking you this? Well, I came to realize that I had once given up on ME, the most important person in my life, but I realized that it wasn't too late to BEGIN AGAIN! I'm here to ignite that passion that's deep within you so that you too will BEGIN AGAIN!!!

Yes, I'm about to air my dirty laundry....now y'all know that I don't sugar coat this thing called LIFE! It gets ugly sometimes and that's just real! How can I help you walk in your truth if I'm living a lie? Now let's go back a little.....In October 2012 all hell broke loose in my world.....lost my unborn child in my second trimester,  left my abusive husband, became a single mom overnight, after 12 years.....no job/income, no transportation,  and no where to live....homelessness and seemingly hopelessness.  I allowed my situation and circumstances to influence my decision to give up. Yes, I had lost my desire to push through.....I was dying! BUT GOD!!! In spite of what I didn't have, I still had God! Although I had quit,  God was still working on the inside of me,  through me, through my MESS! He said, BEGIN AGAIN!

Today, January 25, 2014, my kids and I are in our own home, our own transportation and my talent in cooking has ignited my entrepreneurial passion and given me the ability to generate income......and my passion for encouraging others is the air I breath,  I can't live without it!!!! BEGIN AGAIN is what I keep hearing God say.

This new season has just begun and it doesn't matter what is going on around you, what's going on inside of you is all that matters.....God is working! Let's continue to walk in obedience to God's call on our lives....it's not for or about us! Remember, with God we can always BEGIN AGAIN! It is my prayer that you LIVE BETTER,  BE BETTER....PERIOD!

DARE TO BE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE

Hello Beautiful Souls!!!
I am in such a beautiful space right now after watching this video. I was compelled to write because the surge of emotions were just too strong to hold in. I just couldn't sit on this one for another minute, so I decided to share. My purpose for sharing this video is to evoke action......DO SOMETHING, I DARE YOU!

"Now if you know what you're worth, go out and get what you're worth, but you gotta be willing to take the hit and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him or her or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT!" This statement right here is the part where I stood up shouting "get up, get back up!", as if I was actually attending the fight in the video. Here I was cheering on a fighter, telling him to get back up although he was battered and bruised, which gave the appearance that he was defeated, yet something in me said "GET UP!" as if I knew he was going to win. This was a moment of absolute certainty for me.....I get it now! I AM POWERFUL!

 I begin thinking about how many times I've been hit, but kept getting up and moving forward....man, what an epiphany this was! This means that I have the very thing that I need to have in order to accomplish my goals/turn my dreams into a reality, to change my life......COURAGE! No matter how many times you get hit or how hard you get hit, keep getting up! Now that's courage! Tell me, where does fear come in or how does fear come in? I think that we allow fear to take up residence because we forget our strengths and begin to focus more on our weakness. STOP IT! The weaknesses are going to be there, but what about your strengths, what about what you can do? I know it gets hard, I know you have obstacles, but you also have a choice. You're either going to choose to be a victim or the VICTOR. Dare to be powerful beyond measure! How do you do this? You do this by remembering all of the other times you got back up, especially when it seemed as if all hell was breaking loose around you. You're going to go through the battle, so why not have something to show for it? Why not live your life to the fullest? Don't let others dictate your life.....you have GREATNESS in you! I am done with pointing the finger, are you? Did you answer yes? Well, I DARE YOU TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING GREAT!!!

You are powerful beyond measure, what are you afraid of? Read this poem and get inspired.......

OUR DEEPEST FEAR

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually who are we not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people
won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And when we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson

LIVE BETTER, BE BETTER, PERIOD!~MsDior

CHOSEN

WHAT'S GOING ON?!? HOW ARE YOU?!?
Well, let me just take a few minutes to inform you all that.....I AM BACK IN FULL EFFECT! I have been gone for far too long, but baby I'm back, yes I am...lol! I can go on and on about why I haven't been blogging, but guess what, it really doesn't matter. What I will tell you is this, I am comfortable with ME....now. I love the woman I am....now and am looking forward to meeting the woman I'm becoming. I will not give up on me because I have been chosen not to give up on YOU! So with that being said, can get I get a "HONEY BOOM!"?....LOL! I want to share a poem with you all that I wrote some time ago. This is God and I having a conversation.....ENJOY!

CONFESSION IN CONVERSATION

ME:
You see, I've been afraid. I've had some hangups and some letdowns, so TRUST was not an option. Afraid of being loved. I was used to being abused, neglected and rejected, so LOVE was not an option. Afraid of being me. In my mind I wasn't attractive, smart or rich, so I was not an option.
GOD:
I know that you've been afraid. I was there through all of your hangups and letdowns and I am still here with you. TRUST ME.
I am LOVE. You are created in the likeness of me. You are LOVE.
You are the apple of my eye, marvelous and wonderful is every fiber of your being. Smart? You have the ability to renew your mind daily....so as you think you shall be. Rich? You are a child of the KING. I CHOSE YOU.
YOU ARE NECESSARY.....YOU ARE EQUIPPED.....YOU ARE CHOSEN!

I hoped you all enjoyed my writing...certainly there is more to come! Until next time, BE BETTER, LIVE BETTER, PERIOD.....I won't accept anything less than your best!
Peace and Love~MsDior

Unhealthy Relationships.....Are you in one?

I'm back....Better than before! I really appreciate the love and support you've given me since I began blogging. I pray that you are being inspired, uplifted, and empowered by the gift that God has entrusted me with....as much as I am. I love and enjoy what I do!

I had an epiphany regarding my unhealthy situation after viewing this video. Did it have an affect on you, if so, please share? What I realized about my situation or experience was that I allowed it....I didn't like it, but I did allow it. I'm sure the question you may be asking is, Why would I (any women) stay in an abusive or unhealthy situation? Well, I'm  going to list a few reasons "we" stay according to Dr. Laura Schlessinger in her book, Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives". Fear, self-doubt, no sense of purpose, people-pleasing, low self-esteem, questioning your right to leave(married), shame or guilt, dependency(security/financial stability), and familiarity.

I can only speak from my personal experience in hope that you will find the strength to live better, be better period! My reasons for staying as long as I did and even returning to the scene of the crime, had more to do with my way of thinking....that I always made the wrong decisions, so you see, it didn't really matter what decision I made....IT WOULD BE WRONG! I was stuck on an emotional rollercoaster, I was scared, but wasn't I suppose to be enjoying it? I am a Christian, I shouldn't have the spirit of fear, should I? It was very difficult for me to walk in obedience in the spirit because surely God was not telling me to leave my husband, He despises divorce! I wasn't understanding that if I remained, I was not operating in the Will of God for my life......I simply could not serve 2 masters! This is where my logical thinking could not understand and that left me doubtful and confused. The Bible warns against a double-minded person in James 1:5-8. I suffered simply because I was deficient in wisdom, but now by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2), I can walk in victory! I can honestly tell you that my biggest hinderance was being a people-pleaser, not realizing that it was unhealthy even when I was being abused by the very person I was trying so desperately to please. I can not go in depth about my personal struggle with abuse and how I am rebuilding and transforming my life in one blog post....that's why I'm writing a memoir, but in sharing this tid-bit I hope that it has encouraged you to come out of darkness....begin loving yourself, and seek help! As stated by Dr. Schlessinger, "Generally, women resent and resist the idea of acknowledging up front what we are in reality accepting and putting up with anyway!" I completely agree, not because she is a Psychotherapist, but because I have experienced those emotions that keep us bound. I had to come clean, yeah he was abusive, controlling, manipulative and just down right negative, but the truth of the matter was that I continued to subject myself to the pain just so I could avoid appearing weak. I realized how weak I was by not protecting my own best interest, not just for me, but my kids as well. I found strength to admit that I was allowing it and began to pick up the pieces. My sincere desire for you all who may be suffering from abuse, as defined by Webster's New World Dictionary-1)to use wrongly 2)to mistreat esp. by inflicting physical or sexual harm on 3)to insult; revile-insulting language, is that you acknowledge it and take the necessary steps to living better, being better period! I'm leaving you with an inspiring exert from T. D. Jakes, The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord just in case you feel like I felt.....ashamed, embarrassed, alone, doubtful, and confused:

"You must look right into the flaming inferno of hellish situations and declare through parched, lonely, tear stainded lips, "I will go on." Inside every victim there is harsh tenacity and steel will. Courage is born out of crises. Little girl, you have the power. It is in you through Christ. It is in you to succeed. No one succeeds without overcoming opposition. Wipe your face, strengthen your back, hold up your head, and survive! No one can change their yesterdays, no matter how terrible they may have been. Update your life.  This is now, not then. I pray for your courage to endure what you cannot change. Completely remodel the things that you can, and tell the rest of it to go play in traffic!"


Last but not least, I want to acknowledge Eminem for his very real depiction of an unhealthy relationship, although very disturbing, it is a haunting reality. Please check out www.ovw.usdoj.gov/domviolence.htm for information and resources.

I am moving towards a "Soul Beautiful" life, I pray that you will join me in *ACTION*BEING*DOING*PROGRESSING!

You are equipped to DO IT!

I have been off for a while.....not really, but I did step away from the blog to give total focus to writing my book, "For All The Wrong Reasons". I am embarking on a new journey in my life that required me to really look at myself......I mean really look at me! I'm not a person that is out here doing bad, crazy, or wild things, but God instructed me to take a deeper look. In my intimate time with Him, which is in the wee hours of the morning, He clearly spoke to me, "Alysia, you matter, yet you act as if you don't!"" I have not equipped you with such wonderful gifts for you to wander aimlessly through this life." I had been praying for change in my life, but nothing. I was making my petition known to God, but nothing! "What was I doing wrong?" I asked desperately. My answer came in that moment......I had a desire, I had the ability, and I had the vision, but I didn't take action. How many of you know that anything that you desire you must work for? Well apparently that works the same for dreams too! Here I was just dreaming about the "abundant life" God promised, but forgetting what James 1:22 tells us, But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. I had to DO IT! Psalm 1:3 reads, And he(she) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his(her) fruit in his(her) season; his(her) leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he(she) DOETH shall prosper. Yall, I must do what it takes to go after the vision God has placed in me.....that's what has had me occupied for the past few weeks. My vision is real......God has given me something real! Seed time and harvest doesn't work if you don't put something in the ground.....well I am planting great things! I must do what God has equipped me to do! I make this public declaration of what I AM DOING!!!!!

I am so excited about this life transformation that I am journeying through. The birthing of my vision, Soul Beautiful, is a brand that will inspire, motivate, and educate women on the value of self-love and becoming spiritually connected to God, The Creator. "You are Soul Beautiful" is a statement that transcends exterior beauty or the beauty that is perceived by the onlooking eye. You must go within and find out why you are here and manifest that as a reality. I aspire to continue self developement and pouring my love into the live of as many people as God will allow me to touch. My story is my story.....I am sharing a part of me as a way to inspire and motivate change in lives everywhere. TAKE CHARGE, UNLEASH, AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE............BE BETTER, PERIOD!!!

Marriage.....it's not for the weak!

I do a show with The WIFES(http://www.wife2010.com/) each week and I noticed that we are a very diverse group of women when it comes to personalities, but I did notice the quality in each of us of being STRONG women! I think this says a lot about women that get married......we must be strong......and if you are not when you get into the marriage....ooooh you will become! Marriage is not for the weak at heart or the weak minded person because it brings about challenges that we must be ready to face head on.....I'm talking about financial, spiritual, emotional, and physical situations. You can not just up and run away when there is an issue in the marriage if you expect it to work!!! You have to......I stress, HAVE TO, as in you are obligated to resolve the issues. I have observed a marriage where the wife was just passive(weak) about everything and the husband thrived on this behavior because he knew that he had no limitations, although he wanted his wife to check him, he knew that she wasn't so he just kept doing what he did. When she began to learn new things(when you know better you do better!) and began to incorporate it into her marriage, homeboy wasn't too thrilled with it, but he began to respect her more......by his own admission, he couldn't just get away with whatever and that made him feel like his wife paid him some attention. Now that's just one scenario, of course on the other hand in this same situation someone else probably would've been in divorce court, but it all worked out for the good on their part because they loved eachother and in the end she gave him what he truly desired......attention!
I enjoy the different views of each of the ladies, simply because it allows me to look at my situation in a new way. This helps when you don't have all the answers and you need them. You need to learn new ways to keep the marriage going strong.......you yourself must be strong in order to do this! I know that some people may mistake being strong as being in the forefront or that you must handle it all.........no that's not the case. When I say strong, I am suggesting that you put on an I CAN, I WILL, and an I AM attitude when it comes to your marriage.....you know what I'm sayin! I can make it happen, I will help make it happen, I am here for you when it happens....just to give some examples. Just know that if you are married.....you must exercise your brain, heart, and body to keep it tight!!!! I will get into the body part next time because we definately need to talk about that one! I believe that you understand where I'm coming from......well I just had that on my mind.....don't know why, but it had to be for a reason so I hope it helped you.......Love ya!