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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781490773094 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Trafford Publishing |
| Publication date: | 05/06/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 108 |
| File size: | 484 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Discovered Passion
By Rhontina Burroughs
Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2016 Rhontina BurroughsAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-7308-7
CHAPTER 1
JOURNEY 1
AT ODDS
INTRODUCTION
Somewhere in my search for love and fulfillment I lost me! Last time I checked, me was infused inside. Me went everywhere I went, me was always there. Me enjoyed painting, writing, and reading, in general, exploring her creative side. I enjoyed that about her. She was always finding things to create mold or sculpt. She would become mesmerized by the awesomeness of things and how they worked. She was always reading and developing her intuitive side. Oh me, (the other me) was more content with finding love instead of letting love search for me. I told me that we needed to separate, to explore different avenues. Me resisted, I became selfish and forced me to give up the things that made her special and unique. I made her feel guilty about being creative, telling her that no man wanted a creative woman spending all of her time drawing, painting, writing poems and such. "That's childish! Who wants your stuff about love anyway I said". That devastated me. I and me separated. I don't know where me went. I LOST ME in the midst of hurtful relationships, excess weight gain and merely hiding. I miss me! I miss that side of me that became overjoyed when I painted a piece of ceramic or wrote a poem. I miss that creative talented side that God so graciously blessed me with. When I find me again, you can best believe that will be a joyous occasion. I pray my God will help me to find and reunite me to the other me, because I am absolutely lost without her!
R. Burroughs
BEFORE I FORMED YOU, I KNEW YOU ~PSALM 139:1
My Child,
Do you know who I am? I am God! I am your God! I formed you. I gave you life. I gave you your color, your height, your weight; I even know how many hairs you have on your head. I designed you exactly the way I wanted you to be. You are special and unique. You are love, formed from my love. You are beautiful. It hurts me when you look in the mirror at yourself and say that you are not beautiful! It hurts me when you hold high esteem for others and not yourself. Do you know what you are saying about me? It hurts me when you accept what others say about you and not what I AM says about you. It hurts me when I see you cry because others cannot, will not, or accept you for who I made you to be. You are an original. There is no one like you. I FORMED you. I put you on this earth because I wanted you here. You have a purpose and a destiny. I gave it to you. No one understands you like I do, no one knows your moods, pains, joys and excitements the way I do. I made you. Why do you seek others to learn about you? Why do you seek outside sources when I am the only source you need? I love you! I am repeating this to you, because I want you to see just how much you mean to me. I took the time to create you; I took the time to breathe into you. You are my child, your are my princess, heir to my throne. Pick yourself up and receive my grace. I am your God!
SEARCHING
My child, I have been looking for you. Where have you been? I miss you. You have been running afraid to face your fears. How many times do I need to show you that I will never leave you? I know that there are times when you feel as if I am nor there, but I am. Every time you breathe, you are breathing in my essence, my force, the force that created you and gave you a destiny to accomplish. Every time you call out my name, your voice is amplified, it reaches to the far depths of my soul and I come to your side; lifting you, and encouraging you.
My child, I love you. Please trust me. I am greater than your biggest fears. Remember I died for you so that you may live free.
My child, seek me, pray to me, praise me with all that you do, love me with all of your heart. Do not be afraid. I am always with you
THE REDEMPTION
I was sinking deep in my turmoil and sins. I was joyless because of the wrong choices I put my mind and spirit in. I was saved but somewhere in my life I lost my focus, I didn't know the purpose that God created deep within. Not knowing where to go or where to turn, I internalized my hurt and caused my heart to burn. My life was caving in, my soul was bruised and lost, no other option did I have but to go to the cross. With my burdens in tow; my back weary from the heavy load. I gently laid my baggage's down. Bag number one; my childhood hurts. Bag number two, my teenage pains, bag number three, my adult failures and ruined relationships. With tears streaming down my face, the clouds of doubt began to set in. I wondered if I came to the right place. I cried "Oh Lord, please release this pain I feel, renew my life and spirit; give it zeal". I knelt down, my face buried in the ground. The blood that Christ shed — gently fell and caressed the top of my head. I looked up again at the man whose arms were stretched wide; I glanced at the wound from where the sword pierced his side. He opened his eyes and said to me, "my child, I am here dying for you to set you free. Do not wonder anymore if you are at the right place. Look into my eyes and see that all you've been through is now and will forever be replaced. My love for you is great you see, No one in the world can love you, shed my life for you and redeem you like me. Leave the burdens of your heart and mind with me. My blood is redemptive. It cleanses you from the top of your head to the souls of your feet. It uplifts your spirit and gives you comforting peace and joy you've been searching to find. Whenever you feel down and don't know what to do, just look back to this day and remember all that I have done for you. Let the peace of my love guide you from day to day. Take time to talk with me, in other words, pray! I will never leave you or take my love away. I've invested my time and blood in you to let you slip away. Come to me with all our burdens and cares; look in your heart for me. I will always be there.
THE LOCKSMITH
Remembering the day I feel in love with you, my heart was broken, battered and bruised. I was afraid to give and receive love. My heart was closed, but yet you came and searched out my pain, and like a skilled locksmith you unlocked the sealed doors of my existence. You entered me so swiftly and picked up the pieces of my heart and shaped them to your love. Now my essence is open to you. I am able to love, care and hope freely. My pain is no longer locked up, but free-gone.
To you, I thank you, my lover, my friend, my locksmith. This special feeling is a feeling I will cherish forever more
DEAR LOVE
I've been unfaithful to my love. I promised to love only Him, serve Him, obey and trust Him; to put no other before him and dedicate my life to Him. In return, he promised to provide, care, and love me unconditionally. He has committed himself faithfully to me, but I have not done the same for Him. I do not know what happened in my relationship with Him. On the inside, I love Him with all of my heart, mind, spirit and soul. But, the surface side of me reveals something different. I was enticed and deceived by another man. A man that does not love or care about me, provide for me or cherish me. He only wanted what he could take from me, leaving me joyless, unclean, chained and bound.
The man I've been unfaithful to still loves me even though I have hurt him. He continues to shower me with his goodness far beyond my eyes can see.
So why was I unfaithful to him? I have no excuse to give. It's the enemy that enticed me; that made me hurt the one I love. I pray that he forgives me for my fallen state, and takes me back into his heart, to comfort my broken spirit and give me a new start. This time I truly know now what it means to be loved and cared for.
Starting today, I'm going to renew my vows and commitments to Him, because He has renewed His with me.
I love you my Lord and I thank you for loving me
Yours Always,
Rhontina
AGAIN
I came to Him just as I was, broken; some parts
of me bruised others weary and worn.
The mask on my face was a permanent fixture. I
hid all of my deep rooted pain and anguish. My
spirit fearful not wanting to trust and love.
I came to Him,
He looked at me, accepted me and began to love me. I
rejected him, closed myself off from Him, and sabotaged
my relationship with Him because of fear.
He presented himself to me, His arms open,
accepting me once again, again and again.
Slowly I began to realize that he loved me despite
all of my fears, hurts, and insecurities. He loved me,
even when I wasn't sure if I wanted His. He gave his
affections to me in spite of objections from me.
He loves me and I have found out what it means to love
Him. The mask on my face has been removed forever,
and replace with smiles of joy and contentment. My
life is free and soaring knowing my God loves me
Unconditionally
R. Burroughs
CHAPTER 2JOURNEY 2
AT ODDS PT 2
After several years of being apart, I and me decided to converse. There was awkwardness about us. Both of us were guarded, shielding ourselves from the hurt and shame we caused each other. I had changed physically, lost weight and altered my body to be accepted by the masses. Me didn't recognize the new woman that now stood in front of her. She felt abandoned, rejected, brokenhearted, and wounded from our separation. I embraced the new woman I was becoming. I no longer felt padded and weighed down, but somehow free. I was still hurting from the breakup of me, but didn't want anyone to know because they wouldn't understand or so I thought. I was changing, and I desperately wanted me back. I didn't know how to ask and receive her back inside. I tried to welcome her back, but she sadly shook her head no, and said not now- you're not ready to accept me, because I have changed also. I see things much differently from the way I used to. She looked at me compassionately and said you hurt me! I looked at her in the mirror with tears in my eyes and said "I know", will you please forgive me?
R. Burroughs
SPIRITUAL MATH
GW + YL-J+P(3)xF=DM
God's Will + Your Life - Junk + Prayer, Petition and Praise x Faith=Desires Met
God's will (GW) for our lives is that we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.
+
Your Life (YL) You must align your life to God's will. God's word says He knows the plans he has for us. But we must seek him in order to align our will to his.
-
All the JUNK (J) in our lives (anger, fear, doubt, bitterness, insecurity, selfishness etc.) Anything that hinders your relationship with God and his plans for you should be place on the altar.
+
Prayer X Petition X Praise
Always pray to God, about anything and everything, every situation. Petition God make your request known to him. Then praise him for what he has done for you, how he has opened doors for you, protected you and guided you. Praise him for his goodness, mercy and favor over your life.
x
Your Faith (F) Have faith that God has answered your prayers, step out of your comfort zones, and hold fast to the dream that God has given you. His word tells us to have mustard seed faith.
=
Desires Met
God will give you the desires of your heart, in his time. Don't give up on God. He has your best interest at heart. He will give you that secret longing of your heart when he is ready to give it to you.
Have Faith and Trust God and Receive his blessings for you!!!
DISCOVERED PASSION
Discover by definition means to find. Passion by definition means to have a strong feeling or excitement towards someone or something.
My interpretation of discover means to uncover, or expose; and passion means a desire that reaches beyond the physical encompassing your total being and thought. With my writings, I have uncovered and exposed a passion that lay dormant for so long. It manifested itself in a way that took me totally by surprise. My writings; is a compilation of writings and poetry that have been written over the years. It explores the topics of self-discovery, purpose, spirituality, love relationships and intimacy. It is my desire that you read with an open mind and awareness.
I present to you, A Discovered Passion!!!
MULTIPLE
There are some many women residing in me, with their own unique gifts, talents, joys and pains; ready, willing and wanting so desperately to come forth and experience all that life has to offer and gain.
Woman #1 is a writer and author of poetry
Woman #2 is a motivational speaker
Woman#3 is an artist and painter
Woman #4 is a teacher
Woman #5 is a medical practioner
Woman #6 desires to be a wife and mother
Woman #7 has been acknowledged as a minister of the gospel; because of her aura and the God in her.
Woman #8 is a business owner
Then there's me! How do I open up and set these women free, when there are so many of them and only one of me? How do I satisfy each of these women's' goals and dreams and at the same time develop me. I must confess, I hear them screaming loudly at me to open up and set them free. But, when I look in the mirror and I see me, I bow my head humbly; promising each of them that they will have their say. Just be patient and continue to pray for me, as I gather my courage and begin to embrace the new becoming of me.
STEPPING OUT
Stepping out on faith is the hardest thing to do. You know what to do, how to do, try to encourage others to do the same things that you know you need to do for yourself. You see the gifts, talents, and potential in others, but what about you? God has blessed us all with special desires, passions, abilities, capabilities, possibilities and dreams. All we have to do is what he commands us to do and that is to step out and claim what he has for us.
THINKING
When I think of you, a smile comes to my face. A smile comes to my face because of all of the things you have done for me that I didn't deserve.
I smile because you have given me something that I didn't have to,
Beg for
Borrow from
Steal to get
Compromise to have in exchange for something else
You have given me something that is very valuable and cherishable. You have given me love; unconditional, and unshakeable.
You loved me when I didn't deserve to be
You loved me and cared for me when I dint love myself.
You loved me when I gave my heart, love and affections to another.
I smile because you cared so much for me that you searched me out of the multitude, pulled me from the clutches of despair and claimed me giving me new joy.
What have I done that was so great to receive what you have given to me- nothing!
I smile again because of how I feel for you. I know that I can't repay you for what you have done for me- but what I can do is smile when I
Honor You
Praise you and
Worship You
ORIGINAL ORIGIN
In the beginning, God said let us make man in our image, and then he looked at man and said it is not good for man to be alone. So he made me; Woman! The complete opposite of man filled with purpose and a plan.
Not to compete against him, but to assist and complete him.
Woman! me! made from God's love! sent from heaven above. Woman! a chosen member of Gods royal society. A body of unique individuals fearfully and wonderfully made, blessed by the Almighty- designed, fashioned, equipped, sculpted, powerful, confident and strong. Never weak! All life and generations flow from and through me.
Woman! That's me!!, there is no one before me, all others come after me.
I Am Genesis! I am Genesis! I Am Gods Princess!
I am an introduction, a promise fulfilled, presented for the first time, all of heaven smiled with zeal! I am not a carbon copy, but an original presentation of God's divine mind.
My body, every mole, curve, bump, lump and freckle, is just the way the creator designed me to be; a blessing for all to see.
God is my source, my strength, my designer, my lifeline; He is my foundation, my root and my core A multitude of blessings he has in store.
I am His child, the center of His joy!
I am Woman- designed, whole and complete
I am Woman an important part of Gods plan, I am Woman taken from a piece of man.
I am his soulmate, his helpmeet, his woman!
I am Woman, conceived from the mind of How Great Thou ART! and I am a woman after God's own heart!
CHAPTER 3JOURNEY 3
FEAR
Fear is a tiny four letter word, but, yet it has so much power. Fear causes immobility, anxiety, and confusion. Fear is associated with dread, fright alarm and panic. This tiny word, yet we give it so much power over us! We are afraid of so many things, for example, flying, bugs worms, all kinds of bugs, public speaking, you name it, there is a fear attached to it. Why do we fear? The bible tells us in 2Timothy1:7, that God did not give us a spirit of fear. God gave us a sound mind. He said "let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus. Jesus didn't have fear so why do we? He encourages us through his word not to be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 says: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. So again, why do we fear? We fear because the enemy can't stand for us to have power. His main job is to kill, steal destroy and abort. If we recognize the power that God has given us that will diminish the control that satan has over us.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Discovered Passion by Rhontina Burroughs. Copyright © 2016 Rhontina Burroughs. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
JOURNEY 1,AT ODDS, 3,
Before I Formed You, I Knew You ~Psalm 139:1, 4,
Searching, 5,
The Redemption, 6,
The Locksmith, 7,
Dear Love, 8,
Again, 9,
JOURNEY 2,
AT ODDS PT 2, 12,
Spiritual Math, 13,
Discovered Passion, 15,
Multiple, 16,
Stepping Out, 17,
Thinking, 18,
Original Origin, 19,
JOURNEY 3,
Fear, 23,
Pregnant with a cause, 25,
THE CHOICE, 26,
Season, Seasoning, Seasoned, 28,
The Garden, 30,
A Divine Appointment, 32,
AM I MY SISTAHS KEEPER?, 33,
Encouraging One Another, 35,
The Great Command, 36,
We are History, 37,
There's Victory in Me, 39,
Friends, 40,
HEAVEN, 42,
Dedicated to Mack Hankerson, 43,
Longevity, 44,
Rooted and Grounded in Love, 45,
Living the Golden Life, 46,
The Calling, 47,
Prepared, 49,
VICTORY, 50,
JOURNEY 4,
Desired, 53,
Coffee, 54,
The Dilemma, 56,
Don't Wanna Beg, 57,
Angel, 58,
Clueless, 59,
Invitation, 60,
Anatomy, 61,
Child's Play, 62,
For you, 64,
FRESH EYES, 65,
I Wonder, 66,
Afraid, 67,
I Am your Man, 68,
I Am Your Woman, 69,
iNsAtIaBlE mE, 70,
Lifetime, 71,
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, 72,
Loving You, 73,
Me and You, 74,
Meeting, 75,
Merger, 76,
Mirror, Mirror, 77,
My Life to You, 78,
No more, 79,
Realization, 80,
Shame you lost me, 81,
The Difference, 82,
The Man, His Lady, Their Country, 84,
Together, 85,
Unfinished, 86,
Who AM I?, 87,
Wondering, 88,
Yearning, 89,
Your Girl, 90,
Sayonara, 91,