Dear, Pastor->Leaders->Ministers->Reverends->Bishops->Church goers

I know many of my followers have different faiths and everyday I see a “like” or “share” my heart feels great. This is a letter to the church and pastors/leaders

Dear Church, Pastors and Leaders,

Thank-you for your service. There’re are hearts the need to be mended, spiritual wounds that need to be healed and tended too, struggles that require encouragement and stories that need to be heard and shared. It’s time to break tradition. It’s time to break religious customs. No rules, no religion but the true message, authentic message of Jesus. Please don’t preach opinion, and stay away from facts. Preach the unconditional love, acceptance, miracles, tend to the sick, open your ears and hear what your congregates hearts have to say. Teach your members about giving back to the community and reaching out beyond the four walls.

The building where we corporately worship, is just that a “building.” Jesus said that “we” the “person” is the church. So as a people, person; we need to reach out to the drug addicts, to the prostitutes,  to the struggling youth, to the homeless and hungry. We need to teach our congregates how to take the message we hear every Sunday and practice it for ourselves and for the community.

Hearts are hurting and people are crying out for help. We are the help through Jesus. People want authentic believers, and those with pure hearts. Stop the judgment, traditions and making people feel unwelcome. We need as a faith to grow, and encourage people to grow, no matter their faith or spiritual beliefs. Stop picking parts of the bible to follow, and follow the truth of Jesus, the truth in your heart and love of God. Show people that there is a God, and he loves you no matter where you are in life. Teach people people that God doesn’t judge and wants to help inspire them to have a life of purpose.

Lets feed the hungry, cloth those in need. Lets continue the work that the disciples started and Jesus taught. Take us to the KING! We need a word of life to that dying soul. We need a word for those who feel they are unreachable. We need a word, we need to hear Jesus’s teaching, love and why he truly died on the cross. Honestly we need to reach out to those not in our church, but also those in our churches. Reach out to all those you can, pray without cease. We as believers have a job to do.

Sincerely,

Domenia L Dickey

I’m convinced: You’ll Make it

A Pastor preached tonight and said: I’m convinced, You’ll make it.

We are all going through something in our lives; keep on living (there’s an upside) We need to realized that seasons (life’s circumstances) will change. So my question to those who question God, and believe in God: What does it really mean to live? What does it really mean to live for/with God?

Blessings aren’t always materialistic. Sometimes just being able to walk is a blessing; there’s someone out there that can’t. In every struggle God is there and even if you doubt, can’t feel him; know he’s there. You still have to stand. Don’t give up on God and on Life. God’s never given up on you. Even when it feel like you’re alone, STAND! No one’s life is meant to be easy, every one is given a specific journey to take with the hope that they will give back to a life.

It’s when you’re in your darkest spot, you’ll find out how strong you really are. Trouble, trials, circumstances, can either make you, or break you. What we need to realize is that we at some point, we have a choice, to give up or keep trying, and know that we’ve given it our best. And, we’ll keep on trying. These road blocks, I believe are test of character, patience and will power.

So embrace the pain, in knowing that the greatest glory in life is when you rise every time. Dr. Angelou said it the best, “Like Dust, We Rise” Seasons we must go through just like a life has beginning and a life had an ending. In everything there’s a purpose, my brother and my sister: in everything there is a PURPOSE. You’re not in this alone, even when no one responds to your text messages or answers you phone calls. You’re not alone.

“Like Dust, You Rise!” You’re not the first to experience pain, not will you not be the last. I hope you don’t feel like I’m trying minimize what you’re going through. I’m not! But someone, somewhere has been through the same thing, and survived- you will too! There will be feelings of abandonment, bitter words, silence, “You Rise” Even Jesus had disciples. Even Jesus was not alone. There is a God, Allah, Buddah (where ever you’re in your faith) that will and has encouraged you, and sent people to encourage you. Never allow negative people and experiences: take you out. You’re stronger than you know.

I’m convinced: You’ll Make it. Remember my brothers, and my sisters, black, white, gay, transgender, bi, str8, baptist, muslim no matter who you are, or your faith, I’m convinced when present with hard time, you’re presented with the opportunity to grow into and deeper to your person, and fulfill your purpose.

Your season of Change is coming, your season of pain is ending, and you have everything you already need to make it even if it doesn’t look like it. Trust me. I was going to kill myself tonight, and then I went to a church service and was reminded of my God, my strength and how I’ve come through so much. I can make it. Eventually, in your time of trouble you will have two options, 1. give up or 2. keep trying.

Will you have faith in yourself? Will you trust in an invisible God/deity? Will you trust that there is sometime bigger than you, who knows the future and plans for your life, and will never let you fall, and stay down. My boss told me this week, “Mia, I’ll give you the hours, don’t let me down.” In crutches, and in pain, I kept my word. Made it to my shift, took my brakes, made drinks, took orders and conquered today. So to Jenn (boss), ” I know, you had know idea of how hard it is for me to work with my pain, to stand for hours, and just to smile when I want to cry, and give up on life permanently. But I’m a woman of my word. Just like my God, who is a God of his word. I came to work, for the business, to prove to you that I could do it, and to encourage myself”

I’m convinced: Together, You and I will make it. Just like I’m making it!

Place of Impact: Aging out of foster care!

Yesterday, I was riding my bike in the rain from work, and was hit by a car. I’m safe, but injured. My bike is ok! I called my foster mom, my grandma, aunt and I was yelled at. Last week I was drugged and sexually violated and I called a trusted aunt and God-Mother and no one returned my phone call.

My God-Mother’s daughter reminded me that, I’m not her “real daughter”. It brought my mine back to the day my foster mom’s bio. daughter told me “she didn’t ask for me”, and her son told me “I’m replaceable.” Then my mind brought me back to being abandon from childhood, and no one advocating for me. My cousin told me I was tiring, and that she won’t help me. I swore at her, we almost had a fist fight.

One aunt, my favorite aunt told me, it’s “ok.” She will always answer her phone, but I’ve heard that before, and then I know I’ve burned bridges too. She told me that I have to control my emotions, and I wanted to yell “I’m bipolar” and then I realized that just because I have a mental illness, I’m on medication and I have a certain amount of control over my actions; even if not my emotions.

When the doctors were examining me, I was crying, not because I was in pain. No. But, because no one was there with me and I was going through this alone. I cried because I faced my reality. I’m no longer in foster care, there are no more social workers and I’m a grown woman. Whether I feel alone, abandon and/or my emotions/mental health is out of control, I have to be my own advocate and stand up for myself. I have to use my voice, and have faith in a higher power. I have to pray daily that my heart is renewed, my mind is healed, and that I have the power to live a God driven and purposeful life. At this point, it’s my choice.

So this is my message:

To those aging out of foster care, we have to accept that we’ve had it rough. We have to admit that we cry at night, are angry, confused and are trying to make it, in a complicated world. Sometimes when we go to the hospital, no one will come. We will have to walk home from work because no one will answer their phone. We will have to go to the doctors and hear hard words.But we’re not alone. There is a God that cares, and we have to remember the words of support, those good social workers and those who cared for us even if we don’t we never see them again. We have to believe in ourselves, get our education, get a job, and create our own families. We have to be open to new friendships, and new opportunities. We’ve made it this far, beat the system. Let us not give up. We will make it!

You are loved! I’m praying. I’m your advocate.

Seasons are changing!

In every great leader at one point had to walk alone, and if they’re lucky they’ve realized that, they were never alone to begin with. Not everyone in your life is mean’t to be there through every trial.

We have to accept that relationships are seasonal. What do I mean by seasonal? What I mean is that we are forever evolving and hopefully growing and fulfilling our purpose on this earth. I still didn’t answer my own question. What do I mean as seasonal? When you were a child you needed your parents to teach you, wash you, and clothe you. Eventually you grew, and didn’t need them in that way. They can still be a part of your life, but in a different way.

Sometimes you meet a person on the street that was only meant to say something encouraging you, or to tell you their story; and we didn’t know it, but it was design by a higher power that you heard such words. You could be having a bad day, but a random compliment could’ve changed your day. Hearing their story could have opened up your eyes and helped you discover something about yourself. You may not see that person every again, but in the season (time in your life) whatever you got from them, you needed it to help you move on and to reach your destination.

Not everyone in your life is meant to be there for everything, no matter how much you want them to be. Your season (time) with everyone is different and sometimes people will return but not always.

Sometimes we have to know when to allow God to take control, bless us, direct us and know, that whom he has placed in our lives for that season we need them, and to appreciate them and learn all that we can. You don’t need you pre-school teacher to teach you to color in the lines when you’re in high school. But that doesn’t mean they can’t at one point become a mentor. Seasons change just as nature.

We just have to know when to let go. So it brings me to my first part, the greatest leaders at one point had to experience what Paul did in the bible, to enter a point in life, where all they can do is rely on a God. A God we cannot see, not always hear, but we have to have faith in our hearts to know he is there; our job is to remain focus, and know just like people circumstances and trials are only their for a season.

Endure your season, make change, inspire a life and be your own change.

-Domenia