Who Am I?

Who am I?: I am the youngest of three children. I am single, never having been married, but am not opposed to it. (In God’s timing) I am originally from Long Island, New York. My family moved to Jacksonville during my tenth grade year of high school. Although I have lived in Jacksonville longer than I lived in New York, I still consider myself a New Yorker. I try to make a trip back home as often as possible. After just a few moments back among my people (New Yorkers), I pick up the accent again. Much like Floridians take the theme parks for granted, I took many of the New York monuments for granted. I have never been to the Statue of Liberty. I have flown over her many times but never actually visited Lady Liberty. I made it to the Empire State Building just before we moved to Florida. I think I grew up with the best of both worlds. Although my father and I were native New Yorkers, my mother was born and raised in the south. So I grew up appreciating the cuisines of both the north and the south. But never has a chitterling crossed my lips and never will one. I preferred White Castle burgers to Krystal’s; Carvel’s Ice Cream is the absolute best, and you can’t get a decent pizza here in Jacksonville to save your life. (There are a few places that call themselves “New York Style” but I think it is something in the water, it is just not the same.) I don’t have any human children but I do have two four-legged children. Gizzy, female munchkin, that looks like an over-extended football with legs and Taz, who daily earns his name. They make my days interesting. I never know what I will find when I return home. Grapes on the kitchen floor, bathroom tissue unrolled throughout the house, or my hair scrunchi in the litter box. They are both rescue cats I adopted when I purchased my home. Although they are, by species, cats, I think they have assimilated with dogs. Gizzy comes when you call her, a trait most cats are not known for. And Taz plays fetch, throw his toys and he will retrieve it to you. When I have spare time, I enjoy reading, shopping, walking on the beach at sunset, and spending time with friends and family.


Blog’s Beginning: This blog had been weighing on my mind and heart for several months and I hope to have finally put something together worth posting. I named my blog after a song a sweet grandmother-type taught me years ago-when I was just about 10 years old. "this little light of mine..."~Thank you Mrs. Carter. I will never forget you or our sitting together and singing this song.

I try to live my life just as the song suggests. I let my light shine. This world can be such a dark, depressing place and if you allow it to, your life can be made to seem unimportant. But I am a child of God and I know just a portion of what wonders await me in heaven. I try my best not to be a "in your face, bible thumping, holy roller". As Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel everyday; if necessary, use words.” I let my life be my testimony. Often times people don’t want to be preached at, they need a caring ear, a shoulder to cry on, a friendly smile, or a simple “hello”. It is after this that they will be more susceptible to hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ. So I go about living my life, and letting my light shine and when the moment presents itself, and it will, I am ready to Share Jesus without Fear (by the way, that is the title of a great book by William Fay).

I don’t profess to be a bible scholar, but I know that the answers to life’s most difficult questions are in God’s Holy Word-all one must do is pray, read, and study. I know that over the years people have come to me seeking answers and I humbly give all the Praise to my Heavenly Father. I believe that when people ask questions of me, that they are being used by the Father, to compel me to study more. So instead of you thanking me, please allow me to thank you. With every question asked, I study more and get closer to My Lord and Savior.

I am so very blessed to have been raised in the family I was. Although I did not realize it as a child, I was place on the path at a very early age. Some of my earliest memories are those of my mother and I attending Mount Olive Baptist Church, in Manhasset, New York. One of my fondest memories is my Father taking me to his family church Lakeville AME Zion. He pointed out to me the stain glass window that had a family member’s name etched in it. I visited that same church several years back when my Aunt Clara went home to be with the Lord; it felt like “home”. I have always believed that if the seed is planted and takes root, even if a child strays away, the desire will bring them home. I know this to be true because I lived it. When my father passed I was only 12 years old and I was and am a daddy’s girl, so I took it very hard. I pulled away from the church and God-How could he take my daddy away from me? It took about two years, but because that seed had been planted and had taken root, I eventually realized that something was missing from my life. Although up until that point I had not officially accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I knew what the answer was, so at the age of 14, I asked the Lord into my life, and was baptized, I mean REALLY baptized. Rev. Corley dropped me when he was performing the ceremony, so I was more than submerged, LOL!!! From that point on, I have been growing in Christ. There were times when the growth slowed but it never stopped. My walk with God has continued and my faith strengthened. One example was while I was searching for a church home, I would get a strong pull towards what is now my home church. At the time I didn’t know the name of the church or the pastor. Just everyday while going to work and on my way home as I would pass this building, I felt the pull. I knew that this is where God wanted me to be. It has now been 16 years, that I have been attending Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church out of Jacksonville, FL, where Rev. H.B. Charles, Jr. is senior pastor.

The purpose for me doing a blog was that throughout my Christian journey I have often come across scripture, devotionals, inspirationals, songs, articles, books and other bible study resources that I wanted to share, so to have a centralize location for these blessing I decided to develop my blog. I dedicate it to the up build of God’s Kingdom and pray that if anyone should find a blessing in it, that they will give all the Glory and Praise to the Father. Grace and Peace.