-Others May, You Cannot-

I was flipping through my Grandfather's Bible, and I came across a small piece of paper, with fine print entitled, "Others May, You Cannot." It was like a little piece of clarity to questions I've had over the years. So many times I've found myself frustrated and confused about how other "Christians" choose to live. Whether it's right or wrong, people compare themselves to each other. I being one, find myself saying "well at least I'm doing better than this friend," or "wow my talent and ministry is nothing when I put it next to this person." There are as many different kinds of Christians as there are colors of skin. There are variations in lifestyles, convictions, beliefs, and ways of living. I'd sometimes think, why am I giving and living in a way that is extreme when compared to other Christians in America? Why do I have to stand out, or at times blend in...when other Christians seem to be quite care-free, living as they wish, other than crossing off Church attendance? Again, comparisons. What it comes down to is they aren't me, I'm not you, you aren't them. We are all as different as our fingerprint. And so our walks will be different. God might call you to do something I'll never do. He might call me to an area you'll never go to. I believe God has a specific plan and calling for each life. The sticky part is where we come in. Being so kind and gracious, God gave us our own free will, so yes, we do get to choose how we respond to His call. We get to choose how we live our life's. We choose our level of involvement, our level of passion. We choose how much time we want to give him, how much of ourselves we want to give him. I'm a Christian who believes that giving Christ your "All" means: ALL your mind, body and soul. There should be a distinct mark on all three of those areas that lets others know God exists in you. Now as I stated earlier, there is every type of Christian and I appreciate unique differences, but I also realize what works for another will not always work for me. Each individual has potential to grow. I want to grow to my fullest, and that means as a Christian, I actually have to decrease myself, so that Christ can be seen in me. I never want to be mediocre. I never want to be fake. I never want to be a Pharisee OR an abuser of God's grace. I sincerely do want to be like Christ...and not like me. There's no extreme love for humanity, or passion to reach out, or intense desire to be selfless in my natural state. But when I give God my heart, and let him enter the thoughts in my mind, and treat my body like His temple...I bring a bit of heaven to my life, and to others. It's not an easy life. It's not for the feint of heart. But I believe in losing my life, to find another in Him. Even if and when others around me choose another route in life I'm learning to remind myself of the special calling God's placed on my life, and that little voice that whispers, "Others May, You Cannot..." The road's narrow for a reason. Won't be easy, It WILL be worth it.

Enjoy the passage I found, hopefully it turns on a little light in your mind the way it did mine...

"If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience,that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans,but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER WHEN JESUS COMES.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time,which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven."

~Summer Came Like Cinnamon, So Sweet~

Dawn of Summer--In Pictures

The Best is Yet to Come, & Babe Won't it Be Fun

Happy 2011!!! There is nothing like the feeling of a fresh, brand new year! As Anne says, "A new day, with no mistakes in it." One thing I love about the new 365 days, is the chance to make things right. I believe God has given every individual a life, and with that life a way to make a difference, and with a new year, a chance to be better. I was day dreaming, and I thought how special we all are. We've been given a single life-time, a moment in history--to, for lack of a better phrase, "BE." I get to leave my mark on the world! Whether it is a beautiful, colorful mark, or a dark one...it is ultimately in my hands. I feel as though I have fresh eyes when a new year starts. I can honestly look at where I'm at, where I've been, and where I want to go. My family sat down the other night and we all wrote down three of our goals. We shared them and prayed together. I never take a moment like that for granted. I'm ready to begin on another blissful dawn & day. I believe the best is yet to come. You have the opportunity to be all you want to be, if you dream, and if you work. Never give up, you have one life...and even that goes too fast. Too fast for us to take time to hate, hurt, or hold on to the past. It's just enough time though, to Love. Sorry if this turned into more of a diary entry. :) But it is raw from my mind and heart. I hope your year will be filled with lovely surprises, advancements in your journey, and motivation to lead the life you were meant to live. I'm going to end with lyrics to a wonderful song by The Script...Chase down those dreams, don't take a moment for granted. I believe in You! Xoxo

Gotta start

Lookin at the hands of the time we've been given it

This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it

Every second counts on a clock that's tickin'

Gotta live like we're dying

We only got86, 400 seconds in a day to

Turn it all around or to throw it all away

We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em

While we got the chance to say

Gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the sky

Who would you call with your last goodbye

Should be careful who we let fall out of our lives

So when we long for absolution

There'll no one on the line

Gotta start

Lookin at the hands of the time we've been given it

This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it

Every second counts on a clock that's tickin'

Gotta live like we're dying

We only got86, 400 seconds in a day to

Turn it all around or throw it all away

We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em

While we got the chance to say

Gotta live like we're dying

In Everything,Give Thanks

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.”



-Ralph Waldo Emerson

~Art~

One of My Favorite Artist- {Gustov Klimt}

~The Places We Go~

I haven't lived too long, but so far I've seen quite a few things. I've met more people then my brain can remember, and traveled across many lands & seas. I've been blessed with a family filled with an interest and desire to enable me to learn, grow, see, taste,touch and feel for myself. I've had the pleasure of wandering the Louvre in Paris....Sipped tea, and walked through the glamorous floors of Harrods in London. I've been to bustling streets of times square in New York... I've been 'Walkin in Memphis'.... Listened to jazz in New Orleans... and of course been to Hollywood & San Fran...

But, after all my travels....where is my Favorite Place You ask?

It's quite easy...I don't even have to think about it....My favorite place to be, rain or shine, day or night, good and bad....Will always be HOME-with the people I LOVE. No place on Earth beats the feeling of living in a house filled with laughter and tears, jokes and jabs....hugs, kisses, long talks....a home where dreams are shared, and each little life and personality somehow fits perfectly besides the next. We are a seamless tapestry of different thoughts and behaviors brought together by Blood & Love. And that Can't be beat. : ) That can't be lost. That can never Fade. And so...with all the places we go...all the people we meet...There are none as irreplaceable and magnificent as the faces of the ones we love, and the hearts that unite to create a Home.

~Flowers & Food~

Hello! It's been quite a while since I've posted. Fall brings a lot of excitement, buzz, and busyness into my world. Ha!....Anyway, I've recently come across some stunning photos of outdoor events. These pictures have defiantly inspired me to have a garden party (and to create my own garden in the back of my house.) There is nothing more divine than holding a cup of tea, being surrounded by beautiful antique china, and the sweet aroma of fresh flowers! I hope this sparks some creativity...Hope these beginning fall months are going splendidly for you....Enjoy!

Rayah's Cream Tea Recipe:

*2-3 [English/Irish/French] Tea Bags

(You can pick any of the above, my favorite lately has been the London Cuppa...If you are in a European area and can get to a Laduree-You must get your hands on their loose leaf teas. They are amazing!) I like my tea a little stronger so I use 3 bags.

*Cream

(I prefer 2% milk-either on the side, or stirred right into the tea pot)

*Sugar

(Cubed or grain. I stir 1/2 a cup into big tea pot)

There it is! I have this tea just about every morning along side a scone or toast...It is delicious, filling and relaxing...Hope you enjoy it! ; )

Crazy Little Thing Called {Love}

Just a thought....



A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
A song is no song 'til you sing it,
And love in your heart
Wasn’t put there to stay
-Love isn’t love'Til you give it away.



...Take time to spread love. To those near to you, those who may be strangers to you.....



"Hate leaves ugly scars, love leaves beautiful ones. "


Nothing too profound tonight-just think about it. Make the world a little sweeter. Take action. Give Your Love Away. It always comes back around.
xoxo Rayah

Beauty Lost-Time to Find

It's one of those reflection days. I've been thinking, reasoning, wondering. There are some days I'd like to throw my cell phone into the ocean, delete all connection to social networks, and shut down my laptop. So much beauty is quietly being painted over by a somewhat bland, overrated, overruned, and incredibly tasteless form of society. All that was once unique, ornate, colorful and skillful is fading. The art of music, the way each instrument was carefully tuned, impeccably played, and intensely studied. The organic way of living with fresh fruits, vegetables, homemade pies, and dinners spent together. The world of books, the beauty of written language. Moments of peace and quiet where the only sound you hear is the movement of the forest and the brush of wind against the trees. Communicating through hand written letters, a nice ring on the telephone, or something quite foreign now days-dropping by to say hello. Instead we keep connections through a cyber world. A world where people can create a facade to hide behind. We become more isolated in our corner typing, txting and emailing away. All mystery of an individual is being stripped away. The fight on the old world is about as fair as bows and arrows against machine guns. Find the beautiful life again. Pick up a book, immerse yourself in a new world and meet new characters. Take a trip. Pack up your bag and go on an adventure. Write a letter, visit a friend. Cook, bake, breathe. Take a bubble bath, take a swim. Take a break. Unplug the stimulation, and plug into the big world around you.

~Discovering Me~

I turned twenty this month. It was the first birthday I've had where I can actually say I felt old. I know, I know...everyone says it's still quite young, life has just begun. However, I felt an intense urgency to really go for what I want...I then faced the bottomless pit of a question, What do I want? And boy, do I want it all. I want to inhale as much beauty, and experience from this life as I can. I want to see the world. I want to be highly educated. I want to create. I want to learn all I can from those older then me, while reaching out to those who are comin up behind me. I want to paint, photograph, sculpt, draw, design. I want a go on an adventure. I want to write a book. But as we all know, dreams don't show up one day. You have to go after them. Fight for them. Believe in them. And for the first time in twenty years, I've felt deeply unsatisfied with where I'm at. And completely ready to set out on my journey to be...Me. Winston Churchill was full of witty expressions. One of my favorites, "I am easily satisfied, with the very best." To all of you out there, make this year the best of your life. The most productive. Work hard, dream big, and love with everything you've got. One Life. One Shot.

~The English~

I have a deep love for all things English, and by that I mean from England. The British have a way about them that captivates me. Such charm and manner, things that have practically disappeared now days. I love their style, their speech, their traditions, their humor and so on. I had a chance to visit England two years ago, and it was everything I thought it would be and more. Such a deep history, amazing tales and the best of stories have come out of that land. Not forgetting to mention my passion for tea time! : ) And boy-do they know how to put on a tea party. Their scones were out of this world! I am blessed to have a Mother who shares my Love. Our house is a beautiful warm place, eclectic in decor with gorgeous European pieces from all over. I am currently watching, "Daniel Deronda" written in the 1800's. Nothing like BBC. I'm about to make another pot of tea, while I sit by the fire and watch this lovely tale, on this rainy day. I hope you all have a lovely evening, join me if you can for a moment to relax and breathe...have a cup of tea. ; ) ....quote from Deronda, "Read Widely-Think Deeply."

~Dream BIG!~

I've been in a creative mood lately. : ) Writing a lot, singing a lot, dreamin a lot....I'm SO ready to chase those dreams that are buried deep inside of me! I already feel that 2010 is going to be an exceptionally good year....I want to grow deeper in so many areas...I want to love more & look at the beautiful sides of life-(we all know what the bad and the ugly look like!) lol....Prayer is a Big focus....It should be what life is centered around...& for Sharayah Starr it will be ; ) Set a goal this week-and work towards it! 'Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.!' ~Marsha Petrie~ Have a Lovely Week Everyone!!!

~It's a Wonderful Life~

This story is one of my very favorites! I can't get through it without tearing up...Each part paints a beautiful picture of (real) Life. With all of it's highs and lows, accomplishments and defeats. You can relate to George Bailey, as you watch how some of his dreams are put aside as life flies by. He gives all he has, he keeps his strong character-as he fights off the giants in his life and protects the weak. In the end, he ends up feeling like the weak one...all alone with all the cares of the world on his shoulders. An angel comes to him to show him what life would be like if he had never been born, he tells George, "You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?" ....you begin to see how he really did change the life's of those around him. In the end all of those people he helped step in to help him-and that is the part where my tears begin to flow : ) We all wonder if we have any impact on others, if there is a point to all the little things we do for others, we wonder if anyone sees-if anyone cares. The answer is yes! Each life touches the one's around it. There's one you-You have one Life to Live & it goes fast. So on the Last December in 2009, think of all the beautiful things God's blessed you with & remember-It truly Is a Wonderful Life! One last quote from Clerance, "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." ....You have angels watching you, carrying you through those tough times in life & friends on earth to help you along the way. : ) Happy New Year Everyone! Looking forward to Great things in 2010! Dream Big!!

~Kissing the Past Farewell~

We are approaching the start of a brand new year. Now is a wonderful time to reevaluate our life's, refocus, and get our eyes focused on the future-as we let go of the past. When you close out this year, close it. Let go of all of the obstacles, frustrations, and people that brought you down. Go into a new year free of them. Remember, your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. You have been given 12 new months to dream, to begin to reignite the passions and dreams deep within your soul. Don't live to please people-live to please the Lord...and I promise you, your days will be brighter. "Trust in the Lord with ALL your Heart-Lean not on your own understanding (because most of the time you wont understand) in ALL your ways acknowledge Him & He shall direct your Paths." One of my favorite verses. This next passage by T.D. Jakes has really changed my life, and I hope it does something for you. Have a blessed new year & get the Gift of Goodbye!

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this!

When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk.

Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.

LET THEM GO!

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of goodbye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in goodbye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.

LET THEM GO!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...LET THEM GO!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...LET THEM GO!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...LET THEM GO!

If someone has angered you...LET THEM GO!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...LET THEM GO!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...LET THEM GO!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...LET THEM GO!

If you have a bad attitude...LET THEM GO!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...LET THEM GO!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....... LET THEM GO!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...LET THEM GO!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed...LET THEM GO!

Get Right or Get Left, think about it, and then...

LET THEM GO!!!

-T.D. Jakes

~Merry Christmas~

So this is my first blog. And this season happens to be one of the most beautiful to write about! : ) My mind fills with nostalgia....memories of past years, scents, tastes and smells of Christmas's long, long ago. Fond moments of my life that have stayed with me. I love this time of year, simply because-as corny as it may sound-it brings out the best in others. People seem to be a little more patient, a little more understanding, and a little more loving. I love how every Christmas song makes you feel cheery...and how the older ones are so perfectly penned to describe the true meaning of Christmas. "Oh Holy Night," "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him," "Silent Night," and many others tell the beautiful story of our Saviors birth. One of my favorite verses-"Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother, And in His Name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name"....Those words are so moving, and paints a picture of the kind of God I serve. We sang them tonight at our Candlelight service, and all I could think about is how truly thankful for all that God has placed in my life in 2009. I've been blessed beyond measure. Everyone has something to be thankful for-so during this hard time in our country, with the recession, loss of jobs, etc....Remember you've been given a Beautiful life of purpose and meaning...enjoy it to the fullest....step back to see the big picture of your life-with its dark and light moments...I always say, 'A master piece painting would not be one if the whole thing was white. It's given life when it has contrasting colors, light sides and dark.' Whatever Season You're going through-Just be at Peace. The Master is at Work-Creating Something Beautiful out of You! Merry Christmas-Have a Wonderful Time with Those You Love!