Monthly Archives: December 2017

Merry Christmas, Fam!



©NaimaLett.com

Merry Merry, Fam!
We’ve missed you!

We’re still here. We rolled things way back this year. Thus, you haven’t gotten a lot of emails from us, and we haven’t heard a lot from you. We just needed a break – a little space from the rigorous online updates, reports, etc. Have you ever been there?

It doesn’t mean that we’ve been any less fruitful. I actually think we’ve been more fruitful because our actions are more strategic. Less energy towards efforts that “might” be good, and more time spent on purpose-driven pursuits that yield meaningful results. In other words, we’re planting, watering, and tending pomegranates to yield pomegranates instead of scattering a whole bunch of seeds and hoping pomegranates happen to grow. Shift!

This year, we’ve learned:
– the extraordinary beauty of balance, boundaries, Sabbath & self-care
– giving back is not only essential, but can be a blast
– Beverly Hills has loads of awesome, complimentary activities that bring
our city together (what about your city?!)
– films are great, but theatre is STILL a must!

FILM IS GREAT, BUT THEATRE IS STILL A MUST!

After seeing so much great theatre this year, I am inspired to get back to it!

LISTEN! Hamilton:An American Musical is A-MAZING!!! See it when it comes to your city! It broke records with 16 Tony nominations and won 11 last year for a reason! It’s worth it!

Emmy Award-winning thespian Joe Morton (Papa Pope) did Dick Gregory proud with his one-man play on the comedian-activist’s life, Turn Me Loose that lit up these Hills after John Legend co-produced it Off-Broadway. Our nations needs more Gregory’s, Morton’s and Legend’s right now! Rise UP, Artists!

And Tony Award-winning star Phylicia Rashad deserves every acting award she’s ever received and all the ones she didn’t! Her monologue in the last 15 minutes of Head of Passes was a Master Class in artistic excellence! Academy Award-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney is obviously ticked at God in re-writing this Job-inspired narrative, and it turns out many of
his audience is angry too.

How do I know? Because I spoke up during the audience talk-back following the performance Kevin and I saw and pointed out how God comes through for Job in the Biblical narrative, unlike the play. Job is NOT left alone to die with no answers and no God. Job’s faith is rewarded, not punished. Well…that set folks off. Anyway! We still have to speak truth, Fam! Join the conversation. Reveal who God really is and love like He loves!

I’ve already started brainstorming and writing again. I’m ready to add my voice back in the mix. How about you? We’ve got something to say! Folks out here misrepresenting God! Or maybe they have yet to experience His goodness, His love. Rise Up!

GIVING BACK’s A BLAST!

This year, our wonderful Hope in the Hills family embarked upon our #LoveGiveServe campaign and had the beautiful privilege of serving our Seniors in Beverly Hills and BeverlyWood through Arts. In the month leading to Thanksgiving, we hosted 8 outreaches and served 20 – 40 seniors each week. We spent an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays leading our lively groups in creating arts to give away during Thanksgiving, culminating in a wonderful Dessert Celebration.

The Foundation exclaimed that our volunteers “are amazing!” and promptly asked us to expand from one center up to three centers. We believe there are more to come and are preparing for that expansion by seeking to bring on a part-time director to coordinate with the Foundation, plan our activities and help organize our volunteers.

If you’d like to support us in our continued efforts, please consider a tax-deductible YEAR-END GIFT of $100 or whatever you’d like to contribute:


YEAR-END GIFT

WHEN THINGS GO SIDEWAYS -GUEST BLOG BY KEVIN LETT

What do you do when life’s on track, then everything shifts and goes sideways? What happens when you’re like Joseph: operating in God’s will, yet struggling to comprehend God’s plan and infinite wisdom in your circumstances? Have you been there? I have.

CLICK HERE TO READ KEVIN’S GUEST BLOG

We leave you with this 2-minute masterpiece Kevin doodled on the computer: ETERNITREE! 2 Minutes, Fam! He’s so talented! And I’m not saying that because I’m biased and still madly in love with him after 16 years of marriage. He really is talented!

This was supposed to be a really short Christmas shot out! What happened?! Did I say that we’ve missed you?! So much more to talk about. Stay tuned
for 2018! We ready! And you?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
SEE IN IN THE 18!

Lots of love from the La La,
Kevin & Naima
Dr. Naima Lett
The Hollywood Christian®

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© 2017 Dr. Naima Lett. All Rights Reserved

When Things Go Sideways



Guest Blog:
When Things Go Sideways
By Kevin P. Lett

Reference: Matthew‬ ‭1:18-25‬ ‭NASB‬‬

What do you do when life’s on track, then everything shifts and goes sideways? What happens when you’re like Joseph: operating in God’s will, yet struggling to comprehend God’s plan and infinite wisdom in your circumstances? Have you been there? I have.

Some of us are experiencing this situation with God right now; believing God’s blessings are exceedingly great, though presently unrecognizable. The truth revealed to us seems beyond our comprehension.

Joseph had a tough decision to make. Mary, still a virgin, was pregnant before they consummated their marriage. This tested his faith to the core. Not only did he have to wrestle with the fact that she was pregnant, but he had to find the faith to accept the child was conceived through the Holy Spirit and was the Son of God as foretold through prophecy.

Joseph had to decide if he was going to focus on what he could see naturally and what others in the culture would think and say about Mary or dismiss all of that and trust God’s plan completely. This was a harsh reality and by appearances, overwhelmingly scandalous. What would you do in Joseph’s position?

I can relate to how Joseph must have felt when I married Naima. From the beginning, we both had great expectations of what our lives would be like together with God at the helm. Before marriage, God gave us the same vision separately of what we could accomplish together through Him, but before we could start down that path I had to fight for my life, my marriage, and my faith.

Cancer threatened my life. Suddenly, we realized that there were huge mountains in our path. This reality didn’t look at all like what we thought it would be, and our faith was being tested like never before. Like Joseph, I chose to put my trust in God and move forward despite the challenges before me. Now 15+ years later, I’m grateful to still have my health, my marriage and my faith intact; all of them stronger than before.

I did not have all the answers then and don’t have all the answers now, but I don’t have to because I have a relationship with the One who knows all, sees all, and is well acquainted with my sufferings. I know that I can trust God with my future. I still believe God for supernatural blessings to come, and I still believe in what God wants us to accomplish together in this city.

There are times we may find ourselves in unfamiliar places that challenge our faith and require God’s supernatural stimulation. However, with God all things are possible and He is right here with us in the midst of our struggles.

As we reflect on this historic event of Christ’s birth, how do you relate to Joseph? What are you trusting God to accomplish supernaturally that may not quite line up with your natural experience and expectations to date?

Be encouraged. When things are shifting, God is moving. And it’s all good!
Merry Christmas,
Kevin