DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
TRUSTED?

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Are we trusted?
On a scale of 1 – 10, how much can others trust us?

Trust is earned, usually over time… after being consistent and dependable.

For example, in television, an actor is awarded roles directly proportionate to how much he/she is trusted and known by the powers that be (producers, directors, casting directors).

TV LAND

“Usually”, an actor has to prove himself and build a solid resume through independent, smaller roles, which lead to solidifying representation that can open doors to audition for co-star roles i.e. the one-liners. After landing several co-star roles and proving that he can handle himself on the set, an actor is bumped up to auditioning for guest star roles, i.e. a couple of pages of dialogue. If he lands several guest star roles, then it’s on to being submitted for recurring and series regular roles. To garner the series star/lead role, where showrunners are willing to write a series for you to carry, it takes many, many years of building trust.

Why? Because people’s livelihoods – their house notes, car payments, health insurance, child’s tuition – are all dependent on whether or not you succeed or fail. They’ve got to trust that you, the actor, have what it takes to keep people watching and keep advertisers paying week after week, which in turn, keeps them employed and their paychecks coming. Make sense?

I talk to artists all the time who think they are not booking because they don’t have the right opportunities. While that may be partially true, (I believe artists can MAKE their own opportunities), it’s not the whole truth. Many actors, dancers, singers, etc. are not booking because they have not earned the trust of those who can hire them. Many of them have not even begun to build the relationships, much less build trust.

FROM TV TO GOD

Many of us approach God with the same air of entitlement that my artists friends approach the industry. We expect the series star/lead role, but we haven’t yet proven ourselves as co-stars or guest stars. We expect God to give us the sun, moon and stars, and we haven’t learned how to take care of His earth.

We ask God for a husband or wife, yet all our other relationships are broken.
We ask God for a promotion, yet we neglect our current position.
We ask God for an Academy Award, yet we refuse to take an on-camera acting class.

If one more person tells me that God is supposed to make them a millionaire! My question usually is “What have we done with what He has already blessed us with?” Why would anybody, especially an all-knowing, all-wise God, give us millions, if we have not effectively managed thousands, hundreds, tens, fives, ones?

Would we trust someone to manage our income who had not proven themselves as a good steward of their own? Would we turn over our entire bank account to someone who had not proven they wouldn’t gamble it away? Could someone turn over their entire account to us and trust that we would honor their wishes, not our own?

Are we trusted?
Are we trustworthy?
Prove it. Let’s show our prior record.

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN

The quote, “To whom much is given, much is required” is thrown around a lot.
Some attribute it to Oprah.
Some quote Stan Lee’s Spiderman i.e. “With great power comes great responsibility”.
Others quote Socrates, “Rule worthy of might.”

Many are trying to quote Jesus:

Luke 12:48
Passage: Luke 12:35-48

… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Matthew 25:23,29
Passage: Matthew 25:14-30

‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master’…“ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”

IN CONTEXT

If we read both full passages in context, we find that Jesus’ quote (about entrusting more to those who are trustworthy) follows His teachings and parables about being ready for His second coming. In both Matthew 25 and Luke 12, the point Jesus makes is for His disciples to be ready, be alert, because we don’t know the day or hour He’s coming back for us. The point of the parables is that when Christ returns, He will reward those who have been great stewards over what has been entrusted to them and punish those who have not.

This isn’t about Spiderman saving the day, though I’m always excited to see biblical truths woven into our modern-day stories. This is an ultimate question of what we’ve done with the truth God has given us? Are we being good stewards over His affairs? Or are we the servants who know the master’s will and do not get ready or act in accord with His will?

TRUSTED?

It’s Monday.
It’s a new week.
And the question is, are we trusted?

Can God trust us with His ten talents, five talents, one talent?

Do we even acknowledge that our lives are not our own and that we’re here to accomplish His greater purpose?

Scripture says God gives “each according to his own ability”. What has He already given us that’s according to what we can handle? Have we been excellent stewards over what He’s already blessed us with? Have we managed our resources well?

Are we trusted?
Are we trustworthy?
Let’s prove it!

Wondering if the new The Amazing Spiderman in 3D dropping July 3rd will be as amazing as the three films that preceded it…???
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE | BLOG – NAIMA LETT
TAKING CARE OF MOMS

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Mother’s Day is Sunday.
Sales are a’raging! Flowers, dinners, mani-pedi gift cards!
Retailers know this one thing: We take care of our moms.

Know how the holiday started? Wikipedia recounts the story of Mother’s Day founder Anna Jarvis. Here’s the quickie version:

Anna’s mother Ann Jarvis “founded Mothers’ Day Work Clubs in five cities to improve sanitary and health conditions. The Mothers’ Day Work Clubs also treated wounds, fed, and clothed both Union and Confederate soldiers with neutrality. On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother’s death, Anna held a memorial to her mother and thereafter embarked upon a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognized in 1914, but was already disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s”.

So, Ann started Mothers’ Day clubs to help people; and her daughter, Anna, started ‘Mother’s Day’ to honor Ann, her mother, and to encourage “each family to honor their mother”.

From its inception, Mother’s Day has been about taking care of people. Despite its ‘commercialization’, it is still a day that we can pause, honor, and take care of moms.

God’s Son took care of His mom.

While He was hanging on the cross, Jesus took a moment and made sure that His mother, Mary, would be taken care of after His crucifixion.

JOHN 19: 25-27

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

A MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE

Every time I picture this scene, my heart breaks.

The fact that the innocent Jesus is hanging on a cross is horrific. But add on top of that, His mother is standing near His cross, watching the whole catastrophe go down. It’s a mother’s nightmare. The child whom you raised is dying and there’s nothing you can do about it.

I’ve talked to parents who’ve lost children and they say it’s the most unnatural thing in the world. Everything in us says that we are to precede our children in death, so nothing prepares us for the pain of losing a child. Nothing. Many families don’t survive the tragedy.

But there was Mary. Standing near the cross of her son, who by this time, had been beaten ’bout beyond recognition.

And there is Jesus. Suffering immense pain and anguish, but still, providing for others, particularly his mother.

A MOTHER’S PROVISION

Jesus is well aware of the Jewish laws which allow for widows, orphans and foreigners to gather leftovers from the edges of the harvest fields in order to eat. Technically, Mary should never go hungry.

But Jesus goes a step further. He makes specific provision for Mary. Sandwiched between “Father, forgive them” and “It is finished”, Jesus commissions His disciple John to care for His mother, Mary, as if she were His own mother, and John, now her son.

And that’s exactly what happens. John writes that he takes Mary into his home as his mother from that time on.

Jesus also says to Mary that John is to be her son. I’m sure He knew what a gigantic hole He was leaving in her soul with His departure. Nothing can fill that hole. But maybe caring for John, as her own son, would ease her pain.

Jesus gave them both to each other. He met their needs. He took care of His family.

TAKING CARE

On this Mother’s Day, let’s take care of families.
If our mothers are still here, let’s take care of them. Let’s meet their needs.
If our wives are mothers, let’s take care of them. Let’s meet their needs.
If we know other mothers, let’s take care of them. Let’s meet their needs.

And then, like Ann and Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother’s Day, let’s see if there are ways that we can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and treat the wounded who have been in physical and spiritual wars.

Even if this is a time of crucifixion for us, if things are crazy painful, somewhere between our “Father, forgive them” and “It is finished”, we too can gift our pain to God and choose to take care of others who may also be hurting. In His unbearable situation, Jesus chose to take care of His mother. That’s selflessness. That’s love.

I’m not suggesting that we stuff our pain. No, we actively process it. But our own circumstances don’t have to stop us from loving and taking care of those in need. We too can practice selflessness. We too can love.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Wishing all the mommies a beautiful Sunday.

If you’re in the LaLa, you’re welcome to join us Sunday at our bible fellowship in Beverly Hills from 11:30-12:30. Please just let us know you’re coming, as we provide lunch.

Hugs, kisses and lots of love to all our fam nationally and internationally!

I’ll likely take tomorrow off, so please enjoy this blog for today and tomorrow.

Mother’s Days have gotten better each year since my own mother past when I was in college. The grief is no longer heavy, but I still give myself time and space to celebrate and process.

I remember Mama’s contagious laugh and know it’s filling every room of her heavenly mansion. I imagine she’s got friends and family over, singing and dancing and having a good time. And though she’s the life of the party, she doesn’t know it, because she’s so focused on what everyone else needs. She’s even more beautiful in her eternal, pain-free body. And she’s flanked with my sister, grandmother, grandfathers, great-grands, cousins, and all our fam that’s gone on before. And at any moment, they all might break out in spontaneous praise cause life with God is just that grand.

Happy Mother’s Day!
So very grateful the Lord is taking care of our moms today,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
NOW THAT’S HOW YOU WIN!

Now that’s how you win a singing competition!

Tears. Hugging your father. Hugging your wife. Singing to the wife.
Thanking God. Thanking Jesus. Trying to sing while trying not to cry.
Wife boo-hooing. Holding each other up. Falling apart.

Did you see it?

Jermaine Paul’s response to winning NBC’s “The Voice” last night finally put the “real” in reality show. He did that thing that guys do where you can tell they’re trying to be hard and not cry, but they’re just too overcome with emotion to hold it together and completely become undone.

He was off the cuff as he tried to reprise his version of “I Believe I Can Fly”. Sometimes, he skipped the melody. Sometimes, he just stopped singing altogether while giving more hugs. No pretense. No trying to prove why he won. Just raw. Loved it!

In his first interview coming off the stage, Jermaine, former backup singer of Alicia Keys, said:
“All glory to God, man, all glory to God… If you just give your life to God, if you just believe in yourself, and let all the bull crap go, and push on, God will make a way for you.”

Earlier, onstage, Jermaine thanked “My wife, my children, my father, my mother, my mother-in-law… everyone that supported me from day one, God bless yal! Nobody but Jesus! Nobody!” (Video – skip to 6:00)

You know what it reminded me of? When Fantasia won American Idol. Remember that?

There’s just no way to fake that kind of genuine gratitude…. where you know people have struggled for years and years to just get a foot in the door, and then, it finally swings wide open and they are truly, truly thankful.

I have to be honest. Though I caught bits and pieces of “The Voice” throughout the season, including parts of the finale, I didn’t watch the show religiously. It’s not the easiest show to follow. Best I can tell, there are multi-rounds of eliminations and sing-offs within teams before you get to sing-offs against teams. It was just way too much for me to invest four hours weekly to figure this juggernaut out.

Then there was the bizarre performance by Cee Lo and Goodie Mob that threw me. Much confusion. And what one exasperated fan called the “bedazzled pampers” of Christina Aguilera. More confusion. Online entertainment mags reported in-fighting amongst judges and name-calling between judges and contestants. Maybe I’m just jaded from being in the industry so long, but I usually believe all reality show conflicts are manufactured by producers to garner ratings. Sorry.

So that’s why Jermaine’s response was so refreshing.
It wasn’t manufactured.
He was 200% grateful to God.

It reminds me of the story of blind Bartimaeus and his gratitude:
Luke 18:35-43

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man (Bartimaeus) was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Bartimaeus did not wait for anybody to prompt him to praise God. He cut loose. As soon as he realized he could see, it was on. He lit that road to Jericho up with praise. So much so, that all the people who saw what happened, also praised God!

I imagine that the scene could have been similar to Jermaine’s win on “The Voice”, minus the ticker tape and electronic rain falling from the ceiling. I imagine that Bartimaeus hugged everybody that would allow an ex-beggar to hug them, first starting with Jesus. I believe if he could have, Bartimaeus bear-hugged Jesus and boo-hooed!

I imagine Bart high-fived all the other beggars he used to hang with and they cheered him on as he followed Jesus down the road to Jericho. I believe people were cheering and crying and snouting and amazed. I believe Bartimaeus could not shut up telling people what God did for him.

Sound about right, Jermaine?

What about us?
What are we grateful for today?
What is our win?
What has God provided for us?

Let’s allow Jermaine and Bartimaeus to inspire us today.
Let’s gush over how good God is.
Even if everything’s not as we wish it to be, there’s still something we can say “Thank You” for!

Dreaming of ticker tape falling from heaven,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
WHY WE LOVE AVENGERS

We saw Marvel’s “The Avengers” yesterday. In case you haven’t heard, over the weekend, this blockbuster smashed the biggest movie opening weekend record with a $200.3 million domestic debut and $441.5 million worldwide (Article: Avengers Smashes Record).

Distributed by Disney, The Avengers sped past last year’s $169.2 million opening weekend record set by the Harry Potter finale, and took in over $1/2 billion worldwide ($641.8 million) in just 12 days.

So, either the world loves comic book heroes.
Or the world loves avenging.
Or both.
1/2 billion anything is a lot of love.

Our fam in Hollywood are scrambling to assess the data!
* 50% of the audience were over 25. So this wasn’t just for teen boys.
* 40% of the audience were women. Amazing for a superhero movie.
* Anticipation was built over 6 years, beginning with marketing for the first Iron Man movie released in 2008, followed by The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America.
* Producing the film for 3D and IMAX allowed Disney to make up to $20 per ticket in comparison to regular movie rates of $7-$13.

On and on. But after all the assessments are done, the truth will still stand that people love this movie. In fact, it’s been proven time and time again that people love films where good trumps evil, especially when they take place with other-worldly type characters. The Box Office Mojo list of the Top 25 biggest opening weekends are all “good conquers bad” blockbusters: Avengers, Batman, Spiderman, Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, Star Wars.

We love ‘good gets bad’ on TV too. Nielsen reports that a month ago, the top watched network television shows (after reality singing contests American Idol and The Voice) were NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds and NCIS: Los Angeles. Not only did that make CBS extremely happy, but it proves that folks love shows where there is justice. At the end, the villain who is doing bad things is stopped by the team of unlikely, likable heroes who risk their lives for others.

We love it when wrong is avenged.
We love avengers.
Did you know God’s people had avengers back in the day?

NUMBERS 35: 16-34 talks about them.

16 “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death…19 The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death… 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die 21 …that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet. 22 “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally 23 … and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood… 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled…

OLD SCHOOL AVENGERS

Basically, according to the Law, the lives of murdered victims were avenged by the avenger of blood, who put the murderers to death. Classic eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for life. (Leviticus 24: 19-21)

The only way to get away from the avenger of blood was if you had accidentally killed someone and subsequently ran to the city of refuge for those who made such mistakes.

The law was set up to deter people from killing each other. If we knew the consequence to taking a life was losing our own life, that was supposed to make us think twice about taking another life.

NEW SCHOOL AVENGERS

Our own US justice system is set up in the same way. The law and penalties for breaking the law are supposed to deter us from harming each other. How’s that working out?

The problem is that the law cannot stop us from sinning. It can only make us aware of our sin. We have an innate inclination toward doing the wrong thing. We like to believe that we are naturally good people; but if we were completely honest with ourselves, we’d have to admit that we aren’t naturally good, at least compared to a holy, perfect, sinless God. Left to our own devises, we screw up. We sin. We hurt each other, a lot.

And deep down, when we mess up royally, we sense that we deserve consequences from an avenger. We, who love ‘good conquers evil’ films and television, understand that when we have done evil, we deserve to be set right by good. We understand eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life.

AVENGERS FLIPPED

What we don’t quite understand is forgiveness; yet we all crave it when we have done wrong. We want our sin to be excused. As Black Widow said in The Avengers, “I have red on my ledger”. We want that red from our past discretion to be wiped clean.

What a relief for us that we have access to that clean slate because we can seek forgiveness in the Ultimate Hero of all Heroes, the real God of the Universe. Thank God that His perfect, sinless Son, Jesus, agreed to stand in our sinful stead and offer His life as an atonement for us. He took on all the red on our ledgers because we could not clear it ourselves.

Where things get flipped upside down is when Jesus starts saying things like Matthew 5:38-48:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also… 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Let me just say the obvious: this is hard.

It goes against everything in us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies. But how can we ask for forgiveness and not be willing to forgive? Even if we are willing, it’s still hard to actually do it.

I’m convinced that the only way we cannot seek vengeance when we have been wronged is to have faith in the true avenger.

THE TRUE AVENGER

We love the avengers because they avenge, set things right and get the bad guys. They all represent the One True Avenger who, when it’s all said and done, will set things right and get The Bad Guy.

The only way we can release our own need for vengeance is to take God at His word that He is the True Avenger: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12: 18-21) When it’s all said and done, the Lord sees all and knows all and no bad guy will ever get away.

When we believe that God will right our wrongs, then we can do our best, in His power, to forgive those who wrong us.

ENJOY

But let’s be honest. The Avengers would never have made $200 million if the Hulk turns the other cheek! We go to see the Hulk S-M-A-S-H! Nobody wants to see Iron Man love aliens invading our planet. Fry them with lasers, Robert Downey Jr.! We want Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Thor to take Thor’s brother Loki out! Take the murderer down!

It’s a movie. Go. Enjoy!
Revel in the special effects and 3D stuff flying at the screen.
Sympathize with Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury trying to get this rag tag band of misfits to work together. Get lost in the other world where aliens invade New York City and we have to fight for our freedom. It’s America. We have to save New York.

And after the credits have rolled, and you want to stay to the end, whisper a ‘thank you’ that the True Avenger loved us so much that He gave us a way to escape His vengeance.

Eternally grateful,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Traveling is wonderful and greatly appreciated, yet, as Dorothy repeated in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home”.

We had a ball in Dallas last week though. A couple of the comments on ProvenWay’s Facebook page included:

“Naima led me to bring rejection to the cross… no more weeping! He IS Risen… what a blessed event! Huge IMPACT!” Laura

“Naima tells us to retire our Super Woman capes. Lay them down before the King.” Donna

“Amazing night…” Daphney

So grateful for the feedback. Thursday was an amazing night. Praise God! It was the National Day of Prayer, and we gathered to Laugh. Cry. Pray. And that’s what we did. We laughed. We cried. We prayed. Not necessarily in that order. :=) We had a good time.

The whole week of filming and ministry was phenomenal. Then, I boarded my flight back to LAX. When my husband picked me up from the airport, it had been a long day for both of us; but, in his hug, I knew I was home.

Kevin is 6’2″. I love that.
Without heels (which I usually wear), my head fits right under his chin when he hugs me. I must’ve had on sneakers because that’s where I found myself outside the airport – head to his chest under his chin. That’s probably the place I most consider “home” these days.

Why?
Because that’s the place that has been most constant in the last decade.

Our actual “home” i.e. residence has been fluid since we got married, depending on vocational and educational needs. We’ve been homeowners, renters and even homeless (at no fault of our own). We’ve experienced stability and adaptability. We’ve experienced plenty. We’ve experienced lack. So, I’ve learned to hold the concept of “home” very loosely.

We’ve lived on the East Coast, in the South and now the West Coast. We finally believe this is our last stop before heaven and look forward to home-owning again. I’ve learned to never say never, but short of an emphatic message from our God to move, we’ve resolved that we’re cool with the LaLa’s 80 degrees and a breeze, always sunshine, hardly-ever-rains forecast.

But is this really our “home”?

Jesus gives us a different perspective on home. During the last supper with His disciples, after Jesus washes their feet and explains that He will be betrayed, Jesus encourages his disciples not to be troubled about the coming events because He’s going ahead of them to prepare a place for them, to prepare a home.

Today’s Meditation
JOHN 14:1-6

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The King James version translates that ‘dwelling places’ as ‘mansions’. Jesus says He is going ahead of His disciples to prepare mansions for them so that wherever He is, they are with Him. Further in the chapter, Jesus explains His oneness with God the Father and promises to send the Holy Spirit. If we want to understand more about the Trinity and Tri-une nature of God, this is a great chapter to meditate on.

So, home.

If we take this chapter literally, which we can, since Jesus is not speaking allegories and parables here, then we understand that if we believe in Him, we have a heavenly home that is being prepared for us, a place where Jesus will receive us to Himself.

We don’t have to let our hearts be troubled by our present circumstances. This is all temporary. We have an eternal home that awaits us. And I guarantee you, as beautiful as Nate Berkus and Martha Stewart can prepare a home, they have nothing on Jesus! When He says He is preparing mansions for us, we can rest assured that our minds will be blown.

Perspective is everything. I don’t know what’s going on in your life today, but sometimes, it’s just good to remind ourselves that things will get better. A. Whole. Lot. Better.

Be encouraged, Fam.
New week.
New Monday.
And there’s no place like HOME!

Click HERE or the picture below to hear Whitney Houston’s version of “Home”, which was first sung by Tony & Grammy Award winner Stephanie Mills for the “The Wiz”, an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz”. I tried to find a video recording of Stephanie’s version, but that was 1975 on Broadway. I’d have to send you to the Library of Congress. :=) So, here is Whitney’s first television performance:

…When I think of home
I think of a place
where there’s love overflowing…

Pulling out my candy apple glitter sandals, clicking my heels three times, and looking to go tuck my head under my hubby’s chin!

There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like heaven.
Naima

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TIME TO RETIRE

It’s time to retire!
That was the message I gave last night at the Laugh. Cry. Pray. event. The ladies were great. We had a wonderful time.

We had a retirement party!
We retired our superwoman capes and trying to meet everyone’s expectations.
We retired all our stress, anxiety, burdens.
We gave everything over to God, Who can handle them.

Psalm 46:10 says
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

That cease striving means let go, relax, retire.
As we go into another weekend, let go, relax, retire.
Be still and know that God is God.

OK, my flight is loading.
On the way home to LaLa Land.
I’m retired.

Gifts can be sent to the Hills! :=)
Naima

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LAUGH. CRY. PRAY

Laugh. Cry. Pray.
Sounds like a movie, right?

It’s the Girls Night Out event tonight at the Hope Center in Dallas/Plano that I’ve been invited to share as a speaker/performer in celebration of the National Day of Prayer, which is today.

A very special thank you to ProvenWay Ministries for their partnership over the years. They”re quite wonderful!

So, today is the National Day of Prayer.
You praying?

In his final instructions in his letter to the church of the Thessalonians, Paul instructs the believers to always pray.

Today’s Meditation:
I Thessalonians 5: 16-18

16 Always be joyful.17 Pray continually,18 and give thanks whatever happens.
That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

If you’re a King James buff, you remember the verse as “Pray without ceasing,” which means pray all the time.

Is that even possible?

It is when we see prayer as a dialogue with God. When we are simply talking with Him and listening to Him, there is this constant communication that occurs without even thinking about it, really.

I might be driving, walking to the post office, washing dishes, talking to another person, and I’ll pause and pray in my mind, “Lord, guide me.” That’s a prayer, my friends!

When the truck slammed into my car last year and decided to keep going taking part of my bumper down the street with him, I said out loud, “Lord, Help!” That’s a prayer.

When a friend calls about their loved ones, I may say, “Lord, please take care of him/her. Please show up in this situation.” That’s prayer.

I messed up. Please forgive me.
I praise You. I worship You.
Keep my mind.
Help me hold my tongue.
All prayers.

Prayer doesn’t have to be deep, but Paul says it should be constant.

Let’s take time and pray continually for our nation today, for our leadership, for our economy, for our children, for our future.

Before “pray continually”, Paul also says be joyful.
Let’s laugh.
Let’s laugh til we cry.
And let’s pray.

Laugh. Cry. Pray. During this National Day of Prayer.
And if you’re in Dallas, come hang.
I’m sharing a message of encouragement.

Besides, I think they have an ice cream bar and desserts.
Oh, what’s your favorite flavor?
Mine is strawberry cheesecake, peach, and butter pecan.
OK, that’s 3 favorites…
Who only has one favorite kind of ice cream? :=)
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
UP IN THE AIR

©Paramount

When you get this, I’ll likely still be “up in the air”.

Did you see that movie a couple of years ago with Academy Award winner George Clooney?
It really captured some of the challenges of life on the road, or in the air, rather.

Traveling frequently is not so bad… after we undress, re-dress and get our minds right for security.

And traveling on the red-eye is actually ideal. We load in, hit play on the pod, and knock out.
But that didn’t happen on a recent flight. My neighbor actually wanted to connect up in the air.

“So, what do you do?” he inquired.

“Sleep,” I thought, but didn’t say, as that would’ve been a little rude. OK, a lot rude.

“My husband and I have a production company, ministry and bible fellowship in Beverly Hills,” I actually said.

“Is that like, Christian?”

“Umm…hmm..”

“What denomination?”

“The bible fellowship is non-denominational on inter-denominational, whichever you’d like to call it. Everybody’s welcome.”

“And what do you do?”

“I preach. I’m 1/2 way through my Doctorate in preaching…”

“Humph, I’ve got some questions.”

That’s how our conversation started. And for 2 1/2 hours, we talked theology and Bible. He had great questions and things he had been thinking about for quite some time. I consider myself a tour guide of sorts to help folks navigate around God’s Word, so I didn’t mind. Then, he looked at the time, decided he needed to get some rest, turned out his light and was sleep in 5 minutes.

But now, I was wide awake.
I chuckled to myself and pulled out my sudoku.

No need in getting upset. I was reminded of that passage in Hebrews in which the Biblical writer encourages us to love each other and extend kindness to strangers. Remember that one?

Hebrews 13:1-3

1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ^3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

I’m pretty sure that the writer wasn’t imagining showing hospitality on a plane thousands of miles up in the air, but the concept is the same. We are to remember and do for others, up in the air or otherwise.

That’s what the movie was about. Making connections. Having human interaction.
Making time for one another.

The truth is that I could always get more rest later on.

I think about my brother and sister-in-law right now with my newborn nephew and the lack of sleep they may be experiencing. But they are doing what they have to do in shifts to meet his needs. That’s what we do for family. We could do the same for our extended human family as well. Shift to meet needs.

Just some things to ponder this week.

Hey, I’ll be in Dallas, doing some filming as well as ministry.
Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. I’m ministering at the Hope Center for ProvenWay Ministries.
Dallas Fam, holler!
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
EMBRACING YO-YOS

photo source

Up and down.
Up and down.
Sometimes, life seems very yo-yo-ish.

But I recently realized that I resist the yo-yo.
I don’t like the up and down.
Most days, I wish things would stay, well, just up.

There’s a reason I love the weather in LaLa Land. Remember that song? “It Never Rains in Southern California” by Tony! Toni! Tone!? [Side note, I just pulled up the video and realized I know the actress that’s in it. Such a small world. I’d post the link, but the video gets a little racy for my readers on a Monday morning.] Anyway, the song is almost true. It hardly rains out here. That means that the majority of the time, it’s sunshine and blue skies, or “80 degrees with a breeze”, as I like to say. I love it! UP!

But no rain also means that 1/2 way through the summer, most of the grass along Hollywood Freeway is brown, we are more susceptible to brush fires that wipe out whole neighborhoods, and our water bills are massive because we’re all running sprinklers to keep our manicured lawns green. Rain is not so bad when we put it in context.

We need sunshine. We need rain. We need ups. We need downs. That’s the ebb and flow of life. That’s definitely the reality of the entertainment industry. And ministry, for that matter. Sometimes, things are up. Sometimes, things are down. Some things, I have no control over. But I can choose my response in each situation.

Which brings me to a passage I read this morning in my quiet time.

Don’t ask me how I got to 1 Peter from 1 Chronicles, but I ended up in 1 Peter 5 where Peter breaks down the attitude of those who serve the Lord. This is what he says:

Today’s Meditation
1 Peter 5:5-7

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

DOWN?

Peter encourages us to choose the attitude of humility toward one another and toward God.
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like I’m choosing the down of the yo-yo, yes? Does anybody else feel that way? Like humility takes us down?

That’s exactly true.
That’s exactly what God is saying, “Choose the down.”

This has nothing to do with depression or sadness. I’m not suggesting that God is saying choose to be down and in the dumps. That’s not it. This scripture says for us to choose humility instead of pride. It’s an attitude shift. It’s choosing to honor God and others before ourselves. It’s embracing last instead of first.

Or in my case, embracing rain.
EMBRACING YO-YOS.

Because here’s the good news:
When we humble ourselves under God, He lifts us up in due time. He lifts us.
We can cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us.
Whatever we’re stressed about, He can handle it. We don’t have to worry.
Our part is humility, which is hard, by the way. Tried it lately? How’s it going on your end?

Let’s see if we can choose humility today.
Let’s see if we can embrace the down of the yo-yo.

If I can find a yo-yo to match my outfit, that might even be better!
Or one that lights up like the one in the picture above?!
Maybe one that sings or pays some bills?! That would be pretty cool,
Naima

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WHAT-DO-WHO FUN!
NAIMA LETT, D.MIN ABD | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN BLOG

© NaimaLett.com/blog

What a wonderful week diving into purpose! Sounds like you’ve had a good time too.
So let’s end on a high note! Let’s have fun!

How? Let’s play and create our What-Do-Who statement!

This should be fun. There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s about you. It’s YOUR What-Do-For-Who statement aka mission statement! It should make you smile.

And if you already have one, dig it up. Dust it off. Is it still relevant? Are you using it? Are you filtering what you do on a daily basis through its grid?

Just 2 simple questions, Fam:
1) What do you do?
2) Who do you do it for?

We are all designed to fulfill purpose. It doesn’t matter how young or old we are, or if we’re working or retired, we know that we’re created to make a difference.

GREAT EXAMPLE

My beautiful grandmother in Georgia retired years ago, but she still has purpose and gets things done. Each day, she has routines. One day is grocery day. Another is for the house. She loves and cares for her family. She cares for her German Shepherd. She serves through missions. She’s got a clan of sons, daughter-in-laws, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and she doesn’t miss one birthday. She’s intelligent and sharp and funny and encouraging. At almost 90 years old, she knows that she is still making a difference.

MY WHAT-DO-WHO

If the Lord tarries, and I’m still on this side of heaven pushing 90, I hope to still speak truth in love so that nations are set free. That’s my what-do-who.

It lines up with my gifts, personality, and how I’m wired. When I started telling people my personal mission statement, NOBODY was surprised. Why? Because I was already doing it. It is who I am. It’s what I do all day every day without anybody telling me to do it. It’s my purpose on this earth. I help people see truth and live free. It doesn’t matter my profession, vocation, or location, that’s what I do. When I was single, that’s what I did. Since I’ve been married, still doing it. It spans my life.

I was born candid. I never knew it was different until friends started telling me I was the one person they knew they could ask a question and I’d them the truth. I’m thinking, “Well, doesn’t everybody tell you the truth when you ask a question?” :=) Apparently not.

Shortly after I graduated from college, the Lord spoke to me during my quiet time through His scriptures that He put His Word in my mouth. I simply wrote, “Yes, Lord” in my Bible, and I knew from that moment forward, I was called to ministry. It was simple. No fan fare. I made a life-long commitment to speak God’s Word, the truth, while in my pajamas in my bedroom. God was faithful. He sent countless servants, men and women, to confirm His calling and gifts and help stir me along the path.

For years, I created and traveled one-woman plays about women of the bible to share the truth of God’s Word. Shattered Silhouettes was the first one, and it was all about living in truth. Notice a theme? It’s clearer to me in hindsight.

The more I performed the Word/Truth, the more people asked me to teach the Word/Truth. So I went to seminary to learn all I could about the Word/Truth. Afterward, I was called back into the entertainment industry, and I brought truth to the camera and stage as an actress, writer and producer. My husband and I moved to LaLa Land with our production company, and we started a ministry to help artists find their purpose and follow their dreams without losing their faith. It’s all about helping others live in truth.

My pastor, at that time, recommended I get a doctoral degree in, guess what, preaching i.e. sharing God’s Word/Truth, and he referred me to the program he was finishing up at Talbot School of Theology. That’s how I became the first woman in their preaching program. I had no idea. Then, the Lord called my husband and I to start Hope in the Hills, where (you guessed it!) each week we share God’s Word/Truth.

Wrote a book and making a series called Confessions of a Hollywood Christian. Guess what it’s about? Helping people live in truth and freedom. See how the mission shows up in all I do?

So, I speak the truth in love so that nations are set free. That ‘nations’ reflects my heart for diversity. Our church looks like “We are the World”. The Lord has taken me to every denomination, age, gender, culture. He’s made me sensitive to nations and particularly sensitive to artists.

Does this help? Seeing how my WHAT-DO-WHO has played out?

RECAP:
On “purpose”, we got Clear Why We’re Here.
We Built Backwards.
We asked What Do You See?

Today, we’re defining our mission and how we help others. Mission statements explain why we are here, our purpose. Yesterday, we saw another way to put it is, “What’s wrong with the world and how we want to fix it!”

Jesus announced His mission early in ministry when He went home to Nazareth. Almost got Him killed. We explored the passage in depth in “What a Homecoming!”

Entire passage – LUKE 4:14-30
Excerpt:

16 He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

JESUS’ WHAT-DO-WHO

Look at how many WHAT-DO-WHO statements Jesus unpacked from Isaiah 61 about Himself:

What does He do? Proclaim good news. To who/whom: The poor.
What does He do? Proclaim freedom. For who/whom: The prisoners.
What does He do? Recover sight. For who/whom: The blind.
What does He do? Set free. Who/Whom: The oppressed.

YOUR WHAT-DO-WHO

Your turn!
What do you do?
Who do you do it for?

Have fun.
Scribble all over your computer or paper. No hindrances.
Let the ideas pour out until one really connects in your soul like a home run.

If you get stuck, ask your closest friends or significant other. Ask on Facebook. Or Twitter. Ask people what they think you do best, ask them how you help them and others. Give them permission to be honest and see what they say.

Awhile ago, my husband and I were both working in our office, and I asked him, “What do you think I do best?”

Without even looking up from the inside of the computer he was fixing, he said, “Speak your mind.” My interpretation: Speak the truth.

Your WHAT-DO-WHO is obvious because you’re probably already doing it.
Writing it down in a statement, though, ensures that you keep doing it.
Write it. Make it plain. The world needs you.
We need you to do what you’re born to do for whom you’re called to do it!

Hey, post yours. Don’t be shy!
I can’t wait to see.
I LOVE THIS!

Your fellow WHAT-DO-WHO-ER,
Naima

PREVIOUS POSTS re: PURPOSE:
1. Clear Why You’re Here
2. Build Backwards
3. What Do You See?

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