Tag Archives: naima lett

Good Friday to You!

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emptytomb
© NAIMA LETT – BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN

“Happy Good Friday!” doesn’t quite seem appropriate, given that today we remember Jesus’ horrific crucifixion. So, I’m just going to greet you with “Good Friday to You!” because it is Good Friday, and it’s good!

Things are Good with the Letts in the LaLa!
I recently turned in my doctoral dissertation, and I’m preparing for my oral defense, with expectation to graduate in May. We just celebrated Kevin’s birthday. We’ll celebrate 15 years of marriage, also in May. Our Hope in the Hills family has experienced such joy and transition in this Year of Jubilee with our Sunday series on Identity and our Artists series on Monday nights. We’ve had worship retreats and conferences, and folks are closer to God and one another, and YES! That’s Good!

But what about the rest of the world?
How can we say things are good? This week, there was another terrorist bombing in Europe. We found out Phife from A Tribe Called Quest succumbed to diabetes-related complications at the age of 45. At least 3 other notable deaths rocked our Hollywood industry, and the political landscape is a hot mess. But it’s good?!

Yes! Today is GOOD
…because I’ve read the book and evil doesn’t prevail in the end. Today is GOOD because death itself was overthrown when Jesus, the GOD-man, allowed Himself to be beaten, bruised, pierced and nailed to a cross in our stead so that we have assurance of life after death in paradise without penalty. Today is GOOD because ultimately our Good God wins!

Our hearts break when one innocent life is taken in the name of terror; but we stand against terror and boldly pray for Europe and all nations because we know that Love drives out fear. We mourn with those who have lost loved ones this week. We love on you, comfort you and lift you up. And we extend Hope your way, as we too cling to Hope and Goodness.

The PHOTO ABOVE puts us ahead of ourselves as it reps the HOPE we have because of Resurrection Sunday, but I wish that for you today. Faith, Hope and Love… and a Good Friday… because it is Good.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

P.S. If you’re out this way on Sunday. Join us in the Hills. We’re going to have a GOOD time! Here’s the info:

WANTED: ALL NATIONS
An International Easter Celebration & Reception
Sunday, MAR 27, 2016 @ 10 AM
Hope in the Hills
@ Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills
300 N Clark Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90211

HopeResurrection2016

Please RSVP ASAP:
http://HopeintheHills.org/Easter2016

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Merry Christmas from the Hills

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merrychristmas
© NAIMA LETT – BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN

Merry Christmas from the Hills!

Sending you hope, joy, peace and comfort during this Christmas of Jubilee! And most of all sending you Love! We handed out Love Letters from the Father this past Sunday at Hope in the Hills and it was an unforgettable Love Fest. As you celebrate the Greatest Love Story of God’s Son coming to earth over the next few days, we pray that you too will experience His sweet love and presence in a tangible way.

“You are loved with an everlasting love…” Jer 31:3

Lots of love from the La La,
Kevin & Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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How Do We Love Our Divided States of America?

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How Do We Love Our Divided States of America?
Naima Lett, Hollywood Christian BLOG

nation_divided
© NaimaLett.com/blog

How do we love our Divided States of America?

That’s the question I’ve been asking for several weeks as we’ve approached this Love National week of #LoveActs in our Love Revolution.

Two years ago, in anticipation of the case going to the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage, I wrote the blog, “A Nation Divided: Gay Marriage.” But we can pick any number of issues – presidential election, gun rights, abortion, healthcare, immigration, foreign policy, police brutality – and we are a nation who does not agree.

I said in the previous blog that agreement is not a prerequisite for relationship. Agreement is not a prerequisite for love. We the people, We God’s people, are called to love our neighbors, even if we don’t agree with them. But HOW DO WE DO THAT?

I believe the answer is living out the Love Chapter we’ve been studying through our daily devotions on Bible.com / Bible App (hopeinthehills). If we apply I Corinthians 13 and approach each person, even in our disagreements, with patience, kindness, contentment, humility, honor, selflessness, gentleness and forgiveness, would love not make a huge difference?

Love Makes A Difference

Kevin and I have been married for 14 years and we do not agree on a whole slew of things, but we choose to love each other. In dealing with recent police brutality, what if we choose to love on cops in our precinct? I’m not oversimplifying and ignoring the huge underlying issues, but we’re trying to find a place to start. This week, one of our #LoveActs is to “Buy a Cop Coffee” day where we’ll get coffee gift cards and show appreciation to officers that we encounter. Can’t this make an impact towards creating a different narrative in the minds of officers who aren’t able to see all people as human? I’m praying God’s love begins to break down barriers.

On Thursday, our Hope in the Hills family is expressing love by volunteering at Covenant House California in Hollywood. We’re helping with set up, serving and break down for their annual summer BBQ helping at-risk homeless youth living on the streets. Homelessness is a big issue in Los Angeles and every major city in America. Some cities have given their homeless one-way bus tickets to other cities. Our states do not agree on how to fix the problem. But we’re going to show love to those who are living it out. If you’re in the LaLa, join us. If you’re around the globe, pray for us, and find ways to reach out in your community.

Let’s stop just arguing with folks and start finding win-win solutions that help the ones who need it the most. You can still get in on the #LoveActs for this month. The entire list is here: Love Acts in the LaLa & Beyond. If you’ve been tracking with us, let us know how it’s going. And if you have more ideas on how to love our divided states of America, holler at your girl!

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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How Do You Know You’re Loved?

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How Do You Know You’re Loved?
Naima Lett, Hollywood Christian BLOG

loveacts
© NaimaLett.com/blog

How do you know you’re loved, Fam?

Have you thought about that? There are different kinds of love for sure: romantic love, brotherly love, Godly love. But inherently, we all know whether or not we feel loved.

Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the New York Times bestseller, The 5 Love Languages, which has sold over 10 million copies, says that most of us know that we’re loved through 5 languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch.

Do you know your language?
DISCOVER YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE (Free Profile)

We’re in the middle of our Love Revolution and 30 Days of expressing LOVE ACTS locally, nationally and globally. We are tangibly and practically pouring out love to others with no fear of our own love tanks being empty because God has been filling us up to overflowing.

This past Sunday at Hope in the Hills in Beverly Hills, while we sang in worship, the sweet presence of the Lord was so near that many of us wound up on our knees or prostrate or weeping. I felt waves and waves of God’s love in the depths of my soul as I was reminded of how much He loves us and gave His Son for us. God is love, and He’s the One Who invited us to love like He loves. As He leads, we follow.

My prayer for you this week, this month, is that you too, being rooted and grounded in love, will know how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and that you too will be filled to overflowing, according to Ephesians 3:14-21, so that you too are motivated to love others in the same manner.

If you want to get involved and demonstrate love in your area, check out LOVE ACTS IN THE LALA & BEYOND.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Love Acts in the LaLa and Beyond

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Love Acts in the LaLa and Beyond
Naima Lett, Hollywood Christian BLOG

LOVEACTS
PHOTO: Our 1st four #LoveActs, © NaimaLett.com/blog

QUESTION, FAM:

When you think of the LaLa, do you think of LOVE? When you think of your home city, our nation, our world, does LOVE come to mind? Not really, right?! With all the bad news we hear each day locally, nationally and globally, LOVE lags behind on our top-of-mind list. Yet, LOVE is one of our most basic and important needs. We all need to love and be loved to live fully.

LOVE REVOLUTION

Part of our vision at Hope in the Hills in Beverly Hills is to “love like God loves” so we’ve looked forward all year to inviting you to join us in living out a Love Revolution in your own communities all over the world. We believe that LOVE is the secret weapon that changes our world. LOVE is what led Emanuel AME in Charleston to forgive the 21-year old who shot their pastor and members during a bible study in order to start a race war. LOVE is what will topple this #100Days100Nights gang war in South Los Angeles that has released terror and fear upon the community. God is LOVE and God’s perfect LOVE casts out fear. Love wins.

LOVE ACTS

As God’s kids, we are known by our love. Love is active. LOVE ACTS! Therefore, we’re expressing love through tangible acts all throughout the month of August. Please join in wherever you are. Just jump in! Above is a photo of our 1st four love acts. You can find the entire original list that we created here OR at the end of BLOG:
LOVE ACTS 2015: THE LIST

#LoveActs

Also, each day, you can see the daily actions posted throughout social media. Some of you are connected through my pages at:
Facebook | Twitter

Others are connected through HOPE’s pages:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Enjoy! Share! Re-post! Please use #LoveActs

Each morning by 5 AM PT, I still write a Daily Devotion in the Bible App. If you’re connected to HopeintheHills through a Bible.com account, you’ll receive an email each day.

Throughout the month, we’re also highlighting friends and ministries who are showing love in amazing ways. And if you’re in the LaLa, mark your calendar for THURS, 8/20 evening. We will serve and volunteer as a group at the Covenant House, “a non-profit agency whose mission is to reach at-risk homeless youth living on the streets and offer them hope and opportunities to turn their lives around.”

PLEASE LET US KNOW

And please let us know what #LoveActs you decide to do in your homes, jobs, cities, and nations. Post your photos and messages. We look forward to hearing what GOOD NEWS comes from our steps of faith, showing love and shining light in our world.

Lots of love from the LaLa (literally!),
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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LIST:
LoveActs_2015

Our Spring Wedding | Beating the Odds

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OUR SPRING WEDDING | BEATING THE ODDS
NAIMA LETT – BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN

w3ddings

I Love Weddings, Fam!

I love weddings! I loved our spring wedding: roses, choreo-dramas, our family chartering a bus from the South to the North to celebrate with us. I loved getting married. I loved the proposal. I loved the engagement. I love Kevin more now than I did almost 14 years ago when we married, and I didn’t think that was possible because I was knocked-out-giddied-up-head-over-hills in love with him at that time. Still, our love has deepened with each mountain and valley, with each rainbow and waterfall.

10 Weddings in a Year | Beating the Odds

In the year that we married, the year our skyline changed because the Twin Towers came tumbling down, Kevin and I attended or participated in 10 weddings. YES! 10! From Disney World to Detroit, from the Garden State to the Lone Star State! We loved it! Every one of those weddings was different and precious and full of hope. And be encouraged, Fam! We’re beating the odds, Fam! Of those 10 weddings, 8 are still going strong. So much for those 50% statistics! We’re not saying it’s easy. Marriage isn’t easy. But each day, we’re walking with the Lord and making a decision to love one another and work things out and forgive, etc. It can be done! One of these days, maybe I can try to arrange a collage of our BIG 8 like the one above of my friends and Hope Fam. :=)

So Excited

I still get excited when I see the beautiful bride in all of her glory and see her groom gaze upon her coming down the aisle. So imagine how thrilled I was when the Lord begin to minister to us about His excitement when He sees His Bride, the church, in all our glory. As our Bridegroom, Jesus loves His Bride, whom He gave His life for. And just before the new heaven and new earth are revealed for all time, Revelation 19:9 says “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” I look forward to the greatest wedding heaven and earth has ever seen.

Our Spring Wedding

So, we’re having another Spring Wedding! This time, we’re celebrating the ultimate Bridegroom and His Love for His Bride on Easter. Hope in the Hills is throwing a Feast of Love: A Special Easter Celebration & Reception. We’ve got worship, the arts, the Word, great food and fellowship. We currently gather at the Belle Chapel of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, 300 North Clark Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. If you’re in the LaLa, we’d love for you to come celebrate with us. Please RSVP so we prepare enough food. If you’re not in the LaLa, please send your prayers and praises our way. We’re going to rock the Hills come Sunday! Love, love, love is in the air! Here’s the invite:

Easter2015HOPE

Mad Thanks

Mad appreciation to my friends and all of our HOPE fam who gave me permission to share your wedding photos above: Bobby & Teka, Rasheed & Sasha, Jim & Yetunde, Jonathan & Sharifa, Brian & Malika, Jarrett & Andrea, Sa’heed & Alexandria, Charles & Diane. You are all quite special to us. Looking good, family!

Happy Resurrection Sunday to all of our extended family across the globe! Celebrate this weekend. Celebrate how much you are loved by the One Who gave His life for you, conquered death, and arose again that we have life in Him. You are loved with an everlasting love!

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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How Do We “Make It” in Hollywood?

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Speaking in Hollywood | Back @CBS Studios
NAIMA LETT – BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN

NL3TT1

How Do We “Make It” in Hollywood?

That’s the question in my keynote address at CBS Studio Center on THURS, MARCH 5th for the Hollywood Media Dinner sponsored by Christian Women in Media. This time, I get to share exciting insight gathered on Hollywood in my doctoral work. It’s an encouraging Word, Fam!

THURS. MARCH 5th | 6:30 PM
(Networking starts @ 6PM)
HOLLYWOOD MEDIA DINNER
CBS Studio Center -Carla’s Cafe
4024 Radford Ave. Studio City, CA
REGISTER

So thrilled to be invited back to speak again and also asked to lead a local network in Beverly Hills kicking off in the next month. And so proud of many of our HOPE IN THE HILLS fam who have gifted tickets to their friends to come Thursday. How awesome! If you’re in the LaLa, come on out. If you’re abroad, consider sponsoring someone here. It’s only $25. And consider going to a CWIMA event in your area.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Great Expectations | Lent 2015

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Great Expectations | LENT 2015
NAIMA LETT – BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN

Lent 2015
© NaimaLett.com/blog

Hi Fam,

Expectations are tricky. Great expectations, even trickier. What do I mean?
If expectations are too great and not fulfilled OR they’re not great enough and nothing happens, we’re left disappointed either way. Yet, for this year’s Lent, I challenge you to stretch out on faith with Great Expectation.

My God Wasn’t Big Enough

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to be invited as 1 of 16 Los Angeles pastors into an inaugural leadership program, and one of our guest speakers told the story of talking with a non-Christian friend in his sunset years.

“Do you have any regrets?” he asks his elderly friend
“I don’t live in regrets,” Friend responds. “But when I look back, I don’t think my god was big enough. I wish I had believed he was bigger.”

God Is Great

Well, our God, YAHWEH, Heavenly Father of us and our Lord Jesus, Our God is Great! He’s huge. He is big enough, and we can have great expectations in Him. He promises to draw near to us when we draw near to Him and He’s a Promise Keeper.

I’d rather have great expectation and risk disappointment if He tells me “Not yet!” or “Not yours!” than to keep things safe and not step out in faith at all, afraid to be disappointed. I’m stepping out the boat, Fam. I’ve been invited to walk on water, and I’m going for it. Won’t you join me?!

Lent 2015

For the next 40 days, (46 days minus Sundays, as traditional LENT calendars exclude the 6 Sundays leading up to Easter as mini-resurrection celebrations), we’re observing Lent.

Why?

LENT is traditionally a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal in preparation for Easter in which we choose to give up something in favor of gaining something else. So, we each work out our own fasting and prayer between us and God, choosing to sacrifice whatever is important to remind us to pray. Collectively though, we’re in this together globally through daily devotions on Bible.com and locally through weekly worship service at Hope in the Hills. Wow! Has God been meeting us in worship at HOPE! Come on time, Fam! He’s with us.

Daily Devotion

Many are already connected with us on the Bible APP and you receive my 5-minute, original Daily Devotion link from Bible.com via email each morning by 5 AM PT that says NEW NOTE. If you don’t get it, you can sign into Bible.com and find my username “hopeinthehills” and connect. Others find it on social media on Facebook and Twitter, though signing up in the Bible App is the best. Some days, I don’t get to social media. I’m trying to graduate May 22, Fam! Pray for your girl.

Current Posts:
2/18 – OUR HEART’S POSTURE (LENT)
2/17 – LIFE CHANGE, WORLD CHANGE IN 40 DAYS
2/16 – LET’S DO LENT

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Why Hollywood Christian?

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Why Hollywood Christian®
NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
© NaimaLett.com/blog, all rights reserved

hollywood_christian_naima_lett

Why Hollywood Christian®?

I get this question all the time. Many of you have wondered, out loud, for many years, why in the world I would purposely write a book and name it Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®, write a blog for years and call it Hollywood Christian®, start a ministry called Hollywood Christian®, wear the nickname “The Hollywood Christian®”, use Facebook/HollywoodChristian, and spend hard-earned resources on logos, trademarks, websites, etc.

The Answer
It came from you (and God, of course :=). That’s right! Remember those surveys back in 2005, 2006, 2007? We prayed and spent a considerable amount of time and resources trying to figure out what to call our space on this side of heaven. Then, we surveyed and asked you repeatedly what and how you thought of me, how you describe me to others, what words pop up when you think of me, and those words came up again and again.

Go With the Flow
The branding expert we hired explained that when choosing a brand, especially long term, it’s best to go with the flow, go with how folks already identify you. I’ve been actively working in the entertainment industry and vocational ministry since 1997, so many of you naturally called me both Hollywood and Christian. So, we put the words together, and the rest is history.

What’s Coming?!

confessions_comingsoon

Thanks a million for continually asking about the book. It’s a’coming! I had to press pause over the last year to focus on finishing my doctoral dissertation so I can graduate May 22nd. That’s also why I tapered back writing the daily Hollywood Christian® blogs over the last year. But rest assured, after graduation, once again, it’s on!

CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN

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I love your questions and dialogue.
Keep ’em coming!
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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From Terror to Peace

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
From Terror to Peace
© NaimaLett.com/blog


boston
© Boston Globe; First explosion goes off on Boylston Street


I sighed during airport security Saturday night.
Here we go.

Unzip boots.
Unhook belt.
Remove jacket.
Don’t forget the brim.

Unpack computer.
And toiletries.
And pockets.
And phone.

Step forward.
Arms up.
Scan.
Thank you.

And thank you TSA and all our security officers providing first-line defense nationwide.

But as I began the awkward task of re-booting and re-dressing in public with fellow strangers, I had this fleeting thought:

“No way we’ll ever forget 9/11 like this…”

Not that we want to forget.
But here’s what I mean.

Every flight we take, every U.S. airport we go though, we are now physically reminded of the terror that our nation experienced 11.5 years ago. I find it impossible to disrobe and re-robe in public this often without revisiting the idea that we are not yet safe.

Boston

Then bombs go off in Boston, and we realize that we aren’t really safe.

Young, disturbed men don semiautomatic weapons and shoot up an elementary school in Sandy Hook or movie theater in Aurora, and we puzzle over how to protect our children.

Cowards blow up marathons and spray bullets into our babies to produce fear. That’s the end game of terror: creating an atmosphere of fear.

Pursuing Peace

I don’t know about you, but I am convinced that we cannot operate in an atmosphere of fear. Yes, we can keep a healthy dose of wisdom and flee danger and explosions; but we don’t have to yield to the prison of terror. We can opt to pursue peace instead.

How can we pursue peace?

Philippians 4:5-9 says that we can pray, lifting up our concerns to God, and His peace will guard our hearts and minds: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Choose Peace

We can choose what occupies our mind. We can choose our thoughts. I can either dwell on the constant loop of terror replayed at the top of every hour and choose fear, or I can pray for those harmed and lift up a banner of intercession around Boston and our nation.

We’re sinners who live in a fallen world and do really crappy things to hurt each other. Until Christ returns and brings everlasting peace with Him, things will be a little topsy-turvy. In the meanwhile, we can choose to walk in God’s perfect love which casts out fear. We can choose peace.

That’s what I’m doing today, as I pray for Boston. Join me.
That’s what I’ll do this week when I’m back in the airport line.
Won’t you do the same next time you travel?
Let’s choose peace.

Can we do that?
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
Author of coming release, Confessions of a Hollywood Christian

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© 2013 Naima Lett. All Rights Reserved