Heartspeak 8/23/2020 - Growing Pains

If life got harder, you probably just leveled up. Now is not the time to give up. Now is the time to dig deeper and press harder. Dreaming BIG often requires you to GROW into the person who will achieve those dreams. #Growth is not always easy but necessary. #growingpains 

Not everyone you began this journey with will continue with you. This was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn but I now understand. I now realize it is by design. Not everyone wants to grow. They are content being where they are and that is ok.

We are all born with seeds of greatness within. It is up to us to tap into it. We each have free will and the choice to choose to reach our full potential or not. If you choose to keep going and growing, it doesn't make you a bad person. Not everyone is called to go higher.  Some people are never meant to be a permanent part of your life. Appreciate the time you had. Smile that you had them. 

Make room for connections at each level. Spend time in rooms where you aren't the most successful person.  Read books. Never stop learning. Embrace this wonderful process. Follow your heart. Be kind. Keep dreaming big and growing until those dreams become reality!  These are some keys to creating the life you truly deserve, the life God planned for you. 

Have a blessed day on purpose! 

~MzV~

~HeartSpeak~ Be Kind

~HeartSpeak~

Today I would like to say a prayer for all the hurting people who choose to impose their hurt on others. I pray that God heals whatever pain you have and you are able to get to a place of peace and be able to show love, understanding and compassion to others.

If you are being mistreated and you KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt you haven't done anything to a person, please do not take it personal or let it deter you from being wonderful you. If your relationship is at a place with the person that you can have an open dialogue with them about it, let them know. If they aren't, you still have every right to call them out on it and let them know it is unacceptable. Sometimes, they do not even put enough thought into it to realize what they are doing. Do not accept it. Call them on it.

If you are angry or upset, take a minute to think about what you say and how you approach others before interacting with them. Although hurting people will hurt others, that does not make it alright.

When we learn better, we should do better. What if the last words you spoke or wrote a person was the last they heard from you or anyone on this earth. Would you wish you had handled it differently?

Just a little food for thought. Being kind doesn't cost a thing but the results and how it makes another person feel can be priceless. You never know what a person is dealing with and what if what you said or did pushed them past a breaking point. You just have no way of knowing.

Encourage. Uplift. Celebrate.

~MzV

~HeartSpeak~ You Know You've Made the Right Decision When You Have Peace

A peace that surpasses all understanding comes from being connected and having faith in a GOD that is GREATER than any test or trial that comes your way. I call it GOD-fidence! 

1 Corinthians 15:58 instructs us to be stedfast, unmovable, ALWAYS abounding in the works of the Lord. Bottom line, don't let anything stop you from doing what God has called for you to do. Your labor will not be in vain and EVERYTHING God promised will come to pass!

You do your part. Follow His divine instruction, no matter what. Follow, even if it seems impossible to the natural eye. Follow when others laugh at You and don't believe in You. You can't limit God by the world's standards so why are you trying to limit His vision for your life?

Life truly begins outside of your comfort zone. Believe in yourself and trust God's vision for your life. Seek HIS face. You will find your purpose.

I love you all and pray you reach a place of peace and deliverance from what may be causing you discord in your life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.



Peace, Love and Blessings Always!

~MzV~

~HeartSpeak~ Sunday- Don't Let Fear Decide Your Future

Fear symbolizes a lack of faith. Are you settling for barely enough because you are afraid to step out on faith and journey toward the promise of "more than enough"?

Get out of your own way and release that stinking thinking that is holding you back. Life can beat you down to a place you no longer remember your dreams IF you let it. It's time to take your power back.

Garbage in results in garbage out. Watch what you expose yourself to. It all matters. You want to increase your vision? Starve your doubts and fears and feed your belief in yourself and God's purpose for your life.

Look within and find ways to tap into your greatness. Be around people who uplift and encourage you, not people who tear others down.

Spend time getting to know the real you and figuring out exactly what you want in life. It's possible to get on track but it won't happen without effort.

Do you really want to change your life? If you do, you will must willing to do something different because doing nothing yields nothing.

How bad do you want it? Too many people sitting around waiting on God while God has been waiting on you. You know what you need to do. The question you need to ask yourself is "Why aren't you doing it?" ‪#‎RealTalk‬‪#‎TimetoGetUnstuck‬ ‪#‎Move‬

~MzV~

~HeartSpeak~ What Energy Are You Releasing into the Atmosphere?

~HeartSpeak~

If  diminishing the other efforts of others and trying to tear them down is what is needed to make you feel better about your life situation and choices, you not only need to take a look in the mirror, you need to examine your heart. Otherwise, why would it matter to you?

The energy you put out will be the same that returns to you. Instead of worrying about others, it's time you start fixing what is wrong with YOU! Be transparent AT LEAST with yourself if you can't be with anyone else. God sees and knows all!

This scripture came to my heart:

1 John 4:18 (KJV) - "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

God has truly been working and continues to work on me. I view the actions of others with new eyes and meaning. I no longer take it personal and realize in these times of spiritual warfare, there is something greater at work. When we learn better, we should truly do better. God is love. If we learned to abide in love, the world would truly be a better place. Too many of us simply not checking ourselves and doing and saying whatever we please. Every action has a consequence, be it good or bad.

Now, more than ever, it is important to not only plant/sow good seed but the WORDS we speak carry much power! Speak life and love if you want more in your life. Speaking hatred and carrying hatred in your heart is not going to harm the other person. It will only harm and consume you!

Just a little food for thought! Think about it! Take a moment to feel the space you are in within your heart before you release it into the atmosphere! Guaranteed what you put OUT will return to you!



#mirrorcheck #selfcheck #dobetter #heartofthematter #wateryourowngrass #stoplookingoverthefence


~MzV~

Bringing Unity Back to the Community- #BlackLivesMatter

Bringing Unity Back to the Community- #BlackLivesMatter

I was listening to Roland Martin’s show on Periscope a couple days ago and was just floored at the mentality of some of the people in his chat. One lady called in and was asking questions about Black Lives Matter and about getting involved. As she continued speaking, she asked him about what celebrities were getting involved, implying they were not doing enough. Roland named off several but then went on to voice the very thing that was in my thoughts… why should it matter if celebrities get involved or not. What are YOU doing?

There was another commenter in the chat section saying he was just waiting to see if it would be effective to determine if he would do something or not. My reply to him was, if everyone sat around waiting, nothing would ever get accomplished because no one would ever get started! Once again, I was just floored at the things being said and felt had they really put thought into it, maybe they would feel the way I did too. This is a reason I think dialogue is important because sometimes people just don’t understand or have not been able to see it from a different prospective and it causes them to think. There is a difference however when you are trying to have a conversation with someone who clearly has no intention of trying to understand or be empathetic, there is no sense in wasting your time. Just move on. Those types of people are just looking for someone to fight with. Don’t fall for it.

For weeks I have thought about how few people want to take action in their own backyards and wondered when did we become people that waited on someone else to come along to do something?

I thought back to the civil rights era and in my eyes, it was about getting equal access and rights, not about leaving our own communities. We were successful business owners, educated and the “village” worked together. Even here in Florida where I live, I see the communities with Vietnamese, Hispanics, etc… and they have their own stores. Why did we lose our communities which in essence caused us to lose ourselves? Were we misguided? If we knew what the outcome would be, what could we have done differently and how can we get back what we lost?

Fast forward to today… our country has so many churches in our communities. Churches that have people in poverty and despair just outside their doors. When did the churches stop being involved in the communities and become pew warmers?

Where I come from, there wasn’t much respect for the NAACP chapter and it had  a reputation for “doing nothing”, not my words. I never personally used them, but that was the talk in the town from even when I was growing up. As a result of that, when I moved further south, I just assumed they were all like that. I was invited a banquet on the coast for their NAACP chapter and was blown away, not just by the caliber of people there, keynote was a former high ranking politician from PA, but the actions they were taking in the communities. They provided computers for the kids once they completed a program they had in place and also made sure they could go to college if they desired. I was so excited, I couldn’t want to go back to my area and join. I was disappointed when I was told it was inactive. This led me to believe that all chapters are not the same. It’s the PEOPLE in those chapter that made the difference. People who decided that more than a title, they wanted to make a difference in the lives of our young people. That was years ago but has made an impact in my life in a big way and showed me the possibilities and what determination and commitment to a cause can do.

I am thankful that as God continues to direct my path and order my steps, He also expands my mind while keeping my heart on doing what is right wherever life takes me. As individuals, I ask, what are you willing to do? Those of you in church, what is your church doing in your own community? Why are we still waiting for someone when that someone is you and me. One person can make such an impact. Just imagine what would happen if many people worked together.

Who is leading our children? What examples are you setting in your own home? I see too many parents being friends and not providing guidance. Maybe they didn’t learn themselves and need help too? If they wanted help, what resources are in the communities? Our churches need to get back to taking care of God’s people. No wonder attendance is on the decline. People need love, not to be looked down on. If they feel you don’t care, why should they come back? All of the things that are going on in this world are in alignment with God’s Word. I firmly believe hearts are being hardened to get the people turned back to God.

Many people down mega churches for whatever reason, but the ones I am connected with are at least doing something to make a difference in the community through food pantries, providing for the homeless, prison ministries, community outreach, education and evangelism… what are you and yours doing to make a difference?

I see a lot of people downing people like Rev Al Sharpton. Once again, instead of turning on leaders, support them, hold them accountable but don’t discredit them as you do nothing. He has done a lot for all of us. He is only one man. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. What are you doing? I watched him and others here on the ground when we were marching to get justice for Trayvon. His mother died during that time. He went home to bury her and was right back on the front line. No matter what anyone says, he truly cares. If push comes to shove, many of the ones talking about him would be the first ones wanting him on the ground fighting for them.

Our people are so misguided and turning on the ones trying to help  shine light on the injustices of this country and world. Ever wonder why the people fighting against us always embrace the ones that are out of touch with what is really going on in our communities and speak the words they like to hear? They are the very people who some of us feel have sold out? They call the people that choose to speak up about the issues of this country affecting us race baiters to get us to shut up and to keep from having to face the ugliness they have perpetuated. If nothing is done, nothing will ever change.

Open your eyes. Open your hearts. Open your minds. If we are to take back our communities, there is nothing the government or anyone else can do better than those who live and work there. We have to love our young people and bring back a sense of hope to them. When we left them to fend for themselves, we left them to the streets to raise. It’s time to strengthen families and get back to God. We as a people have been tearing each other down instead of trying to build each other up. It’s time to break this cycle!

Where do you stand? I still have hope for a better tomorrow for my children and grandchildren and will continue to use my pen and voice to raise awareness and prayerfully open eyes.

The next step is up to you and you… as always, let me hear your thoughts. Are we holding ourselves accountable? Will you hold your church accountable?

Peace, blessings and love!

~MzV~

Why #BlackLivesMatter should matter to everyone

Why #BlackLivesMatter should matter to everyone

When a person is not able to open their minds enough to see life through another’s experiences, what shallow  lives they lead…

Refusing to acknowledge something exists does not keep it from being another’s reality. Just because you claim to not see something, doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. Too many people closing their eyes to reality and trying to keep it swept under a rug.

What we see happening in this nation right now is a result of sweeping things under a rug and not acknowledging there is a problem. Keep sweeping it under the rug and eventually you will create a trip hazard or something you can no longer go over.

I write a lot about examining our own hearts and being honest with ourselves. We should be in touch with our own emotions and keeping them in check. We truly know what we feel inside and if our actions are being led by hate or love. Not enough people coming from a place of love and having a respect for all humanity. Too many people thinking their way of thinking is the best and only way to think.

Trying to pretend this country doesn’t have a long history of racism is creating even more problems or issues. Why is it when attention is drawn to the differences in treatment to one group all of a sudden so many have a problem with it?

I see animals getting more passion than humans. Yes, we are to love all creatures but why does it fall short with black people?

How can we be one nation under God when we can’t even be one nation?   I am tired of the media and certain folks thinking that just because they find a misguided, out of touch person with the same color of skin as I do they represent me. I am tired of every time there is story of someone breaking the law, a person of color is dogged out worse and called worse, THEN used to classify an entire race. For every bad person that you try to spotlight, remember, there are many more doing good.

Those of you sitting back and remaining silent, you are just as much a part of the problem as well. You leave the negative voices to stand tall and make it seem they are the majority. I don’t even read news articles that spotlight a black person as the offender because I already know the tone of the comments. These are the same people that have been dogging the President since he has been in office. You listen to the do nothings in government who have done everything possible to block his progress while celebrating the very people that are keeping you down. With the successes he has STILL been able to accomplish, just imagine what could have been done had they worked together. They are rich while you sit complaining about the very environment they put you in. I am proud to have a President and First Lady who knows what it is to work hard for what you have. I feel the same way about VP Joe Biden and his wife.

Many times I sit and wonder what is wrong with people. Some of the things said are so idiotic it’s unbelievable. It can be scary because these same people are voting.

This morning something hit me as I once again pondered writing this. I was reminded in the Bible of when God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and each time Moses went to him and said let my people go, Pharaoh would not do it.

Hearts are hardened and it has finally caused people to wake up and start doing something. Black Lives Matters in no way shape or form says that all lives don’t matter. Black Lives Matters says BLACK LIVES should be included in the ALL LIVES part. It’s time people got the memo but we had to do it first. If all lives truly mattered, BLM would not exist. It wouldn’t need to exist, just common sense, which is why the opposition is mind boggling. Why now? Maybe it’s because with all the evidence coming forth in incidents that past few years, there should be no denying what is happening and has been happening for many years.

Certain people want to keep pretending there isn’t a problem because it makes them uncomfortable and they want want to hold themselves accountable for their own feelings and thoughts. Wrong is wrong.

If you are saying BLM is a hate movement or it upsets you, ask yourself why? Do you not think black lives matter too? That is all it is saying. Why speak negatively about it? Why not support it too? During the civil rights movement, it took everyone working together across all races to make the changes we did receive. Open your eyes. This is an opportunity for unity.

You think racism doesn’t exist? Let me share with you MY truth! I am a professional black woman who still deals with racism to this day after growing up surrounded with it. Those of you who have seen my posts understand how I carry myself. That still doesn’t matter to some people. We dealt with it throughout growing up in NW Florida in school and other places. We were not allowed to congregate like others. We did some of the same things others did, the police made us leave. I remember big trucks congregating and we would shake our heads and know it was different rules based on skin color. We were good kids and not getting in trouble. Why were we not allowed to hang out with our friends too? Wasn’t like we had a lot of places to go as teens.

I work with Doctors and their staff and have worked with them all over this country. I have had doctors refuse to come into the room with me because of my skin tone. I have worked in a state and been apologized to because of the way people stared at me since “they have never seen a live black person before” and in that same city been told I couldn’t use the same bathroom as their daughter at this B & B I was forced to stay while there. They hadn’t planned on anyone using the other bathroom because it was filthy with hair all over the hot tub and sink. When they saw me, their mouths fell open. So don’t tell me racism doesn’t still exist.

I want to challenge my friends of other races to take a moment and really let the words I am writing sink in. Will you stand with us and open your hearts to what is truly real? We are human beings with feelings and the same desires for our families as you have. We don’t all go to jail, rob, steal, etc… just like all of you don’t. Stop the labels.

I want to challenge my black brothers and sisters to wake up. It’s time to love ourselves and stop letting other people  tear us down. It’s time for us to stand together and stop fighting each other and letting things that don’t truly matter distract us. Stop trying to make other issues our people have an excuse to tear down BLM! We do have a long way to go and we have to start somewhere. I share more on these issues in my next post.

To this country and it’s people in position of power, we have watched other groups stand up for themselves and demand respect and even get it. It is our turn to stand up and fight for the rights we truly deserve as well. If we don’t do it you can guarantee no one else will. It has been shown the squeaky wheels with the money and voting power gets the attention. A unified people makes a lot of people nervous. It's past time for change.

It's time to face the fact that we have an issue with race. Ignoring it hasn’t made it go away and trying to discredit those who are bringing it to the forefront is not going to fix it either. It’s time to sit down and have some serious talks on how to resolve this. Start holding the lying media goons accountable for what they say and stop taking it as the gospel. You are nothing but puppets in their game of hatred and they want to keep everyone separate. If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. If you are comfortable, now is the time to get uncomfortable and stand for what is right. Point blank and a period!

Black Lives Matters is a love movement. It is a love of self for my people and I am proud that they are raising their voices to be heard. Instead of hating it for no reason, perhaps it time for you to actually take the time to listen to what they are saying. Instead of trying to discredit BLM with lies, find what's real. Take a moment to see the world through our eyes and just maybe you will find the truth.

Hopefully what I have shared here, which are my own views, will get some people to just start thinking. Think… I would love to hear some of your thoughts on how to resolve these issues. It’s not about it existing  because you can’t convince me otherwise, it is now time to work towards fixing.

From the heart as always, wishing you all peace, blessings and love,

~MzV~

Open Your Eyes, Examine Your Heart

Happy New You family! This is my first post of this wonderful new year. During this time, many people go through a lot of self-evaluation. This was on my heart to share today.

When people SHOW you who they are, believe them. Sometimes we put blinders on or hold on to the potential we may see inside of them. God gives us all free will and we can accept or reject His will or purpose for our lives. Watch out for stumbling blocks. 

The Word tells us in John 10:10 (KJV) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Distractions, discord among friends and family, etc... Distractions serve one thing and that is to sap your energy and turn your focus off the things you need to be striving for! 

Once you figure it out, you can still get back on track. We need to continually evaluate our actions and YES, our hearts! When you look in that mirror, you know your full and true intentions and so does God! It's time to be transparent and look deep within. This is what will control how high or low you go in life. 

Guard your gates and examine your hearts! Recognize potential road blocks, call them out and deal with them head on!

Psalm 51:10 (KJV) "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Peace, love and blessings!

~MzV~

www.mzvirtue.com

Walk In Victory

"Anything that does not line up with the vision God placed in your heart should not be seen as permanent but as subject to change."- Joel Osteen

We are powerful beings, not powerless! Sometimes we need help learning to tap into that power. When in doubt, go to the Source, and Creator of all things! Once you change the person you are inside, everything on the outside will change too! As you grow as a person, the things around you tend to grow. Greatness truly does reside in each of us! 

Once you truly grasp this and realize how amazing you truly are and SEE yourself the way God sees you, you become unstoppable! So actually, the only thing stopping you is YOU! Not the person that tries to talk down to you. Fact of the matter is my babies, you never have to accept someone else's perception of who you are! 

When you focus on pleasing man and not God, you give away your power and freedom to walk in His divine will. You also give the same people that lifted you up, the power to tear you down. When God elevates you, not a devil in hell can bring you down! Those trials may come but you pass the test time and time again. You may get knocked down, but you get right back up! 

Something bigger and greater is waiting for you! If you are going through, hold your head up. It gets better! Just keep pressing! Walk in victory and love! Move when God says move and He will take care of the rest! Get what you came here for! 

God bless and much love! ~MzV~ ♥

www.mzvirtue.com

Are you GIVING your dream away?

"The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your OWN thinking."- Robert H. Schuller~

Take an honest look in the mirror. Have you allowed the non-belief of others to cause you to have lack of faith in what God has shared with you? If He planted a Vision inside of you, how can you expect others to see it? There are dream supporters (those who don't see it but believe in you) and there are dream stealers (don't see it, speak against it, try to discourage you)... but is it really stealing when you give it away?

Sometimes we are so quick to run to others for advice, when in actuality, they haven't even figured their own lives out yet. How can they help you figure out yours? When you act on the advice of someone you are actually buying into their life and lifestyle. Be sure they are successful in that area of their lives. If a person is broke, should you really ask them for financial direction? Would you ask a person who can't cook how to prepare a gourmet meal?

We give too much power to others to influence our feelings or emotions and our beliefs. We also place blame instead of taking responsibility for our own actions. After all the choice is all yours in the end. We will stand as individuals for what we personally do. You will not get a pass because you acted under the instruction of another. 

Now is the time to get out of your own way and take the limits off God. Recognize that when He gives you a VISION, HE backs it with HIS provision. As long as YOU believe and keep seeing yourself walking in it AND take the steps to achieve it- YOU WILL NOT FAIL! The only way you do is if you QUIT! Many people give up on the verge of breakthroughs. Appreciate your journey, stay linked in spiritually and listen to His voice! If you can SEE it, you can most certainly ACHIEVE it!

Peace, blessings and love!

Until next time...

MzV