The Write Moment in Retrospect: July 15, 2024, The Write Mandate, Seek, Read, and Believe the Word

Hey #JustWrite!! Here we are in September again. I don't know why this is so but for quite some time, I often feel a heaviness in my spirit whenever this month rolls around. I don't know when this feeling began but it's always intense and definitely began once I relocated after college. I sometimes struggle with adjusting to the changing of seasons from warmth to cool. I become overprotective of being outside and become proactive in making sure I don't become sick. I do know that this month also brings to remembrance a lot of heavy events for me personally and spiritually: the beginning and ending of seasons, birth and death of loved ones, and the ending of the 3rd Quarter. In a previous blog, there was a charge to pray, process, and persist despite what the season for you looks like. This month, I charge all of us to be on our post. On 9/11, a day that it's forever etched in our minds as a horrific event of lives lost and the world forever changed, I woke up to an urgent charge from a sister in Christ who posted on her Instagram timeline with the following caption: Prepare your oil lamps (Matthew 25:1-13). The first few lines read, "A few months ago, I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, "tell the people to prepare their oil lamps." That was the urgency that I was feeling once I got the news of so many events taking place back-to-back this week: shootings (school, public event, transit), HBCU campus lockdowns, racial disputes online. In the midst of a productive week and family/friend check-ins, I had no idea any of this took place until I went on social media and saw horrific videos, public statements, influencer lives, and my newsfeed commentary/opinions. If any of us are paying attention, this is happening like clockwork, every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every month, every year, every time. Don't get distracted!

This month's blog rewind is from July 15, 2024, where it encouraged readers to seek, read, and believe the Word of God.  This is a must! This is a mandate! As I stated in January, we are living under grace upon grace. As we find ourselves in a state of disbelief of where we are today or wrestling with feelings of confusion, anger, despair, despondency, I implore us all to read, meditate on scripture, and pray. We must set ourselves apart for the times we're in. 

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley

The Write Moment in Retrospect: August 15, 2024, The Write Reality, Faith Over Fear

Happy August, #JustWrite!! Let's rewind to August 15, 2024 as we talked about recognizing situations that pose feelings of fear and how powerful faith is. 

In the midst of trials and tribulations I encourage all of us to:

Remember, False Evidence Appearing Real is an illusion. We must declare to Forsake

Adversaries, I trust Him.

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley 

The Write Perspective: Pray, Process, and Persist

Hello #JustWrite!! We are half way through 2025. As you know, there have been massive shakings throughout the world and the different sectors of society. The many emotions, opinions, and actions expressed regarding some of the events we have experienced the last 6 months have been very intense. For some of us, these events feel like the 1998 film, "The Truman Show" or an extreme episode of "The Twilight Zone." Unreal right? And for the rest of the world, it's been a long movie of so many genres: comedy, horror, science fiction with lots of drama. With this chaotic reality we now face, our responsibility as believers are to pray, process, and persist. 

We know that through prayer, we are able to release our cares and concerns to the Lord. When we process, we take time to pause and digest what is happening. Despite what we see and feel, through prayer and processing, it encourages us to persist. We must persist to the end, trusting God's will and sovereignty. Pray without ceasing, pursuing righteousness and focus on our assignments. We must have God's perspective and keep pressing into His presence to hear His instructions. 

As we maneuver through the rest of 2025, we must stay on course, in tune, and hopeful.

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley 

The Write Moment in Retrospect: June 15, 2016, The Write Foundation, Provision For Our Books

Hey #JustWrite! In the spirit of Father's Day, let's rewind back to June 15, 2016 as we discussed how provision for books includes a foundation, structure, strength, finances, and focus, similar to how we view society's expectations of fathers. And we can't forget the intentional nature of our Abba Father who cares for us.

 

Click link here to read more, embracing those principles.

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley 

The Write Moment in Retrospect: May 15, 2016, The Write Discipline, Nurturing Our Words

Hey #JustWrite! With the recent Mother's Day celebrations, I shared recently with an associate of how I honor my mother daily: being everything that she taught me early on through the love of books and writing. Those early years of nurture and care has helped me to navigate this space for quite some time, not only in writing but in other spaces I occupy. It's something that I often think about as time progresses. I'm truly thankful for the many seeds that were planted early on that have been a foundation of nurture, care, and discipline. The more we know and sow, the more we grow. 

Nurture, care, and discipline are topics discussed in a previous blog written May 15, 2016. Check out this blog rewind and let's all revisit key points and strategies from that time that I believe will encourage and enforce those principles of nurturing, caring, and disciplining our words. 

Remember in discipline, we become desciples and stewards.

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley 

The Write Readiness to Work: Remembrance of Holy Tuesday

Hello #JustWrite! Today is April 15th and for some, this day is recognized annually as Tax Day. As we move into the events of Holy Week (week beginning with Palm Sunday leading into Resurrection Sunday), today's date this year is considered Holy Tuesday, also called Fig Tuesday. The name Fig Tuesday comes from Jesus's teaching about faith using a barren fig tree to show the importance of faith and the power to act on faith. Matthew 21:21-22

The significance of Holy Tuesday also commemorates two parables Jesus taught: The Parable of the Ten Virgins and The Parable of the Talents. The Parable about ten virgins speaks about the 5 virgins who were wise with oil-filled lamps while the other 5 virgins were foolish and unprepared. The overall message is for us to be prepared, filled with oil (Holy Spirit), ready for Jesus's return. The Parable of the Talents speaks on a Master who trusts his 3 servants with various talents (units of currency). 2 servants invest their talents, while the 3rd servant out of fear buries his talent. The overall message is that we should not be afraid to use our God-given gifts. We are to be responsible stewards of those gifts using them to serve God and others. The reward goes to those who are faithful and productive while those who are lazy and fearful are judged. 

The messages of these parables reminds us to have the same fervor and principles as writers. We must have a spirit of staying ready, prepared, and ready to work. God has given us all that we need, we have to trust His voice, His Word, and perfect plan to finish that work in the same manner Jesus did on the cross. Jesus knew His assignment, trusted His father's voice, His Word, and perfect plan, finishing the work through His crucifixion, death, burial, and Resurrection. What a revelation and a reminder to have faith in fulfilling God's promises. 

As we continue to honor Christ this week and every day, may we all be reminded of who we are, whose we are, and how we are needed in the Kingdom. May your gifts and God's guidance continue to make room for you in His Kingdom. 

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley 

The Write Impact: Women's History Month Tribute

Hey #JustWrite! March has arrived and we are celebrating Women's History Month! 

A recent conversation about the 9 Fruits of the Spirit sparked this month's blog of honoring 9 women authors of the Just Write community. 

Some of the ladies you may recognize from the early days of Just Write. I definitely have a 6 degrees of separation or should I say 9 degrees of separation story with these ladies. My attendance at the Women on the Path's Heart to Heart Women's Retreat in 2010 introduced me to author Tia McCollors. She was the 1st author I saw in our church community that had a successful Christian book series and writing career. From there, my desire to connect with writers led me to my first Just Write meeting in 2014, facilitated by founder and author Kimberly Thompson. We had a lot in common from our love of purple, a way with words, and how writing is a gift. Those early days of fellowships, writing conferences, and meeting at our local hospital, library, and Target allowed me to connect with authors Dr. Ursula Frederick-Brown, Tanya D. Bryant, Monica Fletcher, and Dr. Paris Love. From 2014-2019 (pre-COVID), we were able to gather in person in these spaces and share our stories, testimonies, and journeys. It was also during this time, I stretched my skillsets as the Just Write Blogmaster. During the early days of the blog, The Write Moment, I was able to interview authors Barbara Winters, Lakia Brandenburg, and Sharon Frame. 

A call to action in 2019 from Kim to share my story in a collaborative project led to me connecting further with Dr. Paris Love, author of A Woman's Journey: Stories of Substance, Survival, and Success, a collection of stories featuring myself, Kim, Monica, and 4 other authors. Talk about a full circle. Now that we are in 2025, looking at the growth among these women has truly been a blessing and so humbling to witness. More books, podcasts, and projects have been birthed since then. When I think of them in terms of the 9 Fruits of the Spirit, the main fruit of the spirit they all encompass is faithfulness. They have been faithful to what God has given them and in return have shown through those gifts how great God's faithfulness is. Click on each name and get to know these authors. Let's celebrate their gifts and the gifts they are to the Kingdom.

Kimberly Thompson 

Dr. Ursula Frederick-Brown 

Monica Fletcher 

Tia McCollors

Tanya D. Bryant

Dr. Paris Love

Sharon Frame

Barbara Winters

Lakia Brandenburg 

In His service,

Lequvia Ousley