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 

The Write History: Black History's First Published Author, Phillis Wheatley

Happy February and Happy #BlackHistoryMonth! A question that came across my mind recently was, "who was the first Black person to publish a book?" In my research, Google revealed that Phillis Wheatley was the answer to that question.

Phillis Wheatley, a poet (1753-1784) published her book Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773. This was 3 years before America's independence. In addition to being the first African American to publish a book, Wheatley was also the first to achieve international recognition as a writer. Her first book was published in London despite being declined by Boston publishers.

I remember hearing about Phillis Wheatley briefly in school but never truly knew about her life and circumstances surrounding her death at age 31(developed pneumonia and died after giving birth to a daughter who later passed the same day as her.) Although her life was short-lived, her legacy lives on through her writings. One example of a poem on slavery is "On being brought from Africa to America":

Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, 

Taught my benighted soul to understand 

That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: 

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

"Their colour is a diabolic dye."

Remember,  Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,

May be refin'd, and join th'angelic train.

Here is an excerpt video on her life and journey: 

I close with two quotes from Wheatley: 

"Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach."

"In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance."

In His Service,

Lequvia Ousley 

The Write Redemption: 2025, A Year of Grace Upon Grace

Welcome to 2025! On October 29th, I was on a prayer call and as prayers were being solicited, I remember writing down "restoration, revival, and redemption." These three words became a prayer not only on a personal level but the remainder of 2024 and have carried over into 2025. Soon after, Psalms 25 came to mind and I later read about the significance of 25 in the Bible. The number 25 represents the "forgiveness of sins". It is composed of 20 (number for redemption) and 5 (number for grace). Ephesians 1:7 states, "In whom we have REDEMPTION through his blood, the FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of His GRACE." This is illustrated through the story of Jehoiachin in Jeremiah 52:31-32. "Jeremiah states that the Jehoiachin's prison garments were changed, and that he did eat bread before him all the days of his life. (vs. 33) Here is a picture of a pardoned sinner." (Biblical Mathematics, Valowe, Ed. F., 1998)

Another significance of 25 in the Bible are the scriptures, Matthew 25 and Psalm 25. Matthew 25 is a parable about ten virgins who go out to meet the bridegroom, with five being wise and five being foolish. The wise virgins bring oil in their lamps, while the foolish ones do not. When the bridegroom arrives, the wise virgins go in with him, but the foolish ones are left out. The parable ends with the foolish virgins asking the wise for oil, but the wise respond that they should go buy their own. The parable's moral is to be watchful because no one knows when the Son of Man will come. 

With Psalm 25, this psalm includes the lines, "in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me". It also includes the lines, "guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long". 

We are in a time where we have many chances to be redeemed, restored, and revived. Let us all heed the revelations and what has been before our eyes. 

I close with a classic 1992 sermon from Billy Graham who speaks about how Jonah in the Bible ran away from God's commands but was given a second chance. 

In His Service,

Lequvia Ousley