A Different World
A Different World . . .not only was it a good show in the late 1980’s and early 90’s …. it is where we are now as a nation.
The show “A Different World” schooled us on #BlackCulture and gave us insight into the experiences of being a Black college student.
The show dealt with classism within the black culture and social injustices but more importantly there was always a sense of pride for having #BrownSkin after watching each episode.
The title of the show “A Different World” stands out at this present time because we are literally living in a different world then we were living in 4 months ago.
We are still within the pandemic although it seems and appears that we are at the end.
Presently, in this new world, we have to wear mask or facial coverings, remain 6 feet within each other and have to readjust to life as we once knew it.
This is the new norm.
We are in a different world ….
We can’t casually go to the Nail or Beauty Salon, we can’t eat in restaurants, we can’t go into a Mall to go shopping and we have to wait online to enter into a Grocery store.
A different world ….
We can’t have our office spaces in little cubicles or have meetings at work and we can’t freely travel like we used to or want to.
A different world ….
& in the midst of a pandemic we have to deal with social injustices that have been simmering over time and have boiled over to a level of intolerance.
But
There is a difference in how the nation is responding to the Social Injustices that exist. More people are coming together, united as one, to unify their voice and collectively speak about the injustices occurring.
I’m optimistic about this new world that we dwell in. It is indeed different.
I think we can all agree …. some changes are needed and changes will come.
Writer#Blogger#SupportBlackArtist#SupportBlackBusiness#BlackLivesMatter#ADifferentWorld
Being Joyfully You – Genesis
5 years ago God dropped some things in my spirit.
He told me it would involve the following things:
- It would be a Free Event
- Where Women Would Gather
- & God’s Spirit of Joy would flow
I started planning an event for January 2017 – I think I titled it “A Night of Joy” but I talked myself out of it.
“Who would come to something I planned?!”
I mean – “Who am I?”
“What do I have to offer anyone?”
& more importantly- “I’m so depressed – How the heck can I speak about God’s Joy in my darkest season?!”
God kept nudging me for the next year and a half to plan the event and carry out the vision he placed in my heart. 💛
In 2018 – A fearful, insecure and un-joyful woman (at the time) planned and launched “Being Joyfully You.”
I literally had no idea what I was doing. To this day I don’t even know how I was able to finance it all by myself and still pay my bills.
After a successful launch – I told God “I’m one and done!”
“I did what you asked me to do!” 😊 Now I can rest.
I was very content and proud of myself for yielding and being obedient and genuinely was “naturally” satisfied with doing one event. I’ll repeat the last part of that statement: “naturally satisfied”
God’s Reply was – “ Nope, you’re just getting started!” 🙄🤦🏾♀️😩
2019 rolled in rather quickly so I planned and noticed growth immediately. More people were inquiring. More people showed up. I actually had a team of people that partnered with me and volunteered their time.
I was more confident and in a better financial state to plan it, so “Being Joyfully You – Year 2- The Unveiling” occurred on March 30th, 2019.
It was a beautiful March day and about 60 women were in attendance.
Now we are in Year 3. There was no tugging from God – I just immediately started planning it after Year 2 ended; I literally started planning the day of.
I knew that the event was growing so I started saving money to properly finance everything needed for Year 3.
“Being Joyfully You – Year 3 – Friendship” is 22 days away.
My Faith is growing and the planning is running a little more smoothly.
There is definitely a bit of anxiety because I truly want each woman in attendance to leave in a better place than when they entered.
I desire for woman to connect with each other.
I desire for women to speak and share freely because they are in a safe place to do so.
I desire for the Spirit of Joy to flow. 🙌🏾
In Faith – I speak and declare that “Being Joyfully You – Year 3” is going to be an amazing event for all!
To those whom will be in attendance- I can’t wait to meet you.
To those who are unable to attend or are on the waiting list for “Being Joyfully You – Year 3 – I am planning more events within the same year! 😉
I declare that “Being Joyfully You” will be a Non-Profit Organization that helps spread Joy to others in need. 🙌🏾
For those who have a ministry, a plan, an idea …. or anything that God placed in your heart and you are afraid to act on it – Just Do It!
God will truly see you through.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads – There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
This is YOUR SEASON – Step out of Fear and Walk boldly into your purpose.
Signed with Joy,
Joyfully Chrissy Lee 💛🌻
Dear Son – Chapter 13
I make no apologies but this week has been an emotional rollercoaster. 😊😫😢
I’ve been going through my album and wondering where the heck did time go?!
I literally feel like I just gave birth to you yesterday.
You’re excited because you are officially a teenager.
For you, you translate that to more freedom and having such a badge of honor to have the word “teen” at the end of you age.
I’m happy, sad and scared because I feel like I can’t protect you in the same manner that I once have.
You desire more time with your friends, you’re on your phone more and girls 😩🤦🏾♀️ …. I’ll leave that subject alone (for now).
There’s such a fear in raising a young, black son. (We’ll talk about that more in detail) but I’m truly relying on my prayers to keep you.
I’m very proud of the man that you are becoming.
You are such an intelligent, compassionate and well mannered young man.
STAY THAT WAY! ☝🏾
Don’t allow bad influences to change the core of who you are.
The next few years will be filled with many lessons.
You will learn about decisions and how much of an impact that have on your life.
Rely on that inner voice to keep you.
I’m so proud of the YOUNG man you are developing in to.
Happy Birthday Young Prince!
Today I celebrate your very existence.
With deep Love,
Mommy 💛🌻
When God Shows You – You – Part I
I’ve been asking God to show me – ME
I mean the real me …. the unadulterated, raw Christina.
No make up. No filter. Just me.
And Boy oh Boy 🤦🏾♀️ I was not pleased by what was revealed to me.
Today, I let someone irritate my soul. 😠
I mean really take me out of character.
I’ve even said out loud – “Ugh, I can’t stand him!”
2 Things that can really get under my skin is a person with a nasty attitude and a person with a negative outlook on life …. you know – the Negative Nancies 😑
Ugh – I can’t take being around them. (God’s working on me tho – Y’all pray my strength in the Lord lol 😉 🙌🏾)
Life presents some struggles and hardships and I understand that but I feel like people shouldn’t take their personal stuff out on other people.
Easier said then done ….
You know what ….
Now that I’m writing this …. I’ve definitely done that before 😔
Ugh …. God’s truly showing me – Me even as I write this …. (y’all still praying for me?)
Back to the story – I allowed this person to disturb my ☮️
I don’t know why 🤷🏾♀️
But what I do know is that I was very much checked in my spirit by God. 😞
It brought me to tears. 😢
Literally
Our job as Christians is to LOVE people unconditionally just as Christ loves us.
How dare I allow someone to allow me to operate differently.
God reminded me how that same person shared something VERY personal with me some years ago.
He was vulnerable to me and let me in.
Read that again & highlight the word “HE”.
That alone is a big deal because men are not taught nor is it promoted in our society that a male is to be or can be vulnerable
….. but I digress
The person gave me the reason(s) that he is unhappy at times which translates to a bad attitude or a miserable disposition.
I felt horrible. I was so disgusted with myself.
To a certain extent – I still am 😩
1. How and why would I let someone else’s attitude affect me?
2. Why wouldn’t I pause and try to understand why the person is the way they are?
3. Why didn’t I allow the spirit of JOY to be a light to them?
4. Why didn’t I love them just as Christ loves us within our nastiest moments?
I allowed my flesh and my emotions to get the best of me.
I was downright selfish and only thinking about what I like and want to be around; which is another joyful person. A beam of light. A positive person . . .
But
Aren’t we charged to be the light as Christians??
I definitely failed today and had to make it right.
I pushed my pride and critical spirit to the side and went and asked the person how he was doing.
He told me he was okay but working through some things.
I asked about his family.
We spoke ….. but more importantly; within that moment, we connected….
Just as we had connected years ago.
God showed me that we have to connect with others and then allow our connections with them to be a gateway for them to connect with God.
Now that’s how you witness. 😉
We can’t just witness by putting some scriptures on IG or FB.
We can’t witness by simply going to Church.
The true witness is building and connecting with others – PERIOD
A true witness is the way we act, live our lives and treat others
& DOING THIS ALL WITH THE SPIRIT OF LOVE 💛 & OF COURSE JOY 😉
I repented to God and asked for his forgiveness. ✝️
I have no right to judge or even be irritated by someone else or how they respond to what they may be going through in life.
I should allow God’s spirit of love to lead me – In all things.
I should allow his spirit of compassion to be my guide.
Today – I decide once again (don’t judge me, I’m a work in progress y’all 😆) to allow God’s love to lead me and minister to others.
I hope you will do the same.
This Christian journey is far from easy but hopefully we are all working to be better versions of us.
Ending this blog praying we all get it right …. someday. 😊
Signed with Joy and a Humble 💛,
Joyfully Chrissy Lee 🌻
Don’t be like “Atlas” 🌍
There’s a very old building that used to be a Health Spa in Scarsdale, NY.
It was called the European Health Spa.
It’s such an eye sore in such a beautiful town.
Broken Windows
Abandoned
Patched up with Cheap Wood
The building stands tall but alone. 😔
That was me not long ago.
I was a broken woman. An emotional wreck. Unknowing of who I was or my purpose in life.
I felt abandoned by loved ones and to a certain extent, I abandoned myself. I let myself go and didn’t care about taking care of me (my mental, spiritual and emotional being).
I would patch myself up by finding ways to avoid issues, conflicts and things that really needed to be addressed.
I stood tall and strong to others but felt very much alone & abandoned.
Just like the building.
I passed it as I was driving to my appointment at the European Wax Center in Yonkers and came across this building on Central Park Avenue. (BTW Nel is the absolute BEST Esthetician ever!) Book her @ https://www.waxcenter.com/ny-yonkers
⬆️ (Unpaid Plug – But the more You read my Blogs you’ll learn that I love to celebrate, praise 🙌🏾 & promote others; just because 🤷🏾♀️)
This sounds crazy but out of all the business’ on Central Park Avenue ( & there are many); I felt like this building called out to me – as if it wanted to be noticed.
I made a (legal) U-Turn 🙈 and pulled into the parking lot.
I got out of my car and literally just stared at the building.
I could see what it once was – a beautiful building that probably received a lot of attention. The structure is absolutely stunning and in the front of the building is a statue of Atlas (a Titan God in Greek Mythology).
Just to give you my quick Blip about Atlas. He was at war with Zeus (Greek God) & after his defeat, he was condemned to carry the sky/heavens on his shoulders. 😔 Talk about a harsh punishment.
I remember when I felt like I had the weight of the world 🌍 on my shoulders.
I was so weighed down by my issues ( & there were many). My view of self was so skewed.
I was the beat up & abandoned building. 🤕
I can tell you how I got there.
I isolated from my friends, family and God.
I was attending Church ⛪, but I was just there as a seat warmer. I didn’t receive anything because I was so blinded by my issues & I wasn’t open to receiving anything.
As time progressed I tried to patch myself up by simply avoiding things that I needed to deal with head on.
Using 4 Christian ✝️ cliche words, I can tell you how I matured into the woman I am now. I learned to “Let Go, & Let God!” Welp, that’s really 5 words but let’s focus on the 4. 😉
When you “Let Go”, you stop giving all of your energy to worrying, fretting and stressing a situation or an issue.
When you “Let God”, you invite him in & put all your worries, frets and stresses to him because unlike Atlas – he is strong enough to bare them. ( Don’t believe me?! Read Psalm 55:22 & Matthew 11:28-30)
If Atlas could hand over the weight to someone he would be able to rest.
There are many of you trying to be Atlas … trying to be God
But
You aren’t strong enough to do that
&
You never will be.
Trust Me – I’m speaking from experience. 🤦🏾♀️
Learn to hand over all of the things that are weighing you down to be handled by God.
Don’t be like the broken and abandoned building 🏚 that everyone passes by.
Allow God to build you up so you can mature and grow into the man 👨 / woman 👩 that he called you to be.
YOU & I are a BEAUTIFUL creations carefully crafted by God.
You & I can be built up and restored again.
All you have to do is invite God in & let him do his thing.
Again I say – Trust Me – I’m speaking from experience.
Praying for whoever needs to be restored & believing that you will! 🙏🏽🙌🏾
Signed with so much Love & Of Course JOY,
Joyfully Chrissy Lee 🌻💫
Prayer – Lord, I come before you today on behalf of every Broken person. I ask that you give them the strength to speak up and ask for help from you and wise counsel. May they learn to go to you when they are feeling broken because your word says you will hold their hand and help them. (Isaiah 41:13) I cry out to you Lord and ask you to deliver them out of their troubles. (Psalms 34:17)
Now I thank you and praise you for their healing.
In Jesus Name,
Amen 🙏🏽
Christina 🌻
Yep …. That’s me.
Silly. Loving. Thinker. Unique. Introverted.
The name Joyfully Chrissy Lee was basically given to me.
I’m always described as Joyful so hence the first name Joyfully.
The Chrissy Lee came from one of the women that raised me (Grandma 👵🏾).
My legal name is Christina but many family members call me Chris or Chrissy.
One day my Grandma sang out my name as she called to me “Chrisssssyyyyyy Lee” and that’s how the name came to be. (Thanks Grandma 💕).
I love to express and ✍🏾 allows me to do so.
I’ve always been introverted for as long as I can remember.
I love being around people and it does bring me Joy but I receive much more Joy when I get to be with self.
This blog site was started some time ago, so I have always written about my experiences and highs & lows of my Christian ✝️ walk of life but today I just wanted to give you guys & gals a snapshot of me.
Here’s 10 Random Facts About Me – I’ll try my best to give you guys something you don’t know from reading my Blogs. 🙈
1. Born in January of 1985 – repping my Birthplace of Mt Vernon, NY.
2. A good ole pair of Chucks (Converse for those who are confused) are my go to 👟.
3. I have scars on both of my thumbs from sucking my thumbs 👍🏾 – Yes I was a thumb sucker until the age of 13. 🙈
4. My son and I have a Birthmark in the same place. It’s on our left knee.
5. I enjoy watching Football 🏈 and I’m a #NYJets fan! (Team Gang Green 💚)
6. I’m lactose intolerant. (My 🚽 will agree)
7. I dance all the time when home alone. I’m talking about really dancing…. like shake a tail feather, salsa, wine and line dance. (In my head – I can truly bust a move 💃🏾👯♀️🚶🏾♀️) I absolutely LOVE music and its very much a strong part of my life.
8. I value my Family, My Friends and All those closest to me but I need to do a better job of showing I do 🙍🏾♀️.
8 Plus – I’m loyal to a fault. 😔
9. I love strawberries 🍓, watermelon 🍉 and Cortland Apples 🍎.
10. Behind my smile is a story you would never truly understand.
Bonus – I tend to use a heavy dose of sarcasm when pissed off.
There it goes! A little over 10 facts about me.
After sharing all of that – I feel a hell of exhausted 😩 and need to go back to my shell – Away from the Digital World.
Logging Off Until Next Time
Signed with JOY,
Joyfully Chrissy Lee 🌻
P.S. If you would like to purchase the hoodie in my photo. I purchased it from www.kingdomnative.com
You’ll get 10% off of your 1st order.
P.S.S. No I wasn’t paid to promote them. 🤦🏾♀️ Just wanted to show them some love and get you some dope Christian apparel.
The Good Fight 🥊
Ever watched a Boxing 🥊 Match?
Ever seen the one who seems that they will end up losing because they are beat to a pulp?
Eyes Swollen Closed, Face Beat Up, Blood Dripping Down Their Face.
…. Just looking defeated
Overwhelmed
Beat Up
&
Broken down
Each punch they receive breaks them more and more.
That was me ….. completely beaten down before I decided to make the decision to yield to God and his will for my life.
I allowed the enemy to beat me to a pulp and I must say all of this happened post being saved …. yes that means during my journey with Christ.
This battle occurred after I received Christ in my ♥️ & after being baptized.
I was fighting his will and consistently attending ⛪️, running a women’s group at ⛪️, facilitating classes for new Christians and New Church Members ….. yep.
▶️ Sorry to burst your bubble if you believe being a Christian is easy 🙈. ◀️
The war was on all while doing work for the kingdom. ✝️
I mean I received a good beating and this beating lasted over a period of time …. days …. months …. heck years to be exact. 🤔
It was a never ending tussle between my way and his way.
Blame it on my feelings. Blame it on my flesh. Blame it on my stubbornness. The point of blame is null and void.
On the surface – I looked Good & Poised – as if I was at peace within.
Peace was so foreign to me.
My spirit was restless and unsettled and so was my mind.
That’s how our spirits and minds are when we fight.
Picture The Match
👀 –
We have Michael Buffer announcing “On my right, I have Christina’s Will & Way standing tall at 5’8, stubborn and unwilling to yield because she wants to do what she wants to do.
“On my left, we have God’s Will standing Mighty & Strong with Mercy and Grace ready to fight the good fight.
I felt like Drago from Rocky IV was in front of me saying: “I must break you.”
Then He Yells – “Lets get ready to rummmmbbblllleeeeeeeee!” 🥊🥊🥊🥊
Fast Forward to the end and I’m literally laid out on the floor with a White Flag 🏳 (I know there’s no white flag in boxing but you get what I’m saying). 😆
I was in total submission. Tired of fighting.
Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek his wills and ways.
Jesus submitted to God’s will, suffered badly but did overcome. 💪🏾
The same goes for us. There is a suffering but we do overcome.
Always remember that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who ❤️ God. (Romans 8:28) 🙌🏾
So take some advice from me ….. and just yield and let God have his way. 😩
Let him use YOU ….. your personality, your gifts and your talents to help others.
Let him use you for his plan.
& for the control freaks out there; we may not know the specifics of the plan but I’m pretty certain you will be helping those in need.
We weren’t created to just live life for us. We were created to serve and bring Glory to the Father and his Kingdom.
I write to you as a flawed Christian with many blemishes that I have acquired along the way.
I also write to you from experiences….. past and present.
Try living for him …. I’m certain you won’t regret it. 😉
Humbled By His Grace & Mercy,
Joyfully Chrissy Lee 🌻
The Joy of the Lord will Always Be My Strength 🙌🏾
My Journey from Darkness to Joy 