Sunday, October 9, 2016

No Strings Attached

                                                         :by LadyJo


Yesterday, like Ayanla, I cried
Understanding the realism,
Some thing inside me died
This feeling I thought had subside,
Resurfaced, when this tune replayed in my head

“I wanna be loved Not for who you think I am
Nor what you want me to be could you love me for me?
Real love, with no strings attached, I wanna give you me heart
Don't want to take it back”  Back!... Back!...

BACK?
I don’t wanna take it back,
So don’t give it back
For me to mend,
Or contend
With the realization
That our love has come to an end
That our Love no longer exists
And the temptation of you
I now need to resist
The need to hear your voice
Or see your face
To hold your hand
Or fall in your embrace

BACK?
Don’t give it back
The laughter the happiness
Sweet memories and warm caress
All the special qualities you possess
No longer will I have the privilege to admire
When only your heart was all I desired

BACK?
Don’t give it back
Don’t give back those times
When hello gave butterflies
When faces gleamed with smiles
And sadness arise at the sound of good-byes
When tomorrow seemed so far
When love was made and not war
In this moment -- was all that mattered
Now here I sit shedding tears like rivers
For my heart has been shattered.

BACK?
Don’t give it back
Please don’t give back
The “I love yous”
Or the sweet Sugar Boos
The names only us two knew
That showed just how much I was into you
While blocking out the world around
Looking into your big brown, eyes
So profound
For your soul was what I saw
Which confused the hell out of me
When from my heart you said you need to withdraw

BACK?
Don’t give it back
Don’t give back my heart
That you’ve broken into a million pieces
For I know, my love for you, continues to flow
Till this life forever ceases
For your love I won’t return
It was because of you I’ve learn
To be real and unlock the seal
That shields my most precious possession

BACK?
Why?
Why do you want to give it back?
Why choose to turn my blues skies black
Is it something you need that I lack
Or maybe it’s to someone else to whom you now flack
Please don’t give it back
Please don’t put my mind under this attack
For I gave you my heart
With no strings attached

And I don’t want to take it back.

Photo courtesy of https://thefaithpedia.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/no-strings-attached-3/

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Show Me You

by: LadyJo


From your words, your commands, I’ve been taught, With a price I know I’ve been bought
Because of your Love, your kingdom I will enter, One day when all I surrender
One desire I ask you to reveal, Show Me You, Help me ignore what I feel
Whether in the sky big and blue, Or beneath the ocean through and through
Always remind me it’s all because of you,
Anywhere I go within this land, Show Me You, Father help me to understand
Open my heart and help me to know, through you, all things die and all things grow
So show me your love, Show me your kingdom, Above all bless me with spiritual wisdom
Take my hand, Guide my path, Help me to avoid forever your wrath
Close and open doors allow me see, The times you’ve always provided for me
Give me strength, Give me courage, With your word give me your knowledge
Bless me always with gifts from above, And let me live forever in your Love
For on the day I depart from this earth
Only then will I see and understand the true meaning of your birth

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Eyes Gazed On Low

By Ladyjo



Eyes gazed on low, Filled with storms of rain, Poured out upon
From the brokenness of heart, To see the paths chosen
Directed by fear… faithless, hopeless
Of a future already laid out, Ohhh, how much love you must have
To look on low, To see evil prevail… chosen
Darkness rule the path… chosen
Your children stray……..chosen
Ohhh, why must you shed tears
How many more drops, How many more pain
How many more floggings, How many more ground covered red
Repeating the Via Dolorosa
Because of You… creator, potter, way-maker, path-director,
Provider, comforter, healer, omnipotent, omnipresent
Why doubt… the tomorrows, Why fear… what’s already been
Why live… as if eternity exists not, Why hope… for yesterday
Why faith… only when seen, Why trust… my future, my hands
Oh how precious are the Eyes that gazed on low
Filled with storms of rain, Poured out upon, Us
From the brokenness of heart, Bestowed
Forgive, I plea, Forgive…and seize not thy Love from thee

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Echoes of You

By: Ladyjo

Echoes of your touch still lingers on my fingertips. Just as the taste of your lips still lingers from your ardent kiss. Thoughts of you gracefully waltz on the dance floor of my mind. To a familiar melody that’s now stuck on rewind. Seeing you again after all this time, Reminds me how fearful I was when I choose not to have made you mine. I remember how easy we were, and your arms felt like my rightful place. When you reached for me, I fell helplessly into your embrace. And what was once a school girl crush. Has now rekindled as an adult love affair in a moments brush. 

Now here we are, all grown up, no longer kids. My fears have subside, but now, you’re the temptation my body forbids, My heart selfishly desires and my mind stubbornly refuses to rid. For I’m reminded of what could have been. If only I was strong enough not to allow fear and doubt to be my greatest sin. Yet echoes of your embrace still lingers on me. I can still feel myself wrapped in your arms lying next to you so comfortably. Yearning to call your embrace, home. Believing it’s the antidote to this emptiness of being alone.

But so much time has already gone by, alas. Is it even possible to revisit sentiments that have long been surpassed. Like how I feel when I see your handsome smile. Yes, I’m Still… Infatuated by your handsome smile. And finding myself still able to get lost in your alluring brown eyes. Consumed by the repetitive thought of you and me. Selfishly flirting with hope, to make these thoughts a reality. If only our dance of Love and Life could fall into perfect time. When your desire to be with me, at last matches mine. We’d come to experience a love only a few truly finds. When two hearts become one, for our paths were destined to combine. Because I’ve been saving all my Love just for you. And after all this time, you still adore me, too. But I’m not able to act upon what I truly feel. And my desire to be with you I struggle each day to conceal. Fighting this daily battle to endure in God’s grace. To put him first and not allow my selfish desires to become my disgrace. 

Hesitantly, I ask you not to un-break my heart. For that ache will become my remedy as we remain apart. As I overcome the echoes of your memory saturated in my existence. Watching love gradually drift away into the distance. For if you love someone and set them free. God’s able to bring them back, if it’s his divine plan to be.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Inspired Ink by LadyJo: Sweet Memories

Inspired Ink by LadyJo: Sweet Memories: by: Ladyjo Sweet memories… Collected in love songs and eminent places Painted in movies and soft embraces Delectable meals acros...

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Sweet Memories

by: Ladyjo


Sweet memories…
Collected in love songs and eminent places
Painted in movies and soft embraces
Delectable meals across a table of smiling faces
Whispering sweet names and familiar phrases
Exchanging adoring looks and intimate gazes
As I’m remembering love

Memories of frozen moments in time
Seemed like it was created by the divine
Portraits of what should have been for a lifetime
When a professed love was defined
Romanticizing emotions that were so sublime
Each moment forced our hearts to align
As beings who were destined to intertwined

Sweet memories…
Shared, when love was young and tender
When hearts were vulnerable and surrendered
And emotions had no sensor
And willingness was not endangered
A comfort to bare in honest splendor
Finding hope in a love we both choose to render
As I’m remembering love

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

My Brothers…. For Them

By: Ladyjo



My soul cries for my young black brothers
The weeping of my heart is overwhelming……for them
To see each day one by one they keep dropping
Victims to the streets, their souls they freely giving
To the master of hopelessness and despair
Who steals their dreams and keeps them in fear
Feeding them lies, and telling them no body cares

My soul cries for my young black brothers
The hurt within me runs deep……for them
Over taken by the pressures of this generation
Mentally believing they fresh off the plantation
Taught to cast blame on all but themselves for not being free,
Enslaved in their minds and refusing to see
That being OF this world keeps them encaged
Sad to say more than half has yet to live pass legal age
As mommas fall on her knees, begging God please
Endlessly offering up prayers
With overwhelming eyes filled with tears
Asking for one more night for her son’s life may be spared

My soul cries for my young black brothers
The spirit within me grieves……..for them
To know their vision have been lost in darkness and defeat
While they are convinced that they belong to these streets
So they accept the lies and live in fear of a future they cheat
Refusing hope, denying faith, living life incomplete
And one by one their dreams they slowly delete
Lost vision, dreamless dreams, thoughtless future
Living in the last days, heading for eternal torture
Unaware that the lion never sleeps
For their souls he consistently competes

My soul cries for my young black brothers
Rivers of tears I silently cry…..for them
To see all their potential hidden or lost
Not understanding their worth and true cost
All they do is live for the moment, living daily in earthly judgment
At night when they sleep their mind the enemy torments
Desperately wanting to fit in, to just understand the definition of their brown skin
But no matter how hard they try they still can’t win
Professors, Lawyers, Doctors, even with a PHD, their color remains their #1 sin
Ignorance caused by lack of knowledge equals feared by many
Yet all they want is to survive and earn more than just a penny
Take care of their family and live out their days with joy happily

My soul cries for my young black brothers
But, as my soul cries, my faith rise…..for them
For I know who they are, yet in my eyes they are my heroes and superstars
As they, so was I born into the same adversity, place on this land to render diversity
Battered, Conflicted, tossed back and forth
My faith in them will give them strength, love, and support
For no matter how hard the enemy tries to shackle their feet
In my heart of hearts I know they will over come and this world they will defeat
For although we’ve lost so many, millions more still live on
And still need the true nurture of a sista to help them stand strong and keep pressing on

But through all that
My soul believes in my young black brothers
My love and faith runs deep… for them
So I say to you, stand tall, head held high, and never give up or give in
With courage and strength, keep the faith, know your worth see your potential
And understand that your presence in this world is essential 

*Picture courtesy of http://www.shutterstock.com/

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Love's Reality

by: LadyJo



Emotional feelings, desires forbidden
Reflecting on moments of days still hidden
Painting pictures of tomorrow, with each thought that flows
Embracing ideas of love, perfection that grows
What makes the heart beat with emotions so rich in pleasure
Causing fantasies to become such as hidden treasure
It’s a smell of a rose, a touch of the hand
A feel of a raindrop, A tune well sang
What makes this emotion, something of necessity?
Such as the air I breathe or life received
It’s the embrace of the spirits, with a touch of the souls
This thing called Love, much precious than gold
 Given from the heart, blessed to received
Heaven’s little angel, disguised in emotions so often deceives
Blessed is the sight, sent down from above
Within the reality of the mind, begins this thing called Love


Photo courtesy of http://agbillig.com/chose-love/ 

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Goodbye To My Friend


By: LadyJo


Eyes flow like water falls
Memories replay like re-runs
Heart filled with sorrow
For my friend I won’t see tomorrow
As another day dawns, our separate ways we go
Anxiety and excitement will be present no more
For my friend I won’t see walking through the door
Each day became a blessing
From conversations we had to laughter shared
It was wonderful knowing someone who always cared
Thanks for your wisdom, Thanks for your smiles
Thanks for bringing enjoyment to a dim, shallowed life
The joy you shared I will always remember
Thanks to the Love of our Lord
To whom we can always cry out to and surrender
So I’ll continue to share the joys you gave
And let my light shine always as it did within thee
So like you the golden gates may one day receive me 

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

They

by: LadyJo
THEY….hmmm
Why THEY keep telling me I have to be a size two,
Have to fit the look of a supermodel
Dine on spring water and celery sticks;
To compete with all these unreal worldly chicks
Who’s out here seeking all the wrong attention
Thinking they cute showing off all their un-mentions
Just to get some due to take a look their way
Who’ll get their number, take em on a date, sleep with em, and then throw em away

Honestly, I don’t have no mo time for all that mess
Been there, done that, I’m now a child of God and I’m truly blessed
Taken away from all the fake-ism of this world
Given a new life, went from a pebble on the street to a precious pearl
Yet for some reason THEY don’t see that
Just walking around behind my back with dey mouth full of bad chat
Yearning to take the splinter out of my eye
Yet the blinding plank in theirs they refuse to see, and they deny

Man, life’s too short to walk around worried and stress
To starve myself one breath shy of death
Yeahhh…. I know, I can spare to loose a pound or two
Drop these thighs, smaller waistline, and a nickel belly too
But I’m comfortable in my skin
Took awhile, but I overcame the emptiness that haunted me within
And just when I thought, finally peace in the midst of my domain… pssss
Here THEY come telling me about my self all over again
Why don’t you wear your hair long and straight
Encouraging me to compromise the true beauty of my ancestral trait
Chemicalize your brain and lighten your skin
When THEY gonna learn, outer change just hiding the real sin within
Man… I had my share of attention, dinner dates and one time boyfriends
Had my share of waking up each morning, putting on my face and pretend
That life was all that, no worries no stress
Going out four nights a week thinking I’m cute in my too tight too short black dress
Walking down the street hearing dues shouting….
“Pssssssss, Hey Sweetness! 
Stop here awhile let me get your number and your address”
That was then, this is now

Yeah being a size two, I admit, I sure would be cute
But how many will really see pass the looks into my spiritual roots
Just being a size two ain’t all that it’s made out to be
You know how many size twos I know still miserable and unhappy
Look, All I can do is just be me, live in my skin
Have respect for my temple, keep it pure so that one day I can trade it in
But really, on the day of judgment
Is God really gonna worry about how much time I spent in the gym
Or will he judge me based on my faith and repentance from sin
So THEY can take that to the bank and wheel and come again!!!

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Mother Earth

by: LadyJo


I look at you out side my window
I see the changes you are going through
Life, Growth, Survival, Death
Your cycle awakens deep thoughts within me
As to why we exist?
As to why we are created?
And the purpose of why we live
Exploring my thoughts
I begin to understand
To be created is to have been the vision of one’s creation
Well thought out and designed specifically for a purpose
To live is to have love
We keep alive that which is most precious to our heart
To grow is to develop
Into more than what began, maturing with time and experience
And to Die is to have lived
Leaving behind a legacy of one’s existence
A trail to prove to those who come after
That what is no more, once was
So I look at you outside my window
Mother Earth
As your leaves fall, and your tears drop
I see you speaking loudly to my heart
As you reside into a deep sleep once more
Waiting to be re-born, in the dawn of day

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Becarz Yuh Been Evryting To Me

by: LadyJo



Lawd hav mercy, Sometimes, dis life get rough yuh no
An many times, I havta reap wat I sow

Now, I no, I ain’t no spring chicken
I make my share a mistakes, taken a licken, but by your grace you still keep meh tickin

In dis life, yea I face many trials and tribulation
Latah times asking meh self, boi, but how I get in dis situation?

Standin up between a rock and a hard place
Only able to tun my eyes to de hills from which cometh my grace

Crying Lawwwwd, remember meh
Yuh dartah, your servant, please tell meh yuh dey and tell meh yuh see

How de enemy constantly throwing pot holes in my way
Tryin hard to make my foot slip, cazing meh to stray

Over him, I ain’t got no strength, ain’t got no power
So if I don’t depend on yuh, that enemy will have a feast on my soul as he devower

Lawd, I no yuh never promise meh riches, and fortune, and fame
Never promise meh a easy life, with no lighting, no tundah, an no rain

Even doe many days it feel like passin thru dees rivers dey slowly tun into quick san
Lemme just keep putting one foot in front de odah as you take my han and lead me to your promise lan

Mehson its hard yuh no, you lookin down, you could see
But Fardah God where else besides with you would I rahda be?

Caz is only glory and heaven is all dat matta, the only true aim
Giving up jus ain’t a choice, I hav to hole on to de faith I proclaim

See even doe life past and life to come, I will face many hard times
I know once I stay hidden undah your wings, I know this mountain will get easier to climb

From whey you fine meh to whey you bring meh, I still got some ways to go
But Fardah God, one day at a time as you change my character an my mine, onto maturity I will grow

Tru de storms and come wat mey, my Jehovah Jirah you will stay
When the enemy try to over take me, I will call on you my Jehovah Nissi
An when it is finish and my body is laid below, joyful my spirit will rest in you my Jehovah Shaloh

So yes, in dis life dears no guarantee
But I inten to trust and obey, an humbly offer my self daily to thee
Fardah God, Becarz yuh, been evryting to me…

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Tears On My Pillow

by: LadyJo




Tears on my pillow
Falling like waterfalls
At the end of a babbling brook
As I’m compelled to walk boldly into my security
Unveiled from the obscurity
In believing that you were my hope

But I feel a presence reaching out to comfort me
Catching each tear that falls
Calling each one by name
Caused by this emotional affliction that aches my heart
Feeling immersed by this moments in time
As I lay here grieving the demise of a lost hope

Internally I scream, I shout for hope’s return
For a future to be rewritten
For our existing path to be unknown  
When red roses bloomed not only in spring
But all year round
As love through hope was have
When a future never became a past

But in this very moments
Laid open to the characteristics of ail
Seeing a loss hope in the basin of my tears
Even though I’m consoled
By one who’s able to catch each tear and call them by name
Reminding me lonely is not the equivalent to alone, so no fear to behold
For love that is now loss, eclipses love that was never found
Anticipating love deferred will be right punctual
But this night I cry tears on my pillow

*Picture courtesy of: National Self Reliance Association

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Righteous Child


by: LadyJo
Take a moment and watch my video, prayerful it will encourage you today!



Hey Family, 
Since my video quality came through poorly, here are the actual words of the poem.  ~ Enjoy & be Inspired today!!!



How many times have I found myself right here
Faced with the verdict of Trust or Fear
Having to make a decision that will determine the rest of my life
Jump into the Faith of my Lord, or continue living in strife
Unable to see the safety net that will catch me if I choose to fall
If I give into Faith, don’t look back, if I risk it all
Doubtfully, I stand on the edge of this cliff and I wait
Taking time to contemplate
Analyze the true risk of my fate
Realizing whatever I do now will be evident of the life I proclaim
Evident of the doctrine I have confidence in, as I have claimed
Evident that law and physics are not my Lords
Since I have chosen to live by faith, not by sight in Jesus name
Leaving me an example to follow his lead
When He chose his fate and did not recede
With prayer and petition the Father’s plan he fully embodied
When He took the chance and He risked it all
When His verdict was Trust, He made the call
Forgetting what’s behind, looking toward what’s ahead and simply fall
Imitating the walk of this perfect man, I too take a stand
Refusing to be known by anything other than
Righteous child of God!


Friday, January 22, 2016

On an iced-in day in the Queen City

The Lord said, “My precious, I will never leave you,
during your time of trials,when you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”

He Was Born To Die

by: Ladyjo


I wonder what you were thinking, while being hung upon that tree
In anguish and pain after being beaten all night, so endlessly

Were you anticipating a quick end, so from this world you would flee
Or were you constantly thinking, and remembering me

Were you thinking of the day, when I would join you in glory
After committing my life to you, after hearing about your life story

How you gave up your crown, and to this world became a slave
Hoping that because of your sacrifice my life would be saved

Flogged, beaten, spat on, and disgraced
All this you endured just so one day I may see you face to face

What greater love is there, than a heavenly king who became a man
Since the beginning of time, this was the Father’s master plan

What greater love is there, than a king who would wash my feet
To show an extent of his love so that my faith may be complete

What greater love is there, that of one who was born to die
To save a wretch like me, a sinner such as I

Born in a manger and died on a tree,
All the way to calvary You went for me

So what was He thinking while being hung upon that tree
He was thinking of the Love he had and still have for you and for me