The cost of Ambition

When I look back over the years of old family photos of me and my children,
We may have been poor but we were happy until I caught a virus called ambition.
Things seemed simpler back then, but today I seem to fail, no matter how hard I try.
While on the road to give them a better life, somehow they got left behind.
I was fueled by the deep desire to overcome the odds stacked against me,
and the hurtful words that maliciously attacked me,
with three small children in tow, a better life came with a sense of urgency.
I wanted so desperately to prove that I was a good mother, contributing to society other than a number for another sad statistic,
although I had nothing;
raised by the system,
no man,
no education,
still, I remained optimistic.
I had to leave others behind and never look back, I made many tough decisions.
I grew strong in my faith, maintained an attitude of gratitude; and in my kids, I planted seeds of wisdom.
I wanted nothing more than to give them a better life, than the hard life that I had been given.
But nothing in life is free, success comes at a cost, accomplishing my dreams turned into an obsession.
The gap between those I love seem to grow wider the closer I get to my destination,
They don’t understand that all of this is for them, to redeem us all from the curse of generational oppression.
They don't know how many risks I've taken, how much I have sacrificed,
how much I gave, how much I prayed, and how many countless times that I compromised.
But God knows my heart, my purpose is clear, and has promised that He will stay right by my side.
Everyone will benefit from the point of it all one day,
and my ambition will be justified.

© Copyrights, All rights reserved


Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

Sheild of Faith

While on your path to becoming holy, do you ever forget that you're human?

Not only do you forget, but others do too?

You think, I pray diligently, focus on God so much that there is no way I can get off track. Wrong!

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

While you are busy struggling carrying that cross and you stumble and fall, you beat yourself up over it and feel like maybe you’re too weak but then you remember God’s promise so you get back up, pick it back up, place it on your back and continue on. Then a spectator comes along, mocking you, ridiculing you, spitting on you and your purpose and knock you right back down. Then of course while carrying the cross, the devil starts whispering lies making you feel unworthy, insecure and fearful of the path ahead.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

That cross is so heavy isn’t it? And the road seems so very long, right?

You get so stuck on that “Deny yourself” part that you forget that you are just a simple man/woman and have feelings. Others who see that you are so busy working on moving closer to fulfilling your purpose, in their confusion as to why you are so set on what they consider a “pointless mission” they attempt to discourage you.

I know in the past few weeks I have been challenged with all of the above. It can be quite difficult to stay on that path. It is not for the weak-minded or the faint-hearted but for a noble heart with a fire in their belly and a love for God and his people.

When God calls you and gives you a purpose to fulfill, it will not be easy. In fact, when you answer that call and you start working on your purpose, you attract the enemy along with all of his bag of tricks. He will use the things closest to your heart against you to hurt you; the very thing he thinks will break you. He will reopen old wounds and pull out old fears. He will attempt to attack at every angle and when one weapon doesn’t work, he will upgrade to something stronger.

You have to remember, the more attacks that you receive, the closer you are to the purpose being fulfilled.

That’s when you have to pull out your faith and refer back to the truth. God’s word and His promise. God never breaks His promises to those who believe and trust in Him. He is the ultimate chess player and will line up everything in accordance to His perfect plan.

God is truth, the devil is a lie. God is light, the devil is darkness. God is love, the devil is hate.

“I am the way, the truth and the light.” John 14:6

As the enemy breaks out his weapons, break out your shield of faith!

“Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16


Be blessed this week!


© Copyrights, All rights reserved


Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Spring 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

Instruction Manual

There are those of us who were lucky to have a great upbringing and were taught values, morals and ethics. We learned about setting and maintaining expectations and boundaries.
Then, unfortunately, there are those of us who have had to just "wing it." We typically learn by mistakes/trial and error and often become frustrated and wished there was an instruction manual.

Guess what?

Ladies...GREAT NEWS! There IS an instruction manual on how to become a good woman. It's called the Bible. Scripture teaches you the qualities that are important when it comes to growing from a young lady into a woman, and from a woman to a woman of virtue; of noble character. Everything around you in main-stream media tries to push you to be a "wayward" woman but scripture is TRUTH.

Gentlemen...GREAT NEWS! There IS an instruction manual on what kind of man you should be and what qualities you should seek and find in a woman, especially if you plan on marrying her! It's called the Bible. Great men in history all have something in common. A great partner...supportive, loving, dependable, loyal. They made a great team because TWO are much stronger than one. So if you picked a wayward woman, maybe you need to refer to your instruction manual next time.

We all fall short and this woman is hard to keep up with, but this is a great guide!

PRINT THIS when next time you are either doing a self-evaluation (ladies) or evaluating a woman (gentlemen)

The Proverbs 31 Woman ~ Proverbs 31: 10-31

A Noble woman, who can find?
For her worth is far above rubies.

(rare, precious, hard to find)

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.

(trustworthy, valuable)

She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

(kind, loyal, supportive)

She looks for wool and flax
And works in delight.

(works joyfully with cheer and a smile)

She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.

(goes extra mile)

She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.

(Disciplined, Humble, Leadership Quality)

She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

(enterprising, intelligent, good with money-investor)

She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.

(energetic and healthy)

She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.

(good steward, hard-working, has goals)

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.

(diligent)

She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

(compassionate, generous, caring for the less fortunate)

She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

(provident)

She makes and wears coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

(Elegant, representative of Gods favor and blessings)

Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

(influential, chose a partner to compliment her)

She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

(industrious, business-minded)

Strength and honor are her clothing,
And she smiles and laughs at the future.

(Confident, Poised, full of hope and faith)

She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

(wise, optimistic, words of encouragment and kindness)

She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

(manages her home, watches over her children, is not lazy)

Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her,

(praiseworthy)

Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."

(distinguished, deserving)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

(Loves God and spreads His word)

Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

(Honored and favored, her actions speak loudly)


© Copyright – All rights reserved
November 2009

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Spring 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

The Butterfly Scholar

The Butterfly Scholar ~ Education


The Butterfly Scholar Program will be an scholarship program in which 11th and 12th grade girls can compete. Five winners will be chosen and each awarded a $1,000 scholarship and laptop. It will be an essay on "The importance of Empowerment, Leadership and Faith in the real world"


They must meet minimal eligibility requirements. A Selection Committee of 10 will choose the winners annually.



© Copyright – All rights reserved
2009

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Spring 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25