ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OUR FOUNDER

Fight your enemy with knowledge from on High, the battle is not yours, it belongs to the Lord.  Why stay in a relationship that doesn't support you, encourage you and keep you focused on the will of God in your life?  God never meant for you to live a life of guilt, shame or defeat.  He has a purpose for your life to help the lives of others.  Don't settle for less as cliche as it sounds it is true to the mind, body and soul.  What you see is what fruit you produce and what seeds you will sow.  If you only defeat, then guess what produces? DEFEAT.  If you see the victory already won, then PRAISE GOD IN ADVANCE!!!  The enemy uses the same tricks to keep us out of alignment with God.  That's his job and your job is to do what God's purpose was for creating you.  Have the faith of a small muster seed to carry out your dreams and see God manifest your dreams in the spiritual realm into the natural realm.  Tell storms in your life to be still and get ready for your breakthrough.  There's preparation before the race is to be won and you have to prepare yourself for the victory that's coming in your life.  Loose addictions, strongholds, unhealthy intimate, business relationships and friendships that's standing in your way to getting what all God has for you.  Be blessed in that all you do and do in the lives of others.

THE STORM IS OVER NOW

Ever felt like you were out in a field, alone and scared to make your next steps in life?  I've been there too and I had to recognize that my storms in life were OVER!!!!  What happens when you've prayed for something so long and don't even realize that your prayers have been answered and the storms have moved on out of the atmosphere?  I love this song because it speaks on what you can do to answer all of those questions (no I'm not giving you the answers lol).  Storms may rise in your life but they won't last forever.  Storms come to wash away unclean things in your life and prepare you for when the sun does shine again in your life.  Be grateful for the storms that come pass your life, it's a teaching moment, I promise.  If God told us to have faith the size of a muster seed that will be capable to move mountains, how much of your faith do you have to be still during a storm.  I believe storms are God's way of getting our attention sometimes.  Every time there's a storm, we automatically blame the devil and casting out demons.  In a spiritual perspective, I believe God is saying, "I've tried talking to you but you were too busy".  Or, "Now that I have your undivided attention, you can listen to Me and what I have to say regarding your life".

Yesterday, I read some of my journals I've kept over the years and recalled the moments when the storms in my life were drowning me and when they were just getting me prepared to move into what God had next for my life.  I looked at the small things that I prayed for and how it might have taken awhile to get the prayers answered and I also saw how some of the larger things I prayed for are unveiling now in my life and/or moving towards that direction.  Some storms will last longer than others but you have to be dressed properly, meaning your spiritual armor and filled with the fruits of the spirit, to get through them.    Always remember, storms are preparing you for what's to come and never meant for you stay in it.

Finally, listen to this song and give God praise and worship in advance, and declare it NOW that your storms are over!!!

BEFORE YOU DO!!! (Referencing the book written by Bishop T.D. Jakes]

My favorite book by Bishop T.D. Jakes is titled, Before You Do.  This book is a prelude to all of the most IMPORTANT decision making topics and areas in one's life.  Topics on before you make business decisions, engagement to marital decisions, having children, spiritual decisions, buy a house, divorce, settle for less, etc.  I decided to reread this book for the 50-11th time because I am in gear for a lot of NEW things in my personal and professional life, that I need a refresher on and wanted to share my thoughts, with you.

There are high and low peaks in my life, mostly like others.  Some moments my business is booming but my personal life is suffering or lack there of.  At other times, my personal life soars and my business is suffering seeds being planted so what do I do?  GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND REFLECT ON THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS I'VE MADE, AND ASK MYSELF WHY DID I MAKE THOSE DECISIONS?  

I love this book because even if you scheme through it to only read the parts that is beneficial to you and your life, you will still walk away and be blessed beyond measures (though I suggest you read the entire book).  I'm often challenging my self to go further than what has been done myself and by others.  For example, we have plenty of domestic violence shelters in this country so I don't work hard as I do to simply open up another one to be like the other shelters.  I work very hard to NEVER have to open up a shelter for victims of domestic violence.  That is my ultimate goal, no more shelters will be needed to be of service because violence against women and their children will END! PERIOD!  Now, I am greatly appreciative of the services that the shelters provide for this population currently. I network with them often and support them in all that I can do in their communities.  ANMF is a foundation to HELP OTHERS, that is a part of our mission that we carry out DAILY.

My favorite part of this book by the Bishop is:

The Art of Fighting
"God gave us the gift of anger and the fuel of adrenaline......You have to fight to walk, to improve, to graduate, to love, to live, to SURVIVE (emphasis mine).  But before you fight, you must think deeply to understand whether the spoils of the war justify the fight.  If yes, stand up to the pain, not just your own but the pain of all those involved, the innocent who may be hurt in the fight, and those against you.  Because, try all you want, if you truly want to escape the hold your enemies have on you, you must understand their pain..... As you think through which fights to engage and which to avoid, realize that some people are not as interested in results as they are in conflict."

I love this in particular as it relates to my current position as a Violence Prevention Specialist  that pours into me being the Founder of ANMF.  Before, I make decisions whether I'm angry and/or happy I TRY MY BEST to process it first and then go through with it.  Some people think that once they pray over something, they'll wait on God to "bless" them with it........ THAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE. It does no good to have faith in God without works, y'all know the scripture.  I've done this many of times and honestly got tired of hearing myself pray and nothing else.

So remember BEFORE YOU DO anything, PRAY, RESEARCH, WORK, BE STILL & LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD & COMMON SENSE, just to name a few things to do.

BREAK THE SILENCE & SPREAD YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

A NEW ME FOUNDATION..... IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION

Greetings,

We are so excited about the NEW beginnings that A New Me Foundation has in store this upcoming fall, winter and leading us into the NEW year of 2013.  We are in the process of creating a NEW website, NEW programs to offer, fundraisers, etc and ask that you patiently and prayerfully take this journey of reconstruction with us.  We are proud of the milestones we've set in the past, but we are always looking forward to NEW opportunities that will a) help END domestic violence for our clients, b) continue to EMPOWER women and their children and c) continue to provide our communities with resources to help victims and survivors of domestic violence.

We are excited for the NEW beginnings and appreciate the OLD ways that have provided so many women and their children to embrace and embark on NEW and POSITIVE ways to help us in the fight against women and their children.   Again, please be patient with us and PRAY with us in this journey.

In the meantime, if you would like services provided, share your stories to be featured on our blogs, book our Founder to speak at your next event, email us at felicianewme@gmail.com


Blessings from a far,
Felicia T. Simpson
Founder & Executive Director of A New Me Foundation

INSIDE OF A ROOM

Last night I had the honor of speaking at an open mic poetry contest to help raise awareness at the K.L.E.O. Center.  There was a young lady who sung intimately about her and a partner getting out of a room together.  My mind immediately begin roaming as I listened to the lyrics and I thought about where I was at, in that present moment.  I visually thought about the women who had previously came inside of that room I was sitting in, who had just been battered by their partner and seeking help.  I thought about all the women who came inside that room to share testimonies of their experience with domestic violence.  I thought the mothers that came inside of that room to share with someone that their daughter didn't make it out of their abusive relationship, ALIVE!  That room touched my spirit so heavily that I shared what I was thinking with the audience last night during my time to speak.  You see, inside of that room was more than singing, rapping and musicians playing instruments, it was about the silence that was broken to help end domestic violence.  It was about God delivering people using the sounds of my voice and others who shared their stories as well.  Inside of that room, closure was finally met over an ex that abused someone.  Inside of that room, a young man gained more knowledge of what happens when women and their children are abused.  Finally, inside of that room, we were all taught how to add our PIECE to the PEACE we need in the fight against all violence.


BREAK THE SILENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!!!!!  

I Forgot About Me

So busy worried about making you happy, that I forgot about what makes me happy.
Time has gone by and I'm so used to waiting for your commands on my next steps,
that I forgot how to schedule my own destiny.
Your love means the world to me,
I've put you first in all things and somehow,
forgot all about me.
Now that things are adding up for you,
your dreams are soaring into existence,
you have the nerve to step back and analyze me.
I don't blame you, what else should you do?
The magnifying glass has been placed upon me
and God told me that He gave me gifts to use to edify His kingdom.
Never to put man before Him again!

I looked over my dreams and visions and they are drowning from lack of attention.
They are yelling to me,  "Remember me?"
How can I remember you, when I forgot all about me?
Starting today, I'm gonna take that small step towards what's best for me.
Looking in the mirror and recognizing who I am and not who you want me to be.
I may have forgotten who I once was and where I was headed.
Not any more, God predestined me for greatness and made me in His image.
So I'm determined to plant my feet back in the race of my dreams.
Someone out there needs me to survive!
Even in the days that I forget or want to give up, He always remember me.
The times that I feel worthless, I'm gonna remember the passions that are burning inside of me.
When there's no one else to tell my problems to, I vow to remember You first.

In life, I may get confused, scared, worried or just don't want to do things at a certain time.
I've invested so much energy into other people lives that I forgot about me.
I forgot about what I like and dislike.
I forgot about how I like to listen to the sounds of the ocean, just because.
I forgot about how the cool late night breeze, tickles my nose and makes me smile.
I forgot what's it like to be loved genuinely by another human being.
I forgot about the fire that ignites in my soul when you hear the sounds of my voice on a microphone.
I forgot about how fast my pen hits the paper and creates a blessing for someone else.
I forgot how smooth silk feels because I've concentrated so much on the chaos that surrounds me.
With this list I do vow to thee that never again, will I ever forget about me!


This was written for a new survivor of domestic violence who is in the transition stages after leaving their abusive partner.  We say so many times how easy it is to leave an abusive relationship but we never know what's in the mind of a victim that just left their relationship.  I always challenge people to walk one hour in the shoes of a victim of domestic violence.  If you choose to do it, I promise that your life will change and you too, will join me on the journey of breaking the silence of domestic violence in our communities.  

A Letter from our Founder

Dear SURVIVORS:

The time is approaching again to observe those of us that have been affected by domestic violence.  Each year I go to the kick off rally at the Thompson Center here in Chicago.  It is a place of reflection for me.  First, I thank God that I am still on the other side of domestic violence as a survivor, then I say a prayer for victims and their families.  However, the cycle will never be completely broken until we also help our batterers as well.  So I briefly stop by the table set up for Domestic Peace which is a court mandated program that is designed to help batterers seek help beyond leaving the courtroom/incarceration.  This day is filled with courage, joy, sadness, inspiration and a host of other attributes as participants and onlookers gather to hear the latest statistics, see and hear elected officials perspectives on the annual observance and even see those outside who are simply on their lunch breaks, listening to the conversations.

Each year during this rally, I set new goals for myself as a survivor and for A New Me Foundation.  After all, this rally has helped me tremendously in all of my endeavors to end the fight of violence against women and their children.  It saddens me that thousands of people show up for breast cancer and AIDS walks but 100 people show up to speak out against domestic violence.  Just as cancer and AIDS, domestic violence is present in homes in our communities DAILY!  There are too many 9-1-1 calls made daily to Chicago Police Department to back that fact up and not to mention the calls that never make it through because either the victim changed their mind, couldn't make it to a phone, a neighbor turned their back or worse, the batterer killed the victim.

People have been asking me what is ANMF doing for DVAM?  My answer is simple, no events but simply getting the money needed to submit to the IRS for the non-profit status.  To me, we have spread the word in our communities by hosting local events (not that we're going to stop doing that), but it's time for us to go after the "big dogs" and to do that, you have to have government and private funders.  ANMF isn't just another place for those battered women to get services, no, ANMF is the place that birth LEADERS out of those that at one time, have been abused.

As the Founder and Executive Director of ANMF, I take full responsibility of helping others in life receive the best out of life.  I encourage everyone to continue their support to ANMF and other agencies and advocates of domestic violence.  We could never do this work alone and wouldn't even try to.  It takes courage and compassion for you to donate your time and/or hard earned money to those less fortunate than you.  On behalf of those that walk in similar shoes as myself, WE THANK YOU!!!

Know that we don't only observe domestic violence in the month of October but EVERYDAY of our lives and in the lives of others.  There are victims out there who need us to help them and we are available to help and with your help, can continue to help them regardless of what society says about them.

In all that you do, may God continue to bless you as you help BREAK THE SILENCE of domestic violence in our communities.


With love from afar,
Felicia Simpson
Founder & Executive Director of ANMF