Living Life Fully and Alive! Remembering Lisa Miller-Baldwin

As I sit and reflect today, on the life  of my friend and mentee Lisa Miller-Baldwin, my heart is heavy, but I am grateful for the opportunities to tell of the impact of her life in the earth.   

Too often we wait for moments like this to ponder what we should have done or said sooner.  When we lose someone close or dear, it causes us to reflect on the person and their impact, but even greater on our own lives.  Lisa was many things to many people, her reach touched people's lives, and her story will forever change how we address real life issues like homelessness, domestic violence, parenting, early childhood education and advocacy.  Her approach was hands-on and she put forth maximized efforts for every work she was connected with.  Her work went beyond meeting her own needs, because often she sacrificed her own needs for the work she committed to. 

She was daughter of God, first and foremost she loved God, and he was at the center of everything she did.  She was a mother, grandmother, sister-friend, business entrepreneur, visionary, passion-filled lover of the most high God, a worshipper who touched heaven with her voice.  She was my friend. 

I can remember our mentee sessions together, as she shared her power-packed vision, and well thought out plans.  She inspired me to be better and to reach higher.  Our sessions often left me convicted, because I would thinks that was great advice, but when are you going to begin your work.  She not only had the vision, but she carried momentum that was fierce enough to blaze a trail behind her to draw people to the work.  The work she wrought in me, is what causes me to write today.  Our work and stories can only be made evident and clear when we tell them.  When we stop our excuses and get to the work. 

So the questions remain for me, the momentum has been set, so who will carry the work forward.  The board members of Wonderfully Made Foundation have the task to figure out how to make the legacy come alive and continue to ignite.  The many business entities that Lisa met with to solicit on-going support for the work, have the opportunity to grant her request by creating philanthropic seeds that honor her work. 

Each of us reading this post, have a part in this work.  What's your part?  Begin it today.   If not, now, when?  If not here, where?  Make a choice to support the continue work and effort by honoring the work

• Support the family during this time of remembrance as they prepare for the celebration of a life lived for God.  Go to:  http://www.gofundme.com/fzc0i0
• Annual donation to the work
• Wonderfully Made Foundation
• Entrepreneur of Faith
• Homeless Homes
• Create homes for the families currently housed
• Provide education and resource building for families to maintain their homes
• Resources for the families well-being
• Carry the vision of Lisa Miller Baldwin forward in your work
• Bring awareness to the issue of Domestic Violence
• Bring awareness to the issue of Homelessness
• Live a life for Christ on Purpose, Out loud for the entire world to see
• Stop making excuses and start today!

Reflections of a Life Lived with Purpose, Pursuit, and Passion

Today, I am inspired and touched by events this past week.  As a lifelong learner, I'm always reflecting on my journey and the influences on my life that make me who I am today, and planted the seeds for what my life has evolved to.  Let me preference this post by saying this is a deeply emotional post, and shares my heart.  While I know others will read and agree some will not, that's okay.

A few weeks ago, Maya Angelou passed away and I began reflecting on the strength of this woman and her impact on my life, through the arts, poetry, reading and her demeanor in life.  Everything we do influences another, and while we may not have immediate contact with others, our stories are shared across barriers and distance.  I never met Dr. Maya Angelou in person, but through her experiences and testimonies of rising above the turmoil and storms in her life I knew her.  I knew her struggle and story, but most importantly, I knew the God she served, and recognized this determination in her eyes, because I have seen the same determination in mine own eyes.  Her passing made me remember, and take hold of the strength of God in me, and my ability to influence others. 

This past week, shockingly and suddenly I lost my pastor, Dr. Mario Maxwell, a young man in age but wise and seasoned in the Spirit of God.  His lost was shocking, not only to realize but even greater when I understand the tangible impact he's had on not only my life, but my family and church family New Divine Destiny Christian Center.  Mario as I called him( he was comfortable in who he was, and not offended or disrespected by titles, because he knew who he was), was a prophet of God. His ministry went beyond our church to the nations and beyond.  When I think of this man of God, I think of the impact of the ministry of Jesus Christ.  His work spread throughout the world, and impacted so many.  While we mourn his lost, the work is yet ahead, because the mantel he carried continues on through those who walked along side of him.

These two event make me consider each day, and how I live it.  We use words as cliche' without realizing the impact of the words.  We have today, this moment and how we choose to use it is a direct reflection on what we believe.  I am encouraged by the words of encouragement that pours out to honor  the man of God, but even more excited about how the life and legacy will be honored by those who were touched by his work. 

Purpose
In living our lives, we must be driven not by work, but by our God ordained purpose for existing.  Why were you created?  What did the creator have in mind when he made you?  What impact were you designed to make?  Why did he plant you where you are?  Living a purpose driven life is a life on purpose, a life aligned to God.  A study on Purpose Driven Life  by Rick Warren is a great tool to begin the journey of finding out why you are here. 

Pursuit
The daily work of fulfilling your vision for life takes concentrated effort.  If you are seeking to live a life that is meaningful, you will never encounter it if you are not in pursuit of it.  People make things happen!  Too often we are waiting on a handout and left wanting because it relies on someone bringing it to us, rather than the effort we take to make it happen by getting in hot pursuit. 

Passion
The passion of the work of Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Mario Maxwell is what was evident to us as we watched their lives and is what we will miss seeing in them.  Passion is not exclusive.  Passion it the fire that fuels our work, and drives us when no one else is left to cheer us on.  Passion is the contagious spirit of generosity we see, the glow in the eyes when a plan comes to fruition, the underlying power within us that keeps the boat afloat. 

Why write now?
As I began this blog post two days ago, it was initially to pour out my heart because of the void I was experiencing with the lost of my pastor, Dr. Mario Maxwell.  When I really sat down today, and began to write, it became clear to me, that while pouring out was a piece of it, it wasn't all.  The fuel was the last text I received from Mario in response to a post I wrote about Dr. Maya Angelou.  He said, "You're a good writer."  I asked him, what did you read of mine, that made you say that? 

He had read this post on Facebook: 

"One of my most special memories of my dad, is when they stayed in San Leandro and on my bedside table he placed a copy of Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Women as a welcome and greeting but so much more. Maya has given me wings on so many occasions and awakened the ROAR inside of who I truly am. Greatly missed, but never forgotten. As women, we must become such a force that others emulate the Christ in us!"

When I responded, my response was simple and honest, "Thank you, now I must just start writing.".  Mario's comment awakened my passion, but my pursuit of my purpose as a writer was determined by my next steps, to write. 

So it is today, that begins my writing career, that will lead to published books and memoirs of my experience on this earth. The volumes that are within me, are awakened and ready to burst forth.  Join me on my journey, and let today be the day you begin yours anew! 

Writing this in route home from Minneapolis, MN.  We can begin today, we can start now.  Do it today, and Do it afraid!  Kelly Ramsey, the writer

Staying Focused on the Mission

This morning I found a copy of my life mission statements that reinvigorated me and my focus.  In the course of our daily lives, we can often be overwhelmed with the challenges of the day and forget our guiding focus for life.  As I share my mission statements, think about your own, and how you are meeting your mission in your day to day walk.  A good measure of the validity of your mission, are those that are close to you in your daily walk.  Ask them to read it and then give you feedback on how they see it walked out in your life.  Making your mission a daily walk, is how we live authentically and be true to ourselves.


If you're a friend, family member, student or colleague I would love to hear from you.  Just send me an email or post a comment to this blog.  Here are my mission statements for life:

The Ramsey Household Mission Statement

• To compel men and women to come to Christ
• To represent the Kingdom of God, in the institution o the family
• To meet the needs of people, where they are
• To feed the hungry clothe the naked, and provide for the needs of others
• To serve God, in all we say and do
• To study the word of God, and show ourselves approved unto God

Kelly's Personal Mission  Statement

• To communicate words that heal, motivate, and educate
• To worship God in Spirit and in Truth
• To commit mysel to serve, promote and respect the Body of Christ (the church)
• To bring light to the lives of others
• To resonate Christ, in all I say and do
• To illuminate the lives of people
• To be a Proverbs 31 woman
• To esteem and prefer my husband and children

Developing People, Inc. Mission Statement

• To facilitate learning and education in the youngest to the oldest learner
• To assist people in discovering and translating their purpose for life
• To foster wholeness in the lives of people
• To build and restore the nuclear family to it's original state at creation
• To translate the hurts of others into healing
• To nurture and develop people physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively