Raise 'Em and Praise Him - Testimony Tuesday! Tracey

My name is Tracey Hope Johnson. I am a 44-year-old single divorced twice, mother of 10. 

I was in a foster home at the age of 10, separated from my siblings to be reunited with them at the age of 12 but not my choice. I wanted to stay with my foster family. I met the best sister in the world while there. She is still with me and my kids call her Nana; she never left my side. 

I was beaten with extension cords for things I felt were minor because I hadn't been taught what my Mom had expected from me. I ran away, dropped out of high school, slept in cars, and was beaten up while in the streets. I didn't know what to do and nobody even asked. I had a individual attempt to rape me but I fought my way out and that was taught to me by my Mom. 

I was given eight years of common sense training from my Mother and she would pass away from AIDS in '93, while I was pregnant with my first daughter, right after her Dad was killed in '92; she was born a week after. 

Oh I didn't say, while I was in the foster home, my Dad lived two streets over and never acknowledged me. I stayed with my foster sister for a while until I became homeless in order to get my own housing for my baby. In '94 I married my high school sweetheart and we had our first baby that year; it was great. 

In '95 I had Jazmin; the physical abuse and degrading comments started and we fought like hell almost everyday. I was introduced to marijuana and cocaine by my husband, something I never did while in the streets. Here comes baby number three; my first son whom I was asked by my husband to abort. I actually called, hung up the phone and cried. He is the spitting image of him. 

In '98 I welcomed my second son and moved in with my foster sister; due to the fights, we were evicted. My sister didn't want him there so I kept the kids in the house and slept in the car. I worked since the age of 17 and with every baby their biological Grandma watched them and I paid her every two weeks. 

My sister allowed my husband to move in and the fights started back up and the putting him out happened almost every day. In '96 I did cheat on my husband and fell for another gentleman but couldn't leave him. 2001 my third son, 2004 daughter, 2005 I was pregnant and my divorce was finalized while he was cheating. In 2006 I was pregnant again thinking we could fix this. God carried me and I finally placed my Faith in his hands and left my ex-husband to never return. Oh he had another child in 2007 with the other young lady and treated us like we didn't exist. I cried everyday and prayed. 

In 2010 I found out my daughter was pregnant and I cried and she had my first grandson. The next month I lost my 14 year old daughter and my faith had turned to depression. This is a snippet of my life God knows it's so much more but My journey will be my testimony for others. #Faith

Cindy's Featured Artist of the Week - Nakesha Lewis

NAKESHA LEWIS

Nakesha Lewis is the founder of Kesha Lewis The Voice of Hope. She began her coaching business after losing her husband of 17 years suddenly in a tragic accident.

Her life's purpose became very clear and she became more compassionate for those experiencing tragic, life altering situations. God pulled her out of her pain and launched her into her purpose of Empowering, Inspiring and Motivating others to live their best life.

Through her coaching, others are empowered with tools that change their mindset into a more optimistic one, inspired to live an abundant filled life and motivated to exhibit new behaviors that align with their new mindset. Kesha is called to show others that they can survive anything that comes their way, no matter how devastating or tragic it may be. "It is fulfilling for me when my clients develop a more positive mindset that encourages them to utilize their power within." 

Kesha offers solutions that will ignite the power of change and drive others into their higher purpose. She's the coach to have in your corner as she is a living example of God's ability to turn ashes into beauty. Her motto is Let's Live! because she wants everyone to experience all the great things life has to offer. The scripture that inspires her the most is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Email - thevoiceofhope15@gmail.com

FB - https://m.facebook.com/Kesha-Lewis-The-Voice-of-Hope-311226845885169/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/kesha_lewis77

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thevoiceofhope15

LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/nakesha-lewis-7240a1126

Blog - keshalewis.wordpress.com

Introducing Simply Cindy's Newest Team Member - Trinette L. Collier!

It's my pleasure and honor to introduce Trinette L. Collier who joined my team as a Contributing Writer.

Trinette, a native of Los Angeles, California is a nationally renewed educator, entrepreneur, and author.

She received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia and her M.Ed. in Curriculum Instruction from Coppin State University. She is currently an educator with the Atlanta Public Schools system.

In 2013, Trinette became a published author debuting her award-winning book Woman On Fire. In 2016, she added to her success the release of her second book entitled Sticky Note: Volume 1. Her latest book is titled - Sticky Notes...They Said What?!?! ©™  Trinette is also a certified relationship coach and has coined the title of “Inspirationalist”.

She is the owner of Trinette L. Collier, LLC which provides workshops and ideas for groups and individuals. She is a member of Strong Tower Christian Life Ministries. Trinette resides in Atlanta and enjoys being with her family, husband, and friends. She loves helping others, learning, spoken word, music, and dancing!

Trinette will be writing a feature once monthly with her very own creative style and flow. "Sticky Notes" will go live at the end of August so please help me welcome Trinette to the Simply Cindy team and to our blogging community!

Introducing Simply Cindy's Newest Team Member - Beverly Branch!

It's my pleasure and honor to introduce Beverly Branch who joined my team as a Contributing Writer. 

Beverly, born and raised in New Brunswick, NJ, later migrated to the DC, MD area in 1988. A single parent of three beautiful grown children; two daughters 27, 28, and a son, 20, and a God sent daughter 30 that she adopted into her family.  She has seven beautiful grandchildren, as well as a Mom and NanNan to many. 

Beverly received the Lord as her Savior and was Baptized at First Baptist Church in Somerset NJ at the tender age of 10. She is the Founder of Women In Fellowship Ministries," WIF", a ministry that the Lord gave to her in 2004. She is a writer, encourager, and intercessor by nature. She loves helping others, traveling, being a caretaker to the elderly, troubled teens, single parents and following whatever direction God leads her.

Beverly will be writing a feature once monthly with her very own creative style and flow. "Beverly's Beatitudes" will go live within the next few days so please help me welcome Beverly to the Simply Cindy team and to our blogging community!

Introducing Simply Cindy's Newest Team Member - Terrie Jackson!

It's my pleasure and honor to introduce Terrie Jackson who joined my team as Lead Recruiter. 

Terrie is a native of Severn, MD, born in Baltimore City, now residing in Glen Burnie, MD. 

Terrie has three beautiful children, two girls, a son, and one grandchild. She works for the United States Postal Service for 14 years. She's a member of Mount Lebanon Baptise Church, where Dr. Franklin Lance is Pastor, Minister of Divinity. Terrie has a love for tigers and most big cats. She loves spending time with family and friends.

Terrie will be marketing/soliciting for our weekly features - "Cindy's Featured Artist of the Week" and "Raise 'Em and Praise Him - Testimony Tuesday", along with a host of upcoming features. Please help me welcome Terrie to the Simply Cindy team and to our blogging community!

Raise 'Em and Praise Him - Testimony Tuesday! Edwin

Hi, my name is Edwin Kline and I am honored to share a testimony of The power of the most-high God. I trust and believe that my experience will one day encourage someone who is in over their head and ready to give up on life. 

I used to be a drug dealer. I was also a gang member, running the streets selling crack and living the kind of life that would eventually land me in jail facing the rest of my life. I was arrested in North Carolina for drug trafficking, possession of weapons of mass destruction, also with the intent to sell. 

Prior to my arrest, God gave me a warning sign through a woman; not just any woman, this woman was the owner of one of the trap houses I used to stash and sell product from. She was also a pastor. When she heard what I was doing she chose to invite me to her home instead of calling the cops. I accepted the invitation to dinner and when I walked in her home, her entire family sat a the table for dinner, unlike anything I'd ever experienced in my life. 

Before we began eating she prayed then looked my way and said God gave her a vision of my future. She saw me preaching and helping others find their way back to Christ. At the time I couldn't believe her nor did I understand what was happening. She then said, "...but you're going through some things and God is going to reveal himself to you." Fast forward and here I am, locked up, in way over my head, facing the rest of my life so I called the woman who raised me. She was a minister and she told me God spoke to her and said, whenever she speaks to me to say I must read the entire book of psalms until God speaks to me and I just knew I wasn't ever coming home. She couldn't be serious, (is what I was saying to myself) but hey, what's the worst that could happen? So I got off the phone, went to my cell and began reading. I repeated that all day and night. I attached myself to the cries of David, the cries for help, for forgiveness. I promised to change as I read and one night as I slept, a voice called my name.

I woke up still in a dream and was kneeling before God crying my heart out asking for forgiveness and He spoke and told me how much He loved me then He showed me two people that were going to help me get out of jail. One was a stranger, the other was the stranger's lawyer. After my dream, I woke up feeling better than ever. I felt free. I felt like all the time I thought I was all alone, wow, I wasn't - He was there. I couldn't explain what happened to me to just anybody so I called my Aunt the one who gave me the message. She wasn't surprised at all - although happy, she always read that bible and now I understood why. 

A few days later I met a new inmate that grew up not too far from me so we became cool, then he began telling of this great lawyer he had and right then I thought of the dream I dreamt. When I called the lawyer and explained my case to him, what he'd say next confirmed the Greatness of God! Each word he said is exactly what God said he would say when I met him. I was released and all the charges were dismissed except for a minor offense which I already had enough time in for, so I say to anyone that doesn't believe God is there - He is!

Humbly Yours - by Valerie Crawford

1 How well God must like you—…

3You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.

Psalm 1:1a; 3 The Message (MSG)


I’d like to start where the preachers in my life have almost always begun:

LORD – let me decrease now as YOU increase and receive Glory here. Let the words that flow from this pen serve to provide edification for another, to give strength, peace, and hope where needed – in the Matchless Name LORD JESUS!

I’m growing this tree. You may call it my “Promise” Tree, my “After This” Tree or my “Tree for every Season.” Whatever you decide to call it.

Many years ago, my Bishop preached a Word about that “… tree planted by the rivers of water …” The Message Bible says that ‘I’ am that ”… tree replanted in Eden…” That excites me and I’ll explain why. I had expected to be a little further ahead than I currently find myself. However, I have learned the “Secret of the Properly-Placed BUT”! The secret is this: When placed properly in a sentence, the word ‘but’ negates whatever has been previously said or written (exclamation point because that is exciting news!).

Psalm 1 is my “properly placed but!” And the reason I am growing my tree! Verse 1 (in the Message Bible) starts off by saying that “GOD must really like…” [me]. And when I give it a moment of thought, I think, “Yeaaahhh!! HE does.” There’s a gospel song that goes, “As I look back over my life, I can truly say, that I’ve been blessed! I have a testimony!” And while I unpretentiously admit that, no – everything is not perfect, All IS well, and what is not, will be! How do I know? Because GOD Promised. I get so excited about the “replanted” tree because, truth be known, as ‘trees’ go, I had been uprooted. I was jobless and believed that after my divorce, I couldn’t minister to anyone. Uprooted.

I live in a community that is situated within a regional park and there are trees everywhere. In some instances, due to the weather patterns of the Mid-Atlantic region, I notice that sometimes the trees that live in my park have fallen. I don’t mean that the leaves fall because it is autumn. It’s a combination of things. First, there is the weight of the ice in January plus the snow in February. Add to that the harsh rains of April and the winds of May. Before you know it, the vicissitudes of life can cause an entire tree to lift, from its roots, completely out of the ground. Never have I ever seen the park stewards come down to raise an uprooted tree and prop it up with sticks and ropes until the roots find their way back into the soil. What happens is, the overseers come out, pull the saw off the back of the truck and start cutting, from the trunk to the branches, and what may have once been a lovely and productive tree, no longer yields seeds that produce fruit to sustain area critters or blown in different directions to grow new trees or even shade on a warm summer day - all that potential - uprooted.

BUT – then I read verse 3 and became encouraged! Verse 3 points out that the tree (me) has been RE-Planted! And not only RE-Planted but Re-Planted in EDEN! Reeaalllyy? Eden? That beautiful place? That flourishing place? GOD is telling me that after all the things I’ve been through, I still get to have Joy! This IS Good News!

When I read that, I felt as if someone had poured ‘Miracle-Gro’ all over me! Which brings us to my tree! As I have felt my own roots digging deeper, I wanted a visual aide so I started saving seeds from an assortment of different fruit trees; apples, oranges, avocados, peaches, and plums! I planted them all together as a physical reminder of ‘my’ tree that will very soon, bear fruit and always blossom, never losing a leaf!!! I will NOT wither! I have a purpose! I am a Royal Priesthood and Chosen Generation! Because GOD promised! Yes and Amen!!!

I’m growing this tree. You can call it my “Promise” Tree, my “After This” Tree, or my “Tree for every Season.” Whatever you decide, you may call it.


Valerie Crawford
Contributing Writer