The End to a New Beginning

Greetings everyone,

As we approach the end of the month we get to reflect back over the year to see how far we have come from. I can see the many blessings that God has done for me in spite of all the struggles, trials test, and tribulations that have come my way. I still came through the storms and saw the rainbow. It wasn't easy but I have made it once again to the end. I was challenged with facing cancer and I am still here after going through removing the cancer.

I was on the verge of losing my mind this year because I did not have the income to maintain my bills and things were very overwhelming but God showed up and showed out once again for me and my little girls. I still have my home, bills are taken care of and I still have my job. I have finally written my survivor's story on how I survived after being shot, blindfolded and left for dead. I have gotten the courage to write this book for everyone to read in depth of how amazing God led me out of a moving car trunk into oncoming traffic with being partially paralyzed on the left side of my body.

 I am here because of a mission God has for me in my life. I am ALIVE and I know that today that I LIVE to Give Hope to someone else who do not think that they have a purpose or plan. So if this inspires anyone it first started with me. I have seen my blog site increase with viewers from my facebook site and my other sites that I have created in Sound The Alarm Outreach name. I love sharing my life story and experiences. Will everyone be able to relate? No. However you will be touched one way or another. I am going places and I am doing great things now in my life because I realized that I LIVED to GIVE. That is what I am here for what are you here for??? Tell me.....

My black is beautiful and so is yours!!!!

WOW, now here is some food for thought..................................

A friend sent this to me and I wanted to share. I am sending this out to you not because I know you personally or that we are the closest or best of friends but simply because you and I share a similarity. We are women of color. However, the things that bond us are so much deeper than that, however it all starts there. When I first heard of the movie "For Colored Girls, I got so excited. I had the idea of getting as many women together that I could think of to go see this movie. I had visions of group discussions and moments shared with one another that would lead to healing and growth; I guess I kind of imagined a Womens Empowerment Conference type of setting. Well after I shared my idea with a few women, reality set in and I realized that so many of us wouldn't be willing to participate for various reasons: You don't like me, you don't care for somebody I might invite, you only hang out with certain people, you don't understand the big deal about Tyler Perry making yet another movie about black people and our issues for all the world to see, you don't like crowds, so n so is too ghetto, such and such is too uppity etc... It has ALWAYS amazed me that we as black women are each others biggest critics. We are the quickest to bring each other down, find each others faults and nitpick at a sister until she has nothing left, nothing left to give and then we step over her and call her worthless. We take the prettiest women and tear them down for thinking "they are cute" but turn around and dog the average sista because "she know she should take better care of herself than that - can't believe she got a man!" We call strong women female dogs and accuse weaker women of riding somebody else's coat tails. We tell a big sista to put down her burger and turn around and criticize a skinny woman for not picking one up. We ride the loud mouth woman for "talking to darn much" and likewise torment the quiet woman for "Being too quiet and needing to take up for herself" Sad part is we don't discriminate, we talk about everybody!!! I've watched women dog out everybody from Oprah for catering to white people and Halle Berry for not being able to keep a man to young Willow Smith for acting to darn grown in her recent video. All of these females are successful and there is something about each one of them to be proud of but a lot of us can't seem to see that. I have to wonder since we all share a common thread (whether we want to admit it or not) is there something about ourselves that we don't like, what has happened to us that we cannot seem to get along. Why is that we fight amongst ourselves, backstab & steal each others men (only to find out we should have left him where we found him). We cannot seem to be unified to support and stick up for one another. Everybody seems to be out for themselves while other groups unite against us but nobody else has to bring us down because we trample on the spirits of each other daily. Even if you live in a mini mansion, drive a luxury car, have good credit, rich handsome husband etc, this does not mean that should look down your nose at the woman with 4 kids, no husband, living in income based housing struggling to keep her lights on. We ALWAYS think the grass is greener on the other side, I had a woman who's child father is MIA tell me that I should never complain because I receive a decent amount of child support and I laughed and let her know that I would gladly give every dime back if he would come relieve some of this overwhelming pressure of feeling inadequate as a parent. If I could get just one full night of sleep or not always be on the verge of losing my job because Im the one that has to call off or leave work for one reason or another to accommodate my child - yeah he could DEFINITELY have his money if I could have some peace! Money alone doesn't make you happy (not true happiness), good credit doesn't keep you satisfied, beauty doesn't make you any less insecure, fame doesn't make you less vulnerable or cause you to be a good judge of character and being stuck up and mean doesn't keep you warm at night or prevent you from being lonely. You don't know how the sista sitting right next to could have carefully put on her make up this morning to hide the beating from last night. The teacher you handed your child over to this morning could have sent her children off to school from a dark house with empty bellies. The teller you just got rude with at the bank could know that today is her last day on her job and have no idea how she is going to survive past next weekend. The sista at the office that appears so busy could be typing her goodbyes to all the people that she loves because she plans to blow her brains out tonight after she tucks her babies into bed. The woman you pass in the hallway could be on her way to have an abortion because she fears what others might think or how the woman that sent you this e-mail may drink an over abundance of alcohol every night to mask the nightmares of an abusive childhood. Ladies we HAVE TO DO BETTER!!! I'm not suggesting that we all like each other and be phony, but I am asking that we all try to respect each other. You HAVE NO IDEA what the next woman is going through, you don't know what past or current hurt and pains have shaped her into who she is today. We spend so much time trying to be as strong and hard as we are expected to be that we end up cracking from the inside out piece by piece. If we would spend 1/3 of the time we spend tearing each other down to build someone up, encourage someone, show someone some love, we could truly make a difference and save someone's life. PLEASE don't be the straw that breaks another woman's back. Believe me when I tell you that there is a woman out there that needs your smile, your hug, your support, your prayer. I hope that you read this and get something out of it other than a laugh and that you pass this on to as many women as you can to let someone know that you believe they are somebody special and that if need be you are available to listen.  May favor be extended to every one of your lives, keep your head up and know that someone somewhere cares!!!

Atara Estes founder Sound the Alarm Outreach

soundthealarmoutreach@gmail.com

Forgive and Forget

Greetings everyone,

"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," is only another way of saying. "I will not forgive." Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note—torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.

I have a story to share with you.

A man once had too much to drink at a party. First, he made a foolish spectacle of himself—even to the point of wearing the lamp shade as a hat—and then he passed out. Friends helped his wife take him home and put him to bed. The next morning he was very remorseful and asked his wife to forgive him. She agreed to "forgive and forget" the incident.

As the months went by, however, the wife referred to the incident from time to time always with a little note of ridicule and shame in her voice. Finally, the man grew weary of being reminded of his bad behavior and said, "I thought you were going to forgive and forget."

"I have forgiven and forgotten," the wife argued, "but I just don't want you to forget that I have forgiven and forgotten."

Once we have confronted an offender, we must remember nothing is gained from harboring unforgiveness in our hearts. Forgiveness requires a healing process inside us—to the point where we no longer feel any pain at the memory of what the other person did or said to injure us.

We "forget" when we no longer hurt!
When you make a commitment to forgive another person, ask the Lord to heal you of the impact of that person's behavior on your life. Forgive, forget, and start living again.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

We need to start with us first when we forgive and release that energy in order to forgive others. I know a lot about this topic. Forgiveness is for you not the other person.

Be good to yourself and to one another. You may give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Share your thoughts with me. I would like to know how do you handle forgiveness. Can you forgive and forget? Explain.....

Atara Estes, founder (Sound the Alarm Outreach)
www.soundthealarmoutreach.blogspot.com
soundthealarmoutreach@gmail.com

Find a Way to Praise

                                               



Greetings everyone,


Today we wonder how long these storms will really last in our lives. Have I done anything wrong to have this turmoil to come into my life? When the storms just keeps on raging in my life what am I to do?


Well I have been asking myself this exact same question. Is there really an answer to all of these dysfunctions that has taken place in our lives? My body is sick, my mind is confused, and my spirit is weary. Enough is enough and I just can not take this anymore.


Don't fret my friend. God is there with you in the midst of it all. God is a healer and he can heal your body. God is a mind regulator who can give you peace.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.


These life obstacles will come our way. It is only in how we handle them when they surface unexpectedly in our lives. No one said that you would have the answers to every situation but know that trouble do not last always. You cry today and smile tomorrow. Let Go and Let God!!! Yes it is hard no one said it would be easy but you have a friend that will give you strength to make it through another day.


So my friend be encourage in well doing because your season to rejoice is upon you. It is just a minor setback right now. Learn the lesson and apply it to your journey box. I love you all very much. Keep praying for me and I will do the same for each and everyone of you.


Praise your way out of your troubles. You do not have to wait for the battle to be over you can shout now!!! Ask God for more wisdom. He is waiting for you to ask, seek, and knock so that he can give it to you.


Be blessed just as you are!!! Get radical for Christ he is raising up true soldiers for his army.


This rose is just for YOU!!


Atara Estes founder (Sound the Alarm Outreach)
www.soundthealarmoutreach.blogspot.com
soundthealarmoutreach@gmail.com

Domestic Violence Awareness Month "My Testimony"

By Deanne Lane, 2005




A St. Louis man is spending the next 22 years in prison for attempting to kill his former girlfriend. Courtney Everett told Atara Estes to plan for a big surprise. But never did she expect what would happen next.

Estes was hoping for a ring or a new apartment to share with Everett and their baby daughter. Instead, police said, Everett blindfolded Estes, drove her to a field, shot her and tossed her near-lifeless body into the trunk of his car.

Estes said she tried not to focus on the pool of blood quickly engulfing her and panicking was also not an option.


“Blood is just flowing. I can feel the tingling in my body, numbness, a different sensation to whereas something is really wrong, feeling lifeless,” explained Estes.

She spent the next few minutes trying to disable the car’s rear lights, anything to draw attention to the vehicle and Everett, “Then I heard this voice say just reach a little further, reach down a little further.”

Sure enough, as Everett stopped to buy gas, the trunk popped open. Bleeding severely and partially paralyzed, Estes was still able to get out of the trunk. Everett didn’t notice and kept going. Estes says it’s a miracle oncoming traffic didn’t kill her.

Estes says it was her little girl that helped save her life and that voice she heard while trapped in the trunk. Amazingly, Estes has forgiven her shooter and says she prays for him.


This happened in 2002:


This is still out of hand today. Please sound the alarm on domestic abuse. We are losing our loved ones by the numbers. And families are grieving over that family members due to domestic violence. I survived and only God knows why. I am here today to share with you that no one is exempt from this. I know that if it isn't you personally then you know someone who is going through this. Get them the help that they need if you can. Every situation is different but help families to live and not to perish from this deceptive behavior. It has taken a lot for me to finally make my voice be heard and now I have a charged to keep and a God to Glorify for he has saved me from the abuse and now every week I get counseling to help me to be opened about what has happened and not to blame myself and to beat myself up for not recognizing any signs. Like I said every situation is different. We don't deserve to be abused in any manner. There is more to come with this topic but I want to be wise with what to say when I say it because I know that this will and has already touch many people. I am not trying to get applauds for enduring through but I want to save someone from going through another death or abuse like I have experienced. Be looking out for more from me as the Lord gives me what to say I will tell it and shame the devil to the fullest. There is a reason that he kept me ALIVE.



God bless ya'll,


Atara

Thankful

Good Morning everyone,

Have you ever said why things are so hard on me in my life then you need to take a walk down memory lane. God has brought you out of a lot of pitfalls, just remind yourself at times. We all have something to be thankful for.  

If you want the success in life you must put in the work. Anything that comes easy you better question it. Ask God to stir up the gifts in you because nothing is too hard for God to do for you and through you. Stir up those gifts, stir up those dreams, and stir up those talents inside. Start stretching yourself.

No matter what you may be facing, no matter what trial you may be going through, God has a plan to turn things around in your favor. You are called according to His purpose; so right now, He is working out a plan for your good. You may not see it in the natural, but look with your eyes of faith today. Show your love for the Father by your obedience to His Word.

Go outside and look around. What do you see? Try to find the positive out of that negative you will be amazed at how your life will start to flourish in all of what you believe to see in spite of what it looks like. Everything will be alright it might be crazy right now but it will be nice later on. You do not have a right to give up nor to give in. God is your closest friend just let him take you higher in the things he has for you.

I love you all very much. Be good to yourself and to one another. Please do not ever stop smiling someone needs that sun shine in there dark place….:-). I am still taking prayer request and testimonies on how God did it all. We all need to be encouraged. If someone you know that is being abused and needs someone to talk to please send them to the Sound The Alarm Outreach blog site www.soundthealarmoutreach.blogspot.com there are professional people available for them to talk to and to help them out of there crisis. We want everyone to feel safe not everything needs to be in the open so let's have wisdom and remember we can save a life even if it is just one life at a time.

My testimony:  God has increased faithful followers from the beginning of this year we are now at 195+ members who support Sound the Alarm Outreach. God is doing this because it is his purpose and plan for keeping me ALIVE. I am reaching out and I will continue to reach out until he tells me otherwise. More to come I am sure of it. Thank you all for supporting the mission.

Keep praying for me while I take my place to where God would have for me to be. ***I am available to sing praises and to raise awareness on my survival story contact me through any of the below email addresses if you are interested.***

Thank you,

Atara Estes
Founder (Sound the Alarm Outreach)
www.soundthealarmoutreach.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/soundthealarmoutreach
ataraestes630@safehorizon.ning.com
soundthealarmoutreach@gmail.com

Sound the Alarm Outreach: Raise Awareness

Sound the Alarm Outreach: Raise Awareness