Blackbird...Born to Fly

Below are the two songs that played on repeat as I completed this piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rpcQrxakRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51NVWg4JhIo

The melancholy lyrics resonate with something within me.   From that same melancholy place,

stirs hope, strength, and a knowing...

that I was not only born to fly, but also that I shall fly...that I shall soar...above and beyond the things within and without that would hold me down...

I Have a Cavity in My Heart

I Have a Cavity in my Heart

By Ashley Moore

1.29.15

I have a cavity in my heart

I know it by its dull ache

I have a cavity in my heart

I know it by its sensitivity to hot or cold substances

Broken down by what has rested on it

Not being brushed enough

Not being rinsed and washed off enough

Decay has set in...

I have a cavity in my heart

Persistent dull ache

At times writhing pain

Sensitivity to hot or cold

In need of urgent attention

In need of a drilling down and cleaning out

I need to see the Doctor

To let Him fix me and send me on my way again

Drilling down

Cleaning out

And filling in

Sending me on my way; in a better state; with warnings, tools, and wisdom

Forming new habits of precaution

Rinsing twice a day

Brushing after meals

Flossing hard to reach places

That my heart may stay clean

Touched, but unhindered by the things its exposed to

Whole

Protected

In good condition

In full use again

WHO I AM

WHO I AM, is who I am

and where I am 

is In His Hands

On His word (ultimately)

I may falter

I may stumble

I may bruise

I may run

I may cry

I may grow

I may change

but what remains

is the core

the core

of WHO I AM

and WHOSE I AM

and ultimately 

WHERE I am

Where I seem to always come back to

my origin

my destiny

ON HIS WORD 

IN HIS HANDS

by Ashley Jataun Moore

1.14.15

This pieces is called:  "Standing on His Word."

Even If You Have to Take Baby Steps...

Go After Your Dreams...

Even If You Have to Take Baby Steps

Since, I was a teenager, it has been one of my dreams and desires to freelance for a card company.  I'd find myself sitting in the isles of Walmart or the grocery store reading greeting cards.  Over the last several years, I've found myself buying cards and sending love ones pick-me-up notes.  (I know we're in an email/text culture, but there's nothing like receiving a handwritten letter or note in the mail!)  One day I decided to start sending my own cards.  I began using my art and creating postcards.  I felt like God wanted me to use what I had and start where I was rather than waiting for some GRAND opportunity.  What if those grand opportunities are wrapped in small opportunities?  What if those big breaks are wrapped in small moments?  What if living fully not only comes in the leaps but also in baby steps?

Maybe one day, I'll freelance for a well-know card company.  Maybe I won't.  Maybe one day Oprah will buy one of my cards to send to a loved one.  Maybe she'll never know I exist.  Maybe one day there will be an article in Essence magazine featuring my story.  Maybe there won't be.  

Regardless of the outcome, I choose to LIVE FULLY.  I choose to believe in myself and value what I have to offer.  I choose to use WHAT I DO HAVE and make the most of it.  I chose to use what's ALREADY IN ME to CONTRIBUTE TO and to ADD LOVE and BEAUTY to the lives of those I am connected to.

Value what you DO have.  Work what you already have.  Don't belittle or downplay baby steps.  They are still a form of MOVEMENT.

Be Blessed.

Ashley Jataun Moore

A.J.M.

Radiant

Pityriasis Rosea

The Fight

(Picture retrieved from Window's 8, Microsoft clip art)

Resisting

By Ashley Jataun Moore

4.23.11

He tries to make me feel that I am losing

Losing

Losing it

Lost it

Lost him

Lost her

Lost me

A loser

But I am not.

He tries to show me that I’m falling

Keep falling

Have fallen

Slipping

Falling

Falling for, tripping over

Falling

A failure.

But he’s a lie.

I am not.

He tries to convince me that I’ve missed it

Missed it

Missing it

Cause I’m missing you

Can’t see my way

Missed that turn

Missing my glasses, misplaced my keys

Missing you

Missing out

MISplaced, MIStaken

I’m missing it

Missing something, not enough,

Missing it, not getting it, not comprehending

Missed it, fallen short, messed it up

But I haven’t.

He tries to show me that I’m broken

Breakdowns, broken down

Broken pieces

Broke, thin pockets

Broken

Broken down

Broke it

Broken

But I’m not.

From broken to better

Broken to breakthroughs

Every broken piece

Every fragment, quilted together to cover and warm

Crying babies, hurting moms, cold brothers

I’m healing souls and warming nations

Preserving life

From breakdowns to broken spells, broken curses

From brokenness to breakthroughs

For me and those I’m called to touch

From missing out

To missing hits and blows

Sheltered in the shadow of the Almighty

From missing it to making it

Through and to places

On the way

Fulfilling my destiny

Giving folks rides

Car tires, bike wheels, sore legs

Pushing, encouraging them to make it too:

It’s not too late

God is within

Nothing needed is missing

That can’t bloom from a heart of faith grounded in His word

He thought he had me

Had my mind

My heart

My soul

Darkened, deceived, weary, fatigued

Thirsty, craving, starving, longing

Dying

BUT GOD

BUT GOD

BUT GOD

I am living

Believing

Walking

Thriving

Dreaming again

Face forward

Achieving

Believing

Hoping

Trusting

Living

Laughing

Loving

Ignoring waves and winds

And voices

Tuning in to the station, “I can…”

Setting my eyes on the words “I will…”

Grounding my heart in His love and faithfulness; prices paid; ways already paved

Resisting the enemy

Shutting him up

Shutting him down

I PRESS ON.

Relentless

By Ashley Jataun Moore

4.28.12

I see now

That I must be

Relentless

So…

Relentless is what I will be

Relentless is what I am

I will be relentless

Bruised knees, hoarse voice

Bloody knuckles

Yet unwavering

Fighting for you

Fighting so that you will LIVE

I need you to LIVE

I need you to keep going

I need you not to faint

So

I’ll stand

I’ll fight

I’ll keep praying and believing

I’ll pull out my sword

And war on your behalf

I am my sister’s keeper

I will fight for you

I won’t leave you hanging

Relentless I’ll be

Relentless I am

Blows to Satan’s head

Wrecking havoc on his kingdom

Relentless to protect, take back, and preserve what is truly God’s

I am my sister’s keeper

The gravitational pull, drip drop of your tears

Is the same force that weighs on my heart

I will fight for you

I will stand when you are down

I will pray when your words have gone

I will believe when your heart has turned cold,

Frost-bitten by life and people

Cookie crumble, crumbs

Your heart in pieces

I will sweep them into a jar

And place it in the Potter’s hands

That He might make anew

Refresh, restore, revive, renew, recreate…do a new thing

Relentless, I will feed myself on His word,

Fill myself with His light

That the fire within might grow

That I may be able to warm, revive, and help you

Relentless I will be

Persistent in prayer, intercession, and faith

Relentless I will be

In praise and worship

Even when my voice fails

My limbs will activate

Like David, I will dance

Giving Him glory because of His faithfulness and because of who He is

Relentless I will be

Though aching from my own pains

I will stand anyhow

Relentless I will be

To leap and reach, to go and do, to speak and believe

Relentless I will be

Even when I am afraid

Relentless I will be

To live

To keep the faith

To fight

To love

To heal

To grow

To lay myself before Him as a “living sacrifice,”

A life poured out

Relentless I will be

So that in my living

And through my life

-Because of the God in me

You will live…and be…and continue…and get back up

Because someone…God through someone

Was relentless about loving you

Relentless about being there for you

Relentless about reminding you of the princess that you truly are

Relentless about standing up for you

Relentless about believing in you

Relentless about fighting so that you might experience the life God has for you

My sister, I love you

And for you

I will be relentless

Melted Art

ART WITH A MESSAGE

This piece is called JOY; although, at times it represents sorrow. 

This piece began as a creative experiment during an art night with friends.  Early on, problems emerged, and this piece looked like a "hot mess!"  I contemplated trashing it, but hated to see a valuable canvas go to waste.  Only three eyelashes were melting, and it looked like (and was described as) a lady with mascara running down her face.  Another friend said I was making a mess.  After everyone was gone, I continued to chisel away some of the "mess" in hopes of reviving this piece.  Over a period of days I chiseled, added, melted, and rearranged until I got the piece you now see.  

The process and the piece became therapy for me, and I felt a message emerge.  I began to see how God takes us and all our messes...how he calls us his own and refuses to give up on us.  I began to see how He chisels, adds, rearranges, melts, spreads, covers...until He has molded and shaped us into His beautiful work of art.  

No longer should we give up or count ourselves (or others) out because of weakness, messes, mistakes and/or challenges...But rather we should let God have it all...knowing that He can work wonders with a life left in His skillful and Almighty hands. 

In His love and by His grace,

Ashley Jataun Moore

A.J.M. 

                                                   

Now Is The Time

NOW is the time!

NOW is the time

to seek God

to love yourself

to be

to do

to grow

to change

to dream

to try

to heal

to overcome

to accomplish

to be a blessing to someone else...

NOW is the time.  

Don't miss this moment.  Make the most of this time.

Back Where I Belong

Written by Ashley Jataun Moore

4.29.12

You spoke

And You said

“Be still and know that I am God”*

You told me You’d be exalted,

That Your glory would be revealed

But I got antsy

Unsatisfied

Quite frustrated to exact

And from discontentment, I moved

Away from trust; away from rest

Hashing and rehashing

Thinking

Talking

Trying to figure and work things out

But YOU are SO good

You held me

You held me

While I was tossing and turning

You held me

While I was fumbling around, attempting to gather and reassemble broken pieces

You held me

Even when I refused to relax in Your care

I was picking up pieces You’d told me to lay down

Weighted and unsettled, when you’d already spoken peace

Confused and frustrated, when you’d told me to trust

I am sorry Lord.

True to Your essence,

Your remained faithful

Even when my faith faltered and dissipated

So good

So compassionate

You melt my heart time and time again

So patient

So loving

You wait for me

So I bring You back the pieces

Trading You my pieces for Your peace

I bring you back the pieces

Laying them in your hands

Potter, Creator, Resurrector

There are no impossibilities in Your hands

Your heart

Pure, compassionate, wanting the best for me

Your thoughts

All-knowing,

Wise, full of truth and understanding

I bringing you all the pieces

Laying them in your hands

Now, free from the load You had been trying to carry

I run on

I run on

In Your joy and strength

Your peace,

My helium

My heart, my thoughts, my eyes

Lifted

*Psalm 46:10

Chatterbox

Be STILL my Lips!

By Ashley Jataun Moore

5.13.12

Every time I rehash

My countenance falls

From within

Graying

Smoked lungs

The feeling of all coffee and no water

Sick

Within

Why do I keep talking

When He has already told me

To be still

Still yourself my lips

For you trouble my heart

Safe In God's Hands

Love Me Like You Do

By Ashley Jataun Moore 

10.21.14

Honestly I knew early on

That nobody could love me quite like you do

That no love could take your place

And touch me like you do

I knew that I’d have nothing without you

Void of life

And reason

No purpose 

Mere existence 

You woo me

And hold me

And keep your eye on me

Never letting me out of your sight

Even when you’re out of mine

Loving me through my confusion

And through my ups and downs

Loving me to the core 

The inner and outer me