Chasing Grace

This post is sponsored by Front Gate Media and Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.  Product for this post was provided.  Also, this post contains affiliate links and may receive a commission for purchases made using those links.

My sophomore year of high school I made the decision to join the track team.  My depression was starting to consume me and some of my teachers had started expressing concern over how withdrawn I seemed.  I'll never forget the day one of my teachers asked me to stay for a few minutes after class.  "I'm worried about you.  Is everything okay at home?" she asked.  "Somethings's going on with you like you're always sad."

20 Life Lessons Proverbs Taught Me

This post is sponsored by Front Gate Media and B & H Publishing Group.  Product for this post was provided.

When it comes to life lessons and wisdom, Proverbs is like the ultimate roadmap.  It's filled with so many life lessons to help us tackle some of life's everyday challenges and to help build great character.   King Soloman prayed to God for wisdom and God granted his request.  Soloman then compiled some of that wisdom into the book that is Proverbs.

Finding Wonder With Hillsong United + Giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by Capitol Christian Music Group.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  This post contains affiliate links which means that I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase using one of my links.

I've always been a fan of Hillsong's music ministry and have been looking forward to Wonder, their new album since their last album, Of Dirt And Grace, dropped.  As a teenager and even into my young adult years, "Shout To The Lord" became my anthem of sorts as I struggled to deal with my father's decision to reject his family.  There were so many emotions warring inside of me as a young woman whose heart had been broken time and time again by the most important man in my life.

5 Activities I Want To Make More Time For

Have you ever found yourself wishing there were more hours in a day?  I guess twenty-four of them isn't already plenty enough, right?  Wrong.  As I get older, I'm learning to get my priorities together.  When it comes feeling like I "need" more time to do the activities that I really want to do more often, I've decide to cut out the fluff/extra that I can do without.  Instead, here are five activities that I plan on indulging in on a more consistent basis.

Source: CreateHER Stock

Travel

Traveling and exploring new areas have always been a passion of mine.  I remember going to visit my mom's family up North at least once a year when before I hit my teenage years.  One of my favorite trips is when we drove straight to New Orleans to pick up my older sister from college for Christmas break.  We had stopped at a hotel halfway there because of a storm, but the room we had rented was so filthy, my mom demanded her money back.

We were six deep- two adults and four kids- in my mom's trusty and faithful burgundy minivan cruising the highway with a hurricane advisory out.  However, my mom was determined to get to her oldest baby and we did.  What stands out most for me on that trip are all the laughs we had, the wonder of seeing several states and cities for the first time and how God watched out for us.  We avoided several twisters on the way back home and had to dodge more than one fallen tree.

Traveling for me is about uncovering new adventures, making memories and bonding with those I love.  I want to my kids and watch the wonderment on their faces as we discover new places together.  I want them to experience different cultures and see that what the world has to offer.

Crochet

My love for crochet started when I was about nine years old.  My mother is uber crafty.  She can draw, she can paint, she's can sew and she can crochet.  I remember watching her make a granny square blanket and I wanted to so badly to be able to crochet.  She tried teaching me, but for whatever reason, I couldn't get the hang of it.  A few years later I stumbled across some holiday craft books (from Good Housekeeping, I think) and they had step by step picture tutorials on how to do single crochet.

I found my mom's yarn stash and some old crochet hooks.  She was out of town on a business trip for a week.  I was determined to be crocheting by the time she returned.  Night and day I sat for hours with those books, my yarn and crochet hooks.  Guess what?  I had made my first scarf by the time she came home that Sunday evening.

I've been getting busy on my hooks ever since.  Last year, I upped my skills and taught myself how to make graphghans!  Crocheting relaxes me and it helps me to feel close to my mom now that I no longer live at home.  It's something that we can do together whether we're together or not.  Not to mention, there are tons of crochet groups on Facebook and I've formed some wonderful bonds within those groups.

Family Date Nights

Family means more to me than anything.  I've witnessed what happens when family bonds aren't cherished, celebrated and valued.  When my dad split, I admired my mom's commitment to keeping up our Family Date Nights.  She purchased board games, took advantage of movie rental discounts and saved enough money that we could eat out at least once a month.

One our links might have been missing, but our family chain stayed strong.  I looked forward to these nights, especially during the rough spots.  It's during these nights that we each let our guards down and allowed ourselves to be vulnerable.  There is a lot to be said about the effect that making time to have fun together as a family unit can have on children as well as parents.   

I want my kids to know that relationships between parents and kids isn't all about who bosses who.  It's finding joy in spending time together, making memories, showing support, having fun, and loving without conditions.

Source: CreateHER Stock

Local Blogger/Creatives Meetups

Can be honest and say that blogging and writing have left me feeling really lonely this year.  While I have made some AMAZING blog friendships, none of those people live remotely close to me.  I'm not ashamed to say that I don't feel like I've found my blogging tribe locally.  There are a few local groups that I've dabbled in, but I end up feeling like the Black blogger out.

It's been a struggle to find and connect with other bloggers of color in my niche that live in my area.  However, my mama didn't raise a quitter.  I'm dusting myself off, stepping up to plate and taking action.  My goal is to attend more local blogging/creative events and next year I'm going to make time to host a few meetups of my own.  Sometimes you've got to put out the call (like a bat signal) and see who answers it.

My goal is to find a few partners in crime that I can meet with monthly or whenever to brainstorm, network, pitch brands and just support each other in anyway possible.

Christian Fellowship

One of the major aspects of my life that keeps me grounded is my faith.  I can't even begin to tell y'all how many times I've heard people say they believe in God, but they don't need to go to church or be around other Christians.  And that's cool.  To each her/his own.  We all have to make our own choices including those involving our faith journeys.

However, I'm firm believer that birds of a feather should flock together.  The same way you would hang out with Oprah if you're trying to become a business mogul, is the same way you should put in the effort to surround yourself with people who share your same beliefs/faith.  I can't speak for other Christians, but  I want the kind of Christian fellowship talked about in Acts 2:42-47:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

To be breaking bread, growing, making a difference in the world and having favor sounds pretty awesome to me.  This year I've slacked on going to church and being involved in church.  I'm not one of those holier than thou types, but I do recognize my need to have consistent fellowship with other young Christians.  In a world full of temptation, danger, doubt and hate, I need that recharge and faith renewal that comes from a gathering of two or more with God in the midst (Matthew 18:20).  

I need to be surrounded by people I can trust to pour into the right things when my tank is low.  Likewise, I want to be of service and be able to pour into others when their tanks are low.

So no more excuses.  No more wasting time on non-important stuff.  I'm making the time for these activities because at the end of the day they matter.  They all play a crucial role in my happiness, my purpose and my well-being.

What's one thing that you want to start carving out time or more time for?

A Back-to-School Prayer For Moo

So long Summer Break!  The first day of school snuck up on us quick.  I'm going to be honest and say that our whole family had a bit of anxiety about how Moo's first day of First Grade would go.  Last year, she met the Mean Girls and came home full out bawling on the first day.  I'm happy to report that she was all smiles this year!!

She said that she enjoyed her teacher, her classmates are quiet and polite and she's excited to go back.  Talk about a complete night and day experience.  My hope and prayer is that the remainder of the school year goes off without incident or problems.  And speaking of prayer, one of our school morning traditions is starting our day with family prayer.   This year I took it one step further and created a special prayer to pray over and with Moo every morning.

Please feel free to adjust this prayer to fit your child(ren).  My fondest memories of going to school are the morning prayer sessions we'd do in the car with my mom as drove to either drop us off to school or pick up her bus.  The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) was her favorite to pray with us.  And I'm pretty sure she prayed that prayer and many others for us throughout the day.

When I went away to college, my mom and I became prayer partners.  We kept prayer journals and called each other if we had a special prayer request that we didn't want to share with others, but needed any extra set of lips to send up a prayer to God's ears.  It is my hope that just as prayer helped us to get through school last year, it will not only help us, but give us comfort again this school year!

Do you prayer for or with your kids during the school year?

Thankful Thursday

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry."

~ Psalm 40:1

It's finally here.  This is the last week of Summer Break and it got here quicker than I imagined it would.  While some parents have been counting down to the hours until they can drop their children off at school, I'm feeling the opposite.  I'm already counting the months and weeks until Summer Break comes again.  Call me crazy but I enjoy the uninterrupted family time I have with my kids during the from June until late August.

I'm so thankful for the memories we've been able to make.  We got to take our first trip/mini getaway as a complete family!  That was huge and Moo hasn't stopped talking about it and asking when we can do it again.  We hit up the parks, hung out at our favorite libraries, saw some exhibits, lounged by the pool and more.

The most important part for Moo is that she didn't feel like she was missing out on any of the family bonding time or fun activities.  During the school year, she does miss out on things like shopping trips and playdates at the park because she attends a late.  So by the time she gets home, she has no real time to spend with the Mr other than their one-on-one time in the car when he picks her up.  We can't go to the park or anything because I have to get dinner started and her favorite places close early during the school year.

The bright side this school year is that she'll be attending a new school with new teachers and staff.  I'm really looking forward to meeting her teacher and see how this school year gets started off.  We're praying that some of her old friends will have made the transition to the new school with her and that we don't have to deal with any Mean Girls at all!

I'm thankful to be feeling less overwhelmed this week.  Lastly, I'm grateful that my mom, baby sister and niece got me a copy of Mom's Night Out and Other Things I Miss by Kerri Pomarolli.  It's a great devotional for moms and this week one of the passages really spoke to me.  It reminded me to just be patient and PUSH while I wait on God to fulfill His promises.

This is going to be my go-to book for those days when I'm feeling down and beating up on myself for just being a mom living her life.  I'm so grateful that my family knows me well and got me this gift.

What are you giving thanks for this week?

Staying Grounded With #JesusDailyBook

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Faith Words.  I received a copy of this book to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Mommy of 2.  Wife.  Blogger.  Writer.  These are just a few of the hats that I wear on a daily basis.  By far one of the best hats that I wear is being a Christian!  For me, part of being a Christian is making time for God's word and finding a way to put that word into action.  I have admit that doing so can be challenging, especially now that we're in the thick of the Christmas holiday season.

This is where having a great devotional comes in handy.  Recently, I received a copy of Jesus Daily: 365 Interactive Devotions by Dr. Aaron Tabor from the lovely folks at Faith Words.  (Yes, he is a real MD and graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.)  They also sent me an extra copy to share with a friend or family member and a Jesus Daily tee shirt.  You can find out who I'm gifting the extra copy to in the YouTube video at the end of this post.

Faith Words couldn't have reached out to me at a better time to review this devotional.  As mentioned, the Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year, making it easier to get caught up and neglect your Bible studies.  Jesus Daily is perfect for those of us who want to get in a daily word and lesson, but find that some days we are more pinched for time than others.  

Each day is broken down into three sections: key scripture, devotion (message) and Daily Interaction (Connect mission/call to action).  My favorite part of this devotional, besides the message of course, is the Connect/Daily Interaction.  I don't want to only study God's word, but I want to put what I'm learning into action and it was a challenge for me figuring out a way to do so besides what I'm already doing.  The Connect gives me a starting point.

Also, I love that this book is not littered with biblical jargon.  I've read books like that before and it was hard for me to connect to the overall message.  Dr. Tabor was definitely thinking of the everyday person when he wrote this.  I've been reading this book to Moo and JJ during bedtime and they love it, especially Moo.  Because the words are simple and easy to read as well as understand, she's been able to get a good understanding of what's being said.

I can't tell y'all how much it warms my heart that she's even more interested and inquisitive about our faith.  I think every parent desires for their children to show an interest in whatever their faith is.  As JJ continues to progress, I'm sure the message will sink in more for him too.  Lastly, I love that this book was inspired by the 27 MILLION fans of Dr. Tabor's Jesus Daily Facebook page.  

Being a Christian isn't just about inspiring non-believers, but believers as well.  I think it's absolutely awesome and amazing that Dr. Tabor was touched by either something someone wrote on his page wall or through a private message.  He then channeled the inspiration to in this book.  

I'm really looking forward to starting from the beginning of this book when January 1st rolls around in a few weeks.  And if you're looking for a devotional book for yourself, your family or a loved one try this one.  Or maybe you're just curious about the Christian faith.  You're not sure if you want to believe.  Give this book a try.

You purchase your own copy of Jesus Daily: 365 Interactive Devotions from Walmart, Barnes & Noble and ChristianBook.com.  You can also use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter my giveaway for a chance to win your copy of Jesus Daily and a Jesus Daily tee shirt.  Yes, Faith Words was nice enough to throw in a giveaway as well. (Thank you!) 

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It Takes A Dream

I've been in love with books my entire life.  I kid you not.  My mom started teaching me how to read at an early age.  I read my first book by myself when I was 3.  I remember starting preschool and asking if I could read a book for storytime once.  Our classroom had two teachers- Mrs. O and Ms. H (who happened to be my mother's older sister).  

Mrs. O taught for sure when I asked to read Snow White (it was my favorite book at time) that I was just going to give a narration of the pictures.  My aunt told her, that I could in fact read and so I did my first storytime while they laid out snacks.  I remember just feeling so happy and over-the-moon proud of myself.  All the other kids were in awe that K could read.  They wanted to learn to.

My love affair with books inspired me to want to become a writer.  The only problem was I hated the actual action of writing.  If I could have spoken into a mic and had my stories written for me, I'm sure I would have been the youngest writer in the world.  But that kind of technology wasn't out back then.  I hated writing because I felt like I wasn't good at it.

My actual handwriting was sloppy and often times unreadable.  And I was bad speller.  Sure, I could read, but that was because I knew how to sound out words and once you sound out the same words enough times, you just recognize them when you them.  My mom finally put her foot down and started making me practice writing on the weekends until I was in the second grade.

That's when my want turned into a dream.  I became separable from my notebook and my pen.  True story.  My family was always asking me when my novel was coming out because all I ever did was write.  And if I wasn't writing, I was reading.  And I wasn't really reading books for my age group either.  I think that I read my first James Patterson book at 12 or 13.  And by the time I was 14, I had learned so much about sex from reading explicit books from authors like Zane.

My mom had had the sex the talk with me, but reading about it in graphic detail was different.  I started discovering iconic authors and books like Toni Morrison, Walter Dean Myers and Jane Eyre (my all time favorite book) or the Great Gatsby.  I was just in awe of the talent and the ability for a book to suck me in emotionally and help me escape from reality for a while.

My dream continued to grow and I started taking a creative writing class in high school.  I took honors and AP English classes because we got to write more beyond the essays on Shakespeare and share original pieces.  In college, even though I was a fashion major, I took two creative writing classes.  I started this blog and got the opportunity to co-author a great book on surviving motherhood with some pretty awesome ladies.  I felt like I was on top of the moon.  I felt like a legit writer.

And then, I realized that I wanted to write that novel that I'd always dreamed of writing and Forever Branded was born.  It's been a slow and sometimes frustration process, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  I recently enlisted the help of my favorite go-to person for things related to visual and graphic designing, Christina of Being Mrs Jones and fellow author, for some help with my book cover and I have to say she really delivered (cover reveal coming soon on my author blog)!

Seeing that book cover just made everything feel so official and real.  My dreams are coming fruition and it feels amazing.  This journey has taught me that all things are possible, but it takes a dream first, then having the faith to believe in that dream and keeping yourself surrounded by others who believe in you and your dream!  So, whatever your dream, I urge you to go for it.  Don't throw in the towel.  

I've wanted to write a novel since I was in the second grade and I'm just now accomplishing my dream at 28.  It took a while, but if you want something bad enough, you keep pushing to make it happen.  You climb the ladder and take steps to make your moment a reality.  So give in to dreaming and then dare yourself to chase those dreams!

What is/was your biggest dream?

Call Me Crazy: My Goal To Live A Life Of Abundance

Call me crazy but this year I'm on a mission to live an abundant and wealthy lifestyle. I know some of you are looking at your screens and thinking this chick has fallen off her rocker!  But let me be clear and say that I'm not just talking financially.  I want to be abundant and wealthy spiritually, emotionally, mentally, in my health, my family life, and professionally.

 I'm just fed up with my current situation.   As a matter of fact, I'm past fed up.  To see just how comfortable I had gotten with living a mediocre life of these last few years has me both disappointed and borderline ashamed.  I've been looking back at some stuff and I had big plans for my life but threw them out the window because of stumbling blocks.  Well, last year was my wake up call.

I'm determined to not make this year a repeat.  Here are 5 key practices that I'm adopting for moving forward in 2014:

5 Key Practices to Living Abundantly

1) Decide to Live Abundantly

I'm letting go of this "I can't" mentality.  Joel Osteen postesd on Facebook the other day "God is not limited by our circumstances, by how you were raised, by what you don't have.  Start believing big.  Have an abundance mentality."  With that said I'm setting target working towards earning $30k every 30 days.  It's ambitious yes, but if you aim low, you reap low.  It's as if you haven't totally changed your mindset. Having big dreams, adjusting our mindset to believing that we can achieve those dreams and then actually putting in the work to make those dreams come true is what separates those who achieve success and those who just stay content with getting by.  I don't want to be someone who aspires to obtain a higher level of success but is too afraid to admit out loud and even more afraid to work to achieve it.

2) Get Motivated

My desire to provide a better life overall (financially, emotionally, educationally, and spiritually) for my family, give back to the community and church like I want to, continuing to better my relationship with God and having a successful career and getting The YUMMommy Project off the ground are my main motivations right now.  My son is in speech therapy right and while it's going ok, he could be making a lot more progress if we could afford to try out some of the other alternative therapies we available here.

Moo's will start school for certain this August and I want her in a school that is safe, will expose her nontraditional learning techniques, doesn't have overcrowded classrooms, has great teachers who not only love what they do but who are held accountable and are monitored as well as lots of opportunities for parents to be involved.  Also, want my husband to be able to spend less time working and more time doing things with us.

3) Surround Yourself With Abundant/Wealthy/Successful People

Listen, I know when I mentioned earlier that I wanted to make $30k every 30 days, some of you probably rolled your eyes or thought "she's not being realistic."  And that's why I have to surround myself with people who have proven that it is realistic.  Let me tell you, Pat Flynn raked in $55k last month mostly off of blogging, affiliate marketing and eBook sales.  And this past July he raked in $116k! He went from unemployed and making $7k his first month of unemployment to making $200k during his first year of working for himself.

Imagine what would have happened if he had listened to the naysayers.  I'm on the hunt for my mentor.  That person (or people) who's willing to take me under their wing, push me when I feel like giving up and continue to help me keep my mind open to an abundant way of thinking.  

4) Work For It

"Mama need a house.  Baby need some shoes."  I have put on my Ace Hood hat and I'm hustling hard.  Just like faith without action is dead, having a dream to live abundantly and no work ethic or hustle is pointless too.  I'm getting my face and my brands out there.  In 2012, I was featured in a national magazine and I dropped the ball on the spinning that into some other major opportunities like I should have.  No more ball dropping this year.

Mary Mary sings it best in my theme song Go Get It, "You were made to live a good life and that's what I believe. So hit the floor say a prayer, start working; you got to do something. It's alright to crawl before you walk.  It's alright to walk before you run.  But if you wanna get what you never got,  gotta do something that you never done."

5)Invest Don't Spend

I'm finding ways to invest in myself and brands that will give me a return.  For example, I'm getting to start a business class the week after next on Coursera.  I've purchased books to help me brush up on my marketing skills.  Did I ever mentioned I passed my marketing class in college with a perfect score?! Yea, I'm brushing the dust off that knowledge.  I'm investing time get a Kickstarter page going.

I also, I'm looking to invest in others by sharing what I'm learning and what I know.  No need in hogging knowledge.  I'm all about each one, teach one.  I love giving back.  It's just part of who I am.  When I give to others it pays me back in happiness, joy and a feeling of self-pride because I did the right thing.

I'll also be investing in new business cards, stationary, etc.  If I want to businesses and other brands to take me seriously when I'm pitching them or sending them letters, a plain old letter template is ok, but something with my logo and printed on quality paper will stand out more.  

The gospel song says "Our God is an awesome God. He reigns..."  And that is true.  I refuse to be one of those "O ye of little faith" types.  John 10:10 says "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  

So go ahead, tell me I'm nuts and that my goals are too high, but at the end of day I feel more focused and driven than I've been in my life!  It might not happen overnight, but I feel like I've been through so many rainy seasons that the sunshine is just over the horizon.  And I'm beyond ready!

What is one of your biggest dream  or mission that scares you the most to admit aloud?  And what is holding you back from achieving that dream?  Is lack of faith, fear of being mocked or fear of failure?

Bible 365: Week 52

I did it!!  Seriously, y'all have no idea how proud and happy I am to have read the Bible in its entirety in 365 days.  This has been a goal of mine for quite some time and to be able to mark it off my list is definitely an accomplishment.  I took a HUGE risk writing about my faith and my thoughts on God's word here on the blog.  You hear all of these dos and don'ts for bloggers when you first start out and usually the first two things on the list of things NOT to blog about are faith and politics.  

And honestly, that's just sad.  It's disturbing to think that because I want to share my views and beliefs that I would be labelled a blogger to avoid or not follow.  Well, I stand firm on what I believe in.  Furthermore, at the end of day this is my blog.  As such, I deem the right to talk about any and every thing that I want to.  I follow and read blogs of other people who aren't Christian and don't believe in anything.  That's their right.  I don't pass judgment on them in the least.

Now, this week was all about the detailing the return of Christ, the purging of the evils from the Earth and Heaven and rebirth.  We get to read about what signs we need to be on the watch for, how the Earth and those who have renounced God will be destroyed and more importantly we get an inside glimpse of what Heaven is really like.  We've seen movies try to recreate it but reading about how Heaven will look just leaves me in awe of the opulence and luxury that God is surrounded by on a daily basis.

I've learned to "[b]e merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh" (Jude 1:22-23).  At the end of day we have the power to lead to others to Christ.  And I think a lot of times, we as Christians do ourselves a disservice by not showing mercy to those we consider sinners.  We're all in their face with it's my way or the highway, when it really should be God's way!  The saying tells us that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Likewise, we can lead and entice more followers to try to at least read the Bible by extending a merciful hand to help save from a life wrong living and eternal damnation.  It's all about approach people.  Also, we need to look at ourselves and "[c]onsider how far you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first.  If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place" (Revelation 2:5).  Remember to let him who is without sin cast the first stone.  See what's in your closet that you need to repent for before even attempting to condemn someone else.

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown" (Revelation 2:10).  Always trust in God.  Always keep the faith.  People ask me how can I stay so positive in the mist of everything I have been through and this scripture is it.  God is with me no matter what I'm going through.  These trials on Earth are worth the rewards I reap later on here on Earth and definitely in Heaven. 

God has assured me that "I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name" (Revelation 3:8). Better days will come and for now I choose to hold on to the thing and one person who is forever with me-my faith and God.  It's always my hope that no matter what material blessings God gives me in the future that I will stay humble and never adopt the mindset that I can buy way into Heaven or that I don't need God at all (see Revelations 3:17).

"Then war broke out in heaven.  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil , or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him" (Revelation 12:7-9).  Honestly, it still puzzles me as to 1) how could Satan turn his back on God who created him and gave him life, 2) think he could defeat God and take over heaven and 3) convince other angels to join in on his foolish and clearly not well thought out scheme?

I mean seriously, Satan, you tried to go to battle against God who's immortal and can't be killed.  He's all powerful remember?  So, even if you and your angels had killed all of the good angels and other hosts of heaven, with a wink God would have been able to destroy and defeat you and your army. 

Revelation 21:19-21 describes Heaven as have wall "made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth and the twelfth amethyst.  The twelve gates were twelve pearls each ate made of a single pearl.  The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass."  You got yourself thrown out of the most loving, peaceful, wonderful, luxurious, comfortable, compassionate, joyful and righteous place ever!!  Like really y'all was trippin' fo' real!  

Trust me, when I make it to heaven, I'm not even trying to sneeze wrong and get kicked out of there.  To be able to be in a place where sickness doesn't exist, where I will be safe and where I won't have any needs except to continue giving thanks for God and all he's done is a dream I'm working hard to achieve by following God's commands.  If you think not living right isn't fun or worth the effort then you need to read about the seven wraths of God in Revelations 16.

There's the wrath of sores, the wrath of the sea turning to blood and all the sea animals dying (bye bye seafood), the wrath of the fresh water turning to blood (bye bye drinking water), the wrath of the sun (got sunblock because you're going to need it and them some), the wrath of the beasts's defeat, the wrath of preparation that dries up the Euphrates and unleashes three demonic spirits and last the wrath of the world's worst and most destructive earthquake ever!!  Nope, I don't want to have to experience or suffer through none of that.  I rather live like I'm supposed and getting ascended into Heaven along with his other faithful servants.

At the end of the day I try to remember this "It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death" (Revelation 21:6-8). We have the power to determine where we end up.  God has given us free will, He has sacrificed His son and now He's shown us what we have to look forward to if He keep our hand in His and repent when we fall short.  I hope pray that each of us chooses well!

I've been humbled and grateful by the support that I have gotten for my Bible 365 posts.  I've said this a million times before, but thank you, thank you, thank you for reading and commenting.  I can't properly put into words how much your support has meant to me.  I hope that in some way if you're a Christian, I have inspired you to become closer with God.  And if you're on the fence, I pray that I inspired you to at least see what the Bible and being a Christian is really about.

Also, Happy New Year's Eve!!  I'll be posting a recap of how I did with my resolutions/goals from this year tomorrow.  And then Friday, I will post about what I will be working hard to accomplish in 2014.  Hope to see you in the New Year!

Bible 365: Week 51

One week and a day left and my Bible 365 Challenge will be officially over!  I will have read the Good Book in its entirety straight through.  Anyways, I hope that everyone had a blessed weekend.  I did.  I celebrated my birthday on Friday and we finally got car.  I was kind of sad to see our lovely BMW rental go.  That thing was sweet!

Saturday, the Mr braved the craziness at the stores to go hunt down a gluten free turkey and finish his Christmas shopping.  He said it was almost like the grocery store scene from Christmas With The Kranks at Walmart.  He had to race this lady to get the last gluten free turkey.  She even offered to pay a little extra for it, but he turned it down.  Thank goodness because y'all know my babies on a gluten free diet thanks to allergies.  Next year, I think we'll try prime rib or something because I'm anxious to start switching up our holiday menus.

Anyways, the scripture readings from Week 51 talked a lot about how we should live right and follow God's commands to show and prove our love and devotion to Him.  And I couldn't agree more.  He knows that we will stumble, but there are some out there who are just sinning to max and not even trying to get it right.  Yet, we see them talking about how they love the Lord.

Newsflash, 1 John 1:6 says, "If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth."  Being a Christian or loving truly loving God isn't about lip service.  I've said this a million times on this blog I'm sure, but love is an action.  You show someone that they are loved by what you do for and with them.  "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18)  The same applies to God.

He wants to see us putting in the work to attempt to live as Jesus did.  And I understand better than anyone that this can be a hard task to live up to, but "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).  He didn't send us unprepared to live a righteous life.  The Bible is our guidebook, Jesus is our guide and the tools to experience this journey are within us.  It's just up to us whether we use them or not.

And if you do find yourself having one of those days where you have been less than perfect in your walk with Christ, just remember "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just as will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).  We serve a forgiving God.  An understanding God.

We serve a God whose love is unconditional.  How do I know?  "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters" (1 John 3:16).  God had one biological child in this world and He graciously and selflessly sacrificed him for us because we couldn't get our bad habits under control.  We couldn't stay faithful to Him despite the fact that He has stayed faithful to us!

With the New Year coming up, I think the one resolution that we all need to take up is to do away with fear.  For the simple reason that "There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18).  How many of us are walking around with fear in our marriages, in our roles as parents, at our jobs or just walking out of our front doors?

I want to be fearless in 2014, in every aspect of my life.  I want to know the joy of experiencing perfect love.  A love so unconditional and pure.  Oh the bliss that will come from that.

Week 52 Readings

12/23: Jude 1

12/24: Revelation 1-3

12/25: Revelation 4-5

12/26: Revelation 6-8

12/27: Revelation 9-11

12/28: Revelation 12-14

12/29: Revelation 15-16

12/30: Revelation 17-19

12/31: Revelation 20-22

What fears are going to give up in 2014?

Bible 365: Week 50

Happy Monday!!  Y'all, I am back in business.  I have one laptop back up and running.  No more blogging and trying to answer emails from the Kindle and phone apps.  That was really challenging.  Plus, I have like a ton of stuff to type up and submit to my writing group for my novel.

Anyways, two weeks left until I'm done with my Bible 365 Challenge! Woot, woot!  This mama is so very proud of herself.  After a trying and emotionally draining last few weeks, it seems like God had a special message for me in almost every passage I read from Week 50.  It's amazing how He works and sends us signs.  Here are a few of the verses I jotted down to reflect back on when I feel like I'm back at my breaking point.

~"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1):  Lord knows this whole situation with JJ is requiring me to have faith and stay hopefully like I've never had to do before.  His last two therapy sessions have not gone very well and it's tempting to let my faith waver, but I will not give confidence that God is sending us a breakthrough.  I can't see it now, but I know it's coming.

~"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11):  Going through trials and tribulations are never fun, but the end result in terms of how much stronger our faith will be and how much more righteous will be able to live our lives is worth the suffering.  Joy comes back at some point.  So, you just have to hang in there and trust the process until then.  Also, read James 1:2-3.

~"Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.  Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:1-2):  This is why it pays to be kind to everyone you meet.  We don't come equipped with special glasses that allow us to distinguish from angels from regular human beings.  And if you just think about the fact that God allows His angels to live among us in our form, it's kind of mind blowing.  Can you imagine that having gave a homeless man a few extra bucks and then finding out he was really angel sent here on a mission?

I thought about not doing the yarn/blanket drive because I'm not sure what the response will be aside from the two volunteer donors I got last week.  However, I prayed on it, I truly feel like God is telling me to move forward with it.  Those blankets are going to touch the lives of young moms and their children who are homeless but working hard to get back up on their feet.  I want to be a blessing a them even though I don't know them mainly because so many strangers have been a blessing to me!

~"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you'." (Hebrews 13:5):  We serve a God of yes!  And when you remember this, you don't have to focus on what you don't have because He knows our needs before we do and will provide them if we just show patience and thankfulness for what we already have!

~"You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone." (James 2:24):  Faith without works is dead.  You can't just walk around saying you have faith.  You have to actually walk in faith and live as though what you're requesting of God is already done.

~"Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.   Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:16-17):  Your writes should not infringe on the rights of others.  However, we see this practice being done everyday.  People use their freedom of speech to be just down right rude and that just should not be.

Week 51 Readings

12/16: 2 Peter 1

12/17: 2 Peter 2

12/18: 2 Peter 3

12/19: 1 John 1-2

12/20: 1 John 3-4

12/21: 1 John 5

12/22: 2 John 1-3 John 1

What other freedoms or rights do you think we abuse too much in today's society?

Bible 365: Week 48

Happy Monday and welcome to December!  This without a doubt my favorite month.  Moo and I celebrate our birthdays during this month.  And of course there's Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Getting closer and closer to the end of my Bible 365 Challenge.  I already feel a rush of self accomplishment for having made it this far.  I truly feel stronger and more secure in my faith and my walk with Christ.  I am definitely proud of myself for attempting this task and committing to follow it through.  Week 48 had some great food for thought and I'm sharing the ones that stuck out to me the most.

Love is so complicated (well, only because we make it so).  Ask 5 people to define love and I bet you will get 5 different definitions.  However, if you want to know where love comes from look no further than 1 Timothy 1:5 which says, "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  If we work hard to maintain these three things then we will always be capable of showing love to ourselves as well as others.

Being a woman in the church back in the day was almost like being a child or an outcast.  Check out Paul's view of how women should conduct themselves in the House of God here in 1Timothy 2:9-12: "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.  A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or assume authority over a man; she must be quiet."

I don't know about y'all but I think Paul would flip his wig if he was alive in today's society because there are definitely a lift of women teaching in the church.  Besides the fact that Paul doesn't seem to approve of women being superior to men, I haven't a clue why he would feel this way.  I mean other disciplines have felt some type of way about women being bold around Jesus as we read in the earlier books of the New Testament.  However, Jesus was quick to correct their harsh words and point out that we are all children of God.  Furthermore, there were female prophets who were called by God mentioned in the Old Testament.  So, reading this just threw me for a loop.

This scripture I definitely can relate to.  "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).  I can't tell you how many times people have my knowledge on certain things because they felt I wasn't old enough to speak on it.  At the end of the day, I have gone through a lot and experienced a lot in my life.  I believe that alone qualifies me to be able to speak on those topics. I understand that somethings come with age but other things come with having experienced them and I won't let anyone look their nose at me because of it.  My voice and feelings matter just as much as the next person!

"But mark this: There will be terrible Times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, with self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-" (2 Timothy 3:1-4).  Just another reminder to watch for signs of coming.  There are times when I look around or hear the news and I see we are already witnessing a lot of these on a daily basis.

Week 49 Readings

12/2: Titus 2

12/3:  Titus 3

12/4:  Philemon 1

12/5:  Hebrews 1-2

12/6:  Hebrews 3-4

12/7:  Hebrews 5-7

12/8:  Hebrews 8-10

Have you ever felt like you weren't getting the respect you deserved because of your age?

 

A Little Affirmation

Nothing lifts me up more like a little affirmation.   A reminder that better days are coming.  And today, I really need this.

Bible 365: Week 46

My challenge for this week is to start and end my days in a positive state of mind. (See this post).  So, what better way to kick off this post than with some good news?!  We are no longer the house of germs!  Moo and JJ are feeling much better.  And I didn't get sick this time around either.  

More good news is that the apartment owner came out and had our bedroom window installed finally!  It might have taken almost two months, but it's done.  The kids were so happy to see the boards being took down and I'm glad to have the eye removed.  Now on to my Week 46 recap.

Paul is back it again in Week 46 writing letters to the churches.  Reading his letters has me wondering if any of the other disciples wrote letters to churches they had visited?  And if so, who did those letters say?  What key points or personal testimonies did they share?  I definitely believe that there are some lost books of the Bible out there that we could further give us insight into the life the Jesus and how we need to live as Christians.  Until those books are found and authenticated, here are some of the key points that stood out to me in Week 46.

Some of us struggle with people pleasers.  I once had the problem and know first hand that it can be very stressful and borderline torturing.  "For do I now persuade man or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

We can't always have it both ways.  When it comes to who to please, God should always trump everyone.  It is through pleasing God that will please those around us.  Now not everyone will recognize that, especially if they haven't found Christ yet.  However, we please God by loving our neighbors as ourselves.  That is one of His greatest commandments.  And I don't know a person on this earth that wouldn't pleased to be loved.

"But from those who seemed to be something-whatever they, were it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man-for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me" (Galatians 2:6). I once went to a church where the pastor thought he was better than his congregation.  He even went so far as to claim that none of us would ever be blessed unless he said because he felt like God had given him that power.  Needless, to say I left that church.

We are all equal in God's eyes.  (Also reference Galatians 3:28).  As stated in the scripture above, none of us are more special the rest and none of us has any kind of special favoritism.  So, don't get caught up in titles or positions.  A lot of people allow themselves to be led astray because the person leading them is pastor or has a high position in the church.  Always double check the Bible for yourself and listen to what God is telling you!

Ever wondered what WON'T get you into Heaven?  Adultery, sex before marriage (fornication), uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, jealousy, drunkenness and more are all listed as practices that will not inherit you the kingdom of God in Galatians 5:19-23. It's a little easier to stay on the straight and narrow if you know the actions and things that you need to avoid.  Knowing what displeases and pleases God certainly helps me in my quest to be a better person inside and out.

A lot of people wonder how I can still focus on giving back and uplifting others when I'm going through a difficult season right now in my life.  My answer is Galatians 6:9-10: "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

It might not be my season now, but I know that better days are coming soon.  So, I'm not going to sit around feeling sorry for myself.  I am still blessed.  I can still be a blessing to others.  And as long as God continues to give me the opportunity to give to others, I will keep doing it.

Because we are living in difficult times, it's so important to make sure that every day we, "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;..." (Ephesians 6:14-17). 

We're always telling each other to get thicker skin in order to survive in this world, but the truth is what we really need to be getting is the armor of God.  Everyday, we should put those things on and walk out of our homes with heads held high knowing that we guarded by the Most High!

What piece of God' armor do you never leave home without?

Week 47 Reading

11/18: Philippians 3

11/19: Philippians 4

11/20: Colossians 1-2

11/21: Colossians 3-4

11/22: 1 Thessalonians 1-3

11/23: 1 Thessalonians 4-5

11/24: 2 Thessalonians 1-2

Bible 365: Week 45

Hey y'all!  I'm literally running on fumes today.  Saturday both kiddies got runny noses and I thought it was just allergies since the Mr had done some dusting.  But by Sunday night JJ was coughing and sneezing his head off.  I gave him some medicine and it helped a little bit at first, but then he just kept waking up every hour until like 4 AM.  

I gave him some Benadryl because his nose was really runny and I didn't want his skin underneath to get raw.  That helped him sleep a little bit.  He woke up again at 7 and then slept until 9 and dozed off again until 10.  So, to say that we are both tired is an understatement.  I feel exhausted.  I've been lysoling and bleaching already because this is usually the time when Moo gets sick.  So, hopefully we'll keep these cold germs down to a minimum and nobody else catches it.

Now, for our Week 45 recap.  You know if pastors and ministers wrote open letters to their churches like Paul did in 1 & 2 Corinthians, I think that a lot churches would be better off.  Sunday sermons just aren't enough sometimes.  And Paul's letters weren't always negative.  For the most part they were very encouraging and motivating.

Paul was also very blunt in his letters.  He no qualms about telling them about their shortcomings and letting them know that they if they were going to boast about having their stuff together, then they needed to make sure it was true.  As a disciple Paul went through a lot.  I'm sure a lot of it was based on the things he did in his past when he was Saul.  Not everyone was willing to forgive and believe he had changed.

Reading the books of Corinthians reminded me that we should take care to not come off as know-it-alls. "And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2).  At the end of the day, only God knows everything.  There's so much that happens that is beyond our comprehension as human beings.  The one thing that we can and should know like the back of our hand is the Bible.

That's one of the reasons I did this Bible 365 challenge.  I had so many questions about the Bible.  I can definitely say that a lot of them have been answered now.  I have more clarity as to the life I am expected to live.  And contrary to what the world thinks, living a Christian lifestyle isn't nearly as boring as people think.  I can still have fun and live life to the fullest.  I just have to make sure the things that I'm doing to do so are pleasing to God and not hurting others.

"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27).  You can't be saying one thing and living another thing.  There is no do as I say and not as I do when it comes to living right.  Hypocrisy and being a Christian do not go hand in hand.  Paul knew that.  That's why God changed his name from Saul to Paul.

God gave him a fresh start not only with his name but also with changing his actions.  And I'm sure that there were times when Paul was going through trials that he felt like the people weren't listening to him.  There are times in my life when I feel like throwing in the towel.  But 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  Paul kept moving forward because he knew that there was a greater purpose and a greater reward awaiting for him.  So, if Paul can keep going on after being stoned, beat and jailed, surely we can do the same.

Let me just say that I'm glad certain laws of the church have changed.  Because sadly, back in the day women didn't have much voice in the church.  In fact, they didn't have a voice at all.  1 Corinthians 14:34 instructed husbands to "Let your woman keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive as the law also says."  Kudos to women who lived back then because often times it seems like they were undervalued and didn't have many rights.  I'm way too opinionated to have lived back then I think.

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).  This is scripture that eludes a lot of people.  Why?  Because most of us tithe and give offerings because we feel obligated to do so.  And we here that if we have that mindset, then that's what's we'll reap.  We'll reap only the things that our necessary for our wellbeing.  Now, on the flip side, cheerful givers who give because they WANT to reap abundance. 

They reap beyond what they need.  God doesn't want us to feel obligated to do things.  But rather He would be prefer that we want to them according to our own free will.  I'm not going to lie there are certain things that I'm working on changing my attitude about when it comes to my faith.  In order to be truly blessed I have to adjust my vision and make myself more willing.

Lastly, don't forget that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10)!

Do think women should allowed to have different roles in the church (i.e.-ministers, teachers, etc)?

Week 46 Readings

11/11: Galatians 1-2

11/12: Galatians 3-4

11/13: Galatians 5-6

11/14: Ephesians 1-3

11/15: Ephesians 4-6

11/16: Philippians 1

11/17: Philippians 2