Rhoadie's Place

Alcoholism Pt. 1

2012-01-16T15:29:00.002-05:00

This blog discusses the role of generational curses as it relates to alcohol. First I will define a generational curse and then discuss alcoholism.

Generational curses: curses that are passed down from one generation to the other as a result of sin.

Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them (idols), for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Numbers 14:18. ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

In generational curses you will notice a correlation between the area of sin and the generational curse. For example I noticed that a "spirit of alcoholism" seemed to run on one side of the family. My grandfather was said to drink heavily and to my understanding died of liver complications brought on by drinking. After further examination I noticed that other family members abused alcohol and some even had their children taken away and placed in foster homes.

What is alcoholism? According to the CDC alcohol abuse is “a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work” (http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm)

The CDC list the following manifestations of alcohol abuse:
•Failure to fulfill major responsibilities at work, school, or home.
•Drinking in dangerous situations, such as drinking while driving or operating machinery.
•Legal problems related to alcohol, such as being arrested for drinking while driving or for physically hurting someone while drunk.
•Continued drinking despite ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by drinking.
•Long-term alcohol abuse can turn into alcohol dependence.

The CDC also discusses alcohol dependency which is a result of repeated alcohol abuse. Alcohol dependency is an addiction. The CDC describes alcohol dependency as a chronic disease. Manifestations of this are as follows.

•A strong craving for alcohol.
•Continued use despite repeated physical, psychological, or interpersonal problems.
•The inability to limit drinking.

The CDC lists the following effects of alcohol.

•Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells); pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and esophagus; high blood pressure; and psychological disorders.
•Unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.
•Violence, such as child maltreatment, homicide, and suicide.
•Harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
•Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
•Alcohol abuse or dependence.

New Post on Soul Ties

2012-01-13T04:17:00.000-05:00

http://itsrhoadie.tumblr.com/

No one can make you happy but you

2012-01-04T08:15:00.002-05:00

Click on title, it links to my tumblr.

Tearing down an old foundation

2011-11-06T17:14:00.001-05:00

Yesterday at church a woman prophesied about the Lord enlarging His people. She stated that God must first tear down the previous foundation that was too small to support His vision for our lives. This allows Him to build a newer, larger foundation that can sustain the vision.

This spoke volumes to me because we often find ourselves in circumstances where God tears down old habits and behaviors that hinder us. He even may cut off certain friendships that are not beneficial to our growth. I have seen God do both in my life. This is often referred to as the pruning process.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes (trim), that it may bear more fruit. John 15: 1-2

The pruning process is part of building the new foundation. It can be a difficult transition because God shakes up our comfortable surroundings. People that you use to love to spend time with all of a sudden become very irritating to be around. You very family may be discouraging you from your dreams all in the name of “looking out for your best interest”. That job you were once so secure in is now suffering lay-offs. God often allows these situations to challenge us in ways that will bring about growth. God even told Abraham to arise from among his family and go to a distant land where the Lord can make him a great nation. He had to separate from the very people that raised him, the very breasts he suckled at as a baby in order to become great.

One thing to remember is during the pruning process we must trust God and not focus on the “pruning” but on the fruit that will result after that painful trimming is over.

Proverbs 3: 5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Sleep on it

2011-10-31T07:08:00.001-05:00

Yesterday a situation arose that came to challenge my peace of mind. When the problem first reared it’s ugly head, my first instinct was to go into panic mode. I thought of ways of “correcting” the situation. My whole day was spent worrying about my problem. I then talked to different people to get their opinion and still couldn’t get no peace. I said a quick “help me Jesus” and proceeded to worry some more. At the end of the night I said a quick prayer and went to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning I had the answer. I even had understanding as to why God allowed this problem to take place. Sometimes God put’s His children in places were they are an advocate for someone else. Sometimes your “problem” is beyond you, and is to help someone else. Let’s say the issue is on the job, and your supervisor is just being difficult. Sometimes it takes you to be the bold one and not allow that behavior to continue. Other co-workers may be scared but you may be the one God uses to bring about a change.

So when problems arise instead of going into panic mode and reacting quickly, give it some time and “sleep on it”. God can work miracles overnight.

God wants to make an appointment with YOU

2011-09-30T05:04:00.000-05:00

Even though I’m not a Jew, my church incorporates the Hebrew teachings of Jesus and we celebrate the feast days just like Christ did. “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” (Lev 23:1-2). So we celebrated Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) this Wednesday and now we are in the 10 days of Awe (this is the second day).

The 10 days of Awe is a historic time in Judaism where the children of Israel did a lot of introspection and repentance. It is a time of prayer and fasting. How fervently they sought God during this time determined what God would seal in His book concerning their lives for the upcoming year. This is the time when God makes decisions such as whether a person has success or failure, blessings or curses, life or death, etc.

However, God does not sit in Heaven like some spiritual Santa Clause and say Rhonda has been naughty this year so I’m going to give her a hard time next year. No, even if Rhonda has been naughty or made mistakes there is hope. God gives us these 10 days of fasting and prayer. I can repent and get things right with God. Repent means to turn away¸ so I can turn completely away from sin. It doesn’t mean I am not going to be tempted by it, or even make a mistake. Repentance means that I am intentionally seeking not to do those wrong things. I have completely turned away from them. I have recognized my error and put forth the effort not to walk in error. It means that I look to God to equip me with strength when I’m weak

Our Pastor teaches that the feast days are special to God. It is a time where He personally visits each and every one of His children. You know sometimes God may feel far away in outer space. However, this one of the times He promises to make an “appointment” with you.

So your success for the upcoming year is dependent upon you seeking God. You have to think on things that have occurred over your life this past year and seek God to improve your circumstances.

Some people have made life altering decisions that were not in the Plan of God. However, God has grace; there is nothing too hard for God. Whatever “mess” you got yourself in during the past year God Himself can deliver you out of it.

He just wants a heart truly turned to Him.

Stress and the importance of resting in God

2011-09-28T05:01:00.001-05:00

God has made me aware of how important it is to cast all of our cares on him and rest in Him. These couple of weeks I have been going through a lot but I wasn’t casting my cares on God. Then suddenly I started having a case of the “runs” (diarrhea) out of the blue. I wasn’t sick and I didn’t eat anything that would cause this. So I turned to God to see what was going on and He quickly let me know that it was stress. I asked God to forgive me for worry and anxiety and fully repented by actively casting my care on Him. I spoke to the situation instead of worrying about it. Instead of obsessively googling ways to resolve my problem or toiling ideas around in my head I just talked to God. And I tell you that those “runs” left.

Some other forms of stress that I have experience in the past is neck pain. Like the situation will become a “pain in the neck”. So God has been showing me that stress, whether you acknowledge it or not, takes a toll on our bodies. Here are some encouraging scriptures to meditate on to relieve stress.

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken”.

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you”.

Matthew 6:27 “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

Putting God first

2011-09-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

Deut: 6: 4-5

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

I have to admit, putting God first is an area I struggle with. With all the cares of the world and different things pulling at me constantly it is easy to put everything first but God. However, I have learned from experience that just like any relationship you have to cultivate it by spending time with God.

There are a lot of ways I spend time with God. When I wake up in the morning, I make sure I read the Bible reading for the day. I do this before I check my email, phone, or anything else. I read the reading and just meditate on it or even write down thoughts and questions that come to mind.

I then review my dream journal. I am a dreamer so I dream anywhere from 2 to 4 dreams per night. I wake up right after dreams and write them down. I don’t wait until the morning. However, when reviewing my dream journal I pray about dreams and seek God’s direction concerning them (this will be a topic I will talk about later).

I then pray. I don’t have a specific way I pray, sometimes I will pray the Psalms or I will just have a conversation with God. Sometimes I will write or type a letter to God. I am learning how to be still and hear God’s voice. It is hard for me to just “sit still” and listen for God because I will fall asleep. However, I am training myself to do so.

My best conversations with God comes when I am driving though. I love being “on the move” so when I am driving it feels so peaceful and I can just holler, cry, sing, and shout out to God.

So these are just some of the ways I keep God first. Be blessed

The Lord is able to give you much more than this

2011-09-16T07:45:00.002-05:00

I am currently reading a book about prayer and a sentence jumped out at me from 2 Chronicles 25:9 which states "The Lord is able to give you much more than this". We often live lives far below God's best because we allow Satan to trick us out of the promises of God. In this society we are taught to be independent and critical thinkers and we leave God out of the major decisions for our lives. This can cause us to be stuck in a career that is not suitable for us or joined together in UNHOLY matrimony to Mr. or Mrs "Right Now" instead of the suitable mate God has selected for us. However, there is hope. We do not have to live below God's means. All we have to do is submit to the Will of the Most High and allow Him to establish our footsteps. Pray with me.

Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus disallowing every false scheme, plan, plot, and decision made by any person, group, or entity opposing the Will of God for my life. I bind up the forces of Satan operating in my life and release the forces of the Most High God. Where I may have strayed from the right path I pray that you will forgive me and that you will intervene in a Mighty way. Father, lead me to what is right and place my feet on your Divine path. Give me the strength to say no to the enemy. Nullify his voice, actions, and plans for my life. Silence the voice of the enemy right now in the name of Jesus. I thank you for being Yahweh Gibbor "The Lord is Mighty" and being my hero. I thank you for delivering me from the wicked one. In Jesus' name I pray Amen.

Now go forth in the power of Jesus name

Writing is therapeutic

2011-07-18T17:03:00.002-05:00

Oh my, writing is so therapeutic. Just 15 minutes ago I was mad about something, or should I say someone. I started typing my feelings out and I tell you I felt a heavy load lift. I really feel better and I could feel God replace my contempt with compassion. God is allowing me to see the situation through His eyes. And I was reminded of the scripture that says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but demonic spirits in high places. He showed me that it wasn't the person that was upsetting me, but that there is a demonic entity driving the person's behavior.

The God Who Foil the Plans of the Enemy

2011-07-05T06:43:00.002-05:00

Foil: a : to prevent from attaining an end : defeat b : to bring to naught : thwart

Numbers 22: 21-22 In the morning Balaam arose, saddled his she-donkey and went with the Moabite dignitaries. 22. God's wrath flared because he was going, and an angel of the Lord stationed himself on the road to thwart him, and he was riding on his she-donkey, and his two servants were with him.

This story starts out as a ruler named Balak seeking the services of Balaam (a prophet) to curse the people of Israel. Balak begins sending dignitaries with gifts trying to entice Balaam to go, however, God does not want him involved in that situation. When Balak keeps sending dignitaries with more gifts of higher value than the previous God allows Balaam to embark on his journey. However, He doesn't want Balaamm to go. This shows how God does not control people's wills because we have free will, but He can thwart or foil any plan that opposes His Plan. He can bring that plan to nothing. So we may set out on a particular journey or path that opposes God, He can block the progress of it. It is like a child running toward the street, a parent cannot stop the child's desire to run and play in the street, but that parent can block the child from running in the street by physically refraining him.

I caught the bouquet

2011-07-03T17:21:00.003-05:00

I caught the bouquet at my cousin's wedding last night, so I got her garter put on my leg too (I know my father was trippin when the groomsman who caught the garter put it on my leg). According to tradition that means I'm next to get married.

I look forward to the Lord sending me a mate who is worthy of taking my garter off. As a virtuous woman who loves the Lord, I am waiting for a God fearing man who knows who he is. I cannot be a "helpmeet" to a man who has no since of purpose. How can I help a man fulfill his destiny if he doesn't have a clue who he is? I need a man of vision someone who wants more out of life than the status quo. I want someone who I can assist and together we can forge pass the mediocre, hum drum, run of the mill sort of life. My vision of family is a family that is really living, not just merely "existing". I desire a man who would be the leader of our home and direct our family in the way of truth. Together we can build a future and live out our destiny together. Our union can be an example of God's presence on the Earth. Then will our future seed that is awaiting the moment to come forth through my womb, will walk in righteousness. Together we can teach our children, grandchildren, great grand children, the way that is right and most beneficial.

The Candaces of Ethiopia

2011-07-03T10:39:00.006-05:00

I put my picture with one of the Candaces of Ethiopia for a reason (I just think it's cute that I favor her). About a year ago I took a DNA test to find out what part of Africa I came from. The results traced me all the way back to Ethiopia. However, probably because of famine, this particular group of Ethiopians crossed the Sahel and settled in Senegal where they were later enslaved by their own African brothers, the Brakna. When I researched present day Senegalese with my DNA I closely matched the Fulani. However, that is another post for another day so I will discuss the Candace's of Ethiopia for right now.

I first came across the term "Candace of Ethiopia" in the Bible. Acts 8:27 "So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians." However, the term "Candace" isn't a particular person's name but is the title of Ethiopian Queens (that is why the post is labeled in the plural "Candaces"). The African term for "Candace" is Kandake hence the difference in translation in the New Living version of that same verse "So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia."

Who were the Candaces or Kandakes of Ethiopia? According to Wikipedia "Kandake" was a term used to describe Queens/Queen mothers in the land of Kush/Cush. Kush or Cush as it is sometimes spelled is the African term for Ethiopia/Nubia so I will use the term Ethiopia/Nubia/Cush interchangable. The land of Cush can be found in the Bible where the garden of Eden is described in Gen 2:13. " The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush". (thank God my Pastor teaches the truth of our African Biblical Hertitage).

The Kandakes were African Warrior Queens who were written about by Herodotus, Strabo, and Diodorus. In 332 BC, when Alexander the Great was trying to invade Nubia, the ruling Kandake prepared her army for battle causing Alexander the Great to retreat and turn back to Egypt out of fear. When I read the history of my people I was intrigued.

I then studied the Fulani (who are said to be the descendants of Ethiopians) and I discovered that one reason Fulani were sold into slavery by other Africans was because they would not give up their "female clans" which offended African nations who did not believe in female rulership.

Kandake's of Ethiopia:
Pelekh Candace of Meroe (c. 345 BCE–332 BCE)
Alakhebasken (c. 295 BCE)
Shanakdakhete (177 BCE–155 BCE)
Amanikhabale (50 BCE–40 BCE)
Amanirenas (40 BCE–10 BCE)
Amanishakheto (c. 10 BCE–1 CE)
Amanitore (1–20 CE)
Amantitere (22–41 CE)
Amanikhatashan (62–85 CE)
Maleqorobar (266–283 CE)
Lahideamani (306–314 CE)

Uprooting and Replanting

2011-06-17T11:40:00.002-05:00

I am currently studying uprooting and replanting. I have a friend who the enemy has currently planted in a cloud of mediocre darkness. His "friends" are not beneficial to him, and keeps him stagnant. The environment he is in has a "low ceiling". He can not be upwardly mobile in his current environment. I don't think he is aware of the full reality of what is going on. He has a sense that something is just not quite right and he cannot be at total peace but for some reason he remains in his mess. I was praying for him this morning and I asked the Lord to just reach down and uproot him so he can be replanted somewhere else. I am frustrated for my friend, and just want to see him experience true peace. He can never experience true peace being addicted to alcohol and fornication and hanging around bad associations.

I just want to see him saved, delivered, and set free. I will begin studying how the Lord uproots and replants. What are the conditions? How do you know that a plant is viable enough to transplant? What if the new environment is too overwhelming to the plant? I will do a study on "gardening" and see what golden nuggets I can pull out of it.

Your Womb is Divine pt. 2

2011-06-13T08:34:00.004-05:00

Uterus: The uterus (womb) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum. The narrow, lower portion of the uterus is the cervix; the broader, upper part is the corpus. The corpus is made up of two layers of tissue.

In women of childbearing age, the inner layer of the uterus (endometrium) goes through a series of monthly changes known as the menstrual cycle. Each month, endometrial tissue grows and thickens in preparation to receive a fertilized egg. Menstruation occurs when this tissue is not used, disintegrates, and passes out through the vagina. The outer layer of the corpus (myometrium) is muscular tissue that expands during pregnancy to hold the growing fetus and contracts during labor to deliver the child.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5918

The above definition describes what the uterus is and how it function. A woman carries nations inside of her womb and who you let in and out of your body is very important to God. A woman's internal sexual organs is not just a dropoff location for semen. It is the birth place of life. The womb has the capability of carrying future kings and queens. Women we are life givers so do not open yourself to people God did not intend for you to spend the rest of your life with. Wait until you are married before engaging in sexual intercourse. You do not want to end up with a diseased womb, or a womb scrapped away by repeated abortions.

Your womb is divine Pt 1

2011-06-07T13:57:00.004-05:00

You may be wondering why I have a picture of a tampon wrapper (not the tampon itself, you flush that down the toilet) in the passage. You may think it is nasty, inappropriate, and ungodly. Well, I took this picture in a bathroom stall at VCU to make a point. No, that is not my tampon in the photo but you will see clearly why it is up there once I am through.

I remember as a young girl looking forward to my period. I would constantly read books that talked about breast development and menstruation. I started reading those books around the age of 10 and when I was 13 I finally got my period. I initially started out with a good outlook concerning menstruation. However, I listened to older girls and women who complained about their periods and started complaining about mine. My period became nothing but a feminine product to be discarded just like that discarded tampon wrapper in the picture. It was too long, too painful, and too bloody to say the least. I remember being on vacation and wishing my period away. It somehow went away and was 3 days instead of 5. I think it may have been a coincidence since I was young and my period was not fully regulated.

However, as I grew older I started learning the importance of the womb. In the Bible it said women were "unclean" when they menstruated. That always seemed strange to me because menstruation is a cleansing act. However, I discovered that according to the Hebrew perspective a woman was viewed unclean not because of being dirty, but because her receiving a period meant an unfertilized egg. That the potential for life to be created was loss and that was sort of like a death. Women are life givers so when that unfertilized egg dissolves so does the opportunity to bring forth life that month dissolves also. So basically the separation of the woman was viewed as being sacred.

Unlocking your greatness

2011-06-07T13:26:00.004-05:00

In science there is a theory that states that "two objections cannot occupy the same space at the same time". The Bible tells us "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3. Beloved, extraordinary and ordinary cannot walk together. That is why we must submit to God in every area of our lives. God has an extraordinary plan in store and He knows who and what we need to help us accomplish His Will. However, some of us have unequal ties to people, places, and things. God may have extraordinary purpose for our lives but we are tied to a circumstand that leaves us stuck in the same old mediocre, hum drum, run of the mill life.

This happens often in marriages. Do you know why the divorce rate is so high especially in Western society? It is because we are not allowing God to lead us to the person He has appointed for us. When Abraham sent his servant out to find a wife for Issac the servant asked the Lord for a sign " May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac" Gen 24:14. Yes beloved it is God who chooses mates, however sometimes we fall short and choose our own and end up in a sticky situation. You have to be prayerful about these matters and cannot just up and marry the "next person you meet" so to say. Yes the "next person you meet" may be that destined person, however; just because someone welcomed you back to facebook doesn't make them your spouse.

Sometimes we are working a job and God may be wanting us to create a job. He may know that it will take us to employ hundreds of people in a recession drained society.

We may even be attending a church that is not feeding us the Word as well as He would like. But because it is grandma's church or the church we were raised in, we often stay there out of being familiar. However, God may be calling you to a more progressive church where we would be spiritually fed.

So beloved I hope you enjoyed the post and prayerfully seek God in all you do.

Battle Scars

2011-06-06T16:10:00.004-05:00

Have you ever been in a situation where you loved someone, and the more loved you tried to show they more they pushed you away? You might have saw something in them that they didn't see in themselves and they devalued you because they ultimately devalued themselves. Well that can leave you feeling hurt and confused.

However, I learned that sometimes God may allow us to see the potential in people because like Marvin Sapp says, "he saw the best in me". Sometimes we see the best in a person when they only see the worse. It is like we see all that God has created them to be, but they may not be at the place where they can receive it. It can hurt us to see them in a "stifled" place in their lives however, if they are not ready to change and reach their full potential.

I am the type of person who if I see you walking through a field full of landmines, I'm not going to let you step on one and get destroyed. I'll sound the alarm. However, sometimes people reject when we share the information with them because they are not ready. Only God can enlighten them. Some times you have to take a couple of steps back and live your life.

I'm back, stronger than ever.

2011-06-06T06:26:00.001-05:00

I'm back, I've been gone for a long while but there is something I want to discuss. Concerning moving outside of God's timing.

Sex in the City fan sleeps with 1000 men! Shaking my head!

2010-07-24T06:25:00.003-05:00

The Word of God warns us to not follow the leading of the world. Romans 12:2 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect". This case of a Sex in the City fan sleeping with 1000 men in a period of 10 years is a great example.

The media is a powerful tool in the hands of the wrong person. Shrewd masterminds who create products, television shows, movies, desire to direct the behavior and spending habits of the global economy. Many of us are easily influenced by the latest fad, craze, and trend. Click on the title to read the article about the Sex in the City fan.

Struggling with Sin

2010-07-12T04:59:00.003-05:00

Romans 7: 14-25

Struggling with Sin

14 So the trouble is not with the law (God's instructions for life), for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law(God's instructions for life) is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably (find myself doing) what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law (instructions for life) with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law (instructions for life), but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

The "Almighty" Dollar

2010-06-27T14:25:00.002-05:00

I wonder why we call money the "Almighty" Dollar? Shouldn't the title "Almighty" be reserved only for one worthy of that, God?

Definition of Almighty:
Almighty is an Abrahamic term for God See Omnipotent
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almighty)

Omnipotent: unlimited power

A deity is able to do anything that is logically possible for it to do[4].
A deity is able to do anything that it chooses to do[5].
A deity is able to do anything that is in accord with its own nature (thus, for instance, if it is a logical consequence of a deity's nature that what it speaks is truth, then it is not able to lie).
Hold that it is part of a deity's nature to be consistent and that it would be inconsistent for said deity to go against its own laws unless there was a reason to do so.[6]
A deity is able to do anything that corresponds with its omniscience and therefore with its worldplan.
A deity is able to do absolutely anything, even the logically impossible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotent

Can anyone or thing but God do all of the above? Money can't buy love, cure cancer, or open a closed womb. So consider what you are saying the next time you refer to money as the Almighty Dollar.

1 Tim 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Young ladies, stop being a whore

2010-06-21T14:01:00.002-05:00

Whore:

1. The practice of accepting payment in exchange for sexual relations; prostitution.
2.
a. Unlawful sexual relations.
b. Promiscuous sex.
3. Bible Unfaithfulness to God; idolatry

Today I was correcting a young lady who was openly talking about her sexual liaisons on the internet. She went on and on about how she wants a man to perform, the size of his member, etc. I was disgusted with her talk so I corrected her by asking her is this man worthy of standing before in a white dress? Has this man walked you down the aisle. She took offense and accused me of "judging" her. I sent her an article on soul ties and she really took offense.

The Bible speaks of women who lust after men. There is an example (which is a parable about idolatry) of two sisters who were prostitutes. Ezekiel 23 which gets real explicit and talks how one of these sisters lusted after men "whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses" I was shock at how graphic that scripture is, but it is the truth.

Young ladies stop whoring yourself from man to man. One day you will want a husband to settle down with and raise a family. But who is going to want you Oholah? Who is going to want you Oholibah? Who is going to want a woman who has been ran through more than the NYC subway. Whose is going to want someone who everyone been with and seen naked? Who is going to want a woman who knows too much about what to do on her wedding night? Does a man really want that?

Soul Ties/Fantasia's song Bittersweet

2010-06-19T17:24:00.003-05:00

Today I was on the road and I happened to hear Fantasia's new song "Bittersweet". It was my first listen and my soul was moved by the passion in her voice. At the end of the song, I thanked God that I never been through a "Bittersweet" moment.

This song is a direct example of the danger of soulties. A soultie is a bond created between two people who are emotionally attached to each other. It can be sexual or non sexual. You have good soulties (husband/wife, parent/child) and bad soul ties that are created through negative friendships and relationships. This will cause your mind, will, and emotions to become wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up with another human being.

In Fantasia's song she is singing about a man that she has left because he mistreated her. However, she still thinks about him and can't quite get over them not being together. It left her soul confused and split into pieces.

"Part of me wants you, part of me don't
Part of me is missing you, part of me is gone
Part of me is saying that the love is still strong,
Part of me is letting go"

She doesn't know what she wants to do. Notice her split soul as she sings a part of me this and a part of me that. She has a multitude of thoughts racing through her mind all at the same time. She is in the valley of indecision.
"Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. But the people said nothing." 1 Kings 18:21. God wants us to be able to choose which way to go if we are in a bad relationship. He doesn't want us so hooked that becomes an idol we are unwilling to cast down.

Stay tuned for Part 2

The Importance of Writing a Life Plan

2010-05-09T07:28:00.002-05:00

Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.

A couple of years ago I embarked on a journey where I set written goals that I could mark off as I accomplished them. I did not know much about a "life plan" but since 2000 I have been on a journey to discover my purpose and to walk in it. This came after I spent my first two semesters in college wandering around aimlessly. I didn't have a sense of purpose, I didn't even no if my major was exactly the field I wanted to pursue. To top it off, I was getting the world's advice that tells you that your teenage years are meant to "wander around" in and that it is just a part of your "growing pains". However, I always thought differently. The Word of God warns us of this. Ecclesiastes 12:1,4 "Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, 'Life is not pleasant anymore'. 4Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades"

God's Provision

2010-04-26T14:20:00.003-05:00

Today, I went to work (early literacy Pre-K program) and the students had a fish tank full of tadpoles and frogs. A parent brought the tank in last week and in that short period of time we have seen some of the tadpoles transform into frogs. As we watched the miracle of life unfold, I noticed how they swam, hopped, and milled around without a care in the world. They were protected from predators, had plenty of food, and an environment that caused them to be "fruitful and multiply".

Just as God provided for the frogs, He will also provide for us. He is Yahweh Yireh, meaning He sees ahead and provide for us. He wants us to be fruitful and multiply in all areas of our lives.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve experienced those same benefits provided by God. Just as the fish tank presented an enclosed, sheltered environment, I believe the Garden of Eden was encircled by God's Spirit. Even though Adam and Eve sinned and was banished from the Garden, we can return to an Eden-like state by following God's teachings and instructions.

Our Obsession With Celebrity Culture

2010-04-18T12:43:00.002-05:00

In today's society, there is an obsession with celebrities and celebrity culture. With gossip sites such as TMZ, Mediatakeout, Bosssip, etc., we often read headlines such as "Kim Kardashian seen walking down South Beach", "Check out Rihanna's New Purse", "Is Beyonce Pregnant?". Who is the audience, and who have enough time in their own busy lives to be worried about a celebrity?

Or are we so covetous of celebrities that we live our lives through them. It reminds me of older women who love soap opera's. They schedule doctor appointment, brunch, and even church socials around the "soaps". Are we so unhappy with our own lives, or are we not busy doing the Kingdom Work of God?

Right time, Right Place, Wrong Direction

2010-04-10T06:31:00.002-05:00

This week I took a trip to NYC, to do some sight seeing. I have family there but this was my first time traveling solo. While I was waiting in the subway to catch a train to the hotel, I almost got on the wrong one. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that the doors closed in my face. Even though I was at the right place, at the right time, I almost hopped on a train going in the wrong direction.

When I got to my room I pondered on that. God started dealing with me on right time, right place, wrong direction. There are times in our walk where we are walking on the right path, unforeseen situations will come to cause us to head in the wrong direction. However, God will goes as far as shutting a door in our face to prevent us from traveling in the wrong direction. Even though we may feel hurt and confused we will later discovered that that train was headed in the wrong direction. That is the mercy of God closing doors.

The Higher You Want to Go, The Harder You Have To Be Pushed

2010-04-01T12:26:00.002-05:00

Today, I was pushing one of the preschool children on the swings. The little girl wanted me to push her higher, so I gently obliged. However, in order to push her high like she wanted I had to firmly push her. She wanted to go higher and higher, and I was getting concerned that if I pushed her any harder I would her hurt her. So I took care not to push her too hard. Then, I heard the Lord say that that is how He is with us; we often have big dreams that takes a firm, steady push to launch. And if we want to soar in God, we have to trust that no matter high hard he pushes us that it is moving us higher and higher to our dreams. Even to the point where we may feel that we are falling, we have to trust that God is standing right behind us controlling everything.

Just checking in

2010-01-25T14:38:00.001-05:00

It's been awhile since I've blogged, but I am going to strive to write more this year.

The Lord that Taketh Away

2009-11-18T05:43:00.002-05:00

Job 1:21 states that "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord". I want to expound on the ending where the Lord takes away. Sometimes in life we are tremendously blessed by God; but we often squander, mismanage, and mistreat our blessings. We may have been blessed with a mate after lamenting for years over the lack of one. We may have been blessed with that groundbreaking job,a profitable business, or even a role in ministry. However, sometimes once we receive the blessing we may slack off, or even squander it. All of a sudden blessing then slips through our fingers because we were not good stewards of it. Be careful not to mistreat the blessings of God. Handle them with care.

Prepared for the classroom, but not prepared for life

2009-11-16T19:45:00.003-05:00

Life can be very challenging and oftentimes teenagers are well prepared for the classroom, but ill prepared for life. We are told to make straight A's in our studies, but often we have failing grades in various areas of life. This has nothing to do with the teacher. The teacher behind the desk is not the primary teacher. The primary teacher will always be the parents.

I have noticed that many parents are not preparing their children for life. They make sure they complete their homework, but what about their lifework? What happened to developing our children? The Word states "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6. This doesn't mean quote a few Bible scriptures to Johnny and call it a day. Training up takes QUALITY TIME and nourishment. Children are like flowers, they bloom when in the right environment but wither when the environment lacks vital nutrients. Your child must be well prepared to make a smooth transition into adulthood. They should be so developed and sure of who they are when they leave your home that they shouldn't be clueless to their gifts, talents, and purpose at the age of 30.

Sometimes parents are so busy working to make what they believe is a good living that they replace giving of themselves to their children with giving their children things. Children would rather have YOU instead of the latest Ipod. Stop filling your children's appetite for YOU with empty things that waste away and go out of style in months (Matt: 6: 19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also).

I will end on this note...

Jeremiah 6:16

16 This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

Some things should be kept between you and God

2009-10-21T06:58:00.002-05:00

I am learning that some things should be kept between you and God. Even in prayer situations where there is a group of people, some things shouldn't be divulged especially if it will turn the listener's heart against another saint. If you don't have the appropriate person (like a Pastor/Minister) to advise you on certain situations, maybe you shouldn't share them so freely.

Why do all the "bad girls" get the attention?

2009-10-20T11:37:00.002-05:00

Young guys fascination with bad girls is something that boggled my mind in college since it was so prevalent, but now I see it more often with social networking sites. I was looking at a popular artist's twitter page, and couldn't help but noticed that about 15% of the people he was following were half naked video models. I also noticed that most of the people he replied to were the "groupie type".

I first noticed young males being fascinated with fast women when I was in college. I recall one guy having a different girl on his arm every time I saw him. Often times to compete you may switch your style of dress just to attract attention. I did that also but didn't feel comfortable about it.

However, young women, this will pass with guys for the most part. They are drawn to those women because they are easy sex, but in the long run they don't wife those women. Are you going to be the "good girl" who doesn't give it up, or the jumpoff who is being passed around like a bag of Doritos.

What can we do to encourage our Black Men to complete school and establish successful career paths?

2009-10-20T08:17:00.003-05:00

As I drive up and down the street on any given day at any given hour I see many black men my age and older roaming up and down the streets without direction. The same faces in the same places. This could be on my way to church, work, or the store. Why aren't these brothers working? Why aren't they in school? Why are they hanging on the corner?

Then I see a new breed of sistas, independent sistas by default. Women who's forced to be the mother, father, pastor, deacon, doctor, nurse, accountant, teacher and basically "every woman and man". I see many women playing the man's role and men stuck in a perpetual state of adolescence. There are even cases where women have already obtained a house, career, and began building wealth and the man moves in with her. What ever happened to the man establishing himself as a man first so he can be suited to provide for a family? Why is it backwards? Doesn't the Bible state that the man should leave his mother and father (and establish himself) and be joined to his wife Gen 2:24? Why is the woman leaving her mother and father (establishing herself) and the man is joining unto her? That's backward.

So what can we do to help our brothers become more established in society instead of under the radar, or on the other side of the law?

Has Today's Woman become Selfish and Misguided?

2009-10-16T14:21:00.004-05:00

Recently I listened to a radio program about relationships. A caller wrote an email to the station asking if it was ok to cheat on her significant other while he was being imprisoned for 5 years. Three of the four women present said yes because he shouldn't have gotten in trouble. Two of them even went further to say that you should abandon the man while he is in prison. The only male present exclaimed "You can't keep your legs close 5 years!!!" and the women said NO.

My heart was sadden by the state of women in general. We have lost our morals and what it means to be a lady. Even though the woman's movement did much to help advance our causes, it has also been taken to the extreme and started a new breed of "independent, don't need a man for nothing, Sex in the City, Living Single" type women. We have become very promiscuous and very bullheaded. We have put careers over family; and wonder why our children are running around shooting the school up, the block up, and everything in the middle up.

We must return to those seasoned ladies of old, the Proverbs 31 woman. A woman with a meek spirit, industrious hands, and gentle words.

We need to really pray for employment opportunities

2009-10-15T16:08:00.003-05:00

I was reading an article about a set of twins in New York who graduated from Rutgers University 17 months ago with a degree in Journalism. Since their graduation, they have put in over 150 applications with no results. One of the twins did luck up and found a bartending job making a good amount of money, however they are still not living their dream.

We must pray because putting in 150 applications and not even getting a single phone call is very discouraging. I know how brutal the job search is after college, and I know a few people who went years without any employment opportunities.

Lord I lift up the employment situation to you in the US. There are many people out there looking for jobs and have had no luck. They aren't sitting at home doing nothing, they are actively searching but just can't get their foot in the door. I pray for employment opportunities. I also pray for opportunities for self-employment, as well as entrepreneurship. There are people who want to start businesses, but have very little financial resources. I am asking for miracles today. I thank you that there will be an abundance of employment opportunities as well as entreprenership opportunities in the very near future. Help us to hold on to our faith in You and not let go. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

Click link to read article

Hagar's Provision

2009-10-04T14:01:00.002-05:00

We have all read the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 and 21. Hagar was Sarah's servant who was given to Abraham (by Sarah) to bring forth a child. Sarah was barren at the time and instead of waiting on God's timing she took matters into her own hands. Hagar had a son named Ishmael and Sarah had Isaac shortly thereafter. One day Sarah saw Ishmael taunting Isaac and put Ishamel and Hagar out. God agreed that this was best and Hagar was left on her own to take care of Ismael.

This story is a hard pill to swallow because Hagar was victimized on all fronts. She was used as a breeding device, and then forced to a life of single motherhood. However, God did not allow here to go into the wilderness without provision. When her own substenance ran out she sat down and cried unto God with despair. All of a sudden God provided her with water that was there all along, but she was too hurt to see.

God is still the providing God that He was in Hagar's day. There are times in our life where we are thrown into a situation due to no fault of our own. Our provision runs out and we see no way to have our needs met. However, God steps in and provides for us. And sometimes our provision is right before our faces but because of circumstances we fail to see it.

Black People We Need To Stop This....

2009-09-23T08:57:00.002-05:00

Black people, why is it every time someones favorite rapper gets locked up we want to scream out 'free them'. Lil Boosie, a Louisanna rapper, was recently sentenced to 2 years for a drug and weapon charge. Now people are screaming "Free Lil Boosie". When is this nonsense going to stop?

First it was "Free T.I.", then "Free Gucci Mane", and now it is "Free Lil Boosie". These rappers better be glad their prison sentences weren't longer. These are not first time offenders, but habitual offenders. I got to call a spade a spade. If you did the crime, you must do the time.

I "betta not" see a Free Lil Boosie t-shirt either. It is especially time for our black men to take responsibility for their actions. Especially being a celebrity, you can't be living the hood life carrying a literal gun shop and drug house in your car. Haven't you learned anything from "The Wire".

Enemies in your own Household Pt3

2009-09-21T05:19:00.002-05:00

Submission is a word that many people are allergic to. We as a culture, especially in the U.S., is used to being a dominant world power. It is ingrained in us, consciously and subconsciously, that we should always be in a position of power. However, Christ teaches us differently, in order to lead you must be a servant to the people. Just as Christ washed the disciples feet, we must be willing to serve one another. Being a submissive vessel does not mean that one is weak. It means that the person is humble, sensitive, and has the fear of God within them.

Often within households family member have "power struggles" with one another. The kids may be unruly, the husband may abuse the headship position he has, and the wife may feel that she can run the household best since she manages it closely. We must not fall into this trap of wanting to be in control, remain humble and willing to serve one another.

Enemies in your own Household Pt2

2009-09-16T08:30:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I posted the first part of my series "Enemies In Your Own Household". Let's look at the word strife. Strife can be describe as the lack of agreement or harmony, bitter conflict, violent conflict. How can two walk together unless they agree? Amos 3:3 In life it is normal not to agree about some things. However, you must work together to iron out issues that causes strife.

What causes strife?

I believe one of the main causes of strife is Pride. Pride is the desire to want to look big in your own eyes, as well as in the eyes of another person. Pride is having an unhealthy preoccupation about what people think of us, what they say about us, trying to kiss up to 'powerful' people, and trying to outshine everyone. It is our mistaken belief that we are more than what we really are. Pride is wanting to have our way, and get the last word.

The Word says that pride can lead a person's downfall and even their destruction. 2 Chronicles 26:16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride breeds quarrels and causes disgrace. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

To combat pride we must have a spirit of humility. Humility is being meek (patient and gentle), modest (not showing off) submissive (willing to follow leadership/advice).

Next post I'm going to discuss humility in more detail.

Enemies in your own household Part 1

2009-09-15T11:01:00.004-05:00

For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a man's enemies are the members of his own household (Micah 7:6, Matt 10: 35-36). Everytime I think of this verse of scripture a scene from the Color Purple flashes in my mind. It was the scene where Sohpia says she never thought she had to fight in her own house after Harpo beats her.

Sometimes we have enemies in our own house that are thorns in our flesh. You may have recently got saved and now your house has more drama than a soap opera. Your mother in law, and sometimes your own mother might be jealous of you. Wives and husbands may be in competition with one another. However, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places(Ephesians 6:12).

We may even have to physically distance our self from that situation, however, we always seek God first for direction. I will be speaking more on this issue in tomorrow's post.

15 year old pregnant girl shot at the bus stop

2009-09-14T14:19:00.003-05:00

It is really praying time. I read on the internet about a 15 year old pregnant girl shot at the bus stop. Her baby was delivered and the last I heard was stated to be in critical condition. My prayers goes out to the family of this young lady, and I pray they catch the killer. This happened in Charlotte, NC by the way.

Caster Semenya

2009-09-13T14:53:00.002-05:00

My heart really goes out to Caster Semenya, the South African runner who has been having an ordeal concerning her gender. For those who have not heard, she won a race and her gender was brought into question. Some leaked tests claimed that she is inter sexed which has brought Semenya much shame. Male, female, or in between she is still God's child and the media should not put this young girl on display to be crucified for something that is beyond her control.

When you do everything right....and things still go wrong

2009-09-09T08:16:00.002-05:00

Last week in Bible Class the teacher was discussing guilt. One of the statements he made really stuck with me. "In life there are situations we face where we did everything right, we did it by the book, and things still go wrong". We sometimes feel guilty and get into self blame. We often blame God, "I did everything right Lord, and this still happened".

This happens alot in relationships. You gave the person the world, but they still dumped you. You may have been pregnant; done everything by the book, ate right, rested well, but your baby miscarried. You went on a job interview; was perfectly qualified for the position, gave your best interview, but still did not get hired.

All of these things will have you full of self pity and doubt. I don't understand these matters, and there are some matters that only God understands. However, just as He spun creation into existence, He's in control of every detail of our lives. We may fall on our faces every once in a while but doesn't mean that we have sinned, or in bad standing with God. It doesn't mean He no longer cares about us. Our lives is not just some chaotic ball of energy, God views our lives as being precious to Him. When terrible things happen in spite of our efforts we are often confused and discouraged. We will question God and His love for us. But know that these tests are a trying of our faith. Satan's main job is to attempt to separate us from God's presence eternally. We must not let him do that saint's, we must lean and depend on God through the good times and the bad. Stay focused on God, and remember, prayer changes things.

Failure to Launch....in Life

2009-09-09T08:09:00.004-05:00

Last week I was flipping through the channels and looked at this movie called "Failure to Launch". It was about a 35 year old single man still living at home with his parents. He hung around with other slackers his age still living at home. They had no intent of moving out and was comfortable staying where they were.

Sometimes in life we encounter a failure to launch. This could be in our spiritual walk, personal relationships, career, etc. We get to a place where we are stuck. Sometimes our normal development is hindered. We may have intents of being successful in something, do everything right, and things still go wrong. However, with God all things are possible; just get up, dust yourself off, and try again.

Perseverance

2009-09-08T09:19:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago I started research on my family tree. I began researching my African, Native, and European roots. The European roots were the easiest to trace, and only took a few weeks to establish their place of origin. The Native American roots were more difficult, but at least I have enough history to know my tribe and clan and establish a place of origin. However, the African roots were and still is the most difficult side to trace. I have no place of origin, it seems as though people just fell out of the sky, and I was becoming discouraged about it. I know that their are DNA tests out there (thank God for that), but I would just love to know their story. Also, many of my African roots are intertwined with the Native Americans that they lived among, so establishing their place of origin has been difficult. I was looking through courthouse records and saw women with no father named on birth records which was even more frustrating.

However, God reminded me of having the spirit of perseverance. This week I had a breakthrough in finding a member of an extended branch of my family who is doing research also. This relieved me that I now have another piece of the puzzle.

Some experiences can cost you your life

2009-08-31T08:31:00.005-05:00

I was listening to a radio show this morning and the topic was Bad Boys vs. Good Boys. One of the hosts, a self-proclaimed relationship expert, stated that every woman needs to experience a bad boy at least once in her lifetime (preferably in her 20's). She reasoned that they would appreciate good men after being "dogged out". WHAT FOOLISHNESS!!! This is the world's way of thinking, the "trial and error" theory. However, God's thoughts are much higher than our own (Isaiah 55:6-9) and we must not abandon the teachings of our elders. With obediance to the Word of God, we won't have to make the same mistakes other people made.

Unfortunately, you even see this kind of thinking in the Kingdom of God. How many testimonies have a theme about being with the wrong person, addicted to drugs, etc. And at the end the person says that God took them through all of that in order for them to go to their next level, or to give them a testimony. What does some of this nonsense we PUT ON OURSELVES, have to do with a "next level"? Your "next level" comes from obeying God's Word. Did Yeshua have to rob someone and get arrested to go to his "next level" or to have a testimony? We better stop putting our own foolishness on God, your testimony lies in your obedience to the word of God. It does not have to always be that story brought on by our own rebellion and hardheadedness. Yes, I've been hard headed too, but can I at least spare my future generations drama and time wasted?

Picture by: JaseMan
Site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bargas/3695903512

Asserting yourself

2009-08-29T04:57:00.002-05:00

I am so proud because I asserted myself in a particular situation this week. I used to be the kind of person that didn’t like to say no to people. This is because I do not like for people to become offended at me. So I would just say yes just to keep the peace. However, as I am maturing in Christ, I don’t feel that way anymore. A person asked me a favor that I was not willing to fulfill because it was putting me in an uncomfortable bind. I simply told them no, and as they kept trying to convince me to do the favor I kept saying no and stood by my word. I have to admit I felt really strange afterward and felt the need to justify my answer to them as well as myself. However, you do not need to justify your "no" to anyone, people should just respect your wishes.

I said all of this to say, don’t ever feel like you have to do a favor for someone if it doesn’t agree with your gut instinct. I do not care who it is. We as believers can be easily manipulated because we feel that it's our God given duty to come to the rescue, or be a person’s personal cheering squad. God will never put you in a position where you will take a fail. You can not help anyone if you need some help/deliverance in that particular area also. God will use you in a situation, once you have become victorious over the circumstance yourself. Will an army send out soldiers that have not completed basic training just to fill a need? No, because they would literally be suicide. Remember that the show goes on without you. You don’t have to overextend yourself. Next week I will be discussing "Self-Preservation".

Prayer Request

2009-08-26T12:30:00.002-05:00

Leave your prayer requests in the comment section.

Ted Kennedy died...

2009-08-26T12:18:00.004-05:00

As I woke up this morning to learn of the death of Ted Kennedy, I could not help but notice that quite a few celebrities have passed away this year. I know that people die everyday, but every time I turn on the TV I hear about someone passing.

From Michael Jackson to Ed McMahon and countless others, these deaths are making me more aware of our short time on Earth and the need to carry out the Will of God for our lives. We don't know if tomorrow's promised to us. So make it your business to seek God for your lifeplan, and operate in it.

Waiting on God for a mate Pt.3

2009-08-26T04:09:00.002-05:00

When will I get married?

I would not concern myself with agonizing thoughts of "When will I marry?" . According to the Census, (http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2008.html) most people get married in their 30’s (look at table A1, ALL races under above link). God is practical and He knows all about your biological clock, and need for companionship. Don’t fret over talks of “advanced maternal age”. That concept is man’s calculation but did that stop Sarah from having a child?

I would be concerned more with the “how”. How will I get married is important? This does not refer to wedding planning or reception hosting either. The definition of how is “In what manner or way; by what means, in what state or condition, to what extent, amount, or degree, for what reason or purpose” (http://www.answers.com/topic/how). Let’s hone in on the “in what state or condition, and for what reason or purpose. What state or condition needs to be nurtured in me right now that would better prepare me for marriage and motherhood? What is the reason and purpose for my marriage? What life work does God want my marriage to accomplish?

I want to leave you with this scripture, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Picture by: suchitra prints(Away for a few days) http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/

Photo link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/2574447715/

Waiting on God for a Mate P2

2009-08-25T03:56:00.005-05:00

Immaturity

Immaturity may be another reason we are waiting on God for a mate. Either we are not fully developed in a particular area of our life, or our partner is not fully developed in a particular area of their life. You may look around and see other people who seems not to have what it takes to sustain a marriage, but are married. Maybe they married without God's consultation. It is easy to find someone who will marry you tomorrow if the "passion" is there. However, we as believers should not make critical decisions based on our emotions. If you are truly waiting on the Lord to send you a mate you have to trust His judgment and timing.

Circumstances

We have no idea what circumstances God needs to smooth out in order to bring forth a marriage. Just as a mother would not give her child raw meat to eat, the Lord will not allow us to marry under "raw" circumstances. There is a time and season for everything Ecclesiastes 3:1. God waits until circumstances are fully ripe and developed before bringing forth His Will.

Don't compare self to others and Seek God yourself

Never compare yourself to others when waiting on God for a mate. God's ways are higher than our own ways (Isa 55:9). When we compare ourselves to others we often feel that we don't measure up or that the other person does not measure up. This leaves us with thoughts such as "if they can get married, why can't I? I come to church more than they do, they have a bad attitude, they have three 'babies daddies'". Both thoughts can lead to jealousy or envy. However, we do not know what that person had to endure and overcome with God's strength. We also need to realize that God will not put more on us than we can bear (1 Cor 10:13). God allows some people to marry at a time that might seem "unreasonable" to us in order to bring stability and peace into their lives. I have seen people who were struggling with kids, loneliness, and a host of other issues receive a mate who seemly rescued them from the madness they were in. God's merciful like that. Christianity often promotes this teaching that two people have to be complete, whole, and perfect as individuals before God will allow them to marry. As if you are somehow promoted from singleness to marriage, like we're in grade school. However, I beg to differ. I have seen people, especially women, who appeared to be rescued by their mate. I have seen countless times of a single mother struggling to raise her kids, and provide for them and a Godly man comes into her life and helps her. This is very similar to what Boaz did to Ruth. Ruth was broken when she met Boaz. God used him to uplift her in her time of need.

Stay tuned for Pt.3

Picture by: suchitra prints(Away for a few days) http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/

Photo link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/2574447715/

"Thug Lovin" Pt 2 (Caution Vulgar Language at the Very End)

2009-08-24T07:05:00.003-05:00

In this video the late Tupac talks about being rejected by women because he was "too nice". I know that women of all races love bad boys, but I want to particularly address black women where this attitude runs amuck in our community. Watch the video and leave your feedback.

Waiting on God for a Mate Pt 1

2009-08-24T06:24:00.006-05:00

Waiting on God for a mate can be one of the most agonizing challenges ever. In one of my previous blogs, I emphasized having an enjoyable life in your singleness. However, let's touch on some of the realities of waiting and specifically why we are waiting.

WHY ARE WE WAITING FOR SO LONG JUST TO RECEIVE A MATE?

One of the main reasons we are waiting for so long to receive a mate is because today's culture is different than in previous times. Years ago men and women were reared to marry young and start families. Women didn't have the freedoms we enjoy now, and many women could not compete with men in education and career. Women were also more moral and did not have sexual exploits as a whole before marriage. However, things have changed, for the good and for the bad. It's wonderful that women can become educated, establish careers, own and operate companies, and exercise our gifts and talents . Unfortunately, some of us may become overly driven and don't put that same time and effort into securing a mate. If you don't have balance, some men may find it as a turn off. They may not even realize that you desire a mate. The Proverbs 31 woman was very industrious, however she had balance.

Economical

Uncertain economical times is making home ownership and financial security more difficult than it was in previous years. People who would usually be excited by marriage and make good partners, may now be turned off by money issues surrounding marriage. Some never feel that it is the "right time" for marriage, so they temporarily "opt out" of marriage until they feel they are established. This leaves more single people without a mate for longer periods of time.

Picture by: suchitra prints(Away for a few days) http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/

Photo link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chitrasudar/2574447715/

Jesus is Lord of our Life, not a Genie in a Bottle

2009-08-23T11:39:00.005-05:00

In my last post I spoke about Satan planting thoughts of laziness in God's children. One area where mainstream religion has clearly erred is in the area of work. Many people feel that hard work is punishment or even the result of the "Curse of Adam". However, was Adam really cursed? Did God give work as a "curse"?

Genesis 3:17 clearly states that it was not Adam that was cursed, but the ground. This meant that it would be harder for him to reap food from the Earth because it would not produce abundantly like it did before the sin. Genesis 5:29 and 8:21 also speaks of Adam and his descendents toiling the Earth vigorously. We see that Adam toiled the Earth before he sinned, as Gen 2:15 stated that God placed him in the garden and he was to "dress and keep it".

However, as a result of sin, we have to work harder to get just the basic of necessities. We may have to work two jobs just to make ends meet instead of one. We may not have family inheritance, have to work 3x harder just to secure one for our future generations. To remedy this we need to realize that working is not a sin, and God is not our genie. We must understand that it may take more toil and longer hours to reach our goals, but God will lead us in the right direction if we follow him. We may have a few extra bumps in the road, but God is faithful to get us over them. We can't use laziness as an excuse to justify getting what we want from God without any effort on our part.

“Is this Satan Talking?”

2009-08-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had an “inspired” idea that you know only the Lord could’ve given you? However, a thought or even a word from an outsider plants a seed of opposition? Well that very thing happened to me recently. God gave me a creative idea and someone gave me an idea that was the exact opposite. But here is the kicker, they said that God told them to give me the idea.

As I pondered the new idea, I noticed certain things weren’t adding up. First of all, the message contained a theme of laziness which the Word of God speaks against. This person was sincere in their intention, but they were wrong. They were basically telling me that God said I did not have to apply hard work and diligence to my dreams but I could sit back and watch the Lord work on my behalf. Yes, it is true God does work on our behalf, but it takes action and effort on our part. This thinking was in direct contrast with scripture “faith without works is dead” James 2:17. God is not in the business of moving Heaven and Earth for you while you just sit back and sip lemonade. God is not our slave.

So when someone gives you a “Word” always test it 1 John 4:1. Even if the Word sounds sweet to your ears, still test it against the Word of God.

Kelis (click link)

2009-08-21T11:52:00.002-05:00

Don't know how credible this is, but read how much money she is currently requesting for child support from Nas.

What do you think about this? Would you label Kelis a gold-digger?

"Thug Lovin"

2009-08-21T06:58:00.004-05:00

As I stated earlier, I am currently conducting research on "The Black Woman's Struggle to Find a Mate". I want to discuss younger black women's love for "Thugs". We all remember the lyrics to MC Lyte's song "Ruffneck" where she exclaims "I need a ruffneck/ I need a dude with attitude/ Who only needs his fingers with his food"... C'mon Lyte, a dude that eats his food with his fingers? But the part that stood out to me the most was when she said how she likes them "Pissin' in corners/Doing 80 by funeral mourners/Showing little respect Now that's a ruffneck". Now if our women where thinking that in the late 80's early 90's era no wonder we're struggling trying to marry our Black men.

This attitude hasn't changed because we can't forget Destiny Child's "Soldier" song. When I first heard it I liked it mainly because of the beat. But when you listen closer what is the message? "If his status ain't hood/I ain't checkin' for him/ Betta be street if he lookin' at me/ I need a soldier..." Now I ain't going to lie the song is real catchy and I found myself occasionally singing "We like dem boys up top from the BK{BK}/ Know how to flip that money three ways {Three ways". But what's the message of Soldier? What do they mean when they say he got to know how to "flip that money three ways?" I doubt they're are talking about investing in the stock market, they are singing about flipping the money in the streets.

So what's your feedback on "Thug Lovin" when it comes to young black women.

Picture by: Gene Hunt (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raver_mikey/)

Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/raver_mikey/3191965485/

New Research Site

2009-08-21T06:47:00.002-05:00

I have a research site dedicated to the projects that I desire researching. It is http://sites.google.com/site/rhoadiesresearch/home. You can also find it under "links".

The Black Woman's Struggle to Find a Mate

2009-08-19T05:43:00.004-05:00

The Black Woman's Struggle to Find a Mate has been on my heart heavily for the past two years. I've often wondered why I would see women in my community sometimes in middle age (50yrs+) never married. This is especially disturbing when I see this trend among black women in the Body of Christ. Women that knows God, serves God, and appears to love God with all of their being. Why are so many Black women single? I will be seeking God for answers as I explore this in further detail.

I'm back

2009-08-19T05:40:00.003-05:00

Hey world! I'm back and I will be posting more blogs on a consistent basis.

What is Peace in God?

2009-07-10T05:04:00.000-05:00

I believe that Peace in God is following the dream(s) God placed in your heart, your true calling. I don’t think it is walking around with warm fuzzy feelings, because our mood changes from day to day. However, when you follow your true calling; whether you are a teacher, doctor, housewife, mother, or lawyer I believe true peace comes from doing what God has called you to do. And remember whatever God called you to do; it will always impact someone else. You may be helping kids by teaching them, being the best “soccer mom” to your next generation, donating computers to a impoverished school, or defending someone wrongly accused of murder. Only when you walk in your calling will you find true peace in God.

Tuscarora Pow Wow

2009-05-25T15:53:00.005-05:00

These photos are from the Tuscarora Pow Wow I attended in North Carolina. I have Tuscarora ancestry. They were the 6th Nation to join the Iroquois Confederacy.

It is Not Enough to Just Change our Minds

2009-04-05T12:26:00.002-05:00

I know that we have heard how we have to change our mind according to God’s Word in Romans 12:2. But let’s take that concept a step further. We also must change our actions. Our mental renewal is going to be nothing if we don’t have right actions behind it. The Word states James 2:20 that faith without works is dead. We exercise faith by doing, not just sitting around wishing, hoping, and believing. Faith has an action step, not just the inactive step of believing. When God says that “faith without works is dead" then we have to take a closer look at the word works. Works is the plural form of work which can be defined as a noun or a verb. As a noun work is defined as labor, occupation, and a measure of energy expended in moving an object. As a verb work is defined as “1. to do a specific task by using physical or mental powers, 2. to set into action, 3. to shape, form, or improve a material”. So let’s insert these definitions into the verse.

“Faith without (a measure of energy used in moving an object, situation, or unpleasant thing) is dead.”
“Faith without (completing a specific task by using physical or mental powers is dead)”
“Faith that (is not set into action) is dead.
“Faith that is not (shaped, formed, or used to improve a situation) is dead.

Why do we procrastinate?

2009-04-05T12:18:00.003-05:00

The main reason I procrastinate is because I am faced with a situation that I don’t want to deal with. It may be something I view as a negative, overwhelming issue such as a test for a difficult class, a dire financial situation, or going to the doctor. Instead of just facing that situation in a timely fashion I put it off until I am “ready”. That is what I tell myself, when I am ready to deal with this issue I will deal with it, but right now I have other things to do. Sometimes it's a situation that's to dreadful to face so I tell myself that I need to be “mentally prepared”. However, those are just excuses for me procrastinating. And I notice that I only deal with the issue when I am forced to. It is not until that situation is “dealing” with me that I “deal” with it.

However, it is easy to just face your fear/situation/dreadful circumstance knowing that God is on your side. He is a facilitator and let's look at the definition of the word facilitator. Facilitator is defined as "someone who makes progress easier". So look at God as being the Ultimate facilitator making hard issues in your life easier to confront.

What exactly is patience?

2009-04-02T10:37:00.001-05:00

The Bible speaks of having patience/longsuffering but often times we have a “Western” mindset when it comes to the definitions of those words. We think of something passive such as sitting and “waiting” on the Lord to move. However, since the Bible is a Hebrew book we must look up the Hebrew definition of longsuffering. The Hebrew word for longsuffering is rav sevel. The root word is sevel which means endurance or the ability to exert yourself for a long period of time. Endurance is also connect to the word permanence which means steady in purpose.

Let’s apply this to life. Maybe you just graduated from college and desire a job as a management consultant. However, you find the job market to be very competitive and your first few months of job searching have been sour. You gave 110% in your interviews but still were denied the job. What do you do? Do you give up and quit? Do you say ‘Well maybe God doesn’t want me to go into management, should I try marketing instead’? Or do you just keep plugging along until you get it. I strongly believe that you should continue at it until you get the management consulting position. Now you may need to use wisdom and start off as a consultant assistant but you don’t throw in the tower, or assume that God is “closing the door” just because of a few rejection letters. You endure by exerting yourself even if it is for a long period of time. You exercise permanence by being steady in purpose (stay focus on the goal of being a management consultant and seek a position that will cause you to grow in that area). Don’t get side-tracked.

Remember that James 2:20 “faith without works is dead”

Sometimes you have to say "Thanks, but no Thanks"

2009-03-28T17:36:00.003-05:00

Just this morning I was talking to someone about wanting to go back to grad school and majoring in Sociology. My bachelor's degree was in Psychology and they were trying to encourage me to stay in that, but I know that God is leading me in the direction of Sociology. So they worked at a University and gave me their contact info in case I changed my mine (their University did not offer Master degrees in Sociology). This taught me that sometimes in life you have to say "Thanks but no thanks" because only God knows what is best for you and only you know where God is leading you. So be steadfast in all you do and be confident that you are obeying the voice of God in all matters.

Let My People Go, That They May Serve Me

2009-01-30T07:19:00.002-05:00

"And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me." Exodus 10:3

This morning I was reading the passage in Exodus 10 and this verse stood out to me in particular. The last part "let my people go, that they may serve me" shot up at me like a lightening bolt. So I decided I would blog about it.

There are "Pharaoh's" in our lives that prevent us from serving God. These "Pharaoh's" are sometimes family members, friends, our job, or even certain church activities and projects that is for the purpose of uplifting man instead of God. We have to actively seek God's face through study, fasting, and prayer to make sure that we are truly serving God and not "Pharaoh".

Now that we have an African American First Family…

2009-01-28T12:18:00.003-05:00

I believe that the standards have been raised for the Black family. We must come up to our rightful place in this world. We can no longer blame our problems solely on the “white man”. We can no longer allow our brother’s, uncle’s, son’s, etc to walk around with their pants sagging to the ground. We can no longer allow our women to have baby after baby out of wedlock. We can’t have rappers talking about bitches , hoes, and niggas. We have a model American family who just happens to be Black as an exceptional example. What do you think?

Happy Inauguration Day!!!

2009-01-20T17:22:00.002-05:00

Change has truly arrived to the U.S. as we sworn in our first African American President, Barack Obama. Congradulations President Obama, First Lady Michelle, Malia and Sasha.

History Has Been Made

2008-11-09T07:53:00.002-05:00

History has been made, and the bar set for people of African American descent has been raised. Now that we have President-elect Barack Obama, a man of African descent, as the leader of our nation we have no excuses. We can no longer use the "race card" as a reason to say we have been held back. Black men must get off of the corners and into the classrooms. Black women must continue to be supportive of our men and their dreams as Michelle Obama was.

Why We Fail in Life pt. 3

2008-09-04T10:26:00.002-05:00

The third reason for failing in life is giving up too easily. It is easy to accept defeat, and quit. However, it is more challenging to hang in there and press on until we get the victory.

Let's say that you are on a job search. You have been out of work for months and companies have not been responding to your applications. The few interviews you have gotten always end up with a letter saying "Thank you for your time, but we have selected another candidate. Feel free to apply again later in the future." You have tried your hardest to make a good impression, studied all the interview tips, but you seem to be going in circles. In cases such as job hunting, it is easy to become discouraged. This is because your livelihood is being directly affected. You can feel it when you barely have enough gas in your car to go down the street, or when your bills are overdue. You are hounded by bill collectors and have a dark cloud of oppression hanging over your head. You may even blame God and think that He is being unfair. "God if you really loved me You will make everything easier. Why is it so hard?" you may ask. Well it is hard. Life is hard. It is even hard when you live in a capitalistic society where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer. However, God promises to give you grace and mercy, to overcome life challenges.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through him who strengthens me

Practical Application of Biblical Principles

2008-09-02T08:40:00.002-05:00

This is a new section that I am adding to my blog. Oftentimes, we do not see victory in our lives because we do not know how to practically apply biblical principles. We have a hard time getting what is in the Bible off of the pages and into our lives. So hopefully this new section will be of great value.

Lack of Vision

2008-09-01T09:04:00.003-05:00

As I continue the discussion on "Why we fail in life"; I believe another reason is because of a lack of vision. Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). The word perish is "para" in Hebrew which means to loosen, expose, dismiss, go back, set at naught, refuse, perish.

Many of us have gotten away from simple goal setting. As children we are taught that we should set goals in order to accomplish our dreams. However, as grow into adults we abandon the practical teachings of our youth. We sometimes get stuck in a dead end job because we are trying to make ends meet. We forget about the dreams we once had for our future. So I encourage you to envision where you want to see yourself 5 years from now. What do you have to do to get there?

Why We Fail In Life pt. 2

2008-08-19T05:18:00.002-05:00

Consistent: possessing firmness or coherence, marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity

Diligent: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort

Hit and Miss: sometimes successful and sometimes not: not reliably good or successful

Ignore: to refuse to take notice of

Overlook: to look past, miss, ignore

Miss: to fail to hit, reach, or contact. To fail to obtain, comprehend, sense, or experience

Neglect: to give little attention or regard to, to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness, ignore, overlook, slight

Usually if we are failing in life, we are having issues with consistency and diligence. We have to be diligent about attending to all areas of our lives. When I first started going to church I was really diligent about going to prayer. Though I prayed everyday at the church, I was seeing little personal progress in my life. After careful thought, I discovered that there was an area in my life that I had been neglecting. I left that area unattended to because I believed that God was going to "maintain" it for me, since I was praying. However, God gives you the power to maintain all of the areas in your life.

So my prayer for you today is that you will be consistent and diligent. Have you ever wonder how unsaved people can be so successful in certain areas of their lives, though they are not apart of God's Kingdom. Well it is because of diligence and consistency. The Bible says that a "diligent hand will prosper", not a "saved hand". Those are principles that many unsaved people have mastered and leads them to success.

Do not test God

2008-08-08T06:12:00.006-05:00

After I typed my other post, I started looking at some of God's principles found in the Word. One that stood out to me was "Not to put the word of God to the test." (Deut. 6:16) What does this really mean?

I believe that we test God in many ways unknowingly. We test Him everytime we doubt Him. We test Him everytime we think or say something along the lines of "If this is You then make such and such happen." We even test Him by doing foolish things like spending our "bill money" at the mall and then expecting God to send a miracle our way. I also believe that some of these "faith seeds" that people sow is putting God to the test. If you know that you must pay your rent, do not "sow" it into someone's ministry. It is not common sense, and it is putting God to the test (since you will expect him to perform a miracle as a reward for you sowing your rent money). I did that once with "bill money" and I did not receive a miracle from it, just heartache and embarassment.

What are other ways that we test God without knowing it?

WHY WE FAIL IN LIFE

2008-08-08T06:12:00.002-05:00

This morning I was praying and asking God, "Why do we fail in life?” I was looking at areas of my life that I was failing in, and wondered why His Children failed so much? We have the power of Almighty God on our side. I then started thinking about algebra. In order to solve the algebra problems, there are certain formulas that you will need to use. Not only did you have to know the correct formula, you also had to know how to apply it. You can have the correct formula, but if you insert it in the wrong place your answer will be wrong.

Good examples of people who succeed in life by using God's formula are the Jews. They excel no matter what the persecution is. That is because they use God's Word, His teachings, and instructions. Here is a link to the Godly principles that the Jews have used to succeed in life.
http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm

Sample Article

2008-07-09T09:37:00.005-05:00

The Culinary Chef
Written by: Rhonda Jones

A career as a culinary chef can be a very rewarding experience. Today we see an abundance of television shows showcasing this exciting craft. However, it is not all glamorous. It takes a lot of dedication to become a chef.

Educational Requirements

There are not many educational requirements for entry level cooking positions, but specialized training is required when seeking advanced career opportunities. Culinary training programs offer many options for aspiring chefs. An aspiring chef can enroll in a two or four-year degree program. There are also programs offering specialized training for chefs who want to teach their trade to others, or those who want to focus on one culinary skill such as baking. Each program includes apprenticeship opportunities which combine classroom instruction with occupational experience. Chefs have to learn a variety of skills that goes beyond the kitchen. Some of them are trained in management; which includes courses in computer software, accounting, as well as food service management. The degree program you select depends on the career track you desire to pursue.

Work Environment and Job Duties

Chefs work in many different environments. Some work in small restaurants while others choose university cafeterias. A chef’s job goes beyond just cooking food. They must be very skilled in measurements, be able to work alongside kitchen staff, and some chefs even have supervisory responsibilities.

The job duties of chefs can vary depending on their place of employment. Some chefs work at a general restaurant where they have to cook various types of foods. Others may work in a more specialized setting such as a seafood lounge. However, all chefs are expected to know how to prepare, cook, and season the food they are serving. They are often creative and know how to present food in an appetizing way. They also have to inspect cooking utensils, and make sure that the stoves, ovens, and grills are in excellent condition.

There are also many different types of culinary chefs. Those with supervisory positions are called head chefs. Head chefs supervise, direct, and coordinate meal preparation. They are also responsible for menu planning, deciding appropriate serving sizes, and ordering necessary kitchen and food supplies. They have great communication skills and know how to lead their team. Many restaurant owners want to have unique recipes that will keep them on the competitive edge. There are special research chefs that create unique recipes for these clients. Families desire the services of personal and private chefs who come into their home and personally prepare meals.

Conclusion

This career field is growing with over 3 million chefs working today in the United States(1) . This number will continue to rise as the demand increases. The average income of a chef is quite moderate and ranges from $27,560 to $46,460 a year(2) .

Endnotes

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm (visited July 01, 2008).
2 Ibid

A Direct Connection Between Poverty and Sin

2008-07-09T05:21:00.003-05:00

For the last couple of weeks, I noticed that my money started acting "funny". Freelance projects were few and far between, the condition of my car started deteriorating, and my pocketbook was being hit hard. I was wondering what kind of "test" was God giving me. However, I woke up this morning and during prayer discovered that these sudden financial woes were not a "test of my faith", but a result of secret sin.

I had been committing secret sin in the area of my thought life and emotions. I thought that since I am not physically hurting anyone that my sin was somehow overlooked and not that serious. I even thought that "God knew my heart" and used that as an excuse to keep sinning.

However, what starts in your mind will one day manifest in your actions. And I am so glad that He chastised me so I can see my faults and correct them.

Now accepting freelance writing and data entry projects

2008-07-06T05:22:00.002-05:00

I am now accepting freelance writing and data entry projects for the month of July.

Rant of the Day

2008-07-03T08:27:00.003-05:00

Here is an article (click title) that discusses job qualification tests. I have ran into quite a bit myself. I recall one job asking me to describe a picture of a drawing (and this was for a customer service position). I do believe in skills tests, but not all of this unnecessary stuff that we have to go through. I understand that jobs are scarce and there is a lot of competition; however, what alternatives can employers use?

Earth crying out

2008-07-01T08:21:00.002-05:00

I read an interesting article today (click on the title). It spoke of how satellites can pick up a crying sound being emitted from the Earth. Scientists called it an "awful" sound. This reminds me of the bible saying how all creation moans, waiting for God to deliver it (Romans 8:20-22).

Ideal life vs Present Reality

2008-06-28T10:48:00.002-05:00

Have you ever been at a place in your life where you are stucked between two worlds? Stuck between the ideal place God would have for you vs. what is existing at the present moment (your present reality). That can be a very frustrating place because some days you seem to be so close that you can touch your dreams, and then the very next day you experience a "reality check" that seems to knock you off balance.

During these times I like to wrap myself in music. There is this song called "Closer" by Goapele that seems to calm me during these times. She is singing about being closer to her dreams and it always soothe me.

Rejection, Could it be a Blessing?

2008-06-21T09:00:00.002-05:00

My question this morning is about rejection. Can it sometimes be a blessing? Have you ever been rejected (relationship, employment, school, etc) only to find out later that it was God protecting you from whatever you were seeking? Or maybe God saw something better which was more compatible with your gifts, talents, and personality. Sometimes a thing that we seek can look so good on the outside, but only God knows the intimate details of a situation. Tell me your stories of being "rejected" and later finding out that you were really "protected".

Men with stay at home wives go further career wise

2008-06-07T07:46:00.009-05:00

There is an article that states that men with stay at home wives go further in their careers. I believe that it is because they are the primary breadwinner, and that they have to aim high to secure the best positions. They are motivated by that necessity to achieve since they are caring the breadwinner's weight. If you click on the title, there is a link to the article.

Next time I will discuss my beliefs concerning an industrious woman. I believe that women should be resourceful and profit off of their God-given talents. Women should be able to make money not out of necessity, but out of a desire to add to the family's income. That was what the Proverb's 31 woman did. There is difference between a woman "adding to" a husband's already stable finances, as opposed to making up for a lack in household finances.

Have men grown lazy as a whole?

2008-06-07T07:46:00.007-05:00

This morning I have a deep burden on my heart. I see men as a whole, not really being all that has God called them to be. Some men are not working, but would rather live off of women. Some men are living in a perpetual state of boyhood and fantasy. II have a feeling that it is rooted in the feminist movement.

Now I agree that the "feminist movement" may have allowed women to be taken more seriously in society, but it did it out of the realm of God. God has a purpose and a design for men and women, and though we are spiritually equal in God's sight; men and women are not physically equal. Women can not/ and should not carry the same "labor burdens" as men. When women started going out into the workforce and taking any and every job they were basically saying (I am as much of a man as you are)! I can take own your role as provider and do it better than you! This caused men to become apathetic, complacent, and lazy.

Now you have the "Mr. Mom" phenomenon, or the men who get laid off and don't want to return to the workforce( click on the title for the link). You have men going into marriages expecting wives (to pull their weight financially) instead of them aiming for the good education and the good employment situations. I will discuss this in more detail shortly.

Congratulations To Barack Obama

2008-06-04T05:59:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Barack Obama for his historic victory last night. I look forward to what he will be doing in the future, and I feel a new sense of hope in this country.

Face to Face interaction vs. Online interaction

2008-06-02T10:15:00.006-05:00

There have been a lot of good that has come out of online networking. We get to meet people from all over the world without leaving our homes. We can stay updated with the latest and greatest that this world has to offer with just a click of the mouse.

However, this "online world" has created a catch 22. We can become further isolated as a society and severely lack the ability to function in a real world setting. There are certain things you can not experience sitting at home on a computer. When I first started looking for at home employment I looked strictly online. I really did not want to "get out there" and felt that I could easily find it with a click of the mouse. However, when my online search appeared unfruitful, I took my search offline. There is a bible verse in Jeremiah 6:16 that states, "Thus says the LORD, 'Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it'".

I started to feel the need to go back to good old fashioned face to face networking. Before the internet, technology, etc. that was all we had. It worked then, and it works now. So I began to search for networking groups. God designed the universe through relationships, and if we just network and connect with the right people we can make it much further in life as opposed to being the lone ranger or man of an "island".

Some people are fortunate enough to find jobs online, and have the interview by telephone, and take all of your training online without having to speak face-to-face wit someone. There are some people who do meet the "Man/Woman" of their dreams in a cyber chat room. But that is an exception to the rule. And it is dangerous when we take something meant to enhance and supplement, and give power to it as if it is the primary thing we should do.

Ask and You shall receive

2008-06-02T10:15:00.002-05:00

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

This morning I attended a networking meeting for those seeking employment/or seeking better employment. I attended because I am seeking home-based employment with a legitimate company. One of the main things I learned was to specifically ask for what I wanted. Growing up as a black person in America you often hear people say "Don't go asking for too much because you should just be grateful for whatever comes your way". Because of our history of oppression we honestly feel that we are not qualified to pursue the biggest and best opportunities. Especially in a job search we feel that we should just be happy to get our foot into a door (any door) and don't go asking for too much.

When I attended the meeting one of the first things one of the founding gentleman asked me was "What company do you specifically want to work for?" I told him well whichever company wants to hire a telecommuter. But he corrected me and told me that I need to be specific because he may not remember such general information.

Another thing I learn was to be more assertive. We had to give 60 second presentations which include who we are, what we wanted to do, and what value we were to a future employer. I was critiqued and told that though my presentation answered all of the questions and highlighted my experience, it was not convincing because I lacked eye contact. I was told to be more relaxed and to practice in a mirror in order to build up my confidence.

I am thankful that I went, and I learned a lot today. I believe that God allows us to be around different people to learn things that are outside of our little bubble. He is constantly expanding our social network.

Additional Scriptures
Philippians 4:6
Philippians 4:19

Misrepresenting God

2008-06-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

I have always been bothered about how saints love to tell these extravagant, mysterious stories about how God supernaturally provided for their financial needs. For whatever reason, these “testimonies” are almost always in the area of finances.

Every time particular “prophets” are in my area they will get on the gospel radio with these call-in broadcasts. Many times they will ask for an “offering” or “faith seed” and promises God’s showers of blessings. One prophet in particular stated how God will supernaturally place money in your bank account. He stated that you should write “money cometh” on your dollar bills.
Another “prophet” had people calling the station saying how their bank statement had an extra $300, $700, or even $1,000 on it. But does God really work that way? The danger of this thinking is the fact that it leads out human effort and following Godly principals. People may feel that they can do anything with their finances and when they get in a slump God is just going to wave some magic wand and zap it away. However, it doesn’t work like that. And if you received a bank statement showing extra money in your account and you don’t alert the bank is that not the same as stealing? The bank could have made an error.

So we must really be careful with the “testimonies” we tell.

Don't Place All Of Your Eggs In One Basket

2008-05-23T17:20:00.002-05:00

"Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well". Ecclesiastes 11:2, 6

One day on the way to a business planning class, a friend and I had a conversation about the economy. She was expressing her concerns about the industry she was employed in, and how unpredictable it was. We discussed how people are dispensable, easily thrown away like trash. We then bemoaned the fact that once you lose a job, it may take a while before you are even able to become stable again.

Later on that night, I kept thinking about the old saying “don’t lay all of your eggs in one basket”. I searched the internet to see if that saying was biblical. After a few minutes I stumbled across a reference to Ecclesiastes 11:2, 6. “Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

I honestly believe this confirms the saying “don’t lay all of your eggs in one basket”. In today’s shaky economy you really need to have different “baskets” or multiple streams of income. It doesn’t matter if you have been working for a company that is over 150 years old, or if you are self-employed. You need to “sow” the money that you have into good soil and allow it to grow. Make sure that the money that you do make from your primary income source isn’t your sole source. If that folds, then what are you going to do?

Returning to the Past

2008-05-22T11:13:00.004-05:00

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it".

I know that you have all heard the saying that "history repeats itself". I used to equate that with only meaning that one should be careful of the decisions that they make in life. However, I am coming to the realization that "history" repeating itself can be a good thing. God has error free principles that we can learn. Principles which have withstood the test of time. Principles that transcends time; eternal principles. It does not matter if it was tried in 900 B.C., 1365 AD, or today.

Here is one that is really standing out in my life at the moment. Ecclesiastes 11:2,6

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T16:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers of the world!!!

"God's Open Door?"

2008-04-19T17:16:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago while at work a woman sat beside me while I was reading. I work as a tutor in the school system, and the woman works in another field within the same school system. She was telling me how the company she works for were hiring behavioral counselors and if I was interested to give her my resume. I told her that my tutoring contract was not up but that I would think about it.

As she spoke to me about her job I quickly became aware that it was not something I desired. Though it was in line with my "field" and what I had majored in, I did not feel impressed to pursue it.

As the weeks went by I pondered the whole opportunity and if God was opening a door or not. I felt that He may have allowed the opportunity to come my way just to see if I was wise enough to trust the Holy Spirit's impressions about not pursuing it.

Today I was surfing the Internet when I came across an article describing my very experience. Read the article (click on the title of this post) and even reread it if necessary. It talks about distinguishing opportunities that God wants us to pursue vs. opportunities He wants us to decline. It even talks about coincidences and how we shouldn't always assume that they are His Voice.

Gratitude Journal

2008-04-19T16:51:00.002-05:00

I've been reading about people keeping a Gratitude Journal. It is basically a journal where you write several things you are grateful for on a daily basis. It keeps you in a joyful and thankful mood especially when you feel you have reason to complain.

Testing God

2008-04-02T07:23:00.002-05:00

Today I will like to blog on a topic that I feel is very important to the Body of Christ. It is about "Testing God". Lately I have heard two people discuss how they were trying to see if a situation was of God or not, and they discussed how they told God "If this is you then make 'such and such' happen". They exclaimed how the thing that they wanted to happen manifested so it "Must have been God". However, is this true?

I remember in my college days doing things of that nature. This was when I first came to Christ and I was really seeking God for a soul mate. Every time I would meet a guy I would tell God "If this is my soul mate then make 'such and such happen'". Sometimes I would ask God to cause the person to call me, or for me to see them on campus, etc. etc. Most of the time none of these things worked. When I asked God about it, I discovered that this practice of "testing God" was not biblical.

Actually, Jesus speaks against it in Matthew 4:5-7. This was when Satan came to Jesus to test him and basically said "If you are the Son of God then jump off of the edge of this temple". Jesus replied "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test".

So we know that it is a sin to "test God". I will continue to research this topic because I need more understanding on "testing God".

Wow it has been a while!!!

2008-03-25T19:52:00.001-05:00

Wow it has really been a while since I've posted. I have been very busy with work. However, I have a little time off this week that I will use to blog.

Standing Firm (and alone)

2008-03-10T17:10:00.004-05:00

Sometimes in life you have to stand firm (and even alone) in your convictions. We have all been raised to have certain values, morals, etc. However, in this culture it is so popular to just "go with the crowd". What if the crowd is going the wrong way?

I want to encourage you as believers to stand firm. Even if you are standing alone. Your co-workers may have a difference of opinion, family members, friends, even church family may oppose you. However, you have to know God for yourself and obey Him at all costs.

Designer kidnappings

2008-02-27T18:50:00.002-05:00

I have heard it all. There is a new trend called designer kidnappings. I ran across it while researching extreme sports. There is a "kidnapping firm" in New York City that allows people to experience the "thrill" of being kidnapped. If you want someone to stuff you into a trunk of a car after "kidnapping" you from an alley you can have that "dream" come true (of course for a few thousand dollars). They'll even stage a "torture" if you are into that. What is the world coming to?

The article said that they'll even "snatch you off of a subway" if you desired. Now what if an on looker thinks that you are really being kidnapped and injure the person providing the service. Or what if you are with your family who is unaware of your "stage kidnapping" and they panic and have a heart attack or worse?

Click on the title to view the article.