tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85800222753916652382024-03-20T06:41:23.985-07:00A Sistah After God's HeartSistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-30781820142689555572010-04-05T10:18:00.000-07:002010-04-05T10:18:47.704-07:00Good Samaritans Still ExistLet's face it, the world is chaotic. The news exhibits the worse, most depressing facts about the society in which we live, it could drive an insane person insane. Every so often, we are reminded of<strong> God's love</strong> in the tiniest fashion. Take a look at this video, a toddler falls in the river while at a tourist attraction, and a man, whom is unknow to this day, jumps in to save the lilttle girl. <br />
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<div><div align="center"><iframe frameborder="0" height="339" scrolling="no" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/36166515#36166515" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" style="border-bottom: #999 1px dotted; color: #5799db! important; font-weight: normal! important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none! important;">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="border-bottom: #999 1px dotted; color: #5799db! important; font-weight: normal! important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none! important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: #999 1px dotted; color: #5799db! important; font-weight: normal! important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none! important;">News about the Economy</a></div></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-30817496019801674652010-03-25T14:37:00.000-07:002010-03-25T14:37:27.309-07:00Why Aren't Our Women Getting Married?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYnpbNxXhs9EUtimqPzU3U2xqYMqZq37AJkz2JhthmjBBdHU_vWBnjJOBUfFZmOTbktKYLmuXa_B4zJfXTvTOj_gL1_Jeo5m0NNblztkT5Fbm4UQ5ddxMtOvthmEj1oy6LiJMA8GZwZs/s1600/bridegroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYnpbNxXhs9EUtimqPzU3U2xqYMqZq37AJkz2JhthmjBBdHU_vWBnjJOBUfFZmOTbktKYLmuXa_B4zJfXTvTOj_gL1_Jeo5m0NNblztkT5Fbm4UQ5ddxMtOvthmEj1oy6LiJMA8GZwZs/s320/bridegroom.jpg" /></a><strong>Today, while perusing the net, I found a startling statistic:</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><blockquote style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“According to 2009 U.S. Census Bureau reports, black females ages 35 to 44 are the only American women in their child-bearing years with lower marriage rates than men of the same race or ethnicity.”</em></blockquote><blockquote style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> – Cindy George, The Houston Chronicle</blockquote><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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This is very sad. Of course, I know and can observe with my own two eyes that there are more and more single mothers, broken homes and failed marriages than ever before. Why is this? I don't have an answer but of course, I have my theories (...)<br />
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1. <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Media Influence</span></strong><br />
The media plays a huge part on our thought processes, whether we know it or not. We see more and more single women engaging in coutless sex acts with single (and sometimes married) men. These women on the tv screens are portrayed as independent, and liberal in their thinking. We see them enjoy a fun-loving night of intimacy and closeness but what the tv screen doesn't show us is what follows. Yes, sex is fun and beautiful, but after the 6 second climax, what comes next? Well, if he is not your husband, the only thing that comes next is emptiness and confusion. (well, I did <span style="color: magenta;">B.C</span>. but times have changed)<br />
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2. <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Technology</span></strong><br />
My, my, my we have come a long way. Cell phones, texting, internet chatting, online dating, Skype, Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, Second Life... you name it, you can probably find it ANYWHERE on the net. As we advance technologically, one thing I have noticed is that people are forgetting how to communicate face-to-face. Everything is "instant" and people want instant gratification. We have forgeotten how to date, how to love and how to bond with people. We have chosen the "instant gratification" of finding a mate online and building an relationship with the person that is portrayed to us through our computer screens. The devil lives in technology people! <br />
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3. <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>The Cycle Continues</strong></span><br />
Growing up, I had an aunt who conceived a child by a married man, a daughter in fact. This man filled my aunt's head with empty promises, broken dreams and <span style="background-color: white;">countless</span> nights of 6-second gratification. What did she get out of the "relationship" after all was said and done? A daughter and a baby-daddy that was nowhere to be found. Now, I know it's sad that this man deserted his child but look deeper sistahs! Auntie should NEVER have been sleeping with a married man in the first place. She disrespected herself by allowing herself to be some man's outlet when things weren't going quite as planned within his marriage. She also deprived her daughter of having a relationship with her father by her own selfish decisions. <br />
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But it didn't stop there, as her daughter grew older, my aunt would warn her about how men were "no good" and to "take 'em for all he's got." This was something she fed her daughter until she was 15 years old, and got pregnant with her first child. You see where I'm going with this. The sycle continues and until someone breaks that cycle... well....<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">What do YOU think ladies? What are YOUR theories and reasons why so many black women aren't getting married these days?</span></strong> <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Feel free to comment!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">Think you're ready o be a wife? <a href="http://www.readytobeawife.com/">Check out this website before you take the plunge</a>!</span></strong></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-18405806661739774002010-03-16T16:38:00.000-07:002010-03-16T16:40:21.383-07:00Doubting Thomas<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Doubting Thomas - What can I learn from him?</span></strong> </div><br />
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<strong>Doubting Thomas</strong> was one of the <strong>12 disciples</strong> in the Bible. Another name for Thomas was Didymus, which comes from the Hebrew and Greek words both meaning 'the twin.' He wasn't one of the more well known disciples, but he was popular enough to earn the nickname "Doubting Thomas{...}<br />
<a name='more'></a>." He was given this label because he simply did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. I too have been a 'Doubting Thomas.' But the experience made me a better person and made my faith so much more stronger.<br />
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Jesus appears to some of the disciples, but Thomas was not with them the first time. John 20:25 says, "So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he [Thomas] said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.'" <br />
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</div>Eight days later, Jesus appears before His disciples again: "A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed' (John 20:26-29). <br />
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How truthful all this is. If Thomas hadn't been a doubter, this famous saying may not have been recorded in history. This particular saying has helped me many times in my life. When things have been going badly for me, when I have faced hardships and pain, this saying has given me hope. <br />
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Even though Thomas earned a negative label, he was not lacking in some very good qualities. He displayed great courage and loyalty. When the other disciples tried to keep Jesus from going to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead because of the danger from those in the area who had just earlier tried to stone Him (John 11:8), Thomas said to them, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (John 11:16). Thomas also asked Him one of the most famous questions. John 14:5-6 says, "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">I know that many of us have acted as Thomas as, I know I have so my question is... What can YOU learn from Thomas?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Source: <a href="http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/">http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/</a></span></strong>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-73625907598471972232010-03-15T15:01:00.000-07:002010-03-15T15:03:33.732-07:00Submission vs. Surrender {AUDIO}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSFOIAmR5UhhgmU-RRKczWyduJp6z3GFXdCnkEOhFUAnLhWhe19FKNA6XUabsg76aj-1lzEgIZsFAovWl9PREBPpcLplKBFAPu4F7uhTLLxOSReykvACL1TlZvkp8WHpY5oYtxpjSQjBU/s1600-h/submission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSFOIAmR5UhhgmU-RRKczWyduJp6z3GFXdCnkEOhFUAnLhWhe19FKNA6XUabsg76aj-1lzEgIZsFAovWl9PREBPpcLplKBFAPu4F7uhTLLxOSReykvACL1TlZvkp8WHpY5oYtxpjSQjBU/s400/submission.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>A lot of women are confused by the bible's instructions for a woman to be <strong><span style="color: magenta;">submissive</span></strong> to her husband. For some reason, this word scares a lot of women because they beleive that submission is the same as giving complete and total control of your life and independence over to your husband. This is far from true {...}<br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Christine Pembleton,</span></strong> author of <strong><em>Lord, I'm Ready to be a Wife</em></strong>, talks about what submission actually is and the wife's role as being submissive to her husband, according to God's laws. Turn your speakers down!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNjg2ODk4MjA2MTQmcHQ9MTI2ODY4OTgyNjQ3MiZwPTQ1MDk3MiZkPSZnPTImbz1hN2FhMGYzMjM5ODI*ZGIzOWJi/MjI1NjBkOTQwY2IzMSZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="108" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BTRPlayer.swf?file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eblogtalkradio%2Ecom%2Fplaylist%2Easpx%3Fshow%5Fid%3D901254&autostart=true&bufferlength=5&volume=80&borderweight=1&bordercolor=#999999&backgroundcolor=#FFFFFF&dashboardcolor=#0098CB&textcolor=#F0F0F0&detailscolor=#FFFFFF&playlistcolor=#999999&playlisthovercolor=#333333&cornerradius=10&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx?referrer_url=/show.aspx&C1=7&C2=6042973&C3=31&C4=&C5=&C6=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="210" wmode="transparent"></div></embed>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-31637414942598834222010-03-12T14:11:00.000-08:002010-03-12T14:11:34.009-08:00SPOTLIGHT: Lillian Ladele, you GO GIRL!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARetfepFK2NtpSU7BgRBt44JSUUeyVtTovQc1B2lWEDJ3BSEZnlVjPX63uemcsDy5mygS1-h9EU4uCiwfk4s8XavqgCU9eW_QzpIwgDkHdVZ2UBWKnmbjZKqpHxegOfpHPoDxKnnTLZ8O/s1600-h/Lillian+Ladele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARetfepFK2NtpSU7BgRBt44JSUUeyVtTovQc1B2lWEDJ3BSEZnlVjPX63uemcsDy5mygS1-h9EU4uCiwfk4s8XavqgCU9eW_QzpIwgDkHdVZ2UBWKnmbjZKqpHxegOfpHPoDxKnnTLZ8O/s320/Lillian+Ladele.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Meet <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Lillian Ladele</span></strong>, a devout Christian Registrar, who has been refused permission to appeal to the supreme court when last year, she resinged and refused to grant marriage certificates to same-sex partnerships.</span> <br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFo_89LzdFOJo-4wJO9TBqOc-ZvqB4nWQlgQcMEocrfcFQP3q8xhZyIaQVuPQo1cqjTPxPXifndXJoIen_ljJ_jbDpRVyHCkgwAxq-5xzPYzy-EnRZ-XdnO-u8op1HIhQ9hVJ_kBepDRA/s1600-h/ladelle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFo_89LzdFOJo-4wJO9TBqOc-ZvqB4nWQlgQcMEocrfcFQP3q8xhZyIaQVuPQo1cqjTPxPXifndXJoIen_ljJ_jbDpRVyHCkgwAxq-5xzPYzy-EnRZ-XdnO-u8op1HIhQ9hVJ_kBepDRA/s320/ladelle+2.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><blockquote><em><span style="font-size: large;">"I’m not homophobic. I’ve never had a problem with gay people or their lifestyle – as far as I’m concerned we are all God’s children. I worked with several gay people at the council and had always been friendly with them. My issue was purely that I did not want to be the one to facilitate same-sex civil partnerships because I do not agree with them."</span></em></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I admire the fact that Ms. Ladele took a stand against man and stood up for her God. In a world full of sin and corruption, it's important that Christians not forget that if God be for us, then who can be against us? You go Ms. Ladele! </span>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-49603336205070068882010-03-12T12:24:00.000-08:002010-03-12T12:24:57.741-08:00The World's Longest Married Couple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi96ICF-llGiQ1IkoxdehZjaLnSqCEmmJHxr8LYvOpTsY_BG4gWCA-wCTPBuhvAhCLYw7khjnaz27KD7Zn28VsXJbOqgI7w2dI3QY2n-dcJ237C2Q_MBntdl2hiWIAyQf9xO27G0AjFoM/s1600-h/OLDEST+MARRIED+COUPLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi96ICF-llGiQ1IkoxdehZjaLnSqCEmmJHxr8LYvOpTsY_BG4gWCA-wCTPBuhvAhCLYw7khjnaz27KD7Zn28VsXJbOqgI7w2dI3QY2n-dcJ237C2Q_MBntdl2hiWIAyQf9xO27G0AjFoM/s320/OLDEST+MARRIED+COUPLE.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of New Bern, N.C., hold the world </em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>record for life in wedded bliss: 85 years. </em></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>He's 104, and she's 101.</em></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I thought this was adorable. It's amazing how many singles these days are longing for God to send them a mate or longing for a life-long companion, a partner a<span style="color: magenta;"> HUSBAND</span> (or wife for my fellas). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a lot of singles do not realize is that marriage is a partnership, it's a <span style="color: magenta;">life-long commitment</span> to another person through thick and thin, good times and bad. There is no running away </span><span style="font-size: large;">or deciding you made a mistake once the "I dos" have been exchanged in front of all your friends, family and God. <span style="color: magenta;">God does not smile upon divorce</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is why it's important as Christians not to dabble into the dating scene too much. We become conditioned to the "NEXT" syndrome when there is something we don't like about the person or they do something to that irks our nerves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Getting wrapped up in the dating scene conditions us to become "<span style="color: magenta;">professional divorcees</span>," and only encourages us to find a mate, see what we like, what we don't like and move on. The "til death do us part" vow is a very serious vow in the eyes of God and til death do us part means just that, not until one of us cheats do us part, or until one of us goes broke do us part, loses an arm, loses a job, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Zelmyra Fisher</span> still gets around with a walker, and <span style="color: magenta;">Herbert</span> loves to watch the Atlanta Braves on TV. <span style="color: magenta;">They credit their marital success to faith in God, </span><span style="color: black;">a</span><span style="color: black;"> loving family and few big fusses over their long span of marriage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Fishers dabbled in social media by tweeting their secrets to a long, happy marriage for Valentine's Day last month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bible has a high view of <span style="color: magenta;">marriage</span>. It is to be a lifetime plan, not a convenience that can be disposed of in a lawyer's office. The love of husband and wife is, at its best, a hint of the deeper love between a human being and God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Hebrews 13:4</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Drink water from your own well -- share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in public, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Don't share it with strangers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. May you always be captivated by her love. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Proverbs 5:15-19</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favor from the LORD . </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Proverbs 18:22</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The apostle Paul, who was single, recommended the single life for people like himself, dedicated to God's service. But Paul was realistic enough to know that most people, no matter how deep their faith, were better off married than facing the temptations of the single life: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor should the wife deprive her husband. God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I say to those who aren't married and to widows -- it's better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">1 Corinthians 7:2-3, 7-9</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Paul also addressed a ticklish situation:</strong> <strong><span style="color: magenta;">What if a Christian's spouse is not a Christian?</span></strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian man has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a Christian woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Otherwise, your children would not have a Godly influence, but now they are set apart for him. (But if the husband or wife who isn't a Christian insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is not required to stay with them, for God wants his children to live in peace.) You wives must remember that your husbands might be converted because of you. And you husbands must remember that your wives might be converted because of you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">1 Corinthians 7:12-16</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Ephesians 5:21-33</span> </span><br />
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</span>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-74067488376189599582010-03-05T21:48:00.000-08:002010-03-25T14:40:00.564-07:00WTH: Lil Wayne to play the role of JESUS?!?!?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Kiss my Black Bible</strong>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> Lil Wayne is set to play the role of <strong>Jesus</strong> in a new adult cartoon. Kiss my black bible Lil' Wayne!</div><br />
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<a name='more'></a>According to HipHopWired.com, it is believed to be quite fitting that Weezy plays Jesus since he’s already worshiped all across the globe, (shaking my head).<br />
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Wayne is set to utilize his voice as a cartoon special airing on Adult Swim titled, Freaknik” also featureing T Pain and David Banner illustrating the former Atlanta party scene from which it takes its name. Wayne will appear in the animated music video for the program “Ghetto Commandments” as Jesus Christ. <br />
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If this isn't a mockery of God, I don't know what is. The funny thing is, a lot of people who consider themselves "Christians" will continue to support Lil Wayne and listen to his music. </div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-10002397534873594672010-03-05T21:38:00.000-08:002010-03-05T21:50:04.120-08:00Single, Saved and Having Sex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BdkKLLhmFRJEPVHm4MF4ELscQMtNEU-qj1QCijYS7vqRaptc_XZM5oMyw-zh9DgglTrK81xmK9z7w7I17KUWfp4DhTVNIiMvPIknPCoAQLxVoPVMN5oZyxnNzGATcVB38RHmIB6mEqmM/s1600-h/ssandhavingsx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BdkKLLhmFRJEPVHm4MF4ELscQMtNEU-qj1QCijYS7vqRaptc_XZM5oMyw-zh9DgglTrK81xmK9z7w7I17KUWfp4DhTVNIiMvPIknPCoAQLxVoPVMN5oZyxnNzGATcVB38RHmIB6mEqmM/s200/ssandhavingsx.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><br />
Most of us smart, beautiful and single women after God’s Heart struggle with the same sin, sex. Sistahs, if you are having issues with staying from "between the sheets," I must recommend this book, <em><span style="color: magenta;">Single, Saved and Having Sex</span></em> by Ty Adams. She gives it to you straight up and doesn’t give the option of a chaser. Leave it to a woman who has struggled with sex since the age of 7, when she was molested. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Adams talks openly and boldly about her struggles with sex addiction, being molested as a child, her relationship with another woman and countless men she allowed into her life and into her bed, only to leave her with a broken spirit. <br />
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From watching porn, to masturbating, same-sex relationships, and more, Ty Adams uses her own personal experiences, scriptural references and references to several of Dr. Miles Monroe’s books to illustrate God’s divine purpose for our lives through all of our “mess.” She speaks of how we as women must take accountability for our actions, learn to trust in God in all that we do, learn who we are and <strong><span style="color: magenta;">first fall in love with God</span></strong>, our real Man, our real “Boo.”<br />
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As a special treat, I’ve included an excerpt from Dr. Ty Adams’ book, <em>Single Saved and Having Sex</em>. Hope you enjoy!<br />
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<div><blockquote><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chapter One</span></strong></blockquote></div><br />
Single, Saved, and Having Sex You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied. -Proverbs 21:17 (The Message) <br />
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The sexual revolution of the 1960s cast us into an age of low moral values and promiscuity. If you are a single woman or man, there is pressure-from society, television, music, advertising, and your peers-to become a sexual being. <br />
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But now, more than ever, people of all ages are feeling less emotionally attached, more vacant and empty-even if their beds are filled with lovers and their social lives sizzle. And most of these people call themselves Christians. <span style="color: magenta;">In fact, it has been estimated that 70 percent of all unmarried Christians are saved and having sex</span>. <br />
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The quest for intimacy and fulfillment is at an all-time high. Over the past year, just about every magazine on the newsstands featured articles on sex and relationships, with titles like "When Should You Give It Up?" "How Do I Please My Man Sexually?" and "How Do I Heal from a Broken Relationship?" We are constantly bombarded with one message: Sex is all that matters, and it had better be good. <br />
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Single-dating shows are among the highest-rated programs on TV. These shows are comprised of single men and women who have the opportunity to date twenty people in onenight or to compete for a relationship with a rich man or woman, one whom they barely get to know. <br />
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E-mail is full of pop-ups inviting you to go to a dating site, and online dating services and chat rooms are swamped with people searching for a physical relationship or a way to hook up with a member of the opposite sex as quickly and painlessly as possible. <span style="color: magenta;">Yet a large percentage of single people who struggle with relationships and are having sex either believe in or love God, this same God who approves of sex only if you are married.</span> Does this mean that you, a single person, can believe in or love God the way He requires us to love Him and still have sex? <br />
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God created and designed you to have wholeness in every area of your life. We have physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual needs to be fulfilled. When we have a need for intimacy, we quickly respond physically. <span style="color: magenta;">That's because we live in a microwave, fast-food-mentality age; we want instant gratification</span>. We want it our way, right away; we want it fast, and it better be satisfying. <br />
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We've tried to acquire intimacy in an instant-in a six second orgasm, a temporary relief that takes you back down to where you were before you took off your clothes. But once the morning-after syndrome sets in, you find that you didn't get what you were seeking. Then, even though you realize that your needs weren't met, you continue your quest for fulfillment through physical means, while your spiritual and mental departments hang in limbo. <br />
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Now failed relationships and sexual partnerships become the norm. You move on to another relationship, it doesn't work out, you move on to another. Like an addict, you are consumed with achieving another climax. This is known as <span style="color: magenta;">"the thrill is gone"</span> syndrome-when the immediate gratification thrills and pleasures of sex leave, you move right on to the next bed. Like me, some of you, after a few rock-bottom relationships, begin to work on the other departments. You start praying, may even start going to church, but you continue to get intimacy physically. You give some of yourself over to God, but you find yourself living a double life. This is commonly known as "your body's here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town." <br />
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You will soon realize that the cost of trying to meet your quest for intimacy by physical means is beginning to add up. Or have you not counted up the cost? <span style="color: magenta;">For singles, sex is never free</span>. What price would you put on a damaged or wounded heart? How much does AIDS or HIV cost? How about a life with no peace: What kind of price tag would you put on that? How much does it cost to kill a baby? Or what's the price on a bankrupt spirit? Oh, here's one: How much does it cost to go to hell? <br />
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The question remains: <span style="color: magenta;">Is it possible to believe in or love God and still have sex?</span> I don't know if that's really the question, because I can guess that many of you don't love sex to the point that you would be willing to pay the high cost for it. Especially the cost of being separated eternally from the God you love. Yet you somehow continue to pray, go to church, and proclaim the name of Jesus while you engage in sexual activities. I know exactly what that's like-to love God but find it hard to please Him because of wild, rampant sexual desires that need to be fulfilled. I know what it's like to want to live right and be held at the same time. <br />
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Many of you believe that your sexual exploits will be excused by a loving and understanding God. Some of you, on the other hand, believe that eventually you'll get things under control when you get the guts to leave the relationship or your sexual partner, to fully live for God. Many of you have left the church because your struggle with sex outweighed your capacity to live right for God; others of you are still going to church faithfully while covering up the fact that you are having sex. No matter what your case, I want to share something with you that Dr. Mike Murdock often states: <span style="color: magenta;">"Struggle is proof that you have not yet been conquered."</span> My prayer is that those of you who find yourself in the struggle will finally obtain the answers that you need in order to overcome and walk away free. My prayer is that you will become single, saved, and not having sex. <br />
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But I know this isn't going to be easy. Why? <span style="color: magenta;">Because everywhere we look, it's sex, sex, sex, sex, sex-get as much as you can, when you can, with whomever you can</span>. This is what's depicted on TV and radio. Turn on the TV, and even a toothpaste commercial will have two people hugging and kissing. You can't look at a shampoo commercial without a sexual connotation in it. Now, what does washing your hair have to do with sexual pleasure? And let's not even talk about the movies and music. There is no "maybe that's what they're talking about" hidden meaning. And there are no hidden messages; they're flat-out X-rated! <br />
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You have so many opinions and different beliefs about sex coming at you. You grow up trained to think and believe a certain way about sex. You're not a man unless you have a few women; you need to have all the flavors, and if they don't satisfy you, "handle yourself." If you're a virgin, something has to be wrong; you must be gay. As for a woman, you need a man to complete you and you have to outdo the other women he's been with in bed in order to keep him. Sound familiar? Here you are, living your entire life with these man-made ideas of how sex should be-with whomever we want-then you get "saved." This is where a major problem lies. The spirit of a man is changed, but his mind isn't changed. This is one reason why such a high rate of single folks in the church are having active sex lives. We come to the Lord with this going-out-in-the-world backward thinking, with the mind-set of not changing the way we live our lives and not turning away from these beliefs that have been embedded in us. We have a new spirit, but we use the same mind. If that's not enough, we go back to the same resources for advice when our quest falls apart. <br />
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Okay, let me give you a mental picture. I was driving a brown 1981 Cutlass. It was dented in the rear, and gaseous fumes were coming out of the tailpipe. I myself was sharp, looking good, but when I got out of the car I would smell like a walking exhaust system. When the car broke down, I wouldn't take it to the dealer and get it fixed. I would take the car, dents and all, to what we call alley mechanics (mechanics who fix cars in backyards or in front of their houses). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://p.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/mercedes-benz-f700-1-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" kt="true" src="http://p.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/mercedes-benz-f700-1-big.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Now picture a Mercedes-Benz 700 Series, white leather interior, no fumes. It needs to be serviced (notice, I said serviced). Would you take it to an alley mechanic? Oh, no! You would take it to the dealer, the manufacturer. That's the same thing with you. You are no longer a broken-down, barely making-it '81 Cutlass with poisonous fumes. You are in a new class, a new series of your life, and you can't go and get quick fixes from unskilled folks giving you experimental advice. <span style="color: magenta;">You need to go to the Manufacturer</span>. <br />
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God, your Manufacturer, created you and He created sex. Why would you go to the alley sex mechanic for help? Since God created sex and He created you, He knows your hang-ups, your shortcomings, faults, desires, why you respond and act a certain way, and He has the solution should you malfunction. If you are having issues or struggling with something that He created, by all means He should be the one that you go to for help. Remember this definition: <span style="color: magenta;">Sexual sin means of or involving sex, the two sexes, or the sexual organs in a willful violation of a religious or moral principle; sexuality unrestrained by morality; any wrong or evil act involving sex, the two sexes, or the sexual organs.</span> <br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">There are quite a few of you who believe that sexual intercourse occurs only when a man enters into a woman's vagina</span>. But sexual intercourse is defined as an intimate physical relationship, especially between a man and a woman, involving any use of the sexual organs. This means that even if a man does not enter a woman but has physical contact with the woman with any of the sexual organs, he is having sexual intercourse; it's the course or path of entering into sex. <br />
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Let me translate this for you further: It also means that foreplay (the acts that happen before a man enters into a woman) is considered sexual intercourse-the course or path of entering into sex. Examples of foreplay are heavy petting, fondling, and, yes, even tongue kissing. It also includes masturbation-the stimulation of one's own or another's genitals. Masturbation has a downward spiraling effect because it is the act of living out your past on yourself. You are responding to twisted sexual perversions that have developed in your mind that cause you to believe that gratification by any means will fulfill a desire or need. Masturbation breeds confusion and leaves you with a greater degree of discontent and emptiness. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anythingartsnewsletter.com/images/2009May27/chip-and-ernie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://www.anythingartsnewsletter.com/images/2009May27/chip-and-ernie.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">Pornography is sexual immorality or fornication</span>. It is any literature, art, magazine, movie, music, or photograph of erotic or sexual acts intended to excite prurient feelings or lustful thoughts. Those of you who think you do not engage in pornography because you don't have X-rated videos or magazines should check that definition closely. Illicit, erotic, X-rated, or vulgar movies or music are also forms of pornography. You know, the kind of music that talks about your body parts and what he/she is going to do with those body parts-yeah, that's pornography. <br />
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Oh, did I fail to mention oral and anal sex? Now, the fact that some of you think that oral sex or anal sex is not sex kind of confuses me. "Sex" in the terms alone gives you a big clue and indicates that they are sex. If you are using the sexual organs, that is considered sexual intercourse. So putting your mouth on a sexual organ is sexual sin. The anus was placed on your body to defecate or remove waste, not to put waste in it. Waste is anything barren, unproductive, unfruitful. <br />
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To engage in anal sex is a wasteful act; you are not to go there. Listen, single man or woman, if you have either oral or anal sex, you are considered a sodomite, which comes from the word "sodomy." Sodomy is defined as the unnatural, especially anal or oral, use of copulation/sexual intercourse. <br />
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Then the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of the heavens. He overthrew, destroyed, and ended those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. (Genesis 19:24-25 [Amplified]) <br />
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God destroyed the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sinful, sexual perversion. I can see some of your faces now: "Oh, blessed Jesus, I can't believe she put this in this book. I can't believe she went there. She is talking so openly about it." I believe we've been sugarcoating this for far too long. And, as quiet as it's kept, some of you do talk about it and actually do these things, then cover it up. Talking about covering up, there are a lot of undercover Christians literally under the covers, and the only way a lot of you are going to be delivered and set free is to go under the covers where you are and grab yourselves out. So let's uncover. <br />
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Now, this discussion would not be complete if we didn't talk about homosexuality, which we'll get into more fully later. Homosexuality is defined as exhibiting sexual desires toward a person of one's own sex. I had to clarify and define that because we often look at sin in levels and degrees, as if one carries more weight than the other. "I don't watch pornography," but you listen to it on your favorite radio station. <br />
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"I don't sleep around, I'm celibate," but you take care of yourself by masturbating. You might even have the audacity to turn your nose up at someone who comes into your church and appears to be a homosexual, but you're headed right for the hotel with someone you are not married to before the pastor can even give the benediction. <br />
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Surprisingly, I've had some people tell me, both men and women, that they are not in sexual sin because whenever they get with their bed partners, they don't actually engage in penetration, but they'll have oral sex with one another. Whichever way you put it, sexual penetration, masturbation, foreplay, tongue kissing, homosexuality, oral sex, anal sex, and pornography are all considered sexual intercourse; they are all sexual sins and are considered fornication. Fornication is voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other. <br />
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For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. (1 Thessalonians 4:3 [KJV]) <br />
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Picture a big, fat, pink pig running around in a muddy pigsty eating everything you throw at it. You get close to the pigsty and you notice that this pig has red lipstick on, high heeled shoes, and a ring in its nose. Do you now look at the pig and say, "You are so cute"? No, you don't. The filth she's running in and her habit of eating everything that's foul overpower the lipstick and the gold ring. She's not cute at all. She's a filthy pig. Even Scripture tells us: <br />
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Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head. (The Message) <br />
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When King Solomon spoke this message to the women in his day about their indiscreet lifestyle, he had to compare their lifestyle to what they believed was the filthiest thing ever, which at that time was a swine. You wouldn't be caught dead eating a pork chop or a slice of bacon. Jewelry and gold nose rings were the hippest things happening. When you saw a nose ring on a woman, it was absolutely beautiful! King Solomon was basically saying to the women, "You can't dress up ugly. You can't dress up in mess and filth." <br />
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He compared a foul pig with a gold ring in its nose to a drop-dead-gorgeous woman who was not tactful, who lacked judgment and the ability to make quality decisions in her life. Just as a gold ring couldn't cover up a filthy pig, neither could a woman's pretty face and shapely body cover up or cancel out the fact that she lacked moral discretion. A pretty face without discretion is useless and has no worth or value. Men, take notes. The last thing you want or need is a woman who lacks the ability to exercise good judgment or tact. The Word of God tells us, <span style="color: magenta;">"He that finds a wife, finds a good thing" (Proverbs 18:22).</span> Ladies, you are not considered "a good thing" if you do not possess or exercise good judgment. We define "good" as morally excellent, proper, fitting, well behaved, honorable or worthy, sound or valid, competent, morally righteous, not spoiled or tainted. Does that define you? <br />
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You can't be a good thing if you lack good judgment, and you can't possess good judgment without having "the goods," which means without being tainted. You must also be morally excellent. The only way that you possess the goods is through goodness, as indicated in The Message translation of Psalms 119:68: "You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness." You need to understand that you-all of you-already possess the goods. You just have not yet tapped into them. It means nothing to possess the goods if you don't exercise or walk in what you already are or maintain good judgment in your everyday life or in your practical affairs, you have to give God the consent in your affairs. <br />
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(Continues...) <br />
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________________________________________<br />
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Excerpted from Single, Saved, and Having Sex by Ty Adams Copyright © 2006 by Ty Adams. Excerpted by permission.<br />
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All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.<br />
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Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNAdzsbESSHiMkhJUr4ac_1OPNRluXdnkMbA7y8Wb73NVa5jeNt57DbmgxrC3dN5k4tYP5p_evThyphenhyphen8T-hFrnoTh6t_hUvnHuz6EzC1XGe_yZs4LXnMJH0QdI_AqTLIA3nwQrco8-c5S1W/s320/clicktobuy.gif" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/Link%20to%20purchase:%20http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/097401320X/qid=1059187093/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-6162206-2558569?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">If you would like to order a copy of Ty Adams' book, click here.</a></em></strong></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-71759411650805217872010-03-01T14:38:00.000-08:002010-03-01T14:38:52.202-08:00Praise 104.1- Top 10 songs of the weekEach week <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1267482788336"><em><strong>Praise 104.1</strong> </em></a><strong><a href="http://praisedc.com/"><em>DC</em></a> </strong>lists the top 10 songs on their playlist. Be sure to check out their home page for the current song playing on the radio and the last four songs they've just played!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8t4IjFbIkDuiFenqPJoOztTJh-HmFuU4efuFpoV97VxM_LG13p-K3gZJSVF8qBIaLZZsuDn2h7su_k-tPsqCjZwFiJJDTdsz3TbVw6z-5fna6EKGKmTXfYkP4-dwcekyTHNUqV56e8tqS/s1600-h/byron-cage-laughing1-1004x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8t4IjFbIkDuiFenqPJoOztTJh-HmFuU4efuFpoV97VxM_LG13p-K3gZJSVF8qBIaLZZsuDn2h7su_k-tPsqCjZwFiJJDTdsz3TbVw6z-5fna6EKGKmTXfYkP4-dwcekyTHNUqV56e8tqS/s320/byron-cage-laughing1-1004x1024.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Continue to the top 10 songs of the week!!</strong></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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#1 “The Best In Me” by Marvin Sapp<br />
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#2 “Rain On Us” by Earnest Pugh<br />
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#3 “They That Wait” by Fred Hammond<br />
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#4 “Justified” by Smokie Norful<br />
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#5 “God In Me” by Mary Mary<br />
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#6 “It Ain’t Over” by Maurette Brown Clark<br />
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#7 “Already Here” by Brian Courtney Wilson<br />
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#8 “Wait On The Lord” by Donnie McClurkin<br />
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#9 “Close To You” by BeBe & CeCe Winans<br />
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#10 “Faithful To Believe” by Byron CageSistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-78765769484255136722010-02-22T20:40:00.000-08:002010-03-01T14:32:32.871-08:00Free Samples: Are you giving them out?<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Is your body a</span> <span style="color: black;">"</span>free sample<span style="color: black;">?"</span></span></strong></div><br />
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Have you ever been to the food court at the mall? You see all of these fast food places and restaurants all lined up selling every variety of food that most people would like. When you look closer there are always these people in uniform holding a little piece of chicken on a stick for you to sample. Have you ever watched men in this scenario? Men will eat the chicken on a stick, leave, and still go over to Burger King and buy a whole super size combo and the whole nine.<br />
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Now, I’m not saying that you are a piece of chicken. You are obviously more valuable than that. But truth be told, that is what men do with women, too. They will sample your goods, and still keep it moving down to the next woman. So, when you understand how they think, you can make better choices regarding what you will and won’t do in a relationship.<br />
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Now you’re probably thinking, at the mall everyone has chicken on a stick, and even though some people eat and run away, some do stay and buy the combo meal. How can I compete with all of that? Here’s how.<br />
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In God’s plan you don’t have to give “free samples” to get a man to be interested in marrying you. You don’t have to stand out in the hall with your well-seasoned chicken hanging off of a stick. All you have to do is:<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><em>1. Have a good name in the mall food court.</em></span></strong><br />
Having a good name is about good Christian character, being polite, telling the truth, working hard, getting along with people, etc. When people at your job, at church, at the gym or wherever see this kind of behavior in you, they will say great things when asked about you. Just like a restaurant with a good review, it’s then that your good reputation will precede you into every situation. In fact good people will be drawn to you.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><em>2. Actually have great food</em></span></strong><br />
Trust me when I tell you that he is, in fact, looking for you right now. The question is whom will he find when he gets to you? Will you be ready for marriage? Do you have your heart available for him, or does part of your heart still connected to some other guy?<br />
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Are you willing to sacrifice and share everything with this man? Your money, your thoughts? Your credit score? Your past? Yes, the dude from spring break too! :-)<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">3. Make your menu and your food appealing to the eye.</span></em></strong><br />
Making your menu and food easy on the eye is also a key to countering the “free sample” women from crowding all of the men in the food court of your life. While the offers to get a free sample may be tempting, just like hearing about a great restaurant from a friend, a man’s intention when showing up to the food court is to buy a combo from you, and only you. Men ask around about the women that they are interested in, and hearing great reviews about you really helps to help a man to “see” you as something he may want. If he has heard great things about you, and when meeting you for the first time your menu is great, and your presentation is tight, then you can count on a man buying what you have to offer.<br />
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“Free samples” lead to insecurity in your true position in a man’s life. The right man will see what you have to offer, hear about your good name from other people, and just want to have you. He will want you even while standing in the middle of the food court full of people offering chicken on a stick standing all around him. He will see you as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and choose you over everyone else. Free samples can’t offer you that. Making him wait 90 days before giving him a free sample can’t offer you that either, only God’s way can.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.girlsgonegod.com/">Source</a></em></strong></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-71104884629385251472010-02-22T20:35:00.000-08:002010-02-22T20:36:56.991-08:00Featured Sermon: Good Sex vs. Bad SexThe <strong>Corinthian Church</strong> was filled with people who were in all sorts of sexual sin and reticent to see the need to repent of their ‘<strong>alternative lifestyles</strong>.’ Paul spoke frankly about the difference between good sex and bad sex while also refuting their silly arguments denying that the lordship of Jesus extended over their pants…<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">(Pastor Mark Driscoll, 4.23.06, 01hr:55mn)</span></em></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-1579378660091674472010-02-19T12:19:00.000-08:002010-02-19T12:19:08.503-08:00Signs of a Desperate Woman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62eTQIjMDekGGvmg8hHYe8TaYS27dRw4dfo8YSP1YV8Vqk2NmTvxmyC_JpLSOhOwIxu_GRT_XTERIYWqib4x28jMSPoLP7cBZeVuRh3qC6SwproYGM0OC_2_cADd-f1n0ohGgPrtH7tOb/s1600-h/DESPERATION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62eTQIjMDekGGvmg8hHYe8TaYS27dRw4dfo8YSP1YV8Vqk2NmTvxmyC_JpLSOhOwIxu_GRT_XTERIYWqib4x28jMSPoLP7cBZeVuRh3qC6SwproYGM0OC_2_cADd-f1n0ohGgPrtH7tOb/s400/DESPERATION.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We’ve all seen them or perhaps you are a woman that shows signs of <strong>desperation</strong>. Of course, every woman wants a good, decent God-fearing man and eventually a husband, but here are a few signs that will have men running the <em>opposite </em>direction. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">The Never Ending Calls</span></strong>. A desperate woman’s cell phone never leaves her hand because she’s always calling and texting her victims. That’s right, victims; victims of her low self-esteem and loneliness. In the beginning, her victims are excited about her because she’s beautiful, has a nice body and seem to have her head screwed on right. Until suddenly, she releases her vicious bite and that is when her victims stop returning her calls, lock their doors and windows and pray that she will just go away. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Tight Like Glue</span></strong>. When a man retreats or simply says “I need some space to myself”, he’s trying to tell you that even though he cares for you, he needs time alone. Women are often times offended by this action or statement and really should not be. This almost always just means that he needs some time to himself but it could also mean that he feels a bit smothered; either way, a good dose of uninterrupted time and space should allow him to recuperate. The most important thing is to avoid making him feel trapped. Any man that thinks he may be prey will seek the nearest escape route. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Paying for Love</span></strong>. If you find yourself always paying the dinner bill, buying his clothes, filling up his gas tank, helping him pay for his living expenses, then you are probably paying for love. If after moving him into your home, you notice that all he seems to do is flick the remote control and is doing so while your leaving to go to work, you are indeed paying for love. You should never have to pay for anything that is free. If the relationship feels a little off centered (i.e., you paying for everything) then it probably is. As long as you continue to do these things he will love you (or at least what you think is love). But stop providing, and a good guess is he probably won’t be around much longer. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Dressing to reveal the flesh</span></strong>. Your breast is the first thing he sees, he can tell the color of your underwear, he knows if you have an inverted or protruding naval, and your cheeks (not the facial ones) are all in his face. If you listen to the studies or have even done your own homework, you know that men have one thing on their mind when they see you dressed provocatively and it is not your brains. If you attract him with your mind, you will keep him guessing, but if you entice him with your body, before long, to him you are nobody. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Your Time will Tell</span></strong>. Club hopping is your thing, always at the after work affair, and always trying to find the next best thing. Your life is consumed with date after date, club after club, bar after bar, and you allow anyone in your space just so you won’t be alone. The word says “Who so find a wife” (Prov. 18:22), but your motto is “She who finds a husband”. You spend so much time getting to know different men, but don’t know yourself. What a tragedy! <br />
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Stop the </span><span style="color: magenta;">insanity</span></strong><span style="color: magenta;">!</span> You are worth it! You were designed and crafted by the greatest manufacturer of all time. Your lack of information about yourself is what has you exhibiting these signs in the first place. Most of us have been there at some point in our life so don’t feel bad. I have personally, at one point in my life, lived out of desperation, I, too, had to stop the insanity and take time out to get know, love, and respect myself.<br />
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Nevertheless, the only way to find out about something is to go to its manufacturer. Your manufacturer happens to be the creator of all things, but when it came to you he broke the mold. You are, and still are his greatest creation. When he finished creating you he said “Very Good”. (Make the following a part of your daily confessions). The definition(s) of good: <br />
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<strong>Superior to the Average</strong><br />
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<strong>Worthy of respect</strong><br />
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<strong>Competent, thorough</strong><br />
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<strong>Genuine, Real</strong><br />
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<strong>Pleasant, Enjoyable</strong><br />
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<strong>Well-behaved</strong><br />
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<strong>Of moral excellence</strong><br />
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<strong>Valuable, Reliable</strong><br />
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<strong>Able to elicit a specific reaction</strong><br />
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<strong>Virtuous, Righteous</strong><br />
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<strong>A high quality, excellent, fit</strong><br />
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<strong>Honorable or worthy</strong><br />
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<strong>Genuine, not counterfeit</strong><br />
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<strong>Reliable, dependable, responsible</strong><br />
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<strong>Free of distress or pain</strong><br />
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<strong>Attractive and beautiful</strong><br />
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(My favorite) <strong>Satisfactory for the purpose</strong> <br />
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Once you except, believe and fall in love with you the way your Manufacturer, <strong>God</strong>, loves you, then desperation will no longer define you. I advise you to look up and study every passage in our manual of operation (the Bible) on the word “LOVE”, and I can assure you that you will begin to fall in love with you! <br />
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<span style="background-color: magenta;"><strong><em>Source</em>: </strong><em><strong>This article was written by Toy Banks, co-founder of Girls Gone God! is and image specialist and motivational speaker for self-esteem, confidence and purpose.</strong> </em></span><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.myspace.com/toybanksonline">www.myspace.com/toybanksonline</a>. This article was posted at <a href="http://www.girlsgonegod.com/">http://www.girlsgonegod.com/</a>.</em>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-75732232447093608102010-02-17T16:56:00.000-08:002010-03-01T14:32:56.763-08:00Christian Gal in the City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG-nuuF1vLA0VENYqgmOL4sMN485DNFO8IMNJva2BMdj5LqDf1BBzUhTDFEsmLx4Oly_tSFI6s9UKbXRf6D5G_XaNpr_fJ-Egj9Mxga2A5g1O6wChvQnOpe7BbUyDhJAk1cxBkhtneEwl/s1600-h/CGITC_collage_banner770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG-nuuF1vLA0VENYqgmOL4sMN485DNFO8IMNJva2BMdj5LqDf1BBzUhTDFEsmLx4Oly_tSFI6s9UKbXRf6D5G_XaNpr_fJ-Egj9Mxga2A5g1O6wChvQnOpe7BbUyDhJAk1cxBkhtneEwl/s400/CGITC_collage_banner770.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ok ladies, as I surf the net looking for great resources for young women and sistahs after God's heart, I have found soooo many women out there who share the same issues and battles that I (we) do. It is always refreshing to discover that you are not alone when dealing with certain issues in your life.Whether it's sexual impurity, lesbianism, an abusive spouse, addiction or whatever you are dealing with, there is always some type of support system, if not in your home church. Well ladies, I'm here to help you find them so read on!<br />
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One of my favorite and most recently discovered blogs is written by a budding journalist Selena Gray, entitled <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Christian Gal in the City</span></strong>. Her blog is honest, pure and from the heart. Ms. Gray, straight from London, talks about her struggles, as she says B.C. (Before Christ) and how she overcame many of the sins of the world to become a woman after God's heart.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>You can check out her blog by </em><a href="http://christiangalinthecity.blogspot.com/"><em>clicking here</em></a><em>.</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3wQ4GOIUmMo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3wQ4GOIUmMo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-56772242022658429372010-01-30T19:50:00.000-08:002010-01-30T19:50:15.184-08:00"The God in Me" by Mary Mary {VIDEO}<div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ud43IAVhamo&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ud43IAVhamo&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-35864914292341826152010-01-28T16:11:00.000-08:002010-01-28T17:03:05.819-08:00Giving it up for GodI think I was about 7 or 8 years old when my father first gave his life over to <strong>Christ.</strong> I don’t think I was surprised; my family (immediate and distant) had always been involved in the church. It was actually my mother, who guided my father to the Lord, not by her nagging and <strong>condemnation</strong>. But by the light that shined in and through her.<br />
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</div>When my father first became saved, my sisters and I thought my father had gone crazy. His favorite saying was, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” and he meant it. My father then decided to purge his home from all worldly ties. He removed certain cable channels from our television; he removed certain movies, books and other influences of the “world” from the home. He forbade us to use God’s name in vain, we could not play cards or gamble (lottery) and every time a situation arose or one of us received a bad report from our teachers, he would sit us down lovingly and discipline us based on scripture. He would read to us from the bible and lecture for at least an hour before giving us our final punishment of standing in a corner, taking away our telephone and television privileges and/or grounding us for weeks at a time. <br />
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Of course, my sisters and I (and even my mother at times) thought Daddy was taking things overboard. There was no way that God would allow us to live miserable lives without ANY type of pleasures other than church, bible study and choir rehearsals. <br />
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Now that I have gotten older, wiser and have rededicated my OWN life to Christ I can now understand my father’s struggles with learning to be IN the world but not OF the world. See, the flesh (your body) is very weak and highly susceptible to sin. I learned this in my struggles in removing myself FROM the world. Think about it, when a baby is born, the child is born INTO sin, not OF sin. Babies are innocent and it is that child’s upbringing, environment, experiences and teachings that develop that child’s mind and influences their thinking. This is why, as Christians (new and old) we must be very careful about the evils our eyes see (television, the people we hang around, porno, etc), our ears hear and our mouth speaks. <br />
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A good example of this is when I first decided that I would only listen to gospel music in my car on my drive to work in the morning. I figure, what better way to start your day than spend it rejoicing in the Lord. Well, on my drives home from work, I noticed I began to listen to gospel music then, too (it's about a 25 minute drive from work to my home). After a while, I realized that I was losing an interest for my favorite radio stations, such as WPGC 95.5 and WKYS 93.9 (hip-hop and more)! I decided then I would not longer listen to anything but gospel, the bible on audio, and teachings. This may have seemed drastic to some, but for me, music has always been… my everything. It enhances my mood and gets me going in the morning. It has been there to put me in the right frame of mind when I had papers to write and even set the mood while I was getting myself primped to go out and party for the night! I have always depended on my music to get me through a tough situation, a break-up or even a breakthrough. But the more I listened to gospel music, the more I realized what type of garbage and chaos I was filling my ears with. <br />
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When I finally did turn my radio back on, almost every song I listened to was filled with sex, greed, money and cars, bitches and hoes. PURE GARBAGE! And what a lot of people don’t realize is that music is subliminal. If you hear something over and over again, eventually you will begin to believe it. <br />
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When I was younger, any music my sisters and I brought home, my father would make us listen to it with him first to gain his approval. Sometimes the music was so “out there” that I would cringe while listening to it with my father. I remember when I was about 13 years old when I brought home a tape of Wreckx-N-Effect’s, “Rump Shaker.” I loved that song! And I saw nothing wrong with it while I was participating in our middle school’s dances. When I listened to with my father, all the words of the song that were so harmless and cool became shameful to listen to with him. I could not believe the degree of embarrassment I felt as my father listened to the voice talk about “all he wanted to do was zoom a zoom zoom zoom in a boom boom, just shake your rump.”<br />
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That was somewhat how I felt in my car listening to the radio on and all the explicit words that were being used to describe “love,” women, and life in general. That was when I realized that drastic measure are often needed in order for us to deter from the sins we have been dabbling in and have even enjoyed doing so. But it is not until we take a step back and analyze what we do under God’s scope of things. He does not stir us in the wrong direction and I can probably bet that most of us have felt that sudden felling of doubt or remorse right before we do something that is not pleasing to God. This is the Holy Spirit at work, telling us and reminding us that we are about to do something (or listening to something, or watching something) that does not align with God’s Word. <br />
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As saved women of God, even those that have re-dedicated their lives or are struggling to adhere to God’s word when sin seems to feel so good, we must remember to remain in the world but not of the world. Spend time with God and He will always tell you the truth about what you’re doing. Even if you have to remove the television from your home, erase certain telephone numbers out of your phone, end a relationship not pleasing to God, throw away every DVD in your home and start all over again, it would be well worth it. In order to have a relationship with God, all it takes is to accept him and study his Word, pray and ask him for guidance and deliverance. But to whom much is given, much is required, therefore in order to expect certain things from God, we must be willing to give up and sacrifice some of our ungodly and unclean ways, if not all. And believe me Sistahs… if I can do, trust me, so can you.<br />
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© K. Johnson, January 2010<br />
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</div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-81444040887767046032010-01-19T13:23:00.000-08:002010-01-26T23:20:52.945-08:00A Wife in Waiting {PRAYER}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxFyzkpQA1Zf4KVoJbLbW8wOfjY33gbx59PImmDpJ3qNASJpqVfE7__xgbntyvmw2MXWeCaK7Q4xB-IPRpdfs4vlUc46cvgUwfjglyeU1yZEHbkhTD_SEyi68wOpNccP3D2op8g7XJDea/s1600-h/PRAYER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxFyzkpQA1Zf4KVoJbLbW8wOfjY33gbx59PImmDpJ3qNASJpqVfE7__xgbntyvmw2MXWeCaK7Q4xB-IPRpdfs4vlUc46cvgUwfjglyeU1yZEHbkhTD_SEyi68wOpNccP3D2op8g7XJDea/s640/PRAYER.jpg" /></a><br />
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Lord, I thank You for my life, my purpose, and for the revelation of Your truth to me. I know in the core of my being that my life's purpose includes being a wife. Without You, nothing good can come to me. So I rely on You and Your leading to bring me to my destiny.<br />
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I trust You to lead me and to guide me. I rely on You to teach me what I need to know in regards to marriage and to my responsibilities as a wife. I know that marriage isn't a fairy tale, and there are challenges and trials I will endure. But I also know that Your kind of blessings make me rich, and brings no sorrow to me. So I know in the end, I will enjoy and be satisfied in the relationship You will be bring to my life. Help me to stay in your perfect will, so I can be in the right place at the right time, to meet the man I can love and support for the days You allow us to share together.<br />
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Lord, I am ready to work. I am ready to be taken care of and to take care of. I am ready to help a man that needs my help. I am ready to aid him in fulfilling his purpose on this earth. I will do good to him and not evil all the days of his life. Lord, fashion me into the woman that will please You and that will be good to him. Lord, give him what he needs to love and care for me. I thank You for expanding his borders, for bringing him into the knowledge of Your riches for him, and for establishing his feet in the path of Your will.<br />
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I am not anxious; I am expectant of the time we will meet. Until then, may I bring glory to your life, may I respond to your direction in obedience, and may my life reflect what you would like to see in a princess in Your kingdom. In Jesus' Name,<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">=Amen.=<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>This prayer was originally posted by Chritine Pembledon, author of Lord, I'm Ready to be a Wife</em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>and can be found online at <a href="http://readytobeawife.blogspot.com/2008/12/wife-in-waiting-prayer.html">http://readytobeawife.blogspot.com/2008/12/wife-in-waiting-prayer.html</a>.</em><br />
</div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-42296533308326841072010-01-15T15:44:00.000-08:002010-01-15T15:44:17.629-08:00We all have a Purpose!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9urTgFag4fi6mX-o6ySc04AmJm6yZFj7KrYscUeL3g0EX5AINcJnTrMdjIvOdB2RDbr2WsA6qkHrGvAWFsBq9__bDlEwYOxx16MErYHmJpYwpXX-3lxQZO_s5HO1ooNUWhIYbKO82XCSk/s1600-h/purpose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9urTgFag4fi6mX-o6ySc04AmJm6yZFj7KrYscUeL3g0EX5AINcJnTrMdjIvOdB2RDbr2WsA6qkHrGvAWFsBq9__bDlEwYOxx16MErYHmJpYwpXX-3lxQZO_s5HO1ooNUWhIYbKO82XCSk/s400/purpose.jpg" /></a><br />
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Have you ever heard anyone say, there’s nothing special I can do; I just don’t have any <strong>purpose</strong> in life? Or, how about this, I just want to die, there’s nothing left in life for me to live for? We live in a culture today that puts so much emphasis on the wrong thing. After all, if you’re not young or beautiful, what is there for you? We are all affected by this.<br />
<a name='more'></a><strong><em>1 Corinthians 12: 14-26 says:</em></strong><br />
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<blockquote><em>"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."</em></blockquote><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">We all have a purpose</span></strong><br />
I’ve noticed a very interesting thing among teenagers (this often goes for adults, too). Have you noticed, especially when talking about physical features, everyone will tell you their major physical defect. At least, it’s major to them. You look at this gorgeous gal, and think, “Wow, what would I give to look like that?” She will tell you, however, I’m not beautiful, my nose is too long, or my eyes are too small, or my teeth are crooked, or I walk funny, or I’m too short, or I’m too tall, etc. Our own perspective of ourselves is usually very negative. Yet, all of that is totally irrelevant, even though our culture does not view it that way. What does the <strong>Bible</strong> say about our purpose in life? <br />
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We are all members of one body, therefore, we each have the specific purpose that God designed for us to have! For the body does not consist of one member but of many. <br />
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God has made you for a unique and special purpose. Examine your own likes and dislikes: what you are really good at and what you are not good at, what is really interesting and fun to you and what is not. <br />
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“Why does THIS matter,” you ask? It matters because you were designed by God to be you! You have a unique place and purpose that no one else has. You may think, “There are a million other people who are just like me—they like the same things I like, and do the same things I do. Not true! Many people may be similar to you, but they are never exactly like you. You are a unique part of the world God has placed you in, and you are needed. No one else is exactly like you, therefore, without you, something would be missing. Examine just who you are, and you will have taken one gigantic step toward finding your purpose in life.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Your purpose is necessary</span></strong><br />
Not only are you unique, but the purpose in life God has chosen for you in this life is necessary. Is that true only if you are someone really important, like the president of the United States? Definitely not! Look at what verses 15 through 19 of 1 Corinthians. <br />
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If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? <br />
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Are your feet necessary? Even though you can still live without your feet, life would certainly be much more difficult. for a specific function. <br />
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Are your hands necessary? Well, you may be able to live without them, but you would have serious difficulties managing without your hands. What about your ears, your eyes, your legs, well, I think you get the idea. God gave us each of these things for a specific function. <br />
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Can your feet comb your hair, or type a letter, or catch a ball? Can you walk on your hands, or on your ears, or on your eyes? Can you hear with your feet, or your hands, or your legs? Can you see with your ears, or your legs, or your hands? We hardly notice our ears, unless we have cute earrings; or our eyes, unless we wear glasses; or our feet, unless we are wearing flip flops and have painted our toenails.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">There is no purpose that is greater than another</span></strong><br />
We tend to view certain people as more important than others. The CEO is considered to be the most important person in a corporation. What about the workers in the factory? How well would the CEO do if all of the factory workers in his window factory decided to not show up for work for one month? How well would the corporation do if the factory workers showed up as usual, but the CEO did not show up for one month? They would certainly have difficulty if the CEO didn’t show up, but the factory could still keep on running, and windows would still be produced every day. However, if the factory workers all decided not to show up, production would stop for one month. I’m not saying that the CEO is not important. Of course he is, but even the “lowly” factory workers are important in the corporation. <br />
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<em>Look at these verses from 1 Corinthians 12:21-26.</em> <br />
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The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” <br />
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On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. <br />
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You have a purpose in life; that purpose is unique; and no one purpose is more important than another. Think about that the next time you comb your hair. <br />
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<a href="http://www.thesistahsministry.com/"><em>Source: The S.I.S.T.A.H.S. Ministry</em></a>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-15686155988169078772010-01-14T15:27:00.000-08:002010-01-26T23:21:26.235-08:00A Prayer for Haiti {PRAYER}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAvQKzZSRTt8ceBuOUNHUYDUN71FZIx2Pualglg5rNDRa6rQVp7TZEvwB9S-kX6LhaXYeaEvyKmYW7nd2zo_mq8Twwspom-XIOrDscqP-fvXwbBtVHChkeheCtbzYUmZS1uVDEHYDLBxx/s1600-h/PRAYER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAvQKzZSRTt8ceBuOUNHUYDUN71FZIx2Pualglg5rNDRa6rQVp7TZEvwB9S-kX6LhaXYeaEvyKmYW7nd2zo_mq8Twwspom-XIOrDscqP-fvXwbBtVHChkeheCtbzYUmZS1uVDEHYDLBxx/s640/PRAYER.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><strong>A Prayer for Haiti</strong><br />
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O God, we have been stunned once again by an event which seems so unnatural and yet is called “natural disaster.”<br />
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We have no words to answer the “why” which we feel, no wisdom to explain away the unexplainable areas of life.<br />
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Keep us from attributing this event as a heavenly reprimand, or from a certain haughtiness that tempts the distant soul. Give us to be compassionate and gentle, servants to those in need.<br />
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Remind us of your gracious love in the midst of sorrow, and your ability to work miracles when hope is faint.<br />
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We pray for those who suffer in Haiti even now and for those who await rescue. For relatives, for the children, for mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandparents, aunts and cousins. For the survivors who question what more they might have done. And for those who must keep on keeping on, in spite of. For the leaders, for those who bring aid and those who await news. Strengthen and encourage them we pray.<br />
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Now unto you, O God, we take the burdens of this hour and place them in your divine care. For all you do and are doing, seen and unseen, we give thee thanks Eternal God of All Creation. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>=Amen=</strong><br />
</div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-31745339485693615902010-01-14T15:03:00.000-08:002010-03-01T14:35:41.248-08:00The Purpose of the Woman- What we can do to become more virtuous in our walk of faith<div style="text-align: justify;">I stumbled across this article from the S.I.S.T.A.H.S. ministry’s blog. It was directed to, “All the Single Ladies,” and explains how God wants to be your guide in finding a new place – a place where those close to you care for you and admire you. He wants to demonstrate great love for you when we trust in Him and let Him be our guide through all things.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As women, we tend to harbor our aggressions, hold grudges, go above and beyond to please men we aren’t even married to and even devalue our self-worth by doing things to our bodies that is displeasing to the Lord.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bible describes the “virtuous woman” in the book of Proverbs. This scripture lays out the ideal woman. We are provided a clear look at her, the innermost depths of her character that manifest itself in certain tangible traits (Prov. 31: 10, 10-31). The expression "virtuous woman" is from the Hebrew ishshah chayil and literally means "one of power either in mind or body, or both." As one source comments, "She is the perfect housewife, the chaste helpmate of her husband, upright, God-fearing, economical, wise" (The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 9, pg. 597).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some may think the woman described in Proverbs 31 does not exist today. The Bible does not change. It is what it is and will NEVER change. So, even in an everchanging world, we must learn to adapt and not dismay from the teachings of the Bible. This is why believers refer to the Bible as, THE WORD. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book of Proverbs is not the only book of the Bible that gives guidelines as to how the ideal woman should dress, act and to utilize her heart. Below, we have described what the Bible says about the Virtuous woman, the ideal woman and simple instrustions he gave us in order to learn to be this woman.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The purpose of the Woman</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiVryjJ64oz2j9VeSHeJzBWHOjbj4rJsrnF6FJJW-RFNVBxf8lnAme_jVflmBYjo-GbgIsHkwsw-wWytFfbQMj-8JylqxFWfZLag1eWtDyBIXc-PRGimvI0HSi4epKzcRBr49ft6u0TdE/s1600-h/woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiVryjJ64oz2j9VeSHeJzBWHOjbj4rJsrnF6FJJW-RFNVBxf8lnAme_jVflmBYjo-GbgIsHkwsw-wWytFfbQMj-8JylqxFWfZLag1eWtDyBIXc-PRGimvI0HSi4epKzcRBr49ft6u0TdE/s640/woman.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All of God's creation has purpose; woman is no exception. We read, "And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him" (Gen. 2: 18). "Help meet" is from a Hebrew word that suggests a counter-part or helper comparable to him. Every aspect of the woman is a compliment and counter-part to the man. Feminists who deny this are not only in opposition with the Bible but also basic and observable facts. Those who see this biblical truth as belittling to women err. The male and female compose a perfect unit. When God's assigned order and arrangement is perverted, then chaos results. The woman and man (husband and wife) are to encourage one another spiritually. Hence, we read "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (I Pet. 3: 7).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">A woman should dress modestly so that she does not cause men to stumble, and she trains her thought life not to lust after men.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Romans 14:13 underscores this principle: “Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.” To put it simply, women must be very careful about what they wear. The focus of men’s interest is physical by nature. They don’t need any help from us in conjuring up physical desire. If this happens to be a struggle for you and you often feel convicted, earnestly pray and ask the Lord to show you how to make the appropriate changes in your dress and lifestyle. God will respond by giving you the grace to help you make the necessary adjustments in your behavior.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you pursue the heart of God, you will find that what may have been acceptable in the past is no longer acceptable to you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And SISTAHS, let’s not forget our duty to lovingly, yet boldly encourage and challenge younger ladies as to what they wear – not just talk about them as they walk by.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Excerpt from "When Love's In View" by Dr. Conway & Jada Edwards </em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A woman should understand that it is inappropriate to pursue or engage in physical, emotional or spiritual oneness with a man to whom she is not married.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ephesians 5:3-4 says "But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting - all of which are out of character - but rather thanksgiving." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You see, SISTAHS, it's more than just abstaining from sex; to be a true and respectful woman, it's also about watching what you say and how you believe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For many women, the struggle in relationships isn't a physical issue; rather, it's of a spiritual and emotional matter. Therefore, to avoid developing spiritual ties, you must conduct yourself appropriate with men whom you consider "friends". Be careful about praying with or sharing other spiritually and emotionally intimate experiences one-on-one with men whom you consider "friends".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You also need to be cautious about whom you express your hopes, dreams, and fears. Women have been designed to "naturally" connect with men, but you must always use wisdom and be on guard about your interactions with the opposite sex. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A Virtuous woman tends to the needs of her family and </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>never abandons them</strong>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A cursory examination of Proverbs 31: 10-31 reveals the emphasis and priority of God's woman: her family. She is seen busy in activities that pertain to the good and well being of her husband and children. She does good to her husband and not evil and "she rises also while it is yet night, and give meat to her household" (vs. 12; 15). She is not concerned with the threats of nature, because she has made ready for her family against nature (vs. 21). The fact of her primary concern being her family is seen in the language: "She looked well to the ways of her household, and eat not the bread of idleness" (vs. 27). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The teaching of Proverbs 31 is in perfect harmony with the teaching of the New Testament relative to the role of woman. In Paul's inspired epistle to Titus, Paul says regarding older women: "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Tit. 2: 4, 5). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The characteristics of the Virtuous Woman</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we consider the characteristics of God's woman, we can see why she is "ishshal chayil," a woman of force and power." Let us briefly mention how she is described and appreciate the fact that these are not surface traits, but they actually emanate from her character. She fears the Lord; hence she is characterized by piety (vs. 30). Purity and loyalty abound (vs. 10, 11, 12). She is kind, benevolent, and selfless (vs. 26, 20, 15, 20, 27). As opposed to bitterness and complaining, cheerfulness is seen (vs. 21). She is wise and dignified (vs. 26; 22). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">An outstanding characteristic of the virtuous woman is her industry. This zeal and resourcefulness is seen in the promotion of her household (vs. 13, 15, 19, 21, 27). She is a manufacturer, merchant, and landowner (vs. 24; 24; 16). She even cultivates the soil (vs. 16). Herein, please allow me to gently issue a challenge: Who said the godly wife and mother cannot be involved in enterprise outside her physical house? Look again at the virtuous woman (vs. 24; 16). She is presented as what we would call an entrepreneur. She is involved in such enterprise, yet, does not neglect her family!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The reward of being a virtuous woman.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First, be impressed with the fact that God's woman is a woman of real power. Which is more far reaching: to work primarily at a secular career and promote a company in providing some often whimsical product or contributing to the very foundation of society and mankind itself, the family? Herein is power! Too often great women go unnoticed and without praise. Not so with the godly woman of our text. We read, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praised her" and "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates" (vs. 28; 31). Appreciate the fact that the wife has personal recognition, "let her own works praise her in the gates." What a statement, especially when viewed in the Jewish setting in which it is made!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Beloved, above and beyond all praise, recognition, and joy of this earth, heaven is the ultimate reward for God's people (Matt. 5: 12). We need more women today who are seeking to emulate the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 and not Hollywood's version of the successful woman. God's woman is of real substance and lasting quality and will offer important contributions to herself, family, and society as a whole. May their tribe increase. (You might like to read, "The Truth about Woman."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Source 1: http://www.bibletruths.net/Archives/BTAR235.htm</em></div><em></em><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Source 2: http://www.thesistahsministry.com/allthesingleladies.htm</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-51578423964728256192010-01-12T16:15:00.000-08:002010-02-22T20:46:37.108-08:00FRIENDS... how many of us have them?<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Christian Friends: 5 Traits of True Christian Friends</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Friends may come, and friends may go, but a true friend is there to help and inspire you to grow"</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV2nBrzZMUsfisWI6kmSanI5ceHOFTjfpFUs-U0vaQpbIp89Jhbp5U9Ex97KOSqyMd-ubXYinhgwjnBLdHo7OgOWmu1Mf1XyqZBNwSqNr_t2_vy9rN21NUJ7Hdf_u_sGZqfJhTzXvetTj/s1600-h/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV2nBrzZMUsfisWI6kmSanI5ceHOFTjfpFUs-U0vaQpbIp89Jhbp5U9Ex97KOSqyMd-ubXYinhgwjnBLdHo7OgOWmu1Mf1XyqZBNwSqNr_t2_vy9rN21NUJ7Hdf_u_sGZqfJhTzXvetTj/s320/friends.jpg" /></a></div>A woman named Florence posted this short poem on a forum. The lessons on three types of Christian friends were taught by Nancy Honeytree, a singer/songwriter who was one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music. We are hoping these simple but valuable teachings stick with you, helping you to cultivate a few treasured friendships.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">5 Traits of True Christian Friends</span></strong><br />
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So, what does a true Christian friendship look like? Let's break it down into traits that are easy to identify. <br />
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<strong>Christian Friends Love Sacrificially</strong><br />
John 15:13 <br />
<em>Greater love has no one than this, which he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV)</em> <br />
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Jesus is the finest example of a true Christian friend. His love for us is sacrificial, never selfish. He demonstrated it not only through his miracles of healing, but more fully through the humble service of washing the disciples' feet, and then ultimately, when he laid down his life on the cross. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If we choose our friends based only on what they have to offer, we'll rarely discover the blessings of a genuine friendship. Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." By valuing your friend's needs above your own, you'll be on your way to loving like Jesus. In the process, you'll likely gain a true friend. </div><br />
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<strong>Christian Friends Accept Unconditionally</strong><br />
Proverbs 17:17 <br />
<em>A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (NIV)</em> <br />
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We discover the best of friendships with brothers and sisters who know and accept our weaknesses and imperfections. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If we're easily offended or hold on to bitterness, we'll have a hard time making friends. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes now and then. If we take a truthful look at ourselves, we'll admit that we bear some of the blame when things go wrong in a friendship. A good friend is quick to ask forgiveness and ready to be forgiving. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_VW0-fuKXlXzjcppvfbyNj0xTqo7rtzdBoKx-y1fBrdfp9_d8E0bg-gYT7U9dn-S1UiQMLULi1iM1dOJVOv6kfs2iXr-BAIFyTVtInTbIowxD20Vldav5MH1cxLAlZ_O0NlO5j-axZp9/s1600-h/FRIENDS+ARE+SPECIAL.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_VW0-fuKXlXzjcppvfbyNj0xTqo7rtzdBoKx-y1fBrdfp9_d8E0bg-gYT7U9dn-S1UiQMLULi1iM1dOJVOv6kfs2iXr-BAIFyTVtInTbIowxD20Vldav5MH1cxLAlZ_O0NlO5j-axZp9/s640/FRIENDS+ARE+SPECIAL.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Christian Friends Trust Completely</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Proverbs 18:24 </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NIV) </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This proverb reveals that a true Christian friend is trustworthy, indeed, but emphasizes a second important truth as well. We should only expect to share complete trust with a few loyal friends. Trusting too easily can lead to ruin, so be careful about putting your confidence in a mere companion. Over time our true Christian friends will prove their trustworthiness by sticking closer than a brother or sister. </div><br />
<strong>Christian Friends Keep Healthy Boundaries</strong><br />
1 Corinthians 13:4 <br />
<em>Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy ... (NIV)</em> <br />
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If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong. Likewise, if you feel used or abused, something is amiss. Recognizing what's best for someone and giving that person space are signs of a healthy relationship. We should never let a friend come between us and our spouse. A true Christian friend will wisely avoid intruding and recognize your need to maintain other relationships. <br />
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<strong>Christian Friends Give Mutual Edification</strong><br />
Proverbs 27:6 <br />
<em>Wounds from a friend can be trusted ... (NIV</em>) <br />
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True Christian friends will build each other up emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Friends like to be together simply because it feels good. We receive strength, encouragement, and love. We talk, we cry, we listen. But at times we also have to say the difficult things our dearest friend needs to hear. Yet, because of the shared trust and acceptance, we are the one person who can impact our friend's heart, for we know how to deliver the hard message with truth and grace. I believe this is what Proverbs 27:17 means when it says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." <br />
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Hopefully, these five traits will show you areas that might need a little work in your effort to build stronger friendships. But if you don't have lots of close friends, don't be too hard on yourself. Remember, true Christian friendships are rare treasures, they take time to nurture, but in the process we grow more Christ-like. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">3 Types of Christian Friendships:</span></strong> <br />
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<strong>Mentor Friendship</strong><br />
The first form of Christian friendship Honeytree talked about was a mentor friendship. In a mentoring relationship we teach, counsel or disciple other Christian friends. This is a relationship based on ministry, similar to the kind Jesus had with his disciples. <br />
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<strong>Mentee Friendship</strong><br />
In a mentee friendship, we are the one being taught, counseled, or disciple. We are on the receiving end of ministry, being served by a mentor. This is similar to the way the disciples received from Jesus. <br />
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<strong>Mutual Friendship</strong><br />
Mutual friendships are not based on mentoring. Rather, in these situations the two individuals are usually more closely aligned on a spiritual level, balancing the natural flow of giving and receiving between genuine Christian friends. We'll explore mutual friendships more closely, but first, it's important to have a clear understanding of mentoring relationships, so we don't get the two confused. <br />
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Mentoring friendships can easily become draining if both parties don't recognize the nature of the relationship and construct appropriate boundaries. The mentor may need to pull back and take time for spiritual renewal. He may even have to say no at times, setting limits on his commitment to the mentee. <br />
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Likewise, a mentee who expects too much from his mentor is probably seeking a mutual bond with the wrong person. Mentees must respect boundaries and look for close friendship with someone other than a mentor. <br />
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We can be both mentor and mentee, but not with the same friend. We may know a mature believer who mentors us in God's Word, while in turn; we take time to mentor a brand new follower of Christ. <br />
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Mutual friendships are quite different than mentoring friendships. These relationships don't usually happen overnight. Typically, they develop over time as both friends progress in wisdom and spiritual maturity. A strong Christian friendship blossoms naturally when two friends grow together in faith, goodness, knowledge, and other godly graces.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/qt/versesaboutlove.htm">For more scriptures about love and friendship, click here.</a></span></strong></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-64774295251384259072010-01-12T10:21:00.000-08:002010-01-30T19:36:51.053-08:00Guidance {Prayer}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTM8Akuaw4Udt3bD1Cro5PSU-ewK_O6sg-T4bkk0b9IMfIJywtXvSV1NkbcO58eOGCvgXuVtfaSY2GViL86hI8V_HGFU0MC30iMV70tOkUFaZbA2Q76SawOQP8AXE1-D2izec0tSBgtLP/s1600-h/PRAYER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTM8Akuaw4Udt3bD1Cro5PSU-ewK_O6sg-T4bkk0b9IMfIJywtXvSV1NkbcO58eOGCvgXuVtfaSY2GViL86hI8V_HGFU0MC30iMV70tOkUFaZbA2Q76SawOQP8AXE1-D2izec0tSBgtLP/s640/PRAYER.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">A Prayer for Guidance</span></strong></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Father,</strong></div><br />
Thank you for accepting me just as I am. I know that I have done wrong and I know that I have made mistakes in my life. Through trial and error and in my heart, I know and have learned that without You, I am nothing. There are many worldly desires of the flesh that I have tried to fulfill my own way, to no avail. I still feel empty. I know that I need You in every aspect of my life. Walk with me and guide me through danger, order my steps when I am in dismay, whisper in my ear when I need motivation and reassurance. I give my life to You and trust you with all my heart. Wipe my slate clean and guide me in every step. I thank You Father for Your love and Your mercy and for never turning your back on me, loving me unconditionally and accepting me in your arms as a loving Father would. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me in making the right decisions in my life, decisions that are pleasing to You.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>=Amen=</strong></span></div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-33066316671104453082010-01-11T17:02:00.000-08:002010-01-13T10:32:31.597-08:00So what you're a sinner, Guess What? God wants you ANYWAY!<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst." </em></strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>1 Timothy 1:15</em></strong><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One of the most common misconceptions that non-believers have about Christianity and coming to Christ is that you have to “be right” or adopt a certain “stiff-like” lifestyle in order to be saved or be a <strong>Christian</strong>. This is <strong>NOT TRUE</strong>. The bible tells us to “come as you are.” That means in all your <strong>sin</strong>, your filth and dirt, God loves and wants you anyway.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even with all the partying, drinking, smoking, pre-marital sex, unnatural sex acts, lust, envy, greed, and yes, even murder, <strong><span style="color: magenta;">GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS YOU ANYWAY</span></strong>!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He doesn’t expect his children to be perfect beings but He does expect us to make the effort on our part. See, what a lot of people don’t grasp is the fact that God is our Father, our <strong>Heavenly Father</strong> and just like an earthly father, he knows we will make mistakes and sometimes make the decision that may be the wrong decision. It would be unrealistic to think that God would expect us to be perfect and flawless in every way. <br />
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God allowed us <strong>free will</strong> in a world where sin does exist, where death, disease and destruction does exist. In fact, His love demands that he gives us free will. Sadly, no one is immune to the wrong decisions of others. When bad things happen in the world, it is usually because people have used their free-will to do the things that they wanted and are pleasing to their flesh. <br />
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So, that’s the first thing. Sin <strong>DOES</strong> exist and no matter whom we are, where we are, there is no way possible that we would be perfect beings and not fall prey at some point to sin. It’s not the fact that we have fallen prey to sin, it’s the fact that when we do, we must deter from sin and confess them to<strong> God</strong> to give us the strength to make the right decisions, to ask him to walk with us and to show us with our natural minds to think like Him and not of <strong>the world</strong>.<br />
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<em>Written by K. Johnson</em> <br />
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<em>Sources:</em> <br />
<em>If I could Ask God One Question</em> by Greg Johnson<br />
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<a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/The-Healthy-Woman/"><img alt="The Healthy Woman - Easy to understand information from the nation's leaders in women's health - Available to Order Now!" border="0" height="90" src="http://www.womenshealth.gov/The-Healthy-Woman/images/thehealthywoman730x90.gif" width="730" /></a>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-83740844898043620632010-01-11T16:42:00.000-08:002010-01-26T23:19:55.503-08:00ANGER- Just Let it Go!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Growing up, I have always had issues with <strong>anger</strong>, especially learning to control my anger. I’m not sure where this angry <strong>spirit</strong> came to play in my life, perhaps it stems from my childhood. I was raised in a very strict home, a mother who suffered from severe depression and organic personality disorder and a father who had already left for work when I woke up and still at work when I went to bed. Life wasn’t always peaches and cream for me nor my two younger sisters, however as an adult I realized that I could not use my childhood as a crutch to harbor my anger.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I can remember instances where I have caused bodily harm to myself and others, put others in harm’s way, came close to death and even a lifetime in prison as a result of not knowing how to control my anger. Recently, I purchased a book from my church’s bookstore entitled, <em><span style="color: magenta;"><strong>Breaking Free from Anger and Unforgiveness; a biblical strategy to conquer destructive reactions</strong></span></em>. A lot of the passages and scriptures really helped to open my eyes to a lot of the feelings I have harbored and held onto for so long that have been the root of my anger. Simply put, I realize it is time to LET IT GO. Say it with me, LET IT GO.<br />
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</div>Of course, I know that it is easier said than done but trust me, if I can come to terms with a lot of the hostility I have held onto for many, many years than so can anyone. See, anger is a natural feeling. Even Jesus became angry when he took the form of man. The Pharisees, who continually refused to acknowledge Jesus as the messiah and tried to trap Him in their legalisms, angered Him.<br />
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The directive, “Be angry, and yet do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26), acknowledges that anger is a part of our natural human emotions (Mintle 25).However, it is not the actual emotion of anger that gets us into trouble and that has God pointing his finger at us in chastisement. It is how we react to our anger and what we do with it (and what we utilize as OUTLETS) that gets us into trouble.<br />
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I have been battling cigarette smoking for years. This is something that I have made several excuses for, as to why I have been smoking. "It helps relieve my stress," "It gives me something to do," "It helps me calm down when I'm really pissed off." All these excuses sounded good to me but in actuality, I was using it as an outlet because I did not know what to do with my pent up anger and aggressions.<br />
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Whenever I would get upset, the first thing I would do was light up! After almost 11 years of lighting up, reality hit me one day while I was sitting at my grandmother's side @ Washington Hospital Center in downtown Washington, DC. We had just received the news that she had colon cancer.<br />
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Shortly after, my best friend’s grandmother was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered she had developed kidney cancer.It seemed like stories of cancer were all over the place. Was this a sign from God? A message or warning to myself? I had read of Charlie Murphy's wife dying of breast cancer in her sleep, and a cousin of mine (who is only 31 years old) called me to tell me she had pelvic cancer. It was then I realized the cigarettes, needed to go.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">If you are battling with anger, you are NOT alone. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anger is a natural human feeling. Learning to control your anger is key. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Click here for a prayer to ask God for help in battling and controlling your anger</strong>.</span><br />
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</div>Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580022275391665238.post-11084421010544106802010-01-11T16:19:00.000-08:002010-01-11T16:27:04.962-08:00Who are the Sistahs After God's Heart?This blog originally started as a simple idea a friend and I shared as an online diary of our personal struggles in our walk with Christ. Both of us have been through issues and situations that have been tragic, disheartening, and enlightening. We have dealt with betrayal, death, incarceration, lesbianism, molestation and more issues that some may never have believed we have experienced. We are not here to judge or condemn anyone; God is a loving and forgiving God and washes us clean when we REPENT our sins. We are here to offer our firsthand experiences with battling those of the world and as a support system for those who may be experiencing the same battles. <br /><br />When coming into Christ (or re-dedicating your life to Christ) there are many questions that may arise and simply reading from the Bible may not be able to give you the clearest answer when needed. We found several websites and support groups out there, to say the least. We needed something different, a place where we could talk about our sins, our past lives, our dirt and filth and not be ashamed of where we came from.<br /><br />As we said before, we are not here to judge or condemn, only to offer support and minister to those who are coming from where we have been. We are not preachers nor teachers. We are simply, two <strong><em>Sistahs After God's Heart</em></strong> and are learning everyday.Sistahs After God's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828334664175476723noreply@blogger.com0