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WALKING AND LOVING IT!

The past few months I have been walking three miles in the early AM and have also started doing it in the evening. I must tell you that it has been a wonderful thing. First of all I have been able to clear my head and pray. That alone is worth the miles by itself. It totally relieves stress and makes me feel so relaxed when I get back. I don’t walk on a treadmill or anything like that. I walk through the neighborhood enjoying the trees, nature, the occasional jogger or walker. I also find that my creative juices really get flowing while I am walking. A lot of great ideas and solutions seem to flow freely. You know sometimes we are so clogged up with all of the things life throws at us that we rarely get an opportunity to release. Like I have said many times before we’ve got to take time for ourselves. It is not selfish, but self-preserving. My walks totally allow me to let go of the stress. I love my time with God as I enjoy this peaceful time that I TAKE for myself.

To All My Lovely Ladies!!!!

I've just been doing a lot of thinking about myself as a young woman of God. This life sometimes can be really hard! With all of the demands of life and society sometimes I find myself feeling a little insecure as to whom I am because I am not like the "average" young woman living in the big city. However, I find refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ and I've learned that my heavenly Father is concerned about me and has something in His word for every situation I face. I got saved at a young age. In fact I've grown up in church all my life. Sometimes I wish I hadn't just so I would know what it's like outside, but then I realize that I am abundantly blessed to be chosen by God to be cushioned with the Word of God with parents and family constantly praying for me. So I want to send a special shout out and a word of encouragement to all of you Lovely Ladies that are SAVED, SANCTIFIED, HOLY GHOST FILLED, and FIRE BAPTIZED!!!!!!! Be proud, you are wearing the banner of God's grace and mercy! You are a representation of how God so loved the world that He gave His son!!!

So Big ups to my girls with the long denim skirts! Big ups to my sisters still wearing hats and prayer caps! Big ups to all my ladies waiting to have sex until marriage to be honorable to God! Big ups to my sisters working and raising kids in the fear of God! Big Ups to the Old Mothers and Missionaries!!! Big ups to the intercessors, mentors, Sunday school teachers, Ushers, all my church secretaries, and First Ladies!!! God Bless y'all!!! Big ups to every woman out there holding firm to the Standard of the true and living God, Jesus Christ!!!! God Bless, be encouraged, and continue to Press towards the mark for the prize of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus!!!! Phil. 3:14

Why Do I Always Choose The Wrong Person?

One of the most interesting relationship questions that I’ve ever been asked is, “Why do I always pick the wrong person?” It is usually accompanied by this question, “How do I stop picking the wrong person?” While there are many answers to these questions I think one of the most important one is the fact that knowledge of oneself must take precedence to entering into a relationship with someone else. What I mean is that you have to choose to know yourself first. Doing so will arm you with the information necessary for making wise choices when it comes to being romantically linked. For example: What are your likes, dislikes, ambitions in life, traditions and personal beliefs? How did you grow up? Did you have a large family with gatherings or no family at all? What have been the experiences that have shaped your life? Are there things that you don’t mind settling for? What about behaviors that you will not tolerate? Are you very passionate, talkative, quiet, adventurous, withdrawn or fun loving? How important are these things to you?  These are things you need to know. I have only listed a few of them, but it is by knowing some of these things that you will have what you need to form a set of solid expectations, requirements and boundaries for a relationship with someone else. Please understand that these determinations need to be made BEFORE you are faced with a moment of decision. That way you won’t have to think about them. They will have the ability to automatically kick in when you need them. Unless you take the time (YES I SAID TAKE) to do this you will be like someone blindfolding themselves and stopping up their ears before choosing between two barrels to stick their hand into. One of the barrels, which will be nearest to you, is filled with venomous vipers and the other contains the keys to one of life’s greatest treasures. You’ll just keep choosing the nearest, most available and assessable barrel where you will consistently get bitten. Why not take the time to choose you first instead?

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones, But Words?

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This is what grownups used to tell us to say whenever someone was teasing us. Unfortunately what's bad about this statement is that it is not true because after the wounds from the sticks and stones have healed many of us are yet feeling the effects of being hurt by words that have been long since forgotten. Words hurt and they can hurt much deeper and longer than sticks and stones ever will. It doesn’t matter if they are written or spoken, they hurt. The more closely related you are to the person who says these negative things the worse it hurts. It hurts when a stranger says them. It hurts even more when a friend says them. The pain increases when a relative says them and especially when a spouse says them. However, the most damage and deepest hurt comes when we say them to ourselves long after everyone else has stopped saying them. What’s worse than anything else is when we, after repeating them for so long to ourselves, begin to believe them. If for no other reason outside of encouraging oneself, it is extremely important that we begin to learn to have positive self-talk. If no one else says that you deserve better, have the ability to achieve, look nice, are a wonderful person, are smart etc., then make sure you tell yourself. Don’t whisper it. Say it so you can hear it. If someone happens to hear you and asks why you are talking to yourself, then tell them that you like talking to intelligent people and that you like hearing intelligent people talk. Say good things to yourself and about yourself. Why is it that people so quickly reject compliments and readily believe insults? Receive the compliments by simply saying thank you and rebuke the insults replacing them immediately with a self-compliment. No it is not conceit. It is self-preserving. So say good things to yourself! You deserve it!

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

Keeping with our theme of a BETTER ME INSIDE OUT I want to talk about loving self. For most of us it is not a problem doing something for others. It makes us feel good, however when it comes to doing something special for or loving ourselves we tend to come up short.  Let me be perfectly clear. You cannot properly love someone else without first learning how to care for and love yourself. I meet too many people who have gone completely overboard for someone else with the expectation of being reciprocated  and end up totally disappointed . Please understand that loving oneself is the basis on which we are able to love others. It helps know the boundaries of that love. That is why the Bible says that we love others as we first love ourselves.  This principle helps us maintain a healthy balance when it comes to love. In other words you don't love someone to the point of smothering them or hurting ourselves. What I see with people who do not maintain self love is that over time they seem to be able to forgive others, but find difficulty forgiving themselves, see worth in others, but not themselves, find time to do good for others and little or no time to be good to self, give compliments to others, but find it hard to receive them, see others as lovable, but themselves as unlovable. Furthermore it seems we get confused with the idea that denial of self is necessary for a better relationship. Even that has its limitation. It should not be a denial that ends up becoming a detriment to you. I've said all of that to say this: Give yourself a break sometimes. Do something that makes you happy. Don't find or make the time, take the time! What have you done for you lately? You've saved money, so treat yourself to that little purchase. Take the vacation. Your children, friends and family will survive it. This is not selfish. It is self preserving because it allows you to replenish and enables you to then have something to give to someone else. Do it for you. You'll thank yourself later.