The Princess Has Married

I met Megan Piphus Peace several years ago when she came to Light Of The World to minister to our children. She was so gifted and the sweetest person ever. I became her friend on Facebook and through this media I was able to see her simply flourish into this incredible young lady who was making moves all over the place. With all of this going on she fell in love with a very handsome young man who was also making moves and doing incredible things. 

Their wedding was over the summer at Music Hall and the pictures are everything beautiful and absolutely breathtaking. One of the first pictures I saw was of her alone and I thought to myself, "The beautiful princess is married."

What a beautiful couple. When I look at these pictures I'm reminded of the couples in Jet Magazine of years ago. They were so accomplished and I'd think to myslef I've never known people like that. Well I do now, Dr. Wesley and Megan Peace. Congratulations to the both of you!! 💕💕

Detroit Elite Express Places 7th at 9u AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida

Congratulations to Detroit Elite Express for placing 7th this past week in Orlando!!!!

So Filled

This morning I woke up so filled with the acknowledgment of God's love for me. As I prayed the Prayer of Jabez and the Prayer of Serenity I just kept thinking of how much God loves me. So much so that He will allow somethings to happen and somethings to cease. In all things I seek Him. In all things I trust Him. Yes, Jesus loves me. 💞

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV

Undignified ~ Men's Worship Encounter 2015 ~ Cincinnati, Ohio

And I'll Become Even More Undignified Than This

On Saturday September 26, 2015 join men from the tri-state area as they come together to fellowship  and worship. 

10:00 - 10:55 - Young Men's Discussion

11:00 - 11:30 - Breakfast 

11:30 - 1:00 - Worship Encounter
(Guest Speakers  Pastor LaMarque Ward, Cincinnati Urban Ministry Outreach (CUMO), Dream Builders University and Pastor Dion Sampson, Dayton, Ohio)

1:00 - 2:00 - Fellowship

Vendor opportunities are available more information will be forthcoming. 

Registration for #MWE2015

I will become even more undiginifed than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor. 2 Samuel 6:22

Traci Lynn Fall/Winter Catalog 2015

Traci Lynn Fall/Winter 2015

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The Take Off ~ From Fearful To Fearless - Da'dra Crawford Greathouse

Hey, Good morning! I’m about to go workout, but before I do, I felt in my heart the need to share this story with you. I haven’t met a person yet that hasn’t experienced being held back by fear. Some have a fear of failure while others have a fear of success, fear of the future, fear of trying new things, fear of others’ opinions or fear of people in general. Others have a strong fear of rejection or abandonment while some have a fear of heights and small places or even a strong fear of dying. Or, how about those who have a fear of being alone for the rest of their life or have a fear of not ever having the life they’ve dreamed of? And, I could go on and on with the list of fears and phobias, but I’ll end with these. It’s interesting that the scripture says fear brings torment and those of us who have lived beneath the weight of it understand just how heavy this scripture is. (Get it…weight, heavy…ok, it’s not that funny. LOL Why am I laughing? LOL) Back to my story….

Last night, I was speaking with a friend on the phone and I told her how fear is one of the most prominent emotions (and I personally believe a spirit) I remember having my entire life. The bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind (self-control).(Ya’ll, I memorized verses in the King James Version so that’s what comes up. Oh, bless thy name. LOL) Back to what I was saying, I have had to pull out every weapon in my arsenal just to gain any level of victory over the spirit of fear – prayer, warfare, praise, worship, confessing the word, listening to teachings on fear over and over and over again, you name it, I’ve done it to fight it. 

You see, I believe the enemy uses fear as a way to keep us from soaring to our highest and best purpose in life. It’s like an airplane with too much weight, baggage or cargo. Have you ever been on a plane and the pilot wouldn’t take off because they had to get rid of some of the weight or the plane wouldn’t fly at its optimum speed or even worse, crash upon take off? What do they do? They wait until they remove some of the weight. Then, they take flight.

Fear is excess baggage in our lives and until we are free from its domination, we won’t be able to take off and soar the way God intended. So, my prayer for you today is that fear will loose the hold it’s had on your mind, your soul and your spirit. I pray that you will not only defeat that spirit every time it tries to come back, but that you will enter into a place of total deliverance from it’s power. The Lord is your light and your salvation, whom shall you fear? (KJV again. LOL ) In other words, your creator has conquered fear and has made you an overcomer because you are made in His image and likeness. I speak freedom over your life. I declare that you will no longer be afraid of anything or anyone and that you will go from fearful to fearless so you can take off and fly as high as God will take you. If you receive it, say, ‘Amen.’   

Da'dra Crawford Greathouse is a member of the Gospel group Anointed and currently serves as a Worship Leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. 

Tyler McKinley Ranked #10 Nationally By Middle School Elite

Tyler McKinley and his brother/trainer Alex McGlothin at 9U AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida

Congratulations to Tyler McKinley on his #10 ranking by Middle School Elite. I must say our family was suprised when we received the call on Tuesday as Tyler and his brother prepared to leave for Orlando. Tyler works really hard on and off the court. Not only is he a good athlete but he also excels in academics. This past school year he passed the 3rd Grade Reading Requirement twice, he went from proficient to accelerated in a matter of months and because of his strong academic year he was invited to the Marvin Lewis Community Fund's Academic Achievement Celebration for the past two years. 

We are so proud of Tyler!!!! #HoopDreams

Update: Detroit Elite Express placed 7th at 9u AAU Nationals on July 28, 2015. What a way to end the summer!!! 

Image Is Everything Youth Conference August 1, 2015 ~ Cincinnati, Ohio

I = E Youth Conference

My Hope Is In God ~ Morning Manna

Yesterday Pastor Mike spoke about how God wants us to use His resources. I've been really thinking about #3 My Hope Is In God. The scripture he used yesterday was 1 Timothy 6:17

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

That scripture tells us that we have to put our hope in God, who richly provides us with everything.... I won't even finish this scripture. I'll just stop with "who richly provides us with everything." How many times do we get frustrated because we can't figure it out on our own? We figure that since God isn't moving fast enough we will pick it up and do it ourselves. And guess what? It still doesn't get done or it is not done in the manner of excellence in which our Father would have done it. It's at this point that we have to put our hope in God to provide us with the finances, with the employment opportunities, or with the answers to the questions that we so richly desire.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us 

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When we have faith we are placing our hope in God. Our faith can't waver and we have to be assured that God will meet us right where we are. Nothing surprises God. He knows what we have need of before we even ask. He awaits for us to seek Him first. You have to get to the point where you go back to your grandmother's red hymnal, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus's blood and righteousness. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand." Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that everyone on this call knows that our hope is You. That you provide, that you restore and that you will meet our sometimes desperate needs right when they need to be met. I pray on today that You unleash an activation of incredible faith among your people and I pray that faith spills over into our homes and our workplaces. God you are a provider of all things. You lift up our heads during the darkest seasons of our lives and all you simply ask is that we place our hope in you and to trust your provisions. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 

 I hope you have a Marvelous Monday. Be blessed in all things. 

Lyrics from The New National Baptist Hymnal

I Just Needed To Get Into God's Presence

After the week that I had if I knew nothing else I knew I had to attend a worship service. I knew that wherever I attended it had to be powerful. I needed to hear from God quick fast and in a hurry. I wasn't looking for anything specific, I simply needed to hear His voice and be in His presence. Each day magnified this desperate need. 

Several months ago there was a reality show on cable entitled Preach. While watching it I was introduced to the ministry of Prophetess Linda Roark. There was something about her that drew me in and I said to myself, "I'm going to vist her church." This week I contacted her and Angel about the church's Thursday service. Maybe that time to visit was now. 

On yesterday I arrived at my parent's home, after taking my final exams, and I see my son looking sad. He's trying to process being put off his basketball team and he clings to me near tears. I'm thinking God, this is more than I can handle. God, I need You. I'm trying to balance home, school and my personal life. In my parent's home I find the best rest and so I fell asleep and woke up to Prophetess Linda Roark's message about the church's empowerment service. My son and I went home, changed clothes and got on the road to Hamilton, Ohio. What's funny right now is that I am just realizing the church is 30 minutes away. Yesterday time and distance meant absolutely nothing to me. 

At the beginning of worship we find ourselves at World Commissioned Church. Not only were we blessed beyond measure in the service but the members were so warm and you could feel the love. Worship was everything that I needed and I, not by own will, went up for prayer. Just thinking about it right now causes me to pause and reflect. We left there with burdens lifted. We left there more encouraged than when we came. I saw my son differently. He worshipped. He studied. He heard that we are victorious. 

After service we met Prophetess Linda Roark and Angel. They are the most warm and loving women. When they hugged me I could feel the comfort I've needed after this week of events. I felt like God had answered so many prayers. Service was not even over and I knew I would be back. There's no place I'd rather be then in His presence. 

Tyler McKinley Put Off Team But Not Out Of The Game

Alex and Tyler

Tyler has been playing with a team since the beginning of the year. We met this team first at The King James Tournament last year when the coach asked his older brother Alex about him. We saw the coach again in Memphis at 2nd Grade Nationals and later we were contacted by him via YouTube and Twitter.

We decided last year to join the team and it was a good experience. My son is 9, nearly 5'5, and has a natural athletic presence. Coaches and players ask about him. Some parents, at various games, say he's not nine. That we held him back to play basketball.  

Fast forward to this past week. The team was traveling to Vegas for a tournament. My sons' flights were booked and family and friends made sure that everything was in order for this trip. Well, not everything was in order. Tyler's coach found out that we were asked to go to another tournament and put him off the team on Saturday. He told us to "take a knee on this one". We never committed to playing with another team. Yes, we were asked but our first priority was to the team he had been with. 

None of that mattered, not our flights or the inconvenience of canceling the flight. In a text he, the coach, told me that if Tyler came to Vegas he was not playing with them. A text sent to us, from another coach on the team, put it in perspective, "There  is a difference Indy Hoosiers InouGsio players don't play with other teams." Wow! This is 3rd grade basketball. 

It was a little hard for Tyler on Saturday but he knows that God has plans for him. I spoke with a basketball coach that travels nationally on Monday. He told me to take this experience as a sign from God, cut your losses and don't look back. He said, "God gave you a way out. Keep it moving." I totally receive that. We totally receive that. 

We have no hard feelings. Several doors have opened already just for Tyler to travel and play with several teams. Tyler will be fine. I think this was good for him to experience early. It'll add to his determination to be not just the best basketball player but the best person he can be. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

UNRESTRAINED – YOU ARE NOT LIMITED BY YOUR RESOURCES ~ Da'dra Crawford Greathouse

DISCLAIMER:  I did get permission from the lady this is about to share this with you all today.  I feel like it will bless many of you.  

I was up praying this morning, and God told me to give this young lady a call. When I began to pray for her, it’s like the Lord opened up the curtains and showed me the current state of her life behind them.  I saw her sitting alone in her car crying and saying, “God, why am I always robbing Peter to pay Paul?”  And, I could see her being stressed and worried saying to God, “I don’t always want to be leasing and renting and going from place to place.  I want my own home, but I can’t see how that can happen because of my finances.”  

She began to cry and said that she said those EXACT words yesterday.  She also told me that she was packing up her current apartment to move again. She also shared about the financial burden she has been under as a single mother.  LOLOL   Now, I’m only sharing this to let you, whoever you are reading this right now, know that God is REAL!  He speaks to us.  He shows us things.  I’m not any different from any of you.   I merely went upstairs to pray,and while I was worshipping God, He interrupted me and said to call her! My God! I feel like running.  I don’t know who I’m speaking to this morning, but if you call out to God, He will interrupt someone and tap them on their shoulder and say, “Hey, call….fill in the blank with YOUR NAME.  AND, SUDDENLY, that person will obey and give you a word of encouragement so precise that you know that only God could reveal that.  You are not limited by your resources!  God has people all over the world that can hear Him and bless you just in the nick of time! Come on somebody…pressed down, shaken together and running over will MAN GIVE to YOU!  God wants to help you and bless you and meet your every need!  Don’t look at your bank account, look at your God!  

I also told her not to be limited in her thinking of HOW God will bless her.  God is creative and can provide for usin unconventional ways!  Remember when Peter needed to pay taxes, Jesus told him to go fishing, and pull out the first fish he caught.  When he opened the fish’s mouth, he found the coin to pay his and Jesus’ taxes.  LOL   What about the leper that needed healing and was told to go dip in the nasty, dirty river seven times? And, he reluctantly obeyed, but when he did, he was healed.  And, what about the widow that was in debt and in trouble with the debt collectors? My God, I feel like preaching today. LOLOL In II Kings, a widow was in debt and the creditor was coming to sell her sons into slavery (OK, so you think you’ve got problems. LOL  They may threaten to re-possess your car, but can you imagine someone coming to take your children in exchange for your debt? )  The widow said she only had one jar of oil left. The prophet told the widow to go borrow vessels and he said not to borrow a few!  Wow!  You have to expand your expectation to receive the abundance before it will ever come to you!  Who am I talking to today?  You’ve had so many disappointments and struggles that you are tired and worn down from the fight.  LOL  Hey, raise your expectation again!  Be inspired by what God did today and believe again.  Believe again.  Believe again.  That’s not a typo, I felt like repeating that so it can get deep into your spirit today. LOL  

Back to my point, the widow obeyed Elisha and the bible says that as she poured the oil into the vessels, more appeared. (That’s another message in itself.  I’m not going there right now. LOL) But, these are unconventional ways that God provided for his children. I’m telling you what I told her, be open to God providing in unique ways in this season!  It may come from a complete stranger, but God knows how to get you what you need!! Listen, you may be down TO YOUR LAST, but you are not limited by YOUR resources!  Your father in heaven is giving you access to HIS resources.  God has an unrestrained life for you to live where you are free from worry about your provision.  He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord that provides. 

I also told this young lady that God showed me a door above her head and on the other side of those doors were so many blessings that when the right lever was pushed, those doors opened and all the blessings that had been stored up for her came down on and around her like an avalanche!Now, you need to just rejoice and receive this FOR YOURSELF!  LOL   You can’t look at your bank account and think that God can only bless you according to what you have. There is a door above you and all you have to do is press the lever and the door will open and the provision  will come down! Come on somebody!  LOLOL I feel this thing today. LOL

Furthermore, God began to tell me HOW to get that lever pushed so those doors would open for the great avalanche of abundance to fall on her.  Here were her instructions.  Now, take note and apply these for your own life:

1) Don’t continue to talk about how bad your problems are. Most of the time, you are innocently just describing your situation.  Don’t describe your situation, change it with you words.  This way, you won’t constantly be putting negative confessions about your life and finances in the atmosphere without realizing it.  Become more aware of what you say all day long. Stay positive in your confession.

2) You must prophesy your future and speak what you need and desire for your life!  Death and life are in the power your tongue.   Use your mouth to release your blessings. Speak those things that aren’t as though they were.  

3) PRAISE is the key that will open the door and unlock those blessings!!  Open your mouth and bless God!  Your thanksgiving and worship will push that lever and before you know it all kinds of provision will fall down and aroundyou.

OK, I need to run, but you have know that God has a life for you where you live unrestrained and free from worry about your finances and where you will live or how you will accomplish anything your heart desires.  God’s got resources you can’t even imagine.  Always remember, you are never limited by your own resources.  God can have someone send you a check in the mail, have a creditor forgive you debt, or cause you to get an unexpected raise…it can be totally unconventional. God has an abundance of resources and all you have to do is get in agreement with Him, speak what you need and praise Him for the manifestation.  This is the unrestrained life to live.  

Love ya!   Have a blessed, prosperous and productive day! 

Da’dra

Da'dra Crawford Greathouse is a member of the Gospel group Anointed and currently serves as a Worship Leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. 

Holding Onto My Faith

Earlier this year I bought a really pretty bracelet. I bought it for two reasons. It was silver and the second reason was that it simply blinged "Faith". I knew that the bracelet was unique in that it has a magnetic closure piece. I so love this bracelet. Often times when I look at my life when I mess up or things don't go my way I simply say, "My faith never wavers". So wearing a faith bracelet daily is pretty special to me.

It didn't take long for me to realize that keeping up with my bracelet was a small challenge. We were in Krogers one evening and I think my son bumped into me and I didn't realize the bracelet had come off. Imagine being in the middle of Krogers and deciding to go up and down every aisle until it was located. I had lost my faith but I wasn't content until it was thoroughly searched for. Tyler found it laying by the salad selections. He had found my faith and given it back to me. 

There were times when I would accidently drop my faith only to pick it back up and put it where it belonged. Recently I was walking across campus and for some reason the bracelet fell off like twice. Each time my faith fell, I picked it up. I didn't know if this was a sign from God or not but I tell you that after that second time I put my bracelet on and said outloud, "God, I'm going to hold on to my faith and not let it go." I did just that and it never came off again that day until I took it off. Now when I wear my bracelet I'm always checking on faith to make sure it's there. 

I was talking to my son about my bracelet and he told me, "Ma, everytime you think you have lost it you've always found it." Wow, everytime I thought I lost my faith I went searching for it until I could find it to hold onto again. Sometimes our faith is all we have. My faith never wavers. 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Good Morning Beautiful... That's Sweet Just Like Candy

Some days you simply don't forget. They stay etched in your mind forever. In May I attended a graduation ceremony at the Cintas Center. It had just poured downed raining, my allergies were killing me and I looked not myself. It was a no makeup, put on whatever, simply adjust the curls to my weave day. I sat in the handicap section because I was going to make a clean break as soon as I heard the names of my students called. I came for them but I had to leave for me. It was just one of those days.

As I sat in my seat I heard someone call my name. I looked around and didn't recognize a soul. I did say I was sick, right? I heard my name again and I began to think maybe Jesus is calling me home. I looked around again because well, the name Arlinda, is kinda uncommon. Again I recognized no one. This handsome darkskinned man walks up to me and says, "Arlinda, did you hear me calling you?" I look at him and he realized that I have no clue who he was. "Arlinda, it's Wiilliam from high school. Me and your brother were friends." I must of been really out of it because I am completely clueless and then he says his nickname. "Oh!!! Candy!!" That was my aha moment. Lol

Candy was my brother's friend in high school but of course it's been 28 years so charge it to my mind that I didn't remember him. We spoke for a minute. He introduced me to his family and friends and told me his niece was graduating, with high honors I must mention. Now after all of the introductions I'm thinking, I look and feel absolutely horrible, I just want to curl up and go to sleep.

I friend William on Facebook and we laugh and joke about my lack of recognition. It was cool. It was well needed laughter. One morning during our Good Morning Facebook exchanges he said, "Good Morning Beautiful". I think to myself, maybe he doesn't remember how I looked on that rainy graduation day but for the most part each day that is what he says to me. 

Yesterday I shared with him that I believe God sent him to remind me of how God sees me and his response kinda blew me away. "God isn't the only one who sees you that way." 

Sometimes what others see in us far outweighs what we see in ourselves. What I thought he saw was my negative image of myself. I had nothing good to say about myself that day but this guy who had not seen me in nearly 30 years, spotted me out of a crowded arena and he calls me beautiful. Now, that's sweet. Just like Candy.