My 31 Day Blog Challenge

As August was slowly coming towards me I knew I had to prepare to get ready for another school year. I needed to do something that would get my mind into gear so I challenged myself to blog everyday during the month of August. When I missed a day, or two, I then decided to have as many blogs in August as there were days. This post will be the 31st post for the month.

Thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and encouragement.  I almost feel as if in 31 days I cleansed myself of negative thoughts and perceptions of myself. I went back through some of the titles and was amazed and encouraged. I believe I'm moving toward operating at my highest self. Summer was really good to me. I saw my family at peace and achieving. I laughed a lot with an incredible group of friends nearly every Sunday. I tried to stay on track with my weightloss. It was a summer that I won't soon forget. And then there's him..... Hmmm. #allsmiles Yes, it was a really good summer. 

Again thank you.

This Above All To Thine Ownself Be True 

The Inadequacy of Self

Sunday I tossed and turned. Went from pillow to pillow. From the head of the bed to the foot. From being covered in a blanket to just laying in my night clothes. God said to me, "Ok, Arlinda that's enough. Get up." I sat up on the side of my bed attentive to what God had to say.

"Arlinda you have to write. Here's your title. The Inadequacy of Self" With that information given to me I fell right and I mean right to sleep. I woke up to schools closed and Quiera speaking for Morning Manna.

Yes, God had my attention. I wasn't purposefully crying out to God. I wanted to figure it out on my own. But God....

When I was a little girl I was doted on. I had cute frilly dresses from Polly Flinders with matching tights and sandals from Sears or Bakers. My parents made sure I was well read. We had dictionaries, encyclopedias, every major African American magazine and books galore. I attended good schools from elementary to high school. I'm degreed twice. I teach. I have a good relationship with God. I birthed wonderful sons. Heck, I have a son on a collegiate scholarship and one is an elementary Honor Roll student. I just self published my second book. I am pretty together, on paper.

But put me in a room of my peers, I'm not good enough in my mind. I'm too tall, overweight, not cute enough. I'm not adequate. I don't measure up. This is how I fell asleep Sunday night.

Imagine being a whole lot of incredible things but feeling low in comparison to others. Though I didn't ask for God's assistance He showed up anyway. He didn't give me a way out. He simply gave me a title and told me to write. Why was I able to fall straight asleep and that feeling leave me? My God knew that His answer would come to me in my own words. That he had equipped me to move from that moment. 

Later that night I watched Dr. Juanita Bynum at Empowerment Temple. Her scripture for the service was Song of Solomon 5:2 AKJV

I sleep, but my heart wakes: it is the voice of my beloved that knocks, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Dr. Bynum defined sleep in this text as a loss of identity. The heart being awake represents that even with the loss of identity I still seek God. 

I was sleep. My heart was awake. God spoke peace to my heart. He spoke to that restlessness. I woke renewed, refreshed. Quiera confirmed it. Dr. Bynum confirmed it. The inadequacy of self was me feeling bad about me, about me comparing myself to others. That's not of God. It shouldn't be of me. 

If I just go back to paragraph 4 and reread I'd know that not only am I fine but I always have been. We don't need the enemy to tear us apart we can self-destruct all by ourselves. 

I was asleep but my heart was awake. 

I wrote this piece on 1.28.14 and I've held on to it always saying I'm going to get to it. Two things prompted me to finally blog it. One I found a picture of me when I was a little girl that simply takes me back to that little girl in her frilly clothes and two on Friday Quiera had a group of women complete a thirty second piece to speak about themselves. I've come a long way from that cold winter day. For that God gets glory.

And thanks to Quiera who unknowingly blesses me to be able to see the me that exists but I have refused to acknowlege previously. 

I know my mother is probably reading this. Possibly in tears. I can honestly say that everything that I am and will every be she always knew that it existed. I love you mommy. 

Preserved For Greater

Tonight I'm reflecting on how God has me tucked away. Yes, I sometimes go through my "Why God" moments. I'm like , "Okay if You can perform all the miracles in the Bible surely what I'm requesting is minor." I get that same quietness from Him each time. 

Today I've gone from chair to couch to bed all day. I've not really been feeling myself lately. Again I'm going to God. He knows I have things to do. Between lesson plans, grad school, my family and everything else, He knows now is not the time for me to break down. Didn't He heal and raise people from the dead? I need healing. Where's His hem? (Oh, wait. That will preach.) Still, more silence from God. 

Stephanie reminds me earlier today that Let The Church Say Amen is coming on BET. I sit from 8-10 and I watch the movie and guess what, God begins to speak. Well, I'm worn out now all I could do was listen. 

He says to me that I will marry again and that He has preserved me for greater than what I would want for myself. I'm like really God, you have me ducked off in the cut? (Please pray for me I had a hood moment.) God's response was, "Yeah, you've been hidden for an eyes have not seen, ears have not heard moment."

After God speaks the character in the movie says this. "Some prayers might still be circling around in heaven. God will get around to fulfilling them in His time." I immediately think of the scripture that talks about God perfecting those things that concern me. 

Maybe that perfecting is keeping me single to focus on His will and His ways. Maybe it's keeping me from myself. Hmmm... Maybe He's hidden me to prepare me for what He created for me in eternity. I've decided that in the meantime I'll wait patiently for Him to bring me out of hiding for those good and perfect gifts He has for me. 

God preserves us for greater. Wait for it. 

Romans 8:28 #ItAllWorks

#Romans828 is absolutely everything to me. #allthingsworktogetherforgood Even when it doesn't feel good, it's still good. When it hurts, when they leave, when your money is acting funny, when it seems like there is no way... God is working it out for your good because He has purpose for you. After obstacles and adversities try to tear you apart you will be able to look back and minister to someone in a similar situation and tell them #itallworks

Pastor Linda Roark ~ World Commissioned Church

God is going to turn it for you.

Prepare Myself For You ~ Excerpt From Ghetto Chick by Arlinda McGlothin-McKinley

Dear Lord,

I’m having a hard time. Things aren’t going the way I would like them to. My heart aches and my self-esteem is low. Sometimes the pain is unbearable, unmanageable.

But I see my chocolate boys and realize that I have to keep pressing. Many people see and don’t know how when he left it hurt so badly, so deep.

I saw my child falling and didn’t know how to pull him up. The best is all I want, to move from this and rise into a survivor and a worshipper.

My favorite day of the week is Saturday. That is when I prepare for You! On Sunday I don’t want anyone to know or see me falling apart. I want my mind and heart in the right place to teach Your Word, sing Your praises, and worship You”

“In your presence I want all to realize that throughout all the obstacles and pain. The most important thing for me to do is to Prepare Myself For You.”

Excerpt From: Arlinda C. McGlothin - McKinley. “Ghetto Chick.” Lulu.com, 2011-06-27. iBooks. 

This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itun.es/us/Zo2VA.l

Made For More ~ Excerpt From Ghetto Chick by Arlinda McGlothin-McKinley

My mother raised me to be a woman.

She raised me to be intelligent and responsible.

I was taught how to cook and that I should keep my bills paid.

Most importantly I was taught the Word of God.

All things work together. You will reap if you faint not were scriptures that were instilled in me.

My father taught me to be independent in case I ended up alone.

So I add well to keep my checkbook right.

I can patch a hole and hang a picture.

Because of him if something goes wrong I can figure out how to fix it.

My parents raised a woman meant to be a wife.

They didn’t raise some naïve, crazed individual.

They didn’t raise me to be a girlfriend.

So when I enter a room, enter a conversation, enter a life

All who encounter me

Know that I was made for more. 

#sheissoofficial 

Excerpt From: Arlinda C. McGlothin - McKinley. “Ghetto Chick.” Lulu.com, 2011-06-27. iBooks. 

This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itun.es/us/Zo2VA.l

Men's Worship Encounter 2015 ~ Cincinnati, Ohio

 #MWE2015 Facebook Event Page

Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion

I ❤️ Shopping For School Supplies ~ I Get It From My Mama

Growing up my mother loved shopping at Sears, on Reading Road and Lincoln. Yeah, that was a long, long time ago. I remember several things about that store. One, it was not far from our home. We could catch a bus in front of our house and be dropped off near the front door. Two, my mother loved to purchase warm cashews in a paper bag. I remember thinking as a little girl, "How is that light keeping all that stuff warm." I believe around that time I discovered chocolate covered peanuts too. The third thing I remember is my mother buying school supplies. She would get so excited about notebook paper being real inexpensive. She would always buy more than we needed. I can honestly say that having supplies for school was never an issue for us, or our friends. 

I don't know if my siblings and I really grasped my mother's excitement at that time. Oh, but today is a different story. I love, literally love shopping for school supplies and Staples makes me so happy at the beginning of the school year. Last Tuesday I went there and bought supplies for all of my students. It was so much fun picking out folders and notebooks. I immediately decided there would be no blue or red folders or notebooks and my classes would have everything they needed in order to be successful. In my search I came across really cute folders to give to special little people. 

The employees asked if I needed help and my happy response was, "No, I'm ok." All I needed was a ballroom skirt and a spot of tea. 

There is something about school and office supplies that sends me to my happy place. After leaving Staples I went to my parent's home to celebrate my father's birthday. Unknowing to me I spent $14.29 on ice cream from Graeters. (That's a whole nother blog) As I'm walking to my car my mom comes to the porch and says, "You didn't show me what you bought at Staples." She seemed kinda upset that I didn't show her. Well mom this blog is just for you. 

Yeah, I get it from my mama. 

Prophetess Linda Roark

Dying To Self

One of the hardest things for me is having to die to self

It's not just a daily task

It could be hour to hour

Minute to minute

Moment to moment

But sometimes it's necessary 

And it's at that time that I need to 

Refocus

Regroup

Remember that I was birthed for purpose on purpose

I have to remember that there's a calling on my life

My life is not my own

It doesn't simply benefit me

But also my family

Other families

I attempt to live a life pleasing unto God

I slip up

I mess up

I remember that I was birthed for purpose on purpose

That my gifts make room for me

That I'm not ordinary

I'm extraordinary

While I'm in God's holding pattern

Waiting on His promises and gifts

That are good and perfect

That are exceeding and abundant

I die to self daily

@2015

*NEW* Fred Hammond "Better Love" (God, Love, and Romance)

For the past two days I've been singing over and over to myself, "I've tried Him and I know Him". You really have to get to the point in your relationship with God that you know Him for yourself and not what you have heard about Him.

When things were bleak, I tried Him and I know Him. When the hurt was too much, I tried Him and I know Him. When depression tries to creep in, I've tried Him and I know Him. God's love is consistent. He walks with me and He talks with me. You can't make me doubt Him. I know too much about Him. You see, I've tried Him. I know Him. There is no better love.

My Search Turned To Serenity

This weekend I set out to find a notebook to write sermon notes in. I started at the grocery store and everything was too plain and too simple for what I was looking for. I continued my quest today.  A friend sent me to a Christian bookstore on Winton Road. I drive there and guess what? It was closed. So I thought, I am going to Staples on Reading Road. That is where the last notebook came from. I wanted the notebook to be cute, compact, with a ring binder and with lined paper. You see, I've learned to be specific with my requests. Plus where I write notes from sermons has to be in a special book so I can seek it out easily.

I arrive at Staples and I see a row of notebooks. I walk down the aisle to the compact notebooks. Now, I'm getting somewhere. The notebooks I liked were a little bigger than what I previously had and I was okay with that. I go through the pile and I see pretty pink notebooks but they have cats on them. Well, I'm not a cat person. Then a grainy looking book catches my eye and the words are covered up with paper binding. I can't make out what the cover says so I gently lift the binder and I read the beginning of the Serenity Prayer. I was completely sold at that moment. Now that I think about it, the notebook was everything I wanted and more. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and He will add. 

I often share and I will continue to share that my mornings begin with Matthew 6:33, the Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of Jabez. So yes, I believe that God ordered my steps to Staples and sent me down that aisle to find my notebook. I went on a search for a notebook. In the end I found serenity. I feel blessed indeed because God granted me what I asked for. Actually God granted exceedingly and abundantly above all that I could have asked for. 

What Your Heart Desires Desires You

Sometimes the very thing your heart desires desires you too. 

We try to control situations that are designed for us to heal and to grow. 

When we push away we don't heal, we don't grow. 

We're stuck in that same place until we learn to let go of being in control. 

Once we let go of that control we are able to see that those things we desire have patiently been waiting on us. 

Jovaan Daniels Top 7yr Old in Michigan

One of the best things about youth basketball is the amazing kids you meet. Jovaan is definitely one of them.

65lbs Weight Loss Goal Hit

I knew it was getting close but this morning when I got on the scale and I saw the number that I only dreamed about last year I..... Well one I got on the scale three times and two I'm always on the scale without my glasses so I had to get real close to the screen for verification all three times. Lol Each time confirmed that yes, I have lost 65lbs. To God be the glory for the things that He has done. 

The biggest struggle in this process has been my struggle with self. So I had to learn patience with me and my habits. Now, it's easy to say no to certain things that I know aren't good for me and to be accepting of myself when I mess up. After awhile I did have to incorporate cheat days. I'm thankful for my mother and my sons for encouraging me daily through this process. My friends are simply the best in that they now include me in their meal preparations. For instance when my Pastor's wife offers me dessert it's a smaller portion than everyone else's. I so appreciate that because she makes desserts sometimes from scratch. Who can say no to that? 

I just want to say thanks to everyone that travels on this journey with me. I would like to say that this is just the beginning but in actuality it is now more of my lifestyle. The next goal is to be down 35lb by December 31, 2015 for a total weight loss of 100lbs. I'm calling it #35to100. Once I reach that goal I feel a photo shoot in my spirit. The funny thing is that I already know who the photographer will be, what I plan to wear and who I want to do my hair and makeup. Write the vision and make it plain.

Jeremiah 29:11 reads "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I truly believe that God has plans for me and I can't effectively walk into His plans for Arlinda while carrying the weight of disappointment, sadness and rejection of years ago. I had to lay it down and let it go so that His will may be done. 

If I could say a special thank you it would be to true male friendships in my life who never turned their backs on me or treated me negatively because of my weight. They see my heart and that has meant more to me than they will ever know. I love them to pieces. 

Also thanks to Pastor Sally Davis of Embassy Church in Porter, Texas for planting incredible seeds last year and to Rhonda Patmon for creating an environment of fun and fitness that I simply love. 

I'm in a real good place. The best is yet to come. 

Passage From "The Healing Runes" by Ralph Blum and Susan Loughan

Hope......

We have all known periods of hopelessness and despair. It is only when we begin to realize that we can no longer continue living in the old way, and come to believe in something greater than ourselves, that hopelessness turns into hope. 

Hope is God's work in our lives. 

From Nothing

Sometimes a friendship will come along that challenges you and encourages you to see things in a different light. When we met it was quite simple and to be truthful I could find no connection to him. In time he's turned out to be an incredible and supportive friend that I now can't imagine him not being a part of my life. It's complicated and endearing. He's black and white and I'm loving all the shades of gray. All of this started........

From Nothing

It went from nothing to something

It took a while

At the onset not my type, not my height

To be real honest I like them dark as night

Nothing was of interest

But

For the second time 

He's reached out to grab my attention

I often wonder why 

Especially if I bore and frustrate 

Surely he could spend time

Waste time 

Elsewhere

He said, 

There's hope

For some reason he keeps trying

I try to

To come out this shell

To be more of me

To try and get it right

And even when I don't 

He is still there

Attempting to guide me through my resistance

The truth of the matter is

I fell years ago and I pushed away

He came back

With his truths

His thoughts

His real self

And I....

I have to decide 

Decide to navigate through the hope

Through this constant open door

To see if our friendship can withstand

I still can't believe I've fallen for this man

In the beginning nothing was of interest

To be real honest I like them dark as night

At the onset not my type, not my height

It took awhile

But yeah

It went from nothing to something

Something so beautiful that

It can never be just nothing again

@lindarinsights @81015

Prophetess Linda Roark

Standing In The Presence Of Greatness

I love when my friends have incredible experiences. I totally believe that we are created on purpose to do incredible things. I also believe that our gifts make room for us and puts us before great men. 

So, recently I was on Facebook. I see this picture of my friend Greg, who teaches and practices martial arts, standing with a group of men & The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Instantly I became like an extra proud friend. I was like "Oh, my God! How cool is this." Greg is such a humble man in that he never brags or boasts about things like this. Had he shared this with me in conversation I probably would have drove him crazy with my questions like, "How did it feel to be in that room?, How were you picked?, Did you know in advance?" Even as I look at the picture now I'm still like "Wow!" I'll probably still drive him crazy with my questions when I see him. 

One thing that many people are not aware of is that I have great respect for Minister Louis Farrakhan. Growing up my father ensured that we were exposed to the Nation of Islam. I can't tell you much about them but I know I enough to respect their faith and their presence in our communities. I was so excited recently when Minister Louis Farrakhan was on The Word Network with Pastor Jamal Bryant. I made sure my sons sat and listened to what he had to say. I believe that he is one of those great people and leaders that they simply need to pause and listen to him. I even remember seeing him back in the 90's while I was in college. We were so excited, we stood in the rain and had to give up our umbrellas but we had come to far to not hear him. 

I know in his well put together self my friend was honored to be in his presence. I hope that Greg also knows that when his students and players are with him they are standing in the presence of greatness also. Greg, keep doing amazing things and watch as doors continue to open. 

My tweets from The Empowerment Encounter

Chance Meeting

It was a Friday afternoon and I am sitting on my porch with my family and a door to door sales guy comes and tries to sell me something. I was not going to buy anything nor was I thinking that this 5 minute sales pitch would turn into a nearly four hour visit.

What happens when a 45 year old African American woman sits down and spends time with a 26 year old Caucasian male? A whole lot of laughter and discussions about nearly everything under the sun. He's from San Diego. He drove here for a new job opportunity. He likes to hunt and eat what he hunts. Ummmm... Yeah. About that. One, a drive from San Diego just doesn't seem right to me and two, you kill the ducks, eat the breast (stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon) and you give the rest of the duck to the coyotes? Oh, this conversation was quite interesting. 

We sat and had lemonade and strawberry shortcakes. We watched the train go buy and I told him about feeling like I live on Little House On The Prairie. He met everyone that was home at the time. We discussed his shortened collegiate football career and his view on relationships and divorce. I think that after he saw that I wasn't buying the product he was selling that he decided to just simply enjoy this unique moment. 

After my friends left we discussed fashion and he showed me pics of his parents and more hunted animals from his Facebook page. I shared my blog with him and I asked if I could take a pic of him. Hence forth my Love Jones moment and with each pic he seemed to get more comfortable on my porch. He threw the football with my son and we had laughable conversations about stereotypes. For instance the perception that white people know everything and black people are reluctant to travel long distances in a car. In a time when there are many racial issues in the news, especially in our city, this moment was reflective of the possiblity of people of different races simply getting along and laughing at and with each other. 

One of the funniest moments I recalled is when he did something real silly and I said, "I can't." He responded, "You can't what?" Lol That was much needed laughter from all of us. We had to explain to him the urban definition of I can't. By the end of the visit he used the phrase on me. We both laughed at the interaction. 

Prior to him leaving I sent some of the pics of him to my girlfriends. What a conversation that prompted. He even took a selfie and sent a text to them. The evening ended with us taking a selfie. How cute. It didn't hurt that he's 6'5 and quite attractive. He took our pic and offered to clean up the mess we made. We hugged and he gave me his information, you know in case I wanted to purchase a new system. 

Recently we were inboxing on Facebook about all of us going out to dinner before he leaves to go home and he said to me, "Been checking out your blog... Ain't no white chocolate stories!!!! Smh." Lol Well here it is Alex, yeah go figure him and my son share names, the story that you have been waiting for. I'm so glad we met. I can't wait for us to meet up again for more fun, more laughter and more selfies. 

Phillips, Craig & Dean - Amazed (Official Pseudo Video)

Mark Robinson ~ You're Wonderful

Your Faith Is Stronger Than Your Struggles ~ Prophetess Linda Roark

Last night at World Commissioned Church, in Hamilton Ohio, Prophetess Linda Roark spoke from Luke 22:31-32. Her sermon was entitled "Your Faith Is Stronger Than Your Struggles". I generally take really good notes but there became a moment when I put my little notebook up so that I could just stand in God's presence and really listen to what He had to say. 

Here are a few take aways from my notes. In Luke 22:31 it reads, "And the Lord, said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:" Prophetess Roark went on to provide several definitions of the word sift. Sift means to shake, breakdown, or attack on every angle. In a sense this is what the adversary desires to do to us. To shake us and break us down so that we lose our faith and simply give up. She told us that if the foundation is shaken the whole house will be destroyed. Satan is after those people who believe in Jesus. 

I don't know about you but my faith is pretty messed up sometimes. I see other people prospering and it's easy to fall into a "Woe is me moment." Then when it seems that things are going kinda ok at any given moment things just seem to start falling apart. This reminds me of a song from my childhood, the lyrics included "if it ain't one thing it's another". We've all been there. 

The very last note I took blows my mind. I know I go through stuff that sometimes just makes me want to sleep the day away. I've questioned God sometimes. I'm doing the right things. I go to church, I'm raising my sons, why am I going through this? (Do you ever do this?) Before I put the pen down for the evening I heard this message, "If you can handle it, you're built for it." 

To you I say, stay confident. God knew in eternity what you would endure. When situations get too hard and you can't seem to understand why you're "growing though" remember you're built for this. Your faith is stronger than your struggles. 

Visit World Commissioned Church at 180 N. Fair Avenue Hamilton, Ohio 45011

Prophetess Linda Roark

Nothing Without You

Saved In The City

Last week my niece sat for the Bar for 3 days. Now that Ryan had finished Law School I knew that her coming back home to Cincinnati was going to change some things, I just didn't think it would be so soon. You see I am such a "homegirl". Like really, just give me some books, magazines and a throw blanket and it's all I need. I come out only when necessary or sometimes dragged. Lol Ryan thinks I need to get out more and experience new things. 

On Monday the plan was to go shopping at Kenwood Mall and then we were going to the Chart House for lunch. I don't just think that Ryan was excited, I now believe this to be her "normal." In my mind I'm thinking the mall is too big. How many stores does this entail? First stop Macy's shoe department and the Mac Counter. Now..... I love shoes but just browsing the MAC area was like breathing new air. I watched as Ryan got a new lip and saw that MAC had several multi-colored eyeshadow selections. What? I need to add the Eye Shadow X9 and Eye Shadow X15 to my cosmetic bag. Let me catch my breath. I'm browsing through the lipstick and something caught my eye, I excitedly told her and her mom "Is that Kate Spade? I gotta go." I left them and I went over to look at the Kate Spade purses, (see pic below) one of those purses will be mine I just know it. I really like the black and white one in front of the black bag, I mean just in case someone wanted to bless me. #smile.

After leaving the Kate Spade area I walked over to the Michael Kors selections and it was hard to contain myself. Every purse I saw just did something to me. They were all so beautiful. 

Ok, after I had this incredible moment I thought it would be time for lunch. No, the journey had only started and by the time we left Kenwood I had discovered Lush and Nordstroms. "Do you want to go to the Kate Spade store?" Ryan asked. "No, no. I can't do that to myself." I did peep in from a distance though. It's something about Kate Spade that makes my little heart flutter. In Lush I discovered natural skincare products where samples are made fresh daily and kept on ice. That place was kinda cool and listening to people explain the products reminded me of being in Whole Foods or something. 

By now I'd taken nearly 3,000 steps and we realized that Chart House doesn't open until 4:30. So where should we go? Of course I think Cheesecake Factory becuase it's right there and I'm a bit tired and I want to nap. It was just convenient. Ryan suggests the Yard House on The Banks. The wheels in my brain start turning. We are in Kenwood. the Yard House is on the river. I like naps. (Please pray for me.) Well to the Yard House we went. We find a meter and go inside and outside seating is requested. It's hot. I'm a trooper though and so we venture out to the covered patio area and this happens. 

Outside eating at the Yard House turned out to be everything that I love. Wide open spaces, beautiful views, and as Stephanie would say, the ambiance was really nice. It sealed the deal. We sat and upon looking at the menu that had one of my favorite appetizers. Lettuce Wraps.

As we were eating my niece, with her MAC red lip asked, "Well how did you enjoy your day?" Ok, Ryan you win. I need to get out more. After a day of resisting I had discovered so many cool things in my city that I wouldn't have discovered wrapped up on my couch reading a magazine. 

To my niece, Ryan, one I'm so proud you and two, thanks for encouraging me to do new things and for coming back home to save me in the city. 

Matthew 6:33

Every morning my alarm goes off at 6:33 a.m. I immediately begin to say Matthew  6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

It is so important for me to seek God first on a daily basis. This image is my Facebook cover photo. When I created it I used the beautiful flowers sent to me after my grandmother passed last year. So every time I see this image or share it I'm honoring the woman who instilled in my mother to instill in me to seek God first. 

Joann Rosario Condrey (audio message) What Hinders Prayer? July 2015

Back 2 Worship 5th Year Anniversary ~ Isaac Quaye Ministries

It's About To Be Different

This past Monday our pastor said so many incredible things on our Morning Manna call. One being, "It's About To Be Different." He spoke on how the enemy brings up our past and tries to ruin our joy. You could be on your path to healing and greatness and hear something that reminds you of how you used to be and what you used to do. Sometimes that sends us spiraling into sadness and depression. Like Pastor Mike told us on Monday, "Don't let your past ruin your today." You have come too far to turn around. You've done the work to be at peace with those who have hurt you and with yourself. God has greater for you. Keep pressing forward. When trials and tribulations arise don't worry and be anxious for nothing.

Today is the first day of August and I have experienced so many blessings this year. In 8 months I have traveled and watched God work through my children, I've almost completed a program at Xavier, I've lost 60 pounds, and I have decided that in regards to God I don't have any more no's. Oh yeah, it's about to be different. My faith is different. My praise is different. My thankfulness is different. My view of God is different. God brought me through dangers seen and unseen specifically for His will to me done and for His goodness to come to light. 

Recently I was on Instagram and I saw a post by DiShan Washington that stopped my fingers from scrolling. I'll share her post with you but it was this sentence that silenced me and gently explained to me why I was going through a current situation. "You can strut confidently because although you haven't made all of the right decisions God still has need of you and you're here because there's purpose demanding your presence." There's purpose demanding your presence just sit and let that sink in.