Friday Fun

What's so funny about this one is that I would be the one going up the escalator! LOL!

Only In America

Love Song

I heard this song on my way home from work and I really like the lyrics and the message. It's Anita Baker's "Just Because."

They don't make love songs like they used to back in the day anymore...songs that described what it really meant to love someone. Check this one out and more to come!

When I think about how much I'm loving you
No limitations, no set of regimented rules
I'm amazed how much this love has touched my life
And the commitment that we share is a welcome sacrifice

This must be, sweet fatal attraction
My life-long date with destiny
Love this strong, it just brings out the passion
I never knew was here in me

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you
Just because you're you

You're a diamond in my mind, a treasure found
A precious gem to me, you're nice to have around
I'm so glad I took the path that led to this
And it's amazin', loving you, I'm doin' things
I never thought I'd do
I don't know, there ain't no explanation
Of why I'm sharin' love at last this way
I won't try to work out all my reasons
I'll use these words to simply say

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you

Could it be that there's more to this than meets the eye
Maybe that's the reason why
All I know is when I'm in your arms it feels all right
I'll hold you tight and I come alive

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you

I love you just because, I love you
There ain't nothin' I can do
Nothin' I can do about it, there's nothin' I can do about it
I just love you, I just love you, I just love you

Quote of the Day

"Failure is success if we learn from it."

~ Malcolm Forbes

Fine Again

Such an uplifting song...just love his soulful voice. Couldn't find a better recording but I know yall will enjoy it anyway :)

Reading, One of My Favorite Sweet Escapes

Had to repost this one lol!

For all of you who know me, and those who don't you can tell by some of my posts, yall know I love to read! I can't say it enough! Here's why...

Books have always played an important part of my life. Even as a little girl I had a complete library full of books from The Babysitters Club Series, Sweet Valley Twins, Goosebumps, you name it! I loved the Friday trips to Borders with my mom where I was allowed to spend my allowance on books. I would literally escape into the book, place myself in each scene and totally identify with the characters.

I never minded the reading requirements in school. I looked forward to seeing what books the teacher or professor would assign. Friends used to make fun of me because I would get super excited about the textbook list and run to go buy them lol!

Lately I have had people question me about why I like to read so much. (I think reading is becoming more popular and people are more interested in reading with the rise of book clubs and books being made into movies.) But to answer the question that I know you all have been dying to ask (haha) here are some reasons why I love to read and why I think everyone should read more books:

• Knowledge- It broadens your understanding of yourself, others, and the world. I can't tell you how much I have learned by reading different kinds of books. It's so worthwile. It also builds your vocabulary.
• Hobbies- It is a good and safe hobby, and an educational one too.
• Conversation and Relationships- You have something meaningful to talk about! Good books often give me great ideas of conversation topics. You can also have good convos in book clubs and develop more intimate relationships with people as you discuss personal or controversial things that may come up in the reading.
• Sidenote:There is nothing better than a rainy day, snacks, and a good book to curl up and read on the couch!
• Cost-you can find really inexpensive books at places like Salvation Army and Half-Price books.
• Therapeutic- It's calming, relaxing. Sometimes when I'm in a blah mood, I can pick up a good book and feel better because I've either learned something or it made me realize my problem really isn't that bad.
• Fun- Reading is just plain FUN! It's especially fun to enter into a fictional character's world and experience life as they do.
• There are many more but I will leave you with these as I can get overly excited...don't wanna scare anyone off!

Why do you or don't you read? Please share!

Quote of the Day

"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded."

~ Maya Angelou

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Devotional Thought: Come, Hear, Do

This theme has been running through my devotionals lately. It all began while I was reading Luke 6:46-49  where Jesus says "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:...." read the rest here (NASB). 

Then I was reading James 1:19-27 (NASB) and verses 22-25 stuck out.
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves...But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (ESV)

Come, An Open Invitation

• Jesus invites us to come to Him, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst...All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." John 6:35, 37 ESV. If you are hungry and thirsty and need to be filled, He says Come.
• "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 ESV. If you are we weighed down with the cares of this world and need rest, He says Come.

Hear, Listen to His Word

• "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27 NASB. Are we His sheep attuned to His voice through His Word?
• If not, what or who are we listening to?

Do, Obey His Word

• "Samuel said, “ Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22 NASB. God did not need sacrifices like the other gods in different religions but He desired obedience and He still does today.
• "...Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Luke 11:28 ESV. Blessings come upon those who are doers of the Word.
• "But He answered them, 'My mother and my brothers are those who are hear the word of God and do it." Luke 8:21 ESV. Notice the "and" after hearing God's Word. Hearing the Word of God requires action, application, obedience!

I hope this blessed you guys :)

Just Say NO!

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Many of us struggle with saying the word "no" when we really don't want to do something. But this simple two-letter word can relieve us from so much unnecessary stress in our lives! See the article below from the Mayo Clinic of why and how we should learn to Just Say NO.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-relief/SR00039

Quote of the Day

"How much does it really take for any of us to slow down to attune ourselves to the human condition, to look to another soul passing through our little universe that might need a little encouragement?"

Excerpt from River Jordan's Praying for Strangers

Natural Hair is Beautiful

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Artist Spotlight: Royal Tailor

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So this amazing band came and visited our church. I really like them yall! Their music is different, kind of reminds me of Maroon 5. You can tell they are involved in youth ministry by their unique super energetic worship style.

The four members Tauren, DJ Cox, Blake, and Jarrod all met in Bible college and formed their band then. They also ministered to the youth in a local church, mentoring and teaching music to them.

"The overarching message is a call to action," says Tauren. "A lot of our songs have to do with being Christ in the world.  We want to create a culture where students are doing the ministry. They are creating the ideas. They are dreaming the dream,  and then they are actually going out there and doing those things."

I believe they are doing just that! Here's a song from their album Black & White, Make a Move. Really great message.

Check out more of Royal Tailor here.

Quote of the Day

"The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer."

~F. B. Meyer

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Friday Fun

One of my all-time favorite shows! Hilarious clips of Will gettin down, ROFL!

Quote of the Day

"Beauty captures your attention. Personality captures your heart."

~Author Unknown

Love Song for a Savior

And speaking of love...love, love, love this song!

Is Your Love a Stubborn Love?

 There are people and relationships that I have held on to for years through some very hard times. There are others I have ended gradually and sometimes easily. I believed I genuinely loved the person but in the end I just didn't see the need to continue the relationship.

Why is that? Why do we fall in and out of love so easily, and I'm not just talking about romantic relationships. It could be a with a close friend or family, a passion we once pursued wholeheartedly, any relationship we were once so committed to that just kind of fizzled.

I know their are certain relationships we may have to end because of serious reasons that cannot be repaired or reconciled. But more often than not, don't you think our love and commitment to relationships is weak, complacent, even soft and easily damaged?

Determined, persevering, bullheaded, fixed, firm, persistent, relentless, steadfast, unshakeable....all of these are synonyms of the word stubborn.

What if we really started loving people the way God loves us, Stubbornly? These verses help describe and demonstrate the love of God that I believe we should emulate:

Psalms 36:7; 136:26;  Romans 8:38-39; Lamentations 3:21-22; Ephesians 2:4-7; Jeremiah 29:10-14

Over and over Scripture describes God's love as steadfast, enduring, long-suffering, in other words stubborn. I mean He sure does love the nation of Israel in spite of all their rebellion! And the same with us! His love is unfailing. Boy we sure can learn from Him huh?

So...is your love a stubborn love? Are you persevering in your relationships, through the good times and the bad? Are you fighting for love (I know, so cliche :) We should though! And as we evaluate our relationships, let's think about the benefits of loving others stubbornly. I believe our relationships would be steady and lasting, and there would be much less heartache because we won't be walking away so easily! Ahhh, I'm know I'm a sap but I honestly believe this

Quote of the Day

"Speak up. Silence is deadly boring, and sometimes deadly."

~Author Unknown

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Quote of the Day

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its trouble, it empties today of its strength."

~Unknown


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Photo of the Day

Pretty...

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Food for Thought: Expectations

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See, I definitely struggle with this. I have been so disappointed and hurt by others because I have placed these impossible expectations upon them and to my dismay they fail to meet them. Then I get so bent out of shape because I just know that if the tables were turned, I wouldn't have disappointed them (yeah right!). 

Gosh, where is the grace? Where is the humility? And while I'm at it, where is the love?

Here's what I am discovering about expectations and the role they are playing in my life and relationships with others:

• Sometimes Most of the time they place unrealistic demands on others
• They can be selfish in origin
• They can be impossible to meet
• People, including me, will fail and not meet them
• No one is perfect and the only One I can expect absolute perfection from is God
• They can cause bitterness and strife in relationships when they are not met
• I have to learn to extend grace and forgiveness to others and myself when expectations aren't met
• Ease up on myself and others; release the need for control that expectations really reveal

What say you? What do you think about the expectations we place on others, and even on ourselves?

Natural Hair is Beautiful

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Making Decisions: An Interesting Approach to the Will of God

Whether it's which job to take, what school to go to, which church to attend, which car to buy, we all know life involves making decisions. (And frankly as Americans we have too many choices that don't make decision-making any easier)!

I hear so many Christians, including me, struggle when making these types of decisions. We worry and even procrastinate because we want to make sure that we are following "God's will for our lives." Sometimes we won't even make a move towards something until we are certain that it's a part of God's plan. (We have this obsession with the future). And then if we do take a leap of faith and it doesn't work out like we thought it would, we question our "wrong decision" and fear that we missed out on God's best for our lives. Boy do I struggle with this!

But what if there is more freedom in decision-making than we had ever imagined? What if God trusts His children that are spending time with Him in His Word and through prayer, and are consulting with other believers to (gasp) make their own decisions? What if we as Spirit-filled believers are capable of choosing between two or maybe even three good options?

A guy on the local radio station 89.3 KSBJ put it this way and it really made sense to me, "God's will is not always, if ever, connect-the-dot. God may have an umbrella of blessings available for you and is just waiting for you to pick one." Sounds like freedom huh? Sometimes it may not be a matter of yes/no but sure/sure.

I believe the freedom to choose is a blessing to those who are walking with God daily and are already in His will through daily obedience.

Furthermore, God consistently reminds us in Scripture not to worry about our lives. He tells us in Matthew 6:33 to "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." If we are seeking and obeying Him daily, we are already in His will! God's will is NOW, it's not some far-away life we have to chase and find.

So whadya think? Still trying to connect the dots? Well, I'm still learning and I want to share two books with you that are helping me with this topic. Feel free to post your thoughts and comments. :)

Gerald Sitter's                                                                Kevin DeYoung's     
The Will of God as a Way of Life                                 Just Do Something
                                                                           

Also read and meditate on these Scriptures:
Matthew 6:25-35; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 5:16-18

Quote of the Day

"You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created."

~Albert Einstein

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Photo of the Day

Yall know I had to post this one!

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Quote of the Day

"It is the Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."

~Elisabeth Elliott

Artist Spotlight: Francesca Battistelli

Creative, spontaneous, and totally authentic. A true artist.

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Francesca Battistelli is a great artist that is transcended the Christian world. You can hear her music on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Jon & Kate Plus 8, MTV's The Hills, and many other television and radio programs. She even had a girl come up to her after a concert and told her she had heard "It's Your Life" on Jon & Kate Plus 8 finale show, listened to her CD, and was led to Christ. Isn't that amazing?!

One reason I love her is that she is so authentic and not afraid to be who she is. You can hear that in the song "Free to Be Me." She knows that God loves her even though she isn't perfect. Something I really needed to hear and believe for myself.

Since her first album, My Paper Heart, released back in 2008, Francesca has undergone a lot of life changes. From getting married and having her first child, her life has changed and it is definitely reflected in her latest release, Hundred More Years.

She's great. Check her out.

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Interruptions

Raise your hand if you like to be interrupted? Especially when you are busy doing an important task? Especially when you have already planned out your day and something unexpected comes up that you must tend to? Or maybe it's something even more long term. You had your entire life mapped out and then life happens.

Yeah, I don't know anyone who really "welcomes" interruptions. I certainly don't! I constantly am interrupted at work when I'm trying to document notes and someone comes to chat about something completely random for like an hour! It can really get frustrating.

But what if we began to take a different look at what are so-called interruptions?

But (and you probably know where I'm going with this) what if some of these things we call "interruptions" are not so bad? What if they are meant to teach us something? Like maybe we need to stop procrastinating, or what we really think is so important is not what God wants us to be focusing on at that particular time, or the other person's need is greater than our own...

I like how writer Annie Keary put it, "I think I find most help in trying to look on all interruptions and hindrances to work that one has planned out for oneself as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish over one's work...After such as hindrance, do not rush after the planned work; trust that the time to finish it will be given sometime, and keep a quiet hear about it." (Emphasis mine).

Hmmm...divine interruptions? Think about the conversion of Paul, formerly known as Saul. He was a huge if not the hugest persecutor of Christians in the early church age. Matter of fact in Acts chapter 9 he was on his way to Damascus continuing down his persecution road when he had the biggest interruption of his life. Jesus! He had a life-changing encounter with the Savior that changed his entire course and he became a follower of Christ and even wrote a good portion of the New Testament. Talk about an interruption!

So maybe interruptions aren't so bad after all! Maybe they can open up doors to something even greater. Even if it's something small like taking a break from writing a paper and listening to a friend in need, that is a great blessing to that person and God loves it too! Or visiting an elderly relative or friend who wants company when we have a full schedule planned. It matters to that person and it matters to God.

Interruptions, bring 'em on!

Quote of the Day

"A good reputation does not result from the external appearance of goodness, but results from the practical fruit of holy living."

~Anonymous

A Great Way to Begin Our Day

This came from my devotional yesterday morning:

"Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into His service, and place all the hours of this day quite simply at His disposal, and ask Him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly what He appoints. Never mind about tomorrow; one day at a time is enough. Try it today, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful, when tomorrow comes, to ask Him to take it also- it will become a blessed habit to hold yourself simply and "wholly at Thy commandment for any manner of service." The "whatsoever" is not necessarily active work. It may be waiting (whether half an hour or a lifetime), learning, suffering, sitting still. But shall we be less ready for these, if any of them are His appointments for today? Let us ask Him to prepare us for all He is preparing for us."

~Francis Ridley Havergal
An excerpt from A Gentle Spirit: Devotional Selections from Today's Christian Woman

Mentoring Update

I've been mentoring now for about a month now and things are really going well with us. I think my mentee and I are becoming more comfortable with each other and discovering our common interests which actually are quite a few. We have been reading this book together called called Mentor: The Kid & the CEO. See?

Anyways, it's really helpful because it's sharing one person's experience of having a mentor and how his mentor impacted and helped shape his life. Really inspiring.

We're already making plans for after she is released from her program and how we will meet each other's families and go to our favorite hangout spots. I'm excited about this relationship and we both want it to last well beyond the 1-year requirement. We really want to become good friends.

If anyone in the Houston/Humble area is interested in becoming a mentor, they do need more mentors for these ladies... let me know if you're interested!

You Oughta Know Her: Heather Williams

So I know I already featured this artist on Artist Spotlight but I just can't get enough of her!

Her name is Heather Williams and her songs have just been an inspiration to me beginning with Hallelujah. I can really relate to the lyrics of her songs and her voice is so amazing. I really like this song God is Still God because it just puts things back into perspective when life gets crazy and things are out of our control. It is reassuring and comforting to know that He is still God and He holds everything, including us, in the palm of His hands. We can rest in Him!

I encourage you to listen to some of her songs and she does a background story behind why she chose each song. It's really cool.

Heather Williams

On My Radar

So I'm reading Organized Simplicity now, that one has been captured (hehe).

Lately I have been hearing about this book called Praying for Strangers by River Jordan. The title itself intrigues me...if you have read it or know someone who has, I would love to hear your thoughts!

What can I say, I love to read :)

Chic Glasses

I'm thinking about switching from the
--black frame glasses to something like this--
What cha think?

So Long, Insecurity...Peace Out!

I'm doing this Beth Moore Bible Study with this great group of women. It's really really good. It's called So Long, Insecurity and it's addressing women and our insecurity issues from our looks, to our relationships with men and other women, to our future, just everything. Good stuff!

This is my first time doing a book study with a small group of women and I like it so far. I'm surprising myself because I didn't know any of these women before the bible study yet I am being open and transparent about my personal struggles. That's a big deal for me!

I really have high hopes for this study and overcoming my struggles with insecurity. Like Beth says, I'm sick of it! I can't wait to be this strong, secure, confident woman in Christ that we are learning about. And I really hope I develop good relationships with the women in the group as well, they're pretty cool :)

I Passed!

I'm back guys! And good news...I passed my counseling exam!!! Whoopeee! I am soooo relieved yall. I have been studying for months and I can finally put that book down and live again, lol!

Of course I missed blogging! (Ok sorry for all these exclamation points but as you can see I'm super excited)! I'm happy to be back and let yall know what else I've been up to besides studying. I'm not a total nerd lol. Eh, well, maybe I am :)

So what's next for me now that I will be a licensed professional counselor...I have no clue! I really like my current job so I will probably be there for a while and then who knows what's next. But I'm ecstatic; this opens up so many more doors for me.

Thank you to all who prayed with me. God is AWESOME!

Quote of The Day

"Love cannot remain by itself-it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action into service."

~Mother Theresa

Natural Hair is Beautiful

I just love hair accessories!

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MIA

To all my Faithful Readers,

You will not see many if any new posts from me for the next week as I am furiously studying for my counseling exam...prayers greatly appreciated!

Thank you and have a great week and weekend! It's almost Friday!:)

I just love short weeks.

Quote of the Day

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."

~Albert Einstein

Be Creative

Absolutely stunning hand-made jewelry by Ms. Camille from PeaceImages.

    

  

Interior Inspiration

This would be a cool project to do if you want to add color to your floors. Simply use vinyl tape...may do this to the kitchen!

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Lessons from Little Women

I'm reading Little Women for one of my book clubs and let me tell you, this book teaches great life lessons! Written in 1868 by Louisa May Alcott, it is a story about four sisters who journey through life together based somewhat on Alcott's relationship with her three sisters.

It's pretty inspiring reading about these little women and how they are growing into lovely ladies. I wish I was that wise at that age lol!

Lesson #1
The girls all decided to take a week off from work and instead played and had plenty of leisure time. After the first couple of days they began to regret their decision and actually missed doing work and house chores. When their week was over, their mom reminded them of the pleasure of having daily duties:

"Let me advise you to take up your little burdens again, for though they seem heavy sometimes, they are good for us, and lighten as we learn to carry them. Work is wholesome, and there is plenty for everyone...Have regular hours for work and play, and make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success...."

Balancing work and play is pretty difficult sometimes. We should be careful how we choose to spend our time and learn to balance it well.

Great lesson huh?

Quote of the Day

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."

~St. Augustine

Natural Hair is Beautiful, The Lovely Ladies of Afro City

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