Tag: christ

Soulful Sunday

Soulful Sunday – The Pause Button

There is yet another viral epedemic flooding our country called “The Mannequin Challenge” Its all in the name of fun for it participants as they maintain a frozen position while someone is recording the play to some theme appropriate music. Those that I have seen on multiple social media platforms are really creative and have made me truly smile. I think this challenge is a breath of fresh air during such a time of change and uncertainty for our society.

I have been asked recently to participate in the challenge but I kindly turned down the offer. I feel I am already in one spiritually; as if the pause button to my life has been pressed and I’m stuck and going no where fast. I’ve experienced physical and soul realm fatigue after doing all that I can naturally. There are about six weeks remaining in this year and I have to make some life altering decisions in preparation for 2017. Do I remain on this path that magnifies my gift or do I return to the hustle and grind of the corporate life in order to survive. I won’t have the time to do both with consistency so one will have to be abandoned indefinitely…

Either way I’m on pause in a “mannequin” like position. Extremely frustrated because growth, results and moving forward produces drive, energy and a sense of accomplishment in me. I feel I am at my emotional best when I’m forging ahead.

This interruption of sorts contradicts what I’ve been speaking and sharing lately and I’m concerned for the outcome. God are you there? Have you heard my cries? Will you deactivate this motionless standstill in my life for I’m beginning to question my value and worth yet again. I thought I was past this part of simply existing, but here I am again.

Have you ever felt this way or are you here today with me? As believers we sometimes hit these life patches that appear like life is just standing still and we are frozen in a state that’s not our choice. If that’s you, let’s remain encouraged, someway and somehow that our Lord, our God is so completely busy in action on our behalf. He’s behind the sight of what we can see producing the fruit of our labor. He’s already said what He will do so no need for Him to repeat what was already spoken. 

Being anxious profits nothing.

Doubting is the contrary of Faith.

Forcing efforts that interrupt the work of His hands will cause further delays and confusion.

So we stand, on pause and patiently wait on the Lord.

Until next time, happy Sunday!

Zoe Records UK

Zoe Records UK -Introduction

Hello RBT Readers! I pray this post finds you all encouraged, highly favored and with a great heart of expectancy in the things, Word and promises of our Lord Christ Jesus!

 

I am so excited and honored to announce that The Realboldtruth blog has connected with Zoe Records to promote the Ministry gifts that God has equipped in its visionaries and founders!All to promote the goodness of God, His Saving Grace and extraordinary Love that’s like none other!
No matter where we are, near or far, we are all brothers and sister in Christ here on earth to represent Him and be fishers of men! These efforts can be accomplished through music, writing, speaking and so many other platforms as ordained by the Father!

 

Below is a bio and sample recordings produced/released by Zoe. The music is sure to get you tapping your feet, clapping your hands and embracing the energy! Very uptempo, modern melodies that are sure to capture the attention of the young and old alike! Stay tuned as RBT releases and shares more music from Zoe in the future!

 

 

 

Zoe Records (pronounced ‘ZO – EE’) is an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. Zoe Records was created in 1999 and has offices in the United States and in Nigeria. The name ‘Zoe’ derives from the biblical interpretation which means ‘the Life of God.’

 

Isaac Odeniran, a choir member and enthusiast of US Gospel music, founded the label in 1999. His first release was in 2003: Marriage is of God was produced by Joel McCray. McCray also had a hand in the subsequent titles that Isaac released, namely God Bless the Child, and Christmas with Isaac Odeniran. Other artists signed early on include Beverley Moore, Little Debbie Dee, Gospophilia 3.
Zoe has since established itself as one of the most credible Gospel labels, having secured agreements with a number of acts both in the UK and internationally. Some of those artists even have Grammy’s awards, are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and Dove award winners.

 

Zoe is the place to be when it comes to Gospel music in the UK and by God’s grace it will continue to strive in aiding the industry to move forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, visit Zoe’s website at  http://www.zoerecords.co.uk/

 

Blessings!

Soulful Sunday

Soulful Sunday – Road to Forgiveness 

The topic of forgiveness is never ending. As humans we face decisions almost daily to either release people from matters that hurt us or forever hold them captive with mental torture. We hold on to their offenses great and small. Many truly struggle with the simplest matters in this regard. 

However truth is, when we don’t forgive, we pollute our own spirits and souls which ultimately begin to affect other areas of our lives. Our marriages, friendships, business connections and other critical relationships will suffer as the poison of unforgivness begins to leak and contaminate our futures. While those who caused the discord in our lives have either moved on, don’t realize they hurt us or a combination of other factors.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting a woman with an overwhelming testimony about forgiveness. Her name is Cindy Griffiths. Nearly 20 years ago, her beloved mother and 11 year old daughter were killed in a tragic car accident by the hands of a drunk driver. Cindy responded by conducting herself as a true representative of the Gospel and forgave!

Cindy’s story gained national attention and was even featured on the Oprah show. She exudes the love of Christ as she sat next to the woman who shattered her world in a blink of an eye. Cindy’s demeanor, compassion and expressions of comfort toward her offender is nothing short of operating as Christ Himself!

Join me on Monday November 7, 2016 at 5:30 pm EST on the Realboldtruth talk show on http://www.heartministryradio.com. I am truly honored to have an intimate discussion with Cindy about her step by step account with this heart wrenching process. This is the first of a two part interview with the last airing on Monday November 14, 2016.

Ministry has been birthed in Cindy as a result of this extremely difficult time in her life. She’s documented it all in her book entitled “The Road to Forgiveness “(Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2001) She has become an exceptional Inspirational speaker as she continues to honor the lives of her mother, daughter and help others to move towards the process of forgiveness. Visit her website for more information.
http://www.cindygriffiths.life/

Finally, a movie production is in the works that will certainly minister to the hearts of a multitude.

http://www.theroadtoforgivenessfilm.com/

STFWO

STFWO – Divorce & Remarriage

Hi Realboldtruth Readers! Happy Monday to you all!!

This month on Straight Talk for Women Only, Judy, Mary and I spoke candidly on the topic of divorce and remarriage. We aimed to dispel myths and shared personal testimonies of failure and triumph with our viewing audience.

STFWO is an internet talk show that airs the 1st Thursday of every month at 6:00pm EST. To view upcoming shows and archives, visit http://www.stfwo.com.

The program is hosted by Victory Christian Fellowship located at 100 Wilton Blvd, New Castle DE. Please visit the church’s website at http://www.victoryexperience.com for more information.

Blessings!

#marriage, Forgiveness, Inspiration

Sins of a Female Saint – Part II

This post concludes my testimony of my darkest secret; my deepest pain. Click here for Part I 
http://therealliferealtalk.com/2016/10/19/sins-of-a-female-saint-part-1
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I didn’t think I deserved it. After what I did the first time around certainly I will never be worthy again. 

As a believer, I failed miserably! Not keeping promises I made to myself, my 1st spouse and most of all to God. I’ll live the rest of my days and find a way to accept the errors of my ways, conceal my deepest secret and try to get back to being a good Christian; someway and somehow….

But as days turned into weeks, months into years, I battled with chronic depression and insurmountable soul crushing guilt. Like Adam and Eve in the garden after their disobedience, so did I try to hide from God.

Yes I came back to Him and repented for how I contributed to the breakdown in my 1st marriage, but there was so much more spiritually to deal with and I didn’t know how to start. So instead, I suppressed and buried that stinkin thing alive still screaming to breath and heal under mounds of emotional debris. That’s where it shall remain and no one will ever know how much I hurt. It will have to die eventually….

But 8 years later, it’s still screaming. In fact, sounds louder than ever before. Im now scrambling for more creative ways to stifle the noise. But the difficulty is even more complex. I initiated the divorce for matters were truly irreconcilable. Thereafter, my love, affection and adoration for the one I fell for has gotten deeper and now I carry his child. After 22 years of being barren, I conceived with the man I committed adultery with.

I know him more intimately than I ever knew my ex-husband. The good, the bad and the very ugly! We didn’t come into each other’s lives unscathed of life’s scars. We both were extremely broken as individuals; struggling both mentally and spiritually. Yet we clung to one another in the best friendship I have ever experienced. Our souls over the years are bonded and completely tied together. 

After a year of staying away from my love, he returned and asked for my hand. How dare I try this again and try to make it holy especially considering the way we started….

The attraction is just as magnetic as day one nearly 9 years prior. The adoration so much deeper and a beautiful child born between us. How could this natural messy situation ever be made right?

This feels hypocritical beyond description! Would God bless us, can I really be happy, and what consequences will we face individually and collectively? 

Despite all these natural questions, we stepped out on faith after 10 months of Godly counsel and married. 

Two years later, it has not been without challenges. On top of the normal circumstances that most married couples face, without spoken words we still look at each other and silently wonder, “Will you do the same to me?”

Despite our flaws, we hold on to our family, our faith and our God who healed what we thought was unhealable.

We are both being set free and elevating in ministry. Turning what the enemy intended for evil into good. I’ve grown so much spiritually. More concrete in faith, knowledge and the power of God than I ever was a decade ago. The test and trial was excessively painful and I lost a lot. But he restoreth my soul and Great is thy faithfulness!!

Finally I can breath! Without guilt, condemnation and shame. My fervent prayer is that someone facing similar circumstances be encouraged by my journey and make some healthy decisions. My Realboldtruth is indeed my testimony!

Soulful Sunday

Soulful Sunday – REVEAL, DEAL, HEAL

This message is not unique by far. It’s been told, preached and written about a million times over. Yet I feel compelled to reiterate today because many of us need to be reminded. The enemy likes snatching the Word from our spirits the instant it is uttered to keep us entrapped in bondage.

The only way to heal from a thing is to reveal it then deal with it! There is no other way! All else is simply avoidance and the rehearsed act of suppression. We may be able to keep symptoms of that pain at bay for a time; but it’s toxicity will spill out into the blood streams of our spirits in very nasty and unexpected ways. This leak ruins relationships, makes us ugly, robs us of blessings and stuns our growth.

REVEAL means to face that thing that you don’t want to talk about. When you do, the memories of it all haunts your soul and brings about tears, fears and more. But once it’s exposed in a healthy way through fellowship and wise counsel it’s power over your life will begin to decrease immediately!

DEAL means that you finally get the courage to fight for your future and your life by declaring and decreeing that there is something greater in you and for you! Therefore you take a stand that this thing will die and die today!

HEAL means that you begin to shed off those layers of hurt, pain, shame and blame and begin to LIVE!! That thing, however it’s defined for you, is a coward and a thief! If you want it to be over, a simple decision needs to be made by only you! Taking back your authority is what you must do to move forward!

REVEAL, DEAL and HEAL is the formula necessary to embrace your destiny and to stop looking back on matters, people and circumstances that you can’t change. They are only mere facts in your life but don’t need to define you indefinitely! Leave them in your past and put your foot down. Get into your rightful position in Christ Jesus and get all that He has for you in THIS life time! Do it while you still have time, still have breath, still have people who look up to you, still have His Grace and Mercy….Answer me this; Aren’t you worth it?

Until next time, happy Sunday!

Broken, Relationships

Sins of a Female Saint – Part 1 

The attraction was overwhelmingly intense. Like the power of 10 industrial size magnets I was being drawn in and could not stop it. In fact, after a time I didn’t want to stop it. I pursued and hunted after a single meeting and conversation that ignited something deep in me that apparently had died. Suddenly I felt alive and I wanted; no I needed more.

His smile, his features, his laugh, his smell were so completely intoxicating! His sense of humor was very similar to mine. We had so much in common and talked for hours…if and when we could. I had not been attracted to anyone this strongly and at this level in well over a decade and had forgotten what the experience felt like. My cheeks burned from blushing every-time I heard his voice. He would leave messages for me overnight on my work voice machine. I looked forward to them the instant they began. I found myself anxious to get up in the morning. Couldn’t wait to see if he was thinking of me overnight like I thought of him. He never disappointed. I listened to his messages frequently throughout the day.
I couldn’t sleep at night. Visions of him would not stop. I fantasizes during times that I knew I shouldn’t; when I should be working , studying, while in church and even while lying in bed next to my husband of nearly 10 years…

My marriage was severely broken. I was just 23 when I wedded, a babe in Christ and was told by the church mothers that we must stop living in sin. A little less than a year after meeting, we exchanged vows. It was not long afterwards that I began to discover that I didn’t take enough time to get to know him, to know myself and what God expected of me vs. the religious practices of man. Still I held on unsure, growing increasingly unhappy because I didn’t want to disappoint. I made God a promise and I was going to keep it by any means necessary. I prayed hard, long, and often. I got counseling too; still I faltered. 

The attraction came along at the most vulnerable time. Love, respect, intimacy, connection, and the will to keep trying in my marriage was dying for me. I was outgrowing my mate mentally and spiritually and the reality of it all was very painful. I was not keeping the facade together outwardly because a few that were close could clearly see the stark imbalance between us two. This new love interest reminded me often that I could still have those things I longed for again. 

For months, he became the only bright spot in my life for all hell began to break loose in my world. I was losing it all simultaneously. My health, my relationships, my home, my finances, my sanity, my way….. I ran to him for shelter, friendship then ultimately mental and physical comfort…..
This is my deepest, darkest and most painful confession. I once was a Christian Female Adulteress.

Even as I re-read the words above, nearly 10 years after these series of events,  it still doesn’t sound like me. My character, my beliefs, my position; I compromised them all with a single decision and I payed a deep price for it all. That price was the inability to move forward for an extended period of time. I believed that everything adverse that was happening to me was the result of what I did. Certainly I deserved it because I dishonor my vows. I drowned In thinking I didn’t deserve and I couldn’t forgive myself. I didn’t even know I needed to until just 2 years ago. 

Five years ago I conceived my first and only biological child. This happened out of wedlock and during a time when I walked away from God. I was extremely unhealthy spiritually and carried around a tremendous amount of pain, anger and guilt. I finally came to my senses for the sake of my child. Oh Lord I need thee!

I went for counseling with my son’s father upon his request. I only expected family therapy to learn how to co-parent with him. It’s all I wanted and nothing more. We were crazy about each other but with both of us being divorcees we never fully gave our relationship a chance. At the time,we had been apart as a couple for nearly a year. The Pastors who were assigned to help us clearly saw we were madly in love and they needed to seperate us to get to the bottom of our individual issues. 

So much came out in those sessions and I learned I needed to forgive myself for how I left my first marriage. When I finally released, it was such a heavy burden ejected from my soul. How I wish I would have done that earlier and saved myself 8 years of unnecessary mental anguish! Those family counseling sessions ultimately turned into pre-marital counseling. We married October 10, 2014. 

For me, this is the most intimate and embarrassing thing I have ever revealed. I know that I need to share for there are other women who suffer silently. Although men are more likely than women to commit adultery making this topic for them an accepted norm, women fail to be honest about the matter due to the harsh criticism we more than likely will subject ourselves to.

I personally am over how people may respond. I’ve beat myself up worse than any human ever could and sentenced myself to an 8 year term of absolute mental torture. Nothing hurts worse than that. Today I am completely set free and reconciled the most important relationship in my life; my bond with my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, Christ Jesus.

By-the-way, If you are wondering what ever happened to the man I fell for .. Well, he is the one I married. This is my RealBoldTruth! 

Soulful Sunday

Soulful Sunday – T.M.I. Freedom

As the Lord continues to elevate me in the things of Him, my intellect sometimes pauses in this journey and wonders if it is sometimes too much.

I am sure and without question that He has called me to be Bold, Direct and Fearless with my experiences. I must operate in the Real, flow in Boldness, and embrace it all in Truth! This indeed is the call on my life. Its defined for me by exposing matters that many may think falls in the T.M.I. Category – Too Much Information!

Should this be told, should that be reveal? Every ugly detail that once cringed and embarrassed my existence. What will they say and how will I be perceived? 

Yes, as I grow in the Lord, these questions still rise up from time to time. However my spirit has grown more dominant and takes precedence and center stage these days over all else! 

Truth of the matter is, I have experienced complete freedom with transparency in areas that have had me bound for several decades. Giving away the pain by being real in what I have lived through has perpetuated healing that I could never experience any other way. 

The theme for this writing platform comes out of Revelations 12:11. As I obey its instructions, layers of hurt, pain and shame peel away, dry up and fall off. What is left exposed is a more confident, determined and radical woman sold out and convinced that she can do anything with the move of God’s hand.

There’s nothing like being free! In your mind, from your past, from your failures and from your mistakes! God is more than able to turn any set of circumstances around for His benefit, if we let Him.

Anything that we have endured and survived was not meant to remain dormant in the depths of our souls, but to share with someone who needs to know how to make it over.

T.M.I. is necessary at appropriate times to benefit the lost and to show them the goodness, grace, mercy and salvation of our Lord! Without our stories, what other way can we and they be free?

Until Next Time, Happy Sunday!

Video Blog

Video Blog – October 2016

Hi there Readers!

I did an impromptu video blog. Raw and unscripted!  I notice when I do things this way that I leave out stuff or  mistate matters! I hate when that happens! Lol!  So here is some corrected info:

Victory Christian Fellowship Women’s conference is being held Friday October 14 & 15 2016. Please visit victoryexperience.org for more info on this event and awesome ministry!

The corrected website address for Kish Magazine is http://www.kish-magazine.com

The RealBoldTruth talk show airs on Monday evenings EST at 5:30 pm. Visit http://www.heartministryradio.com to access.

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 (You must go to the blog website to view the recorded video message)

Inspiration

Storm Positions


Troubles are certain in this life. No one is exempt. Every human life will experience his or her share. There is no escape and the bible is clear on this certainty. 

Someone’s situation may appear better than yours at a given time but don’t be fooled! Those you look upon with a level of envy are just in a different position than you are.

There are stages indeed to the storms of life. Understanding where you are personally is critical in the fight for survival and your testimony on how you made it through. 

There are 4 Storm Positions that we all face at each distinct trial in our lives.

The Arising -is position #1. We are starting to see the system develop. Some stiff winds are blowing, our blue skies are casting over with dark clouds. But a ribbon of sunshine is still visible. We begin feeling the first few drops of precipitation. We may still be able to offer a half smile, a hallelujah, some genuine praise and calling the devil a liar as we begin to pray and seek direction. 

The Eye – We are now smack dead in the middle at this 2nd Position. The totality of this beasty gale has completely exposed itself. The break of day is far beyond our sight. It’s gravely eerie and blinding with darkness. We are now being tossed, sometimes violently by the hale, winds, rain and earth shattering lightening. We can’t see a way out and God appears Job-like silent! This is the tornado, hurricane and tsunami effect of your dellima at its peak! The enemy is busy on your psyche and your faith may become vulnerable if not shaken.

The Dawning – we are still very much in the storm at this 3rd position but a break has come. The sun is peaking through just a bit and clouds are beginning to roll away. You are beginning to see, hear and experience God in the midst. He is beginning to restore and deliver you. The question is, have you arrived at this point with gratitude or operating in offense of what you had to endure?

The Calm – Finally It’s over! Position # 4 presents a plethora of opportunities. Reminders of what we survived are still quite evident. As we clean up the debris of downed wires, broken branches, loosened shingles and shattered glass of our souls, we can reflect on the lessons and begin to heal. Some unfortunately remain stuck on the details and “whys” robbing themselves of fully embracing this position by keep looking backwards.

If you are grateful for how God bought you through, it’s my personal opinion that our most effective testimony may be somewhere between The Dawning and A little ways into The Calm. It’s Fresh, Raw, soul stirring and its totality has been experienced. Any further out may lose its effectiveness for unfortunately, another system is always on the horizon. BUT GOD!

So when you step on the other side of the clearing, seek ways to share your story and don’t wait too long. The enemy lurks continuously and tries to make us forget how God kept us. Especially if our next Storm is greater than the last.

Christ is our shelter, fortress, shield and the ultimate protector.

So weather up with the Word of God and wise counsel if you are still hurting from your experiences. Help someone else who is going through. We are not Storm Survivors for any other reason but for His Glory.