Tag: Inspiration

Book Review

Read This! Dreaming the Dream

This month’s book review is coming a day late but I don’t even know if what I have to say will serve enough justice! It’s entitled “Dreaming the Dream!”

This one, without question is a serious MUST READ! I picked it up at such an appropriate time and was completely blessed beyond description!

This book is an incredible collaboration of 8 exceptional women and men of God who will inspire their readers to walk in love, keep their faith and refuse to abandon their dreams!

This read was beyond timely for me as I have reached a plateau while walking such an uncertain path towards my heart’s desires. Something inside has been reignited after considering the content between these pages.

Here are some highlights! It is my hopes that they will tempt you to purchase your own copy so that you can experience the totality of all the wisdom this book has to offer!


Shawneya Ellis will challenge you to reexamine your life and do some serious pruning! There may be some deadly seeds that may have been deposited in you life. They are smothering and preventing you from experiencing God’s best! 

Romella Vaughn provides incredible wisdom on why it’s necessary for every believer to wait on God. Patience is truly a virtue! While we wait we must be in preparation, focus on healing, be patient, have no fear, be aware of distractions and Trust God through it all!

Kishma A. George will encourage your heart and motivate readers to use what they have! Be unique, authentic and never downgrade the gift and visions that come to you from the Lord! They shall come to pass; it has been declared!!

Pippa Ashley provides a moving depiction of the essence of love. She reminds readers of its purpose, importance, the way it should operate and move in the life of a believer.

Dr. Yomi Garnett boldly decrees on the necessity of a steadfast spirit that is essential in living out your dreams. Don’t wallow in your past rather learn from them. Preserverence is non-negotiable and if failure is experienced, its not over! Have faith and fight to be extraordinary!

Rodney Davis shares a powerful testimony on his personal journey towards reaching his own dreams. His story really ministered to me about how God loves using people with barren wombs to produce incredible outcomes!

Tammy Collins Markee encourages readers to be resilient towards the quest of walking towards your dreams. Like a powerful inferno we must keep our eye on the mark while maintaining a humble disposition as we represent him and understand that it’s His process.

Trina Bowers provides loving conviction on the importance of operating in loyalty in order to obtain favor in our own desires. At times we must serve and help others reach their own destiny before ours will come to pass. Selfishness not allowed!

These are just a sample of nuggets I personally obtained from this excellent read. Again I don’t have enough words to express how each one of these authors inspired me to change certain aspects of my spirit as I journey towards what God has for me.

Dreaming the Dream is available on Amazon.com in both paperback and kindle edition.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0991520289/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467333992&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=dreaming+the+dream&dpPl=1&dpID=51WmOzkIcgL&ref=plSrch

Purchase, read, share and be inspired!

Inspiration, reflection, self-help, Spiritual Awareness

Soulful Sunday – 1/2016

  

  
Hi RLRT readers! I got an unction this week to start a Sunday theme! Not sure yet how often I will do it (Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly) but I’m starting now!
I’ll call it “Soulful Sunday”. Not original but it’s what first came to mind! Ha!

Well this first is about the importance of feeding our souls. Each human is made up of a Body, Mind, and Spirit/Soul.

We typically don’t think twice about feeding our natural bodies food and drink daily. It’s a natural reaction and essential to live. A lot of us even overdo this “Feeding” thing in this area! (Both my hands up while SMH!)

It takes a bit more effort to feed our minds continuously. Our intellect requires nourishment by way of education and reading to obtain earthly knowledge. Some are obsessed with this while others get just enough to be aware of basic life necessities. Never-the-less we all do it whether forced by an instructor or pursued on our own for higher education.

Feeding our souls is essential and I believe the most neglected when society is considered as a whole. Our soul is that part of us that feels, loves, yearns, and longs to make sense out of matters that simply do not….

If the Soul is not fed good and wholesome nourishment, this part of us will surly suffer from starvation. The neglect can produce anger, depression, sadness, confusion, offense, and other adverse reactions that will negatively affect our lives and those in it.

If this famine of the soul goes on for too long, it will have nothing else to rely on but the food supply from our own intelligence. Things we can make sense of naturally will dominate our lives; this can be dangerous territory! The soul will function off of this source but not at its optimum potential. It truly needs it’s own unique food supply!

As a believer in the Gospel and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I feed my soul with his Word. There is no educational book that can provide me with the answers to life that my soul demands. I am an avid reader and have found nothing more satisfying to my spirit than the instructions in the Bible. I am a glutton for what it has to offer and feel whole as a result. 

Do you have a balanced life when it comes to feeding every part of your make up? If you are restless, discontent or stuck in anyway emotionally, it may be because your soul is grossly deprived! Try feeding it with the Word of God on a regular. Take baby bites if you are a beginner and then begin eating until your heart is content! It’s probably the only thing you can overindulge in that won’t have waist line or swollen ego consequences!đŸ˜‡

Until next time – Happy Eating in Mind, Body & Spirit.

Forgiveness, Homosexuality, Inspiration, motivational, reflection, Relationships, self-help, Spiritual Awareness, Uncategorized

Coming IN – A GLBT Tribute

  

As a Believer this is the most difficult, complex and controversial article I have ever written. I’m actually a bit nervous as I own these words. What will they say? What will they think? What backlashing label will I receive? Should I even utter a word? Never-the-less, I am compelled for I know that these are some of the same sentiments those in the GLBT community face daily and more. So as brave as many of them have become, so shall I from a Christian perspective as I come to terms with what I have labeled as their process of “Coming In”. 

I confess that I have viewed those in the GLBT realm rather harshly as a heterosexual female and Believer in the Gospel of Christ Jesus. My judgement as an imperfect being against another has been the true reflection of hypocrisy. For this I am truly remorseful. I vow to work on this from here on out!

Over the past several months I had the opportunity to be up close and personal with two couples. One, a mixed married male couple who invited my husband and I to their home for a birthday celebration. I initially had reservations because of the unknown. My husband is a childhood friend of one of the men. He has known him for over 30 years but had not seen him in many. His friend has been avoiding school reunions and other gatherings and we can only suspect it’s because of his lifestyle. When they were young, he did not portray himself as a Gay man. The suspicion was there but no one dared to ask. By the end of the night I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of kindness, overwhelming hospitality, conversation and generosity extended to us. I had a fabulous time! There was nothing weird, gross, or disturbing behavior displayed. Most importantly, my husband walked away with closure as he took a moment with his friend to clear the air, asked him to own up to his choices and officially introduce us to his spouse. Even as a middle aged man living Gay for many years, it was evident that the request was both difficult and a tremendous relief all at the same time. To my surprise, I was genuinely happy for the couple and look forward to seeing them again.

The other couple are females. They are very young and facing their beginning years of embracing their sexuality publicly. I have an intimate and binding relationship with one of the them. I have known of her struggle to walk in her truth for years but we have never talked about it due to both distance, time and opportunity. I have also suspected avoidance on both our parts as a culprit as well. 

Recently I stole a moment with her. It was time to remove the elephant in the room that has been a hinderance in our relationship. It was time for him to go! At this point in our lives I wanted to create a sense of transparency in order to bring us closer if at all possible. I started the conversation by telling her how proud I am of her accomplishments as a young woman. She has been stellar in academics, has developed a committed work ethic, still dabbles in her creativity and has recently ventured out and secured her own living quarters. She is so personable, funny and loving. I followed by telling her if anything I had to say makes her uncomfortable to simply shut me down! At this point I felt I had a right to address the issue. Her transition is happening before my eyes so why not talk about it since she’s part of my life indefinitely. I only hoped she saw my approach the same way.

I told her that I am not only proud of her life achievements but also her bravery and strength of “Coming In” to her true and authentic self. Anything less has been bondage, suppression, and down right phony for her. She can’t live her life trying to fulfill everyone else’s expectations of who they think she should be. I believe the conversation was embraced and bought on a sense of relief. At least it did for me. I am not one of the most significant in her circle but I am a part never-the-less. I needed her to know that I love her no matter what.  

For Christians, I think we must alter our approach when it comes to the GLBT Community. After we share what the word says then provide warning against wrong doing there is nothing left but to give love and PRAY! They are not going anywhere and are making great strides in their fight for acknowledgement and equality. We do ourselves and our Savior an injustice by classifying their way of life as the greatest sin of all. Only he has a right to do that. 

Please know that I DO NOT condone the lifestyle. I believe it greatly interrupts God’s plan for his children. According to the word of God in which I believe, it is sin. He calls it an abomination. Noted in both the Old and New Testament, the act does not conform to HIS will for human life. (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27)

Furthermore, neither do I condemn the lifestyle because I have no right as a person who must deal with my own sins as I walk with God. Unforgiveness, revenge seeking, self loathing, looking down on others and not being compassionate enough towards those in need are just to name a few that I have battled with just this week! I have countless issues, THIS IS REAL TALK! I’m not and will never be perfect. I have my own work to do! So do those who continue to judge the GLBT community. None are blameless! The Word is absolutely clear about this as well! (Matthew 7:1-5)

To my brothers and sister in Christ, please consider addressing the GLBT community as you would anyone else. I am certainly NOT talking about the ridiculous concept of “Praying The Gay Away”! it’s not going to happen! Pray for their safety for they are being hunted, harassed and harmed. Pray for their well being for some consider taking their own lives because the struggle of accepting who they are is real! Pray for their health for many are sick. (Not just with HIV & AIDS – Lets remove the stigma that they all are some big walking disease because all of them are not!) Pray for their relationships with family and friends to heal and grow stronger. Pray for those who share our Faith in Christ that they don’t loose sight of who he is in their lives. Finally Pray for their salvation for many believe that God does not want them because of how they live. This is what we Must Do in love. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

To the GLBT community, forgive me, the Church and those who judge you that are far from perfect. I am learning that many of you who don’t flaunt promiscuity or force your choices in the faces of others are some of the most beautiful, loving and giving people ever! You have morals, values and respect very similar to my own. Honestly, I am learning to embrace the GLs but still struggle with the BTs. I just simply don’t get it, but am more willing to take a more sensitive and neutral position again because of my own imperfections.

I no longer view the process of exposing sexuality as a “Coming Out”. It is rather a “Coming In”; to a truth that is so personal and not about anyone else but the person dealing with the matter. Yes others will ultimately have to decide what they will do once you expose, especially if you have been concealing from family and friends. But the first person to accept who you are as a GLBT person is YOU. Be authentic, be sovereign, be secure, be well in mind, body and spirit. Last but not least, “Come In” to knowing that God STILL loves and wants you! No matter what you think or what others tell you. Develop and “Come In” to a personal relationship with him. JUST AS YOU ARE! YOU’RE GOING TO NEED HIM. We all do! He loves all of his children no matter how messy we think we may be. No one is exempt from receiving his love and no one has done anything so terrible that they are not worthy of it. Unlike humans, His love is unconditional! Let go of the insignificant perception of others. People don’t matter when it comes to You and God! Breath; Be you, Be Free, and just “Come In”.

Comments to this blog are encouraged. Anything offensive, derogatory, and over-opinionated as deemed by the author will be deleted.