by Altimese Nichole | Sep 21, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
It is said that you can tell where one’s heart resides by the things (or people) he or she spends the most time and money. It’s a very true statement but can I be honest? As I type this I feel conviction in my spirit. As a woman of God, I say (and truly believe) that God is the most important in my life. But is that reflecting in my time with him? Do I talk to him daily and allow time of silence so I can truly hear His voice when he responds? What about my time in His word. Can that be better?
Absolutely.
However, in all transparency—I knew that I had to do more than simply read. I had to STUDY. I did a bit of research on how to truly study the Word of God as a beginner (meaning a newbie at truly studying and digesting the context of God’s word). While searching, I found this amazing method called SOAP.
The acronym, SOAP means “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.†How amazing is that? It helps the people like me create a bit of focus and structure to my study time. I seek a scripture that I want to set my mind on for the day, and follow the soap method to go a bit deeper into my time with God. It’s helped me a lot with doing more than just reading—but truly finding ways to apply what I’m reading to my life.
What methods do you use to study the Bible?
by Jasmine Shirley | Sep 16, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
You can start and finish that book.
You can take time to research for that non-profit dream.
You can take a day off.
You can buy that pair of shoes in your shopping cart.
You can move to that new city.
You can travel to that amazing place.
You can earn that degree.
You can build that home.
You can take those cooking lessons.
You can buy that motorcycle.
You can plan that wedding.
You can get that membership.
You can sponsor that group. You can join that dance crew.
You can get that promotion.
You can write that article.
You can contact that C.E.O. You can be that C.E.O
You can rock that dress.
You can cut your hair in that new fly style you’ve been wanting to try.
You can get that pet. You can get that car. You can get that bag.
You can lease that building for your company.
You can give yourself permission to do whatever you want!
Most importantly,
You can do this!
Go get your blessing!
-Jasmine Shirley
by Torrie Oglesby | Aug 27, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
Lately, God has been quietly showing and reminding me just how important, precious and valuable my body is. As a woman, I get to carry my children in my womb, I get to feed them from my own breast, and then I get to carry them and nurture them all the days of their young lives. After I had my first child, I got back into shape immediately! Watching what I ate, working out everyday and being diligent with getting my body back into top shape. After I had my second child, life was a little bit different and I didn’t have the focus that I had with my first one to commit myself back to getting in shape.
Let me be clear here, it’s not about being skinny, that was never my focus and still isn’t my focus. It is, however, about treating your body like the most precious, rare, and valuable commodity that it is. We only get one and yes we are women and we have children and our bodies change in shape and size, but that’s not an excuse to stop feeding and moving your body with the upmost respect. If anything, having children should motivate us to be healthy so that we can see our children grow up.
Unfortunately, life gets in the way and we trade healthy meals for convenient meals and sitting down on the couch catching our breath from the constant mundane movement over getting up and working out. I haven’t workout or fed my body properly for a year and let me just say, I have never felt more unhealthy in my life. The funny thing is, if a stranger looked at me they would think I was in decent shape, but it’s not the outside appearance that is suffering it’s the inward aches and pains. My body is constantly trying to tell me that it’s lacking something and needs me to do something about it. This is when I hear God whisper:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodiesâ€
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Even as I’m writing this, that scripture convicts me in so many ways. The beautiful thing about conviction, is that it calls you to a higher place. My prayer for all of us is that we learn to honor our God by honoring our bodies. Not just with what we feed it, but how we move it, what we allow our eyes to see, what we allow our ears to hear, what we allow our hands to touch, what we allow our minds to read and receive, and what we allow our mouths to say. Be empowered today, and with every action you take, remember that your body is a temple, not a garbage can.
With love and big smiles,
torrie
by Nadya Logan | Aug 27, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
Charles Stanley once said, “Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins,”
Recently I went through an experimental period with my DVR, and I happened to stumble upon a show that caught my interest briefly. The show featured one of my favorite actresses from my younger years, Elizabeth Gilles, and despite me being moderately confused about the episode’s plot due to coming in nearly 20-minutes into the 30-minute program, I was immensely intrigued by a concept introduced.
During a heart-to-heart moment between Gilles’ character and her father, the daughter began to explain to father about how his fear of success is tied to The Jonah Complex.
There is a popular biblical story often referred to as the story of Jonah and the Whale. In short, the story goes as follows:
God sent Jonah to Ninevah. Nineveh was an enemy of Jonah’s country, Israel. So, Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh.
Jonah tried to escape God. He tried to travel elsewhere, by ship. But there was a terrible storm. Jonah knew that God had caused the storm. So, he asked the sailors to throw him into the sea. But Jonah did not drown, because God sent a whale (large fish) to swallow Jonah. Then, Jonah prayed to God again. He thanked God, who had rescued him (Jonah 2). And God caused the fish to return Jonah to the dry land.*
So, Jonah went to Nineveh. He warned the people that they must confess their evil deeds to God. Otherwise, God would destroy their nation. The people obeyed Jonah. So, God forgave the people in Nineveh. God did not destroy Nineveh at this time.
But Jonah was sad, because Nineveh was his enemy. Jonah wanted God to destroy Nineveh. But God told Jonah that God cares about the people from every nation.
The Jonah Complex is a theory created by Abraham Maslow—first introduced the theory in his book titled, “The Farther Reaches of Human Nature—that is based off of the famous biblical story.
The theory suggests that despite understanding our duties and responsibilities (in life and as children of God), we often try to evade our missions out of fear—similarly to Jonah.
“It is certainly possible for most of us to be greater than we are in actuality. We all have unused potentialities or not fully developed ones…So often we run away from the responsibilities dictated (or rather suggested) by nature, by fate, even sometimes by accident, just as Jonah tried—in vain—to run away from his fate…We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments, under the most perfect conditions, under conditions of greatest courage.” –Abraham Maslow in “The Farther Reaches of Human Nature”
We are afraid of the unknown. As humans, it’s considered natural, but before reading this theory had I never stopped to consider the effects that my fear was putting on me fulfilling my dreams or aspirations, nevertheless my destiny.
There are so many things that I wanted to do, and probably could have done, but I allowed myself to be crippled my own fear.
I held myself back because it seemed better to do that instead of facing my problems head on and accepting the consequence that followed.
In life our possibilities are endless, yet we limit ourselves due to trepidation that we carry on our own.
How are your fears holding you back from walking in your purpose?
What can you do to unbind yourself from the chains of fear?
*The credit for the summary of Jonah goes to: http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/jonah-summary.htm
by Nadya Logan | Aug 27, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
“Lesson 1” by Julie Hill Alger
At least I’ve learned this much:
Life doesn’t have to be
all poetry and roses. Life
can be bus rides, gritty sidewalks,
electric bills, dishwashing,
chapped lips, dull stubby pencils
with the erasers chewed off,
cheap radios played too loud,
the rank smell of stale coffee
yet still glow
with the inner fire of an opal,
still taste like honey
by Torrie Oglesby | Aug 27, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
Did you know, that from the time a girl reaches puberty until about the age of 50, she is twice as likely to have an anxiety disorder as a man? Anxiety disorders also occur earlier in women than in men as well and women are also more likely to have multiple psychiatric disorders during their lifetime than men. As if that is isn’t enough, the most common mental disease to co-occur with anxiety is depression. (www.adaa.org)
This is disturbing. It breaks my heart that so many of my sisters out there are fighting a battle within their minds against anxiety and depression. I have not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or depression, but I do struggle with worrying and deep thoughts sometimes weigh me down. Minutes before writing this, I was so anxious that I couldn’t focus on what I wanted to do. I would read my book for a second, then surf the internet, then write and then look at my phone. I’m aware of my body, spirit and mind and they all were completely out of order and antsy. I became aware quickly that something was off and maybe I just needed to spend a moment with God. I shut the computer, threw my phone across the room, grabbed my prayer journal and poured out my spirit. I started with a heart of thanks and asked for forgiveness and went into proclaiming that Jesus has the victory over everything.
After that, I began to pray for others who were specifically on my heart in that moment. Everyone I prayed for had a common need and the need was God’s peace. I felt in my spirit to then proclaim peace over everyone in my circle of influence. I feel like creation as a whole is searching and crying out for Gods peace. I then let the Holy Spirit lead me to scripture and to no surprise, he lead me to Judges 6:23-24:
The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.
   Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t have found that scripture without the Holy Spirit prompting me to, I mean when was the last time I read judges? (The answer is never.) We search everywhere trying to find peace and the only place to find it is in Him and through His word. When we rest in his promises peace overflows and when we realize who He is (THE LORD IS PEACE) all doubt, fear, anxiety, depression and sadness have no place.
Sweet girl, the Lord Is Peace so stop worrying yourself. Trust that He is holding you and carrying for you. He is so close to you, he’s for you and he sees you. My prayer is that he covers you, me and anyone struggling with fears with His blanket of peace. Whenever you feel anxiety, depression, or fear creeping into your space and spirit chant this mantra of HIS promises:
“THE LORD IS PEACE. THE LORD IS PEACE. THE LORD IS PEACE.â€
With love and big smiles,
torrie
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