Therefore encourage one another and edify one another, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Friday, December 20, 2013

Beauty

Beauty: Is it defined by the curve of my lips, the length of my hair, the way my eyes twinkle when I laugh, or is it the way I dress? Is it the way I stand? The thickness of my thighs? The round plumpness about my chest?

Beauty.

I am not defined by neither the materialistic things of this world or the structure of my body. I stand tall and firm, but not by the way the world defines. I stand tall and firm on His word. That is my true beauty. Beauty does not define how I look from the outside. I know that physical beauty does not last. My beauty is the things that dwell within. The strength that I gained from the pain I endured. The scars from my battle wounds that show me that I am victorious. The strength of my spirit that once was fragile. The wisdom and knowledge that I have attained from the tests that I have passed. The selflessness that I have that I would rather help someone other than myself. The prayers that I make that aren't about helping me become more pleasing to man, but to God. The beauty that goes more than skin deep that is shown not through physical features but can be seen with the naked eye. We must realize that we are more than what meets the eye. We are more than physical and material things. We are created in His image. God has instilled more in us than what is outside of us. Let your beauty shine and speak for itself. For you are beautiful.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3-4

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Feeling a little down?


Have you been feeling a little down lately? Like all hope is lost? Like you don’t have a way out?


You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)


Even when you think your circumstance is hopeless, it is not impossible for God. Our heavenly Father can meet your needs regardless of your present or past position. God can achieve far more than we can ever ask or imagine. He wants us to lean on and put our trust in Him.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

When you think the odds are against you, God will intervene on your behalf. 

Now is that Love or what! Our God can do the unthinkable!
  
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 (NLT)






Monday, December 16, 2013

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations are in order for one of Sisters of Honor's Team Members. 


This past weekend my family and I had the pleasure of attending my middle daughter's College Graduation. Needless to say, I am an extremely proud mom! She has worked extremely hard the last four years to maintain her grades while working as a lab assistant, a Research Analyst and also while tutoring others. Although there were times when it wasn't easy, it confirms with God all things are truly indeed possible! 


Words cannot express how delighted we are. Continue to follow the path God has for you. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Ignite a Fire Within




Psalm 63 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.


Do you desire to have the burning on the inside for Christ?

In order to pursue God, you must give Him some attention which is the foundation. Just like when you are pursuing a physical relationship. You give the person your undivided attention because you want to gain a sufficient amount of information in regards to this specific individual. You are so excited and eager to find out all the details about their life, character, likes and dislikes, etc. You must be the same way with seeking a relationship with God so He can reveal Himself to you.

When you ignite a genuine passion for Christ, you are aware of His presence and power each and every day.  Authentic passion for God comes from having a yearning for it and expressing that yearning through prayer. Begin to set aside some one on one time to spend with God and meditate on His word daily. Trust in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you on your journey because you are not capable of doing it in your own power. Your passion for Christ should be the motivating strength of your life.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. Mark 12:30 (NKJV)

Free yourself of any distractions which stands to hinder your enthusiasm for Christ. You either have passion for the world or passion for God but you most definitely cannot have both. There is no room for lukewarm relationships. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 (NKJV) The love of the world will take precedent and drain you of your desire for God. Society has the ability to influence your behavior, bargain with your faith and in turn demolish your life.
How can you light a fire amongst the earth, if you are not burning eagerly within? It’s time to get the fire started.

Regardless of what your relationship with God has been in the past, begin today to encounter more of His presence.


I had the privilege of writing this article in Proverbs 31 Mama Ministries Signature Woman Magazine. Please take some time and go preview this issue for FREE.


Friday, August 23, 2013

Memoirs of a Healing Woman

Some people say being broken is the end of it all. Well I say it is only the beginning.

Heal:  verb Cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again (Oxford English Dictionary)

  It is May 5, 2001. I am watching the snowflakes dance down from the sky out of my studio apartment. As I look out the window, I am listening to the loud snoring behind me. As I was drifting away from my present time, I was snatched back to reality. He’s still here. Just a few hours ago my head was placed next to where his shoes lay. Well let’s be honest, it was more like slammed.

 I began to dream about how my life could be. I began to play beautiful clips of running through a field of flowers with my strong man holding my hands. Strong man…he is strong. I began to count the unwanted gifts he gave me. I look at the old ones and searched for the new ones, so I could figure out a way to hide them from everyone outside of that front door. There goes that dream.

 He stopped snoring. It’s 7:43 p.m. I am late cooking dinner. I am afraid of what is going to happen next. He is up now and I am watching his size 11.5 feet pound against those wooden floors that I have been dragged across so much. I refuse to look at him because I know it is anger and hate in his eyes, so I watch his feet, the ones that sent me to the emergency room two weeks ago. 

 As I cook his food trying to scheme a way to release myself from his wrath, he tells me he is leaving me. I should have been shouting for joy, but instead I cried. Why am I over here crying over a man that has broken me?
            
  ­– Two ribs, finger, fractured jaw –

  I begged him to stay but instead he ate, packed and left. I was not happy or relieved, but angry. How am I supposed to survive without him? I thought this was a trick so he could see who I am messing with. 

It has been 6 days 8 hours 27 minutes since the last time I have heard from him, I thought to myself as I heard the loud booming noise come from my alarm. Guess he is really not coming back. I lifted my heavy body out of my creaky iron bed my grandma used to have and made my way to the bathroom. I cringed from the coldness of the tile floors that I should have been accustomed to by now. I picked up my bag packed with makeup.  The pain from the wounds he has left me with is still there, but they are slowly leaving. I guess applying my makeup will be easier now.

 I stared at myself wondering who I will become now that I am without him. My family says I can never keep a man. Maybe I should stop by his workplace after I get off. Anger began to creep upon me from him leaving.  I guess I proved my family right. I balled up my fist and began to revive the gifts he had given me. Physical pain for me is much easier for me to bare than to think about the pain and upset that is rumbling from within.

 I dropped to my knees…I cannot keep doing this. What is wrong with me? I yearned to be loved but it was never given to me. I should have tried a little harder. I sat there silent for several more minutes then I began to think about the song my grandma used to sing, “Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry…” Why did she always sing that song? She always told me, “Girl if you don’t have no one else, you will always have the Lord”. “When you are going through something, talk to Him and He will hear you. He can heal you like no one else can”. I guess that was why she was so happy.

Can God really heal me? Can He even hear me? I have been hurt so many times and I am broken. How can God heal someone like me? I don’t even know what it feels like to be happy anymore. All of these thoughts rushed into my head. I suppose I will take grandma’s advice and talk to the Lord. Besides, what else do I have to lose? I haven’t prayed in so long, well nothing other than saying my grace or saying a little prayer before sleep just to get me by. I haven’t done one of those true prayers that grandma used to do that make you feel like God is really there listening to you. I remember my grandma disciplining me from skipping my prayers or saying them so fast. “Since I am on the floor I might as well pray”, I thought to myself. I kneeled, bowed my head, joined my hands together and began to pray.

 It is February 13, 2003. I am feeling better now. I cannot believe I am moving out of this apartment. I looked at all of my boxes I have packaged and reminisced about all of the memories it holds. I remember when I got my first set of keys; I was so excited. Then my memories drifted to a darker place. I walked around looking at some of the holes in the walls I had covered with furniture and pictures. I rubbed my feet across the floor where I place the rug over the scratch marks from when I was dragged across the floor. As I was thinking about those days that haunted me so much, I didn’t realize that I was crying. I remember him yelling at me saying I will never be anything and I will definitely never make it without him. He said I was nothing more than a toy that he will play with from time to time. “Maybe I am nothing”, I said out loud. “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!” I screamed. “You are better now”! I was going to let my pain dictate my future, but then I heard God. Thinking about how God saved me almost two years ago began to warm my heart. I cannot allow him to control me anymore. I took my happiness and my mind back years ago, I said to myself while trying to get myself under control. Then I remembered that he stopped by a few months ago begging to come back. I remember myself slamming the door in his face with 911 already punched in on my house phone. Thinking about that made me chuckle a little bit. 

   Some people may think being broken is the worst thing that can happen to you. Well it was the best for me. If I was never broken into all of those pieces, I never would have found God. I never would have experienced His love that has continuously swept me off my feet. Being broken has allowed Him to come into my life and reconstruct me into the person God has called for me to be. My past is just that…my PAST. I learned from it, got stronger, and I am MOVING FORWARD. As I picked up the last box, I looked back into that old studio apartment that holds all of my old memories. I smiled, and began to sing that song that grandma used to sing, “Pass me not, O gentle Savior…” 

O LORD my God, I cried out to You And you healed me. Psalms 30:2

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
 
Copyright © 2013

God's Grace,
Likyla

*Based on an inspired story.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

FREE Online Conference: Bible Study Expo





Join Marnie Swedberg as she host a FREE Online Conference on Thursday, July 18, 2013 Noon to 3 CST.

The Guest Speakers Include Authors: 

  • Liz Curtis Higgs
  • T. Suzanne Ellers
  • Elisa Morgan
  • Leighann McCoy
  • Susie Larson
  • Sheryl Pellatiro
  • Sue Edwards
  • Mindy Ferguson
  • Carla McDougal

Each guest will speak approximately 20 minutes sharing information pertaining to her latest Bible Study Book for Christian women.

You also have the option of listening via web www.BibleStudyExpo.com  or by phone by dialing into (206) 402-0100 or (703) 344-2171 (Code: 876918#)

There will also be a Facebook and Twitter party going on during the expo so, feel free to join at either location.Don't miss out on all the fun!


 
You don’t want to miss this event. Go to www.BibleStudyExpo.com now to pre-register. You just may win one of the giveaways.