Thank God I'm a Woman with Guest Poster: Osayi Osar-Emokpae

Today's Guest is Osayi Osar-Emokpae. I'm sure you will enjoy what she has to share!

“The special gift and ability of each creature defines its special limitations. And as the bird easily comes to terms with the necessity of bearing wings when it finds that it is, in fact, the wings that bear the bird -- up, away from the world, into the sky, into freedom -- so the woman who accepts the limitations of womanhood finds in those very limitations her gifts, her special calling -- wings, in fact, which bear her up into perfect freedom, into the will of God.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot (Let me be a Woman)

I’m emotional every day of the month, but there are some days that I am more emotional than others. I used to get really upset with myself when I would have emotional outbursts. I used to get so frustrated when I would be bothered by what people said or what people felt about me. I would wonder why I couldn’t be more like my brothers and my other friends. Why oh why did I always have to take things so personally?

There was the day when I got upset at my best friend because he said he “understood” what I was going through. “Really? Do you really? Could you really?” Was my response. Poor guy, he didn’t even see it coming. Or the day that just about everything everyone said sounded like such an insult or a stupid idea. Or the day I felt like everything (and I mean everything) was just a complete waste of time and that my life had been a complete waste so far.

I could see how easy it was for men to get along with each other, and how easy it was for them to compartmentalize the challenges at work. While I took every heartache and every challenge personally and carried the emotions with me everywhere I went. I disliked being a woman because it meant I attached an emotion to everything. I disliked being a woman because I often felt my male peers did not take me seriously. I disliked being a woman because I hated how weak I felt in certain situations, and how mechanics and car salesmen always took advantage of me. I disliked being a woman because I thought about how I would have to give up my last name, give up my figure, give up my career, and give up my life for my family. I disliked being a woman because I focused constantly on everything I would be losing, instead of everything I would be gaining.

But lately I’ve been learning about what a beautiful thing it is to be a woman. Because I feel so deeply it means I can appreciate more deeply. I am empathetic, which makes it easier for me to make friends and cherish my friends. And when I am discounted purely because I am a woman, I find ways to excel regardless. And when people try to take advantage of me because I am a woman, God always finds a way to protect me, because I am His woman.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all women have these characteristics. What I am saying is that the things I saw as the weakness of my womanhood have become strengths. And because I am thankful for my womanhood, I am able to appreciate more and more about myself and cherish the time that God has given me.

I’m thankful that God made me a woman, I’m thankful that my parents continually remind me that womanhood is a privilege. What a privilege it is to be the woman that will help my future husband to do all that he could never accomplish without me. What a privilege it is to bring life to another and provide a supporting foundation for them. What a privilege it is to be loved by a God who has chosen to bless me with so many privileges.

So how about you? What are you most thankful for about your womanhood?

Bio: Osayi Osar-Emokpae is the author of Impossible is Stupid (http://impossibleisstupid.com) a book that encourages Christians singles to thrive. She is one of the “anonymous” co-hosts of the “I am seriously single” podcast. You can learn more about appreciating womanhood on her blog http://iyasostuff.com

Thank you so much for taking time to share with our readers on today. I look forward to you partaking in our blog again. May God continue to bless you abundantly!

Where is God?

Do you ever feel like god is so far away? Like He’s not even around or paying attention? Rest assured that God is everywhere and is aware of it all.  

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

When you feel like god has deserted you, please remember that it is not god who has changed, or moved… IT WAS YOU!

Don’t ignore His presence or decide you no longer need or want Him. He is there you just have to listen and be obedient.

• Take comfort in knowing god is with you.
• Listen to the quiet voice.
• Talk to Him and seek His guidance. Don’t do things on your own.
• Let him know you are grateful for Him because of who He is and not only for the things He has done. Thank Him and Give Him Praise!

Celebrate God’s presence regardless of what you are going through, whether you are happy or sad.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 

 
God is ALWAYS There!!!

Review: You Are Beautiful In God's Eyes by Lisa Shaw

For those of you, who are familiar with Lisa Shaw, are aware of her love for God and His people. She is an Awesome Woman of God with a caring heart and brings along inspiration where ever she goes. When she announced she was writing a book, I knew I definitely had to get my hands on it and boy, I'm glad I did!

This is a great easy to read book which consist of 10 Short Chapters and only 79 pages but packed with some powerful life changing information. You Are Beautiful In God's Eyes is geared for women ages 14 years and older.

Here are a few titles of some of the chapters you will find in the book.

1. What Does God Say About You?
2. The World's View
3. Past Pain
4. Hurting Words
5. I Need A Man to complete Me

Mrs. Shaw has included scripture references throughout which allows the reader to additionally reflect on God's word. You will also find at the end of each chapter some questions for you to meditate on. She really challenges you to think and dig deep within yourself. You are indeed Beautiful!

If you are looking for self encouragement, a gift for someone, or maybe you want an Inspirational book, please purchase a copy of Lisa Shaw's Book You are Beautiful In God's Eyes.

The shipping is great, packaged well and the price is GREAT. You can purchase a Hard Copy, Kindle eBook Version or Nook eBook Version.

As a person who has struggled with my past and self esteem, I highly recommend You Are Beautiful In God's Eyes. This is truly a MUST Read!!! When you finish this book, you will find you have much more confidence in yourself and see yourself as God sees you. The world, your past or present will no longer define your beauty.

Special Thanks goes to Peter Shaw her husband for such a lovely Foreword.

Thank you to Lisa Shaw for such an amazing book.

Guest Post: How to Experience God’s Best for This Life

Please welcome our very first Guest Poster for today's blog is Ms. Deaquelynn Williams. She is the founder of Quelynn Inc. and mPOWERd 4 LIFE Girls Network

Her post is really going to bless you so, grab a seat and your favorite cup of tea, coffee, or soft drink and enjoy.

How to Experience God’s Best for This Life

How to experience God’s best in this life. So, why this life and not the next? Heaven is God’s best for each of us. So, we don’t need His best then. Yet, here on earth we want to experience God’s best for our lives in all areas: spirit, soul, body, relationships, finances, and professionally.

So many times we wander through life desiring God’s best. It seems that the desires we have grow more and more each moment, day, week, year that we are alive. Often we look at other people’s lives and wonder what they may be doing differently that perhaps we’re not doing to experience this “best” we feel we deserve to have.

The issues is not whether or nor we deserve God’s best. As His Children should not only desire His best, but we should experience it every day that we are alive.

“What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 7:9-12

Three ways to experience God’s best in this life: seek, surrender, and serve.

You must seek God, surrender to His will, and serve His people.

• Seek

Seek - search for something; strive for something; ask for something; head for or go towards something; attempt something.

Notice, if you will, that all the definitions for seek are moving words… search for, strive for, ask for, head for, go towards, attempt. What are you moving towards?

What are you attempting to do to make success happen for you? In order to succeed, you must seek (search for, strive for, ask for, head for, go towards) God’s direction for your life.

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” - Deuteronomy 4:29, NKJV

The responsibility is on YOU! You must seek God for yourself. Intercession is a wonderful, beautiful and needed tool in the Body of Christ. But there are some things you have to go to God for yourself about. YOU must seek Him!

Questions: Do you want to be blessed? Would you agree that to be blessed is to be successful?

“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart!”
-Psalm 119:2, NKJV

You can’t seek God and His direction for your life unless your whole heart and soul is in it. If your heart is not in it, you will not commit to it.

Think about relationships. If both parties involved in a relationship (of any kind - business, marriage, etc.) are not committed, then that relationship will not last. It’s the same way with seeking God, if your heart is not fully committed to seeking Him and abiding in Him, you will not succeed in anything you set your mind to.

Be fully committed! I remember being in a one sided, long distance relationship with a gentleman once. In that relationship, it seemed that I was the person who was always committed to calling, visiting, and just working to make the relationship work.

As we were talking one day, he realized that he had pretty much neglected the relationship and began to apologize. After he shared his feelings, I told him, “People commit and make time for what’s important to them.” And in that truth, he made changes and became more committed.

Question: How committed are you to seeking and living God’s purpose for your life?

In 1 Chronicles 28:9, David told him son Solomon, “…know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you…”

“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.”
- Ezra 8:21, NKJV

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not
forsaken those who seek You.” - Psalm 9:10, NKJV

“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.” - Psalm 63:1, NKJV

“With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” - Isaiah 26:9, NKJV

Here is a great promise from God…

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.” - Proverbs 8:17, NKJV

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
- Jeremiah 29:13

“For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: ‘Seek Me and live;’” Amos 5:4, NKJV

God does not want you to seek Him for Him; He wants you to seek Him for YOU! So you can prosper and live the abundant life. (John 10:10)

“...but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” -Psalm 34:10, NKJV

• Surrender

Surrender - give up or agree to the power or possession of another; relinquish possession or control over.

Before we begin to talk about surrender, I need to ask you, “Is Jesus the LORD of your life?” If He’s not your Lord then it will be difficult for you to surrender.

Lord - a person who has general authority over others. Master, commander, captain, chief, ruler, dictator, leader, director, king, head.

How do you make Jesus the LORD of your life? Here are three way to do that...

1. Loving the LORD - Luke 10:27, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind."

2. Obey the LORD - Hebrews 5:9, "… He became the source of salvation to all who obey Him."

“Surrendered people obey God’s word, even if it doesn’t make sense.” -Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

Surrendered people are people of faith, and it takes faith to obey God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6

3. Trust the LORD - Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight."

In order to fully surrender, you must lose your life in Christ and Christ alone.

"He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.-Matthew 10:39:”

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" -Matthew 16:24-26

How do you lose your life? You lose it by relinquishing control of your life to Jesus Christ. In other words you must give Him control over spirit, mind, will, emotions, body, relationships, jobs, money, children, spouses... everything! You do that by simply praying a prayer of surrender.

Just pray...

Jesus, thank you for being my Savior and saving me from sin. Today, seek You as my LORD. Today, I relinquish control of my life to You and I ask You to be my LORD. Help me to lose my life in You today and always. Amen.

The great part about praying this prayer is that you did not lose your life... instead you’ve just found it! From this day forward, consider Jesus in all that you do. Whenever you make a decision, consult Him. Whenever life seems hard, consult Him. Whenever you’re stuck at a crossroad in life, follow wherever He leads you. When you do this, you’ll begin to experience a new dimension of Him and this life that you’ve not known before.

• Serve

Serve - work for, help, aid, attend, assist, oblige. Also supply, dish up, serve up, hand out, hand round, give out, dole out, provide, distribute.

You are to serve God and serve His people. In order words you are to “work for, help, aid, attend to, assist and oblige” God by “supplying, serving up, giving out” whatever He tells you to His people.

Did you know that God in all of His sovereignty has chosen to operate in the earth through man/people? Yes, that’s right! We are His body in the earth – His heart, His hands, He feet, His arms, etc. Therefore, it’s up to us to serve God and to also serve His people.

“Worship the LORD your God, fear him, obey his commands, listen to what he says, serve him, and be loyal to him.” -Deuteronomy 13:4

“If you faithfully obey the commands that I'm giving you today, love the LORD your God, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will send rain on your land at the right time, both in the fall and in the spring. Then you will gather your own grain, new wine, and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your animals, and you will be able to eat all you want.” -Deuteronomy 11:13-15

I don’t know about you, but that sounds like God’s best to me!

By Deaquelynn Williams

http://TheQuelynnClassroom.com

http://mPOWERd4LIFE.org

Thank you Ms. Deaquelynn for your faithfulness and taking time out of your busy schedule to be our guest blogger on today. I look forward to having you back again. God Bless You!

Don't Worry

I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy.
He listened so intently
as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face,
hell was hard on my heels.
Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn;
then I called out to God for help:
"Please, God!" I cried out.
"Save my life!"
God is gracious—it is he who makes things right,
our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless;
when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.
Psalm 116:1-2

You don't have to carry around the burden of worrying. Give it to God. Place it all at His feet and Trust Him to work it out.

A Letter From God About Women

This was sent to me and I wanted to share.

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being.

When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils.

But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate.

I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you.

Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.

From one bone, I fashioned you.
I chose the bone that protects man's life.
I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do.
Around this one bone, I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile.
You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart.
His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life.
The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart.

Support man as the rib cage supports the body.
You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side.

You are my perfect angel. You are my beautiful little girl.
You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart.
Your eyes - don't change them.
Your lips - how lovely when they part in prayer.
Your nose, so perfect in form.
Your hands so gentle to touch.

I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep.
I've held your heart close to mine.
Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me.

Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely.
He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me.
So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you; my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support.
You are special because you are an extension of me.
Man represents my image, woman my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God.

So man, treat women well.
Love her, respect her, for she is fragile.
In hurting her, you hurt me. What you do to her, you do to me.
In crushing her, you only damage your own heart, the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father.

Woman, support man.
In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you.
In gentle quietness, show your strength.
In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.

Did you not know that as "WOMAN" you are special in God's eyes?

Author Unknown

What God Has For Me, It Is For Me.

Have you ever had someone to always seem to take your ideas and count them as their own? It doesn't even have to be anything big. Just the most simplest thing can attract someones attention. I have come to terms with the fact that people will always be watching you to see what God is doing in your life. One thing they fail to realize is What God Has for you, is for you. It does not matter how many times they take your ideas because if God give it to you, it will prosper. No one can take away what God has ordained for you. So, for those who can't seem to get their own ideas, pray and seek God for yourself because He will give you what you need and you will not have to copy someone else. It's okay to get some ideas from someone else( and give them credit), but when you are constantly getting something from the same source that begins to be a spirit of jealousy and competition.

You must continue to pray for those and ask God to bind that spirit.

I'm Still Standing.

Today I reflect on the past three weeks or so that the enemy tried to distract me. I remained faithful and trustworthy in my Lord and Savior. With all that was going on, I knew I could not give the enemy any attention and eventually he would have to flee. The word rejoice has been in my spirit for the last two weeks. I rejoiced each and everyday through it all because God is faithful and I was determined to stand strong.

When I sat and pondered about the things the enemy was throwing at me, I realized God was placing some new people in my life during those trying times. I am so grateful for being diligent.


This morning the scripture James 1:17 came to me as soon as I opened my eyes. Every good and perfect gift comes from Above. I was excited again because it was so fitting for my past months trials.

I am thankful for all of my new found friends and those who have remained faithful during this trying time.

Thank You God

I am so thankful for the wonderful people God is placing in my life. I am so greatful for each and everyone of you who offers support for Sisters Of Honor in any way. No role is taken lightly.

Thank you to Sister Gwen Stovall for the opportunity to share with your listeners about Sisters Of Honor Networking Group. I am so greatful for our paths crossing. You have been extremely helpful. You are truly an inspiration.

It is awesome to know those who are willing to reach out and help someone. It really shows your true character. You are willing to help others grow in the things of God.

I ask each of you to please reach out to someone. Make it one of your priorities. You never know who may gain strength and encouragement from you. It may be as simple as one word "hello". Touch someone's life.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (New Living Translation)

Hater

HATER BY MAYA ANGELOU

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends
all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.

They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough!

When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters...

That's why you have to be careful with whom you share
your blessings and your dreams, because some folk can't
handle seeing you blessed...

It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God
wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?

You never know what people have gone through to get what they have...
The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story...
If the grass looks greener on the other side of the
fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!

We've all got some haters among us!

Some people envy you because you can:
a) Have a relationship with God
b) Light up a room when you walk in
c) Start your own business
d) Tell a man / woman to hit the curb (if he / she isn't about the right thing)
e) Raise your children without both parent being in the home

Haters can't stand to see you happy.
Haters will never want to see you succeed.

Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side.

How do you handle your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are (VERY IMPORTANT!!)
2. Having a purpose to your life:
Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled.
A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be.
Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.
3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.

Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live...when its your time to leave this earth, you 'want' to be able to say, 'I've lived my life and fulfilled 'my' dreams,... Now I'm ready to go HOME!

When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters,
'Don't look at me...Look at Who is in charge of me...'


~Maya Angelou

Please don't take this poem and boast about having some "Haters". Continue to pray for them. You must always react with a Christ like attitude.

Why Worry?

Are you worrying about your job, finances, food, clothing, etc.? It's understandable because we all worry about something at some point in our lives, but that doesn't make it right. God knows your every need and He will provide. Philippians 4:19 "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

I'm sure you have heard the saying Don't Worry, Be Happy. If you put your trust in the Lord and believe with all your heart that He will provide, He will bring you happiness. Has worrying about a situation ever changed your circumstances? Has anything good ever come out of worrying? When you worry, it can cause you to react when maybe all you need to do is be still and wait. Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God"

I challenge you today if you are worrying about something or in need, take it to God in prayer. There is no problem that is too big or small for God to handle. Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Radio Show Today

Greetings Sisters,

Join us today for our Blog Talk Radio Show.

Apostle Yolanda Dean will be speaking on Knowing When To Let Go and Let God. You may be having trouble letting go of a relationship or knowing when your time has come to leave your church. Don't miss this call.
Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
Call in live: (347) 215-9579
Listen via internet/chat: www.blogtalkradio.com/sistersofhonor

God Favors Me!!

Good Morning My Sisters,

It is such a blessing to think of all the things God has brought me through. I know I have God's Favor. It makes me so happy inside I can't contain myself. When I think of His Goodness and all He's done for me, I just want to shout from the mountaintop. After all I have done, He still Loves me. There is no one on this earth that will never leave you or give up on you. Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Even when people are not faithful to you and things are coming against you, do not re-act in the same manner. If you do, you will be just as unfaithful as they are. I made it through everything the enemy came at me with and you can to. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5 Through it all, you just remain faithful to God. He will bring you through it. Regardless of what someone says or does to me, I will remain faithful to God because I know He favors me.

God is completely faithful so, why not give Him the glory? He is So Worthy to be praised.

I will continue to speak life and prosperity because I know God Favors me!