Lolo Jones Says Staying a Virgin is Harder than Training for the Olympics

Check out the article at this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/lolo-jones-virgin-olympics-training-video_n_1539056.html

May Collective: Protecting Your Assets: Financial Literacy

Big Hugs and Thanks to Mrs. Erica Hopkins for facilitating the May Collective.  The May Collective focused on Financial Literacy.  I received great insight on how to protect my financial assets, create "streams of income", rebuild your credit, and prioritize or budget your income.  It was just AWESOME. 

The wealth of information provided was so informative and exciting that we were unable to get to any of the other activities.  So, I decided to post them on the blog.

Journal Activities

• I hope you are still using your "Grateful Journals".  Remember, we are to identify at least 10 things we are grateful for (on a weekly basis). 
• The Journal Prompt for this month is: Discuss how life can come out of death? What does death teach us about life?  What is the most important aspect of your life? 

Moving Forward

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek......" (Psalm 27:4).At the March Collective, each of us wrote down  "One Thing"  that was hindering us from moving forward in 2012.  The purpose for identifying this "One Thing"  was to focus on overcoming adversity.  Once we conquer our Giants, we need to be able to maintian victory.  Winning any battle produces confidence and motivation to keep fighting.  In order to move forward, we have to take action (fight), win (defeat, conquer, overcome), and not give up (maintain the victory).  By identifying some of the things that have us stuck, entangled, in bondage, in debt, or at a dead end, we can consult God for a strategy to overcome.

The day of the March Collective, I read each of the responses from those that attended.  What I found is that some of us have similar struggles.  So, I decided to dedicate a post to our challenge (to overcome what is hindering us from moving forward this year).


Below, I have included the things that we identified as roadblocks, setbacks, etc.

1. Distractions:  "I need to focus more on God."
2. Hope: "I feel like everyone is passing me by...."
3. Fear:  "I don't know if I am in God's will."/ "I fear the unknown."
4. Letting go of the past: "I just ended a relationship and I want to learn to love again
   (move on)."
5. Lack:  "I lack the resources to move ahead."
6. Interacting/ Connecting with others: "I want to learn to express love, appreciation,
    gratitude for others."
After reading all the responses, I found scriptures and suggestions that specifically target

each of your concerns.  These scriptures will encourage to overcome the one thing that is

trying to hinder God's plan for our lives.


Using the Word of God (scriptures) to overcome adversity

1. How much time do you actually spend with God?  Start spending more time with God,
    consistently, and you will begin to see changes.

•    "Seek God, not evil, that you may live.  Then the Lord God almighty will be with you, just as you say He is." (Amos 5:14)

•    "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:8-9)

•    "As for you, my 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; but if you forsake Him. He will cast you off forever." (1 Chronicles 28:9)

2. Trust in God's character and not just in your abilities alone.  Embrace God's will for your life.  If you are aligned with God, trust that He has you right where He wants you.

•    "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord." (Psalm 31:24)

•    "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." (Romans 5:1-5)

•    "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

3. Fear is not a way forward.  Move away from fear by: Prayer (Phillipians 4:6-7), Seeking  Counsel (Talk to a third party that is trustworthy), create an Action Plan (action leads to confidence).
•    "Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them.  And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know its by the Spirit He gave us." (1 John 3:24)

•    "Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:11)
•    "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

4. Heal and Let Go of past hurts and failures.  Accept God's love that covers you  (UNCONDITIONALLY).

•    "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Phillipians 4:4-8)

•    "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

•    "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

5. Even in the midst of the “financial crisis” that we are in the middle of, we can remain hopeful and encouraged if we keep trusting in God.  The more we soak up the truth of God’s Word, the more assured we become that He really is going to take care of us!  The important thing to remember in the midst of the chaos is that God is in control. He is not surprised by the events and He is not unsure how He is going to take care of his children. We are just as safe putting our trust in Him when things are going great as when it looks like everything is falling around us.•    "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."   (Philippians 4:19)

•    "Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail)." (Psalm 55:22)

•    "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

6. Open up to others and do not worry about reciprocation, just continue to treat others in a way that reflects the actions of Christ.
•    "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.



I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

Young Women are Stepping UP!!!

It's about to go down.  God is really doing a new thing.  I know He is moving on the hearts of young women, because there is a new movement called "31 Status".  I think it's kind of DOPE!  Check out the link below:

http://www.31status.com/#!

Let me know what you think!

Great Articles from Charisma Magazine

As you may know, I read Charisma magazine.  While browsing through, I came across some inspiring and enlightening articles from the February issue that I wanted to share.  I decided to post a couple for you to read.  ENJOY!!