“Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist, while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it! Sincerely, The Opportunist!”
This quote was thought provoking and an eye opener for me. It made me think of the highly repeated adage, talk is cheap. We can sit and talk about any and everything under the sun, how it should or shouldn’t be done, what should’ve been don, what needs to be done, so on and so forth. Once done talking then what?
If we think we’ve accomplished something we are deceiving ourselves. We can walk away the optimist and down the pessimist or realistic in the conversation but what does that do? Does that make us feel better or as if we are better than? The fact of the matter is whether the optimist, pessimist, or realist it was all talk and no action and therefore meaningless and pointless when it’s all said done. As the good book says, Faith without action is dead!
Now, while it is better to be an optimist than a pessimist, it is best to be an opportunist. I think of the words to a song, get up get out and get something. Do something, as the choice to do absolutely nothing and not get involved is still a choice.
We can talk about the state of the nation, our state, our city, the schools in the inner city, racism, discrimination, lack of resources. Talk is good it is great to have an open forum and discussion to share ideas. Once this is all done opportunity is still knocking and waiting on someone to not only knock on the door but go through it if necessary.
So let’s not just talk about it but be about it!
Sincerely,
A reformed optimist turned Opportunist!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
A blog created to E-nspire, E-ncourage, E-ngage, E-nform, and E-mpower!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
WITH WHO'S EYES
"Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it." Anne Lamott
With Who’s Eyes?
This morning I took the time to watch Bill Winston it has been over a week since I have been fed the Word visually and audibly due to a hectic schedule and my personal decision to sleep. Today however, I was blessed as always.
The message was about focusing less on impressing others and focusing on solely impressing Yahweh by living His Word. In the message Winston referenced Peter’s decision to step out of the boat and walk on water. How at that time Peter wasn’t concerned with the others in the boat or what they thought. In that moment he saw Jesus on the water and he asked Jesus, Lord if it is you bid me to come to you on the water. Imagine what would have happened had Peter asked the other disciples what they thought first. He may have let those who were doubters, negative, skeptical or anything outside of faith filled deter him from even asking Jesus to bid him to walk on the water.
Yes, the disciples all walked with Jesus however these are the same disciples that Jesus had to speak to and say in Mark 9 "O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you?” In this scripture the disciples were unable to cast an evil spirit out of a boy and heal him. They should have been able to but they did not believe. How do I know? Because that is how Jesus addressed them, o unbelieving generation!
Scripture says when you ask in prayer BELIEVE whatever you ask is yours. We have to examine our belief systems. So the question of with who’s eyes goes to with who’s eyes do you see yourself? Are you like Peter who saw Jesus on the boat and saw himself (Peter) the way Yahweh saw him (Peter) and therefore he (Peter) asked Jesus bid me to come to you. Or would you have had to consult the disciples in the boat?
Hear me, when you read this loud and clear, just because a person is in church weekly or multiple times a week, read’s their bible, watches church programs etc. doesn’t mean that they are walking and living by faith nor does it mean that they are believers. Yes of course seek Godly counsel but remember you can go to God for yourself as well. Ask your self are you going to someone for advice that has used their faith and belief to advance in life. Are you going to someone who is usually positive and upbeat? Are you consulting the counsel of someone who has what it is you desire or has done what you are trying to do?
Why must you do this? Because you do not want to allow someone else’s vision of you to determine how far you can go and what you can do. This includes parents, close family, friends, anyone whom you are close to. Yes they have your best interest at heart but usually people limit others by their own limitations. So it is not only about not trying to impress others it is also about needing to go to others for validation or approval. Learn to read the Word, live the Word and walk by faith. I like the way Winston said it, “believe Yahweh in spite of your circumstances.”
We must stop letting outside natural things effect our spiritual, super natural lives! We must look at how we see ourselves and also why we see ourselves this way. Our image starting being shaped in our homes, schools, and friendships and this image was not necessarily the image of Yahweh. Then we have to ask ourselves are we continuing to be the image that we were told we are by people or the image that Yahweh created us to be.
Once we do that, then we can go forth live by faith and walk on water :-)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
With Who’s Eyes?
This morning I took the time to watch Bill Winston it has been over a week since I have been fed the Word visually and audibly due to a hectic schedule and my personal decision to sleep. Today however, I was blessed as always.
The message was about focusing less on impressing others and focusing on solely impressing Yahweh by living His Word. In the message Winston referenced Peter’s decision to step out of the boat and walk on water. How at that time Peter wasn’t concerned with the others in the boat or what they thought. In that moment he saw Jesus on the water and he asked Jesus, Lord if it is you bid me to come to you on the water. Imagine what would have happened had Peter asked the other disciples what they thought first. He may have let those who were doubters, negative, skeptical or anything outside of faith filled deter him from even asking Jesus to bid him to walk on the water.
Yes, the disciples all walked with Jesus however these are the same disciples that Jesus had to speak to and say in Mark 9 "O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you?” In this scripture the disciples were unable to cast an evil spirit out of a boy and heal him. They should have been able to but they did not believe. How do I know? Because that is how Jesus addressed them, o unbelieving generation!
Scripture says when you ask in prayer BELIEVE whatever you ask is yours. We have to examine our belief systems. So the question of with who’s eyes goes to with who’s eyes do you see yourself? Are you like Peter who saw Jesus on the boat and saw himself (Peter) the way Yahweh saw him (Peter) and therefore he (Peter) asked Jesus bid me to come to you. Or would you have had to consult the disciples in the boat?
Hear me, when you read this loud and clear, just because a person is in church weekly or multiple times a week, read’s their bible, watches church programs etc. doesn’t mean that they are walking and living by faith nor does it mean that they are believers. Yes of course seek Godly counsel but remember you can go to God for yourself as well. Ask your self are you going to someone for advice that has used their faith and belief to advance in life. Are you going to someone who is usually positive and upbeat? Are you consulting the counsel of someone who has what it is you desire or has done what you are trying to do?
Why must you do this? Because you do not want to allow someone else’s vision of you to determine how far you can go and what you can do. This includes parents, close family, friends, anyone whom you are close to. Yes they have your best interest at heart but usually people limit others by their own limitations. So it is not only about not trying to impress others it is also about needing to go to others for validation or approval. Learn to read the Word, live the Word and walk by faith. I like the way Winston said it, “believe Yahweh in spite of your circumstances.”
We must stop letting outside natural things effect our spiritual, super natural lives! We must look at how we see ourselves and also why we see ourselves this way. Our image starting being shaped in our homes, schools, and friendships and this image was not necessarily the image of Yahweh. Then we have to ask ourselves are we continuing to be the image that we were told we are by people or the image that Yahweh created us to be.
Once we do that, then we can go forth live by faith and walk on water :-)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Friday, February 24, 2012
CHRIS BROWN AND RIHANNA
Let me start this off by saying I am tired of hearing the media and others scrutinize and crucify Chris Brown. It is as if everyone that has something to say about them has never made a mistake in their lives that they needed forgiveness for. As if they are all perfect and without sin. It makes me think of the people that wanted the adulterer stoned in the bible. Jesus simply said he who is without sin cast the first stone and one by one, they walked away until there was no one left but the woman and Jesus.
It is amazing that Yahweh is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and remember them no more. So if I was Chris Brown, I would start telling people I do not know what you are talking about. Truthfully, with a straight face Chris Brown can tell them he doesn’t know what they are talking about. When we go before Yahweh and we confess our sins, Yahweh forgives and forgets. So if you are still talking about what you did last year, years ago etc. that you repented for and turned your ways from, let me tell you that is the enemy or yourself that is reliving that. Yahweh doesn’t know what you are talking about because He forgot when He forgave.
Forgiveness is one of the hardest things it seems for people to do but it is what Yahweh expects of us. The servant asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother, 7 times, Jesus replied no seventy-seven times. You mean to tell me I have to forgive someone 77 times for the same thing they keep doing? Yes. Let’s take it one step farther, if you go before Yahweh in prayer and you have an issue with your brother, your prayers are not heard/answered!!!!!
Now back to Chris Brown and Rihanna. We have NEVER, NEVER EVER EVER, seen a mug shot of Chris Brown, why?????? Rihanna had bite marks on her. If a man beating up someone why would he have to bite her? Could it be that he was in a position where his only defense was to bite her?
Before you get outraged, no I do not believe that a man should hit a woman. I also do not believe that a woman should hit a man and then say he shouldn’t hit her back. I do believe that EVERYONE LET ME REPEAT EVERYONE has the RIGHT to defend themself if they feel threatened.
So what happened that day between Chris and Ri Ri, we will truly never know because we were not there. Yes we have pictures of a bruised Ri Ri with a swollen eye. Again I ask, why don’t we have any pictures of Chris Brown? We as consumers always have to ask questions and dig deeper. The media can feed us anything or say anything. Like they keep saying Bobby Brown showed up to Whitney’s funeral with an entourage, how about he has 5 kids and a mom. He showed up with his family. For the average person, you hear entourage, you think negatively, and you are actually letting the media think for you instead of thinking for yourself.
To end this I like the way Nikki Lynette put it in the RedEye today, “Have we considered for a moment that she is over it? And I know it pisses a lot of people off to think that she’d get past the violence…but guess what? You don’t get to decide how a person heals. You don’t get to dictate for Rihanna who she is allowed to forgive.” Rihanna doesn’t want to walk around with the stigma of a victim she has forgiven and forgotten and maybe the rest of the world should too!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
It is amazing that Yahweh is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and remember them no more. So if I was Chris Brown, I would start telling people I do not know what you are talking about. Truthfully, with a straight face Chris Brown can tell them he doesn’t know what they are talking about. When we go before Yahweh and we confess our sins, Yahweh forgives and forgets. So if you are still talking about what you did last year, years ago etc. that you repented for and turned your ways from, let me tell you that is the enemy or yourself that is reliving that. Yahweh doesn’t know what you are talking about because He forgot when He forgave.
Forgiveness is one of the hardest things it seems for people to do but it is what Yahweh expects of us. The servant asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother, 7 times, Jesus replied no seventy-seven times. You mean to tell me I have to forgive someone 77 times for the same thing they keep doing? Yes. Let’s take it one step farther, if you go before Yahweh in prayer and you have an issue with your brother, your prayers are not heard/answered!!!!!
Now back to Chris Brown and Rihanna. We have NEVER, NEVER EVER EVER, seen a mug shot of Chris Brown, why?????? Rihanna had bite marks on her. If a man beating up someone why would he have to bite her? Could it be that he was in a position where his only defense was to bite her?
Before you get outraged, no I do not believe that a man should hit a woman. I also do not believe that a woman should hit a man and then say he shouldn’t hit her back. I do believe that EVERYONE LET ME REPEAT EVERYONE has the RIGHT to defend themself if they feel threatened.
So what happened that day between Chris and Ri Ri, we will truly never know because we were not there. Yes we have pictures of a bruised Ri Ri with a swollen eye. Again I ask, why don’t we have any pictures of Chris Brown? We as consumers always have to ask questions and dig deeper. The media can feed us anything or say anything. Like they keep saying Bobby Brown showed up to Whitney’s funeral with an entourage, how about he has 5 kids and a mom. He showed up with his family. For the average person, you hear entourage, you think negatively, and you are actually letting the media think for you instead of thinking for yourself.
To end this I like the way Nikki Lynette put it in the RedEye today, “Have we considered for a moment that she is over it? And I know it pisses a lot of people off to think that she’d get past the violence…but guess what? You don’t get to decide how a person heals. You don’t get to dictate for Rihanna who she is allowed to forgive.” Rihanna doesn’t want to walk around with the stigma of a victim she has forgiven and forgotten and maybe the rest of the world should too!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Thursday, February 23, 2012
WHITNEY HOUSTON
The death of Whitney Houston came as a shock. I was lying in bed taking a nap before going to a birthday party and received a text from my mother that Whitney Houston committed suicide. The text immediately woke me up, the nap was over. I watched a bit of CNN, checked Twitter and then began to get ready for my friend’s birthday party.
A few things bothered me. The first thing that bothered me were the jokes and rude comments on Twitter. Considering Whitney is now deceased I believe in respecting the dead PERIOD. While people were so focused on cracking jokes about her drug use, I felt they were insensitive to the fact that she left her daughter behind along with her mother and other people who loved her.
That also made me wonder what leads someone to decide that they want to take their own life. How low and lonely they must feel to just simply want out. There is the age old debate that if you take your own life you don’t go to heaven. However, I think about a verse in the bible can’t quote it directly but Yahweh simply states that He is and He can do whatever it is He chooses to do, He can have mercy on whom He chooses to have mercy on. So where Whitney is now is between her and her creator.
The second thing that bothered me was the treatment of Bobby Brown. It seemed within the Houston family he was public enemy #1, why? Whitney Houston was a grown woman when she met Bobby Brown she was actually 6 years older than him. Nevertheless the picture was painted that a bad boy turned a good girl bad. Well, I always thought that we have free will, freedom of choice, and are responsible and accountable for our decisions and the consequences that come along with them.
So to have malice, disdain or whatever it may be for Bobby Brown is the right of Cissy Houston and others in the family nevertheless it is not right. Bobby didn’t do or make Whitney do anything she didn’t want to do. Truth be told if they were doing drugs we don’t know who was leading the drug use to begin with.
However, in blaming Bobby or being angry at Bobby that takes away Whitney’s responsibility and we are all responsible for our own actions and should be treated as such. The moment we are treated as if we are not responsible and we answer with well so and so made me do it and had they not did this I would not have done that, we take away our power and become victims.
Whatever lead Whitney to give up on life and choose to take her own life we may never know. I pray she is resting in peace, I pray that her daughter find the strength to live a victorious, healthy, happy, prosperous, drug free life. I also pray that their family be strengthened during this time of loss instead of torn apart.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
A few things bothered me. The first thing that bothered me were the jokes and rude comments on Twitter. Considering Whitney is now deceased I believe in respecting the dead PERIOD. While people were so focused on cracking jokes about her drug use, I felt they were insensitive to the fact that she left her daughter behind along with her mother and other people who loved her.
That also made me wonder what leads someone to decide that they want to take their own life. How low and lonely they must feel to just simply want out. There is the age old debate that if you take your own life you don’t go to heaven. However, I think about a verse in the bible can’t quote it directly but Yahweh simply states that He is and He can do whatever it is He chooses to do, He can have mercy on whom He chooses to have mercy on. So where Whitney is now is between her and her creator.
The second thing that bothered me was the treatment of Bobby Brown. It seemed within the Houston family he was public enemy #1, why? Whitney Houston was a grown woman when she met Bobby Brown she was actually 6 years older than him. Nevertheless the picture was painted that a bad boy turned a good girl bad. Well, I always thought that we have free will, freedom of choice, and are responsible and accountable for our decisions and the consequences that come along with them.
So to have malice, disdain or whatever it may be for Bobby Brown is the right of Cissy Houston and others in the family nevertheless it is not right. Bobby didn’t do or make Whitney do anything she didn’t want to do. Truth be told if they were doing drugs we don’t know who was leading the drug use to begin with.
However, in blaming Bobby or being angry at Bobby that takes away Whitney’s responsibility and we are all responsible for our own actions and should be treated as such. The moment we are treated as if we are not responsible and we answer with well so and so made me do it and had they not did this I would not have done that, we take away our power and become victims.
Whatever lead Whitney to give up on life and choose to take her own life we may never know. I pray she is resting in peace, I pray that her daughter find the strength to live a victorious, healthy, happy, prosperous, drug free life. I also pray that their family be strengthened during this time of loss instead of torn apart.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A POOR MINDSET EQUALS POOR FINANCES
Allen Iverson a once successful NBA player who made 200 million dollars plus in his career is reportedly now broke. In no way is this shocking to me, I have read the stories and heard the reports that many professional athletes end up broke after retirement.
Allfinancialmatters.com states that 60% of NBA players go broke after retirement, 60%! I think about the lock out and how some NBA players were looking for jobs, I believe one was working at Menards, Home Depot something. The players that weren’t as popular, known and didn’t have endorsements were crying broke/poor and saying that the Kobe and LeBron’s of the NBA didn’t care about their financial problems because they were rich.
So I went on-line to Google, my favorite, and I researched how much a bench player in the NBA makes in year 1. The starting salary was $400K+. Four hundred thousand dollars…now $400K isn’t millions but it isn’t pennies either. I no longer felt sorry for the bench players. They are making more money in a year than some people will make in 30 and they were crying no one cares about us we need money! Really? Are you serious? I think the problem was they didn’t think about themselves and didn’t plan properly.
Let me tell you right now neither their nor our problem is ever money. It is our mentality towards money. Imagine if everyone lived within their means, no one bought anything on credit, everyone made sure all their bills were paid first, every lived even below their means. What would happen? We would all be prepared in some way for financial surprises. Not to say that you can plan 100% and ensure that you don’t come into financial difficulties but when you complain that your $40K/year salary is not enough go talk to a family that is surviving and living with $10K/year. Go and speak to the person who makes minimum wage but still manages to save money for a rainy day.
Just because you make it and amass wealth doesn’t mean you are supposed to take care of your entire family, friends, and have an entourage either. Empower people, help them to amass their own wealth. Start businesses and employ your family and friends whom are competent, trustworthy, reliable and dependable and show them while learning yourself how to become a boss.
A poor man in mind will always be poor. As a man thinketh, so is he. I don’t care how many millions you give some people, with a poor mentality, they will end up poor again. Think about all the people who win the lottery and then go broke again. Why? They never changed their mindsets. They didn’t take the time to reach out to a financial planner or advisor or if they did they fully trusted the person that handled their money and never took the time to check on it themselves. A lot of celebrities have fallen into the latter trap. There was an episode of the Oprah show where Oprah was talking to Serena Williams and she told her to sign her own checks!
Always be in control of what’s yours and more importantly know your limitations and seek the help, guidance, mentorship, and wisdom of someone whom can help you. Take for instance Donald Trump, he’s filed bankruptcy more than once if I’m not mistaken yet he turns around and remakes millions. Why? His mindset. He knows that he’s made a million before and he can do it again, he knows the right people and has the right contacts to make it happen.
So what is the moral of this story? Teach your children about finances and money early. While you are teaching them educate yourself. More importantly we as African Americans need to educate ourselves and our own children. When your child is old enough to say mommy buy me, they are old enough to know where money comes from, what currency is, the difference between being a boss and an employee, earning a paycheck and signing paychecks!
Need help? Start off with the game Rich Dad Poor Dad for Kids by Robert Kiyosaki, there are others out there as well.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Thursday, February 9, 2012
1 FOR 10: LOVE CONQUERS ALL, AGAPE!
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
7 “You shall have no other gods beforea me.
8 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “You shall not murder.
18 “You shall not commit adultery.
19 “You shall not steal.
20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Many people focus on the 10 commandments only so I will, however, the law contained hundreds of commandments to follow. In Romans, we are told that we are no longer subject to the law but we are under grace. Why? Because it is almost impossible to keep the entire law. You may be thinking what is she talking about it is not hard to keep the law. Remember there is more to the law than the 10 commandments.
Allow me to prove my point Deuteronomy 21:18-21 says "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid."
Now I can say at times I have a stubborn and rebellious child, but Yahweh, and I am not going to take him to the elders to be stoned to death. In me not doing so, I would be breaking the law! Thank Yahweh for Jesus and grace.
So when grace came in we received 1 for 10. What is our 1 commandment Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”
To love, we are commanded to LOVE. Yahweh loves us with an agape love, unconditional. We can do everything to Him and other things that we are not supposed to do but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us. Please keep in mind that does not negate reaping what you have sown!
So, what is Love? 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)
It is difficult, DIFFICULT, to love someone unconditionally but it is what Yahweh ask of us. It is amazing, we can lie, cheat, steal, do something, anything that the bible specifically tells us not to do yet when we go before Him with a sincere hard and confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us. Not only does He forgive us but He forgets that it ever happened. That’s awesome. However, if our child, relative, significant other and/or co-worker wrongs us we have 3 choices, we can forgive and forget, we can forgive but not forget, or we can choose not to forgive. Most people choose options 2 or 3. Why? And don’t say because we aren’t Yahweh! Part of it is due to our flesh (pride etc.) and it is also because in order to learn how to LOVE the way that we should we have to be put in situations where we have to be patient, kind, forgiving and so on even when we feel wronged by someone else. It is our choice, our own free will to decide to act out of love or act out of flesh and disguise it as love.
When we feel wronged, that usually causes strife in our relationships. Bill Winston blessed, BLESSED me this AM because I was experiencing strife in my relationships this week. He said, “Strife is an enemy of love and it breaks down your spiritual immune system.” The one thing we have to remember is that it is not people that we are fighting with. What we should be fighting is the good fight of faith. Outside of that we have to recognize that we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with the rules, spiritual hosts of wickedness, principalities (Ephesians 6:12). People are not our problem heck I won’t even say the enemy is my problem. Instead of focusing on people we have to think about the driving force behind them at times. We have to also remember sometimes that driving force is behind us.
Strife, being in strife with someone else makes us spiritually vulnerable. Vulnerable means that you are weak in an area or some areas and that also means that you can be a victim of deception or simply choose to make not so good decisions because you are in a vulnerable state.
So what do we need to do? WE need to work on practicing LOVE at all times because Faith only works in LOVE. Yahweh is LOVE, LOVE conquers ALL. Trust me it is easier written in this blog than done as this is something that EVERYONE, I promise you EVERYONE on the face of this earth struggles with in one way or another. Nevertheless, let us learn how to act in love towards ALL of mankind, ourselves, and Yahweh (in reverse order).
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
7 “You shall have no other gods beforea me.
8 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “You shall not murder.
18 “You shall not commit adultery.
19 “You shall not steal.
20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Many people focus on the 10 commandments only so I will, however, the law contained hundreds of commandments to follow. In Romans, we are told that we are no longer subject to the law but we are under grace. Why? Because it is almost impossible to keep the entire law. You may be thinking what is she talking about it is not hard to keep the law. Remember there is more to the law than the 10 commandments.
Allow me to prove my point Deuteronomy 21:18-21 says "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid."
Now I can say at times I have a stubborn and rebellious child, but Yahweh, and I am not going to take him to the elders to be stoned to death. In me not doing so, I would be breaking the law! Thank Yahweh for Jesus and grace.
So when grace came in we received 1 for 10. What is our 1 commandment Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”
To love, we are commanded to LOVE. Yahweh loves us with an agape love, unconditional. We can do everything to Him and other things that we are not supposed to do but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us. Please keep in mind that does not negate reaping what you have sown!
So, what is Love? 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)
It is difficult, DIFFICULT, to love someone unconditionally but it is what Yahweh ask of us. It is amazing, we can lie, cheat, steal, do something, anything that the bible specifically tells us not to do yet when we go before Him with a sincere hard and confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us. Not only does He forgive us but He forgets that it ever happened. That’s awesome. However, if our child, relative, significant other and/or co-worker wrongs us we have 3 choices, we can forgive and forget, we can forgive but not forget, or we can choose not to forgive. Most people choose options 2 or 3. Why? And don’t say because we aren’t Yahweh! Part of it is due to our flesh (pride etc.) and it is also because in order to learn how to LOVE the way that we should we have to be put in situations where we have to be patient, kind, forgiving and so on even when we feel wronged by someone else. It is our choice, our own free will to decide to act out of love or act out of flesh and disguise it as love.
When we feel wronged, that usually causes strife in our relationships. Bill Winston blessed, BLESSED me this AM because I was experiencing strife in my relationships this week. He said, “Strife is an enemy of love and it breaks down your spiritual immune system.” The one thing we have to remember is that it is not people that we are fighting with. What we should be fighting is the good fight of faith. Outside of that we have to recognize that we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with the rules, spiritual hosts of wickedness, principalities (Ephesians 6:12). People are not our problem heck I won’t even say the enemy is my problem. Instead of focusing on people we have to think about the driving force behind them at times. We have to also remember sometimes that driving force is behind us.
Strife, being in strife with someone else makes us spiritually vulnerable. Vulnerable means that you are weak in an area or some areas and that also means that you can be a victim of deception or simply choose to make not so good decisions because you are in a vulnerable state.
So what do we need to do? WE need to work on practicing LOVE at all times because Faith only works in LOVE. Yahweh is LOVE, LOVE conquers ALL. Trust me it is easier written in this blog than done as this is something that EVERYONE, I promise you EVERYONE on the face of this earth struggles with in one way or another. Nevertheless, let us learn how to act in love towards ALL of mankind, ourselves, and Yahweh (in reverse order).
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
BLACK HISTORY MONTH – INVENTORS & INVENTIONS PART I
#1 Nathaniel Alexander was the first to patent the folding chair. His invention was designed to be used in schools, churches and at large social gatherings.Fact
#2 Andrew Jackson Beard invented the "Jenny Coupler" in 1897, a device which allowed train cars to hook themselves together when they are bumped into one another. The device saved the lives of many railroad workers, who originally had the dangerous job of hooking the moving cars together by hand.
#3 Henry Blair, the second African-American to receive a patent, invented a corn seed planter in 1834 and a cotton planter in 1836. Blair could not read or write and signed his patent with an X.
#4 Otis Boykin invented electronic control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the control unit for a pacemaker.
#5 C.B. Brooks invented the street sweeper in 1896. It was a truck equipped with brooms.
#6 Henry Brown created what is now known as a "strongbox", a metal container to store money and important papers that could be locked with a key.
#7 George Carruthers invented the far ultraviolet electrographic camera, used in the 1972 Apollo 16 mission. This invention revealed new features in Earth's far-outer atmosphere and deep-space objects from the perspective of the lunar surface. Carruthers was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame in 2003.
#8 In 1897, African-American inventor Alfred Cralle patented the first ice cream scoop. His original design remains in wide use, even today.
#9 African-American mechanical engineer, David Crosthwait, Jr. created the heating systems for the Rockefeller Center and New York's Radio City Music Hall.
#10 David Crosthwait, Jr., who created the heating system for New York City's Radio City Music Hall, holds 39 U.S. patents and 80 international patents pertaining to heating, refrigeration and temperature regulating systems.
#11 Mark Dean along with his co-inventor Dennis Moelle created a microcomputer system with bus control means for peripheral processing devices. This invention allows the use of computer plug-ins like disk drives, speakers, scanners, etc...
#12 African-American surgeon Charles R. Drew is often credited with the invention of the first large-scale blood bank.
#13 The first sociology department in the U.S. was established by educator and civil rights leader, W.E.B. Du Bois.
#14 Sarah E. Goode invented a bed that folded up into a cabinet in 1885. Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first African-American woman to receive a patent, but the second.
#15 In 1899, African-American golf fan Dr. George Franklin Grant received a patent for the world's first golf tee. Grant, however, never marketed his invention, instead giving the tees away to friends and fellow golfers.
#16 Thomas L. Jennings was the first African-American to receive a patent in 1821. It was for a dry-cleaning process in 1821. He used the money earned from the patent to purchase relatives out of slavery and support abolitionist causes.
#17 Lonnie G. Johnson, an engineer who performed spacecraft system design for NASA, invented the Super Soaker water gun—the number one selling toy in America in 1991.
#18 Frederick Jones held over 60 patents, with most of them pertaining to refrigeration. His portable air conditioner was used in World War II to preserve medicine and blood serum. (http://www.biography.com/tv/classroom/black-history-inventions-and-discoveries)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
#2 Andrew Jackson Beard invented the "Jenny Coupler" in 1897, a device which allowed train cars to hook themselves together when they are bumped into one another. The device saved the lives of many railroad workers, who originally had the dangerous job of hooking the moving cars together by hand.
#3 Henry Blair, the second African-American to receive a patent, invented a corn seed planter in 1834 and a cotton planter in 1836. Blair could not read or write and signed his patent with an X.
#4 Otis Boykin invented electronic control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the control unit for a pacemaker.
#5 C.B. Brooks invented the street sweeper in 1896. It was a truck equipped with brooms.
#6 Henry Brown created what is now known as a "strongbox", a metal container to store money and important papers that could be locked with a key.
#7 George Carruthers invented the far ultraviolet electrographic camera, used in the 1972 Apollo 16 mission. This invention revealed new features in Earth's far-outer atmosphere and deep-space objects from the perspective of the lunar surface. Carruthers was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame in 2003.
#8 In 1897, African-American inventor Alfred Cralle patented the first ice cream scoop. His original design remains in wide use, even today.
#9 African-American mechanical engineer, David Crosthwait, Jr. created the heating systems for the Rockefeller Center and New York's Radio City Music Hall.
#10 David Crosthwait, Jr., who created the heating system for New York City's Radio City Music Hall, holds 39 U.S. patents and 80 international patents pertaining to heating, refrigeration and temperature regulating systems.
#11 Mark Dean along with his co-inventor Dennis Moelle created a microcomputer system with bus control means for peripheral processing devices. This invention allows the use of computer plug-ins like disk drives, speakers, scanners, etc...
#12 African-American surgeon Charles R. Drew is often credited with the invention of the first large-scale blood bank.
#13 The first sociology department in the U.S. was established by educator and civil rights leader, W.E.B. Du Bois.
#14 Sarah E. Goode invented a bed that folded up into a cabinet in 1885. Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first African-American woman to receive a patent, but the second.
#15 In 1899, African-American golf fan Dr. George Franklin Grant received a patent for the world's first golf tee. Grant, however, never marketed his invention, instead giving the tees away to friends and fellow golfers.
#16 Thomas L. Jennings was the first African-American to receive a patent in 1821. It was for a dry-cleaning process in 1821. He used the money earned from the patent to purchase relatives out of slavery and support abolitionist causes.
#17 Lonnie G. Johnson, an engineer who performed spacecraft system design for NASA, invented the Super Soaker water gun—the number one selling toy in America in 1991.
#18 Frederick Jones held over 60 patents, with most of them pertaining to refrigeration. His portable air conditioner was used in World War II to preserve medicine and blood serum. (http://www.biography.com/tv/classroom/black-history-inventions-and-discoveries)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
HEART HEALTH AWARENESS - ENERGY DRINKS
In recent years there has been a surge of energy drinks in the market place. The one that stands out for me the most is Red Bull, it gives you wings so you can fly!, and 5 hour energy. There are a host of other energy drinks out there but I won’t list all the brands. Many of these drinks are high in caffeine and some are high in sugar. Since energy drinks are marketed and listed as dietary supplements they are not regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) like food is so there is no set limit to the amount of caffeine that can be included in the drinks. (http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20080924/energy-drinks-hazardous-to-your-health)
Of course everything in life should be done in moderation but there are some people who depend on energy drinks regularly to give them that extra boost they need. However, relying on sugar and caffeine sends your body into a cycle of dependency that can seriously harm your health, cause you to age quickly and make you fat and mushy. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to engage in any activity that will cause me to age quicker. I remember seeing a commercial or advertisement that stated if women want to age and look like an old man, drink like one. I never drank alcohol in large amounts but it definitely made me scale back. I am not a caffeine drinker and must say I’ve never had any energy drinks myself. I do know that most energy drinks cause the crash and burn effect. You get energy for a short amount of time but then you become extremely fatigued and end up burning out.Since energy drinks are NOT the answer to your fatigue, how can you energize yourself the healthy way?When you feel the need for a boost, try an energy drink, but make it a healthy energy drink!
First of all, the simple act of drinking water can give you energy, since dehydrationcan cause fatigue.(http://bodyecology.com/articles/energy_drink_nutrition.php) Here are some foods that give you energy naturally, taken from FitDay website:Creating natural energy doesn't have to be a matter that's left to the energy drinks and coffee every morning. In fact, most of the time these drinks end up making you feel more sluggish in the middle of the day than if you hadn't consumed them in the first place.
There are ways that you can boost your energy through food without having to worry about any side effects or the safety of a particular energy product and you can easily find them all at your local grocery store.
1. Whole GrainsBecause your body primarily uses carbohydrates to fuel itself, they are an important part of creating natural energy in which you can thrive on throughout the day. Foods such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, couscous, oatmeal and millet are all good choices. And since these foods are loaded with B vitamins, your metabolism will see quite a boost along with your energy! Whole grains can easily be incorporated into recipes such as cookies, stews and salads or they can be used as the base for your meals.
2. FruitFruit has a natural energy boosting capability that will help to keep you on track between meals. All fruit contains natural sugar to help boost your spirit and your energy level, while the vitamin C and fiber found in many of the fruits you eat helps you to keep mental clarity throughout the day. Strawberries and oranges are popular options, while grapes, cherries and melons will provide some energy as well. Frozen fruits make excellent smoothies and are a great way to get a burst of energy in the morning, when you need it the most.
3. Broccoli and Other Green VegetablesA lack of iron can result in a lack of energy, so it's important to eat plenty of the foods that provide a healthy dose of this important nutrient to ensure that energy levels stay high. Broccoli, spinach, collard greens and other dark, leafy green vegetables are excellent sources of iron. And because these foods all contain vitamin C as well, they offer a nice amount of antioxidants that will help you to stay strong and healthy which can affect your energy levels. You can easily fit these foods into your meals by adding them to pastas, salads, soups and casseroles.
4. Spicy HerbsHerbs such as cayenne pepper not only help to raise energy levels naturally, but they provide protection for your heart and they help to maintain proper cardiovascular movement throughout the body. Peppers also help to spice up a meal without having to add a lot of oils and fats, so it's a perfect weight loss aid in addition to being a mood elevator and an energy infuser. What's more is that these herbs can be added to just about any meal so they aren't hard to work with. Try to use fresh herbs and spices when possible, but powdered versions offer most of the same benefits.(http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/4-foods-that-will-give-you-natural-energy.html)
Just so you know I am leaning toward a more natural, organic lifestyle. Not trying to push my viewpoints on others but I do like for people to be well informed. We only get one body and we must take care of it. Everything we need naturally grows or comes from nature we just have to seek it out.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Of course everything in life should be done in moderation but there are some people who depend on energy drinks regularly to give them that extra boost they need. However, relying on sugar and caffeine sends your body into a cycle of dependency that can seriously harm your health, cause you to age quickly and make you fat and mushy. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to engage in any activity that will cause me to age quicker. I remember seeing a commercial or advertisement that stated if women want to age and look like an old man, drink like one. I never drank alcohol in large amounts but it definitely made me scale back. I am not a caffeine drinker and must say I’ve never had any energy drinks myself. I do know that most energy drinks cause the crash and burn effect. You get energy for a short amount of time but then you become extremely fatigued and end up burning out.Since energy drinks are NOT the answer to your fatigue, how can you energize yourself the healthy way?When you feel the need for a boost, try an energy drink, but make it a healthy energy drink!
First of all, the simple act of drinking water can give you energy, since dehydrationcan cause fatigue.(http://bodyecology.com/articles/energy_drink_nutrition.php) Here are some foods that give you energy naturally, taken from FitDay website:Creating natural energy doesn't have to be a matter that's left to the energy drinks and coffee every morning. In fact, most of the time these drinks end up making you feel more sluggish in the middle of the day than if you hadn't consumed them in the first place.
There are ways that you can boost your energy through food without having to worry about any side effects or the safety of a particular energy product and you can easily find them all at your local grocery store.
1. Whole GrainsBecause your body primarily uses carbohydrates to fuel itself, they are an important part of creating natural energy in which you can thrive on throughout the day. Foods such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, couscous, oatmeal and millet are all good choices. And since these foods are loaded with B vitamins, your metabolism will see quite a boost along with your energy! Whole grains can easily be incorporated into recipes such as cookies, stews and salads or they can be used as the base for your meals.
2. FruitFruit has a natural energy boosting capability that will help to keep you on track between meals. All fruit contains natural sugar to help boost your spirit and your energy level, while the vitamin C and fiber found in many of the fruits you eat helps you to keep mental clarity throughout the day. Strawberries and oranges are popular options, while grapes, cherries and melons will provide some energy as well. Frozen fruits make excellent smoothies and are a great way to get a burst of energy in the morning, when you need it the most.
3. Broccoli and Other Green VegetablesA lack of iron can result in a lack of energy, so it's important to eat plenty of the foods that provide a healthy dose of this important nutrient to ensure that energy levels stay high. Broccoli, spinach, collard greens and other dark, leafy green vegetables are excellent sources of iron. And because these foods all contain vitamin C as well, they offer a nice amount of antioxidants that will help you to stay strong and healthy which can affect your energy levels. You can easily fit these foods into your meals by adding them to pastas, salads, soups and casseroles.
4. Spicy HerbsHerbs such as cayenne pepper not only help to raise energy levels naturally, but they provide protection for your heart and they help to maintain proper cardiovascular movement throughout the body. Peppers also help to spice up a meal without having to add a lot of oils and fats, so it's a perfect weight loss aid in addition to being a mood elevator and an energy infuser. What's more is that these herbs can be added to just about any meal so they aren't hard to work with. Try to use fresh herbs and spices when possible, but powdered versions offer most of the same benefits.(http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/4-foods-that-will-give-you-natural-energy.html)
Just so you know I am leaning toward a more natural, organic lifestyle. Not trying to push my viewpoints on others but I do like for people to be well informed. We only get one body and we must take care of it. Everything we need naturally grows or comes from nature we just have to seek it out.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
I’ll Be Too Tired!
This morning, truthfully last night I was thinking about the busy, eventful week that I have ahead. So this morning I woke up with the thought that I was going to be tired before the day ended. Today will be a long day for me, the next few days will be and then my weekend is filled with activities for my son, personal errands, and a party. Already the thought of it all has me fatigued. This morning, my 1stthough again was how tired I would be. I then told myself to snap out of it. I reminded myself that my thoughts will dictate my day (don’t act like you haven’t done this too). So I began to think thoughts of having a great productive day. Well right now, it’s in the afternoon and guess what I am more tired for this time than I have been any other day and I have no clue why. Well, actually I do, it is because of my thoughts, my thoughts already rooted themselves in my subconscious. Nevertheless, I will woman up and make it through this day alert and with enthusiasm. When you find yourself in a certain mood in your day or going through something, think about your 1stthoughts when you woke up and your last thoughts before you went to sleep. They may be the difference between you have a great or a bad day!!!!! Now that I find myself a bit tired, what shall I do to get an energy boost? I personally do not take energy drinks/am not a fan of them so I will just grin and bear it. When I leave work I will purchase a banana to give me the extra boost I need to make it through the evening, natural energy boost!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Monday, February 6, 2012
“BLACK” HISTORY & HEART DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
“BLACK” HISTORY & HEART DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
The word “black” is quoted because I am coming to learn that, that is a term that was given to my people but that is not necessarily what our color is or even who we are! As we were once niggers, coloreds, “black”, and now “African American” as well. I would be remiss to go through this month and not blog about “Black” History. This month is also dedicated to raising awareness to heart disease so I will try to incorporate something about both in all of my blogs this month.
President Barack Obama is the 8th“black” President of the United States of America. Yes you read that correctly, he is the 8th. As the saying goes one ounce of “black” blood makes one “black!”
1. John Hanson (a Moor)was actually the 1st President of the United States, he served from 1781 – 1782 and he was black. The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation. This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.As President, Hanson ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as removal of all foreign flags. He established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents since have been required to use on all Official Documents. He declared that the 4th Thursday of every November to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today. Even though elected, one variable that was never thought through was that America was not going to accept a Black President during the heart of the enslavement period. Enter George Washington.
2. Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States, he served from 1801 – 1809 and he was black. His mother a half-breed Indian squaw and his father a mulatto (half white and half black) from Virginia. He fathered numerous children with Sally Hemmings, a mulatto slave with whom he lived with in Europe.
3. Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States. He served from 1829 – 1837 and he was black. His mother was a white woman from Ireland who had Andrew Jackson with a black man. His father’s other children (Andrew Jackson’s stepbrother) was sold into slavery.
4. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, he served from 1861 – 1865 and he was black. His mother was from an Ethiopian Tribe and his father was an African American. It was told that his father was Thomas Lincoln, a man to cover the truth, but he was sterile from childhood mumps and was later castrated, making it impossible for him to have been his father. Lincoln’s nickname “Abraham Africa-nus the First.”
5. Warren Harding was the 28th President of the United States, he served from 1921 – 1923 and he was black. Harding never denied his ancestry. When Republican leaders called on Harding to deny his “Negro” history, he said, “How should I know whether or not one of my ancestors might have jumped the fence?”
6. Calvin Coolidge was the 29th President of the United States, he served from 1923 – 1929 and he was black. He proudly admitted that his mother was dark but claimed it was because of a mixed Indian ancestry. His mother’s maiden name was “Moor.” In Europe the name “Moor” was given to all Black people just as in America the name “Negro” was used.
7. Dwight E. Eisenhower was the 33rd President of the United States, he served from 1953 – 1961 and he was black. His mother, Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower, an anti-war advocate, was half black.
(http://fookembug.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-seven-black-presidents-before-barack-obama/)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WAIST YOUR WAISTLINE & HEART HEALTH
A follower on Twitter was watching Dr. Oz and according to the good Dr. your waist line should be half the size of your height. Now I understand Dr. Oz’s point but I’m 5’3” which is 63” so that would mean my waist should be 31.5” I would look like sponge bob square pants! My waist the last time I measured it was 27” I want it to be 25” why because I have a bit of belly fat when I sit down.
Nevertheless, I understood where Dr. Oz was going with that as waist size plays a role in overall health including our hearts.Why would a cardiologist be so concerned with your waistline? The reason has less to do with how you look on the outside than it does with how you look on the inside. I'm worried about what prediabetes and diabetes are doing to your arteries. Both conditions can injure the lining of your vessels and accelerate the production of plaque, greatly increasing your risk of having a heart attacker stroke. (http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/waistline-and-heart-health.aspx)
So ladies and gents….take a look at your waist line and determine if you need to get to work. Just because you are slimmer than most doesn’t mean that you aren’t at risk either. A friend of mine asked me: "Can Your Waistline Save Your Heart?" Here is my answer.People usually associate heart disease with overall obesity, but little is known by the general public about the direct link between waistline size and heart disease.It is a common misunderstanding that lean people with a cute "little tummy" are not at risk for a high blood pressure because they are not obese. This is wrong, because their waistline measurement would still be outside the normal range.
The bigger the "belly", the bigger the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Before you proceed to waistline measurement in order to assess your health risk, you need to know how to do it and what a normal range would be.Keep in mind that the words big waistline, central obesity, abdominal obesity, midsection obesity or big omentum mean the same thing. It means that there is fat around the midsection that should not be there. It means BELLY FAT. Waistline measurement is simple, inexpensive and a reliable way to assess your risk for heart disease at home.How to measure waistline?
Position the tape measure around your waist at the level of you navel. You can also use the hip bone as a guide-the tape should go above the hip bone.What is the normal waistline reading?Below are the healthy normal waistline numbers by gender (according to the International Diabetes Federation guidelines): Normal/healthy female waistline: Less than 32 inches (80 cm) Normal/healthy male waistline: Less than 38 inches (94cm)If you don't have a tape measure you can divide your height in inches by two.
Your waistline needs to be that number or smaller in inches.While both waistline measurement and BMI assess your overall obesity, ONLY the waistline measurement can assess the fat around the abdominal organs which is directly related to stress. The stress hormone cortisol comes into play here. Chronic stress leads to fat deposition in the abdominal area which results in belly fat. Researchers now know that if most of the fat is in the belly area, the heart risk is greater than if the fat resides in the hips, thighs or rear (sometimes referred to as the apple versus pear shape body type).
In summary: Yes, your waistline can save your heart if you keep an eye on it, set your priorities and find the best way to balance the stress in your life. To find out where you stand take the free Stress Level Test and measure your waistline(http://www.stress-fat-heart-solutions-for-boomers.com/can-your-waistline-save-your-heart-article-archives.html)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
The word “black” is quoted because I am coming to learn that, that is a term that was given to my people but that is not necessarily what our color is or even who we are! As we were once niggers, coloreds, “black”, and now “African American” as well. I would be remiss to go through this month and not blog about “Black” History. This month is also dedicated to raising awareness to heart disease so I will try to incorporate something about both in all of my blogs this month.
President Barack Obama is the 8th“black” President of the United States of America. Yes you read that correctly, he is the 8th. As the saying goes one ounce of “black” blood makes one “black!”
1. John Hanson (a Moor)was actually the 1st President of the United States, he served from 1781 – 1782 and he was black. The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation. This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.As President, Hanson ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as removal of all foreign flags. He established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents since have been required to use on all Official Documents. He declared that the 4th Thursday of every November to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today. Even though elected, one variable that was never thought through was that America was not going to accept a Black President during the heart of the enslavement period. Enter George Washington.
2. Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States, he served from 1801 – 1809 and he was black. His mother a half-breed Indian squaw and his father a mulatto (half white and half black) from Virginia. He fathered numerous children with Sally Hemmings, a mulatto slave with whom he lived with in Europe.
3. Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States. He served from 1829 – 1837 and he was black. His mother was a white woman from Ireland who had Andrew Jackson with a black man. His father’s other children (Andrew Jackson’s stepbrother) was sold into slavery.
4. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, he served from 1861 – 1865 and he was black. His mother was from an Ethiopian Tribe and his father was an African American. It was told that his father was Thomas Lincoln, a man to cover the truth, but he was sterile from childhood mumps and was later castrated, making it impossible for him to have been his father. Lincoln’s nickname “Abraham Africa-nus the First.”
5. Warren Harding was the 28th President of the United States, he served from 1921 – 1923 and he was black. Harding never denied his ancestry. When Republican leaders called on Harding to deny his “Negro” history, he said, “How should I know whether or not one of my ancestors might have jumped the fence?”
6. Calvin Coolidge was the 29th President of the United States, he served from 1923 – 1929 and he was black. He proudly admitted that his mother was dark but claimed it was because of a mixed Indian ancestry. His mother’s maiden name was “Moor.” In Europe the name “Moor” was given to all Black people just as in America the name “Negro” was used.
7. Dwight E. Eisenhower was the 33rd President of the United States, he served from 1953 – 1961 and he was black. His mother, Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower, an anti-war advocate, was half black.
(http://fookembug.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-seven-black-presidents-before-barack-obama/)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WAIST YOUR WAISTLINE & HEART HEALTH
A follower on Twitter was watching Dr. Oz and according to the good Dr. your waist line should be half the size of your height. Now I understand Dr. Oz’s point but I’m 5’3” which is 63” so that would mean my waist should be 31.5” I would look like sponge bob square pants! My waist the last time I measured it was 27” I want it to be 25” why because I have a bit of belly fat when I sit down.
Nevertheless, I understood where Dr. Oz was going with that as waist size plays a role in overall health including our hearts.Why would a cardiologist be so concerned with your waistline? The reason has less to do with how you look on the outside than it does with how you look on the inside. I'm worried about what prediabetes and diabetes are doing to your arteries. Both conditions can injure the lining of your vessels and accelerate the production of plaque, greatly increasing your risk of having a heart attacker stroke. (http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/waistline-and-heart-health.aspx)
So ladies and gents….take a look at your waist line and determine if you need to get to work. Just because you are slimmer than most doesn’t mean that you aren’t at risk either. A friend of mine asked me: "Can Your Waistline Save Your Heart?" Here is my answer.People usually associate heart disease with overall obesity, but little is known by the general public about the direct link between waistline size and heart disease.It is a common misunderstanding that lean people with a cute "little tummy" are not at risk for a high blood pressure because they are not obese. This is wrong, because their waistline measurement would still be outside the normal range.
The bigger the "belly", the bigger the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Before you proceed to waistline measurement in order to assess your health risk, you need to know how to do it and what a normal range would be.Keep in mind that the words big waistline, central obesity, abdominal obesity, midsection obesity or big omentum mean the same thing. It means that there is fat around the midsection that should not be there. It means BELLY FAT. Waistline measurement is simple, inexpensive and a reliable way to assess your risk for heart disease at home.How to measure waistline?
Position the tape measure around your waist at the level of you navel. You can also use the hip bone as a guide-the tape should go above the hip bone.What is the normal waistline reading?Below are the healthy normal waistline numbers by gender (according to the International Diabetes Federation guidelines): Normal/healthy female waistline: Less than 32 inches (80 cm) Normal/healthy male waistline: Less than 38 inches (94cm)If you don't have a tape measure you can divide your height in inches by two.
Your waistline needs to be that number or smaller in inches.While both waistline measurement and BMI assess your overall obesity, ONLY the waistline measurement can assess the fat around the abdominal organs which is directly related to stress. The stress hormone cortisol comes into play here. Chronic stress leads to fat deposition in the abdominal area which results in belly fat. Researchers now know that if most of the fat is in the belly area, the heart risk is greater than if the fat resides in the hips, thighs or rear (sometimes referred to as the apple versus pear shape body type).
In summary: Yes, your waistline can save your heart if you keep an eye on it, set your priorities and find the best way to balance the stress in your life. To find out where you stand take the free Stress Level Test and measure your waistline(http://www.stress-fat-heart-solutions-for-boomers.com/can-your-waistline-save-your-heart-article-archives.html)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Friday, February 3, 2012
SUGAR LEADS TO OBESITY?
Today is National Wear Red Day! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, causing 1 in 3 deaths among women each year. The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention. Watching MSNBC this morning and they mentioned a study that found sugar “is a leading cause of obesity and should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco. The United Nations announced in September that chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes contribute to 35 million deaths worldwide each year, according to the commentary. The U.N. pegged tobacco, alcohol, and diet as big risk factors that contributed to this death rate.” ( http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57369857-10391704/sugar-should-be-regulated-like-alcohol-tobacco-commentary-says/)
The article mentions that sugar is added to a lot of processed foods and over the past 50 years obesity has risen because of sugar.I have ONE BIG HUGE GIGANTIC issue with this article/study, the majority of processed foods that we consume and buy do not contain sugar. They do however contain high fructose corn syrup. If you don’t believe me right now or when you get home pull out your ketchup, bbq sauce, bread, buns, juice boxes etc. out of your cabinets and refrigerator, check the label, more than likely the 1st ingredient on the label is corn syrup (CS) or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Ingredients are listed based on how much is in the product. So whatever is listed first is used the most and it goes on down the line.
Why do most companies use CS or HFCS one reason is because we have so much corn here in the US, they figured out a way to use it for more than just simple consumption, they figured out they could create sugar from corn. So they go through this long process read here http://www.madehow.com/Volume-4/Corn-Syrup.htmlto create sugar from corn. Again, why go through all this trouble when sugar is grown naturally? Sugarcane plantations and Asian ethnic groups continue to thrive in countries such as Fiji, Natal, Burma, Ceylon, Malaysia, British Guiana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Martinique, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts, St. Croix, Suriname, Nevis, Mauritius. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcane) Sugar can is grown in tropical places so why not just import sugar cane and put real sugar in our products as opposed to HFCS? It may be because that would help stimulate some of the economies that are mentioned above, so they choose not to and that is all I will say about that.
So again let me be clear the study mentioned above is HIGHLY misleading. Trust me sugar is not the problem. HFCS is! “HFCS high fructose corn syrup is responsible for a dangerous epidemic of obesity and diabetes. People under the age of 45 are “children of the corn.” Like Stephen King's thriller, they are reaping the consequences......of the food industry’s high fructose corn syrup. They were children or young adults in the late 70s, 80s and 90s when high fructose corn syrup was introduced to the American food supply as a cheap replacement for sugar. Now many of them are struggling with an epidemic of obesity and diabetes, also being referred to as diabesity”….continue reading at (http://www.blackherbals.com/dangers_of_high_fructose_corn_syrup_HFCS.htm_)
What am I saying? Be wise and be aware and start becoming more label conscious. I don’t like my son drinking any juice boxes because they contain HFCS. I would prefer that he eat pure maple syrup with his pancakes but he prefers regular syrup and yes the 1st ingredient listed is HFCS. Will you be able to control your consumption of CS and HFCS when eating out? Absolutely not, but you can make better choices when in the grocery store for what you consume in the comfort of your own home. There are products that clearly list, no HFCS, such as Heinz ketchup. It is required that all products sold have at least one option in the grocery store that doesn’t contain HFCS. Not by brand but by product. So there should be one bread, one relish, on ketchup etc. in the store that doesn’t contain HFCS. Yes, read labels. If HFCS is the 1st ingredient listed you may not want to buy that particular product. Also think about how much you will consume a product as well. am sure HFCS in moderation is not that damaging.
Side Note: I do not personally consume or believe in the consumption of sugar substitutes either. That is like a scientist telling me the sugar Yahweh made isn’t right for you so I am going to use that sugar add some other things to it and create a substitute that is healthier for you. I don’t think that man can outsmart Yahweh. In no way am I trying to scare you, I just want you to be informed. Take this blog post as a stepping stone and do your own research. Pray over your food before you eat and declare healing over your body daily. Thank Yahweh for abundance of health because if you are not raising your own animals and growing your own food, you really don’t know what you are eating so stay prayed up!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Thursday, February 2, 2012
BORED AND HUNGRY! WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE
BORED AND HUNGRY!
You say you are hungry but you are not doing what it takes to eat!
How much down time do you have in your day? Be it at the office or at home? What do you do with that downtime? Let me be clear I am not condoning slacking off at work but what I will say is if you are spending time on the blogs, on FB, Twitter, and other social media networks yet you are hungry, you aren’t really trying to eat. How many hours of TV do you watch daily? Bill Winston said “I can tell you how much money you have/make by the amount of TV you watch!”
When we watch TV we are watching other people who have ultimately fulfilled their dreams and are living their lives be it actors, commentators, reality TV personalities etc. As we watch we sit and think sometimes and fantasize about the good life. We may even go to sleep and dream about having a better life yet, we rarely wake up and turn those fantasies and dreams into realities. This makes me think about a poster I saw in grammar school I believe it was Heathcliff, he had a book on top of his head and there was a quote that read, I learn by osmosis. Few things if any come by osmosis but there are things that can come through divine revelation.
George Washington Carver said he simply went in his room in the dark and would spend time with God and boom, he would just invent things using an unusual source, the peanut. That is the first step for us to eat, we need to spend time with God. Again we watch TV, we are on our Blackberry's, IPhones, IPads, the Internet we do a lot of things yet we are hungry. To eat, our first priority should be to connect with our creator, whether you call Him (It) Buddha, Yahweh, Jehovah, God, Most High, Supreme Being, etc. Spend time connecting with your higher power realize that there is something bigger than you outside of you that is your driving force. You and the Source are all that you need to fulfill your dreams and your deepest desires!
So why aren’t many of us living our dreams? Yesterday I found myself bored, for lack of a better word. As I was about to go out into the entertainment celebrity gossip blogs, I told myself, you have thoughts to start a business do some research on that and that is exactly what I did. I went online and requested a quote for insurance for this potential business so that I can begin gathering all the information needed to create a business plan. Now I have to say that it was in that moment of boredom that I had my epiphany. I am hungry but I’m really not trying to eat!
If I really wanted to eat, I would spend more time on my grind than I do “bored”, watching the idiot box, or surfing the web. How about you? If you are completely honest with yourself are there things you are doing or not doing that are keeping your from your dreams. This morning I was watching Bill Winston and he spoke on the fact that nothing outside of us creates our life, it is what is within us. We cannot blame the government, people, friends, family, employers or anyone besides ourselves for the conditions in which we live.
I am going to take a quote from the late Notorious B.I.G. “I'm just, tryin to stay above water ya'know/Just stay busy, stay workin/Puff told me like, the key to this joint/The key to staying, on top of things/is treat everything like it's your first project, knahmsayin?/Like it's your first day like back when you was an intern/
Like, that's how you try to treat things like, just stay hungry”
Even if you are eating, stay hungry. This doesn’t mean be greedy and gluttonous, it means always be sure you are creating and achieving goals. Once you meet goals that you have set, create new ones. Now if you are completely satisfied with your life as is great. Actually I am satisfied with my life, I am grateful for all that I have, I realized I am blessed. While I am grateful, I desire more.
I think about Kandi from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, she was in a Grammy Award winning R&B group, she is an accomplished successful songwriter, she is now on a reality TV show, has a clothing store, an Internet radio show, and will soon have her own television program, she is hungry and eating. Oprah, had a successful talk show and her own distribution company but she desired more her very own network, OWN, she is hungry and eating. There are other successful men and women of all colors whom I could use as examples that are hungry and eating. The creator of Twitter also created 4 Square and is already thinking of the next thing he can create event, he is hungry and eating.
So now I ask, what is on your plate. As I ask you, I am asking myself the same thing. I’m eating, I’m living, I’m blessed, I’m favored, I’m prospering however, am I living at my full God given potential? Probably not. What’s my hold up? ME, the woman in the mirror!!!!!
If we aren’t eating like we should it will be difficult for us to feed others. Yahweh blesses us to be a blessing to others. I saw this quote this morning and will end on this note, give you something to ponder…..
"We can't solve matters of lack with a scarcity consciousness." Mastin Kipp, The Daily Love (blog)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
You say you are hungry but you are not doing what it takes to eat!
How much down time do you have in your day? Be it at the office or at home? What do you do with that downtime? Let me be clear I am not condoning slacking off at work but what I will say is if you are spending time on the blogs, on FB, Twitter, and other social media networks yet you are hungry, you aren’t really trying to eat. How many hours of TV do you watch daily? Bill Winston said “I can tell you how much money you have/make by the amount of TV you watch!”
When we watch TV we are watching other people who have ultimately fulfilled their dreams and are living their lives be it actors, commentators, reality TV personalities etc. As we watch we sit and think sometimes and fantasize about the good life. We may even go to sleep and dream about having a better life yet, we rarely wake up and turn those fantasies and dreams into realities. This makes me think about a poster I saw in grammar school I believe it was Heathcliff, he had a book on top of his head and there was a quote that read, I learn by osmosis. Few things if any come by osmosis but there are things that can come through divine revelation.
George Washington Carver said he simply went in his room in the dark and would spend time with God and boom, he would just invent things using an unusual source, the peanut. That is the first step for us to eat, we need to spend time with God. Again we watch TV, we are on our Blackberry's, IPhones, IPads, the Internet we do a lot of things yet we are hungry. To eat, our first priority should be to connect with our creator, whether you call Him (It) Buddha, Yahweh, Jehovah, God, Most High, Supreme Being, etc. Spend time connecting with your higher power realize that there is something bigger than you outside of you that is your driving force. You and the Source are all that you need to fulfill your dreams and your deepest desires!
So why aren’t many of us living our dreams? Yesterday I found myself bored, for lack of a better word. As I was about to go out into the entertainment celebrity gossip blogs, I told myself, you have thoughts to start a business do some research on that and that is exactly what I did. I went online and requested a quote for insurance for this potential business so that I can begin gathering all the information needed to create a business plan. Now I have to say that it was in that moment of boredom that I had my epiphany. I am hungry but I’m really not trying to eat!
If I really wanted to eat, I would spend more time on my grind than I do “bored”, watching the idiot box, or surfing the web. How about you? If you are completely honest with yourself are there things you are doing or not doing that are keeping your from your dreams. This morning I was watching Bill Winston and he spoke on the fact that nothing outside of us creates our life, it is what is within us. We cannot blame the government, people, friends, family, employers or anyone besides ourselves for the conditions in which we live.
I am going to take a quote from the late Notorious B.I.G. “I'm just, tryin to stay above water ya'know/Just stay busy, stay workin/Puff told me like, the key to this joint/The key to staying, on top of things/is treat everything like it's your first project, knahmsayin?/Like it's your first day like back when you was an intern/
Like, that's how you try to treat things like, just stay hungry”
Even if you are eating, stay hungry. This doesn’t mean be greedy and gluttonous, it means always be sure you are creating and achieving goals. Once you meet goals that you have set, create new ones. Now if you are completely satisfied with your life as is great. Actually I am satisfied with my life, I am grateful for all that I have, I realized I am blessed. While I am grateful, I desire more.
I think about Kandi from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, she was in a Grammy Award winning R&B group, she is an accomplished successful songwriter, she is now on a reality TV show, has a clothing store, an Internet radio show, and will soon have her own television program, she is hungry and eating. Oprah, had a successful talk show and her own distribution company but she desired more her very own network, OWN, she is hungry and eating. There are other successful men and women of all colors whom I could use as examples that are hungry and eating. The creator of Twitter also created 4 Square and is already thinking of the next thing he can create event, he is hungry and eating.
So now I ask, what is on your plate. As I ask you, I am asking myself the same thing. I’m eating, I’m living, I’m blessed, I’m favored, I’m prospering however, am I living at my full God given potential? Probably not. What’s my hold up? ME, the woman in the mirror!!!!!
If we aren’t eating like we should it will be difficult for us to feed others. Yahweh blesses us to be a blessing to others. I saw this quote this morning and will end on this note, give you something to ponder…..
"We can't solve matters of lack with a scarcity consciousness." Mastin Kipp, The Daily Love (blog)
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
BOLD PRAYER (TAKE THE LIMITS OFF GOD)
I was BLESSED, let me say it again BLESSED by Joel Osteen this past Sunday. His message was about Bold Prayers. It is time to start praying bold prayers. “Start asking Yahweh for unusual things, ask him even when things look impossible. Have a greater vision, stretch your faith! Scripture says that we have not because we ask not. We will fulfill our Yahweh given destiny 2012 will be a year filled with faith and favor!!!!!!” Joel Osteen
A couple examples of normal prayers vs. bold prayers:
When I was pregnant, I prayed over my pregnancy and my labor. I didn’t experience any morning sickness or sickness at all, my only issue while pregnant was that my ankles swelled up the day I went into labor. My labor was 3 hours and I was able to deliver my son naturally without much pain or complications. I believe that happened because of my bold prayer! I didn’t stop there however, I have been praying for him since he was in the womb. Due to my prayers I do not let external circumstances sway me. That is why in the “worst” of times I am able to say all is well. I pray for my son regularly that he is the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, a lender and not a borrower, that he walks and lives by faith, that he is quick to listen slow to speak and slow to anger, that he is filled with the fruit of the spirit, that when he rises he considers me blessed. Now I am going to add to my prayer thanksgiving that my son is a great influence and a leader in the Kingdom of Yahweh and in the world!
When we are bold enough to pray it, believe it, and accept that it is already so, Yahweh and his angels go to work to make things happen for us.Whether it is your children, your spouse, your marriage, your relationships, yourself, PRAY BOLD PRAYERS! It’s time out for thinking small, barely get by thoughts and then praying those prayers. Be bold, be like Elisha when he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirt. Don’t be afraid, Yahweh recognizes and appreciates boldness. Be like the woman with the issue of blood she pressed her way through to be able to touch the hem of his garment for her healing. Be like the Shummanite woman, she never once said her son was dead and she went to the man of God and boldly asked for her sons healing and she received what she asked for!
So as this 2ndmonth of the New Year begins, let us begin to pray bold prayers and if you have already been doing so continue and get even bolder with it! Yahweh is all seeing, all knowing, and all powerful there is nothing too hard for Him to handle.
The power of life and death is in the power of your tongue, choose life always and be bold about it!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
A couple examples of normal prayers vs. bold prayers:
N: Lord bless me that I have enough to pay my own bills
B: Lord bless me that I am able to pay my own bills and enough left over to bless other familiesA woman’s son was on drugs…
N: Lord please let my son get off drugs and be drug free
B: Lord thank you that my son is great, thank you that my son is a great influence and has a huge impact on others (that was a true prayer and her son is now a Pastor!“When you pray it moves the hands that rules the world.” Joel Osteen
When I was pregnant, I prayed over my pregnancy and my labor. I didn’t experience any morning sickness or sickness at all, my only issue while pregnant was that my ankles swelled up the day I went into labor. My labor was 3 hours and I was able to deliver my son naturally without much pain or complications. I believe that happened because of my bold prayer! I didn’t stop there however, I have been praying for him since he was in the womb. Due to my prayers I do not let external circumstances sway me. That is why in the “worst” of times I am able to say all is well. I pray for my son regularly that he is the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, a lender and not a borrower, that he walks and lives by faith, that he is quick to listen slow to speak and slow to anger, that he is filled with the fruit of the spirit, that when he rises he considers me blessed. Now I am going to add to my prayer thanksgiving that my son is a great influence and a leader in the Kingdom of Yahweh and in the world!
When we are bold enough to pray it, believe it, and accept that it is already so, Yahweh and his angels go to work to make things happen for us.Whether it is your children, your spouse, your marriage, your relationships, yourself, PRAY BOLD PRAYERS! It’s time out for thinking small, barely get by thoughts and then praying those prayers. Be bold, be like Elisha when he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirt. Don’t be afraid, Yahweh recognizes and appreciates boldness. Be like the woman with the issue of blood she pressed her way through to be able to touch the hem of his garment for her healing. Be like the Shummanite woman, she never once said her son was dead and she went to the man of God and boldly asked for her sons healing and she received what she asked for!
So as this 2ndmonth of the New Year begins, let us begin to pray bold prayers and if you have already been doing so continue and get even bolder with it! Yahweh is all seeing, all knowing, and all powerful there is nothing too hard for Him to handle.
The power of life and death is in the power of your tongue, choose life always and be bold about it!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
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