Jesus, Jesus How I Trust Him…Oh for Grace to Trust Him More song

youtube.com/watch

I am watching my new baby sleep. So satisfied and full of milk, heavy and relaxed. I am reminded to trust Jesus for my provisions and to relax and drink in the sweetness God has given me.

What a blessing to be a new mom for the third time 🙏🏽🙌🏾💕🤴🏾🫶🏽

Your Calling, Whatever It is….Is Sacred by Dr. Tony Evans

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Dr. Tony Evans breaks it all the way down! What did God call you to do?

Emotional Post

Do you ever get tired of yourself? Of repeating the same mistakes? Financially? Relationally? Emotionally? Mentally? With time?

My prayer today is what David prayed.

Psalms 139: 23-24

Search my heart, oh Lord, try my reins; test me and know my concerns. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

Raising kids you can see your flaws sharply and distinctively. This morning I read Isaiah 5 and I am familiar with the passage. (So it terrified me and I prayed right away, Lord, please help me to be worthy and produce good fruit 🍌 🍉 🍎 according to all You have put into and invested in me.

I gotta get going on obedience and doing what I know is right. ⚖️ in 2023, it is time to hold myself more accountable and not let myself make excuses for my actions, especially my inactions.

I am normally a consistent evangelizer, but for the past two years, I have been slacking. Judges 5 and 6 tell the story of Gideon and how his doubt did not stop him from having faith. God wanted to do a special miracle through someone who was seen as afraid and low and small; because in all things, God should and must get the glory.

Praying for the removal of materialism, distractions, fear, social media pressures and anxiety, and for all those things to be replaced with PEACE, FAITH AND CONFIDENCE in Jesus name!

Love you,

R.S.

Terry Wallace’s “Yield Not to Temptation”

youtube.com/watch

Why?

This verse tells us to keep a ready answer for why we believe in Jesus Christ!

What a blessing to get to share the stories and things God has done for us not only personally, but collectively, globally and outside of time!!!

Always have a smile because you are God’s child! A Chosen Vessel! Your circumstances don’t matter in evangelism🎉🙏🏽💕 I wish you know that your God is awesome, I am guilty of missing opportunities to evangelize, but I am going to do better!

U

7u

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the ufaith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:5-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/32219/day/5

Tabitha was a beautiful person who showed her faith by her works. She gave and sewed clothes for the poor.

The devotional explores what people will say about us when we die.

In the end, the love we showed will be most important.

Love ❤️

R.S.

Take Refuge in the Lord and Rejoice

bible.com/bible/1588/psa.5.11.AMP

Scripture to read today: 2 Timothy Chapters 1 & 2 and Psalms 5.

Pray for others and pray for mercy for them. Pray for all leaders and pray for those who love the Lord. Pray for your enemies and pray for your protection. Pray for the discouraged and pray for help.

With love,

❤️ Retrostank

http://www.buyretrostank.com

Did not Earn Salvation, but Obeyed for it

www.bible.com/116/tit.3.4-7.nlt

How do you receive salvation?

Through repentance, faith, confession and baptism.

Thank God for His wonderful mercies,

Not perfect, but striving to obey. No matter the location, the sin, or the temptations, through Christ we can be cleansed and forgiven. And changed!

Love,

R.S.

Flexible Accountability

youtube.com/watch

Be flexible and accountable.

Be honest if you make a mistake and flexible when things change. You can do it, roll with the punches and ADAPT!!

This 1:32 video shows an example of how demonstrate that flexible accountability; life requires grace and adaptation!

Love,

R.S.

Do it Full Out

www.bible.com/116/1pe.4.11.nlt

So do it full out!!!

In dance, when you practice you might go through the counts and the motions to the music 🎶 lightly like uh uh uh uh.

But if somebody important walks in that room or you want somebody to notice you, you do it FULL OUT!! Boom, boom hip boom!

Live for God full out, serve Him with gladness full out!

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who art 🖼 in Heaven

You are living art and a living Creation to bring God glory!

Bring Him glory FULL OUT!!

Love,

R.S.

GRACE AND ITS ORIGIN

Grace in Greek, charis- is the unmerited favor of God toward man that was made possible by the sacrificial offering of Jesus on the cross. Grace is …

GRACE AND ITS ORIGIN

Give people GRACE! Be okay with where they are and when they hurt you, forgive them.

Treat people how you want to be treated!

Be humble, forgiving, gracious, and grateful; It will help YOU FIND CONTENTMENT! 💃🏽

Parable of the Talents

www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.19.11-27.nkjv

How many of us have talents that we are hiding? Or that we are to scared to share?

How could you hid your light…from shining?

God said, “There is a lamp stand put it right THERE!!””

Remember, Matthew 5:16 and “Let your 💡 LIGHT so shine before men that they may see your good works and GLORIFY your Father which art in Heaven!”

Let them look at your beautiful talents and know that there is a good God above, share that art, that acting, that singing, that cooking, that creating, that rap, that pottery, that furniture, that instrument so they can KNOW there is still a God above!!

Read this parable of Jesus to see what it looks like when you do it right and when you do it wrong.

With love,

R.S.

“What You’re Saying When You Give Someone the Silent Treatment Social ostracism has been a common punishment for millennia. But freezing someone out harms both the victim and the perpetrator.” By: Daryl Austin of the Atlantic

apple.news/AB-j_ff2aR-6XjPFRQgNfmA

As a person who has given people closest to me the silent treatment when I was so mad that I didn’t want to put it into words, I have recently learned that the silence kills as well.

Very thought-provoking article that I must share for the good of us all.

Hope you enjoy!

R.S.

You are not too young or too anything, if God chose you

www.bible.com/bible/1/jer.1.4-10.kjv

“Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:4-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Naaman and the Servant Girl

Watch “Naaman and the Servant Girl” in the Superbook Bible app!
http://www.cbn.com/superbook/app/video/?&language=en&videoType=superbookepisodes&videoId=481721

You can also watch Superbook shows, music videos and even download episodes to watch directly on your favorite device!

The Superbook Bible app even has fun Games, Bible Profiles, Questions & Answers, and an interactive Bible.

Download the Superbook Bible App Now!
http://www.superbook.tv/app

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“Count your many blessing and see what the Lord has done.” -Church of Christ song Look What the Lord Has Done

Always be grateful.

-R.S.

Devos for Teens – Stand Where the Fire Has Been

Devos for Teens – Stand Where the Fire Has Been
— Read on tecartabible.com/share/2004/322/11

This is a inspiring story about how to stand when a fire is raging around you.

Amen.

-R.S.

Kurt Carr and Natalie King Cole “I Almost Gave Up”

youtube.com/watch

Don’t give up!!

2020 is hard but don’t let go!

God has not left you. There might be some changes you need to make in your circle, changes in your thinking, in your habits.

Lord God, Heavenly Father, hold us up!

Strengthen our hearts, feed our souls so that we can hang on.

Forgive us of our many sins and iniquities!!

As Christmas comes, let us remember that Christ was born to die for our sins and make us right with You! Help me to continue to encourage and serve where I can. May Your perfect will be done in our lives!

In Jesus name I pray!!

Amen!!

Jam of the Day: Jesus Rose With All Power in His 🖐 Hands 🤚

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Jesus rose with ALL POWER IN HIS HAND!!

I miss going to worship but this track right here gave me that collective feeling!

My brothers and my sisters, one day we will adore Jesus in person as He descends to Earth! Oh I want to see Him!

We will who believe and have been baptized will be raised on the last day and make our way to Heaven because He rose with all 💥 power in His Hand!

Love,

Retro stank

The Miracle of Delegation: “What Is Your Entrepreneurial Kryptonite?”

May 2, 2019 6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. The following excerpt is from Scott Duffy’s book Breakthrough. …

What Is Your Entrepreneurial Kryptonite?

Everyone,

I found this to be so on-point! It was amazing to see the difference between the two types of entrepreneurs!

Enjoy!

James 3:13-18 The Right Kind of Wisdom

www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.3.13-18.esv

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:13-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Messy Marriage” Message by Bro. Chris Jackson

www.youtube.com/watch

Affirm Your Goals 🙏🏾Eric Thomas

www.youtube.com/watch

Donald Lawrence & Co. “Spiritual”

www.youtube.com/watch

Galatians 5:22 The Fruits of The Spirit

“You’re not a natural being having a spiritual experience, but you are a spiritual being having a natural experience!”

This song is so beautiful and the meaning so real.

Enjoy!

~RetroStank

#GivingTuesday Jam of the Day: Damian Marley “There For You”

www.youtube.com/watch

This song is soothing and true. It speaks of unconditional love and reciprocity.

“You’ve always been there for me, and so I’ll be there for you…”

Love it 😍

Saturday Song of the Day: Karen Clark Sheard “Sunday A.M.”

www.youtube.com/watch

This beautiful song was on the radio and it just reminds us That Sunday morning is a time to recharge from our week!

A time to lay it on God’s feet. To rest from our labor!

I love the Lord for His Love for me!!!

Hope you are encouraged by this!

~Retrostank

Jeremiah 30

www.bible.com/116/jer.30.22.nlt

Meditation for June 30, 2020

Jeremiah 30

“Glory, Glory Hallelujah” Thursday Jam

www.youtube.com/watch

Today, if you need your spirit lifted, watch this!!

“I feel so much better since I laid my burdens down!”

Cast your burdens on Him for He Careth for you!

The Power of the Spoken Word in Faith

www.instagram.com/p/CFMtagen1DW/

This video healed something deep in my stomach!

Praise God!

We have been born for such a time as this!

God knew what was going on 2029, 2020, 1996, 1987, 1958, 1972, 1819, all of that! He is a God outside of time! Bigger than that!!

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾👏🏾🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🩸🎼🌹💪🏾👍🏾❤️

In Love and Always Arguing: “What Did You Just Say?”

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13542/day/4

Recommending this Plan if words have become tools for heartbreak in your relationship 👸🏿👸🏿👸🏿👸🏿👸🏿

OUR FAVORITE THINGS OF JULY

There is a new Hero on the scene!! I love the concept of World-Travelling Product Connoisseurs who everybody trusts to have excellent taste!! Meet Aasha and Darcell ❤️❤️❤️ Also, for this particular issue, my Beauty Brand, Hadassah Beauty, was featured. Good things, good things and good news!! Letting our lights 💡 shine! Love, RetroStank

GOOD 2 KNOW

We are so excited to launch our blog. This is our first post and we have been working extremely hard to gather 10 favorite things to share. It was hard to pick from so many amazing things but we have narrowed them down. Below we have listed our favorite things of July.

Aasha’s favorite things of JULY:

1. Curlmix hair products curlmix.com
2. Homemade smoothie bowls
3. Ungodly hour album https://chloexhalle.lnk.to/UngodlyHour
4. Mented lipstick https://www.mentedcosmetics.com
5. Hadassah Beauty Shea Butter in Vanillahttps://www.buyhadassah.com/

Darcell’s favorite things of JULY:

1. Starting my day with guided prayer, gratitude journal and daily devotional time (Churchome/You Version Bible App)
2. Scotch Bonnet by Dani https://www.scotchbonnetsbydani.com/
3. Hadassah Beauty Shea Butter in Mango https://www.buyhadassah.com/
4. Designing rooms through DesignHome App 
5. Homemade buttermilk pancakes

*A special thing to note is Curlmix, Mented lipstick, Hadassah Beauty Shea Butter and Scotch Bonnets by Dani are Black owned businesses.

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Deeply Affected…Homegoing Service of Actress Gloria Charles

Obvious issues are vocalized and worn proudly, “Yeah, I am working on it, just not there YET.”

“Sure let’s talk all about it…my mom was grassroots organizer who never had time for her five kids because she was too busy passing out flyers and signing people up to vote. So I had to take care of the entire family instead of  being a teenager. Thus, I wild’d out when I graduated high school. I started drag racing, doing tattoos, drinking, smoking, whatever. My real dream was to become a food scientist.”

Question #1 What two qualities failed this imaginary person, keeping him from achieving said dream?

Possible answers: Confidence from Encouragement & Support. Direction and Tenacity. (This qualities are capitalized to respect them as individual personalities.)

I marvel at women bosses. Female business moguls, lady tycoons. In my head, somehow, the partriachal structure of both my five person nuclear family and America at large scrunch their nose up, like “What? Lol.” Lady tycoon? The accepted and traditional career paths are as follows: teacher, lawyer, nurse, home economics teacher, seamstress, banker, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, and teacher.

To pave a path, to pioneer, one must be fearless, and certain.

Sunday, December 18th, 2016 at 1:00 p.m., at Jackson Street Church of Christ, a exceptionally MOVING and BEAUTIFUL memorial service took place in honor of Gloria Charles née Gloria Carr, my husband’s cousin Sugar Dumpling.

Sugar Dumpling was one of those Lady Tycoons.

She was BEAUTIFUL.

She was elegant.

She was particular.

She was glowing in the large framed photograph in the center table surrounded by her loved onze who had gone on before she. 

I had barely known her.

Yet I cried like a baby that ran outta milk on her grandma while  her parents were thirty minutes away at the mall and nothing could be done to make it better! Her life said treat yourself special, treat others  special. Be fearless. Laugh. Love what you love. Be particular. Demand the best. Live out loud.

Gloria Charles glowed.

Little Glow worm.

Her obituary proclaims that she left the south for Hollywood!

Google  her.

She played Richard Pryor’s girlfriend in Brewster’s Millions.

She had Confidence, Direction, and Tenacity.

One of my most favorite quotes is from Oscar Wilde,  “Beauty for Beauty’s sake.”

Her cousin Jeff and her brother Hugh spoke of her surrounding herself with the best, with beauty, with cleanliness ( she learned this from her mother, Aunt Pa). “Fine and dandy like candy.” was quoted as one of Gloria’s favorite sayings. She loved romantic Soul songs from the Commodore, Earth, Windows, and Fire, the Dramatics, and Deniece Williams.

Can’t  you just love a person you never met but who lived full of love and tenderness!

Truly, it moved me.

That Saturday night I dreamed I was at a church event watching  my students perform a play on ice. My dad was putting the babies in the car and I ran back in the church to pee really quick before we left. I was in the bathroom when I saw these black square glasses I recognized as my grandmother’s  (in reality, she is deceased). I pulled the glasses out and they were attached to a beautiful pink Bible case that was embroidered with 1 Corinthians 12. I put it back down, washed my hands, and started a conversation with a teacher from a school in Murfreesboro. I shared with her my (actual) desire  to create a Spoken Word Scripture team.

Well when I got up and read 1 Corinthians  12, Paul preaches about how we are all members of One body with different administrations or roles, but One Spirit. Romans 12 speak of the same: differing gifts and using your gifts Excellently!

 

“Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others. God has given each of us the  ability to do certain  things WELL. Sone if God has given you the ability  to prophesy, then prophesy whenever you can–as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God. If you gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are teacher, do a good job of teaching. If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons be strong and helpful. If God has given you money, be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of  the work of others, take the responsibility  seriously.  Those who offer comfort to the sorrow ingredients should do so with Christian cheer. Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never  be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically.  Be glad for all God is planning for you. Romans 12:6-12

More to come…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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During the school year, more than often this college student’s money will run extremely low. So low that even when I am asked to go into a potential …

Dress 4 Success

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

Meditate on this verse this week and try to allow your heart and mind to be open to God’s will. There are many perspectives and possibilities that we have in our understanding and we can be oh so wrong about things, bout people, about surefire plans. I do not want to miss God’s will because of my limited ability to understand.

Lord, Father God,

I pray that a spirit of humility to rest on us all as we lay down our lives to follow what You day about us and how You want to use us. Help us to live these verses and be doers, not merely hearers, deceiving ourselves. I pray that we get help where we need it and drop all spirits of anger, frustration and anxiety.

In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus I pray,

AMEN!

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:1-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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For all of us who could not make it to celebrate 🎉 the UAPB Golden 🦁 Lions!!!

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pride (countable and uncountable, plural prides)

The quality or state of being proud; an unreasonable overestimation of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
(often with of or in) A sense of one’s own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; — in a good sense.
He took pride in his work.
He had pride of ownership in his department.
(Can we date this quote by Macaulay?)
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
(Can we date this quote by William Blake?)
The pride of the peacock is the glory of God.
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain; hubris.
(Can we date this quote by G. K. Chesterton?), Introduction to Aesop’s Fables
Pride goeth before the fall.
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-congratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
(Can we date this quote by Spenser?)
lofty trees yclad with summer’s pride
(Can we date this quote by Bible?), Zech. ix. 6
I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
(Can we date this quote by Goldsmith?)
a bold peasantry, their country’s pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
(Can we date this quote by Shakespeare?)
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war.
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory,
to be in the pride of one’s life.
(Can we date this quote by Shakespeare?)
a falcon, towering in her pride of place
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
Lust; sexual desire; especially, excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast.
(zoology, collective) A company of lions or other large felines.
A pride of lions often consists of a dominant male, his harem and their offspring, but young adult males ‘leave home’ to roam about as bachelors pride until able to seize/establish a family pride of their own.
(zoology) The small European lamprey species Petromyzon branchialis.
Alternative letter-case form of Pride (“festival for LGBT people”).
For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:pride.
Synonyms
— Read on en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/pride

Today’s Scripture of the day is Proverbs 16:18:

“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

‭‭PROVERBS‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

I ask the Lord to forgive me for my pride. Looking at the definition, I realize how easy it is to fall into pride! Pride will take over, and you do not even have the faintest idea that the way you answered that text message is pride! Or because you won’t communicate with others, that is pride! I am saddened at my ignorance to the truth about my pride and I am grateful that my eyes have been opened!

Ask yourself if you can see where pride needs to be cut out of your heart.

Father God, in Jesus’ name, I ask you to work pride out of us and free us from this ugly mentality. Lord, many, including me, are blinded to our ways and their impacts. Help us to turn from this and be more holy as You are holy and be honest enough to face our fears about what ever we are suffering and stop hiding because of our pride. Help us, dear Lord, to be humble and not boast in what we can do and be puffed up. Help us to esteem others better than ourselves and ask forgiveness to those our pride has effected. Please forgive me. In Jesus’ name, amen!

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I had a conversation with my mentor today. She explained that she has asked God to give her the ability to learn praise songs in different languages. Beautiful! My dream field, anthropology, is the study of culture. Gotta start listening to Spanish gospel, Korean gospel, Ethiopian gospel, and more. To God be the glory!

This is one I liked.

Psalms 47

1{To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.} O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

2For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

3He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

4He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

5God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

6Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

7For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

8God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

9The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earthbelong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

 

Steno Pad via Lauren “Nadi” Akins (a few from my pre-nuptial pen)

Steno Pad

Via:

Lauren “Nadi” Akins

 

Preface:

 Prosper.

Goodness, good news, and good people:

May they come into your aura.

Magnetize beauty, power, creativity.

Bold–Courageous–All Around Square Biz

 

THE BEST

 10-23-2013

 Seedz of joy grow magnolia flowers yall mistake as my teeth.

Smile centered,

Anatomy diagonal to the dirt.

Sun spits rays,

Faster goes the merry-go-round.

Weird and strange.

My eyes wrinkle,

Cheeks become parentheses

With as much royalty as Rameses.

 

 

 

 

10-23-2013

 come here,

let me.

be your.

life-sized centerfold.

 

8-10-2013

LAUREN OPINIONS

 

Something special in writing a book,

story or song,

to sustain the thought long enough

to feel and to meddle

with the possibility

soaking in the emotion

b/c mine are so passing, ephermal, and forgettable.

Getting my mind to stay in gear:

a great feat

-seeing as how I desire to be

planning out my career

Right Now.

Need to let myself stop feeling the need

to (get)

caught up.

And let old promise,

commitments, whatever

fly off with new wings

to see new life

as from this day forward.

The need to share ideas like water

in streams flows free.

Sleep is slipping her hands

around my waist and pulling me close to her.

I done spent the better part of the day

on a Scandal marathon with good food and catnaps:

unhaunted by tasks or to-do-lists,

a Saturday to just be.

Be flooded with a differing life pace and be sucked into a visual storybook.

When in his company 3-D is a place that’s calling my name over miles. I

love you.

I want the world so bad, friction is sandpaper on silk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90s Babies, the Fresh Prince of Peace & The Living Water

On a bench under a tree in Piedmont Park amidst the playground and the catbirds, three-and-a half souls sat: Robert, Carmen, Riley and myself. Gathered to share scripture, struggle, success, and prayer, the Atlanta sun shone us. I asked, “Does anyone want to share a theme they’ve been digesting?” My dazzling husband ( ❤ u baby) Robert,  chimed in with something he had described to his homie who is from Eatonville, FL, Zora Neale Hurston’s birthplace.
As we sat, two girls walked past. We gave them water bottles, wrapped in lime green duct tape and Sharpied with Revelations 22:17, John 3:5, and John 4:14.

They pointed out the group gathered on a quilt, saying that they would want water too.

Slap to the right of us was about ten nineties’ babies. ❤

Rob and Riley reached them first and offered something to wet the tongue and the soul. Carmen shared 1 John 5:9-12 and I showed them how the daughter of an elder, tired of church every Sunday, surrounded by metaphysics, practicing religions from A to Z could find His love again.

“I left high school so sure Christ couldn’t be the Answer because I’d witnessed self-professed Christian leaders wallowing in sin. I couldn’t deal with that. So time, I got to CAU, I was wide open spiritually. I wanted to belong, I wanted to love, I wanted acceptance. We want our families to encourage us and we want to give our love freely. I wanted healing and I was looking under every rock, every flower, every ideology. My grandmama was telling me all the time, “Lauren, the Word is you life.” She did not approve of the Nefertiti sculptures, incense, and Ganesh paintings, but she still called me and she still sent money to me.

Fast forward to 2014 when I became pregnant with my son Riley. My grandmama passed less than a month before he was born. I was speechless. I’ll never forget how I chanted Jesus; I chanted His name. All that pain vanished..

I don’t know what your journey is, what your trials are, but the Lord is waiting on you. You are His. The Earth is His. Every car, every house, every job, every person, every treasure, every place is His.”

Below is the beautiful group that was gracious enough to listen.

To yall, I love you and I am praying for your best.

You are the best version of you, period.

An original creation. Like my grandma would say He wants His best for you, but you have to allow Him in. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and by whom we are redeemed back to God.

Young and old, do not be afraid to declare that Christ lives.  “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Put Satan under your feet as Antoinette Ellis-the Dominicana told me today. Tell Satan he is a lie!

P.s. Everyone check out  http://m-o-n-d-o.tumblr.com/post/122056704144/my-musical-journey-so-far

It is the blog of the dude in the red jacket.

   

 

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Sidenote —>Rob broke down the true distinction between God’s church and all that that ain’t. “Imagine that the whole world was full of lames. A lame wants to him buy something to boost his credibility. He sees somebody selling Jordan’s. He don’t realize this hustler got FAKE-Fake-Fakety-Fake Jordan’s. We can tell the real Jordan’s by the quality, the Jordan on the sole, the holographic bubble, etcetera. In the same way, God has one real church. If it don’t have the name Christ, then you better check the tag. 😀 That Sunday, me and my homeboy stopped at a Petro; he says to me “Ay cuz” and holds up a pair of fake J’s.” Like Carmen says, God’s got a sense of humor.

 

Aren’t you from New York?

Taking the Tunic trend black AND floral, this girl had me beaming when she told me my style remember her of that  Big Ole Apple.

Yes.

Mint 3/4 blazer. Check.

Black high waist cigarette pants. Check.

Floral dress you bought at Marshall’s when you spent whole checks on clothes. Check.

And there you have it.

❤

R.S.

    

“Ruby Slipperz” 6 out of 22 poems to my king: Birthday Variety

We search, seek, and destroy for distractions.

Unfulfilled in distant lands…400 years still aint home.

 

Bronze fingers.

 

Sometimes when you leave home you caint go back.

Cuz it’s not where you left it.

 

Vice Chancellors patronize, advising just take 

This semester as a mental break.

 

Aint no open arms for some…

 

Starving the same way out of school as in.

College ramen-noodle diets.

Pet dogs eat better and more often.

  

By: Lauren Fitzgerald 

For 2011’s college graduate: The “Ketchup”

  

deadlines stay catching us unprepared

when we said another new season wouldn’t catch us here

gotta stare fear in its face 

for the ambrosial tastes of destined glories.

best way to deal wit situations is to change situations

eyes desire new vegetation 

feelings surge from the muladhara 

pounded blood beats as never before 

journeying broadens cooper rivers 

got me swimming in tributaries 

upstream from society’s traps n cemeteries 

with mo talents than a tree has cherries 

in the spirit of revolutionaries

fight n Art in my capillaries.

Ppl will ask why u here? like u handicap

Mumble n answer wherein in dis life  I managed to be at

Washin hands–in the mirror,  the lion is there 

Memories of The fiercest u grin n glare

Then the realization that every second of hesitation is damnation

Cuz onze ans (11 year old) cousin book inspired so

That the bloodline higher must go.

And it’s funny that’s it jus takes time

Coddled babies spoiled not refined

George called the other day of his denying

Teachin his three of motivation hard work 

Nickel spoons not quite silver

Middle class it’s own place to deliver

Boys n girls starry-eyed n feet a foot too high

See many presents spoil the child

Gold hoops lost before a month styled n strutted.

2009 Beemer, paid and insured

When you ain’t never earned it.

This is “the Ketchup”.

Tomatoes are for marinara, pizza, and salad.

Multi-purposed, like you and I.

Laugh of the Day: Chocolate Milkshake Memory

Today, I got to remembering about two Thursdays ago and how hilarious the random injections of strangers can be!

aight.

Imma set the scene for you: It is the Thursday before I journey to ATL for my very first time going to Clark Atlanta University’s (CAU Panthers Owwww!!) homecoming as an alumna, so you know I’m hype and flustered; trying to make sure I take care of business and everything is straight for my trip. Okay, I’m running, running, running. Leave work bouta half hour early, after making a fly-by night decision to get an oil change. Long story short, I have to go to Wal-Mart Auto. Get there they don’t have my air filter–gotta go buy one–AND get my homegirl to go to Apple in Little Rock cuz I didn’t tell you my iPhone was broke (she had a three-story fall to her death in the stairwell (I don’t want to talk about it lol)). Kool, so now I drive over to Autozone on Main after getting my friend from campus (hey Ayla). By the way, she inadvertently cracked her screen in between me getting off work and getting to her (that’s the Lowball.) Stroll in Autozone like “ay yall have an air filter for a 95 Volvo 940?” Now, enter a travelling Autozone mechanic with freckles, frizzy and balding red hair, and some big ol horn-rimmed glasses. He carrying in whatever, and he says, “Give her the employee discount for me.” The dude handling my purchase (who favored Big Krit) laughed and said, “Aw, this your sister?” Frizzy says, “Now you know I couldn’t have a sister as beautiful as this…maybe a sister from another motha but…” LAUGH #1 I was sure to say “Thank you, that’s sweet” and to Krit, “Make sure you hook me up with that discount…I ain’t playing.” Frizzy sets the box down on the counter, “You know you look like that singer…the one in that dances on the counter.” Me and Krit looking at each other like who? Cuz we both expecting him to say some standard (though fly as fuck) natural celebrity like Erykah Badu, India Arie, Jill Scott, or whoever. Do you know this man turned to me and said “she sings about her milkshake” LAUGH #2 You mean Kelis?!? (Knowing I don’t look like Kelis) He is like, “yeah can you do that dance she does?” (Me thinking: I aint know Kelis had a dance, lemme find out) I say in between dying with laughter, “Naw I cant do Kelis little dance.” Frizzy starts towards the door, then look back telling us,”You know what, I’mma head on to Sonic. I want me a milkshake.” LAUGH #3 Me and Krit are holl’in! Krit gon say “I gotta ask you, bruh, what kinda milkshake u getting?” Frizzy turned around and hollered “Chocolate.” LAUGH #4 I bout died!!!

shoutout to sexy ass Kelis.

and Me (on the left, not looking nothing like Kelis)