Juicy gossip

classyblackgirl.com

Oooo...do I love a good story! Well, as long as the story doesn't hurt someone. But that's what gossip does, right? Someone is harmed. Whether it's the person that you're talking about or yourself or the hearer.

One day when I was about 19 years old, I learned that a good friend of mine was dating a girlfriend of mine. A mutual friend told me about this, but I hadn't confirmed it with the guy friend. She and I sat and mused about why he wouldn't have told me and what the girlfriend had told us about the relationship. Me being me - I called the guy.

"So I hear you and so-and-so went out," I said.

"This is so high school!" he said, obviously annoyed and a bit disappointed that I'd stooped to the level of high school, cafeteria-style gossip.

I called the friend back who told me the original news. "Girl, we were caught up in gossip!" I said.

I hadn't even thought of it as gossip. Neither had she. We both were immediately ashamed.

"Let's look at what the Bible says about this and not do it again." We agreed.

Follow this link to read about the 8 types of gossip and look at Bible verses. In 2017 and beyond let's stay out of gossip!

Merry Christmas!

Neighbors

Kidsville

Conversation with roommate
Me: I don't know any of our neighbors now. What if we had a neighbor get-together?
Her: I don't really care to get to know them. You can do that if you want.
Me: Ok!

I really appreciate having relationships with people. I don't feel like I need to have my neighbors over all the time or have them all in my business. I just want someone who knows that a believer in Christ lives nearby, know a few people who can look out for my apartment when I'm out of town, have someone to shoot the breeze with on summer days, share joys with and quick complaints about management... You know... Just the usual sitcom type of neighbors.

I really love people. I like having deep relationships with a handful of people and then casual, neighborly relationships with hundreds of people from the church secretary to the girls I can occasionally hang out with through Meetup groups...

Well, I did eventually have that neighbor gathering. Only 2 of our neighbors came over, but we had a great time with them! I tell you what: it felt like a meeting of the United Nations. Me (Black American), my roommate (white American), a Vietnamese male neighbor, and a Somalian male neighbor. I don't know why their wives didn't come. We had an interesting conversation about history, culture...and nail salons...yes, our Vietnamese neighbor owns a nail salon and yes, my roommate wanted to get her nails done!

This was a good exercise in Christian hospitality.

"You can't even believe what you see"

"Sometimes, you can't even believe what you see", my mama said.

"Huh?", I asked, puzzled. How can you not believe what you see? If you see something, then duhhh...

Example: local election: I saw the results at about 10:11 and figured it was over. I woke up and it was exactly different.

Example 2: A lady saw a man and a woman together often talking and laughing at church. She thought they were dating. She later found out that they were brother and sister.

Sometimes you can't even believe what you see.

In times like these, I'm reminded that the One that I can't see is the One that I can trust and believe.

"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 NLT

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation" Colossians 1:15

Ya know... Things like that :) Praise the Lord!

This is Us

nbc.com

Have you seen this show?!! I love it!

The older I get, the more I enjoy entertainment that is real, complicated, and tells a good story. I'm alllll about a good story. With that, I have been lovin' the new NBC comedy-drama, "This is Us". It's about a white family who adopts a black son to replace the triplet they lost. They end up with a daughter who struggles with her weight, a son who is a B-list actor, and a son who has a high-paying job that no one really understands in addition to a wife and 3 kids. I won't spoil the show for you, but it is amazingly well-done. It covers themes of love, family, race, and life oh-so-well.

Check it out on Tuesday nights on NBC!

Why I have to study Spanish

blackgirllatinworld.com

"Promise Auntie one thing... That you'll learn another language. It's the way our country is going. Believe now; I'm telling you the truth."

These words from my aunt have been gently nudging me. "Is that You, Lord?"

I've been studying Spanish on and off for the last 14 years...and I'm still not fluent. Shameful, I know. And I'm so afraid.

Afraid of failing. Lazy and afraid to mess up during practice.

But that is coming to an end. I HAVE to study Spanish. Looking at projections, Spanish is/will be the 2nd most spoken language in the United States. It's a beautiful language! Here are my other reasons though:

1. I like when I'm able to communicate with people in their native language.
2. I like the way that it surprises people when a black girl with a clearly Southern accent (proving she's not "Dominican") starts speaking Spanish.
3. I like to show off...so I like the effects of #2.
4. This will open up my travel and employment opportunities.
5. Maybe I'll marry a Latino and have bilingual babies! Speaking the language will help me converse with family members who may not speak English.

What I learned from dancing pt. 2

Pinterest.com

Happy early Thanksgiving!

The guy that I danced with the most that night was probably at least 25 years older than me but a good dancer. We danced with a space in between and he turned me (not spins he said...) so many times that at one point I was dizzy. It was fun though! I followed him and this other guy so easily too because they were really patient in helping me learn.

Ok so back to the previous story...So Mr. Watch extended his hand, and I took it. I tried to tell him that I wasn't a dancer and that this was my first night there, but he didn't seem to mind.

Him: "Just follow my lead."
Me: "Ok, I'll try."

I looked down at his feet to try to keep up. Then, I think I stepped on his feet.

Me: "Sorry! I told you I'm learning. Thanks for being patient."
Him: "You have some control issues, don't you?"
Me: "I'm trying to learn. I'm trying."
Him: "Well, just follow my lead."
Me: "I have the same conversation with the Lord."
Him: "I'm not even gonna touch that."
Me: "Just being honest. I'm trying."

So I decided to stop trying to figure it out, leaned into his chest, and followed his lead. It was beautiful...

Until I tried to figure out how in the world this was happening and looked down at his feet.

Me: "Oops! Sorry!" I said as I stepped on his feet again.

After that dance, I went back to my seat before another man approached me to dance, and I learned all about his job and how long we both lived in the area.

Later, Mr. Watch came back and we danced again.

So what else did I learn? I learned that just like dancing, when I try to figure out how things are going to work out and rely on myself, I mess up. When I depend on the Lord and follow His lead, things might not always flow smoothly, but He takes care of me. He's so patient and kind, guiding me back to where I need to be, chastising me when I'm wrong, but always loving. Sometimes I kind of glide along, and I wonder how things worked out so well and it's...beautiful.

Amen.

What I learned from dancing pt. 1

Pinterest.com

When it comes to dancing, I'm like a dance-in-my-living-room-dance-off-with-my-brother-line-dancing-church-"chouting"-type of dancer. And should I mention love line dancing again??? I love line dancing.

Anyway, last night, I went to a dance class with one of my friends from church. The big emphasis was on salsa dancing later that night while we learned some other dance earlier in the night. I was really nervous about the class because I don't really like the whole "dance with a partner" because I haven't been good at it up until this point in my life. I really haven't practiced or done this type of dancing much either...

I really like experiencing new things so that I can have a good story afterward, and I wanted to spend time with my friend...so I went with her to the class. I stepped on a few feet while dancing with the men there, but they were all very gracious. First lesson learned: When you take a risk to do something outside of your comfort zone, there will be nice people to keep you encouraged.

I went to sit down for a minute and struck up a conversation with the guy next to me...

Me: "You dance?"
Him: "I'm fixing my watch".
Me: "So you don't dance." (as a definitive statement not as a question).

My friend walked up. I told her that he didn't dance and that he was "fixing his watch". He cut his eyes at me, and I smiled at him, amused at my own joke.

He got up and took my friend out on the dance floor while another man grabbed me. I sat back down again right after that dance and "Mr. Watch" came back over and said something to the effect of, "Alright, let's go," and extended his hand...

How I saved $1,000 this year pt. 2

Marketwatch.com

...So I took the Financial Peace University class with a girl I knew from my church. It was challenging, inspiring, and pretty fun! We took it at another church because their class schedule worked well for us. We learned the tools that we needed to be think about money God's way including how to:

- set a budget and stick to it
- get out of debt
- save for emergencies and other important purchases,
- invest, and
- give.

The class just really helped me to think outside of my box of how money works and to see possibilities that I never thought of. I learned how to do more with less money in my pocket while saving more in a higher interest savings account. This has been both challenging and awesome! It took a whole lotta discipline and accountability. I now meet with the girl from my church once a month to go over our budgets, goals, exciting money updates, and bitter money failures.

During that class and in the months following, I paid off over $4,000 of debt, completely taking me out of debt. I saved $1,000 for emergencies, then used the money and had to build back up over $1,000 this year.

Now, here's how I saved the $1,000:

I set a budget and have limited the amount of cash (yes, cash) that I can use each month to buy groceries, eat out, hang out with friends, get my hair done, etc...and I've stuck to it for several months. A few slip ups here and there, but I get right back on the bus. I also put aside enough money each month to saved $1,000 this year. By doing that, I've come to the end of the year with over $1,000 in savings, instead of coming to the end of the year with nothing to show for it as I used to! I have also saved for vacation!

Have you taken Financial Peace University? You should check it out! It's a great class (other people are talking about as well!) that I'm sure will change your life, too! Tell 'em I sent you!

How I saved $1,000 this year pt. 1

MarketWatch.com

At the end of 2014, I was in quite a bit of personal debt. I'd started trying to keep up with the Joneses on a non-profit salary. I wasn't saving money and was giving money away. I had no idea how much money I was really spending except I watched my bank account closely enough to know that I wasn't overdrafting.

I had a lot of credit cards. I would open an account in a second just to get the discount for applying or the reward that was promised. Not paying off the balance each month sure added a lot of fees. If I had a car repair or some unforeseen expense, I'd charge it.

For a co-worker and I, this was the first time that we'd made "this much" money. She pitched the idea of us making budgets and holding ourselves accountable. Sounded good but I was lazy about tracking my spending and was not up to speed on Smart phones or apps at that time... Still not too technologically savvy now.

I kept hearing about Dave Ramsey and this "Financial Peace University" class. My roommate encouraged me to take it because she took it and it really changed the way she started to relate to/with money.
Since she offered to let me use her book and materials, the class would be free for me...

Getting healthy before the doctor appointment

Slimfast.com

One day I ran into my grandma at the grocery store.

Even though she only lived across town, I didn't spend much time with her aside from family gatherings. This all changed during my senior year of high school when I started going to visit my grandparents every week. But anyway... Back to the story...

Loose recap..
Grandma: "I gotta get some celery and boil it and drink the water I boil it in every day for the next week."
Me: "Why?" My curiosity at work..
Grandma: "I'm going to the doctor next week."

I immediately busted out laughing at the idea of trying to "get healthy" before going to the doctor. But now... The struggle is real!

I've been under quite a bit of stress at work, gained 7 lbs, and my face broke out in some acne that I haven't been able to get rid of in the last month. I'm bout to buy some Slim Fast and drink more water before my doctor's appointment at the end of the month. I have to get it together before then!

It tickles me that we often look for a quick fix in life. Hard work? Stress? Who needs it? Ain nobody got time fa dat! But the Lord uses the hard times, the stressful moments, and the tight timeframes to work in us to produce character, perseverance, hope, dependence, and trust in Him. So I'll go through the hard times to get to the glory...

I'm still bout to buy this Slim Fast though!

Dreamin'

So I'm still in my fabulous hair phase. I've been so busy/occupied that I haven't given myself time to dream and reflect. I read that some of the most successful (?) people reflect and read...a lot.

As I reflect now, I'm thinking about things that I'm thankful for:

1. Jesus
2. Good health
3. Loving family
4. A job where I can live out my values
5. Fun friends
6. This warm weather
7. A dependable car
8. My brown skin and rich heritage
9. Money
10. Dreams
11. A safe community
12. Living near a pond with a fountain
13. The kids of my friends
14. Books
15. Free movies
16. Free food...ok basically free anything-that-I-want-or-need
17. Oh yeah, includes Cato gift cards (I love that store!)
18. The activity of my limbs
19. Vacation
20. Facebook (so I can keep up with friends...and be nosy)
21. Men
22. Game nights
23. Adventures
24. Music
25. This blog

The list could go on. What are you thankful for?

Update on my struggles: Part 4



amybayliss.com

Reading the Word. So a whileeee ago, I wrote about struggling to read the Word. Then I got better at it, but didn't give an update! I was doing pretty well I thought until recently. Days would go by when I wouldn't pick up my Bible at all. It was beginning to show in my thought life. I found myself having to work extra hard to keep from snapping at someone but in my head I would be tearing them up!

Finally, I grabbed a hold of myself and made myself pick up my Bible! I have missed a day here and there, but I am definitely not where I was. I used to read my Bible everyday and I have found myself missing the Lord. I'll keep working to get back to where I was and to excel that so that I can please the Lord.

Read yo' Bible!

I was in a pageant

Ignore the flammable box and chemicals in the background 

I never thought this would be a part of my story...but it is.

Growing up, I had a cousin who was really into pageants. She was good at hair and makeup and loved competing.

I, on the other hand, couldn't tell you the difference between bronzer and blush...Anyway, one day, I entered a cash drawing sponsored by the Miss America pageant. Unbeknownst to me, I'd entered as a contestant! The "cash" was just a discount for the competition. Mercy! I was bummed.

And no, I did not go through with that and actually enter the competition. However, for some reason, I couldn't get doggone pageants outta my head! I started looking for local pageants and found one that benefits a local charity that I love!

I didn't win, but it was fun. Everyone walked away with something and I basically got a trophy and tiara that were more like an honorable mention. Ha-ha-ha.

During the whole thing, I was pretty disgusted that women my age (late 20s) subjected themselves (ok, ourselves) to being judged on how we looked in gowns and other attire. BUT, all of them were so encouraging of each other, cheering each other on! We all had different talents, personalities, and outward appearances, but that didn't matter.

Reminds me of how we should be in the Body of Christ. Cheering each other on, encouraging one another, praying for each other, and spurring each other on to good works.

My first and last pageant was memorable in more ways than I thought possible.

Just being honest

Thinking I was cute

For some reason, I've become a consumer of hair. So far, this has only affected me during the last two summers. One of my excuses for this is that I'm growing my hair out. While this is true, I'm also loving how I can change up my look by simply adding new tresses.

I still want to be a good steward of my finances because I have a set amount of money that I can use toward this reach month per my budget (I give a lot to charity and I also want to retire someday and have dinero saved for emergencies, ya feel me?) I want God to be pleased even in the way that I spend the money that He so graciously gives me. So pray for ya girl to steward her money well and not get caught up in being so fabulous.

#BlackLivesMatter

A lot of adjectives describe me:

Christian, silly, fun, laid back, thick, go-getter.

Oh yeah.

And black.

Every day that I look into the mirror, I'm reminded that I'm black. 

I love being black. 

Now, when I turn on the news, look at social media, or walk past a newsstand, I am reminded that I'm black.

Long live the memories of the black people who lost their lives at the hands of police and the white officers who have lost their lives at the hands of hurting black people.

#BlackLivesMatter

Wanting to give up

My current job is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. 

There are so many people who are hurting and need our help. Many times, "those people" are ourselves. When you are fighting for things to change so that people are no longer treated as "throwaways" the dominant culture doesn't usually change and do the right thing overnight. 

I have wanted to give up so many times. Part of me doesn’t understand why I just haven’t quit. Another part of me knows that I have stubborn, dogged, determination. I don’t want my stubbornness to drag my organization down though. 

I’m so stressed and tired and want to just give up and let "Pharaoh" win. I can better understand why the Israelites groaned and complained and figured it would have been easier to stay slaves in Egypt – at least they knew what to expect being a slave. They knew the ups and downs and what it would take to get by. Going through the wilderness to get to a land that’s promised to you is hard when you can’t see past the day-to-day. 

Oh, but when I look beyond my current circumstances, I can see the land that flows with milk and honey! When I can believe without a shadow of a doubt that the same God who brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand will bring us into the promised land no matter what the naysayers are saying, have said, keep saying…when I can look to the hills from where my help comes from, when I can hold to God’s unchanging hand and His promises and when I know that I know that I KNOW that He’s gonna work it out no matter what it looks like, no matter what it feels like...then and only then will I be able to lead the people there!!!!

People matter to God

I read part of a book entitled, A Life that Matters by Ron Hutchcraft. It's a great book on evangelism. With all the thoughts running through my head on the lives of Black men murdered by police and the lives of police officers lost due to retaliation on this thing...my heart hurts. I'm definitely on the side of #BlackLivesMatter. We have to pray, and we have to act. God has given us all that we need to do both. We have to hold our leaders accountable to changing the systemic injustice within the police culture. We have to pray for God to change attitudes, hearts, and minds. We also must communicate and work towards bringing people together. 

This brings me to a point that Ron Hutchcraft made in his book...and one that I keep in mind as I tell people of God's glorious Gospel and share how God wants us to fight against injustice...One thing that I've found to be true...

Scooped from gracelife.com

Why I love to talk about race

Aarp.org

As a Black Southern person (yes I do consider myself to be "Black" first then "Southern"), I love talking about race because so many people try to avoid it like there is no such thing as "race" or that people are "color blind". I know for a fact that people who were not born "color blind" can indeed see the color of my skin whether they claim to care about the color or not.

It's funny to me when people believe that racism is dead. Ever since I was a kid my father taught me that people may mistreat us, or treat us differently, because of our skin color. I've seen this to be true from the classroom to the board room. Not just towards African Americans but to other people of color.

When thinking about the ugliness of racism I have to remember God's grace, mercy, and ministry of reconciliation. It is because of Jesus that any of us can experience these treasures from the Lord and overcome the sin around us.

For discussions of race from a Christian perspective, check out The Crocker Chronicles, a great blog that explores the topic at length.

Later days! And Happy Memorial Day!

Prayer journal

Over the past year I started more regularly keeping a prayer journal. I had heard yearssss ago that it was a great way to keep track of your prayers and when they were answered. I'm lazy and a procrastinator about many things... this was no different.

About 3 years ago a good friend of mine challenged me to step up my "prayer life". At first I was insulted. We barely knew each other at that point and I thought, "How DARE he?! I PRAY! How you gon' challenge me to step up my prayer life?!" I led the prayer team in a ministry I was a part of years earlier. However, I hadn't been praying as much as I should have around the time my friend put forth his appeal. Truth be told, the Holy Spirit had been nudging me to pray more so I knew that this guy was on point. I pushed pride out of the way and brought my flesh under subjection.

I went to a prayer conference at my church the following year and won a journal as a door prize. I figured I might as well turn it into a prayer journal. I wrote very little in it that year (2014). By 2015... told you I was a procrastinator... I had started to mark that puppy up as I saw how the Lord was answering my prayers! The more He answered and I wrote it down, the more I wanted to pray!

You see, it wasn't that the Lord only answered when I wrote them down; it was that I had a record of His work in my life that I could refer to. And don't be fooled; not every prayer got a "yes". Some got a "no" and I was a little disappointed but glad to hear from the Lord.

As I began to check off answered prayers, I grew excited about the work He was doing that was exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ask or think!

Do you keep a prayer journal?

She had a birfday!!

My roommate had a birfday, y'all! Check out this cake! I wanted to get her something fabulous for the big day so we did this! Well, almost this. It was basically this cake minus the bust in the top right corner.

It's cool to be able to afford to celebrate the people that you care about while they still have breath in their bodies. Grateful to God for this woman!

I luh Canada

www.wordans.ca

So there are a few places that are dear to my heart: my hometown, any library, a Bible-teaching church, and...Canada. Lord, have mercy! I luh me some Canada. I've only been once...and it was only for a few hours, but I love the place!

There is something very exhilarating for me about traveling to another country. My passport opens doors that my mind has only dreamed of and my eyes have only seen in pictures and videos. It gives me a chance to experience another culture and to make memories that will last a lifetime! God's creation is beautiful - from the people He made to the cultures He gave them the imaginations to create.

Looking forward to my next trip to Canada!

In honor of little black girls

From Mary Hoffman's book Amazing Grace

"That nappy hair."

"That dark skin."

"That big nose."

"Those big lips."

If you are a black kid, you've probably heard hurtful words like these.

I remember being 10 years old. It was an odd time. I was still a kid, but I was in the double digit years for the first time. I was the plump, too-tall-to-be-10 kid. I loved reading and excelled in school, but I didn't feel like I really fit in. I wanted to be a Latina with dark, straight hair. Why a Latina? Well, I couldn't be white and didn't want to be white. Mind you, I didn't know any Latinos, but I was in Spanish club in about 3rd grade, and I had a Cabbage Patch doll that I thought was black due to her caramel-colored skin that matched mine...but when I popped in the CD-rom to register my doll, I found out she was a Latina. Welppp, that's what I wanted to be, too, because I wanted to experience what it would be like to not be black.

As a concerned auntie, I've been thinking about how to encourage my oldest niece and promote healthy self-esteem. For Harriet compiled an amazing list of 25 Empowering Books for Little Black Girls. While she is 10 years old and in this "tween" stage, I still think that several of these books will be helpful in opening her eyes to see herself as a person with a rich heritage and limitless possibilities.

As I got older, I began to understand that God created me and that everything that He created in the first 6 days of Earth, He declared "good". I understood that God loves me so much, that He wants me to not have to be separated from Him. He took measures to ensure that I have an opportunity to experience and know Him and His love, abundance, hope, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. What a good God! I want my niece to understand these things now, in her younger years, so that she can spread God's story to others so that they, and she, might experience the same. And change the narrative to...

"That lovely tightly coiled hair. Look at bounce!"

"That beautiful mocha colored skin. Sweet!"

"That strong nose."

"Those delightful lips that only people from a rich continent and history of being survivors."

Why I love the Rachel Dolezal story

cnn.com

She seems to have more black pride than some black people! I just get up everyday and know that I'm black and keep it moving. She proved that she "is" black.

And I must say that I loved the #askRachel nonsense on social media. Got my laughs in! With all that being said, pray for Rachel! We all need prayer. Don't point fingers at her.

Alright, one for the road though...

socialmedia

Happy Black History Month!

Happy Black History Month!

NPR.org

I would be wrong if I didn't give a shout out to Black History Month! I'm really excited about it this year. I don't know why but it just seems like this year I'm really proud of who I am and where I come from.

My Southern history is filled with ugly, horrendous stories of mistreatment and injustice. Thanks be to God that things have changed soooo much!!!

There is also a lot of beauty and wonder in black history. One of my favorite black facts is about Rosa Parks. Did you know she wasn't the first black woman not to give up her seat in order to fight for change? Before Rosa Parks there was Claudette Colvin. Ms. Parks was a part of a well organized plan that forever changed history. She was well-known and well-respected. Check out Ms. Colvin's story!

Ready for summer

Marksanborn.com

A rabbi, a Black baptist minister, and a
priest walk into the room...sounds like the beginning of a good joke right?

Well, I'll tell you what's no joke. I am ready for summer! For the beach and feeling the sand between my toes. Whew! Thank God for creating all that ocean for me to stare at and "get lost" in.

God's creation is really beautiful, isn't it? And to think He made all of this in 6 days (read the book of Genesis). On the 7th day, He rested! That's what I'm tryna do this summer! I'm not God so I'll be taking more than "one day" off!

I'm looking forward to taking long walks in the evenings, cookouts, lounging by the pool with my feet in the water, eating fresh watermelon, going to the outdoor Farmer's market, and drawing on the sidewalk with the kids. What are you most looking forward to this summer?

He is too good fa dat!

youramazingplaces.com

God is great, and He is worthy of ALLLLLL our praise! Things in life are not always great or fun but I know that as long as I'm trusting in Him, it will all be ok...even if not until the end.

I've found myself in a complaining mood when I'm supposed to have an attitude of gratitude! Instead of complaining think of something to be thankful for and say that aloud instead!

I'm also believing that God will do some awesome things with work I'm doing in my community. I am banging on heaven's door like the persistent widow in Luke 18. He is too gracious for my murmuring and complaining! I'm gonna trust Him because He's done great things, and I know He ain through yet!!!

My babies!

Click here to order (redbubble.com)

So I've wanted to be "the cool auntie" for a long time. I finally have gotten my opportunity! No, I don't have a sister or sister-in-law who has kids. Over the last two years, I've gotten a chance to be a part of a family that I started out "serving". Now, they might as well be like "blood family".

I never knew you could fall so in love with someone else's kids! We've gone to the movies, shopping, out to eat, to the park, had sleepovers, done crafts, and much more!

One thing that I used to do when I first started to babysit them was to read a children's book entitled, The Jesus Storybook Bible . It's a wonderful book of Bible stories! They loved it! I need to start taking it again if I ever watch them again as a way to teach them about Jesus. I pray that they would come to accept Christ early in life and be powerful witnesses for Him!
Are you a cool auntie? What do you do with your nieces and nephews?

Update on my struggles: Part 4

msny.org

"Wow" is an understatement. I have really been out of the loop and I've missed blogging! It's such a great outlet!

I decided to pick up where I left off *cough* two years ago *cough*. Remember that guy I wrote about that I wasn't sure what was gonna happen with? Well, after both of us spent many days in prayer, the Lord told us that we couldn't be together. It was really painful, but we made it through and were committed to being friends until he started to date the woman that he believed would be his wife.

Had we not spent so much time in prayer, we might not have made a wise decision. We wanted to get married, but before we even started dating, we took this matter to the Lord and boy did He answer! And God even used that man to challenge me in my "prayer life". I'll probably never forget how offended I was when he challenged me on this, but I was sure that the Lord was speaking through him because I had sensed that God was pressing me to pray more. To give my cares, worries, and desires to Him. To pray like the persistent widow in Luke 18 and watch him work.

I'm embarrassed to say that I have finally just started to do this in the last year. Let's watch God work!