OVERCOME LIFE CHALLENGES...

1. Seek a partner you can be yourself with and is easy to be close to . In other words, you don’t have to walk on eggshells with him or her. You feel safe in the relationship and free to express your thoughts, feelings, and desires openly without fear of rejection. 2. Set an expectation of mutual respect . You can accept, admire, and respect each other for who you are. If you don’t have respect for your partner, it will eat away at chemistry until you have nothing left.  But if he or she values you, gives you compliments, and encourages you to do things that are in your best interest, your partner will be a boost to your self-esteem. 3. Don’t compromise your values . Figure out your core beliefs and stand by them. Ask for what you need and speak up when something bothers you. 4. Be more assertive in relationships.  If you want to form a new relationship based on trust you need to speak up when you have a concern or a request. Dating can help you learn what your non-negotia

It’s tempting to stay and try to fix it. But sometimes, leaving is the only option. During most of my early dating years, I was drawn to guys who treated me badly and learned to settle for less than I deserved from relationships. Truth be told, my divorce was the catalyst that showed me that I was attracting partners who were at a similar level of woundedness and didn’t know how to go about attracting a healthy, loving partner. You may be at risk for toxic relationships if you become so absorbed in your partner’s problems you don’t often have time to identify, or solve, your own. Or, you care so deeply about your partner that you’ve lost track of your own needs. Growing up, were you often in a caretaker role with one or both parents or your siblings? Are you a people pleaser who feels that you have to be in a good mood or positive when you are with your friends, family, or an intimate partner? If you have this tendency, you may find setting limits hard and  have trouble

Do you realize we are  A Blessed People? No matter what we see on television or read in the paper, we are   A  Blessed People! No matter what the stereotypes and statistics say, we are A  Blessed People! Even when people turn their backs on us, we are   A  Blessed People! In spite of the trials and tribulations we face in life, we are  A  Blessed People! In spite of all the negative rumors you heard against you, we are   A  Blessed People! Even when your current situation does not compliment the promise God made you, we are  A  Blessed People! When it seems as if you have more going against you than for you, we are   A  Blessed People! When people laugh in your face and mock your belief in God, we are  A  Blessed People! When no one believes in your vision, we are  A  Blessed People! When your flesh desires to quit but your spirit will not give up, we are  A  Blessed People! When people walk away during the lowest points of your life

 In spite of how bad things may have been in your life, it is great to be a child of God.  Even when there appears to be more problems than solutions, more questions than answers and more tears than smiles, its still great to be a child of God.  No more what other people say or think about you and your personal walk with the Lord, it is great to be a child of God.  So often in life we define how blessed we are by the materialistic possessions we enjoy each day.  The more we have, the more blessed we think we are.  To the contrary, the reason we are blessed is not because we have many things.  No, no, no!  We are blessed because of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  The things come as a result of our relationship with Jesus. This morning, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you.  My friend,  Do Not Be Fooled By Things!    Today you can have many things and tomorrow you could be begging.  Today you can be driving the best, but tomorrow you could be hoping to ca

My brother, my sister, when you pray do you believe God is able to do what it is you stand in need of?  Do you believe the Lord can handle whatever you bring to Him?  Do you believe He can do anything but fail?  Are your prayers spent telling God about your problems or praising Him for His power?  Do you find yourself crying about matters that the Lord said He would take care of in due time?  Do you often doubt God hears your prayers?  Do you wonder if God has forgotten about you?  Do you sometimes feel as if everything around you is chaotic?  Sometimes, do you think one more bad report will push you over the edge? Beloved, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this morning’s devotional is for you.  I have been sent to remind you of two important things: When You Pray  always acknowledge that you are talking to God ( Genesis 18:14 ); and When You Pray  always close in the name of Jesus ( Acts 4:12 ). When you acknowledge that you are talking to God, you are sending a

1. Point of all this - Romantic love not from Hallmark, Hollywood, etc. a. In fact they usually distort it b. True love, even romantic love, not of this world 2. Romantic love, and every other kind of true love, comes from God a. Need to discard the idea that romantic love is worldly b. Romantic love is of God too 3. Christians are not frigid prudes that do not know what romance is a. Christians are passionate people full of life from the giver of life b. So remember this at anniversaries, birthdays, valentines, every day... c. We serve a God full of passionate love d. Nothing is more godly that displaying God's passionate love to the one whom your soul loves 4. Want to conclude with a story from the newspapers a few years ago a. Early in 2005, John Phipps got called to work early. He boarded a train to work and went to sleep. He was jerked awake and saw smashed bits of train all over the place and a mist falling on his face. It dawned in

True love does not come from Hallmark, Hollywood, or anything else from this world. It comes from the God who expresses his undying love for us in terms of betrothal and marriage that weathers all kinds of storms. Therefore, true love, even romantic love, is a beautiful reflection of the God who created and demonstrates it. Know: Love, even romantic love as demonstrated in scripture, is not worldly but godly and reflects God's character Feel: Love for God and to others Do: Discuss the nature of God's Love, particularly how it informs marital and familial love, and contrast it to the world's view of love in these areas. Identify the ways God's love is demonstrated in your life and the areas were it needs to be seen in a greater way. List the challenges in your life to loving as God loves and commit to ways to strengthen to love of God in your character. Text: Eph 5:25-32 Scripture Reading: Hos 2:14-16 Intro: 1. Valentine's Day is upon us y

Have you ever found yourself in a position where everything you planned fell apart?  You had everything in order and organized accordingly, but one bad report or one bad phone call threw everything out of place.  Unforeseen and unexpected, but it happened.  Have you ever planned for the future but something so tragic occurred that threatened your previous plans?  What you prepared for and what actually happened were two different scenarios.  Have you ever shared beautiful wedding vows with the person of your dreams only to later find yourself at the point of divorce because the vows have not been upheld?  The words sounded so good to your ears but the actions and promises never followed.  Have you ever wondered if things would get better? This morning, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you.  My friend, what do you do  When Life Disappoints You?   How do you handle the hurdles and obstacles, which come with life?  Do you give up and surrender or do you stand still

It’s a wonderful day to be a child of God.  Have you ever had friends you thought would always be there for you, but at the first sight of tragedy they vacated the premises?  One day they’re right beside you, but the very next day they’re no where to be found.  One day you’re sitting around planning your futures, but the next day their plans exclude you.  Have you ever shared your personal life stories with a family member or friend only to later hear your business all over the church, the job, the neighborhood and/or the beauty shop (barber shop)?  You specifically asked that no one tell this information to anyone else.  Now you are in a position where everyone knows your inner feelings.  Have you ever been there?  Are you there now? This morning, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you.  My friend, what do you do  When People Disappoint You?   How do you handle the times when the people you trusted the most turn their back on you?  How do you recover from bruises an

x It’s a wonderful day to be a child of God.  Have you ever suffered tragedy within your family?  Maybe someone close to you passed away or a close friend betrayed your trust.  Have you ever had life hit you with something unexpected?  Out of no where, things began to go from bad to worse.  The plans you made were put on hold because an unforeseen circumstance required immediate intervention.  Have you ever watched someone you love fight for their life?  With your own eyes, you watched as this person fought for every breath they took.  You watched as this person, whom you loved, suffered and there was nothing you could do about it.  Have you ever been mad at yourself because you wanted to do more but there was nothing else to be done?  You did all you could possibly think of but things still did not change. O ften times life catches us off guard with situations we were not prepared for.  While things appear under control, to our surprise one phone call, one doctor’s visit, one

I t’s a wonderful day to be a child of God.  This morning, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you.  My brother, my sister,  God Has Not Forgotten About You!   I do not know what you are dealing with this morning.  I do not know what dilemma you find yourself faced with today.  I do not know what obstacles stand in your way.  I do not know what mountain stands between you and the promise God made to you.  I do not know what you have lost along this journey.  I do not know the nights you walked the floors with tears running down your face.  I do not know how many people walked away from you.  I do not know what mistakes you have made along the way. Beloved, while I do not know these things, here’s what I do know.  I know God loves you.  I know God gave His only begotten Son for you. I know God has a specific plan for your life.  I know God has called you for such a time as this.  I know God is orchestrating the events of your life.  I know your latter days will be grea

Terry Crews is a successful man: former NFL player, television star, person of seemingly impossible muscle density. But Crews is unusual for another reason: in a sexualized culture, he spoke up not long ago about the harm caused by his pornography addiction. “Every time I watched it, I was walled off,” Crews confessed in a video posted online. “It was like another brick that came between me and my wife.” Crews’s testimony caused a strong reaction on social media. Many noted the destructive personal effects of pornography, effects that cannot be denied. But there is a greater dimension to pornography’s destructiveness. Even free porn comes at an excruciatingly high cost. Beyond severe psychological and social consequences, pornography hinders Jesus’s mission in the world. Here are three ways this takes place, with a word of hope for sinners like us. 1. Pornography hinders the mission of God in our own lives. God has much work he wants to do through his people. He does not emplo

During World War II, Nazi Germany dropped pornographic pamphlets from the sky over enemy territory. The reason: to distract the soldiers minds with fascinations causing them to ignore the front line. This has been the strategy of porn from its inception; while we fight the diversionary tactic of pornography, the enemy rolls in behind our backs and destroys our homes. It is time to change our battle plan. Imagine conquering an entire nation in less than sixty years by simply planting a destructive seed in the minds of a few men and watching it spread to the masses. That is what Satan did through the likes of Hugh Heffner and Bob Guccione in the 50s when Playboy and Penthouse became nationally distributed magazines. Over the years, images of nude women and men engaged in sexual acts have jumped from the pages of embarrassing to purchase magazines to the privacy of our own personal computer screens. Today, US porn revenue exceeds the revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC combined and contra