Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

I have found myself coming into contact with a lot of women complaining about their bodies and what they do or do not have. I watch shows on t.v. like "How to look good naked" or "How do I look?" that promote women to looking better on the inside and outside. I went to their websites and read some of the comments and to be truthfully honest, I felt sadness overtake me. Some women downright hated the way their body looked. They have husbands whom they will not take their clothes off in front of. Some refuse to look in the mirror because it is a source of self-hatred. Some women blame their kids because of the stretch marks or weight they have gained. I see real life women hiding their beauty underneath big clothes, frumpy frocks, outlandish makeup, or just slumped in depression. I noticed that a lot of women tend to focus on what is wrong with them instead of what is right with them.

We are women! We are supposed to be different! Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Some of us are tall, some short. Some of us are thin, some big. Some of us are flat chested, big breasted to no butt or big butt. Some have long hair, short hair, blonde hair, black hair. We have small feet to big feet or a well toned body to a jell-o mold. Whatever you look like, embrace it. Love it. Dress it. Caress it. Cuddle it. Squeeze it. Hold it. Stop comparing yourself to other women or magazines. It is called airbrushing (technology to make flaws disappear only in print). You can get those improvements too if you were on the cover of a national magazine. Look at yourself in the mirror and smile. Show off! Tell yourself everyday that "Damn, I look good!" Hold your head up when you walk. Strut your stuff. Exude confidence in yourself to where others will take notice. What matters most is how you see yourself. It doesn't take a lot of money to build up your outer appearance. A few key pieces in your wardrobe and a new hair cut can make the world of difference. A crisp white shirt and some nice fitting black pants and shoes can make you look like a new woman. Watch and see how your attitude begins to change. When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do good.

Don't get me wrong, outer image is not all of the solution. Women have got to work on the inside as well as the outside. I just want women to know that you don't have to look broke even if you are broke. Don't dress that part and feel sorry for yourself. No pity parties allowed! Dress the part of knowing that God will come through. Dress the part of God's blessings in your life. Dress up like you know God is up to something. Dress for expectation. Dress for motivation. Dress for inspiration. Just Dress It!!!

Lyrics to "Work That" by Mary J Blige :

Work your thing out (out, out) [x4]

Cause so many you girls

I hear you been running

From the beautiful queen that you can be becommin

You can look in my palm and see the storm coming

Read the book of my life and see of overcomming

Just because the length of your hair ain't long

And they often criticize you for your skin tone

Wanna hold your head high cause you a pretty woman

Get your front way stride home and keep it going

Girl, live your life

I just wanna be myself

Don't sweat girl be yourself

Follow me, follow me, follow me

Girl be yourself

Guess what I'll be myself

(And I grew to love it)

(Work your thing out...)

Let em get mad

They're gonna hate any weight

Don't you get that

Doesn't matter if you go along with their plan

They'll never be happy

Cause they're not happy with themselves

(I am. work what you got...)

I'm talking about things that I know

(I am. work what you got...)

It's okay show yourself some love

(I am. work what you got...)

Don't worry about who's saying what

(It's gonna be fine work what you got)

Work what you got

Feeling great because the light's on me

Celebrating the things that everyone told me

Would never happen but

God has put his hands on me

And ain't a man alive could ever take it from me

Workin with what I got I gotta

Keep on taking care of myself

I wanna live long

Ain't never ashamed what life did to me

Wasn't afraid to change

Cause it was good for me

I wanna

(I just wanna be myself)

I just wanna be

(don't sweat girl be yourself)

Don't sweat girl

(Follow me, follow me, follow me I be myself)

Follow me follow me

(Guess what I'll be myself)

(And I grew to love it)

(Work your thing out)

Let em get mad

They gonna hate any weight

Don't you get that

Doesn't matter if you go along with their plan

They'll never be happy

Cause their not happy with themselves

(I am. work what you got...)

I'm talking about things that I know

(I am. work what you got...)

It's okay show yourself some love

(I am. Work what you got)

Don't worry about who's saying what

(It's gonna be fine work what you got)

Work what you got

(Work that, work that, work that, don't' hold back just be yourself)

Work that work that

Work that work that don't hold back

Oooh Work you head girl(work you thing out)

Work that job girl

Work what you got

(I am. work what you got...)

I'm talking about things that I know

(I am. work what you got...)

It's okay show yourself some love

(I am. Work what you got)

Don't worry about who's saying what

(It's gonna be fine work what you got)

Work what you got

(work that work that work that don't hold back just be yourself)

Work it out work it out ladies

Work that work that

Work that work that don't hold back

(Work your thing out)

Oooh Work what you got

Confirmation!

Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns -- October 17, 2008:
Make a concerted effort to turn your focus from politics, economy and world events to seek My face, says the Lord. All of these concerns will steal your joy and peace. Do you not know that I alone am in charge of your world? And, I will bring to pass everything that is necessary to establish My kingdom in the earth. My government and authority are above all that you can conceive of in the natural realm. So, I say, shift your focus upward and trust that My order is being established.
Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In Times of Trouble

Matthew 9:29...“According to your faith let it be to you.”

As I watch t.v., read the news, and listen to friends talk about what the world is going through today, I get a sense of minimal faith. Now with the economy, the war, the personal struggles within each one of us, it comes a time when we need to look at our faith. Yes, I see everything that is going on around me but I can't and won't let that shake me. Focusing on the negative only brings about fear and God definitely is not the creator of it. Our trust should not be in the president or the government but in our God who continues to show us his everlasting love. When the attacks of the enemy emerge, we are to seek God's help and believe that God will bring us through it.

As I read the story of the Canaanite woman and her faith to press towards Jesus to heal her daughter of demon possession (Matthew 15:21-28), I know that's what we need to do. She didn't let the disciples deter her from her mission. She knew in her heart that Jesus was the only one that could help her. She persisted and when she faced Jesus, He tested her faith. That obstacle didn't stop her either. She was determined to have Jesus heal her daughter. This is the type of faith that we need to illustrate when the obstacles of life start to weigh us down. We have to place our trust in Christ. We cannot give up, turn around or turn away from it.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It is an act towards our future. Although we are losing money, loved ones, houses, and a sense of commitment from others, we must not lose our faith. This is our test. This is our time to go to God and really surrender our life and our sins and diligently seek Him. If you look at notable women in the past like Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune, etc., who did not let anything discourage their fight for their purpose, we certainly can't give up on what God says in His word. We must position ourselves to strengthen our faith by reading the word until it fills the core of our soul. We must remain steadfast and remember that with God all things are possible. Our reward is waiting for us in the future and in heaven. Have the assurance that God will answer your prayer and He is still in control of our lives.

Today, be sure to honor God and exercise your faith in Him for a better, brighter future no matter what the world says. We are living in a season of disarray but God is the only certainty that I know will never let us down. Don't be afraid to live your life based on the negativity surrounding you but live your life based on the God that is within you.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Follow Your Dream!

Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"

Lately I have been getting questions and conversations regarding following dreams and doing what you really want and would love to do. I have many friends who have told me that they would really like to be a teacher, hair stylist, or football coach but are stuck doing other "jobs" that basically just pays the bills. I myself am working a 9 to 5 job right now knowing that my passion is in the fashion industry as a fashion stylist. I was always told that a "j.o.b." is just over broke. We are working for someone else and making them loads of money while we are sitting miserable on getting by. We are all in our 30s wondering what are we going to do with our life because we feel as though we are to our breaking point. I don't know if we are in a mid life crisis or God is pulling on us to get up and follow our dreams in which He has instilled in us. If we all had the opportunity to rewind our life and go back, we would have chased our dream and went a different direction whether another major in school or not listening to any outside influences. Since we can't do that, we just have to start again. Everyday is a new day and we need to make a declaration first that Today is the First Day of the Rest Our Life.

So my passion, dream, or vision (whatever you want to call it) has been really hitting me in my heart lately. I started to do research on how I can get into the fashion industry. There is a school program available now at the Art Institute but that is a whole 4 year degree program. I have a bachelors and masters degree already in a totally different field but I don't want to start all over to obtain another degree. I really am not ready to do homework, tests, projects, etc. Even though this seems like the logical way to go, I just feel there is another route that I can take. I can't shake this dream that I have nor do I want to. God is really trying to tell me something. It is my duty to push towards this desire and accomplish all that God has planned for me to do.

Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

So why aren't we living in the abundance that God has promised us? What are we waiting for? Is it procrastination? Are we using excuses to validate our laziness? Are we living in fear? Is it a lack of self confidence? Are past failures and disappointments keeping us from going for the gold of living the God given dream?

These are the enemies tricks. Don't listen to the enemy. His purpose is to get us off track and bombard us with distractions that he thinks will side track us. The enemy will purposely put these stumbling blocks in our path just to take away our focus and be entangled in false prophecies. God has given us these visions for our life and we need to press our way through to our dreams and take action to do whatever we can to live the life we are promised. As we run this race and move in the direction that God wants us to, our life will be blessed in ways that we can't imagine. So I want everyone who has a dream, including myself, to first write it down (Habakkuk 2:2) and then pray about the steps to be taken in accomplishing this God given vision. Be specific and then trust God according to your faith and be bold, courageous, and confident to achieving these goals. God will send us the resources we need in order to move forward. It is up to us to put in the work (James 2:26) and watch God bless us beyond measure. God Bless.

Lyrics to "Get Up" by Mary Mary:

Layin' Low

Rest n' pause

Sleeping long

Slow motion

Gonna do

Shoulda, coulda, woulda done

Excuses

What are you afraid of?

Don't you know what you're made of?

One of God's greatest creations

Take this invitation now

Get Up'

Cause you can't stop

Get Up

Got a lot to do

24 hours

Almost gone

Get Up

Don't sit there

Get Up

If you wanna get there

Clocks don't stop and

Time won't wait

He said

She said

They said

What do you say?

It's your dreams

Your choice

Your time

Your life

So don't you

Don't you

Miss it

What are you afraid of?

Don't you know what you're made of?

One of God's greatest creations

Take this invitation now

Get Up

Cause you can't stop

Get Up

Got a lot to do

24 hours

Almost gone

Get Up

Don't sit there

Get Up

If you wanna get there

Clocks don't stop and

Time won't wait

Welcome to the rest of your life

From now on, just try

To live more, want more, work a little harder

Dance more, laugh more, be a little smarter

Hug a little longer, love a little stronger

You've been down but now it's time to

Get Up

Cause you can't stop

Get Up

Got a lot to do

24 hours

Almost gone

Get Up

Don't sit there

Get Up

If you wanna get there

Clocks don't stop and

Time won't wait [x2]

One more time,

Say...Get Up [x9]