Diamonds always remember, what God has deposited in you and destined for you to become was for the purpose of making a difference (for the better) in someone else's life. It doesn't mean that everyone will be welcoming you with warm and loving arms but you have been called to be the salt of the earth. Use that which God has deposited deep down on the inside of you for good. If you are not walking in your calling or have not risen to the occasion of God's purpose for your life, then sweetheart, this is a fine time for you to do something DIFFERENT! Be about your Father's business! ‪#‎1Love‬

Diamonds, always remember....God's love pursues you. If you ever find yourself chasing after someone or anything that is always trying to get you to turn away from His love then, "About Face," and don't be afraid to walk the other way back into your Father's loving arms! God's love will never lead you astray! ‪#‎incaseyouneededtoknow‬

Diamonds, if you ever think everyone is "doing it", according to a study I just read approximately 85% of Americans approve of pre-marital sex; 50% of young adult couples have sex within the first month of dating; another 25% wait for one to three months. However, there is also the almost forgotten group of people who wait until they are married to have sex.

Although the later group is smaller in numbers, the last group still exists and have discovered and benefited from waiting until they were married. How so? Well, the longer a couple waited to become sexually involved the better their sexual quality, relationship communication, relationship satisfaction, and perceived relationship stability was in marriage. The study also concluded that early sexual involvement diverted couples from putting the necessary energy and focus into communicating verbally, which is essential to healthy relationships.

Thought this information was very insightful, enlightening as well as encouraging to who are abstaining until you walk down the aisle smile emoticon. Your group may be small but your sacrifice is not! It pays to wait!

Diamonds,
Love is not always what you say but what you do; however, love is not limited to one room-- the bedroom.

Diamonds,
People may not respond the way you think they should to a particular situation,  but you continue to do good and by that I mean, do everything for all of the right reasons!

Be Blessed!

It's A Love Thang!

Diamonds, a very good friend of mine reminded me the other day during a very fruitful discussion about why it's very important to pay others back with a blessing rather than retaliate with insults when people insult you.

Why? It's simple:
That is what God has called each and everyone of us to do that are His and He will grant you his blessing! A sister or a brother might be recovered due to how we respond to a particular situation that may have either rubbed us the wrong way. It is very important that we not be very easily offended.

Today, I was again reminded while attending my church's annual meeting and what an added bonus/blessing I received. Just wanted to share in case someone would be just as blessed! Enjoy your day my brother, my sister!
‪#‎ITSALOVETHANG‬

Some people that we are tied to, no matter how much we have invested or desire to have or keep close, somehow separates from us.  We have tried all different types of methods to let them back in, but no matter how strong the glue, no matter how many times you try to maneuver and make yourself available to them, know that if they aren't tied to God's plans that He has for your life, then let them go!

Severed relations may hurt because the emotions attached to these individuals are real and can be painful but to have them in your life will not be purposeful; or rather will work against your God-given potential developing in your life.

Pruning is never easy but it serves a higher purpose and plan not only for your benefit but toward those you have been called to serve!

Enjoy your day!

Thank God for your thorn!

Diamonds,
I just wanted to let someone who needs to know this morning that whatever you may be going through God will see you through!

He may not remove that particular thorn from your flesh because it's being used as a buffer to keep you grounded and humble...totally dependent and reliant on Him from moment to moment, day to day.  You're beautiful Diamond, but so that you don't think more highly than you ought to; so that you don't become conceited with your fine self, that thorn you have been praying and asking God to remove has a purpose.  It's not there to torment you but to remind you that where you are and the position that you hold is because of the grace of God.

It's not because of any good thing that you have done but it's because of the grace of God.  He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift.  Therefore, any good thing that you can boast about or in is all because of God's goodness and His generosity!  So you can even thank and boast in that thorn because that thorn is a reminder that God's grace is sufficient for you; for the power of God is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12: 9) Paul said that he would rather boast in his weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon him.  The power that will enable you to stand even when everyone around you thinks that you are standing alone!

Paul asked God 3x's to remove it but it wasn't that his request went unanswered but that he received revelation of it's usefulness in his life.  Remember, God can use us as long as we are useful and not full of ourselves.  When we and if we ever get to the point where we forget about who it is that called us and saw any redeemable quality within us, it is He who deserves all of the glory!

In Remembrance of Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

Today in one of the group sessions we discussed the emotion anger. Anger can be the emotional catalyst used to create change in a world that thrives off of pain. The Bible says be angry and sin not. (Ephesians 4:6) In celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, I am reminded of his anger that pricked and provoked the waves of injustice to cease against people of color and other minorities. His anger was driven out of his strength to love drawing all walks of life to accountability of those being mistreated, disenfranchised, out on the margins and overlooked to draw nearer on the side of equality and social justice. 

Anger when appropriated responsively, is motivated by the love of God towards us and the love we ought to have for and toward one another. Its a love language, an inner strength that encapsulates and can be demonstrated if we are willing to be the change our youth needs to see, our coworkers, colleagues and in essence, our neighbors can witness serving a greater good, a greater agenda and greater purpose outside of ourselves. I believe it mirrors the Beloved Community that Dr. King wrote about in his book.  

"The end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the Beloved Community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opponents into friends. It is this type of understanding goodwill that will transform the deep gloom of the old age into the exuberant gladness of the new age. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men." 

Beloved be angry beloved but do not beget violence and destruction but build...build and gather because we already have enough who are willing to scatter. Be angry as well as having the ability to articulate the ills and pains our most impoverished communities and populations are suffering from. Be angry, and sin not! And if you so happen to get angry and sin, humbly admit your fault and be willing to go at it again!