My Review: Preachers of Atlanta

So, out of boredom, the other night I turned on " Preachers of Atlanta.”

First off, I believe that we need to see REAL Christians on T.V. Christians that follow the word of God and who are unwavering.

Christians on TV are not the problem.
Christians who desire to look like the world, to fit into the world, are.

Now, let me state, I am not giving a "review" on the pastors themselves. I know very little about the ones that have appeared on the show.  What I do know is that they were not portrayed in a great light, at all.

1) Meeting People where they are at

One of the Pastors on the show talked about how her ministry handed out cigarettes and condoms.  That caused a huge debate. She stated that it brought members to the church and she was able to meet them where they were at, showing that she cared. So that made me wonder- how do we meet someone where they are at? How do we tell people to come as they are, and that we love and care about them without going against the bible?

We all know what the bible states about having sex outside of marriage, so wouldn’t handing out condoms be promoting the very thing we aren’t supposed to be doing…? Her response? "They are going to have sex regardless, at least this way they are protected." Hmmm... so what happens after they visit, does the church continue to provide condoms and cigarettes? Why is it that people who smoke or have sex can be reached only if we assist them in satiating their vice?

2) Ghetto Praise and Worship

Pastor Canton Jones shared about how he uses hip hop to reach people. He talked about why the traditional gospel isn’t reaching the youth today. Being someone who loves hip hop, when I got saved I did realize that 90 percent of the music I was listening to did not glorify God in the slightest. But that did not stop me from wanting a fast beat and great lyrics.  When I found Lecrae, I was so amazed that hip hop could bring glory to God. I do not disagree that christian hip hop is a great tool to reach others, but what does being "Ghetto" in praise and worship look like? The main line of the song was "I'm so ghetto with my praise and worship"....someone explain that to me please. lol

And also, Christian hip hop shouldn’t be us trying to mirror secular hip hop artists. I am tired of Christians feeling like we have to conform to the world instead of the other way around.

3) Gay Church Leaders

The same pastor who hands out cigarettes and condoms also believes that it is possible for church leaders (Pastors) to be gay. One of the other pastors then stated that his father is a Pastor of a church and is openly gay. My biggest confusion- when they are doing their sermons do they just skip all scriptures about being gay? Are they only preaching the part of the bible they agree with? The preachers were having a round table debate over say about these topics. One stated that if liars, cheaters, and abusers could lead a church then surely a gay person can. My thoughts... they can't! Liars, abusers, etc, should not be leading churches either. Though we know that no pastor is perfect because they are human, it is completely different to acknowledge the fall and repent, than to just live in the lifestyle as though it is pleasing to God.

So my question is, how is it that Jesus was able to walk the earth, lead people to Christ, and display the heart of God without wavering or conforming to the world’s standard.. and why do we feel that in order to lead people we need to forgo bible standards to get them there? I feel like we are minimizing the power of God, and the Holy Spirit by believing that by simply operating with the power of Christ in us that we can’t make a difference.  Jesus didn’t give weapons to the murders or women to the adulterers so that He could minister to them. Jesus was unashamedly different yet, loving and relatable at the same time. He met people where they were at all while being HIM.

Overall...its just seemed like one big MESS. Just another reality show that looked no different from a Love and Hip Hop. etc.  A room full of Pastors who seemed unsure of the power they hold by appearing on TV for millions of people a week. Instead of being a united force that glorifies God, they appear to be doing everything they can to fit into the world, including the drama that is needed to keep a TV show running.

I wont be watching this show again.

Because it is exactly that... A SHOW.

While I'm waiting...

I think that all of us have things we are believing God for. No matter how big or small, waiting is a hard process for any of us. I realize that in today’s society we are such a microwave generation that we want it NOW. And to keep it real, I am that way too. 

In the process of waiting it is easy to lose hope, compare, question God or yourself, and ultimately give up. 

So... what do you do while you’re waiting for Gods promises? Since my diagnosis (read about it here), I am slowly but surely learning what it looks like to wait on God in faith, not in fear. 

Below I have listed a few things that I have learned/ do while I am waiting. 

1) Focus on the Promise.

This can be very tricky. Especially when you feel like the promise is so far out of reach. If you’re believing for finances or to be debt free and you are 20,000 in debt it can be difficult to see yourself coming out of that. For me, believing for a child while I hear negative reports from a doctor sometimes clouds my vision of the promise. What did God promise you? Doesn't God keep His promises? These are questions you may have to ask yourself daily in order not to lose the faith. 

2) Surround yourself with the right people. 

This one has been CRUCIAL for me! It is so important that you have people around you who speak life into you, speak God's word, and who will correct you. While you are waiting on God, you don’t need to be surrounded by people who doubt that God is going to do what He said. Occasionally you will have weak days and doubt, and being able to call someone up for prayer, to share your story, send a simple text, etc will be imperative. Your circle of people has more influence than you think. 

3) Continue to study His word.

What better way is there to remember what God says than to keep studying His word? When doubt fills your mind, and all your friends have encouraged you… you will still need to hear it from God Himself. Ultimately even if you do everything else, if you are not praying, reading, and worshiping Him it will be impossible to productively wait on His promise. 

4) Have Fun.

Your life doesn't stop because you are in a waiting phase. Have fun, live, enjoy your life. God already knows what you want (if you’re like me, He hears it daily lol). Some of the best advice I got when I was single was to keep on living. Don't put your life on hold until you get married and don’t trick yourself into believing that life will really start once you get that THING. Don't take life too seriously, what God has for you is for YOU so walk out your calling in the meantime. 

5) Waiting is intentional. 

God does everything for a reason. Yes this statement is thrown around so much that people don't even really believe it anymore. But for me, I have to stand on this. I have to remind myself that if God isn’t giving it to me right away it is for a reason. Even if I don't understand the reason. I also have to remind myself that the waiting period is the time to prepare. Similar to # 4 you have to take advantage of the time you have. In a lot of cases God is trying to show you something or get you to a certain place during this phase. It is wise to be obedient and open your eyes to what you can learn while you are waiting; being in a place of depression and losing your faith WILL NOT speed up this process, believe me, I tried! 

I could go on and on but these top 5 have really helped me on this journey. I have been having a hard time writing after my last blog because I was so transparent and initially I was too embarrassed to share my struggle. As a woman you feel like there are certain things you should just be able to do- having a child is one of them.

While I am waiting I will continue to grow, love, work on my marriage, work on myself, and inspire those around me. Whether you are waiting for a child, husband, job, finances etc... Never forget that God truly does work things out for our good. Be opened minded to what God is doing, and be opened minded to the fact that ultimately this is His timeline. 

I have cried, prayed, and cried again, but I will not give up. I will encourage while I'm waiting. 

What will you do while you are waiting?

That ONE thing.

          If there is one thing I have noticed about my relationship with God, it's that I can be a bit selfish and oblivious at times.

I know that may sound bad or dramatic, or whatever, but it’s the truth.

Many of us have specific things that we are praying for- big things. Children, houses, cars, mates, etc. And sometimes it seems like no matter how hard we pray we are not getting that one big thing.

A lot of times, I have failed to notice that in the process of praying for that one big thing, God is doing a million little things to help it come to pass- many of them that I may not even acknowledge or notice.

When I was single and praying for God to send the right person in my life, (see previous post) it took 5 years for it to happen. I was discouraged and had already made up my mind that it was something I just wasn’t going to have. What I didn’t see was God carefully orchestrating things around me to prepare me for what I had been asking for. People started exiting my life, He started shutting things down, and He even strategically placed me in the same spots as my husband years before we even met. When all these “random” changes started taking place I never stopped to think, why are all these things happening? I never noticed that they were all tied together.

In my attempts to be a mature Christian and walk in complete faith I have promised myself that for this next chapter of my life, I am going to pay attention to the little things God does for me. I am going to thank him for the small opportunities, the opened and closed doors, and always listen to that voice that says “yes" or "no” when I am about to do something crazy.

I am learning that really believing and trusting God is not only when we have these HUGE acts of God on the line, but also in the daily little things that slowly but surely gets us on the right track to receive our blessing.

The Love Project: 5 real life stories about love, faith, and overcoming obstacles.

When I decided to write a blog about valentines day, I didn't want to do the typical post. I have told my love story over and over again. Plus, Everyones story is different,each one has its own highs and lows. I also wanted to show that a love story may not be just between a spouse, but with your children, God, or grandchildren. Below are 5 love stories. These amazing people have trusted me to tell there stories and for that I am humbled and grateful. I hope these inspire you as much as they did me. 

 Love Story #1 (SHONTIA & JALON)

Your children will adore you when no one else in the world will. They often look to you for strength and courage.

Shontia knows first-hand about being a rock for her child and the cost of intentionality. Despite taking great care of herself during her pregnancy, her son - Jalon-was medically diagnosed with autism/ADHD at the age of 3. That diagnosis made her feel ashamed as a mother and she questioned God’s love for her. Even more frustration arose when she saw so many other ladies who didn’t take care of themselves have children  that didn’t have special conditions. Her emotions threatened to overtake her, but she fought it vigorously and decided to become educated on the issue, not just for herself, but her son as well.

She says that her son taught her how to love. He broke down her tough exterior, and lone wolf attitude , and helped her realize that it is okay to be vulnerable and have a soft spot. When feelings of being defeated inevitably  start to rise, she asks God to give her the courage she needs to raise a young man. Her need to remain strong for her son causes her to lean on God in an entirely new and  transparent way that she’s ever experienced before. The love story between her and Jalon is an unconditional one: she accepts him for who he is, and does all that she can to make sure he doesn’t feel like he is less than in any capacity.

She wants other single mothers to know that, no matter how difficult your situation is or how alone you feel, always keep God in your heart and in your home. He hasn’t forgotten about you, and He will be the source of your strength when you feel like nothing else is.

Love Story #2(Terrell & Dierra Merritt)

Growing up and figuring out who you are can be difficult, but it is even more difficult when you are going through that process with someone else.

Dierra and Terrell Merritt have been passionately in love with each other for over 10 years. The evolutionary journey from children Into adults didn’t stop them from growing more in love or becoming better friends. It’s worth mentioning that a love that grows with you, against the odds especially, and is fought for daily by both parties is hard to come by. And yes, despite such long-lasting familiarity, they still struggled with learning to adjust in the adult world while maintaining a stable, but growing, relationship. These best friends, husband and wife, and parents of 1 (soon to be 2) found high school love much easier to navigate than “grown up love.” 

  However, becoming parents turned out to greatly strengthen their love for each other. Though some people feel that kids can get in the way or be a burden, they found that watching each other love their daughter changed them in a way that nothing else could. The sacrifice that comes with parenting has taught them to not only appreciate being adults, but to appreciate one another as well.  Family nights keep their love exciting and they find that constant compliments keep things fresh. No matter how busy or hectic their lives are, they intentionally make time for each other. God gives them the strength, and their faith is the glue that holds the relationship together.

Dierra and Terrell’s advice for married couples is communication. Talk to your spouse about everything... even the uncomfortable stuff. Remember that your relationship is your business. Keeping third parties out of the marriage ( with the exception of agreed upon wise counselors) will create a buffer against the drama. They want you to remember that love is hard work, but it is fun, and no matter how long you have been married it should remain that way.

Love Story #3 (Crystal)

Sometimes, true love stories begin with yourself, so that we may love others like Christ loves, without judgment.  

Crystal’s love story is far from perfect, but it shows us that we must forgive ourselves, regardless of our past.

 Ever since she was a young girl, Crystal had struggled with insecurities and during her high school years she wasn’t considered attractive by most of her peers. Finding love and affection was difficult, and when attention was finally thrown her way it was often short lived because she made it clear that sex was not going to be a part of the equation. Feeling very lonely and frustrated she eventually took matters into her own hands and relaxed her standards for being in a relationship. Predictably, the man she settled for often made her feel guilty for not wanting to have sex. This put her in compromising situations, which ultimately led to the temptation having its way. After Crystal gave in, she wound up pregnant shortly after and, after fearfully hiding it for 16 weeks, she decided to get an abortion. 

  That irreversible decision left her feeling ashamed, used, and lonely again because that relationship didn’t last. She struggled with guilt, hurt and post abortion stress syndrome for many years. However, she continued to go to church as though nothing had happened. She felt the need to hide her past, because she believed she would be judged and people would not understand her decision. Yet it was at church where she met a woman who showed her that she was forgiven in God's eyes, and that the next crucial step would be learning how to forgive herself. Over a span of several years she eventually acquired the peace that she was after and released the guilt and burden of loneliness that she’d carried for so many years. She now models forgiveness for herself by showing unconditional love through loving acts of service to others.  

Crystal wants other women who are single, or have similar struggles, to know that it is not a curse or a punishment. This time should be used to learn about, and love, ourselves. It is important know what and who you are before you try to join with someone else.

Love Story # 4 (Troy & Gabbriel Scott)

What is the definition of someone loving you back to life? What does that look like?

Gabbriel and Troy sat in a department store looking through a catalog picking out items that they were going to buy once they got married; at this time they were only 5 and 7 years old. Nobody really thought it would last. Yet even after losing touch for about 10 years, they still randomly ended up reconnecting via his sister in high school. This was a difficult time for Gabbriel, though, who had just underwent an abortion and was suffering from serious depression as a result. The depression spiraled out of control and she found herself trying to put her head in the oven to commit suicide. At that precise moment Troy happened to call her on the phone- distracted, frustrated, and aggravated she answered, and in that exact phone call he led her to the Lord. 

  That was the start of Troy loving Gabbriel back to life. It was no easy task, due to the fact that she was holding onto the piercing pains of her past. They were both from two different walks of life but were exactly what the other one needed. As their relationship grew more intense she got pregnant, and a few days later they were married. They were ostracized from their families, and ended up losing the child. Though that was excruciatingly painful, they now have eight children and five grandchildren. From kissing in the closet of a house as kids to being married now for almost 29 years, they have literally done life together. Becoming parents and grandparents has deepened their love for each other in rippling ways that they could not have imagined; they have become intimately more aware of legacy, and it has helped them work out personal issues much easier.

Gabbriel and Troy believe that it is important to keep things exciting, even if it is just a little getaway in your own house, separate from the noise. They want you to remember that marriage is each person giving their all.  It will be the hardest relationship you will ever enter into but don’t let divorce be an option… EVER.

Love story #5 (Zach & Mesha Harris)

Love understands and forgives.  

 Every woman wants a knight in shining armor and when Zach saved Mesha from a creepy customer at her job he immediately intrigued her. After an hour and a half of conversation she found out that not only was he a gentlemen, but he had a relationship with God as well. He wouldn’t even take her phone number until he found out if she too was a believer. Unfortunately, in a very non-charming fashion, Zach stood her up on their first date. When she angrily confronted him about it as he was calling to apologize, he told her she was drama and that it wasn’t going to work out. However, even over a week later she couldn’t get him off of her mind, and felt that she was missing out on something great. She wanted to meet him again, but having no way to contact him, she made a video on facebook hoping that they had a mutual friend who could connect them. Her efforts worked, he was willing to give it a go once more, and they were on the fast track after that. 

  Their relationship grew quickly, but it was not without exceptional struggle. Within eight months of meeting they moved in together, got pregnant, and shortly after got married. That was five years ago. They now have two children.  Their road has been bumpy; they have gone through financial struggles, addictions, infidelity, and homelessness. Nothing was perfect and everything that could go wrong did, but they both agree that there is nothing they wouldn’t do for each other or for their family and that is what keeps them afloat.

Their advice? Always run to God about everything, and make sure you surround yourself with other married believers who help your fight for your covenant.

#Shineanyway

   I was never the pretty girl. I was weird, odd, different, okay, and even ugly ( all based on other peoples opinions) it was difficult for me growing up and trying to define myself as what everyone else said I was.

 I would switch up my hair, try to dress different, ect but nothing ever made me feel "beautiful", it wasn't until I learned to accept every flaw I had, until I realized that whether I was bald, or have weave down to my butt, whether I was dressed in micheal khors or forever 21, my beauty came from the inside. 

   I know it sounds cliche but its the truth. If u let everyone tell you who you are you will never know who you are. I spent years trying to convince people that I was beautiful instead of actually being me, and loving me. At 26, I love me, I recognize I have flaws but Dont let them define me. I Dont feel the need to be something so I can get the praises of people who were never really for me to begin with. I choose to ‪#‎shineanyway‬.

Share your story of shining despite what others said, using the hash-tag #shineanyway

Lil Drummer Boy

One of my favorite things to do during this time of year (besides eat every dessert in sight) is to listen to Christmas music. There is something special about having this whole batch of songs that you absolutely love but can only listen to from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. 

My favorite Christmas song is “Lil Drummer Boy" and, in realizing this was my favorite song I thought about the fact that it wasn't at all a “gospel” song, nor was it in the Bible. But what if it was?

  I definitely wish I could be the lil drummer boy (weird I know).  But think about it- this song is talking about a little boy who wants to go see the King and, in realizing that everyone else is bringing gifts, notices that he doesn't have a physical one, but at the same time recognizes that his talent (playing the drums) was one.

“I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum 
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, 

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, 
On my drum? “



It makes me think about how many times I have disqualified myself because my gifts didn’t look like everyone else’s. It also makes me think, that had this been a real story in the Bible, playing the drums would have been the most valuable gift of all. 

I have a deep desire to look around and see that I don’t have what everyone else does, and then don’t use that as an excuse to stop me. Would I have continued to go knowing people were bringing such great things? Would I have recognized the internal gift I possessed? I am not sure. 



“I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, 

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum 
Me and my drum.”



My favorite part of the song is when the boy played his best, and the King smiled. Sigh, not quite sure why that makes me so happy. The thought of doing the best I can for Jesus, living my life filled with purpose and making Him smile… well, that’s the point of life isn't it? Riches can be obtained quickly and lost just as fast, but it’s the gifting that God gives us that remains- just like a homeless person can have the best voice you've ever heard in your life. For some people what they have internally is all that they have, and that doesn't diminish it one bit.

So, as I've gotten super deep with a Christmas song (lol) it takes me to a place of worship, reminding myself to remember that Jesus smiles when I bring him my best. When I take my talents and use it to glorify Him, and when I don’t sit on the sidelines because what everyone else is bringing to the table seems lavish. When I worship and pray and do my God calling I am that little drummer boy who just wants to bring him everything I have, no matter how small it is.