Her Value (In the Raw) by S.D. Denny

She doesn't value herself, she has no self-esteem
Never has, never will, or so it would seem
Lost somewhere on the battlefield in a meadow of dreams
As she crawled through the conflicts of life by all means

She doesn't value herself, because in spite of the truth
No one's ever been there to show her the proof
So she searched for that proof through the words of a man
From insecure souls without nurturing hands

From cold hearted rolling stones to the ill intended
From those who held back to those who rescinded
Looking for security because in this cold world it's a must
From sun up to sun down and from dawn till dusk

But those things never came

Now she's ashamed


How could this tragedy have come to be
To such a diamond fashioned so perfectly
With tears in her eyes that flowed so naturally
She uttered the following words to me


How is it that I could possibly be
Any value to anyone, or even to me
When my own Daddy didn't even think enough of me
To protect, or provide or to sacrifice for me


He was not there when I lost my first tooth
When I cried at my first heartbreak as a youth
When I had my first date or when I went to the prom
Or the trip to that clinic that they later bombed


I grabbed the pills from the palm of her hand
And lifted her gently from the saline sand
Brushed off her hair and fixed her clothes
And took upon myself the burden of her woes


My sister, I said, take a walk with me
Let me tell you about who I used to be
I didn't value myself, I had nothing to lose
I've held a pill bottle, I've been battered and bruised

I've searched for security, ended up a single mom
And I lived down the road from that clinic they bombed
But after years of searching for someone who valued me
Through trials and tribulations I discovered it was He


The He that breathed the very life into you
Designed you for a purpose which only He knew
Until He revealed to me this one little clue
That what He's given me, I must now pass to you


So, to my sister who does not value herself
Give your burdens to Him, sit them right on His shelf
He's the light of the world, which shines down from above
In Christ Jesus He gave us his sacrificial love


He values you more than you'll ever know
And more than any man could ever show
And now, my sister, what I've given to you
You must pass to another so she knows she's valued too


YOU HAVE A PURPOSE

~SD Denny
Author of The Baker's Dozen and the upcoming novel, HALF
www.sddenny.com
www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com


Copyright 2010

Give Thanks!

Give Thanks Today

Remember, When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself. ~ Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

Scripture:
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29

Too often it becomes easier for us to see only the bad things that are going on in our lives. We get up each morning and put on the same garments of despair, hurt, anger and resentment that we had on the day before. Instead of seeing the dawning of a new day as another opportunity to begin again, we see only our problems of yesterday.

We would rather dwell on the problems of our past, than rejoice in the blessings of the day. It rarely occurs to us that maybe our inability to rejoice in the blessings that we have already been given, as being a part of the reason we don’t receive new blessings each and every day.

As a mother, I often compare my relationship to God to my relationship with my children. You see, its hard for me to give them something new, when I feel they don’t appreciate what they already have. I cannot in good conscious give them a new thing if they don’t take care of the old.

So I have to ask “how can God in good conscious bless us with a new thing, when we can’t appreciate what we already have?” As I read the above quote, there was one statement that really stood out to me; If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.

Don’t you have something to be thankful for?

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Lord, we come once again praising and uplifting the name of Jesus. We lift up Holy hands and bow down before the throne of grace in reverence and honor to You Lord. Father, no matter what this day may bring, I will continue to praise You. Lord, this joy that I have deep down in my soul, the world didn't give it to me. You did. I will not allow anyone to take back what You have given me. Thank You Father, for my gifts. I thank You for waking me up and breathing life into my lungs once again. I thank You for family, friends and loved ones who encourage when the world tells me I can't. I thank You for guiding and directing me especially during those times I seem to stray. Lord, continue to place Your hedge of protection around the saints who are represented here. Strengthen all of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are going through. Manifest and magnify Your Power and Your presence in our lives today. Thank You Lord, Thank You Jesus. Amen.


"Caught in the Middle"
Now Available!
http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com
jackiemoore@virtuousliving.com
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

Take the Limits Off!

The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today. ~ Les Brown

Scripture:
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:4-6 (New International Version)

A few months ago, I had an eye-opening experience. I went on my very first cruise and I went by myself. Now just about everyone who heard this thought I was crazy and or foolish by going on a trip of this magnitude and no one was accompanying me.

Now to clarify, I did seek a cabin mate but no one was available. At first and even up to the point that I actually boarded the ship, I was scared. I started thinking that everyone had been right and that maybe I was making a mistake. I wouldn’t know anybody onboard and I would be miserable and all alone. However, they couldn’t have been further from the truth.

I was actually cruising with a group called “Cruising for Christ.” I had been invited by Kendra Norman-Bellamy who is a fellow Christian author and the group was primarily made up of fellow Christian artists. There were authors, musicians, comedians, mimes and many more onboard who were a part of the group. When I say I was BLESSED, mere words cannot describe just how much.

Today’s message was birthed on this anointed cruise. Pastor Keith Edmonds, or it could have been his identical twin Brother Karl Edmonds, who both happen to be ministers and mimes, spoke this powerful word into my spirit. They reminded that it is each of us who limits ourselves. We hinder our own progress through lack of faith, obedience and confidence; the same faith and confidence that gives us all authority and power in Christ Jesus.

We limit our journey in this life by talking ourselves out of what we can do and accomplish. We talk ourselves out of God’s blessings by stating that what we see as impossible. We miss out on blessings because they are not packaged the way we think they should look.

Saints of God, the word tells us that all things, not some things, but all things are possible with God!

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus, we come seeking Your grace and Your counsel once again. Lord, help us to remove the limits we have placed on our own lives. Help us to see the plans and designs that You have for each of our lives. When satan tells us we can’t, remind us that Your word says we can do ALL things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me. Touch us Lord, as we pause and meditate on Your word. Father, we pause to give thanks for keeping us once again. We know that we are here only because of You. We are blessed, not because of who we are but because of who's we are. Thank You Lord, that You loved us that much. Touch us Lord, for we need You right now. Father, help each and every one of us to be mindful to put on the whole armor of God, for we are still in the midst of a spiritual battle. Protect us Lord, guide us Lord. Keep us Lord. Father, we come give You our thanks. We come praising and uplift Your Holy Name. We love You Lord. As we ask and pray these things in Christ Jesus. Amen.


"Caught in the Middle"
Now Available!
http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com
jackiemoore@virtuousliving.com
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

Roadblocks by Jacqueline D. Moore

Remember, when reaching obstacles and hurdles, JUMP! ~ unknown

Scripture:
Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD , whose word I raise- Psalm 56:1-3

Saints, have you ever been driving along and ran into a roadblock? You were forced to go in another direction and sometimes you got lost? You had no clue where you were or how to get back on the right road?

That's how our spiritual walk is sometimes. Things will happen to block our way. We have certain plans for our lives. We may have decided that things were going to be done a certain way, then something happens to change our plans. We were so set on doing things our way, we weren't prepared to do anything different and become lost and confused.

Well saints, I know how you can get back on the right road. It's a map called the Book of Life. It is the word of God. The bible. It is our spiritual roadmap for this world.

So when you find yourself lost and confused, pull out your map, and find your way home.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Lord, we come as humbly as we can to give You the glory, the honor and the praise. Thank You Lord, for keeping us one more day. Father, we thank You for Your word. Your word, that teaches us, keeps us, renews us and guides us. We come thanking You this morning for the family of God. You have blessed us, O God, with the gift of friendship, the bonding of persons in a circle of love. We thank You for such a blessing: for friends who love us, who share our sorrows, who laugh with us in celebration, who bear our pain, who need us as we need them, who weep as we weep, who hold us when words fail, and who give us the freedom to be ourselves. Bless our friends with health, wholeness, life, and love. Lord, so many of our loved ones have been stricken with cancer. We come asking for an extra portion of Your grace and mercy today. Touch them now Lord Jesus. Strengthen them, comfort them, but most of all heal their bodies and their spirits. We thank You right now for our breakthroughs that are on the way. We thank You right now for our blessings that our on the way. We love You Lord. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

"Caught in the Middle"
Now Available!


http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com
jackiemoore@virtuousliving.com
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

The 44th President of the United States: The Man, the Movement and Me

The 44th President of the United States: The Man, the Movement and Me

It’s no secret I have been an Obama supporter from day one. Even before he announced his candidacy for presidency, he was my candidate of choice.

The Man

My upbringing is one that I was always taught to be a strong black woman, not needing the support of a man, or any other person for my basic needs in life, let alone anything above and beyond that basic need.

I was taught to be self sufficient in all that I do and that a man’s presence in my life should be an accessory to who I am, and never should be something I needed to survive or to ‘complete’ who I was in any manner.

That is not a put down on men, but a push for independency of women.

There is a difference…and marinate on it a minute if it is not crystal clear to you. It is a piece of logic and wisdom that I wholeheartedly embrace and spoon-feed to everyone I know…regardless of sex, race or any other factor…Love you…do you…be an entity in and of yourself that does not require the existence of another human being in order to sustain the beauty that is you. Embrace the work of art that you are. God created you with the supplies that you need to exist in the realm of who you are without the aide of another…this same thing rings true for men and every human being.

We all should be self-sufficient…allowing anyone we choose to allow along for the ride that is our lives to raise their hands and say “weeee” on the down stroke, only because they have been ‘allowed’ to ride…not because we “need” them in order to flip the on switch in order for the ride to begin.

That being said…I find it hard to yield to a man. And Barack was no different…if anything, to win this voter’s heart; he had a hard hill to climb.

The Movement

It takes a lot to move me. Yet Barack did. I went to see him before he had officially announced his candidacy and during the time he was testing the waters of “if he could pull this off.” From the first speech I heard from him I was smitten. –Caught up in the man, the hype and the hope. The possibility of changing the world one step at a time was intriguing to me and a concept that I held on to and embraced.

Along with the rest of the world, I was spellbound by his magnificent speeches, delivered in Martin Luther King Jr. style, his elegant and presidential presence and the family aura of a “do right” man. While all those things were the outward makings of a president, the movement that is Obama was even more detailed than that. It moved beyond the picture perfect poster child for change. It lay in the essence of his beliefs, his dreams, and OUR dreams. Obama is the one. But not because of his ability to fit into what is acceptable, but because he gives us all hope, he ignites a fire within us all to be better. And that is what the movement is about. Not following a man…but following a dream.

And Me

Even after Barak Obama has been crowned President-elect, I’m still the girl raised by a single mother who was taught never to depend on a man or another human being to exist in life. I am still the girl that is hard to please and who finds it hard to place her beliefs in a man, any man other than her God. And Barak Obama is no different…he will miss the mark on things, he won’t be able to deliver on all things promised, but he will try. He will think outside of the box in an effort to change the world and for me…that’s what I need. The essence of Me needs to believe again. The essence of Me needs someone to motivate me, inspire me and lead ME. The essence of my future and the future of my children needed someone who understands, looks like and gets me. The essence of my attachment to the 44th President of the United States is that together we can change the world and I have faith in The Man, The Movement and in Me.


Learn more about the brilliant Lorraine Adeeva Elzia, and Mistress Memoirs at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

Did you Remember to say Thank You?

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

Scripture:
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Psalm 20:4-5

Far too often we go through life and never tell those who care about us, thank you. We often take for granted the kind words and gestures that are offered to us each and every day. We take for granted the loving things that family and friend do and say on our behalf.

Did you thank your wife or mother today for something they recently did for you? Did you take the time to do something nice for the friend who allowed you to dump all of your problems on their lap? Did you have a kind word for your brother or sister who did something nice for you just because? Or, how about that coworker who picked up your slack when you fell behind? Did you share a holiday meal with someone who spent hours laboring in their kitchen so that those who gathered around the table could partake in all of your favorite dishes?

More often than not, we take for granted those angels around us who are always there who see our needs and just take it upon themselves to do for us and often times, they don’t even have to be asked. So is it with God’s grace and mercy.

God is that friend who is always there to supply all of our needs and so often we forget to say; thank you!

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Lord, we come before the throne of grace to thank You Lord. You blessed me once again, and I forgot to thank You. You blessed me with my home, my children, and so much more, and I forgot to thank You. You delivered me from the evil one and I didn't thank You. Forgive me Lord, for forgetting to let You know how much I appreciate everything You do for me. You know Lord, last week I asked for something that You gave me. Thank You. I asked You to watch over me and my loved ones and You did. Thank You. Lord, last night when I prayed, I asked that You would place Your hedge of protection around me and my loved ones and You did. Thank You. I asked You for prosperity, and You blessed me with my job, I just want to say thank You. Lord, maybe I don't have that job I wanted just yet, but You still fed me last night. Bless You Lord. I might have had to catch the bus this morning, but that's okay, I thank You for giving me bus fare. Lord, my blessings are too many to list right now, but I want You to know that I am grateful for each and every blessing that I have received. Not because I am worthy of Your favor, but because You love me. I thank You for just loving me. Bless Your name Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. I lift up Holy Hands and bow down my head in reverence to You alone. Thank You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Visit Jackie Moore online at www.jacquelinedmoore.com.