"Giving your Soul a Rise...One Page at a Time"

2011 African American Literary Awards Show

2011-10-05T17:09:00.001-07:00

2011 African American Literary Awards Show

www.literaryawardshow.com

September 22, 2011 - The 7th Annual African American Literary Awards Show was a blast. We were honored to be in the presence of Literary Excellence, amongst the likes of Literary Kings and Queens; Carol Mackey, Editor-in-Chief of Black Expressions Book Club, ESSENCE Best Sellers K'Wan, and Pat G'orge Walker, the beautiful Dawn Michelle of Dream Relations, and Torrian Ferguson of Black Literature Magazine. Yvette Hayward of the African American Literary Award Show gave a tearful and heartfelt thanks to all of the attendees and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson was awe-inspiring. We were afforded the wonderful opportunity to rub elbows with the greats, Kimberla Lawson Roby and ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Brenda Jackson was even in the house. A lovely event and an experience we won't soon forget!

Team Work makes the Dream Work. On behalf of all of the Wonderfully-gifted, and amazingly-talented Authors of Peace In The Storm Publishing, THANK YOU for your continued love and support. When we put our pens to pad, we do so with our heart and soul and with only our readers in mind.

We Love You and Thank you for Loving Us enough to make us the 2011 African American Literary Award Show winner for Independent Publisher of the Year and for making our Queen, Lorraine Elzia the Mystery winner for her sophomore effort, Ask Nicely and I Might.

See more photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150330348102071.363925.68798422070

7th Annual African American Literary Awards Show Nominations Are In!

2011-07-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

Here are the nominees for the 7th Annual African American Literary Awards Show. Voting starts Wednesday, July 27, 2011.

Go to www.literaryawardshow.com to vote online on 7/27/11

Congratulations to all of the Kings and Queens who were nominated!

Fiction
Dorothy by LaToya S. Watkins

He Was My Man First - Courtney Parker & Nancey Flowers

No One in the World: A Novel – E. Lynn Harris & RM Johnson

Mama Ruby – Mary Monroe

Money Can’t Buy Love – Connie Briscoe

Self help
How To Get Out Of Your Own Way – Tyrese Gibson

The Strawberry Letter: Real Talk, Real Advice, Because Bitterness Isn't Sexy – Shirley Strawberry

Why Do I Have To Think Like A Man?: How To Think Like A Lady And Still Get The Man – Shanae Hall & Rhonda Frost Priceless Inspirations – Antonia Carter

A Belle in Brooklyn: The Go-to Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life – Demetria Lucas

Biography/Memoir
Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption-from South Central to Hollywood – Ice T

The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring – Sugar Ray Leonard

Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir - Flavor Flav

Love Brought Me Back: A Journey of Loss and Gain – Natalie Cole

Transparent – Don Lemon

Christian Fiction
An Inconvenient Friend by Rhonda McKnight

Right Package, Wrong Baggage by Wanda B. Campbell

The Deal, The Dance & The Devil – Victoria Christopher Murray

Crowning Glory – Pat Simmons

Who Said It Would Be Easy?: A Story of Faith (Zane Presents) – Cheryl Faye

Erotica
Strawberries, Stilettos, and Steam – Imani True & Dreama Skye

Southern Comfort" by Cynnamon Foster and Nina Foxx

Sixty-Nine – Pynk

Smooth Operator – Risque

Nasty – Dr. XYZ

Street Fiction
Justify My Thug – Wahida Clark

My Kinda Girl" by Michael McGrew

The Prada Plan 2 - Ashley Antoinette

Welfare Wifeys: A Hood Rat Novel – K’wan

Memoirs Of An Accidental Hustler – JM Benjamin

Non Fiction
I Shall Not Die: Living A Psalm 118:17 Existence - Kendra Norman Bellamy

Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure – Tavis Smiley

Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama – Sophia Nelson

Peace from Broken Pieces – Iyanla Vanzant

Becoming a Woman of Destiny: Turning Life's Trials into Triumphs! - Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook

Mystery

Giving Up The Ghost by Stacy-Deanne

Ask Nicely and I Might by Lorraine Elzia

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey – Walter Mosley

Price Of Fame - Amaleka McCall

Surrender the Dark – L.A. Banks

Children/Young Adult
Getting Played by Celeste O. Norfleet

Drama Queens –ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Giant Steps To Change The World – Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee

Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Terrible Terrel – Whoopi Goldberg

Teen Girls Need L.O.V.E. by S.Dodson

Romance
Inseparable – Brenda Jackson

Sweet Persuasions– Rochelle Alers

Unexpected Interruptions – Trice Hickman

Twice The Temptation – Francis Ray

The Proposal – Brenda Jackson

Short stories/Anthologies
A Woman's Revenge by Tiffany L. Warren, Sherri Lewis and Rhonda McKnight –

Home Again: Stories of Restored Relationships by Wanda B. Campbell, Dijorn Moss, Tyora Moody and Trinea Moss

Between the Sheets - Tamika Newhouse, NiCola Mitchell and Anna Black

Magazines (Non -Literary)
Black Enterprise

Ebony

Uptown

JET

Upscale

Magazines (Literary)
Mosaic Books

Booking Matters

Written

African Voices

Black Literature Magazine

Humorist Award of the Year (Stand-up Comics)
Kevin Hart

Sherri Shepherd

Chris Spencer

Tony Rock

Rickey Smiley

Self Published Author of The Year
The Ultimate Question: Will Love Ever Know Me – Tamika Newhouse

Con Test: Double Life – Rahiem Brooks

Twisted – Ni’cola

Devour, One Man’s Tale of Love, Intimacy, and Ecstasy – D.A. Williams

Breakout Author of the Year
Tour Secrets – Winkk

The Putting Away - Sharel E. Gordon-Love
Open Your Eyes – Schelle Halloway

Shady – Dell Banks

Girl, Get Your Mind Right – Tionna Smalls

Publishing House Of The Year
St. Martin’s Press

Kensington

Kimani Press

Grand Central Publishing

Simon & Schuster

Independent Publisher Of The Year
Peace In The Storm
A New Quality Publishing

Delphine Publications

NCM Publishing

Black Dawn Books

Author Of The Year – Male
J.M. Benjamin – Memoirs Of An Accidental Hustler

Walter Mosley - The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

E. Lynn Harris & RM Johnson – No One In The World

Carl Weber – Choir Director

K’wan – Welfare Wifeys

Author Of The Year – Female
Victoria Christopher Murray (The Deal, The Dance & The Devil)

Kimberla Lawson Roby – Love, Honor and Betray

Pat G’Orge Walker – Don’t Blame The Devil

Nancey Flowers & Courtney Parker – He Was My Man First

Sophia Nelson – Redefining The Black Woman

Bookclub of the Year
Black Expressions

AAMBC

The D-Cup Divas

African American Literary Book Club (AALBC)

Go On Girl Bookclub

Television Writer Of The Year
Tyler Perry – House Of Payne

Ali LeRoi – Are We There Yet

Mara Brock Akil – The Game

Stacy A. Littlejohn- Single Ladies

Shonda Rhimes – The Practice

Screenwriter Of The Year
Tracey E. Edmonds – Jumping The Broom

Salim Akil – Jumping The Broom

Tyler Perry – For Colored Girls

Tyler Perry – Madea’s Big Happy Family

Comic Strip
Aarron McGruder - Boondocks

Jerry Craft - Mama’s Boyz

Ray Billingsley – Curtis

Keith Knight – The K Chronicles

Robb Armstrong –Jumpstart

Comedy Author
Girl, Get Your Mind Right – Tionna Smalls

Is It Just Me?: Or is it nuts out there? – Whoopi Goldberg

Don’t Blame The Devil – Pat G’orge Walker

PLEASE cast your votes for Peace In The Storm Publishing, LaToya S. Watkins, Stacy-Deanne, Lorraine Elzia and Sharel E. Gordon-Love!

"One on One with Elissa Gabrielle" featured EBONEE MONIQUE!

2011-05-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

http://ymlp.com/znEKxJ

Check it out!

In Her Words: Lorraine Elzia on "Ask Nicely and I Might"

2011-02-22T04:17:00.000-08:00

"Every woman in a relationship has thought about it from time to time--that moment when you snap and do the unthinkable. Instead of running away from it and pretending it does not exist, I thought it would be stimulating to look inside the mind of a woman who kills, purely for the enjoyment and the thrill." ~ Lorraine Elzia

From ASK NICELY AND I MIGHT:

Jade
The Feel of Blood
I can feel the mist hitting my face like fine piss-ant rain. Irritating, yet invigoratingly refreshing just the same. In retrospect, I have to admit that the events of my here and now are morbid, to say the least. Especially given the fact that the mist which is actually hitting my face is in the form of the warm blood of my husband, squirting in spurts from the small, pin-size puncture wound I have inflicted into his temple as I lay next to him in bed. Yet, I lay here unfazed.
Poor sucker. I almost feel pity for his sorry ass. Almost. I know Carl never saw it coming. Although he had been asking for it for years, I could tell that he was blind and clueless to the fact that one day I would finally give the useless bastard what he unknowingly cultivated over time--my contempt and my rage. Our marriage, if you can call it that, has been a never-ending cycle of him taunting me, arrogantly calling my bluff as if I were too much of a punk to react. He had been begging me, through his actions, to show him the fabric of what I’m made of. Cockingly inquiring if I had a backbone made of steel. He further mocked the saying, “beware of a woman scorned” and whether that saying had any merit in regards to me.

He had been provoking me day after day, begging me through his abuse to take a stand; yet I had known, deep in the back of his mind, he never thought I could or ever would. I have contemplated his death for years, it has always been in the suitcase of my mind, waiting for me to open it and use its contents. Each snide comment uttered from his lips, lead me to the place I’m at now of wanting him dead. I have no fear of being without him. To be honest, I welcome the relief my life would sustain simply from him not being around.

“He’s a good catch.” Others said when we first got together. But that was their view from the outside looking in. They did not live my daily hell or experience my constant pain. In the beginning, Carl kept his fronts up, giving the impression of a good husband and provider. But over the years, all that changed and his true colors were eventually shown. He could care less about being my man, my provider, or my soul mate. He cared more about breaking me down, bit by bit, training me, forcing me to succumb to his rules and his ways. Each day he was more successful than the day before at doing it. But I was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode; a fact that Carl seemed not to pay much attention to. He was too busy playing Commander-in-Chief to recognize. His mistake, not mine.

*************************

ASK NICELY AND I MIGHT
A twisted game of bewildering intrigue proves positive that six degrees of separation bridge the gap between the sane and the insane.

Alex Carlysle is a savvy homicide detective highly respected among her peers and on the fast track to make Captain. When her lover becomes the latest victim in a series of brutal murders, the investigation of the killings becomes personal for her. Not only has she lost the only man who ever understood her, but also catching the killer could be the break she has been waiting for concerning her career.

Jade, on the other hand, resides on the opposite side of the law, abiding by a different set of rules - its Jade's way, or no way. Instead of enforcing the law, she is the thorn in its side. Motivated by an urge for revenge, she is a sexy enigma of a serial killer who taunts the police just for the pleasure of it while devouring her prey in the process.

As the hunter becomes the hunted, two women, both at the top of their game, are destined for a massive head-on collision with each other. But the thrill of pursuit is not the only tie that binds them; they are also both driven by blood shed and a chain of circumstances that began in the subconscious mind.
Ask Nicely and I Might is a racy thriller - fast, furious, and filled with sexy suspense. A wicked game of cat and mouse where time is rapidly running out and with the hunter and hunted lives on the line, they have everything to fight for . . . and everything to lose.
****************************
Lorraine Elzia is an Author, Ghostwriter, Literary Artist and the 2009 African American Literary Show Break Out Author of the year. Lorraine has always had an admiration for the written word and has exercised her God-given talent for story telling in various venues.

"Mistress Memoirs" is the debut novel for Lorraine, who has espoused the name A Deeva, and often writes under that pseudonym. She is a contributing author in "Chicken Soup for the Single Parent´s Soul"; "Chicken Soup for the African American Woman´s Soul"; the "Ka´trina Anthology, Surfacing...Phenomenal Women on Passion, Politics & Purpose"; "Gumbo for the Soul" and "The Triumph of My Soul Anthology."

Lorraine is Co-Owner of Eve´s Literary Services; contributing Editor for the "Gumbo for the Soul" series; and Co-Moderator of Essentially Women, a writing group for African American women. She is from Austin, Texas, by way of Motown (Detroit, Michigan) and it is her desire that through the written word delivered in different genres, she will be able to inspire and motivate others to see the beauty that resides within all people.

Order your copy of ASK NICELY AND I MIGHT today at http://www.amazon.com/Nicely-Might-Publishing-Presents-ebook/dp/B004089EVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1298377263&sr=1-1.

Both books can be ordered at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com.

In Her Words: Jacqueline D. Moore on "Serving Justice"

2011-02-18T06:25:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes we miss our blessings because they don't come packaged the way we think they should." ~Jacqueline D. Moore

SERVING JUSTICE - Take a Peek into the award-winning book:
Darlene knew that it was unfair to expect that the four of them would always be together. She knew that it was only natural that one day, each of them would get married and begin a new chapter in their lives. She was afraid that if Angie married Tony, she might not ever see her again. She would never be able to handle losing her sisters.

Suddenly, Darlene felt bad about how she had treated Angie. She really did love Angie and only wanted what was best for her. She was only using Tony being a cabdriver as an excuse to keep them apart. She realized that she would have found fault with any man who tried to come between her and her sisters. No, matter what they did for a living.

Darlene knew that she was good enough as a lawyer to survive anything. She got offers everyday from firms who wanted her to join them. So in reality, Darlene really didn’t have anything to lose career wise. She would always be able to find a job. She wasn’t so sure about finding another friend.

For a moment, Darlene panicked. What if she’d driven Angie away? “Oh my! What have I done?” She didn’t need Tony to come between her and her friends. She was doing a good job all by herself of pushing them away. How could she be so stupid?
She wouldn’t be able to bare it if she lost any of the three women who had been her support system, her family, her only friends. Darlene thought about what she could do to make it up to Angie.

At times like this, Darlene wished she knew how to pray. She was never one to go to church, but on the few occasions that she had accompanied Theresa or Angie to their church, she had the vaguest sense of something more. Something that could bring her the peace that had eluded her all of her life.

She had seen the faces of her friends and other people around her as they prayed. Even when the prayers would reach a fevered pitch and the screaming and dancing erupted all around them, she saw the peacefulness wash over their faces. Darlene had always wanted to feel that peace. She just didn’t know how to get it.
She really couldn’t get into the sermons. They were usually talking about how God could solve all of your problems and how God could provide. She heard them “So turn your problems over to God, He can fix it! Nothing’s too hard for God!” She had heard it all before.

Whenever she heard these sermons, they seemed to bring out the dark side in her. Whenever she heard the preacher say “God will provide,” she thought back to her childhood in Vietnam when she and her mother had nothing. She could remember being hungry for day on end and how her own grandmother would sit and eat right in front of . Never offering a single grain of rice. They talked about loving your neighbor. How could Darlene love her neighbor when her Vietnamese family had treated her so badly?

It hadn’t stopped there. She remembered how the other kids treated her calling her names and treating her like dirt. She remembered how the guys in college used her body and then treated her like a whore afterwards.

In the end, Darlene had risen above it all. She had gained the respect of those who mattered by becoming one of the most powerful attorneys in the city. She could care less about what the rest of the people thought. She had made it on her own. Without the help of God.

She was Darlene Moore, Esquire. She didn’t need God, she didn’t need anyone.

ABOUT SERVING JUSTICE:

Sometimes Love Resides Above the Law...

What happens when a prominent and successful Chicago Judge falls in love with her driver?

Angela Jenkins decided as a child that she would become a lawyer. Fighting injustices perpetrated against those who could not or would not fight for themselves ran like passion through her veins. Growing up, Angela was taught that putting God first in her life, respecting the rights and choices of others, and working hard, were the most important things a person should strive for.
While in pursuit of her law degree, Angela meets Rhonda, Theresa, and Darlene who are there reaching for the same goals. Over the next two decades, an unbreakable bond forms and friends become sisters.
Angela finds the more successful she becomes, the more she begins to lose her connection with God and starts conforming more to the world, than to the word of God.
When love enters her heart, she must decide if having a relationship is more important than what others, including her friends, have to say. Angela is forced to look at what's important in her life and has to choose between allowing others to shape who she is or conforming to what God wants her to be.

Learn more about Jacqueline D. Moore, and Serving Justice at:
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/authors/JacquelineMoore.html

In Her Words: Ebonee Monique on "Suicide Diaries"

2011-02-17T06:27:00.001-08:00

"I wrote suicide diaries because I'd experienced the pain of suicide and needed an outlet to grieve while learning to move on." ~ Ebonee Monique

PRELUDE
Have you ever aimlessly searched a crowd of faces? Investigating green, blue and brown eyes for some sort of familiarity? Maybe you’ve studied the physical attributes and hairstyles of someone, hoping that a make-over could’ve altered the looks of the person you’re searching for. My eyes dart from wide noses, small noses, big hands, little hands, freckles and moles-all while trying to find an ounce of reason to believe that this person, at that very moment, could be the one to end my search. But it never ends. For some reason, the heart has a tendency to embrace the truth long after the mind has.

Do you know what it feels like to stand in a room full of people and only be able to run one name, one voice and once face through your mind? It’s beyond the point of obsessive and just below the rankings of pathetic and, yet, the search for closure has no shame. It’s like running around a group of people with your zipper down, exposing everything below the belt, and while you want to zip your pants up and cower in a corner, out of embarrassment, your hands are frozen, your eyes are set and your mouth can’t utter the words that your heart is dying to say: “Help me!” It’s like walking in a never ending circle with a blindfold over your eyes, restricting your vision, your heart, restricting your emotions and your soul, restricting your growth. The on-going cycle of finding a sense of peace, while standing in the dark, can be pretty amusing to the unassuming. Close your eyes and imagine the never ending circle you’re in and think about what you’d do to get out.

This is my daily routine.
Welcome to my world.

Before you start thinking I’m an overly dramatic, obsessed person let me take you to a time when I was far from the person I slowly turned into.

~Lauren Washington
************************************************************************
More on Suicide Diaries
When Lauren Washington's mother is mysteriously gunned down in their neighborhood, Lauren - a nine year old from Bankhead, Georgia - must quickly grow up and become the woman of her household. Early on, Lauren finds that not dealing with her pain is easier than actually doing so. It's only on the confidential white pages of her diary that Lauren feels free to spill the thoughts from her troubled mind. After finding a job in radio, which allows her to mask her true thoughts and become her on-air persona "Mystique," Lauren believes she's found the perfect blend of privacy and sanity. Today, at age 26, Lauren is one of the top rated deejays in Atlanta, and dangerously in love with her boyfriend of eight years, Brendan. From the outside, everything looks perfect. However when Lauren enlists the help of a private investigator to look into her mother's unsolved murder, strange things start happening. Her father is nervous, her best friends are acting out of character and Brendan begins to withdraw from her and ends up disrespecting her in the boldest way. With visions of her happiness shattering, Lauren scrambles to repair her relationship with Brendan. But, before apologies can be made, Brendan does the unthinkable and commits suicide. Lauren is left to deal with more than her heart or the pages of her diary can handle. Brendan's sneaky double life compels her to figure out who he really was and what the secrets, he died to keep from her, were. Suicide Diaries deals with betrayal beyond the grave and the disbelief and heartache that comes after a suicide. Moving on, once the dirt has been thrown on the coffin, will prove to be the hardest self-evaluation Lauren's ever experienced.

SUICIDE DIARIES can be order today at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com. Learn more about Ebonee Monique at www.EboneeMonique.com!

What would Martin Luther King, Jr. think about the black community if he were alive today?

2011-01-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

What would Martin Luther King, Jr. think about the black community if he were alive today?

What would he think about how we have become apathetic about the “right to vote that he fought so hard and diligently for? Would he shed a tear for each night that he spent in jail so that we could sit at home on Election Day, unconcerned about the politics of the day?

Would he hang his head in shame to know that the beatings that he took and the lives that were lost were all in vain because we do not care enough about the world around us to go out and cast our ballots for what we believe in?

Would his eyes cloud over in anger to know that the things he gave his life for, the betterment of his race, the advancement of the Black Community and equal justice, have all been for naught?

What would Dr. King think about our youth today? The youth that was born of a proud people who respected life, family and most of all God? Would he become overcome with rage to know that mothers, grandmothers, and sisters are only seen as sex objects in songs and videos?

Would he be vexed at the notions that safe sex and not abstinence, is taught in school. That sex outside of marriage is okay as long as you use protection and birth control?

Would he become appalled at the sight of our young men wearing clothes that were born out of a prison culture and young women wearing clothes so revealing that they leave nothing to the imagination?

Would he cringe at the realization that it is no longer the Klu Klux Klan who is killing off our black men but instead our black men who are killing off each other?

What would his thoughts be about the black mother who once protected their young like a lioness protects her cubs who has now has become indifferent about her children to the point that she would allow them to suffer physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her man just to keep him?

What would he see as he walked through a once thriving black neighborhood that was filled with prosperous black owned businesses? Boarded up, burnt out, and vacated buildings that were once at the very center of our black economy?

Would he look into the faces of our young men and women and see the next great leader who would guide the black community into our next victory? Would he be proud of the men and women whom we have chosen to be our political voices at the city, state and national levels to lead our causes and address our concerns?

What do you imagine he would say after visiting one of our neighborhood churches and seeing the lack of support that the church is giving back to the community? Would he be impressed with today’s mega-churches that have thousands in their congregation yet fails to help that same congregation with some of life’s most necessities like food, clothing, or housing?

Would the man who staged not one but two marches on Washington be impressed with the pastor who drives a Cadillac or maybe even a Rolls Royce while his congregation is forced to stand in the cold in the wee morning hours catching a bus to work each day?

How would Dr. King react to the notion that even though we are now in the twenty-first century not only are we discriminated against outside of our race but even within it? That the color of your skin, the grade of your hair, the job that you have are all factors that we judge one another by?

How would Martin feel as he looked into the eyes of the black father today? Would he see his own reflection? A man who believed in putting God and his family first or would he see a Godless man who shuns his responsibilities, leaving his children wondering when they will see their father again as their mother struggles alone to provide for them?

If he visited one of our schools, would he notice that the pledge of allegiance, our national anthem, and prayer are no longer allowed to be spoken aloud? Would he be horrified to see the next generation of our children fail because we have failed to provide them with an education?

Dr. King once said, “If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, "There lived a great people - a black people - who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization."

Would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. still think of us as a great people or would he turn his back so that no one could see the tears that he is now sheds as he stands on the mountaintop looking at today’s black man and woman?

I wonder, What would Martin think?
"Caught in the Middle"
Coming Spring 2010

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

Peace of Mind by Jackie Moore

2011-01-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

In a world filled with causes for worry and anxiety ... we need the peace of God standing guard over our hearts and minds.

Scripture:
The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:25-27 (New International Version)

So often our days are fraught with worry and anxieties. We worry about all sorts of things; our children, spouses, friends and even our jobs. We worry about paying our bills and putting food on the table. And for some of us, we worry if we are doing enough in the pursuit of our dreams. Finding that elusive thing called “peace of mind” often feels as though we are on an impossible quest.

As time goes on as we get older, one would think finding peace becomes easier. Not always true. As we grow in knowledge and are exposed to many more things, often times because we have the courage to move out of our comfort zones, our fears and anxieties are magnified. In our quest to not become content with where we are, we must learn to step out on faith and face our fears. However by doing so, we will be challenged with the unknown and as such, opening ourselves up for a whole new set of challenges.

The word of God tells us to cast our cares on the Lord and HE will sustain us. Now that is easier said than done. But what it ultimately means for your and I is this; when we learn to let go of our fears and anxieties and learn to lean and depend on God; He can and WILL give us the peace of mind needed to face our difficulties.

Only God can give us the peace that passes all understanding.

Be blessed

Prayer:
Father God, we come before the throne of grace with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. We come asking Lord, for peace that passes all understanding. We come asking for strength to stand in the face of adversity. Father God, we ask that when we grow tired from doing good and when our efforts are received with scorn, that we would be reminded that what we do is not about us, but rather, all about You. Master, we need You to speak to the winds of adversity that are blowing against us, peace be still. We come asking that You hold on to our hands and the storms of life toss us about. We come asking that You would hide us under the wings of Your salvation as the roaring lion draws near in an effort to devour us. Lord, we ask that You would keep all of our families, friends, co-workers and brothers and sisters in perfect peace this and every day. Bless us right now in the name of Jesus. Our prayers are not complete until we let You know just how much we love You. Our prayers on not complete until we sing songs of praise to You alone. Lord, we lift Your name on high, we give You all of our love, all of our praise and sing songs of praise all the day long. Thank You Lord for one more day. Bless You Lord. Hallelujah, Praise God thank You Jesus, Amen.

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

My favorite Christmas memory by Jackie Moore

2010-12-23T11:26:00.003-08:00

Each year, my entire family, siblings, cousins, aunties and uncles, gathers together to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Each year, we hold our celebrations at different family members houses. A few years ago our yearly celebration was held at my house. Needless to say, I had well over fifty family members of all different ages all under one roof.

The living room was full of presents for everyone in attendance and we had prepared a feast for all to partake of. Our Christmas celebration was in full swing but there was one little problem. Somehow, I had contracted a debilitating stomach flu and I was sick as a dog. I attempted to carry on as usual, but alas, my stomach was not going to cooperate. At one point, as I opened my front door to greet more guests, I literally ran out the door to empty the contents of my stomach onto my front lawn. Needless, to say, I had to leave my guests to fend for themselves as I retired to my room for the remainder of the evening.

On Christmas day, both of my sons were as sick as I was and we all spent the day asleep in my bed with buckets at our bedside just in case we couldn't make it to the bathroom. That year, Christmas day passed us by. On December twenty-sixth, I awakened to the sounds of laughter and the smell of something delicious wafting its way up to my room. Feeling well enough to venture downstairs, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Santa Claus had not passed us by.

Sometime during the night, Christmas elves had stopped by my house and delivered a bag full of gifts and food. Not only that, my kitchen as well as the rest of my house was as clean as a whistle and all the toys had been assembled with nary a missing part.

My sons and I had missed Christmas day that year because of of our illness but my siblings made sure that the spirit of Christmas still made its appearance.

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

Musketeer Christmas by Lorraine Elzia

2010-12-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Musketeer Christmas
My fondest memory of Christmas comes from the first Christmas after my sister and I figured out that our gifts did not come from a jolly white bearded man in a red suit, but from our single parent mother who worked overtime at two jobs just to see us smile on Christmas day.
We were the three musketeers; my mother, my sister and me. It was us against the world and we seemed to hold our own. The only time an outsider was let into the posse was for Christmas when my sister and me welcomed Santa into the fold.
In those early years, my sister and I never understood why Santa’s handwriting looked a lot like mommy’s on the tags on the gifts under the tree. Nor did we understand why her prideful eyes held a little bit of jealousy as we sang praises to Santa for our gifts.
With age comes wisdom and if age doesn’t school you, other kids will. Soon the proverbial grapevine told us there was no Santa and that our mom was the one supplying the gifts. We didn’t want to believe them, but the left over cookies in the refrigerator and the half-drank glass of milk with her lipstick on the glass made her suspect. It soon dawned on us that the schoolyard grapevine was right and Santa wouldn’t leave cookies in a fridge he wouldn’t visit again for another year and from everything we had been told about him, he didn’t wear Avon shade #12 lipstick either, so we knew the truth was that Santa and mommy were one in the same.
After opening our gifts that first Christmas after our discovery, my sister and I allowed our mother to hang on for a little while to the belief that her daughters still had the innocent belief in fairytales and myths. But that Christmas we just said how thankful we were for being fortunate enough to receive gifts; we no longer gave the glory to the man in the red suit. Our mother’s eyes began to have less envy in them for the sleigh driver who had stolen part of her joy for years. When she went into the kitchen she saw the note we had left on the plate of half-eaten cookies that said, “Thanks for all you do.”
That Christmas, we started a new tradition, every Christmas morning we would go out in the front yard, lay down in the snow and move our arms and legs side to side leaving snow angles on our lawn. Mommy was always in the middle with a daughter on each side. We left our marks every Christmas morning that we didn’t need Santa or anyone else because we were, and always would be, the Three Musketeers.

Lorraine Elzia is the award-winning author of "Mistress Memoirs" and "Ask Nicely and I Might." Please visit her online at www.lorrraineelzia.com.

What Christmas means to me by Jessica A. Robinson

2010-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

What Christmas means to me: when I think of this very special holiday, one word comes to mind and that's FAMILY. The one holiday that brings everyone together no matter where they are in the world. I also think of Christmas as a time of reflection of the entire year and being thankful to get another chance to celebrate such a wonderful holiday. No matter if you have money or a million gifts under the tree, as long as you spend Christmas with the people you love you'll feel like the richest person on earth. That's what Christmas means to me.

Jessica A. Robinson is the author of the best-selling Holy Seduction, and Pretty Skeletons. Purchase your copy of Holy Seduction from Black Expressions, and all of her books are available in Kindle, Nook and paperback, and whereever books are sold.

Two Years ago by LaToya S. Watkins

2010-12-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

Two years ago

It was Christmas Eve and I was excited about having two weeks off from work b/c I would get to spend time with my mother-in-law who was living with us at the time. She was suffering from MS (had been for more than 20 years), so I was waiting for my sister to come and sit with her so that I could go out and do some last minute shopping. I went into her bedroom with my laptop and sat pecking away at my latest novel. She had been a librarian when she could work and loved reading and books. I began to read the story to her aloud and she asked me for the title of the book. I told her it didn’t one and that maybe she could help me choose and she offered a smile, which was difficult (b/c of the pain) for her.

I didn’t to get a chance to finish my last minute shopping b/c she closed her eyes forever before my sister showed up. I titled my book Dorothy, after her, because that strained smile helped me to remember what was so wonderful about life the next day.

LaToya S. Watkins
Author of In Love with Losers and Dorothy
www.latoyaswatkins.com
http://latoyaswatkins.wordpress.com/

Memories of White Christmases Past by S.D. Denny

2010-12-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

Memories of White Christmases Past
Most everyone who knows me knows that I’m a native New Yorker that has been transplanted in the south for many years. Although I love the beauty of the warm weather and lush landscapes that the south offers, I will never give up my dreams for a White Christmas. I smile as I remember the days of my youth, watching the snow fall against the Brooklyn asphalt on Christmas Eve, wondering what it will look like when I awaken the next morning. On Christmas day, my sister and brother and I would awaken early and go running into the living room to see what Santa had left under the tree for us. But before anyone opened a gift, we’d all stand at the window, marveling at the blanket of snow that covered the ground outside our third floor apartment. It may as well had been a scene from a Thomas Kinkade painting, the kind you see on the butter cookie tins that Grandma always had sitting on the counter, right next to the holiday nuts and ribbon candy. All day, we’d watch the snow fall and listen to my mother’s Gene Autry Christmas album. Christmas day has an unexplainable beauty of its own, but a white Christmas gives the day that extra touch that makes it just a bit more magical.

~S.D. Denny is the author of "The Baker's Dozen," and soon to be released "Half."
Learn more about this dynamic author at www.sddenny.com.

The Award for “Most Nauseating Topic of 2010” goes to...

2010-12-16T04:52:00.000-08:00

Male Talk Show Hosts for Why Are So Many Black Women Single?
Tell me, is this rose any less beautiful because it is a single, red rose?

It never ceases to amaze me how and why so many men, namely African-American men, especially talk and radio show hosts, claim to have all the answers to what they THINK is the #1 problem plaguing black women in America today – BEING SINGLE! I’ll give it to them, not all of them claim to have the answer to what they call “the problem”, but, if they don’t have the answer, they certainly seem to have placed it at the top of their list of problems that they deem worthy of repetitive discussions. But for the record, I have to give it up to Steve Harvey... at least he has taken the time to put in writing what he feels will help women of all statuses to maneuver through relationship drama, rather than put them down for being single or make it appear to be as bad as having a disease!

Newsflash… the state of being single for a black woman is NOT A BAD THING!

I am a 45-year-old single woman and mother of two, who has never been married. That may seem unorthodox to some, but my life is what it is and I’ve managed to take what some consider a hopeless situation and turn it around for the better. I don’t hold a degree, but I do have some college courses under my belt. I have worked in healthcare for many years in positions ranging from Customer Service Representative to Business Analyst and I’m the award-nominated, published author of two books, with the third being released in May 2011. Let me also say that I'm also in the process of starting a business, which I plan to be fully operational by summer of 2011. Not bad for a Single Woman, huh?

I’m not saying I don’t need a man, nor am I what some call the male-bashing, so-called independent, strong woman type who feels she has acquired so much strength that she can do it all by herself; however, on the other hand, the life that I’ve lived has required me to be strong at times when women are typically thought of as being weak, when I could have easily fallen apart and lost everything I had, including my mind, and all in the absence of a man to help me to hold things together.

For those of you who think that being single is at the top of the list of a black woman’s woes, let me break down the list of benefits there are to being a single black woman:

• A single black woman has more of the time and the freedom often required to adequately take advantage of opportunities for advancement and personal growth in areas such as education and pursuing one’s dreams.
• A single black woman is more in the position to maneuver within the purpose for her life when it involves community and civil outreach because she has fewer restrictions on her time and availability.
• A single black woman has more of the time and mental capacity needed to work on getting to know who she is and who she is meant to be, whereby being able to make better decisions about her life and better choices with whom she will allow to take up space in her life or become partners with in life.

So, you see, it is NOT a bad thing to be a single, black woman! In fact, women should consider themselves privileged to be at such an advantage. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had married women tell me they wish they had one or more of the advantages I’ve listed above, and how many have admitted to wishing they had waited or worked on themselves and their dreams before committing to marriage. It takes time to learn that two half-people do NOT make a whole person, and that the greatest love of all is the love you have for God and for yourself.

There’s a Bible verse, Proverbs 18:22 that says: Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing. So, why have things turned around so in society that single, black women are now led to believe that the number of available, good men is so few that we have to battle it out with other women to land a man, as if the man is the prize? Not so! I refuse to believe that I have to change my values because of this new “black woman you’d better get yourself a man by any means possible” mentality! I’m still a gift and a treasure to behold and I still believe that whoever finds me, finds a good thing!

I’m NOT saying that married black women should now leave their husbands. Please do NOT put words in my mouth. But what I AM saying is that single, black women should embrace being single! You are blessed to be in the position to become a better YOU! Take pride in your singleness and stop letting people tell you that being single is a problem or downfall. I’ll never forget the scene in the movie The Color Purple when Celie finally decides to leave her abusive husband, Albert, and he follows her outside saying “Who you think you is? You can’t curse nobody. Look at you. You’re black, you're poor, you're ugly, you're a woman, you're nothing at all!” He used all the words he could think of in his sick mind to make her think she would never succeed.

Single, black women please take advantage of this time and opportunity to walk in your purpose, pursue your dreams and love the beautiful woman that God has made in you! There’s nothing wrong with you. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting a mate, but until God has blessed you with the right person for you, know that it’s okay to be single in the meantime! And never settle just because society thinks it’s better to have a man than to have no man at all.

SD Denny
Author of The Baker’s Dozen and the upcoming novel, HALF
Available on amazon.com and other fine book retailers
www.sddenny.com

12 Days of Peace, Love & Joy with the Peace In The Storm Christmas Celebration

2010-12-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

We’re Spreading Holiday Cheer!

Join the Authors of Peace In The Storm as we celebrate Christmas with the 12 Days of Peace, Love & Joy with Peace In The Storm.

Beginning December 6, 2010, we will post trivia, moments and special memories from the authors, and chances for you to win big during our 12 Days of Peace, Love & Joy with the Peace In The Storm Christmas Celebration.
Get to know the Authors of Peace In The Storm and make sure you know your PITS history; you may win a grand prize!

Celebrate Christmas with Us and you are eligible to win Grand Prizes including Books, Music, and Special Gifts!

Best Wishes!

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

2010-11-30T06:57:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-24T09:10:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-09T07:05:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-07T09:32:00.001-08:00

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?

2010-11-01T04:20:00.000-07:00

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.

Follow your Dreams!

2010-10-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Family and Friends,

What is your dream? You may say to yourself that I don't have time to dream or may feel that the dream that you have will never come to pass, but I really want you to take a moment and think about what is your dreams and your passions?

Sometimes we can be so consumed and caught up with being so many things to so many people in our lives that we stop dreaming for ourselves but I'm here to encourage you today: its time to dust off those dreams and get busy!!!

You may even feel that you don't even have time to invest in a dream and may feel guilty in doing so but there's nothing wrong with investing in your dreams. Take the time today and invest in what your dreams are because it is your destiny! Its the legacy that you will leave for generations that will come after you so its definitely worth the hard work you will put in. Whether it may be starting your own business, writing a book, going back to school, start taking steps to reach your goals and watch how God works! Here at Peace in the Storm we are every day regular people that decided to push past our fears and doubts and become published authors! Look at how awesome that is! God is so faithful and he took each of our step of faith and is doing some amazing things!

So we encourage you today to chase after your dreams, actively pursue the things you want to do in life, and don't be afraid to step out on faith. A little faith will take you a long way! So what are you waiting for??? Get busy and invest in YOU today!!!

Best Wishes and Happy Dreaming,

Jessica A Robinson

________________________________________

Jessica A. Robinson is an award-winning, national best selling author of Holy Seduction. Her latest release, Pretty Skeletons has received much praise. You can order her books at www.amazon.com, www.blackexpressions.com, www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com and her books are available at national bookstores nationwide, including Borders and Barnes and Noble.

Are you Walking in the Valley?

2010-10-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Remember; If you are going through hell...keep going. ~Winston Churchill

Scripture:For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30 (New International Version)

One of my favorite topics that I like to talk about, is the valley experience. A valley experience can mean that you are at a low point in your life. A valley experience could be the loss of a job, loss of loved one, financial difficulties, Strife in your relationships, or a wayward spouse or child.
A valley experience can even be a life threatening illness.

A valley experience could mean that you feel unconnected. No one understands you. Your family, your friends, not even God. A valley experience could mean that you don’t feel that God hears or cares about your circumstances.

A valley experience can mean that you don't know where you belong in life. You are confused as to what direction you should be going in. You are not happy with your job, or just getting by with your job. Maybe you want to go back to school but just aren't sure or maybe don't know where the money is coming from. A valley experience could be a heaviness of heart, for what seems to you, no reason.

Well my brothers and sisters understand that each and everyone of us will have a valley experience. Sometimes, it’s because of things that we have done, the choices that we have made, or maybe it's necessary for our spiritual growth.

Sometimes God will put us in the valley for our own good. Maybe it's to protect us. Maybe it's to help us see just how blessed we are. Maybe it's to help us grow. Grow in our faith and grow in our relationship with him.

There are two things that I have learned about the valley. The first one is this; none of us will stay in the valley. It's just a journey to the other side. The second thing is:

I wouldn't be able to truly appreciate the Mountain Top unless I had first gone through that valley.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
I love the Lord. He heard my cry. And even as I walk through the valleys of life, He is with me always. Goodness and mercy are at my side. He covers and protects me in the blood of the Lamb. Thank You Lord. Father we come asking that You would give us the strength, the peace and the patience to make it through whatever valley we may go through this day. We come asking that even as we find ourselves in the valley, we know that we are never alone. Lord, as I look around me and see others in the valley with me, may something that I do or say, encourage them to stay their course. Father, I ask that You would touch my brothers and sisters who find themselves in that valley. Lord, let them know that they too are never alone. Thank You Father for allowing us to come before Your throne of grace one more time. Thank You Father, for listening to us, one more time. Thank You Lord, for blessing us, one more time. Praise His name, saints of God. Lord, we lift Your name on high. We sings song of praise even in the valley low. We sings songs of praise, when we reach our mountain top. Thank You Lord, Bless You Lord. Hallelujah, praise God. Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com. She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint. "Caught in the Middle" Now Available!
http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com
jackiemoore@virtuousliving.com
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

From the Root to the Fruit

2010-10-26T06:02:00.001-07:00

From the Root to the Fruit

One simple thought….

From the Root to the Fruit

What a wonderful colloquialism that I only wish I could claim as my own. – But I can't. At a recent MLK celebration, the keynote speaker was Bishop T.D. Jakes…the saying is his.

Uttered from his lips and forever entwined in my psyche.
Six words.
Alone they mean nothing, but put in proper context, they are the beginning of a phenomenal road map by which we should govern our lives.

In an eloquent, gregarious and expressive manner, Bishop Jakes linked the plight of Martin Luther King Jr. to the achievements of President Obama (oh, how I love the way that title rolls off one’s tongue.) Bishop Jakes indicated that in order for us to see the Fruit that is Obama, there had to be a Root, which was Martin Luther King Jr. One could not be possible without the other. Both are essential tools to get us to where we need to go.

Among the thunderous applause which engulfed a room filled to capacity, as everyone around me stood and shouted praises, amens and a few, “I know that’s right”, I sat nodding my head in agreement while taking notes. (I'm a writer…it’s what I do.) I scribed his powerful words, detailing the images around me, chronically my thoughts, describing my feelings and constructing analogies in my head. Through Bishop Jakes, I wanted to touch Barack and get a whiff of the smell of Martin. I needed to inhale and absorb both as if they were part of my current and physical existence; part of my earthly being. I could stand and applaud later, but at that moment I needed to touch the hem of the garment that made up both of these men...for me, I simply needed to personalize in words, the moment handed to me by God. I needed to make a lyrical scrapbook of what I was feeling before it became a faint and fleeting memory in the back of my mind. At that moment I wanted to document the events and environment around me so that I could relive it at a later time and for several more times like it to come.

The man before me was a man who days before had the privilege and responsibility of spiritually feeding a hungry sheep, albeit a sheep in the form of the man who would be the next president of the United States. Before me was the man, who had the task and honor of soothing the soul of our President mere hours before Barack would accept his role. Spitting out a simple thought of connection was a man who had accepted the challenge of shepardizing the spiritual guidance of a man who will lead us all and yet, Bishop Jakes humbly stood before a large crowd that had gathered to see him and celebrate a dream interpreted several decades earlier by a simple man named Martin. Oh, how six degrees of separation never felt so surreal.

Eagerly, my senses hung on Bishop Jakes’ every word. He did his job well and earned his appearance fee for the evening while stirring the crowd to feel connected, at least for a moment in time, with Martin and Barack. Mission accomplished in making a connection that all in the room could personally feel and take home to marinate on the significance of the moment that the 44th President of the United States brings and how his journey was paved by the blood, sweat and tears of others including, but not limited to Martin Luther King Jr. The moment should not be lost on any of us, the connection should be obvious to all of us, and the significance should be acknowledged even by the worst of us.

But where Bishop Jakes started, I challenge you to take a step further.

“From the Root to the Fruit”

As my favorite Pastor used to say, “I ain’t talking about nobody…just talking about what I’m talking about.” But for a short moment in time please contemplate this:

What roots are you nourishing? What seeds are you sowing?

For all things to blossom, they must first take root.

Take a moment and run with that thought.

If you want your life to blossom….
You must plant seeds
They must take root.
And then and only then will you see fruit.

In order for there to be a harvest, you must first tender to the crop.

Want a healthy marriage?
Plant the root of fidelity and communication.
Want respectable children, the kind you can be proud of?
Plant the root of knowledge, wisdom and discipline.
Want a successful career?
Plant the root of ambition, experience and skill.
Want accomplishment of your dreams?
Plant the root of steadfast endurance in chasing them.
All things are possible if you follow the road map and remember that in order to get the Fruit, you first have to have a strong, healthy and fertile Root.

Peace, Favor and blessings to you all,
Lorraine

Lorraine Elzia is an award winning author, and her latest release, Ask Nicely and I Might has received much praise. Order your copy at www.amazon.com!

Patience Really is a Virtue

2010-10-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Remember, If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. ~ Chinese Epigram

Scripture:A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

As I reflect on the word patience, I am reminded that patience, is not something that comes easily. So often, when we want something, we want it right now. We don’t want to wait for it. We make a decision to do something and we expect it to manifest itself right now. We live with a right now kind of mind set.

“Many of us want a big beautiful house, a car and all that our parents had but we are not willing to make the same sacrifices that our parents made. We want the connectivity in our marriages that our parents and grandparents had, but we are not willing to INVEST in our relationships the way that they did.

As Christians, patience is not optional. It is something that is required from each and every one of us. It is something that is expected of us each and everyday. Not just every once in a while. It is something that others will be looking for when they observe in our Christian walk. So often if we would just learn to show a little patience in certain situations, we could prevent our lives from becoming more complicated than they already are.

I am reminded of this as I watch the news or read the newspapers and the perpetrator of a crime says, “I didn’t mean it, I didn’t realize what I was doing.” We must learn to exert patience instead of reacting in all things.

Remember, patience truly is a virtue.

Be Blessed

Prayer:Father God, today I became angry and forgot to be patience. I may have said or done something in my anger that caused some one harm or maybe caused someone else to stumbled in their Christian walk. Forgive me Lord. Help me Lord, to call on the fruits of the spirit before I react to certain things or people. Teach me Lord, to have the patience of Job. Help me Lord, to be still and know that everything has its own time and season. Lord, help me to watch my tongue and only use it to quietly correct. Help me Lord, not to be judgmental of others but to realize that each of us must learn in our own time. Now Lord, I ask that You would bless those who I may have slighted. Speak to my heart Holy Spirit and let me always remember that You are greater than any slight I may experience. Continue to bless my brothers and sisters in Christ as well as my family and friends. Touch those who are feeling unloved right now, in the name of Jesus. Keep us all in perfect peace. I humbly submit this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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

The Person Behind the Fiction Writer

2010-10-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

The Person Behind the Fiction Writer

Some of the most common questions I get from readers of my work are “How much of the story is about you?” and “How much truth is there to the story?”

While I’m not sure about other writers, I can say that I personally have built a great deal of my work around many factual people, events, emotions, and experiences that I’ve encountered in my life. Not to say that the story is completely about me or completely about someone that I know, but each story that I write is written because I’m tied to it in some way or another, even if it’s through an association that I have with someone else.

I tend to write out of inspiration about experiences or emotions on intense issues. For instance, in my debut novel, The Baker's Dozen, I tackle deep issues like depression, unplanned pregnancy, family secrets and incest. The story is a conglomerate of associations, experiences and emotions that I have encountered along the way that I was inspired to build upon and share as a means of inspiring others by showing how we can rise above such adversities.

In my sophomore novel, HALF, which is slated for release this coming spring, I tackle identity issues from the viewpoint of the main character, Carmen O’Malley, a young biracial woman. Although the story itself is a work of fiction, readers will encounter experiences and emotions that are factual, which I was able to lend to the story’s credibility.

In doing radio, blog, and magazine interviews I find that many of my hosts are intrigued by whether or not there’s any “fact to my fiction.” I always say that it’s a work of fiction that contains fragments of factual events or characters as well. I never point out which is which, because I don’t think it should matter to the reader, but the fact alone that a reader knows that “somewhere in between these lines someone has really encountered this” seems to make the story that much more interesting!

Some writers write for entertainment, some for inspiration, and some for the sheer love of writing. But no matter what their reason for writing is, I believe that the work of every fiction writer is sprinkled with bits and pieces of themselves and/or the lives of people whom they associate with. I happen to love the idea that a writer could have such a creative mind that they can actually build a great story around an experience that they or someone they know has encountered.
The sculptor has but a ball of clay in his hands; yet he molds that clay into an amazing work of art that people can look at and appreciate. So is the fiction writer, so simply amazing, that he can craft as beautiful a work of art straight from his heart.

SD Denny, Author
2009 African-American Literary Award Nominee
http://www.sddenny.com/

7 Principles for Having a Marriage of Purpose

2010-04-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Principle 6: Unconditional Love

The Greek language (the language of the New Testament) uses two different words to describe and define love. The most commonly used Greek word translated "love" in the New Testament is "agape." This love is represented by God's love for us. It is a non-partial, sacrificial love probably best exemplified by God's provision of His Son's life for our sins.

Unconditional love is the kind of love spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; patient, kind, overlooking faults, not rude, not self seeking. This "true love" is the type of love that comes with no string attached. After the initial passion when you first meet someone has subsided, unconditional love takes over. You accept that your partner is not perfect but that doesn't cause you to run to the hills - that is real love. You know that they are not infallible. But you dont mind that. You still love them. This is unconditional love. When this kind of love exists in marriage it transcends the emotional, lust filled love of one's youth. It opens the door for new communication, new commtiment, and new understanding.

Take the time to love your spouse with the agape love of God that goes past the surface enabling you to look deep into their heart and love them for who God has made them to be despite their faults and shortcomings.

Cheryl Lacey Donovan is an Award-winning author, Bible teacher, and licensed Evangelist, Cheryl's books, CD's, and devotionals are not meant to only entertain, but to also minister to and encourage others.

Keith Donovan is a husband, father, son, and most importantly a man of God. He endeavors to emulate the image of Christ as he forges his way through life.

Keith and Cheryl have been married for seventeen years and have three grown children and one grandson.

Their new book Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After can be pre-ordered by visiting Peace in the Storm Publishing. To learn more about them visit their website Do You Still Do Marriage

7 Principles for a Marriage of Purpose

2010-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Principle 5: Forgive and Forget

There's no doubt about it the closer the relationship the more severe the pain of the offense. But it is important to understand that the offense is harmless unless we allow it to take root in our spirit and grow. Jesus Himself told us in Luke 17:1 it's impossible not to be offended in this life. Therefore the question isn't will you be offended but how you will deal with it when you are offended.

Forgiveness is an essential expectation marriage but it comes with a counterpart and that’s forgetting.. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:14-15. This is a commandment with a promise. If you desire forgiveness from God you must learn to forgive. That includes your husband. But it’s forgetting in marriage that can be downright impossible. How can you be expected to forget the horrible words, the devastating arguments, or worse yet, the affair? Truthfully, there is no cut and dry answer to this question. Only God can give the courage and strength to truly forgive from your heart. But it is important to remember that when you don’t forgive the only person you are hurting is yourself.

Forgiveness is the only cure for offense. When we forgive we release the power of God to bring good out of a bad situation.

2010-03-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Principle 4: Sometimes we have to "agree to disagree"

by: Cheryl and Keith Donovan

There are times when my husband and I can't agree. No matter how much we try we can't come to a mutually satisfying conclusion. Each of us wants to win the battle and be right. For me, in the past, conclusion was everything. But we've learned over the years every difference of opinion doesn't have to be settled. We no longer expect to agree on everything. Remembering that our relationship, not the issue, is the most important thing we often ask ourselves if our motives for the disagreement are selfish. If they are we pray about our differences and let them go. After all it was our differences that attracted us to one another in the first place. Just because we have differing opinions doesn't mean we aren't compatible or that we are drifting apart. We are willing to not get defensive nor to insist on winning at all costs. Agreeing to disagree helps us to appreciate one another's uniqueness.

Cheryl Lacey Donovan is an Award-winning author, Bible teacher, and licensed Evangelist, Cheryl's books, CD's, and devotionals are not meant to only entertain, but to also minister to and encourage others.

Keith Donovan is a husband, father, son, and most importantly a man of God. He endeavors to emulate the image of Christ as he forges his way through life.

Keith and Cheryl have been married for seventeen years and have three grown children and one grandson.

Their new book Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After can be pre-ordered by visiting Peace in the Storm Publishing. To learn more about them visit their website Do You Still Do Marriage

7 Principles for a Marriage of Purpose

2010-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Principle 3: Keep a "teachable spirit"

by: Cheryl and Keith Donovan

We believe that God can use each of us to help the other deal with "blind spots." We all have areas in our lives in which we need to grow or bad habits we need to overcome. Sometimes these things are easy for our spouse to see, but difficult for us to see in ourselves. If we keep a teachable spirit, God can use our spouse to help us grow to be a better person, a better spouse, and more Christ like.

Easier said than done because human nature tends to be defensive and stubborn we tend to react unseemly when our spouse tries to help us see a weak area. Pointing out one of their weaknesses while excusing our own we try to ease our ego. But as long as we both are determined to keep a genuine teachable spirit, the marriage continues to soar to new heights!

Cheryl Lacey Donovan is an Award-winning author, Bible teacher, and licensed Evangelist, Cheryl's books, CD's, and devotionals are not meant to only entertain, but to also minister to and encourage others.

Keith Donovan is a husband, father, son, and most importantly a man of God. He endeavors to emulate the image of Christ as he forges his way through life.

Keith and Cheryl have been married for seventeen years and have three grown children and one grandson.

Their new book Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After can be pre-ordered by visiting Peace in the Storm Publishing. To learn more about them visit their website Do You Still Do Marriage

7 Principles for Having a Marriage of Purpose

2010-03-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Principle 2: We enjoy sharing the details of life with each other.

by; Cheryl and Keith Donovan

We want to know "how the day went" for each other. We share the details of what's going on at work or what's going on in the lives of our kids.

This was not always the case. There was a time in our marriage when communication was tertiary at best. Struggling often to put my feelings into words after an, I would withdraw and shut my husband out with silence just to avoid conflict. Feelings buried so as not to provoke Keith only stayed buried for the short term. They eventually came to a head. My passive aggressive behavior of nagging and blaming was just as dangerous to our marriage as Keith’s more aggressive tirades of anger that played out with yelling and screaming. We had developed a habit of allowing our arguments to get out of control. Not resolving the problem gave us an initial feeling of peace and harmony, but it was like a wound that heals on the surface when underneath there’s an infection that needs to be released. No one enjoys lancing the wound, but real recovery can’t take place otherwise.

we had to reframe our thinking, realign the way we handled disagreements to better reflect the pattern God wanted to see. Instead of justifying our behavior we learned how to properly react to disagreements no matter how intense they were or who was at fault. We learned to see through conflict and search for the real issues that were submerged under the surface of our shallow pool of volatile emotions. Bringing God into the conversation didn’t hurt. His wisdom always helped when we couldn’t find the answer on our own. Each time we worked out a disagreement this way we were better equipped to deal with the next one. It fine-tuned our relationship.

Now, we crave the opportunity to talk to one another and share our inner most thoughts and feelings. Open communication that is edyfying, encouraging, and reaffirming makes for a long lasting realtionship able to endure the test of time.

Cheryl Lacey Donovan is an Award-winning author, Bible teacher, and licensed Evangelist, Cheryl's books, CD's, and devotionals are not meant to only entertain, but to also minister to and encourage others.

Keith Donovan is a husband, father, son, and most importantly a man of God. He endeavors to emulate the image of Christ as he forges his way through life.

Keith and Cheryl have been married for seventeen years and have three grown children and one grandson.

Their new book Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After can be pre-ordered by visiting Peace in the Storm Publishing. To learn more about them visit their website Do You Still Do Marriage

7 Principles for Having a Marriage of Purpose

2010-03-28T17:06:00.001-07:00

Principle 1: Keep God at the center of your marriage
by: Cheryl and Keith Donovan

Having God at the center of your marriage means more than just going to church together or saying grace before mealtime. Frequently when my husband Keith and I are alone together, we talk about the Lord. We remind each other of how good He's been to us and we discuss what He's doing in our lives right now. We have times when together we discuss passages of scripture we've read from the Bible. You'll also see and hear us praying for our children, for wisdom for the day, and any petitions we are seeking the Lord for. This is what it means for God to be Lord of our marriage.

We take seriously the commitment we made to God through our vows. We seek at evey occasion to make our marriage glorify God through the way we treat one another, speak to one another, and love one another. Our marriage is a lab for learning how to love like Jesus. Testing our faith our fortitude and our resilience, each day we embark upon a new experiment. Some days the experiment is a success, other days we have to return to our lab manual, the Bible, and formulate a new hypothesis, a new theory, that will prove our union worthy of purpose. Our marriage has been the best work room for God to teach us to look more like Him.

Striving to reflect our ultimate service to God for which we were both made Keith and I look for ways to display our servant hood to one another and to others. We have come to understand and accept that some of the very things we regret about our marriage, some of the things we wish we could forget, are the very things that God has used over and over again as we minister to and encourage couples who share the same struggles. God hasn’t just used our strengths; He’s used our weaknesses and even our failures to edify relationships on the brink of catastrophe.

Our mission as believers is to now use our marriage as a means to tell others about love. Our marriage is a lifelong process designed to teach us to see the needs of another person as more important than our own. The more we shift in that direction, the more our marriage becomes focused on the needs of others and balancing our purpose. Life is more fulfilling when you choose to be obedient to God and keep Him at the center.

Keep God at the center of your marriage. Remember God’s plan for you and your spouse are plans to prosper you and to give you a future full of hope. It is exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ever ask or think. But each of you must be willing to chase it.

Cheryl Lacey Donovan is an Award-winning author, Bible teacher, and licensed Evangelist, Cheryl's books, CD's, and devotionals are not meant to only entertain, but to also minister to and encourage others.

Keith Donovan is a husband, father, son, and most importantly a man of God. He endeavors to emulate the image of Christ as he forges his way through life.

Keith and Cheryl have been married for seventeen years and have three grown children and one grandson.

Their new book Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After can be pre-ordered by visiting Peace in the Storm Publishing. To learn more about them visit their website
Do You Still Do Marriage

Stand Strong in the Face of Adversity

2010-02-21T17:27:00.000-08:00

Remember, Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger. ~Lou Holtz

Scripture:
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:20-21 (New International Version)

Adversity can be described as a series of unfortunate events. Just when it seems that things are going right in your life, something can happen to change your perspective. It can be something as small as failing a test or something so overwhelming like death that just rocks your world.

Sometimes when we are confronted with adverse situations, we may want to throw up our hands in surrender. At other times, we just say “oh well” and keep on keeping on. And then there will come times, when you want to give up and give in. It is in those times when what we are made of, will surely be tested.

Whether you realize it or not, adversity in your lives is sometimes necessary for your spiritual development. There will be times when it becomes inevitable for us all to truly see just how strong the word of God is embedded in our everyday lives. Or, it may be a necessary process in order for us to move to the next level in our spiritual growth.

It is at those times that we must learn to depend on God even more than we already do. The reality of most individuals is that when things are going well in our lives, we become content with where we are. That is not where God necessarily wants us to be. Being a part of the Body of Christ is being willing to be stretched so that we become more like Him and less like the world.

It is at times like these, that we must learn to Stand in the face of Adversity.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God, we come before the throne of grace with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. We come asking Lord, for peace that passes all understanding. We come asking for strength to stand in the face of adversity. But most of all, we come asking with humbled hearts and minds, that You would hear our prayers and our petitions. Master, we need You to speak to the winds of adversity that are blowing against us, peace be still. We come asking that You hold on to our hands and the storms of life toss us about. We come asking that You would hide us under the wings of Your salvation as the roaring lions draws near in an effort to devour us. Lord, we ask that You would keep all of our families, friends, co-workers and brothers and sisters in perfect peace this and every day. Bless us right now in the name of Jesus. Our prayers are not complete until we let You know just how much we love You. Our prayers on not complete until we sing songs of praise to You alone. Lord, we lift Your name on high, we give You all of our love, all of our praise and sing songs of praise all the day long. Thank You Lord for one more day. Bless You Lord. Hallelujah, Praise God thank You Jesus, in his name we pray, Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

A Ray of Hope In a Dark Room

2010-02-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time. ~ Ê Deborah Chaskin

Scripture:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27 (New International Version)

People who really know me say they can always tell when things aren’t going well in my life. You see, I have a tendency to grow quiet and withdraw from the world around me. I don’t talk the same and I wear my heart on my sleeve.

Recently, I suffered an unexpected setback in my life and had begun to worry about how I would make ends meet and continue to provide for my family. It is no secret that Michigan, especially here in Detroit, has been hit extremely hard by the current recession. That coupled with the fact that I am over fifty-years old and dread the idea of having to start all over again.
Although my situation hasn’t changed, my outlook has.

Unfortunately, I have no control over the external but I do control how I deal with it. First I went through several of the stages of grief; Shock, anger, depression, reflection, loneliness and now finally, acceptance and hope. I cannot control the views and opinions of others, but I can control my own views. I made the mistake of putting my trust in man and not in God.

As I compose today’s message I just want others who may be going through something similar to know that no matter what the future brings, God is still in control. Things may happen in your life to knock you off your square, but God can pick you up and place you back where you belong.

And just like the beautiful and majestic butterfly, you too will awaken in your own time.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
God bless those of us who are battling those inner demons of depression, loneliness, unworthiness, and hopelessness. Shine Your warm Heavenly Light down upon all of us, Lord, guide us to find peace, happiness, and contentment in our lives and within ourselves. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Thank You Father for Your grace and one more experience of Your presence, for Your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation. For these and all blessings, we give You thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Butterfly Affirmation
You are like the majestic Black butterfly, full of grace and beauty. Your blackness boldly stands out, acting as the backdrop for the rainbow of colors that define and distinguish you from the rest. Your timeless beauty has carried you across the winds of time, leaving your eternal message written clear across the skies of the lives of others so that all of us can read it and remember when we need it, that a dream conceived in truth will never die.

Positive Affirmation: Today I am like the beautiful and graceful Black Butterfly. My life-defining message I leave in the sky for all to read will be a reflection of not only my inner beauty but also a message of self-love, courage and the pursuit of my dreams. ~ Jacqueline D. Moore

Inspired by the song Black Butterfly - Denise Williams

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

In the Fiery Furnace

2010-02-08T15:55:00.000-08:00

The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm. ~ Charles Caleb Coltron

Scripture:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Have you ever wondered why sometimes it seems that it's hard being a Christian? We accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and then it seems like the more we love God and try to grow closer to him, life is constantly coming against you?

Well, I know I have. I look at my life and the lives of my saved brothers and sisters and see that each and every one of us is going through some rather difficult times. Situation after situation keeps happening. Jobs are being lost. Cars are being reposed, houses are being lost, marriages are being torn apart and the money just can't seem to stretch far enough.

But then, God gave me a revelation. Stop depending on the world, the people of this world, and the things of this world. Start looking at me instead! How many of you have noticed that the more you go through, the more you start to really study the word of God. You pray more and you look to him more. The more you go through, things and habits that you once had start falling away.

God says I put you in the furnace so that I can refine you like gold. I need to burn off all of those impurities. I know it's hot in there, but you are mine and those who are mine must be the best. Without spot or blemish. Free of sin, clean, A NEW CREATURE!

So I just want each of you to know, that it may get so hot and uncomfortable. Life will get hard and things may not always work the way we want them to, but in the end, we can praise God and rejoice at the new creature that he has created.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Thank You Jesus for my fiery furnace. Thank You Lord, for the impurities that You are removing from me. Father, we just ask that You continue to be with us as we go through. We just ask that You would take our hand and lead us on. Lord, we ask that You would help us to see those things in our lives that we have need to get rid of and give them to You willingly. Continue to bless Your saints. Bless each and every family that is represented here. Thank You father for family and friends. Thank You Lord, for Your word. Thank You Lord, for Your son Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

Burnt Biscuits

2010-01-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

Every now and then, you hear a story that has a meaning that is so profound it grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until you pass it on to someone else. Today, I am compelled to share this gift with you:

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You... Now, and Always.

SD Denny, Author of The Baker's Dozen
2009 African American Literary Award Nominee
www.sddenny.com

The Life Altering Word of God

2010-01-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

Remember, we don't change God's message -- His message changes us.

Scripture:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:17-19 (New International Version)

I remember a time when I wasn’t saved, sanctified and Holy-Ghost filled. I used to believe that people who believed in God were stupid and foolish. I mean, how could they believe in something that they could not see?

Yeah, I used to go to church and listen to the Man of God preach about heaven, but I found it hard to believe that there could be a heaven with so much hell on earth. I saw poverty and despair all around me. I saw supposedly “good” people suffering in ways that they didn’t deserve. I watched as a very good “Christian” friend suffered through the pain and agony of a cancer that would one day take her life. Yes, I knew about God but somehow, I found it hard to believe that He knew about me.

Then one Sunday as I sat in church listening to the preacher talk about how God knows and sees our struggles and about how we needed to see beyond our natural and start looking at God through His supernatural eye; I felt something that I had never before experienced; A peace that passes all understanding. My eyes were opened for the very first time.

On that all important day, I began to see and experience the true power of the Holy Spirit as it landed on me and changed the course of my life. I finally got it. I finally understood with my heart what God’s message was all about. It wasn’t about what we see and hear around us, it is about what a relationship with God truly meant.

I finally understood that what I had been going to church for all those years weren’t meant to change the world around me. Rather, it was meant to change my world; A world that places God at its center. The word of God is an instrument that is used to lead us and teach us as we journey through this world. The word of God is a lesson to aid us as we are reconciled to the kingdom of God. The word of God is the key to the kingdom.

Aren’t you glad for His Word?

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God, we come before the throne of grace to give thanks for Your word. Your word that gives us life eternal through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank You for the gift of life: for the breath that sustains life, for the food of this earth that nurtures life, for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life. O Lord, Your compassions never fail and Your mercies are new every morning: We give You thanks for giving each of us relief from pain and hope of health renewed. Continue in us, we pray, the good work You have begun; that we, daily increasing in bodily strength, and rejoicing in Your goodness, may so order our lives and conduct that we may always think and do those things that please You; through Jesus Christ our Lord. We give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Amen.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS IN HAITI. I AM ALSO ASKING FOR SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE FOLLOWING U.S. MISSIONARIES WHO ARE MISSING:

Leonard, Gabrielle, Gertrude and Renie.

Warning: Sin is Addicting

2010-01-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

All sin tends to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is what is called damnation~W.H. Auden

Scripture:
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. Romans 6:15-17

Saints, how many of you have ever gone through an addiction? Exactly, what is addiction? I found a few interesting definitions I want to share with you.

1. Being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit forming. 2. An abnormally strong craving. 3. (Roman Law) a formal award by a court sentence of a thing or a person to another (as of a debtor to his creditor).

Now, personally I found all three definitions to be of great interest. Especially, number 3, but I am getting ahead of myself.

I started smoking when I was about 16. It was the cool thing to do. Now here I am, 35 years later, and I am still smoking. Not because it is the cool thing to do, but because I am physically addicted.

Now some people who have never gone through a physical addiction would say, just quit. But it's not that easy. My body and my emotions start going through some things. Without going through every detail, ultimately my body says, no; don't give it up because we need it in order to feel normal.

Well sin is like smoking. Some sins started out as the cool thing to do. "Everybody else is doing it, it must be okay." Every smoker knows that smoking is bad for you and can lead to serious health problems or even death. There are even warnings on each and every pack of cigarettes.

Unfortunately, there is not a warning on every sin. But there is the bible. The Bible is like the "Surgeon General's Warning"

"Quitting sin now greatly reduces the risk of serious spiritual problems later."

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Lord, I am a sinner. I have not always done what You have said. I ask Father that You would help me to overcome my addiction(s) whatever it may be. Strengthen me Lord, so that I would not give in to the cravings. Calm my spirit and my soul so that I may not use my addiction as an excuse. Help me Lord to realize and recognize that Satan is using my addiction to keep me from You. Lord, I ask that in all that I do and in all that happens, let me never lose hope. Strengthen my faith O'Lord. Let me never think that the things that I do in Your name have been done in vain. Whatever the day may bring, let me trust that You are with me. Whatever path You have chosen for my life, let me follow it without fear. Whatever Satan may bring my way; I shall rebuke it and send it back to him with all authority that has been given to me through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father, let me not forget my brothers and sisters whom I pray for and with in all earnestly. Lord, let us not forget Your word which is still the blueprint for us to live more righteously. Lord, I love and praise You. Thank You Lord for my breakthroughs and victories. As I ask and pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Let It Go!

2010-01-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go. ~ Sylvia Robinson

Scripture:
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:19-21

A few years ago I received a message from a very good friend of mine that was written by Bishop T.D. Jakes. I have read the message titled "Let it Go", several times. In this very inspiring message, Bishop Jakes talks about letting go of people who are not good for you, past pains and hurts that you may still carry, and a multitude of excess baggage that may be holding you back.

We as believers often times will prevent ourselves from receiving our blessings, our salvation, our deliverance, because we cannot "Let it Go.” We do not go before the mercy seat and ask God to forgive us for our past mistakes; we allow the world to tell us how we feel, how we should think, and what to believe. We allow the sins of our past to continue to be our sins of today.

God has given us the keys to the kingdom. He has given us a plan, a blueprint, a way out of the valley of the shadow of death. He is standing at your door right now. He is letting you know that he is only a prayer away. All you have to do is open up the door and let him in.

Won't you let him in today and let out those things that are preventing your from gaining entrance into his kingdom?

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God, we come kneeling before the mercy seat, asking that You would forgive us of our sins and transgressions. Father, we know that there is nothing that we could ever do on our own to deserve Your goodness and Your mercy, but we come asking anyhow. Help us to look at our lives through Your eyes. Give us the courage and the strength to let go of those people and those things that may be holding us back from You. Help us to realize that everything that we desire isn't always what You desire for us. Father, we hear You knocking at the doors of our hearts this day. We ask You to magnify Your presence and Your power within us. Help us Lord, to be submissive to Your will and Your word, not only today, but each and everyday. Continue to touch those who have come asking for intercessory prayer. Touch the lives and the families of everyone reading this message today. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Help me celebrate the launch of my new website, http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com by stopping by and signing my guestbook!

Faith Challenge - Part Three

2010-01-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Remember, Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope. ~ Corazon Aquino

Scripture:
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Today is the third and final faith Challenge. The first faith challenge was to NOT speak our negative situations into existence. The second faith challenge was to speak life into our situations and to thank him for handling our problems. The third and final challenge is to wait. Wait on God to answer our prayers.

So often when we pray for something or for someone, we want that prayer to be manifested right now! When God doesn't answer our prayers right now, we become frustrated and sometimes we even get angry about it. But the word of God says, "But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

You see, there are various reasons as to why God doesn't always answer our prayers in the timely manner that WE think He should. Sometimes, not answering is His answer. Sometimes, what we want isn't always what God wants for us. We need to learn to wait until He answers.

At times, God has to make sure things are in place for us. Sometimes He has to prepare us for our blessing. And then there are those times when our answer is right there in front of us, but because it's not what we expect, we just don't see it. I once heard that we sometimes spend so much time looking at the closed door, we can't see the window that He has opened for us.

Every now and then, God just needs us to rest, be still and know that He is still in control. You see, our lives are not our own. Sometimes God has to let things go a certain way until His time. Sometimes He allows things to happen in our lives, so that He can step in. Sometimes, He doesn't answer until He is sure that we are ready to receive His answer.

Saints, do not be weary in well doing. Be still and know that He is God.

Wait on the Lord. When you are faithful, know this, His blessings are on the way!

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Our Father, Our Lord, Our Savior, we enter into Your courts with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts and on our tongues. I love the Lord, because He heard my cry. Father, Father, we ask that You would forgive us for not being as faithful to You, as You are to us. Lord we come asking that You would be patient with us as we learn to be still and wait on You. Father, as we wait until it's our time and our season, help us to be at peace with whatever our situations may be. Lord, I know that things are not the way I may want them to be, but I come asking that You would strengthen me so that I can stand and fight the good fight of faith one more day. Lord, I thank You for my deliverance. I thank You for my blessings. Lord, I praise You, for You alone are God. You are everything to me. Father, You are my rock, my strength, my redeemer. You are my fortress and my Hightower. You are my Father, my friend, my Savior. You are everything to me. Thank You Lord. We will praise You anyhow. We will bless Your name at all times. We will be still and know that You alone are God. Thank You Lord, for the Blood. The Blood, that cleanses, renews, revitalizes, forgives, heals, and most of all, gives me the right to come before You with all rights and privileges as your son Jesus Christ, it is in His mighty name we pray, Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

Faith Challenge Part Two

2010-01-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

Remember, Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are. ~ Bernice Johnson

Scripture:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Yesterday, I issued a faith challenge. The first part of the challenge was to turn our problems over to the Lord and not to speak of our problems again. Once we have turned our problems over to God, we are to let Him handle them.

Today's faith challenge is to begin to thank God for handling those same problems we were worrying about yesterday. Now I am not saying that our problems with suddenly disappear because we said we left it at the altar. But what I am saying is that we have to BELIEVE that Gods got it! Now that's what we call faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things, which are seen, were not made of things, which do appear.

Jesus once said, "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. He told the woman with the issue of blood, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. And then He told the one Samaritan whom He had healed from leprosy, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." There are many more examples in the bible of how FAITH was the answer to the problem.

We go to God in prayer so that He will answer when we cry out to Him. We seek Him, so that we will be delivered, be healed, be blessed, be over comers. There is power in the tongue. There is healing in the tongue. There is deliverance, in the tongue.

There is a song that Shirley Caesar sings called "We Praise You Lord". In it she says, "You've been telling God all about your problems, start telling your problems about your God!” So today's faith challenge is to Praise Him, thank Him, stand on His word and His promise.

He's got this one!

Be Blessed

Prayer:
I love the Lord, for He Heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. We Praise You Lord, from the rising of the sun, until the going down of the same. We Love You Lord. Lord, I thank You for my victories. I thank You Lord, because the victory is already mine. It was given to me by Your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, I am learning to be still and letting You fight my battles for me. I know Lord, that I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me. I know there is power in the Precious name of Jesus. We call on the name of Jesus. We invoke His power and His presence in our lives and in our Hearts today. Bless the name of the Lord. Thank You Lord, my blessings and my breakthroughs today. Thank You Lord, for loving me, despite me. We enter into Your gates with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our Hearts. Thank You Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

Faith Challenge - Part One

2010-01-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

Remember, A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success. ~ Unknown

Scripture:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

Periodically, I have an epiphany about God's word. Epiphany means, a sudden manifestation of the meaning or essence of something. Well not long ago as I sat listening to my pastor preach, I had one about my level of faith.

You see, not long ago, my Pastor did a preaching/teaching series on Be Encouraged. He spoke from the book of Exodus, Chapter 14, and verse 14. "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Now how many times have we all heard this message? If we would just learn to be obedient and be still, the Lord, our God, will fight our battles for us. In essence, if we would turn our problems over to God and LEAVE them with God, he will handle it.

Now even though, I know this word from God and have learned so much more, I don't always adhere to it. You see, we go before God in prayer everyday to talk to him and tell him all about our problems. We ask God to help us and then we continue to worry about the same old problems all over again.

We go before the altar of sacrifice, and place our cares and concerns there for God to take them from us and then, when we finish praying, we start worrying about the same old things all over again; taking the same old problems away with us.

The day after I returned home from church, I issued a faith challenge to myself. I went before the altar and pledged to God that I would not speak anything negative about my situation in the coming week. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well, it may not be as easy as it sounds.

I know that saying you are going to do something and then making it happen isn't always easy. In order to leave my troubles and problems with the Lord, I have to commit to not taking them back from him. I can start by not speaking them into existence. This is part one of my faith challenge.

Will you join me today?

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Lord, we come before the throne of grace this day, to thank You for Your word. Lord, You are my rock and my strength. I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me. Lord, I come before You this day to place my all on the altar. Lord, we know that You are our Alpha and Omega, our beginning and our end. We know that You can do anything but fail. Lord, we come standing on Your word and Your promise. The promise of everlasting life through Christ Jesus, my redeemer. Father, You have said there is power in the tongue. The power of life and death. We speak life into our situations. We thank You Lord, for keeping us in perfect peace. You speak to the storms in our lives, Peace Be Still. You wipe away our tears and heartaches. Thank You Lord. Father, we surrender all to You today and we will walk away knowing that all things are in Your hands. Thank Lord. We praise, uplift and exalt Your name. Praise be to God, for he is worthy of all honor, praise and glory. Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

My Tears

2010-01-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

by Jacqueline D. Moore

My tears are the window to my soul. They reflect all that I am and all that I hope to be.
My tears speak the words that my mouth cannot say. They express my joy and my pain. They tell a tell of heartbreak and hope.
My tears tell a tell of what was and what is to be.
My tears are both anger and love. They flow for my children who are and for loved ones who were.
My tears flow freely because to hold them inside would drown my spirit and dry up my heart.
My tears release the pain and anguish of love recently lost. Hoping and praying that with each drop that falls from my eyes, the pain and loneliness will eventually subside.
My tears keep me company in the loneliest of hours. Taunting and teasing of a life unfulfilled.
My tears are my red badge of courage and my scarlet letter of shame.
My tears are me, all that I am and all that I hope to be.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is the 2009 African American Literary Show romance author of the year for her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

Happy Holidays and In Loving Memory...

2009-12-16T06:09:00.000-08:00

Rest In Peace
Jodi Nicole Thomas
May 14, 1963 - January 18, 2009

You are Worthy
When I think back over the year 2009, so many emotions consume me. By the Grace of God, I was able to scratch the surface of a dream I've had since age 13; to create Peace In The Storm Publishing. I am so very delighted that my dream has come to fruition. And if I never published another book, I thank God for the journey thus far.
They laughed as she chased her dreams. Said she didn’t fit the part. Told her she was unworthy of it all. They ridiculed her for aiming high. Told her to get off her high horse. They highlighted the flaws in her structure and passed them around for the world to see. They failed to see the cracks in their own foundation. I could go on and on about the numerous times I've been told that "I Can't" and that "I'm Not Worthy."

Instead, I'll speak about the Dream...
You see, for me, this has not only been about me and my dreams. This has been about the dreams of some of the best people I know. I am so blessed to be able to start my publishing journey with incredibly talented people whom I admire, like Lorraine Elzia and LaToya S. Watkins. These women could write a full-length novel about a boiled egg, and any reader would would be in awe.
The love I have for Jessica A. Robinson can not be measured easily because she has blessed me with her presence. There are some people in life who are just born with a gift to encourage and inspire, and Brian Ganges has this gift.
Jacqueline D. Moore graces hundreds of emails daily with her encouraging words and devotionals. She's a tiny flame of fire with a tremendous heart of gold.
Then there's the hustle of Tamara Angela Grant; an author who knows what she wants and is unfraid to get it. Ebonee Monique gave us Ebonee Monique TV, opened our eyes to suicide in the African American community, and Cheryl Lacey Donovan left no stone unturned in pursuit of spreading the word about her ministry.
S.D. Denny taught us about sacrificial love, Claudia Brown Mosley kept us on the edge of our seats and Pamela D. Rice gives us a peek into domestic violence in the church.
Even sinners have souls, and I'm amazed that my work has been a source of encouragement, as my latest novel, A Whisper to a Scream has helped so many women go out and seek help as they are victims of domestic abuse.
Peace In The Storm Publishing won several awards throughout the year, including 5 African American Literary Awards, one of which was for Best Independent Publishing House of the Year. What an honor!
What I'm most proud of is that All of the wonderful authors of Peace In The Storm Publishing write with our motto in mind, "Giving your Soul a Rise...One Page at a Time." They've touched so many lives this year alone. I am continously inspired to press forward because we're all affecting positive change.
My wish for you this Christmas, this Holiday Season and throughout the New Year is that you take time to become a humble giver and help those who may need you. It is such a blessing to be a blessing. And, most importantly... To all of my dreamers and believers; never give up and never let anyone convince you that you are not worthy. Remember; you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Enough said. With all My Love.
Merry Christmas,

Elissa Gabrielle

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Peace In The Storm!

May the reason of the season inspire you beyond your fantasies, as it bombards the borderlines of your realities and ultimately results in your dreams that saturate your possibilities. And in all those efforts and desires, may your New Year be one that is filled with a peace that over runneth your cup. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year.
~Lorraine Elzia

Christmas is that special time of year. We are supposed to celebrate the goodness of the Lord all year long, but during Christmas time, we celebrate the birth of the king, as well as celebrate each other. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
~LaToya S. Watkins

The holiday season is a time to give thanks and show love to those who have touched our lives throughout the year. At this time I would like to thank all of you for your acts of love and support throughout the year. May you and your loved ones be richly blessed with God's peace this holiday season, and may you have an abundance of blessings in the New Year.
~S.D. Denny

May the joy of the Lord be your strength during this time and all year round.
~Cheryl Lacey Donovan

Wishing you a happy holiday season to you and your family. Have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
~Jacqueline D. Moore

Don't get tied up with the hustle and bustle of the holiday frenzy. Reflect on the good things that happened to you this year and the lessons learned; and then look forward to good things to come in 2010. God has brought you from a mighty long way, and He's not done yet.
~Brian Ganges

My wish is that everyone will find it in their hearts to spend time with family and those that you love...cherish your life and those around you because at the end of the day family and friends are your lifeline. If you have any differences with those ones you love, take this holiday season to resolve them. Go into the New Year, with a new start.
~Jessica A. Robinson

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Peace In The Storm Publishing family. Thanks for your support and we hope to deliver many more exciting and relevant titles in the years to come.
~Pamela D. Rice

In Loving Memory

On January 18, 2009, my beloved sister Jodi passed away at the tender age of 45. I remember growing up, looking up to my sister Jodi. When I was a young girl, I thought she was the prettiest woman in the world.
Jodi swore I had a knack for acting, and would force me to do commercials and dance in front of all of her friends. I was the live entertainment during these days. I never felt humiliated, though, it was just a part of growing up. All a part of what life has offered me.

Well, life has changed drastically since those good ole days of doing commercials in the living room and dancing to ‘70’s disco music.

This is truly not a dress rehearsal, so we need treat life as the
precious gift it is.
I'll never stop loving you...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and please remember the importance of the season that has come upon us.

Win BIG from Elissa Gabrielle!

2009-09-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

Win a Decadent Gift Basket from Elissa Gabrielle

Order your copy of A Whisper to a Scream from

September 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009.

One lucky pre-order will receive a special gift:

A Delicious and Decadent Gift Basket valued at over $200 filled with
everything you need to take you and your honey from A Whisper to a Scream.

Music from critically-acclaimed Spoken Word Arist and Author Marc Lacy;
RTIQLation: Spoken Essence of Music and LyriCode 256.
Autographed copies of A Whisper to a Scream, Good to the Last Drop,
Mocha Chocolate Anthology and Point of No Return by
Elissa Gabrielle.
A selection of Notecards from
Greetings from the Soul: The Elissa Gabrielle
Collection
$50 American Express Gift Card
A Bottle Champagne

All pre-orders for A Whisper to a Scream will be mailed this fall.
Remember, in order to qualify for the random drawing, you must order your
copies before September 30, 2009.

Gets your copy today of A Whisper to a Scream TODAY!

The Art of Serving Others

2009-08-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

Remember, Nothing makes you like other human beings so much as doing things for them. ~ Zora Neale Hurston

Scripture:
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-24

Recently, a friend complimented me on being there for him. He told me that my willingness to help him, even though I really didn’t know him that well, inspired him in his own Christian walk. I was a little taken aback by his words as I was feeling that I hadn’t done as much for him as I had expected I should have.

As we discussed our relationship and the willingness of others to birth a dream, the dream of helping other Christian writers promote their work, the reality of what we were doing really hit home. You see, his initial intent in starting the project was to sell more books. However, what he discovered along the way became the thing that was of most value. What he discovered was that his own self-ambitions were diminished as he pushed others ahead of himself. It is something that each of us can and will discover when we learn to put the needs of others ahead of our own.

I will share something today that most don’t know about me. My secret is this; whenever I become discouraged and want to give up, God always manages to put people in my life that I have to help. What I mean by this is that someone will contact me with a need that I have to address, whether it be prayer, counseling, our just being there to talk. That need forces me to put me aside and put that other persons needs ahead of my own.

By the time I get back to what my situation is, I am usually better prepared to put it in its proper perspective. God is teaching me to be selfless and in doing so, I am being blessed by it. And so it should be with each of us.

The dawning of each day brings with it it’s own set of challenges and blessings. We usually have a choice to make. That choice it to wallow in our own self-pity or reach out and impact the lives of others. When we take our eyes off our own problems and reach out to others, God is right there to carry the weight of it all.

My challenge to you today is to take your hands of your own troubles and help someone else carry theirs.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God, today I got caught up in my own pity party. Forgive me. I often forget that the things that I see as problems, You see as possibilities. You see the possibility of my elevation and in the process seeing others being uplifted by me. You see the possibility of me winning someone over to Christ. You see the possibility of me becoming more Christ like. Thank You Lord, not for my problems but for my possibilities. Help me Lord always to be mindful that when I am down, all I have to do is look up, because You are always there, waiting on me to reach to You. Lord, may I always remember to lend a hand, be a friend and to put the needs of others before my own. May something that I do or say today, be a blessing to someone else. I pray that the words that I speak would be a reflection of He who resides in my heart, my Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Now Lord, we ask for Your continued blessings, Your grace and Your mercy. Touch, bless and anoint our families, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. We humbly submit our prayers in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is currently promoting of her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

2009 African American Literary Awards Show Nominations!

2009-07-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

When a Storm is just what you Need

Since its first release of The Triumph of My Soul, Peace in the Storm Publishing Company has worked to consistently deliver books that encourage, inspire, uplift, and entertain readers. Both the premium quality of these books and the stellar talent of PITS authors have been recognized by several nominations across several categories in the 2009 African American Literary Awards Show. At Peace In The Storm, our first priority is to give readers what they deserve and desire as well as to show our appreciation for their support by continung to offer enjoyable experiences through literary journeys.
Peace in the Storm Publishing recognizes that we need our readers to be purposed and driven writers, if not for them, who would we be? PITS would like to thank you for your continuous support and ask for your help in acknowledging the art and the peace that has been introduced to the literary world through the creative and collective storm of talent that is Peace in the Storm. We humbly ask that you please help us by placing your vote at http://www.blogger.com/ for your favorite Peace in the Storm authors in the following categories:

Romance
Jacqueline D. Moore – Serving Justice
www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

Non-Fiction
Cheryl Lacey Donovan – The Ministry of Motherhood
www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

Break-out Author Of The Year
Ebonee Monique – Suicide Diaries
Lorraine Elzia – Mistress Memoirs
S. D. Denny – The Bakers Dozen
www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

Short stories/Anthologies
Elissa Gabrielle (editor) - The Soul of a Man: A Triumph of My Soul Anthology
www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

Independent Publishing House of the Year
Peace In The Storm
www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

Let your vote reflect that your soul has found Peace in the Storm
Thank you for being there when we needed you most
Please cast your vote today
www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html

No Weapon

2009-07-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Remember, The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. ~ Marshal Ferdinand Foch

Scripture:

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:17

Saints, I have been talking about being under attack for a large portion of this year. This reason for this is because I myself along with so many of my brothers and sisters is Christ, seem to be overwhelmed with trials and tribulations; one right after another.There have been times that I have wondered why I along with so many others seem to always be going through something.

Does this sound like any of you? Many of my sisters and brothers are unemployed and it seems like it's taking so much longer to find new jobs. Cancer is rampant among those we know. We are losing babies to catastrophic illnesses and even those we believed to be Christians, are committing suicide. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that being a Christian would be so hard.

However, there is a truth about being a Christian I want to share with you. You see, before you got saved and joined the family of God, life didn't seem so hard. That's because satan wasn't worried about you because he already had you. He wanted you to remain comfortable in being and living in sin. Once you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, it made him mad.

You see, as long as you were in the world, he didn't have to worry about you. When he lost you and you became a new creature in Christ Jesus, he has to get you back, so that's one of the reasons that the attacks against us increase. He lies to us, he tries to discourage us in our Christian walk. He wants us to doubt the promises of God. And you know what? Sometimes, every now and then, it seems like he may be winning.

But you know what Saints of God? God has said in his word; NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER! That it His promise to us. We must learn to lean on our faith, walk by faith, grow in faith, see it and believe it IN FAITH. God cannot lie. He has already told us; he would never leave us nor forsake us, If we remain faithful to him!!

I for one am standing on God's word. I am holding on to his promise! I will not let go of his unchanging hand! What about you?

Be Blessed

Prayer:

The LORD IS my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; HE LEADS me beside the still waters. HE RESTORES my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For YOU ARE WITH ME; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. YOU PREPARE a table before me in the presence of my enemies; YOU ANOINT my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I WILL DWELL in the house of the LORD, Forever and ever, Amen.

God's Rare and Precious Jewels

2009-07-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

Remember, the gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. ~ Chinese Proverb

Scripture:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 1 Peter 1:6-8 (New International Version)

Did you know that diamonds are made of carbon, one of the softest materials on earth? But when carbon is under extreme pressure buried deep below more than 75 miles of rock and is in temperatures more than 2, 192° F, it changes in to a diamond. What starts out as an inert object deep in the bowls of the earth, is transformed into a rare and precious jewel by pressure.

I often liken our lives to diamonds. We start out as; apathetic, asleep, closed down, dead, dormant, down, dull, idle, immobile, impassive, impotent, inactive, inanimate, indolent, languid, languorous, lazy, leaden, listless, motionless, numb, on ice, paralyzed, passive, phlegmatic, powerless, quiescent, quiet, slack, sleepy, slothful, sluggard, sluggish, slumberous, static, still, stolid, torpid, unmoving, unresponsive, (I’m using the thesaurus tonight), individuals who are usually full of themselves with selfish motivations and no real concept of who we are without God.

As things begin to happen in our lives that put us under pressure, we too begin to change. We start searching for that someone or that something that will be the catalyst for our transformation. Those of us, who are lucky, will soon discover that the something or someone who will be the motivating factor for our change will be God.

However, it won’t stop there. As we grow in faith, so will our situations. God isn’t content with us just being a Christian. God wants us to be the best Christian we can be. So in an effort to force out any impurities that may still remain in our lives, he keeps the pressure on.

The pressure is not to break us, but rather to make is into a flawless diamond; a rare and precious jewel.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes it seems as though I am fighting a never ending battle. Some days are filled with stress and strife. Sometimes, I become weary from the war that wages around me. I realized that sometimes it is I who has caused the war from within. Lord, help me to be strong and resist temptation. Help me to develop patience, perseverance and peace within. Father, as I pause to spend time with You, I ask that you would quiet the conflict that rages within me. When I am faced with trials and tribulations help me to be still and remain calm and turn control over to the Holy Spirit. It's Your spirit Lord, that dwells in me. It that same spirit that can give me rest if I would just succumb to it. It’s in that spirit I can find peace, joy and contentment. It's in that Spirit that I can find the answer to the questions that plague me. Father, sometimes it seems as though satan’s entire army has come against me. But Your word tells me that no army can defeat me with the Lord on my side. Thank You Father. I know that as long as I follow You, I am on the right path. I also realize that as long as I follow You, satan will be there trying to discourage me. I rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus. I call upon the name of the Lord, and I will surrender my will to his and allow the Lord to fight my battles. Thank You Father for the power and authority that has been given to me through Christ Jesus. Lord, bless my family, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. Keep me nearer God to Thee. Glory to God, Praise the name of the Lord. Hallelujah, Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Blocking Your Own Blessings

2009-07-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can / namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us. ~ St. Teresa of Avila

Scripture:
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. Matthew 16:23 (New International Version)

As we go through life, there are many things we may want or desire. We see someone and want to make them our mate. We desire big cars, fancy houses and a multitude of other riches. We want fame, fortune and success. However, I ask; how many of us seek God first before we go after the desires of our hearts?

Personally, I know there were a lot of things that I went after in my life without consulting God about it first. For example, when I met my ex-husband, I decided after our first date that he would be the man I married. Sadly, my marriage didn’t work out. I had made a life altering decision without going to God and seeking His guidance first.

Now this doesn’t mean that my ex was a bad man or even a bad husband. He just wasn’t meant to be my husband and if I had truly listened to what God was trying to tell me about that particular relationship, we never would have gotten married. I wanted what I wanted and I wanted to marry him. However, we didn’t want the same things in a marriage and that’s what led to the demise of my family.

I share this story with you today as a reminder that when we are seeking certain things in a relationship, in order for anything that we do to succeed, we must first take it to God and He will direct our paths.

God cannot bless our unions, our jobs, and our prosperity if those things are outside of his will. He cannot bless us as only He can when He sees us making wrong choices. God has given each and every one of us, free will. And as a result, we must learn to live our lives with His will for us in mind.

Satan is always trying to make our lives difficult by filling our hearts with lust for the wrong things. He is constantly putting up road blocks and distractions in our lives in his effort to keep us from the kingdom of God. Far too often we fall into his traps and as a result, will block our own blessings.

Remember, God cannot bless you if there is something else in the way.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father, there are times when I realize that I have a selfish spirit. I want what I want. Sometimes, I will do whatever it takes to get what I want. Lord, I come asking that You would help me to overcome my spirit of selfishness. Help me to develop a more Christ like spirit. Father help me to see my life through Your eyes. Help me to recognize my sins and faults and to work on my negative attitudes. Lord, help me to see when I am blocking my own blessings. Father, if there is something that I can do or something that I can to say to help someone else, help me to see it. When I am doing or saying something that is not pleasing to you, help me to know it. Father, I ask that You would order my steps this day as I surrender my will to Yours. Lead me, guide me, bless me. Use me Lord, for Your edification. Continue to bless my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, I give You all of my heart, All the praise, All the honor and glory, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com . She has contributed to several anthologies and is currently promoting of her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

Don't be Afraid

2009-07-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Remember, courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. ~ Ambrose Redmoon

Scripture:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Saints, have you ever been in a situation and didn't know how you would get out of it? As you looked around at your circumstances you just couldn't understand how did you get here and how would you get out.

I talk to many people about their circumstances. Some are having problems with the marriages. Some are struggling financially, and some just feel like life is overwhelming them and they just don't know what to do.

God's word tells us not to fear our circumstances. That no matter what we come up against, No Matter What the Outcome! He will be with us always. It doesn't matter how you got where you are. Learn to depend on God for your strength, but most of all, for your guidance.

He will never leave you, nor forsake you, but most of all; he will never lead you wrong.

Be Blessed

Prayer:

Father, I don't know how I got here, but I know that You can lead me home. Lord, I realize that I cannot always see what You have in store for me. I just ask that lead me and guide me as I seek my way home. Lord, we ask that You would continue to cover Your children. Help us Lord, to always seek Your guidance in everything that we do. Father, we ask that You would touch, bless, and anoint those saints reading this prayer right now, our family member, friends, and soldiers who are away fighting for freedom. Bless us now Lord Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit. We Love You Lord, with all that we are. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jacqueline Moore is a Christian author who offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website at http://www.jacquelinedmoore.com She has contributed to several anthologies and is currently promoting of her first novel, “Serving Justice” under the Peace in the Storm imprint.

Love your Neighbor by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Love Your Neighbor

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

We all know how difficult it can be to love some people. Yet, it is one of the greatest commandments in the Bible.

As parents, it is important for us to stress this point to our children. Inevitably they will face a bully, or perhaps they will feel they have been treated unfairly by a teacher in school. It's at these times when we must minister to our children about the sacrificial Christlike love that will take them beyond the superficial feelings they may be having. We must also look for ways to demonstrate this love to each other.

Q&A with Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Q: What would you like your readers to know about you?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan: Cheryl Lacey Donovan is a walking, talking, testimony of what God can do.

Q: What is your latest book about?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : The Ministry of Motherhood is about my journey from being a teenage mother who suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, to the self assured woman that I am now and the role motherhood played in that journey.

Q: You say motherhood is a verb. What does that mean?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan: It means it’s something you do not just who you are.

Q: You’ve made the statement “There’s a war going on and the spoils of war are our children’s bodies, minds, and spirits. How can we win the war?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan: The Bible says we battle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities in high places. As mothers its time we put on the whole armor of God and battle with our children against the powers that would have their souls. If we don’t we destined to lose an entire generation

Q: What are you tips for raising responsible children?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan: First of all we need to change our definition of what success is. We tend to view success according to the world’s standards. But God’s view of success is totally different. As believers we are not to be conformed to this world. Therefore, we should seek God first in all we do. Once we’ve done this everything else we need will be added. God says he can do more than we could ever ask or think and that He came that we might have an abundant life. So as parents our primary teaching responsibility for our children is to make sure they have a healthy personal relationship with God. Then everything else will fall into place.

Q: Where do you see yourself as a writer ten years from now?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan: Ten years from now I hope to be spreading the message all over the world. Telling women that they don’t have to settle.

Q: What marketing tips can you provide to new authors?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Develop a marketing plan, follow it, and visit it regularly to find out what does and doesn’t work.

Q: What other projects are you working on?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : I am working on my next book with my husband. The title is Do you Still Do? What Happens Happily Ever After? It is a book about marriage and what it takes to keep it together.

Q: When do you write and for how long?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : I write whenever it hits me. I can be riding along in the car and something will come to mind. In that case I record it on my cell phone and write it down as soon as I can.

Q: Do you have a favorite location for writing?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : I usually like to write outside, near my pond and waterfall in the swing. It’s very peaceful there.

Q: What three words best describe your writing style?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Transparent, honest, conversational

Q: What other hobbies do you pursue when you aren't writing ?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Of course, I love to read, I like to travel, and I love entertaining.

Q: Are there any hidden jewels or talents that you possess that many of your readers may not know?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Well, if I hadn’t become an author, I may never have known how good I was at being a talk show host and public speaker. It’s been a blast.

Q: Where can folks buy your latest book?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : My latest book can be purchased wherever books are sold including http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, and http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/

Q: Where can folks meet you?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Wow! I will be on the road quite a bit in the near future. It’s best to visit my website http://www.cheryllaceydonovan.com/ for updates.

Q: What have been some of your toughest obstacles as a writer?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : My toughest obstacle as a writer has been me. Getting on paper what was in my heart was difficult at times due to the nature of the situation, but I am glad that I was able to get it out. It was cathartic.

Q: What time do you awake normally every morning?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Normally I get up around 5 or 6am. I tell my husband all the time I think we’re getting old because I can remember when we talked about our parents getting up so early all the time, even when they didn’t have to go to work.

Q: How do you find time to connect with God?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : I pray, read the word, and meditate to hear a word from God. The latter is something many people neglect to do. They feel all they need do is pray, but they don’t wait for an answer. A solid prayer life is the key to emotional and spiritual growth. Only when you have learned how to pray to God and listen for His answer can you find true peace.

Q: Do you watch television or listen to the radio when you're writing, and if so, what do you watch or listen too mostly?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : The television is usually on when I write, but there is no one program that I watch regularly. I just seem to write better when it’s noisy. Crazy Huh!

Q: Do you have an exercise regimen to suggest for busy writers?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : In order to get better at your craft it’s important to read, read, read. Read everything. It will help to expand your mind.

Q: What is your pet peeve?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : My pet peeve would have to be people who say what they can’t do even though they haven’t tried. I happen to believe in Philippians 4:13 which says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Q: What is your passion in life?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : God has given me a heart for women who are struggling with life’s twists and turns. My message to them is even when we can’t diagnose the problem, God’s word can bring us healing and wholeness. I want to bring this message to all women. I want them to understand that until they fall in love with Jesus, the chains of sin and bondage will never be broken.

Q: What is your favorite motto?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Q: What do you particularly like about the literary world today?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : The internet has leveled the playing field between traditional vs. small press and self published authors. It’s great! Many authors who might not have gotten a chance to be heard are now being recognized like never before. It’s a renaissance of sorts.

Q: If you could leave one word of advice to people in general, what would it be?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : To love God, love yourself, and love others.

Q: What is next for you?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Currently I spend a lot of time working on my internet radio show which airs on blog talk radio Tuesdays, 7:30pm CST and Saturdays, 3:00pm CST. I am also traveling quite a bit with the Ministry of Motherhood Tour. Anyone interested in having me come to their town to talk to single/teen mothers can contact us at cherylspeaks@gmail.com

Q: Where can visitors find you online?

Cheryl Lacey Donovan : Everywhere. http://www.cheryllaceydonovan.com/
http://www.virtuouswoman-31.blogspot.com/, http://www.ministryofmotherhood.blogspot.com/, http://www.twitter.com/donovancheryl, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worthmorethanrubies, http://www.myspace.com/donovancheryl

Meet Cheryl Lacey Donovan
Cheryl Donovan is a native Houstonian who is walking in her destiny as she ministers the word of God all over the country. Her captivating messages are delivered in a no nonsense transparent dialogue with her audiences.

Cheryl believes in the Psalms 11:25 which says, She who refreshes others will herself be refreshed; therefore, she tries to be transparent as she speaks and writes about her valley to mountain experiences.

Cheryl resides in Houston with her husband of 16 years. She has two grown sons and a step-daughter who has a son of her own.

To learn more about Cheryl or to have her speak at your next event visit http://www.cheryllaceydonovan.com

About the Book
In a time when teen pregnancy is on the rise once more and single mothers are being blamed for all of societies problems, Cheryl Lacey Donovan presents a view of single motherhood that tears down all the excuses for why single mother's can't succeed. Cheryl Donovan shares her valuable insight into the spiritual and biblical principles associated with being a good mother. A former single mother herself, Cheryl shows readers that through the abundance of God's grace and love along with determination and perseverance, children don't have to become statistics. Cheryl identifies key biblical principles and displays practical life lessons that can help to establish solid foundations upon which to rear happy, well rounded, productive children. Cheryl provides insight the will assist the reader to look inside themselves for change. It will help them identify the strongholds of poverty, lack of education, and abusive relationships and help them tear them down with the help of the creator. Cheryl's powerful testimony about her journey from teen pregnancy, domestic violence, and single parenting, to award winning author, educator, and inspirational speaker is sure to empower, enlighten, and inspire mothers everywhere.

And a Child Shall Lead Them by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

And a Child Shall Lead Them

John 6:8-9 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Seeing life through the eyes of a child can teach each of us a thing or two about standing on God's promises.

In this story Andrew obviously thought that the child's lunch was insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But Jesus took what was offered and performed a miracle.

Children have a special way of viewing life. They always tend to see the glass half full rather than half empty. Their outlook is always unlimited and free. We can learn alot from our children and their view of life.

They teach us that even a small gift when placed in God's hands can be multipled into something more than we could ever imagine.

Learn more about Cheryl Lacey Donovan at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

The Prodigal Son by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Perhaps you are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son. What a powerful story of unconditional love between a parent and a child. God calls each of us as parents to love
our children in the same way- even when our two year old wets the bed, or our teenager breaks curfew, or even when our adult child is a "live in." We should never be too angry or disappointed to embrace them with the same kind of love our Heavenly Father gives to us in our failure.

The most effective way we can embrace our children is through prayer. Give them back to God. Thank Him for allowing you to be a steward over their lives and ask Him to teach you how to love them as they are and watch God give you the ability to open your arms to them and love them as He loves you.

Cheryl Lacey Donovan is the author of The Ministry of Motherhood. Find out more at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com.

The Ministry of Motherhood by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Motherhood by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

Mother is a verb. It’s something you do, not just who you are. I learned the hard way. Who would have imagined it would happen to me -- a mother at sixteen! Why didn’t I listen? Why had I engaged in premarital sex? These questions have reverberated in my mind many times over the years. I was smart enough to know the potential outcome. But, I did it anyway. It just felt so right. How did Tina Turner put it -- what’s love got to do with it? Let me answer that for you. Nothing when your emotions collide with immaturity and stupidity. What a disastrous mix, to say the least. Dwelling on the obvious became a lesson in futility for me each time I looked into my children’s eyes. I understood the monumental task that stood before me as I tried to make ends meet as a single mother. I lived and learned as God prepared me for a manifested destiny. It’s called motherhood with a mission...a ministry. Every word I spoke, every move I made, affected two other innocent souls who didn’t ask to be here. Without a choice, I had to pull myself together and prepare a sermon based on my life. I had to formulate meaningful text, outline life’s lessons, and deliver the message loud and clear so that my children and others could be saved with God using me as a vessel.

I had every reason not to be a good mother. All the cards were stacked against me. Life’s hurdles stood tall at every turn. I was a teenager and the victim of an abusive marriage. From being unable to get public assistance to my ex-husband refusing to pay child support, I was placed behind the eight ball every time. But, to be a mother is one of the most important tasks God has entrusted to women. God chose women as the vessels through which He would bring into being His most valuable creation: mankind.

Mothers are assigned with the task of developing, encouraging, nurturing, and cultivating the lives that are placed in their care. Our most important role is to teach our children about God, His principles, and His plans for their lives. True mothers don’t throw in the towel when the going gets tough. Instead, they look for avenues that lead to destinations that can enhance their lives as well as the lives of their children. Mothers are charged with loving their children unconditionally. The bond that exists between a mother and child is a special one. Faithful and dedicated mothers are the ones that are not afraid to dig down deep into the dirt and pull their children up from sure destruction. This type of love can only be compared to the Love of God for His children. Children are a blessed heritage from God. Mothers should always remember the value that God has placed on children. When He told His disciples, 'suffer the little children to come unto Me for such is the kingdom of heaven', He made it clear that children are important to Him. Mothers should view their role with importance.

This is my journey on the path we call motherhood; the ups, the downs, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’d like to share with you my labor of love and dedication to make sure that others don’t follow my path. Initially, I will share with you my angst upon finding out I was pregnant. Telling my mother was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. In Chapter three, you will discover the parallels between modern day single mothers and those in the Bible.

As the book progresses, the latter chapters deal with my adaptation to motherhood and the implied tenets of ministry-- chapters with such meaningful titles as Open Door Policy; The Abyss; Mama’s Sermon; Innocence Lost; Happily Ever After; and The Cycle Begins, et al. Each one of these episodes give you a look inside my heart, my soul, my very being...sharing and digging deeper in myself for those nuggets of wisdom. I use biblical scriptures and ‘thus sayeth the Lord’ dictates to guide me. It’s the ministry fundamentality that propels the outreach gesture so that you may be mindful of doing the right thing. This is what this book is all about.

The Discovery…

Order your copy of The Ministry of Motherhood today at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

Leading by Example by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Leading by Example

Ezekiel 20:18 I said to their children in the desert, "Do not follow the statutes of your fathers or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.

"Do as I say not as I do." How often have I heard this phrase repeated by parents to their children. But the reality is our children are like sponges. They are a captive audience as they absorb into their psyche everything they see us say and do. The likelyhood of their not following in our footsteps is 50/50.

In Ezekiel 20:18, we find the prophet Ezekiel reminding Israel how God warned the younger generation not to follow in their elders footsteps because of their idolotrous practices.

What would God say to your children about your practices? What about your attitudes, behaviors? Do they match what you say you believe?

Determine to live a life that encourages and inspires your children in the admonition of the Lord.

Why ask Why by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Why ask Why

John 13:6-7 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'
When my children were younger, I can remember how inquisitive they were. Time and time again they would ask the question "why"? Nothing would frustrate me more than when those questions had answers I couldn't explain. It would become even more frustrating when those questions would come in the middle of a busy project or an intense business discussion. It was at those times when I would respond with an impatient "Because I said so."

As I reflect on those moments, I'm reminded of the many times when I didn't quite understand what God was doing in my life. When I inqured of God, I wanted a gracious answer like the one Jesus gave to Peter in John 13: 6-7. Jesus told Peter He would understand later.

Take the time to offer your children the same grace and patience Jesus offered to Peter, even if it means telling them they will have to wait for the answer.

The award-winning Cheryl Lacey Donovan is the author of The Ministry of Motherhood. Order your copy today at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com.

Teaching Your Children To Be Conquerors by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

2009-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Teaching Your Children To Be Conquerors

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Life is sure to bring twists and turns. But its the way we respond to these obstacles that will determine our ultimate outcome.

As parents we must teach our children through our actions that no matter how bad the situation may be they can always count on God for protection, guidance, and security. His love never fails and His mercy is everlasting.

In the end God is always on our side and we must demonstrate this to our children by reacting to unpleasant circumstances in a way that is honoring to God. We must respond with the knowledge that we are more than conquerors through Him and that ulimately the victory is ours.

The powerful Cheryl Lacey Donovan is the author of The Ministry of Motherhood. Please visit http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/ for more info on Cheryl!

Blending Out by Ebonee Monique

2009-05-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Blending Out by Ebonee Monique

I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never been apart of the “in crowd”. I’ll never be the girl who’s able to pack a house full of friends for a party or throw an elaborate Avon party buzzing with interesting people. My phone doesn’t ring off the hook with requests to hang out and my day-to-day routine couldn’t be any more systematic. I get up at the crack of dawn, walk my dog Sophie, prepare my breakfast, head to work and at the end of the day, I head home in preparation for the next day. In all actuality, nothing ever changes.

I used to watch the popular television show “Girlfriends” and wonder “When will I have that?” And by “that”, of course, I mean the “cool” factor. When will I have three girlfriends to hang out with who I’ll tell all my problems to and shop uncontrollably with? I like to shop. I like to talk and I definitely like to be liked. But, as I’ve figured out, liking to be liked doesn’t guarantee a spot in the cool hall of fame.

At 26, I think I’m finally okay with not being cool. But believe me, it hasn’t been an easy journey to the acceptance of my lameness. I don’t think anyone is ever prepared, mentally, to accept not being cool. We’re bred that way. In elementary school, the popular kids are awarded plaques and stylish pencils for being “Terrific Kids”, while middle school has the ever-so-popular “buddy pictures”, where you can either be confirmed or denied of your popularity with others. And don’t even let me get started on high school, with its student boards, powder puff games and- lest we forget- the superlatives. It’s no wonder everyone is determined to be cool.

So, when I headed to college at Florida A&M University, and majored in education, I was sure that my “it” factor would kick in as soon as I stepped foot on the campus. After all, they say that when you come to college you can become whoever it is that you want to be. Well, how is it that I got stuck with plain Jane me? The same me who stuck to herself, did boring cross-word puzzles and wore hand-me-down clothes. For 4 years I made a handful of friends- mainly through class-related group projects- and stayed away from any and all large crowds. After graduation I headed to Kansas for a job at an upscale private school. I told myself that I needed the change. Florida hadn’t been my “thing”, but maybe Kansas would be. A year into my job, and still friendless, I made a jump to a school in Washington D.C.- where I knew I’d make friends that looked and thought like me- which left me more miserable than before. The teachers at my new school already had their cliques and they weren’t looking for a newbie to tag-a-long. I recalled sitting in the teachers’ lounge, with my Stouffer’s microwave lunch, pretending to read through an old Ebony Magazine while I eavesdropped on a conversation that a group of the teachers were having. I listened closely, hoping that something- anything- would give me an excuse to join their conversation. I leaned forward, as I heard one of the teachers mention my Alma Mater, and quickly felt my chair giving way. Just as quickly as a light at the end of the tunnel appeared, it was smack dab on the middle of the linoleum floor with marinara sauce oozing all over it. I watched in horror as the other retreated from the lounge, only to have their laughter echo throughout the hallways. That was my breaking point.

As usual, I jumped ship and took another teaching job back in my college town, Tallahassee, Florida. By now, my hopes of finding the perfect “Joan”, “Mya”, “Toni” or “Lynn” are diminishing right before my eyes.
I’ve been at Leon High school, for close to 6 months and already I can feel the itch to continue searching for my inner coolness. I know it’s out there and, just like the perfect man, I’ve got to search for it.

As I said before, I’ve embraced not being cool; but that doesn’t mean I like it.
“Mrs. Armstrong, can I get the bathroom pass? I’ve gotta go bad.” One of my over-the-top students, Lamont, said as he held himself with one hand and fanned his face with the other one.
“A brothers’ gonna burst and that’ll be on you.” He said as the rest of the class laughed.
With the exception of my lessons, I rarely held any conversations with my students; but even I had to admit that Lamont was the school’s class clown.
Modestly smiling, I reached in my wooden desk and handed him the bathroom pass and told him to be back in 5 minutes.

Just like the rest of the people I’d ever tried to be friends with; my students hardly ever paid me any attention. It was almost as if I was invincible and was only good for was shelling out assignments and, on occasion, telling them to calm down. But this class was my favorite because it was the last one of the day. It wasn’t like I had anything important to do- just return some Christmas gifts at the mall and then go home and clean up- but anything was better than being confined in a room full of people who didn’t even know you existed.

With less than 5 minutes left before the end-of-the-day bell rang, I let the kids hang out on the front steps of the school, in preparation of being released. Even that act of slight bribery, to get them to like me a little bit, got me nowhere. No one thanked me, no one said how “cool” I was for letting them out a little early and no one even acknowledged that I had done a good thing for them. So typical, I thought to myself as I grabbed my things and followed the last kid out of the room towards the steps.

It was a beautiful day outside too. I watched as my students chatted on their cell phones, talked to each other and listened to their MP3 players. When I was in school, CD players were hot, we weren’t allowed cell phones and to be caught with a pager was a serious offense. Now, though, it seems like technology runs our school more than we do. Myspace and Facebook have got to be the biggest distractions I’ve ever seen and how could I forget text messaging. Whatever happened to face-to-face interaction? If we keep this up, we won’t need social interaction, the way we did in the past, all we’ll need is a keyboard and a screen.
A lot had changed since I’d been in high school, I thought, as I watched a cute girl named Kiara talking closely to Lamont.

I’d noticed Kiara before; she was a quiet girl that, unless you directly talked to her, barely spoke a word. She had transferred to the school a few weeks after I’d arrived and Lamont, who was a cute-but troublesome-kid himself, took to her immediately. She had perfectly clear butterscotch colored skin and squeezable chubby cheeks.

Kiara was a well put together girl. She never wore raggedy clothes, her hair was always neat and presentable and her vocabulary-when she did talk- was pretty impressive. But despite how smart she seemed, I could see the desperation in her eyes as she talked to Lamont and gently stroked his hand. I’d seen that look before, only it was as I was looking in the mirror. Kiara had come to the school one way and was slowly losing that uniqueness, as she clung to the hope that the other kids would befriend her. I’d walked into the main hallway restroom, during lunch one afternoon, and found Kiara eating her lunch by herself. We didn’t even speak or acknowledge the fact that she was eating her meal by herself and in a bathroom. I guess I should’ve said something but, I did what I do best and kept to myself.

From my observation, Lamont had been the only one who had actively made an effort to be Kiara’s friend; and as I caught myself staring at the twosome, the school bell rang and everyone scattered like cockroaches discovered in a dark room.
Remembering that I hadn’t locked my classroom door, I hurried back into the brick building and reached into my purse for the keys. As I struggled to find the correct one, I heard a pair of heels clicking towards me.

“Elise; hey, girl, how are you?” I heard a raspy voice say as I hunched over in front of the door.
Turning to look, I could’ve dropped everything I was holding as I caught a glimpse of Tamia Sanders, the psychology teacher that had to have been the most popular thing walking the hallways of the school. Tamia was one of those people that always had a flock of people surrounding her and hanging onto her every word. She just seemed to have it like that.
She wasn’t overly pretty or anything, but she just had that “it” factor that made people want to be around her. I even had to admit it; I’d made a few conversations starters with her- in hopes that we could be girlfriends that chatted before school or maybe during lunch- but it went nowhere. Before today, I didn’t think Tamia knew my first name. I felt just like I did in high school when the head cheerleader, or school whore- who was just as popular but in different circles- spoke to me. My hands grew clammy, my mouth dry and I couldn’t figure out what to say.
Trying to sound cool, I swallowed a huge dry lump in my throat and plastered a smile on my face as I turned to face the teachers’ version of the prom queen.
“Hey, what’s up?” I heard myself say, sounding totally out of character. I wanted to scream “Hey, Tamia! Do you want to go to Macy’s and catch a sale or hang out and talk about our relationship problems?” But I knew that would be too strong.
Tamia fidgeted with something behind her back before pulling it out for me to see. It was a big ring of keys, which I recognized as the after-school detention lock-up keys.
“I was supposed to watch the after-school detention kids and, girl, I forgot all about my Maltese’s grooming appointment. You wouldn’t mind doing it for me, would you?” She asked sweetly.
Now I see how men get caught up in doing ridiculous things all for the sake of a woman.
My face was hot, my head was starting to hurt and- worst of all- I was taking the keys from her before my mouth could say no.
“Sure, girl, I didn’t have anything else to do.” I lied, knowing I had a ton of things to return to the mall. True, Tamia had never even acknowledged me fully before that day, but maybe she was seeing something in me.
Tamia blew out air and held her hand to her chest as she laughed.
“Girl, you saved my ass. I probably would’ve gone crazy if I had to watch those kids for another hour.” She said laughing.
I could tell that she saw the hesitation in my eyes, as I realized how long I would have to stay after school, and so- just like clock-work- she went in for the kill; hitting me where I was weakest: a possible friendship.
“So, what are you doing this weekend, girl?” She said as she leaned against one of the lockers and tilted her head towards me.
I watched as her perfectly cut hair swung with her motion and I took a deep breath and smiled as I answered.
“I don’t know, I was thinking about going to the Jill Scott concert at the civic center, what about you?”
“I don’t know, probably nothing.” She replied as she inspected her perfectly manicured nails.
Tamia was one of those women that just seemed to have it all. A banging wardrobe, fly shoes, perfect nails and pedicures and- I’m guessing- a pretty sexy piece of eye candy at her disposal. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as I envisioned myself wearing the designer duds, haircut and perfume that Tamia sported. What would I do with the popularity and notoriety that Tamia had right at her fingertips?
I shook my head as the silence between us became deafening, and I struggled to think of something to say to keep her majesty around, if only for a few more seconds.
“Well, hey, if you want to come with me to the concert I’m sure I could round up another ticket. I’ve got the hookup on tickets.” I said getting excited about the prospect of Tamia Sanders hanging out with me. In all actuality, I didn’t have the hookup. I had extra money and was willing to pay for her ticket to the concert. Having the hookup just had a cooler ring to it.
Tamia opened her mouth and struggled to find something to say.
“You know what? I just remembered that my girlfriends did buy me a ticket to the concert. I don’t know how I forgot that.” She said as she lightly tapped her forehead and giggled nervously.
I could feel the burn in my throat as embarrassment rushed over my body. This time, when I tried to swallow the dry lump in my throat, I was met with pain. I couldn’t swallow my pride that was on the verge of causing a flood of tears.
I turned my back to Tamia and pretended that I was still trying to lock up my classroom and said, over my shoulder, “I guess I’ll see you there.”
Tamia didn’t hang around at all after rejecting my offer; she bolted towards the front door of the school, probably towards her stupid Maltese.
“Just put the keys in my box when you’re done.” She said before she disappeared into the beautiful day.
Just like that I’d sacrificed my things to do, for a shot at being Tamia’s friend; she’d played me hook, line and sinker.
I made my way towards the detention room and took my seat as the rest of the students lingered in.
To me, detention wasn’t anything more than a place to sleep or- if the student happened to be studious- a place to finish up homework. I wasn’t about to be strict in a place where I didn’t have to be.
I flipped through an Essence magazine, hoping that maybe they’d have an article on how to make friends or how to get over being rejected by a potential friend; but I got nothing.
After close to an hour of silence, I let the kids out early, made my way to my Honda Accord and checked my watch. I still had time to get to the mall and back to my house in time to make Dr. Phil.
I walked into Macy’s with my two bags full of items to return and headed straight to customer service.
“How are you today, madam?” An older woman asked as I sat the bags up on the counter and smiled back. Regardless of the type of day that I was having, I couldn’t knowingly be rude to anyone.
“I’m doing okay, how about you?” I asked as she began going through my bags of things.
“Oh, I can’t complain; even if I did, no one would listen.” She said as she cackled and pulled item by item out and scanned them into the cash register.
“I hear that.” I smiled as I picked up a little trinket that sat next to the register and examined it.
“You know, you look just like someone I know.” The woman said as she folded one of the shirts and placed it in a pile.
“Is that right?” I said smiling widely. “Whoever they are, I hope they’re pretty.”
“She is; it’s my granddaughter. She’s younger than you though, I’m sure. She’s only 15.” She said proudly as she closed her eyes and placed her wrinkled hand over her chest.
I nodded my head and smiled with envy as the grandmother told me all about her granddaughter, Chantal.
“I swear you two could be twins.” She said as she finished going through my items.
“What school does she attend? I teach at Leon.” I said happy for the conversation.
“She goes to FAMU high and she loves that school.” She smiled before locking her eyes with mine. “You know, you’re doing a great thing by being a teacher.” She said.
“I’d like to think so. Thank you.”
“Did you go to FAMU?” She inquired as she started looking for the paperwork for me to fill out for my returns.
“Actually I did. I graduated about 3 years ago.” I replied, feeling proud of my alma mater.
“Alright, go Rattlers!” She laughed as she sat some white forms in front of me.
“Just fill these out and ring this bell when you’re finished and we’ll get you all taken care of.” She said as she disappeared towards a rack of clothes in the juniors department.
I bent over the counter and started filling out my name, address, phone number and other contact information, when I heard- what sounded like- an aggressive tussle around the corner.
Before I could turn to find out what was happening I saw my cashier friend, a young white gentleman with a buzz cut, and a chubby, round face that was so familiar to me I couldn’t resist calling out her name.
“Kiara?”
With her hands behind her back and shame spread all over her face, I looked in Kiara’s face and shook my head. By now, I knew what this meant; it was clear as day. The white guy had Kiara by one of her elbows and was escorting her to the back room of customer service. In his other hand was a few items, which I assumed she’d tried to steal, crumpled up into a ball.
The security guy and Kiara whizzed by me and, for the life of me, I couldn’t take my eyes off of my student.
“You know that young lady?” My cashier friend asked me as she watched me stare at Kiara’s journey to the room with the glass walls.
“Yeah…uh…well, she’s one of my students.” I said not taking my eyes off of Kiara.
The woman shook her head and pursed her lips together tightly
“I don’t understand how those children can come in this store and steal what they know doesn’t belong to them.” She said taking a deep breath before returning her glare to the papers in front of me.
“You done with those, honey?” She asked pointing to the papers.
“Uh, yeah.” I finally responded as I pushed them towards her. “What’s going to happen to her?” I found myself asking, just as Kiara looked over her shoulder towards me.
Fear and pity were all I could see as I studied her face.
“Well, we’ll probably have to send her to the juvenile center and once they assess how much she tried to steal, that will determine the charges she receives.”
“Charges?” I said loudly as the woman raised an eyebrow towards me.
“Yes, charges. You know, it is still illegal to steal things.” She said matter-of-factly.
“But she’s just a kid.” I said feeling myself getting riled up
“She still broke the law; I can’t do anything about that.” The cashier said as she typed something into the cash register.
“But what if it was your granddaughter and…” I started.
“My granddaughter would never do something like this.” She shot back, damn near burning a hole through my head.
I dropped my head and paced in front of the counter with my hands over my head, wondering what I could do to reverse the situation. I knew what Kiara had done was wrong; if anyone knew I did, but she was still a kid and had made a mistake.
The woman quickly finished processing my returns and turned to face me with a wad of cash in her hands, along with my return receipt.
“Here you go. Have a good day.” She said shortly.
I reached to take the money and grasped her hand tightly. Up until that moment, I hadn’t cared to know the woman’s name; but my gut was pulling me to do something; I had to start somewhere.
“I’m sorry, what’s your name?” I asked as she eyed my hand closely and slowly pulled it away.
“Glenda.” She said as she shoved both of her hands into her pockets and stared back, defiantly at me.
“I’m Elise; it’s nice to meet you.” I said calmly, hoping I could reel her sensitive side back in.
“Okay…” Glenda trailed off.
“Now a few minutes ago you told me I was doing a great thing by being a teacher; that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve gone from school to school for years to find a way to make a difference. Now I realize it was all so that I could be here, right now, to help Kiara out of her own way.” I said swallowing. “We’ve all made mistakes, right?”
“Yeah, but none of mine have been illegal.” Glenda said quickly.
“And she’s wrong for that, but if she makes one mistake and we throw her to the wolves- instead of taking the time to tell her what she did wrong- then I think we’re doing her a disservice.” I countered.
“How do we even know this is her first time being in trouble?”
“She’s a good kid, Glenda. I wouldn’t vouch for just anyone. But, when I look at her I see…well, I see myself.” I said dropping my head and sucking my teeth.
“And if it’s wrong for me to want to save her, before she embarks on years and years of struggling to find her way, then I guess I’m wrong.” I said. “And if your granddaughter did make a mistake, you’d want someone to be at bat for her- regardless of the mistake, right?”
Glenda stared at me a few minutes before turning and walking off. I was sure that she was walking off to roll her eyes, or cackle with the rest of the customer service workers about how weird I was, but a few minutes after she abruptly left she and Kiara stood before me in an awkward silence.
“I don’t want to see you back in here stealing things. Ms. Elise is going to take you home.” I heard Glenda say sympathetically as she slightly pushed Kiara towards me.
Both of us looked like we were shocked at the outcome, and as we headed towards the exit, Kiara turned back to Glenda and lowly thanked her.
“Where do you live?” I asked as I started my car and stared over at Kiara, who had her head bowed.
“My dad lives in Quincy.”
“Quincy?” I asked, realizing that Kiara lived on the outskirts of Tallahassee.
“How do you go to Leon, living all the way out in Quincy?”
“We use my aunt’s address so I can go to a better school.” She replied, keeping her eyes on her chubby hands. “That was the school my mom went to.”
“Do you live with your dad and mom?”
“Just my dad and nana.” She said keeping her eyes down.
“Where’s your mom?”
“She died when I was a baby.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
After that, the silence in the car could’ve been cut with a knife, but I wasn’t about to let Kiara off the hook the easily. She had some explaining to do and, most of all; she had some realizing to do. I knew she wasn’t a stupid girl, her test scores were always the highest in the class and she was definitely one of the smartest students I’d ever taught.
As we got onto the interstate I looked over at Kiara, who was watching the trees move by, and I cleared my throat, to get her attention.
When she finally looked over at me, it wasn’t long before her head was in her hands and she was weeping loudly.
“What happened? Why were you stealing things?”
Kiara took a moment to think about her answer and, through gasps for air; she tried to explain everything to me.
“I…I’m just tired of them not liking me. They keep saying I’m a goody-two-shoes, just ‘cause I won’t do things that they don’t do.” She said shaking her head and shutting her eyes.
I listened closely, all the while trying to keep my eyes on her and road.
“They have sex. I don’t. They do drugs. I don’t. They steal things. I don’t. So, when Portia Bradley told me that I could hang with her and her girls, I was ready to do whatever to be down.” She said slowing down
“You stole just so a bunch of girls would like you?”
She shook her head silently and continued with her story.
“I was just tired of being different from them. I just wanted them to like me.” She said sounding eerily similar to someone else I knew.
I kept quiet as I thought how strange it was that a 16 year old girl and a 26 year old teacher were experiencing the same emotional roller coasters.
“So, they took me to the mall and we were all in Macy’s and Portia put one thing in her purse and the other girls’ did the same thing. When I got scared, and said I wasn’t doing it, they made fun of me Ms. Washington; so I did what they did, hoping it’d get them to like me.” She said as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“And that’s when you got caught?” I asked curiously.
“No, well, not exactly. I went back, after Portia and the girls had already got on the bus to go home, and I tried to put the things back. That’s when the guy saw me and said he’d caught me stealing.” She said in disbelief. “I did, but I was trying to put it back!” Kiara cried.
I instantaneously knew I was right about Kiara; she was a good kid with the best of intentions but wrong guidance.
“You shouldn’t have to make anyone be your friend.” I said reflecting on my own words.
“I know but…” Kiara said cutting me off.
I put my hand up and let her know I wasn’t finished talking.
“I just want you to listen to me, okay?” I said raising an eyebrow as Kiara nodded her head in agreement.
“When I was 16, I went to juvie.” I said taking a deep breath as I prepared to share a secret with a little girl that I barely knew beyond her test scores and cute face.
Kiara’s eyes widened as she studied my facial features to figure out if I was serious. When I didn’t crack a smile, she sat back in her seat with her mouth open. I was sure she was thinking, “How did my square teacher get in juvie?”
I would’ve been thinking the same exact thing. How did the same teacher who wore loafers and cardigan sweaters happen to be a bad ass in her former life?
“I’ve never really had a lot of friends and I’ve tried so hard to be that girl that has a lot of followers; but that’s just not me.” I said out loud. “But, when I was a junior in high school one of the “cool” senior girls started being really nice to me and I was so excited. I’d go to school everyday hoping that she’d ask me to do something cool with her and when she did, I jumped at the chance. Granted it was just to go to the mall and hang out, but it was something.” I said smiling, as I remembered that day vividly.
“And when we got there it was like she was my best friend. I thought I had finally arrived. I strutted around that mall like I was the queen of it. You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t running things.” I said laughing, as Kiara chuckled a little bit too.
“So when she asked me to hold her backpack, I didn’t think anything of it. We went from store to store and each time we’d leave a store, she’d tell me she needed to get something from her backpack; then give it back to me when she was through. So we went into this record store and when I walked in-with her backpack on my shoulder-the alarms started sounding off and I was looking around confused. Before I could turn around and ask my new “BFF” what was going on, she was bolting out of the mall, leaving me standing in the arms of mall security.”
“Dag, that’s messed up.” Kiara said burrowing her eyebrows “She didn’t even stick around and take the heat with you? But you didn’t steal.”
“But security wasn’t trying to hear that and I ended up have to do community service and pay restitution to all the stores that the girl had stolen from.”
Kiara sat in silence, probably thinking how lucky she was that someone had stepped in and saved her from those same consequences, as she bit her bottom lip while contemplating her next question.
“Did the girl ever apologize?” Kiara asked raising her eyebrows in curiosity.
“You know what? That girl never looked at me again after that day; she had the nerve to blame me for getting caught.” I said as I shook my head.
“That’s messed up.”
“But you know what I realized?” I asked as we pulled off on her exit “I wasn’t that girl that was going to do illegal things for friends.” I said peering over to her as she soaked up what I was telling her.
“Me either, Ms. Washington.”
“Even though I still struggle with not having a lot of friends, I know my limits.” I said not looking at Kiara in her face. “And if I don’t, I learn quickly.”
“What do you mean, Ms. Washington? You’ve got friends. Mr. Beagle- the English teacher- is always really nice to you and Ms. Proctor- the lady in the cafeteria- always says what a nice lady you are.” Kiara said counting on her fingers. “And what about Principal Tucker?”
Kiara was absolutely right and, despite my thoughts that I didn’t have any friends, I realized I’d been blocking people out of my life because they didn’t meet my standards of cool friends; the exact things Tamia and other children, growing up, had always done to me.
I’d always had an ideal of how my cool friends would look. They’d be beautifully proportioned, wear trendy clothes, drive fancy cars and be the talk of the town. It never dawned on me that my cool friends might have come in a beat-up Volvo wearing baggy khakis and polo shirts- like Mr. Beagle.
I took a deep gulp and bit my bottom lip before starting to smirk.
In an effort to get more friends, I’d changed who I was completely, and I hadn’t even noticed it. It took a shy, chubby, mini-me to shine a light on the insecurities that had plagued me since I was a child.
“Don’t ever change who you are for anyone, Kiara. Losing your soul, and everything you believe in, isn’t worth a few moments of fun or coolness. Everyone in high school is blending in, trying to be just like everybody else. You don’t have to blend in like them. Blend out, honey. Be proud to blend out.” I begged her.
I could tell my talk with Kiara wasn’t one that I had with most of my students; you know, in one ear and out the other. Kiara was absorbing everything that I was saying and I really appreciated her for that.
“As a teenager, I wish someone would’ve told me the things I know now and had to learn the hard way.” I said as Kiara pointed towards a street for me to turn down.
“Don’t be in such a rush to grow-up, life isn’t going anywhere. I still think about what people will remember me for when I’m gone. I hope, to God, it’s not because I was rushing to jump into a world that I’m now having trouble maneuvering through.” I said cautiously as I continued. “I wish I would’ve slowed down on my quest to be an adult.”
“Laugh off the things people say to you, just because you’re different, and embrace the fact that you’re not like them. Trust me, the older you get the more you blend into the crowd; now’s your chance to blend out. And I know nothing I’m telling you can stop all the mistakes you’re going to make in your life, but just know that some things you can avoid.” I said as I slowed down in front of Kiara’s house.
We sat silent in the car for a few minutes, watching little kids run up and down the shabby street, before Kiara looked at me-with tears in her eyes- and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Thank you” she whispered.
During my training as a teacher, they taught us to never get too close to a student because you never want to risk a lawsuit; but that day, I wasn’t her teacher and I wasn’t a liability of the Leon County School system. Instead, I was her friend; I had risked a lot to give her another shot at finding her way.
Kiara stood outside of the passenger side door, searching for something to say.
“I’ll see you in sixth period on Monday.” I said winking, as I put my car in drive, just as Kiara held up her hand for me to stop.
“Ms. Washington, you are cool.” She smiled widely, before running off towards her house.
Re-living my pain brought the realization that I was cool all along.
Just like beauty, it was simply in the eye of the beholder.

Ebonee Monique is the author of the forthcoming Suicide Diaries, and you can learn more about her at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/

Devotional: One Choice, One Decision by Jackie Moore

2009-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise. ~ Robert Fritz

Scripture:

To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:9-11 (New International Version) As I look around me at the world today, I wonder, how did we get here? The world has literally gone crazy. People are losing their jobs. Fathers are killing babies. Mothers don’t protect their children the way they used to and those that have would deny those who have not.It would be so easy to say, “that it’s not my fault. I wasn’t the one who caused these problems, somebody else did. I am not the one who took all the money and ran these companies into the ground. It’s not my problem, it’s theirs.”Saints of God, whether you want to admit it or not, it is our problem and it is our fault. We are the ones who chose to live beyond our means. We are the ones who wanted more, more and more. We are the ones who wanted what we want and to hell with those who don’t want it as bad as I do.

We chose to ignore the warning signs that our economy was in danger. We chose to turn a blind eye to those who were less fortunate than ourselves. We wanted what we wanted when we wanted it and in essence, we chose silver and gold over knowledge and rubies instead of wisdom.Now we are in a place that forces our hands and causes us to question our greed for the finer things in life that were bought on the precept of “buy it now and worry about paying for it later.”Now that it is later, what do you choice? What is the right decision to make?

Be Blessed

Prayer:

Father God, as I look at the world around me, my heart is heavy with grief. We choice silver and gold over the things that you taught us in Your word. We choice to turn a blind eye to those who were less fortunate than ourselves and now we find that we too have lost our way. Father God, forgive us for our sinful ways and desires. Help us O’Lord to return to your teachings and to putting our faith and our trust in You. Lord, help us to see the trappings of the devil for what they are, a way to cause havoc and cause us to turn away from You. Lord, I come before the throne of grace asking that You would once again take me down the path that You would have me to follow. Help us Lord, to thirst after Your Word instead of the way of the world. Lord, thank You for keeping me and my household safe from all hurt harm and danger. Your word tells says I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Help me Father to return to a more righteous way of living. Now Lord, I ask that You would bless those who stand before You in need of a breakthrough. Touch that Father, that Mother who needs to know that the Holy Spirit is with us always, even in bad times and that He will never leave us or forsake us. It is in His most Holy Name that we submit this prayer. Amen.

Learn more about the phenomenal Jacqueline D. Moore and her debut novel, Serving Justice, at www.PeaceInTheStormPublishing.com.

Serving Justice Excerpt

2009-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Prologue

"No, that’s not possible. He couldn’t be dead. He’s not supposed to be dead. Oh my God, what have I done? How could God have allowed this to happen?"

With those last words, Angie’s world went black and she fell to her knees. All three of her friends went right down with her. They all surrounded their friend, crying with her and taking on Angie’s pain as if it were their own. "Angie, forgive me I didn’t want to hurt you like this. I wish I could take it all back and make it go away. I’m so very, very sorry," Rhonda whispered through her tears.

"What am I supposed to do? How will I ever be able to tell Tony? I will never be able to face him. It’s over. He will never be able to forgive me. Tell me what to do. I don’t know what to do."
Angie’s cries were like that of a wounded animal. She couldn’t be consoled. There was nothing her friends could do to stop Angie’s cries; to alleviate her sorrow. They tried but couldn’t get her to get up off the floor. They were afraid that if they didn’t do something soon, the restaurant’s employees might call the police.

"Angie, you have got to get a hold of yourself. Someone may call the police. We will work this out. We won’t let you go through this alone. We will be there for you and do everything that we can to help you get through this but you must help us. Come on let’s get you up off the floor, please!"
The friends let Angie cry until she was all cried out. They decided that she shouldn’t be left alone tonight and determined that Theresa would be the best person to stay with her. None of them had an appetite and were certain it was time for them all to go home.

As they stood outside in the crisp night air, it seemed to have a calming effect on Angie. She had finally stopped crying and stood there lost in her own world of anguish. They were able to hail a cab and Theresa helped Angie into the car and rode home with her.

"Theresa, tell me, was there something that I could have done to prevent this? I mean, what did I do that was so bad other than try to do my job. He didn’t deserve what I did to him."
"It is not for us to understand why God allows certain things to happen. Everyone is here for a time and a season. Unfortunately, he lost his way and there was no one there to help him find it again," Theresa consoled.

"There is a price for everything that we obtain in life. So often that price is total submission to the will of God. He will often allow adversity to come into our lives just so he can show up and show out. Won’t you trust him, please?"

Order your copy of Serving Justice today at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com.

You Can Run But You Can't Hide by Jackie Moore

2009-03-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

Remember, be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. ~Basil King

Scripture:But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. Jonah 1: 3-4 (New International Version)

Recently, I asked a friend, “Why am I compelled to do these messages?” Needless to say, my friend couldn’t answer my question but rather said, “I don’t know, but I thank God that you do.”

You see saints, often times it is very painful to write about some of the things that I do. I sometimes feel that it is a great weight that I carry. No matter how much I try to deviate from writing these messages, I often find myself sitting here with a new story to tell. I realize that I have been given a mission by God and as much as may want to rebel, God will not allow it.

So it is with each and every one of us. God has given each of us a mission. It is our responsibility to carry out that mission whether we want to or not. When we try to walk along a path that is not of God, He will allow things to happen to in our lives that will force us back on the right path. You may be in the wrong relationship, pursuing the wrong job, or maybe you have just ignored the word of God and are following the world instead of following Him. Maybe just like Jonah, you have been given a directive by God but because you don’t want to do it, you try to run away from it. Maybe you are doing things in your life that God finds unacceptable. Or maybe, you have decided that you just don’t want to listen to what God is trying to tell you.I just want to let you know, that if there is something that God wants you to do, He will wear you down until you do it. If you are not listening to his voice, I urge you to pay close attention because God can and will get your attention, by any means necessary.

Be blessed

Prayer:Father God, I come before the throne of grace seeking Your face and Your favor. Lord, often times I hear Your voice and tremble. I tremble because I know that I am not doing your will but rather following my own. Forgive me Lord. I pray that You would forgive me for my mistakes of yesterday and I pray that You would find favor with me once again. Lord, I come standing in the gap for my family and friends. I pray for the family who lost a mother and the family who lost a young child. So many need so much. I ask that You would comfort those who are heartbroken, assure those who are at a lost, strengthen those who are weak. Lord, help us to realize just how blessed we are. We may not have all that we want, but you continue to supply all of our needs. Lord, we just want to thank You for all that You have done in our lives and for all that You are about to do. Keep us all in perfect peace and help us to keep our minds and our hearts set on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.

Jackie Moore is the author of Serving Justice. Order your copy of Serving Justice today at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com!

Perfect Woman by K.L.

2009-03-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

PERFECT WOMAN
(If Only in My Mind)

I ask myself, why I am so lucky.

Is there a reason I am so blessed?

But, you’re never supposed to question God’s work.

I say God because how do you explain her patience with me.

There is something about the way she understands my needs.

Are there other women who would love another’s children like her own?

Would another woman be strong enough to trust God and take you back when you have tasted someone else’s fruits?

Her soul is pure enough to douse the evil that once filled my own.

My vanity, pride and smugness have been replaced with concern, endearment and gratefulness.

I now concern myself with more than just my own needs.

Her smile fills my heart with joy.

Her tears burn at my soul and demand my immediate attention or screams for forgiveness.

I am blessed with an equal, so again I ask why I am so lucky.

Does God see something in me I don’t see? He must.

She is sexy beyond belief, even when she sleeps.

Can that comfortable look come from what I have brought to her life?

The world is funny, one minute you’re all alone, next thing all your dreams are being answered.

Thank you, God!

Well the only course of action is to leave all my worries, fears, and concerns at God’s feet.

Something about having the right woman makes each day, night and morning special.

I really do have the perfect woman if only in my mind.

**This is how I see my wife for it is with her I am even a better man than the Lord has made. Combined with her soul, I feel there is nothing I cannot accomplish. That can only be done by submitting ones life to the Lord and trusting that what He gives back is a perfect you, regardless of what others think and feel. **

~K. L. Belvin

KL is an author and poet and contributor to The Soul of a Man. Find out more about KL at http://www.klthewriter.com/ and more about The Soul of a Man at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

Understanding the Times and Connecting the Dots by Brian Ganges

2009-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Understanding the Times and Connecting the Dots

We are living in an age and in a time where events are happening so rapidly and in such an unprecedented way that it becomes difficult, at times, to decipher the world in which we live. 1 Chronicles 12:32 teaches us that there was an Old Testament remnant of God’s people (the tribe of Issachar) who were skilled with discernment in understanding the times; and today is no different. God has not left the world without witness regarding the end times and understanding of the media melee of information and disinformation that exists. If you are a Christian, then you should have a Christian worldview (Romans 12:1-3). The world has a secular view and unfortunately, many in the Church do too. This doesn’t mean that they are bad people; it simply means that they have been trained to think that way. I am here, in part, to provide what Anton Ego (the food critic from the cartoon movie, Ratatouille) desired: perspective.

Perspective is your point-of-view, your angle or your way of regarding a situation. I believe that I am one of many in God’s army that is anointed to help inform people to see the world for what it is and not for what they think that it should be or what it is perceived to be. For far too long, we have been fooled by Madison Avenue public relations firms, spin doctors and political correctness; while the Spirit of God is living on the inside of us. Paul said that “we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11) and we shouldn’t be fooled any longer.

We have been given dominion over this planet (Genesis 1:28), and more specifically this nation. If we (as the salt of the earth and the light of the world) are going to be successful in understanding the times and enforcing our God-given dominion, we must realize a few things. First, we must be cognizant of the fact that we live in a physical world that is influenced by spiritual laws and beings. Although unseen to our naked eye, these beings (God, the Author of good; and the enemy, the author of evil) exist and we see their effects upon our lives and the lives of others on a daily basis. Recognizing and operating in this mindset, quite simply, is called discernment: the ability to comprehend that which might not be completely understood by our five senses. Second, we have to accept the truth as reality. Things in the world may not operate the way they use to or the way we thought they were supposed to; but we have to see things for what they are and move forward. We can no longer rationalize the truth away with incoherent arguments, hope and denial. Third, we must be willing to understand, to admit, and to accept that our way of thinking is or might have been wrong. None of us is perfect, and we should all strive to learn and grow, but if we are not humble enough and teachable, then we raise the risk of walking in continued ignorance. Fourth, we have to understand that just because we are good people and we want to help people, doesn’t mean that everyone else’s motives in the world are good. There are bad people in the world who are selfish, mean and conniving; and there are good people in the world who have a skewed view of the way things should be. See people and their motives for what they are. Remember, people were burned at the stake and labeled as heretics because they believed that the earth was round. Some people have some strange beliefs, but if we have our roots in Christ we will always flourish. Fifth, we must realize that when we are philosophically going to a destination, we must know our current location. If we don’t know where we are, then we won’t know how to get to our desired destination; not to mention that it’s easier to be led astray by others if we are not familiar with our surroundings.

Many people are not interested in the masses understanding what is going on, and many people will tell us outright lies. Why? Because in darkness is where evil is bred; and confusion hides understanding and truth. Jesus told us to let our light shine and shout the Good News from the rooftop. So know if people are hiding the truth or constantly using public relations ads and politically correct rhetoric, just know that a big snow job is coming. You can also discern the situation by the Word and know who is the source of the deception; Jesus said that the devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Look at some of the following quotes by some very famous people (past and present) about how they deceive people.

"Television was our chief tool in selling our policy."—Richard Haas, President of the Council on Foreign Relations

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."—George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States of America

A lie told often enough becomes the truth.—Vladimir Lenin, Russian Communist politician & revolutionary (1870 - 1924)

“Our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they ought to have.”-Richard Salant, former president, CBS News

"News is what someone wants to suppress. Everything else is advertising".--Alfred Lord Northcliffe (1865-1922) was a British newspaper pioneer who revolutionized magazine and newspaper publishing in Britain

In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.--Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States of America

"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dare to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and to sell the country for his daily bread. You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press. We are the tools and vassals of the rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."-- John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff at the New York Times in 1880

"The average person in the U.S. watches about four hours of television each day. Over the course of a year, we see roughly twenty five thousand commercials, many of them produced by the world's highest-paid cognitive psychologists. And these heavily produced advertisements are not merely for products, but for a lifestyle based on a consumer mind-set. What they're doing, day in and day out, twenty-five thousand times a year, is hypnotizing us into seeing ourselves as consumers who want to be entertained rather than as citizens who want to be informed and engaged. We need to take back the airwaves as a sphere of mature conversation and dialogue about our common future."--Duane Elgin, "On Simplicity and Humanity's Future, IONS, Noetic Sciences Review, December 2002

As you can see, there are some very powerful people who understand the times; and they know that in order to carry forth an agenda that may not be to our liking, they must attempt to blind us from the truth. From Scripture, we know who the enemy of the truth is.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.—2 Corinthians 4:3-4

I am just one of many workers in the Lord’s vineyard (1 Corinthians 3:7-9), crying aloud and sparing not (Isaiah 58:1) in the midst of political correctness and the constant barrage of bickering amongst the political pundits. Regardless of anyone’s political affiliation, if you are a lover of Jesus, then your first allegiance is to the Word of God, and NOT to your friends, family or race. Think about it…….Christ declared that we are salt (a preserving agent of righteousness) and light (that which dispels darkness); and if we are not being what God declared us to be, then what are we doing? Who will be that salt and light? Shall the rocks cry out? Things have gone south in this country because the salt has lost its savor and in many instances the world is trampling us under their feet; yet the Bible teaches us that the enemy and his way are under our feet (Luke 10:19). Do you see how things can get out of control when we don’t take our proper role in society? Everyone won’t be as active and as vocal as I am, but we all have an obligation to be informed so that we can inform others, choose righteous leadership and ensure that righteousness reigns at the local, state and federal levels (Proverbs 29:2).

I have been around politics and politicians most of my life. I have met mayors, a governor, and interviewed U.S. Presidential candidates on my radio show; and I can say with 100% certainty that a lot of politicians are no smarter than you and me. That is why we have to check them and make sure that they are working for us, regardless of gender, race or party affiliation. Although many may feel that politics is boring and a waste of time to follow, we must remember that politics governs many aspects of our lives. Government regulates our banking system, education, insurance, commerce, determines taxes, and so much more. So it would be to our advantage to make sure that we understand what is going on and know for certain if the news media and politicians are telling the truth or putting their public relations spin on things. We must make sure that we are represented by people who have a vested interest in equality and righteousness in the civic arena. What good is it to know that something has happened, but we have no idea if or how the situation will affect us, our family, and our friends?

For example, in today’s big news stories, we have been told that the economic downturn was caused by irresponsible people taking on bad mortgages from unscrupulous lending institutions. This is only a thimble full of the reason why this situation happened. But the media and the politicians will tell us otherwise. I am only using this as an example because the faster we can get a true grasp on the reality of the affairs of the world, the faster we can stop finger pointing, hating our enemies (the opposite political party), and be leaders and right the wrongs in this nation’s policies. But we MUST start seeing passed east and west, black and white, rich and poor, democrat and republican, so that we can see the big and clear picture.

Well, I am here to do my part, and I hope that you will join me in doing your part in spreading the Good News in the Halls of Justice however God leads you. Live well.

BRIAN GANGES is a contributor to the forthcoming,

The Soul of a Man. Learn more about The Soul of a Man at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

Mahogany Aphrodite by Marc Lacy

2009-03-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Mahogany Aphrodite

Illustrious honey bronze

tint seals the bodacious

radiance captured via

her heavenly allure...

Immaculate describes

the curvaceous splendor

appealing to the eye

as it thunderously reeks

of divine symmetry...

History is constantly made

as she passively flexes

her statuesque prowess

which yields optical cavities

for onlookers in epic proportions...

The strength exuded within

her smile profiles

the handsomely girly pearlies

as they cast a glowing ivory

rainbow extending longer than

The Nile...

A picture straight from

scripture is painted within

the garden as she flanks The

Tree of Knowledge awaiting

her Adam prince to take her hand...

Lovely describes her eternal

aura as the sensation per her creation is a major topic...IN GOD'S PLAN...

She is Mahogany Aphrodite

The incredible Marc Lacy is a contributor to the forthcoming The Soul of a Man, at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/. Learn more about Mr. Lacy at http://www.marclacy.com/.

Writing Is Much More Than Just Words by Alvin C. Romer

2009-03-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Writing Is Much More Than Just Words...

When I was 10 years old I wrote my first essay, was mesmerized with Walt Whitman and discovered Ralph Waldo Emerson. The former, who penned a poem that I had to learn and recite helped shaped my love for the poetic form of interpretive expression. Both of these historic figures has shaped my journey as a writer. ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ by Mr. Whitman still reverberate in my consciousness, and if asked to recite today I still remember the words! Emerson, whom I consider to be the greatest essay writer ever urged independent thinking and believed that scholars learns

best by engaging life and writing about it! Over the years I’ve endeavored to do that as the writing life has been good to me for the most part. It has allowed me to extend beyond margins and use imagery to dig deep within for literary value. I developed a love for words and set out to learn as much as I could on the origins and how to use them. The gist of this essay lends itself to my assessment that writing, if done from a foundation citing passionate roots for the craft and a willingness to get to the levels here notoriety carry more weight then obscurity, can be the lease on life in garnering individual success. Herein lie my thoughts on the subject:

Much More Than Words...
Emerson also said that, "Talent alone cannot make a writer." It's a phrase most journalists and serious authors can relate to but often finding themselves falling prey to indifference. I may add my two cents by saying; writing is more than just words”. Aspiring writers and veterans too, should be aware that when proper syntax, hyperbole, and metaphor are structured for reader analysis, words become central to dramatic effect and intent. But more often than not, not all things come together for all intended purposes for a good read. Albeit, sometimes even the best ideas, combined with top notch reporting and research can be hard to translate onto the page. Still, there are some writers technically have paid their dues and have learned the craft, and understand the importance of denouement. It’s all about knowing how to turn complex, even tedious, material into compelling stories to keep readers enthralled and pages turning. As an avid Book Reviewer, and Editor even, I run across books that do not adhere to any of the aforementioned. A well-structured manuscript should subscribe to all of the literary elements for telling that story the way you want your readers to get your point. You don't want to waste the reader's time with a book that is not prepared for adequate adherence to literary worth.
The title of this correspondence is one that I've always wanted to verify - that not all authors and books born without enhanced content will buttress this industry for stability. I asked a question among my students as part of an essay writing contest - 'what makes a writer a great author' and got a plethora of answers and unique responses. Having worked as a Journalist and adjunct literary professional wearing many hats, I've seen and read quite a few books that couldn't hold water, as well as a few that were outstanding in presentation and qualitative verve. Authors that stood out were those that wrote from a model that exemplified a deep passion for imagery. I've always surmised that writing is much more than a string of words thrown together from one end to another hoping that the middle won't sag. The reality is that all aspiring authors (and a few veterans, too) must face the fact that the odds are higher that they will not hit the bestseller lists. Nor will they become rich writing as a career, especially without a substantive written legacy among other attributes.Thus, no matter how talented, hardworking and prolific they may be, the market simply cannot sustain more than a few James Pattersons and Toni Morrisons. But writing that seminal novel takes much more than what you and I may see on the surface. We all know that perseverance more often than not will balance the law of averages for some semblance of success when all the 'i's are dotted, and 't's crossed to say that you did your homework. How will it effect context and content? It may even call for that extra-curricular mustard spread out evenly sandwiched between slices of anticipated success to give written works justified tastes for easy consumption. When a story is well-written authors go the length to make sure that the foundation has been put in place and that storyboards are followed and the necessary research done to give it legitimacy. When words flow and jive coherently the aforementioned Mr. Emerson would be proud!

Moreover, when I read I want to identify with what authors are trying to convey…I want their mindsets to further propel me to feel that I’m part of the action. Truly, that’s page-turning delight for me! I love history and can appreciate yesteryear’s timing and sequences; I’m a sucker for a good period piece that tells me what I need to know. But it also has to be written in a way that holds my interest. The topic must be compelling enough, important enough, and conducive to warrant that words are not mere pawns holding the story line hostage. I guess I’m becoming too astute in my judgment of the type of writing that has become mundane and fitting the industry’s penchant for status quo. Because I want more, I have no problem extending my reading file as I’ve become accustomed to ‘reading across the board’. That’s akin to not being limited or inhibited to certain genres that won’t allow a broader base of reference.

Comprehensive journalism and entertaining literature written where words dance on the pages allow metaphoric drama to guide adjectives that render readers spellbound. Alas, the most important feature of this type of writing is finding a personal connection and a reason to say – “damn, that was a good book!"

Of late, I’ve been writing more, especially in the non-fiction mode preparing for publication of a series of my essays and articles written recently. I get a chance to reflect, write and choose from my personal journals, freelance assignments, and memoir that’s relevant from my observance of life seen from my catbird seat. I want to become that vital wordsmith with something to say where the words actually are meaningful. I want the essays that I’ve contributed over the years to academic journals to give credence to my faithfulness. I’ve come to love giving insight on how things should be done, even. I feel that every ‘how-to’ story should offer readers a set of action items or a start-to-finish process they can easily follow and begin to implement the minute they're finished reading. The substance provided needs to be detailed enough that readers find value, but not so detailed that it seems overwhelming and impossible to put into practice.
Words are important to me. I choose them carefully when I articulate orally and written. In my estimation, wit and wisdom are progenitors of them if placed with eloquence beyond ordinary thought. As a researcher writing articles, I want my words to signify a greater sense of flow…I want them to act as a filter, sorting through the information collecting and presenting the pieces that are most useful and significant. I am always reminded by several of my author friends who chide that a good story shouldn’t just sound an alarm -- it should marshal an army of intellectual resources to help readers to respond to stimuli! As you read this piece and formulate your next writing project, put some oomph in your choice of words while writing, think about how you may better present your novel idea so that your words can be that command performance before an enthusiastic audience chomping at the bit for them. Words are characters of content; they need to be dressed right for style and substance. Great writing indeed is much more than words when you’re ready to perform with them!

Obscurity Vs. Notoriety
In my opinion, writing is personal but should be shared. I also believe that an author should revise work as often as needed. I can look no further than my own situation and transition to an becoming an accomplished writer. Am I good enough to be a one with style, substance, and laden with enough talent to be among the published authors with books already on bookshelves? Yes, I ask myself this constantly, and have given it much thought. My lifelong dream was not always to write a book, have it published and to see my name among other authors and titles on those same shelves. Rather, all I ever wanted was to be able to write period and do so with clarity. I feel that somewhere down the line publishing that first book will become a reality in due time.
How daunting is this task if you’ve persevered beyond the nuances and obstacles along the way? I carry my pen and pad savoring poignant and pensive moments capturing and preserving them by writing them down so that thoughts and mindsets for future articles and essays are not lost. There have been times where I’ve been reluctant to share...not wanting people to see that perhaps I may not ready to be unveiled. I’m human and may be prone to eschew workshops and other writing classes because I’m impatient and insolent even, thinking that I’ve been there and done that.

Along the way I’ve learned that writing forces you to be disciplined if the passion is genuine, With it, in your mind you KNOW that you must perfect the craft, and be considered worthy of your audience having confidence in you. If you’re like me, you’re driven by wit, words, and wisdom from your creative mind to be productive and provocative. You have some modicum of success as an Independent Book Reviewer perhaps, you have written columns online, and consider yourself an Essayist with at last count, over 120 essays written within the last year and a half; you have joined a number of online book and reading groups to stay vibrant and in touch with the literary Diaspora, and you blog. And oh do you blog! Blogging is fun, In addition to mly signature ones, I write columns for several online blogs and I love It! The website you may have produced gives you a certain sense of success, but it’s not inclusive of the broad range of success that can be yours only within confining margins of acceptability and success, but who wants only marginal success? I want more, and it’s time!

Obscurity. That word makes me cringe, and I admit it unnerves me in a way that I began to feel like success will elude me. When I sit down to put words to paper, be it via computer or what, I feel the butterflies in my stomach from anticipated fervor knowing that something is going to happen. My creativity is like that, so full of nervous energy until the ink flows indelibly without any inhibitions. This current essay purports to give insight to the persistence of the unknown writer, the writer that needs to shed his cocoon sprout wings and take off. Ask me am I committed and you wouldn’t find anyone more determined to belong. I know Jean-Paul Satre and his defining principles of existentialism and commitment – the necessity of defining oneself by choosing, continually choosing, always an uncompleted act but simultaneously completing, needing to feel accomplished! I was a young man as far as I can remember being someone who wanted to be accepted as a writer – no, I was already sure that I was a writer, even though I had not started my freelance writing career, and hadn’t yet seen anything published with my name attached to it.

Remembering those days before the monies started coming in were dark and wistful, but I always found the courage to stay the course. To understand the elements that went into Satre’s work, is to be existential and the determining agent responsible for my own choices. This is what drove me, and continues to give me that burst of psychological energy needed to keep focused. I feel no negativity being connected to his idealism because to some extent, all writers will have experienced what I’ve felt in wanting to be accepted. Talent notwithstanding, vestiges of existentialism is present in the form of terms that are synonymous with productivity, often the harbinger of doubt. We tend to call it anxiety, writer’s block, ennui, angst, or my favorite – melancholy blues. But is this the best way to define moments like that when nothing of note comes across your pad, the times when you fail to connect the dots?

It gets back to how committed you are and want to be. IIs the passion still relevant and intimate? I’m aware of what needs to be done to give me mental stability and to keep my head above water to reach that higher level. I think about the stages and initiatives to let the powers that be to know whom I am and why I write as I do. It means not bowing down to those that may not understand or even have the type of intellect I do to allow them to see me as being pedantic. And yes, I have had a few of them who feel that I must come down to their level to be accepted and understood. I shrug and admonish them to get a bigger dictionary, or turn the other cheek when they see me coming. The persistence of the unknown writer will always be to harness obscurity, and get his/her work out there to be seen. Notoriety then, will take dare itself.

I’m challenged all the time when I write, because I want to know that each and every bit of work I produce can be the parts of a greater whole to obtain that seemingly obscure notoriety. When there’s no check in the mail I feel the sharp edge of terror gripping me, and reality is much more than the imagery I tend to substitute it for.

I lament the fact that no agent has called me and asked for my manuscripts; no editor has offered me a chance to be redlined and marginalized with trial and error; and certainly no options to be given a pink slip of rejection, even. I suppose that there’s a consolatory rung on the ladder toward acceptance for a writer of my caliber, and it’s the hope that perseverance would continue to prevail against all odds, and that continuity is the core of it. What is the lesson for others to learn having to deal with obscurity? For those of us still languishing in obscurity we have to remind ourselves that we STILL have to keep plying our trade...and that we are not yet part of that viable network until and when we produce something that will be prominent to someone in the right time and the right place. Ralph Ellison in his superb Invisible Man classic in the portrayal of the ‘Battle Royal’, gives an excellent analogy of Black men blindfolded and put into a boxing ring in which they strike out blindly until only two are left standing depicting winners, but actually winning nothing in the process! We are sure that there have been writers who have been told in many ways that their writing is of no significance, who face this serious and continuing crisis every day. I get people e-mailing asking what does it take to be a freelance writer, or what is needed to write with clarity, etc. I tell them unequivocally that patience and perseverance is testing time and learning as much as you can.

There problems are no worse than mine, being obscured waiting for that chance to be seen, recognized and accepted. I tell them also that they MUST pick up the gauntlet and run…for proverbial pens will yield the necessary ink one day to smear obscurity with determined moxie. We will honor what it took to get us where we are today, because insatiable desire has always rendered us thirsty enough to not drink only a half-filled glass as long as there’s room at the top with it running over with our inexhaustible desire to make it! Time will tell for sure. God has led me to Christian non-fiction writing as well as being further encouraged to write more essays. The soul of this man will be barred and the world will know that I’ve arrived!

The Brilliant Alvin C. Romer is an editor, essayist, professor, owner of The Romer Review, http://www.theromerreview.com/ and is a contributor to the forthcoming The Soul of a Man: A Triumph of My Soul Anthology at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

Female Problems by Maurice M. Gray, Jr.

2009-03-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

As much as we African-American men love our women, they are, at times, aggravating and frustrating (as of course are we, but this is about us!). It’s been my (and many other brothers’) experience that some (not all) sisters can be manipulative, confused, confusing and dishonest; the same as we men can. We aren’t perfect either, but that “all men are dogs” line is tired, played out and needs to be laid to rest. It’s been my experience that, when faced with the sort of man she professes to want, many sisters I’ve encountered don’t know how to deal with him and wind up driving away the very man they claim doesn’t exist.

The problem with our relationships is that not enough of us know and love Jesus, not enough of us know and love ourselves and that when it comes down to it, we’re just plain too stubborn to admit that there’s a problem. Yet here we are, the descendants of Adam and Eve, consecrated by God to play out this drama called love and relationships, drawn to each other even as we fight.
Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

From the journal of Erik Dawson

***************************************

“Get out my way!”
Erik didn’t have time to react before someone shoved him knees-first into the nearest table. As a laser blast of agony seared through his already traumatized left leg, he gritted his teeth and suppressed a scream.
The offender’s friends tried unsuccessfully to get him to leave, if not apologize. Erik steadied himself, braced on his good leg and glared up at a man a foot taller than his own five foot four.
“What, you short, crippled and deaf? I said get out my way!”
Erik’s response was to remove his collapsible cane from his pocket and click it out to its useful size. He planted it on the floor for balance, stared the man down and held his ground.
“Oh, you must notta had your butt kicked lately. Otherwise, you’d get it out my way!”
You might’ve re-injured my leg just to show off for your friends, Erik thought. I don’t care how big you are- I ain’t taking this.

Sam Sanders was halfway to the door when a crowd across the room drew his attention.
What’s going on over there? Oh man, not a fight.
Sam strained to see over the crowd, and saw a six-foot brother cursing out a five-footer.
The little dude is Erik from church. He’s the guy who survived that car crash last year. Everybody talks about how well he handled his rehab and what a nice guy he is. I better help him out before Pastor has to say how nice he was in the eulogy.

A ray of common sense peeked through the curtain of Erik’s anger and revealed just how much trouble his temper had landed him in.
This is for real. Maybe I can convince him that it wouldn’t do much for his rep if he kicked my butt in front of all these people.
Erik stepped aside to let the drunk and his entourage pass.
“Look bruh, let it go. We all had a good time tonight- no need for all this.”
“Forget that! I seen you looking at my girl earlier, shorty. It’s on now!”
I had to run across a drama king. I can see the headlines now. Erik Dawson, age thirty, killed in comedy club for allegedly looking at a woman’s butt. Like you could miss it in that outfit.
Erik shook off his musings and stared at the big drunk, wondering how he’d get out of this one.
God, now would be a good time for an Old Testament miracle. Can a brother get a sling and five smooth stones right quick?

“Aw man, not again!”
Garvey Flowers emerged from backstage after a successful routine and saw the same thing he’d seen at the Comedy Cave for the past three weekends: Big Dante causing trouble.
Fool can’t get up in the morning without picking a fight.
A thought occurred to Garvey, and he headed towards the disturbance.
Maybe if I help bounce his big behind, they’ll give me a permanent gig.
Garvey sighed and made his way through the crowd, questioning why he chose this profession in the first place.
With no hope of a diplomatic solution, Erik brought his cane up and held it like a Star Wars character’s light saber. The drunk snickered.
“Oh, you went and got your own switch? Give it here then, and take your whipping like a man.”
Erik surprised even himself by flashing an obscene gesture with his free left hand. In his mind, Big Dante exploded forward like a panther. In reality, he moved like a turtle on Prozac. Erik had time to sidestep, make a sandwich, pivot on his injured leg, eat the sandwich and use the cane to trip Big Dante headfirst into a table.
Bystanders laughed as Big Dante stood up, apple martinis and beer dripping off his head. Erik tensed for a second attack.
I’m only gonna get one shot at him- it’ll have to count.
“Boy, I’m’a bust your - - -.”
“What’s your problem?”
A voice sounded behind Erik just as he prepared to hit Big Dante below the belt. Sam pushed his way through the crowd of onlookers, grabbed Dante and spun him around. Erik blinked in surprise at the sight of an unexpected benefactor, but stayed focused on Big Dante, determined to use the cane on him again if he so much as flinched in Erik’s direction.
“Is it a problem over here?”
The voice from behind Dante startled all of them. As Dante turned, Garvey steeled himself against the man's toxic breath and got right in his face.
“You ain’t gonna come in here every weekend causing trouble. Take your bad-breath-having-rode-the-short-bus-to-school behind on somewhere before I put my foot in it.”
Big Dante blinked in surprise. “Oh, you want some too? We can go!”
Sam stepped closer. “Since you’re not into fair fights, how about all three of us?”
Big Dante looked uneasy. Sam was his height, and Garvey was about five inches shorter, but stocky enough to give him pause. And Erik was short, but armed.
Erik wanted to break into a holy dance, but maintained his cool.
“Like I said bruh, let it go. It ain’t worth all the drama.”
Big Dante allowed his humiliated girlfriend and the couple with them to lead him away. Erik kept his cane ready and watched Dante and his entourage until they cleared the door.
Garvey put a hand of Erik’s shoulder. “You a’ight, man?”
“Yeah.” Erik smiled and relaxed. “Whew, that was close. I almost had to jack him up!”
Garvey and Sam looked at Erik, looked at each other and then exploded with laughter. Erik tried to maintain his poker face, but lost the battle and laughed until his back hurt. He sat down, still laughing.
Sam regained his breath first. “Man, you should be the one onstage!”
Garvey gasped for air. “You ain’t kidding- that was funnier then anything I said all month!”
Erik caught his breath. “Seriously though, thanks, both of you. It was about to get ugly.”
“Man, that was a hour past ugly!” Garvey laughed. “He was gonna knock you into next week and beat you again when you got there!”
The three men introduced themselves and exchanged brother-hugs and hand pounds all around. The crowd around them dispersed and spread the story about the almost-fight to those who were too far back to see what really happened.
“Listen fellas, thanks for having my back. I was about to go get something to eat. Come with me and I’ll hook you up- it’s the least I can do.”
Garvey's eyes lit up. “I don’t turn down free food. Lead on!”
The three men ended up at the Golden Dove on DuPont Highway, one of the only restaurants in the state of Delaware open past midnight. It wasn’t crowded, and they got a table right away.
Sam picked up his menu. “Erik, what were you gonna do if we hadn’t stepped in?”
“Appraise his family jewels with my cane.”
Sam and Garvey cracked up.
“And if that didn’t stop him, I was gonna lie there and try to control the bleeding until the ambulance came.”
“Good plan. Ever consider running?”
Erik frowned. “I don’t run well these days, Garvey. Besides, he took me there. It didn’t make one bit of sense for me to stare him down like that, but when he pushed me, I lost it. And by the time common sense kicked in, it was too late to back down.”
Sam drank from his water glass. “Did I see you give him the finger right before he came at you?”
Erik blushed. “Yeah. Not the smartest thing to do under the circumstances.”
“Man, that dude was from Beat Down, Alabama and he was ready to take you home for a visit!” Garvey shook his head. “The police woulda found you lying in the parking lot and wondered if those were tattoes on your butt or footprints!”
They all laughed, but Erik stopped suddenly.
He’s right. That moose would’ve worn me out. I almost threw away eight months of physical therapy for some idiot.
“You okay, bruh?”
Erik forced the self-recriminations down. “Yeah, I’m cool. It was stupid for me to challenge him. I mean, I ain’t been out the hospital that long and he would’ve put me right back in. Glad you two were there. It looked like everybody else there wanted to watch him feed me my cane!”
“I gotta admit, I helped you for selfish reasons.” Garvey chuckled. “I been performing there the past three weekends, and darn if Big Dante hasn’t acted a straight fool every time I’m there. I figured if I helped throw him out, the owner might offer me a contract.”
“Whatever works. I’m just glad you did it. How about you, Sam? Why’d you jump in it?”
“Guess I’ve got a Batman complex or something. I couldn’t just let that big joker push you around and not do anything about it. Besides, if Pastor Nathan found out I saw you in trouble and didn’t help, he might have put me out of Calvary!” Garvey blinked. “Oh, you do go to Calvary! I thought I seen you there. You sing on the choir, don’t you?”
“Yeah, the Men’s Choir. I’m about the tallest guy there- you can’t miss me!” They laughed and talked for another hour, barely pausing long enough to eat. Erik paid the check and they stepped out into the cool night air. Both Sam and Garvey noticed that Erik winced within a few steps outside and had to pull out his cane again.
Sam reached out a hand to steady Erik if necessary. “You okay?”
Erik waved him off. “Yeah, I’m good. I just overdid it tonight. I’m supposed to walk as much as I can without using the cane so my leg will get stronger, but fighting a homicidal drunk is definitely pushing it too far.”
Garvey thought for a moment. “Erik, if it’s none of my business, just tell me. However, I’m real nosy and I want to know what happened. Your accident I mean.”
The three of them had reached their cars. Erik sat on the hood of his father’s Buick LeSabre, and the others followed suit.
“Since you had my back tonight, the least I can do is tell you. I gotta warn you though, this ain’t a short story. We could be here a minute.”

Maurice M. Gray, Jr. is an author and comedian and a contributor to The Soul of a Man: A Triumph of My Soul Anthology. Female Problems will release this June. Learn more about Mr. Gray at www.mauricemgrayjr.com, and more about The Soul of a Man at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

The Resurrection of Street Lit by JIHAD

2009-03-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

So often and for so long we, as African-American authors, have been pigeon-holed into very few categories. Let's be real, Mr. Charlie publishes what has been proven to sell: mainstream, baby-momma (daddy)-drama, and romance. Now over the last decade, Mr. Charlie has added Christian Fiction thanks to Victoria Christopher-Murray, Erotica thanks to Zane, Urban Erotica, thanks to Noire, and Street Fiction thanks to Teri Woods.

Street fiction: dead? I don't think so. Saying street fiction is dead is like saying poverty is non-existent. Street fiction is the re-emergence of the Harlem renaissance era. Look at Chester Himes, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Claude Brown, James Baldwin, and others.
Yes, there are a lot of authors writing poorly edited and meaningless street tales, as there are a lot of authors writing poorly edited mainstream, Christian Fiction, and Erotica stories. Let me give you some names of some Street Fiction authors that should be mentioned in the same light as Toni Morrison or Alice Walker: K'wan, Y. Blak Moore, Sister Souljah, Keith Lee Johnson, and Treasure Blue.

It is so easy to focus on the negative, and there are some atrocious stories, but I would much rather see us writing, than stealing, drug dealing, and killing. There's no glamour in having gone to prison, it's a stage that many black men go through unfortunately, but if we write about the life that we have lived, then just maybe we can prevent others from following in our footsteps. I did time in prison, a lot of it, and I was the first to write and publish a street fiction book, in August of 2000, (Wake Up Everybody: The Life of a Player) later renamed Street Life, since the days of Donald Goines. And it was the Street tales of Goines and Iceberg Slim that captivated me enough to keep my fingers turning pages. These books inspired me to read and I moved on to write about my life and the streets, for the sole reason of preventing our youth from following in my footsteps. You see, there are boys, girls, men, and women that are reading, that would have never picked up a book if it weren't for the Vickie Stringer's and Nikki Turner's of the world. Illiteracy has taken a heavy blow because of Street Fiction. What we need to do is help those who want to write and teach them the craft.

I've watched and listened to Nick Chiles and so many others degrade the art form of Street Fiction, and it is sad. It reminds me of Delores Tucker and the Reverend Calvin C. Butts who so adamantly campaigned to stop Hip-Hop in the early 90's. But, let's take a look at Hip-Hop. Look at Nas, Common, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Q-tip, Grand Puba, Public Enemy, Krs-1, Rakim, Outkast, Gnarls Barkley, Paris, Tupac, and so many others that are teaching, and preaching about conscious, political views, and a history that Pastors and schools are not teaching and preaching. If Hip-Hop ended, millions of people would not take any time to reflect on issues such as the diamond trade, which was brought to the consciousness of many solely because of Kanye's song Diamonds are Forever.

So, let's lift the Street Fiction up that is good and relevant. The bad will eventually be weeded out, and hopefully these authors that really love to write will begin studying the craft. But we have to stop assaulting Street Fiction. Instead, assault bad writing and bad editing; Assault these mainstream publishers that won't sign someone if they write conscious street fiction, but will sign someone writing inconsequential garbage, solely because they've sold a lot of books in the past.

Love and Life.
Jihad

ESSENCE Magazine best selling author JIHAD is the author of several novels and is a contributor to The Soul of a Man. Visit http://www.jihadwrites.com/ to learn more about JIHAD and visit http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/ to learn more about The Soul of a Man.

The Beauty of Natural Black by Tyrell DeVon Floyd

2009-03-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Beauty of Natural Black
By
Tyrell DeVon Floyd

Her Natural Beauty is enough,
even when covered up
she exemplifies God's Grace in the finest way

Her attitude is flawless,
and her self respect is strong enough
never to be tarnished;
truth be the word that best describes her

The way she takes nothin' and makes somethin'
is nothin' short of being an art form,
and her warm spirit reaches out to everyone
even when it goes unnoticed

She's as natural
as clouds sit high in the sky,
yet somehow her mind remains grounded

She's sexy without having to
parade her sexuality;
her attire consists of a dress
that's long enough to sweep the floor,
her hair swings low
like a chariot swings low
as it hangs to the middle of her neck

She's Beautiful,
and even more beautiful
as she holds fast to the struggles of life with a smile

She'll starve before climbing
the money hungry tree of greed;
instead she makes do with what she has

She's pure in nature and
respectable in appearance,
she has ingegrity;
so she cares less about the rainbow's colors
of fortune and happiness,
instead she's content just
being Black

To those unaware of her beauty;
they say she's quiet, sheltered, lacluster, and bland
but on the other hand a good man
acknowledges her as his
greatest compliment

She has everything that those counted
above her lack,
and for that,
she'll always be the true Queen
until the others gain what she has;
and that's,
the fortitude to
remain who she is despite
what others think

Her beauty embodies the naturalness,
the naturalness,
of the color Black

Tyrell DeVon Floyd is a radio personality based out of Seattle, Wa, and is a contributor to the forthcoming The Soul of a Man. Please visit http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/ to learn more about The Soul of a Man, and to reach Tyrell DeVon Floyd, E-mail: keep_it_rell@yahoo.com.

Urban Lit is Dead by Joey Pinkney

2009-03-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Urban Lit is DEAD! by Joey Pinkney

Yep, I said it… Urban Lit is dead. Done. Finito.

Flatline…
Who am I to say that? I don’t have the same status in the Urban Lit industry as Nas has when he said the same thing for his music. I don’t have to. I read a lot of Urban Lit, and it’s dead.
Why do I speak such blasphemous words? This sentiment stems from an email conversation I had with Therone Shellman after reading and reviewing his novel No Love Lost. (Read my review of No Love Lost, click here.) His novel was atypical and his approach to life after the streets was refreshing. Another one that comes to mind is Erick Gray’s Crave All Lose All. (Read my review of Crave All Lose All, click here. Read my interview with Erick Gray. Part I, click here. Part II, click here.)

In brief, we discussed how Urban Lit doesn’t do justice to the situations that people are relegated to in hoods across America and beyond. The immorality and reality of the streets isn’t present in a lot of stories on the market today. Without going into detail, that book was the first one that I read in a long time that actually shined the light on the side of the game that most people see but few want to talk about.

Call the Coroner…
The Urban Lit genre is pumping out books with the same book covers and the same stories. Most of the authors have to boast their jail experience to get the attention and respect they think they need to sell their stories. (Sounds like rappers who have to talk about their hood exploits in order to be respected, instead of being lyrically proficient.)
The Urban Literature landscape is taking the natural life cycle of all cultural trends. It’s just like Hip-Hop, born from desolation and neglect. Just like the Hip-Hop that influenced its current direction, Urban Lit has gone from being an obscurity to being shunned to being assimilated into popular culture. That’s why the larger publishing houses are following suit and creating imprints to cater to ravenous readership that Urban Lit definitely has. That’s why you can go to Barnes and Nobles or Borders or even Wal-Mart and see the latest and greatest in the (unofficial) Urban Lit section. It’s selling.
Before it got it’s name, authors like Omar Tyree (who recently stopped writing Urban Lit), Sistah Souljah and Teri Woods wrote books that spoke to a group of people who couldn’t get the time of day from the larger publishing houses. The prevalent thought at the time was that “those people” don’t read. Urban Lit has now been digested and regurgitated by the large publishing houses just like Master P did to rap music during his hey day. And just like his albums covers, words are blinged out, the men look mean and the women look horny.

From the Cradle…
With a “for us, by us” mentality, what would later become Urban Literature was strictly a person-to-person enterprise. Authors were printing up there own books and selling them out the trunk, on the corner, mom-and-pop stores and beauty salons. Full of sex, violence and grammatical errors, these books and the readers who loved them were looked down upon by the mainstream book industry.
Then the book industry got hip. “Those people” were buying those books terrible books. “Those people” were requesting sequels and anything else their favorite hood author put out there. Why? Because those books were entertaining, but they also had an underlining message. Readers could relate.
Fast forward a couple of decades. Now every book cover either has a young black dude with braids, two ear rings, tattoos, sagging jeans and a mean mug or the book has a young female in her early twenties wearing something that makes it easy to figure out what the birthday suit is like. The stories are still about the hood, but nowadays there is a twist. The money, clothes, hos, jewelry, expensive cars, huge houses and the swagger runs the stories.
Urban Lit authors still have to get on their grind, print up the copies and sell them by any means necessary. The difference now is that they have to compete for shelf space with the larger publishing houses. A lot of times, they have to compromise the integrity of their story to fit what the readers will buy. It’s no longer a novelty to have a book with the hood as the backdrop.

To the Grave…
The immorality and reality of the streets isn’t present in a lot of stories. This article actually stemmed from an email conversation I had with Therone Shellman, author of No Love Lost. Without going into detail, that book was the first one that I read in a long time that actually shined the light on the ___ side of the game. (Another one that comes to mind is Erick Gray’s ___.) Shellman is a person is has been there and done that, and it shows in his approach to his story.
A lot of people complain that most of the Urban Lit books are the same three or four stories with a different title and character names. For that matter, most of the authors have the same felonious background story in their bios. It’s just like Hip-Hop nowadays. You could take a black male between 16 and 36 (because you know we stay young looking for a while) and give him a grill, some tatoos, a fitted, a throwback (or white tee), some sagging jeans (and boxers), a gold necklace with some goofy pendant, a diamond encrusted watch, and some Air Force Ones. Then put him in front of a mansion with a couple of Lambourghinis and Escalades with a buch of women in their early 20s in bikinis. Throw on some music, let him pose and point around aimlessly showing off that goofy pendant. Oh yeah, I almost forgot let him rap…
That’s similar to what you see in Urban Lit. Most Urban Lit books has the guy that’s a drug dealer with all the name brand clothes and cars. He has enough jewelry to finance a small army. The problem is that that guy gets robbed and/or killed in real life. A perfect example is all of these rappers getting their chain snatched left and right. They talk all that stuff on the albums and still get robbed when they leave the studio. Where are the guns? Where are your boys?
On top of the hood watching you, the cops are watching harder. Most of the dudes that make it to BET’s American Gangster get an episode because of one big mistake, being too flashy. Make a solid gold crown if you want, the cops will do everything they can to take that and everything else, including your life.

Eulogy…
I understand what’s going on. People don’t read Urban Lit to get the scoop on reality. Like my girl Davida Baldwin said it, “You don’t read Street Lit for self-help and motivation, you don’t read street lit to help out the community, you read it for entertainment.” If you put the average thug n!gga or hoodrat on the book cover, it wouldn’t sell. It would probably make it hard to sell the book right next to it, too. (LOL!) If it takes a model on the cover to get noticed, then sex has sold again. To be honest, authors don’t spend months and years to write a book for it to sit in a book store. They write it to hopefully put money in their pockets.

The larger publishing houses are in the game to sell units. If you like it, they love it. Business is business, but we the readers should expect more from Urban Lit authors.

The passionate Joey Pinkney is a contributor to the forthcoming The Soul of a Man: A Triumph of My Soul Anthology. Learn more about Joey at http://www.joeypinkney.com/ and learn more about The Soul of a Man at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

Domestic Violence and Abuse Sucks! by S. D. Denny

2009-03-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

When I was seventeen, I met a handsome young man who I eventually discovered turned violent when he became jealous. After getting hit in the head on more than one occasion, I walked away from the situation and refused to see him ever again. I never imagined that I’d be confronted with this kind of violence again, but in my twenties I became involved with yet another man who would use violence to try to control my life. This time, it wasn’t as easy to walk away from the situation because I’d had a child with him. For years, I lived in fear of being hurt or even killed. I thank God that He protected me from harm and showed me what real love is. On the other hand, not everyone is able to escape this sickness as easily. I continue to pray for a family member who has been the victim of domestic violence for over 15 years now. It’s as though she doesn’t think she deserves anything better; like this is what her life should be like. What about her innocent children? Should they be made to suffer as well?

Domestic violence doesn’t just affect the victim. It reaches far and wide and there are indirect victims who suffer as well. For instance, the children of the victim suffer as they watch their parent or guardian abused and demeaned at the hands of their perpetrator. And there are family members who are helpless as they watch their child, sister, or brother constantly in danger, not knowing when or if the phone will ring or if a knock will come at the door bringing bad news.Domestic violence is more common than some of us may be aware.

Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, according to a 1998 Commonwealth Fund survey.If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and would like to get help, here are a couple of resources where you can start:http://www.endabuse.org/http://www.ncadv.org/ or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Have you or someone you know ever been the victim of domestic violence?

What affect did it have on your life or the life of your family and/or friends?

How did you become free from the situation?

“She speaks!” I listen…

Visit http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/ to learn more about S.D. Denny and her forthcoming debut novel, The Baker's Dozen.

Burnt Cookies by LaToya S. Watkins

2009-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

I think we were friends before. Of course, I can’t remember now. Mere adversaries today. Tomorrow might be better, if one of us chooses to retreat. Marriage, humph. As sacred, which equals scary, as the whole institution is, I loved it in the beginning. Seven or eight months ago. Maybe this morning too. I wonder when I lost track without even knowing that I had stopped counting the days since I had arrived at my sweet paradise. I wonder when Eden faded and something close to, but not quite Hades was birthed. Maybe it was the loads that became tons of weekly laundry that would only respond to my hands or my touch. Or maybe it was the cookies that kept burning in the oven every time I tried, because mommy, employee, student, and wife, overthrew baker. And I forgot the cookies, no I forgot the oven existed.

I know… it was ironing clothes for two days for three children while reading, Through Women’s Eyes, for Thursday night history in the Masters program, coupled with reviewing galleys for work the next morning, all the while looking forward to a precious four hours of sleep. It was creating my own schedule so that the kids had a ride to school and didn’t have to wait in the rain after they were released for a ride that would never come. It was me, the magician who got up first and alerted the family that daybreak was underway and it was time to start the day. I didn’t only push start on the coffee pot; I ground the coffee fresh daily.

And in all my venting and ranting and raving, I love him. Today, I don’t like him, but always I love him.. I burnt the cookies tonight and I am upset. I burnt them last night too and he braved the cold and drove to the nearest grocer to buy more.. He was sorry that I had burned them. He blamed himself. He said that he has learned to watch the oven when I bake because I have so many roles that I tend to loose track. I promised me last night, no more burnt cookies. Or maybe it was no more angry love. No more pouting, I promised. I think. But after more burnt cookies and an hour of wailing Bob’s Could This Be Love, I pout. Did I mention it was because of burnt cookies? Can you believe I tossed the whole pan across the kitchen? He ran in (this was not the first time I had thrown the burnt cookie pan). I had already placed my earplugs back into my ears and pushed play on the Ipod and Bob was back in my ear with his melodic hymn about love, life, and peace by the time he made it into the kitchen.

He was careful with his words and looked me directly in the eyes (even though I avoided his). I think he does this for control, but he’ll say that he does it to indicate that he is paying attention to me. He spoke gently, but loud enough that his voice drowned out Bob’s, “Why do you do that?”

I didn’t look up from the dishes (that I had started to wash to take my attention off of the cookies), but I was aware that the cookies still lay on the ground beside the fridge where they had landed. “Don’t come in here,” was my sharp reply.

He stood a bit longer, willing me to look at him. When I didn’t he disappeared down the hallway, to give me and those cookies time to cool off.

He returned later when I had folded Bob’s voice up and placed him on the counter. I was in the den now, folding warm clothes from the dryer. He was in the kitchen, sniffing through the Alfredo that I had prepared for dinner. I still avoided his eyes, which he seemed unfazed by. He looked over the bar into the den and asked, “Hey babe, want me to fix your plate?”

He is a good man, burnt cookies don’t faze him. I fear though, that this angry love I am giving will push and push and push and push. He will be a hurt man, an angry man, a burnt man. Much like the cookies I tossed tonight. I don’t want to love him angry. So I pray:

Lord, give me the patience to handle the everyday obstacles of being a matriarch. I don’t take it lightly, but I know that there is a perfect balance in your plan. Give me vision to see anger before it has a chance to engulf my spirit. For your word says anger but sin not, and in my anger I am prone to sin. Humble me before my husband as he follows you, I shall follow him. Position my family so that the true head is the head and I am but a help-mate. Give me comfort in the fact that there will be plenty more burnt cookies, but let truth be in no more angry love.

LaToya S. Watkins is the author of the forthcoming

In Love with Losers. Find out more at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.

2009 Black Book Club Rock Awards!!!!

2009-03-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Elissa Gabrielle has been nominated for the 2009 Black Book Club Rock Awards in the category of Sistah of Excellence!

Voting begins February 6 and ends March 15, at http://www.bbcrvoting.blogspot.com/. Please support Elissa by casting your vote!

February 10, 2009 at 9PM/EST will be the official kick off party on the Sistah Confessions Radio Show with a monthly spotlight thereafter.

God Bless You All.

http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/

Serving Justice Blog Contest Winner Is...

2009-02-28T18:35:00.000-08:00

Nanette Buchanan!

Nanette, CONGRATULATIONS! You were randomly chosen out of all of the commenters to Jackie's week long inspirational messages!

Please email your address to Publisher@peaceinthestormpublishing.com to collect your winnings!

Visit the site often, http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/ and visit the blog daily, http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.blogspot.com/. Please spread the word and tell ALL of your friends to visit daily!

Blessings!

Learning to Forgive by Jacqueline D. Moore

2009-02-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Learning To Forgive

Remember, Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. ~ Paul Boese

Scripture:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11
Saints, Is there anyone in your life that you say you hate? Are there people in your life who have wronged you and therefore you can't forgive them? Do you sometimes get angry at those people in your life you profess to love and say mean and hurtful things to them? Do you have a mean spirit?

Now some of you may not believe this, but there are times in my life when I can be mean spirited. And if you are honest with yourselves you too will admit that there has been a time or two in your life when you too have been mean and hurtful to someone you love. In a moment of anger you may have said or done something to someone you say you love.

When someone hurts us our first reaction is to hurt them back; just as much or even more than they hurt us. It doesn't matter who it is. Your significant other, your children, a friend, or even your parents. There is nothing worse than someone you love doing or saying something that they know is going to hurt not just your feelings, but it will hurt your heart and soul.

However, I have good news for you. As you grow in your faith and in your knowledge in Christ you will begin to develop a forgiving spirit, a loving spirit, a spirit that will bridle your tongue and your actions. The more that you grow in the word of God, the more you will become Christ like.

Keep in mind that if someone loves you, you can overlook their moments of anger. If a brother or sister hurts you, don't just turn the other cheek, but put yourself in their place and think about what might have caused their reaction.

Remember that person loves you, so do I, But God loves you best.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God we start our day with a spirit of love. We will show love and compassion to those around us. Our prayer this day is that we may learn to be more patient with those around us and try to remember that words spoken in anger can be forgiven. Father, help us to develop a more forgiving spirit. A spirit that is not easily riled. Help us to recognize when our loved ones are being used against us by satan in an effort to cause us to stumble. Lord, touch our brothers and sisters who have a mean spirit, casting out that vile and wicked demon in the name of Jesus. Have mercy and show favor to Your saints right now. Touch, bless and anoint Your saints who are reading this message. Father, we don't know the needs of Your children, but we know that You do. As we humble ourselves before You this day, in reverence to You, in honor of You, and because of who You are, we will sings songs of praise to You all day long. When we think about Your blessings, we will stop and say, thank You Lord. In the name of Your son, we humbly submit this prayer and claim our victories. Amen.

http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/

Welcome to My Family by Jacqueline D. Moore

2009-02-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My Family

Remember, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. ~ Erin Majors

Scripture:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
I know that most of you who read these messages have already accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Now some of you have been in the body of Christ for a very long time, some are new to the body, and still some; have not quite made up their minds to accept him yet.

So often you hear about being in the body of Christ and have often wondered just what does that mean. Well, there are many different ways to look at the body of Christ. One, is his physical body, the symbolic body, the bead of the Lord's Supper, and the institutional body, the church.

Today, I am talking about the church body. The church is comprised of the Head, the Preacher who is the under-Shepard and the congregation, our Christian brothers and sisters, otherwise known as our church family.

Now, I don't know about you, but I was raised to believe that family is very important. One member is very important to all the rest of the family. I had one brother and three sisters. We couldn't fight one another, but we better not letter anyone else harm another sibling. Our parents didn't care what it took, but we had all better get along.

So often those of us who have been in the body of Christ, or in our church family for a very long time, are judgmental and critical of accepting those who are new to the body. We want to judge people by what we see, what we have heard or even by what we don't know about a person.

The scripture says, if ANYONE is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Now that doesn't mean that everyone will become a saint when they become saved, but what it does mean is that the things of the past, are in the past. I am on my way to becoming more Christ like. My journey may take me longer than others, but at least I am on my way.

Woe be to the saint who causes one of God's lost sheep who is trying to find his way home, to turn away from the church. There was a quote I used a few weeks ago that said, Even God won't judge others until they're dead, why should I?

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Our Father, who sits high and looks low. The great I AM. My Lord, my Savior, My Redeemer. We who are a part of the body of Christ come before You this day asking that You would forgive us for our sins of yesterday. Lord, I ask that if I am being critical of others, that You would help me to see the errors of my ways. "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Help me Father to hide those words in my heart. Lord, I thank You for saving me from the depths of hell. Thank You for loving me so much that You stretched out Your hand to me and welcomed me into the kingdom. Lord, Someone is standing at deaths door this morning. I ask heavenly Father, that You would welcome them into Your kingdom with open arms. Lord, comfort the families of those who will have to release a loved one into Your care. Father, the rain may be falling in someone’s life, it is dark and cold. But we know that eventually, the sun will shine. We are thanking You right now for our sunshine. Continue to touch, bless, anoint, heal, and comfort every saint that is represented here today. Touch those unsaved members of our families as we continue to tell them just how wonderful You are. Thank You Father for blessing me. Thank You Father for keeping me. Thank You Father for saving me. I Love the Lord. He Heard my Cry. His mercy endureth forever. We submit our prayers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jacqueline D. Moore is the author of the forthcoming, Serving Justice. Find out more about this phenomenal woman at http://www.JacquelinedMoore.com and www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com!