What would you do to become rich, wealthy or comfortable? Do you chase money or does money chase you? Are you a lover of money?
Money does make the world go round! Or so they say! But are you suppose to allow money to rule you? Are you supposed to allow it to run your life? Shouldn’t money be under your control?
It seems like everyone and everybody is talking about money these days! Social media is filled with people telling you and showing you various ways to get money, become financially independent and how to become an entrepreneur!
But, is that the will of God for your life or is that some illusion you have become fascinated with? Money is a necessity don’t get me wrong; we all need it to pay bills to survive! But should money be your main focus? Should it become your motive to succeed in this life? Should it become more important than your purpose?
Let’s look at it from this perspective:
Multiple streams of income? Do you welcome this concept? Not sure why I awoke with this on my mind; but as a Single Mom I wish I knew more about this years ago. (The life of a single mom can be hard at times; and money can be scarce at times)
Having multiple streams of income would’ve definitely helped with the bills and just the financial aspect that comes with raising kids!
When you have only one income coming in; you have to stretch it and many times have to make sacrifices to make it work!
Could this be an example of living abundantly? Or being a lender and not a borrower? Or even using the gifts that have been implanted in us to prosper? (From the Bible standpoint what are your thoughts?)
Just remember this; all money isn’t good money! The enemy knows that money is an requirement to live and he will throw all kinds of get rich quick schemes your way! Be on guard and know when it benefits his motives or God’s…..There is a difference..
When we take a look at the Bible we know it talks about “living abundantly” “prospering” “paying your tithes” “being a lender and not a borrower” but does it tell us how to maintain, build wealth, etc.
I believe it does when it speaks on our gifts/talents! We are all supplied gifts and talents but it’s all in how you use them! Are you using them to build up or break down? Are you using them to scheme or mislead? Are you using them to advance your negative lifestyle or motives? Are you using them to change someone’s life?
There are endless opportunities in this world to do some good and live an amazing life according to the Bible!
Things to consider when it comes to money:
1. Money shouldn’t be the main focus!
2. Your Purpose shouldn’t be based off of money!
3. If you have to lie, scheme, kill, sell your soul or your body! Run and don’t look back; it’s definitely not worth it!
4. Every opportunity to gain or build wealth or just survive isn’t a Kingdom opportunity; check the fruit, motives and end game!
5. If it changes your character and outlook on life; then look within and decide if something in you needs to change!
When I was, a kid attending Frederick J. Schulze Elementary School in Detroit Michigan, my classmates would use “Bad Words: while whispering to each other. The “cool” kids would say these “bad words” during conversation, but even the cool kids would avoid allowing their hushed voices to be heard by the teacher. I wonder if the grown-ups at the school ever knew that some of the kids spoke these words?
Check out the audio version of this blog here:
Once I hit Beaubien Jr. High school, the “Bad words” evolved into cussin’ and the hushed voices grew louder and became more direct toward certain classmates. I frequently found myself being the target of some of that language as the class bullies seemed to resent everything I wore, everything I smiled about and every “A” that I earned. I knew that I wasn’t a B-I-T-C-H, but just having that word slung in my direction stung a bit more, each time I heard it.
I grew up attending and being blessed by memberships in two Detroit churches. I was baptized and raised at Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church, and at the age of twelve my spiritual growth enlarged through my membership at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. Now, I don’t know about other churches or other religions but I do know that EVERY BAPTIST CHURCH I have ever attended always leads you in a song that goes a little something like this:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer – Amen, Amen, Amen.
Now, did I know that song that we sang was a scripture? Nope! Did I know that while singing that song in church, I was basically saying out loud that I wanted the words that came out of my mouth to be acceptable to God? Nope! “DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH?!”
Once I “grew up” and lived on the college campus, I cussed “like a sailor” because I was “GROWN!” My mama wasn’t around to smack me in the mouth and everybody else on the campus of Wilberforce University was cussing’ too! That’s when one of the professors mentioned a study that has stuck with me all these years later. Now, don’t quote me on it but the study said something about the use of vulgar language reflecting the ignorance and poor vocabulary skills of the word cussin’. Well, I was a communications major and I planned to have a career in radio, so I wasn’t about to reflect ignorance coming out of my mouth! After that lesson, cuss words only flew out of my mouth during stress or frustration… and even then, I was ashamed afterwards.
These days I will see posts on social media with letters such as “WTF” or “LMFAO”. These letters are sometimes even posted in a sentence meant to bring humor or accolades, but once I see that letter “F” or letter “A” in there, I get a little sad. As an adult, we now refer to this language as “Profanity” and although it is no longer directed at me, I still shudder when I hear it spoken; just hearing swear words can make me sad.
“A group of researchers from Kno.e.sis Research Center, Wright State University near Dayton Ohio studied why people swear in the online world by collecting tweets posted on Twitter. They found that cursing is associated with negative emotions such as sadness (21.83%) and anger (16.79%) thus showing people in the online world mainly use curse words to express their sadness and anger towards others.[20][21]” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity)
You see, our words reflect what is growing on the inside of us. Kinda like if you ate something last night that doesn’t agree with your tummy, you will find yourself on the toilet by the next morning. That mess was on the inside of you, so it came out. Cussin’ reflects something rotten inside of you, so it falls out of your mouth just as easily as that diarrhea plopped outta your butt!
My mama was a holy thing when she lived on Earth. Even though our mama cussed, I didn’t cuss around my mama (I didn’t want to get a spanking, so that motivated me to keep my mouth clean!). My husband is a holy thing as he represents the way God loves me in this season of my life. I don’t cuss around my husband. Just looking at him reminds me that I am loved and respected and appreciated, so I don’t have a reason to cuss him out! (lol). I am a temple of the Lord and I invite the Lord to live inside me. I don’t cuss around my temple…I don’t cuss around myself. I love myself and respect myself, so I don’t cuss in my conversations or in my writings.
Wikipedia reflects that “profanity has come to mean any socially offensive language beyond that strictly religious sense, but tends to exclude any other nonverbal communication. Thus profanity in English may be synonymous with bad language, strong language, coarse language, foul language, bad words, vulgar language, lewd language, choice words or expletives“. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity
On the Sunday, November 20, 2016 ministry broadcast from Pastor Ron Carpenter, he taught that there was a lesson in the bible where a group of people had been led by Moses to a place where they were to drink water. When the people tasted the water, they found that it tasted bitter and later, scientists tested the water and determined that the bitter taste was the result of a laxative component that would help flush your system. Ron Carpenter offered that God led those people to the water to get that bad taste of their past slavery out of their systems. http://www.roncarpenter.com/on-demand/detox/
What do you need to get out of your system?
If you don’t get it out spiritually, it will fly out of your mouth offensively.
(Thank you, Jesus!)
On the Sunday, November 20, 2016 broadcast from Pastor Jesse Duplantis, he taught on first fruits and on giving God your best. He visually taught that God gave us HIS first fruit in that he gave us His first son. Why don’t we give God our best language of respect, praise and gratitude and cleanse our minds and our tongues from foul language? Why don’t we give OURSELVES our first fruit of a sweet language on our lips and not the bitter words that fly out and offend?
God gave us his best when he gives us his grace and mercy and when God spoke, he created wonders and lifestyles and an home for us! When we speak to the waitress, she brings out the best meal that can be prepared for us. When you hear those words “I Love You”… do you want to hear a cuss word thrown in that statement?!?
Today, let us all strive to “clean up our act” and mentally “wash our mouths out with soap”. Listen to the lyrics of the music you are feeding into your ears. Is it laced with profanity and sexual references? How does that make you feel? Do you find yourself quoting those lyrics? Would you want someone referring to you in the way those lyrics refer to another in that song?
Today, let us all strive to replace one curse word at a time with a new vocabulary word in our speech and in our writings. “WTF” can now be “WITW” (What In The World?” comes from my anointed daughter Jasmine…thanks Princess!) I prefer ROTFLOL to LMFAO (why do I have to refer to myself as FAT, anyway! Hmmph). Today, let us be a “Shining Light of Language” (SLOL) for someone else while we are talking to them; when they realize that each word coming from your mouth is positive and encouraging… they may catch on and repeat your example!
It’s finally here y’all; the day many of us can’t wait to get too!! Friday oh how I love thee; let me count the ways!
Many of you are excited and jumping up and down because it’s pay day! Well hip hip hooray! Lol, there are some of us just super excited it’s the end of the workweek!! Hallelujah
Sometimes all you can do on Friday and over the weekend is take a mental break! The work week can be hectic for many especially those with kids! Getting them up for school, fixing them breakfast, getting them dressed; and take them to their bus stop. Then you have to get back home get yourself ready for work, feed and walk your pets, fix you some breakfast or grab something on the way and then get to work! And then once you get to work depending on your job; that can be hectic as well! Is it just me or do I have some witnesses ready to testify?
So what is a girl or guy to do to de-stress?
1. Meditate! Do you remember Martin Lawrence in the movie called Bad Boys? The scene when he was really irritated and he remembered his therapy technique to calm himself down; he rubbed his ears and spoke this words: “Woosah” and then he karate kicked something! Lol this is way different and really simple; close your eyes and take a deep breathe, in and out and imagine yourself on a secluded island with no one and nothing to distract you or disturb your peace and quiet! “Woosah”
2. Get a massage! This is a great way to get your relaxation on and popping! Many places have the dim lights and sleepy time music playing! Hey what more can you ask for? Give it a try; you won’t regret it!
3. Get acupuncture! My absolute favorite! It a great stress reliever and takes away pain; its a double portion that you may not get with any other methods!!
4. Go on a weekend getaway and relax! Wherever you are in the world; I’m sure you have some pretty cool places around that you can visit on a Friday evening until Sunday morning! It doesn’t have to be far either; it can be the next town or city over.
5. Reserve a tech-free day! You should try this once per week preferably Saturday or Sunday it will do your mind some good. Many of us have our phones on us at all the time and it does more harm than good; just think about it. You have all the news outlets at your disposal, social media accounts, etc. All of that media overload; your mind needs a break.
Now one that I didn’t include in the lineup; is because this can be done any day of the week. Dancing; now I know some of you may not be the best dancer; but who cares! Do this in the comfort of your own home where nobody but you or your family can see you and get a good laugh; what better stress reliever is there than laughter!
Have an amazing weekend! Get your mind in relax mode and rock out!
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