Epiphany Essentials

BOLD PRAYER (TAKE THE LIMITS OFF GOD)

2012-02-01T09:57:00.001-06:00

I was BLESSED, let me say it again BLESSED by Joel Osteen this past Sunday. His message was about Bold Prayers. It is time to start praying bold prayers. “Start asking Yahweh for unusual things, ask him even when things look impossible. Have a greater vision, stretch your faith! Scripture says that we have not because we ask not. We will fulfill our Yahweh given destiny 2012 will be a year filled with faith and favor!!!!!!” Joel Osteen

A couple examples of normal prayers vs. bold prayers:

N: Lord bless me that I have enough to pay my own bills

B: Lord bless me that I am able to pay my own bills and enough left over to bless other familiesA woman’s son was on drugs…

N: Lord please let my son get off drugs and be drug free

B: Lord thank you that my son is great, thank you that my son is a great influence and has a huge impact on others (that was a true prayer and her son is now a Pastor!“When you pray it moves the hands that rules the world.” Joel Osteen

When I was pregnant, I prayed over my pregnancy and my labor. I didn’t experience any morning sickness or sickness at all, my only issue while pregnant was that my ankles swelled up the day I went into labor. My labor was 3 hours and I was able to deliver my son naturally without much pain or complications. I believe that happened because of my bold prayer! I didn’t stop there however, I have been praying for him since he was in the womb. Due to my prayers I do not let external circumstances sway me. That is why in the “worst” of times I am able to say all is well. I pray for my son regularly that he is the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, a lender and not a borrower, that he walks and lives by faith, that he is quick to listen slow to speak and slow to anger, that he is filled with the fruit of the spirit, that when he rises he considers me blessed. Now I am going to add to my prayer thanksgiving that my son is a great influence and a leader in the Kingdom of Yahweh and in the world!

When we are bold enough to pray it, believe it, and accept that it is already so, Yahweh and his angels go to work to make things happen for us.Whether it is your children, your spouse, your marriage, your relationships, yourself, PRAY BOLD PRAYERS! It’s time out for thinking small, barely get by thoughts and then praying those prayers. Be bold, be like Elisha when he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirt. Don’t be afraid, Yahweh recognizes and appreciates boldness. Be like the woman with the issue of blood she pressed her way through to be able to touch the hem of his garment for her healing. Be like the Shummanite woman, she never once said her son was dead and she went to the man of God and boldly asked for her sons healing and she received what she asked for!

So as this 2ndmonth of the New Year begins, let us begin to pray bold prayers and if you have already been doing so continue and get even bolder with it! Yahweh is all seeing, all knowing, and all powerful there is nothing too hard for Him to handle.

The power of life and death is in the power of your tongue, choose life always and be bold about it!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

MISPLACED ANGER!

2012-01-31T11:03:00.000-06:00

Misplaced Anger!

This morning I ended up in a not so good mood before I left out the door. I asked someone to do something for me and they laughed on top of that they didn’t do what I asked. Initially I was upset, as I write this I am still a little upset but my anger is now in the right place. I thought about all the things I do for this particular person, sacrifices I make of my time, money, and resources and couldn’t believe they denied my request.

Admittedly I have a problem with the word NO but at the same time I don’t ask for much and when I do I truly need or want it at the time. I am highly self-sufficient and don’t mind doing things on my own. However I had to give myself a pep talk and remind myself…Just because we choose to go out of our way for others, respond to their request at the drop of a dime, make sacrifices and do things for them doesn’t mean they have to do it for us. Most of the times they are doing these same things for us, just not always when we want them done.

When I do things I truly do them out of the goodness of my heart. I never expect anything in return but mutual respect and consideration, reciprocity. So, I couldn’t be mad because the other person knew they didn’t want to do something and chose not to do it. However, there have been numerous times when I hear NO! and then think of all the times I’ve sacrificed and feel like I’ve been slighted, as if I am owed anything. No one in this world owes me or anyone else anything except for a thank you. I realized that I had misplaced anger.

I was angry with someone for exercising their right to choose and do what they want to do. It doesn’t matter what I’ve done for them in the past or vice versa. In each instance of our lives when we are faced with a decision we have the right to choose and whatever our choice we are doing what we want or what we don’t want to do. I know I am not the only one that has been angry with someone for something like this.

If you find yourself upset with your children, parent, sibling, friends, lover, or anyone for that matter because you can’t believe they did or didn’t do this or that after all that you have done for them, I am here to tell you your anger should be pointed toward the man in the mirror! Whether we are doing something to help someone out, because we want to see them smile/happy, because we feel we will get something out of it in return (never a good reason to do something by the way), or because we felt they really needed us at that time; we made a choice and did what we wanted to do. Just because a favor or request is denied or not returned, doesn’t mean they don’t love or care for us any less. It simply means at the time they were exercising their right to choose and do what they wanted.

Let’s be real, if there is something we absolutely don’t want to do, no matter if the other person cries, yells, gets upset, stops talking to us for a while, tries to manipulate or force our hand, we are not going to do it. So how can we be upset with someone else for creating boundaries and knowing their limitations? The answer is we can’t. All we can do is create our own boundaries and stick to them no matter what. Recognize if we choose to go outside of our boundaries it was only because we wanted to do it.Let’s make sure we are getting to the root of our anger and placing it where it belongs!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Diets Aren’t For Me But Healthy Eating Is!

2012-01-30T10:24:00.001-06:00

Diets Aren’t For Me But Healthy Eating Is!

I have been writing about being healthy, eating right, and staying fit. Let me be clear, I don’t do nor do I believe in “diets” but that is just me. While I do believe in having a well-balanced diet I don’t believe in restricting anything from your diet. If I want cookies, cake, ice cream, chips or anything else deemed unhealthy I eat them. The trick is I do not eat them every day. I can go an entire week without eating any sweets, fried, or processed foods.
Too much of anything can kill you, if you consume too much water in a short period of time you can die from water suffocation. So even things that are good for you shouldn’t necessarily be over indulged in again balance. My healthy dietary habits work for you, you have to find what works best for you and be sure to incorporate a cheat day.

I realize I usually only give bits and pieces so this blog is going to go slightly more in depth.
Daily, we should all consume water, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, milk (I’m weaning myself off outside of ice cream), and meats (don’t have to be consumed daily or at all). See the new food pyramid below. Considering that they have changed the pyramid again do what is best for you just make sure your diet is balanced and you are getting the vitamins and nutrients you need.

Vitamins - I do believe people should take vitamins however I believe that your vitamins should not supplement the nutrients you are missing but be an extra. By all means if eating fruits and veggies daily is not yet in your plans, by all means load up on vitamins as your body needs them.

Weight Loss/Weight Gain – Ironically this is the time many people are trying to lose weight, my sister is trying to gain 25 pounds and I would personally like to gain 5 pounds. A lot of people look at me cross eyed when I mention losing weight or gaining weight. Many people larger than myself tell me, I am fine and they wish they were my size. Funny thing is there is someone out there wishing they were the size of the person that is giving me the side eye. My personal goal is a smaller waist line, I don’t want to be a size 2 at all, and if I am a size 12 with a flat stomach I would probably be ok with that as long as I was healthy. One thing that I do know about weight loss is if you are overweight the less you eat, the less your chance of losing weight. Every woman I encountered that is trying to lose weight I ask what do they eat. Usually my reply to them is they don’t eat enough!!! Again I get the side eye. My thing is this if I have maintained the same weight for the last 10 years why not take my word for it? Weight is 80% what you eat and 20% what you do. Working out and eating donuts and other fattening foods regularly will not garner the desired effect you desire. Again it’s all about balance.

Exercise – My personal favorites right now are Gaiam Pilates for Abs, Gaiam Yoga with Rodney Ye (AM, Daily, and Abs workout), as well as Ballet Stretch. I use free weights and resistance bands for my arms. To get some cardio in I have Yoga Booty Ballet and Kim Kardashians Fit in your jeans by Friday. Again from my blog I personally like to work out at home. If you are gym person knock yourself out. Running on the treadmill or hitting the elliptical for 20 to 30 minutes a few times a day will do your body good. Ladies, do not shy away from weights. Weight lifting can help your bones and you will love that in your old age. Most importantly in any exercise regime is stretching. Keep your muscles long and lean and increase your flexibility, again your older self will love you for it. Of course, when exercising find a regime that works for you, that you enjoy, and that keeps you motivated. Whatever you do, do something, even if you just start walking. Every little bit helps and makes a difference.

Drowning – I am guilty of this, I drown my food. I have to taste salad dressing on every piece of my salad. My mother says that I have syrup with pancakes instead of pancakes with syrup. When we drown our salads, if you do like I do, it’s not a good thing as there are a lot of ingredients in the salad dressing depending on which you eat that aren’t necessarily good for us. It’s like the dressing cancels out the salad. There is a fast food chain that will remain nameless but eating their salad with dressing has the same amount of calories as eating one of their burgers. Drinks, drinking certain things with your meal while still eating may change the digestion process of your food. So if at all possible, eat your food and then drink your beverage after you are done, that includes water. Let your food go down naturally and allow your stomach acids to break the food down and distribute it.

Sample meal plan, I can only remember what I ate yesterday and today so

Wednesday:
Breakfast – Blueberry muffin and Green Tea w/ Pomegranate
1stSnack – Mandarin orange, a few black, blue and strawberries sprinkled with cinnamon and drizzled with honey
3rdSnack – handful of trail mix (cranberries, walnuts, pecans, dark chocolate, raisins)
Drank 32 oz. of water by noon
Lunch – ½ Chicken Breast piece (Chicken Parmagiana) w/ steamed carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower
3rd snack – ¼ of a Grapefruit
4thsnack – pack of chocolate donuts
Drank 32 more oz. of water by 3:30P
Arrived home and complete Daily Yoga by Gaiam with Rodney Ye
Dinner – 6 spicy wingdings from KFC with BBQ sauce
Took a B12 vitamin with 4 oz. of water

Thursday:
Workout – Pilates for Abs
Breakfast – 2 Boiled Eggs and 2 oz. of OJ
1stSnack – Pack of chocolate donuts (don’t judge me I am trying to gain a little weight) and Green tea with pomegranate with ½ of freshly squeezed lemons juice
2ndSnack – ¼ of a Grapefruit
16 oz. of water before noon
Lunch – Chicken Parmagiana w/ Fettuccini &Spinach in a tomato basil sauce
16 oz. of water
3rdSnack – Black, Blue and Strawberries with a Banana sprinkled with cinnamon and drizzled with honey
Dinner – Mexican Style Tacos, Guacamole & Chips, and Margaritas :-)

As you notice there are more healthy things on my daily meal plans that unhealthy. Truthfully I don’t know why I wanted chocolate donuts this week 2 days in a row but I am not going to beat myself up over it.

Diets aren’t for me, If you do choose to diet that is great but if you’ve tried diet after diet and you haven’t been able to take weight off and keep it off, it may be time to re-evaluate your overall eating habits and exercise regime. Like the post from Friday, you must start inside out!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

INSIDE OUT!

2012-01-27T10:57:00.002-06:00

Everything that we do, think, feel, are and see starts on the inside. When we look to treat, improve, or change anything in our lives we should start with ourselves and look within ourselves to create what we want to see on the outside.

I am getting more into health, fitness, and natural remedies. Admittedly, I have never been a fan of cough medicine and many over the counter drugs since my youth. So yesterday, I googled the health benefits of lemons. Lemons have vitamins and antioxidants and they can help with arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, dandruff, sore throats, colds, fever, flu and a wealth of other ailments many people suffer from.I read that if you drink water and add lemon and honey it helps gives your skin a glow. Healthy glowing skin from the inside out. Now of course I am going to try that. I already add lemon and honey to my hot tea sometimes. I also read the benefits of raw organic honey this week as well so adding them to my water, no brainer.

I personally could be a spoke person for cocoa and shea butter. I love them and swear by them use them daily. I even have a daily face cream with SPF that I rub on daily and also apply to my lips so I am not against any beauty products.
I do however believe that more people need to start with the inside.

I suffer from extremely dry scalp. The 1stthing my stylist asked me was how much water do I drink. She was concerned with what I was putting in my body as that effects what comes out of the body. Many people want healthy hair, nails, and skin, who wouldn’t? However most people flock to the stores and load up on creams, lotions, serums, and other beauty products to achieve their goals.

Examine your diet and your water intake. Our you filling up with foods rich in vitamins and vital nutrients that your body needs and are you drinking more water than any other beverage daily? If the answer is no, that is the place to start. No matter what we put on the outside, if the inside is not right, it will just be a temporary fix. It’s like putting a piece of tape on a leaky pipe, it will work for a while but eventually you will have to replace the entire pipe. Unfortunately we only get one body and I don’t want anything replaced I want to keep everything original and in proper working order.

This goes for our relationships as well with our family, friends, and children. We need to go inside of ourselves and ask are we coming from a place of peace, love, joy, kindness, and self-control when dealing with other people. What thoughts are consuming us and filling our minds? Those are the things that cause us to react the way that we do. There is a scripture that says out of the heart the mouth speaks. No matter what someone says or does to you, your reaction is based on what is inside of you. Whatever is inside of you is what comes out of you. So no matter how much make-up you wear, hair cuts/styles you get, suits, shoes etc. that you buy to give your outward appearance that extra boost…

If you are not filled with confidence, pride, joy, love, peace of mind, kindness, and compassion others will eventually if not immediately see through your outward appearance. "Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it." -Yves Saint Laurent That’s one thing that can’t be faked, our core essence, our spirit. Sprits recognize spirit before words are uttered. You may wonder why you are attracted to certain people, it’s all about the spirit that is within you as well as within them. Now outward appearance and proper grooming are important as first impressions are lasting impressions. However a pig in a Armani suit is still a pig!

Once all of the make-up and outward enhancements are removed, who are you? When people ask to describe you what will they say? Will they mention the way you dress, look? Or will they mention how you help others, care for ourselves, are giving and supportive? Will they happen to mention a little bit of both or just one or the other?If you choose to work on your heart, your mind, your thoughts, your inner being, your outward being will begin to shine. This means feeding yourself the right things; mind, body, and soul.

So when you think about change and making changes to improve yourself start with what you can do from the inside and the outside is sure to follow.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BECAUSE I WANTED TO!

2012-01-26T08:47:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, someone I followed was tweeting about people that do what they want to do. She referenced a time when she was a little girl and her cousin had done something wrong. Her aunt was spanking her cousin and at the same time asking the cousin why she did what she did. My follower responded auntie I know why she did it. Her aunt asked why? Her response, “because she wanted to.”

Because I wanted to! I think about my own son, he does things that make me angry at times and I ask why did you do that,? Ironically, often times he tells me because I wanted to or because I didn’t want to. That is the best, most sincere answer one could give. Now I will appreciate him more for being honest.

In the grand scheme of things everything we do is because we wanted to do it, point blank period. Anything said outside of that is a concocted reasoning, explanation for why we did something e.g. and EXCUSE!

Questions & Answers

Why are you dating such and such but you are unhappy?
Usual excuses: Well (s)he looked good, I was lonely, I don’t like sleeping alone, I don’t want to go out to eat, the movies etc. by myself. I love them, it’s hard to walk away. I’m afraid to be alone. I can’t afford to pay my bills by myself
Real Answer: I stay because I want to.

Why don’t you save money?
Usual excuses: I can barely afford my bills now. No one taught me how to save.
When I get money I can’t help but spend it. There’s always something that needs
to be paid or done.
Real Answer: Because I don’t want to.

Why haven’t you come to visit?
Usual excuses: I’ve just been so busy, I haven’t had time. There is so much going
on the weekends are packed full of errands and running around.
Real Answer: Because I don’t want to.

Why don’t you make more healthy eating habit choices?
Usual excuses: Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive. I don’t have time to
cook. I don’t like cooking. I don’t like many vegetables.
Real Answer: Because I don’t want to.

We ALL I mean EVERYONE 95% of the time does what they want to do when they want to do it. We make time for what we want to make time for. We find money to make purchases that we feel that we need even when they are not a basic necessity. We do what we want and what we don’t want EVERYDAY. It bothers me to hear people say so and so made me do this or that. Or when people say I didn’t have another choice I had to. No, you always have a choice and whatever you choose, you chose it because you wanted to. Whether fear, anxiety, stress, or anything else played a part in your decision it doesn’t matter, in the end you did what you wanted to or what you felt was best for you.

Even going to work, yes that is your job and that is how you get paid but you get up and go because you want to. You could very well stay at home, eventually get fired but you don’t because you don’t want to you also don’t want the after effects that come with that. Nevertheless as I wrote in a post early this week we all exercise our right to CHOOSE.

Please believe when I write this is therapy for me. I am not sitting on my soapbox pointing my finger or looking my nose down. As I know that I do what I want when I want. I had to break myself from a lot of bad habits. I used so many excuses, I’m tired, I just don’t feel like it, I had a hard long day, it feels good/right etc. Really, again WE DO THINGS BECAUSE WE WANT TO OR BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO.

What if that was the only reason we gave when asked why did you do this or that? Although it’s the truth it’s a bold statement. People are looking for some reasoning, some drawn out explanation. Not a simple because I wanted to, because I thought that was the best thing to do, because I made the decision and that is what I decided. I did it because I wanted to do it.

Now the goal is to make sure we are doing what we want to do but also what is best for us. For example, last night the little woman on my right shoulder told me I didn’t want to work out, the little woman on my right should told me I did. I went with the little woman on my left shoulder. Why? Because I am training myself to do what I need to do when needed even when I don’t want to do it! Why? It seems so easy to do what we want to do yet so difficult to what it is we truly need to do. My goal is to have a paradigm shift when it comes to wants, needs, and necessities.

All the bad choices/decisions we’ve made, EVERYTHING we have done. We exercised our right to CHOOSE and did it because we either wanted to or didn’t want to after it’s all said and done.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING SHOPAHOLIC

2012-01-25T11:50:00.002-06:00

Confessions of a Recovering Shopaholic!

Recovery is a process LOL! I must admit that I have 2 vices, shopping and eating. I love them both equally and they are essential to my survival. I’m just going to keep it real here, but seriously, I do enjoy both a lot.

As you already know I am a proponent of budgets, however, there are times, few and far between that I throw caution to the wind say screw my budget and indulge myself. And, as much as I believe in budgets, saving and being wise, I also believe that life is to be lived and without fun and enjoyment what is the purpose. There is no purpose in hoarding all of your cash and living a miserable life. Just as there is no purpose having too much fun and blowing all your money either, life is all about balance. Find a healthy balance for every aspect of your life without guilt or regrets. The most important thing is to know your limitations and respect your weaknesses.

I admit my weakness is a mean pair of boots, hot sandal, and form fitting dresses (if there is an event I always feel like I need something new, I’m working on it)!!!!!!!

A few months ago, I received a Victoria’s Secret catalog and they had some booties that I was absolutely in love with. Now the first thing I do when I see something I like, I rarely buy it immediately, I sleep on it. If I am still thinking about the item the next week, I figure I really want it and I buy it. So the booties that I was in lust with were priced $129 in the Victoria’s Secret catalog. I went to buy the shoes but they didn’t have my size. So being the resourceful person that I am, I googled the brand and found the same booties in my size on www.endless.com for $114. $15 savings but spending the $114 on the shoes I decided not right now. This year I was still thinking about those booties more so because there is a party coming up. I googled the brand again and found the booties I wanted at www.6PM.com for $39.99 flat, no tax, no shipping and thanks to www.upromise.com I purchased the shoes and saved money for my sons college fund!

Proceeds of my sale going to a college fund for my son isn’t a green light to shop because I could have very well saved the $39.99 for him! At the same time in my mind I saved $90 on a pair of booties that I really wanted. In essence, it is like the sales trap. When things are on sale we figure we should buy them automatically without a second thought. That’s a dangerous thought process as I know many people with homes full of items that were “on sale” that they have absolutely no use for. So if that is you be careful and change a.s.a.p.! For me the price was right and I had been sitting on the purchase for 2 months or more so it was a no brainer.

This is one of the reasons that I am a recovering shopaholic. I purchase things that are cute and hang them in my closet; I look up its 6 months later I haven’t worn them. That is absolutely not good and I’m making no excuse for it. I can say if someone calls me about a vacation or something I have clothes ready to pack up and go though.

My weakness, the emails that I get about a sale or a must-have item; my remedy I usually read my emails on the train which means I can’t see the pictures. If shopping is not in my budget or doesn’t align with my goals at the time, I delete the email off my phone and my inbox. That is a problem solved for me. As I think about it, I don’t need another item of clothing or shoes; I just want and like to buy something new for the new season.

I could very well be content with what I have and save more but let’s be real, I like to look good. I do wear items though that I have had for years and years as if they are brand new with no hesitation.

So, my weakness is shopping, your weakness maybe Starbucks or coffee in general, cigarettes (hard habit to break I know, well not personally), lottery tickets (the allure of winning), dining out, movies, etc. Whatever your weakness is, recognize it and figure out ways to overcome it!

My way of overcoming is the DELTE button :-).

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

WHAT'S YOUR PASSION?

2012-01-24T13:45:00.001-06:00

What’s Your Passion?

Today’s blog is starting off a little differently. I received a comment from a faithful reader. Actually she emailed and told me she was waiting on my blog post for today. My response to her was that I was tired and slightly behind. I actually did not intend on writing one today but she e-nspired me to stay on top of my own business with this comment:

“It is because of you I have started to work out a least 3 times a week, change my eating habits, drum roll........................................... and now I am wearing my natural hair. I have no chemicals in my hair and I love it. Most of all the men love it. It's a lot of work but it's worth it. Jo you have inspired me to love me by taking care of me. Love you girl. Keep up the good work.”

Thank you to all who faithfully read Epiphany Essentials Blog. If you have been inspired, encouraged, engaged, enformed, or enlightened in any way please feel free to share your comments with us on our website http://epiphanyessentials.blogspot.com or via email epiphanyessentials@yahoo.com.

I learned early on that one of my gifts was gathering information, sharing it with other and ultimately helping people. I will say that is my top gift or natural ability With that said in October of 2009, I started Epiphany Essentials blog as a way to pursue my passion. Today as I was writing this I took a break to examine my very 1st blog post. I see that my blog has evolved over the past 3 years which is great but there are key fundamentals that made me start this blog that I need to get back to as well. . So I ask, what is your gift?

What is your gift or natural ability? What is something that you do without having to be asked twice and that you willingly and gladly do for free? Whatever your answer is that is your passion. Your passion is related to your purpose and whether being compensated or not pursue your passion for the fulfillment of your purpose.
Many people feel unfulfilled in life I believe it is mainly because we are not in the career/profession that we should be in. Until your passion can produce a profit you do need to have something in the pipeline to generate income but remember to focus on your goal. By all means be realistic but do not forget to have a measure of faith as well.

While many in the 99% are upset at the 1% and have sparked an Occupy Movement around the world, being a part of the 99% there is something we can do. I met a man who said the problem with our economy is that 10% of the people employ 90% of the population. So imagine 10 people own business with 5 open positions, and 90 people need a job. 40 people are going to be unemployed. Now the 40 people have some choices, they can collect unemployment, they can wait for someone to retire or be fired, or they can start their own business.

In this economy right now, millionaires and billionaires are being created. There are people who are fed up with the status quo and instead looking for a job are creating their own businesses.

Why? I believe one reason is because desperate times call for desperate measures. When you are fed up enough, you find a way or make one and refuse to settle for failure or mediocrity.

So again, I ask what is your passion? Turn that into a side hustle or a way to generate a different form of income. The wealthy know that multiple streams of income is the key to wealth and sustained wealth building.
Before you tell me that you don’t have time to follow your dreams and pursue your passion. I ask, how much television do you watch, what do you do on your “free time”?

Again it is not always about money. Receiving that email today warmed my heart. To think that my blog has impacted 1 person and changed their life is all the reward I need because that is why I do what I do.

To E-nspire, E-ncourage, E-nform, Engage, and Enlighten!

As I share with all of you, I am also encouraging myself to do better, be better, work harder, and strive for the greatness I deserve!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Preserve your Joy!

2012-01-23T09:14:00.001-06:00

Preserve your Joy!

“This joy I have the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away!” Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Happiness is an intrinsic trait, it comes from within and the thing is you should already have it. Whether you have all that you want or not, you should have internal happiness as well as joy.

So at all cost, Preserve your Joy!

You woke up late this morning, Preserve your Joy!

You were cut off in traffic, Preserve your Joy!

The restaurant messed up your order, Preserve your Joy!

Your child(ren) are acting out, Preserve your Joy!

You don’t like your current job, Preserve your Joy!

Your bank account is negative, Preserve your Joy!

You encountered a disgruntled customer service rep, Preserve your Joy!

At all costs, Preserve your Joy! No matter what it is you're facing, your attitude and your response is everything and as stated in a previous blog, you have the power to choose. You always have a choice. We are all human and things will upset us and bother us. I like the way Pastor Joel says after 15 minutes let it go. There is no reason to ruin the rest of your day or whatever it is you are doing over one instance.

I remember in college, me and my friends were headed to a party. We went to enter into the gate and it wasn’t working, in the process of backing up, I rubbed my lovely car on one of those big orange poles and created an ugly dent. I examined the damage, we proceeded to go get whatever we were getting and went to the party. My friends were shocked at my reaction. My thought process, the damage is done, I have insurance, I have money to fix it lets still go out and have a good time.

Now I could have gotten upset, decided to stay at home and ruin everyone’s evening. Had I did that, my car would still be damaged, so what would have been the point? Life goes on, things happen.

A friend of mine met a gentleman that was up in age and looked good. My friend asked him what his secret was. The older man’s response “don’t sweat the small stuff.” My friend asked what is the small stuff? The man replied, ‘EVERYTHING!!!!!’ Preserve your Joy!

How do you preserve your joy? By choosing not to let ANY external factors determine your internal mood. That’s it; it’s that simple, you choose. The thing is you are walking around angry at someone, ageing yourself, creating stress, and they are none the wiser and could probably care less. Preserve your Joy! At all cost.

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

THICK AND FIT!

2012-01-19T09:49:00.001-06:00

Thick and Fit!

This is for all of my sistahs out there J. It is possible to keep your plump round booty and still work out!

Not to say that all sistahs want to be thick but let’s be real, many of us are. Heck half of America is overweight. According to the body mass index (BMI) that is currently used, the last time I was weighed technically I am overweight for my height although I can fit a 4/6. So it’s not all about what society says you should look like but more importantly what you are comfortable with.

Growing up I ate whatever I wanted, entire pizzas, whole gallons of Eddy’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream and I didn’t seem to gain any weight. I was always skinny but I desired to be thick. I guess I was watching too many videos and got wrapped up in Sir Mix-A-Lots baby got back. Anyway, it wasn’t until after I turned 22 that I began gaining weight. That was attributed to me going out to the clubs drinking modestly but eating afterwards late night. The thickness came, then I had my son and the thickness went. Don’t get me wrong no complaints here as many women have children, pack on pounds and have a difficult time getting it off.

Let me clarify something, I no longer eat like that. I drink 8, 8oz glasses of water daily, eat fruits and veggies, bake all my food, rarely eat fried foods. More so for my health and my heart than my weight, however. Nevertheless, I am not on a diet in the least bit if I want chocolate cake, brownies, ice cream etc. I am going to eat it and not feel guilty about it. So I am grateful right now for my size and weight just want to trim my mid-section and strengthen my core.

Ladies, our core is vital to our health; that goes for men as well. The larger the waist line the greater your chance of heart disease and other illnesses. So what am I saying, forget about your hair, forget about the thought of losing your derriere and get the moving, get active.

However, as the title says, you can be thick and fit. I admittedly have fallen in love with yoga, Pilates, and I now have a ballet stretch workoutthat I do for increased flexibility. All of these exercises will keep your thickness and give you more fitness and flexibility too. Note: I rarely sweat when doing any of the above mentioned workouts, so you don’t have to worry about your hair, but I do see the benefits.

Flexibility is key especially as we grow older. Weight training is also important. No you don’t have to look like a bulky weight builder but trust me your bones will thank you especially in your 60s, 70s, and 80s. With all that said, don’t forget to stretch regularly. Stretching helps avoid bulking and keeps your muscles long and lean.

To get fit, no you do not need a gym membership or expensive gym equipment. You can do crunches, sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, squats etc. at home. There are no excuses. I am a huge fan of DVDs I work out in my bedroom, the gym is not for me. Now if you want to go to the gym or invest in gym equipment by all means. I myself want an elliptical to add more cardio to my workout. The point is again, no excuses.

While my hope is that we are all eating more healthy foods than non-healthy foods. Diet is the key to weight loss. So if you don’t want to lose weight you don’t have to, you can exercise and simply tone, keeping your thickness but getting fit.

So in a nut shell whatever type of exercise you do, walking, running, hitting the gym, and working out in your home doing traditional moves or with a DVD. Do something, at least 3X per week for a minimum of 20 minutes. If possible at least stretch every day, trust me your body will love you for it.

No matter what your size, weight or shape, be fit and fabulous and love yourself!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

THE ABUNDANT LIFE

2012-01-18T09:34:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, Creflo Dollar blessed me with a powerful message on abundance. He defined abundance as prospering in every area of your life. Consequently he defined poverty as lack in any area of your life.

Now some may consider Creflo Dollar as a prosperity preacher but who doesn’t want to be prosperous in life? Well, I know I do and I pray that you do as well. Although he is termed a “prosperity preacher” he made it perfectly clear abundance is not just simply about money. I heard someone say, Michael Jackson had amassed great wealth but he couldn’t sleep at night. So having money and needing help to sleep is not an abundant life because there exist lack. There is no price for peace of mind and the ability to close your eyes at night and sleep peacefully.

Our desire should be abundance in every area of our lives; health, finances, mind, body, soul, spirit, relationships, career, job, business, etc. All at the same time not one, the other, or some but ALL.
3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (NIV)

Yahweh wants you to prosper as your soul prospers. Your financial situation shouldn’t be on the rise and your spirit is in disarray, or you are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, anything. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (to the full, overflowing). With every organ intact, free of sickness and disease, healed by his stripes.

So, what was Creflo’s formula for the abundant life, outside of the obvious obedience to the Word of Yahweh, our words! Speak abundance in every area of your life; call those things that are not as though they were. Don’t tell it like it is, don’t speak what you see, speak what you want things to be.

Thank Yahweh that your business in prospering, you are able to pay your employees a hefty salary, and end up in the black at the end of the year while your business continually grows. When you receive your paycheck, thank Yahweh that you have more than enough to pay your bills, save, invest, and spend on frivolous purchases as well as give to others. As the entire purpose of being blessed is to be a blessing to others when we can. We are not to hoard our money but to give to the needy and share what we have. This includes are time, resources, and knowledge as well. Again, it is not all about money. Don’t get me wrong absolutely save and invest but don’t shy away from giving.

Thank Yahweh daily that you have abundance in your health. That you are healthy, of sound mind, your spirit is at ease EVEN IF IT IS NOT!

This morning Joel sent a powerful message about how our mouths determine the direction of our lives and where we are in life. It is a message you will see me mention over and over again because it is true and there is power in the spoken word. The words we speak have the power to give life to a situation or to kill a situation.

I have said this before but I will say it again, be mindful of what you speak over your life as well as someone else’s. You cannot bless yourself and curse someone else for you are cancelling out your own blessings!!!!!!!!!!!

Whatever area you have lack, poverty, speak abundance over it right now and often. Whatever area you have abundance in, continue to speak abundance over it and live the blessed life!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Talk Is Cheap, Be A Doer

2012-01-17T16:44:00.002-06:00

Over the weekend many in our nation celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many businesses in the private and the public sector closed for the day. The NBA had numerous games on yesterday and used the day as a platform to educate viewers on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I am a twitter fanatic and someone posted an interesting tweet loosely quoted, “don’t just remember Dr. King during this time, do something whatever it is you can do to keep his legacy alive.” A lot of times we forget to be doers. There are many people that talk and reflect about the injustices that happened to African Americans during and after slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, and now.

People assemble in round table discussions, town hall meetings, and even in simple gatherings in the privacy of homes and talk about what needs to be done. Talk, talk, talk, talk, all a lot of people do is talk.

The youth these days need direction

Music these days doesn’t talk about anything

So much is going on in our communities something needs to change;

and other things to that effect. Yes, it is great to talk about these things but action is necessary. I watched a documentary this weekend Crips and Bloods: Made In America. The documentary started back before the Watts riots. A gentleman on the documentary said that it was not a riot, but guerilla warfare, the youth was fed up with how things were in LA. Blacks weren’t allowed to go past certain streets, men/boys pulled over by the police for no reason, and countless other wrongs/injustices that were going on. So they came together and took action. Their weapons, they used the bricks from the dilipated buildings in their neighborhood, they felt that the stench alone would drive the National guard and police insane, their weapons was their own worn down raggedy neighborhood. Now they could’ve just talked amongst themselves about how bad things were but they didn’t. After they talked, they devised a strategy and took action. [Shortly thereafter the Black Panther party arose, then came Malcolm, Martin and other influential leaders. Once these leaders were jailed and or murdered, the Crips arose and then the Bloods formed as a rival gang.]

It is time for us to be doers. Many people say this isn’t the olden days we don’t march any more. It warmed my heart that a group of teachers and people in Chicago marched this weekend to protest the closing of a school in the Marquette area. They were marching against the injustice of the school system and their decision to turn the school over to a private company, fire all of the teachers and administrators and start anew instead of giving the current school the resources it needs to flourish and be successful.

So with the passing of Dr. King’s birthday and holiday, it is important for us to remember his legacy but to also carry it on. Volunteer, mentor, give back (money, resources, time, services), stand for a cause, join the occupy movement (if you agree with it) do whatever you can but whatever you do, don’t be a talker be a doer, do something!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
http://epiphanyessentials.blogspot.com

YOUR FICO SHOULD BE 700 OR ABOVE

2012-01-15T10:40:00.002-06:00

I was watching Black Enterprise Business Report this morning and one of the first ways mentioned to create wealth was to have a credit score of 700 or higher.

Most people don't understand credit and how their credit score is calculated. I watched an episode of Washington Watch with Roland Martin about credit score and it was determined that no one can truly tell you how your credit score is calculated.

Let me be clear when you have money $$$$$ you don't need credit. What do I mean by that. Roland Martin spoke on how he paid cash for his car, pays his credit cards off immediately and doesn't have any revolving credit or debt therefore his credit score is low. However, he pays cash for everything!

If you are not in a position to pay cash for your new car, home, investment property etc. It is important that your credit score is as high as possible, as the highest the credit score the lower the interest rate, usually.

So what is my advice:

Pay yourself/Yahweh 1st
Save
Invest (IRA, insurance, stocks, bonds)
Pay your bills on time
Avoid store credit cards
Use credit cards for emergencies only
Have an emergency savings fund
Live below your means
Keep your debt to income ratio low

If you do these things you should have a nice savings, good investment fund, and good credit.

Keep in mind this is just a general post, a starting post, by all means do your research and dig deeper.

NOTE: WHEN YOU OBTAIN YOUR CREDIT SCORE MAKE SURE YOU OBTAIN YOUR FICO SCORE. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPANIES SELLING CREDIT SCORES HOWEVER WHEN DETERMINING YOUR INTEREST RATES, BANKS USE YOUR FICO SCORE. KNOW YOUR FICO SCORE!!!!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

GET STARTED BUT MAKE SURE YOU FINISH

2012-01-15T10:39:00.001-06:00

I was reading this month issue of Black Enterprise magazine and I was once again inspired, inspired to do more and to be more. I shared with a co-worker this inspiration and he told me, “You are already motivated to be a business owner/entrepreneur.” He was 100% correct, I went back to my desk and I sent him an IM that stated I realized I am a great starter however I need to be a great finisher. HE then responded that I made him look in the mirror himself as he felt the say way.

When I get an idea, I am on fire, I do research, create presentations, tell others about my idea and what I am going to do and then somewhere I lose steam, the gas runs out and instead of going to refuel I abandon the car on the side of the road.
Am I the only one who has abandoned cars on the side of the road? Are there any cars that you have abandoned in your life for whatever reason? If the answer is yes, I encourage you to go to the gas station buy a gas container go back to your abandoned car and fill it up get in put the key in the ignition and get back on the road.
It is great to be able to start something as there are many people who don’t even do that. Yet, starting is not enough finishing is the most important thing. Oddly, we learn a lot from our parents and pick up a lot of things from them that we don’t realize. My mother herself is a great starter, a woman full of wonderful ideas; however she needs to become a great finisher.

So I choose to be the change in my family and start following through and finishing things that I start. I know what I want in life, I am well educated, and I know a lot of the right people, the only thing that has kept me from finishing and reaching my true potential is I.

It could be fear, laziness, complacency, lack of motivation etc. Whatever it is, on this day, I choose to push that all aside, follow through and finish!
How do you finish you may ask? You choose to finish, you make the conscious decision to do better. I read a blog post from The Daily Love the greatest force in our lives is our power to choose. You may say, you didn’t choose your parents, your family, where or how you were born, you didn’t choose the tax bracket you were born in be it poverty, working class, middle class, wealthy. You are 100% correct but everyday now in your adult life you have the power to choose where you will go, what you will watch/read/hear/see/be/do. You choose, you choose, you choose!
Make the choice to be a great starter and a great finisher today. Let’s stand together and hold each other accountable.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

I DON'T DO BUDGETS!

2012-01-10T08:45:00.001-06:00

One of my readers wrote in, in response to my blog last week on Financial Fitness for the New Year; they don’t have a budget they don’t believe in budgets. I happen to know this person well and I told him, you may not believe in budgets but I know for a fact that you keep track of your money/spending and you know where you money is going. He replied back that I was correct.

So for those who may not be good with budgets, don’t believe in budgets, don’t want to create a budget the most important thing is to KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING! Know what you are spending where and how much, know what you are saving etc. My consumer economics teacher in high school wrote down everything that he spent down to a $.30 pack of gum. That was a bit excessive to me and that is something I personally would not do but that worked for him. So do what works for you to ensure you are financially fit. If what you are doing isn’t working, do something else. Remember: If you don’t know where your money is going it will disappear!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Financial Fitness for the New Year!

2012-01-06T10:48:00.000-06:00

Well, 2012 is here, now what? I saw a lot of tweets saying if you said 2009, 2010, and 2011 were going to be your year and nothing happened in those years what makes you think it is going to happen in 2012?

It won’t happen just because you say so and positive thinking will not make it happen either although a positive attitude is a great start. How so you ask, say you are on a sinking ship and you think positive thoughts, the ship is still sinking! You need to say something and do something to ensure that you don’t go down with the ship, get my point? I hope so….

So one of your goals/resolutions is hopefully to be in a better financial position at the end of 2012 then you were at the end of 2011. As I would hope everyone’s goal is to do better and improve each year.

The first and most important thing to have is a budget. You must have a clear understanding of how much money you bring in and how much money you shell out. That means a written budget by the way, keeping track in your mind and having a round-about idea does not count! Now that you have your budget, stick to it to the best of your abilities.

Savings, I read a great snippet about saving in Black Enterprise. The article was directed toward women. So ladies, think about the purse you are carrying right now, how much did it cost? Now consider the contents of your purse, your cell phone, make-up, gadgets, etc. that you carry around daily. How much did they cost? Add it all up, once you add it up ask yourself did you save that much money last month? Hell did you save that much money last year?, if the answer is no, you are hustling backwards!

It is so easy for people to say, I can’t save I don’t make enough money, I am barely making ends meet. Everyone, I repeat, everyone can save. My grandmother is on an extremely fixed income and manages to save money regularly. It is all about budget, moderation, and right now denial for later gain thinking. I don’t care if you save a penny a day, save something.

Now for those of you that save and invest already, keep up the good work, continue to review your investment portfolios and make changes where needed, think long term investing and don’t be moved by the current changes in the market.

Most importantly above all else, enjoy your life. Don’t get so caught up on saving, investing, and pinching pennies that you are trapped in the house for fear of spending too much money. Simply, be wise, for “a fool and his money are soon parted.”

By the way, I am a huge believer in Upromise www.upromise.com initially they allowed people to register their credit cards, grocery/gas cards etc and earn money from qualifying purchases on-line, in restaurants, and grocery stores to save toward their children’s college tuition. Now the program is open to anyone you can save for yourself or use the money to pay down your student loans. Whatever it is, if you enjoy shopping on-line, dining out, and you go to the grocery store regularly the program has something for you.

So let’s all become and/or maintain our financial fitness for 2012 and beyond!

Great Articles to read:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/19vkZU/www.blackenterprise.com/2012/01/04/7-signs-that-you-are-a-woman-behaving-wealthy/

http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/12/23/3-ways-to-achieve-your-financial-new-years-resolution-in-just-30-days/

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-06T10:15:00.002-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012 IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

OVERCOME OBSTACLES

2011-12-25T09:56:00.002-06:00

This Christmas day I woke up and watched Timbaland True Hollywood Story. His story inspired me to write this morning, it was full of obstacles, tragedy, opportunity, perseverance, vision, determination and drive. His story allows me to look at all the people that give up and miss out on their blessings and their purpose because of their attitude and their outlook on life.

Timbaland grew up poor. His parents were together but they could barely make ends meet. He said that he wore old clothes and underwear with holes to school. He didn’t allow what he didn’t have to keep him from his dreams. Nor did lack of money stop his family from being supportive.

Early on, Timbaland’s mom noticed he was creative and had a love for music. So, his parents encouraged that side of him. His mother would sometimes miss her rent payment just to buy Timbaland the equipment he needed to make music, she had vision.

While in high school Timbaland was able to showcase his musical talent to his friends and classmates. He began DJing parties. Back then in the late 80’s the DJ was the foundation of Hip Hop music. Timbaland had one problem however, he didn’t have the right clothing to project the right image as a DJ, he needed fresh gear. He didn’t mope, he did something about it, he got a dish washer job at Red Lobster. Enter obstacle #1. His co-worker had a gun, showed it to Timbaland, Timbaland asked him to put it away, the gun went off and shot Timbaland in the neck. The bullet traveled to his under arm and the doctors said they would not be able to remove it due to its location. The doctors also told him he was lucky, I say that he was blessed. The worst part of it all the doctors said he would not be able to use his right arm nor would he have feeling in his fingers. It took him 2 years to recover, but Yahweh!

Although the doctors gave their report, Timbaland had something else in mind. He was still going to be a DJ and make music because that is what he loved and that is exactly what he did. He persisted, he persevered, he worked through it. To this day he says he feels tingling in his arm and discomfort yet he goes on.

Hard work and determination doesn’t go unrewarded, opportunity presented itself, he was introduced to Missy and by way of Missy he was introduced to super producer at the time, DeVante Swing. He learned a lot from DeVante and vice versa and was able to make a little money. He decided to buy a car, his mom didn’t want him to buy but he bought it anyway. One night he went with a female friend to the store to pick something up, hit a patch of black ice the car spent out of control and hit a tree. Timbaland walked away from the accident unharmed but his female friend didn’t make it. To this day he doesn’t know how or why he survives and even believes that he shouldn’t be alive. I say when you have a calling on your life and Yahweh has a plan for you, if you stay in faith and keep the right attitude you shall reach your destiny.

For years, he made beats/music under the tutelage of DeVante but one day he realized he was ready to go out on his own. That is exactly what he did, he moved back home, received a call from Atlantic Records and began working with Aaliyah on her second album. This is when his celebrity and stardom was finally displayed for the world to see.

His work with Aaliyah was short lived. For those who don’t know, while filming the video for Rock the Boat in the Bahamas (if I’m not mistaken), Aaliyah and everyone on the plane back home died when the plane crashed. Timbaland was suppose to be on that plane but he’d decided at the last minute that he wasn’t going to make the trip. Yahweh is awesome, favor is not fair!

What obstacles have you faced in life? Did you look at your difficulties and say Yahweh must have another plan for my life? Or did you look at your obstacles and say I must be going in the right direction and Satan and his demons must be trying to hold me back?

Unfortunately there are a lot of church folk that will tell you if your life isn’t 100% perfect and everything isn’t exactly right you are not in the will of Yahweh. Well I am here to tell you that could not be further from the truth. We can look at Jesus’ life.

He was betrayed by his good friend, he was tempted for 40 days in the desert by Satan, he was on a boat that almost sunk, his friends turned their back on him, he was wanted for dead before he was born, he was crowned with thorns, whipped, beaten, hung, humiliated, he was given a death sentence. Through it all, every step of the way, he was in the perfect will of Yahweh.

In no way am I comparing Timbaland to Jesus, well you know what I can compare him as well as us to Jesus for Jesus came to show us how to live, he was our living example of how to deal with life and all that comes with it. We are supposed to be imitators of Christ.

So in your life I am sure you have experienced tragedy, loss, hurt, pain, something. Know that it did not happen for you to mope, give up, feel bad, get down, or stop. It was to help you grow, mature, develop, and fulfill your destiny.

With the New Year approaching, if you have chosen to give up or stay down, I encourage you to get up and get moving. Timbaland is just one example of how just when things are going right, something goes wrong. There are many examples of famous and non-famous people that will tell you no matter what, keep going.

Despite what it may look like, if you are a believer, walk by faith and not by sight. The only way to overcome obstacles is to face them, smile, speak and think positively and keep going!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

7 DAYS TO A NEW HABIT

2011-12-24T10:24:00.001-06:00

Today is December 24th, for many it is Christmas Eve, for others, Kwanzaa is right around the corner and if I am not mistaken Hannakuh has already begun. This is also the very last week of 2011. In 7 days it will be New Year’s Eve and 2012 will begin.

Last year I refused to make any New Year’s Resolutions because most people don’t stick to their resolutions. How many of you decided to join a gym and lose weight? How many actually stuck to it? Did you write your resolutions down or did you just say them to yourself? It is very important to write things down, once written there is a better chance that you will meet what is written.

As for me, I set goals for 2011 did I meet every goal absolutely not, did I try absolutely. One of the goals I set was a deeper connection to the Most High, Yahweh, and I am thankful that I achieved that, not necessarily by attending church but by truly seeking Him, His Kingdom and His Righteouness. As 2011 closes it is my goal to never refer to Yahweh again as God as I realize it is a pagan word rooted in everything outside of what Yahweh is. Hey but that is just me.

So ok, in this last week of 2011 how can you position yourself to start 2012 full speed ahead? I hear a lot of people say I will start working out in January, why not start today? Do you know it only takes 7 days to start/create a new habit? If you start working out today, stretching today, reading more today, saving today etc., whatever it is you want to do in the new year, by the time the new year begins you will have a new habit!

I am excited to be embarking upon a new endeavor starting next week. Once all things are finalized I will definitely tweet about it and ask you all for your support/thoughts.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

WORLD AIDS DAY

2011-12-01T08:52:00.001-06:00

Today is World Aids Day, I'm positive I'm negative are you? Get tested, know
your status, protect yourself! AIDS is an epidemic that effects millions of
people around the world. Living here in America we have a lot more options
and resources available to us to make wise decisions and protect ourselves
from this life altering disease. While many gains have been made in
treatments their is still no advertised or talked about cure for AIDS.
There are those like Magic Johnson whose count of the virus is undetectable
and that is awesome! Nevertheless protect yourself, make wise decisons, get
tested and know your status.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

1ST DAY OF THE LAST MONTH

2011-12-01T08:34:00.000-06:00

Today is the 1st day of the last day of the calendar year for 2011. Think about the beginning of the year, whether you made New Year’s resolutions or set goals for yourself how have you measured up to what you’ve set? Even if you feel like you didn’t accomplish all that you should guess what? Today is a new day filled with new grace and mercy. How will you end 2011 so that you will have a great start for 2012?

It’s never too late to accomplish your dreams and as long as there is breath in your body you are well able to see them through to completion.

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE DESTROYS

2011-12-01T08:30:00.001-06:00

Hosea 4: 6 (NIV) “...my people are destroyed (perish) from lack of knowledge…”

Knowledge, many of us have heard that knowledge is power, more importantly applied knowledge is power. In Hosea 4:6 Yahweh is letting us know that people are destroyed or perish for lack of knowledge. That made me think about a seminar I attending at Mars Hill Baptist Church, a mortgage broker was speaking and saying how African Americans were losing their homes to foreclosure because they did not have knowledge. Not only that they were not reaching out to obtain the necessary knowledge they needed to find out ways to save their homes from foreclosure.

Knowledge doesn’t mean that you know everything, knowledge means that you have sense enough to know your strengths and weaknesses and then you use wisdom to find those who are strong where you are weak to help you out! In other words, use your resources, like Yahweh asked Moses what is in your hand? Moses was holding the staff in his hand that parted the red sea. Now of course the staff didn’t part the sea it was Yahweh but more importantly it was Moses faith and belief in Yahweh’s ability to give Moses the knowledge to complete the task of freeing the Israelites.

This morning I was blessed by Pastor Winston, well I am blessed by him every morning and most importantly abundantly blessed by Yahweh as daily I wake up and receive new grace and mercy and I give a big Hallelujah and Thank You Yahweh. Let’s go back to the garden, Satan or the serpent told Eve if she ate of the tree of knowledge and evil she wouldn’t die, she would be just like Yahweh. Here is the revelation moment: Eve and Adam were already like Yahweh! Unfortunately for Eve she didn’t know that she was already like Yahweh and she was tricked into believing she had to do something to become more like him.

The same goes for us, once we were born again and dipped in the water we became just like Yahweh. Not only that we are citizens of heaven. What does that mean?

We are rich in finances, joy, peace, love, hope, faith, health, etc.
We can do anything that we think as long as we have faith the size of a mustard seed.

I like with Pastor Winston said the scripture said people perish from lack of knowledge, it doesn’t say people perish because lack of money, connections, friends, family, hook ups….
People perish because they lack knowledge. The most important knowledge we lack is knowledge of ourselves, who we are and whom we belong too. Once we all come into the knowledge of the truth of who we are, who are creator is, and that our lives have absolutely no limits, then we will walk and live in the fullness of Yahweh.

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

WHAT IMAGE IS IN YOUR MIND?

2011-11-10T08:10:00.004-06:00

I was watching Bill Winston Monday I believe and he said something that made me go hmmm...He said we as a people most importantly believers do not have a money problem or a health problem, we have an image problem. When speaking of image he nor I are speaking of how others view you, this directly refers to how you see yourself. If we truly saw ourselves the way Yahweh sees us we would be a lot better off than we are now.

That is not to say that every situation in our lives would be perfect that is to say however that our words would line up with that image. So how does Yahweh see us?

"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." (Romans 8:37)

"Because I master all things by The Messiah who empowers me." (Philippians 4:13)

"Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 112:3)

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)

"but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." (Psalm 112:3b)

"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;" (Psalm 34:19a)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)

"And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if that you hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them:" (Deuteronomy 28:13)

So let's see a few things that Yahweh says about us, we are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, your seed (children) shall be delivered, we always triumph, we always win, we always have the victory, we are a royal priesthood, yes! you are ROYALTY, your seed shall be delivered, you shall not want, and overwhelming victory is yours. This is just a start of scriptures that you can meditate on everyday when you get a chance. Meditate on them until they are engraved in your heart. There are plenty more scriptures that you can find on your own. If the problem is our image we have to go to the source who created us to find out what our image is.

Most importantly we were created in the image of Yahweh. So if your actions and words do not line up with the Word you are not living and embodying your true image. Enough of that Yahweh made me the way I am. No Yahweh made you in His image so if you are doing anything contrary to that image Yahweh did not place that in you.

Your image is reflected in the current state of your life. I do not know about you but I definitely have some work to do!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS

2011-10-20T12:30:00.001-05:00

Resources and Opportunities for African-Americans

1. Wake Forest University has an opportunity for minority students to attend its MBA program for FREE, and so far, the response has been very poor. Please pass along this opportunity to your friends, families. This is a great school and a tremendous opportunity to attend a top graduate school. See the details below, the contact person is: Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, Rm. 3139 Worrell Professional Center, Babcock Graduate School of Management – Wake Forest University_ WINSTON_SALEM N.C 27109-8738 email: derrick.boone@mba.wfu.edu or visit www.wfu.edu phone# toll free (866) 925-3622

2. Black Male Teachers needed. Do you know any Black Males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for FREE? The CALL ME MISTER program offered by 4 historical black colleges in South Carolina, Benedict College, Chaflin University, Morris College and South Carolina State University – visit the www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htl details online application or call 1.800.640.2657

3. Harvard University is offering free tuition to families of HONOR STUDENTS and their income is less than $125,000 per year. Visit www.fao.fas.harvard.edc or call 617.495.1581.

4. Syracuse University School of Architecture is desperately seeking young women and men of color interested in pursuing a 5 yr. professional degree in Architecture. Contact: Mark Robbins, Dean School of Architecture, 201 Slocum Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-1250 (315) 443-256 www.soa.syr.edu/indes.php

5. A free pair of eyeglasses from Target for any child ages 12 and under brings a valid prescription for glasses from their doctor. You can find stores with optical departments at www.target.com

6. APPLY NOW - If you have/know young adults between the ages of 18-31 with a High School Diploma. Can earn up to $100,000 and earn benefits. The Federal Aviation Association is taking application for Air Traffic Controller School visit the website www.faa.gov/

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essential

TROY ANTHONY DAVIS: I AM FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BUT...

2011-09-22T09:14:00.004-05:00

If you asked me was I for or against capital punishment, I would have to say that I am for it. How as a Christian can I say this? Ecclesiastes 3 "A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

So yes the good book says there is a time to kill. More importantly God works through you and I just as Satan does. Many people said that who are they to kill a man, they are not God. This is true no one on earth is God but God cannot move in the land and act on earth without people. He needs you and I for his will to be done. It took David to slay Goliath, it took Moses to free the Israelites, it took Joshua to bring the walls down in Jericho, it took Jesus to free us from our sins. They were all mighty men of God, God's grace was upon them, they were able to do the supernatural in the natural because of God's omnipotence that he worked through them.

So as people, citizens, Christians we have to take a stand. Is it enough to put a convicted murderer behind bars and let them rot in jail? Maybe. Is it ok if you know someone has murdered thousands and thousands of people to take their life? Maybe. The one thing with death row and execution is that those who are on it have the choice and the ability to ask for forgiveness and make a mends with God. So it is not a situation where one cannot right their wrongs.

Now do I agree that Troy Davis should have been executed? Absolutely not. There was reasonable doubt surrounding his conviction. There are plenty of cases where people spent years in jail only to be exonerated by DNA and other evidence and later freed. So it is not far fetched to believe that Troy Davis did not commit the murder and was innocent.

We as people have to think about when someone is murdered or a crime is committed how we desire and want justice, we want someone caught and convicted of the crime partly so that we can feel safer knowing that a murderer or criminal is no longer out on the loose. So we have to question and examine ourselves and our motives. We have to be less emotional and more logical in our thinking and stand for justice for ALL.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Who's Right Who's Wrong?

2011-09-22T08:42:00.003-05:00

This blog is inspired by the recent execution of Troy Anthony Davis:

Right vs. Wrong, Justified vs. Unjustified, Kill vs. Murder, what side you are on and the stance that you take will differ and vary based on the situation. Before you say no it won't I am on the side of justice allow me to prove my point. If you have a differing view point please share, I am open to contrary view to my opinion.

Someone breaks into your home, you own a gun, you feel your life is threatened, you cock your gun and you shoot and kill the person whom intruded your home. Chances are you will go to court but you won't be tried or convicted of murder you will get off and be back at home in no time.

On the other side of the coin, the intruder was someone's relative, friend, lover, etc. They may have suffered from mental illness and missed taking there medication. They may have been in desperate times and felt they needed to steal to provide for themselves and their families. To somebody, somewhere their loved one was murdered.

Who's right and who's wrong? Who's justified and who's unjustified? Who killed and who murdered?

The answer depends, what does it depend on? It depends on you and I and our ideals. Some people on both sides will be for and against. People will bring God into the situation and quote scriptures to support their point of view. So again who is right?

I guess we all won't know until judgment day!

Be a blessing and blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Resisting Troy's Planned Execution with Every Moment Left | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog

2011-09-21T13:37:00.000-05:00

Resisting Troy's Planned Execution with Every Moment Left Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog

TROY DAVIS #TOOMUCH DOUBT

2011-09-20T09:56:00.002-05:00

If you are reading this and asking who is Troy Davis but you know what is going on with JLO, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, etc. I encourage you to expand your horizons on what you read and take in on a regular basis.

A Georgia parole board has denied clemency to Troy Davis, the death-row inmate whose case attracted international attention amid what supporters say are significant doubts over his guilt. With the failure of Davis' last-ditch appeal, announced Tuesday morning, he appears all but certain to be executed by lethal injection Wednesday at 7 p.m.

"He's guilty," Joan MacPhail-Harris, the widow of the Savannah cop who Davis was convicted of killing, told reporters Monday before the board announced its decision. "We need to go ahead and execute him."

Davis, 41, was convicted of the 1989 murder of Mark Allen MacPhail, an off-duty Savannah, Ga. police officer. MacPhail, who was running to the aid of a homeless man being pistol-whipped, was shot three times in a Burger King parking lot before he could draw his weapon.

Davis has always maintained his innocence, and several witnesses who testified at his trial have since recanted or backed away from their testimony, alleging they were improperly pressured by police.

The case has generated worldwide attention, with opponents of the death penalty depicting Davis' case as a perfect example of the inherently flawed system of capital punishment. Davis' supporters have sponsored a series of protests and fundraisers for his case in New York, Washington D.C., Paris and Oslo. Last week, supporters delivered petitions with about 650,000 signatories calling on Georgia state authorities to free Davis.

"We're just praying for a good outcome," Davis' sister, Martina Correia, told reporters Monday, before the board's announcement. "We believe in our brother's innocence."

Monday's eleventh-hour appeal marked the culmination of a lengthy effort on Davis's behalf. In 2008, the same parole board rejected a bid for clemency (three of its five members have since been replaced). The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court took the rare step of ordering a federal judge to convene a hearing to consider new evidence. But in 2010, a federal court ruled that Davis had failed to prove his innocence, and denied him a new trial. The Supreme Court declined to get involved a second time, which meant that Monday's hearing represented Davis's last lifeline.

A Friday rally in support of Davis involved civil rights figures including NAACP president Ben Jealous and Martin Luther King III. "The only thing left to decide is whether you have the courage to do the right thing," the Rev. Al Sharpton said, addressing members of the parole board.

One witness who testified at Monday's parole board hearing said she once heard another man who was at the scene of the murder, Sylvester "Redd" Coles, say that he fired the fatal shots. Coles was the first person to implicate Davis to the police. Another of Monday's witnesses was a juror from the original 1991 trial; she had voted to sentence Davis to death but now says she has doubts. Two other jurors signed affidavits asking the board to spare Davis' life.

Former FBI director William Sessions called for Davis' sentence to be commuted to life in prison, writing in an opinion column Thursday in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the case is "permeated in doubt." In addition to the witness recantations and allegations of police pressure, Sessions pointed to a "lack of relevant physical evidence."

But Spencer Lawton, the former district attorney who prosecuted Davis and was seen at Monday's hearing, wrote in a 2008 op-ed in the same paper that the witnesses who recanted their testimony were "not believable." Lawton added that shell casings recovered from an earlier shooting linked to Davis were fired from the same gun found at the scene of MacPhail's murder. (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/troy-davis-executed-parole-board-denies-clemency-131916604.html)

If you tweet use the hash tag #toomuchdoubt, if you can sign a petition this is of course if you believe in the cause.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS!

2011-09-20T09:17:00.004-05:00

Last night I watched Unsung on TV1, the episode was about The Spinners. As I watched there were a number of ideals that popped in my head, determination, drive, faith, good ego and resolve to succeed.

In 1954 a group of men came together and formed The Spinners. There first song hit the charts in 1961 at #27. In 1963 the label The Spinners was on was bought out by Motown Records. They wouldn't see a song hit the charts again until 1970 at #14.

The best part of the story for me however, was that one of the singers in the group stated while signed to Motown, since they weren't making chart topping top 10 hits, they had to survive and make ends meet. So they all did odd jobs at Motown Records, one member worked in the shipping and receiving department, another member worked as a driver for the label. That is were drive, determination and a willingness to succeed entered my thoughts as well as good pride. I saw these characteristics in these men because they did not have what I call bad pride. Bad pride would have said I am a singer/musician I am not a driver, I didn't come to Motown for this I came to Motown to make records and make money. The Spinners could have thought to themselves its been over 10 years and we have yet to make a top 10, we are obviously not cut out for this, let's just part ways and pursue other things. They could have but they didn't, they held on to their dreams. There is a scripture that says humble yourself and let God exalt you. (James 4:10)

Finally, in 1972 they got their break. Their contract with Motown ended, they signed to Atlantic Records, Thom Bell came along to produce for them and their first album with Atlantic was a hit! Not only that, they dropped single after single and they were hits after hits. They dropped album after album, all hits!

It took almost 20 years after they formed as a group for them to see success on the charts and be recognized as one of the top groups of their time but it happened. It happened because they all stuck together, held on to their dreams and believed. Not only that Thom Bell believed in them, he told them your next album will be a hit.

So I dare to ask you what dreams do you have that you feel have been on delay or you have simply giving up on? What type of attitude do you have right now about those dreams? Are you looking for immediate gratification or are you willing to put in the work necessary to fulfill your dreams? Do you view obstacles or set backs as God's way of trying to tell you, you are going the wrong way?

I liked Bill Winston preaching this morning he said "you can be in the perfect will of God and encounter a storm". God didn't send the storm, Satan did, Satan sent the storm to steal you faith so that you don't reach the other side or get to your land flowing with milk and honey.

So if you have dreams, go for them and pursue them with a vengeance. If you have given up on your dreams, go back pick them up and move forward with a vengeance.

Hold on to your dreams and keep the faith!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BUILD THEM UP....

2011-09-20T08:21:00.005-05:00

As I thought about writing this blog post today, I began to think about my post from yesterday and how they actually intertwine. Building our children up is essential to them becoming well adjusted, productive members of society.

The bigger issue is that there are ways in which we tear our children down and we don't even realize it. Often times we say we are just joking or playing but we must realize that words or the tongue is sharper than any 2 edge swords and words cut deep. While we think we are only playing and move on, the words we have spoken become engraved in that child's subconscious and it can cause doubt, fear, feelings of inadequacy, shame and the list goes on and on well into their adult lives.

I think about growing up as a dark skin child. My mother and sister were lighter than I. One day I told my mom, "mommy you are brown and Chris, my sister, is white". My mother had to explain to me that we were all black people just different shades. Growing up I was told I was beautiful, I was always complimented and uplifted by my family about my dark skin. There was never a day that I hated being dark or wanted to be any lighter.

Unfortunately, that is not true for all people in the African American community. Some people despise their dark skin. As many know during slavery, the dark slaves were in the field, the light slaves were in the house. Some freedmen were so light that they would pass for white people. So the nature of African Americans had been programmed in us from slavery to hate our skin, our color, to really hate ourselves. To this day their are still articles about light skin vs. dark skin.

So why, why would we as parents with all of the negativity in the media, with most history classes overlooking our complete existence choose to tear our children down instead of build them up?

What am I talking about?

There are parents who say things like this to their children you're:

ugly

stupid

dumb

never amount to anything

just like your trifling daddy

The media already does a great job of depicting African Americans in a negative light. We need to not perpetuate it as well in our homes. What we need to do in our homes is teach them their history and show them the positiveness of black America and let them know that every race, nationality, and even religion has positive and negative stereotypes/ideals. That black America is no different than anyone else on the human level and that we all matter, are successful, educated, smart etc.

You may think, I am not the type of parent that tears my child down. There are subtle ways we tear our children down. Yesterday my son started swim lessons. The lessons seem a bit aggressive to me but none the less the point is to teach him how to swim. So, the instructor had them jump in the pool. The first time my son was reluctant and he did it half way, the next time he jumped right in. Then, the instructor took them to the deepest end of the pool and asked them to jump in onto a floatation device and then he would hold them as they swam the length of the pool. Oh my, my son was afraid, he began shaking and even started crying. I was up in the stands and I just yelled out its ok, you can do it. The instructor spoke with him and talked to him, he didn't jump in but he did get into the deep end and complete the task. When the lessons were over, I told him, you did a great job this week and next week I am sure you will be ready to jump in the deep end.

Now the conversation could have went differently, I could have yelled, fussed, and even demeaned him about crying like a little baby at swim lessons and told him that he needs to toughen up. However, that would not build him up, that would have only tore him down. Now his ego may have wanted him to prove me wrong nevertheless the words I spoke would have someway crept into his subconscious and replayed themselves at a time where he was experiencing doubt.

So I think about instances where people call themselves using reverse psychology. If you were smart you could do it, you aren't bright enough to figure that out huh, see I knew it, I knew you were a quitter. While in the moment it may cause the person to do the opposite of what we are saying, it can and will become detrimental to them in their adult life.

Imagine if we as parents spoke to our children the way that God spoke to us. That when they had fears or doubts we were in their corner telling them they could do it. If we simply recited scripture to them when they said things like I can't? Yesterday my son told me I can't tie my shoe. I told him can't was worst than any cuss word in our home. I told him that He can do all things through Christ that strengthens him! Then I told him that he is more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. That is a way to build children up.

Am I a perfect parent? Heck no! Will I ever be a perfect parent? Heck no! Am I truly making a conscious effort to build my son up from this day forward? Absolutely!

How does building our children up help them succeed in school? It helps because we give them a can do attitude, a faith attitude, we fill them with a belief that anything is possible. We build them up by supporting their wildest dreams, ideals, and thoughts understanding that God will bless us exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask for or imagine. Just because we have experienced dreams deferred, are full of fear and doubt and not walking by faith we cannot place that burden on our children.

We build them up by always encouraging them to do their best and supporting their best efforts even if there best efforts lands them a C on their report card. The best doesn't always means straight A's, the best means that they can truly say that they tried, put forth their best effort, that they tried and tried and tried again and they never gave up.

There are others ways we can build our children up feel free to comment. The best way to build them up is to only speak the promises of God to them and into their lives. Edify your childern, instruct them morally and spiritually, build them up, uplift them.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,..." I Thessalonians 5:11a

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up." I Corinthians 10:23 (WEB)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

WE ARE FAILING OUR CHILDREN

2011-09-19T13:15:00.005-05:00

Some of you may look at the title and think to yourself, my children are fine. All of my kids graduated high school on time, they are in a college, university, or trade school, they are working, they attend church regularly, and they stay out of trouble. I have not failed my kids!

While this is true this is also very false. I love the old African Proverb it takes a village to raise a child. So, it is not just about your child but about all of the children in our communities. When we lose one young person to violence, when a child decides to drop out of school, we as a community as a whole have failed that child. If we started looking at things that way and taking accountability for one another we will be one step closer to changing our communities, cities, states, and the world.

This morning riding on the train some students that attend Urban Prep High School were near me talking. Their conversation caught my attention because they spoke about

a 16 year old 6th grader

an 18 year old freshman in high school

While it is a good thing that both of these students are still in school and haven't dropped out, they are truly behind their counterparts. At 16 a student should be in their Junior year of high school and at 18 one should be a freshman in college. In no way does this mean to give up hope. These students can both turn out to be highly successful business people, entreprenuers etc. However, this is a prime example of how we are failing our children. We as in parents, schools, teachers, community leaders etc. ALL of us are failing OUR children! There is no reason why these children should be that far behind in school. There comes a point when we must take a stand, send our children to summer school, get them tutors do whatever it takes to ensure they are successful in school. Even going as far as giving them work at home if we feel like their schools are not challenging them enough.

It just so happened today I was doing research on City Year, their website states "A breakthrough comprehensive study from Johns Hopkins University found that students most at risk of dropping out of school can be identified as early as middle school through key indicators - poor attendance, unsatifactory behavior and course failure in math and English. When just one of these off track indicators is exhibited by a student as early as the 6th grade, they have less than a 25% likelihood of graduating from high school." (http://www.cityear.org/whatwedo.aspx )

Less than a 25% chance of graduating if only 1 of the indicators is present. Now you may think that seems a bit much, not considering that 50% of Chicago Public School high school students do not graduate from high school, which happens to be the same as the National average for African American students about 50% do not graduate from high school.

We are failing our students. So now I see you reading this saying what is the solution? The solution is to care, the solution is to raise your own children and instill in them the value of education as well as get them involved in extra curricular activities. Then take it one step further and care about someone elses child and their future. Volunteer, mentor, give back, be it to a mother of a young child, to a mother that feels there is no hope, or to an actual child. There are a wealth of opportunities and organizations that you can give your time in any way to help the mission and vision of the organization. Your child as well can volunteer and give back as people are usually more receptive when receiving help from their peers.

We have to realize, yes we can make a difference. It only takes one person to make a difference. You may feel you don't have anything to give or to offer. Yahweh, God, Allah, Buddah, whomever you call on blessed us all with special gifts that can be used to help someone else achieve their goals. Your blessing is in someone elses hands just like someone is waiting on you for their blessing. The Most High uses people to bless other people, the blessing comes from Him but we are the conduits they are given through.

Simply put, DO SOMETHING! Its not enough to sit around and talk about what's going on, shake your head and say what is the world coming to. For as the saying goes if you are not a part of the problem you are a part of the solution.

Some organizations to consider: City Year, After School Matters, Charm Mentoring and Outreach Services, In2Books, Allstars Project, Dress for Success, Your local library, YMCA, YWCA the list goes on and on and on.

Which side are you on? The problem? The Solution?

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BE IT UNTO YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR BELIEF

2011-09-19T08:43:00.002-05:00

"Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstances" -B B

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." -Frank Lloyd Wright

"If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." -M Gandhi

"You'll see it when you believe it." -Wayne Dyer

"The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it." -G B Shaw

"If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad." -Denis Waitley

On Twitter I follow @DJKUT and he tweeted these quotes this morning and I wanted to share with all of you all.

You are either believing in faith or in fear, whatever you believe it shall be unto you!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

2011-09-19T08:36:00.004-05:00

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

We are one in the spirit. When you speak negatively or badly about another of God's children, you are also speaking badly about yourself and more importantly shedding negatitivy on what it means to be a Christian or child or God.

They will know that we are Christians by our love. We must love all, God, ourselves, and others as ourselves.

"See God in every person, place and thing, and all will be well in your world." ~ Louise Hay

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

RECOGNIZE GOD'S GOODNESS!

2011-09-19T08:09:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Joel Osteen taught about recognizing God's goodness and thanking God in all things. Joel stated to remember that everything good in your life is because of God. However, often times we begin to focus on the bad in our lives let it overshadow the good and forget to thank God for the good things in our lives. Let me clarify there are things in your life that may happen that you would consider bad but are actually God's goodness. Examples, Joseph brothers throwing him in the well, Paul being imprisoned, Daniel being thrown in the lion's den, the 3 Hebrew boys in the fire. See everything in your life that happens isn't solely about you. Scripture said let your light shine so that men may see Christ who dwells in you.

"...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:18. As a Christian we are supposed to give thanks in all things, as a Christian we are supposed to draw men to Christ. If you are a bible toting and reading, church going Christian that gets upset easily and complains often your light is not shining, we won't our lights to shine our sole purpose in life is to praise and worship God, to be so on fire for God that everything around us gets consumed by the fire.

How do we give thanks and recognize God's goodness?

Thank Him

For waking you up this morning

For the new mercy and grace you received today

that you are alive and well

that all your senses are working

that all of your limbs are working

that the blood is flowing through your body to your brain

for the roof over your head

food to eat

clothes on your back

shoes on your feet

for love, peace, and joy

for his blessing and favor

for his hedge of protection

you are breathing on your own

you were able to take a shower this morning

when you pull up somewhere and get a park in the front

that you are employed

that you can feed yourself and eat on your own

There is so much to be thankful for at all times. Imagine if you spent your time thanking God for his goodness constantly and continuously, you would not have time to complain. Even if you cannot thank Him for everything about there is something that you can be thankful for.

So Joel gave a scenario, he spoke about how he and some friends were standing somewhere and they decided to walk off. Moments later a huge branch fell from the tree they'd been standing by. Had they been standing there they could have all been hurt. At that moment Joel recognized God for his goodness and thanked him. Joel said, ok, I can see someone saying Joel I was in an accident this week and my car was totalled. Joel said thank God anyway it could have been worst you could be dead! Even if you ended up in the hospital, you still have your life, even if you ended up without legs, you still have your arms etc.

There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for in ALL situations. You have to choose to recognize God's goodness and thank him.

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

INTENSIFY THE TIME IS NOW!

2011-09-16T13:47:00.004-05:00

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED 2011 - HOUSTON, TX

2011-09-16T09:49:00.004-05:00

WTAL Intro from The Potter's House of Dallas on Vimeo.

YOU ARE YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY

2011-09-15T15:45:00.003-05:00

Sometimes after Pastor Winston, Living Word Christian Center, programs goes off, First Church of God Christian Life Center, with Pastor Monté L. G. Dillard comes on. His message yesterday was that we can be our own worst enemy or we can be our own best friend.

Reference scripture:

Romans 7:14-25 "14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

This one will be short and to the point:

You have enough going on in your own life, your own battles that you shouldn't talk about others

You shouldn't talk about others because you should be focused on getting yourself right

They are who they are, they have their own battles as do you, concentrate on you

As a married man/woman you may be struggling with infidelity and your thoughts, you are in control of them

Your thoughts control your life, not the devil

Satan may plant the seed but you water it and make it grow all on your own through your thoughts

Mind your own business and focus on yourself. Why? because you can barely control yourself, desires, and personal struggles how can you cast judgment on another. We are all different, come from different backgrounds and experiences that have made us who we are today. Just as you can change some of the things about yourself and not hold onto the notion "this is how I am this is how I was born and raised," you don't necessarily do so. You cannot expect to say what someone else needs to change about them and it happen, when you aren't willing to amke changes with yourself. Deal with your own internal demons and grow yourself in faith and in God. That is how you turn from being your worst enemy to your own best friend. Speak well of yourself and think highly of yourself and in that manner your views and thoughts of others will change as well. As for the most part we only see in others what is in ourselves. So if you see negative in someone else, get the negative out of yourself first etc.

That was a great message that was well received by myself because I am growing and developing and making much needed changes. I pray this helped someone else as well.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

THE DEVIL COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOU!

2011-09-15T08:28:00.005-05:00

Yes, you read the title correctly, the devil could care less about you. Many if not most, dare I say the majority of Christians blame the devil, Satan, for EVERYTHING in their lives that goes wrong. Let me be the first to tell you if you haven't heard already that is giving Satan too much control over your life. Not only that if everything in your life that happens is caused by Satan or Yahweh, where do you fit into the equation? If it is either Yahweh or Satan that totally takes away personal responsibility, personal choices, and free will. So first let me say many of the things that are happening in your life were caused by you!

This morning Bill Winston was teaching and he proved how Satan could care less about any of us. Mark 4:15 "15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them." This scripture says that Satan comes and takes the word. Why does Satan come and take the word from you? "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) Satan steals the word because he doesn't want your faith to develop. He doesn't want your faith to develop because he knows that faith wins every time and that he cannot defeat faith!.

So let me encourage you right now, stop fighting the devil and stop thinking that you are in a fight with the devil. "Fight the good fight of the faith." (I Timothy 6:12) Your job is to fight the good fight of faith, and faith comes by hearing the word of God. So it is up to us to hear the word of God and increase in our faith. We should not waver in our faith no matter what happens. For when we lose faith that is when Satan can come in and destroy us. However all he does is plant the seed, through our fear we can water the seed Satan plants and let it grow or with our faith we can uproot the seed and continue to increase in faith.

The main example Pastor Winston used was Jesus and the Disciples in the boat when the storm came, Mark 4:35-51

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”

Mark 4:14 The sower sows the Word

Jesus was the Word clothed in Human flesh

The word when it goes forth does not return void (Isaiah 55:11)

So when Jesus said let us go to the other side, he knew where they were going and that they would make it to the other side for he spoke it

36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

The boat with Jesus and the disciples were not the only boat, there were other boats with them - people were watching

There are people watching you when it comes to your faith and your faith walk!

37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

Temptation comes after you hear the word.

As scripture says Satan comes to pluck the word before it is allowed to take root for when it takes root that means your faith is being strengthened and is growing.

Please note, Jesus was tempted in the desert so we will definitely be tempted as well. Not only that Satan tempted Jesus with the Word!

It may appear that you are drowning, hold steadfast in faith and speak the Word

38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The storm was sent by Satan

The storm wasn't sent to kill them, the storm was sent to take away their faith and it worked (at least on the disciples)

Once your faith is taken away the devil can defeat you, with faith you are unstoppable!!!!

Jesus spoke and rebuked the storm, when you feel like you are being tested, speak the Word of God and the Word only, you must say something aloud

Jesus asked them do you still have no faith? Had they had faith they could have either ignored the storm knowing all was well and that they would make it to the other side because Jesus, the Word said so. Or they could have combined their faith if needed and rebuked the storm!

Now after you hear the word you will be tempted but instead of giving in to temptation you will now fight the good fight of faith. Right? Of course you will. We are in this thing together :-).

I Peter 5:6-11 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Humble yourself - the bible tells us that we should not think more highly of ourselves then we ought, so it may be that someone else got a promotion, someone else got a raise, someone else found a new job, someone else is in a relationship/married/engaged etc. Stay humble in your faith walk and know that your time is coming in due time and your blessing has nothing to do with someone else.

Resist and stand firm - it will look like you are losing the battle, that others are winning it may look like whatever it is you are in faith for is taking too long

Be self controlled and alert - I like the saying where people say they sleep with one eye open lol. Be prepared and be ready at any time aremed with the word!

So what does all of this mean to you, what am I saying? All you need is faith! ! If we had faith in EVERYTHING that the Word of God said, if we had faith in EVERY promise the bible has, if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, if we walked by faith and lived by faith as the Bible instructed us there we be nothing to hard for us. Now that doesn't mean we wouldn't have temptation and obstacles, what it does mean is that we would stand firm in our faith knowing that with God all things are possible and that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. If we had total and complete faith we would truly be the imitators of Christ as scripture instructs us to be.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

SAVE MONEY WHILE SPENDING

2011-09-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

Yes, you read the title correctly you can save money while spending money. You can even pay down your student loans while spending money. I know, I know the concept seems crazy but it is very real and absolutely doable. Not only that you can save at a rate of 1.01% yearly interest rate as opposed to .01% many banks give.

If you love shopping online this is definitely for you. Many stores like Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret, Sears, Kmart, and the list goes on and on participate in the program. These stores you a percentage back from every online purchase you make. Not only that, there are restaurants in your city that participate and every time you dine you receive a percentage of your bill. The same goes for Mobil gas stations, you receive .01/gallon of gas that you put in your gas tank. While they may not seem like a lot pennies turn into dollars and it’s a penny you would not have save otherwise.

How is all of this possible? Through www.upromise.com with Upromise you register your credit/debit cards and grocery cards. Once your account is set up you can link it to Sallie Mae and either pay down student loans or save money in a Sallie Mae savings or money market account that yields 1.01% interest yearly.

So yes, you can save money and use it for yourself, for your child’s future college expenses, and/or pay down your student loans while filling up your gas tank, shopping online, dining out, and buying groceries.

Just in living your everyday life you can be a passive saver. Now that sounds like a great deal to me. I have been a proud member of Upromise since 2005. Check it out and sign up today www.upromise.com

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

LET'S TALK ABOUT: SEX & OUR CHILDREN

2011-09-13T08:30:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, riding home on the train I read an article in Essence 'Our Teens Secret Sex Lives'. The article was astonishing for me because I couldn't believe the things I was reading that children are doing in middle school.

I'm not sure how many of you had the "sex talk" with your parents, but I know for many it probably went something like this: don't bring home no babies, don't get no girl pregnant because I'm not taking care of any babies. Now I can say that my mom told me that her grandmother told her that what she had between her legs was a gold mine. I got it, women have something that is special and precious, I completely understood that. However, after reading the Essence article most parents, the majority of parents if I dare say don't do enough of the right talking with their children. Here is what teens had to say and some statistics.

"When my mother talks to me about sex, I don't really pay attention. It's awkward."

"According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 1 in 2 AA girls will become pregnant before 20, nearly twice the national average."

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports among 13 to 24 year olds, AA account for 55% of new HIV cases, while nearly half of all Black girls between 14 and 19 are affected with at least one STI, such as chlamydia, herpes, or HPV."

"I wish instead of telling me not to have sex my mother would tell me exactly how to say no."

"A guy will want to be with a girl, so he'll have his friends go up to her and just insult her, insult her, insult her, telling her she's ugly, her breasts are lopsided, she has stretch marks, nappy hair, she's fat, whatever you can think of, then when she's feeling really weak and insecur, the guy will come up behind her and tell her, 'I think you're beautiful.' Suddenly, he looks like Prince Charming.

"Children are dealing with an enormous pressure to engage in sexual activity, no matter the age, color, creed, education or income level of the parents."

"More than 40% of teens surveyed said theyhave gone online to view pornography; 42% say they've been shown pornography by a friend."

"They are treating porn as instructional vidos for how to have sex."

"We have to talk to them about infatuation and love."

"My cousin who's 15 said I should get as much oral sex as I can." (teen boy 13!)

"After a girl gives you a blow job you have to act like you are unhappy. That way she will come back and try to make it better."

"I was on FaceBook and a guy posted that he wasn't ready for sex yet. All his friends called him gay."

"We need to provide other examples of manhood so boys can try to prove themselves in ways other than acting out sexually."

"Teach sons qualities like self-discipline, loyalty and integrity - give them opportunities to develop those traits."

"Girls need to have respect and self esteem."

"If you want your girls not to have sex, put them in sports. Those girls are focused." (teen boy 13!)

WOW! Those are just a few quotes from the 4 1/2 page article in Essence. As a mother of a 6 year old, it let me know I need to talk to my son about sex and yes when need to start at an early age like 3. We also have to be mindful of sexual predators not that you want your child to be molested but once they are old enough to talk and understand they need to know the correct terms for their private areas (vagina, penis, anus) and they need to know those areas are private and off limits and realistically we need to tell the the same thing about their mouths! This is something that I talk to my son about often.

Young girls are performing oral sex on boys as early as 10 maybe earlier and they must understand that they can catch diseases in their throats. More importantly the need to understand that they are too young to engage in any type of sexual activity and to respect and love themselves and their bodies.

It is not enough as parents and Christians to tell our children to wait until they are married. Truth be told that concept didn't work on the majority of us. Not saying that it is impossible to teach your child to stay a virgin until marriage and that goes for boys and girls but the dialogue needs to go further if this will be achieved.

Like the article mentioned teach young boys self-discipline, loyalty, and integrity, teach them to respect themselves. We need to teach our sons that their bodies are precious and not every woman they see is deserving of their precious gift as well. We also need to teach our sons to use their brains and think and not let the impulses of the body take control. As well as keep them busy.

We need to talk to our children about the tingly feeling they get or the butterflies they feel when they see someone of the opposite sex that they are attracted to. We have to be realistic as parents and realize that our children can be thinking about sex at the early age of 9/10.

For me this is unbelievable I think I kissed a boy at 9 but sex was the farthest thing from my mind. Times have changed completely, the Internet, TV, videos, and songs there are a lot of outside influences on our children. Peer pressure is real, heck many adults still succumb to peer pressure.

As parents we need to get real and we need to get transparent. Be honest with your child about the age that you had sex, let them know if you regretted what you did and why. Talk about feelings, emotions, heart ache, and pain that is associated with sex. Go further then the don't get pregnant or when you feel you are ready I will take you to get birth control and make sure you use condoms speech.

When you introduce the topic of sex to your sons and daughters let them know they are precious, they are valuable, they should respect their bodies and demand that other respect them as well. If they feel they are been violated in anyway they need to feel comfortable speaking to you and letting you know.

Fathers, teach your daughters the game teach them all the things boys say to trick them into having sex and let them know that most boys are only out for one thing and then they are gone and off to conquer the next woman. Teach your sons not to be out like dogs chasing cats but to find respectable girls to date and be with. To respect and love the girls they date like their own mothers and sisters. Also teach them to stand up for and protect other girls/women. More importantly be an EXAMPLE of this behavior.

Mothers, you too can teach your daughters the game and all the things that boys will say to try and get into their pants. Teach them that kissing and petting leads to other things. To never be alone in a room with a boy. To absolutely not perform any sexual acts in front of others to have respect for themselves even if no one else does. Let your daughters know from the moment they are born, they are beautiful, precious gifts that should be treasured and not everyone is worthy to unwrap them. Fathers be an example to your daughters, treat their mothers with respect, treat them with respect show them what it means to be loved by a man.

Most importantly get your children involved in activities, sports, community work, volunteering, keep them as busy as possible. It won't keep them from having sex completely but it will help. Spend time with your children, pour into them what you want to come out, be open and approachable for all issues that they have so that they comfortable and are willing to speak to you.

Create an opportunity for open dialogue and keep it real!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

RAISE YOUR SONS!

2011-09-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

Raise Your Sons!

This is to all my mother’s. Someone whom I follow on Twitter post a tweet this morning “I just witnessed a mother arguing with her 19 year old son about washing his clothes that has been stinking in her house over a month! WOW”

Mother’s if you don’t want this to be you, RAISE YOUR SONS!!!!!!

What do I mean by that?

Sure in the traditional sense men and women marry and the woman cooks, cleans, washes clothes takes care of the home. However it is 2011 and in many marriages both the men and women work. Now in some homes the husband is the bread winner and the wife loving accepts her household duties. There are other households where the husbands shares in the work. Now for myself, the way that I grew up my mother tended to the things in the home and my father took care of the things outside of the home, mowing the lawn, cleaning the gutters, washing cars, bar b qing etc. However……my father also knew how to wake up and make his own breakfast. Now when it came to dinner food he was a bit limited but he wasn’t going to starve waiting on my mother to cook. Please don’t misunderstand my mother cooked and cleaned, she also worked a full-time job and was at some point in school so there weren’t things she was able to do on a daily basis but every Sunday guaranteed we had a home cooked meal. My father is an example of a man whose mother raised and did not spoil him.

Then I have an aunt and uncle. Now for a long time I thought my aunt was cooking everyday. Come to find out in the later years of the marriage because my uncle made it home at 2P he would cook dinner and have it ready for when my aunt came home. Now my aunt fixes their plates, clears the tables and washes dishes traditional things but she isn’t married to a man that is helpless because his mother decided not to raise him as a man.

What a lot of women do and there was an article in Jet Magazine about this when I was in grammar school the title was something to the effect Black Women Raise their Daughters and Spoil their sons. Many black women and maybe whites and other races I am not at liberty to speak on that. Raise their daughters and spoil their sons. They treat their sons somehow like they are princess/kings and even sometimes like a husband.

What many mothers fail to realize is most women don’t want to date nor marry a man that is unable to do anything for hisself. The days are long gone where children leave the home and are immediately married. You may be training your daughter to take care of herself and her family but your son needs the same training. I consider knowing how to boil water, cook, and clean necessities needed to survive in life just like reading, writing, and arithmetic!

Our goals as parents should be to prepare our children for life. Your son may not get married until he is in his 30s. That is my hope for my own son. I would prefer him to get an education, start his own business, establish himself, then date, marry and have children in that order! So that means he will have a period of time where he will be living alone and forced to do his own laundry, cooking and cleaning. If he doesn’t learn how to do so in my home I will be doing him an extreme disservice. Now if he is fortunate enough to have the ability to afford a maid/butler great but I will be at ease because I know that he has the proper tools needed to take care of himself.

There is absolutely no reason why the mother of a 19 year old should be arguing with him about washing his stanking clothes and the mother has to take some of the responsibility as to why her son hasn’t washed his clothes. For me it’s either one of two things the mother didn’t raise him to do these things and waited until he was too old to introduce the need to do for oneself or the child is suffering from depression. Who in their right mind would want to smell, stinking clothes themselves? Now the other thing is that the 19 year old knows his mother breaking point, the point where she will give in and do for him and he has the stamina to out wait her!

Whatever the case may be if you are the mother of a son or are planning to have children, RAISE YOUR SON. Men need to know how to cook, clean, separate laundry, wash clothes just as much as women do. Introduce responsibility to your children early. If they are old enough to mess up they are old enough to clean up. Even if you don’t make your children do certain things all the time, they should have the ability to do them. It is my personal belief that all school age children should know how to clean their own rooms and that should solely be their responsibility. You may still have to sweep and mop for some until they are old enough to truly do those things properly.

I laugh reading this as I wrote this last week and this past weekend my son over flowed the toilet as he stuffed it with tissue wiping his butt and still had poo in his underwear. I knew he did because he changed his shorts. I explained to him if you have poo in your underwear and you do not wash your butt you will have poo in your shorts. I told him if you know there is poo in your underwear, wash your underwear, wash your butt and wash your hands when you are done. Take responsibility. Mothers of sons who still find tire tracks in their child undies please keep me in your prayers.

Mother’s I encourage you to RAISE YOUR SONS! Think of all the qualities you love about men and the ones that you hate and make sure you aren’t raising a child that you wouldn’t even want to date or marry.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

CONCENTRATE ON YOU!

2011-09-12T08:35:00.001-05:00

Every morning I read The Daily Love, this quote caught my eye, well most of the quotes catch my eye but this particular one I chose to share on today.

"Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

Make all your friends feel there is something special in them.

Look at the sunny side of everything.

Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.

Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

Give everyone a smile.

Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.

Be too big for worry and too noble for anger."
- Christian D. Larsen

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

25 SAVVY STARTUPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

2011-09-09T11:44:00.001-05:00

Now is the time to start a business. Launching a business in college (See 5 reasons why you should here) — or collaborating on one — sets you up for a bright and successful future. I’ve come up with 25 ideas college students can start for $200 or less. Believe it! You can use one (or more) of these suggestions or come up with your own. Some of these startup ideas may work better than others, or, depending on where you go to college, may not work at all, but it's up to you so choose wisely and adjust quickly if the business you start isn’t advancing. So, college CEO, before you head back to school for the semester pick your money-making match.—Felicia Joy (Black Enterprise Website)

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

YOU ARE YOUR 1ST PRIORITY

2011-09-09T09:39:00.001-05:00

As soon as I began to write this I think of the recent cover of Essence Magazine with Michelle Obama and her article speaks about the importance of putting herself 1st. I haven’t read the article but the title is self explanatory. I also remember reading a magazine a feature article on Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Will had expressed to Jada early on in their relationship that he put himself 1st. Initially, it was a concept that Jada didn’t understand, she felt that the family should be first.

Years ago, I watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show where she had mothers who felt unfulfilled and unhappy. The main cause, they were putting family and every other thing in their lives 1st because they felt that is what they were supposed to do.

Now yes the good book teaches us that it is better to give than to receive; the key however is that you have to have something to give! For instance it is difficult to sow into someone spiritually if you are not being spiritually fed yourself. It is difficult to share faith with someone if you are not working on first increasing your own faith. Does that make sense? In laymen terms, you cannot give what you do not have.

Think about when you are on an airplane and the stewardess begins to give you safety tip. They tell you if the air pressure in the cabin gets too low, oxygen masks will drop down. They go on to tell you to put your oxygen masks on 1st and then help your small children or anyone else whom may be with you that needs assistance. Why is that? With your oxygen mask on you will be able to breathe freely which gives you a clear head and the ability to calmly and quickly secure the mask around your child etc. It is a great lesson in being your own 1st priority before helping someone else.

Now please don’t read this and take it the wrong way or to the extreme. What do I mean by that? Say your refrigerator is full, all your bills are paid, and you have savings in the bank that you are saving for something special. Someone comes along and is in serious need, now you have the means to help them but you choose to focus on yourself and what you need and completely ignore their need. That is absolutely not what I am suggesting with this post.

What I am suggesting is that you take time for yourself. Take time and exercise, eat right, read a book, write something that you’ve wanted to write. Do something that is for you and you alone everyday. Even if it is just sitting for 15 minutes in solitude. Do something that you want to do that creates a sense of calm, peace, joy in your life without any distractions.

I think it is easier for many of us to be all things to all people than to be all things to ourselves. I can see some of you reading and thinking to yourselves I don’t understand. You have children, they play sports, you volunteer, you work a full-time job, you have to cook, clean, and wash clothes, church commitments and so on, your laundry list of things to do daily doesn’t allow you the time to squeeze yourself in.

If that happens to be you, you may suffer from busyness. There is a great difference in being busy and being productive. Having a daily laundry list and completing many tasks everyday doesn’t mean that you are being productive while it may be very efficient for your life. Learn to delegate tasks and prioritize better. If you don’t have time for yourself in your life you definitely need to prioritize some things. Why? Because at some point you will experience burn out. Even Jesus took time for himself. There was the example where he went alone to pray and asked the disciples to stay awake and watch. He spent 40 days in the desert well the devil was their tempting him nevertheless he was alone. He chose not take the boat once and walk to the other side and meet the disciples there. He even was asleep on the boat when the storm came in which the disciples were upset that Jesus was sleep because they thought they would die.

What’s my point if Jesus who healed the sick, restored the lost, and died for all of our sins was able to take time for himself. Surely you can even though he told us we would do greater works than him. The bible also tells us to love God, ourselves, than others. After God comes you, not your children, not your husband, not your hobbies, associations, committees etc.

YOU should be your biggest priority. You also may want to examine if you are spreading yourself to thin and eliminate some of the things you are doing. You may just be busy to avoid examining your life and making necessary changes.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

TOP OF THE CLASS BUT MUST SHARE HER HONOR

2011-09-09T09:15:00.002-05:00

Kymberly Wimberly is suing her former Arkansas high school for allegedly forcing her to share valedictorian honors with a White student who had a lower GPA. (Essence Magazine, October 2011)

Earlier this month, we delivered more than 130,000 petition signatures -- the product of tremendous activism on the part of the ColorOfChange.org and Change.org communities -- to local school officials in support of recent high school graduate Kymberly Wimberly.

ColorOfChange.org has followed up with hundreds of phone calls to the superintendent and school board members in McGehee, Arkansas. That's where Wimberly, a young Black mother, was forced to share a "co-valedictorian" designation with a lower achieving White student. This after the high school guidance counselor assured the Wimberly family that Kymberly was the top-ranked senior, and a staffer worried aloud that having her in that role would cause "a big mess."

Despite all the petition signatures and calls, district officials are continuing to pretend as if they've done nothing wrong. So more than 100 ColorOfChange.org members have now called state-level leaders. The commissioner of Arkansas' education department and members of the state board are staying tight-lipped as well, refusing to make statements in support of Kymberly.

What Arkansas school officials fail to realize is that by staying silent, they're saying plenty about their beliefs on the topic of Black student achievement. The situation in McGehee has never been solely about Kymberly. The equal protection lawsuit she has brought against the district alleges that administrators and teachers there routinely discourage Black students -- nearly half the high school student body -- from taking honors and AP classes.

As much as the events in McGehee sound like an aberration, they're not. This spring, a district in Malverne, Long Island, mistakenly named a white student valedictorian. Once the error had been exposed, school officials attempted to name her co-valedictorian with the higher achieving Black student. The community pressed for the district to fully fix the error, and the school board eventually voted to name the black student, Aalique Grahame, the sole valedictorian.

In Sumter County, Georgia, the Black community began organizing around a similar issue in 2009, when a high-achieving Black student at Americus-Sumter High School didn't make the cut for valedictorian. Suspecting that some teachers were giving Black students lower grades to ensure that they stayed out of the top slot, the local NAACP petitioned school officials to explain why only one Black student had been acknowledged with the honor in the previous eight years, and why high-achieving, ostensibly eligible Black students were not being permitted to apply for a federally-funded scholarship administered by the school.

Ignored by local officials, the Sumter County Branch of the NAACP eventually took its complaint to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR investigated whether the district was discriminating against Black students, but before it could issue a recommendation, the district asked to resolve the complaint. Superintendent Roy Brooks signed a resolution agreement in April, agreeing to revise and clarify district policies around valedictorian selection, train all staff who advise students about the valedictorian process, notify parents and students of the criteria for achieving the honor and to provide other information on a timeline established by the OCR, which will continue to monitor the district. It's a process that's just beginning, but it appears that the federal government -- after being called upon by local activists -- is pushing a major culture shift in this Georgia school district.

In McGehee, where ColorOfChange.org members' attention has been focused, the district is expected to respond to the Wimberly family's lawsuit within the next several weeks. But in the meantime, officials there would do well to pay attention to what happened in Georgia. Ignoring a groundswell of activism is what school leaders did in Sumter County, too, and it didn't serve them well. If the activism of more than 130,000 people around the country can't set things right in McGehee, perhaps the U.S. Department of Education will have to. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rashad-robinson/will-arkansas-officials-s_b_941218.html)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

YOUNG, BLACK, AND AMAZING

2011-09-09T09:06:00.004-05:00

This was written by Constance C.R. White, Editor in Chief, Essence Magazine and can be found in the October issue. I wanted to share,

For all of my sisters in their 20s/30s:

Ask yourself, What do I want to be doing at 40?

Make a plan and work it. You can tweak it along the way.

Reach out. You don't have to do it alone. We're here for you.

Save a little bit every week, even a single dollar.

Don't accept negative things others say about you. If they have an observation, tell them to make it constructive.

You are responsible for your actions.

Video dancer is not a profession.

Be aware of the ways pop culture may try to diminish you. Reject them.

Be patient with people's shortcomings but not their bad behavior.

Know that you can love someone and still walk away.

Any job is better than no job. It's not forever. It's merely a stepping-stone.

Any man is not better than no man.

Men think about sex a lot. What's on your mind?

Whatever you dream, there's a Black woman who has already done it.

You can do it, too?

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

SOWING & REAPING

2011-09-08T08:24:00.003-05:00

This morning I was praying in the shower and confessing the Word of God over my life, my son, my family and this blog post came into my head.

Sowing and reaping is not simply and only about money it is about every aspect or facet of life.

So first let me share Galatians 6:7 with you in various translations:

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (NIV)

Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. (NLT)

Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked [a]by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and [b]that only is what he will reap. (AMP)

What does this mean? This means be mindful at all times what you give out because that is what you will get back. Let me delve a little further into this. There are many people that are why me type of people? Why is this or that happening to me, the first thing is crap happens. "Good and bad" happens to the righteous and the unrighteous. So instead of having a pity party and asking a million and one questions, have a praise party and confess the Word of God. Also think about the things that you have done, said and you may have a better answer to your why me questions.

Ok, now back to sowing and reaping, if you sow love you are going to reap love, if you sow peace you are going to reap peace, if you sow joy you are going to reap joy, if you sow kindness you are going to reap kindness, if you sow mercy you will reap mercy, if you sow understanding you will reap understanding. Ok I think you get where I am going with this.

Now when you sow if you are sowing into a person, situation, or circumstance you may not reap from the place that you sowed but you will definitely reap.

Sowing is a law just like gravity is a law, it works no matter what you do.

So I ask you what are you sowing? The bible teaches us to love our enemies and pray for them, it teaches us that it is not enough to love those who love us but to love our enemies. Why because in loving our enemies we can begin to develop the God type of love that agape love. Also because it is easy to love those that are nice to you and that you love.

Pastor Winston yesterday was speaking on reaping and sowing, when you slap someone expect to be slapped back, when you cuss someone expect to be cussed back. Again the person you are doing this to may or may not be the one to do it back to you. It could be 15 years from now and yes, you repented for your sin and God forgot it but when you sow, you release energy. For those who don't know energy cannot be created or destroyed, energy simply continues to move and transfers. So whatever you did even though you repented for it energy was released into the atmosphere that will come back to you in some way, shape, or form. Again sowing and reaping is a LAW.

In a nutshell what am I saying, I am saying be mindful of the words you speak over other people, what you say to them, how you say it, and what you say about them. Why? because you reap what you sow. The golden rule is to do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Imagine if everyone treated others the way they truly wanted to be treated, we would all be reaping harvests of abundant love, joy, peace, happiness etc.

The good thing is change begins with one person, so it can start with us right now. We can make a conscious effort to be mindful of what we sow because whatever seeds we plant will grow as a harvest in our lives.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

GRADUATE SCHOOL FAIR

2011-09-08T08:22:00.001-05:00

The World's Best Masters and PhD Fair

Chicago Wednesday, September 14th 4-8P Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza

Free entry if you register on-line at www.topgradschool.com

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

5TH ANNUAL BIG SHOULDERS FUND BALL

2011-09-08T08:16:00.002-05:00

The 5th Annual Big Shoulders Fund Ball

hosted by The Auxiliary Board

Why: To celebrate the new school year with a great evening of music, dancing, delicious food & drinks, amazing auction and more.

When: Friday, September 30th, 2011 VIP Reception 6:30-7:30P Event 7:30P-11:00P

Where: River East Art Center 435 E. Illinois Street, Chicago

Attire: Cocktail

Proceeds: 100% of funds raised go toward the Big Shoulder Funds Auxiliary Board Scholarship Fund which provides financial aid to some of the nearly 24,000 inner-city children served.

Tickets: $100 event ticket, $150 VIP, $125 day event

For more information visit www.bigshouldersfund.org or contact 312-751-8337 or adrozda@bigshouldersfund.org

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

International Faith Conference

2011-09-07T11:07:00.002-05:00

International Faith Conference

Living Word Christian Center and Bill Winston Ministries presents International Faith Conference.

Beginning Sunday, September 11th at 5:00P (Corporate Prayer) and 6:00P (service)
Monday September 12th - Friday, September 16th 6:00P (Corporate Prayer) and 7:00P (service)

For more information visit: http://www.2011ifc.com/

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

WATERFALLS - TLC

2011-09-07T10:27:00.001-05:00

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

2011-09-06T09:01:00.004-05:00

As soon as I type the title of this blog, the line 'beauty is only skin deep' popped into my head. This is so true their are plenty of what is considered gorgeous women in the world that are ugly on the inside eg their personalities, actions, and attitudes are just plain for the most part UGLY!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. More importantly we are spiritual beings having a natural experience. Therefore if you work on yourself from the inside out, you shall radiate the light of God within you and whomever looks at you will see your beauty just as God sees it.

I see so many women of all ethnic backgrounds buying into the belief that the way they were created isn't good enough. I attended a seminar where the speaker asked all of the participants to write down 3 things they would change about themselves. She began to read what had been written, people spoke of wanting a bigger butt, breasts, to be thinner, nose jobs etc. The speaker let us know that she struggled with things she wanted to change about herself but at the same time she realized God created her and all of us just the way he wanted to.

God didn't make any mistakes when he created you and to want to change anything about yourself is like telling God he doesn't know what he is doing!

Now don't get me wrong, I wear make-up and fake eyelashes (very rarely), I wear false nails, I have even put pieces in my hair although my hair is down my back. So there are things that I have done that altered the way I look outside of how God made me. At the same time I realize I only make temporary changes that don't alter anything permanently. I also do those things when I am "dressing up" and going out and I just want to go full force with the glam. However, I recognize none of those things make me beautiful, they only enhance my beauty.

That is what young girls and women need to understand you are beautiful and there are things that can enhance your beauty but not make you beautiful. Eventually outer beauty begins to fade I don't care who you are you will get older and begin to lose your youthful appearance so why focus so much on something that will change?

I think of someone like Heidi Montage who has had over 10 plastic surgeries and she's only in her early 20s. Some people become addicted to plastic surgery and I would call her an addict. The thing is after each surgery she still found something that was wrong with her and decided to have yet another surgery. What she doesn't realize is that she is searching for something outwardly that can only be found inwardly.

If you don't love yourself, how you are just as you are right now, you will have a hard time loving yourself once you make changes. Now don't get me wrong if you are overweight and want to lose weight for health reasons and just so you feel better about yourself I say go for it. However, it doesn't matter how much weight you lose if you don't love you and have a positive self image you will constantly find something that is wrong with you.

I think about Janet Jackson and how she is in her 40s and is only now starting to learn to love herself. She mentioned how as Penny on the TV sitcom Good Times, she was already developing breasts so they would strap her chest down. In her mind she felt that she wasn't good enough as she was. That image continued to stay engraved in her mind and more importantly subconscious up until this day. So while she had her breasts done and a nose job, she still didn't feel beautiful and is now learning to love herself more day by day but still struggles with negative self image.

THERE IS NOTHING ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOU THAT YOU CAN CHANGE TO MAKE YOU FEEL MORE BEAUTIFUL, YOU HAVE TO FEEL IT AND BE IT ON THE INSIDE.

Once you feel it inwardly and believe it you will radiate and energy and a glow that will give people no choice but to recognize your beauty.

Yes I know we live in a society where its all about big butts, small waists, and a nice breast size. We are bombarded by these images in videos, magazines, TV etc. A lot of girls and women feed into and buy into these images. That is why it is important to instill into our children at an early age that they are beautiful. There are even people in the African American community putting weaves in young girls heads as little as 5.

That act is placing the notion in a young girls head that you have to have long straight hair to be beautiful and that is a sad situation. I admire women with large natural Afros, those with short hair dos like fades, those with short dos as well as long dos, there is beauty in differences. If we all looked alike the world would be a boring place.

In no way am I saying if you get plastic surgery, wear weave, make-up etc. that you don't love yourself. I will say that you need to check your motives when you decide to do any of these things. Make sure you love yourself the way that you are and you are only choosing to alter because it is something you need to do not something you want to do based on societal "norms". I would encourage someone not to get plastic surgery unless it is for health reasons but I am not here to put my own personal beliefs on you.

What I will encourage those reading this to do is focus on their inner man, their spirit. Build your spirit up in goodness, love, joy, peace, faith, kindness be filled with the fruit of the spirit, sow the fruit of the spirit in others and I guarantee you that your beauty will shine brightly.

Some biblical scriptures to meditate on....

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is too be praised." Proverbs 31:30 (read the entire Proverbs 31)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

THEIR SUCCESS IS NOT YOUR FAILURE

2011-09-06T08:26:00.003-05:00

This weekend I finally watched the movie Jumping The Broom. What was interesting to me was that I had already considered writing a blog about someone else's success having nothing to do with your failure. The movie provided a couple of perfect examples of that. Sadly, I think more so in the African American community people down one another that are doing well instead of celebrating them. On top of that instead of using someone else's success as motivation and asking them to mentor or give advice on how they did it most people point fingers, snicker under their breath, and become jealous.

I don't remember any of the characters names in the movie but I do know their real names. So Laz Alonzo comes from what would be considered humble beginnings and his mother is played by Loretta Devine. Paula Patton comes from a wealthy family and her mother is played by Angela Bassett. Before even meeting Paula and her family, Loretta Devine has already written them off as goody two shoes uppity black folk that think they are better than everyone else. She even goes so far as to let them know at the rehearsal dinner that they are black.

I always wonder, what is black? Meaning many people have their own perception of what it means to be black and they don't all agree. Some people feel if you use proper English you are speaking white. If you dress a certain way etc you are trying to be white. Do does that mean being black means using slang/ebonics?

Then I think about schools, how children that receive good grades are sometimes ridiculed for their achievements. They hear things like she/he isn't all of that because they get good grades. Well of course they aren't they are just as human as the children who don't receive good grades. Chances are those who do receive good grades aren't walking around with their noses up in the air pretending to be better. They are simply automatically being labeled and judged based on their achievements and the others lack of.

THEIR SUCCESS IS NOT YOUR FAILURE.

In the movie DeRay Davis was Laz Alonzo's cousin and they had been best friends. Laz Alonzo completed school and ended up with a great job and he was successful. He had a party to celebrate his success and everyone showed up but DeRay. Laz explained to DeRay that he didn't change, DeRay did. DeRay was the one who didn't show up for the party and became distant. Laz let DeRay know that his money didn't change him, it changed DeRay, Laz was the same person. In essence

Laz SUCCESS WAS NOT DeRay's FAILURE.

It is time for us as a community to learn to celebrate one another and strive for our own successes, victories, and accomplishments. Especially if you are in the body of believers. If you are in Christ you were blessed before the foundations of the earth were made. If you look at someone else's success and feel jealousy and envy you really need to examine yourself and your motives. As long as you have breath in your body you have an opportunity to make changes in your life.

Use other's success as inspiration to create your own success story.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

GET UNCOMFORTABLE

2011-09-02T08:27:00.005-05:00

Discomfort leads to comfort! Happiness comes out of being uncomfortable. In comfort one finds complacency. It is only when we become uncomfortable that we are able to change, grow and develop into who and what we are supposed to and or want to be.

I am now reading Tim Ferriss' The Four Hour Workweek and that sparked this blog post today. I am right now doing the first comfort challenge in the book. Tim says something that makes perfect sense, the most important actions are never comfortable.

Let's see how can I put this. For the person who is slight overweight or considered obese the thought and action of changing one's diet and exercising is uncomfortable. Its uncomfortable because watching one's diet and exercising seem to be difficult for those who don't do it on a regular basis. However, the end result is a slimmer and more importantly healthier being that will emerge from proper diet and exercise. Instead of doing those simple things that will cause temporary discomfort but lead to possibly eternal comfort many choose to stay in their current state. Why? Because the action required to produce the results requires work one is not used to doing.

My advice, GET UNCOMFORTABLE!

There are many people working jobs that they absolutely hate. They have thoughts and ideals of what they would like to be it looking for another job or starting their own business. Yet, they come up with tons of excuses as to why they can't accomplish their goals. While they hate their current situation, they have found a level of comfort in it and simply put would rather stay comfortable in hell than become slightly uncomfortable to experience shall I call it heaven. How so do you ask? They come up with excuses like.....

I don't have time to look for a job because of the time restraints on my current job. I can't interview for a new position because of the time restraints on my current job.

I just can't quit to follow my passions I will I eat and survive.

I can't work on my business plan I'm tired from my job and don't have the time or energy to do anything on the weekends and when I do I like to watch TV, movies, read etc.

Well, here is a newsflash if you never find the time and get a little uncomfortable you will be stuck in a miserable state of comfort.

So my advice....GET UNCOMFORTABLE and more importantly STOP COMPLAINING.

Complaining leads to nothing, instead of complaining, take action and develop a plan with specific accomplish dates and then put your energy and time into finishing what you have set out to accomplish.

I was watching Bill Winston one morning and he mentioned that your wealth is tied to the amount of television you watch. It was a thought provoking statement especially to me as I have watched a great deal of TV since I was a child. So I began to think to myself, I am watching people on TV shows and in movies that followed their passions, are living their dreams and have their dream careers/jobs and many are rich, well-off, wealthy, some are even in the elite class. So instead of me watching them on TV maybe I should be doing something to achieve my own goals. Now have I completely stopped watching TV of course not however I have changed what I watch on TV. I now look at MSNBC, CSPAN, BTV, and the History Channel. I figure if I am going to watch TV I need to learn something. Now from time to time I will watch a TV show but for the most part I don't.

Also consider how many hours you spend watching TV, reading magazines, and pure fiction books. Add that time up and that is the time that you have to do the uncomfortable things necessary so that you can live in the ultimate level of comfort.

So again, what's my advice?

GET UNCOMFORTABLE!

Take time to examine in what areas of your life you can become uncomfortable. Figure out what you can absolutely live without that will allow you to go where you need to go.

GET UNCOMFORTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

SHERO SUMMIT 2011

2011-09-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

The mission of Shero, Incorporated is to empower girls of various backgrounds through cutting-edge & thought-provoking programming within the greater Chicago area.

Our goal is to inspire girls by nurturing a sense of power and strength within to attain her biggest dreams. We want each girl to honor the hero within!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

MANIFESTING ABUNDANCE

2011-08-31T12:18:00.002-05:00

There are a lot of things that I listen to and/or read that are thought provoking daily. This morning was not any different, thanks again to Bill Winston. Almost every morning I make it a habit to watch him on Channel 62 at 6:30A, right now the focus is on Manifesting Abundance.

I wanted to share scriptures and a comment he made that had me thinking I really need to change my thoughts!

The majority of us believe that we work for a living, that we cannot do things and cannot have things unless we wait on our paycheck and save money to get them. Now in the natural sense, this is partly true. Nevertheless in the Kingdom of God this is absolutely false. Of course I know that scripture says if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat. The thing is though our jobs should be our assignments. We should choose a job not based on what it pays but based on the will of God and how we can be effective in his Kingdom. To quote Bill Winston, he said "Your prosperity is not attached to your paycheck. Your job is not your provision."

I liked something else Bill Winston said yesterday, your job/paycheck does not supply your needs. Scripture says that God supplies all of your needs. The main issue is so many of us are focused on our jobs, thinking about ourselves and worried about how we will make ends meet instead of seeking first God and His Kingdom so that ALL things can be added onto us.

Galatians 4:1 "What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate." (You are a child of God and you are joint heirs with Christ as well as Abraham's seed!)

Galatians 3:29 "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Romans 4:13 "It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith"

Abraham as it states in Romans 4:13 is heir to the world. We are Abraham's seed so we are his heirs therefore the world belongs to us. "Why would you have to work to get something that you already own?" Bill Winston

It is time for us to stand on the promises of God, to choose jobs based on the Will of God and trust that whether we are making $30,000 or $100,000 per year from a paycheck that ALL of our needs will be met and in style. For all things are possible to him that believes and all things are possible with God.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BANK OF AMERICA - STUDENT LEADERS PROGRAM

2011-08-30T10:50:00.001-05:00

Student Leaders®

Some programs require books. This one requires heart. Recognized for their commitment to making a difference in their communities, Student Leaders will have an opportunity to develop leadership skills to help them turn their community passion into action. The program features:
Five young adults in each of the 45 markets (US: high school juniors and seniors, UK: secondary students in sixth form college or college of further education)
A week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC (July) to gain valuable civic, social and business leadership skills
Exciting 8-week paid internship program at a local nonprofit/charitable organization

2012 application period beginning October 1, 2011 through January 16, 2012 (8:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

Apply to be a student leader today http://www.cybergrants.com/boa/slselection/

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

YOU ATTRACT WHAT YOU ARE

2011-08-30T10:12:00.003-05:00

Now as the saying goes, opposites attract. Yes we learn this from batteries the negative charge always goes with the positive charge in order for batteries to work. However in real life, we usually attract and draw to ourselves what and who we are in some way shape or form.

I began to think about this when I started examining the type of guys that I date. I either find myself dating someone that is emotionally aloof and somewhat unavailable or someone who is too needy emotionally for me. So I was doing some soul searching a few weeks ago and I had an aha moment. In some ways I am emotionally standoffish and unavailable and therefore that is what I have been attracting to me. People come into our lives in an attempt to help ourselves develop and grow and also to help them as well. There is a lesson that can be learned from everyone we meet or encounter, no matter how nice or mean or even evil we thought they were.

I've been seeing that in many books and just different quotes that I read. So every morning I read The Daily Love and today it was about a woman that wrote in how she always attracts men that are more into themselves than into love. The first thing I thought was she is attracting something that is within side of her. And sure enough that was a part of the advice she received. "Now, on to the business of why you are attracting these types of guys. Chances are they are a reflection of you. They are showing you a part of your own psyche that has not fully integrated the humility of walking on The Path." Mastin Kipp

When people come into our lives we have to resist the urge to judge them. Mastin puts it well here "Also, when we resist and judge others, we are actually judging what we have been sent to heal. So the other question I would ask is, How can I be the presence of Love in this situation?"

So if you feel that you are attracting a certain type of mate or even certain kinds of friends look within first, determine what you need to develop change yourself and all things will come into order. "Don't make it about them. Change in yourself what you wish to change in them and all of a sudden they will become unattractive to you and you will set yourself up to attract a whole different kind of man (woman)." Mastin Kipp

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

Manifesting Abundance

2011-08-26T08:41:00.002-05:00

I am on a spiritual and personal journey of growth and maturity and I love it. Now for those who know me I have always believed and will believe to the day that I die that Yahweh supplies all of my needs and I will be ok. When I was pregnant with my son I spoke often that as long as there is breath in my body me and mine will be ok and I am a firm believer of that.

However, as I read Russell Simmons Super Rich, as I listen to Bill Winston speak on the Word, and now as I read the 4-hour work week I realize that my belief system has some flaws that need to be ironed out.

Many of us Christians and non Christians have been taught, go to school, get a good education and get a job. Choose your major based on the amount of money you could potentially make from it. Live a life that is better than your parents through hard work and sweat. Well I am here to tell you that is not the way to go about it. Too many people work 40+ years only to retire and then die 5 or 10 year later. The question is when did they really live? Do you find yourself up on Monday heading to work already looking forward to Friday simply to enjoy the weekend off? Again I question when do you live?

Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." What was the Sabbath the day God entered into his rest and that day was made for you and I. When Yahweh created the heavens and earth, the vegetation, the birds of the air, the land and sea animals Yahweh had not yet made man. Man was Yahweh's final masterpiece. After Yahweh created man He rested and has been resting ever since.

Pastor Winston says this often, Yahweh has already created everything that you need and has done all that He will ever do for you! Now you may be thinking that can't be possible, I have so much more life to live that is so much more Yahweh can and will do for me. Well let me tell you He is Alpha and Omega and there is no time in Yahweh. If 10 years from now you find yourself in need of a kidney trust and know Yahweh knew that before you were formed in your mothers womb and your provision was already provided before you were born.

Speaking of provisions, jobs are not, I repeat are not your provision (now this is where my faith is being stretched right now). Your job is an assignment Yahweh sent you to, to be a beacon of light and share His goodness. The good thing you don't have to say a word if you don't want to be a living example of the goodness of God. Get out of your mind that you have to wait until your job gives you your paycheck to buy things and also loose from your mind the ideal that if you make $40,000/year that determines the extent of your buying and more importantly blessing power. If you are a believer, you are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). That means you are governed by the law of sowing and reaping.

The law, what do I mean by that, well let's look at gravity. Gravity is a law in this earth. Simply put what goes up must come down. If you pick up a pen and let it go it will fall to the ground every time. Why? because of the law of gravity. So, if you sow you will reap every time. Why? because of the law of sowing and reaping. Now in no way is this simply about financial abundance, you can sow love, peace, joy, happiness, kindness etc. into others and you shall reap whatsoever (Galatians 6:7).

While you are not sowing for the sole purpose of reaping. Its a law that you cannot change and do nothing about so reap the blessings from it. "Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour [a]into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38 (AMP)

What would I like for you to take from all of this, Yahweh is your Source and your Sole provider. Just as He provided manna for the children of Israel, shall He also provide for you. Just as he provides for the birds of the air and the lilies in the field so shall he provide for you. As Pastor Winston says even if you use up everything today, tomorrow is a new day and Yahweh will provide. That makes me think of the Lord's prayer it says give us this day our daily bread. This isn't to say don't save, invest, and plan for your future. It is to say don't do those things thinking one day there may be some lack in your life. You are saving and creating a nest egg to be prepared for the opportunity to bless someone else, to give to someone else, to help build for someone else. The more you help others and build the kingdom the more you help yourself as blessings will begin to chase you down and over take you.

So let us all confess, the blessing of the Yahweh makes us rich and he adds no sorrow to it. We are blessed and highly favored, the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, lenders and not borrowers, we leave no debt outstanding except the debt to love, blessings are chasing us down and over taken us, we are cheerful givers!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BLACK ENTERPRISE COLLEGE INTERNSHIP

2011-08-26T08:29:00.001-05:00

Are you in college?

Are you the campus social butterfly?

If YES, then this is your time to shine!

For the 2011–2012 school year, BLACK ENTERPRISE is searching for the best talent out there.
We want enthusiastic interns that know how to spread the word!

The program is a yearlong internship where you will serve as a BLACK ENTERPRISE representative for your college or university, working to promote BE and its sponsors to your fellow peers. This is a great opportunity to get ahead and break into the fast-paced world of marketing.

Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

•posting flyers
•hosting BE display tables and events
•administering surveys
•distributing giveaways
•increasing the hype about black enterprise events, TV shows, magazine, etc.
•boost sales by offering discounted subscriptions

APPLY NOWWe are accepting applications for our 2011–2012 BE College Marketing Rep Internship Program. Open to undergraduates at accredited institutions.

Applicants should demonstrate an interest in business and have a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Internships will last throughout the 2011-2012 school year and are strictly for college credit. To apply, e-mail the following to collegerep@blackenterprise.com:

•current resume
•recent photo of you on campus
•marketing plan mapping out how you will represent Black Enterprise at your school

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

LOVE CONQUERS ALL

2011-08-24T08:34:00.002-05:00

"There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer.

Nodisease that enough love will not heal.

No door that enough love will not open.

No gulf that enough love will not bridge.

No wall that enough love will not throw down.

No sin that enough love will not redeem.

It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how great the mistake.

Sufficient realization of love will resolve it all.

If only you coudl love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world."

Maharishi (taken from Russell Simmons book Super Rich)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

ONLY YOU CAN GIVE AWAY YOUR POWER

2011-08-17T08:37:00.001-05:00

"I am who I am, that is that. I am who I am thank God, I am". - Guru Singh

Nobody can "make you feel" anything. What you feel about life and the people and situations of your life are the perceptions, decisions and interpretations that YOU BRING to life.

Now, as a child, we don't know this. And so we grow up and assume that mom, dad, brother, sister, bully, world, government, boss, etc. have control over our thoughts and feelings. We are not taught that we are outsourcing our power. And then we step into blame and lose even more power.

Our thoughts and emotions are an internal thing. Nothing "out there" can make you feel something "in here" without your consent.

So, when it comes to people who we say have "made us" feel a certain way, it's time to stop saying that, feeling that and believing that. Right now, in this moment, it's time to take our power back.

Whoever used to "make you feel" a certain way, their days in your head and controlling your emotions are over. Let's stop and see what decisions we made in the past about how we would let other people effect us. Let us talk to that younger version of ourselves and tell our younger self that we love it, and that we are now in control. Let us apply an empowering meaning to the past and take back our power. Let us recognize how we have decided to outsource our power and blame others. Let us take back the blame of others and take responsibility for our actions. Let us forgive ourselves for doing so and then forgive everyone else for their role in the trauma of our past.

They didn't do anything "to us". They have simply acted and we have applied a meaning to their actions. We do not need to make extreme cases of abuse and violence right... That is not what I am saying.

What I am saying is that what happened, happened and it's time for a new meaning, so we can be free. If we let the traumas of our past dictate how we feel now, then they are still winning. No more. Let's let go. Let's take our power back, let's forgive ourselves, them and move on to living the joyful, abundant and beautiful life The Uni-verse has in store for us.

Let me know how you're taking your power back: WhatImGoingThru@TheDailyLove.com

Love,

Mastin, The Daily Love

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/-TDL-08-17-11-How-To-Be-Free-From-Other-People-s-Opinions-.html?soid=1102133175336&aid=M0qCrIrwv2k

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

QUOTE OF THE DAY - THOUGHTS!

2011-08-17T08:34:00.001-05:00

"You will never demonstrate [abundance] until behind your mental attitude is the belief that you have received before you have received that thing which is sought".

"Clear out all the suggestion of limitation, and the belief in poverty and lack, and the belief that "I have to work for a living". These things hypnotize people and bind them. The whole thing is impersonal... Don't acknowledge bondage. If you meet a successful man, you will find that this man has a consciousness of success. He never talks about poverty and limitation. If you meet a man who is not a success, he is always talking about failure. Don't let people talk to you about failure. If a man wants to be sick and poverty stricken, that's his own business."
Ernest Holmes

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphnay Essentials

5 Reasons Every Student Should Launch a Business While in College

2011-08-16T12:59:00.000-05:00

5 Reasons Every Student Should Launch a Business While in College

MAKING THE GRADE PT. 2

2011-08-16T09:32:00.005-05:00

I would be remiss if I did not blog about parents and the integral role they play in the success of their children's education. I appreciate the comments some of the panelists made during the telecast.

"Its not that parents don't care, many parents don't know what to do."

"If a parent feeds their child breakfast, gets them to school on time, and makes sure they receive the proper rest the night before they are doing there part."

"Some parents cannot attend PTA meetings etc. because they are working to keep food on the table."

So to the parents there are little things that we can do to help with the our children's educational success. Simply talking to your children, whether its sitting down and engaging them in conversation, or talking with them as you drive in the car pointing out the stars, sun, moon, sky, birds etc., while in the grocery store, in the park etc. everything can be turned into a learning experience that is fun and engaging and the child doesn't even realize you are trying to teach them.

Read to your child. Their are mothers whom read to their babies while they are still in the womb. From the 1st day your child is born you can begin reading to them novels, children's books, newspaper articles, magazines it doesn't matter just read to them. One of the biggest determinants of the jail population is 3rd grade reading scores!

A great way to introduce math to a young child can be done while eating food. For example, give your child 5 carrots let them know if they aren't at the speaking state just yet or even if so, you have 5 carrots and then when the child eats one say something like now you have 4 and finish it with 5 - 1 = 4. Something just as simple as that.

Using the 3 above examples you can introduce math, reading, and exploration to your child in their everyday lives day and have their little minds thinking, engaged and learning with little to no effort.

Once your child is school age, check their homework to ensure its done, keep communication open with their teachers if possible, do whatever you feel is necessary as a parent to keep them on the right track. Target sells worksheets in their dollar aisle. Visit the teacher store and buy things to do with your child or simply google ways to engage your child at home with products you already have. You can teach your child about condensation and the different stages of water simply buy running the faucet, freezing it, allow ice to evaporate, and boiling water in a pot.

Yes, parents you can be a teacher and it doesn't require a lot of tools and gadgets. As I think about the days of old and people learned about the stars and space buy simply looking up in the sky at night and writing down what they saw.

There are unlimited possibilities step out of the box, find them and use them as parents whether we try to or not, whether a good influence or not so good influence are their children's first teachers.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

MARRIAGE & THE FAMILY

2011-08-16T08:09:00.005-05:00

This morning I watched a snippet of Bill Winston's Marriage and The Family Series and I must say I was abundantly blessed from 20 minutes and had a change in my thoughts that I pray sticks with me forever.

Pastor Winston started the message speaking on how men and women were not created to marry to complete each other. When God made man, God made man a complete, whole being. One of the most important things that I gathered from the message was that Man is not only the foundation of the family, Man is the foundation of society. We have been taught that family is the foundation of society, the Man is the foundation of the family and if the Man's foundation is solid, then the marriage of man and woman and the creation of their family can do nothing but project the power of God and the Kingdom of God and keep societies foundation solid.

Pastor Winston's scriptural reference to support his belief that Man is the foundation, God created Man from the earth (Genesis 2:7). God formed woman from man. Therefore Man is the foundation upon which the woman is to rest in and get protection from. Until she is married her father is the foundation. (Trust I am not doing the series that much justice in but shedding some light. Feel free to watch him on television and/or visit his website to purchase a copy of the series).

About marriage, Pastor Winston stated "The Lord didn't intend for us to marry until we are complete. We need to be whole people that don't need anything." I must say that statement blew my mind and made me take a step back. I am already on a wonderful personal journey that has led me to spend more time with God, more time with myself and my son and I am grateful that I am on the right track in my journey.

Ok, what has happened to our foundation, man. The foundation was broken when Adam ate the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Man did not fall until Adam ate of the tree. Had Adam not ate from the tree man would still have his position. So, when God came into the garden looking for Adam, He was not looking for Adam's physical location, God was looking for Adam's spiritual position. However, this is no way means that man is not still the head!
1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God." "Man isn't the head of the household because he makes more money, man is the head because God says that he is!." Pastor Winston

Now I can hear some women saying well I have to do this or that because my husband doesn't do it how it should be done, or he doesn't step up to the plate, whatever so have you that I hear many women gripe about. Well it goes back to the point that two complete beings come together that don't need each other and the fact that the man is the head. Now I can hear someone saying well if I don't need a man and the man doesn't need me why get married.

Pastor Winston didn't go into complete detail about his marriage but he did say he saw his wife multiple times at an office when he was going to visit a friend. Every time he saw her he felt something in his spirit. He told a friend and his friend told him, the Lord told me to tell you Bill do not touch her. Bill obeyed, he said he even moved to another state and went on living his life yet ultimately they ended up together. It wasn't a situation where someone saw something they liked, pursued it with vigor immediately, had to conquer it and needed it to fill a missing void.

I'm not married but my advice would be if you are married if you two both are believers grow in the knowledge of the spirit of the Lord and all shall work itself out.

Pastor had something for the single mothers. I hear a lot of women saying I need a man to help pay my bills, I need a man to help raise these children, only a man can teach my son how to be a man so I must have a man in the house I have got to get married. First and foremost scripture tells us that God is a father to the fatherless. (Psalm 68:5) And there is more good news, we have all messed up we have all fallen short but thank God for grace. You may not be able to do it alone, you aren't suppose to. God is your Source. You were not created to operate without God!

So if you are single like myself. Pastor Winston's advice, when you find yourself whole and in need of nothing, that is when you will truly be ready for marriage and prayerfully your head of household, man, will find you and you will be his rib, support, encouragement ready to stand my his side.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

WHY ALL THE RAPPERS?

2011-08-15T08:56:00.002-05:00

This is my special note, today I highlighted three rappers in my blog and usually I blog about Yahweh, Faith, and other Christian topics.

Well, I remember that the greatest commandment above all is to love. With the message of love that Jesus taught, he also taught compassion, being a servant and the spirit of giving.

The rappers highlighted today are embodying what it means in the Christian world to be a true Christian (not saying that they are). The purpose of life is to give, help, bless, and love others so that they may see the goodness of the Most High and choose to praise and worship Him.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

LUPE FIASCO TO FEED 100 PEOPLE A DAY UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST

2011-08-15T08:54:00.002-05:00

Lupe Fiasco and the Lupe Fiasco Foundation will be hosting a community feeding everyday for the remainder of August, as part of their Block By Block initiative. Lupe’s goal is to feed 100 Chicagoans in need each day in honor of Ramadan. The Foundation will host events at two locations throughout the City; one on the Southside and another out West until the 31st of August. For more details including time and locations hit the jump for the official Foundation flier. (From www.fakeshoredrive.com )

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

MAKING THE GRADE

2011-08-15T08:37:00.002-05:00

I watched Making the Grade, Stronger America, on MSNBC yesterday. They brought up quite a few topics and mentioned how teachers, parents, school boards, officials, communities/village, activists, and students all play an integral role in educating our children. While of course there is not a one size fit all solution to the problems that plague the Public School system and education in America a few things struck my attention.

"Every child can learn, so give them the same education."

"Zip codes determine expectation levels of some teachers."

"Why are parents prosecuted for lying about their zip code to put their child in a better school?"

" A lot of parents don't know what to do, its not an issue of them not caring about their child and their education."

"You couldn't find a better system to destroy our people than the American Public School System." Ben Chavis

"Standardized tests only teach children how to fill in bubbles."

"College isn't the only path to success."

While watching the show I tweeted "Teachers need to love what they do and put their all into there jobs despite their pay and available resources." Some RT my comment in agreement and some responded....

"RT @KFreesen: Why? What professional is asked to do that? @Johnai: Tchrs need to do more without support #makingthegrade - ??? #WTF"

Now the first issue I have with the comment is I didn't say teachers need to do more without support. When choosing to become a teacher most if not all should know what they are getting into or up against in the Public School System if that is where they are choosing to teach. With this in mind I feel that by choosing to become a teacher you are choosing to face an uphill battle, succeed, and make a difference despite the odds. That is my personal belief.

I think about an episode of A Different World, Whitley was a substitute teacher at an inner city public school with little resources. True to stereotypes the children were unruly and appeared that they didn't want to learn. Whitley spoke to the principal and wanted to quit because of the lack of resources she had. Whitley mentioned that the text books were old, outdated, and did not include black people as if we did not exist in history. The principals response was you are not limited to the text book fill in the gaps and teach the students what is missing.

That was/is my only point. If you have books at home that could enhance your teaching environment use them. Find things on the Internet and print them out in the school office to use. Get creative with old paper towel and tissue holders etc. I don't care what you do but never throw up the white flag and wave it in defeat.

The greatest of minds in history were taught with far less tools than are provided to teachers and at one point there weren't even books let alone formal schools. Therefore in my opinion there is no reason to not be able to teach and there is no reason that children can't learn.

We all have to stop making excuses and do what we can with a smile and to the best of our abilities in whatever profession we have chosen.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

SNOOP DOGG BRINGS YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE TO CHICAGO

2011-08-15T08:33:00.001-05:00

Snoop was droppin like it's hot in Chicago on Thursday.

With Chicago Bear great Otis Wilson at his side, the Doggfather was in the city to announce his plans for the Chicago chapter of his Los Angeles-based youth football league. Fo’shizzle.

"I'm bringing football out here so they can take their energy, their anger and their attitude and put it in the right source of environment, which is the football field," he said.

Snoop's Chi-Town tour started off with an appearance at the Chicago Indoor Sports Academy at 11 a.m. Then, the Snoop Youth Football League held a free football clinic Friday for hundreds of 8- to 14-year-old boys who live in Chicago Housing Authority.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Snoop-Dogg-Starts--99103459.html#ixzz1V6XLHTLw

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

50 CENT STREET KING - GOAL FEED 1 BILLION AFRICANS

2011-08-15T08:24:00.003-05:00

5O Cent like many other rappers are known for rap beefs, rap lyrics full of profanity, music videos etc. yet rarely, like with most rappers are the positive things they do highlighted in the mainstream news and media.

I happen to follow 50 on Twitter and he began saying that he would not retweet (RT) anyone's tweets if it did not end in #SK, representing Street King. Now instead of taking the time to find out what Street King was I immediately dismissed it as some foolery 50 was up to. If anyone else follows him on twitter lets just say many of his tweets are risque for lack of a better word.

Yesterday as I was going through my timeline 50 was RT tweets about Street King and low and behold he is on a mission to feed 1 Billion starving Africans. So I signed up on the website to join the Street King movement and you can too http://streetking.com/?ref=5pm66.

Street King is an energy drink that will be released in September and the proceeds will go toward feeding starving people in Africa who desperately need it. You can read more here: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16411/title.50-cent-launches-energy-shot-street-king-to-help-feed-one-billion-children.

To see other causes 50 has been a part of visit http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1111-50-cent.

While I don't drink coffee and have never tasted an energy drink I will definitely purchase at least one Street King to support the cause.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

Yoga, Meditation, and Christianity

2011-08-12T08:19:00.002-05:00

I didn't realize that some Christians had issues with Yoga. My interest in yoga was sparked years ago ironically by Madonna, yes the pop singer. Madonna was on the Oprah Winfrey show years ago and she spoke on how she practiced yoga and that is how she stayed in shape. From then on I told myself I would add yoga into my workout.

As an adult I purchased a workout called Yoga Booty Ballet and I absolutely love it and I also have Yoga for Abs and Yoga for Beginners with Rodney Yee from Gaiam. One day I was speaking to someone who is a Jehovah Witness about their health and wellness and I suggested they do Yoga. Their immediate response was oh no we don't practice Yoga. Considering they don't practice a lot of things I didn't give it a second thought and I moved on. Then I realized that many Christians do not practice yoga as well.

Here is an article about Yoga and a discussion of should Christians practice it http://www.cbn.com/health/fitness/bagby_yoga-alternative.aspx. A couple of things struck me in the article. Yoga teaches one in meditation to empty their minds, Laurette mentions that Christians are told to be transformed by a renewing of our minds. My question if we do not get rid of the old thoughts how do we make room for the new thoughts and the renewing? Another thing she mentioned was that yogis learn to leave their bodies. Please understand that your body is flesh and a house for your spirit. We are spiritual beings living in a physical body.

What is Yoga? Yoga defined in wikipedia, Yoga (Sanskrit, Pāli: योग yóga) is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India,[1][2] whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.[3] The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Is the issue with Yoga that it is associated with other religions?

I would hope not as Christianity is a religion steeped in tradition, corruption, and the purposeful intentional withholding of information. Now do not get me wrong I am a believer of Yahweh and I believe the Word of God I also know many parts of the history of Christianity so there are things in the religion that I must question and in no way do I feel I am questioning God, I am however questioning a man made religion. Therefore I do not practice religion, I am spiritual though and yes I attend meetings, I try not to say that I go to church because each of us are the church if you are a believer, the Kingdom of Yahweh is within us.

So this week I began reading Russell Simmons book Super Rich. I know from following him on Twitter that he is a yogi ( he practices yoga and meditates daily). Something in the book sparked my interest, he speaks on yoga and how meditation can give a drug addict the same high they get from drugs but without the harmful side effects to their minds, bodies, and family. Russell also mentions how meditation has healing effects in the chapter Succeeding Through Stillness.

If studies have proven that drug addicts are cured and helped through meditation and never want to use again, I question why yoga isn't a part of every drug rehab program. My thought what is the worst that can happen as there aren't any negative side effects that I know of that one can get from meditating.

This was thought provoking for me. In the age of technology I encourage you, if you are skeptical to google or go to your local library and read up on the healing effects of meditation. Here maybe a great starting point for you http://www.freemeditation.com/benefits-of-meditation/meditation-helps-with-drug-abuse/

There are 8 steps to yoga - Patanjali recorded a system of ashtanga yoga, or classical yoga, in the Yoga Sutra. The eight limbs, or steps, of yoga are yamas, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dyhana and samadhi. These eight steps mean respectively restraint, observance, physical exercises, breathing techniques, preparation for meditation, concentration, meditation and absorption. (Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/328242-the-basics-of-yoga-its-benefits/#ixzz1Up0eiKFB)

As one who practices yoga somewhat regularly I must say there is nothing that has been said or done that has made me question my faith or stray from it. If yoga can help me to breathe, relax, center myself and come into a deeper understanding of my spiritual being I am all for it and welcome it. If Yoga can take me to a higher state of consciousness and clear my mind so that I can hear from Yahweh I am definitely for that. And finally if while I am doing all of this it keeps my blood pressure down and my body healthy I am definitely for that.

Its amazing that some Christians have issue with Yoga but the majority of us do not question Thanksgiving, Christmas and other practices that are steeped in paganism better yet they originate from paganism.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

EVERYTHING & EVERYONE

2011-08-11T08:59:00.001-05:00

"Everything you take for granted is a blessing. Everything you fear is a friend in disguise. Everything you want is a part of you. Everything you hate you hate about yourself. Everything you own does not define you. Everything you feel is the only Truth there is to know.

Everything you wish for is already on its way to you. Everything you think creates your life. Everything you seek for you will find. Everything you resist will stick around. Everything you let go of stays if it's supposed to. Everything you need is right where you are.

Every time you bless another your bless yourself. Every time you blame another you lose your power. Every time you think you can, you can. Every time you fall you must get up and try again. Every time you cry you're one tear closer to joy. Every time you ask for forgiveness, all you have to do is forgive yourself.

Everyone you see is your reflection. Everyone you know mirrors you. Everyone wants to be happy. Everyone wants to live in joy. Everyone seeks a higher purpose. Everyone breathes the same breath. Everyone needs love to survive. Everyone has a purpose to fulfill.

Everyone's the same as everyone else. We just get caught up in labels, names, skin color and religion. Everyone's the same as everyone else. No one wants to feel the pain. Everyone's the same as everyone else. Everyone is dying for love to remain."

Jackson Kiddard

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2011-08-10T08:17:00.000-05:00

"In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself." Jiddu Krishnamurti

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

I'm Gonna Be Your Friend: Bob Marley's single "High Tide or Low Tide" : Save the Children UK

2011-08-10T08:14:00.001-05:00

I'm Gonna Be Your Friend: Bob Marley's single "High Tide or Low Tide" : Save the Children UK

From the Chicago RedEye:

"More than 150 stars from Lady Gaga, U2, Justin Beiber, Jay Z, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney are among the well known figures using their FaceBook pages and Twitter feeds to urge fans to donate money to help the numerous families starving in the region.

The campaign, called "I'm Gonna Be Your Friend," can be found at www.imgonnabeyourfriend.org . It shows a video of Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1973 song "High Tide or Low Tide", accompanied by malnourished children created by award winning fiml director Kevin Macdonald.

Millions of children are facing starvation."

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

YES, YOU CAN SAVE!

2011-08-09T09:01:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I blogged about saving up and paying cash for cars, homes, and higher education. Many of you probably think that is a far fetched idea because the majority of society doesn't live like that. The majority of society finances, pays interest over years and periods of time until its paid off. I am in no way knocking the system, I do what us to stretch our minds and realize there is another way.

There are some people that will say. I simply cannot save I am barely making ends meet. If this is true this means that the salary/income you receive is only spent on basic necessities. Meaning you are not eating out, going to the movies, renting movies, or buying so much as a candy bar. You are simply spending on food, shelter, clothing, car gas etc. This may seem far fetched but if you feel the price of gas is too high, maybe you should start car pooling or taking public transportation. I don't care how you do it, you can save. At a family gathering my uncle said something that was profound to me. He said he started saving pennies until he could save nickels, nickels until he could save dimes, dimes until he could save quarters, quarters until he could save dollars and so on... So yes, you can save I don't care if it is $1/month the point is to do it and start somewhere.

Here is a great story from the bible about being a good steward, saving, investing and increase:

The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The guy who hid his one gold coin reminds me of the poverty mentality. I only have this little and I must hold on to it and keep it safe for fear of losing it. Well what if it was invested and multiplied? You will never know if you bury your treasure.

Here are other scriptures to reference on finances and money...

Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."

Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

Luke 14:28-30 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish."

Luke 16:10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."

Ecclesiastes 5:5 "It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay."

Ecclesiastes 11:2 "Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth."

Matthew 6:31-32 "Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed;"

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

There are many more scriptures to explore, a lot of them can be found http://christianpf.com/money-in-the-bible/

If we are not good stewards over what God has already entrusted us with, why are we expecting more and increase?

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

THIS IS NOT A WAR ZONE.....

2011-08-09T08:33:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, during rush hour a man was shot at close range in downtown Chicago by State St. and Wacker Drive. There have been numerous senseless murders in Chicago this year, heck this week even and its only Tuesday. 4 children were shot on Sunday in the early morning. A 6 year old girl and a teenage boy were fatally shot and killed in different neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago.

The quote by Carl Burson Jr. 32 bothers me, "This is not a war zone, this is downtown Chicago. We don't do that down here." It bothers me because I want to know what that means. If violence and crime affects one person, area or neighborhood in Chicago we should all feel the effects and want to do something about it to help. Not say oh, this doesn't happen downtown but it happens in Englewood, the Austin area, Humboldt Park, Gage Park, the Wild 100's etc. As if when it happens in those areas its ok. Sadly, there are people that are used to gun shots and have become immune to it but it is still not ok.

I refuse to accept crime in any area and become immune to a rising epidemic in the city of Chicago. Do I have the solutions? No I do not but I believe if we all come together there can be a solution. Do I believe crime will completely disappear? Of course not. However, I do believe it can be curbed and reduced.

I think of the newspaper article I was reading about the Kenwood/Hyde Park area because 4 people have been shot in that area this year alone. Many in the area were outraged and attended a police meeting they weren't invited to, to speak on it and ask the police to do something about it. There reasoning, prior to this it had been 2 years since someone was shot in there neighborhood and they want the matter addressed now before it gets out of hand.

One solution - we have to stop being selfish, we have to stop focusing on me, myself, and mine. Me and mine are ok, I will focus on us and what happens in my home. We have lost our sense of community. I think of the old African Proverb "It takes a village to raise a child." How many of us really know the people on our blocks, in our immediate neighborhood, many of us don't even know our next door neighbors.

I do agree with Burson in the fact that downtown Chicago is not a war zone. I will take it one step further to say that no area in Chicago should be a war zone.

If we are not a part of the problem, we are apart of the solution. Do whatever it is that we can do to be the change needed.

"I will waste not even a precious second today in anger or hate or jealousy or selfishness. I know that the seeds I sow I will harvest, because every action, good or bad, is always followed by an equal reaction. I will plant only good seeds this day." Og Mandino

Lets all plant good seeds today, remember your thoughts and words give out energy. If you are filled with negativity you are putting that negativity into the atmosphere, it is gravitating to others, and continuing to grow and manifest.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

MONEY MATTERS: CREDIT OR CASH?

2011-08-08T08:10:00.003-05:00

There is a famous saying "a fool and his money are soon parted". My definition of a fool is someone who has no budget or plan for their money. When they receive money they spend it and wait on the next time more money comes be it a paycheck or whatever resource, because Yahweh is The Source, the money comes from. With that said, if you don't have a goal get one.

This past Sunday, I watched Washington Watch with Roland Martin on TV1. The topic for discussion was credit as well as saving and personal spending habits.

Credit for some its a scary taboo, for others they are so buried in it that it keeps them awake at night full of worry on how they will pay their bills and survive, and when we think about our credit scores and how it effects finance rates on purchases some automatically assume defeat.

Why is credit so important? Well in order to purchase a house or car mainly you need a credit history and a good credit score. This statement is incorrect and it is used often. Let me clear something up, in order to finance a house or a car lenders look at your credit score. If you purchase a house or a car with cash, your credit score is a non issue. Now I can see someone reading this right now saying how can you purchase a house or a car with cash? The simple answer, you save your money, if you choose to invest do it wisely, and build up enough cash to get what it is you NEED not want in a house and a car.

I read an article months or a year back about a couple who purchased their $100K home with cash. Of course I cannot find it right now but if you are a skeptic I encourage you to do your research. Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post, participated in the discussion with Roland Martin and she said that she only pays cash for her cars. She drives her cars until the door handles fall off and then she tapes the handles back on! She mentioned how she has the number for every tow driver in her area. She also spoke on how she never trades a car in she always fixes it up and gives it to a family member. Her reason for this is because she has a goal, she has 3 children that she wants to put through college with cash. Roland Martin mentioned he drives a Navigator that he paid cash for. Michelle's response was you can do that because you don't have 3 kids to put through college I would never buy that type of car because I recognize what my goal is. In no way was she knocking Roland she was simply stating based on her goal that is not a car she would justifiable purchase.

Now there are those that say don't pay cash for a car because it depreciates in value as soon as you drive off of the lot. True cars depreciate in value so why finance and end up paying more. If I buy a car and negotiate a price of $20K lets say it automatically depreciates. Cars depreciate between 15 to 20% each year. So let's say it depreciates 5% as soon as you drive off the lot. So what you paid $20K is now worth $19K. If you finance the $20K at 10% for 5 years you will pay about $25,500 in total for the car. Now let's see how much the car is worth each year with 20% depreciation:

Year 1: $16,000
Year 2: $12,800
Year 3: $10, 240
Year 4: $8,192
Year 5: $6,553.60

You have completed paying $25,500 for a car that has depreciated to $6,553.60 and that doesn't mean you will receive the $6,553.60 if you decide to trade it in. You also paid $5,550 in interest. Now imagine had you just paid cash for the car and saved the monthly note you would have been paying of $424.90, you would have a car worth $6,553.60 and have $25,494 saved in the bank to purchase a new car, CASH. So which way is better, paying cash or financing you be the judge.

Now back to the credit issue. Roland Martin mentioned that he had a low credit score because he buys everything cash and pays off everything on time. Yes, not using credit will cause your credit score to be low. However, if you have cash you don't need credit. Remember cash is king. And in this economy I encourage you to also invest in some precious natural resources, gold, silver etc. and have them at your disposal as well.

Now, financial "experts" will tell you, you must use credit, you must have credit cards and use them now and again to keep your credit score at a level where you can receive financing. Now just in case you ever choose to finance something I encourage you to be mindful of your credit score but I highly discourage falling into the credit trap. What is the credit trap? Charge it now and worry about it later. I believe everyone should have at least one credit card. It simply makes renting cars easier and some other luxuries in life, however only use it for emergeny purposes and pay off as much of the balance as possible.

Back to financing, before you finance a house, car etc. Obtain all three of your credit reports and credit scores from the credit bureaus. Be sure to dispute any discrepancies. A gentleman on Washington Watch mentioned if you are going to pay down debt to increase your credit score do it 30 to 45 days before you plan to make your purchase. Find out what your options are for getting the best interest rate possible even if you have a less than desirable credit score. Don't be so anxious to drive off the lot in the new car or move into your own home that you agree to pay interest rates of 15%, 30% etc.

I was able to purchase a car with 0.9% financing with a judgement on my credit report. Mainly because I did my research and I was prefinanced through Capitol One financing before I went to the car lot therefore I was informed and had a bargaining tool. The interest rate right now for home loans is 4.25%. Imagine qualifying to buy a home at a rate lower than that, it is possible. I have a cousin in North Carolina living in a home that she financed at 2.3%.

In closing, don't be a slave to credit. Don't use credit as a regular buying tool for clothes, shoes, grocery, restaurant meals etc. things that you could go without. Use credit wisely and sparingly. Save more than you spend as it relates to your discretionary income and live BELOW your means. Look for great bargains, sales etc. and please forget about the Joneses because they can't even keep up with themselves. If you are currently in a financial rut. Instead of quickly paying down your debt. I as well as other financial experts, no I am not an expert, suggest you pay the minimum balance on your credit cards while saving money at the same time. Again, cash is KING!

Yes, you can buy a car cash I am a witness to that. My first car when I drove it off the lot was paid for. Yes, you can put your child through college with cash. My father paid for my 4.5 years at the University of Illinois Urbana without me having to take out loans. Now had I listened to him and not gotten any credit cards while I was in school I would have graduated in a better financial state. Nevertheless, all is well now. Roland Martin even mentioned how he filed for bankruptcy due to medical bills etc., went through it and came out of it and now pays cash for everything. So no matter what your current circumstance it is not your final destination. Your life and your circumstances can turn around right now. Place a goal in your mind, map out a plan, execute the plan and stick to it by any means necessary.

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

Helping the Poor and the Needy

2011-08-04T08:50:00.004-05:00

Everyday when I arrive to work I log into Yahoo! and check out the current news briefly. This morning I came across an article that moved me to action. US: 29,000 Somali children under 5 dead in famine. There are people in Africa, other countries and even the US that are dying because they have no food. I think about the fruit that I buy that I forget about it rots and I throw it in the garbage. Or when I am full and I discard the remaining contents of my plate. To think I have an abundance of food and there are innocent children dying because they don't have food or water.

As I write this tears come to my eyes as I was making a donation tears came to my eyes. I have known as many of you that there are need of others greater than myself. I can say that I donate to local shelters in my area and I volunteer to help children in Chicago and beyond. Nevertheless there is more work that needs to be done and that I could be doing.

See I realize I am blessed as my daily needs are met and exceeded. Unfortunately many of us think in terms of self and feel that we don't have enough and therefore are unable to give. I don't care if you are eating Top Ramen every night you have a meal to eat. It may not be fillet Mignon nevertheless you are not starving. You may have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but thank God for the bread, peanut butter, and jelly as there are people in the world with absolutely NOTHING to eat.

Its time for us to be more grateful, complain less about our personal circumstances and do more.

Here is a link to World Vision (http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?a=b), I gave to them to help if you know of any other reputable organizations please share them with me.

It is up to us to take care of the poor. God works through His people if you are a spiritual person, Christian, a child of God etc. you are his eyes, mouth, hands, feet etc. God needs you through His Power to feed the hungry, take care of the elderly, tend to the sick and those in need that is our responsibility.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

Deuteronomy 15:11 "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4

"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." Luke 12:33

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Luke 14:13

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9

"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27

"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." Proverbs 29:7

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

STEER CLEAR OF DREAM KILLERS

2011-08-03T08:22:00.011-05:00

There are dreams and desires that Yahweh has placed on your heart and in your spirit because He knows through His Power you can fulfill them. However, an interesting thing happens when we dare to dream, most people feel the need to tell someone else. There is nothing wrong with being excited about your dreams and wanted to share them with others. Its just not wise to share them with the wrong people. What do I mean by the wrong people?

When we tell others of our dreams we are bound to receive one of these responses

You want to do what? No one has ever done that before!

Where did you get an idea like that? Get your head out of the clouds and come back to the real world!

Oh wow, I say go for it but how are you going to do it? It seems like a lot to take on!

That sounds wonderful, if there is anything that I can do to help let me know. I will lift you up in prayer, keep the faith!

In my own personal life I can think of times when I let someone else kill my dream/steal my faith. When I was a freshmen in college I was speaking with one of my roommates and I told her I planned to buy my father a Corvette. As a child I'd always known that was his favorite car and he told me how he was going to buy one for he and I. Well since my dad is the best dad I could have ever imagined here on earth that is something that I wanted to do for him. The first thing my roommate said was by the time you buy your dad a Corvette he will be too old to enjoy it. A part of me thought whatever however, I allowed her words to enter into my subconscious and somewhere I killed that dream and lost the faith that I would be able to follow through.

Another time I can think of my boyfriend at the times mom was asking me why I didn't know how to cook etc. I told her when I was old enough I would have a maid. She laughed at me and pretty much said good look with that one!

Now, as I am growing in Christ and growing into my spiritual supernatural self that Yahweh created me to be I realize I could've bought my dad that Corvette and yes, one day soon I shall have a maid/butler!

Why do I feel this way? Because Yahweh placed these desires on my heart. Psalm 20:4"He will give you your heart's desire and carry out all your plans."

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

As we delight ourselves in the Lord he will give us the desires of our heart. As Pastor Bill Winston says if God said it, you can take it to the bank!

While you are delighting yourself in the Lord remember to be aware of the dream killers and faith stealer's. So what no one has ever done what you want to do before. There is a 1st time for everything! Do not allow another person's negative thoughts or lack of dreams deter you from fulfilling yours including your own negative thoughts. If you know someone is negative in their own life and the lives of others, don't even share your dream with them, keep it to yourself. Sadly, these people I speak of could be regular church attendees that are saved and filled with the holy ghost.

Share your dreams with those who are faith filled, positive, you see them walking by faith daily and living by faith, those who have positive energy and speak well of themselves and others. Keep in mind no one is perfect and no one is positive all the time but you should know the difference between a positive person and a negative person. Steer clear of those who are negative PERIOD!
Also be mindful of the back stabbers those who will smile in your face and run and tell everyone how "crazy" you are and what "crazy" idea you have come up with this time. It just keeps negative energy down in your life and allows you to truly focus on your task at hand. Have no fear remember "No weapon formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuse you in judgment you will condemn." Isaiah 54:17 Also know what Yahweh blesses no one can curse!

All Yahweh needs is a believer, someone who will keep the faith and believe and trust Him. If you can just do your part and do that Yahweh is faithful and just to do just what He said.

While you are being mindful of the dream killers and faith stealers make sure you are not one yourself!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BE AT PEACE

2011-08-01T08:43:00.004-05:00

I began to follow @thedailylove on twitter and I now subscribe to their daily emails. Today I read a quote that I would like to share with all of you. Actually almost everyday there is a quote that makes me think, inspires, encourages, or challenges my thinking in some way and I tweet them from @epiphanyessentials (follow me) and they also appear on my FaceBook page.

Today's quote made me think about my life, and more importantly my work environment. In my personal life it is easy for me to be at peace and find a place of peace but it is sometimes difficult in my office. Usually because there is somewhat of chaos and bad energy floating around the office.

However, this morning Bill Winston was speaking on the God factor and how God places His people amongst the "wicked" so that we can change the atmosphere. As scripture tells us we are to let our light shine so that men but see Christ within us so that the Father in Heaven can be glorified (Matthew 5:16).

What does this have to do with peace? Merriam-Webster defines peace as follows

1. a state of tranquillity or quiet
2. freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3. harmony in personal relations
4. a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity

Scripture says that God will give you peace that transcends all understanding. So you can be tranquil, quiet, think on and keep your emotions tranquil/quiet, have great relationships, and be a mediator for those who are in strife all from a state of peace.

If I participate in the chaotic nature of my office environment I am making a conscious decision to step out of peace and enter into war.

"If peace is really what you want, then you will choose peace. If peace mattered to you more than anything else and if you truly knew yourself to be spirit rather than a little me, you would remain nonreactive and absolutely alert when confronted with challenging people or situations. You would immediately accept the situation and thus become one with it rather than separate yourself from it. Then out of your alertness would come a response. Who you are (consciousness), not who you think you re (a small me), would be responding. It would be powerful and effective and would make no person or situation into an enemy." Eckhart Tolle

Every situation we face we have the choice, we can choose peace and love or we can choose war and hate.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF AMY WINEHOUSE

2011-07-25T09:06:00.002-05:00

As I grow in Faith from hearing the Word, I wonder how many of Amy Winehouse's friends prayed for her and spoke life over her despite her destructive behavior. No where in scripture does it say to tell it like it is. It says the Power of Life and death are in the tongue. It says to speak those things that be not as though they were. I read a tweet that said Amy Winehouse's obituary was written they were just waiting to fill in the date of her death. Looks like her friends and family saw death and not life in her. Sometimes people don't need you to be in their face, they need you behind the scenes praying for them and blessing their lives despite their circumstances. No one on this earth is beyond saving. Jesus brought people back whom had been clothed in funeral clothes and placed in tombs. God, His Word, and Faith in God and His Word has Resurrection, Redemption, and Changing POWER!

Words have POWER, again Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words." Everyday we speak words over our children, ourselves, strangers, celebrities, etc. that could be detrimental to their lives and our own. Words are energy and we must be mindful of the words we speak. Of course none of us our perfect but we should be striving for perfection. The Word instructs us to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1).

I was not a fan of Amy Winehouse, the only song I can think of, of hers was from 'Rehab' - "they tried to make me go to rehab but I said No, no, no". James 5:14 "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." Addiction is a sickness. I have personally been affected by addiction in my family and as a family we have not and will not give up on any of our family members. James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

This is my personal belief in faith. Maybe its time to stop being so in your face to those who are leading lives of destruction and simply show them compassion and love and most importantly intercede for them through prayer. While you are praying for them, watch your mouth. Don't pray blessings and then speak curses over them. Stay in faith, in hope, and in belief. Before you go to God make sure you are not holding any unforgiveness in your heart and send up prayers, blessings, and speak life and faith over those you love and care for. Please remember this, Words have Power and your faith in your words has the ability to create. I don't care how upset you become, be mindful of the words that you speak for we will be held accountable for every idle word we have spoken.

Also please note as I write these blogs I am also speaking to myself, learning, growing, developing, and maturing in Christ, Love, and Faith daily.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

FAITH WORKS! - PERSONAL TESTIMONY

2011-07-14T15:19:00.002-05:00

Growing up as a young child I never understood why a parent would pay for a child to attend school especially for primary education. I often told myself there are plenty of great public schools and when I have children they will go to one, I am not paying for primary education. I'm sure some of you have heard the saying God laughs when we make plans?

Well, my son started Kindergarten last year and it was a tumultuous experience for him, me and his dad to say the least. Last year I blogged about one of the Charter schools he attended wanting to send him to a mental institution. My mind throughout the entire process was staying in Faith and speaking the Word of God only. I often times laid hands on my child and just spoke the Word over him and I plainly told the demon that was in him that he must flee. See one thing I understood was that my sons school experience was a spiritual battle for me and it could only be won spiritually.

So the end result, my son visited a Catholic School for one day and did well. Nevertheless, his dad felt we should keep him in a public school. I felt the same especially considering, in my mind, my pockets couldn't afford to pay his tuition as I'd just bought a new car. Again, God was laughing. I say that because I speak over myself and my son Romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of those that love Him according to His purpose."

So where is my son at now the Catholic school he visited. He enrolled about 6 weeks before school ended this year and his entire experience was completely different from the 1st 2 schools he attended. At the time, I only had to pay one tuition payment and thank God I have sense enough to save, I had that money in the bank. When it was time to register for the upcoming school year I paid the registration fee and I had absolutely no clue how his tuition would be paid. What I did know however was that he would be attending the school and his tuition would be paid.

Instead of worrying I had faith in God. Now let me clear that I up, in my mind I sometimes worried but when I spoke I spoke faith and the Word of God. I was watching Creflo Dollar and he spoke about pleading the blood of areas of our lives. So I began pleading the blood over my sons tuition and education. I was watching Bill Winston and he was speaking on Faith, how faith works every time and how there is nothing that faith won't accomplish. How if we have faith and believe, faith always wins and God is moved by our faith and our Words.

So my faith led me to a NACA meeting where I learned how to have my student loans payments reduced based on my income. My faith led me to complete a financial aid form for my sons school. How my faith worked?

Last week I received a new student loan payment, my payment was reduced by 72% and my son was approved for financial aid. So my current student loan payment and my sons tuition is equal to my original student loan payment! Isn't God great?

I didn't try to figure anything out I turned it over to God believing in faith that all was well! And all things have worked together for me and Remington's good! He is in a school that he enjoys, he has made friends and the school has an excellent involved staff and I am an involved parent.

Faith Works....you have to step out on Faith and Believe and not DOUBT....Keep your Eyes on Jesus and don't look at anything else I am a witness that Faith Works! And don't try to figure it out on your own let the Word do the work for you....

NOTE: NACA WWW.NACA.COM is an organization that assist low to moderate income people with purchasing homes, no $ down, no closing costs. There is no income requirement to qualify. If you are currently renting and thinking about owning I encourage you to visit the website and attend an informational meeting.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

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2011-07-14T09:04:00.001-05:00

You guys/gals gotta check out the College Answers engine. It's like Yahoo! Answers but for College related stuff.

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2011-07-14T09:03:00.001-05:00

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FREE SUMMER FUN & GREAT DEALS

2011-07-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

Yes, I said FREE 99 LOL.....

If you and your children like to bowl check out www.kidsbowlfree.com various locations in multiple states across the US. Kids bowl free 2 hours daily until September 1st and for an optional additional $24.95 4 adults can join them.

Also teenagers 13 to 18 I believe can sign-up to bowl free at Brunkswick visit www.brunswickzone.com for more information.

Also visit www.freemania.com and sign-up to receive daily updates. For example Monday 7/11 gave out free slurpees and today Panda Express is offering Free Garlic Chicken with any purchase (yes I will be in line!)

These sites aren't free but a great way to save $ Groupon, KGB Deals, Living Social, and Youswoop.com just to name a few!

Hey if you know of any other websites offering information on free activities, food etc. please respond and let us all know.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

HAVE FAITH IN GOD!

2011-07-13T08:18:00.003-05:00

Mark 11: 20 - 24 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

This passage in Mark 11 picks up after Jesus cursed a fig tree that did not bare fruit. The disciples were shocked the next day when the tree had withered from the roots. It was as if they were in awe. Although they'd been walking with Jesus and seeing for themselves the miracles he performed for some reason they were surprised the next day that the tree Jesus cursed actually withered. Jesus had a simple response Have Faith In God!

What does it mean to Have Faith In God? Believe His word and speak His word. God is not moved by tears, crying, yelling, and screaming, He is moved by His Word. We must stand on the promises of God and speak His Word. For God is not like man He cannot lie. So when His Word is spoken boldly, with faith, hope, belief and confidence He is faithful and just to deliver.

That is why it is SO SO SO SO very important to only speak His Word. For when you speak you want your words to have power and you want what you say to come to pass.

Now I hear you, you are saying oh I have faith in God. Is that so? Let me give you a quiz and see if any of these statements apply to you...

I don't know how.....
I am worried about....
I don't have enough money....
I'm not sure how I am going to make it...
Bad things always happen to me....
I don't have any luck...
I have (fill in any disease or sickness)...

If you hear yourself beginning any sentence with the above my answer to you is Have Faith In God! And if you are wondering what you can say in place of the above, here are some scriptures to start with:

do not worry about what you will eat, wear, or where you will live but seek 1st the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all good things will be added on to you. (see Matthew 6)

And my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches (see Philippians 4)

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want (see Psalm 23)

Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not see (see Hebrews 11)

I encourage you when you think a negative thought, before speaking it or "telling it like it is" speak what is true and that is the WORD of God ONLY!

Then I encourage you to wake up each day and Thank God for His blessing, anointing, favor and hedge of protection. I beg of you to plead the blood over you finances, home, children, career/job/business etc. I think you get the point. Make it a daily action and it will become a habit and ultimately your way of life.

Yes I know I seem to repeat a lot in my posts. I also used to wonder why my Pastor goes over the same thing constantly then I had to remind myself 1. There is only 1 Bible 2. Until we get what is said, live it and embody it, it must be repeated to us!

If God said it that is it, it is already done, walk in Victory even before the battle is over! Have Faith in God!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

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2011-07-05T13:13:00.001-05:00

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THE DOCTOR SAID....

2011-06-30T08:58:00.008-05:00

A close family member called me yesterday and told me that the doctor said I have_____. I said oh wow and then they followed it up by saying yes ______ runs in our family. At the time I didn't agree or disagree I just listened. Nevertheless I immediately began thinking about the Word and what the Word says.

Sometimes people need a listening ear, they don't always need to be "beat over the head with scripture." Consequently, this conversation had thoughts racing through my head and inspired me to blog. I received my confirmation this morning when I opened up my daily Word for Joel Osteen and saw this scripture “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God...” 1 Peter 4:11, NKJV

It is interesting talking to Bible believing, faith walking, Christian spiritual men and woman of God and hearing them speak things contrary to the Word. The importance of speaking the Word and speaking the Word only, that should be every Christians lifestyle. For the Word says in Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Jesus spoke this after being tempted by the devil to turn stone into bread. For Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and was hungry. Whew that just sparked something else in me, thank you, Holy Spirit. The enemy will tempt you to do something when he feels that you are desperate or in need! Jesus could have very well turned the stone to bread after all he turned water to wine. Nevertheless, he had nothing to prove to the devil and everything to lose had he succumb to the temptation.

Ok now let me get back on track. Man is to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. So if we are to live off of the Word of God, no man of any profession should be able to tell us anything contrary to the Word of God that we accept as truth. This is something that I myself am working on and it applies to what we say about ourselves as well as others. Scripture says that the just live by faith and that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. I encourage all reading this that whatever you may be going through go to the Word, find the Word that applies to your situation, speak the Word and let God do the work until the Words that you speak alter the world around you.

Now back to this doctor business....So, the doctor says that you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis and then you turn around and tell others I have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis... Right there you took ownership of something not of God and contrary to the Word. Were there sick people in the bible yes they were but Jesus.

Matthew 9:35 "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness."

Luke 4:40 "When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them."

Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

The bible speaks healing, it says by his stripes we are healed. So when the doctor gives you a diagnosis, instead of claiming it speak the Word. Can you tell people that you have been diagnosed with something. Of course you can however, I encourage you to tell someone that will speak the Word over your life and pray your healing in the name of Jesus. Not someone that will say oh my Lord, well child you know so and so has that too and my is it hard on them and you know that runs in our family.

Who's family?

If you are a bible believing, baptized Christian that is filled with the Holy Ghost, your father is Heaven and his name is Yahweh, your brother is Jesus and I guarantee you no sickness, disease, lack, poverty, depression, or anything negative runs in that family!!!!

Romans 8:17 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - disease, sickness, lack, etc. is not sharing in God's glory that is my belief and I stand on it.

Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ," - we are citizens of heaven and I firmly believe and know there is no sickness, disease, lack, depression or anything of any kind of that sort up there and that is where your citizenship is, not here on earth.

John 14:12

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." - in our Father's House, our Father has everything that we need for he is our creator.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - new creature, your family line starts with God then Christ so nothing runs in your family but Faith, Blessings, Love, Peace, Joy, Prosperity, Abundance, Healing, Grace, and Mercy to name a few.

So what am I saying? “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God...” 1 Peter 4:11, NKJV

What does that mean?

"Today, remember, you are God’s voice in the earth. When you speak to others, declare what God would say about them. Let your words be used to bring life, hope and blessing. Speak as the oracles of God and be His mouthpiece everywhere you go." Joel Osteen

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

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Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN?

2011-06-27T12:24:00.004-05:00

The more I go through life, the more the Word of God continues to confirm its validity in my life.
There is one scripture that always allows me to put whatever situation I am in into perspective,
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose." All things - all things means ALL not some of the things in our lives but all of the things that we go through work together for our good.

The key is to remain steadfast and faithful to the Word of God and stand on His promises when faced with adversity, trials, or an uncomfortable situation.

How does this fit into the Why Rent When You Can Own topic, well, last week I was listening to Bill Winston and he said stop trying to figure things out with your natural mind and trust God. In the natural you would tell me that one must put 20% down on a home, have a credit score of 700+ and plenty of money saved in the bank to purchase a home. If you don't have 20% to put down you have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance on top of your mortgage payment.

So there are more than likely hundreds of thousands of Americans who believe that home ownership is just another part of the American Dream they may not experience. Nevertheless they are renting and paying anywhere from $750 to $3,000K/month here in Chicago that is. Naturally one would assume their rent payment would exceed what they are currently paying for rent.

Well let me introduce you to NACA - Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America www.naca.com

NACA is a great program that allows people to buy homes with NO Money Down and NO Closing Costs. How is that possible you may ask? I encourage you to visit their website, do your due diligence and if you are interested in buying a home attending one of their workshops. Whether you are on SSI or get a regular paycheck, whether you make $15/hour or 6 figures you can inquire about and use NACA to purchase a home as long as you don't own one right now.

So again, take the time to visit www.naca.com, if you are looking for a sign from God, here it is.

Why rent when you can own? For a bonus, also look into Individual Development Accounts - there may be a program in your area that will match your savings dollar for dollar or more towards the purchase of your new home visit http://cfed.org/programs/idas/

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials

STEVIE WILLIAMS - SKATE BOARD EVENT

2011-06-22T10:48:00.003-05:00

CERTIFIED ENTERTAINMENT AND SWANK PR
PRESENT

THE SKATE BOARD EVENT OF 2011

JOIN DGK'S STEVIE WILLIAMS
SATURDAY, JULY 2ND FROM 4P TO 8P
at
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General Admission: Includes Free Skate for All and Activities
VIP Admission: Includes Free Skate, Meet and Greet, as well as a Skate Clinic with Stevie Williams.
Raffle with prizes

For any questions concerning this event please contact Certified Entertainment via email at epiphanyessentials@yahoo.com or Swank Publishing (media inquiries only) b.gatlin@swankpublishing.com

All sales are final, in the event this event is cancelled for any reason all monies will be refunded.

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