AZA Means Strength

In the book, Beyond the Pews, by Amy Ekwegh, you will feel compelled, convicted, motivated and remorseful. It takes the reader from a place of contentment and allows one to have a self-check on where he/she stand in the church ministry. From start to finish, I saw myself in each scenario mentioned in this book. Beyond the Pews is an easy and quick read. Once you start, you will not want to put the book down and can be read in a day. Ekwegh used biblical reference to prove the Christian's purpose goes beyond attending a church service. I do feel that there were some parts where the book became redundant. There were many mentions of “not leaning on others and having the will to go into prayer for yourself” and “having the faith to continue the Christian walk”. It would have been nice to see a chapter on Prayer and one on Faith to sum up those thoughts. For this reason, I would rate the book a 3 out of 5. No matter your position in the church, you will feel motivated to do more for th...

We all need to be reminded every now and then that we can do whatever we put our minds to, however, we have to put the thoughts and dreams to action. Don't sit on your gift. Go and do what you have been purposed to do. Believe in yourself and make it happen!

I know we never do this or express ourselves publicly, but I wanted to make sure that my words captured my heart's words. I want you to know that you mean the world to me. You are exactly who I need in this cold and hateful world. You keep me balanced, you keep me mellow, with your cool and calming demeanor. You make me feel that everything will be alright in the world. You are the epitome of what love is. Despite our ups and downs,  you love me. We basically grew up together and we are thick as thieves. When things are bad, they're bad but they could always be worse. We always seem to make it through. You are an awesome father to our sons. They admire you so much. You make them so proud and they're so happy to call you daddy! You are everything I prayed for. God reminded me of this. When I was at the point of giving up on us. God sat me down and listed everything I asked for in a husband and more and the list pointed out all of your attributes and characteristics. God had ...

Has there ever been a time in your life where everything felt routine? Going to work, church, taking care of your family, paying bills, it just seems like everything is on autopilot. You know you need a break in routine, but you just don’t know how to do it. I have been feeling like this lately, especially in ministry. I just want to tell everyone, my pastor, church friends, my family, that I need a break from all of them. I just want to take some Sundays off and get way and find some time to reflect. The problem is, when I get back from reflecting, the routine begins again. So I begin to ask myself, what does this mean? What do I need to do differently to break this routine. Something came to me so clearly, I need to take a break from everything else and allow time with God. I have felt like this before, and the one thing that I remember doing to get out of this rut was getting closer to God. Getting rid of the distractions and just allowing God to speak to me an...

We all have experienced hurt or will be hurt by someone we love, whether it be our parents, close friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse sibling. Someone will hurt us. The true test comes after the pain. How do you move on? How can you still love someone who has hurt you to your core?  I used to talk with others about my problems, but I realized early on that most of those people either talked about my problems to someone else or they just needed some entertainment in their boring lives. Now, I pray. I know, how cliche huh? But prayer is the one thing that brings me peace. It's the only thing that can calm my heart and help me to forgive.  Life is too short to relive old hurts. When I find myself going down that path of reminiscing on the past, I remember Hebrews 10: 35-36, "Do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised.  In repairing a relationship, it...

For those who really know me, you know that I am a very private person. I do not share personal things about myself. If I share anything on Facebook it will, pictures of my family, things about my children's silly behavior, etc., but nothing really personal. This time I am doing things a little different. I have found that it's best to give people their roses while they are still alive. I want my family to know who they are to me. I do not want to have to express this at a funeral or I pass away and never have the opportunity to tell them any of these things. I want to talk with my family and express myself to them in this open letter. I know many of you reading this will wonder why would I put anything concerning the family on the internet? I know you will ask, why didn't you just tell us this over the phone? I am doing it this way because I want to express myself to you in a way that you all have never seen me before. First off, I want to say that I love you all. In one...

If there are poor among you, in one of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be selfish or greedy toward them. But give freely to them, and freely lend them whatever they need. ~Deuteronomy 15: 7-8 Serving others is one of the best ways a Christian can walk like Christ. The book of Ephesians 2:10 states “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God knew before we were born that we were created to serve. Our very purpose is to serve in one capacity or another. What area you are to serve in is a question you need to ask God. Maybe you already know, but you are just scared to take that leap of faith. Our word also tells us that God has not given us the spirit of fear…your service to others may spark your true calling. Maybe you are assisting with the Children’s Ministry, although you are only there to assist, you find that your true passion is in teaching or tr...

I wanted to share my published article on www.logospost.com. I hope you enjoy! The Heart of Worship When you think of worship, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I used to think that worship was just listening to a Christian song and feeling good inside afterwards. As a mature Christian, I understand that worship is much deeper than that. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes worship as [the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god: the act of worshipping God or a god]. According to John 4: 23-24; “The time is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here today. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” True worship is surrendering everything to God. Well what does that mean? I’m glad you asked! Surrendering everything means giving God your...

I hope you had an awesome day and start to your week!

mo·ti·va·tion ˌmōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/ noun the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. "escape can be a strong motivation for travel" synonyms: motive , motivating force,  incentive ,  stimulus , stimulation,  inspiration , inducement ,  incitement ,  spur ,  reason ;  informal carrot "his motivation was financial" the general desire or willingness of someone to do something. "keep staff up to date and maintain interest and motivation" synonyms: enthusiasm ,  drive ,  ambition ,  initiative ,  determination ,  enterprise ; informal get-up-and-go "keep up the staff's motivation" What is your  Remember the following and you will go far... "You are confined by the walls you build yourself"

You made my whole being; you informed me in my mother's body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. ~Psalms 139: 13-14 Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. ~Matthew 10: 29-31 You are God's children whom he loves, so try to be like him. Live a life of love just like Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God. ~Ephesians 5: 1-2

People are always concerned about what others think, what others are doing. If the next person is doing better than them. They want to know if their cars are better, job is better, if the next person makes more money, marriage is better, children are better, etc. Why? Why do these things matter? Why do people try so hard to be accepted? You want to know the answer...It's because of the Spirit of Rejection. What is the Spirit of Rejection....you ask? Well let me tell you. Rejection is something that steals life. It keeps people from moving forward. Rejection says, "I'm not good enough, so why do I even try". It can also say, "I just want to be accepted, so I will do whatever to fit it." Rejection will break you down and make you feel worthless. Rejection will cause you to walk out of your purpose. Rejection is a Liar! Why give into rejection? Because when someone has been told something for so long, they believe it. It becomes apart of their DNA. It m...

I have gone through so much from the last time I wrote a post! I opened and closed a boutique, I have a second child who is now 1, who was diagnosed with double hearing loss, I attend a new church (been there since 2013) and I am quitting my job so that my husband and I can start our business together. In the midst of all of these transitions, my faith has definitely been tested. But I can honestly say that through each transition, I have grown so much. I know more about myself and I have learned to appreciate my experiences (the good and the bad). I know that with the next chapter I write, I will have endured and grown so much and it's with my faith that I know I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength to get through! I know that someone reading this right now maybe wondering, why you are going through your trials. Or maybe you're wondering when will you to catch a break? I am here to tell you that it is your faith during the tough times that...

Do you know that feeling you get when you have done something right? You feel that every decision that you've made was correct or you gave some needed advice? It's a great feeling huh? Living up to your own expectations and standards is the best thing that anyone can do. All decisions that you've made were based off of previous experiences of your self or something you've seen someone else go through. You smile to yourself and pat yourself on the back! But what do you do when you do not make all of the right decisions or you gave the wrong advice? How do you treat yourself then? We all have the tendency to be harder on ourselves than anyone else, and often times do not think that we are worthy of anything. Or even worst, we allow others perception of us dictate who we are and who we will become. I have learned through the years that when others are not happy with who they are, they try to put their perception of themselves on you. Often times, their perceptions and our ...

Employ the power of positive quitting. Most of us view quitting as something negative, but it’s not. ‘Winners never quit,’ we’re told, when, in reality, winners quit all the time: choosing to stop doing things that aren’t creating the results they desire. When you quit all the things that aren’t working for you, when you quit tolerating all the negative things that hold you back, you’ll create a positive ‘charge’ in your life as well as create the space in your life for more positive experiences. "I like thinking of possibilities. At any time, an entirely new possibility is liable to come along and spin you off in an entirely new direction. The trick, I've learned, is to be awake to the moment." -- Doug Hall Persons and societies do not submit passively to surroundings and events. They make choices as to the places where they live and the activities in which they engage -- choices based on what they want to be, to do and to become. Furthermore, persons and societies...

"One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star." -- Nietzsche Where do you need to do some ‘out of the box’ thinking and living? We are creatures of habit, of patterns. While initially the habits may have served us, they may now be limiting our ability to experience more of life. What aspect of your life has become routine? How might you bring new life to it? Do some outrageous dreaming! Then do something completely different today. "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." -- George Washington Carver

There have been so many people who have lost their jobs, with losing their jobs, they have lost their homes, their cars and so many other things that they have worked hard for. Losing everything is hard to accept and at times some are not able to move on because they become depressed about the situation and feel that there is no hope. I know that this may seem easier said than done, but moving on is needed. I have said often times in the past that God allows one door to close for another one to open and with every experience there is a lesson learned. We learn about ourselves, the situation and what we are capable of. When I made the decision to start my own business, I knew that it would take a lot of work, patience and understanding of myself and others. I made this decision to work for myself when I worked for an employer that mandated overtime and gave me hours that took me away from my family. I made the decision that I wanted to have the flexibility and freedom to set my own hou...

Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him . I thought about that smile then I realized its worth, A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth. So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

Procrastination seriously drains our energy and our morale. What remains undone nags at us.  What are you avoiding? Make a list of items and then review each one. Does it really need to be done? After you've reviewed your list, prioritize it and start one task today.  Please do not procrastinate taking one minute to write down your answer to this question. Capture it on paper and this will help build awareness, commitment and discipline. "The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started." -- Dawson Trotman

“Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.”                       ~ Mother Teresa We live in a time where people do not see the value in others. There are so many people who are concerned with the needs of self that they turn away from the needs of others. There is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr that stands out to me, "Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." Giving back does not require much, all you have to do...