Oprah, the Good Witch

Oprah Winfrey

(Deep Breath) Ok, I’m a little disappointed this evening.  Funny thing is that I don’t know if I’m disappointed with myself or with the subject.  Can’t say that I am surprised because I’m not, but I’d have to admit that over the last few months as I’ve been building J. Morris Public Relations (JMPR) I have tuned into Oprah just about every day since my business went full time.  It’s ironic that the day I opened the doors to JMPR was also the day that Oprah launched her new network OWN.  I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve enjoyed watching Oprah operate her billion dollar enterprise on her show Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes.  She’s taught me quite a few things on how to operate my business.  And so, since it is the 25^th (an LAST) season of Oprah’s show, I’ve been quite engrossed and have shed a tear or two.

So today, with just 3 days left on the air, Oprah had the first part of a two-day finale which featured a roster of superstars from Patti Labelle, to Diane Sawyer, to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.   In the first segment of the show Tom Hanks, the emcee, expounded on how great Oprah is and how much she has done for this world, not just for white suburban women as a lot of us try to argue.   But what disappointed me with Tom’s accolades was that he compared Oprah to Glenda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz.  What was even more surprising is that Oprah concurred that over the years she’s looked at herself as “Glenda” because she has reminded us that the power is within us, as Glenda did at the end of the Wizard of Oz.

Now, I’d be the first to say that I loves me some Wizard of Oz.  Well, actually I love The Wiz, the Black version made over by Quincy Jones and Diana Ross.  But I love The Wiz because the storyline gives countless messages about the new age “church” movement that has a lot of us fooled.  That’s another entry.  I promise you that I ain’t going there today.  But the point is, is that I love The Wiz because of its deep messages.  But I need to be clear with you that the part with Glenda at the end vexes me.  I don’t care how beautiful Lena Horne and those babies are……a witch, IS A WITCH. 

Today, Oprah comparing herself to Glenda has shed some light on what a lot of ministers of the Gospel have been saying for years.  That she is a witch.  A part of a witch’s brew is to control your mind to get to your spirit man.  Because once the spirit man is in captive there is access to the soul, where the spirit dwells.  And you know that once you sell your soul to satan his mission is to finish you before you can be redeemed to Christ. 

If you’ve followed me over the years from my blog Jill Revealed, then you probably remember an entry I did back in 2008 called Luvs Me Some Oprah.   I knew then that Oprah was on some deep stuff and was working overtime to pull in her flock.  Who knew that she was closing down shop and was trying to do some last minute stuff.  I hate to think that way, but you gotta admit that over the years Oprah has dismissed Christ and have been on a deep dark spiritual journey of worshipping her inner self that has her lost somewhere in the universe. 

The confusing part with all of this is that, like Glenda the Good Witch, Oprah has delivered us some powerful messages that seem to be God sent.   I mean, both Glenda (although a fictional character) and Oprah have had the same message that Christ has been telling us since He walked on the face of this earth (and now through His Word)……that the power is in us and all we have to do is just BELIEVE.  But the difference is that there is a power of darkness and a power of light.  Which one is Oprah telling us to believe? 

Well, since Oprah says she is Glenda the Good Witch I’m reminded of the song that the good witch (Lena Horne) sung at the end of The Wiz called “If You Believe”.   These are some of the lyrics:

If you believe
Within your heart
You'll know that no one can change
The path that you must go
Believe what you feel
And know you're right because
The time will come around
When you'll say it's yours

Believe in yourself
Right from the start
Believe in the magic
Right there in your heart
Go ahead believe all these things

I sure hate to go here but these lyrics are contrary to the Word of God.  First off, the Bible teaches us not to live according to how we FEEL.  (Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. –Romans 8:8).  But then she talks about believing in magic.  MAGIC?  Did I really overlook magic as I’ve been singing these lyrics for decades? (Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. –Ezekiel 13:20-21).

And then you know what the Word says about the HEART and how we should not be following it, not to mention the “magic” in it (the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? –Jeremiah 17:9.  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. –Proverbs 28:26).

Then the song talks about believing in THINGS that are in our hearts.  The Bible tells us to believe in Him, not in things. (Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  –Matthew 6:19-21).

So I guess I’m a little disappointed because………..because everything about Oprah seems right and I really want to believe that she has good Godly intentions.  Perhaps Oprah going off the air is a work of the Lord.  It’s ironic that her new network is powerless.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. –Proverbs 14:12

The Power of Words



Sonny, Cher, and Chasity
(now "Chaz")

This morning while getting dressed for an appointment I was listening to Wendy Williams as she interviewed Chaz Bono.   If you’re not familiar with Chaz, she/he is the daughter/son of Cher and the late Sonny Bono.  I say she/he because recently Chaz has been all over the news, even has a show on OWN, discussing her transformation from woman to man.  According to the interview she hasn’t had, and probably will not have, the organ surgery.  But she has been on some deep transformation drugs that is twisting and turning her hormones.

Now, if you’ve grown up in the 70s, like me, then you’d understand the disappointment from a lot of us.   I remember the Sonny and Cher show, and little Chasity (her birth name) making her little debut on stage.  Talk about the cutest little girl.  Too cute.

Yes, Chaz was cute indeed.  But in this entry I’m not gonna be cruel to her, nor am I gonna point a finger about her lifestyle.  Nope.  Not me.  Can’t say that I support the gay lifestyle because I do believe that it is a strong demonic attack on the human race, and has the “potential” of wreaking havoc on all those associated with it (I'm speaking of those lying and deceitful DL brothas).  But nonetheless I love gays and my heart goes out to them.  I can’t imagine the inner turmoil they feel and have to go through on a day-to-day in this mean and wicked world.  Especially when being gay is an “offer you can’t refuse” and an almost non-negotiable thing.  At least that’s what I believe. 

I firmly believe that satan carefully and shrewdly negotiates one’s soul (not just gays) in order to block their God intended purpose in life.  If satan can get them off course and thinking that they are something other than what God ordained them to be then he knows he has conquered his plan.  And I say he shrewdly does it because he catches most folk before they can even comprehend what life is about.  I’m one of the few Christians who believe that a person can be born gay.  And that's because we are all born into a sinful world. 

A few years ago I heard a recording of a pastor who was addressing a bunch of men at a men’s conference.  And what he said was soooo profound as he ministered to those who were dealing with homosexuality.  He said that even when a mother is pregnant everything and everybody she associates with, directly and indirectly, can have a direct effect on the growth of her unborn child.

To take it even further, whatever the mother is dealing with is “downloaded” into the child.  So, as the example the pastor gave, if the pregnant mother already has a little boy and wants a little girl she can speak those characteristics into her fetus.  And so the pastor talked about how the power of the tongue and speaking into life can have such a profound effect.  Many times negatively.

And so as I was listening to Chaz talk on Wendy Williams this morning it didn’t surprise me with a couple things she said.  The first thing she said was that when she was in elementary school one day her mother dressed her up in a “girly” outfit and sent her to school.  When her friends saw her, who were little boys, they clowned her asking her why she was dressed up “like a girl.”  She said that upset her so much making her hate girly clothes.  In fact, she said that she doesn’t even remember herself being a little girl.  It’s quite odd that she can’t remember herself being a little girl and many of us can.  Talk about erasing life's tape. Wow.

The second thing she said was that a few years ago she and her longtime girlfriend had a huge argument and in that argument her girlfriend told her that she was living a lie and should come out and be who she really was---a man.  Now I ain’t passing judgment on Chaz’s girlfriend but satan will send folk posing as “loved ones” in order to fulfill his plan.  Again, not saying that the girlfriend was on assignment from satan, but for her to have that much effect on Chaz’s life making her turn into a man it makes you wonder how twisted she is.  I laughed when Wendy called the girlfriend gay and Chaz corrected her saying that she is "bi-sexual".  Yeah right. 

Now again, I’m not gonna pass judgment, but I am gonna give my opinion.  And that’s because Chaz is not the only one going through this.  There are lots of us (well a lot of my associates) who are dealing with loved ones that are struggling with their identity and trying to explore a lifestyle that once you get into its hard to get out.  I know many hurt and disappointed folks who are dealing with this.  So I will voice my opinion because I firmly believe that it is a set-up from satan.

Last year, I had a conversation with a gay guy who told me about how his gay lifestyle began (or at least how he thought it did).  This guy said some of the same things Chaz said that basically he had to live totally one way---tying to be this, but is this.  This guy told me that he could not stand being a man while being with a man.  And that's why he was on the verge of getting a sex change until he fully came to Christ and is allowing the Lord to deal with him and his daily struggle. 

But he, too, said as early as he knew life he knew that he was gay.  It’s ironic that he is the baby of three brothers and his momma probably wanted a girl.  But even if that’s not the case he told me that he remembered one time when he was in the kindergarten and some little boys were picking on him calling him a little girl.  He said that when he went home to cry to his mother she shouted, “you do act like a little girl.”  He said thinking about that incident still hurts him to this day.  This same guy was also with me when we heard the recording of the pastor speaking at the men’s conference and he concurred that when people speak into your life (directly or indirectly) it has an astounding effect if you’re not covered by God’s word.  And when I say covered by His word I mean reading it, understanding it, believing it, speaking it, and incorporating it into your daily life. 

One of my associates posted on Facebook that her six year old daughter came home from school and said, “Mom I want to be a vegetarian because I need to lose weight.”  In the initial thread she seemed to boast about her six year old being familiar with such a big word as “vegetarian”, but then as the thread grew she expressed her concern.  The funny thing is that our mutual friend said that when this associate was pregnant with her daughter her husband jokingly called her fat and it messed her up emotionally.  Said that as soon as she had her baby she didn’t wait for her six week check-up she was working out vigorously in the gym. 

Now I can’t say that we can control every negative word spoken to us or at us, but I firmly believe that if we saturate our lives by speaking positivity then that will outweigh the negativity.  That’s why I’m all for healthy marriages because it takes an emotionally healthy mother and father to speak abundant life into their children; especially since children are greatly affected by their peers.  Not saying that a single parent can’t speak life, but I believe that it’s just a little more challenging when one parent has to continuously stay positive and speak life into their children as they deal with their own personal issues.

But then outside of the household you have to look at the folk you surround yourself with--even as an adult.  I remember when all of my work associates were moving on from the government and doing other things one called me and said, “girl you are going to be in that office for the rest of your life.”  Those words could have negatively affected me.  But I’m so glad that for that one negative comment I had 10 positive ones.   And most importantly, I know the Word and apply it in my daily lifestyle. 

In sum, can’t say what the real reasons why Chaz, and many others, have succumbed to a lifestyle that makes them convinced that they are something other than what God intended them to be because I really don’t know.  But I will say that words have power and I sure hope that people imposing their views on who they think she should be isn’t why she’s putting her physical body in harm’s way to become a man. 

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. –Proverbs 18:21

Can't Give Up Now

God is a trip!  Ok, so it was my plan today (notice how I say “my plan”) to start the day with a nice workout and then hit the town.  Yes, movies and some grub at one of my favorite spots, Gordon Biersch was the plan, indeed.   That’s what I wanted.  And that’s what I wanted to do.  No work.

So I got home from the gym and was about to take a nice quick shower, but before I did I called my other party to make sure we were in sync with our timing.  Not surprised that I was halted with a “I’m running behind.”  I knew that meant wrapped up in the television, so I had no choice but to slow down.  Instead of taking a shower, I decided to take a long hot bath. 

It never fails.  Or should I say, HE never fails.  Every time I get hit with the “slow your roll Jill I’ve got something to say to you” it’s when I’m in a groove doing my thing.  It’s literally like the Lord says, STOP AND LISTEN TO ME!

I knew it was something He wanted to say to me.  Perhaps He’d been wanting to say it for some time now and I’d been clouded with other stuff.  So as I lay in my bubbles, I asked the Lord to speak to me.  I hate missing the Lord’s instructions.  Really, I do.  And it’s really easy to.  And so it was clear He wanted my ear, but even in stop and relax mode I always seem to have things running through my mind. 

In between playing with my wash cloth and blowing bubbles out my view, I tried really hard to stay silent and focus.  But then I saw the flashing red light on my phone.  Flashing red means an email.  I started not to give it attention and didn’t know why I brought the phone in the bathroom with me, but I was led to give it attention.  So I grabbed my phone and what’ll you know.  There was an alert that my domain name for this site, Can’t Give Up Now.com was due to expire in a few days. 

Can I tell you that I have come to love blogging about my Spiritual journey.  I’ve had so many people over the last few years tell me that my entries have blessed them.  Just the other day I felt led to read an entry I made back in 2009 on my previous blog, Jill Revealed, and it blessed me.  I know that writing in this blog is part of ministry and I know that the Lord approves of it. 

But my life has changed so much in the last four months and sometimes I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.  I’m all over the place---mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally.   But perhaps I’ve neglected my total Spiritual being.  This blog helps to nourish my soul. 

So it was obvious that the Lord was trying to get my attention to renew the domain name and pick up writing on this blog again.  The Lord was literally telling me that I cannot give up now.  So when I got dressed, still having some time on my hands, I renewed this domain and made a commitment to continue.   So let me just give you a brief overview of what’s been going on with me.    

Wow!  Has it really been three months since the last time I checked in?!?   When I tell you that so much has been going on, it has.  Alright, so you know I’ve started my business full-time?  Yep, I’m doing what I love, public relations, all day every day.  However, with the passion comes push and so I don’t have to tell you what that is all about.  I mean, talk about grinding.  I’m grinding on a twenty-four hour clock.

So let’s see….I’ve secured a couple clients and have some really cool projects.   Mostly everything I do is mission-focused and/or cause-related, so anything working with families, women, children, and youth I’m passionate about.  But I even got a few men-focused projects that I’m doing, actually a screening of the documentary Men Ain’t Boys next week in Atlanta.  It’s a fundraiser event, in which my client has partnered with a really cool nonprofit organization that focuses on helping men prepare for employment. 

I also have a new coaching program in the works.  It’s great because since I’m focusing on caused-related projects I’ve decided to consult and coach those clients in which my practice focus is not geared to, mainly those clients that have just launched businesses or independent projects.  So that’s working well. 

I’ve also got an ebook that’s coming out in a few weeks entitled, “Straight from the Files:  A Guide to Publicizing Any Person, Product, Service or Event on a Tight Budget!"  I’m really siked about that project and have a lot of interest in it.  And I’m also serving on the board of a really great organization that focuses on child protection.  So my plate is pretty full. 

But I know that the Lord has so much more for me than just public relations and pursuing my passion.   He has ministry assigned to me, as well.  I haven’t forgotten.  I’m still all His and on His path for my life.  And this blog is a part of it.   So, the Lord placed me back here.  Thanks for being patient with a sistah.   Hope to chat tomorrow.

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  –Philippians 1:3-6

Equal, but Separate

Yes, I know the title should be the other way, but yal know there’s always a method to my madness—lol.  So bear with me.  Ok, can we talk today?  Good, cause I’ve got something on my chest that I need to release.  And it’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed. 

A few days ago I’d read a Facebook status from one of my girlfriends that said something like…… “I need a visitation from the Lord because yada, yada”  Then I heard someone say, or sing, “I need a touch from you, Lord.”  Now, I’ve being hearing these types of come by here my Lord talks for years.  But we really need to talk about these clichés that have formed into our belief systems that are causing some real havoc in our lives.

Ok, was I the only one tuned in to The Mo’Nique Show tonight?  Didn’t think so.  Ok, did Tye Tribbett do his thang or what?!?!?!?  The thing I’ve always loved about Tye, Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond (hope I’m not forgetting anybody else) is that these brothas live the Word.  Every time I see these brothas on television, or in concert, they always apply the Word to their personal situation instead of using it as a tool to make others feel inferior or shamed. 

And so as I was watching The Mo’Nique Show tonight I was so happy that Tye had quoted one of my absolute favorite scriptures in the Bible…..where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20).  I love when grace is taught because it reminds me that I’m not perfect, but that God is.  What Tye quoted was a portion of the scripture on grace.  This scripture actually talks about us not being able to out-sin God’s grace.  But Tye had talked about his personal situation of being in a dark place where He said that a lot of times we ask the Lord to take us out of a dark place, but that sometimes the Lord keeps us there to remind us that He’s there with us. 

Before I go any further let me give you the entire scripture as quoted in Romans. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  –Romans 5:20

Ok, since the word “righteousness” is quoted in this scripture let me talk about righteousness really quick.  I promise all of this will tie together.  

So many people are TRYING to gain confidence in their own righteousness when they are really missing the point of what it really means to be righteous.  Good people, we can ONLY become righteous when we live by faith.  So basically, if you are a BELIEVER you have gained righteousness.  It doesn’t go away, nor do you have to strive for it, nor do you have to try to stay on a certain bedazzled path.  AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE IN CHRIST YOU ARE LIVING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS!  So take it easy with all the striving and trying to get it right.

So this takes me to my point. When you say stuff like……I need a touch from the Lord or an encounter or a visitation these imply that you are living separate from your God.  When you truly accept Christ in your life, you are made complete.  Whole.  Therefore, he ain’t the mailman or your baby daddy dropping in and out of your life to give special deliveries.  He’s there ALWAYS.  As Tye said…..even in our darkest hours He is there.  The thing is…..when we are in those types of low situations that’s when we should be reminded that we can really rest in, and depend on, God.

In the natural, I always look at my relationship with God as if it were my family member, or better yet my husband (future husband--lol).  When I’m in my darkest, emotional, neediest hour---going through on the job or what have you---the one thing that I’m confident about is that I can find rest and peace in my mate’s arms knowing that he’s gonna do whatever he can to shield me from losing myself in the situation.  He's just not gonna allow destruction to wipe the one he loves out.  Not gonna happen.  Imagine it.  I’ve experienced this assurance with a boyfriend, so I can only imagine what my trust and dependence on my husband will be like.  Now, if I were going through a bad situation in which I felt like I was in the bottom of a pit, what I don’t need to do is keep calling my husband to come see about me.  And I don’t have to worry about waiting for my husband to show up to my house to give me comfort, cause guess what…….dude LIVES with me.  He’s a resident.  We are one.  What I feel, he feels.  All I need to do is rest in his love and protection for me.

I think sometimes we need to be reminded of how God operates in the Spirit with natural scenarios because it helps us to understand that sometimes our reality is God’s truth.  But this can only happen when you dig into the Word.  Now I’m not saying for you to equate a human being to a sovereign God.  But to get a perspective use a real life example to help you interpret God’s Word.  The Bible uses this example when it says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church.  Putting God's Word in my real life helps me.  I knew when I was walking through the wilderness and crossing my Jordan.  And I felt when I entered into the Promised Land.  And you can’t tell me I ain’t Ruth being positioned for my Boaz---lol.  I apply the Word to every area of my life.  It is truly my daily bread.  I laugh at people on Facebook throwing scriptures at folk.  I'm like....girl if you know like I know you'd eat that yourself--lol.   

What I absolutely love about Christianity is that it’s the only “religion”, if you will, where God comes down to us through the Holy Spirit to help us live this earthly experience.  All other religions are trying mystic-types of practices and rituals to try to reach up to God.  When all they have to do is accept Him through Christ, which is through His Holy Spirit.  God actually came down in human form, through Christ Jesus, to show us how to live in the flesh.  And He didn’t stop there.  When He ascended back to heaven He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us so that we can live our lives in rest with Him being our navigation system.  How cool is that!

It always baffles me that church folk say they have a relationship with God, but they operate separate from Him.  And I fault the church for instilling this in us---well we ought to read the Word for ourselves----but we tend to believe everything our pastor says so yes, I fault the new age movement (I can’t even call it church anymore).   I remember my former pastor would say, “God visited this place last night and some of you missed your blessing because you weren’t here to receive it.”  For so long I used to walk around in guilt trying to make every church service so that I wouldn’t miss a word.  But then it hit me……if God was there and I was home, that meant God didn’t really live in me as the Bible says.  Somebody was lying.

I remember one time, years ago, I was at my ex’s house and his mother, a devoted church worker, was dressing to go out with her best girlfriend.  And I remember me and my ex were sitting in the basement watching television and his mom came downstairs to show us her outfit and I remember she told my ex, “your father thinks I’m just going to dinner.  Don’t tell him I’m going to a cabaret.  Shucks, I need balance.”  I never forgot that.  I was so disappointed in her, and looked at her differently.  Here we were trying to live “righteous” and getting daily “godly living” teachings from her and she was clearly putting her “righteousness” on the shelf for the evening in front of us.  If that wasn’t bad enough, we couldn’t wait for her to leave so that we could hit the bedroom---lol.

There’s so many things that were wrong with all of this, but my point is……we should never feel like we have to sacrifice our God in order to have a nice evening with friends.  Nor should we ever feel like we have to be holy in front of church folk when we know what really goes on when we are free from their view.  There are so many lies and deceit in “trying” to live a godly life.  For one, we’re lying to ourselves.  And two, we’re deceiving others.  I know darn well I ain’t the only one who was ashamed for my pastor and fellow church members to know the real me. Talk about bondage.

I don’t know about you, but I was killing myself “trying” to be righteous and “trying” to live right, not to mention that every week I was at the altar asking God to “come back” cause I was sorry for…..simply living life.  I remember me and my two best girlfriends used to be at the altar for every little thing asking God to forgive us and come back.  If we went bowling and met some guys, we repented.  If we went to dinner and had a strawberry daiquiri, we repented.  And God forbid if we fornicated---we thought we had purchased the basement apartment in hell and was begging God not to send us there early---lol.  It was a horrible way to live.  Because we had bought into the belief that we were here and God was there, and that if we got on God’s bad side we would lose Him and be doomed for destruction.  The truth is….I really wasn’t a believer back then.  Because if I truly believed I would’ve applied His Word that says…..I will never leave you nor forsake you--low I am with you ALWAYS (Hebrews 13:5).

Today, I stopped saying “my walk with God”.  Because although that sounds real deep like me and Him are like that where we can have walks and talks….that is not the type of covenant I have with God. See, me walking beside God, or even if He is walking in front of me, leaves me too much free will to do things MY way.  Now, in my relationship with God I know that, I know that, God walks IN ME.  He is actually ordering my steps from the inside. He’s not a separate entity from me.

And so yes, whatever I do and wherever I go.....He’s with me.  Even when I have those weak fleshly moments where I need a human touch being a single sistah......God is there.  But what makes me yield to temptation is, not that I'm superwoman and trying to be a super saint, but because I know God is in me and is feeling everything I’m going through.  It hurts me to know that my loving God tells me in His Word not to engage in this type of activity, but I choose to indulge anyway---cause we still have free will to choose.  But it really makes me stop and think twice.  It’s just like if your husband/wife says if you cheat on me I will not leave you and will always love you with open arms.  And one day you cheat with a temporary fling and your mate is watching you.  That’s the picture I get.  And that hurts me to know that I'm hurting the one I love.  And that’s what draws me closer to God and want to follow His will.  His love truly keeps me, not my perfection. 

At the same time, I’m human.  And I’m not perfect.  And sometimes I want to sin.  Let’s be real, here.  The Word says that we will fall, but that when we fall it is prayed that our faith fail not. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31) Unfortunately, we all have sinned and fall short, but it’s great to know that God’s grace is so much greater than our sins---meaning again, that we can never out-sin God’s grace.  That’s what His word says.  And I absolutely loved it when Tye Tribbett reminded me of that. 

So chill the freak out and live life!!!!  And stop hitting me up on Facebook asking me dumb questions like, "why you leave such and such church?"  I left that church of bondage to embrace God!!!  How bout that. 

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.  –Romans 3:22-25

Zodiac Signs Change

Yal know I am cracking up!  I’m so glad to be a Jesus groupie!  If you haven’t heard, in the last day or so CNN released a report that the zodiac sign we thought we were under may not be so.  For instance, for those who thought they were a Virgo are now Leos, according to the Minnesota Planetarium Society, as reported by CNN.   

In the last 24 hours, folk on Facebook and Twitter have been going through major identity crises.  My cousin said “What am I supposed to do with my Capricorn tattoo!”  I cried laughing.  On a sad note, I was taken when one of the “ministers” on Facebook who always tries to point out what others are doing wrong by quoting scriptures, expressed her disappointment and vowed that she will always be a Scorpio no matter who says what.  That made me sad.  Because I had just thought earlier in the week that how in the world can people profess to be Christians, quote scriptures like they’re beating folk over the head, but then every morning post their horoscope?  It baffles me. 

According to the CNN report, there was a new zodiac sign named Ophiuchus that has entered the planets (or stars—I have no clue how it all works and don’t care to know), which has caused a major shift in the other signs.  However, astrologers are saying that this new sign isn’t new at all.  The story is that way back when somebody decided that they only wanted 12 zodiac signs and left off the 13^th one---Ophiuchus.   What’s spooky about Ophiuchus is that it has something to do with snakes, in which I’m really not buying into.  Ironically, my supposedly sign of Aquarius hasn’t changed according to the new and old system.  But since my little sister’s supposedly new sign is Ophiuchus I’m really convinced that this zodiac stuff is a bunch of bullcrap. 

From what I understand, astrology is geocentric.  It relates to life on earth and earth’s environment.  It heavily relies on the seasons.  And so depending on the month/day you were born the moon/sun are positioned in a certain way that is supposed to dictate your character.  Many folk rely on, and worship, their zodiac sign.  Thank God my family never got us into them.  I will say that I do believe that zodiac signs have power.  It is affiliated with satanic powers, like tarot cards, ouji boards, palm reading, etc. The sad part is that it is masked as something “good”.  That’s why we were taught to stay away from it.  I will not submit myself under that power. 

I mean, we were well aware of what our supposedly zodiac sign was/is, just as we are our birthstone, but never to the point where we depended on it by subjecting to its character traits or relying on our horoscopes.  We were always taught, and relied upon, Biblical principles.  And it has always been our belief, according to the Word, that you can either submit to the earth (the world’s system) or God.  God is not the earth.  He is the maker of the heavens and the earth.  I’d rather rely on the Maker.

A funny story, when I was about 14 years old me and my first cousin had spent the summer with my grandparents in New York.  And that summer the church had planned this big trip to Six Flags Great Adventure for all the youth.  We were too excited.  The day before the trip, my cousin had gone shopping with one of the neighborhood girls to get an outfit.  The next morning when we were getting ready to leave my cousin came downstairs with her “Sassy Virgo” t-shirt on and my grandmother and aunt went ballistic.  We knew that the neighbor had talked her into buying the shirt, but my grandmother wasn’t allowing her to go on nobody’s trip with that shirt on.   That’s just how we were taught, and never felt like we were missing any of life’s special instructions.

Gotta admit, I have read my horoscope on more than enough occasions---especially since they are in the back of one of my favorite magazine—Essence.  But I gotta tell you, they have pretty much always been inaccurate to my real life experiences.  Eventually, I had found myself reading horoscopes to prove that they were wrong.  A few years back, I stop reading them all together.  And ironically, as soon as I stop reading them my relationship with the Lord went deeper.   I wasn’t buying into zodiac signs anyway because the people who shared the Aquarius sign with me all seemed delusional and weird.  That always baffled me—lol. 

Anyway, to those who are now a part of the shift and confused, and looking for another source……God’s Word NEVER EVER changes. 

That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf.  They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made.  But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.  --Acts 7:41-42

Soul Mates

I think this post is long overdue.  On the other hand, since I strongly believe in God’s perfect timing, perhaps it’s not.  Ok, so me and my best friend were having our weekly four hour check-in conversation the other day and she asked me…..do you really believe in having a soul mate?  Let me give you a brief overview of why she asked. 

A few weeks ago, she met this brotha.  And she started really liking dude.  He was very up front with her about his “situation” and claim to be bringing closure to it.  Of course, this didn’t sit well with my best friend, however there was something about him that she really liked.  The funny thing is that I’ve known her for 33 years and I have NEVER heard her speak so heartfelt about a man as she did him.  What she said captivated her about him, aside from his affection and support towards her, was his deep involvement in the community and their conversations about spirituality.  He’s very involved with at-risk boys and she witnessed on several occasions how he handled them, as well as their respect for him.  Who wouldn’t like this type of guy. 

My best friend had no physical contact with dude (she ain’t crazy), but he definitely got in her emotions.   For about a week, she was falling for him.  He did everything us women desire in a man…..he was her knight-in-shining-armor.  But then, just as God does, the revelation came.  So my best friend decided to abruptly end things.  But of course there were some residual effects that caused her to feel disappointment and I could hear in her voice that she had exposed him to a place where no other man has ever gone.  Although she, too, has a strong belief in God and what His word says she simply asked me……… do you believe that it is meant for us to have a soul mate? 

It was back in the late 90s, I was almost 30 years old, when I first heard of the term “soul mate.”  Call me late and clueless, but I had never, ever heard of it.  I was at my mom’s boutique and her assistant was acting really giddy.  She was clearly “in love”.  But I remember my mother being disgusted about her assistant’s behavior.  And so when we got home my mother told me that her assistant had been seeing “Carl” and had been spending countless hours on the phone with him.   That would have sounded like a Hallmark card to any other, but I suddenly felt my mother’s disgust.  Cause not only was her assistant married, so was “Carl.”  I remember my mother telling me……she says people aren’t gonna understand their love, but they know that they are soul mates.  I remember responding to my mother……WHAT?!?  Soul mates?!?!  What is that?!?!  I, honestly, had no clue what the term soul mates meant.  And I remember my mother saying……..you know when you’re deeply in love with someone, and there’s a spiritual connection, yada yada.   To make a long story short…….Carl ended up divorcing his wife and remarried somebody else, not my mother's assistant.  And we haven’t heard from her since. 

After learning what a soul mate was, I thought referring to my future husband as my soul mate was too cool.  So over the years, I started searching for my soul mate.  Or at least using the term to measure my feelings for the men that came across my life.  And when I say I used it…..I used it.  According to my measurements, nobody could measure up to being my soul mate. I just didn’t feel that strongly about a man that he would be able to go that deep.  And it used to piss me off.  I mean, I understood what having bliss was, but soul mates seemed so much deeper and I really wanted a man to go there with me.  Then “he” came along and swept me off my feet and I was sold!!!  I had found my soul mate!!  We had a connection like no other.  We connected on a deep spiritual level.  But like all fairytales, I woke up, I mean we broke up, and I was left real baffled.  That’s when I really started to hone in on the term. 

Did I mention that I’m a new small business owner (giggling)????  Yes, yes….it feels darn good to own my time.  Anyway, I went to do my “at whatever time I want” 2 ½ hour workout at the gym this morning and came back pooped.  So after I showered, I plopped on the sofa with my lunch and turned on the television.  One of my favorite movies was on---Madea’s Family Reunion.  And just as any single, Black sistah does, I wanted to wait til Johnny Gill sang the wedding song before muting the television and taking a power nap.  After I heard the song, I decided to listen to Frankie’s (Boris Kodjoe) vow to his bride.  He said (I can’t remember exactly to the word)………. “I thank God for making you just for me.  I love you with all my heart and my soul, and that’s the place where only you and God reside.”   Now yal know me…..my eyebrows went up and I clicked off the television to take my nap. 

Then I woke up.  And I got on the computer to work on a few projects, but not before checking in with THEYBF.com----I love Natasha’s blog.  And so as I was browsing down the titles to see what interested me, I came across the article, via Chicago Now, Beyonce’s Ex-Assistant Drops Details About INSIDE Jay-Z and Beyonce’s Relationship.  The article boasts about Beyonce and Jay-Z being perfectly in love and soul mates.  Now, I ain’t arguing nobody’s true love affair, especially not the Carters’, but I will argue that the image of the perfect couple that’s being portrayed is bogus.  First off, ain’t nobody working for Beyoncé without a confidentiality agreement; especially since this “witnessed encounter” was in 2003 after the legal suit with former Destiny Child members.  And then second, it’s kinda ironic that this “ex-assistant” would reveal Beyonce and Jay-Z’s extraordinary love affair while they grace the cover of the February 2011 issue of Ebony magazine---the Valentine’s Day issue.   The power of PR. 

Frankly, I think Beyonce and Jay-Z’s marriage is real weird.  I mean, that’s just from what I see.  It’s just my personal opinion from the long-lensed photos that circulate in the media.  Again, I ain’t arguing that they don’t love each other, but they seem to be battling something internally.  They both just look unhappy and tolerable and stuck and defeated.  The Bible says, a longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul (Proverbs 13:19). There’s absolutely no sweetness to the way their marriage looks.  The admiration by most that are into Bey and J is the mysteriousness of their nuptials.  This is a weird and spooky fascination.  And if in fact they are “acting unhappy” just so that they can keep the public guessing then dog-on-it why didn’t Beyonce win that Oscar---lol!!!  Seriously though, do I think that they are soul mates……ABSOLUTELY! 

Soo…..as my best friend asked, do I believe in soul mates?  Let me say that I do believe that people have soul mates, but my belief is that when you give your soul to a human being you are literally selling your soul and compromising your relationship with God.  I can only back this with scripture.  If you search the Bible, especially in Deuteronomy, you will see through and through that the Lord tells us to give ALL of our heart and soul to Him. 

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  --Joshua 22:5

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  --Matthew 16:26

First off, let me just remind you that being in a marriage (I’m going deeper than the boyfriend/girlfriend thing) is an EARTHLY covenant.  That means that when either of you die, the relationship is over.  There is no marriage in heaven.  In saying that, your soul is the ONLY thing that will go on to eternity---that is, heaven or hell depending on who you choose to have your soul.   The mind and the body will no longer be.   The Bible says that the BODY is the only part of the being that is shared between a husband and a wife, and is to only be separated when it is time for prayer (1 Cor. 7:4).  And since we know that prayer is the intimate communication we have with God, and that the soul is where God (Holy Spirit) resides, then our soul is the sacred place where only God should have total access.  The soul is the command center.  It’s where God controls our principles, morals, and values (through His word)…..which results in our life’s choices and actions.   Sharing your command center with another gives them control over your choices and actions, which can be contrary to the Word.  In other words, you can be manipulated and fooled. 

Can we talk about the heart real briefly?  Cool.  I ain’t gonna stay long on the heart only because that’s a whole nother entry and I really just want to focus on soul mates.  Ok, so I know I ain’t the only one who has been given the advice…….just follow your heart when trying to decide if that special someone is for you.  But I’ve learned over the years that this is the most dangerous advice you can receive, or give, someone; especially concerning a person you are considering to spend the rest of your life with.  Let me just put this scripture out there so that I can move on:  The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?  --Jeremiah 17:9  If you don't turn your heart completely over to God and give him full access you will get bamboozled.  Period. In saying this, there is a very popular song out that’s blowing up the airwaves called He Wants It All by Forever Jones.  The song just simply says love me, love me with your whole heart He wants it all today.  The lyrics are taken from the Word. 

Have you ever wondered, or is it just me, why God didn’t make Eve from Adam’s heart or soul, but from his rib???  Doesn’t it make you wonder???  Because I firmly believe that the heart and the soul belongs totally to God and should not be shared with anyone.  I believe that when God has total control over the heart and soul true love is generated, flows to the mind and body, and can then be distributed to another.   We don’t even know what love is without God having total control over our hearts and souls.  God is love.   So how can we give something that we don’t have, and that we don’t know?!?  What most of us think is love isn’t.  Most people are only falling in love with the idea of being in love, not true love. 

Can I take this a step deeper?  Thanks.   Yal know I come from a deliverance ministry where I’ve been schooled on how satan operates, so you know I’m gonna take you there—lol.  Ok, so here goes.  Have you ever heard somebody say that “such and such” sold their soul to satan?  Ever wonder how this actually happens???  You got it!!!  They make ungodly covenants and soul ties with people in the name of falling in love.  More than often you hear people talking about their soul mates, but unbeknownst to a lot could be agents of satan.  Ever wonder why people cheat on their current spouse with their ex?  You got it…..they have sold their souls to their ex and is still being controlled by them.   They still have soul ties.  Sadly, lots of exes and “the other woman/man” know their power over their target and use it well.  It happens all the time.  Even to the best of us.  Been there.  I ain't the only one who said......I can still get him if I wanted to.  And know that I could.  In some way or another. 

As soon as you open up your soul to another being, there’s a fight for your soul between God and the person.  How many pastors do you know have gotten caught up in an adulterous affair, and ended up with the mistress???  I can name a few.  But what pisses me off is that these days churches aren’t teaching on demonic attacks and deliverance, and therefore they keep getting set-up and defeated by satan.  There are agents of satan sitting in congregations in the form of “saved, single sistahs” on assignment to lure the pastor, get him all emotionally caught up and distracted, they'll read a verse or two of the Bible with him (cause they know the power of God too) and then cause him to fall.  Happens all the time. 

I know of a minister who left his beautiful wife and three children because he fell for a co-worker who he claims understands him much more than his wife could ever.  He basically opened his soul to the other woman and she crept in.  Now he’s shacking with her and taking care of her and her five children, and supposedly starting a ministry.  And it ain’t just that way either, the Eddie Long scandal was about deep soul ties.  Those young guys thought Long was their soul mate.  And he was. 

Basically, there is no way you can be in a heart and soul covenant with God and with another being at the same time.  The Bible says, they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul, --2 Chron. 15:12.  But we enter into ungodly covenants regularly, not knowing, and then either end up with a “broken heart” and/or emotionally scarred and unable to move forward to another relationship. 

I remember the guy who I thought was my soul mate, told me that he and I could never break-up because we had a covenant.  I felt the power when he said it, I was so impressed, and rode off the aura for months.  Remind you…..we weren’t even married.  But I remember when we stop talking, not only was I an emotional wreck, but I had this feeling for him that I could not shake, nor could I understand why it was so deep.  But just like perfect timing, we had a guest speaker come to our church who taught one Friday evening on soul ties and ungodly covenants.  The simple message blew me away.  I thought about my soul mate and remembered our “covenant” and knew that he was right.  I kept hearing in my head I don’t want you but I don’t want anybody else to want you either, and although I’d tried to date other men, it just wasn’t happening.  He had so much control over me and lived miles and miles away.  He had my heart and soul in the palm of his hands.  I knew I had to be delivered from the soul ties with that man.  It took lots of prayer and fasting, but I remember when I received my breakthrough.   Oh happy day. 

Today, since I'm not married, I am very hesitant of allowing a man to pray with me or go deep with me spiritually.  I’m learning to judge a man’s relationship with God by his actions, according to the Word.  The Bible says, try the spirit by the Spirit (1 John 4).  Now hearing women say……I like him because we pray together and he reads the Bible to me makes me cringe cause it could be a set-up.  It ain’t cute no more.  It’s an opening to your soul.  I’ve learned that my relationship with God cannot be shared with another.  I firmly believe that when God has totality of our hearts and souls He directs us toward the right mate.  And our souls (the command center in each of us), being “souled” out completely to God, will direct the path of our relationship.  Thus I will be able to submit under my husband’s authority because He is completely under God’s authority, fully understanding that our individual souls are still under covenant and belong to God.  And that's how it should be, according to His Word.