"We Fall Down...But We Get Up"

Donnie McKlurkin hits the nail on the nose when he belts these lyrics. We have such a forgiving and never changing God! No matter how bad the fall, how great the mistake, or how much we might have strayed, God is just to forgive us if we but ask, repent, and believe. Many people think they can't even be a Christian because they feel they are not perfect or good enough, but remember God's word tells us that no man is without sin and if he says he is than the truth is not in him. However difficult the task may be, we can accomplish what seems to be the impossible only with the help of the Lord. Through Him all things are possible. As the lyrics reveal, "A saint is just a sinner who fell down... and got up" So, just when you think that its over and you've ruined your chance to make things right, God's grace and mercy is what keeps us. Ask God to forgive you of your sin, repent, and get back up. Don't just get up, but raise up and try even harder to do whatever task has been set before you. Just know God won't put more on you than you can bear. If you really feel you can't bear it, think for a moment, Did God put this on me or did I put it on myself? Either way, He will hear your faithful cry and answer your prayers. We all fall, but only the righteous get back up.

So This Is What Its Like

To be content in whatever state you're in
To love whole-heartedly
To believe in something with all your might
To dream such vivid dreams you just know you're awake
To live a life without confusion
To know, that you know, that you know
To run without a fear of lagging behind
To challenge yourself to the utmost
To set no limits on your ability
To just be
To just do it
So this is what its like
To love God and be true to yourself

8 Ways to Be Single and Satisfied

Okay, I haven't forgotten about those men and women who are not married. If you are single, please read the following and get more on being single and satisfied by clicking the title of this post.

Happiness basically comes from within.
Furthermore, unless we have learned how to live fulfilled, contented and happy lives as singles, we are not likely to find fulfilling relationships or make healthy marriage partners should we decide to marry. Happy, well-adjusted people tend to have happy well-adjusted relationships. Looking to someone else to meet our unmet needs and fill the void caused by unresolved personal issues is a recipe for relational disaster. This is why it is imperative to resolve our own personal problems if we are to find loving, lasting and healthy relationships. Fundamentally, to a varying degree, especially romantically, we are as sick or as healthy as the people we are attracted to.
Happy, well-adjusted people tend to have happy well-adjusted relationships.
If you have either chosen a single life or been thrust into it by circumstances beyond your control, the question is, as a single, "How do you find fulfillment and satisfaction in light of the fact that we have been created for relationships?"

First, make a commitment to continue growing emotionally and spiritually.
Second, and equally important, is to take care of your physical wellbeing.
Third, maintain a clear conscience. There’s nothing like a guilty conscience to destroy one’s peace of mind.
Fourth, remember that character counts.
Fifth, know what your gifts and talents are and develop these.
Sixth, master the art of effective communications.
Seventh, recognize legitimate needs and get these met in healthy ways.
Finally, serve others.

Someone has wisely said that the person who is all wrapped up in him or her self makes a mighty small package. Don’t allow this to be said of you. If you consistently practice these eight principles, I am confident that you, too, will find considerable peace, contentment, fulfillment and satisfaction in your singleness.

25 Ways to Love Your Mate

I discovered these great tips for loving your mate at SelfhelpMagazine.com, posted by Connie Saindon. For the full 100 just click the title to linkback to their site. This one is not only for the virtuous women, but for those wonderful men as well. Be blessed!

1. Hug them.

2. Write a love note.

3. Call them at work just to say "Hi."

4. Give them a foot massage.

5. Tell them a joke.

6. Caress them with slow gentle strokes.

7. Go for a walk with them.

8. Send them a "happy gram."

9. Admit your mistakes.

10. Say: "I love you."

11. Indulge a whim.

12. Listen to them talk about an interest of theirs.

13. Be trustworthy.

14. Instead of complaining, tell them what you would prefer.

15. Look at them when you're in a discussion.

16. Send flowers.

17. Compliment something they did.

18. Offer to help.

19. Ask them to show you how to do something.

20. Call when you are going to be late.

21. Take them out to dinner.

22. Write them a poem about how special they are.

23. Cut out a cartoon they'll enjoy.

24. Ask them what they'd like sexually.

25. Go shopping together.

There is a Way Out

I've lost 8 lbs so far with Alli! I'm doing some things right now, so I will of course inform you of more later! God bless you all and be encouraged. Whatever it is you may be going through right now is just that, something to go through. It doesn't mean you will stay in that place, whether good or bad. If things are great just ask the Lord for his continued blessings and what you need to do to stay happy. Keep in mind there is always room for increase and with God there is no limit! If things are a bit challenging for you right now, just remember that joy really does come in the morning. Though dark may be your day, 1, 2, or 3 days, or maybe even years, on the other side of the clouds is sunshine. Ask God to show you what it is you can do to make things better. He will show you the way, but it is up to us to be obedient to His will. Due time, my brothers and sisters, due time. With Christ in our corner, just know there is a way out of what may seem to be a helpless and/or hopeless situation!

Portrait of the Ideal Virtuous Woman

The virtuous woman is an idealized woman, a composite of many capable women. After all, not all people have the same skills. Some women’s strengths are in music or art. Others may be in mathematics, teaching, or business. Some are better managers and organizers than others. While some women may excel at coming up with ideas, others may be more skilled at creating or producing what has been invented by someone else. No one excels at everything.

Some women work for several years after high school or college before marrying. Others, for one reason or another, do not marry at all. Does this mean that unmarried women cannot be Proverbs 31 women? No. Marriage and motherhood are not prerequisites for the successful Christian female’s life. The essential characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman can be applied to the the single woman, too.

The model woman described in Proverbs is a portrait of ideal womanhood. The focus of this portrait is a woman’s relationship with God, not her specific abilities or marital status. The Proverbs 31 woman realizes that regardless of her natural talents or acquired skills, or all her accomplishments, her strength comes from God.

Who is a virtuous woman today? Proverbs 31 tells you that it is the woman who puts God first. The ideal woman of Proverbs 31 should encourage all women everywhere. Cultures change, but this woman’s God-inspired character still shines brightly across the centuries.

Oh My Boys

Oh how I love them
The way they make me smile
When I'm unsure of my place
All I have to do is picture them
The boys in my life
My son and two nephews
The little men that fill my heart
My eyes cry tears of joy
Oh to rejoice in their toughness
The tumbles, the toys
Yes boys will be boys
But oh how I delight
In their laughter
Their silliness
The always wanting to show off
Always wanting to be first
and last
Never accepting my second best
Oh my boys always can tell
If I'm really into what they are doing
Or not
When I'm tired and frustrated
With their childish games and rituals
They yet again make me giggle
Like when I was their age
Young, innocent, Not ashamed,
For being silly and goofy
Oh my boys, I'll always love them so
To Brandon, Jaden, and Amir
My Boys

Time to Weigh In...

But, oops, I do not have a scale! Wow, I can't believe I do not own a scale. I usually just weigh myself at the gym, but I worked out at home today, so I will have to weigh in tomorrow. Using the myalliplan, you are suppose to set a day of the week in which you will weigh yourself and of course see how well Alli is working for you. I set my day for Sundays, but I will just have to go one more day. I feel I have lost weight and I am definitely eating a lot healthier. I thought this week and weekend would be extremely challenging since it was the fourth of July. I went to a big park event Wednesday, a birthday party and cookout Friday, and a huge family reunion/community day celebration Saturday. However, I did a great job with restraining myself and not pigging out as I would normally do for functions such as these. With prayer and self control, I stayed on track with my diet and I was conscientious of what I ate. I have to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 and of course so can you!

Staying on Track with Alli Diet Plan

It is day 6 on Alli and I feel great! I haven't had any treatment effects which come from eating too many fatty foods or going over the recommended amount of fat you intake per meal. Of course this is attributed to the fact that I have been eating healthy, low fat, and low calorie meals since Saturday! I will be weighing in on Sunday to see how much weight I've lost, but actually I got on a scale Monday night and it was 8 pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself which was 2 weeks ago! I must say if I have really lost that much, I can't attribute that all to Alli because I had started eating less most days for the last two weeks. However, the Alli diet plan is keeping me on track with eating healthy mainly because I don't want to experience the treatment effects. I have been slacking with working out though. If I would just do that, the pounds would definitely shed and I'd get the tone I'd like. It will happen though. God will never give up on me, and I won't give up on myself.

Love is A Commitment...

...to leave no one behing on the journey to God.


If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have the faith to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and even hand over my body, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Wow! This means as a christian, we are to exhibit God's love everywhere we go, in whatever we do, and in everything we say. It can be very challenging especially in today's fast paced, hot tempered, flesh driven society, but it is what we are called to do. As a virtuous woman, we have a responsibility to uphold these characteristics and be a vessel for others.

If this seems like its difficult at times for you, say this prayer with me...
Heavenly Father, please help me to harbor only love and truth in my heart and I pray for strength and endurance in this spiritual journey to fight the good fight and remind me to look to you and not man in the time of trouble. In Jesus Name. Amen.

No Side Effects with Alli So Far

So I've taken my third Alli Pill and I have yet to experience any side effects. I know they may still come if I eat too much fat, so I've actually been eating a lot less fattening foods. This diet will really help me to get on track with eating healthy because I really do not want to experience those side effects. Well, God bless you all and remember to always put Him first.