There are many reasons that can cause a person to lack in their faith. Life often throws us curve balls and let downs that make us question our relationship with God. In Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas sat in a prison cell for preaching the gospel. Just when things couldn't be any worse they began to pray and praise. There was an earthquake that caused their shackles to be loosed.When the guard came to investigate he was in complete awe at the power of God. He fell on his knees and gave his life to Christ.
Even at our darkest hour our devotion to God has power to not only change our circumstance, but it can also impact other people. Think about the woman whose husband maybe dying of cancer, but she always has a smile on her face. The single mom who doesn't have much but she always gives to charity, or the man whose wife left him,but he always has words of encouragement for others despite his own heartbreak. Your test is a testimony. Keep your faith and remain in prayer. Praise God in the midst of a battle and watch the walls tumble down just like the walls of Jericho. Satan hates to hear God getting praise. Draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to you. xoxo, Krystale Jane'l
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What does it truly mean to be black? Does it mean knowing the struggle of oppression, or does it mean knowing the pride from which our ancestors in Africa came from? No, being black means when real lives are masterpieces of art delicately designed by our Creator.Being black is not just a statement of beauty,but it is a statement, period.
Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote about a caged bird singing, Mays Angelou wrote a book with the same title. Creativity flows freely from those who cannot taste true freedom. So u can imagine what is created when a whole race is oppressed. From creating songs like, "Follow The Drinking Gourd" to hide clues to escape slavery, to the Harlem Renaissance, when our people were set free but were being lynched and kept segregated. To modern times even now with our hostile rap lyrics that tells personal stories, or our extreme and over the top hairstyles that are now a part of hair competitions- the beauty of being black flows freely from us. A time when life imitates art; other races run to tanning beds to darken their skin when ours is naturally rich with melanin, they run to doctors to get curves, that our Queens have rocked gracefully for years, they get injections to plump their lips, while we have been blessed to have lips that don't need MAC lip plumper, and they imitate our creative expression and label it, " Hip Hop" or "Urban". Yet and still some of us are still in such mental captivity we do not see the beauty of our own race because we are so busy mimicking European society and conforming to it's standard of beauty and what's acceptable. We are a culture so beautiful that Rachel Dolezal, a leader for the NAACP, who portrayed herself to be a black woman denied her German heritage because of her love for African American culture. Can we blame this woman? No. Rachel's only fault was denying her history in order to mimic the life of those whose history is almost forgotten by modern America. You can't define black by "acting black" or having the "black experience". Being black simply means embracing the creative expression of a people who is oppressed proudly. Being Black isn't just the color of our skin being black means having the courage to see our history and make it our mission to lead our race to a better future. xoxo, Krystale Jane'l Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.
Psalms 127:3 There is nothing more rewarding than being a parent. As a parent, we learn that we often have to sacrifice so much to give our children what they deserve and to do what is best for them. As a single parent, I sometimes get discouraged when it seems like I can't give my daughter everything she wants or i can't afford to take off work to go on a field trip. Sometimes I would ask God, "God, are you sure you did the right thing giving me this child? I don't know what I'm doing and I really don't know if I'm doing any of this right." God gives us the beautiful reward called children because he loves us and wants to reward us with the most beautiful blessing on this Earth; the gift of life. Although my daughter was not planned and I was a teenage mother i never looked at my daughter as punishment. My daughter was a reward. A reward that probably slowed me down from a lot of things I could've been doing. My friends, I encourage you to do your very best to guard the hearts, minds, and lives of such a precious gift that God has blessed you with. I'm not just talking about spending time with your kids, giving them what they want, or providing their basic needs. As a parent we need to also guard what goes into the spirit and minds of our children. That means monitoring what they watch on t.v., what they listen too, and making sure that the peers they choose to socialize with are of the same moral character. God gives us a gift so precious that we ultimately are in control of their lives until they are adults. It is our job to keep them from the moral and spiritual pollution that invade the lives of so many of our youth. xoxo, Krystale Jane'l I am a dollar tree junkie! I have a confession: I am a bargain shopper and I'm addicted to the Dollar Tree! I can spend 100 dollars on useless things that I probably don't need.
While I was shopping I ran across two little treasures that I fell in love with; the skittles candles and the the two tone L.A. Colors lipstick. The skittles candle has an amazing aroma that permeates the whole room! I was quite surprised that the quality was so good since it only cost $1! The 3 oz candle has a burn time of 25 hours, but I burn mine for around 12-13 hours. If you don't have a preference as far as the type of wax that burns, this is a great little paraffin wax candle. I always find really cute and fun cosmetics at the dollar tree. L.A. Colors is a reputable cosmetic line and I usually purchase their nail polish from the dollar tree. While browsing the cosmetic aisle I noticed the L.A. Colors two tone lipstick. Imagine my surprise when I applied it and got a deep rich pink tone on one side and a luscious purple tone on the other! The lipstick was quite moisturizing and didn't leave my lips looking dry. i did not have to reapply the lipstick until after lunch when most of it rubbed off. This is a great dollar purchase for my frugal divas who are looking for daring and affordable lip colors! xoxo Krystale Jane'l Maya Angelou , one of the most prominent African American poets, speakers, and authors of our time, wrote an autobiography titled, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings". Most people do not know that this title came from one of my favorite poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar:
Sympathy I know what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-- I know what the caged bird feels! I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting-- I know why he beats his wing! I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,-- When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings-- I know why the caged bird sings! Paul Laurence Dunbar For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
God already has a plan for your life. Know that God wants you to be successful and He wants to bless you. All He requires is that we trust Him and walk according to his will. He will guide you daily. Every day may not be perfect. You will face trials. God only allows testing to prepare you for his abundant blessings. Walk in His Will, Trust in His Word, and Worship Him in all you do, and God will continue to prepare you for the abundant blessings He wants to give you. As little girls, most of us are read bedtime stories. Most of these stories consist of an evil nemesis, a prince, a beautiful princess, and a happily ever after. Cinderella found her Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty was awakened with true love's kiss, and Snow White's prince rescued her from the evil Queen.
All of these stories seem great until we get older and apply those same principles to real life. Most women grow up secretly waiting on that handsome prince to come and save the day. Some women boldly, seek their prince charming and are labeled gold diggers while others constantly strive to one day awaken a love that no evil stepmother, dragon, or evil Queen can thwart. This is... and excuse my language, bullshit. Fairy tales are polluting the minds of young girls just as soap operas and sappy love stories pollute the minds of young women. Yes, we all want to be loved and ride off into the sunset on a gallant steed that in this day in age may come in the form of an Escalade, Benz, or BMW. It's time that we be real and keep it real. We are psychologically programmed to want that happy ending. We want that extra bit of serotonin released so we can feel happy about fictional bullshit. The truth is… what if Snow White ended up with Sleepy Dwarf and still had her happy ending although she ended up with a narcoleptic little person? What if Prince Charming really said, "Cinderella, you are gorgeous, and that couture dress is bad, but if you can't keep up with your own shoe how can I trust you to be the Queen and manage my kingdom? Ill take your sister. She is not much of a looker, but her body is banging' and she is responsible." Truth be told, everything doesn't have to be perfect in order to have your happy ending.We must teach our little girls the truth about fairy tales. The truth is this: A prince should not be defined by what he has, but what is in his heart. xoxo, Krystale Jane'l |
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