Blessed Diva's Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:27:00 +0000

"Do not neglect your gift that was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." - 1 Timothy 4:14-15

The above are words of wisdom from the Apostle Paul given to young Timothy, a preacher of the Gospel. Paul was Timothy's spiritual father and mentor. Because Timothy was young, it is very likely that he faced opposition and criticism. Those older than Timothy probably felt that he was too young and inexperienced to be a good minister. His peers probably were jealous, wondering what made him so special that his destiny was prophesied and how come God chose Timothy and not them?

God has been dealing with me in this area, because I have been experiencing the same situation. Not as a preacher, but in the workplace and among some whom I thought were friends. I was facing so much static, that I began to doubt myself and to even ask God why did He put me in this situation in the first place. Was it really worth the drama? How come every time that God blesses me, there is always SOMETHIN' poppin' off? I have been accused of thinking that I was better than everyone else. Or "she does so and so, God ain't blessing her!" "She has only been saved 5 minutes, I been coming to church all my life, how come God is doing this for her?"

Well the answer that God gave me is that He gives each of us gifts. The difference is, that some of us are not bold enough to accept that gift and seek Him to find out what His purpose is in giving it to us. And sometimes, that gift will require you to make adjustments on your current lifestyle and re-focus your priorities. But most importantly, DO NOT neglect that gift! Don't get sidetracked (and trust, it can and will happen if you don't keep your eyes on the prize) or let other's opinions of what you should be doing discourage you. I once heard a preacher say "when God takes you to new levels, there will be new devils too." He ain't never lied, LOL.

If God is opening doors for you right now, and you know that you know that you know that no man can shut them, well whaddya waitin' for? Go on and walk through that door! Ask God to strengthen you, to give you the wisdom and direction that you need to do whatever it is that He has laid out for you. God will never steer you wrong (He's cool like that!). Unlike a gift that a mere mortal gives you, God's gifts do not just sit somewhere and look pretty. The more that you grow into it, the more that it serves you. It gets better and better and grows and grows, it just keeps on giving. And others will take notice. They will see you and KNOW that you are cherished by God.

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing to Someone Else!

Blessed Diva

BlessedDivasLifeLounge

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:33:00 +0000

What You Do Speaks So Loud, I Can't HEAR You!

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:59:00 +0000

1 John 3:18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth.

The second greatest commandment according to Jesus, is to love one another as we love ourselves. Sadly today, real love is not prevalent among all of us. We say we love one another, but do our actions say the same thing? You see, you can be moving your lips, the words are coming forth, but you are doing the most damnable of actions. And those actions are LOUD.

How can we say that we love our neighbor and yet turn a blind eye to their needs? Or we may help them once or twice, but what about when you need to continually show love to someone? I'm not casting a stone at you, just giving you something to marinate on. At one point or another, we all are guilty of it. That is truth. Eventually, you get tired of always being there for someone, looking out for them. You are pulled out of your comfort zone of how much you want to do and hey, that's understandable. But can you now be cognizant of the truth and strive toward being better? Because truth is, God loves us over and over again. He forgives us over and over again. He blesses us over and over again. No matter how many times we miss the mark, mess up, make the wrong choices, God rescues us again and again.

One of the reasons that we cannot adhere to this command and love one another as we love ourselves, is because sometimes, we just are not loving ourselves. We don't love ourselves enough to even think that we can do better. For whatever reason, you may feel like you aren't important enough or don't have enough to be a blessing to someone else. Not true. There is always opportunity to make a difference in another life. You may not have money, but you have a smile and an encouraging word. You may not have a lavish home, but you make a mean pitcher of red Kool-Aid, lol, and can offer a cool drink to a brother or sister.

Or to the other extreme-we love ourselves so much that we don't have room to love God or anyone else. You may feel you have all the anointing that you need, all the blessings you can stand and you are satisfied with your life and you don't have room for anyone to cramp your style. You've done yor part, paid your tithe, left a good offering and that's all you feel like giving. Sorry to burst your bubble Boo! God doesn't work like that. There are no limits in the Kingdom. Abundance is the order for the Kingdom. Everything is done in abundance. Jesus came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. So we must give in abundance. We receive in abundance. Everything about God is abundant. If your love for God is at the right level, then you will love as He loves. God is LOVE. PERIOD. He loves us so much that He gives us chance, after chance to get ourselves together.

But a warning to you. If it is phony, everyone can hear it, because honey your attitude is on blast. Folks may love you enough not to blow up your spot, and just pray for you and hope that you stop missing it. But it most certainly shows. The cure? Draw closer to God. Ask Him to show you how to love. And by all means, don't expect Him to show you the way that YOU think He should. It doesn't work like that, that is why He is God, and you're not! Stop being afraid to let go and let God have His way with you!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to Someone Else!

Pearls, Pooches & Pigs - Choose Wisely

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:46:00 +0000

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. " - Matthew 7:6 (NIV)

Reading this scripture confirms that hindsight is 20/20 baby! That Jesus was on to something, LOL. I have certainly had my share of dogs and pigs in my lifetime.

Seriously though, today I wanted to address our relationships with others. True, Jesus tells us to forgive others "seventy times seven" times. BUT, how about being a little more discerning when it comes to choosing who we allow into our lives, and setting up boundaries. I hear folks all the time singing the same old sad song "I been done wrong, they ripped me off, messed up my credit, crept out on me, etc." There is a thin line between just accepting people for who they are and allowing them to play you! This goes for friends, mates, etc.

What I'm saying is this...if you know someone that hates on their relatives, disrespects their mama, is ALWAYS talking about somebody did something to them, my question is do you not see something wrong with that? And another question...what do you think that this person will do for you? Why marry a man that yells and curses at his mama? How do you think he will treat you? Why marry a woman that was willing to be with you, while you were already in a relationship? Real talk, as my Granny used to say "How you get 'em is how you lose 'em."

Your "pearls" represents your heart. Don't just give your heart away to any ole' joker. You are precious in God's site, a valuable jewel in his crown. Pearls are so valuable, that the gates of Heaven are made out of them (Revelation 21:21). Keep your pearls somewhere safe, and don't go lettin' the pooches and the pigs play with them.

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing to Someone Else
Blessed Diva

Renew Your Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:29:00 +0000

Praise be to God, Blessed Diva is able to come to you one more time.

This week, we will focus on Renewing Your Mind. You see, now that you have evaluated the people around you and made some changes, you must Change the Way that You THINK! Yes, because how do you really expect to see anything different come about in your life, if you are still thinking the exact same way that you always have? Albert Einstein once said (and I am paraphrasing) "To continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result is Lunacy!".
The apostle Paul exhorts us to do the following:
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

Ok, so how do you renew your mind? And why do you even need to bother? Well, for starters, you change what you feed your mind. Whether you realize it or not, everything that you watch on television, everything that you view on the net, every thing that you listen to, taste, touch and smell all contribute to your thinking. There are some that would say that the reason for much of society's ills are directly related to the content on television today.
So today, I am not giving you a list of things to do or not do. I'm going to trust that since you are grown, you know good and well what you are feeding your mind that is NOT conducive to where you are trying to get to! Self-examination is something serious!

So marinate on that. If you find something that isn't any good to you, try to do without it for 1 week. By next Sunday, I bet you won't even miss it.

Be Blessed, and be a Blessing to someone else!
Blessed Diva

This is The Remix Pt. 1- Check Ya Homies - Final Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:33:00 +0000

God As Your Friend...

I wanted to conclude this message, and let you see how God is already your friend. The truth is that most of us neglect this friendship. Some of us don't really understand what the concept of friendship entails...LOVE. Friendship should equate Love. Why? Well, for starters, you shouldn't want to harm your friend, so the opposite of that would be to love them.

We as humans have the power of choice. And one of the best choices that we could ever make, is to allow God to be our friend. I'm not talking about just salvation, but rather an ongoing, active fellowship with God.

To be able to sit and converse with God. When you tell Him your troubles, He will give you an answer. When you are having a good day. He enjoys it with you. He is a faithful friend. So faithful, that he doesn't even sleep! He is up and on point, searching for ways to bless you. (Psalm 121:3-6 - He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.).

He wants to be a part of everything that you do. So much so, that once you seek Him, He will add all of the things that you are missing, to your life (Matthew 6:33- "But seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.").
Everyone has a secret, 10 Keys, 5 Steps and what have you, to bring you "happiness". Well I',m gonna put you on to something. It ain't no secret. We are all commissioned to go out and tell it. MAKE GOD YOUR FRIEND. Love God with all your mind, soul and strength. Holla at Him sometimes! You don't need fancy words, longwinded speech. It doesn't have to be late at night or early in the morning. Pause right now and say "Hello Father God. Thank you for being my friend." Try it for a few days. Start telling Him what's on hyour mind. Tell Him that you need Him. Tell Him that you are Sick and Tired, of being Sick and Tired. He's always there to listen. Because your friend God, loves you!

And just in case you don't believe what I just said, read on:
Romans 5:8 (New Interational Version)
8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:35
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Isaiah 38:17
17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing to Someone Else!
Blessed Diva

This is the Remix - Part 1 - Check ya Homies

noreply@blogger.com (Blessed Diva) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 03:19:00 +0000

Have you ever reached a point in life, when it seems that no matter what you do, you're stuck in a rut? You are just operating in a state of confusion. You know what you would like to do, but don't know how to get there.

My Auntie has a saying "You have no go to and no come from". Basically, you're just running around all Willy-Nilly, trippin'.

Well, the truth of the matter is, God does have a plan for you. And He never, ever operates in confusion. He doesn't want you feeling stuck at all. In fact, He was gracious enough to write a big ole book, with instructions and examples about how to maintain in this lifetime.

So this is the purpose of The Remix. No, Diddy don't have nothing to do with this here. This is strictly about you wanting to get out of the mediocrity that you now equate with your existence.

For starters, when you think of remixes, you do think of Diddy. He takes a song, that was pretty tight to begin with, but he adds some new stuff to it- a new beat, an extra person collaborating, switch up the hook a little bit. And makes it BETTER than it was before.

When remixing your life, one of the first things that it is absolutely necessary to do, is to make an assessment of the people around you. What kind of folks are you kickin' it with? Is anyone in your circle already doing what you are trying to do? Have they already arrived at the destination you are trying to reach? What are you into? And I am talking about friends, family, associates, colleagues, whomever. Because you see Darlings, you are judged by the company that you keep. Now I know, I know it ain't right, it ain't fair, but it is what it is. Wondering why no one is taking you seriously? Could it be the fact that you hang out with a bunch of chickenheads? Yeah you may be in school, trying to better yourself. But if your best amigas are the neighborhood hootchies, guess what Sista, nobody is taking you seriously.

Fellas, that goes for you too. If ya boyz are the ones always startin' something, shootin' up the club, etc., do you REALLY think anybody believes that you are actually going to be an attorney?

Dudes and Dudettes, it is so NOT about having "street cred" as the media is making this the popular catch phrase at the moment. And why are you trusting what they have to say anyway? These are the same jokers that made saying "Whoomp, There it Is" popular. Now u don't want to admit that was ya jam back in the day, now do you? LOL. I thought so.

Anywho, Thought I would just drop these scriptures for you to check out about friends. God makes it clear what a friend should and should not be.

Bomb Friends:

Exodus 33:11

11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

A man (or a woman) speaks to their friend face to face. Not behind their back. Not telling their business to others. Not trying to put you down to build themselves up. Not letting folks know about your drama and struggles. Friends don't get down like that. However, a true friend will keep it real with you. They will tell you that you need to get your act together. (i.e., Stop letting that fool beat on you girl. You are a beautiful sister and you deserve better. What you mean you ain't sure you the baby's daddy. Man I told you not to mess with her!, etc.)But the best part of that passage is that God will be friends with YOU. Uhm hmm, you. And who better to be homies with, then the King of Kings and Lord of Lords??!!

Janky Friends:

Proverbs 11:9

With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

Now see, this is what I was talking about. For those of you who don't recognize, neighbor is synonymous with friend here.

Your FRIEND won't hand you a gun and say let's go rob those cats across town. Your FRIEND won't tell you Girl, you can come dance at the club and we can get this paper. Your FRIEND won't say Take a hit of this, it will make you feel better and forget your problems.

Just marinate on this for now. Blessed Diva needs to catch some zzz's. And I'll be back with Part 2 soon.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to Someone!

Blessed Diva