Kale-Coconut Smoothie

Omg!!! I love kale!!!

Bourbon + Lavender

This time of year it’s very difficult to stay on track with clean eating when everyone around you is bringing in cupcakes to the office or offering you cookies.
I great way to get in a ton of vitamins and nutrients in through a smoothie or juice.
I made this concoction after work today and it tasted amazing. Another benefit of drinking a green smoothie is it will help combat the colds going around now, and let’s face it who wants to be sick for Christmas!

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Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cups chopped kale
-1 frozen banana (peeled and chopped)
-1 1/2 cup coconut milk
-2 carrots (peeled and chopped)
-Thumb size amount of peeled ginger
-A few ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Voila!

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You Don’t Have to be Married to Have a Baby

Very insightful!!!

brittanyjonesblog

My husband and I were at Walmart in the baby section looking at items for our daughter who’s due in February. While browsing, we overheard some young teenage girls discussing pregnancy. One of them clearly wanted a baby and her friends were encouraging her saying, “You don’t have to be married to have a baby. As long as you’re in a relationship, I think its fine.” There are many things about their conversation that greatly disturbed both my husband and I. The first thing that we found to be disturbing was their age. These girls had be no older than sixteen. The second thing that was bothersome was that young girls were encouraging other young girls to have babies. Finally, the thing that upset me more than my husband was the incredibly low standards these girls had for their futures.

Teenage pregnancy has been an issue in society for quite…

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***WHOOPS*** I Can’t Keep My Hands Off That Thang Pt. 2

What’s going on good people?!?! Can I get a hallelu?!?! Won’t He do it?!?! If God has been good to ya raise your voices and show the homie some love….

Well in this second part, as I wrap this post up, I just want to talk to y’all about your salvation and it means to you, as it pertains to masturbation. As I have done previously, I will give my disclaimer. I am not preacher, teacher, nor am I an expert on this topic or any topic. This is simply my opinion and my personal perspective.

In my earlier post, we were trying help Sister Betty Jo find the answers she needed to make a more informed decision on masturbation. For all you good Christian folks out there turn your bibles to Acts 17:11; read this scripture and I pray it guides you to discern scriptures for yourself. A good Christian walk is based on your judgment. Asking someone else to walk your walk for you is not the way to go. Please keep in mind, your walk is not going to be the same as mine or anyone else you may know. It is going to be different and your walk may seem more difficult than those around you but keep the faith.

As for you Sister Betty Jo…

It is all about the heart. What do you feel in your heart? Can you masturbate without lusting after someone?

Sex was made to be enjoyed by two married people; husband and wife type. Sex was made to please your partner. As you stated in your email; you are celibate and have been for awhile, do not jeopardize your vow to yourself and The Lord for a moment of pleasure/relief.

Masturbation is a form of perversion and you must free yourself from your worldly desires. Fasting is a good way to overcome this battle. And don’t forget to pray. Praying is a great to talk to God. Tell Him your troubles. Also, I do not know what you do on a daily basis but might I even suggest working out. Finding a new interesting hobby. There is nothing like putting all those idol thoughts into something positive. I took up cooking when I was faced with my own bouts with perversion. It also helped me get my mind off whatever I was thinking about at that moment.

And to be very honest with you, nothing worked more for me than the love and support from those around me. The kind of people you have in your life are very important. If they do not understand your desires and aren’t very supportive of you that is going to be make things around you be more conflicting. Find you a good group of women who share your desire for The Lord. You don’t have to give them the blow by blow of what you are going through in your life; their presence will be good enough.

My definitive answer to your question is NO. It is not ok to masturbate. The answers to this question can be found in the bible. Just look up lust, sexual immortality and perversion in the bible. Read those scriptures and really study them.

Romans 6:11-14 (NKJV) “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lust. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments to righteousness God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Well, that is all for now. Please feel free to give feedback, comments or weigh in on the topic. I would love to hear someone else’s perspective!!!

Until next time good people…

Stay classy church…

***WHOOPS*** I Can’t Keep My Hands Off That Thang Pt. 1

What’s going on church? How y’all living? How y’all mama and daddy? Husband and wives doing?

Church it has been brought to my attention that there are some people out there in the congregation can’t keep their hands to themselves. Smh. I am going to need y’all to get it together in real life.

Before I go into the topic I just want put out my disclaimer. This is something that I prayed on and it is also something that I have studied. I have had a few conversations with a variety of people. Lastly, it is merely my opinion. You do not necessarily have to agree with me but do so in a constructive manor. I am not trying to tell you how to live your life as Christian on this earth, I am just merely giving you the information to make a more informed choice. This question was asked to me by a young woman who is curious. I am going to call her Betty Jo.

Church help me to understand why as we go forth on this good ol’ Christian journey, there are still some folks that are still unsure about their walk and where their hands should go. Sister Betty Jo stopped me after church(sent an email) and laid down her story to me. She said, she has only been saved a few years but before she decided to rededicate her life to Christ, she was a fornicator. And boy did she let me know how much she loved sex. Her sins, are not why we are here today church. Sister Betty Jo, says that lately the devil has been trying to bring her down. Now that she is celibate; temptation is all around her coming at her with a vengeance. She wants to stay on her path but she feels that there has to be something that can help her ease the edge off of her arousal. Sister Betty Jo says she has all kinds of sex toys and has occasionally thought about touching herself. She wants to know is it ok to masturbate and if it isn’t where can she find proof?

Well Sister Betty Jo, I am here today to let you know we are praying for you. And I hope my words will help clarify and give you the proof that you are seeking to help you run this good ol’ Christian race. And also, I think this will help you:

“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” -Acts 17:11 (NKJV)

Let me start by asking you a question church? When its cold at night do you think it is ok to masturbate/ play with yourself? Let that marinate a while. For my married people out there, has there been in new baby in the house? Men: maybe your wife is giving all her attention to the new baby, maybe she doesn’t think her body is ready or maybe after you saw your wife push out this 6lb baby her “love below” isn’t too appealing to you anymore. I mean seriously she pushed out a whole baby and took it like a G and then she went on to smile afterwards and now she expects you to be ready cause she’s ready. Women: maybe he has gained/lost weight, maybe the last time you had sex he did something to turn you off and you can’t find the on switch or maybe you just had a baby, needed a few stitches to heal you and sex isn’t a priority to you. Maybe you want some alone time with yourself. There are a series of things that can come up as to why you and your mate aren’t having sex; however, the question is, while you wait for your mate, do indulge in a little pleasure time of your own?

To all my singles, those who have had sex before, what do you do to curve the appetite? How do you stay on your walk with Christ and keep your hands from wondering down below? To the virgins, has this ever been a thought? Have you ever submitted?

Well church, after doing some research here is what I found out:

There is no place in the bible that says masturbation is either good or bad. So I am assuming that in the bible days masturbation was not a concern for the people. However, there are several scriptures on perversion, adultery, adultery of the heart, sexual immortality, so on and so forth.

Matthews 5:27-30 (NKJV) “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to cast into hell.”

So, in this scripture alone lies a very deep question; can you masturbate without lust? Lets be honest, you are sexually frustrated because you have seem someone or something that aroused you. You want to release that energy off but can you do so without lusting? Can you masturbate without imagining it is Morris or Halle? The key to it is your imagination. The sin lies within your mind and your heart. Masturbation is just like drinking. Can you drink in moderation or do you find yourself getting intoxicated? If you can masturbate without lust then I would say go for it. However, before you drop those undies let me give you something else to think about.

Romans 14:12-13 (NKJV) “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

Ephesians 5:3-5 (NKJV) “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” 

You have to makeup in your hearts today, whether or not masturbation pleases God. When you get to heaven do you believe in your heart that God will say well done? Is this little bit of alone time worth the uncertainty of this deed. God did create sex for a man and woman. What you do in your marriage bed is your business; however, let it be done with your spouse.

I know that after having years of sex that it is difficult to curve that appetite. And I will say masturbation is wrong and it is not the answer to your problem. Let me tell you something Sister Betty Jo, once you find your mate and you consummate the marriage, those urges will never go away. And how you can help yourself is by fasting and praying. In hard times my sister seek the Lord. That is what he wants us to do. Pray until something changes. Knowing a little of your past Sister Betty Jo, I can relate to you. Even though I am married, my husband doesn’t always “open the door when I knock”… LMBO!!! That’s code for he says no! The key to it is, having a willpower. When gives me that no, I drink a cup of water, mumble a few unkind things under my breath, I pray for forgiveness (for the unkind things I said), I also pray for peace and patience.

Sister Betty Jo you won’t make it on this journey without peace and patience. I am praying for you and I hope I was able to assist you and your question.

Listen church, this is one person’s opinion and my opinion came from reading, searching and believing what is right in my heart. Please come back tomorrow and I will finish this off. Until then y’all stay prayed up.

Much Love

Lies, Booze and Daddy Issues

Well church, I know some time has passed since I last wrote anything or even dropped by to hello. I’m sorry y’all. However, let me tell y’all the word of the day: Forgiveness

You can not make it through any relationship without FORGIVENESS. And I am not talking about that forgiveness that you give after you have had time to cool off. Not that forgiveness you give when you are good and ready. I am talking about someone doing you wrong and you look at them in their face and smile. Forgive them and walk away. I am talking about your husband coming home from work and has no plans to take over for you so you can shower; and you look him in the face and smile. Yes, I am talking about that quick on your toes forgiveness. That bob and weave forgiveness. Lmbo!!!

Seriously though, forgiveness is a must. I have had my share of times when I want to react in a negative manner and go all off. Get so hood with a few folks but a few times I looked at myself and said girl please, I wish you would. I hit my forgive button; put my diva face on and roll out. In reading my bible I have found a lot of answers to the simple questions in the book of Ephesians. But what I have to say doesn’t come from Ephesians it comes from Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

In others, forgive that man or woman who has done you wrong cause God will stop you dead in your tracks and say “DO NOT PASS GO! AND DO NOT COLLECT $500.” Maybe not those words but you get the picture.

Growing up, my father wasn’t there much for me. I thought my mother was your typical baby mama keeping that baby from the daddy. As I got older my views we were changed on the entire situation and I was forced to see the truth for what it really was, he was just unavailable so to speak. Looking back at my mother she was the perfect model of forgiveness. She knew what the deal was between the two of them and instead of telling me the truth, she nurtured my opinion of them both and never uttered a bad word about him. Well until it was time for me get married. Moral here is, forgiveness to those who have wronged you and forgive yourself. No need of beating yourself up for actions that have already been taken. Once I found out the truth, I wanted to hate him for the remainder of my life; however, I couldn’t and I don’t. I don’t understand why he didn’t or doesn’t want a relationship with me but I couldn’t ponder over that because I don’t know his side. But I was surprisingly quick to forgive him. Yeah it hurt my feelings but it taught me to forgive the things I didn’t understand.

Forgiving things that you do not understand may seem difficult. And no it doesn’t get easier. However you will drive yourself crazy trying to understand another person’s actions, especially when your actions are the only ones you have control over. So stop telling yourself those lies to help you sleep at night, put down that glass of wine or the booze; get on your knees forgive those who have wronged you and forgive yourself while you’re at. Remember to love your neighbors and most of all love yourself.

Goodnight church!!!