What if we lived like this, meeting together daily and having everything we need because we give it to each other? This would be amazingly beautiful. I believe some if not all of the major issues we have individually and communally would be eliminated if we lived like Acts 2:44-47. Loneliness - eliminated. Selfishness - eliminated. Poverty - eliminated. If we shared our resources and our time with each other the glory of God would be so bright we would need shades lol. Seriou

God is challenging us to be more intentional in how we connect. You could say this is an experiment on how to connect, develop and sustain healthy friendships with God as the glue. Relationships experience ebbs and flows; but one thing for sure is at some point or another we all long to be part of healthy relationships. The difference between this experiment and others is #52Sabbaths ain't a project - it's a life. A life of consistently and intentionally connecting and doing

I was on travel from Nov. 7 - 10th and that makes it a little difficult to post daily because I don't have a laptop that I can travel with right now. Ugggh!!! But this is not about what i'm lacking - this post is about being grateful for what I have! So here goes. Eleven of us from work traveled to Detroit, MI for the Facing Race Annual Conference. And while I didn't blog each day I did track the opportunities in which I could be grateful and express gratitude! I am thankful

DAY 4 I'm traveling this week to an amazing conference. While I have been low-key excited about the conference I was concerned about what I was going to wear. I work from home regularly and our wardrobes need a major upgrade but are still wearable. Prior to last night I owned 1 pair of casual shoes I purchased this spring from a thrift store! I bought Dansko clogs for $20. These shoes normally range $120+ so getting a pair for $20 was ridiculous. But there are these very not

N O V E M B E R is all about what God says about family! #fambam #familylife #sisters #brothers #mothesr #fathers #families #community #together #harmony #unity #support #love #care #kindness #SALTLIFEANDLOVE #BETHESALT #BETHELIFE #BETHELOVE #SCRIPTUREWRITINGPLAN #bethesaltchallenge #NOVEMBER #scripture #scripturewritingplan #NOVEMEBER #writetheword #bible #biblical #family #fambam #familylife #saltlifeandlove #bethesalt #bethelife #bethelove

I was 17 years old and a recent graduate of high school, when I told my mom I wanted to cut my hair. I didn't know then that I would continue to cut and grow and color and cut and grow and loc and cut and comb out and attempt to grow my hair as often as I did. I didn't know hair and what I did with it was tied to my need to be in control of something - anything. I have lived most of my life in a body that is bigger than it needs to be, but cutting my hair has made me feel jus

TRIGGER WARNING: sex offenders, perpetrators, harmdoers among us. If your loved one, mentor, neighbor, favorite entertainer or reporter, respected community member or hero has committed sexual assault(s) - you can still love, care, and deeply respect them. It is important to accept that we all fall short. Sex offending behaviors does not make the offender/perpetrator/harmdoer a monster or devil - that person made one of the poorest and trauma inducing sexual decisions but t

So you're going home for the holidays. But home is where you reunite annually with the person or persons that abused, misused, and/or manipulated you. This blog is for you! A few things to consider if you're going home and home is where the perpetrator(s) is. 1. It's ok not to go. If you decide at the last minute or very early on that you are safer where you are and you can, then stay put. 2. You survived and other people may not think that is a reason to celebrate but we cel

Originally published at New York School Talk http://newyorkschooltalk.org/2017/08/one-familys-story-decided-leave-public-school-system/ We are not the first family and I know we will not be the last to transfer our children out of public school. This is our story; it may mirror yours or people you know. This is our story; it may complement and/or contradict various methodologies, research, and/or opinions about the American public school-to-prison pipelines. But I need for re

I was not born here. I did not grow up here. I'm a pastor's kid and my dad was called here 2 weeks before I started my first year in college (1995). Here is CONNECTICUT.  Hartford to be exact. I used to loathe CT & all things New England when my parents, sister and brother (did you catch that I did not include myself lol) first moved to the "860"! There was the fact that we were now further away from our home base in Philly! It was the fact that all of my friends were in Plai

I'm learning how to listen. Listen to my body. Listen to my children. Listen to my husband. Listen to my community. Listen to other family members. Listen to friends. Listen to the Lord. This year I learned that I do lots of talking and not nearly enough listening. So much so that God instructed me at the beginning of the year that this would be a quiet year, no engagements or speaking opportunities. This news was uncomfortable initially because most times when i'm invited to

I am waiting & sometimes I don't feel like it! I just want it now! I want the blessing now! I want the income now! I want the privilege of walking into the mall for no particular purpose and being able to make purchases based on what I like vs. what I need! I want to be able to hop in my new car and take a road trip or weekend get-a-way with my family whenever we feel like it! Ugggggh waiting is uncomfortable! I was released from a job that I believe God handpicked for me in

Copyright 2016 Leah Burgess "B.Leah" i have anger. i have fear. i have rage. i have bewilderment. i have pent up frustration. i have gas. i have belly issues. i have a desire to eat emotionally. i have a husband that loves the life into me. i have children that plan to see me at the end of this day. i have parents that taught me. i have a sister planning a wedding. i have a brother planning a baller career. i have a church family that looks for me. i have sister-friends that

Marriages are made of many ingredients and we are suggesting that one major ingredient which acts as an organic preservative is FLIRTING! There are countless reasons why lovers stop flirting, don't flirt as much or don't even see the need for flirting with each other. But marriage is about fighting! Fighting against what we prefer to do vs. what we need to do. Fighting against what we want to get the things we need. Husbands & Wives this is a call to you! Flirt with each oth

Our family moved 400+ miles away this summer (2015) so Ché could start school at WAU. We knew life would be different without our church family, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and familiar places we frequented. But I don't think we expected life to completely shift! We have had to change our bedtimes, work schedules, and as husband and wife our intimate relational routine (in the spirit of transparency). The one thing in all of this that has not changed is God's will, G