Genesis 3

I'm freezing! I came home from work today and the house was a little stuffy. So, I turned on the air conditioner just to get some circulation going. Well, I left the house without turning off the air. I returned to a really cold house. So, now I'm bundled under layers of cover longing for the stuffy conditions of this afternoon.

Earlier, I had a lunch date with my "Aunt" Jackie (my mentor); and we had a really good talk about life and the intricacies of female relationships. To write about that would take up all the space on my hard drive. I'll say it was a productive talk and I came away feeling like I had grown closer to the woman that I want to be.

Tonight we had prayer at church. I thoroughly enjoyed it, because after talking to God I feel like I'm going to be okay. Like I'm doing okay in this Christian walk. Too often, we can feel like we don't measure up. Or when we mess up that God is going to banish us to hell rather than forgiving us.  It's strange how we believe some of what the bible says and not all of it. The entire word of God is TRUE. Believe it!

Usually when I pray, I worship first. Then I ask for forgiveness. Then I pray for myself and others (sometimes asking for intangibles: peace, joy; and sometimes for the tangibles: a husband...LOL). Finally, I just listen. Tonight when I listened, I heard God say "why are you hiding?" "where are you?" I sat and I listened to him say he wanted more time with me. Unfortunately, because I'm always on the go, so are my prayers. It's easy to get caught up in getting things done, that we forget to take time out of our day to have a conversation with him. As he did with Adam in Genesis 3, God is looking for me and asking me what is keeping us apart. That's the thing about stillness, you can hear God so clearly. Be still. Maybe he's asking you the same thing. Pow3rful in Him, Chris

Busy Bee

The last 5 days have been hectic but great. Because I have so many vacation days left, I've been taking off Mondays and Fridays for the last two weeks. I can really get used to this! Yesterday, I wore the pleated skirt that I posted a few days ago. See pic below. I received compliments. The colors were bright and fabulous and I love that the colors from the 1980s are back!

I thought I would be able to sleep in today, but my brother had other plans. It was raining outside (we know how I feel about that). I was sound asleep, which is rare being the light sleeper that I am.  And here comes my brother, it never seems to fail... He always finds something for me to do when all I want to do is nothing! lol. So, I drove to north Jersey to pick him up from his car dealership. My intention was to go to NYC today, but when I got back home I went to bed. I didn't get up until 4:30pm. And that was only to go to the mall with my girl Nicole and her sister, Natalie. I was determined not to buy anything. I'm saving for my trip next month. I just know I'm going to find some great fashions.

Now I'm back home and all I feel like doing is reading and going to bed. After all, tomorrow is a work day. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night because we have corporate prayer. I'm cognizant of God most times, but I am working on doing better in my prayer life. Sometimes, it's not about the dialogue, but listening to him. So, here's to listening and obeying. Pow3rful in Him, Chris

So Full

This was the perfect Saturday. I've been having a lot of those lately. There is really so much to share but its 11:33pm and I'm winding down from a long but glorious day. I will be sure to share all tomorrow. I am so full of joy and thankfulness for good friends and fellowship. To all my peeps that came to the Great Lawn at Central Park to celebrate the life and legacy of Annie George, I salute you and I thank God for your presence in my life. Pow3rful in Him, Chris

Hot Stuff

It was 90 degrees at 10am this morning. I expect that kind of heat in Tennessee, but not New Jersey. The first day of summer came in with a heat wave; and nearly crippled the HVAC system in my office building.  Because of the stifling heat, I decided to forgo going out to lunch. So naturally, I was starving by the end of the work day. This evening, I met up with my girls, Nicole and Kenya, to go to the mall. The purpose was to assist Nicole with finding a blouse for her bridal shower. She's getting married Labor Day weekend! However, I was intent on getting Chick-Fil-A as soon as possible. Love that place!

Unfortunately, MISSION Find-Nic-a-Blouse was a bust, but she has a little over a week to find something stunning. Of course, when I go to the mall with intentions to help someone else, I find deals for myself. All I have to say is Forever 21. One of my favorite stores. Typically, I don't go for pleats, but this cute color block accordion skirt beckoned me to the point that I had to buy it. I don't usually share my finds prior to wearing them, but I'll make this exception cause it's so darn fabulous. The pic is posted below, but it looks so much better on me:) I'll share my rendition at a later time.

The last 4 years, I've really let my fashion sense fall by the wayside. Long nights in the library instead of the gym didn't help my girlish figure either. So, I'm buying pieces here and there to spruce up the wardrobe and get back in the style game. Look out world, here I come:)
Pow3rful in Him, Chris

Happy Graduation

It's official. My mentee, Megan, graduated from high school today. I am so proud of her and look forward to her future accomplishments. She'll be starting college in the fall; and will experience a certain level of independence that is foreign to most high school graduates. Sitting through her ceremony, I remembered my high school graduation. I remember my excitement as well as my fear about the future. Funny thing is I don't fear the future anymore. I just prepare for it; and pray that God will keep me come what may. As I looked through the program, my mind mulled over the word graduate. Although it is a noun and an adjective, I thought about the verb. One definition for graduate is to change gradually (over time). We must not only do this in the natural, but in the spiritual.

I have academic degrees signifying that I've moved from one level of learning to the next; however, what is there to signify that I (or you) have moved from one level of glory to the next in God? Last Saturday, at the Sweet Tea Party, we discussed what qualities constitutes maturity. There were some good answers and then Sister Venetta said "it's in the word...the fruit of the Spirit constitute maturity [along with the other qualities mentioned]". The fruit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).  It's no coincidence that love is mentioned first. God is love. Once you have God -and a made up mind to serve him- then the other fruit will become evident in your life.  Furthermore, 1st Corinthians 13:11-12 speaks of becoming mature in the faith as does 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Many say that life is a journey. In order to reach your destination you must move. Same thing with our spiritual lives. It's a journey, and we must keep moving from one level to the next... gradually becoming better for the glory of God. At the end of our journey aren't we all looking to be conferred with a crown of glory and honor? Pow3rful in Him, Chris

Sister Friends

Wow! This has been quite a weekend. I don't know where to begin. As you know I went to a friend's 35th birthday party Friday night. The pics are below as promised. On Saturday, I attended a Sweet Tea Party with the ladies from the Within Ministry. We had such a great time. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing godly wisdom about life, love and relationships.  And that's what we did Saturday.

Today was so edifying to me.  Two of my friends who no longer live in New Jersey were in town. I was elated to have everyone together. Of course, after service we went to lunch. As my friend, DeaLana likes to say, it was 'so easy, breezy, beautiful'. No drama, just good times. After lunch, we said our goodbyes to Shauna, who lives abroad.

These times are so far and few between, but when we get together it's like no time has passed. I know no matter how old we are or where we go, we will be sisters for life. I can count on them to tell me the truth (even when it hurts); to make me laugh when all I want to do is cry; to give me wisdom when I need it...There is no amount of money that can buy you true friends. They are priceless.

So, this entry is just a shout out to my sister-friends past and present. I am thankful for the women who have helped shape me into the woman I am today.
Pow3rful in Him, Chris

P.S. So, this is my great TJ Maxx find. The dress is Gabby Skye. The shoes are Marc Fisher from Macy's. The clutch is NY & Co.

God is in the Details

Detail oriented. It's on almost every resume I've ever read, but how often is it really true? It's listed as a skill on my resume. And whether I want to or not, I must admit I ignore the details all the time. Case in point, a friend of mine will be celebrating her 35th birthday tomorrow. I received the party invitation weeks ago. I replied by the appointed date. I get a point for that! BUT somehow I missed the required attire: ALL WHITE. My brother patiently pointed it out to me last Sunday. I was in panic mode, because I rarely buy white clothes. As I told Chelle just this morning #1) it's so hard for me to keep it clean and #2) the color makes me look huge (right in the gut). Therefore, I don't have any white clothes besides a couple of casuals tops. So, I spent 3 hours at the mall last night to no avail.

I went to the North Brunswick Shoppes (shoppies, as my coworker calls it) on my lunch break; and to my utter dismay I found nothing appropriate...not even from White House|Black Market. I mean, isn't this what you specialize in?! Anyway, I'm now heading towards Distressed-ville. Yes, that's an actual place--in my mind. When I get like this, it would do good to remember the scripture 'be anxious for nothing' or even better 'do not worry'. NOW I remember them. Determined to get my peace of mind back, I browsed stores online for a good part of the afternoon (it was a slow day). After work, I had to make a quick decision TJ Maxx or Ross. One or the other was bound to have something white, right?

I decided on TJ Maxx. I could hear the lady from the commercial saying 'be a maxxinista'. I'm telling you the power of TV. Guess what? I found a ca-uuuuute (as Chelle said) dress. I will be sure to share pics from tomorrow night's party of the ensemble I put together. AND the dress was a steal! You gotta love designer fashion at low prices...hehehe.

 Moral of the story: God is in the details, so pay attention! It'll save you a trip to Distressed-ville. Pow3rful in Him, Chris