Simply Inspired

D iscipline is obedience, a lifetime process that brings us to a state of order by training and controlling our behavior. Discipline is focusing and eliminating, zeroing in on what is important in every area of life. Discipline not only leads to right thinking and right behavior, it produces healthy and balanced emotions as well.  Emotional health is like a bank account -- withdrawals and deposits determine the balance. Ministry is running over with lifeless places in which to invest emotional energy. When we value programs over people, success over obedience, or comfort over character, the result is a life without balance, and a ministry without purpose. As women in ministry, we must, with diligence and obedience, monitor emotional withdrawals and the impact they will have on the ministry to which God has called us. Each day of ministry is filled with emotional withdrawals, many of which are good, right, and ordained by God. I will never forget the night we found a broken and defe...

It’ s gotten tough Life is no easy task You are blessed to wake up in the morning It doesn’t to say a prayer for a brighter day Countries fued over who runs what part of the world Jobs have become a needle in a haystack Nothing is safe to eat anymore What’s on your mind is the only source of privacy you have nowadays Everywhere you look another business is shutting down People get laid off on a regular basis Crimes have also increased More people are getting robbed out in the streets I guess everythings fine if you don’t worry about these things I’d wake up if I were you Technology has taken over man Why isn’t it vice versa? I’ll admit it I’m afraid to see what this world will come to in the future Nothing is a piece of cake anymore You’re lucky to even get crumbs off the street The Destitute stand out in the streets begging for change 80% of the day cars roll on by with no concern Times have definitely changed Are they for the better or worse? I’m thirty one But this economy makes me ...

What’s wrong with people? They keep attitudes all the time Rob and kill each other everyday Rape and molest children People have a frightening thought process How do you what they’ll do next? Homes and businesses are burglarized Kidnappings have become frequent Parents are murdering their offspring Family is quick to stab you in the back I don’t understand people at all They take advantage of one another They say cruel things to hurt one’s feelings Spread rumors to defame character People envy, but only look from the outside People are very negative when they’re miserable I wish I could escape people! I don’t feel I’m built for real life Sometimes I feel like I’m something else People enjoy more lies’ than truth I guess it’s easier to deal with My heart goes out to these people I don’t think they know the harm they do in the world all the time If so, what triggers it off? ...

God knows that you will NEVER be complete until you really understand that you are complete IN HIM-regardless of who comes along to try and validate your purpose and worth. We can't give people the power to try control, manipulate and make us feel that without them, we are nothing and will never become...NOT TRUE, we have to CONTINUALLY RISE up in who God says WE ARE, not man and what they say.  I realize that I won't be understood, accepted by everybody and that I can't be all things to everybody and that's okay-only in HIM am I complete, while naturally I'm STILL a work in progress and not there yet!

The “heart” includes the mind and all that proceeds from it. Someone said that every sin we commit, we commit twice, once in our thoughts and again when we act upon those thoughts. It is easiest to rid our lives of sin if we attack it at this fundamental thought level rather than waiting for it to become rooted in our lives by our actions and then try to pull it out. There is also a difference between being tempted (a thought entering into the mind) and sinning (dwelling upon an evil thought and wallowing in it). It is important to understand that when a thought enters our mind, we examine it based upon God's Word and determine if we should continue down that path or reject the thought and replace it with another thought. If we have already allowed a habit to form in our thought lives, it becomes more difficult to change the path of our thoughts, even as it is hard to get a car out of a deep rut and onto a new track. Here are some biblical suggestions for taking control of our thou...

‘ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. ’ (1 Samuel 17:45) Not only did David defeat Goliath, he started by not threatening physically, he placed in the atmosphere what was GOING to happen because of the words he spoke. To the outside, it looked like David had no power and he knew what he was up against. David’s word proved that God was all he needed.  It  also shows us that we can’t let what other say discourage us. I’ve felt as if I knew the problem and issues at hand, where fear would also show up, while my spirit man constantly reminded me that I can do what God has given me to do and I have a greater call that must come forth and there will be giants(obstacles)in my way. By faith, we can conquer all. In the end, David wanted God to get the glory. It Couldn't Be Done  Edgar A. Guest Somebody said...

The-Man-Worth-Waiting-For This is some of what I have been reading in the book ’Lady In Waiting’ by Jackie Kendall & Debby Jones. It’s really opened my eyes on what characteristics to look for along with being patient myself, because truly it is a virtue to me, and if I see one quality out of place, I immediately think “that ain’t it”(LOL)-God is working on me daily and I’m also breaking the generational curse I have seen in my family and DECLARE it broken off of me-We must set a standard for the next generation of women. Before considering the specific qualities found in a Boaz, one should deal with a certain physical stereotypes. Whether you have been looking for a guy who is tall, dark and handsome(“T.D.H”) or is a bronzed, blue-eyed blonde(”B.B.B”), you need to surrender your desires to the Lord.  Everyone has certain preferences. But such mind-set needs to be given to Jesus. Too many single women have missed wonderful treasures in godly guys because the treasure was not en...

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up. “That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would s...

I just wanted to share something that recently happened that I had a misconception about because of my past and it was frowned upon because of the positions I held. A brother wanted to have a conversation and I immediately got defensive, not knowing their motives and my mother 'gently' rebuked me by telling me not to be so defensive and suspicious all the time and that there is nothing wrong with establishing conversation and allowing things to flow as they will....in Gods will. She ended up by telling me to smile and relax! God is working on me and she was RIGHT! There's nothing wrong with conversing with the opposite sex-it's all in the way YOU carry yourself and whether they see God in you or not. I fellowship with men who are gospel rappers and spoken word artists all the time for events and in general, but this was different. I actually thought I had done something wrong because I was approached. Respect in this area is new to me-This may not seem like a big deal t...

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.” The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.” One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grow...

I dare dream because my dreams are The seed of God’s purpose for my life. I dare dream because my dreams are The things I go after with my life. Going after my dream is going after God’s purpose. Going after God’s purpose is going after God’s word. I see what I dream burning within me,  Faith coming hearing God’s word. Like, the soil commands an apple seed,  “Seed, become an apple tree! ” God’s word commands my dream,  “Dream, become a reality! ” My dreams are new life every day Unlocking my potential  and triggering my destiny. I dare dream as I make my way!  Again my dream makes my life new every day Unlocking God’s calling within and releasing God’s gift without!  I dare dream as I move about.   -Cornell Harris

-By Berton Braley Start where you stand and never mind the past, The past won’t help you in beginning new If you have left it all behind at last Why, that’s enough, you’re done with it, you’re through This is another chapter in the book, This is another race that you have planned. Don’t give the vanished days a backward look, Start where you stand. The world won’t care about your old defeats If you can start anew and win success; The future is your time, and time is fleet And there is much of work and strain and stress; Forget the buried woes and dead despairs, Here is a brand-new trial right at hand, The future is for him who does and dares, Start where you stand.

Don't allow someone's insensitivity (likely unintentional) to cause you to question God's love for you. God loves you more than you will ever know. What's more, He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what lies ahead and thus allows you to go through certain challenges to prepare you for the challenges ahead. Let God be God and go with the flow because you can rest assured He has your best interest at heart. God loves you more than you love yourself and He will always love you better than anyone else ever will.  

If i can't do  what i want to do  then my  job  is to not  do what i don't want  to do It's not the same thing  but it's the best i can  do If i can't have  what i want . . . then  my job is to want  what i've got  and be satisfied  that at least there  is something more to want Since i can't go  where i need  to go . . . then i must . . . go  where the signs point  through always understanding  parallel movement  isn't lateral When i can't express  what i really feel  i practice feeling  what i can express  and none of it is equal I know  but that's why mankind  alone among the animals  learns to cry -Nikki Giovanni

The women gather because it is not unusual to seek comfort in our hours of stress a man must be buried It is not unusual that the old bury the young though it is an abomination It is not strange that the unwise and the ungentle carry the banner of humaneness though it is a castration of the spirit It no longer shatters the intellect that those who make war call themselves diplomats we are no longer surprised that the unfaithful pray loudest every sunday in every church and sometimes in rooms facing east though it is a sin and a shame So how do we judge a man most of us love from our need to love not because we find someone deserving most of us forgive because we have trespassed not because we are magnanimous most of us comfort because we need comforting our ancient rituals demand that we give what we hope to receive And how do we judge a man we learn to greet when meeting to cry when parting and to sof...

I recently had to babysit and while I enjoy children-I LOVE kids and babies, I realized that they require ALL of your time, attention and love. I’m not selfish, but I learned that you have to either balance it all or devote your time and attention to one thing(goal) or the other(family). I was online checking  on my class schedule and the baby wanted to play, while his sister was searching for attention. My focus had to shift into them and discipline the older one, while playing with the baby. When older children know they can get away with certain things because a baby is around, they do it! needless to say, all it took was sternness and the oldest one straightened up and knew I meant business. This situation also reminded me of being patient and how things work together for OUR GOOD, in God’s timing. God knows what He is doing and not that I’m trying to be, but if He were to make me a parent right now, I would be calling my poor mom every 30mins, worrying her and unprepared at al...

Bring me all of your dreams, You dreamer Bring me all your Heart melodies That I may wrap them In a blue cloud-cloth Away from the too-rough fingers Of the world.  -Langston Hughes

don't lower your eyes or stare straight ahead to where you think you ought to be going don't mutter oh no not another one get a job  fly a kite go bury a bone with her old fashioned sandals with her leaden skirts with her stained cheeks and whiskers and heaped up trinkets she has risen among us in blunt reproach she has fitted her hair under a hand-me-down cap and spruced it up with feathers and stars slung over her shoulder she bears the rainbowed layers of charity and murmurs all of you even the least of you don't cross to the other side of the square don't think another item to fit on a tourist's agenda consider her drenched gaze her shining brow she who has brought mercy back into the streets and will not  retire  politely to the potter's field having assumed the thick skin of this town its gritted exhaust its sunscorch and blear she rests in her weathered plumage bigboned resolute don't think you can ever forget her don't even try she's not goin...

Been wondering WHY does it take so long for some people to recognize and pursue their call. I learned that it DOESN'T take years for God to do it. It takes years sometimes for us to yield to God PREPARING US and that the right leader will PUSH YOU into place!! I want God to work in ME NOW while I'm able bodied, so that I can become all HE desires and wants me to be! 

   The Color Purple” by Alice Walker symbolizes today’s woman and finding your own voice. Raised in a broken home, Celie struggles to find her identity while still married to Mr._____ and tending to his needs and his children. Seemingly Celie is lost and only knows abuse and suffering until Sophia and Shug Avery comes along, challenging her. They challenged her mind, causing her to look within at the woman she is and showed her through action how to survive life’s situations and come out stronger. We all need that one circle or person in our lives that will challenge us to change. Growing up, I found Celie to be a woman of virtue and great strength while I was going through in every area of my life. Celie was my first example on how to conquer any obstacle thrown your way. Through making a quilt of various materials, life, laughter and a series of letters that Shug Avery finds, Celie discovers that her sister is still alive and begins to find herself. Celie later moves away to...

Ladies: Know who you're getting involved with-in the past week I've read and heard so many stories about Domestic Violence, even had to write a paper about it and what I heard helped me write it...Thats why we must be ladies of patience, virtue, devotion, grace and WISDOM...praying that God gives discernment in the dating process and that the TRUE person be revealed before the next step is taken...One thing I learned this week is that once you ask God to show you a thing, HE WILL and you have to BE PREPARED for what He reveals.