March 2013
2 posts
4 tags
Five Simple Steps in Controlling Your Cash! →
Women often crack under pressure when it comes to keeping of with fashion trends and the modern day standard of beauty. But did you know that a woman of influence is a good steward over her finances? Here is five simple steps to help you transform from the “consumer mindset” to the “steward mindset” 1. Organize Many people spend a lot of time and money searching for things. When it comes to your...
Grow where you are planted →
By: Tara L. Eastman
March 14th, 2012
On my way to work on a sunny, late-summer morning, I was sitting at a red light and saw something quite unusual growing in the front lawn of a city apartment building. People usually beautify their yards and homes with flowers, climbing vines and gnome sculptures – but not the town I live in. This home’s small front yard was filled with rows of corn! The...
February 2013
1 post
“Finding your passion isn’t just about careers and money. It’s about finding your...”
– Kristin Hannah (via onlinecounsellingcollege)
2 tags
Love is in the air! →
Check out the valentines day addition of BLOG!
January 2013
2 posts
2 tags
December 2012
5 posts
4 tags
Victory: A Legacy Given
By Tahnee Jones
I asked God, “How can I be a victor when I feel like the world’s most defeated victim?”
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6 tags
The Underdogs in a Real Love Story
Rejects in Front of Majesty
By Monica Leija
There is something heart gripping about the unfavored basketball team who dunks the winning shot or the football team deemed losers, who score the final touchdown…underdogs turned champions. Or how about the kid in school that everybody dismisses because he walks to the beat of his own drum. The outcast, who is now living large or the little girl...
5 tags
The Five Love Launguages of Christmas
Show Your Love in New Ways This Christmas
By Keshia Smith
Not all of the gifts given to your loved ones this Christmas need to be wrapped and placed under a tree. In Gary Chapman’s book “The Five Love Languages,” Chapman points out five ways that people give and receive love. Figuring out a partner, friend or family members’ primary Love Language can help you make them feel extra special this...
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Random Acts of Christmas Kindness
Keeping Christ in Christmas is the theme this month here at Blog Magazine and I want to share with you one of the things my family and I like to do during this time of year to remember that Jesus is the reason for this season. I follow several crafty, homemaking, and DIY blogs and have read several posts about random acts of kindness, or RAK. I did not know what they were talking about at first,...
November 2012
35 posts
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Additude of Gratitude
By Shannon N. Taylor
My only wish so long ago was to lead a normal life, free from fear, terror, and hunger. Free from embarrassment and harassment. Oh but God had so much more for me! Not only did He free me, but He also gave me life! A life that’s so full of love, peace, joy, laughter, and sweetness.
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Being Thankful for New Beginnings
By: Taylor Duckett
I have always loved the month of November. On November 6th, 2011 at approximately 8:30pm I got delivered from 18 years of baggage and demons and, was also healed instantaneously. After that happened, there was only one logical thing to do; rededicate my life to Christ. Before that time, I had been doing my own thing and it wasn’t working very well for me; I found that you...
Does the Media Influence Our Behavior? →
7 tags
Raising a dark child in a white world
By Kairis Joy Colter Burt
There is an ongoing argument over the definition of race, what it means to be Black, and even about the right to be called African American. It’s a particularly hot topic now, in November of 2012. Election Day is on the minds of most here in the United States. As an American citizen, and as a mother, I spend lots of time thinking about the experiences of a white woman...
Sex Trafficking: Shedding light on her tragic...
By Tameka Williamson
Keisha Head re-lived the most traumatic time of her life when the gift of choice resulted in the loss of her innocence as a ‘motherless’child. Everything she knew that was acceptable and normal was challenged the day she was exposed to the world of stripping for money, ultimately using her sexuality to make money… at the tender age of twelve.
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An Identity Found in Chist
Kristen Haubold Discovers True Love and Sacrifice
By: Keshia Smith
When 21-year-old Kristen Haubold was 17, she fell in love with her best friend. It was the first time she had felt romantic feelings for anyone, and when she realized her friend felt the same she was ecstatic. However, there were complications that made Haubold decide to keep her feelings secret from many friends and family. ...
4 tags
Deferred Hope is not Hope-less
Danita Ogandaga
Growing up in our small hometown of Kinston, North Carolina, I was the kid of not one, but two spirit-filled preachers, so it was no random thing to see me walking through the house with hymnal in hand.
One of the songs that I used to sing was, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’...
6 tags
The Universal Power of Words
Dawniel Patterson-Winningham
The power of words is amazing. So much so that we can transform our being, simply by claiming those things that lie seemingly beyond our reach. It starts by saying simply I AM! The picture that we paint of ourselves with these 2 words is what the world sees in us. No more and no less.
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Loving Thyself
Shedding the Media’s Image for the One Made In God’s Own
By Chantelle Cotton
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? The media depicts certain images as ‘beautiful’. Sizes 0-6 are branded acceptable; anything bigger is ‘overweight.’ These stereotypes that have also made young girls feel like they should have a certain skin color, hair texture, and body-shape in order to be ‘pretty’.
...
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Perfect Love Cast Our Fear
HOW TO PREVENT YOUR HEART FROM HARDENING
By Andile Nyasha Pfupa
Would you mind if I pretended I was someone else, with courage in love and war. I use to think that’s what I was, but now this lying hurts to much, and I don’t know what for.” ~ Serena Ryder [Weak in The Knees] Sometimes people – women, especially, get scared of expressing their true selves toward someone they are attracted to. I...
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What made me realize that I didn't even love ME?
By: Queenie Brown
Sometimes I often ask myself, what went wrong in my personal relationships? Could it be traced back to my decision to place the needs, desires, values and opinions of others before my own? When was it that I realized that the vast majority of my friendships were imbalanced and emotionally abusive? Maybe it was when I found myself unable to stand up for myself and set...
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Leaving a Legacy
Extending a Helping Hand
By Taylor Duckett
One of my concerns since giving my life to Christ was that I was not going to leave a legacy at University of Miami. I was at one point really saddened and disheartened by this because I wanted to make a change on my campus.
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Reader Review- Redeeming Love
THIS BOOK SHOWS YOU THE TRUE MEANING OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!
By Briana D. Williams
Redeeming Love is a classic Christian romance novel set in the mid 1850s during the California gold rush. This book is beautifully written, and although its rather thick, I couldn’t put it down and read it in less than three days!
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What Is Beauty?
By Janet Schwind
My first brush with beautification rituals came in the sixth grade when I finally convinced my mom to let me shave my legs. By this time the hair was so long I had to use a machete to knock down the heavy growth. It did not help that my three brothers called me cavewoman. Contact lenses, makeup and a fresh, over-wound home perm brought me into modern society as an incoming...
4 tags
Eliminating the spirit of Depression
By Andile Nyasha Pfupa
I haven’t been feeling well for the longest time. I had spent the past few months feeling like a failure. In fact, it got to the point where I was crying everyday…on my way to work, on my way home from work, when I was just sitting in my room by myself, right before I fell asleep, and when I woke up.
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From Homeless to Honor
From Homeless to Honor: Meet Starr Garrett
By Keshia Smith
Starr Garrett, 21, vividly remembers the day thirteen years ago when her family was kicked out of the house they were renting in Indianapolis. The young girl felt mostly confusion when her mother came home from work and started packing all of the family’s belongings. When she realized what was happening, she also felt fear. Garrett...
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Touching her head, healing my heart
How a Homeless Little Girl Brought Full Circle One Woman’s Journey to Healing
By Kairis Joy Colter Burt
“Are you a boy or a girl?” A single question on a kindergarten playground sent a confident 5-year-old in the 1970′s spiraling into a life-long battle with insecurity. Girly clothes, bright colors, earrings, even nail polish did not offset what most people associate with masculinity: short...
Lets Talk About Sexual Purity
Pushing Past the Pressure to Conform
By Nichelle Cook
Have you ever sat around and listened to folks as they jokingly exclaimed that there are no adult virgins, and as they laughingly mock the biblical standards of purity? Well, I have, and each time it happens I begin to hurt just a little more than the time before. Contrary to what one may believe, my hurt is not simply because they have...
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Music Pick of the Month- Joy Ike
An Interview with an Independent Artist on How Faith Meets Art
By Keshia Smith
The goal of many artists, writers, filmmakers, and musicians is simply to tell the truth… about life, love, trials and triumphs, and even faith. With Ukulele in hand, Joy Ike is an artist striving to do just that, without labels or expectations. Currently based out of Pittsburgh, PA, Ike first started playing music...
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Freeing Yourself From Bondage
Steps to Help You Free Yourself From Domestic Violence
By Seneca Evans
The Chris Brown and Rhianna collaboration has placed domestic violence back in the forefront of many people’s minds. Unfortunately, domestic violence, whether physical, emotional or verbal, is all too common in our society. It’s in our own backyard, in the homes of our loved ones. It’s the silent relationship killer; the...
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The Road Less Traveled
Why One Woman Chose to Make the Public School Her Mission Field
By Sonja Mitchell
Deanna Reed is a woman of compassion, kindness and integrity. She is the wife of Ron Reed, who is the senior pastor at Seerley Creek Christian Church. She could have chosen to teach at a Christian school and she would have done a fine job. But she made the conscience choice to teach at a public school. Deanna...
The Independent Woman Deception
More Women Are Drinking the Corporate Kool-Aid
By Katrina Smith
Many of today’s women use the self-proclaimed title independent as a badge of honor. So we grab hold of the world’s philosophy and use over-played and over-rated phrases like, “We don’t need a man” and ”We can provide for ourselves.” Then after a long day at the office where overwork to overcompensate for our insecurities, we rush...
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The Prince Charming Debate: Deception v/s...
How Negativity Can Alter Your Reality
By Chris Green
I was reading through some discussion boards a couple of weeks ago and came across a question a lot of women tend to pose lately. “Does Prince Charming still exist?” As I sat down and pondered the question for a few minutes, I came to some thoughts to answer this question.
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Gaby's Story
Bride Saves Her First Kiss for Her Groom on Their Wedding Day
By Keshia Smith
Gabrielle Brown, 29, had never dated anyone until the age of 27. In about four months, she plans on having her first kiss… at the altar during her wedding day. “In the past, I have had a few male friends who were not too thrilled when I told them my decision to wait until my wedding day to have my first kiss. They...
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The Beauty of Love's Covering
Breaking Free of The “Independent Mentality” by Learning to Be a Bride
By Katrina Smith
One of the most beautiful things about being a new wife is constantly finding new reasons why I love my husband. It’s much like being a new Christian, taking delight in finding a new hidden treasure every single day. Read More
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Write For Us
B.L.O.G. is always looking for new writers to join our team! You do not have to be a professional, or experienced in the writing field….just Real Women with Real Stories. We want writers who line up with our mission, who have a passion for writing, and have a story to tell to empower other women! We are looking for recipes, ‘How To’s”, Relationship and Marriage Advice, Parenting Tips, and...
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The Measure of a Man
Do Nice Guy’s Really Finish Last?
By Katrina Smith
He was raised by a woman who was all alone so she him from the children’s home. From the moment she saw him, she knew that although she didn’t birth him, he was hers. Although it was hard, she never wavered from her values. She taught him how to respect others – and make no mistake, she never “took no mess.” Growing up, he was surrounded by...
One Nation... Under God
Maintaining Unwavering Faith in a Shifting America
By: Myckelle P. Williams
I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America…. and to the republic, for which it stands…One Nation, Under GOD”
We teach every child these words: but do we as a country truly live by them? In America, it seems that we no longer desire to Stand as One nation…under God. Over the past 50...
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Picture Frames
Laying Down Happily Ever After
By Brittney McCook
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:25
I have been convicted lately about the fixation that many girls in this generation, myself included, have with our futures (i.e. marriage, kids, family, husbands…etc). If Satan can distract you...
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November Editorial: A Mile In her Shoes
Thank you for visiting BLOG Magazine online. With November arriving, we wanted to touch on the season of Thanksgiving but with a different spin. We each chose a woman that is very different from us and take a walk in her shoes by becoming, shadowing or interviewing her. Not only to gain understanding by walking in her shoes but also place ourselves in the sandals of Christ.
So that is what I...
It's All Good
How to keep God in perspective through the storms
By Taylor Duckett
I spent the summer on campus working in order to help offset some of my back to school costs. At first I was really excited to be headed back to Miami because God worked several, supernatural miracles to make it happen. The day before I was set to go home indefinitely, God provided me a job on campus. He a few days later...
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Men Speak- Protecting your Purity
Virginity is a Virtue That Does Not Come Without Struggle
By Chris Green
Okay. Here goes. I am a 32-year-old African-American male who happens to be a virgin. Surprised? It’s quite OK. I am used to it. Some of you may be wondering, how in the world is this possible? People ask me all the time, how are you still a virgin? The true reasons are because of spiritual reverence and my devotion to...
October 2012
9 posts
7 tags
Spiritual Poverty... Generation After Generation
Breaking the Chains of Generational Spiritual Poverty
By Cindy Lumpkin
I had my first “educational” enlightening experience in my college freshmen year. I had been introduced to the term ‘cultural poverty’ via Sociology 101. From what I learned of the term, it was that certain poor people passed down poverty to their children. They passed it via behaviors and views that would prevent them...
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Too Proud... and a Little Prejudiced
The Wisdom I Almost Overlooked
By Mariah Morton
I’ve wanted to be a writer for as far back as I can remember. When I started reading chapter books in kindergarten, that dream was secure in my mind. I knew there was something magical about words. I wanted to make words impact other people’s lives the way they did mine. My passion was fed and my skills honed for the next three years, and by the...
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Rapunzel- Towers of Security
Our Calling Is Outside Our Comfort Zone
by Brittney McCook
Every good story we have ever heard as girls growing up involves some sort of adventure and risk. If there is not some amount of uncertainty involved we get bored. This is why classic fairy tales have come to be so dear to our hearts over the years. Not only is there the classic love story, but the characters are also on an adventure....
