TalulaZoeApple

Paying Your Tithes Is A Blessing

When I pay my tithes, I remember when I was unemployed. Times got tough. Now I am employed and consider it such an honor to have the ability to pay tithes. 

I also understand being faithful to God and feeling like there is just no way that you can pay tithes when you are barely scraping by. I have been there, too. 

God knows and understands all but let me encourage you to pay tithes. 

It is not about the church. It is not about the preacher. It is not about how you feel. 

It is about the sacrifice. God honors the sacrifice. If you do not believe me, ask Abraham.

I had to get some work done on my car. Something said do not pay your tithes you need to fix your car. How are you going to get to work with no car? Blah, blah, blah. Worries snowballing into more worries. 

Well, long story less long. My repairs are covered by the warranty minus my deductible of $50. This is so much less than what I paid in tithes. 

Did you catch it!

God blessed me in a way I did not expect. In turn I blessed someone else. Blessings snowballing into more blessings!

You cannot pay God for a blessing. I believe that I am blessed no matter what. However, there is a special anointing on the sacrifice. When the sacrifice is dear (see Abraham and Isaac), God will provide a "ram in the bush."

Be blessed readers!

Smile, It Is Your Birthday

My sister woke me up with a phone call at 6:16 AM singing, "Its ya birthdya, it's ya birthday!" lol In my family we have an unofficial contest about who is the first to wish someone a happy birthday. So suffice it say, this year she has won.

In typical my-life fashion, the buildup to this day was drama filled. For 3 days last week, every time I looked at the clock the time showed 1:17. Like seriously. 

Then 2 nights before, I lost my file at work and had to redo an entire exercise that set me a full day behind all of my fellow trainees. 

Last night, some neighbor was blasting Indian rock. Yes, like rock music with a flair of India. 

I kept my cool. I was determined not to let the devil steal my joy because that is what he is - a thief.

A girl at work gave me a neat idea. Instead of going out and spending money on a birthday celebration day, treat myself to dance lessons. I may do acting classes or something equally fun! 

Happy, Happy, joy, joy! My joy belongs to me - a gift from God. I was extra joyous when I found out at the end of the day that on my next paycheck to expect a RAISE!!!

HALLELUJAH! Happy Birthday to me!

I Gave Up Cable, Now What?

Guys I have cut the proverbial cord - the cable cord. Saving money all over the place, which feels good. Have a whole lot of free time and less mental clutter. The challenge? Harnessing all this new found energy into something productive. 

I ain't gonna lie *no Fifty Tyson* I had some withdrawals. This past Sunday was the debut of the new Real Housewives of Atlanta. YET, I did not bow, I did not bend. I held my ground and surprise, my bank account is pleased. 

I cannot believe how much time I wasted on my reality shows. All of the time I could have spent working on my book. 

Yeah, remember that?

My mind is clearer. I abhor drama in my own personal life yet I had opted to allow other people's drama into my home for entertainment's sake. Surely real life has more to offer. In 2012, I am going to find out. 

SN: I have rediscovered PBS. They need the viewership, right? Ah, Charlie Rose, how I have missed thee!

Freeing myself of cable is the gift that keeps on giving. 

Great Expectations Parte Deux

I love my blog.

It gives me the ability to peer back into my life to the date and time and really SEE how God works things out for me.

Peep this, on 11/08/10 I wrote a post entitled Great Expectations. In said post, I stated what I expected from God and what I think God expects from me - faithfulness. God is ever faithful, I am the one who continuously falls short. Well in this post I also ask God for a new job with great benefits and 1 year nearly to the DAY, I started a new job with GREAT benefits.

*In my Joey Lawrence voice* Whoa!

Ugh! Deja vu all over again!

Here I am with a list of desires from God and my second week in a row not being faithful - in worship, in giving.

Thank God for Jesus - His grace is sufficient for someone imperfect like me.

What I expect from God is His continued grace and mercy for me and my family, an amazing husband prefaced by a serendipitous encounter (*insider*), great friends, and my family together with me again. I want my business and book to be a great success bigger than my wildest dreams. After all, I am ready!

Now that is a whopper of a list but God created the universe surely he can handle my little world.

P.S. I am really excited now.

Thanks to all of my blog readers, even when you dont comment. I know you are there.

Is Celibacy A Necessity For the Single Christian?

You all should know my view on this but for discussion's sake, I'll entertain the question.

I grew up in the holy, sanctified Church of God in Christ. Girls wore no pants, make up. We were not allowed to listen to secular music. Everyone knew that sex before marriage was a grave sin.

Times have changed in the COGIC world and christiandom at large. It's not uncommon for many women to have a little Mac in their bag next to that well-worn and highlighted King James.

But how relaxed is too lax?

I have met many Christians with varying beliefs on drinking, tithing, clothes and music. I choose not to judge either way. Are there somethings that are black or white, yes or no?

I was listening to a woman who was upset that the man she had been dating and sleeping with had gotten her and 2 other women pregnant. She expressed shock over this man who knew the Word in and out. Her shock was at the fact that he was not faithful to her.

I believe the real commitment of a celibate life is not between two individuals but between you and God.  (Thanks The Old Black Church) So if you are not faithful to God, how can you be faithful to another flawed human being?

Let that marinate, while I sip some tea.  

A Christian follows Christ, follows the words of Christ i.e. the Bible.

I think a lot of Christians find sex a hard thing to give up especially when it's so easy to give in to. Many are not taught how to live a celibate life. Sex is the ultimate don't ask, don't tell for some.

And then there are those statistics. Like churches being up to 80 percent women, 70 percent of black women never getting married. You hear that long enough and even the mose faithful can feel pressured to settle for "shacking" lol. How old is that term?  Yet, some Christians love the Lord, love the Word and a little something else. lol

What say you?

 

Why I Needed A Massage and Why It Didn't Work

 have been super stressed!!! My neck felt like someone had tied knots in it. My new job is a daily pressure to manage an ever growing caseload of files while meeting participation numbers that have variables outside of my control. I have yet to get my house in order. I am slowly making progress on some bills but for every triumph a new challenge awaits. Through it all, I am still trying to grow this blog and finish my book.

So I get a coupon for a massage, facial, and hand treatment for $75. Sure $75 in like $1,000 when you are counting every bill but I NEED to relax. I tried meditation and it worked like twice after that I could not block out all of the noise.The knots kept tightening.

The masseuse begins my session. This woman (black like me) talks like for half of my session. Doesn't she understand that eyes closed means mouth closed. Plus she kept pressing too hard on my right side after I told her it hurt. All day yesterday and this morning my right side of my back has been KILLING me.

I am just so frustrated, I don't know what to do.

I am steady appyling for jobs but no calls yet. I keep trying. 

On a lighter note, I did manage to go out to a dinner party my apartment management company held. I met a girl from Mexico interning here for a while. We decide to see Dallas together. For all the time I have been here, I have never really seen the sites. Next Sunday we got some $15 tickets to the Texas Ballet. My friend is stationed here with her job maybe we can hangout a few times as well. Perhaps going out will relieve my stress because work is . . . ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am grateful for my job. I am grateful for my job. I am gratefull for my job.

What do you wear to a ballet?

 

 

Ten Best and Worst Moments of 2010

If you are a loyal reader of this blog then you can probably guess my list. I will give it a go anyway. Got the idea from a blog friend, Sincerely.

Best Moments of 2010

10. My Audition - Conquered a fear and had a blast. Did not get the part but it felt good all the  same.

9. Bionic Lashes - Found out how accenting one small part can have an gigantic effect on confidence.

8. My Adult Crush - I confessed years ago that I was a Serial Crusher. I thought I was in recovery until cute Puerto Rican guy came into my life. It was cute while it lasted.

7. The flower in my hair. Totally related to #8.

6. Susan G. Komen 5k Walk/Run for the Cure. Did it! Awesome! Here's hoping there is a cure soon.

5. My Niece and nephew visiting me for the summer. We had a blast. Looking forward to next summer.

4.  Graduation - It was such a long time coming. My family came to visit and everything. The first time they had been to see me since my 3 years being here. Had a blast.

3. Getting a job after being laid off.

2. Not losing anyone or anything this year!

1. My sister having a bouncing baby boy after being told she could never have children.

It goes without saying that I am happy to be alive, for my family and friends and my readers. I love you guys. I am happy to know God who gives me the confidence to face any year with assurance and peace.

Worst Moments of 2010

After writing my 10 best moments, I am feeling to grateful to write a 10 worst moments. So tell me your best or worst moments of 2010.

I Got A Job, Whoot, Whoot!

I am really excited about this new gig. I am pretty much helping out of work people find jobs.  Oh, the irony!

'Tis the season of new beginnings.

I am meeting all types of interesting people, at the new gig. I am convinced that God is the Great Networker. I am moving soon. Same community, smaller and cheaper place. Oh, I started my budget.

*****

I am driving home from work, my very first day, and my phone rings.

It's "The Kid" singing, "She works hard for the money." I totally needed that laugh. So he is like, I miss you, can I come over. He says he will bring dinner, yada, yada.

So mind you, he calls from the restuarant that is like two minutes from my house to see what I want. Then like 40 MINUTES later, I call and say, "Are you lost?"

He says, no. It turns out his "girlfriend" needed money and he had to go rush and make a deposit. Okay, that's fine and all but why wouldn't you call and say that. He thinks that I make a big deal out of things but his behavior just reinforces his immaturity to me. He's cool and all but I hate when people show disregard for my time.

Anyway, he comes over and we hangout but I was really tired and feeling a bit under the weather.

Back to my job, though. #Grateful

I feel like a lot of things are resettling in my life, as if I am being repositioned. I keep giving thanks regardless of what is happening around me. I know God will calm every stormy sea and boisterous wind.

That is what has been happening in my life. What's up with yours?

I am in training for the next couple of weeks.

How To Be Celibate - A Single Christian's Guide

To be a Christian is more than a title. It is more than a standing weekly appointment at some church. It is a walk with Christ. To be Christlike is to live as according to the word of God.

The most contentious and difficult requirement of of Christian life is the no fornication clause. lol There are some who adhere to monogamy as a rule or make an exception for someone that they are in love with. However, the bible is clear about a few things and no premarital sex in one of them.

So pratically, how does one accomplish this feat of will. The answer is YOU do not but with the assistance of the holy spirit you can!

These are some helpful tips.

1. Decide in your mind that celibacy is the right thing to aspire to.
2. Read your bible for strength and inspiration.
3. Fast and pray. Fasting is refraining from food and/or drink for a specific amount of time to give yourself in prayer to God. Denying the real and necessary urge to eat puts you in the right spiritual frame of mind to deny yourself sex. You are also giving yourself the freedom to love someone free of the cloud of sex. Sex is not love.
4. When starting out, refrain from things - music, movies, people - that put you in that loving feeling.
5. Get busy!!! Become faithful to God is service, giving, living. An idle mind is truly the devil's playground.
6. Hang out with like-minded individuals. It is my honest opinion that folk who are loose in the caboose secretly envy those who refrain. I believe they subconsciously try to undermine your position by enticing you to give up on celibacy. Why? Misery loves company.
7. If you feel like you just cannot hold on any longer, take the time to pray. My personal prayer is, "My body belongs to God." When you realize this truth, you will not give yourself away to someone not in God's plan for you.

I personally have been celibate a long, long, long, long, time. lol These tips have helped me to keep myself free from fornication.

Are there any celibate readers? How do you handle this situation?

Counting My Blessings

Have you ever looked at someone and thought their life must be so perfect or at least better than mine?

I thank God for MY LIFE and everyone and thing in it.

 

I was watching the Soult Train Awards on yesterday and Tamia performed. She sang beautifully. She looked flawless. Married to Grant Hill with two children - her life seemed a fairytale. I was so shocked to learn that she is battling multiple sclerosis.

Though there is no "good" time to receive an MS diagnosis, Tamia's diagnosis came during an especially trying time for her and her husband. Grant had recently returned from the hospital where Tamia had rushed him when he developed a staph infection after surgery on his ankle left him with convulsions and a 104 degree temperature. Tamia started experiencing numbness in her hands and feet and unexplained severe fatigue. It was then Grant's turn to take her to the hospital. Three doctors, a misdiagnosis of a pulled muscle, and several MRIs later, Tamia was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Soon after, while out of the country celebrating their anniversary, Tamia had her first frightening attack. "Literally, I could not lift a pen. I could not get out of bed. I had to fill out customs forms to come back and my husband had to fill them out because I could not write," she told Jet. SOURCE

The same with Toni Braxton - beautiful, talented, and battling debilitating illnesses, heart disease and lupus. I read that Tamia's MS is in remission. Thank God for that.

You just never know what another person is struggling with. I am very conscious of how good God is. These women are alive and still counting their blessings. I am going to continue to count mine.

My mom, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, life, health, strength, a good mind, passion, gifts, hopes, salvation, determination and the list goes on and on. How dare I be depressed?