New Blog

Hey everybody!  My new blog relaunch is coming soon.  Staaaay tuned!

Spring

Spring is officially here!  This is a a new season and an opportunity for new beginnings.  Take advantage of this great opportunity to continue striving to meet your goals.  And if you've forgotten about your goals, kindly take a moment to remind yourself of your goals.  If you have to, reshape those goals...but don't give up!  Continued blessings!

Oh yes!  My wife's women's retreat will be held this Fall, September-22nd-25th at Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, GA.  For more information, be sure to visit http://retreatsbyinspiredsistah.yolasite.com/.
Continued blessings!

Jessie
http://www.flavachordz.com/
www.twitter.com/flavachordz

Hang In There

We're already in the third month of 2011.  Time does not wait, so we have to make the most of every opportunity.  In case the year is not going the way you had expected, be encouraged.  Don't waste energy on things that you cannot control.  And don't waste energy on things that you CAN control either, but do the best with what you have.  And by all means...Hang In There!

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What Do You Have To Say?

So…what DO you have to say? You may ask “What do you mean Jessie”? Well, if you are compos mentis (of sound mind…you know…you got good sense, etc), then at some point ( usually every day) you have something to say (of value) that can enrich those around you. Just because you don’t have people packing stadiums, civic centers, auditoriums, conference rooms, gyms, churches, etc. (to hear and see you) does not mean that what has been placed in your heart and spirit is any less significant than those who do command huge crowds. True. Everyone has not been given the same measure (gifts, talents, abilities). There are some people (and many of you have met them) who not only have MANY gifts, but also have enormous AMOUNTS of those gifts. For example, let’s say your gifts are only 2 in number: singing and mathematics (nice combo huh?). Be and do YOUR best with those talents. No need to “hate” on those who not only have those same talents, but also are AT LEAST twice as good as you are AND have 5 more and are as equally talented at those…while you struggle to get some shine with your whopping 2 talents. Looking at what others have and ignoring one’s own talent(s) has caused many a person to shortchange his or her own impact and significance. When God designed you, trust (Him)…He knew what He was doing. On the surface, it can seem unfair. But just know that if your portion was 2 and someone else’s was…7, don’t hate…cultivate (stir up your gift(s)) and impart to someone else the wisdom you’ve been given/developed. If it’s 500 people… 5,000 people or just 5 people…inspire, encourage, empower, share. You have something of value that the world is waiting for (even if that particular world consists only of a handful of people)…so say it!


http://www.flavachordz.com/
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Speak To My Heart--Part 1

Remember To Stay Thankful

Greetings!  This year (2010) is almost over.  What worked for you?  What would you have done differently?   Did you achieve all of your goals?  Well, whatever the answers to those questions are, rest assured that 2011 will be a new year and with it will come new opportunities disguised as problems and challenges.  Maybe you didn't do everything you could have or should have, but you made it this far...so be thankful and begin planning your next move(s).  You already know the saying "If you fail to plan...then you're planning to fail."  BUT. You're going to plan,  AND you're going to plan well.  That doesn't mean that you won't encounter occasional (or frequent) obstacles; but always and  in every circumstance,  give thanks to God who causes us to triumph. So if it's unhealthy relationships...make a plan.  If it's an undesirable job/career...or the lack thereof...make a plan.  If it's unwanted weight (yours)...make a plan.  And Be Thankful because it could always be worse.  Peace-n-Blessings!
***Celebrate Jesus Every Day***

http://www.flavachordz.com/
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Inspired Sistah Sept 2010 Retreat Promo

It's almost here. Inspired Sistah's Fall Retreat 2010. Ladies you don't want to miss is awesome time. And be sure to visit me: www.flavachordz.com

Go On What You Know

Don’t worry about what your situation feels like. Go on what you know is true. God’s word is true. Sometimes our situations may cause us to have fear, or even doubt the presence of God in our lives. This is just what the enemy wants. If we accept a defeatist attitude, then the enemy’s job is effortless. But we shouldn’t relinquish any mental real estate to anything that’s ungodly. So when those ANTS A (automatic) N (negative) T (thoughts) come to you…kill them, by quoting God’s word, believing it, and applying it. We can’t just wish away bad thoughts. We have to open our mouths and confess the word of God. Be encouraged.


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Don't Stop Growing

Sometimes we in the Body of Christ become uninterested and unenthused (L-A-Z-Y) about our relationship with our Savior. And it’s not that we don’t love the Lord, but sometimes we just don’t feel like reading those extra scriptures (if at all). Sometimes we don’t feel like praying those extra minutes (if at all). And sometimes we don’t feel like fasting those extra days…….(if at all). In order to keep growing though, we have to do these things. God is ALWAYS speaking to us through His written (logos) word and rhema (spoken) word. The rhema word can from someone else to you and/or directly from God to you. But the only way for us to “hear” from the Lord (Jesus) is to make ourselves available to Him. The way we make ourselves available to Him is not just by simply saying “Lorrrrd, I’m Available To You…….” We have to invest the necessary time to develop the sensitivity to be able to hear what is being spoken to us. Watching countless hours of TV is not going to build a strong relationship or affinity for God.

If we want to go up to the next level in our lives, and have continued growth, then we have to do next level things. Embracing AND applying those aforementioned fundamentals (reading, praying, fasting) will without a doubt facilitate our going up to the next level. As we apply these fundamentals, we will be better equipped not to run from our development. Because of fear and selfish inclinations, we tend to want to run away when the marriage gets tough, or when people on the job are being difficult, or if we’re not having the success we thought we deserved in the other areas of our lives. God does not violate our will (He gives us free choice), but He does allow circumstances to develop us. We just have to embrace those challenges, stand and act on God’s word and the victory will eventually come.

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A Nation AT Praise--2010 Praise & Worship Music Conference

The 2010 Praise & Worship Music Conference (July 29 & 30) @ World Changers Church International was awesome! Guest speakers were Pastor Steve Ingram, Dr.Earl Johnson, Pastor (yes) Ben Tankard and the pastor of World Changers Church International, Dr. Creflo Dollar. All of the speakers were awesome. For me, it was a time of reflection and confirmation and I received a lot of encouragement from having heard their own personal testimonies about some of the challenges and expectations in music ministry….and how to meet those challenges and expectations. And get this…I have been a huge fan of Ben Tankard's music for 20+ years….and I never knew what he sounded like. I’m not talking about on da keys. Dude can straight kill on keys. No. What I’m talking about is his voice. I had NEVER heard Ben Tankard speak…not just from the pulpit. I had NEVER heard him utter a single WORD. As I write this, I find it to be pretty amusing. I’ve listened to this guy’s music for 20+ years and never heard him speak before. Well, God is so awesome. Since we’re talking about a music conference, I thought “Wow…Ben gon’ ripp them keys.” But as it turned out, he did not play a single note. Funny how that worked out. He was there to minister…but not on the keys. He brought a very powerful and uplifting word AND shared his testimony about the industry, about music ministry in the industry, and many other salient points. It was so amazing to be at a music conference where the Holy Spirit was so in control,that Ben Tankard did not have to set behind a keyboard to flow in the Spirit and minister. Again, it’s funny how that worked out: I’ve listened to his music for 20+ years, but never heard him speak. He comes to a music conference and ministers through the spoken word…ONLY. God is truly amazing. The other guest speakers were also awesome. It’s just that I’m more familiar with the music ministry gifts of BT.

Throughout the two-day conference, themes of character, integrity, purpose and discipline were echoed. Musicians sometimes have a lot of unnecessary and distracting issues, simply because of bad choices and bad attitudes. Musicians are in ministry to assist the pastor, not to be prima donnas. Sometimes these ‘monster musicians’ are the direct result of pastors not addressing the issues head on, especially if they are very talented. They (pastors) don’t want to risk upsetting or God forbid loosing the musician. If that musician is not submitted to the shepherd , then he or she should leave or be dismissed..Lucifer had to go, and if the musician has HELL in his or her heart and does not have the love of God, then HELL is what he or she is going to give the pastor. Music is a very powerful force. The only force more powerful than music is love. And to really use music effectively, we have to let love continue to abound in our hearts. Peace n Blessings!

Be sure to visit me:
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