Redemption and Joy

So much has occurred in my time away. I honestly didn't want to write unless I sincerely had something to say. I view my time away as a very defining time of reflection and change, which is what life is all about. I don't take this platform lightly at all because I have realized through my "venting" about my life as a single saved young woman, someone else is being blessed through my testimony. I didn't believe that I could really give any encouragement in the state that I was in, and I didn't want to be a stumbling block for anyone else who may come across this blog. But now I have past through my test, I feel freedom in the Lord to share my experience. 

So what's been up with me?

Since my last post, I lost my job, which was not something that I was too devastated over, because I didn't enjoy it and I figured this would allow me time to get school finished and actually do something I enjoy; hair. Now I did feel the decline in my pockets, but I will say that the Lord has provided. I may not have overflow, but my needs have been met. 

I did lose weight; about 15 pounds. That was a good thing and a bad thing. Great because, yeah, I needed to lose some weight and bad because with the boost of confidence, came me feeling myself a little too much. Now this may sound a tab bit confusing but, with me "feeling myself too much", the insecurities that I have battled with the majority of my life, reared their ugly head again. Although on the surface, I felt great about myself, in the back of my mind I had reverted to the old me, the girl who felt like she needed validation and attention from a man to feel good about  her self. The compliments I was getting on how I looked, just made me crave more attention, to the point I would entertain foolishness for sake of not being alone. Dating people who are clearly not equally yoked  just for the sake of having something to do on a Friday night. 

"One week without prayer, will make one weak."

I continued with it under the gist of "oh, I'm just chilling with them", until one day I had the realization that I was slowly killing myself spiritually.  I was going so far in God up until that point, that it literally scared me. Things that were easy for me to fight off in the spirit became this knock out, drag down fight. I told my best friend one day, "this is not me! I don't know what's happening to me. I feel like I'm fighting for my life....[spiritually]". It was like, the closer I got to God, the more I had to fight. That's how the enemy works, when he see that you are realizing your purpose in the Kingdom, he will do all he can to prohibit it. Because I wasn't working, I was so caught up in getting my "hustle on", doing hair in the shop, school, and trying to maintain some sort of a social life, that I wasn't taking the time to pray and read my word. One of my frat brothers said it best on his Facebook status, "one week without prayer, will make one weak". If that ain't the truest thing I've heard!

Loneliness set in. I settled; found myself in positions that were not right; falling back into old habits  I was seeing a guy who did me kinda bogus. It was minuet compared to past relationships, but the traits he were exhibiting and the way his actions made me feel were way too reminiscent to a past relationship that left me the most emotionally damaged. And I will admit this, God will bring you clarity in the mist of your own foolishness, it wasn't until I slipped up and had too many drinks (yes, I will admit, I did fall), with a close friend, venting about this guy, that she ministered directly to me, she said "Brittany, God can not bless you with the man that He has for you if you still have foolish, nothing negros standing in the way." I was blown away!!! She was sooooo right! How can the Lord bless you when you have something or someone stand in proxy?

As New Year's approached  I began to make declarations. I knew that if all hell was breaking loose in my life like it was, that I had to be on the brink of something great! I started to remind the Lord of the promises that he had made to me. I started to claim victory in my life. As of the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, this may sound cliche but it's the truth, I shut the door on somethings, and some people and told the Lord, I was going to trust Him fully. I only want what he has for me. I prayed that he guide my footsteps. And that's just what he did! I literally felt a shift in my spirit and I declare I am not the same person. God has showed up and showed out in my life to the point that sometimes it's overwhelming that God loves me sooo much that he answered my prayers to the "T"! My life is filled with so much joy that it's busting at the seams. I know you're waiting for me to testify and tell exactly what the Lord has done, as the suspense builds, I will but not in this post. I am not exactly ready to reveal that yet, but I will say it's the Lord doing and it's marvelous in my eyes!

My big reveal is coming soon! So stay tuned! 

I just want to encourage everyone to stay steadfast and trust God. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is right there with you in the fire! Stay prayerful loves!

Scripture of Meditiation

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Weight Watcher's: Middle of Week 1

I joined WW last Friday with the intention to start that day. Well i followed it that day but then I had the wedding the rest of the weekend and well......that was a #EPICFAIL lol. But hey, it happens, so I just stared fresh Monday and well I have been doing well with my points. I am currently 215 lbs. (yes, i admitted it) and they recommended me to get down to like 130.....yea.............., I'm not trying to be skinny. Actually I think I look funny looking if i'm too small. I would at lest like to get down to 160, which is what I was my senior year of high school or even junior year, I think I was in a size 11.

2006-Senior Year

2004-Junior Year

(ultimate goal for me)

Now.....

Well it's best to set smaller short term goals to reach before the ultimate one. So for now, here's the goal for the next couple months.....

so, wish me luck!!!!

No, I Have Not Fallen Off The Face of The Earth

I have been sooooooooo M.I.A. not just from ABRM, but other aspects of my life, but life has been hitting me with every punch, with family deaths, going to the hospital with other family members, weddings, family finances in a tizzy all the while trying to focus on school, sharpen my skills and steady on my hustle.

This season has truly been a transitional one! It seemed as though the more I tried to live for the Lord, the more hell broke loose. Just keeping my mind was a struggle. But now that some things have subsided I am taking my life back. But not all has been bad. My home-girl, Tanisha got married, this past Sunday (yay!!!!!), with that I had my first opportunity to add to my resume/portfolio my first wedding. I did the make up and hair for all 7 girls which included myself and the bride.

I have also decided to terminate some friendship that were not edifying and I joined weight watcher's, which I am really excited about. 

The Lord has made me some promise, that are starting to come to past, I asked him to prepare to receive all that he has for me, so that includes me being my best me. So I ready for the shift and ready to get it in on this weight loss. And yes I will keep you up to date!

I FELL!!!!!! ......Now what?

Weather people want to admit it or not we all miss the mark some times. I will be the first to wave my hands, jump up and down and say "yes, me too!" What happens when you fall? Especially when you work in ministry? Me personally if and when I do mess up, I feel soooooooo horrible that I don't want to encourage any one else on my blog or FB group, b/c I feel like "how dare I say anything, I'm a hypocrite!". #trickoftheenmey. Why is that? Because #1 I repented and #2 the Lord has charged me with a task and I have to obey. I don't want Him to catch me with my work un-done.


 Ok you fell, you were wrong, NOW GET UP AND KEEP PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK! Romans 3:23 say "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". But you can't stay there. First let's understand our relationship with God and the part sin plays. In Genesis when God created us, he said "let Us make man in Our imagine". So we were made to be just like God, who is without sin. We were in fellowship with God, until the fall of man when Adam and Eve ate of the tree. Sin entered the world and there was a divide between man and God. Sin became apart of our nature. Genesis 5:3 says "And Adam live an hundred and thirty years and begot a son in his own likeness, after his imagine, and called his name Seth." Moreover, David said in Psalms 51:5 "Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." Because of the fall of man we were disconnected from who we really were in God. A sinful man could not come before God which is why in the old testament we had to offer burnt sacrifices to pay for our sins. To quote T.D. Jakes "a innocent lamb paid the price for a crime he did not commit for a guilty man to live in a righteousness that he could not afford." But Jesus came, died and paid the debt so that can come boldly to the throne of Grace. (Hence the term "Lamb of God") So what does this mean? Our sins are already forgiven, we just have to accept it. He's not going to force it on us. (I can go farther about why we still sin but that's a whole other lesson that I am holding on to, this stuff is deep y'all!)


Now I want to pause here to clarify, because I don't want anyone to take this as license to keep sinning. Proverbs 24:16 states that a just man falls seven times but gets up. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SAINT AND A SINNER RIGHT THERE! Although a saint sins, he is not a sinner because he doesn't practice sin. You get up you repent and whole heartily ask for forgiveness and turn away from it, forgive yourself and keep it moving. But you have to turn away from it. The Bible says, "If my people who are called by My name would humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land." That's the key! If you truly love Him you would keep his commandment. Yes, he knows your heart, meaning he knows if you are sinning intentionally or if it is your true desire to present your body as a living sacrifice and live for Him.


If you can understand the fundamental concept that our lives is a constant battle between flesh and the spirit; a battle of ideas, that take place in the mind, then you understand the underlying theme of this Christian walk. A lot of time we make this walk so complex and mysterious and it really not. Have you noticed that when ever you get a revelation it's like a light bulb comes on and you are amazed that the you didn't get it before because it was just such a simple concept? 


Again, Jesus already paid the price for our salvation. It is by grace we are saved. Romans says "That if thou shalt confess with thou mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God has raised Jesus from the grave, thou shalt be saved." So from that point you are saved but you have to renew your mind. "Let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus".  [Philippians 2:5] "And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."[Romans 12:2].


I use to pray that the Lord take away temptation, but T.D. Jakes said something that was sooooo profound but yet so simple (I love him, can't you tell LOL) "temptation would not be temptation if He took it away would it? " Even Jesus was tempted. If He was tempted, why do you think you shouldn't be tempted??? What counts is how you respond to the temptation. Paul ask God to take the thorn from his flesh and God answered him and said "My grace is sufficient for thee" [2 Corinthian 12:9]. Again, this is a war between spirit and flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (KJV) "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but might through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Ok for better understand for those who may not understand what the KJV is saying NLT says "We use God's might weapons, not worldly weapons to knock down the stronghold of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We Capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ" --All in the mind.


 So what ever man (spirit or human) you feed is the one that's going to get stronger. If you constantly feed you flesh, carnality will win, if you edify the spirit-man, then you will over come the flesh. For in this flesh of ours dwells no good thing [Romans 7:18]. So how do you get this booger under control? The same way you discipline a child. What happens when you give a child everything they wants? They get spoiled and out of control. Fast. Deny your flesh. Okay, so the word says "train up a child in the way they should go that when he is old he will not depart from it", so same thing with the flesh. When you fast and deny your flesh what it wants, you are preparing for the battle. If you discipline your child at home, then they know how to act when they get outside right? SAME THING! The enemy tempts us. He doesn't make us do anything. God gave us free will to choose. But if you go into temptation (battle) without being prepared you will lose every time. And if you lose, get up repent and keep pressing toward the mark. But he does gives us a way of escape through the word. The devil tells us lies and if we are not prepared we believe them because that's what our flesh wants to do.He appeals to and entices the flesh in which dwells not good thing. But we fight Satan with the word. Ephesians 6:11-17 "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having you loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and you feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God".


The word also says "resist the devil and he shall flee", so if you keep grounded in the word and are prepared for battle, resisting the temptation, the devil will realize that his tactics aren't working and he can't keeping tempting you with the same thing. I going to leave you with one more scripture as food for thought, Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee". 


That's it in a nutshell luvs! LOL I did not intend for this to be such a long post, but I had to preach to myself for a moment, and I just get soooo excited about the Word but hey to God be the glory anyhow. LOL. I pray that this encourages someone. LOVE YOU ALL!

Daily Prayer of Love

Endless Love

Lord, I want my love for you to be expressed as naturally as breathing in and out. In that way my whole existence-my very life itself-will be an expression of my love for you. Accept my meager attempts to love you completely Lord. 

What know we of the Blest above 
But that they sing, and that they love?
-William Wordsworth

Money Talks: Envelope System

I can admit that I am not the most fiscally responsible. When I have extra money it's like it burns a whole in my pocket and I just burn through it on stupid things. And the ironic thing is that can be cheap though, (how that works; I don't know). But anyway, aside from the goal of digging myself out of debt, I have things that's need to save up for, and if I keep up the same spending habits, I will always be in the same place. I have already proved to myself that I can go into "survival mode" and save. When I got disciplined made up my mind it really didn't take me long to save up money for my down payment. But now the challenge is because now I've incurred new bills. In an attempt to better plan my spending I'm going to try this system:

I also found this :

So I've downloaded this app on my phone. I'm still trying to figure it out completely b/c I'm not starting on a payday for me. But we shall see how this works out for me, especially since my income can be fluctuate since I have my side hustles.