Ugly People

We can all be as beautiful as we choose to be. It comes from the inside. On the other hand, there's nothing worse than ugly people whose insides are filled with rottenness and cruelty. They are always looking for opportunities to destroy their neighbor with their words.

No matter what you look like on the outside, none of us can afford to forget who is judging the inside. And HE has a strict standard. Even when done wrong, we should seek to never harm another. Never! Don't be ugly. Be beautiful. Be loving. Be forgiving. Be sympathetic. Be merciful.

Dedicated to Billie A. Williams (one beautiful woman), Joyce Anthony (and another), Lacresha Hayes (and another), and last but certainly not least, Deborah Warren-Whitlock, my daughter and hero!

Never Doubt It

Faith is such a powerful force. I've seen it work in my life and in the life of my children. Yesterday, one of the residents of our nursing home was rushed to surgery because of a blockage in his intestines. He died on the table twice but now he is fine and way stronger than they think he should be. Glory Hallelujah! Never doubt faith!

Power Walk by Lacresha Hayes

Below is the guest post from Lacresha. Please take time to read it through. I was genuinely blessed by this post. Thank you, Lacresha.

I've been saved and preaching the gospel for a little over nine years now. While it hasn't been easy to maintain my faith and hang on to my calling, I wouldn't trade a single part of my walk. I've walked this walk afraid, timid and shy. I've walked it in confusion. I've walked it through sin and temptation. I've been both on top and on bottom and at almost every level in the middle. Even so, I call my walk a power walk. Here's why.

Everything that has ever hurt me has turned out to be for my good, to empower me and others through the grace of God given to me. Every time I fell into sin, which was much more than a few times, I came through it stronger with a better understanding of God's Word. I've also had times when I denied myself to the point of tears to later see the glorious reward for self-denial. Praise God!

Many people want to be empowered, to have authority over various aspects of life, but power costs big. Sometimes, it means you have to experience turmoil so that you'll understand how to get out of it. Sometimes, it means going through pain so that you can empathize with others. I've seen things and experienced things that hurt me and damaged me, but I'm grateful to God that it was only for my making. This is my power walk.

I can boldly say I have authority over lust because I've fallen into and wallowed in it before. I know what it looks like, smells like, feels like and how hard it is to get free. I can boldly say that I have authority over sickness because I've been to the point of death many times but God has shown me that healing is real through my illnesses. What I went through may have hurt and maybe even embarrassed me, but the end result was power. That's beautiful in and of itself because some people suffer worse than I did but came out the other end with nothing to show for it. I don't want that to ever be me and the only way to ensure that is to walk with God.

I encourage you all to walk with God, no matter where that walk may take you. Keep ahold of His hand, even if you are in the middle of sin or trials or temptation. No matter how it feels or how it looks, keep praying and keep believing God, keep confessing that you'll come out better and empowered and you will. Protect your power walk and remember that all the suffering is worth the end result!

For more information about Lacresha or her books, please visit her website at http://lacreshatheauthor.weebly.com or her blog at http://learntofeelpretty.blogspot.com. All her books are available at Amazon.com or Powells.com

Lacresha Hayes, Inspirational Interview

In the past year, I've seen a very sincere and powerful woman blossom from one tragedy after another. She has been such an inspiration to so many that I'm not sure anything I can say will ever do her justice. The sweetness of her personality shines through online and offline. This interview isn't about her books, or her businesses, or her anything else you'll find all over the internet about her. This interview is about her heart so that we too may find the same comfort and support she has.

1. Lacresha, tell me a little bit about your private life. What is a day in the life of Lacresha?

Honestly, Vicky, I probably start my day like everyone else who is a Christian. Sometimes I pray and other times I forget and have to do it on the go. I often struggle to stay grounded in prayer but I have friends who help me to focus on the important things. I'm always busy and have been known to bite off more than I can chew, but God somehow brings me through it all every time. For that I cannot complain.

2. What are your biggest fears? Biggest struggles?

That's a good question. I suppose my biggest fear is being rejected by God. I don't want to miss Him or embarrass Him or disappoint Him. He's the only father I've ever known and so my shortcomings are huge in my eyes because some part of me always wonders how He feels about what I'm doing, saying, thinking. That ties into my biggest struggle. I have a hard time forgiving myself when I slip away from God.

3. What one thing do you wish everyone knew about you?

I'm not really sure. I pretty much live my life as an open book. I have very few secrets left, if any. I seem so bold to others about how I write about my life and the lessons I've learned, but I'm always terrified of putting all my problems out in the open like that. I've just learned to do it afraid and to focus on who I'm helping rather than those who don't like it.

4. Have you suffered a lot of setbacks and opposition that made you feel like quitting? How did you handle it?

I have dealt with and continue to deal with opposition and setbacks. I normally pray and talk to a friend or my spouse. I try to keep my vision before me so that I remember what it's for. I try to be quick to admit when I'm wrong and rectify the bad things in my life. It isn't always easy, but that's the only thing I can do. Quitting won't help. I tried that before and it didn't work for me.

5. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I'd have to say writing and having books on the market that actually make a difference in the lives of others.

6. What are your goals over the next year or two? What can we look forward to?

I have at least 10 more books that you'll have the pleasure of reading over the next year. I hope that I'll be poised for more community development projects so that I can provide services to those most in need. Who knows? As long as I'm helping others, glorifying God and prospering my family, I'm okay with it.

7. Lastly, the news has been spreading like wildfire about your movie deal for The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive. Tell us about that.

Rape was my first nationally published book. It details my life as an abuse victim and how I got beyond the violence, sex, and depression. The movie is going to focus more on the aspect of how abuse led to promiscuity and how I eventually got beyond all the pain to live a victorious life. I hadn't heard the final word yet, but while they plan to keep to the truth of how God impacted my life, they are going to tone down the religious aspects of the book. The rewrite of the book that comes out this year will not include much of what is in this version. So, I'm telling people to go on and order this version why it is available.

8. Give us links and contact information.

I have an author website at http://lacreshatheauthor.weebly.com and a women's empowerment blog at http://learntofeelpretty.blogspot.com. I also blog at http://therapeofinnocence.blogspot.com and http://alwaysthebridebook.blogspot.com. You can email me at lacresha.hayes@gmail.com.
Facebook- www.facebook.com/lacreshahayes
Twitter- www.twitter.com/lacreshahayes
Goodreads- www.goodreads.com/lacreshahayes
Blogtalk Radio- www.blogtalkradio.com/lacreshahayes

Lacresha Hayes Visiting Us Again

I'm happy to announce that Lacresha Hayes will be featured here on my blog on February 4th and 5th. Don't miss it. She's always such a blessing when she shows up and is a powerful speaker/writer.

Spread the word for me.