This is something that we all fall victim to, no matter our spiritual beliefs. We want what we want now and we want it to satisfy our own indulgences. Do you want that brand new sports car to improve your status and feel luxurious? Or do you want that car to help you serve others. 

I was watching a show and the wife of Aaron Spelling had a home the size of 2 football fields. This woman had so much STUFF. Why do we get caught up in stuff? Why do we have to have the latest car and cutest outfit and just stuff. The car you drive does not define you, frankly some people don't even car that you drive a Mercedes Benz, Lexus or Rolls Royce. Those are items that don't make you better in actuality if you can't afford it then you shouldn't even be driving it. I have learned over the past year in my walk with God that I am not defined by my stuff. I spend more time now giving away stuff then keeping stuff. So do you want that car to help you serve others, or that home to house someone who just needs a warm place to lay their head. Do you want all the suits, coats and shoes to give to someone who needs it. Lets go through all our stuff this year and bless someone else, you will make someone very happy because its STUFF they don't have.

1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ?

Hello!!! 2012 was amazing. Some how the years keep getting better and better so it won't surprise me if 2013 brings more fun and excitement than 2012. I have a amazing husband that I  get to spend everyday with; my awesome hubby who makes ordinary life so much better.

We made some changes in our lives and listening to God they have been the correct decisions. Ready! lets look at what 2012 has bought..

Here are our highlights from 2012. We ended 2011 with a powerful Christmas Dinner at my home we had everyone over cooked breakfast and Lunch, we BBQ outside and had a blast.   

 

Switching churches this year well actually 10/11...a huge leap of faith that was led by prayer, we could not be happier!

We started a new church and rang in the new year with the most loving people. Sang with Choir and performed in several singing engagements.

Celebrated my husbands 53rd Birthday with a lovely dinner and romance.

Celebrated with some dear friends weddings and Birthdays, anniversary always fun. We did several 5k walks for different charities - Every woman matters at Jones Beach, Leukemia walk at Cantigue Park, and light the night walk Eisenhower Park all with friends and families.

My father and my step-brother are back in our lives what a blessing we are all together now.

Always fun when new babys enter families, this year my brother had a bouncing baby boy, my friends Kiesha had a beautiful baby girl.  

My Niece was selected by her school to go visit President Obama in a leadrship program down in washington yeah!!! so proud of her. She also won first place in the NYSSMA nationals for singing.

Party like a rock start with my niece Imani sweet sixteen, she is getting ready for college so proud of her. 

Had the pleasure of being a planner to several weddings and parties this year always fun I know God has so much more in store for me.  My best friend son graduated so proud of Davonte'.

Started my Lia Sophia business selling jewelry. Went to Key West on a fabulous vacation in August. Also had some sad days our beloved dog Cas passed away June 30th, 2012.

Over the summer we linked up with friends from our former church and God restored friendships in 2012 such a blessing. Celebrated my 42nd birthday in Manhattan with Cirque desoiel Zarkana, wax museum and dinner at serendipity. Anniversay we went to see Mary Poppins on broadway so much fun.

Fall 2012 I celebrated my Gods sons 3rd Birthday party @ Whitepost farms with hay rides, singing, animals, corn ummm...good!      

Winter 2012 my Floral business took off with big accounts that paid very well ok! I had someone prophecy to me and my husband back in 2009 and said she saw a business with trucks and delivery. I delivered all my floral arrangments that were ordred in my new 2012 truck and smiled all the way to the bank. There is more to come stay tuned.

Promotion on my Job and big raise, Thank you Jesus...

Had a blessed visit with my in-laws, some said it could never happen, but God said different, we are forming a loving relationship with my mother in-law and I love it!

Rang in 2013 with Hubby and looking forward to what God is going to do excited. This year God blessed, healed, united and delivered what a mighty God we serve.

 

We are so excited for what 2013 has in store for the O'Connor family! We already have vacations planned and ideas. We celebrated our 3rd year of marriage in September. Thank you so much to each of my readers for loving us and supporting us through 2012, can't wait for a new year with you!

      Peace and blessings my friends......

 

 

 

 

It's that time of the year again!! Holiday time parties, jollies, laughing, family, fun and Love. I love this time of the year even though some seem to get happy only this time of the year. That's alright with me it's a start why not minister to family the Love of Christ, why? because you will be spending alot of time with them.

 One thing my family likes to do is share receipes. We sit around and talk about what we added to our favorite dish a pinch of this, a dash of that and umm umm good!! and then throw in how God did some of this in your life, and alot of that in your life. I love the time of bonding and talking. Life is so good and grand that we should be happy everyday; share our lives with our loved ones daily. I thank God that he is restoring families and friends such a great love of God's glory shed abroad. If you are struggling with a family fight that happen way back when, or a friendship that was severed. Let God restore it so that you can sit around and share those great receipes with your loved ones. Have a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving.

 When I look back on my life just one year ago; I can truly say that God has blessed me. I am not bragging or boasting but just giving my Lord some praise. So if God is blessing why would one surround themselves with no Love. God Love is so much greater and he Loves us. That same love should be shed abroad even towards our enemies. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,. If someone wrongs you, walks away from you, talks about you; don't start writing or saying things about them; but LOVE them I am telling you it works. We can not keep holding grudges and giving dirty looks, that's just not healthy my friend. More over not healthy for those that are seeking Christ who are watching our behaviour.

Guess what God will open up doors that no man can close. Why bother yourself with being angry it takes more energy. Pray for those that hurt you and let it go, and watch God do some wonderful things in your life. Not just small blessings, but blessings that will make your eyes pop and jaw drop (their is a facial muscle that really makes this happen). I am a witness to this; a year ago I was going through so much anger and animosity that it affected my life. The anger was not just at home, but work, church and family. I needed healing and that is exactly what I got with prayer, fasting, and believing Gods word. My business's(yes business's) are successful, marriage is great and I am happy! I can truly say I pray for those that persecuted me. So get past the hurt, turn the page on those that walked away, and move on in what God has for you.

 Attach yourself to God's plan and will; and watch what happens, you will start to see change in yourself (must start their first) and change in others. Having the peace of God that just surrounds you and family is a blessing. No one has arrived or should consider themselves better than others that means anyone Pastors, Ministers, Apostles whom ever we all are God's precious children. So let's stop hating each other and do this Kingdom work together with Love.

So someone posted this picture on Facebook and I was looking at it and thought; some woman really carry these items why? Though you've now been told time after time that, "it's not you; it's me," maybe it's time to consider the fact that it might, in fact be you. What's really weighing woman down in our life, is all that emotional baggage.

Those with baggage can oftentimes be riddled with self-doubt, fear, pride, family curses and just life battle wounds. It has been said that "No one escapes childhood unscathed," which is not to say that everyone suffers through terrible childhoods, only that each of us endures our fair share (or, in some cases, more than our fair share), of difficult or even painful emotional experiences during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Growing up is filled with all sorts of growing pains. And it is our emotional memories, particularly the more painful ones, which often have a significant impact on how we conduct ourselves in our relationships, not only with our significant others, but with all of our friends and loved ones. And while we all carry some emotional baggage, it turns out that some of us carry quite a bit more of it than others. More to the point, some of us allow our most troublesome relationships from our pasts to affect-and in some cases do severe damage to-our current relationships. Some woman are just bitter and mean, while others are looking and saying "what is wrong with her", well their is a chance that she was never set free from emotional childhood pain, she may think she has, but has not. So that bitter, evil, meanness spills over into relationship, marriage, friends and even church life. Yes! some christians deal with baggage also, some hurt people and will have them running from the church when it's not the church, but the person(s) dealing with their own private baggage.

So if you are concerned that your own insecurities or "emotional baggage" from your past relationships may be hampering your emotional or spiritual growth in any ways; and this has caused you to get involved with unkind individuals, or by preventing you from entering any love relationship, healthy church life, or by causing damage to your current frienships, then it may be time for you to confront the problem head-on, so that you can finally move past the old hurts and attain the relationship happiness you have been seeking for so long.
Of course it is extremely important to protect yourself emotionally, especially if you have experienced more than your fair share of difficult, humiliating, or even traumatic romances or friendships in the past. However, every aspect of life, including dating, involves a certain degree of risk-taking. And while it can be incredibly hard to open your heart and make yourself vulnerable to a potential new dating partner (especially if you have been hurt repeatedly in the past), just remember that life sometimes requires us to take a leap of faith so that we can continue to grow emotionally. Therefore, if you have recently met a good, kind, loving, emotionally whole and healthy person who would like nothing more than to start a relationship with you, then get ready to take that leap! and trust God that the Holy spirit will lead and guide you.