New Beginnings is what God has given me. I have a new beginning when I decided to be obedient to the will of God and start serving Him with all my heart, mind, and soul.
INVITE THERESE WARRICK TO YOUR EVENTS!
THERESE BRINGS INSPIRATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGES TO WOMEN!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
That Secret Place
Greetings, friends! I pray all is well with each of you.
I have been meditating on the I remember when things were not going my way, especially when I was under stress, I would often mouth off about "disappearing to a secret island by myself." Silly me .... thinking that physically disappearing to a secret island would rid me of the stress and difficulties of life. Now, because I know what God's Word tells me, I know I don't need to disappear to any secret place.
Psalm 91:1 declares, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (King James Version) Rev. Dr. Williams, Senior Pastor of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, brought home this message even more clearer for me. Rev. Dr. Williams suggested that the secret place is spiritual. Ahh, it has to do with living under the will of God! Rev. Dr. Williams encouraged that while you are in captivity, you can still go to that secret place. The secret place is an experience with God that captivates you. The secret place is the innermost man beyond any distraction. It is the "prayer closet".
(Sermon excerpt, A Secret Place, Rev. Dr. Felix G. Williams, III)
I have been meditating on the I remember when things were not going my way, especially when I was under stress, I would often mouth off about "disappearing to a secret island by myself." Silly me .... thinking that physically disappearing to a secret island would rid me of the stress and difficulties of life. Now, because I know what God's Word tells me, I know I don't need to disappear to any secret place.
Psalm 91:1 declares, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (King James Version) Rev. Dr. Williams, Senior Pastor of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, brought home this message even more clearer for me. Rev. Dr. Williams suggested that the secret place is spiritual. Ahh, it has to do with living under the will of God! Rev. Dr. Williams encouraged that while you are in captivity, you can still go to that secret place. The secret place is an experience with God that captivates you. The secret place is the innermost man beyond any distraction. It is the "prayer closet".
(Sermon excerpt, A Secret Place, Rev. Dr. Felix G. Williams, III)
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
What Is On Your Book List?
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.
I love to read! I have several authors that I like and some that I have every publication of their works. There are so many books I still want to read. Some friends would tell me to read a self help book, some would tell me of a great Christian author. However, now is just not the time. I cannot ignore what I am seeing and hearing and feeling around me. So, no matter what is on New York Times Best Seller List, or what new book my friends are suggesting, one thing I know, no one needs to tell me I need to read, study and meditate on the anointed Word of God. His Word is found in the BIBLE. While it is still the world's best-selling and most widely distributed book, I would be bold to say: 1) it is a book that is gathering the most dust on bookshelves; and, 2) it is the book that is most widely read, but not followed by its readers.
Friends, we are in perilous times. Now is the time to read, study and meditate on the Word of the Lord. What I am seeing and hearing and feeling are rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. What my eyes are witnessing are Believers getting pulled into the lies, deceit, trickery and mockery of the enemy.
Psalm 1:1-6 assures us, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." (NIV)
In 2 Timothy 3:1-7, it is recorded, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." (NIV)
Friends, we must stand and stand firm in God's Word. We cannot be swayed. 2 Timothy 3:12-17 encourages us, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (NIV)
The only book for me is the B-I-B-L-E. There is this song I used to sing as a little girl in Sunday School class,
I love to read! I have several authors that I like and some that I have every publication of their works. There are so many books I still want to read. Some friends would tell me to read a self help book, some would tell me of a great Christian author. However, now is just not the time. I cannot ignore what I am seeing and hearing and feeling around me. So, no matter what is on New York Times Best Seller List, or what new book my friends are suggesting, one thing I know, no one needs to tell me I need to read, study and meditate on the anointed Word of God. His Word is found in the BIBLE. While it is still the world's best-selling and most widely distributed book, I would be bold to say: 1) it is a book that is gathering the most dust on bookshelves; and, 2) it is the book that is most widely read, but not followed by its readers.
Friends, we are in perilous times. Now is the time to read, study and meditate on the Word of the Lord. What I am seeing and hearing and feeling are rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. What my eyes are witnessing are Believers getting pulled into the lies, deceit, trickery and mockery of the enemy.
Psalm 1:1-6 assures us, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." (NIV)
In 2 Timothy 3:1-7, it is recorded, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." (NIV)
Friends, we must stand and stand firm in God's Word. We cannot be swayed. 2 Timothy 3:12-17 encourages us, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (NIV)
The only book for me is the B-I-B-L-E. There is this song I used to sing as a little girl in Sunday School class,
The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes, that's the book for me,
I stand alone on the Word of God,
The B-I-B-L-E.
The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes that's the book for me,
I stand alone on the Word of God,
The B-I-B-L-E.
The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes that's the book for me,
I read and pray, trust and obey,
The B-I-B-L-E.
In Christ,
Therese from Belize
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Adults Are Bullies Too: Say What?
Greetings, friends!
Often, when we speak or write about bullying, we are usually addressing problems that children and youth are experiencing. However, adults do bully other adults and with social media, such as Facebook, adult bullying is taking place more than ever before.
Bullying is a problem that has affected children and youth from all backgrounds of life. As parents, we pray our children do not get bullied and we pray that our children are not the bullies. Now, as an adult, not only am I concerned about my children being bullied, but I am also concerned about experiencing bullying because I do not dress a certain way, or smell a certain way, or look a certain way, or worship a certain way, or cross my legs in a certain way or wear my hair in a certain way, etc. With social media being at its height, people are being scrutinized and criticized for any and everything.
According to writer, Susan Campbell Cross, in her article on Shape.com, she herself had been bullied on social media. She indicated that recent data reveals that adult bullying is on the rise. In a 2012 survey of workers, 65 percent of American participants reported being bullied at their jobs, and adult bullying happens online and among social circles as well. (www.shape.com, "Three Ways To Smack Down A Grown-up Bully")
It grieves my heart when Christians humiliate others and this is evident on social media, specifically, Facebook. So what if someone is showing their cleavage in church? At least they are in church receiving a Word from the Lord. So what if a young lady is wearing a too short skirt? That does not means she is not marriage material. And, thank God that she has sense enough to pursue her educational goals. So what if a man does not smell a certain way? Why criticize him because he may not be able to afford an expensive bottle of cologne? Words do hurt, and you do not not know what a person is going through when make your public nay-saying about him/her. How can someone correct his/her behavior if you choose to address the issue on social media instead of addressing the issue with the person directly? How can a young woman learn etiquette if you choose to talk about her instead of taking her under your wings and teach her the correct way? As believers, we should be concerned about whether a person knows Christ as their personal Savior, not what they are wearing or how they smell or how they look or how they speak.
Friends, now is the time to unite as one body of Christ, banding together to break strongholds and tear down walls. Now is the time to be encouragers in Christ. Now is the time to speak love and show love for our brothers and sisters, despite how they dress or how they smell or how they look. Our words and actions can seriously discourage or even turn someone away from following the Lord. When God cleans us up, HE cleans us up from the inside out; not from the outside in.
We are losing focus as adults, as members in the body of Christ. I am reminded of what the Lord had told Samuel,as found in 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" (NIV)
My challenge for us today is that we will be concerned about the welfare of our men and women, young ladies and young men. My challenge is that we will be compassionate and kind toward each other. I encourage you, Believers of Christ, next time you have the desire to make fun or degrade or humiliate another person, think twice about doing so.
Often, when we speak or write about bullying, we are usually addressing problems that children and youth are experiencing. However, adults do bully other adults and with social media, such as Facebook, adult bullying is taking place more than ever before.
Bullying is a problem that has affected children and youth from all backgrounds of life. As parents, we pray our children do not get bullied and we pray that our children are not the bullies. Now, as an adult, not only am I concerned about my children being bullied, but I am also concerned about experiencing bullying because I do not dress a certain way, or smell a certain way, or look a certain way, or worship a certain way, or cross my legs in a certain way or wear my hair in a certain way, etc. With social media being at its height, people are being scrutinized and criticized for any and everything.According to writer, Susan Campbell Cross, in her article on Shape.com, she herself had been bullied on social media. She indicated that recent data reveals that adult bullying is on the rise. In a 2012 survey of workers, 65 percent of American participants reported being bullied at their jobs, and adult bullying happens online and among social circles as well. (www.shape.com, "Three Ways To Smack Down A Grown-up Bully")
It grieves my heart when Christians humiliate others and this is evident on social media, specifically, Facebook. So what if someone is showing their cleavage in church? At least they are in church receiving a Word from the Lord. So what if a young lady is wearing a too short skirt? That does not means she is not marriage material. And, thank God that she has sense enough to pursue her educational goals. So what if a man does not smell a certain way? Why criticize him because he may not be able to afford an expensive bottle of cologne? Words do hurt, and you do not not know what a person is going through when make your public nay-saying about him/her. How can someone correct his/her behavior if you choose to address the issue on social media instead of addressing the issue with the person directly? How can a young woman learn etiquette if you choose to talk about her instead of taking her under your wings and teach her the correct way? As believers, we should be concerned about whether a person knows Christ as their personal Savior, not what they are wearing or how they smell or how they look or how they speak. Friends, now is the time to unite as one body of Christ, banding together to break strongholds and tear down walls. Now is the time to be encouragers in Christ. Now is the time to speak love and show love for our brothers and sisters, despite how they dress or how they smell or how they look. Our words and actions can seriously discourage or even turn someone away from following the Lord. When God cleans us up, HE cleans us up from the inside out; not from the outside in.
We are losing focus as adults, as members in the body of Christ. I am reminded of what the Lord had told Samuel,as found in 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" (NIV)
Here are some biblical examples of people God used despite how they looked or how they smelled or how they dressed or what they did. God is concerned with our hearts, not our outside appearance.
Rahab, the prostitute (Joshua 2)
Noah, the drunk (Genesis 9)
Samaritan woman at the well (John 4)
Woman with the 12- year issue of blood (Luke 8)
Paul, persecutor of Christians (Acts 9)
My challenge for us today is that we will be concerned about the welfare of our men and women, young ladies and young men. My challenge is that we will be compassionate and kind toward each other. I encourage you, Believers of Christ, next time you have the desire to make fun or degrade or humiliate another person, think twice about doing so.
Let us be the example of what God's love is about.
In Christ,
Therese from Belize
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Min. Angela Lee Price's Study of Millennials & The Church - Part 1
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Millennials & The Church, Part 1
By: Angela Lee Price
If the Kingdom of God is to advance, it behooves the church to think innovatively in reaching the largest demographic, the Millennial Generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are a pastor, minister, lay leader struggling to keep young people in your church, or just a concerned parent wondering why your young adult won't go to church, this should begin to help answer questions for you.
Part 1: Introduction
A tidal wave of change is beating against our global shores. The Millennial Generation is coming of age, and with more than 78 million members, they are coming in like a flood. For the marketers especially this means good news. They whistle while they work targeting goods, services, and experiences to a generation that has moved beyond the final frontier of space and time to boldly go where no man has gone before. However, the Psalmist declared in ancient of days, “I will cause Thy name to be remembered in all generations” (Ps. 45:17). The Psalmist declared, “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praises shall continually be in my mouth.” The question that begs to be answered and remains to be seen is will the Millennial Generation born between 1980 and 2000, and raised in a postmodern era where choice is abundant, there are no absolutes and technology is ever-changing – will they bless the Lord?
If the Millennial Generation is to “bless the Lord at all times,” they will need much more spiritual nurturing and guidance from the preceding generations, Generation X, the Baby Boomers, and the Silents. Although there is a lot of good news to report statistically, relationally, educationally, and potentially financially for the Millennials, one ominous statistic remains, this population is largely apathetic to and uninvolved with church. Roughly, only one-fourth of Millennials attend church weekly. Consequently, many Millennials do not know what they believe or why they believe it as they cannot clearly define their beliefs. Getting to know young adults under age 33 must become priority to the church as no church exists without a multi generational mix of some sort. Theirs is a vast mission field. Helping them come to know and remember the name of the Lord is how we advance the Kingdom in this age.
Excerpts from Min. Angela Lee Price's research paper, The Millennials. This paper was written in partial fulfillment of course work for the Masters of Theology program at Campbellsville University, June 2013. All rights reserved.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Molding Of Generation Divas Summer Program A Huge Success
At the program, called Molding of Generation Divas, Zantonia, who attends Lexington Traditional Middle School, said she learned "how to keep our face clean, how to make ourselves beautiful and have good confidence ... and just how to be a young lady."
She and her mother, Cherie Jones, were among 13 mothers and 39 girls ages 10 to 17 who attended the event at the Lexington Public Library downtown. The event was sponsored by the Sisters Road to Freedom, a non-profit that provides services to women.
The organization's founder and director, Therese Warrick, said she developed the event to help participants develop healthy bodies and minds. "Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activities are affecting the behavior and social growth of our teen girls," Warrick said.
Professionals at the event held sessions on physical activities, nutrition, etiquette, and skin and hair care.
Hair stylist Kahndra Franklin of Lexington's TKO Hair Studio told the girls, "Don't be lazy with your hair ... be consistent in your care. As much you as you brush your teeth, you need to wash your face."
The program was free and open to women and girls and Central Kentucky. The day ended with each girl getting a book bag full of school supplies.
"I thought it would be a good program for my 13-year-old," said Jackie Graves. "It has been awesome."
Graves said she was glad lessons on etiquette at the dining table were offered. Her daughter Janae Stevenson, 13, was looking for pointers on another front.
"I would like to keep my hair looking good even though I play sports," said Janae, who attends Leestown Middle School.
Melinda Diallo, who lives in Woodford County, said she brought her daughters Jalinda Fead, 15, and Jada Pertee, 10, so they could hear from someone other than her about good nutrition and hair care.
"I learned that I needed to take good care of my body in order to stay healthy," Jada said.
Valarie Honeycutt Spears: (859) 231-3409. Twitter:@vhspears
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