Easter is upon us. I have to admit that I love this season and its traditions. However, more important than new clothes, delicious feasts, and candied eggs, is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Resurrection is about new life, a second chance. Have you ever experienced a time in your marriage where love seemed dead or close to dying? Well, there's nothing like an Easter … [Read more...]
Woman Warrior: 10 Ways You Should Fight for Your Marriage
Everybody knows marriage is difficult, particularly if you don't put the time and effort into building a strong foundation. It gets easier with time, but during the process of growing into mature, selfless spouses, marriage requires a will to fight for the union. Marriage is not for the weak-minded or soft-hearted. Marriage is for warriors. But being a woman warrior can be … [Read more...]
Be Careful Who You Pray For in a Spouse
"I prayed for a husband, and God answered my prayer." I hear it all the time from married women; however, their tone of voice isn't as gleeful as you might imagine. They prayed for a man who will love and adore them, yet they get annoyed when he wants to show affection and be close 24/7. They call this type of man "needy." What we fail to realize is that when we pray, God has … [Read more...]
Be A Strong Independent Woman
Being a strong, independent woman can be confusing at times. The definition of a strong woman supposedly is you never show weakness, while being an independent woman means you're self-reliant and usually don’t need anyone else. But the reality is, no one can go through life strong 24/7, and no one can live a life totally independent of other people. As I’ve written before as a … [Read more...]
The Hard Truth about Being a HelpMate
No beating around the bush or sugar coating this. Here is the hard truth about being a helpmate: You don’t get to choose what you help with or if you help at all. You were created to help. Period. I heard those words just as clear as day, not from a friend or counselor, but from God. My husband and I were dealing with an issue, and honestly I felt like saying “Look, … [Read more...]
No One is Perfect: Interview with Sarah Jakes about Her New Book
Sarah Jakes, the daughter of the renowned mega-church pastor and world preacher Bishop T.D. Jakes, has written a courageous memoir about her experiences growing up "Jakes." In her new book Lost and Found: Finding Hope in the Detours of Life which released on April 1st, Sarah takes readers on a journey through some of the most difficult seasons in her life: from teenage … [Read more...]
5 Sacrifices I’m Not Willing to Make in Marriage
"I know I'm supposed to hang in there through the good and the bad, but I can't take it anymore." Many spouses feel this way. Since I minister primarily to women, I'll address the confusion I hear in their voices when they're dealing with a marital storm. Whoever told you that you must "lose you" or sacrifice mind, body, and soul for a marriage lied. Yes, they straight up … [Read more...]
Learn to Say These 2 Words and Heal Your Marriage
Words are powerful. They can make or break a relationship. For some people, it's really difficult to tell their significant other “I love you,” or “I’m sorry,” or even “I was wrong.” But, I'm not writing about those phrases today. In my experiences of ministering to women and couples, I've found some of the hardest words for spouse's to say to each other are "I'm … [Read more...]
A Real Father Isn’t a Babysitter
I heard someone say in passing that a child’s father was going to babysit so the mother could run errands. Babysit . . . really? When did the actual parent of a child turn into a babysitter? Not only is this flat-out wrong, but it’s also demeaning. Dads do so much more than babysit. In my home, babysitters are a necessity. I appreciate the care and attention they give my … [Read more...]
My “Goods” are for My Husband; A Wife’s Opinion on Meagan Good’s Dress
I wasn’t able to watch the BET Awards show when it aired due to travel, but my Facebook feed kept me informed with all the good, the bad, and the inappropriate. In particular, as I scrolled down the feed, I read the outrage over the low-cut, cleavage-baring dress Meagan Good, an actress and preacher’s wife, wore to present the Best Gospel Artist award. A couple of days later … [Read more...]
From Head to Toe: The 5 Body Parts I Love on My Husband the Most
[tps_header]Is there more than one main body part a woman is supposed to love on her husband? Really, what's more important than "that one"? Plenty. When you are in a truly intimate and loving marriage, you recognize that there is so much more to physical intimacy than sex. Each touch, each caress, each body part is an opportunity to have a spiritual and emotional … [Read more...]
5 Sacrifices I’m Willing to Make in My Marriage…What About You?
Sacrifice: to give up something for the sake of a greater cause. What are you willing to sacrifice for the greater cause of marriage? So many marriages fail because spouses are unwilling to sacrifice for the union. Each person must make a personal decision to be sacrificial, to give of him/herself without gripe or grudge, and without expecting something in return. You … [Read more...]
You Teach People How to Treat You: FLOTUS Stands Up to a Protestor
First Lady Michelle Obama's approval rating is higher than the President's. But one thing I love about her is that she doesn't seem to live her life based on the approval of others. When the press made a big deal about her bare arms, she continued to display her chiseled biceps in a fitness and fashion statement. She wears what she wants, dances how she likes, and promotes … [Read more...]
To Cheat is a Choice: A Response to Pat Robertson’s “Christian” Marriage Advice
Pat Robertson is at it again. This time the evangelical leader and host of the “The 700 Club,” a Christian television program that reaches millions of viewers around the world, answers a viewer’s question about how to forgive her husband for cheating. The "secret," according to Robertson, is to “stop talking about the cheating," and to accept that “he cheated on you. Well, … [Read more...]
Don’t Get Married If . . .
A few weeks ago I was interviewed on British radio about the "independent woman" debate within the black community. It's not just in the United States where black women are professing their independence and self-sufficiency, but it's in black communities around the world. Near the end of the interview, I made a statement that I believe sums up the "independent woman" issue, and … [Read more...]