TALK IS CHEAP ( KEEPING LOYALTY)

Loyalty grows out of a generous heart. Belief, and the willingness to commit to that belief, is one of the greatest gifts you can give one another. Talk is cheap, but follow-through is priceless. When a woman is loyal to the core, you'll observe that she's rich in friends and enjoys intimate and lasting relationships. In the same way, you can spot the signs of disloyalty when you see transient relationships, disillusioned friends, and disenchanted lovers. When you see a pattern of broken relationships and discarded friends, you can be pretty sure that even though the person sounds sincere, loyalty is low on the list of her priorities.

Loyalty begins with saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Easy assurances and good intentions are not enough. Are you a woman of your word? Are you willing to make a sacrifice if necessary to follow through on your promises? It's better to make no commitment than to make a false commitment. Be someone people can count on.

If you are loyal, you will try to believe the best of people. When somene slanders a friend or gossips about someone you know, the loyal choice is to BELIEVE the best before you THINK the worst. This is not about naive wishing, wanting to believe when you know you should be cautious. This is about assuming that your friend is innocent till proven guilty. If guilt is hiding under a smooth surface, a pattern of negative behavior will reveal itself in time. Until then, assume that you don't have all the facts and choose to believe that the person being gossiped about may be more sinned against than sinning.

Be kind and encouraging with your words and in your deeds. Bite your tongue when you are tempted to put someone down. People need encouragement more than they need critiques. You want your friends and loved ones to be able to depend on you, not only for honesty, but for steady encouragement and belief in them.

Christ said, " I will never leave you nor forsake you." Remember that He is your most loyal friend. You can depend upn God's word and trust His promises. You can take a bold stand for Him, too. Because He first loved you, you know that through His power you can be faithful to Him.

Loyalty is a sign of godly character. Treasure a loyal friend and be the kind of woman who is treasured by others for her loyal nature.


i will

believe the best before i think the worst of people.

encourage instead of criticize

keep my word

be kind to all i meet

treasure loyalty and trust

be honest with my friends

rest in God's unfailing loyalty to me, even when i fail.


things to do

call or write a friend to offer encouragement and to tell them how special they are to you. be specific.

in your journal, evaluate your ability to be a loyal friend, and list several areas where you would like to change.

apologize to someone in person, by phone, or in a letter to whom you have talked too harshly or judged unfairly.

read the book of Ruth, meditating on her loyalty to Naomi and to the God of Israel.

the next time you hear gossip about someone you know, stand up for him or her.

Faithfulness in little things IS A BIG THING. Saint John Chrysostom

Loyalty means not that I am you, or that I agree with everything you say or that I believe you are always right. Loyalty means that I share a common ideal with you and that regardless of minor differences we fight for it, shoulder to shoulder, confident in one another's good faith, trust, constancy and affection. Karl Menninger

thanks for reading.....

CHARLES BIBBS-PART 3 PICS AND ART

Moment to Myself...yes in need this always, give it to me.


OF THE ARTWORK DISPLAYED HERE: MY FAVORITE: MOMENT TO MYSELF and WITH HONORS. YES, I ALWAYS NEED THAT MOMENT TO MYSELF SO THAT I CAN FOCUS, MEDITATE, CONCENTRATE AND CONTEMPLATE ON MY FUTURE GOALS.

Sistahood-closeness, a tight bond, true friendship, togetherness, no back-biting, no jealousy, no drama.

Soul Ful Flight--sistah escape, flight with all of your determination, with all of your gusto!

CHARLES BIBBS-PART 2 PICS AND ART

Here is a photo of Charles Bibbs. Some of his works include here: Step Out on Faith, Banjar, Mammabibbs, Deep In Thought, Grace, My Cup Runneth Over(that is how I feel about now, see the sistah praying), Deep In Thought, Love Letters and Beat Street.

Photos, I will return with: With Honors, Moment To Myself, Caress, Sistahood, and SoulFul Flight.



Boy do love this art!

Green Eyes

A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rotten to the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Envy has jealous green eyes. You know how it feels to be envious. The lonely teenage girl with acne envies the popular cheerleader with creamy clear skin. A young mother envies her single friend's freedom, while the single woman envies the married woman's love and security. Passed over for a promotion, an office worker envies another's climb to the top. Most people envy the accomplishments, looks, successes, and loves of others. Envy flashed its JADE eyes when it sees someone who has what you want.

Envy and jealousy can offer clues to who you'd like to be and what you'd like to change about yourself. Here is a simple exercise to help you transform envy into a self-help tool. Make a list of everyone you envy. Write down who they are, what qualities you envy, and an action step you can take to develop that quality into your own life. Be as specific and accurate as you can. If you envy someone her svelte figure, list exercising more and eating better for your action antidote. If someone's beautiful voice make you wish you could sing, perhaps you should invest in voice lessons. If you envy how much love another woman has in her life, cultivate love in your own life. The biggest changes begin with small actions. A positive action is a powerful antidote to a negative emotion.

Envy can keep you stuck, or it can be a catalyst for personal growth. You can choose to become more compassionate and empathetic. Though you may feel insecure next to someone else, you need to understand that envy colors the way you see the other person. Remember that you only see the outside, not the inside. She may seem secure and confident to you, but if you could look past the surface, you might discover that she's as envious of you as you are of her. You don't know someone's struggles. You don't know their hidden pain. Feelings of envy and jealousy are reminders to look for what lies beneath surface appearances. Perhaps the woman you envy is more like you than you realize, deep down inside.

When the snakebite of envy's poison clouds your vision, take an action antidote. Cultivate the qualities you desire in your own life. Learn to look past surface appearances. Become more generous and compassionate to others. Then the cold JADE green of envy will turn into the new leaf green of personal growth, enabling you to see the world with clearer vision.

(I WILL!)

LOOK BEYOND SURFACE APPEARANCES.

CHOOSE TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTIONS INSTEAD OF
DWELLING ON NEGATIVE FEELINGS.

PUT MYSELF IN OTHERS' SHOES.

THINK THE BEST OF OTHERS.

BE WILLING TO MAKE SMALL CHANGES TO BECOME
WHAT I DESIRE TO BECOME.

BE MORE COMPASSIONATE AND FORGIVING TOWARDS OTHERS.


(THINGS TO DO!)

PRAY AND ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU CAN LEARN
FROM YOUR FEEINGS OF ENVY AND JEALOUSY.

DO ONE SMALL THING TO CULTIVATE A GOOD QUALITY IN
YOUR LIFE THAT YOU ENVY IN ANOTHER.

WRITE A LETTER TO GOD THANKING HIM FOR YOUR
BLESSINGS, NAMING THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

DO A KINDNESS FOR SOMEONE YOU ENVY.

WRITE THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IN YOUR JOURNAL:
HOW DID I GET CAUGHT UP IN THE ENVY GAME?


(THINGS TO REMEMBER!)

LOVE IS PATIENT; LOVE IS KIND; LOVE IS NOT ENVIOUS OR
BOASTFUL OR ARROGANT. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4

WE'RE BLASTED BY ANGER AND SWAMPED BY RAGE, BUT
WHO CAN SURVIVE JEALOUSY? PROVERBS 27:4

WHENEVER YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK BETTER THAN OTHERS,
OR GET THE BETTER OF OTHERS, THINGS FALL
APART AND EVERYONE ENDS UP AT THE OTHERS' THROATS.
JAMES 3:16

DON'T JUST PRETEND TO BE GOOD! BE DONE WITH HYPOCRISY
AND JEALOUSY AND BACKSTABBING. 1 PETER 2:1

jealousy and envious will eat at a person. we have no reason to envy another person for what we are really saying is that God made a mistake. God does not make mistakes. All of us have excellent qualities. If I (Diamond) even find myself being envious of another's good fortune or seeming or actual success, I need to change my thinking. God has my present and future worked out for me so there is no need for me to go in that direction.

reason for the post: in my family, i see the envy among the immediate members. i see the enviousness in my neighborhood-like an actual hate that i don't deserve for i experience inner turmoil daily just getting out of the door. i don't even have the material possessions that my sisters have- but i have a heart and mind. and on my way to publishing my first two poetry books. they cannot stop that. what can prevent that is DEATH. that's it!

if you are reading this blog, you may not even have this situation, however you may know someone who is envious of you and your dealings and you realize that there is nothing you can do about it. however, if you do begin to feel a twinge of envy of someone for a moment, you can quickly dismiss it seeing the harm that it does to you. you are too valuable so don't even contemplate it. God did not make a mistake when He made you so............appreciate you and what you can do and don't dwell on another person and what they are doing!


have a great day!

checklist for life for women....create the life you really want...making the most of life's challenges and opportunities. a motivational book..inspirational. a small purple book, but powerful....

And I Was Homeless

S. Dianne Williamson
Creative Essay #1
February 9, 2003
Dr. Dori Seider
History of Modern Women



EVEN THOUGH I WROTE THIS ESSAY FOR AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS CLASS, IT HAD TO BE WRITTEN FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A CREATIVE ESSAY AND SINCE I WAS HOMELESS I USED MY EXPERIENCE IN IT. READ ON. NAME IS CHANGED. (WRITTEN IN 2003)

It was on a friday morning that I awoke and discovered that there was so much snow outside. Everything was closed including the college; however I had to get my medicine from the pharmacy downtown. I am living at the homeless shelter because my husband and I are separated and I had nowhere to go. At the homeless shelter, I have to be there the afternoon before to get a bed because the amount of women that can get into the shelter is forty-nine. We have to get out by eight am the next morning. So here I am with all of this baggage on my back. I walk into Dunkin Donuts to get a cup of decaf. I had no money so I had to ask someone for fifty cents for a cup of coffee. I know the people get tired of seeing me coming because they know that I am going to have my hand out. That's the life of a homeless person, whether male or female. This is how I spend my day. I stay in Dunkin Donuts and just observe persons coming in and out; usually the State of NJ workers who work upstairs in this seven story building on East State Street here in Trenton. Mind you, these workers come in all sizes, and colors dressing like they are so fabulously rich. Here I am in an old worn out coat, thrift shop item; boots that are a disgrace and slippery. Just a few months ago, I lived in Willingboro(high class) in a three bedroom, two and a half bath, and with a fireplace that was out of this world. Duraflame logs here we come! Acme Market, do not run out! The logs were needed to warm that colonial mansion. And to believe that I am now out here in this cold with a non-supporting family right here in this town, (yep that's what I said) with nowhere to go. That pisses me off! To continue my day I head to the Trenton Public Library at 9am to get on the computer or to read a book. At noon, I head over to the Soup Kitchen where there are others like myself who are hungry and want a free meal that is a hot cooked one. I am person number sixty. Hell! I offer to help others in the computer room because there are a lot of drug addicts around me and I am uncomfortable and have no use for them, none. After leaving the Soup Kitchen, I walk around looking for financial help from a local agency until I can get up on my feet. After all, I was used to being a suburban housewife who went shopping, fixed meals and hiding alcohol from the Mr. The Mr. was a man that I was married to for fifteen of my most precious thirty eight years. I remained homeless and slept in motels night after night alone until I found a room at the YWCA. There I slept with roaches who crawled under, on and over me. The place was utterly disquisting. After two years at the YWCA, I found my own four room apartment, small but it was better than the Y. This is where I am. I move in, there is peace, very quaint and quiet. My place was is of peace. I light yankee candles daily, listen to music and have a very beautiful doll collection and you know what? I live alone. I am happy being a divorced woman or how one looks at it, a single woman. I choose to stay this way because for the first time, S. Dianne Williamson knows who she is. My inner confidence has grown and I give back to the community what was given to me when I was down and out. I have the ability to bounce back from trials and situations, past and present. Perseverance is necessary as we saw with the woman writers discussed in the book. I look forward to reading about more about them this week. THIS IS A TRUE STORY.

Twenty Ways to Get Out of Debt-FAST!

See the caption to the left: the quotation reminds us that if we ever find ourselves on a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. Look at that path, there is nothing in the way, you and i can walk down that path with no problem because there is no obstacle...SUCH IS LIFE....WE ARE GUARANTEED OBSTACLES. Debt can be an obstacle; yet it can be overcome...read on for there is help!



I was in the dollar tree store on Sunday afternoon picking up the usual dollar items to live on when I spotted these small Smart Style books, small pamphlets, to be exact. There are five according to the inside cover: 101 Ways to Fall Asleep Fast, 101 Ways to Get out of Debt Fast, 101 Ways to Lose Weight Fast, 101 Ways to De-Stress and 101 Ways to Communicate With Your Kids. The two that I saw I picked up. They were about getting about of debt and de-stressing. Those two things I am seriously trying to work on. They are very important to me. They may be of importance to you; maybe not. I do know that when I hit Dollar Tree on Sunday after my usual day of worship services, I will pick up the other three. Speaking of losing weight, I have not had any water today; let me just get up one minute from here; I know my foot aches but the refrigerator is less than a second away, I am in the kitchen. My kitchen serves as an office/ study area/eating area and watching dvd movies, what more can I say right now?

I would like in this blog to list 20 ways to get out of debt-fast! And in the red rose blog, list the suggestions for de-stressing, 20 ways as well. If it does not apply to you; perhaps you can share it with someone else that you know of that is in either situation, in debt or stressing. I can use some help in both areas. And away we go!

Debt. one of the few words of the English language that can instill fear into a fully grown adult. All over the world men and women of every age group, are battling with their own personal finance problems. If you take a look at your finances, you may find that you are struggling with these issues too.

There are many forms of debt-credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, and payday loans, to name but a few. Perhaps the most financially crippling of these is credit card debt. Credit card debt is among the most expensive debt a consumer can have.

No matter what form of debt you are tackling, there is always a way to pay the money back without getting yourself further down into the borrowing hole. If you truly want to dig your way out of debt and toward financial freedom, then you should follow this guide. The best thing about this minibook is that none of its suggestions involve borrowing more money. Instead, it offers practical solutions to boost your income and decrease your spending.

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1. Ask your boss for overtime. By asking for overtime at your current job you achieve two things: first, you show your boss that you are a committed and dedicated employee and second, you give yourself the opportunity to earn additional cash.

2. Apply for a second job. Another good option is to apply for a second job. Even a simple job, with minimal responsibility and few hours, could provide a regular source of income. Check your local newspaper for opportunities in your area, or visit web sities such as www.gotajob.com or www.monster.com for more information.

3. Start a home business. If you are serious about making enough money to fully pay off your debts, then you could consider running your own part-time, home-based business. Pick an area of work that you are skilled in and start your own business. Focus on a niche area where you have particular skills. Visit www.home-business-network.com to get started.

4. Take on freelance work. If owning your own home business sounds like too much hard work, then you might want to think about taking on freelance work. Many companies are more than willing to outsource certain tasks. It could be writing, maintenance work, graphics and design work, or even something as simple as filing or picking up the mail each day from the post office. Check with local companies in your areas to see what they have to offer, or visit www.freelance-work-exchange.com for more details.

5. Apply for a higher paying job. One of the most obvious courses of action to take when you find yourself in debt is to apply for a higher paying job. Earning more money is the perfect way to help clear up your loans and credit cards. See the web sites under #2 for more information on job opportunities.

6. Take out a home equity loan. A good idea is to pay off your credit card debt with a home equity loan. It won't reduce the amount of debt initially, but it will significantly reduce your interest rate and make more money available for principal repayments. Visit www.esmartloan.com/home-equity-loan.htm for more information.

7. Don't overpay your taxes. Are you getting a refund on your taxes? You could be loaning the government money interest free, as a result of too much witholding on your salary. And you are probably paying sky-high rates on your credit card debts too. Get together with your personnel department and recompute your witholding to avoid a big tax refund and increase your take home pay. Contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at www.nfcc.org for nore details.

8. Do household chores for your neighbors. Another prime way of making extra money is by hiring out your services as a cleaner, cook, or handyman (or woman) to your neighbors. People will be only too happy to pay you to do the jobs that they would rather avoid or don't have the time to do. Not meaning to be negative, but they want to help me with the trash bag they see me carrying to the dumpster for crackerjacks or want to borrow 40 cents or 5,00, so they need me, they cannot hire me, i would have to hire them, so this does not work for me, that's just my one cents i had to throw in, lol)

9. Organize a "swear" box. A swear box builds up cash quicker than you can say "put the money in the box." If you're not comfortable with a swear box, you can always alter it for a "no snacks box" or a "close the refrigerator door box." Whatever your vice, use it to your advantage.

10. Consolidate your loans. Free up your earnings by consolidating all your loans and reducing both your interest and repayments. There are many companies that offer this sort of loan solution, and you can find various ones advertised in the newspaper classifieds or on the web. Try www.unitedpersonaloans .com or www.gsfonline.com/debt-consolidation-loans-ya.htm in order to get started.

11. Hold a garage sale. Rummage around your garage, attic, and house and collect all the bric-a-brac you can find. Price it, put a "garage sale" sign in the front yard and make as healthy profit as passersby purchase all the things you no longer have a need for.

12. Make money online. There are literally thousands of moneymaking opportunities online. Many companies offer paid surveys, focus groups, and questionnaires. Try looking at www.paidsurveys.com and www.focusline.com to put you on the right path.

13. Start a loose change jar. Put all of your loose coins in a jar, and promise not to touch then until the jar is full to the top. You'll be surprised at how much you can accumulate, and all of this can be added to your debt fund.

14. Ask for a pay raise. The old maxim holds true. "If you don't ask, you don't get." Write out a list of reasons why you deserve a pay raise. Discuss it with your personnel dpartment before going to your supervisor or boss. Be professional and honest abut your self-appraisal, and you could be in for a little extra income.

15. Become a paid taxi for your friends on nights out. Instead of wasting your money on taxi fares, why not be the designated driver for a night out with your friends? You can charge them a cheaper fee then the taxi and still make enough to cover your gas and put something in your pocket towards your bills.

16. Sell items on Ebay. If you are internet savvy, then you may want to consider selling some of the items you own on Ebay. Look for anything that you no longer need, use, like, and then offer it up for grabs in this popular online market. Visit them at www.ebay.com

17. Put unneeded clothes on consignment. This is an especially good way to get rid of evening dresses (think old prom gowns and cocktail dresses you'll never wear again) and suits, but anything in good condition can be put on consignment. You share the money from the sale with the consignment shop, but it's an easy way to squeeze some money out of clothes that would otherwise just take up closet space.

18. Get a paper route. This may not be as silly as it sounds. Nowadays, paper routes aren't just for school kids. In fact, many people from all walks of life use this as a hassle-free way to make some additional cash when they need it most. Call your local newspaper and see what they have to offer.

19. Rent out a room in your house. If you have a spare room in your house you should consider renting it out to a lodger. Students at local universities are always looking for affordable housing. In most metropolitan areas, rooms average about $400.00 a month. This is a great way to generate income because the money will come on a regular basis. Make sure to get references on any lodger who applies and get a deposit to cover any damages and cleanup.

20. Sell your old videos/dvds/cd's. If you are looking to earn some money without too much effort, consider selling some dvds/cds/videos. Make sure they are in good working order.

other suggestions in the book:101 ways: grants and scholarships, TUTORING, YEAH! dog-walking,-pet-sitting, baby-sitting, scrapbook service, homemade greeting cards, tupperware, stuff envelopes, selling old books, laundry service, create a budget, create and sell your own candles, clip coupons, carpool, brown bag it, generic prescriptions, microwave instead of oven, THRIFT STORES, AHA!, avoid using your atm card at machines that charge a fee, and so on.

I noticed in the back of the book that there are other books in this series like "Get Fit Now," "Healing Foods," "Prayers To Your Guardian Angel," "Clean and Organize Your Home," I NEED, I NEED! (lol) and "Kids' Party Planner."

Additional link to check out for grabs...
www.coolfreebielinks.com

see ya next time!

POSITIVITY-PHOTOS FROM LOUISE HAY AND WAYNE DYER

Hello my friends and welcome back! This week I will be doing something a little different. I will be posting photos from Louise Hay and Dr. Wayne Dyer. The two of them are very positive persons. Take a look not only at the photo but the message contained on them. There are thirty unique expressions full of color to treasure and appreciate. See you all next week.

Visit the sisterblog www.beautifulredrose.blogspot.com in a few days for a post about mothers. I will also be writing about my weekend at Walee's booksigning on www.diamondspeaks.blog.com as well.

Queenwriter

Fifty Things About QueenWriter

There are some fifty things that I love in life. Some things persons would like to know or curious about an individual but sometimes they may not ask. Well, here is a list of things about me that I like and I want to share with you.

1. Shoes, sandals and boots with heels
2. Fringes on garments
3. Scarves
4. Jeans
5. Handbags (designer, especially Polo Sport)
6. Bible Reading
7. Art (especially Art History)
8. Photography
9. Poetry
10. Movies with Whoppi Goldberg and NYC scenes in them
11. Sitting under a tree drawing or reading with sunlight/breeze
12. Wawa ginseng tea with honey
13. Mickey and Minney Mouse
14. Winnie the Pooh
15. My Doll Collection
16. Avatars (dressing them up)
17. Children and teens
18. Magazines related to writing, photography and art
19. Being a college student
20. Have resilience always
21. Strawberry shortcake
22. Bracelets
23. Polished toenails and clean feet to go with them
24. Polished fingernails
25. Braided hair that lasts for awhile
26. Four cylinder four door cars
27. Singing in the mirror and dancing
28. Listening to music with headphones on
29. The internet 24 (7)
29. Ice skating (watching it on tv)
30. NYC (the big apple)
31. Reading autobiographies
32. Langston Hughes
33. Stevie Wonder
34. An American in Paris (movie)Gene Kelly
35. Clogs
36. Brownies
37. Flowers (still waiting to see lavender roses)
38. Atlanta Georgia (headed there very soon)
39. Body washes(trying different kinds)
40. Dove (pink bar)
41. Gain detergent
42. Singleness ( a real ghetto nun I am)
43. Playing jacks (want to play me a game?)
44. Floral lampshades
45. Hot chocolate
46. Dollar Tree with twenty dollars
47. Pocahontas (the doll, a mighty warrior is she!)
48. Radio music to lull me to sleep
49. canopy and daybeds
50. ink pen collector (do not leave your pen laying around)

Those are just some of the things about me. There are a lot more things about me but the above are just a few.

National Poetry Month is over and it has been great featuring different poets. Poetry is Powerful!

I will see you next week with some more thoughts.

Queenwriter