I would like to share my testimony with your ministry. Let me start by telling you a little about myself. 3 years ago I was in a relationship with a man who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. We were engaged and set to be married a month before we split. The wedding was entirely paid for. In our relationship, there were numerous times that numerous people told me that my fiance was either cheating on me or saying inappropriate things to other women including some of my family, but I chose to believe him…

If you’re one of the nearly 45 million Americans living with seasonal allergies, there are at least 100 cities you should avoid this spring. Or at the very least, plan your allergy defense strategy accordingly if you need to visit for work or pleasure. For the 12th consecutive year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has compiled and released its 2014 list of “the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies” during the spring and fall seasons. To determine the nation’s “Allergy Capitals,” the AAFA measured and compared seasonal data that included: Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen…

Sweet military homecoming videos like the one above never fail to reduce us to happy tears. Lyrique, a second grader at a Mount Dora, Fla. school, thinks she’s playing a word game. Eventually, she and her schoolmates realize they’re spelling out the phrase “Lyrique’s Dad is Home” — and that’s when the magic happens: Lyrique turns around to see her dad, Air Force Sergeant Wil Alteus, ready to surprise her with his early return home from overseas. Also in attendance at Friday’s homecoming was Alteus’ sister, Kinley, who Lyrique has been living with since the single dad serviceman was called…

While strolling the red carpet at BET’s Celebration of Gospel, reality-star-turned-pastor Omarosa Manigault discussed the benefits of putting Christians on reality TV. While many people of the faith seem to be opposed to the new trend, especially with controversial shows like “Preachers of LA,” Omarosa says it’s actually a good thing. “If anytime you can get people talking about the church, reflecting about religion, reflecting about their relationships with God, what’s appropriate and when we’re not appropriate, than we’re winning,” the former “Apprentice” star told The Jasmine Brand. “I’m an assistant pastor at Weller Street Missionary Baptist church and ordained…

I’m not in control of my happiness. That is the theory that I accepted for a very long time. It appeared that whenever things were going too well, for too long, some unknown force would ultimately descend upon me and effortlessly snatch away any feelings of well-being I was experiencing. I attributed this abduction of my happiness to the fact that I had merely exceeded my “happiness quota.” Essentially, the universe just wasn’t going to let me get too happy. I deduced that I had a happiness limit and if I came too close to that limit, or God forbid…

When I was 16, my parents made me get an abortion. Then a few years ago, I had an abortion because I was afraid of letting my family down once again. I’m the oldest of 4 siblings and they all look up to me. Not to mention, My parents would have been so disappointed in me for having a child out of wedlock. Now I’m happily married to the man of my dreams. I love him so much. We have been married for a little over a year now. We have been trying to have a child together but now…

(Psalm 91:1)- “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” When I was a child, I used to love playing games outside with my neighborhood friends. One of my all-time favorite games was “Hide and Seek”. I enjoyed the thrill of running through the yard; looking for a space to hide. I remember the excitement and rush I felt as I heard the countdown – 5-4-3-2-1 and saying “ready or not, here I come”. Sometimes, as my friends and I were waiting to be found, my father would surprisingly…

Whether you face is clear or full of pimples, it’s nice to know that your skin has its own way of communicating with you. The Chinese practice of face mapping or ‘Mien Shiang’ is a way of reading the face and it’s taking over the Western dermatology world. Practitioners of face mapping believe that where your acne appears on your face is connected to another part of your body. Doctors are charging big bucks to analyze your skin and give you insight into your overall health, but you can save yourself some time and cash. Use these tips to know…

In an interview with Good Morning Texas, Sarah Jakes shares that she wasn’t the one to tell her father, Bishop T.D. Jakes, about her pregnancy at 13 years old. Her sister was the one to relay the news through a letter. I love that Sarah is being so open and honest. Her transparency and willingness to share her story is making a big difference in the lives of many people. Specifically the younger crowd. Sarah’s book ‘Lost and Found: Finding Hope in the Detours of Life’ releases on April 1st. Click here to order your copy today:

When I was 18, I was diagnosed with a form of hyperplasia/endometriosis. I was told it would be difficult for me to get pregnant, and believe me, I tried. I had a vision in March 2012 of me holding a little girl in my church. Back then I didn’t know anything about visions, I didn’t even know God’s voice. I brushed that vision off like it was nothing. September 2012, I received news from my doctor that I was pregnant. I remember saying to people that I didn’t care whether the father of my child was in me and my…

Everything that you’re going through, is preparing you for what you’ve been praying for.

If you had the choice to feel like a light and colorfully vibrant fruit salad, or a heavy bowl of lifeless pasta, which would you choose? It may be cliche, but it really is true that you are what you eat. If you want to feel light, happy and full of life, then it only makes sense to eat foods that help you feel that way. Studies show that some foods make us feel calm, while others get us temporarily stimulated and fuel not-so-good feelings like anxiety and stress, potentially leading to a depressed mood. Unfortunately, most go-to comfort foods…

I pray that all young women recognize how worthy, gifted and beautiful they are! I pray that just because I typed “I pray” whoever is reading this doesn’t immediately decide they shouldn’t finish reading it. I pray that women understand that being a woman is more than a physical attribute or bearing children. I pray that for those entering adulthood they realize “just because you can” doesn’t mean it’s in your best interest (having sex, using drugs, talking like a drunken sailor-no offense to our sailors). I pray that for those who are lonely that they recognize they don’t have…

It’s time to let go of the ashes and see the beauty that is waiting in exchange for them.

Parenting is never easy, but when you have a blended family—with bio-kids and stepkids, your spouse’s ex, and other extended family members thrown into the mix—things can get very difficult very quickly. First marriages are “apples,” and second marriages are “oranges”: you can’t compare the two. It’s important to realize that everyone’s role shifts when you create a stepfamily. In fact, when you first bring everyone together, all the kids will try to figure out where—or even if—they belong in the new system. If they don’t believe they have a place—or if they think someone is taking their place—they’ll often…

Eat well, watch your weight, do self-exams once a month and get regular mammograms – these are the well-known basics for detecting and surviving breast cancer. But according to a new study, there’s something else that needs to be added to that list. Research was recently presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, following an extensive review of 37 studies involving over 4 million women regarding breast cancer risks. The conclusion? That, according to preliminary findings, women who exercise more than an hour a day (yes, this includes walking) can reduce their breast cancer risks, regardless of…

6 Ways To Tell If He’s The One You’ve Been Praying For… Many women have a long, detailed list full of the qualities they desire in a man, and sometimes this can backfire because there is no such thing as a “perfect” man. There is however, a man who is perfect for you. The one God has selected for you. When you look at your list of desired qualities, a few of them should jump out at you as non-negotiables. These are the things that you shouldn’t bend or compromise on. Whatever your must haves are, if he’s the one, you…

My husband and I have been married for two and a half years. We had a disagreement and I slapped him in the face and he hit me back a couple times. Now we are separated and he keeps apologizing and says that he wants me and our two year old daughter to come back home. He says he is willing to go to counseling just to make our relationship work, but my parents are totally against me going back. Should I take my parent’s advice?

PRAYER REQUEST: Hello, I am a little confused and could really use some prayers and advice from your readers. My husband and I have been married 16 beautiful years and have a 16 year old daughter, 12 year old daughter, and a 10 year old daughter. My 16 year old hates going to church. She believes in God and overall is a good kid. But she doesn’t feel like we should make her go to church every Sunday. The problem is my husband agrees with her and allowed her to stay home this past Sunday while the rest of the…

I am not particularly proud to admit this but I had a bit of a breakdown this past weekend. Friday morning and as I opened the cabinet below the kitchen sink I noticed water where it shouldn’t be. I pulled out the dish washing detergent and some other junk I had in there and lo and behold everything was covered in water. Not only that, but the wood cabinets and the back wall had really soaked in the water draining from the sink. The sink, the pipes, the faucet…all old. We had a small leak at the faucet for some…