I'm Still a Girl

I may not be the kind of girl you like, but I'm still a girl! I don't wear makeup! Yet, I'm still a girl! I don't wear heels, but I'm still a girl! I don't have the biggest chest or the biggest butt, but I'm still a girl. I like to get my nails & feet done (when I can afford it); that's a treat I like to give myself when I can, but if not, I'm still a girl! I rarely wear dresses or skirts, BUT WHEN do, YOU KNOW I'M A GIRL! ;-) 1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. I believe that scripture says it all, but of course, I'm going to do my thing and speak more in it! ;-) I truly love how the Lord uses me with my gift of writing. I thank God for the Holy Spirit because I'm easily inspired and majority of the time can just start writing off my own experiences or things I read, witness or have been told. That's how I came about this particular title & post. I was told that I walk like a grandma & look like one sometimes by the faces I make...:O I already know I don't walk "girlie or feminine". That's deliberate; I didn't know it had a grandma likeness to it! Lolol I guess it's true to some extent because one of my boyfriend's friends who's a female, said out the blue, I looked like someone's grandma. That statement was first made like three months ago. Now, I know my hair was looking a little different (hair appointment was that upcoming Saturday, which I get done every two weeks!) and I was still in my work uniform and probably was looking tired. I didn't know, but no matter how "rough" I might have been looking, I strongly didn't agree with that comment. Well, here you have three or four months later, I told a male friend what she said, and he said I do sometimes, and how he told me the other day I was walking like I just could make it. Hahaha So...needless to say, I did what I do best - wrote about it. Anyone who's known me for a long time can tell you I'm not one of those everyday girlie girls! What I mean by that is I don't wear makeup everyday because I don't wear makeup; my nails aren't done every week or two. My financial situation isn't like it used to be, so that was one treat to myself I had to let go. I don't change my hairstyles every day or every week for that matter. What I get done at the shop, I usually let it last for two weeks until my next appointment. I don't wear girlie tops or jeans and hardly ever wear skirts or dresses. I love earrings and bracelets but I don't always wear them everyday, but I like to on the weekends and especially if I'm going out. Now, I want you to know that starting back in 2008, I slowly started changing that and became more girlie with my tops and the kinds of jeans I wore, and FINALLY became comfortable in my own skin. I finally started EMBRACING, ACCEPTING & LOVING the body the Lord gave me. Needless to say, it was long overdue and I still need some help with some things. Women, we ALL are BEAUTIFUL in our OWN unique ways! It's a cliche, but is very true! Every woman has some feature about them that makes them gorgeous and different from the next woman. Even our flaws. For example, freckles. Some women don't like having them, but some men love women who have them. I was told and also learned for myself that those things which we don't like about ourselves or wish we could change, find the beauty in it and make it work for us! Psalms 139:14 NKJV I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. We all were made according to HIS image! Genesis 1:27 NKJV So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. The Lord is BEAUTIFUL, therefore, so are we! EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS, LADIES! NO MATTER WHAT, YOU'RE STILL A GIRL!!! :-) Thank you, Lord! Be Blessed & Encouraged, My Sisters!!! XoXoXo ~Raven J.

The Lord is OUR source!

Okay, I need to get this vent out of me right quick! These head honchos and big wigs or whatever you wanna call them.. So do they NOT know that people really do NEED their jobs and have mortgages, rent, utilities, car notes and or car insurance and a FAMILY to take care of??!!??! Philippians 4:19 NLT And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Truly, truly, truly in these times, we all must solely believe and have faith in that alone! No longer does seniority, job title or position, or how much of a dedicated worker you are matter! People are seriously being laid off. They're still doing cutbacks! We need to KNOW that regardless of having a husband/wife a job/career or whatnot, JESUS IS OUR PROVIDER bc we can easily have those things taken from us. But the Lord will ALWAYS be there! Hebrews 13:5 NLT “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” I SINCERELY PRAY FOR A COVERING AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL! I PRAY FOR FAVOUR FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY WERE NO LONGER NEEDED AT THEIR JOB OR WHAT HAVE YOU! I PRAY THAT THE LORD OPENS UP OTHER DOORS AND THAT IT'S SOMETHING MUCH BETTER THAN YOU COULD HAVE EXPECTED! My partner at work says it's scary times and hard to NOT think negative. I can fully agree on the surface.. BUT where my faith lies, it has to be stronger and more powerful than any negative thought that may come my way. I've never been fired nor laid off from a job. But I have gone through a season or two where I couldn't find work up to almost 2yrs. Going through the things I have, and seeing the Lord work out things for MY GOOD, I would have to say, and hope and believe that if I ever were in that position, I'd trust HIM with my all and stay as focused as I knew how! That's not always an easy thing to do b/c thoughts do creep into your mind & then you always have those few "audience" members who makes things worst by panicking & speaking negative and getting you in a tizzy! THERE'S MORE I WANT TO ADD ON THIS POST!!! BE ENCOURAGED, PEOPLE!!! XoXoXo ~Raven J.

Friendship Grace

Heather Lindsey Tuesday 10:08 A.M.
Why are you dumping every friend that has a character flaw as if you don't have one of your own? Start gracing people because God could be using YOU to help reveal it to THEM. That same grace you give them.. You will find that you need down the road.

Proverbs 18:24 NLT

There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

I'm so glad I seen this status this morning cause it was definitely a slap in the face! A lot of my friends I've stopped speaking to or just completely dismissed b/c of their lifestyle or the things they partake in. Now, there DOES come a time when in our lives when you must separate yourselves from friends and start receiving a new group of people in your life. That's not what I'm talking about here. Going off of Miss Lindsey's post, I'm thinking she's referring to those strongholds or certain things we KNOW our friends are struggling with and are trying to change and get better at, but because they can't "get it together" quick enough, we drop em!

When I think about it, it really is sad how we are so quick 2 dismiss & throw away people but quickly forget how the Lord is long-suffering with us and has such GREAT compassion, mercy and grace, yet WE (including myself!) we tend to forget to display those same things towards others. :-( Romans 13:8 NLT Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 1 Peter 4:8 NKJV And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” We are to build up, and not tear down one another! Pray & ask the Lord to help you, teach you how to be a better friend. NONE OF US HAVE ARRIVED OR MADE IT YET! So, until we close our eyes to this world, we are still battling, struggling, going through & learning! My Ace-Deuce is quick to "cut me" (as I like to call it). It does hurt, but it's for MY GOOD! I pray that you are greatly blessed & encouraged by this posting! XoXoXo ~Raven J.

DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES!

Desperate times calls for DETERMINED Faith!

This popular phrase was in my spirit the other day, so I wanted to talk on that. I hate when I get to flowing or when a lot of things come to me I'm not able to write about it like I want. So, bare with me, this title and another post I have in the works for today! ;-)

I myself, even now from time-to-time feel desperate or compelled to take drastic matters in regards to my financial situation. But I've learned from personal experiences that when we get desperate and try to take care of the matter of our own, not only do we make the situation WORST than what it is, but in reality we're telling the Lord we don't trust Him! Actually, we are and I have basically called Him a liar and saying He's not going to do what He says! I HAVE TO SAY OUCH TO MYSELF ON THAT ONE!!! :-\ STAY TUNED..

In the meantime..

Psalm 46:10 NLT

“Be still, and know that (HE) I am (IS) God!"

XoXoXo
~Raven J.

Okay, I'm very sorry for the super long delay...no excuses! I said I'd have this post as well as another one finished Friday,and here it is, Monday in the afternoon. I told a sister last night that I have some many testimonies and posts that I want to connect with this one. I'm on my lunch break now which is soon to be over (30 mins zoom by in a flash!)

So, I wanted to talk about how there are times when things happen to us and we feel forced or desperate to take the matter into our own hands instead of having the faith in the Lord above to come to our rescue. 

Psalm 116:1-2 NLT

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray a song as I have breath! 

My own personal testimony on this next issue I can now publicly share without conviction. Back in 2009 I started struggling and getting behind in my car payments as well as my "lovely"  school loans! Steady getting calls from them asking if I had anyone who could help me.... HELLO, IF I DID, YOU WOULDN'T BE HARASSING ME NOW!!?? SMH

I still remember clear as day the lady asking me if I was able to afford to pay that car. I did not want to lose my truck. The Lord blessed me with that car and made a way for me to be able to get it WITHOUT having a co-signer! Even tho the dealerships were trying to stress that to me. 

Feeling overwhelmed and desperate and wanting to get my finances under control myself, I got in deeper with the payday loan stores! It got SO OUT OF CONTROL, that I started borrowing from other & new loan places just to payback the ones u was already indebted to! SMH I was gone! Nobody knew about that except maybe my sister, and IF she did, she didn't know the severity of it. My pride wouldn't let me tell my boyfriend I was with at the time because he always seen things un black & white. It was like certain situations you just don't let yourself get in and trust God and this & that... So, I couldn't and wouldn't ask him for financial help.. And you know those little petty bills started to add up! My credit card company had a lawsuit out against me :-( The loan places which I thought would or could SAVE me, only made my situation worst to the fullest, leaving me in such a state I didn't know how nor could I see myself recovering from. The end results: I filed bankruptcy!!! Ending this post on that note... All I can say is, it's true when they say take EVERYTHING to the Lord in prayer! He already knows our situations & our state of mind; He just wants us to COMMUNE with Him on the regularly to RECEIVE wisdom, so we won't put ourselves into unnecessary situations! He truly does love us & cares about what happens to us and what we go through! WE just need to trust HIM MORE and NOT man or ourselves! I pray that you are deeply inspired & encouraged by the Lord Himself! XoXoXo ~Raven J.

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!

Quickly I need to share this! Idk if this was directly for me because how the Lord has been blessing me and having me connect with new people regarding my writings and desiring to have a career in that field.. He's been opening doors for me and I've been receiving a lot of great feedback! But it may not solely be for me. It may be for my Ace-Deuce Traci n her situation, or someone from my #IG FAM that needs confirmation... But this was dropped into my spirit out of the blue and I pray that it touches who it needs to touch and begins to manifest even the more! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!! XoXoXo

~Raven J.

It's the LITTLE things!

Luke 16:10 NLT

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Hello Luvs!

I know it's super late and I most definitely should be sleeping but I needed to post this little message.

****Oh before I forget: I JUST LEARNED TONIGHT THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO POST ANY COMMENTS ON MY BLOG. A SISTER TOLD ME SHE TRIED 10X THEN I TESTED IT OUT MYSELF. THIS IS WHAT SHOWS UP WHEN YOU TRY TO SUBMIT A COMMENT****

So, until I'm able to get that straightened out, please feel free to email me at rj.stone7@gmail.com! I also use #Google+ and I post my Blog on there as well. So you're more than welcome to add me to your Circles and Share my Blog and post your comments on there! :-) 

Okay, back to this quick post. I have always considered myself a simple girl/woman when it comes to relationships. What I mean by that is I don't really ask for much. It has always been the little things that move me and get my attention. To this day, I think my Bae has a difficult time appreciating my APPRECIATION of him! Hahahah I compliment and tell him things and he's always like, "It's nothing" or like he really doesn't see it as a big deal. Well, for me, it is! ;-) For I feel if you care that much about the simplest things, you'll care that much greater about the bigger things! If not, you should!!! 

FYI!!! HE BOUGHT THIS FOR ME TONIGHT!!! I <3 ME SOME HIM! 

I say all of that in case someone needs to be reminded that those "little things" they do, does matter and can have a great impact on someone!

 A perfect example of that is a SMILE! Some people are going through the worst storms and trials and just feel down, or may be having issues at home, work or wherever, and you could just smile at them and ask how their day is or just smile as you past them by and that could lift their spirits. 

I can personally relate to that because a lady at my job said to me once that every time she sees me I'm always smiling and that makes her day. I felt GREAT inside because I KNOW it's the LIGHT of the Lord that's within me shining on the outside! Thank you, Father! 

So, don't ever underestimate your little doings & generosity because it could mean the WORLD to someone! 

God Bless & Sweet Dreams!

XoXoXo ~Raven J 

The Lord's Love

Good Morning to all of those who are viewing this! Be sure to spread the word!;-) I've been receiving a lot of GREAT feedback! I truly, truly appreciate all the love and support! It means a great deal to me! *HUGS & MUCH LOVE* to you all!!!

I don't have Internet access at home right now so that's why I haven't been posting regularly like I want. Nevertheless, I'm at work right now and hope to be able to finish thus before having to clock in! :-P



About a week ago, I was watching episodes of Full House, and the last one I watched was the one where Stephanie accidentally drove Joey's car through the kitchen window. The last clip of the show ended with Danny telling Stephanie that she could never do anything that would make him stop loving her.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

Instantly hearing those lines, I thought about the love the Lord has for us - NEVER-ENDING! I also thought about how scared Stephanie was that she ended up running away.
She asked her dad how could he possibly still love her after she done what she did?

I can guarantee we all have done something when we younger or even in our  teenage years and we just felt like it was the end of the world for us! Our parents may have been furious and probably did give us a serious beat-down (not child abuse, just a good old-fashioned whooping)  that which we did, didn't remove their love us. If anything, their disciplinary action proved they loved us!

Proverbs 13:24 NLT

"Those who spare the rod if discipline hate their children. Those which love their children care enough to discipline them."

I hope you all KNOW that NO SIN is greater or less than the other! In GOD'S EYES, they're all the same and all lead to the same place. So, whatever mistakes you make or short-comings you have, the Lord won't ever stop loving you or caring from you. Too often when we felt we've disappointed God, we run away from Him and stop having a relationship with Him because we feel the mess we've gotten ourselves into is just so great, why would He choose to deal with us now?? But His grace and mercies are new everyday! A new day to start over and get it right!!! :-)

Also, in saying all if that, just because the Lord is a merciful God, doesn't mean we should take advantage of HIS LOVE for us! 

Romans 8:38 NLT

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.


I know just about all of us who've come to know the true love of Christ have felt that way at some point in our lives. If we backslide, if we disobeyed God or kept failing the tests or just had a hard time understanding the things of the Lord or getting things right in our lives. We're like, after all this mess I've done, this mess I'm in, how can He still love me after all of that?

I'm going to have to come back and Edit this post, but please be Encouraged & God Bless you 2day!!! XoXoXo ~Raven J.