Sister-Friends. Soul-Mates. Super-Heroes.

Every body knows that most women wear many hats. Most of the time, we don't get paid for our many talents - but we could put many professionals to shame with our skills. Women are often highly adept at (but not limited to): negotiating, litigating, fixing, budgeting, advising, listening, counseling, preaching, teaching, delegating, solving, creating, and the list could go on an on. Women could literally run the world's best international business. In other words, women just rock.

Perhaps, the biggest job a woman can ever have is motherhood. Much honor and respect is due to women who have mothered  children - either biologically or through adoption (be it official or not). I am so glad that there is a special day given to all Mothers out there (I love you Momma)! But, I think there is another role that many women play with little or no recognition -and that is the role of Sister-Friend.

Sister-Friends have been the life-blood of many of us over the years. They've laughed with us. Traveled hours to see us. Sent us birthday gifts (maybe a little belated sometimes). They've invited us to their Mom's house. They've slept over (or vice-versa). They've lent clothes, cars, and cash. Planned vacays with us. Dated us when we were single. Shopped with us. Talked hours with us. And cried with us.

But Sister-Friends have done more than just mere human action. They have been us when we didn't know who we were. They've carried us when we've fallen. They've loved us when we weren't very likable. They've encouraged us through our fears. They've corrected us when we were wrong. They've put up with our mess, and helped us clean it up. They've protected us. They've held us down. They've held us over. They've held us up.

Sister-Friends are indeed the best part of us. As I've come to grow and mature, in my 29 years I have seen the measure of God's perfect love through the relationship I have with my very own Sister-Friends. We have saved each other from ourselves many times. We have interceded in prayer on each other's behalf. We have counseled. We have cried in grief together. We have rejoiced in celebration together. We have laid hands on each other and received healing. We have prayed for each other and watched blessings manifest. We have fasted with and for one another and watched God move mountains. We have been the best women we could possibly be, because our Sister-Friendship pushed it out of us.

So, even though your girlfriends just seem like normal women - pause for a minute and think about who they really are. They are Sister-Friends. Soul-Mates. Super-Heroes. All wrapped up in one amazing package. And God made them that way, so that you would know just how much you are loved.

I can't thank God enough for my Sister-Friends. Half of Shekinah Rocks is my dearest Sister-Friend. I am so glad that our relationship is not comprised of Starbucks and gossip. Instead, it is clothed in garments of salvation from our own vices, robed with righteous conversation, and adorned with jewels of wisdom and worship. My Sister-Friends are very much a manifestation of the Holy Trinity. They have unconditionally loved me. Sacrificed for me. And guided me along the way.

It is my earnest prayer that all you of reading this...every woman out there would encounter the beautiful relationship I've described. The simple fellowship of Sister-Friends brings refreshing for your soul, restoration for your spirit, and renewing for your mind. For this reason, SheRocks is having an intimate Sister-Friend Nite-In here in Nashville next weekend (9.21.2013). We pray that whoever is able to make it will be sharpened and strengthened in their faith; and, even if you are unable to attend, we pray that your Sister-Friendships would be ones that leave you better than they found you. Ones that bring you closer to God. Ones that you never want to live without.

Dedicated to the best Sister-Friends a girl could ever ask for: Sharon, Dossier, Lana, and Candy.

The Real OC

Occupations. Doctor. Lawyer. Teacher. Engineer. Artist. Designer. Stylist. Caterer. Entrepreneur. This is what the world sees as occupations. And, perhaps, it makes sense to call a job an occupation in the sense that you spend a majority of your time at your respective place of business. But what if an occupation was more than just a title or set of duties associated with a career? What if an occupation was a mindset and a lifestyle as commanded by God?

To occupy literally means to fill up, take space, or reside in a place. What's interesting about our worldly occupations is that they tend not only to occupy our time but also pre-occupy our minds with the busyness of life. And lots of times, within this shuffle between what we do and who we are, we lose site of who we are supposed to be. We get caught up in trivial matters. Do things we shouldn't do. Say things we shouldn't say. And we forget that we are put on earth, not to serve purposes of our own - but to serve a Holy God. We become our occupations instead of letting our occupation be that of becoming consumed with Christ.

If an occupation was a mindset and a lifestyle as commanded and directed by God, we would in turn allow God to occupy us, fill us up, take space in us, and reside in us. And what happens when an object becomes filled with a certain substance? Like a cup filled to the brim, we would begin pouring out upon the area around us. In Luke 19:13, Jesus gives a simple yet profound directive as He provides the parable of the 10 minas. "Occupy till I come." As we wait for the return of Christ, we should all be following this command to "Occupy." Occupy here essentially means using our gifts, energies, and time to add unto the kingdom of God. Yet, how can you occupy when you are not first occupied with the God?

This is the directive for SheRocks (Shekinah Rocks Ministries) this year - helping others to be occupied by God so that we can all "Occupy till [Christ] come[s]." As we prepare for this new thrust, called Occupy(Me), in which more details will be provided in days to come, won't you ask yourself a few questions:

     -1.) Is the majority of my time spent doing or thinking about things of God?
     -2.)  If what was inside of me spilled out onto others, would it be pleasing to God?
     -3.)  Do I know how to make more room for God in my daily life?

If the answer to any of these questions was "No" we are praying that you will consider joining with us in this Occupy(Me) initiative. Please stay plugged in with us and tuned in so that you can be apart of this move of God. After all, He wants you to experience the Real OCcupy.

Keep Your Bags Packed

As 2012 comes to a close, one thing is very apparent. Many times, as we prepare to travel to a new destination, we pack our bags in preparation for the weather or the season of the place we will be arriving. However, as we journey with God this cannot be the same mindset we use in life. While God may give us hints and glimpses of what He may have in store for us, we will never know completely where He is taking us. As in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

" But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." Because of this, we cannot pack our bags adequately.

Therefore, SheRocks encourages you, as we encourage ourselves, to pack our bags full of the weighty things that would hinder us from walking in God's perfect will for our lives. We have no desire to see the same old tired wardrobe that is unbecoming and ill-fitting for the new season God is bringing us to; the wardrobe is outdated for a reason. For some of us, old wardrobe includes broken relationships, bad finances, difficult jobs, and/or a combination of all of these. We owe it to God and to ourselves to keep our bags packed AND let the door of 2012 close behind them, never to be opened, revisited, or unpacked again.
Let us take this time to reflect upon which things need to pass away so that God can do a new thing in us. A shift in 2013 is upon us, and we don't want you left behind because you were too busy unpacking your bags!
Love you! TGBTG!