HELLO D.D.S STARS!!!!

How was everyone's weekend? I pray that it was full of positivity, blessings, and pure joy! My weekend was pretty eventful.....to say the least! I was helping my mom pack, and I came across a lot of memories. Pictures of my pageants, my father's death certificate, old school wedding photos of my parents, and my very first song I written. It made me realize that even though I accomplished some of my goals, I had also waisted a lot of time. It reminded me of all the dreams I had, and how I thought that I had forever. But, as you get older you see that time waits for no one. I cried, laughed, and reminisced.
I believe that life gives you learning experiences. This day of packing and throwing away the past made me open my eyes. I know that I have a calling on my life, and what I need to be doing. I've known for awhile, but I allowed fear to consume my drive, passion, and goals that I had when I was younger. This was my wake up call....

This leads me to my question..... When was your wake up call? Have you had your yet? Will you let YOUR dreams and goals be consumed by FEAR?

The scripture(s) for today will be coming from:

Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version, ©2010)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


Habakkuk 2:2-3 (New International Version, ©2010)

Then the LORD replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[b] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it[c] will certainly come
and will not delay.


I pray that these scriptures will equipped you will the strength you need to go for your passion in life. You were created with a special calling, and equipped with gifts that are going to make a difference in people's lives. WRITE IT DOWN, AND MAKE IT PLAIN. GO FORTH INTO YOUR DESTINY!






D.Journey

WONDER WOMAN WEDNESDAY!!!!

Good morning all!!!
I pray that each of you had a great....and should I say "filling" Thanksgiving weekend.lol
Well as you all know it is WONDER WOMAN WEDNESDAY!!!! On this day we uplift ourselves, and our sisters. We are mothers, sisters, daughters,employees, students, you name it, we are it. Today look at the Mirror and say this:

I am beautiful
I am spiritual,
I am strong,
I can accomplish all,
I can overcome all,
I am perfectly, miraculously, completely.......ME!!!!!


....and then snap your fingers and walk out...(hee-hee).

The daily scripture for today will be coming from www.crosswalk.com

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Devotion:
I don't know what I'm supposed to do with my life - and I'm running out of time to figure it out. What if I never find it? Will I always be unhappy and unfulfilled? Will I never achieve my purpose? What will God do about that - will He call me a bad servant? But I can't help it. Why doesn't He answer my prayers for direction?


Maybe I'm just too sinful or something. I know I should read the Bible more. Is this limbo I'm in some kind of punishment for that? Am I really so much worse than everybody else? Maybe I just don't have any special gifts or talents. Or they just never got developed. Maybe that's it, and maybe now it's too late. So what do I do now? I don't know what I'm supposed to do …


Does this resemble your thinking sometimes? Perhaps not about your calling, but about finding a spouse, or affording a house, or exercising regularly, or a conflict with your mother or boss. Do you tend to overthink things? To worry and ruminate? To endlessly, passively, excessively ponder the meanings, causes and potential consequences of your problems? Do you dwell on them?


Many of us believe that when we feel down about something we should try to evaluate our feelings and our situation from every angle to attain insight and find solutions to relieve our unhappiness. However, a host of research in the last 20 years has shown that dwelling on thoughts like this creates negative outcomes: it sustains or worsens sadness, fosters negative thinking, depletes motivation, saps energy, interferes with concentration, and typically impairs our problem-solving.


Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky writes: "Although people have a strong sense that they are gaining insight into themselves and their problems during their ruminations, this is rarely the case. What they do gain is a distorted, pessimistic perspective on their lives." She adds, "You need to free yourself from the clutch of your ruminations - in other words, immediately stop overthinking."


Based on what he wrote in Philippians 4:6-13, I think the apostle Paul would agree with the professor. Pause and scroll down to read the whole passage now in the "Power Verses" below and then come back.


As we see, in verse six, Paul gives three clear instructions for those of us who ruminate on our problems. He says:


1) do not worry about anything

2) pray about everything

3) thank God for everything


What if today we took this instruction to heart and put it into practice? What if today we decided not to worry about anything? What if when we found ourselves worrying, we stopped and handed the situation over to God in prayer? What if we then thanked Him for taking care of the issue?


In fact, what if we spent most of our mental free-time today thinking about what good care our awesome God takes of us?


What if we counted our blessings and God's acts of faithfulness today - and again tomorrow and next week too? What would happen then?


Paul says in verse seven, we will begin to experience amazing peace - a kind of peace we can't even imagine. Peace that makes no earthly sense! This kind of peace is so powerful that it has a protective function on our hearts and minds - which only makes it easier for us to stop worrying and be thankful.


That sounds like a state of happiness to me! So let's not over-think it today. Let's not under-pray it either. Let's actively choose to have a happy, thankful day. And then let's get up tomorrow and do it again.

Morning prayer:

Dear Lord, I'm turning over all my fears and problems to You to handle today. I can't fix a single thing by worrying about it - but You can fix anything because nothing is impossible for You! Thanks for being in charge of my day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Have a great day ladies ( and gentlemen),



D.Journey


SN: Today is World AIDS day. Checkout my Headlines page for information.......

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!

Today's scripture will be coming from:
Luke 17:11-19 (New International Version, ©2010)

"THE THANKFUL LEPER"

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”



Meditation: Remember the time that you were at your lowest low, and God came at that perfect moment? He picked you up, cleaned you off, and rocked you in his arms. We, as Christians must be thankful for EVERYTHING God has done for us. We must realize that he didn't have to do what he did, but he granted us salvation, and his everylasting love. Today, be thankful that God kept you and your family. Be thankful that his peace overshadows even our darkest hours. Be thankful that he is God, he that carried out redemption's plan!

For I am truely GRATEFUL!






Happy Thankgiving!





D.Journey

Good Morning!!!!

Today's scripture:


Tuesday (November 23): "Take heed that you are not led astray"
Scripture: Luke 21:5-11

5 And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." 7 And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?" 8 And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Meditation: How would you respond if someone prophesied that your church or place of worship would be destroyed? In 1972 a violent earthquake ripped through the center of Managua and destroyed the great cathedral church. This was only the beginning of the troubles for the tiny nation and Christian community of Nicaragua which suffered great turmoil and loss in the civil war that ensued for more than a decade. Out of the ashes of destruction and the ravages of communism has emerged a humbler and more purified church. Jesus foretold many signs of God's action and judgment. To the great consternation of the Jews, Jesus prophesied the destruction of their temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish people took great pride in their temple, a marvel of the ancient world. The foretelling of this destruction was a dire judgment in itself. They sought Jesus for a sign that would indicate when this would occur. Jesus admonished them to not seek signs but rather to seek God's kingdom. There will be plenty of signs – such as wars, famines, diseases, tidal waves and earthquakes – pointing to God's ultimate judgment.

Jesus' prophecy is a two-edged sword, because it points not only to God's judgment, but also to his saving action and mercy. Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was determined (it was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open door leading to deliverance. Jesus says: "I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved" (John 10:9). Jesus willingly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet betrayal, rejection, and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought about freedom, peace, and victory over sin and death – not only for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but for all – both Jew and Gentile alike – who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ?

An American judge, named Robert H. Bork, wrote a book a few decades ago entitled, Slouching Towards Gomorrah. His message sounded an alarm about the moral crisis and decay of culture which he saw in Western society. We often don't recognize the moral crisis and spiritual conflict of our age, until something "shakes us up" to the reality of our present condition. The reward for doing what is right and just and the penalty for sin and wrong-doing are not always experienced in this life; but they are sure to come in the day of judgment. The Lord Jesus tells us that there will be persecution, suffering, and difficulties in this age until he comes again at the end of the world. God intends our anticipation of his final judgment to be a powerful deterrent to wrongdoing. God extends grace and mercy to all who will heed his call and his warning. Do you take advantage of this season of grace and mercy to seek God's kingdom and to pursue his will?

"Lord Jesus, your grace and mercy abounds even in the midst of turmoil and destruction. Increase my hunger for your kingdom and help me to be faithful to your word. May nothing, not even the fear of death or the loss of all that I have, deter me from seeking you and the coming of your kingdom with hope and joy."

Psalm 119:25-32

25 My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to thy word!
26 When I told of my ways, thou didst answer me; teach me thy statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to thy word!
29 Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me thy law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before me.
31 I cleave to thy testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of thy commandments when thou enlargest my understanding!

( courtesy of www.rc.net)


I pray that this adds a blessing to your day. Oh yeah..... don't forget to checkout this month's top artists to watch on my music page!!!!!

Love and blessings,



D.Journey

Hello All!!!

Great Monday to you!!!!
Today's scripture is coming from Luke 21:14

Monday (November /22): "She out of her poverty put in all the living that she had"
Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

1 He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. 3 And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."

Meditation: Do you know the joy of selfless giving and love for others? True love doesn't calculate; it spends lavishly! Jesus drove this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing people offering their tithes. Jesus praised a poor widow who gave the smallest of coins in contrast with the rich who gave greater sums. How can someone in poverty give more than someone who has ample means? Jesus' answer is very simple: love is more precious than gold or wealth! Jesus taught that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is precious. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but instead she recklessly gave away all she had! Jesus praised someone who gave barely a penny – how insignificant a sum – because it was everything she had, her whole living. What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what is beyond our reckoning. Do you give out of love and gratitude for what God has already given to you?

"Lord Jesus, your love knows no bounds and you give without measure. All that I have comes from you. May I give freely and generously in gratitude for all that you have given to me. Take my life and all that I possess – my gifts, talents, time and resources – and use them as you see fit for your glory."

Psalm 119:17-24

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and observe thy word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a sojourner on earth; hide not thy commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing for thy ordinances at all times.
21 Thou dost rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from thy commandments;
22 take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, thy servant will meditate on thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.

I hope this gives you encouragement for today!!!!

Make it a great day,



D.Journey





Courtesy of www.rc.net

My Aha Moment!

Hi guys!

I couldn't sleep,so here I am. lol. Today was an eventful day. At church my Pastor's sermon was entitled " Is your all on the alter?" She came from Romans 12:1-3. It really got to me, because I am known for holding stuff in. It lead me to think about ways that I can release some negative energy. I came to the conclusion that I have to lay it at my master's feet and leave it there. I know, I know......DUH Ashley. I've always heard this, but today I really understood what it meant. So, tell me..... is your all on the alter?

Great Fabulous Friday to all!!!!

Hey guys!

Ok today I am extremely tired,but I been wondering what is the best conditioner for natural hair? I've tried Herbal Essence( which I LOVE), Mane and Tail,Shea Mositure, and Garner Fruitis. Give me your stories of what you use.

WONDER WOMAN WEDNESDAY!!!!

Hello Ladies!!!

Today is Wonderwoman wednesday!!!


Scripture of the day: Psalm 139: 1-18

Please post the qualities that make you a Wonderwoman.

I believe that I am a wonderwoman because I have accomplished most of my goals by the age of 22. I'm a devoted Mother, sister, friend, nutritionist,and wife. I love God with all of my heart. That's what makes me a Wonderwoman!

I know...... WHERE IN THE HECK HAVE I BEEN!!!!

image from (www.empoweringparents.com)

Hi Ladies!
First I want to apologize for my absence. I took some time out to figure out some things going on in my life. Right now, I am at a place where many of us are at right now. I have soooo many things that I want to do in my life, and I'm trying to organize my goals. Have you ever felt like you knew what your purpose was,but you didn't really know how to start? I'm doing some real self reflecting right now. I'll be 26 ( OMGosh!!!!) in two more months, and I am not near where I want to be by the time I'm 30. But, enough about me ( as I step off of my soap box). This leads me to a Question......... How do you organize your life goals?

Exaggeration Eddie ( Industry Neo-spot light)

music info: Marq~Whit follow me on twitter @marqwhit
Mixtape "Revolutionary Love" available for free here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DA841UDV or here: http://www.datpiff.com/MarqWhit_Revolutionary_Love.m100159.html

New Mixtape "Revolutionary Suicide" coming this summer

Group: "Exaggeration Eddie" "Like" us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exaggeration-Eddie/340682254673


"Exaggeration Eddie" concert on June 25th at the Handlebar in Greenvile, SC


Alright sistas, Tell me what you think.

Carrie Bradshaw and her killer fashion

Good Morning my Sistas!

Ok,so I finally saw SATC2. I LOVED it. It had all of the glamour,sex and drama of the series. The Shoes, oh my gosh, the Shoes!!! I was about to die. Carrie's outfits in this movie was CRAZY! It made me want to get up, throw all of my clothes away, and start all over again. So, this made me have an idea.... sistas, I know I'm not the only one that loves her shoe game. Upload your pics of your favorite "Stunt on them" shoes. The sista with best shoe game gets a PRIZE!!!!!!!

Good FRIDAY sistas!!!!! Office workout tips

I hope every has a fun and safe memorial weekend! On an other note I've had many women come to me and ask me what can they do for exercise when they have an office job. A lot of times we are sitting at our desk( snacking), and wondering why we are gaining weight. well....your sista did some research for you.
Here is an office workout routine from www.getwell.com.

Office workout routine: 14 simple and effective exercises you can do at your desk



Let me know what you think.

Metal Roze "Kiss Me" Official Music Video

Metal Roze

Okay Sistas, This is a group you should check out. Their next show will be on June 3,2010!

Metal Roze- "Kiss Me Baby" will be performing live at "The Fresh Exclusive Evnt" at "Club Forum" in Uptown Charlotte NC, doors open up at 9 also Perfoming Live "Tezzy" his Single "Home Girl" ft. Metal Roze For Booking Info Naran Miller, Contact 704-804-9369

"Sex and the City 2"

Hey Sistas!
Soooo What did you think about SATC 2?
www.hollywoodreporter.com
Sex and the City 2 -- Film Review
By Stephen Farber, May 23, 2010 06:00 ET

"Sex and the City 2"Bottom Line: Overlong sequel scores some choice, politically incorrect laughs.
Because the first "Sex and the City" movie turned out to be a boxoffice bonanza two years ago, there are a lot of women panting for the sequel, already planning their wardrobe for a girls' night out.

So even if "Sex and the City 2" consisted of nothing but a two-and-a-half hour fashion show, it would draw crowds. But it also has the returning cast members in fine comic form, and it has more cutting-edge humor than the first movie. Critics will carp about the platitudes in the script and about the longueurs in the nearly 2 1/2-hour opus, but for the core audience, there will be no complaints about too much of a good thing. This picture is going to be a smash.

Some of us who enjoyed the outrageous antics showcased in the HBO series created by Darren Star and executed in later years by Michael Patrick King (the writer-director of both films) found the first movie disappointingly bland. Instead of the bracing emphasis on sex, the focus shifted to less scintillating folderol about marriage. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) was jilted at the altar by her true love, Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but snared him in the end. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) also faced a crisis in her marriage but ended up in a clinch with hubby Steve (David Eigenberg). The new movie begins two years later at a wedding -- a gay wedding (in Connecticut). But though the two grooms are pledging their devotion, the gals are learning that marital bliss is more elusive than the first movie implied.

Carrie and Big find themselves at odds over an issue that bedevils many couples: She loves to go out on the town, and he turns out to be a closet TV addict who wants to do nothing more than curl up on the couch watching old movies. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) has achieved her dream life with two children, but the tots turn out to be maddening rather than adorable. Only Samantha (the consistently irresistible Kim Cattrall) remains defiantly single, waging her own personal war against menopause.

These wan domestic squabbles are merely prelude to the movie's major plot development. Samantha is approached by an Arab sheik to devise a PR campaign for his business enterprises, and he offers to fly her and her three gal pals on an all-expenses-paid luxury vacation to Abu Dhabi. (These scenes were filmed in Morocco.) Even in an escapist fantasy, the spectacle of women sinking into this billionaire's paradise at a time of widespread economic hardship initially seems creepy and off-putting. Soon, however, their Arab sojourn takes unexpected turns. First of all, Carrie encounters her old flame, Aidan (John Corbett), at the spice market, but even more importantly, she and her friends run up against the puritanical and misogynistic culture of the Middle East. The rather scathing portrayal of Muslim society no doubt will stir controversy, especially in a frothy summer entertainment, but there's something bracing about the film's saucy political incorrectness. Or is it politically correct? "SATC 2" is at once proudly feminist and blatantly anti-Muslim, which means that it might confound liberal viewers.

Indicative of the film's contradictory stance is a scene in which the ladies perform a karaoke version of Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" in an Abu Dhabi nightclub. An equally outrageous moment comes when the interlopers are rescued by a bunch of Muslim women who strip off their black robes to reveal the stylish Western outfits they are concealing beneath their discreet garb. These endearingly loopy scenes exhibit the tasteless humor that enlivened the TV series on its best nights.

King's script isn't always well-balanced. Carrie's minor marital problems are given way too much attention, whereas the intriguing dilemmas of Miranda and Charlotte are downplayed. Nixon and Davis do, however, share one marvelous scene in which they vent their dissatisfactions with motherhood. It also is a pleasure to see Cattrall flaunt her sexual imperatives in front of her Arab hosts. Noth and Corbett are so appealing that we can sympathize with Carrie's romantic confusion. Liza Minnelli, Miley Cyrus and Penelope Cruz show up for amusing cameos.

Technical credits are first-rate. Cinematographer John Thomas and production designer Jeremy Conway make the most of the exotic locations. Costume designer Patricia Field's outlandish creations will send many viewers to hog heaven. But it's hard to know what King and editor Michael Berenbaum were smoking when they let the film drag on at least 40 minutes too long. Even with its excesses, Carrie and company's excellent Arabian adventure will leave viewers thinking and arguing as well as swooning over the digs and the rags."

Do you ladies agree?

Welcome My Sistas!

Thanks for checking out my blog. I have sooo many things I want to cover, and with your help, we together can make a difference. Let me start by Introducing myself. I am D.Journey. I reside in South Carolina. I began this journey of wanting to place my mark on this world while in college. My passion is to shine a light on the issues we face on a daily basis, and to have fun discussing natural hair care, fashion, health, politics and love. Once again thanks for dropping in! Talk to you soon. Peace, love and blessings....


D.Journey