The Butterfly Blog

Drink your water ladies and gents!

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:25:29 -0400

Drink your water ladies and gents!

Sustainable Eating 101 (by FoodHeavenShow)

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:29:00 -0400

Sustainable Eating 101 (by FoodHeavenShow)

heyfranhey: Whole Wheat Kale & Roasted Tomato Thin Crust...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:51:09 -0400

heyfranhey:

Whole Wheat Kale & Roasted Tomato Thin Crust Pizza

Recipe here.

God is REAL

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:14:37 -0400

I think that once people truly realize God is real, your whole perspective changes. I know that people believe in God but do you REALLY? There is something missing with many Christians today. I say that because I talk to many believers who admire my walk with God and ask me about it, and it might sound weird but I think many Christians acknowledge God in their minds but they don’t allow that TRUTH to CHANGE who they are. I always tell them about when I first came into the church and was learning about God, one thing that stuck with me is when I was told God is everywhere and sees everything and even knows our THOUGHTS!! WHOA! I don’t know why but that little knowledge right there changed my life forever, I was scared and excited at the same time! To this day I just bust out talking to God no matter where I am, LOL, and I’m little concerned people will think I am LOCO! But hey, I know Who I’m talking too, so whatever, they need to know Him too LOL!

Seriously, though, I mean GOD IS for real, for real, like no joke, He sees us, hears us, follows everything we are doing, He remembers stuff about our childhood that we have forgotten, He keeps track of everything we have done (unless it has been remitted). He knew what our favorite color and food and favorite style of clothing would be the moment we were conceived. When you are old and staring at the wall in a nursing home, He will still see you for who you were and will become. I HOPE YA’LL ARE GETTING THIS!

Guys, the closest person to you ever was, is, and will be YAHWEH and that pretty much describes my relationship with God, He is the Source of my life and my Friend. I fellowship with the saints at church and have a good time but that is not where I go to be intimate with my Lord God. My greatest spiritual moments have always been in my bedroom. I don’t love God like I should all the time but I do Love Him, oh do I love Him, my Creator, and Redeemer!!! Most of all HE LOVES ME!!!!

oatsandyoga: Health: Drink plenty of...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:53:15 -0400

oatsandyoga:

Health:

Drink plenty of water.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

Play more games.

Read more books than you did last year.

Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

Sleep for 7 hours.

Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

Don’t over do. Keep your limits.

Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.

Dream more while you are awake.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.

Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

Smile and laugh more.

You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

Call your family often.

Each day give something good to others.

Forgive everyone for everything.

Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

Try to make at least three people smile each day.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

Do the right thing!

Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

The best is yet to come.

Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

"We have two nature’s as mankind, one is for evil, and one is for good. Life’s journey..."

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:56:09 -0400

“We have two nature’s as mankind, one is for evil, and one is for good. Life’s journey can be simply stated as this: our will to do right must be, without question, stronger than our will to do wrong.”

- Dezi Quotes

Excel in What You Do

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:26:08 -0400

Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)

How is success measured? I believe that the heart of success is when you know you have reached your full potential and you’ve done everything that you can to excel in your work, whether that be teaching, skating, or singing. For me, its dance. I know that if I want to be the best dancer for the Lord that I possible can be, I have to do the things those in secular dance do and even more. So I run, I lift weights and I do my man push-ups, lol! The music creates the movement so I don’t have to worry about that. BUT I do need to keep in shape and take care of my temple.

Guys and Gals, whatever it is you do, EXCEL in it, let it be apart of who you are and do it everyday. Be encouraged! xoxoxoxoxo Love Always, Dezi!

The Dividends of Humility

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:47:00 -0400

Ladies and Gentlemen (don’t mean to leave out the guys), many of us don’t see the benefit of humility or meekness, until we run across someone who runs over us with their pride and selfishness.

You see, I recently ran across a friend who had just stopped talking to me period, seemingly out of the blue. Mind you, we live in the same city. Then, by happenstance I managed to run into her, she seemed all too happy to see me, but immediately I sensed a fake-ness. Now, I will never know why she decided to stop answering my calls, or her reasons for cutting me off, but this is the same girl, who really had no other friends and had cut off several other people before. I knew this but decided to ignore it.

My point is that I recognized that I was being used. I don’t think she is an evil person but I think that she got what she wanted from me and when she felt the cost of being my friend was no longer worth the effort, she cut me off. Simple, but usually that’s how superficial human relationships work. Selah (meditate on that). I”ll talk more about superficial relationships later…I know that hit chord with some of you.

What does this have to do with humility? Well, a lot. Anytime someone makes me feel angry or mistreated, the Holy Ghost always brings to my remembrance my own imperfections. I have hurt people too. I have been selfish, prideful, and assumed that I was always right. I’m truly realizing now how much that has hurt me in my past and prevented me from having the kinds of the relationships I desire. I don’t want to be that person anymore. The leading cause for superficial relationships in my opinion is, downright, stone-cold, selfishness, period.

Now, through all that I have been through lately (my car, my acne, recognizing superficial relationships in my life, feeling less-than) my Humility Fruit has grown much bigger and I love it! There are things that I am sure of about God and His righteousness, and His love, and I never allow my circumstances or the way I think things should be distort this truth. What I am saying is I know my place, I am beginning to see who I am from a low place instead of a high. The things that are special about me, are special indeed but there is no reason for me to walk around like I am the only one with special gifts on the planet. For example, I know right from wrong in the eyes of God, but humility allows me to share love with others first instead of correction or criticism. In SA recovery they state it like this: let people be where they are at. I like that…

more to come…

eatcleanmakechanges: onions. GOD knew what He was doing when...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:19:59 -0400

eatcleanmakechanges:

onions.

GOD knew what He was doing when He made stuff, daughters!

Paying It Forward

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:45:00 -0400

Paying It Forward:

in many big cities across the country small businesses are participating in a “suspended meals” charity that allows customers to pay in advance for a meal (or cup of coffee) that someone who cannot afford might ask for. Sweet or what?! Jesus said, It is better to give than to receive.

Love this combo! For more maxi skirt ideas check out some of her...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:57:59 -0400

Love this combo! For more maxi skirt ideas check out some of her other posts on http://instagram.com/stylepantry

http://www.acfitnessforwomen.com

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:41:06 -0400

http://www.acfitnessforwomen.com:

HUGE Thanks to AC Fitness for Women in Columbus, GA for allowing Virtuous Daughters to place a donation bucket at their gym, this will help us reach even more young ladies in the community!

strawberries, blueberries, banana, lots of spinach, ground flax...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:14:03 -0400

strawberries, blueberries, banana, lots of spinach, ground flax and chia seeds= YUM!

Further in the Journey

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:53:00 -0400

So here I am taking a moment to write down some of my thoughts about the last month or so. Truly God has blessed me in amazing ways…I finally got my car fixed and it cost much less than estimated (where they do that at!??) and God is taking me on this natural journey.

For those who may not know, I recently cut off the remaining relaxed ends to become fully natural. I am enjoying my naturally curly/coily hair. I actually LOVE IT!! But I am also learning something about “clean eating” which basically means getting back to more “naturally” whole foods. Foods that are not altered at all by the hands of man. This is important for me because I have been battling adult acne for almost 8 years now and its not fun. I am tired of it and the visits to the dermo, and not really getting long lasting results. So currently I am blending up some green smoothies and will soon venture into juicing! This is spiritual as well as physical. Often in the bible we are told to put away the things of this world. And you know what? I know it will be hard at times but I don’t need to eat a burger every weekend to be happy and I don’t need to have sweets or pizza either. I will live without those things. They tempt the flesh but are not good for the body…think about that. Sin is really the same way. Don’t wait to you get cancer or have bumpface like me to change your lifestyle! BE STRONGER THAN YOUR FLESHLY MIND!

"‘Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I..."

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:43:35 -0400

“‘Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence’”

- Psalm 42:5

Some Words of Wisdom

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:16:00 -0500

Something that my mother always told us and that means more to me today than it ever did is:

“Where there is a will, there is a way.”

It means that if we are determined to acheive something there is nothing that can stop us. No interference, no delays, no obstacles, no “haters”, no devil in hell…perioid.

It does not mean that we have all power and we don’t need God. It is not meant to glorify the human power of “will.” Our “will” is only as strong as our spirit and our spirits are weak/incomplete, without God. Satan often times provides a substitiute or mimic of God’s spirit (you see this in drug users, heavy metal addicts, and the obsession with “Eros” love.) but in the words of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell “ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby.”

So whatever obstacle you face, arm yourself with the will He has blessed you with. You get this by being filled with His Spirit (Acts 2) and continuing to feed yourself with His Word.

Never give up!!

Ok so "New Year, New You" right? Tip #1

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:27:00 -0500

Its a new year and I know many people want to lose that weight and they ask me about my own “dieting” habits. Today, I got several compliments on my skirt and I realized I’ve had this particular skirt for about 10 years. Its more than me just being “naturally thin” (or the fact I treat my clothes as good as a department store) if I ate the way most people do, as I approach the big 30 I would spread like everyone else.
Here are some of my tips:

TIP # 1 DRINK WATER INSTEAD OF POP (UHHH SODA)!! REMEMBER GOD MADE WATER NOT PEPSI!!!

Think about it like this: Jesus turned WATER into wine, He doesn’t turn wine into water, LOL!!! Once that black sugar juice enters your body, its gonna stay black sugar juice, friend.

Now to be fair, I had to learn to drink water due to being prone to dehydration which led to other medical problems. But trust me the more you drink the more you like it. It feels so…natural!

Help Virtuous Daughers While Shopping!

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:31:00 -0500

Help Virtuous Daughers While Shopping!

"New Years Prayer 2013: Father, yet another year is upon us. Father I want to pray for all those who..."

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 11:56:00 -0500

“

New Years Prayer 2013: Father, yet another year is upon us. Father I want to pray for all those who you have called and chosen to be Your own. Through the trails we face still help us carry a new perspective of it into the new year. I declare this is a year of obedience to Your will and not our own will. Not just in denial of sinful pleasures but also our will in Your Church like lethargy, self-righteousness and legalism: a.k.a. “churchiness”. Yes, its Your Church and not ours. Therefore God, I pray you reign in the atmosphere of our every breath, teach us to represent You and not ourselves. Teach us how to live as you have designed, each one of us with unique purpose. Help our faith God, I declare victory to manifest in the physical this year as You will it! And Your strength to help us endure until the end!

Purpose, a powerful concept that can change many lives, Father, help us to find your lost sheep, who have been brainwashed, lied to, and deceived. Help us have compassion, understanding, patience and wisdom to save more than a few. And Lord I pray for the sinner’s heart to be open, to be broken. Open the eyes of the blind, raise the dead once again Jesus! Help them to see that the world they depend on and idolize so much will only betray them in the end. Like the flames that devoured so many Idol worshipers in the past, not by coercion but by choice they passed themselves and their children in sacrifice to false idols. Open their eyes Lords and help them escape death.

As we walk in obedience and love, change our homes, our churches, our cities, and yes, our nation, and the world. In the Powerful Name of Yeshua, at which all demons tremble! Amen!!

”

- Prayer for 2013

Desiree

Dealing with Disappointment

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:23:00 -0500

I know it has been far too long since my last blog. I recently failed an examination that cost me upward of $260. This is what brings my pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) :-).

We all want hope and change. And I was hoping that getting my license would bring the change I needed to alleviate some of the distress financially and professionaly. I am currently in a position that does not satisfy nor do a whole a lot of good. Now to most lay people, what I do is great! And “much needed” but what people don’t know is that most government programs skim the surface and “half-ass” do things. Just enough to get by and get paid. But in our society that sort of mediocrity is praised. Good enough is just enough “good” to look good.

Well, as an avid student of His Word. I know that my God doesn’t half-ass do anything. His work in wholesome, complete, and very effective. I wish that I could spend 40 hours a week learning how His way works instead of man’s way.

So anyways, with so much riding on this hope of passing I failed the examination (by 1 point no less) and at first I wanted to be strong and positive. But soon I found myself sulking, and wishing I could turn back time. Why just by one point? Why despite the prayers of family and friends, did I still fail, by just one point? Why later? Why not now? I don’t understand. I feel like I needed God’s help and He didn’t help me. I always think, well this is a test, but to test what? Why do I keep being tested and denied the change I need in my life?

Melancholy right? Ha! Well, after I calmed myself down and reprimanded my thoughts. I opened my heart to receive an answer or at the least some comfort. That’s when God steps right in, no delays. The daily devotional I received this morning was about “Self-Denial.” It spoke about how God works through paradox (such as joy through pain). The writer said we ”must deny ourselves to be filled and lower ourselves to be lifted.” It spoke to me and made me cry much needed tears. What is self-denial? Its easy to be focused on what you want and get angry/upset when you don’t get it but there is a lesson to be learned in the the denial of self. One such lesson is humility and then there is also pateince.

If God keeps testing your pateince its because you haven’t gotten to a level that is pleasing. I examined my attitude this morning and I went through a specturm of emotions including sorrow and anger. This made me consider this: here is a wonderful opportunity to learn how I respond to grave disappointment and uncover some deep-seated beliefs that I didn’t even know I had. It forced me to face this side of me. I’m now a better person than I was yesterday. So what I hope you do, is next time someone let’s you down, or you don’t get your way, or your hopes are crushed you walk out of self for a minute. Become a third party observer. Anaylize yourself. What are your automatic reactions and thoughts? How rational or negative are those thoughts? What assumptions about God or yourself do you make right away? Do you get angry? Do you feel worthless? If you are humble at first, how do you feel later? Usually if your true thoughts surface one way or another.

Disappointment sucks. Failure hurts! But your reactions to this can define whether your ready for the next stage in your life or will you get stuck? What sort of things get us stuck?

Feelings of entitlement (sorry, being chosen of God makes you called but not “special”),
selfishness, not willing to go the extra-mile,
unwillingness to persevere,
doubting yourself (doubt may have caused me to fail the exam, as a second-guessed some answers during review),
And reacting in anger instead of humble acceptance

I don’t want to be those things anymore and I hope you also pray this prayer with me:

Lord, you are absoultely soveriegn and a loving God. Too often the rough edges of life challenge our deepest held beliefs but without these challenges faith would not be necessary. Lord I pray that You teach me to deal with this disappointment as a child of God should. As your called and anointed I want to learn to humbly find my way in spite of challenges, not gawk at challenge or shy way from defeat or rejection. I’m not looking for the easy road but I am asking that You keep me close during this journey and place me under the “shadow of your wings” because it is Your divine purpose that makes me whole.

I pray these words bring you comfort:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV