Sunday Morning: After The Worship Hour by Neicy Wiggins

Bibbs/St.James
by Neicy Wiggins, VA

Okay, breath slow
Relax my face
Don't smile too big
Breath slow
(You hypocitie! You fraud!)

It's okay...Calm down...I can do this
Don't talk too fast
Breath slow
(Liar! Cheat! Idolator! Just shut up!)

Go on now...This is my chance
Don't let your voice get too loud
Breath slow
(They don't want to talk to you! You're boring)

Step on up...Ease into the conversation
Don't laugh inappropriately
Breath slow
(You don't have anything to say to them. Get out now!)

This is not a hard thing...Just say hello
Don't talk about yourself too much
Breath slow
(You'll offend someone. You'll say something stupid.)
I know them...they've always been friendly
Don't ask a lot of questions
Breath slow
(Last warning. You won't have enough say. Go home!)

"Good Morning, Sisters. Pastor sure preached today didn't he?"
That wasn't too bad...they even smiled...gave me a hug
Don't be too long winded
Breath slow
(Now you did it. You have to figure out what to say next week.)

That was nice...good conversation...needed that fellowship
Don't end this awkwardly
Breath slow
(Don't trip when you walk away.)

"See you next week, Sisters!"
Okay, breath slow.

© 2005, Neicy Wiggins, Virginia

When I Am Free by Neicy Wiggins

by Neicy Wiggins, Virginia
(art by Frank Morrison)

When I am Free...

I'll tell my Mama's story and not feel the need to make excuses

I won't need to be Daddy's little girl, because I'll realize my role as Princess to the King of Kings

I'll love my husband even more deeply and not hold onto him so tightly

I'll give my children the space to grow and become what God has for them

I'll stop forcing those who love me to prove it over and over and over

I'll befriend those who now scare me with their different looks and loud talk and fast ways

I'll visit parts of town that have remained off my beaten path

I'll give to others without the fear that I won't have enough left for me

I'll make a home for women and children who need the support of a family

I'll love others as God loves me with my flaws and cracks and a host of other imperfections

I'll say what I really believe and not care what others think

I'll laugh real loud and not worry about who hears me

I'll sing my favorite songs out loud outside of the shower

I'll dress boldly daring to wear red and yellow and purple and orange all at the same time

I'll say whatever's in my heart and know that it flows from a new place that is filled with the precious fragrance of the Holy Spirit

I'll move out of my fantasy life and live my dreams in the daylight

I'll do all of this and things that now I can't even imagine in this confined state that I now exist in

I'll live out my Mama's legacy which was always too big for just her.

© 2005 Neicy Wiggins

Do U Know Who U Are? by Carin Supriana

by Carin Supriana, Nashville, TN

Do u know who u are?
Do u know who you belong to?
Do u know where u came from?
Do u know who created u?

Yes, we say…So, why don’t we
look like Him? Talk like Him or act
like Him?

It’s time to let the healing begin,
so that His light can shine thru us.

It’s time to allow deliverance to
take place in the inner spaces,
so that a smile can be on our faces.

It’s time to walk in obedience,
so that we can be blessed,
to be a blessing to others.

It’s time to let God fill us with His love,
so that we can love others.

So, I ask u again…
Do u know who u are?
Do u know who u belong to?
Do u know where u came from?
Do u know who created u?

© 2005, Carin Supriana, Nashville, TN

Runtoward's Xanga Site

Runtoward's Xanga Site

Testimony: Cracked No More by L.J.

by L.J., Pine Bluff, AR

I wanted to share my testimony with you and your readers. First of all, I would like to start by saying that with God all things are possible: but without God I'm nothing.

My story starts back in 1986. I was just as lost as the day was long. I started using Crack Cocaine with my husband and some friends at the time I had 3 small children who were all under the age of 10 yrs. old. Once I tried crack, I just couldn't stop because it gave me a high like no other. Anyway I kept using and using until one night I almost had sex with the crack dealer. That was the eye opener for me. That night I went home and started to think that must be something better in this world for me and my family. That was on May 30,1989.

That night, I prayed and cried out to my Lord and Savior to remove that want and need from my life. The next day I packed my three small children with only the clothes on our backs and a basket of dirty laundry and left my husband. I could not face him knowing that his friend the crack dealer was trying to get me to have sex with him. I also just did not have the desire to be with my husband at that time because I blamed him at the time for my crack habit. But only the Lord could make me face the fact that I allowed myself to get into the worldly things that I was into at the time. After packing and leaving with my three children, I moved into my mother and step-father's home and that's when my healing really began.

The Lord allowed me to look back over my life and realize that I had allowed the Devil into my life full force. My children and I had to start all over from scratch but the Lord was with us every step of the way. I didn't go to rehab but I did begin to let the Lord direct my path in every way possible. I began to witness to a group of children at first then the Lord sent me into the church that I had joined to start sharing my testimony with everyone and anyone that would listen.

As I traveled on my journey the Lord open doors that I thought were closed off to myself. I began to pray and meditate 24/seven because I could not make it without Him by my side at all times. The lord blessed me to be able get into a housing apartment with 3 bedrooms for my children and myself. He allowed me to have respect for myself and for Him at all times.

I have edited a lot things out of this letter so that I can just let others know that not only do the poor, disadvantaged, and under-educated people get caught up in drugs, alcholism, or prostitution but that middle and upper class people get tossed through the storms of life also.

I can trully and faithfully say that God has been my rock in the weary places, food when I was hungry, my water when I was thursty, my bridge over troubled water and shelter in the time of storms. That has been almost 15 yrs. ago but I still think back to where the Lord has brought me from and all I can say sometimes is "Thank You Jesus!"

Today, two of my children have graduated from High School and made something of themselves. My youngest daughter also gradute from High School with a full-paid scholarship to the college of her choice which is Tennessee State University. So all who don't think that they can turn their life around after going throught the Storms of life, I can trully say that with God all things are possible.

As for myself I continue to share my testimony to the young and the old because Crack don't care who it takes out, but God does. I am and have been working for the State of Arkansas now for almost 14 yrs. now and I owe everything to my Alpha and Omega--the One and Only Jesus Christ.

I know that this was and is long but the Lord would not let me stop once I got started and I will always do as he allows me to when it comes down to His Will and His ways because of His mercy and grace I have made it this far.

© 2005, L.J., Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Josephine's Testimony by JOSEPHINE BROWN

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR US .... WHEN YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE PRAYING I HAD NO IDEA THAT HURRICANE RITA WAS COMING AND WE WOULD GET WINDS AND RAINS OFF OF IT, BUT WE DID AND CHECK THIS OUT KATRINA WAS IN LOUISIANA AND WE DIDN'T GET A WIND, BUT RITA WAS DESTINED FOR TEXAS AND WE GOT WINDS AND RAIN.... THERE WERE TREES DOWN ALL AROUND US, POWER LINES DOWN AND THE CABLE WAS OUT, BUT, BECAUSE OF GOD'S GRACE, OUR POWER WAS RESTORED IN 16 HOURS INSTEAD OF 2-3 DAYS, WHEN PEOPLE RIGHT ON THE NEXT STREET DIDN'T GET POWER UNTIL YESTERDAY...SO YOU KNOW STANICE I THANK GOD FOR PUTTING IT IN YOUR HEART TO PRAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING OBEDIENT.....AMEN.

JOSEPHINE BROWN, NATCHITOCHES, LA

Note from Stanice: When the Lord puts someone on your heart or drops a thought about a person into your mind...act on it and pray. The Holy Spirit will quicken you on what to pray, as well as show you the "what next?" if anything. Listen and obey. Psalm 42:7 "Deep calls to deep..."

Crossroads by Stephanie D Smith

by Stephanie D Smith

Dear Lord what am I to do. I want to
Do Your will but the worries of
This world will not allow me to.

I am in constant turmoil between what
Is right and what is wrong. I hear You
Calling me to Your Side.

I toss and turn at the decisions I have
To make. I cry out for You to hear my call. I beg You to hold me as I struggle with everyday life.

One way or the other I will answer the
Call that You have placed on my life. For
You died so that I should have life more abundantly.

I have come to a crossroad in my life but
Because you are by my side I know that all will
Turn out for the better. For I hearken to Your voice
And I will obey Your will.

© 2005, Stephanie D Smith, North Little Rock, Ar