Prepare to Step Into Your Moment: It's Time To Do What's Best for You

George T was my dream date for my junior high school prom.  My crush on him was huge and serious.  But my parents didn't believe that 14-year-olds should have dates.  And oh yeah....George wasn’t interested in me in that way.  He only wanted to be friends.

So, my date was my closest cousin, Jennifer.  We were inseparable as kids, and for reasons I can’t remember, she wasn’t going to her school’s prom.  In all honesty, it was my Mama’s idea for Jennifer to go with me.  She was determined that if Jen couldn't go to her prom, she should come to mine.  Initially, I resisted the suggestion.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want my cousin’s companionship.  I justdidn’t want to spend the evening making sure she was comfortable with my friends.  I just wanted to enjoy the much awaited event.

My worries were in vain, because she fit right in.  We had fun and the evening ran smoothly until it was time to take prom pictures.  Truthfully, I wanted to take my picture alone.  After all, it was my junior high school prom.  But I heard my mother’s voice telling me that my desire was selfish.  So, I took my prom picture with my cousin.  Well, imagine my surprise when moments later, Jennifer pulled money from her purse to take her solo prom picture.  I immediately regretted my decision, but it was too late.  The rest of the night I felt cheated.  She had her solo prom picture at my prom!

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The Blessings of the Diligent: Hang in There when Things get Hard

By Joycelyn Albright, EEW Magazine Contributor

I had been given an opportunity to mentor at-risk teens two summers ago through a community pilot program. The directors of this professional experiment were researching the impact of mentorship and counseling on low-income urban youth. When I was first approached with the idea of becoming a part of it by a fellow colleague—she and I had been running a Life Enrichment Coaching program together for several years—I immediately jumped at the opportunity.

I felt so excited, like I would be doing something else productive and meaningful with my time. The commitment was only two days a week for a couple hours. I was even given the option of which days and times I would volunteer. With a flexible schedule and a great cause, I was optimistic about the possibilities.

Then I met the kids.

They were a tough bunch, not at all what I had imagined in my mind. Of course I knew these youth participants would need lots of love, guidance, patience, and understanding. But I had no idea the program participants, for the most part, had no desire to be involved.  Their parents and guardians had signed them up in cooperation with the local school system to enroll some of them.

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Don't Settle for Life's Minimum: Believe God & Aim for the Max!

We've all heard the phrase, "maxing out" when it comes to overspending on our credit cards.  When that happens, we know we're in trouble and real changes need to be made.  But an equally dangerous behavior in life is what I call "Minimuming Out."  It is when we settle for doing the least we can—feeling content and sometimes even arrogant because we've just edged out of mediocrity.

I see it in some single men. Please note, I said some...not all.  Men who should be making Christ's examples their standard, feel as is they are God's gift because they maintain good jobs and healthy credit scores.  One such brother once confidently boasted, " You can’t not like me.  I’m a good catch."  To what attributes did he lay this claim? His house, his car and his job.  I laughed and responded, “I am sure you’re special, but you’re not a rarity.  I know plenty of men doing the same and more.” Needless to say, the conversation ended quickly.  The Word should have been his measuring stick, not some checklist from a men’s magazine.

As Christians, we are called to model the Word.  Our submission and obedience to the teachings of Christ are meant to produce an abundant life.  A life so well lived that others desire to know the secrets of our success. Fruitfulness and abundance is the command over our lives.  The abundant life should be reflected materially, but it is most important that it comes across in our spiritual development.

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