Words have the power to encourage.

As far back as I can recall, worrying has been what I did. Somehow I began to feel as if I worried enough about my health that I had it under control when in reality I had not experienced enough of life yet to know how little control I had. Until Valentine’s Day of my junior year in college when my life as I knew it was about to be thrown the fastest curveball I had ever seen.

Sometimes we don’t get the reaction we hope for from the people we most want to be proud of us. Most of the time it’s not intentional. They are just wrapped up in their own world, thoughts and perspectives and don’t realize you are longing for their approval or attention. Don’t let them steal your joy.

As a Christian and as a black woman, I spent a lot of years juggling “student Jamila”, “work Jamila”, “church Jamila”, “family Jamila”, “friend Jamila”, and “wife Jamila”. I know this makes it sound like I have multiple personality disorder. Praise the Lord, I do not. These are just some of the masks I’ve worn to fit into the different parts and places of my life.

#loved or #blessed are popular hashtags on social media. Although as daughters of the King and sisters in Christ, we might have good intention behind using them, have you noticed that they are used by those who don’t believe in Him too?

Some of us, #preachingtomyselftoo, take ourselves and the things that happen to us way too seriously. Yes, there are serious things that happen. Very serious things. Yes, as individuals we have value and worth and shouldn’t let anyone disrespect us or not take us seriously. But I meet so many women that seem to have forgotten that life is meant to be fun too.

As I type this, it’s the night before an appointment with a doctor. Not my annual physical or some other appointment that I had expected to have this year, but instead it’s an appointment with a specialist for a possible diagnosis I never considered I’d have to face….

You’ve enjoyed so many quality times together, and now your best friend texts to cancel lunch because she is sick. Really sick. What do you do with the unexpected free time? Turn your disappointment over the missed meeting into a thoughtful act of service for her.

In our humanity we often get caught up with the extraordinary events of our lives, and we easily overlook the ordinary moments in our lives." I heard this statement recently and it struck me how I can miss out on what the Lord is doing in my life everyday when I only focus on the extraordinary events.

For years, I lived my life on the edge of dehydration. I went days at a time without drinking a sip of water. Then there came a day when I couldn't stand up straight. Literally…