tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82184718235001083002024-03-14T01:58:33.695-07:00Shaniqua SnowdenShaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-12746760507130516082016-01-26T09:02:00.000-08:002016-08-31T16:57:07.081-07:00Why Waiting Until Marriage Should be the Norm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently I came across an article about a Christian artist who I listen to quite frequently on the <a href="http://florida.thejoyfm.com/" target="_blank">JoyFM radio station</a>. Colton Dixon, an alum from American Idol, gave his testimony about how he and his wife remained abstinent up until their wedding day and how they are both very glad that they did. He gives his testimony to People magazine <a href="http://www.people.com/article/colton-dixon-saved-sex-for-marriage-more-meaningful" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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It didn't take too long after him sharing his story for the negative comments to come flowing in on various message boards. We live in a highly sexual driven society, who also doesn't care one bit about God's standards or morals. It got me to thinking how sad it is that in today's society people actually think it's crazy or bizarre for a person to decide to stay a virgin until they get married. Not only is it backed up by God's Word, but there are so many benefits in general of keeping yourself pure until the special day you get to say "I do" to your other half. I believe it's the best gift you can give to your spouse, by letting them know you waited just for them, for them to have one of the most intimate parts of you and for them only.<br />
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I actually believe it should be the norm to wait and not the other way around. It should be the norm to wait because sex can create soul ties. It's not good to be giving yourself away to so many different people, and then your wonder why your so emotional and unhappy, it's because you are taking on the other persons baggage when you become physically one with them, just read the Word.<br />
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<b>1 Corinthians 6:15</b> Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.<br />
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And it's never too late to make the decision to wait until marriage, even if you aren't a virgin anymore. If we come to God and repent of our old ways, He makes us new again. If you read some of <a href="http://www.shaniquasnowden.com/2013/01/our-not-so-ordinary-courting-story.html" target="_blank">me and my husband's story here</a> I discuss how God can take any person and make them into a new creation, and how he even took me and transformed me (thank you Daddy! (: ).<br />
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I think it should be normal to wait because also, people, especially young women need to realize that they aren't just a piece of meat and sex doesn't equal love. I get so sad seeing the young girls, as young as middle school age being so wrapped around a boy not knowing he's only interested in having sex with her. I've seen plenty of relationships in my short lifetime so far end miserably, with the girl depressed because she thought he was the one. It's so important to not let our emotions be run by our hormones, that's why when sex is out of the equation we can think with a clear mind, and judge if the person we are with is truly with us because of love or lust.<br />
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ANY sin separates us from God, so if the person you're with is assisting you from separating with God by continuing to have premarital sex with you then they are more concerned with the state of your body and not the state of your soul. I learned from my husband that true love comes from waiting and making sure that I'm right with God, by being the leader of our home, through prayer and through deed.<br />
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Don't be ashamed if you're waiting, God truly honors you for doing so. And for those who have made the decision to wait, congratulations! It will be so worth it. Cheers to bringing purity back!<br />
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<i style="color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Love and happiness, </i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-34557480264115991452015-12-15T10:02:00.000-08:002016-08-31T18:10:16.573-07:00Feeling Distant from God?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever had those moments where it felt like God wasn't there? Or that your relationship with Him was becoming distant and you could no longer feel Him in your life like you once did and things were not how they used to be when you first gave your heart to God? If you're feeling this way it's because God wants to have sincere fellowship with you. That's Him tugging on your heart telling you that's how He's feeling about your relationship with Him. He loves us so much and desires to spend time with us.<br />
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Here are possible reasons that you are feeling distant from God and ways you can begin feeling His presence again in your life.<br />
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1. <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>You have the wrong focus.</b></span><br />
One of the reasons you could be feeling at a stand still with God is because you've become more focused on pursuing riches and success and less time focusing on God's will in your life. I went through a stage where I was more focused on how could I become successful, that I missed the whole point and became distracted and I forgot my main purpose in life is to give God glory and seek His will over my life, not my own. And success can come in many forms, it's not through money or having a great career, success is pleasing the Father and doing His will He has for our lives. If we become too busy chasing our rewards here on earth, then we began to make the things of this world higher than the things of God, and we become slaves to earthly success, showing where our heart is. The Bible tells us to store our treasures up in heaven because those are the rewards that will last for an eternity.<br />
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<b>Matthew 6:19</b>"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<br />
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So if we are finding ourselves concerned with success (or finding a spouse, bills or any other thing), we need to go back to God and ask Him to place His desires in our hearts, because nothing on this earth will satisfy us if we are not in His will. We must serve God first of all, we cannot serve both God and money-Matthew 6:24.<br />
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Not to say we can't have success here on earth, but we should walk in the will of God and pursue Him first. If we are too focused on gaining riches that is a sure way for the enemy to use those desires and draw us away from God. Instead we should focus on God and seek Him for what He wants us to do in our lives.<br />
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Also being focused on all that's wrong in the world can be another distraction, and seeing that there is so much wrong in this world could also be another thing weakening our faith. Instead of focusing on the wrong we must focus on God's goodness and ways that we can help better the world, even if it's just through small things and showing others kindness, it makes a difference. The world is fallen and getting crazier by the day because sin corrupted it, we must keep our mind on heavenly things, which will in turn strengthen our faith and give us hope.<br />
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2. <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>You have habitual sin in your life.</b></span><br />
<b>John 9:31</b> We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.<br />
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<b>Proverbs 15:29</b> The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.<br />
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According to the verses above we should be living lives that are not corrupted by sin, that means we shouldn't be willfully practicing sin. If we are in outright rebellion against God through sin, then we make no room for His light to effectively shine in us. Light and darkness can not dwell together in the same place. In order for our prayers to have any merit or power we must turn away from sin or anything that displeases God, this goes for what we do, what we say and even what we watch on TV or on the internet. If it's going against God's will, we more than likely shouldn't be watching it.<br />
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A life of sin creates a blockage between us and God, removing sin from our lives creates the pathway for us to have a pure and closer relationship to God.<br />
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The good news about God is that He is faithful to forgive us of our sins, as long as we repent, turn to Him and leave our sinful ways behind.<br />
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<b>James 5:15</b> If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. <b>The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective</b>.<br />
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3. <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>You're not turning to Him.</b></span><br />
When test and trials come we should run to God for our strength instead of running to others first. It's perfectly fine to ask others to pray for you and for words of wisdom, but we should ultimately be getting our source from God.<br />
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In order for Him to really be our comforter and strength, we'll have to go through life's challenges for Him to show himself as such, but we have to remember to go to HIM for Him to be able to act in that role.<br />
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If God feels far away it could be because you're not going to Him, but instead going to others or even sin for that comfort. We can't let people or things replace the role that God is supposed to be in our lives. If we draw near to God, He'll draw near to us. We must set aside time to spend with Him and delight being in His presence and getting into His Word. God is worthy to be praised. Let's make Him our first love.<br />
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I pray that as the body of Christ we can be pleasing to God, without spot or wrinkle on His return. As the world grows darker may His light grow brighter within us. I pray that God lead us into His ways and that we won't be corrupted by the world, but let our hope, joy and strength be in the Lord and in Jesus Christ. Amen.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i>Love and happiness, </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-65143345620666015552015-12-02T06:28:00.001-08:002016-09-01T07:11:10.098-07:00Never Give Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know that thing you've been praying for, or that situation you may have been asking God to intervene in and it doesn't seem like nothing is happening or getting any better. Do you ever feel like quitting? Well join the team! There's always going to be a situation where we will get tested in life, and we may not feel like we can get through it, but don't give up! There is a blessing around the corner, and there is hope when we turn to Jesus, even when we may not feel like it. He is always there to pick us back up and remind us of who we are in Him and that we are capable to see it through.<br />
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Somethings in life we go through to learn valuable lessons and also it's an opportunity for us to praise God through the bad, if we only love God through the good, then what does that say about our relationship with Him? We have to be patient in the waiting, and show God we love Him through the good and through the bad. Don't give up and keep pressing, and remember to pray and resist the enemy, this too shall pass.<br />
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Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!<br />
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<i style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Love and happiness, </i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-58435515383006774222015-11-08T15:39:00.000-08:002016-08-31T16:26:22.476-07:00In Over my Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes we all have that one song that's able to capture how we're feeling perfectly in some moments in our life through the lyrics and melody. I've been finding myself on repeat with this song by Jenn Johnson. I really enjoy the soft melody and the lyrics are very meaningful. I like how it's about getting immersed in God and letting our thoughts be focused on Him.<br />
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Instead of being in over our heads with worries <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>let's be in over our heads with the goodness of God because He's faithful, through the good or the bad</b></span>.<br />
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Here are the lyrics:<br />
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Bethel Music/ Jenn Johnson Lyrics</div>
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"In Over My Head"</div>
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I have come to this place in my life</div>
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I’m full but I’ve not satisfied</div>
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This longing to have more of You</div>
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I can feel it my heart is convinced</div>
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I’m thirsty my soul can’t be quenched</div>
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You already know this but still</div>
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Come and do whatever You want to</div>
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I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where never been</div>
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I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind</div>
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Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in</div>
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Let love come teach me who You are again</div>
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Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You</div>
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And all I wanted was just to be with You</div>
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Come and do whatever You want to</div>
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Further and further my heart moves away from the shore</div>
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Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours</div>
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Further and further my heart moves away from the shore</div>
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Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours</div>
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Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free</div>
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I’m going under, I’m in over my head</div>
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And You crash over me, I’m where You want me to be</div>
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I’m going under, I’m in over my head</div>
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Whether I sink, whether I swim</div>
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It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head</div>
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Whether I sink, whether I swim</div>
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It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head</div>
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I’m Beautifully in over my head</div>
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I’m Beautifully in over my head</div>
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I pray everyone has a great week!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i>Love and happiness, </i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">♥<i>Shaniqua</i></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-23214296856287005362015-11-01T14:17:00.000-08:002016-08-31T16:25:10.838-07:00Counting Your Blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week while spending time with God I discovered that I have so much to be thankful for. I think it can be so easy for humans sometimes to look at what we don't have instead of focusing on what we do have. It's good to remind ourselves of where God has taken us from and what He continues to bless us with each day.<br />
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It can truly change out perspectives when we keep our eyes on God and how great He is to us. The enemy wants to distract us and make it seem as if God's dead, and He's not working in our lives, but each day God is working by providing breath in our bodies, giving us another day to live out our purpose in Him.<br />
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Last night I finally got the opportunity to watch the movie God's NOT Dead and it was truly a blessing. It's great how God sends us confirmations from what we've been praying about. After the movie was over me, my husband and sister-in-law discussed it and we ended up opening up to each other about what we were going through, being able to encourage one another that we are truly blessed and God's in control of it all. It's good to be able to have those people in your life that helps you see things from different perspectives.<br />
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What may seem like hardships today, will turn out to be blessings in the future for what God is preparing you for.<br />
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My prayer for my readers this week is that God will be at the center of your heart and that you glorify Him in all your ways. May we all put on the full armor of God so we can be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy. In Jesus name.<br />
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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,</div>
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whose confidence is in him.</div>
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They will be like a tree planted by the water</div>
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that sends out its roots by the stream.</div>
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It does not fear when heat comes;</div>
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its leaves are always green.</div>
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It has no worries in a year of drought</div>
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and never fails to bear fruit.”</div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><b>Jeremiah 17:7-8</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i>Love and happiness, </i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">♥<i>Shaniqua</i></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-48496248675634502162015-10-25T10:51:00.000-07:002016-08-31T16:25:48.321-07:00Watch your mouth!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many of us have probably at some point of time or another in our lives have mastered the art of complaining. In this own area of my life I'm still asking God daily to let my words be turned into praises versus complaining. It can be easy to see the bad and overlook the vital lessons we can learn at different stages of our lives. While spending time with God the other day I was reminded that our words hold power and can really set the mood for our entire day.<br />
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Our words can also be used as warfare against the enemy when we go into prayer and decree the promises of God over our lives. If we speak by faith and believe all that God has promised us concerning giving us an abundant life we should start seeing the positive changes in our everyday lives.<br />
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There are a few important topics we have to keep in mind when it comes to watching the words that come out of our mouth as believers.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Stop complaining and start praising.</i></span></b><br />
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Remember when God delivered His people from out of the captivity of Egypt, yet they still complained day and night that God wasn't providing for them enough? Well, that caused them to miss out on the promise land that God had set aside for them. After He continually gave them chance after chance to stop complaining and just trust him He punished them and told them that their children would be the one's to inherit the promise land instead and not them.<br />
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As I think over how they complained I'm reminded that I must not complain about my own circumstances and praise God instead as I go through it, because at the end of it there's a promise God has for us if we continue to be patient and remain faithful to obeying God through it all.<br />
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See what 1 Jude 14-16 has to say about complainers or those who grumble.<br />
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”[e] 16 These people are <b><span style="color: #a64d79;">grumblers</span></b> and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.<br />
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So you see God is pretty serious about the Words we speak. Let's turn our complaints into praise and see how God shows up.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Speak life not death.</span></i></b><br />
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Some people use their words to uplift people and some use their words to tear people down. As Christians we should be the one's speaking life into others and letting them know that the ways of the Lord are true and good for our life and for our eternal soul. When we tell others the good news of Jesus and warn them of their wicked ways this is actually speaking life to them. When we let them follow a road leading to destruction and approve of their unGodly ways this is speaking death to them.<br />
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Proverbs 27: 5 Better is <b><span style="color: #a64d79;">open rebuke</span></b> than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.<br />
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According to the Word of God we are actually supposed to let people know if they are doing something that is wrong, yeah they may not like it, but at the end of the day we are helping to save their souls from death.<br />
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James 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>Life and Death are in the power of the tongue</i></span></b><br />
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It's important to remember to speak encouraging words to others. We can tear people down with the words we say, where they can feel like there's no hope. When we are correcting others it's important to do it with love and kindness, though even still some people may take it the wrong way, but at least you know you did your part by speaking the words you say in love.<br />
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It's also important to speak life to ourselves. There have been times where I felt like I was incapable of doing something, and in turn I was down in the dumps for a long time because I told myself I couldn't do something. God said that he has given us the power to overcome ALL things, we must believe in the power of God's Grace and that we have the ability to do anything through Christ who strengthens us. When we speak the Word by faith we start living the life God wants us to live through His victory.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>Blessings and </i></span></b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><i>cursing</i></b></span><br />
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OK, so this one is a biggie in the "Christian" communities. When we tell people we are Christians yet every curse word from a to z proceeds from our mouth's then we are not representing the true Christ.<br />
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When it comes to following Jesus we have to make sure that we are being true representatives and that's by the way we live, behave and even the language we use. If you're struggling with using swear words, pray to the Lord to deliver you because by using swear words you're showing that you still have the old person in you that you need God to make new within you. It's time to become that new creature in Christ.<br />
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Remember to speak positive things and watch the positive effects it will bring to your whole day.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i>Love and happiness, </i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">♥<i>Shaniqua</i></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-39304497861388279902015-10-20T15:43:00.001-07:002016-08-31T16:22:01.715-07:00Top 3 Reasons Why I Write<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today marks <b><span style="color: #a64d79;">National Day on Writing</span></b>, so in honor of today I decided to write a post on #WhyIwrite<br />
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As most of you may know I’m the author of “leaving Jade”, but for those of you who don’t know I will shamelessly put in an advertisement for you to order it here at this <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4613387" target="_blank">link</a>! You will not only enjoy it, but I’m positive that it will inspire you in some way. And plus it’s on sale on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Jade-Shaniqua-Snowden-ebook/dp/B00K4EH8YI/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1445380283&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Kindle</a> so it’s a win-win situation!<br />
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OK…now that my advertisement plug is out of the way that brings me to the reason of me writing this post.<br />
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Since a young girl I’ve loved to write and it’s always intrigued me. I guess writing you could say also matches my personality. Being an introvert most of my thoughts are inside of my head, and when it comes time for me to release all of those thoughts, writing them down is my biggest preference of doing so. There are so many reasons why I love to write, but for this post I’m going to talk about my top three.<br />
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Reason #1<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Escape from reality</b></span><br />
Similar to how I feel when I read a book, when I get into the mode of writing it’s like everything else around me disappears. I become so immersed with the world I’m creating through words that it can be a bit of a mini vacation from all of the commotion that could be going on. It’s a great time for me to take my mind off of whatever obligations or duties that could be stressors in my life at the moment.<br />
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Reason #2<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>The stories you can create</b></span><br />
For me, as a writer the stories I create becomes an extraordinary journey as I navigate through it all to convey a message. When it comes to writing the stories you can create are endless. When I read the stories of other author’s I’m so bemused that they could even come up with some of their unique ideas. The twist and turns keeps you turning through the pages and you sincerely feel like the characters you are reading about are real. I love that each story I write is another opportunity for me to become better and better in my gifting.<br />
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Reason #3<br />
<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Using writing for positivity</span></b><br />
If it wasn’t for God and writing I don’t think I would’ve made it through my middle and high school years. Writing can definitely be used as a positive outlet for emotions, feelings and thoughts. Not only is it positive for the writer but writing can also be positive for the reader. Writing can inspire others, convey messages and be used to change the world. There are so many positive attributes of writing.<br />
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So that wraps up my top 3 reasons for why I love writing. Although I love writing it comes with its challenges as well, which is finding the time to do it. I'm prayerful that one day writing can actually become my full time job, with faith and works I'm hopeful it will be that way.<br />
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Be on the look out for more projects coming soon!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i>Love and happiness, </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span><br />
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-34854121727804678742015-10-18T09:17:00.000-07:002016-08-31T11:47:18.257-07:00Dancing through the Storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In life there's always going to be sunshine, but along with the sunshine there may come a little rain. Such is true with our journey and walk with God. Sometimes things can seem like they are going so perfect, that we finally have a hang of this walk with God, but then suddenly a storm comes and then we have to figure out how to get through it.<br />
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This year has not been the easiest for me, in fact it's been the year that I've been learning the most about God, myself and life. Sometimes learning experiences aren't fun, but they do produce results that can have everlasting benefits for your entire life. So through the storm remember to learn what it is that God wants you to take away from it. Storms look rough when you're going through them, but at the end of the storm is a beautiful sunny day.<br />
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With anything in life growth comes with growing pains. It's important through storms to stick close to God more than ever because He's our navigation through it. Get around people who will hold you accountable through the storm and won't throw you a pity party. <b>Pity parties are the worst and are only an aid to continue in misery and play the blame game</b>, I know because I was recently going through one of them. Instead of doing the blame game learn ways that you can make your situation better. Know in your storm that this is not the end game, your storm is preparing you for something greater, but first you have to get pruned and refined.<br />
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It's important to don't give up and know that storms don't last always, we all have our different seasons in life. The Bible tells us that there are many seasons in an individuals life.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: - Ecclesiastes 3:1</span></b><br />
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Sometimes it's up to us with how long we'll last in the storm,or how long it will take us to learn the lesson God places us through the storm for. Some storms we can bring on upon our self. Whatever the reason it's important to seek God even more so He can strengthen us to overcome.<br />
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With these previous storms in my life, I've learned to be content with where I am in life at the moment, although it's not where I WANT to be, it's where God has me for right now. Being thankful for each breath God blesses me with has given me a better perspective on things. It's always important to be thankful to our Creator. He knows us more than we know our self, and He does all things for a reason. Trust that He loves His children and He's leading us to still waters. Even if we may make a mistake while going through the storm, He's a faithful God and He'll stick with us if we continue to lean on Him.<br />
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Keep the faith, the main thing the enemy wants us to do in a storm is to doubt God. But we have to keep our eyes on Jesus unless we'll sink like Peter did.<br />
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Life's Storms can produce the most beautiful results if we learn to grow from them.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i> Love and happiness, </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating my love's bday last weekend!</td></tr>
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-89264190842607533552015-10-03T14:11:00.005-07:002016-08-31T05:57:37.165-07:00Life After College<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So this past August, about two months ago, I graduated from the University of Central Florida with my bachelor's degree! It feels like it's been such a long time coming, when the moment finally came to walk across that stage I was in somewhat of a disbelief. After almost giving up, praying to God to see me through, long hours of studying, and what seemed like endless semesters of counting down credits, I'm finally done. I was too excited that day, feeling like I could conquer anything, but then of course when a few weeks passed and you're wondering how you going to pay back all of those student loans the real world kicks in.<br />
<br />
<b><i>I've finished college...now what?</i></b><br />
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Yeah I can always continue my education and go for my Master's, but I really want to be sure that's the next step for me to take. In this season of my life I'm learning I need to seek the voice of God more than ever. Me being first generation, I'm proud of the fact that I finished my Bachelor's, but at the same time I don't want it all going to waste.<br />
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I'm going to get real honest in my upcoming blogs and talk more about some of my college experience, my regrets and what I have learned.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this woman, my mom, one of my best supporters in life.</td></tr>
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For the mean time I'm really happy to be done with school, and I'm focusing on what it is that I really want to do in life. Of course my passion for writing isn't going anywhere, and I do plan on kicking that into full gear. But now that I'm finished with school my main focus is finding a full time JOB!<br />
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I'm happy to share my journey with those who are maybe in a similar situation. Don't give up, something good is in your future. Success doesn't always come easy, just like I learned that it takes time and dedication to get a degree it's the same for my other pursuits.<br />
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At times I'll admit I began to doubt my ability to become that best selling author or business owner that I dream to be, but with God and hard work it's going to happen!<br />
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Life after college has been a real eye opener for me. I'm excited for my journey and through the up's and down's I know that God is right beside me, even though it may not always feel like it. If we seek God first, He's sure to light the way.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">♥ </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px; text-align: center;"><i>Shaniqua</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woo hoo! So happy to be done!</td></tr>
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-5215121576243311562015-02-15T13:03:00.000-08:002016-08-31T16:01:43.256-07:00How to Pray<div class="MsoNormal">
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When I used to teach Bible Study for middle and high school students a common question came up when it referred to prayer. Many didn't know how to
pray or even what to pray about. <b><i><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "open sans" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt; line-height: 107%;">What is prayer?</span></i></b> Simply put prayer is us having a conversation with God. Prayer is us
going to God and just pouring out everything to him, our hopes, our desires,
our praises to Him, our thanksgiving and it’s also God speaking back to us.
Even if it’s the smallest thing we can go to God and tell Him about it. In fact
God desires for us to have communication with Him, He wants to have a
relationship with us where we can know Him and become more like Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just like a relationship with friends, families or a spouse.
The more time we spend with someone the more we pick up some of their traits,
that’s why it’s important to hang around the right flock of people. Have you
ever heard the saying “birds of a feather flock together?” Such is true with our relationship with God.
If we are not continually going to God in prayer to be recharged and filled
with His Grace, then life will start to get overwhelming. We will start to get
irritated and then our flesh will start to take over because we are not walking
by the Spirit anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We’re like a battery and God is the source that we must go
to to be recharged again and again. This life will come with trails, but no
trail is hard enough for God. With every obstacle we face if we go to God we
will be sure to be set on the right path.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Regarding prayer there are a few important things we must
know about it from Scripture.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens
to the godly person who does his will. John 9:31<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer
of the righteous. Proverbs 15:39<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #00b0f0;"><br /></span></b></div>
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So according to these verses we must be believers in order
for God to hear our prayers. <b>That doesn't mean that a sinner who sincerely repents to become saved won’t be heard</b>, but what
this does mean is that in order for our prayers to hold any merit or power, we
have to be living for God and in His will. We can’t be willfully living in sin
and expect God to bless our mess, it doesn't work that way with God.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their
sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the
pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if
by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans
8:13</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Also when we pray to God it’s important for us to be honest
to Him. Though we shouldn't always come to God complaining about everything we
should also be able to go to Him with our concerns. God tells us to cast our
burdens to Him (1 Peter 5:7).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I find when I’m overwhelmed after going to God I leave with
a peace that surpasses all understanding, but it’s important to stay consistent
with our prayer to God because we don’t want to be up and down with our
emotions. We need to learn how to continually be in that perfect peace and that
takes a daily relationship with God and also constant obedience to Him as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When we pray we need to also remember to give God thanks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. Philippians 4:6</span></b><span style="color: #0b5969;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So when it comes to prayer we can see that God does have
some requirements for certain promises in the Bible that He’s made.<o:p></o:p><br />
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We must be in His will, and we should regularly be praying.
It’s also a good idea to set aside a quiet time daily with God, whether it be
30 minutes to an hour. Jesus was always in communication with the Father, and it
was one of the reasons why Jesus was able to complete the mission he was assigned
to do on the earth realm. It takes God for us to be effective in our lives. So
go to Him when life seems overwhelming because God has the perfect road map to
the destination He desires for us to take. You can do this!<o:p></o:p></div>
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God’s grace is limitless,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-66947238604066728932015-01-10T13:28:00.000-08:002016-08-28T17:08:32.983-07:00Dead Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my previous post I talked about my goal to having a more self-disciplined
lifesyle. And you better believe a test came right after I declared that it was no
more of me being lazy and putting off things this year. The very next day I
posted my goal I woke up that Sunday morning very tired and with a sore throat.
I didn’t feel like going to Church at all and I told my husband that he would
be going to Church alone. But as I laid down about to go back to sleep God
spoke to me and this is what He said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5969; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">God:</span> </span></b><i>Why aren’t you getting up to go to
Church?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Me:</span></b> <i>Lord I’m tired and on top of that I’m not
feeling well</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">God:</span></b><span style="color: #47cfff;"> </span><i>But if
you believe and have faith that you can be more self-disciplined you are going
to have to get up and put works with your faith. If you just get up (works) and
believe (faith) I will empower you to succeed in your efforts by My strength.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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I continued to lay down and think about what God had just
said to me. As I thought about it more I suddenly began to gain more strength.
Then I came to the conclusion, <span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>God is right! </b></span>As God always is right of course!
If I truly believed that I could be more self-disciplined I was going to have
to make those steps in every area of my life to achieve that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I knew that if I was to go back to sleep I would sleep the rest
of the morning away and fall right back into my same slothful routine because I
had already started off on a bad foot. I wouldn't have been exercising my
faith. So I got up and went to Church and there was a reward for my obedience. The
service at Church that day was very encouraging. Not only was it awesome, but
the message was confirming of what God was teaching me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Lord spoke to me confirming to me that the change
started now! I was reminded that I must continue to make the steps to get to
where I’m supposed to be going. If I keep making backtracks then I was just
prolonging my goals and would never reach them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t get me wrong I’m still a work in progress in this
area, but the point is that I’m making those steps to get where I need to go and
I can’t go back, I must continue to go forward. Although some steps maybe small,
sooner or later those steps are going to add up and I will soon be to the
finish line of this particular race of self-disciplining myself with my time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So in all of this I’m learning the importance of having
faith that is alive! Having a faith that produces fruit, because in the end
real and authentic faith will produce works and that will show. On the other
hand dead faith is the opposite.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What does dead faith
produce?<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5969; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #c27ba0; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><i>No Works:</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5969;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>James 2:17 Even so Faith, if it hath no works, is dead,
being alone. - KJV</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When our faith is dead we don’t want to work for those
things which God has for us. We may have heard God say something in the past
that he has for us, yet we don’t see it manifested in our lives yet, but it could
be due to the fact that our faith is wavering. You may say well I believe what
God says He has for me is for me, I have Faith, I do believe, why isn't it here
yet? I've been waiting and waiting…<o:p></o:p></div>
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But Faith is not just about waiting for God’s promises to
manifest in our lives, we also have to have works with our Faith. God may have
something for us, but first He wants us to be equipped and ready to receive what
He has for us. Just like Jesus had to be prepared first before he did his
ministry, hence him fasting for 40 days and 40 nights and being tempted by the
devil in the wilderness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In order for us to be trusted with the gifts and great
things God has for us we must first be tested and tried. We are no better than
Jesus. If Jesus had to be cultivated first then we will have to do the same as
well. Faith and works go hand and hand with one another, so if we have real
faith then we will put action with our belief and it will be shown.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s the same for when we become Christians. If we now
believe by Faith that we are children of God, we are going to start behaving
like children of God. That means we are going to get rid of the sin and bad
things in our life that we know is not pleasing to God. When we put works with
our Faith, God’s strength will empower us to be victorious in our walk with
Christ, and in our life as a whole.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We need to constantly examine ourselves to see if we are living
that real and authentic faith that the Word of God speaks about. That goes for
every area of our lives. Don’t allow yourself to never see God’s promises in
your life because you were just sitting down waiting for God to do something.
He’s already empowered us to do it and trust Him in the process. You can do
this!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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God’s Grace is Limitless,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-49332297326310799822015-01-03T20:30:00.000-08:002016-08-31T16:12:35.864-07:00What Are You Doing With Your Time?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXNOQ2lFiHZ-fkrnFiLZRI9l7ocWuQmSP57DvyfoNHdRkT9IDteyjnMLIlMz63ZLjyARYQH2qLd3XO0zoznsLov9dPhf13-rVyxLS2AD-9YzahB0zX1pINOxOuY4YS37xZb3QDTX_xdA/s1600/watch-1315744_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXNOQ2lFiHZ-fkrnFiLZRI9l7ocWuQmSP57DvyfoNHdRkT9IDteyjnMLIlMz63ZLjyARYQH2qLd3XO0zoznsLov9dPhf13-rVyxLS2AD-9YzahB0zX1pINOxOuY4YS37xZb3QDTX_xdA/s640/watch-1315744_960_720.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It’s 2015 and I decided that it would be a great opportunity
for me to reflect on areas in my life that need to be perfected by God. If I’m
honest with myself the greatest area I struggle in is self-discipline, in
particular self-discipline with spending the time God has given me the best way
possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When it comes to everyday plans and activities I admit I can
choose laziness vs. hard work quite often. It’s not something that I’m proud
about and I believe this has caused me to miss out on many opportunities that
God has for me. For example I published my first novel “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615952151/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER">Leaving Jade</a>” in May of
2014. By now I was hoping to have novel #2 already available, but due to my
lack of disciplining and managing of my time book #2 has been delayed. Lack of
self-discipline has also caused me to put on hold other goals that I have set
out to achieve, but as I write this post I am declaring that “<span style="color: #bf9000;">it’s no more</span>!” It’s
no more of me wasting time and putting off what I know God has called me to
achieve.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I pondered this subject, dealing with what I’m doing with
my time the Lord lead me to some very convicting yet encouraging scriptures to
get me on my way to a more disciplined lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. – KJV,<b> </b></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><b>Luke 9:23</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5969;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the
soul of the diligent shall be made fat. –KJV,<b> </b></span><b><span style="color: #c27ba0; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Proverbs 13:4</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5969;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul
shall suffer hunger. – KJV,<b> </b></span><b><span style="color: #c27ba0; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Proverbs 19:15</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5969;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So as I read and studied God’s Word I’m reminded that my
life is not my own. When I may want to lay on the couch for a brief rest or
search the internet, I should stop and be more focused on the things God
desires for me to do that day. I’m not saying that it’s not OK to have a rest
once in a while, but first we need to be concerned with the responsibilities we
have and get those successfully completed first.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Instead of putting things off, it’s time to get those things
accomplished now. It will certainly pay off in the long run. If we desire a
certain goal we must put action with our faith. We can’t accomplish anything by
doing nothing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My goal for my entire life, not just a year, is to remain focused on God’s
plans for me and not my own plans. In order for us to attain what God has for
us we have to show ourselves as good stewards, not just by being a good
Christian, but also good stewards over our precious time on this earth that God
has blessed us with. Before God blesses us with more He wants to be sure we can
handle the little that we have. It’s time for me to stop just saying and start
doing!<o:p></o:p></div>
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In future post I will be giving practical tips and
documenting my own journey to a self-disciplined life. I know it’s possible
because God has already freed me from so much! I’m praying that you all have a
great new year’s. Be blessed and know that whatever your goals or visions God
can see you through it, as long as we obey and put forth the work as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<i style="color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Love and happiness, </i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-36417483852991708902014-12-02T19:01:00.002-08:002016-08-31T16:47:15.908-07:00And the fun continues! Five important things I've learned from 2 years of marriage so far.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So my husband and I recently celebrated our 2<sup>nd</sup> year
anniversary on November 30<sup>th</sup>!To be honest it feels like we have been
married for much longer, it's just so super being married to him. On being married for 2 years with the love of my life I've
recapped just 5 of the most vital things I've learned so far that helps to
maintain a happy marriage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Prayer</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Since being married I have noticed I pray a
lot more than when I was single. This is true because not only do I need to
constantly pray for the Lord to guide me, but I need to pray for my husband as
well. <b><span style="color: #c27ba0; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">There is no greater thing a wife can do for her husband than to constantly be praying for him.</span></b><b> </b>I pray for my husband when he’s at work, when he’s
on the road and I also pray for my husband in general as he leads our
household. Also if I’m feeling aggravated with my husband concerning an issue I
go to God about it and ask Him to help me relieve me of my negative emotions.
It’s nothing worse than acting out on your emotions in the heat of the moment. It
will create an argument that can 100% be avoided if we go to God about it
first instead of reacting immediately. Through prayer I've learned when to be
quiet during disagreements and leave it in God’s hands to sort it out. This way
my husband and I have learned how not to argue and instead talk things out with
respect towards one another.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--> 2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Selflessness</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When you decide to marry a person you are
now agreeing to become one with them physically and spiritually. This means that their problems becomes
yours and you can’t think of yourself first anymore. It’s really a beautiful
thing when you can put someone before yourself. It’s similar to how Jesus tells
us to lay down our lives for God. When you become selfless it’s much easier to
become that spouse you need to be for your other half.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Patience</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of the things your spouse does may aggravate
you, for example leaving their dirty socks laying around or snoring at night.
But in all these things it’s important to be patient and not lash out on them
about it. Learning patience has kept me from getting easily angered at my
husband. Instead it makes me reflect on myself and how I can make the situation
better and not worse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--> 4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Romance</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I've always been a romantic ever since I
could remember. I knew when I got married I wanted a husband who did romantic
things. My husband is a pretty practical guy, but lately he’s been doing these really
sweet things for me <b><span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt; line-height: 107%;">J</span></b><b style="color: #c27ba0;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">!</span></b> Doing romantic things for one another keeps the spark alive and it adds to the tenderness
in the marriage. Don’t forget to treat each other like the time when you were
first pursing each other. Romance is not only for the husbands to do, but I
also do romantic things for my husband as well, which shows him how special I
still feel to be his wife!<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 5.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Love</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Last, but certainly not the least is that </span></span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I've</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> learned to love another more than I ever thought that I could. My love for my
husband is beyond words. There's a oneness I feel with him that is truly beautiful. As I continue to love him and go through this journey
of life with him I become a better person. God definitely gets the glory,
because without God we </span></span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">wouldn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> know what true love was. If you love your
spouse you’re going to do anything in your will power to keep the marriage
happy and flourishing. I love my husband so much and I’m excited for the many
more years to come of being married to him!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">God's Grace is Limitless,</span><br />
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-66113599914243043972014-05-31T11:11:00.000-07:002016-08-31T19:22:17.684-07:00What Does it Mean to be a Christian?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is being a Christian just about saying the sinner’s prayer?
According to the Word of God being a Christian will not only reflect in our
words, but it will also reflect through our lifestyle most of all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Christians are Christ followers who obey the teachings of
Jesus. When a person becomes a Christian they become a new creature, their whole life becomes centered on glorifying God in EVERYTHING they do. Their old
self has passed away and they allow Jesus to make them new. They actually receive
the very nature of God himself. When that occurs things MUST change and old
sinful habits MUST go. There is no way we can call ourselves a child of God yet
habitually or deliberately sin because “God forgives us”. Although God does forgive
us we can’t use his mercy or grace as a license to sin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once we know that something is displeasing or a sin to God
we can’t make excuses about it and continue in it. If we do this we become deceived and it shows
that God does not live on the inside of us. God HATES sin and there is no way He will
dwell in a person who rejects His ways.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have
nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:5</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left. Hebrews 10:26</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because
God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been
born of God. 1 John 3:9</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So from these scriptures and many more in the Bible we can
see how serious God is about sin. He expects for His children to turn away from
sin to show His righteous character in the earth realm through us. If we say we
are of God yet we keep having sex outside of marriage, stealing, lying etc.
when we know better God says there are no more sacrifices for that sin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The great thing about God is that He provided us with His
grace to overcome every sin. Though at first it may take some getting used to,
when we began to walk in God’s holiness we start to hate sin as much as he does
and love righteousness. But getting to that stage first takes us repenting and
turning to God for His help so we can stop doing the things that are breaking
His heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No sin is worth spending an eternity away from the Father.
If you claim to be a Christian it should show through your lifestyle. We can’t
be hypocrites by professing God yet holding hands with the devil. Allow God to
change you and make you His. You can do this!<o:p></o:p></div>
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God’s Grace is Limitless,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-39344448979564510782014-04-28T10:32:00.000-07:002016-08-31T16:48:43.099-07:00Following Your Dreams<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfY2iLMVUrUmlRS1Rf05czx4X2InZAWuLEZl7JPAjQ9NF0QAiV3MNyyacBg0NIFpqxbhvvOu8d8axonCWiaTIxma_iLmJ4zfx9pPZRfXLb_GvXKU4QHeOoouCcGtP_LqHmP1nEt6hTdA/s1600/dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfY2iLMVUrUmlRS1Rf05czx4X2InZAWuLEZl7JPAjQ9NF0QAiV3MNyyacBg0NIFpqxbhvvOu8d8axonCWiaTIxma_iLmJ4zfx9pPZRfXLb_GvXKU4QHeOoouCcGtP_LqHmP1nEt6hTdA/s640/dream.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If we are like most people we all have that one thing that
was placed deep in our hearts since we were a child that we wanted to do. That
one thing we wanted to be or accomplish when we got older. The passion was so
alive and on fire and today it still is, but we may not know how to get there. <span style="color: #bf9000;">But
God says to walk by faith, be obedient and trust Him to pave the way there.</span> Whatever
passions God placed inside of you He wants you to use it, and He wants you to
use it for His glory. We can take God with us everywhere and in any profession.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I was in Elementary school and first learned how to
start writing, I fell love with the art of writing ever since. The beauty of
weaving words together to create a beautiful message or story has always intrigued
me. But I always kept this gift as a hobby or simply a “dream”, something that
I would wake up from and never really be able to live out. I became unconfident
in my ability to get published or get my work out there so I just settled, but now I am resolute on accomplishing this dream. I will live it out by God's grace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anytime you want to live out your purpose the enemy will
fight against it and make you feel like you aren't able enough to do it, but
<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>God is able to do all things</b></span>, and if we just let Him lead us in everything we do He will make a
way. Don’t give up on your dreams.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I've decided now that I am going to chase and grab onto
these God given dreams no matter what. As many of you may know I have published
my very first novel titled “Leaving Jade!” I am just so thankful and humbled by all of your
support and love, it really means a lot to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book will be available May 5<sup>th</sup>, 2014 via
amazon.com. I am just so excited to see where God is taking me. I trust Him and
I put it all in His hands. I know that becoming a bestselling author is my
destiny and that He will pave the way for its success.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I encourage you to go after whatever dream you had since you were a
little boy or girl. You’ll never get anywhere by staying still.
Let your feet hit the ground running and grab for what’s yours. All things are possible
with God! You can do this! I’m so excited ya’ll! I can’t wait to see God do
great things through all of us for His kingdom!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Love and happiness, </i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZN2_KP9pzR4w5_nvY8b21CAWRwqKS7MawUpcZb0ZxFU4c_wURRBNdJuV_XIpbeH-z-SmmLFH9hgB_Z6Mf-lHA94XrkfUI7JaOqpB-sHWXm90toTgKSkIPhRrUZpEW7ojp0J0cACKlFlw/s1600/mebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZN2_KP9pzR4w5_nvY8b21CAWRwqKS7MawUpcZb0ZxFU4c_wURRBNdJuV_XIpbeH-z-SmmLFH9hgB_Z6Mf-lHA94XrkfUI7JaOqpB-sHWXm90toTgKSkIPhRrUZpEW7ojp0J0cACKlFlw/s1600/mebook.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-33771446256594951022014-04-17T08:57:00.001-07:002016-08-31T19:08:06.952-07:00What's so sinful about having sex outside of marriage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOPaPZlCgZMTa9-0dGgVplOkqnnNg1E34I_ysIQGAUIVFsWLDo23DFqB-0MbGEz_JokRYpW7VdjvCKxT1fT_zDwar40qOKBKt1U2sfSfwhD02CKMM6Tclro3FdTdm2FhC8-zpij8-YVU/s1600/COUPLE-FEET-BED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOPaPZlCgZMTa9-0dGgVplOkqnnNg1E34I_ysIQGAUIVFsWLDo23DFqB-0MbGEz_JokRYpW7VdjvCKxT1fT_zDwar40qOKBKt1U2sfSfwhD02CKMM6Tclro3FdTdm2FhC8-zpij8-YVU/s640/COUPLE-FEET-BED.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a question asked a lot, especially from those who
are in “committed” relationships and they have children together. I see a
growing trend in my generation. Many of the young people are having babies, yet
there is only a household of one, generally it being a mother. And even if it
is a household of two, the parents are not married for some reason or another. I
am in no way writing this blog post to condemn anyone, I am writing it so I can
express the beauty of marriage done God’s way and how it’s so important that if
you label yourself as a Christian to live as one by doing things the way God
designed for it to be. I am also writing this post so we can bring back Godly
values to a dying generation who seem to be moving further and further away from God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many “Christians” think its OK to have sex and still call their
selves “Christians” when they are not married to their sexual partner. I mean
they love their partner’s right? Their doing no one any harm and most of all they are "committed".</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">The
fact is is that these people are not really in fully committed relationships;
rather they are in semi-committed relationships.</span> And some of the reasons why
marriage keeps being held off is at least one person in the relationship is not
ready to commit, or maybe they are not sure if they want to spend the rest of
their life with this one person, or simply put why would they buy a cow when they can milk it for free?</span></span></div>
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Another thing important to realize is that if we proclaim ourselves as Christians we need to understand that sex outside of marriage does cause harm. <span style="color: #bf9000;">It causes harm to our spirits and most
importantly is causes harm to our relationship with God.</span> Sex is more than just
an act of physical pleasure; it’s literally the bonding of two people mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. It’s something so intimate and if done God’s way
is so beautiful. God meant for sex to be done within a marriage between a husband
and a wife, and that doesn't include engaged couples. <span style="color: #bf9000;">The Bible says you must be married.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual
immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.<br />
<br />
Hebrews 13: 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept
pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other
sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins
against their own body.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be
sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sexually immoral people in the Bible are described as those
who can’t control themselves and are having sex with men/women who are not
their spouse. If they couldn't control their flesh the Bible says it is better
for that person to marry than for them to burn with lust <span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>(1 Corinthians 7:9)</b></span>. Premarital
sex is a sin and if you are having it you are not in a good place with God, and
it’s grieving His heart. He knows how precious you are and He doesn't want you
selling yourself up short to please a human. God wants you to put Him first.<o:p></o:p></div>
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God designed sex for a husband and a wife for a reason. For
one it saves a lot of emotionally heartache when you thought the person loved you
for forever, but all they really wanted was sexual pleasure. The reasons why a
lot of relationships don’t work are because they think sex is what’s going to
keep someone. For a while sex will keep a lustful person, but after a while
they get bored, the arguments start and you realize you aren't compatible. It’s
because your relationship was based off of lust and not pure love. If a person
sincerely loves you they will wait for your hand in marriage to join physically
one with you by doing things God’s way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sex clouds a person’s judgment. When you know the person isn't
right for you you still try to be with them because you have joined yourself to
this person when you shouldn't have in the first place. Now you’re unhappy and
struggling to make the relationship work, but it’s not going to work unless you
start putting God first in it and serving God with your body.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A way you can tell if you are in a serious relationship based
on love is by telling that person you will not have sex with them anymore until
after you are married with them. If that person gets angry, doesn't understand
and starts trying to convince you to change your mind, <span style="color: #bf9000;">then that’s lust not
love, and it reveals their true intentions.</span> Their desire for you is conditional and
based mainly on physical pleasure. Staying with this person will not help your
relationship with God, but hinder it. That person is keeping you from a prosperous
relationship with God and furthermore they don’t care about the eternity of
your soul, all they care about is fulfilling their fleshly desire. That shouldn't
be so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM76dLbr_LoHKo6ltXrUXW9LTcsoOJBIUAviYv0XZX8PiUfDTDOLxYXOQ8zXg_UrSYNMSDTcv5MTJeAhdJTPNOjzMbWmo8PUVdR2KEYOQWdyBbVajmHvX1l0JNCdcpKStREqO8dyV5xyU/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM76dLbr_LoHKo6ltXrUXW9LTcsoOJBIUAviYv0XZX8PiUfDTDOLxYXOQ8zXg_UrSYNMSDTcv5MTJeAhdJTPNOjzMbWmo8PUVdR2KEYOQWdyBbVajmHvX1l0JNCdcpKStREqO8dyV5xyU/s1600/love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The love of your life should love you no matter if he/she
can have sex with you or not. Do things God’s way and see the positive changes
it can have in your relationship. For one you should do things God’s way because
you love Him, and as Christians we are to obey Him. My husband and I first
started as sinners and argued constantly because we were doing things the devil’s
way, but once we got saved we practiced abstinence and our relationship has
never been better. It’s because we planted our relationship on solid ground by
following God’s principles. Check out <a href="http://shaniquasnowden.blogspot.com/2013/01/our-not-so-ordinary-courting-story.html" target="_blank">Our Not So Ordinary Courting Story</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will leave you to ponder on some questions. Why can’t you give up
sex for God? Has sex become your God? If so repent and move away from it. <span style="color: #bf9000;">God forgives
a sincere heart who cries out to Him and stops committing the act of sexual
immorality.</span> You can live the holy life God desires for you to live, which is a
life worth pleasing to Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>1 Thessalonians 4:4 that each of you should learn to control
your own body in a way that is holy and honorable<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It is with great love that I write this post. <span style="color: #bf9000;">As Christians
who love the Lord we live to please God, and not people</span>. We can't call ourselves a child of God, but act like children of the devil. Value yourself and put
God first. You can do this!<o:p></o:p><br />
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GOD’S GRACE IS LIMITLESS,<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNv6z_WX0zAAB7bnDOnaQw_4sz_OfVyREx2f7yEYVFRNoIuXeoL10MGhTsLACSGu1OVFVuhyfnGhkph484rZ_ovtLnpnW0CroQuWReRKla3KGR7LBOVpOIiCk1miltFhuGjMJOJuhFsI/s1600/sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNv6z_WX0zAAB7bnDOnaQw_4sz_OfVyREx2f7yEYVFRNoIuXeoL10MGhTsLACSGu1OVFVuhyfnGhkph484rZ_ovtLnpnW0CroQuWReRKla3KGR7LBOVpOIiCk1miltFhuGjMJOJuhFsI/s200/sig.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-58604247438492503212014-04-15T18:14:00.000-07:002015-10-20T20:26:17.550-07:00Can you really heal a cavity naturally?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4AuYtwwHNr_BO8Qi8jdWEA2v3X-W1kV6aPsk6p-g9Pz088iKO5Noat5GVx9GJsTEeJaOygLpPcVUyws3B_liqwAr3J1JYeNUx3-Q5IsI_DHxWMtXiOpcPLbR0jFxUKsROVNvULqOch4/s1600/PerfectTeeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4AuYtwwHNr_BO8Qi8jdWEA2v3X-W1kV6aPsk6p-g9Pz088iKO5Noat5GVx9GJsTEeJaOygLpPcVUyws3B_liqwAr3J1JYeNUx3-Q5IsI_DHxWMtXiOpcPLbR0jFxUKsROVNvULqOch4/s1600/PerfectTeeth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So I went to the dentist last week after a long overdue checkup. I am embarrassed to even tell you how long I went without seeing one, lol. I initially went to go see about getting some Invisalign's, but came out more than what I bargained for. The dentist inspected my mouth and upon her inspection told me I had four cavities that she could see with her natural eye, but there might be more once we do an X-Ray. To say the least I was pretty disappointed to hear about that news. I do brush my teeth regularly and try to keep them healthy as best as possible. So I left scheduling an appointment for the next time to get an X ray done and to fill those cavities. The Invisalign's unfortunately had to wait.<br />
<br />
I was going to settle for spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars to fill the cavities in, but then I started doing some research. I had ran across an article before about healing cavities naturally, but I didn't pay much mind to it until finding out I had some of my own. So I am going to do a challenge to see if I can cure these bad boys naturally. I am going to give it two months and see how it goes. For right now I am cancelling that dentist appointment for next week and will keep you all updated.<br />
<br />
I sincerely believe that God provided everything on the earth we need to naturally heal our bodies and to prevent diseases if we take care of ourselves. I am all for home remedies and I don't take any medication, only vitamins and probiotics. Not saying I'm against medicine but I think that the natural way is the best way to go if you can opt for it.<br />
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The first thing I will be doing to heal these cavities naturally (in Jesus name) is by oil pulling. Oil pulling is when instead of brushing your teeth first thing in the morning with regular toothpaste you swish your mouth for 20 minutes with coconut oil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOoxnTD8AUquHdplmmHiFKRHbjVFPXarSgGHlsalpN1hXTWWjwVUev-Z3FrVO4E5H0vHmKxMajcdhfbMGPVWZg0CD1OIaDqNCs-MKBgtNYnFLxp61OFQ4wPNa8enM8KQkWDOTQXvtsHE/s1600/1554484_782148565129915_1680737549330424833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOoxnTD8AUquHdplmmHiFKRHbjVFPXarSgGHlsalpN1hXTWWjwVUev-Z3FrVO4E5H0vHmKxMajcdhfbMGPVWZg0CD1OIaDqNCs-MKBgtNYnFLxp61OFQ4wPNa8enM8KQkWDOTQXvtsHE/s1600/1554484_782148565129915_1680737549330424833_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This all sounds crazy to me too, but it's worth a try. They say also taking a teaspoon of cod liver fish oil and butter oil is another way you can heal tooth decay. I am waiting on the cod fish oil and butter oil to come through the mail. So for right now I am going to start doing the oil pulling tomorrow morning. I am praying for great results. It sounded crazy to me when I first heard about it, but I believe it's worth trying.<br />
<br />
GOD'S GRACE IS LIMITLESS,<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASJLmuF1Noe2kcyuKuIokXwDhJUzx0IJq08_KASpcGQ4p0Ky4j4YL2Am_jHLxfxqks84zivgCEEPLDWXKsfvS-a6OXAzZJxitZtKeDUWpMypCO4QhzdQKdSNUURSEz6MBfpYj2koZ3Eo/s1600/sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASJLmuF1Noe2kcyuKuIokXwDhJUzx0IJq08_KASpcGQ4p0Ky4j4YL2Am_jHLxfxqks84zivgCEEPLDWXKsfvS-a6OXAzZJxitZtKeDUWpMypCO4QhzdQKdSNUURSEz6MBfpYj2koZ3Eo/s200/sig.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-11056403478145248942014-04-08T08:30:00.003-07:002016-08-29T08:12:04.150-07:00Sinner or a Saint?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHkmVbQ8KlSlss2a4KENfB-3PPIax1mFnaXsuuZrF0Zb4YdC5vVbww1CsX5LlamloMV4W9TJmcFQNcSVj20kKIJDvBaa7YushZdfc-LmCiIw4w433Ndc4jcqxBZSdrCVtvlZUaa7rTEo/s1600/DarkSideEI-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHkmVbQ8KlSlss2a4KENfB-3PPIax1mFnaXsuuZrF0Zb4YdC5vVbww1CsX5LlamloMV4W9TJmcFQNcSVj20kKIJDvBaa7YushZdfc-LmCiIw4w433Ndc4jcqxBZSdrCVtvlZUaa7rTEo/s400/DarkSideEI-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Many times I hear people who are saved say they are just a
sinner saved by grace, or that we are all sinners. The ph<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>rases sometimes can be a little irksome to me because I’m sad to see as Christians we don’t realize our new identity in Christ. The church is having an identity crisis and that’s the reason why a lot of the times we see churches or "Christians" compromising to the present evil times. It’s because we are trying to mix the old man with the new or as the Bible states it we are trying to pour new wine into old wineskins (<span style="color: #bf9000;">Matthew 9:17</span>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The Bible says we become a new creature when we come into
Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new
creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">So that means we have <span style="color: #bf9000;">a new nature, a new name and we now
belong to our heavenly Father who sits on the throne.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We must realize that we are now a child of God and we will be called a new name. In the Bible Jesus even would change the names of the Apostles he chose, and if you notice when reading the letters to the Churches in the New Testament they always address the audience as Saint’s now. We are no longer sinners, for if we were Christ death would've been in vain. He died so we could put to death the old man (sinner).</span><br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The
death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to
God.</span><span style="background-color: #fff4ec; line-height: 20px;"> I</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">n the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but
alive to God in Christ Jesus. - Romans 6: 10-11</span></span></b><br />
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: inherit;"><b>For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. Romans 6:6</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Let’s define what a sinner is. The New Testament Greek word
for sinner is <span style="color: #bf9000;">hamartolos</span> and it means:</span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> 1. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Someone who
practices sin or is devoted to sin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. A person
who is not free from sin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Sinful and
wicked men</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">As the Bible says there is power in the tongue, and it can
either bring life or death <span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>(Proverbs 18:21)</b></span>. If you find yourself still being a
slave to sin, it’s probably because you’re still identifying yourself as a
sinner (or you need to repent and dedicate your life back to Jesus) A sinner is someone who is a slave to sin. In Christ Jesus we are no longer slaves to sin <b><span style="color: #bf9000;">(Romans 6:6)</span></b>. If you keep seeing yourself
as a sinner, someone who is still a slave to sin, you will keep acting that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Think about it, a teacher is called a teacher because he/she
teaches. An author is called an author because he/she writes. It’s the same
with any other profession or label that you give yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Those who are born again through Christ Jesus are no longer
sinners and it's only by the power of Christ that this is so. That’s the beauty of Jesus coming to die on the cross for us, so we
can be free in all areas and become totally new in him, in this way we can live a life worth pleasing to God. The devil wants you to keep thinking he has a hold on you. There are so many false teachings that have crept in the Church because the devil wants us to have an identity crisis. But the devil is a liar, we will use the full armor of God and know that we are a new creature in Jesus. I encourage you to live
that new life of victory and freedom through God’s never failing Grace. And if you are still living as a sinner, but call yourself a child of God, that's being a lukewarm Christian, and God says he will spit those types of people out of his mouth. Repent and turn to God so you can live a holy life that's pleasing to Him. You can not have one foot in God's kingdom and one foot in the world. You can do this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">God’s Grace is Limitless,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-37476066308220593272014-03-24T06:52:00.000-07:002016-08-31T16:50:56.492-07:00What I've Been up To<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi Everyone!<br />
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First off let me start by saying <span style="color: #bf9000;">happy new years!</span> Lol, I know I am totally late and that I have been showing my blog anything but attention. I am going to get back on track this year. I have still been pretty busy with school, full time work and ministry. I have learned so many things in this past month as I continue to grow in my relationship with God and my husband.<br />
<br />
I am over a teen girls group ministry at my church where I am able to mentor young girls, which is challenging yet rewarding. Sometimes just trying to break the barrier of a teen can be difficult, but once you invest time in them and show them that you care, the relationship developed is a very precious thing.<br />
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Well just giving a small update, but I will be posting some topics God has been laying on my heart, plus I will share a personal testimony of my coming to Christ story so stay tuned. God bless everyone!<br />
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God's Grace is Limitless,<br />
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-7570408922989071262013-08-14T13:18:00.001-07:002016-08-31T16:51:31.426-07:00Is it possible to stop sinning?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This has been a topic laid heavily on my heart for some
years now. I have been very reluctant to write about this topic, but God has
been leading me to do so. I pray that
while you read you let the Holy Spirit direct you and open up to His will and
purpose and to His truth. There is so much regarding this topic that the Holy
Spirit has revealed to me that I might have to do future parts to this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can’t tell you how many times I have saw the saying “Don’t
judge someone because they sin differently than you do”. It really makes me
just shake my head in amazement. Many times people like to use quotes, but they
skip around the scriptures that tell us to live Holy lives that are pleasing to
God. They fail to quote scripture, yet they are quick to quote a man so that it
will make them feel better about their sins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I would like to start this post off by saying first thing
first. There is no one on this planet earth who hasn't ever sinned before. All of us have sinned and fallen short. Jesus is the only person who has
lived on the planet earth without ever having sinned. We all need him as our savior.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That being said after receiving Jesus as our Lord and savior
there becomes a transformation. The scripture that so many people like to use
as an excuse to stay sinning, that we all have sinned and fall short of the
glory is using <b><span style="color: #bf9000;">past tense</span></b>. That is
not the state of a renewed believer in Christ. Once we accept Christ and repent
it’s through him that we can get a clean slate. It’s through Christ that he picks
us up from our fallen state and it’s through him that we can <span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>sin no more</b>. <b>So yes it is possible to stop sinning, but only after receiving Christ
and God’s power and grace to do so.</b></span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><b>2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the
new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><b>Ezekiel 36:26 A new
heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So from these
scriptures and many others it is saying that we become new creatures when we
accept Christ. We become reborn. We have to stop identifying ourselves with the
old nature, the nature to sin and to justify our sins. There is no excuse for
sin and God has it in His word how much He hates it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Psalms 5:4 For You
[are] not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with
You. 5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You HATE all workers of
iniquity. 6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the
bloodthirsty and deceitful man.<o:p></o:p></div>
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God really hates
sin, so much that he doesn't want it in His sight nor His presence. We have to
start thinking like Him and accepting that new heart and spirit He gives us
when we become His. When we start hating sin as much as God does, the thought
of it alone will make us just as angry as He is about it and we won’t want to
do it because we love God and don’t want to disappoint Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">Jesus tells us to go and SIN NO MORE. </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Remember the
popular verse people use about not judging others about the lady committing
adultery, but they fail to read farther where Jesus says to go and sin no more?
For starters when Jesus asked the crowd he who is without sin to throw the
first stone <b><span style="color: #bf9000;">we have to look at his
audience</span></b>, they were teachers of the law and the Pharisees, who were trying
to trap Jesus anyways, in order to have a basis for accusing him.-John 8:6 <b><span style="color: #bf9000;">It is clear that the Pharisee’s were
hypocrites, but does that mean that you have to be one as well? As a matter of
fact Jesus tells us not to be like the Pharisee’s.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">Matthew 23: Then
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: </span><sup style="color: #444444;">2 </sup><span style="color: #444444;">“The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. </span><sup style="color: #444444;">3 </sup><span style="color: #bf9000;">So
you must be careful to do everything they tell you. </span></b><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Jesus also used
this as a means to show that we are supposed to display forgiveness to an
individual and not condemn them to death like it were their customs to do back
in those times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But Jesus did in
fact still let her know what she was doing was wrong and that she needs to go
and sin no more. – John 8:11</div>
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He also told the
same words to another man he healed earlier in the book of John.<o:p></o:p></div>
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John 5:14 Afterward
Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: <b><span style="color: #bf9000;">sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto
thee.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">Why would Jesus give us a command that’s impossible?
Why would Jesus give us false hope?</span></b> That is not something that He would do, because He is not a man that
He should lie. If God tells us to do something then it’s possible. All things
are possible through Christ who strengthens us. God also doesn't give us false
hope. There is nothing false about GOD. All of His ways are true and pure. If
He gives us a command it’s because it can be kept! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">1 Corinthians 10:
13 And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you
can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can
endure.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>God is faithful, He provides a way out every
time</b>,</span> it’s just up to us to
accept His power or will we succumb to the ways of the world because we believe
what man tells us vs. what is in God’s word.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember I too
used to believe that it was impossible to stop sinning and usually when I tell
people what the Holy Spirit has taught me they look at me like I'm crazy. It can be
pretty discouraging and I have to continually fight for the seed God has placed inside of me. I trust God because I personally
know where He has taken me from and I also trust His word vs. the opinion of a
man.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">You see, God is
much more powerful then sin can ever be.</span></b> He is able to keep us as long as we
trust Him and obey Him. God wouldn't tell us to do something that we couldn't
do. Let God mold you into
the person He is calling you to be. Trust Him, because His ways are always
better and they work!<o:p></o:p></div>
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God’s Grace is limitless,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-72978778033909786522013-08-10T21:45:00.004-07:002016-08-31T16:08:02.576-07:00Growth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One thing I have been recently learning is to not remain at the same level, whether it be in spiritual growth or as a wife. Too many times we can become complacent and just settle, but if we continue to do that then how will we produce fruit? An apple tree doesn't just grow to a certain point, no it grows until it fully matures to produce ripe, bright, and juicy apples. If something is not growing then it's dying. We must set aside time to spend with God daily. Just like a relationship with your spouse, friend, family member or etc. there must be constant communication for your relationship to prosper and grow and for you to know the person more and more. God wants us to have a relationship with Him. He wants to hear our voice and talk with us, laugh with us and expand His kingdom on the earth through Us. Really God is such an awesome and loving God. He wants to talk to His children.<br />
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Within my marriage, I must continually communicate with my husband and not through yelling at him, but through really respecting him and understanding where he comes from. That's how relationships grow. I have learned so much more about my husband then the time that we were courting for three years. It's true that being married is so much more different than courting, and may I add it's much better too! I am currently reading a book called A Wife after God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. It's such a great read to gain more knowledge to keep your marriage established on God and having a peaceful and happy marriage. </div>
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I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Remember to grow, never remain complacent, that's exactly what the enemy wants. Allow God to mold you to the person He wants you to become.</div>
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GOD'S GRACE IS LIMITLESS,</div>
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-24853154419396948502013-07-01T14:01:00.001-07:002016-08-31T16:07:35.941-07:00Finding the Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everybody! So sorry for the long absence. Life has been busy and there has been a lot of stuff I am trying to sort out. I have learned that balance is so key in living a productive and fruitful life. I am a college student if I haven't mentioned before trying to finish my bachelors degree. Of course I am also a wife now :) still makes me smile every time, hehe, so I have been busy trying to create new recipes for my husband. I totally wasn't a cook when I lived with my mom so it can be challenging sometimes. Later I will make some post about quick new recipes I have stumbled across. It's so much fun seeing my husband enjoy the meals that I make for him. Ministry is another big thing that's keeping me busy, also work. But we will chat more later about these subjects and finding the balance of it all. I hope everyone is having a great Monday!! Be blessed. :)<br />
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GOD'S GRACE IS LIMITLESS,<br />
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PS thanks so much to my new friends who have followed my blog. I really appreciate you!Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-15066436979286166672013-04-23T08:45:00.004-07:002016-08-31T16:08:45.817-07:00Setting the Example<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">I have been MIA for a while. Life has been busier and I am
learning how to balance it all. As I mentioned in another post my husband and I
are now youth director’s for my church. We pretty much started from the ground
up creating a system that would work most effectively for the youth ministry.
It’s had its late nights of planning and challenges but I can honestly say I
can already see a great change taking place. The youth needs God more than ever
in this generation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">They are facing things that some of us might not have had to
face growing up. There are so many things now considered “right” when the Bible
clearly states it as being wrong. So much peer pressure, bullying and
compromising going on. More than ever they must learn how to defend their faith
and follow God even if the crowd is going the opposite way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Sadly in this time there are few Christian role models for
them to go to. As believers we have to know that </span><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">blood can be on our hands</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> and that’s
why it’s so important to </span><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">conduct ourselves Christ like in all areas of life at
all times.</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> And it’s possible with God’s grace. If the only thing the younger generation
sees is double minded Christians then they will in turn produce the same
mindset. It’s time to take our young generation back for God and win souls. God
has passionately lain the youth on my heart. They after all are our next
generation. Let’s set those Godly examples and be the driving force to bring
God’s people back to loving righteousness and holiness above all else. You CAN
do this!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">God’s Grace is Limitless,</span></span></div>
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-31830058074041815662013-03-22T06:37:00.001-07:002016-08-31T11:57:49.000-07:00The Power of a Kiss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've all seen it in the movies, the true love’s kiss, able
to transform slimy grotesque frogs into charming handsome prince; they can wake
princesses from deep sleeps and give them back their angelic voice.<br />
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Yeah they might be going on a stretch, but even movies are
able to realize the beauty and power that comes along with a kiss from the
person you truly love. They might not turn a frog into a prince, but kisses can
evoke passion and emotion along with a lot of other things.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this blog I am going to share with you on why my husband
and I decided to stop kissing until we got married. As I stated in <a href="http://shaniquasnowden.blogspot.com/2013/01/our-not-so-ordinary-courting-story.html">Our Not So Ordinary Courting Story</a> we did start off kissing because we weren't saved when we first got
together, but when we started getting serious with our walk with Christ my now husband came
to me and told me that God laid it on his heart that we should stop kissing
until we were married.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At first I didn't understand this. I am really an
affectionate and romantic person. I thought since we were “just kissing” that
it would be OK and by this time it was just mini pecks. I thought since I had
learned how to stop lusting after him that it was all good and dandy, but in
the back of my mind part of me still wanted more and to go deeper with our
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So after thinking it over some more I understood. For starters kissing is a precursor to sex. What do people do before having sex? Yeah you guessed it right, kiss. So in
order for you to remove all temptations it’s wise to get rid of that which
leads to it. Why would you continually flirt with temptation when you are
trying to fight it off? The Bible says lead us not into temptation. Why would
we pray to God not to lead us into temptation, but we are leading our own
selves to it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It wasn't easy at first not kissing my husband, but just
because something isn't easy doesn't mean you have to give in. The harder
something is the more rewarding the results, and I can honestly say that I am so
happy that we did stop. It really gave us the opportunity to grow more as a couple
without all the physical stuff. We learned to talk things out because instead
of “making up” through kissing we had to dig deeper for the root of our problems
so that we could prevent future arguments. A peaceful home is a happy home.
Doing things Gods way is the only way if you label yourself the title of a
Christian, and when you do things His way the fruit will be there. I definitely
see the fruit in our marriage with the decision of no kissing and no sex before
marriage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kissing is really a deep and passionate gesture to the
person that you love. Kisses shouldn't be handed out freely to a person you don’t
even plan on marrying, and even if you do plan on marrying let them wait for
it. The kisses will be that much more pleasurable within the marriage because
you know how long you waited and anticipated for it. I still get butterflies
brushing lips with my husband. Still amazes me that I get to kiss him anytime
that I want now! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not saying this is a mandate for everyone, you should definitely go to God about it. But I believe it’s time that our society looks at things like this
seriously and stop acting like it’s just a kiss. It’s not just a kiss. It
really goes deeper than that. It shows that you want to connect yourself to
this person, and that you desire them. kissing just like sex should be a
reflection of your love for the person, not just because it’s "fun" and everyone
else is doing it. Be different and regard yourself with high esteem. If someone
just wants you for what they can do with you then it’s not love, its lust. It’s
an amazing feeling when you are blessed with a person who loves you for you, who
just enjoys spending time with you and talking with you. Khalid showed me what
a real prince and gentlemen was like when he told me he wanted to wait for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I encourage you to wait for your prince or princess. But
wait until the wedding day to see them transform with a sweet kiss. You can do this!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i> Love and happiness, </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 25.6px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span><span style="color: #4c1130;">♥</span><i>Shaniqua</i></span></div>
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Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8218471823500108300.post-18876837929072421022013-03-15T16:53:00.001-07:002016-08-31T16:07:04.762-07:00Walk by Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444;">So lately I have been dreading going to work. No surprise there, if you read my recent post about <a href="http://shaniquasnowden.blogspot.com/2013/03/when-god-is-cultivating-you.html">God Cultivating Me</a>, you'd see why. I am not a morning person and having to get up to a place I don't want to be is just miserable, but what I have learned through the process is to be grateful where I'm at. To praise God for the little blessings because the big one's will come.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Despite that I have been feeling a tug at my heart to just walk by faith. What I mean by this is, I am seriously thinking about quitting my day job soon. Why be stuck at a place where you lack the passion? To be honest I am only there for the pay. There are so many other passions and talents God gave me, why not use them for His glory? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">I tried to play it safe and wait until I make another stream of income from other arenas, at least enough to pay the bills right? But I feel more and more led to put in my two weeks notice and just trust God to be my provider. Abraham walked by faith and left everything he knew because He trusted God. God never fails to provide for His children. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">I am at an exciting, yet busy stage of my life. It's challenging yet rewarding. My husband and I have recently been placed as Youth Directors at our church. The youth is our passion. God already told me this before it was going to happen where He was taking us and calling us to do. I desire to see young people set on fire for God and stop following the pressures of the world. Right now I actually teach middle and high at Sunday School. I love being able to impart knowledge and wisdom into them. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">So I would love to do more with ministry, but right now my job is taking the majority of my time. So I am deciding to walk by faith. Of course first I will listen to the voice of the Lord because faith comes by hearing. And God always directs. When you trust God He will always work it out. You Can do this!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">God's Grace is Limitless,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>Shaniqua Snowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841068567168035654noreply@blogger.com0