Purity culture is cancelled…or, is it? What if I told you purity culture isn’t just about sex? What if I told you that not only society got it wrong, but a lot of the time, the church gets it wrong, too? So what exactly was Jesus talking about when He spoke of purity? It’s time to learn the true meaning for ourselves!
Gandhi, one of the world’s greatest political and spiritual leaders, said that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount went “straight to his heart.” So why can’t we – spiritual descendants of Jesus, the Savior of the world – embrace the beatitudes with our whole hearts?
This is a question I asked in a bible study group I recently led and it’s the same question I have for you! In fact, it was a question I had for myself when I realized I only vaguely knew what the beatitudes actually were.
In this post, you’ll find some digestible background about one of Jesus’ most popular sermons (the sermon on the mount/the beatitudes), why the beatitudes were so groundbreaking, who Jesus considers blessed and how we can fully embrace the ways in which God has called us to live. If you’re more into video, please subscribe and watch the bible study over on my youtube channel instead!
Hi friend! ? Here are some of the best FREE Christian resources for women! I put together some of my favorite Christian faith and inspiration apps to help you grow in your faith. This video is for you if you desire to get the most out of your devotions even when you don’t have much time or drive! These are the faith apps that help me get in a bible study, pray, and memorize verses. Want tips on staying in the Word of God or getting your daily devotion in on the go? Let’s get into these apps, girl! What are some of your favorite Christian apps? Comment below!
Did you know that your voice holds power? I don’t know what’s been holding you back from speaking up but I do know that the impact you possess is a God-given gift. Please don’t waste another precious moment holding your breath! The world needs to hear the message God has put on your heart. The world is waiting for the resurrection power of God’s love. The world is waiting for you to speak up and tell your story.
It is our duty to not only share our testimonies but to also defend the oppressed. When our voices are amplified, we serve those who go unheard and honor God. It’s a weighty calling but the crown was reserved for you.
If you…
I would love to help you!
But glory to God, she is here to share her testimony!!! I finally had the opportunity to have my mom join me on my YouTube channel, Adorned in Armor.
She is my prayer warrior, my miracle mama, and the queen of my heart. She has had to endure so much, lives in constant pain and still, Christ is her joy.
To the woman who taught me the weight of my words and my crown, I honor and love you ♥️ You are an inspiration to every single person you come across.
Hey everyone,
God recently pressed it on my heart to speak on a topic we often run away from… repentance! *cues scary music* lol. In this video, I’m joined by my best friend, Malissa Hanson, and we have a loving conversation about what it means to turn away from sin and into the arms of God.
This chat about repentance is for you if…
Basically, it’s for everyone (no one is perfect and everyone is needed of repentance)!
God wants His daughters to claim their crowns! The first step is by accepting Christ and turning away from your sins. I share more about the love God has for us in my new book, here! Don’t ever forget you are royalty.
On February 4th, 2020, my very first book, Claim Your Crown, was born! (Seriously, I feel like I need a birth certificate or something.)
My first book, Claim Your Crown: Walking in Authority and Worth as a Daughter of the King, has officially been released!
What now?
I remember my first blog post – I was assigned to create a digital platform for a school project. Blogging came easy to me and mixing writing and fashion was a no brainer. My class was assigned to post sporadically but I ended up doing so every week. A year later, my readers nominated my blog as The Best International Fashion Blog in the Cosmopolitan UK Blog Awards and the judges named me a finalist! My school sponsored my trip to London and it was the very first time I knew God was up to something with Adorned in Armor.
I remember my first pageant. A young woman told me about how our university hosts one every year and that I would be a great fit. I wore my prom dress to the pageant for the evening gown portion and for talent, I tapped dance as I shared an original spoken-word piece about self-worth. Next thing I knew, I was being crowned by Miss New Jersey and Miss Teen New Jersey. It was the very first time I knew how much I loved pageants.
I remember my first official paid speaking engagement – I was 21 and a senior in college. Previously, in my teen years, I would minister spoken word poetry on YouTube and churches but that time was different. I studied in Washington for a semester the year prior and the president of American University invited me back to speak about my experience in their Journalism & New Media Program. I’ve dreamt of being a motivational speaker before but it was the first time I knew traveling and speaking was my calling.
I also remember my first heartbreak. I remember experiencing betrayal and persecution. I remember losing so much weight because I was depressed. I remember feeling like God wasn’t fighting for me – in fact, I remember feeling like He was against me. I remember feeling like a loser because I didn’t have a real job and couldn’t afford to take care of myself. I remember when I realized that the illness my mom suffers from does affect me and as the oldest of 4, I was holding too much in. I remember getting in touch with my emotions and learning to let myself cry. I remember the stroke she suffered during spring break, I remember when she could walk. I remember because I still witness my mother’s pain today. In fact, a lot of these feelings, I still experience.
Why? Because blessings don’t mean pain won’t come.
Blessings don’t mean pain won't come. Click To Tweet
There have been numerous moments in my life where I felt God has failed me. Unanswered prayers and fresh hurts will do that to you. I wouldn’t look forward to things or put my hope in opportunities because there was always a possibility of being let down. I still struggle with this.
But the truth of it all is that I am here…and not on my own.
In the past decade, God has given me the opportunity to speak in front of hundreds of women. I graduated from high school wanting to pursue fashion but stuck to Communications instead. A few months later, Adorned in Armor was birthed through a school project and in one year, was a finalist as the Best International Fashion Blog in the 2014 Cosmopolitan UK Blog Awards.
God sent me brand collaborations I never even pitched and products I needed but I never even asked for. I went from studying in Washington for a semester with leading media outlets to interning with PBS and later, elle.com. I went from winning a school pageant in 2013 to becoming Miss Black New Jersey 2018. I went from graduating college summa cum laude with 6+ honors to being jobless. Forced into entrepreneurship, I went from being a Teen Vogue It Girl to a Teen Vogue Fashion Writer. I went from feeling directionless to obtaining my master’s degree as Syracuse. I went from not knowing enough about my heritage to falling in love with my country, writing for the Haitian Times and being featured, too! I’ve flown around the world to interview leading figures in fashion and film and I’ve developed a softened heart during church mission trips. I’ve gone from sharing my stories of struggles and victory to amplifying the voices of warrior women on @dressedforbattlepodcast.
The biggest surprise of them all is how God brought me FROM WRITING BLOG POSTS TO A TRIPLE BOOK DEAL ??
I don’t say these things to boast about myself; I say these things to brag on my God! He can do more than you can imagine.
I don’t boast about myself; I brag on my God! Click To Tweet
These opportunities didn’t come because I made them happen. I merely positioned myself – the heavy lifting has always been His move.
I could go on about the moments I remember but then this piece would be forever. As I was looking back on the past ten years on social media, I began to laugh at the hideous photos but I also found beauty in the “aha” moments. There were the moments I spotted God’s hand. (Stay tuned until the very end for some more photos.)
I love that I am able to look back and see how one moment connects to the other but I also find it beautiful that I have absolutely no idea of what’s coming next.
I think it’s fitting I’m reflecting on this before my book release. I feel a huge shift coming. And so I’m writing this so that when I’m discouraged with my journey, I may never forget where God has brought me from.
I wrote this for you, too.
Too often, we get hung up on the comparison game and feeling like we’re running out of time. But I hope this serves as a reminder that God isn’t finished with you yet. If you are still breathing, it is time to begin believing in the promises of God and play your part in furthering His kingdom on earth. We all need you.
And yes, the best is yet to come for you, too.
Comment down below if you believe it!
IMAGINE: My Word of The Year | Having Faith to Dream Bigger
The Reward for Your Obedience to God – What Are You Willing to Sacrifice?
Why You Should Trust God for Yourself
Thinking of Grad School? CRAZY STORY: God Told ME to Go
8 Reasons Why You Should Share Your Testimony (What’s The Point?)
Finding Your Purpose: Stepping Into Your Calling | My Career Testimony
Align Yourself with God’s Plan
Haiti: What The Media Doesn’t Show You
How I Landed a Three Book Deal (as a First Time Author)
Cuba Mission Trip (Travelling Cuba in 10 Days) | Learning Haitian History In Cuba
On Set With Teen Vogue, Swarovski & My Mom!
Tap to Original Spoken Word at Pageant – “Lessons”
My Pageant Photoshoot – Behind The Scenes | MISS BLACK NEW JERSEY 2018
Adorned in Armor Meets London (Cosmo Blog Awards)
Claim Your Crown is available for preorder everywhere!
Okay, okay. Here’s what you’ve been waiting for! (I’ll be updating the photos of the past 10 years soon.)
I signed another contract for “Claim Your Crown!” My book will now be on audio!!! And guess what? I’m the narrator ???
The point of this video is to illustrate that God can do MORE than our requests…more than what we thought we wanted…more than what we didn’t even think of at all.
Yes, I believe in the power of prayer and earnestly seeking God for His “presence,” and not His “presents.” My specific prayer is that we remember in this season and all to come, just how BIG God is.
We won’t always get what we desire but there will be gifts you don’t even ask for and God has the ability to do give them anyway! Check out my mini vlog for behind the scenes and my testimony ♥ Save & share this with someone who needs some encouragement!
? “Claim Your Crown” is available for preorder online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and more! (Link also in my bio!)
