No, I am not going to provide an opinion on Halloween, whether you participate or not is your decision – in the language of my late grandmother, we have bigger fish to fry. Whether you wear a costume on October 31st or not, most of us wear masks the other 364 (or 365 in a leap year) days of the year. Some wear a mask of the Perfect Princess – there is always a smile painted on your face and no hair is out of place; but on the inside, you’re broken and weeping. Some wear a mask of Super Sensuality (yes, I went there), you’re rocking your dress that hugs in all of the right places, stilettoes and have spent a couple of paychecks in the lingerie store; but on the inside, you long for someone to see you as more than a hook-up. Some wear a mask of Constant Church-goer – you have a 6-inch cross around your neck; are at your house of worship 6 nights a week and have memorized the entire Bible; but you can’t remember the last time you took off your black patented leather kitten heels and laughed so hard that you had to catch your breath. Who are you beneath the mask? Where is the little girl who used to wrap a towel around her head, hold a comb in her hand and pretend she was a superstar? Yes, we all grow up and life happens but we were created by One who thought enough of us to make us in His image (Gen. 1:27) give us a personality (1 Sam. 16:7) and a purpose (Eph. 2:10). Every now and then (and in safe places), remember to remove your mask. The woman behind it is probably a pretty cool person. Blessings, Rev. Antoinette
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Merriam-Webster defines welcome as a transitive verb used “to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordially” and “to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of”. If you’re anything like me, you prefer not to be any place where you are not welcomed or wanted (given the events of late, it appears as though the list of places where those with whom I share a similar heritage or similar set of opinions has grown). Its not that I believe everyone is my friend or enjoys my company, however I think of myself as a fairly decent person and appreciate honesty in relationships; if I’m not welcomed to be with you, please let me know and I’ll go where I am. There is 1 place I know where my presence is always wanted and welcomed, with my Creator, the One who loves me more than I love myself (1 John 4:19). Not only am I welcomed into His house, I have been welcomed into His family (Eph. 5:1 & John 3:6). My Creator doesn’t reject me because of my ethnicity because He created me to be who I am and He doesn’t restrict me because of my gender because He crafted my femininity; I am welcomed. But guess what? Not only am I welcomed into His family, so are you. How do I know you’re welcome? Because the one who created me, created you and our Creator welcomes us into fellowship with Him, to talk to Him in prayer and to read about His love for us in His Word. Welcome, warmly and with courtesy invited into the Presence. Sounds like I’m invited to the place where I want to be; have you accepted your invitation? Blessings, Rev. Antoinette One of my favorite lines for pot luck dinners is “Please, don’t get new on me”. If you are not known for cooking, please do not make me your science project; I’m good with take-out and store-bought goods. ‘New’ is one of those phrases that can have both good and bad connotations, a new car is one that has never had another owner and hasn’t needed (or missed) required servicing (which has always made me wonder what ‘new car smell’ could be in an air freshener); a new house is one that hasn’t had an owner reside in it (but could and probably has been seen by quite a few people); new shoes may have been tried on by others but have never been ‘worn’ but the best ‘new’ of all, is a new life – an opportunity for a transformed existence.
What’s so great about being new? I’m glad you asked. New is us getting a clean slate; I don’t know about you but I have definitely made several errors (intentional and unintentional) and I appreciate the additional chance (yes, I needed more than a 2nd one). New says to our past, although you are still there, your purpose is different. Past, you used to define who they were and what they can do, now you are a footnote to their story. New is not something we can achieve or earn, new is a gift. New doesn’t necessarily change our circumstances, but it can change how we view our reality (2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:4 and Rom. 8:18 – 21). How about you? Have you been made new? Blessings, Rev. Antoinette Do you remember your 1st crush? No, I don’t need their name; I’m merely asking do you remember being a little girl and having your 1st crush? How you thought he was the most wonderful person in the world; how you ‘practiced’ writing your name (but with your 1st name and his last name); how your heart raced whenever he was near and how, because you were a little girl, you giggled when he looked at you.
Well, more than likely, you are a grown woman now. You know the difference between a crush, infatuation, obsession and real love (prayerfully, you’ve experienced all except someone being unnaturally obsessed with you). A crush is normally experienced by only 1 person in the ‘relationship’ – sometimes the other person isn’t aware there’s someone who has feelings for them. Infatuation is a bit deeper but it still isn’t experienced in a mutually beneficial relationship between 2 parties who have the same level of commitment to each other. Obsession is when 1 person desires or claims possession of another, including when the other party rejects being in a relationship with them. Love, real, love is experienced when 2 parties embrace the other (flaws and all) and real love allows both persons to retain their value as individuals, separate, thinking entities and as complete beings. There are a few loves in my life: my husband, our children, family, friends but most of all is the love for the One who loved me 1st. This special One loved me when I didn’t exhibit the best (or brightest) of behaviors (Rom. 5:8) and this love embraces, encircles and stands guard over me. Did I fall in love with the One? YES! This love is where I place my trust for now and eternity and whenever I think about the depths, width, height and completeness of it (Eph. 3:18), I am in awe. What about you? Have you fallen in love with the One? If not, please allow me to set up a blind date for you with the One who will change your life. Blessings, Rev. Antoinette
Have you ever been in a place emotionally where you felt drained? Where is seemed as if one part of you wants to get it together but the other part is tired of trying to do so. I’m not talking about clinical depression (when you should seek treatment from a health care professional) but a case of the ‘blues’. I’m of the opinion we’ve all suffered from at least 1 case of the blues (if you haven’t keep living, its coming). So, since the question (at least in my mind) isn’t if we’ll suffer from the blues but what we do when we suffer from it. Yes, I occasionally seek treatment from Ben & Jerry’s; in a bowl of my hubby’s chili (with cornbread) or at a shoe store but more times than not I engage in self talk where I speak life, health and energy over myself. Please know, I genuinely appreciate each and every one of my friends, family and those with whom I worship and we encourage each other however they are not with me 24/7/365. Because they are not always with me, I tell myself I can like myself because “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14); I also tell myself although my current situation may be frustrating, it is not my final destination, I am not alone because “I am with you. . .” (Isaiah 41:10) and when it seems as though I’m fighting a battle no one else knows about or can appreciate, I tell myself “more than a conqueror because of the One who loves me” (Rom. 8:37 ). What about you? What’s your self talk? Does it encourage or discourage you? If it is the later, may I suggest you find another place to begin your talking points. Blessings, Rev. Antoinette |
AuthorRev. Antoinette Gatewood-Sykes, Inspirational Speaker Archives
May 2019
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