Why Sister(Sista)hood Matters

Hey Sis! In our community of Sistas, we like to say "I See You Sis!." It is important to support and show support to each other as women. As Sistas in the body of Christ I want to offer this gentle reminder of why sisterhood matters.

Support and Empowerment

Sisterhood provides a support system where women can lean on each other for emotional, mental, and physical support. We can share their struggles and challenges with each other and offer advice, encouragement, and support to help each other overcome obstacles. Additionally, women in sisterhood can empower each other to reach their full potential by sharing their knowledge, experiences, and resources.

Unity and Solidarity

Women in sisterhood create a sense of unity and solidarity among each other. We can use our collective power to advocate for change and challenge societal norms and beliefs that marginalize us. When we come together, our voices are amplified, and we can create a more significant impact in our communities.

Friendship and Camaraderie

Sisterhood also fosters friendships and camaraderie among women. When we allow ourselves to be open, we can build deep, meaningful connections with each other based on shared experiences, values, and interests. These connections can lead to lifelong friendships that bring joy, laughter, and emotional fulfillment.

Healing and Growth

Sisterhood can also facilitate healing and growth for women who have experienced trauma, abuse, or discrimination. A lot of us have suffered in silence in dealing with past abuse and trauma. We can find solace and validation among other women who have shared similar experiences, although this can be a difficult wound to revisit. However, we can offer a heart that is sensitive to intercede on our Sista's behalf. Additionally, sisterhood can offer us opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, and self-improvement.

I close with this...WE NEED ONE ANOTHER. I need your prayers and you need my prayers. We must help each other stand and stay strong. As the younger folks say today - Life Be Lifeing...LOL and it's so true. So I encourage us to follow the instructions Jesus gives Peter in Luke 22:32, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.." So my commitment to you Sis, is that I am praying for you that your faith fails not and when you have been lifted, encouraged and enlightened that you go and strengthen another Sista.

I love you my Sista,

Renee

It's Time to Fight Back (Part 1)

The Dreaded Question:

I recall the irritation that would come over me whenever asked “How are you feeling today?” Truth is I was feeling horrible and didn’t want to be reminded of it. For me, it was like just having to answer that question put me in depression mode. I knew people would feel sorry for me and I honestly didn’t want that. I had already become too comfortable in what I call the ‘pity me please’ zone. It was a very unfamiliar place and I hated being there. Unfortunately that’s where I landed every time I was asked how I was feeling. I wanted to escape my body. The real me wanted to come out and say to people…”What you see ain’t me!” I knew who I was or once was and I longed deeply for her to come ALIVE again. She needed to be resurrected.

So when it was time to answer I never said just how bad I was feeling. I was hurting physically more than I let on. My emotional and mental state was at an all time low. Now, I never said aloud that I was depressed because I didn’t want to make that declaration over my life out of my mouth. I understand the power that lies in the tongue, meaning in what I say as well as the power of thought. I am what I think. And because I knew if I said it, the word out of my mouth would be fulfilled and I didn’t want that to be my fate.

Is This Pain My Punishment:

You know how prisoners of war are often captured and tormented for the purpose of giving up information on their strategy to conquer or kill their enemy? Well, this might sound extreme, but that’s how I felt. Extreme torment night after night. The pain was too overwhelming to describe. In my heart and mind I knew this was more than just a health issue. This thing was trying to take me out. And it almost did. Was I ready or prepared to leave my children, my grandchildren, my mom and dad and my siblings? ABSOLUTELY NOT! At least not in my heart of hearts. I longed to be with them and laugh with them and make more memories with them. Truth is I felt like a burden to them. And I wanted them to be at ease and relieved because I knew they were so concerned about my well-being.

Truth be told, doubt began to set in quite heavily. I questioned my level of faith. Perhaps I was being punished for sins of my past. But that couldn’t be the case, not when I know I confessed my sins to the Father and I know He forgave and didn’t remember me. The battle in my mind was that I did remember them and that was the part of the problem. Guilt was present. Another culprit in my life was fear. Now put all three of those together: doubt, guilt and fear…major victory blockers. I knew that was going to have to change. I soon came to realize this was more than an autoimmune disease that was disrespecting my body and causing excruciating pain. It was an all out spiritual attack. It came for my mental capacity. It came for my joy. It came for my peace. It literally came for my future. It came for every prophetic word that was spoken over my life that I had received by faith. It was time to fight back!

Renee

God Knows How to Pay You for the Pain that Pushes You into Your Purpose with Power

The pit, slavery, Potiphar’s house and prison didn’t look like promotion for Joseph and the fulfillment or appropriate steps to his dream but they were. So in your life, know that the road to the fulfillment of your dream is not paved with pearls and pleasure. Instead it is filled with pain, empty promises from people and problem people. None of these look like an upward trajectory to your promised land, but they are leading you into purpose which positions you for the fulfillment of your dreams.

Joseph served purpose in every place and was successful in each place.

1. Look for the blessings in these places

2. Remain faithful to God in these places….meaning do the right thing

3. Serve in these places.

4. Your service in these places will cause your name to be called in the prospered place….the palace.

5. Your gift will be the answer in the prospered place which positions you to get paid from the prospered place and all of a sudden you are standing, living, breathing, leading in your promised place with power which is the fulfillment of your dream.

Sermon Excerpt by Renee