STATUS QUO

Thanks to my girl "Something Special" over at Speak Responsibly, reading her most recent post "Know the Speed Limit" gave me some ideas to write this article.

STATUS QUO by definition means: The existing condition or state of affairs.

My question to you is do you live your life "status quo"? What is your life a representation of? Does it represent the world in which we live in today? Or do you live your life according to the standard that is set by God? After reading an article over at Speak Responsibly I realized that a lot of people are living their lives according to the "norm". People nowadays just go with the flow. Whatever has become normal the people of today's society are OK with it. Remember when back in the day TV shows didn't even show married couples sleeping in the same bed? Now not only do you see them sleeping in the same bed, but you see them acting out sex in what they call a PG-13 film, which is supposed to be appropriate for children! Is that the norm that you live your life by? Who's standard do you measure yourself against? Is it the world's or is it God's?

You know it's funny how as society becomes relaxed and comfortable with the direction that we're moving in, those that happen to hold on the values and morals that were instilled in us in the past are considered to be out of touch. It's one thing to be out of touch with reality or being naive and a completely different thing to just choose not to live according to other people standards. We weren't put here in order to be people pleasers and tickle someone else's fancy. We were put here to serve God and be an example for those that do not know Him. We as Christians, have to set the standard, we have to live differently in order to set ourselves apart the way that God already has, otherwise how can one tell the difference between us and someone who isn't saved?

A lot of people out there who don't go to church, say they don't go because the church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites. They do what they want from Monday through Saturday but come Sunday morning they are tongue talking, bible quoting, "holy rollers" for the Lord! We have got to stop! How can we expect people to want to follow God and do what His will commands for us to do, if we as His people are setting a poor example? None of us are perfect, and I know that better than anybody. There are times where I look at myself and say why am I doing this, I know better?! There are also times where I see where I was and where I am and realize how easy it is to fall back into the ways of the world. See salvation is a process that is on going. We as born again believers may not change "outwardly" over night. Our souls are instantly changed, but it takes our flesh more time to catch up. The great thing about the God we serve is He is a loving God, He is compassionate and He is patient. Though through our walk we may at times go stray, we can never go too far off course before He calls us to come back home. I can remember times in my life, where I was so far from His will that I couldn't hear His voice speak to my spirit anymore, but just when I got to my lowest point, I heard Him call out for me.

So even when we get sucked back in to the world, He always knows when to reel us back in. There is never a reason that it is OK to just live your life according to the norm or "status quo". We have a standard, God's standard, that we are called to live. So I challenge you all to look at your life and measure yourself to determine who's standards are you living according to.... the world's or God's?

Thank you for joining me at The "J" Spot.

Daddy's Girl aka MzCeo

SANTA, JUST PUT A MAN UNDER MY TREE!!

This one is for all of my singles out there. What do you want for Christmas? That's the question a lot of people are being asked at this time of year and most responses are generic in that they are almost all the same, with requests of the cutest outfit or the hottest accessory of the season or maybe even a bottle of your favorite perfume. But when you go home at night all you'd really like to ask for is a beautiful man to slide up under your tree!

What is it about this time of year that has the lonely missing what they don't have? What is it about the holiday season that has you craving that significant other that you thought you were fine without? Could it be that as the years go by you are one of the only one's left at the dinner table without a date? Or is the latest news of your younger cousin who just got engaged to what seems like the perfect guy that you have yet to find? Or maybe it's the news that you're going to be a new auntie or a god mommy within the next year? Sometimes around the holidays you look around and you see where everyone else is in their lives and you notice more than ever where you are in yours.

Instead of it being a happy time of year, you find yourself cuddling your pillow tighter hoping that if you squeeze it hard enough it'll turn into a man. Unfortunately every morning you wake, it's still a pillow and it'll always be. Sometimes, you find yourself at home reminiscing on past relationships, that may not have been all of that, but in your lonely state you start to say 'well they weren't that bad' and even decide to call and allow them to pay you a visit or two. After those episodes of delirium you feel even worse than you had before you called and remember quite vividly why things didn't work out in the first place! Those acts of desperation are the last things that we want to do.

I don't know why we get so hard on ourselves around this time of year, that we want for what we don't have. I think the true meaning of the holidays are to be focused on our haves instead of our havenots. So though you may desire that perfect man that you can call all your own, and that beautiful diamond ring to show off or maybe even to share that you are about to take on one of life's most blessed events ever, focus on the things that you do have like great friends, a loving family and a whole lot to offer that special one when he finally does find you.

So this year, I challenge you that as you gather around the dinner table with your family and friends to have Christmas dinner to instead of looking around at your kin and noticing what they have that you don't, be thankful for all that you do have. Be thankful that you are alive and have your health, be thankful for your family and your friends and as you continue to be true to yourself, you never know who they may have invited to stop by for dinner!

Lighten up, tis' the season!