Author

APOM Team

Teaching, equipping, and helping God's messengers.

Lifestyle

5 Encouraging Reminders Every Woman Needs

by APOM Team
written by APOM Team

Sometimes, coffee isn’t enough! We all could use a little pick-me-upper and a little motivation! Here are five quotes that’ll encourage you and get you going!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Embrace your unique dreams and pursue them with confidence. Your belief in yourself fuels your journey toward achieving what you envision. Keep faith in your abilities, and remember that every step forward is a step closer to your dreams.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott

Challenges and setbacks are part and parcel of life, but they teach resilience and strength. Embrace them as opportunities to grow, knowing that you have the ability to navigate through life’s storms and come out stronger.

“You are enough just as you are.” – Meghan Markle

Your value doesn’t lie in external validations or comparisons with others. Believe in your worth and remember that you are enough in your uniqueness, strength, and authenticity. Embrace who you are without reservation.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer

Focus on what brings you joy and fulfillment rather than solely on external achievements. When you align your actions with what truly makes you happy, success will naturally follow. Your personal well-being is the foundation of your professional success.

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

Don’t wait for others to initiate change or take action. Recognize your own power to make a difference, whether in your career, community, or personal life. Your individual contributions can have a profound impact, so take the lead and inspire others by your example.

These short but powerful reminders help you embrace your potential, worth, happiness, resilience, and individuality. And, although it’s not a quote, remember Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Continue to let your life shine ☀

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

God Still Saves!

by APOM Team
written by APOM Team

After having been raised a Christian and drifting away from my faith in 2016 due to influence, I had to rededicate my entire life to the Lord. In 2022 I gave my life to Christ Jesus as an adult and got baptized for the second time. This time was different though. It was different because this time around I made a conscious choice to do so. Since giving my life to Christ and getting baptized my life has never been the same. I can now confidently say I know the Father, and I trust Him to lead every step forward. He has shown me that despite the flaws of His children, He still saves.

Unfortunately, life has not always been the way it is today. I was led into new-age spirituality by an ex-boyfriend and outside influences at 20. Eventually, I lost my zeal for Christ and slowly felt His presence leave me. On the other hand, I was manifesting the material things I wanted, traveling the world and living in what I thought was freedom at the time. I started to lose my faith in Jesus completely and seek the approval/validation of man. There was a season when I went from studying bible verses to diligently studying new-age spirituality and astrology. The world of pagan beliefs became attractive to me because it meant instead of waiting on God I could manifest, my deepest desires overnight. What they do not tell you is that when you get things quickly and easily, you also lose them quickly and easily. My life took a 360-degree turn from church every Sunday faithfully and believing God was my lord and savior, to watching my mother die from stage four breast cancer and completely denouncing Christ without awareness that I had done it. I felt hurt, abandoned, and forgotten by God.

You see, the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) Sometimes what he steals is your discernment, what he kills is your faith, and what he destroys is your perception of God’s love. He manipulates you in your weakest moments to think that the grass is greener in hell than it is in the Garden of Eden. In the bible, it states, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:7-9) This verse taught me that it did not matter how “Christian” I was in the past. My lack of trust in God paired with the enemy’s influence, gave room for the enemy to come in and destroy what only God had the power to build up. No one had taught me that lukewarm beliefs rooted in grieving the loss of my mother would lead to full-blown unbelief. No one warned me about how the devil comes as an angel of light. No one had taught me that without God’s covering, I would be vulnerable to many life-changing attacks. But… God still saved me.

If it were not for God’s grace, the devil’s plot over my life would have left me dead. The statistics of being a single mother, having mental health issues, low income, being an orphan, verbal abuse, and being a recipient of domestic violence would have kept me bound. God’s grace ensured that despite my fall, He is a God that can turn everything for my good. I write this as a testimony to tell you this one message. God still saves. He saved before, he saves now, and he will do it again. So do not grow weary in good doing, and do not lose faith in those who you have prayed for. God is still in the business of saving.

I am 28 years old now, and God has healed me from the death of my parents due to terminal disease. He brought me out of a long-term abusive relationship with a narcissistic man parading as a man of God. He saved me from domestic abuse and protected me through every blow. He carried me from a discouraged single mother to a wise young woman on fire for Christ! He brought me from homeless to healed, and from broken to breakthrough. What more can the God who still saves do for you? It was not easy, and I will not lie to you and say it gets easier. I will say that with God, my yoke is easy and my burdens are light because He saves me from carrying life alone. I had to die to my flesh and am still shedding dead layers as you read these words. Overall, God still saved me. Not because I am perfect, or because I am more important, but because He is still in the business of saving lost souls.

GOD STILL SAVES!!! Psalm 116:8

For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling

 

– JaNae Reese

Faith-Based Content Creator & Life Coach

YouTube: Faith-based content that covers all things God, Holistic Health, and Self Care! Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmd_jzcNZgRlJv5H5PfpXUQ Link to my new E-Book: https://payhip.com/b/jzJek Link to Christian Coaching Services: https://payhip.com/GuavasGraceMinistry

1 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Entertainment

Jasmine’s Playlist

by APOM Team
written by APOM Team

Believe it or not, one of the challenges for many Christians lies in their playlist.  So many Christians struggle with finding music they like or music that fits their mood or their personality. Music is universal and connects with millions of people in many ways. Music also has different expressions, and the track’s words amplify those expressions. As humans, we all express ourselves differently and through different mediums. We express ourselves through words, body language, make-up, fashion, art, creativity, and so much more. But, one of the main mediums of expression we all use and love is music.

There is a song created for every feeling. There’s a song for happiness, sadness, madness, frustration, celebrations, love, fun, etc. Your song selection expresses your mood or what you want your mood to be. It’s the same for believers. Sometimes we want to express our love for God through a slow ballad or an 808. Sometimes we need music that relates to our current situation or helps us get through those situations. Sometimes, we need music that we can just ride out to.

These many expressions were not always allowed in Christian music. If it wasn’t gospel, it was worldly. If it had an 808, it was worldly. If it included rap or anything that looked like the genres of the world, it was worldly. Music being confined in this kind of box caused many Christians, especially young Christians, to gravitate toward other genres or different expressions of music. Today, many Christian artists have broken outside of the box and found their expressions and ways to convey their love for God, that are authentic to them.

Jasmine Griffin recently gave her life to Christ and it was important for every part of her life to align with her faith, including her music. Jasmine wanted to find music that could express her love for Christ through sounds that she knows and loves. We had an opportunity to chat with Jasmine about music and how she was able to swap out her current playlist and replace it with Christian artists that still have all the sounds she loves.

Interview

As a new convert, how important was curating a Christian playlist for you?

“For me music is therapeutic, so this was a vital part in maintaining my path to Christ and the journey to live in a way that’s pleasing to God.  I realized that worldly music would trigger old traumas in a negative way that would have me sit in grief, anger, or whatever emotion was centered in that trauma. Or it would ignite my ego and arrogance in a way that conflicted with the teachings I’ve learned about the spirit of Jesus.”

How did you categorize your playlist?

“I categorized my playlist based on my core vibes and mood. If I need emotionally uplifting music I go to R&B. If I need feel-good, living-in-the-moment vibes, I found light-hearted music that still had substance. And if I wanted to have a good time and listen to rap, I listen to my Christian Trap playlist.  I have a few songs set aside that I turn on to calm me down if I find myself getting angry or frustrated. It’s a tool belt and based on what I need at that moment is what each playlist is for.”

What are the common misconceptions people have about Christian music or gospel artist?

“In full transparency, I thought it would be like old-school gospel, kirk franklin, or Mary Mary type vibes. I love their music but I think most people think it’s boring. Most of the gospel music we heard had no real beats or just instruments in the background, real old-school vibes. I mean don’t get me wrong, every now and then it’s ok, and some classics I still listen to. But when you’re coming from Sza or Future type music, a lot of times the beat captivates you way before the lyrics, so you fall in love with the beat and that’s what you want to hear. So to find Christian music with amazing beats and uplifting lyrics and the artist still speaks on where they came from, how they were delivered, and the struggles of their journey is inspiring! It’s an absolute YES for me!”

Are there any changes you’ve noticed since changing your music selection?

“I don’t listen to worldly music at ALL. Not because I’m forcing myself but because I have no need to. Why would I listen to music that even if it’s subconscious, has me festering in negative thoughts? Or lyrics destroying the lives of our people and glorifying all the things that have broken us. My mood and mindset have changed. Honestly, I find I have way more good days than bad. I’m not easily triggered by little mishaps throughout the day and when I am, I turn on one of my favorite songs, and the first thing I hear is, ” I HAD SOME BEEF WITH THE DEVIL SO I HAD TO HOP IN THE STU
. “ who can stay frustrated or angry? Like yessssss get behind me satan! Then I move around, thank God for giving me the power and wisdom to differentiate the thoughts provoked by the enemy, my flesh, and I thank him for replacing my thoughts with his thoughts.”

 What are the main differences between your old playlist and your new one?

“The only real difference is my new playlist speaks life into my life and my journey on a fire beat. My old playlist gave life to all the things that highlighted the ego, grief, pride, and just all of the flesh that I’m in the process of killing.”

Playlist Links

We had an amazing time chatting with Jasmine! As you can see she’s authentic, raw, and on fire for Christ! Do you need to swap out your playlist? Well, we’ve linked her playlists below.

Playlist One

Playlist Two

**Please do your due diligence and sift through the songs. Posting these links does NOT mean APOM supports or agrees with the artist’s lyrical content, the artist’s personal beliefs, or their biblical beliefs.**

1 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
LifestyleWellness

Everything is not Okay!

by APOM Team
written by APOM Team

It’s so funny how we are expected to operate in the world today. Everything is all good. “Always wear your happy face
never let them see you sweat.” We’re ungrateful or selfish if we’re not all good. Our marriages are perfect, our country is thriving, and our children are perfect. Money is up, we got this! Do you know what’s also up? Suicide and school shootings. Addiction and domestic abuse. Children are being exploited and trafficked, and governments are being destroyed by ego and power. Need I say more?

The reality is, sometimes, we are just NOT in a good space and that is completely normal. The major problem in culture today is that truth is not revealed or accepted often enough.  We are afraid to take off the masks that hide our true identities and we put on all the “stuff” to make it appear that everything is completely fine, like we were born this way and just deal with it, but we are hurting internally and pushing things down as if they are not there. It’s causing a spiral of behaviors that are often corrupt and unnatural.

The good news is that there is a way to see reality and be at peace in it. No, everything is not always the best, and no, not everything is all bad all the time. There are beautiful moments in life and there are challenging times. God can and will use it ALL!

Let It Up and Out

The only way we can deal with trauma, abuse, anger, stress, lack, and anything else is by allowing it to come up. Once we allow it up, what’s next? Listed below are a few practical ways to begin your journey to wholeness, healing, and deliverance from those things that have held you captive or in a place of not being okay.

  1. Allow it to come out. Sometimes thoughts will come up from past experiences, hurt, or even seeing things around us today that burden us. We begin “busy work” trying to push the hurt and pain down deep so that it can’t come up. Chances are, if we practice hiding instead of coping, the behaviors we exhibit, will make unresolved trauma evident.
  1. Don’t be ashamed. You need to know that Jesus has paid the penalty for all of us and that means that old things are passed away. If you have done something in your past that you are not proud of, or that you feel ashamed of, understand that a big part of your journey will be saying goodbye to yesterday as you move forward today. Also, everything is not your fault. If something was done to you or spoken to you that was not in alignment with God’s Word, speak this with me
 “It was not my fault that _____________ happened to me and I will no longer wear the shame of it! I am free in Jesus’ Name!”
  1. Ask questions. I know there is a huge stigma associated with asking God questions however, IT IS OKAY TO ASK YOUR FATHER QUESTIONS! Don’t be afraid or feel like you are bothering Jesus by asking questions.
  1. Pray, confess, and repent. Prayer is our telephone to God. No, you don’t have to come up with any structured plan for prayer. I started my journey simply by speaking to Him like I would a friend. I cursed back then, so a few “not so pretty” words would even come out during prayers (out of raw emotion). I was authentically myself and Jesus knew me well enough to know my heart. Come with a pure mind, heart, and pure intention before God, he will begin to develop your prayer life. The more you pray, the more you will be sharpened. Use this time to confess and repent. Pray over not only yourself but over the world. Pray over the people that are committing crimes and those being hurt by them. Remember, this is so much bigger than us, but it is all (good and bad) used for God’s glory.
  1. Filter what you are consuming. Examples are the news, music, and media. The news cycles its stories. If you listen to the news every second of the day, you are consuming all that content repeatedly (I’ll let you guess how that affects your brain. What if you took that same time being intimate with God?). Sometimes your feelings can be affected by what you hear or what you’re around.
  1. Count what’s good more than what’s not. The truth of the matter is that there will always be something to work on, to pray for, and to heal from. ALWAYS! The importance of thinking about those things that are good will help you focus on those areas more than focusing on what isn’t.

To sum it all up, this is a reminder that it’s completely normal to NOT be okay. Our mental and spiritual well-being is vital to our survival. You will have moments where you are wonderful, and you will have moments where a thought will try and creep up to remind you of your past or present circumstances. When that happens, follow the above instruction and trust that God will lead you to peace. Always remember
 weeping endures for A night, but JOY comes in the morning!

2 comments
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

A Little Prayer Goes Along Way!

by APOM Team
written by APOM Team

Prayer doesn’t have to be a long exhaustive activity. A common misconception is that your prayers have to be long for them to work, but that’s not true. It’s not the length of your prayers that matters, but your heart’s posture and what you say that matters most to God. This doesn’t negate the fact that you should dedicate an ample amount of time to prayer, however, we know that’s not always possible. Don’t let that discourage you from praying, there’s still time to fit prayer into your schedule.

God is closer than you realize. The moment you call out to God he hears you. Regardless if it’s one-word or one-hundred words, your words reach the throne of God and heaven will respond to you. Never underestimate the power of a little prayer, especially if you’re a child of God. A little prayer goes along way and it’s packed with so much power. One little prayer can move heaven and mountains in your life. One little prayer can disrupt and stop the plans of the enemy. One little prayer can give you the strength and the courage to overcome daily challenges. All it takes is one little prayer to a big and powerful God.

There are so many great benefits in saying little prayers throughout your day. Those little prayers keep you connected with God and keep the line of communication open. It keeps you active in spiritual warfare, constantly combatting the enemy’s attacks. It keeps your atmosphere rich with God’s presence. Lastly, it builds a routine of praying without ceasing. We’re going to give you five powerful, short, and effective prayers to say throughout your day. Remember, it’s not about how long you pray, but how effective you are in prayer.

A Prayer for God’s Help

God,

Your word says when the righteous cries out, you hear them. I am crying out to you because you’re the only one who can help me. I boldly approach the throne of grace with great confidence, and without fear to ask that you ____________________________________ (say your request).  I thank you for supplying every one of my needs and settling this issue in my life.

Hebrews 4:16

A Prayer for God’s Strength

God,

I am weary. Your word says that you give strength to the weary and for those who have no might, you give them power. As a recipient of your word, I thank you that it’s already happening. I am becoming stronger and walking in great power! I have the strength to keep going and the power to finish strong.

Isaiah 40:29

A Prayer Against Worry

God,

I give you ________________________ (list your worries). I release them into your hands. I exchange my worry for your perfect peace, and I choose to trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

A Prayer for Direction

God,

I acknowledge you as the God of my life and every part of my life. Your word promises if I acknowledge you, you will direct my path.  I choose not to lean on my own understanding, but to trust you with the direction of my life. Be the light unto my pathway and show me which way to go.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 119:105

A Prayer for Joy

God,

I pray that your spirit comforts me. I come against the spirit of sadness and heaviness that’s trying to steal my joy. Let my joy be rooted in you and how good you are, despite what’s going on in my life. Although my circumstances may change, my joy will come from a God who never changes. I will remain secure in you.

Psalm 94:19

 

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail