Category Archives: Prayer

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Why ‘Insecure’ Actress Yvonne Orji is Right To Be Happy Following Her Breakup With Emmanuel Acho…

Hello World,

Insecure actress Yvonne Orji is not my friend in real life, but she is my friend in my head for many reasons. I interviewed the Christian actress for THE LOOKOUT in 2017, and I really admired her stance on virginity. This is what she told me:

“From the time I was 17 until now that I’m 33 going on 34, I’ve seen too much. I’ve seen the hand of God over the years in my life, and this one thing that he asks of me. I mean he asks many things of us. But this one thing [virginity] that is a roadblock for so many people, he’s been so faithful to me in the darkest of my days, it’s no biggie.”

Although I am married now, I was single for several years before then and I know her struggle. Also, since Yvonne is the first generation of her Nigerian parentage to grow up in America, I identify with her on that topic as well. My parents are Jamaican, but I was born and raised in America. She has even created a show based on her experience as a first generation American. Below is more about her show:

Aside from this series, Yvonne is also developing her own half-hour sitcom, FirstGen, which is executive produced by media mogul Oprah Winfrey and actor David Oyelowo. Semibiographical, the show features a Nigerian girl who drops out of medical school for a stand-up comedy career and the shenanigans that ensue after her strict African mother discovers her plans. “This is my vision so it’s a very family-friendly show.”

If you would like to read the entire story, go to lookoutmag.com.

So in July 2018 when I learned that Yvonne had a new boyfriend after openly expressing her desire to meet her mate, I was hoping he was the one and wrote a happy blog post about it – Christian Actress Yvonne Orji Shares Prayer She Used to Attract Her New Boyfriend Emmanuel Acho! Emmanuel seemed like he could be the one she was waiting for…I mean his name means Messiah first of all and he is a Christian! And then they had the Nigerian connection. His father is from Nigeria. Also, although he works as an ESPN analyst, he has an artistic side as he can sing and play the piano! And on top of all of that, both are committed to charitable causes. Yvonne worked in Liberia with Population Services International, and Emmanuel worked in Nigeria with Living Hope Christian Ministries! And to put it all together in a pretty package, as a former Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker, her man was all swole and stuff! When Yvonne announced their relationship on Instagram, she even said, “Jesus out here answering prayers on a Sunday.” He did seem like the answer to prayer…

But Yvonne Orji recently told her friend and author Luvvie Ajayi, who also has Nigerian heritage, on their Jesus and Jollof podcast that Emmanuel is no longer her man. Yvonne and Emmanuel have broken up. This is what she said about it, according to madamenoire.com:

“I just have to say, the reason I am so good and so happy is because I know how God works,” she said. “I have seen God’s MO so many times, that like in the way that you can be like, ‘Aw man, I thought this was it! I thought this was the one!’ God be like, ‘Oh that’s what you thought? I got the goods for you.’ It happened in my career when someone offered me a show and I was like, ‘This is it!’ and then the show went to nowhere. I got borderline depressed. Cut to Insecure. Cut to my life has changed.”

I believe Yvonne is right. Emmanuel may have been the prototype, but the finished product is on the way…and soon too…I’ve seen God do this many times in many areas of my life as well…But as it relates to romantic relationships…I remember in November 2009. I was despondent after yet another relationship blew up in my face…I had suffered through many breakups before but this one really took me out. This particular boyfriend/manfriend (I mean he was in his 30s at the time…) was one who I had dated before. When we first dated, he told me that he did not want to have a relationship. I wasn’t happy with his stance, but I respected his honesty. We remained friends for years. And then he changed his mind. My feelings hadn’t changed and I was available. It was so on until it wasn’t…It seemed cosmically cruel for life to play out that way…

But February 2010, the week of Valentine’s Day, I went out on a first date with the man who would become my husband…It was literally months after the breakup…Nothing but God…And if He did it for me, He can do it for you…

So Yvonne, you better be happy because I am claiming on your behalf that the one worth waiting for is on the way!

Any thoughts?

 

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Ebenezer Baptist Church Hosts Post-Election Reconciliation & Accountability Unity Service TONIGHT!

Hello World,

If you live in Atlanta, you know that the recent mayoral race was a hotly contested one resulting in a razor thin runoff that only wrapped up yesterday with Mary Norwood finally conceding the race despite her belief that  “there were some irregularities with the election,” according to the AJC. Mayor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms is the mayor, but she cannot lead the city without Norwood and others who care about the city. I would guess that is the reasoning behind Ebenezer Baptist Church hosting a Post-Election Reconciliation & Accountability Unity Service tonight at 7 p.m. According to WAOK, the service will be held in the old versus the new sanctuary. I pray that some of those mayoral candidates and the current Mayor-elect find their way to this service. Going to God and prayer should not be the last resort, it should be the first tactic to tackle a new challenge. Now that the end of the year is here and the next year is unknown, this is a prime opportunity to meet before God. See the flyer above for the details!

Any thoughts?

 

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Hollywood Preacher DeVon Franklin & ‘War Room’s Priscilla Shirer to Appear on ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ Friday for ‘Faithful Fridays!’

Hello World,

Each Friday in February a new, first-of-its-kind segment on The Dr. Oz Show takes an intimate look at the intersection of faith and medicine. To explore body and soul, Dr. Oz is joined by author, speaker and preacher DeVon Franklin, whom Oprah Winfrey calls “a bonafide dynamo . . . a different kind of spiritual teacher for our times.”

Dr. Oz and DeVon Franklin will be joined by top faith leaders—Hispanic leader Samuel Rodriguez, New York Times best-selling author and star of War Room Priscilla Shirer, and Hillsong New York Pastor Carl Lentz—who add their voices to the natural link between spirituality and well-being.

Week 1—Feb. 3
Blessed 30 Challenge—30 Days of Healthy, Blessed Living
Dr. Oz, DeVon Franklin and their panel of faith leaders—Carl Lentz, Samuel Rodriguez and Priscilla Shirer—issue the challenge to viewers to go from stressed to blessed in 30 days.

Week 2—Feb. 10
Miraculous Medical Recoveries Only God Can Explain
Joining Dr. Oz is Hillsong NYC’s Carl Lentz and Dr. Harly Rotbart, nationally renowned pediatrician, physician-scientist, parenting expert, speaker and educator and author of The Miracles Project.

Week 3—Feb. 17
Keeping the Faith Through Times of Loss
Kathie Lee Gifford recounts how faith helped her grieve losing her husband, noted professional football player and broadcaster Frank Gifford.

Week 4—Feb. 24
How to Tap into Your Faith for the Relationship, Career and Life You’ve Wanted
Dr. Oz, DeVon Franklin and their panel of faith leaders introduce The Dr. Oz Show to how faith can improve every area of your life and then conduct live interventions with people struggling with their faith.

“Faith and spirituality don’t live in a Sunday-sized compartment, or even weeklong just within the walls of a church building. Faith threads through every aspect of what makes life better,” says Dr. Oz.

Here is a sneak peek of Friday’s show!

In addition, my favorite Christian celebrity Sherri Shepherd is slated to appear and will share how she “has been coping with a serious health issue and the stress of headlines about her divorce. “

Also, DeVon Franklin and Priscilla Shirer’s father Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, are two of a plethora of interesting speakers to be featured at the Proclaim 17, the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) International Christian Media Convention to be held in Orlando, Florida Feb. 27-March 2.

Finally, DeVon Franklin recently received a book deal for his third book for “The Hollywood Commandments,” a spiritual guide for secular success which explores principles that will transform everything we think we know about God’s intention for our success by teaching us how to boldly live out the fullness of our calling in every area of our life: career, relationships and faith,” according to Publishers Marketplace.

Any thoughts?