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?

 

Our Daily Bread’s Discovery House Releases ‘Our Help: Devotions on Struggle, Victory, Legacy’ (Including 45 African-American Authors)!

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Hello World,

While black history is relevant every day of every year, it is during Black History Month that black people can truly reflect on the fact that we’ve come a mighty long way! My favorite time to reflect on that fact is when I spend my time alone with the Lord each morning! It is during those times with the Lord that I journal about what is going on with me and others as it relates to my personal relationship with God, read Christian materials and ponder what message God is trying to communicate to me through them and pray and thank God for what is behind and what is ahead. There have been many, many books that I have read during my quiet time and I’m always looking for more! And it is especially helpful and meaningful when I can get my hands on materials that speak to my heritage.

If that is true for you too, I’m sure you will be glad to know that Our Daily Bread Ministries, the bedrock company for devotional materials in the country if not the world, through its Discovery House has released Our Help: Devotions on Struggle, Victory, Legacy from Editors Joyce Dinkins and Diane Proctor-Reeder! 

Below is a description of Our Help featuring a cover illustrated by Coretta Scott King Book Awards medalist Jan Spivey Gilchrist and including entries from  45 black authors:

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.” –Psalm 46:10 NLT

God has given us an open invitation to spend time in His presence, reflecting on His power and majesty and our faith in Jesus Christ. And every time we accept this opportunity to go before His throne, we grow stronger in our relationship with the One who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Our Help presents a variety of short devotions and feature articles, sprinkled with creative poetry and inspiring thoughts that offer hope and encouragement as we endeavor to do God’s will.
Speaking to the hearts of those in ministry, this engaging devotional includes:

> A mosaic of stories from multiple generations
> Reflection questions and suggested Bible readings
> A Scripture index and resources for personal or small-group use

Our Help invites us to reflect on God’s wisdom that’s available for every adversity; to remember the victories He has already provided; and to realize the hopeful future He gives to all generations that rely on Him.

Click on THIS LINK to read a sample!

Also, below is a video of a few of the authors speaking about their entries:

AND if you are interested in receiving a FREE HARDCOVER copy of Our Help: Devotions on Struggle, Victory, Legacy, leave a comment including a little known black history fact. The person who has the most interesting black history fact (in my opinion) will receive a free book from me. That means that you have to come back to the blog after you’ve commented so that I can tell you to e-mail your mailing address to me 🙂 .

Any thoughts?

Pastor Jamal Bryant’s Ex-Wife Gizelle Bryant Pens New Novel Loosely Based on Her Life!

Hello World,

One of my favorite ways to relax on a Sunday evening is to watch The Real Houseswives of Atlanta. While Real Housewives of Potomac star Gizzelle Bryant doesn’t live in the A, I wonder what her ex-husband Dr. Jamal Bryant, who recently became the new senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia thinks about his ex-wife’s new book “My Word?” The novel, which is being published by Brown Girls Books, according to Gizzelle’s Instagram page  is “loosely based on my dramatic, happy, fun, sad, crazy life.”

Below is the description of the book, which can be pre-ordered before it’s official debut on April 3o:

After marrying her college sweetheart, Ginger Williams gave up her own professional dreams to help her husband follow his dream of building a megachurch. It’s not long before Ginger and her husband, Jeremy, turn a small D.C. church into a burgeoning empire….catapulting the couple into a popular powerhouse.

But with a bigger spotlight comes more temptation…and the power is corrupting Jeremy in ways Ginger never imagined. When she seeks the advice of her peers on the First Ladies’ Council, she’s shocked when they tell her to accept Jeremy’s infidelities so she doesn’t damage the church and affect the many business opportunities coming their way.

With every part of her life—family faith, and finances—hanging in the balance, Ginger must decide if she will continue to live in the shadow of the sins of her husband…or face life on the other side of the pulpit.

Is Ginger really Gizzelle? And is Jeremy really Jamal? That would only make sense…And Gizelle, with some rosary beads dangling from her red lips, is the cover model for her upcoming novel so….My Word For Real!

Gizzelle wrote about the inspiration for “My Word” on her Bravo blog

“I have lived a very interesting life. I am now in a space where I want to share tidbits of my story in a fictitious way on my terms… Again, whether I wrote one book or 17, this is FICTION and I can’t nor do I want to damage the black church…”

Although both Dr. Jamal Bryant and Gizzelle Bryant (or Jeremy and Ginger 🙂 ) have spoken about what broke up their marriage, they seem to be getting along well right now, at least according to Gizzelle’s Instagram’s page…

She congratulated him about coming to New Birth….

Dr. Bryant will officially be installed as senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on March 10!

 

And on last Father’s Day, Gizzelle said this about Dr. Bryant…

So will you be buying “My Word?”

Any thoughts?