Happiness is being a peacemaker!!!

Matthew 5:9
Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

   I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that ‘life is short,” so you’d better enjoy it! But how do you do that with bills piling up, children that never stop needing things, the house is falling apart, the car is acting up and your boss hates your stinking guts? Life can be overwhelming.

          It throws curve balls. Death happens unexpectedly. Accidents. A phone call can change your life… So then what?

          When it’s all over what would you want the people closest to you to say about you? “She was a tight-wad that never spent any money or did anything fun.” Or “you could never trust him because he was a liar and a flake. The man couldn’t be consistent to save his own life.” What do you want people to say about you?      

          If life is short or just a vapor I am going to make the best out of it and do you know what it is? You’re reading it. I was born to write. In school my teachers thought I had a learning disability because I wrote so fast but it’s because I loved it! To this day my handwriting is hard to read but that’s what computers were made for (easier communication). It wasn’t until I was in college and given an IQ test that my score was over 160. The specialist that tested me said sarcastically “you’re so smart you could probably see into the future!” I don’t take to math but if there is a mystery, if I need to recall a conversation word for word from 20 years ago La’Sandra has an answer!

          My writing will be here long after I am gone. I feel true freedom when I write. What makes you feel free? If the world is going to end tomorrow what would you want to have done with your life? I want to be a wife and mother. I love people and I love things that smell good and God gave me the dream of running and developing a body care line. What passion has He given you? By all means what ever it is make peace with it so you can do it. Being a peace maker first starts in your mind! Then peacemaking goes toward everyone and everything else and you see what the end result will be and what you will be called and you will not be called a failure!!!!

Matthew 5:9
Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

Can you tell if someone is lying to you? I know the truth!

  When I was younger I used to be naive like everyone else when it came to liars. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to people is a flake! A flake is someone that says they're going to meet you here or there and then doesn't show up, or do what they say they will do. Just like a flake of skin, what does it do? It dries up and falls off!
  I'm not perfect but I do know how to communicate! If I don't want to do something I will let you know but when that courtesy is not extended to me from someone else there will be a problem!!!
   When a person makes an arragement with you, they know in the back of their mind 9 times out of 10 if they will come through or not, (I'm speaking of a flaky pattern, not an emergency not to come through on something).

How do you spot if a person is being straight up or not?

Instructions

1. • 1
     Look for fidgeting. Lying often makes people restless with guilt. The pent-up energy created by this guilt or anxiety often manifests itself in seemingly pointless physical actions, such as repeatedly tying one’s shoes or obsessively cleaning glasses. This can be particularly true if the subject is lying to someone he has strong feelings about.
   • 2
     Ask questions. The responses someone gives while lying can be dead giveaways if you ask the right questions. For example, if you ask the same question to someone a few minutes after the original question, she may give a different answer, exposing their lie. Sometimes, answers that are too complete can also be a giveaway that someone is lying, particularly if the answers seem rehearsed.
   • 3
   • Listen to whether or not someone speaks in the first person. Liars often want to distance themselves from a lie and therefore avoid saying “I” when speaking.
   • 4
     Beware of someone who asserts his honesty. There is usually no need to swear that something is true or make promises on the souls of dead relatives to make a point. Liars often overemphasize the truth of their statements to compensate for the fact that the statements are actually lies.
   • 5
     Make eye contact. Liars are often ashamed of their lies and that makes it more difficult for them to maintain eye contact while speaking.
   • 6
     Observe physical signs. When someone lies, their pupils often dilate, their breath may become more rapid and their voice may rise in pitch.
   • 7
     Analyze yourself. Put yourself in the frame of mind as if you were lying yourself, and see how your words and behaviors change. Look for these same changes in the person you are observing.
   • 8
     Use your intuition. Sometimes there are no clear-cut indicators that someone is lying, but your intuition may still raise suspicion. In this case, you are probably picking up on a number of minor or subconscious indicators that something isn’t quite right. In aggregate, these indicators may give rise to the accurate impression that someone is indeed lying.

        I hope this helps to all of us that desire sincere working, family as well as romantic relationships. Some people have ADD and so they're late all the time and don't do it to hurt your feelings because well...no one is perfect. However if you're tired of the "wool being pulled over your eyes" or if you need confirmation of obeying your own intuition of what is truth and what is not when it comes to dealing with people, I hope this article helped.

God Bless!
La'Sandra

Pork: The host of harmful bacteria!

Consumer Report Investigation Says Pork Meat Tested Carries Harmful Bacteria

November 30th, 2012 AT2W Staff

Consumer Report Investigation Says Pork Meat Tested Carries Harmful Bacteria

People are still calling pork ‘the other white meat’ but really pork has been harmful long before they have recently found bacteria in stores carrying the meat. Must we remind everyone that pork comes from swine which is from the pig or hog. It also must be mentioned the pig and hog is very fatty animal and are fed spoiled leftover scraps off the ground on farms around the world. Now that you are reminded, would you still eat pork along with the bacteria found in them? We wonder why people eliminate pork from their diets and are vegetarians and vegans.
Read the report below and be informed!

A new Consumer Reports investigation of pork sold in grocery stores found that a startlingly large proportion of tested meat contained one or more potentially harmful bacteria, some of which showed signs of antibiotic resistance, raising new concerns about the safety of the national pork supply.
But the investigation didn’t find the pathogens traditionally associate with pork — trichinosis and salmonella — to be the most widespread problems. Instead, a whopping 69 percent of the pork chop and ground pork samples tested by the magazine contained Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria, which sickens about 100,000 people a year, many of them children. Eleven percent contained Enterococcus bacteria and 7 percent contained Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Another 4 percent contained salmonella and 3 percent contained listeria.
In general, the ground pork samples were more likely to harbor pathogens than the chop samples.
The overwhelming majority of the bacteria found in the samples was resistant to at least one form of antibiotic — ranging from 63 percent of the Enterococcus to 93 percent of the Staphylococcus aureus. And many of those that were resistant to one kind of antibiotic were also resistant to several others. Most experts believe that the widespread administration of non-therapeutic antibiotics in livestock — which makes animals grow more quickly than they otherwise would — contributes to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment.
But antibiotics aren’t the only drug given to livestock. The Consumer Reports investigators also found traces of the drug ractopamine, which promotes growth and leanness in pigs, in about a fifth of the samples tested. Ractopamine is legal and generally considered fairly safe in America, but it is banned in China, Taiwan and most of the EU, and has been associated with anxiety and restlessness among those who ingest too much.
The nearly 200 samples came from major grocery chains and national brands of pork from throughout the country.
Consumer Reports recommends that consumers cook all their pork to 160 degrees to ensure that the bacteria, at least, is killed. You can read the full report on the Consumer Reports website or in the January 2013 issue of the magazine.

There is nothing too hard for God! He saves racists too!!!

Former White Supremacist Encounters God at COGIC Church

9:30AM EST 11/27/2012 Bill Roberts

 

Elder Christopher Taylor (Facebook)

After a particularly divisive presidential election year, many Americans are keenly aware of barriers of understanding and communication that remain among races. But in one small, Columbia, Tenn., church, racial reconciliation is becoming the norm—even against all odds.
After a three-day revival, Elder Christopher J. Taylor, pastor of New Life Church of God in Christ (COGIC) was feeling good about the move of the Lord, yet nonetheless physically tired. He knew he had to press forward, as the church was hosting a Community Giveaway where hot soup and stew would be served, and clothes, shoes and houseware items would be distributed—all free of charge.
“We are not a wealthy church,” Pastor Taylor admits. “However, my wife and I agreed to go ahead with this outreach activity, because of the needs in our community.”
“Little becomes much in the hands of the Lord,” adds Shelley Taylor.
When Pastor Taylor pulled up to the church, there were people already waiting for the doors to open for the giveaway. Between 40 and 50 guests came to shop through the men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. Treat bags were distributed to the children, and hot food served. Pastor Taylor had a chance to dialogue with several families.
On Sunday morning, Pastor Taylor opened up the front door of the church to Clay, his fiancee, Wanda, and three children for Sunday School. To some, it would seem strange to see the African-American pastor welcoming in the white family. But for Pastor Taylor, it reflected what he and his wife have been witnessing at the church since he was installed as pastor in June. The church regularly welcomes whites, blacks and several mixed-race families at each service. What was once an all-black congregation is being quickly transformed to a community of racially diverse believers.
Before Sunday school, Clay made a confession to Taylor that would forever change both of their lives. It was not until altar call that Clay shared his testimony with the entire church. Clay was a leader in the Aryan Brotherhood White Supremacist Group. He acknowledges, “I have spent the last 5 years making folks’ lives a living hell.” But just the day before, after New Life’s three-day revival, Clay and his family came to the church for their community outreach.
Clay says he felt something when he shook hands with the pastor and talked with him. He knew it was God. Clay spent the entire night wrestling with himself and the Lord and discussing what he felt about the ministry. He knew the Lord was calling him to be saved and to join the ministry. He later told Taylor that God said he and New Life would, “take the city.”
His fiancee also went to the altar for prayer. With the laying on of hands, she felt the power of God and was convicted of her sins. She accepted Jesus Christ and joined the church. Clay is “on fire for the Lord,” and believes the Lord is calling him to one day minister to youth about the danger of gangs.

What is real customer service? Panera Bread in Perimeter wouldn't know it if it got scaulded with hot soup!!!

                     Today I went to a Panera Bread location accross the street from Perimeter Mall here in Dunwoody Georgia. I simply ordered a small bread bowl of french onion soup and I was told that the bread for the bowls was not ready and if I wouldn't mind waiting. After ten minutes I walked up to the counter where I was asked if I could wait and my soup was still sitting there! For those that know me I AM A GERMAPHOBE!!!!!!" I could just imagine people walking by and breathing on my food and anyone that knows food service all food should be served at 150 degrees! They let my soup just sit there!!!!
                       When I expressed my concerns to one of the people working there he shrugged his shoulders and then asked if I would like the soup warmed up? I said "I can look at it and it's cold, I want new soup." He immediatly threw it away obviously in disgust that I will not settle for cold soup. After the bread was out, the store manager brought my soup to my table and it still was not in a bread bowl! I began to fish the croutons out of the soup and then I over heard the young man ( who couldn't have been more than 19 years old) talk to the manager about how I asked for new soup and then mimicked me talking about how I didn't want soup that had been sitting.
                        I walked up to the front counter with the soup and I told the manager "I asked for soup in a bread bowl, not for what I was given to me in a cup. I also did not ask the opinion of your coworker talking mess about how I asked for fresh soup in a bread bowl! If he has the right to talk crap about me after I've paid my money then I deserve to ask for my money back!"

                         The manager was very nice and handed me my money right back while another Panera Bread employee tried to offer me a pastry and I would not accept anything else. I said " I should demand an apology but I will go and spend my money somewhere else!" And then I left with a forced smile.

                         I work in retail. I know how irritable standing on your feet all day can make a person. When people ask me a millions question after I've provided an accurate answer and still don't buy anything, I would never want a customer to tell me "they would rather spend their money somewhere else!" Because they can and I'm sure they have but not because I gave them an attitude or wouldn't do something that is apart of my job just because I didn't feel like it!

                         So I went to Five Guys  a little ways down the shopping center complex. I could have gone to some of the other places around but all the sudden I wanted a good burger! I walked in the door and got a very warm hello with a smile. I grabbed a few peanuts which I thought was a really good idea to give customers a little something to munch on while they wait. By the time I sat down my order was ready and was exactly what I ordered! It was so good and I was in and out in ten minutes!

                         Good customer service isn't hard to find. It finds those who really want money and want people to come to them over and over again! What's the secret weapon? Great and outstanding customer service! Every business should take note!!!

Is anyone else praying for Bobbi Christina Brown?

I have never met "Crissy" but my heart practically bleeds for the girl! EVERYONE CALM DOWN AND GIVE THE GIRL A BREAK!!!! I pray for her peace to be restored and for her to become happy again because when I watch the show "The Houstons: on our own", I wish everyone would just leave her alone!!!! I wish I knew her so I could tell her "do you need to come and stay with me?" Just so she could get some rest! Bobbi, if you ever come accross this message, "you are loved and have a lot of people in your corner! God is with you and His hand is on you because not everyone walks away from car accidents. I've been through 5 myself and only had a whiplash to show for it. God is watching over you!

ET Online/ November 28, 2012, 5:06 PM

Bobbi Kristina Brown in crash that sent car off the road

• Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of the late Whitney Houston,  was cited by police after being involved in a car accident Wednesday in which the vehicle left the road and traveled down an embankment.

Police in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta confirmed to ET that a passerby called 911 just before noon to report that the black Chevrolet Camaro had veered off the road and traveled through a wooded area, striking trees before eventually coming to a stop.
"The investigation revealed the driver lost control and the vehicle left Beaver Creek Road on the east side and traveled down an embankment," a police statement said. Damage to the vehicle was described in the statement as "moderate."
Upon the initial arrival, officers say they found Bobbi Christina standing beside the vehicle and she was uninjured. "Our officer completed an official accident report and issued a traffic citation to Ms. Brown for the offense of failure to maintain lane," the police statement said. 

OMG! That's why I'm natural! Relaxers are linked to fibroids!!!

Black Women, Warning to Stop Using Hair Relaxers, Linked to Fibroids [VIDEO]

November 26th, 2012 AT2W Staff

Photo: rippdemup.com

Black Women, Warning to Stop Using Hair Relaxers, Linked to Fibroids [VIDEO]

There’s some startling news coming from a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The study says hair relaxers are linked to uterine fibroids and to young girls early as puberty.

When we think about this, it really brings to light why black women need to embrace the ever growing culture of going natural with their hair. We have always felt relaxers caused issues for our type of hair but who would have known that fibroids was a huge problem because of hair relaxers.

The study continues to state that:

Scientists followed more than 23,000 pre-menopausal Black American women from 1997 to 2009 and found that the two- to three-times higher rate of fibroids among black women may be linked to chemical exposure through scalp lesions and burns resulting from relaxers.