BTransformed

The Mis-Education of Whitney Houston

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:58:14 +0000

Today, UrbanFaith.com published my article on:

The Mis Education of Whitney Houston: How Bad Theology Kept Her in An Unhealthy Marriage, But How Good Theology Got Her Out!

Check it out at:http://www.urbanfaith.com/2012/02/the-miseducation-of-whitney-houston.html/

Blessings!

Friday, Feb. 3- Come Out To BTranformed!

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:54:08 +0000

Getting Above the Storm

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:44:35 +0000

On a flight this past Monday headed to a conference, I was reminded of a flight I took years ago from LaGuardia in New York to San Francisco. As we sat on the runway, the rain that had begun as a steady stream became a series of pounding thuds on the wings of the metal bird about to take flight.

As we took off and rose higher, the plane began to rock back and forth. And many wondered why the pilot didn’t land. But the plane continued to struggle through the rain to go higher.

Being an experienced traveller, it dawned on me that the pilot was trying to get the plane above the storm. He knew that if we could get above the storm clouds, there would be peace at a higher altitude. He also knew that the sun was still shining above the storm clouds even though we couldn’t see it.

Had he had gone down to a lower level prematurely, we would never have reached our destination. In fact, the raging storm might have consumed us. No, the answer was and still is to go higher.

Right now I find myself in the midst of a storm. In considering my options, I’m tempted to go down to a certain level. But I’ve been down this road before and I’ve seen how detrimental and self-defeating it can be to sink to a low level or to give up on reaching your divine destination.

When trouble comes into your life and people scandalize your name, don’t sink to the lowest common denominator. Don’t give up once the Lord has given you clearance and wings to take flight. Don’t listen to those who have been grounded who want you to abandon your mission. We have to buckle in our seat belts; endure the shocks and bumps of life; and keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For He is the SON that is ever shining – even when we can’t see through the dark clouds of current circumstances or the raindrops of our tears.

Storms will come. I invite you to join me on this journey as I persevere. Transformation is not easy or for the faint of heart. But, we have to be determined to go higher. For there is victory in getting above the storm.

While others plot and conspire;
I’ve made up my mind to go higher!

What’s Your Super Power?

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:03:48 +0000

I’m watching Kung Fu Panda 2 with my three boys. It’s such an important message simply told. Panda can’t fight like anyone else. Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Crane, Cricket… all of them have their own unique fighting style and become (s)heroes in their own right by being distinctly themselves and using their own unique gifts! Only crane can fly and panda even uses that big belly to take care of business.

I need to take a minute to think about my superpowers… Hmmm…

What’s Your Super Power?

Could it be like Po the Panda – Inner Peace?

It Ain’t Over, ‘Til God Says It’s Over

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:40:31 +0000

It Ain’t Over, ‘Til God Says It’s Over:

It Ain’t Over, ‘Til God Says It’s Over!

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:38:19 +0000

I just wanted to remind you all that, “It Ain’t Over, ‘Til God Says It’s Over!”

And you’re still here. So, I guess you’re not done!

Listen to this song and watch the video! It touches all races, ages, men and women alike: http://ow.ly/8nLEn.

Be blessed!

WHAT A GREAT START!

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:50:05 +0000

THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME OUT TO MAKE THE FIRST

BTRANSFORMED FIRST FRIDAY

SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS!

(Special thanks to those who showed their moves on that closing soul train line… Don’t ask. You had to be there!)

AND

SAVE THE DATE

Friday, February 3, 2012

7pm

FOR NEXT MONTH AND MAKE SURE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Our memory verse for this month is:

“God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of love and of power and a sound mind.” (1 Tim. 1:7).

Learn or Re-learn and Memorize it for next month’s session!

In fact, Let’s All practice saying it at the beginning of each day in January and see what God will do!

STEP THREE: NEXT STOP PURPOSE

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:22:05 +0000

As we continue our 5-step Jump Start for the new year – NEXT STOP- PURPOSE!

The second half of Philippians 3:12 reminds us that we have a divine call to purpose on our lives. This purpose extends beyond the frustrations and challenges of our every day lives and ordinary existence. God’s purpose transcends what you or I need or want in the moment or can see in the natural.

Inn Philippians Paul says, “It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose.“ (Phil. 3:12) (Common English Version).

This reminds us that neither you nor I are here by coincidence. Christ didn’t move in your heart to get you to a place where you accepted him by accident. But God, in his infinite wisdom and love (John 3:16), created you on purpose. However you got here, you are a divinely inspired miracle of God. Jeremiah1:5 says, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you,” (Jer. 1:5 )(Message translation).

You were created on purpose.

You are a masterpiece of God’s holy creation. In Psalms 139:14, the psalmist proclaims, ”I will praise You [Lord], for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

So, since you were created ON PURPOSE; and Christ came down and swooped you up and took hold of you; it stands to reason that a great way to start this new year is to spend some time in prayer, study and thoughtful meditation trying to figure why God chose to make you in the first place.

Do a personal study of your gifts, talents, likes and dislikes and begin to try to discern what you were created for in your life, family, church and community AND in God’s greater cosmic plan.

Be specific. Think about what, in particular, God wants you to accomplish this year, this month, this week and today.

The apostle Paul actively pursued accomplishing God’s purpose for his life because he was convinced that God had taken hold of him for a divine reason. Today, I tell you that God has also taken hold of you for a divine reason. You are fearfully and wondrously made. Now go out and figure out why and how to make the most of it!

And don’t forget to press the “Follow this blog” button on my homepage and pass this on to everyone you know!

See you Friday!

Blessings!

STEP TWO: NOBODY’S PERFECT

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:02:37 +0000

Two quotes come to mind as we reflect on STEP TWO: NOBODY’S PERFECT.

“ Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on…” Phil. 3:12 and

“The perfect is the enemy of the good.” -Voltaire

As we go into the new year, we have to remember that no one is perfect. Even you and me.

We will mess up. We will fall short. We may not stay on that diet plan or get to the gym every day like we “resolved”. We may not hold our tongue every time we ought to. We may fall off the wagon a few times. But we have to be like Paul who says I know I’m not perfect and I don’t claim to be. But I keep on trying! I press on!

To press means:

1 to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact;

2 to squeeze out the juice or contents;

3 to move by means of pressure; or

4 to follow through (a course of action).

You aren’t perfect and neither am I. But if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

And Voltaire adds something else to think about -

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good!

Don’t say if, “I mess up one more time I’m giving up.” Don’t say “I’ll never make it anyway. So, why try?”

If you can’t run a marathon, run a 5k. If you can’t run a 5k, walk a mile. If you can’t walk a mile, decide to march in place 5 minutes a day in your kitchen.

If you can’t enroll for a full college degree, take one class at community college. If you can’t take a class at community college, take a course or attend a seminar to help you do better. Can’t take a course or workshop, read a book. Can’t read a whole book, find a magazine article or blog that lifts you higher.

Whatever you do – Don’t give up!

Don’t let perfection be the enemy of any small amount of good you actually can do. Because little by little, inch by inch, it will add up and you will find that like Paul, you may not be what you want to be, but by the grace of God, we won’t be what we used to be.

Nobody’s perfect!

Our mantra this year: “PERFECTING, NOT PERFECTION.”

Keep pressing!

And while you’re at it, press the “Follow this blog” button on this site and pass this on to someone else who is wants or needs to Jump Start 2012.

See you this Friday!

STEP ONE: FORGET ABOUT IT!

Frances Cudjoe Waters — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:06:47 +0000

STEP ONE: FORGET ABOUT IT!

Welcome to 2012! A brand new year that wasn’t promised and that we are blessed to see!

Mission#1:
Fresh Start!

One blessing of the new year is the promise of new beginnings. And 2012 is no different.

How do you get a new beginning? Fuhgedabodit!

The apostle Paul says this, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…”

Many times we can’t move forward because we keep looking back.

So, start the new year off right. Stop beating yourself up for what you did or didn’t do in 2011. Stop playing those old tapes of doubt, confusion or self-loathing. IT’S A NEW YEAR! IT’S A NEW DAY! And you can still be everything God has created you to be!

Tomorrow – Step Two: Preparing To Press

JUMP START 2012