Black Friday, November 27th, is swiftly approaching, and although it looks like there will not be the traditional, chaotic shopping that usually occurs after Thanksgiving, […]
Black Friday, November 27th, is swiftly approaching, and although it looks like there will not be the traditional, chaotic shopping that usually occurs after Thanksgiving, […]
I’ve wanted to do something evangelistic for the children and teens in my neighborhood for a while, but life keeps happening. Covid-19 and the devastation […]
Early in the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine, I felt led to spend time in worship because stress and anxiety became too much. I went downstairs […]
“Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the […]
The story of Stephen in the book of Acts has always been fascinating to me because during the most violent and tragic part of his […]
The season of Lent, Holy Week and Easter are the most holy days on the Christian calendar. However, the coronavirus pandemic took center stage and […]
I pray everyone is doing well during this coronavirus pandemic. We will get through this by the grace of God. Please email me at revlaurelj@gmail.com […]
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”—Proverbs 4:23 (NIV). When I was in college, I could eat anything. It didn’t […]
This blog post comes with a confession. I like trash TV. I watch reality TV religiously. One show my husband introduced me to (I blame […]
Followers of Jesus Christ all over the world are recognizing Ash Wednesday today. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is […]
In my last post, I talked about how God uses everyday situations to teach us spiritual truths. Today, I am going to talk about godly […]
I’m a frank communicator. I don’t beat around the bush. I don’t tell a backstory. I get straight to the point. I used to preach […]
My children are going through a sibling-rivalry phase. It is annoying me greatly because they are in constant competition with each other. They compete in […]
My husband and I love TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé.” We love it because the relationships are so outrageous. Despite red flags, language barriers and the […]
“Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” Proverbs 25:25 (NRSV). Many people were – and still are […]
I, like many others around the country, am mourning the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi and the other persons on the helicopter […]
Two things happened today. I attended my son’s IEP meeting, and we talked about the Holy Spirit in the staff Bible study at my job. […]
In the summer of 2019, my former coworker from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., Tonya Miles, asked me if I wanted to sit on […]
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks […]
I just watched “The Birth of a Nation,” and despite the controversy around the movie, I thought it was very well done. It was inspiring […]
When I lived in South Carolina, I would drive home to Maryland regularly. I would pack up my little ones into my minivan, and we’d […]
I’ve had the Popeyes chicken sandwich, and it is good. I don’t think it’s worth all the hype, but it’s way more interesting than Chick-fil-a’s […]
You already know that some of today’s healthiest foods – olive oil, pomegranates, grapes – were a staple in the Bible. Jesus ate fish more […]
I think a lot of men are intimidated by dating a preacher. I also think some men are cautious about or completely avoid dating single […]
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so […]
A contemporary poet by the name of Drake once said, “That’s right I like my girls BBW, yeah…So thick that everyone else in the room […]
“What you have done is put aside your old self with its past deeds and put on a new self, one that grows in knowledge […]
There are so many components to grief that if you’ve never gone through the process, you don’t know what is coming next. This week, I […]
A couple of months ago, we changed the location of our destination wedding – right after the invitations went out. It was a hard decision […]
*Disclaimer: I am not a beer drinker. This post is not about alcohol. I am not promoting alcoholism. I have been a volunteer speaker for […]
“Thus we may say with confidence, ‘God is my Helper and I will not be afraid; what can mere humans do to me?’” Hebrews 13:6 […]
This past Sunday I was blessed to share with Hillendale Baptist Church in Dale City, VA. Pastor Gareth and I have known each other since […]
You’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl.” The song is on “The Gift” album that’s part […]
I’ve never been a Disney-movie mom. My kids haven’t seen any of the Disney movies I grew up watching. So when the new “The Lion […]
Limitless Learners Contest Win $500 for college plus $1000 for a school or library. When you love learning, there’s no limit to what you can […]
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” – Proverbs 17:17 (NIV). This is the verse that […]
“Lauren, my husband says I’m not going.” My matron-of-honor texted me this week and said her husband didn’t want her going. I don’t blame him. […]
Donald Trump serves college athletes McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Chick-Fil-A, what most people call junk or trash food because it has no nutritional value. So why […]
Christopher Harris, the host of The Wise Idea podcast, reached out to me recently to interview me about my life as a widow, mother and […]
Ayesha Curry expressed on Red Table Talk that she wished she received more male attention because it would let her know that she’s still desirable…and […]
What happens when Jesus Christ steps into the life of a young lady who previously denied Him. “3 AM” I said to myself. “It’s 3 […]
We are excited today because it’s Resurrection Sunday or Easter. This day is the most important day on the Christian calendar because it reminds us […]
Many of us were shocked by the murder of rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle, 33. Based on reports, he took an impromptu trip to one […]
I have a relatively new retainer. I haven’t had a retainer in over five years because I broke my last one. My teeth look like […]
If gushing about weddings bothers you, now is the time to take a break from my blog because I’m getting married on October 12th in […]
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV). […]
How was your Valentine’s Day? My children came home with bags full of candy and cards. We didn’t do much with the children yesterday because […]
Your daughter told my five year old she wasn’t beautiful in their ballet class last weekend. However, it didn’t upset my daughter too much because […]
You don’t recognize the toll grief takes on your mentally, physically and spiritually oftentimes until in hindsight. I didn’t know in 2013 when my husband […]
“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be […]
It seems to me that this generation is infatuated with seeking signs. I have seen many posts on social media referencing numerology and signs in […]
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things”-Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV). Thanksgiving is […]
Last week my son had a horrible time in school. He’s been extremely frustrated because other children don’t include him in basketball and soccer during […]
Here is my latest for Sojourners: https://sojo.net/articles/my-blackness-not-odds-my-faith-christ.
Urban Plates, a trendy restaurant that originated in California and prides itself on wholesome meals plated right in front of you, opened up at The […]
So, my boyfriend of two years proposed, and I accepted. I’m very excited to begin my life with him as he’s been a very close […]
So, I stumbled upon this great children’s book this weekend. After church on Sunday, I went to one of my favorite local restaurants, Franklin’s, and […]
My little ones start school next week, and I, like many parents, are filled with trepidation. My youngest starts Kindergarten, and I’m praying she can […]
My pastor, the Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington, is retiring next year, and I’m so grateful for the years, 15 to be exact, I’ve spent […]
I first learned about Miss Zee from Facebook. I saw an advertisement of one of the book bags, and I always wanted to purchase one. […]
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4 (NIV). I spent my formative […]
I LOVE Latin food. I love Peruvian, Cuban and Mexican food. Recently, I discovered one of my favorite lunchtime restaurants makes chicken empanadas. I’ve had […]
One of the privileges blogging provides me is the opportunity to try out great new products. After seven years of blogging and reviewing products, I […]
I drive by this house every day. When I first saw it, it did not have a second floor. I don’t know what happened—fire, natural […]
I volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). I do so because a drunk driver hit my husband when he was a teenager and the […]
I’m grateful to contribute this piece to Sojourners. https://sojo.net/articles/childish-gambino-s-america-video-also-indictment-today-s-church
So, I participated in the “Married Men Don’t Talk” radio show. They wanted to hear about my experience as a widow and how that affects my […]
Although the warmer days are here, some nights can be a lot cooler and sometimes, not very comfortable. Don’t worry, this guide will have you […]
Pexels How you feel in your home matters a great deal and can impact your health and wellbeing. The good news is that you can […]
Gardening has long been revered as an outlet of stress relief. Not only can it provide peace of mind, but starting a family garden comes […]