Felica Thompson
Hello my name is Felica Raines Thompson and Thank you for joining the conversation on my “Free To Be Me” Blog. I’m a Pastor’s wife and mother of two. I am starting this blog, not only to continue the free to be me conversation that began as a radio show, but also to share and gain insight from so many others who were unable to join the conversation by radio.
In a world where not only Pastor’s wives, but women in general, are criticized if they are being heard and not just seen. This blog’s purpose is to give a voice to those who just want to be free! Free to think your own thoughts, free to have your own style, free to express yourself and free to just BE! Whether you are a woman or man, I believe that the conversations that we will have will encourage, challenge and convict us all to living a FREE life. John 3:36 tells us that he who the son sets free is free indeed.
A Letter To Myself!
Dear Self,
First of all it is good to meet you. I have been afraid to introduce myself because I was afraid of the things you would require me to do. I have lived based on what others told me. Their lies became my truths. I know you think that's crazy but it really is easier living with instruction.You understand right? I felt comfortable having someone else make some decisions for me. I felt comfortable hiding behind their careers or attached to their coat tails. I felt comfortable living in someone else' shadow. I even felt comfortable not doing anything.
I am really sorry for pushing you to the side. I am sorry for not defending you. I knew that the things that were said about you were lies, but I only defended you when I thought it was necessary. Most of the time I was too weak to speak up or fight on your behalf. I am sorry that I didn't get to know you earlier. It would have really been great to see how things would have turned out if I had trusted in you sooner. I didn't forget you though. You were always on my mind. I just got caught up in my life, feelings and the things I thought I needed. I am quite surprise you stayed around. Especially since I wasn't true to you.
I realize that I need you now in order for my life to be complete. My success depends on my trust and faith in you. I really need to make this connection. I let go of everything that kept me from loving you.
Hello, my name is __________________. I am what God says I am. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. I am a lender and not a borrower. I am victorious, not a victim. I have a past, but it doesn't define me. I am strong, even when I am weak. I am successful. I am a finisher, not a quitter. I love who I am. I am in love with who I am.
Introduce what you have pretended to be to who you really are.
Love yourself! Everything else will be alright!
It's Time To Fight!
Don't let anything separate you from the love of God! I mean it! You have come to far. If not by your faith, you have by the faith of your ancestors or someone that truly loves you. I don't care what it is! You'd better keep the faith and learn how to praise him in your storm. STOP being a wimp! Who do you serve? Who's your father?
The devil has been bullying you too long! Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
By now you should be tired of him taking your stuff, tricking you, and beating you up! I dare you to start a fight with him! Hit him with the Word of God as hard as you can! He is just a bully.
bul·ly
- 1.aggressive person: an aggressive person who intimidates or mistreats weaker people
- 2.intimidate: to intimidate or mistreat a weaker person
in·tim·i·date
- 1.persuade or dissuade by frightening: to frighten somebody into doing or not doing something, e.g. by means of violence or blackmail
- 2.daunt: to create a feeling of fear, awe, or inadequacy in another person
mis·treat
- 1.abuse somebody or something: to treat somebody or something badly or roughly
It didn't say the bully had power. It just says he preys on weaker people (and you aren't weak...you're strong). You can't allow yourself to be mistreated! You CAN NOT live in fear!
You can't sit around and worry about what the devil is going to do. Just know that he is going to do something to bother you; to block your blessings; to make you upset; to get you to worry; to cause you to give up; to get you to curse; to cause you to drink. I think you get the point. It's his job! He can only do well at it if you let him.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
Here's how you start a fight with the devil.....
Get in the word and God will allow you to see the enemy coming at you. He will tell/teach you how to prepare for the battle.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Stop believing the things that the devil says. Stop acting on the things the devil tells you. God is your father. Do exactly as he has instructed. If you don't obey then....
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Get some word in you and FIGHT!
Fight for your lives, your husband/wife, yourself, your children, your family, your jobs, your finances, your earthly goods, and your church.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
You Are In The Way!
NOW AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH OR IS IT?
No lie is a good lie! All lies are UNACCEPTABLE. God operates in truth. There is no such thing as lies with colors (white lies). If it is not the truth, it is a lie.
Do we talk so much that we don't know what we are saying? Have we lied so much that we think we are telling the truth?
Examples:
I'm praying for you. (Are you really praying for the person you are talking to?)
I know you are going through. If you need something let me know. I will be happy to help you. (If you are happy to help, then why don’t you? Why does a person in need have to ask for help?)
I wouldn't lie to you. (Why not? Who am I?)
I know what you're going through. (Really? How? This has never happened to you.)
I'm going to pay you back when I.... (Just say I need the money and I don't know when I will be able to pay you back. Then I will decide if I want to give it to you.)
I tried to call you three times, and I didn't get a response. It kept going to voicemail. I started to leave a message and/or text. (OK, this may be true some time but not all of the time.)
You know some more...feel free to add
This Is My Story...This Is My Song!
“I got tired of having some good days and some bad. I did complain.”
“I knew my soul was anchored in the Lord, but I got tired of the storms raging.”
“I needed the Lord now, like Smokie Norful, the hymnal, and my grandma 'nem.”
“I understand that I had to have some problems to KNOW that God could solve them.”
“I was glad that he saw the best in me when others only saw the worst in me. I just didn't want to be around those type of people anymore.”
“I had enough heartaches and a hundred headaches. I had less ups, more downs and I didn’t know how much more I could take. My mind wasn't on yesterday. It was on "now."
I didn’t need anyone to tell me that God was able. I had enough life experiences to know that.
You know what I was sick of? I was sick of the children of God walking around beat up, battered and torn. The image we portrayed is and was embarrassing.
Our sermons were "trouble don't last always." "You will be alright in the morning." Anything to make us feel better in this walk with Christ. Not a lot of people were happy to be on the Lord's side because it meant you had to go through some things.
We had to have people push us into a praise. We had to have a message that matched our situation. If not, church that Sunday was in vain.
As much church as we have had and as many situations as we've had shouldn't we be stronger?
We go through things scared. We are easily distracted. It doesn't take much to discourage us. Our minds wonder if God will even fix it, even though he keeps on.
Life has overwhelmed us so.
We are saved but don't want to be holy or sanctified.
We are true, but don't want to be tried.
We are powerful, but don't want anything to bother us.
We are all gifted, but we don't want to use the gifts because they aren't getting US anywhere.
We are anointed, but as soon as the devil comes we fall apart.
We are soldiers in the army, but we don't want to fight.
We want to be more like Jesus, but we don't want to suffer or be mistreated.
When we pray, we want stuff to happen right then because God knows we need it. Let him not do it the way we think.... we’re out till he does.
Did I miss something? This is not matching up to me. Oh, yeah.... we are human.
I think God knew that when he made us.
I want God to see me like he saw Job. When the enemy came and asked who he could mess with - God had full confidence that Job would still represent him. Not in the end, but all the way!!!!
This is My story, This is MY song!
#Preacher's Kids
I wanted to share this with the bloggers and my Facebook family. Thanks to all of my Twitter friends that posted tweets with me. I truly enjoyed myself. Please feel free to share your #preacherskid trendy topics here for those of you that don't have Twitter.
U know u r a #preacherskid when u pack snacks and a change of clothes 2 go 2 church because U know u will be there ALL day! #Godswill
@RevFelicaT LoL I still do that now! I keep clothes in my car and office. SMH
U know u r a #preacherskid when u r teaching adults how to fill out a tithes envelope at 6 years old! #payGod1st
You know you are a #preacherskid when your church attire is mostly black skirts/pants and white tops, just in case an usher is out!
You know you are a #preacherskid when u are the backup Sunday School teacher, usher, choir director, devotion leader.........! #readytoserve
When you are a #preacherskid at what age is it safe for you to wear make-up w/o getting called out by the mothers? #neveroldenough
At what age can the #preacherskid date?
“@RevFelicaT: At what age can the #preacherskid date?” <-/ I started dating when I was a jr in high school! I wish a little earlier!!
@RevFelicaT I have no idea. I'm almost 31 and people still trying to be in my business. Trying to set me up and stuff. #PK4Life]
@I_Am_Mercy Wow, so when does the #preacherskids get to live their own lives? #freestobeme
@AnthonyONeal @RevFelicaT Varies with the child. My sister, brother and I started at different ages with the guiding of our parents.
Why can't the #preacherskid make any mistakes?
If the #preacherskid does make a mistake, why are they judged so harshly? I mean the Bible tells us that "all have sinned"!
ALL doesn't excuse the #preacherskid! Right?
@RevFelicaT *throws offering at ur feet* PREACH
@TishColeman #preacherskids learn early the gift of patience and sacrifice because being in the 1st family often means being 2nd! #LIVED
@RevFelicaT I made a ton of mistakes. I just dared folks to judge me. Seems Christians forget judging is a sin too. SMh.
@RevFelicaT some are judged harshly because they are portrayed as perfect by the parents, even when shown differently. #Experience
Expect the #preacherskids to be kids like every other kid! Every parent believes in their kids, at least I Pray they do! #realtalk
As a #preacherskid, I said I would never marry a preacher nor be a preacher! Wow, I'm sure God is still laughing at me! #hiscalling
@RevFelicaT if/when u figure it out, PLEASE let me know. I'm still trying to figure who I am aside from being #pk
U know u r a #preacherskid when u pack snacks and a change of clothes 2 go 2 church because U know u will be there ALL day! #Godswill
@RevFelicaT LoL I still do that now! I keep clothes in my car and office. SMH
U know u r a #preacherskid when u r teaching adults how to fill out a tithes envelope at 6 years old! #payGod1st
You know you are a #preacherskid when your church attire is mostly black skirts/pants and white tops, just in case an usher is out!
You know you are a #preacherskid when u are the backup Sunday School teacher, usher, choir director, devotion leader.........! #readytoserve
When you are a #preacherskid at what age is it safe for you to wear make-up w/o getting called out by the mothers? #neveroldenough
At what age can the #preacherskid date?
“@RevFelicaT: At what age can the #preacherskid date?” <-/ I started dating when I was a jr in high school! I wish a little earlier!!
@RevFelicaT I have no idea. I'm almost 31 and people still trying to be in my business. Trying to set me up and stuff. #PK4Life]
@I_Am_Mercy Wow, so when does the #preacherskids get to live their own lives? #freestobeme
@AnthonyONeal @RevFelicaT Varies with the child. My sister, brother and I started at different ages with the guiding of our parents.
Why can't the #preacherskid make any mistakes?
If the #preacherskid does make a mistake, why are they judged so harshly? I mean the Bible tells us that "all have sinned"!
ALL doesn't excuse the #preacherskid! Right?
@RevFelicaT *throws offering at ur feet* PREACH
@TishColeman #preacherskids learn early the gift of patience and sacrifice because being in the 1st family often means being 2nd! #LIVED
@RevFelicaT I made a ton of mistakes. I just dared folks to judge me. Seems Christians forget judging is a sin too. SMh.
@RevFelicaT some are judged harshly because they are portrayed as perfect by the parents, even when shown differently. #Experience
Expect the #preacherskids to be kids like every other kid! Every parent believes in their kids, at least I Pray they do! #realtalk
As a #preacherskid, I said I would never marry a preacher nor be a preacher! Wow, I'm sure God is still laughing at me! #hiscalling
@RevFelicaT if/when u figure it out, PLEASE let me know. I'm still trying to figure who I am aside from being #pk
Hottie or Nottie? - That is the question!
Are You A Hot Mama?
I came across this and wanted to share...
Hot mama or old maid? The birth of a child shouldn't mean the death of your sexuality. You can still be a hottie instead of a nottie. Take this quiz and see if you're still on fire.
http://www.mydailymoment.com/app/quiz/userquiz/takequiz/174?utm_source=DHTMLmsn&
Please come back and share your results with me. I am going to post my results. You aren't going to believe what it said about me.
You Know You Are A Pastor's Wife When...
Ok, I think being the Pastor's wife requires having a sense of humor! If you are not a Pastor's wife, and are a member of a local church, encourage your Pastor's wife to checkout this blog and add her thoughts! They may seem silly, but the funny part is they are so true! (smile and laugh out loud if you want to) I did and I still do! God Bless!
Should parents be held accountable for their child's actions?
On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, while getting my children ready for school, and listening to the news, I was drawn to the story of a shooting at a high school in Ohio. In recent years we have become accustomed to hearing these types of stories reported on the news, so I kept listening as I was moving around the house. But something caught my attention, and forced me to stop what I was doing and sit down to listen to more. The reporter said that the shooter's parents were divorced and he was living with his grandmother.
How Desperate Are You?
We are entering the second month of a New Year, and I’m wondering if we still have the same determination and fire in our spirits that we had on the night of December 31st as we brought in the New Year! Desperate comes from the Latin word, “despair,” meaning nearly hopeless; undertaken as a last resort; and driven to take any risk. This is a word that expresses the utter absence of hope and implies powerlessness. Desperation focuses on the lack of hope, yet it implies the idea of recklessly fighting for that unseen hope! Where is that desperate desire for change, hunger for more of God and yearning to be a better you? I ask you my brothers and sisters, do you still possess that desperation? Is your soul in a state of hunger?