Empowered Christian Women Digest

The most exciting news for married couples, is finding out that the wife is pregnant! And to watch the changes in the wife's appearance and trying to satisfy the wife's craving for certain foods; or making adjustments to certain foods that the wife can no longer eat or smell.

The happy couple thinks of names for their new addition to the family, and making decisions to switch from driving the two door vehicle to now choosing a family vehicle consisting of four doors. Then there is the daily measurement of the wife's tummy for progress of growth, and waiting to feel the first movement of the baby.

The couple jokingly wondering who the baby will look like, and both parents vows to make sure to count all toes, fingers, ears and eyes after delivery. The couple has followed all the doctor's orders, and has been careful to avoid cautionary measures to protect the baby's environment.

The day has arrived, and the contractions have started. The wife is rush to the hospital, with excitement, and fear at the same time. The wife is prep for delivery, and taken to the delivery room. The wife is told to push, push and push again! However there is silent in the delivery room. The cry from the parents can be heard so loudly in the delivery room! Is our baby alright? But at their dismay something is different, the baby is alive, breathing, toes, eyes, fingers, and ears are counted. Is there is something wrong with the baby? The parents ask again! As the baby is presented to them they notice the baby's face is different than the norm! What happened? Did someone cut the baby during delivery, or could this have happened while the baby passed through the birthing canal? The parents are in panic mode, shock, and still excited about the delivery! But still trying to figure out what happened!

In this couples case their baby was born with Cleft Lip & Palate Defect! How could this happen? Why this wasn't picks up on ultra-sound sooner? Was this a genetic problem? Could this have been caught early in the pregnancy? Does it run in the family? Many questions are crossing the parent's lips and mind at the moment! But their question goes unanswered. Maybe after seeing the condition of the parents, the medical team prefers to wait until emotions settle down. It is traumatic for parents in the beginning, but the after the initial shock, there lies a precious buddle joy.

The parents of the baby pictured in this article, had to pull themselves together for the blessing that God had given to them. They worked together as a couple to make sure that this hindrance would not prevent them from loving their child. The couple had to learn new ways of tending to their baby, and preparing special bottles to nurse their child. The parents were blessed with the best doctors, to perform a series of surgeries. Both parents were devote Christians, and stated on many occasions "if their walk was not strong with God, they would not have made it." But their faith made them strong!

The couple stated "their world could have been turned upside down, after the delivery of their child! But they knew in their heart that God had a purpose and plan for this child!"

This child is now much older, and living a normal and healthy life. As a matter of fact this child wishes to be the next Michael Jordan the professional basketball player, and hope to someday meet him in person.

Miracles do happen! The picture was used with the permission of both parents! The parents wanted to bring more awareness to children born with cleft lip & palate.

It has been in the news so much about the domestic violence, you know the couple by name that stirred up a hornet nest. They are almost a household name now, and if you did not know who I was talking about it is Rihanna & Chris Brown.

Everyone has been stating their opinion about the incident, since it happened. And I as well as everyone else was totally shocked after viewing the pictures of the victim! Or are they both victims of their own demise? There are so many unanswered questions, as to what lead up to this outburst of violence. The rumors have been flying off the handle, and the only two that holds the secret to what happened, are Rihanna & Chris Brown. The only opinion I have for both individuals, is that they did not think about what price they would both have to pay.

Domestic violence does not only exist with this couple, but it in all races of people. I don't like how our society wants to shine the spot light on this case, as if domestic violence just started. I even heard a talk show host blame the "Rappers, and Hip Hop music culture". Now I don't particularly listen to that selection of music, but I am here to say, domestic violence have been around for a long time, Rapping and Hip Hop music did not drive these two couples to battering one another.

I don't condone domestic violence in any fashion; there have been women whose lives have been destroyed due to domestic violence. I knew a woman who was beaten and left for dead! But she lived to tell the story! It has been stated that the young artist own mother suffer the same fate (domestic violence).

I use to hear an old saying "violence begat violence", maybe the anger and rage was suppressed for so long. And whatever took place that night both couples were together, just awakening the sleeping beast.

These two couples are so young; they still have a great future before them. They may both need a whole lot of counseling, and therapy. This is certainly going to be a hard lesson that they will learned. Will they part ways? Maybe and maybe, but it do not pay to raise your hand against another.

I did not know how to really start off saying this, but I was experiencing some anger, when I viewed the comments of a suspect giving an interview; about how the event of the crime, that had taken place, which had left two people dead in the street. I still tear up as I write this! I don't understand people, that go around hurting others, and don't even have a reason for doing what they do! After all the dust has settled, and when they are in their jail cells alone, then maybe God could work on the mind set of individuals that commit violence on others. The two that were killed, were two fine christian gentlemen. I had to ask God for strength, that surpasses all of my understanding in this matter.

I personally knew Matthew Butler, which was one of the victims killed. And my husband and son had just meet Steve Swan approximately 2 weeks before this incident. We attended the services of both the deceased, and it was moving! The minister that delivered the message, was so elegant and graceful in his delivery. Matt was a good person, family man, and loving husband. We would be in the recording studio along with Matt, while my son and Matt worked on his recording project, and Matt would have great positive words to say to my son. Matt would always say to my son, you need to network. And one of Matt's comments to him was "You Rock Man"! I will never forget his face and spirit, and Matt will be missed.....

Please keep his wife, children and Matt's mother in your prayers.

There was time in history, that when a girl got pregnant out-of-wedlock; she was ostracized, banish, snub, shun, and isolated. And as silently as the male partner participated, he silently disappear into the sunset. Then there is the baby left only with the mother for survival.

Now that we have moved into the 21st century, having babies out-of-wedlock seems the norm. The teen girls continue in school, and still are able to attend their regularly scheduled classes. Back in the day, this would not have happened! And as life still continues to grow inside the womb, she is congratulated and celebrated by other females peers. And the ultra-sound pictures are displayed in the inner-circle of her female counterparts.

However the most distrubing, is that the other responsible party the male in this cirlce of conception, never really faces the blunt of being ostracized. As a matter of fact the male, tends to rack up their pregnancies as trophies of some sort. By boasting and bragging about the hunt to their other male counterparts. Maybe the male was challenged to prove that he was a man, but did not realized it take a man to be a father to raise a child. And the majority of the time the male in the pregnancy tends to deny any involvement with the pregnant party. The male tends to go on the defense of accusing the teen girl, that maybe she had slept with someone else, which implies to me that the male is escaping his responsiblities very early.

So now there is a third party involved, which will be the baby! As it always goes, the baby will suffer the blunt of both the mother stuggles that she will face in taking care of her baby. And usually the majority of the time the teen mother will be alone taking care of her child. The teen mother will seek out other ways to support herself and her child by applying for welfare assistant. Some teenage mothers falls into the cycle of the government help, never seeking to better themselves. And while the male travels around searching for his next prey that awaits to be placed on the row of the welfare system.

How do we as a society get a handle on controlling teen pregnancies? I know a lot ot the teen girls and boys are brought up in christian and non-christian environments, and no matter the upbringing things do happen. But it is becoming an increasing concern of mine and I am sure the nation feel that too many young teenagers are becoming parents to soon. So post your concerns on how we as a christian or non-christian society must handles this issue.

Did you hear about the "alleged pact among the teenage girls to commit to getting pregnant in Gloucester, Massachusetts?" It is as if teenage pregnancy has gone wild. Okay people what in the world is going on?

Many individuals are beginning to wonder if this trend hasn't already started happening in other states. I live in Texas, and I have notice several girls pregnant at my son's school this year. And now to hear what happening up at Gloucester, Mass. I do believe there is an alleged pregnancy pact happening. The news station that reported this shocking news indicated that "Gloucester High School has shown a substantial increase in teen girl's pregnancies than from last year."

And I know the parents are trying to deal this matter as expeditiously as possible. Is something is wrong with our society of teenage girls wanting to have babies to early? Babies are not the trendy sneakers, handbags, or the latest handheld cell phone. They are human beings, that needs nurturing, feeding, and oh yes diaper changing. It takes a lot to raise a baby, but many young teenagers are attempting to become a parent early.

Do we blame Hollywood? Maybe or maybe not!

We as a nation of people need to start communicating more with our young people, and stop thinking that they will figure it out on their own someday. We as parents need to go back to our grassroots teachings, and spend more time with our children, and listen to what their saying to you. And find out who they are spending their time with, because a lot of young girls are looking for love, but finding it in the wrong person.

I pose a question, what would you do, if this were to happen to your teenage son or daughter? Do you kick them to the curb? Do you support them and assist in raising their child? Tell us what you would do.

In the past recent weeks teen pregnancy was back in the forefront of the news. There was a 17-year old teenager mentioned in all the new media, which brings us back to our discussion of out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

The most astonishing thing about out-of-wedlock pregnancies, are that there are no color or income barriers. No matter the background of an individual out-of-wedlock pregnancies are occurring. Do we blame the parents? Especially when the child is under age, and living under the guidance of an adult! Or do we blame the child? Whatever the situation, you still care for that individual, because mistakes happen. I have known some parents, putting the daughters out in the street, because of disgust, or disgrace, which did not make matters any better for that individual. And due to the status of the parents standing in the community, they would rather choose to send their daughter from home to either discard (abort) the baby or have their daughter give up their baby for adoption. Soon to return back as if nothing in her life has changed. Many of the children given up for adoption, are now searching for the biological mother or vice versa.

There are more children, being born into this world to teenage girls/boys, whom some feel is not ready to be mothers, fathers or parents. Individual studie indicate the rate of children coming up abused, injured or killed. There is an epidemic in our society, and we as a nation of people, must address this issue. It's time to stop sitting silence, or just sweeping this topic under the carpet. Especially, when the carpet becomes too small to stuff anything else underneath it! It will start spilling outwardly, into more and more communities.

There will always be issues we must address as a society, but it is time to provide resolutions to this madness. Sometimes teenage girls are crying out for attention, but no body is listening! So wake up America; we have our job cut out for us!

Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers that hung around, to take care of their children. Most dad's roles have been the protectors, providers, and strength in trying times. Some dad's like to be mucho, but children tends to soften their dad's heart. So our hats off to all fathers, that have stepped up to the plate.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to thank all Mothers for devoting their quantity time, in raising their children. Some mothers have missed sleep, stayed up late with homework assignments, attended PTA meetings, and school activities.

And to those mothers whom have passed on, which have graceously embedded tid bits of their hertiage to be passed down from generation to generation.

Thanks You Mothers for a wonderful job...WELL DONE!

I love gospel music, and it was a great pleasure in interviewing Sean Hardin, known as the "Hardest Working Man In Gospel Music"!

Click here to listen:
www.blogtalkradio.com

I am so proud of these Empowered Christian Women (Ziel), especially the second one from the right. They are taking the gospel industry by storm. So keep them in your prayers, that the Gospel can go out into the world through song!

Click here and check them out!
www.myspace.com/officialziel.com

Lady Evelyn J.