Let Lot Go

by Genesis Dorsey

IG: @GIGIHEPBURN

1. So Abram left Egypt and went back to the Negev, he and his wife and everything he owned, and Lot still with him. 2. By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold.

3. He moved on from the Negev, camping along the way, to Bethel, the place he had first set up his tent between Bethel and Ai 4. and built his first altar. Abram prayed there to God.

5. Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also rich in sheep and cattle and tents. 6. But the land couldn't support both of them; they had too many possessions. They couldn't both live there–– 7. quarrels broke out between Abram's shepherds and Lot's shepherds. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living on the land at the time.

8. Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we're family. 9. Look around. Isn't there plenty of land out there? Let's separate. If you go left, I'll go right; if you go right, I'll go left."

10. Lot looked. He saw the whole plain of the Jordan spread out, well watered (this was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like God 's garden, like Egypt, and stretching all the way to Zoar. 11. Lot took the whole plain of the Jordan. Lot set out to the east.

That's how they came to part company, uncle and nephew. 12. Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.

13. The people of Sodom were evil––flagrant sinners against God.

14. After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. 15. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. 16. I'll make your descendants like dust––counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. 17. So––on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."

18. Abram moved his tent. He went and settled by the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to God.

(Genesis 13:1-18 Message)

Leave everything, including your family that you’ve known and grown up with. This was God’s commandment to Abram. We know him as Abraham now but Abram had some lessons to learn and some steps of faith to take before God could change his name. Many times we hear “it's the year of this” or the “year of that”. We hear much talk about seasons or “it’s your time”. However, I’ve come to find that it’s only when you take that step of faith that things truly begin to happen. Things won’t shift if you don’t shift. One step of faith that we all must take is leaving others that we have known for so long because they can not go with us into our future. We have to let the “Lot” figures in our life go. If we look at Genesis 13, Abram and his nephew, Lot, were experiencing some family issues. Their camps were having some “Reality TV” moments. It was time for them to separate. This moment of separation provides for us some key points on why some people just have to leave your life.

Before we begin, let’s note that Lot wasn’t a very bad man. In fact, he was noted as a righteous man. However, Lot did have some things that made him no longer able to walk with Abram. First, he was walking by Abraham’s faith and not his own. Have you ever met people that trail along just because you’re favored? In my opinion, there is nothing with people following you because God’s hand is on your life. However, at some point in time everyone needs to obtain their own faith. They can still follow but you can only ride on someone else’s faith and favor for so long. If my faith was really rubbing off on you, you would understand that you have to acquire the same mindset as me. However, Lot couldn’t acquire the same level of faith As Abram because God wasn’t talking to Lot at that time. This was a faith walk for Abram NOT Lot. Some may be able to travel with you but after a while they will notice that this is a personal walk between you and God. It’s personal. Let’s look at 4 points that we can learn from Abram and Lot.

1. Don’t let separation destroy your peace

People drawn to social interaction by nature. We are talking creatures so we see why it’s hard for us to leave behind those we have drawn close to over time. This was Abram’s nephew. Maybe the separation is between your best friend, a cousin, a college friend, or a co-worker. Never let it destroy your walk between you and God. Abram didn’t start having a fit. When you walk by faith, you don’t start outlining problems but instead see solutions. We see Abram say to Lot that there was plenty of land. He didn’t care which side Lot took. He just wanted there to be peace. Abram was walking by faith and literally moving based on God’s voice. He couldn’t afford for disputes within the camps to disturb the environment. After all, how can you hear God's voice in the midst of chaos. Something had to go. There was a need for separation because there needed to be peace.

2. The natural eye walks in the natural before the spiritual

The saying “The grass is greener” must have been one of Lot’s mottos when it came to Genesis 13. Lot chose the land that looked like it was the best. The first “Lot-ism” is that people who don’t know faith can only mimic in the natural what really happened due to the push in the spirit realm. This is the mind shifter that separated Lot from Abram. Genesis 13:10 uses some very interesting language depending on what translation you are reading. If we base it upon the King James Version, it says that the land “LOOKED LIKE God’s Garden”. It LOOKED LIKE Eden-- a blessed land. I’ve come to find out that it’s not about whether the grass is greener or not. You could have a dirt patch and it could still be blessed. It’s not about what is seen on the outside but it’s about who is working within you on your behalf.

When we look at this passage, we see Lot making his first “faith or fear” decision. I remember teaching on a lesson called, “Everything Good Ain’t God”. People who operate in fear make decisions based upon natural provisions instead of the ultimate provider. We can see why Lot drifted to what looked good. We could say that Lot’s best decision was following Abram. However, when it came time to separate Lot did not learn anything from Abram when it came to making a “faith” decision. However, we can’t blame him because we must remember that this was a faith walk for Abram. The promise was not for Lot. Lot never had to walk away from everything and just follow God. Abram was not traveling with Lot. Abram was traveling with God and Lot was following. Lot’s decision of land cost him more than just leaving Abram. If we look later in the scriptures, Lot ended up living in a land of wicked people guided by sin. Lot walked by the natural and paid a heavy price afterwards that even cost him his wife and great pain.

3. Never let friction turn into a fire because it will consume both parties

Abram did not care what land Lot chose because Abram was more concerned about staying attentive to God’s voice than letting the chaos in the camp cause a distraction. Many times we put so much energy into keeping relationships rather than just moving on. However, friction will soon cause a fire if you do not address the issues at hand. Many times, we let things slide or cover up instead of handling it and moving on. So instead of walking by faith and moving on, you’re wasting time and effort putting out fires that you should have spoken on a long time ago. I don’t know about you but some things are not worth my energy or effort. Abram realized that this was truly a faith walk. He had left everything he knew to follow a voice that he knew was God. Faith is risky-- it involves putting all your chips on the table and saying “all or nothing”. With that kind of faith in operation, the little things won’t be an issue because where God is taking you is greater cause. If we would be honest, the reason why many of us haven’t moved on is because we are still arguing with Lot instead of moving on to the land God is calling us to.

4. The voice of God moves in faith and never in the presence of a lack of faith

The first thing that stood out to me in Genesis 13 was the fact that God spoke to Abram AFTER Lot left. It clearly says in verse 14, that AFTER Lot left, God spoke. Why? After the chaos has left, then God can speak to you. What God then tells Abram lets us know how when we base our walk on faith, our blessing lies in our obedience. Gold told him that if he looked in every direction, the land he saw would be his. Imagine that. In the King James Version, God tells Abram to get active and start walking around because He was giving it all to Abram.

When we walk by faith and not according to the eyes of Lot, we will see that separation is required for access into the next level. It’s not that they were bad. They just didn’t have what was required to go with you. As we look at our lives, we will see that many things are a personal journey. God is trying to increase our faith and distractions may come. Yet, those distractions can be flags that it’s time for things to part away from us. We need to hear God’s voice. We need to walk by faith. When we come to Christ, our first instinct is no longer guided by the natural. If we just walk by what God has called us to do, the blessing is there. So stop worrying about what isn’t there or moving forward without certain ones that have always been there. Sometimes you just have to let Lot go.

Genesis Dorsey

Founder of Girls Of Royalty

www.GirlsOfRoyalty.com

The Mom's Club: Workshop

If you Google “what makes a good entrepreneur” you’ll find pages and pages of articles describing in great detail the habits, business practices, money handling skills etc. of a business owner complete with examples, charts and diagrams painting the picture of the perfect entrepreneur. Most (if not all) of these articles conclude with the promise that by following those steps, adopting those behaviors and habits, and putting those business practices to use, you’ll become the next small business man/woman turned millionaire. But there’s one thing these articles didn’t include as an ideal attribute of an entrepreneur: being a mom. Many will agree that when considering the qualifications of a CEO, having children is rarely considered as a plus, but more as a hindrance. More often than not, women feel that they have too separate their motherhood from their professional life but there are a select group of women who beg to differ—Momprenuers.

Jesssica Byrd, Founder of The Mom's Club

The A Team caught up with Jessica Byrd, a local Momprenuer who found her passion as a working mom and founded a new organization in Detroit, Michigan called The Mom’s Club. Jessica says she created The Mom’s Club to interact with young professional mothers and provide them with the tools, necessities, and environment to better raise their children. Jessica hosted her first annual Mom’s Club Workshop this past weekend at The Garden Theatre and it was an amazing experience. 

Our host, Ambrea Curry spoke with Jessica before the workshop began to find out more about The Mom’s Club and what we could expect from the workshop. Despite her pre-event jitters Jessica was more than excited about her first Mom’s Club Workshop experience mainly because of the speakers, Loretta Morman who she felt the women could easily relate to and Dr. Eddie Connor Jr. who she described as the perfect gentleman to speak to women with sons. Jessica’s hopes for The Mom’s Club Workshop were that the women could take the information provided and grow as individuals but especially as parents, “If I can save a mother, then this event was a success." 

The workshop focused on talking to children about self-esteem, peer pressure and identity and the first guest speaker, Loretta Morman, author of Hello My Name is BEAUTIFUL, empowerment speaker, etiquette teacher and counselor for young girls, dove right in with great tips for raising a strong woman emphasizing that, “A strong woman creates a stronger society.” Morman encouraged the moms in attendance to be real with themselves and their daughters about the issues you face as a woman trying to find your way through life. She also spoke passionately about how important it is that Moms don’t pretend everything is okay when it isn’t in attempt to protect their daughters from what may seem like a harsh reality.

To conclude her presentation, Loretta also gave the Moms some positive behaviors to practice with their daughters like affirmations, “I Am” statements and teaching them empathy. To conclude, Loretta urged the Moms to get to know their daughters and give them room to become what they want to become in life and not what we (moms) want them to become; she left them with the reminder that, “God gave you your child to raise, not control.”

The next guest speaker was Dr. Eddie Connor Jr., college professor, international speaker, author of five books, and founder of the Boys to Books mentorship program. He gave a powerful presentation on the importance of literacy, how a young man can reach his purpose and how to counteract the negative image of the Black Man in the media. He shared with the Moms his amazing story of coming from a divorced home in Detroit and battling stage four Cancer to becoming the successful man that stood in front of us. Out of the entire workshop a powerful moment occurred when Dr. Connor called up two young men in the audience and gave them what every young man needs:

1.     A book - because we all know what they say about a black man and a book.

2.      A wallet – “to understand investment and money management.”

3.      A belt – “to hold up sagging pants and sagging dreams/goals.”

4.      A watch- to understand that “time is NOT money” and once its gone— it’s gone.

5.     A Tie – to remind them that they are “tied to success”.

6.     A Mentor – because “you cannot be a man if you don’t see a man.”

Dr. Eddie Connor Jr. inspired the Moms to raise young men of standard even if there isn’t a father present.

            I am not a mother myself but the discussions, presentations, exercises and information shared during the workshop from the guest speakers as well as the participating Moms sounded like ideal advice for raising a child in today’s society as well as a great foundation for future child rearing. This workshop was one of many monthly activities including a Mommy Meet & Greet and a Play Date that took place at the Detroit Science Center; next on the agenda for The Mom’s Club is a Mommy’s Day Out. If you would like to become a part of The Mom’s Club and participate in activities like these with Moms like you, contact Jessica Byrd (mrsjessicamarieb@gmail.com) for your membership application!

Here are some extra shots from The Mom's Club Workshop! To see more photos as well as the full interview with Amrea and Jessica, subscribe to The A Team Talks Show YouTube Channel!
-Ayana

Check out the interview here.

Dollar Store Decor

 By: Ayana Bryant-Weekes


Home is where the heart is. so when you're deciding on how you're going to turn a living space into a comfortable place full of family get-togethers and pizza and Netflix with friends, most people wouldn't think to shop at the dollar store for their home decor items. But whether you're a college student trying to make a dorm room feel like home, a new home owner trying to create a new home on a budget, or simply trying to redecorate on a small scale, these Dollar Store DIY projects are simple, inexpensive ways to redecorate with as little as one dollar!

 FRAMED! For those who find themselves frantically searching for car keys on the way out the door,  here's a simple way to add a personal touch to your home and cut 10 minutes off your key search. Take the glass out of a picture frame of your choice, add small cup hooks to hang the keys on and VIOLA!!!! A cheap and easy way to keep up with your keys! You can decorate the frame any way you'd like to make it  unique.

Tame the Tangle! There's nothing more annoying than untangling a mass of earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Use accordion hooks for a cheap way to organize your jewelry that is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Just attach the hooks to a wall and hang your jewelry items as needed.  

 Topsy Turvy! Revamp any table top in your home with marbles! Use one color marble or multi-color marbles to create a pattern based on your room decor. If you find yourself bored on a Tuesday night, hot gluing marbles one by one to a table top will certainly help you pass the time.

Kitchen Chronicles. Who said picture frames could only frame pictures? Customize your kitchen decor with wall art made from items found right in your own kitchen! Follow these easy steps and your flatware will become a kitchen masterpiece!

 Mirror Mirror!  Mirrored decorative boxes are a great way to add a little bit of Dollar Store glamor to your home. All you need are square mirrors and a glue gun! The mirrors reflect whatever theme you have already in the room so it coordinates with anything! 

Matted. Can't find the perfect art piece to hang in your living room? Try a rubber floor mat! Yes, a  painted (or not painted) rubber mat can easily serve as an amazing design element somewhere other than at the front door.   
 

A Basket Case. This dollar store find is a perfect solution for diminishing space in your linen closet and a bare-walled bathroom. Mount wicker baskets on your wall and place towels, washcloths and other toiletries neatly inside.

Wall Flower.   So maybe the dollar store doesn't have classic Van Gogh pieces for sale but with some scrapbook paper and glue, you can have a wall of your own art. 

 Happy Decorating!
- Ayana  

Bedtime Snack 101

By: Ayana Bryant-Weekes 

I’ve heard from fitness experts, friends and family that a great way to lose weight is to not eat after a certain time. But if you’re a food lover like me, then this sounds like sheer torture! I LOVE a good bedtime snack and I’ve tried (and failed) to resist my urge to binge at bedtime many times. Trying not to eat AGAIN after dinner probably means you do one of these 3 things:

1.          SNACK SEARCH! You leave no cabinet unturned searching for the perfect snack especially for something sweet or salty, which can be satisfying to the pallet but let’s face it; we usually go for the unhealthy choices like cakes, cookies and chips.

2.          HANGRY! You let yourself get so hungry that you’re angry and become irritated with not getting to eat more. You just give up on finding something to eat and just go to sleep with a loud, angry tummy.

3.          MORNING MUNCHIES! You wake up starving with no energy start your day let alone to exercise – or worse, you wake up to a rumbling stomach at 3am that wont let you rest until you feed it!

I definitely have gone through each of these Nighttime No No’s and if we’re all on the same page, then we must agree that it’s plain crazy to deprive yourself of food just to avoid eating anything at night! If you’re hungry, EAT! But you must feed your body smart foods that wont counteract your fitness goals. 

How do I choose the right bedtime snack?

 It’s easy to feel guilty eating a late snack feeling like you’re about to cancel out all your good food choices for the day or that every bite is going to be stored as fat and end up in the wrong place. As long as you eat the right things, snacks before bed wont do any harm (but don’t get carried away).

·      If you’re trying to lose weight, avoid eating carbs at night. Since you won’t be burning off any carbs while you’re sleeping, your body is more likely to store these as fat.

·      If you’re working out first thing in the morning, some carbs will help give you energy for your workout. Carbs give you energy, but since you’re not working out until the morning, you have to give them to your body the night before rather than the morning of.

·      Eating healthy fats at night is a great way to feel satisfied. You won’t wake up in the middle of the night starving.

·      Protein of any sort is always a good late night snack choice. Gentlemen, this is great if you’re trying to buff up or slim down and keep the build.

Remember, food is fuel! Acts 27:34a  ^“Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength…”

Now that you have all your info, here are some quick and easy bedtime snack that are good for you and good to you.

I’m usually sweet snacker, but if you like more savory snacks, then an egg is a great last minute mini meal. They have both protein and fat to keep you full through the night. 

If you like to crunch and munch, try whole-grain crackers instead. They’re high in carbs, but they are also believed to help prevent insomnia. Pair them with something high in protein or calcium like a serving of string cheese. 

Popcorn is actually not that bad for you! The whole grain kind is pretty satisfying and since popcorn is a snack that takes a while to eat you’ll feel fuller over time.

It’s as simple as bread and butter. A slice of whole-grain bread topped with a tablespoon of almond butter since almonds which promote muscle relaxation. To add a twist to this classic treat, substitute bread for an English muffin and butter for yogurt cheese spread or peanut butter and fruit.

Top Greek yogurt with some fruit, a crumbled nut (of your choice) and cinnamon and it’s your own personal parfait. Or spread it over cucumber rounds or Rice Crackers to cool you off for the night.

Trade yogurt or cool whip for cottage cheese topped with a fruit of your choice. Cottage cheese will keep you full and rebuild your muscles through the night.

Milkshake! More like a protein shake but you can dress it up real nice and pretend it’s a milkshake if you want! You can add toppings like cocoa powder or nut butter to give it that milkshake vibe.

Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner? Especially a bowl of cereal! A bowl of whole grain cereal and chilled milk will ease you right into a good night’s sleep with no guilt.

Cherries have the good carbohydrates and they're one of the only natural sources of melatonin. Each cup is just 100 calories (for all the calorie counters out there).

Last, but not least; STAY AWAY from these foods at night:

• Caffeine products (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate)
• Sugary products
• Nicotine
• Alcohol
• Food high in fat or too much protein (anything hard for the body to digest)
• Spicy Food or Big portions (to avoid heartburn)
  

To make the most of your Bedtime treat, snack 45 minutes to 1 hour before bedtime and keep the snack small!  Don’t try to sneak in a whole meal, just a snack to tackle that midnight munchie feeling. Give your body enough time for the food to settle and don’t over feed it.  If you make healthy food choices at night, you’ll get better sleep, which adds to being in good health! 

-Ayana