I was born LaShonda LaShay Council Easter in March 1974. By the grace of God, I am still alive. Thursday, while in attendance at the SBA day long workshop I had an opportunity to hear an author speak about Leadership in the 21st Century. I must admit, I didn’t pay as close attention as I should have but I did hear him say one thing that stayed with me throughout the day. He said, “no one cares about when or where you were born and after a little while they forget how and when you died, the only thing that matters is how you live the dash (-) between your birth and death.”

I have heard similar variations but this time I was struck with thoughts of the Apostle Paul, his life as a persecuter Saul and then an awesome tool carrying the gospel. His good days far outweighted his bad days!!! The dash in Paul’s life was full of hardship and struggles BUT thanks be to God that his journey was full of purpose. That’s where you and I come in, we must make sure that nomatter what life brings our way, we stand firm in the faith to make sure the dash is remembered long after we’re gone. Years come and go, time passes continually, but only you and I can make an impact. The way you live your dash affects people, circumstances and situations around you. The way you live your dash affects your tomorrow and the way you live your dash atttracts or repels people to the dash-giver Christ Jesus.

Do me a favor, since no one knows their own expiration date, live your dash to the fullest and with purpose. I am so thankful God delivered me from myself so that I can live out my dash as He sees fit. Everything during our dash/life we will give an account for and I’m living as best as I can to make it a good one. I pray you’re doing the same.

Blessings….. http://www.shaybills.com/blog

This weekend I had an opportuity to speak at the Men’s Federal Prison Unit in Waco, Texas. This venue was new to me and since I’d never done anything like it, I was a little nervous. Once in Waco, I was joined by three other women from other cities. Our connection alone was worth the trip but something more makes prison ministry a blessing.

I’d like to tell you that I was drawn to the prisons because of my moms imprisonment and release a few years ago or because of my three cousins who are still behind bars, but that would not be true. Initially, I had no interest and actually tried to ignore the invitation thinking someone else would be asked and accept before I had to give my answer. But when God has work for you to do Jonah, He’ll swallow you up until you come to realize His will is more important. Visiting incarcerated family members prepared me for the procedures to enter into the prison building, but since it was a men’s unit, we had to undergo more security checks which were not as bad as described by some. We made it to the fellowhsip area and the unending line of men came pouring in and my insides couldn’t contain the emotions. Immediately, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Locked up…but free.”

I’ve heard and seen some with, “jail-house religion,” but today was different. As the men walked in the Holy Spirit said, “These are the men I snatched from hell to deliver and set free. These are the men I saved from self-destruction.” And then before the thought could even escape my mind He said, “Look at what I have done in the free world. I have saved the un-godly, delivered the demonic and loosed the chains of the bound all for My name sake. If I can set-free men and women in the free world, what more can I do for these behind bars?” As I wiped tears I understood that the message, “locked up…but free,” wasn’t for the incarcerated, it was for you and I because we sometimes forget or neglect acknowledge that Jesus had to reach way down to pick us up too. The message from the messenger was a reminder that whom the Son sets free is free indeed, nomatter location. My prayer for you tonight is that you join me in praying for the men, not men in prison or the men in your family, but every man everywhere. Not only did God restore His men this weekend, but He demonstrated to me once again that being “locked-up” is a frame of mind and that in Christ their is much liberty.

Blessings…. www.shaybills.com/blog   

Keep my family in your prayers and I will do the same for you.

The woman with an issue of blood had an issue for a long time. She had spent all she had on physicians and for years, her condition remained the same. Then she “heard” that Jesus was passing by and believed that if she got close enough to touch the hem of his garment she would be made whole. As you and I both know, immediately she was healed but it wasn’t in the touch of the garment that stopped up her flow, it was her faith Jesus said that made her whole.

I don’t know what your issue is tonight. Maybe a loved one is ill, a child has gone astray or your relationship is on the rocks. Maybe deep down inside you’re not as “well” as you pretend to be or maybe your days of late are cloudy and blue. Don’t despair. Twelve long years was the length of time the woman with an issue of blood looked for releif. Not that your issue has been or will be that long, but the message for you is to continue seeking. Your faith in this situation is the only guarantee you have for healing, restoration or deliverance. Even if things are bad, remember they could be worse. God heals hearts, wounds, minds and situations and circumstances. Trust me, if He’ll do it for me, He’ll do it for you. My prayer is that you believe beyond what you can see and that your issue is stopped up immediately. Amen.

Blessings www.shaybills.com/blog

It’s 2009 and still everyone thinks his/her religion is best. I still grin when I hear people argue over which denomination is the way of Jesus Christ as if He belonged to, In The Beginning Methodist Baptist Church on the Nazarene COGIC. (lol…) Even though it’s sometimes laughable, in all seriousness, it is heartbreaking. Think about it for a moment, we all go to our own little church every Sunday and because we’ve done it for generations, we assume it’s right. Though in deed we are correct to assemble, God calls us The Church, singular not plural. God calls us the BODY of Christ or Christians, not a religion. And if by chance, He stepped out of eternity into time tonight, He would not look for us based on where we fellowship on Sunday mornings. He said, “a church (body) without a spot or wrinkle.” He’s coming back for a body that accepts Him as Lord, believes in His death, burial and resurrection and is obedient to His Word.

All of the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, is gospel. Religion has no place in the Promised Land. And Christianity, well, let’s just say the root Word speaks for itself and without Christ no man can see the Father!

Blessings…. http://www.shaybills.com/blog

I have heard a many of men say, “she’s just too smart for her own good or her smart-mouth is too much for me.” I used to let that go in one ear and out the other but as I get older (and prayerfully wiser) comments tend to linger in my spirit longer. I just overheard this comment while watching a sitcom and although I should be ironing my husband’s work uniform for tomorrow, I figured I’d post this topic to see if their is a need for “un-educating the so-called educated woman.” I mean really ladies, are we that bad? Is it that hard for a man to communicate with us because “we know too much?” Or, is it hard for him to get over on us because we know too much? I can hear some of you now saying, “that’s it Shay.” But for now, I am going to take the road less traveled and say that some of us women are too educated, myself included at times, and maybe we are in need of a little less teaching from the sitcoms, the talk shows, the soap opras and the video vixens. OK, OK, ok–give me a chance to explain.

It’s one thing to be book smart but book knowledge is not the mark of an educated woman. And even though some of us grew up in Branches, around West Gates and under the guidance of Booker T. Washington, our street smarts do not make us educated. No, a real educated woman does not complain about the hand life deals her from day to day and she certainly does not blame the opposite sex for her troubles. The educated woman accepts responsiblity for her actions with dignity, class and grace. Though she is humble, her presence is powerful. She does not compare herself to her male counterparts or sing, “anything you can do I can do better” to him. An educated woman, not a smart woman, knows she does not need to act masculine to exude power. The educated woman is disciplined inside and outside of her home and most importantly, around her children.

So what is the difference between the educated and un-educated woman. The UN-educated woman does not know the mystery of submission. UN-educated women detroys their house with their tongue, wear their blessings on their back instead of in their heart and they teach lessons to their seed with corruptible words from this corruptible world.

The Educated woman knows how to make both men and women feel comfortable in her presence. She knows how to keep quiet even when she is right in order to preserve peace, she laughs a lot to keep from crying but when she cries she draws strength. The Educated woman honors and respects the order of life, “in the beginning God made MAN,” and she recognizes how important she must be that God would make such provision for her and her children. No, the Educated woman is not defined by her degrees, her profession, the car she drives nor the house she lives in—-an educated woman knows that in God’s eyes she is a wise woman and “wisdom is the principle thing.”

So ladies the next time you hear a man say, “you’re too smart for your own good or your smart mouth is too much for me,” maybe he wants to communicate with the wise woman in you–you know, the one that keeps quiet even when she knows she’s right.

Blessings to you…… www.shaybills.com/blog

I wish I could shout from the mountain tops that being single is not a disease! I have had more conversations than I can count on one hand this weekend with friends about the issues surrounding married and un-married women. First let me say, “I am no expert!” But one issue in particular I want to squash is this notion that single women aren’t as “Christian-like” as married women. For the sake of not being mistaken on my stance I say to that, “The devil is a lie!” I could quote scripture after scripture but for the sake of this post I want to keep it straight to the point without being accused of not keeping it real.

Biblically, singleness is more favorable according to the words of Apostle Paul because one can focus more on living righteously. Yes, the Lord said be fruitful and multiply but the same Bible teaches to marry if you cannot contain the flesh. Who says everyone single is operating in the flesh? And for that matter, who says all married people are equally yoked? I really don’t have the time needed to expound upon this issue in great detail but my reason for writing is to say this to ALL MY SINGLE LADIES….

1.  Put all of your trust in the Lord and let Him lead you in the right direction when it comes to your relationships with all people.

2. Jesus didn’t come to condemn, so don’t let married people (happy or unhappy) try to condemn you for not being married. I try to always remember I was once single and how I lived for God or didn’t live for God was for Him to judge and or forgive.

3.  It is possible to be Sold Out To Christ physically, mentally and socially. PERIOD. I know several single women whom have chosen to abstain not just from sex but from poisonous relationships with men and women in order to have a deeper intimacy with Christ. What a beautiful thing! So ladies, be thankful that your relationship with Christ is solely that, “your relationship.” Better yet, be thankful that only God has a heaven or Hell to put us all in!

4. And last but not least, always be mindful and think if married women were so happy being married why do they spend so much time worrying about ALL THE SINGLE LADIES?

To all of my single girlfriends in Christ, I love you. I don’t love you because you’re single nor because I think you’re 100% Christian. I love you because God is love and His holy spirit dwells in me. Stop spending so much time trying to prove to people you’re living righteously and just live your life as best as possible, just as I am. If women in your circle can’t handle your singleness, then maybe I’ll be writing another post about what’s really going on with them in the near future!

Blessings…. www.shaybills.com/blog

A few years ago I left the education field with no back up plan and no idea what the next few years would bring physically. After months of internal searching, crying and praying, I decided to get up from my ”woe is me” bed and do something, everything-anything. The pace was slow and the pay was even slower but the choices I made then have blessed me and my family beyond measure. More than anything, I have time and with time, I get to do the things I love. I had to reinvent myself, but honestly, I had to find myself. I had a “come to Jesus” experience regarding my journey in life. You, my friend have to do the same. Some may call it your purpose and others may define it as your destiny-however you describe doing what makes you happy, know that it’s all about following your heart toward success. 

Don’t worry, it’s not hard. First, don’t be afraid to take risks. I have a number of friends that live in the “I wish,” world. You know that world where you wish you had a better job, bigger house, etc…? Living in such a world robs you of the reality of your true abilities. “I wish-ers” still see the dream deferred and therefore never seize opportunities in front of them. Second, be open to change. Change is a good thing. Mix things up a bit and step out of your comfort zone. Third, take it nice and slow. It took me a long time before I was comfortable with not having a traditional 9 to 5. I had to keep reminding myself of how I longed for more freedom when I worked for someone else, and that got me through many long days and nights. Fourth, be committed and determined. Nothing worth having comes easy and the sooner you buy into the new you, the better things will be for you. And last, love the process. Life is an adventure, why not enjoy the ride? Always do you and be honest with yourself. Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. I believe that and I pray you will not only believe it but live it too.

Blessings www.shaybills.com/blog

Sometimes the best thing to do when you are being misunderstood is say nothing. As hard as that is, it just may save a friendship, relationship or what ever ship you’re in. Usually the culpret rests between vague lines of blue and white and communication of any form gets transmitted in error. The Word of God says, “write the vision and make it plain.” In applying that scripture, I’ve found the vision to be ill presented and therefore the basic and plain interpretation is lost. What exactly is the vision? What exactly are you moving towards? What exactly are the components that make the vision plain?

When you’re misunderstood it’s generally because the other individual  or individuals still weigh your words or actions according to their thoughts, emotions, feelings, judgements, assumptions and or rationalizations as if to right your wrong. They error in thinking every word you speak is up for evaluation or in need of a quick fix! What’ s up with that? Because of this, the time needed to be understood is lost by someone’s quick need or desire to diagnose. Maybe it’s God’s way of showing us we shouldn’t have shared certain information. Whatever the reason may be, being mis-understood can cause much frustration. The best way to handle it is to recognize early that you and another may not see eye to eye, agree to disagree and move on. If not, you run the risk of being mis-understood well beyond the length of the conversation. And that my brothers and sisters, is not good for anyone!

Blessings… www.shaybills.com