Don’t Trade your Destiny for a BEDWARMER

                                                                                                                        emPOWERment Speaker

                                                                                                                     Shirelle DIAMOND Hogans

Shocking title right? Unfortunately it needs to be said and addressed. Cold, lonely winter nights can be a crux in any fireproof plan to “keep it together” even for the strongest diva. Women are pursuing their destiny like never before in this season, married as well as single. Single women are on the fore front and making major impact: Business Mogul, Power Mom, Ultimate Friend, Community Activist and Advocate, however the all around full of life diva goes to bed ALONE at night.

Can we talk about it?

Some would say, lets not even mention it, or just pray about it. It’s better left unspoken about. NOT addressing this issue would be like standing by and watching someone commit suicide. IT IS THAT SERIOUS. The issues that are least discussed in public are the ones doing the most damage in private.

As Single Saved Divas, who do we share our accomplishments with? Who checks on us throughout the day, sends flowers or a note, just because? Its not that the desire of a mate isn’t there, it has everything to do with the timing. Settling for any warm body will cost you more than you know. For some, the affection aspect outweighs the physical aspect and will cause women to compromise. Being Single and Purpose driven doesn’t negate the feeling of being appreciated and thought of nor does it take the place of male affection, attention and conversation. Passion doesn’t have an on and off switch, however you must MONITOR your surroundings and engagements and be truthful as to what you can and cant handle. You are in control of your OOPS moments.

100% of women surveyed for this article opted for male affection, attention and conversation.  Not negating a desire for intercourse, however identifying a need that most times finds us in compromising positions. What female only wants to talk and hang with other females, ALL the time? KNOW your triggers, STAY busy, FIND hobbies, BREATHE through the “HOT” flashes, TRUST in His plan!

Adam had full dominion of the earth and still had a desire for a mate. As strong successful and purposed driven women we have to STRATEGICALLY avoid situations that will put us “under fire”. Predators come in different shapes, colors and sizes. It’s always our flavor that is like a magnet to us at all the wrong times. As PURPOSED women with desires, we have to make the adjustments and be comfortable with the uncomfortableness of being alone in our beds this season. I know its easier said than done (BELIEVE ME), however the frustration of not having someone special is much easier to handle than when you weigh out what it will cost you.

Connect with Diamond:

diamond@radikalpublications.com

www.radikalpublications.com

www.facebook.com/Diamond.DDP

www.twitter.com/kingdomdiamond

Open Heart Surgery

emPOWERment Speaker

Shirelle DIAMOND Hogans

These last few months have been painful. I cant imagine what it must actually feel like to have a heart attack. The pain and fear associated with not knowing if you are going to survive or not…. The should of’s, could of’s, would of’s but didn’t’s all seem to race back to your memory. The pain is so unbearable you barely can get a word out to call for help. All you can do is grab the origin of where the discomfort is coming from, your heart. I’ve been a nurse for 11 1/2 years and we are taught that the symptoms of a Heart attack are: shortness of breath, the discomforting feeling like an elephant is sitting on your chest and pain radiating down your left arm.

In this year alone, I have experienced multiple spiritual heart attacks. Life has seemed somewhat unbearable numerous times. Before I could catch my breath YET another thing happened. I felt like I was being crushed by the weight of the world. At times if felt almost impossible to raise my hands to give God praise in spite of it all. I am not a “religious” type person that will give you the OVERsanctified response that I have a READY praise on my lips at all times. Depending on the heaviness of my circumstance, my praise can be a little delayed (nano-seconds..but I have a moment of weakness before I get there). Sometimes LIFE can be just a little too much to handle and the pain and fear of the unknown demands your immediate attention. Clouding your GOOD judgement, overshadowing you knowledge and expertise. No matter what degree, title or level of experience you have, the circumstances and perspective is different when you become the patient. Its a well known fact that doctors and nurses are the worst patients. It seems we know it all, self diagnose and want to treat ourselves. Its not until we find ourselves helpless, flat on our backs, totally at the mercy of another’s compassion and ability do we finally receive the treatment we need to survive. The same goes for spiritual leaders.

Heart attacks dont come out of thin air. There are symptoms of a build up that can be detected well in advance of an attack. Like the majority of the world, we dont get examined as often as we should and ignore all the signs that can lead to death. Now I found myself in a situation where all I could do was grab the area that was hurting the most. Unable to speak life and hesitant on my praise. I quickly found myself on a gurney being rushed by Angels into open heart surgery by the master Himself…I knew I only had moments to live. All of my knowledge and experience as a nurse and as an encourager wasnt going to help me at this time. The more I tried to take control, the worse my situation got.

My pulse was weak, I was losing blood and going in and out of consciousness. Something was wrong. A Nitro pill to stop the pain wasnt working, everything Natural that I’ve used in the past wasnt working. My pain and damage was too far advanced for the OBVIOUS to work. I needed an intrusive internal invasion in my life.  He made a decision, He loved me enough to do the unthinkable. He stripped me before everyone to see and began cutting into my flesh. There was no time to medicate. He had to protect His investment. I didnt heed to the warnings, He couldnt be nice about it. I would just have to suffer through it, TRUSTING He would make it all better.

EXPOSED, VULNERABLE, SUSCEPTIBLE to OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS and PREDATORS, on the VERGE of DEATH,  He performed open heart surgery on me. SCRAPING out my arteries so that the blood can flow once again. CUTTING and REMOVING all the veins that were totally clogged, unusable, damaging me more than helping me. I cried and screamed like I was being tortured as He ripped away relationships that have been their for eternity. I fainted a few times when he cut the vital organs that was necessary for me to function. No job, no income, no stability. I watched in amazement as He held my heart in His hand and used His tears to clean me and fill my veins. I began to cry thinking about how  He loved me so much, He gave me another chance. He blew on my heart and it started to beat once again. HE serenaded me with His promises as He restored my life.

RIGHT where I fell, RIGHT where I hurt, RIGHT in the middle of SPECTATORS, RIGHT in the process of PURSUING my Destiny, He rescued me….

HE watches over his Word…..Open Heart Surgery is necessary to strengthen you for the Fight of your life

Contact Diamond

diamond@radikalpublications.com

www.radikalpublications.com

www.facebook.com/diamond.ddp

www.twitter.com/kingdomdiamond

the CINDERELLA STORY….told be Empress Diamond

Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl.

With an unstable family structure.

Her family, friends, co-workers & church folks didn’t like her one little bit.

All their kind thoughts and loving touches were for someone else.

But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all.

Nothing but hand-me downs and scraps.

No rest and no comfort.

She had to work hard all day.

No one cared to know her real name, they knew and addressed her by her past mistakes and failures.

Even dressed in old rags, there was something inside of her that made her beautiful, DISTINCTIVE, PECULIAR AND SET APART.

One day, there was news of something BIG taking place.

The young lady dared not to even dream of being a part of it…she knew she would be expected to sit back and take care of others who would be participating in it.

Suddenly something amazing happened. As she was sitting all alone, a burst of light appeared.

Don’t be alarmed a VOICE said.

For I know you would love to go to the BIG EVENTS.

And so you shall!

Doubt set in, the young lady said “How can I, dressed in rags, with all my issues, hang-ups and insecurities?”

People will see me and turn me away!

The VOICE smiled.

With a flick of an eye, the young lady found herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

Now for your coach,..said the VOICE;

“A real lady would never go to a BIG EVENT on foot!

Quick!

Get me something you ALREADY HAVE and OVERLOOKED its PURPOSE!

Oh, OF COURSE (DUH)…said the girl.

IN A FLICK OF AN EYE all her EVERYDAY OVERLOOKED RESOURCES had been TRANSFORMED to PRODUCE an EXPECTED end.

The girl could hardly believe her eyes.

The girl had a wonderful time at the big event, she took heed to the INSTRUCTIONS previously given to her about TIMING and left.

As she ran away she lost one of her slippers/precious gifts, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up!

If the last stroke of midnight were to sound… oh… what a disaster that would be if she was in the wrong PLACE at the WRONG TIME!

Out she fled and vanished into the night.

The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up the precious gift SACRIFICED to be in the right place at the right time and COMMANDED his ANGELS to “Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits.

“I will never be content until I find her!”

So the servants tried the slipper on the foot of EVERY girl in the land

UNTIL only the girl was left.

People who knew her, family and friends, co workers, church folks & people she served day and night said:

That awful untidy, homely looking newby girl simply cannot have been at the BIG EVENT

The KINGDOM and its INHERITANCE should go to someone else!

Can’t you see how UNKNOWN, WORTHLESS, TAINTED AND USED she is?

But, to EVERYONE’S AMAZEMENT, the shoe/gift fitted PERFECTLY.

Suddenly the VOICE appeared and waved His hand.

IN A FLASH, the girl appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty.

Her haters gaped at her in amazement as she was TRANSFORMED BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES, and the angels said, “Come with us!

The KINGDOM is waiting for you.”

So the TRANSFORMED girl married her DESTINY and lived happily ever.

from the Desk of Diamond…

No matter what you’ve been threw and what people KNOW about your past or present, you are ENTITLED to a HAPPILY EVER AFTER. You are distinctive, peculiar and set apart for a reason. You might feel abandoned or misplaced but you are NOT an orphan. Don’t allow doubt, fear and anxiety to reside in your heart and mind. YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED INSIDE OF YOU. LISTEN TO THE VOICE INSIDE OF YOU TELLING YOU OF YOUR PURPOSE.

Take INVENTORY of what resources you overlook EVERYDAY and USE them to PROPEL you FORWARD. LISTEN to INSTRUCTIONS. BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE KING HAS AN APB OUT ON YOU-HE HAS EVERY EVERYONE OF HIS SERVANTS LOOKING FOR YOU-HE WONT BE CONTENT WITHOUT YOU!

IT MAY SEEM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE GETS A TURN BUT YOU, HOWEVER IF YOU JUST HOLD ON YOUR TIME IS NEXT! PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DETER YOU AND REMIND YOU OF YOUR PAST, PLEADING FOR IT TO BE SOMEONE ELSE WHO ACTUALLY FULFILLS THEIR DESTINY, ANYBODY BUT YOU. DONT FRET KEEP GOING FORWARD.

YOUR TAILORED MADE SLIPPER WILL ONLY FIT YOU!!

SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF IT WITHOUT APOLOGY!

YOUR DESTINY IS YOUR OWN, IT’S A PERSONAL PASSION.

LIVE OUT YOUR CINDERELLA STORY

DIAMOND 🙂

CONNECT WITH DIAMOND

RESOURCE FOR CINDERELLA STORY

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Cleansed from the RESIDUE of Domestic Violence

In Dec 2010 I found myself in a church bathroom crying my eyes out, wanting to scream and a breath away from ripping off the bathroom sink. I was caught up in rage. I had just been verbally and emotionally violated and I was mad…at myself. As I tried to control my breathing I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and had a flashback to my past domestic violent relationships.

Domestic violence has been limited to just physical abuse. However MENTAL, EMOTIONAL & VERBAL abuse are just as harmful as PHYSICAL abuse. In actuality, mental, emotional and verbal abuse proceed the physical abuse. No one allows someone to just walk up to them and hit them. There is a relationship of trust established. The abuser gets into the victims head and then uses their influence to manipulate situations. The victim constantly makes excuses for the abusers actions and finds a way to blame themselves for situations that take place.

I shouldnt have done this,

or I shouldnt have done that.

I knew this would make them mad.

The situation I found myself in that cold Dec night made me realize I had removed myself from my past abusive relationships but I had yet to deal with ME. I discovered that I continued to put myself in relationships that controlled me. Not with the same intensity as before, but the control and abuse remained. I never spoke up for myself, I allowed people to do and say whatever they wanted without confrontation of their wrongdoings. I believed it would all get better if I just waited them out. I have always been that “RIDE OR DIE CHICK”. In that bathroom, I discovered I was still covered with the residue of my domestic violence relationships. I had subconsciously traded one scenario for another.

RESIDUE:

A small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken or used.

I made excuses for my abuser. I found someway to make it my fault. I never stood up for myself and allowed everyone to walk over me. I was conditioned to HANG IN THERE no matter what. I had  a high tolerance for pain and disappointment, when others would have jumped ship a long time ago, I remained. LOYAL despite the abuse. Like Tina Turner said in her movie, I dont know how to leave…I was always the one who was left or discarded without a second thought.

I stayed in abusive relationships until my abusers eventually left me. That night I felt like I was right back in it. Different situation, same M.O.  I say I was mad at me only because it took me this long to realize what I had allowed to happen. If you never deal with yourself you will continue to find yourself in the same situations just different people , time and locations.

At 18,

I was choked by my boyfriend while pregnant with his child.I didnt report it to the police, lost a few friends but remained with him. I believed everyone made mistakes and deserved a second chance. I wasnt perfect so how could I expect someone else to be.

  At 21,

my fiance cut my face in 2places with his Chef knife, I bailed him out of jail, refused to testify against him in court, telling the jury how it was all a misunderstanding. The scars on my face spoke louder then the words coming out of my educated mouth. I remained with him until he left me, skipping out on bail, leaving me with the bill, bounty hunters and a broken heart.

Staring in the church bathroom mirror 13 years later, I didnt see who I thouht I had evolved to be. Instead I saw a broken girl with tape falling  from the places she tried to piece together.

At that moment, I refused to be taken back to that place again.It had to stop. I refused to be a push over anymore. I refused to live my life in bondage of someone elses dysfunction. I vowed to value myself more and build up my self esteem & to speak up for myself. I decided it wasnt right or ok to be yelled at for any reason. I decided I wouldnt be degraded or ridiculed in the name of  someone elses definition of  “love”.

That cold night in Dec was the last day I allowed ANYONE to make me feel less than the WOMAN, let alone HUMAN that I was. I bathed myself in His Word and allowed Him to once again wipe me clean of the residue of my past.

Love yourself!

Empress Diamond

Read More about my triumphs over Domestic Violence in RadiKal Publications 5star winning book TWISTED PLEASURES on Amazon.com and  www.diamonds-world.org

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