Transforming Leaders Inside Out

A morning jingle, birth out of the Early Riser's Morning Prayer Ministry, which meets every morning at 5:30 am EST. to pray for the nation's children, parents, families, communities, churches, government leaders, and a Friday morning special 30 minutes Monday - Friday.  

My life has been transformed by this ministry to produce my first song ever and I dedicated to it's birthplace with First Lady Brenda Edwards and Pastor Dawn Johnson, leaders of the miraculous prayer group.  

@transformfromwithin

@virengage.org

Complementary Course on Living Outside Fear - November 10, 2022, at 6 pm.  Register at 

Prayer for our Government leaders, workers, and volunteers

Kings cannot tolerate evil, because justice is what makes a government strong. Proverbs 16:12 GNT

Welcome to Conversations with Grace, with Mind Over Matter with VeddaJo, I am so excited to be able to share with you some encouraging words to remind you that you have been gifted with the power of grace to overcome difficult conversations.

I remember starting my career in the healthcare field and learning how to communicate with professionals was new ground for me. Sure, I know how to speak to people, but how to be an influence on people and respect them at the same time was a skill I wasn’t taught in college. It only came by my experience with people that drove me to the point to want to share with others, how to handle difficult conversations. This skill of handling difficult conversations, helped me to achieve promotions from an administrative assistant making $26,000 a year to a Program Analyst making well over six figures a year. I am living in my second home; with the drive to look to purchase my third home in the next year. Now, it took me a while to learn this skill, but you don’t have to take the long road as we deal with your emotions in the mini-course.

As a single parent, raising two girls, handling difficult conversations was important. It helped me to raise my daughters into beautiful women, with their careers and the ability to live independently, because of the one thing I shared with them. If you want to achieve something in life, learn to communicate well. Set your mind to do it, work through the process, get up from your failures learning from them, but keep on going because we have been graced, by God, to live in abundance.

I’m not necessarily talking filthy rich, I’m talking joy, satisfaction, and not struggling from paycheck to paycheck. Working hard, being consistent, and trusting God to manage your access to the right doors, will bring you more joy than riches ever will. So, to oneself be true, respectful, and know what you want and get to work.

Handling difficult conversations is a skill and it must be learned. Effective communication is the cornerstone of great relationships. Whether you’re communicating with friends, family, coworkers, your partner, or even strangers, everything goes smoother with effective communication. You get more of what you want and the other party is happier too. Even difficult conversations - when handled with grace and composure - can be beneficial to your relationships.

In this mini-course, we will discuss 7 secrets to handling difficult conversations. Please know that these are based on my experience, but your outcomes will be based on your situations:

Let’s Get Started.

Special Guest - Veronica Robinson

Veronica Robinson is a native Washingtonian.  She is the mother of two and has four grandchildren.  She is a minister and share her faith throughout the DC Metropolitan area, South Carolina, Florida, as well as internationally in Puerto Rica, Guyana, Germany and Jamaica.  Minister Veronica likes to be referred to as Sis Veronica or Veronica, because she wants to relate to the people; not her title.  She has served as an adjunct professor in the National Bible College and Seminary as a teacher of Family Life.  Sister Veronica dreams of working with women who are in unequally yoked relationships and women will find themselves winning the hearts of their husbands by their behavior towards them.

Sis Veronica continues to share her story of her years being married and unequally yoked with her husband.  She shares the joy, challenges and tragedy.  Join us as we learn more about the life of a Christian woman married to an unbeliever.  Engage with the poll questions below and tell us if this story resonates with you.

Thanks for listening DMV Hard Working Women.  Helping women in the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas connect and share their story and journey of passion.

"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." Matthew 6:16

As the beginning of the year soars in, it gives opportunity to us to reflect, renew and revisit the purpose of the upcoming year.

Fasting allows heaven to move on your behalf. It sharpens you spiritually, giving you the opportunity to be more effective in every aspect of your life. The tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer. God is waiting on you to tell Him what you need in your life. YES, He sees your need. But He is waiting for you to invite Him into your situation so that HE receives the glory…because His glory He shares with no one. Are you looking to move mountains of impossibility? It’s time to sharpen your axe, to start fasting and praying to Almighty God. He is the Master of the impossible!

Matthew tells us that God sees what we do in secret, He hears us, and He will reward us openly. Why? Because when He rewards us openly, others see the miracles happening in our lives and want to know how they can have the same. Your miracle can easily be someone else’s salvation.

People turn to Him when we share our testimony. What He has done in the past, He can and will do again. Are you ready for a miracle to take place in your life? Stop limiting God! Allow Him to drench your life in blessings as you fast your way through the valley to a place of complete and total victory!

Consider the New Testament Church for a moment. They were fed to lions in the coliseum. They were burned alive at the stake. They were stoned to death. Nero soaked Christians in oily rags to light his rose garden. And still, the New Testament Christians were fearless. How was this possible, living under such grave circumstances?

The power of prayer! Prayer and fasting make the impossible possible. That same power is available to all of us today. We serve the same God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. All we have to do is ask in faith believing.

Did you recently receive a diagnosis for which the doctors have no cure? Does your financial situation look grim? God sees. And He is ready to move on your behalf if you are willing to trust Him. Seek His direction through fasting and prayer, knowing that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Step back from the busyness of your day to seek His face and know that your answer is on the way.

“And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:30-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I encourage you to fast and pray and seek the face of God for direction and offer prayers to Him.  He's ready to answer your prayers.

Special Guest

Veronica Robinson is a native Washingtonian.  She is the mother of two and has four grandchildren.  She is a minister and share her faith throughout the DC Metropolitan area, South Carolina, Florida, as well as internationally in Puerto Rica, Guyana, Germany and Jamaica.  Minister Veronica likes to be referred to as Sis Veronica or Veronica, because she wants to relate to the people; not her title.  She has served as an adjunct professor in the National Bible College and Seminary as a teacher of Family Life.  Sister Veronica dreams of working with women who are in unequally yoked relationships and women will find themselves winning the hearts of their husbands by their behavior towards them.

See our polls below and engage in the conversation.

Effective communication is thecornerstone of great relationships. Whether you’re communicating with friends, family, coworkers, your partner, or even strangers, everything goes smoother with effective communication. You get more of what you want as well as the other party is happier too.

Even difficult conversation - when handled with grace and composure - can be beneficial to your relationships.

1. Face the issue as soon as possible. 

As a native of New Mexico, working for over 20 years in federal government and traveling the world, I found that people think differently. Whether it's their upbringing, faith background or culture, the truth remained, the mindset of people differed by location, culture, and years of experience in the world. While living in Okinawa Japan, I decided to return to school and get my master's in human relations. I wanted to understand the mindset of people more and personally build better relationships.

Over the next few weeks, I will share my experiences and my newest e-Book on "How to Handle Difficult Conversations with Grace." I learned throughout the years, the best way to communicate in high stakes situations as a leader, parent, friend or loved one was to understand my audience and lean in to understand how to improve my communication skills in difficult situations. I look forward to sharing more on the next Wednesday post. Please share your comments below.

DMV Hard Working Women has a guest on the show... Minister Veronica Robinson talks about her 28 year marriage to a man that was not saved.  Join us!

I spent some time on Sunday morning, thinking about Christians who are disappointed in unbelievers who live in sin and choose to live outside of the will of God.

As believers, we must understand the accountability of faith is to those who trust in God. Israel said they trusted God, but their life was mixed with religious practice unpleasing to the heart of God.

Although Israel enjoyed their prosperity and practiced their religion of God; loving their traditional festivals, sacrifices, and rituals. Their religious practices were mixed in with idol worship; this would explain the wayward morals of the nation, causing them to oppress the poor.  While focusing on their personal preservation; the economic injustice and inequality were at its height.

In the midst of a pandemic that has lasted for more than two years, the religious world has had a war of words and personal preservation within the church.  Believing that their rights have been violated when perhaps God may be saying to us all, "Enough!"

I like the way Natalie Regoli puts it in her article, "We should not think that there is any religious practice that would appease the heart of God if our lives don’t align with his moral character. Today, it would be like going to work all week and living dishonestly, oppressing workers, robbing the poor, taking advantage of people, and then going to church on Sunday, raising hands, singing songs, and praying loud prayers to God for all to see and hear. God claims to “hate” such religion" (Amos 5:21).

Biblical Accountability begins with a society of believers who live their life, seeking the heart of God.  A heart of conviction to desire to please God, because without a heart for God, society falls into moral decay, and a sign of that will be injustice toward the marginalized. Even in the church, among believers there's a battle raging in the hearts of men to hate one another and treat each others as strangers in the house of faith.

As members of the faith in Jesus Christ, we must remember we don’t live or die just for ourselves.  If we live, we are living for the Lord. And if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord. That is why Christ died and rose from death to live again—so that he could be Lord over those who have died and those who are living. (Romans 14:7-9)

Biblical accountability belongs to those of faith, to be an example to those, desiring to trust and heed to the heart of God.

The Power of Juicing in January

I am excited about the new year. It's my time of year to assess my life. See where I need to do some trimming of people, places, and things. I believe in making adjustments and my January diet helps me to clear my mind in the midst of performing my Annual Life evaluation.

Did you know that when you drink fresh juice, your body is able to assimilate the various nutrients within 20 minutes?

Compared to a solid-based meal that can take up to 3 hours to digest, it's no wonder that so many people have turned to juicing as a way of improving their overall health!

Makes sense, right?

If you think about the many benefits that juicing offers, including:

Just those 3 reasons alone are reasons to consider juicing!

I developed "Top Juicing Recipes" a quick e-Book with 15-20 recipes that can help you clear your mind, it provides extra bonuses, giving you energy, losing weight, and helping you gain clarity of your passions for 2022. Members get the e-Book for FREE with their $5 subscription, which includes many other tips, discounts, and offers. Non-members pay $7.95 for the e-Book. Check out below and get started with your January Juicing at www.hard-working-women.com.