The Beauty of Solitude

Times of Refreshing

Maybe it stems from being number eight in a brood of eight. Maybe it’s because growing up in a large family I’ve always had to “fight” for time alone. Maybe it’s because at times I just enjoy my own company. Whatever the reason, from the time I was a child until this very moment I have always craved, seek and fought for my moments of solitude.

I enjoy being able to be alone to reflect, to meditate on the word of God, to curl up and visit old friends through the pages of a good book, listen to music, sing dance or just sit and enjoy the silence and the peacefulness of my self-imposed solitude.

I find that the times of solitude is a necessity in my life. It gives me time to rejuvenate when I’ve given all I can for a time. It helps me to reflect on some of the blessings in my life, family, friends, possessions, peace of mind, health strength… It also renews me for when it’s all over.

I’ve also found out that one of the most beautiful thing about solitude is knowing that when I want it to end all I have to do is take a walk outside or simply pick up the phone and dial a number. That’s the beauty of solitude; knowing that it isn’t forever. Friends, family, company are only a phone call away.


For more thoughts on the Beauty of Solitude visit Keziah this week's hostess of the Carnival of Beauty at A Woman Who Fears the Lord

Merry Christmas One and All

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Christmas at my House

Christmas at my house... hmmm. Just saying it brings back memories of waking up Christmas morning to wonderful aromas, hearing my mother moving around in the kitchen preparing the Christmas meal, listening to her scold my dad for getting in the way, which by the way still happens.

There was never a lot of gifts at my house when I was growing up, sometimes we got books and pencils, other necessities or prehaps a toy, because in a family of eight children there often wasn't enough money for extravagant gifts. However, looking back I don't think of how deprived I was because, the gifts would have been long gone. I think of how blessed I was. My house was always filled with laughter, love, good cheer and lots and lots of food.

Present day in my house is not much different from 20+ years ago, except the family is much, much larger. We still don't concentrate so much on the gifts, although don't get me wrong it's always nice to get gifts. But, Christmas at my house is still about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, family, friends and food :)

We go strictly traditional at my house at Christmas. My dad, my five brothers and older nephews usually grab all of the seats at the table and my mom, sisters and sisters-in-law are usually serving the food. You notice I didn't mention myself, well being the youngest I can still make myself scarce without being missed to quickly. (If I miss the serving I usually get stuck with kitchen duty afterwards though)

My favorite part of Christmas at my house is when we gather as a family, while Mommy prays for the entire family. Her prayer always sets the tone for the entire day. Along with that treasured tradition is the annual, can't do without, back to the past trip. This is where we all just sit around, usually after Christmas dinner, and reminisce about when we were younger, how different things were back then, tricks we played on each other (like when my brother Enoch talked me into let him give my doll a haircut. He convinced me that it would grow back.) We still call those days, "da good ol' days".

That's Christmas at my house. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Written December 2005



Things have changed in my family since Christmas last year. My mother is no longer with us. So Christmas 2005 will forever be in my memory.

Gifts I'd Like to Give

There are a few gifts I’d love to give this Christmas if only they were mine to give…

First of all, I’d love to give every young lady I come into contact with the ability to see that she is a person of value, with special unique qualities.

Next, I’d like to help her understand that her destiny is in her hand and the future that she wants is hers if she’d but follow God’s plan.

Then, I’d like to help her realize that life is not going to pass her by if she’d delay a few pleasures and focus on her goals.

Finally, if I had the ability this Christmas, I’d dry every young lady’s tears, erase every disappointment, calm every fear.


Yes, if I had the ability, I’d really do it if I could. But, one thing I can do young lady is let you know that you are loved.

God loves you, you are special, a part of his perfect plan, trust him and he’ll guide you into realizing the dreams you may think are far beyond your reach.



(I wrote this piece for Girl Talk Magazine several years ago, but I thought this was an appropriate time to share it again.)

Rescue Yourself

Do you dream about your Prince Charming riding into your life in a gorgeous hummer and rescuing you from your ordinary life?

When I was growing up a lot of the songs and shows intended for female audience encouraged girls to dream about a hero coming along and rescuing the damsel in distress from her dreary existence and then they both ride into the sunset and live happily ever after.

Many ladies old and young buy into the concept of a tall dark and handsome Prince Charming or a smooth knight in shining silver Mercedes coming in and sweeping them off their feet. Some young ladies buy into this concept so much until instead of living life to the fullest, going to college or finding something meaningful to do with their lives they spend it waiting to be swept off their feet. Unfortunately when they are, they often find out that life is not the fairy tale they pictured it to be.

That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when I heard some of my fourth grade girls sing a song I’d never heard before. (I confess to musical ignorance) The lyrics were so vastly different from those I grew up listening to. It painted a different picture of the much beloved Cinderella and encouraged young ladies to rescue themselves.

I don’t wanna be like Cinderella
Sitting in a dark old dusty cellar…
I don’t wanna be like someone waiting
For a handsome prince to come and save me
I’d rather rescue myself

Don’t think I’m knocking Cinderella, I love the story myself but I thought it was nice to hear a song that encourage young ladies to be self sufficient and rely on their own inner strength, ambition and intelligence to make it in life.

Yes, I agree, it’s nice to sometimes dream about being rescued from your seemingly ordinary or stressful life by a tall, dark handsome guy pulling up in his shining, silver mercedes (swoon). However, wouldn’t you like to improve your own situation? Isn’t it simply sweeter to have choices? I mean it’s nice to have someone rescue you but wouldn’t you at least want to know that when it truly matters you’re able to, with God’s help of course, rescue yourself?

Article from june/aug issue of Girl Talk Magazine

Happy Thanksgiving

Today there are so many things that I'm thankful for. If I tried to list them the list would be endless. So I thought I'd talk about what I'm most thankful for.

Today I'm most thankful for salvation. That has been the most precious gift I've ever received. I accepted this freely given gift over sixteen years ago and it's still as fresh and new as when I first received it.

This freely given gift has made me a better person. It has made me a more loving daughter, sister, auntie, cousin teacher, friend... This gift has changed me as a person and my life in general. It's the gift that I would never in a million years consider returning or exchanging.

So today, on Thanksgiving Day I'd like to say thank you Lord for the gift that keeps giving and giving... Salvation.

Come on and bless the Lord with me

Psalm 34 1-3

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Talker or Listener?

Have you ever been in a conversation where the other person talked, talked, talked and you just listened? You waited patiently until they were finished hoping to be able to put in your five cents but when they were finished so was the conversation.

Sometimes when we have a captive audience it's easy to just talk about what's going on in our world without giving the other person an opportunity to contribute. But let's try to remember everyone has a story to tell and everyone wants to be heard. So I challenge you for the next week, if you're the talker encourage your friend to talk, you may be surprised at what she has to say. Also, if you're the listener take an active role in the conversation. Let your voice be heard.

A conversation is so much more sweeter when both parties participate, after all isn't that what friendship is a all about?

Thoughts on Friendship

Best Friends...

... do not have need of us as much as they have the capacity to enjoy us.

... wallk alongside on life's journey - do not run ahead or lag behind.

... are forgetful of what isn't perfect about us.

... grow and change with one another - learn from one another's experience.

... share both the important and insignificant pieces of thier lives with the same
degree of joy and openess.

... instinctively know when to talk and when to be silent... well, most of the time!

... praise with sincerity, criticize with humility, confront with compassion.

Do we have what it takes to be a best friend? Only intermittently and in varying degrees. We have to keep working at it -- it's not easy. But the rewards are extraordinary!

excerpt from the book Friends Through Thick & Thin
by Gloria Gaither, Peggy Benson, Sue Buchanan & Joy MacKenzie

And Blessed is he...

6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Matt 11:6


I found the above scripture running continuously through my head today as I questioned God about situations in my life that I just can't seem to understand. Unfortunately it seems that heaven itself was silent and that God refused to answer.

Like John the Baptist who simply wanted to know, "Are you the Christ or should we look for another?" I received no answer from God today. I confess I was a bit angry and yes even offended that in my distress he seemed to be so silent and almost uncaring. However in the midst of my deepest pain and anguish I heard his still, small voice saying, "And blessed are you Bernie if you are not offended with me."

I don't understand why he seems to be so quiet when it feels like I need him most but I know that whatever I'm going through He's working it out for my good and I will understand it all in His time.

Written May 29, 2006

Have you ever felt this way?

Sometimes

Sometimes I enter your house Lord
And it’s not where I want to be
I don’t feel like lifting my hands
Or singing praises to your name

I don’t want to hear the preacher
Preach a message about God’s grace
I want the service to be over
So I can be on my way

But as I sit in the sanctuary
And I begin to meditate
I think about all you’ve done
And how you saved me by your grace

And as I think about you Lord
The tears begin to slowly fall
As the iciness within my heart
Begin to melt from your son’s warmth

So I slip my hand to heaven
And begin to praise your holy name
Because Lord I do realize
This you do require of me

You want me to praise you
When I feel like and when I don’t
To deny the natural man
And tune in to only you

As I tune into your frequency
You begin to speak to me
You let me know that you are pleased
With my sacrificial praise

By the time I leave the service
My attitude is totally changed
And I wonder within myself
“why didn’t I want to praise God’s name?

by Bernadine J. McIntosh
January 2005

How important are your beliefs?

What do you believe in life?
What is important to you?
What belief do you have that you would stake your reputation your very life on?
How much of a part do your belief system, play in your life?
Do your beliefs define who you are?
Can people identify you based on your belief?
Do your beliefs changed based on the group of people you are with?
How strong is your belief?
Are your beliefs worth dying for?



As I read through the bible I am always impress to read about great men and women of God who are willing to die for their belief. They were all ready at a moments notice to lay down their very lives for their beliefs. I often wonder if I were put to the test would I be able to do that? I would love to think that I would and at this moment it would be quite easy to say yes. Yes I would die for my belief and I really believe that I would. However it is easy to live up to your beliefs when you’re surrounded by people who have the same beliefs. It’s easy to say you’re a Christian when everyone around you is saying the same thing. But what if they’re not? Would you still believe what you believe? Would you still admit to having that belief? Would your faith be easily shaken then?

Imagine for a moment being taken away from your family, your friends, everything that you love and are familiar with. Imagine being taken somewhere where traditions, religious beliefs, food and every thing including the language is different. Think about being in this place where no one believes in your God? Would it be easy then to admit to being a Christian? Would you boldly witness for Christ then or would you deny him? Would you become a closet Christian or would you simply blend in with everything that surrounds you?

Reading through the book of Daniel there are several places where we see Daniel and his friends allowing their faith to define their actions. From the first chapter of Daniel we could see that these young men were different. They had a mind of their own. They knew who they were and didn’t allow anyone to change them. Although they were captives in a strange land they resolved not to take on the beliefs and traditions of their Babylonian captors. Many times as Christians youths you will be put in the position where you either have to take a strong stand for your beliefs or fold. You peer group will test you simply to see how firm your beliefs are. When you come to that position, and yes you will come to it, what will your answer be?

Daniel and his friends came to a place where they were asked to do something that went against their beliefs. Have any of you ever been in this position? I’m sure that you have. It’s easy to fall into things that you know is wrong if you don’t have the right mindset. You may be in a bad situation, you may be in a place where almost everyone is swearing, drinking, doing drugs and having sex. However that does not mean that you have to fall into that lifestyle also. But I will say to you, you can fall into it if you don’t have a made up mind. Daniel 6 and says that Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Daniel made up in his mind, hey I may be in Babylon but that doesn’t mean I have to eat the Babylonian food. I may be in Babylon but that doesn’t mean I have to serve the Babylonian gods. In the midst of everything that was going on in Babylon Daniel and his friends decided that they were going to be true to their beliefs.

Are your beliefs worth taking a strong stand for? How valuable are they to you? Are you willing to be ostracized, shunned, talked about, despised for your beliefs? God is looking for a group of people who simply don’t care who’s going with them, who likes them, who believes what they believe. He’s looking for a group of young people who will lift up a standard before him like Daniel did. Will you be the Daniel in the midst of your friends? Will you be the one who will say I don’t care if everyone is doing it I’m not going to? Will you be that voice that will make a difference?


(exerpt from a sermon I gave at my church on Youth's Sunday)

My 9-11 Poem

Today I Remember


Today I remember,
What seems like yesterday.
A day of pain and despair,
That seemed too hard to bear.

I remember seeing grown men cry
While terrified people ran wildly by.
I remember grief stricken people holding signs
Hoping their loved ones they would find.

Today I remember
What seems like yesterday
A day when the whole world felt the pain
Of a single act of hate.

I remember with a sadden tearful heart,
Seeing desperate people jump,
From rapidly burning buildings,
With no hope of surviving the plunge

Today I remember
What seems like yesterday
A day when the whole world
Got down on its knees and prayed.

I remember that for a moment
No one was a stranger, we all became one,
United, together, sister, brother, friend
No one stood alone

Today I remember,
But I will not cry
God is in complete control
And He is on our side.

by Bernadine J. McIntosh
Written September 11, 2002

Graduation Prayer

September... month of new beginnings. Graduation is over for many of you and some of you are looking forward to June 2007 when you'll be the one wearing the cap and gown.

I know the graduation season is over for this year, but I found a prayer that I wrote a few days before my high school graduation and I thought I'd share it with you.

My Graduation Prayer of Thanks

Dear Lord

As I am about to graduate from high school I just want to take this time to thank you for getting me so far. I know that it is only through your saving grace that I have come this far. Jesus as I am about to go into the world I just want you to keep me under your protection. Just keep your eyes on me and never let me ought of your sight because without your presence in my life I would be lost. I love you Jesus

Written June 22, 1990


Note: He's answered that prayer and He's still keeping me under his protection. He'll keep you too if you'll ask Him and trust him.

Many hands make light work

After a seemingly too short vacation it was time to go back to work. For a teacher that means a classroom to decorate and make appealing to the students that would be coming through the doors a week later.

For several years,three of my nephews have volunteered to put their creativity to work and help me make my classroom beautiful. Unfortunately for me, two of them were off to college this year so I thought their youngest brother and I would have to go it alone. However I was wrong. They decided to take their last Saturday before leaving for college to help me in my classroom. This meant the world to me and made my work so much easier. "Many hands does indeed make light work"

If you've never volunteered to help anyone out during a difficult time, think about it. Babysitting for a neighbor or running an errand once in a while can make someone's day. My helpful nephews made my week. Thanks guys

Congratulations Graduates

Graduation.... the month of June brings so many bittersweet and happy memories for many students. June is a time of endings but also beginnings. The ending of one phase in your life but the beginning of another. I would like to congratulate all the new graduates and wish you God's blessings as you enter a new phase in your life. I'd also you like to leave with you the ABC's for ladies that I wrote for Girl Talk magazine about two years ago.

Unlikely Hero

Sometimes we find a hero in the most unlikely places and people. Today my hero arrived dressed in baggy old shorts, an old tee shirt and dirty tennis. He didn't carry a sword and shield in his hands, but something much better... He carried a weed whacker which he used to get my much overgrown yard back into shape. My hero today was my eighteen year old nephew Timothy. Without a grumble, a complaint or even the expectation of a reward he freely gave up his Saturday morning to help his "damsel in distress" aunt with her yard.

The help my nephew gave me this morning made my day, not just because of what he did but because of the attitude he did it with. I thought about the many times I myself have done something with a less than gracious attitude, and really who gets glorified when we have a bad attitude?

Today I was reminded that whatever I do, I should do it with a good attitude as if I'm doing unto Christ. (Thanks for the reminder Timothy)

Our way, right away

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

God has promised in his word that if he begins a good work in us he will indeed complete it. However the period between the beginning and the completion is often very hard and much longer than we would like. This is because we always want everything done right away. However, God never promised us that we will get what we want, our way, right away. We simply have to believe in him and trust him to bring his word to pass in our lives. He knows what's best for us and he knows exactly what's doing. There is a lesson between the beginning and the end and we need to learn that lesson before we can reach the end.

Faith

Fearlessly
And
Intently
Trusting
Him

Faith... sometimes that little word seems like such a big deal. It is so easy to have faith when everything is going well. Unfortunately, there are times when it seems that nothing is working out the way we want it too and our backs are against the wall. In those times it's difficult to trust and have faith in God. However those are the times when we need to fearlessly and intently trust him (God). Surely our God has proven many times He's worthy of our trust.

Why Worry?

"I've already spent$1,200.00 on my ticket and it's non refundable! I can't afford to lose that kind of money! I should have gotten it by now, what am I going to do if it doesn't reach on time?"

This was me a few years ago when I was preparing for a trip to Germany. I had already bought my ticket and was waiting for the special visa I needed to go there. As the time for the trip drew nearer I got more and more worried because my passport with the special visa that would allow me to travel to Germany had not reached yet. In fact I wasn't sure I had been granted the visa.

Finally after waiting as long as I dared I called the UPS office to see if a package was there for me. Guess what? The package with my passport and visa had been there for three days. However, due to some error they had not called me. So for three days I had worried unnecessarily over something that God had already taken care off.

Isn't it amazing how often we do that? We get ourselves all upset and anxious over situations that we can't change by worrying anyway. So instead of worrying over things we can't do anything about why don't we simply trust God. He's the answer to everything, even the things we worry about.

A sunflower's Tale

I've always been fascinated by the sunflower. I love its beautiful, bright, cheery petals that seem to reflect the beauty of the sun's rays. Whenever I see one I never fail to think, "How beautiful!" However I'm not just attracted by it's beauty, I'm intrigued by its story.

If flowers were known for their personality type the sunflower would be classified as an optimist. The sunflower always turns away from negativity. When everything is dark and bleak the sunflower turns itself until it finds the little sunlight that is peeking through the clouds and it turns its face that way. It focuses on the little positive and backs away from the negative.

Wouldn't it be nice to be like the sunflower? To turn your back on the negativity and face the brightness of possibility? Just as the sunflower closes up and loses some of it's luster and beauty in the dark so do we lose our bright smiles, enthusiasm and exuberance in the darkness of negativity.

Today let's try to be like the sunflower. Let's turn our back on the darkness of negativity and face the brightness of God's possibilities. Remember God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1) So when you're going through a dark period in your life he's the ray of sunshine shining through the clouds that you need to turn your face towards.

(Written July 17, 2004)

A Picture of Trust

I was out for a Sunday drive recently with my cousin and her daughters, one of whom happen to be my very cute goddaughter.

While my cousin and I were chatting in the front I happened to glance in the back and saw the sweetest sight... my goddaughter looking like a little angel, still in her church outfit had fallen fast asleep. As luck would have it, I had my camera with me because I couldn't resist taking a photo of such a perfect picture of innocence and complete trust.

Later as I looked at the photo I thought that it told a story without saying a word. My gooddaughter fell asleep knowing that she was safe and surrounded by people who loved her. Oh what trust. Her photo reminded me that God's word tells us that "unless we become as a little child we cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven." He expects us to have the same childlike faith in him that children have in their parents. In fact he reminds us to "cast all our cares upon him because he cares about us."

So, I encourage you to put all the things that concern you in God's hands. Put a picture in your mind this week of the little children you may see and the trust they display. Remember that God wants us to display that same trust in him.

Lessons from the Road

Bump, bump, bump, jerk, screech.... Today as I took my weekly sixty plus miles ride to church I tried to take a little nap. However I was unable to because the road is under construction. The road is being worked on in sections hence there some parts that are smooth and some parts are riddled with pot holes. So unfortunately for me, every time I made myself as comfortable as I could on a crowded church bus I'd feel a bump and jerk forward in my seat. This was my cue that the next few minutes was going to be a bumpy ride.

I could have gotten grumpy because I couldn't enjoy my nap but I didn't. I endured the rough parts because I knew that in a few minutes I'd be enjoying a smooth ride and ultimately it would all be smooth sailing.

As I was on a particularly rough patch, (since I couldn't sleep) I thought about life. Just like the road I was traveling on life has parts that are smooth and parts that are rough. Unfortunately, sometimes I get so caught up in grouching and complaining over the bad times that I forget to enjoy and thank God for the good time. In fact sometimes I'm tempted to spend most of the good times anticipating the bad times. However, today my journey to church really taught me a lesson about life.

So during the course of this week I encourage you to think about the goodness of God and all he's done for you and thank him for it. Also, if you're going through a rough time, remember the words of Yolanda Adams, this too shall pass.

Yolanda Adams -

In the middle of the turbulence surrounding you
These trying times that are so hard to endure
In the middle of what seems to beyour darkest hour
Hold fast your heart and be assured

THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Like every night that's come before it
He'll never give you more than you can bear
This too shall pass So in this thought be comforted
It's in His Hands

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (New International Version)

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Welcome to Girl Talk's Weekly Devotional. Thanks for your interest in seeing that the updates started regularly again. This journal will be updated every Saturday or Sunday night starting March 5, 2006.

I've also added all the old devotionals so be sure to check them out.

A Heart Like Yours

A Heart Like Yours
A heart like yours is my desire
A heart like yours is what I’m searching for
Full of compassion nothing wrong within
Please hear me Lord give me a heart like yours
Cece Winans
CD Throne Room

I think the lyrics to Cece Winan's express exactly what I'm feeling. I can't state it any clearer than those words. They express my every desire right now, to have a heart that is more like that of my heavenly father. This week I will pursue my desire to have a heart that is more like His by making the choices that will please him even if they aren't the easy ones to make.

March 30, 2004

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Bible Passage: Psalm 28 7-8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. 8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.


I’ve felt such a sense of spiritual joy lately. I haven’t felt this way in a long time. I know that God is doing something in my life and I just want to thank him. Today, I feel like David must have felt when he wrote that Psalms. God has heard my cry for mercy, he has delivered me from my feelings of depression and self doubt. Today, it simply isn't enough to just say it but I want to express it in a poem to Him, Jehovah, My Song.

Jehovah My Song

Jehovah you are my song
You’re the reason I belong
You’re the reason why my life
Is no longer filled with anger and strife

Jehovah, you are my song
You’re the reason I go on
Life had ceased to have meaning to me
When you stepped in and made me complete

Jehovah you are my song
You’re the reason I belong
Your arms have become a refuge for me
A place of safety, joy and peace

My Lord Jehovah, you are my song
You’re the reason I am strong
When I think of your goodness and grace
I just want to stand up and say…

Oh Jehovah you are my song
You’re the reason I belong
The reason I go on
You’re the reason I am strong

You’ve brought meaning to my life
You’ve become my one great choice
One I’ll cherish all my life
Oh Jehovah you are my song!

November 12, 2002

I love the Lord, he heard my cry...

Univited Guest

Bible passage: Luke 7:37-39

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner.".....

My Thoughts

How hard is it to go to a party when you weren’t invited and you know you were not wanted? If you happen to be bold enough to go to the party are you bold enough to walk up and monopolize the attention of the guest of honor? Well when we want something badly enough we have to be willing to do the unexpected.

The woman with the alabaster box wanted something from Jesus. She knew that something was missing in her life and she knew Jesus was the only one who could fill it. So she ignored the jeers and sneers of the crowd and went straight to Jesus.

This woman is someone I want to emulate. I want to be so focused on Jesus until I don’t even notice when others have a negative attitude towards me. I want to be so focused on him that my every thought is to please him in everything I do. I want his presence to fill me overshadow me, empower and mold me into his image. I want to be more like him everyday. I want when others look at me they see Christ in me.

2002

Happiness is a Choice

Bible verse: Why art thou cast down oh my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalms 42:5

We have a choice in everything we do. As complex as our emotions may seem sometimes, we have a choice in them also. We have a choice in whether to be happy or sad, downcast or uplifted. David himself felt depressed and downcast however, he spoke to himself. He encouraged himself. He told his soul to hope in God. David chose to be happy. Although everything may not go the way I want it to go today I have a choice in how I feel about it. Today, no matter what comes my way, I choose to be happy.

February 24, 2002

Are you Making Today Count?

On Thursday, last week I awaken to the sound of my sister crying. I was dismayed to find that our cousin had died during the night. She had been suffering from breast cancer but we all had faith that she would be healed... however, God knows best.

My cousin's passing brought home to me my own mortality and the fact that tomorrow is not promised to me hence I have to make sure that my today count. I have to make sure that I am doing the things that God wants me to do. Yes I know that absent from this body (to a Christian) is present with the Lord but I don't want to stand before him until I've finished the course that he has set for me.

My cousin was a vibrant, cheerful, fun-loving, godly woman. I believe that in her 37 years she touched many lives. I believe that she completed the course that God had set for her. I don't think that she would return to this earth even if she had the opportunity. I want to leave behind my cousin's type of testimony that I touched lives in a positive way.

February 3, 2004

What does my conversation say about me?

July 18, 2004


Bible verse: Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ that whether I come to see you or else be absent that I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27

My Thoughts

It's quite easy to fall prey to participating in the wrong type of conversations. Sometimes we do it without even being fully aware of what we are doing. However we should be very careful about which type of conversation we allow ourselves to get involved in. There are some people we will never get to share our testimony with or witness to about the goodness of Jesus. However many of them watch the lives we live. They listen to the conversation we participate in and judge us from there.

The Bible admonishes us not to stand in the way of sinners but we do it sometimes unknowingly. When they see us participating in ungodly conversation they are distracted from the real issue, the fact that Jesus Christ, the son of God died for their sins. What is your conversation saying about you? Would your Christianity stand the test of your conversation? I vow today that I will try to ensure that the conversations I participate in show my Christianity in a positive light.

March 28, 2002

Is Excellence in You?

July 11, 2004


Bible verse: Then Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Daniel 6:3

My Thoughts

It is important that everything we do be done with excellence. When we do things with excellence we attract attention, we stand out from mediocrity. Daniel moved from prisoner to prime minister in a strange land only because everything he did was done in excellence. If I want to attract God's eye, if I want to attract positive attention excellence has to be in me.

Sept 10, 2002

Where's the Good?

July 4, 2004


Bible verse: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

It's easy to look at situations at times and complain and get depressed or even question God as to why we go through certain things. However God never promised us that everything would go our way all of the time. What he did promise was that no matter how bleak a situation looked some good would come out of it. So in every situation I will find something to give God thanks for.

July 22, 2002

An Invitation to You

August 22, 2004


Bible Verse: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1

It never ceases to amaze me the sense of child-like awe, wonder and expectancy I feel when I enter God's house. I am excited as a child about to unwrap a much awaited and longed for gift, not sure what it is but knowing that something wonderful awaits within.

The beautiful thing about going into the house of God is that I always leave feeling refreshed, renewed and eager to face whatever challenges life throws my way. I can totally relate to how David felt when he said, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." God's house for me is a place to lose myself in the wonder of his presence and allow his sweet Holy Spirit to minister to my hurts, lift my burdens, renew my joys and give me courage to face another day with him by my side to guide and direct me.

I invite you as a friend, this week to "come let us go into the house of the Lord, it's really a special place to be.

July 11, 2004

Oh to See Him!

August 15 2004


Bible Verse For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4

At this moment I'm reading the last book in the Left Behind series, Glorious Appearing. I've just reached the part where Jesus appears in the clouds. It brought goose bumps to my skin. I actually find myself being envious of characters in a book, that they beheld my Lord before me. I can only think upon reading, "Oh to see Him, to look upon his face!" I find myself echoing the words of many of the characters in the book, "come Lord Jesus!"

What about you? Are you looking forward to his glorious appearing? Is he your Lord? Jesus will indeed come one day, the condition we meet him in is up to us.

July 12, 2004

My Prayer of Thanksgiving

August 8 2004


Bible Verse You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:28-29

Lord I thank you for your grace, for your mercies,
for your loving kindness towards me.
Every time I look at the beauty of nature
or listen to your voice whispering in the wind
Every time I think about you Lord I stand in awe of who you are
and all that you have done.
I stand humbled by the fact that you love me, you care for me,
that you actually sent your son to die for me.
Your goodness and your grace Lord, it still amazes me.
I don't understand it, I know I don't deserve it,
but I'm grateful for it.

Silly, Fanciful Me

August 1 2004


Bible Verse How great you are, O sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you. 2 Samuel 7:22

Sometimes the silly, fanciful girl in me wonders what my life would have been like if I had chosen another path. If I had not become a Christian at the age of 16, what type of choices would I have made? Where would I have been at this moment? The mature woman in me is thankful that I never have to find out. God saw my future without Him and how bleak it would have been and he saved me from myself and all the silly, dumb choices I would have made.

He is indeed the love of my life and the hope that I cling too. I cannot imagine life without him. I cannot imagine waking up one morning and not feeling his presence. I can’t imagine going through one single day without him. He is my everything. I am just so grateful that he saw something that was worth saving in me. In fact he sees something worth saving in all of us. My prayer is that this week I will share him and how much he means to me with someone.

February 19, 2004

About Girl Talk

Keeping it Real Girl Talk is an inspirational magazine for teenage girls. It has been published quarterly since June 2000.

Girl Talk features articles based on issues that are facing today’s girls e.g. peer pressure, making good choices, abstinence, bouncing back after bad decisions and lots, lots, more.

In a world where negativity is often revered and publicized Girl Talk focuses on the positive teen girls are doing, cheer them on when they are on the right path and encourage them to make better choices when they stray.

Most of the articles and stories from Girl Talk are published online so feel free to click on the Girl Talk Magazine label or just peruse the entire blog and read whatever topics are of interest to you. Also, please do tell a friend about Girl Talk.

About Me

Bernadine J. McIntosh is a


Born again believer

loving daughter

loyal younger sister seven times over

faithful friend

She is also

a dedicated Primary School Teacher

founder/publisher of a teen girl magazine

An avid bookworm

An aspiring writer

A budding poet

Her ambitions

To travel the world and share her faith with as many people as she can

To inspire young ladies to make positive choices, reach for the stars, follow their dreams and acknowledge God in their lives.

To help make the world a better place by living a life that honors God and reaching out to her fellow man.

To strive for excellence in everything she decides to do