Find a cure for Leukemia & the miracle of God

Charisma Bush

Leukemia is a blood cancer that hinders the body’s ability to fight cancer. Some leukemias are slow-growing while others are aggressive. God willing, someday there will be a cure for not only Leukemia but all cancers. My cousin Charisma has been battling Leukemia for a long time coming and now God has given her rest and she won the battle by being in the presence of the Lord. Learn about the treatments scientists are looking into to find a cure for Leukemia. Right now there is no effective cure and many patients pass away if the first line of treatments fail with cancer returning.

Find a cure for Leukemia
Until we meet again. Love you always Charisma.

The Homecoming of Charisma

The Hebrew word shava means to cry out loud, to shout to #God as#Jesus did on the cross but the Bible reminds us time after time to not hold on to the pains and sorrows of this life. Instead, God promises to bring us up out of the grave and into the morning where sickness, pain, sorrow and death no longer exist. But where is this day? They say luwn the Hebrew word for only a stop over. It’s only a stop over. This indescribable joy is only a stop over.

My beloved cousin Charisma has made a fine service to the Lord as a child of God, a loyal #wife, loving #mother, grand-daughter, daughter, sister and cousin. Our#Leukemia Warrior, #Lupus advocate and everything else in between is someone who made this life journey all the more meaningful. And just like all the women in our family, never afraid to speak her mind or fight for what’s dear to her — #family. Every person who has ever been healed or lived on Earth has died. Even #Lazarus, the soul Jesus raised from the dead, died again. One of the hardest lessons we learn in life is that God doesn’t promise that our present bodies, whatever their condition, will stay healthy or last forever.

Instead, the Lord our savior promises us something more glorious and precious: a new body, like our present one, but also different, a body made for #eternity, for#paradise. This human body is like an earthly tent we live in and take down — when the Lord calls us home we die and leave these bodies made from dust in exchange for our home in #heaven, an eternal body made for us by God and not by human hands. My cousin #Charisma is a Fashionista and on this day, God gave her rest from illness and put on her heavenly body like new clothing. It’s not that she wanted to die. None of us want to die, but to slip into her new body so that the dying body will be swallowed by everlasting life is a day we all pray for in our hour of need. So we hold tight to 2 #Corinthians 5:1-4 , pray for my cousins soul, pray God for the strength for our entire family and all the lives that my cousin has touched.

Team Bush Family - Charisma Bush
God bless and protect the faithful of the Lord.

Words of encouragement to baby Eliana

I know you’re not old enough to read, write or understand Eliana but I want you to know your mama loves you with all her soul. Eliana, your mother will look over you through all the days of your life and meet us all again when the Lord makes it so. Your mama has prayed for you since she was a little girl. Charisma always wanted a little family of her own and the Lord saw that she see that day. You are our family’s miracle baby and always will be. You’ve given us all hope and joy even before your first breath of air and you look just like your mama, grand mama and aunt. And even the days of your Mom’s last human form, your mother was alert of her love and care for you even through sickness. I can’t tell you what tomorrow brings but I can tell you, you come from love and a place of #faith. Know that the Lord, your mom and family will be here with love no matter what days come ahead. 

Thank you Lord for the gift of Charisma

Charisma, I thank the Lord for the privilege of having a soul like you for a cousin, crossing paths with me in this lifetime for both the laughs, tears and even a cold, wet morning to see the first black President of the United States. My heart feels heavy from what ifs, but my soul feels comfort in the way you lived this life for#God and family. I believe in #heaven and the greatest miracle of God. I know with God there’s no such thing as an unhappy ending because the Lord makes all miracles possible. Everlasting better days are ahead with the Lord. I find comfort that loved ones that have crossed over before you will greet you in #paradise and never again will tears run down your eyes or feel pain and anguish. When it’s my time to come to the Lord, I pray you, Anthony and each one of our beloved family find ourselves in the Lord’s Kingdom, greeting with open arms. In the Lord I pray, amen, amen. You can leave a note to the family here.

Continue Reading

Briana Booker talks hair, fashion and Hennessy

Hennessy art of the Chase with Ryan McGinness

Fall is on the way and life is changing by the minute. Just last week I was in sunny Philadelphia drinking Hennessy with Ryan McGinness, an art rock star of our time, interviewing him on his label design for Hennessy and the 250th anniversary of the company. Read Ryan McGinness the man behind the creative: a raw & reflective 1:1 interview for the full interview.

The girl from West Baltimore would have never imagined having the opportunity to write for Hennessy. I don’t even think the girl could imagine drinking alcohol or premium cognac like Hennessy. I seriously never picked up a drink until I was over the age of 21. I was one of those kids, afraid of what would happen if my parents found out. Now, I’m just here for the journey, the experience.

Philadelphia was the first stop on my FG2G tour. What is the FG2G tour? It’s a tour about community empowerment and self-discovery. I like to call it God’s journey. I felt myself becoming complacent about my career and personal life ( is that still a thing?) but I’m not one to be complacent. I’ve always been a person passionate about my actions and how they affect those around me and I’ve always been so wildly ambitious that the thought of accepting the world with all its chaos never crossed my mind. I was getting to the point of being comfortable with settling for ordinary and not pushing myself. The whole mindset didn’t sit easy with me. In fact, it’s very much out of character for me.  I needed a change. It was time to go back to finding my purpose and not doing it for money, recognition or acceptance. I had to do it for me and what I strongly believe is my purpose to do as much good in the world as I can possibly do as an instrument of God. I got up one morning and I felt some higher being told me it was time to give up planning my life in order for me to prepare for the life God has waiting for me.  The result is this FG2G tour. The next stop is Miami and I don’t know what really will come of it, but I’m ready for whatever happens next and have faith God will be with me every step of the way.

In other news, I feel I’ve found a passion in travel journalism. I’m going across America traveling to hear the stories and community empowerment happening around us everyday. Not sure if it’s a project or not, I just know it’s breathing life into me. Here is a recent travel story I did for Matrix StyleLink. Enjoy.

Continue Reading

The Jackassery of the International Community: ISIS Terrorists

 

ISIS are the thugs and the jackassery of the International community. This terrorist group is truly what I hate about humanity – evil, senseless and selfish. Muslims are no better than any body else. Christians are no better than any body else. Jews are no better than any body else. No body on this planet should believe their ideas and values are so superior to the world that he/she has the right to impose cruelty on those that are different from them. Whether you agree or disagree the world is what we make it. All the problems we have on this planet are manmade problems. We are both the problem and the solution.

Journalist James Foley is executed. Children are beheaded by ISIS. Women are raped . Having no respect for human life is not fearless, only cowards cruelly murder people and degrade human life.

Cowards cover their faces when they harm others. I want to make myself clear that Muslims who believe that ISIS stands for a powerful Islamic State, a unified Arab World, you are living under an illusion.

No great leadership comes from a place of evil and cruelty. I refuse to bite my tongue about this issue or any humanity crisis.

I urge people to not give this cowardly, ungodly ISIS group any power – not through fear or respect. They are pitiful.

These terrorists are evil cowards, wannabe  warriors of God but at the end of the day they are spineless thugs that want their 15 minutes of fame.

ISIS doesn’t impress the Western world with murders. They don’t impress the Arab World. They don’t impress the East.  They don’t impress God.

Do not fear this terrorist group. Stand together. Forget feeling you are better than someone else because of your religious affiliation. Forget feeling you are better than someone else because  of your salary. Forget feeling better than someone else because of the color of your skin. You are not better than anyone else on this planet. None of us deserve mistreatment or feeling worthless based on our beliefs or values. Don’t give ISIS the power to spread hate. Let us use our common values to stand against terrorism and truly create a world we can proudly call a welcoming home to all walks of life, not just some.

Don’t let James Foley die in vain. Don’t forget the beheaded children. Don’t  turn a blind eye to the raped women.Stand for something. Don’t be a coward.

 

Continue Reading

2013 Living With A Purpose

As 2012 comes to a close, I’ve made a commitment to live with a purpose. My professional life is going to have a purpose. I think I want to take a professional path in public relations. I don’t know where it will lead me but I’m ready to give it my all. I think it’s my passion. That & journalism. Is it a such thing as journalism for human rights? I’m not sure but that’s my aim or at least a passion I’d like to pursue in 2013.

What else is on my mind?

I want to be a more supportive romantic partner. I’ve always been a person focused on professional goals but this year I want more balance. I want a life worthy of living. I want to spend more time with my loved ones – family, my better half and my wonderful and loyal friends. I’ll make the time. A job is just a job but these interpersonal relationships are my life. They make living worth the adventure. Last but certainly not least, I’m going to put my trust in God and devote my life to whatever purpose God may have for me. How will I know? I’ll feel that gut feeling.

Tomorrow, the last day of 2012, I’m taking the time to create my book of blessings. I’ve been told to ask of God what I need/want and God will provide the best for me. This is me asking. I’m ready to give 2013 all I’ve got. My game face is on. I’m ready. I claim it.

Continue Reading

No God? The Non-believers Grow

1 in 3 people under the age of 30 don’t believe in God. Unfortunately that number is growing. It’s not my best times that made me a believer. It was my worse times where I wanted to give up or just got tired of life where something in me said God is here & God will take care of me. People let me down but something in the universe always made me feel I’m not completely alone. There’s plenty of times I’ve felt alone with people but it’s when I’m just with me & just reflecting on snippets of nature I feel most at peace. At that time I feel I belong to something. Strange but true.

Continue Reading

Reasons I Believe In God

Although I appreciate every wonderful event in my life & give all the thanks to God about these blessings, it’s at my darkest hours I feel God is here. God is real. It was those times I wanted to give up but something in my soul said Don’t . There have been times I was simply tried of life but again my soul told me there’s work to do & it wasn’t the work for man. God is always present. If we ask for help or guidance… God will make a way in life & death. That faith has made me stronger than I have ever been. I like to think it’s God in me… I’m an instrument of God. This hits to core to me as the seasons are changing. My life season is changing once again. I don’t what’s ahead but I put my trust & faith in God. It’s the first time that faith & that faith alone has been enough for me.

Continue Reading

Double Standards Are Man Based Not Holy Based

Knowledge is power. Double standards are condemned by the same religious code you say you value yet Deuteronomy 25,13-15 states to not have double standards: ” Do not have 2 different measures – one large, one small . Do not have two different weights & measures so that you may live long in the land God has given you.”So when a man justifies mistreating a woman simply because she’s a woman …throw that at him. This includes verbal , emotional & physical abuse. No man is God & you never have to settle like you’re less than.

Continue Reading