Pure Challenge #3

    For this week the Pure Challenge is to write your own declarations! Declaring positive things over your life and constantly speaking a message of faith is very important! Many churches across the world use declarations during their services to help set the atmosphere for God and prepare their congregation for a powerful word. It's important to not only do this on Sunday mornings but also every day! 

  I enjoy doing declarations so much that it's been on my mind to actually write some for myself. Although there are already thousands of declarations out there that you can find on the internet or in books I know that you can reach an even deeper level when you tailor declarations to your life specifically. As Christians we have to be intentional in our movements and all the things that we do, by making declarative statements with your needs in mind it's going to help create strongholds around you and keep out any thoughts of fear and doubt.

Pure Tip: Having some "go-to" key phrases that you can use at any time to speak against the enemy or stressful situations that come up during your day will help cut out negativity and enhance your day by helping you walk by faith!

Step 1: Brainstorm

     Start deciding what thing you want to speak over your life by listing things that you are having trouble with. For example if you struggle with your health you may write a declaration like "I will be strong and healthy" or "I am healed" 

Step 2: Narrow them down
     The ideal size for your daily declarations is 15-25 lines. Of course they can be as long as you want them to be but challenge yourself to reduce the amount of lines if you feel the declaration is getting to long. Sometimes some of your lines may be included from the same prpose and you only need one!

Step 3: Make your final copy
     Just like when writing an essay you have drafts but once you know what you want to say and have the lines in an order that you're happy with be sure to type/write them up nicely so you can put them on your wall and see them daily!

Step 4: Send a copy of your daily declarations to Pure Jess
    I would love to read the declarations that you all come up with! You can post them on my Facebook page (Pure Jess) , #PureChallenge under a picture on Instagram, or post them on Twitter and tag me @PureJess_

Step 5: Start speaking them daily! 
   After you have these declarations you want to be sure to use these declarative statements every day! Repetition is key and speaking them with conviction is also important! Make sure you repeat them daily!

***See my declarations below***

XOXO Pure Jess

Make sure to comment and follow me if you enjoyed this post!
If this is your first time visiting read my post Introduction to Pure Jess
For a video discussing what Pure Challenge is watch Intro to Pure Challenge/Pure Challenge 1

Rose Discussion #8: Don't Sweat the Small People

    This is for all the girls that feel like they don't fit in, you're not alone! Maybe you're just in the select few! I know this video ran a little long but the scriptures and motivation are at the end lol! Sorry if it's choppy I had to cut it down to be as short as possible because the original cut was a little would've had you sitting here for too long!
    I titled it "Don't Sweat the Small People" because on your journey you'll meet a lot of people that are not much in the grand scheme. Don't let their negativity affect you!
   To see my Rose Discussions 1-7 you can visit my YouTube page (Jessica Mbuyamba) or go to my Facebook (www.facebook.com/purejess1). Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so that you'll get all the updates! I have some really exciting things coming this summer!

XOXO Pure Jess

Pure Challenge #2

Happy Tuesday! 

***If you're unfamiliar with the "Pure Challenge" then definitely check out my Introduction to Pure Challenge Video and blog post from 4/12/16!***

I hope you are really excited for Pure Challenge #2! Last week I had you all wake up every morning and give God your first hour of the day so that you could start to build or continue to maintain a strong relationship with Him. Before I introduce this week's challenge I want you to read the following poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar called We Wear the Mask

We Wear the Mask

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BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

We wear the mask that grins and lies, 

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— 

This debt we pay to human guile; 

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, 

And mouth with myriad subtleties. 

Why should the world be over-wise, 

In counting all our tears and sighs? 

Nay, let them only see us, while 

       We wear the mask. 

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries 

To thee from tortured souls arise. 

We sing, but oh the clay is vile 

Beneath our feet, and long the mile; 

But let the world dream otherwise, 

       We wear the mask!

   This poem means a lot to me because it was introduced to me in High School during a time that I was "wearing a mask" and trying to keep everything together on the outside despite how bad I was truly feeling on the inside. It's so important that as women we love ourselves, except ourselves, and feel free to let out our emotions so that we can move forward. The enemy can prey on those trapped feelings in our minds! A person that isn't happy on the inside is not a happy person. If you aren't happy then how can you spread God's love and happiness to others? It all starts with you. We were created in his image and our bodies are temples inside and out. Stress does not do a body good and I know from experience that keeping it together on the outside while you fall a part on the inside stifles growth. 

          The Pure Challenge is to spend time appreciating yourself and working on whatever may be happening on the inside. If you don't focus on yourself and work on loving yourself how will someone else see your worth and value if you don't feel it from within on your own. Feeling good and knowing you're "far more precious than rubies", is sometimes a key in the walk of saving yourself for marriage because you can't be in the habit of letting anyone reduce you to low standards. But if you already reduce yourself mentally then it isn't a hard task. 

        Some exercises to do and practice on this week that might be hard to do but beneficial in the long run are:

1. Looking in the mirror and pointing out the things you love about yourself/body. 95% of women think about how they hate their body at least once a day. Let's become that 5% and shout out what we love!

2. Give 3 compliments to women that you don't know. Giving genuine compliments to people is prone to increase happiness. Also jealousy can hold us all back, when you see something beautiful about someone else don't feel like it's a competition.

3. Exercise, eat something nutritious, and/or do something that will make your body healthier. Seeing some positive results or just feeling better is a great way to tackle any angst against your body.

4. Get your nails done, splurge on a new outfit, learn a make up tip and/or pamper yourself. Taking time to relax and unwind can help for more productivity the next day. Don't let yourself get burnt out. Everyone needs a break. 

5. Get a journal a write out your emotions. Sometimes writing things out on paper and looking at everything helps sort out your thoughts easier and get everything out. Some people even find it therapeutic to write their negative thoughts down and then burn them!

6. Take some time to work on your dreams! If there is a book you want to write, a YouTube channel you wanted to start, a blog to create or a business to jump start then start making it a reality! There is no faith without works, getting started today is the best way to avoid never starting! Once you see your progress and success it will give you the visual opportunity to see how great you are!

7. Talk to the Lord about your pain. Whether that be something physical that you are having trouble accepting, or a battle that you are fighting emotionally it's important to lay your stress on Him. He can put your mind at ease. As I said before we were made in His image. "You are his masterpiece". He made everyone beautiful :) Don't let an Instagram Model make you feel sub-par. 

     Take off that mask and have your regular spirit be everything you want it to be! I hope this Pure Challenge works wonders for all of you! You have 7 days to complete some of the above suggestions! Definitely tag me on Twitter/ Instagram @PureJess_ or #PureChallege! Also feel free to post to my Facebook page because I want to see every new outfit, hear about all the compliments you gave, and stay in the loop with all the progress! Have a fabulous week Roses!

XOXO Pure Jess

Pure Challenge Intro & Pure Challenge #1

***Click the YouTube Button to watch this video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel :)     Hey guys! I hope your week is going well! I just wanted to announce to you all that starting this week I am kicking off a new aspect of Pure Jess called the Pure Challenge!

Each week I will be giving you guys a 7-day challenge to complete for the week to help you get closer to God, be more productive, and just better yourself as a whole! The challenges will run from Tuesday to Tuesday! :) 
    Most weeks the challenge will coincide with my video or blog posts and other weeks they'll be something more basic like reading a chapter in the Bible each day. I can't wait for each week to progress so you all can be participating in the challenges! As you go through your week definitely make sure you're posting on the Pure Jess Facebook page and tweeting with the #PureChallenge on Twitter! For Week 1 (starting tomorrow 4/13/16) the Pure Challenge is to wake up each day an hour early and spend time with the Lord! Be sure to watch the video for the full explanation and watch until the end to hear some of my tips for building a relationship with God!

XOXO Pure Jess