Whitney, Author at Whitney Nic James

13 Scriptures for Hope & Healing During Trying Times

September 11, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

I rely heavily on my faith in God to help guide me through life. However, it can be extremely difficult to “keep the faith” or even be filled with hope when the world around you is in complete disarray. In times like this, I have to encourage myself to dig deeper into the Word, pray more fervently, and essentially just spend more time in His presence.

As I’ve mentioned time and time again, having anchor scriptures to refer to during tough times can be extremely helpful. That said, here are 13 scripture references for hope and healing during trying times:

1. Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

2. Psalms 30:2 (NIV)

“Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.”

3. Psalms 42:5 (CEV)

“Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I should trust you, Lord. I will praise you again because you help me.”

4. Psalms 71:14 (CEV)

“I will never give up hope or stop praising you.”

5. Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

6. John 10:10 (CEV)

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.”

7. 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT)

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation.”

8. Romans 5:4-5 (CEV)

“And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.”

9. Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”

10. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

11. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

12. Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

13. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

“If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

13 Scriptures for Hope & Healing During Trying Times

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I hope you find peace and comfort in these scriptures. I also encourage you to meditate one or more of these verses for the rest of the month. I pray that you are blessed and I pray that you stay prayerful and remain hopeful.

Brandy & Monica Verzuz Battle | A Win for the Culture

September 10, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

If you don’t know by now, I’m a child of the 90s. I grew up during a time when box braids, bangs, baggy jeans, babydoll dresses, and bucket hats were all “on trend”, at the same time. The airwaves were flooded with hip-hop and gangsta rap, girl groups and boybands, and, of course, R&B.

90s R&B will always hold a special place in my heart, but the leading ladies of this genre are undoubtedly Brandy and Monica. The two songstresses “battled” on August 31st during their session of Verzuz. For the first time since the Verzuz series began back in March, there were 1.2 million live views reported. Thus proving that Brandy and Monica are indeed 90s music royalty.

So, what are my thoughts on their session? In a word, EPIC. It was definitely a win for the (Black) culture. I thoroughly enjoyed the stroll down memory lane, in the comfort of my own home, where singing lead and background vocals at the top of my lungs wasn’t frowned upon. Song after song, I was transported back to my childhood.

Related: 5 Albums that Helped Shape my Life

Watching these two vocal giants interact was also refreshing. Although I did detect some standoffish and uncomfortable vibes throughout, I appreciated their commitment to the culture and to their fans. Their “rocky relationship” has been talked about in the press for years. But at the end of the day, they both carved out a lane for themselves in the music industry and bodied the charts, hit after hit. So, witnessing them come together and share some of their best and most memorable songs was a treat. And they say Black women can’t get along…

While I love both artists and their voices, my love for Brandy reigns supreme. From an early age, I connected with her almost instantly. My love for braids came from swooning over Brandy’s braided styles throughout the 90s. And when it comes to her voice, it’s no contest for me. Brandy’s warm, rich, and sultry tone is like butter. Her harmonies and vocal stacking abilities are unmatched, and her albums, especially Full Moon, have helped me overcome some pivotal moments during my lifetime.

When it’s all said and done, there’s a winner in every battle. From her extensive catalogue to her alluring vocals, it’s Brandy for me. And it always will be.

August 2020 Recap

August 31, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Another month has come to an end. Can you believe it? I’m not sure about you, but August seemed to be over before it even started. I think having a lot on my plate this month caused August to seemingly fly by. Whatever the case, it’s time for another monthly recap. Let’s get into it:

3 Things I Learned in August

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Job.
I can keep plants alive for longer than I expected!
I’m better at managing money than I give myself credit for.

My plants, Tony, Toni, & Toné are thriving!

3 Things I Loved in August

Celebrating my 34th Birthday
Our Family Road Trip to Detroit
Watching Moesha & The Game Reruns on Netflix

3 Things I’m Looking Forward to in September

Embracing the fall season
- Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. That said, I’m looking forward to crisp fall weather, watching the leaves change, and wearing thick, chunky knits!
Resuming social media activity for FWIAM
- I haven’t truly given my all to Fearless Woman I Am (FWIAM), my women’s empowerment organization, since becoming pregnant and then experiencing a stillbirth. I just wasn’t in the right headspace to uplift and encourage women while navigating through my journey of healing and recovery. Thankfully, I’m in a much better place and I’m ready to pick up where I left off. God has brought me a mighty long way, and I look forward to what He has in store for FWIAM for September and beyond.
Improving my writing and storytelling skills
- Writing is something I’ve loved to do since grade school. I also enjoy the art of storytelling. Blogging has been a great way for me to hone both skills. However, I have plans to extend my writing past my blog in the near future. So, next month, I plan to take online classes to enhance both skills.

Although this month was over in a blink, I’m certainly looking forward to a new month and a new season. I truly believe the next 30 days are going to be filled with unexpected blessings, answered prayers, and extraordinary moments.

Fearless Faith Friday | Choosing to Spend Time with God

August 21, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

In a world that glorifies busyness, it can be extremely difficult to “find the time” to spend with God. And because God has granted us free will, many of us never make spending time with Him a priority. Instead, we make time for work, errands, social media scrolling, Netflix binging, and whatever else our hearts desire. While I’m not condemning the many ways we choose to spend our time, I am suggesting a reevaluation of how we spend our precious 24-hour days.

The Benefits of Spending Time With God

Choosing to spend time with God is what Luke 10:42 calls, “choosing the better thing”. Rationalizing why we don’t spend time with God does nothing but push Him in the background. Doing this makes it harder to hear or even recognize His voice. That’s a scary place to be.

So, why should we spend more time with God? Well, for starters, the more time we spend with Him the more:

our gifts develop
our faith increases
our purpose becomes more clear

I’m barley scratching the surface of all the incredible and miraculous things that come from spending time with God. It’s truly mind-blowing what God can do for your life, and for the life of your loved ones when you give Him your full and undivided attention.

What does Spending Time with God look Like?

I approach spending time with God the same way I approach spending time with a dear friend. That means I’m fully present and ready to engage. I’m open to hearing the good and the not so good, and I look forward to possibly learning something new.

Here are a few simple ways to start spending time with God:

Listen to a sermon online
Listen to a worship playlist
Pray (verbally or prayer journaling)
Read a Daily Devotional or Bible Plan
Take a nature walk (and be fully present of your surroundings)

Things to Keep in Mind

When you decide to spend time with God be intentional. Find a quiet, distraction-free spot. You need to be somewhere you can focus. Also, have a pen and a journal ready, especially if you’re listening to a sermon or reading a Bible plan or devotional. You want to be ready to write down any passages that stand out, words you may need to look up, or practical applications to use in your daily life.

You also want to be ready to hear and record what God reveals to you during this time. Keeping a journal will allow you to look back and reflect on how much your relationship with God has grown.

READ: Studying Scripture Using the SOAP Method

As the saying goes, you make time for the things that are important to you. So, I challenge you, in the coming days, to make an intentional effort to find time to spend with God. Even if it’s just five minutes, God wants to hear from you.

A New Perspective on Completing Your To-Do List

August 19, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

On most Sunday afternoons, you can find me sitting at my desk with a warm cup of tea or a mason jar full of lemon and cucumber-infused water, jotting down a to-do list for my upcoming week. This week’s list included multiple appointments, a few deadlines, and at least three follow-up calls/or emails. I’ll also be traveling this weekend, so I made sure to include, “pack for Detroit” to the list. A few months ago, a list like this would’ve certainly triggered my anxiety. These days, instead of feeling instantly overwhelmed with a seemingly endless to-do list, I shift my thinking which allows me to refocus my approach.

Instead of accepting an initial thought of, “I have so many tasks to complete this week, I’ll never get it all done. My week will be swamped!”, I challenge myself to improve my thought to a more positive one. An example of an improved thought would be, “I’m looking forward to and prepared for a productive week. I’ll prioritize my task list and I’ll do my very best to complete each task without burning out.”

Sometimes this method takes a while to kick in and unfortunately, anxiety can rear its ugly head. When I’m aware this is happening, I stop what I’m doing and walk away. Depending on the task and the day, I’ll take a break. The break can be as short as five minutes or as long as 30 minutes. After all, my goal is to be productive and efficient, not overwhelmed, and fruitless.

More and more I’m learning that what I focus on will develop. If I focus on being overwhelmed, I become anxious. If I dwell on how long a task will take to complete, I’ll struggle my way through, and possibly miss a deadline.

I challenge you to embrace this new way of thinking about completing your to-do list. It may take some time to get used to, but keep trying. Months from now, you’ll be glad you did. Just remember: improving your thoughts to more positive ones helps increase productivity and lessen your anxiety.

5 Albums that Helped Shaped My Life

August 11, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Last month was all about my mid-year refresh. This month, it’s all about celebration and reflection. As I mentioned in my last post, August is my birthday month. Like many of you, I’m sure, reflection and celebration are part of your birthday month. So today, on my 34th birthday, I want to celebrate my love for music by reflecting on and sharing the 5 albums that helped shape my life.

1. Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack, Various Artists (’95)

I remember listening to this cassette tape for the first time around 11 or 12 years old. My parents had this huge stereo in their room with a CD player, tape deck, and AM/FM radio. Every Saturday morning, my mom would play either R&B or smooth jazz music, or a combination of the two, and the music would blare from the speakers. I remember sitting on my parent’s bedroom floor one morning, thumbing through their collection, and putting this soundtrack in the tape deck. From the first song, Exhale (Shoop Shoop), I was hooked.

This soundtrack introduced me to some of the most notable 90’s female R&B voices like Chante Moore, Brandy, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, and of course, Whitney Houston. So, not only does this album hold nostalgic memories, but it also serves as one of the first albums that initiated my love for 90’s R&B.

2. Body Language, Boney James (’99)

The first concert I ever attended was a Boney James show. I’ll never forget how excited and “grown-up” I felt. My parents had tickets and because they couldn’t find a babysitter, I ended up being the third wheel that night. I sat in between my parents and absorbed the smooth saxophone sounds of Boney James’ album, Body Language. I’m pretty sure that was the night smooth jazz became one of my favorite genres of music to listen to. The way Boney played was magical and entertaining.

Looking back, I’m thankful that my parents exposed me to jazz at a young age. My uncle was an avid saxophone player and my grandfather played jazz music constantly. So, it’s no surprise that Boney James captured my heart the way he did. Some of my favorite songs off the album are Into the Blue, the title track, Body Language, and I’ll Always Love You, featuring Shai.

3. Mama’s Gun, Erykah Badu (’00)

This album solidified my love for Neo Soul music. Although introduced in the 1980s, Neo Soul was at its height in the early 2000s and Erykah Badu was one of the leading artists in this genre. I remember being intrigued by her light, airy, crystal clear mezzo-soprano voice. I was also taken aback by this album’s array of musical elements.

Mama’s Gun is one of Badu’s most cohesive and organically laid out albums. The song Didn’t Cha Know flows into the next song, My Life, like a waterfall. This happens throughout the album and its genius. These effortless transitions make the album so easy to listen to. As a music lover, I appreciated that in 2000 and I still do in 2020. If I can listen to an album with no skips, to me, that’s an incredible body of work. Mama’s Gun is just that.

4. Full Moon, Brandy (’02)

Brandy has been my favorite singer ever since I can remember. Even as a young girl, I knew her voice was different, but in a good way. When I reached my teen years, I truly fell in love with her voice and appreciated her range, vocals, and sheer talent.

I was 16 when this album came out and it was basically the soundtrack of my life at the time. From Can We to What About Us? to All In Me to the title track, Full Moon, this album helped me navigate my way through my teenage love life. For that, I will be forever grateful. Listening to the album at 34, I can relate to the songs even more. Full Moon is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

5. Fight of My Life, Kirk Franklin (’07)

2007 was one of my most difficult years. My grandfather passed away at the top of the year and his death hit me like a ton of bricks. I was so lost, so numb, and so heartbroken for so long. It was tough to find someone to lean on because all of us, especially my immediate family, were in so much pain. Thankfully, music, particularly this album, helped me trudge my way through the grieving process.

Even to this day, when life gets a little heavy and I find myself getting tired and weary, I can play this album and find solace. Some of my go-to songs are Hide Me, How it Used to Be, Jesus, Declaration (This Is It!), and Help Me. These songs remind me that despite the troubles I face in this life, I can always find comfort, strength, and peace in God.

5 Albums that Can Change Your Life

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Music has a fascinating way of making you feel just about every emotion. It also has the power to heal, connect, and uplift. These albums have blessed and enriched my life in many ways, and I am eternally grateful.

13 Bible Verses to Celebrate Your Birthday

August 7, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

August is one of my favorite months because I get to celebrate another year of life. During the month I take time to both rest and reflect on the year I’ve had. More often than not, I prefer to transition into the next year of life with ease, making sure that gratitude and stillness are at the forefront.

This year, I felt a tug on my spirit to search the Bible for scriptures that can be used to celebrate birthdays, as well as scriptures that can serve as a blueprint for how to live a long and purposeful life. Here are the 13 Bible verses that resonated:

1. Psalms 20:4 (NIV)

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

2. Psalms 134:14 (NKJV)

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

3. Job 12:12 (NIV)

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

4. 3 John 1:2 (NIV)

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

5. Numbers 5:24-26 (CEV)

“I pray that the Lord will bless and protect you and that he will show you mercy and kindness. May the Lord be good to you and give you peace.”

6. Proverbs 9:11 (NKJV)

“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.”

7. Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

8. Psalms 91:11 (NLT)

“For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.”

9. Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

“Even in your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

10. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have fo you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

11. 2 Corinthians 9:15 (CEV)

“Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!”

12. Psalms 118:24 (ESV)

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

13. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

13 Uplifting and Inspirational Birthday Bible Verses

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I plan to record these scriptures in my journal and meditate on them for the entire month. And although I won’t be celebrating my birthday until August 11th, I know it my heart that God has already gone before me to ensure that day is blessed and special.

Fearless Faith Friday: My Favorite Devotionals for Women

July 31, 2020 by Whitney 2 Comments

A few years ago, my relationship with God shifted. My desire to study the Bible and share His word also grew. Instead of reading a devotional and listening to gospel music here and there, and letting Sunday service be the only time I worshiped, I made a conscious decision to set aside (at least) an hour each morning for Bible study, devotion, and prayer. To this day it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

My mornings with God are precious, and it makes all the difference in how I go about each day. I have a plethora of devotionals, but there are four that I find myself referencing or re-reading often. If you’re a woman of faith looking for a new devotional, here are my favorite devotionals for women:

She Speaks

According to the author, Michelle Clark Jenkins, She Speaks provides wisdom from the women of the Bible to the modern Black woman. While not described as a devotional, the book can certainly be used as one. The author highlights 50 women from the Bible and describes each of their roles, their backgrounds, as well as their significance. There are also scripture references and life applications to accompany each story. This read is ideal for women interested in studying the history of the Bible.

The Power of a Praying Wife

This 30 chapter devotional changed the way I prayed for my husband. Each chapter highlights an area to pray for in your husband’s life. Some of the areas include his spiritual walk, his emotions, his future, his role as a father, leader, and decision-maker, and more. The author shares a brief story on how she connects with each chapter, along with a few “power tools”. These tools include related scriptures and sample prayers for wives to pray over their husbands. No matter how long you’ve been married, I highly suggest this book for all Christan wives.

Thirty-One Prayers for My Husband

This book, a compilation of prayers, is designed to challenge you to make prayer a priority. It’s a great resource to accompany another devotional such as The Power of a Praying Wife. Each day there’s a topical scripture and prayer. Also included is a page for you to record your thoughts, feelings, and other prayer requests.

There’s also a Thirty-One Prayers for My Wife version, co-authored by the author and her husband. My husband and I completed the books together a few years back. I am forever grateful for how our marriage was transformed because of both books.

The 100 Most Important Bible Verses Every Woman Must Know

This easy to read devotional is packed with 100 bible verses and 300 topics ranging from joy, family, God’s promises, contentment, and complaining, just to name a few. It’s ideal for morning or evening devotion time. It’s also perfect for women who want to begin or brush up on their Bible verse memorization.

If you’ve read any of the devotionals I shared let me know. Also, if you have any devotional suggestions do share! I’m always looking to add more to my collection.