Too Many Irons in the Fire and They’re All Smoking

There is a new inspirational book out that I would like to bring to your attention.

Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson (pictured to Oprah's immediate right) has recently released, “Too Many Irons in the Fire and They’re All Smoking.” Dr. Hopson is my mentor, prayer warrior and soror, and I count it an honor and privilege to call her a friend. She keeps me straight, and that is a job all by itself! A few weeks ago, I was blessed to receive a signed copy of “Too Many Irons…,” which I believe is a great gift for any occasion.

“In this little book, as in her popular Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days, and Mondays, she offers a month’s worth of wisdom, advice, and encouragement for women in the form of 31 short daily meditational readings,” reports the publisher.


Dr. Hopson has written thought-provoking and inspirational columns, feature articles, and speeches. She has been nominated for teaching excellence and has been named to the Who’s Who Among American Teachers five times. Formerly associate professor of journalism at the University of Memphis, she is assistant general secretary of the Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns for the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee.

This is Dr. Hopson’s second inspirational book. “Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days, and Mondays Wisdom and Encouragement to Lift a Woman’s Spirit” was her first. Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com or obtained through your local bookstore.

Continue to walk in your blessings and remember that eagles fly with eagles! Soar, girlfriend, soar… I am flying right behind you!

Arlecia D. Simmons



Visit the following link to order "Too Many Irons...": http://www.amazon.com/Too-Many-Irons-Fire/dp/0687491673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211953367&sr=8-1

I'm Going to Party Like It's My Earth Day...

In the next few hours, I will prayerfully celebrate what Bishop T.D. Jakes describes as my “Earth Day.” Because God knew me before the foundation of the world (See Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20), May 26 is the day I was released into this earth. As I grow older yet wiser, I am constantly considering what I am doing with my dash. You know, the punctuation mark representing your life on a grave marker, between your date of birth and your date of death.

I could spend time listing all of the things I have not accomplished to date; however, I choose to count my many blessings. For one, I have become a very different statistic than the one reported the day I was born to a 15-year-old mother and a 17-year-old father. I trust those figures said something about the likelihood of various limitations. Sociologists may have predicted the amount of education I would secure and the number of children I would have by now. Nevertheless, many of us know God works with a different set of variables. While I cannot say that some of the limitations they predicted have not existed along the way, I can attest to the fact that God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (See 1 Corinthians 1:27).

When people see us, they are impressed with what they see now. They want to hate on us because of our education, positions of influence, or appearances. However, they would think twice if they only knew our testimonies. I may be a doctoral student at a Research 1 institution now, but that is not the whole story. My teenage parents resided in two separate hoods. You know, the places where Domino’s Pizza would not deliver. The haters will never consider how my mother finished high school and attended college. Oh, and they know nothing about how she caught four buses a day so she could get between two jobs. She worked to buy a Chevette, which she used to shuttle me to and from various church and school activities. Those activities, which required fees and transportation, helped to shape my future in immeasurable ways.

They see me, but they do not know the testimony.

As I celebrate this year, I cannot say that all of my dreams have come true. Like Esther, I have prepared myself for a king. Yet, my king has not arrived. Like Hannah, I have gotten ugly with my prayers. Yet, God has not given me a Samuel. While I could focus on all of the prayers that have gone unanswered, I choose to give thanks for the petitions that have been granted. “He’s brought me a mighty long way,” as the old mothers would say!

An old Baptist minister once told me, “Without tests, you have no testimony.” This Earth Day, I thank God for all of my tests, trials, tribulations and the testimonies that have been birthed out of them. I will not spend Monday looking in the mirror and lamenting about crow’s feet. I thank God for a face, a beautiful one at that. I will thank Him for His goodness, mercy and loving kindness. I will sing, “It’s just another day that the Lord has kept me.” I will write my own song and sing it until others are inspired to do the same!

Continue to walk in your blessings!


Copyright © 2008 Arlecia’s Doses of Inspiration by Arlecia D. Simmons.

All rights reserved.

“I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!"

Hello and Welcome to the brand new blog of Look and Live Ministries!

I'm your host, Arlecia Simmons. I trust that you will visit with me each week as I attempt to dissect the world and share what thus saith the Lord. Previously, I have disseminated my inspirational messages through a forum known as "Arlecia's Doses of Inspiration." For one year, I sent weekly e-mails to family, friends who in turn forwarded those messages to their family, friends and co-workers. While the original recipients were most likely located in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, the Internet allowed me to share my inspirational messages across the country and possibly in other parts of the world. I trust that this blog will not only encourage and inspire, but also stir up the gifts that dwell within you. We all have stories or testimonies that can enrich the lives of those around us.

It is my prayer that through these posts, you will become motivated to keep on keepin' on! That's all I am trying to do as I run on to see what the end is going to be! I love the old hymns and dirges of the church, so you'll often find my writings sprinkled with songs that invigorate my spirit. I can't say I'll always be politically correct, as I am a "Jesus freak" and it is what it is.

I am currently in the process of beginning my doctoral dissertation, so I trust that you'll learn more than you ever wanted to about Iowa, the writing of a dissertation, and the troubles that arise. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me. And look ya (I'm a Gullah gal), I will try my best to make sure all subjects and verbs agree; however, all work is still in process!

Enjoy the journey and I look forward to our time together.