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Have you ever felt excluded from an event or group because you did not meet someone else’s standards? Imagine experiencing rejection because other people didn’t think you were “good enough.” According to social scientists, inherent in the process of growing and developing as a person to achieve individual potential is our need to be accepted for who we are. Nevertheless, it seems parts of the media have done and continue to do a masterful job of making some people feel personally inadequate. Advertisers tell us we are too fat or too slim; we need to buy this or that to get the desired look and become more attractive. For some people, it is pressure from their families, friends, and, most regrettably, their spouses. It is as if we are encouraged to strive for something that is always out of our reach. And some of us have spent hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars trying.

These thoughts came to mind as I reflected on Romans 5:8, where Paul highlights God’s love towards us, as He sacrificed His Son for us while we were still sinners. Paraphrased in The Message, the verse reads, “But God put His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him.” This act of love is a testament to God’s acceptance of us as a people worth saving. We were born as sinners (Psalm 51:5), enemies of God, and therefore, from the beginning, were not “good enough.”  Yet God, because of His great love, looked beyond our sins, our faults, our imperfections, and our weaknesses and saw something in us that He deemed valuable. It is easy to gloss over this wonderful truth. He had warm thoughts towards us, covered as we were in the ugliness of sin. He demonstrated His love and acceptance by giving His only begotten Son, Jesus, who saved us from eternal damnation through His death on the cross (John 3:16–17).

It is important to note that God did not stipulate that for Him to love us, we first had to become “good enough.” We are loved and accepted unconditionally. As German theologian and philosopher Paul Tillich puts it, “Accept the fact that you are accepted.” God accepts us exactly as we are, even though we may struggle with our insecurities in our efforts to gain acceptance from those around us. Our thoughts and feelings about ourselves should be based on this unshakeable truth and not on some secular media-driven standards. While we may not be able to meet and live up to the standards of others, we can rest comfortably in the fact that God loves and accepts us the way we are. He intends that we enter into a relationship with Him through Christ and allow Him to work out His plans and purposes in our lives. It is difficult to struggle with low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence when we embrace His love and acceptance. No matter who you are, what you have done, or what you look like, God loves you, and He has demonstrated that love for the whole world to see.

To be loved and accepted unconditionally feels wonderful, doesn’t it? Think about that the next time you look in the mirror.

The post WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL – Loved and Accepted Unconditionally appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

Three women of Caribbean descent have been named to the 2023 Forbes magazine list of the 100 most powerful women in the world. The women are United States Vice President Kamala Harris, musician and entrepreneur Rihanna, and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley. The Forbes Power List was compiled on the basis of four elements: money, media, impact, and spheres of influence. The ranking of political leaders was based on gross domestic product and population, while corporate leaders were ranked according to revenues, valuations, and number of employees. Mentions of the leaders in the media and their social reach were analyzed for all the women.

Number 3: Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris became the first Black person and the first South Asian American person to become the Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. Her career has been marked with firsts. She was the first Indian American woman elected to the US Senate in 2016, and in 2010, she was the first African American individual and the first woman to become the Attorney General of the State of California. Harris was born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents. Her mother is from India, and her father is from Jamaica. Harris, who attended Howard University, is the first graduate of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to become the US Vice President.

Number 74: Rihanna

Rihanna, who has been called the “most famous export” of Barbados, is a superstar singer and a billionaire. The success of Fenty Beauty, the line of cosmetics she co-owns with LVMH, a French luxury retailer, doubled its revenues in 2022. She also owns 30 percent of the Savage x Fenty lingerie line, which had a valuation of $1 billion in 2021. Rihanna made her first appearance at a Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, revealing her second pregnancy. In 2022, she released her first new songs since 2017 for the blockbuster film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and her song “Lift Me Up” received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

Number 99: Mia Mottley

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley was elected in 2018, becoming the first woman to serve in that role. She has become a world leader on climate change issues, and in 2021, she urged immediate action on the matter in a strong speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly. Later in the year, the UN Environment Program called Mottley a “champion of the Earth” for policy leadership. Under Mottley’s leadership, Barbados removed the Queen of England as head of state and became a parliamentary republic. Mottley had previously served as Minister of Education, Youth Affairs, and Culture for Barbados, being appointed in 1994.

What women want

The 100 women in the Forbes ranking are influencing the products, policies, and political issues of the world in 2023. The political battles involve reproductive rights for women in the United States, girls’ access to education in Afghanistan, personal rights in Iran, protection against gender-based violence in Ukraine and Gaza, and climate change policy and actions that protect the health and lives of women in lower-income and agriculturally-based economies. As philanthropist Melinda French Gates stated to Forbes, women have not achieved the kind of success necessary to alter conditions yet, but if enough women get into positions of power throughout the world, things will start to change.

Top 5 Ranked of 2023 Ranked by Forbes

The top five power women on Forbes 2023 list, in order, are President of the European Commission, European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, 65, of Belgium; President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, 67, of Germany; Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, 59, of the United States; Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Melon, 46, of Italy; and Musician Taylor Swift, 33, of the United States.

Photo – Facebook

The post Three Women of Caribbean Heritage Included on Forbes 2023 Power Women List appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

Mona High School has etched its name in the annals of corporate area schoolboy football history. With a 10th-minute goal by Demarion Harris, Mona High secured their first-ever Manning Cup title. The momentous victory was secured on December 8, 2023 at the National Stadium in Kingston when the high school team, coached by Craig Butler, defeated Hydel High with a score of 1-0.

A Decisive Goal

The 10th-minute goal by Demarion Harris  proved to be the difference-maker, propelling Mona High to victory and solidifying their place in Manning Cup history.

Hydel High’s Missed Opportunities

Hydel High, despite creating numerous late-game chances and throwing everything into their attack, failed to find the back of the net. It was their second appearance in the Manning Cup final, but they are still in search of their first goal in this decisive match.

The Winning Move

The winning moment for Mona High came through a well-executed play. Kshaine Gordon received a long ball on the right side of the area and delivered a precise cross into the Hydel penalty area. Demarion Harris seized the opportunity and skilfully swept the ball past goalkeeper Tajarie Lee, sealing Mona High’s victory.

As the 15th school to win the ISSA Manning Cup title, the Mona High team has shown its prowess on the football field. The impact of this win will undoubtedly inspire future generations of football players at Mona High as well as set the stage for Mona High’s continued participation in schoolboy football. With the Manning Cup title now in their grasp, the team will be eagerly preparing for upcoming football events, eager to build on their newfound triumph.

Photo Credit – Instagram

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