F. A. Q. for Scriptures for Strippers addressed in Radio Interview

Many of you have seen the video of the radio interview shot earlier this year of Sayuri Smith on the G. Wade Radio Show. 

This show has garnered lots of feedback and explained lots of what this book is, why it was written and how Scriptures For Strippers came to be. This labor of love is the first and only devotional to the Holy Bible for women who work as exotic dancers. 

Get your copy of Scriptures For Strippers on http://www.Amazon.com or http://www.ScripturesForStrippers.com. Please don’t be confused by the dual cover.  There are two different covers.  One is for the bookstores and the other cover is more discreet, featuring the Scriptures for Strippers logo. 

Check out the live radio show recorded April 2017 on YouTube. Please like and share! 

https://youtu.be/6ReO9E77qms

Visit Scriptures For Strippers on YouTube

Did you know The First and Only Devotional for Exotic Dancers has a channel on YouTube?

You can find the inspirational “soundtrack” to the 42 Chapters in Scriptures For Strippers. This is a playlist with gospel and inspirational songs. There is also “Lit for the Lord”, a playlist featuring Sayuri Smith’s favorite gospel rap songs. The playlist with smooth R&B sounding tracks which also glorify God is called “Relax With The Lord.”

Check out the channel! Like, share and subscribe!

Be blessed!

Scriptures for Strippers Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0y260Gg5BfmrmyKHqTNl3y9BjEXWBsxo

Lit for The Lord

Relax with the Lord 

The Bridge KickBack: An Organic Authentic Worship Experience Outside the Four Walls of Traditional Church

On my journey to experiencing God through fellowship with His people, I have come to learn about different Bible studies, church services and events with the purpose of drawing people nearer to our Creator. My calendar is full of prayer calls that happen over the phone, evening Bible studies and the different times church services start for Sunday morning service.

There are recurring events that happen every other week or monthly that I plan to go to but I sometimes lose track of time or get the event days mixed up. This was certainly the case with the catching up with The Bridge KickBack, a millenial-led church service that takes place at Nancy’s Pizza in Atlanta, Georgia every other Monday at 7 pm.

I discovered this service after first falling in love with the gospel trap music artist named Glo and his album, “Trapping Out the Church”. I absolutely loved every song I heard (and added to my Lit for the Lord playlist on YouTube) but my favorites are “On the Water” and “By the Twos”. I had to post part of a song on my instagram page and found GLO to tag him. I was excited to learn that he lived in metro Atlanta and actually did a song, “Worship for The Hood”, that shouted out my old neighbor in Riverdale, GA. After doing a little bit more investigating, I saw that he was a part of a movement called The Bridge KickBack where young people gathered together to have praise and worship and uplifting words about Jesus Christ after playing some fun games and having some gut busting laughs.

Last week, they also had a very unique online event called the Unapologetically Me Conference that included panel discussions, testimonies and inspiration from different people from various races, backgrounds and lifestyles. They discussed your identity in Christ and image versus reality among other things starting on Instagram and leading to Youtube for the full video. I was blessed by this insight and appreciated the testimonies shared! This made me vigilant about keeping up with and catching the date for the next bi-weekly event so I can finally experience this event in person.

My youngest sister is a bonafide millenial and I immediately thought of her when I saw the clips of people talking about their experiences with the Holy Spirit during this unadulterated, unique encounter with God. I was excited to plan to go to this event with her. My children came as well. My daughter enjoyed dancing to the familiar gospel trap music and my son dominated the Connect 4 table. We also enjoyed some authentic, delicious Chicago-style deep dish pizza that didn’t break the bank!

I was beyond excited to experience the spirit-filled altar call where the ladies gathered and were encouraged to embrace, pray with or intercede for each other. There was a real sense of sisterhood and family in the room as we all lifted up the name of our Lord together. I was on mommy duty with my baby girl but God still afforded me an opportunity to pray with a lady in the back of the room. She was eventually encouraged enough to go to the front of the room and join the altar call.

There was a round table discussion and a panel discussion on different spiritual topics like insecurity and identity in God. I was amazed at how the Holy Spirit came in as we Milly Wopped and did the Running Man for the Lord. I am not easily impressed but my expectations were definitely exceeded as I didn’t expect the move of God to be so strong. I listen to gospel rap a lot but I now know that the Holy Spirit will visit any place where it is welcome. I love praising, worshipping, glorifying and loving on the Lord and it felt good to be in the company of so many people who were on the same accord. There was no judgment, negative vibes or quenched spirit in this place…Praise God! I totally recommend this event to anyone who wants to invite someone to church but know they won’t show up to an actual church building. It is clearly an awesome alternative to Bible study that will keep you engaged, entertained and energized! I am grateful that the folks at The Bridge KickBack for allow themselves to be a great representative of what the church should be, people who bring God WHEREVER they go and are unapologetic as they do it!

This is a blurry picture but I was excited to take this selfie with my favorite local gospel trap artist, GLO! I had an absolute blast at The Bridge Kickback! I look forward to the next event and invite anyone in Atlanta who would love to experience the spirit of God OUTSIDE the 4 walls of church. Be sure sure to check out my homeboy and brother in Christ, GLO. Follow him on Instagram @Gloman1. Make sure you stay tuned to find out about the next event by following @TheBridgeKickback at Nancy’s Chicago Pizza located at 265 Ponce De Leon Ave NE A, Atlanta, GA 30308. Hope to see you soon! Follow me on @SayuriSmith to learn about unique positive events in Atlanta and beyond! Be Blessed!

All Rights Reserved ©Sayuri Smith LLC.

The Sacred Society Soirée: A Night of Engaging Encounters of Inspirational Women

I was sitting here reflecting on my week and I am in awe of what God is doing in my life. I think back over my life to a time where I was in darkness, with very little hope of a bright future and running from my past as a stripper. As a dancer,  there was very little sisterhood and cooperation amongst the women I worked with. There were girls who ran in cliques and it seemed like an counterproductive and ineffective strategy to maximize the time spent in the club. Every relationship seemed to come with a sense of competition. Bittersweet friendships ended with blindsiding betrayal that started with bickering over dollar bills. I adapted well to the concept of being a Lone Wolf because at the end of the day, working in a strip club as an exotic dancer does not require teamwork and I enjoyed working alone. But as I transitioned out of the club, I had to learn that no man (or woman) is an island. 

The Bible says: 

“Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up.” ECCLESIASTES 4:9‭-‬10 AMP

I fought depression and anxiety hard to go out and socialize. Going to networking event and conferences was distressing at first and made me uneasy but I became more comfortable each time I pitched my business and introduced my services to strangers who could potentially help me.  

 As I started to become comfortable with networking and making connections to build my business as an entrepreneur but I discovered that same clique mentality when attending some conferences that promised “empowerment” and “sisterhood”. I really didn’t realize how all of my years as a stripper allowed me to see the signs of the fake and phony folks before situations fully manifested. I avoided some interactions, confrontations and potential business disasters but was becoming a little discouraged by the weak-willed who attempted to prey on women with passion for their mission. 

I took a break and went into consecration and asked God to redirect and connect me with people who were supposed to help me with the assignment the Almighty gave me which is to build His kingdom through empowerment of the knowledge of His Word. Shortly after coming out of consecration, I was connected to different women. Women who were driven, confident and successful and wanted to bring other women onto their level of spiritual knowledge and soulful success. 

Last month, I found out about an event called Meet the Authors that will take place October 14, 2017 in Atlanta, GA and contacted by blogger, entrepreneur, and author, Zeta Joel of IAmZetaJ.com, to see if I could participate. She promptly contacted me and I was informed of an opportunity to speak! I felt the faithfulness of God in this news and I thanked Him for answering my prayer. But something else happened.

Visit Eventbrite for ticket information

I have been involved with events before where people met, spoke, sold their wares and went home. The facilitator of this event did something I have never been a part of. I was invited to dinner by Zeta J at Two Urban Licks located in Atlanta, GA. The menu was superb, offering exquisite fare from the popular Salmon Chips to Scallops and Grits. 

I was super, duper, turbo excited to meet her and a few other women who were also invited to what I learned was The First Sacred Society Dinner. I was pleasantly surprised by the positivity and electric chemistry that sparked between the 9 female strangers who were enterpreneurs, authors and bloggers. We discussed topics ranging from how to cope with the issue of lack of support from family and friends in business to what should be the requirements and qualifications of a good spouse. There was no immaturity, rudeness or grandstanding which was always prevalent in many of the previous social events I have observed. Everyone contributed to the conversation and we all immediately followed each other on social media to ensure we support each others’ movements and endeavors. 

(from left to right) Shanna Jefferson, Daneisha Smith, Sayuri Smith, Quionah Wingfield, London Bridges, Zeta Joel, Tinzley Bradford, Ashleigh Guide, Precious Fraizer

It was refreshing to be in the presence of women who were eager to learn from each other and seek real collaboration. I was absolutely dazzled to converge with such dynamic divas who understood the struggles of being vulnerable to exclusions of network cliques which only breeds unhealthy and unhelpful competition and not compounding our efforts in collaboration. The Sacred Society Dinner allowed me to experience a night of sisterhood and celebration of each woman’s success thus far. As we all talked, we each expressed the importance of having a connection with the Creator. I appreciated this night so much because of the sincere desire and effort to be authentically connected to each woman, her vision and her upcoming projects and events.

Zeta Joel’s enthusiasm about connecting was contagious and led me to share the details of each woman who were in attendance of this magical night. I’m look forward to the next dinner!  Follow all of these phenomenal women on Instagram and visit each website!

~Zeta Joel has a blog called Get Inspired, the author of 2 books: “Parenting with No Bra” and “Like Father, Like Son”. Follow her on IG @IAmZetaJ

~Quionah Wingfield is founder of Cool Moms Dance Too Inc., publisher and health and wellness advocate. Visit http://www.Coolmomsdancetoo.com. Follow her on IG @CoolMaqui

~Ashleigh Guice is a speaker, life coach, author of “How to X Your Ex” and writes a blog called “Single Woman Chronicles. Visit her site http://www.SingleWomanChronicles.com and follow on IG @SingleWomanChronicles

~London Bridges is one half of The Ceo Goddesses where she is a beauty entrepreneur specializing in glam make up and virgin Brazilian Hair. She is located in Norcross, GA. Follow her on IG @LondonBridges4You_Hair and @TheCeoGoddess

~Daneisha Smith is a certified payroll professional and contributes to Zeta J’s blog, Get Inspired, as a lover of fashion and beauty blogger. Follow her on IG @OfficiallyChic

~Tinzley Bradford is a media influencer, radio host, relationship coach and author of “The Settle-Free Dating Method for Women.” Her book is available online at Barnes and Nobles and Amazon. Follow her on IG @Tinzl

~Precious Fraizer is a wellness expert, women’s empowerment movement pusher and business blogger. Visit http://www.linktr.ee/rockyourreality. Follow on IG @RockYourReality

~Shanna Jefferson is a psychotherapist, life coach, speaker, blogger, entrepreneur and author of “33 Tools For Success”. Visit http://www.ShannaJeffereson.com. Follow her on IG @ShannaJefferson. She is also the other half of @TheCEOGoddess

~Sayuri Smith is an entrepreneur, blogger and author of A.Stray and Scriptures For Strippers. She is also the Care Team Coodinator for http://www.4Sarah.net, an organization dedicated to helping women transition out of sex work and assist victims of sex trafficking. Visit http://www.ScripturesForStrippers.com and follow her on IG @SayuriSmith

Forgiveness: Healing at Healed in Heels 2016 Women’s Conference

Last year,  I had the honor of speaking at The 1st Annual Healed In Heels 2016. I had no idea on what to speak about but when I looked at the name of the organization, I thought about the journey I went on to be healed from traumatic events in my own life.  When writing Scriptures For Strippers, the chapter on Forgiveness discuss how I began the process of forgiving my daddy for abandoning me and my mom when I was 6 years old. I decided to post my speech from last year to get an idea of the powerful Word that went forth. After reading this post, I hope you feel encouraged enough to register for the FREE 2017 event. 

The founder of Healed In Heels Inc., Coco Gayle, has a mission to help women heal the societal and self inflicted  and conquering strongholds by being transparent about her powerful testimony about being delivered from issues such as domestic violence,  drug abuse, alcohol abuse and more. Visit the website for more info at http://www.HealedInHeels.com.

Healed In Heels 2016

To stay on topic of Healed in Heels, we must understand how to sow seeds of forgiveness in order to reap the harvest of healing. Why? Because the Bible says we must forgive. Why else? Because unforgiveness can manifest illness in our bodies, cloud and clog up our minds which will have a negative effect on our ability to be effective in the Kingdom of God.

Dealing with uncomfortable situations are supposed to provide a testimony for goodness and glory but if we have unforgiveness, we may not be able to witness properly. We may keep a person bound who God sent our way to help set free. 

What is unforgiveness? 

It is a spiritual or mental wound. A wound is raw, painful and open. It’s sensitive to touch. The topic is tender. When dealing with unforgiveness, a person or may make you feel angry, depressed, vengeful or sad. A scar is healed tissues identified as a mark that indicates there was a wound. There is no pain and true skin is closed. When there is forgiveness, the topic is closed with limited negative emotions even if there has been no closure. Sometimes the only closure you get is closing the door on it after you’ve given it to God. 

We may feel like we don’t need to forgive anyone because it happened a long time ago or we don’t think about it anymore. The question is when it does come up, how does it affect your mood? Your attitude? Do you relive the conversation, betrayal or situation all over again? 

If you answered yes to any of these things, you have unforgiveness in your heart. But there’s good news! Tell your neighbor, “I’m going to sow a seed of forgiveness today! ” 

Turn to another neighbor and tell them, “I’m going to start my healing process today!”

As I speak I want each if you to think on something that has happened which is extremely difficult for you to forgive. Wow it down on the paper you received when you came in and fold it up. Maybe you can’t think of anything…Ask God to reveal your own heart to you. (If you reading this blog,  I’d like for you to stop and write something down too.  You will need it for later.) 

We must ask God to open our spiritual eyes so we may see our whole heart. Search the dark corners of your heart to explore different areas we need to start the process of forgiveness in so we may enter into the light. So we don’t allow satan to have control of our hearts and minds any longer. We must give ourselves over to God so we ourselves can receive forgiveness and be released from our sins that we have committed against God. 

*Side note: If you do a lot of requesting without seeing the blessing, it could be because you are living without forgiving. 
I mean requesting spiritual fruits which are peace, love and joy. If your refuse to forgive, these things will always elude you. Some people feel like prayer is the only way past a situation. There is nothing wrong with prayer…that is unless you’re praying wrong… Let us explore that for a moment. We have the Lord’s prayer at MATTHEW 6:7‭-‬15 AMP where we are instructed on how to pray.

“And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘ Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.
MATTHEW 6:7‭-‬15 AMP

*Forgiveness is a part of every good prayer. When we ask God for anything it requires us to release grudges.*

When we get to the part where we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”, aren’t we saying we are indeed forgiving whoever and whatever? And if we are saying that without actually forgiving them, aren’t we then lying to God? How many of you like being lied to? How long can you listen to someone after they tell you something you know is a lie? How do you think God feels when we pray like this? Thou shalt not lie is a commandment! Some of us are breaking a commandment to God! We all need to be forgiven by God for something because none of us are perfect.

I can see some of y’all looking like, “Well, I don’t pray like that anyway. I don’t even know the Lord’s prayer.” Let me go ahead and address that. If you have unforgiveness in your heart, as you request anything from God in prayer, you are in violation and you are wasting your time.

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.
Mark 11:25 AMPC

Forgiveness is a prerequisite for any kind of breakthrough or healing. A prerequisite is a prerequirement. Something that is required before you get something else. Cornrows is a prerequisite for a sew-in. So you understand that forgiveness is a prerequisite for healing and breakthrough. Nobody can go into the salon with an Afro on her head and the stylist immediately starts sewing tracks in. There is a tedious and sometimes painful process of getting your hair braided before you get your length! So corn rows is the prerequisite for a sew in and forgiveness is the prerequisite for healing and breakthrough. 

If you choose not to forgive, the result will interfere with your relationship with God. 

Again, if you do a lot of requesting without the blessing it could be because you are living without forgiving. 

You may be totally justified in resenting someone. Don’t let that person or event keep you from receiving forgiveness for yourself. Unforgiveness is a like a festering spiritual wound. The way you treat a wound to your flesh should be the way you treat unforgiveness in your spirit. 

Let’s imagine you have a cut on your arm. You would disinfect or clean it, medicate it and cover it. But you have to do it in order. Remember, forgiveness is a prerequiste for healing. You wouldn’t cover a wound that hasn’t been cleaned because it will cause infection. You wouldn’t clean it after you medicate it. 

The Process of Forgiveness- First Aid for a Cut

•Cleanse yourself by taking it all to God and giving Him possession of the wound. Focus on releasing any pain, irritation or discomfort of the offense. During this time you may cry, yell or scream as the antiseptic is administered to the fleshly wounded. The same supplies to a spiritual wound. It may hurt to revisit the grudge The resentment may be hard to let go of. Give it to God. Cut off your permission to think of this issue as yours. This step of disinfecting stops germs from creating more serious issues like infection which can lead to amputation. Your spirit can be so infected by refusing to cleanse with forgiveness, you could cause your blessing to be amputated or cut off. Be sure to disinfect yourself with proper prayer. 

•Medicate the issue with the healing Words of psalms. (Psalm 27) and Proverbs. Explore psalms as they provide comfort. Explore proverbs as it provides instructions on how to live. You will need to reprogram the way you think and operate now because you will no longer behave with a chip on your shoulder. 

•Cover the wound with prayer. Continually ask God to take away any animosity, anger, guilt, or any negative feeling associated with the situation. The mind is the battle ground that needs to be covered the most. Because forgiving is a process, you may have to repeat these steps until you can see and feel healing slowly take place. 

After going through the forgiveness process a few times, you may feel you are passed the situation but this may not be true. When a person reaches a certain stage in the healing process, they may feel strong enough to confront a person. But we all know that just because we take a bandage off of a wound doesn’t mean we won’t feel any pain is it’s nudged or pressed on. 
When we confront people about things we feel we have forgiven them for and that person doesn’t have the response we feel we deserve or doesn’t respond at all, we open the wound back up with more bleeding and more pain. Our only expectation should be from God. (Psalm 62.) Don’t look for someone to know their lines and say exactly what you need them to say for you to feel better. 

For this reason it is important not allow your ability you forgive be dependent on someone’s willingness or ability to apologize sufficiently. You may never be free because you may never get that apology. Start the process of forgiveness over again and allow your wounds to become a scar. Scars remind us of the injury (what happened) without including the pain. Hallelujah! 

How to stay Healed

Pay attention to the voice of the Lord, do what is right in His sight, keep His commandments and laws, God will keep you from things that ails others. You will be healed in different areas if your life. 

At this time, hopefully you have written down something or someone you need to forgive. Fold it up tight and hold hands with your neighbor. Tell your neighbor, We are about to sow our seeds of healing right now! We are going to help each other release this burden and sow our seeds of healing.”

Whatever you wrote down will be released from your possession. Before you throw it away, be sure you are separating from it and allowing God to heal your heart from it. You will no longer carry this situation in your spirit. Pray for your release as well as the person you are connected to. 

*Let us Pray.*

Lord God, help us release it. WE WANT HEALING, LORD. We want to start over and be refreshed and renewed. Help us release the stronghold and never look back. Make us whole without the apology. Give us closure. Give us peace. We want our joy back. 

Your Word says:

For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them. [Exod. 3:14.]
Matthew 18:20 AMPC

Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy and loving-kindness. He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. [Ps. 103:12.]
Micah 7:18‭-‬19 AMPC

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 AMPC

Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. [Exod. 14:19, 20; Isa. 52:12.]
Isaiah 58:8 AMPC

We are leaning on your Word to help us begin this journey of forgiveness so wet can get to the healing You have for us. We thank you for forgiving us and all that you cover into our hearts and help us forgive. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen! 

Begin to thank and praise God for being a burden bearer. Thank God for the healing! Amen! 

*Give it to God activity* Take the piece of paper with you wrote on earlier and fold it up. After praying and asking that God carry this burden toss paper into the trash. You can rip the paper up or simply throw it away. When you dispose of it, represents the sea of forgetfulness. This issue is no longer yours.  Give it God as many times as you need to in order not to carry it. 

The 2nd Annual Healed in Heels Women Conference’s theme is Survivor’s Remorse and will be held Saturday, October 21, 2017. Get your mother, aunts, cousins, co-workers,  workout partners,  best friends,  ex-friends and even enemies together to come to Healed in Heels to learn about survivor’s remorse this year.  Click the link below to get your free ticket! 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healed-in-heels-survivors-remorse-tickets-35652435394?aff=eand

We hope to see you there! 

Sayuri Smith and Coco Gayle

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED copyright  Sayuri Smith LLC.