The Anatomy of A First lady

By Ramona Rodgers

The Anatomy of a First Lady speaks to the challenges and triumphs of leading ladies in corporate America, marriage, as well as in ministry. As you journey with me through a few of my personal experiences, I will utilize several parts of the human anatomy, such as the cardiovascular system, as a metaphor to transparently discuss relevant PowerPoints, such as matters of the heart.

As the circulatory system’s function is to transport the blood throughout the body, women, we deal with various issues of life that cause us to silently scream simply because we are bleeding while leading. This novel offers strategies to combat blood “dis-Eases,” such as persecution, rejection, brokenness, and betrayal that try to block our flow. As the lymphatic system fights infection, leading ladies, you must understand that anything worth having won’t come easy, but you will have to fight for it.

The largest organ in the human body is the skin. Leading ladies, if you are going to break glass ceilings, you have to develop a thick skin. As the bones give the body posture, I admonish women and men alike in leadership roles that challenges will come, but if you remain postured in your faith, you can conquer anything!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685266479

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgments

The Anatomy of a First Lady

I Refuse to Let the Devil Block My Flow

What Do You Do When You Do Not Know What to Do?

Don't Stop! Get it! Get It!

Don't Panic; It's Only a Test

From Pain to Purpose

Don't Break Down Before You Get Your Breakthrough

This Battle Is Not Yours but the Lord's

From Difficulty to Destiny

Even Those Who Betray You Are Still in the Plan

When God Is in It, There Is No Limit

Sometimes You Got to Lose to Win

Stay the Course

Whatever It Takes, I'm All In

Reflections

Tools and Tips for Women

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Day 26

Day 27

Day 28

Day 29

Day 30

References

About the Author

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The Anatomy of A First lady

Ramona Rodgers

ISBN 978-1-68526-646-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-647-9 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 Ramona Rodgers

All rights reserved

First Edition

Scripture quotations taken from the 21st Century King James Version®, copyright © 1994. Used by permission of Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

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Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman or Womb man because she was taken out of Man.

—Genesis 2:23

Acknowledgments

First, I would like to acknowledge God who has always covered me in a way that can only be done by a heavenly Father. It's in him that I move, live, breathe, and have my being and all that I am and all that I have become is all because of him! I am grateful to God for giving me insight and the wherewithal on how to utilize my pen to articulate and go public with the transitions, challenges, and triumphs of becoming First Lady. I have been blessed with the ability not only to have a vision for my future but also to actively pursue it. I would like to acknowledge Elder Sarah Davis for obeying the voice of God and selecting my husband and I to pastor what is now known as Compelling the World Ministries, First Born Church of the Living God, Inc. Special accolades to my husband, Bernard Rodgers Sr., for his sacrificial love and support and for always making myself and our children a priority. I celebrate my children, Taneisha Raquel Rodgers and Bernard Rodgers II, for loving me unconditionally.

I would like to acknowledge two individuals that have brought so much joy to our family, my grandson, and son in love, Jason Holloway I and Jason Holloway II. I'm thankful for my parents, Edwin and Edith Mulligan, for providing the best for my siblings, Erica, Edwin, and Julius and I. Their constant belief in me has always compelled me to dream big. I would like to celebrate my aunt, Carrie Reed, who has been a consistent source of encouragement and support as she has observed my life experience a metamorphosis. I also celebrate Marquita Hunter Carson for praying for me through some of the most trying times of my life. I honor the late bishop and First Lady Gladstone Blake for laying a foundation of Christ in my life, imparting wisdom, and exemplifying what the standard of holiness and a godly woman looks like in the infancy stages of my walk with Christ. I want to celebrate every enemy that has so strategically assisted with the process of teaching me that I am built to give birth to what God has placed within the inner me.

The Anatomy of a First Lady

According to the scripture, Eve is Adam's First Lady. The Lord God said, It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a help meet for him. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs and closed his flesh thereof. The rib, which the Lord had taken from man, made him a woman, and brought her unto the man. Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh (Genesis 2:23 KJV). God told Adam and Eve that they could eat any tree in the garden of Eden except for the tree of knowledge.

While in the garden of Eden, their faith was tested. It was a test of Adam and Eve's obedience to God. It was a test of their faithfulness to Him. Genesis 3:2–5 says, And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. The serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Eve proceeded to try to persuade her husband that partaking from the tree of knowledge is okay.

Leading ladies, the first mistake we make as women of God is coming off the tenth floor to entertain a basement devil. Never drop your standard to entertain the wrong voice. The voice of another man who is not your husband but uses his influence to tempt you to be unfaithful to your husband with him is the wrong voice. Eve knew what to say when she was confronted by the serpent, but she failed when it was time to discern the right from the wrong voice. Leading ladies, ministry is a team effort comprised of yourself and the pastor. Eve messed up because she tried to lead independently of her husband. Leading ladies should always know what to say; however, more important than being ready to give an answer, a First Lady should always know what to do and what not to do.

However, failure happens when you feel like you have acquired so much knowledge that you become unteachable and feel as if you can make independent choices without consulting God. Now the serpent is more subtle than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had made. The enemy not only has power, but he has influence. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Leading ladies, in order to function and give life to the body of Christ, it is imperative that you understand your role.

What is your role? Ladies, never get your role crossed up. Know when your husband needs you to be First Lady and when he doesn't want you to be a supersaint, but he simply needs you to minister to him intimately as his wife. Does your calling transcend the pulpit? How do you live outside of the fear box? What are some strategies that we can use to love individuals while guarding our hearts? How do we effectively balance and maximize marriage and ministry? A leading lady must understand the significance of her role, not just in the body of Christ but also in her home.

The evolution and the initial role of a traditional leading lady in times past has been in the kitchen as opposed to the boardroom. Traditionally speaking, leading ladies were not copastors but mentors and a supporter of her husband. The role of a First Lady consisted of directing the choir, playing an instrument, teaching Sunday school, and spearheading women's day programs. In contrast, the role of a twenty-first-century leading lady who is career oriented has evolved to multitasking and balancing marriage, intimacy, family, holding positions in corporate America, preaching, personal itinerary, copastoring while using her educational expertise to enhance the ministry.

Challenge # 1: Understanding the role of a leading lady

We live in a dispensation of time wherein God's leading ladies seek a balance