Change is good…
Change is an opportunity for growth…
Change holds blessings…
Change is inevitable sometimes…

Sometimes I’m not the best at handling major changes. I say that I’m okay, but on the inside I’m wondering, worrying and wandering emotionally.

It’s not always easy for me to convey my feelings to others but what I am learning is to be authentic.
Not saying that I dwell in my feelings but I do acknowledge them through journaling.
I’m learning to tell my DaddyGod exactly how I’m feeling
w/o giving Him the sugarcoated, “Churchy” version…
Along w/being honest about my feelings, talking to God, and journaling…I’m replacing my feelings w/God’s Word.
So day by day, I’m changing…changing for the better…changing into my best me ever….
How do you handle change???

I read an article today that saddened me…
A 14 year old girl was videotaped (unknown to her) performing a sexual act on a boy while another boy looked on…this video was then uploaded to a social media network.This video/the girl then became a “Trending Topic”.
This young lady, I’m assuming, thinking that she could gain some type of notarity, made a Twitter account and began posting comments.
After awhile, the little girl was being called everything but the child of God.  She then began to post comments saying that she was just doing what her “role models” do and talk about in their music etc. This 14 year old stated that she looked up to some of today’s most popular female rap/hiphop artist and reality show stars…
If I could write this young lady a letter, this is what it would say…

I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now~but know that a person can only define you, if you let them. I’m not going to sugarcoat anything. I know that people have said and will probably continue to say some hurtful things. Their words can’t kill you…unless you let them.<br
If I could tell you anything, I would tell you that you are WORTHY!  You are worthy of honor, respect, love and fullfilling your God-given purpose…don’t cheat yourself out of the life that God has planned for you.  Don’t live by anybody else’s standards~friends,peers or celebrities. 
You SET the standard~you have the power to create purpose from your pain on the inside of you…
You are beautiful. You are loveable. You are respectable. You are full of potential and purpose. You are God’s special creation.  Take some time to get to know you… Not the you that society or tv tells you that you should be. But the you that God created you to be~there’s a big difference.
Learn from this situation. Learn to set boundaries, make wise decisions, and hold yourself and your body in high regard b/c you are valuable, you are one of a kind~there’s no one else like you….

There is so much more that I would like to say…but more than anything I want to do…I want to be a Light, mentor, an example for some other young lady so that she doesn’t have to go through this type of pain and embarassment. I’m willing Lord, send me…

Today I’m taking the time to pray…I’m praying my family, friends, associates and even those I don’t know.
I’m praying for their strengths.
I’m praying that their personal best is revealed and put on display in their lives.
I’m praying that their strengths are strengthened by God’s power and grace.
I’m praying that their personal best encourages someone to be their best.
I’m praying for you…
I pray that you allow God to bless you through your personality and that you allow Him to bless others by being exactly who He created…

Sitting in Sunday school w/my kiddies, I realized something that I heard for a lonnnggg time…Joy is something that comes from the inside.
Joy isn’t a fleeting emotion, its an anchor that isn’t moved by circumstances, people or situations.
Joy is a mixture of peace, expectation, love and devotion all in one.
Joy is the very thing that keeps you sane, hoping in God when everything and everybody around you is in complete shambles…
Joy is strength.
Joy is hope.
Joy is love.
Joy is unshakeable faith.
Joy is optimistic.
Joy is on the inside.
Joy, true joy, not just happiness, is found in God and not things or people.
Joy is an inside only job…do you have real joy?

Sitting in Sunday school w/my kiddies, I realized something that I heard for a lonnnggg time…Joy is something that comes from the inside.
Joy isn’t a fleeting emotion, its an anchor that isn’t moved by circumstances, people or situations.
Joy is a mixture of peace, expectation, love and devotion all in one.
Joy is the very thing that keeps you sane, hoping in God when everything and everybody around you is in complete shambles…
Joy is strength.
Joy is hope.
Joy is love.
Joy is unshakeable faith.
Joy is optimistic.
Joy is on the inside.
Joy, true joy, not just happiness, is found in God and not things or people.
Joy is an inside only job…do you have real joy?

Yesterday we received an awesome word at church about “Love or Obligation”…man, it really blessed me! But more than that, it caused me to think and make adjustments…
When I’m acting out of obligation, I feel dread.
I’m dreadful b/c whatever it is I’m doing, I really don’t want to do it. But I’m doing it b/c for some reason or another I felt like I had too. The reason might be b/c no one else would do the task or I didn’t want to tell the person no.
Whenever I dread something, 9 times out of 10, I’m not giving my best. I’m giving whatever it takes, nothing more, to get done w/whatever it is that I have to do.
Lastly, resentment comes from obligation. Sooner or later, I start to not like or want to be around the person b/c I know that eventually I’ll have to do the very thing I don’t want too.
But Love!!!
Love will cause me to go above and beyond b/c its not about me. I’ll give my all because my main concern is to make someone other than myself joyful.
When I act out of love, the end result will be excellence.  Whenever I do something with love as my motivating factor, God is sure to get all the glory…
So what is the motive behind your actions…love or obligation???

Yesterday at church we received an awesome word about “Love or Obligation”…man, this blessed me! And better yet, it caused me to think…and to make adjustments.
Doing things for people out of obligation caused me to be dreadful…I’m only doing whatever I’m doing b/c I feel/think that I’m the only one to help, that this person realllly needs me or that if I don’t do the task it won’t get done.  Honestly, these aren’t good reasons to help anyone or anything.
If I’m dreading what I’m doing, 9 times out of 10, I’m not doing and/or giving my best…I’m just giving what I have too to complete the task at hand.
Dread also causes me to have a not so good attitude. I’m constantly thinking about something else I could be doing instead of what I’m doing at that moment…
And lastly obligation causes resentment.  Resentment sets in b/c for some reason or another I chose to do something that I really didn’t want to do. And now, my demeanor toward the person/people is somewhat cold and reserved.
But there is a brightside to all of this~LOVE!!!
When I’m acting out of love, my motives are pure and my one desire is to give my best. When I give my best, I’m not thinking about me…I’m thinking about the other person/people and what it takes to go above and beyond for them and their satisfaction.
When love is my reason, excellence will be my result.
Acting out of love will cause us to make a positive, Godly impact on others all for God’s glory.
Obligation will cause us to be resentful, stressed and half-hearted in all that we do…choosing love is choosing God.
What’s your choice today???

I made a choice today…
I chose to walk by faith and not by sight.
I chose to believe God and His promises and not my emotions.
I’m taking a stand against doubt, lack, worry and unbelief. I’m standing for God…and I’m standing on His Word. And His Word tells me that I am chosen, blessed, favored and that all my needs are met.
Was this choice to walk by faith easy? No, but it is necessary. Faith is necessary for me to survive. I’ll be honest~if I were to set my focus on my circumstances and what is going on around me, I would give up.
I would be bitter, envious, and jealous.
I would think that God has forgotten about me.
I would go into isolation.
But God!!!
When I could have chose the natural, I chose God!
I chose to be optimistic, to rejoice w/others and to remember the specifics that God has whispered to me in my quiet times, and to be encouraged to keeping growing in God and in excellence.
I made a choice through my tears and disappointments to choose faith over discouragement and unbelief…what do you chose today???

I can remember moving into our last house and being soooo grateful! I was grateful b/c the house was a Godsend. It was sent at just the right time, we had favor with the owner and it was in a nice,quiet, family oriented neighborhood.
One of the first family devotions we had in our home, the prayer went something like this…”God, we know that you blessed us w/this house and its yours. We are just stewards and whaever you want us to do to bless others we will do, all for your Glory”.
Ever prayed a prayer like that?
Well, not too long after this prayer the answers to it came reaaallll quick! Our home became an open door for dinners, overnight guests, impromptu parties, and often time a place of rest for people.
Then one day the ultimate answer came!
We were given the blessing of welcoming a young man into our home, to make it his home.
Since that time, we’ve had at least 2 houseguests(1 just moved in) and its been a blessing.
A blessing that we can bless someone else with a place to call home, even if it was just for a season….
Prayers are an awesome vehicle for us to commune w/God and intercede for others…but it also important for us to listen b/c we may very well be the answer…the vehicle that God uses to bless someone else:o)

Who do you connect with??? Today I had a great conversation w/a great friend. Does that happen often for me? No, not really…but today was different.
I actually wanted to connect. Not in a desperate, type of way. But in a genuine, thought provoking, honest way.
It was two women, on their spiritual journeys being encouraged by each others honesty and life experiences. In the end, I learned that we have a lot more in common then just our roles as wives, mothers and wanting the best for our families.
I learned that connection is a wonderful thing when you’re connected to the right person/people. The right connections breed growth, love, honesty, correction when needed, and lots of laughs!
So, today I ask you to be mindful of who you are connected too and if that connection feeds your spirit what it needs for growth and encouragement…