Last night my hubby asked me a question “Are you being challenged?”…
This question really got me thinking. Am I being challenged? Are the people around me challenging me to do more, be more? Or am I “the cream of the crop” in my circle?

To be honest, I haven’t been challenged a lot lately.  My “circle” has gotten a lot smaller, so most of the time it’s just me. But I haven’t been pushing myself.  To be quite frank…I think I’ve gotten into the “mommy rut”.
The “mommy rut” is where most of my time and energy are focused on my kiddies, their needs, and taking care of our househodd~which is great b/c everything on the homefront is running a lot smoother. But there’s still that small place in me that dreams of more…and I can feel the bite of unfullfillment settling into my very being.
I love to write but lately I haven’t been too inspired. And my dream of being a published author, and a great blogger, have been put on the back burner.
As I write this, I ask myself why? The answer is…fear.
Fear of success. Fear of working hard and pushing past all that is familar. Fear of what people will say b/c I’ve put something that is important to me before anything them or what they deem as important.

But today is a new day! I am up for the challenge of pushing past the familar. I know that this journey for me won’t be easy but it will be worth it.
I want to make my hubby and kids prodd. I want my kiddies to see their mom do something great and live out God’s best daily.
So, it’s time for me to set my plan!
As I go forth in my planning, I pray that you go forth in greatness…to live your best life now! Are you up for the the challenge???

Have you ever had a really desperate moment? I mean just a longing for something or someone who shouldn’t even matter…and in reality they don’t matter??
Yep…I had one of those moments today.
I was at the gas station and I saw someone that I haven’t seen in years~ I mean pre-marriage days! 
I saw this person and I wanted sooooo bad to let them know that I was no longer the person that I used to be. I wanted them to see that I had matured…I would even say that I am now “walking in my womanhood”. I wanted to smile as I told them that I was doing great, my family is the best and that my hubby and are I soon about to celebrate our 7th year of marriage.
When I got home, I asked myself why?
Why did that moment matter so much?
And really what satisfaction would have come from it?
In that instance I had to repent.
I repented for my moment of desperation…and for also looking for my something that I can only find in Christ~acceptance and identity.
This moment showed me how easy it was for me to want to prove that I’m different than I used to be…not b/c I wanted to lift up Jesus but b/c in my own selfisness and insecurity, I wanted to prove that I’m better and what they saw before was no longer who I was back then…
But what I realized is that in the midst of me trying to make a point, I was also tryng to exalt myself and take credit for what God has done through me and for me…
It’s not my job to put myself on a pedestal…it’s my job to live my life for God~and He’ll do the rest!
No more desperate moments for me~only grateful ones…

As I watch, with so many others, the Homegoing Service of such a beautiful, talented and successful Superstar, my heart is heavy…
As I think about Ms.Whitney Houston, I think about her smile and her acknowledgement of her God-given gift that has touched the lives of so many over the years.
My heart hurts when I think about how much it must affected Ms. Houston to have every mistake that she ever made dnd her every struggle publisized for the world to see…
My heart hurts when I think about the pain and the uncertainty that her daughter Bobbi-Kristina must be feeling when she thinks about her life without her mother…
Even in this I find peace in knowing that even in the midst of the biggest storms that Ms. Houston endured in her life, that she KNEW that she was a Child of The Most High..
I believe that even in this tradegy, that God will get the glory. I pray that people everywhere push past their hurt and pain to ask themselves the hard question “Who is my Whitney?”
What person in your life do you see struggling through the storms of life and are on the very brink of being taken under by the current of their mistakes, pain, demons, addictions and circumstances? How can you help them…be a life preserver in their very time of need?
I’m not saying that being a firm foundation for someone on shaky ground will be easy..but it will be worth it!
Be an advocate, a mentor, a truth giver, an intercessor, a light for someone in nded. Be a vessel that God can pour His love through to help someone in the darkest hours of their life..be the very thing that a hurting person can’t be for themselves~love and encouragement.
My sincerest prayer is that the life that Bobbi-Kristina lives bring honor to her mother’s legacy.
Rest well Ms. Whitney Houston, rest well…

I used to think that part of being a Christian was just “putting up” w/people and all that they gave me.

I had the attitude “Well, this is just what this is what this particular person does and I can’t change them”…

This statement is true to a certain extent…I can’t Change a person but I don’t have to Accept any behavior that goes against what I believe and want for my life!

I’m learning that boundaries aren’t always easy to establish w/people but they are always necessary~I teach people how to treat me.

With that being said, whatever I accept from people will continue. If I let people be late, waste my time, invade my space, talk down to me~they will continue.

But if I correct people and let them know what I expect and what I won’t allow to continue, one of two things will happen: they will either adjust accordingly or they will choose to no longer be in relationship w/me on certain level. Either way, boundaries will establish guidelines, promote growth and foster respect.

Here are some practical ways to help you establish boundaries:

1. Pray~ask God to help you set boundaries for certain people and situations

2. Journal~write down your expectations in full detail. Also what makes you upset and why. Write out your expectations and what you will no longer tolerate

3. Practice~have the conversation w/yourself in the mirror ahead of time

4. Speak the Word~find scriptures on confidence and boldness, also get scripture based books to enlighten you

5. Follow-Through~do what you say no matter how hard or uncomfortable it is

6. Speak the Truth in Love~be honest about how you feel. Tell the person(s) the truth about what they did, how it made you feel and what you will/won’t accept in your life in a firm, loving, respectful manner

Two great books to read are Lysa TerKeurst’s “More Than Just a Good Bible Study Girl” and Paul Coughlin and Jennifer Degler, PhD’s “No More Christian Nice Girl”

What if December 25th never existed?
What if God’s love for us didn’t cause Him to give His most precious gift~His Son, part of Himself?

What if our relationship w/the Father wasn’t important enough for Jesus to come and to die…just for us?

What if Mary didn’t believe what most would have called an impossibility?
What if she would have never said “Yes” and given herself for the Greatest Master Plan ever~the birth of our Savior?

What if Joseph wouldn’t have risked everything that he had and



was to be a Mary’s covering?

What if he wouldn’t have obeyed and made sure that Mary our Destiny could live and thrive in her womb?

What if?

What if we took the time to thank god for His Most Precious Gift…His Redemption…His Grace…His Son?

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!