Focus!!!

Lately, I have not been posting as much. There's a lot going on with me and my sphere of influence. No worries...it just requires my full attention and less time on social media.

However, I wanted to share with you that there's one word that has been resonating deeply within my spirit.

That word is "Distraction(s)."

What is it that you are supposed to be focused on that you have put aside? What shiny objects have gotten your attention that the task at hand has been delayed.

Hear me now: WHO is distracting you? You know..."aww- you can do that later.." but deep inside you feel a pull to go higher or to keep pressing in?

God is shifting everything, but I see people specifically. Allow Him to move those people and things that will hinder your shift; you'll be glad that you did.

Often, we ask God..."what happened to this, Lord or what happened to that, Lord..." but, if you're honest with yourself,  you know you haven't done the first five things He told you to do.... ((ouch)).

A prayer: Dear Heavenly Father....we thank You for Your mercy and grace. We appreciate Your kindness and love. We thank You for being the God of 2nd, 22nd, and 222nd chances. We declare and decree today that we will be committed to focusing on those things that You have set before us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Be blessed on purpose!!! Choose Happiness!!! And walk in your God given authority!!!

Relationships II

Continuing in the vein of shifting of relationships, one of the strongest lessons that I have learned is that God never wastes anything in our lives.

Every situation, circumstance, or issue gives insight to our heart. If one takes the time for self inspection, these things provide an excellent opportunity for deliverance to another place in maturity as well as an expansion of our tolerance and the stretching of faith.

There have been several times recently where God has awakened me to FORGIVE and BLESS those that dropped me, wronged me, and left me. This is His Word. I can attest that it was the combination of these two things that catapulted me into another place of healing and moving on.

Healing through forgiveness and blessing your enemies (intentional or not) leaves the door open for reconciliation in the future. Not all of the people who treated me badly are spawn of the enemy; some of them are God's children as well. Sometimes, hurt people- hurt people. Then hurt people are healed and need the same reconciliation and grace that we all need at some point.

So, consider this post today and allow God's word to soak deep into your spirit. Forgive your enemy. Bless & Pray for your enemy. Love your enemy. Allow God to use you as a mighty tool of reconciliation with his guidance and discernment.

The Journey: Relationships

Lately, there seems to be a shift in my own life concerning relationships, so I wanted to share this with you all.  My list of friends looks totally different than it did this time last year and it is almost unrecognizable from four years ago. This is a season of readjustment and realignments in all of our relationships.

It is great time to take the "birds eye" view of your life and ask God who belongs where. Everyone should have an inner circle of people (or person) that stands with you in a way that others can and will not. This will be a reciprocal relationship.

The Lord showed me a specific details about a person whose motive was wrong towards me and I completely missed all of the signs because we had been friends so long. I was carrying the relationship and when I stopped calling or making contact- it all stopped. This hurt for a great while and that's okay; I learned a lot from this process including that it is okay to walk away/let go from unsuitable relationships as well as get in touch with my humanness on another level. This was indeed difficult for me  because like with everything I do- I go hard. I love hard, so letting go is hard as well.
Well.....it used to be.

As for me, I am learning to be grateful for departing relationships. Sometimes they can seem like we have failed along the way, this may or may not be the case- but when the relationship transitions- move with it. It is okay to mourn the loss- just don't drown in it...

One key lesson is to remember to be careful as to not block new relationships based on the old ones. So grateful for the new and old relationships!

A Testimony

A Testimony:

Last night, my mind drifted off to time in my past where I was not walking with the Lord as I should...matter of fact, I was so deep in sin that I cannot even find the words to decribe the depths of my "wretchedness."

I had been in a car accident....the car was hit super hard by some old car that was built when cars were built "Ford tough."  As the car hit me, I heard the Lord clearly say to me..."You will walk away from this....Daughter, come back to me...this is a wakeup call..." After impact, I sat with portions of the window and windshield in my lap shattered.

Later, the policeman said if it were not for the safety bar on the driver side, I would have been seriously hurt. To which I replied- "Nope, if it were not for God..."

I  walked away from that accident with no scratches and no injuries....thank you Lord. The song resonates so deeply in my spirit: "Great is Your mercy towards me Jesus...Your lovingkindness towards me....I am so grateful that He was patient and kind towards me. This is why I do my best to give this to others as well. Have a blessed day on purpose!

Uniquely Created- Do You!

Did you know that God needs your uniqueness in the earth? When He created each of us, He broke the mold. There will never be another you in the earth. Yes, there may be a similarity, but never a duplication.

Psalms 139:14 states " I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

****Fearfully in the Hebrew word that is... "Yare." It means “to be afraid, stand in awe, fear”. When used of an exalted person it means “standing in awe”. This implies honor, reverence and respect for the person. To be “fearfully” made means to be “awesomely” made.

****Wonderfully in the Hebrew is translated as the word "Pele." It means unique, set apart, uniquely marvelous. This word could translate equally as miraculously, magnificently, amazingly, fantastically, or marvelously.

Understand your worth through the eyes of Your creator. You are awesomely made, unique, and marvelous. That is your inheritance and your identity. Walk with your head high and operate as a unique child of the King. Respect Your Uniqueness. Respect the Uniqueness of others. Be awesome. Be You. Do You. On Purpose. Make a difference where you are; the world needs you and not a replica or copy of someone else. Be blessed on purpose.

Word Matters

It is my belief that what we say about ourselves and others is important; especially as parents and leaders.

Scripture tells us that there is POWER in our words... (Proverbs 18:21). We can use it to speak death or life. Scriptures (1 Peter 2:9) tells us that we are a royal priesthood; a chosen generation, a holy nation, and a peculiar people. As a child of God, we have access to His promises. We declare (positive affirmation) and/or decree (command, ordain) the promises of His word as well as those things He commands us to speak.

So....understand the delegated power of declaration and decrees. It is simply a submitted son or daughter of God speaking His word, affirmations, and commands into the earth through understanding of His word by relationship with Him. I use them a lot- now with purpose. However, we can inadvertently declare or decree- example- if we keep saying we are sick and tired- chances are great that we will be sick and tired. Remember a time where I said that something was making me sick....well I couldn't shake this cold, my husband told me to be mindful of my words and as soon as I stopped saying it- I began to get better..

Think on these things as we form words for use today. Speak life to people and death to the things that need to die.

Be blessed on purpose!

Perspective

Perspective: How you look at a matter determines whether you are a victim or an overcomer. As I was visting home this weekend, my husband and I traveled along some of the places where I had experienced great pain. As I was visiting one of my aunts, we spoke about some things in the past. In each of these scenarios, I felt peaceful. I told my aunt that I had reconciled my past and that it has no hold over me.

It took some time, but I realized that each and every event is a part of my story. While some events are unpleasant, unfair, and downright evil- it is still a part of my story. It is not the end, nor does it determine the destiny that God has for me. However, it did shape the woman that I am...And this weekend was one of many reminders that it is important to remember that my entire life was not made up of tragedy.

As I look over the time, Romans 8:28 has come alive in my life. Romans 8:28 states that "All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and who are called according to His purpose." All things have truly worked out for me. God sent some awesome people into my life that have planted and watered the seeds of God's power. Seeds of a hopeful future. Seeds of a life beyond negative circumstances. Seeds of understanding and love through the manifestation of God's Kingdom family- what family should really be.

Today, chose to look through the lens of a positive way forward. A positive perspective changes the atmosphere around you. There was this rhyme I remember while growing up that goes.."You are what you eat from your head down to your feet.." I would say you are what you see from your head down to your feet....As I begin to agree with God's word and His promises about me- my life began to change. Once I stopped telling myself that my past was a hinderance instead of a part of a story- I became free. Once I understood the power of an overcomer- my mind, my life, my sphere of influence increased greatly. So, what lens are you looking through today? You make the choice for your own life and your family's life. Speak life to the dry bones around you! Refuse the enemy's tactic of being a victim or martyr. Make the choice to be happy, live free, and walk in the abundance of peace that God so freely gives.

Blessings!