Not Just Another Year

Happy New Year!!

I pray you had a great New Year and blessed Christmas.  There is so much to share from last year and I am sure there will be tons throughout the year but one goal for sure is to stay connected and to provide just what the blog says Encouragement for Everyday Living.  Let me first explain my absence during the end of 2017.  I took a brief break to finish up my fall semester and get acclimated to a new professional opportunity. I am not sure how God speaks to you but for me he will present a challenge either through an experience or sending someone to share a thought that will disrupt me from my need to be busy to see if I am following where he is leading me.  He was leading me to blog but I needed to complete some projects I had already started and I was able to do just that. Thank you Jesus!!!

So my year ended with completing projects, entering a new professional space, resetting and refocusing personal and relational priorities, and creating a visual aide to remind me that 2018 will not be just another year. Yasss!!!

Do you have something that you can use as an aid to remind you that this will not just be another year? How do you plan on living out your purpose God placed in you from birth while standing on His promises this year?

Scripture: Habbukak 2:3 – “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” – Earl Nightingale

 

Take Time and Connect

Have you ever felt so content in life that you ask yourself what more could I possibly need? That is how I felt until this past weekend on my way to meet one of my mentors.  We were to meet at PF Chang’s for dinner. The shopping area was busy and pretty pack. As I walked from my car to the restaurant, I saw people connecting not over work or a cause but just for companionship. I Can’t really explain what made  this evening different from any other evening but it got my mind to thinking about my relationships. See I’m a pretty busy lady and can very easy find an excuse to not make real connections because of my schedule. Real connection takes work and a level of vulnerability that most of us rarely engage in while gathering with folks. I began to ask myself am i really taking care of my relationships? and my answer was a sobering No!! The rich relationships that are reciprocal and rich with honesty, humor, insight, and friendship are  accessible to me but I must admit it I never really tried to nuture the relationships. This has always been a struggle for me but it is necessary for both myself and my family. This week I think I will have coffee with a friend or drop pass and visit a loved one I havent visited outside of a holiday.

If your like me take a moment today or this week and think about the people or person in your life that you consider a friend. What relationship could use a little time and attention?

• Have you been taking care of your relationship?
• When was the last time you connected outside of a crisis or life event?
• Are you willing to pour into at least one other person and nurture the relationship?

We have to make sure that in our efforts to build healthy boundaries and live a life of simplicity and contentment that we don’t slack on making real human connection.  That is after all how God created us to connect with others and live in community.

Hebrews 10:24-25- ” And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. “

My First Love ( Personal Scripture)

Good Morning Friends

I wanted to share my words of encouragement this week in a photo. It came to me that 

• one people like visuals 
• two I need to demonstrate solidarity  

so this is what the Lord dropped in my spirit this week

Remember he confirmed somethings for me a couple of weeks ago about where, how, and what he had purposed and prepared me to do. This made it clear to me that my health spiritually, emotionally and physically are important because my life manual the word of God instructs me to treat my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. I also needed to take care of me to carrying out my life mission. 

I can’t harbour and live with any negative emotion or thought. The fact that the Lord presented this to me let me know even if I don’t feel jealousy currently I may still struggle if current situations change. 

This scripture came to me and I was confused but must confess it isn’t as if I never experience jealousy.

My focus this week is on my spiritual and emotional health which can ultimately effect my physical health.

So I confess publicly feeling jealousy of others, having covetous thoughts and speaking negative about people who may have achieved what I felt I deserved.

That feels a lot better and a lot more free.

Did you find your word, phrase, scripture yet?

Here is what I wake up to each day this week. Excuse the handwriting 🙂

#youmatter #healthylivingiskingdomliving

My First Love

All my life I have heard the words treat people the way you want to be treated and turn the other cheek. The words are powerful and necessary, however as I am maturing I realize there needs to be balance in the the lessons shared with each other and the next generation. Let’s take the first statement treat people the way you want to be treated our way of treating ourselves may not always be in a caring and healthy way. Do I really want to treat people the way I want to be treated when I am unclear of how I want to be treated? Learning our likes and dislikes take time . We have to learn impulse control, self-reflection, patience with ourselves among other things so the statement treat people the way you want to be treated doesn’t always compute or isn’t always effective for our lives or the lives we touch in our daily living. Lets look at how we can appropriately and passionately love ourselves so that we can effectively, passionately and appropriately love others.

This week take a look at the words you speak to yourself when someone compliments you, when you go into the dressing room to try on an outfit, when your struggling to pass a test in class. We are to speak life not just to others but to ourselves. I am learning this practice as well so you are not alone. We love best when we love ourselves not more than others but when we love ourselves well. Loving ourselves starts with the heart and mind.

Proverbs 14:30 – ” A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body, jealousy is like cancer in the bones”.

Who are you comparing yourself too? Stop it

Know that you are “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”. I challenge you for this week to write words of affirmation on a post it, index card, prayer journal somewhere about what you do well and one strength or admirable thing about you.

Remember we can love well when we love ourselves first.Blood in My Mouth

Blood in My Mouth

I want to admit I wrote the title of this post after becoming frustrated with my family but quickly realized this statement has a more profound meaning. You know the typical social media, electronic rant everyone goes on was about to have a new member before I felt a nudging from the Holy Spirit or for some a change of conscious.  For those of us who read and study the Word of God we are familiar with the scripture that says “Life and Death are in the power of the tongue” Proverbs 18:21.  I am going to take some creative license and say that it made me think of my mouth being the cross that Christ hung on. The cross that took His life so that we may have ours. Then the phrase Blood in my mouth took on a completely different meaning to me. It wasn’t a powerless, stuffing of feelings or emotion during conflict it has become a reminder that the symbolic blood in my mouth is my sacrifice for my fellow man to make sure my word did not speak death and harm but life and hope.

I have been told how I have the gift of influence and people listen when I speak, but I never really thought much about the weight of those words until this very second.  My words can be damaging to individuals, neighborhoods, countries, genders. My words  can lead to spiritual, emotional and finally physical death to myself and the receiver. This week I choose to be intentional with my words and speak life and practice holding my responses until prayerfully We may never meet those who read this blog and we may never know the personal struggles we each endure but know that God knows and know that holding your tongue and having a thoughtful response often brings about the result God is pleased with and we ultimately hope to achieve. It was not for nothing holding your tongue!!! that wasn’t for you that was for me full disclosure because even as I type there are subject matters I would love to speak first and let the words land where they may. The problem being I am my brother and sister keeper and that doesn’t just mean in action that means in word as well.

Do you have blood in your mouth? Do you understand the power of your words?

Insight: Your words can build or tear down not just people but nations or it can bring about peace.

This entry has been cathartic for me to share and excellent reminder for me.

Scripture:

Emotional support

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Physical Support

Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

²⁴ Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

 

 

 

When Confirmation Comes

This past weekend was phenomenal!! I had the best time with colleagues at my agency’s awards dinner on Friday evening and then Saturday I attended an awesome women’s retreat.  The weekend put a lot of things in perspective for me around my business ideas, writing/blogging, family, and my walk with Christ.  Have you ever dared to dream a dream so big that it paralyzed you and you felt as if you could not catch your breath? This is true for one of the confirmations I received during prayer time. Writing a book. Me writing are you kidding me. I’m not learned in English literature I have never taken a writing class but nevertheless here I am sharing through written word about an awesome experience I had with wonderful women of God. My desire to write and encourage others through spoken word came full circle this weekend at the women’s retreat.  I had attended the weekend retreat before and have spoken in the past but this time I came searching, seeking, with expectancy. Have you ever prepared yourself mentally and spiritually before going to an event or even church service and it enriched your experience twenty times over? Well that was my experience. God used the guest speaker to speak words of life, encouragement and most importantly for me right now CONFIRMATION.

 Confirmation that the prayers written in my prayer journal over the years concerning several businesses, writing books, and touching lives were not just fleeting thoughts they are God given dreams and desires and that GOD needed me to PUSH past words spoken over me in the past and doubt and move forward. When those words were shared with me it was like when John the Baptist leaped at presence of Jesus in Mary’s belly. I felt butterflies in my stomach. God providing me confirmation over the weekend gave me the courage I needed to bring back the Encouragement 4 Everyday Living blog.  God has given me a story to share with you. There is so much to share and unlike normal blog formats the second confirmation is that this blog would be different, unique. Life doesn’t happen in themes and neither will this blog. I am super excited!!! and I hope to share many more moments of insight and encouragement 4 your everyday living.

The scripture shared this weekend was Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

What dreams have been delayed because of doubt and fear? Are you going to God in prayer with willingness to receive what he wants to show, tell, or give you?