You're Worth the Work...

"Know your worth. This is in relationships, friendships, careers, and more. God has made you for greatness. Nothing less!!" - Lisi P. 

After I read this quote, it sparked something in me.  

People work for what they want because they find value in it.  You may have heard the saying that -anything in life worth having is worth working for, and that means you.  

Ladies - stop settling!  If he wants you, he'll work to win your heart and he'll continue to work to preserve the relationship.  

When It’s Over, It’s Over…

What are you trying to drag into the New Year that was over last year?  There are some situations/relationships that have died and we are doing everything in our power to keep them alive.  We are fasting and praying, naming and proclaiming, jumping and shouting, but it is over.  In this passage of scripture we find that David had a child with the wife of another man and as much as he prayed and sought the Lord for the child to live, he still died.  However, the manner in which David handled the loss was astounding to some onlookers.  He jumped up quickly, pulled himself together and moved on.

Why do we have such a difficult time with moving on?  Don’t allow your emotions to be an enemy against your future; know when it’s time to let some things go and move on.

When it’s over, it’s over!  If you continue to read on regarding this story, you’ll find that as a result of moving on, David and Bathsheba bore a son named Solomon, who some regard as the wisest man ever.  From that lineage we find our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So what if David had allowed that to overtake him and what if he had refused to move on? 

Something in your now is waiting on you to let go of something in your past!

2 Samuel 12: 15 -23

And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?”

And they said, “He is dead.”

So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether theLord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

Pursuit of Excellence...

Happy New Year and Welcome 2014!!!!

My text to my friends read, "Doing it BIG in 2014!" In return a message I received stated, "May The LORD make 'everything' NEW!"  You either go all out this year or go home; no time for sitting on the sidelines.  Like Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness, I'm dedicated to the Pursuit of Excellence this year.  If at first I don't succeed, I'll try try again until I achieve and excel at my God inspired goals and dreams.  God has trusted me to live the absolute best life possible in honor to Him and that's what I intend to do.  My life will be my message and I won't be comfortable with status quo... Time to lever up!

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

- Erma Bombeck

Now Is Not The Time...

Now is not the time to give up on the blessings that you've been waiting on God to deliver.  Now is not the time to grow weary in well doing. Now is not the time to allow your faith to fail. Now is not the time to doubt and give up on God.

2013 has been a very trying year for many of us, but now is not the time. The same God that was with you then is with you now. 

Isaiah 40:29-31

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

There is a song called, "God is Not Through Blessing You" by the GMWA Mass Choir. A portion of the lyrics is as follows:

But the devil is a liar and a deciever too, my God is not through blessing you. 
God is not through blessing you, whatever whatever the problem, my God is able to do;
my God is not through blessing you. 

Keep the faith my friends for God has a plan in store especially for you.  I hope this song ministers to your heart as it did mine. 

What's The Message? Part II

Yesterday we talked about the message that we send, through the lives we live, and I wanted to continue with that topic today.

In the book of Ruth, we see that because of Ruth's commitment, loyalty, love, integrity and devotion to Naomi that she was noticed by a prominent person and received favor.  Ruth displayed the characteristics that many of us would desire anyone to possess that is connected to us.  Her life was her message and as a result, she was selected over many for a prestigious role - married to Boaz.  He said to her "for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."  Her actions far exceeded any words that she could have spoken.

Women often say they are waiting on their Boaz to come, but if he did come, would he find the life that you are living worthy of the life he is willing to offer you?  Yes - there are still some really good men in the world!

To continue with the discussion, for me this passage of scripture transcended the realm of romantic relationships, but carried over into many other facets in life.  On the job - who is watching us? In our neighborhood - who is watching us?  In our churches - who is watching us?

What messages are you sending that would cause someone to change your entire status for the better?

What's The Message?

"My life is my message."

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love quotes and at times they help me remain accountable for my actions.  I use quotes and thoughts for the day as a source of motivation and encouragement for others.  This particular quote has stuck with me for a few years now and this morning it was on my mind. 

At the end of every year, many of us take the time to reflect on what we have or have not accomplished and then we formulate a plan of action for the upcoming year.  However, when taking that time of reflection, let's think about the message we sent, based on the lives we have lived. 

“Your actions speak so loudly, I can not hear what you are saying.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This upcoming year, don't just simply write down a resolution because it's the norm; be the words on the page! 

What Really Matters?

The opportunity to take time away and relax doesn't come as often as we'd like in the lives that we've turned into rat races. Always on the go and it seems that nothing is ever good enough. We run ourselves into the ground and call it success.  When we do sit down to rest and catch our breath, we call it being unproductive.  Somewhere along the way we've got it twisted!  We don't want to wait at a red light; we don't to wait for food to cook in the oven; we don't want to wait for a phone call, so we text; we don't want to wait for God to bring us what He wants us to have, so we force situations that don't fit.  

Our lives have become complicated and we are discontented to the fault of no one but ourselves.  We are trying to fit into a mold that God never intended.  We spend more money than we make to impress people who don't care, to fit into an imitation of life.  What really matters?

What really matters at the end of the day when you're all alone?  What really matters when the chatter dies and it's quiet?  What really matters when sickness comes and life is fleeting?  What really matters when no one will pick up the phone to talk or you didn't get invited out?

What is really important?  We talk a good talk, but what really matters to you?

http://thoughtcatalog.com/baihley-grandison/2013/12/you-dont-have-to-do-everything-all-at-once/