Fulfillment or Resentment ...

"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 I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."

- Erma Bombeck

Are you living a life full of fulfillment or a life full of resentment?  Before you answer that question, STOP and really think about it.

Life isn't perfect and we all have growing pains, but through all of that, you can still live a life of fulfillment.  Life alone brings many challenges without us willingly adding drama and frustration to it. Whether those impositions be internal or external is for you to decide, but please deal with them before you end up with a life full of resentment.

I asked once before why we find it so convenient to allow others to make us uncomfortable. What in us says, "don't confront it - just accept it?"  The other day as I drove to work, I turned on the radio to find a Pastor saying that many times in the church we hide behind sanctification and holiness, versus confronting issues and finding effective methods of dealing with them.

Every time we sweep an issue under the rug, resentment is growing.  On the other hand when we refuse to accept anything other than the life God intended for us to have, we find a life full of fulfillment.  "God I want to use everything that you gave me!!!"  Don't you too?  Don't you wanna have more days when you find yourself smiling for no particular reason than you do frowning because the sky is falling?

Don't become stagnant, don't ever stop learning and growing.  Be that free spirit that refuses to live with false limitations. Get off the fence, make some decisions that are your own and commit to them. If you fall down, well then get up and try it again.  

"Don't change who you are because someone else doesn't know who they are..."

- SoSerene

Don't So Readily Accept Defeat....

Defeat -  to win a victory over (someone or something) in a war, contest, game, etc.; to cause (someone or something) to fail; to frustrate

Readily -  quickly and easily; in a way that shows you are willing to do something; without hesitation or complaint

Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. She held court under Deborah’s Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice.
She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “It has become clear that GOD, the God of Israel, commands you: Go to Mount Tabor and prepare for battle. Take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulun. I’ll take care of getting Sisera, the leader of Jabin’s army, to the Kishon River with all his chariots and troops. And I’ll make sure you win the battle.”
Barak said, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” She said, “Of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. GOD will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.” Deborah got ready and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh. Ten companies of men followed him. And Deborah was with him. Deborah said to Barak, “Charge! This very day GOD has given you victory over Sisera. Isn’t GOD marching before you?”  (‭Judges‬ ‭4‬:‭4-10, 14‬ MSG)

From this snippet, you see that Deborah didn't back down, when given the opportunity.  Sometimes achieving victory in your life will come when you refuse to readily accept defeat.  Stand firm in the power of our risen Savior and "Charge!"  In this story, you see that Barak didn't have much confidence that he could go at it alone; he showed reluctance, and there will be many times in life where it's just you and Jesus.  You won't have anyone there to lay hands on you or to speak a word over you or like Deborah did for Barak - to inspire you - it'll be just you and your faith.  Will you take charge and forge on?!

Don't so readily accept frustrations in life.  Combat these things with the word and the power of prayer. Take action in your situation. Take on the attitude that if God be for me, then who can be against me!  Like Deborah said to Barak, "isn't GOD marching before you?"  

Ladies, have we forgotten who we serve?  Stop taking a backseat and accepting whatever life throws your way.  

Deborah was known as being wise and courageous.  She didn't get that reputation from giving in and giving up.  God has not given us a Spirit of fear.  Sometimes we don't take action out of fear, but do you believe God would lead you wrong?

There's Been A Delay...

If you're anything like me, you've sat back quite often and wondered why so many things have taken so long to manifest.  Then today as I took my time to get a few things done around the house a song came on called "I'm Gonna Be Ready" by Yolanda Adams.   I've listened to this song many times over, but today it struck a different chord in me.  

One verse says: 

Sight beyond what I see you know what's best for me
Prepare my mind,  prepare my heart 
For whatever comes, I'm gonna be ready
Strength to pass any test, I feel like I'm so blessed 
With you in control, I can't go wrong 
Cause I know I'm gonna be ready

Therefore, could the delay be due to me not being ready?!  

Personally, I'm sure there have been many delays in my life and I've flat out missed some things that were to come my way because I was not ready.  I was not in place.  I was doing it on my own because God was taking too long.  I was too busy crying about my situation.  I didn't know how to silence all the noise around me, so I didn't hear His voice; it just blended in.  

Accountability!!!  

Be ready so that there are no more delays and so that you can get ALL that God has in store for you.  

Fresh Eyes....

Start today going forward by looking at your life with fresh eyes. I recently took on a new position at work, which came with a new team and new operations.   Being that I wasn't familiar with it, I was able to see many things that could potentially be performed differently - because I was coming in with fresh eyes.   I recognized some staff members who may possibly be underutilized, while others held positions that they may not be well suited for.  A part of my responsibility is to analyze the flow; to identity waste and implement process improvements. 

It got me to thinking about how we live life, day in and day out with the same viewpoint.  However, today look at your life with fresh eyes.  Where is there waste?  Where is there the potential to do some things differently?  How might you gain efficiencies and have a better outcome if you just tweaked a few things?

I've been through process improvements before in the workplace in order to gain efficiencies, and they are not always fun.  They challenge you; they stretch you; they force you outside of your comfort zone; they expose you; they put other eyes on you; they can make you down right uncomfortable. BUT - they made us better!!!  I've had to adjust a few processes in my personal life AND it has made me better!!!

Today, look at your life through fresh eyes.  Is it time for some process improvements?

"Even if it's not broken, it can still be improved!!!"