Press Toward The Mark

What is your goal?  Where do you see your destination in 12 months?  Setting short term goals and long term goals seem to elude so many of us today.  We seem to get caught up in the day to day process of living.  Dreams seem to dilute themselves and often we just stop dreaming.  Scripture tells us that where  there is no vision the people perish.  I dare you to dream a dream.  I challenge you to set a mark for yourself.  I encourage you to live for tomorrow while taking care of today.  Find your way, even when it seems like it is impossible to to see your way through.  I am pressing toward the mark!  I am setting new goals for myself.  I am living in the now with the knowledge that my tomorrow will bring new adventures and new destinations for my life. I am creating a blueprint to follow that will lay a foundation for realization of my destination.  Can you see your desires coming into view?  Are your desires a mere vision? Press toward the mark and make the dream count!

Keep Your Head to the Sky

Psalm 121 1-2

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

It is amazing to me how God can move in your life.  I stand in awe of Him.  I think about those times when I am confronted and I begin to think on those things of God.  I think of how He loves me and how He cares for me.  I lift my hands in praise and reverence to the Lord.  It can be comforting to know that He is still in control.  No matter how the day went or the last evening deteriorated and went up in flames. Know that God is still in control.  There can be stretches where it seems everything is going well.  I normally get a little cautious because the enemy is waiting to jump right on in.  I must recognize that the wrinkle is temporary and not to freak out.  How we handle those moments that creep in with havoc in an otherwise pleasant and calm day is what is important.  Call it what it is and keep your head to the sky.  Keep your eyes fixed on the help to get you through.  Call out the confusion and keep your head lifted.    Call upon a power that is greater than any obstacle you may face.  Keep your head to the sky.  Acknowledge all that is good and going right and how, if you allow the havoc to continue, not only today will be destroyed, but tomorrow as well.  Keep your head to the sky and look to the hills for your help is in Him.

Getting Through Your Go Through

I often wonder what people do without a strong spiritual connection when life seems to pile up on them. What do you do?  How do you get through when you are going through?  People don't understand why I am smiling and jovial most all of the time.  There are days that I have to remind myself to keep smiling.  We can make a choice to be happy; even in the face of adversity.  Making the choice are the operative words here.  Choose to be happy and experience the fullness of life or choose to dwell in a place that will grow despair like a weed.  What do I do when I am going through?   I love music and I love to sing, so I listen to my favorite music.  Gospel, R & B, or jazz are my genres of choice.  I keep a song in my heart and I sing myself happy.  No, really, I keep singing until I am overjoyed! I remind myself that I have authority given by the Most High to overcome the obstacles that I face.  In the wake of possibly being jobless soon, I have kept my sanity.  I know that there is a plan for my life.  I also know that there is a season for everything.  How do I get through?  I keep a song in my heart and I keep the music flowing around me.  What do you do to get through when you are going through?   Share your strategy in a comment.

Faith is an Action Word

Are you praying earnestly for a move of God in your life?  Are you waiting on an answer? Faith allows us to believe that God will provide and that He will answer the prayer.  I believe that we are to turn our situations over to God and leave them there.  In the meantime, I believe that you must start moving in the direction that you desire your blessing to come.  If you are praying for a new house and never save money toward it or prepare yourself to have the credit to buy a home, then you are not acting on your faith.  Put your faith in action.  The necessary steps to repair your credit or to keep your credit score intact are necessary.  Saving money for the move is required.  If you are not able to make a down payment, research will be needed to find programs that may assist you.  Prayers for restoration in a relationship should facilitate self-examination of the problems and an earnest attempt to communicate with the other person honestly and openly. Perhaps, it may mean seeking help from a professional to mend the relationship.  Action is required.  I made the decision that I was going to follow a desire to be a motivational speaker and I am praying for God to open doors for me to speak to individuals, groups, churches and wherever I may be invited. I have the faith that my prayer will come to fruition.  I now have to put my faith into action and take steps toward that end.   Preparation is the phase of my faith in action plan.  Today’s thought is simply “Have the faith that what you are praying for will become reality and take appropriate action as you prepare for the prayer to materialize.  Faith is an action word.

My Weight Loss Website

I am excited about the move of God in my life.    Many of you may be interested in my weight loss. I now have a website that you can view my story and learn about the program. Visit www.afitlife.tsfl.com
 

Weathering the Storm

A look back over life's journey may find many situations that occurred that made you feel like you were in the middle of a storm.  The situations may have tossed you as fiercely as the raging winds of a tornado or pounded you like the force of a hurricane.  You may have hunkered down to keep from being blown totally off your course.  Storms come in many forms.  Whatever storm you may be encountering, there is a reason and a purpose for the storm.  I believe that the forces of evil that are sent out into the world are seeking whom they can destroy.  I believe these agents are commissioned to devour the joy from our lives.  How do we weather the storm?  How do we stand in times of adversity?  What do you do when nothing seems to work in your favor?  Why does it seem that when you get through one situation and you haven't even recovered fully that you are plunged into another situation?  Stand firm on your beliefs in the turbulent trials of life.  Find an anchor to hold firmly to.  Strive to concentrate on your blessings.  No matter how minuscule they may seem; shout out a thank you to the Lord.  There is a line in a Marvin Sapp song that says "Praise will confuse the enemy."  Though you are in the midst of your storm, finding that place where God meets you is essential to your break through.  Is it really necessary to come out of the storm?  Be confident while in the storm and know that your way is covered and protected by the veil of your praise and the acknowledgement that all things come together for good for them who love the Lord.  At times, we are given a test so that we may have a testimony for others who are also in the path of the storm.  Weathering the storm doesn't always mean the storm passes over.  It may mean living a life of gratitude and thanksgiving; being a beacon of light that is demonstrative of the goodness that you find in the midst of your storm.  It may be an opportunity to share the peace that will transcend all understanding of how you are able to smile, be happy and still manage to live productively and prosperously.  Learn how to weather your storms with the knowledge that you are a chosen vessel created to glorify Him.

Fake It Till You Make it

Life continually brings us twist and turns.  The way we handle our situations is what makes the difference in our outlook for outcomes.  Make a conscious decision everyday to be happy no matter what is going on.  Through frustration, agitation, disgust and disappointment, make the decision to be happy anyway.  Make an effort to smile even though you feel like crying.  Take a moment and regroup.  Wrap yourself up in your favorite music.  Meditate on the blessings in your life.  Set in motion a praise that just want quit.  When you are enveloped in praise, it is difficult to be depressed.  Fake it.  Yes, I said, FAKE IT.  Fake it until you have materialized, exactly, the joy you are perpetrating and it will seep into your consciousness and soon you will be happy.  Pretend until it comes to past.  Acknowledge your struggle.  Acknowledge what you are going through, by all means and then give it a good dose of joy.  The battle will seem less burdening as you fill your mind, heart and soul with joy.  This won't make the struggle go away, but it will allow you to deal with it in a whole different way.  Yes, fake it until you make it.