Still Here

The last few months have been hard.  I guess it started with the death of a good friend in May, followed by the death of my mother in law, traveling, a new teaching position, the lead position and then 4 deaths in October cuppled with 3 other part time endeavors.  I am still here and still leaning and depending on God to see me through.  I have faced stress unimaginable and I am dealing with all that I have to with alll that is within me.  Stay tuned for more inspiration and motivation soon.  I am still standing!

Some Where Over the Rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow..... I smile and thank the Lord every time I see a rainbow in the sky or I see a rainbow that someone captured and posted on Facebook.  Genesis 9: 15-16 gives reference to the bow in the cloud and how it will be a a reminder of the covenant of God between Him and his people.  God reminds of of his promise with the sign of the rainbow.  Every time I see one, I remember how God loves me and cares for me.  I am reminded that the desires of my heart will come to fruition.  I am more determined to move my life into alignment with his Word, so that I may enjoy the benefits of his promise. I see hope. Whatever my circumstances are today, I know I will have my breakthrough.  It also gives me a sense of peace.  I live a fairly stress free life knowing that I have learned how to turn all things in my life over to the Lord.  The rainbow is a symbol that reminds me that I an protected, covered and redeemed! 

(Thanks Keith J. for sharing this photo.  It inspired me.)

Don’t Give Up the Fight

Don’t give up the fight for the things that make you strive to do more, be better, live better or achieve the goal that seems to keep eluding you.  I woke up in the middle of the night thinking of my daughter and her job search.  Equipped with a master’s degree and the appropriate skills, she is a final candidate for a position that she can visualize herself in.  I woke up with a prayer on my heart and I had to get up and write down what I was thinking after I prayed.  This message is for her, myself and anyone who is thinking that the fight is getting the best of them.

Everything that God has for you is there for you to receive.  At times it seems like you are not moving in the direction you desire.  Or perhaps, you feel things are just not happening for you as you planned.  It is hard to keep the faith and keep the momentum of fighting for what you want in life when everyone around you seems to be receiving their blessing without the fervent prayer, without honoring God and without acknowledgement of where the blessings are coming from.  Hold on anyway!  Continue to thank God for the opportunities that you have encountered thus far.  Thank Him for the unseen blessing.  Continue to make that connection with your destination.  We all desire something right now.  We are in need of something to happen in our lives at the present moment.  The fight seems to be more than we can handle today.  We are looking for a breakthrough and require a shower of God’s grace upon our endeavors to let us know that the labor we have given is not in vain.  Why does “it” seem not to be happening for us?  What more do I need to do?  How long do I have to live in this state before there is elevation of my situation?  I’ve been in the storm far too long and I need a life line to rescue me.   The fight has been long and hard and I feel myself waning in the midst of the battle.  I say to you, Don’t Give Up the Fight!

It is not in our time that things will happen or turn around.  Your breakthrough may not come in the form you think it will come.  Be faithful over the few things is the thought that comes from the parable of the servants and the talents (His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25: 21 & 23) The reward is great for those who are steadfast.

You may be tired, but you not out for the count.  You’re tired, but you are still standing. Isaiah 40: 30-31 tells us that “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."  There is strength in you that you may not even be aware existed.  But, you say you still need a breakthrough that is tangible.

Look for a breakthrough that may be in other areas of your life.  This breakthrough may be necessary in order for you to appreciate and maintain the desire that you are praying for. Patience attained where it didn’t exist in your life prior to the fight.  Follow through and stick to-it-ness where you might have given up and not realized what you were working toward.  Acknowledge the breakthrough.  Realizing that there is a fight left in you is a breakthrough within itself.  Being thankful and not resentful of your present circumstances is a breakthrough.  As we conquer the small battles, we move closer to the destination God planned for our lives.  With every battle, we fight, we get stronger and closer to the outcome of the plan He has for us.   He is preparing us.  (I hear Daryl Coley singing in my head.) Don’t give up the fight.  Each battle has a purpose in preparing us for the next blessing on the list God has ready for us to receive.

Daryl Coley He's Preparing Me 

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.