Joyful Living

Well, it’s been a tough few days. For me personally, filled with various emotions. I’ve been sad, angry, confused, distracted but at the same time HOPEful. That’s weird right? The death of loved ones, the pandemic and protests combined with political and social media reactions and responses have been a lot to bear. Hearts, minds and Spirits are extremely heavy. But, still I am HOPEful!

My 2020 spiritual theme was “Faith It Until You Make It”. Now, I understand why. I can’t comprehend all that is going on in the world. However, the Bible speaks to all of what we are witnessing and I shouldn’t be surprised. But, living through this as human (in the flesh) can make us weary and doubtful. It can cause us to cry out to God in anger or distress. The good thing is that you can cry out to Him in either case and He listens because He cares. That’s why I’m still HOPEful.

I know that God is very much aware of what’s going on. God is still in control and He will see us through. He said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He said they Jesus came to save and to set the captives (those oppressed) free. Nothing about God has changed. He never lies and He always comes through. Again, that’s why I’m HOPEful!

We all agree that 2020 has bought many trials and challenges. For me personally, it seems like a never ending boxing match and the breaks between rounds just hasn’t been enough to prepare for the next round. However, in “my corner” I still hear the words “Fight the good fight. You have trained all your life for this and you know that you will win!”

I don’t know which round of the match you are in, but keep fighting. The tough part is remembering to fight the good fight! We have to be reminded that God puts no more on us than we can bear and he has already given us what we need to win. When we deviate from His word, His will and His way, we start to get weak and our abilities to fight the “good” fight is comprised. We become irrational and disobedient. We start to respond and act out of our humanism and not the Spirit. The analogy to that is we stop listening to our fight coach and the guy always in our corner – Jesus and the Holy Spirit!

This week remember to fight the good fight. The needed rest and peace will come but until it does keep fighting the good fight of faith! “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

How many times have you heard the saying “There’s no place like home”?  As we heed the direction given by local and National officials to stay home during this pandemic, that statement takes on a whole new meaning.  Right now, there is really no better place I would rather be.  However, I understand that’s not the case for everybody which adds even more stress and worry to a very serious and dangerous crisis.  Your home should be a place of safety and comfort.  It should be a place in which you can be “you” without limitations.  It should be a place in which you feel the most welcomed.  A home should be a place of refuge in the times of trouble.  When that is the case, you are ok with staying home and staying still.

This week I want to remind you that we all have a home not built by man that is safe and secure.  Psalm 90 verse 1 says, “God, it seems you’ve been our home forever; long before the mountains were born, Long before you brought earth itself to birth, from “once upon a time” to “kingdom come” -you are God.”  When our heart and soul resides in and with God, we are assured a safe place.  A safe home for our souls.  It’s a place of rest.  A place of joy and a place of protection.  It makes it easier to stay home during this time of quarantine.  Remember, that home!  If you need directions or keys to that home, email or call me.  I can give you directions.  God bless!

Since we are all practicing “Social Distancing” I thought I would challenge us this week to take it to the next level. Yep, the next level. COVID-19 is making us take our health serious. We are washing our hands more, building up our immune systems, being mindful of who we come in close contact with and the list goes on and on. Keep doing those things.

Now, this is where the challenge comes in. In addition to washing your hands, use the word of God to wash your mind and heart! Mediate on God’s word to help build up your spiritual immune system so that you can fight off the effects and “infections” due to sin. Finally, draw nearer to God by spending more time in prayer.

As you distance yourself from others draw closer to God. Access to God was made safe and secure by way of Jesus. No need for social distancing from God. He desires to be as close to you as he possibly can. No hand sanitizer, no gloves or face mask required. He’s clean and virus free. God bless you and praying for everyone’s safety and health!

This weekend we “spring forward”. We turn our clocks forward an hour. Some say we lose an hour but I like to think we begin our day earlier, so we can have more time to enjoy the daylight and sunshine. The “spring forward” phrase was really created to help us remember to adjust our clock/time. To let us know it’s necessary to change the TIME!

This week I challenge you to not only spring forward by changing the time on your clock but spring forward in way you think, the way you act, in your finances, in your relationships, and on your jobs. Use this opportunity to change some things for the better. Wake up looking forward to embracing more “light” and “Son-shine” in those areas of your life. ”

Last week, I participated in a work related leadership retreat.  During the leadership retreat everyone completed a “Style Profile” assessment.  The assessment is a tool to help you optimize your business and personal relationships.  It’s designed to give you a view of how you interact in everyday situations.  I wasn’t surprised at all regarding my primary and secondary style results.  My primary style is EXPRESSIVE and my secondary style is analytic.  I believe that my family and friends would agree with the assessment as well.

As I thought about the tool and it’s purpose which was to optimize your business and personal relationship, I started thinking about how my style profile could optimize my relationship with God.  How does my expressive and analytic styles help me when interacting with God?  Does my highly assertive, transparent and very imaginative self  appeal to God?  Does my systematic, logical, or sometimes reluctant to make decisions self appeal to God?  The good news is “yes”.  Everything about me and YOU appeal to God.  Regardless of our style, God desires the most optimal (the best) relationship with you.  As a matter of fact, HE can deal with any personality style and HE can assist you in how you interact with other personalities.  Remember God created you in his image.  HE formed you while you were in your mother’s womb.  That just simple means, HE knows you/me and HE knows what HE is working with.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made!  (Psalm 139:14).  We need to embrace who God created us to be with the understanding that HE is still working on us.

If you questioning your “style profile” and how you relate to others (you may need help in optimizing some relationships), I encourage you to ask GOD to give you an assessment and to help show you how to use your style profile to interact better with HIM and others.  It can save a relationship or  help start a new one!  Hopefully, with Him! God Bless.

Love is in the air! This week we will celebrate Valentine’s Day! Whether you do or do not get flowers, a box of chocolates or some other nice surprise please remember you are loved. A part of knowing and receiving love starts with accepting that you are lovable. For many people, love is about affection or emotions. It’s something they want to feel and receive from someone (spouse, kids, parents, friends and relatives). This type of love is fluid. It can come and go and when it’s gone, some don’t feel so lovable. Then there are situations, mostly self-inflicted, that cause us to not feel lovable. I likened this to when we get upset at ourselves for not doing something or taking in negative thoughts or images of ourselves or maybe it’s when someone you love tells you that they don’t love you anymore.

Regardless of all of that, God loves you and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. He loves you when you looking your best or when you are a hot mess. He loves you when you do wrong and when you do right. His only Son loves you so much that he died for you! Let that sink in! You must be an awesome creation to have someone love you that much.

This week celebrate God’s love for you! Buy yourself some chocolates, flowers or better yet – some new shoes (Steve Madden is having a sale)! It’s so sweet to be loved by HIM! Love ya and Happy Valentine’s Day! (John 3:16 and Romans 5:8)

I’m schedule to have my annual eye exam in a few weeks.  I praying that my eyesight hasn’t gotten worst.  I really don’t want to buy any new lens/glasses.  I’m nearsighted and last year I was told I should get bifocals. Bifocals are lenses that have two focal points.  In other words it would help me with seeing things near and far.  For now, I trust in my single vision lenses but they aren’t enough.  I have to take my glasses on and off all the time which puts me at risk at losing my glasses (which I do all the time 😩).

In thinking about the work of bifocals, I started thinking about our Faith in God.  In the natural we can SEE and focus on things with our eyes which is one focal point, but in the Spirit we must rely on spiritual lenses which focuses on things you can’t SEE with your eyes but you know exist.  Those things that have been promised by God.  This could be compared to those things that are considered far way, not clearly visible but you know they exist.  

This week I challenge everyone to rely on your spiritual lenses – your Faith.  Trust in God’s promises and believe what He has told you through his word regardless of what you see or cannot see.  Ask God for a spiritual eye exam.  Let Him adjust your focus, but more importantly allow him to be your focus and your focal point.  God knows and sees all!  (2nd Corinthians 5:7 MSG Bibl

Did you know that you are special? Do you know that you were fearfully and wonderfully made? You, yes you, were uniquely designed and created with a purpose. You are needed on that job, in that family, in that community. Somebody is counting on you to show up and show out. You are somebody’s cheerleader, mentor, friend, lifeline. soulmate, encourager, confidence, strength and their alter ego! Yes, you are the bomb!! You make a difference in someone’s life and that’s why you have to keep doing you and being the very best you – you can be!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of who we are and whose we are. God created you in his image. He formed you in your mother’s womb and His divine hand was upon you from the very beginning. You are a valuable asset to God with unique gifts and talents.

As we start the new year thinking about all the things we can do better this year also embrace all the things you already do that are GREAT! Remain humble and thankful, but give God a shout out for YOU! (Psalm 139:14). God bless.

Happy New Year! It’s 2020. The beginning of a new decade. Many of us have already identified new year resolutions and goals. One that is often at the top of the list is to get healthy/fit or to lose weight. For some it’s to save money or strengthen family relationships. All of those things are good and we should set goals that will make us better inside and out. However, we should also use this time to embrace the “newness” or what is to come. Things we don’t have control over but stand ready to receive. What does that really mean? New opportunities, new friendships and new challenges. God has great things in store for you and they may not be what you write down as a priority or as a resolution. God’s plans are always the best plans and what he springs forth in your life is what will survive and grow.

I challenge everyone this year to allow God to be your new beginning everyday. This starts by seeking him first and then writing in the planner or journal. Allow God to rearrange and repurpose your will. Allow God to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you can imagine in 2020!