Tag Archives: LIFE

The Power Of A Thought

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One word that comes to mind is “THINK”,  which means:
*to have a particular opinion, beliefs, or idea about someone or something

*direct ones mind toward someone or something, uses one’s mind actively to form connected ideas
*call something to mind, remember *imagine
When you think about certain people or certain things it causes a reaction good or bad. For example, when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he’s done for me my soul cries out Hallelujah. Just that thought could cause me to go into shout or a praise. It will cause my hands to go up, it may even cause tears to fall from my eyes. Like wise if I think of someone who has hurt me and I am not fully healed it may bring up pain, anger or take me into a not so good place.   Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”
What ever you keep replaying or rehearsing in your mind becomes a part of who you are. You give it power and cause it to come alive as that one thought can control or consume your life. You have power to take control over the thoughts that go on inside your mind. Once your thoughts enter into your heart it then produces into your life. Take control of them before they take control over you.

Pressing My Way Wednesday

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John 10:10

“The theif cometh not, but for to steal, kill and destroy; I came that they might have life, and may have it abundantly”

When you look at the anatomy of an egg it has 8 layers.  The outer layer which is it’s shell protects you from getting to the inside of it.  In order to get to the inside you would have to literally break it open.  Though it’s outer shell can become cracked it can still stay in tack due to the layers that is underneath it’s shell. Even if the egg becomes broken it can still be used.  When an egg is boiled it increases the strength in the layers of the egg and makes it even harder for you to get into.  Even if you crack the egg you still have to peel back it’s shell and break into it’s other layers before you could ever get to the center of the egg.  The enemies job is to keep what’s on the inside of you from growing and being produced. In order for him to even destroy what’s on the inside of you he would have to breakthrough the many layers of you which is your mind, your heart and break your spirit. He knows if you ever produce what is on the inside of you his kingdom would be destroyed.  The more that you strengthen your inner man it becomes harder for him to break through in your life. A long this journey you may become cracked, but  it is from the cracks in life that we draw strength and builds up our resistance.  In time all wounds heal.  Though they may leave a scar it is an outward testimony that you survived and have overcome a fall.  The thing about the fall is that you may have become cracked, but your not easily broken.

It’s Only An End To A Beginning

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In every story book there is a beginning and there is an end. In every story there is usually more than one chapter and with every chapter one is ending and a new one begins; however, there are times when the next chapter will be continous from the previous chapter, but yet no two chapters are ever the same.  There are some chapters that you may experience the joys and sorrows, the heartaches and pains. It will sometimes make you happy, laugh or cry and at times you may become angry. No matter the roller coaster of emotions you may experience through out the story if it is something that has grabbed your attention normally by the end of the story you would say, “Now that was a good book”. The only difference in the books that we read and our life story is that it’s true and we are the author of what we write.  Have you ever been reading a book that the chapter (s) were so good  that you had to go back and read it again? Or maybe it made you feel some kinda way, maybe you lost interest and were unable to move past where you were. We can become this way in life that we become stuck at the beginning and we are unable to make it to the end.  We can tend to focus only on the bad things  with in our life story that we forgot about all the good things that have happened or we have experienced that should be able to give us lasting memories,but we allow our worst days to be what’s lasting in our thoughts. God has so much more in store for us if we we could only change our frame of mind.  As we continually grow and if we are wise we are able to continually build upon each one and turn our chapters around.  Everyone may not know the details of our story but they will be able to see it through our lives.  Though that chapter in your life has ended  new life is beginning and the story continues. As you began again flip the page “WHAT’S COMING IS BETTER”

What’s Coming Is Better

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As I reflect back on this year so far with it only being the second month of the New Year what a journey it has already been. A lot of people have experienced the bliss and prosperity of what a New Year can bring while some of us have went into the New Year hurting, experiencing some type of pain, disappointment, frustration or a broken heart due to the loss of a loved one(s), a loss of a job, a relationship of some kind has ended or maybe you are fighting for the life of a child. I can guarantee that whatever you maybe experiencing that most of them were unexpected and they came out of no where. For me and I’m sure like many others of you had your goals and plans already set as you were preparing yourself for what you thought was coming next, but then the unexpected happened that caused your life to somewhat shift. I felt my life falling apart in some areas, but  as I began to pull myself together I felt my life coming together in others. After the shock of it all I began to shift my focus and I refused to give up. My mind went back to when I was 17 and I felt like there was no hope for me, that my life was over. So I decided and had made up my mind that day to end my life. I went into my father’s room and stood in his bedroom with the gun that I got out of his drawer and pointed it at my head. I was ready to pull the trigger and then I heard this still small voice say, ” I have better for you.” I kept questioning this voice that kept reasoning with me to make me believe that what’s coming is better. I am now almost 42 years old and though in my life I have had to face many challenges it has been better and yet where I am today is not my final destination it is only apart of my itinerary. Joel 2: 25 says, “And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworms, and the caterpillars, and the palmer worms, my great army which I sent among you.” I said all of that to say this, though the fight has been great God is greater than anything you may face and His grace is sufficient for you. You might not be able to understand it, able to explain it or even see your way out of it at this moment, but allow your faith which sees beyond where you are right now and know that what’s coming is better. Take your focus off of where you are now and invision where you want to be. It won’t always be like this God will perfect that concerning you and sooner or later it will turn in your favor, is turning around for you.

Under Construction

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Every morning I drive my girls to school which is about a 2 hour commute each day.  One morning on the way to taking them to school one of my girls said, “Moma how long are they going to be building on this highway. It seems like it is taking forever and now the road is all curvy and I don’t like that” I laughed because that just came out of no where and her expressions were so serious.  I responded to her by saying, I’m not sure how long it might take.  Sometimes it may take awhile depending on what they are trying to accomplish. This is a major highway and they can’t close it completely down so they have to do it in stages.  She then went on to say, I’m just ready for them to get it over with. All I could do was agree with her. They were currently making 4 lanes on both sides of the highway to help elevate heavy traffic.  They added a bridge on one side, but in order for them to work on the other side they had to change the direction in which we would normally go. This is what my daughter was experiencing and was having to adjust herself from what she was use to.  The constructors put up all kind of warning signs, flashing lights and clear directions prior to coming to it. This is so that you will know that you are approaching an area where there is construction and you are about to experience a change in the road pattern that you will need to drive with caution.  I remember when we first had to experience this, I like my daughter  didn’t like it either. After awhile I adjusted to the change even though I still may not have been completely comfortable or ok with it. I didn’t like what I was experiencing, but I realized it was necessary.  It is amazing the constructions that I have seen whether a highway, intersection, a house or a building and although while during the beginning stages you wouldn’t understand the reason or could only imagine what it would look like at the end.  Once the construction was over and it was clear to access, what you saw was more than what you expected. Even still you would have to enter with caution because it was a new area or surrounding that you would have to adapt to the change. God has away of doing just that.  He will redirect your life and sometimes it is without warning or notice.  It makes absolutely no sense at the time especially when you are fine where you were.  You could be at the point of what you call arrival and then here comes the signs, the signals, the lights that will let you know that your direction is changing.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes when that happens to me I’m kicking, screaming and having my tantrum like God haven’t I been through enough already. I can see God looking at me with his arms folded saying, “Okay are you done now”  Sometimes the reason for the construction in our life is because there are still some places in us that need to be healed, things we still need to learn before entering our next season or there could simply be things in us that God is trying to bring out.  No matter what it maybe are we willing to go through the process to become better. We never know how long it may last or take, but it is necessary.  He knows the plan for our life and all we have do is trust him and follow his lead.  When we turn the construction of our life over to God, he always builds something beautiful.    Phillipians 1:6 “Being confident of this, that he who has began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” The best of you is yet to come.

This Too Shall Pass

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It was in 2005 that I was boarding a plane for the very first time in my life.  I was starting a new job as an Office Coordinator at a Home Care Agency.  They were sending me to Philadelphia  for a weeks training.  I was excited about this new opportunity and going to see a place that I had never been before, but at the same time I was nervous because I had never been on a plane and  I had never gone that far away from my family.  As me taking this job it was mandatory for me to go to this training, so I had no choice.  I gave my family big hugs and kisses and I went through the process of checking in.  Everyday that we leave our homes we take the chance of something happening, but I trusted God to take care of me and my family while I was away.    People told me of some of the things that I need to expect while I was on the plane, but not to worry that it was only temporary and that I would be fine.  Before we were getting ready to take off the flight attendant came on the intercom and gave us our instructions and what we needed to do in case of an emergency.  As the plane started down the runway for clearance it began to pick up speed and then it took off.  It went so fast up into the air it felt like I was on a roller coaster ride as my stomach dropped.  I tried to appear as if I had it all together, but on the inside I was about to fall apart.  As we went higher into the air the plane started shacking. This must be that turbulence that they were talking about that I would experience and it didn’t feel good.  The first thing I thought was ok God I’m not ready to die yet, but then I remembered that they told me that this would only be temporary.   As we hit our climax the plane began to level out and the turbulence began to subside and it was smooth sailing from there on out.  I was sitting near the window and as I began to look out  I could see the wing of the plane, the sun trying to peep through the clouds that looked like snow.  There was this sudden since of peace that came over me that allowed me to lay back and enjoy the rest of my flight.  As we were coming close to our destination the flight attendant got back on the intercom to give us landing procedure and instructions. All of a sudden you could hear the wheels come out and then the plane began to go in a downward speed. You felt this bump as we landed on ground and the plane began to decrease in speed as it went down the speedway. The flight attendant came back on one last time and announced that we had reached our destination and gave us our final instructions. Crazy thing about this now is that I love to fly.  I was having dinner with a friend several days ago and in our conversation she asked me the question will we always have to go through.  I responded unfortunately yes, we will until the day we die, but we have this hope in Jesus Christ that no matter what we go through he will always be with us to help us through it.  1 Peter 1:7 “The trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried in the fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory  at the appearing of Jesus Christ”  The trials and tribulations that we experience in life are building something in us and through us that it maybe used for his glory and for the up building of his kingdom.  That was something she didn’t really want to hear.  I went on to encourage her that whatever God allows to happen in our life is for a reason and though we may not understand it at the moment he will reveal it in time. I got home that night and received an unexpected call and now I am having to walk out what I just encouraged to her.  The news was devastating, in fact heartbreaking.  So here I found myself going through a storm.  The pain was so great that I found it hard at times to even gather myself.  I tried to look from the beginning until now and I still couldn’t find the answers and understand in fullness of why this was happening.  All I knew is that my heart was attached and now it is breaking.  I did the only thing that I knew to do which was to get into the presence of God.  As I began to focus more on Jesus Christ he began to give me some peace and helped began the process in the healing of my heart. Though the tears still fall and the pain has not ceased as I start to refocus and began again the pain that I once felt is starting to subside. The turbulence that you are experiencing while riding through the storm is only temporary and God can still give you peace in the midst of it.  No matter how great the storms that you may find yourself in storms come not to stay, but they come to pass.

Sure Foundation

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As someone who has had a first hand experience in building a home I now know the importance of a sure foundation.  Before a house or any can be built the foundation has to first be established. The height and depth of the foundation is based upon the size of the building, the level of the land and the location so it will be able to hold it’s structure.  Also it has to be at a certain height in case of any weather emergencies within that area that it wouldn’t bring more damage to the home itself.  The foundation was laid and the cement was poured. Once it had dried they then placed anchors around the foundation to help secure the frame of the home.We first started by building the outside walls which were the lining the foundation of the home. Each wall had to be put up individually as their measurements were different and we also had to make sure that they were level before securing them into the cement.  In doing so this will insure that everything is  level and it doesn’t throw everything else off as we are building the rest of the home.  What an amazing feeling to put up that first wall of my home.  As we progressed on there were times that some where we were off in our measurements and our levels. Depending on how major it was either we had to take some of it down and replace it or we had to improvise to make it level out.   What really helped us along the way was the fact that we had a blue print to follow by which gave us the measurements. The some what disadvantage to us is that we don’t have access to the blue print of our lives.  The only one who has access to that is God, which is not always easy to follow.  Sometimes in life we want to go our on way, do our own thing that we loose our vision, stray away from God’s plan for our lives which then causes us to make a wrong turn or get lost within our travels. There are times when we may have to start over because of our wrong choices and decisions, but I found out right before the start of this New Year that we don’t always have to start over but we can take all of our hurt, pain and our life experiences good and bad to use as a foundation to build upon and start right where we are.  With every experience in our life it is teaching us something that will help us in our next season.  The good news for those that are God’s children is that even when we get off track  he has left us instructions which is his word and it he has left the Holy Spirit that will lead us along the way.  It is up to us to continue to follow his plan even when we can’t fully see our way or understand what he is doing.  Just like in building that home we had to trust and follow the blue print and even when we would get off track the contractors were there to steer us back into the right direction.  “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”  Any relationship that we are building in life we have to make sure that our foundation is sure so that when the storms of life come, which they will that it isn’t easily moved or destroyed.  Even when everything around us seems to be falling apart we are still standing because our foundation is sure.

Don’t Jump

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She was standing at the edge of the cliff trying to tell herself why she had no reason to live but something said,
DON’T JUMP
She said to herself, will anyone really miss me, will they even notice that I am gone? She heard that voice again,
DON’T JUMP
She started to step back away from the cliff and she turned around to see if anyone was there but she saw no one.She turned back around and started back towards the cliff.
She then began to wonder how far down would she have to fall before she died and as she started to step off the cliff ìt was as if something grabbed her and pulled her away, but when she opened her eyes she saw no one. Scratching her head as if to be puzzled she realized it was God telling her to LIVE.
Though I wasn’t physically at the cliff, ìt was as if I had been there for real but the Lord saved me just in time.
I was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, married with kids, but still felt like my life wasn’t worth living.
How do we get so down in life that we feel like dying would be the easiest way out.
We allow the pressures of life, people and our own self images of ourselves play over and over again in our heads. That moment seems to last forever.
That was years ago, but I made the decision to LIVE instead of die.
It hasn’t been easy,but I take it one day at a time and I trust God and his leading.
When I changed my way of thinking it changed my perspective, so no matter what I went through or had to endure I knew God would be with me through it all.
When I think about how God gave his only begotten Son that I could live and to know that I could live in peace and walk in freedom and total victory makes my life worth living.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He live all fear is gone
Because I know, I know, I know who holds my future
And life is worth the living just because He lives
#CLEANTHISHOUSE

Stop The Cycle

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Break Every Chain by Tasha Cobbs

One day my two smallest girls had gotten into an argument and my baby girl started yelling and stormed up to her room. At that moment I had a fast forward picture of an older version of me and I heard the Lord say stop the cycle. To myself I said we are going to stop this now because she will not wait until she is my age to learn how to communicate and express herself correctly. So I called her back downstairs and I asked her what happened and to talk to me about how she feels. She immediately began to cry. I told her that I’m not fussing and that we are going to do whatever it takes to walk through this process. It was ok for her to feel the way she felt and what she had to say was important, but it wasn’t ok in how she responded. I would sometimes have problems with communicating what I felt and wanted to say so in my frustration I would not think what I had to say was important so I wouldn’t say it, I would hold it in until I exploded and 9 out of 10 it was on the person who didn’t even deserve it. Because I had no one to help me through it, it became and formed other unhealthy habits that became worse as an adult. They say that some habits are hard to break, but every cycle can be broken. A lot of it was learning how to forgive, let go and how to effectively communicate. I explained to my daughter why it was important and that I didn’t want her to wait until she was an adult to learn what she can now. It’s just like a hamster who get’s up on the wheel and once it learns how to make it turn it continue’s the cycle. It may occasionally stop and get off, but it will get back on it because overtime it became a habit and that was all it had been shown. Until it learns something better it continues the cycle. In life we continue the same cycles because it’s all we’ve known, been shown or we didn’t learn from the time before. We have the power within us to break every cycle that has been handed down to us through generations or things we have picked up over the course of our life. Just like the hamster we can get off the wheel at any given point, but it’s up to us to make the choice to stay off the continued cycle and form a more positive habit that will cause us to live a long and healthy life. The question is are we willing to do what it takes to break every chain? #CLEANTHISHOUSE