A While

Oftentimes we give up so easily when we encounter obstacles especially if we've tried a couple of times to overcome them. I have not written a blog entry for almost two years and could not get into the account. For the life of me I could not remember the sign in information. Tonight I decided that by the hook or crook, I will succeed and kept trying and with God's help, voila! I am in and blogging...yeahhh!!!!! Even though I am the only one reading this I am thankful for the opportunity to write ...again.

It was not that the opportunity wasn't always present, it was just that I oftentimes give p too easily and too quickly. The toughest battle to fight I think is not the one when others don't believe in you but it is the one where you don't believe in yourself. Others can see what is in you but if you do not see and not only see but accept that which is in you, it becomes a tragedy. It is so much easier to have faith in and for others but sometimes it is so difficult to believe in yourself and that which God has placed in you.

Hold on and believe in yourself even if it doesn't make sense to you. Hold on and pursue even if it is not clear. Hold on and receive because in due time you will reap the rewards but if you do not pursue and hold on without giving up, you will never be able to experience sweet victory over your fears, doubts and insecurities. Trust God more than you trust your feelings because feelings change but He remains the same, Faithful and True.

VALUE

To realize the value of a sister/brother, ask someone who doesn't have one.

To realize the value of ten years, ask a newly divorced couple.

To realize the value of four years, ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of nine months, ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second, ask a person who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member: LOSE ONE.

Remember................. Hold on tightly to the ones you love!

Success

Do you desire success? How badly do you want it? How hard are you prepared to work for it?

Do you believe that it will happen for you? Do you really believe that? Then what are you doing about it? What action are you currently involved in that reflect your belief system?

We desire so much and oftentimes are not willing to invest our time and resources to that which we so greatly desire. It is as if we are paralyzed by the "what ifs!" We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and challenge the status quo.

We can do it, if we think that we can do it! Too often the desire for success is greater than our belief in our ability to succeed. We can desire a thing and never achieve unless we are willing to pursue and win that thing.

If we truly believe that God made us with endless possibilities inside of us, we would never limit ourselves they way we do. We would rise above the mediocrity and challenge ourselves to go and to grow. Improvement requires change, change requires courage and courage requires wings to take us into our destinies. Let us do it, even if we are afraid! Nothing that moves can be stagnant. Let's move together as we pursue better!

Fear

When will we realize that anything that is really worth having is worth fighting for?

When will we realize that when we say we believe that is true, that the reality of our belief will only be known based upon what we do not just what we say?

When will we realize that oftentimes we stand in the way of our own progress when fear becomes our guide?

When will we realize that the possibilities are endless for those who chose to believe?

Why are we afraid of failure when failure does not have to be the end for us unless we choose to?

When will we realize that our most important ally or enemy is our choice?

Life and death are both in the power of our tongue, what is your choice today?

What do you desire, life or death? What was that? What did you say?

Your words outline your destiny as it frames your world.

Are we abusing our ability to speak as we open our mouths and allow death to flow forth? Death to someones dream or desire?

You are powerful!

You were built with purpose and for a purpose. There is greatness on the inside of you. You can do great things.

Believe and do and you will see.

THE SEED

Isn't it strange that mankind was impregnated with a seed from the moment we were conceived?

This seed is to become a tree in our lifetime but how many of us stifle that seed and stare it of the relevant nutrients that it needs for survival? We start out by doubting that there is anything of worth within us. So we don't look inside or consider our possibilities. We buy into the lie that we are who our external life says we are. We are who people say we are.....

What is inside of you? What is your secret dream that you would never ever utter aloud? That thing that you are afraid to even consider because it might make others uncomfortable or it makes you uncomfortable. You think that it is too small or too grand. Nothing is wasted by the one that planted the seed in you from conception. Who will you trust more? Your fears or He who knows best?

- William Burbach - For the flower to blossom, you need the right soil as well as the right seed-

What seed did God place into you (right soil)? Unfold the beauty of the flower that is within? Change! Choose to be one who thinks that everything is possible!

The light for your path is within you because God is always with you so engage Him and step forward. He has a plan for your life. Are you going to trust Him?

It is said, "The greatest journey starts with a single step" and "the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time."

It starts with a decision.

-Robert Strauss - "Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired - you quit when the gorilla is tired."

COMPLETE

Do you feel incomplete? Why do you feel that way?

What do you think is missing from your life?

Do you think that you need a man to feel complete?

Is there a huge vacuum in your life? Do you feel that God wired you for relationship and until "the one" comes into your life you will never be whole?

Is that really true? Shouldn't you be complete in yourself first?

Is it that we have been socialized from an early age to think that until we are in a fulfilling relationship with the opposite sex then we are not who we are supposed to be?

It is time for us to realize that we must be content with ourselves. How are we going to be of service to someone else while we aren't satisfied with who we are? Didn't God say that we are complete in Him lacking nothing? Is this not the truth?

Indeed, we are wired for relationship, nevertheless, until God bring our partner our way our efforts should be spent on developing ourselves and becoming complete. The thing that we desire most comes to us often times and we are unable to handle it when we get it.

We have grown up in a culture that dictates influences our desires so much that often times we don't even know the "real me". We read the romance novels and watch the movies and these creating a feed a yearning within us so strong that we walk around looking for someone to fill that space. We are afraid to be alone because we don't believe that we can live a fulfilled life without a partner. So many have just drifted through their lives for years not fully enjoying the moments they are giving because they have no one to "share it with", no man to all their own and rob themselves of the wonder that might be found in .....

The reason

"Who are you ?" There is so much more to you than meets the eye.

"Do you really believe that you deserve the best?"

"Do you believe that you don't have to settle for less than what you truly deserve?

"What is your worth?

"How valuable are you?" This question might have you asking, "Valuable to whom?"

Valuable to you. How much do you value you? What do you think about you?Do you love you? Do you treasure yourself? What is your purpose?

Simple but relevant questions. We often find ourselves defining ourselves by the standards of others, by their opinions, their desires etc One might say, "No, i don't!" but how do you allow ourselves to be treated? Are you settling in your relationships? Are you settling in life for less than you deserve? If you are, why are you doing that? What is it inside of you that is stopping you from letting go of toxic relationships? What is it inside you that is causing you to hold on to something that is dead? Why are you involved with someone else's someone? Are you living a lie? A lie is never worth it. You are more valuable than that!

Fear is one of f not the greatest obstacle that many of us face. It cripples and incapacitate us and leaves us lying in the dust of stolen dreams and lost wasted moments. Each of us have been created with all the goodness that exist and we allow life experiences to drain all of the goodness and strength out of us. I am not minimizing the horrors that some have faced and are possibly going through right now, but m question is, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to allow our lives to slip away from us? Isn't it more valuable than rubies, pearls, diamond and gold? Now, is the appointed time for us to arise!

Yes We Are

We are created in the likeness of God.

What does that mean? It means that like Him creative powers are present in us. We can speak things into existence, heal the sick, etc.

Do we really believe this? Why then do we place such limits on ourselves?

Purpose

Ladies,
Once again I celebrate life today because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. When I consider why fearfully, I realize that the creator of the human being must be reverentially feared because of the complexities involved in the creation of humans. No human being can even begin to understand the human mind nor our physical make up. It cannot be duplicated. It is said that humans use just 10% of their minds yet look at all that we have accomplished. We must fear this awesome wonder, Jehovah who made the universe and everything in it.

I am humbled by the fact that we were created with a purpose in mind. Not one of us, is here on earth, without a purpose and a destiny in place for us. We are destined for something on this earth. What is it that you were created for?

I am saddened because we continue to live lives of desperation, frustration and condemnation. We major on the minors, become overwhelmed by life and curse our very existence. If only we stay plugged in to God not for what He can give to us but because in Him lies the road map to our destinies. To be honest, many times I look to Him for the fulfillment of my plans and not necessarily for instructions to fulfill His.

When we wait for instructions, do we move when He says so, or do we operate on what we think is the right thing to do?

Are we relying on God as if our very lives depend on it? We should, because our lives depend on our relying on, trusting in and following Him!

God has a plan for our lives and I pray that our faith will keep us anchored to Him because only He has the key to unlock that which He has placed in us. It requires faith to pursue but we know that He is faithful and will not cause us to fail eternally. His destiny is sure, his plans for us are sure and His desire for us is sure and our lives in Him is secure.

Trust Him with everything that is in you and do not lean on your own understanding because He knows the path we take and he knows the plans He has for our lives. Let go of all that you are holding on to and release yourself into His hands. What better hands to be in, than the one who knows us intimately in ways that no one alive can or will. He created us for a reason and it is the fulfillment of that purpose that I am pursuing.

Let's pursue together as we journey on the road of life as sisters holding each other up as we travel along.

A New Day

Sisters, it is a new day!

It is said that the greatest tragedy is a life that is lived without purpose.

It's a new day and God is totally in control of our lives. Let us let go and let God! Let us abandon self and flow by the spirit because that is where we will find liberty.

Don't be afraid to let go and trust him because he will not let us fall!

Let us be praying for each other because each of us has some ties that needs to be loosened and some loose ends that needs to be tied!

Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going?

If we believe that El Elyon has great plans for our life, how are we living?

Check In

Hi Ladies,

Just wanted to reach out and commend you for pushing through! I know it's challenging but He is able to take us through and He is taking us through.

Remember to taste and see that the Lord is good for those who take refuge in him are blessed. Fear Him those of us who called ourselves His followers for those of us who do, will lack nothing. (SiStA TaLk paraphrase)

So warriors, we are armed and dangerous!

Women of moderation and excellence!

Day 4

Taste and see that the Lord is good and blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Refuge: to seek refuge, flee for protection, a) to put trust in (God), confide or hope in (God).

Do we escape or run away to Him for protection from all things that so easily weighs us down? Do we really place all of our hope in him? Do we really trust Him with childlike faith? Do we?

As we fast today, let the hunger pangs remind us to desire Him more than food or anything else. Let us place Him above all things. Let us desire Him with all of our being and drink of Him.

Allow our desire for more of Him take us over completely today.

He the nearer we draw near to Him the closer he will draw to us. As much of Him as we want, is available to us.

Indeed our desire for Him must surpass our desire for financial stability, god fearing spouses, physical and emotional intimacy, wonderful children, prosperity and all that comes along with that. How potent is our desire for Him? What is our greatest desire today?

As we go through the day will our focus be upon the fact that we cant wait to eat and bwoy mi stomach twisting or will our focus be, "Lord, more of your presence, more of you".Don't you feel His presence all around you right now?

Isn't it sweet to focus completely on Him today and just drink and eat of Him?

Day 3

Sisters and women of excellence, today's topic is Less Is More. Are we "eating " more than we really need? I am not just referring to food. We must be honest with ourselves and evaluate our lives. There are so many areas of excess in our lives, it leads me to ask the following questions,

1). How much are you eating (not just food)?
2). How excessive are you?
3). What area(s) of your life is out of control? and if it is, is it out of control to the Lord?

4). Are you given to gossipping about others, killing them quietly with the venom that can so easily flow from our lips?
5) How committed are you to the journey that we are on? Have you hissed your teeth thinking you are fine and don't need to be so stringent?
6). Are you treating this as a call from God or just a "thing" that you chose to do?
7). Are you anticipating the move of God that is coming and have you submitted your will to Him as it relates to this process?
8).Are you humble enough to accept correction from anyone of is it only from "certain" people?
9). Is your attitude right?
10). Do you always have to be right and do you think you are finejust the way you are?
11). Do you measure yourself and your own worth according to the standards set by others around you?
12). Does your self-esteem rise and fall with the whims of popular opinion and do you allow other people to control how you think about yourself?


Psalm139:23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I feel a storm coming and see it stirring in the horizon! and I encourage you sisters to hold on to your seat belts because the Lord will be moving and shaking us right into our destinies!Do not be afraid!
Psalm 139 17How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Sisters, I must confess that I am getting whiplash from asking myself these questions.
Remember we have committed to praying for each other and He who began the good work in us is faithful(truthful, accurate) and able to complete it.

Women Of moderation - And We Are Off!!!

And we are off!

Our kick off was great as we shared our hopes for the program. We have weighed in, tabulated, committed and have begun the journey!

It is now day 2 of pursuing excellence in becoming women of moderation and it is quite a challenge but we are in for a treat nonetheless. Yesterday was a tough one for me not because of the eating, which was our half day, but to get in my exercise so I had to use yesterday as my exercise free day. Oh my goodness!

I'm really excited about the journey that we are on. The study is tremendous and I know the results of all of our efforts will be absolutely astounding!

You ladies are absolutely wonderful and your enthusiasm infectious!

Our passage for the week is:
Psalm 34: 8 O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.(C)
9 fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.

So ladies lets continue onward reverencing and worshiping our Abba Father who has equipped us for the task at hand!

Sometimes

Unforgiveness is like an albatross around our necks which in time will pull us to the bottom of the sea. We forgive others not because they deserve it but because we deserve to be free.

Easy? absolutely not but we never know what we are made of until we are forced to make hard decisions. That which has been embedded deep within sometimes requires a great deal of "pulling" for it to come to the surface.

The pulling takes different shapes and forms but ultimately, we can end up being better off. This of course is based upon our perspective. Most of the time we focus more on the physical as if we are one dimensional beings. So if financially, or physically, or relationally things aren't going well, we see nothing to be thankful for. After all, we are seeking perfection, so we say, yet we are not willing to pay the price for that.

Whoever said if something is worth having, it is worth fighting for?

Fooled

There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” Soren Kierkegaard, philosopher

Believe

Believe in the Lord & the power of His might. Great things you can do when you believe. Hebrews 11:16 says “Without faith it is impossible to please God”. It was faith that caused Noah to build an Ark when there was no rain in sight. It was faith that caused Sarah to conceive and have a baby as an old woman. It was faith that caused Abraham to leave all that he had to go to a foreign land and settle believing that God was going to make a mighty nation though Him. Be bold and courageous. Do not be afraid because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. And, he will make a way for you (Fears – being alone, not being popular, financial instability etc)

Endurance - Never give up in spite of what you are going through. Do not allow the challenges you face to cripple you and cause you to lose hope. Use each challenge as stepping stones. Do not settle for less than you deserve because you were made in the image and likeness of the God who created the universe and all that is within it.

Limitations – Remove all limitations which you have placed on the Lord by placing them on yourself. There are no limits with God because HE is ALL powerful and mighty. Remove the limitations that you have placed on yourself. . If you think you can, you will. Once you believe that you can then nothing can stop you. Reach beyond the limits!

Inquire of God and He will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know about. He said He is your guide and He will lead you beside still waters and restore your soul. You might feel beaten up by circumstances beyond your control, you have so, much on your mind but trust Him, talk with Him and He will answer you.

Experience God through obedience of His word,. Call upon Him and He will answer you. He said that those who seek him will find Him and He is rewards those who carefully & consistently seek him. Do you want wisdom? Ask. Knowledge, self control, confidence? Ask believing that He is going to answer and look for the answer, and Act. Expect Him to answer you and do not give up when it seems that your answer will not come. Daniel fasted and prayed about some things for 21 days……

Victory- A life lived with total confidence in God is a victorious one. Your belief will be evident as you live daily and make choices based upon God’s directions. How will you know what He’s saying? Through reading the Word of God, the Bible.

Encouragement – be encouraged and do not be dismayed because God has begun a good work in you and He is faithful to complete it. He has not and will not give up on you and I challenge you not to give up on Him. Remember He love each of you so much that He gave His only son to die for you in order to give you a chance.

What are you saying?

(Today i am listeing Leslie Venick speak)

What am I saying to myself?

Healthy self esteem & self image is thinking true about oneself. Our thoughts influences our feelings.

Emotions are the body's reaction to our thoughts. We can't change our feelings directly but when we change how we think, we then change how we feel.

Proverbs18:21 "Life and death is in the power of the tongue..."

We all talk to ourselves. There is always internal dialogue going on. What are you telling you?

Are we promoting the negative within us and minimizing the positive?

Phillipians 4: 8 says
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Who knows the way I take but God alone!

Who knows the way I take but God alone!
Fifty people can look at your life, or my life,
and in their mind believe
they know all the answers,
and each will have a different answer,
but God says,
He alone knows the way that I take,
or that you take.

There will always be judges
sitting in the grandstands,
but as a child of God
we only have one Judge.
And He is able to judge according
to righteousness and mercy.
He sees all our yesterdays,
He sees the moment,
and He sees all our
tomorrows.

Our Father looks at the intent of our heart.
So, if and when, you find yourself in the hands of many judges, take heart,
don't let their opinion break your spirit,
for you have the Holy God
who searches depths no finite mind
can comprehend.
God, will always and forever bring good out of the bad events
or circumstances of our lives.

This is when we must trust God and not lean on our own understanding.
God is God!
He will never allow
His children to suffer without
a higher purpose to accomplish.

We must never forget this.
Our Heavenly Father hears our silent cry!
He will never ignore you or pass you by.

His timing is always perfect,
He will not fail you!!

Why

What is it that causes us to not value who we are as women?

Why do we allow ourselves to be taken for granted, disrespected and devalued yet still maintain those relationships?

What causes us to value ourselves so little and yet value others more, even those who are not worthy of the esteem we place on them?

Why do we trust others so easily and ourselves so little?

Why do we know better yet not do it?

Why do we settle into or for something even when it is killing us steadily on the inside?

Why are we afraid of letting go?

If we do, what do we have to lose?

When you feel you can't trust yourself, who can you trust? Who do you trust? Who should you trust?

Are we to accept everyone who comes along and show interest in us?

Are there people in our lives who are diversions?

Have we given people positions in our lives that they were not meant to have and as a result chaos ensues and we end being confused and fearful?

Are we present as we live daily lives or are we just existing?