Balance – Silence

We had a bible study with some of the ladies a few weeks ago on balance in our lives and areas where balance is crucial. 

Reflecting on the ‘What is your motive?’ blog : Don’t allow your silence to be used as an excuse to avoid areas God is trying to get you to address. 

Silence is an indication of strength but used in the wrong way can actually reflect weakness or disobedience.(I’m thinking of Jonah, God told him to speak on somethings to a people Jonah didn’t want to talk to). 

Pray for wisdom and discernment. 

Balance is key in every area ofour lives. 

Scripture Reference:

Jonah 1:1-3

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What is your motive?

It was not until I could truly receive what God’s Word said about me. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” ‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Only then can you release the dysfunction attached to your life.

Why commit, hold on to that which no longer serves where you are going?
I’ve come to realize that some do not know who they are without the dysfunction or the pain. They know how to operate in their weakness. They can not identify who they are as whole individuals.

 
They say to themselves:


Why get rid of the hurt when I know how to curse people out when they cross me?


 Why can’t you accept what it looks like when you can walk away – knowing that silence represents strength. It takes strength to hold back something that is untamed. 
You are actually weak when you ‘can’t control’ your emotions. 


You really are scared of what it looks like when people ‘cross’ you and you don’t respond negatively. 


Why accept a good guy, when I know how to function with the guy who cheats on me? Why do I love the abuse of his brokenness that leaves me crying every time he shows who he really is?

They should really be asking themselves:

Did God tell me to connect to that person in the first place?

Am I trying to play God? Am I trying to fix him? 

You really want someone to fix you, not give up on you. Or do you feel better thinking you ‘made’ him better?     Like he’s a project. 

You are not and can not be God to him. You can’t even be God to your self.  Let God be God.

 Pray for maturity, strength, wisdom, courage and revelation of His Word in your life. 🙏🏾

What’s the Issue?

It could be you……

Professionally and Spiritually, I’ve learned that part of the key to success is being able to accept and process the difficult things about ourselves or those we surround ourselves with.

Look at the differences between what we consider good people (or leaders) and bad people (or leaders).

We learned in, Chosen with Esther Devotional – Day 3 and many other areas in the bible where the root of a person’s demise begins.  King Xerxes surrounded himself with ‘Yes people’ because he did not want to hear the truth about his decisions and actions.  They did everything to keep him happy, even when it was not for his benefit.

Their desire to keep him happy eventually changed and could have had detrimental effects to not only his kingdom and everything he worked for but also his life.  He had to shift and listen to wise counsel.

How many times has God tried to tell you something that you just ignored and turned to what felt better?

If you find yourself stagnant or in the same cycle or surrounded by people who are not moving forward?  Consider the fact that you could have dismissed wise counsel.  You rejected the words that hurt (though there were good intentions), counsel that did not match the direction you thought you knew.  

I’ve learned that successful people (present and in scripture) with purpose, direction and relationship of their true calling will not sit around to keep telling you something God has tried (or already) spoken to you.  Matthew 10:14 says ‘If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.’ (You may also reference Mark 6:11)

Excerpt from Chosen with Esther Devotional – Day 3:

  • What voices have you surrounded yourself with?
  • Can the people in your life tell you difficult, uncomfortable things?
  • Or have you groomed your relationships to only tell you what you want to hear?

Book: Chosen with Esther by David Ramos

Let this be your prayer: 

“God I want to be whole – well in my body, mind, will, emotions and spirit.  You have given me Your word precisely so that it could shape my life.  You will provide wise counsel and individuals to support my growth in You.  Help me to listen even when it is difficult.  In Jesus Name. Amen”

Would you believe me?

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Would you you believe me:

If I told you I was born to drug addicted parents?

If I told you, my parents did not graduate high school and were unmarried teenagers when they had me?

If I told you my life was set up to fail?

If I told you the dysfunction I was born into?

If I told you, I repeated the cycle and had my son at 17?

If I told you, I use to wear hand me downs until I was old enough to get my own job?

If told you, I grew up in the roughest neighborhoods in Boston?

If I told you, I ran with friends that sold drugs, carried weapons and destroyed people’s lives?

If I told you, I lost friends, some really close friends, to gang violence and jail?

If I told you there was a period in life, I was going to a funeral every month?

If I told you, one of those funerals had an infant casket?

If I told you, I would never wear skirts and my favorite clothes was timberland boots, baggy jeans and oversized shirts?

If I told you, I never liked attention or how I looked?

If I told you, for a short time living with one of my parents, I use to hide my money and jewelry?

If I told you, I didn’t celebrate graduating high school but was glad to not be a victim of the street?

If I told you, I  ran the streets with a group of girls fighting rivals?

If I told you, I had anger issues?

If I told you, I almost went to jail (posted on the wall while they searched my car)?

If I told you, college didn’t seem like a possibility?  I was just glad to survive.

If I told you, I ran into a crack house to ‘rescue’ one of my closest friends?  Her mom called me – scared for her daughter’s life and I went straight to the projects (by myself) to find her.

If I told you, I never had my own room until I moved on my own?

If I told you, that son I had was never suppose to walk?

If I told you, I lived in the hospital for two months while that son recovered?

If I told you, I moved away (as soon as I could) out of concern for my son being caught in crossfire?

If I told you, I was so depressed I went from a size 6 to size 0 in three months?

If I told you, I could not even get out of bed for almost a year?

If I told you, they prescribed me tons of medication?

If I told you, the doctors said I would never recover but to hope for some sense of function?

What if I told you, I not only recovered but I prospered beyond anyone’s expectation in every area of my life? Exceedingly, Abundantly, Beyond what I could ask or think.

Babe and I

Would you believe if I told you that was the woman you see?

One word from God – shift my entire world and none of what happened could change the trajectory He would send me to.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

This is not just something I do, my life is Ministry.   You can’t tell me Nothing!!

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

 

My testimony – ‘Reckless Love’ by Steffany Gretzinger | Bethel Music

My confession – ‘Bless Up’ by Koryn Hawthorne

 

 

 

Don’t Go Back!!

Do you want to be made whole?  Do you desire the things of God, even if it requires you to let things go that have been apart of your life for so long?

We sometimes say, this is who I am…..But is it really?

“Do you want to get well?” – John 5:6b 

Inspiration (Listen below):

 


Meditate on the words of this song:

Song: Light the Way by Phil Thompson

Scripture references:

John 5

John 9:2-3 NIV

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Romans 10:17 in the NKJV and NIV

Phillipians 4:9

Lamentations 3:24 NIV

1 Peter 5:9 NIV

They just keep testing me….

It is important that you are not deceived.  You must know God’s Word and what He says and know His instructions to YOU.

“Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” – Luke 8:48 NIV

Inspiration (Listen below):


***Movies referenced are listed here below (after the scriptures) – select the link***


Meditate on the words of this song:

Song: You Know My Name ft. Jimi Cravity by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Scripture references:

Proverbs 4:23 NIV       Galatians 5:1

2 Peter 1:3                      Luke 8:43-48

Romans 8:11                 Hebrews 12:2 NKJV  

Luke 10:19                      John 16:33

1 Thessalonians 1:5           Philippians 4:8b NLT

Jeremiah 1:5                     James 1:12 ESV

Genesis 3:1                         Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV

2 Corinthians 2:9-11         Psalm 1:1-2 GNT

Revelation 12:9

John 8:44b NLT

Matthew 4:1-11

John 8:36


Movie Reference:

God’s Not Dead

God’s Not Dead 2

The Shack

How do I encourage myself?

Are you waiting for some things to break through in your life?  Are you becoming weary or discouraged? This is your confirmation.  God has more for you!  Do not give up, God is with you!

Inspiration (Listen below):

Meditate on the words of this song:

‘Oceans’ by Hillsong

 

Scripture references:

1 Samuel 16

Romans 8:28

Deuteronomy 28:9-14

1 Peter 5:9

 

Relationship is Key!

“I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” – John 10:10b GNT


In this walk with Christ, in this journey to transform to who your were destined to be,  relationship with Him is crucial.

It will make all the difference.  Imagine going on a road trip with no map or directions.  It would not be fun or enjoyable at all.

At least if you get lost along the way or hit roadblocks, the trip is not as draining or devastating if you have someone or something that can tell you the way.

In this journey, YOU WILL HAVE tests (with or without Christ’s help).  Your relationship will make the difference.

When you are challenged, whether from the outside or within yourself, in what God thinks of you – relationship with Him will overcome any doubt.

Think of your (REAL) friends/family that you can really count on.  Even if they are not always there or you don’t understand what they are doing, you trust their judgement because you have relationship, a history with them.  So even if you hit a snag in the relationship or you don’t agree on something they did, you won’t just throw away your relationship over what you thought they should have done.  Or vice versa.

When YOU have TRUE relationship with someone,  no one can tell you what that person thinks of you.   They may be able to confirm it or give you their perspective but YOU know.   Better yet, if they write you a letter – YOU can interpret what they meant and what their intentions were behind that letter.  You won’t need to confirm with someone else on what YOUR friend was saying to you.

I hope this message blesses you and reminds you of what you already have or should strive for in Christ.

 

What about Me?

Are you frustrated?  What do you do when you feel like you have nothing left to give?  What should you do when you feel empty or stretched?

What does God say?  Where is He?

I pray this word gives you the strength you need to push through and achieve God’s plan and purpose for your life.  My hope is the Lord surrounds you with people who can build you up as you progress in your journey.

Inspiration:

 

Meditate on the words of this song:

So Will I’ by Hillsong

Scripture references:

Isaiah 55:8-9

Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 11:28 AMP