What happens when we move too fast?

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.(Psalm 27:14)

What happens when we move too fast?  When we become impatient with or tired of waiting on God to answer....What happens when we take matters into our own hands and think to ourselves "I know God is gonna do it but I just can't wait around and let this keep going on?  Or I just can't take it anymore so I gotta do something!"  Sound familiar to you???

Something very basic happened to me this summer and only recently, more than a month later, did I realize the connection to waiting on the Lord.  It's been years since I burned my forehead with a curling iron, but this summer on two consecutive days, I burned my forehead!  The first day it was a spot on my left side forehead and on the second day, it was the same left side but the burn was lower, right where the eyebrow ends, near my temple.  I felt like such joke being nearly 40 years old and still burning my forehead...I should be a Pro at curling irons by now...but anyway it happened :-( 

In the following days the burn darkened to a dark brown scab on each burn, which looked really unattractive to me.  So I decide that I would pick the scab off of the burn near my eyebrow, since it looked like it was getting scaly and would probably start to peel soon anyway.  I just hated the way the burns looked, I felt like everyone was looking at them and wondering what kind of 30-something fool was still burning her forehead???  So I was just beside myself and I started peeling.  When I peeled all of the scab off, the round circle left behind was about 2-3 shades lighter than the rest of the skin on my forehead...so now I'm like "Oh NOOOOO!"  It was too late, so now I had to live with an even more visible scar and answer to why I bothered the scab and look like an even bigger fool!  Well, needless to say, I left the other burn alone!  It was maybe about 4-5 days later when the scab on the second burn began to scale and fall away.  When all of the scab was gone, I couldn't even see where that burn was to begin with!  The skin under that burn blended completely and perfectly into the other skin around it.  And guess what...the other burn...that I helped along by peeling off the scab....to this day, more than a month later...has darkened but it is now darker than all the other skin on my face :-( and now I'm trying to doctor it up with cocoa butter to get it to blend in...more time and more money to spend to correct an issue that never would've occurred if I had just waited on God to heal the skin on the body that He created...hmmmmm

So this is a lesson that I've learned several times before but somehow didn't really process because if I had, I wouldn't have made the same dumb decision again...

But while the lesson is fresh in my mind, I thought I'd share it with you.  100% of the time, if we wait for God to work things out, He works them out better than we imagined...and 100% of the time, when we decide to work things out on our own because we need things to happen NOW, we mess things up and then have to suffer the consequences of our actions... because there always seems to be a consequence!  So on that note, I'm gonna head out to Target and get a cocoa butter stick so that I can try to fix this one, out of place dark spot, that is bugging the heck out of me!!!

Be Blessed :-)

Song to listen to:  "I'll Make It" - Hezekiah Walker

Just Keep Moving...

For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long, but they will produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the trouble we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

Let's not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest—if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Sometimes you just get tired!  Tired of trying.  Tired of smiling.  Tired of thinking.  Tired of wondering. Even tired of praying...

Maybe it's just me...What are we supposed to do when we become exhausted, when we feel like we have nothing more to give, nothing more to say, nothing new to pray.  What do you do when you truly just want to give up?  It seems that no matter how tired I get, I still always have hope that tomorrow could be different, that things could suddenly change even when some tomorrows look just the same as the yesterdays...

I chose two scriptures today because I've been feeling this fatigue in the last few days more than ever. What keeps me hopeful and keeps me moving and looking forward  is God's word and His promises to me and to you. The scripture says "you shall reap, if you faint not" (Galatians 6:9 KJV).  The other scripture says "the joys to come will last forever."  Because of these words, I have to believe that God is faithful and will never change His mind.  His words are true and even though right now it seems like everyday is and will be the same, that is a lie!   

I believe from time to time we all go through what I am experiencing today...fatigue...exhaustion...but there's strength in the knowledge that God understands what we feel and He desires that we not give up but continue to keep looking forward, keep trusting in His word and keep putting one foot in from of the other!  

If you're feeling like me today, meditate on God's word.  Keep reciting His words over and over and from past experience I can say that little by little your energy will increase and your hope will begin to rise and before you know it your strength and joy will be restored.  As you meditate on His words, you will begin to believe more and expect more and you will see His words become reality.  We will reap!  Don't faint and don't give up!

Song to listen to:  You Shall Reap  -Dewayne Woods

Enjoy the Gift of Today...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

 Although most of us look forward to the summer months, we also look forward to the craziness the warm weather brings.  Kids are more free and active, which means they're outdoors, running in the streets and though I haven't done the research, I believe more children get hit by cars in the summertime.  And the adults are just as free and active, drinking more at social events and taking more risks behind the wheel, in the name of having a good time and enjoying the nice weather.  All around it seems crime increases in the summer and what should be a time of joy becomes a time of worry.  Worry about your kids coming and going; worry about being at outdoor events and being in the midst of people who think shooting and stealing from others is fun; and worry that at any given moment someone in the crowd could do something or say something that could turn a warm afternoon into a crime scene.

After being away from the city on vacation for over a week, I came home to news of a woman hit and killed by a car a block away from my home; I heard about a horrific car crash involving a drunk driver that took the lives of a husband and his two young children; and a block away from my job a crazed driver hit two cars and killed a bicyclist, while trying to get away.  All of these events just tore my heart to pieces.  I had trouble being calm.  I became anxious and then fear began to set in.  I felt out of control because worry had grabbed my mind and I just didn't know what would happen next and the scariest part was wondering if something horrible would happen to me, next week, or next month.  When I became completely overwhelmed, I did the only thing I know, I got on my knees crying out to God to relieve me of the fear and heaviness.  After praying, I heard the scripture from Matthew. 6:34.  It came to me out of nowhere, then I heard it in an online sermon, and then again in something I picked up to read.  I know that God was telling me to let the worry go!  

Since then, I've felt lighter.  Are dangers still around? Yes.  Is the news still reporting death and destruction? Yes. But my response to what I see and hear has changed.  Will there be times again in the future when fear creeps up again For sure!  But if I remember to meditate on God's word everyday and look to him for peace, comfort and direction, I know he will provide.

So as we continue to enjoy this season, no matter what this evil world places before us to get us to be worried and afraid, make the choice to enjoy the sun, enjoy being outdoors, and enjoy this day and this moment that God has given.  Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow, while we enjoy today.

Song to listen to:  "How Great Is Our God" -Jonathan Nelson

Appreciate the Good Things...

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118-24)

One of the things that I love most is warm weather!  My favorite season is autumn because the temperature is perfectly in between cold and hot.  I love the breeze; the sound of the leaves brushing up against each other; and the vibrant colors of the leaves on the trees.  I also enjoy the spring and summer but these months tend to be more hot and humid, so I usually do more complaining about how hot is is during these seasons.

On my journey, there have been times when I have become fixated on all the things that are wrong instead of on all the things that are right.  It's sometimes very difficult to make a list of what's right but it's always worth the effort because turning your attention to positive things is healthier and always brings joy to your heart.  When I take the time to think about good things, I always find a smile come across my face.  Especially when I think of something funny a friend said or a joke a relative told, or something silly I saw a toddler do, I start to laugh so hard, I either cry or nearly pee on myself!  I like the feeling I get when I'm happy, when I'm laughing, and when I'm sincerely in that moment filled with nothing but joy.  God's word says "always be joyful" (1 Thessalonians 5:16).  Yes, it takes effort most times but again it's always worth it...isn't it?  There is no value in being sad, depressed, defeated or hopeless.  When you are feeling any of these emotions, you are not improving your health and you are surely not following God's word.  I am guilty of staying in those emotions too at times, and I will never ever deny that truth.  One of the reasons I started writing these blog entries was to hold myself accountable and to keep my emotions in check; it takes work!  Nothing worth having in life comes easy!  If you want better, you have to work at it!

In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed one way that God has been blessing me...the evenings have been so breezy, I almost forget that it's summer.  As small as this may seem to others, this has truly been a blessing to me.  I've spent the evenings sitting on my terrace, feet up on my ottoman, head tilted back on the cushion of my chair and just basking in the breeze.  I've been able to hear the leaves as they brush back and forth  and in these moments, I've found myself silently thanking God.  Not thanking him for a particular prayer being answered but simply thanking him for life, for the ability to feel the breeze, to see the leaves, and to experience his power.

Today, I'm choosing to be appreciative and grateful for the good things that God has placed before me. I believe that there's value in making time to appreciate things that seem small and insignificant, as you keep living to eventually see bigger things come to life.  As I'm focusing on the small blessings of today and this moment I'm feeling joy in my heart, I'm smiling and I truly believe that God is pleased!

Song to listen to "This Is the Day!" -Fred Hammond and James Fortune

Seasons Always Change...

“To everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Right now we are all pretty anxious and excited for the new summer season to arrive.  It was nice when the official start of spring came also but with that I believe that we all saw that as a short rest stop to the two months of warm, sunny weather we all look forward to during the long stretch of winter.

If we think about life as we do about the four seasons, I think we’d all be a lot more happy and hopeful.  We tend to get bogged down during those times of challenge that seem to linger on forever.  We lose hope that anything will ever change; that anything will ever truly get better.  We wonder if these moments of anguish are somewhat of a consequence for something we did wrong or even we sometimes ask God, “is this your plan for my life?”  I know for me, I rarely see hard times as moments in time, I often go to that extreme thought that “this just might be my lot in my life; my burden to bear; and maybe I was meant to suffer while everyone else enjoys the good life.  When you somehow adopt that way of thinking, it’s very hard to dispel it and reprogram your mind to move on with a more positive thought pattern. 

As I think about the scripture above it redirects my attention to what God truly wants us to focus on.  His word says that “there is a time for every purpose under heaven.” “ There is a time to weep and there is also a time to laugh.”  We have to use our energy to meditate on the fact that times change, just as seasons do.  This is God’s design, so no one bad day, bad month, bad year is meant to stay forever…that season will and MUST change.  God said it and He is still in control of all things!

When I was younger, I’d read stories and there was often a line that said “it came to pass that…”  I never knew what that statement meant until I became and adult and began to closely think about words and phrases, as I tried to find meaning in it all.  That statement is truly profound to me now though because every single thing that we face on this earth has “come to pass”, these things  did not come to stay!  If we can just hold on to that thought, I know we could be more joyful and expectant and we’d leave no room for hopelessness or despair. 

As we look forward to this year’s warmer season, lets also look forward to a new season in our personal lives and let’s go one step further and expect that the season we are entering will be filled with new answered prayers, new relationships,  and new opportunities to grow and prosper in everything we are on this earth to do! 

Song to listen to:  "Praise Him In Advance" - Marvin Sapp

When you've had ENOUGH...

"He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord, he said” (1 Kings 19:4)

Have you ever just had enough? Enough of your family, enough of your friends, enough of your job, enough of things not going as you planned, enough of trying to stay positive, enough of life itself?  Well I have and I'm, going through the motions of all of these today!  It actually started two days ago...truth be told, it's been a build up to this point but the bottom fell out two days ago.

Sometimes it seems like the harder you try to be better, and to do better, the more you get attacked or accused of the opposite.  The double-edged sword of family itself can take anyone over the cliff but I'm feeling the wrath of mine right now.  It's fortunate you have family but it's unfortunate when you can't stomach being around them.  We are all different, with our own viewpoints and issues but it's exhausting when you try so hard to put yourself aside and show love and gratitude only to be slapped across the face with their views about how bad and uncaring of a person you are...I ask God, how could I put in so much effort to show that I care and still be seen as this selfish, awful person?  It makes you feel like throwing in the towel...It makes you understand why so many people totally separate themselves from the families they are born into.  It gets to the point where ENOUGH is ENOUGH!  What about life as a whole?  When you stay in prayer; you stay battling negative thoughts with positive ones; you stay being hopeful for tomorrow, only to wake up today to the same old things, without change which makes you feel that you're traveling in circles and getting nowhere.  Maybe it's just me, maybe my life is the only one that is playing out as a losing boxing match, where I keep getting knocked down...sometimes I just wanna stay down on the mat, close my eyes and wake up in Heaven...

It helps me when I see that in the bible, over 2,000 years ago, others also felt what I am feeling today.  Others even asked God to take their life, to spare them from any more of the pain that this life brings.  The Prophet Elijah prayed that he might die; Moses told the Lord "Please go ahead and kill me!" (Numbers 11:14)  If these two holy men had such low points where they felt that death would be better than life, it helps me not to feel as guilty and it gives me strength to go on. Strength comes from knowing I'm not alone and knowing that even after such low moments, I can and will continue on.  My prayer today is that my tomorrows are better than my today...but for now I can only take it one step at a time...and believe that as God's word instructs: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

Song to listen to: "This Too Shall Pass" -Yolanda Adams

Lonely?

"You know what I long for; you hear my every sigh." (Psalms 38:9)

No matter who you are and what your relationship status is today, you've experienced being lonely. Not so long ago, I believed that I was the only one who was lonely in my world.  After several years of true soul searching, I've realized that loneliness is not simply for single people.  Some people are lonely because they are single, without a spouse; some people are lonely and married; and others are lonely even though they have children and a spouse at home.  

As a thirty-something single woman, I have gone through the heights and depths of loneliness. It wasn't until I opened my eyes and began to look outside of myself, that I found that we all struggle with these same types of feelings.  At times it's heartbreaking to get home at the end of a long day to find yourself spending a long night alone.  It can be just as heartbreaking to get home at the end of the day to a spouse and/or children who don't communicate with you or shut you out of their lives.  Whatever the situation may be, we have to remember that God has promised never to leave or forsake us.  He has promised to supply all of our needs.  And He has promised to answer us when we call on Him.  I know, I know...we can't physically touch God and when you need a hug, you cannot physically feel that closeness but I can guarantee that when you turn your focus in His direction, He will give you peace so pure that it will truly surpass your understanding.

I believe that life is made up of waves...waves of joy, waves of excitement and waves of sadness too and we have to realize moments in our lives as just that, waves of change that come in close and then die down and roll away.  When moments of loneliness seem too much to bear, remind God that He said "It is not good for man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18)...sometimes He will send a friend, sometimes He will send a spouse, sometimes He will send children, but when none of these fit the bill and you still have that longing, know that He has sent the Holy Spirit that is ever-present inside of you and that never fails in giving you the comfort and peace you need to ride the wave out.

Song to listen to:  "Jesus Is Love" - The Commodores