If you have ever found yourself, or are currently in, a season of struggle, frustration, discouragement, ready to throw in the towel... this is for you.
"I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain't been answered yet
I know you're feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain't over yet, ain't over yet so
Move, keep walkin' soldier keep movin' on
Move, keep walkin' until the mornin' comes
Move, keep walkin' soldier keep movin' on
And lift your head, it ain't over yet, ain't over yet"
Those are lyrics from a song by Toby Mac, "Move (Keep Walkin')". If you'd like to listen to the whole thing, HERE is the link.
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If you have ever found yourself, or are currently in, a season of struggle, frustration, discouragement, ready to throw in the towel... this is for you.
Those seasons of life are normal. You need to be present in them, feel them, work through them... these are the seasons where you can pitch your tent, but DO NOT build your house! That is not where you are meant to live.
Those seasons will grow you, strengthen you, and prepare you for what's ahead.
Those seasons will grow you, strengthen you, and prepare you for what's ahead.
"If you could see how close you are to a life altering breakthrough, You would be praising Me already."
God is working. God is moving. God is doing His thing.
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If you have ever found yourself, or are currently in, a season of struggle, frustration, discouragement, ready to throw in the towel... this is for you.
"Praise Him in advance.
"Praise Him in advance.
Praise Him destitute.
Praise Him weary.
Praise Him broken.
Praise Him frustrated.
Praise Him hurting.
Praise Him until your heart breaks.
And watch the heavens unfold in your favor."
Praise is what keeps you moving.
Praise is what brings down the walls.
Praise is what carries you through to the next season.
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Friend, this is for you today.
God is not done with you yet. MOVE, keep walking!
"Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune or temporary defeat."
Here's a link to a short video where I dig a little deeper into this (and get a little fired up!).
Until next time... BLESSINGS!
Happy Wednesday, my friend!
I decided to switch things up a bit today and give you the chance to actually here my voice... if you want to listen.
I decided to switch things up a bit today and give you the chance to actually here my voice... if you want to listen.
I had such a great chat with an amazing friend this week over in FB world, and instead of trying to type up a transcript, I thought I would just share the recording.
If you are a plant-lover, you will love some of the analogies that are used here in reference to plants getting root bound when they outgrow their container and how that can cause them to stop growing. It is necessary to be transplanted into a more spacious container if you want to see that plant continue to grow and thrive. But that processes isn't always fun... oh, I don't want to give it all away... my typing doesn't even convey half the message, you just gotta listen and be blessed!
I am not up on all this techy stuff yet, so hopefully you can see it below and just click to listen, but if not CLICK HERE for the direct link.
Here are direct links to the groups that we mentioned if you want to check those out too...
Until next time... blessings!
Did you ever play this game as a kid (or maybe even as an adult)?
You are just going along your merry way, you have almost made it to the finish line, that 100 square with the big ribbon on it is in sight... and all of the sudden you hit a chute! Just like that, you find yourself all the way back to the bottom of the board. You are crushed, devastated, ready to give up because the board is filled with so many chutes you wonder if you will ever be victorious.
Such is life, right?
We find ourselves just going along our merry way... then BAM! Tragedy strikes, sickness is diagnosed, a job is lost, the stock market crashes, the economy is turned upside down, bills aren't getting paid... you have hit a chute and it sends you spiraling to the bottom of the board.
So what are you going to do?
Become frustrated because it feels like you are faced with so many obstacles?
Wallow there because you know more problems are waiting?
Determine that there is no point in trying again?
OR... grab a ladder and climb out!
Oh the joy that comes when you land on a ladder... you are at the lowest of lows, there are so many squares on the board and so many chutes that you need to get by, right? But then, one spin of the spinner lands you on the biggest ladder on the entire board and you climb all the way to the top. Oh, glorious day!!
You have the ability, with God's help, to shift your perspective and climb the ladder!
See, when you encounter a problem, it does not have to send you into a downward spiral. That is what happens when we are not being good stewards of our mind and we allow the problem to consume us instead of focusing on the solution.
Immediately, look up. Ask God to allow you to see this problem from His perspective. What is the end result that can only be reached by walking this particular road? Oh my, when we can take that high road and look at things from above, we quickly realize that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:16
(Ok, wait... let's be real... we may not quickly realize that truth, but it is possible to eventually be able to recognize the good, see the light, and find the purpose.)
Yes, you will be faced with difficulties and challenges.
Yes, you will hit chutes in this life that will send you spiraling.
Yes, you will find yourself being blindsided with trouble.
On these days, look to Jesus and affirm your trust in Him.
Yes, you will have days when life is good.
Yes, you will have moments when problems are absent.
Yes, you will experience times of victory.
On these days, rejoice and thank Him continually.
No matter if you find yourself at the bottom of a chute or the top of a ladder, always keep your eyes on the prize, the end goal, the hope of Heaven.
Until next time...
Until next time...
Blessings!!
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If you are looking for support and encouragement, and a group of like-minded women looking for the same, you are welcome in Guarding the Gate. We are getting ready to embark, together, on a 30-Day Transformation Challenge to take back control of our days and shift our focus. Find us HERE, the gate is open for you, friend!
Hey Friend,
Are you an 'early to bed early to rise' kinda person, or a night owl who has a hard time crawling out of bed in the morning (or afternoon)?
I have never really been a night owl, but also not a super early riser until the last few years.
I stumbled upon this book called 'The Miracle Morning' (ever heard of it? read it?) and it had me intrigued. I don't want to spill all the beans, so let me just share with you the blurb from the back cover...
"What if you could miraculously wake up tomorrow and any - or every area of your life was transformed? What would be different? Would you be happier? Healthier? More successful? In better shape? Would you have more energy? Less Stress? More Money? Significantly better personal and professional relationships? Which of your problems would be solved?
What if I told you that there is a 'not-so-obvious' secret that is guaranteed to transform any - or literally every area of your life, faster than you ever thought possible? What if I told you it would only take 6 minutes a day?
Enter the Miracle Morning. What's now being practiced by thousands of people around the work could perhaps be the simplest approach to creating the life you've always wanted. It's been right there in front of us, but this book has finally brought it to life.
Are you ready? The next chapter of your life - the most extraordinary life you've ever imagined - is about to begin."
Woah! Those are some pretty serious claims, right?
Let me back up a minute and tell you this isn't some far-fetched, woo-woo, hoogely-boogely stuff... I'm not all about that.
It's also not simply a get-rich-quick kinda book that touts nothing but prosperity and wealth... I'm not all about that either.
This is about YOU... your mindset, your outlook on life, your attitude.
See your life is what you make it. That doesn't mean things will always be easy and that you will never fall on hard times or walk through dark valleys... but the way you approach those moments in your life is what will make all the difference.
So why am I telling you this...
Guarding the Gate opens in just one week (if you aren't sure what that is, you can click THIS LINK for the description), and one of the first things we will be doing there, TOGETHER, is a 30-Day Miracle Morning Transformation Challenge. This will be based off of the book (obviously) which you can grab HERE if you don't have it yet.
Whatever negative thoughts that are already running through your head as to why you can't do this, let them go... right now! If you want to change any of those areas of your life listed above, now is the time to make it happen. "If you want your life to be different, you have to be willing to do something different first!" ~TMM
So now is your chance to do something different, with a group of others who are doing something different, too! Are you ready to...
"Conquer the morning and you'll conquer the day."
I would love to know if you plan to join us on this journey. Be sure to grab your book, request to join our group, and then either comment on this blog post, or message me personally. Share what goals you WILL accomplish during these 30 days so I can encourage you and cheer you on! And if you have questions, ask away!
Until next time... Blessings!
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Other ways to connect...
Hop over to my FREE Facebook Community where we dig deeper into each week's blog post...
Grab my FREE 'Guide to Stewarding Your Mind, Body and Money' HERE.
Hey Friend,
Would you consider yourself a patient person?
Do you like to wait for things?
Do you like to wait for things?
For me, that's a BIG NO!!
If you have been holding on to a big dream for a long time,
if you have been working towards a goal for years,
if you have been praying about a specific need for what seems like forever,
the waiting can be really hard... really hard.
That's where part of that persistence comes in that we talked about last week...
Staying the course.
Pushing forward.
One foot in front of the other.
God is always faithful to remind me through various means that even in the waiting He is still working.
“Throughout scripture, there’s not a man or woman that God used in a powerful way who didn’t first face a long and difficult time of waiting.”
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"So what do I do while I'm waiting?"
Well.... I'm glad you asked. :) Here are my thoughts...
1. Be Grateful - yes, as my friend Anna says, "Even in this you are blessed." Even in the waiting you are blessed. Grab a journal and purpose to write down 1-3 things every day that you are grateful for and allow those to be your focus.
2. Continue to Trust - even though God is not working things out as fast as you may like, He hasn't went anywhere. He still sees, hears, and knows all. Do not let your trust in His plan and purpose for your life waver in the waiting.
3. Lean In - the devil wants nothing more than for your season of waiting to cause a separation. He will begin to plant seeds of doubt and do everything in his power to steal your peace. Now is the time to press hard into Jesus, my friend.
4. Serve - shift the focus off of yourself and look outward. Who can you serve while you are waiting? God may purposely have you in this season as a way of slowing you down long enough so that you can be available to meet someone else's need.
5. Be Watchful and Hope - fill yourself with anxious expectation of what God is doing on your behalf, even if you aren't seeing it yet. There is a beautiful song by Danny Gokey called, "Haven't Seen It Yet." Find it on YouTube or Google and give a listen. Don't be so caught up in the way you think things should turn out, that you miss the blessings He is dropping all around you.
None of these things come easy friend, they require intention and perseverance. But stay the course. I promise, God isn't finished yet.
Until next time... Blessings!
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Don't forget, the gate opens on our new group, Guarding the Gate... of your Home, Body & Mind, on July 15th!
- If you are in a season of waiting and you are looking for a space filled with education and encouragement, come and join us!
- If you aren't in a season of waiting and you have education and encouragement to offer others, come and join us!
- If you are looking for a group of like-minded people and you want to just be a fly on the wall, come and join us! :)
