Seeds of Faith

No Resolutions, Just New Goals

Resolutions are difficult. One of the most challenging things about resolutions is that a person ends up feeling like a failure if he or she does does not accomplish them.

Whenever we set goals, we have to accept our reality for what it is. In my example, being a certain weight and in a certain size by the end of 2015 was a goal that I set for myself. The reality is that I experienced several health challenges made that goal somewhat difficult. My workouts were put on hold once my doctor determined that I needed to have a surgery to correct a major issue affecting my breathing.

I can focus on the fact that I’m not a certain size or weight or I can understand the reality that, despite the setbacks I’ve experienced, I still feel better I can still walk longer distances, I can breathe SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better, and I’m in nowhere near as much pain as I was previously.

If I focus on the negative, I completely miss every good thing that I gained by setting the goal for myself and working towards it, even if I didn’t fully accomplish it.

A resolution is a THING. A SINGLE point. It’s almost dead and inactive but a goal is ALIVE.  A goal is PROGRESSING! Even if you don’t make it to the point that you are striving for, just the act of beginning the PROCESS puts you so much further off than where you were when you started.

So I encourage you today.  Instead of setting another resolution, set a GOAL and understand that if you don’t ACCOMPLISH that goal this year it’s a goal that you can carry into the next year.

The reality is, many of us have things that we need to ACCOMPLISH more so than things that totally need to CHANGE.

We have things we need to ACHIEVE. NEW LEVELS we need to reach.

Don’t focus on the negative! Instead, set your sights on those new heights you desire for yourself and try to accomplish those goals.

Commit yourself to the “Art of The PRESS!”

Scripture to meditate on:

Philippians 3:12-14

Pressing Toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

image

image

 

 

image

Book Review: 5 Minutes With Jesus

_225_350_Book.1673.cover

This is a great text to have in your car or even in your bathroom!  Don’t judge me — we all spend some necessary time in the restroom in the morning and a 5 minute devotional is perfect for that “quiet time” when we’re actually being still!

Continue reading →

Being Still Requires Work

This morning, the verse, “Be Still and know that I Am God” (Psalm 46:10) was on my heart.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized this–Being STILL requires WORK!

I locked in on this revelation while getting dressed this morning. Literally, I was putting lotion on my feet and noticed how well my pedicure was holding up and then I thought of this example….

I’m one of those people that struggles to stay still when I’m getting a pedicure. For whatever reason, once I’m in the chair, my toes begin to wiggle. I think it’s because I’m often trying so hard to be still, especially once the color is being applied. God used that example to show me how being still requires work.

Being still requires work, but much of that work is internal. We have to cease from our labors and rest in the fact that God is in control. He has not forgotten us and nothing catches him off guard.

Much like when I’m in the pedicure chair. Once I redirect my thoughts, I’m able to still back and relax and eventually, I look up to see that the work is done!

God’s doing the same thing for us right now. Rest in Him. Again, I understand that resting isn’t always easy, and you’ll still have the urge to want to “do something.”

Instead of trying to do God’s job for Him, redirect your energies toward meditating on His promises.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV)
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalms 37:34 – Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].

image

Color selections from my most recent mani/pedi session

Keep Going

I thought I shared this a long time ago, but I found this draft yesterday. I was almost upset about it, but I trust that God’s timing is perfect and someone needs to see this now.

Life really came full circle for me yesterday. I sometimes over think this “blogging thing” and won’t share things because I feel like they’re not “developed enough” or are still in draft form. Yesterday, one of my good friends sent me a text about how much her friends enjoy and are encouraged by my posts. I can’t tell you how much that blessed me. Lately, I’ve been telling myself that it’s not about reaching hundreds/thousands. It’s about reaching that ONE. If there’s one hurting/lost person that reads one of my posts and is inspired to keep going and trust God, my purpose is fulfilled. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.

I shared this as a Facebook post last year. I thought it deserved a place on the blog, so here it is. No matter where you find yourself this Good Friday, Be encouraged. Keep going! Your life matters. Your purpose matters and it won’t be fulfilled if you quit now. You just never know the impact your life’s witness can have on someone else.

My original post: Today was one of those trying days. So, like any mature adult :-), I called my mom for some encouragement. Only to find out:

1. One of my high school classmates stopped her today in my hometown Wal-Mart to tell her how much they are encouraged by my Facebook posts and how I accomplished EVERY thing I said I was going to do back when we were in school. (Faith and works!)

2. My mom has been reading my old blogs AND said they’re an encouragement to her. That BLEW me away. My mommy is THE ultimate encourager. I just wanted to cry. (Mind you, my mom is not a person that goes online much at all. I didn’t even know that my mom knew that I had a blog. I never mentioned it to her because she’s never online.).

God knew I needed THAT today. It’s easy to feel as if you’re just making a drop in the bucket or to wonder if your efforts really make a difference, but then God sends those reminders to let you know you’re on the right track! You may not be where you want to be, but KEEP GOING and, God willing, you will get there!

The world needs more encouragers and people committed to making a difference in this world. That’s why I’m here. From now on, I’m fully embracing the quote in this featured image. I’m not worrying about what anyone may think. I’m focused on the one that I can inspire.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

‪#‎thankful‬ ‪#‎encouraged‬ ‪#‎onamission‬ ‪#‎iPress‬

image