Verse of the Day – Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 KJV

Who’s There to Save the Hero?

I know everyone is still occupied by “Formation,” but “Save The Hero” will FOREVER be one of my top two Beyoncé songs (The other being, “I Was Here”).

I don’t look to any celebrity as my standard of living, nor do I fault myself for any music I listen to (when I catch myself feeling myself too much, I check it QUICKLY). I have a faith that I’m growing in day by day and God prunes those habits REGULARLY. In the meantime, I take any revelations God gives me via any medium– which is often music (and not just Christian or Gospel genres).

All that being said, this particular song came to mind as I considered my topics for my next Podcast recording. It’s pretty much where I’m at right now.

I didn’t sleep at all last night. Not because I was stressed or anxious or upset or worried. But because I needed that time alone with God.

The first time I heard this song in 2008, I felt like it described my life:

“…I’m left with no shoulder, but everybody wants to lean on me.

I guess I’m their soldier.

Well who’s gonna be mine?

Who’s there to save the hero?

When she’s left all alone and she’s crying out for help.

Who’s there to save the hero?

Who’s there to save the girl… after she’s saves the world?”

I feel that way, OFTEN. And, like any other time I find myself pondering lyrics during my quiet time, I heard God answer me.

His response was, “I AM.”

I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today if I didn’t continue to remember these truths:

“Strong people” struggle too. The world looks at you as if you are some superhero, but you know all too well that you are STILL human.

People may overlook you, try to use you and manipulate your genuine heart to serve their own needs — But God —

God is the one true, constant confidant that you have in the midst of all of life’s challenges. He WILL NOT fail you and you CANNOT allow others to change who you are or stop the purposes and desires He has placed in your heart.

Take some time away with God and allow him to strengthen your heart.

I pray that my transparency helps someone else today. It’s pressing on my heart to share so I’m sure there’s some person who needs these words at this very moment.

Scriptures to Meditate On:

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 New Living Translation (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Psalm 91 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
²This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
³For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
⁴He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.…

John 16:33 New Living Translation (NLT) ^“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

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

Doing the right thing IS everything it’s cracked up to be!

http://timehop.com/c/fs:10101903351674808:2709390:2053998:518d9

A summary of the link above:

Sometimes you do the right thing and end up getting hurt.

Last night, I went to the bathroom, used the last of the tissue and thought I was doing the right thing by going to replace the roll (instead of being lazy and doing it later).

I grab a roll. Realize it’s the last one in the package and then I tell myself to do the “right thing” again….only to bump my tooth on the counter-top while trying to reach the empty wrapper. It’s slightly chipped, but thankfully I’m not in any pain!

I cried a little. Felt like doing the “right thing” wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I was tempted to feel as if my efforts were in vain.

BUT then I remembered. ALL THINGS work TOGETHER for MY GOOD. Clearly God has somewhere I need to be tomorrow morning and it’s not at my desk.

We’re often tempted to see a problem, where God sees a possibility/protection.

Challenge yourself to shift your thinking. The next time something catches you off guard, instead of asking “Why me?” or “Why this?,” Let Romans 8 COME ALIVE in your spirit and say to God, “I’m EXCITED to see what you’re about to do with this!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That day, I went to the dentist, only to have a crying mother enter the waiting room. Her daughter cracked her tooth the day before on a ride at the fair and was in horrible pain. We were the only people there and when the mother came out from the service area, she sat down right next to me and sobbed uncontrollably. I turned to her and asked if I could pray with her. While praying, I remember telling that mother that her daughter’s smile would be the exact thing that would cause people to ask, “What makes this young girl so different.” By the time I finished praying, the dentist walked out with her daughter and her smile was so beautiful. Her name was Angel, I still remember.

What are the odds that my cracked tooth would put me in the dentist’s office with another person with the same issue? That was a divine appointment! Keep doing the right thing, no matter what. Your purpose depends on your obedience.

Hold On: Testimony Tuesday

Some of my most contemplative moments are when I’m on a plane…. which is pretty often when you work as a consultant.

This song came on during my flight home and I had to hold back the tears. Holding on is HARD work. Especially when you can’t see where you’re going next and you don’t understand why you’re going through what you’re going through. If you’re in a similar place, I hope this post encourages you….

I’ve been in a season of serious growth. One day a few weeks ago, I was at home with my Husboo and he sensed something was wrong with me and asked what was going on/how he could help and I just cried. Nothing was “wrong” per se, in fact, things were going REALLY well (by general standards– Recognition at work, new assignments, expanding responsibility), but I feel a weight in my spirit. I KNEW something was coming. Call it an “attack” a “test” whatever– I understood that this next level would be HEAVY and HEAVY it has been.

Today, someone asked my thoughts on flying and if I ever feel nervous. Long ago, I reasoned that if I’m flying and there’s turbulence God is going to carry me through it and the plane will land or it’s just my time to go. That may sound morbid, but it’s a thought that brings me a lot of peace EVERY time I fly.

I considered that example against the thought of “holding on.” The enemy will try to convince us that holding on during those periods when life just feels overwhelming is a position of weakness, but it’s actually a position of STRENGTH. There IS strength in your surrender. When you realize that you CAN’T but God can, EVERYTHING changes. When you keep holding on, you eventually look up and see JUST how God brought you through!

Keep holding on!

And keep encouraging yourself, even when it feels impossible to do so. I have worship playlists that I play on my good and bad days. When you make those lists in advance, you can just press play on the hard days. I made this playlist when I still lived in Mississippi, away from my husband, family and friends and listened to it daily. An added benefit of this particular playlist is that I can remember listening to this song during MONTHS of (what seemed like) endless job searching, so it’s encouraging but also serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and how He made a way for me. If He did it before, He CAN do it again!

Seeds of Faith Scriptures:

Psalms 116:6 NLT
The lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me.

Matthew 11:28 NLT
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

2 Corinthians 5:4-7 NLT
While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Philippians 2:16 NLT
Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT
But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the lord ’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the lord is with you!”

2 Corinthians 12:6-10 NLT

If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.