Smell Your Roses....

How well do you enjoy your accomplishments before you are on to the next thing? I experienced many great feats this past week and had it not been that my assistant's daughter got really sick I would've kept on going. I had created a list between that night and morning of the next things. I was on to the next tasks without pausing to experience the deeper gratitude that I felt for the strength, energy and will that I know God had given me to finish strong and meet many deadlines by doing first things first. What will it cost you to stop and recharge? Or to simply enjoy the moment of being free of the thing you just finished? Let me tell you...when we don't stop we are robbed of the re-charge that comes with rest, creativity re-energized, jubilant praise we give our God, deep gratitude and appreciation for ourselves and renewed hope to say the least. After your next accomplishment, take time to "smell your roses" before they die and you have to wait for the next bloom, or smell someone else's.

"Never, Never, Never Give Up" - from the words of Winston Churchill

I hear the words of Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never give up!" Tonight well now this morning marks the end of another term and I am 6 terms to graduating from Liberty University! However, this one didn't come easy. To think, I almost quit! I was fed up with my professor's comments to write in 3rd person professional. No matter what I did, he still gave me that comment amid others. I got decent grades...a B average, yet feel I didn't measure up. Well, not only am I glad I didn't give up, I'm glad I gave it my all in my final paper even to the extent of asking others to talk to me in 3rd person professional. I just turned the paper in so I don't know what my grade is, but it feels ssssssoooooo good knowing I FINISHED STRONG! After turning in my final paper, I looked at my grades to find an even comment from my professor for the paper I almost didn't turn it. It reads,

"Definitely don't quit - you are almost finished...Lashone - I admit that I do grade hard, but it is to help you become the best communicator (educator) that you can be. When you begin to educate young minds - you will expect their best - and you will need to push them to achieve it. I constantly pray for my students. I am looking for a strong finish."

Now, I know what David meant when he said in Psalms that his foot almost slipped. I haven't felt those feelings of quitting like that since my high school days, but back then it wasn't quitting, I just didn't do papers and projects. I'm glad that whatever got me on the other side of that attitude God put in place so that I didn't pass that down to my children's generations, as a result they do great papers and projects. So, in closing, this morning I say thank you to my 50,000 coaches and 2 of them stand best, you know who you are!

:-)

Matthew 6:31-34 MSG

31 What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.32 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Trusting God...Dreams Do Come True

As I sit here...well really stand here waiting on my car, I peruse the books. Anyone who knows me knows I love books. As I looked at Tim Tebow's book it struck me, "I'm going to go ahead and TRUST God." I don't know Tebow from anybody, but there was something about his book after getting that feeling made me embrace that quiet truth knowing there are going to still be challenges and triumphs.  It's a steadfastness that must regain and hold on to that I let go.  It's like being "ride or die" for Jesus! I'm so thankful for the things God give me when I least expect it. 

Anyway, as I see all the books beyond Tim Tebow, like Jennifer Hudson, Joyce Meyers, Jentezen Franklin, Billy Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, Diary of a Wimpy Kid guy, and so many others...it struck me that dreams do come true, but not without hard work, dedication, sticktoitiveness and trusting God.  For whatever this is worth, what are you losing by not trusting Him? I'm not talking about a natural man, I'm talking about God, Alpha & Omega, King of kings and Lord of lords! Oh, happy day!

Oh, God IS ABLE!

God IS able! He is in no way slack in performing His promises! He is waiting for us to turn to Him in complete worship without being distracted by bells and whistles, books and journals just to BE with Him. He still performs miracles! He hasn't died off from what He's "able" to do. So, I hear this resounding cry, "then why hasn't He done "XYZ" in my life?" To that I say, "Why not start the conversation with Him from right there?" Ask Him.  He's waiting to hear from you. You no longer need for anyone to go before you in prayer.  Jesus ripped down the curtain that separated us from God. It's time for us to go beyond the veil! Yes, books, journals, and all that is good, however they don't take the place of BEing with Him. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what you are even capable of asking or imagining. However, there are conditions.  You don't believe me? Check out Ephesians 3:20. Be encouraged! Chase after Him. Watch "Chasing After You (The Morning Song)- Tye Tribbett & GA" on YouTube

Not Before It's Time

A knock at the door revealed my car was sticking all the way out of its parking space. It had literally removed itself from the parking space!!! I had the emergency brake on. I remembered hearing that sound that I used to when it had done this in the pass, but ignored the sound because its been years since I heard it. Nonetheless, I went out there and put the car back in its space and put the clutch into 1st gear to make sure it didn't move before its time or on its own again!

Lord, give me and everyone the reads this post the safeguards that we need to ensure we don't move before You say it's time or out on our own. However, when you say, "Go!", let us go forth in the power and passion You've placed in us. Set us ablaze for You; fulfill the purpose you have us in the earth. Thank You for listening and using something so simple (in the natural) to give me new words of prayer (proceed the spirit). Amen!

Delayed Decisions

I am amazed at how long I can just "think" about doing something that is in my power to do rather than acting on what I know to be true.  In this respect, I am referring to my hair as just one facet of this realization.  Tonight I had my husband to cut my locs. Now, before you think they are gone, they are NOT. I have been "thinking" about having him even them up for at least 6 months. I don't know why I took so long making the decision. Tonight, my neck feels lighter. Many people do not know, but my neck has been bothering me.  The pain has subsided.  However, I didn't realize the weight of my hair until it was gone.  My head feels so light and my neck feels even better! Oh how I wish it didn't take me so long to do what I knew I wanted to do. The fear of not making the best, best decision must go! I lay this one down now because I can see it is a dangerous place to be and leaving a doorway for the enemy to work in my life.