Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!


Something to think about on this cold Wednesday. Easter is just around the corner, which means that Lent starts next week. Yes, Wednesday, March 6th is the beginning of Lent for this Easter season.

So, what is Lent and why should I participate?

Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times of year for many Christians around the world, particularly those within the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox traditions, held at a similar level of importance to Advent – the build-up to Christmas.

While Advent is a celebration and a time of great anticipation, Lent is more frequently seen as a time of solemn observance and preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence. 

Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, like a wedding, or birthday; a commencement Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death, and bodily resurrection.

These days, Christians around the world observe Lent in many ways. Many from more orthodox and traditional denominations will still observe the fast strictly, beginning with the wearing of ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstinence of meat, fish, eggs, and fats until Easter Sunday.

Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, meat or alcohol. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time; such as watching TV, going to the gym, even social media.

Many Christians also use Lent to study their Bibles and pray more intensively, making use of the many devotional books and courses now available too.

And, of course, more and more Christians are turning to the 40 acts challenge (we will talk more about this soon) as a way of doing Lent differently; using simple daily reflections and acts of generosity as a way of putting others first during preparations for Easter. 

Until tomorrow

#liveBlessed

Transformational Tuesday

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Friends today I want to talk about the difference between reality and perception. It is very easy for us to get blindsided by reality when the perceived reality seems so much more narrow. See when we see a person's behaviors it is easy to just say they are crazy or they are a hot head but reality says that there is way more to the situation then what we see on the surface.

What is really going on? How is their past shaping their present? Just like the picture below only a small piece of person's reality is shown. It is all of the baggage that is below the surface that sink relationships with others. Don't allow yourself to live on the surface. Find out

Monday Motivation

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Use your time, talent, and treasure to invest in others this week. Many people are struggling in silence because they don't believe there is someone there for them. I challenge you to find someone to invest in this week. All of us have been blessed with some ability that we are sitting on. Use it this week to brighten someone's day. Don't just be a consumer. The more you release to others the more room you to receive the new that is in store for you. Hang on o there my friend.

Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed

Friday Focus

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

If you know me, you know I listen to a lot of motivational speakers. Leading Brown says, if you want to be good at some listen do people that are doing what you want to do. I am an international motivational speaker in the making. Anyway, I was listening to clip that was I believe E, it has several voices on it, that said, "You shouldn't upgrade your technology more than you upgrade yourself". Man, that got in my spirit. Don't get me wrong I am not a real techy person but that was life.

Anytime I come into my house my phone connects with my home WiFi and begins to do whatever updates that are scheduled. Um, if my play store does that why don't I? Who and what do I need to tap into so that I get all of the needed updates to get out all of the bugs. A paraphrase from Dr. Lisa Harding says that it just takes one thing to turn the switch on in your head that can begin a lifetime of change.

Who is the person, the situation, the circumstances that will switch on your reset button and propel you into your next season?

Have a prosperous weekend
#liveBlessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Someone said if you want something to die you have to stop feeding it. Hum. It made think. What things in my life am I feeding that no longer serve me? What stories do I repeat to myself just enough that they validated me having the feelings that I have? Self-pity, bitterness, anger, hate, abandonment, distrust, hopelessness, depression, fear, lust... The list could go on and on.

What are feeding? My husband never just comes out and feeds our dig from table he slides her a little something, something under the table. You might not be bold in your approach to your issue but you are feeding it anyway. Whether crumbs or steak it is being fed. Recognize it. Pin point it. Starve it. Don't go back to revive it. Let it go.

Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Too often I can rely on my own thoughts too much. I can feel like I have it all figured out, to only find that I'm not really in control at all. No matter what I think, God is the one that's in control. 

He is the one that gives direction if I will stop being a backseat driver. If I would only acknowledge his plan and way first, my plan would come together much easier. 

Today, I surrender my plan to you and say have your way. I acknowledge that you are the author and finisher of my faith. You are the great director and as I follow your lead,  doors will be opened that I had nothing to do with. I will obey.

Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Can you truly say that you love you? Without love for yourself, you can truly love others. Generally, the thing that we despise about ourselves is the thing that we don't like in others. When we learn to love ourselves, love will pour out to others. 

Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Psalms 139: 14-16
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking? Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration- what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing to something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Wow, as you struggle with other people's idea of beauty know that you are wonderfully made in the image of Christ. Fashion changes and people's expectations constantly change because people are not satisfied with themselves. Don't fall in the "beauty" trap.

Transformation Tuesday

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

What are you reading? If social media is the only thing you are reading you will never achieve greatness. Ladies and Gentlemen, just like you feed your natural body every day, you must feed your intellectual body as well. Reading and watching videos of hate and racism will make you angry and bitter. Let's be real, most people are not going to their legislators to make changes, just getting a high blood pressure.

Read something that will make you a better person. Something that will help you start a business. Something that you can uplift somebody else with. Transformation starts in our mind. What you put in will come out.

Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed

Monday Motivation

Good morning, 

Grace and mercy be unto you!

It takes both the rising crescendo of the sharps and looming dissonance of the flats to make the songs that play out the melodic music that is your life. There is a resolve coming.

Friday Focus

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

In our nonstop news cycle, it is so easy to get overwhelmed with negative energy. I challenge you on this Friday to be the energy that you want to attract. Be to someone what you need. A listening ear, a word of encouragement, a hug, or just a companion can change the energy around a person. Be the change, you need. 

Until Monday 

#liveBlessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

If you tell yourself something long enough you start to believe it. This is true for lies as well as those things that affirm. What are you repeating to yourself on a daily basis?

You are beautiful and brilliant. Nobody is better at being you than you. You are enough. Being just like somebody else will prevent you from being the original you were designed to be. Step out of the shadows and into the light that Devine has displayed just for you.

Speak it, claim it, believe it... It's yours.

Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed

Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

Ladies, it is time for each of us to start walking in the strength and dignity that we have been given.

When people hear your name do the words strength and dignity resonate or are there less attractive descriptors that follows? If the latter is true then today is the time to change that. Change is not always easy but it is neccessary if we want to be effective. The 70's were cool but our world looks nothing like the 70's now. If you don't move and change with the situations at hand you will find yourself irrelevant. 

Find yourself walking in strength and dignity. Lift your head up. Stick your chest out and get your dignified strut on. Your coat of strength is draped over your shoulder and you can handle everything that comes at you. You've got this girl. 

Transformation Tuesday

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

As you look in the mirror, are you being transformed into the image of Christ? See it is easy to look like a celebrity if you have enough money but you can't buy internal change that only comes with the help of Jesus. You can read until your eyes cross but if you don't put some legs on it nothing will happen.

A few steps to keep in mind...
1. Be honest with you about you.
2. Seek the help you need to make progress.
3. Start making moves toward your healing, even if they are small.
4. Celebrate every victory ( this is not a suggestion to go in debt or eat/drink in an unhealthy manner)
5. Repeat

You will win if you only begin.

Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed

Monday Motivation

Good morning ,
Grace and peace be unto you!

In the midst of chaos their is opportunity. We have sprung into a brand new month. What opportunities will you seek out and then pursue? See, it is not enough just seek the opportunity if you won't put any action with it. Step out in wisdom and knowledge. Study before you pursue.

Also realize that every opportunity presented is not for you. Know what you are looking for before you go forth. Everything that looks good might not be good for you. Have tunnel vision on your goal. This is the year of completion for some things you have been thinking about but not progressing in. Check off your list so you can pursue all that belong to you.

Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed

Friday Focus

Good morning,
Grace and peace be unto you!

It is a new month and time to refocus our attention onto our own personal self-care. Yes, people will tell you that it is selfish to take time for yourself, but I would argue with that statement. Taking time to refuel is not selfish it is selfless, in the sense that if I am not whole I do not have the capacity to help others.

Ladies, I would never you to spend money on things that you can't afford or put yourself I debt. That isn't wise. It does cost a thing to go to the park and read a book. A library card is free. It doesn't cost a thing to take a walk and get some sun on your face. Okay, for those you saying but it's cold. Get a chair and pull it by the window and just listen to some music. Do whatever makes you feel like you. I have a few girlfriends that like myself like breakfast. So, periodically we meet and have breakfast, get caught up, and fill each other's buckets.

What fills your bucket? If you don't know. That is your assignment for the weekend. Figure out. Who and what fills your buckets? Once you figure that out you begin to be whole and satisfied with your journey.

Until Monday
#liveBlessed