The Simple Life

I remember when I would rush to the nailshop to get fake nails so they would be long, now I rush to find my nail clipper when my natural nails get too long. I remember when I used to tell myself, girl you gotta slow down on the sew ins, now I gotta tell myself girl you gotta slow down on the scissors. I remember when I stayed at the MAC counter trying to get the newest lip/eye color, now I stay at the Bobbi Brown counter trying to get the newest natural look. I remember when I used to wake up reaching to put my contacts in, now I wake up reaching for my glasses. Like my grandma used to and still does always tell me, "Keep living...". LOL! She is right, my how I've matured.

Life is so much more simple when you are living to be you. No additives, no extras, just you. It truly is a beautiful fulfilling thing. And it is the same way when you live it according to God's purpose. Matter of fact, life is even better when you live it according to the life that God has called you to live.  Sometimes, what that is may not be all that simple to understand initially though. Thankfully God's grace, mercy and patience outweighs our misunderstanding and often times our disobedience (Amen walls). But when we do decide that we are ready to do things His way, He doesn't withhold our understanding. It just flows naturally. And it makes perfect sense. It is not hard, it is simple. That is when it flows naturally, becomes easy, and simple... when we decide. We have to make the decision to receive His provision. He then guides us as we open our spiritual eyes and ears to listen and see what it is that He has called us to be. Be still and know Him and your simple life will be revealed. Keep living in Him and one day you and your faithful simplicity will look back and say, my how I've spiritually matured.

Trust God as he leads you into the path of living your life in simple, yet wholesome fashion, not just on purpose, but most importantly, in purpose.

"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)

Believe That You Have Received

I am blessing God today for all the elevation and promotion I am seeing around me and my friends on Facebook. I can't count the times within the last few weeks i've sent congrats to my friends for new jobs, new job offers, multiple job offers, new opportunities, just overall increase and the like. Even though I believe that everyday is a season of harvest, as the word says "bless the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits"(Psalm 68:19)...I have to honestly acknowledge that we are definitely standing in the midst of a season of harvest. If you are sitting back saying, well what about me, I haven't gotten what I've been praying for, or I haven't received that call yet, things haven't changed in my life yet, nothing seems to be working yet...then maybe you haven't received it yet because you haven't received it yet. Let it marinate. Bless and thank God now and today to receive what is yours. Thank and praise Him now for what He has done, even if you can't see it yet. That is the art and law of receiving. Believing that you have received it when your situation says otherwise. If you still don't get it, here's food for thought: If you have the choice of believing God's word or your situation/circumstance, which would you choose to believe? If you choose your circumstance, then you have a little bit of spiritual housekeeping to do. And that is ok, because learning to completely trust God, I mean COMPLETELY trust his word is a journey and it takes courage, discipline and diligence, but you will get there. Just keep pressing, trust me, He will steadily increase your faith and lead the way.  If you choose God's word, then you are on the right track, so just keep the faith pace and endure til the end.  Make the decision to agree with God, He is waiting on you to believe that you have received, before you have received, so you can receive.

He Knows The Plans

A mentor of mine posted this picture of this AMAZING bible scripture. And it seriously just stirred something up in me like I had never seen it before. Then I thought, what a great topic to expound on.  The highlighted scripture says, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  The Amplified Bible interprets this scripture as... "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." This is a bold statement. It assures us that all is well.  It solidifies that God, our Father has us in mind. It confirms that our worries should be minimal when it comes to our lives. In the first few words, He states...."for I know the plans". That should be enough, right?

The fact that God knows, even when we don't. But more often times than not, that is never good enough for us. I can admit, many times its not usually good enough for me. Well, let me clarify. Its usually enough when reading, however not enough in action.  So my question is, when is THIS WORD going to be enough? God's promises are good! You can take them to the bank!  He said that His word shall not return unto Him void, and He means that! So again, why is it soooooo difficult to let go and trust Him?  For me it is hard. I am having a difficult patch as we speak.  From the health of family members to things in my own personal life. Sometimes it is just hard. But what I've learned  is when I stop looking at the natural circumstance and use my faith, the evidence of things not seen, walk by faith and not by sight, things are always better than they are, mainly because God has already handled the issue. For me, most of the times when I am discouraged it is because I am refusing to change my perspective. When I decide to view things from God's perspective, it is impossible for negativity to be in it.  And that is the honest to God TRUTH. Yet again, I know....
This. Is. Hard.

But we have to keep pressing through. Even when tears are rolling down my face, and my heart is on fire, I will still utter, God is faithful and He is able. Because of this Word.  He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all I can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in me. Because of this Word. My flesh may be in pain because of things I do not understand, but I will not let the enemy steal my praise. Because of this Word. And though I may not feel good during the praise, it is still lifted and sincere. And that's what matters most, and helps me in it all. I hope my words can give others some comfort during their time of discouragement, stress or difficulties. I know how real it is. I am hoping they will give more comfort for myself. I know how real it is. But the main point is God's word is and should be the end all, because His promises are Yes and Amen. It is a journey, but we will get there. How do I know?  Because the latter of the verse also confirms that there will be a future and there will be hope. And one thing I do know, is I believe His word.

~Jeremiah 29:11

~Isaiah 55:11
~Ephesians 3:20
~2 Corinthians 5:7
~2 Corinthians 1:20

In Everything Give Thanks...

Sometimes we tend to focus more on what we don't have versus what we do have. It is the general "is the glass half full or half empty" argument. Your opinion on whether the glass is half full or half empty is based on your perception. Whether you view and weigh the substance in the glass as abundance or lack. Many times our struggles aren't really birthed from the situation itself, yet they are birthed by our processing of that situation. What we don't realize is there are blessings all around us, if we just pay attention. Truth be told, when we keep our eyes on Christ, what we feel we may be lacking won't ever be personified. The Lord woke you up this morning. The Lord woke you up this morning in your right mind. The Lord gave you the strength to get out of bed. I can go on and on. We also have our own personal individual blessings that no one can give thanks for but our own selves. Don't short change God in worship, because He did not short change you in blessings. In all things, give thanks. We serve a God that is faithful and everlasting. His mercy endures forever!!! I challenge you to stop and take 10 seconds and just worship... saying thank you Lord for all you've done for me. I have a saying, "If He never blessed me again, I would still be blessed beyond my highest dreams." But the ultimate goodness of it all is, HE AINT DONE BLESSING ME!!! AND NEITHER IS HE DONE BLESSING YOU!!! Thank you Lord. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 17"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." ~Habakkuk 3:17-18 NKJV

The 23rd Psalm Explained

I received this jewel below in an email a while back, not exactly sure who to credit for it, but I felt it was so necessary to share. And just as the email included, I too pray this day that what is revealed to you after reading this will open the eyes of your understanding, or at least let you look at this in a different light. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lord is my Shepherd - That is Relationship! I shall not want - That is Supply! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That is Rest! He leadeth me beside the still waters - That is Refreshment! He restoreth my soul - That is Healing! He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That is Guidance! For His name sake - That is Purpose! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That is Testing! I will fear no evil - That is Protection! For thou art with me - That is Faithfulness! Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That is Discipline! Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That is Hope! Thou annointest my head with oil - That is Consecration! My cup runneth over - That is Abundance! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That is Blessing! And I dwell in the house of the Lord - That is Security! Forever - That is Eternity! Let's Face It... The Lord is crazy about you. What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but who we have in our lives.