A Prayer for 2017

Lord, thank you for bringing me through 2016. 

Thank you for preserving me, providing for me, enlightening me, calling me higher, and lifting my head. Thank you for your presence. Your unyielding presence. Your warring presence. Your protective presence. Your guiding presence. Your comforting presence. Your inviting presence. 

Thank you for Your companionship. Your parenting. Your concern. Your commitment. Your capability. 

All unmatched - eternally unmatched.

You are more committed to me than I am to myself, more committed to me than those I have trusted -even those I trust -- those you gifted to my life. I thank you, Lord, for takingYour relationship with me seriously... for pursuing me and drawing me close with Your goodness and mercy,  promises and faithfulness, the purest motives and purest desire for intimacy and friendship. Thank you that who You are today, will not change tomorrow . 

Your Friend, "HOPE."

HOPE:

 "A person or thing in which expectations are centered."

"The feeling that what is desired can be had."

It's the most wonderful time of the year... it is :) 
But in the midst of good tidings and Christmas cheer, it's no secret that the holidays often highlight  we've lost and now lack, or perhaps what we want and do not yet have.  And while we know the reason for the season, feelings of disappointment and loneliness still manage to seep their way in. The year wraps up and we're eager to cross over. We rejoice, but we can also be tempted to mull over missed opportunities, unfulfilled longings, and incomplete endeavors. 

You may be hopeful. You may be hopeless. 

And it could actually depend on the day (YIKES! and #nojudgment)..

But, if your hope needs to be steadied and is under attack - and if you've given up parts of your life to whatever may come, I'm writing to fight with you.

You'll need your hope in its purest form and most proper place to keep at life in every season. 
This is a virtue you cannot forfeit..

You'll need your friend. You'll need your HOPE.
HOPE IS NOT YOUR ENEMY.
(It gets better, keep reading!)

Same. Real. God.

Have a seat. Quiet your heart. Take a moment. Settle down. Before you lament, and while you wonder.. before you decide you're not sure, anymore. 

Remember. Consider. Conclude.

Remember God's many words to your heart & recount the moments He's met you with love. 

Remember His faithfulness. 

Consider His confirmation of your pursuit - the peace, added strength, and every one of those God-winks💛

#NotAfraid

As if the past year and a half wasn’t preparation enough, these past 9 days have taken many Americans on quite an interesting ride (and that’s -- to say the least). We’ve faced unwelcome surprises. Daily, political developments grow more & more bizarre. We’re either witnessing overt and sick behavior we haven’t seen before, or, overt and sick behavior we haven’t seen in decades... We’re greeting old friends and wondering who they voted for… failing to make eye contact with strangers at Shop Rite, signing out of social media because it’s just too much, or signing on because we’re info-addicts. We’re watching the news all day or shutting off the TV in protest for peace. We're living in a new kind of day, but perhaps without the cheer that newness typically brings.. 

It's true.

 Because - the biggest misstep, I believe, is that some have tied their entire futures to the successful or failing fate of this country. Now - whether this past week was a victory or a loss for you, if you’ve paid enough attention to anything that’s taken place – ANYTHING -- you may have felt a new kind of fear, faced different doubts, drummed up new concerns, or at the very least, found that you had new questions... And it's true.

It’s clearer now more than ever before that times are changing and this world needs more than a “good man” in a seat -  it needs God, and He's on a throne..

I Think You Should Know that You're Legal...

Ever wondered if you even belonged on this planet?! I know I have.. be it my quirks, and perks =) or something as simple as how I perceive and process any given day or situation...people are different.  I have laughed way too hard in the wrong moments, and cried watching the Animal Channel because I can't stand to watch when the baby deer loses mother deer and the lion comes and ---- you know what happens next. My heart can't take it!!! :( #circleoflife

But I've digressed. Back to the point. God is so creative in His placement that we
often come into contact & even do life with people who are so different from ourselves. At times, it's wonderful, but other times it can cause us to question our belonging. It may cause us to run

"I'll Take Care of You..." He said..

One thing I love about God is that He's not found scratching His head when questions arise or trouble comes. He's not at a loss for words, wisdom or solutions. He's not non-chalant or disengaged. He's concerned. A portion of His glory is wrapped up in our living. He's committed to our victory. He's committed to our testimonies.. even if they're not always what WE think they should be. All things work together. He secures the wins💛

His role in this relationship is to lead us to triumph. 

Our role is to follow Him. 

"I'll take care of you..." He says."Because your problems are my problems."

30 and Worthy :)

Mood Leading Up to My 30th

OK, I promise... I do understand that I've been an adult for at least the last 5 years, but THIRTY? What. The. Flip? My cutesie twenties are officially leaving the building, but I hear it gets better from here, and that's nice... I'll take it :) 

To commemorate the end of my roaring twenties, and begin my celebration to THIRTY, here are 30 lessons I've pulled from my last 10 sets of 365 days :) 

1. You don't have to be wrong to apologize first.
2. Save your money. You'll need it.
3. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk makes a great breakfast. 

On GRACE & Progress: A 2016 Check-In.

Are you a Perfectionist?

Perfectionism rarely works out for the carrier, and I've been a bona fide perfectionist way more than I've allowed myself to just live and let live.

As freely as God's grace is given is about as hard as it's been for me to receive - but that's an exaggeration...  because grace, even in its smallest form, is still much greater than my occasional inability to simply exhale & take it all.

Be. Do. Become...

Reminds me of a conversation I had last night.. ⭐️ so grateful for those who share truths to challenge my now and challenge my process...

"You don't always have to over-prepare to care about what you care about, to stand for what's in your heart to stand for, to be who you were created to be. Not all the time......"

Your passion will lead your life & your truth will shape it. 

If you have the courage to acknowledge what moves you & the will to do something about it - DO.

Be.

And BECOMING is in the doing.. your practice will make YOU perfect. Perfectly you. Authentic. Enough. So move.

I'm learning and I am challenged..

Faith has more than a voice with which to speak, it has legs, with which to walk...

#allconditionsapply #Godleading

#lessonsfromthebest 

#sheawasinspired #soSheawrote.

Happy 2016 : )