Diligence

‘Giving all diligence, add to your faith…’ — 2 Peter 1:5.

I have to start with this verse above. For a few weeks now I have been studying diligence and I have been learning from the richest man in human history King Solomon. He has so much wisdom to pour forth in his Proverbs as well as through the study of his life. Solomon became King at a very young age-well before he was even a teenager. The one thing he asked of God was for WISDOM that he may judge his people fairly. He then writes often in his wisdom literature in the Holy Bible about diligence. He said when you have a dream write it down--make the plan clear. Have deadlines and what you need to do to get there. Celebrate your accomplishments and have FAITH the surety that it will come to pass even when you don't physically see it yet. Yes of course do your part of due diligence.

I have grown tremendously as a person and in my spiritual walk with God over even the past few weeks of just simple study of Proverbs. I have challenged myself to read a Proverb each day. So if it is the 21st I read Proverbs 21. I underline, I high light, I learn to apply this wisdom to my life.

I truly believe with everything within me that every individual on this earth has a mission. Whether it be to be a doctor, a baseball player, a teacher, a gas station attendant, or a forest ranger we have a mission. Whatever you feel you are to do in this life follow what is within you. It isn't impossible. Be diligent, have a plan, write it down, write a due date, and celebrate the successes.

You are a treasure. You have many gifts within you that may not even know what they are yet. Key note here don't be a stand still. Hang pictures of your dreams/goals on your wall. Look at them and know you can do anything that you have a plan for and are diligent with.

I am not perfect and sometimes forget to read my Proverb each day. But when I do remember I am so encouraged in that day with what I read.

So today give it all diligence and add your faith to it too.

Press on & Praise

My title of today seems fitting. Press on and Praise! Press on and Praise! What does it all mean? Lets start from the beginning. Truthfully we are living in tough economic times. Many of us are facing many transitions or learning to live on a budget. Some of us are unemployed and have been searching very long for something new. Some of us are not doing all things we may want to do. My personal example. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get a manicure and pedicure every three weeks. I would like to have my hair hi-lighted every 4-6 weeks. I would love a new outfit weekly. Notice a theme here? I do, it is "I". All about me and my wants and desires. How often do we sit back and think about God's wants and desires for us? Not very often huh? God doesn't get pissed at us when we only think about ourselves. He does however want us to remember Him and come to Him. God loves the way you are. He created you with a special hair color and eye color and skin tone. He created you so unique, He made non other like you. I know we all may not have all the material things we may want right now in the moment but may I remind you everything is temporary. During this season and all seasons of life take a moment just to PRAISE God for what you do have. Thank Him for your nice warm bed, thank Him for clean drinking water, thank Him for the car you are driving. Thank Him for the beautiful blue sky. Thank Him for just being Him. Thank Him for loving you the way He does. He cares so much about you. He wants you to be HAPPY even when you don't have what you think you need.

Moving on just flat out PRESS on and PRAISE. PRESS on and PRAISE!!! It's that simple by finding faith in the simpleness of life you can be happy. You are more blessed than 75% of the world. This really is true. Learn to find joy and PRAISE even in the most difficult times that according you is hard.

DEPRESSION

I am beginning to read through Lamentations and reading over Godly individuals that lamented and were having feelings of depression. I have had the feelings of depression for several months now. From my experience I can say I am not feeling God, I am not hearing from Him, and I don't feel Him holding me either. The silly thing is I know He is holding me even though I don't feel it. Is that an oxymoron? I envision that beautiful painting/poem "Foot Prints in the Sand". It shows the picture of footprints and says, when you didn't see two sets of foot prints, it was then that I carried you. I hope to look back on this season and can say that.

I cry too. I am good one day then the next I just cry. I have been thinking when I am in Heaven that Jesus will say, "Come here". He will open a door and show me all my tears that he saved and that I wasn't alone. He was there. He is here, He really, really is here. Even though I don't feel Him, I know He is here.

I am going to be okay, this too shall come to pass. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

This is what wikipedia says about lament:
laments simply being "appeals for divine help in distress". [7] These laments, too, often have a set format: an address to God, description of the suffering/anguish which one seeks relief, a petition for help and deliverance, a curse towards one's enemies, an expression of the belief of ones innocence or a confession of the lack thereof, a vow corresponding to an expected divine response, and lastly, a song of thanksgiving.

I tell you I am lamenting today. Maybe I'll lament tomorrow. All I know is that in the midst of my feelings, in the midst of poverty/lack there of, I will PRAISE the Lord. I will seek Him continually day and night. I will stand on His promises. I will wait expectantly.

I love you LORD and I lift up my voice in PRAISE to you. Today is a BEAUTIFUL today full of bright sun. Today was relaxing by the pool, today LORD you are here. Even though I don't feel you or hear you---I see you in all CREATION.

Loneliness

I am experiencing a difficult season of feeling alone. I feel like a darkness has invaded my heart of which makes me feel quite depressed. I looked up loneliness in the wikipedia dictionary and here is the definition:Loneliness is a feeling in which people experience a strong sense of emptiness and solitude. Loneliness is often compared to feeling empty, unwanted, and unimportant.
After reading this definition I see why I feel so lonely. I don't feel very supported in my life as far as my dreams and aspirations. Every time I talk to my family I feel discouraged. I find myself jealous of families that are close and care about each other. How come I don't have that? Oh it goes on and on. All of this just makes me feel so alone and SAD! If you know me you know I am not a SAD person.

I am a real person with real struggles. This all the more brings me back to the WORD. What can I dig up in there and be encouraged with?

I look at the Bible and am reminded of Biblical characters that also struggled with loneliness and not feeling supported. It was a dark, hard time. I see the key principle being that Jesus meets us in the midst of our problems. We have his Word on it!

Perseverance and Success through Life's Trials

Life is an ongoing journey. What makes the journey exciting is all of the things that come across your path. However, there are times when some not so nice things decide to get in your way. Some of those things are as petrifying as a poisonous snake slithering by and rearing it’s head as you take a step closer. While they aren’t exactly fun to deal with, one only needs to learn how to handle snake crossings to overcome them.

The book of James is filled with so much support and guidance for handling all types of snakes that may come across your path. However the best part is how he discusses the attitude you should have during those times. James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” God has also promised that he will never leave or forsake us. Shouldn’t that remove all our fear? Shouldn’t this put us in a place to give God complete control of our lives? Shouldn’t this offer us uncodnitional faith? The answer to these questions may be “Yes” in the positional sense, but putting them into practice in our everyday lives is the challenge.

I have found myself facing a snake on my path. I am not afraid because of my faith. I haven't discussed work issues here before. I was reluctant to do so at first, because I am not one for a “pity party.” Yet, when I finally answered God’s nudging to be more transparent to you all, what I found was not pity, but prayers, kindness, and love!

I have not written much about my work recently. I deal with it day by day. Some days are better than others. But God keeps nudging me to continue to move forward on my path. He offers me the guidance and tools to overcome each and every snake. So, this will be no different. This summer has been particularly trying. I was expecting to move to Idaho and everything to work out perfectly, like everything will perfectly fall into place. Little did I know everything wasn't going to be as perfect as I expected it to be. Failure has come about. Finances have been tapped dry. Daily I trust God to meet my financial needs. I am itching to get a pedicure or get hi-lights. But hey it is a season. I am so thankful and full of His blessings that it isn’t anything to cause me fear. However, I have had to TRUST God each day to meet my needs in every way. What a GREAT place to be. Being an entrepreneur there will failures, there will be trials, but in the end everything will come together. I know that.

Ok, in all seriousness, I am still processing how this will affect my life. I was a bit overwhelmed with moving to Idaho in March and had a few months of depression. I had to pull myself out of the funk I could feel myself falling into, so I prayed. God lead me to read more of your Word, lead me to PRAY more. While I am not sure I am at the point of coutning it all joy, I am certain that I am blessed. God has a purpose for this in my life. I will stand this test and watch God work me through this for His purpose. I only need be open and willing to serve. Serving is a selfless act.

So, what does this all say to you for your life? Regardless of the poisonous snakes that try to slither across your path to scare you off your journey, know that God has not only promised to be with you, but to offer you the ultimate reward for your faithfulness through the trials of life. All you need do is bring each snake to God and allow Him to give you the rules and tools for handling them. Knowing that He knows every aspect of every type of poisonous snake builds your faith. As you overcome each snake your testimony to others will bring all the more glory to God. Praise Him for those snakes! Praise Him for being there to help you overcome them. Pray for His guidance, strength, and wisdom to be upon you as you persevere. The crown of life awaits you!

These are my thoughts.

NEVER stop DREAMING!!!!

I am sitting here lounged out in a cocoa leather chair, my feet are nestled on the matching ottoman. I am listening to "The Crossing" on itunes which in fact is my new fav. station on here. Oh I failed to mention I am eating a delicious yogurt with fresh fruit. I have been thinking a lot lately about DREAMS. Not the dreams you have when you are sleeping but LIFE DREAMS. Do you have underlying dreams that you have had since you were a little child? I know I have them but they aren't underlying-they are exposed. I know there is a HUGE purpose to life. I know we are not here for just being here on earth. I have a HUGE desire to leave a legacy that lasts until many generations to come. I not only want to be a world changer, I want to be a shaker and a mover. I want to FIGHT world hunger. I want to build homes for orphans. I want to help people discover what they are good at RUN with VICTORY of fulfilling their purpose in life.

There is nothing more satisfying than checking off a DREAM from my list. I have high hopes and BELIEVE there are ever bigger things in store in the days to come. As I sit here I encourage you to NEVER stop dreaming. It doesn't matter how old you are, how crazy the dream seems...where there is a will, there is a way. You can do ALL things through Christ who is your strength. You may not always have someone who believes in your idea or dream, don't let that stop you. Press on, keep on keeping on until you get there.

Always DREAM BIG...you CAN DO IT!!! :) xoxoxoxoxo I BELIEVE in you!!!!!!

Tahoe

Well here I am soon packing my bags for Tahoe. This experience will be exhilarating as I have not been to many places through out the Western United States. This is whole new ground for me. It really makes me all the more realize how BIG the whole is and small I am. There are so many places I would like to go to. I have had the privilege to travel over seas. Again I must say the world is a BIG place waiting for me to discover it more.

Ahhhhhh the packing tonight....interim I am getting my hair colored by one of the most gifted hair stylists I know. I am going to the bleached look with a little definition. It will look HOT! I also painted my nails with a fresh coat of OPI nail polish. Yep I am ready to head to California.

I am listening to the HILLSONG "Healer"-it really reminds me that nothing is impossible with Christ. :) I feel like there is a major purpose to my life here on this earth. Most people these days live to be in their 60's to 70's...sometimes older. Well if that be the case I am half way through life and so many more things to accomplish in the days to come.

It is a breath of fresh air to know I have purpose and there is meaning to my life. Thank God!

Oh, I wanted to share something, just an FYI for the girls out there. I really LOVE this new makeup line. It is affordable, fabulous, comparable to M.A.C. makeup and they have the best brushes. Here is their website: http://www.bhcosmetics.com/

Have a BLESSED day all and I look forward to my next blog.