Getting into alignment with God and staying in alignment is key to a prosperous life.
You Shall Wear A Crown
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 was rough but not to worry because you are the one who shall wear a crown.
Even in the midst of civil unrest, political turmoil, global pandemic and seemingly endless death God remained faithful. Many experienced His grace and favor. People reaped a harvest of time as many “busy” activities suddenly came to an end. Many reaped a harvest of health as they took the time to plan their meals, cook at home and since there was nowhere to go they took their neighborhoods getting plenty of exercise. Many saw a harvest in their finances as the Lord allowed them to recoup some of the money that would have been spent on travel, eating out and making unnecessary purchases.
And there is a promise for the year ahead. God is crowning you with goodness.
You shall wear a crown.
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11
God will continue in this vein by crowning this year with bountiful harvest, causing even the hard paths to overflow. And not only is He crowning your year beloved, He is crowning YOU!
You shall Wear a crown.
Picture with me for a moment the Lord placing a royal diadem upon your head. He has selected the most precious, flawless gems and placed them in a crown of gold. He takes this crown and slowly approaches you. As you humbly bow, He places the diadem upon your head. And while the crown is heavy, He gently places His hand on your chin, lifting your head. As your head rises up and you meet His gaze, your spirit is strengthened all the more and the “weight” of the crown pales in comparison to the weight of His glory.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3
Let me pronounce this prophetic decree over you and your household.
You are the righteous of God. God dwells with you and you with Him. As His chosen beloved Child, you are an heir to the throne of grace. You have received His inheritance as your reward. Your year is crowned with a bountiful harvest. Overflow is your portion. Because of your obedience the blessing of the Lord overtakes you. You walk in radiant health. Your relationships are deep and fruitful. Your God ordained business ventures are blessed. Your household is blessed. You are blessed when you come and bless when you go. Goodness and mercy follow you all your days. You are crowned with goodness, glory, grace and honor. Love encircles your head. Your thoughts are true and praiseworthy as you are crowned with the mind of Christ. God’s wisdom is the nuggets and gems that ring your head. You are seated at His right hand. His right hand leads you, guides you and protects you as you walk in paths of righteousness for His namesake. Your year is marked with evidence of God’s faithfulness toward you. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen!
As always it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
When Giving Thanks is Hard
Sometimes giving thanks will require you to humble yourself, recall where He bought you from, what He’s rescued you out of or what He spared you from.
How To Be Content In A World Full of Discontent
Contentment is a decision. It is a state of mind. Here are 10 practical strategies for how to be content.
A Back to School Promise You Can Bank On
This fall isn’t like last fall.
Back to school pictures are a little different.
Kitchens and spare bedrooms have been converted into classrooms.
School has started but few have gone back into the school classroom.
Indeed the start of the 2020-21 school year is different.
Amid the different one thing remains. One thing is sure and one thing that is true. The ONE who is unchanging is right here in the midst of it with us. The ONE who does not change (Malachi 3:6) is ever faithful by our side. And He’s given us a back to school promise we can bank on.
And I don’t know about you but I need a promise I can hold on to. This promise is going to carry me through internet service interruptions. This promise is going to get me through children complaining about their siblings talking too loudly when they’ve taken themselves off mute. This promise is going to carry my early elementary child through all the loops, hoops and screen switches he’s expected to master at such a young age. This promise is going to give me needed reassurance for homeschooling a high schooler. And this promise is going to ensure that myself, my husband and my 6 children all dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1) as we navigate this new way of learning.
And I’m banking that this promise will come through for you too.
No matter how you feel about this school year.
Whether your child is attending school virtually, traditionally homeschooled, returning full time to the classroom or hybrid.
For the single mom who has conference call after conference call yet your 3rd grader needs help with the new way of regrouping.
For the essential worker who is trying to explain to her father how to log into class since grandparents will be called upon to help manage distance learning.
For the older siblings watching the younger ones while attempting to get their own work done because mom and dad have to get to work.
To the teacher who has 3 children of her own at home.
Here’s a Word in season that you can fiercely cling to:
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
Friends, above all, He is their Teacher. The Holy Spirit is a teacher. The Father, who loves His children faithfully instructs them. Jesus, Rabboni is their teacher. And as such, He’s got this!
And wait! Not only will they be taught by Him, but GREAT shall be their peace.
Take heart friend. God’s got you and He has your children. He is teaching all of us day by day. In Him there is no lack. He supplies all our needs including the educational ones. So we can safely place our trust in the surety of this promise. He will teach your children and great shall be their peace (Isaiah 54:13). Commit this verse to memory, ask, seek, knock and watch Him do it for you.
Let us pray…
Thank you Lord for the surety of your promises. You have assured me that you will teach my children and great shall be their peace. Lord help me lay aside any worry, anxiety and fear surrounding their education as I put my hope and trust in you. May my children have the wisdom, knowledge, understanding and learning of Daniel and the Hebrew Boys. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me so that I am open and receptive to be used by You. Show me how I can best encourage my children and foster their love of learning. And let me remember that instructing them is not merely relegated to academics but I am to diligently teach them about You Father. Let them seek knowledge and have the ear of the wise. May your Word teach them, equip them, and correct them. I thank you for being the best teacher they could ever have.
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Things To Do In A Summer of Coronavirus
How can we still have a summer filled with life and joy during Coronavirus 2020? I’m glad you asked. You can start a garden, go on a hike, or take a class. There’s PLENTY you can still do.
What Is Soul Care & Why You Need It Now
Newscasters are telling us. Social media influencers are telling us. Our doctors are telling us.
SELF-CARE
SELF-CARE
SELF-CARE
But these days it seems as if self-care has been reduced to temporary, quick fixes. Perhaps a mani/pedi, massage, glass of wine, night with the crew will invoke happy feelings, but in and of themselves they are short lived. While spa visits and whoosah moments are a sweet reprieve from the constant chatter of the world, in and of themselves they will not satisfy your soul’s need for care. This is why we must extend beyond self-care and embrace SOUL CARE.
Your soul is your mind, your will and your emotions. And God has given you a soul as a means of connecting with the natural world. But if you are not careful, you begin to live more out of our soul than out of our spirit. You are 1st a spirit being, don’t forget that.
Why do you need to care for your soul? Our life experiences directly influence the health of our souls. And when we are subject to hurts, disappoints, other trauma we end up with soul wounds. But there is good news. God has the balm to soothe and heal our wounded souls. But that requires us to present ourselves to Him. We must surrender completely to Him. So let us look at the three areas that comprise the soul.
MIND
Day by day, moment by moment we must renew our minds. We are bombarded by so much information that infiltrates our minds and much of it is untrue. Which is why we have to constantly feed ourselves the TRUTH of God’s word.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
With all that we are experiencing in our world today: pandemic, civil unrest, unemployment, under-employment, health crises and more, it is easy to succumb under the weight of all that pressure.
It is critical that we employ practices that support our mental health. Turning to the truth of God’s word is an effective strategy for managing our thought life. And I have created this resource to support you in calming the mind when everything around you is raging. In Solace In The Storm, my latest devotional, I unlock the promises of Psalm 46, strengthening your resolve that even in the midst of troubles, God’s peace will prevail. I pray that the mind that was in Christ Jesus is also in you (Philippians 2:5) as you keep your mind stayed on Him.
WILL
Jesus is our example for living. And He emphatically stated that He lived to DO the will of the Father (JOHN 4:34). Our will and God’s will tend to be diametrically opposed. We are naturally inclined to do what we want, when we want, how we want. But this is not God’s desire for us.
Through reading God’s word, prayer and times of solitude, God’s will, will become apparent to us. The onus is then on us to bring our will into alignment with His. And by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in you, you have divine enablement to do this. For He works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
EMOTIONS
God’s gift of emotions is a beautiful treasure but if mishandled becomes problematic. When we are self-centered and self-focused only we can easily allow our emotions to dictate our behavior. But when we are Christ-centered and Christ-focused, we allow the Holy Spirit at work in us to lead and He empowers us to manage our emotions through the spirit.
Your range of emotions is not a bad thing. In fact, emotions are a great tool for letting us know what we are sensing and experiencing at any given moment. Without emotions we would not know joy overflowing and abounding love. The key is to acknowledge the emotion we are feeling, to consider its source or root and to surrender it to the Lord. Your flesh and all its longing are crucified and it is Christ that lives in you (Galatians 2:20), empowering you to manage your emotions.
Even the food you eat directly impacts your emotions. If you eat foods that are processed, full of chemicals and additives it’s going to come out in your attitude! Be sure to choose food & beverages that support your peace and well-being. Adaptogens such as reishi mushroom, rosemary and ashwagandha, support feelings of calm and well-being.
Here is a simple, nutritious way to start your day. Instead of a sugary carb loaded breakfast, pair this granola with some fruit to start your day.
When you spend time strengthening your inner man, you abide in the spirit, you walk in the spirit, and are led of the spirit. In that manner, your spirit takes precedence and enables you to master your soul.
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Solace In The Storm
Within the last three months I’ve heard the words “unprecedented” more times than I can count. A global pandemic, pestilence and civil unrest have our world groaning in agony.
This is enough to cause us to be anxious, fearful, depressed, worried or even just plain numb. But this does not have to be our portion.
With unshakable faith we can stand boldly in the face of calamity and confusion to declare our triumphant victory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Earlier this year I was facing my own Storm. God in His loving kindness led me right to Psalm 46. For centuries the Psalms have been a source of comfort and assurance for God’s people. And sure enough God met me right there in Psalm 46. From this Psalm I received a Holy and bold assurance that God was not only with me, but that I did not have to worry because He would act mightily on my behalf.
And out of that time of silence, stillness and solitude with the Father, I penned my latest devotional eBook, Solace In The Storm: How To Be Still & Know When Life Is Raging. And the revelation from that time was so deep and so good that not only did it birth the devotional but also an online course.
So I invite you to embark on the journey of seeking solace amid the chaos so that you can clearly hear from God. You can pick up a copy of the devotional but if you want to go deeper and gain practical strategies for dealing with overwhelm, anxiety and more, this course is for you. Click the link below for details.
The steadfast promises of Psalm 46 help us activate our faith and put our trust in THE ONE who is powerful and providential.
Amid the storms, I’m praying that you will be still and know that He is God!
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been inspired to live fully!
How To Deal With The Pain of Civil Unrest
Our nation is in crisis. From plagues and pestilence to systemic racism being played out daily as Black and Brown bodies continue to be subjugated by Whites, our world is in turmoil.
Chances are you are running the full gamut of emotions, from frustration and sorrow to anger or even just plain numb. As I’ve watched the events of the past few weeks, I’ve cried, I’ve stewed, I’ve measure my words as I’ve tried to explain these events to my children. And it’s not just the me who I am today feeling this. In me lies the pain of my mother’s, mother’s mother and her mother before her. My very DNA groans in agony.
This has been downright HARD! Can you agree?
So what do we do with these feelings? How do we navigate through the iceberg of emotions? Because of our personal life experiences we are going to process these events differently. Here are a few ways we can deal with the pain of civil unrest.
Permission To Process
Give yourself permission to process and grieve in ways that are suitable for you. You want to cry? CRY. You want to be alone? Spend some time alone. Allow yourself to sit and to feel. Acknowledge your feelings by naming them. Give voice to your feelings.
Groan
What happens when we lack the ability and the vocabulary to convey our feelings in coherent words? We groan. That sounds comes from deep in our bellies and out through the throat. It is an honored expression. Even The Spirit Himself utters groanings for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).
Obey What God’s Telling You
One of the greatest actions you can take at this time is to commune with God, listen to Him and DO what He tells you to do. Obedience is God’s love language (John 14:15) and if you say you love Him, simply do what He tells you to do. The greatest revolution you can wage is to walk boldly in the purpose for which God put you on this earth. God needs EACH & EVERY Believer suited in their armor, obediently walking out their calling. Whether it’s raising your children, raising your voice in protest or raising your dollar to sow it into a worthy cause, DO the thing He’s called you to do.
Take Action
What can you do to directly be a part of the change you seek?
- Fast & Pray for Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts and His legion of Angels to come against the spirit of terrorism, division, murder and mayhem.
- Engage in meaningful conversations with people of other races. Share your truth.
- Support Black owned businesses
- Engage in peaceful protest
- Teach your children about race relations
- Call/Write your local officials
- Donate $ to a fund (Like Justice for Breonna, The Innocent Project, George Floyd Memorial Fund)
- Sign a petition
- Vote
Embrace The Moment
Be intentional to take breaks from the bombardment of external chatter so that you can process, think clearly and connect with God. We have to strike a balance between being informed and becoming depressed with the information we are consuming. We have to be purposeful to embrace silence and stillness in the Father’s presence. It is here that we are restored and refreshed so that we can engage when God calls us to act.
Friends I am praying for you. The enemy would like nothing more than for us to lose hope but remain hopeful. Our God, Adonai is Sovereign. He is Elyon our God Most High. With all power, authority and dominion in His hands, He will sustain you and I and He will see His kingdome come, His will be done.
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
3 Practical Ways to Care for Your Body Today
#teamquarantiny or #teamquaranthick ? I don’t know which camp you fall into during this season but be reminded that they body IS the temple of the Holy Spirit
