We must be determined to love others and we must be intentional when it comes to getting along with others .  It doesn’t matter how different our personalities or situations may be.  Here is the reason why–when we love the difficult people around us–we are receptive to be in tuned with how God may be using the person or situation to teach us and to help us grow in grace.

Choose to walk in the love and let God shape you through people that He brings into your life.

Gratitude is the feeling of being thankful; it is having the readiness to show appreciation. If we live with an attitude of gratitude, we will come from a place of abundance, and you will come to realize that we have so much to be thankful for.

Today, I heard in our worship service that if you want to know how many times God blessed you today, then count the number of times that your eyes have blinked. In other words blessed beyond measure.

So, I ask you what are you grateful for today?

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.  Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude”. – Dennis Waitley

Recently, I had come to the realization that I had been in a rut.  I hadn’t been in a mood to blog these last few months, and basically l had been living life on autopilot, with the exception of my live event that I hosted last month, which was amazing by the way! But, I have a question for you,  have you ever been in a rut before or are you currently in a rut?

What I have noticed is that I have gotten in a rut from time to time in my life and often wondered why? Well, I have finally discovered the answer!  At least for me. You see when I get into an rut it has been usually because I had lost sight of my goals or my purpose.  I had disconnected from the power of clarity and being in that space required me to reflect on my decision making to be sure that they are in alignment with my core values, goals and dreams. Then I click the reset button and begin again.

So, if you are in a rut, here are some suggestions for you. First, take time to be still and write, what it is that you really want. You can begin by writing, “I really want ……. and fill in the blank. Then write , “I really, really, really want…. and fill in the blank.”  Whatever you write is between you and God.  Next, ask yourself what is the next best step that you can take to move you in direction of your goals and your dreams. and do it!  The action may be big or small.  I will use myself as an example.  You see, one of my goals is to own a new home and my next best step is to de-clutter my current home, which I am in the process of doing.  It is just that simple.

When you journal it allows you to transfer thoughts in your head, to your heart, through your fingers unto paper.  This process allows you to visualize your heart’s desire.  Oh, one more thing, make it a non-judgement zone and remember to dream big!

Cheers to the best version of you!

Dreams, most of us have them. What are yours? When was the last time that you did any work towards your dream? I remember as a child how I would dream, dream, dream.  I remember being around other children my age and we will get together and get excited about our dreams.  We would talk about them out loud, for example the conversation would go something like this: when I grow up I am going to be a teacher.  Then someone else would say I am going to be a doctor or lawyer and the dream list would go on and on.

It’s interesting as adults we don’t dream as much, or at least we don’t share them. What I come to realize is that my dream, or what I often refer to as my purpose is still alive within me. I believe that God has a plan for my life and for your life.  Our job is to follow as He leads and to trust, as well as obey.

I challenge you to believe in your dreams, because they do not have an expiration date.

Think of a time when you made or purchased a gift for someone.  You present the gift and as you wait in anticipation for the person to open the gift, you are filled to the top with excitement that is just waiting to bust wide open!   Sometimes it seems like it takes  f-o-r-e-v-e-r for the gift to be opened!  At least in my case, and as I look back on times where I have given gifts , and I reflect on the expression on the person’s face when the present is unveiled,  I am reminded of the joy that it brought to my soul.  This is because it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).

You can be blessed everyday by giving away a smile, a hug, an encouraging word or maybe time for a friend or a loved  one.  It’s free and remember you will be a blessing and blessed because of it.

Valentine’s day is this Thursday, February 14 and it is a day of anticipation for people who exchange cards and gifts with their significant other and loved ones.  But for some people who are not in a relationship, or have loss a loved one, or maybe their spouse or mate doesn’t celebrate, this could actually be a day that bring on discouragement, depression or loneliness.  But it doesn’t need to be! I challenge you to celebrate yourself on this day of love.  I challenge you to love on yourself! Buy your own flowers or candy.  Take yourself out to dinner, or to the movies, or maybe have a candlelight bubble bath with a good book! The important thing to know is that you are enough! You don’t have to wait until you are in a relationship to feel loved.  You were wonderfully and fearfully made and God loves you.

There is nothing selfish about self-love and guess what? You don’t even have to wait for Valentine’s day or any other holiday to show yourself some love in balanced way.  You can do it today.

Take care and be blessed.

What do you do concerning the matters of your heart? How do you handle them? Do you internalize them? Do you talk about them with your mentor, friend, or spiritual adviser? Or do you pray about what’s going on in your heart? Or maybe you are the type of person that does all of the above.  Actually there is no right or wrong answer to this question.  In fact, I have done them all.  But, I must confess that my best option has been to pray about the matters of my heart.  I believe that when I cast my cares upon the Lord, it opens the door for God to work in my life and in the lives of the people I love and it releases the pressure and stress of what concerns me.

I encourage you to make a decision today to cast all your cares on the Lord and begin to trust Him to take care of you as well as the matters of your heart.  And you know what, I am confident that your heart will thank you!

Closet-cleaning is a timeless ritual some of us do at home.  We go through our closets once or twice a year to get rid of tons of old shoes and clothes that we no longer wear.  May I introduce another ritual to consider?  It is closet-cleaning of the heart.  Take a moment to reflect on what’s going on in your heart and pray that God remove any thoughts and desires that do not serve you and are not pleasing in His sight.  Ask him to heal you of your broken heart , and remove any remnants of unforgiveness of others, as well as any blame, shame or guilt from past decisions made in life.  Why wait! Do it today.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)

How an oyster handles irritating objects, such as a grain of sand can serve as an example of how we can handle frustrations and irritating people.  You see the oyster take its time to coat the grain of sand with a smooth substance called nacre.  It doesn’t just sit there and be content with being irritated and in our case, frustrated. It patiently works with the grain, coating it until it transforms to a beautiful mother of pearl.

Know that when trials, tribulations, difficult people and circumstances come into our life, they strengthen our character, increase our faith, as well as purify us.  So the next time you are going through, think of the oyster.

I have a question for you.  Where do you place your trust? Do you place your trust solely on what you see? Or how you feel? What about your job? is that where you place your trust?  Maybe you place your trust in the amount of zeros listed in your bank account? Or you may say that you trust no one but yourself.  You see the job, the bank account and how you feel are all subject to change.  But I have good news for you!  God does not change and he is faithful too! I invite you to place your trust in Him and acknowledge Him in all your ways and he shall direct your path.