Prayer requests and such

 Let me jump right in.

I believe there are times that we don’t share our prayer requests because we believe but yet, we don’t believe. What if it doesn’t happen or I don’t get blessed or I don’t receive the increase or healing I’m asking for? Will they think I’m a fool? Will they think I don’t know God‘s plan for my life? Will my request be too outrageous or gargantuan ? 

We want others to join in with our belief ultimately! I encourage you to share with who your lead to disclose to what your prayers needs are. Maybe me making a prayer request known could spark the belief system of someone else!? Never mind what I’m believing for, but because I asked someone to join in prayer with me and their faith was renewed, maybe this is the answer to a prayer, just maybe.

Unselfishly Committed

Beware of people who are only there for you to benefit from your harvest. They’ll celebrate, they will boast of your abilities and they will even want some for themselves. They will claim you as their own. I have never seen a leech personally, yet I have full knowledge of it’s behaviors.

I beseech you to pay attention to who’s there during the planning season, who’s there to pull weeds and help water the seedlings. Remember the ones that help you research and prepare. Recall the people who are supportive during the transitions as they are one of a kind. Those persons are unique. Special. Devoted. Unselfishly Committed!

First Fruit offering

Jan 2, 2022: I am being protective of my firsts. As if it were an offering. Giving of my talent, time and treasure, which all stem from my body!

My feet hitting the ground on the 45th January of my life is different? You better believe it’s different!  Different than the 30th year, the 23rd year, different in the 41st year, which is  the same birth year that my dad‘s last new year would have occurred. Should I take this seriously? You bet your WORLD I should!

The other day I jotted in my journal, “a seed does not require much to produce”. I plan to protect what I sow, invest and plant today. 

Giving up won’t get you there!

I have attempted to learn how to crochet for over 10 years! I have asked and inquired and requested and waited. After not having my request fulfilled, I eventually signed up for a single 1 hour class at a craft store locally. May I add I was super reluctant knowing that I am bright and I am a quick study, but I knew that something this important required hands-on instruction to achieve the level of success I desired?

When I got to the class, I was the sole student! We can agree that this can be intimidating or viewed as an opportunity! Well, guess which view won?

I can look at this project and see the mistakes or I can see my bravery! Not only did I learn, but started with an intermediate stitch! 

Don’t give up on what’s in your heart to do! Find a way to make it work no matter how long it takes. You may be the only one with an opportunity, but it’s yours for the taking!! Don’t be hard on yourself as you grow and reflect. Stay grateful and remind yourself of the courage the journey has required to remain hopeful and thrive. 

What will you choose to see?

Let Your Soul Speak

Tonight, I accidentally let my soul pray, "I can't be all things to everyone" and the weeping began.

In that moment, I was allowed to be weak and encouraged at the same time. Oddly enough, I did not rush out of the moment, as if it were a dramatic play scene. I reassured myself that it was okay to express and have this feeling! This was certainly not a moment to pull myself up by my own boot straps, but to realize that I was wearing sneakers, an entirely different type of shoe.

Meditation and prayer are one in the same for me. The peeling back process of our thoughts, worries and things that make us anxious that occurs through meditation and the quieting of distractions allows me to see with a different eye. The prayer activates my voice and hearing with prayer. As I write this, I realize that I "pray" with my head more often than pray with my heart. While both are important, there are times when my heart's prayer fails to surface because of all the noise. 

This season, I am being lead read to scriptures, quotes and experiences around the word "wait". So interesting. I will pick this conversation up later, but let's start digesting it. 

My Competition

Today, the first thing I told myself when I started running my 5K was “this is the best timing ever”. It’s amazing how during the entire run though,  I rarely glanced at my watch, but whenever I looked at my watch I would look at the distance and not the time that has passed. It hit me that what’s most important in journeys is how we grow and how we encourage ourselves along the way and NOT so much how long we’ve been in a season or how much further we have to go before it ends. 

Quite honestly, as I continued to run one of the encouraging things I reminded myself was that I am competing against myself. I began to see the Olympics and all of the individual lanes on the track. I saw Shaunaof 2015 in one lane and Shauna of 2017 in the other lane and Shauna of 2010 in the other lane. Lane 5 hosted Shauna of 2005 and Lane 6 had Shauna of yesterday. Are you picking up what I’m putting down? The only competition we have is who we were yesterday. If that doesn’t add stretch goals and fire, I’m not sure what will! YOU VS YOU.

Self-Issued Grace

 

I have adopted the disclaimer to my drive, that “the person I was yesterday is my only competition”. High expectations and internal motivation has typically been my recipe for goal achievement.

My greatest challenge recently included giving myself permission to not achieve goals and tell myself no! I wanted my inhalation to be rooted from a strongly founded exhalation.  I realized that I am not just pushing myself to the limit, but often past the limit. Grace was extended to relax my standards and just be. In this time, I was expected to restore and let my health be a lifestyle, not just a box to check off or another ring to close.

Is there a task or behavior that you can allow yourself to be “excused from the table”? It certainly will not change your character. Just know the reward will produce an enhanced YOU, filling yourself with kindness. Affirm that you ARE giving (it) your best! This best includes compassion and peace.

So, will you join me to give ourself permission to exhale and grace to enjoy it?

 

The Fine Line of the Defined.

"If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive." Audre Lorde

Ms Lorde,

In 1982, I was 5 years old. If I had grasped this concept then... wow! Thank you #AudreLorde

The expectations of others can be so taxing. The expectations we place on ourselves can be unrealistic. Comparison has no place in the peaceful rivers of the mind.

My  prayer request for you and the meditation
1.Continue to be vibrant, hope-filled and bold.
2. Doubt negative Self Talk (you will get that later).
3. Stand on my uniqueness (for I am fearfully and wonderfully made)
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How can you apply this quote to your life?

Accepting my weakness as willingness

Today I was sitting there pondering...
I have the assignment of creating a Life Season Timeline while I gaze at this floor plan that I was inspired to jot down.

Needless to say, my anxiety was inching upwards as my confidence in God's ability to execute rises.

Let's agree on this... I do not know the details, but I know the ending.  I know I am inadequate, but I also know I'm willing....

Not to be churchy...but today I was chewing on Jer 29:11...For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It really helped to clear and lift my head. My shoulders got a lil lighter! Today I will trust Him!!

Simple Convo Always Pulls The Heartstrings

Talking with my oldest today, she mentioned the concept of "making ends meet". I stopped her. Baby, we are blessed that you have been able to live with "ends overlapping"...

I say that to say engage in conversation with your kids at ALL levels/ages to see where their minds are. The variation of the perception of how your brow sweats and how good you make it look may be great!

#Blessed were the days of living check to check but peaceful are the days of "oh, we get paid today?"

I am but He is!

Sometimes #RockBottom is all about prospective. Position yourself!

#LifeLine

Fly again!

Lyrics by Mr Mister:

"Take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings"

This morning, I just hear this chorus encouraging all of us. For those of you who are getting up with broken wings may you remember how to fly... not remember that they were once broken or rather any guilt, embarrassment or grief for that past season! If you do remember that your wings were broken, may we all remember the lesson taught and learned, but even greater remember the reward of flying. Fear has no hold on us! Anxiety flees with prayer! God's good hand of favor is upon us. His grace is sufficient for us. You too can fly again. The Book of love, the Bible, is what we need to fly again. God's Word is with you and goes before you! You will mount up on wings like EAGLES!! Pick up your broken wings and pride for He is the lifter of your head!

Passion Driven

Twas looking for what would click and fuel my inspiration for my nightly meditation time... and here it is. What I am passionate about is what and where my purpose lies. I will stay relevant, humble and in my lane. The Lord will bless me (open doors) when I'm faithfully working where I'm supposed to be! My blessing is here and more (greater in quality and size) is near!

Just "BE" Today

I took today off from work as a Mental Health day. I will enjoy it without any regrets of yesterday or any anxiety of what's to come tomorrow. Today I will simple BE.

Be proactive in your emotional maintenance. The universe will pull from you until you are depleted and still, that won't be enough... Just BE! if something gets done, fine! If it doesn't, fine!

Choose to see the good

There r far less people attempting 2 break u down, & more actively & in-waiting 2 invest n YOU.

The brow beaters are many. Those who bully are increasing. But we have to remember those who so into us and invest in us and even more believe in us! Their number is greater because God is greater! Make the conscious decision to see those people and the light over the darkness.

#RememberThis #Lifeline #PrayerRequests

Transitional Perspective

May your day be filled with finish lines to say goodbye to, Journeys that we learn from, and starting points of which we catapult onward! You are resilient! You are progressing! You are evolving!

God will fix it

"God-orchestrated opportunities" to help others when you are in a valley  examples of how He will provide and care for you while being diligent in spreading His love. God will fix our problems. Be a willing vessel to help others.

This is my insight after today's even. I came to work with baggage come but I am medially had to move my bag is to the side, as soon as I got to work to help another.

I choose to be an instrument and willing vessel weather I'm on the mountain top, the valley, or anywhere in between!

Zoom out!

I pinned this and captioned..." Anteater, stop being selfish. It aint always about u! See the bigger plan!"

Oh this is so funny, he is focused on his survival and the Lord's plan is focusing on existence beyond the Ant Eater's years!

Friends

This goes well with the reflection I had this morning. Over the last season, my circle has changed. If yours has too, its not for you to point the finger at them, but to look at yourself and say why? Good and bad.

I'm content. I have peace. I can't mentor everyone. I'm not in a place to receive all pearls. But I am an honorable woman. Driven and highly favored. I am okay with transitional needs.

Keep pushing

My fave fist pumping lyrics?

Ain't nothin' gonna to break my stride!
Nobody's gonna slow me down, oh-no
I got to keep on movin'! - Matthew Wilder

We have the power to take a stand! Press on! Don't let it phase you! Whatever it is.... the days is yours. Keep moving.