11 Ways to Stay Hungry in Harmony

Yes, it's amazing to stay hungry, but can you do it in harmony through all seasons?

The regular wear and tear of life can have an affect of all of us if we don't take care of ourselves. Being a dreamer, as I know many of you are, that hunger can keep us up at night. This hunger is only fed by action. Or so we thought. I am going to share with you 11 ways to stay hungry in and out of seasons without losing your mind or damaging your health.

1. Turn off your phone and become MIA from social media accounts without permission or forewarning. Seems sort of unprofessional right? Well so is directing your attitude upon others because you feel trapped and overworked, or possibly putting the wrong message out there because you're having a bad day. Face your problems before you facebook them.

2. Positive Self Talk and Messages. Sounds corny right? Well allow me to remind you that no one can give you better encouragement than you can give yourself. Come on. You talk to yourself all the time anyway. You might as well be your own cheerleader, mascot and team instead of opponent.

3. Pray. Pray. Pray. If you don't know the benefits of prayer then I suggest you try it. If it's been a while for you, try writing letters to God. Extremely therapeutic and helpful! Besides, where you lack, God will supply.- Philippians 4:19

4. When you're facing issues, please don't go to people that aren't equipped  to speak upon your life in that area. Like if you're having financial issues and need financial advise, why on earth would you go talk to your next broke friend? If you're having marriage issues, your single friends are not the one's to call; nor Tyron. You get the picture.

5. Reading. Who ever said reading is for dorks must have been sippin' on gin and juice. Read things that will add upon you, that will lift you spiritually and challenge you. Watching TV or listening to music is cool but it's so important to be mindful of what you let come inside of you. What comes inside will come out. Above all else, Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.- Proverbs 4:23

6. Pay attention to what you consume. I love that quote "you are what you eat." And although I am no health guru, nor certified personal trainer, the average Joe will tell you 'when I eat healthy food I feel better, when I eat greasy food, I get the itis." You need your energy to function to the best of your ability. It is your only temple so take care of it.

7. Stop telling those seasonal friends your lifetime goals. Not everyone who asks how you're doing and what you're up to really cares. Some people honestly just want to make sure it's not better than them. Your true confidants should not exceed the number of fingers in one hand.

8. Take it one day at a time. Many times people tap out or never even start because they think about the long term goal instead of the big picture. Each day is a new chance to take a new step. Sometimes you might even crawl or limp. Rest when need be. Then take another step.

9. Understand, accept, embrace the fact that not everyone is going to like you. Not with bitterness and 'these haters' messages every where, but with dignity because it means that you're actually an individual. The person who is liked by EVERYONE has a chameleon suit that is exhausting to change from. Save yourself the headache. It's quite possible to respect and love everyone without necessarily needing them to like you.

10. Your blessing is in being a blessing to others. Have you ever thought that you were having a bad day, then talked to someone that was doing a lot worst, only to come to the conclusion what you're going though is chump change? Be grateful for every breath that you take and use it to be a blessing upon others.

11. Never take things so seriously that you lose your ability to laugh. “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” 
― Charles Dickens. Joy is contagious. Pass it on.

Be that go getter! Balance is everything though! 

A Spirit of Excellence

I listened to this sermon by Joel Olsteen the other day about the Spirit of Excellence. Before I get into the message, can I just say that Joel Olsteen is THAT dude?! Only Joel can give a puncturing Word of God slap in your face, still keep a huge smile on his, while not offending anyone. haha

Anyway, the message talked about having a spirit of excellence in our PRESENT situation.

We may not have our dream house but what are we doing to take care of the house we were blessed with? Are you keeping it titty and everything neat? Are you taking care of the grass or just letting it grow all out of control? 

We might not be graced with a husband of wife that we want, but what are we doing to make ourselves better and where are we looking? Are we all up in the ratchet club expecting to meet a graceful partner? Are we carrying ourselves with respect and dignity?

 We may not have that job or promotion but what are you doing to excel in the one now? Are you clocking out 15 minutes early? Going on facebook, twitter AND instagram every chance you get or are you putting in that extra time, going above and beyond when no one is looking, and still preforming to a tee when your boss is on vacation?

You see, God isn't going to bless us with our next, until we appreciate our now.

Building a Skyscraper

Did you know that the taller the building, the deeper the construction team had to dig into the dirt?

Yes. In order for a massive building to be built, the earth must first be torn and it's base rooted on solid ground. These tall buildings have to be able to withstand trembling winds, up-roaring floods, panicking shakes, and a stampede of people inside trying to make a difference. But before it can be this beautiful building it's core had to be constructed on sure ground.

What am I trying to say? I am trying to say that each expert started as a beginner. I am trying to say that when your world gets shaken, it is not without a reason. I am trying to say that the depth of your past is an indication of the height of your future. As I check my very own heart, I ask you friend, are you building your dreams on solid ground?

Matthew 7:24-25 (24) Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.(25) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Trusting In God's Timing

Trust in Gods timing. It can sound cliche it's been said to us so many times. I won't front. Sometimes its hard to understand why our hard work hasn't paid off yet. It seems as if every one else is getting promoted, all of your friends are getting engaged or married, or someone else gets their 'big break'. And you're just sitting there witnessing it all. You think God, "where's my promotion, where my husband/wife, why can't I can't my piece of the pie?"

  

 Would it drive you crazy to trust that God is never one second late? That promise He made to you may come to  pass in 5 years or one week. That promotion may have not come maybe because a year from now you'll get a greater one that will blow your socks off. Maybe your 'boo'  never proposed because he was never the husband God ordained for you. Maybe you were rejected because God knew that if He gave you the blessing then and there, you wouldn't have been able to handle it maturely. Maybe you're struggling just a little bit longer so that you learn how to grip a little bit tighter to Him.

Trust in His timing. Not because I am saying that it's always easy, but because it is ALWAYS worth it. That rejection may have just been for your protection. That closed door may just lead you to the best door. Trust Him. He is never one second late no matter how much our advanced clocks count the milliseconds.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

A Poem For Your Children on Christmas

Let us not forget the Christ in Christmas. As our children frolic along in their innocence this season, let us never think they are too young to know the truth about it. I found this poem that I wanted to share with you all. Who knows, maybe parents will even benefit. ;-)

"Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

 

You have to wait in line to see Santa.

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"

JESUS knew your name before you did.

Not only does He know your name,

He knows your address too.

He knows your history and future and

He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.

JESUS offers Health, Help and Hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys.

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but.

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.

JESUS became our gift and died on a cross.

Yes, from sin He sets us free!"

Who Lied To You?

Who lied to you and told you that you had to be perfect to come to God?

A friend of mine once said "I am not ready because I'm not ready to live my life like that."

Like what?

There's this strong misconception that one has to COME cleansed but that is an upright LIE! The Lord says "come as you are!"

Allow me to tell yall what that means.

That means broken, broke, abused, addicted, boisterous, cunning, deceiving, fraudulent, hopeless, insecure, jacked up, killer, sinner, lustful, knocked up, liar, hurt, used, bruised, backslider, opportunist, drug dealer, prostitute, and everything in between.

You come willing and He will do the rest. Know that it's going to take work, and a surpassing faith but He will bring comfort, peace, healing and restoration to every area of your life and the lives of your family if you trust Him enough to say "I can't do this without You" and then obey.

What are you waiting for? There's no mess too big or no heart too broken for God.

It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. Keep Going!

Where Did 'Gorgeous Inside' Come From???

Actual sign

 

I always get asked “where did gorgeous inside come from?” Besides the obvious reason of its representation, I’ll tell you how it came about for me.

Like many of us, when I was an adolescent I was lost. I will say I was a bit beyond though. I did things I never was supposed to do at a young age and influenced others to do the same. Not something I am proud of but lessons I am grateful for.

In all of my craziness, and outlandish behavior, I never quite fit in. I was popular but still felt very alone. My friends would give me the side eye when I would want to talk intellectually and they wanted to talk about cute boys. It’s like God injected me with wisdom at birth because sometimes the things that would come out of my mouth even surprised me. I admit, I ‘dumbed myself down’ at times not to be quite an alien (because that’s what I felt like at the time).

So in accordance with my blog title, I can’t lie to yall: One day when I was fourteen, I was smoking weed with some kids in the neighborhood and walking around. On our journey we walked by this house which was for sale. It had a for sale sign and an “I’m gorgeous inside” sign. Where I grew up, at the time, the houses were rag-it-ty. So I guess the sign was the perfect cope out, or else no one would step foot into that house.

(Something like this)

The sign called out to me in my heightened stupor. I wanted to take it but I knew that it was wrong. Just as I touched it and looked up, there was a woman in a suit at the window smiling at me and nodding her head. As if she was saying “take it, it’s yours.” So I did, running like the cops were coming after me.

When I turned fifteen and started driving, that sign boldly sat in my back window. Anyone I grew up with can tell you that’s how they recognized my Honda. One day this man was honking at me at a light and as I’m ready to curse him out he smiled and said “it’s so nice to see that sign. There are too many people that just care about their outer and don’t worry about their inner.”

His words never left my heart. At that point I understood my calling a little bit more, although throughout the years, I still got lost along the way. I knew that I didn’t fully fit in for a reason. And the nights where I cried alone because someone called me naïve for being so forgiving or ‘too emotional’, God would tap me on my shoulder and say “You’re gorgeous inside. Don’t worry about them.”  

Gorgeous inside isn’t a pretty picture. It’s a calling. It’s those intangible moments only created by God. And it’s the overcoming of conflict within to walk on purpose and not for others. Gorgeous inside is truth embedded in substance. Gorgeous inside is not a flashy mob, but sometimes it’s just walking alone with God and truly listening to your heart.

Gorgeous inside means ‘I don’t care about your attire, whose flyer, or who can pay the highest bill’. Gorgeous inside is vulnerability and transparency at its finest, admitting that at times we come short but when we give our 100, God does the rest. Gorgeous inside is more blessed than a woman with a double D chest because gorgeous inside understands that it is our inner light and our outer deeds that truly make us beautiful!

I am gorgeous inside. Are you?