Start Where You're At. Work With What You've Got.

I felt extremely led to make this video today. It is a right now message built to encourage you to take those steps towards your destiny.

I sincerely hope you enjoy and that this blesses you.

Start Where You're At. Work With What You've Got. 

Stay In Your Own Lane

There's so much going on and readily available for us to view almost instantaneously through social networking. We would be liars if we said we didn't occasionally look to see how others were doing. And while others can influence us and motivate us, I want to remind someone that NO ONE CAN BE YOU BETTER THAN YOU.

I'll be very transparent and use my own experiences as an example. My purpose, condensed, is writing and encouraging people. Often times quotes come without thought to me. These are the gifts I've been given from God. But my writing style isn't traditional. It's to the point and raw. What some people may take paragraphs to write or say, flows through me in one sentence.

Here's my point. I admire many authors and contemporary people truly making a difference. But I find that when I share their work, say or do something as they would, it doesn't nearly have the same affect as when they did/said it initially.

So I stay in my lane. I am not graced to speak on finances, so I don't go there. I am currently not married, so I won't touch that. These pipes of mine sing best in the shower and unashamedly during praise and worship, but I bet you'll never catch me trying to record the next 'hit' with auto-tune. You see, I stay in my lane.

Although staying in your own lane sounds like a restricting term, it can actually make one limitless. It means that one knows the gifts that they were birthed with, and they can take the time to perfect them.

Again, THERE'S NO ONE QUITE LIKE YOU.

But let's be clear. Just because you're not great in a certain area doesn't mean you should never touch it whatsoever. But it does mean before hoping from one project to the next, from one area to another, perfect your craft or simply just be you.

No one has walk, talk, talents, experiences, swag, vision, assignment, grace, purpose just like yours. Walk in THAT authority. That you can never be a carbon copy because you are too busy being an original. SO what if they hate on you?! People often mock what they can't jock. Be who God created YOU to be.

Are you having trouble finding out what you're purpose is? You find that out on bended knees.

Through experience and trying to silence my purpose for so many years, I can tell you this: Your purpose is that vision that keeps coming upon you no matter how many times you try to ignore it. Your purpose is you doing that thing and hours passing with it feeling like a second. Your purpose are those visions so great that they keep you up at night. I can't tell you your purpose but I can tell you it's waiting for you and I am waiting for you to bless us all with it! 

  

X-Out Social Media X-perience Social Life

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to participate in a Social Media Fast. It didn't take a lot of thought to know that the Lord was compelling me to be a part of it. I had done a semi fast from Facebook before but really didn't have anyone to hold me accountable so it was a little easier to "slip up".  I challenged my children to be a part of it as well.  We fasted from Facebook, instagram, twitter, games, as well as limited t.v. and radio. 

Day one was rough! I found myself going to my phone almost as natural as I picked up a cigarette and smoked before God delivered me. Without even thinking about it, it was so easy to start something and then get distracted by Facebook before. Honestly, I had to delete the whole app off of my phone and deactivate it. That evening my middle son and I had gotten into an argument because I had asked him to turn off the music he was playing. I was beginning to enjoy the quiet, with four kids that is simply rare.  I was able to expose the stronghold that  cell phone music had on him because of his reaction. 

Almost every night that week we read either a chapter out of the Bible or a devotional, talk about it and then we pray. Our usual 15 minutes lasted an hour. I was elated!! I even asked the kids  if there was anyone at school that was in need of  prayer and they came up with quite a list! It was awesome for them to be able to see all the people around us that are in need. 

That Friday, an Ice cream shop called Sweet Frog was having a Father, daughter "Princess and the Sweet Frog night."  I took my daughter because her father doesn't live here.  It was quite busy, there were lots of  pretty little girls dressed up in princess dresses with Tiaras. We had to wait a little while for a table but once we got one I noticed a dad holding his daughter,  trying to feed her too.  I offered him to come sit at our table. He gladly accepted. When he sat down I began to reach for my phone so I could  "hide behind it" so to speak. BUT I was fasting, so I pressed passed that awkward feeling and asked him a few questions.

Its amazed me how we were in deep conversation about life. His young daughter showed me pictures of herself, her mommy and  her daddy on his phone. It was great. I thought 'wow, this little girl is so proud of her daddy. (Isn't that how we feel about our Heavenly Father?)' He shared how he had just got off of work and rushed her over here to get ice cream.  I wondered what MOM was doing home alone for that little bit of free time too. 

Well, as we got ready to leave I was waiting for my little ones to finish up, I paused and looked around at all the little princesses and their daddy's. I then noticed that out of about 7 dads, 5 of them were on their phone, not even talking to their daughters as they sat there eating ice cream. My heart began to physically ache and I thought wow, look at all these little girls sitting "alone" entertaining themselves with ice cream as daddy plays on his phone. 

I walked behind one man and saw that he was playing Ruzzle. :/   I instantly began to pray and ask God to forgive me for anytime I may have made it seem like my phone was more important than talking to my children. It took me all the way back to my childhood, having parents that were there but not there if that makes any sense. It made me ill to think that we have come to a place where we hide behind phones, text messages and social media. We don't TALK to each other anymore. 

I'm so grateful that God allowed me to fast and see this for myself. I got so much accomplished this week and was able to focus on the more important things in my life. I would encourage anyone to try it for yourself and see what you have been missing out on!!!

Meet Tabata~ You can email her at here

I am so full of joy just to be loved by Jesus. I have a heart for children and making people feel special, valued and loved. I think every woman should know she is BEAUTIFUL, I'm still learning that for myself.

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.