Tag Archive | A Love Lee Place

There Is A Way Out

Sep18

Are you feeling trapped by circumstances beyond your control? Perhaps you can’t make your bills, the kids are out of control, or you are forced to deal with difficult people.

There is a way out!!!

The trap in which we are held prisoner is our mindset. We allow our perceptions to set our limits…Often times we perceive the situation to be worse than it is because we cannot recognize it for what it is.

The Way Out is to Change Your Mindset

Rather than view everything as negative we can choose to view each and everything we endure as our Testimony. Our very own story of how God has been so good to us. Think about it…Would you be able to truly testify of God’s goodness if you never had those difficult challenges in life?

 I like to view the adversity as “Walking Out  My Testimony”.

  • I could not testify to God’s provision if I did not know financial ruin.
  • I could not testify to God’s healing hand if I did not almost died from Lyme’s Disease
  • I could not testify to God’s comfort if I did not loose a loved one 
  • I could not testify to God’s grace if I did not sin
  • I could not testify to God’s peace of mind if I did not have to trust Him with my children
  • I could not testify to God’s love if I had not felt what it was like to be unloved
  • I could not testify to God’s understanding if I have not been misunderstood
  • I could not testify to God’s companionship if I had not know what it was like to be alone and without a friend

You see every form of adversity is part of my testimony if I believe God is with me and believe…

There Is A Way Out…

 

He is my Way Out  no matter the circumstance!!!

Love Lee ♥

Footprints on Our Lives

Sep17

This morning after my quiet time I was reading my Facebook Newsfeed and saw the following post by my sweet friend Angela Dilley…

“People come into your life for a reason. Some to guide and teach you, and some just to help you grow. No regrets, I wouldn’t be who I am today without those experiences. Live and learn… Everyone that has come into my life has left a footprint which has helped mold me. I love my life….”

What a great perspective on all the different personalities that touch our lives. Those that…

  • Love us
  • Motivate us
  • Exhilarate us
  • Balance us
  • Mentor us
  • Tolerate us
  • Hold us accountable

And yes, even those that…

  • Challenge us
  • Anger us
  • Frustrate us
  • Anger us
  • Test us
  • Abandon us
  • Embarrass us

They all have left…

Footprints On Our Lives

Love Lee ♥

Getting Those Brownie Points

Sep16

You know, for years I worked myself to near death trying to obtain ‘Brownie Points”. Whether it was to gain favor with another individual or God, to be accepted, to be noticed, or just because it was expected, I thought I had to “do” something. No let’s get real…I thought I had to do EVERYTHING!!!

 But then I realized…

Brownie Points Were Getting Me No Where!

God’s word says…
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:5
 
Wow How Liberating!!!
I realized, I didn’t have to work for it…I am accepted and have approval because He has shown me mercy!
 
Now, I perform for an audience of one. I am now able to ask myself. What would God want me to do and no longer worry about doing EVERYTHING to gain those…
 

Brownie Points

Love Lee ♥

The Ultimate Friend Request

Sep15

I love it when I open Facebook and find a notification of a friend request. It is especially sweet when it is someone I have been friends with forever but have lost touch with.

I am of the belief …Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life and everyone is a friend, until they prove otherwise. Often the value of friendship is understated…

Friendship Provides:

  • Companionship
  • Conversation
  • A Helping Hand
  • Laughter
  • Advice

Strangers are just friends waiting to happen. Sometimes you pick your friends, sometimes they pick you!

When my best friend sent me a friend request it didn’t come via Facebook, email, or a phone call. It came via a gift of love!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

I am a Friend of God…He Calls Me Friend!!!

He has also sent you…

The Ultimate Friend Request

Love Lee ♥

It’s A Heart Condition

Sep13

A little girl goes to the doctor’s office for her pre-school check-up. The doctor walks in and introduces himself. He proceeds to listen to her heart and lungs. As he lays his stethoscope on her chest, he gasps and says, “Is that Barney I hear walking around in your heart?”. The little girl looks up with a big smile and replies, “No Silly, that’s Jesus in my heart…Barney’s on my underwear!”.

I love that…no inhabitions!!! Her response was so matter-of-fact and with such conviction. We as adults could learn so much from this little girl.

Often the external display of behaviors, conversations, and associations do not indicate Jesus is anywhere near our hearts. Often we exhibit negative responses based on emotion. Below are some examples of negative emotions and the underlying cause(s).

Emotion/ Underlying Source

  • Fear: Aversion
  • Anger: Displeasure or Hostility
  • Guilt: Inadequacy
  • Depression: Pessimistic
  • Pride: Exaggerated elevation of one’s self
  • Jealousy: Threatened
  • Self Pity: Inability to cope
  • Anxiety: Overwhelming apprehension
  • Resentment: persistent ill will
  • Envy: Hyper awareness of what others have coupled with an unhealthy desire
  • Frustration: Unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs

So, when talking with an angry person who is frustrated you are better able to recognize you are really speaking with a displeased person with unfulfilled needs.

Hmmm…this insight might just put a whole new spin on what you hear that person saying. While you can’t change the circumstances that lead to the negative emotion from this person, we just might be able to have more compassion towards them when interacting with them.

In addition, if you recognize you might possess these emotions you should consider trying to find the source and begin to work through the issues.

When conscious of these emotions we can be somewhat in control of our interactions and reactions. We can adjust our responses and conversations to cater to our audience. What we need to remember is we live for an audience of One. We should speak and live to bring to honor and glory to Him…Father God.

It’s A Heart Condition

So, I ask you my friend…

What condition is your heart in? & Who is that I hear walking around in your heart?

Are you speaking to others and responding to others while bringing Glory and Honor to Your Father?

I have some work to do…How about you?

Love Lee ♥

Get Real and Cut the Bull

Sep11

Do you find yourself being who people expect you to be?
Are You always putting on a front?
Do you have difficulty sharing your views and thoughts?

Perhaps it’s time to

Get Real and Cut the Bull

I love what Beth Moore has to say about Cutting the Bull…

Is it time for you to Get Real?

Love Lee ♥

Our Nana is Awake

Sep10

As I wrote just a few days ago…”What a Difference a Day Can Make”. Yesterday our Nana was on a ventilator and today she is off and breathing on her own. Not only is she breathing… She is talking!

God Is Sooo Good!!!

As I sit here holding her hand, I thank God for His sweet presence.

Nana still has a long road ahead but she has come such a long way so quickly.

Please continue to pray for our Nana as she still has a nasty infection which is wiping her out!!!

But for now…

Our Nana Is Awake!!!

Love Lee ♥

Their Hearts Are Hurting

Sep9

So you wake up each morning, hang your legs over the side of the bed and say to yourself, “How Can I Screw Up This Day?” Right???

WRONG!!!

However, there are those who would believe otherwise. In-fact, it becomes their goal to critique you on everything you do. You know…that person who makes it their personal goal  criticize your every move. Have you ever wondered what make the critical person tick? Having had my fair share of criticism I have recognized the following commonalities of a critical personality:

Internal Anger:

Often the critical person has deep-seated anger carried within. This anger could possibly be generated by unmet goals, emotional abuse, or the belief their rights had been violated. This person walks miserable and by being critical they ensure everyone is as miserable as they are.

Upbringing:

A person can be overly critical because this is how they were wounded as a child. Then, carries the wound in the subconscious mind making him/her overly critical and unbearable to be around. This person has received negative messages as a child resulting in an overly critical and sarcastic adult. The negative messages that this child constantly received as a child turned into a way of thinking that lead him to become an overly critical and sarcastic adult.

Lack of Self-Confidence:

The person who lacks self-confidence frequently puts himself down. This person is full of negative messages and these negative messages are transmitted to others in the form of criticism.

Now when you encounter that constant overly critical personality you no longer have to become defensive because your are able to recognize the criticism is not always warrented. In-fact, now rather than seeing an overbearing critic you are able to see a wounded child who is angry and lacks self-confidence.

So how do you respond to the criticism? Do you retaliate or withdraw?  Dealing with Criticism is an awesome article I found that is full of advice for you on how to deal with criticism.

To deal with the critical persons…pray for them!

Their Hearts Are Hurting!!!

Love Lee ♥

 

Dealing with Difficult People

Sep8

“Life is too short to spend your precious time trying to convince a person who wants to live in gloom and doom otherwise. Give lifting that person your best shot, but don’t hang around long enough for his or her bad attitude to pull you down. Instead, surround yourself with optimistic people.”  ~Zig Ziglar

Ain’t That the Truth!

I would rather rob a liquor store than be around that person but unfortunately you have to work with that person or worship with that person or perhaps even live with that person. We have all had to deal with that difficult personality who is miserable and wants to share their misery with everyone else by being…

  • Negative
  • Hateful
  • A Bully
  • Vindictive
  • A Kill Joy
  • Angry
  • Unrealistic
  • Passive aggressive

You get the picture and I am sure someone’s name or face came to mind as your read the list of negative descriptions. So, how do you deal with this person you are forced to interact with?

  • Recognize The Enemy:It is spiritual warfare. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
  • Put Your Armor on: Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11
  • Say to Yourself: “They are not the enemy”.  You are not fighting against flesh and blood.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Ephesians 6:12 
  • Pray: Take a mental pause from the ranting and raving to whisper the name of Jesus over your situation. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:2
  • Love: We are instructed to love our enemies so when this difficult person is acting out make a conscious decision to love. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

It is easy to get caught up in drama but we must be the rational healthy one and recognize we can not change this person but God can. And remember that is why they are refered to as…

Difficult People

Love Lee ♥

Praying For Our Nana

Sep6

Amazing the difference a day can make. On May 7th 2011 the family was celebrating the graduation of one of my nieces the next day our Nana took a nasty fall in the parking lot of the hotel. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and while she had a couple of nasty bumps and bruises on her forehead and a laceration on her knee she was cleared for discharge home. Later that month, we had our 5th annual Smith Family Reunion and Nana was not able to attend because her knee was not healing. In-fact because she is a diabetic it was progressively getting worse. She was so disappointed she was not able to attend as she loves being surrounded by family and friends.

The first of June Nana returned to the doctor to find out she had a nasty infection in her knee and would require IV antibiotics…After long term antibiotic therapy and 6 knee surgeries our Nana took a turn for the worst last Thursday.

One day she was celebrating the graduation of her granddaughter…the next she sustained injuries from a fall.

One day she is getting a manicure, pedicure, and her hair done while sitting on the side of the bed…the next she is in ICU engaged in a battle for her life.

Our Nana remains in ICU in septic shock…She is on a ventilator, receiving mega doses of antibiotics, feedings, and dialysis…

All of this from a FALL…

I share our Nana’s story for three reasons:

  1. To Remind Everyone to Put Safety first!!
    Falling is the leading cause of unintentional injury at home among Americans 65 and older. Older people sustain such injuries by stumbling on stairs; slipping in bathtubs; falling off ladders and step stools; and tripping over garden hoses, dog leashes, and household appliance cords. Nana fell in a parking lot…
  2. To Remind Everyone to Talk to your family about your wishes!!!  What do you want if:
    Your heart stops beating or you have a lethal arrhythmia: Do you want someone to try to get your rhythm back by performing compressions or shocking your heart with a defibrillator?
    You quit breathing: Do you want to be intubated and placed on a breathing machine?
    You are not able to eat: Do you want to sustain your life with feeding tubes?
    Your kidneys shut down: Do you want to have dialysis
  3. To Remind Everyone each day is a Gift!!!
    We are not promised tomorrow so…Grab every opportunity you have to tell your family and friends how much you love them.

Please Continue to Pray for Our Nana…

Love Lee ♥