Tag Archive | Forgiveness

Think About It

In a recent conversation I suddenly realized…This person has not said one positive or encouraging word much less a positive or encouraging sentence.

Have you been in conversations like that? A conversation in which every flaw is pointed out or every statement you make is debated? Then, before you know it you begin to doubt yourself and even worse, get sucked into the negativity or begin to try to defend yourself…

It was during this recent conversation I snapped and mentally said to myself “Girl, you don’t have to listen to this! God says ___________.” The blank was filled with all the promises God has provided for my life, the blessings He has and is going to pour out on my life, the grace and mercy He has shown to date. Wow…What an enlightening moment! As I am having this epiphany the words of negativity are no longer descernable and I only hear…

“Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah”

It was the coolest thing ever!!! God began to protect my ears from the negativity and allowed my focus to move to Him!!! I choose not to think of the negative, mean, and hurtful things humans may try speak over me, my life, or my family.

Instead I will Think About These Things…

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Think About It…

Love Lee ♥

No More “What If”

Mar31

Have you found yourself wanting for something but find fear holds you back? You find yourself living in the world of “What If”

What if it hurts?
What if I can’t do it?
What if they don’t like me?
What if they don’t approve?
What if it doesn’t turn out right?
What if _________ ? (you fill in the blank)

Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain. ~Mark Twain. Action is our greatest weapon against fear. Left to smolder, fear grows upon itself, but in the face of action, fear is left in the dust.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…I John 4:18

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Nelson Mandela

NO MORE WHAT IF’S…

Let Your Light Shine

Love Lee ♥

The Battle is On

Mar30

This morning I woke feeling a little low as it seems everything in our home is wearing out. My washing machine won’t spin, the dryer is screaming, the lawn mower has a flat, my car is making strange noises and has no get up and go. Then to top it off it is going to take a lot of money to make all these needed repairs!

Then I opened my computer to find several heavy prayer requests. My Godly Christian friends with ill family members, loss of jobs, death of a parent…What’s up with all this?

While the secular world would say “That’s Life”, I say “That’s satan”. To hear how my Christian Brothers and Sisters are under such attack at such an important time of year…we are coming up on EASTER…the most important celebration for a Christian, confirms what I have known to be true for many years. Satan will do anything to divert our attention from this celebration.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Wow…Hold tight my Brothers and Sisters…Jesus will be revealed!

The Battle is On!!!

Love Lee ♥

There Is So Much More

Mar26

Recently I wrote “It Ain’t Always Pretty” but it was this morning during my quiet time the words jumped off the pages of my Bible and God spoke to me in the most vivid and comprehensible way!!!

Psalms 91:1 has always been my “Go To” scripture. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. I absolutely love that verse!!! In-fact I alluded to it in the post “I’ve Got His Rib”. But, I find it sooooo awesome that’s not all…

Beginning in verse 9 He says SO MUCH MORE!!!

If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91:9-16

WOW…WOW…WOW…

I have read this scripture many times before and it has ministered to me. But this morning….It SCREAMED into my ear!

I have work to do…I’ve got that~When God speaks and the conviction of the Holy Spirit comes over me, I know I had better listen. And, while It Ain’t Always Pretty, it is necessary to be obedient! But, here’s the kicker…

He has posted Angles around me…NOTHING (and NO ONE) can or will harm me! And…Wow be if anything or anyone tries…BECAUSE>>>

I LOVE THE LORD AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME

He has shown me His salvation and He will satisfy my every longing!!!

Praise God…There Is So Much More!!!

Love Lee ♥

It Aint Always Pretty

Mar23

I often find it amazing how we frequently don’t want to deal with our issues…

In-fact, there are times it is down right horrible. To know you must change but to resist that change is such a challenge for even the most flexible person. Why is that??? To realize obedience is the only action which can truly bring inner peace or joy why on earth would we choose to be resistant to what God has instructed us to do?

Change takes us to a place which is not always comfortable at first. Think about it

When reducing caloric intake…hunger
When reducing spending…decreased material matter
When exercising…painful muscles
When changing mindsets…increased emotional challenges

Now…all of the above changes leads us to think of the negative connotations. Why is that? Why do we always tend to focus on the negative aspects rather than focus on the positive? Think about it…wouldn’t it be so much nicer if we choose to think

When reducing caloric intake…weight loss
When reducing spending…increased reserve
When excercising…lean and sleek muscles
When changing mindsets…open mindedness and positive attitude

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2: 12-13

Dealing with our convictions is necessary for peace and sound mind but

It Aint Always Pretty!

Love Lee ♥

Heart of Worship

Mar22

Do you find it difficult to get to the heart of worship when bogged down with the cares of the world or overwhelmed with life?

Sunday morning the song “Heart of Worship” was sung in our worship service and it was a great reminder to return to the heart of worship….

Jesus

Have you worshipped today?

Love Lee ♥

This is Your Life

Mar17

I remember several years ago there was a TV show called “This Is Your Life”. They would highlight the life of a person by bringing in people from their past to surprise them. They would play a clip of a person from the past sharing a memory while the contestant on the show would try to figure out who was speaking. Often the contestant had no idea how they had impacted the person from the past and on occasion would not even remember knowing them.

Today, you are impacting someones life while creating your past.. So in order to live today to its fullest and not regret your past, you must

Put God first
Treat people with dignity
Offer words of encouragement
Do what is right even when no one is watching
Go the extra mile no matter how tired you are
Show up and be connected

While God’s grace covers our mistakes and gives us a clean slate, it does give us permission to blow our days away without thought to consequences…We will be accountable for every word or deed so make today count because…

This is Your Life!

Love Lee ♥

How to Avoid Workplace Drama

Mar15

How to Avoid Workplace Drama is one of the best written articles I have read.

How To Avoid Workplace Drama

While we must follow Christ’s command to love we can also take some pro-active measures which are based on common sense.

NO MORE DRAMA!!!

Love Lee ♥

Is Your Life an Open Book?

Mar11

Picture if you will a big thick book laying on the coffee table. Although the book has not been opened or read, a story lives within the pages. Words carefully placed on the pages by the author to create an exciting, informative, and intense read and I am certain the author is oh so proud of his masterpiece.

Did you know you my friend your life is like a book and between the covers is the most touching and tender story. Your heavenly Father began writing your story before you were even born. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” Jeremiah 1:5

Wow…How cool is that? He began writing your story before you were even born. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He penned your life within the covers of His book. He is the divine author who has described you with the most vibrant adjectives. As He wrote your story, He laughed, He cried, and He felt intense passion. You are His Masterpiece and He is so incredibly proud of you!

For some the ending of the story remains a mystery but for those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior the ending is already crystal clear because in-fact there is no ending….they will live on forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Your story can sit over there on that coffee table collecting dust or you can open it and share the fabulous pages of your life with others. The Author of your life is incredibly proud of it and would love to hear you read it out loud to others!!!

I ask you my friend…

Is your life an open book?

Love Lee ♥

What’s Your Attitude?

Mar10

This morning as I reflect on my calling in life and why God has placed me where I am…my first thought was I am humbled. Then I began to think…Do I even understand the meaning of humble?

The Dictionary defines humble as:

1: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive

2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <a humble apology>

Then gives synonyms and antonyms which helps paint an even clearer picture of humble…

Synonyms: demure, down-to-earth, lowly, meek, modest, unassuming, unpretentious

Antonyms: arrogant, bumptious, chesty, conceited, egotistic (or egotistical), fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, hoity-toity, huffish, huffy, imperious, lordly, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

In this day and age whether climbing the corporate ladder, advancing your business, or networking, only the outgoing, strong, and most boisterous tend to “move up” in the life. So when one hears humble it is often equated with being weak. Unfortunately the humble spirit almost always grates on the nerves of those who are not…

Paul urges us to “walk in a manner Worthy of the calling to which we have been called, with all humility, and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Yep, that means we must love those that portray all the antonyms of humble; which I might add is in itself not an easy task!

1 Peter 5:5 reminds us, “… Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Now I don’t know about you but I certainly do not want to be in opposition with God…I want to bathe in His grace!

Psalm 25:9 encourages us saying, “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.”

Yes, I think it is very accurate to say I am humbled and I am so blessed by God! However, for me to remain humble and show love around those people who exhibit all the antonyms above….that is the true test! Am I humble enough…NO WAY!!! So I pray God will help me grow more humble daily!!!