Tag Archive | Peace

Whose Opinion Defines You

Jan4

My Sister Cheryl recently posted the statement below on her Facebook Status which lead to a quite lengthy list of comments…Because I am very passionate about the subject matter I just crawled up on my soapbox…

I share this because just this morning I realized Cheryl and I are not the only ones who have or are dealing with the opinions of others…

This New Year, stop listening to others’ opinions… about who you are, what they THINK about you, about who you are or what they think YOU should do or be! Stop speaking things over yourself that contradict who God’s Word says you are. Open His Word to see what He says about you. He’s a LOVING Father & wants His best for you. Don’t believe me: believe HIM. ~Cheryl Kimbrough Fairbank~

Lee’s Soap Box Session

I have sayings that helps me deal with those who attempt to steal my joy and suck my spirit out of me.

  1. I am not warring against flesh and blood: If people say or do things that contradict God’s nature …then it is not of God…Satan knows he can best get to us through those we love. By using them to whittle away at our spirit his mission is accomplished. My prayer is I will stay prayed up, read up, and filled with forgiveness and love so I am never that person for someone else.
  2. I am not the enemy: If Richard and I get crosswise. I remind him I am not the enemy. This helps us recognize exactly who the enemy is.
  3. On my list of opinions that count…Your Name IS NOT on my list: This one can get tricky…As an over achiever and a people pleaser, I have always valued the opinion of others especially those who I call family or friend. But as one who DETESTS conflict, lies, cheating, stealing, laziness and spirit suckers (Negative Knit Pickers) it helps me get the right perspective when making my list.

My list is a static list and names are added or removed as needed. God has blessed me with the Spirit of discernment so it becomes very easy to add and remove names due to the sensitivity to He has given me.

Sister, I so proud of you! You are so right…God is a good and LOVING God but He is also a JUST God. Everyone will be accountable for their actions and woe be to those who allow themselves to create conflict, speak lies, cheat, steal, waste their life away, or attempt to suck the life out of others…They will be accountable before the Lord on judgment day! People may think they have the world fooled but God ALWAYS knows!

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7

OK can you give me a hand and help me get down off my soap box but before I do…I ask…

Whose Opinion Defines You?

Love Lee ♥

Silent Mornings

Dec24

Being a morning girl, I am up at the crack of dawn each day. With a fresh cup of steaming hot coffee, I sit in my favorite chair and listen to the soft music playing, my precious birds chirping, and the soft snore of Maggie Mae who is sleeping next to my chair.

This time of day has always been special to me as it carries the hope of new and exciting things to come…A fresh slate…A new beginning…An book waiting to be written. 

But, first things first…I grab my laptop and go to Blue Letter Bible online for my morning Bible study. I love this application as it allows me to research, read, and navigate more easily. I love my time with the Lord in the morning! Reading His word keeps me in close relationship with Him!

But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. Psalms 73:28

It is when I draw near to Him, I am better able to recognize His sovereign hand on my life and trust He has everything under control. It is when I draw near to Him, I become keenly aware of His incredible love for me.

As I sit here this Christmas Eve morning surrounded by the comforts of home, I can’t help but reflect on

  • Those struggling emotionally with the holiday season
  • Those on foreign soil defending my right to be able to sit in the comfort of my home
  • Children missing their mommy or daddy because they are from broken homes
  • Moms or dads missing their children because of divorce
  • Those missing a family member who is no longer living
  • The homeless, cold, and hungry

Dear Daddy God,

I ask you in the precious name of Jesus to place your loving arms around each of these. Please meet them where they are; wrap your loving arms around them and hold their tender hearts in your hands. Keep them safe and warm. Shower them with your presence and make your presence known to them. Please give them comfort and a peace that passes understanding while making provisions for their needs. I thank you Father for the blessings you have poured out over my life. I love you and am so thankful you love me. THANK YOU FATHER!

Love Lee ❤

Pregnant With Possibility

Dec20

There will be worries. There will be struggles. But tomorrow is filled with possibility. I am inching toward eternity, and this is a journey I want to savor, not suffer through.

When Mary received the news she was carrying the Christ Child, she embraced the present for the future. She embraced the glares, glances, whispers, and disapproving looks of society all because she was pregnant with our possibilities…

The possibilities we have in today and tomorrow is because Mary said “Be it unto me”.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:34

Because you have Jesus, you too are pregnant with possibility! Life is full of possibilities with Him. He is our hope, future, protector, healer, sustainer, strength, and joy. He wants us to live up to our full potential. To take life by the horns and enjoy the ride… 

Have the courage to live fully today and await tomorrow with great hope; to be Pregnant with Possibility

Love Lee ♥

Keep On Keeping On

Dec16

Too much to do and not enough time to do it? Paul has no Peter to borrow from? People not working with ya? Life coming at you too fast? What to do when life gets overwhelming?

Keep on Keeping on!!!

Albert Einstein’s three rules of work which are especially true during the holidays…

1. Out of clutter, find simplicity

  • Christmas cards
    • Place your cards next to your favorite chair so you can work on them while relaxing
    • Compose a Newsletter highlight favorite events and milestones over the previous year. Insert  into the Card
    • Use address labels generated electronically
    • Purchase standard size envelopes to avoid paying extra postage
  • Gifts wrap
    • Use gift bags when possible.
    •  Purchase ribbon with wire in it for easier bows
    • For easy gift labels use address labels
  • Food
    • Invite family members to bring their favorite dishes
    • Keep the menu simple
    • Quality verses Quantity is a good practice
    • Use no more than 5 ingredients (There are cookbooks to help with this)
    • Decoration
  • House Work
    • Focus on high traffic areas
    • Place clutter in a storage tub to clear hard surfaces
    • Ensure bathrooms are clean
    • Clean up spills and soiled areas when they occur

2. From discord, find harmony

  • Give the Gift of Forgiveness
  • Practice kindness
  • Pray for those who are difficult to deal with
  • Make every effort to practice tolerance
  • Put others first
  • Include everyone no matter the circumstances…you will never get this day in time again.

3. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

  • Practice the KISS method (Keep It Simple Silly)
  • Think of different methods to accomplish your goals
  • Maximize on your gifts and talents
  • Captitalize on your passions
  • Ask for help

Most importantly, whether you are dealing with clutter, discord, or difficulties you can apply one action to all…Commit it to God!

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it and He will. Psalms 37:5 TLB

You Can Do This…

Just Keep On Keeping On!!!

Love Lee ♥

Be A Fruit Cake

Dec8

I find it interesting how everyone thinks everything is about them. People jockeying for the closest parking spot, pushing and shoving to catch a sale, cutting people off in traffic, oh and let’s not forget the one finger salute…We have turned into such selfish people! The world would be such a better place if we would all just turn into fruit cakes!!!

The best fruit is essential to an excellent fruit cake. Only the finest fruit will do and it must be ripened to perfection! It is not the kind of fruit you can find at your local grocery…Oh no, it is specially cultivated. Then it is candied and sugary sweet…

It is the Fruit of the Spirit!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Wow…interesting concept! If we all waited our turn, smiled, spoke to each other politely, stood up for each other, and didn’t demand our own way can you imagine what our world would be like?

So next time the line is moving slow at the grocery store and you reach the cashier you could offer him/her some words of encouragement, a smile, or a piece of gum.

Could today be the day you help that mom with 3 children load her groceries into her car or you offer to put her basket in the rack across the parking lot.

Perhaps today you could randomly choose to pick up the tab for someone’s lunch.

It doesn’t have to be huge…the simple gestures are often the most appreciated. You can make a difference in this world. So…

Get Out There and Be a Fruit Cake This Holiday Season!!!

Love Lee ♥

I Just Can’t Control Myself

Nov22

You think you have no self-control Well, just let your neighbor ring the doorbell while you are in the middle of throwing a wall-eyed fit. What do you do? You plaster a great big smile on your face and in a sugary sweet voice you greet that neighbor as any Southern Belle would do. You invite them in and you carry on a conversation with them as if absolutely nothing had upset your apple cart 5 minutes prior.  

Now, that’s self-control if I ever saw it!!!

Self control is a fruit of the spirit which is gifted to you the day you ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. But, that gift is given as a seed. It must be cultivated, nurtured and matured. It is not a full-grown plant the day you receive it.

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

What is it in your life that causes you to lose control of yourself? What pushes your buttons? Could it be…

  • The kids fighting
  • Your husband leaving his underwear on the floor
  • Dirty dishes in the sink
  • Toilet paper hung backward on the roll
  • The tooth pasted squeezed in the middle rather than rolled from the bottom
  • A huge piece of Chocolate Cake left out on the counter
  • A person which rubs you the wrong way

Whatever it is that sets you off, doesn’t have to.  You have the seed of Self Control given to you by your heavenly Father. All you must do is exercise it in order for it to be strengthened. In time you will become stronger and much more proficient at using it. Much like one is strengthened by physical exercise.

You can be in control…

Love Lee ♥

Moving On

Nov3

Life is not fair and there are a lot of injustices in this world but does that give us an excuse to blame our present behaviors on the past?

For every event in our lives there is an emotion associated to that event. And, while an event may be a positive experience for one, it can be a very negative experience for another. Think about it… Holidays are a time of celebration with family and friends with lots of food, laughter, and hugs.

Well, for some that is true but for one friend that was not the case. Growing up she lived in a home where both parents were alcoholics, they had no money, she owned one dress and had to wash it every day so she could wear it the next, she lived in a shack, and their family was looked down on in the community. For her Christmas was a horrible day. Her parents would get drunk, fight, and pass out. She never had a Christmas dinner or received a Christmas gift.

Another friend was punished when she made a mess in their “immaculate” home. Today, she is obsessive compulsive about her home and it must be perfect because that is how she was raised and that was what was expected of her. 

While another was made to cook and clean for her family as a child and to this day refuses to clean house and blame her parents for her dirty house and dysfunction.

As an adult these ladies have two choices…

  1. Live in the past and be miserable, dwelling on all the negativity, abuse, and heartache they had to endure as a children.
  2. Live in the present, forgiving, and releasing the emotions associated with their past while enjoying the present.

Now let me ask you…does it make sense to live in a home where you can not be comfortable because you are obsessed with keeping it immaculate?  Or better yet, does it make sense to live in an absolute pig pen because one is rebelling against their past…

Many are faced with that same choice. Perhaps you had a horrible childhood, your parents didn’t provide the love and acceptance you needed, you lived in poverty, or perhaps you suffered some type of abuse in your life. You have the same two choices as my friends.

How sad is it that we validate the past by giving it so much volume in our present?

Letting your past render you paralyzed and ineffective in the present is not God’s plan for your life!!!  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. Jeremiah 29:11

I use to blame my behaviors on my past, thinking my past justified my present behaviors. Then I realized…the injustice was done. It is over!!! It is the emotion tied to the injustice that lingers on.

So…It is the emotion we must deal with not our past!!!

He wants your life to be full of love, laughter, and peace of mind. He adores you! And so much so that He allowed His son to be the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, injustices, negative emotions, and bad thing that has happened in your life…

‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ 2Corinthians 5:17

I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. He has made me a new creation and I am not the person I use to be…I am a His!

Not only has He given me the grace to deal with the emotions tied to my past, He has also given me the grace to love those who have not!

So for those of you my friends who have not dealt with the emotions associated with your past and continue to use it as an excuse for your present, I encourage you to give your past to Jesus and…

Step Into the Present With Freedom With Him!!!

Love Lee ♥

Read about one who overcame a horrific past…Joyce Meyer’s

   

WoooHooo…Claiming My Inheritance

Oct26

My grandfather was a pharmacist and my grandmother was a registered nurse. As a young child I always knew my grandparents had a lot of money.    They owned most of Clute, TX ,  owned 2 drug stores, had a second home in Tennessee, and drove nice cars.  I also knew one of these days my Dad and Uncle would inherit it all and felt I would receive a portion later in life….NOT!!!

Both my Dad and my Uncle who were born with silver spoons in their mouth did not gain the business knowledge from their parents so they both quickly spent their inheritance. It didn’t take long to realize there was nothing left and all my Grandparents worked so hard for was gone and I would not have an inheritance…

NOT…I got my inheritance and It IS BEYOND MY WILDEST IMAGINATION!!!

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father”. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” Galations 4:4-7

Do you get it…Because I am a born again Christian making Jesus the Lord of my life…I am a child of God!!!

God my Heavenly Father has put me in His divine will.  

So, here is just a few things I have inherited so far…My salvation, joy unspeakable and full of Glory, peace that passes understanding, a beautiful family, wonderful friends, a comfortable home, my health, a strong will, creative imagination, non judgemental attitude, a loving heart, and a fun-loving spirit.  Does He give it to me all at once?

NO… He knows I would not appreciate it all and could not comprehend it all. It would be overwhelming to me. He gives me a little at a time…so I am able to recognize what He has given me. In addition to what I am receiving on earth He also has an awesome inheritance for us in heaven. “…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” I Peter 1:4

While it is a travesty all that my Grandparents worked for is gone, it has been an incredible lesson to me. Primarily I have learned, my inheritance comes only from God and earthly treasures can not be taken with us when we die… 

So I ask you…

Are you receiving your inheritance?

Love Lee ♥

It’s Contagious…Stop The Spread!!!

Oct20
Have you ever noticed how someone can walk into the room and the entire atmosphere can change?
I remember one instance when this occurred…Huge Lesson Learned!!!
 
I was working in an ICU unit and every bed held a patient. Although we were full, the day was pleasant and was without much drama or crisis. The phone rang and I was asked to help with a special procedure that was being performed in a different department. So, because everything was “calm” and “under control”, I told my co-worker I was going to help with a procedure and I would be right back. I left the unit and assisted with the procedure which took all of 15 minutes.
 
When I returned to the ICU what I found was UNBELIEVABLE!!! Total chaos had taken over the ICU…Call bells going off, family members at the nurses station, and the noise level was off the chart. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw my co-worker running around frantically in a panic.
 
Suddenly I realized what happened…Because I was being pulled away from the unit, my co-worker went into a complete panic and her panic had permeated the entire ICU unit…
 
I walked over to her. Told her to take a deep breath, grab a Coke and leave the unit for a break. Once she left the ICU, I took a deep breath and said a very brief prayer and made my way through the unit room by room…Tucking patients in speaking words of peace and calm over the patients with a pleasant and assuring smile. Within about 10 minutes a hush fell over the place.
 
My co-worker returned and was totally amazed at the transformation which had taken place in her absence. She asked me what had happened. I took the opportunity show her how her panic had permeated the entire ICU in the 15 minutes I was gone.  I also was able to teach her how to reign in her emotions, take control of situations, and promote peace over her patients and thus the entire ICU.
 
There have been other times I have witnessed this occur…sitting in meetings where everyone is smiling, making contributions to solutions to issues, and interacting in a healthy and professional manner. Then, an individual having a rough day can walk into the room and squelch all team productivity and change the entire tone of the meeting. 
 
Have you noticed this in your home. A family member comes in after a hard, emotional, or trying day? They can walk in the door and the entire atmosphere changes. What do you do? 
  • Recognize what is going on
  • Hold on to your peace and do you allow your peace to be disturbed or your attitude to take a downward trend
  • Pray over your home and ask God’s protection over your home
  • Pray for the person struggling

Emotions are contagious, negativity, anxiety, and discord in your home can be prevented with prayer, education, and persistence. Finally…

DO NOT EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THE CONTAGIOUS NEGATIVE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS…

Think about it…why do you want to surround yourself with negativity? IT IS CONTAGIOUS!!! Evaluate the people you choose to surround yourself with. Choose your friends wisely or encourage them to change their attitude.

I remember when a nurse in the ER came in one day and I told her “Good Morning”. Her response was “What’s so good about it?”. I took the opportunity to tell her I had made the decision to remove negative people from my life. I also said, “You know, I like you and really want to be your friend so you are going to have to be a more positive person if you want to be my friend”. Suddenly, the decision was hers. From that day forward, she has never said another negative phrase or word to me.

Let your peace radiate into the world. Then the world becomes a more peaceful place one person at a time.

TAKE CONTROL AND PROTECT YOURSELF!!!

 
Love Lee ♥

Establishing Boundaries

Sep19
Until you learn how to say “no” you will never be able to fully say “yes”.
 
Unless you know how to set boundaries to form your safe space, you will always be concerned that saying “yes” might put you in danger. So you will always pull back a little from saying “yes” with your whole heart. Paradoxically, knowing how to say “no” ans to form boundaries gives much more power to your “yes”
 
I have spent most of my life doing what everyone expected me to do rather than those things I felt were right for me; things that brought a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment to my life. Seeking approval, trying to fit in, or promoting peace and harmony often guided my decisions or determined my actions. Rather than drawing from that sense of oughtness that dwells deep within, I would do whatever I was asked in order to obtain the “atta girl”.
 
  
Seeking Approval:
There were times in my life I would have given my right arm to have the approval of others. Thank goodness, the approval of the “good” crowd meant more to me than the approval of the “bad” crowd. Otherwise, my life might have taken a very negative turn. Being an over achiever I have often gone above and beyond to obtain the approval of people who sought me and my company only for the information I could provide or the work I could produce. That which they needed from me to make themselves look good. Therefore, even the “good” crowd had an agenda!
 
Trying to Fit In:
Everyone on the face of the earth has the desire to fit in…to belong! Oh the times I laughed at jokes I didn’t find humorous or the times I agreed with the crowed or group just to fit in. Wanting desperately to be one of the gang only to find I never really did…The “lunch bunch”, “girls shopping club” , “movie gang” or the weekend trips but, wait what takes place during those outings, what is discussed, or what do they represent?
 
Promoting Peace and Harmony:
Oh the times I caved just to keep peace! The times I stopped short of the goal…all for the sake of peace and harmony! Backing down or dropping the subject just because the conversation becomes uncomfortable or the other person kicks into a passive aggressive mode. Peace at all costs or is that peace at my cost?
 
God revealed to me through the book “Boundaries” that by establishing boundaries in my life the outcome has eternal value. I now seek God’s approval over the approval of others therefore, I am no longer responsible for others happiness or success. As for fitting in, I have discovered God’s protection on my reputation and integrity because I don’t fit into certain crowds. And finally, standing up for what is right and good brings all peace and harmony over my life.
 
While setting boundaries is not a perfected art for me…I am much better at it than I was 10 years ago!Knowing I am able to set boundaries, choose my battles, and stand for what is right at all cost gives me the assurance I have the approval of my Father, I fit in with Him, and His peace and harmony floods my being.
 
To learn more on how you too can learn to set boundaries I recommend the book “Boundaries” for you!

 

Love Lee ♥