Voices that say...

....your not enough

can derail you from your path.

But...

when you recognize that you have the power to change

those voices, 

you can become unstoppable!

notes...

a perfectly gray morning 

twinkle lights and candles aglow

started my morning with a guided meditation prayer *love

sitting on the floor with devotionals scattered around...

my journal, Polly pacing over me kneading certain spots to

settle...then not

hubby's Sunday bacon, and the smell of coffee...

feeling hooghly today....

~

self-critical and external voices have the power to shape 

how you feel, what you do, everything about you...

it doesn't mean it's relevant

if you are listening to those who say you are....

or should be....

and it doesn't align with the truth...

close your ears to them

one of the greatest enemies of joy in your life

is conflict with others

relationship problems can contribute significantly

to your sense of discontentment & despondency

dealing with difficult people is challenging enough

managing your negative thoughts about them

can be even harder

you may be stuck with them...

feel like you've had all you can take....

don't know what to do....

do the best you can

moment by moment

focus on your part

...we never stop growing

He never stops working....

~

'Meditate on My word.

Do not be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your

focus on Me.

I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me

through life.

You can be so influenced by others and swayed by their opinions.

It's important that you realize I allowed these people into your life

for My purposes.

Instead of allowing them to become the focus of your thinking,

ask Me what I am teaching you or providing for you through them.

When inappropriate, ugly words, & deeds of others drive you to turn

towards Me

they can be unwitting agents of your spiritual growth.

So make the choice to turn towards Me.

I promise to give you the wisdom &

strength to deal with them with grace.

I am pleased with you.

Rejoice in the tiny triumphs.

I love you!'

~Jesus~

(sources: Jesus Calling, Charles Stanley, Bob Goff)

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Sending peace to those whose dreams were replaced

with survival mode.

I hope you do whatever the hell makes you happy!"

~Nate~

"Let them be wrong about you.

There's nothing to prove."

~unknown~

"When a person starts healing after living in survival mode,

they have a deep desire for honesty & authenticity.

They've had to fight for their ability to think clearly

& know who they are.

It's been quite costly.

They're not willing to engage with those who won't

respect that."

~Nate ~

"It's not only trauma people are healing from,

but the ways people treated them when they asked for help."

~Nate Postlethwait~

 

God, what are You...

...saying to me?

notes...

Surprise

God says something in a very special way

Personal

God what are you saying to me?

Specific 

Read the Bible with God's message to you in mind

Encouragement

He gives you words of encouragement

because He knows you need it

He wants you to listen

He wants you to believe He speaks to you

Serious

He wants you to understand when He's speaking to you

He can speak to you anytime

oftentimes you're not listening

Listen to Him because He has something to say

to you

He knows exactly how to get your attention

He wants the best for you

He will guide you

When God says this is what I'm going to do

you don't change God's mind

Frightening

When He tells you to do anything

He assists you.

You don't live by your feelings

you live by the truth

He will be clear enough that you'll understand

what He requires of you

Learn to talk to God

Learn to listen to God

Step-by-step

He will speak clearly

He will never tell you to do something that He

doesn't have a reason, purpose, or goal

Obey Him in the simple things

Trust Him no matter what

Watch Him work

He loves you

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Unforgiveness. A source of a great deal of conflict

and stress in your relationships.

Examine your heart.

Check to see..

*If you secretly hope someone gets what they deserve.

* Talk negatively about anyone to others.

*Indulge in fantasies of revenge-even seemingly harmless ones.

*Spend time mulling over what others have done to you.

*How do you feel when something good happens to a person who has wronged you?

* Do you blame anyone for how your life has turned out?

Do you find it difficult to be open & trusting with people?

*Are you frequently angry, depressed, or bitter?

*Do you find it difficult to thank God for anything that happened in your life?

If any of these is true for you, you may be harboring resentment.

Confess any unforgiveness to Him.

Lord, help me forgive wholeheartedly, 

just as you have forgiven me.

Help me to forgive others and to honor You.

Amen.'

(source: Charles Stanley Every Day in His Presence)

 

You know ....

....God's presence & understand His protection,

in part, through the friends & loved ones

He brings into your life.

notes...

up at 4 restless night

giving my journal entry the hairy eyeball

this morning

quite a healthy...

(*ahem )..wordy...

 venting session...

not proud, but authentically human

heading over to my girlfriends house for coffee

in the country...

it's still dark

  it feels a little adventurous...

~

nothing you do or don't do 

separates you from His Grace

don't punish yourself

you never lose His love

share your wins with someone

love isn't a limited resource

keep it simple

keep it real

find your joy in the details as you go through the day

your future is not rooted in how you feel

but in how you act

disciplined thinking

leads to right decisions

keep a level head

keep negativity out

keep your thoughts in a good place

watch your self-talk

you are with you all the time

so guard how you talk to yourself

whatever you want

get it in your head

take on the challenge of seeing who you can become

do everything you can to choose or create

 a wholesome environment for yourself

open your heart to expectation again

there is so much more to experience

choose things that bring you peace and happiness

rather than agitation and harm to your mind and body

mindfulness helps to keep you on track

mindfulness helps you to recognize which things 

you really need and want in your life

and which things you can do very well without

perfect moments are sure to be yours..

~

"Your relationship with Me is saturated in Grace.

Nothing  you do or don't do can separate you from My Presence.

It's utterly impossible for Me to stop loving you.

Let Me help you feel more secure in My love.

I am interested in everything that matters to you-

your pleasures as well as your problems

because I love you!

Live near Me.

There's no need to worry about the future.

I will guide you.

My friendship is your best refuge."

(source: Jesus Calling, Jesus Lives, Charles Stanley)

be well...

xoxo

💞

"The people you will always remember are the ones that made you 

feel loved when you were at  your lowest."

"Choose people who choose you."

"It's the small habits. How you spend your mornings.

How you talk to yourself. What you read and what you watch.

Who you share your energy with. Who had access to you.

That will change your life."

 

Life is full....

....of obstacles

and we get to choose our paths.

view from cousin's home

"Almost everything we do is by choice.

Whether we choose the right path depends on

our outlook and ability to right the course

if it seems wrong.

When faced with a decision, take some time to tap

into your intuition and find your inner compass.

You already know the answer, it lies deep within

you. 

Listen closely and your soul will speak it's truth."

~

notes....

the kids made it home early this morning

welcomed back by happy pets....

flickering lights & a crackling electrical outlet.

Thank God...they got home safe, 

when they did...

and

 for a kiddo that's learned to fix about anything on his own.

I made it home too.

Some good news & bad news.

Emotions are up and down for good reason.

Finding my center....

a yellow leaf falls & lands on my foot...

I open my devotional to a feather,

and the Blue-jay flies in squawking up a storm....

at the end of the day

these are what I get from those little signs...

yellow: intellect, caution, danger, betrayal

grey feather: balance, transition

Blue-jay: courage, strength, and protection

~

still your mind in the quiet

meditate

be conscious of each choice point during the day

you will never find security by trying

to anticipate all of the storms

instead of  wasting time worrying

talk with God about everything that concerns you

make better and healthier choices for yourself

remove all thoughts and feelings that are not

aligned with love, truth, power

just because you have a thought 

doesn't mean you have to agree with it

turn away from thinking that has become weedy

(resentment, unworthiness, bitterness, rejection...)

the areas where you are vulnerable 

are the areas where God is working

no blame

no shame

just recognition

moment by moment choose rightly

open your heart to receive God's Love

'it's okay that you're not okay

He accepts you right where you are in you junk

He loves you not because you are doing well

He loves you because He loves you'

be well...

xoxo

💞

"A thought is an idea, a premise, a conviction that determines

how you do, what you do, when you do it, if you do it."

~Bishop T.D. Jakes

" A lonely day is God's way of saying that He wants to spend

some quality time with you."

"Don't waste your time and energy trying to convince

people to value you. If you have to fight for their attention

and respect, it's time to move on."