All things bright and beautiful

I like the way my 2 year old says the word beautiful. He just says be-u. I think he is a genius, for one of the most effective way for beauty to be expressed is to be you. The Bible warns against covetousness, but I find so many of us can become driven by our desire to have what someone else has or look like someone else. Improving yourself is a good thing. Work to better some aspect of your life continuoually but if your effort is to just be like such and such you'll slowly erode one of your most valuable assets, you. I like when the Psalmist declares 'I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well' Psalms 139:14.

Do you believe that you are God's workmanship? Then you know you were created by the expert Himself. He has given you the ability to learn and grow and primp and preen, but do it for the right reasons, or one day you'll wake to find you don't know the person staring back at you in the mirror. Don't forget even then you can begin again. Tonight I'm set for a 'review me' session. Just me and my Maker will be going through a check list of life defining questions. Tell me are you due for one of those sessions yourself??

Admit it

The first step to success.... admit you failed. Why are we so scared of failure???? It is not something to aspire to nor even like but admittedly, the fear of failure is one of the most powerful cords of bondage that can keep us from making the first baby steps to success. Talk about baby steps. What would happen if a baby falls after his/her first step and decide that they are too ashamed to try again? Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? It seems to me that one thing babies have over many adults is their ability to fall and get back up again. Their ability to keep trying to get the one object mommy said not to touch (at least they try). Their ability to find that one item that had been missing for months.... o.k. I think you get my point. When it comes to failure we need to adopt the "get up and try again" attitude of babies learning to walk. Today, if you have failed, cry for ten minutes if you have to. Then dry your eyes admit defeat, see what needs to change and get up again. May be that was not your calling. Don't let it hinder you from attempting something else.

'Up from the grave He arose. With a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose the victor of the dark domain and He lives forever with His Saints to reign. He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose'

Yes, I will arise.

Sidetracked

Have you ever set out to accomplish a task and find that your life suddenly zip into busy mode with things that pull you away from your original task. Sidetracked with the 'urgent unimportant'. I have been going through this with my fledgling business. Unfortunately I'm being sidetracked with too much drama spurred on by others who think they should be the directors of my life. Solution... I am recommitting this whole business to God and so far I've felt led to seriously pursue learning the art of time management. The verse that I am thinking of right now is Proverbs 22:19 "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men."

Let's be diligent. Identify what might be sidetracking you from rising in some area of your life and diligently set about to refocus and keep your eyes on your goals.

Your time to shine

Genesis 39: 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (KJV)

What is stopping you from shining? Today I thought about the story of Joseph as I read a quote from Marianne Williamson regarding 'our deepest fears'. Sometimes we are afraid to shine even when life is good but I thought of Joseph because he obviously was shining even when the odds seemed to be stacked against him. He was a slave in Genesis 39 yet the verse said 'he was a prosperous man'. His secret.... the Lord was with him. Sometimes we are taken through wilderness periods and we may not know the purpose until God transitions us to a better place but there is always a purpose. Joseph never seemed to come across as the 'woe is me' type and reflecting on how God dislikes murmuring and complaining (check 1Corinthians 10:10 if you don't believe me) reminds me of how much this attitude can hinder prosperity and actually worsen adversity. I have been a complainer and a murmurer. It's an easy trap to fall into when you are being treated unfairly but what God disapproves of has no place in our life if we want the blessings we crave. Are you ready to shine today? Check yourself and see if you too have been murmuring and complaining, griping and groaning. Repent and work at changing your speech and watch how God prospers you even if others have put you in an unfair position. I can testify God lifts those who honors Him.

Guard the tender bud

I heard something yesterday that resonated with me. A Pastor was mentioning the fact that usually the enemy attacks dreams or divert our purpose most when it is in the infancy stage. He was comparing the fact that Satan tried to kill Moses and Jesus in their infancy stage. The stage where they couldn't help themselves. The Devil knew what they would become and he knows our potential and that of our dreams and often launches a violent attack just when we step out to begin our journey. The message spoke to me. I have just begun a new business and the attacks against me are such that I have been terribly sidetracked just dealing with personal issues. No more. Like Mary and Moses' mother I am listening to God's instruction and following through no matter who would try to rip my dreams out of my hand. I'm thankful that I did somewhat guard it in its infancy. Now it's time to rise.

What about you? Any dreams that seem to be fading? Many things seem to be coming at you all at once? Many people seem to be turning against you and putting you down? Just go to God and make sure your relationship with Him is where it needs to be. Ask Him if you are not sure, listen and obey His instructions and leave the enemy's pawns (those allowing Satan to use them to hurt you) in the dust. But remember, please remember still pray for those who make themselves your enemies and love them even if it has to be from a distance. Don't let their action hinder you from being pleasing to God. You may not feel like it but 'obedience is better than sacrifice'

Haiti

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. My many thoughts are shut up within me though. I pray for my Haitian friends (I have several) and their families.

My island have been having much ashing from it's volcano and people had been complaining. Now everyone is reminding anyone they meet that we have nothing to complain about. The power of comparison. I can truly say I was actually accepting the fact that it was probably the ash that had my fruit trees sending fruit off season. I ate pomegranate the whole Christmas season and there are 2 more on the tree and its still blossoming. Don't let me start on my golden apple (june plum) tree and my mango tree is already blossoming. All that to say, the very thing we grumble about could be the very thing that brings us blessings in due season. Wait on the Lord, force yourself to be still and know He is in control.

Lord I thank you for what I'm going through, for I know you have orchestrated it for my good. I pray for those in Haiti and their families around the world at this time, have mercy Lord. In Jesus name, Amen

God never forgets you

Thank God for the Spirit of truth. Thank God for His Holy Word. Thank God that your name is written in the Book of life.

I have been through so much warfare over these past weeks. Starting this blog seemed to make it worst. That's alright, I know who fights for me. I choose to trust even when I don't understand. I pray you do too. I hope this song blesses you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD7d3usw&safe_search=on