Baby Steps ...
This blog topic came from a conversation I had with my friends this week.
The week of February 15th was a challenging week for many in Texas with the winter storm. I know for myself - I had no motivation to work out as my main concern was trying to check on family and friends, get through a busy work week, and prepare food and have water on stand by just in case my power went out. While dealing with this, I even indulged in a few delicious cookies and to be honest - I don’t regret it. ?
However, last week, I tried to get back on a healthier path with working out, meal prepping, and drinking a gallon of water a day - but sometimes life happens or you may not feel like doing anything and that’s okay. Remember, we are still in the middle of a pandemic! ?
As always give yourself grace because baby steps count.
If you worked out one day - that’s a baby step!
If you increase your water intake - that’s a baby step.
If you prepped a healthier meal option - that’s a baby step!
Baby steps may look different for each of us on our life journey. But remember baby steps add up to progress as long as you continue moving forward!
“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 NLT
Replanted
Storytime: I have an aloe vera plant that I call AV. AV outgrew his normal planter probably months ago ?. This weekend I replanted it into a bigger planter so AV will have more room to grow and flourish.
While I was transporting AV to its new planter, I thought about the idea of being replanted can be applied to so many areas of life. We outgrow situations sometimes in life -whether it is a new home, friendships, churches, relationships, jobs, etc... And we have to be replanted.
While uprooting yourself from something familiar is not fun it is needed to grow and flourish. Think about even in grade school you were promoted to the next grade to learn something new. Every year you had to go through the nervousness of the first day of school and making new friends and meeting new teachers. This same thing must be applied in life - although the adjustments may not be as frequent.
Whenever you outgrow something, don’t be afraid to pick up your roots and plant them somewhere deeper so you can grow into all that God has for you!
“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalms 1:3 NLT
You Are Goals
Remember you are someone’s goal.
Sometimes we complain about what we have and we don’t even realize someone is praying for our current lifestyle.
Someone wants to be your weight, to feel like they are on their way to meeting their weight loss goal.
Someone is wishing they made your salary when they haven’t received a raise in years.
Someone wants your car when they are riding the bus or requesting rides from family or friends.
Someone would love to have your apartment because they are trying to save more money to have a space to call their own.
I could go on and on and give so many more examples to compare and contrast, but I digress.
Is it okay to want more or have goals?
Absolutely.
The biggest point I’m trying to make is life is short, be thankful for everything you do have!
Quote to remember:
In the words of my friend:
My worst day is someone’s best Day!
“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.” James 4:14 NASB2020
Writer’s Block
Storytime: So usually I prep my blogs on Sunday night or they are written weeks in advance, but last night I could not write. I was tired and every time I started writing about a topic I would get a few sentences in and delete it. I hit writers' block hard for the first time in almost four years. I’m like what if I have nothing new to post? #soundscaryright But it really isn’t! ?
So one thing about me, is I never force myself to write - whether I’m writing a book or a blog. I want the flow to be natural or authentic and if it isn’t, I guess I won't have anything to say. Sounds simple right?!!!
But then, on the flip side, I’m like I said I would write every Monday, but I’m like what will happen if I don’t post?
As always, life will go on. It won’t be as bad as it seemed. I’ll miss a week and I’ll be back the following week or whenever my flow of writing return.
I’m saying all of that to say, we don’t have to be perfect, sometimes you will miss a blog post, forget to schedule content, miss an important event you wanted to attend, etc. Guess what - it’s call life!Things happen, things change, we are all human - keep breathing, be encouraged, because God will still always be with you.
Life will go on even when you hit writer's block!
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2 KJV
Friends
“Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends”
Listen - I love my friends - but umm let’s talk about this accountability and vulnerability thing.
So, this year a couple of my friends and I decided to focus on our finances and physical health. Of course - I was all in because I want my bank account booming and y’all know summer is always right around the corner.
Storytime: I loved accountability until I had to send a picture of my scale after a weekend trip in which I ate tortilla chips and pico de Gallo amongst other delicious treats. ?
Like my body loves carbs and stores carbs, so there was some weight gain after that weekend. #cringe
Sharing that initial scale picture was a different level of transparency; however, it was good for me. The most beautiful thing about great friends are that they cover you, give you grace, challenge you and call you higher. We are simply walking through life together and I wouldn’t trade them for the world! I’m grateful to have so many amazing friends in my life!
Cheers to great friends! ?
Question of the Day: What’s One thing you love about your friends?
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. - Proverbs 17:17
Growth Conversations
Have you ever had to have a conversation with someone about something that was not pleasant? I’m sure some people even cringe just reading the title of the blog - but just know there’s a growth opportunity in the conversation.
I’m sure we all had those moments when we had to discuss something with a family member, a co-worker, a friend, an associate, a manager, etc...
How do you navigate those conversations?
As someone who’s had to have several of these conversations, while they can be challenging at first, they become easier to handle.
You may not believe this, but I used to be the person that could go 0 to 100, it’s not my proudest moment. ? But, I’m thankful to God for his saving grace! ??
Below, I’ll share the steps I’ve learned on my life journey I take to prepare for conversations - I like to refer to them as growth conversations now! So while I may still get a little nervous before a conversation, I feel so much better after I share my heart with someone.
My Top 5 Growth Conversations Tips
- Check your heart and make sure the conversation is rooted in a place of love.
- Pray about the conversation.
- Discuss or role-play the conversation with a trusted non-biased friend if needed.
- Ask open-ended questions that are not accusatory of the other person.
- If needed bring in a nonbiased third party and also be prepared to listen.
Share any tips you have for growth conversations!
“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with Loving kindness I have drawn you.”
Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV
It’s About Relationship
I read this post about this guy’s Christian walk a couple of weeks ago and I related so much to everything he shared. I felt compelled to share some of my journey below. ?
I was born and raised in a Pentecostal/Church of God in Christ (COGIC) church and for us, that meant church all the time.? In middle school, my mom remarried and he became a Pastor - so that was even more church. ?
By the time I attended college, it was a different world for me. I met so many people with different views. This caused me to expand my horizon of what I thought I knew about God. After college, I went to a predominately white non-denominational church and now I’m currently in a predominantly black non-denominational Bible-based church. Woosah.
With all of the being said - it’s been a journey. I’ve had periods where I’ve unlearned doctrine which I felt was right and relearned new things about God. Throughout it all, I’ve learned there’s no perfect journey. My journey has not been an exponential linear growth chart, it’s been filled with detours, reroutes, right turns and so much more. I’ve embraced getting to know God for myself without feeling it was about a ritual performance and learned it was more about my relationship with God. Everyone’s steps are ordered by God in different ways to fulfill his divine purpose for our lives.So, whether you have been in church all your life or you are just learning about God for the first time today, stay on the course and enjoy your journey with God. He’s always there with us every step of the way. ❤️
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalms 37:23-24 NLT
Wise Wednesday - Discipleship
Wise Wednesday!
Y’all I say this often but I’m far from perfect. I’m learning, growing, and being stretched to relearn things I thought I did well and then learned that I didn’t. ?
How can I walk with someone to help them become a follower of Christ? How can I show more love to others?
It can start with small acts of kindness such as but not limited to:- Checking on a friend or a family member.- Giving to others.- Praying for someone in need.- Feeding them.- Sharing a scripture.- Having a conversation with someone that doesn’t look like you.
Walking out someone Christian’s journey with them requires us to be more like God by showing his traits of love, grace, and mercy to others.
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”Jeremiah 31:3 KJV
How have you walked with someone on their journey to show God’s love?
Change is Certain
Change is a certainty we will all experience in life.
First off, Let me say, welcome back! I missed you guys and although I was on break- I was still writing because life was still happening.? Whew, Chile!
Let me jump right in and say I’m on my 4th manager within a rolling 12 month period. Woosah.
So, I think I know a little bit about change. Lol.The most amazing thing about change is, it allows you to grow and stretches you in ways you don’t even realize you have the capacity to be stretched.You learn, you fail, you try again and you keep going to overcome more obstacles. I’ve always told myself I’m a lifelong learner and the best way to test this out is to expire change.
In the words of a wise man named Rafiki, “You can either run from it or learn from it.”
Question: How do you deal with change?
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
The Best Gift Ever
Usually, around the holidays, most are excited to give. But what if we gave to others all year? How can we impact the world around us?
Life is happening all around us every day. Currently, we are in a global pandemic and people are longing for someone to reach out to them.
Often when people think of giving you think of money, but there’s much more you can give that doesn’t require a monetary token. Of course, if you have money, then be generous, but I’m going to share with you the best gift I received. Hopefully, you can share it with others! The best gift I’ve ever received- is the gift of salvation and you can have that same gift!
All you have to say is:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I thank You for dying on the cross for my sins and rising from the dead to save me. By transferring my total trust to You alone as my Savior, I now receive the forgiveness for my sins and the free gift of eternal life that You offer me. In Jesus' name, Amen!
If you prayed this prayer, I’m excited with you and heaven is rejoicing over the gift you received of eternal life with God.
Here are three practical steps that I’ll share:
- Find a church home to join, because we thrive in a community.
- Read the Bible, even if it is only a scripture a day.
- Communicate with God through prayer.
Remember, when we become disciples of Christ, we become a conduit that God uses to impact others.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV