Faith + Motivation

Encourage and Build Each Other Up…

June 23, 2019June 8, 2019
by admin

What does encouragement mean to you? Encouragement means lots of things to me… you got my back and I’ve got your back is the first that comes to mind. Google says encouragement means “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope”. I do believe that support, confidence, and hope are included within my definition, too! When I’ve got somebody’s back, I work hard to give them maximum support, boost of confidence, and vision of hope for anything they are striving for!

This picture is of my boys and how I hope they will continue the relationship they have. Now don’t get me wrong, they disagree and fight. However, I pray that they will always have each others back… No. Matter. What! Even though they don’t always see eye-to-eye, when one is hurting or needs an extra boost the other tries to come to the rescue. They are learning how to completely encourage and build each other up, but it warms my heart that they both try really hard! I pray they always will. You know, God calls us to do the same in 1Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage and one another and build each other up as you are already doing.”

Take the time today friends to encourage and build somebody up! Remember, you might be the only person that invests in them that day. Be their ray of sunshine and hope!

Inspiration and Self Help

Footprints…

June 16, 2019June 8, 2019
by admin

Do you remember the poem about footprints? It talks about how we are never alone, because God walks along side of us now matter our situation or circumstance. Seems every time I read that specific poem, I cry. You know, there have been lots of ups and downs in my world, but walking it hand in hand with God keeps me hopeful.

You know what else keeps me hopeful??? Knowing that God has good works planned for me. I have always liked to do good. Whether that was for others, my family, or myself. I just wanted to do good! I guess that’s why I have a passion for social justice. Passion for helping others be the best that they can be. Passion for goal-setting and goal-crushing mindset. Passion for just plain old doing good!

I have learned that doing good isn’t easy. There are so many that “throw shade” my way, because I completely want to do good. Not always sure why such negativity can be on the “out-skirts” of doing good, but I guess that is the world we live in. Plain and simple… it sucks, BUT it doesn’t stop me… it fuels me to continue to push through!

Honestly, I’d rather leave the footprints God is planning before me, than to fall suit and walk in the same negative footprints that others are leaving. It is quite scary, though, to realize that no matter how we choose to live, we will leave footprints. Even though I fail everyday, I pray that the attempt and goal of doing good will out-weigh my human mess ups. I will continue to pray that I continue to listen to what path God has before me in order to make the footprints expected of me. What are your good works, friends? Go out and create the footprints aligned for you!

“For we are His creation created in Jesus Christ for good works, which God prepares ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 3:10

Inspiration and Self Help

Anchors of Hope

June 9, 2019June 8, 2019
by admin

You know, the other day I was asked did I actually live on “a hope and a prayer”. I know when this was asked, I probably looked at that person like… “What and you don’t?!” Ha! I know in the real world that living on a hope and prayer isn’t the most logical way to look at things. However, working by way of God’s mission a hope and a prayer seem to be the most logical way of thinking.

I feel that my daily prayers, which can last on and off all day long, are my anchor. This anchor leads to the hope that strengthens the faith I have in God. In addition, this faith is what gets me through and makes me push through when the real world weighs down on my heart and mind. Especially the days I feel like I’m not enough, exhausted, overwhelmed, ridiculously crazy, or out of my mind, I have to grasp that notion of hope through prayer. This keeps me grounded in order to not bow down to fear and give up; rather, I stay steady, safe and secure. You know, Hebrews 6:19 says “We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. Safe and Secure”. I have great joy knowing that I am safe and secure with Jesus when I continue to reach for hope through prayer. Sometimes a hope and a prayer are all we have…

Do you live on a hope and a prayer, friends? If you do, what are those hopes and prayers?

Inspiration and Self Help

Jumping into summer like…

May 19, 2019April 14, 2019
by admin

WOW, this past school year has gone extremely FAST!!! I can’t believe summer is here and we will soon be preparing for another school year. What does summer mean for you???

Summer means relaxation, family time, less work, swimming, pizza, golf, suntan, no makeup… however, it will also means work. I do hope that this year, I won’t allow work to completely take over my summer. The thought is to intentionally make my summer days that I have off resemble what my Sabbath should be like.

I am quite embarrassed to say, but most of my Sabbaths end up with writing here, my blog, or writing my dissertation. So, I’d like to on the days I have off this summer treat as if they are my Sabbath. LivingbyDesign.org posted “You will find freedom and healing in the sanctuary of Sabbath rest.” This is so needed in my world. How about you??? So, here is to the summer and to create a Sabbath rest as much as possible with lots of fun with your family, friends!!!

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. My hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” – Psalm 62: 5-6

Inspiration and Self Help

Beautiful inside and out…

May 12, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

The other day I decided to take some time to breathe and meditate in front of this beautiful stained glass window on our indoor track. The colors. The sun shining through. The quiet. The stillness. It had been a while since I had the time to stop and feel that way.

You know, growing up, I always wanted to be beautiful inside and out. I had an issue with my outwards appearance and judged myself quite often; however, I have always had the control over whether my inside was beautiful or not. As I have grown older, to feel beautiful on the outside, I wake up, put my best face on, fix my hair (humidity controls that outcome. Ha!), make sure my matching outfit isn’t wrinkled, and step into cute, but comfy shoes! Before any of that happens, I wake up working on my inside beauty.

Not matter how exhausted I am (which is most days), I get up and take my time with God and in his Word with my coffee. I do my best to take what I learn and how God guides me to apply everyday in every situation. I am human, but I do work hard to be beautiful inside. “He calls me beautiful one.” -Song of Solomon 2:1-17

Inspiration and Self Help

Those who are Sunshine…

May 5, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

In a world that can have many storms, finding those who radiate sunshine can be difficult. As I sit here writing today, I prepare for an actual storm… the clouds are out, the rain is coming down, the news is on to alert us of tornadoes or hail. Some days can feel like there are spin of sister tornadoes constantly destroying our hour by hour. It can be hard not to dwell on the bad and embrace the good.

On these days where the bad feels like it is overcoming my world or I see it overcoming others world, I find a way to make somebody else smile. “The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others.” -Gordon B. Hinckley Being able to give somebody a smile can go a long way on a stormy day.

The picture above was a picture I took from my brother’s surprise 30th birthday. Seeing him smile, laugh, relax, blow out candles and tell old stories for hours was a picture of happy my heart captured. Our worlds aren’t perfect, but it’s what you make of it, whether you are the sunshine for you or for others. Thomas S. Monson said “of this be sure: you do not find the happy life… you make it.” How are you making a happy life?? “Stay close to the people who make you feel like sunshine.” -Anonymous

“Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.” -Psalm 144:15

Inspiration and Self Help

Progress or Perfection???

April 28, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

Growing up I was obsessed that the only way I could fit in or be worth anything was to be perfect. Many, many years late it sunk in that nobody is perfect, no matter how everything looked on the outside. I guess it was because I felt like such a mess on the inside; I had to be as perfect as I could on the outside.

During on of my Ph.D Residencies, my professors made us repeat “We are striving for excellence not perfection!” We tend to put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, that we don’t allow ourselves to grow. To me that leads to such an upsetting world of disappointment if one thing goes wrong and failure seems so much more daunting than it would if we prepared ourselves for set backs. Now, I am not meaning to dwell on the negative, but to give yourself a little grace in case a set back occurs. Being excellent doesn’t mean being perfect!

When staying healthy, I strive for positive progress, not perfection. Eating healthy, but not beating myself up if I drink a diet coke or eat french fries. Making sure that the run I take isn’t to punish myself since swimsuit season is coming up quickly, so I slow my pace and turn the music up! How do you change your thinking towards progress not perfection???

“Strive for progress not perfection.” -Anonymous

Inspiration and Self Help

Come to the Table

April 21, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

Easter Time!!! Over the past 40 days, my students, teachers and I have talked about what we could add to our world or take out of our world during this time of Lent. Lots of folks I know have taken these past 40 days to fast. During Holy Week, we go in-depth about what we might need to continue to exclude from our world or what we might need to keep. In other words, if we exclude something negative from our world, then what positive could we add to be more like Jesus?

One thing that was brought to my attention was that I needed to add intentional time with those who need me most. Meaning, I intentionally take time to sit and talk with my boys, my husband, my parents, my friends, my students, my staff… I tend to be soooooo busy these relationships aren’t nurtured properly. God gave me a gift of nurturing, listening, guiding, understanding, love, so for me to ignore that… yep, not acceptable, huh?

As we “come to the table” at school this week, we will take what we need to exclude from our world and nail to our cross. This will be burned and given to God to take from our worry, sadness, negativity, anxiety, or overwhelming feeling that embodies us. We will ask for guidance of what needs to replace the negativity with a positive option of redemption to be set free. Join us where you are in prayer to be set free this Easter season.

“He said come to the table. Come join the sinners who have been redeemed. Take your place beside the Savior not. Sit down and be set free. Come to the table.” -Sidewalk Prophets

Inspiration and Self Help

Discipline… Now or Later?

April 14, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

Discipline has always driven the goals I have set out for myself…. whether short-term or long-term goals. Which my discipline could be mistaken for stubbornness or pure desire to prove others wrong. Ha! Years ago, it was shared with me during leadership and motivational meetings/conferences to make a vision board. On this vision board I was put pictures, words, phrases or anything that caught my attention and motivated to me to move forward and keep going. I could also put my affirmations on my mirror, so I could read my vision everyday.

I don’t have a vision board made anymore, but I utilize my phone home and lock screens to target the motivation I need during that particular time. Keeping my vision to be better each day is in front of my every time I look at my phone or even my watch. Also, having these on my devices allow me to remind myself of what I want most. “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” -Abraham Lincoln

You know, choosing a goal is easy, but following through is the hard part. What I have experienced is that I would compare myself to others… compare my progress to their progress. That’s just not healthy. I’ll never be as amazing as this person or that person, but I am as amazing as God chose for me to be. Reason being, is that I am just me… crazy, outside the box thinking, stubborn, tunnel vision, goal-oriented, discipline-minded ME! What makes you motivated, friends???

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7

Inspiration and Self Help

What makes you feel strong?

March 31, 2019March 17, 2019
by admin

Quite a few years ago, a parent of mine gave me this Wonder Woman cuff. She and her whole family LOVE Superheroes, Star Wars, and things like that. In an earlier post, I explained how Hulk was my go to… until this day. This Mom of mine gave me this cuff and stated how I was a Wonder Woman. I sure NEVER have thought of myself that way, but here I was given a cuff that when I put it on… I felt quite strong! “I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.” – Wonder Woman

Still to this day, I wear this cuff and my other bangles when I feel like I can’t breathe… when I feel weak. Do you have something you wear or put in your pocket when you need to feel strong? You know, I wear mine also to remind myself that it’s not about me… it’s about what I am here to do and accomplish in this world of ours. “It’s not about what we deserve. It’s about what we believe.” – Wonder Woman

It took some time, but I had to change my thinking that I was not here to get what I deserved from earning it… It’s about what I believe God has put me here for. Even though my cuff represents Wonder Woman, I feel when I look at it that it represents the strength God has put inside me to believe in Him and his plans for me. What are the plans God has set before you???

“Beautiful is the woman who knows people, places and things don’t define her. She is defined by her acts of loving kindness and a generous heart.” – Michael Chatman

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