faith – Page 2 – Faith + Motivation

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

Inspiration and Self Help

Do your roots run deep???

March 17, 2019March 13, 2019
by admin

Have you ever gone online and registered to see where your ancestors are from? Who you really are? What makes up your DNA? Well…. I’m not sure, but my brother might of done this for us. He is always telling me where we originated on our Mom’s side, then our Dad’s sign. I’m not smart enough to know if his “useless knowledge”, as I pick on him and say, is true or not!

I do know that I have always been taught that my roots should run deep with God. He needs to be intertwined in all I do. I really didn’t think that was such a big deal until God made me a Momma. I did know how important it was, but I guess my perspective seemed to change and I was able to connect on a different level than before.

As I watch my boys grow, which by the way is way too fast, I have a different perspective on how my boys need to see where my roots are embedded. I view differently what it means for my life to be built upon Him. I always connected with how my faith would grow deep with strength especially standing firm in His truth, but I am overflowing with thankfulness the opportunity God has given me to raise these two boys of ours.

Where do your roots run? How deep do they go?

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built upon Him, then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” -Colossians 2:7

Inspiration and Self Help

Feeling Weak???

March 13, 2019March 13, 2019
by admin

I know it has been a while since I have written…. Life has taken the wind out of me over and over in the past month. But, you know, I am still standing or more accurate…. kneeling with lots of tears. I have been in quite a bit of prayer for my legs have been quite weak, but my heart quite strong.

Crying is a very tough emotion for me to let anyone see. God has taught me that crying doesn’t mean I am weak, but just the opposite… I am strong. When I am able to release my fear, exhaustion, frustration, loneliness, and overwhelming feelings through tears, then I am able to see clearly the part I am to play in this game called life. I also am able to continue to move forward for those who need me to continue on.

The picture above is one I took in our park when my husband and I were running with our dog. I ran the hill while they walked (there were 7 deer in the field they were watching intently). When I turned around, the sunset just took my breath away. It made me think of a special person I have in my life who is fighting hard to fulfill to path God has set before her. Life is definitely not easy, but I will grab hold to God’s word… “to be strong and courageous for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” – Joshua 1:9. This verse helps me to stay strong and be courageous, as well as the Godly example shown by this special person in my life who has chosen this verse as her own.

Years ago I chose this verse as my own…. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” -Psalm 34: 17-20

What is your verse when you are weak? Which verse do you cling to?

Inspiration and Self Help

At your limit?

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019
by admin

As I run in the afternoons, I love running to the lake to see if the geese are swimming. I love the idea of how they stick together to fly south. I especially love when the baby geese are waddling and enter the lake to swim. It’s so incredibly sweet!

I understand that the geese fly south for the winter for warmer weather, but some of my runs have been especially cold lately! Yes, I know that is weird for Mississippi, but cold days do happen just not often. Ha! Running in cold weather is miserable to me. I’d rather 80 degree weather than 40 degree weather to run in any day. Yes, running with another running partner or a running group makes running so much easier, but running solo….UGH!

I tend to struggle getting laced up and out the door. Do you?? That’s most of my battle, because when I begin running by myself I get in the zone quick! Especially singing a little 80’s and 90’s rock! You know it’s my mindset that keeps me from a lot. Not sure who said “You’re only limit is your mind”. Create a positive mindset and gooooo! Happy Running (or whatever is your peace), Friends!

Inspiration and Self Help

Goals = Success

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019
by admin

Have you ever heard the saying “look where you’re going, not where you’ve been”? Because I had a horrible few years, I heard that quite often. I also heard “don’t dwell on the past, move forward”. I do have to say that my goals now stem from what has happened to me in the past. I also have to say that my successes now stem from those same past experiences. Any of these sound familiar?

Do I believe that the past is in the past and most of that should stay there? ABSOLUTELY! But I also believe that I am the person I am today because of my past. Was it awful living through a period of domestic violence? YES! What is torturing watching my first born go through tests because we didn’t know what was wrong with him? YES! Was it even more gut wrenching watching them take him to surgery not once, but twice? OMG, YES!!! Was it devastating watching my parents lose there parents to illness throughout the years and praying I wouldn’t lose mine at their age? YES!

You know, because of these few examples of trials in my life, I am now strong, courageous, faithful, determined, and a resilient person. I make goals and I crush them! I might not crush them to others standards, but I crush them to reach my success. I continue to make goals after goals, so I know where I am headed and problem solve to get there. What are you goals? How are you getting there? What has pushed you make your goals and crush them? Where are you headed?

“People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going.” – Earl Nightingale

Inspiration and Self Help

Grateful…

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019
by admin

There are many feelings I have, but they all seem to stem from being grateful. I never really fully understood the meaning of grateful until I learned how to just be. Do you take time to just be??

During this day and age, there doesn’t seem to be enough time to just be. Can you relate?? About a 1 1/2 years ago, I learned how to just be. I never knew it was okay to do this. I thought you were to go and go and go some more. Through this time of learning how to just be, I was able to quite my thoughts, talk to God more, listen to what God had to say, and I even learned through just being that I was enough. Yep! Taking a step back to slow down helped me in so many areas of my world. “Grateful for small things, big things and everything in between.” -Anonymous

Do I feel guilty for stopping my world and taking care of myself? YES! I do tend to feel a tad bit selfish, but I have to take care of me in order to take care of others. (One of my friends reminded me of this just yesterday.) So, today I am quite grateful of being able to just be. I am grateful I have a husband and children that understand this. I am grateful that I “let myself off the hook” to just be. This is very hard with everything that I have on my plate, but I am grateful for the opportunity I have to just be.

There are many ways that I just be…. running, having a cup of mulled cider or coffee on my patio, yoga, reading a book, typing to you guys and girls, etc. How do you just be?? However that might be…. ENJOY with a grateful heart!!

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” -Anthony Robbins

Inspiration and Self Help

I am enough.

February 2, 2019February 2, 2019
by admin

Have you ever heard the expression “keeping up with the Jones'”? I grew up hearing that expression. Did you ever just want more? Of course, I’m sure we all have one time or another. Have you ever had the feeling of not being quite satisfied? Me, I sure have had this feeling more than I really want to admit.

I think most of mine has come from these questions: Am I smart enough? Am I a good enough athlete? Can I run as good at somebody else? Will I be able to be one of the better yoga participants in class? Am I worthy enough? Do I have what it takes to be successful financially for my family? Can I do more? If I do more will I be more?

You know, everyday I wake up and I go to the educational mission I direct. I have a school full of students that ask questions like this everyday. We, as teachers and educators, tell our students everyday that they are enough for this world. They don’t always feel it, but they are seeing how they are enough. Someone once said “It’s not about being more. It’s about knowing I am already enough and being who HE has called me to be.” WOW…. how does that make you feel?

The amount of learning you have done is enough. The parent you have become is enough. The educator you are is enough. The entrepreneur you have become is enough. The dreamer you are is enough. The runner you are is enough. The fitness guru you are is enough. The amount of degrees you have earned shows you are enough. Our paths aren’t the same, but God does let us know that we are enough. We are His and that’s what makes us ENOUGH!

“If you continuously compete with others, you become bitter, but if you continuously compete with yourself, you become better.” -Anonymous So make your “Goal to not be better than anyone else, but to be better than you used to be.” -Anonymous

Inspiration and Self Help

Coaching Season…. Again

February 2, 2019February 2, 2019
by admin

Who are coaches wives out there??? I am! I am! As I prepare myself for my husband to head back into spring sports, he has been off from fall sports for a few months, I realize I need to read this coffee cup above often. I love he is a coach. I love he is able to touch so many athletes. I love the connection he and the other coaches have. I love the brotherhood my boys are learning every time he takes the field or golf course.

Practicing the idea of keeping calm can be quite difficult when life hits and it hits hard! I have to the keep confidence in him as a coach, father, husband and friend that I am not doing our life alone during his seasons of sports. Jeremiah 17:7 also reminds me “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. Whose confidence is in Him”.

So, if you are in the midst of a season where your family dynamics are about to change… keep the confidence that you can do this together. We are focusing on grounding ourselves with God in order to see the gifts he has given us to give others… my husbands’ gift (outside our family) are being a coach, teacher, mentor, and friend. Praying for all athletes and coaches that they “run with endurance the race that God has set before us”. -Hebrews 12:1

Inspiration and Self Help

Superhero…. Me???

January 28, 2019February 10, 2019
by admin

When I was young, my Mom and Dad told me that I would pretend to turn green like the Hulk. I would jump up, bow up, make my mean face, and say “Am I green yet?” Many years later, my oldest and I got to dress up as our favorite superhero, so I turned green! I giggled as I got dressed that day, but gosh some days I think it would be easier to turn into somebody else. What about you??

A couple of years ago, my husband and I took our little family to Lego Land. Our boys LOVE legos and were super pumped about going. In the picture above, I was amazed at how they recreated the Hulk with little legos. The time, patience, and planning somebody had to do in order for me to enjoy my childhood superhero!

As I ran across this picture, it got me thinking. WOW, God and Jesus are superheroes, too!! You know, if you sit back, just be and listen, both can speak to you. You can be a real-life hero for somebody else. Maybe your children, other peoples children, an elderly man or lady, a friend in need, someone diagnosed with cancer or terminal illness, a runner who can’t make it to the finish line due to fatigue, ect. You don’t even have to have a cape or turn green…. WOW, that’s super crazy! What if we let Jesus change us from the inside out to the be the superhero God has chosen for us to be… What would that look like??? I can’t wait to see….

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose in me.” -Psalm 138:8

Tag: faith