A MOMENT TO REFLECT

A new year is near. So many of us are excited to begin a new year and we look forward to what God is going to do. I am totally excited about 2011. With all of the excitement I feel when it comes to starting a new year, I always find it necessary for me to take a moment to reflect on the current year. I will not complain about 2010. As a matter of fact, I cannot complain. Some dreams were fulfilled. Some dreams were not fulfilled. I had ups and downs just like everyone else, but still, 2010 has been a great year.

This year has certainly been a year of much change. When it comes to my relationships with others, some of them changed. Some for the better and others, well, my eyes were opened and I am seeking the Lord and may properly put an end to those relationships. Relationships should help you grow and not hinder. Our relationships should allow us to be who we truly are and not put on fake faces to "make it work." I am okay with releasing what does not work for me.

When it comes to my life spiritually, all I can say is, "Wow! God is good!"

I experienced a lot of great things I could share, but for the sake of time, maybe I will share later. I will simply tell you there are rewards in waiting on God and trusting Him.

While I had great things happen to and for me this year, I experienced some not so great times. Oh yes, the enemy came at me. Satan schemed, lied, and all of that other stuff he is known for, but I am still standing. I am still here to tell you that I have the victory and the devil is defeated. I started out as a winner in 2010 and I will end 2010 as a winner.

I do not know what God has in store for me. I am not one for making resolutions. I just want to go where God guides me. I want to do what He tells me to do. I want to be who God said I am to be. Do not get me wrong, I have plans, but I hand them over to Him. God is still in control. 

Get excited! Leave 2010's messes in 2010 and look forward to 2011's successes. I do not know about you, but I am excited about an open heaven in 2011.

Be blessed.

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

God appoints the times and seasons of our lives. During these seasons, we will experience events that make us happy and sad, laugh and cry, and some things we go through will be easy while others are difficult. We will face the end of many things but can be assured we will walk into the beginning of other things. Knowing we will experience different seasons of life can be overwhelming, but we must remember, God is in control.

God's timing for the seasons is perfect. For those who are waiting for their dream job, to start a business, to be married, become pregnant, etc., there is a time for it. We do not always understand the reasons for the seasons, but there is purpose in every season of life. It is easy to become frustrated and even bitter when we must wait for the things we long for. Frustration and bitterness will not rush God. He works according to His own timing, not our timetables. Patience must be learned. Patience is important. A lack of patience often gets us into troubles and messes we later wish we had avoided. God only wants the best for us. Why not trust Him through all seasons?

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Be blessed.

JESUS IS THE TRUE GIFT

Here we are again, approaching another favorite time of the year. There weather is crisp and cold. Houses are framed with hundreds of little lights. Christmas cards are passed to and fro. Malls and shopping centers are filled with shoppers. Christmas tunes and the many smells of holiday treats fill the air. It is time for Christmas. It is called the most wonderful time of the year.

This is the season of gift giving. Most people are thinking about how many gift cards to purchase. They are shopping around for the latest electronic gadgets or games. Completing their shopping lists is what is on their minds. I wonder how many people have Jesus on their minds. How many of us are actually taking the time to remember Jesus is the reason for this season and not gift cards, electronic games, or flat screen TVs? Those things are nice gifts, but what about Jesus who is the true gift?

Every Christmas I receive the most amazing gifts. I know this year will not be any different. But there is no gift that can top the most wonderful gift given to me and His name is Jesus. Jesus hung on the cross so that we may have eternal life. So you see, there is no greater gift than the gift of Jesus. During this busy season, take time to remember Jesus and how He is the true gift of life.

Be blessed.

DREAM BIG DREAMS

I cannot tell you how many times my dreams have been laughed at or shot down. Oh yeah. I have been told I live in a fantasy world. Since when did having dreams become a joke? I used to go back and think on what these people said to me and slowly allowed my dreams to die. But, those days are long behind me. My dreams are alive now and I will never allow them to die again. In fact, I am dreaming even bigger. I am dreaming big dreams.

One of the most important things to learn about dreams is to guard them. You cannot share them with everyone, not even family members. If you decide to share your dreams, make sure to share them with those you trust. They must be supporters of you and your dreams. True supporters will not laugh at your dreams. They will offer help and/or encouragement to help make your dreams come true. I share my deepest desires and dreams with my Father and the one person who I know prays for me the most and wants the best for me. I only release what God tells me to release and when He tells me to release it.

To those who have buried your dreams because you thought they could never come true because of naysayers, forget what they said. Uncover those buried dreams. I know you think those dreams are dead, that you have waited too long to pursue those dreams, or that you are too old to pursue them, but ask the Lord to breathe life into your dreams. Nothing is too big or too hard for Him.

Dream. Dream big. Dream big dreams.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (taken from Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

Be blessed.

IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS

I enjoy my special quiet times with the Lord. Each of us have our own way of making our quiet time with Jesus special, but I choose total silence. No music. I prefer total silence. For me, I can focus totally on Him and can hear Him without any distractions. My quiet time with Jesus last evening was awesome. I am not saying I have never experienced awesome moments with Him because I have had many, but it is truly amazing to be able to talk to Jesus about a concern then within an hour or less, He answers.

I talked to Jesus about a situation in my life which caused me a great deal of stress in the past, but I have since learned there is no reason why I should be stressed over this one area of my life. When I talked the Lord about my concerns, He spoke to me and told me the situation will not change in the way I desire nor in the time frame I desire. He proceeded to reveal to me that it is not about me but about Him. He showed me the faces of a few lives I have touched which caused them to accept Him as Lord of their lives. He later made it known to me that there are more lives I must touch before the situation changes. Truthfully, it is not what I wanted to hear, but I accepted what Jesus revealed to me. In fact, I feel even better about the situation because I know I am on assignment from the Lord.

The next time you find yourself remaining in a situation much longer than you had hoped, talk to Jesus about it. He may just reveal to you that you are right where you are because there is an assignment for you to complete. It is not about you. It is not about me. It is all about Jesus.

Be blessed.