"Help I've Fallen and Can't Get Up"

Pregnancy. A powerful time where the intimacy, energy of two people meet and spark life. In one moment planned or not, life begins, an essence begins its journey to being a complete independent being. Cells gather and unite and become tissues, tissues into organs, organs into a system, slowly, consistently pieces stitch together to create a being not like any other in this world. A unique masterpiece, woven together by the Creator. Isn't it amazing?? Simply awe-aspiring to think of how we all came to be from something as small as a peanut. For me pregnancy is one of the most beautiful testimonies of God's power and love for us. Not one of us is the same genetically, we are all made different and special. What love!!

Birth. I would say that it's our first, real traumatic experience in life and our first deep covenant. I think that it's a gift from God that we don't remember that journey, but those moments I believe from labor to delivery are prophetic. When a woman's body is prepared to bring forth life, typically her water breaks. She recognizes the beginning stages when pain starts and all waters break loose (pun intended---=D). As many books as she may have read, nothing can really prepare her for this, nothing can prepare you for that moment when your life changes. Pain---consistent, increasing, piercing, yet purposeful occurs because from it a beautiful being is going to come to be so you endure, and push through (Literally....)

Then after one exhaustive push, there is a release, a quiet stillness, and then..... a cry. In that moment, through blood, a covenant is made. If you have had the blessing of being born to a loving mother/parents, Praise God!! You formed a covenant with someone who has made it their life mission to protect, care, nurture, and love you. No matter the argument, problem, situation remember that. If you are adopted that covenant still stands but that day you were not only borne from a woman's body but a mother's prayer. That is a gift. If you lost your mother, I am so so sorry for your loss, but I want to let you know that you were never left alone. God had charge angels to be with you every step of the way, but most importantly HE never left or forsake you. Through it all He was always there.

Let's fast forward a couple of months. This baby who was once an essence, formed by God in its mother's womb is active, curious, confident in its parent's love, and daring in their exploration of the world. After experimenting with rolling over, bouncing in place, crawling at the speed of light, he feels the urge to stand. Slowly, tentatively he reaches for support and grabs hold of one of the steadiest thing that he can place his hands on and pulls himself up. After a couple try of this standing up adventure, he gets bold enough to let go and very quickly plops back down on the surface. As weeks and months go by so does the length of unassisted stands.

One day there comes the courage and desire to take a couple of steps. After the tentative first one, to the absolute glee of your doting parents, there is a second and third and maybe even a fourth and then all of a sudden you lose your balance and fall HARD. That fall was a surprise and it hurt. You cry and scream, begging to be comforted by a loving hand. You reach out to someone and quickly you are brought close and comforted and reassured that everything will be all right.

After being comforted you remember the feeling of standing on your own. All though it hurt the first couple of times, you keep getting up and trying again, and again, and again, until FINALLY!!! you have a consistent walk.

This is for me a beautiful illustration of our Christian walk with our Heavenly Father.

From the beginning God knew YOU. The Bible says in Psalm 139:13-16 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Isn't that beautiful and so moving to know that before you took your first breath of life on this Earth, before your mother or father knew of your very existence, GOD LOVED YOU. Not only that he was planning a life for you, a beautiful one and you had to do nothing to earn it. You've probably heard of the verse, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope".

v  So no matter what season you are in, single, waiting for a specific prayer consider that you are being prepared, molded, knitted together. Be encouraged, allow God to not only wreck your heart but mend it as well. Be still let God BE God. Surrender.

 When you came to the Kingdom, all of Heaven rejoiced. Angels danced and sang. Our Heavenly Father smiled and said welcome home. For me that moment was almost two years ago!! I thought FINALLY!! I have arrived, my eyes are now open then.........reality hit and I realized that figuratively my water was finally broken, the hard work, struggle, crying, screaming, and pushing aspect had began. The Bible says in Romans 5: 2-4 "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" I don't know where I got the illusion that walking with God was going to be easy because in all honesty it's not. It hurts to die to your flesh daily, your pride has to be swallowed plenty of times, your will surrendered, your trust, patience, strength tested, and your fears overcome. Not only that, if I can just be real it's lonely standing apart from a culture that glorifies everything that God HATES, i.e murder, sexual immorality, gossiping, idolatry, hypocrisy and on and on it goes. Yet walking this journey is so worthwhile, the yolk is easy to bear because he first carried it.

v  If you have an illusion that this walk should be easy...please drop that like it's a handful of ravenous snakes. This walk should challenge you. A large part of this walk is the fact that God will test you, strip you, in order to mold you. He wants you to produce fruits. So don't run from being tested, embrace it, seek God's face about everything, spend quality time with him, and when the tests, pain, suffering come recognize it for what it is. A test and then PASS. You won't know the material, if you don't spend time studying the word or listening to the teacher.

As a parent you expect your child to hit certain milestones after they are born. If they don't you worry and quickly seek out the expertise of a specialist. It's the SAME THING with God, only difference is he is the expert =D. There is an expectation that as you walk with God there is a maturity that happens, growth that happens. The word says in 1 Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." Honestly there is a point where we need to grow up in our walk with God, we shouldn't be in the same place, dealing with the same temptation months after months. In order to do so our mind has to be transformed.

v  Guarding those gates is now your mission. You can't really grow and mature in your faith and in your walk if you are letting anyone and anything plant seeds in your heart. Study the Word of God, when you come to the Father our minds, history, past is not all of sudden wiped away. Our guilt from it does, but our mind has to undergo changes. So refrain from watching, reading, or listening to anything that isn't pleasing to God or beneficial for your growth (i.e. shows, music, sex/romance novels), especially during the beginning stages. Just like a child/toddler what you see, hear, and watch is what you'll repeat and live.

Finally as we begin to explore who we are in God and start doing visible things that label us as "good Christians" we can have moments of pride. Let me just remind you and myself quickly that without Jesus we are nothing and could do nothing of merit. It sounds a bit harsh but it's the truth, Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" for in truth "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23. No one can boast of their own righteousness because it, salvation, grace, and mercy are all gifts from God.

v  So humble yourselves before you wreck yourself. Never get into the mindset that you are living this thing out of your own strength or ability.

If you have fallen, please reach out to God. Let him comfort you, clean you off. Repent as for forgiveness, turn towards him instead of hiding. Because just like a parent of a fallen child, God does not love you any less because you fell. He is right there waiting for you. Don't hide and continue to backslide. Seek his face, accountability, positive fellowship, and when God has moved and spoken take another step.

Love y'all,

Heather Lindsey- Pregnant with Purpose

"Heather Lindsey is the founder of an awesome organization/movement that I am proud to be a part of known as Pinky Promise. Check it out!!

Pinky Promise & Heatherlindsey.blogspot.com

Accidental Revelation

The Summer of my Junior Year in Undergrad I was in a big car accident. It wasn't a major accident where lives were lost but it was big enough that I was shaken and petrified of ever driving again for a long time. That summer was the beginning of God acquiring my full attention.

The Moment

My summer class had just ended and I was being picked up by my then boyfriend.... (a pretty significant part of my testimony for a later date) and I convinced him to let me drive home. At that point I had my license for 2-3 years but I rarely drove because the BF drove me everywhere (something I realize now was just another unhealthy component of our relationship). I rarely went anywhere unless he was with me. Had some serious issues with being alone.

We hopped on the highway which for me is the most petrifying part and everything was going pretty well. I was feeling pretty confident and I begin to switch lanes. All though I've had my licence for almost 3 years at that point I still felt like a newbie driver and I was repeatedly triple checking my mirrors. As I was moving from the slow lane to the middle lane, at the last minute the driver that was coming up in that lane decided he didn't want to let me pass and sped up. Before I realize what happen he was in my blind spot and I was already switching. The BF saw this and grab the wheel......not before I side swipe the other car causing glass to explode. I freak out and froze with my foot on the gas and hit the guard rail which cause us to spin. In an attempt to stop I press both feet on he brake and we end stopping hard all the way in the FAST lane facing towards traffic. It's easy to recognize God's protective hand in a situation like that when you've survived.... 

You know that moment everyone speaks about, that moment when your life flashes before your eyes cause by the realization that you just might die today..... YA I didn't have it. In fact I actually had the opposite. I had a moment where all I could think of was eternity, what came after and I had a moment of complete cold dread. In that moment I realized that I truly didn't know where my eternity would be.

That moment scared me.

Revelation

In that moment I had complete clarity, my eyes were open, and ears were finally clear to hear the gentle call of The Lord on my heart. Some may put this in the category of temporary insanity due to extreme circumstances but in all honesty it was much bigger than that simple explanation. I learn some things that day.

1.      Death does not respect any man, no matter the age, race, gender, education level, dreams, aspirations or whatever else we use to call it unfair.

2.      A moment of clarity/revelation will remain only a moment if we choose to let our lives stay the same (Note: Took me 4 months to surrender to Christ after that moment and another to trust Him with my life)

3.      God never stops trying to reach you in the midst of our hot mess, there is hope as long as we are alive but we truly never know when it will be our last.

4.      Sin is temporarily filling but eternally devastating. Comfortable sin is like a silent noose slowly tightening around our necks.

5.      We are as CLOSE to God right now as we CHOOSE to be.

The last revelation really hit me hard recently. Can I be complete transparent and confess something?? I have a HARD time trusting GOD. It's a struggle for me to spend intimate alone time with him because it makes me feel so vulnerable. I realize that I have had a poisonous wall, engulfed by acid vapors surrounding my heart for a long time...and yes I had to be that descriptive. Not only that but for  long time I had a very well designed facade of a perfect Christian that I use in order to avoid getting any deeper than the superficial level. Sometimes it feels like my heart is left completely in the open, bare for anyone to see. To see all the bruises, cracks, and shallow areas.

God is the most intimate love I have ever had because He is not satisfied with the shallow area that I offer to Him when I am afraid. He wants more of me and he refuses to relent until my heart is His in totality. Yet he is so patient and loving..never forcing me to go anywhere that I am not ready to go. Waiting for me to let go so HE can go deeper, removing all the junk I have acquired living in this fallen world, healing all those festering wounds that I try to cover with bandages, showing me things that I could never imagined, and all the while showing himself everyday to be worthy of my TRUST. Isn't it crazy??! me who is completely unworthy.... is being courted by the Almighty God??  Who promises to be there for me through it all, to give me more joy, peace, love, purpose and protection than I can ever imagine, to love me and show me who I truly am, to fight my battles and provide for me and all I have to do is live a life of surrender body, mind, spirit, and soul.  

What's crazy to me is how much we take this offer, his grace and mercy for granted. While there are men, women, and children being persecuted, beaten, even murdered around the world for their faith and desire for God's word we tend to have so much apathy and excuses.  Paul Walker, an actor most notably known for his role in Fast & Furious was killed in a car accident. I was told this by a fellow coworker and when she first told me I can honestly say that I had no idea who she was referring to. When I finally saw his picture I was able to connect a feeling to the face because one he was pretty handsome and two I was familiar with his movies. Shallow but honest. I am sad that someone lost a son, brother, father, friend yesterday. I pray that his soul is a rest with our Heavenly Father. But his picture and recent death stirred something deeper and more specific in me, a conviction. It reminded me that life is so fleeting, that in a moment it could all be gone. It also made me realize that for me when the end comes I want to know without  shadow of a doubt where my eternity lies.

Is your life a testimony of his love and sacrifice? Are you free from the fear of death?

Love y'all,

I Surrender- Hillsong

"This Little Light of Mine"

Do you guys remember this little hymn we used to sing as children? A song full of innocence,  and joy yet filled with promise of living a life that can only be described as pleasing to God... What happen to those children I wonder? Some of you might answer LIFE...life is what happen. No one can truly deny that living in this dark and fallen world we are bound to have our fair share of pain, heartache, trauma, and so much more... and in no way am I saying that what you may have endured didn't hurt or that you don't have the right to have moments where you reflect.....BUT when it comes down to the nitty gritty of it all YOU SURVIVED to let the little light  in you shine!! So many of us are ashamed of that light, if we are truly honest with ourselves we sometimes think that living in DARKNESS is easier. Our flesh would have us believe that the darkness is more fulfilling, that living holy and righteously is tooo hard but that is such a lie. 

If it was the truth we wouldn't have that feeling like something is missing when we are living "happily" in our sin, or have this HUGE void in our hearts that seem to be impossible to fill no matter how many things we buy, relationships we have, alcohol/drug that we consume.

So what then..... What should I do?

If you have heard and accepted the word of God and have fallen away

REPENT. Turn back to God. 

Don't Hide in your guilt, allow God to clean you up and make a decision to

grow to a place where you let your light shine!!

 This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, this little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine

Hallelujah
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

(CHORUS)

Ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine

Out in the dark
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, out in the dark
I'm going to let it shine

For those of still on the fence...hear me out

"Jenny you are always happy", "You must not have any problems, what problems you have to complain about.... "I swear you live in world where all you see is rainbows and shiny things"...... I am told these statements throughout my day basically everyday, Jenny you have no problems that's why you are always happy----ummmm reality check, EVERYONE has problems, problems are not partial to color, height, race or whatever else........and one life lesson I've learned is that often time the ones who smile the brightest have gone through the darkest times. Don't be fooled, or make assumptions from what can only be seen on the surface. The only difference between me and anyone else is that approximately 2 years ago I made a choice.

"My Joy will not be situational, it will be spiritual"

My joy is not dependent on me or the things around me but on the only constant fixture, aspect, component, relationship of my whole life---Jesus Christ.

Getting to a place where I can consistently live this out was not easy and still isn't, GOD only knows how many days I struggle to even get out of bed, let alone do something productive. Some days my bed feels like my only friend, my pillow my only confidant, and sleep my only escape. On those days I remember a truth that resonates in every fiber of my being, I remember that someone died that my light would shine, someone suffered so that I could rise, bled so I could be free to LIVE beyond darkness,  resurrected so that I could stand among the depraved, lost, depressed with confidence and speak of the goodness of knowing that someone who has promise to never leave or forsake me in the midst of it all.

I slowly come to the realization everyday that my light is not for me. A candle does not shine for its own desire but to illuminate the darkness for someone else. When I begin to truly live on fire for Christ I realize how big of an oxymoron it is to live a life of a "Depressed & Scared Christian", especially when we know the author of Joy, love, and peace. So if you are in a place where you are afraid to let your light shine or are in a state of mind where the idea of joy is foreign let me to encourage you and give you some tips that's helped me.

Sunshine Tips

v  Joy is a choice that begins with surrender to the only person that can make you happy no matter the season--Jesus Christ.

- Anything else is a temporary substitute, develop a true relationship with the savior and discover a hidden joy that simply is unexplainable.

v  Guard the gates of your heart, you can't desire joy when you listen to chaos, surround yourself in sadness. (Proverbs 4:23)

- Watch what you listen to consistently (music, news, shows)

- Be attentive to what you read

- Are your friends always negative??

v  Happy food choices = Happy Person

- Food has an influence on how you feel, if you eat crap all the time you will feel awful.

v  Head to Toe Praise

- Recently discovered that when I intentionally find things to be thankful for by the time I reach the 5th or 6th item, I am smiling. So starting from the top of your head just start being thankful for it and move your way down i.e (sound mind, creative thoughts, eyesight, nose to smell beauty/danger, taste buds to taste favorite foods).

v  Treasure Trek

- Discover the treasure that is YOU. Do something that brings you joy? If you think that currently in your life there is nothing start small. There is joy in discovering who you are and recognizing that you  have the power to change.

v  Surround yourself with positive, genuine, happy people and observe their language.

- Life and death lies in the power of the tongue....what you speak becomes your reality.  

v  Baby laughter, funny videos with animals, childhood favorite movies, Disney songs.

- Specific to me these are just a few of my favorite things (hehe, movie reference intentional.....hug if you figured out what movie =D)

You are loved, special, one of a kind, a masterpiece created by the King. There is no one like you in this whole world. He made no mistake when he created, no matter what you've heard, or who's told you otherwise YOU ARE NO MISTAKE. The Creator of the Heaven and Earth rejoiced when you took your first breath on this earth, he smiled when you first laugh as a child, and while you sleep he continues to prepare a marvelous plan for your life, a plan to prosper you not to harm you. He desires an intimate relationship with you, where you can rest in Him because he's promise never to leave you or forsake you, to walk with you through every season of your life, give you love, peace, joy that can't be shaken by any storm in your life.....but you have to CHOOSE. Follow Jesus Christ, I've been on this journey with Him and I wouldn't trade it for anything of this world. Cliche but in all honesty fallen in love with God is the BEST thing I've ever done in my life. Everything of /inthis world will disappear, the only thing that you can TRUST is that God is and will always BE all that he says He is+

Love y'all,

xoxo

My Love Letter

Dear You,

I have no idea who you are, where you come from, where you've been, or what you've gone through. I have never seen your face, sat in your presence, heard you speak, enjoyed the sound of your laughter, yet I know that you are the answer to one of my most intimate prayers, a silent missing beat in my heart, the ONE I was designed to walk this journey with. You are a pleasant thought that causes me to smile unexpectedly, a desire so powerful that I know that when we do finally meet my heart will beat rapidly. You are a prayer worth developing for, praying for, and most importantly waiting for. You are imperfectly you on a quest to be a living representation of Him.

You are my King.

When I was lost in the world, dead in my sin, alive in my lust and separated from our Father, Christ found me broken, dirty and afraid. Terrified that I was no longer worthy, worthy to someday be called your wife because I believed the LIE "he" whispered to me that I was no longer Daughter of the Most High, precious, holy, set apart, the apple of his eye.

Ashamed I hid.

For awhile I hid lost in the crevices of my mind, a victim to my pity, a prisoner in an open cage, a slave holding the key to my shackles.

I didn't understand the cost of my freedom, the depth of the sacrifice of Christ, the significance and power that lied in his resurrection. Yet through it all HE was patient with me. He loved me through my brokenness, nurtured me through my weakness, guarded me through my falls. In those moments grace and mercy embraced me, in those moments SURRENDER in its truest form became real to me....

CHRIST is my Savior.

I say all of this to make clear that my heart, soul, spirit and mind are no longer mine. They were bought at a HIGH price that could only be paid by Christ. To discover me you must know Him. I write this to you as a notification that my love for you is fueled by my love for Christ, the love that I continue to learn in this season of singleness. There is no compromise when it comes to the foundation of our love, because there is only one ROCK that I stand on. One that I know that you will push me closer to because....

You are my priest

As I patiently wait for you, guarding my heart because from it flows the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23), protecting my body because from it we'll carry the seed of our legacy, becoming a woman worthy of your trust, innovative, hardworking, resourceful, cloth in strength, grace, wisdom, and dignity, (Proverbs 31) a helpmeet in this partnership for the Kingdom know that I am overjoyed!!! for your life. For I was designed to be ONE flesh with you, to guard your heart as your rib, to share stories with you, to create memories with you, to guide little footprints in the sand. To share highs and lows, to be there in sickness and health. I am excited to discover and walk into this beautiful love story with you created by our Abba. Till then I continue to rest in His hand, picturing occasionally the face I've yet to see, the presence I've yet to feel, the laughter I've yet to hear, from the man I am growing to LOVE.

Prayerfully,

Inspired By: "I Will Wait for You" P4CM Janette

Photographed By: Marceline Vilmont www.marcelinev.tumblr.com

  

Busy Being Busy: Reflection of an Overachiever

I have a confession to make. It's been something I have been dealing with for awhile *deep dramatic sigh*........I am what most people call an overachiever, and what I personally call a busy bee. Pretty sure you ladies and gents have heard this phrase thrown around plenty of times often time as a joke but for me it's been a way of life for as long as I can remember. I am the person that struggled with saying the word NO especially when I knew my plate was already full (PPS- People Pleaser Syndrome...we'll talk about that another time), I was that person that refused to delegate because I had the mentality "If I want it done RIGHT I have to do it myself"--- if you have had this thought like me (be honest with yourself) I can honestly say you may suffer from one or both of these problems, lack of TRUST or a spirit of PRIDE.

As for me it was a mixture, I didn't trust in others because I've occasionally been let down... I also really didn't like being DEPENDENT on someone else, the act of being vulnerable is something that scared the living stuff out of me. When it came to PRIDE I simply wanted all the praise & glory for whatever activity, I enjoy being complimented and all that jazz. How foolish was I! Knowing that my God is a jealous God and it's by his grace I have been given the ability and opportunity to do the things I do. If you guys haven't realize yet humans are unstable 0_0 the same voice we use to compliment we us to tear into shreds. The only stable approval we need in regards to our  life is that of Christ.

At the peak of my busy bee days you could find my head spinning in a million direction, moving at an abnormal speed, starting a hundred things but really not getting ANYTHING done. Just to get you to see what I am talking about we'll explore Undergrad life. I was a Resident Assistant, President of a Multicultural Student Union, Secretary of a faith based club, an employee in my Student Center, was in a committed relationship with a random, and a waitress at a restaurant....ohhhh almost forgot I was also a FULL-TIME student. Now to some of you that may not seem a lot but for ME it was so much because I often relied on my own energy rather than receiving help from those who truly wanted to help out. Most importantly through all of this...chaos...my relationship with my source of energy/life/peace/joy, my sustainer, GOD, was placed on the back burner. I was OVER IT all!

Are you currently feeling BURNED out? Do you feel like you are doing a million things but when you take inventory you realize nothing is truly getting done? I was in the same boat, and don't get me wrong I haven't arrived yet.... and won't be arriving it will always be a conscious effort to keep things in their proper time and place. But THANK GOD I am not where I used to be!!

There is nothing wrong with being a busy bee, the problem comes when things/activities take priority over what should be most important in your life which are GOD first and foremost and family (relationships). Does the saying "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36 ESV ring a bell? I had a "light bulb moment" during my season of busy bee chaos---- WHY NOT ASK THE CREATOR OF TIME HIS INPUT ON HOW I SPENT THE TIME HES GIVEN ME? .........shocking to even consider this huh, well I decided to check out what the Bible says about time management----side note: figuring out that the Bible has answers for my current life has been mind-blowing.

Time Management Tips Biblical

1. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8- "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under Heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.....A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace."

Written by King Solomon aka "Wisest man in the World" during his later years as a reflection of his life, note a key point is made in these verses which is timing is everything. In our society today we have developed a "got to go" mentality, the faster the process, the easiest way to get it done is often time the option we choose. Multitasking has become an attribute that we try to do in every area of our life. When God says differently..... He states that there is a time/season for everything under the Heaven so (TIP 1: Stop rushing the process and give each thing in your life its proper time to grow....stop the pesticide mentality). Recognize that time is a GIFT not a RIGHT and learn to seek, accept, and walk in God's perfect timing.

2. 2 Peter 3:8- "But do not look this one fact, beloved, that WITH the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"

I don't know about you guys but this verse just blows my mind. The word of God says "In the beginning GOD CREATED" there was nothing before He decided to speak and that includes TIME. God is the creator of time, but he is not constrain by it, He has the ability to work in and out of it. This is the God we serve! So this brings me to ( TIP 2: Invite God into your daily living & decision the small and the big!) As I type this know that this is directed towards me as well, but doesn't it just make sense to walk with the Creator of Time rather than fight against Him. Don't let your fear of being let down, vulnerable, or your pride to get  in the way. Please don't. For it continues to say in verse 9 "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you...."  God is a gentleman he will not force you to walk with him but he will patiently wait for you.

3. Ephesians 1:10- "As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in Heaven and things on earth."

You may be completely different from me but when I was busy being busy I was extremely lonely. I was so stuck on doing things alone that I miss out on opportunities to share in moments with loved ones. (All though not all activities is for us to partake in, important for us to guard our gates Proverbs 4:23) I lost not only my peace of my mind, and almost my sanity but the blessing of unity. (TIP 3: Ask for help! Seek wise counsel on tasks before you say yes and invite people especially those who are invested in seeing you succeed with no desire of personal gain to give assistance)

If you are just not in the SPIRITUAL, relationship part........yet.......

below are "practical steps"

1. Learn to say NO with class. There is nothing wrong in recognizing that this extra project will just tip your balance scales completely off. Saying no with class requires sweetness and practice. If possible refer that person to someone that you believe that would be of assistance. Use your strong, honey voice. Do not be bullied or guilt trip into doing something you will resent later.

2. Plan AHEAD.  I can't even tell you guys how many times I accidentally double booked myself, a mistake that could easily have been avoided by checking my schedule. I don't know about you but writing things down doesn't work for me, it gets lost in the vortex of my purse. If you have a Smartphone and a Gmail account I highly recommend using the calendar tab. Set the time aside to put all your responsibilities, events, meetings etc.. in their and sync to your phone. You now have it accessible to you. Give yourself traveling and breathing time between each task 35-45 min. Another great app/tool wiggio. Thank me later =D

3. Create a rewards system. As human beings we like to feel good about things that we do. It's a fact,  reward systems have help us learn many lessons in life. Create a healthy one for yourself. For me I have a "post it note system". I use post-it notes, 3 colors---red, orange, blue to help me. Red: things that need to happen that day, no excuses....orange: medium priority things that can go to another day if pushed back however is placed as red following day, and blue: relational, positive things and encouragement that I want to get too as soon as possible.

4. Take inventory. Sometimes we have to do a check in, if you are physically burned out you are most likely no longer balance. Check in and rearrange your priorities. Take a breather, do an activity that gets you to de-stress i.e. walk in a park, workout, dance like a crazy person in your own space, listen to music. Then take a minute and write down everything that is going on in your life and go through that list and figure out what you took on that you don't necessarily HAD to and take proper action steps.

Love y'all,