Your Someone's Angel

Just recently I was chatting with my mother over the phone when the conversation turned to a young lady who was staying across the street from her and my dad. Now my parent live in a peaceful suburbia neighborhood in which this young lady with three kids was renting a room from her aunt – who was known for taking in estranged family members. This young lady had lost her mother at a young age, and according to her, she really didn’t have a close relationship with her father. As a matter of fact their relationship was so strained he was threatening to have her kids taken away from her—claiming that she was not fit to be a mother. That’s where my mother enters the picture; even though she would have rather stayed out of it--God had other plans.

I would say a new chapter begins in this teenager’s life with her walking up and down the side walk cursing on her cell phone. This didn’t go on for a minute or two, try three to four hours. Neighbors who were trying to enjoy a nice day, quickly found themselves returning to the comfort and sound proof protection of their home. My mom was one of those neighbors who peaked out her door several times only to find a distraught and troubled young lady still walking up and down the sidewalk cursing up a storm. Annoyed and perturbed my mother considered calling the police to put a stop to the nuisance. She thought, if only the cops would drive by and hear the foul words coming from this young lady’s mouth; surely they would have cause to arrest her for disturbing the peace. While reaching for the phone, the Holy Spirit spoke to my mother’s spirit: “Go pray with and for her.” Realizing that prayer may be a better solution than calling the police my mother was obedient to the Holy Spirit and went out to talk to the young lady. When my mother reached her, she asked her if she could pray with and for her, the young lady’s response was “sure.”

My mother prayed with and for her, and then sat down and talked with her—quickly realizing that calling the police on her would have just compounded her problems. Her car had been repossessed leaving her with no transportation to work; her father had taken her kids and kicked her out of his house; she was low on funds with no money to pay anyone to take her anyplace; and last but not least her father was preparing to have her children taken away because, in his eyes, she was an unsuitable mother. Simply put, she was at her wits end and just did not know what she was going to do. As God would have it, my parents had just purchased another car and were contemplating on what they were going to do with one of their older cars.

My mother talked with my father and they agreed they would give her a car. In the process this young lady was able to keep her job, find her own place, and continue to provide for her kids (enough that it met her father’s expectations). In addition, she was introduced to God. I tell you this story, because if we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we want to peek out the door to make sure the coast is clear so we only have to worry about our own problems, and not the problems of others. With the economy as bad as it is, so many people are hurt, frustrated, and in desperate need of the basic necessities of life. And where there is a need, there is most likely a heart that is open to receive your prayers and quite possibly a relationship with Jesus.

God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, so as we go about our daily lives we should look for opportunities to: “Lift up (encourage and support); build up (provide the resources for growth); hold up (endure with another); help up (serve those in need); and pick up (lend a helping hand).”

Reference: “Balancing Blessings and Obtaining Order” by Sandra Miller.

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Do You Have the Courage to Live Your Best Life?

Do You Have the Courage to "Live Your Best Life"? There is a reason why I am asking you that question. I know you want the best for yourself; but does wanting the best mean settling for less until life hands you what you really want. I can just imagine some of you scratching your heads right about now, but there are others who know exactly what I am talking about. You've dreamed of being successful: owning your own business, getting that degree, or getting that promotion. You've fantasized about: losing weight, pursuing your passion, or being debt free. The dilemma for allot of people is getting beyond the fear of success or failure. Some people have been so paralyzed by fear that they've shut the door to pursuing their hopes and dreams; but yet, they still hope by some mystical happening or anointing that their hopes and dreams will find them.

God has given each of us free will, He lets us decide individually whether we will succeed or fail on the path we have chosen for ourselves; He has also given us the option to do nothing--that doesn't mean things and life won't continue to happen around us, it just mean we've chosen not to be an active participant. God says in Deuteronomy 30:19: " I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;" God is not just counseling us to live life to its fullest, He is also encouraging us to be fearless and bold in pursuing the passions, talents, skills and abilities he has blessed us with. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7).

Know matter how much we say we want to achieve "this" or "that" unless we have the "courage of our conviction" and the Holy Spirit working within us, no amount of money, strength, perseverance, or resilience is going to help us achieve the goals we desire to achieve.

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The Discipline in Setting Goals

In my last post I shared with you how to set goals, and as we both know setting goals is one thing, but following through on those goals is quite another thing. As the year comes to a close most of the people I know and those people who I have talked with who use to set New Years goals, have set aside that tradition and have opted instead to hope for the best. They hope they'll lose weight this coming year; they hope they'll get that promotion; they hope their relationship will get better. I realize that the Bible says, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). But it also says, “…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Yes, James was referring to one's salvation in this passage; but show me anything of substance that was produced without work. Our salvation is freely given to us, but it requires us to believe, to turn from sin, and to confess our sin.

So in this post I'd like to share with you some tips to help you gain discipline so your goals don't become stale before the end of the first month of the new year. The tips I have adopted for myself are from Brian Tracy author and public speaker on human potential and personal effectiveness. Here are a few suggestions of his that have helped me gain discipline as I pursue my goals in spite of my weaknesses, workload, and family responsibilities:

1. List 5 areas in your life that lack discipline, and prioritize them in the order you want to conquer them.
2. Take them on, one by one by securing resources in the areas you are having trouble (book, tapes, etc.) or by finding someone who is a great role model in the areas you are trying to gain discipline.
3. Spend 15 minutes getting focused in each area daily.
4. Spend 5 minutes checking up on yourself daily.
5. Spend 5 minutes in the morning evaluating your progress.

If I had to add one more step it would be to pray fervently for God's guidance in each of the areas you lack discipline. Some of the areas you are trying to conqueror may be more than a lack of discipline, but a stronghold that only God's strong hand can deliver you from.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you “(1 Peter 5:6-7).

Reference: Brian Tracy, How to Master Your Time (Chicago, Illinois: Nightingale Conant Corporation).

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Are You Listening to Me?

This morning while pouring through my spiritual journal, I came across a verse scribbled down on a page by itself. "Proverbs 1:5" was what I had written. I knew it had something to do with obtaining wisdom, but since I wasn't exactly sure, I grabbed my King James Version of the Bible, and looked the verse up. It said: "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." Immediately I wanted to replace the word "hear" with "listen" like the New International Reader's Version does: "Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned. Let those who understand what is right get guidance." Then I got to thinking about the difference between listening and hearing. I know there is a difference, there has to be. 

There have been many times, my husband and I have been in a deep conversation about our family finances, about our future, or about some other matter, and I'll drift off into another world or start preparing my response, only to be brought back to reality with the comment, "You may hear me, but you are not listening." I've often heard similar phrases used by friends or close associates to describe the communication problems they have in their own relationships: "I know he hears me, but he's not listening to me." Then common sense reminded me that listening plays a major role in communicating with others; and is the key to building intimacy in any relationship. However, before effective listening can take place, we must hear what has been said. This goes beyond hearing something because we are close by; or hearing a few words and then jumping in to make our point. Hearing transforms into listening when we take the time to make a conscientious effort to pay close attention to what a person is saying (and in some cases doing). 

Can you think of anyone who is a good listener? People who actively listen to others are a store-house of knowledge. Had I listened to my family members tell me about my heritage when I was growing up, I would have a wealth of knowledge about my family today. I have also made the mistake of tuning out some information at conferences and at training sessions, thinking I would never need to apply that information. Wrong response on my part, and not very wise; a wise person listens, and expands her listening skills to discern what is really being said, facial expressions and tone of voice, etc. Are you a good listener? 

Your Call to Order… I want to encourage you to strive to be a better listener; here are some tips for building effective listening skills.

1. Recap what was said to you. When someone shares intimate information with you, repeat what they have said. This will not only show them you were listening, but it will help you remember what was said.
2. Maintain eye contact. Show that you are paying attention to the speaker by maintaining eye contact. This will help you stay focused on the speaker and the conversation.
3. Be an empathetic listener. You might not agree with what is being said, but never result to criticizing, or trivializing what a person is telling you. Keep in mind, it's not about you--a person is entitled to have their own opinions.
4. Look for opportunities to increase your listening skills. With every conversation improve on or build on the different aspects of listening (recapping what was said, noticing their tone of voice, reading their expressions, asking questions for a better understanding, etc.).

Power Verses (from the New King James Version) He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 11:15). Therefore hear me now, my children, And do not depart from the words of my mouth. (Proverbs 5:7).

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Staying Interesting...

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3 NIRV).

Most people flock to be around interesting people; someone like Jesus, who piqued the curiosity of thousands. How else could we explain people—including the religious elite, who did not need healing—hanging around Jesus to hear parables and receive wisdom they didn't understand? If we can be honest for a moment, we enjoy bragging about friends or associates who have visited the “Holy Land,” wrote a popular book, ran a marathon, started a successful business, worked with the President, and so on. Not that you’re required to do any of these things, but you should frequently strive to do something interesting and challenging.Once a person stops engaging in worthwhile pursuits, boredom and restlessness arrive—making space for depression and discontentment to settle in. Other people become more interesting and exciting; and before they know it they become bitter, jealous and cynical—slowly transforming into the nag, whiner, or grouch that no one wants to be around. Expand your horizons, stretch yourself spiritually, and do not allow yourself to get into a mental or emotional rut. As someone once stated, “If you don’t move forward in the Lord, you move backwards.... The momentum is in one direction or the other.”

Your Call to Order...
My challenge to you over the next couple of weeks is to find some way to stretch yourself: take a class, learn a new skill, volunteer, do something you have desired to do for months.

Power Verses (from the New King James Version)

“So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who aren't wise. Live like people who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil. So don't be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord wants” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIRV).

“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you" (Proverb 4:7-9).

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