A Change is going to come.......

Good morning,

This morning I was thinking about Forgiveness. Someone asked, “How do you know that you have forgiven someone?” I thought about this because I guess I never really thought about it in depth. My two cents was I feel like I have forgiven someone when their name can be thrown in a conversation and my first thoughts are not negative. I mean we hold on to grudges and do not even realize that most of the time the person(s) is not even worried about you. You are holding on to something that doesn’t even matter. These last four years have been so enlightening. I am the type of person that when you break something down to me and I have understanding I can make better decisions. I am not perfect but I do see things differently. That’s why I get so excited to share things with you. When I wrote about the rocks in our hearts it made me feel good because I know that if I keep tending to my heart I will be able to forgive and get those unnecessary rocks out. Holding on to those rocks will eventually weigh you down and you will find yourself buried underneath them. I have one life to live and I plan to fill it with love, joy, and happiness. I have a few rocks but I am working on them every day. I refuse to let any rocks to get in the way of the things that need to get in to nourish and add to my growth. With that being said, to all of the people that have hurt me….. I forgive you. I wish you nothing but the best in life because that is what I want for everyone. I apologize to anyone that I may have offended or hurt. I also forgive myself for the not great things I have done or said because I am working on being better and I don’t need to hold on to that either. If GOD forgives, we should do the same. Be better and make the road ahead beautiful. I hope that we continue to grow, be positive, and support one another on this journey we call life. 

AND remember life and death lies in the power of your tongue….give life!

MAKE IT GREAT!

E

Get a shovel.......

Good afternoon,

I have so much on my mind today. Life Studies always has me thinking, thinking, thinking and today is no different. We discussed the parable of the sower. I found this scripture so power and sooooo deep. I mean we couldn’t move on because the discussion just kept going and going. We ended the conversation with the part of the parable about seeds being sowed in ground that has rocks in it. The seeds sprout but since they are not deeply rooted, the sun can come and scorch them. They were not able to get the nutrients they needed because the rocks were in the way. I thought that this was so beautiful. So a quick translation….. The seeds are the word of GOD. The ground is your heart. The rocks are things we hold on to (i.e. anger, shame, sadness, being a victim, unworthiness). The sun is any type of trial, storm, or experience. Now we are constantly getting the word of GOD. Just because it doesn’t have the word “GOD” in it doesn’t mean that it’s not a part of his word. Things like “Let it go”, “Piece be still”, and the truth shall set you free are all in the bible. I believe most people are intimidated by the bible (I know I was) and that’s why we tend to pull away from it. I have found with understanding it’s not any different from the life we are living right now. Yes,…we are not farmers but we still live by the saying, “What you put in is what you get out”.  Now…..we ALL have rocks in our heart. Some are pebbles and some are boulders. The whole point of this scripture is that we have to continue to work those stones out. Some will be easier to work out than others will but we should never give up. The more stones we work out the more open will be to the word and all positive things that come with it. That way when the “Sun” comes it will not scorch but continue to mold you into the person you are supposed to be. I have said that the storms of life are not there to destroy you. They are lessons that have to be learned and if GOD could just say, “Do this and this” and we did it then I think we wouldn’t have to go through that. Anywhoo, I put on my Facebook that when life gets funky it’s like having a rock in the groove of your shoe. We never just walk around uncomfortable talking about how you know there is a rock but you will not get it out. We immediately stop and work that rock out and then move on. I actually had a rock stuck in my tire tread (the treads are so deep J thanks Ike) and I could hear it. I pulled over and looked at every tire until I found it. Then I had to find some tools to work it out. When I got it out my truck ran so much smoother. That’s life. Continue to work on getting those negative things out of your life. It’s easier to accept the positive when there is nothing blocking it. I realized through the conversation that people tend to hold on to certain stones to remind them of how unworthy or that they should still be ashamed. The thing is that those things are gone. You are not in that same position. There is a 99% chance that you are the only person that even thinks about that situation. Stop punishing yourself for something that happened in the past. IT’S OVER AND YOU ARE STILL STANDING! It only lives because you allow it to live. Dig that stone out and place it on a shelf….. Use it as an example of how you dug it out and became better from it. You will get no trophies or awards from leaving it in your heart. Don’t be embarrassed. Let GOD use you to heal yourself and others. There is nothing like the feeling of using your victory from a past hurt to help someone else claim their victory. You are already an example of how something GREAT can come out of something not so great! LIVE IT!

We will always have to maintain our garden of life. Take care of you.

AND remember don’t let pass situations dictate future blessings

MAKE IT GREAT!

Mind-boggling

Good morning,

I have a couple of things I want to say today……I hope that it’s not too random.

I am always speaking about how to get to “Happy”. Last night I was watching “Oprah’s Next Chapter” and she (and the interviewee) said that they don’t want to be happy they want Joy. They felt that happy was not a real thing. I sat and thought about it and on some level, I have to disagree. I believe that Joy is an internal thing and because of that, you are happy. The thing is that when you do not have JOY I think happy is easier to obtain. I live on the “Fake it until you make it” plan. In the beginning, I wasn’t happy. I didn’t have JOY. Well actually, I couldn’t recognize and enjoy the JOY I did have. So, I focused on the things that made me happy. I constantly reminded myself what I did have and why I should be happy.  I worked on me and through all of that, I was able to discover my internal joy. I believe that when you are able to appreciate who you are and where you are that is JOY. Things will not always be the same because life is forever changing but if you are happy with the core of you then you will forever have JOY. It seems so easy for me to understand now. I believe that most people have a hard time because they are attempting to fit themselves into something that doesn’t really fit. You have to be able to find what works for you and work from that.  It can be difficult at times when it comes to the action but I’ll never stop because the outcome is so sweet. I spoke with someone recently that told me that although I am constantly encouraging there would be some people that I will not be able to help. That hurts me. I am very happy, joy filled, and I want everyone to feel and enjoy the same. Sometimes I wonder what GOD goes through. I mean he promises us that he has something greater than anything we could ever imagine but yet we refuse it and continue to live unhappy lives. Are we afraid? Do we really not want it? Then I think what do I do when someone doesn’t want to let go of the negativity? Do I just give up and not bother with the person? I mean I can’t force anyone to do something that they have no desire to do. Do I hang around and keep trying? The thing with that is after a while it becomes too much negativity and I get snappish. It’s one thing if the person is working through it and needs a confidant. If the person just wants to complain I am not able to deal and can come off a little too blunt. I have issues with people playing the victim and not doing anything about the situation. Things happen. Do something about it. I mean sit and think about what you want and then go after it! Sitting in a pool of pity is not attractive. People that go through hellish things and fight through it are not victims….. They are soldiers. These people still have a flicker of JOY inside of them and they want to make it a fire. We should never be defined by one thing that we have been through.   We are more than a situation. Our experiences should mold us into better people. Why would you not want to be better? Is it because you do not know ahead of time what that is? I just am not able to figure it out….I think I’m just thinking too much…..

I hope we are all able to find internal JOY. Never stop working towards it. I pray that will all be able to be “Happy” in the midst of it all.  Life is a gift so let’s take the time to enjoy every minute.

AND remember you are the author of your life story….. Will you create a best seller?

MAKE IT GREAT

E

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning,

Lately when I something upsets me I say, "You can’t have it”. Earlier in the week, a woman almost hit me with her car. I got upset and just as quick as I got upset I went back to my happy place. She didn’t hit me so really there was no need to be upset so I told her, “You can’t have it”. Someone at my job plucked a nerve and I told them, “You can’t have it”. I’m so real about this. MY HAPPY BELONGS TO ME AND YOU CAN’T HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I worked very hard to get to this place and if the devil, the evil, or negativity thinks for one minute that I am going to allow them to have they are sadly mistaken. It belongs to me! Oh and how they do try to make it hard for me to live. They attempt to put seeds of doubt into my mind but I’m not having it. This especially happens when life is in transition or when something is about to move in your life. When things are looking like a mess and nothing seems to be coming together is when it sneaks in. That is when you need to be the strongest. That’s when you need to stand up and check yourself. If you want your happy then go get it! Stop looking for it…it’s right there! Tell (aloud) the negative things in your life that they can’t have it! You want to bring the drama? Well save that for your momma because you can’t have it. People on your job trippin’ well smile and tell them you can’t have it. Your own mind trying to play tricks on you? Check’em! Until there is undisputable proof then don’t worry about it. Things in your life are not playing out fast enough….chill. Those situations can’t have your JOY! There are too many other things happening in your life that are a blessing. Too many other things in your life bring you JOY. Focus on those until the other things can be worked out. When things look funky to me, I think about Ruth. She lost her husband and two sons…. AND on top of that, she was in a famine. I mean really is your life that bad? I doubt it. Anywhoo, she was just scratching and surviving, Boaz saw her (someone is always watching out for you), and a series of events lead her to a better situation (in short). The point is that where you are RIGHT NOW is where you are supposed to be. Things will change and you need the circumstances of where you are right now so that you will be prepared for your future. SOOOOOOO with that being said, you need to be happy. Your current situation should not be in control of your happy. IT CAN’T HAVE IT!!!!!! It’s your happy. The thing is that when you do finally get to happy then all that bad is forgotten sooooo let’s get a head start. Let’s have a pre-celebration that never ends. Celebrate during the storm because you want to come out on the other side experience what extra happy feels like. This week has been super awesome for me. I have opened my eyes every morning with a layer of “extra happy” on. Nothing has happened. I just woke up happy. I am so grateful for this feeling. I think about where I have come from and I’m excited about where this life may lead me. I know that doubt and fear HATE me this week. They tried but I think they have moved on for the week. My shine has been too much for them. Oh well. I don’t know where life is going to lead but I tell you what…… I’m going to be SUPER HAPPY when I get there…. You can’t have my happy! It belongs to me!

AND remember you have a wonderful life….. It’s better to realize it sooner than later.

MAKE IT GREAT!!!!

E

It always happens in 3's................

Good afternoon,

Yesterday’s life lesson was about the “Evil Three”. The “3” showed up in Life Studies, at the end of my workday, and then last night…. The lesson appeared 3 times. If you know me, I’m all about the “3”. If I hear something three times then it has my full attention. Anywhoooo, the evil three are doubt, anxiety, and fear. We battle with them every day. I talk about them all the time. The harder we work on building a positive life the harder they work at throwing a monkey wrench in that plan. I was thinking about the three and how they affect us. Doubt affects the mind. It has you manifesting things that haven’t even happened yet. Because we almost never “assume” in the positive we create the worst-case scenarios when it comes to situations. The thing that is crazy is that most of the time there is no indication that things are not going to go in the positive direction. Doubt knows that when we have to be patient that is the best time to attack. So, doubt sends a “maybe” and has you thinking things have changed when in actuality nothing has changed. Yesterday you were not thinking about the situation and now today it’s about to fall apart. Once doubt has embedded itself in your mind, it then summons its homie anxiety. Anxiety attacks the body and has you not sleeping well, having bad dreams, uneven breathing, and sometimes a panic attack. Now your world is falling apart. Your situation is the same but you physically are falling apart. Now that doubt and anxiety are tag teaming, they bring in the closer……fear. Fear is bigger than a mind thing. Fear implants itself in your soul. Think about it when you fear something your whole being reacts to it. Again, here goes the “3’s”…. Mind, Body, and soul. The enemy is not unorganized. There is a clear plan. DESTRUCTION of your happiness is the only desire. They say for every good there is a bad. That’s why we have to stay focused. We have to find something to take our mind off the situation. Find some affirmations, groups, or hobbies to get into while we are waiting on the situation to wrap itself up. If you have done all that you were supposed to do and that’s left is to wait then I strongly suggest that you find something to occupy that time. The good is always there but the “bad” will always try to distract us from it. The “evil three” has to get it in where it fits in because no one consciously makes room for them. I know I don’t. I make every attempt to focus on the “GOOD three”.  When doubt creeps up on me, (doubt never lets you know that it’s coming) I turn my mind to the “Father”. When I focus on GOD, I am able to find the positive. If you believe in GOD then you know that HE wants what’s best for you. It’s a support system. When you are going through something and you need to vent you turn to your support system because you know that they have you best interest in mind. Well it’s the same with GOD and that’s where I go. Once my mind is on GOD I remind myself that the “Son” died for me so I’m covered. I can relax my body because my mind is not trippin’ out. It reinforces what I already know to be true. Knowing that I’m covered by GOD totally I can totally live in HIS “Holy Spirit”.  It runs all through me allowing me to stay focused and to keep moving forward. I end up being in a calm relaxing place. This may sound a little preachy but you know what it’s how I live my “BEST” life. I want to be spiritually in tune with the “GOOD Three” because I know that they will always have my back when it comes to the storms of life. Life will never stop so we must always be prepared for whatever comes our way. Doing these steps doesn’t make the storm go away but it does make you better prepared to make it through. Let go of the negative and let’s go get this better life. No more complaining…. That’s that “evil three” living. Don’t wait to hear this message two more times…… Get on it now.

AND remember the things that you pay attention to will tell you who you really are……

MAKE IT GREAT

E

Crackhead......

Good afternoon,

I’m sitting here and I’m thinking about fear. Fear comes from not having an understanding of a situation. When we don’t know either we shy away or act like a bull in a china shop. We all do it. I use to shy away from speaking about GOD. I knew some things and although I have faith, there were so many things I didn’t understand. I have been able to ask all of my questions without someone giving me the serious side eye and now I am so much more comfortable in a spiritual conversation. With better understanding, I am able to get through the storms of life. It’s not that the storms are easier…..I’m just stronger. The reason that I titled this post “Crackhead” is because we are human and we have to take life one day at a time in order not to be strung out.  The drug is fear and when we are living in fear, it will cause destruction. Fear will have you lying stealing, and cheating people. You are afraid of getting in trouble so you lie and blame someone else. You are acting shifty because you are stealing and afraid that someone may catch you. You don’t address issues because you are afraid of what it may say about you. You are afraid that you will fail so you make irrational decisions, which just cause the storm to get bigger. The thing about storms is that they always pass. Even the worse storms have come and gone. What we must do is not jump too fast in the storm. We must get into a Faith program and take it one day at a time. I have learned that when the storm is giving me the business I need to just stop. I must stop all movements and get prayed up. Focus on GOD. It’s not that I feel like I’m going to get the answer right at that moment. I just need to be centered so that when I do make a plan I will not be all over the place. When the storm comes, our initial reaction is some form of fear. We cannot let that fear drive us. Allowing fear to guide you is like letting Stevie Wonder’s evil twin take you to the store. Nothing good will come from it. Get focused on being calm and centered and then move. When GOD brought the Israelites out of Egypt, it was not so they could run around like chickens with their heads cut off. HE wanted something better for them. Now all they needed was to have Faith and stay the course. Well I am telling us….focus and stay the course. The storm will pass but will you have enough Faith to endure the journey?

And remember they say that weeping may endure for a night but JOY comes in the morning…….

MAKE IT GREAT

E

Peace..........

Good morning,

Every day I pray that we all get to a place in life that we are at peace. I know that it becomes difficult because we are human and there will always be worry. We just have to stand strong and battle through anything that comes our way. I was speaking with my Life studies group yesterday about how with understanding comes a sense of peace. People will always shy away from what they don’t understand. That is why I pray for understanding. I have a strong desire to be at peace. When I am at peace, I can handle the storms that may come my way. The storms of life are not so detrimental. With peace, I understand that I’m so much stronger than I give myself credit. I have come so far and I understand that all that I have gone through is not just for me. GOD could have used any situation to build me into the person that he wanted me to be. He used what was necessary so that I could help others that would be in need. I didn’t understand at the time but later it all made sense. I just needed to pay attention. The answers to whom we are and what we are supposed to do are all around us. Every situation is a clue and if you do not pay attention, you will miss it. The good thing is that if you miss it the clue will come back. Tune in to your talents. What is it that you are really good at? I mean what is something that comes so simple? That is the core of who you are. Once you can figure that out then you can develop that into something that you like to do. I love to talk, advise, and help their get to their happy. Your talent was given to you for a reason. In the bible when GOD wanted his temple built, he gave certain people specific talents. Well that still holds true. There are certain things that come easy for some and not so much for others. Use your talent. The happiest times in your life come from doing something that you love. That is where your peace is at…….tune in.

AND remember when you unclutter your mind you will be able to find a peace of mind….

MAKE IT GREAT

FYI….. I just want to inform you that I may not be able to send the good morning e-mails every day. I have been working on this book project and it’s getting difficult for me to have something inspiring to say while my mind is focused on this book. I am going to try to send them as often as possible but I really want to make this book a reality.  I hope you all understand. Have a wonderful day!

E