Don't Shrink

Love is a powerful force that can infiltrate light in the darkness and melt the hardness of a cold heart. It is a force that is supposed to represent God's love on Earth through relationships. However, when people do not understand the purpose of love, they abuse it! They ask people to do things to prove their loyalty and love that is contrary to God's purpose and His love.

On the other hand, when Jesus died on the Cross, He did so to express His unconditional love for humankind. He knew the shedding of His blood on the Cross would be the final time blood would have to be shed for our redemption from sin. Jesus did not shrink or go into hiding. On His journey, He would step away for restoration to continue his ministry and mission. But Jesus never went into hiding because He was clear about who He was, who He was serving, and why He was serving.

Today, many women are in relationships where they have chosen to shrink instead of allowing their love to illuminate because the true purpose of love is not prevalent in their lives. Their spouse or mate is mandating her to negate her identity in the name of love, silence her voice in the name of love, surrender her will in the name of love, and deny her truth and values all in the name of love. These requirements are debilitating! They do not help women elevate to become the best versions of themselves. And our society is replete with women experiencing abuse and being held captive in the illusion of love.

There are four types of love, Eros, Agape, Phileo, and Storge - each type serves a distinct purpose. Learn and study them to discover the ones that have been prevalent in you and your relationships. Allow God's love to guide you on your journey of self-discovery and awareness to evolve into the best version of yourself.

True Beauty - Originated from YouVersion Bible App

Proverbs 31 is a well-known chapter in the Bible written by King Lemuel where he shares advice from his mother - a God-fearing, hard-working, generosity-driven woman when he was king. Proverbs 31:30 (KJV) states, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised.”

Deep within, we know this verse is true. No matter how charming or beautiful a woman is, we know beauty is temporal, charm is finite, and the aging process will run its course. King Lemuel does not mention the physical appearance of his mother; he focuses on her character - described as a woman who fears the Lord.

If you know a woman who loves and respects God, honors and cares for people, invests wisely, and lives intentionally, take a moment to thank God for her life. As she aims to be more like God, strive to be more like her.

Live According to Truth

A student wanted to call his mother to tell her he was not having a good day. A teacher asked him why wasn't he having a good day, and he replied, "because nobody likes me." The teacher asked his permission to ask the class if they liked him, and he said, "no." This student has been operating from the belief that all the students at the school do not like him and that he does not fit in. The sad thing is he cannot provide solid proof to validate his feelings or assumptions.

There are a large number of people living according to the fallacy of their feelings! Feelings are tricky! They seldom can be solidified without facts. However, people would rather live in captivity by holding onto their feelings instead of seeking divine truth that can release them from the lies intertwined in their feelings. We were created in the image of God to serve Him and to live a victorious, abundant life! But if we do not realize why God created us, we will shortchange ourselves from experiencing God's unconditional love, hope, and joy!

John 8:32 (KJV) states, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Make time to verify if what you believe is true according to the Word of God! You have one life to live, and you owe it to yourself and God to live according to His truth and not according to your feelings or the opinions of others.

Faith is the Key to God's Promises

Realists seem to shun (i.e., people who tend to view or accept things as they are) people who live by faith. On the surface, realists and people who govern their lives by faith are different. But at their core, they are quite the same because they consciously and unconsciously live by faith.

When realists work, they expect payment after completion of their project or workweek. That is unconscious faith because payment is expected, not guaranteed. Conscious faith is an unemployed person who is confident they will secure work with God's help.

Faith is not magic; it is a process of life. We are not faithless beings. The question is, where do we direct our faith and the energy we release when we exercise it? Realists may not believe in a deity like God. Their lives are inspired by what they see. People who believe in God are led by what they cannot see because their hope and assurance are in God's ability to honor His promises!

Click here to view journal pages for this blog post.

When God Made You, He Spoke to Himself!

When God made you, He spoke to Himself. Everything God created outside of Himself, He spoke into existence (e.g., Let there be), and it was! When God made humanity, He spoke to Himself and said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness (Genesis 1:26).

The image of God is Triune (i.e., three beings in one)! He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The image of man is Triune too (i.e., Soul, Body, and Spirit). Being made in God’s image reflects His holiness, His righteous, and His love. When God spoke to Himself to form humanity, He wanted to demonstrate His love through fellowship when He said, “It’s not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

Another part of being made in God’s image is the freedom to choose. Adam and Eve were righteous until they ate the forbidden fruit (i.e., rebel against God). Their rebellion marred the image of God within themselves and their decedents. And the scars of their decision (i.e., mentally, socially, morally, and physically) are present in our lives today.

The good news is the original image of God can be restored through God’s grace and faith in Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior. Redemption is available if you need to reconnect with God or establish a relationship with Him. The choice is yours.

Click here view journal pages associated with this blog post.

Don't Live Within Your Means

Living within your means is well-intended advice to prevent people from acquiring debt. But could this advice prevent individuals from believing and achieving a bigger and better life?

Mean among many definitions is average. Living outside your means spiritually, emotionally, and socially can lead to an extraordinary life. Here’s how:

• Write your big dreams and read them daily
• Create a vision board with images that coincide with your dreams
• Review, envision, and mediate daily of you achieving your dreams
• Surround yourself with people who have what you desire
• Strive for purpose and not security
• Live by faith and not fear

Getting Unstuck

Where are you? Where do you want to go? How are you going to get there? These are the questions a technical instructor asked to help trainees learn how to change directories using DOS (i.e., Disk Operating System).

Post-DOS days, the technical instructor realized these questions apply to our everyday lives, and we believe these questions can help individuals get unstuck in their careers, relationships, or finances. If you feel stuck, click here and download our guide that can help you get unstuck.

Salt of the Earth

It’s amazing how salt adds flavor to food? It’s also amazing how salty foods can make you thirsty. And, water is a great beverage to quench a salty thirst.

Every born again believer is the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and they are responsible for adding flavor to the lives of people they encounter daily.

Are you a believer, what kind of flavor do you add to the lives of others? Is it wisdom, unconditional love, encouragement, salvation, peace, healing, faith or strength? Or, is it jealousy, envy, bitterness, complaints, or criticism? What flavor of salt do people you encounter thirst for the most? The flavor of the spirit or the flesh?

God has given every born again believer a gift or talent to add spiritual flavor to a flavorless world. In addition to adding flavor, salt is used to preserve and heal. The Blood of Jesus Christ has preserved every believer from: 1) the power of sin; 2) eternal damnation; and 3) the power of Satan. God would like His children to use their gifts to help preserve people from immorality by living and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When spiritual flavor is added to the lives of others, they should thirst for more. What better way to quench their thirst than by giving them living water from a fountain that never runs dry.

Submission

A husband would never have to ask his wife to submit if he’s submitting his will to God. And, it’s quite challenging to surrender your will to a man who doesn’t know his mission for God, his life, and family.

God called man to be the head (leader) of his family; not the boss! There is a difference. When husbands recognize and acknowledge God’s will for them to lead like Jesus led, (i.e., without coercion, but by example), their family will follow with honor and respect; without resistance.