Focus on Today

What are you focusing on today?
• Negativity
• What you don’t have
• Past hurts
• Failures
• Rejection
• Happier Times
• What could have been
• The future

I don’t know about you, but this “step” in the journey of life gets me off centered at times. Let me explain. I tend to be one of those people who not only thinks about the “good ol’ days” (aka college, seminary, being a youth minister, etc.), but I also tend to consistently think about the future and what I hope for, what I think God will do in my life, etc. In all of this thinking about the past and future, many times, I fail to recognize what God is doing in my life right now, in the here and now.

I wonder how many of us are in this same situation. We want so much to go back in time or to see what it is that God will do in our lives, that we completely miss out on the small still voice of God that is saying, “Look! See what I am doing in your life right now! I’m here guiding your every step. Enjoy where I have you.”

One prime example in my own life was when I was attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As I was studying for my Master’s in ministry, all I could think about was how God was going to use me in full-time ministry. At the time, I was a nanny to five WONDERFUL kids (who by the way, I still keep in touch with). While I LOVED and adored these kids, I couldn’t help but consistently feel as though my life didn’t matter. I would always question what God was doing in my life. He would hear from me quite often-“Lord, here I am studying to be in ministry full-time and all you have me doing is changing diapers, running errands, folding laundry, and cleaning. What kind of ministry is this?” Little did I know that God was using me in ministry in more ways that I could have ever of imagined. This became crystal clear to me when God opened the door for me to work in youth ministry full-time. Once I was settled into my new ministry, I received an essay that one of the children had written about me for her English class. The essay explained the impact that I had on her during my time as a nanny. It was then that I realized God was truly using me in ministry. Unfortunately, I was too focused on what I wanted for the future that I failed miserably to see how God was using me at that time.

Maybe you are not focusing on what the future has for you, but instead, are focusing on past hurts. This is just as detrimental as someone who consistently focuses on the future and what might or might not happen. This is another area of my life that I struggled with.

When I was in youth ministry full-time, I was extremely hurt by a church. It pains me to still think about it today. Not only did I not receive the support that I desperately needed, but I was talked about and made to feel as though nothing I did or said was good enough. What’s even worse, this all took place right as my husband and I were getting married. Not a great way to start off a marriage. Unfortunately, I ended up leaving the church because nothing was going to change. Can I tell you that it took me nearly three years to work through this hurt and forgive those who hurt me? During those three years, I really questioned what God was doing in my life. I would ask God, “Lord, what are you doing? I went to seminary because I really felt that you were calling me to full-time ministry and here I am just trying to lead youth to your heart and in turn, I get nothing but hurt and pain from the people of your church. What are you doing?” I spent many days and nights focusing on my hurt and rejection and because of that, I was missing out on the new thing that God was doing in my life.

I say all of this because you do not want to do the same thing! Don’t waste your life by thinking about what has happened or what can happen! Focus on Today! Focus on what God is doing in your life right now. Maybe you are going through a hard time at this point in your life and you have no clue how there could be any good in what is currently taking place. Hang in there-God knows what is taking place and in turn, He hears your cries, prayers, and moans. Always remember that while we don’t see the big picture, God does.

Maybe you are focusing on how great things were in the past. If you are, stop doing that! Thank God for those great days and in turn, ask Him to show you the good in today. If you ask, He will show you. Maybe you are spending a lot of time focusing on what you hope for in the future. While it’s not bad to set goals and have dreams and aspirations, don’t allow those thoughts to not only become your idol, but to rob you of what God is doing in your life today! Focus on today!

So, I leave you with the same question I started with, what are you focusing on today? Ask God to show you the good in today and what He is doing in your life right now. Don’t allow yourself to miss out on the beauty of today!
Until next time!

Trusting God = Risk Taking

Why is it so hard to trust God? Is it because we are fearful of what our lives may become if we do in fact give everything over to God and in turn, trust Him with every fiber of our being? Did you know that when you don’t allow yourself to truly trust God, you end up missing out on some of the Lord’s biggest blessings that He desperately wants to pour out on you?

When I think of the word trust, I can’t help but also think about the word risk. When we allow ourselves to truly trust God and allow Him into every area of our life, are we not taking a risk? You may be asking how is this so. When we give Him complete control of every area of our life, the reality is, at that present moment, we do not always know what God will do. Look at James 4:13-15:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

The truth of the matter is that we have no clue as to what will take place in our lives today, tomorrow, or 10 years from now. Life in itself is a risk. So, what’s keeping you from truly trusting God? You will only come to experience true joy and fulfillment if you allow yourself to trust God with everything you have.

This is the way I look at it. Women who would rather stay within their comfort zones, tend to be like the people on a carousal. In life, they just go around and around. Nothing changes, everything remains the same. Eventually, the ride becomes a bit monotonous.

On the other hand, women who are willing to take risks, tend to be like the people who are ready to tackle a roller coaster-whether they are filled with excitement or complete anxiety! Roller coasters have all kinds of turn, climbs, drops, loops, highs, lows, etc. Women who take risks, experience life like no other. Life not only becomes an adventure, but more importantly, you get to experience God like never before!

So today, ask yourself-where in my life do I truly trust God? Am I currently taking any risks or have I recently taken any risks? If not, what’s holding me back? What kind of ride does God want to take you on?

Until next time!

Becoming The Best You Can Be!

In my last post, I asked you a few questions:

Who are you becoming?

What Legacy will you leave behind?

Are you blooming in such a way that people are naturally drawn to you and who you are?

Have you allowed God to mature you so that you may reach your full potential?

If you haven't already taken the time to truly ponder these questions, let me encourage you to do so. As women of God, one of our goals should be to never remain the same. We need to allow God to do His mighty work within us on a daily basis so that we may not only live life to the fullest, but also impact this world in big ways.

For the next couple of weeks, let me take some time to share with you some "steps" on how you can become the best that you can be! Tonight, I will post all 26 steps, but over the next couple of weeks, I will delve deeper into explaining each of these vital and crucial steps that in turn, will assist you in becoming the best that you can be!

1) Trust

2) Focus on Today

3) Forgive

4) Love Others

5) Be a Life Long Learner

6) Invest in Others

7) Invest in Yourself

8) Guard Your Time

9) Exercise Daily

10) Be Content

11) Laugh Daily

12) Simplify

13) Stay Positive

14) Do the Right Thing

15) Learn to Listen

16) Focus on Your Strengths

17) Don't Complain

18) Control Your Emotions

19) Learn from your Mistakes

20) Embrace Change

21) Pray

22) Get Enough Sleep

23) Learn Patience

24) Give Everything 100%

25) Get out of Debt

26) Surrender on a Daily Basis

Take some time to think about each of these steps and in turn ask yourself-Which step do I struggle with the most and why? If you feel up to it, feel free to share your thoughts with me-I would love to know and hear what it is that women have the hardest time working through. I can tell you-I too am a work in progress. Just like you, I'm working through each of these steps and will continue to do so as long as I live. So know, that you are not alone!

For me, I have to consistently remind myself to focus on today and not what has happened in the past or what it is that the future may hold. This is a step that I am continually working on and in the next few days, will share with you my personal experiences within this step.

Stay tuned and if you feel up to it, share your thoughts with me!

Believe. Blossom. Become.

As many of you know, I am truly fulfilled when I see other women living lives full of purpose. Not only am I inspired by these women who are living life to the fullest, but it continues to amaze me to see the impact that many of these women are making in their homes, communities, country, and world. What a sight to behold!

Unfortunately, I also come across many women who long to live lives of purpose, but yet, the "things" of this world have kept them from experiencing God's best. These "things" include:

* Fear

* Hurt

* Rejection

* Time

* Unforgiveness

* Depression

* Death of a Dream

* Weariness

* Other Responsibilities

* Confusion

* Past Mistakes

* Bad Decisions

* Debt

The list could go on and on. I have to ask-which woman are you? The one who is living the purpose filled life? Or, are you a woman who desires to live a life of purpose, but yet, something keeps holding you back?

Here are some questions I want you to consider:

1) Do you truly believe that God has a purpose for you and your life? Do you truly believe that He wants to give you the desires of your heart? Do you truly believe that the Creator of this world is madly in love with you-despite your past and the mistakes you have made?

2) To Bloom means to mature into achievement of one's potential, to shine out, to Glow. Are you blooming? Have you allowed God to mature you so that you may reach your potential? Are you shining? Are you blooming in such a way that people are naturally drawn to you and who you are? How are you blossoming?

3) Who are you becoming? What legacy will you leave behind?

Take some time to journal your honest responses to these questions. In the next few days, I will share with you some specific steps you can take that will not only help you believe that God does have a plan for you, but steps that will help you blossom and become the woman that God has created you to be!

Stay tuned!

Investing in Others

This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak to women on the subject of purpose. What a great weekend it was! As I spoke and met many of the women who were in attendance, I couldn't help but hear stories that included much pain. Women who have been hurt by the church, hurt in relationships, and women who have experienced regrets for past decisions. As I listened to each story, I couldn't help but hurt for each of them. What I also realized is that there are many women who desire and long for someone that they can share life with; another female that they can be open and honest with. Women today long for lasting friendships with other women.

Based on this, let me ask you this simple question: What are you doing to invest in the lives of other women? I have no doubt that there are many women who surround you on a daily basis who long for encouragement and friendship. How can you be the hands and feet of Christ to them? Mother Teresa once said, "A day lived without doing something good for others is a day not worth living."

Here are 10 simple things you can do to impact the life of another woman:

1) Write a note of encouragement

2) Invite her out for coffee and/or lunch

3) Offer her words of praise

4) Offer to provide dinner for her family

5) Offer to watch her kids so that she can have some alone time or a date night

6) Be someone who truly listens

7) Take an interest in what she is interested in

8) Give her a book that really impacted you

9) Pray for her and with her

10) Be trustworthy

Take some time this week to really reach out to one of the women that God has placed within your path! Who knows, she could end up becoming your best friend!

Working Moms

This week I have had the opportunity to really think about being a working mom. Let me explain. A friend of mine has recently decided that instead of working, she needs to be at home with her little boy. As she and I chatted about her decision, I couldn't help but to begin feeling a sense of guilt. Anyone that knows me, knows that not only do I love and cherish my little boy to pieces, but at the same time, I'm a very driven individual who is passionate about what she does vocationally. It's in my blood!

So, as I've been thinking about this, I've also been thinking about the many working moms who either work because they need that income or because they just truly enjoy their vocation. As I've pondered the many different points of view when it comes to working moms, I figured I'd ask you-my readers what you think. So, here are some questions that I would LOVE for you to comment on.

Everyone who comments on the following questions, will be placed in a drawing for a great prize-Katie Brazelton's book, Pathway to Purpose. If you want guidance on discovering your purpose-this is the book to read! Ok, here we go:

1) If you are a working mom, have you ever felt guilty for being a working mom? Where has that guilt come from? How do you work through the guilt?

2) Do you work because you need the income, or do you choose to work because you love what you do and feel called to your vocation?

3) How do you juggle being a working mom with all the other responsibilities that come with life?

4) If you are a stay at home mom, what was it (besides having a baby) that led you to be a stay at home mom? Husband? Family? Calling?

5) What is your impression of the Proverbs 31 passage in the Bible? What does that passage mean to you?

Ok, I hope to read many responses! Have fun answering!

Purposeful Women

Today I had the opportunity to take a group of high school leadership students to meet and learn from John Bozard, the President of Orlando Health and VP of Arnold Palmer and Winnie Palmer Hospitals. What an incredible opportunity this was for our students!

As we listened to John Bozard and some of the executives from the hospitals, I couldn't help but get excited for our students as they learned some essential truths. Let me share with you these truths that you can incorporate into your life.

According to John and the executives, when they are looking to hire someone, there are four specific characteristics that they look for in individuals:

1) Integrity: They want someone who is who they say they are.

2) Vision: They want someone who is not only committed to the vision of the organization, but also who has a vision-someone who can think beyond today.

3) Someone who has the right priorities: Basically, someone who can balance the different parts of his/her life.

4) Someone who has a personal sense of security: Someone who knows who they are, where they are going, and who has a desire to serve others.

As these characteristics were discussed, I couldn't help but think about how as women, these are characteristics that we should be striving for in our daily lives. We must continually ask ourselves:

* Who are we?

* How do others see us?

* Are we impacting this world in a positive or negative way?

* Are we women of integrity who have a vision-God's vision?

* Do we know what our priorities should be and do we know who we belong to?

As these leaders continued to share with our students, one of them made a statement that I was so happy to hear. It's something I continually strive to get across to both students and adults:

"Your job should not be a job that you just clock in and out of on a daily basis-it has to be a part of your life. It should be your passion-it's a calling. You should wake up each morning saying, this is what I get to do and in turn, be excited about it."

I LOVE THIS! If you have ever heard me speak, you have heard me say that God never intended us to wake up each morning dreading the day before us. God wants us to enjoy our lives and in turn, He desire that we use the gifts, skills, and strengths that He has given us. He gave us those for a reason. The reason we are passionate about certain things is because He desires nothing more than for us to use that passion to impact this world for Him. God never wanted us to separate our spiritual life from our vocational calling-the two must come together.

So, let me ask you:

* Do you wake up each morning saying, "Wow, I get to do this for my job and I love it!"

* Do you feel as though your job is a part of the calling that God has on your life?

* Are you passionate about what you do?

* Would you be willing to do what you do even if you didn't get a paycheck for it?

Spend some time pondering and journaling about this. Spend some quality time really observing your life and asking yourself whether or not you are a woman of integrity and vision, a woman who had her priorities straight, a woman who has a personal sense of security.

Then, really think about your job. Are you passionate about it? Do you view it as a calling? I have no doubt that when we begin to realize and truly believe that God has a purpose for our lives, in turn, we will begin to live as women of purpose!

Enjoy the journey of self discovery!

Jen