Growth = change

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 Just about anyone would agree that growing is a good thing, but relatively few people actually dedicate themselves to the process. Why? Because growth requires change, and change is hard for most people. But the truth is that without change, growth is impossible. Most people fight against change, especially when it affects them personally. As novelist Leo Tolstoy said, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." The ironic thing is that change is inevitable. Everybody has to deal with it in their lives. On the other hand, growth is optional. You can choose to grow or to fight it. But know this: people unwilling to grow will never reach their potential. Making the change from being an occasional learner to someone dedicated to personal growth is tough. It goes against the grain of the way most people live. Most people celebrate when they receive their diploma or degree and say to themselves, "Thank goodness that's over. I'm done with studying." But that kind of thinking doesn't take you any higher than average. Excerpt from Your Road Map for Success

Covering

One of the biggest ways I see a change in my heart and day is when I refrain from talking about an offense someone inflicted. 

I think it’s our nature to want other people to be on our side when we have been wronged so we let other people know about it.  

But God calls us to a higher leveled response than succumbing to our nature. We have a new nature in Christ, but we have to choose to act in it for it to become more and more our natural response. A queen always acts in love and love is trusting, not fearful. Because a queen trusts God, she is able to cover an offense by not talking about it. (Proverbs 17:9.)  

A gossip stirs up division and separates close friends. Sometimes this might be your goal, but it only hurts and stops you from being in union with God.

Beginnings

Ladies, don't allow pride to get to you as you make it up and see/feel success....

Stay humble as all beginnings start small 

Change

Change is good

Its even better to decide to make a change in yourself or in your approaches 

However, the greatest challenge is following through with your commitments to change

But when you do, it's called maturity and growth 

You got this! 

Riches

Wisdom speaks:

“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.”

Proverbs 23:4-5 MSG http://bible.com/97/pro.23.4-5.msg

Integrity

Integrity is what becomes of your character when no one is around or looking. 

Its not what you can give

It's not how much you can give

It's not how far you can go

It's not who you know

It's about the response in your heart 

Leadership is about doing what's right, and not what's popular at the moment of pressure

Leaders ought to be just and fair, no matter the circumstance

Leaders who lead by integrity attract the same kind 

"The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.”

Proverbs 21:3 NLT http://bible.com/116/pro.21.3.nlt

Value

Good morning ladies!

As you go about your day and into your week, keep in mind the people around you and the influence and value you add to their lives.

If we don't value people, we tend to hold back on inspiring them 

Leaders who lead leaders know that inspiration adds value to people, it makes people feel better than they are and it makes events and experiences larger than they are. 

#leadwithintention

#leadandinspire

Bless y'all! 

Forgive

“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.””

Luke 17:4 NLT http://bible.com/116/luk.17.4.nlt

Forgiveness is on-going per person!!! 

Whoa! 

It's all there...

Sometimes, we operate in fear, uncertainty, an adopted mindset, hesitancy, distrust etc....and these characteristics will typically manifest how we approach the Kingdom with our needs. Where we ask and believe God for certain things and not for others

But the bible clearly teaches us that all we'll ever need and more is in God. All we have to do is ask!!!

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV http://bible.com/1/mat.7.7-8.kjv

Turnaround God

Our God can take any situation you face and He can change things around for you! AND EVEN BLESS YOU WITH MORE! 

Expectation

Expecting God to move over your situation is not clouded with uncertainty of "Lord, how am I going to get through this moment?". 

It's more like: "Lord, I can't wait to see how you are going to show up! And what the lesson is going to be"

#hellofuture

Examples

The way we live should have evidence of Christ’s work in us—just like fruit shows what kind of tree it is and how healthy it is. 

Pray today that we live our lives in a way worthy of Jesus and show the world what He is really like.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

Colossians 1:9-12 KJV http://bible.com/1/col.1.9-12.kjv

When...

Listening to a great song by Lauren Daigle this morning about trust

What happens when God doesn't move the mountains we need Him to move 

What happens when God doesn't part the waters we wish we could walk through

What happens when we don't get the answers as we cry out to God

Truth is, He knows what tomorrow brings 

And there isn't one day in our future that He isn't aware of

So, our heart and soul trusts 100% and totally surrenders!

Broken

Don't despise your little beginnings

Never forget where you came from 

Be a vessel to help change others' lives

You were just there...where you needed help too....remember? 

See me

How do you see yourself?

Through your eyes? - broken, stressed, confused, insecure etc??

Or through God's eyes?? Victorious, a winner, strong, graceful, beautiful, blessed etc?

Prayer: Father, thank you for your unconditional love for me. Help me to see myself the way that you see me. You see me victorious, you see me as a conqueror, and you see me as the apple of your eye. Thank you for the promises in your word, I receive them. Amen.

Finished work

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

No matter how broken and shattered your life may be, God knows how to put the broken pieces back together again. He will do what you can’t do. 

Maybe you have a broken heart, a broken dream, broken promises made to you, or a broken body. Know that you are not beyond repair, you’re not too much for God, and no, it will not to take Him forever. God specializes in making all things new! 

Receive the finished work of Christ. 

Receive what He accomplished on the cross for you. 

Receive His healing and restoring love. 

Receive the truth that Jesus’ body was broken so you can be healed. 

What He has done for countless of others, He will SURELY do for you because He loves you!

Hospitality

“Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1 Peter 4:9-10 KJV http://bible.com/1/1pe.4.9-10.kjv

Hospitality to others is simply giving back what was given to you (freely). It's even more rewarding when the other person doesn't ask for it first 

Grace

The grace of God is for:

The rich and poor

The saved and the lost

The sinner and the heathen

The educated and the non-educated

The young and old

The new converts and the seasoned believers

The career minded and the free-spirited

The grace of God finds us where we are and brings relief 

Lead

Fear of failure is a huge factor in the way we lead and follow. There is this notion that all failure is bad. 

In reality, unless we are willing to overcome the fears and be okay with failure, we will never know the opportunities set before us. 

Honesty

Great read::

“Great Leaders Cultivate Honesty” 

Honesty is the single most important “building block” in the leader-follower relationship. For many people, honesty is the same as sincerity, truthfulness, integrity, frankness, candor, and openness. Though some leaders don’t consciously realize it, honesty includes not only telling the truth, but also leaving the right impression. Albert Einstein said, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” 

It’s clear that if people are willingly to follow you—whether into battle or into the boardroom, the front office or the front lines—they first want to assure themselves that you are worthy of their trust. They want to know that you are truthful, ethical, and principled. No matter what the setting, everyone wants to be fully confident in their leaders, and to be fully confident they have to believe that their leaders are people of strong character and solid integrity.