Category Archives: Encouragement

October 21, 2019

Study Nights

By Christina

Study nights for me are like….

I am thinking…

  • Create
  • Innovate
  • Collaborate

It’s more than this! It is studying like never before and diving into strategy, planning, productivity and growing my mind. I can’t keep thinking the same way.

Create… innovate… collaborate. This is a perpetual reminder for me that is running through my mind along with ideas.

The bible tells us:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can’t limit our thinking.

Here is how The Message translation reads:
“Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you wont be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.”

Same verse, more depth and insight. This tells me, focus one’s attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity. This tells me to study, application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge. Dictionary.com is elaborating on key practices for us to grow.

I heard Bishop TD Jakes say, “The day you stop reading is the day you stop growing!” As we educate ourselves with bible study and productivity books we expand our thinking. We acquire knowledge to create, innovate and collaborate. We must study.

I absolutely love paper books. I love the texture, the different prints and the variety of information at your fingertips. I am surrounded by books at home. I have an extensive library and I have dedicated myself to concentrate on my personal studies.

I even carry a couple with me daily in my bag. I know its so habitual but at the same time this habit causes me to redeem precious time so that I can be a better writer, worker, wife, mother, mentor and so much more.

I wont be able to invest in others if I don’t see the value to invest in myself first. To study is an absolute, non-negotiable PRIORITY for me. Then I can do other things. This is how I function properly.

This is how we can do better at life and love. We can concentrate and focus on doing our best…. our very best for God… one more step to excellence.

So I encourage you to take some time out for you to study! You are a priority!

With Love,

Christina

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

October 16, 2019

UNSATISFIED

By Christina

May God move us to the place where there is MOVEMENT!

The reality is that we are distracted.

Honestly I was in prayer service yesterday about persistence and felt like I wasn’t persistent enough.

After the teaching we began to pray and as a lingered there I couldn’t help but think how much we need to be more conditioned for prayer.

Our minds are on media big time!

Shows, series, programs, channels, postings, gamings, texting, messaging and on and on and on!!!

Are we conditioned for prayer the way that we as a body of Christ really need to be?

Do we really pray at least one hour a day?

As Jesus asked his disciples that had no idea how to pray, “Could you not watch one hour??”

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” Matthew 26:36-41 NIV

How can we really seek the face of God where there is OUTPOURING! CHANGE! POWER! MOVEMENT! MIRACLES!

This is how the early church was and how we need to be!

REMEMBER….

BEING PRAYERFUL MAKES US POWERFUL!!!!

We don’t want to “struggle” in this area! We shouldn’t have to be! We should be vigilant and ready!

And I am only being as transparent as I can be from my perspective. I know there are intercessors out there. But we can clearly see the culture now running rampant and so much because we are not praying enough.

I want to be there and not think about the hallmark channel… my words with friends…. or answering messages…. I am definitely trying to ween more and more off media. I started with “times to go on and times to NOT GO ON!” Lol

That’s a big job! But we have a BIG GOD!

We need to be unsatisfied because that is what pushes us for more! It pushes us to do better! It pushes us from big distractions to the face of our BIG GOD! Just as I wrote in Get Comfortable with Uncomfortable!

Personally –I am unsatisfied. I want more! I want the victory in my prayer life so I can continue to walk in a powerful life.

The only thing that should ever satisfy us is having the deepest relationship with God!

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Prayer

October 13, 2019

LOOK UP

By Christina

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalms 121:1-8 NIV

Amen, what an amazing promise that God will watch over us. All we need to do is look up. Look up to Him.

Many times in life, we tend to look back at our past. We look to our side circumstances or situation. Or some of us even look down upon our situation in fear, doubt, guilt or shame!

But the one place that God always wants us to look is UP! That is where He is. That is where purpose is. That is where the promise is, when we keep our eyes fixated on Him. When we have our ears attentive to His Word and not on the waves of life.

It is so easy to look behind us. It can be a crutch for us to look BACK!!! We think of the memories and often result to the things that are familiar. When God is pushing us to move forward, we hold ourselves back as hostages when we don’t allow ourselves to move ahead to what is next!

Another struggle that we have is to look at our situation! We magnify our problems when the One we need to magnify is GOD! The promise keeper! The Way Maker!!!! The light in any darkness we may face… He will carry is through (Isaiah 43)! That is a promise bigger than any problem that tries to present itself!

Some of us have an issue with looking down upon ourselves. We easily get distracted, discouraged, distressed, disengaged, disheartened and disappointed! Why? Because we allow the enemy to plant these seeds (negative thoughts) into our head when we don’t see things working out in our favor as quickly as we want it to!!

But here is what I want to encourage you with today!

Don’t keep looking back! It is over! Done! Finished! Move on from the past and learn to embrace a bright future of endless possibilities!

Discard every negative lying thought!!!!

Understand WHO and how powerful you are in Christ!!!

You don’t need to compare your life with others, God has written yours amazingly! He is not working on it… He is working on YOU! All that He has for you is done and selected… in time you will see and understand all that. God is not writing your story—He has WRITTEN your story, Psalm 139 tells us so!

And lastly DON’T LOOK DOWN! LOOK UP!

You were made for more! You are a king or a queen! You are a chosen generation! A royal priesthood!!! You are more than a conqueror! You are the head and not the tail! You stand victorious!

STAY POSITIVE! Stay prayerful! Keep your eyes on the One that will cover you all of your days!!! There’s so much more for you to do— now let’s just get to it!

Look on UP!!!

1 Comment | posted in Encouragement, Faith, Identity, Inspiration, Love, Rise, Trust

October 12, 2019

Nothing Like Nature

By Christina

“Your brain is an attention machine. It’s going to pay attention to something. The question is what? Are you going to allow it to pay attention to things that are irrelevant to your goals, dreams, and desires (that is, Facebook, news, and so on)? Or are you going to choose to pay attention to the people, priorities, and passions that are important in your life? Who is in control –you or your brain?”
Neen James
Attention Pays

This got me thinking so much! How much we need to pay attention to the things that matter the most!

Who are the people that matter the most?

My family! My lifelong friends! My church family.

What are my priorities?

Making sure I work to make a better living for me and my family. I give it all to serve, work and do what I got to do that will yield results for our best life! It’s my calling– in service. It is a pleasure to have work you love, which leads to my passions.

What are my passions?

Ahhh thats easy … see blog on Home Sweet Home! That about sums it up! But nature!!! I love, love, nature. The leaves, trees, breeze and sound. There’s nothing like nature. Autumn in New York has definitely got to be the best season! I guess I love the four seasons. 😂♥️

There is just something so beautiful about seeing these trees in all sorts of colors. I fall in love every single time. I loved the scenic drive up and back for our fall apple picking weekend.

Isn’t this lovely? Peaceful? So serene? YES!

I have to do this more often. Appreciating the natural things of life. To think I was going to stay home a bit more. I am glad I was able to spend a short time away.

I challenge you as well, just like the opening authors statement… what will you pay attention to? What has your focus? Allow the natural (non technical) things of life to bring you back to a place of gratitude and appreciation. Organic living all the way.

We can absorb and become our surroundings. Workaholic days must cease. Wholesome days with family we must continue to cultivate. Great to be in those environments where you can breathe in nature rather than busyness!

Let us remember why all these things were created. Let us pay attention to the things that matter the most! Those natural things are usually right next to us. 🙏🏽

Refocus!

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Psalm 96:11-12

Comments Off on Nothing Like Nature | posted in Encouragement, Health, Inspiration, Peace, Rest