Category Archives: Inspiration

March 19, 2020

What We Do Next

By Christina

“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Haggai 2:9

There are moments in our lives where we get a do over.  Where we get to do things in a better way.  We get a second chance to make this better.  This is that moment.  The moment is now.  To improve our life, our walk, our journey, our story, our relationships, our time, our positions, our careers, our ministries… our EVERYTHING.

If this wasn’t such a wake up call for us, then I don’t know what else is. Time is running shorter and more perilous. The world is experiencing a rapid and aggressive pandemic with COVID-19.  What do we do? What can we really do? All the advising, the business, the transactions, the work and progress to be productive now going to shreds in the life and health of people all over the world.

One of the the things I can say for myself and my family for 2020 is that we experienced a great reset.  We know there is more to come. We were able to have a time of laughter, a time of joy, a time of fellowship and a time of renewal together. What an amazing month for us in Atlanta, GA this past February only to be brought on with a storm hitting us all.

I am so grateful that I did have this time to dance away the weeks that followed up to us exchanging real vows on Friday, February 21st 2020.  So intimate, loving and special.  I will never forget it. It was simply amazing. God gave us a second chance at this.  I pray we keep moving forward in the best way ever as a unit, as a family and as a church.  Only God.  Only ALL of Him to just enhance our everyday IN the shaking.  

We can do this again. We can do this in a better way. We can move forward and have an opportunity at a greater time of glory.  I know things look bleak sometimes but hang tight and hang stronger than ever before.  He only promises us good things if we take heed and follow after Him. 

The next place for us WILL BE PEACE! We must.  It is ours.  We follow after it will all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  It is time for us to move to the next level of love.  The next level of faith and hope now more than ever.

Are you with me?  Let’s do it!

Your story will be greater!

#staysafe #stayinlove #staybeautiful

With love,

Christina ❤ 

Leave a comment | posted in Celebration, Emerging, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Fellowship, Hope, Inspiration, Peace, Relationships, Reset, Rise

March 12, 2020

Refuse To Sink

By Christina

“It’s amazing what we can do if we simply refuse to give up.”
Octavia Butler

Being in such a time of chaos would get anyone of us to be so fearful. But we have to be strong, be positive and be focused. Many times we get challenged in moments such as this –COVID19 running rampant –aggressive and savaging through the lives of many.

It is a scary time. But we have to fight hard –follow the protocol — and keep believing and trusting that we are going to be okay! We pray through this too! Just like any other day and every other periods of testing in our lives.

As I go back to the scriptures and reflect upon the cry of the disciples when they were in the eye of the unbidden storm. That was a dark and pivotal moment for them. They had to act. They had to respond. They had to seek out help. They called to the One that could help.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Matthew 25:23-27 NKJV

In The Passion Translation it reads this content much more profoundly in verses 24-25, “Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!”

As this story of the COVID-19 is developing profoundly and the waves of case after case is causing us to also feel swamped –we have to rely on a place of peace and give this to the One that is in control of all things. Wake up faith.  Wake up encouragement. Wake up a life of prayer and intercession. 

Refuse to sink! Don’t allow your heart to get so weighed down by the constant crash of disturbing news. Just lend a hand when you need to, keep praying for you, your family, places of business and community. Keep positive and strong. Don’t sink in mentally, spiritually and physically to the doubt, discouragement and fear.

We have to hope for the very best –even NOW! This will get better! We will overcome! Lives will be healed! Jesus calms the storms of life! ❤ We can’t give up now but work harder at believing and encouraging the people around us to stick together. Share the love and support. We will rise above this. We have to refuse to sink!

Stay safe all.

With love,

Christina ❤

 

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Faith, Healing, Inspiration, Peace, Prayer

March 1, 2020

Hope Found

By Christina

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You ever have those seasons in life where everything just seems to be going wrong? But what about when everything is actually going right? You feel like it is just too good to be true. Can you hold onto this newfound hope?
YES!
You must. You have finally arrived at this place where it’s a sweet spot. God is allowing you to experience some goodness. Don’t feel guilty, torn, doubtful or fearful. Just ride it out and enjoy it. You deserve it.
You deserve laughter. You deserve love. You deserve good times. Listen –no one is going to understand your story but you, so just celebrate it. Unapologetically and undeniably. This season is yours.

Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her
as she laughs with joy over the latter days.
Proverbs 31:25 [The Passion Translation]

A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 [New Living Translation]

It is a season for you to laugh, to have joy and experience the goodness of God that He has given you so much.  You can dance and have a great time doing it.

We just celebrated our 21st year anniversary — 28 years together and that is what we did.  We had such a great time with family and friends.  I literally woke up still laughing with that song in my head, “I wanna dance with somebody” by Whitney Houston.  I was imagining the girls just surrounded with each other, letting go and letting themselves relax and unwind.  It was necessary and so well deserved by each one.  I can almost feel and hear all their individual stories where they each had to fight fiercely for that smile.  So well deserved.

You deserve joy! This is where are hope is found.  It’s a beautiful thing. You know you spent enough days crying –c’mon know those are facts of life!

Just have FUN again! You know how and you know the way, especially when God has made you free. Love life –love who God made you to be and the season that your in today no matter what.  Hope can be found.  Your life should be celebrated.  You came this far.  Now let loose and enjoy all the good parts about your life.  So when you feel like you are going down that rabbit hole and thinking about all the things that gone wrong.  Think about all the things that went RIGHT!

No one can celebrate the journey you took the way that you only know how. 🙂 Be blessed because you ARE.

With love,

Christina

1 Comment | posted in Inspiration

February 26, 2020

Best Vacation Spots

By Christina

I was telling my husband that Miami Beach has got to be one of the best vacation spots ever! Water is so blue, breeze is lovely and the temperature is perfect this time of year! We had some beautiful days here.

Top spot is our trip to the UK in May 2017. We hit London, Scotland and Paris! It was amazing. Two weeks of pure bliss and an unapologetic reset for us. It was much needed for the soul. That same year in November I traveled back to Scotland for an unforgettable 8 day trip with my sisters!

But this year as I sit on Ocean Drive in South Beach Miami—Starbucks and light breeze I cannot help but be in complete awe! This is utterly fascinating. Its lovely here. Lots to do and lots to see. It is certainly relaxing and the same time as upbeat and lively for some evening festivities. We love watching the people and the international diversity. Its like a warmer New York only with sand and palm trees everywhere.

We needed a nice time away. As we just celebrated 21 years married and 28 years together during our Vow Renewal 02.21.2020 in Atlanta Georgia. We couldn’t be more grateful, thankful and blessed! We had a small ceremony, that was intimate with our beautiful family and special friends that make life worth it all. We danced, laughed, shared, ate, traveled around and got stuff done together.

Everything came out perfect… our own version of what perfect looked like. It was exquisite, extraordinary and excellent. What a place to have it… we just took the New York cold with us! It rained a lot in Atlanta more than ever and while there it even dropped to upper 20s and 30s!!! On our vow renewal day—it was sunny skies and brisk. Just enough to make it happen! Then we celebrated! We are overjoyed!

Now we head back to New York today to prepare for work and also our “what’s next” steps. We are ready and keeping all this so prayerful. May God open the necessary doors so that our next half feels just like a nearby vacation everyday. Healthy living and happiness. All things are possible. Trusting God because He said it and does all things perfect in its time. ♥️

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