Category Archives: Peace

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

January 28, 2019

Don’t Let ‘Em In

By Christina

I could have so used seeing something like this today:

SAM I AM Bagels
Started Loved Letters

(S W I P E) 2 years ago today.
This is Pastor Christina a woman who wears her scars as accessories to show the world how beautiful transformation really is. It takes courage and a special kind of confidence to be so raw. She has inspired me in more ways I can say. Happy Monday #MotivationMonday love you to pieces Mama C 💜🐛🦋

From Lucy Torres –one of my spiritual daughters.  She is absolutely amazing, beautiful, caring, daring and exceptionally talented in so many ways.  I love her tremendously.

I remember such a great memory like this.  It’s good to share good things and moments about each other. It let’s us know that we had them! They existed and they exist.  We just keep making new ones. Some with new and some with the older connections. Either way we make them–a boat load of memories that we should cherish. That’s what I am learning.  Life is like a ROSE, we understand that the petals will eventually fall… but it never changes what existed. A beautiful flower. That’s what it is.

As I reflect on good things I have to remind myself to KEEP ON! To keep stable. To keep my peace. Don’t let in anything else contrary to that. Nothing false.  Nothing toxic. Nothing with drama. Don’t let ’em in!

There is a movie that my family loves to see called, “Four Christmases” with Vince Vaughn. He is hilarious in this film.  He stars alongside Reese Witherspoon.  There is a scene where they have to visit all the parents and they speak prior to the visits to make sure that they don’t let them in! Meaning…that they won’t allow the family visits to hinder or effect who they are or their relationship.

After a few visits they began to fuss and argue…  So Brad (Vince Vaughn) tells his girlfriend Kate (Reese Witherspoon) — “We’re Lettin’ them in!” It was a reminder of their own pep-talk and encouragement to each other to stay strong even when those around them may get crazy. It was a funny scene and such a truth to how we can let people or the situations around us affect our mood.

Either they can make us happy or they can make us sad. They can make us frustrated, they can make us angry.  The thing to do is always CHOOSE wisely and know that whenever we do encounter situations that can rive us up we must keep to the stable place within.

Don’t let the noise in. Don’t let the enemy bring you down. Don’t allow people, things, places, situations, relationships, challenges or hardships to get in the way of who you are and what you need to accomplish. It may not always be easy but it certainly is possible. Live well. Live at peace. Keep at it. Stay on the course that sustains you, that keeps you healthy and grounded. That is why I share that memory. It was right where I love, doing what I love and surrounded by women that my heart will always cherish.

With Love,

Christina

Scripture Reference:
Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places. And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground.
Ephesians 6:11-13 (VOICE Translation)

Leave a comment | posted in Faith, Inspiration, Loved Letters, Peace, ROSE

January 9, 2019

Settle Down Now

By Christina

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-9‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Settle down now! Settle the worries! Settle the anxious thoughts! Settle the silent rage! Settle the frustrations! Settle the fears! Settle the struggles both internal and external!

May this mind cancel the lies that try to rise up NOW! I am in perfect peace! I am wise! I am in victory! I am in the perfect plan of God!

I have a hope. I have a guide. Unshakable and enduring faith, strength and courage. God is with me always. He has worked out my whole life before me. My mind is calm. My body is rested. My heart is still.

I have good news. I have His word. It covers me. Uplifts me and stirs up my soul. It is my fuel and my lifeline. My raft and refuge. His word empowers me and causes me to rise above all adversity day by day.

I am rising higher because of HIM! He is giving me a reminder again and again!

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

SETTLE DOWN NOW! Everything is coming together for good. I have peace. I have the victory. Thank you Jesus.

AMEN

1 Comment | posted in Peace, Rest

January 6, 2019

ENOUGH

By Christina

Wow! Done! Day 5… first book of the year and what a POWERFUL one at that! @thesinglewoman … Mandy Hale; Thank you for sharing YOU with us… the uncut, fully flawed, unapologetic and authentic version of who God made you to be! It’s MORE than enough! It’s a walking testimony to the lives of everyone that has ever doubted themselves, questioned, felt like never ever enough. But this powerful message is a lifeline for us and a reminder that LOVE SHOWS UP… and let’s us know that we are enough. To us… that love is God! God shows up every time we fall into that slump to remind us… let it be, I got this. I am with you always even to the end of this age!!! #iamenough ♥️

How many times have I felt inadequate? Not capable? Not enough? Last? Lonely? Sad? Confused? Disappointed? Oh my God! He knows it all. And so I loved this woman’s story! I wrote down the most profound reminders.

Page 89!!!! Even tapped it again as I found it:

”And maybe, just maybe, our enoughness, our worth, has nothing whatsoever to do with who’s beside us and everything to do with what’s inside us.”

Page 87:

”When you lose yourself, you find yourself.”    ”I think I needed to lose myself for a little while, to wander, to wonder, in order to realize I will always, always be able to find myself again in the things that I love. In the things that I’ve always loved. The heart of who we are, who we were, way back when—it never really changes.”

Page 102-103:

”Because that’s what love does. It shows up, and it means you are right where you’re at. Love kneels and comforts and speaks softly of hope even when all hope seems lost.” “Because that’s what love does. It’s sacrifices. It misses out on sleep. It puts the other person ahead of its own comfort. LOVE SHOWS UP.”

Page 105-106:

”But you know what happens to girls who allow themselves to become life rafts? They sink themselves. They get dragged into whirling, swirling cesspools of drama and chaos and dysfunction. They start to mistake mirages for the real deal. They start to question why they seem to never be enough.”

”You are not a life raft, you are not a compass, you are not bread crumbs, you are not a flashlight, you are not a Band-Aid, and you are not a stop along the way as he attempts to ‘find himself.’ You are a destination. A whole, complete person who deserves another whole, complete person. You are wonderfully, beautifully enough.”

“But find your own way. Chart your own course. And never use another human being and their feelings and emotions as your GPS. Never look to another person to rescue you.”

And that’s the point! It’s a God thing! He is everything we are ever going to need. We are enough, just as He is to us. He made us that way!

E N O U G H ♥️

2 Comments | posted in Celebration, Emerging, Encouragement, I AM, Identity, Inspiration, Love, Loved Letters, Peace, Recovery, Relationships, Restoration, Transition, Trust