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

img_5527
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. ♥️

Comments Off on Best Vacation Spots   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Celebration, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Fellowship, Health, Holidays, Inspiration, Joy, Love, Peace, Prayer, Relationships, Reset, Rest, Transition, Trust

February 3, 2020

Motivation Monday — Need it?

By Christina

Everything negative –pressure, challenges is all an opportunity for me to rise (higher).
Kobe Bryant

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again.
Proverbs 24:16 WEB

One week there is a major loss and the next is a major high as everyone joined to watch the Latina women shake their shelves on Super Bowl Sunday. The world was glued on both.
I did watch the opening of the Lakers game with my husband this past weekend too. The tribute was very touching. ❤ The game continued.  So much news and everything comes and goes.

Now today we have to create our own sunshine. We have to be positive on what we have today. Being positive in a negative situation is not naive. It’s leadership. After having a tremendous first turnout for the Leadership Masterclass this weekend –today we decide to walk in this mindset!

We will give sharp focus towards our goals and not look in any other direction but ahead.
We decide what kind of life we really want and say no to everything else that isn’t that!

Progress is impossible without change –so we have to embrace CHANGE! We have to change what we do today if we want results! Anything is possible if we got enough nerve to step out and DO! We cannot become what we want by remaining where we are. Change is possible. If we change nothing then nothing changes. Simple.

Our old ways wont open NEW doors!

The key to our success is to start before we are ready! The truth of the matter is that most days we are never going to “feel” ready. We are not going to “feel” like anything and we cannot be governed by that. We will never grow where we are comfortable. It’s time to get moving no matter what.

This day is filled with possibilities and potential for us. What can we do today in preparation for tomorrow. The clock is ticking and we feel like we are running out of time –so much was wasted but we have to redeem it.

So let’s get strong –and let’s toughen up. Time to move past the petty so that we can get steady!

Top 4 things below:

  1. They move on
  2. They invest their energy in the present
  3. They are willing to fail
  4. They think productively

1 Comment | posted in Emerging, Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Identity, Inspiration, Reset, Rise