As a mom, wife, and business owner my mind is constantly going. I'm always thinking of what to do next, what I need to do, and what I just did. The hardest life lesson I learned was learning how to be still.
In the midst of turmoil when life throws so many things at you that test your faith, relationships, and even sanity the last thing you want to do is be silent, still and wait on God. It's human nature to want to fix things on your own accord. Especially...when you are at war with everything that makes sense and everything God has told you and already shown you. I immediately did everything humanly possible but listen to God. The more I did; the more discouraged I would become when it didn't work. The more I felt myself questioning everything, and the more tension it was in my household because my husband and kids fed off my energy. When you have times like this, you have to make sure you are around friends that can uplift you and friends who are spiritual. Don't be too prideful to ask for help. God assigns people to help you that won't judge, that won't tell you what you should of done, and that won't question you or your situation because they are real friends. Sometimes God may put you in a situation just to humble you or reveal who are assigned by God or who are only meant to be in your life for a season.When you tune God out sometimes God tunes your loved ones in. I finally told my best friend what was going on and how I felt. She immediately asked, "Have you been still and actually listened to God? Have you tuned out the noise from what's going on on earth and actually listened to what God is requiring of you? If you tried everything the world wants you to try... and it's not working...maybe you need to be still. It made since when she said that. I wasn't sleeping at all at night. I know that when God wakes you up in the middle of the night He's trying to tell you something. So if I wasn't sleeping at it must be an urgent message from God! I was still praying, but my prayers were half hearted and empty and God knew that. That night I was still and silent. The message was clear: If you trusted me then trust me now. You are overwhelmed because you aren't on the path I set before you. You are more worried about worldly things than the things I told you in my Word. You are running yourself crazy when I have asked you to be still and trust me. " That night i slept better than I had in weeks! Sometimes you can be the busiest person in the world, but God still wants you to be still and trust him. When you are in the midst of turmoil and you can't figure out what to do or it doesn't seem to work... be still and trust God. When you just yearn to hear God's voice because you need the familiarity of knowing He is with you...be still and trust God.
0 Comments
The loss of Kobe and Gianna Bryant was both shocking and devastating. The plane crash that took the lives of not only Bryant, but seven other passengers was horrible and tragic.
Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of all times. I remember it almost felt like the kids born in the late 70's and 80's felt like we watched Kobe grow up with us. I'm not a sports fanatic, but everyone watched this 17 year old kid evolve into this incredible force on the basketball court. I personally watched him take Brandy to prom. You didn't have to be a sports fan to hear Kobe's name on the television as well as in most households. Kobe was the dream story. The generation before us had Micheal Jordan, but we had Kobe. For many of us the sudden death of Kobe was just as tragic the death of R&B singer, Aaliyah who also died in a plane crash. His talent and dedication to the game was undeniable. As I watched athletes, entertainers, and coaches speak about the life of Kobe Bryant the the two things everyone agreed on was his competitiveness was unmatched and his intense training and work ethic was the reason he will forever be one of the greatest of all time. "Mamba Mentality" is the term used to describe Bryant's dedication to the game of basketball. As I listened to some of Kobe's interviews one stuck out in my mind. He talked about how he first started out. He loved basketball.Kobe talked about when he went to basketball camp. He said he didn't make one shot the entire time. From that point on, he pushed himself harder than he had ever pushed himself before. That same attitude followed him for the rest of his career. I learned something when I listened to the interview, and I wanted to share it with you. Writing has always been my passion and some would even say my gift. Although I have four published books, I am guilty of not being consistent, being distracted by other opportunities to make money, doubt, and fear. I learned from Kobe that I must have the "Mamba Mentality" in order to be successful. That means to never give up on my passion, perfect my craft, and be one of the best at it. If it makes money I'm in. As my mother would call it, "I'm a jack of all trades...master of none." This month I was preparing to move forward with another business opportunity. I knew the Spirit was telling me this year I needed to focus on myself and was leading me to close my publishing company so I could focus on my own writing, but I became less focused on my gift and more focused on starting another business. It was just another distraction. I'm thankful that the Spirit interceded through my friends and loved ones reminding me that writing was my first priority. I'm also very thankful that I was able to witness first hand the life of an NBA legend, Oscar winner, and Girl Dad who may be absent from us in body but his Mamba Mentality spirit can live within us all. Go hard. Whatever it is... Go hard. Give it your all...Stay focused...Practice... Be one of the Greatest. Mamba Out. |
Details
|