For All I Trust HIM

Floating is one of my favorite parts of swimming. Webster’s dictionary defines floating as, “continually drifting or changing position. Connected or constructed to operate and adjust smoothly.”

Like faith, floating can be difficult to master but is possible with practice. In order to successfully float, we must be willing to be content in every season and willing to relax no matter how things fluctuate in our lives. Practice makes perfect; therefore, the more you float (relax) the more developed your faith will become.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (MSG), “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT), “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Body Positioning

Experts say “good body positioning” allows you to successfully float. I believe daily devotional time consisting of prayer and reading your bible will allow you to effortlessly float inspite of life’s waves and possible changes. God tells us how to deal with possible fluctuation and changes in HIS word. With God’s help, you will identify your perfect floating position.

How To Float

• Face Down Floating consists of laying face down with your arms and legs wide enough to cover the surface. As believers we sometimes fall (sin) and end up flat on our face. It’s in these moments, we’re ready to throw in the towel that God shows us how to take a deep breath while bringing our legs to the surface (dealing with our mistakes/current circumstances) and feeling our way through life’s water.

• God will provide you with tools to push, glide and kick through your fears, doubts and daily struggles. Take a deep breath and push away from the pool wall (circumstances.) At times you may feel yourself sinking but God will teach you various exercises to keep you moving and afloat. At times, we will experience surprises but spiritual leg kicks (praying and biblical meditation) will help maintain momentum and prevent sinking.

• Many swimmers float with their legs to prevent sinking in the water. It is said that the water pressure on your legs and lack of flexibility will cause you to sink. When you begin to sink, your initial thought is to panic and to kick your legs harder; therefore, running out of oxygen and quickly becoming exhausted.

Experts say it’s imperative that you protect your neck and lower back so your body will stay neutral in the water. I believe this is comparable to how impatient we become when God doesn’t answer our prayer the way we want HIM to. When we focus on why God said “no” or “not yet,” we begin to sink. I pray that you will stay neutral and “trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Our mission in life should not be to swim faster but to float. We can only see where we currently are but God is omnipresent. HE knows what is ahead before we get there. I pray that you will allow God to show you which swim techniques are best for you; therefore, allowing you to float better through the waters of life.

Many novice swimmers use personal flotation devices (floaties) around their arms or mid section which I believe is the equivalent to believers reading the bible.

The more we read God’s Word the more comfortable we become while enduring the waters of life. Many say they never hear from God but more times than not, your answer is in HIS word. I pray that you will allow biblical meditation to help you become more at ease with floating.

We all have our own individual stories and various relationships with God. Your journey with Christ is unique and looks totally different from everyone else. Just like we’re all different shapes and sizes, our bodies react differently to the water (life) when floating. Don’t compare someone else’s floating skills to yours. God will give you various floating exercises that will help you learn how to respond when in water.

The more you practice, the more you will be able to control how your body behaves when the water fluctuates. You may feel too exhausted to swim but God will coach you how to float to your destination.

No matter what exercise you choose to float, you’ll never master the skill without being able to relax. God may not allow you to swim to your next destination until you have confidence in your natural ability to float.

Benefits Of Floating

When you allow God to have free range in your life you may experience the following:

• Detox – removing all toxicity such as self-doubt and worry which improves your health.

• Deep Relaxation – When you fully trust God, you’re at peace and can focus on your purpose in life. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

• Creativity – Faith allows you to think out of the box and unlock your limitless potential. You may look like a fool to some but floating will allow you to “perceive the world in new ways, find hidden patterns, make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena and generate solutions” with God’s help.

Some people may not understand what God instructs you to do. I’m sure Noah looked foolish building the ark until that storm came. No matter what naysayers may attempt to deter you from doing, allow your faith and creativity to keep you floating.

At times I may feel like I’m sinking but For All I Trust Him because with God’s help: I’m able to relax in the water, know how and when to breathe, glide through the water (circumstances) and learn how to submerge.

I pray as we float through life that we’re all able to make small adjustments when necessary. May we continue to listen to God as we float and prayerfully be able to identify any areas where we might be sinking. I pray that we continue to kick our feet and gently move our hands and arms through the waters of life through prayer and biblical meditation.

I’m a firm believer in self-care. If you’re not okay, your health, work, family and relationships will suffer. We get so caught up in the hussle and bustle of our daily routines that we sometimes put ourselves on the back burner. I implore you to add some type of self-care to your routine. We perform better especially at work when we take a moment to recharge.

The last few months I felt like I was running on fumes and decided to take a trip to Dallas, Texas to attend Kirk Franklin’s Exodus Music Festival and re-charge my battery. The purpose of my trip was to release and recharge but most of all allow God to restore me. I jumped on a plane with anticipation of hearing from God. I didn’t know what God would say or do but I knew HE would speak!

Sometimes we have to remove ourselves from familiar environments so we’re not distracted by current circumstances and we can fully hear from God. We must remember, things on this earth will shake our faith, people may disappoint us, circumstances may shift and what we want may not be what we need but through it all, God is ready, willing and wanting to wipe away our tears and ease our pain.

I left Los Angeles with comfortable weather – overcast and 60’s degrees. I was greeted by Dallas’ humidity and 90’s weather. In my mind, I thought I would be beating the heat because it was spring and I would be “comfortable” but I was reminded that seasons are changing and sometimes God has to remove you from your comfort zone to bless you.

After being in Dallas a few days, I noticed I was always sweating but I found myself starting to become content with that season because I knew it was temporary! I was sweating and in some ways uncomfortable but I heard God say, “it’s just sweat. You can bear the heat.”

Benefits of Sweating

The average person doesn’t enjoy sweating unless they’re at the gym working out but perspiring has several benefits.

• Boosts Endorphins – We may not be happy while we’re enduring an intense and difficult workout in the gym but afterwards you feel a sense of accomplishment. God takes us through a similar process in life. We’re sweating and possibly considering throwing in the towel but God steps-in and shows us how to master the work-out; boosting our self-esteem and filling us with tons of “feel-good” endorphins.

• Detoxing – When we sweat, our body releases bad toxins out of our body. God will take you through a sweating process to remove all the toxic people and bad habits; detoxifying your body, spirit and mind.

• Strengthens Immune System – It is said that sweat helps fight germs and dangerous bacteria that attempts to attack our body and prevents colds and other illnesses. The next time you experience a circumstance that causes you to sweat, remember God is strengthening you!

So many focus on the end result but it’s the sweating process that you will benefit from. When you think you have nothing, use your faith to make something. I pray that God gives you ears to hear HIM, eyes to see HIM and a heart that is receptive to what God is doing, during your sweating season.

Don’t get discouraged by setbacks; instead, be encouraged with the anticipation of your comeback. John 14:18 (AMP), “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.”

Faith grows stronger with every heart beat. I love the way God works. When I’m pushy, overbearing and impatient; insisting that my agenda and my time matter most; HE kindly watches while I drive myself insane. As soon as I surrender, HE does a MIRACULOUS thing!

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God restores me, makes me better than new and those situations I tried to control, HE brings me out on top!

You tell God what you want and HE will give it to you when HE thinks you’re ready.

When we face various trials and tribulations in our lives and we’re ready to throw in the towel, we must remember that God knows how much we can bear and in every situation God is at work. He is guiding and directing our steps and various events in ways that we may never know, to bring about results that we never considered. I find peace in knowing that God is always working for our best interest.

If you ask God for help it means you trust HIS ability. If HE doesn’t help you it means HE trust yours. Don’t allow your circumstances to shake up your faith, let your faith shake up your circumstances. When God breathed HIS life into you, He gave you an advantage that causes you to overcome obstacles and to accomplish dreams.

God grooms us for greatness during our struggles. God uses adversity to bring out potential you may not have even known you had. You’re sweating but you can bear the heat!

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for YOU, declares the LORD.” Be still for a while and praise God for HIS favor, grace and awesomeness. God is able to do the impossible and is always near.

I pray that God will take you through your sweating season; promoting you and causing you to excel above your expectations. May God continue to lift you up when you need HIM the most and may you find peace in knowing that HE will always walk with you even in the darkest places.

Malachi 3:6 (NLT), “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” HE has done it before and HE will do it again.

The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. God never puts more on us than we can bear. Tests come to reveal where we really are. I’ve learned to just do the work (my part) and leave the “working out” to God!

You may be going through hell but remember, while you’re trying to figure it out God has already worked it out. You’re sweating but you can bear the heat. 

The little girl’s voice was filled with pure excitement about her upcoming trip and sharing such a special moment with her father. The other children didn’t necessarily believe she was going to Disneyland but she assured them her “daddy promised” so she knew she was going.

It was in that moment that I realized that’s the true meaning of faith. Mark 9:23-24 (MSG), “Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

God wants us to believe and trust HIM even in moments of uncertainty. No matter the circumstance we must constantly remind ourselves if God promised us something, it will come to fruition. God is a promise keeper! We must constantly remind ourselves that God answers our prayers in HIS TIME.

Psalm 145:13 (NIV), “The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.”

Webster’s dictionary defines imagination as, “the ability to form a picture in your mind of something that you have not seen or experienced; the ability to think of new things.” I’m very fascinated by the imagination of a child. Children allow their imagination to run wild through their dreams, fascination with having fun and fearlessness.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (AMP), “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” As a child, we’re encouraged to grow up and stop being “childish” but I truly appreciate the innocence of children and how they’re not afraid to allow their imagination to take over.

As we get older, we sometimes get so discouraged from life’s circumstances and disappointments that we stop dreaming and lose the ability to imagine. Proverbs 18:21 (MSG), “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” There is power in the tongue and we must always speak life and encourage ourselves even when it doesn’t look good.

When we actively use our spiritual imagination (faith), we begin to open the door to limitless possibilities. There is nothing “childish” about actively using your spiritual imagination. The more you adopt your faith into your daily walk, the stronger your “faith muscle” will become.

At times we may have moments of uncertainty but if we allow ourselves to take a leap of faith, we will begin to have a new perspective on life, explore new things and continue to develop.

The powerful lyrics to Donald Lawrence’s “Just Like the Air” is a great reminder about the promises of God. These lyrics really resonate with me, “the promises of God are always there, everywhere, just like the air. An abundant supply for every need, only believe, have faith and breath.”

Acts 27:25, (NIV) “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”

My prayer is that we will “lean not on our own understanding” and explore the unknown with God’s help. No matter what my current circumstances may be, For All I Trust Him because my daddy promised and that’s enough for me. Allowing myself to be like a child and not worrying about coloring within the lines (comfort zone), creates fearlessness, personal liberation, new perspectives, innovation and expansions of the mind.

Our faith in God takes a crucial role in personal growth and development as well as our relationship and career successes. Our spiritual imagination can dictate our emotions, create positive thinking and affirmations. I pray that you will allow your spiritual imagination to create opportunities for self-discovery, boost your confidence, foster your personal development and reach your highest potential.

Webster’s dictionary defines spring as, “to grow as a plant, a time or season of growth or development.” We as believers go through seasons just like nature does.

Spring Cleaning

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT), “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”

Sometimes God hasn’t taken us to the next level because HE’s waiting for us to take accountability for the “clutter” in our lives.

Have you ever watched the show hoarders? The show consists of families that have been impacted by various tragedies and relatives who “cope” with their trauma by holding onto all of their possessions, junk and trash; overtaking their residence and causing a strain on all parties involved.

Society judges hoarders but most people are suffering in silence. Few want to admit it but we’re all holding onto something whether it may be physically, mentally or emotionally. I pray that you acknowledge your hurt and ask the Lord to give you the strength to remove the “mountain” of junk and garbage that’s overtaking your life.

The Clearing Out Process

• Dust – “generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that comes from various sources such as dirt, wind and pollution.”

Some people continue to have sleepless nights because they can’t forgive themselves for their past mistakes. God has forgiven you, it’s time for you to forgive yourself! Don’t allow your unwillingness to forgive harden your heart.

Harboring resentment is toxic. The amount of dust (bitterness) and how long you’ve been exposed to it sometimes determines the amount of damage on your body. Don’t allow the weight of resentment and bitterness cause you to have high blood pressure or have a heart attack because you’re waiting for someone to apologize.

Don’t allow someone’s actions towards you block your blessings nor take away your joy. I pray that you will allow God to assist you in wiping away the dust in your life. Unfortunately, we have no control of other’s actions nor how they treat us but we do have control of how we respond. Forgive for your peace!

• Vacuuming – “sucks up the dust and dirt from floors and other surfaces such as upholstery and draperies.”

If we don’t vacuum up all the dirt and dust out of our lives we start to become unappealing and smell. God doesn’t focus on vanity but on our heart. You can be an attractive person but just like carpet, if you eliminate vacuuming, you start to smell “musty.” When we’re in denial about “our dirt” we risk our bodies breaking down from constant infections (envy, greed, anger) and delay our personal growth and development.

Psalm 51:10 (KJV), “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Lord, I pray that every person reading this evicts any form of hatred, bitterness and resentment they might be harboring. Lord, work on our heart. Show us how to love and forgive.

I pray that you embrace God’s spiritual cleansing. Once you embrace the process, God will reveal what is hindering your growth and blocking prosperity. Spiritual cleansing allows us to be restored, grow and blossom.

Reflections

As you walk with God through your clearing out process, below are some questions you can ask yourself:

• Is there anything I’m holding onto that needs to be released?
• What baggage do I need to let go of?
• Do I need to forgive them although they haven’t apologized?
• Do all of my relationships (romantic, platonic & relatives) serve me well?

We must always remember growth and comfort don’t mix. I pray that you allow God to show you how to be better and not bitter. De-cluttering your mind, relationships, car and home are essential for self-love and self-preservation. During this season, I pray you feel God’s invitation of hope, growth and new beginnings.

For All I Trust Him because God continues to show me how to blossom by de-cluttering various areas in my life. I embrace change and acknowledge the benefits of the “clearing out process.” I pray that God will continue to show me how to spring forward; allowing myself to develop gradually and evolve over time.

I find peace in knowing he’s in heaven with my grandmother but death is never easy. Even when you think you’re prepared, no one is every truly ready to lose a love one.

February was a pretty rough month for me. I found myself feeling mentally drained and struggling to just get a “decent” night’s sleep. I started being more intentional with self care by doing acupuncture and massages regularly but I found myself having great difficulty with just turning off my brain for a second. I’m supposed to be relaxing but I was going through my “mental to-do list.”

March 11, 2019, I was walking down this pathway at work that has a design on the ground that reminds me of a maze and I heard God say, “Patrice, I haven’t forgot you…TRUST ME!” It was in that moment that I realized I was going through the maze season.

The maze season allows God to take you through a path that will help you reach your ultimate goal. We all experience pathways and walls full of hurt, disappointment and pain but we must remember that detours are simply a delay and not a dead-end. God takes us through rejection to redirect us to our purpose in life. HE turns setbacks into stepping stones so we can experience our destiny.

The maze season will force you to exercise your “faith muscle” under pressure. Even when we can’t trace God, we must still trust HIM.

James 1:2-4 (MSG), “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

With all the obstacles we face, we have to understand that they get us further away from ourselves and closer to God. Everything happens for a reason! Even when it doesn’t look good, it works out for our good. Sometimes in life our blessings come early and some come late but they ALWAYS come on time. God may change your direction but HE never changes HIS promises.

If you’re looking for somebody to be your everything don’t look around, look up! Remember, just because God seems quiet doesn’t mean HE’s not working. While you’re waiting, God is working!

When we’re desperate and cry out to God, HE will come through. Cry out to God with a tiny mustard seed of faith and you will receive a blessing in the maze season. Instead of attempting to make sense of everything, release your questions and doubt and place your hope in God. HE will heal your heart, lead you through the maze and forward into a path of blessings.

I pray that you stop focusing on your past and walk like you’re getting a miracle tomorrow. Remember as you walk through your maze season, God will use obstacles to launch you into your purpose. Allow God to search your heart and reveal areas in your life where you may be running or hiding. I pray that you stand in faith and invite God to move mightily on your behalf.

I pray that God will help me to always refocus when necessary; managing my life properly and not allow my life to manage me. I will continue to make decisions by faith because I know God will never leave me. For All I Trust HIM because God continues to help me remove any toxic issues that are hindering my walk with HIM.

I began to envision my goals for 2019 and asked the Lord, how could I walk in my purpose. I’ve learned the importance of always being content in whatever season I may be in but my personal mission is to always strive to grow and be better. We should always be evolving. Who we were last year should not be the same person we are currently.

The Fruit of the Spirit

The fruit of the Holy Spirit lives within each of us. As we grow spiritually, the nine attributes of the Holy Spirit should dwell in us and be a part of our daily lives.

We can’t say we love the Lord and mistreat his children. We’re all God’s children and we should love others as we love God and ourselves.

Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV), “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” God is sensitive to our needs but never forces HIS love on us. When we’re ready, HE is too. Even when we’re broken and weak, HE still gives us strength.

God’s love has a transformative power strong enough to lift you from pits you once thought you would never rise above. Philippians 4:7 (NLT), “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. HIS peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Some people may never step foot in a church but God’s light should shine bright through us all. I pray that your presence in someone’s life will shine light through whatever dark moment they may be enduring.

Patience, virtue, faith in HIM and obedience will filter out situations and people that were not intended for our journey nor purpose. The walk is not without injury but surrendering will position you to recognize and receive the higher order over your life.

God continues to show us grace when we didn’t earn it and mercy when we don’t deserve it! We are called to be kind to our neighbor simply for the fact that God continues to be kind to us! We can’t expect something from God that we aren’t willing to do for others.

Some may call it cliché but “hurt people truly do hurt people.” We must learn to forgive people even when they don’t ask for forgiveness. It’s okay to forgive someone and love them from a far. Forgive them for you.

If you don’t forgive, you will harbor negative feelings for them that will slowly eat at you like a cancer. Sometimes it’s as simple as forgiving someone for your sanity and health.

God is working things out for you even if you don’t feel like it. Have faith and be thankful. Where faith and hope grows, miracles blossom!

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV), “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV), “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

Everything that manifests in your life results from the seeds you sow. YOU determine whether you will reap good harvest or bad harvest.

2 Corinthians 9:10-12 (NIV), “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”

What Fruit Are You Bearing?

As a gardener, God cultivates and cares for us. He plants us as a seed in the ground and waters us through various life experiences which gives us strength and nourishment to become beautiful fruit trees. God is responsible to maintain our beauty. Just like a gardener, God performs a range of general maintenance to assist us in producing fruit.

The amount of fruit we produce on our tree is determined by the amount of time and effort we put into our personal maintenance. When we allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives, we will start producing “good” fruit.

When we spend personal time with the Lord and consistently read God’s word, we will bear ripe fruit. When our tree is nourished by the fruits of the spirit, God shows us how to produce sweet fruit just like the fruit you pick at your local grocery store or farmer’s market.

The Pruning Process

If we’re lacking in a particular area, God will begin the pruning process; removing the dead branches that are stunting our growth. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG), “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”

Pruning improves our health, strength and allows God to develop a stronger structure for our spiritual tree.

God knows the perfect time to prune and which tools (circumstances) can perfectly remove unwanted branches without harming us. God methodologically directs our pruning through the Holy Spirit in a very gentle manner. Although our tree may look healthy, God knows when it needs to be pruned. When God finishes pruning, our tree will grow, bear better fruit, maintain a beautiful appearance and we will become more like HIM.

I pray that we allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. Allow the Holy Spirit free range in your life, removing whatever may be preventing you from producing the Fruits of the Spirit. May our lives continue to reflect we belong to God and bear good fruit in every season.

I believe 2019 will be a year where our patience and faith may be tested at times but God’s plan overrules our doubt. I pray that 2019 will be a year of growth, inspiration and divine completeness for us all. God wants us to show love and kindness even when we think someone doesn’t deserve it. Let’s be real, God continues to show us unconditional love; although, we may not always show love to God nor others.

We are made in God’s image which means we’re called to love others and lead them to Christ. Growing up, I knew my actions were a “reflection” of my parents and I was determined to stay out of trouble because I never wanted to bring embarrassment to them. As a child of God, the same applies.

When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Be happy when you’re tested in different ways because it causes endurance, maturity and completion. Instead of asking why is this happening to me, ask how should I respond.

For All I Trust Him because God is broadening our parameter so we can bless others, be humble and be more sensitive to others and their needs. May we always appreciate God’s pruning process and never be afraid to ask ourselves what fruit am I bearing? I pray that we may all yield marvelous fruit in the lives of others and our own. By being obedient to God and opening ourselves to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, we allow God to do a work in us especially when we don’t understand.

I began to pray for peace and protection as the plane dipped, dropped and turned like a roller coaster. As my stomach felt a little uneasy, I heard God say, “Patrice, you’re okay; it’s just turbulence.”

James 1:2-4 (AMP), “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace.] And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.”

We make a request known to God and try our best to understand it’s apart of the journey. I’m sure you’ve wondered did God hear your prayer or are you waiting in vain. We must make sure we keep our heart in check while we wait. God requires us to wait because we must be prepared for the blessing and we must TRUST Him with our need. We must trust God even in the most difficult circumstances (turbulence). Don’t give up nor give in while you’re waiting. Mercy shall surround those who trust HIM.

God NEVER lets anything that happens to you be in vain! Even if bad things happen, you can ALWAYS be taught a lesson from it; making you stronger and wiser! Everything happens for a reason! Today’s test is preparing you for tomorrow’s victory.

Isaiah 43:2 (AMP), “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” With all the obstacles we face, we have to understand that they get us farther away from ourselves and closer to God. All things work together for our good. Even when it doesn’t look good, it works out for our good!

Sometimes fear can be our biggest enemy. Don’t allow fear to block your blessings. Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT), “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Of course, anxiety some times sets in when enduring turbulence but it’s a normal part of life. Remember fear has two meanings, which do you choose? “Forget Everything And Run” or “Face Everything And Rise.” Prayer, reading your bible (biblical meditation) and participating in bible study groups can help focus your attention if you’re feeling uneasy from turbulence in your life. Before you know it, you’ll be like the crew on an airplane, “unfazed by a little bumpiness.”

Take your eyes off what you see in the physical because God is busy in your life. Trust God based on what you can’t see because you know HE’S there. For All I Trust Him because the turbulence of life has made me stronger and prepared me for every blessing! There is a blessing in every lesson. God continues to bless me daily.

Lord, I thank you for every NO, closed door and disappointment. Lord, thank you for knowing the DESIRES of my HEART & WHAT I NEED!

The holidays are sometimes taken for granted and marked as the passage of time in our lives until you are required to cope after a loved one has died. I always enjoyed the anticipation of going to Sacramento and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with my parents and grandparents. Being the only child and grandchild, holidays were a huge part of milestones in my family.

Christmas was never truly the same after my great-grandmother passed December 25, 2006. In some ways, it felt like another day but I always had a great anticipation whenever my grandmother would start planning the holiday menu.

In 2016, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the hardest part of grieving the passing of my grandmother. When you lose someone, your world loses its celebratory qualities. Holidays only magnify the loss, especially the first couple of years.

Grief is a natural emotional response to losing someone special to you. You may feel a variety of emotions such as sadness, confusion, anger, depression or loneliness. Food, the aroma of a familiar perfume or hearing a specific song played on the radio may seem minute to some but it’s the little things that can trigger the return of grief. Something as small as buying greeting cards or shopping for Christmas gifts can serve as a painful reminder of loss.

You will grieve differently over each person that you lose. Grief varies on the individual and sometimes because of how you lost the person or the relationship you had with them. Grief can be just as unique and distinctive as the person you’ve lost.

Everyone grieves differently and sometimes the holiday season can be the most difficult. Staying busy helps keep me “distracted” but sometimes I’m forced to face “reality.” In 2016, spending my first Thanksgiving without my grandmother was very difficult. My parents and I spent thanksgiving at my grandparents house. It was like my heart and my mind were waiting for my grandmother to walk into the room at any moment but my subconscious reminded me it wasn’t possible.

I would of given anything to hear my Nana say, “Pumpkin Head, I made you some deviled eggs.” My grandmother always had deviled eggs waiting in the refrigerator whenever I came to visit.

Coloring in my adult coloring books while watching TV in my grandparent’s bedroom helps me cope the most. I know my grandmother is physically no longer here but I feel the closest to her there.

Some say coping with death gets easier as time goes on but honestly, there is no “normal” grieving time period. I think about my grandmother daily but I find peace in knowing she’s in heaven and no longer suffering. To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord! My grandmother may no longer be present physically but I always carry beautiful memories of her with me.

How to Cope & Heal

Of course, we know death is apart of life but I think no one is ever fully prepared to lose someone. Keep reminding yourself grieving is a process.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily routines and attempting to keep a “perfect life” we forget we’re human. It’s okay to accept your feelings. Give yourself as much time as you need.

• Get your feelings out! I don’t know about you but sometimes I’m guilty of not sharing things with people because I don’t want to be a “burden.” I’m sure you’ve used the excuse, “I don’t want to bother anyone. They’re going through stuff too.”

It’s crucial to your health that you speak with someone about your grief. See if counseling services and/or support groups are available at your church such as GriefShare . Speak with a therapist about tools that can assist in exploration of your emotions, coping skills and the most effective way to mange your grief.

GriefShare offers a “Surviving the Holidays” session that gives some great tips on how to cope with your emotions during the holidays and how to discover hope for your future. Attending the event helped me realize that others struggle with grief too. It was an emotional day for me but it truly helped me begin my journey to heal and grow. You’re able to learn about holiday survival tips that have worked for others and how some have created new traditions to honor their loved ones.

• Don’t isolate yourself! Our first instinct is to stay home. In 2016, when my grandmother passed I didn’t want to do much of anything. Grief can make you anti-social and not want to be seen. The urge to be invisible is a coping mechanism that makes you feel protected but staying in your shell is not healthy.

Take time to process your feelings. It’s okay to cry and get those emotions out but life keeps happening and you have to keep going! Spend time with family and friends. A women’s weekly bible study on biblical meditation was a huge help to me. Being around women who love the Lord and were interceding on my behalf through prayer helped me become closer to God and was a huge part of my journey to healing.

• Make “Self Care” a priority! The grieving process may vary with the individual but it’s imperative you don’t put personal healing and self-repair on the back burner. I highly recommend exercising and getting a massage regularly. Both activities boost energy, improves your mood, sleep quality, relieves tension, anxiety and reduces stress. Adult coloring and painting classes are also great stress relievers which I highly recommend.

• Encourage others who may be grieving. I live for encouraging others. When I speak life into others, I feel like I’m depositing back into myself too. Anytime you help someone else you will automatically feel better. We all get blessed by being a blessing to others.

• Starting new traditions to honor your love ones can help you cope with loss and begin the healing process. Consider donating time or money in their honor, light a candle, leave flowers on their grave, mention them in your holiday dinner prayer or share your favorite story about them on your social media profile. Finding ways to honor them can be beautiful and therapeutic.

Be Gentle Even If You Don’t Understand

Some people experience loss more than others. Some people go years before loosing someone who was close to them. In some ways, I felt very alone when I lost my grandmother. There were some people that I truly valued their friendship and it was very hurtful and disappointing when they didn’t check on me nor show any signs of compassion and empathy.

I realize discussing death or grief can be extremely difficult but your presence is sometimes more valuable and comforting than words. If you know someone who has recently lost someone, give them a hug and sit with them or take some food to their house. Call them on the phone and pray for them and their family. We’re all living extremely busy lives but we should never be too busy to send a text, make a phone call, send an email or stop by to let someone know they are thought of and loved. Pray for the brokenhearted and those suffering with various things.

Don’t ask should you help or how to help, just help! Invite them to your house, group events or out for coffee. It may take them some time to come around but their “NO’S” will eventually turn into a “YES.” Love and support is priceless when enduring the grieving process. It cost nothing for us to be kind to each other. Let’s remember to not only be kind but gentle with each other.

Creating New Memories

The holidays were very sad our first year (2016) without my grandmother but in 2017 I made a promise to myself that my family and I would create new memories of good times and togetherness during the holidays. I know that’s what my grandmother would want.

Loosing my grandmother made me realize not only how short life is but the importance of cherishing those who you still have.  Instead of focusing on my grandmother’s absence, I placed more energy on cherishing my parents and grandfather.  In 2017, we spent Christmas on a Hawaiian Cruise and had an amazing time.

I was determined to do something completely out of the norm. I knew the holidays would be different but I wanted to put a positive spin on it. Sticking to old traditions can be painful and trigger sadness. Creating new memories helps you heal and not focus on the lost. The holidays can be extremely tough but focus on it being a season of love, joy and thankfulness.

Sometimes we may never make sense of loss but God will reveal HIS heart to you as you continue to seek HIM. The secret to powerful praying is to take God the need and not the answer. God’s peace surpasses all understanding! It is in moments of tragedy that our faith is demonstrated in our movement. God’s love has a transformative power, strong enough to lift you from the pits you once thought you’d never rise above.

Grief can put you in a very dark place but we have to trust God even in the dark! Invite God to move your faith. I pray that we all can exercise our faith by praising through our pain.

God is my anchor. Victory belongs to Jesus even in tragedy. We as believers love God but we hurt and struggle with life challenges too. Death is never easy but I believe in the hope I have in Christ. Heaven is real and we will see our loved ones again. It’s normal to hurt and cry. We have to allow the void we feel, from the loss, to be filled with our faith in God. Anger, hurt, denial, sadness and grief are all normal stages when we experience death.

For All I Trust Him because HE continues to love me, comfort me when I mourn and give me strength to get through the day. Psalm 34:18 (NIV), “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I believe that God knows what HE is doing even when we don’t understand it. God is sensitive to our needs. God loves us and continues to give us strength especially when we’re broken and weak.

Many of us see the holidays as a season to indulge in our favorite foods and reconnect with relatives but sometimes we forget about the importance of truly reflecting on what we’re thankful for.

Thanksgiving is over but are you still thankful? Some families have a tradition of sharing what they’re thankful for before sharing a meal together on Thanksgiving but I wonder, how many see the holiday season as an opportunity for giving thanks.

Webster’s dictionary defines thankful as, “conscious of benefit received.” It is my prayer that you see the rest of 2018 as, “The Season of Gratitude.” Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT), “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I’m thankful because God continuously gives me strength! He creates a purpose and plan for me that I have no control over. I may not know what God has planned for me but I find peace in the unknown because I TRUST HIM!

Gratitude and contentment are the secrets to having a joyful life. Life is in HIS hands; it’s not about my agenda. Philippians 4:11 (NLT), “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”

Counting on joy while enduring storms will expand and elevate us to help others and broaden our parameters. No matter what happens I have learned to be content. No matter what stage you’re in, be content and thankful. Look deeper at your problems and you will see gifts, lessons and opportunities to grow! What you take for granted someone else is praying for.

Be thankful for whatever God gives you today and everyday. Don’t dismiss what God has given you. He has custom-made you, putting in you exactly what you need! Be confident in who God has made you to be! You’re NOT lacking nor are you disadvantaged. You have exactly what you need for where you are.

Don’t give up! Keep standing, praying, believing and hoping in faith. Don’t cast away your confidence, for pay-day is coming!! Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV), “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to preserve so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

You may not get your prayer answered in your time but God will ALWAYS give you what you need at the RIGHT TIME. God will bless you with people (spiritual connections) who will help dust off your knees when you’ve fallen, hurt you when you need to become stronger or leave you when you need experience. People who love you when you’re lonely, tell you how amazing you are when you feel upset about yourself and help make you the person YOU WERE MEANT TO BE!!!

Gratitude is the only lens through which great things can be seen and once we have seen them, humility is the only posture possible.  Don’t wait until you “get humbled,” to be humble. Remember, the challenges we encounter in life are not meant to paralyze us but assist in self-discovery and development. What often appears to be a setback is a setup for a blessing in disguise. When it gets tough and things don’t look like they’ll work out, you can laugh by faith, knowing that God has already written the final chapter.

When life’s problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate. I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds it and that’s enough for me!

In all that you do GIVE THANKS! It’s rather easy to become submerged in what we feel is lacking in our life but how often do we show pure gratitude for what we do have? How grateful are we for the people who love us?

How appreciative are we for the gift of life? The ability to love and laugh? Remember, when you take things for granted oftentimes the things you’re granted get taken.

Take time during this season of “thanksgiving” to reflect on how much you have to be grateful for and lend a hand to someone in need.

Recognize your current blessings before praying for more. Focusing on our struggles can sometimes be our greatest addiction. Break the habit and start focusing on your joys. No matter how good or bad you think life is, wake up each day and be thankful for life. Sometimes you won’t get everything you want but be thankful for everything you have.

Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot. Count your blessings instead of your problems. Today and everyday find something to be thankful for. As long as you are breathing, you have LIFE in you. We ALL have something to be thankful for.

In ALL things, give thanks. Let the holiday season serve as a gentle reminder of what should be celebrated everyday. Family, friends, life and love must be honored at each waking moment because they are the Creator’s way of saying he honors us. No matter the trial, tribulation, setback or circumstance, we earn another stripe of strength. When we see it through and in persevering, we are granted peace, serenity and total happiness. Treat each day as the gift that it is.

No matter how good or bad you think life is, wake up each day and be thankful for life. Somewhere, someone is fighting to survive and wishing they had what you’re taking for granted.

When you feel the pain of life, remember that someone out there is feeling the pain of hunger, abuse, living without a parent, and going through other various storms. Live your life and make it the best that you can because tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

Whenever you feel down, just remember the little things we take for granted:

•  Waking up: it wasn’t the alarm clock that did it BUT GOD!
• Breathing: this is something you don’t control. God puts air in our lungs and makes blood flow throughout our body.
• Movement of Motor Skills: God blesses us with a sound mind, a brain that orchestrates coordination of the arms, legs and other large body parts and movements. Our brain is responsible for motor movement, balance and the brain’s ability to determine positions of our limbs. Being able to move our limbs is a blessing that we should never take for granted.

Benefits of Giving Thanks

Studies show that “giving thanks” and having an “attitude of gratitude” can help you become a better you.

• • Create and maintain deeper friendships
  • Improves job performance
  • Increases feelings of happiness, love and empathy
  • Reduces feelings of envy
  • Reduces stress and increases mental strength

• I’m an advocate for self-care. Anything that will assist you in becoming better physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually is worth trying.  Give it a try, you have nothing to loose!

Counting blessings instead of your problems creates a grateful heart, positively effects life’s perspectives and can lower your blood pressure. Focusing on what you’re thankful for is said to decrease sleepless nights; therefore, increasing sleep duration and significantly increasing energy levels which can boost your daily productivity.  We live in a society that focuses so much on unrealistic realities of social media. So many “study” folks social media pages thinking they’re living a “perfect life” and wishing they had their life. Instead of comparing your life to others, focus on what you’re grateful for; therefore, decreasing feelings of envy, anxiety, stress and increasing our feelings of happiness and optimism.

Counting Blessings – Where to Start

• Mentor/Volunteer: giving back to others by mentoring or volunteering in your community is a great way to start! I believe volunteering can be a very humbling experience that not only assists in reflecting on what you’re grateful for but it also improves our well-being. Remember, helping others also helps you!

• Spending time with friends and family increases feelings of gratitude by expressing your thankfulness of others.
• Send an encouraging text, email, card or call someone you’re thankful for. It may seem small but that small token of appreciation will mean the world to that person and it will make you feel good too.
• Staying active: exercising will increase your endorphins; therefore you will have a clearer mind and be able to list what you’re thankful for.

After giving back to others, spending time with love ones and exercising, I’m positive you will be able to write down what you’re thankful for. Keep a gratitude journal to reflect and acknowledge what you’re thankful for; therefore, developing an attitude of gratitude. When you’re having a bad day, you can refer back to what you wrote in your journal and have everything put back into perspective. It’s said that journaling about what you’re thankful for can aid in increasing optimism, self-esteem, becoming more spiritual, compassionate and help us relax.

 Psalm of Thanksgiving: “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100 (NLT)

I pray that the Lord will help us all to be thankful for the abundant gifts we have already been given and help us to resist the temptation to always want more and be thankful all year long.  Let’s not just be thankful during the holiday season but proud, thankful and joyous on an ongoing basis. Remember, if you focus on what you have, you’ll always have enough. If you concentrate on what you want, you’ll never be satisfied. I pray that we all remember our blessings and not focus on what we don’t have or what isn’t working in our life.

For All I Trust Him because my life truly is a gift from God that I try my best to not take for granted. I will continue to take life, one day at a time; not grieving over the past but living in the present and making it a beautiful life worth remembering! I will continue to count my blessings instead of my problems. Sometimes I don’t get everything I want but I’m thankful for everything I have!

When horses are being trained, blinders are placed on them to prevent them from seeing beside or behind them.  Blinders are small squares of leather that attach to the side of the horse’s head. The blinders prevent a horse from being distracted or scared of having an object behind them when they’re racing around a racecourse, carrying a cart or buggy.

Horses have amazing peripheral vision but they do have blind spots. The blinders obstruct horses’ peripheral vision.  Jockeys have limited control of their horse but blinders gives them more leverage; therefore, preventing a horse from taking a different route and keeping the jockey and his horse safe. Like horses we can end up running off course if we don’t remain focused. 

God never gives us specific details on how he is going to bless us. God gives us the necessary tools but he never tells us what’s next or what’s ahead. Like horses, we sometimes need to be made to focus on what is ahead instead of what is on the side or behind us. God will help us stay on the correct route but HE wants to know that we fully trust HIM and we’re focused.

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.”

God’s process (blindfold) teaches us to function from faith instead of fear. Faith people keep “what if” on the winning side. The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. Things won’t make sense to some folks but it will make sense to those who believe and trust God. Faith is following God’s lead without knowing where you’re going.

We often have to go through dark times (blindfolded) in our lives to deeply appreciate and be grateful for the beauty, blessings and brilliance of the light of God in our lives!

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT), “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” Things that are seen are only temporary but things that are seen through our eyes of faith are eternal.

Your health, finances, etc. may not look good but that’s subject to change. You may feel like nothing is going right in your life but it’s all subject to change. Stay filled with hope and start expecting things to change.

One of the greatest abilities God has given us, is the ability to believe you can overcome anything. James 1:3-4 (AMP), “Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith,] lacking in nothing.”

We’ve all had moments where we were afraid of the unknown. Some will admit, “I don’t like surprises. I don’t like being left in the dark” but God rewards those who step out on faith. Sometimes God is just waiting for us to exercise our faith so he can do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we asked and prayed for.

We may feel unprepared or afraid of our unknown surroundings but power is born in darkness. We must fight with faith; running the race with patience and enduring until the end. Finding peace in knowing that ALL THINGS work together for your good is the key to making it through the darkness. Having faith that something good will come out of your season of darkness is what will get you through.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP), “For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises.]” When you are truly living by faith, you can relax in the “rest” of God. In total trust, you know HE will bring it into being. I will continue to pray and ask God to lead and direct me down the right path. At times, I may be unsure about some things but I find peace in knowing God will help me put it all into perspective.

The power of God is with you at ALL TIMES! HE is present through the activities of our mind, senses, breathing and emotions. God is constantly doing all the work and using us as a mere instrument.

If we keep our eyes on God, we won’t trip over our own feet. Sometimes you simply have to go when and where God leads you, without detailed long-term directions, extra passengers or the ability to see or know the end result. Just trust that God is able to physically, mentally and spiritually take you to heights and depths far beyond anything you can think or imagine.

We look at our situations and conclude based on the circumstances that reality must be this way. But God says, “No, you do not see what I see or what I know or what I am doing.” The situation is very different from what you are perceiving. Be careful not to draw conclusions about your situation that may not be based on truth. God always has a plan for HIS servants that we may not know about. Ask God to give you HIS PERCEPTIONS of the situation, NOT YOURS!

The Lord gives us strength and blesses us with peace especially when HE has us blindfolded. There are so many distractions and temptations in life, that only a strong sense of direction will keep you focused, forward and intact.

Habakkuk 2:3 (AMP), “For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time. It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment;] it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, because it will certainly come; it will not delay.” We must allow God to keep us focused. When you focus on what God has for YOU and stay in your lane, the blessings flow! God will blindfold you to prevent you from being distracted.

The enemy is focused on distracting us while God is refocusing us. The enemy has studied our mistakes better than we have, knows what tempts us and how to throw us off course.

When God is elevating you, you can’t afford to be in a season of distraction. My prayer is that God will give you HIS faith to continue on when your faith collapses beneath the weight of unbelievable circumstances.

God will blindfold us to make sure we’re only looking forward and to keep us on track. Blinders are placed on horses to prevent them from getting startled by what’s approaching them from behind or on their sides. Don’t focus on your pass or worry about what the enemy tries to attack you with on every side. I believe that like horses God knows we are motivated to take more risks when our eyes are covered.

God may currently have you blindfolded but don’t allow life to discourage you. God can whisper in your ear and no one will hear it. HE will speak into your life but naysayers will tell you what you can’t do because they didn’t hear the whisper. HIS whisper means, “I’M HERE.” God has NOT forgotten you!

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. For All I Trust Him because I can always look to HIM no matter my trials and tribulations. I will continue to trust God even when I can’t trace HIM. Progress is a process. God provides a way and I will continue to trust the process.

Remember, all things are working for you even when you can’t see it! No matter what’s going on, God’s GOT YOU! With God, there are no limits and no boundaries.