How Are You Bidding Farewell to 2016?

Here we are at the end of another year. But I don't think I've known of a year so collectively abhorred as 2016.

Why just today, I was reading an article in which a man was citing certain negative comments he received regarding a controversial tweet he posted about the passing of singer, George Micheal. But there was one comment that I think truly captured the essence of what 2016 has felt like to so many. It was the one where one of his disgruntled readers told him that he was "the 2016 of people."

Wow! That was a true LOL moment for me.

I totally get it though. This year was the roughest and most stressful year I've ever had in my life. I won't go into all the messy details, but suffice it to say, 2016 tested me AND my family to the core.

Then there are all the sad and untimely losses of beloved celebrity icons like Prince, David Bowie, Muhammad Ali, and just a few days ago Carrie Fisher (Star Wars' Princess Leia).

Let's not forget about the made-for-reality-TV presidential campaign and the shocking (well, to some it was) outcome.

Yep! There's a lot we may want to forget about 2016. But even if this year is one you can't wait to kick to the curb, what is the one thing you learned? Instead of focusing on what was lost this year, what have you gained?

I can personally say that the hardship I endured this year fortified me mentally and spiritually in ways I didn't know I needed. I now have a much greater appreciation for the simple things in life, like food, shelter, and the use of two good legs. I'd say that's a good thing!

Even if you have to strain to think of ONE GOOD THING you can take with you from 2016, I encourage you to find it and hold on to it. 

Whatever it is, it might be the catalyst to the greater things that 2017 hold for you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR D-VINERS!

ME23: 6 Steps to Turn Your Resolutions Into Your Revolution (Part 3)

Welcome back, D-Viners!

Did you enjoy last week's installment of ME23? If so, you're going to love this week's foray into Psalm 23:3 because it's all about POWER.

"He renews my STRENGTH. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name."

Psalm 23:3 (NLT)

For further emphasis, I'd like to also use The Message translation of this same verse.

"True to your word, you let me CATCH MY BREATH and send me in the right direction."

Psalm 23:3 (MSG)

Principle #3: The Power is in the Pause

As many of you know, I'm on a journey toward being a healthier, fitter me. As I've been making small changes  here and there, I find myself growing a deeper appreciation for the wonder and complexity that is the human body. I'm learning more and more about the many factors that make the body operate at it's fullest potential. One of those factors is rest/sleep.

You've probably been hearing more and more in the media about the importance of getting a good night's sleep, and there's good reason for it.

"A night of uninterrupted sleep(will) leave (our) bodies and minds rejuvenated for the next day. If sleep is cut short, the body doesn’t have time to complete all of the phases needed for muscle repair, memory consolidation and release of hormones regulating growth and appetite. Then we wake up less prepared to concentrate, make decisions, or engage fully in school, (work) and social activities." 

~ The National Sleep Foundation

Clearly, rest is not only important, it is crucial to the quality of your life. But I want to talk to about more than rest for your body. Let's talk about rest for your mind/soul.

If you've ever had a sleepless night, chances are it wasn't because of physical pain. It was probably a cluttered mind that kept you tossing and turning.

Worry, anxiety, fear, anger. This is not the crowd you want to hang out with. Think of them as thieves that create restlessness inside of you in order to drain you of your power.

Just as your body cannot regulate, renew, or replenish when you are deprived of rest, the same holds true for your soul. Like The Message translation above so aptly puts it, you need time to catch your breath.When you don't put yourself on pause, you lose much more than you think you do.

Yes. I know there is a tendency in this performance-driven culture we live in to think you must stay in overdrive or else you'll be missing out. And I'm sure somewhere in the back of your mind, you probably know this isn't right. But just like any other bad habit, you've probably been doing it so long, you don't know how to stop.

• You've got great ideas, but you can't stop long enough to implement them
• You've got an issue that needs to be addressed, but you won't take to deal with it
• You don't mean to be insensitive, but you've got so many irons in the fire you've sacrificed even your most cherished relationships
• Your emotions are a wreck, but you're too tired to even pray about them

Any of this sound familiar? Don't feel bad. You can choose to change.

What's the takeaway?

On the streets you'd be told to CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF.

I'm telling you PAUSE to get your POWER back. And I don't mean power to keep on running at the same old break-neck speed. I'm talking about REAL POWER. Power to get the right perspective. Power to walk your path. Power to live out your purpose. Jesus himself often employed this principle (Luke 5:16) and it served him well. You should too.

But make no mistake. The pause is not just about unloading your baggage. It's more about fueling up for what lies ahead. The good things. The promises that God will fulfill in your life. The energy and enthusiasm you will have once you clear your soul of its clutter. That's the sweet spot.

Action Step

Take a moment right now to do a brain dump.

Write down everything that is weighing you down, pressuring you, worrying you, etc. Read them out loud to yourself. Then take that piece of paper, rip it up, and throw it away. Right after that, pray Psalm 23 out loud to yourself as many times as you need to in order to release those things. Finally, just breathe. Use this pause to allow the natural flow of the Holy Spirit to refresh and renew your spirit.

Check back in with me to share how ME23 is helping you to turn things around in your life. I want to see a wall of continuous victories in that comment section!

Be sure to tell a friend about this blog series by sharing the link. I'll meet you back here next week.

Stay in it to win it!

ME23: 6 Steps to Turn Your Resolutions into Your Revolution (Part 1)

Happy New Year! 

Welcome to 2016 AND ME23 - my new 6-week blog series

Are you bored with resolutions and ready to experience a personal REVOLUTION? Good!

For the next six weeks, I'm going to share a wisdom key from an age-old classic - Psalm 23 (New Living Translation Version). Each of the six verses in this psalm carries a simple principle that can set you up for success from the inside out. Each week, I'll break each principle down for you so that it's easily understandable and immediately applicable. Some of the series will be in regular blog post style and some will be in the form of a short video to help me more effectively illustrate certain points. But rest assured, it's going to be an experience that will lift you above your circumstances and into the realm of the PROMISED and the POSSIBLE.

Let's do this!

"The Lord is MY shepherd, I have ALL that I need."

Psalm 23:1 NLT

Principle #1: Celebrate Your Dependence 

"Sisters are Doing it for Themselves"

"I'm Every Woman"

"Girl on Fire"

I could go on and on listing the titles of great songs to pump you up with superwoman empowerment. As a post-modern woman, you're probably used to being cheered on to be fiercely independent; to look within to find your power - and rightly so. 

But the reality is that there is a power much greater than anything you could ever muster up on your own, and if you don't (or won't) accept this fact, you'll always be working against yourself.

Now, I've got nothing against New Year's resolutions. As a matter of fact, I'm a big fan of goals and planning. But every great and lasting change always starts with a revolution - a challenge to the status quo. 

The challenge I put before you today is to acknowledge, first and foremost, that

WITHOUT GOD, YOU CAN DO NOTHING

(John 15:5)

If you're a Christian, this seems almost redundant... a no-brainer. But be honest. How many times have you stressed yourself out because you failed to keep this in mind? 

Time out for bearing needless pain, girlfriend! If you want to get set up for true, lasting success, it starts with this singular admission. This is the foundation to everything you will ever be in life.

Declare your dependence upon your Creator. Throw all your cares on God. He can take it. It's nothing to be embarrassed about either. No one's keeping score (even if they act like they were hired to do so). 

You are His intricate and exquisitely unique creation. Only He has the blueprint to develop and lead you toward your authentic self. Don't get so wrapped up in day-to-day details that you neglect to engage your divine connection.

What's the Takeaway?

STOP trying to do it all, know it all, and be it all. Relinquish your need to control everything and everybody, and tap into God's ample supply of grace (pure, unconditional love that provides what you could never deserve).

Action Step

START becoming God-inside-minded and declare your blessed DEPENDENCE. Post this visual reminder at your desk, on your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator door, the dashboard in your car, or whatever you lay your eyes on everyday: 

"Let go. You can rest now. God's got this!"

Whatever you need, whatever you think you don't already have, you'll find it when you commit to trading your pressure for His presence. That's where you'll get your right mind back. That's when clarity comes, peace prevails, and creativity begins to flow freely.

Sound too good to be true? Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. 

Leave me a comment and tell me how putting this week's ME23 principle into action is helping you.

Until next week...

Revise, Revolt, or Retreat?

Hello Ladies,

I know. It's been a lonnnnng time since I've blogged. As many of you know, there's been a lot of transition going on with me and my family these past few months (and things are getting better and better, I might add!).

However, I miss having that stimulating dialogue with my kingdom-minded sisters, so I just had to jump back into blogging with a thought to kind of wrap up this most transitional year of years (i.e. Obama!) 2008.

As you consider all the experiences you've had this past year, I'd like to ask you to do what most of us dread - clean up your closets! God most assuredly wants to bless you with some "new things" in 2009, but will there be room in your life for them when they show up? Like all big jobs, this one is best tackled with a plan of action. So get three "baskets" in the forefront of your mind before you get started.

Revise Basket
This is where you can put those things that really do serve a purpose in your life, but could work better with some tweaking. Maybe you and your spouse have a good relationship, but you need to make more quality time for each other. Perhaps your spiritual walk has improved, but you could start a habit of saying a daily faith confession. Whatever it is, just know you don't have to throw the baby out with the bath water. Be patient and take small steps. Remember, big ships are steered by little rudders!

Revolt Basket
Let's face it - there are some things that we need to launch a revolution about in our lives. If you've been holding out, waiting on something or someone to change, and you fear making the wrong move, it's time to get off the fence of indecision and take a stand! I love this quote I recently read by T. D. Jakes:

"You are who you have been waiting for. No one else is coming."

This is the time to draw that line in the sand. Reclaim your vim, your verve, your swagga, if you will, in the Spirit of God. If you have received Jesus Christ in your heart, you also have His authority. You don't have to take anything God Himself did not hand to you.

So be compassionate, but don't take on other peoples' baggage. Be helpful, but stop enabling those who drain you. Be watchful, but don't allow stress and worry to consume you, especially over things you can't control anyway.

Retreat Basket
The buck stops here. Anything or anyone not connected to you for a God reason (notice I didn't say "good reason") cannot help you reach your destination. If you are in this race to win, don't waste time trying to convince someone who doesn't "get you" of who you are. Know for yourself what God has called you to do, what season you are in, and who you are to be in covenant with. Retreat from the restraints of your past and run full speed ahead into your bright, successful future!

Wow! That was fun! I'm starting to love this blogging thing, aren't you?

Let me know your thoughts and your progress reports as you "clean house" in preparation for 2009!