Faith

True faith celebrates before the miracle happens, as if the miracle has already happened, because you know that God is going to deliver on His promise.

Prayer Circles

Circle the goals God wants you to go after, the promises God wants you to claim, and the dreams God wants you to pursue. Be specific, and circle it in prayer like the Israelites circled Jericho. Keep circling until the walls come tumbling down.

If you don't have a personal definition of success, chances are you will succeed at the wrong thing. You'll get to the end of your life and realize that you spelled success wrong. And if you spell it wrong, you'll get it wrong.

There are higher heights and deeper depths in prayer, and God wants to take you there. He wants to take you places you've never seen before. There are new dimensions. But if you want God to do something new in your life, you can't do the same old thing. It will involve more sacrifice, but if you are willing to go there, you'll realize that you didn't sacrifice anything at all. It will involve more risk, but if you are willing to go there, you'll realize that you didn't risk anything at all.

Make the sacrifice. Take the risk. Draw the circle.

Discovering Your Joy

Being joy filled does not mean that your life is perfect. It means that you emphatically trust God and believe that he has great plans for your life, regardless of what is happening right now.

Joy is an outward sign of inward faith in the promises of God.

Today, I'm especially loving...

...the weather outside. It's sunny and 72 degrees with no wind or humidity. I've come to really appreciate days like this, because the weather in Texas tends to be rather bipolar. It can go from 10 days straight of 100+ degree weather in the summer, to ice storms during the week we get to showcase our amazing new Cowboys Stadium for the Super Bowl :-/

...My Fit Foods. It's a small chain of stores that sells healthy, organic, and gluten-free pre-packaged meals where the protein/carbs/veggies/etc is already measured out into perfect proportions. Since I live alone, it doesn't make much sense to spend hours cooking, and many times I'm in a huge rush, so it's awesome just to be able to pop one in the microwave for about a minute and a half, and voilà! Dinner is done :-) They're also very reasonably priced. I find it to be cheaper than going to the grocery store.

...Go-Gurt. When I was a nanny in college, the boy's mom would keep these in the fridge for snack time, and I would occasionally have one too, so they remind me of him. I still think of him from time to time and hope he's doing well. He was a neat little kid, so I am sure he's prospering wherever he might be these days :-)

...the new friends I'm making at dance class. Chelsea and Crystal are both super sweet, and I hope we stay in touch no matter where this journey we're all on to follow our dream takes us.

...the book The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry. It talks about how to find joy in every moment of your life no matter what circumstances surround you or challenges you face. It's all about how you think. Our minds are flooded with over 50,000 thoughts a day...are yours mostly positive or self-depricating and negative? Very interesting read.

…that today is Sunday! Great time to recharge your soul and prepare for the week ahead!

What are you loving this week?

True Happiness

“The happiness which brings enduring worth to life is not the superficial happiness that is dependent on circumstances. It is the happiness and contentment that fills the soul even in the midst of the most distressing circumstances and the most bitter environment. It is the kind of happiness that grins when things go wrong and smiles through the tears. The happiness for which our souls ache is one undisturbed by success or failure, one which will root deeply inside us and give inward relaxation, peace, and contentment, no matter what the surface problems may be. That kind of happiness stands in need of no outward stimulus.”

- Billy Graham

Change Your Destiny

If you have a strong mind and plant in it a firm resolve, you can change your destiny.

Unrelenting Determination

When you train once, nothing happens. When you force yourself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then you certainly have developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter either.

Then willpower will be no problem.

UNRELENTING DETERMINATION.

Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Marianne Williamson, author of A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principle of A Course in Miracles

Trust God - A Devo, In His Own Words...

Strive to trust Me in more and more areas of your life. Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them, eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties. If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life it is possible to trust Me in all situations. Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or have been. Start at the present moment--accepting things exactly as they are--and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances.

Trust is like a staff you can lean on, as you journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind.

- Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling