HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO SUCCEED?

I ran across this video on success today that really made me think about a few things.  You know, there have been so many times that I've wanted to succeed, but wasn't willing to put in the work.  We all want the outcome without the work.  We want the glory, but we don't worry about the story behind it.  We want someone to hand us the fame and the fortune.  We aren't willing to give anything up, but we want everything around us to change.  We believe that the date simply being the 1st of January will cause our lives to change. 

But, how badly do we want change? 

How badly do you want to succeed?  What, if anything, are you willing to give up in order to have everything you've ever wanted?  How important is it to you to find out what you were created to do in this world and who you were created to be?  How important is it to you to find out who God is and why He put you on this earth?  Isn't that more important than that next interview, that next party, and searching for that next relationship?  Without knowing your own purpose, who you are, how much your life is worth, you don't even know what direction you should be headed in.  Are you interviewing for the right job, hanging with the right people, or settling for Mr. Wrong?

We all want the big changes to see big success.  But, are we willing to do anything about it?  You want to see your life change?  Seek God.  You want to stop wondering if this is all that life has to offer?  Seek God.  You want to stop wondering why year after year your life never seems to change?  Seek God.  Ask Him who He is.  Ask Him who He created you to be.  Want Him more than you want your next breath.  Show Him that you are going to sit there until He reveals Himself to you.  I promise you won't be sorry.  Your life will change.  That, my friend, is a guarantee.  BUT, YOU HAVE TO WANT HIM IN ORDER TO HAVE SUCCESS.  HE IS SUCCESS.

Simply, "ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."  Now, I'm not asking you to be like the Beyonce's and 50 Cents of the world.  I'm asking you how much it means to you to be successful.  How important is it to you to live the one and only life you are given, to the fullest?  It's time for us all to wake up, get up, and get on with it.  Enough excuses.

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE

francescomarino.org

I had an awesome conversation this morning with the Lord about how hard it is for each of us to find our purpose.  Then, once we've found it, we have such a hard time believing in it.  So many times we ask other people to tell us what our purpose is.  But, after going that route, I've found that everyone has their own opinion.  It usually just leads me into more confusion.  And I end up overwhelmed with being even more lost than I was BEFORE I started asking people.

This morning, I asked the Lord about support from others.  Like, are we to walk this road alone, or are we supposed to lean on others for support to live this life?  Where is the balance?

Well, He countered with an awesome anatomy analogy (gotta love that alliteration).  Anyway, we spoke about the liver.  When the liver wakes up in the morning, it doesn't go around to all of the other body parts and ask them what his function is going to be that day.  He knows that he's going to help break down some fats, maybe filter some harmful stuff out and make some urine, make a little cholesterol, convert some glucose, ya know.....the usual stuff.  Again, he's not asking the esophagus what his purpose is.  He's taking his place and doing what he was created to do.

Now, the liver isn't acting alone either.  I mean, he does depend on the veins and capillaries to give him stuff to filter.  He depends on the digestive system to give him the fat to break down, and so on.  So, he can't just act alone.  AND, he also can't decide one day that he wants to be a heart because hearts get all the fame and attention.  See where I'm going with this?  Cause if he tries to be something he's not, the body does not function properly. 

A healthy body works together so well, it's fascinating.  But, it's because every part does what it was created to do.  So, when all parts are working together for one common purpose, in the role they were created for, magic happens.

I listened to a sermon on OasisLA.org this weekend and the leader stated, "TAKE YOUR PLACE".  So many of us have no idea what we are created for.  So we ask other "parts", fumble around based on other people's opinions and end up confused and overwhelmed.  Some of us know what our place is, yet we're still going around asking others to confirm it for us.  And some of us want to be like someone else and we refuse to take our place.  But, you cannot take someone else's place. 

YOU WERE MADE TO TAKE YOUR PLACE.

So, if you ask anyone what your purpose is, ask God.  He will make sure you take your place.  If you know what your purpose is, believe God and take your place.  You are a child of God.  You have a specific  and unique contribution to make in this world.  And NO ONE, NO ONE, could EVER take your place!

Col 3:23-24
     And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:  for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Much love!

A Rainy Day

For some reason, I've been really into this whole weather thing lately....


How cool is it that the rain that falls from the heavens in the Spring gets to help make so many beautiful things: Purple tulips, green grass, bright yellow daffodils, red roses. None of that would happen without the rain.


Reminds me of God raining his Spirit down into us, if we let Him. We're all these cracked and broken vessels. But, if we allow the Lord to pour His Spirit into us, it's amazing how He can restore and clean up absolutely anything and everything. And the awesome part is, He turns us into something absolutely beautiful.


Every one of us is a unique vessel. And when we allow the Spirit to flow through us, amazing and completely unique things are brought out of us. We become that unique red rose or that bright yellow daffodil. And there's no one else like us in the world. So, instead of comparing ourselves to each other, maybe we should just ask the Lord to rain down on us. Then, we can find out just how beautiful we all truly are (yes, that includes YOU).

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Tim 2:21


Happy Rainy Day!

Introduction

Hello there! Thank you so much for checking this out.

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD SOMEONE CREATE A BLOG?

Well, I'm sure there are tons of reasons why people write these things, but I can definitely shed some light on why I'm starting one. The Lord has laid it on my heart that it's time to put some of who He is back into the world. All over the internet you can easily find people complaining, worrying, living in fear, bragging about their possessions, degrading women, and striving after the almighty dollar. But, you'd be hard-pressed to find much light in all that darkness. So, that's why I'm writing this blog.

A SISTAH NEEDS TO SHED SOME LIGHT!

People are looking for encouragement when it seems as if things in the world are getting worse. Some people are looking to money to save them at a time when money is becoming more and more scarce. Some people are looking to substances for comfort from their increasing worry. Women, especially, are looking to relationships to solve their problems. And, if none of that works, people are just settling into awful 9 to 5 jobs that they never wanted. And they convince themselves that this is as good as it's going to get.

THAT'S NOT TRUE! DON'T BELIEVE THAT LIE!

You were made for so much more. And, yes, you were made by God. I'm even going to use the 'J' word. You ready? JESUS did not die on the cross for you to wake up everyday wishing you were on vacation, regretting past decisions and finding distractions to 'check-out' from the pit you seem to have found yourself in. At some point, we become convinced that if we have the right job, the right house, the right car, the right partner, the right amount of money, we will be happy. That's simply not true. When was the last time you received something and you were truly, completely peaceful and satisfied? Here's the problem:

NOTHING BUT GOD CAN FILL THAT SPACE IN YOUR HEART THAT IS RESERVED FOR HIM. NOTHING!

How do I know? I graduated from college with a science degree that I thought would guarantee happiness. I had the high paying corporate job. But, I hated Sunday nights because I knew the work week began again the next day. I lived for the weekends. I was that chick that was always thanking God it was Friday. I've been there. I know what it's like to HAVE to be in a relationship in order to feel worth something. I know what it's like to need validation from others in order to TRY to convince yourself that you're smart, or pretty, or a good worker, or that you just have some sort of value in this world. And I know what it's like to dream big, but settle for small because you're too dang scared to step out on faith.

AHA! WHAT AN AWESOME SEGUE!!!

So, now it's time to step out on faith. I've played small. Now, it's time to put the jersey on and get in the game. Now it's time to trust God and see where He leads me. 'Cause I've been down the other road and I was miserable. I can HONESTLY say that the last 2 years since I gave my life to Christ have been the best I've ever experienced. Definitely not easy, but sooooo worth it. I know more about who He is, and who He made me to be. I have so much more peace and joy. Believe me, a sistah is far from perfect. But, you don't know like I know what He's done for me! And maybe, just maybe, this blog will awaken something in you that you thought was long gone. Maybe you'll step out on your own faith in God and experience all the things He wants for you.

THAT IS WHY I'M WRITING THIS BLOG.

It would be selfish not to share the amazing experiences and wisdom and knowledge that I have been so blessed to receive from the Lord. I hope that you will listen to Him and find out why you're here and who He is. So, I invite you to come and take this journey with me as I, with the Lord at my side, look fear in the face and finally...


STEP OUT ON FAITH!!!!