As I prepare for the upcoming year, all I can do is thank God. Life will always have its challenges and unforeseen circumstances but each day is a blessing and an opportunity. Literally every day this week a new opportunity arose and doors opened that I once only dreamed of. Lesson: thank God for your dry places/seasons--they equip you to live according to your purpose and destiny and enable you to truly rejoice when God brings you to YOUR land overflowing with milk and honey. Bonus: it really is all about God's time and not ours. Our visions are way too small according to God’s plans for us and we are simply not ready when we think we are.
It is truly AMAZING to watch the blessings of God overtake you especially during the beginning stages. #NextDimensionLiving #SeeItBeforeYouSeeOrYouNeverWillSeeIt --Deut 28:2, KJV: “And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God.”
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My heart breaks every time I hear about another tragic loss from suicide. These stories are poignant reminders of the depth of my childhood pain and despair. For people that say, I don’t know how someone could feel so bad that they think death is the only answer/way out, I tell them they are blessed. My prayer for them is that they NEVER experience that type of pain, trauma or despair but I know it all too well. So how did I go from that type of life to one filled with happiness, exceeding joy and favor? Sometimes you have to die to live. No, I don’t mean end your life: that is just a trick of the enemy to make you believe death is your only option. What has to die is: · the negative voices--the ones that said you would never be anything, do anything or achieve anything · your fear of failure · your feelings of hopeless, despair and unbelief · the spirits/things/substances/vices that temporarily make you feel good but slowly destroy you · anger · unforgiveness/a vengeful spirit · ANYTHING outside of God’s will and purpose for your life . . . all these things have to die or be silenced in order for you to live and thrive. You were born with greatness and destiny as part of your DNA. Even your struggles, traumas, failures and setbacks can be used as tools to propel you to a life that is better than anything you could possibly imagine. How? Take the beginning steps to your recovery/restoration today: createspace.com/5074934. Sometimes all you have is Happy: A guide to obtaining happiness while awaiting our dreams includes thought provoking questions and exercises that enable you to take the beginning steps to reclaiming your passion, purpose, power and joy. This image is heart wrenching but it demonstrates my message for today: there is a battle for your life.
The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and does not care how he accomplishes that. A senseless death, crime, accident, disease, even a battle for your mind: it doesn’t matter, there is a daily battle for your life. Some life events defy explanation so don’t waste your time trying to figure them out. Other events are just Bible prophecy being fulfilled although devastating. So, if you feel the sting of the battle wounds or are marred by psychological, emotional scars, what are you to do? createspace.com/5074934 Sometimes all you have is Happy: A guide to obtaining happiness while awaiting our dreams: Chapter 1: Your “cheat” to Happy Chapter 2: What is your “happy” and does it need to be defined? Chapter 3: Find something bigger than you Chapter 4: The Simplicity of “Happy” What does your 2015 look like? I advise you to proceed with caution before you answer that question; here’s why:
We are entering the season of New Year’s resolutions: a time where you can plan to do and be everything. Making a New Year’s resolution is the easy part; creating a transformational life/experience is a harder achievement. What does your 2015 look like? If your answer is anything but positive then you will have exactly what you claim. No, I’m not saying name and claim it but: · Do you realize that as a child of God you were born with the authority to name and claim it? Matt. 18:18-19, NIV: o 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. o 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. So, again, what does your 2015 look like? I challenge you to go forth, divide and conquer. Which turkey would you rather eat? Technically they are both the same so what makes the difference in your choice? The process Ask anyone who has had surgery and they will tell you--it takes time to heal, there is a process. Sure, there is much fanfare that goes along with prepping for a surgery that can be just as crucial as the surgery and recovery itself. Yet, one often finds that the real work begins after the surgery/procedure. As I reflect on my own surgical experiences, there was one reoccurring theme: it takes time to heal. I continually looked for every possible variance during my recovery: the appearance of scars and suture lines as well as my overall feeling and strength level from day to day. I compared my preconceived timeframe coupled with the surgeon’s for when I would be able to return to life as usual. What I learned was . . . DON’T RUSH THE PROCESS; GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO HEAL My surgeon was patient but would remind me that everyone is different and it takes time to heal. Things don’t always look like you want them to but everything will eventually be fine. Sometimes it takes longer for one area to heal; sometimes things happen that change the recovery process and timeframe. Sometimes you hurt more than you anticipated or pain transfers to different areas that normally would not have been affected. Nevertheless the end is the same: with time you will heal and possibly be better than before. The ending holds true whether it’s surgery, heartbreak, loss or addiction that you are recovering from. Sometimes there is a new normal that is a blessing (with time) compared to your old normal. Take the beginning steps to your recovery/restoration right now: this is the part that you should rush on. Sometimes all you have is Happy: A guide to obtaining happiness while awaiting your dreams, includes thought provoking questions and exercises that enable you to take the beginning steps to reclaiming your passion, purpose, power and joy. Purchase your copy today at createspace.com/5074934. You might want to get a snack and drink before you read this one: If you know me well you know that I share with you what the Lord puts on my heart. His word for today was, What do your dreams say to you? After much travail, disappointments and discouragements, I have finally reached a refreshing period in my life where I can positively identify my dreams and tell you what each one says to me. I’m good with me/comfortable in my own skin and I no longer care whether you approve of the skin I’m in. I have fought long and hard to get to this place and it takes an even stronger will to stay here fulfill my purpose. (I’ll share with you later how you can get to the same place if you’re not already there.) The Lord reminded me that the above is not everyone’s testimony and some have stopped dreaming altogether. I remember that time in my life like it was yesterday. As I share in my book, Sometimes all you have is Happy: A guide to obtaining happiness while awaiting your dreams, “children remind us that we all start out in life with dreams, goals and aspirations. . . Children are not afraid to dream and dream big! Somewhere along the way we learn to give up: perhaps after numerous disappointments, rejections or negative influences and toxic environments” (Introduction, pg. 3). To make matters worse, in our vulnerable state, we start listening to the voice of others a.ka. the theys. Some of the theys really mean us no harm but, like the ones that do, people can only share from the space they are in (good, bad or indifferent). Statements like: · You still haven’t done that yet? You know, if you want to do (this or that) , you need to do it now before (time runs out/you get too old/you run out of stamina/while you’re still young, etc.) . · If I were you, I would forget about that; perhaps if you were younger or had done it back then. You’re getting to the point in your life where and that would just tire you out . . . · You know, I had a friend like you who wanted to do that and waited until they were you age and tried that but they realized they should’ve done it earlier. Maybe you should do instead or just give up on that dream. What do I say to all of that? The Devil is a lie! If you are ever going to live the life of your dreams, or at least make strides in the present, one of the first things you MUST do is learn how to silence any voice that comes against your purpose/dreams/vision and is not of God. You still haven’t done that yet? Who determines my yet a.k.a timeframe? Perhaps YOU believe something should be done by a certain date and time. If you do, I’m not hatin’ but your beliefs should determine your schedule/deadline/time clock, not mine. If I were you, I would . . . but you are not me so, again, if that is what you belief then you should do it that way. Your beliefs do not determine MY reality so do you and manage your own house/success and stay out of my driveway and from my yard. Just because YOU believe it do be so does not make it MY truth/reality. Everyone wants to be an expert but not enough want to share in the spirit of edifying, uplifting, encouraging, restoring and repairing. Life has enough pain, burdens, disappointments, frustrations, destruction and evil; why be a proponent of negativity when you can give life? Again, people only share from the place they are in so be careful who you allow to speak in your life and you who you listen to. Actually, you need to Master reading in between the lines and paying attention to what people do, don’t do, say and don’t say. When you see inconsistencies, take note: Misery really does love company so it is imperative, even vital, that you change your perspective especially concerning your dreams, disappointments, pain and discouragement. If everyone else you know has already failed, that means that you stand a better chance of winning. I am a cheerleader of seasons: there is a season for everything and, based on your life experience/journey/purpose/what you have survived thus far, your season can be drastically different from most. There are so many things in my life that God is opening doors for right now because it is the appropriate season. Some of them might typically be the aspirations of a younger person but God did not design me to be TYPICAL. My life has never been typical and, I am finally at the space where I can thank God for that. Some of you have spent far too long crying out, Lord why me? Perhaps now is your season to cry out, Lord send me, prepare me, shape me, equip me and mold me. Have you stopped dreaming or has life just simply worn you out? If so, change your battle cry to Lord restore me, fix me, help me, show me. I’m a living witness that He can and He WILL do just that. If you like what you’ve just read, I pray that you will do three things for me: 1) Share this ministry and these messages: http://thejoyguru.weebly.com/the-meditations-of-my-heart 2) Follow me on Facebook and share my author Facebook page on your social media pages: www.facebook.com/pages/Alesha-Brown-The-Joy-Guru/553182124799471 3) Purchase your copy of Sometimes all you have is Happy: A guide to obtaining happiness while awaiting your dreams at createspace.com/5074934 ***As I always encourage people, purchase additional copies to bless friends, family and those in the community who could use a message of encouragement with sound steps and principles of how to rise from their disappointments, failures and pain. Click here for just a taste of what the book offers and part of my personal testimony: https://soundcloud.com/alasha-bennett/alesha-brown-talks-about-finding-hapiness?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook Phillipians 3: 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.--NKJV --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru thejoyguru.weebly.com |
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