Beyond

Beyond is moving pass the often self-imposed limitations.
beyond the shame forgetting the pain of the past
No longer clinging to what’s gone but embracing what remains
  all the while understanding there’s more to attain

Moving out of places of comfort to new canvases
  allowing myself to paint with new colors
and trusting that even with these hues beauty can be seen.

Beyond the chains of my own thoughts
but grasping for higher & more loftier ones.

Refusing to be chained to the failures of yesterday
I choose to move beyond what I thought relinquishing my own hopes
so that I might received beyond what I could imagine.

Joining Gypsy Mama for 5-minute Friday. When I saw the word beyond, it reminded me of the song that’s been playing for days on my car stereo.  Sharing it with you.

Think Before You Speak

Which of you haven’t wished to recant your words at one time or another? I know I have on many occasions even though I consider myself to be quieter than most. I’m still guilty of using my words as arsenals rather than agents of healing far too many occasions.  While reading a devotional from Bible Gateway the other day, I came across a great acronym to use before speaking ( I know the trick is to actually put into practice).  The next time we get the urge to speak, it would be wise to ask ourselves the following:

                                                  T          Is it true?

                                                  H          Is it helpful?

                                                  I           Is it inspiring?

                                                  N          Is it necessary?

                                                  K          Is it kind?

Read the entire devotional over at Girlfriends in God.

Embracing Farewell

Growing up I have always been shy, which didn’t lend itself to making large number of friends. Instead I chose to develop a small circle of friends. I have always envied my sibling’s outgoing personality but it just never came that easy for me. Letting someone new in is never easy for me. So you can imagine how difficult goodbye must be.

But as you know, God never leaves us in our places of comfort for too long. He nudges us and at times gives us a big push in order to produce growth in our lives. That’s what He has been doing for me in the past few months of this year. He’s taken me down new roads meeting new people and encountering new experiences. At times I have trodden  along timidly and other times a bit defiantly, kicking, screaming, and pleading that He give me a moment to catch my breath.

Once I have said hello to something new I long to cling to it but I have experienced quite a few exits that caused me to grieve and question why I had to go through the experience. But God in His kindness has been teaching me the true value of goodbye. When I clutch onto to the things in my life that He has chosen to usher out, I keep myself stuck and stunted. It is the farewells of life that makes room for new hellos.

Father help me (and others like me) to embrace what you’re doing now. Teach us how to mourn during the allotted time but not to get stuck there. Lord I thank you for the ability to move forward in You. Thank you that as we walk along life’s journey you are with us! We chose to place our confidence in You and in Your ability to guide us along the right paths for lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Reclaiming Ancient Paths

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it." Jeremiah 6:16

I admit I’m not one that appreciates the value and/or beauty of antiques. Like many, I have an eye for what’s new or modern. Much of advertising today is aimed at keeping us in pursuit of the latest it thing. Values such as modesty, monogamy, integrity, discretion are not portrayed as essential but are considered out-of-date. But is new always better?

In this particular passage, the people are instructed to pause and really look. To not just forge ahead making decisions mindlessly but to be conscious. Our lives are filled with crossroad moments and if we are not careful we can find ourselves on the wide open path of doing what is expected. Aimlessly following the culture instead of choosing a path with far less glitz and glam, accolades, or notoriety.

But the seeking for the latest and greatest is not where true satisfaction lies. Rather its discovered when go back to doing things God’s way that we find rest for our souls.

At this very moment you’ve entered a crossroad, which path will you choose?

This post is linked with Monday Manna

A Spacious Place

A quick scripture share this morning.

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; Isaiah 54:2 KJV

Linking up with Nicole at Coming Alive in Christ for His Word Friday.

Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

A novel of unconditional love

 Having read Kim Tate’s previous book Faithful, I was excited about reading her new novel Cherished and I was not disappointed. Mrs. Tate does an excellent job of exploring the challenges of real life and faith. Through her latest book readers will be forced to examine their own lives for areas of unforgiveness  and evidence of them fully accepting God’s unconditional love.  Even when we know what God’s Word says, its often hard to forgive ourselves and accept that we are His beloved.

The central storyline focuses on Kelli London, a single sister trying to bury the pain and guilt of an abortion she had in her teens, and Brian, her high school sweetheart. However, readers also reunited with other characters like Heather, Cyd and Dana from Faithful. It was pleasure to get reacquainted with each of these characters.

No matter one’s walk of life, I believe that readers can identify with having felt unusable and that a dream was lost. Below is one my favorite quotes from the book: 

For years she thought her dreams had turned to dust-dreams of music, dreams of future with Brian. God had brought the dreams back, but in ways she never could have imagined…out of a pain she never thought she could endure. Would she had dreamed those dreams, had she known? pg. 305

Indeed this book is about unconditional love, acceptance, God’s grace, mercy and restoration. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and my only criticism was how neatly everything seem to wrap up in the end, which I don’t believe is always the case in life.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes from The B&B Media group. Views and opinions expressed are my own.

Muslim in the Midst

I’m sending out a request to my brothers and sisters in Christ today. I have come across an unexpected challenge in my life. For anyone that has visited here knows, I’m unapologetically Christian while respecting the right of other’s to choose differently. My path has crossed with that of someone who is of Muslim faith, which I know very little about. Since I believe that NO thing enters my life without the permission of God, I believe that our meeting is not without purpose.  However, I do not want to set up our encounters to be one debate. Can anyone of you share ideas/tips or your personal experience with a similar situation?

Thanks for your help.

Refreshed

It’s been no real secret, I have been wandering around in a dry place. A place of shadows that threaten to overtake me. A place where the taunts of the enemy are heard screeching louder and louder in my ears. A place of taking two steps but seeming to make no ground at all.

But today something change. I feel revived and refreshed. I feel as if I can continue this journey with renewed vigor and passion. Only God can change a dry place to a watered garden. This blog was birthed out of a Isaiah 58:11 experience. That passage of scripture serves as the backdrop for all that is written or shared here.  Hard to believe that it’s been over one year and 272 posts ago  since I typed my first post.  I’m so grateful for each of you that have joined me here as I rediscovered my voice.