Being Authentic

https://youtu.be/W5X8V-Z_Rh0

Tired Transparency

https://youtu.be/ETSMeke2ys4

Level Up vs Throwing Up

https://youtu.be/8LLYfzhK5Xw

Are You Growing or Not?

https://youtu.be/OHTfIs5ENlY

Prepping With God/ Food 4 Thought

https://youtu.be/VZ7YskBNtPc

Going in the Right Direction

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalms 119:105 NKJV

*God always makes sure we do not stumble, or travel in the wrong direction if we just trust Him. Even when I wonder whether or not I am still going in the right direction, I have to remember to stop allowing confusion to be a distraction and follow His light. I'm so thankful for God's guidance, even when I am unsure of the destination or more arrival time.

From My Heart to Yours

https://www.youtube.com/user/LetBabyGirlUpGradeYa

Please like, subscribe, and share. I also welcome topic suggestions.

Single Believer Encounters and Thoughts

https://youtu.be/VCnYQFYIvAg

Tongue Talk

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

One of the things I continue to work on is my thoughts becoming my words. For the most part, I have mastered holding my tongue except when it comes to race relations and sensitive, personal areas. I absolutely cannot stand when another race tries to make a group outside of their's feel inferior. This is based off my own healing process that I work through due to my experience, but I can become very disgusted quickly. In my transparency with you,  I want you to think of ways your thoughts have manifested into words. Now,  let's work together on how to focus on turning those things into positives, or how we can refrain from blurting things out. Sometimes telling people how you feel in the heat of the moment does more harm than good. Even if you mean well,  ask yourself is it necessary or is it what God wants you to say?

Let Go, Let God... Again

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

*One of the areas that I keep pursuing in different ways is my career change. I even recently began to do things I use to do by letting it take up my time, but then I realized that I am not of this world. I have been gifted with favor and intelligence, and I know how to sell myself. Why am I going to spend hours in front of a computer like I'm of this world, and run after something when I can seek God and cut the worldly process out? Instead of pouring yourself into something your way, ask God what He is trying to show you and tell you. How can you do it His way? Think about the things you have been blessed with by God... Did you have to do everything like people in the world, and be by the book? Not completely... You may have followed some procedures, but the manifestation was something that only God could do in less time than what leaning to how people do things on their own could do. Let's work on not going by steps or procedures that are like everyone else, and ask God what to do based on the solution He has tailored for you. We've wasted enough time. You'll be glad you let Him in...

My Love Desire

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

1 Kings 19:21 NIV

Father, help me to get rid of any temptations, back up plans, or strategies that allow me to run from or not trust the main plan that's centered around your love. May whatever distracts me negatively turn into positivity for others, and may I keep the strength of removal and focus it on your journey. I love u Father, and I want to properly and consistently love your people... #MyTransparency

God's the Motivator

Philippians 3:13-14 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

ESV

*I will continue to push for despite how I feel, what I see, or even what I don't see. Faithfulness is staying loyal to the process, and faith is the belief in the promise.

I'm a Living Witness

1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV) Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

*People often believe that the older you are, the more life you've experienced and you have more to share with others. That can be true, but young people go through things as well and should serve as living testimonies to help others. As a young person or even if you feel young, it is not our job to just take from people and look for empathy. We are meant to encourage people through love, and not look down on them. We are also meant to share our mistakes. We are called to exercise our wisdom, and share our experiences no matter our age while representing God. If you know better, than do better and share with others to help people heal or not make the same mistakes as we did time and time again. It's not about age as it is about taking action, and being a living testimony for God.

The Truth about Sin

Joshua 24:15 (ESV) 

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 

*Sometimes people believe they are serving God and are acting as Christians, but still habitually in sin and participating in evil. Sure, we can make mistakes, but there is no mistaking the fact that a person willingly chooses to participate in sin...This is not serving God with your whole heart, mind, and soul. This is the decision to pretend and serve two masters, which is impossible. When serving God, we are either in or out...Not lukewarm of half stepping. Instead of facing these evils and purging, many people will make excuses say that no one has the right to judge them and they allow past hurts to keep them in habitual sin. Please, take the time to exam your life and ask yourself are you really serving God? Are we half stepping, or are we really trying. The road may not always be easy, but God is worth it and so is His perfect will for your life.

The Treatment of Others

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

*It's easy to see the faults of others...It's even easier to dismiss yourself by ignoring those individuals, and removing yourself from having any interactions. However, sometimes God calls us to humble ourselves, and remember how He dealt with and is still dealing with us. He reminds us of His ability to love, have patience, and share in our deliverance. Shouldn't we humble ourselves to do the same with others? Even when we are led to correct, we are called to do it in love and meekness. People believe in tough love because they believe in allowing others suffer for what you believe is wrong. Sure there are consequences to all actions, but imagine if u had to suffer for everything. Would you want someone to walk in love with you, or walk in persecution? Let's evaluate how we want others to treat us vs how we actually treat other people.

Confessions Come From the Heart

James 5:16 (NIV)

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

*Those who believe in Christ often lack transparency. There is a facade personality that is expressed by others, which masks what's really going on in their lives or how they truly feel. However, the need to pretend is often the result of who you have been around and how others have treated you when you express your true feelings. In this case, we must watch the company we keep. In the body of Christ, we are suppose to be able to come to each other and discuss issues that we have currently. Where I may be weak at, you could be strong and vice versa. However, we must learn to stop pointing the finger or pretending that people are perfect. In this life we continue to grow, and that growth process contributes to admitting areas that need work and being willing to fix them. God is also encouraging us to uplift each other, accept differences, and stop trying to assume things or have "one up" on someone. This is not the game of tennis, but a maze of life that we are all trying to figure out. Remember, everyone is different and it is not your job to change them. What is your job is to be used by God to have a positive influence and allow Him to do the changing. Be wise when you have a discussion with people, and be alert as to who God is telling you to speak with or not to speak with...Remember, just because you feel comfortable venting to them may not mean they are sent in your life to help you. However, be open to who He does send and be realistic about the areas that you need help in...

Relax and Trust God

Psalm 131 (NIV)
A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.

*I am ready to calm down in order to find a solution, and heal from the hurt...

Brotherly Love

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV)

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

*Transparency moment: Finding balance in this area can be hard at times. God loves us unconditionally, and is always there for us while people find faults, make accusations, and are fickle. Yet, we have to love them. That unconditional love that the Father has is something we have to consistently learn to use in order to find that love for people. It's so much easier to just classify folks and be done, but we have to ask ourselves is hating them or getting rid of them the solution to the problem? I'm not saying to put up with crap because you can love from a distance, and God doesn't want us dealing with unnecessary stress. What I'm saying is how it takes a lot to hate or dislike someone or a group, and often certain classifications stem from past hurts and experiences. Have we taken the time to evaluate or get to know someone well before we place an emotional value on them? Pray for me in this area as I will do for u...

Trusting Our Father

Proverbs 3:5-6New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

*It's so easy to let go of the idea of trusting God. Think about it: Every time we plan something and forget to consult with Him, that's lacking in trust; making certain moves or taking action without His permission is lack of trust; lastly, and one I fight with, is worry...Worry removes trust and hinders favor because you are too overcome by the circumstance to realize the possibilities. Let's pray for each other in this area. Trusting God opens the door of clarity and possibilities. 

Trial By Fire

Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV

My son, do not despise the Lord ’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,  for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

*Every trial is actually setting up the opportunity for a divine appointment, every test is the beginning of a testimony, and every issue is the initiation of growth to get us to the next level. The only thing that stands between us from the process's beginning to end are the actions we take, and whether trust is created between God and ourselves. May we pray for each other's strength in the Lord, and to receive understanding on what we are suppose to learn and receive during these times....#ThinkBeyondYourself