Self Care is Essential

 Being successful (and I’m not talking about just women who are entrepreneurs; mothers, students, daughters, friends, etc...)often comes with a massive to do list. As women, we do so much for others and we simply do not put ourselves first often enough. But without giving our body, our mind and our overall self a break, and taking care of us, we cannot possibly be successful in every role we find ourselves in. Take time for you! Not just on the weekend, but everyday of the week. Unfortunately I cannot guarantee that everyday will be like a day at the spa, but setting aside 15 minutes a day to do something for yourself is OK and beneficial. Believe me you are much more useful, successful and lovable at 100% than you are at 0%.

So what are some things you can start to do to take care of yourself and show yourself some love? And this is by no means in any particular order.

1. Value Alone Time

Alone time can allow you to recharge and re-calibrate. It gives you opportunity to be with yourself and reflect on who you are, what you want and what you're doing or not doing. You can meditate, reflect in gratitude or even pray but whatever you do make time for this.

2. Eating Healthy

Trust me, I need to work on this one too but I've also learned not to punish myself if I have a mini cupcake or a slice of cheesecake sparingly. I mean really... it's not the end of the world. But it is important to nourish our bodies with good, healthy foods. I meal prep to make it easier for me and I make sure not to grocery shop when I'm hungry. Remember those 5 basic food groups you learned about as a child: breads/grains, fruits, veggies, milk/dairy, and lean meat/fish. Well they are still good for providing a well balanced diet.

3. Sleep

I know you might be saying to yourself.... "like well duh" but believe me sometimes we take a good night sleep for granted or maybe you overdo it and sleep the day away. Do you know that your sleep and your mood go hand in hand. Have you ever not gotten enough sleep and just went to work or school or had a simple conversation with joy and enthusiasm? Chances are the answer to that question is no! Good sleep makes you feel happy, healthy and strong. Get you a good sleep mask, throw on some ocean sounds (whatever works for you even no music/sounds), pray and close those eyes girlfriend.

4. Treat Yourself

Think about it, what does that look like to you? I'm a working wife and mother who also volunteers at my church (my life is not like The Real Housewives of... no disrespect) but it's not. So treating myself sometimes is taking a nice relaxing bubble bath with my candles and a book at the end of the day. There are lots of ways to treat yourself. You can buy yourself something (even if it's a latte at Starbucks), get a massage, eat that piece of cheesecake (don't worry it's not the end of the world), or take a relaxing bubble bath. I'm not talking about things that need to be grandiose or expensive, I'm just talking about making yourself a priority and treating yourself to something nice. I mean why not, you deserve it.

5. Exercise

No, that is not a foul word. Your physical being is a part of your self-care. I only, just like you have this one body. It's not like when we get tired of the one we are in, we get to pick out a new one. We only get one and we have to take care of it. I'm not telling you to become a gym rat but I am encouraging you to move a little so you can build a stronger, healthier you. 15-30 minutes a few times a week.

There are many more ways to incorporate self-care into your daily routine and make it habit, but these are just a few. If you have some suggestion than please share, let's encourage one another.

As God’s daughter He considers you precious, worthy, and valuable. Do you see yourself that way? Is you value and worth found in running yourself ragged? Or always saying “yes?” Absolutely not! It’s a balance that comes from taking care of yourself mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. While serving others out of the overflow of your heart. So find ways and take some time each day to show a little bit of love to yourself.

Jesus and Java

 God does His work on this earth with ordinary women (like you and me) in our ordinary-everyday situations. And He can take an ordinary situation, with ordinary women, kick it up a notch and do some extraordinary things.

Not a day goes by that we're not in need of God's grace and peace. Every morning we need His Spirit to fill us again, to strengthen us for what's ahead. Every day we need a fresh word that He speaks to our hearts, to help keep our focus on what's more important. Trying to run this race of life without Jesus will do nothing but drain us dry.

And the week can be crazy believe me with deadlines and schedules trying to get everything done before the weekend. And we can sometimes lose focus of what's most important. But even for those times... His grace is there. He waits for us. His patience and His peace never run dry.

Jesus covers our past, secures our future and gives us all that we need for this day too. He promises that as we come to Him, and allow His truths to nourish and saturate our lives, we will be satisfied. We will have all that we need to live abundantly and freely in this life. So grab that cup of Java girlfriend and a whole lot of Jesus and make today an amazing day.

The Road to Freedom: Surviving Depression

 Another sleepless night, no desire to get out of the bed and get breakfast made before I had to be out the door to get my daughters to school, get myself to school and then to work after class. This had been the story of my life for the last 6 months, it was like Groundhog Day or being on a hamster wheel that I just couldn’t get off of. 

I knew something was wrong and I knew I didn’t want this to be life forever but I had no desire to put forth the effort for change and I didn’t even know where to begin if I did. I was battling with depression and didn’t know how to cope with everything in my life. Rewind to six months prior: I was in college, working a full time job, balancing home, school, and work life pretty successfully I thought. But on October 21, 2003 things changed drastically. I lost my significant other in a tragic event, and was now a 21 year old single parent trying to figure out how to do life, manage time and keep it all together. The truth is I couldn’t. Everything that made sense before,  was now foreign and a challenge to figure out.

Fast forward six months to where I’m still trying to get off of this hamster wheel. I was sad all the time, I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, I lost a lot of weight and was down to 102 pounds. When I didn’t have to be in class, at work or being mommy to my daughters I spent most nights just crying. I needed something and that something ultimately was Jesus!

See God wants to help us as His daughters to live free from depression. He wants to fill us with His joy, hope and expectation of good things for our lives. Trust me if you are battling with depression right now, it’s not an overnight process. It took a lot of prayer, time, effort, energy and vulnerability to get to a place of freedom, joy and peace. But I had to take the first step and make a decision. I know as Christians we shy away from the subject or even the idea of depression. We sometimes forget our sisters in Christ are human just like us. Created by God with feelings and emotions and deal with a plethora of challenges at times in life. 

Depression is real and God desires you as his daughter to be whole: that’s all 3 parts that make you up: your body, spirit and soul. Greater is He that is in you, then he that is in the world (1John 4:4) The Great One is inside of you and that is the difference between you and the world. You have a relationship with the One that can heal and restore you. Now I understand that you might not feel like it today and that’s okay… But just know when you are ready to make the decision, God will be there to see you through and help you pick up the pieces and reclaim your purpose. 

You are God’s beloved daughter. You were created with dignity and strength. You are beautiful , fierce and special. You have purpose, influence and a future. You are an overcomer and depression does not have to rule your life. NO MATTER what you are going through, God is always willing and ready to help you get through. He will take your pain and turn it into something great. 

You are not alone girlfriend and if you are experiencing depression or feel you may be then I encourage you to reach out to a counselor, therapist or social worker. If that seems intimidating then reach out and talk with a friend, pastor or family member you can be honest and vulnerable with. 

I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9b-10) Remember you are not alone and you are loved. 💋

God-Defined

What or who defines you? Do you want to be defined by the world, pop culture or social media? Or do you want be defined by God? As young ladies and women we can allow ourselves to get caught up in the world around us; what’s hip, cool or even the “in” thing. We try to emulate what we see on tv, in magazines and/or celebrities we follow. But God not only designed you for a unique purpose but to be uniquely you. Following trends I promise will leave you empty, but following God will never leave you empty but fulfilled. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Not only is a “God-defined” woman made by the Creator Himself, but He already has prepared a way for you to walk in. 

The verb define according to Webster’s Dictionary means to make up or establish the character of. How exhausting to try and keep up with social trends and take it one step further and try to be defined by those social trends too. I’m sure you’ve heard of the ever-present need to “Keep Up with the Joneses.” Well the problem with this is that there is no Jones family to keep up with. You can't keep up with an existential standard that doesn't exist and women will find themselves much like a hamster running on the wheel of life, chasing some impossible standard, that will leave them forever going in circles. Social trends change, pop culture changes, people even change. But God does not change, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

A God-defined woman does not need anyone to prove her worth. She laughs without fear of the future. She forgives easily. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She is clothed with strength and dignity. This is who you are as a young lady or woman when you allow God to define you and not the world. It is who you are in Christ. It is the way He chooses to see you, even when you don’t feel this way. If you lose faith today, I want you to know that you are not defined by people’s opinions, by social trends, pop culture or even your own opinion. You worth is far more than rubies because of the One person who died in your place to win your heart. 

Woman of worth

It's important as women to live our truth but in that we must not use our past as a crutch. Your past, your trials, your truth, your story... makes you uniquely you and brings hope to other women that they too can rise above situations, obstacles and people. So be unapologetic of who you are, if who you are is a woman of purpose, inspiration and worth. Because you are NOT broken, you are just a beautiful mosaic of battles you've won.

Women on a Mission

Women are changing the world. We're breaking barriers in the marketplace and stepping into leadership roles that are redefining our culture. The words of Proverbs 31 formulate a beautiful and timeless poem about a woman on a mission with God-inspired characteristics. She demonstrates the qualities that are God honoring in the areas of work, faith, and family. Let's learn what it takes to be women filled with strength and dignity. This is a great opportunity to study the word of God together with some other dynamic, amazing women. 

This devotional study will begin on Monday, February 26,2018. If you are interested in participating then please email me your email address so you can be added to this online devotional. Peace, love, and blessings to you. #womenonamission #encourageyoursister #embraceyourdiva #proverbs31

Woman of Purpose

Well we are already at the end of the first month in 2018 and I just wanted to take a moment to send my love, encouragement and prayers to you and your family for the New Year. I pray that this year is a year of "Greatness" for you. Great opportunities, great connections, great relationship building, great in prosperity (and NO that's not always financial) and greatness in drawing closer to God. God is going to be stretching those that are willing to allow God through the power of the Holy Spirit to stretch their faith, their commitment and their understanding. That alone is encouragement for me. I pray for you this year that you continue to not only live a holy life but draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, communion and His word. 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV) The only acceptable worship is to offer ourselves completely to the Lord and not assume an outward expression that does not reflect what is really on the inside. You have the living God inside of you and I pray that through your surrender and submission to His will this year that the blessings pour forth and He fill your spiritual cup to the brim to where it will overflow and you will be a blessing to others that you encounter.
This year make it a point to be a Woman of Purpose. A Woman of Purpose is a woman who is intentional about the relationships she develops, the ideas she gives attention to and the balance of her multiple life roles. She is woman who knows her Creator, spends time with Him and follows His direction. A Woman of Purpose does not allow outside circumstances, situations or people to consume too much of her time without a clear defined ending goal. God gave me an acronym for the word purpose:


P- Prayer
U- Unction (Holy Spirit)
R- Royal and Renew
P- Progress
O- Obedience and Overcomer
S-  Surrender and Submission
E- Edify and Encourage


Let us in all that we do this year and beyond press towards not only becoming a Woman of Purpose but a woman of intent, character and influence as well. Because your influence and the God in you is what is going to open doors for you this year.
Father God, I come to You right now lifting up the woman who is reading this right now and I pray Your grace, mercy and love will continue to fill her life. I thank You Lord that she is not burdened down with depression, anxiety, jealousy, anger or unforgiveness but that You have created in her, through Your precious Holy Spirit a clean heart and have renewed in her a right Spirit. I thank You for the doors that will be opened in her favor this year. I thank you for increase, witty ideas, divine encounters and good health. I thank You for Your Holy Spirit always being encamped around her and her family and I pray for safety and for no hurt, harm or danger to come to her. I pray God that You continue to show Yourself not only as a present help in her life but a constant friend. May she not lean to her own understanding but in all her ways may she acknowledge You as You direct her paths. For the unknown, unforeseen and uneasy circumstances that arose in her life in 2017 may You give her the peace that surpasses all understanding and may she cast her cares upon You for You care for her. As she draws closer to You this year may You draw closer to her. I thank You Father God that she not only knows You better this year but she knows who she is in You. I thank You that she is becoming a woman of purpose, destiny, and influence and it is You who will make her name great. Every thought, charcter and word that is not like You or that has hindered her progress I cast it down and tell it to be removed from her life right now in the name of Jesus. I pray this prayer with a cheerful and thankful heart Lord because we should always enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise and because You not only hear the prayers of the righteous but You have given us the power to speak Your word and for it not to return back void, but for it to accomplish everything that we send it out to do. So I know and I believe it by faith that You are already orchestrating great and wonderful things in this woman's life. so I praise Your holy name and I give You the highest praise in Your Son Jesus' precious name I pray and know that it is happening. In Jesus' name,


Amen.


God bless you woman of God as you come to know, walk out and embrace your purpose. 💋