#ItsTime

#ItsTime

Have you ever felt like you are floating through life unable to settle in on your purpose in life?  Does that feeling make you unable to sleep, focus, or breathe?  Unwilling to commit or afraid to move forward in things that seem trivial to you?  Well, I've been there, done that and bought the tee- shirt, as they say.  I feel that personally, I have gotten to that place where I haven't seen the desired results as quickly as I've wanted them. The result has been my non-committal attitude and often shrugging off the very things I used to love and have passion for.

The question is, are we trusting God in the process, enough to step out on faith to the point where we feel that there's no more footing left?  Right now I am in a place in my life where I am trusting God, leaning upon His arms, and following His Word even more. I am not doing so solely for the "payoff", but because I want to show Him that I hear him, and I want to be obedient.  Obedience is much better than the alternative, which is sacrifice. When one is bombarded literally on a daily basis, or reminded of their purpose in life... it should make one wonder...how do I get to the next step, the next level? The bigger question is... "is it my time?"  I offer that nothing in this life is guaranteed, but I am reminded that if God said it, we can count on it... He will do just what He said.  Just continue to write the vision, make sure that it is very clear and YOU most of all know where you're headed and what you're called to do.  I am encouraged on today, I hope this encourages you too.

Peace and Blessings!

~LaShawna

#Facetime

#Facetime

 

As a young teenager I used to sing on our local church choir.  We’d sing until heaven’s gates were opened, and the angels themselves came and sat in the pews and danced alongside the saints in the aisles of my home church as a girl.  What a wonderful time we’d have!  I always felt the presence of God there on Sunday’s and Friday night services… and Tuesday evening bible studies, etc.  Our faces shone bright with the glow of God’s powerful presence and His anointing.  Now… when I was in my teen moments of angst… say, I had maybe gotten scolded by my mom prior to church for maybe not listening, or fully handling a responsibility that was required… or someone said something funny out of their mouth to me in church…or someone hit an off note in the musician’s corner or that note didn’t quite meet the mark… or even our pastor at the time said or sang a little something that sounded off … my countenance changed…(as teens tend to do). I'd be on the choir... with a sour face. My mother would look at me and some others… and they’d say, “Fix your face!”…I’d sigh and really try… try is the operative word.

I was never one to hold onto my expressions and pretend. I still do not today. I am not a “great pretender”.  I am saying all of this to say that in the church, and outside of the church walls… in our everyday lives, on the job, in the store, at our children’s schools… we must remember to show and share the “ministry of countenance”. It is one of the first things that is noticed… face time. Walk into a room… when folks look up, they see your face. They see your body language… it’s important always to keep your head up, keep a smile and a kind word in your mouth.  What does your face time show?

Proverbs 27:19 (New International Version) “As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart.”

*Note to self: Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

Peace and Blessings,

LaShawna

 

#SheIsJoyful

#Joyful

" Joy, joy... God's great joy. Joy, joy... down in my soul! Sweet beautiful... soul-saving joy... Oh, joy, joy in my soul!" ~K. Franklin

I am joyful at this time of year... many find it hard to be so, due to grief, depression, distance in relation to family members, lack, etc.  However, the Bible shares so many wonderful words of encouragement...on being joyful.  If you would just read these and meditate on them, I know that you will find a spot in your heart and mind to be joyful on today and throughout this holiday season.

Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Psalm 63:5-7 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Psalm 96:11-13 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

*Note to self: Joy comes from within... and within me is Jesus... therefore I have #JesusJoy!


Photo courtesy: My own


Peace and Blessings,


LaShawna 



Love...A Word That Comes And Goes... #SheLoves

#SheLoves

God

Family

Friends

Life

Shoes

Handbags 

Jewels

Lemonade

So...What is Love? Who do you love? Where is love found, and how does one obtain it?

“Where there is love there is life.”
Mahatma Gandhi

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
Lao Tzu

"The sweetest joy, the wildest woe is love."
Philip James Bailey

And my fave...

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. " John 15:13 KJV

#GodIsLove #LoveIsLight

#SheLovesTheWordOfGod

#LoveGodWithAllYourHeartMindSoulStrength

Squeeze your eyes as tight as you can and think of that one person in all the galaxy who you have lost... and loved...Now...ponder in your mind that person or those persons who you love and are tangible to you right at this very moment...Love them... squeeze them... call them... speak a Word of Life and Love into their ear this day. #LetUsLove #SendALoveNote

*Note to self... Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Photo: My own