Matters of the Heart

Friendly reminder...the joy of the Lord is our strength. We are blessed and God is Great all the time so let's be mindful of our blessings and show some gratitude and contentment. Yes, we are still striving for and praying for more, but what about the things we already have. Start a gratitude journal. Love & Blessings!

Who/what are you allowing to control your life with their expectations? Are you programmed? Take responsibility of your own happiness and choose expectations that bring you joy and serve you. Let go of what you think your life is supposed to look like because God's plan outweigh it all. Let God lead you and live how God wants you to live.

"Who I Am is impacted by Where I Am?" Are we in the right place to be or become who we are meant to be and to fulfill our destiny? Don't waste your potential by staying in the wrong place. If you are not in the right place, pray to God for revelation, alignment, and change. When we are in the right place (God's Presence), we have access to everything we need. Be a good steward of what you have!

Realign your thoughts, actions, words, and life with your deepest values and beliefs so that you may be in God's will and become all that you are meant to be in Him. Spend time with God and search the scriptures for who God says you are and see yourself the way God sees you. Get rid of distractions, embrace your uniqueness, and live out your purpose.

Our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health are all important when we think of "total well-being". Are you nourishing, pouring into, giving attention to, and thinking of each area? Assess your life and determine what adjustments need to be made. Show yourself MORE LOVE! Self-Care is imperative!

You can't walk into anything new if you don't let go of the old. Stop holding on to wrong habits, places, perspectives, people, things, mindsets, relationships, friendships, etc. that are hindering or delaying your destiny. Come out of dysfunction, poverty, regret, lack, depression, shame, disappointment, etc. and walk into your new season, new beginning. Time to let go and heal. Don't lose YOU! We don't need closure or an explanation so let go, move on, move forward, trust God. New seasons require exits from the old. The best is yet to come.

With the year 2022 coming to an end, I want to remind you to be PRESENT in this moment. Don't dwell on the past or focus so hard on the future but decide to be aware, mindful, and present right where you are right now. Enjoy where you are right now, acknowledge where you are, applaud where you are even if you are not where you had planned to be. It is ok..It is not too late to change or take action, but don't miss this opportunity to be present with yourself, family, friends, etc. You are alive! Be intentional with being and staying present from this moment forth.

God's "LOVE" for us is unconditional, perfect, loyal, faithful, and everlasting. No matter what we do, how far we stray from His will, His path, or how disobedient we are...God "STILL" loves us. We must believe and receive His love by faith. Stop allowing imperfections to steal blessings! Stop questioning His love! Stop feeling undeserving! Stop focusing on the wrong and focus on who God is and what He has done and is doing. I am reminding you today that "God Loves You"!​

Just a friendly reminder that "You Got This!" Don't give up, keep trusting God, and keep the faith because its all going to work out for your Good. Be blessed my friend!

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to each and everyone of you listening to my podcast episodes (over 1500 downloads as of today). I hope they have been a blessing and inspiration to you in some way. I only ask that you pay them forward and share them with friends and family with hopes that they too will be blessed, inspired, helped, strengthened, etc. I am hitting the "PAUSE" button right now and taking a short intermission to focus on some growth, opportunities, and tasks that I believe God is leading me into and through. I can't wait to share with all of you. I am not sure how long this intermission will be, but feel free to listen to any of the episodes already posted. I LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU! Love & Blessings to You All!

Comparison is the "silent thief" of joy, gratitude, faith, peace, confidence, contentment, productivity, etc.; and often leads to depression and the feeling of inadequacy. Who are you comparing yourself with? Who are you comparing your race with? Who are you competing with? What/Who are you coveting? Stop competing and comparing yourself with others. Choose contentment. Focus on what God has placed in your hands and use it.

What season are you currently in? We live our lives in seasons; therefore, it is important to identify the season we are in so that we can align with what God has appointed. Remove expectations, stop trying to force things, and seek Him for guidance. Every season is significant and has a purpose...Are you aligned?

Who or what we surround ourselves with determines who/what we become, the path we take, what we do or don't do, and how we do it. Create a support system (surroundings) that support, encourage, uplift, provide ideas, make you feel inspired and confident, and bring peace, joy, and spiritual growth. Check Your Surroundings and make any necessary adjustments!

Who/What have you given power in your life? What we entertain daily is influencing us so we have to be mindful of what we are giving access to us. Everything we listen to, watch, or read has the power to shift our mindset. What are you allowing to influence the way you live and think? Time for a Self-Awareness Check!Let God's word be the power that frame your thoughts and influence your heart. Read Romans 12:2 (MSG) and James 1:8

God gives us the free gift of grace, that divine enabling power to do or to be what we cannot on our own. Receive God's grace and extend it to others. It is about showing compassion, kindness, and love to someone even if they may not deserve it, appreciate it, or return it. Read Colossians 4:6 | 1 Peter 4:10

It is time to release the spirt of fear that is working to hinder and distract you from your destiny. Filter your thoughts through God's word and believe what He says about you, what you have, and what you can do. Shift your perspective and stop believing the lies. Cast all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 1 Peter 5: 7

Take time to conduct a self-assessment and determine where you are and where you want to be? Are you prepared for your next? Are you rejecting growth? Who/what has your attention? Have you been distracted from your goals, your vision, your dreams? Life happens and we can get sidetracked sometimes, but if you make adjustments where needed, recharge, refuel, and "RESET", you can get back to business and in alignment.

What is the driving force of your life? What gives you meaning and purpose? Our PURPOSE is the reason for our creation, our existence, who God designed us to BE. Purpose is who we become. When people get you, who do they get? There are different roles, positions, seasons, etc. that God has called us to be in purpose. He has also graced us all differently to fulfill our purpose in this world.

Thriving and living a passionately life starts with our hearts so let's do a heart check. What is the condition of your heart? What are your priorities? How often do you spend time with God? It is time to step into a life of adventure with God.

God wants us to live a joyful and abundant life so start thriving, start living passionately. However, we must check the condition of our heart first and live from a healthy heart. Identify and remove any toxicity that hinders, delays, taints, distracts, destroys, etc. It is time to plant God's word in our hearts so we can touch, help, serve, and impact those around us because living a passionate life is not just about self.

Are you suited for battle? For our struggle is not against people but the spiritual forces of darkness in this world that attack us daily. We must put on the full armor of God to defend ourselves against these attacks. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 for the Full Armor of God, which is Salvation, Righteousness, Truth, Gospel of Peace, Faith, the Spirit, and Prayer.

Tests and trials lead to joy. They are seeds that will bring a harvest, but we have to grow, heal, and overcome them. Tests and trials train us, humble us, remind us to be dependent on God, develop our character, and becomes our testimony. Therefore, we must navigate them well and get through them because they will produce in us all that God has called us to be.

LIFE and death are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 We will reap the fruit (good or bad) of what we speak. In all instances, I believe it is important to think before we speak and to be mindful of the things we speak about and to ourselves and others.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. Proverbs 23:7 Our mind can be our greatest enemy if we do not get our thoughts under control because our thoughts lead to action. Thoughts have the power to harm or do good. Take time to assess your thoughts and make adjustments where necessary.

I pray God's blessings, favor, strength, healing, peace, guidance, and love over each and every one of you. May you be blessed and strengthened by this prayer. Amen. I Love You!

What are your core values? What do people get when they get you? What do you value? Is there evidence of it in your life? Our core values are the beliefs and guiding principles that we live and behave from. They determine how we treat others and live our lives. Are you adding value to the environments and people you engage with daily? Take a moment and identify and write down your core values; Who do you admire the most; Consider your experiences; Identify a central theme (Mine is Love). Be authentic and live out your core values.

Not only are the different adversities we face meant to build our character and take us from glory to glory, level to level, but they are meant to help others as well. We go through things that allow us to gather a testimony and become the blueprint for others to use to obtain victory and overcome the storms of life. Your life is the blueprint for others to read and use to help them navigate the different tests and trials that come to help develop, mold, and shape us into the men and women we're called to be. Therefore, you cannot give up or give in. Keep the faith, stay focused, and slay your giant(s). You are the blueprint in your sphere of influence.

God is a “God of Progression”. He wants to take us from glory to glory, level to level; therefore, we have to be prepared for the next level of our lives. The adversity we face comes to build and strengthen our character and foundation in God. Our character is how we treat people, handle adversity, our attitude towards failure and disappointment and the higher we go the deeper our foundation in God and the better our character needs to be. Don't lose faith, don't lose focus, pass the test(s), and allow God to move you to your next level. God has better and He wants to prepare us to receive and walk into our better. Heal, grow, and trust His timing, pace, removal, and renewal. Get Ready for Your Better!

The devil is after our hearts because if our heart is tainted, we are not emotionally stable to handle our next. Whatever we attach our hearts to provides an entry to us; therefore, loss can lead to setbacks that can affect how we live, move, receive, or steward what God has entrusted to us. We must stop hanging on to the past, to what is not for us, or what we cannot change and allow God to help us move into our future. It is ok to cry about what we've lost, but it is important that we do not dwell on that loss but expect God to give us what we need in response to that loss.

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7 When we get better spiritually, everything gets better. The following Spiritual Disciplines can help produce spiritual growth and lead to godliness: Prayer, Worship, Fasting, Service, Solitude, Study.

Have you ever felt completely alone or distant from God? Have you ever questioned God about his presence in your life/circumstance(s)? I have and I am here to tell you that God has not moved or left your side. He is always right where we left Him. We often steer away from and leave His presence, but God never leaves us nor forsakes us. He is still in the same place we left him waiting with open arms so draw closer to Him,

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 1:3 Oftentimes, we encounter disappointment, hurt, failure, grief, etc. that tests our faith, but they are exactly that a test so don't allow it to taint your faith. Stay encouraged and have that long and strong faith that says no matter what I may or may not see or what may or may not happen I will continue to BELIEVE. Don't have safe faith, but choose to have that strong, long, big faith that ensures God you are patiently believing in and trusting Him. Those test and trials are only developing our endurance, steadfastness, and patience that will help us walk into all that God has for us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 As we go through life, we will encounter all types of distractions, disruptions, disappointments, detours, delays, etc. that will affect our ability to stay focused, BUT we have the power to RESET our focus or practice staying focus. I share different ways to STAY focused and/or RESET your FOCUS.

There is so much WISDOM in the Book of Proverbs. I definitely recommend reading, studying, and meditating on each chapter. It will provide answers to many of our questions and peace in our struggles. Our hearts devise a plan, but God's wisdom is what we need in executing, waiting, understanding, etc. God holds the answer(s).gu

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Don't be so attached to what you think your life is supposed to look like or how you think it is supposed to go because God's plan and purpose for us is always greater. Therefore, TRUST GOD and allow him to lead, guide, direct, provide, strengthen, etc. He knows what's best for us and who we need to be to receive and/or walk into what He has for us.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 Although we may fall, we can get back up again and keep pressing forward. Whether we sin, make a mistake, hurt others, step outside of His will, etc., He is faithful in forgiving us and providing us with His mercy each new day. His Love is not performance-based, but is faithful, unconditional, and never-ending. GOD LOVES YOU!

So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable. II Corinthians 4:18 I want to remind you that God has a plan for a future and hope for you so stay the course and DON'T GIVE UP. What you see with the physical eye is temporary and will change, but what we don't see is eternal. God is at work. Use your spiritual eye to see and believe that God will work all things together for your good and this too shall pass. BE ENCOURAGED MY FRIEND!

For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. Matthew 18:20 I am praying for YOU.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:7 Make peace your priority in every circumstance or situation. Seven ways to practice peace: 1) Be selective with how you spend your time. 2) Be prepared to say "no" nicely. 3) Resist procrastination and exercise self-discipline. 4) Eliminate key distractions. 5) Set appropriate boundaries for interruptions. 6) Modify your life. 7) Pray and "Listen".

Principles for "living a life you love":Learn to accept and love yourself;Maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses;Stay in your lane but "Stand Out";Make "Love" the central theme of your life;Surround yourself with Godly influences.These are some of the key principles I have and still live by daily.

If you are wondering what steps you can take to achieve and maintain clarity and control when living single, you have to focus on what you are "fueling your engine", which is your "heart". What are you feeding your mind daily? What activities are you considering minute that actually have significant influence on your decisions and lifestyle? Remember that you have to do something different if you want a different result.

In today's society, we have lists for almost everything, including what we desire in a spouse, significant other, boyfriend/girlfriend, partner, etc. However, it is important that we also evaluate ourselves and consider who we are and what we bring to the table. I encourage you to create a list for who you plan to be or become as a spouse, significant other, partner, etc. and think about the value you want to bring into their lives. Whether you have made the list or not, stay in faith and keep working on being a reflection of who and what you desire in a companion.

This question is for my single people….If you had to choose between sex and clarity during your dating stage, which would you choose?I believe there are sacrifices that we have to make sometimes in order for us to gain what we deem valuable. It looks different for each individual so we have to do some soul-searching to determine what keeps us in a state of uncertainty, confusion, stress, unhappiness, stagnation, etc. and choose to do something different. Not everyone will understand your choices but remember it's not about pleasing others but about choosing You and the right person or people will understand, support, and even stay.

Stop being your own barrier to growth, progress, change, opportunity, purpose, etc. Release control and the need for approval or validation from people, take a step/leap of faith, and allow God to do His thang.