I Do Not Define Myself By How Many Roadblocks Have Appeared In My Path..... Embracing Your Struggles

Trust your God! 

 Embrace your struggles. 

He didn't bring you this far to leave you in the desert.

This morning this is what was placed in my heart by God I believe. It just came to me and I thought to share. It might help someone, somewhere trying to figure out this path we are all treading on called life.

We are all going through different struggles in our lives. We are all trying to figure this thing called life. Sometimes it might all feel overwhelming and beyond our control but that’s where the Master steps in and says, ‘’be still and know that I am God’’. That is all good when the Lord steps to our rescue but do you believe in him? Do you trust him to do what’s right by you? Are you patient enough to wait upon Him?

Sometimes trusting God is the hardest thing for us to do. But we are so quick to put our trust in man and other worldly things which are temporarily beneficial to us. We walk into a shop and the juice says Organic. We waste no time in buying that juice, we don’t even question if it’s true or not. Why... because we believe and trust them. Why can’t you give that same level of trust if not more to the one who created you? Why is it so hard?

Time and age has taught me to put my all in God because everything else fades…but his love. When the tough gets going and when life shows you its true colours….mate you have no choice but to go on bended knees and call upon his name. But you know what they say; if you haven’t been there you wouldn't really know. You have to have experienced LIFE before you can actually live life.

I can go on and on about my struggles but that would bore you and I don’t want to do that. However through all your struggles remember to learn the lessons life is teaching you. That way you have fewer chances of repeating it again and more importantly inspiring and motivating another life. Don’t underestimate the power of the lesson life teaches us. Life is the greatest teacher on earth. If you see any success story ask for the story behind it and that story will not consist of sunny days and rosy mornings. It is a story of failures upon failures that was used as a stepping stone to gain that success story. It will consist of blood, sweat and tears. Remember, Storms come to teach us how to ride the waves perfectly.

Your past is your past, yes...gone and the hard truth is you can’t erase any part of it. You can go get the strongest bleach available and try to make it look good but the unfortunate part is when the bleach will fail. It won’t work. Stop living in your past and start paving way for the future.

Life can really get rough sometimes so much that moving on is the hardest thing to do. Sometimes you just don’t know where to start and other times you wished you had never experienced the past. Other times we wish we can go back and do things differently. We become bitter and the will to move on is now deemed impossible.

We then start to question everything we once believe in and everything we once trusted. We start to ask God why. See, when things start to slide downhill we tend to ask God questions. When what we should have done in the first place is to put every single one of our burdens, decisions and undertakings before him in prayers. He knows best as much as we might tend to think we know it all with all our college and university degrees and titles. My friend, till life teaches you, you know nothing!

I came across this poem below and it actually inspired this post. It just touched a part of me this morning. I couldn't let it fly by without me sharing. You know what they say, sharing is caring …..Eat, digest, fill up your soul and share so others can partake too.

You Are Not Your Struggles....
You Are That Which Has Emerged From The Fire!

My favourite part of the whole poem is the end where it says ‘I am that which has emerged from the fire’’. That is one powerful statement. Anything that has been through hell and back, comes out more beautiful, stronger and better. That is what you are my friend.
Don't be scare of getting burnt, you won't because God's got this. Oh yes he does!

You are not your failures, you are not your struggles, you are not your mishaps, and you are not your scars. You are that which has emerged from the fire and that fire is all the bad days you've been through, that God has pulled you through from. It is the past which thinking about alone brings chills to your spines. The fire is those days when you are so close to throwing the towel in, those days when the sun refuses to shine. The fire is those nights that were filled with tears and worries, those nights that you feel like you’re all alone. The fire is that which has made you who you are today. Looking back, the Lord has given you a reason to smile. Even if it’s a tiny weeny reason.

You can hustle as hard as you like, work your butt off to make that money but first God has to bless your hustle. If God is not in that hustle it would be fruitless. Above all, don’t forget to pray. Prayer is the most important conversation of the day. I’m not going to tell you I pray every day because I don’t but whenever I have that second I just have a word or two with the Lord. He deserves it. It’s the least we can do. Prayer is a powerful weapon and can counteract any form of weapon going against God’s will for your life. Yes it’s that powerful.

Don’t keep God out of your business. You just need to keep people out of your business. Make him the centre and in due time he will perfect all things that which concerneth you. His timing might be a bit off in your eyes but he is always on time and always there when you call.

I hope this have encouraged someone today in some way and keep holding on….there is a light at the end of the tunnel and if you can’t see a light create your own light and keep pushing. If you’re not seeing what you’re waiting for, go out and find it and don’t allow the past to hold you down. It’s done its job of teaching you life lessons, cut the ties and apply the principles to your future.

As hard as life may get, don't give up. Your next miracle or breakthrough might be just one more push away. Keep going. No one remembers the one who gave up..never. Everyone remembers the person who overcome life's trials and tribulation. One example of such would be Michael Jordan. In one of his famous quotes he said:
''I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.''
Imagine if he gave up..

Be unfaithful to your fears and Cheat on them. Break up with all doubts doing the azonto in your head. Start making engagement plans with your faith and waste no time matching up the aisle to your dreams wearing that white gown or that bespoke suit. Cut all ties that don’t add value to your life…they are nothing but excess baggage!


Stay blessed, keep smiling and allow God to be the centre even in the midst of your struggles.


''If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.'' 
~ Michael Jordan



Till then...

Xoxo

Stick and Stones….

The Mighty Power Of Words!

Remember the old adage …….'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me'.

Sticks and stones will break my bones …yes it will break you surely, but words will never harm me…No it won’t darling, but best believe it will damage you and leave you feeling like a worthless tissue paper. Now that's the power of words. What would you prefer...a good beating or a good tell off? 

Don't underestimate it

Physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally, words are way more damaging than sticks and stones. Basically, if someone opens their mouth on you…hmmm and I mean OPEN…you will wish a fire wood was thrown at you instead.

That adage is a whole lot of lie…yea I said it! (Shoot me) But then again I guess some people see it easier to shake off an insult than heal wounds. What they don’t know is words leave an everlasting stigma which is sometimes unknown to us until later in the future.

When I was young, naive and clueless, I used this adage a lot. It was evident I didn't know better. It made me feel tough and brave and fearless.  But as I grew up, I gradually realised that in fact the most powerful tool ever available to man is the tongue.

The Tongue is indeed very powerful– The question is, are you going to use it to break or to make?

Every so often we underestimate the power of words that comes out of our mouth. We really don’t know its value and capability to make or break someone or a situation.

With few kind and considerate words, you can save someone from committing suicide and with few hateful and spiteful words you can be the cause of someone’s death. Believe it or not, it is possible. 

The tongue is a very small organ which is capable of bringing a man as tall as 6ft to the ground with ease. Words have power and must not be taken lightly. You really don’t want to use your tongue to be the cause of someone’s misery. Our prime purpose in life is to help each other, if you can’t help them at least don’t hurt them. My Aunt once said to me; if you don’t have anything good to say then don’t say anything at all. You have to know when to open your mouth and when to keep it shut….Now that is what my granny would describe as wisdom.

Some people take absolute pleasure in being someone’s misery. Are you that type of person? But why? Does your next meal depend on it? That Cruella De Vil movement needs to stop!  Watch what you say and think before you utter anything. No one is paying you to talk and I am sure your mouth won’t stink from few moments of thoughtful silence. If we knew how many times our words were misinterpreted, there would be much more silence in the world.

You want to drop a criticism, do it with caution and wisdom. Send your message across but don’t stamp all over the person. Always watch your tongue because you don’t want to leave someone more distressed and broken than when you first met them. If you’re not going to make a positive impact on someone’s life then I think it’s best to....leaave it yehhh!!

When you’re full of anger, be extra careful with your words. Surely you don’t have time to think when you’re blazing, but when has blazing ever solved any problems? Stop, Put that fire out, calm down, and think before you utter something you’ll regret. Words once said can’t be undone, no matter how many sincere apologies offered. The scars still remain. Scars that won’t heal easily.

If you can’t lift someone up with your tongue then you have no business pulling anyone down. You’re upset and things aren't going your way so you….shout, scream and set someone’s soul on fire with your hurtful words. After your rampage all of a sudden you feel good. You feel satisfied. You feel like a champ….yea! You feel like the King of the jungle Yea!   * Breaths down & Beats Chest*

OK King  Kong!  Now what? (My friend you have a problem. Get it together)

Well I've got news for you, you ain't a champ, you’re the biggest coward! You ain't no King Kong you’re just a tiny miserable mosquito who seizes every opportunity to torment people’s lives. That satisfaction you’re feeling is not really a sense of satisfaction, that is you using someone else to make you feel good about yourself and look better. That my dear is you being very insecure and displaying the highest level of low self-esteem.

More importantly, that is bullying, and just in case you are wondering bullying is not just physical. Some of us our words are greater bullies than our physical self. Your mood must never dictate your manners. Sort it out before it eats you out. Remember whatever you can’t control, controls you. Sometimes it’s not so much what we say; it’s more to do with how we say it. Child, Watch ya tongue.

Below is a short clip on the power of words. 

An awesome video which emphasizes the point made above:

                                    It's not so much what you say but how you say it. 

It takes one swift moment to destroy someone’s confidence with your words which took them years to build. Your unbridled tongue can destroy the strongest person. Your loose tongue can tarnish one's character to an unbuildable level. Your destructive tongue can whip a man down to tears. Your insensitive tongue can take away someone’s pride. STOP and THINK before you speak. Don’t let your mouth run faster than your brain can think, If it does then you my friend have got a big problem.

Moaning and complaining, you are never satisfied or almost impossible to satisfy so therefore you spread your negative energy, bringing everyone to your level. Party pooper!! Nothing or no one is ever good enough for you. Hold up; is your life really that sad?! Use your tongue to praise and compliment, it’s refreshing. Try it sometime.

Insults and gossiping… Help us baby Jesus!! G O S S I P I N G! Hmmm if you meet some people you would think our purpose on earth was to gossip and raining abuses. All they give out is bad vibes...left right and centre. They will spare no expense in running up the phone bill just to spread rumours. Is your life that short of amusement?! If you know the dent gossiping leaves on one’s character then you will rethink whenever you want to spread rumours. If it’s not yours to share don’t share! If you must share anything, share positivity.

Haven’t you heard?  ’’What you say of sally says more of Susie than of sally’’ In other words be careful what you say about other people, you might be revealing a bit of yourself there.

The aim of our lord Jesus Christ when he decided to give us tongues was to bless, heal and pick up others when they’re down. The bible doesn't condone reckless behaviour. Matthew Chapter 12 verse 36 states:  ’’I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.’’

Two eyes, two ears and one Mouth, only one mouth….Now let's take a moment and thank God that we only have one mouth. That’s a blessing right there. God knew what he was doing when he created mankind because Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if we all had two mouths. Whenever you have the urge to misbehave, just think ….two eyes, two ears and one mouth. Let that be your guide.

Words have so much effect on us and most of the time we don’t have a clue. A prime example would be a shop with a big bright sales card stating over 50% off. The moment you see that you get excited because we all love free stuff.  

The Power Of Words

You enter the shop, spend money you don’t have and leave with bags full of items you don’t even need. You buy because you saw the word sale in bright red and more so for over 50% off. Most times the discount on the items is not even over 50% off, however the choice of words lured you in and you didn't bother checking. The Power of words.

If you are still in doubt of the power of words, ask the politicians. They use the right words at the right time to get what they want. When a new government is about to take office, the people expect change so they preach change and what they deliver don't matter. The talk is pretty much what they do best. The people believe and cast their votes. How many of them deliver what they preach? The power of words!

In relationships, we use words like I love you. I hate you. People don’t forget these words. These are words people keep close to their hearts. All the more reason why we must think before we speak. If you don’t mean it, don’t say it. Hearts are often broken; trust lost and lives are never the same again. Don’t be the one responsible.The power of words.

One powerful line which perfectly illustrates the power of words for me is ’’I have a dream’’ by Martin Luther King JR. This is a short line spoken by a powerful activist. This line commands a movement, it empowers and encourages growth.  Even if you’re not a dreamer it makes you want to become one. This line persuades, inspires and breaks down walls. It makes you want to do more. That is how powerful words are. He could have chosen to say something negative but he spoke wisdom and positivity. Up to this day ‘’I have a dream’’ lives on. Choose your words carefully you never know who you might inspire.

Be warned!

Do you speak fine, kind, loving and positive words into your life every day? Do you ever remember to bless someone other than yourself? The bible says in Proverbs, Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. 

Parents….Do you speak life and positivity into your children's  lives? Use the power of words to your advantage and be a blessing. Select the words you use as you select the finest food from a fine menu. If need be, change your regular vocabulary and be a better person.

We are all humans and we fall short. No one is perfect. All we have to do is try to bridle our tongues and be a better person. As they say, practice makes perfect. One day you will look back and say Yes I am the master of my tongue. Let your tongue be your best asset and take responsibility for what comes out of your mouth. Not everything that comes into your mind must come out of your mouth. Learn to think.

Howeverrrrr, No one said don’t talk. Your voice is your power, so by all means use it and use with wisdom. A wise man fills his brain before he empties his mouth.

Your mouth is a fountain, you are either sprinkling living water or contaminated water. Whenever you speak you breathe life into words. 

What would you be bringing to life when you speak?  Speak something today that changes someone's tomorrow.

Till then …xoxo