Good Communication Is Key

Recently I was forced to pay close attention to how I communicate with others.  I tend to utilize brutal honesty in cases when I am tired or extremely frustrated.  I tend to shut down when I am angry, and I am closed off when hurt.  I am overly responsive when things are good.  So, this wonderful array of responses can really throw someone off their game when communicating with me.  A person is not sure what type of response they will get from me, because they are not sure what emotion I am going through that day.

During a training, the topic of communication was brought up, and I was slapped with the fact that my communication style is not the best.  Though humans are emotional beings, this does not automatically give me the right to respond in my emotions, spewing confusion onto those who have no clue what is going on in my personal or professional life.  My bluntness often comes as a form of attack and a first strike.  If I strike you first, you are less likely to rebut.  This is a form of aggression and not acceptable in most circles. 

I have been forced to look within and find the root of my behaviors and I am glad to say that I am learning things about myself that I have paid little or no attention to in the past.  I know there is always room for improvement, and I tend to improve upon myself until I am no longer breathing.

I ask you all to do the same.  Look within and find out what can be improved upon in your lives and make the necessary changes to be the best you you can be.  It will not be an easy feat, trust me.  However, once you have changed one thing for the better, you will be encouraged to continue the process.  This change is not for anyone else’s benefit, but for yourself. 

Communication is a large part of my everyday life.  I need to know that when I communicate with others, that there is no malice and no misinterpretation of what I am saying.  I need the people to know that what I say comes from a place of honesty and consideration. 

There is a saying that you only get one chance to make a first impression.  While this may be true, there are still opportunities in any relationship to either build or severe.  I choose to build.  What about you?

Quiet Rustling

Having a moment and wishing God would explain every aspect of my life to me in plain English.  

I don't understand much of what is going on at this very moment, but I do know I have done all I know to do.  I have prayed every prayer I know to pray.  I have taught every lesson I know to teach.  

So, now, I resume my seat at the Master's feet, and I say, quietly in a whisper, "Teach Me, Master."  

I am the clay, He is the potter.  On this day, He will mold me into the vessel He wants me to be.

The Covering

As I sit and think about the goodness of God and how often He has chosen to spare my life, lead me in a different way, or to simply instruct me on an issue, I am amazed at how He has protected me. Then, I thought about the covering. In Psalm 91:4, the scripture indicates, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The Strong’s Dictionary online defines the word ‘cover’ as “to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect – cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up.”

So, in essence, God is defending me, hedging me in safety, joining together with me, shutting me up in protection, fencing me in, covering me, and putting a screen about me so that no danger, no harm, no ill will, no sickness, no disease, no hurt, no curse, nothing negative can get to me. And I will trust the power in His wings. I will trust in His protection, in His covering, and in his safety, for I am covered!

Beauty

It is amazing what we consider beauty.  Today we look to television personalities to tell us what is considered beauty.  We look to super models to determine if we are the correct weight, height, or are dressing to impress.  Men attempt to look like The Rock or the newest, hottest male super figure.  However, true beauty is not only seen by looking at the outward appearance of a person.  True beauty starts from the inside and flows outwardly.  So, work on the person who resides inside of you and make sure that person is the best you.  Once you have created a best you, you will see the inward manifested outwardly.

Beauty is not skin deep, it is soul deep.  Work on your soul and your beauty will shine through.

Do You Make Bad Choices, or Do Bad Choices Make You?

In life we have to make all kinds of decisions.  We have to decide where to go to school, what to major in, who to date, how to save, if we want children or not, and if we will do right or wrong. 

Sometimes we make the right decision and other times we do not.  Regardless of the decision you make, understand that one decision does not change who you are as a person.  We have all made the wrong choice at one time in our lives.  Hopefully this choice was not one of life or death.  If the wrong choice is made, use it as a learning experience and build upon your knowledge.  Do not let one bad decision ruin your perception of yourself.  Realize you are human just like the rest of us, dust yourself off and get up and move on.

Confession:

I’ve made some decisions in my life.  Some have been good, and others bad.  I am not a product of just the bad decisions, but I am a product of all my decisions combined.  I will not make the same bad choices again, and I will learn from my mistakes. 

Overall, I am a good person, intelligent, and considerate.

I am not a bad choice, but a person who has made bad choices.

Psalm 23

So often we read scripture as if it were a novel.  However, the Bible is a book of recollections and promises.  As I read Psalm 23, I am reminded of all the wonderful promises that God has in store for me.  When the world appears to get worse and worse, I can rely on the word of God to remind me of the prophecies, recollections, and promises He has given.

Psalm 23: 1-2

1a) The Lord is my shepherd.  God is my protector.  He is my guide.  He is my provider.  He is my savior.  A shepherd does not just watch over the sheep, but a shepherd literally takes care of the sheep.  A shepherd ensures nothing attacks the sheep, and he leads the sheep to calm streams of water for drink.  A good shepherd knows the number of sheep in his charge, and will leave none behind.  This is the Lord, our good Shepherd.  As His sheep, you can rest assured that you are not alone and that He is taking care of you, protecting you, leading you, and providing for you.

1b) I shall not want.  God has promised to provide for our every need.  Here it is simply stated that we will not be in lack or want.  God, in all His riches will provide for us.

2a) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  Here God promises that we will be led to a place of abundance.  Green represents life and provision.  So, God is going to lead you to the pastures of provision and abundance.  There is nothing to fear if we follow His leading.

2b) He leadeth me beside the still waters.  Sheep will not drink from a rushing stream.  A good shepherd knows that in order for his sheep to drink, he has to pt them in front of a still body of water. So, God knows what we can handle and what it takes to nourish us.  He will not put steak in front of us if we are still on milk.  However, He won't put milk in front of us if He knows we can handle steak.  He is an all knowing God and He does what is best for us and what is in our best interest.  We may think we are ready for something when in fact we are not.  God will not lead us into a place to be destroyed or shamed.  He will put us at the table that is serving the appropriate meal for our spiritual maturity.


When we find things are not going the way we have planned, let us remember that God is in control.  As a Good Shepherd, He is doing what is in our best interest to provide, preserve, protect, guide and save us.

Trust in His plan and in His method. Let the Shepherd be the Lord of your life.

Don’t Give Up

It seems that there is a lot of hardships going on.  Life is beating people up and some have decided to throw in the towel.  However, I would say to those who are contemplating ending the fight, giving up, or just lying down, “don’t give up”.  I know things can get bad at times and your experiences may have come back to back. 

But your present situation does not determine your final destiny. 

Where you are now is not where you will remain if you choose not to give up.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.  Continue to speak life, success, and accomplishment over yourself.  Look in the mirror and see the greatness inside of you. 

Make daily confessions that dispute your current situation:

I am successful.  I will find a job.  I will finish school.  I am smart.  I can do this.  I am worthy.  I am beautiful.  I will not give up.  Things will look better.

Don’t let negative thoughts take you to a place of darkness and depression.  You will have to combat every negative thought with a positive one.  If you are a Christian, remember what the Bible says about you, and confess this when you are confronted with negativity. 

Remember success and accomplishment come in different sizes, colors, races, and genders.

Your success may not look like the next person, but it does not diminish your accomplishment.

I was a single parent for a very long time.  So, sometimes I had to count my successes daily.  Some of these included being able to provide a meal for my children and myself.  Sometimes it was simply having enough gas to get us to school and work.  Other times it was being able to see my children look at me with a smile and eyes filled with unconditional love.  My children were my driving force.  They were the reason I worked hard, completed school, and woke up every day.  They were my accomplishment and my success.  The fact that they were here on earth was enough to push me into tomorrow. 

Find the thing that pushes you into your tomorrow and makes you want to do more and do better.  Whatever you do, do not give up.  Your destiny is still being written and your purpose is still valid.  Keep pushing, keep moving forward, and you will see your successes and your accomplishments come to fruition.