So it's the new year, all these resolutions and thoughts going through my mind.
Biggest one though is to be a better steward of those things with which I have been entrusted...my husband, my son, relationships, my business.
And that's where my title comes from today.
Every waking moment of our lives we are given opportunities. These opportunites come in many forms like taking action, planning for future events, speaking blessings into another's life or being a blessing to someone. So bottom line is I feel we are compelled at various times of the day to do something, again, take action. And so we either do or we don't. We are either obedient in that moment or we're not thus making us disobedient to that "thing" that we feel is directing us, calling us and compelling us.
It is in these moments of disobedience that I find God' repeated grace, mercy and love, It is these moments that cause me to reflect on my hearts desire, my resolution for 2011.
TO BE A BETTER STEWARD OF THOSE THINGS WITH WHICH I HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED.
Example.
Yesterday I had to do some banking and I had this, excuse the expession, "funk" trying to rule over me. You know, the kind of attitude that stems from the feeling of being overwhelmed, doubtful, fearful, etc. So all afternoon I am fighting this funk and have to do this banking, which quite frankly, made me even more funkier in my attitude. I'm struggling, wishing I was somewhere else, wishing I was not going through what I am going through and get out of my car to walk into the bank. I smile at the person who greets me but it's one of those kind of fake smiles cuz really I'm crying inside and feel like screaming out but can't.
You know what I'm talking about right?
And so I walk over to the area where you fill out you deposit slips and stuff and just as plain as day I hear God telling me, "Is this really any kind of way to act?...really?"
Again, you know what I'm talking about right?
It's the loving, merciful, gracious voice of my Heavenly Father, my Abba Father, trying to get me to realize that being a sourpuss is no way to go about this day.
Immediately I am convicted.
I find myself standing right there, hanging my head, wanting to cry, and inside asking God to forgive me and this funky attitude.
And all the scriptures regarding my current situation begin to go through my head.
ALL THINGS ARE WORKING FOR MY GOOD AS I HAVE BEEN CALLED AND HAVE A PURPOSE...
GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE ME...
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH...
I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES, HIS PRAISES SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH...
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING...
TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED....
GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING, ABUNDANT AND ABOVE ALL I CAN ASK OR THINK...
I stand there trying to keep it together for I am so ashamed of this funky pity party that I have been partaking of the past couple of hours. Lord forgive me for not being a good steward over my relationship with you....forgive me for not rejoicing in my blessings in spite of the things in my life designed to make me stronger, better.
And then He went and did what He always does.
He puts me in a situation where I am once reminded that my life is not my own, that I have a divine purpose and that none of this is really about me but all about being a vessel of His Love.
I walk to the counter, meet this wonderful person Patty (who ends up being just the sweetest person and beautiful woman of God!). In the next 10 minutes, Patty and I have what I like to call a DIVINE APPOINTMENT. You know, one of those chance meetings when you walk away being reminded of how good you really have it, how blessed you really are and how merciful and gracious God ALWAYS is.
And that leaves me in awe.
In awe because I have been given, for the gozillionth time, yet another opportunity to get it right. To get it together. To see that my glass, with all of it's chips and smudgy fingerprints is not half empty but rather half full...actually my cup runneth over.
I have once again been forgiven and released to walk in freedom and liberty and given another opportunity to get it right.
So today I just want to encourage you to move past the funk.
Release your doubt and fears. Visualize if you will, me giving you a great big hug and telling you it's gonna be alright. God's gotcha, all things are working for your good, He will never leave or forsake you. You have a divine purpose, you will fulfill it! You are blessed to be a blessing. You are precious, you are beautiful, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You can do all things! You are intelligent, funny, articulate and more than a conquerer!!
You too, are forgiven and been given yet another opportunity to get it right
You are aaaaaahhhmazing.
You are loved.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Make The Choice To Walk In Your Destiny for Someone's Life Depends On It
Last week marked a very special week in the lives of a few people I know. For them it was the physical manifestation of a dream, a vision. Something that they had known in their hearts they just had to do, finally came to pass.
Last week was the opening of an orphanage in India.
Last week 50 children who were once homeless, nameless, cast away and left to fend for themselves, were now part of something awesome.
They now had a place to call home. A place to drink clean water, eat 3 meals a day, learn, grow and develop into the special and precious wonderful people God has designed them to become.
Last week, the hard work and dedication of so many volunteers and ministry leaders came to fruition.
Last week all I could do was think about a quote from my son Elijah's favorite AutoBot, Optimus Prime. A quote I can't seem to get out of my head as it drives me every day lately to carefully ponder the choices I have to make daily.
In the second Transformer movie, Sam is confronted by Optimus Prime who needs Sam's help. He tells Sam that humankind basically depends on Sam assisting the AutoBots in a task. Sam declines as Optimus says to him, "FATE RARELY CALLS UPON US AT A MOMENT OF OUR CHOOSING".
Think about this. FATE RARELY CALLS UPON US AT A MOMENT OF OUR CHOOSING. Think about your fate. Your destiny and purpose and all that's wrapped up in it. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much is required". As we strive to fulfill our purpose we find that we must rise above our cicumstances. Face the adversity with every fiber of our being. Fight when we don't feel like fighting for the cause. Push harder to complete the task when we seemingly have nothing left with which to push. Go places we are unsure of. Speak with and contact those that we are uncomfortable with. Stand in a place thinking we are not qualified or ready to be in that particular moment. We get inconvenienced. We get scared. We wonder at times if all that we must go through is really worth it. The reaction at times from friends and family can be even more interesting.
We find ourselves asking what the heck are we doing.
We ask God, "Why me and do you know who your asking here to do this?"
Well the answer is yes He does.
You have been created for wonderful, amazing and awesome things.
You have a divine purpose.
A divine purpose that is meant to be a blessing to those around you.
You have been given gifts and talents and things ONLY YOU CAN DO and it's so vitally important to know that if you don't make the choice to do them, to walk in your destiny and purpose, someone else's life will be impacted negatively...at times in a grave manner. And while at times walking in your destiny may seem inconvenient and uncomfortable, you gotta make the choice to do it anyway.
Someone needs you to do what you've been called to do. They are depending on you to believe in yourself. They are banking on you being an overcomer. They are expecting you to answer the call of the Optimus Primes in your life when they say, "FATE RARELY CALLS UPON US AT A MOMENT OF OUR CHOOSING".
So back to last week.
Last week was when my friend Lindsay Russo saw the very real impact of her choosing to answer fates call in her life.
It was close to a year ago when she repeatedly and lovingly tugged on her husbands shoulder and while on a missions trip to India said, "Dominic, I want to go see an orphanage". It was close to a year ago when Lindsay made the choice to yield to that thing inside her that would save lives of children.
A year later, after diligently working her vision and her purpose it all made perfect sense. After joining hands and hearts with her husband Dominic and their friends, family, co-workers, partners in ministry and several others across this nation and the world that she was able to physically touch that thing she could only dream about.
Last week, on a beautiful sunshiny day in India, Lindsay Russo cut the "ceremonial ribbon" while standing in the doorway beside her beloved husband Dominic, as they opened the very first AngelHouse Orphanage.
Lindsay answered the call of fate, destiny and purpose and chose to walk in her destiny and now the first 50 of many orphans, who are now our little angels, will have the opportunity to grow in love and peace.
I ask you to visit http://www.angelhouse.me/ to get the whole story and to see an example of the great things you have been called to do. And please remember not everyone has been called to build orphanages across India. Your calling may be entirely different, but understand the positive wonderful impact you have been called to make on a daily basis in the lives of others, here, there and everywhere you go.
You can do it! You are precious, special, intelligent, articulate, wonderful and amazing.
Please understand friends that you are so important to so many.
Please make the choice to walk in your purpose. To answer the call of fate and destiny in your life.
For someone's life depends on it.
Last week was the opening of an orphanage in India.
Last week 50 children who were once homeless, nameless, cast away and left to fend for themselves, were now part of something awesome.
They now had a place to call home. A place to drink clean water, eat 3 meals a day, learn, grow and develop into the special and precious wonderful people God has designed them to become.
Last week, the hard work and dedication of so many volunteers and ministry leaders came to fruition.
Last week all I could do was think about a quote from my son Elijah's favorite AutoBot, Optimus Prime. A quote I can't seem to get out of my head as it drives me every day lately to carefully ponder the choices I have to make daily.
In the second Transformer movie, Sam is confronted by Optimus Prime who needs Sam's help. He tells Sam that humankind basically depends on Sam assisting the AutoBots in a task. Sam declines as Optimus says to him, "FATE RARELY CALLS UPON US AT A MOMENT OF OUR CHOOSING".
Think about this. FATE RARELY CALLS UPON US AT A MOMENT OF OUR CHOOSING. Think about your fate. Your destiny and purpose and all that's wrapped up in it. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much is required". As we strive to fulfill our purpose we find that we must rise above our cicumstances. Face the adversity with every fiber of our being. Fight when we don't feel like fighting for the cause. Push harder to complete the task when we seemingly have nothing left with which to push. Go places we are unsure of. Speak with and contact those that we are uncomfortable with. Stand in a place thinking we are not qualified or ready to be in that particular moment. We get inconvenienced. We get scared. We wonder at times if all that we must go through is really worth it. The reaction at times from friends and family can be even more interesting.
We find ourselves asking what the heck are we doing.
We ask God, "Why me and do you know who your asking here to do this?"
Well the answer is yes He does.
You have been created for wonderful, amazing and awesome things.
You have a divine purpose.
A divine purpose that is meant to be a blessing to those around you.
You have been given gifts and talents and things ONLY YOU CAN DO and it's so vitally important to know that if you don't make the choice to do them, to walk in your destiny and purpose, someone else's life will be impacted negatively...at times in a grave manner. And while at times walking in your destiny may seem inconvenient and uncomfortable, you gotta make the choice to do it anyway.
Someone needs you to do what you've been called to do. They are depending on you to believe in yourself. They are banking on you being an overcomer. They are expecting you to answer the call of the Optimus Primes in your life when they say, "FATE RARELY CALLS UPON US AT A MOMENT OF OUR CHOOSING".
So back to last week.
Last week was when my friend Lindsay Russo saw the very real impact of her choosing to answer fates call in her life.
It was close to a year ago when she repeatedly and lovingly tugged on her husbands shoulder and while on a missions trip to India said, "Dominic, I want to go see an orphanage". It was close to a year ago when Lindsay made the choice to yield to that thing inside her that would save lives of children.
A year later, after diligently working her vision and her purpose it all made perfect sense. After joining hands and hearts with her husband Dominic and their friends, family, co-workers, partners in ministry and several others across this nation and the world that she was able to physically touch that thing she could only dream about.
Last week, on a beautiful sunshiny day in India, Lindsay Russo cut the "ceremonial ribbon" while standing in the doorway beside her beloved husband Dominic, as they opened the very first AngelHouse Orphanage.
Lindsay answered the call of fate, destiny and purpose and chose to walk in her destiny and now the first 50 of many orphans, who are now our little angels, will have the opportunity to grow in love and peace.
I ask you to visit http://www.angelhouse.me/ to get the whole story and to see an example of the great things you have been called to do. And please remember not everyone has been called to build orphanages across India. Your calling may be entirely different, but understand the positive wonderful impact you have been called to make on a daily basis in the lives of others, here, there and everywhere you go.
You can do it! You are precious, special, intelligent, articulate, wonderful and amazing.
Please understand friends that you are so important to so many.
Please make the choice to walk in your purpose. To answer the call of fate and destiny in your life.
For someone's life depends on it.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Remember your Joy
The other day I was upstairs getting my 4 year-old son Elijah ready for school. As we headed downstairs he says, "Mummy, let's go down like this!" and he proceeds to get on his bottom, sit at the top of the stairs and slide down one bumpy step at a time.
He laughs so loudly and looks back at me, encouraging me, "Mummy c'mon!!! This is soooooooooooo fun!"
So realizing that this is one of moments I need to just soak up, I get on my bottom and start my bumpy descent down the carpeted steps of our humble little home.
And oh what joy I found!!!
Pure laughter filled our stairway corridor as we bounced from step to step.
"I'm gonna win Mummy!!!"
"Looks like you are son!!!", I replied.
"You betta hurry Mummy!!!"
"I'm hurrying son!!!"
As I reach the bottom of the steps, clearly in second place, I am greeted with the open arms of the most precious motherly blessing I've been given.
Elijah hugs me so hard, gives me this big kiss on my cheek and says, "Good job Mummy! You didn't win but you still did good!"
I cry out with laughter and respond, "You're right, I didn't win but it's all good son!"
So what's my point?
My point is in the midst of life's trials, we might better find ourselves focusing on the good things, the joyful situation in our lives. God's Word says to "think on those things which are good and pure". We even find encouragement to "rejoice in the day" and count everything we go through, "Joy".
While at the top of the stairs, my mind was focused on the tasks at hand: getting E to school, the bills, my work day, my business, my sick aunt, my sick friend.
And those things were still there once I arrived at the bottom of those stairs. However...
...making the choice to focus on the joy, the blessings in my life, I was once again reminded that everythings gonna be all right and though I may not win, it's all good!
It's all good because God's mercies are new in our lives every day.
It's all good because I'm still alive, I'm still able to breathe.
I've got a glass that's half full and though I am in the midst of some rough situations, God will never leave or forsake me.
He's not brought me to this valley only to leave me but he's there to bring me through it and get me to the other side.
And you should know today that those are your promises too!
So today I compel you Gurls, to make the choice to be joyful.
You'll be glad you did!
He laughs so loudly and looks back at me, encouraging me, "Mummy c'mon!!! This is soooooooooooo fun!"
So realizing that this is one of moments I need to just soak up, I get on my bottom and start my bumpy descent down the carpeted steps of our humble little home.
And oh what joy I found!!!
Pure laughter filled our stairway corridor as we bounced from step to step.
"I'm gonna win Mummy!!!"
"Looks like you are son!!!", I replied.
"You betta hurry Mummy!!!"
"I'm hurrying son!!!"
As I reach the bottom of the steps, clearly in second place, I am greeted with the open arms of the most precious motherly blessing I've been given.
Elijah hugs me so hard, gives me this big kiss on my cheek and says, "Good job Mummy! You didn't win but you still did good!"
I cry out with laughter and respond, "You're right, I didn't win but it's all good son!"
So what's my point?
My point is in the midst of life's trials, we might better find ourselves focusing on the good things, the joyful situation in our lives. God's Word says to "think on those things which are good and pure". We even find encouragement to "rejoice in the day" and count everything we go through, "Joy".
While at the top of the stairs, my mind was focused on the tasks at hand: getting E to school, the bills, my work day, my business, my sick aunt, my sick friend.
And those things were still there once I arrived at the bottom of those stairs. However...
...making the choice to focus on the joy, the blessings in my life, I was once again reminded that everythings gonna be all right and though I may not win, it's all good!
It's all good because God's mercies are new in our lives every day.
It's all good because I'm still alive, I'm still able to breathe.
I've got a glass that's half full and though I am in the midst of some rough situations, God will never leave or forsake me.
He's not brought me to this valley only to leave me but he's there to bring me through it and get me to the other side.
And you should know today that those are your promises too!
So today I compel you Gurls, to make the choice to be joyful.
You'll be glad you did!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Go For What You Know!
Good Day You Amazing Gurl!
Just want to encourage you today to follow your dreams...go for what you know!
As there are times in our lives when you just know that you know that you know that you've got to do that thing in your heart. Follow the vision you see...make that dream come true.
So today I am believing with you that it's gonna come to pass.
Make the plans and write them down.
Keep pressing toward the goal.
Know that there may be obstacles but as you overcome each one, it'll make you stronger!
You can do it.
It's your time.
You have been called to do great things!
You are Aaaaahhhmazing so GO FOR WHAT YOU KNOW!!!
Love ya'
LashGurl Linda Jo
Just want to encourage you today to follow your dreams...go for what you know!
As there are times in our lives when you just know that you know that you know that you've got to do that thing in your heart. Follow the vision you see...make that dream come true.
So today I am believing with you that it's gonna come to pass.
Make the plans and write them down.
Keep pressing toward the goal.
Know that there may be obstacles but as you overcome each one, it'll make you stronger!
You can do it.
It's your time.
You have been called to do great things!
You are Aaaaahhhmazing so GO FOR WHAT YOU KNOW!!!
Love ya'
LashGurl Linda Jo
Friday, November 12, 2010
You are an aaaaahhhmazing Gurl!
So here I sit, typing my first blog entry ever. Hmmmm...what do I say? Rather, how do put into words what's in my heart to say? So many things racing through my head and heart.
And so I pause....
my fingers can't seem to move over the keyboard as my brain cannot seem to form one single thought.
LOL! This is a surprise to those who know me as I rarely am out of words or without comment.
Another pause...I smile...boy, this is harder than I thought.
OK, here goes.
Today was one of those days when I saw a manifestation of my prayers. I experienced God's grace, mercy, peace and promises as the vision regarding this thing came to fruition. I walked in the thing I've been dreaming...seeing...knowing,
WOW!!!!!
So I am overjoyed, overwhelmed, thankful and excited. So overjoyed, overwhelmed, thankful and excited I am beginning to cry. For truly God has been so faithful. It's incredible. Truly, my cup runneth over. And all the while during this faith-walk I kept hearing "you're amazing" in my spirit. That Bruno Mars song comes to mind. It's just so perfect as it creates this feeling of I can do anything and then I think of the scriptures and I'm told that I can, in fact, do all things thru Christ who strengthens me. So I keep going, I keep pushing & pressing and moving to a place I know because I have seen it in my dreams. I struggle, I am blessed, God makes a way out of no way, makes my crooked paths straight. I keep acknowledging Him in all my ways and He keeps making a way. I experience victory one minute and face two set-backs the next minute. I'm told by dreamkillers that it's never gonna happen and I'm blessed by my faith-filled friends who tell me God's got me. I excel as my awesome husband looks at me in a way only he can and tells me that he loves me and I can do this. I weep as I look at my son and know that God's promises are not only for me, but for him, his children and his children's children. I laugh as my son say's, "Mommy, why so serious?". I thank my God in Heaven as God speaks through my son when he throws his little arms around me, looks me straight in the eye and says, "Mommy, I love you".
So much at stake.
I just want God's perfect will for my life.
I'm tired. I've been beat down. I've been betrayed, lied upon and kicked in the gut.
But then I remember God's promises.
I am an overcomer. I am victorious. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God's got a prospering, good plan for me. I am blessed coming in. Blessed going out. I am the head and not the tail. I am the lender and not the borrower. I am loved.
I win.
I am walking in the vision.
I am seeking His kingdom and all His righteousness and He has openly rewarded me on this day.
I am LashGurl LindaJo.
And so I get to today, through today and can barely breathe as my heart is filled with such thankfulness and gratefulness in this moment.
I pause.
So much again to say. But I will stop......in a minute....LOL.
I am His light. I have been called to love and serve others. It is my most sincere heart's desire to hear my Father in Heaven say "Well done my good and faithful servant". I am an exhorter. I want to motivate, encourage and be a vessel which God utilizes to bless others.
And so God has said OK. I'll bless you with a vehicle to do just that.
Today I rejoice in being the owner of The LashGurl Company with a salon in beautiful downtown Rochester Michigan. I am blessed to do something I love that blesses others. Tomorrow I will introduce you to The LashGurl Company in detail. You can go today to my website http://www.thelashgurlcompany.com/ if you'd like more information now. But here's what I want you to walk away with right now.
Know that you are awesome. Know that you are uniquely wonderful, precious and beautiful. Know that God created you for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. Know that others are depending on you walking out your purpose. Know that you are fearfully and wonderfuly made. Know that you can do it! Know that you are worthy of doing it!
Know that you are an aaaaahhhmazing Gurl!
And so I pause....
my fingers can't seem to move over the keyboard as my brain cannot seem to form one single thought.
LOL! This is a surprise to those who know me as I rarely am out of words or without comment.
Another pause...I smile...boy, this is harder than I thought.
OK, here goes.
Today was one of those days when I saw a manifestation of my prayers. I experienced God's grace, mercy, peace and promises as the vision regarding this thing came to fruition. I walked in the thing I've been dreaming...seeing...knowing,
WOW!!!!!
So I am overjoyed, overwhelmed, thankful and excited. So overjoyed, overwhelmed, thankful and excited I am beginning to cry. For truly God has been so faithful. It's incredible. Truly, my cup runneth over. And all the while during this faith-walk I kept hearing "you're amazing" in my spirit. That Bruno Mars song comes to mind. It's just so perfect as it creates this feeling of I can do anything and then I think of the scriptures and I'm told that I can, in fact, do all things thru Christ who strengthens me. So I keep going, I keep pushing & pressing and moving to a place I know because I have seen it in my dreams. I struggle, I am blessed, God makes a way out of no way, makes my crooked paths straight. I keep acknowledging Him in all my ways and He keeps making a way. I experience victory one minute and face two set-backs the next minute. I'm told by dreamkillers that it's never gonna happen and I'm blessed by my faith-filled friends who tell me God's got me. I excel as my awesome husband looks at me in a way only he can and tells me that he loves me and I can do this. I weep as I look at my son and know that God's promises are not only for me, but for him, his children and his children's children. I laugh as my son say's, "Mommy, why so serious?". I thank my God in Heaven as God speaks through my son when he throws his little arms around me, looks me straight in the eye and says, "Mommy, I love you".
So much at stake.
I just want God's perfect will for my life.
I'm tired. I've been beat down. I've been betrayed, lied upon and kicked in the gut.
But then I remember God's promises.
I am an overcomer. I am victorious. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God's got a prospering, good plan for me. I am blessed coming in. Blessed going out. I am the head and not the tail. I am the lender and not the borrower. I am loved.
I win.
I am walking in the vision.
I am seeking His kingdom and all His righteousness and He has openly rewarded me on this day.
I am LashGurl LindaJo.
And so I get to today, through today and can barely breathe as my heart is filled with such thankfulness and gratefulness in this moment.
I pause.
So much again to say. But I will stop......in a minute....LOL.
I am His light. I have been called to love and serve others. It is my most sincere heart's desire to hear my Father in Heaven say "Well done my good and faithful servant". I am an exhorter. I want to motivate, encourage and be a vessel which God utilizes to bless others.
And so God has said OK. I'll bless you with a vehicle to do just that.
Today I rejoice in being the owner of The LashGurl Company with a salon in beautiful downtown Rochester Michigan. I am blessed to do something I love that blesses others. Tomorrow I will introduce you to The LashGurl Company in detail. You can go today to my website http://www.thelashgurlcompany.com/ if you'd like more information now. But here's what I want you to walk away with right now.
Know that you are awesome. Know that you are uniquely wonderful, precious and beautiful. Know that God created you for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. Know that others are depending on you walking out your purpose. Know that you are fearfully and wonderfuly made. Know that you can do it! Know that you are worthy of doing it!
Know that you are an aaaaahhhmazing Gurl!
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