Sunday, November 20, 2016

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

In the late 80’s Bobby McFerrin coined what turned into a very popular tune, ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’. One line in the song says: 

“In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double. 
Don’t Worry Be Happy”

This song was written almost 30 years ago but still has a timely message today. My mind is filled with so much these days. Worry plagues me at times. I try my hardest not to worry but it’s something I can’t shake sometimes. Then I saturate myself in God’s Word and He speaks to me ever so gently and says, “It will be alright, I got this”. It’s in those moments that I feel a sense of peace that overtakes me. I enter my happy place. 

The ‘happy place’ is a place I love to be in. I rest there, I smile there and I enjoy life there. I’m my best creative self there and I’m refreshed, renewed and rejuvenated in that place. I pray that everyone can find this place and once you find it, come up with a strategy to stay there. 


Here are 5 tips I’d like to offer for staying in your ‘happy place’ (for you and me): 

  1. Be Grateful. 
-Sounds easy enough right? Not so much when we let worry turn into complaining. What I’ve found is that gratefulness can’t co-exist with other folks like worry and fear. When we put our focus on the things that we do have instead of the things we do not have it adds prospective to those issues we tend to make larger than what they actually are. Also, being grateful keeps our focus on the one who keeps us rather than on our problems. 

2. Saturate yourself in God’s Word. 
-This is indeed a ‘fo sho mood-changer! Reading about what God says in His Word about your situation is sure to lift your spirits and send you straight to happy! Beyond that, staying in God’s Word helps you against mental attacks of the enemy. 

When the enemy whispers: “You’re not good enough”
God says: “You are fearfully wand wonderfully made”

When the enemy whispers: “You just need to accept it and be sad”
God says: “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. The joy of the Lord is my strength!!!”

When the enemy whispers: “You are not going to get that task completed, the resources are not there”
God says: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”. 

Saturate yourself in God’s Word and it will surely bring you to ‘happy’. 

3. Love, Love & Love More!
-No matter how hard life seems to get you can always rest in the fact that you’ve got family and friends who love you. Revel in that! Keep love in your heart as it will carry you through those tough times. Love life and appreciate it for all its goodness! Trust me, things are not as bad as they seem!! 

4. Get Focused Man! (said in my Jigga voice!)
-Don’t let go of your dreams and goals no matter what setbacks you encounter! Stay focused on the ‘why’ and pursue it as if your life depended on it. When you’re focused on your goals, your time to worry dramatically decreases - go figure! 

5. Choose Happiness. 
-Life is about choices and happiness is one of those choices. This is something that you have to choose and decide to be daily. Life’s pressures can get us down be it relational, financial, emotional or whatever and regardless of what people may think, depression is a real thing - even among the saints! But we serve a God who is gracious and merciful toward us and as my Pastor preached recently - he loads us daily with benefits!! That fact alone ought to bring you back to ‘happy’. Ultimately, the choice is yours and I say - choose happiness daily!  

Girrrl find your happy place and stay there! Life is too precious to waste it sitting around worrying about something that God has already worked out! 


Girrrl Don’t Worry, Be Happy!!  

Thursday, November 10, 2016

God Will Not Be Trumped!

In the aftermath of one of the most anxiety inducing elections of our time, here we are - still standing. Things are no different today then they were a few days ago. I see the posts on Facebook detailing people’s projections of the future under the Trump administration; some may be accurate and some may not. The truth that I hold to is that God is indeed in control - He will not be trumped! Regardless of the outcome, know that God is still behind the scenes orchestrating all things. (Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who’s in office, God still expects us to carry out the purpose He has set for our lives. Carrying out your purpose and working through your goals will still happen. The grind is still in effect!!! God may use this administration to open up the doors you need to get big things to happen. God said in His Word that He ‘will make your enemies a footstool at your feet’ (Psalms 110:1). Sometimes God allows things to happen so that when we are victorious, we give all the credit to Him, not to any political party, community leaders or whoever. God deserves all the glory and honor. 


This is the time to truly do a foundation check. What are you rooted in? Is it in politics? World leaders? Your own abilities? I believe God allows trouble to come to see where your foundation is. When things get tight or curve balls are thrown, do you get shaky or do you have a firm foundation in Christ? 

If your foundation is in Christ then the election outcome should not cause anxiety or at least if it does (because this is a normal human reaction), your response to it should be different. Stand firm on your foundation and stay focused on your purpose in Christ. God is in control and He will not be trumped!  

Moving on....

Do the Work in 2024!

Happy New Year Girrrl!  I pray that the first 3 days in 2024 have been fruitful!  As women, God has called you to do the work in 2024. It...