For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you! Here’s week 5:
I want to talk to you about the word “Cultivate.” I believe as Christians we are called to cultivate. The definition for the word cultivate is: to work on, to seek, to devote and to train! I love the definition of this word because it works in steps. It’s a process. Maybe you are at the seeking part, new to being a Christian and just trying to get your feet wet and learn. Maybe you’ve already done that part and you are now ready to devote yourself to being a true part of the body of Christ! I believe that one of the true ways to know that you are truly “cultivating” is when the people you are around notice a true difference in your life and that true difference that they see is Jesus. So, whatever phase you are in, I hope and pray that you know that He has called each and every one of you to “Cultivate”!!!
For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you! Here’s week 4:
The Greek word for anxious is “distracted”- which refers to uncertainty, and that is what anxiety produces in us! Maybe for you it’s a job, maybe your marriage, school or your kids that are producing anxiety in your life. But let me encourage you, do not let those things overtake you, speak life and use the power that God has given you! God has created you for a purpose and a plan! I love what Steven Furtick says, “Just because you are in a uncertain place, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a certain purpose.” So, in all the uncertainty that may surround you, know that you have a purpose and that you are here on purpose. And most of all, I want you to know that I love you and that God loves you!!
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6
For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you! Here’s week 3:
Don’t get in your head and let your inner thoughts tell you who you are or what you can do, let Jesus be your inner voice! When David faced Goliath, he could have listened to king Saul, his brothers or the people around him, but, he wouldn’t have completed one of the greatest moments in history. Instead he listened to the inner voice, Jesus!!Could you imagine if you were just one battle away from your destiny and instead of listening to who God says you are, you listen to the people around you or the inner voice in your head? As humans, we can only see in the physical realm, but God sees everything and He sees what we are capable of and because he created us, He knows what’s best. So don’t allow your doubts and fears that are in your head or the voice of others that are around determine what you do. Trust the inner voice of the Holy Spirit and walk in the reality of who you are in Christ. You are more than enough and you are more than a conqueror.
For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you! Here’s week 2:
What is the purpose of your purpose? God has created you with a purpose on purpose, but how do find that purpose? I honestly think that when some of you are asking what is my purpose— you are actually asking to be loved, or maybe you are even asking for recognition. There may even be some of you, that like me right now, your just starting out in life and really have no idea what your purpose in life may be. You are just taking one step of faith at a time! You’re striving to step in faith until you achieve your purpose. The definition of purpose is, “The reason for which something is done or created.” I want you to know that your purpose started before you were ever created in your mothers womb. Your purpose started in the heart of God! So let me encourage you that even when you don’t see it, God is working on your behalf— He sees you, He knows you and He loves you!
For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you!
Monday does not have to be mundane!! Why do we as a culture label Monday as the worst day of the week? I think it’s deeper than just something we say, but it’s something that we declare… the Bible says that we have the power of life and death in our tongue. I believe that as a culture knowingly or unknowingly we are the ones that have made Monday mundane! So I challenge you to break the cycles of culture, not only just with Monday, but with everyday of your life! Chose to speak life! We are called to stand up and stand out!! So if you want a positive environment and culture, than maybe it needs to start with you.
Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings or of angels. If I don’t have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal. -I Corinthians 13:1
When it comes to communication there are so many attributes that impact what is being said and what is being heard. However, when you speak to others you should intentionally practice being kind, respectful and considerate. You should speak in love! Someone might say, “The truth hurts.” Yes, sometimes it does, but even though, the truth should still be spoken in love. Sometimes the way you talk reveals how you truly feel. You must remember that God is love and you must also remember that we will be known by our love for one another. God loves you with a faithful and steadfast love! Let’s love one another and let’s speak the truth, but let’s speak it in love.
Here Are 10 Ways to Know If You Are Speaking the Truth Out of A Heart of Love:
1. When you want to resolve the issue of conflict more than you want to prove your point.
2. When you want to hear what’s being said more than you want to be heard.
3. When you are more concerned with bringing a resolution to the conflict than you are with being right.
4. When the other person’s need is greater than your ego.
5. When you listen and truly hear what the other person is saying.
6. When you’re wrong and you recognize it.
7. When you’re in the wrong and you admit it.
8. When you stop saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong way, for the wrong reason.
9. When you don’t talk until you have something that is worth hearing.
10. When you consider how the other person feels above how you may be feeling.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
–Phil 3:13-14
“Now Then” is a statement that is used for getting someone’s attention when you are starting to talk about something new. It’s a phrase used to interrupt or redirect what’s being discussed so that you can discuss or consider what is more appropriate or important. “Now Then” is also a statement that can connect the present with the future. Therefore, what you do today will impact tomorrow. What you do now, will determine what happens then. Yesterday is behind you. Today is surrounding you. Your future is in front of you. Ask God for insight, wisdom and clarity and then take a moment now, and reflect upon these scriptures below.
My Lord, you have been our home forever and ever. You were God before the mountains were born, before the earth and the world were made. You have always been and will always be God! You bring people into this world, and you change them into dust again. To you, a thousand years is like yesterday, like a few hours in the night. Our life is like a dream that ends when morning comes. We are like grass that grows and looks so fresh in the morning, but in the evening it is dry and dying. Teach us how short our lives are so that we can become wise. -Psalm 90:1-6, 12
“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” -Philippians 3:12-13 TPT
Now is this instance. Then refers to a specific time. It can refer to the past, or it can be referring to the future. The moment you have now, is all about building a brighter future. A future that glorifies God and benefits those with whom you come in to contact with. Learn from the past, but live in the present moment while believing for a brighter future.
There are really only two realms of reality that we live in, or live out of:
Our Past…
Our Future…
The present is never a realized reality, because the moment you realize that it existed, it’s gone! In a split second, it no longer exists. And now is gone the second you say it! However, you must remember, it’s not about minutes; it’s about moments. When you seize the moments that matter, those special moments that are contained in each day, you will help create a better tomorrow, while securing a brighter future. Philippians chapter three and verse thirteen shines some light on how to do this.
3 Things to Consider From This Passage in Philippians 3:13:
(1). Realize. (2). Remember. (3). Reach.
1. Realize You will Never Have it All Figured Out. (The starting place of realization is admission [an act of admitting or the fact or state of being admitted. *Admitting your need, your weakness, your sin, your addiction, or your shortcoming, is the gateway to victory and the doorway to freedom.
7 Things to Admit and to Realize:
I’ve not arrived.
There are things I don’t know.
There are things I could be better with, and better at.
I don’t know the answer to every question.
I don’t know the solution to very problem.
I can’t understand everything that happens.
I don’t always know the right thing to do or the right thing to say.
*Phil.3:13 (*But this one thing I do) You may not have it all figured out, but you may have one thing that you do know or that you can do.
Learn from the past, but forget the bad times, the sorrow and the regrets of yesterday.
Learn from the past, but break the cycles and patterns of the past that created what you didn’t desire, so they don’t reappear in your future.
Learn from the past, but don’t carry the burdens, sorrows or regrets of the past into the present, or into your future.
2. Remember the Past is the Past. Forget the things that hinder your future progress, or that keep you bound to the past in a negative way; especially the things that bring disappointment and discouragement in regards to your future.
Don’t Allow These Things to Hinder You:
Regrets (what you did or said)
What you did.
What you didn’t do.
You can’t change the past. But, if it has been forgiven, than forget it and trust God for your future.
Don’t allow what you can’t control; to control you!
Unforgiveness(what other people have done or said)
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
It takes faith to give and receive forgiveness.
Not forgiving doesn’t cause harm to the other person, it causes harm to you.
Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the offense, it releases you from the burden of carrying the hurt.
Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the fault of the offender; it brings freedom to the offended.
Jesus said, “Father forgive them, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Not forgiving will keep you tied to the past you’re desiring to forget.
YOU MUST LEARN TO BE:
Thankful
Grateful
Content
Comparing and complaining will keep you from being content!
Live in the present and make the most of every moment.
Don’t take life or yourself too serious.
Always be a work in progress that is always growing and ever learning.
3. Reach for What’s Next and What’s Best.
(But don’t miss what’s right beside you) – I think that Paul is saying that he’s trying to move ahead by reaching for what matters and forgetting what doesn’t.
The last always looks better than it really is, the farther you move away from it. (*The good old days)
When don’t feel like you have anything to look forward to; it’s easy to look back.
When it Comes to Your Future You Have to:
See it! (you have to see it first)
Say it! (say what you see)
Seize it! (take hold of it)
To reach means to: strain, stretch, risk and change.
Stretching will help you reach higher, and go further.
The greater the risk the greater the reward.
Nothing ever changes without change
Stretch yourself and reach higher!
Don’t get distracted with things that don’t matter!
Celebrate small victories along the way. *(God created things “in time”, not in one day, and every time He did He said, “it is good.”)
Enjoy life, glorify God, and love people.
Good intentions won’t get you there.
Intentions are what you intend to do.
Strategy is a clear plan on how to accomplish what you desire.
Your strategy, not your intention, determines your success.
Many people intend to spend more time with their family, to be less scattered at work, to manage their time better, to ensure their top priories get accomplished, but they haven’t found a strategy to get them to that place.
Set goals and prioritize what truly matters.
Stretch yourself and dream big.
Be open minded, but, stay focused on what truly matters.
“Now Then” You Must- Learn from the past – but forget the bad times, sorrow and regrets – You can’t change what has happened up to now, but you can determine what happens from now on. *Admit
“Now Then” You Must- Live in the present – Make the most of every moment, don’t take life or yourself too serious- make as many memories as you can. Always be a work in progress- always growing and ever learning. *Forget
“Now Then You Must- Believe for the Future – Reach for what’s ahead. Set goals and prioritize what truly matters. Stretch yourself, dream big, be open minded, and stay focused on what truly matters. *Reach
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
12 Ways to Live in Freedom:
1. Learn to forgive and realize that you have already been forgiven.
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.” Matt. 6:14-15 MSG
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Col. 3:13 TEV
2. Learn to have constructive conversations.
You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. Instead, a be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. Eph. 4:31 NET
Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit– you choose. Prov. 18:21 MSG
3. Learn to encourage others.
The sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; He makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do. Is. 50:4 NET
When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Rm. 1:12 NLT
So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. 1 Thess. 5:11 CEB
4. Learn the art of not complaining. [especially about the things you permit.]
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Phil. 2:14-15 ESV
5. Learn to keep your word and to be honest.
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Col. 3:9 NLT
A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold. Prov. 22:1 GWT
6. Learn to be kind.
May God pour out His love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. I Thess. 3:12
Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. Eph. 4:29, 31-32 CEB
7. Learn to live out “the golden rule.” [do unto to others, as you would have them do to you.]
Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Rom. 12:10 MSG
“Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you.” Matt. 7:12 CEB
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had toward you. Phil. 2:3-5 ESV
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6:10 ESV
8. Learn to NOT argue or to feed an argumentative spirit.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. II Cor. 10:5 ESV
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom. 12:18 NIV
9. Learn to resolve unresolved issues.
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry– but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Eph. 4:26-27 MSG
10. Learn all the facts before you come to a conclusion.
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Acts 16:27 ESV
11. Learn to build bridges; not walls.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Prov. 3:27 ESV
And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I’m staying right here at my post praying for you and teaching you the good and right way to live. I Sam. 12:23 MSG
Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Eph. 4:23 MSG
12. Learn to concentrate on what truly matters.
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3 NLT
Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. I Cor. 15:58
You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:14-17
