A War Room Prayer For Our Daughters

Being a parent is not for the faint of heart. From watching a newborn’s chest rise and fall so you can confirm breathing to staying up late waiting for a teen to return home, being a parent can leave you sick with worry. Fear, anxiety and guilt can become permanent house guests if you’re not careful. But we are careful parents who do not let seeds of doubt and deception take root. We are parents who fiercely hold fast to the TRUTH.

 

While we may not have ALL the answers in parenting, we do have THE answer. And the answer is PRAYER. [bctt tweet=”The single most effective thing we can do as parents is to pray for our children” username=”inspiredfully”] I’ve fervently poured my heart out for our sons and you can read that HERE. Now let us bombard heaven on behalf of our daughters.

 

Lord,

 

You are a good good Father. You are the Good Shepherd who guides and protects us and our children. Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching us and leading us into all truth. And it is only by your power and revelation that we can effectively parent our daughters. So Lord I thank you that you see each of our daughters. You are intimately acquainted with everything concerning them for you knew them even before we did and you sent them for a time such as this. Thank you for trusting us to steward over these Proverbs 31 women in the making. Confirm for our girls that you love them with an everlasting love. If they’ve been wounded remind them that you see, that you care and that you are the balm that heals. Reassure them that they are the apple of your eye and a jewel in your crown. May they embrace their self-worth and see themselves clothed in beauty and splendor. May they seek to honor you in their temples by pursuing purity, eating right and exercising. May they be discerning like Abigail, knowing there is a time and a place for everything under the heavens. May they be judicious and wise like Deborah. Let our daughters be women of their word like Hannah. Through our own example, let us show them how to be hospitable like the Shunamite woman. Oh that they would have the faithfulness of Ruth and the courage of Esther. May they don obedience and gentleness as garments of praise. We thank you that your plans for them are for good and not evil. May they discover their purpose early and begin to walk in it at a young age. And when the lures of this world try to steal their attention, help them keep their minds staid on you. Lord let our daughters be cloaked in your favor. Above all, I pray they worship you all the days of their lives and dwell in your house forever.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith, Mommy Moments

 

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ALOUD, Give Him Praise!

Great Morning Inspired Life Family!

 

I’m just stopping in to invite you to rejoice with me today.  This morning as my eyes sprung open, my heart was flood with a song.  Stephen Hurd, the Director of Music and Arts at my church, The First Baptist Church of Glenarden, sings a song called Great Praise, (The War Cry). In the song he encourages us to give God great praise, ALOUD. YES, open your mouth and out loud give him your best praise. On this day the Nation has set aside to give thanks, be reminded that every second we have reason to give thanks.

~He woke you up this morning, THANK YOU!

~You can these words on the screen, THANK YOU!

 

~For the electronic device you’re holding to read this, THANK YOU!

 

~For your daily bread, THANK YOU!

 

~For the heat in your home, THANK YOU!

 

~For being loved, THANK YOU!

 

~Even for being hated on, THANK YOU!

 

~For running water, THANK YOU!

 

~For affliction that keeps you clinging to the Cross, THANK YOU!

 

~For laughter, THANK YOU!

 

~For every breath, THANK YOU!

 

[bctt tweet=”Any time is a good time to give the Lord not only a great praise but our BEST praise.” username=”inspiredfully”] He’s worthy.

May your day be spent basking in His infinite blessings.

As always, I pray you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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A Fervent Prayer for Our Sons

Kissing boo-boos and giving hugs.

 

Teaching, guiding, correcting.

 

Checking homework.

 

Giving advice.

 

Crying, praying and more crying.

 

A parent’s work is never done. [bctt tweet=”The true work of parenting is not in what we say TO our children but in what we say TO GOD about them.” username=”inspiredfully”] I’ve been blessed with FOUR, yes 4 sons. Most days, I feel pretty adequate in meeting their temporal needs. It can get overwhelming though when I think about the magnitude of my assignment: to shepherd them as they discover and walk out God’s purposes and plans for their lives.

 

So whether you’ve got a son or a daughter (yup I‘ve got 2 girls also), the most effective thing we can do in parenting is to pray for them. So join me in a FERVENT prayer for our sons. Our young men have a charge from God to be strong and courageous. And we need them to be just that as they stand firm in their convictions to help heal our land.

 

Heavenly Father,

You are Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. You are the Creator of all, you see all and you know all. And I thank you God that you see our sons and you know them by name. You know every hair on their heads. You know their beginning from their end. Lord I pray that they will always pursue you with their whole hearts. As the deer pants for the water, may their souls long after you and YOU alone. I thank you that your plans for them are for good and not for evil, to give them a future and a hope. Lord I pray that you will keep them hidden under the shadow of your wing. I thank you that you’ve given your angels charge over them to protect them in all their ways. Lord I pray you grant them the wisdom of Solomon and the courage of Daniel. I pray they have the obedience of Abram and the faith of Joshua. I pray that they will walk with you like Enoch and be honorable like Joseph. Let our sons be a friend to you like David. Let them be filled with gentleness, love and compassion like you Jesus. May they love and respect their bodies and keep them holy and acceptable unto you. May they think critically, communicate clearly and solve problems help humanity. May they grow in wisdom and in stature in favor with you and with man. And may they walk in paths of righteousness for your namesake as you lead them in the way everlasting. Thank you Lord.

 

Amen

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News #LifeGivingLinkup, Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Grace and Truth

 

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Yes You Are {A Spoken Word Poem}

Yeshua
Yes you are
Yeshua
Yes you are

 
The Anointed One

The Lamb who was slain

The King of kings the Lord of lords

The Alpha and the Omega

The Bright and Morning Star

The Beginning and the End

 
Yeshua Hamashiach
My Salvation
The Way the Truth and the Life
The Lion of the tribe of Judah

 
Yeshua
Yes you are

 
The Lily of the Valley
My Daily Bread
The River of Living Water
The Well that never runs dry

 
Yeshua Hamashiach
Grace wrapped in flesh
The Christ
Messiah
Redeemer
Anything I need you to be,
that you are

 
Yes you are
Yeshua
Yes you are

 
You are
Yeshua
[bctt tweet=”I AM you say. I say yes you are. Yeshua ” username=”inspiredfully”]
Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith Mommy Moments Grace & Truth

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It Is Finished

Hey Family just stopping in to tell you how much I’ve missed you. I treasure the sacred space we share here on the blog. Just know that even in my absence I’ve been praying for you. I also wanted to let you know…

 

IT IS FINISHED!

 

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:28-20

 

In case you didn’t know, I’ve been away for nearly two months. I’ve been in the writer’s cave giving birth to a book. This is a work that has been in progress for nearly eight years. I had buried it, but in January God told me he was going to resurrect the dry bones and put sinew and meat on them. When he said that, I immediately rejected it. I was 90% of the way finished with another book that seemed a lot more fun to work on. But God being God, knows his purposes and plans. And me being me, a Grace Girl, I had to obey. So out came old hard drives and old flash drives as I attempted to cull together the old material.

 

Well God is faithful. [bctt tweet=”When he calls you to it, He’ll give you the grace to do it.” username=”inspiredfully”] That old material took on new life and grew in ways I could not have imagined. Though I did not meet my initial goal of completing the book within 40 days, it was completed in 47. For a moment, embarrassment and pride tried to hold me in its grip when I didn’t finish by the date. But we serve a God who supersedes our man made timelines. I thank my sweet friend for reminding me of that truth. And though I say, it is finished; it is just truly the beginning right?

 

In the above verses, when Jesus surrendered himself, it was just the beginning for us. It was our entryway to grace. And this first stage of completion for the book is just the beginning.

 

Writing this book was no easy feat; it’s on raising godly children after all. While it is not an easy subject, it is one that the Lord says this world needs. Our world is in crisis and we need to raise godly children who are filled with love and compassion to help heal humanity. So starting with my own little flock of six over here, I’m doing my part to help move the kingdom building agenda forward.

 

While the initial writing phase is done, I will now be working on implementing the feedback I’ve received from my early readers. I thank them for their eagle eye and critical analysis. It’s good to have people in your camp that don’t merely tell you what you want to hear, but provide feedback to help you grow. If you are the creator of anything, it can sting when someone critiques your creation, but I say to remember why you are doing the work and that’s to meet the audience’s need. And if the work can be improved to better meet that need, while staying true to what God’s called you to do, then make the adjustments.

 

Friends I ask you to continue to pray for my family and me as I move forward to get this book into the hands of its intended audience. Let me know how I can pray for you.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith Mommy Moments

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The 5 People You Need In Your Tribe

“Long as I got King Jesus, I don’t need nobody else”.

 

So goes a line from an old gospel song. We all got a good chuckle in church yesterday as our Pastor sang and danced to the song. While the dance was cute, he was making a profound point. He was uncovering the flawed theology in the song. Indeed Jesus is MORE than enough for any need we have. [bctt tweet=”Jesus did not design us to walk the journey of life alone. We are wired to do life together.” username=”inspiredfully”] It just makes the going a little easier.

 

So who’s on your squad?

 

These are 5 people we need in our tribe.

 

Oldie But Goodie

This is your faithful friend. An old crony, running partner, tried and true blue friend. Even if they haven’t been your friends for a long number of years, it feels like they’ve been around always. The total opposite of fair weather friend, they are there in time good and bad. They are familiar and comfortable like your favorite old robe. You don’t have to explain to them what you’re feeling and why, they just already know.

 

Tell It Like It Is

We appreciate our friend who agrees with us and takes our side. But we NEED the friend who will tell us like it is. She will check us. She will point out when we have erred. Without bias, she will carefully assess a situation and present it to us. Argh! She may rub you the wrong way from time to time but you need that. The sandpaper of tell it like it is, is what makes you smooth.

 

Zena Warrior Princess

Ok, back in the day this would have been the friend ready to fight for you on the playground. She would have been quick to stop gossip and slander about you. Today, she’s the first one on her knees interceding on your behalf. She’s willing to go Peter slicing ears off for you. Fortunately she knows how to channel all that fire into prayer. Even right now she may be found interceding for you.

 

Party Girl

You know the fun girl. The witty friend. The self-deprecating one that brings a smile to your face. Sometimes I can be WAY to serious. I’ve never learned how to tell jokes (my timing is off and I can never recall all the details of the story). For me doing life mostly means “handling business” so I desperately need this friend to lighten me up, to help get my drawers out of a bunch, to simply be silly and laugh.

 

The Coach

Who’s challenging you to grow? Who encourages you to go to bed early and to rise early? Who’s on the sideline cheering you on? Who’s holding you accountable? Yup, we all need that coach friend. Your sister friend who will not only remind you of your goals, but the one who is right there as the dream is fulfilled.

 

So who’s in your tribe?

 

For you these may actually be 5 different chicas. For some this may but that one special treasured friend. If you don’t have these sisters represented in your starting lineup, I’m praying God brings the right people into your circle and I pray your heart is open to receive them. One way God expresses his love to us is directly through our relationships so I pray you are blessed with true sisterhood. Friendship and sisterhood are critical to our emotional well being and personally near and dear to my heart. You can find me sharing more on the topic here:

~Sisterhood

~Friendship

 

We’ve been called to:

~Love one another

~Bear one another’s burdens

~Pray for one another

~Comfort one another
~give preference to one another

~Forgive one another

~Be kind to one another

~Serve one another

~Speak truth to one another

~Encourage one another

 

It is my prayer that you’ve got people in your tribe that will love you, encourage you and serve you. We all need a squad who will speak truth to us, bear our burdens and give us comfort. Take confidence in knowing you’ve got me on your squad, holding it down in prayer.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Grace and Truth

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Sisterhood: Soul Therapy

Tears of joy.

 

Smiles a plenty.

 

Hearts wide open.

 

 

All found in the uninhibited exchange between sisters.

 

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I’ve heard it said, “I don’t ‘do’ women.” What that screams is, I’ve been hurt, I’ve been wounded, I am afraid. Women are wired to be in relationship with one another. There is safety, comfort and joy found in sisterhood. From styling one another’s hair to delivering babies, from sharing the deepest secrets to holding bridezilla while she has a meltdown, women are designed to nurture one another.

 

[bctt tweet=”The soul is nourished when the heart is embraced in sisterhood.” username=”inspiredfully”]

 

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I met a woman once who confided in me that she didn’t have a female in her life that she considered a trusted friend. I was deeply moved by that and my heart went out to her. Wouldn’t you know, 4 years later, we are friends. She is lively, funny, loyal and giving, a good recipe for being a great friend. Yet my sweet friend had spent time without the beauty of sisterhood.

 

[bctt tweet=”Soul therapy is found in the sacred space of sisterhood.” username=”inspiredfully”]

 

Careers, schedules, children, husbands, fears, and just daily living can have us trapped in silos. Our ability to nurture meaningful relationships becomes subject to the captivity of solitary confinement UNLESS we intentionally fill our prescription of soul therapy and demand our RELEASE.

 

I’ve always treasured friendship and I’ve been blessed beyond measure to do life with some amazing women. They teach me, challenge me, love me, help me, and flat out make me smile. I’ve also been hurt by a few but my heart remains open. For what is life without love? What is life without hurt? Is a life truly lived if it isn’t felt?

 

Recently I shared hearts, laughs and tears with a sweet friend. She literally radiates sunshine. We filled our prescription of soul therapy over a mutual love, COFFEE. You can find her talking about all things coffee over at EspressoTrips

 

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For my birthday I was blessed to share excellent food, great conversation, hopes and dreams with two of my favorite gals.

 

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As a homemaker, the nature of the job can have me riding solo often. Then add in being a wife and mama to 6, my time for nurturing meaningful relationships with my sisters can be hampered. So I have to be purposeful and intentional in my connections. Relationships are dear to the heart of God. I think He illustrates this so beautifully through relationships in the bible, from David and Jonathan to Jesus and the beloved disciple, that we’ve been called to do life together. And if relationships are meaningful to Him then they should be meaningful to us and we should cultivate them.

 

I pray you find love, encouragement, safety and acceptance in the sacred space of sisterhood. If you are carrying the hurt of having been wounded by a sister, I pray that your heart be mended,  and if necessary that you find forgiveness. I pray you open your heart once again to the possibility of true sisterhood.

 

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What are you doing to ensure your sisterhood soul therapy?

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with others sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, #LifeGivingLinkup,Purposeful  Faith

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Reflections

Sitting in the stillness of time, with the incessant hum and buzz of a million bugs as my beat, I bob my head to nature’s morning song. Humid air courses through my nostrils and I breathe DEEP. I exhale and give thanks for another year of LIFE. It’s my BIRTHDAY!


My mother died just shy of her 40th birthday. Because of that, somehow I’ve come to think that ever year I live past that age is an extra special gift. 
On this humid August morning I give pause for reflection. 

Who am I?

What am I doing?

Where am I going?

Am I where I want to be?

Am I doing what brings me joy?

Am I living an intentional life?

Am I making a difference?

What could I be doing differently?

Do those closest to me know I love them? Do they feel that love communicated regularly?

Am I living today to leave a legacy worthy talking about when I’m gone?

While it may not be your birthday, I invite you to reflect on these questions. It’s great to take personal inventory and assess if you’re satisfied with your current living. If you aren’t, I implore you to be of good courage and make a bold move to live fully. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different result. Let’s not be insane. We’re far too brilliant for that. I invite you friends to EMBRACE THE NOW MOMENT, TO HONOR THE TEMPLE & TO OBEY GOD, for this is truly the way to do life with purpose on purpose. 
So today friends:

Be Uniquely YOU

Be Beautiful

Be Purposeful

Be Alive

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His face on you and give you peace.

As always it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!


Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth

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Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror,

What do I see?

I see a fat girl

Looking at me.

 

“You are fat!”

“Oh my gawd, you are so fat!”

“Do you see those rolls? They are just SO fat!”

 

So went my dialogue with myself.

 

EV-ER-Y SINGLE TIME I walked pass a mirror, these were my thoughts.

 

A torrent of hot lava flowing over my spirit leaving the ash of a charred self image in its wake.

 

Remember her?

 

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Gone was my athletic body, replaced now with my post-pregnancy body replete with bumps, lumps and rolls.

 

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Pre-pregnancy I was in the best physical shape in my life. I was working out 5-6 days a week. After having been pregnant or nursing for the last 13 years, this was the longest stretch I had gone between pregnancies and I felt like I finally had my body back. I fought kicking and screaming to surrender to my pregnant body. Mid-way through my pregnancy I came to love and accept my pregnant body. But post-baby was another story.

 

“Oohhh girl, you are SO fat!”

 

There I went again. But this time the Holy Spirit stopped me dead in my tracks. As I looked at myself, held in position at the mirror a moment longer, the Holy Spirit said, “Toxic thoughts. You speak life and encouragement to everyone else and you are speak death to yourself.”

 

Grateful that he got my attention, I knew I had to o something about it. I had to excavate the skills I’d acquired from

The 21 Day Brain Detox. I had to take those toxic thoughts captive and replace them with the TRUTH.

 

I was speaking with a friend the other day and she says she asks herself “Is it true?”

 

For truth says:

 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

PSALM 139:13-15

 

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

Song of Solomon 4:7

 

I am created in His image. You are created in His image. You are His workmanship. [bctt tweet=”You are a work of art, skillfully wrought at the hands of a Master artisan.” username=”inspiredfully”] You are beautiful, capable, and more than enough just the way you are.

 

THIS IS THE TRUTH.

 

And what was this preoccupation with body image anyway? I thought this was something I had resolved and put to rest. Having been heavier before, I learned to listen to the Holy Spirit as to how to honor my temple. And even though I know this is baby weight and it will most likely all disappear, I’m still nervous. And even though I have gone back down to my former size after every baby (five times I’ve bounced back), there is still this looming doubt, “What if I don’t lose the weight this time?” I just can’t bear the thought of walking around indefinitely feeling like The Stay Puft Marshmallow (ok so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration but if you’ve ever been concerned about weight you get what I’m saying). Of course it doesn’t help when all my old clothes are still hanging in my closet but I can’t fit any of them. And there are but a handful of pieces I can fit so it can be overwhelming just to get dressed. Then don’t let me stumble upon old pics in my phone because that can hurl me smack dab into a pit of self-loathing.

 

What lies are trying to tap dance their way across you’re your mind?

 

Shatter the darkness and ditch the lies. Allow the light of truth to permeate every crack, corner and recess of your mind. Allow His light and love to course through your veins. Meditate on that which is true, lovely and praiseworthy.

 

The other day, I saw a glimpse of myself, smiled and thought, “Yes girl, you are working it!”

 

No pride. No vanity. Just a girl, loved by an awesome Father.

 

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to partner with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith, Mommy Moments, Grace & Truth

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A Baby, A Book, And A Break

Oh Inspired Life Family where have you been? I guess the more accurate question is where have I been. I’ve missed you tremendously. It has always been a delight to meet you here is this sacred space. I thank you for receiving the words of grace that God pours out from His heart, to mine, to yours.

 

A BABY

 

Baby

The last 2 months have been filled with cuddles, snuggles & kisses. Throw in constant diaper changes and being milked like a cow, all the while entertaining my other children since school let out, it’s made for a non-stop flurry of activity. But even in all this, I’ve purposed to SLOW DOWN, to take my own words to heart and EMBRACE THE NOW MOMENT. So I’m savoring the sweetness that a newborn brings to the home and enjoying the raucous laughter that the older children bring. Then mix in some sweet sayings from an innocent 5 year old such as, “Mommy, you need that feet thing from off the TV to get all that white stuff off the back of your feet”, endless fun indeed. Even the 3 year old is giving me plenty to smile about with,

 

“Mommy when I’m a grown up and I have money I’m gonna buy you a lot of stuff.”

Me: “Like what?”

3 year old: “Candy.”

5 year old: “You know mommy doesn’t want candy. She only wants vegetables!”

 

Didn’t I tell you I’ve been entertained? The Lord had been impressing on my heart to laugh more and He has certainly been providing countless opportunities.   I don’t want you to miss out on any of the fun, so come visit me on INSTAGRAM.

 

A BOOK

 

A book & A Baby

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved to write. From poems to short stories to news articles, writing has always been in my blood. I’ve got a degree in Journalism. I’ve known for a very long time that I would one day write books. I’ve drafted plans for several books. I’ve got chapters of several different books living on hard drives and flash drives. Last year I began writing 2 books that I thought would come to fruition this year but the pregnancy last year threw me for a loop.

Early 2016 God told me to put those on hold and to resurrect something I began working on nearly 8 years ago. God has called those dry bones forward and is putting flesh on them. I ask friends that you pray for me as I crucify my flesh so that HIS words can flow freely out of me and onto the page. I feel so ill equipped to write THIS book. But I’m comforted to know God specializes in using ill equipped people.

It is said that a dream without a deadline is a fantasy. With that said, my accountability partners challenged me to “PICK A DATE ALREADY!’ So I’ve got a date to have the manuscript complete. And I’m hiding behind fear so I don’t even want to post the date here. See, this is why y’all gotta pray for me. I’ve been slow to obey with this.  And we know that slow to obey = disobedience.  I would be remiss if I did not point out that OBEDIENCE is one of the three pillar THIS ministry is built upon so I’ve got to take my own mission to heart.

 

A BREAK

 

A Break

Visiting you weekly is something I’ve always enjoyed doing. I never set out to take a a mini blogging break. Each week I pray for you and each week, in my mind, I’ve met you here in this space. I was quite surprised one day when I looked up and realized I hadn’t blogged in over a month. But the break has given me time to focus on my 1st ministry, HOME. But I feel you are family too, so I’ve missed you a great deal. In the event we don’t meet here in this space, I’d love for us to remain connected. You can find on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. Though my goal is to still meet you here weekly to share from Jesus, to my heart, to yours.

 

So friends, bask in the sun, embrace the now moment and live your days fully inspired.

 

Until next time, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith, Titus 2 Tuesday, Grace & Truth

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