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My homeschooler has been studying Cubism. And while it ended up being one of the most influential art styles of the 20th century, at its inception it challenged what people knew, understood and accepted about perspective.
This is much like life today.
Conventional perspective says:
I’m at peace when I have money in the bank
I’m happy if I have new clothes
I’m happy when my children obey
I’m joyful when I’m on vacation
I’m content when everything is going my way
But I say we give ourselves permission like Picasso and Braque to change our perspective.
To see through eyes of faith
To see through eyes of love
To see with eternity in mind
To see with INsight
With a new line of sight we can see:
Abundance where we perceived lack
Joy where we felt pain
Peace where we saw chaos
Sound thinking where there was anxiety
How’s your perspective?
With a SHIFT in perspective you can be confident knowing that whatever situation you find yourself in, THERE in that place you have joy, you have peace, you have contentment.
[bctt tweet=”When you purpose to SEE beyond sight, with spiritual sight you see love, abundance and fulfillment.” username=”inspiredfully”]
Isn’t this what God wants you for? He came that you may have life and have it to the full, and that is possible when we shift perspective and give thanks.
In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
With a changed perspective I’m giving myself permission to laugh, permission to have fun, and permission to LIVE because with an eternal perspective I have more than enough. I am loved, I am love and I give love.
And where there is love there is life.
So how’s your perspective?
I’m praying your GODvision to see with INsight for heavenly perspective.
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
In the face of what seemed like a mountain range of insurmountable issues and tasks, I desperately held on. I held on to the Word hidden in my heart. I held on to the promises God has declared for me and for my family. And though I felt I was hanging on by a thread, that thread was like ultra strong spider silk. Fiercely clinging, hands getting raw and blisters forming, the silk was a life LINE that fed right to the VINE.
So friends I want to encourage you. When facing the issues of life, here are 20 things about God that you can bank on:
Day and night Dwell On God’s unending love for you for He says nothing can separate you from His love.
Know that you are never alone. God always Looks In On you (Psalm 139:2-4).
Hold On to God’s unchanging hand (Deut 20:30) becasue He won’t let you go.
God is listening and watching. He has His Eye On you (Psalm 34:15).
Feast On God’s word and you will be transformed (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
A diet rich in the Word is surefire thing to Grow On (1 Peter 2:2).
You will Power On when the Holy Spirit has come upon you so operate in your power (Acts 1:8)!
His Word is your bread and His Spirit your water to Live On.
When He tells you Get A Move On He’s expecting you to obey and will bless your obedience (Genesis 12,13).
God’s promises are YES and AMEN and that’s a promise you can Bank On (2 Corinthians 1:20).
God places us in community so that we love, bless, encourage and Cheer On one another.
Got worries? God wants you to Cast On Him anything that concerns you (1 peter 5:7).
Safely on God’s wings you will Carry On (Deuteronomy 32:11).
You can keep your mind right when you Think On things that are lovely and true (Philippians 4:8).
When you remain steadfast and Hang On you will receive your blessing (James 1:12).
Stand On the solid rock of Christ and you won’t waver (pslam 62:6-9).
Abiding in Him is the only way to Get A Handle On your emotions. He wants you to bear good fruit.
He wants you to Get The Goods On what’s to come. He said before He does a new thing, He will tell you of it (Isaiah 42:9).
How good is to know you have His Sign On in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
Not only will God bless you but His favor will surround you as with a shield and that’s the Icing On the cake.
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
I’m happy to partner with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Chasing Community, Salt & Light, Grace & Truth, Faith N Friends
You ever have a week that was just…..meah?
Not necessarily bad but not seemingly amazing either. A week where you may have done just enough to get by, just enough to not lose it, just enough Word to hold on, just enough eating right so you didn’t feel like a total fatty, just enough moving so you didn’t feel like a total sloth?
Ok good. At least I know I’m not the only one. So as I sit on Sunday evening reflecting on my past week, I find myself already trying to compensate last week’s average performance by strategizing an UBER productive next week. Just then, the Lord, my sweet sweet Father came in with this gentle reminder.
Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” Jeremiah 1:12
He went on to say….
“Tyra, even when you feel as if you haven’t been busy, productive or ‘making it happen’, you have already prayed my Word and in this case it is more than enough. You have already declared my truth. You have already sown. Your faithfulness to pray my Word and to believe my Word ministers in heaven even at this minute. Hold fast to the vision I have already given you because you have seen well. I continue to watch over my Word. My Word has come full circle. I released it to you. You took hold of my truth and released it back to me now I am faithfully acting upon it. And I am not acting alone. You see I have Watchers. Angelic watchers have descended from heaven. I have commanded my angels to carry out the plans I have for you. And as you already know these plans are for good. So take heart sweet girl. No need to pressure yourself to engineer “the machine”. Simply abide in me and follow my daily instructions and SEE my plans manifest.”
Replace your name with mine. Let this be a reminder to you on the days when you feel like you could be and should be doing more. Now if you’ve been willfully disobedient that’s another matter. But if you know you’ve been diligent, faithful, and obedient but aren’t “feeling” super productive, take heart. Life happens in cycles. Rest-Reap, Plant-Plow, Sow-Surrender-Sit-Collect. Ebb and flow.
If He’s said it, it is so.
If you’ve declared His Will, His Word back to Him, it is so.
As it is in heaven, so it shall be on earth.
[bctt tweet=”“Believe, abide, obey and SEE my promises come to fruition”, says The Lord.” username=”inspiredfully”]
It is so.
Seems like that week of average wasn’t so bad after all.
As always it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
What’s on your summer reading list? Have you check out my new breakthrough work that changing the world by nurturing the hearts of children? Get your copy of Purposeful Parenting today.
Happy to be joining these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Chasing Community, Grace & Truth
“I triple dog dare ya!”
A saying children would make to taunt you, to incite you to take the dare. Well as a child I didn’t take the dare and as an adult I’m not much of a risk taker still. No big bold claims, no risky financial investments, no bungie jumping or parasailing. NOPE. I like to keep my feet firmly on the ground with some semblance of control.
But what is control? Just an illusion, really. A false sense of security. The risk taker is willing to surrender control, throwing caution to the wind, thus creating space to catch the current and take flight. Yesterday I watched a majestic bird in flight. This bird sailed, dove, rose again and swooped down and up again he went, gracefully catching a current and riding it. He would have expended much more energy flapping his wings to set about his course. But the bird knows he can take a risk, catch a current and allow the current to carry him as opposed to fighting against it.
Last night I was given a challenge, a dare of sorts. I was asked to write down the ONE thing I needed God to do for me this week. I was asked to take a risk and take God at His word. I was asked to BELIEVE God for just ONE thing and to write it down.
But would I dare. An immediate panic hit my heart. I dare not utter the THING that I really wanted Him to do this week. Let me play it safe. I’ll tuck away the thing I really need to believe Him for in order to choose the safe thing. I’d rather pick the safe thing because if the true thing that I want to offer up isn’t fulfilled but this other thing is then I won’t be disappointed. If I pick this other thing then I won’t be let down. Yeah, let me pick the safe thing.
But the Father, in His loving kindness is always close at hand and close in our hearts. He gently tapped me and asked, “Daughter why do you doubt? More than you know I want to help you. I see the situation and I’m ready to work a miracle.”
Even in light of that truth, I backpedaled even further, layer reasoning on top of what the Father already uttered. So off to sleep I went, not writing down that ONE thing. But when I awoke as I do every morning a song played in my heart. And the song this morning says, “You’re a great God. You are great. Yes you’re a great God. You are great!” As that refrain repeated over and over, my mind began to catch up with what my Spirit already knows. Indeed He is a great God and wants to move mightily in my life and in yours. But have we tied His hands?
Have you, by way of your thinking, restricted God’s mobility? Do you have the Father in a straight jacket? Have you put the Holy Spirit under house arrest? He wants to lead you, to guide you, to walk you into the fulfillment of His will for your life but are you hampering the process with your hesitation to take a risk?
If you’re going to taste and see….it requires you to take a bite.
If you’re going to try Me now in this…it requires you to exercise your faith.
If you’re going to walk in paths of righteousness…it requires you to take a step.
I don’t think I’m much of a risk taker. But when I look back over my life I see that I’ve taken many risks. As a child I went all over the city on public transportation by myself. RISK. I left all that was known and familiar to attend college. RISK. I took rides with strangers. RISK. I quit my job to become a homemaker. RISK. I surrendered my womb and as a result have bore 6 children. RISK. I allow Him to lead me daily not knowing where my life is headed. RISK.
So I guess I am a risk taker after all. I challenge you. I double dog dare YOU. Take a risk. Take God at His word.
What is ONE thing you need Him to do for you this week? As my sister challenged me, tag, you’re it. I now challenge you. WRITE IT DOWN. Believe. And watch God work a miracle. Would you type that ONE thing in the comments so I can pray with you? I know He’s able to bring it to pass.
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, Chasing Community, Grace & Truth
FAITH
The substance of things hoped for.
FAITH
The evidence of things not seen.
FAITH
All is takes is a crumb. This size of a mustard seed is enough.
By faith God can perform miracles!
Join me over at Breadcrumbs of Faith where I’m sharing my faith story. Be inspired to activate and increase your faith.
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired to Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Chasing Community, Grace & Truth
What do you do with a God sized dream?
How do you wrap your head around a vision from God that seems virtually impossible?
These are questions I’m turning over in my head. Like Mary pondering on the fate of her Son, I’m holding these things in my heart…wondering.
God has given me a vision for how the book I’ve written is to be used. When I was writing the book, I had the audience in mind. I could see myself sharing portions of the book at book club meetings, parenting seminars and at churches. Then God jarred me. In a vision so clear and complete, He showed me a BIGGER picture. He showed me His target audience for the book and told me the way we could go about reaching this audience.
And what did this girl do with that visitation from God? In a nanosecond I shot it down. I know, I know. I wish I could tell you I was faith filled and revved up. But it was more like doubt-FULL and faith-LESS.
You see this vision would take Jesus right into the marketplace. No separation of church and state. No way. The Lord said, “You’ll be bring me into secular environments.” And again in my limited “seeing” all I could picture was doors slamming in my face and rejection by way of “No!”, “No!” and yet another “No!”.
Then He washed over me with sweet assurance . In His gentle yet firm way He brought to my remembrance this powerful truth, The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters, Psalm 24:1-2
He also reminded to not to be intimidated by the establishment for He’s in charge of them too. The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes, Proverbs 21:1
So what do you do with that God sized dream?
How do you wrap your head around that vision?
Please don’t do what I did that first time. [bctt tweet=”God wants to water your mustard seed faith. ” username=”inspiredfully”]
You allow God to water your faith by simply giving Him your YES . Thereafter, each time He tells you to move, you move. He is faithful to give grace for each step of the journey. Like Michael Jackson in Billie Jean, each step you take toward pursuing your God dream will be illuminated. His word is the lamp to your feet and the light to your path (Psalm 119:105). Confidently place your trust in the One who knows all, sees all and holds it all in the palm of His hand. Catch the vision and move.
You think this world is in chaos? Obey so He can bring order.
Are you concerned about the world your children will inherit? Obey so that your children’s children receive their generational inheritance.
Don’t like what you see happening in the news? Pray so that His kingdom come and will be done HERE as in heaven.
You see, He’s waiting for us to be His hands and feet in the earth so that He can MOVE. There’s nothing too hard for Him. But He would like for us to partner with Him.
Your God sized dream and your God vision are really quite doable. With God, all things are possible.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
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 Chasing Community Grace & Truth
How’s Your Prayer Life?
I mean really….How’s your prayer life?
I recall being asked a question by my uncle-in-law before my husband and I got married. He said, “You know what you’re doing, don’t ya?” By this, he was asking did we know what we were getting ourselves into by getting married. I recall diving head first into a monologue about love and wedding details. You see, I completely missed the point. The question was one that need to be mined in order to uncover its treasures.
So I ask you again, “How’s your prayer life?”
Yes I’m sure you pray.
Yes I bet you even get specific in your prayers.
Hey you may even talk to God using His very WORD.
Yup, I don’t doubt your taking time to talk to God in prayer.
But are you really PRAYING?
Or are you merely informing God?
I consider myself a woman of prayer. Very early in my Christian walk I learned several models of prayer. I learned to pray the Lord’s Prayer. I learned to pray using the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). Then there’s listening prayer and contemplative prayer and Matthew Henry’s method. Yup, most days I would say I’m REALLY praying. But then again…
I’ve heard it said that prayer is just talking to God. Be that as it may, there is an essential component that gives prayer its power. And that is FAITH. If we are praying the most heartfelt, scripture laden prayers but lack faith are we doing any more than just talking?
Last October, Charne Pretorius spoke at a Women’s Conference held at my church. There were many speakers on the lineup and many enticing topics to choose from. I was already in the room she was scheduled to speak in and didn’t really feel like going anywhere so I stayed and boy am I glad I did. She spoke simply yet so profoundly on prayer. And I was very much convicted.
Yes I had been praying.
Yes I had been specific in my prayers.
Yes I was even praying according to God’s will.
But even in that my prayers were lacking.
They were lacking a bit of faith. The kind of faith that SEES angels being dispatched to move on behalf of my prayers. The kind of faith that can let go of whatever I’ve prayed for because I can rest in knowing God has heard and is faithful to answer. The kind of faith that knows my prayers live on for ages, continuing to minister from heaven even to my children’s children. The kind of faith that knows that I know that I KNOW my God will do what He said He will do. Bold faith. Radical faith. Undaunted faith.
My friend you are a HOUSE OF PRAYER. Just as Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13), because you are a temple that houses the Holy Spirit, you are a house of prayer. Your prayers coupled with your faith create an atmosphere conducive for DUNAMIS – miraculous power, strength, might.
And just as JESUS drew strength directly from heaven through prayer, you are strengthen, emboldened and bring heaven to earth when you pray. When you pray, you take a direct, first-class journey to heaven. As a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20), prayer is your Visa, granting you access to travel back and forth from heaven to earth.
When you pray in faith, heaven touches earth.
When you pray in faith, God hears.
When you pray in faith, God moves.
When you pray in faith, things change.
When you pray in faith, hearts are mended.
When you pray in faith, bodies are healed.
When you pray in faith, minds are transformed.
So set your heart on having a prayer life that is fervent, vibrant and active. Get before the Father, still yourself and seek His heart. When you do that, you will tap into the heartbeat of heaven. He will pour His heart out into yours. You will be two hearts beating together in synchronicity. Faith is the metronome allowing you to keep time with the heartbeat of heaven.
So how’s your prayer life? I’m praying even now that you’ve been inspired to BELIEVE in what you are asking God for. I mean really believe. I pray you SEE God moving on your behalf. Yes, you’ve got to SEE it before you get to see it. And I’m praying your faith is activated. Your prayer life is literally causing heaven to touch earth. Yes, you’ve got that kind of power.
So how’s your prayer life?
DYNAMITE!
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
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
It was 5:13am and I already felt defeated. My sweet baby was waking up yet again for another feeding.
I’m never going get enough sleep.
I’m never going to be an author and a speaker because I can’t get enough sleep to even work on the vision.
How will I ever manage to live the dream God has given me if I can’t even manage the little affairs of the home?
How will I ever serve a thousand when I can’t even get through one basket of laundry?
Never mind then just forget the whole thing!
You see fear has a way of doing that. Fear has a way of convincing you that your God dream is too big and your abilities too small. Fear has a way of putting 3D glasses on you and playing the reel as failure after failures comes whizzing past your face. And fear attempts to preserve itself at all costs.
Fear will have you convinced there are NO other options.
Fear is determined to win.
But TRUTH arises.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13a
As TRUTH stood tall in me, I couldn’t help but to square my shoulders. Moments ago they had been hanging low. My posture was more Hunchback of Notre Dame than Daughter of the Most High God. But today is my start. Kelly Balarie, in her new book, Fear Fighting says, “We don’t need to tell ourselves stop because the Spirit says Start.”
So what’s my “Start?”
Today I start with a YES.
I say yes to the Spirit.
I say yes to me.
The Spirit says, “Start believing in yourself. Because you believe in Me, you can believe in you. I created you.”
Thank you God. I’m going to believe in me.
I give myself permission to show up just as I am.
I give myself permission to be here for me.
I give myself permission to embrace my greatness. After all, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I’m not going to stay in this same place when God has given me a glimpse of my greatness. I do my God a disservice when I minimizing the person He created me to be. I won’t do Him an injustice my living smaller than who He created me to be. Christ gave Himself that I might LIVE…..not that I might merely survive life.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Standing on chubby bowed legs, an 11 month old hangs securely to the side of the couch. Not far away mama stands with her arms outstretched. Mama’s face radiates love. Mama’s face reflects trust, security and confidence. Mama’s face and outstretched arms relay a powerful message to the baby; so powerful that baby willingly releases the comfort and security of clinging to the couch, to totter precariously over to mama. One measured step, after another, then another. All the while mama’s face reassuringly communicates, not only are you safe, but I believe in you. You can do it. And when baby makes it all the way to mama they both rejoice. You did it baby. I knew you could. You did it.
Jesus says the same to us. Let go of the side of the couch. I’m waiting with my arms outstretched. Press beyond your fear. Activate your faith. Come to me. You are safe. I believe in you.
START.
[bctt tweet=”With active faith, fear doesn’t stand a chance.” username=”inspiredfully”]
So what is your START? Whatever it is, take the step. Tell me in the comments how I can pray for you.
Join the #fearfightingbook movement. Pick up your copy of Fear Fighting today!
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully.
Happy to connect with friends sharing Good News Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth
I can’t adult today. I simply can’t.
Every bit of noise was received like nails on a chalkboard.
Every whine from a child bought me that much closer to the edge.
Pregnancy and exhaustion have left me vulnerable to attack. My defenses have been weakened. And for a moment, instead of recognizing the situation for what it was, I succumbed and accepted the lie that I just can’t. I was ready to give in, have a tantrum, pout and whine. Seems like it didn’t even cross my mind to pray.
So I sent a prayer request to a friend; a friend who I don’t normally reach out to with such requests, a friend with whom I don’t normally disclose my personal battles. But this day, I was prompted to reach out to this friend. I’m so glad I did.
Her pray immediately redirected my focus. Her words had me stand erect, at attention.
After her reply, I was taken aback by my initial response to the pressure. How did I not turn to prayer as my 1st defense? Had I forgotten to pray when I feel defeated and ready to give up? Thank God for my friend’s power packed prayer as it redirected my focus and I could regain enough footing to stand.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
And while standing, I prayed, “Oh Lord, Deliver me from the evil one. Oh Lord, that you would keep me from evil. Lord allow me to stand my ground as he tries to approach. Let me not rest in my own ability to defeat sin and temptation, but let me be reminded that it is with your authority and through your power that I can stand against the wiles of the enemy. Lord keep me safe from the temptations that can so easily ensnare. Open my eyes to see my vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Lord be the compound that fills the cracks and crevices. You are the chief cornerstone, my strong tower, my defense.”
So I walked into the next day, renewed. I walked in confident that the Lord would keep the evil one from me. [bctt tweet=”When we declare the truth of God’s word, we are given an IMMEDIATE opportunity to put it into practice.” username=”inspiredfully”]
Indeed the Lord is faithful to keep the evil one from us, but are we positioning ourselves to stay out of the evil one’s way? When the Lord CLEARLY allows us to SEE the fowler’s snare, will we circumvent it or step right into it?
Well my day that started confident and strong got fractured. First, I drove my truck into an under ground parking garage, only to remember after hearing this terrible scraping that I had my luggage rack on the top. I proceeded to slowly exit the garage but the damage was already done. The top was contorted and near ripped off. Now I was late for picking my daughter up from a test. As I was trying to figure out how to rectify the damaged rack, she was texting and calling. And she, being a bit of a worrywart began to get anxious. I told her what was going on and that I’d be right there. She then proceeds to call and tell my husband about the luggage rack.
Great, let’s complicate it even more.
I couldn’t get the container to close and surely we couldn’t drive back on the highway with it flopping in the wind. It had to be removed. So get the picture: a VERY pregnant me, 2 weeks from due date, standing precariously on the running board, hanging onto the top railings trying to unscrew this huge rack….Ummm, yeah.
By God’s grace we successfully get the rack off. People walking in the parking lot gave us curious glances. But now, where oh where would we fit this monstrosity? This thing weighs 35 lbs., is nearly 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. The truck already has 6 occupants and a teeny tiny trunk….You get the picture. I was tempted to leave it right there in that parking lot. After much maneuvering and seat changes, we were able to j-u-s-t fit it into the car. Well on that ride home, the rack was blocking my rear view, and my gas light was on. Would I step into the snare? I precariously teetered by it, but God reassured me to maintain my composure and to praise Him.
As I was driving on the highway, I saw something black fly off my car? What was that? Did it really come off my car? Was that a piece of the rack? Hey where’s my husband’s phone? I had it, now it’s missing. I remember having it
IN
MY
HAND
when I climbed up to get the rack off. Did I? Did I leave it on the car? Needless to say, that was probably the phone as my husband went to the location on the highway a short time after and recovered the case but not the phone.
Seems like after all that, I was lost again and circling precipitously near the snare. My vision was blurry. I remembered the snare was somewhere in my vicinity. LORD I can’t see, please don’t let me step in the snare.
Feeling slightly defeated, but not completely without hope, I cried out to the Lord who is a very present help in times of trouble. Erica Campbell sings a song called HELP. And that was surely my cry. I stood, crying out, “Abba, help. Keep me from the evil one. Abba, I’m feeling weak. I don’t want to give up. Turn my ‘I can’t into an ‘I Can.”
Friend, have you ever had days where you just feel like “I can’t?”
Well God says YES YOU CAN!
His grace will empower you. And He will keep His hand upon you and keep you from the evil one.
Don’t be discouraged.
Don’t be dismayed.
God is a very present help and He says, “Yes, you can!”
Pray for me as I’m praying for you.
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, #LifeGivingLinkup, Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth