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How To Be Content In A World Full of Discontent

Discontent with 2020

 

Discontent with virtual learning but unsettled about sending them back

 

Discontent with the government 

 

Discontent with work

 

Discontent with yourself 

 

 

So how do we cultivate contentment in a world full of discontent?

 

Contentment is a decision. It is a state of mind. It is looking at the issues of life in the face and choosing JOY in spite of it all. 2020 has presented me ample opportunity to be discontent: 6 children underfoot ev-er-ry second of ev-er-ry day , limited time to execute the treasure trove of ideas in my head, health challenges, missing my friends and more.

 

But you know what?! I am committed to conquering discontent. Every morning when I rise, I give thanks to God, I ask for His wisdom, I come into agreement with heaven’s plan for my day and I purpose in my heart to choose joy.

 

So if you’re in the middle of the battle, here are 10 practical strategies that will position you to be content in a world full of discontent.

 

Train Your Brain

When thoughts of discontent arise like, “The world really sucks right now!” capture those toxic thoughts and replace them with the truth of God’s word. You have the ability to take those thoughts captive and make them obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

 

Have Godly Perspective 

When we look at things from our vantage they can sometimes appear skewed. The eyes of the natural man can warp a scenario like one of those amusement park funhouse mirrors. Which is why we have to see through eyes of faith. We have to have a godly perspective. We can gain godly perspective when we spend time in His word.

 

Purposeful Purge

Get rid of things that no longer spark joy. Purging is so therapeutic for me. The idea of getting rid of stuff just brings me a feeling of satisfaction. Purging also creates space in your heart, mind and emotions. Clear out your house, your contact list, your friends list. Try the purge, it’s very cathartic.  

 

Embrace The Moment

Slow down. Plain and simple.  Be a noticer. Take time to see leaves falling from the trees, a bird soaring overhead, to hear a child’s joy filled squeal, to slowly chew your food and savor the flavor, to feel your chest rise and fall as you breathe deeply. We spend so much of our energy moving from one thing to the next to the next that it’s very easy to miss the beauty that exists in the present moment.

 

Be Humble

Humility recognizes that without God, I can do NOTHING. And maintaining that posture puts your faith and reliance on God and God alone. Your humility positions you to abound in His grace, in His mercy, in His favor and this my friend is the secret sauce for contentment, HUMILITY. 

 

Silence The Voice of the Accuser 

The enemy of your soul wants you discontent. That’s his primary job, to sow lies and discord into your head. He wants you to think you’re not enough. He wants you to think you don’t have enough. Don’t buy into his nonsense. Silence that fool. Tell him what God said, resist him and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

 

Be Grateful

While the enemy may be trying to get you to focus on what you don’t have, give thanks to the Most High for what you DO have. Express your gratitude in praise and worship unto God. What are you grateful for right now? Go ahead, what 5 things immediately come to mind? Thank Him for it.

 

Be Generous

When we give, we take the attention off of ourselves so that we can love and serve others. Are you giving of your time, talents or resources?

 

Eyes on God 

When our attention drifts to what we see what other people have and what other people do,  we can begin comparing. Comparison is an evil trap that robs us of contentment. So let’s be diligent to keep our gaze fixed on God.

 

Honor Yourself

Neglecting yourself is a sure fire set up for discontent. Make a commitment to honor yourself by showing yourself some love, care and attention. Create space for you to nourish yourself, to get rest, exercise, to spend time with God and to embrace the moment. It can be done. Listen, I’m a mom of 6 and it’s not easy as everything is clamoring for my attention. But in order for me to give my best to those counting on me, I’ve got to honor myself. And it doesn’t have to occur in big blocks of time. Ask God to show you the windows of opportunity where you can put yourself on your daily schedule.

 

Listen friend, in the Lord there is no lack! Let me remind you of this verse, you know it well. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want Psalm 23:1. Another version translates that to I LACK NOTHING. So if there is no lack, then there is no discontentment because in Christ you have everything you need.

 

In a world of discontent, the totality of Christ’s love, grace and mercy abound toward you, enabling you to be content.

 

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 

 

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

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Solace In The Storm

Within the last three months I’ve heard the words “unprecedented” more times than I can count. A global pandemic, pestilence and civil unrest have our world groaning in agony.

This is enough to cause us to be anxious, fearful, depressed, worried or even just plain numb. But this does not have to be our portion.

With unshakable faith we can stand boldly in the face of calamity and confusion to declare our triumphant victory in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Earlier this year I was facing my own Storm. God in His loving kindness led me right to Psalm 46. For centuries the Psalms have been a source of comfort and assurance for God’s people. And sure enough God met me right there in Psalm 46. From this Psalm I received a Holy and bold assurance that God was not only with me, but that I did not have to worry because He would act mightily on my behalf.

And out of that time of silence, stillness and solitude with the Father, I penned my latest devotional eBook, Solace In The Storm: How To Be Still & Know When Life Is Raging. And the revelation from that time was so deep and so good that not only did it birth the devotional but also an online course.

Solace In The Storm Course

So I invite you to embark on the journey of seeking solace amid the chaos so that you can clearly hear from God. You can pick up a copy of the devotional but if you want to go deeper and gain practical strategies for dealing with overwhelm, anxiety and more, this course is for you. Click the link below for details.

The steadfast promises of Psalm 46 help us activate our faith and put our trust in THE ONE who is powerful and providential.

Amid the storms, I’m praying that you will be still and know that He is God!

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been inspired to live fully!

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5 Simple Steps for Stress Reduction

Friends, do you know we are in a crisis? And it’s very likely that this crisis has shown up on your doorstep or even entered your own body. The World Health Organization has dubbed stress the health epidemic of the 21st century. If not properly dealt with, stress WILL adversely affect your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

As a business owner, mom of 6, ministry leader and wife, I’ve been faced with my fair share of stress. When I am not aggressively abiding in Christ, stress has the propensity to overtake me. I’ve been beaten down by being overwhelmed, anxious, fearful and irritable. And in those moments, I’ve come to see that I don’t like those feelings. I don’t like being edgy and frustrated. It is downright sickening to be plagued with aches, pains and tension headaches caused by stress.

So what can we do to combat it? Consider employing these simple steps.

  1. Awareness. Bring awareness to your body. Are you clenched so tight that your shoulders and ears have become one? Is your brow furrowed? Are you clenching your teeth? Listen to your body. It’s talking to you. If your body parts are tense, command them to relax.
  2. Just Breathe. Literally. You know about lack of sleep but what about lack of breath? Most of us are depriving ourselves of deep, cleansing breaths. Deep breathing slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and invites calmness. Go ahead. Give it a try. Just as God breathed the breath of life into the first man, invite Him to breathe afresh in you today. I talk a bit more about breathing in another post I did on STRESS.
  3. Meditate. Whatever you think about constantly is what you are meditating on. Since you’re meditating anyway, be sure to FOCUS those thoughts on things that are true, lovely and of good report (Phil 4:8). If you find yourself consumed with toxic thoughts, arrest them, cast the down and replace them with the truth of the Word.
  4. Atmosphere. Do your physical surroundings promote peace or chaos leading to stress? Clutter and disorganization can create a stressful environment. Enlist help if you need to, in order to create an orderly environment. Bring calm into the atmosphere with the use of essential oils. Two of my favorites for whoosah are clary sage and lavender.
  5. Get Out. Yes, as in get outside. Just today I invited my husband to break his normal routine and to join me in sitting for a while at one of my favorite wildlife preserves. He said his time there was amazing. Being outdoors is so good for you. When God created man He placed him in a garden (outdoors) to connect with creation and to have dominion over it. Lower your blood pressure, sharpen your mind, boost your energy and MORE just by getting outside. And when outdoors feel free to take your shoes off, stand in the grass and exhale as you give God thanks for fresh air, for being root and grounded in Him, for keeping the earth spinning on it axis and for loving you all at the same time. He is truly an amazing God!
  6. BONUS ONE….Since I did list breathing as a stress reduction technique in an older post, I wanted to give you a bonus pointer and that is to watching your eating. What you consume directly impacts you so try to choose foods that work in harmony with the wonderful design called YOU. Avoid processed foods and consume foods that are nutrient dense, wholesome and are what God created. Eating this way fuels your body and brings clarity of thought while consuming unhealthy foods can make you feel bloated, sluggish, and raise blood pressure among other things. And that alone can certainly cause you to become even more stressed.

So what’s currently stressing you? And what wellness practices do you use to combat it? I am here praying in advance that you employ the simple strategies listed above. Be sure to come back and let me know how they worked for you.

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

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It’s Not Easy Being Green

“It’s not easy being green” is actually the thing that immediately jumps into my consciousness when I think of the word GREEN. Kermit The Frog sang that line. One of my fondest childhood memories is playing my Sesame Street album on my box record player. Oh the joys of childhood…But I digress.

 

sesame street record player

 

In my early teens my father took a painting class. He explained to me the different emotions color invokes. [bctt tweet=”Green conjures feelings of balance, growth, stability, harmony, fertility, renewal and restoration”]. He went on to show me company logos that used green and he pointed out how often green is used in hospitals to promote renewal and healing.

 

Just think of how much of our planet is covered in green. To me the color speaks LIFE. So when I embarked on a journey over a year ago to create the logo for my personal brand, I KNEW it had to be predominately green.

 

Inspired Life

 

Inspired Life

 

Where hearts are inspired to live fully spirit, mind and body, by delightfully obeying God, embracing the now moment and honoring the temple through proper nourishment, rest and exercise.

 

YES.

 

GREEN.

 

You shall live and not die

 

You shall have the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10

 

You are fully of energy and vitality

 

You are a tree planted by rivers of living water whose leaf does not wither

 

You are at peace and in harmony with the universe

 

You are rooted and grounded in Him

 

You abide in God and bear much fruit

 

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:1-2

 

While the cares of the world craftily draw our attention away from green and all that in invokes, I encourage you today to embrace that it IS indeed easy being green. We just have to be intentional about being green, seeing green, embracing green.

 

Connect with your green today.

 

pond2

 

follow the path

 

Pence Pond 1

 

It is easy being green.

 

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

 

Delighted to connect with others sharing on the word GREEN @ #FiveMinuteFriday

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How To Get Rest

Intel’s fastest PC processing chip does about 3.5 GHz. Perhaps my brain was clocking 8 GHz. Thoughts about managing people, projects, homework, housework, spiritual warfare, tenants, ministry events, oh not to mention my own health, appointments, helping others and the list goes on and on.

 

Then He gently whispered, “I will lead you beside still waters.”

 

This is something I’ve heard Him say before. In fact, He leads me beside still waters almost daily but then one of those sweet little people of mine find some way to encroach on my STILLNESS.

 

Then He whispered again, “I will lead you beside still waters.”

 

DSC_0533

So the day commences with a flurry of activity, make breakfast for 7 people, pack lunches for 5, drop one off extra early in the a.m. for music, drop 2 others, go somewhere else drop off one more. From there I’d normally rush back to get in some exercise but I told myself, “Break from the routine. Go to the park.” The park it is. There I exercised and had fun with my littlest guy. We were about to rush back to begin the next series of errands but God drew my attention to the pond. Just a stone’s throw to my left, the still waters.

 

“Come, sit with me a while,” he beckoned.

 

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

 

DSC_0534

 

So disregarding the voice in my head that wanted to rush out of the park to “Get things done” I heeded the voice of the Lord.

 

I squarely placed myself in the middle of the bench. My little guy climbed up beside me and rested his head on my lap. As I gaze out at the water, love, joy and peace overcame me.

 

geese

Truly my soul finds rest in God;

my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

 

Newton’s 1st law of motion says:

 

An object that is in motion will stay in motion with the same speed and direction unless an external force acts upon it. An object that is at rest will stay at rest unless an external force acts upon it. The unbalanced force changes the state of motion. This law of generally called the law of inertia.

 

From this we can deduce that we will keep doing what we usually do unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Glory be to God that it is HE who wants to tilt me in His direction. He provides the imbalance so that I can recalibrate and find my balance in Him and in Him alone. When I REST in Him, I am refreshed and renewed. My peace is like a river and my joy is full. He said in His presence there is fullness of joy.

 

When He beckons you to be still, to come sit a while, don’t disregard His prompting. Heed the voice of God. In Him is how to get rest.

pond2

Caring for the temple requires proper nourishment, exercise and REST. Be intentional about getting rest today. Perhaps you could:

 

~Have quiet time

~Take a nap

~Get adequate sleep

~Embrace the now moment

 

What will you do today to purposefully get rest?

2015-04-05 12.09.31

 

It is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

  1. Happy to connect with friends at Fellowship Friday’s & Dance With Jesus 
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Lean In

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook is the author of a book entitled Lean In. Lean In has become a movement designed to help women pursue and achieve their ambitions. It’s mission is focused on what women CAN do versus what they can’t.

 

With all my strength and might I’ve pursued what I can do.

~Be Super Mommy

~Submitted Wife

~Obedient Disciple

~Attentive, Available Friend

~Serving, Honorable Daughter

 

I’ve come to grips with the reality that without Jesus at the center, I can’t do a thing. In all my getting and doing, I’d be at wits end when operating in my own strength. But praise to el-Roi, the God who sees; who sees our hearts, our efforts, and our attempts then gently leads or redirects saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’.

 

In the last week and a half, I have had so much on my mind. After a series of rejections coupled with spiritual, mental and emotional healing (you can read more of that by clicking here and here), I was left drained and overwhelmed. I was literally feeling hard pressed on every side. I cried out to God singing:

 

When my heart is overwhelmed

I pray Lord lead me to the rock

Lead me to the rock that’s higher than I

O Lord

Yes when my heart is overwhelmed

I’m asking lead to the rock

Lead me to the rock that’s higher than I

O Lord

 

When the weight of this whole world

Tries to slay me

A strong tower from the enemy

You will be for me

 

So I need to find this place

Yes the special secret place

I’m assured of Your embrace

The place I call my sanctuary

There You are

 

Lead me to the rock

Lead me to the rock

 

You are my firm foundation

My salvation my solid rock

Lead Me To The Rock

Stephen Hurd

 

While feeling boxed in, my simple meditation of “lead me to the rock” was enough. He heard me and responded saying, “Come to me. I am the Strong Tower.” And because I was so weary, once I got to the strong tower, all I could do was Lean In.

 

When you are in a tight space, uncomfortable space, unfamiliar space, seek Him. With your whole heart, cry out to Him.

 

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears. Psalm 18:6

 

He will surely answer.

 

And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 50:15

 

He will be very gracious to you at the voice of your cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer you. Isaiah 30:19

 

So as I stood, leaning into My God, My Strong Tower, He spoke to my heart. I was going to rush to get to a meeting on time but He said, go outside and sit a while. I obeyed and sat out in the sun and breathed deeply, and was awash in His peace. I felt the warm sun on my skin, listened to several species of birds chirping and just marveled at the great and mighty power of Elohim. The day after that I was expecting company and was going to do some serious cleaning (mind you the house was already clean) before the guests arrived. Again, He urged me to come outside and sit a while to which I obeyed. And again His peace flooded me as I meditated on what was true, lovely and of good report.

 

I can now relate to these lyrics in a very personal way.

 

“Leaning on the Lord, trusting in His holy word He’s never failed me yet. Oh ooh ooh can’t turn around now. He’s never failed me yet.”

 

In her book, Sandberg says, “I have never met a woman, or man, who stated emphatically, “Yes, I have it all.'” Because no matter what any of us has—and how grateful we are for what we have—no one has it all.”

 

I don’t know what “ALL” she’s referring to but I’ll take ALL the Jesus I can get.

 

I’m leaning in…way in to Jesus today.

 

When you are feeling hard pressed on every side, what do you do?

 

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

Happy to connect with friends at Purposeful Faith Equipping Godly Women  Dance With Jesus

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Be Quiet, I’m Trying to Think

QU-IET!!! QUI-ET!!! QUIET!!! Is this what your brain is screaming? Is this what your soul is crying out for?

 

If you are able, pause everything you are doing for a moment. Close your eyes. Inhale deeply. Hold a few seconds. Then exhale slowly. Repeat that ten times. Deep, cleansing breaths do the body good.

 

But we are in such a rush, in such a hurry that we don’t even take the time to BREATHE. Most of us are moving at such a frenetic pace, that even the thought of slowing down to breathe may not be very practical. One may even think, “Ain’t nobody got time for that”.

 

But I beg to differ. I say you can’t afford not to. We have so many things vying for our attention and the things are winning the battle. From the moment you wake up, your brain is bombarded and generally you are an active participant in the mayhem.

motion lights

~Wake up and pick up your device to check your personal email, work email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and the like.

 

~Turn on the news to check the weather

 

~Turn on the radio in your car or insert ear buds in your ear to listen to something

 

~If you take public transportation check social media again….and again. Be subjected to listening to the conservations around you.

 

~Arrive at destination and check email and social media again

 

~And it same continues all day and night

 

The onslaught of chatter, stimuli, ear noise and eye noise is endless.

light waves

 

You have to tell all that stimuli, “Be quiet! I’m trying to think”. God wants you to rest (click here for more on rest). He wants you to rest your brain. He wants you to make room to breathe. And to do so, you will have to be purposeful and intentional about quieting the chatter.

2011-11-12 08.25.13

 

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. Mark 6:31

wheat

 

But quieting the mind for some people is not so easy. The constant chatter of external noise is sometimes a diversion from having to confront the internal noise. Sometimes we don’t want to deal with our own thoughts.

 

I once stayed at a monastery for work related training. The grounds were beautiful: lots of trees, walking paths and a lake. The rooms were sparsely furnished: a bed, a dresser, a bible and a chair. No clock. No radio. No TV. No external stimuli; just me and my thoughts. It was a wonderful time for solitude and reflection.

 

But some in my group just couldn’t get with the idea of minimal external stimuli. Some of them in fact went to the manager and asked if a TV were on the premises. They were told yes there was one in a locked training room. They then went on to ask if they could be permitted into the room to watch the TV. The manager obliged and they went to watch TV. As they recounted this story the next morning at breakfast, I was amazed that they went to such lengths to fill the quiet.

 

Our minds need rest and quiet. In order for our brains to work as designed, they need periods of low activity so the brain can properly process and catalog the day’s events.

 

We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly – spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order. ~Susan L. Taylor

 

The benefits of creating mental white space are numerous.

 

~Clarity of thought
~Ability to hear clearly from God
~Ability to renew the mind
~Helps relax and calm you down
~Makes room for new creative ideas
~Helps keep emotions balance
~Creates an environment conducive for peace
~Creates room to address deeper thoughts and feelings

 

My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places Isaiah 32:18

 

So how do we create mental white space and breathing room?

 

~Practice deep breathing techniques
~Minimize social media
~Turn off the TV
~Turn off the radio
~Curb mindless eating
~Curb internet surfing

 

TV, radio, social media and the like have their place. And there are times we can extract useful information from these outlets. I am not saying they are inherently bad or wrong. What I am saying to in order to maximize on your mental, social, physical and emotional health, you have to give yourself opportunities to truly rest and quiet the mind.

Tyra serenity

 

You show honor to God when you honor Him in your temple. Your body needs adequate nourishment, exercise and rest. And we can find rest for the mind when we minimize external noise, address our internal chatter and embrace the quiet.

 

As always, I pray that you have been Inspired to Live Fully!

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