priorities

What are your priorities?  I just read the first chapter in a new book that I'm reading called PUSH by Chalene Johnson.  She started out the chapter by telling us that most people who are unhappy with their lives compared to those who are happy and successful are not setting their priorities correctly.  Either they don't have any or they just don't care enough to have them at the top of their list.  One of my priorities is to let God be the center of my life.  This can be tough when the rest of the world gets in the way or tries to anyway because Satan drags you down each time you do something for God or get closer to Him.  It can be extremely tough.  However, Chalene had also asked a series of questions that helped you think about your top priority and why it's important to you and why it should be your top priority.  She also explained that your top three priorities are the things in your life that if you had them stripped from you would don't know what you would do.  Such as family, faith, career, health.... whatever it may be.  For me, I realized nothing else matters unless God is at the center.  I can want SO badly for my career to change and be successful or my body to change so I can finally be different but without Him being in the middle of it all, none of that matters!  You need to WANT that priority to be the center or at the top at all times.  What good is it when it's not?  What good is God to me when I choose not to put Him at the top?  Or let's rephrase that.... what good am I? 

I am NOTHING without Him so why should I live my life any differently?  After you come up with your top priority, you're supposed to write down a paragraph or statement if you will on how you will do this.  I have not perfected mine yet because I want to choose different words to make it stronger to me but my rough draft is "My number one priority is to put God first in all areas of my life.  I will seek Him first though His word, mediation, being silent and listening intently to what His will is for my life.  To show others what the Truth of God is and allow God to work in others' lives as I am just the messenger.  Be a witness of His love, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and joy because He has given those to me.  In return, God's grace and mercy will be shown to those around me and they will see only Him.  My mind, body, and soul will be rejuvenated and restored thank to God's presence in all aspects of my life."

Now, like I said, it'll change a little bit but overall this is my top priority.  What's yours? 

God is in every aspect of life

Okay, I know the title of this seems silly because it really is true.  But sometimes we need that reminder, don't we?  These last few weeks, I've developed old patterns which are not just hurting me physically but mentally and spiritually!  I have the great fortune of having wonderful friends that I've surrounded myself with because God brought them into my life.  Each of them brings something different into my life that is indescribable.  I know for a FACT that those people were meant to be there because God knew I couldn't do what I do without their help.  Obviously, He is the only source to my healthy well-being, physically, spiritually, and mentally.  He does, however, provide those various opportunities and people in your life to show who you can be through Him!  I LOVE THAT! I've been reading and listening to lots of different books and audio lately and let me tell you... first off, it's all common sense I feel but all of it hit me like a ton of bricks because I was actually listening to them this time!  God shows us who He is EVERYDAY! Not just with those around us but look around you at what He's created for us to enjoy!  Hear what people tell you and sometimes yeah, take it with a grain of salt, but listen with an open heart as well in case you may miss something.  Listen to those words sung or spoken around you.  Through the laughter of a child.  Through the calmness of the breeze.  Through the mundane of everyday life... the fact that we have an everyday life... at least for now.  Through the whispers of quiet.  Through the roar of a storm.  Through the fragrance of flowers or the freshly fallen rain.  Where is God around you?  You may not feel Him there, but He is ALL the time!  Where is He?  Are you seeing, feeling, or touching Him?  Are you allowing Him to touch you?  What's holding you back?  What causes you to hesitate?  Embrace all that is around you and ENJOY what He's created for you.  Find the positive through the storm.  Walk around with your head held high because you have a God that LOVES YOU! Show people who gave you that smile!  Show people who gave the passion and desires of your heart!  Show people who created YOU! Do not be afraid to share that with those around you!  For in the end, He's all we have and most importantly all we'll ever NEED!  :)

discouraged?

I heard my pastor on Sunday talk about discouragement.... okay, honestly?  I don't remember what else he said.  I think this part of the sermon was directed towards me not just because I am speaking on motivation this week in our team call but because I needed that reassurance that what I'm doing is because He is asking me to.  I had been discouraged this past week because of certain circumstances that arose.  Then I heard pastor's sermon on how we may feel discouraged but God knows what's going on.  We also may feel uncertain.  Meaning, we may not see the whole staircase in front of us but we need to take the step of faith that we'll reach the bottom becuase He's there to guide us along the way!  That just resonated with me!  It was very powerful!  I may have my spouts of discouragement or uncertainty but WHY? God has everything in His hands.  I may not like the fact that I cannot see everything laid out in front of me but would I want to know what's coming next?  I'm sure we'd all like to say yes because we think of the good things that will happen in our future but what about the others?  Would we want to see the things we have to go through to get to the happy stuff?  I don't want to endure that.  Part of the reason why God doesn't allow us to see everything in our future now is because He knows that we cannot handle it all!  He takes care of it.  We just need to walk in the path that He's laid out for us and He'll walk us through the good and bad times!  So if you're discouraged right now (as was I), remember that God already knows what's to come and He already knows how we're going to handle it.  But, He's still there regardless of what we do or do not do!  Discouraged?  I choose to be blessed that I have today to live for Him!

positivity

As most people know, I'm a very positive person!  I love to smile, laugh, meet new people... you name it!  Now what happens when are you faced with adversity? Does a positive person always stay positive?  No.  Ha.  Well, I am human.  However, how do you get through the hard times?  I can tell you that your attitude can say a whole lot!  Regardless of what you believe in, who you believe in (I believe in the Lord God, in case you were confused ;)), your attitude portrays the type of person you are.  Have you seen a homeless person that is actually happy?  I have.  Have you seen a rich person happy?  Yes.  Have you seen someone who has had their whole life stripped away from them; belongings, family, job, etc., happy?  Yes.   Why?  What in the WORLD do they have to be happy about?  Well, when you constantly believe that there is something better out there for you and you know that this is not it for you?  Your attitude can change drastically.  Your attitude depends on how far you can go in your life.  If you feel defeated and depressed and unhappy ALL the time, then you're probably not going to go anywhere anytime soon.  THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE THESE TIMES! I have them sometimes.  We are human, for goodness sakes.  But when you DWELL in them is when you are going to start having issues. "It's only over when you quit" is what Dave Ramsey says.  So regardless of what situation you're in, you can be happy and positive AND succeed!  It's amazing when you start looking at the positive side of things, how you're life can start to look different.  My challenge is this week, when something seems to be going wrong and it probably will feel that way or even BE that way, I challenge you to look at what good can come out of it?  What can you find that can make that situation turn out better just because you found the positive side of the situation?  I would LOVE to hear your story!   Please let me know what you discover!

an inspiring story

Lately, I've been listening to A LOT and I mean A LOT of Nick Vujicic.  His story is compelling!  It is inspiring and definitely made me want to push myself in my business but more importantly in my life!  I've never heard anything like it and the best part is he's human.  I know sounds silly.  But, most people wonder why he smiles so much.  Well, first it's not always been like that.  People can see the change in him and they want that as well!  AND he finally embraced his disability because he knows that God made him a certain way in order to bring Glory to His name.  One goal in life?  Meet Nick!  Okay, enough intro.. just watch and seriously be inspired!

peace

These last few months have been a whirlwind to say the least!  I miss writing and I need to put it into my schedule since things have been so crazy.  However, the times when you can settle down and just be able to type (write) everything out can be so peaceful.  Just recently, I had so many spiritual battles going on that I didn't know where to start, what emotion to have, what to think.  It was absolutely insane!  However, I started listening and BELIEVING the "voice" that was telling me that first off, everything is alright and second, that I'm worth everything that God has put into making me!  WHO KNEW?! Ha.  Seriously though.  I've heard that all my life (not be conceited, but I have from family).  I have heard that I am worth everything in the world.  I've been told that I'm beautiful.  I've been told that I am stunning.  I've been told that I have talent.  But you know what?  I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT!  I've also been told that I'm fat, ugly, useless, worthless, dumb, slow, even things like not a great friend (which is to me far worse than all the others, i need a secret desire for people to like me).  You know, it takes 10 nice things for one bad thing to be erased in our thoughts?!  Seriously, it does.  Now, imagine Satan telling you all of the horrible things about yourself constantly!  And you believing.  Nothing on the Earth can take that pain away.  However, GOD can!  God took that pain away and seriously ever since then, I've been on cloud nine!  My life is soaring with business, my spirit is healthier, i actually get things done because I'm not listening to all that, i'm sorry, bull crap!

I feel completely and irrevocably at peace with where I am supposed to be right now!  God has blessed me in more ways than I can count.  I SO want to give that back to people!  I want them to know that feeling because there's nothing like it!  What are you going through?  Are you going through something that you just cannot tell anyone?  Or you've told someone but they just don't seem to care?  Seriously!  What are you going through?  If you need someone to talk to, just to listen and if you want me to give advice or I can even just reassure you that I'm here to listen.  Then please let me know!  You can email me at lmallen86@yahoo.com or find me on facebook at www.facebook.com/lindsay.allen5.  Please let me pray for you!

God is bigger than doubt

You know, these last few months have been a whirlwind.  Been unemployed, been employed, then let go, and jobless while trying to build a business living out of my parents' house that I've lived in since I was born.  Not really a college graduates dream life, right?  Well, I was very much under today.  Well first it was storming outside and quite honestly all I wanted to do was stay under the covers and just sleep through it.  Why?  Probably because Satan was attacking me and telling me that I am not good enough.  Honestly, you cannot tell me that you've never felt this way.  It just plain old sucks!  I was unmotivated, unhappy, depressed... how in the world can this all happen in one day to the next?  I was just fine yesterday!  However, the moment we let our guard down is the moment that we'll come under fire! 

I haven't been in the word the way that I should be or the way that I was back when I was actually extremely busy with work, school, business, trying to build a relationship, and actually studying God's word while living on my own and paying my own bills.  How was that less stressful than sleeping until I feel like getting up, doing basically what I want when I want with nothing really tying me down............ except.............. the fact that two reasons: one) i don't have a job, therefore no money, therefore I'm practically confined to the house, two) God is not present in my everyday life!  So, we're going to fix that!  I read more of Proverbs today.  I read three chapters on Sunday and then read my goal board (a visible place to put my goals so I cannot shy away from them) and it said to be more in the word everyday.  So, I decided to read 5 more chapters of Proverbs.  I truly believe I wasn't supposed to read the Bible yesterday.  I know weird, because God brought me out of my funk today.  He provided the book of the Bible that I needed to read with the chapters on the exact day that I needed them!  PRETTY GOSH DARN COOL, if you ask me! 

God is bigger than doubt.  Not just today but all the time!  Today I was reminded of that regardless of my situation, God is bigger than my issues and self-pity.  He can pull me out of anything I'm in at all times.  Sometimes He lets us "wallow" in it for a while so we can learn to reach out for Him.  When we do, our morale perks up as well as the fact that all of that doubt just disappears.  Are you doubting God today?  Why?  What is keeping you from having that relationship with Him?  It's a day-by-day basis but everyday it's worth letting go to let GOD!