Walk in or out!

Candice and I had a mini conversation about people who disappear in the blink of an eye. I don't remember how that conversation came about but it seems like a lot of people that seemingly mean well, end up disappearing. I will admit, it gets frustrating and I often have to bind that thought of, "Hmm what did I do?" Or even when that conversation with God comes up,

God: Walk away from them.
Me: What? Why??? We've gotten along so well. What's the problem?
God: Be obedient. Just walk away.
Me: :-(

One thing I've come to realize is that sometimes people pop in and out to show you the condition of your heart. What's your reaction? Do you want to chase after them? Blame yourself? Or do you continue to look at them as your bro/sis in Christ and continue moving forward?

I automatically use to assume that if someone "disappears" they had ill intentions. But that's not necessarily the case. I think it helps you mature. It helps you learn to guard your heart until someone has earned your friendship. Because honestly we don't know how long someone will be in our lives. Everyone has a purpose within any friendship with a person and sometimes it's only seasonal. I've learned that it's important to learn the art of saying Good-bye. Not in a sad way, but in a mature and accepting way.

When God tells you to walk away, you have to walk away. When He allows someone else to walk away from you, you have to let them walk away. There are some people you have to let go of before you go to the next level. If you ever look around and feel like you're stuck in the same place and overwhelmed by confusion and unproductivity, evaluate those around you and see if there were some people you were suppose to say Good-bye to. It's not an easy thing to do but I know God will honor those who are willing to sacrifice relationships with people in order to gain more of Him.

It will also show you your selflessness or lack thereof. How much are you really willing to give up for the sake of God? I'm reminded of the story of Abraham and God telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac. God promised Abraham that through Isaac, He would "establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (Genesis 17:19) Although Abraham knew the promises pertaining to his son and what God was going to do through him, he was willing to obey God even to the point of sacrificing Isaac. He knew God was not a liar and His promise would still come to pass so he believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead. Talk about TRUST. But before he could go through with the sacrifice, an angel of the Lord appeared and stopped him. He had passed God's test.

After thinking about this story in the Bible I questioned myself, "How much do I really trust God?" I had to remind myself that I know the promises. I've seen the promises. I've heard the promises. And I believe in the promises of God so I must trust Him and the things that He requires of me to do. And that includes walking away from people or allowing them to walk away from me. Any friendship or relationship with any person can be resurrected after they've been sacrificed for the sake of God, if they're in God's will. Holding on to people who are 1.) No good for us, 2.) Not in God's will for our lives or 3.) Out of God's timing is SELFISHNESS.

Continuing to fail the test over and over again gets you nowhere. It's not easy but I truly believe God wants to see how much you REALLY trust Him. I've been tested recently and it didn't sit well with me for a while but I had to be obedient and do what I felt was best and pleasing to God. And I do believe that God will honor that in the future. I don't want to be distracted or pulled away from God so if that means I must sacrifice some relationships with people for a season then I will. If God intends anything to come about from them, in due season it will. But if He says walk away for a few weeks, months, years, so be it.

The right people in the wrong season are the wrong people. And I think when you're around the wrong people, confusion seeps in and turns things upside down. I've experienced that, when everything seems to be flowing, growing in God, focused, etc. Then in walks someone who you accept in your life selfishly and the next thing you know, you're lacking progression, confused, unfocused and distracted. I've been there, done that but never again. A false sacrifice is something that won't cost you anything. But when you can release the people in your life to God and obey the things He's asked of you, that is a place of ideal maturity.

I always tell Candice, "if someone is suppose to be in your life they will be."  So a few questions to ponder. How much do you really trust Him? What relationships are you willing to give up to gain more of Him? Are you failing any of God's tests? Are you in the will of God? Do you believe that the promises of God will be fulfilled regardless of what you must give up?

Whatever it takes, be obedient. God will bless you for it. I truly believe that! Those who God have allowed to walk away or those God have instructed you to walk away from, have no choice but to return if God has a plan involving them. Maybe not this season or even the next but God can only trust you with what you're willing to lay at His feet.

Day 5: My Thankful

I'm thankful for American Family's FREE one week pass to work out! Operation Calves, here I come! lol

I'm thankful that there are still good people in the world. Apparently, someone did a "hit and run" on my car in a parking lot. Some good Samaritan wrote down their license plate number and car model/make on a napkin and stuck it on my windshield.

I'm thankful that as far as I can see, there are no damages to my car. Thank God!

I'm thankful for singleness once again. I'm glad I don't have to answer to anyone or submit to anyone other than my God and my pastor. Independent woman, that's me. For now anyway....lol

I'm thankful for friendships that sharpen one another, just as iron sharpens iron.

I'm thankful for indoor heating. And hoodies. And socks. And blankets. And soup. SO not ready for this chilly season!

Shorts are not for winter people!

One thing I've talked alot about lately is friendships or lack thereof and I've realized something. I always talk about wanting friends that are consistent. I always had an issue with inconsistency. I looked up consistent and found this definition: Able to maintain a particular standard or repeat a particular task with minimal variation.

If this is true then consistency means never changing; always remaining the same. But as a Christian, I should always be progressing. So can I really expect my relationships with people to be "consistent"???

God gave me a different view of friendships. He caused me to relate friends to clothes. It seemed kind of juvenile and at first I didn't understand the significance and yearned for a deeper explanation. And I finally received it. Friends are like clothes in the way that some are only "worn" at certain times. Clothes are there to grace you from the temperment of whatever season you are in. But as the seasons grow colder or warmer, your surroundings change and something other than what you're currently "wearing" is needed. They may have gotten you through the summer but now they can't offer the same "covering" in the winter.

And I started to relate that to my current life. I looked at friendships that I've tried to hold on to. When people have made such a huge impact in your life, it's natural to want to continue to rely on them. But when the season is up and you're in a new season, their job has been accomplished and it's time to move on.

Have you ever tried to wear those shorts or sandals just a few weeks longer after summer. Or those boots or that sweater a little after winter. It may be your favorite outfit or whatever the reason but wearing it longer then what is advised will cause you to be uncomfortable. And that's because your "clothes" no longer FIT your surroundings. It's time to pack em up. You may come across them again or you may just have to get a whole new wardrobe but the seasons have changed.

Now of course there are some exceptions. Some friends do adapt to your season and that's usually when they're in that season as well. But the majority of your life will be a revolving door and you have to accept that. God wants to get you where He needs you and will use as many people as possible to get you there.
Seriously the friends I use to count on my hands, feet, and more, I can only count on one hand. I believe that's an indication that I'm being elevated to the next season. The last season was nowhere near easy but I pray God has seen me as faithful.

A buddy of mine called me on Sunday. He's an amazing poet and he saw a video of me doing poetry from last weekend. He called to encourage me and one thing he said that stuck with me was that God had hidden me for a season so that He could work somethings in me. And it started to make sense. When friends were dropping off and text messages and calls weren't coming in like usual. When I felt like I was always the one reaching out to people and never the opposite, God was removing people to work IN me. And the ones who understood my shift and distance are still around. The ones who got offended, well....can't be mad about it. God's will is God's will!

So yea, friends are not meant to be "consistent" per say. Some will walk in your life and then out. Some will stay around for a few seasons. Some will be there for a lifetime and those are usually the ones who support your distance, changes, etc and realize it's a move of God and not a personal blow. So what it all comes down to is do they help you with the current temperature you're currently in or is it time for a new season. I'm now embracing the winter with my scarf aka Candice Victoria hahaha & a few other garments I won't name. :-)

(If you get a chance, read Ecclesiastes 3:1-22)

Is it alive?

Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

I heard a sermon not too long ago that was based off of this verse and it really blessed me. One question that I think is incredibly important to ask yourself, "Is there anything in my life I've created that God did not breath into?"

I looked up the definition of alive. And the one that stood out to me stated that being alive means continuing in existence. So if something is alive that means it should be making progress. It shouldn't just be in one place doing one thing forever, life should equal pressing forward.


Genesis 2:7 is describing the creation of the first man, Adam. God created him from dust and THEN God gave him life. Before God breathed into Adam he was a creation but he was not alive. Without life you can't function. If you don't have life you can't pursue or live up to a purpose. To make it plain, without life any creation is a waste.

We as humans often lose patience. We feel that we're missing out on things that we want or need, not realizing that greater blessings take greater preparation. In the mist of doubt, sometimes envy,and alot of times being impatient, we take it upon ourselves to create our own situations. This list could include many things, relationships, friendships, businesses, etc. But without the breath of life from God, it's a creation but it is not alive. Just as Adam was created by God and was a man, he didn't have purpose or the ability to make progress until God breathed LIFE into him.

I think being mature in Christ and growing requires each of us to admit to our own wrong doings. There have been many times in my life that certain things didn't work out. Sometimes it was the wrong timing or the wrong decision but what it comes down to was that I personally had created it, but God had not given it life to progress. Therefore it was a waste and it was dead. I'm grateful for that lesson and more importantly that revelation.

When we put our will before God, many times we're left with baggage. We're left dragging our dead creation because it was out of disobedience and was not approved by God. On this journey of growth that I'm currently on, it was important for me to understand the importance of God's will. Everyday we create things, ideas, dreams, and aspirations. But what is currently in our lives that God has not breathed on? Relationships that we've created can become baggage just as dreams that we pursue prematurely. There is no life outside of God. Our situations are no different than Adam's creation. If God needs to breath life in His OWN creation, what makes any of us think we can create without the BREATH OF LIFE from God? Doesn't make any sense right?

I thought it was important to share this with you because we're all growing together. And to stay away (as much as possible) from broken hearts and failed dreams, it's important to know the importance of submitting to God's will. To create only what He has instructed us to create and to stay away from our own created unapproved relationships and friendships. And to wait to pursue certain dreams until God has given our creation life.

God can't bless disobedience. And one of the things that can bring the most discouragement, is creating something that is dead. It may not be dead because it was NEVER for you but it may be dead because of the impatience that pushed you to create it without the hand of God. Rest in knowing His way is always the right way. His timing is always the right timing. Just know that He is God. I would much rather wait patiently for His living creation than to drag along my own created dead one!


Find patience in the breath of life.
-Ryunosuke Satoro