Experience: Life

The last time I spoke with you, I told you that I would share the trials of my life throughout 2021 and how they affected me. The thing is, I was still experiencing those trials at the time of that last post. I still am, in some ways. But, things have gotten progressively better for me. I have made some drastic changes in my life and in my mind.  It’s so funny how fast time flies when you’re busy dealing with life and trying to figure things out. I’ve learned so much in the last 6 months alone! It’s like God has sped up the learning process for me. I’m feeling a great sense of urgency that I can’t explain. I don’t know exactly what’s coming, but I feel that something BIG is about to happen.  I’m excited about it! And apprehensive at the same time. Am I ready for what’s next? Have I learned all of the lessons that I need to learn? Have I internalized them?  God knows.  I have said before, and I truly believe, that every experience is a learning opportunity. I believe ...

Many of us, when we are faced with painful situations, fall apart. We dwell in the pain and let it stop us from moving forward. Many fall into a deep depression and become unable to cope with life. We tend to allow the pain to hold us hostage and take over us. But, the best way to deal with pain is to use it to our advantage. Let the pain propel you forward! Let the pain help you make up your mind to go for that dream you've been putting off. Use it to fuel your courage to take a chance at doing something you've been wanting to do or go somewhere you've been wanting to go. What do you have to lose? You're already feeling pain and sadness. What can anything or anyone else do to hurt you? You don't have to let your feelings control you. You don't have to handle your pain the way people expect you to. You can take control of your pain! You can turn the tables on it and use it the way it wants to use you! You are in control. And the time is NOW. Do...

I recently released a video on overcoming fear and insecurity (to watch that video, click here ). In that video, I shared that I had been struggling with fear for a long time. For years, I had been too afraid to go after my dreams or to start new projects for fear that I would fail. I also shared in the video that fear is a liar. It is not real. Fear is just a story of "what ifs" that fearful people tell themselves. It is the excuse we make to ensure we do not get hurt. It is the wall we build to keep ourselves safe. But there is nothing safe about fear. Fear starts with a thought. It takes a stifling hold of the mind and convinces us that we cannot or are not worthy to do something. It makes us believe these lies, then it manifests itself through our actions. Because fear takes over the mind, it takes a renewal of the mind to defeat it. We have to stop those fearful thoughts as soon as they enter our minds and not allow them to take hold and be exhibited in our act...

I have experienced many inconsistencies in my life. Sadly, they stretch throughout just about every area of my life. So much so, that I have consistently failed to finish projects that I have started. I have been extremely inconsistent with writing and posting to my blogs. I assume this inconsistency is the side effect of the evil culprit that had been plaguing me for a while - FEAR. Because of fear, I lacked confidence and belief in myself and would abandon important projects that I had begun. I was afraid that I might fail, that no one would like my work, or read my blogs. I even had a fear that I would succeed. I had become convinced that the responsibility of success would be too much for me. The lies that I told myself about myself made it difficult to continue... to do anything. To complete anything. When I came to the realization that fear is not real and that it was causing me lie to and sabotage myself, I decided to do something about it. Instead of doubting myself...

While in prayer last week, I began to thank God for my afflictions. I thanked Him for all the difficult things that I had been through in my life. As I went further into worship, I began to better understand the importance of my afflictions. I began listing the events that broke me, and I praised Him for it. That prayer experience was just what I needed. I had been asking God for some time what I should write about for this post. While in worship, while I was thanking God for my afflictions, I heard him say, “Tell my people.” He wanted me to share with you that there is purpose in your affliction! Psalm 119:71 (NKJV) reads, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your statutes.” In this scripture, David is addressing God and thanking Him for the troubles he had been through. Earlier in this passage, David says that before he was afflicted, he went astray (v. 67). Before he knew God’s statutes, before he knew what was required of him, he did not live accordi...

One of the first things we do, even before birth, is form a relationship. After our first relationship is formed, we continue to search for meaningful relationships throughout our lives. These connections shape and mold us, affecting our actions, attitudes, and beliefs. Being loved, understood, and accepted are concepts we hold as highly important and we look for these things in the people with whom we connect. We need the certainty of their loyalty and we are deeply affected when that certainty is not there.   I have had trouble being successful at relationships. Because of the hurt and disappointment I experienced in past relationships, I refused to allow any one to get too close to me. When I noticed someone drawing close, or if I believed that they were going to hurt me, I would immediately start to push them away.  This tactic seemed to work at first because I was avoiding any further hurt or disappointment. It soon backfired. I eventually became an island with ...

While writing for my blog "My Back Story - Now," I realized that I was not only sharing my Life's experiences, but also the lessons that I've learned from them. In fact, most of my posts have been about the lessons that I've learned and encouraging others to see the importance of every circumstance. The major experiences in our lives are not just coincidences, they happen for a reason. There is purpose behind them. The situations we encounter are allowed to happen to show us something we hadn't noticed before. They make us wiser and stronger and cause us to see and live life differently. My recent life experiences have helped me understand what God desires of me and what is required for me to continuously be in His will. My experiences have helped me to understand who God really is, to see His heart. Most of us believe we know God, but we dont know Him intimately. We dont have a true relationship with Him. As I began to spend more time with God, I re...