2018 Resolutions...Kind of

Resolutions.

I understand it's to start the new year with the best of intentions and a goal which I am all about! Believe you me, out of all of my friends I'm the nerd about goal setting and vision boards.  However, why wait until January 1?  Really though, ask yourself why does January 1 sound like the perfect date.  Is it because you believe it's easier to start on the 1st?  Is it because everyone else starts at the time?  (I know I'm asking a lot of questions and  really making you think, but hey, it' what I do).

I mean, if you want to lose 20 pounds,  quit smoking or be more present why not now?!  

Did you know that it takes 21 days for something to become a habit?  So whether you start going to the gym on January 1st or January 15th you still have to do it for 21 days for it to become a habit.  I'm not trying to deter you from going to the gym - it's one of my fav activities - but according to USA Today, on average 12% of new gym members join in January and of that 12 percent 95% drop off after January 15th.  BUT, what if we started a week or two earlier?  You would be that much closer to developing a new habit and you might not mind how packed the gym got for those 15 days.

What I'm trying to say is don't wait.  Don't use the new year as an obligatory starting point for this new goal you have in mind.  If it something that is important to you and God has put it on your heart than go out and DO IT!   

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24  

So, if you decide on March 25th that you want to start a daily prayer journal than start that day!  If you decide on November 4th you want to lose 15 pounds than start that day!

Sometimes starting is the hardest part, but if you think of it as working for God's good and not your own it will become easier.  Serve Him and blessings will follow.

Love you always,

Leah


P.S. I'm pretty versed in goal setting and have a few tips and tricks if you guys would be interested.  

Back at it!

Hey.  How are you? Long time no posts...my bad... 😬So much has happened.  Like SO much!

But guess what? I'm back - ready to write what God has been putting on my heart and get my creativity out into the world.

I'm ready to be loud.
I'm ready to be bold.
I'm ready to be honest.
I'm ready to be all the things He created me to be.

I can't wait to share about how God has been using me this past year.  I guess to everyone else it's just normal life but for me, God has been challenging my heart.  It has been much more subtle than other seasons of my life.  Maybe I don't need the booming alerts to hear from Him anymore, just a still small voice.

Since when do I notice a still small voice? Better yet, when do I ever listen to it?!

Uhh, can we say "Growth" people?!

Have you grown much this year? I know this year feels like a doozy but stay with me.  We can do this!

Stay tuned over the next couple of days. Things. Are. Happening.


Love you always,
Leah

Overhaul Your Life

How many times have you said to God, "Ok, I'm ready for your plan for my life" ?  It was most likely said in a time of despair when your plans, that you made on your own, didn't work out.
(Am I right or am I right?!)

Believe me, I've done it too.  I've prayed that prayer that so many times in my darkest hours because I was just SO done with this life.  However, I've also said those words when I felt lost and confused.  Word of advice,  DO NOT ask God to take away or give you anything so that you can do His will, unless you are prepared for the consequences.  I know from experience.  Let me tell you it was a freakin' doozy.  It was my senior year of College, my fiancee left me, I had to move back in with my parents and I totaled my car.  All that happened in 4 months! Talk about moving mountains!

I say this as a word of caution.  If you think you're at a low point and need God to save you, you're right.  But the thing is you needed Him waayyyy before that.  I have this theory (which I could be totally wrong)  that if you are actively seeking a relationship with Him and do love God before you cry out for his overhaul, that He will make small moves first. If you are open an seeking Him then you will see these small signs or changes in everyday life.  At the time of my overhaul I was not nearly as deep with my walk in Christ as I am now.  I see small changes and hear his voice more frequently.  He knows I am sensitive so small signs are the best for me.

I wonder how God is speaking to you?  Do you need a small change or large?  I would love to hear all about it in the comments below or reach out to me on social media.



" So often our dreams are actually too small for God to fit into them, and what God wants is for us to invite Him in and hand them over to Him."  -  Mariah McManus Goss  



Love you always,
Leah

Adversity

Fear is not something to be conquer.  Just like how adversity is not something that proves if you are strong and brave.

Definition of Adversity;

   Adversity

  noun, plural adversities for 2.

   1.

adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked bymisfortune, calamity, or distress:

Friends will show their true colors in times of adversity.

   2.

an adverse or unfortunate event or circumstance:

You will meet many adversities in life.   

Ok, so here I pick it apart and gives examples. Awesome!  I love examples. I specifically love theses examples because it brings the realness to it.  Not the, "I'm going to be strong and show adversity who's boss" crap.  Because honestly,  one of the best things you can do is to handle it the way you want to handle it.  It's true!  

People handle things differently.  If someone is in an adverse place in their life theirs a couple things you can do; one, Give them encouragement or 2,  let them feel distressed, woeful, pain.  Our instinct is to fix it, right?  We want to be there and take away their distress and pain.  We want to tell them, "no it's not fair but how you handle this will show how strong you are."  

News flash, you are already strong! You don't need to be prove it while you are in a tough spot. I want you to know that one of the best things you can do is to be still and feel the pain.  My girl Glennon Doyle Melton says, (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Pain is not a hot potato to be quickly thrown to someone else, but it is more like traveling professor.  The wise ones let themselves be still with it; makes them stay until it teaches them what they need to know."  BTW, this girl is amazing and you immediately need to google her.  

So my dear friends,  let adversity teach you what you need to know.  But remember you do not need to prove to anyone how strong, brave or courageous  you are when faced with adversity.  

YOU ALREADY ARE!  

Love you always, 

Leah 

What breaks your heart?

I'm serious.  I want to know what breaks your heart!

The reason I ask is because if you are someone who is struggling to find your "career" or "passion", well...that is it my friend! You may be thinking, "Um isn't that the exact opposite thing I should be doing?'  Not really.

Hear me out.  If you're watching the SPCA commercial with the saddest song in the world and you start balling like you're 5 then that's a good indication you should do something in that field.  Their are a TON of things you could do.  Anywhere from volunteering to becoming an actual officer who goes out and saves the day.

Think about it!  It's obviously something you would care deeply about.  You would put your all into it everyday. And, the word engaged would most likely be one of your top 3 words to describe how your job makes you feel.  Scratch that, it's a freakin' career! See where I'm going with this.

If you follow what breaks your heart their you will your people (or animals).  God specifically places in us a deep feeling for someone or something.  He does it because we are here on this earth to glorify Him and that is through YOU!

Next time you hear or see something that breaks your heart, run to it!

Love you always,
Leah

Greatness

This post is more faith based than the rest.  It's going to be short and sweet.  So just a heads up.

At church today we studied the first chapter in the book of Jonah.  Ya know, the guy who got swallowed by a great big fish.  (FYI, it never says he was swallowed by a whale so the whole 'Jonah and the Whale" story is false.) Which makes me understand why some people are against Christianity, but that is a totally different post within it's self.  Should I do a post on it?  Would you find it helpful in understanding nonbelievers?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

Did you know the term great is used in the short book of Jonah, more than any other book of the bible?  This is not a coincidence.  The entire story of Jonah is about how great and big God is.  He is bigger than any thought or idea we might have.  He is bigger than any of our own judgements of others.  He is big enough to show grace to EVERYONE!  Even those we think don't deserve it or didn't "earn" it.  How dare we limit God.  He is a great big God capable of anything.  I mean He did create the universe.

My friends, I ask you the next time your ego creeps in and you think to yourself, "See how awesome I am God.  Look at how good I am."  know that God loves you as much as the most horrible person you can think of.  Then I invite you to pray for those who need Him.  Also, pray for yourself that you can be humbled by Him.  I know you have your short comings as well but God still loves you the same.  He is a great big God.


Love You Always,

Leah

There is Room for Everyone

It seems like nowadays everyone and their mom has a blog.

I recently went to go see Bad Moms with Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and a few other awesome ladies.  (I also loved that JJ Watt played a soccer coach who owned cats and Prius...but I digress).  One of the lines mentioned the different types of mom groups and I quote, "the blogging moms."  I told you everyone and their mom has a blog.  So why the heck am I doing it?  What could I have to say that hasn't already been said or done?  Well my friends,  sorry to break it to ya, but most of my advice or encouragement is not new.  Maybe the way I say something or my perspective might be different but for the most part it is not new stuff.

Similar to my last post, sometimes you won't understand something fully until you are at the right place at the right time and have gone through the right experience to be able to "get it".  And by right experience I mean that very specific place and person who was there, or not there.  I do NOT mean societies term of "right experience".

The things that I say and write are from my perspective.  From my own experiences.  For some people it will be like a lightbulb moment of awareness.  Others might think nothing of it and place no value on what I have to say.  Some might go as far as to say that it's a load of rubbish.  Ya know what?  That's total okay!

It has been stated in the Bible by God that, "You will be hated by everyone because of me..."  Now those are some pretty heavy words.  Society will try to bring you down.  They will say, "give up on your dream, it's all been said and done before."  But my dear friends they are wrong!  They don't know the magnitude of the dream God has put in your heart.  He gave it to you for a reason. Only you can carry out the plans he has set for you, no one else.

So, do not listen to the nay sayers of this world.  If someone gawks at your unreasonable dream it's most likely because they have given up on their own.  I warn you my love, do not believe those doubters.  Trust and believe in your God.  There is room for everyone.

Love You Always,
Leah