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

Giving Up on Your Dream

I'm sure their have been plenty of times in your life when you were ready to throw in the towel and call it quits.  Believe me, I get it! I've felt like that, A LOT! I can't even tell you how many times I've given up on things in my life (and I'm only 26).

I am a serial quitter.  I'm not even sure if that's a thing but I'm gonna make it a thing!

I have struggled with having lots of drive and ambition my whole life.  But than as soon as I come to a challenge or set back I give up.  I might even tough it out and handle a couple of set backs but ultimately I gave up... again.  It was so embarrassing to tell friends and family how excited I was to start something new too then tell them one a few months later "it did't work out."  They probably think I'm a flake and can't handle life (which I can't but that's for another post).

Just like in my last post, about Taking Action you were given a special purpose for your life.  God needs YOU to deliver on what it is He put in your heart.  We are his soldiers.  I'm sorry to tell you this but Ecclesiastes 5:3 says, "For a dream comes with much business and painful effort."

We have to learn to put in effort and keep trucking through. Which is what I like to say, Do work!

What I do - I know many other successful people do - is to remind ourselves why we started.  Did you start so you can give your children a better life?  Did you start so you can help others?  Whatever your reason is remember God has equipped with you armor for the battle.  Satan will do anything to try and steal, kill and destroy your life (that's all he wants to do).  This means he will try and put any obstacle in your way so you give up.  I've heard it said that the moment right before you're about to give up is when the miracle happens. Theirs God, showing up for you and helping you through.  A verse that I have in my car is Psalm 32:7 

" For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory." 

My favorite part of this verse is that last word; victory!  It jumps off the page and into my heart.  It feels like a warm blanket of courage being wrapped around me.  It makes me feel like I can conquer all of my dreams!

But...

I'm not saying that if you have a really crappy job that is sucking the life out of you, that you have to stick it out.  Please, don't do that!  What I am saying is that if you pray for Gods guidance he will show you the way.  "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 

For me I ended up staying at a job that wrecked havoc on my spirit for months before I left.  I stayed because I didn't want to give up.  I didn't want my family to think I was quitting something...again.  But honestly it was the best thing I could have done.  I prayed about it for a a long time and then one day I heard God loud and clear.  It was time to go.  The difference here was that being at that company and doing that job was not a dream God put on my heart.  

If I never left I would have never started this blog.  I would have never written my book (coming to you in 2017).  Those were the real dreams God placed in my heart.  I know this because I have always felt it in my soul since I was a little girl.  But most importantly because I knew it would glorify Him!  

Lastly, I leave you with this.  If you are feeling like you're about to give up, keep going.  Show those doubters what you're made of!  Show them you are strong!  And always remember why you started. 


Love you always, 
Leah