Category Archives: Growth

The Purpose to Our Journey

5 Replies

DoorPhotoShopPhoto1

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

I stared at my computer screen in disbelief with tears rolling down my cheeks. I got an email telling me that I got turned down from a job I really wanted for what seemed like the millionth time. With this many devastating blows, the rejection seemed almost unbearable.

I was so confused. It seemed the more I tried, the more the world told me I wasn’t good enough.  I have had a job (or two) since I was 16 years old. How can it be this hard to get one now. Especially when I have a degree? 

In that moment I was very real with God. By that I mean, I cried and yelled at Him for the confusion and another closed-door. I then began to  cry some more and once I pulled my emotional self together, I apologized for being a know it all when really, God’s ways aren’t mine (Isaiah 55:8).

 After some TLC from my amazing husband, chocolate, and a call to my wonderful parents who prayed for me and filled me with tons of encouragement, I hopped into bed and forced myself to open my bible. My eyes immediately found this verse:

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the promised land… God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
~ Exodus 13: 17-18

 Windy roads and closed doors are sometimes part of journey. If it was easy then how would we grow? I can be irritated and upset or I can be thankful that God is putting me in a position of growth where I am forced to depend on Him.

Sometimes, it’s not about where we are going. It’s about how we get there.

I am writing this today to hopefully encourage anyone who is going through a wilderness. Is it a job situation? Girl, I feel you. waiting is always the hardest. An adoption process? Salvation for a family member? Maybe even an illness that won’t go away or doesn’t have a good prognosis…

Waiting is difficult and walking a roundabout way is sometimes hard too. I don’t know about you, but I am going to try to embrace the journey because God is going to grow me. I know that I will come out on the other side as an overcomer and you will too.

~ Lovelle❤

My New Three Step Process

2 Replies

Knock, Seek, Find

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

Last week I talked about the Egyptians and some character flaws I tend to have that make me similar to them. I learned the importance of consulting God before acting on anything but most importantly, I truly understood the importance of Mathew 7:7 for the first time.

In this verse God showed me a three step process that I can go through to seek His guidance in any situation. It has helped me so much I want to share it with you too!

The first step is to ask. Simple enough right? Well that’s what I thought until I looked up the definition.  Asking is defined as saying something in order to obtain an answer or some information. The key here is to ask and not do anything until I get a clear answer from God. Let’s just say it’s easier said than done because sometimes it means waiting a really long time.

The second step is to seek. This step is different because it involves actually stepping out and doing something. This means acting out on what the Lord has asked me to do whether it’s through active prayer or putting a staff in the nile river and turning the river into blood- highly unlikely but hey, you get the point😉

The third and final step is to knock. This means making a loud noise or doing something to get your point across. It means being bold and letting someone know you are there. As I look back on the word “knock” I understand why God used that specific word in this bible verse for the first time. When Moses struck the water in the Nile I doubt it was quiet. I bet you it involved a pretty big bang that got the Egyptians attention- even if it was just for a second.

As I look back at all the stories in the bible, I don’t see a single miracle that occurred quietly. Daniel got thrown into a pit with some pretty scary and loud lions, Elijah called down fire, and Jesus was crucified on a cross where people were yelling at Him the whole time.

The most important thing I will take away from this lesson the Lord has taught me is this:
 If Moses hadn’t asked and sought God then he would not have had the confidence to stand before Pharaoh and perform that miracle.

In the same way I must follow this three step process in order to truly allow God to be in control and to make sure I am making the right decisions.

~ Lovelle❤

Instead of Asking Why Ask How

6 Replies

Sunflower Seeds

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

As I find myself looking back on my past and all the things that have happened to me, I can’t help but wonder why things had to go the way they did. 

I can sit here and pretend I’m not at least a little bit frustrated, but that would be a lie and it wouldn’t help anyone. Why did it take so long for me to get parents? Why hasn’t God told me what to do with my life?

The list Goes on and on…

But here’s what I have realized- I shouldn’t be asking God why. I should be asking Him how He wants me to handle the situation I am in.

I need to be asking God what can I do in this exact moment to really take advantage of the time I have in the place that He has me.

I may not be able to see it but I know that God is working in the background. He WILL work everything out (Romans 8:28).

I shouldn’t be questioning why things happen the way they did. All I want is to do what God want’s me to do and I am writing this because I am pretty sure you do too. It doesn’t matter where we are. We have the ability to be used.

Are you frustrated with the way your life is looking right now? Are you losing your grasp on contentment? Are you trying to read too much into how God is working in your life?

I want you to know that God doesn’t waste anything. Even if you are doing something you feel is useless, God has a plan and it will come to pass. That’s the promise I am believing today and my prayer is that you do the same.

~ Lovelle❤

 

Skating Through Failure

6 Replies

Be Used

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

My husband was super awesome and decided to take me ice skating for our anniversary. All is fun and games until you step out on that ice skating rink and expect one slender piece of metal on each shoe to keep you balanced.

As much as I tried, the only thing I could think about was how much my booty would hurt if those little metal pieces failed me. It seemed like the more I worried, the more I wobbled, and the closer I came to falling down.

After a few minutes of struggle I finally just gave up not trying to fall and embraced the fact that I may end up hurting myself on the ice. Here’s the irony;

When I embraced the possibility of failure, I actually ended up skating really well.

I feel like life is a little like that slippery ice skating rink. This world tells us that perfection is a necessity and because of that, we end up focusing a little too much on failure.

What if we just embraced the fall?

What if we asked God how He could use our mistakes?

The fact is, we are sinners and as long as we are on earth, WE WILL Fail.

God did not give us a spirit of fear {2 Timothy 1:7} so don’t be scared of failure. Sometimes, even our hardest falls can make the biggest difference and teach us so much.

~ Lovelle❤

You Are God’s and so is Your Career

7 Replies

IMG_9387-mjb.LGM

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy on my “seeds to sow page! This photo was taken by Marina Bromley.}

I once had a friend who wanted to be a police officer. He did all the right things, worked jobs to gain experience, and even got a bachelors in Criminal Justice with hopes that he would be able to have his police officer training paid for.

His heart was great, and the job he desired to do was needed but whenever the testing or application process came up, something else that was way more important came up on that exact same day at the exact same time he was supposed to go in.

After months of being stuck and no where close to his career he said to me, “Nothing is going right. It never seems to ever go my way”  I looked at him intently and gently said, “It’s going God’s way though.”

This world seems to hold this stigma that if we do the “right” things and take the “right” steps then we will get to where WE want to go but it’s never about us.

Our life is Gods. It’s as simple as that.

It’s okay to have dreams and goals. The desire my friend had wasn’t wrong. It was a very sacrificial and honorable career he wanted but obviously God had a different one in mind.

If something isn’t going right, ask God what you are doing wrong. God guides the steps of the righteous {Psalm 37:23} and He will guide you too. You just have to step out and let Him.

~ Lovelle❤

The Right Kind of Busy

1 Reply

The Right Kind of Busy

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

I have a to confess something… Not having anything to do scares me which is why I had a mini heart attack when I recently changed jobs and went from full-time to part-time. Whenever I see a need I immediately want to jump in and help.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I am learning that it’s important to stay busy doing the work God has asked me to do personally. If I am not spending my time working on things He wants me to work on then I am missing out on His plan for my life and potentially taking someone else’s job away from them..

The fact is, I am not Superwoman. I need to have priorities. Helping isn’t bad but sometimes the adversary can distract me from doing what God really wants by keeping me occupied in areas I don’t belong. God has given me certain gifts and I need to use them wisely.

Have there been times in your life where you have been “the wrong kind of busy?” What was the result? How did you get past it? The wonderful thing about mistakes, is that we can always learn them and try harder the next time. I am so thankful for a patient God and His unending grace.

~ Lovelle❤

Seeing Beauty In The Journey

4 Replies

embrace the journey

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

I’m a small girl with big dreams that sometimes feel unrealistic and pretty far away. When self-doubt and impatience kick in the Lord never fails to remind me who I am in him.

He gently whispers in my anxious heart, “I called you out with a purpose and I knew it before you were even born.” Despite how I feel sometimes, I know deep down that I am capable of anything because God lives in me and with Him, anything is possible. {Luke 18:27}

““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart…”
~ Jeremiah‬ ‭1:5‬ 

Are you struggling with contentment? I feel ya, I’m in the same boat but what helps me is to focus on the steps I am taking now. If I only focus on the finish line then I miss out on all the things I am passing. 

Life’s a journey and God knows exactly how he wants us to take it. We are able to learn so much more and help so many more people if we focus on what’s around us, not just what’s ahead.

So finish that race strong but don’t forget to enjoy the view while you’re at it. When finished you will most likely be all sweaty and out of breath but as you look back you will be able to see why the journey was so hard and what God did through the almost unbearable circumstances.

~ Lovelle❤