Category Archives: Growth

Skating Through Failure

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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

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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

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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

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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 ❤

You are Doing Better Then You Think You Are

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I think out of all of the characters in the bible, I relate to Peter the most. As much as I hate to admit it, I can be impulsive, obnoxious, and prideful at times lacking any ounce of humility. I find myself trying really hard to follow God, and then I let myself and God down because I mess up and sin.

I Think to myself, “man I have a lot to work on.” and I beat myself up for yet another failure on my part but it is in those moments that I hear my faithful God whisper, “yes you do have a lot of work to do but look at how you were last year.” That thought makes me smile to myself because I realize that I may not be doing so bad after all.

Perfect

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

Next year I will probably find myself going through the same scenario and God will have to remind me of how far I have come yet again but that’s okay. This life will be full of growth. In this imperfect world I will constantly mess up because I am human and I am full of sin but that doesn’t mean I won’t stop trying.

Every moment I have on earth is an opportunity to grow, learn, and praise the Lord who made me new. Each day I get a little better and I believe that  I will continue to grow until the Lord takes me home. Maybe, like me, you feel inadequate.

I want you to know that God is looking at you smiling right now in this very moment. Contrary to what you might believe, you my friend are doing better than you think you are.

~ Lovelle ❤

More Dependence and Less Independence

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When my husband and I first got our dog Buford, he was as independent as could be. The neglect he received from his previous owners had put him in survival mode. He wouldn’t really play, and often we would find him in another room.

He didn’t seem at ease or happy, either. In order to get him to stay in the room we were in we would have to bring out his bed because that was his safety net.

We have had Buford a couple months, and boy has he changed! His sadness has turned into a smile and he is a total attention hog. If he doesn’t get enough attention we know because he will be in our face with his cute little doggie grin.

Our dog sees us as his safety net. He knows that as long as he has us he will never be hurt again. He has learned that he can ask us for anything and we will give it to him, even if it means taking a pretty inconvenient  potty break at 3am.

Need Our Creator

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The funny thing is that our loving God works the same way. Imagine how much better things would be if we let God take control of everything in our lives?!? The bible says that you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless you are like a little child {Matt. 18:3}

What if we just seek God out to meet all our needs? What if we were like little children {or my dog} and completely dependent on Him as if he were our owners???

You see, The world says that growing up means you are more independent. My father says that growing up means I become more dependent.

This last sunday my pastor made an amazing statement that really cut deep. He said, “our hearts are meant to be ruled but when ruled by things other than God, it leaves room for sin.” 

God isn’t a convenience. He is a necessity but unfortunately this life can get pretty busy which causes us to lose sight of where exactly God is supposed to be in our life. Lately God has put me in a position where I am forced to depend on Him.

He opened my eyes to some things that took precedence and He took them off of my hands. I can control all I want but the end result will get me nowhere good.

Giving up control means letting God have responsibility and saying good-bye to worries.

Is there anything in your life that is currently taking precedence before God? Are you like me, struggling with giving over control? Take heart because God is still there. His arms are open wide. His yoke is easy to bear and his burden is light {Matt 11:30}.

~ Lovelle ❤

Why It’s Okay to Not Have Plans

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“I have no idea what to do with my life,” she said as she threw up her hands in exasperation. “I need a plan.” I gently patted her back and said, “That’s okay because you have plenty of time.”

This girl was only 20 years old and a sophomore in college. She was struggling because she couldn’t decide on what degree to commit to. She worked at a local fast food restaurant and for some odd reason she thought that she should be doing more. Because of this she felt stuck.

I smiled to myself because not to long ago I was in her shoes. Well… to be honest I still am, however, I also know what it’s like to have “plans” and I am learning that sometimes, they aren’t the best.

King Solomon says it best in Proverbs 19:21 in his statement, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”

When I was a senior in high school my plan was to be a writer but as my freshman year of college came to an end, I ditched those plans and I changed my major to social work.

My new plan was to get the education needed to change the foster care system. Now, at the age of 22 and as a senior in college, my plans changed again because God has called me to speak, write, life coach, and work with people in poverty.

Do you see where I am going here???

My point is throughout the course of our lives our plans WILL CHANGE because our ways are not like the Lord’s. Unlike our creator, we are not all knowing. God may end up calling you to move out of state.

He may ask you to quit your job to pursue something else. He may ask you to give up everything and move to a foreign country to become a missionary.

Just to clarify, in no way are plans bad. They help us be prepared but when plans start to become our crutch then we need to step back because we should be pursuing the Lord before anything.

Direct Your Paths

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If you are in a situation where you are confused and not sure where your life is headed, take heart my dear friend, because your Creator has your life in the palm of His hands. Are you feeling like you are stuck in a rut? Keep on holding on because God’s plans will prevail. Above all, remain malleable because God can’t use us if we aren’t.

~ Lovelle ❤