Tag: God

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life Uncategorized

Away With Formalities

We all have terms of endearment for those we are close to or care about. I have a nickname fetish, personally. If you are significant in my life (or have been) you have probably been called something other than your government name. None of these names are malicious or negative, they simply display a verbal connection. Our parents are no different. We don’t call them their names out of respect, we rarely call them Mother and Father…those names are harshly formal. As children began to talk…they slaughter certain words. We then adjust to shorter more simple forms of certain words. As we grow old, we form bonds with these identifiers.

I call God the Father – DADDY! (I believe in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son -Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost)

I call Him Daddy because we have an intimate relationship. It’s a term of bond or relationship. I pray daily. Most of the time, for others, but I TALK to God. I tell Him about my day, how I feel, I ask questions, I converse with Him. I wait for answers. Not just when I need, or when others need, sometimes just to talk to my Daddy. That’s what happens with my earthly father. I come home (they don’t live in the same city that I do) and we catch up.

Do you have a relationship with Daddy? There is no time like the present to start one. Doesn’t always have to be a “formal” or scripted prayer. Talk to Him!

Ivy Out

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life

OVERJOYED

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we can overflow with Joy?

Have you ever been so full, you thought you would burst? I have. Yesterday was one of those days. Now don’t get it twisted…as a human being we aren’t shielded from those things that happen to us all…but ALL IN ALL my day was great. I am excited about my assignment. I am excited about encouraging young girls and seasoned women! I am excited about the WORD OF GOD manifesting in my life!

This will be short because I have another to share later…”Part Time Christians”…Being a Christian isn’t a convenient monicker or bumper sticker. It’s a WAY OF LIFE. The word says we can’t be luke warm! I remember thinking I could live how I wanted and “straighten up” when I got older…ABSOLUTELY NOT! The Lord wants your obedience to His will and way right now! There is a danger in thinking we are immune just because we know Jesus
! Salvation isn’t something we loose because of choice…but we can sure SUFFER because of choice. BUT…that’s not this post…

Ivy Out

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life

Words are puzzle pieces.

Have you ever wondered why pictures are worth a thousand words? Why language…as it advanced…was filled with more words than pictures? Why, as we grow older, our books are filled with more words and pictures seem to confined to book covers?

It’s a WORD that plays into your puzzle, into the conundrum of life. (Conundrum:
According to dictionary.com 1.
a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper.
2.
anything that puzzles.
Origin: 1590–1600; pseudo-L word of obscure orig.)

Words create our pictures! I can’t help but celebrate the fact that words are immortal! The Word of God, is written in the Bible. It has transcended ages…once orally spoken…then written to continue its mission.

It’s is in this vein that I address the WORDS coming out of our mouths! WHY, speak negative things into our lives? Some of us do it unconsciously. We’ve create this pattern for so many years that its an automatic response! RECONDITION your reactions!

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Creation begins in the heart…out of your heart you speak. It’s time to create the fertile ground for greatness, SPEAK IT! When stuff happens, SPEAK AGAINST THE NEGATIVE. Practice today..just say positive things today! I promise the sheer positive energy of a great WORD environment will make you smile!

Ivy Out

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life

Gratitude shifts your MOOD!

As a parent, would you give your child more of something that they didn’t appreciate? (“Good parenting” & common sense says NO) If not, why would God give us more money… If we can handle our current situation? Why would He give us mortgage if we are ungrateful for our apartment?(Surely, these are random examples, insert thing you want here!) To be frankly honest, gratitude also signifies a certain level of maturity.

It’s certainly not a strange concept to even babies. However, most people develop a “GIVE ME” spirit and not a “THANK YOU” spirit. Get back to THANK YOU! It will elevate your life, primarily, because from a genuine place…it comes. You envelope yourself in lessons instead of of depression! You can crawl out of a negative place and declare: LORD I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU DEEM ME STRONG ENOUGH FOR THIS CHALLENGE! YOU GIVE YOUR STRONGEST TESTIMONIES TO THOSE WHO CAN CARRY THE TORCH! Its not that the situation doesn’t suck, but you can CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE!

Gratitude changes your perspective. It can reshape your thinking and your activity. Lets face it, Change your mind, CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Grateful that you took a few moments of your day to share with me!!

Ivy Out

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life

Solution

When life has thrown you for a loop… When the unexpected rears its head…
When it seems everything is horrible or perfect:

PRAY

PRAY because we have the right to speak with the FATHER day and night.
PRAY because we are instructed to as believers.
PRAY because worry increases fear, which we shouldn’t operate in.
PRAY because it just makes sense.
PRAY because it feels good to know that God hears every prayer.
PRAY because intercession is effective for the righteous.
PRAY because we are able.
PRAY because you need to talk to God.
PRAY because God needs to talk to you.
PRAY when you are happy and when you are not.
PRAY because Jesus prayed.
PRAY because we are operating under the watchful eye of a cloud of witnesses.
PRAY because prayer still works.

1 Thessalonians 5:17(NLT) – Never stop praying.

Ivy Out

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life

Honest Hearts

Music has mood changing abilities. Isn’t it amazing that you can hear upbeat music and either smile or feel aggressive (depending on your taste). Or how you can walk into a yoga studio or to a spa…and non verbally laced tones will tickle eardrums and soothe your soul. Music can create an atmospheric change that wraps its arms around you like a cashmere sweater.

Music can also paint images of love on the back of your eyelids. The desire of most women…was the Cinderella love story. I don’t think I recalled dwelling on the “maid” conditions, the horrible temperament of the step mother, the jealously and envy of the sisters, or even the sadness of the absent from the body father, just the love story.

Do we as adults forsake the “other” part of a good love story. The background and foundational knowledge of personal growth. Do we miss the character building and etiquette of maturity? Could you imagine a violent Cinderella? Someone who blamed everyone for everything, was physically aggressive, and a bully? Conversely, what of a Cinder that would have turned back to rags in front of a heartless prince? One who had the audacity to verbally reprimand her existence. What then?

I thank God for maturity. For not pulling me out of this valley of singleness before I (or then soon to be suitor – or soon I hope, lol) was ready to meet each other. I still believe that fairy tales come true, because the story writer has my heart in His divine hands. The soundtrack in my heart is gratitude. The song on my lips is thanksgiving. The temperature of my essence paints “welcome” on the air I breath. I can hear the strings playing…

Ivy out!

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life

Who’s your secret you?

I read something on a social network today that got my attention…”The Secret Life of…”

Seriously, with hyperspeed Internet, networking, and telecom, you mean to tell me that people still keep secrets? After “the lingerie secret” came out…ok now…

I Kid, but honestly, are you hiding your greatest self? Are there gifts, talents, hopes, and dreams that have been implanted inside of you? Is your best “you” dormant? Sometimes, out of circumstance or fear, we hold back our greatness for the “sake of others”. I truly believe that Marianne Williamson was on to something when she said, “AS WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME”. How brilliant a concept!

I don’t know everybody, but SOMEbody needs to know that we are waiting. We are waiting for the best that you are! There is a barrage of greatness in a fusion cell waiting on your permission. Give birth to that greatness so that the past due brilliance doesn’t turn into a cancer of “I should haves” or “I wish I would haves”.

Your gifts WILL make room for you. It’s time to acknowledge them!

Ivy Out

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life

Gratitude prelude

It’s October 1st! That means a lot for me. The seasons have changed…even in Houston! (Where we can normally wear shorts on Christmas) It is also the month of my birthday. I share this month with my father, cousin, and a host of friends! This SEASON brings gratitude to a summit. It’s in that vein that I share the following:

We worry about not being able to bring gifts to people on occasion. About not being in position to show outward affection toward our kin and friends. Most of the time we forget that it’s not the amount but the thought that counts. Now, that can seem cliche’ and obsolete, but BEAR WITH ME! (Yes, bear-Grrr!) How many times are we invited to share moments with people,and we don’t show up. We leave the biggest obligation to “other people”. That echoes out into the universe and of the 50 people invited, five show up. How do you think the honoree feels? I’ve experiences this countless times (personally and professionally). Your presence matters. Seriously!

Have you ever said thank you (thank you Tracie Jae for placing this on my heart) unexpectedly? Try it! Find someone to thank, genuinely. It’s for them…but it’s really for YOU! It feels amazing to be a positive catalyst in someone’s life!

As I walk into birthday week, as a blogger, I say thank you to everyone for reading, liking, and sharing my words! It means the world to me that you would share some time with me.

Gratitude Day, GO!

Ivy Out!

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life

He’s good like that

Good morning!

I was reading Psalms chapter 19 this morning and marveling at God’s design.

Architects spend years in school learning new technology and software so they can create masterpieces. In Ancient times, with no computers, Egyptians and Greeks built cities that still stand. But GOD handcrafted this world in which we live. He placed the marvels of space. He positioned water and land. He created man and formed woman and gave us assignments.

How excellent is design? Isn’t it comforting knowing that the one who is in control, is the original designer?
Psalms 19:14 calls God our Rock and Redeemer. Our fortress and strength! How excellent to be able to depend on God!

If the value of purses, shoes, art, and homes are more valuable when it’s proclaimed a designer original…should not we value our lives in this manner?

Ivy out

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Uncategorized

The Sure Thing

There are days when we make choices that add hurdles to our journey. Right, We, not the enemy, not God, us. Our choosing things contrary to our purpose adds frustration, stagnation, and disappointment. Jer. 29:11 reminds us that The Lord has plans for our good! Plans for us to prosper…to an EXPECTED END!

What’s going on in our lives is not a surprise to the Father. He forgives! It’s not a permanent thing with God. We can change our course of choices, by deciding to!

When we look in the mirror, we need to ask God to show us who He sees. When we walk in His will for our lives, though the path isn’t perfectly strait, we save ourselves the “extra” that comes with poor choices.

I’ve been reading a truth lately: avoiding “it” doesn’t make it go away. Acknowledge and heal fam.

Ivy Out