Goodbye 2014

Greetings and Blessings!!

The time has come for us to say goodbye to the year that was 2014! The year that was consumed with laughter,  happiness, pain, sorrow, tears, joy, road bumps. many highs and many lows. The year that has taught me so much not only about people but about myself. The past year and a half of my life has been a roll-a-coaster I would say. I never expected or anticipated to have gone through what I have but going through it has opened my eyes in seeing what I needed to see and shifted my focus back on God. I do not regret what has taken place in my life because then I wouldn't be appreciative of the lesson that I needed to learn. I have come to realize that I am much stronger than I think I am and I know more than I think I do. There are no coincidences in life, everything happens the way it is supposed to happen.

I am saying goodbye to the fact that I did not always see myself as valuable or knowing my sense of self-worth. I did have low self-esteem about myself or thought that I wasn't good enough or pretty enough. We all suffer from some form of insecurity about ourselves. Society says, if you don't conform to this or that then you aren't valuable, worthy, or you won't get ahead in life. So I am saying to society that you can KICK ROCKS with your conformity!!! My value and self-worth doesn't come from you but from GOD! I was created in his image and likeness.  I am flawed, imperfect, reserved, soft-spoken, kind-hearted, fun-loving, humble, gentle-spirit, God-fearing woman.

I am saying goodbye to generational curses and letting go of things such as people, past hurts, disappointments, etc. One can not go into the New Year with unresolved issues of the past, unforgiveness in one's heart, bitterness, resentment, etc. Whatever feelings (and I had a lot of them) that I've had within this year about things and people I took it to God and I'm leaving it there. Saying goodbye to things that aren't relevant to me anymore and leaving right where it belongs in the PAST!

I am saying goodbye to this year with my head held high and walking into the New Year with a new outlook on life. I thank God for this year because this year was about the LESSONS that I needed to learn that has prepared me for what is coming next. This year was preparation, molding, and shaping me into the woman that God knows I can be. This year was filled with highs and lows but I am still STANDING! I am evolving and will continue to do so as I progress in this life.

So I ask you all what are YOU saying goodbye to in 2014?? I hope and pray that you all take some time to reflect on things from this year and not let anything that did or didn't happen in this year keep you in a rut. The mind is a very powerful tool, keep your mind on things above not earthly things. Keep your focus and know who you are in Christ!

Be Blessed

Christina

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!

I hope you all are doing well. I also hope that you all had a great Christmas and if you don't celebrate Christmas hope you had a great holiday. Just wanted to share this quote with you all as we go into our last weekend of the year! No matter what has happened God has been preparing you for what is to come and has been working behind the scenes in preparing what is to come for you. As we reflect on this past year, let us not get stuck in the past but take the lessons that we have learned as we move forward into the New Year! Have a great weekend!!

Be Blessed

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas

Greetings and Blessings!!

Good Morning Everyone!! I hope you all are doing well on this Christmas Eve. I honestly can't believe that it is Christmas Eve already. And come next week it will be New Year's Eve! The time sure is flying by and it will be by the grace of God that we will be walking into the New Year! I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas!! I pray that you all get to spend time with those that are closet to you. That you cherish each and every moment whether good or bad. Take the time out to be thankful and reflect and remember that its not about the material things but about being around your loved ones. Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and that he was born so that we may have life! 

If you don't celebrate Christmas, I wish you and your family a wonderful and blessed holiday! 

Be Blessed

Christina 

12 Days Of CHRISTmas

Greetings and Blessings!!

Happy Monday Everyone!! I hope that you all have had a great start to the week if not that's okay you have a whole week to turn it around. So here are days nine and ten of the twelve days of CHRISTmas from Saved in the city. We are unworthy, but because of God's unconditional love we receive his grace! Scripture 1 Timothy 1:14 Again, if you haven't done so check out their website it's a wonderful organization for women who are looking to have a closer and deeper relationship with Christ.


Be Blessed

Christina

Remembering The True Meaning Of Christmas

Greetings and Blessings!!

I hope that you all had a great weekend! Thanking God for letting us enter into this new week! Let us start the week off on a positive note! No matter what may happen let's keep our minds focus and stayed on God. I can't believe that Christmas Eve is this Wednesday and then it will be Christmas. After that, we just have a few more days until New Year's Eve!!! I wanted to share with you all in remembering the true meaning of Christmas during this time of the year. Yes, its nice to receive presents and give presents to those that we hold close to our hearts. But let us not get lost in the gift giving or gift receiving.  For some the holidays, can be a rough time because their loved ones are not here anymore, finances are low, etc. But during this time, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing is unconditional love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength.

Let us remember going into the final two weeks of this year that Jesus is the reason for the season. Its not about material things but about celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. It is about his birth that brought joy to this world. Let us leave all the petty, negativity, drama, etc. alone. Let us be healed from our past and forgive not only ourselves but forgive those that have hurt us. Forgiveness is not easy but if God can forgive us for the things we've said or done then how can we not forgive those that hurt or or done us wrong. If we don't forgive, we are only standing in the way and blocking our own blessings!

Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. Jesus came so that he could die on the cross for ALL OUR SINS so that we may have LIFE. What an ultimate gift and sacrifice!  Let us look at Christmas in a different way this year. This is the time to invite Jesus into your heart. He is just waiting on you and he will accept you right where you are. He is an awesome God and a wonderful Father! His love is pure, true, and unconditional. He will not leave you nor forsake you. He is not the author of confusion but of peace. He only wants the best for all of us! You will receive joy and peace that will last no matter the circumstance that you go through.

So take the time out and spread laughter, joy, peace to not only those that are close to you but to others as well. You may be the only LIGHT in someones DARKNESS! I pray that you all have a wonderful week!!!

Be Blessed

Christina

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!

Happy Saturday Everyone!!! I hope you all are doing well. I wanted to share this quote with you all. The wave of social media has everyone portraying themselves as if they have it all together or as if everything is great with their lives. Social media can also make us feel a certain way if we aren't where we see those individuals that we follow. We can start to feel jealous or envious of what we see from scrolling through the feed on IG or Facebook. But we can't let those negative thoughts and spirits enter into our minds. We all go through things in life and some people are better off at pretending that things are great when they really aren't. It is important that we don't start comparing our lives to those lives that we follow on our social media accounts. Just because we don't see everything doesn't mean that they haven't struggled to get to where they are. We all were created with unique talents, gifts, and abilities. We all have something special and different to offer and if we start comparing where we should be at with others then its saying that God made a mistake. God doesn't make mistakes, he knows everything and I mean everything about us better then we know. Don't let what you see fool you into wishing your life was different. Our walks and purposes are different and we must seek God first in all we do and let him order our steps in the way he wants us to go.

Be Blessed

Christina

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!

Happy Friday Everyone!! I hope you all are doing well and that you all had a great and productive week! I hope everyone's week went well!! I wanted to share this quote with you all. When it comes to reflecting on how far you've come and the setbacks, the pain, the heartaches, and all that you have endured it is important to look in the mirror and see the beauty of how far you've come. Everything happens for a reason in our lives and it is because of those things that we become stronger, wiser, confident, and more knowledgeable. Everything that we go through is meant to teach us something and with that lesson that it teaches us we apply it to our daily lives. No matter what circumstance comes your way, you have the power within to make it through. In our times of weakness, God gives us the strength to carry and push on. We only have two more weeks left in this year, so if you haven't done so take some personal time with yourself and God and reflect on all that you have gone through and thank him for bringing you through and continue to thank him in advance for what is to come. Have a great and blessed weekend!!

Be Blessed

Christina

12 Days Of CHRISTmas

Greetings and Blessings!!

Hope you all are doing well! Here is the second post of 12 days of CHRISTmas. Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Our hearts overflow with such joy as we celebrate the birth of our King Jesus and we want to share it with the world! We pray that Romans 15:13 invades your heart on this day and forever more!  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."


Be Blessed

Christina

12 Days Of CHRISTmas

Greetings and Blessings!!!

Hope you all are doing well and hope you all had a great weekend!! Thanking God for another week that is coming upon us. We don't have that much longer and we will be walking into a New year before we know. So Saved in the City will be doing 12 days of CHRISTmans and I will be sharing what they post on my blog just like I did for the 30 days of thankful. If you haven't done so check out their website they are an awesome organization for women who are looking to develop a closer relationship with God. It is so important that we keep the true meaning of Christmas alive! So here is the first one of 12 days of CHRISTmas!

Acknowledging our Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who reconciled our relationship with God our father. John 16:33 reminds us that in Christ we have perfect peace because he has overcome the world. So let us be thankful for a worry-free life and the peace that passes all understanding.


Be Blessed

Christina

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!

I hope that you all are doing well. I hope that everyone's week ended on a good note and that you all are enjoying your weekend! No matter what happen or didn't happen within this week there is still time left to end the year off on the right foot heading into the New Year. I wanted to share this quote with you all. It is important to give thanks to God for all that you have gone through. We can't just give him thanks when things are going good and going in our favor. But we must give thanks for those setbacks, disappointments, heartbreaks, etc. because without them it wouldn't have made you into the woman that you are becoming. I give him thanks for all that I have been through because it has made me into a better person. What I have gone through has shifted my focus and I have the choice to do things differently this go round and not let what has happen to me make me this bitter, resentful, angry person. I give thanks because I am shedding my OLD-SELF and embracing my NEW-SELF. I wouldn't change a thing that has happen because what took place needed to happen. What happen to you is not to tear you down but to build you up into the strong women God knows that you can be. Don't let anything or anyone tell you different, God has the final say in each of your lives no matter how many times life has knocked you down, get back up because in your time of weakness God provides you strength to keep pushing through!!

Be Blessed

Christina

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!

I hope that you all are doing well! I hope that everyone's week is going great thus far and if not its okay there is still time for it to end better then it started. I wanted to share this quote with you and how important it is for us to be our authentic selves. As you progress in life, it is important to know who you are. It's not about bragging or boasting about things because if you know who you are it already speaks for itself. Let us not sink down and conform to the ways of the world and do what the world thinks but let us do what God and his word says we should do and be. Be yourself, be your true self and whoever is meant to be in your life will love you for you not the representation of you.


Be Blessed

Christina

Vision Boards: Do You Have One?

Greetings and Blessings!!

I hope you all are doing well!! I hope that everyone's week is going well so far. The year is winding down and the New Year will be here before we know it. Whatever happen or didn't happen within these past eleven months leave it here in 2014! Let's not bring drama, baggage, negativity, etc into the New Year. There is still time to accomplish and establish your long-term and short-term goals. Lets not wait until January 1st to start thinking of the goals you want to set for the year, lets start NOW!!! When it comes to goal setting, it is a powerful process for thinking about your future and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of your future into a reality. The process of goal setting helps you choose where you see yourself and where you want to go in life. When you know what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts on. When you set goals, it gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. When it comes to setting your goals they can be personal goals, social goals, academic goals, or career/financial goals. You want to get an overall idea or picture of what it is that you want to achieve. Then, you break down these down into smaller and smaller targets that you will be able to hit over time. Finally, once you have your plan you start working on achieving your goals. A great way to start working on your goals is to write them down. They can be big or small goals that you want to achieve. Whatever it is that is on your heart to do that you have always wanted to do. One of the most and best ways to help you in achieving your goals would be to make a vision board.

A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on a specific life goal. Literally, a vision board is any sort of board on which you display images that represent whatever you want to be, do or have in your life. By doing a vision board, it helps you to do three things which are it keeps you focused, provides clarity, and it can be used as a daily affirmation. I did my first vision board over the summer and it was pretty amazing to see all my goals and dreams that I have for myself right in front of me. I do have plans on making another for the New Year. No matter where you are in life it is never too late to accomplish your goals and dreams. We have to speak things into existence and pray that our plans align with the plans that God has for us. When it comes to making a vision board all you would need to make a vision board is magazines, glue stick, and a plain white board that you could get from the dollar store. So set some alone time and get in tune with your goals, dreams, and visions for your life. Make yourself a vision board and work towards those goals and see yourself walking into your purpose.

Be Blessed

Christina 

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!!

Happy Sunday Everyone!! I hope that you all had a great weekend and we are going into another week for this month! I hope and pray that we all start off this week on the right note and I pray that you all keep in mind that no matter what may come your way God will see you through!! Wanted to share this morning message with you all and it is imperative that we seek and spend time with God daily and be consistent with it! Let us not go to him only when we are needing something but let us go to him always whether in good times or bad times!! I always make it a habit to start my day off with praying and reading my devotional. Start a routine and do what works for you but let's all sit at the feet of our father and spend with him! If we have time for everything and everyone else then we should have time for him!!! Have a great week!!!

Be Blessed

Christina

Leaving The Comforts Of My Zone

Greetings and Blessings!!!

I pray that you all are doing well! The weekend is almost here and I hope everyone's week is going great thus far! In this post, I wanted to share with you everyone's most favorite place their comfort zones. By definition, Comfort zones have the meaning of a behavioral state within which a person operates in a anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk. When it comes to comfort zones we ALL have them. Comfort zones can be seen as a sense of security for most if not all people. Comfort zones can be a good thing to have but if one never steps outside of their box one can't truly maximize their fullest potential.

I have never in a million years thought I would be doing something such as blogging!!! This is completely out of my comfort zone for someone who is slightly reserved with a combination of introvert/extrovert. But I felt within my spirit that this was something I was meant to do. I have always had a love for writing. Even though I sometimes have a hard time verbally expressing myself, I can write for days on end in my journal about anything. So I prayed about it and talked to some of those closet to me about it and they gave me the encouragement that I needed. And this is how I was able to step outside of my comfort zone. I felt so scared when I was writing my very post but I am beyond thankful to God for using me to be a blessing to others through this blog! I always ask God, how can I be used as a vessel to be a blessing to others. I believe he spoke to me within my spirit leading me to do this. Because writing these posts, it isn't about me but about HIM!!! I was going through a really tough time and instead of me dwelling and becoming depressed, God lead me to do this so that I can share with you all my truths, struggles, joy, sadness, encourage, etc.

Comfort zones are a great thing to have but you will never see what you can do and see what you are really made of if you never step outside of your box! I want to encourage you all to push past that tunnel vision thinking and do something that is opposite of what you are used to doing. Stop being predictable!  If there is something that you have always wanted to try, do it! Stop letting life pass you by and start living it! Life is too short not to enjoy it! Keep God first in all that you do and seek him if there is something on your heart or mind.

Be Blessed

Christina

Quote Of The Day

Greetings and Blessings!!!

I hope you all are doing well! I hope everyone's week is going great thus far and if not it is okay there is still time for it to end on a good note. I wanted to share with you all this quote for the day, As we are moving into the next season of our lives it is time to fall back from all that has been holding you back. There comes a point in life where we all need to re-evaluate things such relationships, friendships, jobs, yourself, etc. If something or someone is not adding value to your life, if something or someone is depleting all of your time and energy, if something or someone is keeping you from doing what God has placed on your heart then its time to fall back from all that. Lets not move into the New Year with the same mindset and with all the baggage of this year. Lets start of the New Year with a renewed mind and with a renewed spirit! Have a blessed week!!!


Be Blessed

Christina

Hello December

Greetings and Blessings!!

Happy Monday Everyone!!! It is the first day of the last month of the year! This year has gone by so quickly and we will be ringing in the New Year before we know it! I pray that this month brings about good things and that you finish this year off strong. No matter what has happen within these past eleven months continue to press and push forward in your God-given purpose. There is still time for you to set out and accomplish your goals that you have set for yourself. This is the time for you to begin thinking about what you want to accomplish and achieve within the New Year. Lets not wait til January 1 to change our mindsets and/or attitudes let's start NOW!!! Let's rid of our old self and embrace the new self that God has been molding and shaping you into. Let God heal our hearts and let us forgive those who needs to be forgiven. Lets not go into the New Year with the same ol' same ol'!!! If you are truly going to let go and let God then LET GO AND LET GOD! I pray that you all have a great and blessed week!!!

Be Blessed

Christina