mother’s love

Behind every strong woman stands an even stronger woman a Mother.

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THIS IS FOR FRUSTRATED DREAMERS

THIS IS FOR FRUSTRATED DREAMERS

“I was driving in to work this morning and I started thinking about all the days I dreaded going to work. I was so sick of it… the job, my boss, the people I worked with, the traffic… I would wake up angry every morning. I didn’t want to deal with the crap of the job, but I was forced to go. I had been homeless, I was broke, living paycheck to hopefully the next paycheck. I couldn’t take a day off for fear I would get fired. I was just frustrated. I thought I hated my life and the job.

It was so aggravating because God had placed all these dreams and hopes in my soul and mind and I had no idea how they were going to come to pass. To have a dream of being something better and living better than the way I was at that moment and to not see a way of getting there felt like death to me. I thought, “Dear God, why would you give me so much hope and not make a way?” But what I learned through prayer was, with no path in front of you and no road map… this is where true faith begins. With faith I realized that I wasn’t frustrated with my life or the job, I was frustrated because I was a person who had dreams for myself, a person who had visions for my life and I wasn’t living it. Have you ever been there, where you felt so strongly that there was more to this life than what you see in front of you?

One of the most difficult things about being a dreamer is the fear that the dream will never happen. I’m here as a living witness to tell you your dreams can come true. You can’t give up. And I am here to let you know that everything can work together for your good. The time that you are spending on that job that you think is a dead end is not. You’re being prepared just like I was. I was a shoeshine boy, I worked as a bill collector, a used car salesman, in housekeeping in a hotel, and they all were preparation for where I am now.

What do these things have to do with where I am now? I’m glad you asked. I am able to use skills that I learned. I shined shoes, so I know how to shine my shoes if I need them to look nice. Selling used cars was a great way to learn how to close a deal. Bill collecting taught me great negotiation skills. Working at that 5-star hotel taught me a lot about travel. Every experience in your life is here to teach you something.

Today, while you’re at work, don’t be frustrated. Look around you and ask God what are you there to learn and how will it be a part of your future dream. Honour that job, do the best you can at it, because God will bless you for honouring something that belongs to another.

I hope this inspires you today. If you need a little more inspiration then watch my first sit-down interview in years with Oprah on Oprah’s Next Chapter. It airs this Sunday on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network at 9/8c. I talk a little about not giving up. I know it will move you.

Here’s a prayer for today:
“God help me hold on, help me to get to what I dream of, help me to honour where I am today so that I can appreciate where I will be tomorrow. In Jesus’ name.” –
Amen

Lindakie87

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You can never be too broken for Him to fix.

They may have said you are not good enough; so what! They may have said you are too broken to be fixed; so what!!
They may have said your life is a disaster going somewhere to happen, so what!!!
People who don’t know your story will always criticize your past chapters, but it’s not about what they think of you, it’s rather about what you choose to BELIEVE of yourself.

If you believe you are no good then you are no good!
If you believe your life is no use then it is no use.
You can sit down there and believe in what peoples opinion have labelled you and allow your life to be defined by the mistakes of your past or you can decide to move your life forward and become better!

You may have done all they said you did, but you are definitely not who they say you are;

Never trust in what peoples opinion label you..
Never trust in what your past says you can’t be.

A “bad chapter” doesn’t mean you can’t have a great story!

It is not about how strong you start but how well you finish. You may have started broken, you may have started shattered, you may have started with lots of mistakes some of which the very thoughts of them makes your heart bleed, others you ain’t even proud to talk about; but here’s the thing..

You must never let the mistakes of the past keep you from becoming better.
Regardless of how bad your past may have been, your future can still be better.

Do not let who you used to be, make you walk away from who you can become; You may not yet be that “perfect” person you always desired to be but you still need to fall in love with the journey of becoming better.

Don’t let your past mistakes keep you in bondage.
Don’t let your past mistakes keep you from having a great story!

Regardless of how worthless you think your life may be, GOD can still use you;

You can never be too broken for Him to fix.
He creates “perfect purposes” out of “imperfect pasts”. Give it all to Him.

Your life might not be perfect, but your life is sure worth
every second of every minute.

& somehow your the only one who can believe in yoursef!!
cause if your lost that’s exactly where you want to be woman.. God does not give you this feeling… you create it…

you are your own worst enemy…
once you love Him & you love yourself…
people will be people….

Lindakie87

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Fireproof _ 40 Days Love Dare Challenge…

The challenge
Love Dare 40 Days….
Day1 – Day 40 _ copied from Google…

Our relationship is complicated; we’ve experienced times of true connection and total betrayal—with each of us defining those words in different ways. I do know how much I’ve been hurt in the past, and how far we’ve come since then, but I also know that sometimes the past comes back and hits me so hard I recoil. The wounds may heal, but scabs seem to get knocked off sometimes, and this is my problem. I have to learn to accept the scars for what they are, and not allow anything or anybody to allow the past to come back to haunt me…
I love my Marco I only reached day 7 but Jesus without following this challenge, has guided me….

So I’m daring myself to take the plank out of my own eye, and to step up hand in hand with the man I love, our eyes focused on the God who put us together.

Day 1: Love is patient

The Dare: For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything.

Today’s dare was relatively simple. Just don’t say anything negative to your spouse at all.

Day 2: Love is kind

The Dare: In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

Day 3: Love is not selfish

The Dare: Whatever you put your time, energy and money into will become more important to you…along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, “I was thinking of you today.”

Day 4: Love is thoughtful

The Dare: Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Day 5: Love is not rude

The Dare: Ask your spouse to do three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do this without attacking them or justifying your behavior.

Day 6: Love is not irritable

The Dare: Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list of areas where you need to add margins to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Day 7: Love believes the best

The Dare: On one sheet of paper, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on a second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day … at some point during the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.

Day 8: Love is not jealous

The Dare: Determine to become your spouse’s biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday’s list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

Day 9: Love makes good impressions

The Dare: Think of a specific way you’d like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.

Day 10: Love is unconditional

The Dare: Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse—something that proves (to you and to them) that your love is based on your choice and nothing else….demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

Day 11: Love cherishes

The Dare: Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.

I filled today’s dare with just four words: “It’s okay. I’ll go.”

Day 12: Love lets others win

The Dare: Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

Day 13: Love fights fair

The Dare: Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement….resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.

Day 14: Love takes delight

The Dare: Purposely neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.

Day 15: Love is honorable

The Dare: Choose a way to honor and respect your spouse that is above your normal routine…show your spouse that he or she is highly esteemed in your eyes.

Day 16: Love intercedes

The Dare: Begin praying today for your spouse’s heart.

Day 17: Love promotes intimacy

The Dare: Determine to guard your mate’s secrets (unless they are dangerous to them or to you) and to pray for them. Talk with your spouse and resolve to demonstrate love in spite of these issues. Really listen to them when they share personal thoughts and struggles with you. Make them feel safe.

Day 18: Love seeks to understand

The Dare: Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you. The dinner can be as nice as you prefer. Focus this time on getting to know your spouse better, perhaps in areas you’ve rarely talked about. Determine to make it an enjoyable evening for you and your mate.
Day 19: Love is impossible

The Dare: Look back over the dares from previous days. Were there some that seemed impossible to you? Have you realized your need for God to change your heart and to give you the ability to love? Ask him to show you where you stand with him, and ask for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.

Day 20: Love is Jesus Christ

The Dare: Dare to take God at his word. Dare to trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Dare to pray, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. But you have shown your love for me by dying to forgive my sins, and you have proven your power to save me from death by your resurrection. Lord, change my heart, and save me by your grace.”

And all God’s people said, “Amen!”

Day 21: Love is satisfied in God

The Dare: Be intentional today about making a time to pray and read your Bible….as you do, immerse yourself in the love and promises God has for you.  This will add to your growth as you walk with Him.

Day 22: Love is faithful

The Dare: Choose today to be committed to love even if your spouse has lost most of their interest in receiving it. Say to them today in words similar to these, “I love you.  Period. I choose to love you even if you don’t love me in return.”

Day 23: Love always protects

The Dare: Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influence that’s stealing your affections or turning your heart away from your spouse.

Day 24: Love vs. lust

The Dare: End it now. Remove every object of lust in your life … it must be killed and destroyed – today – and replaced with the sure promise of God and a heart filled with his perfect love.

Day 25: Love forgives

The Dare: Whatever you haven’t forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Let it go… unforgiveness has been keeping you and your spouse in prison too long. Say from your heart, “I choose to forgive.”

.

Day 26: Love is responsible

The Dare: Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing. Ask for God’s forgiveness, then humble yourself to admit them to your spouse.

Day 27: Love encourages

The Dare: Eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations in your home. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you’re expecting too much, and tell them you’re sorry for being so hard on them about it … promise them you’ll seek to understand, and assure them of your unconditional love.

Day 28: Love makes sacrifices

The Dare: What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse’s life right now? Purpose to do what you can to meet the need.

Day 29: Love’s motivation

The Dare: Before seeing your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs. Whether it comes easy for you, say “I love you” then express love to them in some tangible way. Then thank God for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person unconditionally.

Day 30: Love brings unity

The Dare: Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and look on today as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness with your spouse. Pray that he will do the same for them.

Day 31: Love and marriage

The Dare: If there is an issue about the biblical command to “leave” your parents, confess it to your spouse and resolve to make it right. Follow this with a commitment to your spouse and to God to make your marriage your priority over any other human relationship.

Day 32: Love meets sexual needs

The Dare: Initiate sex with your spouse today. Do it in a way that honors what your spouse needs from you. Ask God to make this enjoyable for both of you.

Day 33: Love completes each other

The Dare: Recognize that your spouse is integral to your future success. Let them know today you desire them to be included in your upcoming decisions and that you need their perspective and counsel. If you’ve ignored their input in the past, admit your oversight and ask for forgiveness.

Day 34: Love celebrates godliness

The Dare: Find a recent example when your spouse demonstrated Christian character in a noticeable way, and verbally commend them for this.

Day 35: Love is accountable

The Dare: Find a marriage mentor—someone who is a strong Christian and who will be honest and loving with you. If you feel counseling is needed, make the appointment.

Day 36: Love is God’s Word

The Dare: Commit to reading the Bible every day…If your spouse is willing, see if they will commit to daily Bible reading with you. Begin submitting each area of your life to its guidance and start building on the rock.

Day 37: Love agrees in prayer

The Dare: Ask your spouse if you can begin praying together.

Day 38: Love fulfills dreams

The Dare: Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable. Commit this to prayer, and start mapping out a plan for meeting some (if not all) of their desires, to whatever level you possibly can.

Day 39: Love endures

The Dare: Spend some time in personal prayer, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse. Include why you are committing to this marriage until death, and that you have purposed to love them no matter what.

We’ve heard it over and over, so often that maybe we peg too many hopes and dreams on its promise: “Love never fails.”

Day 40: Love is a covenant

The Dare: Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home. If appropriate, you can make arrangements to formally renew your wedding vows before a minister and with family present. Make it a living testament to the value of marriage in God’s eyes and the high honor of being one with your mate.

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