THE DESIRABLE ROAD AHEAD

Incase, you want to know why I try to post positive and uplifting words and scripture?

Because they are my personal road map to myself.

Otherwise, the negative, put down, and hindering voices make me doubt on where to head. When they come, they not only want to hang around, but navigate my life. Telling me to go back where I came from.

Often, I return to a previous post only to read what I have told myself, slamming the door on the voices of doubt, insecurity, fear and insignificance.

With the Lord’s confidence, I remind myself, I am no longer that small, timid, shrinking back latina girl.

More and more, I voice, “I am bold and courageous and daring. I’m a pillar of fire whom can’t easily be put out.

I know God has gifted me with the ability to express my thoughts and see beauty to photograph.

Through my photography I soar like an eagle as I explore where life takes me. At places where the Lord allows my feet to walk, His Spirit helps me see the beauty around.

I only need to listen and go where the light shines and the wind moves. There, I see what God wants me to see and I can’t wait to share my finds and words here with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. God bless each of you.

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The Dangers of holding Yourself Back

Stifling Dreams Create Nightmares

What talent am I suffocating, because of what if it takes off?

What ability am I quenching, because of what others may think of me?

What inspiration am I killing, because of what if it succeed?

Stifling our creativity harms not only ourselves, but those whom would have benefited from our work.

In a sense, we are not only killing our growth by withholding inspiration from the world around us, but we are keeping ourselves in the darkness of hopelessness.

Breakthroughs from stifle thinking, not only brings dreams alive, but give light for many other souls to hope again through our gifts, talents and works.

Be creative, spread insight, possibilities and imagination.

Allow your dream to take flight.

Paths of Self Discovery

Along the path you will discover that you too can flee away from danger. Listen and be aware.

When one must turn back along the path take time to reflect. Keep the good and leave the bad.

Choices exist of where to walk on any path. Either choice brought you from and took you to the same place, the uniqueness of who you are.

Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge

 

 

Comparisons

A small tree stood out among the giant trees. It seemed as it wanted to say something to me.

I asked my daughter go stand by the tree.

Then, I realized, how tall the tree actually was compared to my daughter, who is much taller than me.

It’s was a good reminder to myself of who or what am I comparing myself to. It’s not about my outward height or abilities, but how I persevere the circumstances and people in my heart.

Will they become giants who will overshadow me?

Or, will I ignore them as if they are not worth my time and energy?

I hope and pray, that I will not think of myself as better than anyone else or shrink back because of what I have to face or what others say to me.

Instead, I’ll be strong and steadfast in what I believe as I encourage others to overcome their struggles.

Life is too precious to run and hide.

I chose to persevere by leaning a hand and lift a soul with my thoughts and words, as I too try to survive.

A Box Marked – For Later

I keep a box in my heart and I almost used it today.

This morning my body whispered, “It’s a good day to stay in bed and sleep a little longer.” But the morning fog pulled me outside where I came face to face with a fear I haven’t over come. It was then when I realized, why I wanted to stay in bed.

Outside, I enjoyed the cool morning air, imagined itsy, bitsy snowflakes lingering about me and took a few pictures before returned home.

With the fear in mind, the end of a topic came to  mind. No beginning or middle, only the end. What ever I was about to write, it will end with acknowledging my fear.

I started my creative writing process. A short post on Instagram, editing  photos, and brain stormed topics for future projects while I ate my breakfast.

Before I sat down to write, I took care of a few shores and thought of how I should start the topic at hand, fear.

But, the idea didn’t develop.

Fist thought was, I’m procrastinating or writers’ block. Soon, I realized,  it was me, I didn’t want to write about the cause of my fear, because it was to real and fresh. I rather tuck it away in my “For later,” mental box.

When, would it be best to write about this topic?

Well, when my jitters would calm and the lump of fear in my throat has been swallowed and digested. Or after the winter snow has melted. Which ever comes first.

In side the ‘Later box,’ are many subjects which I’ refuse to write about. Why? Because, I’m not ready to experience the pain or disappointment again.

Yet, in order to write a compelling, moving piece, the struggle has to be real, not made up. Which means, I have to revisit the pain, the conflict, the experience to give my words life and spring forth feelings in the reader’s heart.

A well written piece, engages the reader’s mind, taps into their feelings and moves their heart. If I accomplish these difficult skills well, then I hope the reader could find resolution for similar circumstances.

Numerous times, I’ve started to write what’s on my heart only to never  finish the article or story. It hangs frozen in my mind. With time it’s forgotten.

Today, I didn’t want this topic to end in the box. So I asked myself a question.

Why do I abandon my ideas?

I  refuse to give a voice to my past struggles, hurts and pain out of fear that they may cripple me again. I remind myself, of who I believe in and how much stronger I am because of Christ in my life.

Remembering the past, is like reliving my life experiences, which some  of those memories, I rather forget. 

Yet, I’m learning that my sufferings have melodies whom some people can identify with. The areas which I’ve grown stronger could possibly help a reader moved forward from their struggle. Once, they understood how they too can face their fears or past hurts with the right help.

Hope, is important for the reader to regain. Therefor, I must have, a beginning, a middle and an end to show how to prevail as one hold on to hope.

Questions I ask myself today:

What am I really afraid of? And why?

Am  I comparing myself with anyone? Is it beneficial?

 

If yes, how did they get where they are?

What struggles did they faced to achieve their reward?

If, I focus only on their success, I’ve missed the essence of their story.

The same is true when I write my stories. If I only write about happiness, I left the reader dissatisfied. For they know, life is not all sweet.  Life is about the challenges as one pursuits happiness.

For we all are seeking ways to surpass, overcome, or hold on. We want to know how to get up when everything within us tells us to sleep our life away for we don’t matter.

One must understand and swallow the bitterness of doing what one doesn’t want to do in order to bring forth the sweetness of success.

I’m ready to seek not only for a strong engaging beginning, but a middle which the reader can identify with and a tangible, realistic, possible ending.

I, as the writer, must face the middle of my work and walk through he treacherous, dark and lonely times without fearing the end. The success of accomplishment.

With that being written, I‘m glad I started my day when I did, or else I wouldn’t have finished this blog today.

What about you, my friend? Where did you find yourself this morning, later in the day or maybe this evening? What were you avoiding and why? Are you willing to search your soul and face the truth? Don’t forget to call on God for help.

If you’re still in your robe, pick up your will and accomplish one thing. May that one task lead to another and then another and another. if not today, maybe tomorrow. Before you know, you’ll arrived at the end  of your task, and have faced your fear.

I acknowledge, I wasn’t avoiding pain, I was afraid of success.

Even though, I belief that I can do all things through Christ who strengths me, I still struggle with being successful.

I not only acknowledge what I’m afraid of, but I didn’t hide it away.

Without a doubt, I will finish my stories.  

Maybe, this article will act as a compass for you and guide you to arrive to your truth of why you are not getting out of bed in the mornings or finishing your project.

What are you avoiding?

Invincible Power

🔸️INVINCIBLE POWER🔸️

The ocean has the ability to relocates heavy stones with its invincible, raging power.

We too can move stones out-of-the-way with a force which gives belief, perseverance and faith an unseen power.

That force is prayer.
🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️

Ragging Battles of my Mind

Fears, doubts, insecurities, and a spirit of timidity barged in my mind, breaking through my gates of belief, confidence and assurance. Across from where I sit to write, plots of their dirty scams scattered on the table and stare into my soul.

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A mental conflict begins. Somehow, false ideas match my current internal struggles. I grasps for what is true. Before the misguided concepts settle in my heart, I compare my thoughts with the words of God. It is then when a ragging war begins. These nagging thoughts make me question my ambition and ability.

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Do you have days and nights battling negative thoughts and feelings about yourself?

Well, I do. More often than not.

These ideas and feelings break through my security system, blind siding me, stopping the flow of being creative and the result is, no writing.

They rob me from the confidence which God has placed in me.

Well, you may think, I’m weak, and at times I am, especially when the drama of life has depleted me. Then again, it’s not if I’m weak or strong, it’s the goal which I’ve set before me. It is being hindered.

These negative depleting feelings and thoughts want to reconquer a part of me which I’ve taken from them. Grenades of false accusation explode leaving me fragmented and incoherent.

These mental war are powerful and can be very damaging. With the Lord’s help these wars can be won. But the enemy returns with reinforcements emphasizing past inconsistencies and failures.

Let me stop right here and tell you of a security system which is guarding my mind and heart as I type these words from these predators. It’s the Holy Spirit and the truth of the verse below.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” NIV 2 Timothy 1: 7

Over and over again, I’ve reached within my knowledge and grasp truths much like this verse and fought false beliefs, made out of puffs of smoke. And that’s what they are, nothing. But why do they come? Or why does God allow me to face them again and again?

Well, for me, God is showing me that even though I know the truth and I practice the truth there is still a part of me which believes a lie. It’s like a ticking time bombs which blows up my wall of progress when I’m on a roll.

Believe me, when they go off, they rattle my world. leaving me baffled with ringing in my ears. It takes time to clean up the mess. To be truthful,  there are times I can’t pick-up where I left off. Because, the bombing destruction left me incoherent. In time, I start where I find myself and keep going with what was salvageable.

When the verse, 2 Timothy came to my attention, I picked up four concepts from the rumble of my last bombing, timidity, power, love and self-discipline.

Now, why would I have picked up timidity? To study and recognize the enemy’s tactics. It’s a weapon which I’m not aware of its full usage. I need to set my warning lights for the next time these lies come to do war with me.

Timidity – lack in self-assurance, courage, bravery, easily alarmed, timorous, shy

Timorous – full o fear, timid

When the spirit of timidity comes and does war with me, I know to hold up God’s scepter of boldness to demonstrate where my confidence lies. I will rely on this truth again and again and again as I keep the following verses in mind.

“Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands.” NIV Jeremiah 42:11

“For you did not received a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.”” NIV Romans 8:15

Truths to battle timidity, the Lord is with us, he will save us and delivers us. If we have accepted Jesus, his son, as our savior, then we are children of Abba Father and no longer slaves to fear. I am a daughter of the Most High and I’m a fearless. 

Yet, fear will bring its heavy chains with him when he comes to try to imprison me again.

The second things I take a strong hold of is power. Not my power, but God’s power. Yet how does one posses God’s power? God’s power comes with and through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers me with godly wisdom and knowledge. Again, I will rely on the truth of the word of God as I walk away from present insecurities.

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the  spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Lord -.” NIV Isaias 11:2

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, who sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize yo with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” NIV Matt. 3:11

Third concept to take a hold of is Love. One fact I know to be true, after the war, whether I am victorious or depleted, love for self and possibly for my Lord has been damaged. It’s difficult to keep on task when one doesn’t feel loved by anyone, God or self.

As any soldier knows, one comes home with flashbacks. For me these flashbacks usually deal with the lack of self-love. Or not feeling as if I’m worthy of the gift God gave me. The gift of story telling.

I must put on love. This love is the love of God for me and for what I have been equipped to do. With love, belief is real and the task before me is possible.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” NIV Psalm 23:6

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that yo may be able to discerned what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day or Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” NIV Phil 1:9

I will hold the shield of faith over my heart, for I know who loves me and never will leave me. Therefore, I will finish well.

The hardest one to pick-up and take with me is discipline. Self governing to sit and write is not challenging for me, it’s fun. It is something I enjoy. But duties and people begin to nibble on my thoughts and soon I feel guilty. The desire to write is gone, for I feel I don’t deserve the pleasure it gives me.

To go and write every day, at the same time in spite of circumstance, is naturally challenging, because of our travels. Not only do I deal with the battles I’ve mentions above, but the mental block which come with the field of writing, family emergencies, an abrupt change of schedules. Then theirs the days of sick leave one must take.

Dealing with insecurities, fears, and doubt are redundant battles and not worth my time. Yet, I must deal with the one lie, to get to the ultimate truth. I will face this, fainthearted, which haunts me day and night.

Now, I posses arrows of truth to draw from and fight the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy my zest for writing stories. I tied feathers to my scepter of boldness to remember the truths which has help me be victorious and conquered truths about myself. These feathers will remind me of the past battles which the Lord and I won together. Soon, I will add another feather.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness a peace for those who have been trained by it.” NIV Heb 12:11

“He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.” NIV Prov. 15:32

Self-discipline is self-governing or self-control, is something I’m responsible for, but the discipline of the Lord come through the Holy Spirit. I must allow God’s Spirit of discipline to train me.

“Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-control, upright, holy and disciplined. he must hold firmly to the  trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1:7-9

Today I move forward in faith, for this battle has been won. I go, my work waits.

I am a fighter, one who doesn’t give up easily. Success is just around the bend and I’m coming to greet the end of my next novel.

I wrote these thoughts for myself as well as anyone else who is struggling to finish what they have started. Keep in mind, the work we do brings glory to God.

Further reading on what hinders the work of God, click Tactics.

Mountain Tops

 

❄PEEK AN INTEREST?❄
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To many people, a mountain peak is just another high point.

But, for me each mountain top has its unique style, presence and lessons to teach.

I don’t have to physically climb to the tip to discover my limits and struggles.

By meditation, observations and awareness the mountain can teach me to be aware of false limits, over looked risks, and fears which are hindering my climb.

Confidence of achievement is nothing to be a shame about as long as I remember the following things.

If a peak of recognition comes my way, always give thanks, recognize those who help along the way and stay humble for it’s very easy to slip and fall. For, only a few are given such opportunity and aloud to stay at such heights.

When God grants me a spot on top, I should open the list of names who help me climbed and give them recognition and gratitude.

MOUNTAIN PEAKS AREN’T ALWAYS MADE BY NATURE.
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Paths of Life

🍂PATHS🍂
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Trails have two paths.

One take you away and the other bring you back.

Today my heart is a path. It takes me away to my memories of my children and grandchildren.

But it brings me back to the present as I prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day without my children.

For the trail of my life has taken me far away from my family.

Yet, I rejoice for I know one day, life’s trail will bring me back to them.

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🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

A Faint Nudge

In spite of hard morning rains and foggy afternoons, my heart’s boat behaved as if it was on calm waters.

For several weeks, my soul and spirit have been at peace, even though my future is obscured among the clouds of uncertainty. This tranquility has made life manageable and bearable in spite of the challenges of an unknown course ahead of me.

I can’t make a well thought out plan. A compass is a must, especially when traveling in a mist, which doesn’t allow me to see beyond my own nose.

For me that compass is the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, I’m clueless of how to behave when I face misguiding shadows which come in and out of view. It is then when I must be watchful for fear and doubt will try to climb aboard my boat.

I will pray for a soft nudge of assurance. It will float me away from worry and concern. Calmly, I must ride and wait, not making any waves. Even though, I don’t know what to expect.

Today, the fog has lifted and the heavenly stars shine.

I wear a smile for I like where I find myself. For my Jesus is slowly revealing a plan.

With a joyful heart, I thanked God for not allowing me to lose my way in those hazy days.