Tag Archives: Advice

Weapons of Mass Distraction

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Encouragement, Journey, Learn, Life Lesson, Live, Love, Purpose

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Weapons of Mass Distraction

Dear Daughter,

Distractions. They have one purpose: to divert our attention, for amusement or distress, from reaching an end goal. They come and they go. Ideally, they would come in anticipated increments so that we are fully prepared to handle them as they creep their way into our lives. Wishful thinking. They don’t come as expected. Quite frankly, it may often seem as if they pop up at the most inopportune time. They come when you’ve finally found your rhythm… When you’re steadily headed toward achieving your goals… When you’ve finally mustered up the courage to follow the path to fulfilling your purpose.

Take it from me, do not, I repeat, DO NOT allow yourself to be so easily overcome by distractions. The consequence can be fatal and recovery can seem impossible. Since you already know they’re coming, how will you respond to these unanticipated interruptions? As I assess my own life, it is evident that when distractions come, good or bad, my attention is so effortlessly shifted. Instead of being Christ-focused, my engrossment with temporal satisfaction conveniently diverts my attention. My focus is masterfully redirected on clinging to that temporary “thing.” On the other hand, when adversity strikes, I almost instantly begin to question my purpose and whether I’m traveling the right road… I question God, His promises, and the word He has spoken to me. Either way, when I seem to get off track, it can be difficult to rediscover the path toward the assignments God has ordained for my life. Somehow, by the grace of God, I always find my way, but not without considering the time wasted on these senseless distractions.

Stay focused. Stand guard. Anticipate the distractions that will soon come. Understand that these prudent disruptions are specifically designed to shift your focus and deter you from reaching your destiny. Beloved, always remember to never allow your distractions to cause your destruction.

Respect the Process,

Ana J.

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A Mother’s Love

14 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Encouragement, Growth, Happiness, Journey, Learn, Lessons, Live, Love, Power, Purpose

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A Mother's Love

Mother’s Day has always held such a special place in my heart and I’m sure it has for you too. Over the last several years, it has gained even deeper meaning to me. Three years ago, on Mother’s Day, my grandmother, affectionately called Grandma Lulu, went on to be with the Lord. That day, as I reflected on the impact Grandma Lulu had on my life, I was saddened because I never told her how much she meant to me. I never want that to happen again. Experiencing such tragedy has shown me that my biggest regret in life would be to never express how much my own mother has impacted my life. In honor of Mother’s Day and your birthday (tomorrow), Mom, this letter is for you!

Dear Mom,

I would be remiss if I didn’t express my deepest gratitude to you for the example you have set before me over the last twenty-seven years. You have taught me countless lessons over the years. I have not only learned through the many dialogues and heart-to-heart chats we’ve had about life, but I would say the greatest lessons that I have learned were taught without you even speaking a word. I have watched you over the years, observing how you handle various circumstances. The most impactful lesson: grace, class, and prayer always triumph! I am so thankful that God trusted you to deposit in me the essentials of life and humanity. You taught me the importance of spirituality, but you have also instilled the importance of being the best that I can be… the best citizen… the best human… the best person… the best me.

Your character is second to none. Your love and compassion for others supersedes what I could ever imagine to be. You have delicately transformed our house into a home. “Home is where the heart is” and your heart is impeccable. Your graciousness to not only raise your own children but also extend your nurturing and loving spirit to our friends and acquaintances is remarkable. The warmth you carry with you creates a peaceful, comforting environment everywhere you go. The grace and class you consistently display, even in times of discord, is admirable.

I can only hope to be half of the daughter, sister, mother, wife, mentor, leader, and overall woman that you are! Over the years I have seen that the heart of my father safely trusts you. Everyday, you do him good and not evil. You watch over our house. You are clothed in strength and honor. You always speak wisdom. Your children call you blessed… Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. You are a woman who fears the Lord. You are praised. So, I honor you… not just today… but everyday.

I Love You to Life,

Ana J.

Sweet Dream or Beautiful Nightmare

17 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Dreams, Lessons, Obedience

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Dear Daughter,

Be careful with whom you share your dreams. On one hand, there will be people who won’t want to see you succeed but, on the other, there are those who don’t mean harm but may not know exactly how to support you in fulfilling those dreams. In an effort to help you tweak and develop your dream, sometimes those around you can inadvertently discourage you from pursuing the vision that God has given you. When I was a teenager, I had a vision about pursuing a dream that I knew was something God wanted me to do. I was so sure that it would be a blessing to the body of Christ but, at the time, I didn’t know where to begin. I needed help with the step-by-step planning process. I had no idea how to make this vision in my mind come to fruition but I felt compelled to do something…

With much excitement and anticipation, I presented the idea to someone I looked up to as a mentor. I shared what God had given me but I never expected what happened next. Much to my surprise, the response pinpointed every reason why the idea wouldn’t work, including the fact that something else similar already existed. The feedback focused on how difficult it would be to conceptualize a plan to carry out this God-given vision. The worst part was that I actually believed it. I believed that it wasn’t a good idea. I believed that it couldn’t be done. It seemed to me that it was no longer necessary to pursue. Instead of using the negativity constructively as ammunition to thrive, it had the complete opposite affect on me. I was so discouraged… I let that dream fade away.

Well, fast forward ten years later… You can imagine the shocking, painful stab I felt in my chest when I found out that someone else I knew started an organization similar to what I had envisioned. I couldn’t believe it! Outside of being angry with myself and slightly jealous of this other person, it saddened my heart that I didn’t allow Christ the opportunity to strengthen my faith and complete His work through me. Soon after, I felt the guilt of not operating in obedience to God. With a heart of repentance, I made a promise that I would do my best to never allow negative influences to deter me from fulfilling God’s purpose for my life.

My love, always remember… you can’t control how people react to the visions you strive to fulfill but don’t let that discourage you from pursuing your dreams. Be cautious of who you trust to help and support you along the way. No matter what, obedience is key.

Be cautious in the process,

Ana J.