The Rebound Chick

So our parents grew up on this toy called weeble wobblers. "Weebles wobble but they never fall down!" Supposedly, it was big in the 70s and 80s. I guess that's a little before my time. Whichever way you pushed the toy, whether that be to the left, right or around in a circle, it would return to its upright position. It sounds like a pretty fascinating toy for a little kid.

I am always interested in the science behind something. What I found is that the combined circular bottom and making the center of gravity off-center, makes it return back to its original spot. Also, the upright position is also the lowest energy position.

Because these are 70s and 80s terms, lets move to a 21st century term. I would call her a rebound chick. Not the chick a guy dates after he breaks up with his girl friend, but the girl who whatever comes her way, she just bounces back!

Times we enter seasons where we need to enter this mentality. No matter what the devil throws at you, you need to bounce back... bad grades, problems at work, relationship drama... bounce back! Declare that you are one of God's children and the devil can not take anything that belongs to the KING!

A scripture comes to mind: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9  We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed... All of these troubles are temporary. We will bounce back just like new.

What returns us back to this upright position? It's our faith that lies inside. We must remember that what the devil meant for our bad God turned it around and meant it for our good! Remember, he also said that "All things work together for the good of those who love the lord."

Despite the fact that we are down now, we will bounce back, better than ever! We may weeble, We may wobble, but we will never fall down! 

SN: This is the only time I don't mind being a rebound chick!

Sovereign God

I'll be the first to admit like others I have a problem with being appreciative of where I am because I'm always wanting more... And not only do I want more but I want it when I say when. (Insert magic wand here...) I'm quickly reminded that it just doesn't work like that and I'm foolish to believe it does. Since when do I have all the authority and power to say when something is going to happen...

I think my biggest problem these days is patience. And I'll be the first to call myself out. The older I get the worse it gets... Because it just doesn't happen the way I want it to happen. God, I swear, is probably looking at me saying silly girl, you'll learn one day... And the longer it takes for me to learn, the longer I have to wait. I believe in this season of waiting he is trying to teach me something. Mostly patience and trust. 

I reminded by my best friend that when you give your situation to God (my lack of patience and complete trust) I can't sit there and just way for something to happen... I can't say God here it is, I turn it over to you but don't let go of it.... That pretty much goes against the whole concept of taking it to the altar and leaving it there.... 

So in this time of worship, I am reminded of this song... Sovereign God... maybe you know the song, maybe you don't but reading the words will give you a gist of things.... 

[Verse 1:]
There aren't even words to describe just how great you are
In all your majesty
You continually provide for me
There just isn't anything that you can't d
Lord I've seen your work before
So I'll trust you all the more
Because you are

[Verse 2:]
A wave of your hand can command the seas to hold their peace
If you can handle the seas
Then I know that you can deal with all my needs
So I will put every situation into your capable hands
I don't have to know the plan
Because you are

[Verse 3:]
He is able to do exedingly abunduntly
Above all we ask or think
So take all your burdens
And lay them at his feet and watch him meet the need
We have the victory
Because you are

[Chorus:]
You are the sovereign god
Bigger than all my problems and every situation
There is nothing too hard
For the sovereign god
 

One thing I like about this song, is that it says he's in control of every situation, all my problems... Nothing's too hard for him... This song gives clear directions. I will put every situation in his CAPABLE hands, I DONT HAVE TO KNOW THE PLANS.... Take All your burdens and lay them at his feet and let HIM meet the need... Because HE is the SOVEREIGN GOD!!!! 

 

Be blessed and know he is sovereign! 

What Lies Ahead!

God keeps bringing me back to this same verse.

Isaiah 55: 8-9 My plans aren't your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans.

We all spend the time to make new years resolutions and goals. My over-eager self always has a long list of things that I want to complete. I want to get this GPA, get into this summer program, save this amount of money, get into this medical school. All year long, I try my best to cross things off the list. Sometimes it happens, other times it just doesn't. This year, I found myself asking and praying why did I go through this God? Why didn't I cross this item off my list? Why did this relationship with this person end? Why oh why God?

I am reminded of this verse... for your plans are not my plans... my ways are higher than your ways... my plans are better than your plans. The simple fact in knowing that anything that I set out to do GOD has BETTER, he has GREATER!

It reminds me of that saying what GOD has for me is for me! not what society has for me! not what my mama and daddy have for me! and most importantly not what my haters, the disbelievers, and the naysayers have for me. It's my father up above who has planned my life out greater than I could ever think or imagine.

I am in no way saying don't make your new years resolutions and goals. Make them. Hang them up on your mirror. Save them as the background of your computer but just remember that the life God has for you is better than you can ever imagine.

Now Go Praise Him in the Hallway Because Your Blessing Lies Ahead!

2014... A Resolution Worth Keeping

We recently started following the blog of Jennifer Lucy Tyler. We encourage you to take a look at the #TheFavorProject. It's an opportunity for you to journal your blessings on a daily or weekly or monthly basis this years. The goal is that on December 31st you can read everything that God has done for you all year long.

I think this is an awesome idea way to celebrate the small and large victories in your life and not to
look back and judge the whole year on a few bad days. Start this journey with us. Links and pictures below.

http://jenniferlucyinspires.com/the-favor-project/

The Lord laid this project on my heart, December 16^th, 2013 during a praise and worship session with a class I teach at church.  The year 2013 had been a challenging year for many of the participants in the class. Nonetheless, there were some amazing things that happened as well.  What I realized is that the human mind often tends to magnify the negative over the positive. We could have had 20 amazing things happen to us but will remember the 3 not so great things the most! I have found that people in our class were allowing the negative things to shape their overall perception on the year as a whole.

So what is the Favor Project? This project will include YOU and I journaling for an entire year! Those who participate will agree to journal all year the favor, acts of kindness, and grace you’ve received throughout the year.  You will also journal the favor, acts of kindness, and grace that you bestow upon others this year!
The goals are as follows:

• To remind ourselves, and others of what’s really important; and that is glorifying God in all that we do while pointing the world to Him.
• To encourage people to remain thankful and focus on God’s grace in the midst of the tests, trials and tribulation we all face.
• To inspire a wave of gratitude across the world and a wave of giving that will be infectious in this generation.

Those who are participating will also be encouraged to share how they have experienced “The Favor Project” via Social Media using the hashtag: #TheFavorProject on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube!

One person’s Favor Project story will be featured monthly on The Jennifer Lucy Inspires Blog! That person will also receive a special gift from Jennifer Lucy Tyler just for being Awesome!
Think about it, December 31^st, 2014, how awesome will it be to pick up a journal and read about ALL the amazing acts of kindness, and God’s grace and favor upon your life? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to recount a year where you were inspired to serve others and give to people like NEVER before? How would this change your life and inspire you to make #TheFavorProject a lifestyle?
Ladies & Gentlemen, this is “The Favor Project.”

Journey to Paradise.

I think it is completely foolish how we as humans seek to fill a void that only the Lord God can fill. Crazy thing is, half the time we know that the Lord is the answer to our problems, but we choose to avoid Him. I chose to write about this today because it was heavy on my heart, mainly because I am a culprit of this crime as well. We tend to believe that there should be no rush when it comes to building a relationship with the Lord. "I have plenty of time." But that's definitely not the case. One of the things that I'm currently struggling with is making the Lord an active part of my life. In all my ways, I want to acknowledge Him.  Perhaps the main reason why I struggle with this aspect is because I do not make time for Him. As humans, we make time for what we want to make time for, so I know there is no excuse for why I'm not reading my bible daily, praying constantly, and just talking with God casually. Those that truly have a heart for God should desire this type of relationship. I want to get to the point where, before I make any type of decision, no matter how small, I would consult God. I want to hear his voice and be able to recognize it. I guess the main reason that I'm writing this blog is more geared for my own personal and spiritual development. Join me on this journey.

BeeTy.

Finally Doing What We Were Asked To Do...

This blog is a long time in the making. In January 2013, God laid on my heart to further seek Christ and spread the word of God. And after almost an entire year, I am finally doing what God asked me to do.

On that particular Sunday, God laid on my heart to a start a blog with my best friend, Bee. Bee and I have been friends since 2004. We grew closer because we were like minded. We prayed before every exam, encouraged each other, talked  hours on end about what God was continuously doing in our lives. When we went off to college, our bond never broke. We've prayed each other through every rough place and celebrated each of God's blessings.

So we are just two college girls that aren't ashamed of praying, not ashamed of saying that life as a college Christian student isn't easy, not ashamed to say that sometimes we find ourselves running from Christ instead of running towards him, however we realize at the end of the day that God still loves us unconditionally, that seeking Christ can't just be a monthly or once a week activity but rather a daily commitment, and that getting down on our knees hasn't gone out of style. In fact, we realized that when we got down on our knees and prayed, we accessed God's limitless blessings.


TyBee